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Real Madrid shrugged off a delay at the airport to arrive at the Etihad Stadium in relaxed mood ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City. The European champions had to wait for more than half an hour in the arrivals hall at Manchester Airport on Tuesday after their team bus was unable to collect them on time. Yet Carlo Ancelotti’s squad were soon transported to the stadium where they trained ahead of Wednesday’s clash, which will begin on a knife edge after a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Bernabeu last week. Manager Carlo Ancelotti said at his pre-match press conference: “I am very calm, full of hope, full of faith. “Tomorrow – game day – that’s when the worries come in and you think things through, whether (Erling) Haaland will score or (Kevin) De Bruyne will hurt you. “But I try to put it out of my mind. It is all about managing thoughts. “We are very happy to be here, we are feeling good. It is a usual event for us to be in a semi-final. “It’s 11 years out of 13 in the semi-finals. That’s not easy. We enjoy it while we can.” City may have the home advantage but, as 14-time European champions and the current holders, Real certainly have experience of delivering in such encounters. Ancelotti, who has won the competition twice as Real boss and twice with AC Milan, said: “It’s special for Real Madrid because of the history we have in the tournament. “In the 1950s it became important for the fans and players. It’s everything you work for. It’s something special to try to win European trophies, especially the European Cup. “It’s been important for them throughout their history. It is a club that has a special power to stay alive.” Ancelotti has a full squad available with Eduardo Camavinga having overcome a knock and Eder Militao back from suspension. The first leg was evenly matched with City dominating possession for large spells but Real repeatedly threatening on the counter-attack. These are the best two teams in Europe and I’m predicting an exciting game. Carlo Ancelotti Ancelotti said: “I don’t think it will be so different. “There may be some adjustment from both sides. There are things we can improve but I think they think that too. “These are the best two teams in Europe and I’m predicting an exciting game like the first leg.” Veteran midfielder Luka Modric is relishing the encounter. The Croatia international said: “We have good feelings and are eager to get going. I can’t wait. “These games are like finals. It is massive. You have to enjoy every minute.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Man City remember club great as Real Madrid check in – Tuesday’s sporting social Nick Kyrgios on track to be fit for grass-court season and Wimbledon bid You’re asking the wrong person – Emma Hayes not interested in title permutations

After a horrific and drama-filled start to the 2023 season, are the St. Louis Cardinals finally turning things around? Here are three reasons why it's very possible.Let's face it ... there was plenty of panic sneaking into St. Louis after the Cardinals started the season with a 13-25 r...

Every year, there are prospects who get picked higher than expected. Who might crash the 2023 NBA Draft lottery?We see it every year. The lottery order is set, the NBA Draft arrives, and at least one team breaks from consensus. In 2019, the Phoenix Suns selected Cam Johnson with the No. 11 pick....

To the surprise of absolutely nobody, the Oakland Athletics lost another baseball game last night. They are on pace for a historically bad season, and after that 5-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, are 9-34.Meanwhile, Arizona is 24-18 and just won its fourth straight game. The D-Backs are thre...

A look at the best videos from Barcelona's celebration of the 2022/23 La Liga title, with even departed stars Lionel Messi and Neymar featuring

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams sounds like he regrets being traded to Sin City, away from the comforts of Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers.Much has happened since Davante Adams was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders last offseason. Adams put up strong numbers in his first year in Sin City...

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes insists she has no time to monitor the Women’s Super League table, despite a scenario that could see her side seal a fourth straight title on Sunday. The second-placed Blues, fresh from lifting their third consecutive FA Cup, are one point behind Manchester United, but have a game in hand on the league leaders, who have just two remaining in their campaign. That means victory against West Ham on Tuesday and Arsenal on Sunday would be enough for Chelsea should United fail to beat Manchester City on the penultimate day of the season. Hayes was adamant she is unaware of how invested her players might be in potential permutations, saying: “I promise you I’ve got so much to do I’m not privy to some of their ridiculous conversations, thank goodness. “They don’t want me being part of them anyway. We’re all football fans too, but I know the dressing room and, as far as we’re concerned, we’re in control of what we want to do and that’s I think all we focus on. “I didn’t even realise we could go top if we won tomorrow until someone told me yesterday, so you’re asking the wrong person here about all of those things. I don’t pay attention to them because your head gets away with you, so I’ve learned now I never look at them.” West Ham are still in search of a first league win in 2023. Manager Paul Konchesky said: “It’s a tough time, for me, it’s a tough time for them and as a whole group at the club. We know we’re going through a tough time, but there are games where we have been really close to winning and we haven’t won. It even looks worse when we haven’t picked up points. “We haven’t been out of any game, we’ve been in most games we’ve played and it just hasn’t turned the corner for us.” Arsenal are fighting to retain their place in the Champions League for another season after selling out the Emirates Stadium for their semi-final against Wolfsburg earlier this month. With three European spots available, Jonas Eidevall will hope to put some distance between his third-placed side and Manchester City below them when the Gunners travel to Everton. Arsenal are level on 44 points with City but have played one game fewer and also have a better goal difference. Eidevall anticipates Tuesday’s opponents will be ready to bounce back from their thumping 7-0 defeat to defending champions Chelsea last time out. He said: “I always expect our opponents to be fully motivated. I expect us to be fully motivated as well, so my expectations are never different from that. I don’t want to draw too much conclusion on that result last week. “There were performances in that game that were good from Everton, and there were performances that were not so good, like in any football game you play, so we just need to prepare our way playing the game.” Everton manager Brian Sorensen assuaged fears that City loanee and England international Jess Park could be ruled out of World Cup consideration with the same shoulder injury that has forced her to miss the remainder of the domestic campaign. He said: “No, it’s a six-week injury and it was three weeks ago now. She should be ready to go on the pitch when we play the last game against City, I think that’s the time schedule. That’s the latest I’ve heard. She’s back at City, she’s in their hands. But last I spoke to her, it shouldn’t affect (it), so let’s cross our fingers for that.” The sixth-placed Toffees are assured of another top-flight season but, with 27 points, are well out of European contention. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Can Pep get the better of Carlo? – 5 talking points ahead of City’s semi-final Jon Rahm hoping to ‘ride the wave’ of success at US PGA Championship England are ‘hellbent’ on World Cup success, says head coach Jess Thirlby

Former Manchester United executive vice-chair Ed Woodward has accepted a first job since departing Old Trafford last year. Woodward has joined the board of educational esports company EStars as a non-executive director. EStars is “at the heart of the fastest-growing sport in the world”, using esports to bring classmates together, both during and after school hours, to foster great academic goals, inclusion, diversity and positive outcomes. Ex-Newcastle, Netherlands and current Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul has been a shareholder in the company since its inception in 2017 and Woodward explained his decision to accept the new role. He said: “When you put together esports, education and a dynamic region such as the Middle East, where curriculum decisions can be made faster than Europe, it is a recipe for success. “Joining the team is an easy decision when you add the exceptional leadership and entrepreneurial energy of Mags [founder Mags Byrne]. I’m excited about EStars delivering a path of learning for the next generation in the (relatively) new industry of esports.” Having qualified as a chartered accountant and then worked at JPMorgan as an investment banker, Woodward joined Man United in 2005 to oversee their commercial operations, having advised the Glazer family on their purchase of the club. He was appointed to the board of directors in 2008 and became executive vice-chair in 2013 when David Gill retired. He became an incredibly unpopular figure at Old Trafford due to his association with a Glazer regime that fans turned against and despite the £1bn he sanctioned in transfer fees, his tenure is regarded as a failure, with the club struggling on the pitch – in relative terms at least – in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. It has been mooted that he could help the Glazer family negotiate any potential sale of Manchester United as the takeover saga drags on. Read More What would a Sir Jim Ratcliffe takeover mean for Manchester United Erik ten Hag unsure what funds will be available to strengthen Man Utd’s squad Louis Van Gaal suggests Ed Woodward’s departure from Man Utd could spell success

The ACC spring meeting might be more drama-filled than Jimbo Fisher vs. Nick Saban in Destin.Things have been better in the ACC, as illustrated by the incredibly tense spring meeting down in Amelia Island, Florida.The last time we saw something get this intense in a Floridian spring meeting,...

Pep Guardiola insists the coming weeks will not define his legacy at Manchester City because it is “already exceptional”. City are on the brink of their fifth Premier League title in six years under the Spaniard and could land the treble as they also chase FA Cup and the so far elusive Champions League glory. Wednesday brings the chance to reach the final of the European competition as they host Real Madrid in the second leg of a semi-final delicately poised at 1-1. Winning the Champions League has long been viewed as the club’s ultimate goal, but Guardiola – a two-time European champion with Barcelona who has collected nine major trophies in total with City – does not think his reputation depends on it. He said: “My legacy is already exceptional! “(We have been) here many times already. We are not stupid, (we) know how important tomorrow is – maybe the most important since we’ve been here. “I say to the players, live it, enjoy the moment and how fortunate we are. It’s in our hands, it depends on us. “We don’t have to do anything exceptional – be ourselves, give everything. I have an incredible feeling about the team. Whatever happens, thank you for bringing us here again. “The legacy is that we’ve had one hell of a time and for many years they (the fans) will remember a generation of players who for five or six years scored lots of goals and conceded very few, and that we won lots of things and won very well, and people should remember that. It would be a good book. “Whether or not they will remember us I don’t know, but we have had a good time.” City dominated for large spells of last week’s first leg at the Bernabeu but Real were more incisive on the counter-attack and created more clear-cut opportunities. City now have home advantage for the return but Guardiola feels his side will have to take their performance up a level. He said: “The emotion is there and will be high – (it) has to be high – but just this is not going to beat a team like Real Madrid. “We need a bit better gameplan, to adjust a little bit, create more chances for our strikers. “We play against Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Champions League, the toughest opponents. It’s a challenge but we go for it. “We arrive really good. We’re in the FA Cup final, one game from the Premier League, but we have to play better than Madrid. We have to perform well, not just have the desire.” City are again without defender Nathan Ake due to a hamstring injury but otherwise have a fully-fit squad. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Rory McIlroy lowers expectations for US PGA Championship after his Masters agony Manchester City ‘owe’ club’s owners Champions League success – Kyle Walker Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun’s switch from England to USA approved by FIFA

Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun has confirmed that he has switched international allegiances from England to the United States.

2023 PGA Championship tee times as we look at the field, format, purse and all of the live stream and TV schedule information so you can watch.The 2023 PGA Championship takes us to Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, NY where Justin Thomas, who won last year at Southern Hills, will try and captu...