24/10/2025

SPORTS FRIDAY | OCT 24, 2025

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Thomas gets Frank after Vicario heroics against Monaco

SHORTS Gordon on high after Mourinho complement ANTHONY GORDON received a ringing endorsement of his Champions League quality from Jose Mourinho after helping to condemn his Benfica side to a resounding defeat at Newcastle. The 24-year-old England international scored the first goal – his fourth in the competition in three games this season – and made the last in a 3-0 victory at St James’ Park on Wednes as he played a starring role for the Magpies. While his efforts won him the acclaim of his own head coach Eddie Howe and the locals among a crowd of 52,073, there was also praise from Mourinho, who made a beeline for the former Everton frontman on the final whistle. Asked what the Portuguese had said to him, Gordon replied: “He said‘You’re too much’, which is a big compliment for me because as a kid, he was my favourite manager in the world growing up. “It’s quite weird because he was quite a defensive manager, but I just love the way… even then, the bench was getting up. “He really creates a team environment, it’s like us against the world. I recognise that from my own game, so it was a big compliment. “It means an awful lot. Even if I didn’t idolise him, a compliment from any coach at this level means a lot.” Middlesbrough close in on Coventry MIDDLESBROUGH closed to within a point of Championship leaders Coventry with a 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday, as Wrexham secured their first home victory of the season against Oxford yesterday. Morgan Whittaker opened the scoring for Boro at Hillsborough after just six minutes. However, the floodgates did not open for the visitors against financially-stricken Wednesday, who remain rooted to the foot of the table. Wednesday fans stayed away from the game once more in protest at owner Dejphon Chansiri, with the club set to be hit with a winding up order by UK tax authorities for overdue payments. Middlesbrough struggled in the eerie atmosphere but did enough to open up a four-point lead over third-placed Millwall in the race for automatic promotion. Big-spending Wrexham ended their four-game winless run thanks to Nathan Broadhead’s solitary goal despite ending the game with 10 men after Callum Doyle saw red. The Welsh side move up to 15th and within five points of the play-off places. QPR climbed up to eighth thanks to a 1-0 win at Swansea. Watford marked Javi Gracia’s return to Vicarage Road with a 2-1 win over West Brom. Rocco Vata got the winner after Imran Louza cancelled out Isaac Price’s opener for the Baggies. – AFP

TOTTENHAM head coach Thomas Frank paid tribute to “exceptional” Guglielmo Vicario after a one-sided goalless draw at Monaco and admitted his team were still “learning” how to play Champions League football. Injury-hit Spurs were far from their best at Stade Louis II and needed goalkeeper Vicario on top form to deny Folarin Balogun on three occasions before he brilliantly thwarted Thilo Kehrer’s close-range header in the second half. Vicario received criticism after Sunday’s loss to Aston Villa, where his positioning for Morgan Rogers’ leveller was questioned but almost single-handedly ensured Tottenham moved onto five points from three European fixtures this season. “I think the two goals against Villa, I don’t think it’s mistakes. I don’t think

Premier League and then in the Champions League is a challenge we are up for and want to. “It’s fair to say, last year we finished 17th and competed in Europa League, so we are taking it step by step. “And it’s not the worst thing on a bad day to get a point and a clean sheet.” Monaco’s new boss Sebastian Pocognoli was left frustrated by Vicario’s performance and time wasting tactics. “Vicario was outstanding, he make some great saves. “He wasted also a lot of time between each free-kick, long kicks,” Pocognoli smiled. “He played a good game, but I think it’s also because we were strong to create the chances. Good performance from him. Man of the match.” – The Independent

competition after a stalemate with AC Milan on March 8, 2023. Frank added: “It was a game (with a) relatively even first half and then a second half, where I think Monaco was better than us, where we didn’t hit the performance we want. “I think we lacked a bit of intensity overall in the game, especially the second half and that combined with a day where we didn’t get too many players at a good enough level – that can happen. “I think we are learning Champions League and every game in Champions League is difficult, especially away games against a good Monaco side. “A Monaco side which I also think it’s fair to say they had the best half of the season against us. “Fair play to them and then the ability for us to compete in the

it’s any of that. It was two great finishes,” Frank countered. “What I would say, I think he was very good today. “I think some of the saves were exceptional. “He’s a big part of why we got a hard-fought point, but at the end of the day, it can be a crucial point.” A smattering of boos from the away fans greeted full-time as Spurs produced another disjointed display in attack. Brennan Johnson had a late shot blocked by Christian Mawissa and both Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso headed over first-half chances, after Frank elected to drop £52 million (RM301m) playmaker Xavi Simons. Yesterday’s draw was Tottenham’s first in 125 matches since their last Champions League campaign in the 2022-23 season, when they exited the

’ Chelsea’s teen titans Maresca says lucky to be manager of ‘special’ talent Willian after Ajax thumping

Moises Caicedo (middle) celebrates scoring their second goal with Willian (left). – REUTERSPIC

Ű BY ROBERT O’CONNOR

the 17th minute. Immediately they led through Guiu before Moises Caicedo’s deflected shot from range made it two. There was then the bizarre spectacle of three penalties in 18 frantic minutes, first by Wout Weghorst – who briefly restored the visitors’ interest in the match – before Enzo Fernandez and Estevao replied in kind to make it 4-1 at the break. George made it five just after the restart, after which Estevao tormented Ajax with a wonderful showcase of attacking creativity, tormenting full-back Youri Baas on the wing and twice going close via an overhead kick sent just wide and a bullet drive saved by the goalkeeper. “We go always game by game,” said Maresca. “It’s a win but it it doesn’t mean too much in terms of the season.” – The Independent

top players. “The good thing about Estevao is, we don’t need to be worried about that. He’s very humble and polite, wants to work hard. “He has fantastic family who are very close to him. He’s a special player but we don’t have to be worried that he thinks he knows how good he is. He’s a very simple guy. “I feel very lucky to be his manager. The fans pay tickets to see players like Cole (Palmer) and Estevao.” The Dutch side were atrocious, a shadow of the team that were within seconds of reaching the final of this competition in 2019, as John Heitinga’s team suffered the ignominy of becoming the first Ajax side since 1958 to let in four in the first half of a European match. Chelsea were rampant once visiting captain Kenneth Taylor had been sent off for serious foul play in

George capped things off with the fifth, whilst 17-year-old Reggie Walsh was given 25 minutes as a substitute to become the club’s youngest player in this competition. “Very proud,” said Maresca, who made 10 changes to his line-up for the second of six games in 21 days. “It’s a special night for the club and its young players. It’s the strategy of the club. “We have so many young players. We were the youngest side in the Premier League last year, this year the same way. “We changed tonight 10 players. It’s not easy to change so many but we needed to do that, otherwise players are going to struggle.” The star of the show was undoubtedly Estevao. “With young players, most of the time you’re worried,” said Maresca. “They play one or two games and score and they think they’re already

E NZO MARESCA believes he is lucky to be the manager of “special” talent Estevao Willian after the teenager turned in his best Chelsea display in a 5-1 thumping of 10-man Ajax at Stamford Bridge. The 18-year-old became the Blues’ youngest Champions League goalscorer when he struck a remarkably-confident penalty into the top corner to make it 4-1 at half time. And with his team cruising, he tormented the four-time European champions to further raise the dizzying expectations that have accompanied his arrival in west London. He was one of three teenagers on the scoresheet for Chelsea as Marc Guiu opened the scoring with his first of the season and Tyrique