The Thai under-23 men’s football team secured their first three points at the SEA Games on Monday, crushing Singapore 5-0 at the Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh, Vietnam.
Thailand scored their opening goal just before the break, when Phuket-born Ben Davis slotted home a penalty. Ironically, Davis played for Singapore as a youth international before switching his allegiance to Thailand and playing for English club Oxford United.
The War Elephants went two ahead soon after half-time, when Worachit Kanitsribampen found the net in the 47th minute. Ekanit Panya put the tie beyond Singapore with two more goals in the 51st and 67th minutes before Korawich Tasa sealed the crushing win with an 81st-minute strike.
The result took 16-time gold medallists Thailand to the top of Group B, equal with Malaysia and Cambodia on three points but with a better goal difference.
Winless Singapore are bottom of the group after two games.
Thailand lost 2-1 in their opener against Malaysia last Saturday.
Next up for the War Elephants is a clash with Cambodia on Saturday (May 14) at 7pm, with a place in the knockout round at stake.
Jack Grealish insists there can be no let-up from City in our final three matches if we are to secure back-to-back Premier League titles.
Pep Guardiola’s men currently hold a three-point advantage at the top of the table after a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Newcastle, combined with Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Tottenham.
But with tough away trips to Wolves and West Ham in the space of four days before a final day clash with Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium, Grealish has called for City to maintain our current levels of performance to help see us over the line.
“Liverpool is a great team and I don’t think they will be slipping up again if I am honest,” he admitted.
“We have to stay on the ball and go and pick up maximum points.
“For me, the Premier League is the best league in the world. Anything can happen in these remaining games, so we have to stay strong and keep our foot on the pedal.
“We cannot take our foot off it, and they are going to be three very tough games and we have to get maximum points if we want to lift the title.”
Grealish was instrumental in City’s 5-0 victory over Newcastle United, playing the entire 90 minutes as we put the Magpies to the sword in clinical fashion.
The England international says he’s loving life at the Club having joined Guardiola’s men from Aston Villa last summer, and hopes he can cap off his debut campaign at the Etihad with silverware.
He said: “I am loving it (at Manchester City). This is what I have come here for, to play in these big games and that is what I want to do.
“I want to win medals, win titles, so I am really enjoying it.
“I have got the lads, the staff and the manager to thank for that for making me feel so welcome. Hopefully we can all win something.”
Borussia Dortmund top striker Erling Haaland is close to sealing a transfer deal with Manchester City and a move to the lucrative Premier League, several German media reported on Monday (May 9).
Haaland is among the hottest transfer prospects this summer with the Norwegian 21-year-old having scored 61 goals in 66 league games for the Ruhr valley club since joining them in early 2020.
Several top clubs including Real Madrid, Paris St Germain and City, among others, have been linked with the player at times.
Sky Germany, which holds the rights to the Bundesliga, reported on Monday the player had informed the club of his wish to leave and that Manchester City had contacted the club over the player’s release clause.
Several other media, including Bild newspaper and Kicker magazine, citing unnamed sources, also said a deal could be finalised in the coming days.
The club did not comment on the matter on Monday.
Dortmund are interested in Salzburg forward Karim Adeyemi as a possible Haaland replacement.
Dortmund sports director Sebastian Kehl had said on Sunday (May 8) that the club wanted to have clarity on the matter of Haaland this week.
Jürgen Klopp is adopting a wholly positive mindset as Liverpool travel to Aston Villa with the aim of keeping up a push for the Premier League title.
After the Reds drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Saturday night, Manchester City moved three points clear at the summit by beating Newcastle United.
Both sides have three league fixtures remaining in 2021-22, with Klopp’s men’s next assignment an away clash with Steven Gerrard’s Villa tomorrow evening.
Read a summary of the manager’s press conference ahead of the contest below
On whether he still believes the title race is not over
It is clear that it is not over, whatever happened, because we both have three games to play. And my concern is actually: how can we win our games? We have absolutely no hand in how City will play their games. But before they are played I think we should not add on points; we don’t do that and I’m pretty sure City are not doing that. [Until] it’s not reachable anymore, why should we stop believing? That’s what we do.
On Gerrard being his ‘possible successor’ as Liverpool manager
I have no idea. But my ‘possible’ successor, yes, of course it’s possible that Stevie will be manager here one day.
On if he sees that happening in reality
I have no idea, that’s not my decision to make. It is about other parties and Stevie as well. But, yes, I think it’s possible, that’s it.
On how the players are now feeling after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham
Better. It’s very easy to describe our situation. There are obviously different perspectives. You can take it exactly like it was and say we drew, they won, makes it three points [behind City] and the goal difference changed obviously as well. Or, you can see it like this, we were six points behind and they lost and we won – and the rest is exactly the same. And we would be flying, we couldn’t wait until we could play Aston Villa and try to bring the next three. As human beings, it’s really cool, we can decide by ourselves how we see it. There are some facts but we are allowed to ignore them and then I try to help the boys see it like me and invite everybody else as well. Let’s just assume we won the last game and they lost and now we go to Aston Villa. That doesn’t make the Aston Villa game a little bit easier, not at all, it just gives you a nicer perspective and that’s what I think is important as well.
On how helpful it is to have another match so soon after the Spurs draw
If we played on Wednesday it would be great, but no, all fine. It’s like it is and no problem anymore. If we would not be used to it now then something would be really wrong, but for different reasons it would be great. Having a game again is cool but if we would play on Saturday nothing would change. It’s not that we have to overcome something. By the way, in the press conference [on Saturday], ‘Don’t behave like it’s a funeral’, I didn’t mean my players, I meant the press room because it was like, ‘Can we really talk to him? Can we ask this question, can we ask that question?’ That’s a normal result, it was always possible and especially against Tottenham. It was not really far away.
I really prefer to draw in a game like this because we still have games to play and playing a pretty good game against an incredibly well-organised team – we were not perfect but I don’t think it’s possible to be perfect against these kind of teams in the time of the season we are now. I really liked the game. If we would have won 1-0, great, but played really bad, lucky, stuff like this, everybody would be happy – one point behind City and stuff like this. But I have no idea what I can tell the boys because then you have to change everything for the next game. We have to keep going. It doesn’t make it more likely but it is better to work with, to be 100 per cent honest. The perfect situation is we would be nine points plus 20 goals on the other side [ahead of City] but that’s really not possible, so it is like it is, let’s go from here.
On the importance of getting a positive result ahead of the Emirates FA Cup final
Whatever happens tomorrow night, if we win it would be helpful mood-wise, if not we have four days to create a mood until the cup final. It’s a cup final, it’s a one-off now. In an ideal world you win all the games and you are always in a great mood. A lot of times we have to respond on setbacks and that’s what we have to do. Not thinking about a setback now but, yes, in our situation, the only chance to win things is to win all our football games. That’s a tough task with the schedule but we still give it a try, by taking it one by one and not now thinking already about the cup final.
Muay Thai is a step closer to making its debut at the Olympic Games after gaining the support of Saudi Arabia’s powerful Olympic Committee on Monday.
Thailand’s push to have its national sport included at the 2024 Paris Olympics was boosted by Prince Fahad Bin Jalawi, who presided over the opening of the National Sports Development Fund office in Bangkok.
Supranee Couptasa, manager of the Sports Development Fund, said Prince Fahd vowed to promote Muay Thai on the international stage over the next two years to enhance chances of an Olympic debut.
The Saudi royal’s visit had helped strengthen the relationship between Thailand and Saudi Arabia’s sports authorities, she said.
Prince Fahd has a personal passion for Thailand’s national sport and aims to boost its popularity in Saudi Arabia, she added.
“Prince Fahd also wants to promote Muay Thai, as well as its ceremonies and techniques, via international competitions – including the Olympic Games,” Supranee said.
The National Sports Development Fund was established in 2015 with a mission to develop athletes, coaches and associations and support national and international sports activities.
The fund grants cash prizes and scholarships and also provides welfare assistance for athletes and other sports personnel.
Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick has reflected on our 4-0 defeat against Brighton in the Premier League and admitted the fans deserve an apology.
The Reds fell behind early on as Moses Caicedo struck from the edge of the area, as goals from Marc Cucurella, Pascal Gross and Leandro Trossard soon followed in the second half.
We remain in sixth position in the table, with our final domestic outing coming in just over two weeks time, as we travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace.
The German offering his thoughts on the defeat and here’s a selection of what the 63-year-old had to say on manutd.com
APOLOGIES TO THE FANS
“Yes it was [a poor performance]. From the first to the last minute this was not enough and in all-important areas we were second best. To start with we can only apologise to our supporters, it was a terrible performance and a humiliating defeat. It was a completely different game and today from the first minute we allowed them too much time, too much space and we were never able to be in a position to stop them playing through our lines. The game plan was completely different, we told the players to be as compact as we could possibly be but we couldn’t stop them.”
SEAGULLS CAUSED BIG PROBLEMS
“We had big problems with their width through their wing-backs, we couldn’t stop their wing-backs as they were always pretty high and wide. For us it was whenever they played the diagonal ball we struggled with those balls although we told our full-backs that they should get out earlier. It was very, very difficult to stop them in the first half at all and in the second half we took the risk to bring Edi [Cavani] on as a second striker and Fred and went to a 4-4-2. In hindsight it was maybe a little bit of a risk to play a 4-4-2 against them, but we had to try and change the energy. Today we were second best in all relevant areas.”
CHANGES REQUIRED
“Had we continued to play how we did in the first half it was always going to be a question of when we were going to concede that second goal. That’s why I decided to go with more of a risk and play the 4-4-2 with Edi and Fred as a second six, but the two early goals at 3 and 4-0 after 60/65 minutes was a disaster for us. We didn’t defend at all, we didn’t stop them and if you allow a team like Brighton or any other team who are good on the ball like we saw the first time we played them, we were struggling. But if you allow them that much space and time and after being 3 and 4-0 up it was easy for them to play that game.”
ENERGY LEVELS
“We have to split it up into two different halves or areas. Until the West Ham game, or even until the Tottenham game we had very in-between and solid performances. When we beat Tottenham and West Ham at home and won at Leeds it was a completely different level of energy. Games like today or at Everton there was a clear lack of energy and aggressiveness. If you play like that, you cannot expect to win a game.”
SUMMER RECRUITMENT PLANS
“Please accept that I don’t want to speak about that right now. After a performance like today, it doesn’t make sense to speak about recruitment now. We should still be good enough with the team that we had available today in the first and in the second half to play better than we did. Again, full responsibility on my side for the performance. But again, it’s difficult – it’s really difficult to understand why we played like we did against Brentford on Monday and like we played today.
Jürgen Klopp acknowledged Saturday evening’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur left he and his players disappointed, but felt the point could still yet prove ‘important’ in the Premier League title race.
The Reds had to settle for a tie at Anfield, but the result did move them to the top of the Premier League on goal difference, with Manchester City not in action until Sunday afternoon at home to Newcastle United.
Heung-Min Son gave the visitors the lead with 56 minutes on the clock, before a deflected Luis Diaz strike in front of the Kop drew the hosts level, but they were unable to summon a winner.
On the result and Liverpool’s performance
The expected game. It was always clear Tottenham would show up like they showed up. With all the individual quality they have and with the game plan they have, it was clear it would be incredibly difficult. It didn’t get easier when we conceded the goal. I was really happy with a lot of things in the game, to be honest. First half, the first 25 minutes, wow, crazy start, really, really good, put them under pressure, direction in our game, the passing in the game, the speed of the passes, it was really good but we didn’t score. Then it was always clear, you make one mistake and they are there. This next 20 minutes, around about, we said at half-time we could have shown more initiative in moments, just a little dribbling here, getting closer to their formation to keep them busy. We passed a little bit too early and these kind of things. All fine, but we could have caused more problems.
I thought we did that in the second half; we started immediately again [with] high energy and then we conceded the goal. Everything can happen in a situation like this. After the weeks we had, I’m not sure how many games more we had than Tottenham, but there were a few and then a moment like this really anything can happen. But nothing happened. The stadium was there, boys kept their calm, increased the pressure without opening up too much. We scored the goal and then all these little moments, you might not remember them but [a] diagonal ball, Thiago to Hendo, in behind the last line. Hendo square ball, great, but we don’t anticipate it right, so we don’t have anybody.
This is the moment where when we are there, it is exactly the same game but you can have at least a shot or Lloris has to make a save. [A] diagonal ball, Kostas, mishit the header, heads it back where we were. Then the biggest one probably because of the quality of Thiago, when he has his little shuffle and chips the ball to the second-post area, where Trent is completely open, and in the end misses him by two yards. That’s an inch on the football boot of a world-class player. These moments, they hurt them, but they were flying with everything they have, they blocked the ball, they do everything, they were here for a result.
I know you all think the game plan of Tottenham worked perfectly, that’s what we have to accept. We have a different game plan, obviously. Even when we play at Tottenham we have a different game plan. That’s how it is and that’s why it’s really difficult to play them. For them, when they face a team with more possession than them then it works out pretty well, but they don’t have these opponents all the time.
On how he views the result and whether it is an ‘important point’
It is an important point because we have one point more than before the game, so that’s how it is. But we all know the situation. We are now top of the table. If you ask me, my favourite situation, it just stays like this with the same points tally, and City and us, we lose all the rest of the games in the Premier League and it stays like this. That would be great, but we all know it will not happen. So in this moment, we are disappointed. The boys are more disappointed than I am – it might be because of my age, because I saw pretty much everything already in my life.
But we will go again. There were so many good things tonight in a situation like that. The counter-press we played today, you can record it and sell this stuff, it’s unbelievable. Honestly, it’s unbelievable. I am so proud of that but, in the end, how I said, in the little moments, a little bit better decision-making… it’s easy for me to say because I don’t run and I didn’t run four days ago, but we all know the boys are able to do that and then we could have won. But, of course, we know we could’ve lost as well because they are obviously insane in their counter-attacking. That’s what they want to do. I saw a lot of the things we want to do but not the result we wished for.
A focused Manchester City will channel the pain of their Champions League semi-final defeat by Real Madrid into Sunday’s home game against Newcastle United, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday (May 6).
The Spaniard told reporters he had not spoken to his players since Real’s astonishing comeback in Wednesday’s second leg in Madrid and nothing he said would be any consolation.
Premier League leaders City were two goals up on aggregate but Real scored in the 90th minute and equalised a minute later before winning in extra time through a Karim Benzema penalty to set up a final against Liverpool in Paris.
“No words can help (for) what all of us feel,” said Guardiola. “It is just a question of time, try to sleep as best as possible and think of the new target.”
Guardiola said the league focus remained the same and he would talk to the players on Saturday about who they were as a team, what they had achieved and how well they had played all season.
He said, however, that he did not know whether the current group of players could win the Champions League or whether he was the manager to do it.
“Maybe I’m not good enough to help the team to do it. Nobody knows what would have happened with other players or managers. For us, it is an honour to be there as much as possible in all competitions,” he added.
City are a point clear of Liverpool at the top of the table but could be behind by the time they kick off, with the Reds hosting Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
“They (the players) don’t have to forget it (the Real defeat). How are they going to forget it?,” said Guardiola.
“We are going to play against Newcastle thinking about that, for sure. I know the players in the training sessions, meetings, warm-ups how committed they are going to be, I don’t have any doubt on that.”
Tottenham Hotspur’s well-drilled attack will present Liverpool’s defence with their biggest challenge for a long time when they face off in the Premier League over the weekend, the Merseyside club’s manager Juergen Klopp said on Friday (May 6).
Klopp said he expects Antonio Conte’s Spurs to sit back as they have some of the “best counter-attacking players in the world”, especially when they play away from home.
Champions League finalists Liverpool trail league leaders Manchester City by a point with four games left.
When asked if Pep Guardiola’s side would be more determined than ever to not let the league title slip having been knocked out of Europe by Real Madrid, Klopp said: “Yes, it was a massive blow… really harsh.
“Nights like this are not cool, next morning is not enjoyable, but now they will be ready for Newcastle (United) on Sunday.”
Real Madrid beat Liverpool in the 2018 final, and Klopp said he had wanted to face the Spanish side again the following season to get over that defeat.
In the end, they won the competition in 2019 by beating Spurs in the final.
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte knows his team face a stiff challenge at Anfield on Sunday.
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte knows his team face a stiff challenge at Anfield on Sunday.
“For sure we know, we know that in this moment it’s very difficult to play against Liverpool because they are in really good form,” the Italian said
“We need to play a good game and to be brave when we have the ball. Don’t be scared for all the pressure and to find the solution because I think that we improved a lot and we can go there and to play and try to get three points.”
Spurs are currently fifth in the Premier League, two points behind Arsenal in the final Champions League place
“We are in the race for a place in the Champions League and we have to try to find the point…. to get points in every game. Also in this game, you have to play against one of the best teams in the world away. But, we are preparing very well this game like usual,” said Conte.
A consortium led by LA Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly and backed by Clearlake Capital has won the bid to acquire Premier League club Chelsea in a deal worth up to 4.0 billion pounds, Britain’s Telegraph newspaper reported on Friday (May 6).
The proposal has now been sent to the government and Premier League for approval.
With just over three weeks remaining on the club’s current operating licence, which expires on May 31, Boehly is on course to complete his takeover by the end of this month, The Telegraph said.
Russian owner Roman Abramovich, now subject to sanctions by the British government, put the London club up for sale in early March following his country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich cleared the path for the takeover on Thursday after he dismissed reports that he wanted a loan given to the club, reportedly worth 1.5 billion pounds ($1.85 billion), to be repaid.
Todd Boehly, Chairman and CEO, Eldridge Industries, speaks at the 2019 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., April 30, 2019. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
The Boehly group, which also includes Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and British property investor Jonathan Goldstein, were in exclusive negotiations to buy the club after a late bid from British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe was rejected.
Groups led by Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca and former British Airways chairman Martin Broughton were earlier eliminated from the bidding process while a consortium led by Chicago Cubs owners the Ricketts family pulled out of the running.
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte knows his team face a stiff challenge at Anfield on Sunday.
Todd Boehly, Chairman and CEO, Eldridge Industries, speaks at the 2019 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., April 30, 2019. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
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