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🚨Toni Kroos on Harry Kane winning the Ballon d’Or “I’m over the moon for Harry Kane finally winning the Ballon d’Or. Scoring 73 goals across club and country is an absurd number that only the absolute greats have touched And he backed it up by driving Bayern to a domestic double while also delivering for England at the World Cup. For me the race was always between Kane and Lamine Yamal from the start Mbappé doesn’t even deserve to be mentioned in the top two. Watching Kane lift the trophy feels like justice after years of coming close; overlooking him again would have been a robbery. I was also quietly rooting for Lamine. He had a genuinely special season, helping Spain win the World Cup and continuing his ridiculous rise at Barcelona even if his personal tournament numbers weren’t the headline. It’s hard not to admire that blend of youth, talent and major silverware, which is why he was the only other player who legitimately belonged in the conversation. Mbappé may have scored goals and looked sharp at times, but without any major trophies and without the kind of decisive impact that defines a Ballon d’Or contender, he simply falls short. The award has always rewarded players who combine elite production with collective success, and between the two who actually deserved it. Kane’s package of finishing, league and cup titles, plus a solid World Cup run made him the clear winner.”

Hey @KMbappe Ballon d’or is now available in mumbai India.

🚨Gerard Piqué on Barcelona’s First-Half Performance “Honestly, it’s a shame what I saw from Barcelona in that first half. They couldn’t even complete a simple pass, and they looked completely lost on the pitch. I’ve never seen a team of ours wander around like that literally no idea what they were supposed to be doing. The shape was gone, the ideas were gone, and every time they tried to play out, it just fell apart. When Flick made those changes against PSG, I actually thought he was being smart. I told myself he was saving the real plan for El Clásico, even though we still lost 4-2 that night. I gave him the benefit of the doubt because you expect a coach to hold something back for the biggest game of the season. But watching us tonight, it felt exactly the same as what I saw against PSG. Nothing had improved. We were dominated from the first minute. Madrid held more of the ball than we did, and that’s not something you ever expect to say about Barcelona. They controlled the tempo, they controlled the spaces, and we just chased. I kept waiting for a reaction, for some intensity or an idea that would change the game, but it never came. We looked like a side that had already accepted being second-best. We’re lucky it was only 1-0 at half-time. Real Madrid missed a few clear chances, and if they’d taken them, this should have been 3-0. That’s the truth. I’m quite disappointed with Flick and with the team right now. This is not the level, and this is not how you win titles. You can’t show up like this in El Clásico and expect anything good to happen.”

🚨Roy Keane on Bruno being dropped “To be honest, I expected Carrick to bench Bruno today. He offers little or nothing to the team right now. United lost 3-0 and he stayed on the bench, but even if he had started he would not have turned it around. He was in the side when Tottenham took a point at Old Trafford recently and did next to nothing of real influence. That has been the pattern for stretches this season. A captain is supposed to raise standards, not drift through games while the side looks soft. Carrick has made the call after the public comments following Como. Whether the result improved or not, no one should be untouchable when the performances are this poor. There is a longer pattern with Bruno that people inside the club have noticed for years. He pushed himself into the main-man role while others were still there. McTominay’s path out of the club was influenced by the competition for attacking midfield minutes and the second-striker type role; Bruno was never going to give that ground up. With Ronaldo there were clear tensions over who took the penalties and who set the tone. Bruno stayed on them even when Ronaldo was chasing the Golden Boot, and after Ronaldo left he went into interviews talking about how the team was now playing properly and the previous issues had been cleared. He was happy to be seen as the steady presence while others were portrayed as the problem. That is not leadership by example; it is looking after your own position. He enjoyed the spotlight and the narrative when it suited him and when others were being moved on or criticised. Now the same standard is being applied to him. Carrick has left the captain out after a poor run and public criticism of the staff. United still got hammered, which shows the problems go deeper than one player, but the message is clear. No one is protected forever. If the attitude and output do not improve, this will not be a one-off.”

🚨 Gary Neville on Manchester United’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford “Honestly, I feel no sympathy for Manchester United right now. Tell me why a coach like Michael Carrick is in charge of a club of this size. Yes, he did reasonably well when he stepped up as assistant coach last season, and his interim spell showed some promise But you simply cannot hand one of the biggest jobs in world football to a man who has never properly managed a senior team before. Manchester United is not a place for experiments or loyalty projects it is a club that demands proven leadership under the highest pressure. Carrick’s background is almost entirely as a player and a coach within the same system. While that insider knowledge can help with dressing-room culture and understanding the club’s history, it does not replace real managerial experience. Managing a mid-table Championship side or even a lower Premier League club is a completely different challenge from trying to rebuild Manchester United after years of instability. Trusting him with the permanent role feels like a gamble the club could not afford to take. Carrick mentioned we’d see a different Manchester United today. But what did we see? We only saw a disaster. Losing 3-0 at home against Bournemouth is something I didn’t see coming. For me, Erik ten Hag was the better option. The man actually won two trophies for them the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup yet he was never truly given the time or consistent backing to implement his ideas. Results dipped, and he was sacked almost immediately after a difficult start to the season, despite the silverware he had already delivered. That kind of short-term thinking only creates more chaos, not long-term progress. The way United treated Ten Hag highlights the deeper problem at the club. They kept a manager who had delivered tangible success and then discarded him the moment the results stopped looking impressive. Meanwhile, they turned to someone with far less of a track record. It is hard to see how constantly resetting the project with unproven coaches is supposed to restore the club to its former level. No offense to Carrick as a person or a former player, but he is not yet at the level required for Manchester United. Coaches in his position should be developing their skills in the Championship or at a smaller Premier League club first, not learning on the job at Old Trafford. Until the club starts appointing managers with genuine experience and gives them proper support, this cycle of underperformance is likely to continue.”

🚨Nico Paz on beating Manchester United: “I actually spoke to Messi for a few minutes before the game. He gave me a couple of simple ideas on how to hurt a team like Manchester United mainly about receiving between the lines and not rushing the decision when the space is there. That helped, because from the first whistle it felt clear we weren’t going to be under the pressure everyone expected. United are a big name, but they never really controlled the midfield. Every time I dropped in or turned, I had time to look up and pick a pass or shot. That’s rare at this level. Cesc had told us beforehand to stay patient and trust the spaces would appear, and he was right. Their midfield kept leaving gaps, and their defenders weren’t sure whether to step out or hold their line. We just kept playing our game and took what they gave us. My first goal was a good example. I received the ball and realised nobody was closing me down quickly enough. At that point you don’t think too much you just finish. After the second goal you could feel their belief drop. They started looking a bit unsure every time we broke, and that only made it easier for us. Scoring twice and getting an assist against Manchester United is something I’ll remember for a long time, but what I liked most was how comfortable we were. We didn’t have to force anything or change the way we play. We just did the basics well and they never really found a way to stop us.

🚨Thierry Henry on Antony Gordon performance “Honestly, watching that Antony Gordon performance left me in awe. He absolutely did nothing tonight against PSG. No real runs, no quality on the ball, no end product nothing that caused them any problems. I didn’t get why Flick allowed him to play the full 90 minutes without substituting him when it was obvious he wasn’t contributing. Hansi Flick needs to understand that this is not a mediocre team you’re playing against. You’re playing against PSG, a team that has won the Champions League twice in a row. You don’t come at them playing like a novice team that’s clueless. The lack of intensity, the passive approach, the way Gordon was left isolated it all looked like a side that didn’t know how to hurt a team of that level. For me, Hansi is doing a great job domestically. The organisation, the results in the league, you can’t take that away from him. But when it comes to these big European nights, he has nothing to offer so far. The decision to leave a player who is having zero impact on the pitch for the entire match says a lot about the in-game management. You can be excellent week to week at home, but the Champions League is a different test. Against sides like PSG you need clarity and the courage to make changes when things aren’t working. Until Flick shows he can do that, nights like this will keep exposing the gap.”

🚨 Gerard Piqué on Barcelona’s loss today against PSG “I expected nothing from Barcelona tonight, and the result against PSG didn’t shock me at all. They walked into Parc des Princes looking completely clueless, with no clear plan for how to handle a side that has already shown it can dominate Europe. You simply cannot dominate La Liga the way they have and then turn up with this level of mediocrity on the biggest stage, when the entire football world is watching. The gap in intensity, structure and decision-making was obvious from the first whistle. The blame has to sit squarely with Hansi Flick. There was zero tactical identity on display no consistent press, no control of the midfield spaces, and no answer when Luis Enrique’s PSG started rotating and punishing the open gaps. Luis Enrique once again showed him the difference in class between a coach who has already won consecutive Champions Leagues and one still finding his way in these nights. Even with injuries to key defenders, the performance lacked the clarity and bravery that top European nights demand. The substitutions only made it worse. Pedri was having one of the better games in the side and was still the player most capable of giving Barcelona some control, yet he was taken off. In his place, Anthony Gordon was left up front looking lost, offering almost nothing in terms of movement or threat against a high-quality PSG back line. Meanwhile Gabriel Jesus, a proven proper number nine who could have given them a focal point and held the ball up, stayed on the bench. Those choices felt like they summed up a night of muddled thinking rather than any clear game plan. Barcelona’s league form has papered over cracks, but Europe does not forgive the same level of inconsistency. If Hansi Flick cannot take this team deep into the Champions League and ultimately win it this season, he should be sacked. Nights like this make it clear he is still not ready for the full demands of the job at a club that expects to compete for everything. PSG were sharper, more mature and better coached Barcelona have to respond or the questions will only get louder.”

Antony Gordon still has time to buy himself an e-bike and go phone snatching in central London

🚨 Rodri on his first goal for Barcelona Honestly, I feel so happy scoring my first goal for Barça, especially with the assist coming from Fermín. We’ve been putting a lot of work into corners in training because we know we haven’t been converting them enough, so to finally see one pay off like this means a lot. It wasn’t just about the finish itself it was knowing all that preparation came together in the moment, and that a teammate trusted me to be in the right place. Today felt different from any other goal I’ve scored. I haven’t experienced this kind of emotion after finding the net before, and it hit me right after the ball went in. There’s something about doing it in this shirt, in front of these fans, that just elevates everything. It’s a moment I’ll remember for a long time. I love it here. The way the coach treats us and the atmosphere he’s created is something you can’t find everywhere, and it makes you want to give everything every single day. I’m fully committed to this team and I’ll always do my best to repay the faith they’ve shown in me.

🚨 Bellerín on the disallowed Betis goal and red card against Barcelona: This is exactly what we have to put up with in this league. That was a clear goal. Instead it gets cancelled because it hit a teammate on the arm, and we’re left with nothing. It’s frustrating because you do everything right in that moment and it still gets taken away from you. When I played for Barcelona, one thing was certain: every 50/50 challenge, every borderline decision, almost always went their way. The referee always seemed to find a reason to blow in their favour, whether it was a foul, a handball, or something that looked marginal. You get used to that advantage when you’re on the other side, but you also see how it works. So I’m not surprised at all that the goal by my teammate got cancelled. It’s the reality of playing against Barcelona in this league the big calls tend to go their way more often than not. You just have to keep playing and try to overcome it, but it doesn’t make it any less annoying when it happens. Even the red card that was awarded to my teammate Bernal was uncalled for. Lamine pushed him first and he retaliated. You don’t push someone and then police how you want them to react. That decision made no sense either. They should enjoy their win today, but these are the kinds of moments that leave a bad taste. You can only control what you do on the pitch and keep fighting.” xitter.cf/stmalternate7/status/2…

Gerard Pique on Barcelona defending Honestly, I’m impressed by what Flick is doing with Barcelona. The way the team moves the ball, the intensity in attack, and how the midfield controls the game at times shows real progress. You can see his ideas taking shape, and the players look more organized going forward than they have in a while. Credit where it’s due he’s got them playing with more purpose and belief. But the truth is, their defense is nothing to write home about. You can’t keep conceding goals the way they do and seriously believe you’re going to beat a side like PSG in the Champions League if this is how you perform week in, week out in La Liga. The back line looks shaky under pressure, gaps open up too easily, and once opponents get in behind, there’s not enough protection or composure. It doesn’t matter how well you play in other areas if you keep giving goals away so cheaply. The attack and midfield are good, no question, but defense is what ultimately wins you games, especially against the top teams. Barcelona need to tighten up at the back and stop relying on outscoring everyone. If they want to compete at the highest level, that defensive frailty has to be fixed otherwise all the good work going forward won’t be enough when it really matters.

🚨Lamine Yamal on Mario Lemina’s “I saw what he said a while back. Who is Yamal? I know Sané. Fair enough he knows his teammate. I guess now he knows who I am. Sometimes you talk on the pitch, not on camera. I don’t spend time answering those things. People say what they want, and I get it. You support your own guys. But once the match starts, none of that matters. You just play. You try to do what you do, find space, create something, and let the game decide. That’s always been enough for me. A lot of noise comes and goes. Cameras, interviews, people comparing names it doesn’t change much when the ball is at your feet. If someone wants to know who you are, they see it out there. That’s the only place it really counts.”

🚨 Enzo Maresca reveals what Pep Guardiola told him ahead of their game against Liverpool "He said to me that Araújo is their weak link and that we had to exploit his side. He told me, 'Penetrate from his wing, and you will watch Liverpool suffer.' Looking at the match, every single goal we scored today came directly from overload on Araújo's side. Even though Pep is no longer here with us, I still reach out to him regularly. He remains a key mentor for me, and I normally call him before major matches to seek his tactical insights on how to approach our opponents. His reading of the game is unmatched, and his advice once again proved to be spot on. We identified the space, applied constant pressure down that channel, and executed the strategy to perfection. It shows the level of detail Pep brings to game preparation, and having access to that kind of guidance gives us a huge strategic advantage whenever we step onto the pitch."

🚨Florentino Pérez speaks out on refereeing decisions in Villarreal match “For years, the league has been tilted in Barcelona’s favour because of the Negreira case. The payments and the influence they created have never been properly dealt with, and this situation will continue until the Catalan club is forced into relegation. The damage runs deep, and justice has still not been done. Real Madrid and other clubs have suffered the consequences while the exact same refereeing environment keeps operating without real change. Today’s home game against Villarreal offered another example of this frustration. Poor decisions from the referee, including the controversial red card for Vinícius and the disallowed goal, ruined what should have been a clearer match for Madrid. The result was a narrow win, but the officiating once again left many feeling that the problems linked to the Negreira case are still affecting games on the pitch.

🚨Jose Mourinho on Vinicius Junior’s Red Card “That moment hit me hard. I celebrated the goal with him right there on the pitch and told him this one was a statement goal for everyone who had ever doubted him. It felt personal, like something that should have shut the noise up and given the team a real lift. Then, almost immediately after he scored, they stopped everything for a VAR check. Vini had pulled an opponent’s hair in the build-up, and the officials took their time reviewing it. The whole celebration froze while they looked at the incident from every angle. I still don’t see how that was a red card. Pulling hair is never acceptable, but in the heat of the moment it looked like a yellow to me, not a sending-off. It didn’t feel like a violent or calculated action that should have wiped out the goal and left the team a man down for the rest of the game. In the end it just feeds the same feeling about this league. We’re playing in a competition that feels owned by one team, and we all know which one.

🚨Roy Keane on Manchester United’s draw against Tottenham Look, it’s unbelievable. Even with Tottenham down to ten men after that red card, Manchester United still couldn’t see it out. They go and throw it away in the 90th minute against a side that’s been all over the place. You shouldn’t be needing a man advantage to beat Tottenham at Old Trafford, yet here we are. Tottenham have lost every league game this season. Every single one. Yet tonight they rock up, play better football, miss a pile of chances, and still walk away with a point. That tells you everything about where this Manchester United side is. Rock bottom. Absolute rock bottom. A club that used to dominate teams like this is now delighted just to nick a lead and then can’t hold it. I won’t sit here and pretend Spurs didn’t deserve something. They were the better team for long spells, created the better chances, and looked more organised. United were passive, lacking any real edge, and once they went ahead they just sat back waiting for the final whistle. That’s not good enough at this club. Not even close. And the tactics under Carrick have been shocking lately. No identity, no control in big moments, players looking confused. When they were talking about giving him the job permanently, I said at the time it was a mistake. Nothing I’ve seen recently has changed my mind. This result is on him as much as the players.