All posts by h716a5.icu

The injury-ravaged Reds had no right to beat the billion-pound Blues at Wembley but anything seems possible for this remarkable squad

Pep Guardiola is "99.99 percent" sure that Manchester City won't repeat last season's treble, so what chance do Liverpool really have of winning the quadruple? The Reds are ravaged by injuries right now and don't have anything like the same resources as their state-sponsored Premier League title rivals – and yet the bookies are spooked, with slashing the odds on Jurgen Klopp winning it all before he rides off into the sunset from 1500/1 to 25/1 after Sunday's Carabao Cup final triumph.

It still seems like too short a price for something that has never been done before – and especially when one considers that Liverpool ended Sunday's 1-0 win at Wembley with four academy graduates on the field aged 21 or under and 12 squad members sitting injured in the stands, including seven certain starters.

Conversely, though, that's also precisely why the quadruple no longer feels impossible. If Liverpool can get the better of one of the most expensively assembled squads in football history without so many star names, who knows what they can achieve if their injury crisis subsides in the coming days, weeks and months?

Getty ImagesThe spirit of 2019

Klopp had been once again ridiculed for his penchant for hyperbole after comparing the midweek Premier League win over Luton to the epic Champions League comeback against Barcelona in 2019, and that was understandable to a degree.

The hurdle that Liverpool overcame on that epic night at Anfield was far higher. Luton are hardly Barcelona, their humble status most amusingly summed up by their own self-effacing fans, who 'taunted' their Liverpool counterparts by signing "Conference champions, you'll never sing that!" during Wednesday's 4-1 loss on Merseyside.

But Klopp could hardly have been more excited when the full-time whistle blew, rolling out the famous fist-pumps for all four corners of the ground. He clearly saw something in his weakened starting line-up that reminded him of the spirit of 2019 – and he was proven correct on Sunday.

AdvertisementGettyKlopp's 'most special trophy'

"In my 20 years, this is easily the most special trophy," he enthused. "This was so special." And he was spot on. Never before has a Klopp team won a final after overcoming such adversity.

Remember, there was no Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Dominik Szoboszlai or Curtis Jones to call upon – and then Ryan Gravenberch was forced off with an ankle injury after a horrific tackle from Moises Caicedo.

Unsurprisingly, Liverpool momentarily lost their way in a game that they had been dominating, with the Dutchman's enforced exit resulting in Joe Gomez coming on at right-back and Conor Bradley moving further forward.

Klopp had been reluctant to throw on one of his two teenage midfielders at that early stage of the game but by the end of of normal time, both Bobby Clark and James McConnell had entered the fray, along with striker Jayden Danns, who had only made his professional debut four days previously against Luton.

Getty ImagesKlopp's kids better than Chelsea's!

It was a stunning show of faith in Liverpool's academy products. The lengthy injury list obviously played its part but Klopp could have persisted with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo for extra-time. Instead, he turned to three youngsters with a combined 261 minutes of senior football between them – and it proved a masterstroke.

Rather incredibly, Liverpool actually dominated extra-time. Chelsea have spent nearly £400 million ($500m) over the past four transfer windows signing Under-23s – only to discover in the most painful way possible that Liverpool's homegrown heroes are better.

A lot of Chelsea's youngsters have more experience, and arguably more talent too, but Klopp's kids clearly have greater character. The German attributes that to the incredible work done by the academy, admitting only last week that he's astounded how "culture-educated the next generation" are at such a young age.

Essentially, Bradley & Co. don't just have the right talent to play for Klopp's team – but also the right temperament too. A new breed of mentality monsters were born before our very eyes on Sunday.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images'A monster manager'

It's worth recalling that there was a fear that standards might slip at Anfield following the departures of James Milner and Jordan Henderson last summer, given both had been integral in terms of setting the example of professionalism that others were duty-bound to follow. But Klopp is the key to the culture of success at Anfield – and always has been.

As former Manchester United defender Gary Neville said on , "Special managers do special things and he is one of the best that the Premier League has ever seen.

"A monster manager who has a middleweight squad, a bantamweight team out there, but it punches like a heavyweight. It's because of him.

"Look at the energy, the passion, the spirit of Klopp. I can't wait until he leaves!"

[ad_pod ]

Cardiff City confirmed the signing of Leandro Bacuna from Reading on Thursday, via a statement on their official website.

Bacuna has signed a four-and-a-half year deal with the Bluebirds, who are currently battling against relegation. The club sit 18th, four points behind Burnley.

The BBC report that the deal has cost the Bluebirds around £4million.

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

His move brings to an end a two-year spell at Reading, but prior to that he played for Aston Villa for four years.

Per Transfermarkt, he made 131 appearances during his time at Villa Park.

However, Villa fans have expressed disbelief at this transfer, insisting that the versatile midfielder is a disaster waiting to happen.

Indeed, Bacuna was a key part of the team that finished rock-bottom of the Premier League in the 2015-16 season, playing a total of 31 games in the top-flight.

Mikel Arteta has hinted he could be set to hand Oleksandr Zinchenko a new role at Arsenal due to a lack of fit midfield options.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Arsenal midfield hit by injuryArteta short of optionsCould use Zinchenko in midfieldWHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal are without several key midfielders currently due to injury. Fabio Vieira has become the latest player to be sidelined after undergoing surgery on a groin injury. He joins Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey on Arsenal's injured list. The absences mean that Arteta could make a few tactical tweaks, with Zinchenko one player who could be set to feature in a more advanced position.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Zinchenko is a versatile player and may now be deployed in a midfield role for Arsenal. The 26-year-old is no stranger to the role, as he tends to play there at international level for Ukraine, and usually needs no invitation to go forwards from his usual left-back slot at Arsenal. Arteta also pushed Zinchenko into midfield against Burnley after Fabio Vieira had been sent off and could now be set to do so again due to his lack of midfield options.

Getty ImagesWHAT ARTETA SAID

"He does play in that role coming from a different position in the attacking phase," Arteta told reporters. "He doesn’t play there in the defensive, stable situations, because we believe we have other players to use there. It is a possibility, it’s a good question, because he’s done it."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

Arsenal can book their place in the last 16 of the Champions League next time out against Lens. The Gunners need only a point at the Emirates to secure qualification but will need no reminding they were beaten 2-1 by the Ligue 1 side in the reverse fixture. Zinchenko is expected to start for the Gunners against Lens, but fans will have to wait and see how Arteta decides to line up his team for the game.

Real Madrid's golden boy continued his insane club form on the international stage, stealing the show at Wembley

No matter how many times it's brought up, it still boggles that mind that Jude Bellingham is only 20. The latest chapter in the generational talent's likely-to-be legendary career was dominating a 3-1 victory for England over Italy at Wembley Stadium. Bellingham was sublime throughout, with the result booking the Three Lions' place at Euro 2024.

Italy drew first blood in the contest, with some sloppy home defending eventually allowing West Ham flop Gianluca Scamacca to smash home from inside the box.

The Bellingham-led revival began shortly after, though. First, the midfielder won the spot-kick that Harry Kane emphatically converted. Then, after the break, he burst through midfield a second time to lay off for Marcus Rashford, who put England ahead with a fine finish.

Perhaps conscious that the Three Lions' new hero was getting a lot of attention, Kane made sure his name wasn't forgotten by brushing off Italy defender Giorgio Scalvini before lifting the ball cheekily over Gianluigi Donnarumma 13 minutes from time.

GOAL rates Gareth Southgate's players from Wembley…

Goalkeeper & Defence

Jordan Pickford (6/10):

Not tested that frequently. He organised and distributed effectively for the most part.

Kyle Walker (6/10):

Solid defensively but rarely ventured into the final third.

John Stones (5/10):

Surprisingly uncomfortable throughout. Was slow to react for the first goal and was skinned by Destiny Udogie on the stroke of half-time. Subbed for Guehi on the hour.

Harry Maguire (6/10):

Questions can be asked of him for Italy's goal, but he did not stand out as a liability as he has too often in the recent past.

Kieran Trippier (6/10):

Looked comfortable when Italy ran at him and had a few moments going forward.

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Declan Rice (5/10):

Not his best game. A little bit loose in his passing on occasion.

Kalvin Phillips (6/10):

Booked early for a clumsy lunge as he shook off some rustiness, having barely played since his move to Manchester City. Tasked with covering the space left by Bellingham and had one or two awkward moments.

Jude Bellingham (8/10):

Handed significant freedom by Southgate and did not disappoint. Won the penalty and assisted the second in stunning fashion as he sumptuously looped the ball over an opponent in midfield.

GettyAttack

Phil Foden (6/10):

Seemed a little too eager to go to the ball early on. Had more success as things progressed, firing off a few shots and getting in behind the Italy defence.

Harry Kane (8/10):

Scored from the spot, as usual. The run and finish for his second goal was excellent.

Marcus Rashford (7/10):

Underwhelmed in the first half, but netted a superb goal after the break, leaving Donnarumma stranded.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Subs & Manager

Marc Guehi (7/10):

Created Kane's goal with a clever clip into the channel.

Jordan Henderson (6/10):

Didn't get booed as loudly as he did during the Australia friendly. As for on the pitch, he was fine.

Gareth Southgate (7/10):

Has received criticism for being too 'safe' in the past, but against a European great like Italy he risked letting Bellingham off the leash and was handsomely rewarded.

Stabaek boss Bob Bradley – who joined the club in September after being sacked by Toronto FC – is now linked with a shock MLS return months later.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Bradley linked with MLS returnNew England Revolution interestedAmerican coaching in NorwayWHAT HAPPENED?

Per The Athletic, the ex-USMNT manager is being considered for the vacant New England Revolution role. Bradley was sacked by Toronto in the summer, joined the Norwegian side with 11 games to spare in their campaign, but couldn't save them from relegation. Stabaek were demoted to the second tier under Bradley, finishing 15th in the table – two points shy from safety. Now, the 65-year-old is being linked with a move back to MLS with the offseason underway.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Bradley's time with the Canadian side was unsuccessful, with 2023 being the most disastrous season of the franchise. They finished with 22 points, last in MLS, and 21 points outside a playoff spot while managing just four wins across the entire campaign.

The Revolution, meanwhile, are in limbo. Legendary USMNT boss Bruce Arena resigned following 'allegations of insensitive and inappropriate remarks' in September. After that the club endured a disastrous end to the regular season and crashed out of the playoffs in the opening round.

DID YOU KNOW?

Bradley coached the USMNT from 2006-2011, and in 2009, shocked the world in the Confederations Cup. The USA knocked off European Champions Spain in the semifinal match – ending a 35-game unbeaten and 15-game win streak – to make the final of the tournament. The USMNT went on to take a 2-0 lead over powerhouse Brazil in the final, before conceding three unanswered goals, falling 3-2 in the championship game.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BOB BRADLEY AND THE REVOLUTION?

The Revs will go about hiring a new coach during this offseason, with the report adding that the other candidates are Gio Savarese, Caleb Porter, Robin Fraser and Dom Kinnear – all of whom have previous MLS experience. Bradley may retain his role in Norway come 2023, but there are now solid reports of him being scouted by potential suitors within MLS for the new campaign.

Zidane seems to be keen to get back into the game and there's plenty of options for him

A movie premiere is not the most likely place for the starting pistol to be fired on an almighty managerial tug of war. But at the recent maiden screening of a documentary charting the career of former Italy and Juventus boss Marcello Lippi, Zinedine Zidane's seven words to a reporter did exactly that.

"I'd certainly like to return to the bench," the legendary Frenchman said – and it appears that several top clubs across the continent were listening. That Zidane was speaking within the context of that prospective job coming in Italy didn't matter. In the hours and days that followed his comment, news feeds were flooded with stories linking Zidane with a string of the continent's best-known sides.

This is not the first time his name has been mentioned for the biggest jobs, of course. Since leaving his beloved Real Madrid for a second time in 2021, Zidane has had the pick of a whole host of different roles. However, up to now, he has proved to be an extremely discerning customer, turning down some truly massive opportunities after the projects failed to enthuse him.

GettyBiding his time

For instance, Zidane has reportedly been considered by Manchester United twice previously, once back in 2019 when Jose Mourinho's time was coming to an end, and then more recently in 2021 before Ralf Rangnick was chosen as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's interim replacement.

Juventus were also sniffing around when Andrea Pirlo departed, eventually opting to rehire Max Allegri, who has endured a topsy-turvy time in Turin ever since. Paris Saint-Germain have been among his other suitors, with links most prominent when it became evident that Christophe Galtier would be sacked towards the end of last season. Again though, Zidane kept his distance and Luis Enrique instead landed French football's top job.

It's not just been club roles either. The USMNT are understood to have sounded out the 51 year old when Gregg Berhalter spent a period under investigation. Zidane showed little willing to head Stateside, however, even with the promise of leading the Stars and Stripes at a home World Cup in 2026.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe France dream is dead – for now

In fact, despite all of the rumours, there's only been one job that Zidane has ever felt close to taking since his Madrid exit. When France lost in the 2022 World Cup final, it was unclear whether Didier Deschamps would stay on as Les Bleus boss. This led to Zidane's name being floated for the job, amid criticism of Deschamps' perceived negative team selection.

Then, with the dust still settling on France's dramatic defeat in Qatar, it was confirmed that the manager had extended his deal until 2026. This was obviously disappointing from Zidane's perspective, but the issue soon snowballed into a full-on national crisis thanks to then-French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet.

Speaking to RMC Sport at the time, the 82 year old said: "Did Zidane tried to reach me? Certainly not, I wouldn't even have picked up the phone anyway." He added: "I've never met him, we never considered parting with Didier."

His dismissive comments attracted widespread outroar, with Kylian Mbappe telling him not to "disrespect the legend like that", while French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera also chimed in. Le Graet attempted to wriggle off the hook with an apology, but it was no use. A few months earlier, his position had been weakened by an expose in a French outlet So Foot, which included accusations of sexual harassment and inappropriate workplace behaviour at FFF, and the president would tender his resignation in February 2023.

Criticism of Zidane was the straw that broke the camel's back, which is telling for just how highly the 1998 World Cup hero is regarded in France. However, with Deschamps still in charge, his dream of managing his national team anytime soon is dead. The situation may change if Les Bleus implode at the Euros this summer, but Zidane's recent comments suggest he is tired of waiting and would be amenable to re-entering the club game if the right opportunity emerged.

Getty ImagesThe perfect man for Real Madrid

And it's little surprise that so many top sides would be willing to offer him that route back to the dugout. That Zidane remains so highly regarded after an unusually long break is testament of the quite incredible job he did during his first spell at the Santiago Bernabeu. Airlifted in from the club's second team to pick up the wreckage left by Rafa Benitez's ill-fated spell in charge, just a few months later he had led Los Blancos to the Champions League final, where they edged out bitter rivals Atletico Madrid at San Siro.

And the trophies just kept on coming thereafter. The following campaign, Madrid won La Liga, the Club World Cup and the Champions League, with Zidane adding a ridiculous, third-straight European Cup to his collection during the 2017-18 campaign. He left shortly after, insisting the club needed a "change" to push on, but he wasn't away for long.

Following failed stints from Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari, Madrid put up the Zidane beacon again in March 2019. This time he was tasked with essentially rebuilding the team following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure and La Liga glory was savoured in his first full season in charge. That title tilt was built on a measly defence and the goals of Karim Benzema, but the 2020-21 campaign was less magical, as Los Blancos failed to lift a single piece of silverware.

Despite still being under contract until 2022, Zidane left at the end of that season, somewhat acrimoniously. An open letter to fans read: "Right now, things are different… I’m leaving because I feel the club no longer has the faith in me I need, nor the support to build something in the medium or long term."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

(C)Getty imagesBayern Munich are interested

Zidane wasn't the first coach to be ground down by life under the ever-demanding Florentino Perez, but if he is truly refreshed and ready to go again, he will have no shortage of offers this summer. One club understood to be interested is Bayern Munich, following the news that Thomas Tuchel will be departing at the end of the season.

News of the ex-Chelsea boss' exit wasn't surprising. Die Roten currently trail Xabi Alonso's exceptional Bayer Leverkusen by eight points in the Bundesliga title race while their Champions League prospects hang by a thread following a disappointing last-16 first-leg defeat to Lazio.

In typically Bayern fashion – who have made a habit of hoovering up talent from their German rivals – Alonso is thought to be their No.1 choice. But with Liverpool pushing hard to snap up the Spaniard too, Zidane has emerged as another option.

His hire would make a good deal of sense. Bayern's dressing room dynamics are a mess right now, with pro and anti Tuchel factions apparently emerging. This echos a wider pattern of intersquad discord over the past few seasons, with Leroy Sane and Sadio Mane even coming to blows after a Champions League game last season, raising concerns that the infamous FC Hollywood days are returning to Bavaria.

Zidane showed during his time at Madrid that one of his key assets is handling egos. Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and countess other big-name players only have good things to say about the Frenchman, and when they were at the peak of their powers his side's exuded an aura.

It was this mentality – created by Zidane – that carried them to the majority of their success. He's not a 'philosophy coach' like Pep Guardiola or Roberto De Zerbi. He's tactically flexible, with his greatest strength instead being ensuring the psychological dynamics of the team are elite.

After experiencing issues with two such blue-sky thinking managers – Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann – in the recent past, turning to Zidane would seem to make sense for Bayern.

Kobbie Mainoo's class act to inspire Manchester United youngsters, following his exceptional display in Luton Town victory, won hearts at Carrington.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Mainoo rising rapidly at Man Utd Starred in United's win over Wolves & Luton Town Met the club's U-8s to inspire them for greater glory GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Amidst the buzz surrounding his breakout season at United and the potential senior England call-up ahead of the Euros, Mainoo remains grounded, showcasing maturity beyond his years. According to thein a heartwarming gesture, the teenage midfielder surprised everyone by visiting an Under-8s training session on Monday after he was done with the recovery session following the victory at Luton.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Engaging with the young players for an hour, Mainoo shared his experiences of professional football and offered encouragement, leaving an indelible mark on the budding footballers. The pre-academy group also had the privilege of witnessing the first-team training session. As a token of appreciation, the players posed for photos with the youngsters and graciously signed autographs, fostering a sense of camaraderie and unity within the club.

DID YOU KNOW?

Under the stewardship of manager Erik ten Hag, Mainoo has emerged as a regular starter this season, featuring in 15 appearances and making 13 starts. The stellar performances have caught the attention of England manager Gareth Southgate, who is reportedly contemplating including the 18-year-old sensation in the national squad for the upcoming fixtures against Brazil and Belgium.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT?

As Mainoo continues to flourish in his footballing journey, his humility, dedication, and talent serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for United's next generation of players. He will be next in action against Fulham on Saturday.

Mauricio Pochettino enjoyed a winning return to his former employers and he'll be relieved to see his centre-forward on the scoresheet

The build up to Chelsea's trip to Tottenham on Monday was all about Mauricio Pochettino. But the Blues manager's much-anticipated homecoming was reduced to a footnote as the two side's played out a completely batsh*t crazy 90+ minutes, from which Pochettino and Co eventually emerged as 4-1 winners.

The first half was the most chaotic of the season so far. Dejan Kulusevski's deflected opener broke the deadlock inside six minutes and it was non-stop drama from there. By the time the half-time whistle had been blown, both teams had seen goals ruled out, Cristian Romero had been sent off and Chelsea had equalised following an endless VAR review, while several other players had escaped red cards of their own.

One of those from Destiny Udogie, and the youngster's luck ran out shortly after the break when he was dismissed for a second yellow, leaving Spurs down to 10 men.

With a two-player advantage, the Blues unsurprisingly carved out a string of opportunities. They were just unfortunate that the majority fell to Nicolas Jackson, a striker so short of confidence it seemed like a light breeze might blow him over. Eventually though, he got his moment, tapping home Sterling's cross for just his third Premier League of the season.

Chelsea endured a nervy moment when Eric Dier replied with a sumptuous, back-post volley swiftly after, but VAR came to the rescue to rubber stamp a marginal offside decision.

Then, somehow, after Rodrigo Bentancur missed a close-range header, Jackson was presented with two more chances. And on both occasions, he shook off his demons to score, completing a rather unexpected hat-trick. It summed up a quite ridiculous evening in the capital and will hopefully provide him with the momentum he needs to start showing what he's really about.

Below, GOAL rates the Blues players from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…

GettyGoalkeeper & Defence

Robert Sanchez (6/10):

Wrong-footed for Spurs opener by the deflection. Fairly uneventful once Spurs started getting players sent off.

Reece James (6/10):

Probably should have been sent off for a pretty blatant elbow on the stroke of half time. Will be relieved to get through the majority of a game without getting injured.

Axel Disasi (5/10):

A bit aimless in his passing at times. Never entirely comfortable when Tottenham had 11.

Thiago Silva (6/10):

Tried to keep his team-mates composed, but he was not always successful.

Levi Colwill (5/10):

Should have got tighter to Kulusevski for the first goal. Involved in a tussle with Pape Matar Sarr and picked up a yellow. Subbed at the break before he got sent off.

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Enzo Fernandez (6/10):

Won the penalty, but was run ragged by the Spurs midfield in the opening 20 minutes. Subbed on the hour.

Moises Caicedo (6/10):

Was pretty sloppy to start, but would have scored if not for an offside in the first half.

Conor Gallagher (6/10):

Only rarely gave the ball away. He acted as solid link between the midfield and attack.

GettyAttack

Cole Palmer (7/10):

Did so well to keep his cool after all the VAR madness and score from 12 yards. This composure was typical of his display.

Nicolas Jackson (7/10):

His lack of killer instinct was startling. Missed several golden chances before eventually completing the easiest Premier League hat trick of all time. They all count, though.

Raheem Sterling (7/10):

Carried the ball superbly at times, most notably for his disallowed goal. Set up Jackson to make it 2-1.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettySubs & Manager

Marc Cucurella (5/10):

Looked to get in behind the Spurs defence and had some success. Defensively, he was shaky, especially at set pieces.

Mykhailo Mudryk (5/10):

A little petulant when he came on, which didn't help his team's cause.

Malo Gusto (5/10):

Not on the pitch long but still managed to get booked. It was that sort of game.

Mauricio Pochettino (5/10):

He might've have matched up Spurs' use of wing-backs to nullify their threat out wide early on. None of his subs made much of a difference, but he ended up tasting victory over his former employers anyway.

Roberto Martinez has insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo is "still as hungry for goals as an 18-year-old" despite his ineffective showing against Iceland.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Portugal beat Iceland 2-0Ronaldo drew a blankMartinez has no doubts over his qualityWHAT HAPPENED?

Portugal finished their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a perfect record after beating Iceland 2-0 in their final fixture on Sunday. Goals from Bruno Fernandes and Ricardo Horta gave Martinez's side all three points, with Ronaldo enduring a frustrating evening in the final third of the pitch.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ronaldo was largely ineffective against Iceland and missed a golden chance from three yards out before Horta tapped in the rebound to wrap up Portugal's victory. Still, the 38-year-old striker did manage to hit 10 goals through his nine appearances in the Group J qualifiers, and Martinez is confident that he hasn't lost his edge.

WHAT ROBERTO MARTINEZ SAID

Quizzed on Ronaldo's performance after the game, Portugal boss Martinez told reporters: "Cristiano Ronaldo is as hungry as an 18-year-old player. He is a role model, he always tries to be in the right position and is looking for the goal."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

DID YOU KNOW?

The respect the Portugal squad has for Ronaldo was underlined by a gesture from Roma goalkeeper Rui Patricio after the final whistle. As per , The Al-Nassr star gave away his shirt to an opposition player and substitute Patricio then offered him his coat to stay warm.

Gotham FC's goal-scoring hero Esther Gonzalez, who netted the winner in the NWSL title game, spoke on the league's level compared to Europe.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Gonzalez says NWSL level is like 'playing Barca'World Cup winner previously played for Real MadridWon NWSL title with Gotham FC 2-1WHAT HAPPENED?

After signing Gonzalez on August 23, Gotham went on to win the NWSL title, with the Ex-Real Madrid attacker playing a key role in their success during the regular season and in their historic playoff run.

Speaking to reporter Marta Grinan of AS, Gonzalez spoke on the level of competition in the NWSL compared to that of Europe – specifically, Barcelona and the Champions League.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Gonzalez scored the game-winning goal in the NWSL final Saturday, leaping all five-foot-three of her into the air to get a brilliant header off in stoppage-time during the first half.

Now, she's made an incredible claim about the competition level within the league, stating that it's on the level of UEFA Champions League matches 'every' time.

WHAT GONZALEZ SAID

"One of the biggest differences with the Spanish League, which is a great League, is that here all the games, absolutely all of them, are like a Champions League game, at the highest level. In Spain there are some games that you can win four or five to zero, that your physical wear and tear is normal, that you have everything under control…"

"Here every game is like playing against Barça, which is the best team in the Spanish League: your level has to be the maximum, your physical demand is the maximum, and that happens weekend after weekend"

"Afterwards, the big difference is control, in Spain we have a lot of control over the games, the times, when to pause, when to attack and when not to. Here they look so physically superior that it's all about transitions"

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

USA Today Sports WHAT NEXT FOR ESTHER GONZALEZ?

The Spain international will now enjoy her offseason with Gotham, capping off an incredible year of soccer. Winning both the FIFA World Cup and an NWSL title in the same season is an outstanding feat, so now, it's an offseason to rest and reset before the next campaign.