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Metro
15 minutes ago
- Metro
Adams says Arsenal should have signed Premier League striker over Gyokeres
Arsenal legend Tony Adams says the jury is still out on Viktor Gyokeres and he 'would have liked' to have seen the club sign Ollie Watkins instead this summer. The Gunners came under fire for failing to bring in an out-and-out centre-forward as the club went a fifth season on the bounce without winning a major trophy under Mikel Arteta last term. While Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino both occupied the false nine role with varying degrees of success, Arteta made it clear that Arsenal would be on the hunt for a genuine frontman heading into this summer's transfer window. Several high-profile strikers had been linked with Arsenal, including Liam Delap, Victor Osimhen and Benjamin Sesko, before the north Londoners honed in on an agreement for Sporting sensation Gyokeres. Watkins also remained a player of interest at the Emirates after Arsenal missed out on deal for the attacker in January, but Aston Villa have been insistent throughout their talks that the England international is not for sale. Metro's new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal. Gyokeres took Portuguese football by storm with his extraordinary goalscoring exploits over the last two seasons, in which he netted 97 times in 102 appearances for the Primeira Liga champions. But there remain questions as to whether Gyokeres' form will translate well to challenges of the Premier League given the Swede is yet to test himself against the very best on a consistent basis. These concerns – and others – are shared by ex-Arsenal captain Tony Adams, who revealed during an Indo Sport season preview why he wasn't completely confident about the state of play at his former club ahead of the new campaign. Asked if he was a fan of Arteta, a hesitant Adams replied: 'Ahhhh… [audience laughs]… What?! Was there too much of a long pause there? 'I think he's got a really big call to make this year and, for me, he hasn't done it and the call is to make Declan Rice captain. 'Declan is my kind of captain and it might free up [Martin] Odegaard up to play with a bit more freedom because he had a very average season last year. 'The Portuguese lad [Gyokeres]… I don't know yet. He's not tried and tested. 'I would have liked to have seen them get Ollie Watkins to be honest with you. He's a Gooner, he might have given us a year and we might have won the title. 'But I think sometimes when you've got the main man and the captain of the club… Terry Venables did it, he took it off David Platt and he put me as captain and Glenn Hoddle took me out and put Alan Shearer, which was a silly decision! 'But every now and again, as a manager, you have to put someone that reflects you, reflects the football club, someone who thinks can actually take you to the next level.' Adams believes Arteta would have taken the armband off Odegaard and handed it to 'proper captain' Rice if he was a 'big manager' capable of making difficult decisions. 'I think he's better than Arteta, I think he's a winner,' the two-time Premier League winner said of Rice. 'I think Rice is an Arsenal leader, I think he is. He's good in the dressing room, around the training camp. 'He's got standards, he's got principles and I can see the man and he's a proper player, a proper captain. 'I would have done it, but Arteta hasn't done it so I'm being critical of Arteta at the moment. Big managers go, 'Right actually, you're my man now!'' Adams is adamant that Arsenal's long wait for a Premier League title will continue as long as Odegaard remains skipper. 'It's been five years now [since Arsenal won a major trophy],' the ex-England centre-back went on. 'He got great success at the start with a very defensive team. We didn't have the forwards so we defended in numbers. 'They didn't defend well but they defended as a unit. He got everyone behind the ball basically and we nicked the FA Cup. 'Going on and winning leagues and to win league titles, you have to be a [Jurgen] Klopp, you have to be a [Sir Alex] Ferguson, you have to lead by example and you have to be a winner, you have to go about your business and that reflects in your captain. 'Making Odegaard your captain is a reflection of Arteta and I can really see that. 'I'm saying to Arteta, 'Come on, step up now! It's your time to be a winning manager and a fantastic manager!', because you're not going to win the league with Odegaard as captain.' Arsenal kick off their new campaign with an eagerly anticipated trip to Ruben Amorim's new-look Manchester United on Sunday afternoon. Gyokeres opened his account for the Gunners in the side's pre-season win over Athletic Bilbao, putting forward his case to be selected in Arteta's starting XI. But it remains to be seen if Arteta will be prepared to throw the Sweden international straight in at the deep end at Old Trafford, with Havertz still an option up front. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Gary Neville claims Ruben Amorim is not 'fully on board' with one Man Utd star MORE: Arne Slot names two teams more 'intense' than Arsenal in Premier League MORE: Ian Wright sets 'low' goal target for Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres this season
Metro
7 hours ago
- Metro
Luis Enrique makes honest admission about Tottenham after PSG win UEFA Super Cup
Luis Enrique admitted Tottenham 'deserved' to lift the UEFA Super Cup after his Paris Saint-Germain side fought back from two goals down to win on penalties. Spurs had appeared on course for a shock victory in Thomas Frank's first competitive match in charge as Micky van de Ven and newly appointed captain Cristian Romero netted either side of half time to stun the Champions League holders. But PSG enjoyed the lion's share of possession throughout the contest and the pressure eventually told, with Lee Kang-in arrowing an emphatic strike beyond Guglielmo Vicario in the 85th minute at Udinese's Stadio Friuli. The north Londoners were clinging on as the final whistle beckoned and Goncalo Ramos headed home Ousmane Dembele's pinpoint cross from the right flank to level in the fourth minute of stoppage time Vitinha missed PSG's opening effort as the match went straight to penalties, but an inspired Lucas Chevalier denied Van de Ven before Mathys Tel fired wide to put the Parisians on the cusp of a fifth trophy for 2025. In The Mixer: Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every week – sign up, it's an open goal. It fell to Nuno Mendes to hold his nerve and the Portugal full-back did just that, making no mistake with the decisive spot-kick to send PSG's travelling support into raptures. The triumph capped off a historic few months for the French giants, who became European champions in May to add to their Ligue 1, French Cup and the Trophee des Champions crowns. Speaking shortly after the clash, a somewhat relieved Enrique asked TNT Sports' Jules Breach: 'Do you think we deserved that? For 80 minutes we didn't deserve that. 'I think Tottenham deserved winning the match because we can feel that they were in form, we can feel that they have been training for six weeks. 'They played a great match and we have been training only for six days, but sometimes football is unfair. 'And I have to say that we were very unlucky. In the last ten minutes, we could have scored two goals. 'I have to say that my players had faith until the last minute, like our supporters. 'Football is unpredictable and in that sense, I have to say that we were very lucky.' Enrique believes his players were likely feeling the effects of such a quick turnaround on the back of a gruelling campaign, with their Club World Cup final defeat to Chelsea falling just a month earlier. 'Absolutely, from the first minute when the players touched the ball, when the players played without having the time to think about where you have to pass,' the Spaniard explained. 'Yeah, a lot of unprecise passes and it's difficult to play the way we want to play if you don't train, if you haven't got the time to train. 'I have to say that it was like a miracle.' Enrique singled out new signing Lucas Chevalier for special praise, applauding the former Lille goalkeeper's 'personality' both on and off the pitch. 'He's a big personality which is so important to have if you want to stay at a club like PSG, a lot of pressure around us,' he added. 'But I'm very happy for him because he shows that personality and also for the players who come from the bench because they are so important. 'All of them want to play in the starting line-up, but they did great to draw that match and win a penalty shootout.' MORE: Glenn Hoddle names 'team to beat' in Champions League and snubs PSG MORE: Gianluigi Donnarumma makes decision over Manchester United transfer after Man City approach MORE: Eberechi Eze makes decision over Arsenal transfer after Tottenham begin talks
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Ange Postecoglou's huge Spurs payout, Europa League bonus and what he's doing now after axe
Ahead of the UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday evening, former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has been spotted in public Ange Postecoglou has hardly been seen in public since his sacking by Tottenham Hotspur after last season came to an end. Just weeks after winning Spurs their first major trophy in 17 years as the north Londoners beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final, the manager was dismissed. Prior to the European glory in May, Postecoglou's men endured a miserable Premier League campaign which was fraught with issues throughout as Spurs finished way down in 17th place, just one spot above the relegation zone. A positive start to his reign in 2023 saw the 59-year-old collect multiple Manager of the Month awards, while Tottenham went on an unbeaten run in the Premier League all the way through to November. However, injury issues began to plague Spurs and they narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Champions League under Postecoglou, finishing fifth in the 2023/24 campaign. Things went from bad to worse in the manager's second year, where the club won just 11 games across the entire season. A great run to the Europa League final was the only shining light for the fans. Despite winning the trophy – which was the first European triumph since 1984 and Spurs' first taste of siverware since 2008 – Postecoglou was handed his marching orders in June. Things aren't all bad, it seems, for Postecoglou; he banked over £7million after chairman Daniel Levy decided his time at Spurs was up, and in recent days he was pictured out in public, eating a fancy steak with a celebrity chef. As his former team take on Paris Saint-Germain in Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup final, Mirror Football has tracked down what Postecoglou has been up to since his spell with Spurs ended, along with where he could be heading next. Tottenham payout & Europa League bonus Postecoglou signed a four-year deal to become Spurs manager in 2023, leaving behind Scottish champions Celtic after winning a domestic treble with the club. But, after just two seasons in charge of the Premier League outfit, Levy was forced to spend big to sack him. Altogether, the Spurs chairman paid out almost £4m to Postecoglou, as per ESPN, as part of a severance package to relieve him of his duties at the club. This wasn't all though; the ex-manager also received £3.1m as a bonus for winning the Europa League, taking his payout from Tottenham to over £7m. So, after 101 games in charge, with a win rate of 46.5% and a European trophy under his arm, Postecoglou departed Spurs with millions in the bank. Many believed that the Europa League win would just about save his job, but the club allowed the squad to celebrate before breaking the news to both fans and the team. In a statement released to fans 16 days after the Europa League final, Tottenham said: "Following a review of performances and after significant reflection, the club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties. "We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the club. Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw. "However, the board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place." Life away from football since sacking Now, it looks like this hefty payout to Postecoglou has paid dividends, as he was finally spotted dining at Sta Kala Kathoumena on the Greek island of Paros. A video uploaded by celebrity chef Stefanos Saratsis has emerged on TikTok, in which Ange can be seen enjoying a fancy steak meal served up by the online personality. The chef is seen slicing up a huge slab of meat before feeding Postecoglou a piece of the steak and awaiting his approval. Comments flooded in expressing excitement at the former Spurs manager's first public appearance since his sacking in June, with one writing: "Geez, it's been a while since we've seen Ange smile like that!" Another said: "And thats the taste of a decent payout from Spurs. Maybe he'll come and get them out of the championship next season," while a third joked: "See he's enjoying that £4mill he got from getting sacked." MLS interest as next club rumours ramp up Many will be wondering where big Ange will end up next, after successful spells in Scotland, Australia, Japan and – for a time – England. But it looks like a potential reunion with Son could be on the horizon, as Major League Soccer look to be sniffing around the Greek-Australian gaffer. Earlier in June, BBC Sport reported that MLS side Los Angeles FC are considering a move for Postecoglou as current boss Steve Cherundolo is set to depart for Germany. The regular season ends in October for the American league, so LAFC may be planning to make a move for the ex-Spurs man by this point. They will also have an extra trick up their sleeve, after former Tottenham icon Son joined the MLS side on a two-year deal this summer, with an option of a further two years. A potential link-up between the duo could be on the cards in the near future; but LAFC aren't the only team interested in Postecoglou. Reports suggest that the 59-year-old has been linked with a job in the Saudi Pro League at Al Ahli, who recently won the Asian Champions League under current boss Matthias Jaissle.
