The Sun Newspaper

Subterms

    More stories

    • 213 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Shinji Okazaki backs Leicester to beat Liverpool and launch another stunning title bid… just like in 2016

      by

      LEICESTER tore Liverpool apart five years ago this month on the way to their incredible Premier League title triumph.
      Jamie Vardy’s deadly double at the King Power — including a wonder strike that left new Reds manager Jurgen Klopp on the verge of applauding it — did the job.

      Leicester icon Shinji Okazaki is currently plying his trade at Huesca in LaLiga

      In that Foxes side was Japanese star Shinji Okazaki — a fans’ favourite and cult hero who played his part in one of the most incredible sporting moments in history.
      And ahead of reigning champions Liverpool returning to the East Midlands today, Leicester are once again involved in another astonishing title race.
      For Okazaki, it proves Brendan Rodgers’ side are no longer improbable contenders after floating back down to earth following their 5000-1 2016  triumph.
      The striker — now playing for LaLiga minnows Huesca — remains devoted to following his beloved Foxes and watches the majority of their games.

      Now aged 34, he said: “I think Leicester are doing fantastically well.
      “Vardy is doing well still which is incredible given how long he has been at the top level.
      “There have been some injuries for the team but I saw their win over Fulham and that shows just how solid their football is at the moment.
      “It doesn’t matter who is on the pitch and that is all down to Brendan Rodgers, who has got them dreaming of winning titles again.”

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

      Okazaki was a key part of the Leicester side that won the Premier League in 2016Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Okazaki spent four seasons with the club — his first being the surge to the title under ‘the Tinkerman’, Claudio Ranieri.
      He admits to having regrets over his time there, despite more than playing his part in the overachieving squad.
      But that title-winning campaign left him with winning qualities that will still be with a portion of Rodgers’ current squad.
      Vardy, 34, who picked up 26 England caps, Danish star Kasper Schmeichel, Jamaican defender Wes Morgan, Christian Fuchs from Austria and former England Under-21 winger Marc Albrighton are the survivors at the disposal of Rodgers.
      Okazaki said: “There was a lot of support for me at Leicester and I just have gratitude for those people, but during those four years I had to revisit my value as a striker.
      “It is very difficult to improve that in a short space of time. There were a lot of struggles I had to go through playing in a different environment.
      “I was able to contribute to the team winning but within me personally I wanted to push myself more so I could contribute more.
      “But I was also proud and really thankful for the experience I had with the Premier League.

      Okazaki scored a sublime overhead kick against Newcastle in the Foxes’ title-winning seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “I then went over to LaLiga with Malaga and now Huesca but that was all because of my experience with Leicester.
      Okazaki added:  “That has added to my confidence and tells me what my mindset should be — how to have a winning mindset and how to win coming from a losing position.
      “At the moment we are trying to do the same as we did with Leicester. We are solidifying mentally and physically to move forward.”
      It certainly would be another sporting miracle should Huesca — currently bottom of LaLiga having won just two games in only their second ever campaign in the Spanish top-flight — rival Leicester’s journey.
      Okazaki’s experience came into play to help Huesca back into LaLiga last season by winning the Spanish second division title.
      So which title means more? Leicester 2016 or Huesca 2020?
      Okazaki explained: “It is very difficult to compare the two. In terms of goalscoring and what I did as a striker, the win with Huesca last year was big.

      Okazaki formed a formidable partnership with Jamie Vardy at the King Power StadiumCredit: PA:Empics Sport

      “But at Leicester I fitted in well and contributed on and off the pitch behind the scenes.
      “As a Japanese player, the higher value of working well within a team would suggest the Leicester win, but I am comparing apples to apples. They were both valuable experiences.”
      Rodgers will be hoping those survivors of the class of 2016 use their own experience to fire Leicester into a second, and arguably even more impressive, Premier League title shout.
      Watch LaLiga, all in one place on LaLigaTV — available to Sky UK, Virgin and Amazon Prime customers across the UK from £6.99 a month.

      Leicester vs Liverpool – Watch LIVE for FREE, channel info and kick-off time More

    • 200 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      Manchester United star Marcus Rashford slams social media bosses for allowing racist abuse on their platforms

      by

      MARCUS Rashford has blasted social media bosses for allowing accounts to post racist abuse on their platforms — claiming they should “block them all”.
      The Man Utd ace is one of many black stars to receive vile abuse online.

      Footballer Marcus Rashford has told social media firms to get tough on racistsCredit: EPA

      Free school meals campaigner Rashford, 23, said it should be “easy” for firms to block accounts.
      The England striker said: “If they see anyone being abusive in any way, their account should be deleted immediately.”

      Rashford said he saw little of the abuse aimed at him as he was “not actively on social media”.
      He added: “It’s a place people should enjoy. For it to be used in a negative light is stupid.

      “At the moment wherever you are in the world you can be targeted.”

      Solskjaer slams ‘disgusting’ racist abuse of Man Utd duo Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial on social media
      GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Jose Mourinho defends Spurs flogging Carabao Cup final merchandise as he admits club are desperate for the money

      by

      JOSE MOURINHO says Tottenham selling Carabao Cup Final merchandise is not the act of a small club but of a desperate need to raise money.
      Spurs were ridiculed on social media this week when they unveiled a range of souvenirs marking their Wembley clash with Manchester City on April 25 – with rival fans claiming teams should only celebrate winning trophies.

      Jose Mourinho says Spurs need all the financial help they can help, so are just getting inventive with their merchandise sales for the Carabao Cup finalCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      What a bunch of mugs… are on offerCredit: Tottenham Hotspur FC

      But Mourinho, who has been trying to instil a winning mentality at the London club, has no problem with keyrings, lanyards and commemorative mugs being sold after the pandemic hit finances hard.
      He said: “We have empty stadiums, an incredible stadium always empty. How many millions is Tottenham losing every match we play at home?
      “How many millions is Tottenham losing per month?
      “We have to make money so we go to a final, try to sell some pins, some shirs, key-rings, anything. So well done.

      “I think we have a marketing and merchandising department that is responsible for that and I presume that their job, maybe I am saying something silly, but I imagine that a very important thing in their job is to make money, right?
      “So if you can make money selling anything, just make money.
      “If you ask me if am I going to buy anything, I am not going to buy anything.
      “If you tell me if you lose the final, what are you going to do with your silver medal, I am going to say first of all I think I am going to win the final and secondly if you want my silver medal I give to you because I don’t want to keep it.

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

      A commemorative t-shirt can be yours for £22Credit: Tottenham Hotspur FC

      How about a lanyard at £4 to remember the big dayCredit: Tottenham Hotspur FC

      “But I think marketing and merchandising is about making money. Sell anything you can sell.
      “You go to Man Utd matches and you realise well, even on TV, how many sponsors they have around the pitch. They sell everything.
      “They sell mattresses, they sell pillows, they sell shoulder supports or neck supports … they sell everything. So probably they are doing very well.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Fuming Jose Mourinho accuses Gareth Bale of contradicting ‘reality’ with ill-timed social media post about being fit More

    • 263 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Arsenal legend David Seaman begs Mikel Arteta not to settle for Gunners being a ‘cup team’ and aim for Prem glory

      by

      DAVID SEAMAN knows more than most how cup glory can ease league misery.
      After winning the old First Division title in 1991, Seaman and Arsenal went seven years before their next and even finished as low as 12th in that time.

      David Seaman has urged Mikel Arteta not to give up on the Premier LeagueCredit: Reuters

      The former England star knows how cup glory can ease league miseryCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Fans were appeased during those dark days by silverware — one FA Cup, one League Cup, and a Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994 which could have been two but for Nayim’s infamous lob over Seaman the following season.
      The Gunners now find themselves in similar circumstances under Mikel Arteta, with last campaign’s eighth-placed finish smoothed over by a record 14th FA Cup triumph.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
      And this year, as they lie 11th ahead of Sunday’s visit of Leeds, their only hope of sealing Champions League football for next season will be through the Europa League.

      But Arsenal legend Seaman — who lifted 12 trophies during his 13-year spell at the club — has urged boss Arteta to not allow the club to become merely a cup team.
      Former keeper Seaman said: “Around 1993 we dropped off in the league but in the cups we were doing OK.
      “When Arsenal are not challenging it is a bad season and we were well off it — and it wasn’t until Arsene Wenger came in that things started to change.
      “And even then it took two years to win the league and the first Double.

      It’s a dangerous game to play if you want to end your bad league form. You can’t just turn it on for the cup
      David Seaman

      “It’s maybe like what’s going on now. The team’s focus has changed towards the cups with the league out of reach.
      “But it’s a dangerous game to play if you want to end your bad league form. You can’t just turn it on for the cup.
      “You have to start building confidence in the league or you could be cut adrift.
      “I like what I am seeing so far, the team just needs to be more consistent.
      “We are getting performances and little runs, then we get beat and I think, ‘Really? We got beat by them?’.

      Seaman remained a constant during the Gunners’ rebuilding phase in the mid-90s and he admitted: “At that time Man United were on a big run in terms of league titles and that determination to catch them and beat them was growing and growing.
      “But my confidence took a massive hit in that period, from finishing mid-table in the league to losing to Zaragoza in the Cup Winners’ Cup final.
      “And just like throughout my whole career, I always wanted to prove people wrong or shut them up. I always wanted to bounce back.”
      Those qualities in the former England shot-stopper are exactly what Arteta will need if he is to wake Arsenal from their prolonged slumber.
      They are on a run of three Prem games without victory and cannot fall back on the FA Cup this time, after the defending champions were knocked out by Southampton last month.

      From what I see and hear he is the right man and he gives me confidence
      David Seaman on Mikel Arteta

      It may only be February but Seaman feels the clash with Leeds is a must-win for the North Londoners.
      A boyhood Leeds fan, the Rotherham-born star started out at Elland Road and remembers a day of mixed emotions in 2004 as Arsenal won the league as the Invincibles while United were relegated, sparking a 16-year absence from the top flight.
      How times have changed, with Leeds now above the Gunners in the table.
      With the likes of Frank Lampard being sacked at Chelsea for a similar drop in form, many see Arteta as the next in line to face the chop.
      But Seaman believes the Spanish coach is the one to rebuild Arsenal just like Wenger did in 1996.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      He added: “He definitely needs to be given more time. He is slowly sifting through the squad, getting rid of players he knows he doesn’t want.
      “The board need to back him in the summer window and he needs his own team. The players he has currently, a lot of them he has inherited so it is difficult for him at the moment.
      “From what I see and hear he is the right man and he gives me confidence. I’d be disappointed if they did sack him, we have got a good one.”
      Tweet @thedavidseaman

      Arsenal boss Arteta confirms that Tierney and Partey will not play against Leeds due to injury More

    • 188 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      Jamie Vardy’s pace can expose Liverpool as Man City show Leicester how to dismantle champions

      by

      LEICESTER boss Brendan Rodgers would have seen how Manchester City exposed Liverpool’s weaknesses and quietly smiled.
      As the Northern Irishman knows, his Leicester side are capable of doing the same thing — without having to copy Pep Guardiola’s blueprint.

      Jamie Vardy can drop back to link play but could revert to his more orthodox role, sticking up front in a bid to punish Liverpool’s defensive problemsCredit: AFP

      Man City’s false nine Phil Foden was a constant menace for LiverpoolCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      By keeping the likes of Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez wide, City were able to stretch Liverpool and exploit the space left by both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.
      And what Phil Foden did as the false nine was highlight the space in between their midfield and defence with his constant movement.
      While Alisson’s mistakes were key in the final moments, it was clear Liverpool were struggling to deal with City’s game plan.
      Leicester’s approach will be similar but with a completely different set-up.

      In recent seasons Jamie Vardy has evolved into the complete centre-forward who can drop deep and link up.
      But we might just see him return to his old ways by stretching the game to exploit Liverpool’s slow makeshift defence.
      Despite turning 34 last month, he is now smartly conserving his energy more to still have that explosive turn of pace.
      And by doing that he will create that space between the defence and midfield bringing James Maddison into the game who can make things happen.

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

      He has five assists in the Premier League this season and does not shy away from a goal either.
      But while Foden was forced to find that space, Maddison will have it made for him with Vardy’s pace along with Harvey Barnes and Marc Albrighton down the flanks.
      So while Rodgers will set Leicester up differently to City they can still have the same effect and expose Liverpool’s weak spots.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Leicester vs Liverpool – Watch LIVE for FREE, channel info and kick-off time More

    • 188 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Champions League revamp plans attack integrity of football… we cannot become American-style big club monopoly

      by

      TALK about out of the fire and into the frying pan…
      In a bid to prevent the European Super League, Uefa have come up with Champions League plans that amount to little more than a closed shop.

      Tom Brady won the Super Bowl last weekend with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are under the same ownership as Man UtdCredit: USA TODAY Sports

      The Champions League cannot become an American-style big club money-spinning monopolyCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Their proposals would offer a free pass to clubs who fail to qualify through merit. It must never happen.
      Uefa’s idea is that of the additional clubs the competition would be open to, England would probably have two extra spots, making six qualifying clubs in all.
      But here’s the problem… two of them would qualify based on their previous history in Europe, rather than merit.
      Based on the proposals, if Everton and Leicester came fifth and sixth in the Premier League, say, but Arsenal and Spurs were seventh and eighth, the North London teams who would go into the Champions League.

      And that would be at the cost of Everton and Leicester based on Uefa’s ‘coefficient’ — which weights previous experience in the Champions League over merit in any season.
      There is no justifiable reason why clubs who do not finish highest  in the league should play in Europe above those that finish below them.
      The damage would be huge. Uefa’s latest plot is a spatchcock concoction based on the original Big Picture Project and their own twitchy reaction to plans by Fifa who fancy a chunk of Europe’s grandest prize.
      But it is more sinister than that. A major target is the Premier League itself.  There is worldwide envy at our broadcast power and Uefa’s plan to increase the current 125 matches to no fewer than 225 strikes at the very heart of it.

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

      Each club would have ten games in a new league-style structure before the knockout stage. That’s four extra games into a season already bulging at the seams.
      Favouritism simply has no place in competitive football. Uefa are suggesting a straightforward bribe designed, I suspect, to encourage those that a coefficient suits to go along with their proposals.
      Meanwhile, let’s consider the wreckage of our domestic game.
      The League Cup would probably be a victim, losing the EFL as much as £86million in much-needed revenue from broadcast revenue. Let alone the loss of gate revenue enjoyed by  clubs who play in the tournament (when supporters are allowed in).
      The FA Cup, already a grey shadow of its former glory, would no doubt suffer further indignities, increasingly employed as a useful competition for squad players or fitness tests.
      Then there would be a pincer movement on the Premier League, caught between the needs of the golden six and squeezing games into odd corners of the week. As a result, I’m sure PL broadcast revenues would be hit.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Lionel Messi has the most-lucrative contract in all of sport – miles ahead of second-placed Patrick Mahomes
      Perhaps I am too cynical but I believe the current drive for change comes from America where the biggest sports are closed shops without promotion or relegation.
      This makes for more lucrative accounts with annual guarantees of weighty profits to owners. So, it makes sense to Americans that the Champions League becomes a big-club monopoly. The figures are mouth-watering.
      One example — the total number of Super Bowl viewers is roughly half of those for the Champions League final. This pot of gold is waiting to be fully exploited, hence why queues have formed.
      Collectively, the Premier League people were smart enough to create what is now a £6billion business. It would be a pity if the principles of togetherness that made it so strong are abandoned.
      The red light for danger is flashing. The Premier League needs to fight the Uefa proposals on two fronts. Without a merit-based competition, any proposals lack integrity and must be prevented.
      And we must stop Uefa chiefs taking away our Premier League calendar for their own competition…

      Tom Brady stumbles ‘drunk’ after TOSSING Lombardi trophy during boozy boat parade celebrating Buccaneers’ Super Bowl win More

    • 238 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      Memory of tragic Jordan Sinnott inspired me to help disadvantaged people, says best friend & Rotherham star Matt Crooks

      by

      ROTHERHAM star Matt Crooks is motivated to be the best person he can and help disadvantaged young people by the tragic death of his best friend.
      Jordan Sinnott died in January last year aged 25 after being attacked by three drunk and violent thugs in Retford, Nottinghamshire.

      Matt Crooks and best pal Jordan Sinnott during their happy times together

      Matt Crooks dedicated his two goals at Stoke last month to his best mate

      While two of the low-lifes are behind bars, left behind are grieving friends, family and loved ones.
      Just a week after Sinnott’s funeral, his partner Kelly found out she was 12 weeks pregnant with their daughter Maisie.
      The little girl has been cruelly robbed of her father, who never knew he was about to become a dad.
      And Millers midfielder Crooks, 27, told SunSport: “Just knowing ‘Sin’ never got to learn about Maisie has made me think, ‘Don’t ever take your children for granted.’

      “Me and my partner Ashleigh already have a two-year-old son Elias and we’re expecting our second – a girl – soon.
      “I want to spend all my spare time with my kids and family. That is my priority.
      “If anyone wants to be a better man, a better family man, a better husband, a better dad, a better friend, they need look no further than Jordan for inspiration.
      “I strive to be all those things – and his memory will forever inspire me to be the best person I can possibly be.”

      Rotherham’s Matt Crooks won the SkyBet Championship player of the month

      The shirts in the Sinnott25 tribute
      Crooks has just won the SkyBet Championship player-of-the-month award for a superb run of form in January.
      It included two goals in a 3-3 humdinger with Stoke and another strike in a 3-0 win against Middlesbrough either side of the first anniversary of Sinnott’s untimely death. He dedicated those goals – and his award – to his friend.
      The pair grew to become close after meeting each other aged 14 when they both joined Huddersfield on the same day.
      Ironically, they were also both released by the Terriers on the same day in 2015.
      Crooks went on to play for Accrington, Rangers and Northampton before joining the Millers in 2019.
      And Sinnott played for Chesterfield in the EFL and non-league sides Altrincham, Halifax, Alfreton and Matlock, where he was contracted at the time of his death.
      The first thing the Rotherham midfielder sees each morning is a photo of his old pal.
      In his bedroom is a photo of Sinnott with Crooks’ baby boy Elias on his first birthday next to a bigger one of the Millers ace kissing his son.Crooks and his partner used to spend a lot of time with Sinnott and his girlfriend – making all four of them close.
      They even went on holiday together to Majorca.

      Footballers in Malawi with their donated shirts

      Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson backed the Sinnott 25 shirt campaign
      He said: “Me and Sin used to often go on holiday. I’m so happy we spent his last summer together.
      “We went to two weddings, had two holidays in Majorca and Ibiza and went to a stag do.
      “I will cherish those memories forever.”
      Both Crooks and his partner have continued to remain in close contact with Sinnott’s girlfriend and her baby daughter.
      He said: “At the weekend my missus went for a socially-distanced walk with Kelly.
      “She’s on her own with Maisie. We try to keep her spirits up. She’s a strong young lady – she’s doing really well.
      “I’m trying to be the best ‘uncle’ I can for Maisie now and to protect and look out for her. I hope she knows I’m always here for her.”
      Crooks is inspired to help others after setting up a charity to leave a lasting legacy in memory for his friend.
      The Jordan Sinnott Foundation’s mission statement is apt – helping people through sport.

      Steven Gerrard was another high-profile personality who paid tribute
      Anyone can apply for grant funding. It is for youngsters aged between five and 21 and for individuals or teams who need funding for sports-related activity.
      It could be an application from parents for money towards paying for a school trip or a pair of football boots they cannot afford for example. The Foundation is also going to help homeless people too.
      Crook said: “The family asked the football community to send Sinnott 25 shirts so they could be displayed at his funeral and then be donated to under-privileged youngsters.
      “Clubs and sports personalities up and down the country sent them in and more than 900 were received in the end.
      “People like Steven Gerrard, Harry Maguire, Jordan Henderson and Reece James supported it.
      “We’ve already sent out a load to Malawi and, post-Covid, Kit Aid are going to send the vast majority of them across the globe.
      “A short time after the funeral I was telling my missus I wanted to do something because I didn’t want Sin to just be forgotten.
      “We decided to set up the Foundation with the idea of representing everything he was about.

      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      “Sport was his life and we thought that would be a good route to go down.
      “We want to provide financial assistance and provide help through the power of sport and activities.
      “Sport is a big thing in people’s lives. It doesn’t matter what background you are from, you can become anything you want to be.
      “We thought if we can help people enjoy sport or be successful in it through Jordan’s name it would be fantastic. That would leave a lasting legacy fitting of a great person.”
      More than 1,000 people attending Sinnott’s funeral speaks volumes about how he captured people’s hearts with his happy life-and-soul personality.
      Crooks added: “I read recently it shows the kind of person you are by not how many friends you have but how many people turn up at your funeral. That made me smile.
      “I stood there and saw how many people attended and it made me emotional.”
      Finally, asked what he misses about his friend most, Crooks said: “Just him being there for a chat. I just miss his presence, whether it be by text or FaceTime, him being with me.
      “It’s been very hard but I’m determined his legacy will live on.”
      For more information about either applying for a grant or donating towards The Jordan Sinnott Foundation, please visit js25.co.uk More

    • 238 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg reveals how boss Pep Guardiola comforted him after dad’s tragic death ahead of Man City vs Spurs

      by

      PIERRE-EMILE HOJBJERG will forever remember the moment he and Pep Guardiola cried together.
      It was when the midfielder received the worst news imaginable — yet received support and advice from Guardiola, his then-manager at Bayern Munich.

      Pep Guardiola helped Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg deal with the news of his dad’s cancer and subsequent death in a tearful exchange during their time together at BayernCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Tottenham star Hojbjerg hopes to dent the Manchester City boss’ title charge on Saturday.
      But regardless of the result, the pair will always enjoy a close bond.
      Dane Hojbjerg joined Bayern Munich from Brondby as a 16-year-old and was four months shy of his 18th birthday when he became the youngest player to represent the German club in the Bundesliga.
      Yet just a couple of days after he turned 18, in 2013, Hojbjerg’s dad, Christian, called to reveal that he was suffering from stomach cancer.

      Hojbjerg revealed: “Guardiola called me in and said: ‘I heard about your father, I’m incredibly sorry. Let’s just talk together’.
      “Then all of a sudden I started crying and said I was confused and scared.
      “Then he said to me: ‘The people you care about the most and who are closest to you, you have to stick to them, even if it costs a little in the workplace’.
      “He said that he would always be there for me. And then he started to cry and did not know what to say.”

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

      Hojbjerg and Guardiola forged a tight bond in GermanyCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Bayern president Uli Hoeness stepped in, and the player’s dad was flown to Munich for special treatment which the club paid for.
      Sadly, his father died of cancer in 2014 and Hojbjerg, now 25, added: “It has haunted me, of course, ever since.
      “Grief is a difficult thing. Suddenly, you feel that you stand alone — 18-years-old, you are out in the big football world and you have to make decisions that define your career.
      “When you are 18, 19, you don’t always see the big picture and the person that was always seeing the big picture was not there any more.”
      Yet Guardiola remained a big influence, even though Hojbjerg’s career at Bayern never really got off the ground.
      He added: “Tactically, I made a big step under Pep. For him it was about understanding the game, about reading it.
      “I liked the way he wanted to play football and thought about football.”
      He made 17 appearances in the Bundesliga across three title-winning seasons before loan moves to Augsburg and Schalke.

      Spurs star Hojbjerg will now look to put a dent in Guardiola’s title hopesCredit: Rex Features

      Hojbjerg has learned two very different lessons from Guardiola and current boss Jose MourinhoCredit: EPA
      The highlight was the DFB-Pokal final in May 2014, when Guardiola thrust him into the starting line-up.
      Bayern beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 with extra-time goals from Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller.
      In 2016, Hojbjerg moved to Southampton for £12.8million and then to Spurs for a bargain £15m last summer.
      He has become a key member of Jose Mourinho’s team, even though their recent performances have not been as great.
      Mourinho said: “I think maybe him being formed at Bayern had an effect on his mentality.
      “But I also think his DNA is his own personality. He’s a guy that works hard every day.”
      Asked to compare both managers, Hojbjerg said: “Mourinho and Guardiola are still hungry, even though they have won everything. Both work each day with incredible ambition.
      “Pep taught me to analyse the game very carefully.
      “At Spurs, Mourinho makes us as one machine. I am proud to be part of this machine.”

      Man City vs Tottenham – Watch LIVE, channel info and kick-off time More