#champions-league

#champions-league

Football management used to be really difficult: you used to have to actually take the footballers in your squad and get some kind of performance from them. Not anymore. Ever since rich billionaires started buying football clubs, it's been easier than ever. We jest of course there's more to coaching than spending money. But looking at some of the figures thrown about by these bosses in this quiz, it looks like some people really do believe that a few signings will solve all your problems

It was very reminiscent of the cup final, wasn't it? A header from distance, a training ground move, so well done to all the coaches involved with that.

We had a complicated start, then this great reaction, we took the game in hand and deserved to take the lead, creating three or four good chances. At the start, we lost the ball too cheaply, weren't clean enough in our passing, struggled under pressure, but in general after that, the team played well. What gives me confidence is that we have talented players with quality who can make the difference when taking men on.

Aston Villa captain John McGinn has signed a new contract that ties him to the club until 2028. The Scotland midfielder joined Villa from Hibernian in 2019 and has played a key role in the club's ascent from the Championship to the Champions League. Aston Villa is delighted to announce that Club Captain, John McGinn, has signed a new contract with the club.- Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 5, 2025

To do that, he needs to work hard, be humble and continue in the same vein. For us, when he's on form, he's very important. He's very clear about it: he is Giuliano. He's said it a thousand times, he wants nothing more than to be Giuliano. To be even better, he needs what I already mentioned: hard work, humility and continuity, not changing anything he brings to the team.

Let's say [Frankfurt] were a bit too cautious. People talk about attacking football, European football, and we respect everyone. Had we played the same way in Germany, they would have spoken about old football, Catenaccio [defensive tactics] and counter-attacks. There's maximum respect. Let's say we are good teachers anyway. We are trying to go forward at a footballing level and offer something European, dominating the game and making an important impression.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has heaped praise onto Mikel Merino for the way he's performed up front in recent times. The Spain international arrived at the Emirates Stadium with the reputation of being a hard-working utility man in midfield, but he's shown some superb finishing when asked to fill in up front. Merino had a surprisingly good run in the team as a makeshift striker last season, and he filled in there again last night as Viktor Gyokeres was out injured.

Liverpool delivered a mature and composed performance against Europe's most decorated club, with Alexis Mac Allister scoring the decisive goal in the 61st minute. The result not only strengthened Liverpool's position but also sent a strong message to their continental rivals. Despite the narrow score line, the hosts dominated from start to finish. Liverpool registered 17 shots on goal, forcing Thibaut Courtois, the same goalkeeper who denied them in the 2022 Champions League final, into nine crucial saves.

Thomas Frank quipped that Micky van de Ven's goal was as if Lionel Messi turned into a centre-back, after the Tottenham defender's stunner against FC Copenhagen. Spurs cruised to a 4-0 triumph at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday, despite Brennan Johnson seeing red. Johnson opened the scoring with Spurs' earliest Champions League goal since 2019, before Wilson Odobert became the club's third-youngest scorer in the competition.

PSV had a goal ruled out 12 minutes in at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium for an obvious offside call on Ismael Saibari, and Gelson Martins fired Olympiacos ahead just five minutes later. Chiquinho played a lofted through ball over the top for Martins, who slammed a powerful finish into the roof of the net to give Matej Kovar absolutely no chance.