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Sports Shorts: City chairman on Aguero's future at the club

Last updated on: May 30, 2017 17:55 IST

A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Tuesday

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero

IMAGE: Sergio Aguero. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Striker Sergio Aguero is among the best players in the world and is staying at ManchesterCity next season, the Premier League club's chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said, dismissing transfer speculation surrounding the Argentine international.

Aguero helped City finish third in the league, scoring 20 goals in 31 league appearances, but his starting role came under intense scrutiny following the arrival of in-form Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus in January.

The Brazilian's impressive start at the club, including two goals and an assist in his first two league starts, helped him oust Aguero as the first-choice striker but the 20-year-old sustained a broken foot and the Argentine reclaimed his spot.

"Absolutely. There has never been any doubt about that. I've read a lot about the speculation on this and it's ridiculous," Emirati Al Mubarak told the club website in his end of season address when asked if Aguero was staying.

"Aguero is one of the best players in the world. And we are a team that aspires to win in every competition we compete in... having Sergio Aguero as part of the squad is an absolute must. And it has never been in doubt."

The 28-year-old Aguero, who joined City from Spain's Atletico Madrid in 2011, has a contract at the Manchester side until 2020. He has won two Premier League titles and two League Cups during his time at the Etihad.

Spalletti leaves Roma despite record points haul

AS Roma manager Luciano Spaletti

IMAGE: AS Roma coach Luciano Spalletti reacts. Photograph: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters

AS Roma coach Luciano Spalletti parted company with the club on Tuesday despite leading them to second place in Serie A this season with a club-record points haul.

The shaven-headed 58-year-old's second stint with Roma lasted a little less than 18 months and ended two days after a 3-2 win over Genoa guaranteed the side second spot on 87 points and a place in next season's Champions League group stage.

However, it was not all plain sailing for Spalletti, who became exasperated at the constant pressure to field 40-year-old Francesco Totti, the talismanic playmaker, whose 25 seasons at Roma ended in an emotional farewell on Sunday.

Spalletti relegated Totti to the bench for most of the season, handing him a few cameo appearances, and said at one point that he would not have taken the job in the first place if he had known how awkward the situation would become.

With his contract expiring on June 30, Spalletti's future became the subject of speculation after a poor run in the spring when they were beaten by arch-rivals Lazio in the Coppa Italia semi-finals and lost to Olympique Lyon in the Europa League.

The season also began badly when Roma failed to advance to the group stage of the Champions League after losing to Porto in the final qualifying round.

Spalletti, whose first stint lasted from 2005-09 and included two Coppa Italia titles, has recently been linked with a move to Inter Milan.

Dortmund coach Tuchel leaves days after Cup win

Borussia Dortmund's head coach Thomas Tuchel

IMAGE: Borussia Dortmund's head coach Thomas Tuchel. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach Livepic/Reuters

Coach Thomas Tuchel has left Borussia Dortmund after two years in charge, the Bundesliga club said on Tuesday, days after winning their first silverware for five years in the German Cup.

The club swiftly denied widespread media reports that Tuchel's departure was the result of a breakdown in his relationship with its management.

In a statement on its website, the club and Tuchel had "gone separate ways". The 43-year-old, regarded as one of Germany's most innovative coaches, led the club to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga last season and third place this term.

On Saturday, Dortmund won the German Cup with a 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, their first title since winning the Bundesliga and the Cup under Juergen Klopp in 2012.

The club said Tuchel's departure followed a meeting with the board, including chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke.

"As the employer, Borussia Dortmund will not express itself as to the background of the separation which is the result of a long process and is supported by all the club committees," said the club, asking for the decision not to be judged on rumours.

"BVB attaches great importance to the fact that the cause of the separation is by no means a disagreement between two persons," it added.

"The well-being of the club Borussia Dortmund is more than about just sporting success and will always be more important than individuals and possible differences between them."

 

Kompany back for Belgium squad after almost two years

Vincent Kompany

IMAGE: Vincent Kompany. Photograph: Getty Images

Vincent Kompany is poised to make a return for Belgium for the first time in almost two years after being named in a 27-squad for two matches next month.

Injury-plagued Kompany, 31, last played for his country in October 2015 but after returning to action for ManchesterCity in April has been selected for the friendly against the Czech Republic in Brussels on June 5 and the World Cup qualifier in Estonia four days later.

"Not many players can, after such a long lay off, play at such a high level and it is important for us have him with us again and see how he is,” coach Roberto Martinez told a press conference on Tuesday.

Eden Hazard would remain captain of the team, he added. Belgium are well placed for qualification for the World Cup in Russia next year, having collected 13 out of a possible 15 points from their first five Group H matches.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg), Thibault Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Matz Sels (Newcastle United)

Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur), Dedryck Boyata (Glasgow Celtic), Laurent Ciman (Montreal Impact), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Thomas Vermaelen (Roma), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Nacer Chadli (West Bromwich Albion), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Thomas Foket (Ghent), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Radja Nainggolan (Roma), Youri Tielemans (Monaco), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian)

Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea), Christian Benteke (CrystalPalace), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Kevin Mirallas (Everton), Divock Origi (Liverpool). 

Dortmund's Reus out for 'several months' with ligament tear

Marco Reus

IMAGE:  Marco Reus. Photograph: Ina Fassbender/Reuters

Borussia Dortmund and Germany midfielder Marco Reus sustained a partial ligament tear in his right knee during Saturday's German Cup final against Eintracht Frankfurt and will be out for "several months".

Reus, who has made just 24 appearances for Dortmund in a injury-riddled season, was substituted in the first half of the final, which Dortmund won 2-1 to secure their first major trophy in five years.

"In the coming days, there will be further tests and a decision will be made on the necessary treatment," the club said on their website.

"Borussia Dortmund will not be able to make a precise prediction about his possible downtime and we wish our 'cup winner' a speedy recovery."

Reus was already omitted from the Germany squad for next month's Confederation Cup in Russia.

Huddersfield into Premier League after penalty drama

Huddersfield Town returned to the top flight of English football for the first time in 45 years after a nail-biting 4-3 penalty shootout win over Reading in the Championship promotion playoff final at Wembley on Monday.

The game finished 0-0 after extra time and German defender Christopher Schindler struck the winning penalty for Huddersfield after Reading failed to convert their last two spot-kicks.

The win ensured at least 170 million pounds ($218 million) in guaranteed revenue for Huddersfield as a Premier League club next season.

"The prize is so big, I feel for (Reading)....but it is our turn and I think we deserve it because of the way we have done it. We give a lot of hope to smaller clubs," Huddersfield chairman Dean Hoyle said.

Huddersfield were relegated from the old first division in 1972 and have struggled in recent years in the Championship with 16th place their best finish since returning to the second tier five years ago.

While few predicted their promotion, the Yorkshire club have a rich history and were champions of England three times during the 1920s.

"This has nothing to do with a dream. This is a reality," defender Michael Hefele told Sky Sports.

"These guys have achieved such a big thing - such a small club to be in the best league in the world. Just crazy," he said.

Source: REUTERS
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