Latest news with #HernanCrespo
The National
26-06-2025
- Sport
- The National
Al Ain take on Wydad looking for positive end to challenging Club World Cup
Al Ain head into their final game of the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup hoping for a positive end to what has been a dismal tournament so far. The UAE Pro League side face Wydad Casablanca at Audi Field in Washington, DC on Thursday night (11pm kick-off UAE) having suffered two heavy defeats in their opening Group G matches. Ahead of their first games, against European giants Juventus and Manchester City, star forward Soufiane Rahimi said the Garden City club had 'big ambitions' for the revamped competition and that 'nothing is impossible in football'. But 180 minutes of football later, the stark reality of the gap in quality had become clear with Al Ain left point-less having failed to score a single goal while leaking 11 at the other end of the pitch. A little over a year ago, Al Ain secured a second AFC Champions League crown after destroying Japanese side Yokohama F Marinos 6-3 on aggregate in the final. But much has changed since that glorious May evening at a bouncing Hazza bin Zayed Stadium which saw a stunning 5-1 win in the second leg. Argentine manager Hernan Crespo lasted less than six months before he paid the price for a poor start to both the UAE Pro League and rebranded AFC Champions League Elite campaigns. His replacement, Portuguese coach Leonardo Jardim, was gone just two months later having failed to turn around the club's fortunes. Vladimir Ivic became their third manager in as many months. When Al Ain lined up for their opening match against Juve at Audi Field, just five players had survived from the starting XI that kicked off the second leg against Yokohama. Goalkeeper and captain Khalid Essa, left out in favour of loan signing Rui Patricio, had spoken before the tournament about the importance of team spirit during tough moments in their Champions League run. That solidarity looked in short supply as they found themselves four down at half time on the way to a 5-0 battering, with Serbian coach Ivic critical of his players after the match, questioning whether they even watched European football. There was to be no respite in their second game as Manchester City powered to a 6-0 win in Atlanta, with Essa back between the posts but suffering a similar fate to his Portuguese teammate, swiftly bringing to an end of any hopes of reaching the last 16. 'We knew we were up against a strong team, but our boys lost focus during the match and that cost us heavily,' Ivic said after the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 'But this has been a very valuable experience for the boys. We need to learn from teams like these – how they approach matches with the right mentality to win.' 'Manchester City is obviously a very strong team,' added Moroccan midfielder Nassim Chadli. 'If you make one mistake, they hurt you … the ball moves so fast, it is crazy.' Attentions now turn to Moroccan side WAC who are also yet to gain a point after losing 2-0 against Manchester City and 4-1 to Juventus. The 2021/22 CAF Champions League winners had their moments in both matches, even registering more shots on goal (15) over the course of 90 minutes than Juve (nine). And Thembinkosi Lorch, who scored WAC's only goal of the tournament against the Serie A side and has looked their biggest attacking threat in both games, insists the team should take the positives from the tournament. 'We face the best teams in the world, and we learn,' the South African, on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns, told Fifa's website. 'There is a good team spirit. We've learnt a lot of things. We don't dwell on the defeat, but on all the experience gained. I thank the fans, they give everything for us.'
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gundogan scores twice as Man City hit six to progress
Ilkay Gundogan scored twice as Manchester City thrashed United Arab Emirates side Al Ain to comfortably book a place in the last-16 of the Club World Cup. Pep Guardiola's men backed up their opening game win over Wydad AC with a ruthless performance but will have to beat Juventus to top Group G and avoid a meeting with the winners of Real Madrid's group. Advertisement City took the lead after only eight minutes courtesy of Gundogan's fortuitous strike, sending an attempted chipped cross sailing over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net, while the German delightfully dinked home in the second half. In between, Claudio Echeverri curled in a sublime free-kick from the edge of the box on his first start and Josko Gvardiol sent a header against the post as City threatened to run riot in the opening half an hour. City went 3-0 up before half-time courtesy of Erling Haaland's penalty after Ramy Rabia bundled over Manuel Akanji in the box - the referee awarding the spot-kick after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor. Oscar Bobb came off the bench to cut inside and fire in at the near post and fellow substitute Rayan Cherki scored his first goal for the club with a low, thumping drive late on. Advertisement Al Ain qualified for the competition after winning the 2024 Asian Champions League under ex-Argentina striker Hernan Crespo and are now led by former Watford boss Vladimir Ivic, but they were well beaten by their superior opponents. What was the main talking point? Though it was a balmy 31C in Atlanta at the local kick-off time of 9pm, the heat and humidity was not a factor as the match was played inside the incredible 71,000-capacity venue, which is enclosed and fitted with air-conditioning, and City coolly despatched the Arab opposition without issues. City boss Guardiola named a fully-changed starting line-up from the opening game win over Wydad, handing full debuts to left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri and midfielder Echeverri, while Bernardo Silva took the armband for the first time since being appointed club captain. Which players stood out? Both first-time starters did no harm to their prospects, especially attacking Algerian Ait-Nouri. Advertisement Signed from Wolves for £31m, he already looks accomplished down the left flank, with his darts inside and crosses into the box causing Al Ain all sorts of issues. Argentine midfielder Echeverri was handed a surprise appearance ahead of Jack Grealish in the FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace last month and converted a delightful finish which will have caught the eye of boss Guardiola. What next for these teams? Manchester City face Serie A giants Juve in a huge European clash in Orlando on Thursday, while Al Ain and Wydad AC have both suffered two defeats apiece and are already out.
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Gundogan scores twice as Man City hit six to progress
Ilkay Gundogan scored twice as Manchester City thrashed United Arab Emirates side Al Ain to comfortably book a place in the last-16 of the Club World Guardiola's men backed up their opening game win over Wydad AC with a ruthless performance but will have to beat Juventus to top Group G and avoid a meeting with the winners of Real Madrid's took the lead after only eight minutes courtesy of Gundogan's fortuitous strike, sending an attempted chipped cross sailing over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net, while the German delightfully dinked home in the second half. In between, Claudio Echeverri curled in a sublime free-kick from the edge of the box on his first start and Josko Gvardiol sent a header against the post as City threatened to run riot in the opening half an went 3-0 up before half-time courtesy of Erling Haaland's penalty after Ramy Rabia bundled over Manuel Akanji in the box - the referee awarding the spot-kick after reviewing the incident on the pitchside Bobb came off the bench to cut inside and fire in at the near post and fellow substitute Rayan Cherki scored his first goal for the club with a low, thumping drive late Ain qualified for the competition after winning the 2024 Asian Champions League under ex-Argentina striker Hernan Crespo and are now led by former Watford boss Vladimir Ivic, but they were well beaten by their superior opponents. What was the main talking point? Though it was a balmy 31C in Atlanta at the local kick-off time of 9pm, the heat and humidity was not a factor as the match was played inside the incredible 71,000-capacity venue, which is enclosed and fitted with air-conditioning, and City coolly despatched the Arab opposition without boss Guardiola named a fully-changed starting line-up from the opening game win over Wydad, handing full debuts to left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri and midfielder Echeverri, while Bernardo Silva took the armband for the first time since being appointed club captain. Which players stood out? Both first-time starters did no harm to their prospects, especially attacking Algerian from Wolves for £31m, he already looks accomplished down the left flank, with his darts inside and crosses into the box causing Al Ain all sorts of midfielder Echeverri was handed a surprise appearance ahead of Jack Grealish in the FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace last month and converted a delightful finish which will have caught the eye of boss Guardiola. What next for these teams? Manchester City face Serie A giants Juve in a huge European clash in Orlando on Thursday, while Al Ain and Wydad AC have both suffered two defeats apiece and are already out.
Straits Times
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Crespo returns for second spell as Sao Paulo coach
Hernan Crespo has returned to Sao Paulo as coach, four years after leading them to the Brazilian Serie A championship, the club said on Wednesday. Former Argentina striker Crespo, who represented Chelsea, Inter Milan and AC Milan among other European clubs as a player, replaced compatriot Luis Zubeldia who parted ways with Sao Paulo after winning only two of their first 12 league games. "(Crespo) is a great professional who already knows the club, has won a title here and the time has come for him to return. We're delighted to have him back," club president Julio Casares said in a statement. The 49-year-old's first spell as Sao Paulo coach ended in October 2021, less than five months after winning the league, following a disappointing start to their title defence. Crespo led Emirati club Al-Ain to the Asian Champions League Elite title in May last year, earning them a place at the ongoing Club World Cup. He was sacked in November following a poor run of results. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
19-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Crespo returns for second spell as Sao Paulo coach
Soccer Football - Intercontinental Cup - Second Round - Al Ahly v Al Ain - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - October 29, 2024 Al Ain coach Hernan Crespo REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo (Reuters) -Hernan Crespo has returned to Sao Paulo as coach, four years after leading them to the Brazilian Serie A championship, the club said on Wednesday. Former Argentina striker Crespo, who represented Chelsea, Inter Milan and AC Milan among other European clubs as a player, replaced compatriot Luis Zubeldia who parted ways with Sao Paulo after winning only two of their first 12 league games. "(Crespo) is a great professional who already knows the club, has won a title here and the time has come for him to return. We're delighted to have him back," club president Julio Casares said in a statement. The 49-year-old's first spell as Sao Paulo coach ended in October 2021, less than five months after winning the league, following a disappointing start to their title defence. Crespo led Emirati club Al-Ain to the Asian Champions League Elite title in May last year, earning them a place at the ongoing Club World Cup. He was sacked in November following a poor run of results. (Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in BengaluruEditing by Christian Radnedge)
