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Scottish Sun
43 minutes ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers fans are loving beaming star Djeidi Gassama's post match interview as they say ‘new favourite unlocked'
The winger also revealed all on his botched knee slide! STEP ON THE GASS Rangers fans are loving beaming star Djeidi Gassama's post match interview as they say 'new favourite unlocked' DJEIDI GASSAMA announced himself as a Rangers player with a stunning goal to help down Panathinaikos. And the new Ibrox hero's post match interview has made him even MORE of a fans' favourite already. Advertisement 5 Djeidi Gassama blasted Rangers into a 2-0 lead at Ibrox Credit: Getty 5 His celebration didn't quite go to plan! Credit: Getty 5 Gassama spoke to Rangers TV after the game Credit: RANGERS TV 5 The Light Blues new boy Credit: RANGERS TV In Russell Martin's first competitive game as Rangers boss, the Light Blues beat Panathinaikos 2-0 at Ibrox to take control of their Champions League second qualifying round tie. The Gers had goalkeeper Jack Butland to thank for the game still being goalless by the time they look the lead with the No1 pulling off a string of superb stops. 18-year old Findlay Curtis fired home a stunning opener early in the second half before Gassama's moment of magic sealed the win, the other side of Giorgos Vagiannidis' red card. Barely a few minutes after being introduced from the bench, Gassama showed superb pace and footwork before blasting the ball home from all of 20 yards to send Ibrox wild. Advertisement It was an incredible introduction to life at the Gers for the 21-year old winger who joined from Sheffield Wednesday just over a week ago. Gassama was given a huge ovation when he came on as a substitute and it's likely the next one from the Light Blues fans will be even greater. That's because Gassama has already made himself a firm fans' favourite - and not only because of his stunning strike. The former PSG youngster spoke to Rangers TV after the game and the Gers fans were absolutely loving his interview. Advertisement Gassama was clearly buzzing from his goal, smiling from ear to ear throughout his entire interview - also gleefully exclaiming "the stadium is massive!" Delighted Gassama said: "(It was) massive. Rangers transfer special assesses whether Conor Coady deal is OFF, if Hamza Igamane will leave and when the Gers can expect more incomings "I'm very, very, very happy to play my first minutes at Ibrox, great fans, great stadium - the stadium is massive!" He begins to then slip into speaking in his native language, chuckling as he goes "sorry, I speak French!" Advertisement Picking up where he left off, he adds: "What a beginning for me and for the club as well." Gassama then revealed exactly what Russell Martin told him when sending him onto the pitch for the frist time at Ibrox. He added: "Before I come on, the gaffer said stay wide and when you have the ball go one v one and do your think that you do before. "When I received the ball, I got inside and I saw the keeper." Advertisement Curtis' superb opening goal was followed by wild scenes, with the winger doing a classic knee slide as part of his celebrations. Gassama seemed to like what he saw, and attempted to replicate the celebrations. However, it didn't quite to go to plan, with the French youth international hitting his knees on the ground and tumbling over. Asked about his celebration, Gassama burst out laughing, explaining: "Findlay scored a good goal as well and he slide good -and I want to do the same!" Advertisement Gassama went on to praise his teammates for welcoming to the club and insisted he's now ready to play every game. Rangers fans watching the interview were absolutely loving their new wide man. 5 And loads of them flocked to the comments section to say exactly that! Advertisement One Rangers fan wrote: "Love this lad already." A second said: "I love him already." A third added: "What a human being as well." A fourth commented: "Love this wee boy already." Advertisement Another wrote: "This lad will be special." While another Gers fan said: "I'm going to love him and he'll leave me heartbroken." A further comment read: "He's my new favourite already." While another said: "New season, new favourite unlocked." Advertisement Many Sheffield Wednesday fans were gutted to see Gassama leave and a few of them were in the comments too. One simply said: "Miss him already." Rangers face Panathinaikos in the second leg of the qualifying tie next Wednesday. The winners will advance to face Servette or Viktoria Plzen in the third qualifying round, while the losing team will drop into the Europa League qualifiers instead. Advertisement Swiss outfit Servette have the advantage after a 1-0 win away in Plzen. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Cesc Fabregas on Celtic Park memories ahead of Como Cup
The Como boss was a sub as Barcelona lost 2-1 on that famous night when goals from Victor Wanyama and Tony Watt earned a memorable result for Neil Lennon's men. A previous experience with Arsenal had been more successful - running out 2-0 winners - and he would go on to score a winner for Barca in a later tie. The Spaniard loved the experience of running out at Parkhead on a Champions League night and says he continued to follow the fortunes of the Scottish giants. Ahead of potentially facing Brendan Rodgers' side in the Como Cup, he recalled: 'It was incredible to play at [[Celtic]] Park. 'It will be nice because they have quality players. They won the league by far this year and they play in Europe. Read more: "If we do play against them, it will be a big test.' Fabregas has been paying enough attention to [[Celtic]] to sign two of their players, £17m winger Nicolas Kuhn and former loanee Alex Valle. He explained how scouting them was a bit of a challenge but Celtic were usually winning comfortably in the games they played. 'I watched more individual clips of them, not so much collectively. But it's a very interesting team,' said Fabregas. 'The problem is that analysing these teams is a bit difficult because they are normally so superior every week in their league. "But doing it in Europe, that's where you see the real value and level. They are a very well organised and competent team. I spoke with Nick (Kuhn) about them and he was really happy there, he always speaks very well of them.'
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Ex-Arsenal starlet jailed over £600k cannabis plot signs for new club after release from prison
A FORMER Arsenal starlet who was jailed over a £600k cannabis plot has returned to football. 5 Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has signed for AFC Totton Credit: 5 He has been in jail for a drug plot worth £600k Credit: PA 5 He came through the youth academy at Arsenal Credit: Getty The forward had already served 10 months of the sentence in HMP Chelmsford. Emmanuel-Thomas, 34, was first arrested after border officials seized two suitcases containing £600k worth of cannabis at Stansted Airport. The drugs, which weighed around 60kg, had arrived via flight from Bangkok in Thailand. Chelmsford Crown Court heard the drugs were brought into the UK by Emmanuel-Thomas' girlfriend Yasmin Piotrowska. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL She had flown business class to Stanstead Airport with Rosie Rowland to carry out the plot on September 2. He has now made his return to football, having signed for National League South side AFC Totton. The former Gunner was announced as a stag on social media. A statement read: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to the club. Most read in Football JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS "Jay joins us with a wealth of experience in the Championship and we're sure his goals will lead to a successful season here on the South Coast." He will wear the no.14 shirt for the Stags. Ex-Arsenal starlet jailed over plot to smuggle £600k of cannabis into UK Emmanuel-Thomas is a former He began his career at While at the Gunners, he did make five first-team appearances, including one in the Premier League and one in the Champions League. However, both of those substitute appearances ended in defeat as Arsenal lost to Shakhtar Donetsk and 5 Greenock Mortons sacked Emmanuel Thomson after he was arrested Credit: © Jamie Williamson, All rights reserved 5 He has also played for Aberdeen in Scotland Credit: PA It was his He played 103 times for the Robins, scoring 33 goals and assisting 20. He was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton following his arrest last year.
Metro
an hour ago
- Sport
- Metro
England hero Chloe Kelly reveals Arsenal legend inspired iconic goal celebration
Chloe Kelly revealed Arsenal legend Thierry Henry inspired the already iconic celebration that followed her decisive contribution in England's nerve-shredding Euro 2025 semi-final win over Italy. Sarina Wiegman's escapology experts battled back from the brink again last night and rescued another impossible situation. Underdogs Italy led until the 97th minute, courtesy of Barbara Bonansea's first half strike, before teenage substitute Michelle Agyemang enhanced her burgeoning reputation with a dramatic equaliser. After their astonishing penalty shootout win over Sweden in the previous round, the Lionesses looked certain to go the distance again with both teams showing major signs of fatigue in extra time. But, after Emma Severini was penalised for grapping with Beth Mead, Kelly was afforded the chance to win the contest from the spot in the final minute of extra time. The Arsenal forward, who was only one of three out of seven England players to convert from 12 yards against the Swedes, saw her effort saved by Laura Giuliani but displayed all of her natural goalscoring instincts to pounce on the rebound. Kelly reacted by mimicking Cristiano Ronaldo's 'calma' celebration, before nonchalantly posing by the corner flag. 'It was actually just more like chill out, I was going to score the tap-in,' she said in her post match press conference. 'I think I got a lot of people nervous with missing the penalty but chill it was OK. And then yeah, Thierry Henry inspired me with that second one.' Kelly, who scored the winning goal three years ago in the final against Germany, has enjoyed a renaissance over the course of the last six months. Having been frozen out by Manchester City last season, the 27-year-old contemplated quitting the sport before she returned to Arsenal on loan and rediscovered her love for the game after playing a part in the Gunners' Champions League winning campaign. Asked where she gets her confidence, Kelly said, 'Myself.' 'The moments when in January I felt like giving up football makes you so grateful for these moments here today, and this makes you enjoy every minute of that,' said Kelly, who did her trademark prancing penalty run-up. 'I think confidence comes from within, but from around you as well. The players that we stand side by side with on the pitch give confidence in each other.' Wiegman, meanwhile, predicted much more to come from 'something special'Agyemang after the 19-year-old saved England from the brink of elimination for the second time in the competition. Agyemang has scored three times in her first four appearances for the defending champions. More Trending Pubs can stay open until 1am for England vs Italy Euros semi final 'She has something special,' Wiegman said of Agyemang, who levelled with less than two minutes remaining in second-half stoppage time. 'She's only 19-years-old, she's very mature, she knows exactly what she has to do. 'When you talk about little things that she picks up straight away, because she's not only in the 18-yard box very dangerous but when we have to go to her as a target player, she keeps the ball really well too. 'Even when you saw her shot hit the crossbar, that was not just a shot, she was aiming for it. If she continues like this she has a very bright future.' MORE: Ian Wright sends warning to 'lucky' Lionesses after reaching Euro 2025 final MORE: Jess Carter proves there's no room for error as a Black player MORE: The Ian Wright vs Eni Aluko beef explained as Arsenal legend returns to ITV coverage
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Arsenal starlet jailed over £600k cannabis plot signs for new club after release from prison
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER Arsenal starlet who was jailed over a £600k cannabis plot has returned to football. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was released from prison earlier this month on parole despite being sentenced to four years in June. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has signed for AFC Totton Credit: 5 He has been in jail for a drug plot worth £600k Credit: PA 5 He came through the youth academy at Arsenal Credit: Getty The forward had already served 10 months of the sentence in HMP Chelmsford. Emmanuel-Thomas, 34, was first arrested after border officials seized two suitcases containing £600k worth of cannabis at Stansted Airport. The drugs, which weighed around 60kg, had arrived via flight from Bangkok in Thailand. Chelmsford Crown Court heard the drugs were brought into the UK by Emmanuel-Thomas' girlfriend Yasmin Piotrowska. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL IRON IT OUT West Ham face vacating London Stadium if major sporting event gets green light She had flown business class to Stanstead Airport with Rosie Rowland to carry out the plot on September 2. He has now made his return to football, having signed for National League South side AFC Totton. The former Gunner was announced as a stag on social media. A statement read: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to the club. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS "Jay joins us with a wealth of experience in the Championship and we're sure his goals will lead to a successful season here on the South Coast." He will wear the no.14 shirt for the Stags. Ex-Arsenal starlet jailed over plot to smuggle £600k of cannabis into UK Emmanuel-Thomas is a former England under-17 and under-19 international. He began his career at Arsenal before playing for various clubs - including Ipswich Town, Bristol City, QPR, Livingston and Aberdeen. While at the Gunners, he did make five first-team appearances, including one in the Premier League and one in the Champions League. However, both of those substitute appearances ended in defeat as Arsenal lost to Shakhtar Donetsk and Chelsea. 5 Greenock Mortons sacked Emmanuel Thomson after he was arrested Credit: © Jamie Williamson, All rights reserved 5 He has also played for Aberdeen in Scotland Credit: PA It was his spell at Bristol City between 2013 and 2015 that he enjoyed the most success. He played 103 times for the Robins, scoring 33 goals and assisting 20. He was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton following his arrest last year.
