Tin Pot, which was unveiled in 2019 to less hoopla and more general disinterest, has since evolved into that most unusual of UEFA wheezes: a truly brilliant idea.
Described as Europe’s third-tier tournament, it offers a taste of European competition to supporters of teams that would not typically be able to qualify for the Big Vase.
Teams that make the cut will get £2.5 million before they have played a game.
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While that may not seem like much to teams like Fenerbahce, Aston Villa or Lille for competitors like Iceland’s Breiðablik, exceptional Faroese team Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfelag, and other groups Football Daily had never heard of before they made it to this season’s group stage, it’s quite the lottery win.
Of course, there are other rewards besides money, like fame and fortune. Not even Hoover’s one-time award José Mourinho managed to contain his uncontrollable joy at adding the first match against Roma to his vast collection of silverware.
You can bet your last dollar that whenever Hasbro, the toy manufacturer, chooses to create an Action Man with David Moyes, it will make reference to West Ham’s victory from the previous season when you pull the string.
Newcastle supporters had their collective eye on the Pot for the upcoming season, seeing it as a prime chance for Premier League teams to break long trophy droughts.
However, Manchester United put a huge wrench in Eddie Howe’s team’s plans, removing them from the competition by winning the FA Cup before they had a chance to participate.
Olympiakos and Fiorentina are playing in this season’s final in Athens tonight, and both teams are very interested in winning.
The Greek squad, owned by Evangelis Marinakis, the calm and non-controversial boss of Nottingham Forest, is seeking to avoid being the fifth team to lose a European final in their home city.
Fiorentina’s loss to Moyes’s triumphant Hammers in the previous season, one of their two cup final losses under Vincenzo Italiano, has left them scarred.
“Hopefully, all of our hard work and meticulous attention to detail in this competition will bring us the cherry on top,” the man, whose name seems like something a writer for Fast Show would have come up with for a foreign manager, added.
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After leading Sevilla to victory in the Big Vase the previous season, Spanish coach José Luis Mendilibar is looking to repeat the feat with Olympiakos in the Tin Pot the following season.
Following their two-leg semifinal thrashing of Aston Villa, his team will undoubtedly like their chances of inflicting more ultimate suffering on Fiorentina.
When asked to draw a comparison between this year’s final and the previous one, the 63-year-old responded, “There are different teams and circumstances that led us to this final.”
This has a distinct conclusion. It remains to be seen if it will be a happy one.
LIVE ON LARGE WEBSITE
Start at 8 p.m. BST, join Scott Murray for minute-by-minute coverage of the Tin Pot final between Olympiakos and Fiorentina (aet, 5-4 on pens).
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Barcelona is naturally eager to move on from their situation, having nearly urged Xavi to remain manager before firing him weeks later.
Hansi Flick, who has been unemployed since losing his position in Germany in September, has taken Xavi’s place.
Flick, who led Bayern Munich to a triple crown in 2020, has committed to a two-year contract with the crisis club of everyone’s dreams.
“I’m thrilled to start working for this incredible club here in Barcelona; it’s a huge honor and a dream for me to sign my contract,” Flick remarked.
“What a fantastic club. Everyone in our club is passionate about it and works hard to make sure it succeeds.
Together, we can accomplish a great deal. The possibility of a €1 million prize if Hansi wins the Big Cup once more will undoubtedly improve his spirits even more.
Regarding Bayern, they announced the appointment of Vincent Kompany at 4:01 p.m., a time that is not conducive to teatime emails. I’m excited about the challenge that FC Bayern will present.
After apparently running the roughly 900 miles from Turf Moor to land the job at the Allianz Arena, former Burnley manager Kompany said, “It’s a great honor to be able to work for this club.”