Juve appoint Montero as interim coach for final 2 matches
Turin, May 19: Juventus Under-19 coach Paolo Montero will take charge of the senior team for the final two matches of the season after Massimiliano Allegri was fired last week. The 52-year-old Montero, who played for the Bianconeri, has never coached a Serie A team but Juventus announced on Sunday that he would make the step up for the final two league matches. Montero will take charge of his first training session on Sunday before the team plays at Bologna the following day. Juventus ends the season at home to Monza next weekend. Allegri was fired on Friday for his ugly outburst toward the referees in last week’s Italian Cup final. The coach was also reportedly aggressive toward journalists after the match and Juventus said his behaviour was not in line with its “values.” Juventus is fourth in Serie A and has already qualified for next season’s Champions League but before Wednesday’s Italian Cup victory it hadn’t won any of its previous six matches and there was speculation that Allegri’s contract -which was set to expire at the end of next season – would be ended a year early. (AP)
Atalanta secure Champions League spot in Serie A
Rome, May 19: Atalanta secured a Champions League spot with a 2-0 win at Lecce in the penultimate round of Serie A . The Bergamo squad is in fifth place, six points ahead of Roma, and holds a tiebreaker over the Giallorossi after beating Roma last weekend. Atalanta also moved within one point of fourth-placed Juventus. Italy will have at least five squads in next season’s Champions League, and could earn a sixth if Atalanta defeats unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final on Wednesday. “Tomorrow we’ll start thinking about that. For tonight, we want to enjoy this,” Atalanta striker Gianluca Scamacca said when asked about facing Leverkusen. Atalanta was coming off a 1-0 loss to Juventus in the Italian Cup final. Atalanta will return to the Champions League after a two-year absence. Its best result in Europe’s top club competition was the quarterfinals in 2020. (AP)
Mbappé left out of PSG squad for final league game of the season
Paris, May 19: Kylian Mbappé has been left out of the squad travelling to Metz on Sunday for the final league game of the season. PSG has already been crowned champion for a record-extending 12th time. The star striker, who is leaving PSG after seven seasons at the French league club, has not been included in a group of 20 players selected by coach Luis Enrique. Asked to comment, PSG did not give a reason to justify Mbappé’s absence. The forward, who is widely expected to join Real Madrid, is not in the list of PSG players who are not available because of an injury. Mbappé is the club’s all-time top goalscorer with 256 goals, including 191 in the league. He will have a final occasion to play with PSG in the French Cup final on May 25 against Lyon. (AP)
Dortmund’s Marco Reus buys beer for team’s fans at his final game
Dortmund, May 19: Borussia Dortmund favourite Marco Reus bought beer for nearly a whole stadium of the team’s fans at his final Bundesliga game for the club. “It was planned in advance,” Reus said. “It was perfect, I’m unbelievably grateful for all the love people have shown me.” Before treating everyone to a drink, he treated them on the field to a goal and setting up another in the 4-0 win over Darmstadt. More than 81,000 supporters attended the match, though not all were of beer-drinking age, but many will have availed of the captain’s offer, possibly more than once. Dortmund posted on X a note signed by Reus in which he says, “Thank you for everything! The farewell beer on me,” followed by a smiley face and “your Marco.” Dortmund didn’t show the final bill. The 34-year-old Reus is leaving Dortmund after 12 years at the club. Reus said he wants to continue his career, though didn’t say where. (AP)
Messi scoreless but Inter Miami extend unbeaten run with 1-0 win
Fort Lauderdale, May 19: Lionel Messi was kept off the scoresheet for the second consecutive match, but Inter Miami extended its unbeaten string with a 1-0 win over DC United. Leo Campana scored four minutes into second half stoppage time as Miami avoided a second consecutive scoreless draw. Campana, who entered the match a minute earlier, received a pass from Sergio Busquets on the right wing and converted on a shot that landed inside the left post. Messi returned to the lineup after missing Wednesday’s match at Orlando because of knee soreness. The Argentine star forward had at least one goal and assist in five consecutive matches until a 3-2 win at Montreal on May 11. Messi began Saturday with a league-leading 12 assists. (AP)
Sukant Kadam, Tarun, Suhas qualify for Paris Paralympics
New Delhi, May 19: Ace Indian para shuttlers Sukant Kadam, Tarun and Suhas have sealed their berths for the upcoming Paralympics in Paris. This is the first time Kadam will be taking part in the Paralympics, and he will be playing in the men’s SL 4 category. SL4 is for players with movement affected at a low level on one side of the body, in both legs, or the minor absence of one limb. Apart from him, Tarun and Suhas have also qualified from the same category. Mandeep Kaur in SL3 women’s (for players with movement moderately affected on one side of the body, both legs, or the absence of limbs), Nithya and Sivarajan in mixed doubles SL6 category also made the cut. The Paris Paralympics will be held from August 28 to September 8. Kadam has been performing well for the past few years and is constantly winning medals. He won a bronze medal at the Asian Para Games to seal his Paris spot. (PTI)
Chennaiyin extend midfielder Jiteshwor Singh’s contract
Chennai, May 19: Former champions Chennaiyin FC on Sunday announced they have extended midfielder Yumkhaibam Jiteshwor Singh’s contract till 2025, following his impressive show in the recently concluded Indian Super League season. The 22-year-old midfielder from Manipur, who has made his ISL debut with Chennaiyin FC in 2022, has been a crucial cog in the club’s remarkable show in the recent season of the league. (PTI)