OBLAK’S CHANCE TO SHINE
ATLETICO MADRID goalkeeper Jan Oblak has brushed off rumours he is still on Chelsea’s shopping list as he prepares to face the Blues in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Slovenian star Oblak, rated the best keeper in the world by some pundits, was said to be wanted by former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard last year, until the Blues went for cheaper option Edouard Mendy from Rennes.
Now, with Thomas Tuchel (below) in charge at Stamford Bridge, the 28-year-old is back on the radar for the west London club.
But Oblak insists he hasn’t taken any notice of the rumours.
“I have a contract with Atletico and I have not spoken with any other team,” he said. “Those things are carried out by my agents.
“All I think about is being a starter, winning games and lifting titles with the club. This season our challenge is to win both La Liga and the Champions League and we believe we can do it.
“In Europe the big test begins now and we don’t want to go out.”
Oblak, who has been with the Spanish club since 2014, knows it won’t be easy – especially as Atletico have to play their home leg in Bucharest, Romania because of pandemic travel restrictions.
“I would have preferred a different opponent to Chelsea,” he admitted.
“Chelsea have been inconsistent this season, but it is still Chelsea, a club that always reacts and is capable of beating anyone.
“And of course they have changed their manager and I know that Tuchel is a good coach.
“I don’t know who will be in goal against us but they have good keepers in Mendy and Kepa. It will not be easy to score. But we are confident.”
TOTTENHAM are in the race to sign young Nigerian winger Paul Mukairu from Turkish side Antalyaspor.
The 21-year-old left-sided star is on loan at Belgian club Anderlecht and already has a string of admirers despite scoring only five goals so far in his senior career.
Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen and Spain’s Villarreal have both been watching the young talent for almost a year but Jose Mourinho and Spurs believe they are in pole position.
They hope to snap him up for around £4million this summer.
WHEN Pep Guardiola was at Barcelona his team once put eight goals past Almeria – and got coach Juanma Lillo the sack.
Yet when Mikel Arteta walked out on Manchester City to become Arsenal boss, it was to Lillo (above) that Guardiola turned to become his cool, calm assistant.
It should worry Arteta when the Premier League leaders travel to the Etihad today that Guardiola believes he’s now become an even better manager for the change.
And Lillo, a 55-year-old Spaniard who took his first coaching role on leaving school, has been the key to unlocking more of his genius.
Guardiola says: “Juanma is a friend of mine from a long time ago and finally we can work together.
“It was a dream – and now the dream has come true.
“His knowledge of the game is overwhelming. He sees things that few people in the world are able to see – me included.
“I’m a guy who sometimes expresses my feelings too much and Juanma makes me feel more calm. I read situations better.
“I would love him to be able to speak better English to communicate more on the pitch with the players – but maybe he needs time.”
When Guardiola was winding down his own playing career with an ambition to move into coaching, it was to Lillo he turned.
In 2006, the Catalan joined Mexican club Dorados de Sinaloa only because Lillo was manager.
Guardiola recognised a man who had been born to coach.
Lillo’s first job was at the age of 16 and despite spells with clubs such as Oviedo, Tenerife, Real Zaragoza and Real Sociedad, much of his career has been spent working in relative backwaters.
His time in charge of Almeria came to a crushing end in 2010 after a Barcelona side including Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta demolished his team 8-0.
Guardiola says: “Of course it has been forgiven by Juanma.
“But if I had been training Almeria at that moment and he had been training Barcelona, I would have been defeated 8-0 too.”
Last month, when an offer came in for Lillo to become Chile’s head coach he turned it down to remain at Guardiola’s side at the Etihad Stadium.
It’s fair to say, with City pulling clear at the top of the Premier League, that Arteta has not been missed.
ARSENAL
Last five in PL: WDLLW Top PL scorers:
Lacazette (8)
PEP IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AT CITY
2016/17 Round of 16 Aggregate: Man City 6 Monaco 6 (Monaco win on away goals)
2017/18 Quarter-final Aggregate: Aggre Man City 1 Liverpool 5
2018/19 Quarter-final Aggregate: Man City 4 Tottenham 4 (Tottenham win on away goals)
2019/20 Quarter-final
Man City 1 Lyon 3