By Taiwo Alimi

 

Before Nigerian fast defender Zaidu Sanusi became a cynosure of eyes after his classy performance against Juventus to knock the Italian giant from the 2021 Champions League, he had become an item in Portugal and picking regular shirt under Sergio Conceicao.

European media, especially, hailed the Kebbi-Nigeria indigene for pocketing Juventus world class striker Cristiano Ronaldo throughout the game and achieve a 2-1 win over Juventus in the UEFA Champions League.

Faced against one of the greatest footballers in world football, Ronaldo, Sanusi, who gained invitation to the Nigeria national team said it was always about paying attention to details.

In December, Sanusi also helped Porto beat Benfica 2-0 to lift the Portuguese Super Cup title.

Sanusi, 23, joined the Portuguese top club last summer from Santa Clara and has had a good run of play both at in the domestic and European competitions.

He said of keeping Ronaldo quiet was an easy task and at first he was apprehensive. “The task of keeping the best footballer in the world in check got to me. I grew into the game as it progresses and prior to the game, my coach told me a lot about how to approach Ronaldo. Those details helped me in keeping him away from goal. He doesn’t need too much chance to score, so don’t even let him have it. It worked for me that day.”

Arriving in Portugal in 2016, Sanusi has endured to learn the rope even after signing for Gil Vicente in the Primeira Liga-the top division of football in the country.

Gil Vicente, loaned the 19 year-old to Mirandela for two seasons (2016/17 and 2017/18), where the left full back with electrifying speed, amassed 35 matches for the club from Bragança. He helped himself to three goals and quickly got bigger clubs wanting his signature.

The most successful football team in Azores Islands-Santa Clara, soon came for him and there he flourished playing 27 matches and scoring one goal. Santa Clara could not hold on to the exciting Nigerian for more than one season when national champions, FC Porto, came for him, becoming their third signing after Cláudio Ramos and Carraça in 2020.

Feeling upbeat about the move, Sanusi, who had played once for the Super Eagles said the deal with FC Porto was what he had been waiting for all his life.

He posted on his social media handle upon putting pen to paper for Porto. “I am extremely happy to play for FC Porto. I can’t explain it, but I am thrilled to wear this shirt.”

“I hope to do a good job and help the team. We are going to win everything this season.

“The club and the fans can expect me to give everything. I received a lot of messages from FC Porto fans, and that made me happ y.”

Though Porto lost 2-0 on Wednesday in the first leg of the Quarter-final match against Chelsea, Sanusi held his own moving up front to create chances early into the game.

He was found wanting later on in the half allowing Chelsea youngish player Mount to slip off which resulted in the first goal of the match.

Sanusi however redounded to make his usual incursions into attack but his sides were unlucky to score.

They now have an herculean task cancelling the two goals deficit when Porto visit Stamford Bridge for the return leg this week.

Sanusi speaks more on his form, relationship with manager, Super Eagles and more. Excerpts:

On Coach Sérgio Conceição

We do a lot of talking. He likes talking with his players and talling them what to do. We spoke a lot before the match against Juventus. He told me what to do with Ronaldo and after the game he told me i did well. He’s my coach, so we will be talking a lot, I’m sure. I’m extremely motivated to work with him.

On Super Eagles AFCON Qualification

We got four points when we needed only one to qualify. We had good games and the approaches to the two games were wonderful and with all the seriousness it deserved. We made a statement by picking the maximum points from both games. I want to say we are ready for

On FC Porto move

The pressure is high in Porto than any other teams that have played before. Porto is a big club with big followers. The pressure is high but the experienced players in the team are helped me a lot. They speak to me on how to ease off tha t pressure. At Porto, you’re expected to win every domestic game and fight for a win in all continental games because they are a big team here. The level of pressure brings out the best in you all the time.

Settling down was however smooth. It was one of the easiest phases I have had in my life. Kudos to the coaches, players and everyone associated with the club including the fans. Now I am playing regularly and the idea is to maintain it to help the team reach their targets for the season.

I am close to all the players, both old and new because i love to make people laugh. They call me the clown of the team and i am enjoying the attention. I am not the type who likes to go out a lot so I most times keep my relationship on the pitch or training ground. I’m very close with the entire team but with the back four, we share a special.

On Champions League

That is another ball game but I have good coaches and my manager speaks to me a lot. I’ve had an impressive domestic and champions league action. The game against Manchester City was difficult. We lost 3-1 away but I’ve learnt my mistake and been able to keep my head down.

I played in all of Porto’s Champions League games and helped them to three straight wins since that defeat at City. Against Marseille II got a goal and that was my first Champions League goal. It was a dream come true for me. I was elated and celebrated with my friends.

It is a very important goal in my career, my first in the Champions League.

Going to the quarter-finals of the Champions League during my first participation is difficult to explain. Playing against Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best in the world, was very motivating and it was great to continue.

Perhaps Diego Maradona gave Lothar Matthäus the biggest compliment when he described him as the “best rival I had in my whole career”. Both players won Serie A titles when the league was at its peak around Italia 90, but they were very different.  Maradona was a flawed genius who seemed to be playing in the heavens, while Matthäus was perhaps the most complete midfielder there has ever been. He led by example, was professional, powerful, incredibly motivated and self-confident. He had an incredible engine; his range of passing was phenomenal; and he had a blistering shot. As a natural leader, he improved the players around him.

Between 1988 and 1992, Matthäus scored 53 goals in 153 appearances for Inter. He won Serie A, the Supercoppa Italiana and the Uefa Cup for the club, while also picking up the Ballon d’Or in 1990 and the World Cup in Italy the same year.

With Inter looking set to clinch their first Scudetto in over a decade, it is fitting to celebrate a man who played a major role in returning the Nerazzurri to the top of Serie A, 32 years ago.

Matthaus turned 60 on Sunday March 21, 2021.

At 28-years-old, Matthaus was an icon for both club and country, having played more than 60 games for Die Mannschaft and already a three-time league champion with Bayern. Even with the spending power and glamour of Serie A at the time, the move rocked German football.

On his first appearance at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza he completed the scoring during a comprehensive 4-1 defeat of Pisa and gave an all action display that would become a trademark of his time in Italy.

The Nigerian striker dedicated his maiden Premier League hat-trick to mums around the world on Mother’s Day in a post-match interview that earned plenty of praise Kelechi Iheanacho captured the hearts of the nation when he dedicated his maiden Premier League hat-trick to mums around the world, but there is a poignant story to his message.

After Iheanacho’s treble helped Leicester City to their biggest win of the campaign against Sheffield United on Sunday, he told Sky Sports: “I’m going to use this opportunity to dedicate this hat-trick to all of the mothers in the world, the ones taking care of us. I wish them all a happy Mother’s Day.”

Iheanacho’s message is perhaps more emotional given his own mum died when he was just 16.

Mercy, a teacher, died aged 43 after a brief illness. Later that year, 2013, Iheanacho was named player of the tournament as Nigeria won the Under-17s World Cup, his performances catching the eye of Manchester City.

And since arriving in the Premier League, he has honoured his mum’s memory by pointing to the skies when he scores, the 24-year-old appearing close to tears when he scored the goal that sealed his first league hat-trick on Sunday.

“The reason I point to heaven is because I think there is a God in heaven and also it’s for my mum, I know she’s watching when I score,” he said. “So I want to show my appreciation for God and for my late mum.”

Read Also: KELECHI IHEANACHO: Rebirth of Leicester’s Nigeria striker

 

He added: “It’s a really great day for me, my family and my team-mates. I’m delighted. I’m thankful for my team-mates and the manager for helping me to get to this level, and for Jamie Vardy, he has helped me a lot.

“I have been waiting for this day to come, it’s my first hat-trick in the Premier League, and I’m delighted. Hope fully there are many more to come in the future. My second team’ – Micah Richards hails Leicester City transfer strategy

Iheanacho was keen to thank Vardy because it was his passes that laid on the first two of his three against the Blades.

The attacking set-up deployed by Brendan Rodgers, with the two strikers supported by Ayoze Perez in the number 10 role, paid off handsomely for City. “That’s what happens when three strikers play in the same game,” Iheanacho said. “It was on for us today.

“It wasn’t really coming in the first half, we got a few chances and then got the goal, but in the second half it opened up for us and we were all over them, we pressed them, we got the ball, and we put the ball in the net, so it was a really lovely Sunday for us.”

 

 

Sunday Oliseh is one of the few from what is usually referred to as the Golden Generation of Nigerian football of the 1990s to have played, captain and coach the Super Eagles. The other being late Stephen Keshi and Austin Eguavoen who is currently the technical director with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) but come April 15, Oliseh who starred for some of the best European clubs in his active days, will be the first from the storied Super Eagles class of 1994 that shook the football world by winning the African Cup of Nations en-route to the country’s historic debut at the FIFA World Cup, to put out his autobiography.

Always daring to be different, the former  Koln, Ajax, Juventus and Dortmund midfielder, said his forthcoming book aptly titled Audacity to Refuse, will be the best story of the Super Eagles ever.

“Of course, nobody had taken time to document the story of the Super Eagles of our time but here is one that would put the reader through some of the things we did and how we did them,” the 46-year-old told The Nation in an exclusive conversation. “Audacity to refuse is going to be the best history of the Super Eagles; you are going to see from 1993 onward when I joined the Super Eagles and the background issues without pointing at names because that is not the essence of the book.

“How we were successful in that era and how we can go back to the top again,” affirmed the 1996 Atlanta Olympics gold medallist and a star in Nigeria’s first ever team at the FIFA World Cup at USA ’94.

Due to be released on April 15, Audacity to Refuse, according to Oliseh shares some of the germane similarities with the gripping stuff that made former US President  Barack Obama’s ‘Audacity of Hope’  one of the best bestsellers ever.

In what is his frankest interview on the forthcoming book, Oliseh who managed both the Super Eagles and Dutch side Fortuna Sittard in some incredulous circumstances,  gave a glimpse of what to expect in Audacity to Refuse in an enchanting conversation with Sport Editor, Morakinyo Abodunrin. Excerpts…

 

 

Between Audacity of Hope and Audacity to Refuse

I think the difference is the situation that we both (former US President Barack Obama and Oliseh) find ourselves and there are some similarities too because we are both minorities in our respective countries. For instance in my own country (Nigeria), I am a minority and my village (Abavo in Delta State) is not even on the Nigerian map; you have to look very far to see our village. So on the whole, Audacity of Hope authored by former US President Barack Obama and my Audacity to Refuse, which will be released into the market on April 15, have a lot of similarities and differences too. There were actually two titles that came to my mind but as a matter of fact, it was actually my son that helped me choose the title for this forthcoming book. I had two options, Audacity to Believe and Audacity to Refuse but my son, a grown up man now because he’s actually 24 years of age, stated right away ‘ papa,  audacity to refuse is you because you don’t allow yourself to get cheated and all that.’ Of course, I was very flattered when he said so and that was how I decided to take Audacity to Refuse.

 

My kind of personality

First of all, it is not that I’m a very difficult person that doesn’t compromise. I wouldn’t be alive today if I didn’t compromise;  I think what my son was  just saying was that I refused  to accept limitations; and in fact, that is what the book is totally all about. I understand when you say the African way is about making compromise and doing deals; but I also feel that you cannot do a deal to the detriment of yourself or your people. Frankly, I think there are certain things that come first, you can’t do a deal that makes you become one of God’s non-favourite children  and that is how I see life anyway.

Of course, I had been in so many difficult situations whereby I had to bend my principles and this goes back from my childhood. I have been in a lot of those situations and a lot of these are in the book to be released. In fact, Audacity to Refuse is not only about football but you also get to my childhood stories in the beginning chapters which is something I have never ever discussed before with someone else. I feel that there are so many things holding us down as a people and in this particular time in our country, hopefully the book will explain what I faced and how I was able to deal with some of these situations. I feel that there are so many well-intentioned people who loved to do things but they don’t know where to start from and this is an aspect that makes the book such a compelling read. Part of our problems as a people and country is that a lot of us who passed through difficult paths to succeed never shared the experience in the form of a book for others to learn from. So in Audacity to Refuse, readers would see through some of the things I did and the formula that I used; and even learn through what I did but failed.

 

My leadership Inspiration

Of course, I love former US President Barack Obama; I am a big fan of him as well as late South African President Nelson Mandela. I am also a big fan of late music icon, Michael Jackson. I have always been very curious about these people and it made me read books about them and to find out what really made them such great personalities. I never knew it would be my turn to share my own experience with people in the form of a book.

 

Dilemma of black coaches in European football

Giving my own experience, Europe is split in the sense that we have the Western part of Europe and we have the Eastern part; and in the Western part is where we are and it’s concentrated with almost all of the wealth and everything. What I noticed is what has happened in our coaching career as blacks are no longer secrets anymore.  You see a part of this on a daily basis and look at the ‘Black Lives Matter’ issue and riot that filled the whole world in summer last year. It is now apparent that for a coloured man to get anything is almost impossible. If I go into the coaching part and reflected upon what I went through with Fortuna Sittard in Holland; it was a difficult moment for me because I faced discrimination even if not from day one. Some of the complaints against me at Fortuna Sittard are mind boggling and some of the reasons that led to our separation from one another are very funny.

Complaints like I used the wrong toilet or you trained on the wrong pitch and nobody was talking about my competence rather they were coming up with some funny issues. The most painful part of it was that I never even got any support from my own people who rather than looked at all the issues dispassionately, judged me without even knowing the facts. In the first instance, I got the job when the club was dead and Fortuna Sittard at that time was a club nobody wanted; they don’t have the players; no infrastructure and no money but I took the gamble knowing what I can do. They were second to none and were about to be relegated when I took up the job; and the Turkish man (Acun Ilıcalı) that bought the club six months before I took the job was practically lost and begged me to take the job because he felt it would bring some positive attention to the club. We actually signed the contract at the airport and I told him right away that I’m not signing the contract because I wanted attention, but because I wanted to bring the club to the first division. You needed to see how he looked at me and said all that he wanted was for the team to be at least in the 13th position (general laughter). It was so difficult handling Fortuna Sittard and I can say without missing words that I faced discrimination from day one. So it’s so painful that for all the discrimination I suffered for one and half years at Fortuna Sittard, my fellow countrymen never saw through the fact that I was being discriminated against by the club which led to my separation. Nobody was saying that the club was second to relegation position when he took over the club and how come it is after he has done so well by helping the club gain promotion that they started having issues with him. Discrimination is hard to take but as Africans, we just have to continue trying hard to fight our ways; and find the formula to succeed. I found the formula to succeed as a player and now, I also have to find the formula to succeed as a coach too. I’m happy with all that I did at Fortuna Sittard and I’m happy that the team is now playing in the first division now even if nobody gives me any credit for where they are today. Being a black coach in Europe is hard and this is not only about me; ask Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Clarence Seedorf . Anytime we see ourselves, we get talking about this discrimination as coloured coaches in Europe for hours. Of course, I shared my experience about my time at Fortuna Sittard in Audacity to Refuse.

 

Not being popular with Nigerian local media

Way back and up till 2001,  I was the favourite of the media back home and this much  explained in the book;  and I also addressed the fact that in as much as I’m quick to say this is wrong, I must admit that I felt that I would have handled some of the issues better than I did. I don’t want to share much of this for now because they are all documented in the book.

 

Africa’s quest to win the World Cup

Nigeria should have been World Cup Champions already and without any doubt, we should have won the World Cup at USA 1994 FIFA World Cup Finals. We had it in our hands and we were far, far better than most teams. We should have been champions in 1994 but it spilled away from our hands. Coming back from the World Cup and I remember telling a German journalist that I was so sad because we should have been champions if we’d managed things better. He  looked at me as a joke but what happened two years at Atlanta 1996 Olympics when Nigeria became the first African side to win the soccer gold medal was  a manifestation of what would have happened in 1994 because we actually beat almost all the best teams on our way to win the gold medal in Atlanta. So I agree with the recent statement by the new CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe that an African team can win the World Cup in the near future but there is a lot of work to be done.

 

My immediate family

Audacity to Refuse, I am dedicated to my family; and for the first time, the public will get to see the picture of my kids at the end of the book. Without the three of them and that is my wife and the two children, I won’t be where I’m today.

 

Writing Audacity to Refuse

It took me about two years to put the book together and one thing I’m happy about is that nobody would be able to say that they’ll find strange things from the book because I’m blessed with the ability to put down my thoughts together. But the general idea and aim of the book is on how a person from nowhere can improve himself; how my country can improve itself and how football administrators can improve themselves. How were we able to be successful during our time and how the coming generations can improve and find their ways through all the difficulties to succeed. Most people are going through life by trials and errors but a lot will be helped by reading Audacity to Refuse. Of course, nobody had taken time to document the story of the Super Eagles of our time but here is one that would put the reader through some of the things we did and how we did them. Audacity to Refuse is going to be the best history of the team.

You are going to see from 1993 onward when I joined the Super Eagles and the background issues without pointing at names because that is not the essence of the book.  How we were successful in that era and how we can go back to the top again.

 

Desire to administer Nigerian football

I have no choice than to serve my country if the opportunity is there. I can’t run away from Nigeria and even my family knows about this. My wife talks about this all the time that ‘I can’t run away from anything Nigeria and that if Nigeria calls at midnight, I’ll wake up’ and I will always be ready to help Nigeria. That is the truth because Nigeria is my home and I grew up from the streets out there. I will always help; and recently I was offered the job to be the technical director at the NFF and I gave them my conditions.

By Taiwo Alimi

Two months short of their wedding anniversary, Super Eagles and Leicester City strongman, Wilfred Ndidi has poured encomium on his wife, Dinma Fortunate, who he described as ‘Amazing’ and has made him a better player and person.  The couple got married in May 2019 and the union is blessed with a baby girl-Jaina.   He said: “One word to describe my wife? I’m looking for a better word for amazing because that is just what how she is. She is just amazing.

“Getting married and having a baby, building up a family has made me see things in different perspective and I try to understand things in a different way. My focus now is mainly on my family, career and trying to do my best. These things have made me a better man and I’m trying to improve on myself. So, I will say yes of course, in spite of my form and hard work, family has given me a level of peace and focus.”

Ndidi further described their daughter as ‘a blessing’ that has brought so much joy into their marriage.

“Jaina is a blessing to us. We are very happy to have her. She came during the lockdown and she has been a blessing to us. My wife and I decided on the name together. We both decided on giving her the name not just one person but a decision we jointly took. The lockdown was an opportunity for me to be with them (my wife and daughter) and I must say I’m enjoying the joy of fatherhood.”

With 135 EPL appearances, seven goals and equal assists to his name, the 24 –year-old answers questions about his recent goal against Chelsea, superlative performance against champions Liverpool, family life and others. Taiwo Alimi conducted the interview. Excerpts: The ongoing EPL season has been going well for Leicester and you, what do you think is responsible for this great run?

I just feel we played more as a team, we believed in each other and the manager is been very good to us and he’s been out to get the best out of us not just in football but even outside the pitch. I think those are the reasons that we are actually doing well because the mentality has to be strong and we are working hard.

Your goal against Chelsea was impressive, how do you feel about it?

I felt very good not just because it is Chelsea but we got the three points from that game. We scored two great goals and the maximum points at stake. It is not just about me scoring but about the team. My main focus on every game for us to get the three points or get a point if it’s too hard. I’m actually happy about my performance and proud of myself because I can actually do this thing. It comes once in a while and I can just hit and it will go in. I’m glad that we won.

Against champions Liverpool, you also had great stats, even providing an assist, you must be happy with yourself and your achievements?

It’s just one of those things. Liverpool, current champions and a decent team and we winning is great. They scored us first and I did my job, it is just me doing my job and I’m happy that we got an important win. It is very important game to us. And an important win for us too. Most importantly, we got the points and we got to stay up there on the league table. We are looking forward to more games to come.

You must be very proud of yourself!

Yeah! Yeah! I’m very proud of myself. I’m very happy and I will keep doing my thing and keep improving on every aspect of my game. We see how it goes.

You welcome your first child Jaina in May 2020, who chose her name, you or your wife and what does it mean?

Jaina is a blessing to us. We are very happy to have her. She came during the lockdown and she has been a blessing to us. My wife and I decided on the name together. We both decided on giving her the name not just one person but a decision we jointly took. The lockdown was an opportunity for me to be with them (my wife and daughter) and I must say I’m enjoying the joy of fatherhood.

Your game has been on the rise since your marriage and child birth, would you say having a family of your own contributed to your great form?

I’ve always been doing my best and I will say yes getting married and having a baby, building up a family has made me see things in different perspective and try to understand things in a different way. My focus now is mainly on my family, career and trying to do my best. These things have made me a better man and I’m trying to improve on myself. So, I will say yes of course, in spite of my form and hard work, family has brought a level of peace and focus.

What is your relationship with manager Brendan Rodgers; he has been saying good things about you?

Brendan Rodgers is a kind of coach that doesn’t specify on his first eleven since he came into the club. He has kind of made every bond together. It does not matter if you are playing or not playing. Everyone is the same. You just have to go out there and put on your best performance. He does not believe in one special player. He believes more in the team. The team comes first to him before any player. He brings everyone along and together. If you come close to him, you will see he’s a very nice person and outside football he’s willing to offer his help at all times. He’s one of the best managers I’ve worked with. I’m very happy, proud and grateful to work with him.

You have missed a couple of club and country matches because of injury, when are you coming back to national team?

It’s a rare priviledge for me to play for Nigeria. It is an honour and hopefully when I get invited I’m always happy to represent Nigeria. I’m always proud of wearing the green and white colours. Hopefully, if I get invited this March, why not, I’m coming.

In your absence, Super Eagles drew 4-4 with Sierra Leone drawing widespread anger in Nigeria, how do you react to that. What do you think went wrong?

As a player I feel very bad about the game. We dominated the game but unfortunately it did not go well. I felt very sad as a player and as a Nigerian. I also feel for the fans and all Nigerians.  It is just normal thing and this kind of thing prepares one for the future. A team can be on top and something happen you get yourself at the receiving end. It helps to prepare our minds and get us ready for the next match. It is an experience that should not be regretted but we can learn through it. We know the expectation of our fans and we see the coming international break and what will happen and we can take it from there.

You recently returned to school, how has it been and how are you combining school and football schedule?

For now school is on hold because of the whole COVID-19 thing. Hopefully when things get better I will just continue from there.

What is the best adjective to describe your wife?

One word to describe my wife! I’m looking for a better word for amazing because that is just what she is. She is just amazing.

 

NDIDI’S FAVOURITES

Favourite pet:  Dog (But I don’t have any)

Favourite attacker: Ronaldo

Favourite player: Ronaldo

Favourite online game:  Call of Duty

(I think I’m addicted to it)

Favourite book: I don’t have one

Favourite artist: Falz the bad guy and 2face

Favourite song: I like good songs

Favourite other Sport: Cricket and Badminton

 

NDIDI’S EPL RECORD

Appearances:                                   135

Goals:                                  7

Assists:                                7

Appearances:                    135

Goals:                                  7

Wins:                                   60

Losses:                                46

ATTACK

Goals:                                  7

Goals per match:                             0.05

Headed goals:                   1

Goals with right foot:                     4

Goals with left foot:                       2

Penalties scored:                             0

Free kicks scored:                            0

Shots:    161

Shots on target:                25

Shooting accuracy %:                     16%

Hit woodwork:                  5

Big chances missed:                        4

 

TEAM PLAY

Assists:   7

Passes:  6,798

Passes per match:  50.36

Big Chances Created:   5

Crosses:   28

Cross accuracy %:   4%

Through balls: 16

Accurate long balls:   307

 

DISCIPLINE

Yellow cards:     23

Red cards:                                         2

Fouls:                                  216

Offsides:                                            5

 

DEFENCE

Tackles:                                             530

Tackle success %:                            63%

Blocked shots:                   42

Interceptions:                                   283

Clearances:                                       326

Headed Clearance:                          166

Recoveries:                                       1,140

Duels won:                                        1,157

Duels lost:                                         936

Successful 50/50s:                           109

Aerial battles won:                          428

Aerial battles lost:                           351

Errors leading to goal:                    1

Agency Reporter 

Steven Gerrard has described winning of Rangers’ 55th league title as a crowning glory of rough patches he has been through and  ‘one of the proudest moments’ of his career.

The manager spoke to RangersTV for the first time after Gers were confirmed as champions on Sunday – and he took time to pay tribute to a real, team effort not only on the pitch, but behind the scenes too.

Said Gerrard, the iconic former Liverpool skipper, “I have had some low days and some tough times – of course we have – but they make you strong, they make you better and you learn from them and you get ready to go again.

“But the biggest thing I had to do here was to connect all the different departments – I am not saying they were all broken – and the club has got incredible people working in all the different departments but they just needed someone to connect them all and get a bit of belief back.

“The club was obviously having a difficult time and also had previously been through an even worse time.

“So for me, it was about moving forward and trying to everything we could to connect everyone so everyone was on the same page, on the same journey and pushing in the right direction to get to a day like Sunday, and thankfully, we got it done. It has been an incredible few days,” said Gerrard, “and the emotions that have run through me have been absolutely fantastic.

“It has just been a special time and one of the proudest moments of my career for sure – right up there with some of the highs I experienced as a player and just to get it over the line and become Champions and win 55, is really special for me.

“I can’t begin to describe the amount of work that has gone into it, not just by myself, but by everyone connected to the club from the board down, over the course of, not even three years yet but it will be in the summer.

“But we have done it and the important thing now is to try and build on that and go for more. Yes, of course, we celebrated it on Saturday and Sunday, and the fans are very jubilant at the moment which you can understand.

“But I think now it is very important that we get back with our heads onto the football. It is important the fans remain safe and get back to following the rules and the Covid regulations – that is very important now.

“And we want to now go and make this an even more-special season – we have got some fantastic fixtures coming up – obviously Slavia Prague in the short-term – where we want to try and get into the last eight of the competition and go one better than last year.

Read Also: Aribo, Balogun secure Rangers’ 55th Scottish title

“We have an Old Firm derby to look forward to, and then we get a mini-break with the internationals where we will get some rest and we will get ready again for the split games and the Scottish Cup.

“But what a time to connected with this club – I am very excited and jubilant from the last few days but now it is about what is next for me. Obviously in our preparation before we first came-in, I was working for numerous weeks, and I have had incredible backing and support from the board.

What is up next then for Gers is a trip to Slavia Prague in the Europa League Last 16 on Thursday, with Gerrard firmly focused now on that and the challenges beyond.

He continued: “It is an historic year and it is an historic achievement, of course, and I don’t think we can ever forget that and I don’t think we will.

“But at a club like Rangers, it is about winning and that never stops. The responsibility, especially in my position, doesn’t change when you achieve your first big goal together – it is about enjoying that moment, savouring it and then dusting yourself down and getting yourself ready for the next challenge.

“I want this to become a successful period and that is going to be the next challenge for this set of players – have you got the hunger and the fight and the de termination to go and achieve more?

“And that is going to be the message, certainly in the next few days.

“They [the players] have been on an almighty high like everyone connected to the club – so today was about getting the legs moving again and getting them recovered and ready physically and mentally. “We have to be ready for this challenge as Slavia are a good team who we have major respect for.

“They are full of energy, and they are honest, hardworking and have quality. Only the best version of ourselves is going to get this done over the two legs so we have introduced Slavia to them in-terms of the game plan and what is going to be needed.

“We will do some more work tomorrow in-terms of their strengths and weaknesses and how we think we can try to get past this challenge and come Thursday night, when it is kick-off time, I have confidence and belief the boys will be ready and I want them to go and play with belief and confidence and be really fired-up for it.”

Agency Reporter 

Rangers star Leon Balogun insists that winning the title doesn’t mean Steven Gerrard’s side will be sitting back and putting their feet up, and aims to bring more silverware to Ibrox.

Days after the club’s first title triumph in a decade was confirmed, the Nigerian international and his club-mates return to European action against Slavia Prague in the Europa League.

Balogun wants to go further than last season when the Gers lost out at this stage to Bayer Leverkusen and thinks the title win can provide a springboard for even more success.

“It would be wrong if we just thought, ‘OK, now we’ve won the league, let’s sit back and relax,’” Balogun told the Scottish Sun.

“That would be shameful and also disrespectful to the badge. This club stands for success and we’ve been able to dust that badge off a little bit with this title victory.

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“Obviously the league has always been the main target, but there are still cups to play for.

“Last season the team managed to reach this same stage of the Europa League, so now the next challenge is to advance one step further.

“I’m pretty sure, going by how the staffs are speaking and the team is set up, everybody will see this as the beginning of a good run. It’s about saying, ‘Let’s see about bringing as much glory to the club as we can’.”

Balogun also admitted that he sees him being at Ibrox next season to help Steven Gerrard’s side defend their title – as well as having a crack at making the Champions’ League group stage.

With Balogun only signing a one-year deal when he initially joined the Light Blues and is “pretty confident” there will be news imminently, adding: “I am pretty confident there will be something to talk about soon. I see no reason why I won’t be here.”

In his first interview since signing a pro-contract with his dream club, Manchester United’s history-making teenager Shola Shoretire, who snubs Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus and PSG interest, said Rashford and Greenwood helped him take the career shot.

 

Shola Shoretire is keen to build on his first-team experience after making his Manchester United debut in the 3-1 victory over Newcastle United. The forward came on in the 89th minute of the Premier League win at Old Trafford to enter the club’s history books as the seventh-youngest debutant for the Reds at 17 years and 19 days old.

The Academy product has been with United since he was 10, after moving to Manchester from Newcastle, where he had been at the famous north-east Wallsend Boys’ Club that had also produced our former midfielder and current first-team coach Michael Carrick.

Having taken Shoretire on the trip to Turin last week for the last-32 Europa League first-leg win against Real Sociedad, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought him on for Marcus Rashford against the Magpies.

“Shola has been training with us now for a while and he’s done really well. It was the next step up for him,” said the boss.

“We felt, of course in the transfer window last time, we let a few players go out on loan, which made the path for him shorter and I’m sure he’ll remember his five or six minutes on the pitch.”

Shoretire is the latest in a long list of United’s home-produced talent to progress to the first-team.

“It’s in our DNA, it’s what we do at Man United and it’s important that our kids know that when they’re good enough, they’re old enough,” said Solskjaer.

Naturally, Shoretire was delighted with his first taste of senior action.

“It feels great. It is such a proud moment for me and my family. I’ve worked so hard to get here and my mum and my dad. I have been at the club since I was 10 and it is a dream come true to be playing for the biggest club in the world,” Shola said in his first interview with Man United TV.

“Obviously, it is what I want to do now. Doing the thing that I love, playing football for the best club in the world, and I want to carry on.

“Everyone in the Academy idolises Marcus [Rashford] and Mason [Greenwood]. They have gone through the path we want to follow. I can learn from them.

“I was nervous but I have worked really hard to get here, to this moment, that I just wanted to do the best I could and, hopefully, I can keep getting minutes and, as I get older, play more and keep enjoying my time at the club.

“Hopefully, it is just the start. I am going to keep work ing hard in training, keeping my head down and keeping humble and looking forward to playing more.

“Looking at people like Marcus and Mason, they have come through the same thing as I have through the Academy and it shows the coaches have been doing a really good job. It was nice to have Nicky Butt and Mark Dempsey on the bench because I have been with them in the Under 23s, helping me out. So it was good to share the moment with them.”

The only negative for Shoretire was that it was an empty Old Trafford that marked his debut with fans and family unable to see him make his bow in the flesh.

“With the fans, it makes it 10 times better but still to come on at Old Trafford, looking around me at the size of the stadium and looking where I would sit as a fan and finally playing on the pitch, it was a great moment,” he said.

“My family and friends would have hopefully been watching on TV and they would have been proud. I checked my phone afterwards and it was crazy with my family, school friends and cousins messaging.

“When I travelled to Turin for Real Sociedad, I was thinking I might get on because we were winning so I could have been disappointed but I just came back and worked hard in training again and I hoped for the best this time, and I am happy and grateful for the opportunity.”

He is regarded as one of the best attacking young midfielders in Europe and usually plays from the left but can also be used on the right or behind a striker.

Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain have all been trying to tempt him away from Man United.

But he decided to commit his future to the Red Devils and has now penned a lucrative first professional contract at Old Trafford.

Shoretire is understood to have sought the advice of Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Michael Owen over his future and was convinced to stay at United.

He posted on Instagram: “It’s a dream come true to sign my first professional contract for my boyhood club! Such a proud day for me and my family.

“Thank you to everyone at the club and to my family who have helped me get to this moment. Hard work continues!”

Shoretire made history in 2018 when he became the youngest United player ever to appear in the UEFA Youth League, aged just 14.

Speaking in December, Under-23s head coach Neil Wood praised the progress the youngster is making.

“Shola has always played up a year through his whole academy career,” Wood said. “I can’t remember him ever playing his own age group. He has always been stretched.

“He is very mature for his age, the way he plays, he does a lot of work, takes a lot of positions up, and he has played a lot of roles. He’s played [number] nine, he’s played left, he’s played on the right, he’s played 10 and whatever you ask him to do – on and off the ball – he is going to do it. You can trust him to do that job.

“He is very young and doing excellent for the age of him. I am not expecting him to be man of the match or [a] main figure of the team, because he is so young, but he’s not going on that pitch and drowning or anything. He has probably been one of our most consistent outstanding performers throughout the season.”