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King Salman Patronizes King's Cup Final

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz awards the trophy to al-Ittihad players after they are crowned Cup champions. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz awards the trophy to al-Ittihad players after they are crowned Cup champions. (SPA)
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King Salman Patronizes King's Cup Final

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz awards the trophy to al-Ittihad players after they are crowned Cup champions. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz awards the trophy to al-Ittihad players after they are crowned Cup champions. (SPA)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz patronized on Saturday the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup final contested between al-Faisaly and al-Ittihad football clubs.

Hosted by the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Sports Stadium in Jeddah, the final saw al-Ittihad crowned champions after defeating their rivals 3-1 in extra time.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques had arrived at the stadium with a number of officials.

After being greeted by a group of children, King Salman was received by Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Khalid al-Faisal and Chairman of the General Sports Authority Turki Al al-Sheikh.

He then viewed a photo exhibition, which included photographs from the rule of King Abdulaziz until his current reign.

Upon arrival at the main podium, the King was welcomed by the sports fans.

The closing ceremony for the tournament saw an artistic show and a performance by singer Mohammed Abdo.

After the match, Chairman of the General Sports Authority Turki bin Abdulmohsen Al al-Sheikh held a press conference about the game in which he expressed appreciation to King Salman for patronizing the cup final.

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Defeated Villa Eager to Go Again in Champions League 

Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery reacts during the Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park stadium, Birmingham, England, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP)
Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery reacts during the Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park stadium, Birmingham, England, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP)
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Defeated Villa Eager to Go Again in Champions League 

Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery reacts during the Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park stadium, Birmingham, England, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP)
Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery reacts during the Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park stadium, Birmingham, England, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP)

Narrowly defeated by Paris St Germain at the Champions League quarter-final stage, Aston Villa are now focused on getting straight back next year into Europe's top club competition.

"I am very proud of everything we did in the Champions League," Villa boss Unai Emery said as the dust settled from a pulsating clash with PSG whom they beat 3-2 in Tuesday's second leg but lost 3-1 to in the first game for an overall 5-4 defeat.

Villa are seventh in the Premier League but only a point off fifth which would secure them a Champions League berth again.

"It is now most important to get Europe again. The most important competition is the Champions League. The challenge we have for the last six matches (of the Premier League) is to try and get Europe and the Champions League," Emery said.

His pride at Villa's strong showing, after a four-decade absence from Europe's elite, was tinged with frustration at just failing to pull off a remarkable comeback as they came so close to scoring a fourth goal at Villa Park that would have levelled the tie on aggregate.

"We were close," he said, adding that he had to push his team on to achieve ever more. "Still a little bit more to do better, to try to get it."

Aston Villa captain John McGinn, who scored on Tuesday, echoed the sentiment.

"Obvious disappointment but I am proud of my teammates, proud of the club. We have come a long way. We were so, so close tonight. We just fell a little bit short," he said.

"We had chances to take the game to extra time but we've got to be proud about the way we came back against one of the best teams in the world, to fight to the end. We want more. We want to be back here next season and we will try our best to do that."

McGinn said the players gave their all against a superb opponent. "We never gave up. It was chaos, but we gave absolutely everything and I think every Aston Villa supporter will leave with a huge sense of pride," he said.

"I've never played against Real Madrid or Barcelona, but in my career they (PSG) are the best team I have faced. I'm getting old and I certainly wouldn't like to play against them every week."