Football News: Review Of The Day 14th October 2018
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Review of the Day
Scotland Add Devlin To Squad
As if things were not difficult enough for Alex McLeish with his complete lack of tactical acumen, he has now lost the entire central defence he picked to start in Thursday's match against Israel. Charlie Mulgrew, John Souttar and Kieran Tierney have all joined Robert Snodgrass in dropping out of the squad, leaving McLeish to call up three replacements. Aberdeen centre back Michael Devlin and wing pair Ryan Christie of Celtic and Devlin's Aberdeen team-mate Gary Mackay-Steven.
Cassano Retires Again
Former Italian international Antonio Cassano has announced his retirement from playing, again. This is the 3rd time the 36 year old has announced his retirement. His return to playing with Serie C side Virtus Entella lasted just a week. Cassano said: "The day has come, the day when you decide it really is over. Over the last few days of training, I realised that I no longer have the mentality to train consistently. In order to play football, you need passion and talent, but above all determination and at this moment I have other priorities." His first retirement was just 8 days after signing for Hellas Verona but hours later he changed his mind, only to retire again 6 days later after playing in 2 pre-season friendlies.
Hazard Wants To Work With Mourinho Again
Chelsea's in form attacker Eden Hazard has said he would like to work with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho again, and admitted he was partly at fault for his bad form in his final season under Mourinho. Hazard said: "If I'm now asked one coach with whom I want to work again, then I say: 'Mourinho'. Mourinho's image of an extremely defensive coach isn't completely right. In 12 years I've only had one bad season - the last six months under Mourinho - and it was partly my fault. After the title, we asked Mourinho for extra holidays. I came back totally out of shape. We didn't win, we got into a sort of routine - training, training without having fun. It was better for all parties that the collaboration came to an end."
Salah Returns To Liverpool Early
Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah has been sent home from Egypt after picking up an injury during an African Cup of Nations qualifiers win. The 26 year old scored Egypt's 4th of a 4-1 win just before half-time, direct from a corner before later limping off with a muscle strain. Egypt assistant coach Hany Ramzy told Bein Sports: "The initial diagnosis, according to the team doctor, is a strong muscle strain. It is not a tear. I think it is not serious."
Monaco Appoint Henry
There has been no surprise in Monaco as they choose to appoint former French international Thierry Henry as their new head coach. Henry had been working as assistant to Roberto Martinez with the Belgian national team, prior to getting this appointment. Henry also began his playing career with the French principality side back in 1994 and he said: "Monaco will always be close to my heart. I'm incredibly excited to be given this opportunity but now the hard work must begin."
Kroos Hints At Unhappiness With Madrid Role
This season has seen Germany midfielder Toni Kroos play a deeper role under Julen Lopetegui, and Real Madrid struggle, comparatively, sitting in 4th place in La Liga. Kroos has now dropped hints that he is not fully happy with his role under Lopetegui saying: "It's a challenge to reverse this situation. We've shown we can do it. We've always had phases like these. It doesn't worry me. I like playing deeper, but I'm not Casemiro."
Maradona Hits Out At Messi
Argentine legend Diego Maradona has hit out at Argentina captain Lionel Messi, criticising his leadership and his pre-match nerves. According to ESPN, Maradona said: "We shouldn't deify Messi any longer. He's Messi when he plays for Barcelona. Messi is Messi when he wears that shirt, and he's another Messi with Argentina. He's a great player but he's not a leader. He does ask for it on the pitch, but before speaking to team-mates he'll go and play the Playstation. For me it's difficult to talk, but it's pointless wanting to make a man who goes to the bathroom 20 times before a match into the leader. I wouldn't call up Messi, but never say never. There's a need to take pressure off him. There's a need to take the leadership away from Messi, as we want him to be Messi, which he wouldn't be."
City Claim They Offered To Triple Messi's Wages
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak has said during a media conference in the UAE that they offered to triple Messi's salary but he turned it down. Al Mubarak said, when asked which play he would have like to have signed for Citeh: "Messi. We asked Guardiola to talk to him, we offered him triple the salary he has at Barcelona, but he never accepted." Barcelona are confident that Messi will not leave, club president Josep Maria Bartomeu said: "He doesn't want to leave. We always tell him he can be a one-club man. That is his project too."
Written by Tris Burke October 14 2018 06:00:38
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