Jose wants Pogba to carry forward World Cup form
LONDON:JOSE Mourinho believes the World Cup environment helped bring out the best in Paul Pogba and the Manchester United manager wants the France midfielder to show the same focus and intensity at the Premier League club.
He was routinely criticised for his performances for United last season, but stepped up a gear in Russia, marshalling the France midfield alongside N’golo Kante and scoring in the final as the side were crowned world champions for a second time.
“I don’t think it’s about us getting the best out of him, it’s about him giving the best he has to give,” Mourinho told ESPN. “I think the World Cup is the perfect habitat for a player like him to give (their) best.
“Why? Because it’s closed for a month, where he can only think about football. Where he’s with his team, completely isolated from the external world, where they focus just on football, where the dimensions of the game can only motivate.”
BARCA HOST REAL IN FIRST CLASICO IN OCT
MADRID: Defending Spanish champions Barcelona will host Real Madrid on October 28 in the first Clasico of the 2018-19 season, the Spanish football federation said Tuesday.
Real Madrid, who finished third in the league, 17 points behind champions Barcelona, will host the second meeting of the two Spanish giants on March 3, the federation added as it unveiled the season calendar. The season opens on the weekend of August 18-19, and ends on May 18-19.
The Spanish capital’s derbies will be at Real’s Santiago Bernabeu on September 30 and at Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano on February 10. ties to secure their second crown. “Cristiano Ronaldo can bring that something extra, which Juventus need,” he told Sky Sports Italia when asked about the €112million signing from Madrid.
“I’m happy that a great champion has joined Juve. Buying a player like him doesn’t win you the Champions League alone, but you get a lot closer to it. Ronaldo is a player who shifts balances and can help Juventus win the Champions League.”
RODRIGUEZ HAPPY WITH BAYERN
MUNICH: James Rodriguez insisted he is very happy at Bayern Munich despite reports he could cut short his loan deal to return to Real Madrid.
James is halfway through a two-year loan agreement after leaving Madrid for Bayern, who have the option to purchase the Colombia star permanently for a reported €42million in 2019.
“So far, I’m still here and I’ve had a spectacular first season so I’m very happy there,” James told Colombian TV program The Suso Show.
“I feel like the club and the fans love me very much.”