Sports
Cucurella admits he was ready to ‘Go on his knees’ to join Manchester City
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has confessed he was desperate to join Manchester City in 2022, admitting he was willing to “go on his knees” to play under Pep Guardiola before Brighton blocked the transfer.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has openly admitted how badly he wanted to join Manchester City in 2022, revealing he was prepared to do almost anything to secure a move to the Etihad.
The Spanish defender was strongly linked with Pep Guardiola’s side following a standout season at Brighton, but the deal collapsed after the Seagulls demanded a higher transfer fee than City were willing to pay.
Speaking in a recent interview with Movistar, Cucurella described the moment Manchester City expressed interest as an opportunity he was desperate to take.
What Cucurella said
The former Barcelona youth product said there was no doubt in his mind at the time: “Man City wanted me before I joined Chelsea. They were on fire, one of the best teams in the world.”
He went on to explain that working with Guardiola, a coach he has admired since childhood, was a major motivator.
He added, “I wanted to go. When they come as they did, when Guardiola asks, you’ll go on your knees if necessary.”
Despite his desire, Brighton’s asking price became a stumbling block. Manchester City reportedly refused to meet the club’s valuation, allowing Chelsea to eventually swoop in and secure a £62m transfer.
Cucurella insists the negotiations were out of his hands; “Brighton had demands that were out of the market, and it couldn’t be done.”
Since joining Chelsea, Cucurella has experienced mixed fortunes, competing for a starting position amid system changes and managerial transitions.
Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal now holds another Champions League record after the club’s 2-1 victory over Frankfurt on Tuesday night.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
Yamal’s assist for Jules Kounde means he now has more goal involvements in the tournament than any other player aged 18 or younger.
The Spaniard has now beaten Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe’s record.
Barcelona had to come from behind to get the three points against Frankfurt at the Spotify Nou Camp.
Ansgar Knauff put the Bundesliga side in front before the break.
But in the second half, two goals from Kounde sealed an important victory for the Catalans, with Marcus Rashford and Yamal bagging assists.
Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, has blamed a lack of control and fatigue for their 2-1 defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday night.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
Maresca’s men took the lead through Joao Pedro, before the Serie A side fought back to take all three points.
Gianluca Scamacca’s header levelled the game, before Charles De Ketelaere smashed in the winner in the 83rd minute.
“After we conceded the first goal, we lost control a little bit of the game,” Maresca told TNT Sports.
“We are playing every two days, two days, two days. For a moment we looked like we struggled a bit.
“We were aggressive like them. We had different chances to make it 2-0 and when we conceded 1-1 the dynamic of the game changed a little bit.”
Chelsea now have 10 points from six games, two points behind eighth-placed Liverpool.
The Blues welcome Everton to Stamford Bridge next in the Premier League this weekend.
Brazil head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has predicted that Arsenal will not win the Champions League this season.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
The Gunners have won all the five fixtures they have played so far and are top of the league phase with 15 points.
Mikel Arteta’s side have seen off the likes of Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich in that run, conceding only one goal.
Arsenal are being regarded by several pundits as one of the favourites to lift the trophy this season.
But Ancelotti, who won the competition twice with AC Milan and three times with Real Madrid, feels one of his former clubs will emerge champions.
In an interview with TNT Sport, Ancelotti was asked who is thinks will win the Champions League, he simply replied: “My Real Madrid.”
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