SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2018 19 WC fatigue could have caused De Ronaldo gets nod for Bruyne injury Juventus debut

AFP | Rome

ristiano Ronaldo is cu- rious to find out about Clife in Serie A and will make his debut in the opening match of the season for cham- pions Juventus against Chievo in Verona, coach Massimiliano Allegri confirmed on Friday. Allegri said the 33-year-old was eager to play in Serie A after his 100 million euro ($117 mil- lion) transfer from Real Madrid last month. The five-time Ballon d’Or Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne in action against Arsenal last week winner has appeared in two warm-up friendlies for Juventus but did not travel with the team AFP | Manchester, United season with Mendy. Last sea- to the United States. Kingdom son, Kevin was outstanding “I didn’t give Ronaldo any and of course for him and his ep Guardiola has suggest- family, you never want this. Ped post-World Cup fatigue “It’s part of the game for the could have been a factor in the players –- it’s normal, they Cristiano Ronaldo knee injury that has ruled out don’t rest. It’s a tough season, I didn’t give Ronaldo Manchester City star Kevin with short recovery times. any advice. He’s advice. He’s very intrigued to went all the way to the final in an added value in a team that De Bruyne for around three They (the football authorities) very intrigued to understand how teams play in the World Cup.” has played two Champions fi- months. say ‘let’s go’ and we are in the understand how Italy,” said Allegri as Juventus But Allegri warned his team nals in the last four years.” De Bruyne only returned to competition. begin their campaign on Sat- not to rely too much on the Por- “Players like Ronaldo are training at City last week, hav- “Human beings have a limit teams play in Italy. urday. tuguese superstar as they target different from all the others: it ing had a break after helping and sometimes these things It’s time to put aside “Ronaldo will make his debut. an eighth straight Serie A title. shows in what he has won, he is Belgium finish third in Russia happen. the excitement of (Wojciech) Szczesny, (Giorgio) “It’s time to put aside the ex- a stimulus for everyone. in July. “My advice to him now is the arrival of great Chiellini, (Leonardo) Bonucci citement of the arrival of great “It will be a difficult campaign He played for the final 30 to rest, take the holidays he players and the and (Miralem) Pjanic will play players and the greatest of all, and we need to be prepared and minutes last Sunday as Guardi- didn’t get in these two or three greatest of all, we and the two full-backs on each we have to keep our feet on the remain focused, because tomor- ola’s side began their Premier weeks, do it now. Then he’ll have to keep our side will be (Joao) Cancelo and ground, keep a low profile,” con- row at 18:00 (1600GMT) season League title defence with a 2-0 start training and we’ll be wait- Alex Sandro. tinued Allegri. begins and we will find a tough victory at Arsenal. ing for him with big arms.” feet on the ground, “Everyone is in good condi- “We mustn’t make the mis- Chievo side waiting for us. However, the midfielder keep a low profile tion, even (Mario) Mandzukic take of thinking that we can win “I’m curious to see how the then suffered a knee injury in ‘Right moment’ JMASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI and (Blaise) Matuidi, who both because we have Cristiano. He’s team fares.” training on Wednesday, and De Bruyne’s absence is set to was spotted on crutches that give David Silva more oppor- night at the premiere of ‘All Or tunities to impress, with the Nothing’, a documentary that Spain playmaker free to com- features behind-the-scenes mit himself to club duties after Fabregas out of footage of City’s title victory. announcing his international Guardiola expects De retirement on Monday. Bruyne to be fit again by the Silva missed several matches Arsenal reunion beginning of December, but last season to spend time with acknowledges City will have a his son Mateo, who was seri- tough task dealing with his ab- ously ill in hospital after being sence, just as they did when a born prematurely. knee injury ruled out left-back Mateo was allowed to leave Benjamin Mendy for virtually hospital in May, five months the whole of last season. after being born, and his now “We never know. My opinion recovering well. is that when you ask a lot of “I’m glad for him. If he has Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho the players, over more than 11 decided to do that, it is because months, then after he comes he feels it is the right moment. back, this (injury) can hap - Congratulations to him,” Guar- pen,” Guardiola told reporters diola said. ‘I’ve never been so on Friday. “He has played more than “Nobody knows, but I’m 100 games, winning two Euro- happy with Pogba,’ pretty sure this can influence pean Championships and one Cesc Fabregas it. When you are fresh here, World Cup. He is one of the fresh on your legs, it doesn’t most fascinating, incredible says Mourinho happen. Sometimes it can. players in the whole history Reuters | London The move could still go “It will be two or three of Spain. AFP | Manchester, United World Cup adventures, Pogba through as the transfer win- months. We hope he can do as “He decided. No one at Man Kingdom claimed: “There are things I helsea midfielder Cesc dow for European leagues is much as possible to get back City, and not myself, pushed cannot say otherwise I will CFabregas will miss Satur- open until Aug. 31. However, and help us again. him. The player has to feel it. ose Mourinho has broken get fined.” day’s Premier League reunion Sarri assured Chelsea support- “It will be a big miss like last He decided to rest a little bit Jhis silence on his relation- But Mourinho, preparing with former club Arsenal due ers his talisman would stay. more with his wife and his lit- ship with French World Cup for Sunday’s visit to Brighton, to a leg injury, manager Maur- “I’ve spoken with him of- tle boy, and play with us.” winner Paul Pogba and insists insists that argument never izio Sarri said on Friday. ten in the last 10 days but he City are waiting to hear from there has been no disagree- took place. The Spaniard took a knock has never said to me anything Tottenham about where their ment with Manchester Unit- “The truth is we are together to his leg near his knee and is about this so I am sure Eden Premier League match in Lon- ed’s record signing. for two years and a couple of expected to resume training will be with us for this season,” don, scheduled for October 28, A summer of discontent has weeks and I’ve never been so with the squad next week. Sarri said. KNOW WHAT might be played. seen repeated reports that happy with him as I am now, “Fabregas is out for this Ahead of the clash at Stam- White Hart Lane will not be Pogba wishes to leave the club that’s the truth. I cannot de- match. I hope he’ll be able ford Bridge, the Italian backed ready, as it is still being rebuilt, he joined from Juventus for mand more from him,” Mour- to feature next week. I’m not his counterpart Unai Emery Kevin De and Wembley is hosting an NFL £89.3 million two summers ago inho told reporters on Friday. sure,” Sarri told reporters. to make Arsenal a force to be Bruyne began match that day. and move to Barcelona. “He came here on a Monday, “It’s nothing serious but he reckoned with. The Span - Asked if City might reverse They were followed by trained three days, I asked for has a very unusual injury. He iard suffered a 2-0 defeat by his senior the fixtures, and switch Octo- claims this week that manag- his support for his contribu- has pain near the knee, not in Manchester City in his first career at Genk ber’s game to the Etihad Sta- er and player had exchanged tion in an important match the knee.” Premier League match since and netted his dium, Guardiola said: “I don’t angry words in a heated meet- for us when the team had dif- Sarri also said he was con- succeeding Arsene Wenger. first hat-trick know -- I can only say, if that ing after comments made by ficulties, he did it better and fident midfielder Eden Haz- “Emery is a good coach,” for the club in happened, then four of our Pogba following last week’s for more time than we could ard would stay at the club this Sarri added. a 5-4 win over final five matches of the season opening league fixture against expect. season. British and Spanish “He won the Europa League Club Brugge in would be away. Leicester. “When he says he did it for media reports have linked the three times, he won in France “I think when you are may- Having starred, and scored, the fans and for the team, it Belgium international with a with Paris St Germain. Arsenal October 2011 be playing for the Premier in United’s 2-1 victory, just four is exactly what I want. It is switch to Real Madrid, follow- will be competitive. They will League, four games away is a days after returning to pre-sea- exactly what I demand from ing in the footsteps of Thibaut be able to fight for a place in little bit different.” son training following his my players. Courtois. the Champions League.”