The European Clubs are already identifying their summer targets and Real Madrid are giving Manchester United a headache as they intensify their chase for United’s key player Paul Pogba, who has been on form lately.
In La-Liga, Real Madrid suffered their first loss under coach Zidane away at Valencia and the boss had to explain what went wrong.
Back home Kariobangi sharks were able to extend their unbeaten run to ten games in the Kenya Premier League following a barren draw against Zoo Kericho.
Top of news was The one thing Man Utd Boss Ole Gunnar Has To Do to Keep Pogba from leaving.
Pogba flirted with a move to Real Madrid over the recent international break when he said: “Real Madrid is one of the biggest clubs in the world. I’ve always said it is a dream club for every player.”
Though he stressed that he is happy at Old Trafford, the 26-year-old has been linked with the Spanish giants with manager and compatriot Zinedine Zidane returning the compliments.
Former France captain Zidane said of Pogba last week: “I know him personally. He brings so much and there are few players who bring as much as he does.
“He has always said that, after Manchester, Madrid has always interested him. So when his experience at Manchester ends, why not come here to Madrid?”
And according to Ince, Pogba – United’s record signing – could well be on his way to the Bernabeu before next season.
The World Cup winner has been in excellent form under Solskjaer with eight goals and six assists in 15 Premier League matches.
But if the Norwegian boss wants to keep Pogba away from the La Liga heavyweights, then he must make him a key pillar of his team for the foreseeable future.
“There are players who need to move on if Ole wants to re-build,” Ince wrote in his Paddy Power column.
“But also, there may well be a few players who seem to want to move on themselves. The main culprit of that, I believe, is Paul Pogba.
“Ole needs to convince him that he’s going to build the team around him going forward if he wants him to stay.
“Honestly, I don’t think Pogba will be at Old Trafford next season. Ole’s come in, changed the way he feels about the game since Jose Mourinho left and because his form has improved, the big boys have come calling again.
“It’s always hard when Real Madrid come knocking.”
What went wrong in Real’s defeat to Valencia?
Zinedine Zidane placed no blame on his players for his first defeat since his return as Real Madrid head coach after Valencia claimed a 2-1 win at the Mestalla.
The Frenchman had overseen two wins since stepping back into the Real hotseat following the sacking of former team-mate Santiago Solari last month but Valencia were his first acid test.
Los Che had been unbeaten in La Liga since January 5 and they extended that run thanks to goals from Goncalo Guedes and former Real defender Ezequiel Garay, with Karim Benzema’s header in injury-time scant consolation.
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Zidane said in quotes on Real’s official website: “We started the game strongly with good possession, pressing high up. We just needed to get that first goal.
“I can’t blame the players for anything, they really tried hard. We played against a top team. It’s a defeat and defeat always hurts.
“We struggled to create chances, get shots off and come up with anything in the final third. We needed a little bit more near the opposition goal.
“The team fought to the end. It’s a tough spell, a defeat, but we have to accept it and think about the eight games we have left. We have to focus on doing a better job on Saturday.”
Valencia trio Kevin Gameiro, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Rodrigo all missed the target when well-placed while Real struggled in the final third.
Zidane, though, feels his side competed on equal footing with their opponents after watching them slide to their ninth league defeat of the season.
He added: “I always say results are fair and I accept them but it was an even game. They got two goals against us almost out of nowhere. We have to accept that Valencia won the game.
“This is a tough run for us, the whole season has been hard going.
“Now I need to take control of my team and get us playing better next time out. The players are ready to fight until the last and we want to end on a high in preparation for next season. We are going to leave no stone unturned.”
Chelsea’s Hudson-Odoi Proved Sarri Wrong In Scary Match Against Brighton
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri seems to have got some little reprieve for his job after successfully winning two consecutive games in a week.
The Italian’s side overcame a huge scare in Wales on Sunday, controversially beating Cardiff 2-1 thanks to an offside Cesar Azpilicueta goal and a late strike from Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
But against Brighton at Stamford Bridge last night, Chelsea looked much more like a side chasing Champions League football.
With Eden Hazard, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Loftus-Cheek all starting together for the first time, the Blues beat the Seagulls 3-0.
Olivier Giroud opened the scoring from Hudson-Odoi’s pinpoint cross, with Hazard and Loftus-Cheek then completing the scoring with two stunning long-range finishes.
The game was Hudson-Odoi’s first Premier League start with the club and he proved in 90 minutes why he should be in the XI week in week out already.
Operating on the right, Hudson-Odoi was a constant menace to the Brighton defence, showing some nice touches and delivering some brilliant crosses.
Willian and Pedro Rodriguez have not exactly been well-received by Blues fans this season and Hudson-Odoi’s injection of creativity and youthful exuberance was very much welcome.
The fact he can cross the ball consistently as well is also a huge bonus…
Speaking after the win, Hudson-Odoi said: “I am very happy for the win and we all worked hard. We had to get rhythm and bounced back well. Today we got told the team and had to prepare mentally.
“The manager told me to go and express myself. I feel comfortable, hopefully I did well.”
Maybe Sarri has finally realized the error in his ways.
Nurturing an academy player as talented as Hudson-Odoi will not only improve his team on the pitch, but improve his reputation among the Chelsea faithful.
After all, who doesn’t like seeing a local youngster thrive?
Elsewhere in the Kenya Premier League, Zoo Share the spoils with Kariobangi Sharks to extend unbeaten run
A 1-1 stalemate ensured Zoo FC’s unbeaten record against Kariobangi Sharks in the Kenyan Premier League remained intact in a match staged at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Thursday 4th April.A
Kariobangi Sharks were looking to overwrite their two-game losing streak following defeats to Tusker and Gor Mahia while Zoo FC who have been in wretched form this season after losing two of their goal poachers, Mike Madoya and Nicholas Kipkirui are languishing in relegation places.
Zoo started brightly and almost broke the deadlock in the seventh minute Kevin Omondi breached the Sharks defense but his final effort was poor as it drifted wide off the mark.
William Muluya’s charges finally settled into the game and went ahead in the 20th minute when James Mazembe played a short free-kick to Boniface Onyango who whipped in a devilish cross that was met by the head of Eric Kapaito to bag his third goal in a span of five days after finding the net against Gor Mahia and in the FKF Shield against Muranga Seals.
Zoo drew level at the stroke of the half-hour mark as another free-kick resulted into a goal this time Dennis Chetambe was the provider as he delivered a cross from the left-hand flank that was headed to target by Derrick Anami but it was pushed as far as Kevin Omondi who volleyed in the ball to hand Ken Odhiambo’s charges parity.
Sharks were on the ascendency in the second half but fluffed most of their chances with the best of the bunch coming in the 54th minute when Kapaito’s shot veered narrowly off target after coming one on one with the goalkeeper. The point moves Zoo out of automatic relegation spots to 16th while Sharks remain seventh with 30 points from 20 games.