Juan Musso won the 2023/2024 Europa League with Atalanta after their 3-0 victory vs. Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin, Ireland.
The Argentine became the first goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a Europa League final since Jan Oblak in 2018. Talking with ESPN, Musso said the following about his teammate, who scored the three goals, Ademola Lookman:
“I told Lookman that if he scored a goal, we would win because we would have a clean sheet. Then he scored three, he exaggerated.”
The former Racing Club goalkeeper started 12 of the 13 matches with Atalanta in this Europa League, and he only conceded eight goals.
Exequiel Palacios started the final for Bayer Leverkusen and was substituted in the 68th minute.
Alexis Mac Allister and Alejandro Garnacho’s goals for Liverpool and Manchester United respectively are nominated for the Premier League Goal of the Season.
Mac Allister’s strike for Liverpool against Fulham is among the best of the season in the Premier League. His effort from outside of the penalty area from the end of the year won the December Goal of the Month.
Alejandro Garnacho scored a bicycle kick in November which also won Goal of the Month for his effort against Everton. To vote, click here. Here are the other nominees:
Kaoru Mitoma for Brighton vs. Wolves
Bruno Fernandes for Manchester United vs. Burnley
Saman Ghoddos for Brentford vs. Burnley
Oscar Bobb for Manchester City vs. Newcastle
Kobbie Mainoo for Manchester United vs. Wolves
Marcus Rashford for Manchester United vs. Manchester City
The Europa League final is in a few hours and it’s Juan Musso and José Palomino’s Atalanta against Exequiel Palacios and Bayer Leverkusen.
At least one Argentine player will be lifting the Europa League trophy for another consecutive year. Juan Musso and José Palomino will try to win their first trophy with the club and Atalanta’s first European trophy.
Exequiel Palacios has already made history with Bayer Leverkusen. The club has gone undefeated the entire season and will look for a perfect ending, lifting their second European Cup, their first being in 1987-1988 when the tournament was still called the UEFA Cup.
Juan Musso has started every Europa League match for Atalanta, except for one, their last group stage match while José Palomino has not been a regular in the team. Exequiel Palacios has played in eight of Leverkusen’s 12 Europa League matches.
A sixth substitution for concussions will be available for teams to make at the 2024 Copa America.
National team coaches at the 2024 Copa America will be allowed to make a sixth substitution. CONMEBOL announced that a sixth substitution in cases of a possible concussion or head trauma will be made available for teams at the 2024 Copa America.
The coaching staff would notify the referee or fourth official through a pink substitution pass. CONMEBOL stated the following in their announcement:
“The substitution for concussion will take place regardless of the number of substitutions until the moment it happens. When the concussion substitution takes place, the opposing team will automatically be allowed to make an additional substitution.”
Team doctors will have 24 hours to submit a medical report to CONMEBOL about the player.
Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea by mutual consent.
Pochettino left the Chelsea coaching job on Tuesday after having joined them last July. The 52 year old joined them on a two year contract with an option for an additional year.
Chelsea runners up in the Carabao Cup this season under Pochettino. The club’s sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said the following in a statement:
“On behalf of everyone at Chelsea, we would like to express our gratitude to Mauricio for his service this season. He will be welcome back to Stamford Bridge any time and we wish him all the very best in his future coaching career.”
The Argentine said:
“Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and Sporting Directors for the opportunity to be part of this football club’s history. The Club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come.”
