SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 15

Guardiola fires warning shot at Mendy Mourinho warns Pogba no AFP | Manchester, United Kingdom

ep Guardiola has warned one is bigger than Man Utd PBenjamin Mendy after the France defender turned AFP | Manchester, United King- up late for treatment on the dom foot injury that is currently keeping him out of the Man- ose Mourinho warned Paul chester City team. Pogba that no player is big- I always analyse a Mendy has been sidelined Jger than Manchester Unit- player as a player for City’s last four games ed, but praised the Frenchman’s with what has been de - attitude in training during an- -– and when a player scribed as a “bruised met- other week in which tensions es- is captain, I analyse atarsal”. calated between the Portuguese the player from But the left-back posted coach and his star . both the player and images on social media late Mourinho stripped Pogba captain perspective on Saturday of himself at of his role as vice-captain on JOSE MOURINHO the Anthony Joshua boxing Tuesday and a frosty exchange bout at Wembley. between the pair was caught And, much to Guardiola’s on camera at training the next frustration, the City manag- day after United crashed out made in the heat of the moment er admitted Mendy, who has the League Cup on penalties to after his outspoken reaction to played just 13 games for the Championship side Derby. the draw against Wolves, but af- club since joining from Mo- Pogba was rested in midweek, ter extensive consultation with naco last year, arrived late but Mourinho was reportedly his staff. for treatment and training unhappy about an Instagram “I explained in detail to the on Sunday. video in which Pogba appeared people that have to know in de- Some reports have sug- laughing while watching Tues- tail, which is the squad and es- gested that the extrovert day’s match at Old Trafford. pecially Paul. star was up to three hours However, the club later clar- “I always analyse a player as late for the compulsory ified that it had been upload- a player -– and when a player session with City’s training ed during the match, when the is captain, I analyse the player staff and Guardiola revealed home side had been leading. from both the player and captain that he has spoken to him. For his part, Pogba criticised Manchester United’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho (L) talks with Manchester United’s French midfielder Paul Pogba perspective. “The players should be Mourinho’s tactics for being too (R) “After weeks of analysing and here and he knows it. I negative in a 1-1 draw at home to exchanging opinions with my spoke with him,” Guardiola Wolves on Saturday. “I’m happy with his work this When pressed on his rela - open, you had some cameras coaching staff we made the de- told reporters yesterday. But Mourinho insisted Pogba week, really happy. On Tues- tionship with Pogba, Mourin- with some potential to get some cision Paul is just a player and Guardiola tried to lessen will return to the starting line- day, Wednesday and Thursday ho expressed frustration that of the words. Maybe you have not a captain. Mendy’s transgression by up for this weekend’s Premier especially because today was television cameras had picked to change the potential if you “The decision was made, I claiming that traffic conges- League trip to West Ham. not so significant. He trained up their training ground con- want to know everything that informed the player and the tion in Manchester has been “He’s a player like the others. really well. versation. is said because I’m not going to players and when I was asked a problem for a number of No player is bigger than the club “The team needs good play- “It is a good relationship, play- comment.” before the match on Tuesday I his players recently. and, if I’m happy with his work, ers, players with personality to er and manager,” he said. “I can- And Mourinho insisted that confirmed it and now I confirm he plays, if I’m not happy, he play; he has that and he plays not tell you (what was said). his decision to take the vice-cap- (it again) and now it is the end doesn’t play. tomorrow.” “The training session was taincy away from Pogba was not of the story.” Sarri urges ‘genius’ Hazard to become Liverpool sweating on world’s best German FA boss rekindles war AFP |

Van Dijk fitness aurizio Sarri has of words with Ozil Mhailed Eden Hazard AFP | London as a “genius”, but the Chel- AFP | Berlin Grindel. sea manager warned the The DFB boss says in recent iverpool manager Jurgen Belgian star to work with he president of the Ger- weeks Loew has “really tried” LKlopp faces an anxious even more intensity if he Tman Football Association to communicate with the mid- wait to see if Virgil van Dijk wants to be the world’s best (DFB) yesterday rekindled his fielder “by telephone, by SMS will be fit for Saturday’s top of player. war of words with Mesut Ozil and now by his visit to the Ar- the table Premier League clash Hazard has already by criticising the Arsenal mid- senal training ground”. at Chelsea on Saturday. scored six goals in seven fielder for refusing to meet with “I’d like it that there would The world’s most expensive Chelsea appearances this Germany head coach Joachim also be a conversation after defender has been the foun- season, including Wednes- Loew this week. someone has issued very signif- dation around which Klopp’s day’s sublime solo strike to “I think it’s not okay that icant criticism in a statement,” men have greatly improved seal a 2-1 win at Liverpool in every attempt at communica- Grindel added. their defensive record since the League Cup third round. Virgil van Dijk tion is being rejected (by Ozil),” On Monday, Loew and Ger- the giant Dutchman joined The 27-year-old’s fine Reinhard Grindel told German many team director Oliver Bi- from Southampton in January sea at Chelsea will not be a form has seen some pundits broadcaster ZDF. erhoff were turned away from for £75 million ($98 million). children’s birthday or whatev- rank him alongside Barcelo- Ozil quit international duty in Arsenal’s training ground in However, Van Dijk is still er, that’s pretty intense,” added na great Lionel Messi and July after Germany’s disastrous London after seeking to speak feeling the after-effects of a rib Klopp on the demands of three Juventus forward Cristiano World Cup campaign, citing to Ozil in a pre-arranged meet- injury that forced him off in a huge games in eight days. Ronaldo. “disrespect and racism” with- Mesut Ozil ing with the club’s Germany 3-0 win over his former club “Then we go to But Sarri insists Hazard in the DFB and he singled out internationals. last weekend. which is a tough place to go isn’t there yet because he “With Virgil we have to wait. and then Man City coming. can still add another layer He hasn’t trained so far with “It’s an interesting month, to to his game by training with the team but I can’t say any be honest. But so far, so good even more desire and drive. more about that,” said Klopp and the boys are fully in it and “I think that he is for sure Costa in ‘fantastic form’ for derby: coach yesterday. ready to go.” one of the best (players in “Virgil is a world-class play- Both sides made eight the world), but I am abso- AFP | Madrid in La Liga he has not found the er, there is no doubt about that, changes for the first of two lutely convinced that he can net since February, a run that and if you miss a world-class clashes in four days in mid - improve,” Sarri told report- iego Simeone has pledged includes 15 matches. player it is not cool.” week, but Eden Hazard came ers yesterday. Dhis full support to Diego “I see him being in fantastic Liverpool are looking to off the bench to decide the tie “If he’s able to improve Costa, despite the Atletico Ma- form and for me, in the first half stretch their perfect Premier with a moment of individual during training maybe he drid striker’s La Liga drought the other day (against Huesca), League start to seven games brilliance to score the winner. will be able to use and serve ahead of Saturday’s derby he was above everyone else, he and get revenge on Chelsea The Belgian has already at 100 per cent. against Real Madrid. played very well,” Simeone said for a 2-1 League Cup defeat scored six goals this season “Because I think that we Costa scored twice against yesterday. to Maurizio Sarri’s men on and will be the key player if have seen only 75, 80 per Real as Atletico lifted the Euro- “He was involved in our first Wednesday. Chelsea are to mount an unex- cent of his potential. pean Super Cup in August and, goal with an assist and was al- Diego Costa However, Klopp may be re- pected title challenge to Liver- “So I think that if he’s able going further back, he hit the ways always moving and caus- luctant to risk Van Dijk with pool and City. to improve he will be the winner at the Santiago Berna- ing problems. Physically, he is last fortnight. a Champions League trip to “I know exactly how good he best in the world.” beu in 2013, before leaving to strong and against Madrid, I ex- As well as recording back- Napoli to come on Wednesday is,” said Klopp. Hazard has another join Chelsea. pect him to have a great game.” to-back wins over Getafe and and the visit of Premier League “Eden Hazard is a special chance to showcase his class He has struggled for goals Atletico will jump above Huesca, Real have slipped up champions Manchester City player, obviously, and he en- on the big stage when Liver- this season, however, manag- their city rivals with a win this against Athletic Bilbao before next weekend. joys these one-on-one situ- pool visit Stamford Bridge ing only one in the Champions weekend, after reducing a sev- being blown away on Wednes- “Before we started it was ations or one versus two or in the Premier League on League against Monaco while en-point gap to two over the day by Sevilla. clear that a game against Chel- three situations, he enjoys it. Saturday.