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I WILL BE HERE, 100 PER CENT FOR MAN CITY, DESPITE UEFA BAN, SAYS PEP GUARDIOLA
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he is “100 per cent” sure he will stay at the club despite the two-year ban from European football handed out by UEFA for serious breaches of Financial Fair Play rules.
There has been speculation over the Spaniard’s future, given his side could be barred from competing in the next two Champions League campaigns but Guardiola, whose contract runs until June 2021, was quick to dismiss such talk.
“Why should I leave? I said a month ago, I love this club, I like to be here. Why should I leave?,” he told Sky Sports after his team’s 2-0 win over West Ham United in the Premier League on Wednesday (Feb 19).
“If they don’t sack me, I will stay here 100 per cent, more than ever.
“First, because I want to stay. It’s something special, more than the contract I have. I said before, I say now, I want to stay and help the club and maintain this level as long as possible.”
City are appealing against the ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland and the club’s hierarchy have insisted they have done no wrong and will prevail.
“We spoke with the players, in the next three months we will focus on what we have to do and after we will see the sentence. Personally, I will be here,” Guardiola told reporters.
“It is so sensitive with the legal (aspect) that I am not the person to talk about that,” he said, when asked about the case.
“I know a little bit the reasons why and I support the club 100 per cent. I trust what they told me and that is what I can say.
“When someone believes he is right, he is going to fight to the end and that is what we are going to do. It is an incredible thing to fight for our people who support this club and we are going to do it. As a club, a team, we are going to do it.”
Guardiola has won two Premier League titles at City. His side are in the last 16 of the Champions League and lie second in the domestic standings, 22 points behind Liverpool.
The former Barcelona manager said he had discussed with his players the right approach to take to the rest of the campaign, in light of the legal moves.
“We have a deal, we are professional on the pitch. What happened off the pitch, we cannot say, we cannot do much,” Guardiola said.
“So we talked about what we were going to do until the end of the season, what we have to do, especially for the people who love this club. There are many, and that is going to happen, so (we) play our games as best as possible.”
-Reuters
The Maracana Stadium will be one of eight venues across Brazil to host matches at the 2027 Women’s World Cup, the first edition to be held in Latin America, FIFA announced on Wednesday.
In addition to the iconic venue in Rio de Janeiro, the 64 matches of the competition will be played in Belo Horizonte (Mineirao Stadium), Brasilia (National Stadium), Fortaleza (Castelao Arena), Porto Alegre (Beira-Rio Stadium), Recife (Pernambuco Arena), Salvador (Fonte Nova Arena) and Sao Paulo (Itaquera Arena).
“From samba to frevo, from stunning beaches to cosmopolitan cities, the world will experience the energy, colour and warmth that only Brazil can offer,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“We will continue to work closely with the selected host cities on the exciting journey ahead of us, creating unforgettable moments in each of their stadiums in 2027, and ensuring that this tournament has a major and widespread positive impact.”
The tournament to be played between June 24 and July 25, 2027, will feature 32 participating teams.
“The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 will mark a historic milestone as the tournament heads to South America for the very first time,” said FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafstrom.
“The women’s game continues to grow at an extraordinary pace, and bringing the tournament to Brazil will inspire a new generation across the continent and beyond.”
-Reuters
Manchester United will have to push hard to win the Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao despite their 3-0 win in the first leg, manager Ruben Amorim said on Wednesday.
United have put themselves in the driving seat for a place in the final in Bilbao thanks to three first-half goals in the Spanish city on Thursday.
The Old Trafford club is struggling domestically, however, languishing in 15th place in the Premier League, and Amorim said they should take nothing for granted.
“If you look at our team, we cannot say today what is going to happen. There are some teams in any league that can understand the game is going to be like this and could change a little bit,” Amorim told reporters.
“We have to face the game as one more game. I feel we have to score to go to the next round. That is how we are going to approach the game. We will have to suffer a little bit to go to the final, and we are ready to suffer.”
United will be without the services of centre back Matthijs de Ligt after the 25-year-old Dutchman picked up an injury in their 4-3 defeat at Brentford on Sunday.
“It’s not a big issue, that is a good thing. He cannot play tomorrow or Sunday, but then we will check day by day, we will see. (Centre back) Ayden (Heaven) doesn’t recover. (Defensive midfielder) Toby (Collyer) is not available,” the Portuguese boss said.
Athletic have their own injury concerns, with winger Nico Williams and his older brother Inaki both set to miss Thursday’s second leg at Old Trafford.
Amorim was also asked about Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who has been a subject of speculation over a move to the Saudi Pro League in recent days.
Amorim said United want to hold on to their 30-year-old captain, who has scored 19 goals and provided 18 assists in 52 matches in all competitions this campaign for the club.
“I think it is easy to understand that (transfer speculation), not just because of the numbers but the way he plays,” Amorim added.
“He is a top player and we need top players. He is a leader, the captain.”
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Like father, like son, as Cristiano Ronaldo’s son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, has been called up to play for Portugal’s Under-15 national team for the first time.
The 14-year-old earned his spot after impressing at the Al-Nassr academy in Saudi Arabia, where he currently plays alongside his father.
The news has sparked hopes from fans that father and son could one day play together for Portugal. Ronaldo, who is now 40 years old, still plays professionally and is showing no signs of slowing down.
The Portuguese football legend reacted proudly to his son’s selection, posting on Instagram: “I’m proud of you, son.”
Ronaldo has spoken before about the possibility of playing alongside his son, saying: “I would like it, I would like it. It’s not something that keeps me up at night, but I would like it. We’ll see. It’s more in his hands than in mine.”
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