21/08/2025

SPORTS THURSDAY | AUG 21, 2025

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‘Improved display down to intensity, bravery of players’ Ű BY IAN PARKER

SIDENETTING Rangers humbled

together. “Let’s move on. Every game in the Premier League is hard. Let’s move on for the next one.” Arsenal took the points but there was much more to concern Mikel Arteta about a performance full of errors as they struggled to deal with United’s energy. They rarely looked settled in a match Arteta likened to a “basketball game” – with the frantic nature of the contest appearing to suit United more. “I think we have to be humble in the way we did it, but at the end recognise that it’s really tough,” Arteta said. “I want to see how many teams come here and win the game. To win on the first day, I think we have to come away happy with the result and understand that we have to improve in many areas still.” – The Independent

3-4-3 system for much of a season that ended with a 15th-placed finish in the Premier League, their worst campaign in 51 years. But asked if tactical improvements were behind Sunday’s display, Amorim said on MUTV : “The system is overrated. It’s not the system. “You saw sometimes we defended with five, with four, with three. Most of the game, it was three against three. “So it’s more about the intensity our players play at, if they are brave, if they are talented, if they are powerful. We show a little bit more than that. “We have a lot to do and have to focus on the next one. I think also, they understand better the way we have to do it. “They are prepared to do it physically and they want to help each other. That is a very good feeling. “Sometimes, you can see one guy missing one run or one pass and you feel the team is all

RANGERS look set to miss out on the Champions League after suffering a 3-1 home loss to Club Brugge in the first leg of their playoff tie yesterday. Rangers have a huge task on their hands going into next week’s return leg in Belgium. “We want to qualify for the Champions League and we’ll do everything we can next week,” Rangers boss Russell Martin told Amazon Prime . “That (Danilo) goal changes everything. We have the privilege of hunting and chasing. We go in as underdogs, I’ll enjoy that and I think the players will as well.” Qarabag of Azerbaijan won 3-1 against Ferencvaros in Hungary to take a big step towards the league phase. Cypriot side Pafos, who made their European debut in last season’s Uefa Conference League, were 2-1 winners at Red Star Belgrade. Johan Bakayoko said a conversation with Jurgen Klopp was the decisive factor in his move to RB Leipzig from PSV Eindhoven this summer. The winger was one of several young additions to Leipzig’s squad in the first transfer window under Klopp, who took over as Red Bull’s global head of football in January. In an interview with AFP and other media yesterday, Bakayoko revealed Klopp’s role in recruitment and said his chat with the former Liverpool coach was the “decision point” for the move. “When I had the talk with Jurgen Klopp, for me I thought ‘OK, I have to go’. That was the trigger point for me to say: OK. (Klopp said) we are here to make you better. We need you. And that’s what I want. So it was a perfect match.” Rabiot, Rowe up for sale MARSEILLE duo Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe were placed on the club’s transfer list yesterday after a physical altercation following the 1-0 loss at Rennes in the Ligue 1 season opener. France midfielder Rabiot and England U-21 forward Rowe were involved in a heated exchange in the team’s dressing room after Friday’s match, which Rennes won with a stoppage time goal despite playing for an hour with 10 men. Marseille called the players’ behaviour “unacceptable” in a brief club statement which explained the decision to put both of them up for sale. Rabiot and Rowe were informed of the news on Monday, it said. Rabiot’s mother and agent, Veronique, told RTL radio earlier yesterday that Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi had taken the decision due to a “lack of commitment”. Marseille initially denied reports of a fight, but a source close to the club confirmed to AFP a report from French sports daily L’Equipe that said “blows were exchanged between the two men”. ‘Klopp decisive in move to Leipzig’ BELGIUM winger

RUBEN AMORIM insisted Manchester United’s improved performance in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal was down to the intensity and bravery of his players rather than any tactical tweaks to his system. One of the best displays in recent memory from United went unrewarded as an Altay Bayindir error allowed Riccardo Calafiori to head Arsenal in front early on, with United unable to convert any of their 22 attempts at goal. Although they suffered defeat, many United fans left Old Trafford feeling upbeat about the impact of new signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in a revitalised attack that kept Arsenal pegged back for long stretches. After Amorim arrived midway through last term, United appeared to struggle to adapt to his

Mbappe lifts Los Blancos Alexander-Arnold makes La Liga debut as Real beat Osasuna in season opener K YLIAN MBAPPE struck from the penalty spot as Real Madrid beat a dogged Osasuna 1-0 yesterday to make a winning start in

“I don’t know if it’s linked to the new number or not, or simply to his desire to win, but he wants to improve individual and collective performance and inspire his team mates,” added Alonso. “You can see his desire every day. Today he created those decisive moments that enable us to win matches.” Madrid had a shortened pre-sea son after their run to the Club World Cup semifinals in July, but Alonso has been adamant that would not be used as an excuse after their request for the Osasuna match to be post poned to a later date was rejected. “To start on the right foot is key in La Liga. “We know we weren’t well pre pared,” Madrid defender Dani Carvajal told DAZN . “But we basically didn’t suffer and it was a complete display.” Spain international Carvajal came off the bench for his first league appearance since October after a long-term knee injury, replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold in the sec ond half. Alexander-Arnold made his La Liga debut after his move from Liverpool, with former Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen and left-back Alvaro Carreras other summer arri vals included in the starting line-up. Madrid though were without England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who is expected to be sidelined until October as he recovers from a opera tion to solve a recurrent shoulder issue. Madrid are looking to turn the page on a disappointing end to the Carlo Ancelotti era after relinquish ing both their domestic and European crowns last season. – AFP

La Liga under new coach Xabi Alonso. The France striker, last s e a s o n ’ s Eu r ope an Golden Shoe w i n n e r , scored early in the sec ond half after he was fouled in the area by Osasuna defender Juan Cruz. It was enough to seal the points in Alonso’s first game in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Madrid now unbeaten in their opening fixture of a league campaign since 2008. “You can see that Kylian wants to do even more after this first year where he did great things,” said Alonso. Mbappe finished as La Liga’s top scorer with 31 goals in his first season in Spain, and is now wearing the No. 10 shirt vacated by Luka Modric after the Croatian left for AC Milan last month.

Kylian Mbappe (left) and Osasuna’s Flavien Boyomo fight for a header during their match. –AFPPIC

Mane sees red as Al-Nassr edge Al-Ittihad in Hong Kong SADIO MANE became the third Al-Nassr player in as many Saudi Super Cup editions to be sent off, but his early goal and a second half strike from new signing Joao Felix secured a 2–1 win over Al-Ittihad in a tense semifinal on Tuesday. Shanqity, confirmed after a VAR review. The dismissal continued a troubling trend for Al Nassr in the competition, following red cards for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2023 and Brozovic in 2024. Al-Nassr advanced to the final, where they will face the winner of the second semi between Al Qadsiah and Al-Ahli. Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus praised his side’s resilience and tactical discipline. Mane opened the scoring in the 10th minute at the Hong Kong Stadium with a powerful volley after a low cross from Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic. However, the Senegalese forward was shown a straight red card in the 25th minute for a reckless challenge on Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Hamed Al “We fully deserved the win,” Jesus said. “The team was tactically very well organised, especially after Mane’s dismissal.”

“We played more than 70 minutes without Mane, who is a key player both in attack and defence. Despite that, our structure held firm. We scored a second goal and had a third disallowed. In my view, the match ended 3–1 – the referee cancelled a legitimate goal.” Jesus, who took charge of Al-Nassr in July, said he was pleased with the team’s progress given the short preparation time. “I have only had 25 days with the squad – not a full season. There is still a lot to fix, and 25 days isn’t enough,” he said. – Reuters