Terry eyeing return to Villa
MANCHESTER City’s Raheem Sterling, right, has withdrawn from the England squad for the internationals with Spain and Switzerland with a back problem.
England play Spain in the UEFA Nations League at Wembley on Saturday, before a friendly with the Swiss at Leicester three days later.
Spain’s Diego Costa has withdrawn “on leave for personal reasons.” administration. But wealthy new owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens are believed to have given the green light to a deal to bring Terry back. His wages of £60,000 a week had made such a move an impossibility as the club teetered on the brink of financial collapse.
The central defender has spent the summer weighing up options including big-money offers from China and America’s MLS.
He has also been exploring opportunities to move into broadcasting after successful stints on TV.
Bruce has found himself short in defence and bids for Aberdeen’s Scott McKenna failed. Terry, who had 22 years at Chelsea, played 36 times for Villa last season. A fan claimed on social media that the player himself had answered ‘yes’ to an Instagram poll asking whether he should return to Villa Park.
And sources close to the club last night suggested that moves to get Terry back on board are already in hand. BRADFORD yesterday sacked head coach Michael Collins, left, after just seven matches in charge. The club are 17th in League One and are also out out of the Carabao Cup. Collins’ successor will be revealed today. City chairman Edin Rahic said: “We have had an unsatisfactory start to the season and performances have not been good enough.” ●FORMER Brazil striker Ronaldo has become the majority stakeholder in La Liga club Real Valladolid after buying 51 per cent for a reported £27million. NEMANJA MATIC claims Jose Mourinho took all the pressure off Manchester United’s players to help them overcome their traumatic start.
Mourinho made himself the focus after United’s losses to Brighton and Tottenham, insisting he remained one of the world’s best managers.
Matic says Mourinho took the spotlight off the players, which allowed them to go out and comfortably win 2-0 at Burnley on Sunday to alleviate the crisis at Old Trafford.
“Of course it takes the pressure off us,” he said. “He knows what he’s doing for sure. It’s good for us.
“He’s one of the best managers in the world. You know what he won in his career so that shows you everything.”
Matic, 30, claimed the players did not see any difference in Mourinho’s demeanour before Burnley, despite the frenzy that his job would have been on the line if United had lost.
“No, no,” he said. “He is dealing very well with the pressure. That’s why he’s here in Manchester United. I don’t see any difference.”
Matic claims Mourinho’s focus was on devising a game plan to beat Burnley and hailed his decision to deploy Marouane Fellaini just in front of the back four.
The Belgium midfielder was outstanding and helped them negate Burnley’s aerial threat.
“He was very confident before the game and he prepared the game in a very good way,” said Matic, who partnered Fellaini in midfield.
“We knew where they could cause us problems with the long balls. That’s why Fellaini played close to our defence, to stop the long balls.”
Fellaini, 30, is Mourinho’s go-to player in difficult moments and the former Everton star says he drew on all his experience at Turf Moor.
“I know what I have to do,” he said. “I’ve certain experience, 10 years in the Premier League.
“When the manager gives me a chance, I try to give everything.