Latest news with #Fernandez


Daily Record
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
I had a nagging feeling about Emmanuel Fernandez from day one and here's why his transfer to Rangers is going to work
Fernandez has the personality to handle the hard knock life at Rangers according to a man who had him on trial The road to Rangers for Emmanuel Fernandez had staging posts at Margate and Ramsgate but Gareth Ainsworth insists the signs all point towards a Glasgow success story. Fishing ports apart, Sheppey and Spalding United have also been part of the £2.5million Ibrox recruit's route from Peterborough, and Gillingham boss Ainsworth believes the giant defender's move has been timed to perfection. Ainsworth revealed he once opted against signing a teenage Fernandez during a trial spell at Wycombe and is adamant underwhelming career credentials mask the rapid progress of a player who could become a masterstroke signing by Russell Martin. He said: 'We had Manny in at Wycombe for a couple of weeks when he was a wafer-thin 16-year-old. 'He was nowhere near ready for the professional game and we didn't have an academy at that time so it wasn't an option for us to keep him. 'It was a really difficult situation and it's never nice to tell a kid he wasn't going to get anything as we didn't have the infrastructure for that. 'It's all changed now at Wycombe and if he had arrived it would be completely different. He's someone who has proved doubters wrong. 'Anis Mehmeti came into Wycombe around that time. He had been playing non-league football but we signed him and went on to sell him to Bristol City for a club-record fee so we did get some of them right. 'I had a nagging feeling about Manny. He had attributes I liked and I'm really pleased to see how much he has developed and become the player he has. 'This move to Rangers is a huge step but he's going to work with an intelligent manager in Martin, who has shown he knows how to develop and improve young players. 'It's a shrewd piece of business and makes sense.' Fernandez began his career as a youth at Brentford before beginning his tour of non-league seaside clubs after being released at Gillingham. He managed to climb back up the ladder and made 42 appearances last season at League One Peterborough Ainsworth is convinced the 23-year-old's battle through the adversity of playing in English football's backwaters has equipped him for life at the Light Blues. He said: 'Timing is a huge part of football and it can work for and against you. 'The timing for Manny's move to Rangers is perfect. I believe he can now go to Glasgow and achieve some fantastic things. 'He has the temperament to deal with whatever comes his way. He is a calm individual and I don't think there is much that fazes him. 'Manny's been though the school of hard knocks already and sometimes it's a player who's had those knocks and has played a lot of first-team games early in his career that can handle a move to a club the size of Rangers. 'Manny has been though a lot and hit setbacks in his career but is stronger for it. 'That will allow him to deal with this latest step. 'His time at Peterborough has set him up well and having worked with Darren [Ferguson, manager] will be a huge advantage – you can't be a shrinking violet when Darren's around. 'You need to have a bit of personality and something about you to play for Darren.' Fernandez scored five goals and was sent off twice with the Posh last term. He is a left-field addition by Martin but Ainsworth believes he's a key piece of the jigsaw for a Rangers boss who's made his name by deploying high-risk, possession-based football. Ainsworth said: 'I think Manny is definitely the ball-playing centre-half who will suit the possession-based style and system which Russell wants to play. 'He's a confident boy, he's someone who wants to get on the ball and is reluctant to just smash the ball anywhere. 'He's developed into a cultured defender and one of the things that stands out about him is his recovery pace. 'He can look quite slight because he is so tall. But last season, very few strikers in League One got the better of him in a physical battle. 'That was something that surprised me as I can still recall him arriving at Wycombe as this skinny 16-year-old. 'Manny is a ball-playing centre-half and I'll watch with interest. He's a great lad and I'm sure he's going to be a success.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Enzo Fernandez calls for change as he blasts ‘very dangerous' Club World Cup conditions
Enzo Fernandez has not held back when revealing the harsh reality of what it's like to play in the extreme heat that's been experienced at the Club World Cup. Fernandez is preparing for Chelsea's date with destiny on Sunday, potentially 90 minutes away from being crowned world champions as they take on Paris Saint-Germain. Chelsea have clawed their way to the final at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, beating Benfica and Palmeiras before a stunning Joao Pedro brace propelled the Blues past Fluminense in the last four. Watch every Fifa Club World Cup game free on DAZN. Sign up here now. However, as has been the case for much of the tournament, pre-match preparations have been far from easy, with temperatures on the East Coast reaching as high as 34°C. "Honestly, the heat is incredible,' Fernandez said. 'The other day I got a bit dizzy during a play. I had to lie down on the ground because I was really dizzy. 'Playing in this temperature is very dangerous, it's very dangerous - moreover, for the spectacle, for the people who come to enjoy the stadium, for the people who watch it at home. The game, the speed of the game is not the same, everything becomes very slow. 'Let's hope that next year they change the schedule, at least so that it remains a beautiful and attractive football spectacle, right?" Enzo Maresca revealed earlier in the tournament that Chelsea were forced to limit their training to 'very short' sessions in Philadelphia as temperatures skyrocketed to 37°C. The issue of heat has been a constant shadow over the Club World Cup, with both fans and players saying that it impacts the enjoyability of games. Preparations nevertheless continue for Chelsea, who face the daunting challenge of the European champions on Sunday, in superlative form off the back of their demolition job of Real Madrid. Fernandez provided an injury boost for Chelsea, revealing the Moises Caicedo is 'fine' and 'definitely going to train' after rolling his ankle against Fluminense. And contrary to the detractors of the tournament, Fernandez insists lifting the title would be massive for the club. 'This title is very important for the club,' he adds. 'It's very important to play for the best clubs in the world and we believe it's a great title for the club. We'll try to prepare for the match in the best way possible.' The Club World Cup final acts as the final game of Chelsea's seemingly interminable season, the length of which will clock over to 329 days come Sunday. After a month away from his family, Fernandez is looking forward to enjoying some downtime away from football. 'The truth is I have achieved some very nice things on a personal level but obviously being in a hotel for a month wasn't easy at all,' he said. 'As you know, enjoying time with family when I can is very important to me.' Chelsea's final meeting with PSG will kick off at 8pm BST or 3pm local time, with the sun expected to be beating down on the roofless MetLife Stadium. Watch every Fifa Club World Cup game free on DAZN. Sign up here now.


Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
After 26 years, this beloved Italian restaurant in Coral Gables is closing
For 26 years, Caffe Vialetto in Coral Gables was part of the family. It was the elegant restaurant you went to for romantic dinners or anniversary celebrations — or even girls' nights out or business dinners. It was also home for family milestones: birthdays and baptisms, first communions and graduations, baby and bridal showers, for any and every momentous event in the lives of the customers it served. Now, the Italian restaurant at 4019 S. Le Jeune Road, a small but mighty building dwarfed by rampant Gables growth, is closing its doors. Owned by Ernie Fernandez and Marcelo Chopa and founded in 1999 near what would eventually become Merrick Park, Caffe Vialetto announced the sad news on its social media platforms. The final night of service will be Aug. 16. 'After decades of flavor and friendship, we're saying goodbye,' the note began. The post went on to thank the restaurant's 'incredible community.' 'What started as a humble eatery has grown into something far greater: a space filled with laughter, memories, and heartfelt moments shared over meals. We're endlessly grateful for your support, your stories, and your appetite. Thank you for making us part of your celebrations, your quiet evenings, and your traditions — and we couldn't be more honored.' The news saddened longtime customers who considered the restaurant a friendly oasis in a culinary world, one that sometimes seems to care more about flash than service. Fans took to social media to lament the closing and remember their favorite dishes. The risottos. The pear ravioli. The short rib papardelle. Janessa Fuentes of Palmetto Bay, who has been to many parties there as well as sharing quiet dinners with her husband, was determined to celebrate her daughter's communion at Caffe Vialetto. 'I literally booked it a year advance,' she said. 'I called them and said, 'I need to book this now,' and they were such nice, honest people they didn't even collect a deposit. They didn't want my credit card. Ernie said, 'We'll take your word for it, don't worry. If you need to cancel just let us know.' They were so humble. It was a family restaurant that worked on honesty.' 'They'd do whatever you needed for the kids or a group,' she said. 'We made great memories there. This industry is so difficult. It's hard to sustain. It's been here so long for a reason.' Mike Romeu, owner and operator of Sweet Melody Ice Cream, said the loss hits particularly hard because Caffe Vialetto was the first restaurant to put his ice cream on the menu. He knew Fernandez from his time at Bougainvillea's in South Miami, where Fernandez's band played. 'When I was first making ice cream, I thought 'Maybe Ernie will give me a shot,' and he did, with no hesitation,' he said. 'They put my chocolate cake with cherries and vanilla bean ice cream on the menu. It's rare to find a place where the people are so nice and the food is so good.' 'There wasn't one dish there that wasn't a 10. They always went under the radar. No frills, just good food.' He also remembers performer Pitbull being a fan of the restaurant. 'He had his own account,' he said. 'He'd eat in a private room and just put the bill on his tab. He's probably heartbroken, too.'


Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
2026 FIFA World Cup dress rehearsal exposes the big problem of extreme heat
Six weeks ago in Munich, Paris Saint-Germain overwhelmed one of Europe's top teams in the UEFA Champions League final, earning a trophy and recognition as the world's best club team. On Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J., PSG handed that mantle to Chelsea, which routed the exhausted Parisians 3-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup final, PSG's worst loss in nearly two years. So ended the first expanded Club World Cup, a tournament manufactured mainly to monetize the sport while lengthening the season six weeks for some teams — both PSG and Chelsea were playing for the 65th time in 48 weeks — and further congesting an already crowded schedule for others. And though it attracted more than 2.4 million fans overall, more than a quarter of the games drew fewer than 17,000 people, four got less than 9,000 and the competition overall averaged about the same attendance as the top 25 summer friendlies played in the U.S. last summer. That's after FIFA, the event's organizer, drastically reduced ticket prices and, in some cases, let people in for free. So why did we play this tournament at all? Well, the best answer is the Club World Cup served as a dress rehearsal for the real World Cup, which will be played at the same time and in some of the same stadiums next year. And if what FIFA learned from the club tournament doesn't force it back to the drawing board to make some major changes for next summer — especially to kickoff times — it will be an education wasted. The biggest takeaway was the weather. It was way too hot (and humid and stormy and just generally yucky). Chelsea played three of its seven games in temperatures described by local weather authorities as 'extreme,' meaning people were told to avoid strenuous physical activity or, in some cases, to even avoid going outdoors. (Sunday's final kicked off in 81-degree temperatures and 69% humidity, conditions that necessitated two hydration breaks.) 'The heat is incredible,' Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez said in Spanish before the final. 'The other day I got a bit dizzy during a play. I had to lie down on the ground because I was dizzy. Playing in this temperature is very dangerous.' But it's not just the danger to players FIFA should worry about (although that, clearly, is paramount). The conditions also change the way the game must be played, making it far less attractive to viewers. 'The speed of the game is not the same. Everything becomes very slow,' Fernandez said. 'Let's hope that next year they change the schedule.' For the Club World Cup, many games started at midday or in the early afternoon so they could be broadcast in prime time in Europe and Africa. But the conditions on the field were often oppressive as a result. MetLife Stadium, where Sunday's final was played, will host eight World Cup matches, including the final, next summer. And while the kickoff times for that tournament won't be revealed until the World Cup draw in December, BBC Sport said it has learned FIFA plans to start many East Coast games at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. local time. FIFA issued a statement earlier this month that suggested it is not taking the problem near seriously enough, touting the hydration breaks, in which matches are halted so players can get a drink, as 'significant and progressive measures ... being taken to protect the players from the heat.' FIFPRO, the union representing international soccer players, isn't being so dismissive. 'From a health and safety perspective, this [extreme heat] is something that must take priority over commercial interests with regards to the safety of the players,' Alexander Bielefeld, the union's director of policy and strategic relations, said on a conference call. 'Heat conditions are not happening in a vacuum. The debate on extreme heat is not happening in a vacuum. 'It's actually quite foreseeable.' According to FIFPRO, at least three games at the Club World Cup should have been suspended or postponed because of extreme weather. It was so hot during a group-play game in Cincinnati, in fact, Borussia Dortmund's bench players stayed in the locker room, watching the first half on TV. The last World Cup that played in the U.S., in 1994, remains the hottest in history, which is remarkable for a tournament that since been played in Africa and the Middle East. That year Mexico and Ireland faced off in Orlando, Fla., where midday temperatures hit 105 degrees. And it was 100 degrees on the field for the final, which kicked off at noon at the Rose Bowl. (Not surprisingly that game ended in a scoreless draw, as did the 1999 Women's World Cup final, played at the Rose Bowl under equally as oppressive conditions. Both games were decided in penalty kicks.) More severe weather is all but certain next year. 'What you're seeing right now is very typical,' Ben Schott, operations chief with the National Weather Service, told the Athletic. 'Next year we may be going through the same thing. That's not good since a half-dozen Club World Cup games were delayed or halted by weather this summer, including Chelsea's round-of-16 win over Benfica in Charlotte, N.C. That match was paused for two hours because of lightning. 'I can understand that for security reasons, you have to suspend the game,' Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said. 'But if you suspend seven, eight games, that means that probably is not the right place to do this competition.' FIFA had a chance to protect its most valuable property, the World Cup final, by scheduling it for one of the four roofed stadiums chosen to host games in the U.S. in 2026. Instead it will tempt fate — and the weather gods — by playing the final at open-air MetLife. If there were a silver lining to these storm clouds — I'm trying to be positive here — it's that coaches and players are now keenly aware of what awaits them next summer, giving them ample time to get ready. 'We're going to come prepared next year,' said Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram, a French international. 'There's a lot of players that are doing the Club World Cup that will be doing the World Cup with their countries next year. So I think it's a good preparation.' Let's hope FIFA is preparing as well. Because if the heat was on for the Club World Cup, it will be even warmer for the organizers of the real World Cup next summer. ⚽ You have read the latest installment of On Soccer with Kevin Baxter. The weekly column takes you behind the scenes and shines a spotlight on unique stories. Listen to Baxter on this week's episode of the 'Corner of the Galaxy' podcast.


Daily Record
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Emmanuel Fernandez is Rangers ready thanks to relentless family as youngest of eight survives 'gruesome' week
The new Rangers recruit is being looked after by Russell Martin but credits eldest brother with making him better every day As the youngest of eight kids, Manny Fernandez grew up as the baby of the family who was frequently sent for a seat on the naughty step. But the new Rangers recruit is going to have to mature quick at Ibrox if he's to work his way into Russell Martin's good books. There wasn't much quiet time in the cluttered house little Manny grew up in. He's not so little now having sprouted into the giant 6ft 4ins stopper who joined Gers from Peterborough for a fee of £2.5million earlier this month. And the noise ringing in the 23-year-old's ears has grown too. Calls home to London are regularly met with a clang of encouragement from his siblings as they urge him to make the most of his natural talent. Now Fernandez hopes to make good on those uplifting messages at Ibrox. 'Oh yeah, 100 percent my family is important to me,' he said. ' 'My eldest brother, his name's Jimmy, he always wants me to be on it every single day. 'Even when I come back from the off-season, he wants me to come to the gym with him every single day. 'So, there's no stop, there's no let up. 'And obviously because I'm the youngest of eight, they're always battering me every single day of being better and to make sure I'm doing my recovery or to make sure I'm preparing right for the next day. 'What was it like growing up with seven other kids? It's difficult because the age difference is big. So obviously, I'm the youngest, 23, and the eldest is 45, 46. 'So by the time I was born, the eldest would have been in their 20s and at Uni studying, so they weren't really in the house. "But from what I remember, yeah I was the youngest, the naughtiest probably! I was the spoiled one who was always in trouble. But I was protected as well and got looked after.' Fernandez is being looked after well too by Russell Martin at Ibrox. He joined the Light Blues squad for last week's camp at St George's Park and has settled quickly into the new manager's regime. The plush surrounds of the £80million England training base are a far cry from his days at non-league Ramsgate in the eighth tier of English football just four years ago. But Fernandez is determined to make it at the highest level - and reckons Martin can help take him there. He said: 'When the manager and I had our conversation before signing, the way he spoke and what he told me, the style of play, it suited me most. 'So it was something that I really wanted to get into. And the drive and the determination from the manager also is something that I really want to be a part of. 'I've settled in well. All the players have been very good with me. The gaffer has been good, all the staff, and I couldn't be much happier. 'It's been very tough, a gruesome week to be fair. 'But the boys got through it. It taught us how to be better physically and probably mentally as well. And it's only going to be better from here.' Cutting about at the facility where star names like Harry Kane and Phil Foden prepare for big international fixtures was a real pinch-me moment for the towering centre-back. But he admits he dare not even think about where he might not have ended up had former club Peterborough not plucked him out of the depths of the English pyramid. "That's a question for another life,' he said. 'I'm just grateful that it happened, and I'm grateful that it did work out. 'I started out at Gillingham but obviously they let me go. 'There was a period through COVID where you couldn't go on trial, so I was training by myself or with my brothers. 'I spent a little bit of time at Ramsgate at the back end of 2020, but you couldn't play any games. It was just friendlies. 'However, a few months later, the manager sent me into Peterborough around February 2021. And then from there I've been moving up. 'To be fair, I've never try to think negatively, always positive. 'If I had to play games there at that level, I have to play games there and I just put trust that something will eventually come through.' Opportunity knocked again this summer and now Fernandez is looking to make the most of his big chance at Ibrox. And he is confident he'll have no trouble adapting to 50000 crowds in Glasgow having triumphed in front of an even bigger audience at Wembley last season. He said 'Playing in front of a crowd of 25,000 for the Brugge friendly during pre-season is something you can't ask for. And I can't wait for the season to start. 'The biggest crowd I've played in front of was 71,000 at Wembley for the EFL Trophy final against Birmingham a few months ago. 'Was I fazed? To be fair, I was alright. 'I thought I'd be more nervous leading up to the day, but once I got there, it's just another football game. 'So you've just got to stay focused, talk to your teammates. It would be difficult to communicate because it's louder, but you don't really hear the noise as much. You're more focused on getting the job done. 'The boys here have told me that Ibrox is probably the best stadium you're ever going to be in in your life. So, it's somewhere I want to be and it's somewhere I want to see how it feels.'