Dundee United 0-5 Aberdeen: What the managers said
Dundee United manager Suzy Shepherd: "I don't think we deserved anything out the game. "We worked so hard to win the ball back and then we just gave it away. From the first whistle to the last whistle we weren't able to retain the ball or secure the ball further up the pitch which caused us problems the whole time."Aberdeen manager Scott Booth: "We're absolutely delighted. I'm really happy for the players and the staff. "It's been a really tough season for the players, they've gone through a lot so it's a really nice reward that we can make sure we stay in the league. I'm really proud of the players."
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BBC News
31 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Some Man Utd players may have been intimidated by weight of shirt'
Angel Gomes is another that got away. From the protective bosom at Manchester United to going it alone in France - Gomes feels the weight of the shirt at his former club may have impacted some, but rules it out as a defining factor as to why many have flourished England international has diverted from a journey many believed he was destined to take - having joined United at the age of six, Gomes stepped through the echelons of junior football regarded as one of English football's brightest when he made his senior debut - replacing Wayne Rooney as a substitute at 16 years and 263 days - he became the youngest player to represent Manchester United since Duncan Edwards in hype was deafening, it seemed for all the world that Gomes' script was eight years and he is walking a different path. He'd made just five substitute Premier League appearances before leaving for Lille in the summer of is on the move again this summer, agreeing to join Champions League-bound in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport, the midfielder discusses his United upbringing, why he and others have shone away from Old Trafford, why size does not matter and his irritation at suggestions his four England caps are rooted in nepotism. United childhood "From the moment you step into the place, the coaches are telling you about the history of the club," explains Gomes."The Busby Babes, they show you pictures of George Best and Bobby Charlton. The culture is set early."You know everything about the club and what it represents. It's just something that you carry."Gomes' United recollections are enlightening. He opens up on the "black boot policy" - a rule set within United's academy that banned colourful boots."You would play against other teams and they'd be wearing colourful boots that you wanted to wear, because your idols wore colourful boots," confessed Gomes."But thinking about it now, it was perfect because they wanted everyone to be the same."Gomes was in good company during his years in the youth system - Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Scott McTominay and Brandon Williams among the prospects the 24-year-old played advice was always within reach, too. His father Gil was a footballer, making 19 appearances for Portugal there's godfather Nani, who won eight major titles at Old Trafford."Growing up I always had that support from my family, but when I had conversations with Nani and dad, it's different because I know they have been there," said Gomes."Going to Nani's house, how he lives his life, how he treats people, his behaviour off the pitch - looking back now I took a lot from him."As Gomes edged closer to first-team recognition, the pressure built. Tales of first-team training at United are stuff of legend. Intensity. Honesty. Ferocity."I was 16 - training with the likes of Rooney, [Michael] Carrick, [Juan] Mata, and Ander Herrera," Gomes explained."I'd play Fifa with these players and now you're next to them, it's surreal. It's hard to flick the switch and understand you're part of the team."I remember being in the academy and hearing about those sessions: if Michael Carrick fires a ball in at you, are you going to be able to control it?" The weight of the shirt Life as a United player is rarely straightforward. Much is made of the 'weight of the shirt'.Take McTominay for example, a player who dipped in and out of first-team football at United before leaving for Napoli last summer.A year on, McTominay is a hero in Naples - helping Antonio Conte's side to the Serie A title while nurturing a reputation as one of Italy's premier having been heralded as one of United's best prospects, found his path to senior international recognition away from Old he doesn't necessarily concur with the view that he, or certain players, benefit from being free of the weight of the United shirt."I think some do," says Gomes."Players may have been intimated or not really know about the weight, what it carries and what it takes."But ultimately, sometimes, it's down to environment, timing, and having the right things in place to help you."Some players who have left and gone on to do better than when they were at United, there might be things in place at that certain club, at that moment in time, that helped them succeed."Sometimes it's not as black and white as they failed, or they've not held their own there because of the weight of the shirt."It's a dynamic Gomes is well-placed to discuss. His decision to leave United for Lille, via a loan move to Boavista, in 2020 has proved the making of the not to say leaving Manchester was a straightforward decision."It was obviously a difficult process because there are a lot of things that pull you towards staying," recalls Gomes."But then you have to think about what is right for your career. There were a lot of things I sacrificed." Life in Lille With more than 100 senior appearances under his belt, including Champions League experience, Gomes reflects with contentment at the decision to leave his comfort zone. That's not to say he always had strength in those convictions."It was difficult [leaving England] but also refreshing - the last few years, going under the radar, if anything, helped me concentrate," Gomes from the English spotlight, Gomes has honed his game, finding a way to overcome the obstacles that may otherwise have held him 5ft 6in (168cm), Gomes isn't as imposing, in a physical sense, as other central midfielders."It's difficult because I feel like it's something I have had to explain since I was young - I have had to rely on different strengths," Gomes said."When someone asks me I say I'm a midfielder, because I can play as a 6, 8 or 10. When I was in Portugal I played on the left, false nine or on the right. I feel I can play anywhere on the pitch."I'm technical, I like to be on the ball, dictate, help in all areas of the pitch. Receive the ball in any area."Paul Scholes was similar in that sense. Thiago [Alcantara], Deco they are midfielders, not 6s or 8s - just midfielders - that's who I want to emulate." England recognition Last summer's England call-up offered Gomes a level of vindication for the tough decisions that came came on in the 2-0 win over Ireland last September before making his full debut against Finland at Wembley three days later - under-21 boss Lee Carsley, taking charge of England on an interim basis, showing faith in Gomes' playmaking plays in a position England have found difficult to fill. The dearth of deep lying ball-playing midfielders led Gareth Southgate to start Euro 2024 with Trent Alexander-Arnold - a right-back by trade - in the role."The funny thing is I think we are [producing players of that type], there's a lot," insisted midfielder's control caught the eye for England. Against Finland he accumulated 131 touches of the ball - the most of any player on the pitch - completing a 94% pass his next start for England, in the return Nations League fixture in Helsinki, Gomes had 108 touches during his 79 minutes on the field - successfully completing 97% of his passes - assisting the opener for Jack Grealish in a 3-1 Gomes has been forced to contend with jibes that his call-up was a result of favouritism from Carsley, who he'd worked with at under-21 level."It was difficult to hear people saying it was a favour because I knew personally it wasn't," Gomes said."Before the last Euros there was a press conference that Gareth [Southgate] gave and I was mentioned."I remember getting a pre-call selection for one squad. I thought it could have been a joke so I forwarded the message to Lee Carsley and he said it was genuine."So I knew it wasn't a favour, there was a lot of work for me to get to that point."Thomas Tuchel's appointment has stunted Gomes' progress at international is yet to feature in either of the German's squads but, going into next summer's World Cup, the former Chelsea boss has told Gomes he remains on England's radar."We've spoken, we had a couple of video calls and a few messages," adds Gomes."He is very good in the sense that he is always watching and supporting. It's a very good relationship in that you can speak and message at any moment."I've not managed to get into the squad [under Tuchel] yet but it's something I will try hard to do."The World Cup is the aim. The pinnacle. That's an aim of mine and I know what needs to be done to get me there."Five years after leaving Old Trafford, Gomes is set for a second consecutive season in the Champions League - with his dream of playing in a World Cup for England still alive.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Japan's King Kazu wants more after first appearance of 40th season
TOKYO, June 16 (Reuters) - Japan's Kazuyoshi "King Kazu" Miura made his first appearance of his 40th season as a professional footballer at the weekend and shows no sign of wanting to hang up his boots any time soon. The former international forward, who turned 58 in February, came on as a late substitute in Atletico Suzuka's 2-1 win over YSCC Yokohama in the fourth tier of the Japanese pyramid on Sunday. The popular striker signed an 18-month loan deal with Suzuka last June but a leg injury sustained in January had kept him on the sidelines from the start of this Japan Football League season. "I hope to play again showing my character," Miura told Kyodo news agency after the match. "I managed to play thanks to the support from everyone. I'm looking to stepping up a gear from here." Miura made his first two appearances for Santos in the 1986 Brazilian Championship, having headed alone to South America to pursue his football dream as a 15-year-old. He returned to Japan as an established international to join Verdy Kawasaki and helped them win the first two titles in 1993 and 1994. He scored 55 goals in 89 appearances for Japan, the last of which came in 2000. Miura, whose long club career has also included spells in Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal, still has a way to go to match Egyptian Ezzeldin Bahader's record of turning out for a professional team at the age of 74. Given his commitment to the game, however, it might be foolish to write him off. "When I was around 35 or 40, I did start saying to myself, 'I can't keep playing this way'," he told in April. "Rather than giving any thought to quitting, it was more about pushing myself to give more. It's not so much that the word 'retire' isn't in my vocabulary, but more that I've never felt any desire to do it."
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Eric Cantona and Ella Toone help meld football and art for Manchester festival
'Everybody needs his own ritual or way of preparing,' says the former Dutch footballer Edgar Davids. 'Those minutes that you're in the tunnel is where we're going to start.' Davids is talking about a piece he has worked on alongside the artist Paul Pfeiffer in which the pair recreate the tension of the tunnel before a big game. The work will serve as the passageway into the 'set piece' of this year's Manchester international festival – Football City, Art United – where the beautiful game is moving off the pitch and into the artist's studio. 'It's now more important than ever to bring things together,' says Hans Ulrich Obrist, who has co-curated the exhibition alongside Josh Willdigg and the former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata. 'There's a lot of separation and it's important to connect worlds that wouldn't necessarily talk to each other. It's exciting to do it with sport.' For Football City, Art United, Pfeiffer was paired with the former Juventus midfielder Davids, who has a significant art collection of his own and suggested recreating the intensity of the tunnel as players prepare to walk out into a stadium. 'He referred to it as the moment of greatest tension,' says Pfeiffer. 'Even more so than being on the field itself.' Visitors to the Aviva Studios in Manchester, where the exhibition is being held, will be immersed into a tunnel, with audio of crowd noise that Pfeiffer and his team recorded live at the San Siro stadium during the Milan derby earlier this year. Davids, who also played for both Milan sides during his career in Italy, was able to pull strings to get the artist's team pitchside. Pfeiffer calls it a mix of the 'preparation and interior space of the individual player' versus 'the sound of 100,000 fans permeating the wall'. There are 11 'pairings' in total, with footballers and artists put together according to interests. Arguably the most anticipated work for locals comes from the United fan favourite and Manchester United bete noire Eric Cantona, who alongside the British conceptual artist Ryan Gander explores the effects of fame on a player. The work features three parts: an automated spotlight that will pick out visitors at random so they can experience the 'isolating glare of celebrity'; a song performed by Cantona, Les Temps Passe or Time Passes, will play; and a number of match tickets from the French forward's final appearance at Old Trafford will be handed out to every 100th visitor replete with a message from him. Perhaps the most intriguing work is a collaboration between the Berlin and London-based artist collective Keiken and the England star Ella Toone. Visitors can step on to a podium and interact with a mask inspired by Toone's 'spirit animal', the shetland pony. 'The idea is that football is for everyone and art is for everyone,' says Obrist. 'We're here to create a bridge of possibilities. There are moments of epiphany in football and art, and hopefully we can create some in Manchester.' This is not the first time Obrist has embraced football. He was a passionate backer of Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno's film Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait, which he describes as a masterpiece. He has also had a long-running collaborative relationship with Mata, after the pair messaged each other on Instagram when the footballer began liking Obrist's studio visit posts. This year's project is the latest instalment of The Trequartista: Art and Football United, a multi-part exploration of the sport and artistic practice. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion After connecting with Mata, the Serpentine curator invited him to collaborate with the German-Indian artist Tino Sehgal at the 2023 Manchester international festival. The resulting work, This entry, features Mata alongside a trick cyclist, a freeform footballer, a violinist and a dancer. Obrist described the 2023 work as a teaserfor what's to come later this summer. The Honolulu-born, New York-based Pfeiffer's work often intersects with sport. He has used digital editing to make it seem as if a boxer is being hit by an invisible opponent and removed audio from NBA games, creating eerie portraits of players. As one critic put it, Pfeiffer 'strips away the pageantry' of sport and in so doing shows 'the pain and contradiction that draw people in'. The Swiss Uruguayan artist Jill Mulleady once met Diego Maradona, and she is using that chance encounter as the basis for a 'holographic illusion' of the footballer, which will recall his controversial 'hand of God' goal against England at the 1986 World Cup. Alvaro Barrington teams up with the 90s Brazil star Raí to create a 'large green felt banner' that will hang about the space, while the architects Stefano Boeri and Eduardo Terrazas have created a work on the floor of the Aviva Studios with the former Italian player Sandro Mazzola where visitors can recreate some of his goals. Other work includes the manga artist Chikyuu no Osakana Pon-chan recreating scenes from the life of the former Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa; the Zidane co-creator Parreno and Marco Perego present a Sims-style video game where visitors can explore the 'physical geography' of the former Everton and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti. The US artist Suzanne Lacy, the Manchester City and Netherlands star Vivianne Miedema and the Angel City FC and New Zealand captain Ali Riley have created a film; Bárbara Sánchez-Kane and the former Mexican goalkeeper Jorge Campos have created a flamboyant mascot named Brody; and the British artist Rose Wylie worked with the Arsenal and England defender Lotte Wubben-Moy to turn moments from her daily life as a footballer into paintings. Football City, Art United is at Aviva Studios, Manchester from 4 July to 24 August
