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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Indian team call-up a proud moment for me and my family: Nikhil Prabhu
Nikhil shared his journey, experiences, and thoughts ahead of joining the camp with Business Standard, and he looks forward to transferring his decent form from the Indian Super League. Shashwat Nishant New Delhi Punjab FC midfielder Nikhil Prabhu was recently called up to the Indian national football team for the first time as India will be taking on Thailand in a friendly and Hong Kong in the AFC Asian cup qualifier on June 4 and 10 respectively. Nikhil shared his journey, experiences, and thoughts ahead of joining the camp with Business Standard as he looks forward to transfer his decent form in the Indian Super League onto the national scenario. Here are the excerpts from his conversation: Nikhil: I was in Bali when I got the news. I immediately called my parents and sister, this was a dream not just for me, but for my whole family. They always told me hard work pays off, and this call-up was a great moment of joy for us all. It's been about patience and perseverance. Q: You started as a central defender and transitioned to a defensive midfielder. How was that change for you? Nikhil: Initially, it was challenging because I hadn't played as a midfielder before. Coaches like Panos and Staikos supported me, helping me understand my new role, focusing mainly on defense and guiding the team from the middle. It involved more running and responsibilities, but I embraced it since I love leading and taking on challenges. Q: How do you plan to carry your form from Punjab FC to the international stage? Nikhil: I have worked closely with coach Manolo for over a year. He has been very supportive, communicating clearly about how I can improve as a CDM. It's motivating to have him as the national coach now. Representing the country is a huge responsibility but also a dream come true. Q: How was your season with Punjab FC? Nikhil: It was full of ups and downs, but overall a good season. Sometimes we lacked a bit of luck, conceding goals quickly. Still, we showed great performance, especially in the Super Cup until the last moments. Q: Have you met your national teammates yet? Nikhil: The camp starts on June 18, so I haven't met them yet. But I've received congratulatory messages from senior players like Nikhil Pujari and Rahul Bheke, which was encouraging. Q: Are you prepared for any initiation rituals in the national camp? Nikhil: I haven't prepared anything yet. It will be a special moment just wearing the national jersey and playing alongside legends like Sunil Chhetri. I look forward to supporting my teammates. Q: You're known for your intensity on the field. What are you like off the field? Nikhil: Off the field, I'm calm and kind. I'm always willing to help others and believe in fairness. If someone deserves recognition more than me, I'm happy to give it to them. Q: If you weren't a footballer, what else might you have pursued? Nikhil: Growing up in a sports-friendly community, I played various sports like swimming and table tennis. If not football, maybe I would have explored another sport, but football has always been my passion. Q: Do you have any pre-match superstitions? Nikhil: Before every match, I speak with my parents. That conversation pumps me up and fuels my aggression on the field, which is crucial for my role as a defensive midfielder.
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
AC Milan fires Conceicao, Allegri reportedly set to return as coach
AC Milan fired Sergio Conceicao as expected on Thursday following a disappointing season that saw the Rossoneri fail to qualify for Europe. The seven-time European champion has reportedly reached an agreement with Massimiliano Allegri to return as coach. Milan finished eighth in Serie A, 19 points behind Italian champion Napoli. 'The club would like to thank Sergio and his staff for their commitment, professionalism and dedication shown during their time leading the first team over the past few months,' Milan said in a statement. Conceicao replaced the fired Paulo Fonseca in December with an 18-month contract and promptly guided Milan to the Italian Super Cup title in Saudi Arabia during his first matches in charge. But Milan was eliminated by Feyenoord in the Champions League playoffs in February then got beat by Bologna in the Italian Cup final this month. Meanwhile, city rival Inter Milan will play Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final Saturday. Allegri coached Milan to the Serie A title in 2011.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
When Lionel Messi fought with Luis Enrique, ‘a period of tension'
On May 31, Luis Enrique will coach PSG in the Champions League final in Munich against Inter Milan, but he took time out to rewind to his days with Barcelona, in particular a fight with Lionel Messi. 'Everyone thought it was easy to manage Barcelona with Messi, Neymar, and Suárez, but now it's clear that it isn't,' says Luis Enrique just days before the big European final. The moment of friction came in 2015. In January 2015, Messi returned to Barcelona training a couple of days after his teammates, after spending New Year's in Rosario. He arrived by plane with Dani Alves and Neymar. But for some reason Messi was in a bad mood. During the training, Messi fell in the opponent's penalty area and Luis Enrique, who was refereeing, said, 'siga siga' (go on),triggering protests from Messi. The situation escalated and Messi went after the coach in the dressing room and Clarin the newspaper reported that Neymar had to intervene to stub out the tension that day. That weekend though, Messi was substituted in a loss to Real Sociedad. Messi was brought in only 13 minutes into the second half, didn't have much of a role in the game, and was substituted. He ended up arguing with Enrique again, and didn't turn up for training next day. 'Until everything was resolved, there was a period of tension, which I certainly didn't seek out, but which arose and which I had to deal with,' Luis Enrique recalled now. In the recent past, in 2022, Messi too has spoken about that phase. 'I had a special relationship with Luis Enrique. When he decided to leave, we tried to convince him to stay until the very end because we were still doing well. In 2015 January he benched me and there was a conflict, but it got resolved and we had a fantastic relationship,' Messi said. Under Enrique's leadership, Barca won two league titles, two Copa del Rey triumphs, a win at the Super Cup, and a Champions League title. 'Today I can only speak highly of Leo Messi,' says Luis Enrique, who left Barça with an 80.29 percent effectiveness rate: 'A beastly season.'
Daily Tribune
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Teenage Barca star Yamal signs new contract to 2031
Barcelona's teenage star Lamine Yamal signed a new contract until 2031 with the Catalan giants on Tuesday after a spectacular season. The 17-year-old winger is already one of the club's key players and helped them land a domestic treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. 'Barcelona and Lamine Yamal have reached a deal to extend his contract to June 30, 2031,' said the Catalan club in a statement. 'Lamine Yamal's renewal is a demonstration of the solidity of Barca's project. His emergence on to the world football scene is like few others, and it began with his debut on April 29, 2023, still at the age of 15.' Spanish media reported the new deal make s him one of Barcelona's best p a i d players. After triumphi n g a t Euro 2024 with Spain last summer, Yamal scored 18 goals and provided 25 assists in 55 matches across all competitions during a sensational campaign.
See - Sada Elbalad
a day ago
- Sport
- See - Sada Elbalad
Salah and Marmoush among Europe's top goal-scoring kings
Amir Hagag Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian national team and Liverpool star, topped the list of top goal-scoring kings in Europe's top five leagues (the "Big 5") for the 2024-25 season, according to the global network "planetfootball." Mohamed Salah contributed to 47 goals with Liverpool in the English Premier League during the season that ended, a number unmatched by any other player in Europe's top five leagues (the "Big 5"). Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich player, came in second with 35 goal-scoring contributions. Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé came in third with 34 goal contributions, followed by Atalanta's Matteo Retegui with 33 goals in fourth place. Former Egypt national team, Manchester City, and Eintracht Frankfurt star Omar Marmoush came in fifth with 31 goals. Marmoush surpassed Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski in sixth place with 29 goals, followed by Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, who came in seventh with the same number of goals, but scored only 23 goals. read more Japan Stun Spain 2-1 to Qualify for World Cup Last 16 World Cup 2022: Get to Know Confirmed Line-ups of Japan and Spain Group E Decider Saudi Arabia Bid Farewell to World Cup after 2-1 Loss to Mexico Tunisia Achieve Historic Win over France but Fail to Qualify Tunisia to Clash against France in World Cup Sports Get to Know Squad of Group D Teams in World Cup Sports Al Ahly Gift EGP 70,000 to Players After Claiming Egyptian Super Cup Title Sports Bencharki Hits First 2 Goals with Al Jazira Since Leaving Zamalek Sports Arsenal Possible Line-up for Nottingham Forest News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
