Latest news with #Juventus
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'I marked Zidane out of Munich Champions League final - nothing fazed me'
Zinedine Zidane was nullified in a Champions League final in Munich during his Juventus days as Scot Paul Lambert inspired Borussia Dortmund to victory in 1997 If Didier Drogba is known for dominating the last final in Munich then it is a Scotsman who has his name up in lights before that. The iconic but now vacated Olympiastadion in Munich was home to Bayern Munich for years - and held its fair share of European Cup finals. The modern day Allianz Arena remains a sight to behold, but the nostalgia of a running track and Olympic heritage was the stage on which one Paul Lambert silenced Zinedine Zidane as Borussia Dortmund shocked Juventus to claim the Champions League. The German side went in as firm underdogs against the Italians, who were also defending champions. If Dortmund had any advantage it was playing in their own country, but that was about it. They couldn't compete with the names of the Old Lady's team sheet as Zidane and Alessandro Del Piero rolled into town. A man from Glasgow, who had previously played for St Mirren and Motherwell, hadn't read the script. Lambert would provide the assist for Karl-Heinz Riedle's opener, but his most impressive accomplishment was nullifying Zidane. The Frenchman was only 12 months out from winning the World Cup and the Ballon d'Or, but the Scot had made a man who was become immortal seem pretty mortal. He previously told the Guardian: 'I was mentally strong. Playing in front of big crowds never fazed me, playing against big players never fazed me. I grew up in a hard area with my mum and dad, nothing fazed me. I compartmentalised my football side and my family side. I was never one to show weakness. "I'm sure some people would call it unhealthy. You're putting a mask on things. My dad would always say: 'You've got more faces than Mike Yarwood, Paul.' People say: 'You marked Zidane out of the game.' But I was part of a great team, we did the whole thing collectively. But I had game intelligence to play with world-class players, where the ball is going to drop. "The thing about Zidane, he drifts off your shoulder. He often goes away from the ball, almost baiting you. But the ball's not the danger, it's him. Zidane did put me on the backside a couple of times because he's brilliant. But he's not going to evaporate, is he? 'After the final, Juventus wanted to sign me but there was no way I was moving. Franz Beckenbauer asked me if I would be interested in joining Bayern. I had everything at Dortmund, though." That would prove to be Lambert's only year with the German side as his family situation led him to return home, but his place in history was confirmed as he was named the man-of-the-match. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I cried myself to sleep after UCL final - what Lionel Messi did stuck with me'
Regarded by many as the greatest goalkeeper to never win the Champions League, Gianluigi Buffon was an emotional wreck when falling short of his ultimate goal back in 2015 Gianluigi Buffon admitted his Champions League failure against Lionel Messi left him crying himself to sleep - but paid tribute to the Argentine for his actions after the game. The Italian legend achieved almost everything in football, but one glaring absence on his hefty trophy mantle is the appearance of a Champions League trophy. The former goalkeeper was 37 when he reached his second European final with Juventus in 2015, when they faced Barcelona in Berlin. Many believed it was Buffon's last chance of capturing the honour. Both teams required the trophy to complete the continental Treble, given they had both secured their respective domestic league and cup titles. It was the Spanish side who drew first blood with Ivan Rakitic opening the scoring in the fourth minute. Alvaro Morata equalised in the second half, but it turned out to be in vain as goals from Luis Suarez and Neymar secured the return of the trophy to Catalonia after a four-year absence. A second defeat on the grand stage for Buffon was a hard pill to swallow for the 2006 World Cup winner. He admitted during the presentation of his book titled 'Fall, Rise Again, Fall, Rise Again' that he and his wife were left crying until they went to bed. "It was 5:30am, and my wife Ilaria and I cried while hugging each other," the 47-year-old said to Mundo Deportivo."After Berlin, I went home. You're stunned by the defeat, like after a night of heavy drinking. "I stayed in the living room, she changed clothes, and we didn't say a word. We hugged and cried for five minutes and then went to bed. "Sharing the same feelings and emotions means a lot. It's always better to win because it boosts your confidence and self-esteem. But only defeats push you to think, understand what went wrong, and thus improve." Despite the heartbreaking defeat, Buffon was left touched after the match when Messi asked for his shirt, and in return gave his own shirt, which the Italian described as "the best in history." "I was filled with pride in the Berlin final at 37 years old," he added. "When he asked for my shirt, I thought: 'My God, how beautiful it is'. One of those moments where I didn't feel uncomfortable but saw myself through different eyes." Referring to his third Champions League final defeat in 2017, when Juventus came up against Real Madrid in Cardiff, Buffon said: "We exchanged shirts. At the end of the match, however, we had other problems, not knowing that a few years later we would have another chance in a final." The 4-1 defeat to the Spanish giants was Buffon's last appearance in the final of the Champions League and Juventus' most recent appearance in the fixture.
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Milan turn to old boy Allegri
Massimiliano Allegri reacts before the Coppa Italia match last year, he was Juventus coach then. PHOTO: REUTERS Massimiliano Allegri returned to AC Milan on Friday as the ailing seven-time European champions try once again to rebuild following an awful season, on a busy day for managerial moves in Serie A. Milan have turned to serial winner Allegri in their hour of need following the expected sacking of Sergio Conceicao, who leaves the San Siro club after five miserable months in charge. Milan did not reveal details of the deal but Italian media widely report that Allegri has signed a two-year contract worth five million euros a season, with the option to extend for a further two years. Allegri has become the fourth coach in a year for Milan, who finished this past Serie A season in eighth place and missed out on European football for next term. The 57-year-old led Milan to the 2011 Scudetto in his first stint in charge, between 2010 and 2014, and he was their coach for one of the most infamous episodes in recent Serie A history. Milan were beating Juventus, rivals for the 2012 league title, 1-0 in February that year when a Sulley Muntari goal was not given despite the ball clearly crossing the line. Juve went on to draw that game 1-1 and then win their first title in nine years -- finishing the campaign unbeaten -- and two years later hired Allegri who then won Serie A five more times in his two spells with the Turin giants. Allegri had been on hiatus since being sacked by Juve in May last year, his final act there being a post-match rampage after winning the Italian Cup in which he railed at officials and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli. Conceicao, a former Inter Milan and Lazio player, was hired in late December in place of his countryman Paulo Fonseca on a contract until next year. The 50-year-old began in positive fashion at Milan by winning the Italian Super Cup in January, but he failed to claim a Champions League spot for a talented but inconsistent team that also lost the Italian Cup final to Bologna earlier this month. Conceciao, 50, won 16 of 31 games in charge at Milan, including 11 victories, seven losses and three draws in the league and also had to deal with vociferous protests from supporters against the club's American owners RedBird. Fans demonstrated in large numbers outside Milan's headquarters ahead of their team's final match of the season, a dead-rubber against relegated Monza last weekend. That protest was a culmination of months of visible anger from supporters who have watched Milan slide down the league after Stefano Pioli took them to second place in 2023/24.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rafael Leao stands up for new Milan coach Allegri after Cassano insult
Rafael Leao stands up for new Milan coach Allegri after Cassano insult Max Allegri will reportedly put Rafael Leao at the centre of his Milan project and the positive feeling is mutual, as the forward defended his new coach against Antonio Cassano insults. It was made official this morning that Allegri has replaced Sergio Conceicao on the San Siro bench, signing a two-year contract with option for a third. Advertisement According to initial reports, the new boss is a big fan of Leao, having praised the Portuguese striker in the past, so will build the team around the mercurial talent. Leao eager to work with Allegri at Milan Massimiliano Allegri Juventus (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images) Having clashed with both Paulo Fonseca and Conceicao in recent months, Leao would seem to be looking forward to working with the Italian. He is certainly rushing to his defence, because there was a pointed reaction when former Milan player Cassano mocked Allegri on a video published on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'Allegri won because he had me,' Cassano told IFTV. Rafael Leao replied to the clip with four laughing emojis, suggesting he was unimpressed with that view. epa12100655 Rafael Leao of Milan during the Italian Cup final soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna FC in Rome, Italy, 14 May 2025. EPA-EFE/FEDERICO PROIETTI Allegri won the Scudetto at Milan in 2010-11, going on to secure another five at Juventus in a row. During that season, Cassano contributed four goals and eight assists in 17 Serie A appearances under Allegri.
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
AC Milan reappoint Allegri as head coach
AC Milan have reappointed Massimiliano Allegri as their head 57-year-old Italian previously managed the Serie A club from June 2010 to January succeeds Sergio Conceicao, who was sacked on Thursday after only six months in charge of the Rossoneri."The club extends a warm welcome and best wishes to Massimiliano and his staff," a Milan statement finished 2024-25 in a disappointing eighth position and lost to Bologna in the final of the Coppa Italia, which means they will not play in Europe next last of their 19 Serie A titles came in 2021-22 under Stefano won the Scudetto in his first season of charge of Milan in 2010-11 - the club's first since 2004 - before he was sacked. He then enjoyed a trophy-laden spell in charge of Juventus between 2014 and 2019, where he won the Serie A title in five consecutive that time Juve were also twice beaten in the final of the Champions League before he left by mutual two years out of management, Allegri returned for a less successful stint with the Turin club between 2021 and also previously managed Aglianese, SPAL, Grosseto, Sassuolo and Cagliari.
