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Scottish Sun
17 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Sporting Lisbon 0 Celtic 2 – Hatate & McCowan strike as Hoops end trip with impressive win over Portuguese champions
THEY say what goes on tour stays on tour. But Brendan Rodgers wants his Celtic squad to take something home with them from their training trip to Portugal. 5 Reo Hatate opened the scoring in the Algarve Credit: Getty 5 Luke McCowan's strike made it 2-0 Credit: Getty 5 It was a good result for Brendan Rodgers' side Credit: Getty 5 It wasn't a good night at the office for Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon Credit: Getty That's a togetherness and camaraderie they've forged, to set them up for the season. Rodgers last night watched his side get a good 2-0 win over Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon in Faro. What pleased him more than anything from the week away, though, was the team spirit forged OFF the park. Reo Hatate's second-half penalty and Luke McCowan's cool finish only enhanced the feel-good factor around the group as they gear up for the new campaign. Rodgers said: 'It's been an excellent trip for us. 'It seems like a long time ago since we were in Cork, but coming out to here, it's been a pleasure to get a lot of good work in. 'What's very important is the camaraderie and the spirit that you create when you're away on pre-season tours. 'This has been everything that we've wanted, and we want to finished off with another really good game. 'It's always about timing. You're pushing the players to their very maximum. 'Physically the guys are improving. Incoming Celtic signing Shin Yamada wipes away tears as he bids emotional farewell to Kawasaki Frontale in Japan 'I think we still have a way to go, but there's absolutely no doubt before that physical and mental sharpness is there within our game. 'These early moments of pre-season, they're all about the tests, physically and mentally and the guys are coping really well.' Celtic played some really good stuff against the Portuguese champions. There was just something missing in the final third in the first-half. Adam Idah may see himself as a No9 capable of scoring 30-plus goals for Rodgers in the season ahead. But his first-half finishing didn't back that up. The Irishman should have scored inside five minutes from a Daizen Maada cut-back, but he couldn't sort his feet out. Then in 25 minutes Kieran Tierney picked out the striker inside the six-yard box with a sensational cross. But again Idah failed to make the right connection. Rodgers was standing out on the touchline as both chances came and went. And each time he turned around to his coaches on the bench in frustration. Idah has so many qualities with his stats last season decent. He hit 20 goals. And it's not like this was a big Champions League play-off. But one of those is just around the corner and you can't help think that Celtic will have signed a new goalscorer by then. It was maybe always the plan to take Idah off at half-time and replace him with youngster Johnny Kenny. But he'll be gutted he didn't make the most of his night. Kenny made an immediate impact as he continues to impress. He was the man tripped inside the box at the incident which saw Celts score from the penalty spot in 47 minutes. It was Kenny's first involvement with Hatate beating keeper Matheus Reis with a blasted spot-kick. Idah wasn't the only one who could have done better in front of goal before the break. Daizen Maeda was one-on-one with the goalkeeper after Callum McGregor played the through-ball of the night. Benjamin Nygren also passed up a decent opportunity to hit the net. The midfielder had a really good game, though. His touch and awareness was impressive, with the Swede showing a good turn of pace took him from middle to front in the blink of an eye. Sporting will feel unfortunate they didn't score past either Kasper Schmeichel in the first-half or Viljami Sinisalo in the second. Skipper Morten Hjulmand came closest with a drilled shot which smashed off the post after 57 minutes. That was around a spell in the game when Sporting looked like they'd get the next goal. But Celts were soon 2-0 in front. Kid Kenny led a brilliant break and fed a neat pass to McCowan bust a gut to get forward, calmly stepped inside before slotting home. 5 Overall, Rodgers was delighted with the effort he got from his squad throughout their Portuguese camp. He added: 'The facilities were excellent. 'We've shown the players that we want to bring them to top-quality facilities and that has been really good. 'The game against Estrela the other day, of course we want to win every single game that we play but getting the players the minutes in their legs and getting young players game-time was important. 'Then there was the connection with the visit to Estádio Nacional on Monday. 'That was a really poignant moment, I felt, for us to take the players to the place where real history was created. 'It's a symbol for the guys of what they have to live up to and what they have to work towards every single day. 'So I'm really pleased with the on-field application. 'And off the field, the bonding socially has been really good and people are connecting well.' Celtic take on Newcastle United in a glamour friendly clash at Parkhead on Saturday. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Mirror
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Jose Mourinho falls out with Jhon Duran on FIRST DAY as ex-Aston Villa star warned of 'consequences'
Jhon Duran has only been at Fenerbahce for two weeks following his arrival on loan from Al-Nassr but is already in Jose Mourinho's bad books after being called "disrespectful" over his no-show at training Former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran has fallen out with Jose Mourinho already, just weeks after signing for Fenerbahce, after failing to turn up for the start of pre-season training. Duran has linked up with Mourinho's men on loan from Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr after deciding to cut short his time in the Middle East. The 21-year-old was only with Al-Nassr for six months after netting 12 goals in 18 appearances before it emerged he was set to leave Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. His switch to Fenerbache on loan came as a surprise but he jumped at the chance to work with two-time Champions League winner Mourinho, who is about to begin a second campaign in charge of the Super Lig side. But it seems he has not made a good impression with the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss, who said the striker showed a lack of respect with absence and warned he would be punished. "It's disrespectful," Mourinho said. "There are clear rules here, and anyone who doesn't follow them will face consequences. We'll talk to him when he shows up, if he does." Turkish reports have claimed Duran will report for training in the coming days as Fenerbahce gear up for the start of pre-season. They play their first game of the summer on Thursday when they take on Portuguese outfit Portimonense. It looks unlikely Duran will feature in the game and he will have to work quickly to get on the right side of the legendary manager. Mourinho has shown in the past he has no trouble falling out with players if they rub him up the wrong way. He previously clashed with Paul Pogba over a training ground dispute at Manchester United and famously bickered with Karim Benzema at Real Madrid, criticising his work rate and effort. He was similarly critical of Eden Hazard at times during his second stint at Chelsea and was left unimpressed with his refusal to track back.
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Alexander Isak's stance on Liverpool transfer revealed as Reds consider bid
Alexander Isak's stance towards a Liverpool move has been revealed as the Reds consider a £120million bid for the Newcastle striker. Arne Slot's side have already launched an impressive summer recruitment drive, with Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz all arriving before pre-season. But the Reds are keen to build further on the side that coasted to the Premier League title last season, and have earmarked a striker as a position to strengthen. Isak is a player whom Liverpool have long admired and reports suggest the Merseyside club have now approached Newcastle to sound of the possibility of a deal this summer. Liverpool are said to be willing to pay as much as £120m for the Swede, although at this stage it appears that Newcastle are unwilling to entertain the possibility of selling their star striker this summer. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Isak, who scored 23 league goals last season, has reportedly not pushed for a move as he prepares for another season back in the Champions League with Newcastle. However, transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano suggests that the 25-year-old would be open to a move to Anfield this summer if a bid came in for his services. 'From what I'm hearing, Alexander Isak is very calm,' Romano said in a video on his YouTube channel. 'He knows very well that Newcastle want to keep him and he knows that Newcastle want to offer him a really important contract. 'At the same time, he knows that Liverpool would offer not just important money but an ambitious project, too. 'So Alexander Isak is not closing doors to this possibility and Liverpool were never going to make club-to-club contact without a feeling that the player would be open to the idea of a move.' More Trending Should Liverpool be unsuccessful in their pursuit of Isak, the club will consider a move for Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike. Ekitike has an £86m release clause in his contract and has already been the subject of heavy interest from Newcastle, who want the Frenchman to play alongside Isak at St James' Park. A bid of £65m from Newcastle has already been rejected by the Bundesliga side, but further talks between both clubs have reportedly been held. Liverpool, meanwhile, have made contact with Frankfurt but are yet to submit an offer for the 23-year-old. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Liverpool set to recruit 'highly-rated' Man Utd coach as new under-18s manager MORE: 'I don't see it working' – Man Utd urged to reconsider move for £32m Chelsea star MORE: Stuart Pearce tells Man Utd and Arsenal to sign 'magnificent' 20-goal forward
