Sports Burst – Arsene Wenger’s Witch Hunt
Wenger’s future hint, Michel the Madridista and vroom, vroom Venus
By Tim Stannard
1) Wenger under siege over Arsenal future
Never has a football manager been treated so badly and so unfairly! Never has there been such a witch hunt! There is nothing to see hear! Move along!
Fortunately, Arsene Wenger is a little more composed in public than a certain other paranoid and shifty type Sports Burst could mention making the news from time to time, however the Arsenal manager must feel more than a little put upon with the constant questioning about his future at the Emirates.
The Frenchman was being more than a little non-committal about his immediate future at Friday’s press conference ahead of Sunday’s finale against Sunderland, but almost gave the panting press a hint, by noting that a board meeting after the FA Cup final next weekend could decide his future.
Except he didn’t really. But that doesn’t matter. "I didn't say that. You interpreted it like that. I don't know [how you should interpret it],” flummoxed the Frenchman.
Poor Wenger also had to deal with an onslaught from Tony Adams who claimed in excepts from an autobiography that the veteran Arsenal boss “couldn’t coach his way out of a paper bag.”
By coincidence, Adams is facing his last game in charge of Granada, where he has contrived to lose six in a row. A seventh on Friday would see Adams equaling a record in La Liga for consecutive defeats.
You can see how Big Tony gets on by teaching Wenger a thing or do about coaching as Granada take on Espanyol live on beIN SPORTS CONNECT from 2:45PM ET / 11:45AM PT. Catch all the day’s news and best action on the XTRA from 7PM ET / 4PM PT.
2) Malaga boss avoids Real Madrid mayhem
Just two days away from the big finale of La Liga – Real Madrid or Barcelona to win the title for those not paying attention.
The coaches will not be speaking until Saturday, so it is Michel the Malaga manager and former Real Madrid player who has made the most noise to counter the idea that his team will be rolling over on Sunday in La Romareda.
This being 2017 and all that, Michel let Twitter do the talking by posting the message that sort of means that Malaga will be looking out for themselves at the weekend.
In the Barcelona camp, Gerard Pique has returned to training after an illness but still remains a doubt for Sunday’s home banker against Eibar, whilst Javier Mascherano remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
3) Nicky Hayden continues fight for life
Nicky Hayden remains in a serious condition in an Italian hospital, two days after being hit by a car whilst cycling. The former Moto GP champion and current Superbikes rider is fighting for his life, but the ‘Kentucky Kid’ continues to receive messages of support from across the motor-cycling world. “A great talent…a very good guy,” said Valentino Rossi at a press conference ahead of the French GP this weekend.
4) Venus looks to battle for final four place in Rome
Quarterfinal day is upon is in Italian Open of tennis. And it has already been quite the splendid start for North American tennis and more accurately, John Isner, who has defeated Marin Cilic to progress to the final four. Milos Raonic is also in action on Friday along with Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
The women’s bracket is also underway and Simona Halep has already won her last eight clash against Anett Kontaveit. Up later today, it’s the imperious Venus Williams against Garbine Muguruza. The action is already live on beIN SPORTS (USA only), the proud home of the WTA.
WHAT IS SPORTS BURST?
The life philosophy of Sports Burst is that if you are not upsetting someone, then you are not trying hard enough. SB is a daily trawl and troll through the morning's sports news to bring you fact-nuggets to make you both smile and swear. Hopefully at the same time.