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I scored on my Champions League debut… but my parents missed it as they were watching another game 840 miles away

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I scored on my Champions League debut... but my parents missed it as they were watching another game 840 miles away

JAMES McATEE’S mum and dad missed the magic moment he has waited more than a decade for — as they were 840 miles away at Northampton’s Sixfields Stadium instead!

The England Under-21 international scored his first senior goal for Manchester City in the 4-0 Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday night.

James McAtee netted Man City's fourth goal against Bratislava

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James McAtee netted Man City’s fourth goal against BratislavaCredit: Reuters
But the 21-year-old's parents were not at the game to watch

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But the 21-year-old’s parents were not at the game to watchCredit: AP

Local lad McAtee, 21, has been turning out for the club since the Under-11s and admits he has dreamt about this day since his  journey at the City Football Academy began

Yet his parents did not travel to Slovakia – instead choosing to watch their other son John, 25, score for Bolton in a League One clash against the Cobblers.

Attacking midfielder McAtee said: “It’s a long way to come for my family.

“My brother played and scored on Tuesday night as well — and they went to go and watch him.

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“It’s something I’ve dreamt of for my whole life. I cant explain it but I’m over the moon. It’s one of the better days of my life.

McAtee is known as the Salford Silva as his style of playing in the pocket is similar to that of Etihad legend David.

Compliments do not come much bigger than that in this part of Manchester — and Pep Guardiola has thought highly of him for some time.

When he spent two loan spells at Sheffield United from July 2022 to this summer, there must have been doubts he would ever make the grade for his boyhood club.

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But the City boss has full faith in him — maybe more than the player himself.

Guardiola said: “I always had the feeling that I believe he can play here more than he does. Hopefully minutes can help him and show he is part of that.

Pep Guardiola breaks silence on Phil Foden situation after fans’ conspiracy theory over England star’s absence

“Of course, he will not be a regular player this season but in a lot of games he will help us and when he plays like he did here, I can always count on him perfectly.

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“Everyone adores him, you have seen the reaction of the players, everyone loves him.”

City turned down offers of more than £30million in the summer as Guardiola wanted him to be part of his first-team squad and he featured in their pre-season tour of the US.

McAtee said he would be fine to have a season where he never played as he was convinced being around one of the greatest bosses ever would help him develop.

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So far he is getting chances, like in the season-opening Charity Shield and the League Cup tie against Watford last month.        

And he said: “I definitely think I’m sharper. Last year I was playing a bit wider, now I’m more central.

“I’m getting to grips with that. I feel better now than I did two months ago. When I’m going out there now it’s not as chaotic.

“For example, against Watford I hadn’t played for a while and it was a bit chaotic at the start. But today I felt a lot calmer and more composed.

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“Basically the manager is telling me to go and have fun. A bit more tactical but go and be myself and feel good about myself.

McAtee's brother John was on target for Bolton at Northampton

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McAtee’s brother John was on target for Bolton at NorthamptonCredit: Rex

“With the way they set up I think I needed a bit of freedom to come and get the ball. It was so tight in there, lots of teams have done it already this year.

“He gives me freedom when coming on to try to affect the game as much as I can.”

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City have had to rethink their midfield plans for the season following the serious knee injury suffered by Rodri – and that could lead to more opportunities for McAtee.

The Spaniard is out for the rest of the season following ACL surgery with Ilkay Gundogan, 33, another option Guardiola can turn to in the middle of the pitch.

McAtee added: “Rodri’s a different position to me. It was bad news when we heard and it got the lads down a little bit.

“Gundo can maybe drop a bit deeper and I’m just being patient, waiting for my chance and grabbing it when I do get it.”

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Dodgers vs. Mets: MINI-MOVIE of 2024 NLCS | MLB on FOX 🎥

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Dodgers vs. Mets: MINI-MOVIE of 2024 NLCS




Relive some of the most thrilling moments from the 2024 NLCS series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets.



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‘Sergio Busquets is an absolute crybaby – I gave Barcelona legend a stern warning’

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'Sergio Busquets is an absolute crybaby - I gave Barcelona legend a stern warning'

SERGIO BUSQUETS has been labelled a “crybaby” and “whiner” by Wesley Sneijder.

Sneijder, who starred for Real Madrid and Inter Milan, slammed the Spaniard as he reflected on their past battles.

Wesley Sneijder has recalled how he did not like playing Sergio Busquets

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Wesley Sneijder has recalled how he did not like playing Sergio BusquetsCredit: Getty
He labelled him a 'crybaby' and 'nasty guy to play against'

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He labelled him a ‘crybaby’ and ‘nasty guy to play against’Credit: Getty
Sneijder recalled Busquets antics in the 2010 Champions League semi-final to try and get Thiago Motta sent off

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Sneijder recalled Busquets antics in the 2010 Champions League semi-final to try and get Thiago Motta sent offCredit: AP:Associated Press

The Dutchman recalled how the Barcelona legend’s antics got under his skin.

Speaking to Ziggo Sports, he said: “He was an extremely annoying player, he was always giving it to others but he could never receive it.”

The second leg of the 2010 Champions League semi-final game was one that particularly irked Sneijder when Thiago Motta tackled the midfielder.

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Sneijder said: “In 2010 we beat Barcelona 3-1 at home, then we had to go to Camp Nou and after eight minutes Busquets started rolling on the ground while looking through his hands to see if Motta had a red card.

“He then got up again and was fine, the crybaby. A nasty guy to play against.”

He continued: “I had fights with him in every game.”

Sneijder also revealed how he warned Busquets about meeting in Ibiza, adding: “I’ll see you in Ibiza in the summer, then you and I will talk again.”

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Under Jose Mourinho that season, Inter Milan emerged with a remarkable win over Pep Guardiola‘s Barca side – considered by many to be the greatest team in football history.

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They then went on to bag the continental Treble, a first in Italian football history.

Meanwhile, Sneijder was full of praise for the recently retired Andres Iniesta.

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World Cup fans all say the same thing as Sergio Busquets runs into Leon Goretzka – and German’s reaction is priceless

Unlike his old rival and team-mate, 36-year-old Busquets continues to ply his trade in Major League Soccer alongside Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.

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Rugby World Cup: Marlie Packer wants to remain England captain and ‘inspire’ young women

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Rugby World Cup: Marlie Packer wants to remain England captain and 'inspire' young women

The only defeat England have suffered in the past five years was the 2022 World Cup final against New Zealand.

But the Red Roses are unbeaten since Packer took on the captaincy during the 2023 Six Nations – something she is proud of and believes will continue.

“Since I’ve been captain we’ve not lost a game, so I’ll have that one at the moment,” she said.

“You’ve got five games in the Six Nations, you’ll have a couple of warm-up games and then you’ll have the World Cup.

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“So you’re looking around that 30 mark again to whether we can win that World Cup final, which in my head it’s a definite ‘yes’.

“We just need to make sure we work really hard as a group and keep inspiring each other, and remembering why we are the best in the world is because we push each other to be the best.”

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Bezzecchi critical of Vinales response to Phillip Island sprint crash

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Marco Bezzecchi says he was unimpressed by Maverick Vinales showing him the middle finger as he lay motionless on the ground after the pair collided at high speed in Saturday’s sprint race at the Australian Grand Prix.

After being taken for additional medical checks in Melbourne on Saturday evening, during which time Vinales made his frustration towards the VR46 Ducati rider clear in the media, Bezzecchi only made his first comments following Sunday’s grand prix.

“I didn’t like his behaviour immediately after the crash,” said the three-time grand prix winner.

“If it was the other way around, I would go to check how the other rider is instead of showing the middle finger and saying f*** to me many times after we crash at 300km/h.”

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The stewards took Vinales’s side regarding the incident itself, issuing Bezzecchi a long lap penalty for the grand prix on Sunday.

Subsequent to taking the punishment, Bezzecchi fell off and dropped out of contention, reporting that he was riding in pain following the crash.

Bezzecchi disagreed with Vinales’s version of the collision on the high-speed entry to the Doohan corner.

“Yesterday was a strange situation. Maverick passed me on the straight with the slipstream….then my bike was moving to the left so to get back I had to lean the bike whilst still on the straight. The wind was pushing me to the outside kerb.

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“The problem was that as I did this Maverick put himself exactly in front of me under braking.

Marco Bezzecchi, VR46 Racing Team

Marco Bezzecchi, VR46 Racing Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“He braked early. You can see from the video that he braked, then released, then braked again. When you brake at the right point, you don’t release the brake.

“I was already moving to the right to avoid going on the outside kerb. When I saw him I tried to continue to go to the right but I got sucked by the slipstream. I couldn’t do anything to avoid the contact.

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“I understand that it was a difficult decision. Normally the guy behind is the one who [gets the blame]. But for example last year in Qatar with Pecco [Bagnaia] and Fabio di Giannantonio and in Valencia with [Jorge] Martin and Pecco it was completely the same.

“[Those situations were] just another type of corner, a little bit slower, a little bit less windy, a little bit less Phillip Island style.

“It’s a situation that could have happened often, but fortunately for the others, they were able to avoid disaster.

“Anyway, what I didn’t really like was Maverick’s behaviour but as far as the penalty is concerned, I don’t care. I don’t complain. I did my long lap.”

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Aprilia rider Vinales did not want to comment further on the issue on Sunday, but was satisfied with the penalty given to Bezzecchi.

“The stewards needed to set down a mark. They set down a mark so that’s fine.”

Vinales finished the grand prix in eighth place after once again dropping back from the front row of the grid.

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Man Utd star Mazraoui splashes out on £200,000 Bentley to keep up with supercar loving team-mates

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Man Utd star Mazraoui splashes out on £200,000 Bentley to keep up with supercar loving team-mates

CROCKED Man Utd ace Noussair Mazraoui has snapped up a £200,000 Bentley – to keep up with his supercar loving teammates.

The Bentley Bentayga S Black Edition is perfect for the injured defender coming with a range of safety features.

Sidelined Man Utd ace Noussair Mazraoui has treated himself to a flash new motor

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Sidelined Man Utd ace Noussair Mazraoui has treated himself to a flash new motor
The Old Trafford right-back has taken home a stunning Bentley Bentayga S Black Edition

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The Old Trafford right-back has taken home a stunning Bentley Bentayga S Black Edition

But the luxury SUV also has plenty of power upfront with a four-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 542 horsepower.

The motor can accelerate from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 180mph.

Mazraoui, 26, joins teammates Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro who all own top-of-the-range Bentleys.

Last month The Sun revealed Rashford, 26, splashed out on a £200,000 Bentley Flying Spur Azure to ferry him to training while he’s on a driving ban.

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While United captain Bruno, 30, drives a sporty Bentley Continental GT and also has a Bentayga to ferry his family around.

And we reported how Casemiro, 32, forked out £200,000 on a Bentley Bentayga SUV for his glamorous wife Anna Mariana to take their kids to school.

Mazraoui arrived at Old Trafford in August after the club completed a stunning £60million double deal for him and Bayern Munich teammate Matthijs de Ligt.

The Moroccan international is currently out injured after being taken off at half-time against Aston Villa on October 6 after suffering heart palpitations.

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Mazraoui has since had a procedure to correct the issue, but is likely out for another two weeks.

In the past former United stars Cristiano Ronaldo, Dean Henderson, Jesse Lingard, Alexis Sanchez and Phil Jones, all drove high-end Bentleys to United training.

Noussair Mazraoui celebrates the crowd after victory for Ajax
David Bellion lifted the lid on Fergie's strict rules around supercars with The Sun in 2017

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David Bellion lifted the lid on Fergie’s strict rules around supercars with The Sun in 2017

But the supercars haven’t always been popular at the club.

Former Red Devils striker David Bellion recalled how Sir Alex Ferguson once made one of his teammates sell his Bentley after driving it to training one morning.

Wayne Rooney has also previously revealed how Fergie would not allow players aged under 25 to own a sports car while he was manager.

Speaking to The Sun in 2017, Bellion discussed the unnamed player who drove a Bentley to training, saying: “Sir Alex made him sell it immediately.

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“I drove to Carrington in an Austin Mini for nearly a year even though I had a Mercedes at home.

“Sir Alex didn’t like young players getting above themselves.

“He hated anyone showing their wealth before they had done anything in life or the game.”

And United legend Gary Neville last month admitted buying a Bentley made him feel like a “proper w****r”.

He told the It’s Called Soccer! podcast: “I always said to myself when I finished my football career that I wanted to drive a four-door massive big Bentley.

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“The massive one. Not the Baby Bentley, like the big thing. So basically I bought one a couple years after my career and I had it for about three weeks.

“I recognised as I was driving round Manchester that I just felt like a proper w****r… not that I don’t now!”

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