BARCELONA boss Ernesto Valverde may need a new striker but he has played down the possibility of Neymar returning to the Nou Camp.
Brazil striker Neymar joined Paris Saint-Germain in a record-breaking ¤200million deal in 2017, and Valverde said: “He is a world-class player, who is on another team and nothing else. Nobody has called me to tell me any different.”
And Valverde cooled talk of an exit for former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho, who missed a penalty against Levante in the Copa del Rey.
He added: “Coutinho has had great games and we hope he will continue to have them.”
successful, you have to be organised, strong and intense in your actions – knowing that you have to back your team-mate.“You must be balanced in defence and then have confidence in attack.“We have to view this as a chance to go beyond our limits. What we had done before against Manchester City tells us we have a chance. We must compete. If we do, the results will come afterwards.”Wolves were the first team last season to complete a shut-out against City, when their Carabao Cup tie at the Etihad ended goalless, with City then winning on penalties.And they took a point from the League meeting at Molineux in August. Add in defeating Spurs and Chelsea this season, plus drawing with Manchester United and Arsenal, and Wolves have the right to feel able to compete tomorrow night.But Nuno added: “None of that will change us. No game is repeated throughout the season.“We have to push on.” NATHAN JONES will serve up a brand of free-flowing football that Stoke crave.That’s the view of former Luton Town chairman Nick Owen who has given the Potters’ capture of the former Hatters boss a big thumbs-up.BBC presenter and lifelong Luton fan Owen was surprised to see the 45-year-old Jones depart his Kenilworth Road post this week.But despite a disappointing Potters start for Jones – a 3-1 defeat at Brentford that leaves Stoke eight points adrift of the play-offs – Owen still thinks they have the right man.He said: “Nathan’s very driven, ambitious, young and British – and he has a passionate view on how he wants his football to be played.“His style is that he wants his teams to attack and play a free-flowing game. He’s very keen on passing the ball and building from the back. And he has been successful with it.“When he left we were the top scorers in League One. That speaks volumes.”