13/09/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | SEPT 13, 2025

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Inter still work in progress: Chivu

C R I S TIA N CHIVU’ S (pic) Inter Milan have failed to convince ahead of Saturday’s (12mn) grudge match at fierce rivals Juventus, as Serie A returns this weekend with champions Napoli travelling to Fiorentina. Replacing Simone Inzaghi would have been a tough job for anyone, least of all novice Chivu whose senior coaching record contained a handful of matches in charge of Parma before Inter took a gamble on a club legend. Inzaghi won Inter’s 20th league title – securing it in a Milan derby, no less – and also re-established Inter as one of Europe’s top teams despite a budget dwarfed by those of other continental giants. Meanwhile Chivu, who won the Serie A, Champions League and Italian Cup treble as a player with Inter under Jose Mourinho in 2010, Strasbourg spend big, aim high PA R I S S AI N T-GE R MAI N ’ S domination of Ligue 1 is almost total, but Strasbourg, rather than the European champions, were France’s biggest spenders in the recent transfer window. While PSG reportedly shelled out just over €100 million (RM500m) during the French summer, Strasbourg’s owners BlueCo sanctioned purchases of almost €120 million (RM600m) according to specialist website Transfermarkt . But PSG only signed two players in Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier and Bournemouth’s Ukraine defender Illia Zabarnyi. At Strasbourg, in contrast, coach Liam Rosenior has seen 13 new faces arrive and three players who were on loan last season sign permanently, while defender Mamadou Sarr was sold to Chelsea and loaned back. Two standout players from last season have gone to the Premier League, with midfielder Habib Diarra signing for Sunderland and winger Dilane Bakwa joining Nottingham Forest for a total of €72 million (RM418m). But the Alsace outfit have spent that money, and more, to build a squad capable of competing high up Ligue 1 and going far in Europe. Strasbourg were in contention for Champions League qualification last season before a late collapse saw them finish seventh. That means they are involved in the Conference League, where league phase opponents include FA Cup winners Crystal Palace. “We have a very good squad,” said Rosenior just before the closure of the window, which notably saw England left-back Ben Chilwell arrive at the last minute from Chelsea. “For me now it is about making sure I pick the right starting team,” added the Englishman, who insists Strasbourg aspire to be playing in the Champions League. “I feel like we have better opportunities as a staff to make in game tactical decisions which we didn’t have last year. I am really happy with this group.” While most French clubs, other than PSG and Marseille, have been forced to tighten belts due to the collapse of Ligue 1’s domestic broadcast deal, Strasbourg’s owners have increased investment. “When you look at what is happening to French clubs, how is it possible that some of them are able to spend so much?” asked Nice sporting director Florian Maurice in an interview with sports daily L’Equipe . And there is controversy around the ownership model. The BlueCo consortium, led by American businessmen Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, also own Chelsea. – AFP

However, the team has since been freshened up with the likes of France’s Ange Yoan Bonny and Petar Sucic, who are both in their early 20s, arriving in the close season. Inter trail Juve and Napoli – and Roma and Cremonese – by three points, and defeat would be a big early blow to Chivu’s team. Napoli will face in-form striker Moise Kean, who is fresh from scoring three times on international duty, with new boy Rasmus Hojlund ready for his Serie A debut after signing from Manchester United and netting for Denmark in the World Cup qualifiers. Hojlund was brought in to cover for Romelu Lukaku who could be out until the end of the year and joins Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay in leaving the Premier League for Naples. – AFP

first match and we’re not rubbish now,” said Chivu after the Udinese match. “You can’t change long term habits in the space of a few weeks.” Inter’s opening Champions League fixture of the season at Ajax on Thursday (3am) follows on from the Juve clash as Chivu prepares for the relentless rhythm which eventually broke Inzaghi’s ageing Inter team.

was hired after the club failed to snatch Cesc Fabregas from Como. Inter head into today’s match in Turin after the international break which was preceded by home defeat to Udinese, a loss that dampened the enthusiasm generated by their opening 5-0 thumping of Torino. “We’re a work in progress but we can’t be that for very long. “But we weren’t the best after our

Construction site of the Camp Nou Stadium. – AFPPIC

Clash against Valencia reduced to tiny stadium after Camp Nou no go Barca homecoming hits snag

A FTER three weeks on the road to start the La Liga season champions Barcelona play their first home match on Monday (3am Malaysian time), although it won’t be the glorious return to the rebuilt Spotify Camp Nou they had hoped for. The Catalan giants will host Valencia at their 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff training ground stadium as they bid to keep pace with leaders Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao. Barca, fourth, are two points behind the top two after a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano before the international break in which Hansi Flick’s side were outplayed. After being given permission to play away at the start of the season so the Camp Nou could be readied, Barca’s time ran out. They did not announce the venue for their game against Valencia R

even though we know that we want to play in big stadiums,” complained Valencia midfielder Pepelu. “In the end we can do little other than just playing the game and winning it.” Flick’s rampant Barcelona thrashed Valencia 7 1 at the Olympic stadium last season but Pepelu expects a closer game on Monday. “We’re ready to see if we can get a good result. We’ve worked to correct things from last year and we’re convinced it will be a good match,” he added. Flick suggested his Barcelona team needed to keep their egos in check if they are to succeed this season following their domestic treble. Playing at the Johan Cruyff might bring them down to earth. “It’s important there are no egos, that kills the chances of success,” said Flick, upset after the team’s poor display against Rayo at Vallecas. Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal also insisted Barcelona stars needed to be focussed after returning from international duty. “We did not start (the season) with the intensity that we finished, we made mistakes,” admitted Yamal. “We are hungry for more, you have to give us time.” – AFP “We want to bring our game to the pitch, even though it’s against a very, very strong opponent, said the 34-year-old. “It’s a very special game for us against the best team in Germany and one of the best in Europe.” Hamburg are still looking for a first goal since returning to the top flight, drawing 0-0 away to Borussia Moenchengladbach and going down 2-0 at home to city rivals St Pauli prior to the international break. Like Bayern, who have signed Harry Kane, Luis Diaz, Nicolas Jackson and Michael Olise from England in recent seasons, Hamburg’s recruitment this summer has taken on a Premier League flavour. On deadline day, they brought in Arsenal duo Fabio Vieira and Albert Sambi Lokonga to add more quality in midfield. “Everyone knows how strong Bayern are,” Vieira told Bild . “I’m looking forward to it. We’ll fight and we want to take something from there.” – AFP

stadium – where Barcelona have been playing the last two seasons during building work at Camp Nou, which is due to be completed in 2026 – the club have been reduced to playing before a tiny crowd. Rivals Real Madrid also played at their Alfredo Di Stefano training ground stadium during renovations at the Santiago Bernabeu, but it was mainly during the 2020/21 season when fans were not allowed to attend because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

stadium where Barcelona have been playing the even though we know that we

“We will go back to Camp Nou as soon as possible, we’re really looking forward to returning,” said Barcelona president Joan Laporta yesterday. The Catalans thumped Italian side Como 5-0 at the Johan Cruyff stadium in August in a friendly, which they had also hoped to play at the

Camp Nou, originally due to reopen in November 2024. Barcelona granted Valencia 290 tickets for the match, which quickly sold out. “We have to adapt

until Tuesday, in the hopes they would get the permits they needed to play before a reduced-capacity crowd at their revamped stadium. With a concert being held at the Olympic

Hansi Flick. – REUTERSPIC

Hamburg visit Bayern as Bundesliga rivalry returns N EWLY-P R OMOTED Hamburg travel to Bayern Munich tomorrow (12.30am) as the Bundesliga sees the return of one of its most storied clashes – seven years on from the last “North-South Summit”. The last meeting between the two in March 2018 was a testament to the vastly diverging paths of the northerners and the southern giants as Bayern rampaged to a 6-0 win at their Allianz Arena home ground. One of Germany’s best-supported clubs, located in a wealthy region of the country and with a near 60,000-capacity ground, Hamburg have all the ingredients to be one of the Bundesliga’s big guns. Hamburg’s great rivals of the 1980s, Bayern, meanwhile have won 12 of the past 13 Bundesliga titles.

The recent record between the pair also demonstrates just how wide the gap has become. Hamburg have not beaten Bayern since 2009. Since that victory, Bayern have won 16 times, with three draws. Bayern have scored 71 goals in those games, conceding just seven – a run which includes two 8 0 victories and a 9-2 demolition. Hamburg coach Merlin Polzin, a lifelong fan of the club who oversaw their promotion last season, said yesterday his team “don’t want to dwell on old stories – we’re happy to reshape history”. “We have conviction and belief in our capabilities.

That year Hamburg fell out of the top flight for the first time in their history, only to return this campaign following a seven-season stretch in the second division – a situation that belied their status as one of German football’s traditional powerhouses. Hamburg are the only German side other than Bayern and Borussia Dortmund to have won the European Cup. And only Dortmund, Schalke, Nuremberg and Bayern have won more than their six German league titles.