Coach Flick to Focus on Recovery as Barcelona Lead LaLiga Race

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Leganes v FC Barcelona - Estadio Municipal de Butarque, Leganes, Spain - April 12, 2025 FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick before the match REUTERS/Ana Beltran
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Leganes v FC Barcelona - Estadio Municipal de Butarque, Leganes, Spain - April 12, 2025 FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick before the match REUTERS/Ana Beltran
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Coach Flick to Focus on Recovery as Barcelona Lead LaLiga Race

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Leganes v FC Barcelona - Estadio Municipal de Butarque, Leganes, Spain - April 12, 2025 FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick before the match REUTERS/Ana Beltran
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Leganes v FC Barcelona - Estadio Municipal de Butarque, Leganes, Spain - April 12, 2025 FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick before the match REUTERS/Ana Beltran

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is focusing on his side's recovery ahead of the season's final stretch, in which they lead LaLiga and are still in contention for the Copa del Rey and Champions League. Barcelona extended their advantage in the Spanish top flight with a 1-0 win at Leganes on Saturday, completing a 12-match unbeaten run and moving seven points clear of second-placed Real Madrid.
"We have to focus on recovery, recovery, recovery. That's the way it is. We will arrive in Barcelona tonight, train tomorrow and fly to Dortmund on Monday," Flick told reporters.
"We have no excuses - we have to recover, but that's our job," he added, according to Reuters.
Defender Jorge Saenz's own goal was enough to secure victory for the Catalans, and Flick added that a win, however it came, was a win, especially after their packed calendar.
"Three points are three points and every game we fight for 90 minutes, when you see the load the players have had in the last few weeks or days, it's unbelievable.
"After the international break, you see what my players have done, my team's performance has been unbelievable. I'm very proud of them."
The coach was also quick to praise Inigo Martinez, who made a superb tackle in stoppage time to prevent Munir from scoring when he was already heading for Wojciech Szczesny's net.
"That was also part of the game, to defend well, yes, I celebrated it. It was a perfect game," Flick added.
Barca, who are unbeaten in 24 games across all competitions, visit Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League quarter-final second leg on Tuesday, having won the first game 4-0. They will then host Celta Vigo in LaLiga on Saturday.



Trump Envoy Reportedly Seeks to Replace Iran with Italy in World Cup

FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: The FIFA logo is seen on the facade of FIFA headquarters before the draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa
FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: The FIFA logo is seen on the facade of FIFA headquarters before the draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa
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Trump Envoy Reportedly Seeks to Replace Iran with Italy in World Cup

FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: The FIFA logo is seen on the facade of FIFA headquarters before the draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa
FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: The FIFA logo is seen on the facade of FIFA headquarters before the draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa

A top envoy to US President Donald Trump has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

The plan is an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the American president's attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

"I confirm I have suggested to Trump and (FIFA president Gianni) Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I'm an Italian native and it would be a dream to see ⁠the Azzurri at ⁠a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion," US special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the FT.

The White House, FIFA, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Italy suffered a shock in March after the national team missed out on the World Cup for the third time in a row following a 4-1 penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina in their ⁠qualifying playoff final.

Iran qualified for a fourth successive World Cup last year but after the start of the war requested that FIFA move the team's three group matches from the US to Mexico.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on a visit to an Iran squad training camp in Türkiye last month that all matches would take place as scheduled, while offering the team help with preparations for the tournament.

"We are preparing and making arrangements for the World Cup, but we are obedient to the decisions of the authorities," Iranian football federation (FFIRI) President Mehdi Taj told reporters at a pro-government rally in Tehran on Wednesday.

"For now, the decision is for the national team to be fully prepared for ⁠the World Cup."

The decision ⁠on which country would come in if the Iranian government withdrew the team lies in the hands of FIFA, which under Article Six of the World Cup regulations is at liberty to call up any nation it chooses to fill the vacancy.

The World Cup, which is also being co-hosted by Mexico and Canada, gets underway on June 11 with Iran scheduled to kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles four days later.


Al-Nassr Reaches Asian Champions League Two Final

Al-Nassr scored five goals against Qatari Al-Ahli. (Al-Nassr Club)
Al-Nassr scored five goals against Qatari Al-Ahli. (Al-Nassr Club)
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Al-Nassr Reaches Asian Champions League Two Final

Al-Nassr scored five goals against Qatari Al-Ahli. (Al-Nassr Club)
Al-Nassr scored five goals against Qatari Al-Ahli. (Al-Nassr Club)

Cristiano Ronaldo helped Al-Nassr crush Qatar’s Al-Ahli 5-1 on Wednesday to reach the Asian Champions League Two final and move within touching distance of a first major trophy since joining the Saudi club in December 2022.

The 41-year-old Portugal superstar played for 78 minutes and, while he did not score, French international Kingsley Coman's hat trick inspired a comeback victory in Asia’s second-tier club tournament, The Associated Press reported.

Al-Ahli had a chance to take the lead after seven minutes, but a penalty from former Germany international Julian Draxler was saved by Brazilian goalkeeper Bento.

Four minutes later, the Qatari side went ahead. Sekou Yansane cut inside from the right and curled a low shot into the far corner.

Al-Nassr responded almost immediately, with Coman equalizing from close range after Angelo broke free down the left.

Angelo then put the hosts in front midway through the first half, collecting a pass from Sadio Mane before guiding the ball past the goalkeeper.

Just before the break, Al-Nassr extended its lead as Coman pounced on a loose ball to score from close range.

Coman, who joined from Bayern Munich in 2025, completed his hat trick in the 64th, running onto a pass from Angelo and finishing calmly.

Abdullah Al-Hamdan added a late goal to complete the win.

Al-Nassr, which leads the Saudi Pro League with five games remaining, faces Japan’s Gamba Osaka in the Champions League Two final in Riyadh on May 17.


Rebrov Leaves Role as Ukraine Coach

Ukraine national soccer team head coach Serhiy Rebrov attends a press conference in Herzogenaurach, Germany, 02 June 2024. EPA/RONALD WITTEK
Ukraine national soccer team head coach Serhiy Rebrov attends a press conference in Herzogenaurach, Germany, 02 June 2024. EPA/RONALD WITTEK
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Rebrov Leaves Role as Ukraine Coach

Ukraine national soccer team head coach Serhiy Rebrov attends a press conference in Herzogenaurach, Germany, 02 June 2024. EPA/RONALD WITTEK
Ukraine national soccer team head coach Serhiy Rebrov attends a press conference in Herzogenaurach, Germany, 02 June 2024. EPA/RONALD WITTEK

Serhiy Rebrov has stepped down as coach of the Ukraine national football team, the Ukrainian Association of Football announced on Wednesday.

The former Dynamo Kyiv and Tottenham Hotspur striker took charge in 2023 and led Ukraine to the European Championship in Germany the following year. However, the team missed out on this year's World Cup after a 3-1 loss to Sweden in the qualification playoff semi-finals, Reuters reported.

Rebrov will remain involved with the UAF in a different capacity, the statement added.

"Today, we need to move forward and adopt new decisions that will become the foundation of the future national team," said UAF President Andriy Shevchenko.

The UAF said that a new coach would be announced later.