Giroud Scores in His Last AC Milan Match on a Night of Farewells at San Siro

AC Milan's French forward #09 Olivier Giroud (C) makes a heart sign as he celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Italian Serie A football match between AC Milan and Salernitana at San Siro Stadium, in Milan on May 25, 2024. as the last match by coach. (AFP)
AC Milan's French forward #09 Olivier Giroud (C) makes a heart sign as he celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Italian Serie A football match between AC Milan and Salernitana at San Siro Stadium, in Milan on May 25, 2024. as the last match by coach. (AFP)
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Giroud Scores in His Last AC Milan Match on a Night of Farewells at San Siro

AC Milan's French forward #09 Olivier Giroud (C) makes a heart sign as he celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Italian Serie A football match between AC Milan and Salernitana at San Siro Stadium, in Milan on May 25, 2024. as the last match by coach. (AFP)
AC Milan's French forward #09 Olivier Giroud (C) makes a heart sign as he celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Italian Serie A football match between AC Milan and Salernitana at San Siro Stadium, in Milan on May 25, 2024. as the last match by coach. (AFP)

Olivier Giroud scored in his final match for AC Milan as the Rossoneri drew with bottom club Salernitana 3-3 on a Saturday night of farewells at San Siro.

The 37-year-old Giroud, who helped Milan to the Serie A title in 2022, is leaving after three years and will join Los Angeles FC.

Giroud was given a standing ovation when he was substituted off six minutes from time, hugging all of his teammates and coach Stefano Pioli as the crowd sang his name.

Milan’s last match of the season was also Pioli’s final match in charge, bringing to an end a five-year stint that included the Champions League semifinal last year as well as the Serie A title.

There were emotional scenes before the match as Pioli was encircled by his players. He had tears in his eyes as he embraced each of them individually as they applauded, while the whole stadium gave him a standing ovation.

Rafael Leão immediately went over to celebrate with Pioli after scoring the opening goal in the 22nd minute following a howler by Salernitana goalkeeper Vincenzo Fiorillo, who dropped the ball at his feet. They were joined by the rest of the Milan team.

Five minutes later it was Giroud’s turn as he acrobatically struck home a corner for his 15th league goal of the season. The France forward has 49 goals for Milan in his three seasons.

Simy pulled one back for Salernitana in the 64th but Davide Calabria restored Milan’s two-goal advantage 13 minutes later.

However, goals from Junior Sambia and Simy in the last three minutes rescued a draw for already-relegated Salernitana in its last top-flight match.

It was also Milan defender Simon Kjær's last match for the club. Pioli, Giroud and Kjær were all celebrated in a special ceremony after the match, and all three struggled to hold back tears.

RECORD-EQUALLING

Alex Sandro made his 327th and final appearance for Juventus as the Brazilian equaled Pavel Nedved’s record for the most matches by a foreign player for the Bianconeri.

Alex Sandro headed in Juve’s second in a 2-0 win over Monza. Federico Chiesa claimed the opener two minutes earlier.

Nicolò Fagioli hit the crossbar in the 16th minute on his first start for Juventus since returning from a seven-month ban for betting violations.

Monza forward Alessio Zerbin was sent off in the final minute following a second yellow card.



Hansi Flick Says Barcelona Will Be His Last Coaching Job

FC Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick attends a press conference following the training of the team held at Joan Gamper Sports Complex in Barcelona, Spain, 17 March 2026. (EPA)
FC Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick attends a press conference following the training of the team held at Joan Gamper Sports Complex in Barcelona, Spain, 17 March 2026. (EPA)
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Hansi Flick Says Barcelona Will Be His Last Coaching Job

FC Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick attends a press conference following the training of the team held at Joan Gamper Sports Complex in Barcelona, Spain, 17 March 2026. (EPA)
FC Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick attends a press conference following the training of the team held at Joan Gamper Sports Complex in Barcelona, Spain, 17 March 2026. (EPA)

Barcelona may be the last team Hansi Flick coaches.

Flick said on Tuesday he doesn't plan on coaching anymore when his stint with Barcelona is over. He spoke ahead of the match against Newcastle in the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday. The teams drew 1-1 in England last week.

Newly re-elected club president Joan Laporta said he plans to extend the German coach’s contract until 2028. Flick said it's not the time to talk about renewing a contract which ends in 2027, but hinted he was keen to end his career at Barcelona.

“Everyone knows I’m happy here, but I also need to talk with my family,” the 61-year-old Flick said. “There will be time for that. I love working here. I’ve got a fantastic family and great support in Barcelona. In football, I always aim for the highest level. I’m not thinking about leaving. Barça will be my last club.”

He did not elaborate on a possible plan in place for his retirement.

Laporta was re-elected on Sunday for another five years after winning a leadership vote among members.

Flick, a former Bayern Munich and Germany coach, came to Barcelona in 2024.


Van de Ven Insists It’s ‘Nonsense’ to Say Players Don’t Care About Spurs’ Plight

Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven attends a press conference in London, Great Britain, 17 March 2026. Tottenham Hotspur will face Atletico Madrid on 18 March 2026 in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd leg match in London. (EPA)
Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven attends a press conference in London, Great Britain, 17 March 2026. Tottenham Hotspur will face Atletico Madrid on 18 March 2026 in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd leg match in London. (EPA)
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Van de Ven Insists It’s ‘Nonsense’ to Say Players Don’t Care About Spurs’ Plight

Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven attends a press conference in London, Great Britain, 17 March 2026. Tottenham Hotspur will face Atletico Madrid on 18 March 2026 in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd leg match in London. (EPA)
Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven attends a press conference in London, Great Britain, 17 March 2026. Tottenham Hotspur will face Atletico Madrid on 18 March 2026 in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd leg match in London. (EPA)

Micky van de Ven is adamant that it is "nonsense" to suggest that Tottenham Hotspur players are indifferent about the threat of relegation from the Premier League.

Spurs are just a point above the bottom three and their season went from bad to worse with a club-record sixth consecutive defeat in a 5-2 loss away to Atletico Madrid last week in the first leg of a last-16 tie in the Champions League.

Spurs did rally with a 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Sunday to provide fresh belief and Van de Ven, criticized for a red card against Crystal Palace earlier this month, has dismissed accusations that some players have "checked out" in the battle to beat the drop.

"The only thing I can say is it's not true," he told reporters on Tuesday on the eve of the second-leg tie with Atletico.

"It would be strange if a player was in the dressing room now and saying, 'I'm going to leave either way, or... it doesn't affect me'. So, I think it's just nonsense."

The 24-year-old added: "The other day when we read something about one guy that said to everyone that he's probably going to leave and doesn't care about the situation they're in... People are just making things up.

"It's just frustrating for us because it brings so much more trouble, because the fans are starting to believe this.

"Trust me, all the people involved on the pitch, the staff, the players, everyone, they care so much about the situation we're in right now.

"We just want to turn things around and that's the most important, that's the main focus for everyone."

Van de Ven could only watch on television, following his red card against Palace, as Spurs battled hard for a point at Anfield and the Dutch defender is eager to play his part against Atletico, and in Sunday's relegation 'six-pointer' with Nottingham Forest.

"What they showed, the character they showed in the game was unbelievable, and when Richy (Richarlison) scores and it's 1-1, it's just happiness at home, screaming towards the TV," he said.

"Tomorrow it's just a beautiful game. We have nothing to lose. We want to do something special.

"We're going to do everything to change things around, tomorrow first, and then afterwards in the Premier League games coming up."


Kompany Says Bayern Likely Won’t Need to Start 16-Year-Old Goalkeeper Amid Injury Crisis

Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany (R) reacts after Bayern Munich's Colombian forward #14 Luis Diaz (C) was sent off by the referee during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, western Germany on March 14, 2026. (AFP)
Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany (R) reacts after Bayern Munich's Colombian forward #14 Luis Diaz (C) was sent off by the referee during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, western Germany on March 14, 2026. (AFP)
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Kompany Says Bayern Likely Won’t Need to Start 16-Year-Old Goalkeeper Amid Injury Crisis

Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany (R) reacts after Bayern Munich's Colombian forward #14 Luis Diaz (C) was sent off by the referee during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, western Germany on March 14, 2026. (AFP)
Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany (R) reacts after Bayern Munich's Colombian forward #14 Luis Diaz (C) was sent off by the referee during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, western Germany on March 14, 2026. (AFP)

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has indicated he'll likely avoid having to field 16-year-old goalkeeper Leonard Prescott in the Champions League against Atalanta after backup Jonas Urbig returned to training Tuesday amid an injury crisis in the position.

Urbig, normally Bayern's second choice in goal, sustained from concussion after colliding with an opponent when Bayern won the first leg 6-1 last week. Fellow goalkeepers Manuel Neuer and Sven Ulreich have injuries too ahead of the second leg Wednesday.

Kompany said it will be a “purely medical decision” whether Urbig is fit to play, and "if everything is fine tomorrow morning and it's going like it is currently is, then Urbig will be in goal as normal. And if not, then we need to use another solution and we'll do that as well.”

Kompany then confirmed that the “solution” would be New York-born 16-year-old Prescott, who usually plays for the club's under-19 squad.

Prescott was on the bench for the team's Bundesliga game Saturday when third-choice Ulreich tore an adductor muscle. A 19-year-old reserve player, Jannis Bärtl, has also been considered an option.

Bayern said Urbig trained with the team Tuesday and Neuer did a partial session as part of his recovery from a recurring calf injury. It's “obviously satisfying that Manu is back and Jonas can train just as normal,” Kompany said.

Bayern has also been dealing with injuries to left back Alphonso Davies and forward Jamal Musiala after last week's win at Atalanta.