The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
McInnes expects reaction to cup despair
So much still to play for, says manager
Manchester City’s footballers are the highest paid athletes in the world of sport, according to a new survey.
The average first-team pay at City has been calculated at £5.3million per year, or £102,653 per week, ahead of baseball’s New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Global Sport s Salaries Survey, compiled by sportintelligence.com, places Real Madrid and Barcelona fourth and fifth, with Manchester United eighth ahead of Chelsea.
Six of the top 10 in the list are football clubs, with baseball (two) and basketball ( two) also represented.
Premier League clubs Manchester United ( 8), Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has backed his players to deliver the Europa League football he craves for next season.
The Dons have five games left and despite the blow of losing Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final to St Johnstone McInnes expects his players to rally for the league run-in.
He said: “If you had offered us this league position a year ago we would have grabbed it with both hands and I have every faith in this group of players to finish the job.
“The players have been absolutely fantastic for us all season and I know how muchthey arehurting after Sunday’s defeat.
“It was a sore one to take but I always feel the response to any disappointment has been strong and with fivegamesleft it has to be again. There is no time for a hangover. We have managed to win games consistently this season and I know the players are good enough to keep that going until the end.
“We are going to have five tough games, starting with Caley Thistle on Friday, and every one is going to be crucial, but this Aberdeen team has a cause to play for and I amsure every team who plays us will face a really tough game.”
The Dons manager admits his preparations for next season are in limbo until his side’s immediate future is determined.
McInnesis juggling three pre-season plans.
He said: “We are in a position where we cannot plan anything at the moment – it all depends on where we finish in the league.
“If we finish into the Europa League our first game is either July 3 or July 17 depending on whether it’s third or second place.
“If we do make it into Europe it will be a great start to the season but clearly it would be beneficial to everyone if we can get an extra couple of weeks break ahead ofwhatwould then be a very long campaign.”
Midfielder Jonny Hayes resumedtraining yesterday and is in contention for a return from his fractured collarbone in tomorrow’s game against his former club Caley Thistle. Midfielder Ryan Jack will miss thegameasheservesaonematch suspension. Chelsea (10), Arsenal (11) and Liverpool (20) are all in the top 20.
Manchester City, purchased by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, are reported to pay their players more than Major League Baseball teams New York Yankees and LA Dodgers, who are second and third in the survey.
Spanish football clubs RealMadrid and Barcelona take thenext twospots. The La Liga rivals, who faced each other in the Copa del Rey final last night, both pay their first-team players an average of more than £4.9million a year. Premier League champions United have an average wage of £4.3million, while league leaders Liverpool award £3.4million per man.