Wydad is not going to be easy - Modise.

Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfield general, Teko Modise, who is currently the team's ambassador, has sent a warning about the threat of Wydad AC.

Sundowns face Wydad on Saturday afternoon at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in a highly anticipated CAF Champions League semi-final.

With the game at a delicate 0-0 after the first leg, Modise has warned Sundowns not to allow Wydad to score first, while encouraging them to remember how good they are as a team.

"It is a tough one, Wydad is one of those teams that if they score first you can play until next week because it is difficult to score against them," said Modise, as quoted by Times Live. https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2023-05-19-teko-modise-urges-sundowns-players-to-remember-how-good-they-are-against-wydad/

"But Sundowns need to remember how good they are. They showed against Al Ahly here during the group stages, where the game was difficult, but they came through."

One thing that has impressed Modise about Downs' current team, is their ability to rise to the occasion, something they will have to do against Wydad.

ALSO READ: Aubrey Modiba on his inverted full-back role. https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/modiba-has-paid-his-school-fees.html?m=1

"One thing I like about Sundowns is whenever they are asked to show what they are about, they perform. This is one of those hurdles we need to jump. 

"Wydad is not going to be easy, but we need to use our home ground advantage with the fans."

Kick-off will be at 15:00.

The winner will face Al Ahly SC on June 04, and 11 in the final after they beat Esperance 4-0 on aggregate.

Modiba has paid his school fees.

Mamelodi Sundowns left-back, Aubrey Modiba has had to endure a torrid time getting used to his inverted full-back role.

Against Al Ahly SC, a game that Sundowns won 5-2 during the CAF Champions League group stages, Modiba had a hand in both the goals Downs conceded, with Tau forcing him into an error for the first, and taking him to the cleaners for the second.

But just last week, the 27-year- old was voted into the CAFCL team of the week following his sterling display against Wydad AC.

That is how much Modiba has improved in a short space of time. He has credited trusting the process for his latest showings, proving once and for all, that he has paid his school fees.

"Coach always said we must trust the process, when we started pre-season in Rustenberg, the coach told us, this is how we’re going to play, he wants us to play this way and we knew why he wanted to play like this," said Modiba as quoted by iDiski Times. https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/caf-champions-league/modiba-i-didnt-understand-the-role-much/

"He always has a purpose, but when we started I didn’t understand the role much, sometimes I would do what he wants me to do and sometimes I will forget but he kept reminding me and pushing me, motivating me to be in this position.

"He knew what he wanted out of the team, so yeah, when we started, we went through the sessions and everything and started coming alright, we started understanding one another, where to go etc."

ALSO READ: Guardiola on celebrations after Chelsea game should City win. https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/no-celebrations-should-city-win-epl-on.html?m=1

Modiba has admitted that there is always going to be mistakes leading to critisicm, but he doesn't dwell on them.

"There’s going to be mistakes and criticism. As a player I don’t focus too much on criticism because I think I’ve played in the PSL for so long and we know these things happen, people will say things."

Modiba will be hoping for another great performance when Sundowns host Wydad AC in a CAFCL semi-final second leg encounter tomorrow ( Saturday 20 May) at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

No celebrations should City win the EPL on Sunday.

Manchester City will host Chelsea on Sunday 21 May at the Etihad, with the kick-off at 17:00.

While a Man City win on Sunday is expected to spark wild celebrations following the manner in which they overtook Arsenal in the EPL title race, modest City boss, Pep Guardiola has other ideas.

Guardiola said a breakfast and a small celebration with 'our people' will be enough.

According to Pep, the big celebrations will be saved for the end of the season.

"We are satisfied to be able to play the Champions League final," said Guardiola in his press conference ahead of the game with Chelsea, as quoted by www.mancity.com

"It is non-stop and now comes the most difficult thing at the end. All the tennis players serve to win Wimbledon know it is the most difficult one.

"On Sunday, the game is in our hands to win the most important competition - the Premier League is the most important because for 11 months it’s every week."

ALSO READ: Klopp on Liverpool's top four finish hopes. https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/its-not-in-our-hands-klopp-on.html?m=1

On celebrations...

"I don’t think so. Maybe we will do a breakfast because we have a game the day after.

"Chelsea deserve it. I would like to feel that we have to win to be champions, but we cannot control Nottingham. We have to win on Sunday.

"We will have time to celebrate at the end of the season.

"On Sunday, if we win we will celebrate with our people."

It's not in our hands - Klopp on Liverpool's top four finish hopes.

Liverpool will host Aston Villa tomorrow (Saturday 20 May) at Anfield Stadium, with the kick-off at 16:00.

While everyone who is anyone in the world of football is talking about Liverpool's hopes for a top four finish, Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp, it seems, is not a man who banks on hope.

Klopp said he doesn't need hope in football, all he needs is to win matches.

"There’s no problem. I never hope, I never had hope for that, I don’t need that. I know that we have to win all the football games and then there’s maybe a chance, a big maybe, but that's all," said Klopp as quoted by www.liverpoolfc.com.

"I watched the game [Newcastle United’s win over Brighton & Hove Albion] last night but I didn’t watch it and thought when they scored goals and stuff like this that I was disappointed. I was that once in my life and it was when Vincent Kompany fired the ball in the goal [for Manchester City against Leicester City in 2019]. That was the moment, but never around that.

"It’s not in our hands, whatever they get they deserve, easy as that. So we have to do our job and then we will see what that means. But my hope is not big or lesser than before, because I never had."

According to Klopp, the biggest prize in football is three points, and that is exactly what Liverpool will go for.

"The biggest prize in football are three points. There’s a misunderstanding that it’s about trophies and stuff like this because that’s true as well definitely, but when you win a football game in a very decisive moment it’s always the same: you go and try everything to win the game and that’s the reward you get, most of the time three points and sometimes a trophy.

"That’s exactly how I see it. There’s no better reason to go into a football game and want to win it than you could get three points, and that’s what we want," Klopp added.

As much as he has three points on his mind, Klopp is wary of the Aston Villa threat, especially since Unai Emery took over.

ALSO READ: Guardiola on City's success.https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/i-never-think-it-belongs-to-me.html?m=1

He has likened them to the Villareal side Emery coached before his move to Aston Villa, with a very clear identity in the way they approach the game.

"But we know it’s not about us only this story tomorrow, because Aston Villa since Unai [Emery] is there, I don’t know where they would be in the table if he would have been there from the beginning, that’s the truth.

"They play clear, their football is like Villarreal a little bit when he was there, obviously very successful, difficult to play against, super-confident, now super-settled into what they want to do. So that will be tricky definitely. But it must be tricky for them as well and thank God it became a bit more tricky for opponents recently against us. We should try to make sure that it will happen again."

I never think it belongs to me - Guardiola on City's success.

Manchester City reached their second UEFA Champions League final in three seasons when they defeated Real Madrid 4-0 on Wednesday.

City are also in line to win their fifth English Premier League title in six seasons on Sunday should they beat Chelsea.

On top of that, the Cityzens have a date in the FA Cup against their homeboys, Manchester United.

With his team enjoying some great success, manager, Pep Guardiola has been showered with praises from across the globe.

While he welcomes the kudos, Pep has insisted that City's success is not his alone, but a team effort.

"As a manager, I feel part of something," he said in Friday's press conference as quoted by www.mancity.com

"I never think it belongs to me. I am part of that, I don’t deny it but without the incredible work of sporting director or board. Players are the most important thing.

ALSO READ: Melinda Kgadiete on Sundowns Ladies vs UJ. https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-atmosphere-in-dressing-room-is.html?m=1

"I am part of it and I feel really proud to be here again and have it in our hands. I am part of that. I am not the only person when we lose the semi-final or final of the Champions League. I don’t feel only responsible for that."

Man City will host Chelsea on Sunday 21 May at the Etihad stadium. Kick-off is at 17:00.

The atmosphere in the dressing room is electric - Kgadiete.

Boosted by their all-important 3-0 win over University of Western Cape last weekend, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies now have their sights set on claiming University of Johannesburg's scalp.

Banyana ba Style are enjoying a rich vein of form, having won their last five matches in the Hollywoodbets Super League to lift themselves to the summit of the log.

Sundowns Ladies and Banyana Banyana forward, Melinda Kgadiete, says the win over UWC has boosted the moral in their camp, and it feels great to be on the top of the log.

“It was an amazing victory that rejuvenated our team and ensured that we are back on top of the league standings once again. The atmosphere in the dressing room is electric, brimming with positivity and anticipation as we look ahead to Sunday’s game. Our ambition is to maintain our position at the summit of the table; however, we are fully aware that a formidable challenge awaits us in the form of UJ,” said the striker.

ALSO READ: Grant Kekana on CAFCL semi-final against Wydad AC https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/we-need-to-write-our-own-history-kekana.html?m=1

Kgadiete, who scored a brace against UJ last season, says she would like to do more of the same this weekend.

“I fondly recall the satisfaction of scoring two goals against them last year. As a striker, my ultimate aim is to contribute to the team’s success by finding the back of the net. Naturally, I am eager for a similar outcome in our upcoming matches, with the added hope of netting even more goals to further support our team’s victory.”

Sundowns Ladies and University of Johannesburg will clash at UJ Stadium on Sunday 21 May, kick-off is at 15:00.

 

We need to write our own history - Kekana.

Mamelodi Sundowns will host Wydad AC tomorrow (Saturday 20 May) at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in a CAF Champions League semi-final encounter, with the kick-off at 15:00.

Sundowns managed to hold the defending champions to a goalless draw away in Morocco, and will be hoping to finish the Job at home.

Downs defender, Grant Kekana, said they are well aware that it is only halftime as far as the game is concerned, and they have an important assignment on Saturday.

Halftime it is, with the scoreline delicately balanced at 0-0, Wydad can still turn the game on its head.

One thing for sure, Sundowns cannot afford to get ahead of themselves, as Kekana alluded.

"We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves we know that with the results from the first leg of the semifinal, it’s only halftime for us. We’ve got a big game and an important assignment on Saturday.  We are happy that we got through with the league and we can now focus on CAF with no distractions," Kekana told sundownsfc.co.za.

Having won the competition under Pitso Mosimane in 2016, the current crop of players have an opportunity to write their own history, and that is exactly what coach Rulani Mokwena told his charges according to Kekana.

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/he-always-pushes-us-kekana-on-mokwena.html?m=1

"One thing that the coach told us at the beginning of the season was that this group of players needs to write its own history, and I think that we have given ourselves a chance to do that. Getting the second star is something that is big in our minds and hearts, this is the big fish. Nobody is going to distract us, we know the mission and what we need to do to accomplish it."