METRO NAIJA

Tuesday, 29 March 2016

Luis Enrique sincerity key to success at Barcelona - Puyol

Injured England captain Wayne Rooney is ready to fight for his place in the national team, insisting the increased competition for places has "excited" him during his time on the sidelines.

The Manchester United forward has been out of action since February after suffering knee ligament damage, meaning he was unavailable for the friendlies against Germany and Netherlands.

His absence has allowed others to press their claims ahead of Euro 2016, with Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy scoring goals to help England recover from 2-0 to beat Germany in Berlin on Saturday.

Rooney feels the result bodes well for the future and hopes to be back leading a successful England side by the time they get to France.

"As I've said throughout my career, I never take my place for granted," he told ITV.

"It's great that the competition is there. That hasn't always been the case.

"It's exciting to be a part of it. I cannot wait to be fit and get back out there with the lads.

"It has excited me. I want England to be successful and win trophies. Obviously, it's great if I can be part of that. There's an opportunity, I believe, to do really well in the summer.

"Obviously, the decision [over who is selected] is down to Roy Hodgson, but I want to be there, I want to be involved and trying, hopefully, to lead this team to success."

Rooney - England's all-time leading scorer with 51 goals - feels manager Hodgson is fortunate to have so many options to choose from, something that has not always been the case in the past.

"In previous tournaments, if everyone was fit, more or less the team was set," he added.

"Now, no one really knows. The manager can play three or four teams, different combinations, if he wants. I really think we've got that quality.

"For the country, it's going to be an exciting tournament. It's something which I'm looking forward to and hopefully contributing goals to the team."

Carles Puyol believes Luis Enrique's direct nature and sincerity has been the key to his success as a coach as Barcelona.

Having guided Barca to the treble in his first season in charge as they won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, Luis Enrique is enjoying another stellar campaign.

Barca are nine points clear at the top of La Liga, in the final of the Copa and the quarter-finals of the Champions League as they look to add to the FIFA Club World Cup title clinched in December.

Former Barca captain Puyol, a team-mate of Luis Enrique at Barca between 1999 and 2004, told Barca TV: "I never met Luis Enrique the manager, but, as a person and friend, he is spectacular. After some bad results, you weren't sure how things were going to go, but he has a lot of confidence in himself and he believed that things would go well.

"As a person, he is a great friend. A person who is straight, direct, never to trick you or let you down, and for me is the most important. Now you see the cohesion he has with all of his players because, at the end of the day, that is what the players want.

"It is more important to say something straight up once, rather than not saying it which will cause further problems. It is not just a matter of playing or not playing.

"In the end, sincerity for me is very important, and it is something that players appreciate. I think it is more important than some people believe and he is more personal than people imagine when solely watching him in press conferences or people that do not know him closely."

On Barca's attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar - who were pivotal to the treble win and have scored 107 goals between them in all competitions this season - Puyol added: "They are playing very well and have a great understanding, which for me is fundamental.

"The teamwork you see that they switch positions constantly. When one stays forward, the other fills in their position and this is key. This is the humility that I was talking about before, it is what they are showing.

"They work for the team even though they can each be star players of any team. They each know that Barca comes first and that they are part of a team. With the talent they have, it is hard to find a front three like them, especially with the cohesion they have."

Barcelona defender Adriano will miss this weekend's Clasico with a hamstring injury.

The defending Liga champions host arch rivals Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Saturday as they aim to further cement their grip on top spot.

Luis Enrique's men are nine points ahead of Atletico Madrid, with Zinedine Zidane's Madrid side a point further back in third.

But Barca will have to try to complete the double over Madrid without Adriano after the club confirmed on Twitter that the Brazilian would be out of action for 10 days with a problem in his right hamstring.

Barca won November's reverse fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu 4-0 thanks in part to a double from Luis Suarez.

Sergio Ramos took part in training on Tuesday as the Real Madrid captain bids to be fit in time for El Clasico.

Defender Ramos withdrew from Spain's squad for their friendly against Romania after experiencing discomfort in his back during the draw with Italy last week, prompting fears he could miss Saturday's trip to Camp Nou.

The 29-year-old's availability for the clash with Barcelona remains unclear, but he was present for "the first part of Tuesday's session before continuing to work indoors", a Madrid statement confirmed.

Several of Madrid's international contingent also took part in the session after returning from duty with their countries, including Luka Modric, Isco and Mateo Kovacic.

Zinedine Zidane's team travel to Camp Nou in third place in La Liga, 10 points adrift of leaders Barca with just eight games left to play.

Former Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic insists the club will not become distracted from their own development when Pep Guardiola takes charge at Manchester City.

The Bayern Munich head coach will replace Manuel Pellegrini at the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season, having agreed a three-year deal with the 2014 Premier League champions.

Guardiola's arrival has been viewed as a major coup for City as they aim to establish supremacy over their local rivals, but Vidic says his old club will not be giving much thought to the former Barcelona boss' arrival.

"I believe he wants to be part of the best league in the world," the recently retired defender told MUTV. "All top players and the managers want to be part of English football. That's great for the players, the fans and for everyone who loves English football, but we only look at ourselves and we are not really focusing on what City does.

"That was my mentality at United and what I learned when I was there. We always look at ourselves and try to make the best possible situation from our capabilities."

Guardiola's first taste of the Manchester derby will be in the International Champions Cup in China prior to the start of next season.

While the game amounts to little more than a pre-season friendly, Vidic believes it will be the perfect opportunity for some United youngsters to follow in the footsteps of Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard and force their way into Louis van Gaal's first team.

"They're very important for them to test themselves and it's important for the club to see if they can play at the top level," Vidic said. "We've seen this year some young players who I think have done well.

"Players like Rashford, Lingard and [Anthony] Martial are three players I believe have the potential to play for many years for United.

Ramadan Sobhy's second-half strike all but secured Egypt's place at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations as a 1-0 win ended Nigeria's hopes of reaching Gabon.

Chad's withdrawal from qualifying Group G, reportedly for financial reasons, meant all points against the nation were discarded and that no best runners-up spot would be available, leaving Nigeria with a must-not-lose situation in Alexandria.

But Egypt, whose own preparations were hindered by an election-rigging scandal engulfing the country's football association, were the far superior side and Ahmed Hegazy and Ramy Rabia missed great first-half chances.

Hector Cuper's men were not to be denied, though, and Sobhy's soft effort had enough to beat Nigeria goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi to earn the three points.

Nigeria can now no longer overtake Egypt as they are five points adrift with just one match to play, while Egypt are also six points clear of Tanzania - who have two games left - with a far superior goal difference.

Egypt started the brighter and Hegazy should have done better when he headed Mohamed Salah's free-kick wide when unmarked in the box.

Odion Ighalo was wayward with a half-volley in the penalty area in Nigeria's best chance of the half, but Egypt continued to press and captain Abdallah Said dragged an effort wide of the right-hand post.

Akpeyi was then on hand to make a smart stop from Ibrahim Salah's edge-of-the-area shot, before tipping Rabia's flicked header over the crossbar.

Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny struck over the bar for Egypt shortly after the restart, while the lively Victor Moses was denied by Hegazy's timely block at the other end.

The hosts' pressure finally told in the 66th minute, though. Salah's corner was not dealt with and Sobhy's tame shot squirmed through several Nigeria defenders and under a despairing Akpeyi, who could have done better.

Nigeria piled on the pressure in the closing stages and Moses saw a 20-yard left-foot effort rebound cruelly off the right post but, despite their best efforts, Egypt held on for the win.

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Jordi Cruyff says the reaction to his father Johan's death made the family realise the footballing icon "is part of everyone's life".

Barcelona, Ajax and Netherlands legend Cruyff passed away at the age of 68 last week following a battle with cancer, prompting an outpouring of emotion as the world remembers a sporting great.

Barca, the club with which Cruyff enjoyed so much success as a player and coach, held a memorial service at Camp Nou in the Dutchman's honour on Tuesday, with all first-team players not still away on international duty and coach Luis Enrique in attendance.

Jordi Cruyff was also present, delivering a moving speech in which he thanked the millions of well-wishers across the globe and said their messages had resulted in the family wanting to share and celebrate Johan's life.

"We've done everything very privately, as my father did not want the last few months of his life to be public," he said.

"But we have realised that Johan is not only ours, he is part of everyone's life, which is why we have opened things up.

"He has been an inspiration to everyone and that's how we want people to remember him."

Luis Enrique also delivered a few words on Cruyff.

"To speak of Cruyff is to speak of football. He made the sport about entertainment and titles," said the Barca coach.

"Johan leaves us a fantastic legacy that will continue. We will always remember him."

Injured Butland resigned to missing Euro 2016

Jack Butland is resigned to missing Euro 2016, but has vowed to come back stronger after fracturing his ankle during England's friendly against Germany on Saturday.

Stoke City goalkeeper Butland - who was standing in for injured number one Joe Hart - was taken from the field on a stretcher shortly before half-time of England's 3-2 win in Berlin after appearing to hurt himself while making a save.

Scans on Sunday revealed that the 23-year-old had sustained a fracture, with the initial prognosis indicating that he would face a race against time to be fit for the European Championship.

However, Butland has revealed that he will not return for the end of the season, meaning his dream of going to a first senior international tournament is on hold.

"I don't think it [the Euros] is going to be an option for me now to be honest because I won't be able to play again between now and the end of the season," he told Stoke's matchday programme.

"I will have an operation on Tuesday night and then it is all about working hard and making sure I come out the other side stronger and better than before.

"It is difficult because I have been working towards the Euros this summer, but I won't be able to be part of that experience now.

"It isn't the challenge that I expected or wanted this summer but I am going to approach it with the right mentality and learn from it, both physically and mentally.

"I have not had to deal with an injury like this before so I will come out of it as a stronger person and a better goalkeeper and look forward to the start of next season."

Butland was clearly in discomfort as he conceded Toni Kroos' opening goal at the Olympiastadion, but said he was reluctant to give up his opportunity to impress England manager Roy Hodgson.

He added: "I knew a couple of minutes before the goal that something wasn't right but I felt it was my opportunity to make an impact for my country."

"In the heat of the moment I didn't want to put my hand up and come off, so I tried to shake it off because it didn't feel like anything too problematic.

"Unfortunately, during the period of time that I was trying to shake it off they scored the goal.

"When I tried pushing off to make the save I knew instantly that there was absolutely no way that I was going to be able to continue.

"It is in my nature to want to carry on and fight, but unfortunately it proved to be my downfall in the end."

Eredivisie crisis club Twente are one of four teams that have been fined by FIFA for breaching rules surrounding third-party ownership.

Twente, Dutch champions in 2009-10, are said to be in danger of losing their professional licence after being banned from European competition for three years in December for "deliberately misleading" the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) in regard to its relationship with Malta-based investment firm Doyen Sports.

An independent investigation into the club's management structure recommended most of the board stand down and this month Twente were forced to withdraw a submission of their financial returns for 2014-15.

The discovery of a second agreement with the agent of Dusan Tadic, who was sold to Southampton in 2014, following an investigation into transfer deals meant the club had to inform the KNVB the financial submission was inaccurate.

And Twente have now been hit with a fine of 185,000 Swiss Francs [CHF] after they were "found to be liable for entering into contracts that enabled a third party to influence the club in employment and transfer-related matters, failing to upload a TPO [third-party ownership] agreement into the library in TMS [Transfer Matching System], breaching confidentiality rules and failing to declare mandatory information in ITMS [International Transfer Matching System]".

La Liga club Sevilla have been fined CHF 55,000 for similar offences while FIFA has also docked Brazilian side Santos CHF 75,000.

In addition to being deemed guilty of entering into contracts that allowed third parties to influence transfer matters and failing to enter mandatory information into the ITMS, Santos were also ruled to have failed to co-operate with a TMS investigation.

Belgian Pro League club Sint-Truiden have been fined CHF 60,000 for TPO offences.

Arda Turan has aimed a cheeky dig at Arsenal by indicating he may have ended up at Emirates Stadium instead of Barcelona, had he not performed so well for Atletico Madrid.

The Turkey star moved to Camp Nou from Atletico last year, but had to wait until January to make his debut due to the FIFA-imposed ban on Barca registering new players.

Arda has struggled to establish himself in Luis Enrique's all-conquering first XI, with Barca remaining on course to retain the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey titles they won last season.

However, the 29-year-old feels the opportunity to join Barca was just reward for his fine four-year spell at Atletico, suggesting that had his time at Vicente Calderon not been so productive, he might have signed for Arsenal.

"Honestly, I thought: 'If I play very well [I could] end up signing for Barca, because my style fits this team. If I [only] play well, I go to Arsenal," Arda told Catalan newspaper Diari Ara.

"For my style, with the ball, playing easy, short, aggressive when needed, I knew I could get here to Barcelona."

Arda will come up against his former club in the quarter-finals of the Champions League next week after Barca hammered Arsenal 5-1 on aggregate in the round of 16.

Emre Can believes Liverpool have taken a "huge step forward" under Jurgen Klopp but must focus on becoming more consistent if they are to achieve their aims this season.

Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers as manager at Anfield in October and his first six months have been a story of highs and lows.

Stunning victories over the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Southampton have been undermined by woeful displays against teams such as Newcastle United and Watford, while the undoubted highlight of Klopp's reign thus far was the Europa League win over arch-rivals Manchester United.

Liverpool have a mouth-watering Europa League quarter-final with Klopp's former club Borussia Dortmund on the horizon, but sit ninth in the Premier League - just one place higher than when Rodgers was sacked.

However, Germany international Can feels his compatriot has improved Liverpool and sees no reason why they cannot overcome Europa League favourites Dortmund.

"You should not only look at the standings," Can told Kicker. "We still have to play one, two matches more than the teams ahead of us, we can still gain a few spots. Thus we have achieved something under Jurgen Klopp.

"You should look at the football we have played in recent weeks. We've made a huge step forward as a team and have put in good performances most of the time.

"A berth in a continental competition clearly has to remain our goal. Our problem is that we are just not consistent enough.

"We follow up two good matches with one bad match too often. We need to manage to be consistent for a longer period of time. This also applies to me."

Speaking about the Dortmund tie, the 22-year-old added: "Dortmund are the slight favourites but we have a 50-50 chance.

"We have come so far in the Europa League, we now want to win the competition."