Established 1961 27 Sports Wednesday, July 24, 2019 Chelsea clinch 2-1 win over Barcelona in Japan friendly Griezmann and de Jong make their unofficial debut

SAITAMA: Goals from Tammy Abraham and Ross into the left side to feed a high-speed cross to striker Barkley saw Chelsea grab a 2-1 victory against Barcelona Malcom, but Arrizabalaga again denied them. yesterday in an exhibition match in Japan. World Cup- winning French striker Antoine Griezmann and former ‘Dangerous’ Griezmann Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong made their unofficial Chelsea made it 2-0 with less than 10 minutes left as debut for the Spanish giants, pleasing some 51,126 fans midfielder Barkley picked up a cross in front of the box who cheered every move during the star-studded game. and curled it into the net, with substitute keeper Neto Chelsea striker Abraham opened the scoring in the getting a touch but unable to block it. Just before injury 34th minute by pouncing on a mistake by Barcelona mid- time, Barcelona got a free kick just outside the box but fielder Sergio Busquets who attempted to clear the ball. midfielder Ivan Rakitic’s shot went above the bar. Rakitic But with Chelsea midfielder Jorginho applying pressure, however quickly redeemed himself in injury time, picking the ball rolled towards Abraham who only had to step up a cross and firing a lightning right footer that went past rushing goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and deep into the net for a consolation goal for Barcelona. gently send it into the net. Chelsea coach Frank Lampard Barca coach Ernesto Valverde, echoing Lampard, said was all praise for his young striker. “Tammy, he is a goal the match was a good test that showed signs of excel- scorer. He is hungry for goals,” he said. lence as well as areas to improve. Valverde was Despite facing a transfer ban, Lampard said Chelsea’s tightlipped about whether they were moving to acquire two-game tour in Japan showed he had a “competitive” Neymar from French side Paris Saint-Germain. But he has and “determined” team. “What I have learned about play- high hopes for Griezmann, whose 120 million euro ($135 ers was that they are a good strong group, a determined million) transfer was contested by Atletico. Griezmann group. I am very happy,” he said. “There is more work to “needs to get used to the team and how we play”. do but it’s been a good trip. It’s been positive in all sens- “But he proved himself as a dangerous player on the es,” he said. ball. He has a lot of ideas,” Valverde said through a trans- Minutes after the first goal, Chelsea midfielder lator. “This is only his debut game. He will have to fit into Christian Pulisic showed off his speed and footwork to Barca’s style. I am sure he will become better and better.” infiltrate the Barca defence, but his left footer went just Griezmann said he hoped to shine at his new club. wide. Barcelona went on the offensive in the second half, “Personally, I want to play in many games, score more with substitute striker Carles Perez leading the way. But goals than the last season, more assists than last season,” superb saves by Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga he said through a translator, adding that he had his eye on repeatedly denied Barca any attempt to equalize. In the a “big title.” The Spanish giants will play a friendly on 55th minute Perez zipped past three Chelsea defenders Saturday against Japan’s Vissel Kobe, who feature ex- SAITAMA: Chelsea’s English midfielder Ross Barkley (L) fights for the ball with Barcelona’s midfielder Frenkie de Jong but his left toe kick finish was not good enough to get Barca players Andres Iniesta, David Villa and Sergi during a football friendly match between Spanish Liga team Barcelona and English Premier League club Chelsea. — AFP past Arrizabalaga. A few minutes later, he dashed deep Samper. — AFP Guardiola blasts ‘false’ report News in brief of Man City ‘disrespect’ in China De Gea keen to captain United LONDON: Manchester United goalkeeper HONG KONG: Manchester City boss Japan. “So we came here, 23 hours. One David de Gea, reported to be on the verge of Pep Guardiola blasted a report in day later we travelled two hours by train agreeing a six-year contract extension, has said Chinese state media as “false” yesterday to play in another city, then came back he would welcome being captain of the Premier after the Premier League champions to Shanghai and now here, and then League club. De Gea, 28, has long been linked were accused of showing “utter disre- we’re going to Tokyo,” Guardiola said. with a move away from Old Trafford but said he spect” during their tour of China. “And always with the biggest smile. We wanted to help the team return to the summit of Guardiola hit out at the lengthy com- don’t sleep that well during the night but English soccer at a supporters’ event in mentary posted on the English-language we had good training sessions. I’m Singapore. United’s previous captain Antonio website of Xinhua, the state news impressed with all my players, what they Valencia left at the end of last season and De agency, which said Manchester City have done so far.” Gea is one of several players in the frame to snubbed fans and only visited China for replace him along with Ashley Young, Juan Mata, commercial reasons. Hong Kong protests Chris Smalling and Paul Pogba. “I’ve been cap- “I don’t agree but I should say too Guardiola, who earlier said the whirl- tain for some games. Of course it is amazing to that it’s false. To make a statement like wind visit was all about “survival”, will be captain of a club like Manchester United and this they have to know exactly what’s take City into the Community Shield, the defend this badge,” De Gea said. “It’s amazing, happening in our club,” Guardiola told English season’s curtain-raiser, against so of course I’ll be really, really happy to cap- media in Hong Kong. “I don’t understand Liverpool in less than two weeks. tain. “It’s my ninth season, I feel like one of the how people can say that. Maybe one England striker Raheem Sterling said he most experienced players. We have to improve a journalist is a little bit upset, I don’t thought the players had made a “really SHANGHAI: Manchester City’s coach Pep Guardiola gives instructions during the lot. “We are Manchester United, we need to fight know why. But it’s far away from what is good connection” with fans during their match against Wolverhampton Wanderers’ at the 2019 Premier League Asia for trophies. When you put on this badge, that’s reality,” he added. The opinion piece, time in China. Trophy football tournament at the Hongkou Stadium. — AFP what it means - fight for everything, give your which accused City of an “attitude of “We took a little bit longer than we best and bring the team again to the top.” arrogance” and lashed out at arrange- expected to get to China, the turnaround United, who have not lost a match on their pre- ments for Chinese media, brought a sour was a bit fast and there was a lot we had weeks of anti-government protests and Both sides talk and talk and they are season tour so far, beating Perth Glory, Leeds end to a difficult tour of mainland China. to catch up on as well. A lot of us have where a stick-wielding mob indiscrimi- going to solve the problem.” Today’s United and Inter Milan, take on Tottenham A frazzled City — minority-owned by been struggling with sleep,” he said. “But nately attacked people at a railway sta- friendly against Hong Kong club Hotspur in Shanghai on Thursday. — Reuters a Chinese state investment company — no, in China I thought it was a great tion on Sunday, injuring dozens. Kitchee could be affected by the politi- arrived two days late and played two experience. We all loved it.” Guardiola “I’m pretty sure that people are cal turmoil, as there have been calls for games in four days, before heading off also insisted he felt completely safe in going to reach an agreement,” he said. a protest against Hong Kong police for further friendlies in Hong Kong and Hong Kong, which has been rocked by “Just sit and talk like human beings. during the game. — AFP Fekir moves to Real Betis

taking stock of the club’s situation after arriving to LYON: Olympique Lyonnais captain Nabil Fekir Edu urges Arsenal work with boss Unai Emery as the Spaniard enters has moved to Spain’s Real Betis for an initial 19.75 his second season with the Gunners. Last year the Bale won’t leave Real million euros ($22.12 million) fee, the French club Gunners misfired badly, missing out on Champions has said. The attacking midfielder was a target for to rediscover League qualification after finishing fifth and suffer- Liverpool last season but the deal fell through ing a Europa League final thrashing against Madrid on loan: Agent after the player failed a medical and the French winning mentality Chelsea. The 41-year-old, who played under Emery LONDON: Gareth Bale will not be leaving Real Madrid on loan club decided to sell him to Betis after he entered at Valencia, says the key to a winning mentality and during the transfer window despite falling out of favour under the final year of his contract. The deal for the 26- LONDON: Arsenal’s new technical director Edu a good season is results. “When you’re talking year-old Frenchman includes up to an additional has challenged the Gunners to find a winning men- Zinedine Zidane, his agent said yesterday. The Real boss said at about good jobs, doing other things, without the weekend the La Liga giants were poised to offload the 30- 10 million euros in add-ons and Lyon will also tality as they bid to erase memories of last season’s results I’m not sure (it works),” he says. “It’s unfair receive a 20% sell-on fee if he leaves Betis. disappointments. The former Arsenal midfielder, year-old Wales star. But his representative, Jonathan Barnett, told maybe, but the reality is like that. “We have to fight Sky Sports News any deal would have to be a permanent one. “Olympique Lyonnais thanks Nabil for all he has who was a member of Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invicibles’ very hard for results and we have to understand brought to the club, for his professionalism and squad who won the 2004 Premier League title “There will be no makeshift deals to get him out of the club,” the real world, where you live and where you are said Barnett, who said previously that Zidane has shown “no especially for his involvement in the professional without losing a game, says it is vital for the club to right now. So we are at Arsenal, we are a big club group as team captain.” Fekir’s younger brother build the mental strength that was so key to their respect” for Bale’s achievements at Real. “Gareth is one of the and we have to understand the situation.” best players on the planet. I can guarantee you he will not be Yassin, 22, has also moved to Betis, with Lyon to success in those glory days. Edu recalled how Wenger’s squad would thrive receive 50% of any future transfer fee for the “To work with a strong mentality, you don’t do it going on loan to any club.” Bale has been deemed surplus to off the continued quest for more success, which requirements at Real despite helping his side to a Spanish title striker if he leaves the La Liga side. Nabil Fekir like that (instantly). You build a good mentality,” spread throughout the club. “I remember we were scored 69 goals in nearly 200 matches with Lyon, Edu said in an interview with Arsenal Media, his and four Champions League crowns since arriving from winning a lot of things, our team was really strong Tottenham Hotspur six years ago. becoming club captain in 2017 before winning the first since returning to the club. “When you talk and there were big names around, but the mentali- World Cup with France last year. — Reuters about mentality, it’s not only the players. The club His brace, including a brilliant bicycle kick, sank Liverpool in ty of the group, the guys around, the staff, was so the 2018 final but he was not used as a regular starter by has to have the same mentality as the players. “We great,” he said. “We were working hard but at the have to have the same mentality, and the mentality Zidane after the Frenchman returned to the Real bench in early same time, we were enjoying it. That was important March. “Gareth is a Real Madrid player and for now he’s stay- of Arsenal, we always had to have winning in front because at the time winning was important, but Brazil women’s coach resigns of us. That’s football. That’s the real world.” ing as a Real Madrid player,” said Barnett. “If something comes you have to enjoy it as well and we did that with along that suits us, then things could change and he could be Edu was working as Brazil’s technical director our group.” Arsenal open their Premier League SAO PAULO: Brazil have parted ways with before moving back to north London and is now gone in a day or a week. Or he could still be a Real player in campaign away at Newcastle on August 11. — AFP three years, when his contract ends.” Real are playing Arsenal Vadao, the coach of their women’s football team, in a friendly on Tuesday at the FedExField — home of the the country’s football confederation said on NFL’s Washington Redskins. Monday. “After a year and 10 months, following Meanwhile Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has denied his second stint with the CBF, the coach Oswaldo disrespecting Wales star Gareth Bale as he discussed the Alvarez, (aka) Vadao, is no longer in charge of the expected transfer of the 30-year-old forward from the La Brazilian women’s team,” the CBF said in a state- Liga giants on Monday. Speaking to reporters on the eve of ment. Vadao, who previously coached the team Real Madrid’s friendly with Arsenal at FedEx Field — home of for two years from 2014, was removed just four the NFL’s Washington Redskins — Zidane said it was Bale weeks after Brazil were knocked out the World who chose not to play in Madrid’s 3-1 friendly defeat to Cup by France. His team had lost their previous Bayern in Houston on Saturday. “I did not disrespect anyone, nine games before the tournament but performed least of all Gareth,” a frustrated-sounding Zidane said. “I said well enough to reach the last 16 where they were that the club is working to facilitate Bale’s departure, nothing beaten 2-1 by the hosts after extra-time. Under more. “The other day, Gareth did not dress for the game, he Vadao’s tutelage, they reached the semi-finals of did not want to because the club was negotiating his depar- the 2016 Olympic tournament in Rio and won two ture,” he added. Zidane had been branded a “disgrace” by Copas America and a Pan American Games title. Bale’s agent for his comments after the Saturday match, when “The CBF is working to define the name of a new he said he hoped Bale’s move from the club happened soon coach for the women’s team in as short a time period as possible,” it added. — Reuters COMMERCE CITY: An Arsenal fan cheers at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. — AFP “for everyone’s sake.” — AFP