Football news - The Warm-Up: Did Alexis Sanchez just come for Jose Mourinho?
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Updated 22/02/2019 at 07:26 GMT
Plus, the unfortunate state of Pro Piacenza, Kylian Mbappe living up to the 100-goals-in-training hype and a bit of a homage to David Beckham.
Alexis Sanchez is reportedly £20,000 richer after Jose Mourinho was sacked as Manchester United manager
Image credit: Getty Images
MONDAY'S BIG STORIES
Alexis Sanchez said some pretty damning stuff about Jose Mourinho
Alexis Sanchez gave a joint interview to the BBC with Ander Herrera ahead of Manchester United’s FA Cup tie with Chelsea.
There were a few interesting snippets in there. The BBC led on the line that he wished he had brought more joy to United and the fact that worried him. A fairly strong line and numerous other outlets, including this one, followed suit.
However, buried fairly low down in the BBC’s story was some Jose Mourinho chat; and to The Warm-Up’s eyes, it was some fairly damning stuff. Sanchez began with vague platitudes.
"Mourinho is one of the best coaches in the world, in the way that he coaches, how he studies videos, the way he goes about things,” said Sanchez.
However, the 30-year-old then went into detail, and that is where it got interesting.
"But within the group there was that feeling that you were in the team, then out. Sometimes I didn't play, then I did, then I didn't and as a player you lose confidence,” added the former Arsenal man.
But then, to The Warm-Up’s mind, came the kicker:
I've played football since I was five and if I have the ball taken away from me, it's as if I lose my joy.
The Warm-Up is loath to sensationalise, but that is pretty damning stuff.
However, if The Warm-Up were to sensationalise, The Warm-Up would probably be drawn to the bit on the end there – you know, the bit where Sanchez sort of says that the joy of football was taken from him. But The Warm-Up would never sensationalise.
Read the full transcript here.
Watch the full interview here.
Pro Piacenza are a right state
Pro Piacenza operate in Serie C, the third division of Italian football. However, they are a shambles. Basically, the first team squad refused to play their league match against Cuneo on Sunday due to unpaid wages. Fair enough.
However, the club, who have already forfeited three games this season, had to fulfil the fixture to avoid expulsion from the league. Resultantly, Pro Piacenza – The Warm-Up hope pro doesn’t stand for professional because this lot are a rabble – fielded the minimum amount of players of seven to ensure that the game went ahead.
Their team consisted of, according to Reuters, six teenagers and a 39-year-old physio. Cuneo, who sit 12th in the Serie C table, managed to only put 20 past them, which means one of two things:
- Cuneo are absolutely toilet
- Cuneo showed *some* measure of empathy
In all seriousness, it looks like the club will almost certainly go under, with their staff reportedly last receiving their wages in August. Sad times.
One biff in an actual game > 100 goals in training
PSG, for reasons known only to them, presented Kylian Mbappe with a shirt to mark 100 goals in training last week.
There was photographic evidence of either the least funny piece of club banter since, well, the disease that is banter became a thing or evidence of a club that takes itself a tad too seriously. There might be another explanation for it but whatever it is, well, it is guff.
Anyway, back to actual discernible achievements that are worth note like another absolute biff from Kylian Mbappe.
The 20-year-old now has now has 19 goals in 18 league games this season but what is most impressive about the World Cup winner is not just the volume of goals but the variety. A biff this week; a poacher's finish next week - he can do it all.
Oh and the below is also elite work.
IN OTHER NEWS
Salford City co-owner David Beckham made the trip to watch his side play Dover Athletic in the Conference on Saturday and Dennis Politic did this:
Alas, for Becks, Salford lost 3-1.
HEROES AND ZEROES
Hero: This chap
Name: Daniel James
DOB: 10/11/97
OCCUPATION: Being absolutely rapid
Cue the Daniel James would beat Usain Bolt hot takes…
Zero: Donny's diving Downing
And the Academy Award for Best Acting in a Short Film does not go to:
Paul Downing for his performance in Doncaster Rovers' 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup.
RETRO CORNER
The above goal at Salford was a bit of a trip down memory lane, so, here in all its glory, stationed at number one in Manchester United’s list of top 10 opening day goals, is David Beckham’s barely-believable effort against Wimbledon all the way back in 1996.
COMING UP
The magic of the FA Cup extends itself to a fourth day as Manchester United take on Chelsea in a last-16 fixture at Stamford Bridge.
Nick Miller, whose magic is omnipresent, will be here tomorrow, probably trawling through the wreckage of Maurizio Sarri’s career.
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