Sampaoli turns down Argentina ‘coach job’
West Ham eye Oly Stadium boost
MADRID, July 29, (Agencies): Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli says he has turned down an offer to manage the Argentina national team.
Sampaoli tells Sevilla’s website “I had a call from the president of the (Argentine football) federation. but it would be irresponsible for me to leave Sevilla.”
Sampaoli was hired by Sevilla last month to replace new Paris SaintGermain coach Unai Emery.
The Argentine-born Sampaoli led Chile to its first Copa America title in 2015. Argentina has been without a coach since Gerardo Martino stepped down earlier this month after losing a second consecutive Copa America final.
West Ham will play their first competitive game at their new Olympic Stadium next week looking to overturn a 2-1 defeat they suffered Thursday against Slovenian minnows NK Domzale in their Europa League qualifier.
Matic Crnic gave Domzale the lead in the 11th minute of the third qualifying round first leg tie from the penalty spot after Havard Nordtveit had handled the ball.
Mark Noble levelled, also from the spot, just seven minutes later for the Hammers following a foul on Winston Reid.
Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney believes new manager Jose Mourinho has restored a “winning mentality” at Old Trafford.
Mourinho was brought in after the end of last season following the sacking of Louis van Gaal.
United have failed to win the league since legendary manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, with David Moyes and Van Gaal, who oversaw an FA Cup final victory last season, failing to live up to the exacting standards set by the Scot.
Daniel Sturridge has said manager Juergen Klopp has put the Liverpool squad through the “most intense” pre-season of his career with the England striker pushing himself to the limit in a bid to avoid another injury-disrupted campaign.
The 26-yearold scored 13 goals in 25 appearance last season but failed to have a major impact on the Merseyside club’s campaign, as his playing time was limited following a succession of debilitating injuries.
Sampaoli
New Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has urged his players to retain the aggressiveness they have shown during the pre-season, saying that the combative nature of the game was essential to the style of play he is looking to impose at the club.
Six players were booked, while midfielder Cesc Fabregas was shown a red card, in Chelsea’s feisty 1-0 victory over Liverpool on Thursday after Gary Cahill’s early header condemned the Merseyside club to their first pre-season defeat.
Norwich City striker Kyle Lafferty has been charged by England’s governing Football Association with misconduct over rules banning players from betting on matches.
The 28-year-old Northern Ireland international is alleged to have bet on a match in February.