Football news

Minaya head coach Zeljko Ljubenovic, summing up the results of the season-2023/24, paid special attention to the match with Dynamo Kyiv (1-3) in the 16th round of the Ukrainian championship, which took place on 17 April in the capital.

"I do not know what the final score in that match could have been, because before the break Dynamo realised not all their opportunities. But if we talk about our game after the break, we had a chance to equalise and maybe everything would have turned out differently.

This meeting demonstrated that we can play against any opponent on equal terms, if the team stops being afraid of more status clubs and looking at the opponents' names on their shirts. This problem was relevant at the beginning of the second part of the championship. There was fear in games with Obolon and Veres. I can also include "Zarya" to this list. That game was a complete failure. If the guys managed to act on the field as we agree in the locker room, we would have achieved more positive results. As soon as the players started to be afraid and lost faith in themselves - we lost.

Of course, we can now say that we could have scored more points. But it's a sin to complain - we have "plus" 19 points to the autumn achievement of six points. We finished the spring part of the competition at the top of the standings. But that doesn't matter anymore. It's just a demonstration that the team has progressed," Ljubenovic said.

As previously reported, yesterday the national team of Ukraine arrived in Herzogenaurach, Germany, where it will prepare for Euro 2024. After arriving and having lunch, the national team players had about two hours to rest, after which they went to training at the field of Eltersdorf from the Bavarian city of Erlangen, which plays in the fifth ranked division of German club football.

After a warm-up and running session involving all 24 players currently in the Blue and Yellows' squad, the boys performed ball handling exercises.

After that, head coach Serhii Rebrov divided the team into groups for a series of games with tactical tasks. In this part of the training, Georgiy Sudakov and Vitaliy Mykolenko worked individually, as they are completing the rehabilitation process after their previous injuries. So far, the medical staff is gradually bringing the players to work in the general group.

Today, the Ukrainian national team will continue to work at the first training camp before the final tournament of Euro 2024 in the mode of two training sessions.

The new head coach of Zhytomyr Polesie Imad Ashur has decided on the composition of his assistants, reports the TaToTake telegram channel.

According to the source, Anton Dyachenko, Volodymyr Knysh, Serhiy Pinchuk, Oleksandr Tkachenko, Andriy Gitchenko, goalkeepers coach Mikhail Fedunov, analyst Bohdan Shirkov and physio coach Christian Machin will be the team's assistants.

This is not the final version of the Polesie coaching staff, but the changes can only be spot-on.

Roma's star striker Paulo Dybala has admitted that he is not sure about his future with the Giallorossi.

"I've been in Italy for almost 12 years and I'm experiencing an incredible moment. It's hard for me to imagine myself outside of Italy, because I have become a man here. Italy has everything for me. It would be hard to leave it all, but obviously there is also interest in seeing how I could prove myself in the big championships of La Liga and the Premier League," the Argentine told The Athletic.

Dybala has one more year left on his contract and his deal with Roma includes a €12 million buyout clause for clubs outside of Serie A. Italian clubs will need to pay at least €20 million for the player.

Real Madrid striker Rodrigo Goes may become a Manchester City player, according to the online publication Mundo Deportivo.

According to the source, the 23-year-old Brazilian sees the likely arrival of PSG player Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid as a threat and believes that the English Premier League would be the perfect place to realise his talent to the fullest. The player is believed to be attracted to Manchester City head coach Josep Guardiola's style of play.

But it is reported that the creamy ones will ask for at least €170 million for their player, which is an extremely large sum even for the Citizens.

Barcelona defender Sergi Roberto may leave the club this summer, according to the online publication Relevo.

According to the source, the club cannot guarantee him a place in the squad next season. "Barcelona does not yet know exactly how many players can be declared. It is reported that the team's priority is defenders Inigo Martinez and Alex Balde, midfielder Xavi and striker Vitor Roque. It is also believed that the decision to continue cooperation with Barcelona is up to Roberto himself.

Earlier, the media reported that the player would stay at the club only if Xavi continues his work, as the Spanish specialist highly appreciates the midfielder's playing qualities.

Inter centre-back Francesco Acherbi will miss Euro 2024.

The 35-year-old suffered a groin injury that will require several weeks of recovery, which is why he will not be able to return in time for the start of Euro 2024.

The official website of the Italian Football Federation reports that Juventus centre-back Federico Gatti will replace Acherbi in the national team's application.

This season, Acherbi was the main defender in Simone Inzaghi's team and played 38 matches for Inter in all competitions.

The Italian national team will gather for a training camp on Friday and play a friendly match against Turkey on 4 June. After that, they will also play a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Real Madrid striker Rodrigo Goes recalled the quarter-final stage of this year's Champions League draw, in which the cream of the crop beat Manchester City in a penalty shootout (4-4, 4-3 penalties).

"For me, Manchester City is the best team in the world that plays the best football. So I think that if the strongest opponent is eliminated, it will be easier from here," Rodrigo said, as quoted by AS with reference to GQ.

Real Madrid's Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has revealed that he will not play for his team in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund this Saturday in London.

"I am very sad that I won't be able to prepare with the team for the most important game of the season and of my life....

Thank you very much for all your messages and words of support!", - wrote Lunin on his page in the social network Instagram.

We will remind, earlier it was reported that the goalkeeper has the flu, and for this reason he missed the last three training sessions of Real Madrid.

Bayern Munich's new head coach Vincent Kompany has identified players who are ready to give a new lease of life to the "record holder".

According to Fichajes, Manchester City defender John Stones, RB Leipzig midfielder Dani Olmo and Athletic winger Nico Williams are on the shortlist.

It is noted that Olmo is well known to Bayern Munich director Max Eberly, who worked with the Spaniard at RB Leipzig.

As previously reported, the Ukraine national team today in Herzogenaurach, Germany, began preparations for Euro 2024.

So far, the defender of English Everton Vitaliy Mykolenko is engaged separately from the team. During today's training session "blue-yellow" 25-year-old footballer was limited to running work.

We will remind, on Monday, 3 June, the national team of Ukraine will play the first control match in preparation for the European Championship - in Nuremberg against Germany.

Video - UAF

Napoli's owner Aurelio De Laurentiis is ready to provide the team's new head coach Antonio Conte with a record transfer budget.

According to Il Matino, the 54-year-old will receive €230 million for transfers. The publication also revealed some details of Conte's contract in Naples.

Firstly, the agreement contains a clause that allows the coach to unilaterally terminate the contract with the club at the end of each season. Conte will also have a decisive vote on the team's transfers, not only for incoming players but also for the sale of players.