Football
Van Dijk Praises Liverpool’s Resilience as Slot’s Game Plan Stifles PSG

Virgil van Dijk carefully avoided directly answering the question, but the fact it was even posed spoke volumes about Liverpool’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes.
“Was that the toughest challenge of my Liverpool career? I don’t know,” Van Dijk said. “But what I really liked was the togetherness, everyone put a shift in and we know everyone can be better.”
Liverpool’s Champions League round-of-16 first-leg win in Paris was undoubtedly their toughest test under Arne Slot so far, particularly in a first half where only Alisson Becker’s brilliance kept PSG from breaking through.
The statistics painted a clear picture: Liverpool had just 29% possession, with substitute Harvey Elliott’s late goal standing as their only shot on target, compared to PSG’s 10. It was a game that demanded defensive resilience rather than attacking flair—quite the contrast from Liverpool’s usual style under Slot.
“We don’t want to be playing this way because everyone who plays football wants to have the ball a lot and wants to be dominating opponents,” Van Dijk admitted. “But we played against a team with a lot of world-class quality and they made it very difficult for everyone in the world so far. They made it difficult for us but we found a way.”
Slot had prepared his team for exactly this kind of battle, warning them before the match that they wouldn’t have as much possession and would need to play more long balls than usual.
“Before the game the manager mentioned about not getting frustrated as we would not have the ball as much and we would have to play long balls more than we usually do. We knew PSG would come out blazing in terms of the press one-v-one and our plan was to go over the press and make second runs in behind,” Van Dijk explained.
While Liverpool executed that plan at times, they struggled with their decision-making in possession. “It worked a couple of times and you could see how much space it opened up but I think we were a bit too rushed at times as well with our decision-making and we couldn’t find the right man or were not as good in possession as we wanted to be,” he continued.
“At times you saw it could be wide open if you made the right decisions but most of it was defending as one unit and stopping them from scoring and Ali obviously played a big part in that.”
Alisson delivered an outstanding performance, making nine saves—the most in a single match during his Liverpool career. His clean sheet also saw him surpass Pepe Reina for the most Champions League shutouts by a Liverpool goalkeeper.
“Listen, he’s the best goalkeeper in the world – I’ve mentioned it many times in the past and he showed it again on the biggest stage,” Van Dijk said. “A lot of shots were from distance but he was there to save us and we put ourselves in a good position for next week. But we all know this is far from over.”
With Elliott’s late goal securing the win, Liverpool take a valuable advantage back to Anfield, where history is on their side—they have never been eliminated from European competition after winning the first leg away.
Elliott, who has struggled for regular playing time this season due to injury and competition from Dominik Szoboszlai, stepped up when it mattered most.
Asked whether he had spoken to Elliott about his situation, Van Dijk confirmed, “Yeah, definitely. Everyone knows it’s not easy if you are not playing – you work so hard every day to get your opportunity and the manager has spoken with him a lot as well.”
“It comes down to moments like this when you come on and try to make a difference and I’m pleased for him. I said he deserved it and now it is just focusing on the next opportunity to be there again.”
Slot’s substitutions proved crucial, with Darwin Nunez providing the assist for Elliott’s goal, while Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo also made an impact off the bench.
“It says a lot,” Van Dijk acknowledged. “We are coming to the last stages of the season and the message is pretty clear: everyone who is part of the team has to play a part when they come on and with the goal you saw Darwin makes it difficult for Marquinhos and the ball falls and he gives a good pass to Harvey for the finish.”
“Even Wata coming on, Curtis doing a good job – it is good to see and everyone needs to feel that importance because there are many big games – and decisive games – coming up so we have to keep going.”
Next up for Liverpool is a Premier League clash against bottom-placed Southampton on Saturday before PSG visit Anfield for the second leg on Tuesday.
Van Dijk expects a different kind of challenge in the return fixture.
“It will be different and it should be different,” he said. “They will come with their fans which makes for a good atmosphere, from what I can remember from the last time they came to Anfield.”
“It should be a great game and we have to be ready to suffer as they are a very good team who were unbeaten for a very long time, a team that has blown teams away this season. We have managed to keep a clean sheet and get a 1-0 win and put ourselves in a good position next week to fight and hopefully get it done.”
Football
Barcelona director sets sights on €30 million-rated goalkeeper as long-term solution report

Barcelona is set to shake up its goalkeeping department this summer as part of a broader strategy to build for the future.
With several moving pieces in the squad, the Catalan club is already scouting potential reinforcements, and a new name has emerged as a priority target.
Szczesny Likely to Stay, Peña on the Move
Under Hansi Flick’s management, Wojciech Szczesny has established himself as a key figure between the posts.
As a result, Barcelona is expected to offer the Polish shot-stopper a one-year contract extension to keep him at the club beyond this season.
However, this decision could push Iñaki Peña toward an exit. The young goalkeeper, eager for more playing time, is drawing interest from clubs in Turkey, England, and Spain.
If Szczesny remains the preferred backup option, Peña is likely to seek a new challenge elsewhere.
Uncertainty Surrounding Ter Stegen
Meanwhile, Marc-André ter Stegen continues his recovery from injury, but there are concerns about how he will perform once he returns.
His prolonged absence, combined with a challenging personal period, raises questions about whether he will regain his previous form. This uncertainty has led Barcelona to explore a long-term solution in the goalkeeping department.
Lucas Chevalier on Barcelona’s Radar
Sporting director Deco has identified Lucas Chevalier of Lille as a prime target, according to Fichajes.
The 23-year-old Frenchman is regarded as one of the most promising goalkeepers in Europe, and his performances in Ligue 1 have not gone unnoticed.
Several top clubs, including Real Madrid, are monitoring Chevalier as a potential successor to Thibaut Courtois. However, Barcelona is keen to move swiftly and has already initiated talks with the goalkeeper’s representatives to gain an advantage in the race for his signature.
Chevalier is currently under contract with Lille until 2027, and his market value is estimated at €30 million. Barcelona hopes to negotiate a more favorable deal to secure his services.
Barcelona’s Long-Term Goalkeeping Plan
With uncertainty surrounding ter Stegen’s long-term future and Peña likely to leave, Barcelona is prioritizing the acquisition of a reliable young goalkeeper.
Chevalier fits the profile perfectly, offering both immediate quality and long-term potential.
The coming months will determine whether Barcelona can strike a deal with Lille and fend off competition from other European giants. But one thing is clear the club is planning ahead to ensure stability in a crucial position for years to come.
Football
Real Madrid: Kylian Mbappe breaks another goalscoring record

When Kylian Mbappe finally joined Real Madrid after years of speculation, fans knew they were getting one of the best forwards in the world.
Alongside Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo, he has formed an electrifying attack that often results in goal-scoring spectacles.
However, Mbappe’s early days in Madrid weren’t smooth sailing. He struggled to find his rhythm, often overthinking his decisions and failing to make a significant impact.
Critics were quick to brand him a flop, questioning whether he could ever live up to expectations. But as time passed, things began to fall into place, and the Mbappe of old started to reemerge.
A Record-Breaker Even in Tough Times
Despite the criticism, Mbappe has continued to make history. According to Stats Foot, he recently became the first French player to score at least 29 goals in his debut season at a club in one of Europe’s top four leagues.
His record-breaking goal came against Rayo Vallecano, and with months still left in the season, that tally is bound to grow.
To put this achievement into perspective, this list includes legends like Karim Benzema when he first arrived at Real Madrid and Thierry Henry during his early Arsenal days.
Many players need time to adjust to a new club, but even while adapting, Mbappe has already made his mark in the record books.
The skepticism surrounding his performances may have been warranted in the beginning, but even as he found his footing, critics continued to doubt him. Now, with 29 goals and counting, he is proving them wrong.
His story is far from over, and if history has shown us anything, it’s that Kylian Mbappe thrives under pressure.
For those still doubting, just keep watching. Because every criticism, every doubt, only fuels the fire of a player destined to be one of football’s greatest heartbreakers.
Football
Bayern Munich Targeting Europe’s Hottest Strikers in Mega Transfer Plan

With recent reports suggesting that Harry Kane’s time at Bayern Munich might be limited, the club is already exploring options for a long-term replacement.
Despite Kane’s contract running until the 2026/27 season, a release clause has fueled speculation that the English striker could return to the Premier League as early as the summer of 2026 assuming he secures at least one trophy with Bayern over the next two seasons.
Given Kane’s central role in Bayern’s attacking setup, the club is carefully considering how to prepare for life without him.
According to Sport Bild’s Christian Falk, Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško are among the club’s top targets to fill the void when the time comes.

The challenge, however, lies in Bayern’s financial situation. With limited funds available for transfers, the club may need to offload players before making a serious move for a new striker.
One potential avenue is selling young forward Mathys Tel, with Tottenham reportedly interested in a deal worth €60 million.
If that move materializes, Bayern could then pursue either Gyökeres or Šeško, with the latter valued at around €70 million.
One possible strategy Bayern might consider is signing a new striker while keeping Kane for one more season, allowing his successor to learn under his guidance before taking over as the main man.
However, convincing established starters like Gyökeres or Šeško to accept a secondary role initially could be a challenge.
A transfer followed by a loan move could also be an option, depending on how the situation develops.
This isn’t the first time Bayern has been linked with these two names. Both Gyökeres and Šeško were on the club’s radar in January as potential emergency replacements in case Kane’s release clause was triggered.
While no definitive decision has been made, Bayern Munich appears to be laying the groundwork for a future without Kane whether that transition happens in 2026 or even sooner.
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