Sports
Thibaut Courtois Sends Supportive Message to Spurs’ Antonin Kinsky
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has revealed that he reached out to Tottenham Hotspur’s Antonin Kinsky after his catastrophic errors in the Champions League this week.
The Czech shot-stopper was handed a surprise debut in the competition, with Igor Tudor dropping usual number one Guglielmo Vicario against Atletico Madrid. Things couldn’t have gone worse for the Spurs backup, however.
Kinsky was at fault for the first and third goals, and was brought off after just 17 minutes, with Atletico 3-0 up – the quickest a Champions League goalkeeper has ever been subbed off without injury. Spurs would lose the game 5-2 in what was a fairly abject night all round.
Courtois Highlights Atletico Pitch Issue in Kinsky Message
After his high-profile errors, many have spoken out in support of Kinsky. Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea wrote: “No one who hasn’t been a goalkeeper can understand how difficult it is to play in this position. Keep your head up and you will go again.”
Adding his name to the list of those to reach out to Kinsky, Courtois has revealed that he sent a private message to the goalkeeper. In it, he also appeared to make an accusation at Atletico Madrid’s pitch. He said:
“I sent an Instagram DM to Tottenham’s goalkeeper Kinsky, because what happened to him was tough, it’s hard mentally.”
“Atletico’s pitch causes problems for every team.”
It was notable on the night that Kinsky wasn’t the only player who slipped at a costly moment, with Micky van de Ven also hitting the deck as Atletico claimed a second goal, with Antoine Griezmann profiting.
Troy Deeney Causes Stir With Antonin Kinsky Comments After Tottenham Nightmare
Retired striker Troy Deeney causes a stir with comments about Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky following his nightmare against Atletico Madrid
Metropolitano Stadium Turf Called Into Question
Courtois isn’t the first one to raise issues with the Metropolitano Stadium turf, nor are Tottenham the first club to have issues with it. Barcelona also raised concerns about the quality of the grass following their 4-0 Copa del Rey semi-final first leg loss against Atletico in February.
Club president Joan Laporta was furious after goalkeeper Joan Garcia miscontrolled the ball for the opener, while other Barca players also ended up on the deck during the defeat. On social media, Laporta said:
“We faced a series of adversities, from a pitch in poor condition to a wrongly disallowed goal that prevented us from starting a comeback that is still possible in the return leg.”
Incredibly, Atletico players have actually criticised their own pitch as well. After beating Real Betis 5-0 away in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, they then played the same team in La Liga just three days later. This time at the Metropolitano, they lost the game 1-0, with captain Koke saying: “The pitch isn’t good, we slipped, it came up. A team like Atleti needs a quality pitch to play on. Then we’re held to a higher standard.”
Griezmann had said after the 5-0 win at Betis’ home ground, Estadio de La Cartuja: “Atletico’s best match of the season? Maybe because of the [Betis] pitch, it’s the best in Spain. Ours doesn’t help much and makes things difficult for us. We’re a team that tries to play. We moved around a lot, we were involved off the ball, and that helps the team that has it a lot.”
As reported by football.london, Atletico hired Dutch hybrid grass technology company GrassMaster Solutions to relay the Metropolitano pitch at the end of November after NFL giants Miami Dolphins completed a three-day training camp on site. The same company has also done work for Tottenahm in the past, but not since 2018.
Perhaps the biggest factor in the poor surface, however, has been poor weather. The same report notes that since the work at the Wanda was completed just shy of three-and-a-half months ago, Madrid has experienced heavy rainfall. There were 10 consecutive days of rain in Madrid around the time of the 4-0 victory over Barcelona.
Adding to this, Atletico sources told football.london, the slippery pitch is merely down to recent rainfall, so conditions are the same for both teams.
Sports
Man Utd Set to Complete Signing of Kit Margetson
Manchester United are set to complete the signing of a 6 ft 4 player as they look set to add to their goalkeeping department, according to BBC Sport.
Man United‘s summer recruitment is starting to be questioned by some supporters after Tottenham Hotspur signed two midfielders they have been heavily linked with in a big-money double swoop.
Spurs have spent £185m on Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, with the Red Devils making the former their number one midfield target after accepting that a move for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson was dead in the water once the England international decided he preferred a move to rivals Manchester City instead.
United have got Ederson through the door with a move expected to be completed later this month when he returns from representing Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, but their incoming business has slowed up since, which is causing frustration after Tottenham agreed their sixth signing.
Still, Liverpool have only added one new face too and Arsenal none as of yet, so they aren’t too far behind and the World Cup was always likely to cause delays for certain targets, with Aurelien Tchouameni just one of their targets still going strong in North America for France.
BBC: Man Utd Poised to Sign Kit Margetson
While Senne Lammens has nailed down the number one shirt at Old Trafford following his debut season at the club, a reshuffle of United’s goalkeeping department is expected this summer.
Andre Onana has rejoined Turkish side Trabzonspor on another season-long loan deal, while there have been rumours that Altay Bayindir could also depart.
With Tom Heaton already extending his stay at Old Trafford, an exit for Bayindir would mean United need to sign a new back-up stopper.
They are closing in on signing Swansea youngster Kit Margetson, according to the BBC, but he is unlikely to be thrust straight into the first-team plans should a move be completed.
The Wales Under-21 international is yet to make a first-team appearance for Swansea, but did play regular senior football for Connah’s Quay Nomads last term.
Still, the Championship outfit were keen to tie the 6 ft 4 stopper down to new terms, but he is now set to join United instead for a compensation fee.
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Man United Working on Second Goalkeeper Deal
Man United look to have decided that their ideal goalkeeper signing this summer will be an experienced stopper who has played in the Premier League before.
Two of the most heavily linked players are former Red Devil Sam Johnstone, who could leave recently-relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer, and Karl Darlow.
Leeds United have been in contract talks with the 35-year-old over staying at Elland Road after his contract expired on June 30, but now Man United are said to have tabled a contract offer to the Wales international to move to Old Trafford instead.
The club will be looking to sort the situation as soon as possible so they have the right support around Lammens from the beginning of pre-season.
Sports
Fulham Enter Race for Man Utd’s Top Winger Target Summerville
Fulham have now entered the race to sign Manchester United’s top target in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Jacob Steinberg.
It’s been a difficult few weeks in the transfer market for United as they miss out on a number of their key targets.
Elliot Anderson has now officially completed a move to Manchester City from Nottingham Forest despite heavy interest from United.
Mateus Fernandes was also a target for the Red Devils, but he has now completed a move to Tottenham after they paid £85m to secure his signature.
It’s back to the drawing board in terms of midfield reinforcements for the Red Devils as they look to replace both Casemiro, who has now left the club, and Manuel Ugarte, who could miss a large portion of the season due to injury.
Man Utd Set to Complete Signing of 6 ft 4 Player
He was in contract talks with his club but is now set to move to Old Trafford
Fulham Join Man Utd Race
According to a report from Guardian journalist Steinberg, Fulham have now entered the race to sign West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville, who is expected to move in the summer transfer window.
A host of clubs in the Premier League are keen on the Dutch international, including Manchester United.
Reports have claimed that Manchester United’s ‘top’ target for the winger position this summer is Summerville. The Guardian report, however, claims that a move to a team outside the elite could be the more realistic outcome, such as Fulham.
United have also opened talks to sign Summerville in a potential deal, but it will be interesting to see whether Fulham’s interest changes things.
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Summerville Exit Feels Guaranteed
An exit for Summerville in the summer transfer window feels inevitable.
A host of West Ham’s squad will be searching for moves back to the Premier League after they were relegated to the Championship last season.
Summerville was one of the Hammers’ better players last term, while he’s also produced some strong performances at the World Cup.
With the likes of Fulham and Manchester United interested in the Dutch winger, it’s incredibly unlikely that West Ham are going to be able to keep hold of him.
The London club will have to sell players in order to balance the books as they are set to miss out on large sums of money following relegation.
Sports
8 Tunisia Players Fail Drug Tests As Mexican Food Contamination Suspected
A World Cup nation has been rocked after eight of their players failed doping tests, and the implications could affect England ahead of their Round of 16 tie against Mexico this weekend. The Three Lions already know they will be up against it when they travel to the co-hosts’ capital on Sunday night.
El Tri have won each of their four matches so far without conceding a single goal, becoming the first nation to achieve that incredible feat since Italy in 1990. They also boast a record that has seen them lose just twice across their previous 89 fixtures at the Azteca Stadium, while the altitude, heat and hostile atmosphere – the latter having the potential to keep Thomas Tuchel’s squad up at night – are also expected to play an influential role.
But there is one other factor they must be wary of after one nation was subject to suspected food contamination, resulting in a large portion of their squad failing drugs tests following their premature exit from the tournament.
World Cup Nation Rocked by Suspected Food Contamination in Mexico
Tunisia are already out of the World Cup after finishing bottom of Group F following heavy defeats to Sweden, Japan and the Netherlands. The African minnows also sacked head coach, Sabri Lamouchi, following the team’s 5-1 loss to the former in their opening World Cup game and replaced him with Herve Renard for their remaining two matches.
But that wasn’t the end of their troubles stateside this summer. Every player at the World Cup can be subjected to a random drugs test during the tournament and according to The Times, eight members of Tunisia’s squad had traces of the banned drug clenbuterol in their samples.
Clenbuterol, which is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list, is used to treat asthma but can also help an athlete build lean muscle mass and burn body fat. Despite the adverse findings, the eight Tunisian players have not been named or suspended as officials believe the presence of clenbuterol was due to contaminated meat.
Tunisia were based in Monterrey for the World Cup and in Mexico, farmers have a history of including clenbuterol in animal feed because it helps reduce fat and increase lean muscle mass.
What Happens if England Fail Doping Tests For The Same Reason
If England players take clenbuterol in Mexico, the consequences depend entirely on how the substance entered their system. But any traces would lead to a FIFA investigation, alongside one from an anti-doping authority.
If a player tests positive for trace amounts of clenbuterol, but it was ingested via tainted local beef or pork, it is classified as an “atypical finding” rather than a deliberate doping violation.
If corroborated by dietary journals and lack of other performance-enhancing drugs, no bans or suspensions are expected. The player avoids formal punishment, as seen in past cases with other international tournaments held in the country, like when 109 out of 208 players in the 2011 Under-17s World Cup also failed drug tests, according to the Metro.
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