Napoli ban belts for Champions League clash with Manchester City
Napoli have banned belts from their stadium for their Champions League clash with Manchester City on Wednesday night.
Travelling City supporters heading out to the Group F fixture will not be allowed to take the clothing item into the Stadio San Paolo, although the ban does not extend to fashion-conscious coach Pep Guardiola and his players.
The unusual move comes after belt-waving Napoli hooligans wreaked havoc at a City pub before the first match between the two sides on October 17, which the home side won 2-1.
One supporter of the Italian side was sent to prison for five months after a 'cowardly attack' on City supporters, who were drinking at the Mary D's pub close to the stadium.
He was part of a group of eight who went on the rampage. Some swung belts above their heads, while one was seen with a rope with a weight attached and another brandished a cosh. One City fan, a 17-year-old boy attending the game with his dad, was struck by the cosh and suffered a serious head injury.
Kevin Parker, general secretary of the Manchester City Supporters Club, branded the decision 'ridiculous'.
'It's absolutely crazy,' he said. 'I know they have had issues with Napoli fans using belts as weapons but since when has that been a thing in England? Why, all of a sudden, should City fans be banned?'
Parker added: 'It seems like something always happens with City in this competition. First we're banned from booing, then we were banned from a stadium and now we have been banned from wearing belts.'
He did, however, see the humorous side. 'You would imagine, if anything, it will encourage City fans to drink more and eat more – and there will probably be a lot less standing than normal for fear of pairs of pants falling down. And at least they should get through security at Manchester Airport quickly.'
City declined to comment, while Napoli could not be reached for comment
Manchester City are ready to splash £44m on another full back - if they can fight off Barcelona.
Pep Guardiola spent over £70m on right backs in the summer, with Kyle Walker and Danilo both being added to the Etihad squad.
But the Spaniard is still desperate to raid former club Bayern Munich to grab Germany international Joshua Kimmich, according to Bild.
City will have to battle it out with Barca, whose need for a right back is well known despite Nelson Semedo impressing since joining in the summer.
Bayern aren't thought to be keen on selling their star man.
GOLDEN BOLLOX
ON THIS DAY IN 1998
City sign Morrison
Manchester City have been competing for titles and trophies, on a consistent basis, over the last few years. Sometimes, you can forget the past struggles we had as a club, some not too far in the past.
I like to look back on some of these days in our history sometimes because, honestly, they tend to be forgotten. Andy Morrison is one of those pivotal characters we had in our darkest hours, without which, we may not be where we are now.
Joe Royle had taken the Manchester City hot seat as we struggled in the second tier of English football. Coming in February though was too late to stop the inevitable, and City slipped into the third tier. That would be the lowest City would fall in their history, and almost was the financial end of our club.
That season saw the last games of legends such as Uwe Rosler, Georgi Kinkladze, Ian Brightwell and Kit Symons. Pre season thoughts were that City would dominate the league and get promotion sewn up with multiple games to go.
Fifteen games in though, City had only won five and drawn six. That had us with twenty-one points from a possible forty-five. At that rate we’d finish the season with sixty-three points, and around mid-table, which would be nowhere good enough. Even more concerning, from my point of view, was that we’d only kept four clean sheets in that time.
It must have concerned Joe Royle too, who instantly went out and bought Andy Morrison from Huddersfield Town. A no-nonsense defender, maybe not world-class, but certainly committed to the cause, and that’s what we needed at the time.
Making his debut for the Blues at Maine Road in a 2-1 victory against Colchester, he scored in the process. The next game, away to Oldham, he also scored. City kept a clean sheet in the process as signs of life began to show.
City went the rest of the season with only four more league defeats, Wycome (2), York and Oldham to finish in the play-off places. We all know what happened next, and Morrison became only the fifth different City captain to lift a trophy at Wembley. He is actually also the last City Captain to lift a trophy at the ‘Old’ Wembley.
The next season, and injury ended his season early. Off and on the field, Andy remained an inspirational captain, and displayed fantastic leadership skills. He had a way of encouraging the younger and less experienced players, elevating their game. Ultimately he was a players player.
Even now, as then, he is loved by the City fans. And it is reciprocated. Back then Morrison would attend Supporters club meetings and be visible at the Junior Blues events. Even now he can be seen around the club. He was on the latest City TV month review with Chappy.
Back to back promotions saw Morrison in the Premiership, and that would be where his City career ended. Liverpool at Maine Road would be the last time he officially pulled on that shirt. He left the Premier League and, temporarily, so did City.
In his book, ‘The Good, The Mad and the Ugly’ he is as uncompromising as he was on the field. The darker times of his life are recounted, some for the first time, and I certainly recommend it.
Sergio Aguero on cusp of landmark in a city where his former father-in-law Diego Maradona is revered as a deity
Argentine is tied with Eric Brook's mark of 177 City goals, how fitting it would be to score the record goal against a Napoli team where his countryman's graffitied murals decorate the city
A significant anniversary was observed on Monday, marked with special reverence in South America and the south of Italy. Twenty years ago, October 30, 1997, the man many consider the greatest footballer of the last half a century retired from playing.
And if there can be lively arguments about whether or not Diego Maradona really was the most talented individual to kick a ball in the age of colour television, it is best not voice them too loud in Naples.
Around Napoli’s San Paolo stadium, an arena not greatly transformed since the 1990s heyday of Maradona, a visitor can hardly avoid him, even if it is two decades since he recognised, at the age of 37, that a body bruised by rugged man-markers, deteriorated by pain-killers and by some illegal substances, was no longer capable of the balletic, powerful brilliance that had made him a superstar. His face and name are everywhere, on graffitied murals around the stadium, on scarves, on pocket-sized amulets. In Naples, Maradona is the brand that keeps on giving.
Currently manager of UAE First Division club Fujairah, Maradona played for Napoli for six years. In that time the club won their two Italian league titles and their only major European trophy. The fact that the current Napoli, who host Manchester City in a heavyweight Uefa Champions League contest on Wednesday, sit on top of Serie A right now only fuels nostalgia for the Maradona epoch.
This Napoli know they have no player with his out-of-this-world qualities, so whenever he utters the slightest endorsement of how well a club he genuinely loves is performing it is heard as a great blessing.
At the San Paolo on Wednesday, another milestone is imminent, not the anniversary of a great career’s end, but recognition of a defining contribution to another club’s finest era. This landmark would be appreciated by members of the Maradona family. Sergio Aguero, who, like his Argentine compatriot Maradona, has marked forever the rise of a club who play in sky-blue jerseys, needs one more goal to become City’s most prolific scorer of all time. Aguero is tied with Eric Brook, who played in the 1920s and '30s, on 177 goals.
To reach 178 in Naples would be poignant, not least for Aguero’s son, Benjamin, who is old enough, at eight, to appreciate what the San Paolo represents. Benjamin Aguero is Maradona’s grandson, born when Diego Maradona was both father-in-law and boss to Aguero, while Maradona coached Argentina to the 2010 World Cup and Aguero was the partner of Giannina Maradona, Diego’s eldest daughter.
Inevitably, Aguero has heard plenty of stories of Maradona at Napoli. “No one could have changed the fortunes of Napoli, or Argentina, in the way he did,” Aguero said shortly after he joined Manchester City, six years ago, and comparisons between the two were suggested. After all, both he and Maradona were stars taken on by clubs with a hunger to break a glass ceiling: Napoli longed for a major trophy when they signed "El Diego" in the late 1980s, City were the same when they recruited Aguero 2011.
He delivered. Aguero’s time at City has included two English league titles, his club’s first since the 1960s. And, yes, with his low centre of gravity, his courage and his dazzling finishing, he has some of the technical gifts of his former father-in-law.
When Aguero played for City at Napoli the last time the clubs met in Italy, he was cheered onto the pitch by Neapolitans. That was soon after he joined City, in 2011. He only got nine minutes, as a substitute, at the San Paolo in a 2-1 defeat for the visiting club.
Six years on, in his 30th year, and with all those City goals, Aguero again finds himself wondering whether he will start, or wait on the bench. Since returning from a rib injury – sustained in a car accident last month – his manager Pep Guardiola has named Aguero just once in his initial XI and three times as a substitute.
Brook’s record has lingered in his sights a while longer than it might have and Aguero has sometimes looked frustrated watching younger men, such as Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling convert the many chances Guardiola’s side create.
But if he makes his history at this most resonant venue, beats that long-standing landmark in the heart of Maradonaland, he may just feel the timing was perfectly designed.
HALLOWEEN BOLLOX
Gary Neville believes Manchester City and Manchester United will compete for the Premier League title in a two-horse race this season.
The Citizens are sitting five points clear at the top of the Premier League table following a 3-2 victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns Stadium last weekend.
Manchester City have won nine of their 10 games in the Premier League so far this term following a return of 35 goals and six clean sheets in the 2017-18 campaign so far.
The Red Devils, on the other hand, were close-fought 1-0 winners against title rivals Tottenham Hotspur thanks to Anthony Martial’s 81st-minute goal at Old Trafford.
Manchester United are five points adrift of Manchester City after the Red Devils settled for a goalless draw at Anfield at the start of the month before a shock 2-1 loss to promoted side Huddersfield Town at John Smith’s Stadium.
Retired Reds Devils defender Neville believes Manchester City and Manchester United are the only genuine title contenders in the Premier League this season.
“I think both managers have to win the league,” Neville told Sky Sports.
“Pep and Jose have been measured by titles. They have to win the league. Only one of them can.”
Manchester United are looking to win the Premier League title for the first time since 2013 when Sir Alex Ferguson got his hands on his 13th top-flight crown.
The Red Devils won the League Cup and the Europa League last term
WAG OF THE DAY
Everton are interested in Burnley boss Sean Dyche becoming their new manager and are likely to make an approach for him in the next 24 hours. (Sky Sports understands)
Crystal Palace would be due a payment in the region of £2m if Sam Allardyce takes the Everton job, because of a clause in his severance agreement when he left Palace in May. (Independent)
Chelsea are ready to offer midfielder Cesc Fabregas a new contract amid renewed interest in the 30-year-old from Manchester United. (Times)
Arsenal are interested in a January move for 25-year-old Napoli midfielder Jorginho. (Tuttomercato, via Star)
Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez, 26, is a target for Ligue 1 side Marseille. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish)
Zinedine Zidane has his "work cut out" to keep his job at Real Madrid after defeat by Girona left his side eight points behind Barcelona, says journalist Raphael Honigstein. (BBC Radio 5 live)
Shanghai Shenhua want Brighton and Israel striker Tomer Hemed, 30. (Sun)
Slaven Bilic's future as West Ham manager is still in the balance. (Mirror)
Bury chairman Stewart Day wants to finds a replacement for Lee Clark within the next two weeks. (Express)
Roma and Belgium midfielder Radja Nainggolan, 29, says he never thought about leaving the Serie A club to join Chelsea in the summer. (Sky Sports)
Dubai-based financier Amanda Staveley is favourite to take over at Newcastle United.(Newcastle Chronicle)
Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, who is on loan at Swansea, says he wants to play his senior international football for England rather than Nigeria. (Times)
Gary Neville compared Jose Mourinho to boxer Floyd Mayweather as he defended the Manchester United manager. (Sky Sports)
England striker Jermain Defoe fears for his World Cup chances because of his lack of regular football at Bournemouth. (Mirror)
Chinese side Meixian Techand have given their players £3m each for winning promotion to the second division. (Mail)
Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has joked about his 'bromance' with goalkeeper David de Gea. (Twitter)
GOLDEN BOLLOX
ON THIS DAY IN 2013
Pellegrini coy on Hart return
Manuel Pellegrini insisted he has yet to determine Joe Hart's fate after his deputy Costel Pantilimon impressed in the League Cup victory over Newcastle.
Pantilimon was hardly overworked in the course of his side's 2-0 extra-time victory at St James' Park but did everything that was required of him when called upon.
He got down well while partially unsighted to paw a Shola Ameobi effort wide in the first half and then, with the scores still level early in added time, the Romanian came out to meet Papiss Cisse and stood firm to make a strong save.
That latter intervention was picked out by home manager Alan Pardew as the key moment of the match, giving City the platform to secure passage to the quarter-finals via goals from Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko.
The focus on the under-pressure Hart was inevitable, but Pellegrini did little to fan the flames around England's number one.
While he stopped short of guaranteeing a return to the starting XI against Norwich on Saturday, he also declined to anoint Pantilimon as his successor.
"He is a very good goalkeeper and he normally plays in the League Cup and the FA Cup," Pellegrini said. "This was a very important match for him. But I will start to think about the game against Norwich on Thursday. Today I was just thinking about winning this match.
"I think that we will talk tomorrow [about the team selection]. One goalkeeper can play but the other will have our full support. We will think about it."
Pressed for further details about Hart's standing, Pellegrini responded curtly: "I have just told you I will think about that tomorrow."
There was more praise, again slightly muted, from Dzeko.
"He was great, he's been working hard in training. It's his second clean sheet in the Capital One Cup so he's definitely improving," said the striker, who secured City's win by rounding Tim Krul at the end of the first period of added time.
Pellegrini was also able to react for the first time to news that CSKA Moscow had been hit by a partial stadium closure for their next Champions League fixture as a result of racist chanting against Yaya Toure.
"It is a country where the next World Cup (after 2014) will be played," he said. "It is an important way to finish those things. I don't know if there was less severity or more severity (in the sanction) but UEFA have three levels of punishment and this is the first but I can't tell you more than that."
THE GUARDIAN: The full extent of public contribution to Tottenham Hotspur's planned new stadium project can today be revealed for the first time, with the club positioned to benefit from controversial council plans to develop an area opposite the new ground involving the demolition of existing local businesses. Also: UEFA has sacked one of its officials after admitting its new anti-racism strategy was not properly enforced during the incident involving Yaya Toure that means CSKA Moscow will have to play their next Champions League game in a partly closed ground.
THE TIMES: A senior UEFA official was stripped of his duties last night after failing to act on the referee's instructions in the Yaya Toure race row. Also: It took a while for Manchester City to show much more than a flicker of interest in progressing to the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup, but when it came, it came with decisiveness.
THE INDEPENDENT: The Russian club CSKA Moscow will face partial closure of their Khimki stadium for their next home Champions League game against Bayern Munich after UEFA found that their supporters were guilty of racially abusing Manchester City's Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure.
DAILY TELEGRAPH: Tim Krul, the Newcastle United goalkeeper, twice denied Manchester City's Alvaro Negredo with late saves in normal time to send this Capital One Cup tie into extra time last night. Also: Yaya Toure and Manchester City were said to be satisfied last night after UEFA ordered the partial closure of CSKA Moscow's stadium as a result of their fans' racist abuse of the midfielder.
Yaya Toure is satisfied with UEFA's partial ban - which has been criticised in some quarters [ACTION]
DAILY STAR: UEFA's bid to clamp down on CSKA Moscow's racist fans has fallen flat - because they have decided to close only part of their ground. Also: Jose Mourinho nabbed Arsenal star Mesut Ozil's shirt for his son.
THE SUN: Edin Dzeko's six minutes of magic saw off Newcastle. Also: Tottenham ended their penalty shootout hoodoo - winning their first in eight attempts.
Yaya Toure says Manchester United 'really struggling' to retain title
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure says arch-rivals Manchester United are 'really struggling' to retain their title.
The Red Devils swept to the Premier League crown in 2012/13, offering the perfect send-off to outgoing boss Alex Ferguson.
A changing of the guard at Old Trafford has not run smoothly, though, with new manager David Moyes enduring a baptism of fire.
There have been signs in recent outings that the tide is turning, but a slow start has left the defending champions eight points off the pace.
Toure feels United will find it difficult to bridge that gap, with Liverpool considered to be a greater threat to the usual suspects in the battle for top flight supremacy.
He said in The Sun: "United will find it hard to defend the title since they have a new manager and are really struggling.
"Liverpool are a big threat at the moment because they have a strong squad and their strikers - Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge - are scoring goals at will."
City ended their latest outing empty-handed, leaving them just two points better off than United and with goalkeeper Joe Hart coming in for renewed criticism.
The England man endured an afternoon to forget during a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Sunday, but Toure is convinced he remains the right man to provide City's last line of defence.
He added: "Joe is a top keeper who gives his all to the team."
Arsenal are considering making a bid for West Ham defender Winston Reid, 25, in January with manager Arsene Wenger having followed the centre-back's progress over the last 18 months.
New Zealand international Winston Reid joined West Ham in 2010 Metro
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has been offered a £5m-a-year deal by Toronto FC in an attempt to lure the 31-year-old England forward to the MLS, but they face competition from QPR. Daily Mirror
Blackpool are worried they could lose £8m-rated winger Tom Ince for as little as £155,000 if he moves abroad. Ince, 21, a free agent at the end of the season, can start talking to foreign clubs in January. DSSC
Defender John Souttar, 17, has turned down a move to Sunderland despite Dundee United's decision to accept a £600,000 offer. Daily Star
Liverpool are monitoring 18-year-old Ghanaian midfielder Daniel Amartey, who plays for Djurgarden in Sweden. DSSC
The futures of Nani, 26, Anderson, 25, Rafael, 23, and Ashley Young, 28, are all under threat at Manchester United after failing to impress new boss David Moyes. Sun
Derby County want at least £12m in January for midfielder Will Hughes, 18, who is wanted by Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. Daily Telegraph
Barcelona are hoping to make Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, 23 - who is also a target for Manchester United and Arsenal - the 'next Xavi'. Express
Corinthians striker Alexandre Pato, 24, has confirmed Tottenham failed in a bid to sign him in the summer. DSSC
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has ridiculed reports that striker Mario Balotelli, 23, could join Chelsea in January. talkSHIT
Wales manager and former Crystal Palace centre-back Chris Coleman, 43, wants to take charge at his old club and has become joint-favourite for the vacant job. London Evening Standard
FA of Wales chiefs are bracing themselves for an official approach for Coleman and could offer Cardiff City striker Craig Bellamy and former Stoke manager Tony Pulis roles in the national set-up. Wales Online
England Under-21 forward Saido Berahino, 20, is closing in on a new contract with West Brom which will lift his wages from £850 to £10,000 a week. Express and Star
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has revealed the club are in talks with Uefa to stage next summer's Champions League ties in England or Ireland because Parkhead is being used for the Commonwealth Games. Daily Telegraph
Former Aston Villa and Birmingham boss Alex McLeish, 54, has indicated a desire to become Crystal Palace's new manager. Guardian
Midfielder Steve Sidwell, 30, has rejected an initial offer of a one-year contract extension at Fulham as he wants a two-year deal. Daily Mirror
German side FC Schalke have refused a $6m offer from Italian club Fiorentina for their 18-year-old midfielder Max Meyer, saying they are in talks with the youngster to renew his contract. Bild
Italian midfielder Thiago Motta, 31, says he is not interested in rumours about him moving to Juventus or Napoli and is focusing on improving at Paris St-Germain. L'Equipe
Barcelona could make a shock move for Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, 32, to replace Victor Valdes. La Stampa
German side Hoffenheim have signed Swedish club Malmo's 22-year-old midfielder Jiloan Hamad. L'Equipe
Former Manchester United team-mates Gary Neville, 38, and Ryan Giggs, 39, are opening a restaurant in London which they say will be "inspired by the game". On the menu will be gourmet chicken and mushroom 'pot noodle' and a half-time orange. London Evening Standard
