Page 88 - Soccer360 - Issue 103

90TH MINUTE
WHO SAID WHAT
“I’ve only had it up on my wall
for two weeks, it’s come down already!” – Declan Rice has joked about his British record move to Arsenal from West Ham being almost immediately broken by new Chelsea star Moises Caicedo following the latter’s own £115m move from Brighton to London rivals Chelsea.
“I just catch myself watching
him instead of picking up on my assignment. It’s tough to stay focused when you have such a great presence.”
– Inter Miami defender Kamal Miller has jokingly admitted that he drifts into simply watching Messi play instead of sticking to his own defensive responsibilities.
“Alisson’s save, for Almiron’s shot, was the best I’ve ever seen in my life.”
– Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson made the best save he’s ever seen during the Premier League clash between the two sides at St James’ Park.
Ian Waterhouse
BEST OF THE BEST
Erling Haaland named PFA Player of the Year,2022/23 Haaland joined Man City from Borussia Dortmund for £51m in June 2022 and enjoyed an exceptional debut season under manager pep-Guardiola, scoring 52 goals in 53 appearances across all competitions to help the Citizens win a historic Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble.
The 22-year-old broke a plethora of goalscoring records and became the first-ever player in Premier League history to score 36 goals in just 35 appearances, comfortably winning his first Golden Boot in the English top flight.
TICKET TO RUDE
Pep Guardiola left a traffic warden in stitches after being handed a parking ticket for appearing to park on double yellow lines in Manchester. The Man City boss was filmed by a passer-by having an exchange with the traffic warden in the city. The video, that was posted on TikTok, then captured Guardiola’s funny response. He said: “You want a picture? You have to pay for the picture!” That reply from the 52-year-old saw the traffic warden crack up.
TRIBUTE TIME
Crystal Palace put rivalries aside to pay tribute to Millwall legend John Berylson ahead of their clash with Arsenal. Berylson, Millwall’s chairman, had been associated with the club since 2006
but passed away in July after being involved in a car accident. Despite
their hostile on-field relationship,
the Eagles showed genuine class to hold a minutes’ applause for him and Nottingham Forest icon Trevor Francis before the Premier League contest with the Gunners.
68
Brighton had 68 touches in the opposition box against West Ham, the second most on record (2008-09 onwards) for a losing team in the Premier League, after Manchester City’s 79 vs. Manchester United in December 2019.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Moisés Caicedo is just the second player to give away a penalty on his Premier League debut for Chelsea, after Wayne Bridge vs. Liverpool in August 2003.
• Aged 23 years and 69 days, Olga Carmona (right) is the second-youngest player to score in both the semi-final and final of a single edition of a FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament, behind only Alex Morgan in 2011 (22y 15d).
• Union Berlin forward Kevin Behrens has scored four goals in the first two matchdays of this Bundesliga campaign - the only German player to score more in the opening two rounds was Gerd Müller (6) in 1977-78 (Cacau most recently 4 in 2004-05).
GOOD RIDDENCE
Paris Saint-Germain fans expressed their sentiments towards their departed star Lionel Messi ahead of his MLS debut for Inter Miami. Messi’s poor relationship
with the PSG fanbase has been well- documented and ultimately, it seems
they were relieved to get rid of the World Cup-winning Argentine. They unveiled a banner that read “Messi: finally rid of the rude.” In any case, it looks as though the bridges between Messi and PSG fans are not going to be rebuilt any time soon, with the Argentine star continuing to dazzle in the States with a new-found home at Inter Miami.
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