Pep Guardiola said he cannot guarantee Manchester City will be back challenging for the Premier League title next season.City will play in the Champions League for a 15th straight season after they salvaged a disappointing campaign with a final-day, 2-0 win away to Fulham on Sunday that saw them finish third in the Premier League and seal their place among European club football's elite.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/premier-league-slot-machine-liverpool-already-getting-ready-for-next-season-1748263106935">Premier League | 'Slot machine' Liverpool already getting ready for next season</a>But the club's first season without a trophy in eight years ended their unprecedented run of four successive English top-flight titles, with Guardiola's men finishing 13 points behind the Premier League champions Liverpool.Asked if his side would be in a position to challenge Arne Slot's side next term, Guardiola replied: "I don't know. I never thought we would win six Premier League titles in seven years."But if you expect that I am going to tell you now that next season we are going to win the Premier League, you are wrong."The Spaniard added: "Since I have arrived at this club, we have finished with 80-plus points and this season we have finished with 71 so that is miles away from our standards. And it has happened for many reasons."Sport and football gives you another chance and we will look to prove ourselves."But we are miles away from Liverpool. That is the reality. I have a feeling next season will be better but I don't know how we will react after the Club World Cup. We will be exhausted without a holiday before next season."We have to rise and increase our level otherwise we will not compete to fight for the titles. But if we are fit, we will try and we will be closer."With Kevin De Bruyne leaving City &nbsp;and doubts over the future of Jack Grealish, some believes Guardiola needs to oversee a major rebuild if the club are to mount a title challenge next season.But Guardiola, who has already said he wanted to trim his squad, does not envisage a significant overhaul at the Etihad this summer."I don't have that feeling," he said. "I have 24 players and I saw them training the other day and I said: 'Oh my gosh, how good are they?'"New faces will come, especially in positions where we are weaker, but I don't think we need a lot. We have a good squad and I don't want a lot of players."But we will see. The summer is long. There will be players who realise they don't play and want to leave. But that is now not my business. I qualified for the Champions League and the rest belongs to the club."Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The club's first season without a trophy in eight years ended their unprecedented run of four successive English top-flight titles, with Guardiola's men finishing 13 points behind the Premier League champions Liverpool.

Pep Guardiola said he cannot guarantee Manchester City will be back challenging for the Premier League title next season. City will play in the Champions League for a 15th straight season after they salvaged a disappointing campaign with a final-day, 2-0 win away to Fulham on Sunday that saw them finish third in the Premier League and seal their place among European club football's elite. Also Read - Premier League | 'Slot machine' Liverpool already getting ready for next season But the club's first season without a trophy in eight years ended their unprecedented run of four successive English top-flight titles, with Guardiola's men finishing 13 points behind the Premier League champions Liverpool. Asked if his side would be in a position to challenge Arne Slot's side next term, Guardiola replied: "I don't know. I never thought we would win six Premier League titles in seven years. "But if you expect that I am going to tell you now that next season we are going to win the Premier League, you are wrong." The Spaniard added: "Since I have arrived at this club, we have finished with 80-plus points and this season we have finished with 71 so that is miles away from our standards. And it has happened for many reasons. "Sport and football gives you another chance and we will look to prove ourselves. "But we are miles away from Liverpool. That is the reality. I have a feeling next season will be better but I don't know how we will react after the Club World Cup. We will be exhausted without a holiday before next season. "We have to rise and increase our level otherwise we will not compete to fight for the titles. But if we are fit, we will try and we will be closer." With Kevin De Bruyne leaving City and doubts over the future of Jack Grealish, some believes Guardiola needs to oversee a major rebuild if the club are to mount a title challenge next season. But Guardiola, who has already said he wanted to trim his squad, does not envisage a significant overhaul at the Etihad this summer. "I don't have that feeling," he said. "I have 24 players and I saw them training the other day and I said: 'Oh my gosh, how good are they?' "New faces will come, especially in positions where we are weaker, but I don't think we need a lot. We have a good squad and I don't want a lot of players. "But we will see. The summer is long. There will be players who realise they don't play and want to leave. But that is now not my business. I qualified for the Champions League and the rest belongs to the club." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The club's first season without a trophy in eight years ended their unprecedented run of four successive English top-flight titles, with Guardiola's men finishing 13 points behind the Premier League champions Liverpool.

'You are wrong,' says Guardiola  when asked if Man City will win Premier League next season

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner said he is already busy working on improving the team for next season despite romping to the Premier League title.The Reds will parade the Premier League trophy through Liverpool city centre on Monday with tens of thousands expected to line the streets.But attention has already turned to defending the trophy with the 20-time English champions reportedly close to a triple swoop costing around £200 million ($271 million).Jeremie Frimpong is finalising his move from Bayer Leverkusen as a replacement for the departing Trent Alexander-Arnold.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/golden-glory-kylian-mbappe-wins-european-golden-shoe-in-debut-season-with-real-madrid-football-la-liga-spain-1748258464481">Golden glory: Kylian Mbappe wins European Golden Shoe in debut season with Real Madrid</a>Florian Wirtz has also chosen Anfield as his preferred destination, according to German media, should he move on from Leverkusen.Wirtz, 22, could smash the Premier League transfer record of £115 million set by Chelsea's capture of Moises Caicedo.Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is also reportedly keen on a £50 million move to Liverpool."It's already busy," said Werner. "We go again. It never gets old, winning. We owe it to all of our supporters to bring back a team even better next season."Arne Slot's success in his first season as manager was even more remarkable as he was given little money to work with in the transfer market 12 months ago.Federico Chiesa, who struggled to make an impact in his few first-team opportunities, remains the club's only signing of the Slot era."It's extraordinary. We obviously had high hopes for this season but he has been an extraordinary coach," added Werner."I think there have been three coaches who have won the Premier League in their first season and Arne is one of them. He is just an extraordinary leader."He's authentic, he's not trying to be anyone else. The team was an extraordinarily good team but he brought the best out of them."Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Arne Slot's success in his first season as manager was even more remarkable as he was given little money to work with in the transfer market 12 months ago.

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner said he is already busy working on improving the team for next season despite romping to the Premier League title. The Reds will parade the Premier League trophy through Liverpool city centre on Monday with tens of thousands expected to line the streets. But attention has already turned to defending the trophy with the 20-time English champions reportedly close to a triple swoop costing around £200 million ($271 million). Jeremie Frimpong is finalising his move from Bayer Leverkusen as a replacement for the departing Trent Alexander-Arnold. Also Read - Golden glory: Kylian Mbappe wins European Golden Shoe in debut season with Real Madrid Florian Wirtz has also chosen Anfield as his preferred destination, according to German media, should he move on from Leverkusen. Wirtz, 22, could smash the Premier League transfer record of £115 million set by Chelsea's capture of Moises Caicedo. Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is also reportedly keen on a £50 million move to Liverpool. "It's already busy," said Werner. "We go again. It never gets old, winning. We owe it to all of our supporters to bring back a team even better next season." Arne Slot's success in his first season as manager was even more remarkable as he was given little money to work with in the transfer market 12 months ago. Federico Chiesa, who struggled to make an impact in his few first-team opportunities, remains the club's only signing of the Slot era. "It's extraordinary. We obviously had high hopes for this season but he has been an extraordinary coach," added Werner. "I think there have been three coaches who have won the Premier League in their first season and Arne is one of them. He is just an extraordinary leader. "He's authentic, he's not trying to be anyone else. The team was an extraordinarily good team but he brought the best out of them." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Arne Slot's success in his first season as manager was even more remarkable as he was given little money to work with in the transfer market 12 months ago.

Premier League | 'Slot machine' Liverpool already getting ready for next season

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente called up Real Betis midfielder Isco on Monday for the Nations League final four, six years after his last appearance for La Roja. The 33-year-old has enjoyed a superb season with Betis, helping them reach the Conference League final, where they will face Chelsea on Wednesday.&nbsp;Euro 2024 winners Spain face France in the semi-final in Stuttgart on June 5 before a potential final against Germany or Portugal.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-xabi-alonso-returns-to-real-madrid-as-new-manager-carlo-ancelotti-1748175618991">Xabi Alonso returns to Real Madrid as new manager</a>&nbsp;Real Madrid's new defensive signing from Bournemouth, Dean Huijsen, who impressed in the quarter-final win over the Netherlands, returns to the squad, while Barcelona midfielders Gavi and Fermin Lopez also make the cut.&nbsp;Teenage winger Lamine Yamal and playmaker Pedri are the key figures, along with Athletic Bilbao attacker Nico Williams.&nbsp;Manchester City holding midfielder Rodri was not included despite his recent return to fitness, with Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi set to start at the base of midfield.<h3>Full Spain squad for Nations League final four:</h3>&nbsp;Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad)&nbsp;Defenders: Oscar Mingueza (Celta Vigo), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Robin Le Normand (Atletico Madrid), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)&nbsp;Midfielders: Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Pedri Gonzalez, Dani Olmo (all Barcelona), Isco (Real Betis), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Fabian Ruiz (PSG), Alex Baena (Villarreal)&nbsp;Forwards: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Yeremy Pino (Villarreal), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Samu Omorodion (Porto), Alvaro Morata (Galatasaray)&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Forgotten hero Isco returns to Spain squad for Nations League last four

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente called up Real Betis midfielder Isco on Monday for the Nations League final four, six years after his last appearance for La Roja. The 33-year-old has enjoyed a superb season with Betis, helping them reach the Conference League final, where they will face Chelsea on Wednesday. Euro 2024 winners Spain face France in the semi-final in Stuttgart on June 5 before a potential final against Germany or Portugal. Also read | Xabi Alonso returns to Real Madrid as new manager Real Madrid's new defensive signing from Bournemouth, Dean Huijsen, who impressed in the quarter-final win over the Netherlands, returns to the squad, while Barcelona midfielders Gavi and Fermin Lopez also make the cut. Teenage winger Lamine Yamal and playmaker Pedri are the key figures, along with Athletic Bilbao attacker Nico Williams. Manchester City holding midfielder Rodri was not included despite his recent return to fitness, with Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi set to start at the base of midfield. Full Spain squad for Nations League final four: Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad) Defenders: Oscar Mingueza (Celta Vigo), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Robin Le Normand (Atletico Madrid), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea) Midfielders: Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Pedri Gonzalez, Dani Olmo (all Barcelona), Isco (Real Betis), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Fabian Ruiz (PSG), Alex Baena (Villarreal) Forwards: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Yeremy Pino (Villarreal), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Samu Omorodion (Porto), Alvaro Morata (Galatasaray) Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Euro 2024 winners Spain face France in the semi-final in Stuttgart on June 5 before a potential final against Germany or Portugal.

The head of a US-backed aid group for Gaza announced his resignation, saying it was impossible to do his job in line with principles of neutrality and independence, as the organization vowed to start delivering assistance on Monday.&nbsp;The Gaza Humanitarian foundation (GHF), based in Geneva since February, has promised to distribute some 300 million meals in its first 90 days of operation.&nbsp;But the United Nations and international aid agencies have said they will not cooperate with the group, amid accusations it is working with Israel while lacking any Palestinian involvement.&nbsp;In a statement by the GHF, executive director Jake Wood said he felt compelled to leave after determining the organization could not fulfil its mission in a way that adhered to humanitarian principles.&nbsp;Israel has faced global condemnation over the conditions in Gaza, where it has been at war since Hamas's unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack.&nbsp;A more than two-month total blockade on Gaza has only begun to ease in recent days, as agencies warned of growing starvation risks.&nbsp;"Two months ago, I was approached about leading GHF's efforts because of my experience in humanitarian operations," Wood said.&nbsp;"Like many others around the world, I was horrified and heartbroken at the hunger crisis in Gaza and, as a humanitarian leader, I was compelled to do whatever I could to help alleviate the suffering."&nbsp;But, he said, it had become "clear that it is not possible to implement this plan while also strictly adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I will not abandon."&nbsp;The GHF said it was disappointed to learn of Wood's resignation, but added that it would not be deterred.&nbsp;"Our trucks are loaded and ready to go. Beginning Monday, May 26, GHF will begin direct aid delivery in Gaza, reaching over one million Palestinians by the end of the week. We plan to scale rapidly to serve the full population in the weeks ahead," it said in a statement.&nbsp;There was no immediate confirmation that GHF would be able to launch its aid effort Monday, however, or of how the aid would be distributed in a territory battered by war.&nbsp;The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Sunday that at least 3,785 people had been killed in the territory since a ceasefire collapsed on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 53,939.&nbsp;Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.&nbsp;Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The Gaza Humanitarian foundation (GHF), based in Geneva since February, has promised to distribute some 300 million meals in its first 90 days of operation.

The head of a US-backed aid group for Gaza announced his resignation, saying it was impossible to do his job in line with principles of neutrality and independence, as the organization vowed to start delivering assistance on Monday. The Gaza Humanitarian foundation (GHF), based in Geneva since February, has promised to distribute some 300 million meals in its first 90 days of operation. But the United Nations and international aid agencies have said they will not cooperate with the group, amid accusations it is working with Israel while lacking any Palestinian involvement. In a statement by the GHF, executive director Jake Wood said he felt compelled to leave after determining the organization could not fulfil its mission in a way that adhered to humanitarian principles. Israel has faced global condemnation over the conditions in Gaza, where it has been at war since Hamas's unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack. A more than two-month total blockade on Gaza has only begun to ease in recent days, as agencies warned of growing starvation risks. "Two months ago, I was approached about leading GHF's efforts because of my experience in humanitarian operations," Wood said. "Like many others around the world, I was horrified and heartbroken at the hunger crisis in Gaza and, as a humanitarian leader, I was compelled to do whatever I could to help alleviate the suffering." But, he said, it had become "clear that it is not possible to implement this plan while also strictly adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I will not abandon." The GHF said it was disappointed to learn of Wood's resignation, but added that it would not be deterred. "Our trucks are loaded and ready to go. Beginning Monday, May 26, GHF will begin direct aid delivery in Gaza, reaching over one million Palestinians by the end of the week. We plan to scale rapidly to serve the full population in the weeks ahead," it said in a statement. There was no immediate confirmation that GHF would be able to launch its aid effort Monday, however, or of how the aid would be distributed in a territory battered by war. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Sunday that at least 3,785 people had been killed in the territory since a ceasefire collapsed on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 53,939. Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The Gaza Humanitarian foundation (GHF), based in Geneva since February, has promised to distribute some 300 million meals in its first 90 days of operation.

Head of US-backed Gaza aid group resigns, cites lack of independence

Americans on Sunday marked five years since George Floyd was killed by a US police officer, as President Donald Trump backtracks on reforms designed to tackle racism. &nbsp;Floyd's deadly arrest on May 25, 2020 helped launch the Black Lives Matter movement into a powerful force that sought to resolve America's deeply rooted racial issues, from police violence to systemic inequality.&nbsp;&nbsp;But since Trump's return to power in January –- he was serving his first term when Floyd died -– his administration has axed civil rights investigations and cracked down on diversity hiring initiatives.&nbsp;BLM, meanwhile, finds itself lacking the support it enjoyed when protesters sprawled across US cities and abroad during the Covid pandemic -- with many now agreeing the movement achieved little of substance.&nbsp;Some Democratic politicians, as well as UN rights chief Volker Turk, commemorated the anniversary on Sunday.&nbsp;"As anti-racism, inclusion efforts &amp; law enforcement reforms face serious setbacks, we must continue advocating for racial justice &amp; equality globally -- with greater determination &amp; strength," Turk wrote on X.&nbsp;A memorial event was held this weekend at what has been named George Floyd Square, the area of Minneapolis where the 46-year-old took his final breath as police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck during an arrest.&nbsp;Dozens of people on Sunday visited the small junction set in a residential part of the northern US city, which is covered with protest art, including a purple mural that reads "You Changed the World, George."&nbsp;That optimistic message painted in 2020 is now, however, at odds with a president whose more extreme allies have suggested he pardon Chauvin, who was convicted of murdering Floyd and sentenced to more than 22 years in prison.&nbsp;Some experts believe Trump's re-election was partly a backlash to BLM activism, which included protests that turned to riots in some cities and calls to defund the police.&nbsp;Floyd's family members told AFP on Friday that they wanted people to continue pushing for reform despite the hostile political climate.&nbsp;"We don't need an executive order to tell us that Black lives matter," said his aunt Angela Harrelson, who wore a dark T-shirt depicting Floyd's face.&nbsp;"We cannot let a setback be a holdback for the great comeback. Donald Trump just didn't get the memo," she added to nods from other relatives standing beside her.&nbsp;Paris Stevens, a Floyd cousin, agreed: "No one can silence us anymore."<h2>‘Easy to forget’</h2>Protests marking Floyd's death have also been planned in a handful of other US cities, including Chicago and Dallas, but no major rallies were expected.&nbsp;&nbsp;In Minneapolis, some people cried and others laid flowers or stuffed animals by the roadside spot where Floyd's fatal arrest was filmed and shared around the world.&nbsp;"George Floyd may be resting in peace and power, but he's alive through everyone that shows up here," WD Foster-Graham, an author who grew up in the same neighborhood, told AFP Sunday.&nbsp;"It can be very easy to forget, but as one person to another, make sure we never forget and let those powers that be know we haven't forgotten, and we're not going away," the 73-year-old added.&nbsp;&nbsp;Jamie Dencklau, 30, said it was important to show that Floyd's death was not just a “moment in time.” But the nonprofit worker from Minneapolis said she was upset about Trump, who has a track record of racially charged rhetoric and heavy support from far-right figures.&nbsp;"It's disheartening to see that our country has elected this individual as our president, and it really makes me question how important equity and inclusivity are to our community," she said.&nbsp;Memorial events have been held annually since Floyd's death and the theme for this one -– "The People Have Spoken" -– was suggested by Nelson Mandela's grandson Nkosi when he visited the square, according to Floyd's aunt Harrelson.&nbsp;She said the defiant title was meant to reflect five years of protesting, adding that “even though it's tiresome, we go on.”&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

George Floyds uncertain legacy marked in US five years on

Americans on Sunday marked five years since George Floyd was killed by a US police officer, as President Donald Trump backtracks on reforms designed to tackle racism. Floyd's deadly arrest on May 25, 2020 helped launch the Black Lives Matter movement into a powerful force that sought to resolve America's deeply rooted racial issues, from police violence to systemic inequality. But since Trump's return to power in January –- he was serving his first term when Floyd died -– his administration has axed civil rights investigations and cracked down on diversity hiring initiatives. BLM, meanwhile, finds itself lacking the support it enjoyed when protesters sprawled across US cities and abroad during the Covid pandemic -- with many now agreeing the movement achieved little of substance. Some Democratic politicians, as well as UN rights chief Volker Turk, commemorated the anniversary on Sunday. "As anti-racism, inclusion efforts & law enforcement reforms face serious setbacks, we must continue advocating for racial justice & equality globally -- with greater determination & strength," Turk wrote on X. A memorial event was held this weekend at what has been named George Floyd Square, the area of Minneapolis where the 46-year-old took his final breath as police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck during an arrest. Dozens of people on Sunday visited the small junction set in a residential part of the northern US city, which is covered with protest art, including a purple mural that reads "You Changed the World, George." That optimistic message painted in 2020 is now, however, at odds with a president whose more extreme allies have suggested he pardon Chauvin, who was convicted of murdering Floyd and sentenced to more than 22 years in prison. Some experts believe Trump's re-election was partly a backlash to BLM activism, which included protests that turned to riots in some cities and calls to defund the police. Floyd's family members told AFP on Friday that they wanted people to continue pushing for reform despite the hostile political climate. "We don't need an executive order to tell us that Black lives matter," said his aunt Angela Harrelson, who wore a dark T-shirt depicting Floyd's face. "We cannot let a setback be a holdback for the great comeback. Donald Trump just didn't get the memo," she added to nods from other relatives standing beside her. Paris Stevens, a Floyd cousin, agreed: "No one can silence us anymore." ‘Easy to forget’ Protests marking Floyd's death have also been planned in a handful of other US cities, including Chicago and Dallas, but no major rallies were expected. In Minneapolis, some people cried and others laid flowers or stuffed animals by the roadside spot where Floyd's fatal arrest was filmed and shared around the world. "George Floyd may be resting in peace and power, but he's alive through everyone that shows up here," WD Foster-Graham, an author who grew up in the same neighborhood, told AFP Sunday. "It can be very easy to forget, but as one person to another, make sure we never forget and let those powers that be know we haven't forgotten, and we're not going away," the 73-year-old added. Jamie Dencklau, 30, said it was important to show that Floyd's death was not just a “moment in time.” But the nonprofit worker from Minneapolis said she was upset about Trump, who has a track record of racially charged rhetoric and heavy support from far-right figures. "It's disheartening to see that our country has elected this individual as our president, and it really makes me question how important equity and inclusivity are to our community," she said. Memorial events have been held annually since Floyd's death and the theme for this one -– "The People Have Spoken" -– was suggested by Nelson Mandela's grandson Nkosi when he visited the square, according to Floyd's aunt Harrelson. She said the defiant title was meant to reflect five years of protesting, adding that “even though it's tiresome, we go on.” Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

A memorial event was held this weekend at what has been named George Floyd Square, the area of Minneapolis where the 46-year-old took his final breath as police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck during an arrest

George Floyd's uncertain legacy marked in US five years on

Sikandar Raza hit the winning runs to seal the Pakistan Super League title for Lahore Qalandars on Sunday, having landed just 10 minutes before the toss after a mad dash from England.&nbsp;The 39-year-old was carried off the field on the shoulders of his celebrating teammates after having jumped on a plane to Pakistan straight after Zimbabwe's innings defeat in the Nottingham Test on Saturday.&nbsp;Raza hit 22 not out with two sixes and two fours to give the home team a thrilling six-wicket victory over Quetta Gladiators with one ball to spare.&nbsp;"Had dinner in Birmingham, breakfast in Dubai, drove to Abu Dhabi for lunch, took a flight and had dinner in Pakistan," said Raza, who scored a half-century in his country's heavy defeat to England.&nbsp;"I guess this is the life of a professional cricketer, and I'm truly humbled and blessed to have that life."Needing 13 off the last over to complete a 202-run chase, Raza struck a six and a four to help seal the title.&nbsp;Sri Lankan Kusal Perera led the chase with an undefeated 31-ball 62 studded with five boundaries and four sixes, adding 59 runs during the unbroken fifth-wicket stand.&nbsp;Opener Mohammad Naeem scored 46, with half a dozen sixes and one boundary, and Abdullah Shafique hit 41 to set Lahore on course to make the highest successful chase in a PSL final.&nbsp;Lahore sealed their third title following triumphs in 2022 and 2023. Hasan Nawaz scored a brilliant 76 to lift Quetta to 201-9 after they won the toss and batted. Coming in at 21-2, Nawaz added 67 for the fourth wicket with Avishka Fernando (29) and 46 with Dinesh Chandimal (22).&nbsp;Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi was the pick of Lahore's bowlers with 3-24. It was Faheem Ashraf (28) who lifted Quetta past 200, taking 23 off the last over from Salman Mirza.&nbsp;The six-team PSL was suspended on May 9 following the conflict between Pakistan and India. The league resumed on May 17 after a ceasefire between the two countries.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sikandar Raza has breakfast in Dubai, lunch in Abu Dhabi and PSL title in Lahore

Sikandar Raza hit the winning runs to seal the Pakistan Super League title for Lahore Qalandars on Sunday, having landed just 10 minutes before the toss after a mad dash from England. The 39-year-old was carried off the field on the shoulders of his celebrating teammates after having jumped on a plane to Pakistan straight after Zimbabwe's innings defeat in the Nottingham Test on Saturday. Raza hit 22 not out with two sixes and two fours to give the home team a thrilling six-wicket victory over Quetta Gladiators with one ball to spare. "Had dinner in Birmingham, breakfast in Dubai, drove to Abu Dhabi for lunch, took a flight and had dinner in Pakistan," said Raza, who scored a half-century in his country's heavy defeat to England. "I guess this is the life of a professional cricketer, and I'm truly humbled and blessed to have that life." Needing 13 off the last over to complete a 202-run chase, Raza struck a six and a four to help seal the title. Sri Lankan Kusal Perera led the chase with an undefeated 31-ball 62 studded with five boundaries and four sixes, adding 59 runs during the unbroken fifth-wicket stand. Opener Mohammad Naeem scored 46, with half a dozen sixes and one boundary, and Abdullah Shafique hit 41 to set Lahore on course to make the highest successful chase in a PSL final. Lahore sealed their third title following triumphs in 2022 and 2023. Hasan Nawaz scored a brilliant 76 to lift Quetta to 201-9 after they won the toss and batted. Coming in at 21-2, Nawaz added 67 for the fourth wicket with Avishka Fernando (29) and 46 with Dinesh Chandimal (22). Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi was the pick of Lahore's bowlers with 3-24. It was Faheem Ashraf (28) who lifted Quetta past 200, taking 23 off the last over from Salman Mirza. The six-team PSL was suspended on May 9 following the conflict between Pakistan and India. The league resumed on May 17 after a ceasefire between the two countries. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Raza hit 22 not out with two sixes and two fours to give the home team a thrilling six-wicket victory over Quetta Gladiators with one ball to spare

Title rivals Carlos Alcaraz&nbsp;and Jannik Sinner start their French Open campaigns on Monday as three-time reigning champion Iga Swiatek hopes a return to Roland Garros can shake her out of a slump.&nbsp;Alcaraz beat Sinner in straight sets in the Italian Open final just over a week ago as the Italian world number one returned from a three-month doping ban.&nbsp;The Spaniard edged Sinner in five sets in the semi-finals at Roland Garros last year and believes the two-time reigning Australian Open champion will pose an even greater threat to his crown in Paris after brushing off the cobwebs in Rome.&nbsp;"The level he has played in (Rome) is insane after three months without playing, without any tournament," said Alcaraz. "I'm pretty sure he's going to be better and better.&nbsp;"If he's winning in Roland Garros and he's going farther, I think much better he's going to feel. He's going to be a really dangerous player in Paris."&nbsp;First up for Alcaraz though is Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri, who replaced the injured Kei Nishikori in the draw.&nbsp;Sinner takes centre stage in the night session against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who can expect to enjoy much of the support under the lights on Court Philippe Chatrier.&nbsp;It is the first of two successive potential French opponents for Sinner, who could meet the retiring Richard Gasquet in the second round. Gasquet, 38, takes on another wild card, Terence Atmane, in his 22nd and final Roland Garros.&nbsp;"It's definitely going to be different," Sinner said of the atmosphere that awaits in Paris after he received a warm welcome back in front of home fans in Italy.&nbsp;"It was great after three months coming back making the final. It was my first big final on clay, which is not to underrate, because we worked a lot for that."&nbsp;But he warned against expecting too much at the French Open. "There are no miracles. I need some time. Matches are different than practice sessions," said Sinner.&nbsp;&nbsp;“There is a lot of room to improve.” Sinner served a suspension for testing positive twice in March last year for traces of the banned anabolic steroid clostebol. Doping authorities accepted that it was the result of an accidental contamination involving his physio.<h2>Swiatek reign under threat</h2>Swiatek, like her idol Rafael Nadal, has proved almost untouchable at Roland Garros, where she holds a 35-2 win-loss record in six trips.&nbsp;But her struggles since the last of her four French Open titles is well documented and the Pole has gone almost a year without a trophy.&nbsp;She has dropped to fifth in the world ranking and has lost her aura of invincibility on the red dirt. However, her early exit from the Italian Open earlier this month has provided Swiatek more time to prepare for Paris and she said she has used that time well.&nbsp;"You know, right now, I felt like I had the most peaceful time to practice since the beginning of the season," Swiatek told AFP last week.&nbsp;"It has been going great. And on a practice court, I feel really good. We were working on some details in my serve and my forehand. But overall, you know, it looks great. I just need to implement that during the matches."&nbsp;Swiatek kicks off her title defence against Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova. Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, who had a match point against Swiatek in the second round at Roland Garros a year ago, has a tough opening match against 10th seed Paula Badosa.&nbsp;Australian Open champion Madison Keys plays Australian qualifier Daria Saville in round one. Former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina also plays a qualifier in Argentina's Julia Riera.&nbsp;Stan Wawrinka, the 2015 French Open champion, is drawn against Britain's Jacob Fearnley, while two-time runner-up Casper Ruud faces Spanish qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas.&nbsp;Holger Rune, the only man to beat Alcaraz on clay this year, goes up against Roberto Bautista Agut. Fourth seed Taylor Fritz and 2021 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas are also in action.&nbsp;Emma Raducanu is set for her first Roland Garros appearance since her 2022 debut, taking on China's Wang Xinyu.

Alcaraz, Sinner launch French Open bids as Swiatek seeks lift

Title rivals Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner start their French Open campaigns on Monday as three-time reigning champion Iga Swiatek hopes a return to Roland Garros can shake her out of a slump. Alcaraz beat Sinner in straight sets in the Italian Open final just over a week ago as the Italian world number one returned from a three-month doping ban. The Spaniard edged Sinner in five sets in the semi-finals at Roland Garros last year and believes the two-time reigning Australian Open champion will pose an even greater threat to his crown in Paris after brushing off the cobwebs in Rome. "The level he has played in (Rome) is insane after three months without playing, without any tournament," said Alcaraz. "I'm pretty sure he's going to be better and better. "If he's winning in Roland Garros and he's going farther, I think much better he's going to feel. He's going to be a really dangerous player in Paris." First up for Alcaraz though is Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri, who replaced the injured Kei Nishikori in the draw. Sinner takes centre stage in the night session against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who can expect to enjoy much of the support under the lights on Court Philippe Chatrier. It is the first of two successive potential French opponents for Sinner, who could meet the retiring Richard Gasquet in the second round. Gasquet, 38, takes on another wild card, Terence Atmane, in his 22nd and final Roland Garros. "It's definitely going to be different," Sinner said of the atmosphere that awaits in Paris after he received a warm welcome back in front of home fans in Italy. "It was great after three months coming back making the final. It was my first big final on clay, which is not to underrate, because we worked a lot for that." But he warned against expecting too much at the French Open. "There are no miracles. I need some time. Matches are different than practice sessions," said Sinner. “There is a lot of room to improve.” Sinner served a suspension for testing positive twice in March last year for traces of the banned anabolic steroid clostebol. Doping authorities accepted that it was the result of an accidental contamination involving his physio. Swiatek reign under threat Swiatek, like her idol Rafael Nadal, has proved almost untouchable at Roland Garros, where she holds a 35-2 win-loss record in six trips. But her struggles since the last of her four French Open titles is well documented and the Pole has gone almost a year without a trophy. She has dropped to fifth in the world ranking and has lost her aura of invincibility on the red dirt. However, her early exit from the Italian Open earlier this month has provided Swiatek more time to prepare for Paris and she said she has used that time well. "You know, right now, I felt like I had the most peaceful time to practice since the beginning of the season," Swiatek told AFP last week. "It has been going great. And on a practice court, I feel really good. We were working on some details in my serve and my forehand. But overall, you know, it looks great. I just need to implement that during the matches." Swiatek kicks off her title defence against Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova. Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, who had a match point against Swiatek in the second round at Roland Garros a year ago, has a tough opening match against 10th seed Paula Badosa. Australian Open champion Madison Keys plays Australian qualifier Daria Saville in round one. Former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina also plays a qualifier in Argentina's Julia Riera. Stan Wawrinka, the 2015 French Open champion, is drawn against Britain's Jacob Fearnley, while two-time runner-up Casper Ruud faces Spanish qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Holger Rune, the only man to beat Alcaraz on clay this year, goes up against Roberto Bautista Agut. Fourth seed Taylor Fritz and 2021 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas are also in action. Emma Raducanu is set for her first Roland Garros appearance since her 2022 debut, taking on China's Wang Xinyu.

Alcaraz beat Sinner in straight sets in the Italian Open final just over a week ago as the Italian world number one returned from a three-month doping ban

South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen struck his second IPL century on Sunday as he powered Sunrisers Hyderabad to a mammoth 278-3, and a 110-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders.&nbsp;With both teams already out of the play-off race, Hyderabad elected to bat first and registered the third-highest total of the T20 tournament, with Klaasen hitting an unbeaten 105 off 39 balls in Delhi.&nbsp;Klaasen, who was promoted to number three, stole the limelight with seven fours and nine sixes in a complete show of domination by Hyderabad after opener Travis Head hit a 40-ball 76.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-ipl-2025-yuzvendra-chahal-under-injury-cloud-for-blockbuster-mumbai-clash-but-punjab-hopeful-of-his-playoff-chances-1748196827739">IPL 2025: Chahal under injury cloud for blockbuster Mumbai clash but Punjab hopeful of his playoff chances</a>&nbsp;Three-time champions Kolkata, who won the IPL last year, were bowled out for 168 in 18.4 overs to end this edition placed eighth out of 10 teams.&nbsp;Hyderabad finished with 6 wins and seven losses.&nbsp;"Very pleased, it's been a long season of disappointment," Klaasen said after his knock.&nbsp;"Luckily, I stuck to my processes and found my form now. The franchise spent a lot of time and money to play this brand of cricket, and it was up to us to step up to the mantle."&nbsp;Hyderabad, who won their only IPL title in 2016 under Australia's David Warner, have the top four totals in IPL to their credit.&nbsp;Hyderabad amassed IPL's highest ever total of 287-3 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru last year. They fell one short of that score -- 286-6 -- against the Rajasthan Royals this year.&nbsp;Hyderabad scored 277 versus the Mumbai Indians in 2024.&nbsp;Hyderabad's Australian import Head came out roaring with opening partner Abhishek Sharma, and the two handed the team a blazing start of 92 in 6.4 overs.&nbsp;Klaasen reached his ton in 37 balls for the joint third-highest IPL ton. West Indies' Chris Gayle hit a hundred in 30 balls in 2013, and Rajasthan's 14-year-old opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi in 35 balls this edition.&nbsp;Abhishek fell for 32 before Head put on 83 runs with Klaasen as it rained sixes at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground.&nbsp;Head fell to West Indies spinner Sunil Narine, but Klaasen kept up the charge with Ishan Kishan and carried his bat through.&nbsp;Kolkata were never in the chase, with Manish Pandey top-scoring with 37.&nbsp;Skipper Ajinkya Rahane said "no regrets" as they take positives from a disappointing season and hope to come back strong next year.&nbsp;Hyderabad bowlers Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga and impact substitute Harsh Dubey took three wickets each.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

IPL 2025 Heinrich Klaasen record breaking hundred helps Hyderabad floor Kolkata

South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen struck his second IPL century on Sunday as he powered Sunrisers Hyderabad to a mammoth 278-3, and a 110-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders. With both teams already out of the play-off race, Hyderabad elected to bat first and registered the third-highest total of the T20 tournament, with Klaasen hitting an unbeaten 105 off 39 balls in Delhi. Klaasen, who was promoted to number three, stole the limelight with seven fours and nine sixes in a complete show of domination by Hyderabad after opener Travis Head hit a 40-ball 76. Also read | IPL 2025: Chahal under injury cloud for blockbuster Mumbai clash but Punjab hopeful of his playoff chances Three-time champions Kolkata, who won the IPL last year, were bowled out for 168 in 18.4 overs to end this edition placed eighth out of 10 teams. Hyderabad finished with 6 wins and seven losses. "Very pleased, it's been a long season of disappointment," Klaasen said after his knock. "Luckily, I stuck to my processes and found my form now. The franchise spent a lot of time and money to play this brand of cricket, and it was up to us to step up to the mantle." Hyderabad, who won their only IPL title in 2016 under Australia's David Warner, have the top four totals in IPL to their credit. Hyderabad amassed IPL's highest ever total of 287-3 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru last year. They fell one short of that score -- 286-6 -- against the Rajasthan Royals this year. Hyderabad scored 277 versus the Mumbai Indians in 2024. Hyderabad's Australian import Head came out roaring with opening partner Abhishek Sharma, and the two handed the team a blazing start of 92 in 6.4 overs. Klaasen reached his ton in 37 balls for the joint third-highest IPL ton. West Indies' Chris Gayle hit a hundred in 30 balls in 2013, and Rajasthan's 14-year-old opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi in 35 balls this edition. Abhishek fell for 32 before Head put on 83 runs with Klaasen as it rained sixes at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground. Head fell to West Indies spinner Sunil Narine, but Klaasen kept up the charge with Ishan Kishan and carried his bat through. Kolkata were never in the chase, with Manish Pandey top-scoring with 37. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane said "no regrets" as they take positives from a disappointing season and hope to come back strong next year. Hyderabad bowlers Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga and impact substitute Harsh Dubey took three wickets each. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Three-time champions Kolkata, who won the IPL last year, were bowled out for 168 in 18.4 overs to end this edition placed eighth out of 10 teams.

IPL 2025: Heinrich Klaasen’s record-breaking hundred helps Hyderabad floor Kolkata

Real Madrid appointed Xabi Alonso to replace Carlo Ancelotti as coach on Sunday, with the Spaniard to take over from June 1 and lead the team at the Club World Cup.&nbsp;"Xabi Alonso will be the Real Madrid coach for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025 until June 30, 2028," said Real Madrid in a statement.&nbsp;With veteran Italian coach Ancelotti taking the reins of the Brazilian national team, Madrid secured a deal with former midfielder Alonso, whom they have been linked with for months.&nbsp;Alonso, 43, leaves German side Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the Bundesliga season after finishing second.&nbsp;"Alonso is one of the biggest legends at Real Madrid and in world football," continued Los Blancos' statement.&nbsp;"He wore our shirt in 236 games between 2009 and 2014. During that time he won six trophies."&nbsp;Alonso will be officially presented on Monday at 1030 GMT.&nbsp;The Spaniard coached Leverkusen to a league and German Cup double in the 2023-2024 campaign, with his team unbeaten in the top flight, making him a target for Europe's top clubs.&nbsp;Basque coach Alonso had an agreement with Leverkusen to allow him to depart if one of his former sides, including Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich, wanted to hire him.&nbsp;Ancelotti's Madrid endured a disappointing campaign, winning the European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup but suffering Champions League quarter-final elimination by Arsenal.&nbsp;Barcelona beat Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey finals and then reclaimed the Liga throne from their arch-rivals, meaning they failed to win a major trophy.&nbsp;Madrid added French superstar Kylian Mbappe last summer but Ancelotti found it hard to include him in the team alongside Vinicius Junior without destabilising it.&nbsp;Mbappe netted 31 La Liga goals which should earn him the European Golden Shoe, but Alonso's main job will be to restore the team's solidity without compromising the attack.&nbsp;After losing two matches in the whole of the previous campaign, this season Madrid slumped to 14 defeats.<h2>La Decima &nbsp;</h2>Alonso will replace one of the most successful managers in Madrid's history, despite their struggles this season.&nbsp;Ancelotti, 65, took Los Blancos to 15 trophies during two spells at the club, spanning six years.&nbsp;The Italian won three Champions League trophies in Madrid, including La Decima -- Madrid's 10th -- in 2014, with Alonso as part of his squad, although he was suspended for the final.&nbsp;Alonso was also coached by Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Vicente del Bosque among others and is considered tactically adroit and an excellent organiser, which could be ideal for a Madrid side that has lacked balance.&nbsp;The midfielder won two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup with Spain as he helped La Roja dominate the international game.&nbsp;After retiring from playing in 2017 he coached Real Madrid and Real Sociedad at youth level before being appointed by Bayer Leverkusen in 2022.&nbsp;Real Madrid have already signed defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth this summer and Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to follow, with his contract coming to an end at Anfield.&nbsp;Madrid are trying to bring in the England international before the Club World Cup this summer, which will be Alonso's first chance to win silverware.&nbsp;Real Madrid face Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in Miami on June 18 in their opening match at FIFA's lucrative summer tournament, which will be the first look at Alonso's side.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Xabi Alonso returns to Real Madrid as new manager

Real Madrid appointed Xabi Alonso to replace Carlo Ancelotti as coach on Sunday, with the Spaniard to take over from June 1 and lead the team at the Club World Cup. "Xabi Alonso will be the Real Madrid coach for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025 until June 30, 2028," said Real Madrid in a statement. With veteran Italian coach Ancelotti taking the reins of the Brazilian national team, Madrid secured a deal with former midfielder Alonso, whom they have been linked with for months. Alonso, 43, leaves German side Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the Bundesliga season after finishing second. "Alonso is one of the biggest legends at Real Madrid and in world football," continued Los Blancos' statement. "He wore our shirt in 236 games between 2009 and 2014. During that time he won six trophies." Alonso will be officially presented on Monday at 1030 GMT. The Spaniard coached Leverkusen to a league and German Cup double in the 2023-2024 campaign, with his team unbeaten in the top flight, making him a target for Europe's top clubs. Basque coach Alonso had an agreement with Leverkusen to allow him to depart if one of his former sides, including Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich, wanted to hire him. Ancelotti's Madrid endured a disappointing campaign, winning the European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup but suffering Champions League quarter-final elimination by Arsenal. Barcelona beat Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey finals and then reclaimed the Liga throne from their arch-rivals, meaning they failed to win a major trophy. Madrid added French superstar Kylian Mbappe last summer but Ancelotti found it hard to include him in the team alongside Vinicius Junior without destabilising it. Mbappe netted 31 La Liga goals which should earn him the European Golden Shoe, but Alonso's main job will be to restore the team's solidity without compromising the attack. After losing two matches in the whole of the previous campaign, this season Madrid slumped to 14 defeats. La Decima Alonso will replace one of the most successful managers in Madrid's history, despite their struggles this season. Ancelotti, 65, took Los Blancos to 15 trophies during two spells at the club, spanning six years. The Italian won three Champions League trophies in Madrid, including La Decima -- Madrid's 10th -- in 2014, with Alonso as part of his squad, although he was suspended for the final. Alonso was also coached by Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Vicente del Bosque among others and is considered tactically adroit and an excellent organiser, which could be ideal for a Madrid side that has lacked balance. The midfielder won two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup with Spain as he helped La Roja dominate the international game. After retiring from playing in 2017 he coached Real Madrid and Real Sociedad at youth level before being appointed by Bayer Leverkusen in 2022. Real Madrid have already signed defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth this summer and Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to follow, with his contract coming to an end at Anfield. Madrid are trying to bring in the England international before the Club World Cup this summer, which will be Alonso's first chance to win silverware. Real Madrid face Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in Miami on June 18 in their opening match at FIFA's lucrative summer tournament, which will be the first look at Alonso's side. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Alonso, 43, leaves German side Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the Bundesliga season after finishing second.

Roland Garros will pay tribute to its greatest champion with a ceremony for the retired <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rafael-nadal">Rafael Nadal</a> on Sunday, while Aryna Sabalenka gets her French Open campaign up and running on the opening day of the tournament. Nadal, the record 14-time champion on the Paris clay, retired from tennis last November after an illustrious career. He returns to Court Philippe Chatrier a year after suffering a first-round exit at the hands of Alexander Zverev in what proved to be his final French Open.&nbsp;The Spaniard finished with a remarkable 112-4 win-loss record at Roland Garros, dominating the tournament since winning the title on his debut in 2005.&nbsp;Nadal hung up his racquet following the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, initially denying him an opportunity to wave goodbye to his adoring fans in Paris.&nbsp;His tally of 14 victories at a single Grand Slam appears unlikely to be beaten, with Margaret Court's 11 Australian Open titles second on the all-time list.&nbsp;Former rivals Roger Federer and Andy Murray are expected to attend Nadal's ceremony, as well as Novak Djokovic -- fresh off his 100th ATP title in Geneva.&nbsp;Nadal's heir apparent, Carlos Alcaraz, will start his title defence next week as a slight favourite to become the first man to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires since his compatriot's retirement.&nbsp;Victory over world number one Jannik Sinner in last weekend's Italian Open final gave Alcaraz the second seeding for Roland Garros.&nbsp;That raises the possibility of the world's top two players meeting in a Grand Slam final for the very first time on June 8.&nbsp;"I think for the people, for the tennis fans, I think it's great to have a match-up from some players that make them excited about watching that match," Alcaraz told his pre-tournament press conference of his budding rivalry with Sinner. "I think for the people and probably the people who don't like watching tennis, I think (our rivalry) is something that, because of that (they have) started to watch tennis."&nbsp;Djokovic will launch his sixth bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam triumph against American Mackenzie McDonald on Tuesday.&nbsp;The 38-year-old became just the third man to reach a century of tournament victories, after Jimmy Connors and Federer, by defeating Hubert Hurkacz in a three-hour epic in Switzerland on Saturday.&nbsp;But questions remain about Djokovic's form after losing in his opening matches in both Monte Carlo and Madrid to Alejandro Tabilo and Matteo Arnaldi, respectively.&nbsp;The Serb faces a difficult draw, with last year's runner-up Zverev a potential quarter-final opponent and Sinner possibly waiting in the last four.<h2>Sabalenka eyeing first French Open</h2>&nbsp;Women's world number one Sabalenka headlines the opening-day action with her first-round match against 75th-ranked Russian Kamilla Rakhimova.&nbsp;The Belarusian will kick off the schedule on Court Philippe Chatrier as she looks to make a strong start to her tilt at a first French Open title.&nbsp;Sabalenka has never reached the final at Roland Garros, but the tournament appears more open than in recent years, given the struggles of three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek.&nbsp;The Pole has slipped to fifth in the rankings and has not reached a WTA final since lifting her fourth French Open trophy last year.Sabalenka believes she is as well-placed as ever to take advantage.&nbsp;"Throughout the years, I've improved a lot (on clay) and today I feel physically, mentally... my game is pretty much ready to play on clay. Yeah, I definitely feel stronger than ever," said Sabalenka, who won the Madrid Open earlier this month.&nbsp;Elina Svitolina, a four-time quarter-finalist in Paris, opened the action under the roof on Court Suzanne Lenglen against Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez as play began on Sunday in drizzly conditions.&nbsp;Italian Open champion Jasmine Paolini, who was well beaten by Swiatek in the 2024 final, plays Yuan Yue.&nbsp;Chinese star Zheng Qinwen and rising Russian star Diana Shnaider are among the other women's hopefuls on court.&nbsp;Men's eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who has reached at least the semi-finals at all three clay-court Masters events this year, faces German Yannick Hanfmann.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Roland Garros to bid farewell to King of Clay Nadal, Sabalenka begins title bid

Roland Garros will pay tribute to its greatest champion with a ceremony for the retired Rafael Nadal on Sunday, while Aryna Sabalenka gets her French Open campaign up and running on the opening day of the tournament. Nadal, the record 14-time champion on the Paris clay, retired from tennis last November after an illustrious career. He returns to Court Philippe Chatrier a year after suffering a first-round exit at the hands of Alexander Zverev in what proved to be his final French Open. The Spaniard finished with a remarkable 112-4 win-loss record at Roland Garros, dominating the tournament since winning the title on his debut in 2005. Nadal hung up his racquet following the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, initially denying him an opportunity to wave goodbye to his adoring fans in Paris. His tally of 14 victories at a single Grand Slam appears unlikely to be beaten, with Margaret Court's 11 Australian Open titles second on the all-time list. Former rivals Roger Federer and Andy Murray are expected to attend Nadal's ceremony, as well as Novak Djokovic -- fresh off his 100th ATP title in Geneva. Nadal's heir apparent, Carlos Alcaraz, will start his title defence next week as a slight favourite to become the first man to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires since his compatriot's retirement. Victory over world number one Jannik Sinner in last weekend's Italian Open final gave Alcaraz the second seeding for Roland Garros. That raises the possibility of the world's top two players meeting in a Grand Slam final for the very first time on June 8. "I think for the people, for the tennis fans, I think it's great to have a match-up from some players that make them excited about watching that match," Alcaraz told his pre-tournament press conference of his budding rivalry with Sinner. "I think for the people and probably the people who don't like watching tennis, I think (our rivalry) is something that, because of that (they have) started to watch tennis." Djokovic will launch his sixth bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam triumph against American Mackenzie McDonald on Tuesday. The 38-year-old became just the third man to reach a century of tournament victories, after Jimmy Connors and Federer, by defeating Hubert Hurkacz in a three-hour epic in Switzerland on Saturday. But questions remain about Djokovic's form after losing in his opening matches in both Monte Carlo and Madrid to Alejandro Tabilo and Matteo Arnaldi, respectively. The Serb faces a difficult draw, with last year's runner-up Zverev a potential quarter-final opponent and Sinner possibly waiting in the last four. Sabalenka eyeing first French Open Women's world number one Sabalenka headlines the opening-day action with her first-round match against 75th-ranked Russian Kamilla Rakhimova. The Belarusian will kick off the schedule on Court Philippe Chatrier as she looks to make a strong start to her tilt at a first French Open title. Sabalenka has never reached the final at Roland Garros, but the tournament appears more open than in recent years, given the struggles of three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek. The Pole has slipped to fifth in the rankings and has not reached a WTA final since lifting her fourth French Open trophy last year. Sabalenka believes she is as well-placed as ever to take advantage. "Throughout the years, I've improved a lot (on clay) and today I feel physically, mentally... my game is pretty much ready to play on clay. Yeah, I definitely feel stronger than ever," said Sabalenka, who won the Madrid Open earlier this month. Elina Svitolina, a four-time quarter-finalist in Paris, opened the action under the roof on Court Suzanne Lenglen against Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez as play began on Sunday in drizzly conditions. Italian Open champion Jasmine Paolini, who was well beaten by Swiatek in the 2024 final, plays Yuan Yue. Chinese star Zheng Qinwen and rising Russian star Diana Shnaider are among the other women's hopefuls on court. Men's eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who has reached at least the semi-finals at all three clay-court Masters events this year, faces German Yannick Hanfmann. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The Spaniard finished with a remarkable 112-4 win-loss record at Roland Garros, dominating the tournament since winning the title on his debut in 2005.&nbsp;

Paris Saint-Germain warmed up for their Champions League final showdown with Inter Milan by winning the French Cup on Saturday as Bradley Barcola scored twice in a comfortable 3-0 win against Reims.&nbsp;Barcola netted twice in the space of four minutes early on to quickly extinguish whatever hopes Reims had of causing an upset at the Stade de France, and Achraf Hakimi added another goal before half-time.&nbsp;It was exactly the kind of smooth preparation coach Luis Enrique would have been hoping for ahead of the season-defining game against Inter in Munich on May 31, when PSG will be hoping to win the Champions League for the first time.&nbsp;"It was a really great evening. We got the job done quickly and we are pleased with the victory," Barcola told broadcaster France 2.&nbsp;"We knew we had to do the job in order to prepare in the best way possible for the (Champions League) final, we did it, and now we can go into the next match full of confidence."&nbsp;One minor issue to come out of the evening was the late withdrawal from the team of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.&nbsp;The Georgian winger was replaced in the starting line-up by Desire Doue and returned home early.&nbsp;"There is no problem. After the warm-up he wasn't feeling great and we decided not to take any risks. He will be fine to train on Tuesday," insisted Luis Enrique.&nbsp;PSG's victory, watched over 77,000 at the national stadium, allowed them to complete a clean sweep of the domestic honours for the second time in as many seasons since Luis Enrique became coach in 2023.&nbsp;They added the French Cup to the Ligue 1 title as well as the Champions Trophy, France's equivalent of a Super Cup.&nbsp;PSG have now won the French Cup a record 16 times, including eight times in the last decade. The next most successful club in the history of the competition are Marseille, who won the last of their 10 titles in 1989.&nbsp;"Now we have three of the four titles we could have won, and on the 31st I hope after the game we will all be celebrating going down in the history of the club," added Luis Enrique.- Barcola double - Reims were appearing in their first French Cup final since 1977 and were looking to win the trophy for the third time, with their last success coming in the 1950s.&nbsp;They held PSG twice during the league campaign but any prospect of them winning this time probably ended a week ago.&nbsp;That was when they slumped into the relegation play-off place on the final night of the Ligue 1 campaign, forcing them into a two-legged tie against second-tier Metz which they must win to remain in the top flight next season.&nbsp;The first leg of that tie ended in a 1-1 draw on Wednesday, and Reims must now prepare for the return match at home next Thursday.&nbsp;PSG wasted little time in putting their struggling opponents to the sword as Barcola's quickfire brace effectively decided the final before the midway point in the first half.Doue's through-ball sent Barcola through to open the scoring in the 16th minute, and Doue then latched onto a Marquinhos pass before squaring for Barcola to tap in and make it 2-0 on 19 minutes.&nbsp;The double took Barcola to 21 goals for the season overall, a tally bettered only in the PSG squad by Ousmane Dembele with 33.&nbsp;They had chances to score again in this one-sided contest before Hakimi made it 3-0 two minutes prior to the interval, cushioning in a Barcola cross to finish off a great move.&nbsp;That was the end of the scoring as Luis Enrique -- who gave Matfey Safonov a start in goal ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma -- took the chance to ring the changes after the break.However, Barcola was only a denied a hat-trick by a good save from Reims goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf, who also turned a Dembele cross-cum-shot onto the post.&nbsp;Having already won Ligue 1, PSG's victory means the Europa League place on offer to the Cup winners now goes to Lyon, who finished sixth in the league, while seventh-placed Strasbourg enter the Conference League.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Paris Saint-Germain warmed up for their Champions League final showdown with Inter Milan by winning the French Cup on Saturday as Bradley Barcola scored twice in a comfortable 3-0 win against Reims.

Paris Saint-Germain warmed up for their Champions League final showdown with Inter Milan by winning the French Cup on Saturday as Bradley Barcola scored twice in a comfortable 3-0 win against Reims. Barcola netted twice in the space of four minutes early on to quickly extinguish whatever hopes Reims had of causing an upset at the Stade de France, and Achraf Hakimi added another goal before half-time. It was exactly the kind of smooth preparation coach Luis Enrique would have been hoping for ahead of the season-defining game against Inter in Munich on May 31, when PSG will be hoping to win the Champions League for the first time. "It was a really great evening. We got the job done quickly and we are pleased with the victory," Barcola told broadcaster France 2. "We knew we had to do the job in order to prepare in the best way possible for the (Champions League) final, we did it, and now we can go into the next match full of confidence." One minor issue to come out of the evening was the late withdrawal from the team of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian winger was replaced in the starting line-up by Desire Doue and returned home early. "There is no problem. After the warm-up he wasn't feeling great and we decided not to take any risks. He will be fine to train on Tuesday," insisted Luis Enrique. PSG's victory, watched over 77,000 at the national stadium, allowed them to complete a clean sweep of the domestic honours for the second time in as many seasons since Luis Enrique became coach in 2023. They added the French Cup to the Ligue 1 title as well as the Champions Trophy, France's equivalent of a Super Cup. PSG have now won the French Cup a record 16 times, including eight times in the last decade. The next most successful club in the history of the competition are Marseille, who won the last of their 10 titles in 1989. "Now we have three of the four titles we could have won, and on the 31st I hope after the game we will all be celebrating going down in the history of the club," added Luis Enrique. - Barcola double - Reims were appearing in their first French Cup final since 1977 and were looking to win the trophy for the third time, with their last success coming in the 1950s. They held PSG twice during the league campaign but any prospect of them winning this time probably ended a week ago. That was when they slumped into the relegation play-off place on the final night of the Ligue 1 campaign, forcing them into a two-legged tie against second-tier Metz which they must win to remain in the top flight next season. The first leg of that tie ended in a 1-1 draw on Wednesday, and Reims must now prepare for the return match at home next Thursday. PSG wasted little time in putting their struggling opponents to the sword as Barcola's quickfire brace effectively decided the final before the midway point in the first half. Doue's through-ball sent Barcola through to open the scoring in the 16th minute, and Doue then latched onto a Marquinhos pass before squaring for Barcola to tap in and make it 2-0 on 19 minutes. The double took Barcola to 21 goals for the season overall, a tally bettered only in the PSG squad by Ousmane Dembele with 33. They had chances to score again in this one-sided contest before Hakimi made it 3-0 two minutes prior to the interval, cushioning in a Barcola cross to finish off a great move. That was the end of the scoring as Luis Enrique -- who gave Matfey Safonov a start in goal ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma -- took the chance to ring the changes after the break. However, Barcola was only a denied a hat-trick by a good save from Reims goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf, who also turned a Dembele cross-cum-shot onto the post. Having already won Ligue 1, PSG's victory means the Europa League place on offer to the Cup winners now goes to Lyon, who finished sixth in the league, while seventh-placed Strasbourg enter the Conference League. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Paris Saint-Germain warmed up for their Champions League final showdown with Inter Milan by winning the French Cup on Saturday as Bradley Barcola scored twice in a comfortable 3-0 win against Reims.

PSG beat Reims to win French Cup ahead of Champions League final

Inter Miami fought back from 3-1 down to grab a 3-3 draw at MLS Eastern Conference leaders the Philadelphia Union on Saturday thanks to a stoppage-time leveller from substitute Telasco Segovia.&nbsp;Israeli forward Tai Baribo scored twice for Philadelphia to give them the two goal advantage but Lionel Messi gave Miami hope with an 87th-minute free-kick before Venezuelan Segovia dramatically grabbed the point.&nbsp;Quinn Sullivan, called up this week by Mauricio Pochettino to the US national team squad, fired Philadelphia ahead in the seventh minute with a sweet strike after Miami's defence had failed to close down.&nbsp;Baribo made it 2-0 with an instinctive finish in the 44th minute as Miami's defensive troubles continued.&nbsp;The visitors got a foothold in the game in the 60th minute when Noah Allen floated in a cross from the left which was met by a firm header from Argentine Tadeo Allende.&nbsp;But Philadelphia restored their two-goal cushion when, from a long throw, Miami were unable to clear and Jean-Jacques Danley pounced on the loose ball and Baribo fired home.Messi beat Union keeper Andrew Rick with a characteristically well driven free-kick for his sixth goal of the season three minutes from the end of regulation time to set up a frantic finale.Jovan Lukic hit the bar from inside the box early in stoppage time as Philly looked to wrap-up the win but they were left crestfallen in the fifth minute of stoppage time when, after good work from Messi, Segovia pounced and blasted home.&nbsp;There was still time for one more chance but an unmarked Danley, who had an outstanding game in midfield, somehow headed wide from close range.&nbsp;While the result was a welcome sign of character from Miami, they remain with just one win in their past eight games in all competitions having conceded 23 goals.&nbsp;Javier Mascherano's side are sixth in the Eastern Conference and the former Barcelona and Argentina midfielder praised his team's response.&nbsp;"We showed character, personality. It was another difficult start of the game for us because in the beginning we conceded the goal... but the guys showed they want want to fight to get out of this situation," said the Miami coach.&nbsp;"We are in a bad trend, but with a lot of spirit to come back to be the team we were at the beginning of the season," he added before demanding better from his back line.&nbsp;“We cannot concede every single corner kick and every single throw in and give opponents opportunities to score... we need to be more focused in those situations,” Mascherano said.&nbsp;USA forward Patrick Agyemang had scored twice for Dean Smith's Charlotte but Malte Amundsen looked to have earned the Columbus Crew a point before Spaniard Pep Biel grabbed a 75th-minute winner for a 3-2 triumph.&nbsp;Mexican star Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano's stoppage-time header earned San Diego a 2-1 victory over the winless defending champion Los Angeles Galaxy.&nbsp;Former Arsenal and France striker Olivier Giroud's 77th-minute goal earned Los Angeles FC a 2-2 draw at Montreal while Duncan McGuire's first league goal of the season gave Orlando a 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers.&nbsp;Argentine Max Urruti's 84th-minute goal gave the New England Revolution a 3-3 draw at Sporting Kansas City after the visitors had let an early 2-0 lead slip.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Inter Miami fought back from 3-1 down to grab a 3-3 draw at MLS Eastern Conference leaders the Philadelphia Union on Saturday thanks to a stoppage-time leveller from substitute Telasco Segovia.

Inter Miami fought back from 3-1 down to grab a 3-3 draw at MLS Eastern Conference leaders the Philadelphia Union on Saturday thanks to a stoppage-time leveller from substitute Telasco Segovia. Israeli forward Tai Baribo scored twice for Philadelphia to give them the two goal advantage but Lionel Messi gave Miami hope with an 87th-minute free-kick before Venezuelan Segovia dramatically grabbed the point. Quinn Sullivan, called up this week by Mauricio Pochettino to the US national team squad, fired Philadelphia ahead in the seventh minute with a sweet strike after Miami's defence had failed to close down. Baribo made it 2-0 with an instinctive finish in the 44th minute as Miami's defensive troubles continued. The visitors got a foothold in the game in the 60th minute when Noah Allen floated in a cross from the left which was met by a firm header from Argentine Tadeo Allende. But Philadelphia restored their two-goal cushion when, from a long throw, Miami were unable to clear and Jean-Jacques Danley pounced on the loose ball and Baribo fired home. Messi beat Union keeper Andrew Rick with a characteristically well driven free-kick for his sixth goal of the season three minutes from the end of regulation time to set up a frantic finale. Jovan Lukic hit the bar from inside the box early in stoppage time as Philly looked to wrap-up the win but they were left crestfallen in the fifth minute of stoppage time when, after good work from Messi, Segovia pounced and blasted home. There was still time for one more chance but an unmarked Danley, who had an outstanding game in midfield, somehow headed wide from close range. While the result was a welcome sign of character from Miami, they remain with just one win in their past eight games in all competitions having conceded 23 goals. Javier Mascherano's side are sixth in the Eastern Conference and the former Barcelona and Argentina midfielder praised his team's response. "We showed character, personality. It was another difficult start of the game for us because in the beginning we conceded the goal... but the guys showed they want want to fight to get out of this situation," said the Miami coach. "We are in a bad trend, but with a lot of spirit to come back to be the team we were at the beginning of the season," he added before demanding better from his back line. “We cannot concede every single corner kick and every single throw in and give opponents opportunities to score... we need to be more focused in those situations,” Mascherano said. USA forward Patrick Agyemang had scored twice for Dean Smith's Charlotte but Malte Amundsen looked to have earned the Columbus Crew a point before Spaniard Pep Biel grabbed a 75th-minute winner for a 3-2 triumph. Mexican star Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano's stoppage-time header earned San Diego a 2-1 victory over the winless defending champion Los Angeles Galaxy. Former Arsenal and France striker Olivier Giroud's 77th-minute goal earned Los Angeles FC a 2-2 draw at Montreal while Duncan McGuire's first league goal of the season gave Orlando a 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers. Argentine Max Urruti's 84th-minute goal gave the New England Revolution a 3-3 draw at Sporting Kansas City after the visitors had let an early 2-0 lead slip. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Inter Miami fought back from 3-1 down to grab a 3-3 draw at MLS Eastern Conference leaders the Philadelphia Union on Saturday thanks to a stoppage-time leveller from substitute Telasco Segovia.

MLS: Lionel Messi helps Inter Miami fight back for 3-3 draw at Philadelphia

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.

Afp