Vinicius Jr and Simeone exchange ‘heat’ during Super Cup semi-final!
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr and Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone were involved in a heated exchange during the closing stages of the Super Cup semi-final on Thursday night. As the Brazilian was being substituted off in the 81st minute, Simeone appeared to gesture boos coming from the crowd towards Vinicius. The duo were then involved in a war of words that saw even Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso get involved, while Vinicius had to be held back by teammate Antonio Rudiger. “Vini, Florentino Perez will kick you out,” Simeone had said to the player during the match, according to multiple reports from Spanish outlets. When Vinicius was being substituted, Simeone appeared to refer to the same thing, whilst also pointing out the whistles being made by certain fans towards Real Madrid’s No. 7. Simeone defended his actions in the media later on, stating that “what happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch. “I have nothing to say. Ever since my playing career, I’ve said that what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch,” he said. On the other hand, Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso wasn’t best pleased with Simeone’s actions. “I heard what Simeone said to Vini, and I didn’t like it. You can’t talk like that. Some things cross the line,” Alonso stated after the game. Meanwhile, Vinicius took to social media to take another pop at Diego Simeone after Real Madrid defeated Atletico 2-1. “He has lost another qualifier match,” commented Vinicius on an Instagram post after the match. Real Madrid will take on arch-rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday.
Winner FC Goa players say playing in ACL-2 helps them grow stronger
FC Goa defended their title in the Super Cup, edging past East Bengal 6-5 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, on Sunday evening after 90 minutes and then an additional 30 minutes ended goalless. In their third Super Cup triumph, FC Goa were fortunate as East Bengal missed two key shoot-outs in the tie-breaker through Mohammed Rashid and PV Vishnu. Sahil Tavora struck the winner for Goa in the tie-breaker. While speaking to the official broadcaster of the tournament, FC Goa’s two key footballers Sahil Tavora and Spanish captain Borja Herreira who won third Super Cup title, twice for FC Goa and the first one for East Bengal, revealed that playing against the stronger teams in the ACL-2 has helped to grow stronger, both psychologically and physically. “We knew how to handle the pressure of the final. East Bengal dished out a brave show also. They dominated us in the first session, while we fought back in the second half and also during the additional 30 minutes. But we did not give up,” said team captain Borja after the match. Coach Manolo Marquez also emphasised his boys’ fighting spirit despite the embarrassing situation, currently going on in Indian football. “We have been training for the last five months, obviously for the preparation for ACL-2. But it was difficult for us to keep motivating the footballers, especially the team’s foreigners, amidst the ongoing stalemate in India’s domestic football. So, from that point of view, I am happy to have seen the boys’ mental strength and fighting spirit in the final,” stated Marquez.
East Bengal trounce Punjab FC to secure final in Super Cup
East Bengal trounced Punjab FC 3-1 in the semifinal of the Super Cup to record their third final at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, on Thursday evening. Mohammed Rashid drew first blood for the winners in the 12th minute. Then, in the 33rd minute, Bipin was adjudged to have handled the ball after Ricky Shabong tried to head the ball inside the box. The referee did not hesitate to give a spot-kick in Punjab’s favour. Spaniard Daniel Ramirez levelled the scoreline from the spot-kick in the 34th minute. Punjab tried to have possession in the midfield, but they often looked disjointed and struggled to create goalmouth, thanks to East Bengal’s compact defensive organisation. Just seconds before the referee blew the half-time whistle, Kevin Sibille’s header pulls East Bengal into the lead at the break! However, just as East Bengal took the lead off Sibille’s header, chief coach Bruzon was alleged of celebrating in the face of the officials, which saw him receive marching orders for dissent. But despite Oscar’s send-off, according to Soul Crespo the dressing-room atmosphere became elated with the 3-1 victory. East Bengal captain revealed while speaking to tournament broadcaster after the match, “We are all excited with the result. The dressing room is also elated.” East Bengal on the day had much superiority over their opposition courtesy their five foreigners. Crespo revealed, “In the new season, I feel we are stronger psychologically compared to our state of mind in the last season. We are being able to deliver with free minds.”
