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South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Rejuvenated Rangers aim for Hong Kong FA Cup glory to launch new golden era
Wong Chin-hung has challenged his BC Rangers players to launch a new golden era for the club when they go for FA Cup glory against holders Eastern on Saturday. Advertisement Rangers' dynamism in a 3-0 rout of Lee Man last weekend was testament to how Wong, one of Hong Kong's brightest young managers, has transformed a once flatlining team since taking over in October. He ripped up an all-attacking policy and his methods built confidence. His side can underline their revival in a Mong Kok Stadium final bearing special meaning for Wong, 43, who won the 2016 league as a player with Eastern, then began his coaching career there the following year. 'If we win, it would be an important moment in the club's history,' said Wong, a former left-back who won the 2011 cup with South China. 'It could make our future very different … we will play in AFC Champions League 2, so the board might invest.' Wong Chin-hung is becoming one of Hong Kong's brightest young bosses. Photo: BC Rangers Asked if that could mean a marquee recruit like his ex-South China teammates Nicky Butt and Mateja Kezman, Wong said: 'Nothing is impossible. This level of player has a great impact on the league … they share their experiences with teammates, and make their opponents pay more attention.' Advertisement Wong has aimed high since he pursued football against his parents' wishes. 'I was always getting injured, so they didn't want me to play,' he said. 'They never came to watch my games.'
New York Times
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Crystal Palace's player of the season: Daniel Munoz – the wizard of transitions
As Oliver Glasner prepared to hand over the award for player of the year at Crystal Palace's FA Cup winners' celebration party earlier this week, the camera filming the event focused on the card he was holding. Anyone watching the screens set up on either side of the stage would have seen the name on that card several times before Glasner concluded his speech and actually announced it. But regardless of the result being revealed slightly prematurely, it was a fitting 29th birthday present for Daniel Munoz. Advertisement The Colombian received Palace's players' player of the year award from club captain Joel Ward, too. He is also The Athletic's choice as their player of the season — a prize comprising nothing more than admiration and acknowledgement. Munoz's talents make manager Glasner's system work so well. Without his seemingly limitless energy to race up and down their right flank, Palace would have been far worse off over the season. As 2024-25 progressed, so did Munoz's partnership with Ismaila Sarr, who had been a new signing last summer. They became accustomed to one another as Sarr learnt the role as a No 10 and Munoz offered support with his customary overlapping runs. It has not all been perfect — there have some defensive concerns at times, with Glasner pointing out things to work on after April's 5-2 Premier League defeat at Manchester City — but there have been very few occasions when Munoz has made errors or left others exposed, and most of those came early in what was his first full season in English football. Munoz started 46 of the season's 48 games — the two he missed through suspension included the 5-1 league home defeat against Arsenal in December — and availability is a crucial quality. His four league goals and six assists mark a considerable improvement on last season, when he failed to score and made four assists in 16 appearances following a January move from Genk in Belgium. It was his ball across goal that was met perfectly by Eberechi Eze for the winner in the FA Cup final, and that kind of pass has become a trademark. But he has also scored some excellent goals, popping up in the right place at the right time and having the confidence to take on a shot. The finish to a wonderful team move in the league win against Fulham in February, where he rifled the ball into the roof of the net, is a perfect example. His late equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle United at Selhurst Park in November led Glasner to race down the touchline and join in the celebrations by the corner flag. In truth, a handful of the squad could have been our choice here — Jean-Philippe Mateta, Sarr, Dean Henderson and Will Hughes have all had outstanding seasons, too. Advertisement Sarr, after a slow start, has come alive. His two goals in the FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa were great examples of his shooting precision and directness. He has become undroppable with 12 goals and eight assists in all competitions. Henderson, the hero in the cup final after saving Omar Marmoush's penalty, has enjoyed the first full season of his senior career without injury and it has shown. His self-confidence is extremely high and he has produced many match-saving or winning saves to become a firm fan favourite. In any other season, Hughes would have probably won. Until suspension was followed by illness in March, he had been the most consistently strong performer, also contributing significantly in attack. But his place was taken by Daichi Kamada for the run-in. Mateta's 14 league goals make it 30 across the previous two seasons. Despite ending with fewer than last year, his contribution has again been invaluable, and his hold-up play has improved notably as well. The head injury sustained in the FA Cup win over Millwall in early March may well have denied him the chance to eclipse last season's total and potentially earn our player of the season award. None of those, though, can match what Munoz has offered Palace this season. He has developed into a key component of a team who embrace playing on the transition and with lots of energy. Glasner often focuses on the total number of high-intensity runs his players make, and Munoz tends to be near the top of those rankings. Yet for all he brings to the team, he does not yet have a fans' song. It was at the end of last season that one supporter in the Main Stand at Selhurst Park tried to launch one. 'We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful Daniel Munoz,' he sang, to no avail. After Munoz signed a new contract earlier this year, there should be no prospect of a summer departure. He would be extremely difficult to replace if he did go. Instead, Palace should look forward to him making a name for himself in the Europa League next season. Maybe then he might be serenaded from the terraces with a song in his honour.
Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Manchester City will complete transfers before Club World Cup, says chairman
Manchester City ended the season this year without a trophy for the first time since 2016-17. PHOTO: REUTERS MANCHESTER, England - Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has promised the club will be ready with a new squad in time for the Fifa Club World Cup and that their transfer moves will be very swift. Premier League clubs agreed to open a pre-Club World Cup transfer window on June 1 for 10 days to allow teams to sign players before the tournament. "We have clearly identified who exactly are the targets, in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option," Al Mubarak said, in an interview with City's club media channels. "And we'll go about our business and it will be very clear, very swift. And our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup." City face Wydad AC in their first game of the tournament on June 18. The team, bidding for a fifth successive Premier League title, suffered a mid-season free fall and finished third in the table, not securing a Champions League berth until the final day of the season. Al Mubarak admitted City had not been successful in last summer's transfer window. "Last summer, we probably should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do," Al Mubarak said. "We didn't do that and that ended up costing us this year. We already started that rebuild of this team in January." City brought in Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Nico Gonzalez during the January window. They lost to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final, however, and ended the season without a trophy for the first time since 2016-17. "I think all the players, they're excited, they're excited about coming back. Nobody feels good about how we finished the season," Al Mubarak said. "They want to come back hungry. And I can see the hunger. I was speaking to Rodri as an example, he's looking for games. Erling (Haaland) didn't want to go on vacation." Spanish midfielder Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, suffered a serious knee injury in September and did not return to action until the season's final two games. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Rhyl Journal
10 hours ago
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Man City should have been more aggressive with transfers last summer
City endured a disappointing 2024-25 campaign by their high standards, failing to mount a strong defence of their Premier League title and exiting the Champions League before the last 16. Khaldoon now accepts the club should have done more to strengthen the squad before the campaign. The £30.8million signing Savinho and the return of veteran Ilkay Gundogan were the only major incoming deals last summer, while key forward Julian Alvarez was among those to depart. Speaking in his annual end-of-season interview, Khaldoon told the club's website: 'This year is another year where I think when I look back, last summer, we probably should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do. 'We didn't do that and that ended up costing us this year.' City's underwhelming start to the season forced them to enter the transfer market in January and hastily bring in Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Nico Gonzalez at a combined cost of more than £172million. The squad regeneration will continue this summer, with the club hoping to make additions before the start of the Club World Cup. City's first match in that tournament is on June 18. Khaldoon said: 'We already started that rebuild of this team in January. Normally we like to do our business in the summer and, only in case of emergency, a special need that comes up, do we actually go and do business in January. 'That's been our MO at least for the last seven or eight years – but this January we had to act.' He added: 'That's four players in January, and that gives you an idea of what's coming this summer because we will continue. 'We have clearly identified who exactly are the targets, in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option. 'And we'll go about our business and it will be very clear, very swift. And our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.' City's disappointments this term included defeat in the FA Cup final, leaving the Community Shield as their only silverware from the campaign. Khaldoon said: 'We will be back. This season is a season that's now behind us. Today is a new day. We start working and preparing for next season. 'We will take all the good things and the not so good things from this season and learn from it and improve from it and get better. 'I can assure you, this club will do everything possible to come back to the standards that we know we all can achieve and that we know, we will achieve.'
Fox Sports
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
USWNT Footnotes: Naomi Girma returns, Emily Fox comes to camp a Champions League winner
The biggest headline entering the start of this week's U.S. women's national camp is that Naomi Girma is back in the squad for the first time this calendar year. The star defender — who joined Chelsea on a record transfer in January — was unavailable for selection for previous USWNT camps this year due to injury. But she's back to full fitness and is fresh off helping Chelsea clinch the domestic treble: winning the Women's Super League, WSL Cup and FA Cup. The Americans are preparing for two upcoming matches — vs. China on May 31 at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota and vs. Jamaica on June 3 at Energizer Park in St. Louis. Girma told reporters on Wednesday that right now, coach Emma Hayes just wants her to focus on feeling good with the team and getting back into the swing of things. "First of all, I'm just really excited to be back, excited to be healthy on the field, but then also back in with the U.S. It's always special to be here," Girma said. "I think for me, [training so far] has been a lot of familiar faces, but also meeting a lot of new people too. [There are people] I played against a lot in the NWSL, so just fun to be in the environment together and for me, to get back in the swing of things and keep building on what I was able to do with the team last year." Meanwhile, Emily Fox, who is just days removed from helping Arsenal win the Champions League title, is also back in camp. Her U.S. teammates rolled out the red carpet when she arrived in Minnesota this week. Fox trained with the national team on Wednesday, which is notable given the celebrations that occurred in London outside the Emirates Stadium earlier in the week to celebrate the Gunners' victory. "I mean, the amount of people that showed up, I was amazed," Fox said. "Then I learned it was a bank holiday so that might have helped us out a little bit. But it was so cool." Fox, who signed with Arsenal in January 2024, said her experience playing for the club so far has been "surreal." Going overseas has always been something she wanted to do from a young age and so far, it's lived up. "As soon as I had the opportunity, Arsenal and going to Europe was on my mind," Fox said. "I think being able to play in Champions League, and specifically with Arsenal, I had heard amazing things about the fans and just Arsenal wanting to grow the women's game and show support and investment. "So for me, it was a no-brainer and I'm very grateful it's worked out. When I first got there, we weren't in Champions League, so it's definitely been a grind, but for me personally, I wouldn't change a thing." More on Arsenal's Champions League title Arsenal upset Barcelona 1-0 to win the UEFA Women's Champions League title last Saturday. Swedish forward Stina Blackstenius came off the bench to score the lone goal in the 74th minute and that's all the Gunners would need to win their first Champions League title since 2007. Fox joked that while she doesn't normally look at the clock during a match, she kept her eye on it in those final moments. "I think it was a minute before [the official] blew the whistle, she [called a foul] and some people already started celebrating," Fox said, smiling. "But yeah, there was a lot of clock checking after the goal." Barcelona appeared destined to win its third straight title, especially after completely dismantling Chelsea in the semifinal with an aggregate score of 8-2, but the squad was uncharacteristically unable to finish in the final third. With the victory, Fox and fellow USWNT defender Jenna Nighswonger, became the sixth and seventh Americans to hoist a Champions League trophy. "That's a great fact to keep in my pocket," Fox said when asked if she thinks her experience will encourage more Americans to move abroad. "I think, if anything, it will encourage players to have that goal and achieve it. Jenna came in January and now she's [won Champions League]. It's just insane. I do think with more visibility and acknowledgment of it, yeah, I think more people for sure will try to aim for that." Fox, who has become a regular starter for the Gunners, played the full 90 minutes in the final. She was also named to the 2024/25 UWCL Team of the Season. England stars out for Euros England will be without two pillars of its program this summer when it tries to defend its Women's Euro title: defender and captain Millie Bright and goalkeeper Mary Earps. Bright, who also captains her club Chelsea, announced on her podcast this week that she has withdrawn from the national team because she is "mentally and physically" at her limit and needs rest. Bright will not play in upcoming Nations League matches vs. Portugal and Spain, nor will she compete with the team this summer. Bright, 31, started every match of the 2022 Euros and was the Lionesses' captain during the squad's run to the 2023 World Cup final. Her news follows Earps, who announced her retirement from international football this week. "I'm a proper sop when it comes to playing for England, anyone who knows me knows that playing at the top of the game is what drives me, and it doesn't get bigger than the international stage," Earps wrote on Instagram. "I wish I could do it forever – but sadly, all good things must come to an end. "My journey has never been the simplest, and so in true Mary fashion, this isn't a simple goodbye – right before a major tournament. Nonetheless, I know this is the right decision. There are so many dimensions to this decision, the details of which aren't important right now, but what it boils down to is: it's now the right time for me to step aside." The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper's decision comes as a surprise, especially given the timing she alluded to in her social media post. The 32-year-old played an integral role in the 2022 Euros as well as the 2023 World Cup, where she won the Golden Glove Award and saved a penalty kick in the final against Spain (though Spain came out on top, 1-0). England manager Sarina Wiegman will now likely turn to Chelsea's Hannah Hampton as her starting goalkeeper. England, who were drawn into Group D with France, the Netherlands and Wales, kick off this summer's Euros against Les Bleues on July 5. Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of "Strong Like a Woman," published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman . Get more from United States Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
