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Time of India
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
LA Galaxy predicted lineup vs. San Diego FC – Marco Reus, Gabriel Pec, and more
Image Source: Getty The LA Galaxy are set to face San Diego FC at Snapdragon Stadium with a 4:45 PM ET start time. Now, the Galaxy are defending MLS Cup champions under a completely different roster, following injuries to their stars. It will be exciting to see who starts the math and who will be on the bench for the LA Galaxy. LA Galaxy's lineup features Reus and Pec in pivotal roles Fans can expect a 4-2-3-1 formation from coach Greg Vanney, with veteran midfielder Marco Reus and winger Gabriel Pec both carrying massive workloads. In midfield is the Galaxy's creative linchpin, Reus, who managed a goal and four assists in 11 appearances since joining mid-2024. Pec, voted the 2024 MLS Newcomer of the Year, was a revelation last season, scoring 21 goals and registering 17 assists in all competitions, and will be a major presence on the right wing. Here's the predicted LA Galaxy lineup: Goalkeeper: John McCarthy Defenders: Right-back: Miki Yamane Center-back: Emiro Garcés Center-back: Maya Yoshida (Captain) Left-back: John Nelson Defensive Midfielders: Edwin Cerrillo Lucas Sanabria Attacking Midfielders: Right wing: Gabriel Pec Central attacking midfield: Marco Reus Left wing: Diego Fagundez Striker: Christian Ramirez Riqui Puig is the only star to be left out of the starting XI due to an ACL injury. San Diego FC's debut brings fresh challenges San Diego FC brings a mix of international pedigree and youth into the MLS. Though they are an exciting team to watch, it will be interesting to see how San Diego FC's players perform against the giants like Marco Reus and Gabriel Pec. Also Read: Highest-paid MLS players in 2025: Where does Lionel Messi and Riqui Puig rank The Galaxy will need to adapt, with key players from 2024's undefeated home record at Dignity Health Sports Park departed and several new signings on board. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo There is an opportunity for new entrants such as San Diego FC to leverage these transition dynamics despite competing in a rapidly growing league. However, the game's narrative will be centered on whether San Diego FC can turn heads in their most MLS-debut of a debut or not, as eyes will be on how the Galaxy's older heads and fresh new talent gel together. So, all the MLS fans have to stay tuned to get the reveal of the confirmed lineup, Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Giorgos Giakoumakis Celtic Q&A in full as Rangers medical panic and truth behind Atlanta United exit revealed
Record Sport spoke exclusively to the former Hoops hero who opened his heart in an open and honest interview Giorgos Giakoumakis has Celtic fans talking this week after revealing he'd love to return to the club in an exclusive sit-down with Record Sport. The former Hoops hero, 30, opened the door on a stunning transfer back to Celtic Park - two and a half years after leaving for the States. Giakoumakis also spoke in depth about the reasons behind his Parkhead exit in his first major interview since swapping the Scottish champions for Atlanta United in February 2023. The Greece international - who netted 26 goals across his 18 months in Glasgow - continued his goalscoring exploits in the USA, where he was crowned MLS Newcomer of the Year and named in the league's 2023 All-Star team. Yet despite being a major hit at the Five Stripes, Giakoumakis surprisingly decided to up sticks for Mexican heavyweights Cruz Azul after less than a year at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In a 50-minute-long chat exclusively with Record Sport, Giakoumakis spoke about all of this and more, including: Rejecting a move to the Bundesliga to sign for Celtic His unforgettable experience against Rangers The best Hoops player in training You can watch the entire interview on our official YouTube channel, or read the full Q&A below. How are you enjoying life in Mexico? Yeah, it's nice, it's interesting, it's a totally different style of football, a totally different style of life. You have to learn Spanish. If you learn Spanish, you're good. If not, it's a problem because they don't speak English. I'm at a good level [of Spanish speaking]. You were a revelation in the MLS. Why did you decide to leave Atlanta Utd? Well, first of all, in Atlanta I had a great, great time and I was feeling like a king. Like Celtic, same situation. They've been treating me like a king, I was scoring a lot, the team was really focused on my style of play. But then we lost in the translation with the board of Atlanta and I received a big offer from Cruz Azul financially. And then, to be honest, Cruz Azul was coming really after me, like they were pushing a lot, they showed me that, you know what, we want you. We're not joking around. We were in negotiations with Atlanta to renew my contract, like four months before Cruz Azul came.' And I said to Atlanta, 'Listen, I know the taxes are different here, you pay around 40%, which is huge as an amount. You cannot match the money that I have from Cruz Azul, but the most important for me is, like, I want you to show me, do you still want me here? Do you still want me to be around? I don't ask you to give me the same money.' It wasn't financial, the problem, it was showing me that they really appreciate me as a person, first of all, and as a player. It's a bit difficult to negotiate with Americans; they are businessmen. And I think they kind of risked a lot with me and they didn't show me the appreciation I wanted to see, they didn't even make an offer for me. They thought that, you know what, you have a contract one year more, two years more, you will stay. I said, 'No, I'm not going to stay. You cannot force me to stay. If I'm not happy here and I'm a DP, you cannot force me to stay. You don't want a DP walking around or being frustrated or disappointed with you. That doesn't help anyone, neither me or you.' So, at this time, I felt that Atlanta didn't even make any approach to me to keep me there. There were only talks and, you know, big words, but nothing. And I just took my decision super fast, because Cruz Azul was really intense while they were hounding me. And I said, no, I just want to be in a place that they will show me that I'm important. They will show me that they really want me. And that made me take the decision. I love Atlanta. I'm watching every single game. It didn't affect me. The relationship with the board or the way they handled the situation in the end didn't affect my feelings for Atlanta. I love Atlanta. And I'm watching every single game of them. How did your move to Celtic first come about? I think, first of all, that the fact that we were relegated with VVV-Venlo in Holland really destroyed my season there. And me and the club at the same time, I think, because they couldn't ask for big money. They got relegated and they had to accept any offer at the end of the day. I feel that the transfer window was super slow and the fact that the teams that they were looking at me, they were actually like waiting to see what's going to happen with the situation. Is it going to relegate the team? Is the team going to stay in Eredivisie? Because we speak with different value after that. Eventually, we were relegated and it was a super slow transfer window because they knew they're going to steal me for almost nothing in comparison with the season that I had there. So, that's exactly what happened. I think, to be honest, I had already shaken hands with Werder Bremen. I went there to their training centre and I didn't have Celtic at this time. So, I went there. I shake hands, and they just didn't figure it out financially in the end, the two teams, the two clubs. And then Celtic made an offer. It was late in the transfer window. It was like 25th of August, 26th. It was super late. I was super stressed, as you can imagine, after this season. I didn't even think about that. I knew Celtic is a huge club. It was a huge opportunity for me. I didn't think twice. I said to my agent, 'Let's move there. You figure it out with the financial part. But as a club, it's exactly what I want.' It took you a while to get going at Celtic. Were you always convinced you would find your rhythm? Well, yeah, of course, when you have a season like the one I had in the Netherlands, you feel like, okay, now I'm ready to rip the new league off. I would kill them straight away. But it's not like that. The sizes of the clubs were totally different. Celtic, VVV, huge respect for VVV. But if you go from VVV to Celtic, it's a massive step up. It was kind of unlucky. At the same time, it was also the fact that I had to adjust to the new environment, to the new country. The pressure that I would have since day one when I picked number seven. It was different. It was different. But I loved every single minute in this process because I always wanted to play for big clubs. And for me, it was a dream that came true. Of course, I had a slow start. I had this injury. But yeah, then I had, first of all, amazing physios there. They worked very well with me. And I came back since day one. I think it was a cup game that I scored straight away when I had my first start again. And then since then, it just went off. You really announced yourself as a Celtic player in that 3-0 win over Rangers. What do you remember from that night? First of all, the atmosphere. Big time. It was the biggest, craziest atmosphere I've ever experienced - and I have experienced since then in my career. I don't think I will experience this night again because playing Champions League with Celtic is massive, it's amazing. But when you play Old Firm, I think the whole city is on fire. I remember we were winning like 3-0 at halftime. I went into the dressing room and I thought I was deaf. I went to the doctor, I said, 'Doc, I cannot hear anything.' And it was, you know, the contrast from outside all that noise to the complete silence inside the dressing room. Something happened in my ears. I honestly couldn't hear anything. Like, I was hearing something in my ear. I said, 'Doc, maybe I have a problem with my ears. Check that.' He said, 'No, relax. You're going to get out again and you're going to feel the same way.' Which eventually happened. We went out and I remember the game. We absolutely smashed them. We destroyed them. And I think we would score even more goals. But when you have these fans by your side and a strong team with very good individuals and a very good unit, you can achieve everything. You scored a perfect hat-trick against Dundee a few weeks later and really started to get going. Yeah, I was feeling super important in this team. I was feeling like I can score fluently and do my job, do what I did last year and I knew that I'm going to repeat the same way. Of course, I missed four or five months at first but then I felt that, okay, now I'm going to do it again. I'm feeling strong, I'm feeling fitness-wise, like mental-wise, I was feeling very, very strong and I had so much confidence also on the team that I knew no matter what, the ball would arrive. The only thing that I wanted was just the ball to arrive, and then it's my job to put it in the back of the net. How disappointed were you to miss the 2022 Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers? I had a thigh injury, I think, right? I had a tightness. Yeah, it was a very minor injury and I had a conversation with Ange Postecoglou and he told me, 'I would rather for you not to risk anything in order to have you until the end and the most important for us is to focus on the league title' and then he thought that, OK, we're going to make it to the Cup final also. And I said to him, 'No, please take me. Like, I want to take that risk. It's on me. I think I can play. I'm ready to go.' And he said, 'No, I cannot risk that. Take this day and from next week we're going to start to organise again and plan for the next game. It was painful because I really wanted the Double, meaning about the Cup and the league and it was kind of incomplete this season. Something was missing, a small part. Like, the most important, of course, is the league title for me and I think for every player you cannot put Cup and league at the same level. But it was the same final also, but the whole city was breaking for it. I didn't make it and it was kind of sad, but it is what it is. This is football. You scored the goal that secured the title at Tannadice. Where does that rank? Well, to be honest, it was maybe the goal that gave us the point that we needed and we won the league title, but I knew that even if I didn't make this goal, like, honestly, I was feeling like, okay, we won the league, that's it. They cannot come back from that. They are down, we are going to win the league, no matter what. Yeah, it was a happy moment, but I think that I will not remember this goal, to be honest, after 20 years. I will remember the moments with Celtic in the Champions League that we hammered Real Madrid the first 60 minutes in Celtic Park and were super unlucky that we didn't score, we didn't take the advantage because I think it would be a totally different game. We absolutely destroyed them and it was also, I remember this buzzing atmosphere. The whole stadium was buzzing, like, it was crazy and these nights are the most important for me, scoring or not scoring. These are the great moments that I will always remember. It must've been special proving critics wrong by winning the league in your first season? Yeah, it was amazing. It was amazing winning my first year in Celtic, the trophy straight away, winning the Premiership top-scorer trophy. If you combine these two, I mean, you cannot be happier. You cannot be happier. I was super happy. I was feeling that finally, even at 26, I feel like a proper professional football player that is in high level, competing for the best, playing Champions League, ending up top scorer of the league, winning the league, and playing for this massive club. I think my presence in Celtic is going to be my biggest flex that I will always have in my professional career. I don't know what's going to happen in the future. I'm 30 years old, but if you combine everything that I experienced there, the size of the club, the Champions League nights, the people there, I couldn't walk on the street. Because I wouldn't enjoy my walk with my family. I went out with a stroller with my son, and I remember in 20 metres, I had like 15 photos. I remember my wife in the end looking like, 'Are we walking now?' We were just photo shooting. I could understand, she has a couple of hours with me in the afternoon to spend together with the family, whatever. But I loved it. Yeah. I loved it. I think it was kind of a similar situation with AEK Athens, but the Greek mentality is different. It's different. And there is not too much respect on the players, winning or not winning. Like they will not, they will sit outside and they will use words like, why the [expletive] didn't you win, like stuff like that. Or if you win, ah, what a [expletive] player. They are confused. They think you're a friend of them or whatever in a bad way, which I never received in Celtic. Wherever I went, I received super respectful behaviours. Even from Rangers fans, I never had any issues. Everyone was talking to me like, hey, hello, whatever. And then they would say something like, Rangers, Rangers, like this. I said, no, we're joking. I never received this respect from anyone. So that's what I love, because I think that the people, they're not only obsessed with football, but they are well-educated also. They had an opinion about football, but for a fan, it's not common to have a proper opinion and a correct opinion. Most of the fans are speaking out of emotions and they don't have any clue. They are just reading articles and that's it. They don't have their own opinion because they don't have the education. They don't know. But talking to Scottish people, I felt like, dude, this team, even the fans, they're a different level. They have so many good memories and they breathe for football, but they know what they're talking about. You're going to sit down and speak about football for them and they will even tactically will talk about something. They will have an idea. And that was a big surprise for me. Entering the new season, did you feel you had a point to prove from the bench? Well, at first, when I finished the season winning the league and the top scorer trophy award, I called my agent and I said, 'We need to go.' And he was surprised. He said, 'What do you mean?'. I said, 'Listen, we need to go because I have the feeling that with this manager, I'm not going to play next year. It doesn't matter what I did this year. I'm not going to play. Whenever I play, I'm delivering. And I don't deserve that. I'm a king for the fans. I love them. They love me.' But I knew what was going to happen. I knew already. So my previous agent didn't really believe me, or didn't bring me any offers to the table. I just started the season, and it happened exactly as I was feeling. There was a special connection that Kyogo had with the manager and the manager with Kyogo. Maybe it was different sides. So maybe Ange was preferring this false nine. But then again, I was feeling what was going to happen. I want to feel loved in a place. And I think only the fans kept me at a good level coming from the bench and scoring. Only the fans showed me the love they had for me, the song they were singing for me, and all the support. Honestly, it was because of them. I was getting the love from somewhere and that made me deliver. So I think in six months I had nine goals in all competitions. Then I changed my agent. Obviously, I wasn't happy with what was going on and not finding a solution. And I made my mind that you know what? It's my career and I will never lose my love for the fans. And hopefully, they didn't lose the appreciation and the love they had for me. But yeah, it wasn't a place that I was feeling happy anymore. And it wasn't about the club. It wasn't about the fans. It was about the situation that if you don't play, it's not easy to feel happy. And I was always a protagonist. I wanted to feel like a protagonist and not like a spare part that is going to help out in difficult moments or is going to fill out the shoes of someone when he is missing. What was your relationship like with Kyogo? No, with Kyogo, I never had any problems. Like, we never fought. We couldn't fight. He didn't speak English back then. Like, zero words. I don't know in the end how was it but how you can fight with someone that you don't even know what he's thinking? No, I didn't have any fight with Kyogo. It was a big, big competition with me and him but it was, at the end of the day, mutual respect with each other. Honestly, we never had any fight and he was super kind to me. I think I was kind to him too. It was just the fact that I wanted to play and he didn't want to play with two strikers. That was another thing that played its part. The World Cup break then arrived and rumours started swirling. Can you clarify exactly what happened? The relegation with VVV-Venlo affected me a lot. A lot. Imagine scoring 29 goals and then you don't have any offers from any other team until August 26. Eventually, when Celtic realised that, 'All he has is us', they really took advantage of it. I had a ridiculous contract and then they told me when I signed, 'Well, if you prove yourself, we're going to sit down in summer and give you what you deserve.' But of course, that was a lie to bring me there. And when I ended up top scorer, winning the league, they bought me only for £2.5m, you feel like, 'Ok, I proved myself. I did my part. Now let's do yours.' So I talked to them and I said, 'Listen, you need to give me what I deserve.' And then they just offered me like £1,000 more per week. That was the offer they made to me. And I said, 'Okay, obviously it's not £1k more. It's like you are messing around and you don't appreciate me.' And at this time, I said, 'Don't even make any other offer because I feel disrespected and you didn't appreciate what I gave for the team and for the fans. The connections I had, I don't care anymore. I am done with you, name a price, I'm leaving. And it was all about the appreciation like even if they would give me the same money they would tell me, 'You know what this is it' or if they would give me like something super tiny more like it's the appreciation part. You don't know if you're going to find the money that you want afterwards, I didn't have any offer I was on the air. But I said no. I don't feel that they appreciate me as a player, they don't appreciate me, they don't appreciate what I did for them that I came here, I delivered with this ridiculous contract they bought me for nothing, but then I won the league. If you remember before I started playing we were second while I was injured and when I came back we overpassed the Rangers and we won the league title and I feel like I put my feet on that. I helped a little bit on that for a lot I don't know. We won almost everything like okay what else do you want? And then at that moment I felt that okay they are lying and all they care about is money and they don't care about relationship, they don't care about the fans, they don't care about the love and the connection of the fans and the players I said, 'Okay then it's it's time to go.' Did you feel like Celtic did enough to keep you? Well, if you think that Celtic should be happy with selling their striker, top scorer of the league, for £4.5m, then you tell me if it's a good business or if there was a plan. If they would sell me, for example, £15m, £12m, £13m, I will tell you yes. You know what? They made a profit. I cannot tell anyone anything about them. It's business but it wasn't about that. I think the relationship between me, Michael and Ange in the end was really fragile. It was really fragile and I think at some point it just broke the glass. What was your relationship like with Ange Postecoglou? Listen, I cannot say anything bad about Ange. He brought me there. I don't know what his plan was originally. To be a second striker or to be a solution from the bench? To be a starter? I never understood. I cannot say anything bad. He was an amazing manager. He was the best manager I ever had in my career, football-wise. As a person, it doesn't matter. Personal relationship and personal opinion is different to every person, for a specific face, for a specific individual. But as a manager, I cannot say anything bad. He brought me there. Of course, I wasn't happy when I was not playing. I'm going to tell you something weird. We were both Greeks, right? In 18 months, I went to his office once to ask permission to go to Greece to undergo surgery for my knee. That was it. And when I did that, I was already in the team for three months. I asked people, 'Where is his office?' And they were laughing with me. They said, 'What do you mean? You don't know where his office is? You even speak the same language.' I said, 'I would never talk.' I don't know with other players, to be honest. I had zero opinion about if he was talking or not to other players, but, yeah, with me, that was the situation. And the fact that we didn't speak in his office didn't mean that we spoke outside, right? Nothing at all. But still, he was an amazing manager. And could we have developed this relationship better? Yes. But in the end of the day, sporting-wise, I was really happy with him. Did you eventually speak to Ange and make it clear that you saw your future elsewhere? Yeah. I let him know that, you know what, I need to, I want to go away. At this point, he couldn't tell me anything, or he didn't even try to convince me to stay, whatever. The only thing I said to him was that I had two options. I had Japan and Atlanta United at this time. I said to him, 'Help me out, I want to go to Atlanta United, and the team [Celtic] wants to force me to go to Japan.' He said, 'Yes, I'm going to help you', but eventually he lied. He went to Michael and he said the exact opposite of what I asked him. But I was really straight with him. I said to him, 'You know what, you understand very well that I have to go. I don't want to have any bad feelings for you. It doesn't matter how you treated me, it doesn't matter what the relationship was at this point. Just help me out so I can make it easier for you too'. Because in the end he was obviously not happy to have me there, while I was not happy also. Help me out to find the best solution. I want to go there, just push Michael, convince him, and I said, yeah, I'll do my best. And that was it. Your last goal for Celtic came against Kilmarnock at Hampden. Did you know at that point that would be your final appearance? Yeah, and I think that was also my last touch. I was really sad that I was leaving. I was super, super sad. I was sitting on the couch, remembering myself. I had to convince myself, sporting-wise, that it's not good for you to stay here. It doesn't matter how much you love the club. It doesn't matter how much you are obsessed with the fans. It doesn't matter how happy you were this whole time, scoring goals, winning trophies with the team. You have to go, but I had to accept it first. It was difficult. At that point, had you agreed your move to Atlanta? No, nothing. They were struggling to find a position as a DP to sign me. Because if you're not a DP, I think you cannot buy a big amount of players and you cannot give them a contract. So they were struggling a lot to pay the money that Celtic was trying to get for me. And I went to the Netherlands. I had medical tests for Japan, for Urawa Red Diamonds. I knew that the deal with Atlanta United was not going to happen. And then coming back from the medical tests, I was in the airport. I was ready to fly back to Glasgow and my agent called me and said, 'Atlanta United sent someone away because they really want to sign you.' And I was super happy because Japan would be an amazing experience but I wasn't convinced about their football, first of all, and the fact that they didn't speak English and you would be away. I had a family. I had to choose for my family, like, should I go there? If something happens when I'm away with the team, who are they going to talk to? That was the most important reason I remember why I didn't pick Japan. It would be an amazing city, it would be Tokyo. So I said, 'Yeah, better Atlanta United.' I also had Midtjylland. They were really after me. But I remember with my son, he was one year old, and at Celtic, we went out to play once. And I said, 'I'm a family person nowadays.I have to put everything together. And first of all, my family. I have my dreams, but priorities first.' So when Midtjylland came, I asked, 'How is the weather there?' And they told me it's 10 times worse than Celtic, than Glasgow. I said, 'What?' They said, 'Yeah, it's worse.' I said, 'Thank you, I'm not coming.' They were offering me more money than Japan, than Atlanta, than anyone. Probably, they were also the team that really wanted to sign me. They were trying, their director was sending me like 50 messages a day trying to convince me. But then I said, 'I'm sorry, mate. I have a family, I feel so sorry for them. If I go away from here, it's amazing. And the only bad thing is the weather. I'm going to put the priorities first. And the first thing I'm going to look for is the safety and the weather of the city.' Celtic later won the Treble that season. Were there mixed emotions watching from afar? Yeah. It's still sad and I still feel... On the one hand, I feel super, super, super, super proud that I played for Celtic. And on the other hand, I was feeling this weird feeling that you feel you are there, but you're not there anymore. And it was sad. I was missing the posts from the fans on the game, singing your song, treating you like a king, all these things that made you feel, okay, now I enjoy playing football. Now it's amazing. And I was missing that. And probably I still miss it. Looking back, do you have any regrets about your time at Celtic? I don't think I have any regrets. I think I experienced that adventure in the best possible way. I did my best. And when I had to leave, I left with the head up, with much love for the club, appreciation and the fans. But it had to be done. And I don't regret it. And that doesn't have to do with the feelings that I had for Celtic because I didn't leave for money. I didn't leave for a rival club. I left at the point that everyone can understand I should go. If I cared for my career, I should go. If I was playing regularly as a starter and getting what I deserved, why should I leave? I was feeling amazing. Do you still watch out for Celtic's results? Yeah. They are still strong. They are still going. They cannot lose the league. They are in the right path and a very good period in the last years. It shows they are a super healthy club nowadays. They show this publicly that we are a healthy club and we're going to win trophies. The only thing that sometimes makes me a little bit sad is that I would love the team to be more competitive in Champions League because it deserves it. And I don't know if it's lack of quality. I don't think it's lack of quality. Something is missing. I don't know what is this, but I would love to see Celtic competing for the best in Europe, even if it's not Champions League, like competing for the finals of Europa League or something because they deserve to be somewhere high in the European tournament. You must have had goosebumps playing in the Champions League? Yeah, it was amazing. I played Champions League before with AEK Athens, not regularly, not as a starter. I had, though, the idea and the anthem and all these goosebumps that you have from the moment that you enter the field to the end. But with Celtic it was different. When you experience Champions League at Celtic Park, I still remember when the anthem was, like, starting and the whole stadium was shaking. It was amazing. That was amazing. The push that the fans give to you. All the games, we absolutely loved them. And, of course, the moment that I didn't mention was the goal I scored. It was my first goal in Champions League. And it's a night that I will never forget. Do you think you would fit into the current Celtic team? You want to set the fire? I would love to play for Celtic again. I don't know if that's a utopia or if it could happen again - but who wouldn't? Even if you don't know what it feels like to be there, when you've already been there, you know exactly what it means. So if someone played for Celtic and he was successful and you ask him a couple of years after, 'Would you play again for Celtic?' and he tells you 'no', he's a stupid guy. He's so dumb. So, yeah, I would love, love, love to wear this jersey again. I don't know if this circle is done for me, but, yeah, that's my truth. You're still only 30. Jota and Kieran Tierney have re-signed... When I saw Jota coming back, I got into his position and how amazing he would feel getting in there again. He went to Saudi, he went on loan to France. He probably wasn't happy in any of these places. He didn't have the same importance. He didn't have the same happiness or freedom. But I felt straight away, like, how he must have felt. The moment he signed again and the moment he wore the jersey, the moment he entered the field for the first time... the fans were cheering his name like crazy, the whole stadium on their feet. The feeling would be amazing. It would be amazing. I just immediately put myself in his position. Do you still keep in touch with anyone at Celtic? Well, I had the contact, not pretty often, but with [Josip] Juranovic, with Jota, obviously, when he went to Saudi, we spoke a couple of times. I wanted to check up on him, like, how he's doing. Obviously, I have all these players on Instagram, and we exchange some words and some wishes, not too often, but I would love to have a more regular contact. But still, I know what they're doing with their lives. I know from these things that they're posting, and when you are looking up on them and checking what they're posting, you feel like you're still part of their life. You know what they are doing in their lives, and you feel like you're not so distanced at the end of the day. So, yeah, I could have better contact, but still, I have with some of them. Who was the best player in training? Mikey Johnston. Yeah, he was amazing. It was a big surprise for me [that he never made it at Celtic] but I think it was a mix of a couple of reasons. I think it was the fact that he was picking up super easy injuries. He had issues with his muscles. The other fact, I think it was mental, that he didn't feel... From Monday to Friday, he was amazing, but then on the weekend, he didn't feel that he is a star there. So that's why I think he couldn't show up and be the player he could be for Celtic, because I think if he had this mental part, like, strong and feeling happy and feeling important, he would rip the league up. He was that kind of player that could dribble five, six players and then dribble also the goalkeeper and score. How would you sum up your time at Celtic overall? As I said before, it's going to be the biggest flex of my life, my career, because I made my dream come true, playing for a massive club, being a star in this club, and then having all these fans cheering your name, scoring goals. I remember the moment the ball was touching the back of the net. It was ecstasy. It was this feeling that the whole stadium was on the field, cheering and screaming. And so, at the end of the day, I would say that I'm super proud. I wish it would last longer. I would love to last longer. And if that's possible, to meet again and, you know, to wear this jersey. If not, I will try to visit Glasgow on a weekend with the Old Firm derby at Celtic Park. I would love to be there. And the fact that made me really sad, to be honest, when I left, is that I didn't have the chance to say goodbye to the fans. I would love to take the microphone and say a proper farewell to the fans. Maybe it's too much, because it was only one year and a half, but my connection with the fans was not for a player who played only one year and a half there. So, I would love to give them a proper farewell and tell them thank you for everything that made this journey special. And what I did, the biggest part was for them.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
💰 MLS best transfer XI so far this winter
This MLS transfer window has been a blur, with big money being spent up and down the league, league legends returning, and intra-league cash being splashed, you can forgive somebody for not realizing how quickly the start of the 2025 season has crept up on us. With that in mind, let's take a look at the best XI of confirmed inbound transfers to MLS this season. That includes current MLS players moving to new MLS clubs, and MLS clubs making previous loan deals permanent. In typical MLS fashion, we'll go with the classic 4-2-3-1 formation. 📸 Miguel Schincariol - 2023 Getty Images There were almost no number-one goalkeeper signings in MLS this offseason, leaving us little to choose from. However, RSL have brought in veteran shot-stopper Rafael Cabral from Gremio to bolster their ranks. The 34-year-old has made over 400 senior appearances in his career, and will bring more veteran experience to a goalkeeping core in search of a true number one. 📸 Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Orellano was a revelation for Cincinnati in 2024, alternating between playing as a right wing-back and an true right-winger. The 24-year-old's was on loan from Vasco de Gama, but after a stellar campaign in which he bagged 10 goals and seven assists, a won MLS Newcomer of the Year, Cincinnati made his move to the club permanent. Oh yeah, he simply only scores bangers as well. ARE YOU KIDDING?! 🤯Luca Orellano with an insane strike. — Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 1, 2024 📸 Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images San Diego, for obvious reasons, were the busiest team in the market this winter as they head into their inaugural campaign. And they made a shrewd move in picking up New York Red Bulls center-back Andrés Reyes for a $800,000 as they build their first ever defensive core. The Colombian was integral in the Red Bulls' run to the 2024 MLS Cup final, scoring the goal in the Eastern Conference semi-final to help take them to Los Angeles. Andres Reyes was EVERYWHERE tonight. 😤 — Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 24, 2024 📸 JUAN MABROMATA Young defenders from South America have found a true home in Major League Soccer in recent years, and Minnesota United may have found another solid addition to the bunch in Nicolás Romero. The former Atlético Tucumán center-back made nearly 80 first-team appearances at the ripe age of 21 in the Argentine top-flight, and should improve the Loons' defensive options under second-year head coach Eric Ramsay. 📸 Ben Roberts Photo - 2025 Getty Images After a handful of key departures this offseason, Cincinnati have responded well with the addition of Middlesbrough left-back Lukas Engel. The Dane can provide a bit more steel defensively in Pat Noonan's back-five, while also have the ability to join the attack out wide. 📸 Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images It's not often the MLS Cup MVP is available for the paltry sum of $100,000 and a homegrown player just weeks after playing a key role in his side's title triumph, yet Gastón Brugman was. The veteran midfielder not a first-choice man for Galaxy boss Greg Vanney last season, but it was his last-minute addition to the MLS Cup Final lineup that may have sealed the trophy. Campeon de Los Ángeles 🇺🇾We thank MLS Cup Champion @gastonbrugman for his many contributions to the club during his time in LA. — LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) December 19, 2024 Nashville have faded into obscurity since bursting onto the scene in 2020 and 2021 after joining the league, but a veteran presence in midfield is a solid addition to a team looking to work their way back into the picture. 📸 Steve Roberts-Imagn Images As the biggest spenders this offseason, Atlanta United will feature in this XI frequently going forward, and we'll start with the midfield addition of Mateusz Klich from D.C. United. The former Leeds man was the best of a woeful bunch in the nation's capital last season, but in a team expected to function much more fluidly in Atlanta, Klich could have the platform to show why he was once Premier League quality. Reports have indicated that Atlanta feel they are have signed 'a fourth Designated Player' in Klich, and they did so for the small price of an MLS SuperDraft pick. 📸 Eddie Keogh - 2025 Getty Images In a selling league like MLS, it's not often you get to see the return of a club legend who once departed to the Premier League for nearly $26m, but Atlanta United have done just that in bringing back Miguel Almíron. The Paraguayan scored 21 goals and provided 28 assists in 62 games for Atlanta across two seasons in 2017 and 2018, and he makes his return at the perfect time as the Five Stripes look to reload under Ronny Deila. Alongside Aleksei Miranchuk, and a big-money striker who will feature later in this article, 'Miggy' may just be set for a true Dirty South swan song. Atlanta United star Miguel Almiron:'I feel like I'm home.' — Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 31, 2025 📸 Katie Stratman-Imagn Images The saga is finally over, Lucho Acosta has a new home. Despite his seemingly sketchy behavior after publicly announcing his desire to leave Cincinnati, Acosta is still one of the all-time great attackers in MLS history, and Dallas can only be better with him as the center-piece of their attack. The Argentine has bagged a staggering 72 goals and 97 assists in 251 MLS games, and has nott shown signs of slowing down anytime soon. With star striker Petar Musa leading the line, Dallas now boast one of the deadliest attacking combinations in league. LUCHO ACOSTA! 🤩 — Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 24, 2023 📸 Hector Vivas - 2023 Getty Images When squad plans were being laid out for MLS newcomers San Diego, it was clear from the jump they had one signing in mind to announce their presence in the league — Mexico international Chucky Lozano. The 29-year-old has tallied more than 200 goal contributions in 444 senior appearances across spells with Pachuca, PSV, and Napoli, winning four league titles along the way. 'Signing a player of the international stature of 'Chucky' Lozano is the biggest possible endorsement of our project in San Diego,' said San Diego FC Owner and Chairman, Sir Mohamed Mansour. Lozano has immediately become one of the highest profile attackers in the division after making the move from PSV. 📸 Stu Forster - 2025 Getty Images Of course the MLS record signing would have to feature at the top of the lineup for us, and it was Atlanta United splashing the cash once again. The former Middlesbrough man will come into the league with bags of pressure, but a platform to excel with the talent behind him in Atlanta. 'Oh my days man… I really can't wait to play here.'𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 compares to @MBStadium. Just wait till it's full, Latte 😮💨 — Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) February 5, 2025 What do you make of the XI? Any snubs?
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Miguel Almiron returns to Atlanta United after transfer from Newcastle
Miguel Almirón is returning to Atlanta. Atlanta United announced Thursday the signing of the Paraguayan midfielder after completing a transfer from Newcastle United for an undisclosed fee. Almirón left Atlanta in 2019 to join the Premier League side for a reported $26 million fee, the highest in MLS at the time. His best season with Newcastle came in 2022-23, when he scored 11 goals. Overall, he had 30 goals and 22 assists across 223 appearances in all competitions. 'On behalf of the club, I want to thank Miggy for everything he has given us during our time together," Newcastle coach Eddie Howe said in a statement released by the club on Thursday. 'He has been the ultimate professional, and he has been a big part of some of our most memorable moments in recent seasons. He is a great person and we'll miss him greatly, but this is the right move at the right time for him and his family and we wish them well.' Almirón joined Atlanta in 2017 as a designated player, and helped the team win the MLS Cup title in 2018. He was the 2017 MLS Newcomer of the Year, a two time All-Star and a two-time finalist for league MVP. He had 22 goals and 33 assists over two seasons. His new contract with Atlanta runs through 2027 with an option for 2028. He will occupy a Designated Player and international roster spot. 'He's a dynamic attacking player with proven success in our league, as well as at the highest level in Europe in the English Premier League and UEFA Champions League with Newcastle," Atlanta Sporting Director Chris Henderson said. "We're pleased to add someone with his talent, experience and competitiveness to our group as we continue to build the roster for 2025.' ___ AP soccer: Anne M. Peterson, The Associated Press
