Latest news with #NedumOnuoha
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
It suited PSG, but was new Champions League format a success?
The Champions League campaign has ended with a new winner of the trophy in the shape of Paris season represented the competition's biggest change of format since the group stage was introduced in the 1991-92 then, the competition has featured some combination of groups of four teams, playing each other home and away, before a knockout stage (or straight final in 91-92 and 92-93).This season, the expanded 36-team tournament saw each side play eight different teams - four at home and four away - in one big league reached its climax at the end of January before the traditional knockout stages got under way, but was it a success?PSG would say so after lifting their maiden Champions League trophy in Munich having initially finished 15th in the league phase and needing to progress via a play-off to reach the knockouts proper. 'It doesn't matter if you don't make the top eight' Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha was complimentary of the new format and believes it has been a success."I've enjoyed it," Onuoha told BBC Sport. "There were lots of good games in the group stage and lots of big moments, and not just when the big teams have played each other either."The biggest change for me was that teams only played each other once in the league stage. It meant no-one lived or died by that result, and also the energy from the lesser teams was very different to when teams knew they would play each other again in a few weeks' time."Aston Villa beating Bayern Munich was a good example. Bayern did not get a second chance against them, when they probably would not have slipped up again - but they were still able to claw back the points they dropped."Eventual champions PSG lost three of their opening five games, before a late resurgence saw them win their next three matches to secure a play-off tie with fellow Ligue 1 side winning that, Luis Enrique's side met Liverpool, the team who finished top of the league phase, in the last 16."While PSG are clearly a top-quality side, their journey shows that finding form at the right time is what matters," added Onuoha. "They were out of the top 24 until they won their penultimate game, and then got through the play-off stage."That's another thing I like about the format, because PSG have shown that in the future, it doesn't matter if you don't make the top eight."Journalist Nicky Bandini made a fine point about the new format benefitting Luis Enrique's side."Without this format, we would maybe not have seen this PSG team that has developed during the season because they could have gone out," said Bandini. "This way we get to see them progress, and it feels like a more entertaining journey." Aside from Liverpool's early exit, the seeding system seemed to work with Barcelona (second), Arsenal (third) and Inter (fourth) all making at least the Inter, a fourth-placed finish meant they were faced with a favourable tie with Feyenoord in the last 16 before taking on Bayern Munich and Barcelona in the last eight and semi-finals. More excitement and jeopardy? Unlike previous editions, where many teams had already secured qualification or elimination before the final round, this year's league phase delivered a far more unpredictable, thrilling, and emotionally charged into the final group games last season, 13 teams had already secured qualification for the last this term, only Liverpool and Barcelona were guaranteed a place in the last 16 - gained by finishing in the top eight places in the with 27 teams still having something on the line an exciting finale to the league phase was league phase featured rematches of four of the last five Champions League finals with Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice saying: "Usually, you find these games in the quarter-finals or semi-finals."Manchester City were the big story of the league phase with three points needed on the final league phase game to book their spot in a play-off - where they were beaten by Real Madrid in a thrilling creating a format where teams played eight different opponents in a league stage that culminated with 64 goals in the final 18 matches, Uefa decision-makers will perhaps feel they have countered suggestions that the previous group stage could be repetitive at times, with big names always progressing. 'Every game counts' or does it? Uefa claimed the new format would ensure every match has the potential to significantly impact a team's final standing. "Every game counts" was the precise wording one hand, only two games on matchday eight were true dead rubbers - Young Boys (36th) v Crvena zvezda (32nd) and Sturm Graz (33rd) v RB Leipzig (30th). The other teams all had something to play for, even if that meant just fighting for position. If that is taken in isolation, that is a clear selling point for this latest the other hand, nine teams had already been eliminated going into the final matchday, with Shakhtar Donetsk also practically out, needing to beat Borussia Dortmund and benefit from an improbable five-goal swing to 24 of the 36 teams either qualifying for the last 16 straight from the league phase or into a play-off, genuine jeopardy was at a minimum. Manchester City made it through despite a run that saw them lose three out of four games.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Pick your combined PSG and Inter Milan XI
Paris St-Germain and Inter Milan go head to head in what should be an enthralling Champions League final on who would make your combined XI from the two finalists?You can watch Julien Laurens, Nicky Bandini and Nedum Onuoha pick their ultimate side here. And have a go at choosing your own combined Champions League final XI below. Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Follow Fulham v City on the official Man City app
City's Premier League finale at Fulham isn't being shown live on TV in the UK, so the official Man City app is the best place to keep across the action. The Blues travel down to Craven Cottage on Sunday 24 May, with kick-off set for 16:00 (UK). Advertisement After beating Bournemouth 3-1, City need a point to guarantee a spot in next season's UEFA Champions League, with Brighton's win against Liverpool meaning Fulham's hopes of European qualification are over. WATCH: City 3-1 Bournemouth: Extended highlights It should be a fascinating tie, and the best place to keep across all the action is on the official Man City app, with comprehensive coverage before, during and after our final Premier League fixture of 2024/25. Two hours prior to kick-off, our build-up begins on our Matchday Centre, with live text updates, stats and analysis continuing across the afternoon. Advertisement DOWNLOAD THE MAN CITY APP Matchday Live will then provide you with more pre-match content focused on City, with a special watchalong programme featuring Nedum Onuoha and Shaun Wright-Phillips set to begin at 15:30. From kick-off, Alistair Mann and Michael Brown will guide you through the action with live audio commentary, while those with push notifications turned on will also be alerted to all the key moments as and when they unfold. A detailed match report and reaction from both Pep Guardiola and a player will be available shortly after full-time, with two-minute highlights published at 19:45. A more extended highlights package and a CITY+ full-match replay can then be accessed from midnight following the game.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Palace will take Europe in their stride'
You can't always plan for scenarios like winning the FA Cup moments that change the history and direction of the football club. Crystal Palace did enough to win the final and now they are in Europe as a consequence. Some things may need to be looked at over the summer because of the extra round of fixtures they will have next season. Size of their squad is one thing I am sure they are going to look at to help ease the load. They might be able to recruit a different type of player this summer because they will be in Europe, but even then that player has to fit the club and its identity. The final showed the effort that needs to be put in by an individual to perform in that Palace team. There are also player expectations that need to be managed. I am sure they will be realistic when it comes to Europe because they have shown to be realistic in their approach to the Premier League for a long time. Oliver Glasner's players perform the way he wants them to and they fit perfectly into his system and ideas as a manager, so I don't really have any worries for them. They will take it in their stride because they are a good football club with a very good manager at the helm. Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Palace will take Europe in their stride'
You can't always plan for scenarios like winning the FA Cup moments that change the history and direction of the football club. Crystal Palace did enough to win the final and now they are in Europe as a things may need to be looked at over the summer because of the extra round of fixtures they will have next season. Size of their squad is one thing I am sure they are going to look at to help ease the might be able to recruit a different type of player this summer because they will be in Europe, but even then that player has to fit the club and its final showed the effort that needs to be put in by an individual to perform in that Palace team. There are also player expectations that need to be managed. I am sure they will be realistic when it comes to Europe because they have shown to be realistic in their approach to the Premier League for a long Glasner's players perform the way he wants them to and they fit perfectly into his system and ideas as a manager, so I don't really have any worries for will take it in their stride because they are a good football club with a very good manager at the Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson
