No surprises as Roberto Mancini’s time as Saudi head coach comes to an end

Analysis On Thursday night, the Saudi Arabia National team’s official X account confirmed the parting of ways with Roberto Mancini. (X/@saudint)
On Thursday night, the Saudi Arabia National team’s official X account confirmed the parting of ways with Roberto Mancini. (X/@saudint)
Short Url
Updated 25 October 2024
Follow

No surprises as Roberto Mancini’s time as Saudi head coach comes to an end

No surprises as Roberto Mancini’s time as Saudi head coach comes to an end
  • On Thursday, Saudi National team’s official X account confirmed the parting of ways with Mancini

RIYADH: The news, when it came, was not a surprise. Roberto Mancini’s time as head coach of Saudi Arabia has come to an end after less than 14 months.

It wasn’t just the 0-0 draw with Bahrain in Jeddah on Thursday but the way the Italian left the pitch, exchanging words and gestures with fans behind the bench. You did not need to speak Arabic or Italian to know that the comments were not warm or friendly.

These were not the scenes of a healthy and happy relationship, but one that was failing.

On Thursday night, the Saudi National team’s official X account confirmed the parting of ways with Mancini.

Whatever the ins and outs of the results, the strategies, tactics and training, sometimes it is best for all parties when it comes to an end. Nobody seemed to be enjoying themselves, not least the man himself. Five points from four third-round World Cup qualifiers is not a great return, especially when three of those games have been played in Jeddah, roared on by a passionate and big local crowd. The 2026 World Cup is on the line, and more besides.

Herve Renard left in March 2023 to take over the French women’s team, and did so with the thanks of a grateful nation who will never forget a smooth World Cup qualification campaign and that win over Argentina. Mancini was not just another smart, suave and sophisticated European coach, he seemed to be an upgrade on the Frenchman.

It was seen as a coup when the coach who had won the English Premier League with Manchester City, Serie A with Inter Milan and the European Championships with Italy, swapped Rome for Riyadh.

Perhaps the Asian Cup came along too soon in January. Everyone knows what happened, but it started with the coach accusing three senior players of picking and choosing their games and not selecting them, overseeing a second-round exit and then leaving the pitch before the end of the penalty shootout.

But early missteps can be forgiven and forgotten, even in the feverish world of modern football. It was time to focus on preparation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, which in turn would lead into the 2027 Asian Cup. Saudi Arabia will host that tournament for the first time, and are desperate to win for the first time since 1996.

The second round of qualification ended badly, however, with a home loss to Jordan in June. It was an ominous sign for round three where, so far, there have been just three goals scored in four games, one by a midfielder and two set-piece headers from a defender. There may be a lack of attacking talent in the country compared to some teams elsewhere, but there should be enough to actually threaten more in games against Indonesia, China, Japan and Bahrain.

He may also regret allowing Salem Al-Dawsari to take penalty kicks. The Al-Hilal man may be the most talented in the country, but had missed three from seven for his country until last month.

Now it is five from nine. After his failure against Indonesia, Al-Dawsari should have been removed from that duty and his miss against Bahrain was costly again. Had those two penalties been converted then Saudi Arabia would be a point behind Japan and four clear of Australia in third, and the 59-year-old would still be in a job.

Switching from three at the back to four recently did not have the desired effect and Mancini has struggled to stamp any kind of identity or style on the team. In the end, it is all about results, but signs of progress can help build patience.

Reports and rumors of a frostiness with players is not a major problem when winning but comes in for criticism when results are poor and his complaints about a lack of league minutes for his players had validity, but over time sounded like an excuse.

There have been videos of the former striker interacting with fans in social settings where there seemed to be genuine warmth and enjoyment, but this did not carry over into press conferences, games and other official engagements.

Such is football. Given what was happening, or not happening, it was clearly right to end a relationship that wasn’t working. And given that there is a crucial trip to Australia next month — the two teams are level on points — there was no time to waste.


Real Madrid, Manchester City both humiliated in Champions League, Liverpool enjoy Alonso’s return

Real Madrid, Manchester City both humiliated in Champions League, Liverpool enjoy Alonso’s return
Updated 06 November 2024
Follow

Real Madrid, Manchester City both humiliated in Champions League, Liverpool enjoy Alonso’s return

Real Madrid, Manchester City both humiliated in Champions League, Liverpool enjoy Alonso’s return
  • Liverpool moved top of the league phase table with four wins from four games, followed by Sporting and Monaco, both on 10 points after three wins and a draw
  • German forward Nicolas Kuhn scored twice as Celtic defeated Leipzig 3-1 at home, and Juventus drew 1-1 at Lille

LONDON: European heavyweights Real Madrid and Manchester City both suffered big defeats in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Defending champions Madrid were humbled 3-1 at home by AC Milan, while Erling Haaland missed a penalty and City squandered a fourth-minute lead as they lost 4-1 at Sporting Lisbon, whose coach will soon take charge of their crosstown rival.

It was a much better evening for Liverpool, as Luis Diaz scored a hat trick and Cody Gakpo grabbed another goal in a 4-0 win over German champion Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield that marred Xabi Alonso’s return to his old home.

The Leverkusen coach was given a warm welcome on his return to the club where he became a fan favorite as a player over five seasons between 2004-09. Alonso won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005.

Liverpool moved top of the league phase table with four wins from four games, followed by Sporting and Monaco, both on 10 points after three wins and a draw. Under the new 36-team format introduced by UEFA this season, the top eight teams advance directly to the next round, and those from ninth to 24th enter playoffs to reach it, while the bottom 12 are eliminated.

Amorim’s audition

Before their game, Sporting fans displayed a huge tifo thanking Ruben Amorim in his last home game before he takes over Manchester United.

Phil Foden then got City off to a flying start in the fourth minute, only the second goal Sporting has conceded in four games of the competition.

But Swedish forward Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat trick as Sporting came roaring back. Gyokeres first equalized in the 38th after a perfect through ball from Geovany Quenda, before Maximiliano Araujo made it 2-1 right after the break. Gyokeres then made it 3-1 from the penalty spot after Josko Gvardiol was penalized for a shove on Francisco Trincão in the area.

Haaland’s penalty hit the crossbar, before Gyokeres showed the Norwegian how it’s done with another spot kick at the other end to complete the scoring.

It is the first time since 2018 that City have lost three straight games, coming off a defeat to Tottenham in the English League Cup and a loss to Bournemouth in the Premier League.

“In my seven and a half years at the club, I don’t remember losing three games in a row,” City midfielder Bernardo Silva said.

Madrid faltering

In Spain, Christian Pulisic sent in a corner for Malick Thiaw to head Milan into a 12th-minute lead, ensuring Madrid trailed in a third straight game in the Champions League this season. The 15-time champion had already lost to surprise team Lille in their second game.

Vinícius Junior equalized from the penalty spot in the 23rd after he’d been tripped, but Alvaro Morata pounced on the rebound after Andriy Lunin saved Rafael Leão’s shot to restore the visitors’ lead against his former club.

Morata had already been given a hostile reception from the home fans, who evidently remember the goal he scored to take Juventus through to the 2015 final at their team’s expense.

Tijjani Reijnders scored Milan’s third goal as the home fans made their frustrations known at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

“The last two defeats are inexplicable. We have to analyze and react quickly,” Lunin said, referring to Madrid’s 4-0 loss to Barcelona in its previous Spanish league game.

It’s the first time since 2009 that Madrid have lost two successive games at home with at least three goals conceded in each, according to Opta.

“We have to get back on track,” Lunin said.

Other results

German forward Nicolas Kuhn scored twice as Celtic defeated Leipzig 3-1 at home, and Juventus drew 1-1 at Lille.

Lille midfielder Edon Zhegrova eluded two defenders before playing a perfect pass for Jonathan David, who fired inside the far post, but Dusan Vlahovic equalized with a penalty for the Italian club.

Donyell Malen scored late for Borussia Dortmund to beat Sturm Graz 1-0 at home, and Thilo Kehrer did likewise for Monaco to win at Bologna 1-0.

US midfielder Malik Tillman scored one goal and set up another as PSV Eindhoven beat Spanish team Girona 4-0.

Dinamo Zagreb dealt Slovan Bratislava their fourth straight defeat in the competition as the visitors came from behind to win 4-1 in Bratislava.


Real Madrid and AC Milan pay tribute to victims of deadly Valencia floods in Champions League match

Real Madrid and AC Milan pay tribute to victims of deadly Valencia floods in Champions League match
Updated 06 November 2024
Follow

Real Madrid and AC Milan pay tribute to victims of deadly Valencia floods in Champions League match

Real Madrid and AC Milan pay tribute to victims of deadly Valencia floods in Champions League match
  • Players from both teams entered the field wearing shirts with the words “We are all Valencia,” written in Spanish on Madrid’s kits and in Italian on AC Milan’s
  • Madrid’s organized fan group also displayed a “We are all Valencia” banner behind one of the goals at the Bernabeu
  • More than 200 people were killed when flash floods caused by heavy downpours in eastern Spain devastated the Valencia region last week

MADRID: Real Madrid and AC Milan honored the victims of the deadly floods in Valencia before their Champions League match on Tuesday.

Players from both teams entered the field wearing shirts with the words “We are all Valencia,” written in Spanish on Madrid’s kits and in Italian on AC Milan’s.

A huge banner of the Valencia region was displayed in the stands at midfield, covering several sitting sections at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium while a moment of silence was observed before kickoff.

Madrid’s organized fan group also displayed a “We are all Valencia” banner behind one of the goals at the Bernabeu.

Spain international Alvaro Morata, who scored one of the goals for Milan in the team’s 3-1 win against Madrid, said soccer has become secondary after the tragedy.

“What’s happening in Valencia is the most important thing,” he said. “Hopefully the situation will improve, because we can’t enjoy a soccer match with a situation like that happening in our country.”

More than 200 people were killed when flash floods caused by heavy downpours in eastern Spain devastated the Valencia region last week, destroying almost everything in their path and leaving people trapped in vehicles, homes and businesses.

Real Madrid had donated 1 million euros to help the victims affected by the unprecedented floods.

Madrid hadn’t played a match since its 4-0 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish league “clasico” on Oct. 26. Their weekend game at Valencia in the league was postponed because of the floods.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said in his news conference on Monday that he didn’t “feel like talking about soccer” with everything that was happening in Valencia.

Several other sporting events across Spain were affected by the deadly floods.

Before the match, Madrid fans at the Bernabeu loudly jeered when UEFA’s Champions League anthem was played. That came after the club decided not to attend the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony last week whentheir forward Vinicius Junior did not win the prestigious prize.


NASCAR levies $600,000 in fines and suspends 9 team members for race manipulation ahead of finale

NASCAR levies $600,000 in fines and suspends 9 team members for race manipulation ahead of finale
Updated 06 November 2024
Follow

NASCAR levies $600,000 in fines and suspends 9 team members for race manipulation ahead of finale

NASCAR levies $600,000 in fines and suspends 9 team members for race manipulation ahead of finale
  • Because the penalties were issued the week of the season finale, the teams have until Wednesday afternoon to ask for an expedited appeal
  • The appeals would likely be heard Thursday

CHARLOTTE: NASCAR issued $600,000 in fines and suspended nine team members from three different teams on Tuesday for alleged race manipulation at Martinsville Speedway.

The penalties came down after a contentious final battle Sunday at the Virginia track in which Christopher Bell initially qualified for the championship final four, but his move to hit the wall and use it for momentum violated a banned safety rule and was disallowed.

That gave the final spot in this week’s winner-take-all finale at Phoenix Raceway to William Byron.

But, NASCAR was clear in disqualifying Bell that it would take a hard look at the actions other drivers played in the sequence of events as Bell and Byron battled for the final spot in the championship flat.

In the case of Bell, NASCAR determined fellow Toyota driver Bubba Wallace faked a flat tire in order to give Bell the leeway to move out of the way and hit the wall.

In the case of Byron, NASCAR ruled that Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon both ran interference to help fellow Chevrolet driver Byron not lose any position on the track that would cost him a spot in the championship.

Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition, said the sanctioning body considered suspending the drivers as well as taking action against manufacturers Chevrolet and Toyota. He said there was nothing in the rulebook that would call for the manufacturers to be punished, but NASCAR planned to meet with the leaders of Ford, Chevy and Toyota to discuss the situation.

Because the penalties were issued the week of the season finale, the teams have until Wednesday afternoon to ask for an expedited appeal. The appeals would likely be heard Thursday.

Trackhouse Racing, which fields Chastain’s Chevy, said it would appeal, as did 23XI for the Toyota of Wallace.

“We feel strongly that we did not commit any violations during Sunday’s race,” 23XI said in a statement. The team is currently embroiled in a lawsuit against NASCAR over the charter system and has Tyler Reddick racing Sunday for the Cup Series title.

The penalties issued were:

Chastain

A $100,000 fine for Chastain, a $100,000 fine for Trackhouse, and one-race suspensions for team executive Tony Lunders, crew chief Philip Surgen and spotter Brandon McReynolds. Chastain is the defending race winner at Phoenix. The team also lost 50 points.

Dillon

Dillon was fined $100,000, as was Richard Childress Racing. One-race suspensions were given to team executive Keith Rodden, crew chief Justin Alexander and spotter Brandon Benesch. The team also lost 50 points. Richard Childress Racing also said it would appeal.

Wallace

Wallace was fined $100,000, as was 23XI. The one-race suspensions went to team executive Dave Rogers, crew chief Robert Barker and spotter Freddie Kraft. The team also lost 50 points.

Sawyer had said Sunday that NASCAR would review the Martinsville finish to see if there was indeed any race manipulation with rival drivers helping others that are aligned with the same manufacturer.

But he said he hoped the penalties were harsh enough to curb the manufacturer alliances and race manipulation.

“We took and looked at the most recent penalty that we had written for an infraction very similar... we wanted to ramp this one up,” Sawyer said, “and we did. We did that in a way that included team leadership and this is something that we felt like we wanted to get our point across that it is a responsibility of all of us.... to uphold the integrity of the sport.”


Ruthless Liverpool spoil Alonso’s return to Anfield

Ruthless Liverpool spoil Alonso’s return to Anfield
Updated 06 November 2024
Follow

Ruthless Liverpool spoil Alonso’s return to Anfield

Ruthless Liverpool spoil Alonso’s return to Anfield
  • Leverkusen remain on seven points from their opening four Champions League matches after another sobering night for their ambitions to match the heights they hit last season

LIVERPOOL: Xabi Alonso endured a miserable return to Anfield as Liverpool thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 on Tuesday, thanks to a Luis Diaz hat-trick, to go top of the Champions League table.
Cody Gakpo was also on target as the Reds maintained their 100 percent record in Europe after four games.
Alonso, a Champions League winner during his playing days in the Liverpool midfield, turned his back on succeeding Jurgen Klopp to remain at Leverkusen after leading them to an unbeaten German league and cup double last season.
Liverpool, though, are not left wondering what might have been as Arne Slot continued his stunning start as manager with a 14th win in 16 games in all competitions.
Leverkusen remain on seven points from their opening four Champions League matches after another sobering night for their ambitions to match the heights they hit last season.
Alonso’s men sit fourth in the Bundesliga, seven points adrift of leaders Bayern Munich, and failed to master what Alonso described pre-match as a “beautiful challenge.”
The Spaniard cut a frustrated figure on the touchline as his side struggled to get into the slick passing rhythm they have become famed for during his tenure.
The German champions, though, created the best of what chances there were in a first half short on goalmouth action.
Jeremie Frimpong saw appeals for a penalty waved away when he went down with a clear sight of goal under a challenge from Kostas Tsimikas.
Frimpong also had the ball in the net just before the break but handled before racing through to finish.
Liverpool’s best opening of the half came seconds later when Curtis Jones’ excellent pass finally found some space for Gakpo, but his powerful effort was repelled at his near post by Lukas Hradecky.
Just like in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Brighton that took Slot’s men to the top of the Premier League, it took until the second half for both Liverpool and the Anfield crowd to come to life.
Mohamed Salah should have done better when he sliced wide after a jinking run through the Leverkusen midfield by Ryan Gravenberch.
A cagey tactical battle was sparked into life on the hour mark by a moment of stunning quality.
Jones spun his marker before splitting the Leverkusen defense with a pinpoint pass for Diaz, who nonchalantly chipped the advancing Hradecky.
Moments later, Liverpool had killed the visitors off with another flowing move.
Salah’s driven cross was headed in at the back post by the flying Gakpo.
The linesman raised his flag to momentarily silence the celebrations, but a VAR review showed the Dutch forward was onside for his sixth goal of the season.
Victor Boniface headed wide with a huge chance to bring Leverkusen immediately back into the game.
Instead, Liverpool pulled further clear seven minutes from time when Diaz controlled Salah’s looping cross and fired home.
The Colombian then rounded off the scoring with his ninth of the season in stoppage time with another clinical finish after Darwin Nunez’s blocked shot fell into his path.
Liverpool’s return of 12 points means they are almost certainly already assured of a place in the knockout phase, but are closing in on sealing direct progression to the last 16 via a top-eight finish in the 36-team league.


Al-Nassr’s 5-star show blows Al-Ain away

Al-Nassr’s 5-star show blows Al-Ain away
Updated 06 November 2024
Follow

Al-Nassr’s 5-star show blows Al-Ain away

Al-Nassr’s 5-star show blows Al-Ain away
  • Cristiano Ronaldo helps side to easy victory

Al-Nassr defeated holders Al-Ain 5-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday to move into third place in the group and give Saudi Arabia the top three positions in the 12-team table.

With Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli winning on Monday to stay perfect on 12 points after four games, Al-Nassr are just two behind thanks to a devastating performance against the UAE’s powerhouse side.

The last time Al-Ain met Saudi Arabian opposition was just 15 days ago and fans were treated to a nine-goal thriller as Al-Hilal ran out 5-4 winners.

The last time they met Al-Nassr was at the quarter-final stage of last season’s competition in March when the UAE team triumphed on penalties in what was a painful evening for the fans in Riyadh.

It was a different story this time with Al-Nassr going ahead in the fifth minute with an impressive goal, though Al-Ain’s coach Hernan Crespo was left asking questions of his defenders.

Mohamed Simakan has impressed since joining from RB Leipzig, but there seemed to be little danger when the center-back picked up the ball inside his own half. The French defender was allowed to cross the halfway line, though, and with the opposition falling back, a short pass found Talisca who made space for the shot with his first touch and then fired home with his second.

Cristiano Ronaldo fired just wide from a similar position at the edge of the area after 10 minutes, but given Al-Ain’s scoring capabilities there was a feeling that more was needed.

Al-Nassr kept pushing and probing and Ronaldo had a goalbound shot blocked before the five-time Ballon d’Or winner got the all-important second with one of his less spectacular strikes. Khalid Eisa failed to hold on to a long-range effort from Sadio Mane and there was Ronaldo to slot it home from close range.

It was just the cushion that the Riyadh club wanted but they kept coming forward and, soon after, moved further ahead.

Angelo broke into the left side of the area after 37 minutes and his low cross was deflected off the leg of Fabio Cardoso to loop over Eisa and into the net.

The home fans were in dreamland and it could have been even better three minutes before the break had Eisa not got a foot to a Talisca shot that seemed goalbound.

There was just a hint of danger from Soufiane Rahimi in added time to remind Al-Nassr that the Moroccan had scored 13 in the last tournament and four already this time around, but at the break it was looking very good indeed as Al-Nassr had probably produced their best 45 minutes of the season.

They also started brightly after the restart, but after 10 minutes Al-Ain were on the scoresheet and back in the game with a goal from nowhere. Park Yong-woo’s powerful low shot from outside the area bounced off the post but then hit the diving Bento and rebounded into the goal.

A few nerves resulted and Bento was the busier of the two goalkeepers, although, at the other end, Aymeric Laporte headed over from a corner.

Al-Ain went closer when, with 13 minutes remaining, Rahimi rolled the ball across the face of goal for Abdoul Traore to net, but he somehow miscontrolled and the massive chance went begging.

It was his side’s last chance as Wesley sealed victory with nine minutes remaining, the Brazilian curling the ball home from inside the area.

There was no coming back from that, and there was even time for Talisca to grab his second and his team’s fifth as he lifted the ball smartly over Eisa to end a perfect evening for Al-Nassr and a perfect round of games for Saudi Arabia.