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Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been hailed for leveraging their Hollywood status to "amazing" effect at Wrexham.

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American duo invested in Wrexham in 2021Overseen the club's return to the Football LeagueFinance guru expects celebrity ownership models to continueWHAT HAPPENED?

The American actors completed a £2 million takeover at Wrexham in February 2021, at which point the club were still competing in the National League. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have taken a hands-on approach at SToK Racecourse, silencing critics that claimed their move into football was merely a gimmick, and it reaped rewards in 2022-23 as Wrexham secured promotion back to the Football League after a 15-year absence.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Celebrity owners are becoming more and more common as a result of Wrexham's success, with NFL legend Tom Brady the latest man to try his hand in English football as a co-owner at Championship club Birmingham City. Dr Christina Philippou, a Principal Lecturer in accounting, economics and finance at the Faculty of Business and Law, believes the trend will continue because of the huge impact celebrities can have when it comes to the commercial interests of football clubs.

WHAT DR CHRISTINA PHILIPPOU SAID

"It's a matter of a sporting celebrity bringing in money," Dr Philippou told . "Wrexham have a touch of Hollywood glamour, and the owners have been able to do amazing things by selling the story along with their on-pitch and community efforts. Leveraging that status sells and helps the commercial side, which in turn helps the on-pitch fortunes as the owners are able to input some of that money into the club."

She added: "Sports have a global reach now due to the likes of social media. All sorts of things have changed since those days, but being able to leverage celebrities is a big thing in terms of the commercial and broadcasting side of things. The [Lionel] Messi effect at Inter Miami had a massive impact on match-day prospects. There's a reason for celebrities to be there, and I think it will continue. The generations coming through now are even more savvy when it comes to influencers and who the big stars are. That culture is definitely growing, and moving with those would make sense from a commercial side. I don't think it's something we'll stop seeing anytime soon."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Wrexham's growth has also been helped by the success of the Disney Plus docuseries tracking their rise under Reynolds and McElhenney. 'Welcome to Wrexham' was recently renewed for a third season, but Dr Philippou has warned that continued progress on the pitch is the only way to guarantee that interest levels remain high. "There may not be a compelling story to tell if Wrexham had stayed outside the Football League. It would get harder and harder to sell the story," she said. "There is a link between results and general interest. We see that across every level. Match-day interest is never as high after a team gets relegated. Social media content certainly plays its part when it comes to the commercial side, sponsorship deals, and broadcasting. If you can prove online interest in your club and demonstrate true engagement, then sponsors will come calling, and that only helps the club. Sunderland Till I Die sold too, but for different reasons! There have been a couple of documentaries made during great or terrible seasons. The problem is not being able to tell. A few of the NFL All or Nothing documentaries have been made as the chosen club has had an average season, and they never sell particularly well as it makes for less interesting viewing."

The winter window closes on Wednesday evening, but there is still plenty of time left for clubs to make some final signings before the deadline

Arthur – Gremio to BarcelonaBarcelona have already signed defender Yerry Mina and attacker Philippe Coutinho during January, but could bring in at least one more new face before the window closes on Wednesday. Gremio midfielder Arthur has a release clause of €50 million, but Barca may be willing to initially loan the 21-year-old back to the Brazilian club to get him at a lower price.AdvertisementGettyPierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Borussia Dortmund to ArsenalGabon international striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has long been linked with a transfer to the Premier League, but finally seems to be making the move with Arsenal set to break their transfer record to sign him before the deadline. The Gunners spent over a week negotiating with Dortmund for the 28-year-old who scored 31 Bundesliga goals last season to finish as top scorer ahead of Robert Lewandowski.Michy Batshuayi – Chelsea to Borussia Dortmund/Sevilla/RomaEven with Alvaro Morata misfiring at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has not given the Belgian a chance to make a claim for a starting role. The 24-year-old has been impressive in the FA Cup, but needs more game time ahead of the 2018 World Cup. He has been linked with numerous clubs during January and is likely to complete a loan move in the coming days.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty ImagesGerard Deulofeu – Barcelona to WatfordMany were surprised when Spain international Gerard Deulofeu was re-signed by Barcelona from Everton, but the winger's latest stay at Camp Nou could be coming to an abrupt end following the acquisition of Philippe Coutinho. He played 10 La Liga games this season but is now surplus to requirements with Coutinho joining and Ousmane Dembele back from injury.

The Lionesses were far from their best in Brisbane against Haiti, so what can Sarina Wiegman alter before a tough test against Denmark?

When England opened their Women's World Cup campaign against Haiti on Saturday, many expected the European champions to have too much for the debutantes to handle. Forty-nine places separate the pair in the FIFA world rankings, after all. However, it certainly didn't look like that on the night, with the Lionesses needing a big save from Mary Earps late on to secure a 1-0 win.

It was a sloppy opening performance from the Lionesses, there's no doubt about that. Several players were far from their best as a Georgia Stanway penalty proved to be the difference in Brisbane. That said, the likes of Australia and the United States women's national team are other contenders for the title that haven't come out in top form from the off.

It's not a huge concern for head coach Sarina Wiegman, but she will certainly want to see improvements, especially with Denmark up next, the Euro 2017 finalists expected to be the Lionesses' biggest challengers for top spot in Group D.

So, what could the coach change for that second match? And what can the players improve on themselves? GOAL takes a look…

GettyIncrease Greenwood's influence

Ever since Leah Williamson's ACL injury in April, it has been anticipated that Alex Greenwood would partner Millie Bright in the heart of England's defence. However, after playing at left-back in the send-off friendly against Portugal, the Manchester City star was there again on Saturday as Jess Carter lined up alongside Bright instead.

Carter was one of the Lionesses' best performers on Saturday, with her proving to be a reliable presence while Bright shook off some serious rust. Greenwood, meanwhile, had more touches of the ball than any other player on the pitch, but her influence in possession was limited by the fact she was playing on the left.

For her club, Manchester City, she is almost like a conductor with the ball at centre-back, spraying passes out wide with that wand of a left foot while also playing a key role in the short-passing game and occasionally driving into midfield, all to help start attacks.

Greenwood put in a few decent crosses from the left against Haiti, but one can't help feel that her influence on the game is limited in the role she's currently playing. It's unlikely that she'll swap with Carter at this point, but England would certainly be better off if Wiegman could make some tweaks that increase her impact.

AdvertisementGettyFree up Walsh

Also unable to have a greater influence on England's play on Saturday was Keira Walsh, the Barcelona star completely marked out of the encounter by Haiti's smart game plan. She got into things a little bit more in the second half as the opponents tired, but still only had the sixth-most touches of any player, which is quite low for the Lionesses' holding midfielder.

It's nothing particularly new to team or player, though. Wiegman even noted after the match: "We’ve seen it all the time, they try to take her out. We couldn’t find her all the time."

So, what could be done to address this? The coach talked about how the team could've been "quicker" in exploiting "opportunities on the side" while Walsh was swarmed by Haiti shirts, for one, but whether someone from central defence can step into midfield or the trio in the middle can rotate more to get Walsh free, Wiegman and co. will need to figure out some way to counter this plan because more and more opponents are going to do it.

Address the lack of presence in the No.10 role

Another problem in midfield was in the No.10 role. Ella Toone has struggled to really make her presence known in this position since coming into the starting XI and that was the case again on Saturday, with very few of her involvements in the match coming in those spaces on the edge of the box, in front of the Haiti defence.

When Lauren James got ready to come on in the second half, one thought it might have been to replace the Manchester United midfielder given James had performed very well in the attacking midfield position against Portugal earlier this month. However, it was winger Lauren Hemp instead who made way. The only other change made by Wiegman was to swap Alessia Russo for Rachel Daly, with all of the Lionesses' midfield options from the bench staying in the dugout.

Denmark are going to be another tough team to break down on Friday – as are fellow Group D opponents China, judging by the pair's close encounter later on Saturday – so having someone higher up in midfield who can unlock these sides is going to be important, whether that's encouraging Toone to pick up those pockets more or making a change to the line up.

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GettyPut chances away!

It's easier said than done but England simply have to be more clinical. A large number of chances came and went on Saturday, with Russo, Hemp, Daly and Chloe Kelly all guilty of not working the goalkeeper hard enough at times. The Lionesses have only scored once from open play since February.

"We’re missing ruthlessness," Wiegman said. "It’s easy to say, but what does that mean? Sometimes [it's] the connection with the cross, the timing of the cross, where the cross ends in the box and the connection in front of the goal. We were very close a couple of times to scoring. The defence was tough. We’ll keep trying and working on it and start tomorrow again."

Many were calling for Daly to start ahead of Russo for this game, and there's no doubt there will be even more of that noise now – but everyone knows that Wiegman isn't one to ring the changes. Whoever starts against Denmark needs to bring their shooting boots because it seems chances could be at more of a premium in that match.

Chelsea are reportedly eyeing £35m-rated Santiago Gimenez as an alternative to Victor Osimhen, in case the Napoli striker proves too expensive.

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Osimhen is Chelsea's top target.Gimenez considered if Osimhen's pursuit stallsChelsea also evaluate winger Assane DiaoWHAT HAPPENED?

According to the Blues remain firm in their pursuit of the Napoli hitman, with the Nigerian also hinting that he remains open to exploring other options. However, they are well aware that Napoli views him as strictly indispensable and will not sell him cheaply as he is contractually bound to the reigning Serie A champions until 2025. This has forced them to look for other alternatives with Gimenez topping their wishlist.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Feyenoord striker has been in incredible form and has scored 15 goals in an equal number of matches across all competitions. Chelsea's recruitment staff admires his potential contribution but he also has a contract with the Dutch outfit until 2027 which means that the Blues might need to cough up over £35m plus add-ons for the goalscorer. There is strong interest from other European elites which include bothReal Madrid and Barcelona along with a host of Serie A clubs including Juventus, AC Milan and Inter.

DID YOU KNOW?

Chelsea are also keeping an eye on Assane Diao, a versatile winger from Real Betis, who has been a revelation under Manuel Pellegrini. The Blues view him as someone who could add depth to their right wing which is currently occupied by Noni Madueke. However, Betis, who are currently placed in the seventh spot, are not keen to let him leave in January as they are fighting for a European berth for the 2024-25 campaign.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

Chelsea are navigating the transfer market with a laser-sharp focus on their pursuit of promising talents, which aligns with the club's new-found philosophy under the ownership of Todd Boehly. The interest in Gimenez and Diao is another step in that direction.

Goal takes a look at 10 Arsenal stars who never hit the same heights after leaving the Gunners.

When Kieran Gibbs left Arsenal for West Brom after spending over 11 seasons at the club, he remarked that he would learn how to improve defensively at his new team. Arsene Wenger was asked about those comments shortly after and made an apt statement which has rung true of several players after they departed north London for pastures new.

“Once someone takes the decision to leave I wish them well and focus on my squad, but just look at the performances of the players who left us and then come back to me about it,” he said in 2017.

Goal takes a look at 10 Arsenal stars who never hit the same heights after leaving the Gunners.

Getty ImagesEmmanuel Petit

Petit joined Arsenal from Monaco in 1997 after working with Wenger when the Frenchman was manager of the Ligue 1 side. The magnificent partnership between Petit and Patrick Vieira saw him make 85 appearances in three years before deciding to join Barcelona in the summer of 2000.

However, an injury-plagued spell coupled with poor performances saw him eventually return to the Premier League with Chelsea. Three seasons later, Petit retired from professional football.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesAlex Song

Arsenal's search for a defensive midfielder was eventually narrowed down to Cameroonian star Song. He initially struggled at the heart of the Gunners midfield before being sent on loan to Charlton where he honed his defensive qualities.

In the 2011/12 season he formed an exquisite partnership with Robin van Persie when he recorded 13 assists. 

At the end of the season he joined Barcelona but struggled to get past Sergio Busquets in the team. 

Following two disappointing campaigns with Barcelona he had mixed spells at West Ham and Russian side Rubin Kazan. He now plays for FC Sion in the Swiss Super League.

Getty ImagesPatrick Vieira

Vieira won three Premier League trophies and four FA Cup titles during his nine-year stay at Arsenal, captaining the club through the 49-game unbeaten season and making over 400 appearances for the Gunners.

He left for Juventus in July 2005 after Wenger accepted that he would need to let the Frenchman go in order for Cesc Fabregas to become the new mainstay of Arsenal's midfield.

Interestingly, Vieira returned to Highbury a year later when Juventus faced Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and was culpable for one of Arsenal's goals after Robert Pires tackled him and helped set up Fabregas to score.

Spells at Inter and Manchester City followed but Vieira's quality began to diminish towards the latter stages of his career.

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Getty ImagesAlexander Hleb

An exciting pass master with the ability to create something out of nothing, Hleb was part of an impressive Arsenal team which almost won the Premier League in the 2007/08 season.

When Barcelona came calling the Belarusian couldn't say no – but it was a decision that he came to regret as he failed to impress at Camp Nou.

“At some point, I realised, ‘Oh God! I’m leaving Arsenal!’ When Arsene said that it was a matter of hours, I felt devastated. It was really hard for me to accept. He even texted me as I was fishing. ‘Alex, I won’t let you go, we need you here’. I cried when I read it.”

Hleb has since admitted that he regrets ever leaving Arsenal. Three loan spells with Stuttgart, Birmingham and Wolfsburg later, he is now back in his homeland playing for BATE Borisov.

United States national team boss Gregg Berhlater has provided a bleak update on the fitness of midfielder Tyler Adams ahead of the Copa America.

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Adams suffers injury and undergoes surgeryAbsent for almost a yearBerhalter issues update on his fitnessGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Berhalter, 50, has revealed he is unsure whether or not Adams will be able to take part in this summer's Copa America tournament due to injury. The tournament will be hosted in the United States and is set to start on June 20 and run until July 14.

AdvertisementWHAT BERHALTER SAID

“I don’t know,” Berhalter said on Tuesday. “We’re taking it the same way he’s taking it, and that’s day by day. And as we get information, we’ll be able to make decisions but for us, it’s just supporting him, continuing to communicate with his club, and really not getting ahead of ourselves.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Adams suffered an initial hamstring setback in March 2023 while at Leeds United and underwent surgery to solve the issue. Six months later, the USMNT midfielder had moved to Bournemoith but re-aggravated the injury at the Cherries – leading to more surgery in October. Adams has not featured for the national side since captaining them at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ADAMS?

The 24-year-old will continue to watch both Bournemouth and his national team from the sidelines while he continues his lengthy rehabilitation period. The Cherries face Newcastle United in their next game on Saturday, while the USMNT are set to link-up in March for their games against Jamaica.

Last season, the constant reshuffling within the team cost Rajasthan Royals a spot in the playoffs. This season, with select buys and key players in form, they will look for a better finish in the table

Arun Venugopal06-Apr-20152:14

Rajasthan Royals team preview

Likely first XI1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Karun Nair, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Sanju Samson (wk), 5 Shane Watson (capt), 6 Stuart Binny, 7 James Faulkner, 8 Chris Morris/Tim Southee/Juan Theron, 9 Rajat Bhatia, 10 Pravin Tambe, 11 Dhawal Kulkarni
Click here for the full squad2014 finishBotched up a strong start to finish fifth.Big pictureFor a team that has often delivered more than promised, Rajasthan Royals left fans exasperated at the end of the last season. Royals usually build themselves up incrementally, hitting top gear as the tournament reaches the business end, but when they sprinted to six wins in nine games – they were ahead of eventual champions Kolkata Knight Riders at that stage – a place in the knockouts seemed within reach. They didn’t, however, qualify. In the last league game against Mumbai, despite the insurance of a tall total behind them, their bowlers wilted en masse.The story of their 2014 campaign wasn’t so much about implosion as the effect of relentlessly shuffling personnel: 22 players took the field for Royals, the highest for any team last year. Add to this the less-than-optimal utilisation of Steven Smith and James Faulkner, and you can see how a promising plot went kaput.They were typically prudent with their budget in the 2015 auction, finishing with an unspent sum of Rs 10.65 crore (approx. $1.77 million) from the allotted purse of Rs 63 crore.Paddy Upton, the side’s head coach, said Chris Morris, Royals’ costliest buy at Rs 1.4 crore (approx $233,000), was acquired for his all-round skills and to enable his pairing with another allrounder, James Faulkner. With the ball, Morris produced a record performance for Lions in the Ram Slam T20 last year. With captain Shane Watson and Stuart Binny playing all-round roles as well, Morris’ inclusion leaves Royals “with lots of options.” They have also brought in two legspinners in Dinesh Salunkhe and Pardeep Sahu, recognising that such bowlers are becoming a “valuable asset in this format.”Since their victory in the inaugural edition, they haven’t done enough to consistently be serious contenders for the title, and this year is another opportunity at correcting that. To do so, they will need a versatile unit, especially with them not playing in Jaipur for the second year in succession; their home fixtures have instead been drawn up at two venues: the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad and the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.Big playersLast season, Smith was seen as an exciting batting talent, whose breathtaking attempts on the field made for great highlight reels. This season, he returns to the IPL on the back of a remarkable run of form. In the past year, he has scored 2096 runs in 31 international matches across formats at 69.86, including eight hundreds. During this period, he captained Australia’s Test side and was also the leading run-scorer (402 at an average of 67, including an unbeaten fifty in the final) in their victorious World Cup campaign. The Royals management would likely want him to take ownership of the No.3 spot, and replicate the success he has had for Australia in the position.Like Smith, Faulkner, too, has enhanced his credentials over the last two years. His audacious finishing skills with the bat and slippery back-of-the-hand deliveries make him important to the team’s balance. There were question-marks over his death-bowling skills last year – his economy rate of 9.74 was the poorest in the team – but he has strengthened this area in recent times.Bargain buyJuan Theron had a memorable IPL debut, producing a nerveless spell to bowl Kings XI Punjab to a victory against Chennai Super Kings. A seasoned player in the T20 format with strong death-bowling skills, Theron’s inclusion at Rs 30 lakh ($50,000) looks like a smart deal.AvailabilityKane Richardson has opted out of the IPL citing personal reasons. Tim Southee will miss the last phase of the tournament with New Zealand touring England in May.CoachesMentor – Rahul Dravid, Head coach – Paddy Upton, Director of cricket – Zubin Bharucha, Coach – Monty DesaiQuote”When we pick players, we look a lot at their Ranji Trophy performance as well. Of course there are specific T20 skills that we are looking for but we also want to see hunger, we also want to see consistency and we also want to see somebody who can deliver under pressure.”
Rahul Dravid on what his franchise looks for in potential recruits

GOAL analyses major happenings in the concluded campaign held in Cameroon

BackpageSikazwe show

In the Group F match featuring Mali and Tunisia staged in Limbe on January 12, both teams were desperate for victory. Mali went on to score their goal through Ibrahima Kone – from the penalty spot – while the Carthage Eagles wasted their chance courtesy of Wahbi Khazri.

However, the spotlight was on Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe; he reportedly failed to stop his watch and went on to blow the final whistle in the 85th minute. He was corrected but again ended the game with a few seconds remaining in regulation time. Tunisia, later on, refused to return to the pitch to play the final few minutes. It was later revealed Sikazwe had health issues that affected him.

AdvertisementgettyAlgeria's elimination

Coming into the competition, favourites Algeria had gone 34 matches without tasting defeat. However, things did not go for them as planned.

Sierra Leone held them to a goalless draw before Equatorial Guinea claimed a shocking 1-0 win. They fell 3-1 to Ivory Coast and were eliminated from the competition. It was unexpected but it happened, giving them a chance to go back to the drawing board.

BackpageGhana's humiliating exit

Just like the former champions, Ghana were considered among the favourites and nobody would have predicted they would fall in the first hurdle. Things did not work out for the West African nation from the first game where they lost to Morocco by a solitary goal.

There were ugly scenes in the 1-1 draw with Gabon that saw Benjamin Tetteh get suspended for three games, before a 3-2 loss to debutants Comoros sent them packing. Questions will be asked about the impact of Andre and Jordan Ayew. Will they redeem their reputation in the World Cup qualifiers?

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BackpagePix.Mukansanga makes history

Rwanda referee Salima Rhadia Mukansanga made history as the first-ever woman referee to officiate in the Africa Cup of Nations when she blew the whistle for Zimbabwe's surprise 2-1 victory over Guinea on January 18.

The 35-year-old, who had already served as the fourth official during the Malawi versus Guinea fixture, took charge of the Group B clash at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium.

PSG have become famous for their Champions League collapses, and everything seems to be pointing the wrong way entering this year's last 16.

A similar scene unfolds every year.

A retooled PSG side gears up for a Champions League run. Players are added. A manager is hired. New formations are established, adapted and perfected against the mediocrity of Ligue 1. And then, PSG are eliminated, usually in heartbreaking fashion.

This Champions League plight is more than a curse at this point. By now, it's a routine, a familiar cycle that always comes to the same inevitable end.

And it all seems geared to go wrong once again.

This is probably the best, most complete PSG squad in years. They have a more pragmatic manager who has, at times, drawn the best out of a star-filled squad.

But as PSG prepare to face Bayern Munich in the first leg of their last-16 knockout tie on Tuesday, the warning signs are adding up. From injuries and fatigue to arguments and poor fortune, here's why it could all go wrong again…

(C)Getty ImagesMbappe's Injury

Even though Mbappe made a surprise return to training on Monday morning, his fitness should still be a massive concern for PSG. The star winger injured his hamstring on February 1, with an expected recovery time of three weeks. That he is back within 11 days is good news for manager Christophe Galtier, but also brings concern that he's been rushed.

And what kind of role will Mbappe play? It certainly seems hasty to let him start, but Galtier insisted that Mbappe isn't in the squad just to fill out numbers. A second-half introduction seems likely, but will it be worth risking their star player with a second leg coming up? And with Ligue 1 far from locked up, Galtier has a choice on his hands. An aggravation of his star player's current injury would be an absolute nightmare.

AdvertisementGettyCampos' Rant

There is allegedly trouble in the PSG camp. Sporting director Luis Campos watched the squad he assembled suffer an embarrassing loss against Monaco on Saturday, and reportedly tried to intervene. According to , Neymar, Marquinhos and Campos got into a spat following the defeat, with Campos criticising the team for a lack of effort.

Campos typically doesn't have much influence over such matters, and the fact that the sporting director is trying to meddle in day-to-day affairs with players is an alarm bell for greater dysfunction.

Getty ImagesNeymar's Antics

What to do about Neymar? At his best, the Brazilian is unplayable, and one of the best footballers on the planet. On bad days, he's a liability. This is not to say that PSG should bench Neymar, nor that he is no longer one of the world's best. And he always seems to perform in the big games.

But personal issues seem to be impacting the team's performance at the moment. He and Mbappe have dealt with well-documented tension between them, while Neymar also reportedly had a go at Vitinha and Hugo Ekitike during the loss to Monaco on the weekend.

"It happened, a little discussion, we didn't agree," the Brazilian said in a press conference about the Monaco incident. "It happens to us every day, but I love them all, it's like with my girlfriend. Football is not just love, not just friendship. There is respect but it happens to have discussions. We are not used to losing, when there are defeats, of course it disturbs us. It is part of the process to improve."

Added head coach Galtier: "When there is frustration, it has to come out. I have been leading this way for years. You have to listen to them but they also have to listen to me. There is frustration that breeds anger. We talked, I listened to them, I hope they listened to me too."

There are two sides to every story, and Neymar has tried to paint himself as a player simply raising the level of those around him with a competitive streak. But this isn't his first internal clash. He might need to pick his battles better.

At an unstable moment for the club, stars are supposed to be leaders and maintain calm. Another drama is the opposite of what PSG wanted entering the Bayern Munich showdown.

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(C)Getty imagesZiyech's transfer failure

Hakim Ziyech was never going to be the saviour of PSG's season. The winger is a fine player with a sumptuous left foot, and a hero of the Moroccan national team. But he is not the answer to all of PSG's problems.

Still, he seemed primed to be an important piece. The drop off from PSG's usual front three to Carlos Soler and Hugo Ekitike is massive. Ziyech, at the very least, should have softened the fall. But a transfer from Chelsea fell through at the last minute, with the London club failing to sort the correct paperwork before the deadline.

It left PSG without a clear option off the bench, someone who could have perhaps given Messi or Neymar a rest in the weeks leading up to the Bayern tie – or even start the contest until Mbappe is ready to enter the game.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has reacted to the speculation suggesting that Gabriel Magalhaes is interesting Real Madrid and clubs in Saudi Arabia.

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South American started season on the benchLinked with teams in Spain & Middle EastBoss insists he still has a role to playWHAT HAPPENED?

The Brazil international defender is generating exit talk at Emirates Stadium after surprisingly dropping out of the Gunners’ starting XI in the early weeks of the 2023-24 campaign. Having been a regular since his arrival from Lille in 2020, the 25-year-old has become the unfortunate victim of a tactical tweak from Arteta.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Gabriel has, however, figured off the bench for Arsenal in their opening wins over Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace – suggesting that he does still have an important role to play. That has done little to quash the rumours linking him with a move to Spain or the Middle East, but his manager is reluctant to be dragged into that debate.

WHAT THEY SAID

Quizzed on Gabriel’s future following a hard-fought 1-0 win away at London rivals Palace, Arteta told reporters: “It’s about the games that we were expecting, what I was expecting, how we wanted to defend and attack and our belief it was the best thing. He’s played in both games, he’s helped us to win both games for different reasons. He was really good, he absolutely dominated the box. He’s going to play a lot of games. That’s the decision sometimes.” When pressured further on whether Arsenal would look to sell the defender before the summer window closes, Arteta merely shook his head.

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Gabriel signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal less than a year ago, with those terms due to keep the South American centre-half in north London through to 2027.