NEWCASTLE: Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes has moved to cool summer exit talk by insisting he is happy to stay at St James’ Park for a “long time.”
The Brazilian has been the subject of speculation after details of a buyout clause inserted in his new contract, only signed in Oct. 2023, leaked into the public domain. The Magpies’ dip in form and struggles to replicate the Champions League-qualifying campaign of 2022/23 has only added fuel to that fire. Talk of Barcelona, Real Madrid and even Premier League rivals Liverpool has followed.
However, in the aftermath of yet another eye-catching performance — this time a two-goal, match-winning show against Nottingham Forest last weekend — Guimaraes has addressed the speculation. And in a move which will bring a smile to Newcastle fans’ faces, he has expressed his desire to stay on Tyneside, citing his connection with the supporters, and the love they have shown, as his main drive.
The 26-year-old said: “Sometimes people speak a lot about me. I just speak a lot about football. I'm very happy here and I like how the fans think of me here. Let the people speak.
“I enjoy my time here. The fans have been unbelievable for me and my family. I hope this can keep going for a long time.”
Even during Newcastle’s faltering season, former Lyon man Guimaraes has been a beacon of light. He has often been asked to be the Magpies’ main defensive shield in front of a struggling back four, as well as the team’s creative spark. It has often led to Guimaraes looking stretched in the midfield three, caught between a rock and a hard place.
That all changed last weekend, though. Given licence to roam from his usual No. 6 role, Guimaraes caused havoc in more advanced areas, occupying a No. 8 slot normally taken up by youngster Lewis Miley. It was a move Eddie Howe would not regret as Guimaraes opened the scoring at the City Ground with a sumptuous trivela volley. He bagged the winner in the second half, too, pouncing a wayward Anthony Elanga pass to stroke past former Newcastle keeper Matz Sels to claim all three points. As the net bulged in front of the travelling Newcastle fans, the moment was not lost on Guimaraes, who climbed the advertising boards to rise high and put two fingers in his ears — a clear reference to the transfer talk.
“I’m very happy, it was a good game for us. I played with more freedom and felt good. It was important after the draw with Luton last week that we played very well and it was very important for us,” said Guimaraes.
“For me, we shouldn’t have given the ball away that we tried to pass. The second half we played very well. We played with the ball a lot on the night.
“For me, (the first) was a lovely goal. One of the most beautiful in my career. I dedicate this goal to the ‘Mad Dog’ (assistant coach Jason Tindall) because we worked on it in training. When I play as a six, I don’t get the chance to play forward as much so I enjoyed playing high.
“I think I can play in the six, eight and 10. I played very well with the two goals. Thank you gaffer. To be honest with you, when I saw the ball come in, I didn’t know whether to hit it with my left or right (foot) but it was a perfect finish.”
Ten points off fifth-placed Aston Villa and five behind sixth-placed Manchester United, Guimaraes’ Magpies, in 7th, find themselves a little off the pace when it comes to the race for what is likely to be a fifth Champions League place for the Premier League this season. With only 14 games remaining, Newcastle have a considerable gap to bridge, but Guimaraes remains confident in the squad around him.
He said: “We have to get European football again, and we will try for the Champions League. I know it’s difficult but definitely (we are aiming) for Europa League.
“We have been better away from home this season. We have a big game at home next week (against Bournemouth) and hopefully we can get the three points.”
Guimaraes has been earning rave reviews for his performances, whether results have come Newcastle’s way, or not. His most recent show was not lost on Magpies’ legend Alan Shearer, who remains both Newcastle United and Premier League record goalscorer.
“He was brilliant, scored two wonderful goals. His all-round performance, I thought, was magnificent,” Shearer told BBC TV show “Match of the Day.”
He added: “Everything good about Newcastle, he was at the heart of it. Whether he was keeping the ball, protecting the ball, adding that little bit of quality with his passing, his movement, his ability to find space that not many others can.
“His (first) goal was a well-worked set piece, a great ball in from (Kieran) Trippier, but that is such a difficult technique. To hit it like that, eyes on the ball watching it all the way. To get the direction and power that he did, it was an incredible goal.
“For his second goal, he’s actually a split second quicker than anyone else’s thought process. He knows exactly what Forest want to do but he's not letting them do that. Just watch the way he reacts, he’s quick and gets the ball and he’s got the ability to whip it into the corner.
“That’s why the Newcastle fans love him. He's got a great relationship with the fans and rightly so. He’s a lovely man and a very, very good footballer.”
Newcastle United face AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday at St James’ Park. The Magpies are currently without a whole host of injured and suspended players, with Sandro Tonali, Nick Pope, Callum Wilson, Joelinton, Alexander Isak, Elliot Anderson, Matt Targett, Jacob Murphy and Joe Willock all currently sidelined.
Bruno Guimaraes warns off Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool interest
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Bruno Guimaraes warns off Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool interest
- Brazil midfielder says he wants to stay at Newcastle United for ‘long time’
- Former Lyon man Guimaraes has been a beacon of light during Newcastle’s faltering season
Jeeno Thitikul happy to see putts go in and lead at Liberty National with a 64
- Thitikul was bogey-free at Liberty National and had the advantage of playing in the morning with virtually no wind on the course across the Hudson River from Manhattan
- Defending champion Nelly Korda had six birdies — three of them on the par 5s — to account for a few bogeys on her front nine and finished in the group at 68
JERSEY CITY, N.J.: Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand feels so much better when she sees putts going in, and Thursday was a happy occasion at the Mizuho Americas Open. She took only 26 putts, eight of them for birdie, in a clean start of 8-under 64 to lead by two shots.
Thitikul was bogey-free at Liberty National and had the advantage of playing in the morning with virtually no wind on the course across the Hudson River from Manhattan.
She finished strong, dropping a short iron into 5 feet on the 17th and judging the distance perfectly on the closing hole with a shot that stayed below the hole and left her only about 3 feet for birdie.
Celine Boutier of France ran off five straight birdies in the middle of her round to account for not taking advantage of the par 5s. She was at 66 with Hye-Jin Choi of South Korea and Lindy Duncan, who lost in a five-way playoff at the Chevron Championship two weeks ago.
“I think my putter working well, better than Chevron week,” said Thitikul, the No. 2 player in the women’s world ranking.
She opened with rounds of 71-75 at the Chevron Championship, the first major of the LPGA season. Thitikul took off last week and devoted a lot of time to her putting, almost to a fault. She found her emotions going all over the place depending on the result.
“First couple days I’ve been back home and I putt a lot, a ton,” she said. “I feel good when I see it drop but I feel bad when I see it miss. ... And I was like, ‘No, you can’t be like this.’ It’s in or it’s not. It has to be the same feelings and emotion.
“I just going to putt less and think less. That’s pretty much I want to do,” she said. “Because mental-wise, pretty important to see all putts in. I don’t want to be so tight and tense.”
Besides, she felt the greens were tough for everyone at the major.
“We’re here, hit it good, and also making the putts,” Thitikul said after her 11th round of 64 or lower over the last four seasons.
Defending champion Nelly Korda had six birdies — three of them on the par 5s — to account for a few bogeys on her front nine and finished in the group at 68.
Korda, the No. 1 player in women’s golf by a big margin, has yet to win this year. She won the Mizuho Americas Open a year ago for her sixth victory of the season. Her game hasn’t been as sharp this year, and Korda is more interested in looking ahead.
“Just got to focus on what my game plan was last year — that was one shot at a time, not to get ahead of myself,” Korda said. “I know at the beginning of the year I had a lot to defend, but I think that instead of putting pressure on myself I should be happy that I was in that moment, that I did achieve all that great success. So just go out here and do what I love.”
The group at 67 included Haeran Ryu of South Korea, coming off a victory last week at the Black Desert Championship in Utah that elevated her to No. 5 in the world. Her round included a bogey on her final hole.
Clasico the last chance saloon for Ancelotti’s Real Madrid
- The nature of Madrid’s rivalry with Barcelona means winning La Liga could either feel great or underwhelming
BARCELONA: Real Madrid’s season appeared disastrous a few weeks ago but if Carlo Ancelotti’s side can finally beat rivals Barcelona in Sunday’s La Liga Clasico, their title defense will be resuscitated.
Madrid were left licking their wounds after a Champions League quarter-final thrashing by Arsenal, and coach Ancelotti is poised to depart at the end of the season, but it could yet be with a major trophy in his hands.
Barcelona’s European exit at the hands of Inter Milan on Tuesday brightened spirits in the Spanish capital and if Madrid can overhaul the Catalans at the top of the table, they could transform their season.
The nature of Madrid’s rivalry with Barcelona means winning La Liga could either feel great or underwhelming, depending on how their nemesis fares in Europe.
With Barcelona’s quadruple dream crushed by Inter, should Madrid defend their title they could even classify their season as a success.
The Catalans, who currently lead by four points with four matches remaining, would be left with only the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup, both of which they won by beating Real Madrid in the final.
To do that Madrid must manage something they have not been able to pull off all season — winning a Clasico.
“We will have a great opportunity, we have to prepare well — it’s an almost decisive match,” said Ancelotti.
The teams have faced off three times and Barcelona triumphed on each occasion, in the two aforementioned finals and in the first league clash at the Santiago Bernabeu in October.
Barcelona netted 12 goals across the four games, conceding four, with Hansi Flick’s side outplaying Madrid on each occasion.
However their meeting in Seville in April in the Copa del Rey final was the closest Ancelotti’s team have come.
Madrid took the game to extra-time and their Italian coach discovered a set-up which allowed his team to take Barca to the wire.
Operating in the second half with Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe as the forward, and Rodrygo Goes substituted, Madrid found the balance they have badly lacked at times this season.
“The last match was competitive, we were very close to winning and I don’t think we have to invent a lot of new things ,” said Ancelotti.
“We have to try and play a serious game, and we will do so with all the confidence in the world.
“Despite all our problems, the fact we are here and we can fight in this match is something beautiful.”
Last weekend against Celta Vigo Ancelotti also afforded Turkish 20-year-old Arda Guler a rare start and he impressed in midfield, providing impetus which the retired Toni Kroos gave last season, as Madrid won a La Liga and Champions League double.
Guler also impressed as a substitute in the Copa final and Ancelotti may start him at the Olympic stadium this weekend.
“At Madrid you have to suck it up on the bench before you become an indisputable start in this team — Arda has the profile of a player who could be a starter at Madrid,” said Ancelotti.
“He sucked it up on the bench, he didn’t get annoyed and he has evolved... he’s not the same Guler from last September.”
Atletico Madrid’s Norwegian target man has played a key role off the bench this season but in the final weeks of the campaign, coach Diego Simeone is giving him more chances from the start. He is set to lead the line against his former side Real Sociedad on Saturday.
8 — league games without a win for relegation-battling Leganes ahead of their key clash against Espanyol on Sunday.
25 — goals for La Liga top scorer, Barca’s Robert Lewandowski, with Mbappe trailing by one.
91 — times Barca have found the net this season in the top flight, no other side has reached 70.
Friday
Las Palmas v Rayo Vallecano
Saturday
Valencia v Getafe , Celta Vigo v Sevilla , Girona v Villarreal, Mallorca v Valladolid , Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad
Sunday
Leganes v Espanyol , Barcelona v Real Madrid , Athletic Bilbao v Alaves , Real Betis v Osasuna
Chelsea ease past Djurgarden to reach Conference League final
LONDON: Chelsea advanced to the final of the UEFA Conference League after a 1-0 win over Swedish side Djurgarden on Thursday sealed a 5-1 aggregate victory in their last-four tie.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall struck the only goal at Stamford Bridge late in the first half on a night 16-year-old Reggie Walsh became the youngest player to start a European game for Chelsea.
The Blues can become the first club to win all three of UEFA’s current competitions if they beat either two-time runners-up Fiorentina or Real Betis in Wroclaw on May 28.
Defender Marc Cucurella was the only player retained from the team that beat Liverpool in the Premier League last weekend as manager Enzo Maresca made sweeping changes to his line-up with an eye on Sunday’s crucial game at Newcastle.
The Italian has been criticized for his cautious tactics but he has fifth-placed Chelsea on course to qualify for the Champions League via a top-five finish in England.
Teenage midfielder Walsh made his debut off the bench in the 4-1 win in Stockholm a week ago as Chelsea seized control of the tie, but that result didn’t deter some 6,000 Djurgarden fans from making the trip to London for the second leg.
Dewsbury-Hall and Tyrique George forced saves from Djurgarden goalkeeper Jacob Rinne before the two Chelsea players combined to put the hosts in front in the 38th minute.
George threaded a pass through for Dewsbury-Hall who accelerated past a couple of defenders before sweeping in a crisp finish via the base of the post.
That goal killed off any remote hopes for Djurgarden, the first Swedish club to appear in a European semifinal since Gothenburg won the 1986-87 UEFA Cup.
Dewsbury-Hall had a chance to double his tally when he headed Malo Gusto’s cross straight at Rinne, but the visitors rarely threatened with the exception of a long-range shot from Daniel Stensson that was tipped over by Filip Jorgensen.
Chelsea haven’t won a major trophy since the 2021 Champions League, but they will be strong favorites to win their first silverware since Todd Boehly’s consortium took over from Roman Abramovich three years ago.
Man United and Tottenham reach Europa League final and are one win away from Champions League
MANCHESTER, England: For Manchester United or Tottenham, a miserable campaign will end in Europa League glory.
Despite both teams languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League, the Champions League is now just one game away.
That’s the reward on offer after the two troubled English clubs advanced to the final of Europe’s second tier competition on Thursday.
United beat Athletic Bilbao 4-1 in the semifinal second leg at Old Trafford and won 7-1 on aggregate. Tottenham won 2-0 away at Bodø/Glimt to seal a 5-1 aggregate victory.
It sets up an all-English Europa League final for the second time in six years after Chelsea beat Arsenal to lift the trophy in 2019.
United came back from 1-0 down against Bilbao, with Mason Mount coming off the bench to score twice in the second half. Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund were also on target.
Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro struck for Tottenham against Bodø/Glimt in Norway.
A major title, alone, would be enough to salvage what has otherwise been a season to forget for both United and Spurs. But the added prize of a place in the lucrative Champions League would put the winner back among Europe’s elite next term.
That hasn’t looked likely for either team for most of the campaign as they have languished closer to the relegation zone than the top five.
Saudi woman wins gold at first Asian Camel Racing Championship
- Jockey Kholoud Al-Shammari races to victory on Bashar
- Countryman Abdulmajeed Al-Huwaiti takes silver in men’s category
ABU DHABI: A Saudi jockey on Thursday became the first winner of the Asian Camel Racing Championship in the women’s category.
Kholoud Al-Shammari raced to victory and the gold medal on Bashar at the Al-Wathba track in Abu Dhabi, UAE. She was followed home by countrywoman Abeer bint Ahmed Hakami, aboard Namrood.
In the men’s race, the Kingdom’s Abdulmajeed Al-Huwaiti steered his mount, Uboor, to a second place finish.
Saudi Camel Federation President Prince Fahd bin Jalawi congratulated Al-Shammari on her victory in what he called an “important continental tournament.”
He also praised Hakami and Al-Huwaiti for their achievements.
All three riders’ performances reflected the “high level and strong competitiveness of Saudi camel racing,” he said.
“This success comes amid the great support and attention from the wise leadership of the Kingdom for the sports sector in general and camel racing in particular, in recognition of its role in preserving cultural heritage and enhancing Saudis’ presence on both the regional and international sports stage.”
The prince also congratulated Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal for his support for all sports.
