Sanchez blames ‘abrupt’ move for poor United scoring form

Man City owners look east to bolster stable of global clubs

CITY FOOTBALL GROUP, which owns Premier League leaders Manchester City, is looking to add to its stable of soccer clubs and is especially keen on acquisitions in China, according to chief commercial officer Tom Glick.

City are one of several clubs owned by the group, a holding company in which Abu Dhabi United Group owns an 87 percent stake, with the remaining 13 percent held by the China Media Capital consortium.

In addition to Man City, the group owns MLS franchise New York City, Australian club Melbourne City, Uruguay’s Club Atletico Torque, a joint majority stake in Spanish club Girona, and a minority stake in Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos.

“I think it’s very likely we’ll do some more (acquisitions) and we’re looking at a number of places across the globe,” Glick MANCHESTER: Alexis Sanchez says he expected a lot more from himself since moving to Manchester United from Premier League rivals Arsenal in January.

The Chile international, who has scored just once in 10 games for United, said he has high expectations for himself and that he has struggled to adapt after the “abrupt” January transfer window move.

“Because I demand a lot from myself, I was hoping for something better,” Sanchez said. “After my arrival at United, it was hard to change everything very quickly...

“The change of club was something that was very abrupt - it was the first time I’ve changed clubs in January - but many things have happened in my life that are told CNBC in an interview aired yesterday.

“There are a number of very interesting markets and healthy leagues with great upsides so we’re looking at a number of places, including places in Asia.”

While praising the game’s potential for growth in Japan, South Korea and India, Glick said the health of football in China, along with the government’s backing for the game, made it an especially attractive destination for investors.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, an avid soccer fan, has launched an ambitious drive to improve Chinese football from the ground up and spoken of his desire for the country to qualify for another World Cup, host the tournament and eventually win it.

China has invested heavily in the sport in recent years, boosting its domestic league by signing a number of high-profile international players and coaches. difficult.”

The 29-year-old says he considered withdrawing from the national team squad for upcoming friendlies to stay at United and work on his game, but a conversation with Chile captain Claudio Bravo changed his mind.

“I had asked permission to miss these games, but then I thought better and spoke with Claudio and told him that we should all be united,” Sanchez added.

Chile, who failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup finals in Russia, play friendlies against Sweden tomorrow and Denmark three days later.

Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is leaving United after the Premier League club terminated the Swedish striker’s contract

“There’s a huge push and an ambition from the government,” Glick added.

“The league is already a very healthy league with good attendances, good television viewership, so I think it’s a really exciting time right now for China and that’s one of the markets that we’re there on the ground, investing.”

Meanwhile, Southampton striker Charlie Austin is eager to return to action after a lengthy injury lay-off and help the club in their fight to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Austin hit top form at the end of last year, scoring five goals in seven league games in November and December, before sustaining a hamstring injury in Southampton’s 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town.

Southampton have won just one of their 11 league games in Austin’s absence to drop into the bottom three with eight matches yesterday.

“Manchester United confirms that it has agreed to the termination of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s contract with immediate effect,” United said in a statement amid reports that the 36-year-old had signed for Los Angeles Galaxy.

“Everyone at the club would like to thank Zlatan for his contribution to the team since his arrival and wishes him well for the future,” United said.

The 36-year-old, who is Sweden’s record international goalscorer with 62 strikes in 116 games, sustained a bad knee injury in last season’s Europa League quarter-final against Belgium’s Anderlecht.

He last played for United on December 26 against Burnley. – Reuters left in the season.

“It’s been a frustrating time... It wasn’t like being out for two weeks; it’s been 14 weeks now,” Austin told the club’s website.

“I was in such good form and that was the hard thing, because I’d had to bide my time for ages to get in. Whilst that was going on, as a team we were underperforming and that’s why we’re in the situation we are.

“Now I’m back, we’ve got a big eight weeks and I’ll put all my energy into helping the team drive forward to stay in the Premier League.”

Southampton are under immense pressure to rescue their season under new manager Mark Hughes and Austin says the team must embrace it.

Southampton go to fellow strugglers West Ham United, who are two points ahead in 17th, on March 31. - Reuters GERMANY’S Emre Can has been ruled out of today’s friendly against Spain after failing to recover from a back injury, coach Joachim Loew said yesterday.

The Liverpool midfielder, joined his German team mates this week for matches against Spain and Brazil but had to break off training on Wednesday.

“Emre Can will not be in the squad tomorrow because of the back problem he brought with him from Liverpool,” Loew said. “He tried to train yesterday but broke it off because it was pinching a bit.

“Maybe Saturday he can return to training and hopefully play a role against Brazil (next week).”

Loew said he would not be using the same starting XI in both games as the world champions start preparations for their World Cup defence in Russia in June.

He said, however, he would start against Spain with the spine of his World Cup-winning side, with places for Jerome Boateng, Toni Kroos, Mats Hummels, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller.

“I think tomorrow the structure will be around Jerome, Mats, Mueller, Kroos and Ozil who will start,” he said. “I am not planning to play the same players in both matches. I want to try things out.”

Loew has a big pool of players to chose from for the tournament in Russia and said he had still not ruled out Borussia Dortmund trio Mario Goetze, Marco Reus and Andre Schuerrle, all of whom did not receive a call-up for these two games.

“I have talked to Mario and I was of the opinion that he was not at the level we would want,” Loew said of Goetze, scorer of Germany’s World Cup-winning goal in 2014.

“He is ambitious and he is in no way ruled out,” the coach said. “Neither is Marco Reus. I would not have nominated him anyway after his long injury break. He needs to maintain a rhythm now for the coming weeks.”

Loew said Schuerrle, who set up Goetze to score in the 2014 final, had experienced a dip in form earlier in the season but was now improving.

“He played few matches in the first half of the season but he is now rising and we know how to appreciate what Andre can do. He is for us still an issue for the World Cup.”

The Germans have been drawn in Group F at the World Cup in June, with Mexico, South Korea and Sweden.

Meanwhile, Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta remains unsure whether he will leave Barca this season to move to China.

The 33-year-old playmaker last week told local media he had an offer from a Chinese club and said a decision had to be taken on his future before the end of April.

“There are a lot of thoughts going on in my head, some stronger than others,” he told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, with his comments reported by local media yesterday.

“There are still a few weeks to decide whether I continue or not, and it’s one of the most important decisions in my career.”

Iniesta signed a “lifetime contract” at the Catalan side in October, but his playing time has grown limited due to a combination of injuries and the arrival of Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool.

“I’m at an age where things change and other doors open and they’re exciting in many ways. It’s not a question of love, rather what I feel I have to do. I honestly feel that injury permitting I’d be in the starting 11 for Barca over the next two seasons,” Iniesta said.

“If I go it’ll be because I can’t give my all as a player and person at my club. It’s going to be a difficult decision, whatever I choose.” - Reuters