THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 19 Monreal in contract talks with Arsenal Enrique hails perfect start AFP | London acho Monreal has AFP | Elche, Spain Nopened talks with Ar- senal over a new contract uis Enrique described it with the Premier League as the perfect start after Today we were club. LSpain backed up their win very effective and Monreal has one year left over England with a 6-0 demoli- on his present deal and the tion of Croatia on Tuesday. everything went Gunners are willing to ex- Spain were three up at half- wonderfully well. tend the Spain defender’s time against the World Cup run- They had an early stay at the Emirates Stadi- ners-up thanks to Marco Asen- chance, they didn’t um. sio’s two long-range strikes, the take it and then we The 32-year-old has made second going in off goalkeep- played brilliantly 165 Premier League appear- er Lovre Kalinic, and an early and scored some ances for Arsenal since join- header from Saul Niguez. ing from Malaga in 2013. Asensio then laid on three great goals “At the moment we are more goals in the second half as LUIS ENRIQUE talking with the club. I’ve al- Rodrigo Moreno, Sergio Ramos ways said I am really happy, and Isco completed a statement I feel very happy playing for victory in Elche. Arsenal,” he told the Lon- Luis Enrique took charge after visitors crumbled. don Evening Standard. the humiliating exit to Russia at Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, “I came six years ago. I the World Cup had left Spain so dominant at the World Cup, have a good relationship doubting the possession game never took control while defen- with them. that won them three consecu- sively, without Dejan Lovren, “We are in contact in any tive major tournaments between the mistakes kept coming. moment so don’t worry 2008 and 2012. “We cannot cry about it, we about that. I am happy here. He promised evolution, not have to improve,” coach Zlatko That is the most important revolution, and while his team Dalic said. thing.” still dominated possession, they “What happened has hap - Monreal has been a use- were faster, more direct and less Spain players celebrate after Sergio Ramos score their fifth goal against Croatia pened, all their chances have ful member of an Arsenal predictable in the final third. gone in and it is better that it defence that new boss Unai Beating two of the World many chances and conceding old Dani Ceballos in midfield. sense,” Luis Enrique said. “To- happened today than later. Emery hopes to strength- Cup’s semi-finalists in four few goals, but the truth is that Spain were barely recognisa- day we were very effective and “After the first goal we were en after their error-strewn days leaves Spain top of League I am changing things very fast,” ble from the team that failed to everything went wonderfully not so focused, we tried to do displays in the final years of A’s Group Two in the Nations Luis Enrique said. break down Russia in the last 16 well. They had an early chance, things too fast and started to Arsene Wenger’s reign. League. “This week everything was but it should also be said they they didn’t take it and then we abandon the system. In the latter stages of his But, perhaps more important- perfect.” put six past Argentina, under Ju- played brilliantly and scored “That is not a solution against career, Monreal is keen to ly, it should also give the players Asensio was the star of the len Lopetegui, in March. There some great goals.” Spain, who plays well at home, be a big part of Emery’s re- belief in Luis Enrique’s methods. show but Saul, so impressive is work still to do. Croatia’s Ivan Santini was who likes to dominate the ball. building process. “It would be very easy to say against England, shone again, “Comparisons with the World guilty of missing early on but After the second goal, the match that this is my Spain, generating alongside the talented 23-year- Cup and tonight do not make once Spain pulled ahead, the was over for us.” Liverpool’s Keita admits it will take Adams off the mark as USA sink 10-man Mexico time to be at his best AFP | Nashville, United States ond half of the latest meeting between the two bitter North AFP | London eenager Tyler Adams scored American football rivals. This first international goal as Mexico’s Angel Zaldivar had iverpool midfielder a new-look United States side been shown a red card in the LNaby Keita says it will defeated 10-man Mexico 1-0 66th minute for a brutal chal- take time to justify the £52 in a friendly international on lenge on Wil Trapp that saw the million ($63 million) fee the Tuesday. USA midfielder lucky to escape club paid for the Guinea in- New York Red Bulls midfield- serious injury. ternational. er Adams burst into the penalty Zaldivar’s wild tackle had The 23-year-old -- who is area to tuck away an Antonee come just moments after several expected to start this week- Robinson cross on 71 minutes players joined a scuffle triggered end’s match with Totten- to settle a hardfought encounter by a confrontation between the ham Hotspur despite being at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. USA’s France-based defender left on the bench for Liver- US interim coach Dave Sara- Matt Miazga and Mexican prod- pool’s previous clash with chan praised the 19-year-old igy Diego Lainez. Leicester City -- told the Adams’ performance. “We knew that at some point Liverpool club magazine “This kid’s a beast,” Sarachan in the game it might boil over,” that having come from the said. “When you look at data, an- Sarachan said. “And I do think Bundesliga it is only nor- alytics and the volume of work our guys showed great compo- mal that it is taking him him he does in 90 minutes, he’s a sure.” time to acclimatise to the winner, this kid. Lainez, 18, had been Mexico’s Premier League. “He keeps getting better. Not best player during a dominant Keita was snapped up by perfect but he’s shown that he’s first half display which saw El Liverpool last year from RB emerging as someone that other Tri carve out the most prom - Leipzig but with the con- players can look up to.” ising openings without being dition he remained with Adams’ goal came after tem- able to convert their pressure Mexico midfielder Roberto Alvarado (24) dribbles the ball past U.S. midfielders Tim Weah (11) and Weston McKennie (8) the German side until this pers had flared during the sec- into goals. during an international friendly match season. President George Weah makes football comeback aged 51 AFP | South Africa Instead of watching the match their two Africa Cup of Nations against Nigeria from the grand- tournament appearances was 16 iberia president and former stand, he captained his country years ago. Lworld footballer of the year and showed glimpses of former Weah played in Liberia, the George Weah made a surprise skills before being substituted 12 Ivory Coast and Cameroon be- return to international football KNOW WHAT minutes from time. fore moving to Europe, where his Tuesday at the age of 51 in a 2-1 Weah received a standing clubs included Paris Saint-Ger- friendly defeat by Nigeria. ovation when leaving the pitch main, Monaco, Marseille and AC The international match in in the capital of a west African Milan. He also had brief spells Monrovia was organised to ‘re- Weah played in country where football is the with Chelsea and Manchester tire’ the number 14 shirt worn Liberia, the Ivory most popular sport. City before finishing his career by Weah, who was voted world, Coast and Came- Team-mates of Weah wore in the United Arab Emirates European and African footballer roon before moving shirts with “Thank you King playing for Al Jazira. of the year in 1995. to Europe, where George” on them as a tribute to In the friendly match, Nigeria Weah, who scored a landslide the legend who retired from in- built a two-goal half-time lead victory in presidential elections his clubs included ternational football 16 years ago. thanks to Henry Onyekuru and last December, is the only Afri- Paris Saint-Ger- Libera are ranked 47th of 54 Simeon Nwankwo and Sherman can footballer to win the world main, Monaco, Mar- African football nations and Kpah converted a late penalty and European awards. Liberia’s President George Weah (left) in action seille and AC Milan 158th in the world. The last of for Liberia..