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QQQ Daily Mail, Thursday, August 1, 2019SPURS SHRUG OFF
POCH OUTBURST
T
OTTENHAM have
no plans to change
Mauricio Pochetti-
no’s job title —
despite his stun-
ning outburst.
During the club’s trip to
Germany, the Spurs boss
suggested his role should be that
of a coach, and not a manager,
adding that he was ‘not in charge’
when it comes to transfers.
The comments sparked a surge
of support among Tottenham
fans on social media, many urging
chairman Daniel Levy to back his
manager in the transfer market
ahead of the closing of the
window next Thursday.
But insiders at the club have
been taken aback by Pochettino’s
remarks. It has been disclosed
that the Argentine sits on a four-
man panel with chief scout Steve
Hitchen, head of coaching and
development John McDermott
and Levy. And they maintain that
Spurs would never buy or sell a
player without Pochettino’s con-
sent. There is no intention of
changing his job title.
Pochettino had described this
transfer window as ‘massive’ for
the club’s future. But four players
have left the club and only two
have arrived, one of those head-
ing out immediately on loan.
The other, Tanguy Ndombele,
arrived for a club record £65mil-
lion from Lyon, but a squad that
appeared thin last season remains
in need of reinforcement.
‘This type of thing, sell or buy
players, extend contract or not:
it’s not in my hands, it’s in the
club’s hands and in Daniel Levy’s
hands,’ Pochettino said following
a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in
Munich on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Spurs skipper Harry
Kane is determined to win some
silverware for the club. ‘My goal is
to win the Premier League, the FA
Cup... a trophy for Spurs,’ he said.
He did so last night, as Totten-
ham won the Audi Cup through a
sudden-death penalty shootout
after drawing 2-2 with Bayern
Munich in in the Allianz Stadium.
Erik Lamela and Christian Erik-
sen, after a through pass from
Kane, got the Tottenham goals.
But Bayern pegged them back
through Jann-Fiete Arp and
Alphonso Davies, with a curler from
25 yards nine minutes from time,
forcing the penalty shootout. Spurs
clinched that 6-5, thanks to two
saves from Paulo Gazzaniga.Fans urge chairman to make big signings
By MIKE KEEGAN
PAULO DYBALA has told
Manchester United he wants
£350,000 a week to join them
from Juventus and enable Romelu
Lukaku to move to Italy.
Representatives for the Argentina
striker have made it clear they
want £9million a year after tax
from United, a significant increase
on the £6.5m a year he currently
earns in Turin.
Juventus are already planning for
life without the forward, withhead coach Maurizio Sarri keen
to add Lukaku to his attack in the
hope it will free up star man
Cristiano Ronaldo.
United have been prepared to
sell Lukaku if Juventus match
their £75m valuation.
United have also reached an
agreement with Monaco over
a £9m deal for 16-year-old
midfielder Hannibal Mejbri,
a France youth international.
MATT BARLOWDybala wants big money
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAy
forward Fernando Forestieri has
been handed a six-game ban
after being found guilty of using
the N-word during a pre-season
game in 2018.
The Football Association has
dished out the suspension
following an investigation into
the incident that occurred
between the Argentinian, whose
first language is Spanish, and
Mansfield Town player Krystian
Pearce during a pre-season
game in July 2018.
A report released by the
governing body yesterday
revealed Forestieri is alleged to
have called Pearce a ‘n*****’
during a confrontation.
The Owls forward denied using
the N-word, but did admit to
using other abusive Spanish
words towards Pearce. He
was acquitted of any criminal
charges during a court case in
relation to the incident in March.
Nevertheless, the FA confirmed
the six-game suspension and a
£25,000 fine in a statement
yesterday. Forestieri (above)
has also been warned over his
conduct and must attend a
face-to-face education course.
The forward is appealing the
ruling, meaning he is free to play
until the hearing is completed.
From the start of next season,
the minimum ban for proven
racial abuse will be six games —
a rule change that has been
confirmed by the FA yesterday.
But Forestieri’s case was tried
under last season’s regulations,
when the minimum suspension
for aggravated breaches was five
games. He was handed an extra
game ban because of the words
he is alleged to have used.
Forestieri said: ‘I am devastated
and disappointed with the
decision. It goes against
everything about the person
I am and the person I was
brought up to be.’Football
DOMINIC KING in Geneva
Klopp may unleash deadly duo
LAMPARD REUNITED WITH ROMAN
AS £58m PULISIC SHOWS PROMISE
CHELSEA provided a good
night for Christians and
Romans with an impressive
5-3 dismantling of Austrian
champions Red Bull Salzburg.
Two goals from £58million
arrival Christian Pulisic, who
also won a penalty, set up an
entertaining victory watched
by an approving Roman
Abramovich in Austria as the
Blues owner took in his first
match of the Frank
Lampard era.
The Russian has not been a
regular sight in west London,
following on from his visa
row, which has prompted
some to wonder if his interest
in his club had been waning.
However, Abramovich is
known to have a closerelationship with the new
boss and was spotted in one
of the boxes at the Red Bull
Arena. ‘I was very happy to
see him tonight,’ said a
relaxed Lampard, who spoke
to the owner for the first time
since taking the hotseat. ‘I
know how he feels about this
club. I knew that 15 or 16 years
ago when he came here. I
knew I was going to speak
to the owner in pre-season.’
Chelsea have one more
friendly against Borussia
Monchengladbach before
they start their season at
Manchester United and
Lampard is not far fromknowing his best XI. ‘I’m
getting towards it but the
door is not closed on anyone,’
he said.
He also hailed Pulisic’s
performance. ‘It was a good
night for him and he showed
his quality,’ he said. ‘He’s a big
signing for us and has a big
potential for us.
‘The question for him is that
he has to adapt to a different
league. But what I have seen
is that he has a good attitude,
a willingness to listen to
information from myself and
the staff and had some really
good moments. He is 20 so
we have to remember that he
is young, but he has potential
and I think that he is going to
be a big player for us.’By MIKE KEEGAN
in SalzburgJURGEN KLOPP will consider
starting both Mohamed Salah
and Roberto Firmino in the
Community Shield against
Manchester City on Sunday
after their impressive return to
the side last night.
Liverpool have struggled for
rhythm during pre-season but
after three defeats and a draw
they looked significantly sharper
in a 3-1 win over Lyon.
Firmino and Salah only returned
to training on Monday after their
summer break and their presencemade a big difference. Firmino
played the first half hour and
scored Liverpool’s equaliser
with a drilled finish.
‘We will have to see how they
react,’ said Klopp. ‘Manchester
City is different from all other
games you play. From a psycho-
logical point of view, losing foot-
ball games you never get used
to, so I’m really happy we could
change that. But I know weshould play much better to have
a chance against City.’
Klopp refused to rule out the
possibility that his star duo
could figure at Wembley despite
limited preparation. ‘We have to
see,’ said Klopp, whose side fell
behind after a rare error from
goalkeeper Alisson. ‘There’s a
chance they could play.’
Harry Wilson scored a superb
third goal last night, and
Bournemouth are ready to offer
Liverpool £20million for the
22-year-old winger.FA hand out
a six-game
racism ban
to Forestieri
By SAMI MOKBEL
Heely good: Pedro
(right) scores an
outrageous goal
while Pulisic
(below) hit two
GETTY IMAGES