یکشنبه Sixteen 31 فروردین 1399 16 شماره 6459 روزنامه ورزشی صبح ایران صاحب امتیاز: خبرگزاری جمهوری اسالمی مدیرمسئول: علی عالی تلفن: 14 ــ 88504113 نمابر: 84711173 سازمان آگهیها: 1877ــ 88501300 ــ88746583 انتشارات: 5 و 88548892 امور مشترکین: 88748800 ــ 88521954 نشانی: تهران، خیابان خرمشهر، شماره 208 / صندوق پستی 5388-15875 چاپ: ایرانیان

Iniesta: Griezmann & De Jong will ‘definitely triumph’ at Barca

Goal - Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong “They are difficult to compare. I have always said “will definitely end up triumphing” at Barcelona, that everything is going to be different from what according to Andres Iniesta, who says new play- the Catalans have in their head, but it does not ers must be given time to adapt. have to be worse than what they have experi- Barca reached an agreement to sign De Jong enced. from Ajax for €75 million (£65m/$82m) in Jan- “They are very good players and all Barcelona uary 2019, and he joined up with his new team- have to do is be clear about their playing style mates at Camp Nou six months later after see- and, from there, look for players of their profile ing out the season in his homeland. like those in the squad. Big things were expected of the Netherlands “De Jong has just arrived, he needs that adapta- international upon his arrival in Catalonia, with tion period.” it suggested that the Blaugrana have lacked a Griezmann has also found himself under the player capable of dictating the pace of the game microscope since completing a €120 million from midfield since Iniesta’s departure in 2018. (£104m/$130m) switch from Atletico Madrid to However, the 22-year-old hasn’t quite been able Barca back in July. to live up to expectations during his first season The France international has scored a modest 14 with Barca, having been asked to switch from a goals in his first 37 appearances for the reigning deep-lying position to a more forward-thinking La Liga champions, while struggling to develop role. an effective partnership with club captain and Iniesta - who is now on the books of Japanese six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi. outfit Vissel Kobe - insists that De Jong is still in Pressed on why Griezmann has also found it the middle of an “adaptation period”, despite difficult to settle into his new surroundings, In- the fact that more often than not, he has been iesta responded: “It is a case similar to that of selected ahead of Ivan Rakitic in the middle of De Jong. the park. “Griezmann and the rest of the new players that When asked for his opinion on which man de- arrive every year need time. serves a regular starting spot in Quique Setien’s “They have enormous talent and will definitely starting lineup, the Barca legend told Marca: “I end up triumphing and making a place for them- don’t know. Comparisons are usually tedious. selves in this team where it is not easy to play.”

I had a confrontational relationship with De Bruyne reveals he may have suffered Chelsea dressing room– Sarri from coronavirus

Maurizio Sarri has revealed he had a “con- substitute during extra time. Kevin De Bruyne believes he and his family hard to get used to, but now he fully in the frontational relationship with the Chelsea The Italian head coach was, however, able to may have contracted coronavirus while on swing of keeping himself conditioned. dressing room” during his first six months in oversee a strong finish to the campaign, se- lockdown in Manchester but they were not “Well, the first two weeks was a little bit weird charge at the club, but says the players even- curing a top-four finish while also winning the tested while ill. because I don’t know what’s going on,” De tually learned to appreciate his character. first major trophy of his managerial career by The Man City playmaker was forced into the Bruyne said. Sarri was drafted in to replace Antonio Conte conquering the Europa League. social distancing measures - like the rest of the “Then I managed to get a treadmill. I was in the Stamford Bridge hot seat in the sum- Sarri admits that he didn’t always see eye United Kingdom - became of the Covid-19 pan- swimming a little bit because I’m lucky to have mer of 2018, after an impressive three-year to eye with his players at the Bridge , but be- demic sweeping the area. a pool downstairs. spell with Italian giants Napoli. lieves he had earned their trust by the end of De Bruyne revealed that there were several “I was doing a couple of lengths but now most- The 61-year-old tactician quickly set about his tenure, as he took the decision to return members of his household sick for a long period ly I’m doing a run and I would say every other implementing his own unique philosophy at to Italy after receiving an offer from Juventus. of time - but they recovered before confirming day I would choose between swimming and do- Chelsea, based on quick passing interchang- “I had a conflicted relationship with the Chel- whether the issues were related to coronavirus. ing some exercise, so I’m keeping fairly good es and building attacks from the back. sea dressing room but, when I told them “At the beginning of the lockdown my family for what we can on our own, I guess.” He was criticised for his predictable forma- I’d be leaving, many of them cried,” he told was sick for eight or nine days,” De Bruyne told He also revealed Man City were doing their tion and selection choices, but the Blues were Juve’s official YouTube channel . Sky Sports. bit to help guide the players in their fitness re- right in the mix for major honours across the “I’m not so much a person who pats others “It started with my little boy, then my older boy gimes. board until the second half of the 2018-19 on the back. I talk a lot about what they do and then my wife, but I don’t know if we had “They send us like a fairly big programme,” De season. wrong and less about the good things they do. [coronavirus] or not. Bruyne added. It was after Christmas when results began to “I think that has a big impact, but then they “Luckily we are out of it and the last two or “I think at the beginning of lockdown some of take a turn for the worse, and following Chel- learn to appreciate you for who you are. three weeks has been really good and we are the gym physios went to the club and made sea’s worst-ever Premier League defeat in a The longest relationships are with the lads I finding a routine and everything so we are videos of what we can do, different types of 6-0 away drubbing at the hands of Manches- played least, so I think they recognise some- fine.” exercises. ter City, Sarri was left on the brink of the sack. thing once they absorb your character.” With the Premier League currently suspended “But there’s a few things that I like to do, obvi- Sarri was also embroiled in a fierce on-field Sarri also opened up on his underwhelming indefinitely and training heavily restricted be- ously it’s more the running and the swimming dispute with first-choice goalkeeper Kepa Ar- experience of living in England, before con- cause of the health issue, players have had to exercise. rizabalaga during a Carabao Cup final loss to ceding he misses the intensity and quality of find creative ways to keep fit. “I do a little bit in-between but I’m not one for City, as the Spaniard refused to come off as a Premier League football. De Bruyne says that the initial adjustment was sitting like an hour or two hours in a gym.