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Tag: Captain

  • Ter Stegen loses Barca captaincy

    Ter Stegen loses Barca captaincy

    Barcelona stripped Marc-Andre ter Stegen of the captaincy on Thursday as a feud escalated between the Germany goalkeeper and the club over his injury status amid the Catalans’ attempts to register new signings.

    Barca signed 24-year-old goalkeeper Joan Garcia from local rivals Espanyol last month, with the club likely expecting to sell Ter Stegen, 33, to make space in their wage bill for Garcia and Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford.

    However, Ter Stegen had to have more surgery to finish repairing a multiple knee ligament tear sustained last season, closing the door for him to leave in the close-season transfer window and forcing Barca to try a different approach.

    The club asked Ter Stegen to sign a long-term medical leave that would allow them to clear 80% of his wages until mid-season and comply with LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play rules.

    But Ter Stegen’s announcement on social media that he would be sidelined for only three months irked the club management as LaLiga rules require a player to remain out of action for at least four months to be considered a long-term injury.

    “FC Barcelona announces that, following the disciplinary proceedings opened against player Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and until this matter is definitively resolved, the club, in agreement with the Sports Management and the technical staff, has decided to temporarily remove him as captain of the first team,” Barca said in a statement.

    “During this period, the duties of first captain will be assumed by the current vice-captain, Ronald Araujo.”

    The controversy highlights Barcelona’s financial struggles as they have battled to register new signings for several years running. The club are set to begin their LaLiga title defence on August 16 at Mallorca amid the continuing captaincy crisis.

    Tribalfootball

  • Odegaard the perfect captain for Arsenal – Havertz

    Odegaard the perfect captain for Arsenal – Havertz

    Arsenal forward Kai Havertz has declared Martin Odegaard the “perfect” captain for the North London club.

    Odegaard is working his way back from ankle injury.

    Havertz told Sky Sports: “I don’t know how long he is injured now, maybe two weeks, but every day, he’s here every day, he’s in the meetings and speaks to us.

    “Yeah I think, I think he is the perfect captain for a team like us where we have like so many young players and still the players who can progress, and he is just there for everyone and not only off the pitch.

    “To be honest when I came, before I came to Arsenal, I didn’t think he would speak so much like in the dressing room and stuff like that. But he speaks a lot and in the dressing room before the game, stuff like that, and he is also always there on the pitch. You know, when the things are not going your way, you need someone to step up.”

    He added: “I think everyone has to step up when one of your most important players is missing and I think we do it quite well at the moment, we have some players um they now speak a lot in the dressing room, that helps.

    “So, yeah we hope obviously Martin comes back very quickly but um yeah we have to do our job when he’s not there.”

  • AFCON 2023: Kenneth Omeruo set to captain Super Eagles against Djurtus of Guinea Bissau

    AFCON 2023: Kenneth Omeruo set to captain Super Eagles against Djurtus of Guinea Bissau

    Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo will be the stand-in captain when Nigeria clash with the Djurtus of Guinea Bissau today at the Stade Félix-Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.

    The Kasimpasa of Turkey defender will be replacing Troost-Ekong who could be ruled out due to injury.

    The encounter against the Djurtus will be Nigeria’s 100th game at the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.

    Omeruo was a second half substitute in the last game against the Elephants of Ivory Coast held at the Alassane Quattara stadium in Abidjan.

    Omeruo was a member of the 2013 winning team in South Africa.

    He has made 100 appearances for Nigeria.

  • Fernandes proved why we picked him as Man Utd captain – Ten Hag

    Fernandes proved why we picked him as Man Utd captain – Ten Hag

    Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was pleased with Bruno Fernandes for victory over Nottingham Forest.

    Fernandes scored the matchwinning penalty as United came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Old Trafford.

    Ten Hag said, “You ask the question [about him] but he showed why we pick him as a leader and a captain.

    “He is a brilliant captain, by example, an inspiration. He brings the quality, keeps going. I think he played a very impressive game.”

    On the fans, he added: “The fans are entitled to have their opinions. Also, you see a very strong bond between the fans and the team, also away from home. I’m very pleased with that. I want to thank them for that bond by giving them good performances. If we stick together, the fans and the team, we will be successful.”

  • Rice gives us power in the middle – Arsenal captain

    Rice gives us power in the middle – Arsenal captain

    Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard was impressed by Declan Rice after their Premier League win over Crystal Palace.

    The club captain, who has only played a few competitive games with Rice since the latter’s arrival in the summer, has been welcoming new players into the fold.

    Odegaard praised the likes of Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, but had special words in reserve for Rice this week.

    “[Rice] has been absolutely brilliant in every game since he came in, and he showed it again today,” Odegaard said after the win over Palace.

    “On the ball he’s comfortable, off the ball he gives us power in the middle.”

    “Great characters coming in so far, some good additions on the pitch but also off the pitch,” Odegaard said back in July.

    “They bring good quality and good energy so we have to make sure they adapt as quick as possible and help them to settle in. So it’s nice to have them.

    “I think it’s been important for the club and the coaches to bring in some good characters off the pitch. It’s important for the team. We need people to give energy. I feel like all of them are great guys.

    “Now with the new signings and what we did last year I think the expectations are gonna go up. That’s part of the game and we have to deal with it. All we can do is focus on our jobs and continue to work hard every day and that’s what we’re going to do.”

  • I’ve got big shoes to fill – Chelsea captain, James

    I’ve got big shoes to fill – Chelsea captain, James

    Reece James has reacted to his appointment as the new Chelsea captain by Mauricio Pochettino.

    The defender succeeds Cesar Azpilicueta after his departure for Atletico Madrid.

    James has been with the club since the age of six and said: “I’m so happy to take on the role and responsibility.

    “I know I’ve got big shoes to fill because we have had huge captains here in the past, John Terry being one, Gary Cahill and even Azpilicueta who has just left.

    “These are three huge captains and they have big legacies at the club. they played here for a number of years, but I am excited.

    “I have been at Chelsea my whole life. To come through the academy is tough enough. There were probably a number of occasions when I wasn’t going to stay at Chelsea.

    “I wasn’t good enough at the time. I kept on working hard to get to a level, and to receive the captaincy is a great feeling for me and my family.”

  • Ten Hag to strip Maguire of Man Utd captaincy

    Ten Hag to strip Maguire of Man Utd captaincy

    Harry Maguire is set to lose the Manchester United captaincy.

    The Sun says the defender is set to officially lose the captain’s armband.

    United manager Erik ten Hag has made Maguire available for sale this summer. West Ham and Tottenham are both keen, as are Serie A clubs.

    And the Dutchman is set to take the armband away and give it formally to Bruno Fernandes.

    The decision has already been made and the change will happen this week.

  • Kylian Mbappe named new France captain

    Kylian Mbappe named new France captain

    Paris St-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has been appointed France captain to succeed Hugo Lloris, the French football federation (FFF) said on Monday.

    French media reported that Mbappe had accepted the captaincy after speaking with coach Didier Deschamps.

    “Didier Deschamps has named Kylian Mbappe the new captain of Les Bleus. Antoine Griezmann is the vice-captain,” the FFF said on Twitter.

    “Kylian meets all the requirements to have this responsibility. On the field as in the life of the group, by being a unifying element,” Deschamps was quoted as saying.

    Mbappe, 24, had been touted as one of the candidates for the role since goalkeeper Lloris retired from international football in January.

    This had come weeks after leading France to a second straight FIFA World Cup final, where they were beaten by Argentina.

    Mbappe has been capped 66 times and played a key role in their successful 2018 World Cup campaign as well as their runners-up finish in 2022.

    France take on the Netherlands at the Stade de France in their first Euro 2024 qualifier on Friday, before travelling to Ireland next Monday.

  • Mbappe faces huge challenge if he becomes France captain, PSG coach says

    Mbappe faces huge challenge if he becomes France captain, PSG coach says

    Kylian Mbappe will be taking on “a huge responsibility” if he becomes the new France captain now, after Hugo Lloris retired from international football.

    That is the verdict of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) head coach Christophe Galtier, who steered clear of either recommending the role to Mbappe or putting any pressure on national coach Didier Deschamps.

    At the age of 24, Mbappe has already won 66 caps for Les Bleus, scoring 36 goals in the process.

    He won the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and scored a hat-trick against Argentina in the 2022 final in Qatar, but he painfully finished on the losing team.

    PSG striker Mbappe appears an obvious candidate, but he may not aspire to the captaincy, which Lloris held for 10 years.

    Manchester United defender Raphael Varane is another strong contender for the role, according to reports in France, having served as vice-captain at the Qatar World Cup.

    Galtier said on Tuesday: “I’m not the national team coach. I’m not going to get involved in the France captain discussion.

    “Sometimes, the France captain is of a certain age with a certain number of caps.

    “Kylian Mbappe has got many under his belt and many incredible performances. I haven’t spoken to Kylian Mbappe about whether he will be the France captain or not.

    “Of course, that is a huge responsibility. It is not me who will decide who the captain will be. Even without the armband, he is a leader.”

  • Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa welcomes bouncing baby boy

    Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa welcomes bouncing baby boy

    Super Eagles captain,  Ahmed Musa has welcomed another baby into his family.

    The former Leicester City star took to his social media account to announce the latest addition to his family on Thursday.

    Ahmed Musa was grateful to God for the newest addition to his family, stating all thanks be to Allah.

    Revealing the name of the new baby, Ahmed Musa wrote: Alhamdulillah Allah ya Albar kace mu da Adam Ahmed Musa (ZAYD) translated to mean (All thanks are to Allah, may Allah bless us with Adam Ahmed Musa).

    The Super Eagles gaffer wrote on Twitter

    “Today is a special day for me as my son will be named. Isa Ahmed Musa. I pray that your name will only be called in places of honour.? You will be a solution to your generation and the first amongst your peers. I love you so much.

    Musa became the first Nigerian to score more than once in a FIFA World Cup match, after scoring twice against Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Read more

    Ahmed Musa is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward and left winger for Turkish Süper Lig club Fatih Karagümrük and the Nigeria national team. Musa became the first Nigerian to score more than once in a FIFA World Cup match, after scoring twice against Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup

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