THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020 13 Real Madrid teenager Reinier ‘Return of a legend’ - Koeman completes loan switch to Dortmund officially named new Barca coach Former Barcelona star Ronald Koeman will replace Quique Setien as the team’s head coach • Setien was sacked Reinier after the Catalans Reuters | Berlin were humiliated 8-2 by Bayern Munich KNOW WHAT orussia Dortmund have in the Champions Bsigned Brazilian attack- League quarter-finals ing midfielder Reinier from In his six seasons as a Real Madrid on a two-year Barca player Ronald loan deal, the German Bun- AFP | Barcelona desliga club announced. Koeman made 264 Having come through the risis-hit Barcelona hailed official appearances, youth ranks at Rio de Janei- the “return of a legend” scoring 88 goals as ro-based Flamengo, Reinier Cas the Spanish giants yes- he shone in Cruyff’s won the double of domestic terday officially named Ron- ‘Dream Team’, winning title and Copa Libertadores ald Koeman as their new coach four consecutive La with the Brazilian side in through until 2022. Liga titles between 2019. “FC Barcelona and Ronald The 18-year-old moved Koeman have reached an agree- 1991-94 from Flamengo to Real ment for the Dutchman to take on September 4 and Italy three Madrid for a reported 30 over as first team coach until 30 days later, in Amsterdam as part million euros ($35.84 mil- June 2022,” the club said in a of the UEFA Nations League. lion) in January, but is yet statement. “It was an honour to be the to make his senior debut for Former Barca star Koeman, national coach of the Nether- the La Liga club. who has been in charge of the Barcelona’s new Dutch coach Ronald Koeman (R) poses with the president of the club Josep Maria Bartomeu during his lands,” said Koeman, who would “Reinier is a player who Netherlands since 2018, will re- official presentation at the Camp Nou stadium have been in charge for the 2020 possesses enormous talent place Quique Setien, who was European championships, now and can be deployed in var- sacked after the Catalans were “Koeman, the hero of Wem- player Koeman made 264 of- Earlier on Tuesday sporting postponed by a year because of ious attacking positions,” humiliated 8-2 by Bayern Mu- bley, is back,” the club added, a ficial appearances, scoring 88 director Eric Abidal was axed, the coronavirus pandemic. said Dortmund sporting di- nich in the Champions League day after president Josep Maria goals as he shone in Cruyff’s paying the price for the Bayern “For the past two-and-a-half rector Michael Zorc. quarter-finals on Friday. Bartomeu revealed the Dutch- ‘Dream Team’, winning four trouncing and internal conflict years I have done everything I “We’ve been keeping The 57-year-old becomes the man would take over. consecutive La Liga titles be- that took place during a league can to achieve successes with tabs on the lad for over two fifth Dutchman to coach Bar- That night back in 1992, Koe- tween 1991-94. season that saw them surrender the Oranje. years; in addition to his out- celona after Rinus Michels, Jo- man secured his place in Barca the La Liga title to Real Madrid. “I look back with pride on standing technical qualities, han Cruyff, Louis Van Gaal and history, scoring the winning goal Mixed coaching bag Ex-France international what we have achieved together he also boasts a strong phys- Frank Rijkaard. to claim the Catalan club’s first Koeman’s coaching career, Abidal was replaced yesterday in that period. The Dutch na- ical presence. “More than 30 years after his ever success in Europe’s top club however, has been mixed and by Ramon Planes. tional team has a bright future, “Following the long break arrival as a player, Koeman ar- competition. he arrives with the Catalans in Koeman will leave his role as I am convinced of that.” from competitive football, rives once again as coach at the As a player, Koeman arrived crisis. coach of the Netherlands to his Koeman said that “everyone we’ll give him the necessary club that he helped win their in Barcelona in 1989, at the time Setien was fired on Monday assistant Dwight Lodeweges, knows Barcelona is my dream time to adapt to profession- very first European Cup back in the second most expensive sign- after the embarrassment against while the national federation club”. al football in Germany and 1992,” Barcelona said in a state- ing in the club’s history behind Bayern which meant Barca fin- searches for a full-time replace- “It feels very special to me to he can then be an addition- ment headlined “Return of a Diego Maradona. ish the season trophy-less for ment. be able to become a manager al option for us going for- Barca legend”. In his six seasons as a Barca the first time since 2007. The Oranje take on Poland there.” ward.” Finch targeting 2023 World Misbah has no qualms over Pakistan’s fitness for England finale Cup as career swansong AFP | London Reuters | Sydney akistan coach Misbah-ul- PHaq is confident his side’s fitness levels will hold up when The players have ustralia limited overs cap- they face England in the third taken ownership of Atain Aaron Finch has set and final Test at Southampton their fitness levels himself a goal of playing the starting on Friday. and they should be 2023 one-day World Cup in A season reshaped by the given credit for that, India before bowing out of in- coronavirus pandemic has left ternational cricket. Pakistan with a programme of especially after three The 33-year-old opening three Tests in as many weeks. months at home batsman told Australian radio What could have been a truly during the COVID-19 that cricket’s pause in 2020 gruelling schedule became less pandemic. They know due to COVID-19 had only made arduous as a result of so much having supreme him more determined to push time being lost to rain and bad fitness will help them through to the global tourna- Aaron Finch light during he drawn second to perform under ment in the subcontinent. Test, also at Southampton, con- “My end date at this stage I’ll be ready to go right through cluded Monday. pressure is the World Cup final of the to that period.” But Misbah, who as a 42-year- MISBAH-UL-HAQ 2023 World Cup in India,” he Finch’s opening partner Da- old captain of Pakistan celebrat- told SEN. vid Warner has also targeted ed scoring a hundred against stan has some great memories “That’s my goal and I’m the 2023 World Cup, though England at Lord’s in 2016 with from previous such occasions sticking to it. he said last month that family a round of press-ups, has long Misbah-ul-Haq looks on during a training session (file photo) in England: our first-ever Test “That’ll see me through to was his priority and he might been convinced of the need for win in England in 1954 came 36 (years old), obviously with review his international com- his players to be in shape. fitness will help them to per- tail,” explained Misbah. just after Independence Day, form and everything permit- mitments depending on the “Fitness has been an impor- form under pressure.” “Shan Masood also showed as did the famous win at Lord’s ting, and injuries. long-term situation with COV- tant part of our strategy as a Pakistan go into the se - it in the first Test, batting for in 1982 and, from a personal “If I thought I was going to ID-19. team since I took on the role of ries finale 1-0 down after a almost eight hours, and running point of view, our victory at the be pushing it to get to that date, Finch led Australia to the head coach last September and three-wicket defeat in the first really well with Shadab Khan. Oval in 2016 when we levelled this break has confirmed that semi-finals in England last we have seen the benefits in the Test at Old Trafford. The way they stole quick singles the series on 14 August itself,” year and was part of the Mi- two Tests so far,” Misbah wrote But that loss saw Shan Masood is something that you don’t see recalled Misbah. chael Clarke-captained side in a column for the Pakistan show plenty of endurance dur- much in Test cricket and cer- Unfortunately for Pakistan, that won the 2015 World Cup Cricket Board’s website. ing a Test-best 156 while wick- tainly not from a Pakistan team.” the weather in Southampton on home soil. etkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, The second day of the second meant the current side could He is leading a squad of 21 to ‘Perform under pressure’ impressive behind the stumps Test was also Pakistan’s Inde- not add to those successes, al- England next week for limited “The players have taken own- in Manchester, was named man- pendence Day, which has previ- though Misbah said: “Hopefully 4,882 overs series in Southampton ership of their fitness levels of-the-match in the second Test ously coincided with some no- we can deliver a late gift to the runs have been scored and Manchester starting Sept. and they should be given credit for a determined 72. table moments in the country’s nation in the final Test and an- by Aaron Finch in 126 4, which will be Australia’s for that, especially after three “Mohammad Rizwan is a cricket history.