Friday, November 13, 2015
EXTRATIME
X7
BRIEFS
Ancelotti denies Liverpool talks
No regrets dumping Liverpool, says
g n i l r e t S
R
aheem Sterling says he was right to leave Liverpool for Manchester City and has no regrets about the decision. Sterling, who is part of the England squad that plays Spain in Alicante today, joined City in a £49m move this summer after a protracted transfer saga. Premier League leaders City will face Liverpool after the international break and Sterling insists his decision to force through a move to the Etihad Stadium was necessary for him to develop as a player. “I thought the move to City at the time was right for me
and my heart was saying that is what I should do. That is what I have done and I have no regrets,” Sterling said. “Liverpool and Manchester City are both big football clubs and I am just happy to be where I am - and I am happy with my development at this moment in time. I want to continue my development and win trophies. “Part of it was my development, trying to get myself better as a player, definitely help my club and definitely help my country in big tournaments.” Sterling has settled in quickly to life at the Etihad and has helped City move to the top of the Premier League despite key duo
captaincy
A
De Ges
De Gea ‘very happy’ at United Sterling
Sergio Aguero and David Silva missing multiple games through injury. Sterling, 20, has already scored four league goals and registered two assists and admitted he has taken a lot of confidence from competing with City’s worldclass talent on a daily basis. “I go into training every day and see the players of that calibre that I work with - like VVincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Joe Hart,” Sterling said. “There is only one thing you can do and that is improve with players like that, who have been around for many years and achieving stuff.
Richards set to keep Villa ston Villa captain Micah Richards will retain the armband after impressing new manager Remi Garde. Richards produced a man-of-thematch display against former club and Premier League leaders Manchester City, who were held to a goalless draw at Villa in Garde’s first match in charge last week. The 27-year-old’s performance impressed Garde and the French boss sees no reason to change skippers as Villa bid to beat the drop. “Yes of course definitely,” Garde responded when asked whether Richards would keep the captaincy. “We have had many chats and discussions already. He is a strong
C
defender, a good guy in the group, an experienced man and he did brilliantly against City. “He has led the team to this point and I am very pleased with that.” Garde added: ‘I don’t decide the captain by flicking a coin. The objective is to find the player best at uniting the squad – the man who represents something for the others. “Captaincy is not an individual award. We play a team sport. A captain has responsibilities and duties. I’m a coach who doesn’t think giving the armband to the goalkeeper is necessarily a good thing.”
D
avid de Gea is loving life at Manchester United again after putting the transfer saga involving Real Madrid firmly behind him. The Spain goalkeeper was primed to complete a move to the Santiago Bernabeu, but the deal fell through on deadline day after the paperwork was not submitted in time. De Gea was dropped by United boss Louis Van Gaal while the speculation over his future remained unclear, but after signing a new four-year contract on September 11 has since re-established himself as number one at Old Trafford. “I felt in that moment that to extend my contract was the best thing to do,” he said. “I’m really happy now, at one of the biggest clubs in the world, where I feel loved by the fans. “Nobody let me down or disappointed me – these are things that happen. You must look forward and I am very happy now. “During the transfer market anything can happen, it can all change inside a minute. Football is like that. There were difficult moments, strange moments, but they help you to mature. To be stronger. And De Gea paid tribute to the United fans for welcoming him back despite the drama around his future. “The way Old Trafford received me, it made the hairs stand up. It’s very difficult to describe what that day was like. I really appreciated it,” he said. Richards
arlo Ancelotti has denied holding talks with Liverpool to replace Brendan Rodgers in October, though the former Chelsea manager would like to return to the Premier League. But the 56-year-old Italian - on a break after he was sacked by Real Madrid at the end of the 201415 season - said he did not speak with the Merseyside club before Jurgen Klopp was appointed last month.
Dembele thriving going forward
M
ousa Dembele says he has been relishing the opportunity to be a more “dangerous” player this season as he continues in an advanced role for Tottenham. The Belgium international has been in fine form playing further forward in recent weeks as Tottenham have gone unbeaten since the opening day of the season and now sit five points behind joint Premier League leaders Arsenal and Manchester City.
Gomez devastated by ACL injury
L
iverpool youngster Joe Gomez has revealed he was left “devastated” after suffering a season-ending injury whilst on international duty. The left-back took an innocuous-looking fall whilst representing England Under21s against Kazakhstan in October, which resulted in him rupturing the anterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee.
Fulop
Ex-Sunderland goalkeeper Fulop dies
F
ormer Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop has died at the age of 32 after a battle with cancer. Fulop who hailed from Hungary played for West Brom and Manchester City in the Premier League after failing to make a first-team appearance for Tottenham. He also represented his country on 24 occasions after making his international debut in 2005. His illness was first apparent in 2013 when he took a break from the game to have a malignant tumour removed from his arm. A statement from Sunderland chief executive Margaret Byrne read: “We are devastated to hear of Marton’s passing. “He was a genuinely lovely man, liked and respected by everyone at the club during his four years with us.