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I am very happy in Villas-Boas leads . I don’t want to look for another club. I don’t want to go back to the . I obviously want to go into Marseille back into the Champions League with Marseille, but...if the conditions are not there for us to do a good job, I don’t think it’s worth it Champions League ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS

Amiens’ goalkeeper stops the ball shot by Marseille’s French (L) (file called it an “extraordinary achieve- photo) but doubts linger ment”. Marseille have not been in the Champions League since 2013, , they are heading back to Eu- They lost 91 million euros ($98m) but they had finished fifth last season rope’s top table, but their ability to last season and that will be com- under Rudi Garcia and Villas-Boas compete with the continent’s best pounded by further losses this season, knew he was arriving at a club with is in doubt because of their financial made worse by the coronavirus crisis. little money to spend. situation, and there is uncertainty UEFA announced in March that over future He had to do without arguably surrounding Villas-Boas’s future as Marseille had been referred to the Marseille’s best player, the wing - a result. adjudicatory chamber of their Club er , for almost the “I am very happy in Marseille. I Financial Control Body for not com- Andre Villas-Boas has taken whole campaign because of injury, don’t want to look for another club. I plying with an agreement to balance but the Portuguese has breathed new don’t want to go back to the Premier their books. Marseille to second place in life into the careers of Dimitri Payet League,” the 42-year-old told RMC The club had already signed a “set- and goalkeeper . radio from his native Portugal, where tlement agreement” which set out Ligue 1 in his first, shortened, In addition, he has got the best out he has been spending lockdown. that Marseille would have to play of those new faces who did come in, “I obviously want to go into the with a reduced squad in their next season in charge like Spanish defender Alvaro Gonza- Champions League with Marseille, European campaign and pay back lez and ex-Boca Juniors striker Dario but...if the conditions are not there up to four million euros of any prize Benedetto. for us to do a good job, I don’t think money. AFP | Marseille The former Porto, Chelsea and Tot- it’s worth it.” Now further sanctions are inevita- tenham Hotspur coach has rebuilt ble, with sports daily L’Equipe sug- his own reputation by reviving a club UEFA sanctions loom gesting they could even be excluded Andre he decision to end the French that is wildly popular across France Spending since American tycoon from the next Champions League. Villas-Boas Ligue 1 season early and remains the country’s only Frank McCourt -- the former Los “When I bought OM, I knew there T winners of the Champions League Angeles Dodgers owner -- bought the would be highs and lows,” said Mc- having taken the inaugural edition club in 2016 has been way beyond the Court recently, emphasising his in 1993. limits set out in UEFA’s Financial Fair “long-term vision”. Now, a decade after they last won Play rules. With a wage bill last season of 127 million euros, Marseille must sell brought celebrations players, and want those who remain in Marseille, who are look- to accept pay cuts. Villas-Boas says ing forward to a return to the he needs a competitive team if he is Champions League thanks to the to stay. fine work done by coach Andre Vil- He also wants to be sure sport - las-Boas, but it remains to be seen ing director Andoni Zubizarreta, the if he will stay at a club with major ex-Barcelona and Spain goalkeeper, financial problems. stays before committing to a second Marseille were second when the season at the Velodrome, even if he season was suspended in mid-March is settled on France’s Mediterranean with 10 games remaining. They were coast. well behind leaders Paris Saint-Ger- “I want to understand more or less main but well clear of the chasing where we are going, how much we pack, so nobody disputes they are can invest. Whether the club wants worthy runners-up after the French me, or if they don’t, in which case government dashed hopes of the it will not be a problem,” said Vil- campaign restarting. las-Boas, who is due back in France In an Instagram post, Villas-Boas Marseille’s Portuguese coach Andre Villas Boas (4-R) celebrate with Marseille’s French next week. goalkeeper Steve Mandanda at the end of a match (file photo)

Woods, Mickelson, Manning and Brady showdown set for May 24 Reuters | Miami itor tees off and then the team he coronavirus relief golf plays alternate shot from the match featuring Tiger selected drive. TWoods, Phil Mickelson Medallist Golf Club opened in and Super Bowl-winning quar- 1995 and is the home course to terbacks Tom Brady and Pey- many PGA Tour players includ- ton Manning will be on May 24 KNOW WHAT ing 15-times major champion at Medallist Golf Club in Hobe Woods, who last competed in Sound, Florida, WarnerMedia’s February and then withdrew Turner Sports said on Thursday. Medallist Golf Club from a number of tournaments The sanctioned PGA Tour opened in 1995 and with a back injury before the event, which is being dubbed is the home course PGA Tour decided to cancel a The Match: Champions for slew of events because of the Charity, will begin at 3 pm ET to many PGA Tour coronavirus. (1900 GMT) and the four golfers players including Mickelson finished third in will come together to make a 15-times major the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in ear- charitable donation of $10 mil- champion Woods ly February and missed the cut in lion to benefit COVID-19 relief. his next two starts. WarnerMedia is banking on Brady joined the Tampa Bay a matchup featuring two of the Buccaneers in March after 20 most famous golfers of their era years with the New England Pa- alongside two of the all-time triots during which he won an greatest NFL quarterbacks com- season, will feature 15-times ma- NFL-record six Super Bowl titles. peting on the nation’s Memorial jor champion Woods and Man- Manning, who played for the Day holiday weekend to be a ning up against five-times major Indianapolis Colts and Denver welcome sight for sports-starved winner Mickelson and Brady in Broncos, retired in 2016 as the fans. Tiger Woods (L) and Phil Mickelson walk to a tee during a tournament (file photo) Team Match Play. NFL’s all-time leader in passing “The COVID-19 pandemic has and Sports, said in a news re - ingful funding for COVID-19 fans.” The golfers will play fourballs touchdowns and yards and is the caused unimaginable tragedy lease. relief, while also providing a The competition, which is be- on the front nine and a modi- only five-times winner of the and heartbreak,” Jeff Zucker, “We’re hopeful this event and source of brief distraction and ing held 2-1/2 weeks before the fied alternate shot format on the league’s Most Valuable Player chairman of WarnerMedia News platform will help raise mean- entertainment for all sports PGA Tour plans to resume its back nine, where each compet- award.