Sport
Michael Ballack Names Liverpool as His Top Champions League Favorite
Former Chelsea and Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack has tipped Liverpool as the team to beat in this season’s Champions League race.
Ballack shared his thoughts after Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Lille on Tuesday, a result that saw them secure their spot in the knockout stages.
Speaking to German outlet Sport Bild, Ballack shared that Real Madrid, the reigning champions, are no longer his top pick.
“Based on their performances so far, Real Madrid are not my top favourite. That would be Liverpool, who are currently dominating the Champions League,” he said.
Ballack also praised the smooth transition Liverpool made after Klopp’s time in charge. “I was positively surprised by how Arne Slot managed the transition after Klopp.
It’s always tough to follow greats like Klopp or someone like José Mourinho, who left a unique legacy at my former club Chelsea,” he added.
While Liverpool stands out as the favorite, Ballack also mentioned Atalanta as a dark horse.
“They have a clear plan offensively and defensively and dominated Bayer Leverkusen in last year’s Europa League final,” he noted.
Chelsea suffers a major blow to the team just before their Premier League match with Tottenham on Thursday. It was reported that player Romeo Lavia recently sustained an injury.
Chelsea Manager Enzo Maresca informs the public of the player’s recently sustained injury. He then confirms Lavia’s absence in the Spurs happening this Thursday at Stanford Bridge.
In a brief interview with the press, the Chelsea manager shared the update and information concerning Lavia. “He was doing better in terms of progress but unfortunately, one or two days ago he had a small problem, so we will see in the next hours.”
Chelsea have been dealt a fresh injury setback ahead of their Premier League clash with Tottenham on Thursday.
Midfielder Romeo Lavia has suffered another injury, ruling him out of the game at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca confirmed that the 21-year-old picked up a setback during training just days before the match.
“He was making progress, but unfortunately, he had a small issue recently. We’ll have to assess him in the coming hours,” Maresca said.
Lavia, who joined Chelsea from Southampton in 2023, has struggled with injuries since arriving at the club, limiting his playing time.
Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago are set to compete in the Unity Cup, an invitational tournament taking place in London this May.
Jamaica’s Reggae Boys will go head-to-head with Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors in the first semi-final on Tuesday, May 27. The following day, Wednesday, May 28, will see West African giants Nigeria and Ghana battle it out in the second semi-final.
The tournament will wrap up on Saturday, May 31, with the third-place match and the highly anticipated final, where the champions will claim the Unity Cup 2025.
In addition to the tournament, Nigeria has a friendly lined up against Russia in June as part of their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Super Eagles will be gearing up for crucial clashes against Rwanda and South Africa in September.
TikToker Jarvis Jadrolita Reacts to Pregnancy Rumor with Sarcastic Reply, Fans React
Actor Segun Arinze Hails Uzor Arukwe: “He’s the Biggest Deal in Nollywood!”
Portable vs Speed Darlington, Singers Schedule Boxing Match After Heated Online Feud
-
News21 hours agoTinubu Reshuffles NNPC Board Removes Kyari and Appoints New CEO and Chairman
-
Entertainment19 hours agoHollywood Icon, Val Kilmer Passes Away at 65 After Battle with Pneumonia
-
Entertainment21 hours agoDJ Cuppy Jokes About Creating AI Husband, ElijahGPT for April Fools’ Day
-
News17 hours agoBwala Says Nigeria Dodged a Bullet with Peter Obi’s 2023 Loss
-
News21 hours agoPeter Obi Visits Katsina to Console Governor Radda Over His Mother’s Death
-
Entertainment10 hours agoPortable Calls Zlatan an Upcoming Artist, Says Rich People Do Not Know His Songs
-
Sport17 hours agoAmorim Faces Pressure as Man United Struggles with Another Loss
-
Sport10 hours agoNigeria, Ghana, Jamaica and Trinidad Set for Unity Cup Match in London