Erling Haaland furious with Man City failure despite dominant Club World Cup win

MANCHESTER CITY 6-0 AL AIN: Erling Haaland was left ruing missed chances despite Pep Guardiola's side picking up a dominant win at their Club World Cup defence
Erling Haaland was furious at the final whistle as Manchester City hit Al Ain for six but still rued missed chances. Pep Guardiola's men are second in their Group and must now beat Juventus on Thursday to avoid a potential last 16 showdown with Real Madrid in Miami on Tuesday, July 1.
They could be left to regret a string of missed chances because they have the same goal difference as Juventus but have scored one goal less. That was why Haaland was angry at the end of the game in the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta and the City striker could easily have had a hat trick himself.
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Ilkay Gundogan scored twice, Claudio Echeverri hit a terrific free kick, Haaland scored a penalty while Rayan Cherki and Oscar Bobb were also on target in a very one-sided game in front of 40,392 fans.
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But even keeper Stefan Ortega admitted the players knew they needed one more goal which would have meant they just needed a draw against Juve on Thursday to top the Group.
Ortega said: 'Of course we were aware we needed the extra goal. Everyone was aware because we are watching the games as well. We are smart guys as well.
'It's not always about the easy part because all the teams are really good but it's more about finishing the Group first.'
City boss Pep Guardiola added: 'With one more goal, we would have two options but we only have one now. It would be better but important is we are in the next phase. If you want to go through you have to face top, top teams so it does not matter.'
City's new left back Rayan Aït-Nouri shone on his first start in the Club World Cup - Guardiola changed the whole team from their first game with Wydad - and he really was eye-catching along with man of the match Ilkay Gundogan.
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Guardiola said on Aït-Nouri: 'Wow. He had to defend a back four, then make a back five. He played really, really good. Not for the first time.
'It was his first game but he has played in the Premier League for many years, he can help us play in that role outside but then had to play as a holding midfielder and go into the pockets. He moves really well into the spaces.
'He is intelligent and clear to defend and take the ball. He is so clever in the final third, taking the right decisions to create more spaces. Really pleased for the game he played.'

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The Guardian

22 minutes ago

• The Guardian

Brazilian clubs are upending the global order at the Club World Cup

'The graveyard of football is full of 'favourites',' warned Botafogo manager Renato Paiva in what has proven to be this summer's coldest line in sweltering United States heat. Gritty draws achieved by Palmeiras against Porto and Fluminense against Borussia Dortmund at the Club World Cup were enough to start a conversation. But the underdog heroics of Brazil's other two clubs have shaken up how we see club football across the world. For the first time since Corinthians shocked Chelsea in Yokohama in 2012, when some Brazilian fans sold their homes and vehicles to make the trip, the reigning Copa Libertadores champions have beaten the Champions League winners. Igor Jesus, who has been strongly linked to Nottingham Forest, scored the only goal of the game as Botafogo beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, a special setting for Brazilians given it is where they won the World Cup in 1994 and honoured the recently deceased Ayrton Senna. Not to be outdone by their Rio rivals, Flamengo erased some of the hurt of losing to Liverpool in 2019 – when the Brazil forward Roberto Firmino scored the winner – by beating Chelsea 3-1 to guarantee a place in the knockouts. It was also the first time a Brazilian club has beaten a European side by two goals since Vasco da Gama embarrassed Manchester United in 2000. 'It was a remarkable victory, against a team that needs no introduction,' said Flamengo No 7 Luiz Araújo after the win against Chelsea. 'It has a special flavour not only because of the size of the opponent, but also because of all our preparation and dedication up until now. We deserved the result and we want more. Old heads will be quick to remind us that this is the usual order being restored. Throughout the 20th century, Brazilian sides regularly got the better of those from the Old Continent. Pelé scored five goals as Santos beat Benfica 8-4 over two legs in the 1962 Intercontinental Cup final; he scored four in the final the following year as Santos saw off the mighty Milan. In 1981, Flamengo thrashed Liverpool in the final; and in the 1990s São Paulo beat Barcelona's 'Dream Team' in 1992 and then dispatched the great Milan team of the era the following year. There were valid arguments for the Brasileirão being the strongest domestic league in the world. At the Club World Championship in 2000 – a similar tournament to the one in the United States this year – the best European sides visited Brazil and were soundly beaten. Manchester United, fresh off winning the treble, did not qualify from their group and Real Madrid were knocked out in the semi-finals. Two Brazilian clubs – Corinthians Brazil and Vasco da Gama – contested the final. Despite the odd recent victory for Brazilian clubs – such as São Paulo beating Liverpool in 2005, Internacional overcoming Barcelona in 2006, and Corinthians winning against Chelsea in 2012 – the tide has turned against them in this century. A generation ago, when Brazilian clubs were under less pressure to sell their stars, players such as Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos did not move across the Atlantic until they were well into their 20s, keeping the league strong. Now, however, the clubs are financially mismanaged and have to sell their best talents for a relative pittance when they are teenagers. On top of that, TV rights money in Europe and the financial doping of state-run clubs provided further disparity. At the Club World Cup, however, matters are being decided between the white lines and away from the boardroom. 'Football is played on the pitch, 11 against 11,' says Araújo. 'We have great teams in Brazil who are all capable of facing any team in the world. Flamengo always goes on the pitch to win, regardless of who is on the other side.' The facts don't lie. The four Brazilian teams are unbeaten in the tournament and top of their groups, having scored 14 goals and conceding just four. 'The victories show the strength of Brazilian football,' says Fluminense manager Renato Gaúcho, who dismisses the argument that European sides are tired after a long season. 'If a Brazilian club loses, they say: 'Ah, Brazilian football can't measure up to European football'. If they win, they say: 'Ah, European football is coming back from holiday'. That doesn't exist in football!' He points out that the teams usually meet at the end of the calendar year, when Brazilian clubs are coming off an even more exhausting season. 'When European football catches Brazilian clubs having played between 70 and 80 games a year, nobody makes that excuse. Nobody says: 'Ah, the Brazilian team is tired'. When the European team crushes them, then they say: 'Ah, we really can't measure up to them.' Brazilian football has been having a great Mundial, overcoming powerful opponents and achieving results. This shows that money alone does not always win matches. 'Yes, there is no way to compete with the Europeans in terms of finances; they can sign great players and form very strong teams, but football is decided on the field. And, on the field, today, Brazilian football and the Brazilian people have to be very proud of what Brazilian clubs have been doing. When many people didn't believe this would happen, it is happening.' Palmeiras boss Abel Ferreira has also balked at the idea that European clubs are tired, saying the number of games 'excuse' is 'a lie' – and something that Brazilian clubs have had to cope with in the past. 'When we go to the Mundial, we're also at the end of the season. Porto has 50 games; Palmeiras has 36 already. And when we go to play in a Mundial, we'll have more than 70 games. These are excuses.' To their credit, Luis Enrique and Enzo Maresca did not make excuses and were very gracious in defeat. But not everyone has been as generous. Marc Cucurella said Chelsea struggled in the heat and the Borussia Dortmund substitutes ridiculously sat inside the dressing room for the first half against Mamelodi Sundowns when the temperature was just 30.5C. Mauro Cezar, a hugely popular pundit in Brazil, says the European teams showed 'a certain arrogance' in not giving the tournament due respect. 'European teams entered this tournament without taking it as seriously as those from other continents. Of course, the heat is a hindrance for them, as is the fact that it's the end of the season. But if they have more money, better players and better coaches, they should compensate for these negative points by playing the minimum to overcome opponents who did not cause much concern, at least until the competition began. 'These arguments are valid, but they do not justify Paris Saint-Germain being unable to score a goal against Botafogo and barely threatening; Monterey drawing with Inter; Borussia Dortmund almost losing to Fluminense and conceding three goals to a South African team; Porto being dominated by Palmeiras; and Flamengo crushing Chelsea for practically the entire time. Claiming that the competition is not important does not justify this sequence of results against teams with much lower investment. Not facing this reality is yet another sign of arrogance.' Araújo, who saw the Chelsea players close up on the field, pushes back on the idea that they do not care about the tournament. 'No one goes on the field to lose; everyone wants to win,' says the Botofogo forward. 'The game against Chelsea was very competitive. Everyone defends their family, their shirt and the fans who are in the stands cheering them on.' The Flamengo manager Filipe Luís, who spent most of his playing career in Europe at Atlético Madrid, Chelsea and Deportivo, believes that Brazilian clubs have rebalanced the scales at the tournament but cannot compete with the very best 'eight or 10 clubs' from Europe. 'Apart from this elite, Brazilians are at the same level as the second European tier because of how we compete, how we understand the game, how we adapt to the climatic and field conditions. This elite is superior to us, but on the field anyone can win.' As Cezar points out, the 'big difference between Europe and South America is money', with Chelsea alone investing €1.5bn in their squad. 'This amount is equivalent to the combined debts of several Brazilian clubs; the disproportion is enormous. Since the European leagues have more global visibility and money, they naturally attract the best coaches and players. Consequently, they are more tactically, technically and even physically developed in some cases. However, when a Brazilian club, like Flamengo, which defeated Chelsea with authority, organises itself financially, with good players within the South American reality, and has a coach with a modern mentality, although very young and without much experience, the result is what we saw in Philadelphia.' We are only at the group stage of the Club World Cup but, whether it's merely a Fifa cash grab or a holiday camp for the European teams, the tournament has served an unexpected purpose for Brazil. It has united a society that is often polarised along the lines of politics, class and religion. And it has allowed Brazilians to take pride in the idea that not everything is always better over the water. This is an article by Tom Sanderson and Josué Seixas

Scottish Sun

26 minutes ago

• Scottish Sun

Liam Delap ready to bring even MORE aggression to Chelsea front line after wild Nicolas Jackson red card

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LIAM DELAP chose Rocky's hometown as the place to declare himself ready to rumble at Chelsea. Their new £30million striker is a world away from the famous 'Italian Stallion' given he was born in Winchester. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Liam Delap is ready to show his aggression in a Chelsea shirt Credit: Getty 5 Striker rival Nicolas Jackson was sent off for a reckless challenge at the Club World Cup Credit: Getty And he sits down on a comfy chair in the luxurious Jean-Groges restaurant on the 60th floor of downtown Philly's sumptuous Four Seasons hotel, looking immaculate in a box-fresh club tracksuit. But Delap is proud of the fact he loves a scrap on the pitch, within reason of course. No player was booked more times than him last season with Ipswich Town. A dozen yellow cards as he walked the line for a team fighting for survival in the Premier League relegation zone. As many cautions as goals. READ MORE CHELSEA NEWS END OF THE WORLD? Chelsea face awful Club World Cup last 16 draw after Flamengo collapse He is bringing that to his new club and has already shown glimpses of the aggression which is in his DNA. Refusing to cower to defenders, claiming a classy assist on his debut, throwing a football at the bowed head of Flamengo midfielder Jorginho, formerly of Chelsea, then apologising seconds later. It's not boxing. It's not beanie-hatted Sly Stallone throwing right hooks into hanging slabs of cow in the meatpacking district, but it is the kind of centre forward fans love. And Delap is ready to deliver. He said: 'Yeah, I love those battles. I always have since I was a kid. I really love the aggressive side of it and the competitive nature of the squad. It's got to be controlled at times but it's my game ultimately and I enjoy it. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 'I've always had that same edge as a kid and I'm not going to change the way my mindset is. You've just got to make sure you're on the right side of the edge. 'I played every sport in school. Anything that could get me out of a lesson. I just enjoyed the competitive nature of it, whether it was rugby or rounders. BBC pundit names England's long-term successor to Harry Kane after Premier League star's 'bullying' performance 5 5 'Last season was my first playing in the Premier League, playing with VAR so it's something that I'm going to have to get used to and work my way around to try and get less yellow cards. 'But it's not something I'm worried about. I think I can control my emotions when I need to. Maybe I'm a little bit old school but it is the way I play and I don't want to change it.' Juggling the actions of leading the line and getting into trouble is a difficult balancing act. Delap has been signed to put pressure on current Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson - currently suspended in both the Club World Cup and Premier League for getting a little too physical. You could argue that they are two of a kind. Delap played a large part of last season with broken ribs to valiantly battle away for Ipswich when they were on the ropes. Centre forwards win people over by getting stuck in. Jackson was sent off four minutes after coming on in Friday's disastrous 3-1 defeat by Flamengo for putting his studs into an opposing defender's shin. Delap said: 'Everyone playing football plays close to the edge a little bit. You have to be aggressive, on the front foot all the time. 5 'I was right in front of it when it happened. It was so unlucky. He has obviously not meant to do it. These things happen in football and I am sure he will get over it. 'With the size of the club there's always going to be competition and I think players thrive off that competition. You're going to work that little bit harder and try to compete. 'It's Chelsea, it's going to be tough and it's going to be competitive. And that's what you relish.' Delap, 22, harbours ambitions to win big with his new club. He fits the club model of promising young player with plenty of potential. He has signed a six year contract and opted for the Club World Cup rather than Euro 2025 with England Under-21s as he looks to bed in. There's history with Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca from their days together at Manchester City. And a reunion with former City academy players Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia. Delap said: 'I've got a good relationship with the manager. I know how he plays. I've played in his system before. 'I know a lot of the players here and the project of the club, how they see the future. That's what excited me. 'We've got a good core of English boys here. I've spent a lot of time with them. I obviously know a few people here already so I've been spending time with them. 'I've known Cole since I was 15, playing at City with him. I've got a good relationship with him so it was nice to see a familiar face. 'I had my sights set on the Euros all season and I was really looking forward to that. But I signed here and they wanted me to be here. I want to be here as well. I need to get to know everyone so that's why I'm here.' Ipswich turned to famous superfan Ed Sheeran to persuade Delap to sign for them last summer and leave behind Manchester City. Delap said: 'Yeah I had a little FaceTime with him. 'I think he was heavily involved with Ipswich so it was nice to speak to him. 'It was just a token that Ed was really involved in Ipswich and a lot of people were close to him.' Chelsea had the simple magnetism of Champions League football - which means a bigger spotlight on him now. Delap said: 'I am just here to play football. I don't look at everything from the outside. I am at a big club now but my mind is strong enough to not let it affect me. 'It is hard to ignore at times but it is just how you take it and you can brush it aside and stay confident. 'I'm really excited. One of the reasons I started playing football was to play in the Champions League.' Join SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford Bridge

BBC News

an hour ago

• BBC News

'The Chelsea project excited me' - Delap on why he joined Blues

Liam Delap was one of this summer's most-wanted 22-year-old scored 12 goals in 37 Premier League games for Ipswich, with his tantalising £30m release clause attracting numerous suitors after the club was relegated back to the Championship. He was given permission to speak to clubs in May, with Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest all showing serious interest while Manchester City also held a buy-back option on their former it was Chelsea who won the race for his signature and, speaking before the Blues' final Club World Cup group game against Es Tunis on Wednesday, Delap has revealed why - including the pull of Europe and rejoining some familiar faces."You never know if it is going to be the right decision but you've just got to go with your gut and hope it works out," he said. "You've got to take your time. I took a few days to speak to people and decide my future."One of those people he consulted was Chelsea's star attacker Cole Palmer, who he first played with at Manchester City at the age of 15. Delap added: "I asked him what I needed to ask him, he told me what I needed to know. But I don't like too much information. Ultimately it was my decision so I kind of just want my head to be clear."Palmer has become the poster boy for Chelsea after two sensational seasons and Delap was asked if he hopes to emulate his former academy team-mate."Yeah, of course, that's the goal," he said. "I think we both had similar positions and he's gone and smashed it so hopefully I can also."Reports in May suggested Manchester United were front runners to sign Delap but their Europa League final defeat by Tottenham, and a poor league campaign, left them without European football next season - with Chelsea's Champions League qualification playing a part in Delap's decision."It wasn't the be all and end all because I was also looking towards future seasons but also it helps," he son of former Stoke City and Derby County midfielder Rory Delap launched his career at Manchester City under now-Chelsea manager Maresca. He scored 20 goals and won the PL2 player of the season - as he fired the Italian's Under-21s squad to the title in 2020/21."I've got a good relationship with the manager," he said of Maresca. "I know how he plays. I've played in this system before. It's very similar now but with little tweaks. I know a lot of the players here and the project of the club, how they see the future. That's what excited me."Maresca has previously revealed it was Delap's decision to take the club's so-called "cursed" number nine shirt. When asked whether he believes in the curse, which counts Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Romelu Lukaku, Gonzalo Higuain, Alvaro Morata, Radamel Falcao and Fernando Torres among its supposed victims, Delap replied: "No, I'm not that type of person."It's something that people talk about but it doesn't mean anything to me. It's something that's related to strikers so I chose it." Will Chelsea move help Delap's England hopes? Maresca said before the Club World Cup he has no doubt that Delap will become "England's number nine".Yet, Delap's move forced him into a club versus country dilemma: either play in the Club World Cup with Chelsea, or the Under-21s European Championships with England. "I had my sights set on the Euros all season and I was really looking forward to that," he admitted. "But I signed here and they wanted me to be here. I want to be here as well."I need to get to know everyone so that's why I'm here."I'm with the boys all the time, it helps me settle in really fast and we can prepare and work on things that we want to use in the season to come."England manager Thomas Tuchel has already been to watch Harry Kane play for Bayern Munich and could come to see Delap line up for Chelsea against ES Tunis, or in the knockout stages against potentially Bayern Munich and then Paris Saint-Germain. Alternative striker Nicolas Jackson is suspended after being sent off in the 3-1 defeat by Flamengo but Delap said: "I was right in front of it when it happened. It was so unlucky. He has obviously not meant to do it; these things happen in football and I am sure he will get over it."Jackson faced heavy criticism from former Chelsea midfielder-turned pundit John Obi Mikel, which serves as an example of the pressure cooker Delap himself is walking into but he insists: "I don't really like to look at everything from the outside. I am at a big club now and I have probably not had that amount but my mind is strong enough to not let it affect me."