Author: Mantej Mann

Getty ImagesMantej MannBBC Sport Journalist58 minutes agoKylian Mbappe says he is not bitter over Paris St-Germain’s Champions League victory less than a year after leaving the club for Real Madrid.The forward left PSG as the club’s record goalscorer but was unable to win European football’s premier club competition in seven seasons with the French giants before signing for Madrid on a free transfer in July 2024.PSG cruised past Inter Milan 5-0 to win their first Champions League title on 31 May.”I didn’t leave too soon; my story with PSG was over. I am not bitter; I had reached the end of the road,” said France captain Mbappe, who scored 256 goals for PSG.Speaking on Saturday at a news conference before France’s Nations League third-place match with Germany, Mbappe added: “I tried everything, and it was destiny that meant it had to happen without me.”PSG winning the Champions League without me doesn’t affect me. I was happy – I think they deserved it.”They’ve had so many years where they struggled. I’ve been there too; I’ve played in every Champions League stage in Paris except for the victory.”They’re the best team in Europe. I don’t remember seeing a team win 5-0 in a major final.”The closest Mbappe came to Champions League success with his boyhood club was a runners-up medal following defeat by Bayern Munich in the 2020 final. Mbappe’s Madrid, who were knocked out by Arsenal at the quarter-final stage of last season’s Champions League, ended the campaign without a trophy for the first time in four years. The 26-year-old did enjoy some success, though, after scoring 31 La Liga goals to win the European Golden Shoe.Related topicsParis Saint GermainEuropean FootballReal MadridFranceUEFA Champions LeagueFootball

Fulham FCMantej MannBBC Sport Journalist2 hours agoMalcolm Elias, the man responsible for developing Gareth Bale and Trent Alexander-Arnold, has died after a short illness.Elias, Fulham’s head of academy recruitment, joined the Premier League club from Liverpool in 2009, having previously worked at Southampton. In a statement, Fulham said: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our colleague and dear friend, Malcolm Elias, after a short illness.”The club’s head of academy recruitment, Malcolm had a fantastic reputation in football for unearthing and nurturing young talent.”The influence that Malcolm had on the modern game cannot be understated, having worked with and developed the likes of Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harvey Elliott, Luke Harris and Jay Stansfield, to name but a few.”Welshman Elias was born in 1953 and was key in the development of his compatriot Bale at the Southampton academy.Bale went on to win 111 Wales caps and enjoyed a successful club career with Saints, Tottenham and Real Madrid, where he won five Champions League titles. England’s Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, won eight major trophies with boyhood club Liverpool before joining Real Madrid earlier this month.”We are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Malcolm Elias, one of the influential figures in the club’s youth development history,” Southampton said.Related topicsSouthamptonLiverpoolFulhamPremier LeagueFootball

Getty ImagesMantej MannBBC Sport Journalist4 hours agoTottenham captain Son Heung-min says sacked manager Ange Postecoglou is a “legend” who has “changed the trajectory of this club”.Postecoglou, 59, was sacked on Friday just over two weeks after ending the club’s 17-year wait for silverware with victory in the Europa League final. Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League after losing 22 out of 38 matches.”Gaffer. You’ve changed the trajectory of this club,” Son posted on Instagram.”You believed in yourself, and us, since day one and never wavered for a second. Even when others did.”You knew what we were capable of all along. You did it your way. And your way brought this club the best night it’s had in decades. We will have those memories for life.”You trusted me with the captaincy. One of the highest honours of my career. It’s been an incredible privilege to learn from your leadership up close. I am a better player and a better person because of you.”Ange Postecoglou, you are a Tottenham Hotspur legend forever. Thank you, mate.”The South Korea winger was not alone in paying tribute to Australian Postecoglou.Goalkeeper Vicario said: “Boss, I just want to say a massive thank you for everything you have done for me and for all of us.”From that very first call, right from the beginning, you always showed so much belief in me.”Giving me the opportunity to be part of the leadership group… those moments, and many others, will stay with me forever.”You are not only a top manager, you are an incredible person to work for, a real leader, a mentor, and someone I’ll always look up to.”What we achieved TOGETHER will stay in the history books.”Wishing you nothing but success as I know you will go on to achieve more and more.”Thank you, Boss. Forever grateful, Vic.”Defender Micky van de Ven said: “Gaffer, Thank you for everything! “Believed in me from the first day I arrived at the club. Many ups and downs in the last two years but you kept believing in us and kept pushing us. “Big part of the success from the club this year, and forever grateful that u made me part of it.”All the best.”Forward Dominic Solanke said: “Thank you for bringing me to this wonderful club, thank you for bringing us a wonderful trophy.”Won’t ever forget the convo we had before I signed and we achieved a dream! All the best in your next adventure.”Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust said the vast majority of fans will will “love Ange forever” although league results were a “long way short” of expectation.The fans group called for Postecoglou’s replacement to be “fully supported” by the club’s board in order to build on the “cup success that Ange has lain”.Brentford boss Thomas Frank is among the leading candidates to replace Postecoglou, while Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva, Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner and former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino are also linked with the vacancy. Related topicsPremier LeagueTottenham HotspurFootball