Mourinho waits in parking lot to tell referee he’s a ‘f—–g disgrace’

The Roma manager didn’t think he got enough face time with Anthony Taylor during the game

José Mourinho was not a fan of referee Anthony Taylor’s performance in the Europa League final on Wednesday.

The Roma manager said so in his post-game press conference after his side fell on penalties to Sevilla following a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.

But that wasn’t enough for the Portuguese manager. Mourinho also wanted to again tell Taylor to his face how displeased he was. So he waited outside the Roma team bus to find the referee and tell him that his performance was a “f—–g disgrace” and that the Englishman and his fellow referees were “f—–g crooks.”

Mourinho goes off in press conference

Prior to the parking lot confrontation, Mourinho told the media exactly how he felt about Taylor and his crew.

“The referee seemed like he was Spanish,” Mourinho said. “The result was not fair, and there are a lot of instances to reexamine.”

Some of those instances included Taylor not giving Roma a penalty kick in the second half after an alleged handball, as well as the referee not sending Erik Lamela off for a second yellow card.

“This is a European final, and with this kind of refereeing, it is hard to accept. If we talk about refereeing situations, it’s not two or three: it is many, quite apart from the big decisions. Those of us who have been in football a long time realize immediately what is going on,” Mourinho said.

“[Lorenzo] Pellegrini falls in box and given a yellow card; [Lucas] Ocampos did exactly the same thing and he doesn’t get one. It’s a scandal. VAR called the referee and shames Ocampos, but there’s no card given.

“Lamela — who, by the way, scored one of the penalties — deserved a second yellow but didn’t get it. And let’s not even talk about the big decisions. That’s just the small details.”

Taylor did award 14 yellow cards in the match, a new record for a Europa League final.

[lawrence-related id=20825,20512,18944]

No one loves anything like Sevilla loves the Europa League

Sevilla did what they do, winning the Europa League for a seventh time

Sevilla, as is seemingly always the case, won the Europa League, triumphing in a penalty kick shootout after a 1-1 extra time draw with Roma.

It’s Sevilla’s seventh Europa League title, by far the most of any club (even if you include winners from the tournament’s former life as the UEFA Cup). Remarkably, all of those triumphs have come since 2006, and represent over half of the club’s major trophies.

It also makes clear which unusual phenomenon, between Sevilla’s invincibility in the Europa League and Jose Mourinho’s perfect record in European finals, is more powerful. Mourinho had won all five of his previous finals, winning in this competition, the Champions League, and even the Europa Conference League. Until Wednesday, Mourinho’s sides hadn’t even given up a goal in a final since the 2002-03 UEFA Cup.

However, Sevilla’s astounding history in the Europa League continued after an own goal got the Spanish side level in a dour, attritional final. Sevilla survived a Chris Smalling header that clipped the bar in the 11th minute of stoppage time in extra time, before showing more nerve in a penalty kick tiebreaker.

Roma — who have been less than stellar from the spot during the 2022-23 season — had to watch Sevilla go four-for-four in the shootout, while Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibañez saw their shots saved by Yassine Bounou.

The reactions, predictably, were over the top.

La Liga USA-Mexico tour 2023: Schedule, tickets, stadiums and more

Atlético Madrid, Real Betis, Real Sociedad and Sevilla will each play two games in North America

Four of Spain’s biggest clubs will head to the USA and Mexico this summer for preseason friendlies.

However, the country’s two biggest clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona, will not be taking part.

But there will still be plenty of star power on display as Atlético Madrid, Real Betis, Real Sociedad and Sevilla all head to North America ahead of the 2023-24 season.

A statement from La Liga said: “The summer tour is part of La Liga and its clubs’ strategy to grow the Spanish Professional League’s footprint in the United States and Mexico.

“The tour will make its first stop in 2023 in the United States and Mexico. It will continue the strategy to develop and grow the league, its clubs and competitions in North American markets.”

Each of the clubs will play two games, one in Mexico and one in the United States. The two games in the U.S. will be a doubleheader at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

Here are the fixtures for La Liga’s 2023 summer tour of the United States and Mexico, including how to purchase tickets.

La Liga USA-Mexico tour 2023

August 2: Atlético Madrid vs Real Sociedad — Estadio BBVA, Monterrey, Mexico. 7 p.m. local. TICKETS.

August 2: Sevilla vs Real Betis — Estadio Akron, Guadalajara, Mexico. 9 p.m. local. TICKETS.

August 5: Atlético Madrid vs Sevilla — Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA. 4 p.m. local. TICKETS.

August 5: Real Sociedad vs Real Betis — Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA. 7 p.m. local. TICKETS.

[lawrence-related id=18166,17984,17978]

Ten Hag beside himself after Manchester United’s Europa League debacle

“It’s clear: We make such mistakes, it’s very difficult to win a football game”

Erik ten Hag could barely constrain his frustration after Manchester United fumbled their way out of the Europa League.

An error-strewn performance saw ten Hag’s side concede two calamitous goals on turnovers, as well as a soft set piece goal, en route to a 3-0 second leg loss at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. Sevilla, as a result, is through to the Europa Leagues semifinals on a 5-2 aggregate win after having fallen behind 2-0 in the first leg.

This same opponent has ended Man Utd’s European dreams three times in the last six seasons, with this victory joining similar triumphs in the 2017-18 Champions League round of 16 and the 2019-20 Europa League semifinals.

Speaking to BT Sport after the match, ten Hag let out a sign before saying that he felt like the cause of their downfall was obvious. “It’s clear,” said ten Hag. “We make such mistakes, it’s very difficult to win a football game.”

Brushing off the chance to use the raucous atmosphere as an excuse, ten Hag asserted that a loud opposing fan base isn’t an explanation for his side’s meltdown. “[I] expect that we can deal with it. So I won’t say that’s an explanation for it. We have to do better. That is the demand.”

The Red Devils fell behind in the eighth minute as David de Gea’s iffy pass to Harry Maguire was made much worse by the England center back. Maguire’s attempt to spray the ball wide thumped into Érik Lamela, and Youssef En-Nesyri immediately pounced to side-foot past de Gea.

“You have seen what I have seen,” seethed ten Hag when asked about the shaky start. “We were not composed. We were not calm. Once you beat [Sevilla’s] press, huge spaces on the pitch, but we didn’t do it at the start, and it was so obvious how to do it.”

The poor first half could have been worse, with VAR spotting that Marcos Acuña was narrowly offside before sending in a cross that eventually ended with Lucas Ocampos firing past de Gea. Again, it was a play that started with careless play: Casemiro’s pass out to Aaron Wan-Bissaka was misplaced badly enough that Acuña could make an interception deep in Man Utd’s half.

For ten Hag, Man Utd’s mistakes were compounded by being out-fought by Sevilla.

“Bad decisions, and then also, we lose the battles. They had more passion and more desire, more willingness,” said ten Hag. “So then, it’s difficult to win big football games.”

That was likely on ten Hag’s mind when thinking of the second goal, as Loïc Badé simply beat Casemiro to a corner, using his shoulder to guide the ball over de Gea, off the bar, and just over the line.

Summing up a bumbling display by just about everyone in red on the night, de Gea completely mis-controlled a hopeless long ball, turning an easy situation into a brace for En-Nesyri. Any chance of a Man Utd comeback was completely dead and buried.

Man Utd were without several key players, with Raphaël Varane and Lisandro Martínez both suffering injuries in the first leg and Bruno Fernandes suspended. Maguire and Victor Lindelöf stepped in as the center back duo, while Marcel Sabitzer replaced the influential Portuguese playmaker.

Still, ten Hag refused to point in the direction of his absent starters, reiterating that the team on the field just didn’t deliver.

“It’s about the players who are on the pitch. They have to perform,” stated ten Hag. “I believe in them, I trust them and then they have to show. But today, we were not good enough.

“We showed so many occasions [with] good performance and good things, but tonight — and also we had some occasions [like this] — we were not ready for the game. And it can’t be when you are on this level, when you’re playing for Manchester United. You have to be ready for every game. This is a great opportunity. This is a great occasion, a quarterfinal in Europe, to win something, and then you give it away. So, we have to blame ourselves.”

Watch ten Hag go off after Man United’s poor showing

[lawrence-related id=14984,14581,12135]

Goalkeeper-punching fan sentenced to two months in jail

If you run on the field and attack a player, you will probably end up in jail

The PSV fan who ran on the field and attacked Sevilla goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović during a game last month has been handed a two-month jail sentence.

In the middle of PSV’s Europa League match at home against Sevilla, the 20-year-old man ran onto the Philips Stadium pitch and made a beeline for the Serbia international keeper.

Video footage showed the man throw a punch at Dmitrović, who then wrestled him to the ground and restrained him before security intervened.

In not-so-stunning news, the fan had 1. A prior history of soccer-related offenses, and was 2. Drunk.

“The suspect not only violated a stadium and area ban, he also went onto the field in a drunken state to assault a soccer player,” the East Brabant District Court said. “This is completely disrespectful to the victim, the soccer clubs and all true supporters of PSV. In addition, the suspect was convicted twice in 2021 for soccer-related offenses.”

The court said the fan had already been banned from the area around Philips Stadium, and had a friend buy a ticket to the game for him.

UEFA has also opened a disciplinary case into PSV, with the Dutch club expected to receive some form of punishment.

“If someone attacks me, I’m going to defend myself. I think he brushed against me, he couldn’t hit me,” Dmitrović said after the incident. “I managed to beat him. I was on the ground for a long time until security came.”

[lawrence-related id=15034,15012,14498]

Even if your team loses, don’t punch Marko Dmitrovic

Punching the goalkeeper is a Soccer Don’t

When you go to a soccer game, there are things you should do: sing a song, talk with friends, marvel at the amazing things people can do while kicking a ball around.

One thing you should not do, though, is go on the field after your team loses to punch a goalkeeper (or anyone else).

One PSV fan seemingly did not know that important Soccer Don’t, as a supporter ran onto the field at Phillips Stadion to attack Sevilla goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović after the Spanish side held on to a 3-2 Europa League aggregate win.

The lone fan was seen on video from the stands approaching to shove Dmitrović from behind. The fan then threw a punch after Serbia’s deputy goalkeeper seemed to more or less be asking what the problem was.

Dmitrović, to his immense credit, managed to calmly get the man on the ground and hold him there — eventually with players from both teams helping out — before stadium security hauled the fan away.

Following the game — and in a sterling example of understatement — Dmitrović told Tiempo de Juego that he was “surprised” by what had happened.

“If someone attacks me, I’m going to defend myself. I think he brushed against me, he couldn’t hit me,” said the 6-foot-4 Dmitrović. “I managed to beat him. I was on the ground for a long time until security came.”

In fact, before security arrived, the first people that showed up to help Dmitrović were PSV players, and eventually just about every Sevilla player converged as well. Dmitrović appeared to be no worse for wear, and will presumably be excited to find out who Sevilla will face in the quarterfinal.

High drama at Phillips Stadion

The match itself was more than a little dramatic. Sevilla won the first leg 3-0, and got within 15 minutes of a straightforward victory in a competition that they have long thrived in.

However, Luuk de Jong’s 77th minute goal gave PSV a glimmer of hope, and a Fábio Silva finish amid a scrum five minutes into stoppage time set up a possible grandstand finish. However, with PSV protesting for one more set piece opportunity, referee Daniele Orsato blew for full time. Mauro Júnior was sent off in the chaos, but little did anyone know, things were boiling over down at the other end of the field.

And now, unfortunately for that fan, there are some photos that make him look foolish.

(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

[lawrence-related id=12070,12758]

Sevilla coach Sampaoli pours cold water on Mexico’s Tecatito World Cup dream

Mexico has been holding out hope the star winger can recover early from a serious injury

Mexico is still holding out some hope that Jesús “Tecatito” Corona can make an improbable return from injury in time for the World Cup.

But on Thursday, Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli came in with a dose of reality.

Tecatito suffered a broken fibula and a rupture of his ankle ligaments in August, which at the time looked to have ruled him out for the World Cup.

But Mexico still named the Sevilla winger to its 31-man World Cup roster this week, as head Tata Martino continues to give a crucial piece of his attack every opportunity to recover.

Sampaoli, though, doesn’t think Tecatito has any chance of being fit for Qatar.

“Tecatito is progressing day by day, his discharge date to return to training with the group is December 1 or 2,” Sampaoli said.

“So I do not see him having that possibility [of playing at the World Cup] due to the medical report.

“His evolution is good, but he had a very serious injury, and bringing [his return] forward might be a risk. Here, the ones who determine whether he can be there or not are the medical staff.”

Tecatito has 71 caps and 10 goals for Mexico, and looked likely to start for El Tri at the World Cup if he were fit.

Mexico will begin World Cup play on November 22 against Poland before facing Argentina and Saudi Arabia in Group C.

[lawrence-related id=8844,6745,6604]

Tecatito no estará en Qatar 2022, asegura su técnico en Sevilla

En el interior de la selección mexicana se manejaba la opción que Corona podría estar disponible para el tercer partido de la Copa del Mundo

Jorge Sampaoli, técnico del Sevilla, eliminó todas las ilusiones de los aficionados mexicanos que esperaban ver a Tecatito Corona con El Tri en Qatar 2022 al asegurar que no ve que eso sea una posibilidad.

Entrevistado luego del triunfo de su equipo en Champions League para mantenerse con esperanzas, el técnico argentino del Sevilla habló sobre la situación del mexicano que busca llegar a la cita mundialista.

Tecatito va progresando día a día, su fecha de alta para que vuelva a entrenar progresivamente con el grupo es el 1 o 2 de diciembre, así que no veo por el informe médico que él pueda tener esa posibilidad”, declaró Sampaoli.

El estratega dejó todo en manos de los médicos del club ya que dependerá de ellos que Jesús Corona sea dado de alta o tenga que observar el Mundial desde casa, sabedores del interés de El Tri en que forme parte del grupo.

En el interior de la selección mexicana se manejaba la opción que Corona podría estar disponible para el tercer partido de la Copa del Mundo, pero a decir de Sampaoli esa no es opción. Todo se resolverá en las próxima gira del Tri por España donde tocará base el volante ofensivo.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Tata Martino hace berrinche con el Sevilla por no ceder a Tecatito

Para Gerardo Martino la negativa del Sevilla lo confunde pues dan la impresión que no quieren que su futbolista juegue una Copa del Mundo

El mundial de Qatar 2022 estña a la vuelta de la esquina y para el Tata Martino es fundamental saber si podrá contar con el Tecatito Corona o no, pues desconoce la evolución de su lesión al no poder trabajar con el futbolista.

El enojo de Martino radica en que el Sevilla, club del futbolista, no ha permitido que Jesús Corona se rehabilite en selección mexicana, caso muy diferente al de Raúl Jiménez que sí recibió autorización para continuar su recuperación con El Tri.

“Puedo decir cómo está Raúl porque lo veo en el día a día, pero no puedo decir cómo está Jesús porque no lo veo y recién lo voy a ver no sé si el día primero cuando Sevilla se digne a prestarlo. Como nosotros no tenemos ninguna potestad para poder traerlo ahora, legalmente no hay nada que nos ampare para traerlo, bueno, hay que esperar los informes”, dijo Martino.

Para Gerardo Martino la negativa del Sevilla lo confunde pues dan la impresión que no quieren que su futbolista juegue una Copa del Mundo ya que es necesario que el entrenador de su selección observe su recuperación de manera cercana.

Aunque para El Tata Martino la elección de sus futbolistas casi está definida y contará con Rogelio Funes Mori como lo dejó ver así como con Raúl Jiménez quien evoluciona favorablemente de su lesión siendo Corona la única duda del técnico.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Tecatito manda mensaje que alienta a la afición del Tri

Sin duda el Sevilla busca desesperadamente el regreso de su futbolista para que pueda incorporarse al equipo y también representar a México

Una de las grandes dudas del Tri del Tata Martino de cara a Qatar 2022, es si podrá contar con Jesús “Tecatito” Corona en su nómina o no, pues el volante se recupera de una lesión que lo envió al quirófano a principios de la temporada.

Si bien el Tecatito ha ido dando muestras de su evolución, esta vez mandó un mensaje dedicado a la afición del Sevilla pero que sin duda llenó de esperanzas a la del Tri que desea contar con el habilidoso futbolista entre sus seleccionados.

“Estoy aquí para informarles que voy muy bien de mi lesión, cada vez más pronto para para entrar a la cancha y, nada, agradecerles a todos. Un abrazo”, comentó Corona.

El video difundido por el Sevilla muestra el compromiso que el cuadro español ha establecido con el mexicano para recuperarlo lo más pronto posible, incluso negando el permiso a viajar con la selección mexicana para evitar desgastes innecesarios.

Sin duda el Sevilla busca desesperadamente el regreso de su futbolista para que pueda incorporarse al equipo y también representar a México en la Copa del Mundo pues sabe el escaparate que eso representa y el costo del mexicano se podría incrementar en caso de una buena participación.

Por lo pronto siguen las dudas pero la esperanza es lo que muere al último para el aficionado del Tri que espera contar con el futbolista en Qatar 2022 pues para muchos es el mundial del Tecatito.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]