'Let's just try to get a deal done'
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BBC News
13 minutes ago
- BBC News
Friendship on hold as managers vie for Champions League spot
Club Brugge head coach Nicky Hayen says he has a "good connection" with Rangers counterpart Russell Martin. But any friendship is likely to be put on hold during their forthcoming Champions League play-off sides meet at Ibrox on Tuesday night in the first leg with the return the following Wednesday in Belgium."I like Russell very much," Hayen, 45, told BBC Scotland. "I was in Haverfordwest County when he was in Swansea. We met each other because of Gary Richards (his former assistant at Haverfordwest who previously worked at Swansea).""I wanted to visit Swansea for two days. He allowed it. But we never found the right date. The year after, we arranged a friendly game between the two teams. The game was scheduled. Then I left the club to come to Brugge."Hayen revealed the pair exchanged regular text messages, although they actually only met in person for the first time when Brugge played Rangers this summer in a friendly at Ibrox."We spoke a lot," said Hayen. "We texted a lot. We stayed always in touch. But of course, tomorrow this doesn't count."He's a great manager. If you see the results that he got in Swansea and Southampton. It's a nice step for him over here. Of course, there's a lot of pressure. But I'm sure that he will deal with it."Club Brugge beat Salzburg to reach the play-off round. And, after making it to the round of 16 in last season's competition, Hayen is keen to progress to the league phase again this term."The team who is the best in keeping the ball, progressing, use the spaces, they will have a good chance to win the game," added Hayen.
Daily Record
43 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Brendan Rodgers loves Jamie Vardy as four words in first meeting suggest Celtic reunion with former 'rascal' could be on
Vardy is reportedly keen on a move to Celtic and Rodgers wasn't slow to talk him up ion their first introduction at Leicester Brendan Rodgers waxed lyrical about Jamie Vardy when he inherited the striker at Leicester City. So it's perhaps no surprise if Vardy is indeed "desperate" for a move to Celtic. At 38, the Leicester legend is coming to the end of his career, but he can still shift and has a goal record players have his age would kill for. And you get the impression he's the type of character that would thrive in the Glasgow gold fish bowl. As to whether he's Rodgers ' cup of tea, we already have an emphatic answer. The Irishman ditched the Hoops in favour of the Foxes back in 2019 not long after Vardy had penned a new deal. And Rodgers wasted no time in telling Vardy why he was exactly the type of player he wanted in his ranks. Whether that's still true six years on as Celtic scramble to strengthen before the end of the transfer window and a crucial Champions League playoff clash with Kairat Almaty, time will tell. But Rodgers was smitten with the one-time "rascal" with just enough devilment to get the Hoops boss' juices flowing. "When I first arrived, I met them after the Brighton game and I was walking around the changing room shaking all of their hands,' said Rodgers. 'I shook [Vardy's] hand and said to him: 'I'm glad you're here!' 'He's just right up my street in terms of devilment and running and hunger to score. From that, we've struck up a strong relationship. 'He knows where the line is. He's a great boy. I love his energy. I love his passion. He actually loves football, which helps. He knows the game. 'I was just interested to be able to work with him, to see someone so focused. 'He is always available for training, which is so important. He trains every single day, which tells you how he is looking after himself, with his diet, his nutrition. 'He continually wants to get better. That's a joy for me. We're trying to create an environment every day for players to improve. He thankfully is one who has improved. 'He's matured as well. He's 32, he's grown up a little bit from those days when he was a rascal. He has real desire to score goals, to work, to be the best he can and to succeed. In this type of culture, that's perfect. 'He has a smile everyday, he has fun, but he knows when he's working as well. In the games, you can see what he's taking from training. He's such a threat. 'We talk about his numbers and his efficiency, it's absolutely phenomenal.'
Daily Mail
43 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Alexander Isak 'expected to MISS PFA awards' despite being nominated for top prize - as his self-imposed Newcastle exile to force Liverpool move continues
Wantaway Newcastle striker Alexander Isak is expected to miss the glitzy Professional Footballers' Association awards gala on Tuesday night, according to a report. The striker has been nominated for the biggest prize of the night, Players' Player of the Year, but he will reportedly miss the occasion as his self-imposed exile, in order to force through a move to Liverpool, continues. Isak was the subject of a £110million bid from Arne Slot 's side last month, which was promptly rejected by the Newcastle hierarchy, who are believed to value Isak at closer to £150m. The saga began at the beginning of the summer when the talented frontman initially reported an injury to keep him out of the Magpies' pre-season tour and the stand-off has continued since. Isak, who has been heavily criticised in the media and by Magpies fans, then missed Newcastle's 0-0 draw at Aston Villa on Saturday, a move that saw him fined by the club. During that clash, he was targeted by supporter chants where he was labelled as a 'greedy b*****d'. Despite the constant speculation surrounding his future, Isak hasn't publicly commented. The Swedish striker is nominated for the night's biggest prize but is yet to confirm his attendance According to a BBC report, the 25-year-old is yet to confirm his attendance with just over 24 hours until the event. The report goes on to claim that sources have indicated that the forward is not planning to be there. On Saturday, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was unsurprisingly probed on the issue of Isak's future at every opportunity and he provided an update after the Villa clash. 'We would like a resolution,' he said. 'I am talking about myself, I am sure the ownership, and the players. We need that clarity. You don't need any distraction. 'But I am not in control of that. I think only one person really (Isak) can control that.' He added: 'This season, any season, every season, is going to be hard enough. You don't need any kind of distraction to swerve your thoughts, to unbalance what we're doing. 'I hope it's resolved quickly, because it's news around us all the time. The players have managed to shut that out and perform. We have to continue to do that.' Of the fan chant aimed at Isak, Howe said: 'Whatever happens, I think the support has acted really well today because they supported the team, which is always my big ask, to support the team when we're playing. 'And they've done that unbelievably well in some difficult moments during the four years. And then if afterwards they want to say something, I think they're very free to do that.' Howe then reiterated his wish for Isak to return to the squad, and said: 'Nothing has changed, but the door is well and truly open. But yeah, he has to decide what he wants to do.' On Monday, Isak received the backing of his international manager, Jon Dahl Tomasson, who described him as 'an extremely professional player'. 'Situations like this are quite complex,' Tomasson told Swedish outlet Fotbollskanalen. 'These are extremely complex environments that the players operate in. 'I'm sure it will work out in the end, but you have to know the whole picture before you draw conclusions. That's always a good tip.'
