Pep Guardiola avoided backing Gabriel Jesus to start over Roberto Firmino as Brazil’s No. 1 striker at the World Cup this summer, telling reporters it’s “a debate.” Guardiola has coached Jesus since the 21-year-old moved to the Etihad from Palmeiras in January 2017, but told ESPN Brazil that the national team is lucky to have both players to choose from. Asked how he viewed the Jesus-versus-Firmino situation, Guardiola said: “It’s Tite’s problem, not mine. But it’s a debate. “I can imagine what Brazil can be like in a World Cup on a media level. If you play one, you have…
Author: David Folami
Arsene Wenger says Arsenal failed to sign Cristiano Ronaldo as a teenager because they wouldn’t match Manchester United’s £12 million bid for Sporting CP starlet. “He was here with his mother and we were very close,” Wenger said. “Then Man United came in and they had Carlos Queiroz at the time, who was their coach. United played against Sporting Lisbon and Ronaldo was outstanding and they signed him. “There is always something you could have done differently, but the problem of negotiations is to know when you give in and when you don’t give in. Once we were at £4.5m,…
Mamelodi Sundowns might be the dominant force in South African football and continental champions two years ago, but coach Pitso Mosimane admits they were given a reality check by Barcelona last night. “The difference between the two teams is like a Rand and a Euro,” Mosimane quipped, referring to the weak exchange-rate between the South African and European currency. “That probably best sums it up. I thought when we conceded the first goal in the first minute that there would be an avalanche of goals coming. “We paid our school fees, I think everyone saw that. We made defensive errors…
Neymar has said that he is “scared” and “nervous” as he makes progress in his bid to be fit in time for the World Cup with Brazil. “Nobody is as scared as me,” the 26-year-old said. “I know that people are a little nervous, but nobody is more so than me, nobody is more anxious to make a comeback than me. “It is a very difficult time, I think it is the most difficult I have had because we are so close to my dream, the World Cup. “Thanks to God, I have this new opportunity to become world champion…
Cesc Fabregas has said that Jose Mourinho has been as influential in his career as Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. “I love him,” Fabregas said of Mourinho. “I always say that. I owe him a lot because he brought me here, I will always remember that. “My first year [in England], Arsene had always treated me like a son, but the closest anyone has been to him was Jose. The way he treated me, the way he made me feel, how he let me be a leader of the team from day one. “This was fantastic and in all the four…
Gianluigi Buffon has confirmed he will leave Juventus after 17 years, with Saturday’s Serie A fixture against Hellas Verona his last match for the club but not necessarily of his career. “On Saturday, I will play a game and this is the only certainty,” he said. “With [president] Andrea [Agnelli], we are talking all the time and he knows all that is going on in my life, and in fact he’s an advisor I don’t want to go without. “Up to two week ago, it was certain that I was going to quit playing, but now there are some offers…
Fernando Torres has said that the Europa League final victory with his boyhood club was more emotionally satisfying than winning the World Cup with Spain or the Champions League with Chelsea. Torres, 34, is leaving Atletico for a second time this summer, having first departed for Liverpool in 2007. Since then he has scored Spain’s winning goal in the Euro 2008 final, won the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 Champions League — before returning “home” in January 2015. “El Nino” has not been a regular starter during his second spell at the club, but, after coming on as a…
Antoine Griezmann would not discuss his future after Atletico Madrid beat Marseille 3-0 to secure the trophy in Lyon, France. “It is not the moment to talk about my future, I must enjoy having won a trophy, and celebrate it with the fans,”Griezmann said. “The truth is this was a dream for me, to win a trophy with Atletico, with [Diego Simeone] and my friends and teammates. “Your feeling for a club gets stronger every game, every year. I’ve been here four years, and I have enjoyed today with the fans, the people of the club, my relationship with them…
Manchester United are set to make attempts to sign Chelsea midfielder Willian and Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld this summer, sources have said. Jose Mourinho was keen to bring Willian, 29, to Old Trafford last year and, according to sources, the Brazil international was open to the move. Chelsea, however, refused to sell and Mourinho was forced to turn his attention to Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic before finally bolstering his forward line with the arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal in January. Since the Chile forward’s arrival, Mourinho has been adamant he will not look to sign another attacker before…
Gareth Southgate has said that the continued development of his team is more important than reaching a certain round of the World Cup. The former England under-21 coach said his focus was not only on the current World Cup but also on the tournaments that will follow. “I could sit here and say this round or that round — but it doesn’t mean anything, really, because we have to keep improving as a team,” Southgate said when asked what he would see as a successful World Cup. “We’re trying to change the style of play — we have our young…
Arsenal have let a number of key backroom staff members go as they continue their biggest restructuring in two decades following Arsene Wenger’s departure. A club source confirmed that head of medical services Colin Lewin was told on Monday that he was losing his job after 23 years at the club, joining several other long-term Wenger allies in departing. First-team coaches Neil Bamfield and Boro Primorac, goalkeeping coach Gerry Peyton and fitness coach Tony Colbert have also been let go. Wenger’s assistant Steve Bould has been told he can stay, although the Telegraph reported on Tuesday that the former Arsenal…
Rafa Benitez told Marca the Champions League final will pit Real Madrid’s experience against Liverpool’s advantage in intensity. He said Madrid had come through awkward moments to get to the final on May 26 in Kiev, Ukraine, while Liverpool’s ability to blitz opponents was shown in their semifinal against Roma. “It will be a very interesting final,” Benitez said. “Watching Madrid against Juventus and Bayern [Munich], you a realise they have experience and quality, know how to manage difficult situations in games. … That is a plus. “Liverpool, by contrast, have a lot of intensity, quality, rhythm. … The rhythm…
Diego Simeone has said “humility” will be key to his team’s chances in Wednesday’s Europa League final against Marseille. Simeone’s side, who dropped into the competition from the Champions League, are favourites to win in Lyon. “We are playing another final where there is a lot of emotion and excitement but, above all, humility,” he said. “When you play here, you need to have that attitude to work hard. Experience is important, but not decisive.” Marseille lead the Europa League table for yellow cards (30) and reds (three), while Atletico right-back Sime Vrsaljko and Simeone were sent off in the…
Joe Hart, Jack Wilshere and Gary Cahill have all missed out on England’s World Cup squad, sources have said, as manager Gareth Southgate overhauls the team that will compete in Russia. Southgate chose to omit West Ham goalkeeper Hart in favour of Burnley No. 1 Nick Pope, with Arsenal midfielder Wilshere’s space set to go to Manchester City’s Fabian Delph, sources said ahead of Wednesday’s confirmation of the 23-man squad. There is also no place for former England captain Cahill, with Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski on standby for a spot in Russia. Hart had been expected to join England as…
Georginio Wijnaldum says the opportunity for he and his Liverpool teammates to cement themselves in Anfield folklore is another motivating factor ahead of the Champions League final. “That’s what makes it more exciting,” the midfielder told reporters. “You can put yourself there with legends that won the Champions League. “That’s what everyone wants. That is what makes it really exciting for us because we have the opportunity now to win a big trophy with a massive club [that has been] waiting a lot of years for a trophy. We are lucky that we can give them one if we win.…
There was something fitting about Manchester City leaving it until the last kick of the season to secure 100 Premier League points, becoming the first club ever to make that landmark in the top flight. Gabriel Jesus’ strike right on the stroke of full-time in his side’s 1-0 success at Southampton came almost exactly six years to the minute that Sergio Aguero netted in the 3-2 victory over QPR to win the club’s first Sheikh Mansour era title in 2012. Add that to Paul Dickov’s equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Gillingham in the infamous Division Two playoff final in…
Roberto Mancini will talk to Nice forward Mario Balotelli about a return to the Italy team after being named the new national coach on Tuesday. Balotelli last appeared for his country at the 2014 World Cup but knows Mancini well from their time at Inter Milan and Manchester City. The 27-year-old could return for the forthcoming friendlies against Saudi Arabia, France and Netherlands. “I’ll definitely talk to him,” Mancini said at a news conference. “Probably I will call him up. We want to see Balotelli like he was under [Cesare] Prandelli at Euro 2012. “There will be room for everybody…
Mario Gotze was not included in Germany’s preliminary World Cup squad announced on Tuesday by the German football federation (DFB), which also revealed a contract extension for coach Joachim Low through the 2022 World Cup. Low, who had been linked with a move to Arsenal to replace Arsene Wenger, had been under contract through Euro 2020 and said he is driven by the idea of “developing and furthering a team which sets it sights on the highest goals.” “The planning horizon over four years is ideal, I’d like to think, especially because there might be some changes in the squad…
Governor Samuel Ortom has urged residents of Benue state not to take laws into their hands. He made the statement following the incessant killings in the state allegedly by Fulani herdsmen. According to reports, Ortom said that the security agencies should be allowed to do their jobs. Ortom also called on the Benue people not to attack innocent people adding that ‘Benue will not see these enemies again’. He said “We are not fighting any tribe but fighting for justice and fairness. We should not take laws into our hands in the course of fighting for justice. “We have indigenes…
Chief Olabode George, former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday said he was extremely pained by the death of his first son, Dipo. George, his wife, Roli, and other family members received Secondus and his entourage. George said he and other family members were devastated not only because the deceased was his first son, but also that he was a good child. He said Dipo was a child that any father would be proud of because of his accomplishments and good ways. George said the late Dipo was very humble, as he interacted freely…