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Home , Antoine Griezmann, Gareth Southgate, Jamal Musiala, Pablo Maffeo, Rafa Mir

Established 1961 15 Sports Wednesday, March 17, 2021 Precocious Musiala on the rise at European champions Bayern Teenager could make fifth Champions League appearance

BERLIN: His decision to opt to play for youngest Champions League scorer, Iceland, Romania and North Macedonia over England is said to have Musiala broke the news to Southgate. at the end of March. disappointed Gareth Southgate, yet “ wanted to explain the reasons for my Musiala, however, still feels compelled teenager Jamal Musiala still relies on his decision to John McDermott (FA Technical to refer to the national coach as “Mr mum to drive him to Bayern Munich Director) and Gareth Southgate,” Musiala Loew”. “Now I’m looking forward to training sessions. Musiala this month told magazine Sport Bild. “They were a bit getting to know the team better in signed a five-year contract with Bayern, disappointed, but understood my decision March. Mr Loew showed me a very clear a week after his 18th birthday, which and wished me all the best.” The decision path in the national team during our con- reportedly earns him around five million to reject England for Germany came down versations,” added Musiala. euros ($6 million) per year. to gut feeling. He might already be on the radar of The baby-faced attacking Germany’s World Cup-winning coach, could make his fifth Champions League ‘Two hearts’ who steps down after the Euros, but appearance at home to Lazio tonight, “I just have two hearts in me and I’m Musiala is still chauffeured to and from having scored his first European goal in really proud to play for Germany now. Bayern training by his mother. “I’m cur- the 4-1 first-leg rout in Rome. Musiala So for the country in which I was born,” rently working towards getting my driv- was born in Stuttgart, but moved to he added. As German magazine Kicker ing licence and I’m really looking for- London as a child and came through put it, Musiala’s rise at Bayern has been ward to driving myself soon.” Chelsea’s academy before joining Bayern nothing short of “meteoric”. His goal is to win a place in the in 2019. He became the youngest player in national squad for the European “He was always much better than the Bayern’s history when he made his Championship, where Germany face other kids and mostly played with chil- debut last June, aged 17 France, Portugal and Hungary in their dren two years older,” Branko years and 115 days. He then became the group. “I will definitely give everything in Milenkovski, his first coach at TSV club’s youngest goalscorer in Germany’s (Bayern’s) remaining games to get Lehnerz in Hessen, told HR-sport. top-flight when he scored a goal after selected for the European Musiala went on to play for both coming off the bench in the 8-0 thrash- Championship.” MUNICH: In this file photo taken on December 5, 2020 Bayern Munich’s German midfielder Germany and England at Under-16 level. ing of Schalke in September. Despite his dramatic rise, Musiala is Jamal Musiala plays the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match On Friday, FIFA approved his decision “He’s an exceptional talent,” said still learning his trade and has started just FC Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig in Munich, southern Germany. — AFP to play senior football for Germany after Germany coach Joachim Loew after seven games this season in all competi- Musiala had played twice for England’s watching Musiala in January. Loew tions. He had to be content with an 11- Under-21s last November. Before reportedly plans to give the teenager his minute cameo on the wing as a replace- Bayern coach clearly sees a he needs to be on the pitch and we are announcing his decision, which was first call-up to the senior squad for ment for in Bayern’s 3-1 bright future for the teenager. “He’s good very pleased with him,” said Flick after revealed the day after becoming Bayern’s Germany’s World Cup qualifiers against win at Bremen on Saturday. However, on the ball, has a good feeling for where Musiala’s goal in Rome. — AFP

Atletico look to Suarez for inspiration in Chelsea rescue mission Messi celebrates MADRID: Atletico Madrid’s hopes of Real Madrid and . coming back against Chelsea in the leveling Champions League tonight may ‘Natural-born striker’ depend on Luis Suarez returning to Certainly, there can be no room for record with double form on his return to the country complacency for Chelsea, who know where he became one of the best in the only too well the damage Suarez can MADRID: scored a spectacular world. Atletico trail 1-0 after Olivier do after his hugely successful four sea- double the same night he equaled Xavi Giroud’s bicycle kick lit up an unevent- sons for Liverpool, when he scored 82 Hernandez’s appearance record for , ful first game at the Wanda goals in 133 appearances. the Argentinian inspiring his team to a 4-1 win Metropolitano last month and handed “He is a natural-born striker,” said over Huesca on Monday. Messi tied Xavi’s 767 Chelsea a crucial advantage heading Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel before games in all competitions for Barca and into this week’s second leg. the first leg. “He has that certain men- marked yet another milestone with a brilliant And if they are to reach the quarter- tality that only strikers have. This men- brace, a curling effort in the first half flying in finals with another upset like the one tality to show his will, intensity and off the crossbar at before a late that knocked out Liverpool last year, anger to score and score and score shot nestled in the corner. “He’s the most Atletico are likely to need Suarez back and is never satisfied. What a mentality, MAJADAHONDA: Atletico Madrid’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez takes part in a important man in the history of Barca,” said to his best at Stamford Bridge. The what a player.” Tuchel is such a fan he training session at the club’s training ground in Majadahonda yesterday, on the coach . “Even better that he’s Uruguayan’s form has matched his even tried to sign the 34-year-old for eve of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match still with us.” team’s, with a slight downturn in recent Saint-Germain when it became between Atletico Madrid and Chelsea. — AFP Antoine Griezmann had earlier followed suit weeks perhaps inevitable after such an clear he was on his way out of with another impressive shot into the top cor- impressive first half of the season. Barcelona last summer. Suarez has history with Chelsea too, six-year wait for a Champions League ner before Huesca pulled one back, Suarez scored 16 goals in his first “There was a possibility,” Tuchel after one of his three biting incidents goal away from home. “For all the converting a doubtful penalty on the stroke of 21 games while Atletico lost only one said. “We heard the rumors he was happened while playing against them competitions, not just the Champions half-time. But Messi helped Barca pull away, of their first 20 in the league, when a about to leave Barcelona and who can- for Liverpool in 2013, with Branislav League, his presence gives us experi- sending in a cross for Oscar Mingueza to head first title since 2014 seemed not be interested to sign one of the Ivanovic that time the victim. But with- ence and leadership,” said Atletico in and then scoring his second as the Catalans firmly within their grasp. Yet they best strikers in world football, in histo- out fans in the stadium and with a fresh coach last month. “He moved to within four points of league leaders have won only three of their last eight ry and the present? We tried our luck. crop of players, Chelsea will be brings confidence to our team and a lot Atletico Madrid. and Suarez has scored only twice in We did not make it, he chose to stay in focused completely on thwarting of tension for our opponents because Messi’s performance had all the key ele- that time, even if those two goals Spain with Atletico and again he Suarez’s threat to their goal while the history shows this is a player who has a ments of the 33-year-old’s genius. In a game have come in the last three, against proves his quality.” striker will be hoping to end his own gift around the goal.” — AFP that celebrated his longevity, he showed his class with perhaps his best goal of the season, his creativity with an assist and his consistency, by making it 13 consecutive campaigns that he Klopp happy to win Wales ‘must stay has reached 20 La Liga goals. “He’s so deci- sive,” said Huesca’s Mir. “They play with one ‘dirty’ as Jota returns man extra.” focused’ despite Huesca stay bottom, four points adrift of to haunt Wolves safety, while Barcelona continue their own Giggs absence excellent form. They have now managed 11 WOLVERHAMPTON: Jurgen Klopp said he had wins and a draw from their last 12 matches, no problem with winning “three dirty points” as LONDON: Caretaker boss Robert Page said putting them within sight of Atletico, who they Diogo Jota returned to haunt Wolves with the only Wales must focus on “the job in hand” despite the still have to play at home in May. goal in a 1-0 win at Molineux on Monday. A continuing absence of manager as he Messi should break Xavi’s record on wretched run of six successive home league defeats prepares his team for World Cup qualifiers. Giggs Sunday against and the club has left Liverpool with an uphill task to qualify for was arrested on suspicion of assaulting girlfriend toasted his achievement with a video that the Champions League next season. Kate Greville in November and missed Wales’s included tributes from numerous current and But Klopp’s men have now won six of their last Nations League games later that month. former team-mates including Gerard Pique, seven games away from Anfield. Victory moved the The 47-year-old former Manchester United , Luis Suarez, Neymar, Andres WOLVERHAMPTON: Liverpool’s German manager English champions back up to sixth and within five winger, who denies the allegations, has had his bail Iniesta, Carlos Puyol and Xavi himself. “You’re Jurgen Klopp congratulates Liverpool’s English points of fourth-placed Chelsea. “It’s all about the extended until May 1. Giggs will again be missing still breaking records,” said Suarez. “I think this defender Trent Alexander-Arnold after the English result,” said Klopp. “It was a big fight. We won from the camp as Wales open their 2022 World one says a lot about you as a player and what football match between three dirty points, I am completely fine with that. Cup qualifying campaign next week in Belgium you represent for Barcelona.” — AFP Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at the We need that to get back on track.” before hosting the Czech Republic in Cardiff. Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England A disappointing night for Wolves ended with a of Wales (FAW) said on Monday. —AFP bigger concern than just the result as goalkeeper last week that he would not be involved in the Rui Patricio had to be stretchered off after 15 min- upcoming international camp. But Page confirmed utes of treatment for a head injury following a colli- Alisson escapes that Giggs was part of the selection process for sion with his own player Connor Coady in the clos- Klopp named the same side that bounced back the 31-man squad for the two qualifiers plus a ing stages. to form with a 2-0 win over RB Leipzig last mid- Cardiff friendly with Mexico sandwiched in However, Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo week to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions between the games. allayed fears over the Portuguese international’s League. However, the visitors should have been Asked if Giggs had a played a part in selec- health. “He’s OK. He’s conscious, he remembers punished for a slow start as goalkeeper Alisson tion and would continue to do so, Page said: what happens, he’s aware, so they tell me he’s OK,” Becker somehow escaped without conceding a “Absolutely, of course. Like he does every other said Nuno. “He’s going to recover, so it’s OK.” penalty when he crashed into Nelson Semedo after camp. “All the staff will have input, gather and Wolves have already been badly affected by a just two minutes. have conversations about the opposition and the serious head injury this season. Their top scorer for Sadio Mane missed two big chances at the other analysis.... It’s the same as November. Business the past two seasons, Raul Jimenez, has been out end to open the scoring for the visitors, but the as usual.” since fracturing his skull against Arsenal in Senegalese did have a part to play in the only goal Wales are just three months away from their November. The absence of Jimenez means Nuno’s of the game in first-half stoppage time as he opening game at the delayed Euro 2020 tourna- men have missed Jota even more since he joined the exchanged passes with Mohamed Salah before tee- ment, against Switzerland in Baku. But Page said English champions for an initial £41 million ($57 ing up Jota for a low shot that should have been he had had no dialogue with the FAW over who million) in September. kept out by Patricio low to his right. was likely to be in charge for the delayed cham- Jota has also been missed by Liverpool for much Liverpool’s lack of fluency compared to the side pionships. “My main focus is on these three of the past three months due to a knee injury that that romped to the title last season was even more games and I’d rather not think about long-term BARCELONA: Barcelona’s Argentinian forward halted his flying start to life at Anfield. But the clear after the break as they were happy to sit on yet,” he said. Lionel Messi challenges Huesca’s Spanish winger is hopeful his return can inspire a strong end their lead and would have been punished by a more “Get these games out of the way and after that defender during the Spanish to the season to secure Champions League football clinical opponent. Coady headed wide a great we’ll assess the situation again no doubt, and who- League football match between Barcelona and either via the Premier League or winning chance to score against his former club, while ever makes those decisions will make those deci- SD Huesca at the Camp Nou stadium in Liverpool’s seventh European Cup. “Hopefully this Adama Traore stung the palms of Alisson and Fabio sions,” he said. “It’s difficult for Ryan but we’ve Barcelona on Monday. — AFP can be a great start of a run towards the end of the Silva’s weak header floated into the grateful got to make sure the focus is on the players. We’ve season,” said Jota. Liverpool ‘keeper’s arms. — AFP got to stay focused on the job in hand.” — AFP