FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2018 15

Embattled Ronaldo given federation Messi, Coutinho, Arthur president’s backing AFP | Lisbon

ristiano Ronaldo has Cbeen given the backing of the Portuguese football all impress as Barca win federation president (FPF) as he fight accusations of AFP | Barcelona Angry face rape. After a turbulent week, which Real Madrid and Portugal ionel Messi appears a had included two draws and star Ronaldo on Wednes- man on a mission in the a defeat in , Valverde day firmly denied claims by LChampions League this rolled the dice again, replacing a former American model season after making it five goals Ousmane Dembele with Arthur that he raped her in a Las in two games following Barcelo- Melo and pushing Philippe Vegas hotel in 2009. na’s 4-2 win over Tottenham on Coutinho out of the midfield And FPF president Fer- Wednesday. trio and into the attack. nando Gomes spoke up Three quarter-final exits in a Coutinho is considered by on Wednesday to offer his row have left Barca, and Messi, Barcelona to be the natural support to the embattled desperate to make amends. He successor to Andres Iniesta but 33-year-old. began with a hat-trick against he was lethal further forward, “I believe what he said... PSV Eindhoven at the Camp Nou while the 22-year-old Arthur, because I’ve known Ronal- last month and delivered an- on his first Champions League do for many years and I can other statement performance start, showed maturity beyond attest to his good character,” at Wembley. his years. Gomes said. “He is simply the best in the “Arthur’s first recital as a Bar- Gomes added that he world,” said , who ca player could not have come stands in “total solidarity himself provided a trio of assists, at a better time or in a better with at a but was still left out of the Spain place,” wrote La Vanguardia. moment in which his repu- squad yesterday. “The person in charge of his tation under question”. “We are a team together - signing deserves a medal.” but Leo makes us better in Diario Sport even compared everything.” Arthur to Xavi. “A team like Bar- In a mesmeric display Messi ca needs talent and vision in Injured Costa scored two goals, hit the post Barcelona’s Argentinian striker is tackled by Tottenham Hotspur’s English Harry Winks (R) during midfield and Arthur brings it,” twice and had a creative hand the Champions League group B football match match between Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona it read. “At a huge stadium like misses out on Spain in the other goals scored by Wembley, he did not crumble.” squad Philippe Coutinho and Ivan League, more than against any a team of great quality, despite pite to Tottenham,” said Diario The success of Arthur and Rakitic. other nationality of club. their injuries, was a clear warn- Sport. “They could do no more Coutinho, however, raises AFP | Madrid It was a familiar tale of woe He is already the top scor - ing that this year the Champions than hold their breath every question marks for Dembe - for English opposition, against er in this season’s competition, League is Messi’s obsession,” time Leo touched the ball.” le and Arturo Vidal, with the iego Costa was left out whom the Argentinian has now two ahead of Paulo Dybala, Edin wrote Barcelona daily Mundo For Barca coach Ernesto Val- latter the more experienced Dof the Spain squad an- scored 21 goals and registered Dzeko and . Deportivo. verde, it was simple: “Messi al- option to replace Coutinho in nounced by coach Luis En- six assists in the Champions “The image of Barca beating “The Argentine gave no res- ways delivers.” midfield. rique on Thursday, ahead of games against Wales and England. Costa sustained a thigh strain playing for Atletico No one to blame but Madrid against Club Brugge ‘Griezmann best in the world’ in the Champions League ourselves: Klopp on Wednesday. Isco, Dani AFP | Madrid Carvajal, Inigo Martinez and are also iego Simeone hailed An- injured. Dtoine Griezmann as the Wolves defender Jonny best player in the world after Otto, on loan from Atletico, the Frenchman’s double fired received his first interna- Atletico Madrid to victory over tional call-up while there Club Brugge on Wednesday. were returns to the squad Griezmann scored twice and for Real Betis defender set up a third for Koke as Atlet- Marc Bartra, Borussia Dort- ico won 3-1 in the stadium they mund forward Paco Alcacer, hope to return to for the Cham- who is on loan from Barce- pions League final next year. lona, and Atletico Madrid’s Arnaut Groeneveld’s stun- Koke. ning long-range effort had pulled Brugge level shortly be- fore half-time but Atleti, and Griezmann, were too good. Atletico Madrid’s (2L) vies with Club Brugge’s Benoit Liverpool’s (C) and Napoli’s Mario Rui (L) go for the ball Napoli striker Milik “I said it last season and I’ll Poulain during the match match between Atletico Madrid and Club Brugge say it again -- Griezmann is the during the Champions League match between Napoli and Liverpool robbed at gunpoint best player in the world,” Sim- He has now been involved in months to go so we’ll see.” after Liverpool win eone said afterwards. 17 of their last 19 Champions This was Atletico’s first AFP | Naples, Italy Laurentiis -- who hired three- “He won the Europa League, League goals scored at home, match at the Wanda Metropol- time Champions League win- AFP | Naples, Italy World Cup, Super Cup and fin- chipping in with 12 goals and itano in this season’s tourna- iverpool manager Jurgen ning coach Carlo Ancelotti this ished second in a league with five assists. ment, 241 days before they hope LKlopp said his side could season in place of Maurizio apoli’s Polish striker Barcelona and Real Madrid.” Those performances can only to walk out here again for the only blame themselves after Sarri -- hailed the success at NArkadiusz Milik was Lionel Messi, who was simul- boost the French star’s hopes of final on June 1. the last year’s Champions their Stadio San Paolo. robbed at gunpoint on his taneously tearing Tottenham winning the Ballon d’Or. Simeone admitted the pros- League runners-up were over- “Big win against a great way home after his team’s apart at Wembley, may have “It’s not me who votes but pect of winning the cup on their run by Napoli before Lorenzo team! Ancelotti worthy of his Champions League win something to say about that I had a big season,” he said. own patch is a source of inspira- Insigne’s late winner gave the fame,” wrote De Laurentiis on over Liverpool, Italian po- but there is no doubting Griez- “I’m very happy and proud of tion for his side, and they could Italians a 1-0 win to go top of Twitter. lice said on Thursday. mann’s importance to Atletico. my season, there are still a few not have made a better start. Group C on Wednesday. Last season Napoli’s style of The 24-year-old was in “We were not good enough football under Sarri impressed his car heading towards his and if you are not good enough, against Manchester City but home at Varcaturo on the you’ll lose and that happened the team lost 4-2 at home be- Domitian Coast 20km west to us tonight. That’s it,” said fore exiting the competition in of Naples at around 2am Mourinho should stay at United: Giggs Klopp. the group stage. when his car was stopped by “Napoli made a really good Insigne’s winner ensures a high-powered motorcycle AFP | London asked about United at a press game, we didn’t, and that’s they are top of Group C with blocking the road. conference to announce his why they deserve the three four points, one more than Liv- The two assailants -- ales boss Ryan Giggs Wales squads for matches points.” erpool and Paris Saint-Ger- whose faces were entirely Wsaid that Jose Mourinho against Spain and Ireland. Lorenzo Insigne scored after main. covered by helmets -- ap- should remain as Manchester “My stance hasn’t changed. 90 minutes in a game Napoli “I think we timed it well,” proached the footballer’s United manager despite the United are going through a dominated from the start with said former Chelsea and Real car and pointed a gun at mounting crisis at the club. tough time at the moment. But substitute Dries Mertens also Madrid coach Ancelotti. him, ordering him to hand Mourinho is under increas- change now and you will be in rattling the crossbar. “If Mertens had scored a few over his Rolex Daytona ing pressure at the same position in a year or The hosts had the better minutes earlier, it would’ve watch worth 7,000 euros with United a lowly 10th in the Jose Mourinho (L) and Ryan Giggs two years quite possibly.” chances throughout as Insig- been more time suffering. ($8,000). and winless in Giggs has included Gareth ne, Jose Callejon, Fabian Ruiz “We interpreted the game The robbers then sped four games in all competitions. 0-0 draw against Valencia in the Bale in his Wales squad even and Arkadiusz Milik all threat- well. We had an extra central into the countryside to - Giggs, who played almost 700 Champions League. though the forward missed Real ened under-pressure Liver- defender and were able to wards Licola, police said games for United and was at “I said that last time: where Madrid’s midweek Champions pool goalkeeper . build the game from the back. according to the AGI news Old Trafford on Tuesday for a do they go?” Giggs said when League defeat through injury. Napoli owner Aurelio De There was a perfect balance.” agency.