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Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said retaining the Spanish Super Cup this week would be a boost for his team’s other ambitions this season. The record 15-time champions face Athletic Bilbao today in a semi-final clash at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Barca won the competition last season as the first part of a domestic treble, the first triumph of Flick’s reign, followed up by triumphs in La Liga and the Copa del Rey. “This tournament is a little bit different (to the equivalent competition) in Germany, but I like it,” said former Bayern Munich coach Flick. “For us to win the Super Cup (last season) gave us a lot of energy for the rest of the season and this is also what we want this year.” Even though significant questions remain around their defending, Barcelona are favourites to win the Super Cup and lead La Liga after nine consecutive top flight victories. Despite being outplayed by neighbours Espanyol in a tense derby clash on Saturday, late goals and a sensational performance from stopper Joan Garcia helped the Catalans claim a 2-0 victory. Flick insisted his team had to perform better at the back if they are to succeed in the sixth edition of the tournament held in Saudi Arabia. “It will not be an easy match (if) we make the same mistakes as on Saturday, it will not be easy, so we have to work on our things,” continued Flick. “We have to play much better in the defence, we have to play connected as one team, and this is what I missed on Saturday, so we have to make things much better.”Central defender Ronald Araujo could return to action this week after an extended mental health break. The Uruguayan was granted leave for around a month following a red card in Barcelona’s 3-0 Champions League defeat by Chelsea in November. “We will see this training (session) today and I will also want to speak with him, so we have not decided how to do it tomorrow,” said Flick. “I think it takes time, so if he feels ready for tomorrow maybe we will change something, but at the moment it’s not our plan to do this.” Flick confirmed Barcelona are close to signing Joao Cancelo from Al Hilal on loan until the end of the season, but the deal has not been completed. “With Joao maybe he can give us more options also as full-back, both sides in the offence, good quality, but (as far as) I know, it’s not done,” said Flick. Cancelo spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Barcelona from Manchester City. Athletic, eighth in La Liga, last won the Super Cup in 2021, beating Barcelona in the final, and have lifted the trophy on three occasions. Only the Catalans and Real Madrid, on 13 triumphs, have a better record. “It’s widely expected that the final will be Barca against Madrid, but a lot can happen in 90 minutes, and we have to go out there and capitalise on that,” said Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde. “Our intention is to take advantage of any opportunity we get. We know the difficulties and the opponent we’re facing, we have to try to overcome them, and that’s about it.” Real Madrid’s Mbappe to miss Spanish Super CupReal Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe will miss the Spanish Super Cup this week as he recovers from a knee sprain. The Spanish giants did not name the French superstar, the team’s top goalscorer, in their squad for the tournament. Mbappe was diagnosed with the issue last week and a source close to the 27-year-old said he would likely be sidelined for at least three weeks. Xabi Alonso’s side face city rivals Atletico Madrid tomorrow in the semi-finals. The Spanish coach is under pressure after a disappointing start to the season, with his team trailing champions Barca by four points in La Liga. 

Coach Herve Renard Sunday said Saudi Arabia are expecting a feisty clash against Jordan in the semi-final of the FIFA Arab Cup today.Renard, who coached Saudi Arabia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Sunday also said his players won’t adopt half measures against the 2023 AFC Asian Cup finalists.“After reaching this stage of a tournament, all matches are usually difficult and tough, and require the best effort from every player. And certainly all of my players are aware of this andthey are ready for Jordan,” Renard said Sunday at a press conference.“I have confidence in the players’ ability to perform at their best and win so we can reach the final,” Renard said ahead of the match scheduled to take place at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.“Our preparations have been good for this match. We will be playing to win so we can play the final,” the popular Frenchman added.The Saudi coach added: “Our goal is to to get the win in order to please the Saudi fans who have come to Qatar in large numbers to support the team. We will spare no effort to raise the flag of Saudi football here.”Renard, 57, said that he has ‘a good relationship’ with Jordan’s coach Jamal Sellami.“I know he is focused on working with his own team just like any other coach. I have worked with him for a long time,” he said.Morocco coach Sellami Sunday said: “Our preparations are good, we gave some players a rest and Sunday will be the final preparation.”The coach added: “We will face a strong and a title favourite team. They have no absences while we have a key player missing out. For the first time, we will play without Yazan al-Naimat and Musa al-Taamari together. We will have to defend smart in the match.”Sellami continued: “We know the strength of the Saudi national team. We will have to be at our best.”The Jordan coach admitted Saudi Arabia will be a tough opponent and that his side won’t be thinking of the final just yet.Sellami told reporters Sunday: “My focus is on the next match. We will face a solid team in defence, attack and midfield. They have some of the best players in Asia. They also have Mohammed Kanno, who has returned to his best form.“The most important thing now is to face Saudi Arabia, and then consider the final.“I have a good relationship with Herve Renard and there’s mutual respect also. He deserves respect and is worthy of it.” 

Roberto Mancini’s arrival at Al Sadd marks a major test not just for the celebrated Italian coach, but also for Qatar’s most decorated football club.For Mancini, who turns 61 at the end of this month, returning to the Gulf barely a year after a turbulent stint with Saudi Arabia represents both a lucrative opportunity and a reputational gamble. He will reportedly earn up to €21mn over two and a half years — a windfall that extends his run as one of world football’s best-paid managers.Al Sadd confirmed the appointment Thursday, announcing that Mancini had signed a two-and-a-half-season deal and sharing photos of him holding the club shirt. “Benvenuto Signor Mancini,” the club posted on social media, using the Italian word for “welcome,” without revealing financial details.Mancini began his managerial career in Italy with Fiorentina, Lazio and Inter Milan. His most successful spell came during his time with Inter, where he won three consecutive Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia crowns and two Supercoppa Italiana triumphs between 2004 and 2008.He later managed Manchester City from 2009 to 2013, leading them to FA Cup glory in 2011 and a maiden Premier League title the following season — the club’s first in 44 years. After a second-place finish in 2012–13, Mancini was replaced by Manuel Pellegrini.Further spells followed at Galatasaray and Zenit Saint Petersburg, either side of a second stint at Inter, before he guided Italy to the Euro 2020 title. Yet since that triumph, Mancini’s reputation has waned. His high-profile tenure with Saudi Arabia — launched amid huge fanfare and a reported €30mn-a-year salary — ended after just 14 months following disappointing results in the Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers. Reports suggest he received around €65mn in compensation after his departure.Linked briefly with the Nottingham Forest job before the Premier League club appointed Sean Dyche in October, Mancini now takes charge of an Al Sadd side that has struggled for consistency this season despite the marquee signing of former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino.The Qatari giants — who dismissed Felix Sanchez in October despite winning the league and cup double last term — currently sit sixth in the Qatar Stars League with 14 points from nine matches, eight adrift of leaders Al Gharafa. In the AFC Champions League Elite, they are 10th in their group and face an uphill battle to reach the knockout rounds.Mancini’s appointment is therefore as much about restoring Al Sadd’s domestic dominance as it is about salvaging his own managerial credibility. The club will expect an immediate turnaround, while Mancini will be eager to prove he can still deliver success outside Europe’s top leagues.A clause reportedly allowing him to leave in 2026 adds intrigue to what is already a bold gamble by both sides. The move also represents a significant coup for the Wolves, who previously rebuilt their project under their former player Xavi Hernandez before the Barcelona legend’s return to Spain. By bringing in Mancini, Al Sadd are once again banking on a high-profile leader to raise standards and reassert their supremacy in Qatar.“This contract comes as part of the club management’s efforts to strengthen the technical staff with distinguished coaching expertise capable of achieving the team’s ambitions and continuing its run of success,” Al Sadd said in a statement Thursday.Hours after signing the contract, Mancini immediately donned the Al Sadd training kit and took charge of his first practice session. His debut match at the helm will be on November 22 at home against Al Sailiya in the Qatar Stars League. With Al Sadd seeking to climb the table and rediscover their identity, all eyes will be on whether Mancini can spark the kind of revival that once made him one of Europe’s elite managers.