Wednesday, October 25, 2017
EXTRATIME
Premier league………………………Premier league………………………Premier league
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My rivalry with Messi just starting, says Ronaldo
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ristiano Ronaldo believes his rivalry with Lionel Messi has plenty of distance left to run after scooping the Best FIFA Men’s Player award in London. Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo was honoured at the gala after a poll of international head coaches, captains and members of the media saw him come out ahead of Barcelona counterpart Messi, with Brazil and PSG forward Neymar in third. Including the years when FIFA’s individual award was merged with the Ballon d’Or, Ronaldo and Messi have now been labelled the best player in the world by football’s global governing body five times apiece. The Portugal captain has come out on top in four of the past five years, with Messi in second place on each occasion. Yet Messi has been in a rich vein of form for club and country over recent months, firing Barca to the top of LaLiga with 11 goals in nine matches and securing Argentina’s place at the 2018 World Cup with a majestic hattrick against Ecuador. As the all-time leading scorers for their respective clubs and countries and the two leaders in both LaLiga and Champions League history, debate over who is superior out of Messi and Ronaldo will occupy football fans for some time to come. Speaking to reporters at London Palladium, Ronaldo initially sought to play down the rivalry before ap-
Unsworth
Unsworth to take charge of Everton
Ronaldo greets Messi during the ceremony parently laying down a long-term challenge to the 30-year-old Messi, whom he swapped cordial greetings with as they sat alongside each other during the ceremony. “I don’t compete with Leo,” he said. “He is a player, who is in the same era. He won five times. I won five times too - individual awards for the best in the world. So things are as they are. “Obviously, I am happy because, as I said before, I am at the best club in the world. I have had the opportunity to demonstrate that I am at a very high level during the last few years.
And I am still [physically] very well. “So I am very quiet. I will see what’s going to happen tomorrow, but at the moment I have to enjoy this nice moment of my life because you never know what will happen next.” But, asked whether Ronaldo versus Messi was over, the 32-year-old added: “It didn’t finish yet... it is just starting.” Reigning Spanish and European champions Madrid are currently five points behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona, who they host in the first Clasico of the season on December 23.
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verton have announced that David Unsworth will take temporary charge of the first-team beginning with Wednesday’s EFL Cup tie at Chelsea following Ronald Koeman’s sacking. Koeman was dismissed on Monday in the wake of Sunday’s 5-2 hammering by Arsenal, leaving Everton in the relegation zone despite spending a reported £142million in the closeseason. Everton have won just two of their first nine league matches, while they also sit bottom of their Europa League group.
Mbappe dismisses Henry’s comparism
Unsworth, who is in charge of Everton’s Under-23s, played the best past of 11 years at Goodison Park across two spells and has been linked to the club in a coaching capacity since 2013. Everton can confirm David Unsworth will take temporary charge of the Everton first team, commencing with tomorrow night’s @Carabao_ Cup tie. He will likely be hoping to stake his claim for taking the role permanently, but Burnley manager Sean Dyche is considered the favourite.
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Mbappe
aris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe is honoured by comparisons with France great Thierry Henry, but urged people to not see him as a “copy” of someone else. Mbappe announced himself to the world with Monaco last season, playing a starring role as Leonardo Jardim’s men won the Ligue 1 title and reached the Champions League semifinals. Monaco’s talent pool was raided by a number of Europe’s leading clubs ahead of the 2017-18 campaign and Mbappe was the biggest name to depart, joining PSG in a loan deal which will be made permanent for €180million next year. His style of play and obvious ability have seen him likened to ex-Arsenal superstar Henry and, although he is grateful for such praise, the 2017 Golden Boy winner is adamant that he has a lot to improve. “It’s an honour to me,” he told Tuttosport. “But it does not impact on me. “I want to be known as myself, not as someone else’s copy. I know people expect a lot from me, but I’m not that player who leaves a mark on every game. “I have to work so hard. My young age will never be an excuse.” Mbappe has also already made a serious impression
Kane
Madrid not interested in E250m Kane bid - Perez
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Henry
on the international stage with France and, barring a serious injury or major dip in form, he will surely be a certainty for their squad next year’s World Cup. France will be among the favourites to life the famous trophy, though Mbappe knows that will only happen with maturity. “For France, the talent is not lacking,” he said. “But you need to think about the chemistry of the team. “We are a young group and this can allow us to grow and mature at the same time as such an important tournament.”
ottenham star Harry Kane is not being considered as an option for Real Madrid because he would cost “€250million”, according to the Spanish club’s president Florentino Perez. Kane has been linked with a switch to Madrid in recent weeks, with the Spurs man enjoying a wonderful start to the season in what has been a generally impressive 2017 for the striker. Spurs’ 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League was billed by many as Kane’s audition, with some claiming that he would be a better fit for the reigning European champions. However, Perez has reassured Spurs fans that Madrid have not considered making him a target because they know he would cost too much money. Speaking to Cadena Cope, Perez said: “Signing Harry Kane has not passed through my head. He is a great player and in addition he is young. “He has many years to progress, but we are delighted with [Karim] Benzema and with all of the team. “I didn’t ask Tottenham’s president [chairman, Daniel Levy] for the price because he would have told me that he is worth €250million.” So far this year for club and country, Kane has scored a remarkable 45 goals in 40 appearances following his double against Liverpool on Sunday.