Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho sprung to the defence of new goalkeeper Asmir Begovic after the Bosnian conceded four goals against the New York Red Bulls after coming on as a half-time substitute in a friendly on Wednesday.
Begovic, signed from Stoke City this month for eight million pounds as competition for first-choice keeper Thibaut Courtois, was introduced with the English champions 1-0 ahead in New Jersey but Chelsea ended up losing 4-2.
“He was very tired, the same as Courtois. When the goalkeepers are very tired the coordination is low, the agility doesn’t exist and the speed of reaction doesn’t exist,” Mourinho told reporters.
Jamaica vs Mexico in Gold Cup final
Darren Mattocks and Giles Barnes scored first-half goals to propel Jamaica to an upset 2-1 victory over the United States in the CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finals in Atlanta.
The victory ensured Jamaica became the first Caribbean team to reach the Gold Cup Final since its inception in 1991.
The Reggae Boyz will face Mexico in Philadelphia on Sunday after El Tri overcame 10-man Panama 2-1 with two late penalties in a combustible affair.
Atletico sign Ghana midfielder Mensah
Atletico Madrid have agreed to sign Ghana midfielder Bernard Mensah from Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes and will send him on loan for one season to La Liga rivals and city neighbours Getafe.
“The Ghanaian player has signed with our club for six seasons,” Atletico said on their website on Wednesday.
“He will play the first of those on loan with Getafe,” they added.
Vitoria and Getafe also confirmed the deal for the 20-year-old, who operates as an attacking midfielder and can also play wide on the left.
Barcelona transfer business done
Barcelona have completed their business in the latest transfer window and the Spanish and European champions’ squad is now “closed”, president Josep Bartomeu said yesterday.
Barca have brought in Turkey playmaker Arda Turan and versatile Spain defender Aleix Vidal since winning the treble last term.
Neither Arda or Vidal will be available to coach Luis Enrique until January, however, as Barca have been banned by FIFA from registering new signings until then after they broke rules on the transfer of foreign under-18 players.
“We have a complete and balanced squad and Luis Enrique is happy with the players he has,” Bartomeu, fresh from victory in Saturday’s presidential election, told reporters.
Pirlo jumped before he was pushed
Andrea Pirlo decided to quit Juventus before the Serie A champions could push him out.
The 36-year-old midfielder won four Italian titles in his four years in Turin but opted to leave the Bianconeri and join fledgling Major League Soccer franchise New York City FC this summer.
And Pirlo has now admitted he was worried his long-established role as Juve’s playmaker would be prised away from him due to his advancing years.
“The idea of no longer being guaranteed that protagonist’s role really weighed upon me,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Maybe I would have stopped feeling as comfortable within myself. So I preferred to make this choice for myself rather than leave it for others to send me away.”
No De Bruyne offer – Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg say they have not received an approach for Kevin De Bruyne despite strong reports linking the former Chelsea midfielder with Manchester City.
It has been claimed City have opened talks over a deal for the 24-year-old, with suggestions the club could be prepared to pay a British record £60 million.
But the Bundesliga club, who have previously insisted the player is not for sale, claim there has not been contact.
“Nothing has arrived here. And neither Kevin nor his agent have told me they want to leave,” sporting director Klaus Allofs told the German media.
Busquets: Pedro has Barca ‘doubts’
Manchester United target Pedro has “doubts” about his future at Barcelona, according to his team-mate Sergio Busquets.
Pedro is regarded as one of Spain’s best attacking forwards, but he faces the unenviable task of having to dislodge either Lionel Messi, Neymar or Luis Suarez to get into the Barcelona first-team.
“I have spoken with Pedro,” Busquets told a press conference in San Francisco ahead of Barca’s friendly against United.
“I think that as a team-mate and friend, I would like him to stay for a long time, but I understand that he has doubts.
“He wants to play but there is a lot of competition. In our team we have the best players and it’s very difficult (to get into the team).”