Sports
Arsenal stars feel guilty after letting Arsene Wenger down in the past decade, says Per Mertesacker
PER MERTESACKER admits that Arsenal’s players have let Arsene Wenger down.
Club captain Mertesacker reveals that there is a sense of sadness and guilt in the Emirates dressing-room over the manager’s imminent departure.
And he believes that Wenger is leaving at the end of the season because his team have not lived up to expectations.
Mertesacker claimed: “We sit here together and know that we have not been successful over the past couple of years.
“We have won the FA Cup, but in terms of achieving Champions League football every season we have not done it.
“In terms of top four finishes, we are not able to achieve it again this season. There are a lot of people responsible for that, not only the manager.
“It hasn’t sunk in enough to say we are guilty, but we are all responsible for this situation.”
Mertesacker issued an emotional address to the entire squad last Friday morning immediately after Wenger told them that he would be leaving next month.
He admits: “First of all we were surprised and then we were emotional and sad.
“You can feel that he still has a lot left in him in terms of the power he gives to the team.
“He told us that he wants to win every remaining game and leave in style and we gave him immediate feedback that we feel the responsibility to fight for him every time we step onto the field.
“His story is unique so we want to give him the best possible send-off so I am delighted we gave one answer against West Ham on Sunday.
“But there are more answers to come in the next couple of weeks.”
Mertesacker, 33, is in the final month of his playing career before taking up his new job as head of Arsenal’s youth academy in September.
And he is distraught that he won’t be starting his coaching career under Wenger’s careful guidance.
He says: “The boss has been the major figure at this club for more than 20 years and he was the best possible fit.
“Now we have to find someone who can start a new era and that is going to be really tough.”
The World Cup-winning German international signed for Arsenal in August 2011 the day after the team had been thrashed 8-2 by Manchester United.
He recalls: “The first time we talked on the phone, I was surprised that the boss could speak German so fluently.
“His calmness, especially in that first week after the 8-2 defeat, really struck me.
“I expected a storm of pressure but it was all about him calming everyone down and focusing.
“He trusted people to learn from their mistakes and he made me aware that there is still room in football for honesty and to care about people.
“So now we want to send him off in the way he deserves; with a trophy.”
That desire to end Wenger’s reign in style is shared by the entire squad, with Aaron Ramsey confirming: “He deserves all the plaudits he gets and hopefully we can finish the season off in style.
“We’re not thinking about who’s coming in next – it’s about doing it for Arsene. Winning the Europa League would be a perfect send-off for him.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team, the Super Eagles.
This development was announced by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in the early hours of Tuesday, following the approval of the NFF Executive Committee based on a recommendation from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Labbadia’s appointment takes immediate effect.
Born on 8th February 1966 in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a distinguished playing career, earning two caps for the German national team. His club career included stints at prominent clubs such as Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. Notably, he won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994.
Labbadia’s coaching career has seen him manage top-tier clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others. He holds a UEFA Pro License and is well-regarded for his tactical acumen.
With his appointment, Labbadia becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Höner notably guided the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate task is to prepare the Super Eagles for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
Nigeria will face Benin Republic on Saturday, 7th September in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. The team will also play four additional qualifying matches in October and November as they aim to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles, placed in Group D, will face familiar foes Benin Republic, who recently defeated Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The draw for the AFCON qualifiers, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, last month, also sees Nigeria taking on Libya and Rwanda, both of whom are also part of the Super Eagles’ group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Labbadia’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles look to regain their dominance on the African continent and secure qualification for both the AFCON and the World Cup.
Finidi George has stepped into a new role as the technical manager for NPFL side, Rivers United, following his resignation as coach of the Super Eagles.
During his brief tenure with the Eagles, George’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan cast doubts on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification, prompting calls from fans for his dismissal.
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Nevertheless, Rivers United, the 2021-22 champions, expressed optimism in a statement on Wednesday via their official handle about having the former Eagles international manage their team.
“Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years,” the statement read.
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Dr. Okey Kpalukwu, General Manager of Rivers United FC, welcomed George, stating, “We are delighted to have Finidi George join our team. His appointment marks a new chapter in our club’s history, and we are committed to working together to achieve success.”
Expressing his gratitude to the club, an elated George remarked, “I am honored to have this opportunity, and I thank the Sports Commissioner, the General Manager, and the supporters for their confidence in me. I am committed to working hard and making the team win.”
Inter Milan were taken over by US fund Oaktree on Wednesday after the Serie A champions’ outgoing owners Suning missed a deadline to repay a debt worth hundred of millions of euros.
In a statement, Oaktree announced they had “assumed control” of Inter after the non-repayment of a “three-year loan to Inter Milan’s holding companies that matured on 21 May 2024 with a total balance due of approximately 395 million euros ($428 million)”.
Chinese conglomerate Suning have relinquished control of Inter to Oaktree three days after the team were officially crowned Italian champions for the 20th time.
Suning borrowed 275 million euros at over 12 percent interest three years ago to pay staff and players as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the finances of clubs across Europe, putting up their controlling stake in the club as collateral.
“Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for the long-term prosperity of Inter Milan, with an initial focus on operational and financial stability for the Club and its stakeholders,” Oaktree continued.
Inter became a powerful force at home and abroad after Suning acquired the club in 2016, with seven trophies including two Serie A titles and two European finals.
Simone Inzaghi’s team cruised to this year’s championship, winning the Scudetto with five matches remaining by beating AC Milan in a thrilling local derby.
Oaktree, which manages $192 billion in assets, said they are “committed to working closely with Inter Milan’s current management team, partners, the league and governing bodies to ensure the Club is positioned for success on and off the pitch”.
Inter ended up in the hands of Oaktree in a manner similar to the way another US fund, Elliott Management, took control of their local rivals Milan in 2018.
Elliott became Milan’s owners when Chinese businessman Li Yonghong was unable to repay a loan he had taken out when he bought the club from the late Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest the previous year.
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