Giggs: I urged United to sign Mbappe, Jesus
Ryan Giggs criticized Manchester United’s recruitment policy after United passed up on the chance to sign Kylian Mbappe and Gabriel Jesus despite his recommendation.
The attackers are two of the highest-rated young players in Europe at present as 19-year-old Mbappe is flourishing since his summer switch to Paris Saint-germain from Monaco in a deal that will cost around €180 million, while Gabriel Jesus, 20, has scored 17 goals in 36 appearances for Manchester City since joining from Palmeiras for around €33 million, goal.com reported. been £5 million or something — get them, loan them back — and that’s where the recruitment could have been better.”
Not only have the Red Devils neglected to sign such bright prospects, Giggs feels they have sold the wrong players at times, too, admitting he disagreed with then coach Louis van Gaal’s decisions.
“There have been a lot who have come through that haven’t been United players and also players who were United players and shouldn’t have left. I’m talking about Rafael [Da Silva], [Danny] Welbeck, Jonny
Ronaldo was unable to train with his teammates on his return from scoring the winning goal in last Saturday’s Club World Cup final victory over Gremio due to a calf issue, but took part in the public part of Friday’s prematch session at Valdebebas, ESPN reported.
The week has also brought further debate over the 32-year-old’s long-term future at Madrid, amid a public disagreement with club president Florentino
“Cristiano is good, at 100 percent,” Zidane said.
“He trained today, and that is what interests me. I will not talk about other things, we are only interested in tomorrow’s game, all of us. What Cristiano has done, everything, he deserves total respect from the club, and he gets it. After the holidays there will be more talk about all this.”
Zidane also said he has no concerns Zidane said. “What happened with Gareth [in April] can happen with any player. The important thing, for me, is that the player thinks he is 100 percent ready to play. Gareth is now. We will see tomorrow if he does.”
Madrid goes into today’s game at the Bernabeu 11 points behind Barca, albeit having played a game less.
Zidane denied that a defeat would leave his side having to focus on the cup competitions after the winter break, saying his team was looking forward to the challenge of cutting the gap.
“Whatever happens tomorrow we will keep working, knowing this is very long,” he said.
“Tomorrow is three more points, but it will not [decide] anything. We have dropped some points but this is still very long and we can recover.
“It will be the most difficult game of the season. Barca vs. Madrid are always very difficult games, but the players play for these type of games. To win a league there is the whole year, but Madrid vs. Barca, the players always think of this date, and we are ready to play it.
“There is no nerves among us, it does not matter if it is 11, 5, 20 points. What we can control is our own game tomorrow, and we will have to play a great game against a very good team. All games are really finals, but it is always about staying relaxed and playing your football.”
Zidane said that Barca deserved its current lead in the standings, while declining to comment on whether he thought Barca’s style of play this season was not as convincing as in previous campaigns.
“Barca is top of the table, that is a fact, and there is a reason for that,” he said. “I cannot say if they are playing good or bad. We are coming from behind, and trying to cut the gap a bit tomorrow. But what is most important to me is that if we play well ourselves, play football, we can do damage to any team.”
A question about whether Barca’s players would provide a guard of honor for the Club World Cup champions before the match, a hot topic in some local media coverage this week, was dismissed by the Madrid boss.
“I am not interested in these things, not at all,” Zidane said. “I am just interested in the game, the players, the fans also.”
without Cameroonian center Joel Embiid, their leading scorer and rebounder, for a third straight game because of tightness in his back.
Kyle Lowry added 23 points for the Raptors, who erased a 22-point thirdquarter deficit to win their fifth straight and 11th in 12 games.
They are now just 1.5 games behind the Celtics in the East, with the Cavaliers a further game back.
Cleveland shook off the absence of ailing coach Tyronn Lue and injured guard J.R. Smith to end the Bulls’ seven-game winning streak.
In a contest that featured 26 lead changes, Lebron James scored 11 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and the Cavs held on for a 12th straight home win.
James pushed the Cavs lead to six points with a difficult fade-away jump shot with 1:01 left to play.
A layup by Chicago’s Denzel Valentine cut the deficit to 113-112 with 14.3 seconds left, but James drained two free throws with 11.1 seconds left to put Cleveland up by three.
Dwyane Wade then blocked Kris Dunn’s three-point attempt and Valentine, with Jae Crowder defending him, missed a three-point attempt in the final second.
In Phoenix, TJ Warren scored 27 points and Troy Daniels drained the go-ahead three-pointer with 17 seconds to play as the Suns downed the Memphis Grizzlies 97-95.
A Suns turnover gave the Grizzlies a last chance to win, but Tyreke Evans missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer.