Connect with us

Football

Barcelona star rejects Man of the Match award after El Clasico win v Real Madrid

Published

on

Raphinha played a crucial role in Barcelona’s thrilling 4-3 El Clasico win over Real Madrid at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday, but the Brazilian winger made headlines for an unusual reason—he declined the Man of the Match award despite his standout performance.

The former Leeds United star scored twice, showcasing his relentless energy and sharp finishing, particularly with his second goal, which came after pressing and dispossessing Lucas Vázquez.

Although he was instrumental in the victory, Raphinha didn’t feel he was the game’s best performer. Speaking after the final whistle, he admitted to feeling underwhelmed by his own display. “I didn’t play well today.

I don’t deserve the Man of the Match award. I would have given it to someone else,” he said, reflecting critically despite his obvious contributions.

Raphinha’s form this season has been nothing short of spectacular. With 34 goals and 25 assists in just 54 appearances, he’s been a driving force behind Barcelona’s success across multiple competitions.

His efforts helped the Catalan club lift the Copa del Rey last month after defeating Real Madrid in the final, and now the team sits seven points clear at the top of La Liga.

Head coach Hansi Flick, in his first season with the club, praised the team’s resilience in the El Clasico clash after they came back from 2-0 down to seal a vital victory.

However, he emphasized the need for defensive improvements. “I’m going to have to check my heart after a match like that,” Flick joked. “It’s great to win, but we need to be stronger at the back. When we press high, it works, but individual errors can still cost us.”

Barcelona’s comeback against Real Madrid has put them on the brink of securing a domestic double. While Flick acknowledged their strong position, he cautioned that the title race isn’t over yet.

“We’re in a good spot, but anything can happen. We still need three more points, and every team we face will be trying to stop us,” he said.

The club had hoped to complete a treble this season, but that dream ended in the Champions League semi-finals. Barcelona were eliminated by Inter Milan in a dramatic 7-6 aggregate result. Inter will now face Paris Saint-Germain in the final, after the French side knocked out Arsenal in their own semi-final clash.

Even with Champions League disappointment, Barcelona’s campaign under Flick has been a major success. With Raphinha in top form and key victories in crucial matches, the team looks poised to close the season with silverware—and possibly even more to come in the future.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Football

‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Published

on

‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

Continue Reading

Football

Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Published

on

Man City place Arsenal 'bottles' for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.

Continue Reading

Football

Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Published

on

Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.

A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.

Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.

Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.

After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.

Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2026 Alpays Media.

News
Live Scores
Live TV
App