MOTORSPORT | Page 4 RUGBY | Page 6 McLaren to Wallabies face make full-time pre-World Cup IndyCar return test against All in 2020 Blacks Saturday, August 10, 2019 CRICKET Dhul-Hijja 9, 1440 AH Warne backs pacer GULF TIMES Archer to be Smith’s ‘biggest challenge’ SPORT Page 7 FOOTBALL / ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE De Bruyne back to drive Man City’s title defence Belgian star is confident his injury issues are behind him after proving to be one of the stand-out players during pre-season AFP London evin De Bruyne can’t wait to play a key role in Manchester City’s bid for a third successive KPremier League title as the Bel- gian star fi nally returns to peak form and fi tness. Pep Guardiola’s side start their title defence at West Ham today with De Bruyne providing a reas- suring presence for the champi- ons. City have bolstered their treble-winning squad with the £62mn ($75mn) club record sign- ing of Atletico Madrid midfi elder Rodri, while also adding accom- plished Juventus full-back Joao Cancelo. But the prospect of De Bruyne driving City forward from mid- fi eld is a mouthwatering prospect for Guardiola. The 28-year-old was an in- fl uential fi gure in City’s 2017-18 Premier League title triumph, but he had only a bit-part role in last season’s domestic domi- nance due to knee and muscular injuries. De Bruyne made just 22 starts in all competitions before re- turning to prove he was still a force to be reckoned with by win- ning the man of the match award in City’s FA Cup fi nal thrashing of In this August 4, 2019, picture, Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne runs with the ball during the English FA Community Shield match against Watford. Liverpool at Wembley Stadium in London. (Right) Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola. (AFP) He is confi dent those injury is- sues are behind him after proving line-up, City look more formida- behind Guardiola’s team last out of each other and you win it David Silva swarm forward. void left by the close-season de- honour he will make City a bet- to be one of the stand-out players ble than ever — quite a feat after term and then won the Champi- with 85, just because the compe- “I think he’s the perfect de- parture of club captain Vincent ter team simply by staying fi t this during City’s pre-season tour. they amassed 198 points over ons League. tition is that high. fensive midfi elder for the way we Kompany. season. “I’m fi ne. What happened last their last two Premier League And De Bruyne challenged “You need to be just one point want to play,” De Bruyne said of Kompany’s decision to join year happens to everybody. I have title-winning seasons. City to maintain the relentless ahead of the other ones and Rodri. Anderlecht as player-manager been a professional for 11 years If they can retain the crown, consistency that carried them to whatever you need to do, you Leroy Sane’s long-term ab- stripped City of their most expe- TODAY’S FIXTURES now and had one season where City will become only the fi fth last season’s title with 14 succes- need to do. sence with anterior cruciate rienced leader. I had some injuries,” De Bruyne team in the history of English sive league wins. “I think Liverpool will be up ligament damage suff ered in last David Silva started the Com- West Ham v Manchester City said. football to clinch three consecu- “You don’t need to be better, there, but they all will be there. weekend’s Community Shield munity Shield as captain before Bournemouth v Sheff ield Utd “I just get on with it. Now I feel tive top-fl ight titles, after Hud- you need to be consistent,” De We have to be consistent.” against Liverpool is a blow, but the vocal De Bruyne took over Burnley v Southampton good. I’m happy I could play a dersfi eld, Arsenal, Liverpool and Bruyne said. De Bruyne’s return gives Guar- City have more than enough when the Spaniard went off . Crystal Palace v Everton whole pre-season.” Manchester United (twice). “At the end of the year, with diola an embarrassment of riches depth to prosper without the Guardiola has said the players But Liverpool seem certain to all the competitions, maybe you in midfi eld, with Spain interna- Germany winger. will decide who wears the cap- Watford v Brighton & Hove FORMIDABLE push City all the way once again don’t need 95 or 100 points. tional Rodri likely to fi ll the hold- Another benefi t of De Bruyne’s tain’s armband, but regardless Tottenham v Aston Villa With De Bruyne back in their after they fi nished just one point “Maybe teams get more points ing role while the Belgian and return is his ability to fi ll the of whether De Bruyne gets that COMMENT Big mistake to close English window early: Pochettino Reuters hole in his squad that cannot be especially relevant for English signed from French club Lyon for London fi lled until January. clubs competing in the Champi- 55mn pounds ($66mn) in July. “I’m more than happy with my ons League and Europa League. Ryan Sessegnon joined on Thurs- squad after we close the window “The Premier League can- day from Fulham for 25mn and he Premier League has in England,” Pochettino, whose not give this advantage to the Giovani Lo Celso arrived on loan made a big mistake in sixth season in charge begins on European clubs,” the Argentine from Real Betis the same day. closing the transfer win- Saturday at home to Aston Villa, said. “It’s diff erent if you are not With Tottenham also start- dow before its European told reporters. competing with them in Europe. ing the campaign in their new Tcounterparts, Tottenham Hot- “But of course we are at a dis- But if you’re competing with the 62,000-seat stadium, there is spur manager Mauricio Po- advantage to the European clubs, European clubs I think they have optimism that the club, who fi n- chettino said yesterday. because they have 20 days more made a big mistake.” ished fourth last year and reached England’s top fl ight clubs can to operate and that’s a big mis- the Champions League fi nal, can no longer sign new players after take by the Premier League to al- NEW CONTRACT try to close the gap to Manchester the deadline expired on Thurs- low that. Transfer windows in Spain, Ger- City and Liverpool. day, but those in Italy, Spain, “At one time it was good be- many and France close on Sept 2, “In every single season our op- Germany and France can still cause you are going to start the with Italy closing theirs on Aug ponents were adding quality and strengthen their squads. season (knowing your squad), but 18. of course for us, in the last three Tottenham midfi elder Chris- we have opened the door to clubs One player who will not be seasons when we didn’t invest tian Eriksen and defender Toby in Europe to try to create confu- going anywhere is Brazilian Lu- too much, so to add new faces al- Alderweireld both have only a sion in your squad. cas Moura, who has signed a ways motivates and adds spark to year left on their contracts and “I think after two seasons op- new contract until 2024. Moura, our team,” Pochettino said. Eriksen in particular is on the ra- erating in this way I think the who joined in January 2018, was “It creates excitement in the dar of Real Madrid. Premier League should think if Tottenham’s most recent sign- club, in the fans. We will start Should a sizeable off er come Europe doesn’t change we must ing until this close season when the season in the new stadium so in before the La Liga window go back to operate in the same the club returned to the market there are a lot of positives. But we closes, the infl uential Dane could way that they operate.” ahead of the new campaign. have to be ready for another ex- depart, leaving Pochettino with a Pochettino said the matter is Midfi elder Tanguy Ndombele citing season.” Gulf Times 2 Saturday, August 10, 2019 FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT PREMIER LEAGUE Emery ponders Lampard quashes selling more Arsenal stars AFP could lose some players.” London Arsenal start their Premier talks of Luiz rift League campaign at Newcas- tle tomorrow, with the distinct anager Unai Em- possibility that none of their six Luiz joined Arsenal in an £8mn deal after reportedly falling out with Lampard ery says Arsenal can new players will be in the start- challenge for a top- ing line-up. Tierney is nursing AFP four place in the Pre- a groin problem and Real Ma- Mmier League despite admitting drid loanee Dani Ceballos took London more players could leave before a heavy challenge to his ankle the European transfer deadlines. in last week’s friendly defeat by helsea manager Frank Lampard Emery made six signings during Barcelona. insists there was no rift with the English transfer window, in- Luiz and club-record sign- David Luiz after claims the Brazil cluding Chelsea defender David ing Nicolas Pepe are both short defender went on strike before Luiz and Celtic full-back Kieran of full fi tness.