Sport
Zinchenko reveals ‘s***’ Champions League final display left him in tears with Arsenal star not eating for two days
EVERY day at Arsenal training Oleksandr Zinchenko gets a reminder of the worst day of his career.
It is the painful moment he feels a Champions League trophy slipped out of his hands — and the Ukrainian still blames himself for it.
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His Manchester City side lost 1-0 to Chelsea in the Covid-hit 2021 final in Porto and Zinchenko said: “No two ways about it. I was s**t.”
The full-back claimed he was at fault for allowing “my man” Kai Havertz a critical run on goal as the forward scored the 42nd-minute winner at the Estadio do Dragao.
He describes it as “probably the worst day in my football life” and says it left an “emotional scar” that has yet to heal.
And his former City team-mate Fernandinho often joked he was denied the chance to get an arm tattoo of the big-eared pot because of Zinchenko.
The problem is, he cannot be allowed to move on and forget about it — because he and Havertz are now pals at the Gunners.
Zinchenko, 27, said: “If I tell you now what I’m saying to him every day, you would laugh!
“It’s better that I will be quiet. Because as soon as I see him . . . my scar. I feel him.
“Jokes aside, I mean definitely, one of the most painful moments in my career so far. My wife Vlada, she remembers that day.
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“The way that she is watching my games is something only the closest circle knows, how she is living these kinds of moments.
“That night, when we came back to the hotel, our families were already in our rooms.
“When I opened my door she was waiting for me, she hugged me, we were just crying for a while.
“For the next two days probably, I didn’t really eat. It was a super-tough moment.
“But thank God I had this experience which made me, for sure, much stronger.
“Also thank God that the week later we had training with the national team before the Euros. Football again saved my life. That is how it was.”
One way Zinchenko got over his ordeal was a heart-to-heart chat with Andriy Shevchenko, the Ukraine boss at the time.
He, of course, was part of AC Milan’s side that lost the 2005 Istanbul final to Liverpool on penalties despite being 3-0 up at half-time.
Pep Guardiola’s City went on to become European champions in 2023, beating Inter Milan — also in Turkey’s Ataturk Stadium — to seal an incredible Treble- winning campaign.
For the next two days probably, I didn’t really eat. It was a super-tough moment.
Oleksandr Zinchenko on Champions League final defeat
But Zinchenko, a four-time Premier League champion with City, had moved to North London at the start of that season for an initial transfer fee of £30million.
It was an attempt by boss Mikel Arteta to add experience and a winning mentality to his dressing room.
And one way for Zinchenko to erase his memory of missing out would be to win the tournament with Arsenal — who have won two of their opening three games this campaign.
Zinchenko, who hopes to play at Inter Milan in the Champions League tonight, reckons City’s dominance of English football must end soon.
He said: “It’s not just in football, you cannot carry on like this forever.
“For sure, there will be changes. Of course, the players will get old, the manager might look for another job. Something will happen.
“The dominance which they have had during the last years is incredible.
“The stats and also trophies talk for themselves. Being there, you straight away think of this winning mentality.”
- l Believe: The Autobiography by Oleksandr Zinchenko is published by Bloomsbury. RRP £22
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SIR ALEX FERGUSON was spotted at Celtic Park on a Champions League night despite being a boyhood fan of Rangers.
The legendary manager was snapped in the seats as Celtic pulled off a stunning victory over RB Leipzig.
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Ferguson, 82, looked smiley as Brendan Rodger’s side pulled off a 3-1 victory over their German foes.
The former Manchester United manager was a boyhood fan of Celtic’s fierce rivals, Rangers.
He was even made the most expensive player in Scotland when the club signed him back in 1967.
However, his time at the club was marred by sectarianism.
When asked if he had married his wife Cathy in a catholic church by a Rangers director, he said that it was a registry office instead.
Ferguson has admitted that he is still annoyed about the moment and should have told the director to “bugger off”.
While he is still fond of the Rangers, he only supports the club when they play against the Celtics.
He told the Belfast Telegraph: “The only time I really support Rangers is when they play Celtic.
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“The big one. Jason [Ferguson’s son] is a Celtic fan. I love phoning him up when Rangers have beaten them.”
Christoph Baumgartner had given Leipzig the lead at Celtic Park before the hosts fought back.
What Man Utd said on hiring EACH of their post-Fergie managers
David Moyes
“All the skills needed to build on United’s phenomenal legacy.”
Louis van Gaal
“One of the outstanding managers in the game today.”
Jose Mourinho
“Quite simply the best manager in the game today.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
“A wealth of experience, with a desire to give young players their chance and a deep understanding of the culture of the club.”
Erik ten Hag
“One of the most exciting and successful coaches in Europe.”
Ruben Amorim
“One of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football.”
Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn fired a brace in for Celtic before Reo Hatate netted the killer blow in the 72nd minute.
Manager Rogders’ hailed the result as a “great night for the club”.
He said:”The result, the performance, the energy in the stadium.
“The supporters will go away feeling really good about their team.
“But we played our way in to the game, showed a maturity to get the ball working again and then we get the goal.
“Over the course of the game I thought we were really dominant, both in our pressing of the game and our hunger for the second goal.
“We got that and then I thought in the second half we managed the game really well.”
Meanwhile, Fergsuon has kept himself busy in retirement and has been attending plenty of football matches.
Just last week he was spotted sitting next to former England cricketer Michael Vaughan during Man United’s Carabao Cup win over Leicester City.
And on the weekend he was seen leaving Sir Jim Ratcliffe in hysterics at Old Trafford for the Premier League draw versus Chelsea.
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Garry Ringrose says Ireland are determined to maintain their impressive home form as they target a 20th straight Aviva Stadium win against the All Blacks on Friday night.
Andy Farrell’s side have made the Dublin venue one of the most daunting arenas for visiting teams in recent years, their last home defeat coming against France in the 2021 Six Nations.
In addition to New Zealand, Ireland host Argentina, Fiji and Australia during the November internationals.
“It’s becoming more special with every experience we have there,” said Ringrose.
“Some of the results, when our backs are against the wall, even thinking back to Australia [in 2016], it was the last Test of that November series.
“It was Besty [Rory Best]’s 100th cap and there were a few injuries but we came out the other end and win a game like that.
“It makes us all appreciate what’s coming this weekend. Every result we’ve had there adds to the legacy and we certainly want to keep that going.”
Ringrose was an unused replacement during Ireland’s historic win over the All Blacks in Chicago in 2016 but has faced them on seven occasions since.
The 29-year-old is expected to start on Friday, where he may come up against the formidable New Zealand centre partnership of Rieko Ioane and Leinster-bound Jordie Barrett.
“I was paying attention to them during the Rugby Championship. They’re pretty settled and cohesive together as a partnership,” said Ringrose.
“I was watching them at the weekend against a tough England side that were throwing everything at them. Like they always do, they seemed to be taking everything in their stride so we’ll have our work cut out for us on that front.”
With the score 1-1 at half-time, Arsenal were heading out of the Champions League, and yet they produced an inspired second-half performance – one of the club’s best ever in Europe.
“I remember the first half was pretty even but in the second half, shooting down towards our corner, Henry, [Robert] Pires, Edu and co. ran riot, sending us ecstatic!” added Guy Wisemen, who was also at the game.
Arsenal retook the lead within five minutes of the restart when Henry cut inside and found Freddie Ljungberg, who fired into the bottom corner.
It was then a case of Gunners dominance as they looked for a third and a two-goal cushion, and it eventually came in the 85th minute through an Henry stunner.
The Frenchman collected the ball from inside his own half, charged into the box, beat Javier Zanetti with a trick, and then smashed one into the bottom corner.
In the Inter section Richard had already been kicked out for celebrating Ljungberg’s goal, while Kelvin “went bonkers” for Henry’s strike but managed to stick around by “speaking a little Italian”.
Three minutes later and Arsenal grabbed another as Henry’s cross missed Ljungberg in the middle but fell kindly for Edu, who passed into an open goal.
Chaos, confusion and delirium for Arsenal supporters.
One minute later and the thrashing was complete when Jeremie Aliadiere, on as a late substitute, slipped the ball to Robert Pires for number five.
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Sport
Man Utd post Ruben Amorim announcement after Sporting hammer Man City as Red Devils hailed for ‘incredible s***housery’
MANCHESTER UNITED were hailed for “incredible s***housery” after a social media post following Manchester City’s Champions League defeat.
The Citizens were humbled 4-1 in Portugal by Sporting Lisbon as Pep Guardiola was outdone by Ruben Amorim.
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The Sporting boss will take charge of Man City’s cross-city rivals Man United on November 11.
The Red Devils posted an announcement of the Portuguese coach on November 1 at 12pm.
However, after Man City‘s loss, the club’s social media account reposted the announcement to rub salt in the wounds of their rivals.
This led to fans praising the club for its “s***housery” as they reacted.
One posted: “Excellent s***housery from the Man United admin.”
A second commented: “The United account retweeting this back on the timeline LMAOOOO.”
A third wrote: “Hahaha Man United reposted it after last night’s game.”
A fourth said: “Give the admin a raise.”
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Another added: “Just sensational s***housery from Manchester United right here haha.”
The home crowd unveiled a banner to commemorate Amorim and the two league titles he won in Lisbon before kick-off.
Phil Foden had given the visitors an early lead in the match before it all went wrong.
Viktor Gyokeres fired in his first of the night to level the match in the 38th minute.
Maximiliano Araujo then powered Sporting into the lead just 40 seconds after the halftime break.
Gyokeres then netted penalties either side of an Erling Haaland failure from the spot to wrap up the result.
After the result, Amorim was given a guard of honour by his players and staff.
It was his last home game in charge of the club before he leaves for Manchester.
Three Sporting stars Amorim could swoop for after joining Man Utd
RUBEN AMORIM has ruled out poaching any of his Sporting Lisbon players in the January transfer window.
But the Portuguese side’s chiefs expect Amorim will come calling in the summer – with his cheque book wide open.
Here’s are three Sporting starts United could swoop for… but they won’t come cheap:
VIKTOR GYOKERES
Age: 26
Position: Striker
Cost: £84million
Swede has shone since joining Sporting last summer from Coventry — catching the eye of all Europe’s top clubs.
Hit 43 goals in 50 games last season and boasts 18 strikes already this term.
GONCALO INACIO
Age: 23
Position: Defender
Cost: £50million
Ball-playing centre-back was handed his debut by Amorim and has since become a key figure in Sporting’s recent title successes.
Can also slot in at left-back if required and has 12 caps for Portugal.
MORTEN HJULMAND
Age: 25
Position: Midfield
Cost: £40million
Dane is one of the top holding midfielders in Portugal — and made skipper by Amorim.
He could be the man to replace Casemiro.
Morgan Rogers speaks to Football Focus’ Liam MacDevitt about all things Aston Villa and how playing Champions League football is “surreal”.
Watch Football Focus on Saturdays from 12:00 GMT on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app.
WATCH MORE: Rogers v Johnson: Aston Villa & Tottenham stars test friendship
Available to UK users only.
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