Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers avoids commenting on Jamie Vardy rumours
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Press and Journal
an hour ago
- Press and Journal
Joe Harper: Wrong to make Kusini Yengi the Aberdeen fall guy for Hearts defeat
The focus on Kusini Yengi following Aberdeen's 2-0 defeat at Hearts is letting the rest of the Dons players off the hook. The Australian striker has been painted as the fall guy for Aberdeen's defeat at Tynecastle on Monday and I don't think it's fair that he is left to shoulder the blame. It was a tough night for Yengi. Yes, he should have scored, and I had hoped to see him more involved in the game. When a ball comes into the box you have to believe it's coming your way, and you have to be on your toes anticipating it at all times. Maybe some nerves were at play but there shouldn't be in Yengi's case. He's an international player in his mid-20s. But it's far too easy to point the finger at the Dons striker because he didn't take his chances. The Dons' problems ran far deeper than a couple of squandered opportunities. The bigger issue was how timid the team was. In last week's column I talked about the need for aggression at Hearts. We all knew what was lying in store for Aberdeen in Edinburgh but it seems too many players just weren't at the races. Derek McInnes' side bullied the Dons into submission. They were first to every ball and showed a greater desire to win it and start another attack against a timid, meek Aberdeen side. It was the first game of the season but I do question whether Aberdeen are an easy touch at times. They have some good technical players who can hurt teams but you need the steel to go with the silk and there wasn't much of that on show from the visitors at Tynecastle. I'm not buying this 'Dons were undercooked' narrative though. It was brave of boss Jimmy Thelin to take two really tough pre-season games against Fulham and Ipswich Town. They are two good sides who play at a high level in England and I have no doubt the Aberdeen squad had to put in a shift in both games. That's why I can't accept the players were not prepared for Tynecastle. They just didn't perform. I want to see a response when Celtic visit Pittodrie on Sunday. It will be a game where the visitors have more possession but it's up to Aberdeen to close the gap by grafting. Take a leaf out of the Jambos' playbook. Hustle, hassle and harry the opposition every chance you can get. Force errors and turnovers, and get the ball into areas where you can hurt the Hoops quickly. If they can do that it's up to Yengi to show Monday was a poor debut and nothing more. Dons fans are a supportive bunch and if you put in the hard yards in games and chip in with some goals they'll get behind you. I'm certainly not ready to write the big man off after one game. If we were judging players on the back of what we saw at Tynecastle the manager would be toiling to pick a team for the Celtic game. For those who do get a chance to make amends, what a stage they have at a packed Pittodrie this weekend. As for Yengi, if he can get off the mark and play his part on Sunday against Celtic then he'll soon have the support singing his name. Slobodan Rubezic has done little to show he should be back in the fold after being sent off for an Aberdeen XI at Fraserburgh on Wednesday. The central defender has been out of the picture since returning from his loan at Novi Pazar in the second half of last season. I am sure the big man had hoped to return from Serbia ready to fight for his place in Jimmy Thelin's squad just as Pape Habib Gueye did from his loan spell at Kristiansund in Norway last year. But, having failed to make the squad for Monday's defeat by Hearts, Rubezic was given the chance to show what he can do at Bellslea in Wednesday's Aberdeenshire Cup tie, he lasted just 32 minutes. A desperate foul on Broch striker Scott Barbour as he ran clear on goal earned Rubezic an early bath. Dons boss Jimmy Thelin will be pleased Nicky Devlin, Alfie Dorrington, Gavin Molloy, Kjartan Mar Kjartansson, Ester Sokler and Peter Ambrose all got 45 minutes of competitive action under their belts in the 2-0 win at the Broch. Trust and reliability is important in this game, but Ruby has blotted his copybook again. Good luck to Hearts in their bid to win the Scottish Premiership title – but something tells me they've got a long road ahead. Investor Tony Bloom has been talking up the Jambos, saying he'll be disappointed if the club does not win the Scottish Premiership title at least once in the next 10 years. Given it has been 40 years since anyone other than Celtic or Rangers won the title it's asking a lot. Splitting the big two is the first challenge and I don't see them doing that anytime soon, never mind winning the title.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Club Brugge manager in shock 'spaces' admission about Rangers defence
The Belgian club found themselves 3-0 up after 20 minutes in the first leg of their Champions League play-off double header thanks to some lamentable defending by their Scottish rivals. Russell Martin has been heavily criticised by pundits and supporters for the porousness of his team's rearguard in their competitive matches this season and the manager had his goalkeeper Jack Butland to thanks for preventing a mauling last night. Read more: Hayen, whose side reached the knockout rounds of Europe's premier club competition last season, admitted he and his coaching staff had identified weaknesses they could exploit in the build-up to the encounter in Govan. However, Hayen stressed, after watching Danilo pull a goal back for Rangers in the second half, the tie was far from over and insisted that James Tavernier and his team mates could still come back and progress to the league phase of the competition. (Image: PA Wire) "We knew where the spaces were,' he said. 'We played here in the friendly game (during pre-season), and we showed also in that first half that if our players play at their best level, that they can hurt a lot of teams. Read more: "We said before the game, 'Okay, the atmosphere is incredible, but you have to embrace the atmosphere and not fight against it'. This is what they did in the first seven minutes perfectly and this is the way how you can get the silence into a stadium. "But as long as there is still 90 minutes to play, everything is possible. We don't forget that we are 2-0 down against Salzburg (Club Brugge came from behind to prevail also. So we have to be smart, we have to be intelligent, play our best football, like in the first half."
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
RB Leipzig step up Nkunku interest to provide Chelsea boost for potential signings
RB Leipzig have stepped up attempts to sign Christopher Nkunku on a permanent deal, potentially paving the way for Chelsea to accelerate their search for attacking reinforcements. Chelsea need sales before pressing ahead with moves for Leipzig's Xavi Simons and Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho but their hopes of shifting Nkunku appeared to have hit a dead end when Bayern Munich's move for the forward stalled. Bayern had an offer for the Frenchman – a loan with an option to buy – rejected over the weekend and have so far shown little inclination of wanting to pay enough to buy him. Chelsea's preference is a permanent sale rather than a loan for Nkunku as he is not part of their long-term plans. Inter are also interested in Nkunku, whose contract runs until 2029, but a return to Leipzig two years after leaving them for Chelsea for £52m is a possibility. The 27-year-old forward is open to a reunion with his former club, although other options are on the table. A deal with Leipzig is not close but there is confidence that they will be able to come to an agreement with Chelsea on a fee for the France international, who has struggled for form and fitness during his time in west London. The clubs have already held talks over Chelsea adding Simons to their attacking ranks. Chelsea are yet to lodge a bid for the Netherlands international, who wants to move to Stamford Bridge, and hope to move out fringe players before making further additions. Aston Villa are interested in Nicolas Jackson but would need a significant drop in his £80m asking price if they are to pursue a deal for the striker. Jackson wants a new challenge after seeing Chelsea sign Liam Delap and João Pedro. Chelsea have also strengthened on the flanks, signing Estêvão Willian and Jamie Gittens, but they want more depth on the left. They are pushing to sign Garnacho, who is viewed as competition for Gittens, but want United to drop their asking price of £50m for the Argentina winger. Garnacho, who has reportedly turned down a switch to Bayern, has fallen from favour at United and Chelsea are unlikely to want to pay over £40m. Other players expected to leave Chelsea are Tyrique George, Axel Disasi, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka and Renato Veiga; the latter of whom is a target for Villarreal. Fulham are interested in Raheem Sterling. Meanwhile, West Ham have had a bid rejected for Chelsea's Andrey Santos. The Hammers are interested in the Brazilian but have been knocked back and have now made an improved offer for the Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes.
