Premier League
Jesus Won’t Send Aguero Away, Says Pep Guardiola
The fears about possible exit of Sergio Aguero and Claudio Bravo from Manchester City have been defused by manager Pep Guardiola. The breakthrough into City’s squad by Brazil’s Gabriel Jesus who joined in January and the last month arrival of Ederson Moraes, a Brazilian goalkeeper put the positions of Aguero and Goalkeeper Bravo under threat.
Bravo was the goalkeeping hero of the Portugal versus Chile semi-final duel of the last Confederations Cup in Russia when he saved three consecutive penalty shots. At about the time Bravo was bravely performing his feat, Ederson Moraes was being signed on for a £35 million fee, making him the second most expensive goalkeeper of all-time.
But on Wednesday, manager Guardiola confirmed that both Sergio Aguero and Claudio Bravo will remain City players. At a pre-season press conference, 90min reported that the City boss insisted the pair will remain at the club.
When asked about the future of Bravo and Aguero, Guardiola said: “Claudio Bravo will be a City keeper next season. We go with Ederson, Claudio and the young players we have.
“You know my opinion about Sergio – he is our player and he will remain here,” he added.
Aguero looked to have been ousted from his long term spot as City’s leading man by the recent arrival of the 20-year-old wonder-kid, Jesus. But the injury that Gabriel Jesus sustained in February, barely a month after his arrival, left the door ajar for the Aguero to show how vital he is to City’s attacking line.
Four goals and two assists across three games following Jesus’ injury stamped his mark on the side, where his clinical touch and eye for goal led him to scoring eight goals, and providing three assists in the last eight games of the season.
Bravo, on the other hand struggled to get to grips with English football following his move from Barcelona last summer and his game time is set to be limited following the arrival of Ederson.
At 34 years old, his career is nearing its end and with the World Cup around the corner, it remains to be seen whether Bravo will be content with being second fiddle next season after a career of being the number one man.
Premier League
Chelsea’s Pochettino cries foul over VAR decision in 2-2 draw with Villa
A VAR decision chalking off what looked to be a late winner for Chelsea at Aston Villa on Saturday has damaged the Premier League, the London club’s manager Mauricio Pochettino said.
His side thought they have completed a remarkable comeback when substitute Axel Disasi netted in second-half stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review penalised a push by Benoit Badiashile in the build-up.
“Me and you and everyone in the stadium watching the game, they didn’t see a foul on the pitch and then VAR changed the decision of the referee. For me that was a normal challenge. The decision was there and that’s it,” Pochettino told broadcaster TNT following the 2-2 draw.
“For me, it damaged a little bit the Premier League and English (football). If we want to be the best league in the world it should be protecting the spectacle and the decision … (it) damaged myself, damaged my team, my players, the fans,” he added.
Chelsea were 2-0 down at the break but goals from Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher put them level before the late goal was overturned.
“The performance was very good and we played really well. It is true in the first half we conceded easy … to play Villa, who are fighting for the top four, I am pleased with the team and the players were good,” Pochettino said.
Villa boss Unai Emery said his side, who are currently in fourth spot and seven points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, still had their sights set on qualifying for next season’s Champions League. Spurs, however, have three games in hand.
“We have to try to keep being consistent with the players we have and I believe in the players … in Premier League we are fighting with Tottenham for fourth position,” he said.
-Reuters
Premier League
Salah in touchline row with Klopp as Liverpool drop points
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah appeared to have a heated exchange with manager Juergen Klopp shortly before the Egypt international was brought on as a second-half substitute in a 2-2 Premier League draw at West Ham United on Saturday.
Salah, who has not been at his best since returning from injury last month, was brought on in the 79th minute, just after the Hammers’ second goal levelled the game.
He appeared angry with Klopp on the touchline before he was introduced and continued to remonstrate with his manager as fellow substitute Darwin Nunez pushed him away from the German.
Klopp tried to play down the incident, telling reporters: “We spoke about that in the dressing room and it’s done for me, that’s all.”
But Salah seemed to have a different perspective and refused interviews with reporters in the mixed zone, saying: “There’s going to be fire today if I speak.”
Saturday’s draw further dented Liverpool’s already slim chances of winning the Premier League in Klopp’s final season with the club and leaves them reliant on rivals Arsenal and Manchester City dropping points in the run-in.
-Reuters
Premier League
Iheanacho, Ndidi back in Premier League as Leicester City get promotion
Leicester City earned promotion back to the Premier League on Friday after nearest rivals Leeds United were beaten 4-0 by Queens Park Rangers, ensuring the Championship leaders will finish in the top two in the standings.
This means that the Super Eagles duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, both players of Leicester City again taste action in the English Premier League next season.
The result of Leed City and QPR left second-placed Leeds’s chances of automatic promotion from the second-tier Championship hanging by a thread. They trail Leicester by four points with one game left to play and are only a point ahead of Ipswich Town, who have two games in hand.
It was a dream first half for QPR as the London side scored two goals without reply.
First Ilias Chair scored with a deflected effort from outside the area, while a curled finish from Lucas Andersen midway through the first half made it 2-0.
Leeds tried to up the pressure in the second half but with little effect, with French forward Georginio Rutter pulling a shot wide from the middle of the penalty area.
Scottish forward Lyndon Dykes and Sam Field both scored headers from set pieces in the second half to complete the 4-0 win.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke turned to his bench to try and influence the game and it was one of those substitutes, striker Mateo Joseph, who came closest, seeing his close-range attempt turned wide by Rangers keeper Asmir Begovic
-Reuters
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