May 31, 2021 Osaka through Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka is through to the second round of French Open after a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory over Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig on 7 Sunday, BBC Sport reported. Sports Guardiola the fall guy as City’s Champions League anguish goes on injury in the first half. Backed by the wealth of Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour, City has become the dominant force in English football, winning five Premier League titles in the past 10 years. But that only makes the pain of three disap- pointments against English sides in Europe over the past four years all the more acute. After 10 seasons in the Champions League, City remains without the one trophy it most de- sires. City will lick its wounds, invest and try again. Guardiola extended his contract at the Etihad ear- lier this season to 2023. “It is the first time we are here, we will learn, we will come back,” Guardiola said. “It was a season with 62 games and we played 61. We are sad, we have to learn from this and volleyballworld.com we will learn for the future, but the season was Iran captain Saeid Marouf (4) celebrates a point with his teammates during a straight-set victory over exceptional.” the Netherlands at the Volleyball Nations League in Rimini, Italy, on May 30, 2021. ‘What a fight’ PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/GETTY IMAGES Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola walks past the Champions League trophy after collecting his runner- Tuchel, meanwhile, said he had sensed before Marouf-inspired Iran routs up medal in Porto, Portugal, on May 29, 2021. the Champions League final that his side would win on Saturday. After a decade of trying, Pep Guardiola and Man- Gundogan played many years in this position. Tuchel guided Paris Saint-Germain to last sea- chester City’s wait to win the Champions League We tried to have speed on the ball, to find play- son’s Champions League final which it lost 1-0 to goes on after Chelsea emerged 1-0 victor from an ers between the lines on the ball and this was the Bayern Munich. Netherlands for first VNL victory all-English final in Porto. decision.” PSG sacked the German in December but he City finished 19 points ahead of Chelsea in Luck was also not on City’s side as Kevin De was almost immediately hired by Chelsea and led romping to this season’s Premier League title, Bruyne was forced off in tears after a sickening the Russian-owned club to the second Champi- Sports Desk Mousavi, Meysam Salehi, and Mohammad- but its old demons in Europe reappeared as Guar- head knock when he collided with Antonio Rudi- ons League victory in its history . Taher Vadi as the starting lineup. diola’s tinkering with a winning team again back- ger early in the second half. “You know I was so grateful to arrive a sec- ran claimed a first victory at the Volleyball Ebadipour was ruled out with a fever before fired, AFP reported. Without the Belgian, Guardiola’s attempts to ond time (in the final after doing so with PSG last Nations League (VNL), easing past the to the match, while a shoulder pain forced out The Catalan won the Champions League twice right the wrongs of his team selection were too year) but this felt different. I told people before INetherlands in straight sets on Sunday. Ghafour. in his first three seasons as a senior coach at Bar- little, too late. somehow it was,” Tuchel told BT Sport. Inspired by skipper and world-class setter Esfandiar topped the scoring for Alekno’s celona. Fernandinho was introduced just after the hour He paid tribute to his “unbelievable” players. Saeid Marouf, who made a first appearance team with 14 points, followed by Salehi, who But he can now add the disappointment of los- mark, while strikers Gabriel Jesus and Sergio “It was an incredibly tough fight, what a fight. in the competition, the Asian powerhouse beat finished on 12. ing in the final for the first time to exits in four Aguero were thrown on in search of a goal. Today they were determined to win this. We the European opponent 25-18, 25-23 before Dutch skipper Nimir Abdel-Aziz chipped semifinals and three quarterfinals as boss of But the vast majority of City’s success this sea- wanted to be the stone in their (City’s) shoe. emerging victorious 30-28 in a thrilling final in 11 points. Barca, Bayern Munich and City over the past 10 son has come in a fluid strikerless system and it “I told everyone to step up and to be more set in the Italian resort of Rimini. All 16 teams headed into a three-day break years. never looked comfortable as Chelsea’s defense brave with the ball. Head coach Vladimir Alekno celebrated before Week 2 of the competition gets under- City had never even been beyond the last eight limited Guardiola’s side to one shot on target “Kai was strong and delivered again. He has his first win in charge of Iran, having suffered way, when Iran takes on Canada on Thursday. in Guardiola’s first four seasons in charge, but he despite losing the experience of Thiago Silva to great heart.” successive defeats against Japan and Russia Iran will play the host on Friday and then appeared to have learned in the previous two outings. face Bulgaria a day later to round. from his mistakes as a set- The Russian, who had to do without key Each team plays 15 matches in a round tled side comfortably saw players Milad Ebadipour and Amir Ghafour, robin format, with the top four of the table off Borussia Dortmund sent out Amirhossein Esfandiar, Saber Ka- proceeding to the VNL Finals to battle for the and Paris Saint-Germain zemi, Ali-Asghar Mojarrad, Mohammad ultimate prize. to reach the final for the first time in the club’s his- tory. However, he dropped Giannis scores triple-double a bombshell by omitting captain Fernandinho and Rodrigo from the base of his midfield to make way as Bucks sweep series for Raheem Sterling’s re- turn to the starting lineup. Chelsea seized on the against Heat space opened up in the City midfield to enjoy the Giannis Antetokounmpo scored his first ca- canAirlines Arena and were in front by seven better of the first half and, reer playoff triple-double to help the Mil- points at halftime. but for some characteristic waukee Bucks to a 120-103 victory over the But a 13-point turnaround in the third peri- wasteful finishing from Miami Heat. od put the Bucks in control and they powered Timo Werner, would have It sealed a 4-0 series clean sweep against on to make it a comfortable win despite a been in front long before it the Heat, who lost to the Lakers in last year’s triple-double from the Heat’s Jimmy Butler. scored the only goal. NBA Finals, BBC Sport reported. MVP contender Joel Embiid scored a play- One through ball from The Bucks will now face either the Boston off career high 36 points before sitting out the Mason Mount sliced the Celtics or the Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern fourth quarter, as the Philadelphia 76ers took City defense wide open Conference semifinals. a 3-0 series lead over the Washington Wizards for Kai Havertz to round Ederson and roll the ball into an empty net. “I tried the best selec- tion to win the game,” PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/REUTERS said Guardiola. “(Ilkay) Chelsea players celebrate as captain Cesar Azpilicueta lifts the Champions League trophy in Porto, Portugal, on May 29, 2021. Real closing in on sporting director Campos with Mbappe transfer in mind Real Madrid is closing in on a deal that will add club CEO Jose Angel Sanchez for well over a de- highly-reputed sporting director Luis Campos cade. to its ranks, with further talks planned for next The 56-year-old, who last filled a role as foot- week. ball director at Ligue 1 side Lille, has been made The Blancos are in the process of remodeling aware of long-term future plans in Madrid. on the back of a first trophy-less campaign since His success in France, with his last employers the tenure of Manuel Pellegrini in 2009-10, goal. reveling in unexpected title glory this season, has LYNNE SLADKY/AP com reported. been noted by those in Spain. Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots during a victory over Heat in NBA first-round Much change is being mooted on and off the It is also impossible to ignore that he played a playoff series in Miami, FL, US, on May 29, 2021. field in the Spanish capital, with Zinedine Zi- prominent role in the success enjoyed by Monaco dane already stepping down from his role as head when it captured a domestic crown and reached “I’m blessed I can do a lot of things to con- with a 132-103 victory in the capital. coach despite still having a year left to run on his GETTY IMAGES the Champions League semifinals in 2017. tribute to our team,” said Antetokounmpo. The Wizards’ Russell Westbrook notched contract. Luis Campos (L) and French striker Kylian Mbappe He has remained close to Kylian Mbappe since “Whoever we get in the next round, we’re a triple-double in the defeat, recording 26 Sources have revealed that discussions with leaving a position at Stade Louis II, with that re- going to be ready.” points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.