Sports
Guardiola Challenges Grealish, Doku to Compete For City’s Starting XI
In a bid to maintain Manchester City’s attacking prowess, Pep Guardiola has issued a rallying cry to wingers Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku, urging them to demonstrate their worth in the team.
Grealish, who played a pivotal role in City’s triumphant treble campaign last season, has encountered a challenging season marred by injuries. Despite being a record-breaking £100 million signing for the club in 2021, his time on the pitch has been limited this year.
During Grealish’s absence due to injury, young Belgian talent Jeremy Doku has stepped into the limelight, impressing with his performances.
Guardiola’s call to action signifies a competitive battle for a coveted spot in City’s formidable attacking lineup
Doku, signed from Rennes in the close-season, offers a different kind of threat on the flanks than Grealish and some City fans have called for the 21-year-old to start in Saturday’s Premier League clash at Wolves.
“Jeremy can play on the right as well. So who is going to play more, who is going to perform better?” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.
“Phil Foden can play on the left too. So they compete with Phil Foden as well.
“The guy who performs well and feels better than the other one is going to have more chances to play. Always it has been like that.”
City have made a flying start to their title defence with six wins from six games.
Guardiola’s men are chasing an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League crown and the Spaniard laughed off suggestions his side will cruise to victory at Molineux against a Wolves side that have taken just four points from six games.
“Normally all the games we play are ‘easy’ – and if we don’t win the Premier League, 10 points in front, in November, it’s a disaster! I know exactly what it is,” he said sarcastically.
“(Wolves boss Gary) O’Neil did an incredible job at Bournemouth and I have the feeling they will do it too.
“It is a team where the quality is there. Hopefully we can respond with these next three games before the international break.”
City will again be without John Stones and Bernardo Silva this weekend.
England defender Stones has not played since City’s Community Shield clash with Arsenal on August 6 due to a thigh issue.
Silva has been sidelined after he came off against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League last week.
City also have Rodri out while the Spain midfielder serves the second game of his three-match ban after being sent off in last Saturday’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
“Just for the amount Rodri has played, the consistency – of course, it is not easy to replace,” Guardiola added.
AFP
The La Liga meeting between Barcelona and Osasuna on Saturday night has been called off at the last-minute.
This comes following the death of medical doctor of Barcelona.
The day’s action in Spain’s top-flight was due to be brought to a close in Catalunya’s capital late this evening.
As much came with table-topping Barcelona looking to extend their advantage over the chasing pack, in a home meeting with Osasuna.
The two squads had been close to finalising their warm-ups, with the respective starting XIs having been made official across social media, too.
As alluded to above, though, Barca and Osasuna will not take to the pitch on Saturday.
As confirmed by La SER, amongst others, this comes following the passing of an unnamed individual:
‘A person close to the FC Barcelona locker room has died and the players asked for the suspension of the match.’
Mohamed Salah scored two penalties as Liverpool came from behind to beat rock-bottom Southampton for the second time this season and moved 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The Reds were miles below their best after their energy-draining late win at Paris Saint Germain on Wednesday – but all that matters at this stage of the season is results.
This takes them one step closer to the title and leaves Saints still in danger of the lowest Premier League points total ever.
The visitors allowed themselves to dream when Will Smallbone took advantage of a huge mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson to slot in from a tight angle.
But Reds boss Arne Slot made a triple substitution at half-time and Liverpool were much improved.
Darwin Nunez, perhaps fortunate not to be one of the ones replaced at the break, slotted in from Luis Diaz’s cutback.
And then the Uruguayan striker was fouled by Smallbone for a penalty, which Mohamed Salah predictably dispatched with style.
Liverpool fans started singing “now you’re going to believe us, we’re going to win the league” after that.
Salah also netted another spot-kick late on, for his 27th goal of the season, after the video assistant referee spotted a Yukinari Sugawara handball.
Second-placed Arsenal have two games in hand – including Sunday’s match with Manchester United – but it is impossible to see anyone overhauling Liverpool.
Nigeria’s U-17 national women football team Flamingoes on Saturday beat host South Africa’s Bantanwa 3-1 to take a giant step in the FIFA Under 17 women world cup qualifiers.
The Nigerian girls stunned their host in the match played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium following goals from Shukurat Moshood and Harmony Chidi who scored a brace, thus taking the upper hand in the two legged affair.
Malebana however scored one goal consolation for the hosting team.
The return leg will now be played in Abuja, Nigeria in a fortnight as the Flamingoes hope to qualify for the final round of the qualifiers in style.
The victory may serve as inspiration to other Nigerian national teams like the Super Eagles and Super Falcons who have been having a tough time dealing with the South Africans, especially away from home.
The Super Eagles will be hoping to replicate such performance when they play Bafana Bafana in the 2026 world cup qualifiers later in the summer.