Tag Futebol

Tottenham Hotspur managed to maintain their unbeaten run in the Premier League in dramatic fashion yesterday, as the plaudits just keep soaring in for Ange Postecoglou…

How did Spurs play vs Sheffield United?

Having dominated the majority of the game, it should have come as no surprise to see the Lilywhites fall behind against a Sheffield United side with just one point after four games. It just seemed all too familiar, for a Spurs side to roll over at home for a side that, on paper, they should brush aside.

Their 70% possession, 28 shots and 2.12 expected goal tally, via Sofascore, could not break down the rigid and staunch defence of the visitors, who stormed into the lead after Gustavo Hamer's fine left-footed strike.

However, such is the positivity and unbridled energy that their new regime is already emanating, this team seemingly just don't know when they are beaten. A well-placed corner in the 98th minute was met by Richarlison, whose subdued celebrations likely hid a wealth of emotion just waiting to pour out after the Brazilian had admitted to the struggles he had been facing earlier in the week.

His day would get even better though, with his direct play and neat outside-of-the-foot pass finding Dejan Kulusevski, who rifled home a 100th-minute winner to send the home fans into raptures. It was the latest comeback in the history of the Premier League, and one which typifies this new attitude in north London.

Whilst the former Everton striker will steal the headlines for the way in which he overcame recent adversity to score and assist, it marked a similarly cathartic moment for the Sweden international too.

How did Dejan Kulusevski play?

Having signed for £25m back in 2022, his blistering start to life with Spurs set the bar impossibly high for him to follow in the future. His five goals and eight assists in just six months were outstanding, which made his two strikes last season in the league especially frustrating.

Everyone is well aware of the talent that the 23-year-old boasts, but for whatever reason that has been silenced in recent years, despite former Celtic star Chris Sutton branding him a "special player" during that stunning initial spell.

So, to see him pop up at a crucial moment would have been euphoric for Kulusevski, whose stellar display had deserved something from the clash.

After all, having played every minute of the gruelling encounter, his 8.5 Sofascore rating was only bettered by Richarlison of those on the home side. Such a figure was buoyed by his relentless creativity, as he managed to post five key passes and create two big chances.

On another day, the former Juventus flyer could have earned a host of assists, with the steadfast visitors holding firm for so long. However, in the end, quality told.

Although Richarlison has struggled over the last 12 months, with just one league goal in the entire last campaign drawing ridicule, Kulusevski has instead been more self-critical. He noted after the conclusion of their miserable last term: "It’s been a long season, when you think of when we started, it feels like about three years ago

"You have to think about a lot of things. I’m happy, I’m grateful, I think I’ve learned a lot. Of course, I’ve been disappointed personally. After the World Cup, I didn’t think I played well enough. Also, the team hasn’t been good enough, especially in the last few months where we tried everything, but it just wasn't to be.”

Clearly boasting an impressive mindset to push himself to new heights after setbacks, this winning goal could prove to be the catalyst that reignites the career of two of Postecoglou's struggling attackers. There seems to be little that the 58-year-old tactician cannot do of late.

Arsenal's hopes of competing across multiple fronts were dealt with a hammer blow just days after their opening clash of the season against Nottingham Forest.

Summer signing Jurrien Timber had looked at home in a red and white shirt since making the move from Ajax but picked up an injury and had to be substituted in that clash, meaning Mikel Arteta and co may well have to enter the transfer market again before it closes for business on Friday evening.

What happened to Jurrien Timber?

The Dutchman went down in the first half of that 2-1 win over Forest two weeks ago. However, the club's medical department deemed him fit enough to walk out for the second period.

Sadly, the defender went down again shortly after the break. This time he was unable to continue.

A knee problem was the cause of his withdrawal and indeed, he now won't play again for a considerable period of time.

Arsenal confirmed Timber had suffered an ACL injury, meaning he had to go under the knife before starting a long rehabilitation period.

When will Jurrien Timber return from injury?

It is widely expected that the 22-year-old will miss a large chuck, if not all of the 2023/24 campaign through his injury.

It has been suggested that ACL injuries typically keep a sportsperson out for a period of seven to nine months depending on the severity of the issue.

That would mean that Timber could return at any point between April and May. It's likely given a lack of match fitness that May would be the earliest we see Timber back in action for Arsenal if his recovery goes according to plan.

Who could replace Jurrien Timber at Arsenal?

Reports have suggested that Arteta may well place his trust in young Reuell Walters. However, with the transfer window still open, Barcelona's Eric Garcia has been noted as one potential option by Football Transfers.

Garcia left the Arsenal boss' former employers, Manchester City, in 2021 to rejoin his boyhood club and has gone from strength to strength.

Aged 22, the same as Timber, there are many similarities between the two, meaning the Spaniard could well be the perfect replacement.

The 6-foot centre-back, who can also play as a holding midfielder or at right-back, boasts the same versatility that made the ex-Ajax defender such an attractive proposition.

Crucially, the "extraordinary" Garcia – as dubbed by Barca boss Xavi, also boasts the same technical ability, notably when it comes to his passing ability. Considering he learnt his trade in La Masia, that is hardly a surprise.

Indeed, according to FBRef, the young £23m-rated defender ranks inside the best 1% of centre-backs in Europe's top five leagues for progressive passes, the best 3% for progressive carries and the best 5% for pass completion rate.

Timber, on the other hand, also ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes and the best 3% for progressive carries. His pass completion rate, which sees him sit in the top 2% across the continent, is even better than Garcia.

The parallels are clear, then. These two budding young defenders love to play on the front foot and love to play their way out of trouble.

Arsenal lost a great deal when Timber was ruled out for such a long period of time but in Garcia, they would land a like-minded player who can help to relieve the burden put on William Saliba's shoulders. It may also help to move Thomas Partey from his role on the right-hand side of defence into midfield again. That can only be a plus point as far as the Gunners are concerned.

Liverpool's tumultuous transfer window has left the Merseyside club scrambling to secure a defensive midfielder, but a shrewd option might have been identified.

Who will Liverpool sign instead of Caicedo?

According to ESPN, PSV ace Ibrahim Sangare is attracting the attention of Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

The Premier League side sold Fabinho to Al-Ittihad for £40m and are yet to sign a replacement, missing out on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea, who are also hoping to swipe Southampton's Romeo Lavia from under Jurgen Klopp's nose.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Sangare has a release clause of £32m and could prove to be a worthy alternative for the Anfield side, bringing tenacity and a tough-tackling approach to fortify the ranks.

How good is Ibrahim Sangare?

Liverpool technical director Jorg Schamdtke is approaching desperation mode and will need to act swiftly to provide the club with the best chance of succeeding this season.

Liverpool drew 1-1 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend in the Premier League opener, and while there were positives to take from the affair the absence of a sturdy No. 6 was clear, with The Athletic's James Pearce saying, "the lack of both control and protection in front of the back line was glaring."

Whether the Reds succeed in their bid to sign Lavia remains to be seen, but Sangare could prove to be a first-rate alternative, having impressed in the Netherlands over the past several seasons, chalking up 136 appearances, scoring 14 goals and supplying ten assists.

Described as a "dangerous" player in the centre by analyst Aad de Mos, Sangare could quickly allow the Merseyside club to forget about Caicedo, who has been heralded as a "physical monster" by Dr. Rajpal Brar and admittedly looks to be a superlative machine in the middle, ranking among the top 5% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 14% for tackles and interceptions per 90, as per FBref.

Comparatively, the 31-cap Ivory Coast international ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across the eight leagues most comparable to the Eredivisie for goals, the top 18% for passes attempted, the top 9% for progressive passes, the top 13% for successful take-ons, the top 19% for clearances and the top 12% for clearances per 90.

While it's important to remember that Sangare plies his trade outside the top five European leagues and this, therefore, is reflected through his metrics, he clearly boasts an all-encompassing midfield skill set and has the passing ability and defensive work rate to provide Klopp's team with the component it has been missing. With such traits and attributes in mind, you could say he is Caicedo 2.0.

Pivotally, he would also be available for a portion of the price of Caicedo, who is expected to cost Chelsea £115m. In turn, this would allow Liverpool to focus on further targets and perhaps create a winning squad, spreading the need for reinforcements across several players.

Jacek Kulig hailed the 25-year-old as "one of Ligue 1's best midfielders" before he made the move to PSV, and while Sangare is not the highlight name of the Brighton ace, he could prove to be a most shrewd acquisition and bolster Liverpool's midfield with the toughness and tenacity to set them on their way this season.

Lanning’s absence from the ongoing Women’s Ashes meant she slipped from first to fourth place. Ellyse Perry and New Zealand’s Amy Satterthwaite occupy the second and third spots respectively

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Oct-2017

India’s ODI captain Mithali Raj superseded Meg Lanning to claim the top spot on the ICC rankings for batsmen in women’s ODIs. Lanning missed out on the ODI leg of the ongoing multi-format Women’s Ashes as part of her rehabilitation plan following her shoulder surgery and slipped from first to fourth position.After the conclusion of the World Cup, Raj trailed Lanning by 10 points and led Australia allrounder Ellyse Perry by 12. While India haven’t played international cricket since the final of the tournament on July 23, Lanning’s absence from the three-match ODI series, which is also Australia’s first ODI assignment in the second cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship, meant she dropped three places. Perry and New Zealand’s Amy Satterthwaite climbed one place each to claim the second and third spots respectively.England wicketkeeper-batsman Sarah Taylor, too, made the move up, climbing two places to the 10th rank on the back of the 129 runs she scored in the series.Among ODI bowlers, Australia medium-pacer Megan Schutt moved 13 places to a career-best fourth position courtesy the 10 wickets – including two four-wicket hauls – she bagged in the series. England seamer Anya Shrubsole, who was adjudged Player of the Match in the World Cup final in July, gained one slot to reach a career-best sixth position.Australia’s 2-1 victory over world champions England helped them regain the top ranking after England had climbed to No. 1 after the annual update earlier in October. New Zealand, who finished fifth in the World Cup, are set to play their first ODI series since the global event, starting October 31 against Pakistan in the UAE. They are currently ranked third with 118 points, leading India by two points.

Matty Cash has been a strong performer since joining Aston Villa back in 2020. But, Ryan Taylor of the Daily Express has told GIVEMESPORT as to why everything might not be as it seems with the fullback.

Is Matty Cash surplus to requirements?

On the surface, Matty Cash has been a consistent performer for Aston Villa. He arrived at Villa Park from Nottingham Forest and quickly made that right-back berth his own.

Unai Emery’s management has seemingly taken Villa to the next level though and this may leave Cash behind if reports are to be believed.

European football is now something which this team will have to contend with and with that comes an even more demanding schedule. Where Matty Cash is concerned, Ashley Young joining Everton means there are even more minutes available in his position which could be a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing in that he himself can step up even more whilst as a curse, it could see Villa dip into the transfer market once again.

Sporting director Monchi arrived from Spanish football, as of course did manager Emery so the pair tend to shop in a market which they are very familiar with.

This aligns with a report from Estadio Deportivo that suggests that Monchi could make matters worse for Sevilla and swoop in for Gonzalo Montiel.

What has Ryan Taylor got to say in his update?

“They’re looking at full-backs in general. Konsa has been playing at right-back a little bit. Cash doesn't seem to be 100% fancied by Emery. He's probably the first choice, but I don't think Emery is sold on him.

“At left-back, they’ve got Alex Moreno, who was excellent at points last year. And there is a chance Lucas Digne could leave for Saudi Arabia, so again, the full-back areas are where they're looking at.

“I don't know of any concrete ties from what I've seen. There are a few in Spain that they've been looking at. Monchi is now the sporting director, so I suspect those are targets backed by him.”

The Monchi effect

Monchi is a world-renowned sporting director and his arrival in Birmingham was a real coup.

Links to Montiel make perfect sense when you consider Monchi’s track record and he wouldn’t be the only arrival from La Liga in this window.

Europa League winning centre-back Pau Torres made the move to Villa Park from Villarreal and is set to strengthen that area in the defence alongside Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa and Diego Carlos, the latter who is also formerly of the Spanish top-flight.

Monchi is known for his contributions to the sport off of the field more so than his time with Sevilla on the field in the late 1990s. As previously mentioned, he played a huge part for that same club as a member of the hierarchy and he discovered a number of big names, including Jesus Navas, Sergio Ramos and the late Jose Antonio Reyes.

He also left a mark in Serie A with A.S. Roma before making his way to England with a return to Seville in between.

David Miller has certainly gone the extra mile to be available for Glamorgan’s T20 Blast quarter-final against Leicestershire…actually he’s gone the extra thousands of miles.Miller, the powerful left-hander, has made an overnight journey from South Africa back to the UK so he can line up against Leicestershire on Wednesday evening.On Tuesday he was playing for South Africa A in their second four-day match against India A in Potchefstroom which is about 90 minutes from Johannesburg. Straight after the match, he went to the airport and caught a flight back to London before being driven to Wales for the crucial T20 match.Miller played in four of Glamorgan’s group matches, scoring 117 runs at a strike-rate of 150.

Arsenal have enjoyed a strong start to their transfer business since the window opened, with Mikel Arteta managing to sign Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, while a move for Declan Rice is edging closer to completion.

The Spaniard won't be stopping there however, with the club aiming to sign Brazilian midfielder Bitello during the transfer window to bolster his midfield.

How much will Bitello cost Arsenal?

That’s according to 90min, who claim that Edu Gaspar has opened talks with the player in order to secure his services before the start of the Premier League season.

Representatives from the club were present in Brazil to watch Gremio’s match against Bahia on Wednesday and the Brazilian completed the full game.

The midfielder will only cost the Gunners a fee in the region of £8.5m, which could certainly become a shrewd investment and Edu will be hoping to make use of his contacts in his homeland to successfully bring him over to England.

Who is Bitello?

The 23-year-old has starred for Gremio for the previous few years, and although he tends to operate at the heart of the midfield, his versatility suggests he could offer plenty to Arteta, as he can also play as a right-winger or an attacking midfielder.

Arsenal have had their fair share of success in terms of signing Brazilian talent of late, with Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus enjoying much acclaim in recent years, and it was the move for the latter which significantly bolstered the squad.

Following 95 goals and 46 assists across 238 appearances for Manchester City, he had certainly proved his credentials in England, winning a host of honours under Pep Guardiola and luring him to the Emirates was seen as something of a coup considering his previous success.

A solid debut season in London saw Jesus register 11 goals and eight assists, made even more impressive considering he missed a large chunk of the season due to a knee injury suffered at the World Cup, yet his impact has been outstanding and given Arsenal belief they can still attract world-class players.

Could Bitello perhaps have a similar impact to that of the former City frontman? Despite not being as well known, the 23-year-old has impressed for Gremio in the Brazilian Serie A, scoring three times in 13 matches so far while taking 1.9 shots per game. By averaging two key passes per game, the midfielder has already expressed his creative juices to open up defences, while creating three big chances already and these traits could be useful for Arteta in his midfield.

To put into context, Jesus created six big chances and averaged 1.2 key passes per game for Arsenal across 26 league matches last term, and it suggests that Bitello wouldn’t look out of place in the starting XI.

Football writer Johannes Skiba lauded the player for being “flexible” due to his adaptability just last month and if Arteta wants to continue snapping up the best young talent, a move should be made this summer for the Brazilian wizard.

Having seen Jesus – who began his career with Palmeiras – manage to thrive in English football after leaving his homeland for City in 2017, perhaps Bitello can follow a similar path to that of his compatriot.

Manchester United have already bolstered their midfield presence with the signing of Mason Mount and now a fresh update has emerged on the club's pursuit of another target for the centre of the pitch.

Who are Man United looking to buy?

According to Football Transfers, Erik ten Hag has made Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat his main target for Man United's midfield rebuild this summer.

As per the report, the Red Devils are set to action a move for the Serie A star once they have completed deals for Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund, with the Man United boss keen on Amrabat to fit into a double pivot system next season and it is claimed that he could sign him for a fee of around just £20m.

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

There are many areas of the squad that Ten Hag is looking to add quality and depth into ahead of the new campaign starting next month and right now, it's safe to say that the priority is hugely focused on completing a deal for a goalkeeper.

David De Gea confirmed his departure from Old Trafford yesterday after being embroiled in back-and-forth negotiations with the club about a new contract, however, that ship has now sailed and snapping up the services of Onana is looking the most likely outcome.

In terms of outgoings, there is a lot of speculation surrounding the futures of Fred and Scott McTominay with the latter attracting interest from Roma and Brighton and Hove Albion according to reports this week.

As a result, the signing of Amrabat could be a great opportunity for the former Ajax manager to seal an upgrade on McTominay.

When comparing the Moroccan titan's output last season to McTominay last season, Amrabat comfortably outperformed his positional competitor in several key midfield attributes.

Indeed, he had a more successful pass completion (88.8% v 82.2%), posted more shot-creating actions per 90 (1.98 v 1.78), registered a higher number of successful take-ons (70.6% v 50%), progressive passes (176 v 33) and finally from a defensive midfielder, more all-important ball recoveries (157 v 78), despite playing only four more league games.

The 26-year-old – who was dubbed a "monster" by broadcaster Carlo Garganese – clearly demonstrates far more ability in winning back the ball and playing killer passes to the attacking third than the Man United dud, so it would make perfect sense for Amrabat to accompany Casemiro in the deep-lying roles of midfield next season.

In fact, according to WhoScored, no Man United midfielder had a better pass completion rate than the Fiorentina dynamo last season or delivered more long balls, whilst only Casemiro averaged more passes per 90, which is a testament to the quality that Amrabat can bring to Man United next season.

With that being said, if Man United can complete a deal for Amrabat it could significantly improve the midfield presence at Old Trafford next season and would add great quality in their pursuit of competing for more trophies and dominating English football once again.

Sri Lanka A 187 for 6 (Jayasuriya 83) beat England Lions 184 (Bell-Drummond 51, Jayasuriya 5-35) by four wickets
ScorecardShehan Jayasuriya starred with bat and ball in a comfortable Sri Lanka victory•AFP

Beneath the shadow of Elephant Rock, England Lions produced the sort of under-par display that even an elephant would want to forget in a hurry. There are some Lions on this tour, batsmen and bowlers alike, who will hope the selectors also have an uncharacteristic attack of amnesia about the events of the past week as Sri Lanka A have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.Sri Lanka’s tormenter with bat and ball was Shehan Jayasuriya, stocky and bearded, whose offspin in his home country has only ever been regarded as serviceable, but who took 5 for 35 as the Lions managed 184 in a sub-standard batting display. Jayasuriya completed a thoroughly satisfying day with a doughty, run-a-ball 83. His follow-up was needed, too, Sri Lanka A’s sense of superiority being somewhat tarnished when they lost six wickets in overhauling an untaxing target with 13 overs to spare.To his credit, Jayasuriya has won a smattering of full caps over the past two years and he does have a habit of tormenting touring teams: he also took five wickets against the Australians at the P Sara stadium in July. Steve O’Keefe took five wickets in the same match and has done all right for himself since.Jayasuriya also caught the attention when he moved last season from Colombo to the less fashionable outstation club, Chilaw Marians, a fishing town on Sri Lanka’s north-west coast – although they play their games closer to the capital, near the airport. Nevertheless, players normally move in the opposite direction but, if Jayasuriya helps to build the status of cricket outside the main centres, it will be a thoroughly good thing. It proved a successful move: Chilaw finished second in the league and Jayasuriya scored 853 runs at 47, but even at club level his impact as a bowler was limited.For the second match in a row, therefore, England Lions fell to a slow bowler regarded as serviceable but rarely seen as a matchwinner. In the second match in Dambulla, the skipper, Milinda Siriwardana, another spin bowler of limited reputation, took four.Now it was Jayasuriya’s turn to prosper – two wickets held at slip, two at leg slip and, to begin the procession, Keaton Jennings slicing to long off as he never quite locked on to a slower, wider delivery. Throughout the tour, whether over four days or one, the captain has got a start then got out.Only Ben Duckett, who set up the innings with some brief, low-slung pillaging before he was yorked by Asitha Fernando, making room to drive, and Daniel Bell-Drummond, who provided a reflective half-century while wickets fell around him, could draw some satisfaction from this Lions batting display.Bell-Drummond has received intense tuition about playing spin bowling from Graham Thorpe and Andy Flower in Dubai in the past two winters, and he knocked the ball around contentedly, but even he will have been frustrated by his edged drive to slip the over after he reached fifty.The rest was a sorry affair. Jayasuriya took wickets in successive balls when he removed Tom Alsop, who cut a ball too close to him after ignoring a chance to cut earlier in the over, and Liam Livingstone for a duck. Livingstone’s first-baller as he deflected to leg slip came after three exhausting innings in little more than a week so at least he could get out of the sun for a while. Jeffrey Vandersay made a legspinner bounce to have Joe Clarke caught at slip before Jayasuriya returned at the media end to defeat Ben Foakes on the sweep and remove Sam Curran, beaten in the flight, at first slip.The Lions were purposeful in the field and, when Sri Lanka lost their third wicket at 95, in the 22nd over, they were actually worse off at the same stage. But Jayasuriya’s range grew with every over, finishing with a fusillade of blows against Curran and Livingstone before falling to a lofted off-drive in the manner of a man who felt the match was as good as won.That confidence might have wobbled briefly when England’s spinners, Ollie Rayner and Livingstone, then took a wicket apiece, but a decent crowd in a ground starved of top-level cricket were able to celebrate the finish they wanted.On three occasions, twice in Dambulla and now in Kurunegala, the Lions have been thoroughly outplayed on low, slow turners. England’s capitulation in India when they fell 4-0 in the Test series and were also beaten in both one-day formats, deepened concern about their slow-bowling resources.There are no easy remedies. A lack of top-class county spinners, it seems, has also naturally led to a generation of batsmen unpracticed in the art of playing slow bowling. The toss regulations introduced last season, which gave the visiting side first option to bowl, should help by controlling the reliance on green seamers, but it is a constant challenge to raise standards.With three matches gone, hindsight suggests that it might have been wise for Tom Westley to remain with the squad after his success in the four-day matches. The departure of Tom Curran to join England’s senior squad in the Caribbean was also unfortunate for the Lions because he was the seam bowler most adept at the change-ups so beneficial on such surfaces.With the series won, Sri Lanka will take the chance to blood many others in Colombo. Danushka Gunathilaka has already joined the senior squad which faces Bangladesh in the first Test in Galle on Tuesday. They arrive with tales of a Lions side struggling to compete.One English-born spinner is having a happy close-season, however. Mason Crane, the Hampshire legspinner, might conceivably have been on this trip, but instead he is playing Sydney grade cricket on an ECB Overseas Placement and receiving tuition from the former Australian leggie Stuart MacGill. With three seven-fors for Gordon to his name, he has been called into the New South Wales squad to face South Australia at the SCG and could become the first overseas player to represent NSW since Imran Khan in 1984.

تحدث مدافع نابولي خوان جيسوس عن أزمة العنصرية تجاه اللاعبين في الملاع، في أعقاب الحادث الذي وقع مع لاعب إنتر ميلان فرانشيسكو أتشيربي.

والتقى نابولي وإنتر ميلان يوم الأحد في مباراة انتهت بالتعادل بهدف لمثله في الدوري الإيطالي، وشوهد خوان جيسوس وهو يتحدث إلى الحكم فيديريكو لا بينا في الدقائق الأخيرة من المباراة.

وأشار جيسوس إلى شارة ركلة العنصرية على قميصه موضحًا أن أتشيربي تفوه بلفظ عنصري ضده.

وقد فتح مكتب المدعي العام للاتحاد الإيطالي تحقيقًا، وسيتم استجواب كلا اللاعبين في الأيام المقبلة، وتم استبعاد أتشيربي من معسكر منتخب إيطاليا.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مدرب إيطاليا يتحدث عن أزمة استبعاد أتشيربي بسبب العنصرية

وقال جيسوس في تصريحات نشرها موقع “فوتبول إيطاليا”: “العنصرية للأسف هي الوضع الذي نشهده منذ فترة طويلة، هناك أشخاص يقولون إننا نتحسن، ولكن لسوء الحظ هناك بعض القوانين التي لا يتم احترامها”.

وأضاف: “إنه أمر محزن لأننا جميعًا متماثلون، أبيض وأسود وكل شيء آخر، أعتقد أن الله خلقنا ولدينا جميعًا نفس المهمة، وهي أن نعيش على هذه الأرض، لا توجد اختلافات”.

وأكد مداف نابولي: “للأسف، لا تزال هناك عنصرية في الملاعب، علينا أن ننمو كبشر، وأعتقد أن هناك الكثير من الناس الذين لا يدركون أن هذا شيء يمكن أن يضر، نحن بشر، لدينا قلوب وأرواح وعقول، وآمل أن يتم وضع قوانين أقوى لوقف ذلك”.

وأكمل: “لا يزال يتعين عليك أن تكون قويًا، أولئك الذين يرتكبون أعمال العنصرية لديهم عقول صغيرة، عليك أن تفكر في نفسك، أعلم أنني مثالي، كما خلقني الله، وأنا هنا من أجل حلمي في لعب كرة القدم”.

وأصر: “يجب أن تكون على دراية بنفسك، ويجب أن تقول ذلك دائمًا إذا تعرضت لعمل عنصري، لا يستطيع الناس أن يقولوا ما يريدون”.

وأتم: “أقول للشباب أن يكونوا أقوياء عقليًا، لسوء الحظ تحدث دائمًا أعمال عنصرية عليك أن تكون قويًا، وليس عليك الاستماع إلى أي شخص”.