MOMENTS EARLIER, EMOTIONS GOT THE BETTER OF HIM. NIKLAS SÜLE ABRUPTLY ENDED HIS FINAL INTERVIEW AND CARRIED A MCDONALD'S BAGS INSIDE

AFP

During Niklas Süle's final interview as a professional footballer, a curious moment arises: the centre-back suddenly feels peckish.

During his conversation with Sky presenter Sebastian Hellmann on the "Spielmacher" podcast, Süle announced his retirement. His contract with BVB expires at the end of the season. During the chat, he highlighted the standout moments of his 13-year professional career and candidly discussed his recurring weight issues. Towards the end, he even paused the interview to retrieve a bulging McDonald's bag from an adjoining room.

First things first. Before Süle presented his greasy gift, he stressed his principles and said he had never compromised his character. "At every club I've been to, I've made it clear who I am. Back then, I told Dortmund: 'If you're looking for a captain who shouts his head off – that's not me.' I spent an hour alone with Marco Rose, and he got me so motivated I felt ready to set the world on fire. He truly understood me. So I ended up as second or third captain and still wore the armband 15 times, even though I'd already explained I wasn't the shouting type. I thought, 'Maybe they're doing this because they say, "Hey, he earns the money, so he has to lead the way."' Why did I fit so well at Bayern for so long? Because there were other players who took on that role. Everyone in the team knew that,' he explained, adding, 'I don't say a word during the game.'

"I never forced anyone and said, 'Now pay me this and sign me!' I always played a different game. Anyone who says otherwise is lying." His agent, Volker Struth, had warned him about his candour. "Sometimes you have to watch that you're not too honest," he noted. "I've met thousands of players in my career and I don't think anyone would stand up and say, 'That Süle, he's a prick.' I can't imagine that. The person has always been much more important to me than playing 30 more games. That matters."

He admitted, "I certainly didn't get everything right," yet added, "I'm prouder of that than five league titles or five Champions League trophies. I've always stayed true to myself; sport never went to my head. My family and closest friends are very proud of that, and I know it," he said, his eyes filling with tears. "It almost makes me emotional." Moments later, the McDonald's bag made its grand entrance, prompting Hellmann to burst into laughter.

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Süle has repeatedly struggled with weight issues

"I don't know what time it is, but I'm starving," Süle declared with a broad grin, then stepped out of the room. "If this is my last interview as a pro, I'll order twelve cheeseburgers. There are four of us, so three each—simple maths—but I usually polish off six myself. That was just a little joke, in case anyone fancied one." Nevertheless, he took a bite out of a cheeseburger shortly afterwards and explained, with his mouth full, that he'd thought of the joke during the car journey. Hellmann helped himself too.

A few minutes earlier, Süle had opened up about the pressure he felt over his weight during his career. At FC Bayern Munich, he once fasted the day before a weigh-in and sweated in a raincoat inside a sauna to shed pounds quickly.

- Tim Ursinus

LUIS ENRIQUE SENDS MIKEL ARTETA MESSAGE BEFORE PSG V ARSENAL FINAL SHOWDOWN

Champions League showpiece sees old friends and team-mates go head to head once again on biggest stage

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Luis Enrique is expecting a “difficult” test when Paris Saint-Germain come up against Arsenal in the Champions League final as he prepares to lock horns with long-time friend Mikel Arteta once more.

Holders PSG reached the showpiece fixture in European club football for the second season in a row on Wednesday night, with a 1-1 second-leg draw away against Bayern Munich in Germany enough to seal a 6-5 aggregate victory in the semi-finals having initially edged a nine-goal thriller 5-4 on home soil last week.

It set up a final showdown with Arsenal at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 30, with the Gunners having secured their progress 24 hours earlier when Bukayo Saka’s late first-half goal sank Atletico Madrid 1-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate following a controversial 1-1 first-leg draw in Spain.

It will be a rematch of last season’s semi-final tie, which PSG won 3-1 on aggregate after a 1-0 away win in north London was followed by a tense 2-1 home triumph, before the Ligue 1 giants then lifted the Champions League trophy for the first time with a 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in Munich.

The game also sees Enrique once more go up against Arteta, a former team-mate at Barcelona with whom he has stayed in touch ever since their paths first crossed at the Camp Nou in the late 1990s.

Arteta spoke at length before last season’s Champions League semi-finals on his great admiration for Enrique and the support he showed him when he was trying to break through as a youngster at Barca, also hailing his coaching exploits and character, calling his fellow Spaniard an “unbelievable personality”.

Arteta said then: “For me, he’s one of the best coaches in the world and someone who helped me a huge amount. I have the utmost respect both for how he is as a person and his way of working.”

Such warm respect is clearly reciprocated by Enrique, who praised the job Arteta has done at Arsenal as he predicted a tough challenge in the final - but expressed his confidence in PSG’s attacking style to get the job done.

“I appreciate Mikelito Arteta!” Enrique said after PSG squeezed past Bayern, per Fabrizio Romano. “We used to be team-mates when we were kids, he did a great job at Arsenal.

“It will be a difficult, hard game but we believe in our football style.”

- GEORGE FLOOD

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SIR ALEX FERGUSON HEALTH UPDATE GIVEN AS MICHAEL OWEN EXPRESSES 'SHOCK' OVER EX-MAN UTD MANAGER BEING TAKEN TO HOSPITAL

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Michael Owen has opened up on his "shock" after learning that Sir Alex Ferguson had been taken to hospital, revealing he had spoken to the Manchester United legend just 24 hours earlier. The iconic former manager fell ill shortly before the Red Devils' Premier League victory over Liverpool, sparking concern across the football world.

Precautionary hospital trip from Old Trafford

The legendary manager was reportedly present at Old Trafford preparing to watch United take on their historic rivals when he began to feel unwell. Reports indicate that Ferguson was moved to medical care more than an hour before the scheduled kick-off on Sunday afternoon. The decision was described as a precautionary measure to ensure the well-being of the club's most successful manager ever.

While the sudden nature of the incident caused immediate worry among the United faithful, more positive news has since emerged. According to talkSPORT, Ferguson has already been allowed to return home to continue his recovery, with the situation deemed less serious than initially feared by some observers.

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Owen reveals 'sharp' Ferguson conversation

Former Manchester United striker Owen was among those surprised by the swift turn of events, sharing details of a lengthy phone conversation he had with Ferguson just a day before the Scotsman was hospitalised. Speaking on talkSPORT, Owen explained that the 84-year-old seemed in excellent spirits and perfect health during their Saturday morning catch-up.

"I spoke to him, I was on the phone to him for 40 minutes that morning," Owen revealed. "We're talking about football. We're talking about horses. As I say, he's got horses here [at Manor House Stables]. Most Saturday mornings, he gives me a call, and we go through all the horses for the day, and we share what we know and things like that."

Owen, who spent three seasons under Ferguson at Old Trafford, noted that there were no warning signs regarding his former boss' condition. "I speak to him regularly, and he sounded absolutely brilliant, sharp as a tack as normal," he added. "We were talking a lot about Scottish football and what was happening up there. So it was such a shock to hear, obviously, that the next day he was taken unwell, but hopefully it's not too serious."

Shared passion for horse racing

The bond between Owen and Ferguson has remained strong long after their professional relationship ended in 2012, largely due to their mutual love for horse racing. Owen even joked that he expects a call from the former manager very soon to discuss upcoming races at Chester.

"I haven't [had the chance to speak with him] since, but I would expect a message on my phone any time now because he'll see that we've got four or five runners today at Chester and he'll be wondering what's going on. Which horse should he be looking at?" Owen said.

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An enduring Old Trafford presence

Despite no longer holding a formal ambassadorial role at the club, Ferguson remains a constant presence at home matches. He is frequently seen in the directors' box, supporting the team he managed for over 26 years. His health has been a subject of public interest since he underwent emergency surgery following a brain haemorrhage in 2018, though this latest incident is not thought to be related.

The Manchester United community continues to hold the 13-time Premier League winner in the highest regard, and fans and former players alike will be heartened by Owen's account of the manager's mental sharpness as he prepares to return to his usual routine.

- Muhammad Zaki

VINCENT KOMOANY FUMES AT 'RIDICULOUS' HANDBALL CALLS THAT LED TO BAYERN'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXIT

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Vincent Kompany unleashed a blistering attack on the officiating after Bayern Munich’s Champions League dreams were ended by Paris Saint-Germain. The Belgian tactician watched his side fall to a 6-5 aggregate defeat at the Allianz Arena, but the post-match talk was dominated by two massive handball calls that went against the Bavarian giants.

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Vitinha smashes ball against Neves' arm

Bayern Munich’s elimination from the Champions League semi-finals following a tense 1-1 draw on the night was overshadowed by a series of controversial decisions. With a spot in the final against Arsenal on the line, the tension boiled over as the German side felt they were denied clear advantages.

The most debated moment arrived when Vitinha’s attempted clearance struck the outstretched arm of teammate Joao Neves inside the PSG box. Despite the Bayern players surrounding referee Joao Pinheiro in protest, no penalty was awarded. The decision stood because the current Laws of the Game protect players from handball calls when the ball is struck onto them by a teammate from close range, provided no immediate goal is scored. It was a bitter pill for Bayern to swallow, especially given the soft penalty they conceded in the first leg.

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Kompany hits out at 'ridiculous' handball rule

The Bayern Munich manager did not hold back after seeing his side dumped out of the competition, questioning the "common sense" of the officials monitoring the high-stakes clash.

“We have to look at some of the phases that were decided by the officials across the two games which… it’s never an excuse for everything but it matters,” Kompany said in his post-match assessment. “If we look at both legs probably too much went against us. The guys gave everything and we tried against a fantastic PSG team. [Joao Neves’] hand is in the air, it hits it. Because it’s from his own teammate it’s not a penalty. But if you look at both [situations], a little bit of common sense and it’s just ridiculous. Whatever needs to happen but it’s ridiculous. It doesn’t tell the whole game but it’s a one-goal game in the end.”

Nuno Mendes escapes red card

Kompany’s frustration was heavily compounded by an earlier flashpoint involving PSG defender Nuno Mendes, when the Portuguese international appeared to handle the ball deliberately to stop a Bayern attack. Already on a yellow card, Mendes seemed destined to be sent off. Instead, the referee awarded a free-kick to the visitors for an earlier infringement.

It was a moment that left the home crowd incensed. Bayern were already chasing the game against 11 men after Ousmane Dembele had given PSG the lead after just 141 seconds, and they firmly believed they deserved a numerical advantage. Commenting on the incident, Kompany suggested the official bottled a monumental decision: “I felt he pulled out because he realised he already gave him a yellow and he didn’t want to send him off for that.”

- Muhammad Zaki

BARCELONA FORWARD SAYS EL CLASICO ''THE LEAST OF PRESSURE' FOR PLAYERS

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With the La Liga title race reaching its decisive stage, all eyes are now on the upcoming El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou.

The pressure surrounding the fixture could hardly be bigger, as Barcelona know that avoiding defeat would place them in complete control of the title race, while Real Madrid simply cannot afford to drop points if they want to keep their hopes alive.

Ahead of the massive encounter, Barcelona forward Ferran Torres spoke to AS about the emotions, pressure, and excitement that come with playing in one of football’s biggest matches.

Despite the importance of the occasion, the Spaniard admitted that players often feel less pressure during games like El Clasico because these are the matches they dream of playing throughout their careers.

“This kind of match is the one every player dreams of playing. It’s actually the opposite. That’s when there’s the least pressure. 

“It’s fun. That’s when you most want to play, when you’re most motivated,” he said.

A decent record vs Real Madrid

Ferran already has significant experience against Madrid since joining Barcelona. 

Ferran Torres is not too worried about El Clasico. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

The Spanish forward has faced Los Blancos 14 times for the Catalan side and has regularly managed to hurt their defence, registering three goals and four assists in those matches.

One of his most memorable moments came during last season’s Copa del Rey final when he scored after getting past both Antonio Rudiger and Thibaut Courtois in a decisive attacking move.

Looking back at that goal, Ferran explained that footballers barely have time to process what is happening in moments like that because instinct takes over completely.

“When the game ended, I barely even remembered the play because you don’t have time to process it. 

“During the play, it was all about seeing the opening, and you don’t think about who’s in front of you or behind you – you just focus on scoring. 

“When you see the ball go in… honestly, it’s an incredible feeling,” he concluded.

- Swapnil

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THIERRY HENRY LIFTS LID ON PRIVATE TALKS WITH ARSENAL STAR AFTER ATLÉTICO MADRID WIN

Thierry Henry has given an insight into Bukayo Saka's condition in the lead-up to the semi-final second leg

Thierry Henry has revealed the private injury messages he shared with Bukayo Saka ahead of Arsenal's Champions League semi-final victory over Atletico Madrid.

Saka scored the only goal as the Gunners sealed a 2-1 aggregate win at a raucous Emirates Stadium. The 24-year-old, who has had an Achilles issue, only returned to action against Fulham on Saturday, scoring the second goal before being withdrawn at half-time.

After scoring the crucial goal against Atleti, he was taken off just before the hour mark. Post-match, Henry revealed the private chats he's been having with Saka and how he is still struggling fitness-wise.

Speaking on US broadcaster CBS, Henry said: "I would love to see if we can speak to Bukayo because I want him to explain to people that being a footballer is not always about the glamorous times.

"He's been questioned all season. Can he be the guy? Is he not the guy? Is he the star boy? Is he not the star boy? Is he better than him or not better than him?

"Today, he had to play with barely any training. I know he's suffering with his Achilles tendon. I spoke to him and he came back and was like, 'I've got to be on the pitch. I've got to be on the pitch against Fulham. I have to be. It's do or die.'

"So you have to give those guys a lot of credit. Sometimes we take it for granted. We all played through injuries. We all played with moments where you're not 100% and he had to do it, deliver it for Arsenal."

Henry did get to speak Saka and said: "I know what you went through the whole season, I know what you had to endure, what you were listening to from people.

"And what you had to do to be on that field, not only today but also against Fulham. Can you explain the pain, physically and mentally, to be able to reach a final?"

Saka declined to go into details but thanked Henry for his support. The Hale End graduate said: "It's not the moment. I don't want to say I'm struggling or make people feel sorry for me. As soon as I step onto that pitch, I have to be ready for the critics if I don't perform.

"But I'm very happy today. I've been speaking to you throughout the season. You've been there for me. You know what it's been like but today's a very special moment."

- Mark Whiley

JON RAHM REACHES AGREEMENT WITH DP WORLD TOUR, PAYS OUTSTANDING FINES

José Méndez/EPA

Jon Rahman and the DP World Tour have reached an agreement that will allow the Spaniard to compete on the Europe circuit this season.

Rahm turned down an original offer by the European tour to return earlier this year, telling reporters in March the circuit was “extorting players” who wanted to return from LIV Golf.

“The DP World Tour and Jon Rahm have come to an agreement on conditional releases to play in conflicting tournaments on LIV Golf during the remainder of its 2026 season. This involves payment of all outstanding fines accrued from 2024 to date, along with participation in agreed DP World Tour tournaments (outside the majors) in the remainder of the 2026 season,” a statement released by the DP World Tour on Tuesday read.

The deal is similar to one eight other LIV players agreed to in February, including Tyrrell Hatton. In exchange for “conditional releases” to play LIV events in 2026, players must pay all outstanding fines for past violations of the conflicting event rules and participate in “stipulated” DP World Tour tournaments.

“I was never worried about that. There was some things I believed in that I wanted them to agree with me, and I knew it was a matter of time. I also understand they have their bylaws and their way to go about things and they have to follow certainly procedures, and things are never as easy or as fast as you would think they would be, or at least I would have liked, but I was never worried,” Rahm said Tuesday at the LIV Golf event in Virginia.

“My only concern right now, when it comes to those events in October, is the due date (with his wife’s pregnancy) that we have. That’s the only issue I have that would make me not be at the Spanish Open. Besides that, I think they can count on my participation.”

The releases are not precedent-setting and the next deadline for players to apply or reapply for membership before the 2027 season will be in November.

Rahm will be eligible to earn Race to Dubai points starting at next week’s PGA Championship and he will also be eligible to play for Europe at next year’s Ryder Cup if he follows the guidelines of his conditional release and remains in membership through this season and 2027.

- Rex Hoggard

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NY Knicks' Players Turned Away From Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter's Met Gala After Party

Some New York Knicks' players went from courtside glory to curbside rejection ... getting turned away from one of the hottest Met Gala after-after parties in NYC ... TMZ has learned.

Multiple sources tell TMZ ... several Knicks stars tried to hit up Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter's ultra-exclusive bash at Zero Bond late Monday night -- just hours after their Game 1 playoff win -- but couldn't get past the door.

In case you didn't know ... the Knicks didn't just win .... they obliterated Philly 137-98 and made history in the process as the first NBA team ever to win three consecutive playoff games by 25 points or more.

We're told the party, held on the club's main 5th floor, was locked down tight with a strict guest list capped at around 200 people ... even though the space can hold nearly double that.

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Translation ... if you weren't on the list -- or tried sneaking in a plus one -- you were out of luck.

The Knicks weren't alone either ... plenty of known faces got turned away as Madonna and Sabrina kept the vibe intentionally intimate.

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Inside, though, it was a full-on A-list scene. Katy Perry, Margot Robbie, Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner all made it in, along with Serena Williams, Baz Luhrmann, Adrien Brody, Georgina Chapman, plus Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez.

And in a small world moment ... Katy and Orlando Bloom ended up under the same roof ... famous exes, but we're told no drama in sight.

Earlier in the night, most of the crowd bounced between the usual Met Gala circuit -- including the GQ and Saint Laurent parties -- before landing at the Zero Bond bash, which kicked off around 1 AM and ran until about 4 AM.

Security was no joke either. Our sources say the entire block around the venue was shut down and heavily guarded. We're told some of the rejected players headed over to The Box.

The Knicks may be making history on the court ... but off it? Not even a 39-point blowout was enough to score all access.

- TMZ

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GABRIEL JESUS APPEARS TO SLAP ATLÉTICO MADRID STAR AS TEMPERS FLAIR AFYER ARSENAL WIN

Gabriel Jesus appeared to slap Marc Pubill shortly after Arsenal’s semi-final win (Picture: X)

Atletico Madrid defender Marc Pubill appeared to get slapped in the face by Gabriel Jesus as he aggressively intruded on Arsenal’s celebrations after last night’s Champions League semi-final second leg.

A week on from the sides’ 1-1 draw in Madrid, Bukayo Saka scored the decisive goal to send the Gunners through to this year’s showpiece, where they will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich.

Budapest’s Puskas Arena will stage Arsenal’s second-ever appearance in a Champions League final on May 30, two decades on from the club’s painful defeat to Barcelona when Arsene Wenger was at the helm.

Wild celebrations broke out at the Emirates as referee Daniel Siebert blew his whistle to signal full-time, with Mikel Arteta’s jubilant squad soaking up the occasion with supporters inside the stadium.

But the moment took an unsavoury turn as Atleti right-back Pubill shoved an unsuspecting Viktor Gyokeres from behind, sparking a furious reaction from Cristhian Mosquera and Jesus, who had been arm-in-arm with their Swedish team-mate.

Fan footage shows Mosquera attempting to shepherd Pubill away from Gyokeres, but not before Jesus – an unused substitute on the night -appeared to land a heavy blow on the side of the Spaniard’s face – sending his head spinning backwards.

Myles Lewis-Skelly and Declan Rice were both seen trying to deescalate the situation and Pubill eventually off walked off, before making his way towards the away dressing room in north London.

Saka scored the decisive goal in north London (Picture: Getty)

It was initially unclear what had triggered Pubill to approach Gyokeres at full-time and neither manager was asked about the incident when facing the media in the immediate aftermath.

However, a separate clip doing the rounds on social media shows Gyokeres goading Pubill just moments earlier, screaming in the full-back’s direction on the halfway line.

Gyokeres gave Atleti’s defenders a torrid time for much of the clash, doing the dirty work and proving a handful in what is arguably his finest and most important performance yet for the Gunners.

‘He was immense,’ Arteta said of Gyokeres’ display when talking to Amazon Prime shortly after the final whistle.

‘You can see the reaction from the crowd every time he had the ball, his work-rate and what he’s giving the team is just incredible.’

A beaming Arteta said he had never before felt such a ‘special’ and ‘unique’ energy inside the Emirates during his reign as head coach.

‘It’s an incredible night. We made history again together. I cannot be happier and prouder of everyone involved in this football club,’ he added.

‘The manner that we got to see outside the stadium was special and unique.

Arsenal’s players soaked up the moment with fans in the Emirates crowd (Picture: Getty)

‘The atmosphere that our supporters created, the energy, the way they lived every ball with us, it made it special and unique. I never felt that in the stadium.

‘We knew how much it meant to everybody. We put everything in, the boys did an incredible job.

- Tom Olver

WESLEY SNEIJDER SAYS UEFA SHOULD HAVE CANCELED ARSENAL'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DECIDER VS ATLÉTICO MADRID BEFORE HALF-TIME & CLAIMS GUNNERS 'DON'T HAVE ANY TOP PLAYERS'

Champions League winner Wesley Sneijder has launched a scathing attack on the quality of Arsenal’s semi-final victory over Atletico Madrid, suggesting UEFA should have called the second leg clash off after just 35 minutes. Despite the Gunners winning 1-0 at the Emirates to secure a 2-1 aggregate victory, the Dutch legend was left entirely unimpressed by the spectacle.

Sneijder calls for UEFA intervention

In a damning assessment of the semi-final clash, the former Real Madrid and Inter playmaker joked that the governing body should have stepped in and stopped the match before the half-time whistle had even blown. Bukayo Saka eventually scored the winning goal of the tie, but Sneijder felt the level of football on show was far below the standard expected of such a prestigious stage in European competition.

Speaking on Ziggo Sport, the outspoken Dutchman delivered a brutal verdict on the proceedings in north London. "I said after 35 minutes, UEFA must intervene," Sneijder said. "They need to call London: both teams off the pitch, and tomorrow the final will be played between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. I knew this would happen, Atletico dropped back and gave away possession, and Arsenal had a lot of control over the ball."

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No 'top players' at the Emirates

Sneijder did not stop at criticising the match itself, as he aimed a side-swipe at the personnel available to Mikel Arteta. While the Dutchman acknowledged the manager's achievement in leading the Gunners to secure their place in the final with a hard-fought 1-0 win, he argued that the squad lacks genuine world-class talent compared to the European giants of the past.

"I looked at the players again, and Arteta already deserves a statue," Sneijder added. "He simply doesn't have any top players, and with the current squad, he manages to push Atletico back, which is impressive." The comments come despite Arsenal remaining unbeaten in the competition and conceding only six goals across 14 matches, showcasing a defensive resilience that has defined their run to Budapest.

Simeone refuses to make excuses

While Sneijder was busy questioning the quality of the match, Atleti boss Diego Simeone took a more humble approach to his side's exit. Despite a controversial moment where his team believed they should have been awarded a penalty, the Argentine refused to make excuses and instead focused on the strength of the Premier League leaders.

"If we were eliminated, it's because our opponent deserved to advance. They were clinical in the first half and earned their place. But what I feel is tranquillity, peace. The team gave everything they had," Simeone said. "We came to compete against an incredibly powerful team, and with our own strengths, we fought as hard as we could. I'm grateful to our fans, our players, and I'm proud to be where I am. I said during preseason at the stadium that we were going to compete, and we did. Unfortunately, we didn't win anything, that's true, but we reached places that aren't easy to reach."

Eyes on the final in Budapest

The Gunners will now head to Budapest to face the winner of the clash between PSG and Bayern Munich. The French side currently hold a 5-4 lead following a chaotic first leg, a match that Sneijder clearly feels represented a higher level of football than what was witnessed in London. Arteta will likely ignore the noise from the outside as he prepares his side for a historic showdown on the European stage, with Arsenal just 90 minutes away from potentially lifting their first-ever European Cup.

- Muhammad Zaki

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