Latest news with #domestictreble
CNA
5 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Barcelona's Raphinha named LaLiga Player of the Season
Barcelona winger Raphinha was named LaLiga Player of the Season on Friday, after the Brazilian played a major role in his side winning the domestic treble, with club teammate Lamine Yamal named Best Under-23 player. Raphinha contributed 34 goals and 25 assists in 57 club games across all competitions, with Barca winning the league title, Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. The 28-year-old signed for Barcelona in 2022 from Leeds United and recently signed a contract extension keeping him at the Spanish club until 2028. Raphinha scored a late goal to put Barcelona ahead in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter Milan, only for the Italians to level in stoppage time and net an extra-time winner. That was Raphinha's 13th goal in 14 games of this season's competition. Yamal, still only 17, confirmed his status as one of the world's top talents after last season's breakthrough campaign, with the winger netting nine league goals along with five in the Champions League.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Schmeichel urges fans to 'never take success for granted'
Kasper Schmeichel has urged Celtic fans to never take success for granted as they aim to win a sixth domestic treble in nine over Aberdeen in the Saturday's Scottish Cup final would make it 22 trophies out of 27 since Brendan Rodgers first arrived at Celtic Park in the summer of Parkhead side won a 13th Scottish Premiership title in 14 seasons this term and lifted the trophy in front of a jubilant home crowd at the defeated Rangers on penalties in a dramatic League Cup final in December, Celtic can seal another clean sweep by beating the Dons in their final game of the season at keeper Schmeichel told Celtic's official podcast: "We must never, ever take these for granted, because it's not easy winning trophies or titles."Celtic have been able to do it because we have maintained an incredibly high standard of professionalism that's rooted deeply in hard work and dedication. Without that, it's not going to happen."So one thing I always would preach to anybody, any football fan, is to never take for granted the opportunity and never take for granted how much hard work goes into getting those opportunities."There are big clubs that go through big periods of transition, so you must never take these things for granted."We've got to enjoy them because you never know what's around the corner. But one thing I can guarantee, from my knowledge of the people in this building, is that no-one's going to let up."
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Chelsea complete treble with FA Cup win
Chelsea have won the Women's Fa Cup after beating Manchester United 3-0 at Wembley Stadium. The result means that the Blues have completed the domestic treble this season - meaning they've won all three of England's biggest well as the FA Cup, Chelsea won the Women's Super League and also the League also finished the season without losing a single match! 'It will be part of history' The Blues have enjoyed an amazing season, becoming the first WSL club to go unbeaten domestically in a 22-game campaign. It's also the sixth time that Chelsea have won the FA Chelsea's first goal, Sandy Baltimore scored a penalty just before half-time, after Erin Cuthbert was fouled in the box. Then substitute Catarina Macario headed in Chelsea's second goal in the 84th minute, before Baltimore got her second goal of the day, to seal the 3-0 win. Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor has now won everything in her first season with the club, and explained what winning the treble meant to the team."It means a lot. We worked hard all through the season. It was not easy and to achieve that, it will be part of history."Chelsea forward Catarina Macario, who scored Chelsea's second goal, described how special the moment was for her and her teammates. "I think it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to play at Wembley and to score in a final, in such an important game, it brings a lot of said: "It's a trophy we always wanted to win. We wanted to win a treble."
Telegraph
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Sonia Bompastor: The Chris Waddle fan who guided Chelsea to a treble in her first season
There is a surprise in store for Sonia Bompastor as she sits down to speak to Telegraph Sport. The France-born Chelsea manager grew up when the likes of Eric Cantona, Emmanuel Petit and David Ginola were the national heroes of her home country. But it was a Geordie with an unusual hairstyle who caught her eye. Bompastor revealed in her autobiography that Chris Waddle, who spent three years with Marseille, was her first idol. So, with Bompastor having won a domestic treble in her first season at Chelsea, Telegraph Sport thought it fitting to arrange a video message from her childhood hero. At first, she is taken aback. Then, after a few seconds, she smiles and points to her head: 'He changed his hair!' Waddle, who was nicknamed 'Magic Chris' by Marseille fans, entertained on the pitch but also stood out because of his mullet hairstyle. 'At maybe eight or nine years old, I had the same haircut,' Bompastor says, before laughing. 'It was not a success for me. It looked really bad. But I really loved him and I was trying to do the same. 'Watching him on TV, for me he was a role model but I couldn't access him. To have these words from him means a lot to me. I have a bit of emotion now. He made me really enjoy watching football. He created a lot but he was always [playing] with a smile. 'I always say it's really important to enjoy every day what you are doing and I am lucky to have a job that is my passion. That is probably the best luck you can have in life.' There has been nothing lucky about Bompastor's first season with Chelsea. Taking over from Emma Hayes, who had won 16 trophies over 12 years, was deemed one of the hardest jobs in football. Bompastor has made it look easy. On Sunday, she lifted the FA Cup to complete a treble which included an unbeaten season in the Women's Super League. Bompastor is relaxed as she talks but this is a rarity, for players have described her as the most competitive person they have ever met. 'I think that comes from my childhood,' says Bompastor, whose father was a referee and who played football from an early age with her eldest brother. 'I had to fight just to play football. It was a really difficult time because people were telling me that, just because I was a girl, I wasn't allowed to play. 'It was really difficult but I think my personality started to grow because I really wanted to prove to people that they were wrong and that, if I wanted to play football, I could. Even if the mentality and the culture in France at that time was not ready to accept that.' During her 13-year professional career, she won 14 trophies, most of which came at Lyon, and earned more than 150 caps for France. She then spent eight years as head of Lyon's academy before being named the club's first female manager in 2021, becoming the only person to win the Women's Champions League as both a player and a manager. In short, she is a serial winner. 'I hate to lose, I don't know why it's so strong,' Bompastor says. 'I can be really bad when I'm losing and I can lose my friendship with some people for one or two days just because I am losing something – a football game or even games at home sometimes, I get really mad. 'When I was a player it was really bad sometimes. I am trying to learn with more maturity but it's still difficult. I think my kids are really helping me in that way because you can't show them you get really, really mad when you lose something. They also need to learn that sometimes when you play against someone that is better than you, you need to accept that. That is something I don't know how to do.' Bompastor pauses when asked about the angriest she has felt during her football career. 'When I was a player I stayed for maybe one or two days without eating,' she says. 'I couldn't eat because my stomach was so upset. I didn't even feel like I was hungry, I was 'hangry' mad, but not hangry to have food. 'Sometimes in training sessions I was getting almost in fights with some of my team-mates.' Bomapstor then clarifies: 'Not bad fights. But if they were next to me, I was pushing them. 'Sometimes I regret it because I just feel like it was intense and too much. But I couldn't control that. It was too difficult for me to manage that emotion when it was coming in the moment. 'I made progress as a manager. I think I still have that competitive edge but I need to deliver to my players in the right way and I think that's really important. When we talk about the winning mentality, ruthless mentality, it's about making sure we understand what can we accept and can we not drop off.' Surprisingly, management is not something Bompastor was immediately attracted to when she retired. She has four children and wanted a job that allowed her to 'prioritise my family' and 'stay more at home', hence taking the academy role at Lyon. 'When the opportunity came for me to become the head coach in Lyon, I was still questioning whether I was the right person,' she says. 'My family and my wife, Camille, just told me, 'Why not? You are the right person, just go!' This is how it started.' Bompastor first opened up about her relationship with Camille Abily, who is also her assistant manager, in February following the publication of her autobiography. Previously team-mates at Lyon and the French national team, they have been together for 13 years. 'I wrote that book just because I felt it was the right timing for my kids to know a little bit more about my story. I didn't want to mention anything about my private life because I think me and Camille, we are people who are really humble, not secretive, but really quiet. It's difficult for us to be exposed. I don't feel I need to talk about my private life. 'My life with Camille and my family are part of my life, I'm really proud of that and it was difficult to write the book without mentioning that, but I knew people would be almost only interested by that. I'm still not comfortable talking about it but if it can help people, that's really important. My main message on that point is: I want people to realise, especially in 2025, when you are different, you have to let people live the life they want to live. 'It's about the freedom you need to give to people – colour of skin, religion. I think in France, we are struggling a little bit with that. I think coming into London, maybe not everywhere in London is the same, but there are some parts where I feel people can live together with big differences and it's more accepted.' Bompastor is not as well known in England as predecessor Hayes, but that is gradually starting to change. She tells the story of how a cyclist spotted her in her car when parked outside her house and knocked on the window to say: 'I'm a huge Chelsea fan, well done on your job.' She also recalls people recognising her when she caught the train to watch England at Wembley, but being 'nice and respectful'. When I suggest people may be surprised to see her on the train, Bompastor laughs. 'I go in central London biking. When I tell people that they are like, 'You are the Chelsea manager!' and I go, 'Yeah, and? Can I not bike?' 'It's the easiest thing to bike everywhere in London, even with the kids. Sometimes people don't recognise me but because we have six people on the bikes and it's a long queue, they look at us and they go, 'Oh, it is the Chelsea manager! Look, Chelsea manager on a bike!' 'That's so funny! Life in London is really enjoyable. We made the right choice for our kids for them to have the opportunity to live in a city like London. We have settled in well, the club has been really supportive and we already feel part of a family here at Chelsea. But I know my job is to make sure we win games, because that's the way it is.' Bompastor says her four children are her 'balance' but managing family life and football management is not easy. She is keen to make sure that both her staff and her family get her full attention when she is with them, albeit that on occasions she has to work when the children are in bed. 'Sometimes I have to work until midnight or one o'clock just to make sure this job is done, but not in a time where it can affect my family or my staff,' she says. The narrative around Bompastor's appointment was that Chelsea had brought her in specifically to win the Champions League, the one trophy that alluded them during Hayes's reign. Chelsea suffered an 8-2 aggregate defeat in the semi-final against Barcelona, but Bompastor said after the game she knows what the club need to be better next season. 'I'm used to assuming pressure in my job. I don't take the pressure in a negative way. I think Chelsea has everything to be able to perform in the Champions League. When you look at Barcelona, Lyon, they have a really talented squad and a lot of experience. But I know we have the quality to give them trouble. We will work really hard to make sure we have a chance to succeed. I'm confident it will happen one day. I hope it will happen really soon.' Those close to Chelsea say Bompastor has been a breath of fresh air since her arrival and that players appreciate her human qualities as well as her tactical nous. 'I care about my players,' Bompastor says. 'Sometimes things look easy, but nothing is easy. I think in different moments of the season we've had to fight in different games for different reasons. 'I always say to my players our mentality is to always think anything is possible and to have belief going into every game. When we are all together, with that mentality and psychology, we can do anything.' With a domestic treble under her belt after just one season, Bompastor is ready for more.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
In front of Serena, Chelsea wins Women's FA Cup at Wembley to clinch domestic treble
LONDON (AP) — With tennis great Serena Williams in attendance, Chelsea completed a trophy treble in an unbeaten domestic season in English soccer by defeating Manchester United 3-0 in the Women's FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. Williams watched the match at England's national soccer stadium in London while sitting alongside her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, who announced on Wednesday he had bought a stake in Chelsea's women's team. It's reportedly a 10% stake for about 20 million pounds ($26.5 million). Advertisement Ohanian is now part of a club that is the dominant force in the English women's game, adding the FA Cup to its League Cup and a sixth straight Women's Super League this season. Chelsea has achieved the domestic treble for the second time in five years – and did it this time without losing a game in any of the three competitions. Sandy Baltimore converted a 45th-minute penalty, whipped in a free kick for Catarina Macario to head home in the 84th and then scored her second goal in stoppage time to inspire the victory at Wembley for Chelsea, which won the FA Cup for the sixth time — and the fourth time in the last five years. Chelsea beat Manchester City to win the League Cup this season before becoming the first team to complete an undefeated 22-game campaign in the Women's Super League. The London team's only losses in all competitions this season were in both legs against Barcelona in the Women's Champions League semifinals. ___ AP soccer:
