MU at risk of losing De Gea
(Baonghean.vn) - Vietnam team has a bright chance to enter the round of 16; Son Heung-min may be absent in the match against China; Man City recruits young Japanese talent; Harry Kane injured, out for 6 weeks... are the domestic and international sports news of interest today.
Referee to officiate U23 Asian Cup final match between Vietnam and Yemen
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has assigned Omani referee Ahmed Al-Kaf to officiate the final match of Group D of the 2019 Asian Cup between Vietnam and Yemen at 11 p.m. on January 16.
Mr. Ahmed Al-Kaf was the one who refereed the last match of the group stage at the U23 Asian Cup in early 2018, when U23 Vietnam met strong opponents Syria. At that time, U23 Vietnam needed at least a draw to secure a place in the next round in a group with U23 Korea and U23 Australia. Despite facing many difficulties against U23 Syria, U23 Vietnam managed to draw 0-0 to just enough to continue and then made a miracle to go straight to the final match.
In the final match, referee Ahmed Al-Kaf was in charge. At that time, U23 Uzbekistan led 1-0 in the 8th minute, but at the end of the first half, referee Ahmed Al-Kaf awarded U23 Vietnam a free kick in front of the 16m50 box, allowing midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai to score a superb free kick to tie the score at 1-1. Unfortunately, in extra time, U23 Vietnam lost a regrettable goal and missed the chance to win the championship.
Son Heung-min may miss the match against China
According toXinhua, in a press conference before the match against China on January 15, head coach of the Korean team - Paulo Bento said that the star who just returned from Tottenham might be absent.
Son Heung-min has played 12 games for Tottenham Hotspur in just over a month. He arrived in the UAE on the afternoon of January 14, hours after his team suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League.
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Son Heung-min is an important player for the Korean team. Photo:Getty Images. |
"Son Heung-min is an important player for the team. He has played many matches in the past month. We will check his fitness after training and decide whether Son can play in the match against China or not," coach Bento left open the possibility of Son Heung-min playing.
Man City recruits young Japanese talent
Premier League champions Man City have completed the signing of young midfielder Ko Itakura from Japanese club Kawasaki Frontale.
Ko Itakura is 21 years old this year, playing in the position of center back and has grown up in the youth training center of Kawasaki Frontale Club. Last season in J-League, Ko Itakura was loaned to Vegalta Sendai and played quite successfully, helping him catch the eye of Man City scouts.
To get Ko's service, the blue half of Manchester agreed to spend 700,000 pounds. Because he does not have a work permit in England, Man City will initially loan Ko to the Dutch team Groningen until the end of the 2019/20 season.
Chelsea reach personal agreement with Leandro Paredes?
The Mirror revealed that Chelsea have reached personal agreements with midfielder Leandro Paredes. However, the deal has not been completed yet because Chelsea have not been able to agree on a transfer fee with Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Petr Cech announces retirement at end of season
On his personal page, goalkeeper Petr Cech has just announced his decision to retire at the end of the 2018-19 season. "This is my 20th season as a professional player. It has been 20 years since I signed my first professional contract and perhaps now is the right time to announce that I will retire at the end of this season."
In 2004, Cech left Rennes for Chelsea. Stamford Bridge is where the best moments of the goalkeeper born in 1982's career were kept. Cech and Chelsea won 4 Premier League titles, 1 Champions League and 1 Europa League. After 11 years of association, Cech left Chelsea for Arsenal in the summer of 2015. At the age of 36, Cech is no longer as good as before and cannot compete with young goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
De Gea sets conditions to stay at MU
With his brilliant performance in the win over Tottenham, David De Gea has reason to demand better treatment from MU during the contract negotiation process. According to the Daily Mirror, De Gea wants a salary increase of at least 100,000 pounds, including bonuses in the new contract, thereby becoming the second highest paid player at the club. Currently, De Gea's salary is 200,000 pounds/week.
De Gea's contract with MU is valid until June 2020 after the Red Devils activated the automatic one-year extension clause. De Gea's priority is still to stay at Old Trafford. However, if De Gea's demands are not met, the risk of MU losing the Spanish goalkeeper is obvious. Many big teams such as PSG and Real Madrid are ready to invite De Gea to play.
Harry Kane injured, out for 6 weeks
In the Tottenham 0-1 MU match, Harry Kane suffered an ankle ligament injury after colliding with Phil Jones. After the match, coach Pochettino expressed his concern about Kane's injury. What the Tottenham coach worried about finally came true.
According to the latest conclusion from the club's medical team, Kane needs to rest for up to 6 weeks to recover from his injury, meaning he will not be able to return to the field until March. This will be a huge loss for Tottenham, especially in the context that Son Heung Min has to focus on serving the Korean national team in the 2019 Asian Cup.
Valencia beat Gijon, come from behind to enter the quarter-finals of the King's Cup
Sporting Gijon traveled to Mestalla with great confidence after a 2-1 victory over Valencia in the first leg of the Copa del Rey round of 16. With that advantage, Gijon entered the match cautiously and actively played defensive and counter-attacking.
Thanks to a brace from striker Santi Mina, Valencia defeated Sporting Gijon 3-0 in the second leg of the 1/8 round of the King's Cup. Winning 4-2 on aggregate after 2 matches, Valencia booked their place in the quarter-finals.