Page 88 - Soccer360 Issue 106

90TH MINUTE
WHO SAID WHAT
“It’s normal that I would go with Portugal. I had the chance to
go twice, but they didn’t come
at the right time for me. I got emotional when I didn’t accept
the last offer, because I decided
to stay at Roma and I think I made
a mistake. Because now Portugal has a fantastic team, one of the best, in the top five.” – Jose Mourinho has revealed that he “made a mistake” snubbing the Portuguese national team to stay at Roma.
“I don’t know about the grass because last season it was so, so high and dry. It’s like playing tennis at Wimbledon or Roland Garros
- completely different, just ask a tennis player about the speed of the ball. It’s the same in football.”
– Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wasn’t happy with the grass length at Craven Cottage, Fulham’s home ground ahead of his team’s trip to the ground.
“You have a European Championships coming up and an FA Cup final coming up. It is easy for players to stay out for a little bit and then come back towards the European Championships. I have seen it myself over the years. I just think the players who have been injured are not filling themselves with any credit at the minute.”– Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney accused senior players of playing up their injuries after the club’s defeat against Arsenal.
Emiliano Martínez has scored three own goals in his Premier League career, the most of any goalkeeper in the competition’s history.
GO PRO GILLET
Jarred Gillet wore a head-mounted camera, dubbed ‘RefCam’, for the game between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The headset recorded the match as it unfolded but it was not broadcast live. Instead, the footage was used for a one-off edition of the show Match Officials Mic’d Up. The show, which is broadcast on Sky Sports, delves into contentious refereeing decisions, with PGMOL chief Howard Webb making an appearance earlier this year.
FILL THOSE SHOES, KID
Manchester United fans have demanded that Wayne Rooney’s son Kai be “promoted to the first team immediately” after starring in an incredible TikTok video. The 14-year-old is following in his father’s footsteps by starring for the Red Devils, albeit their youth side.
Kai has scored an amazing 56 goals during his first full season in United’s academy. And if he enjoys half the success his father did, Kai is set for a bright future in the game. A video on TikTok posted by @rhelitecoaching showed Kai being worked hard in a one-on-one training session.
JUST FOR KICKS
VfB Stuttgart’s brand ambassador, Cacau, crossed the pond for a historic NFL Draft moment. From Stuttgart’s MHP Arena, he announced the Atlanta Falcons’ pick of linebacker JD Bertrand at 143rd overall, bridging the gap between American football and international soccer in a unique sports collaboration.
FORGET FERARRI
Skoda has delivered a new fleet of vehicles to
the Valencia CF men’s first team at the Ciutat Esportiva de Paterna. The new lineup includes electric vehicles like the Enyaq Coupé, marking
a shift towards eco-friendly choices in sports. This reinforces their partnership with the club and highlights a growing trend of environmental awareness in professional football and the overall global sports scene.
3
IN A DISTANT STADIUM.....
The Force was strong at Dignity Health Sports Park on May 11th as the LA Galaxy, partnered with Modelo, hosted a thrilling Star Wars Night for their match against Real Salt Lake. Iconic music and sound effects transformed the stadium into a galaxy far, far away, while over 30 costumed characters from the Star Wars universe roamed the concourse, bringing the experience to life for fans of all ages.
AN ARCADE
Juventus have officially launched the Juventus Creator Lab, a special
new space, along with collaborations and partnerships with globally recognized media partners, and two new original contents to mark an important moment
for the organization. Juventus Creator Lab
is the laboratory where Juventus digital products are born - a new approach to creativity inspired by LA-style creator houses and gaming studios, and built to serve a global fanbase.
86 SOCCER360 SUMMER 2024