Clement Lenglet has called for Ansu Fati to be given time to mature after the teenager stole the show again for Barcelona.
The 16-year-old became Barca’s youngest ever scorer when he netted against Osasuna prior to the international break and, pushed into the starting line-up, he needed less than two minutes to find the net again.
Fati then set up Frenkie De Jong for the second only four minutes later and, although defensively they were shaky again, Barcelona went on to claim a 5-2 win.
Defender Lenglet told Movistar+ in quotes reported by Marca: “He is only 16 years of age, so we need to be patient with him.
“He makes the most of his minutes and is a great kid who deserves what’s happening to him. We always tell him to listen, work and learn.”
Fati was a threat throughout the 60 minutes he was on the pitch and could have scored again.
In the end it was his replacement, fit-again Luis Suarez, who added two more after defender Gerard Pique had tapped in the third.
The result gave Barca their second league victory of the season but they again looked shaky at the back, with Kevin Gameiro making it 2-1 and substitute Maximiliano Gomez adding a late second.
Lenglet added: “It was a good win against a tough opponent. They play football differently to us. We did things well from the start. We let in two goals again, but I think it was a good performance overall.”
It has been a turbulent week for Valencia, with head coach Marcelino axed by owner Peter Lim and Albert Celades installed in his place.
Celades admitted his side paid for poor starts to both halves, saying on valenciacf.com: “We had a start to the game where we conceded two goals very fast, and against a team like this it is difficult to turn it around.
“But the team responded well, we scored and we could have scored some more. We left with good feelings at half-time, but the start of the second half hurt us. Despite the result, we showed desire to the end and scored a goal in injury time because the players still desired.”
KUALA LUMPUR: Ketua jurulatih skuad Bawah 15 (B-15) negara, P. Maniam menyenaraikan beberapa muka baharu dalam skuad 23 pemain ke pusingan kelayakan Kejuaraan B-16 Konfederasi Bola Sepak Asia (AFC) 2020 di Stadium Nasional Laos, Vientiane, yang berlangsung dari 18-22 Sept ini.
Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) dalam satu kenyataan memaklumkan, antara beberapa muka baharu yang disenaraikan Maniam ke Laos adalah penjaga gol skuad Akademi Mokhtar Dahari (AMD) B-15, Muhammad Aizul Hakim Mohd Zabni; penyerang AMD B-14, Muhammad Akid Mohd Zamri; selain pemain tengah Sekolah Sukan Tunku Mahkota Ismail (SSTMI), Syafiq Haikal Bahtiar.
Mereka merupakan beberapa pemain yang tidak beraksi sewaktu Malaysia muncul juara, Kejuaraan B-15 Persekutuan Bola Sepak ASEAN (AFF) di Chonburi, Thailand pada awal bulan lepas.
Berdasarkan senarai nama yang dikeluarkan FAM itu menyaksikan Maniam menyenaraikan 19 pemain AMD B-15, untuk memperkuatkan skuad muda negara itu bagi menghadapi kejohanan di Laos.
Untuk rekod, skuad B-15 negara meraih dua kemenangan selesa iaitu 10-0 dan 4-0 ke atas skuad B-15 Mongolia pada dua aksi pemanas di Shah Alam pada minggu lepas.
Malaysia yang diundi dalam Kumpulan J, akan membuka kempen kelayakan menentang Kemboja pada 18 Sept, Laos (20 Sept), sebelum menamatkan aksi pusingan awal menentang Jepun pada 22 Sept ini.
Kesemua perlawanan dijadualkan berlangsung di Stadium Nasional Laos.
Berdasarkan format kejohanan, 11 pasukan terbaik dari Kumpulan A-K selain empat pasukan kedua terbaik, layak ke pusingan akhir.
AFC, bagaimanapun masih belum mengumumkan tuan rumah pusingan akhir kejohanan berkenaan.
SENARAI 23 PEMAIN:
Penjaga Gol: Zulhilmi Sharani, Ahmad Azeem Izhar Ahmad Faizal, Muhammad Aizul Hakim Mohd Zabni
Pemain Pertahanan: Muhammad Daniel Edzuan Mohd Anuar, Adam Daniel Mohamad, Muhammad Kholil Ahmad Azian, Adam Farhan Mohd Faizal, Muhammad Alif Farhan Fauzi, Ahmad Rozaini Abu Bakar, Muhamad Azrul Iman Muhamad Yusof
Pemain Tengah: Mohamad Ashraf Ahmad, Muhammad Adam Uwais Mohd Armi, Danish Irfan Ezal, Muhammad Nabil Qayyum Zainuddin, Muhammad Izrin Ibrahim, Syafiq Haikal Bahtiar (SSTMI B-15), Radzilah Helmi Roizat (SMK Ibrahim Fikri)
Penyerang: Mohamad Khairil Mohd Zain, Muhammad Aliff Izwan Yuslan, Muhammad Shahril Sobri, Zubaidi Mohd Buang, Muhammad Akid Mohd Zamri (AMD B-14), Muhammad Harry Danish Mohd Haizon (SSTMI B-15).
JOHAN Cruyff memulai karier profesionalnya sebagai pemain Ajax Amsterdam pada 1964-1965. Jauh sebelum itu, Cruyff sudah menjadi bagian akademi Ajax sejak 1959. Cruyff pun mengembangkan bakatnya di akademi Ajax untuk selanjutnya menjadi legenda sepakbola dunia.
Cruyff membuat debut untuk Ajax pada musim 1964-1965 saat Die Amsterdammers –julukan Ajax– menghadapi GVAV. Cruyff bahkan langsung mencetak gol, tetapi sayangnya Ajax kalah 1-3 dari GVAV. Meski kalah saat melakoni debutnya tetapi Cruyff sudah memberikan kesan positif. Setelah itu banyak hasil negatif yang ditorehkan Ajax sehingga didatangkan juru taktik baru pada pertengahan musim yakni Rinus Michels.
Secara keseluruhan Cruyff akhirnya mencatatkan empat gol dalam 10 laga yang ia lakoni di musim tersebut. Patut disayangkan, Ajax finis di posisi 13 yang merupakan salah satu prestasi terburuk Die Amsterdammers di Liga Belanda. Catatan buruk yang diukir Ajax nyatanya pada musim debutnya tak membuat Cruyff berputus asa melainkan sebaliknya hal itu jadi pecutan untuk jadi lebih baik lagi.
Cruyff menjelma menjadi poros permainan Michels ketika menukangi Ajax dalam taktik permainan Total Football yang diterapkannya. Sebagai tambahan informasi, Michels adalah sosok yang memperkenalkan taktik permainan Total Football untuk pertama kalinya.
Cruyff pun membawa Ajax bangkit untuk meraih gelar juara Liga Belanda pada tiga musim berikutnya ditambah satu trofi Piala Belanda. Dalam kurun waktu itu, Cruyff menunjukkan performa paling mentereng pada musim 1966-1967 karena mampu membuat total 41 gol di semua kompetisi yang Ajax ikuti. Di antara 41 gol itu 33 di antaranya dibuat Cruyff di Liga Belanda sehingga berhak menyabet predikat top skor. Pada musim itu pula Ajax meraih double winner dengan mengawinkan trofi Liga Belanda dengan Piala Belanda.
Kemudian Cruyff membawa Ajax untuk mendominasi Liga Belanda dengan meraih lima trofi berikutnya. Dominasi di kompetisi domestik berbuah pula kejayaan di Liga Champions. Cruyff membawa Ajax menjuarai Liga Champions dalam tiga musim beruntun dari 1970-1973. Kesuksesan itu membuat Ajax berhak menerima badge of honour sebagai tanda merupakan salah satu tim tersukses di Liga Champions.
Musim 1972-1973 jadi terakhir kali Cruyff mengenakan seragam Ajax karena setelahnya ia pindah ke Barcelona. Cruyff kembali bekerja sama dengan Michels di Barcelona yang lebih dulu jadi bagian tim Catalonia itu pada musim panas 1971. Michel meninggalkan Ajax pada musim panas 1971 untuk menjadi juru taktik Barcelona.
Keberadaan Michels dan Cruyff membuat Barcelona akhirnya memainkan Total Football juga di musim 1973-1974. Pada musim perdana Cruyff itu Barcelona akhirnya mampu menjuarai Liga Spanyol setelah absen selama 13 tahun. Semusim berselang kebersamaan Cruyff dengan Michels berakhir karena sang pelatih memutuskan untuk kembali ke Ajax.
Cruyff baru meninggalkan Barcelona usai meraih trofi Copa Del Rey pada musim 1977-1978 untuk berpetualang ke beberapa klub seperti Los Angeles Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, Levante. Setelah itu Cruyff akhirnya pulang ke Ajax tepatnya pada bursa transfer musim dingin 1981.
Cruyff kemudian berseragam Ajax kembali hingga akhir musim 1982-1983. Dalam reuni singkat itu, Cruyff mampu memberikan tiga trofi untuk Ajax. Cruyff kemudian secara mengejutkan gabung dengan rival Ajax, Feyenoord, pada bursa transfer musim panas 1983.
Meski membela rival klub masa kecilnya, tetapi Cruyff tetap tampil maksimal dengan menorehkan 11 gol pada musim 1983-1984. Kerja keras Cruyff mampu membawa Feyenoord meraih double winner dengan menjuarai Liga Belanda dan Piala Belanda pada musim tersebut.
Pada akhir musim 1983-1984 akhirnya Cruyff memutuskan untuk gantung sepatu di usia 37 tahun. Pria berpaspor Belanda itu secara keseluruhan telah mengoleksi 24 trofi yang 18 di antaranya diraih dalam balutan seragam Ajax sementara sisanya ia rengkuh saat membela Barcelona (dua) dan Feyenoord (dua). Menilik catatan itu maka gelar legenda sepakbola dunia pun pantas disematkan kepada Cruyff.
Setelah pensiun sebagai pemain, Cruyff pun memulai karier sebagai juru taktik. Perjalanan Cruyff sebagai juru taktik tak kalah mentereng dengan koleksi 14 trofi mayor yang diraih bersama Barcelona dan Ajax. Prestasi sebagai pemain dan pelatih membuat nama Cruyff abadi di dunia sepakbola hingga saat ini meski ia sudah berpulang pada 24 Maret 2016 dalam usia 68 tahun karena sakit kanker paru-paru.
Derby County manager Phillip Cocu during the Sky Bet Championship match at Pride Park, Derby.
Derby manager Phillip Cocu is hopeful VAR will one day be rolled out in the Sky Bet Championship after seeing two key decisions go against his side in a 1-1 draw with Cardiff at Pride Park.
After taking a sixth-minute lead through Scott Malone, the Rams were denied a penalty 10 minutes later when Martyn Waghorn appeared to be felled by Joe Bennett only for referee Darren England to wave away appeals.
Within 90 seconds, England awarded Cardiff a penalty that was converted by Robert Glatzel, but with Cocu believing there had been a handball in the build-up.
“It’s hard to take, with the decisions on the penalties key,” said Cocu.
“With Waghorn, it’s a clear penalty, and if you go 2-0 up the confidence of the team will be higher and the chance of three points in the pocket is very big.”
In suggesting “it looked like a handball” prior to Cardiff being awarded their penalty, Cocu added: “These decisions are not going our way at the moment but that’s the way it is.”
Asked whether he would like to see VAR for Championship games, Cocu replied: “I think it will happen. It’s a big league.
“Slowly you see more and more leagues, international games working with VAR. Technology comes into football step by step.
“It’s hard to predict but maybe in one or two seasons we will have it, and still there will be discussions about VAR. I’m not saying it’s the solution for everything.”
Although Cardiff boss Neil Warnock hailed referee England’s performance overall, he was left dismayed by his failure to issue a red card late on for a studs-high challenge from Tom Lawrence on Bluebirds skipper Sean Morrison that only earned a booking.
Warnock said: “The ref had a good game. The only thing that disappoints me is that Lawrence didn’t get a red card. That’s what referees should look out for.
“I knew straight away he had left his foot in. If you see it in slow motion you will see what a horrible tackle it was.
“They’re the ones for me, not the diving but the over-the-top ones that could break your leg, craftily done.”
Warnock was at least relieved to see Glatzel get off the mark, with the £5.5million summer signing from Bundesliga 2 side Heidenheim netting his first goal for the club in six matches.
“He’s done ever so well for us,” said Warnock.
“He’s great in the dressing room. The lads love him as well. It’s lovely to get your first goal.”
Warnock, though, could not watch the penalty being taken. He said: “I hate penalties, so it was nice to hear our crowd cheer.
“But I don’t like watching them because I couldn’t take one, I don’t have the…what you call ’em, between your legs. It takes a certain type of person.”
SRI KEMBANGAN: Mungkin ada khabar gembira buat sukan angkat berat untuk dipertandingkan di temasya Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) Johor, tahun depan.
Ini berikutan keputusan ujian doping lima atlet angkat berat kebangsaan yang dilakukan secara mengejut oleh Agensi Anti-Doping Malaysia (ADAMAS) Julai lalu didapati negatif.
Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman berkata sukan itu mempunyai peluang lebih baik untuk dipertandingkan di SUKMA selepas melihat usaha Persekutuan Angkat Berat Malaysia (PABM) dan atlet untuk memulihkan imej sukan itu yang sering dipalit isu doping.
“Ini menunjukkan satu perkembangan yang sangat baik. Atlet dan persatuan komited dalam membersihkan nama mereka. Kita akan bawa perkara ini ke Jawatankuasa Tertinggi SUKMA 2020 untuk diperhalusi pada 19 Sept ini.
“Saya lihat peluang mereka cerah tetapi kena berbincang terlebih dahulu sebelum membuat keputusan,” katanya pada sidang media selepas program Perjumpaan bersama Atlet Program Podium di sini, Khamis malam.
Perjumpaan itu melibatkan atlet yang kini sedang menjalani latihan bagi menghadapi temasya Sukan SEA 2019 dan Sukan Para ASEAN 2020 di Filipina.
Sebelum ini, Kementerian Belia dan Sukan masih mempertimbangkan sama ada sukan angkat berat akan dipertandingkan pada temasya itu dimana sukan itu berstatus ‘KIV’ (simpan dalam perhatian).
Dalam perkembangan lain, Syed Saddiq berkata masih terlalu awal untuk pihaknya menetapkan sasaran buat kontinjen negara ke Sukan SEA Filipina.
“Sasaran hanya akan diumumkan apabila berdekatan dengan temasya yang dijadualkan pada 30 Nov hingga 11 Dis ini. Saya tidak mahu beri tekanan kepada atlet semata-mata. Tekanan ini harus dikongsi bersama termasuk KBS, Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Institut Sukan Negara (ISN) dan pihak terlibat dalam persediaan atlet,” katanya.
Terdahulu dalam ucapannya, Syed Saddiq menggesa atlet untuk mencari peluang meningkatkan diri ke peringkat yang lebih tinggi dan tidak terlalu selesa dengan kejayaan yang dicipta sebelum ini.
Beliau turut menzahirkan keyakinan bahawa atlet negara mampu mencipta detik kejayaan dalam mengharungi cabaran mendatang.
JAKARTA – Tim Nasional (Timnas) Indonesia U-16 akan turun di Kualifikasi Piala Asia U-16 2020 yang berlangsung di Jakarta pada 14-22 September 2019. Pada Kamis 12 September 2019, pelatih Timnas Indonesia U-16 Bima Sakti pun telah mengumumkan 23 nama yang turun di ajang dua tahunan tersebut.
Tergabung di Grup G bersama China, Filipina, Brunei Darussalam dan Kepulauan Mariana Utara, finis sebagai juara grup jelas dibidik Marselino Ferdinan serta kolega. Sebab, hanya juara grup yang mengizinkan mereka untuk lolos otomatis ke putaran final Piala Asia U-16 2020 yang digelar di Singapura pada 16 September hingga 3 Oktober 2020.
Untuk finis sebagai juara grup, Timnas Indonesia U-16 memiliki cukup modal, berdasarkan performa di berbagai turnamen yang mereka ikuti di sepanjang 2019 ini. Setidaknya ada tiga turnamen yang telah dijalani Muhammad Valeron dan kawan-kawan pada 2019. Sebut saja Piala AFF U-15 2019 yang berlangsung di Thailand, Boys Elite Football Tournament (Myanmar) dan U16 Four Nations Tournament 2019 (Qatar).
Meski tidak keluar sebagai juara, namun Timnas Indonesia U-16 setidaknya minimal finis di posisi tiga besar, plus mengalahkan tim-tim kuat. Di Piala AFF U-15 2019, Timnas Indonesia U-16 menang adu penalti 3-2 atas Vietnam di perebutan posisi tiga. Bahkan sebelumnya di fase grup, skuad Garuda Asia menang 2-0 atas Vietnam.
Kemudian dalam turnamen di Myanmar, Timnas Indonesia U-16 finis runner-up dengan koleksi tujuh angka, hasil menang 2-0 atas tuan rumah, Montenegro (1-0) dan Korea Selatan (1-1). Saat itu, Indonesia hanya kalah selisih gol dari Korea Selatan yang keluar sebagai juara.
Selanjutnya di Qatar, Timnas Indonesia U-16 juga finis sebagai runner-up setelah menang 4-0 atas Maladewa dan Yordania (2-0). Skuad asuhan Bima Sakti itu hanya kalah tipis 1-2 dari tuan rumah Qatar. Karena itu, pengalaman mengalahkan tim-tim besar di beberapa turnamen sebelumnya, dapat dijadikan modal untuk bersinar di Kualifikasi Piala Asia U-16 2020.
Mauricio Pochettino has played down talk of a potential rift between him and former Tottenham defender Kieran Trippier, who criticised his old club on international duty.
The England right-back departed Spurs this summer for Atletico Madrid after four seasons in a transfer worth £20million and has enjoyed a strong start to life in Spain.
It saw Trippier recalled to Gareth Southgate’s national team and he played the whole 90 minutes in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Bulgaria.
Ahead of the Euro 2020 qualifier, the former Burnley full-back opened up about his Tottenham exit and told reporters: “I had a conversation with the manager, a meeting with the chairman to see what my future was and I didn’t get the impression that they wanted to keep me.”
Kieran Trippier had been dropped by England boss Gareth Southgate after a difficult 2018-19 season (Nick Potts/PA)
Pochettino dismissed suggestions there was any bad blood between the pair in his press conference ahead of Saturday’s Premier League fixture at home to Crystal Palace.
He said: “I didn’t see it, but I heard about it. I can explain how I feel. We had a conversation where he explained he was going to move to Atletico Madrid – okay nothing more.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) when Harry Kane arrived back he said to me ‘did you get Kieran’s text?’ I said ‘no’ because I changed my number. Maybe because he doesn’t have the new number.
“Because he (Trippier) believe his words were twisted – I don’t know nothing more. Kieran translated this message to me through Harry Kane. He wanted to tell me. But I’ve got no problem with Kieran.
“In football decisions happen and players move from one club to another. What happened, happened and we need to move on and he needs to think of Atletico Madrid and be happy there.
“There’s no point to talk about if something happened or didn’t happen. The reality is one reality, but who is right in all this process? There’s no point to talk. But I keep very good memories from him.”
During his conversation with reporters, Trippier added: “It’s not nice when you know the club want to sell you. I heard rumours about them selling me and it’s not nice but it happens and it’s football.”
Yet Pochettino’s version of events are slightly different and he pointed out he had faith in the Bury-born defender, hence why he started in the Champions League final against Liverpool.
Trippier candidly stated throughout the 2018-19 campaign that he struggled for form, but still played 38 times for Tottenham in all competitions.
Pochettino added: “After the summer he came to see me, he asked me for a meeting and said ‘gaffer, I think I have a good possibility and for different reasons I would like to accept the offer from Atletico Madrid’.
“He didn’t ask me nothing. Only communicated whether the club were going to accept the offer. Nothing more.
“It wasn’t a conversation – you want me? Or you don’t want me? It was so clear. He played the final, when I had plenty of different options, with Serge Aurier, Davinson Sanchez, Kyle Walker-Peters. But he played the final. My actions talk more than my mouth.”
Although Trippier is no longer part of Tottenham’s team, Pochettino and his coaching staff remain proud of his development.
Before he moved to the club in the summer of 2015, the ex-Manchester City trainee had only played one season in the Premier League, but since has become an England regular, starred at the 2018 World Cup and shone for Spurs.
Kieran Trippier’s last appearance for Tottenham was in the Champions League final (Peter Byrne/PA)
“We signed him from Burnley when they were relegated, bought him for £4m. He was worried about whether he would play or not play – I said to him don’t worry we are going to provide the best platform for performance,” Pochettino said.
“Later one and a half years he was in the starting XI, he reached the national team, played the World Cup and now he’s with Atletico Madrid.
“We all feel proud to help him to achieve his dream and to reach a level that he wasn’t there at before he arrived at Tottenham.
“That talks very highly about Tottenham, talks very highly about him, and we are more than happy that he is enjoying the new experience in Spain. I hope he has a good life there.”
