Mina misery a lift for Jose
YERRY MINA will jump at the chance of a £35million move to Manchester United after a frustrating six months at Barcelona.
The Colombia central defender has emerged as Jose Mourinho’s top defensive target after impressing in the World Cup, where he headed three goals from corners – one of them against England.
That boosted Mina’s profile and valuation and was in sharp contrast to his frustrations at the Nou Camp, where he was sometimes not even included in the squad, making only five starts and one off the bench following a £10m move from Brazilian club Palmeiros in January. The last of those six appearances was the shock 5-4 defeat by Levante that cost the champions the chance to complete the La Liga season unbeaten.
Mina admitted life has been tough in Spain. He said: “When I saw I wasn’t even on the bench, wasn’t even being considered, I started to train alone at home. It was a difficult moment I do not wish on any player.
“I felt in moments everything came crashing down upon me, nothing was going right, I couldn’t pass the ball right, or train, nothing went right.” IN DUBLIN CESAR AZPILICUETA believes that teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi has all the qualities to shine in the Premier League for Chelsea.
Hudson-Odoi, who will not be 18 until November, has been given the opportunity by new Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri to stake his claim in this pre-season campaign – and the youngster has grabbed his
chance with both hands. Hudson-Odoi, one of the stars of England’s Under-17 World Cup-winning campaign last year, has been a revelation in the games against Perth Glory, Inter Milan and on Wednesday night in Dublin against Arsenal.
His pace, skill and willingness to take on defenders have been a bonus for Sarri who, in only his third game in charge since replacing Antonio Conte, saw his side beaten 6-5 on penalties by Arsenal at the Aviva Stadium in the International Champions Cup.
But had striker Alvaro Morata not missed four great chances all provided by the skills of Hudson-Odoi – including fluffing a penalty the teenager won – Chelsea would surely have put the game beyond Unai Emery’s side.
Afterwards, Sarri confirmed that HudsonOdoi, who made four substitute appearances last season, would be part of his first-team squad this term.
Azpilicueta said: “I made my debut when I was 17 for Osasuna. It is about consistency.
“Callum is coming from academy level. He played with us a few times last season, he has been with us this preseason and he is improving and that is really important.
“He is 17, he can go really far and I’m sure that, if he keeps his head, with the way he is working and performing, he will be very good.
“Every time he went one versus one against the defender, he was creating problems. In transition, he was very good, and with the defensive work we have seen from him, it is not only in one
phase, globally he playing well and that important for the team.”
“He has shown great quality and great character. Now it is up to him to keep that level. That is something that he has in his hands. We will try to help him.”
Chelsea have offered Hudson-Odoi a new five-year contract to keep away any predators and he will not be is is loaned out this season, as so many other of the club’s young players have.
But when the likes of Eden Hazard return after World Cup duty in the next few days, his chances of first-team action could be limited.
In his favour, Chelsea are in the Europa League this season and those games, as well as the League Cup, could give Sarri the chance to give him some playing time. Azpilicueta warned that Chelsea are still trying to get to grips with the change of style that Sarri is trying to impose.
The Spaniard, whose side face Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday, said: “It’s a different way. From the first day we have been trying to learn what he wants.
“Two years ago, when we switched to three at the back, from the first day we were very good. Hopefully we can switch again to a back four. You never know how long it can take.”
Every time he went up against a defender he was causing problems