13/09/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | SEPT 13, 2025

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My job is to adapt to reality, says Leeds boss Farke

LEED S United manager Daniel Farke is not “dancing on the table” about the club’s transfer window activity, and he won’t dwell on it, as his side prepare to face Fulham away today (10pm). Ten players arrived at Elland Road over the summer, but Farke’s hopes for another forward on deadline day failed when a deal for Fulham’s Harry Wilson collapsed. “I’ve got a few principles with how I work and this is crucial for me. One principle is I like openness and transparency. I like to name it

nonsense,” added Farke. “There is no point for me to feel down and sorry for myself. We perhaps wanted a different deadline day or different transfer window, but right now we are just focused on trying to get as many Premier League points as possible.” Leeds have started solidly with four points from their opening three games. – The Independent

Leeds signed injury-prone forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer after he left Everton and Swiss player Noah Okafor from AC Milan during the close season, but still look light in attack. “I don’t want to say different things to what I’ve said before. I won’t come out and say it was never the plan to sign offensive players. I would never do this because I don’t like to talk

how I see it,” said Farke, who joined Leeds in the summer of 2023. He continued: “The second principle is once a transfer window is closed and I can’t influence things anymore, you won’t hear one bad word or comment from me in any way.” Farke added: “I’m pretty fortunate to be allowed to work in the business. My job is to adapt to the reality and work with what I’ve got.”

Test for troubled neighbours Manchester derby offers chance to salve wounds as Isak prepares for Liverpool bow M ANCHESTER CITY will be desper ate to avoid a third successive defeat when they face neighbours Manchester United as the Premier League returns this weekend, with Alexander Isak set for his Liverpool debut. penalty from Bruno Fernandes after another error-strewn display against Burnley as they finally clinched their first win of the season. That dramatic victory came after Amorim’s team were beaten by Arsenal, drew with Fulham and suffered a humiliating League Cup exit at fourth-tier Grimsby. a prolonged pursuit of the Sweden star, whose determination to push through the move antagonised Newcastle fans. Having boldly declared his intention to create “history” at Liverpool, the 25-year-old trained with his new teammates for the first time this week and is expected to make his debut at Turf Moor.

SHORTS Onana leaves United for Trabzonspor

MA N CHE S TE R U N ITED goalkeeper Andre Onana completed a loan move to Turkish side Trabzonspor yesterday, the Premier League club said. Onana’s move had been on the cards since the club acquired Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on last week’s transfer deadline day. Lammens’ £18.2 million (RM105m) signing left United with four goalkeepers, and while the club said they were fine carrying that many, the struggling Onana’s future had already been in doubt. Turkey international Altay Bayindir started all three of United’s Premier League games this season, while the 29 year-old Onana has only played once, in United’s shocking second-round League Cup loss to fourth-tier Grimsby Town in a penalty shootout. Onana was at fault for Grimsby’s two goals. Onana was signed from Inter Milan for £47.2 million (RM273m) in 2023, and his inconsistency has made him a target for scathing criticism ever since. He was United’s No. 1 last season, but a hamstring injury kept him out of the club’s pre-season games. Turkey’s transfer window closed yesterday, and there is anticipation Onana, who is on international duty with Cameroon, could make his debut against Fenerbahce on Sunday. Tom Heaton is United’s fourth goalkeeper. Chelsea not expecting points deduction CHEL S EA are expecting to receive a financial sanction in line with their Uefa settlement after their owners self reported historical financial issues which led to the FA charging the club with 74 alleged breaches. The club do not see a sporting sanction, such as a points deduction or transfer embargo, as likely due to their level of co-operation with the FA, The Independent understands. Chelsea’s current ownership, which includes Todd Boehly, uncovered incomplete financial information as part of the due diligence they conducted ahead of purchasing the club from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in 2022. They immediately passed this information on to the relevant governing bodies following the completion of their takeover, including the FA. It’s understood that Chelsea feel that the “unprecedented” self-reporting nature of the case indicates the need for a precedent to be set by the FA which would spare the club of any sporting sanction. This would therefore incentivise other clubs to self-report any of their own irregularities. Chelsea agreed a resolution with Uefa in July 2023 and were fined €10 million (£58m) after owning up to the breaches under Abramovich’s regime.

City boss Pep Guardiola and United manager Ruben Amorim are both under intense pressure just three games into the season while champions Liverpool boast the top division’s only 100% record. The derby at the Etihad Stadium pits two troubled sides against each other, both of whom have just one win from three matches.

Isak says not everyone has the “whole picture” of the circumstances behind his record-breaking move to Liverpool, but Arne Slot’s vision for the former Newcastle striker will start to become clear against Burnley tomorrow (9pm) Liverpool paid a British record £125

Reds boss Slot has an embarrassment of riches in attack after a spending spree and it will be fascinating to see how he fits Isak into a forward line already featuring Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo. Chasing a record 21st English crown, Liverpool are already top of the table again with three successive victories, making Isak’s arrival on Merseyside a daunting proposition for their title rivals. Just three months after he was unceremoniously sacked by Tottenham, Postecoglou will be back in north London today as the Nottingham Forest boss takes charge of his new team against Arsenal. Postecoglou was hired by Forest this week following the dismissal of Nuno Espirito Santo. The engaging Australian’s welcome return to the Premier League comes possibly tinged with a hint of schadenfreude .

Manchester City’s consecutive defeats against Tottenham and Brighton have raised questions about Guardiola’s expensive overhaul of his side after last season’s third-place finish. Guardiola’s problems have hardly eased in the two weeks since City blew the lead at Brighton, with Egypt forward Omar Marmoush

m i l l i o n (RM725m) to finally lure Isak to Anfield on

transfer deadline day after

ruled out of tomorrow’s (11.30pm Malaysian time) derby with a knee injury. Rayan Cherki

Postecoglou was axed by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy despite winning the Europa League last season to end the club’s 17-year trophy drought, so it will not have escaped his

and Mateo Kovacic remain sidelined and there are also questions over the fitness of John Stones, Rayan Ait Nouri, Rico Lewis, Nico O’Reilly and Abdukodir Khusanov, who all withdrew f r o m international duty this week.

attention that Levy was forced to step down from his role last week. Ho w e v e r , Forest’s volatile owner Evangelos could prove even more demanding to work for than Levy. – AFP Marinakis

Pep Guardiola (left) and Ruben Amorim. – REUTERSPIC

Manchester United

needed

a

last-gasp

Donnarumma vows to ‘make history’ Ű BY RICHARD JOLLY

Guardiola has signed him. He explained: “The fact that he wanted me here is a reason to be proud of. It’s an indescribable emotion. Being coached by him is the best for a football player. “I can’t wait to follow him and take to the pitch with him. I’m sure he will help me a lot and we will do great things together, this season as well as in the following years. “I think his history speaks for itself. It’s been an era of unbelievable success here. “I’m proud to be here and happy about the choice I’ve made and I hope I will make history here and win as many trophies as possible, that is my goal. It’s a new chapter in my life and my career. “I’m ready for this challenge. I’ve always dreamt about playing in the Premier League as it’s the best league in the world.” – The Independent

the trophy, but with a different club. “It is one of our goals, I’m not going to hide it,” he said. “Lifting the Champions League trophy with City would be a dream for me. “I think the Champions League is the best trophy for a football player. It was an indescribable emotion.” City, who were knocked out by Real Madrid in the playoff round last season after finishing a lowly 22nd in the League stage, kick off their European campaign against Napoli on Thursday. And Donnarumma added: “I hope to get as far as possible in the Champions League. “We have the game against Napoli, which is a difficult one, however all games are difficult. Napoli have a strong team. I know them, I have a lot of friends there.” Donnarumma has vowed to try and make history with City as he spoke of his pride that

GIA N LUIGI DO NN A R UMMA said it would be a “dream” to win the Champions League with Manchester City as he declared that he and Pep Guardiola will do “great things” together. The Italy captain joined City for £26 million (RM150m) last week and has vowed to make history with his new club as he revealed he will realise an ambition by playing in the Premier League. While Guardiola has won the Champions League three times as a manager, including in 2023 with City, Donnarumma helped Paris Saint Germain beat four English clubs before a record 5-0 thrashing of Internazionale last season. Now the goalkeeper, who could make his City debut in tomorrow’s (11.30pm Malaysian time) Manchester derby, has set his sights on retaining