Carlo Ancelotti has called Xabi Alonso “one of the best in the world” amid rumours the Spaniard will replace him as Real Madrid manager.
On Friday, Bayer Leverkusen head coach Alonso said he would be leaving the German club at the end of this season.
Alonso is set to be announced as the new Real Madrid boss once Ancelotti’s departure is officially confirmed.
Speaking before Madrid’s El Clasico La Liga fixture against rivals Barcelona on Sunday, Ancelotti said Alonso “has done an incredible job and he has the doors open to him because he has shown he is one of the best in the world”.
But the 65-year-old, who is rumoured to be the next Brazil manager, refused to directly answer any questions about own his managerial future.
“With this club, the honeymoon doesn’t end,” said Ancelotti. “The honeymoon with Madrid will last until the last day of my life.”
Carlo Ancelotti has won 15 trophies across two spells as Real Madrid manager and last season led Los Blancos to a Champions League-La Liga double.
But this campaign Real trail Barcelona by four points in the league with four matches remaining, and could end up without a trophy for the first time in four seasons.
Last year, Alonso led Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title, without losing a game, and the German Cup in his first full season as a senior club manager.
Tries: Vorster, W Louw, Moodie, Hanekom, De Klerk 2 Cons: Goosen, Johannes 5 Pen: Goosen
Cardiff (0) 21
Play-off chasing Cardiff were left empty-handed as a late comeback fell short against the Bulls.
The hosts crossed for six tries in a desperately one-sided contest at Loftus Versfeld until the final 10 minutes.
What Cardiff’s defence coach Gethin Jenkins made of his team’s scatterbrain resistance can only be imagined when they trailed 45-7 after 52 minutes.
Cardiff knew their best hope of claiming the single point that could be enough to secure a top-eight finish would be from scoring tries.
But they fell agonisingly short of a bonus point despite second-half tries from Alex Mann, Teddy Williams and Gabriel Hamer-Webb.
No team has made more tackles in the league this season than Cardiff and that position rarely looked under threat as Bulls dominated from the start.
The hosts romped into a 31-0 lead with a combination of far more than just typical South African brute force.
Willie le Roux, among three returning Springboks, and Canan Moodie revelled with so much possession and the acres of space they were allowed by Cardiff.
Moodie set up the first try for Harold Vorster before galloping clear from 40m out off Le Roux’s perfectly timed pass.
Le Roux twice set up Sebastian de Klerk for easy scores. The first from Johan Mulder’s wayward kick before leaving Harri Millard ball-watching for the wing’s second.
Trailing 45-7, the arrival of Taulupe Faletau and Williams off the bench galvanised a late Cardiff rally.
Mann combined with Williams for a second try and Hamer-Webb got his fifth in three games in the last eight minutes.
Cardiff captain Josh McNally said: “Our game just didn’t come together. We showed in the last 20 minutes what we could’ve done but we didn’t fire any shots in the first half.
“When you give a quality side like the Bulls so much possession and momentum then it’s going to be hard to come back.
Bulls: Willie le Roux; Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Sebastian de Klerk; Johan Goosen, Zak Burger, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johann Grobbelaar, Wilco Louw, Cobus Wiese, JF van Heerden, Marcell Coetzee, Ruan Nortje (capt), Cameron Hanekom
Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Alulutho Tshakweni, Mornay Smith, Jannes Kirsten, Marco van Staden, Keagan Johannes, Devon Williams, Stedman Gans.
Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Josh Adams, Harri Millard, Ben Thomas, Gabriel Hamer-Webb; Tinus de Beer, Johan Mulder; Corey Domachowski, Evan Lloyd, Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, Rory Thornton, Alex Mann, James Botham, Alun Lawrence.
Replacements: Liam Belcher, Danny Southworth, Rhys Litterick, Teddy Williams, Dan Thomas, Taulupe Faletau, Aled Davies, Rory Jennings.
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (SARU), Dylen November (SARU)
Four goals scored, three points earned, second place secured, one huge game left for Arsenal this season.
Renee Slegers’ side ensured they will go into their Champions League final against Barcelona on 24 May on the back of a victory, following a topsy-turvy 4-3 win over Manchester United on Saturday lunchtime.
There are reasons to be cheerful for the Gunners, who produced a display of real attacking verve at times against United, scoring three goals in 16 minutes after half-time while having 16 shots in total.
Even against the formidable reigning European champions Barca, who could seal another Liga F domestic title this weekend, Arsenal should be able to pose attacking questions.
Alessia Russo is the joint-winner of the Women’s Super League (WSL) Golden Boot with 12 goals, while Arsenal have won their past eight home league matches while scoring four or more goals every time.
But the concerns for Arsenal lie in defence, with 12 goals conceded in their past three WSL matches. Five shipped against Aston Villa, four in defeat by Brighton, then three to almost allow Manchester United back into the game.
The manner of the three United goals will cause concern too. Ella Toone was unmarked to head home and make it 1-1 after 13 minutes.
Then in the second half, with Arsenal seemingly safe three goals to the good, Katie McCabe’s dreadful pass square across the back four allowed Elisabeth Terland to score before the Irish defender fouled Celin Bizet to concede a penalty, converted by Maya le Tissier.
“Arsenal opened the door for Man Utd and that door should’ve been nailed shut at 4-1,” former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis told BBC Two. “They know that anything remotely like this against Barcelona and they will be punished.
‘Arsenal’s biggest game since 2006’
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Slegers will have to solve the problem of a defence which has not kept a clean sheet in all competitions since March, against a Barcelona side which has scored 113 goals in 28 league games.
In Europe, Barca have been just as deadly with a remarkable 18 goals in four Champions League knockout ties. After netting 10 over two legs versus Wolfsburg, they put eight past runaway WSL champions Chelsea and could have had more.
Slegers has to find a way to cut out the defensive errors and loss of concentration which allowed United back into the match on Saturday. She also has to find a solution to the goalkeeper situation.
First choice Daphne van Domselaar has not played since the second leg against Lyon, which she featured in after a spell out with an ankle problem.
Her understudy Manuela Zinsberger has not convinced in the Dutchwoman’s absence, and Slegers will surely hope her first choice is available for the final.
What is certain is that Slegers will try to tighten up her back line while maintaining the attacking verve which has become Arsenal’s trademark since she replaced Jonas Eidevall as manager earlier this season.
As well as Russo finding her shooting boots under Slegers – 12 goals in 20 appearances – winger Chloe Kelly has a new lease of life since joining on loan in January, while attacking midfielder Mariona Caldentey must rank as one of the signings of the season as she prepares to face former club Barca.
“I felt like Arsenal let Man Utd back in the game towards the end of the first half, but the second half is what we’ve come to expect with the high press and finishing,” former Gunners player Fara Williams told BBC Two.
“Then the lapse of concentration is something they can’t afford to do in the Champions League final in a few weeks’ time.
Arsenal and Man Utd gear up for underdog roles
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The Arsenal players gave no indication of wanting to give up on their attacking outlook for the final.
“We showed in the final third today we were great,” Kelly told the BBC. “We’ve got a lot of training in our legs to get through to be ready for the final.”
Arsenal captain Kim Little added: “The most important thing is to communicate and make sure you’re fluid. When we do that well, we’re at our best.
“That is part of our game – we are one of the teams that are in the press the most. Against Barcelona, they are one of the best teams in the world so we’ll have to take that into consideration.”
Manchester United meanwhile are preparing for a major final of their own, as they defend the FA Cup against Chelsea at Wembley next weekend.
Marc Skinner’s side are winless in four, with two draws plus defeats by the Blues and Arsenal – the two sides above them in the WSL – to round out an uneven league campaign.
“The WSL is done now. The FA Cup final is a different game,” Skinner told the BBC. “We had to chase the game, we had to win it if we were going to finish second.
“We’ll have a plan against Chelsea. I just think it’ll be a completely different game.”
“We know what it takes to play in the FA Cup – we’ve got all week to prepare ourselves,” added Toone. “It’s a final so anything can happen.”
Both Arsenal and United will start as underdogs in their respective finals. If they can bring the same attacking prowess they showed on Saturday, they could both cause an upset.
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s daughter Ramona Sarsgaard has been arrested amid a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Columbia University that saw the main campus library shut down
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s daughter Ramona has been arrested
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s daughter, Ramona Sarsgaard, has found herself in hot water after getting arrested following a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Columbia University. The 18-year-old student was slapped with a “desk appearance ticket for criminal trespassing,” according to reports.
Ramona was allegedly amongst the crowd of some 80 people rallying outside the academic institution’s Butler Library during the peak of finals week. During the protest, it was reported that some students took to standing on desks inside the library shouting out “Free Palestine.”
Additionally, they taped messages on tables and unfurled a banner from the bookcases emblazoned with, “Columbia will burn.”
At least two university security personnel sustained injuries. The New York Police Department descended on the scene, resulting in a total of 80 arrests, reports the Mirror US.
Maggie is yet to address Ramona’s arrest(Image: Victor Boyko/Getty Images)
Fox News reports the crowd was composed of 19 males and 61 females, who were hauled off by authorities. A source told the news network that no less than 65 of those detained by police were enrolled students at the prestigious Ivy League school.
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The NYPD dispersed the demonstration, with circulating video clips capturing protesters being paraded out of the building in zip ties and onto police buses. Beyond the arrests, there have been reports of 65 suspensions handed out to students.
It remains uncertain whether Ramona faced suspension. Meanwhile, another 33 people, including affiliates of the institution, have been interdicted from the campus premises post-protest.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, who is the older sister of actor Jake Gyllenhaal, has yet to break her silence regarding the incident involving her daughter.
Ramona’s mum Maggie is also a Columbia University alumnus, where she studied English Literature before shining on the silver screen in blockbusters like The Dark Knight. Maggie and her husband, Peter Sarsgaard, were over the moon to welcome Ramona into their lives as well as daughter Gloria.
Acting talents Maggie and Peter have both dipped their toes in cinematic ventures delving into aspects of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Maggie made waves as a British-Israeli tycoon championing peace between Israel and Palestine in the acclaimed miniseries The Honorable Woman.
Discussing the series with the Hollywood Reporter, Maggie remarked: “It can be so difficult to have a conversation about what is happening in Israel and Palestine right now.
“[The show] very consciously does not take a side; it doesn’t say, ‘We believe this, and we don’t believe that.’ We lay out aspects of the conflict, and we ask the audience to think and feel for themselves.”
Peter took on a role in September 5, a dramatic retelling of the 1972 Munich Massacre’s tragic events, when Palestinian terrorists targeted the Olympic Games, holding Israeli athletes at knife-point.
The Mirror has contacted Maggie’s representatives for comment.
Tries: Batchelor 2, Lewis, Broadbent 2, Burgess Goals: Lewis 6
Catalans (12) 12
Hull KR reached the Challenge Cup for the second time in three seasons, after overpowering Catalans Dragons 36-12 in York.
James Batchelor crossed within four minutes and then claimed a second score after a lengthy video review to put Rovers on top.
Two tries in five minutes from Reimis Smith and Luke Keary put Les Dracs ahead, but Mikey Lewis wrestled back a narrow 16-12 lead before the break.
Hull KR restarted with high intensity as Lewis, who contributed 16 points, booted a penalty before Jack Broadbent’s scorching run opened up a 12-point cushion.
Hopes rising in Humberside
Hull KR have gone 40 years without a major trophy and lifted their only Challenge Cup even further back, in 1980.
But hopes are sky high in Humberside, with Rovers sitting top of Super League and now in their ninth Challenge Cup final after an emphatic second-half display.
KR showed first as both sides ignored the unusually high spring temperatures and went full-tilt in a breathless first half.
Batchelor chased down Lewis’ kick through to score after Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet failed to punch the ball out of the in-goal area, and then added a hotly-debated second try after a lengthy video review.
Matthieu Laguerre appeared to ground the ball at the same time as the second-rower, but video referee Ben Thaler could not overrule Chris Kendall’s on-field decision to award the try.
Dragons offered little in attack in the opening 15 minutes but then exploded into life, as Smith cut back inside to split open the Rovers defence and cross near the posts.
And when Keary chased down a chip ahead soon after, Thaler did this time overrule Kendall – who had called offside – as the Dragons pinched the lead.
Catalans went close to extending that lead moments later, but Julian Bousquet’s rash flicked offload just metres from the line instead found a Rovers hand.
But the match turned again before half-time as Jai Whitbread’s brilliant offload in the tackle sent Lewis flying over to restore the Hull KR advantage.
Lewis booted a penalty as Rovers piled on the pressure after the restart and then cracked the French side when Broadbent spotted a gap and launched a scorching diagonal run through to the posts.
Jez Litten’s thrilling run from his own half sparked a breathless move which fell just short, but KR killed the game with 10 minutes left as Catalans visibly wilted.
EXCLUSIVE: The intergalactic-inspired singer is set to return to the Britain’s Got Talent stage for the ITV show’s third live semi-final this evening
Mickey is gearing up for an explosive semi final tonight on Britain’s Got Talent
Mickey Callisto is set to dazzle once again as he returns to the Britain’s Got Talent stage tonight for the third live semi-final – and he’s promising nothing short of a “passion-packed, flamboyant” performance that’ll light up Saturday night TV.
The intergalactic-inspired singer, whose Freddie Mercury tribute wowed judges and viewers earlier in the series, is aiming to book his place in the grand final and edge closer to the life-changing £250,000 prize and a coveted spot at the Royal Variety Performance.
“Like always I am very excited just to be able to perform again for the nation!” Mickey tells us exclusively. “The stage is where I am happiest and to entertain people is the only thing I was born to do.”
Rock icon Freddie Mercury was adored around the world as the frontman of Queen
With eight acts competing tonight – including Electric Umbrella, Bao, Jasmine Rice and gymnast Albert Amores – the stakes couldn’t be higher. Only two acts will make it through to the final, either via the public vote or a Golden Buzzer from the judges.
Mickey, who says his performance will be full of “passion, flare, flamboyance but most of all fun,” is fully aware of the expectations, especially performing in front of Bruno Tonioli – who once counted Queen frontman Freddie Mercury as a friend.
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“To perform for Bruno who actually knew Freddie is a great thing in itself. There is always pressure but I would like to think I was doing the Queen fans proud too and of course my fans,” he says. He adds, “I hope Freddie would have loved it. He taught me to sing with passion and make people feel involved in the performance. I think he would have liked Simon for his honesty and also sense of humour.”
His show-stopping audition not only earned him a standing ovation but also helped bring Queen back into the UK charts – something Mickey describes as “like scoring a goal for your favourite football team.”
“Not many things make me shed a tear but I certainly did seeing that,” he said. “To think I have contributed to their already phenomenal legacy… It was a very proud moment.”
Mickey’s act is based off an impression of Freddie Mercury
Off-stage, Mickey is a self-described space fanatic and football lover who writes and produces all of his own music. His alter ego was born out of a fascination with astronomy. “Callisto is one of the 4 Galilean moons of Jupiter,” he explains. “My star sign is Sagittarius which rules Jupiter in astrology – hence Mickey Callisto.”
Fans can expect another glam look this evening – and yes, he’s ready to compete with Amanda Holden in the style stakes. “Of course it will be a glam outfit,” he laughs. “You’ll definitely have the passion of Freddie but you will be getting the full Mickey experience.”
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The Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals continue tonight on ITV1, with guest appearances from musical Just For One Day and last year’s winner Sydnie Christmas — who Mickey says is “a great personality as well as being an amazing singer.”
Could Mickey be next in line for the BGT crown? He’s dreaming big: “One is perform at Wembley Stadium and also the Stadium of Light… Whether I sing Queen or my own songs, I receive the same response.”
