01/04/2026

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | APR 1, 2026

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Tuchel dismisses club over country talk Ű BY SIMON PEACH

SIDENETTING No asterisk next to Milner’s record

100% trust in the honesty of Bukayo and Declan. We did medical tests. I saw them. “I have no reason to believe that Declan is not honest with me. I have no reason to believe Bukayo is not honest. But given the amount of Arsenal players, I understand the look.” Rice, who Tuchel says feels 70% fit, had a ses sion with Jude Bellingham on the pitch but com plained of discomfort, while Saka did two ses sions in the gym in a bid to prove his fitness. “They both came,” he said. “Declan was even out on the pitch. He did not come and say ‘guys, I’m going home’. “I heard there were camps (in the past) where players did not even show up with boots and stuff. Then it becomes, OK… but they both came.” – The Independent

raised suspicions of club matters taking prece dence over country, but Tuchel dismissed such talk. “They joined, had a medical assessment, wanted desperately to play, to just get the narra tive straight,” he said ahead of this morning friendly against Japan. “Wanted desperately to be involved. “But it made just no sense to take this risk. If it would have been maybe a last game of the sea son, we would have kept them and tried every thing. But in this moment of the season, it did not make sense. The risk for making it worse was just way too big.” Tuchel, who says England were aware of the pair’s “issues” after Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final, added: “I understand the look of it. I still have

THOMAS TUCHEL knows Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka’s England withdrawals amid a spate of Arsenal pullouts may look suspicious to some but stressed the injured duo were desperate to feature against Japan. The German coach picked an expanded 35 man squad for the final camp before he makes his World Cup selection, with the first wave of players joined by 11 established names on Friday. Rice and Saka were among those arrivals and surprisingly left the following day, as did Arsenal teammate Noni Madueke after he sustained an injury in the 1-1 friendly draw against Uruguay. The fact 10 of the Premier League leaders’play ers have left their respective national teams has

GARETH BARRY has expressed his dismay at no longer being the answer to a popular football quiz question, following James Milner’s recent sur passing of his Premier League appear ance record. Milner, a former teammate of Barry at Aston Villa and Manchester City, made his 654th Premier League appearance last month during Brighton’s victory over Brentford. This landmark moment saw him eclipse the record Barry had held since 2017. What makes Milner’s feat particularly notable is that he achieved it having played a remark able 13,874 fewer minutes than Barry – an equivalent of over 150 matches. Despite this significant difference in playing time, Barry has been quick to dismiss any suggestion that it diminishes the validity of Milner’s impressive accomplishment. “No, there should be no asterisk!” the 45-year-old said. “It was nice for other stats to come out on the back of James passing the appearance record. “But we had slightly different careers. The game has changed, it’s really become a bit more of a squad game. “There’s five subs now. James had a great period of time at Liverpool. He wasn’t going to start every game, but he was always involved in the squads and that’s probably where our careers differed slightly. “He’s an ex-teammate at two of my clubs, and also England, I know him exceptionally well. “And he’s got to where he is for one reason: he’s a proper professional, a very underrated player, and literally is squeezing everything out of his body, because he takes everything to the limit.” Anderson focused on England NOTTINGHAM FOREST midfielder Elliot Anderson is firmly focused on securing his place in England’s World Cup squad, despite swirling rumours of a colossal £100 million (RM530m) transfer to Manchester City. The 23-year-old, who has enjoyed a brilliant two years at the City Ground, appears virtually guaranteed a spot on the plane to the World Cup, and he insists this is his sole concen tration. “Obviously we’ve got the World Cup this year so all my eyes are on that,“ Anderson said. “Playing for England, I’ve got the badge on now so that’s all I’m thinking about at the moment. “I want it that way (to be guaran teed a start). But I’ve got a season left with Forest. I’ve got plenty of games and there’s plenty of time until then. I’ve got to keep my standards high and make sure that happens.” Anderson has established himself as a key player, making himself first choice in Thomas Tuchel’s side after just six appearances before Christmas, forging a strong partnership with Declan Rice. Anderson credits Rice with being influential in his international devel opment. “It’s a really good partnership. Since I’ve come in, he’s made me feel comfortable, he’s helped me learn on the job,” he explained. “He’s full of energy to help me and the relationship on the pitch is really good. (He’s helped me) on and off the pitch.”

Growing pains Wirtz lifts lid on how first-season struggles at Liverpool have changed him

Germany’s Florian Wirtz (centre) in action with Ghana’s Jonas Adjetey (right) during their International Friendly match at MHPArena in Stuttgart yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

L IVERPOOL playmaker Florian Wirtz believes the struggles he encountered after making the move to Anfield have made him stronger. The 22-year-old Germany inter national arrived in a £116 million (RM615m) deal from Bayer Leverkusen as one of Europe’s hottest young talents but bedding into a team which underwent a £450 million (RM2.4b) overhaul proved difficult. Wirtz struggled with the physical ity but a tailored strength and condi tioning programme designed to make him more robust for the Premier League helped get him through. After failing to score in his first 22 appearances, he enjoyed a run of six in 10 matches from Boxing Day, although he has since gone eight

having “many good conversations”. “He’s an intelligent, totally open guy, so you get a lot back in a conver sation like that,” Nagelsmann said. “Of course, you can take a lot away from it and will be stronger than ever before, because it’s also part of per sonal development that things don’t always go in one direction.” Wirtz played an hour for Germany in yesterday’s 2-1 win over Ghana in a friendly, with the attacking midfielder expected to have a key role for the national team at the World Cup. The 22-year-old will first turn his attentions to helping Liverpool qual ify for next season’s Champions League, as well as an upcoming FA Cup quarterfinal against Man City on Saturday. – The Independent/ Agencies

While his domestic form may have dipped again, he showed his quality in Germany’s 4-3 win over Switzerland on Friday – with two goals and two assists – and he cred ited national team boss Julian Nagelsmann with helping him during his tough transitional phase. “The coach always supported me during the difficult phase after my move to Liverpool and always had an open ear for me,” he added. “He gave me tips and reassured me. That has brought us closer together.” Wirtz’s assessment was one shared by Nagelsmann himself, with the Germany boss claiming their rela tionship grew closer as a result. Nagelsmann revealed last week that Wirtz had opened up a “great deal” during the period, with the pair

games without scoring. But his overall success is not entirely in his own hands as he has created over 70 chances in the Premier League and Champions League this season but the under performing team has failed to capital ise. “It wasn’t an easy phase,” Wirtz, speaking about his first few months in England, told German television show Sportschau . “It’s sometimes good that things don’t always go upwards and that you experience a dip and grow stronger because of it. “That’s how I see it now as well – it has made me a bit stronger. I had to overcome resistance and adapt. I had to learn to become stronger and hold onto the ball.”

Hodgson says surprise return to management only short-term FORMER England boss Roy Hodgson says his sur prise return to management at Championship side Bristol City will not extend beyond this sea son. charge of England, which ended in the disappoint ment of a shock Euro 2016 exit against Iceland. Asked if he could be convinced to extend his return to management beyond this season, Hodgson told reporters yesterday: “I think it was the fact that it was a short-term project, a short term appointment.

Hodgson insisted he had no interest in a sport ing director role at City, saying: “No, I am too old. “I hope to get some enjoyment from being here, to re-energise myself a little bit by being back on the grass and being back with players, something which has always been what I have wanted to do.” Hodgson takes over with City 16th in the Championship after six league games without a win. His first match in charge of the Robins will be at Charlton on Saturday. “For me, it is going to be what happens on the pitch. I am here to coach the team and try and help the team to get results,” Hodgson said. “I will only be satisfied if the people watching the team can see that is going on.” – AFP

Hodgson was hired as City’s interim manager last week following the sacking of Gerhard Struber. The 78-year-old had been out of football since leaving Crystal Palace in February 2024. Hodgson’s return to Ashton Gate, 44 years after a brief stint in charge of City, has taken him into half a century of football management. After his first job at Swedish club Halmstad in 1976, his much-travelled career has included spells in charge at Liverpool, Inter Milan, Fulham and Udinese among other clubs. Hodgson also had four turbulent years in

“After the club made their decision to change, I think they were looking for someone who could step in and was prepared to do a job for seven games. “Of course that appealed to me, because I have retired from the real maelstrom of working as a professional coach again, but I thought that I could manage five weeks - and I might even look forward to the five weeks, which has been the case so far.”