Latest news with #LuisEnrique
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
PSG boss Luis Enrique aims subtle dig at Arsenal during Club World Cup
Botafogo secured the shock result of the Club World Cup so far overnight as they beat reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain and Luis Enrique spoke out afterwards Luis Enrique has suggested that Botafogo defended the best out of any side they have faced this season - including Arsenal. The Brazilian side secured the standout result of the Club World Cup so far overnight as they downed reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain. Igor Jesus - who looks set to sign for the Gunners' Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest this summer - scored the only goal of the game to secure the win. But it was a staunch defensive performance from Botafogo that saw them claim victory. They had just four shots to PSG 's 16 throughout the game and speaking after the full-time whistle, boss Enrique claimed that their defensive performance was the best that the French giants had encountered all year long. He said: "Botafogo was the team that defended us best all season, obviously in our League and in the Champions League. They made a low block from the start and were very efficient, united. We didn't generate as many chances as usual. 'We're used to playing against deep blocks, but it's very difficult. Congratulations to them. In terms of attitude, we were very good. The result shouldn't erase everything. We have to look at what we did well and what we can improve.' PSG took on a number of Premier League sides in the Champions League this season including Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa. Both the Gunners and Arne Slot 's side kept clean sheets against the French side - Arsenal winning their group stage meeting at the Emirates 2-0, while Liverpool won 1-0 in their last-16 meeting at the Parc des Princes. Ironically, Botafogo owner John Textor claimed that his side had emulated some of their Premier League contemporaries to secure their shock victory. He said: 'PSG is the best team in the world. And they were probably the best team tonight. 'But we played with heart and maybe we wanted more tonight. It's a privilege for us to play against them in this format. To show that Brazilian teams can play football. We played like an English team today." Textor was actually at the heart of a brutal jibe from Botafogo following their win. The Brazilian side shared a graphic of Textor wearing a cowboy hat on social media with the caption: 'The American dream. We guess the cowboy won…' Who will win the Club World Cup? Share your predictions in the comments below It referenced a row he had with PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi over Ligue 1 streaming rights deal, the Qatari labelling his opposite number as a 'cowboy'. But Textor insists he does not hold any bad blood. He said: "Nasser did some very important things. The unity we have is not fake. There is a crisis in French football and it is important to be together. He is a man with a great knowledge of the game, in France and around it. 'He has a good sense of humour, he liked my cowboy hat. I told him: 'In real life, I never wear a cowboy hat'. Now we are together for the good of French football and we need it to be like this." Textor added: "I didn't play against Nasser tonight. I was sitting on a chair, I wasn't on the pitch. Nasser was sitting on a chair next to me and he wasn't on the pitch. Our Botafogo team beat that team, but I didn't beat Nasser, and Nasser wasn't trying to beat me." DAZN has the rights to the full competition in the UK and the only way football fans can watch every game of the tournament free is by signing up here as part of a DAZN Freemium subscription.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Club World Cup descends into chaos as French and Brazilian fans brawl in the stands in California
Football fans were left stunned when fans of Paris Saint-Germain and Brazilian side Botafogo were seen brawling in the stands during their Club World Cup match. The Champions League winners suffered a shock 1-0 defeat on Thursday, leaving their hopes of qualifying for the next round in the balance despite their 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid on matchday one. A first-half goal from Brazilian international Igor Jesus proved the difference between the reigning champions of Europe and South America at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. PSG were widely tipped as one of the hot favourites to win the new-look 32-team tournament after a stunning European campaign which culminated in their thumping 5-0 victory against Inter Milan in the Champions League final last month. They also hadn't lost in any competition since May 3 and Luis Enrique took the opportunity to rotate his side in California. Notably, Goncalo Ramos started at centre forward ahead of Ousmane Dembele, who remains out injured. The gamble, though, didn't pay off. But a dark cloud was cast over Botafogo's victory when their fans were seen throwing punches in the stands in California - though it is unclear what caused the melee. In a 58-second-long video shared on social media, a person in a Botafogo shirt could be seen throwing punches before more members of the crowd became involved. Someone in a PSG shirt appeared to punch another supporter from behind, as a bundle of sorts ensued elsewhere in the stand, which had no individual seats - rather blocks of bench-like furniture. More people wearing shirts of the European champions then seemed to get involved, with one person in black appearing to cheer. There was a brief period of separation with no punches thrown in the two groups, before someone in a Botafogo strip approached a PSG fan and fell to the floor as more punches were thrown. The PSG supporter, who was wearing shorts and a bandana, was then ushered away by someone else wearing the same strip. That was until they were caught up in another scrap, which saw a Botafogo supporter throw a punch and the other fan then turn around to get involved with shouting heard in the background. A number of other supporters then piled in, many falling over in the stands, with one PSG fan appearing to stomp on a supporter. The footage ends with people running in to separate the brawl and a group trying to help one fan, who was laying in between rows, up. The last time a Champions League holders lost to a South American side came back in 2012, when Corinthians stunned Chelsea in the Club World Cup final. To avoid a red-faced elimination, PSG must beat MLS outfit Seattle Sounders, who have been knocked out of the tournament, in their last group match.
Al Jazeera
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Botafogo stuns UCL champs PSG at FIFA Club World Cup
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) suffered a shock 1-0 Club World Cup defeat against Brazilian side Botafogo in a hard-fought battle between the reigning champions of Europe and South America. A first-half goal from Brazilian international Igor Jesus proved the difference on Thursday as Botafogo all but sealed a place in the knockout rounds in front of a 53,699 crowd at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. French champions PSG are widely regarded as one of the favourites for FIFA's 32-team tournament after a dazzling season which culminated with a scintillating 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final last month. But their hopes of securing a victory, which would have seen them become the first side to reach the last 16, were stymied by a resilient performance from their opponents from Rio de Janeiro. 'A lot of people wondered, but we showed how strong Botafogo is,' goal scorer Jesus said after the win. 'It was a difficult game, and we had to defend well, and we did our job and scored a goal. 'We're really happy – we knew how important this game was. One team was the champion of the Champions League, the other team was the champion of South America,' added Jesus, who had been strongly linked with a move to English Premier League side Nottingham Forest earlier this year before opting to stay with the Brazilians to play in the Club World Cup. 'I think I made the right choice to stay in Botafogo,' Jesus quipped. PSG coach Luis Enrique said his team had expected a tough battle. 'We knew it was going to be a very difficult match – they defended very well,' the Spaniard said. 'This Club World Cup is very intense and difficult, and all the teams are highly motivated, especially when they're playing against us.' The PSG manager, though, was adamant that the European champions still had plenty of time to resurrect their campaign. 'If there's a team that can turn it around, it's our team,' he said. 'We've got to analyse this and there's things we can improve. But I think our performance was good.' PSG picked up where they had left off in Sunday's 4-0 Group B rout of Atletico Madrid, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia testing Botafogo goalkeeper John with an early curling effort after just two minutes. But that early effort was as close as PSG came to scoring in a scrappy first half punctuated by a series of niggling fouls that prevented the European champions from settling into their passing game. Botafogo's midfield trio of Marlon Freitas, Gregore and Allan worked tirelessly to close down Vitinha, denying the skilful PSG playmaker time and space to launch attacks despite dominating possession. Instead, it was Botafogo who took the lead with a goal against the run of play on 36 minutes. Jefferson Savarino's perfectly weighted through ball split the PSG defence and sent Jesus racing through on goal. The Botafogo striker did brilliantly to wrongfoot the covering Willian Pacho before sweeping a shot that took a slight deflection past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on its way into the net. PSG continued to dominate possession through the second half, and spent long periods camped in the final third. But Botafogo's defence held firm and the result leaves the Brazilians firmly on course for the last 16, with a final group game against Atletico Madrid to come in Pasadena on Monday.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Enrique: Botafogo defended 'almost like no other team' in Europe
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique is pictured during the UEFA Champions League final soccer match between Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain at Munich Football Arena. Enrique praised Botafogo after his Paris Saint-Germain side was stunned 1-0 by the Copa Libertadores champions at the Club World Cup. Christian Charisius/dpa Coach Luis Enrique praised Botafogo after his Paris Saint-Germain side was stunned 1-0 by the Copa Libertadores champions at the Club World Cup. "Obvisouly we are frustrated with the result. It was a very tight game, Botafogo defended very well, like almost no other team in Ligue 1 or in the Champions League," Enrique said after the match on Thursday evening in Los Angeles. Advertisement "Playing against us is an extra source of motivation for our opponents. We need to do better," he added. Igor Jesus' goal gave Botafogo the lead in the 36th minute. The club from Rio de Janeiro then had a very strong defensive performance to secure a first victory for a Brazilian team against an European side in 13 years. With the win, Botafogo top Group B with six points and need a draw against Atletico Madrid on Monday to advance to the last 16. Jesus said after the game that his vision was blurred after he scored and that "it felt like a dream." Botafogo are one of the most traditional teams in South America and was once home of Brazil national team greats such as Garrincha, Nilton Santos, Jairzinho, among others. Advertisement In recent years, the club has gone through difficult times, including relegations to the second division in 2014 and 2019. However, the arrival of American investor John Textor in 2022 has put the club again among the top teams. Last year, they won their maiden Copa Liberadores and the first Brazilian league title since 1995. "It's supernatural. We knew the difficulties. PSG is a great team collectively and individually. I believe Botafogo had 1% to win this game and 1% for us is a lot," midfielder Marlon Freitas said.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Night highlights: Seattle-Atletico and PSG knocked out 🎥
During the night, two matches valid for Group B of the Club World Cup took place: first on the field were Seattle and Atletico Madrid, followed by PSG and Botafogo. Here's how the standings now look in their respective groups. 💥 Barrios scores twice, Atletico bounce back! After the heavy defeat in their opener against PSG, Atlético Madrid lift their heads. In Seattle, the Colchoneros beat the Sounders 3-1, a team that appeared clearly inferior. With this victory, Simeone's team stays in the running for the round of 16 and will play everything against Botafogo. The match immediately showed a clear technical and tactical gap. Atlético dominated thanks to an inspired Barrios and a Seattle side lacking reference points, especially in defense. Musovski was neutralized, while the Spaniards made good use of the wings and controlled the pace with authority. Advertisement In the second half, Witsel scored to make it 2-0 before Rusnak's temporary 1-2, but Barrios quickly restored the gap. Seattle tried to react, but without creating real danger. Now the Spaniards prepare for the direct clash with Botafogo, while the Sounders face the formidable PSG. 😱 PSG KO! Botafogo through to the round of 16 In the match between the European and South American champions, the upset comes from Botafogo. Surprisingly, the Brazilians beat PSG 1-0 thanks to a goal by Igor Jesus in the 36th minute. A victory without spectacle but built on organization, ruthlessness, and defensive spirit. Luis Enrique changed several players after the big win over Atletico, but the rotation didn't pay off. PSG kept possession, but struggled to be truly dangerous, with Kvaratskhelia isolated and Ramos absent. Botafogo, organized and aggressive, limited the opponent's playmakers and struck on the counterattack. Advertisement In the second half, the Spanish coach tried to fix things by bringing on the starters, but the play remained confused. The Brazilians held firm and managed their lead until the end. Now PSG will have to beat Seattle to avoid a sensational elimination in the group stage. 📊 GROUP B STANDINGS 1. Botafogo 6 points 2. PSG 3 points 3. Atletico 3 points 4. Seattle 0 points PSG goes through if they win against Seattle and Botafogo wins or draws against Atlético; Atlético wins by a maximum of 2 goals difference. PSG would only be eliminated if Atlético wins by 3+ goals and PSG wins by a small margin or draws. Advertisement This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here. 📸 Buda Mendes - 2025 Getty Images
