WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019 16 PSG ease to 3-0 win over Sydney Kylian Mbappe was the focus of attention during PSG’s match against Sydney FC

Kylian Mbappe and Edinson• Cavani scored It’s a question of team first-half goals for Paris effort, the intensity Saint-Germain that we are willing to give, the closeness that • PSG wrapped up their we play all together pre-season program after against the ball, the defeating spirited Sydney FC sacrifices that we are in a competitive clash in China willing to make. “If we are willing to AFP | Suzhou, China make sacrifices, if we are willing to go over all ylian Mbappe was the star of obstacles, then for sure the show once more for Par- we are ready Kis Saint-Germain, scoring an eye-catching first goal as the French champions beat Sydney FC 3-0 yester- day in China. Strike partner Edinson Cavani also scored in the first half before substitute Metehan Guclu netted with a clever wants from his star-studded squad, flick a minute from time in sweltering which earlier in the day was embel - Suzhou. lished by the arrival of Gueye. In the absence of , the Brazil- With PSG playing Rennes in the do- ian who is still working his way back to mestic Trophee des Champions on full fitness, the French starlet Mbappe Paris Saint Germain’s Kylian Mbappe kicks the ball to score Saturday in Shenzhen, Tuchel said: “We was the focus of attention. have to be ready, there are still a lot of There was a buzz of anticipation each Playing in fluorescent orange, the hooking the ball in after Redmayne deep into the Champions League in the things to improve. time the 20-year-old prodigy received Parisians, who earlier in the day an- parried. forthcoming season, while successfully “It’s a question of team effort, the the ball. nounced the signing of Everton mid- The floppy-haired Uruguayan and defending their title is almost a intensity that we are willing to give, , the German mid - fielder , lay siege to the Mbappe were subbed at the break as formality. the closeness that we play all together fielder, told AFP on Monday that the Sydney goal. coach Thomas Tuchel changed all his Tuchel was not forthcoming on the against the ball, the sacrifices that we attacking trio of Mbappe, Cavani and Moments after the Australians had outfield players. future of Neymar, saying he had “no are willing to make. Neymar -- who wants to leave the club a goal ruled out for off-side, World news”, after the Brazilian made it clear “If we are willing to make sacrifices, -- had “egos”. Cup winner Mbappe exchanged passes ‘Make sacrifices’ that he wants to return to Barcelona. if we are willing to go over all obstacles, Two of those egos collided when with before firing beyond Tuchel warned his side that they “For me, he’s our player... it (his fu- then for sure we are ready. Mbappe and Cavani got in one anoth- goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne on 37 must pull together and “make sacrific- ture) is a question between him and the “But if we have big spaces, if we don’t er’s way, squandering their side’s first minutes. es” after the match. club,” was all Tuchel would say. all play together, for sure we will not chance. An inquest ensued. Six minutes later it was 2-0, Cavani Tuchel is under pressure to take PSG But he was forthright about what he be ready.”

No. 6 Tsitsipas gets top billing at Washington ATP event Schweinsteiger aims to show ‘best of MLS’ against Atletico

AFP | Orlando, United States best of MLS.” contested by Atleti. fielder said. The All-Star game in MLS, Discussions between the two “He has started astian Schweinsteiger hopes like those in the NBA and Major Spanish giants are on-going, but well and already BAtletico Madrid’s final game League Baseball, is designed as Simeone refused to be drawn shown he is tal- of their US tour won’t descend a mid-season exhibition respite. into a war of words with his ented so let’s into a flurry of mayhem and red Although with Simeone pre- recently departed striker. see how he gets cards when the MLS All-Stars paring for a strong challenge “I value the performance on.” take on Diego Simeone’s team in and the Champions from him,” the Argentine on Wednesday. League, the Spaniards -- who told AFP. “He has Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas returns against Italy’s Thomas Fabbiano during Atletico’s 7-3 win over Real have spent upwards of 219 mil- answered their match on the first day of 2019 Wimbledon Madrid in New Jersey on Fri- lion euros ($240 million) this everything on day saw both La Liga clubs re- summer following the depar- the field and AFP | Washington Tsitsipas -- seeking a fourth duced to 10 men in an unusu- tures of Antoine Griezmann, wish him ATP title after wins at Stock- ally highly charged pre-season Lucas Hernandez and Rodri -- nothing but tefanos Tsitsipas began a holm last October, Marseille encounter. will be very competitive. the best at Shistoric hardcourt run at in February and Portugal in Atleti continue their prepa- “I like this All-Star concept Barcelona. last year’s ATP Washington May -- has definitely had big rations for the forthcoming La a lot, you play with the best And that Open and the 20-year-old matches against the top stars. Liga season when they take on players in the league, have a is it.” Greek star returns this week He dropped finals to 18-time the best of Major League Soccer different coach -- this one is With Griezmann as the top seed and world num- Grand Slam champion Rafael in Orlando, with a near sell-out Irish -- and we are playing gone, the focus now is ber six. Nadal last year in Barcelona crowd of 25,000 expected at against a top team from Eu - on Portuguese won- And it might not be too much and Canada, to 20-time Grand Exploria Stadium. rope so will be a good test,” derkid Joao Felix who longer before the devoted vid- Slam winner Roger Federer in German World Cup winner Schweinsteiger said. was signed earlier this Bastian eo blogger tests his on-camera March at Dubai and to world Schweinsteiger, who plays in “They have invested a lot of summer from Benfica Schweinsteiger talents in the acting realm. number one Novak Djokovic, a MLS for Chicago Fire, believes money in new players, they are for 126 million euros Tsitsipas, an Australi - 16-time Grand Slam champion, Simeone’s side were fired by very strong, very tough and they ($142 million). an Open semi-finalist who in May at Madrid. the presence of Los Blancos have a very good coach. It won’t Compatriot Nani, crashed out in his first match Tsitsipas reached the 2018 and is adamant his team-mates, be easy but if we show our qual- who will play for at Wimbledon earlier this Washington semi-finals before coached by Orlando City’s ity we can definitely compete. the MLS All-Stars at month, will open against US losing to eventual champion James O’Connor, can prosper “Their approach is dictated by his home ground on wildcard Tommy Paul in a sec- Alexander Zverev, then the without kicking lumps out of Simeone. He’s done an amazing Wednesday, predicts ond-round match Wednesday next week became the young- the opposition. job over the last five years and a bright future for the in the US Open tuneup. est player to beat four top-10 “Intense games are always they have become one the top 19 year-old “I’ve matured a lot since last rivals in an ATP event, reach- good but the other night I am teams in Europe. That’s why it who impressed in the year,” Tsitsipas said. “I found ing the Canadian Open final sure the rivalry between the will be interesting.” previous match against a new challenge on the ATP before losing to Nadal. teams also played a part,” Real. Tour. The effort lifted him from Schweinsteiger, the former Bay- Focus on Felix “He has been showing “I was hungry and very ex- 32nd to 15th in the ATP rank- ern Munich and Manchester Atletico, who take their tour his potential to be a fu - cited. I was very hungry to ings and was a sign of things United midfielder, told AFP. to Mexico at the weekend, re- ture star for Portugal, he make the transition to the ATP, to come, notably a win in the “I think this will be different main angry with Barcelona over had a great season with many chances to play the big ATP NextGen Finals and the -- we don’t want to hurt anyone, the sale of French star Antoine Benfica last year but he guys. That’s what got me so ATP’s Most Improved Player we just want to play our way and Griezmann, whose 120 million is still young,” the former upsized.” award. we want to show what is the euro ($135 million transfer was Manchester United mid-