SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2019 12 Neymar out of PSG Sterling shines as opener, exit talks City thrash West Ham ‘more advanced than before’ - club Raheem Sterling scores hat-trick as Manchester AFP | Paris to stay away but that didn’t wash with his employers who City thrash West Ham aris Saint-Ger- threatened to take “appropriate Pmain revealed Neymar action”. yesterday that Ney- Off the pitch, Neymar was mar transfer talks are informed by a Brazilian judge “more advanced than on Friday that the rape case before” after the Bra- which has been hanging over zilian was dropped for the footballer for months the French champions’ had been dismissed due to opening Ligue 1 match. insufficient evidence. Sporting director Leonardo Neymar had vehemently confirmed to reporters that the either denied allegations he raped Brazilian was near the exit door recoup the 222 million a Brazilian woman in a Paris but that PSG were “not yet ready euros ($249 million) hotel in May. to give their approval (to the they spent on him in 2017 or The forward, whose time transfer)” ahead of Sunday’s receive half that amount with in France has been marked by match at the Parc des Princes. players included in the deal. injuries and controversies, has Real Madrid or a return to Barcelona-based Mundo made a series of remarks that Barcelona are the most like - Deportivo says that he would strained his relationship fur- ly destinations for the world’s prefer a move back to Catalo- ther with the club and sparked most expensive footballer, with nia to play alongside former outrage on social media. Spanish media on Friday saying teammates Lionel Messi and Asked by an online sports that Zinedine Zidane’s side will Luis Suarez. channel about his best memory battle Barca for the 27-year- Neymar started the new in football, he cited Barcelo- old’s signature. season by angering the Qa- na’s incredible 2017 Champions Sports newspaper AS claimed tari-backed club when he League victory over PSG when Neymar has been offered to turned up one week late for he was part of the team that Madrid by PSG, who are open training. overturned a 4-0 first-leg defi- Raheem Sterling of Manchester City is challenged by Declan Rice of West Ham United to selling if The player’s camp main - cit by winning 6-1 in the second they can tained he had a prior agreement leg of their last-16 tie. finished off Sterling’s pass fol- goals and conceded four. Premier League lowing a fine move. However, Guardiola was pleased with • the VAR adjudged that Sterling his team’s second half display champions triumph was marginally offside as he ran but had some critical words 5-0 at the London into the box. for their performance in the Marcus Rashford ready to be Stadium, with Gabriel VAR, making its debut this opening 45 minutes. Jesus and Sergio season, was used again to re- “It was difficult away from Manchester United’s main man view and eventually validate home, 1230 kick-off, hot. The Aguero also on target Sterling’s second, when he col- first half was not good. We AFP | London that’s the next step for me. Everything goes in lected a lofted ball into the box didn’t con-trol second balls order of the way it should be done. AFP | London and lobbed West Ham keeper and lost a lot of balls,” said the arcus Rashford “I remember these similar steps when I first Lukasz Fabi-anski. Spaniard. Mwelcomed the went into the under-18s and it takes you a season aheem Sterling scored a The video staff were busy “It was important to get extra responsibility to grow into that standard of football. hat-trick as champions again in the 84th minute when three points, a clean sheet. he has been given at “Before you know it, you’re one of the leaders RManchester City made a City were awarded a penalty At 2-0, they have a chance. Manchester United, there and you take responsibility on the pitch. hugely convincing start to their for Issa Diop’s foul on Riyad Overall for the first game it after becoming one Now I’m in that situation for the first team.” title defence with a 5-0 win at Mahrez. Substitute Aguero’s is an incredible result. of Ole Gunnar Solsk- Rashford, who joined United at the age of West Ham United yesterday, in penalty soft penalty was saved “The second half was much jaer’s leaders at Old seven, signed a new four-year contract in July a game which saw heavy use of but VAR ruled that Declan Rice better. More calm, but still we Trafford. to keep him at United until 2023. video review. was encroaching into the box have many things to improve.” Rashford, 21, faces “I give my life for the club and that’s the most Brazilian Gabriel Jesus, pre- and referee Mike Dean ordered Guardiola said that the VAR his biggest season yet after important thing,” said the forward, who has ferred by Pep Guardiola to Ser- a re-take — which the Argen- decisions were a reminder of the sale of Romelu Lukaku scored 45 goals for the club in 170 appearances. gio Aguero in attack, opened tine scored before Sterling com- the need for a team to keep to Inter Milan confirmed his “For me, when you’re in a squad with a lot the scor-ing in the 25th minute pleted his hat-trick in stoppage their cool in what are still unu- position as United’s num- of young players who share the same ambition with a deft close-range finish time. sual situations. ber one striker. and have the same drive, I can only see us suc- after a scorching burst and low After last season’s runners-up “You have to be mentally “For me it’s just about ceeding. cross from Kyle Walker. Liverpool began their campaign strong when VAR is not on your becoming the guy that’s “It might take us some time, but if we all stick Sterling made it 2-0, six min- with a 4-1 win over Norwich side. You think at 0-3 the game responsible and reliable,” to the game-plan, work collectively as a team, utes after the interval, with City at Anfield on Friday, City’s is al-most over but at 0-2, the England international and we’ve got a good manager who knows the a cool finish after Kevin De emphatic victory was another the game is completely said to the United Re - club and who shares the same ambition, who Bruyne had burst from midfield sign that we could be in for a different. You have view ahead of United’s knows what we can achieve?” and fed the England forward. repeat neck-and-neck battle to be calm and Marcus Premier League Rashford scored 13 goals last season as Sol- Jesus then became the first between the leading pair. be strong, it is Rashford opener at skjaer succeeded Jose Mourinho in December. player to have a goal disallowed The result was City’s eighth going to change home against The Norwegian, himself a former United strik- by the Video Assistant Referee successive win in competitive dynamic not just Chelsea on er, has put his faith in Rashford to help the Red (VAR) in the Premier League matches against West Ham, in for team but for the Sunday. Devils improve on last season’s disappointing when, in the 53rd minute, he which time they have scored 28 spectators,” he said. “I feel like sixth-placed Premier League finish. Marquez claims landmark MotoGP pole in style with record lap AFP | Spielberg, Austria Marquez secured his land- Yamaha’s satellite SRT team, who by Maverick Vinales (Yamaha), mark pole in style with a fastest pushed factory Ducati rider An- Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati-Pra- arc Marquez will start the ever lap at the Red Bull Ring of drea Dovizioso into third with mac) and Takaaki Nakagami MAustrian MotoGP from 1min 23.027sec, having topped his final lap. “This front row is (Honda-LCR). pole after Honda’s world cham- all four practice sessions. like pole for me,” the talented Honda’s German test driver pion posted a new lap record “I produced what was a really Frenchman told Canal+. Stefan Bradl, who is replacing time in qualifying yesterday to very good lap. I made a minor “I’m happy because I never Marquez’s injured Repsol Hon- overtake Mick Doohan’s record mistake in the last sector but I thought I could make the front da teammate Jorge Lorenzo, with his 59th pole in the top had a good rhythm,” he said. row in Austria and we’ve suc- starts in 21st and last place in division. He had drawn level with re- ceeded.” Ducati are seeking their this 11th instalment of the 19- The Spaniard, who holds a tired Australian Doohan’s tally fourth straight win in Austria, race season. commanding 63-point lead in his at Brno last time out. but they appear to have their Italian MotoGP legend Valenti- hunt for a sixth MotoGP world The Lewis Hamilton of the work cut out with Marquez’s no Rossi was looking good for a title, is seeking his first ever win two-wheel fastlane is joined on Honda a sizeable 0.434sec clear prominent starting position in in Austria but his seventh of the front row by Fabio Quar - of Quartararo.