Gallagher feeling at home after Atletico switch

By Sports Desk August 23, 2024

Conor Gallagher is already feeling at home after swapping Chelsea for Atletico Madrid, having received a rousing welcome at his unveiling at the Civitas Metropolitano on Friday.

Gallagher, who joined Chelsea at the age of six, left in a €42million (£35.5m) deal on Wednesday, penning a five-year deal with LaLiga giants Atleti.

The 24-year-old joined Atleti's other new signings – including former Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez – in being presented to fans at Los Colchoneros' stadium on Friday.

Speaking after the event, the England international said: "It was amazing, I enjoyed every minute, it was a good sign of what is to come from the fans.

"They made me feel at home and it gave me a lot of excitement to be able to play the games in this stadium and give everything in every game."

Gallagher's move to Spain was initially delayed due to the collapse of a transfer that would have taken Samu Omorodion in the other direction, only for Joao Felix's return to Stamford Bridge to facilitate an agreement.

Gallagher was always confident things would work out, saying: "I wanted to come to the club and I saw the club wanted me too. 

"I knew it was going to work out and I'm very happy."

The midfielder then added that Atletico coach Diego Simeone was a major reason for his determination to seal the move.

"He's one of the best in the world and I'm really looking forward to playing for him," Gallagher said.

"I think I fit in quite well with the way he plays and he appreciates that I give my all. These first few days have been difficult, it's very hot, but I'm going to get used to it.

"I'm very excited about all of this, not just playing for this great club. Playing in a different country, living in a different country... 

"I have to learn Spanish quickly because it will help me and my coach in everything I do on the pitch." 

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    Jaheim Rankine got the all-important strike in the 34th minute to extend their unbeaten run across five matches and push Calabar up to 16 points, same as STATHS, who were relegated to second with a slightly inferior goal difference. Haile Selassie (nine points), Camperdown (seven points), Vauxhall (six points) and Kingston Technical (zero point) complete the standings.

    Winning coach Andrew Price welcomed the character shown by his team on this occasion to overturn their first leg loss, as players occupied unfamiliar position.

    “The players are resilient; we played today without two of frontline central defenders so we had to patch up the team today and people played in positions that they don’t normally play in. But we have a system that we have been playing for the entire season and once people fit into the system, then the team will play well and they showed some depth and character today to get the three points against a very good STATHS team,” Price said.

    “I think we needed to be a bit more clinical in front of goal, but our strength is our defensive structure; we have only conceded two goals so far in the entire Manning Cup, which shows that we are very sound defensively, and we want to keep it that way. We are developing a football culture here at the school and we are going to continue to work diligently to ensure that we get some success along the line,” he added.

    STATHS started more purposefully and created a few half chances in the early exchanges as the teams battled heavy underfoot conditions due to afternoon showers.

    The Bumper Hall-based team should have broken the deadlock approaching the 20th minute mark but Ajetai Marshall muffed his effort from close range.

    Calabar got into their rhythm and went close to finding the lead at the half-hour mark, but Rankin’s left-footed shot from a distance was parried by Jaheem Williams in goal for STATHS.

    It is often said if you fail to succeed try again, and Rankine did just that to put Calabar in front as he released an even more delightful strike from about 30 yards out that had Williams beaten all ends up.

    Calabar went close to doubling their advantage in 41st, but Williams got down well to his right on this occasion to steer Jayden Perry’s left-footed shot from outside the 18-yard box wide.

    With the score unchanged at the break, STATHS made a push for the equaliser but failed to create any meaningful chances, and frustration inevitably set in, resulting in Alexavier Gooden being sent off for a second yellow in the 54th.

    The numerical advantage created a few openings for Calabar, the best of which came in the 61st Rankine, who rounded the goalkeeper but selfishly went for shot from a tight angle instead of floating a cross in for Perry.

    As the game approached its end, substitute Christiano Brown thought he stole a point for STATHS when she slid one through the goalkeeper’s legs, but the goal was belatedly flagged for an offside.

    That left Head coach Phillip Williams disgusted as he called out the officiating as the worst part of the encounter.

    “It is unfortunate that ISSA has invested so much and the schools have invested so much and the poor officiating just takes away from the game. I think that was the worst thing today; both teams played some decent football but the officiating needs to be better.

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    Calabar 1, STATHS 0

    Dunoon Park 0, Eltham 0

    Ardenne High 0, Hydel High 8

    Ascot High 0, Jamaica College 5

    Excelsior High 15, Pembroke Hall 0

    Holy Trinity 0, St George’s College 5

    Camperdown 0, Vauxhall 0

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    Manchester 1, Belair 0

    Glenmuir 4, Old Harbour 0

    Ocho Rios 8, Ferncourt 1

    Anchovy 1, Green Island 2

    McGrath 0, Dinthill 0

    Maldon High 4, St James 1

    Irwin High 1, Cornwall College 4

    Green Pond 5, Herbert Morrison 2

    Grange Hill 0, Godfrey Stewart 1

    Mannings 6, Little London 0

    Muschett 0, Cedric Titus 13

    Spot Valley 0, William Knibb 0

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    Tacius Golding 0, Charlemont 3

    Cross Keys 1, DeCarteret College 5

    Newell 0, Lacovia 1

    B.B Coke 1, STETHS 3

    Claude McKay 0, Clarendon College 7

    Central 2, Edwin Allen 1

    Knockalva 0, Frome Tech 8

    Cambridge 1, Rusea’s High 3

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    With Miami having secured the Supporters' Shield by beating the Columbus Crew in midweek, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were benched for Saturday's trip north of the border.

    But the duo came on to help Gerardo Martino's team to a victory that moved them up to 71 points with one game remaining. 

    The points record of 73 was set by the New England Revolution in 2021, and it is the Revs who visit Miami in the final regular-season game later in October.

    Toronto got off to the better start as Kobe Franklin latched onto the end of Jonathan Osario's cross to shoot from a tight angle but saw his effort saved.

    Despite further chances for Richie Laryea and Prince Osei Owusu, Toronto struggled to find a breakthrough, and substitute Suarez proved decisive as he delivered a first-time cross into the centre of the box, which Campana controlled and duly fired home a 93rd-minute winner.

    The defeat dealt Toronto a blow to their ambitions of obtaining a playoff spot this season, opening the door for the Philadelphia Union, D.C. United and Nashville SC behind them in the Eastern Conference.

    Data Debrief: Miami's stopping power

    For Miami, the focus on adding an MLS record to their first Supporters' Shield triumph has seemingly helped keep them going this term. They have scored 15 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half this season; only the Colorado Rapids and Portland Timbers have scored more such goals in the league in 2024.

    On the other hand, Toronto have conceded 23 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half - no team has conceded more in MLS this term.

    Toronto have taken just one point from the last 15 on offer, and their slump has come at the worst possible time.

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    The hosts opened the scoring in stunning fashion when Luka Modric's short corner was dummied by Jude Bellingham for Federico Valverde, with the Uruguayan taking aim from distance and finding the bottom corner with the aid of a deflection. 

    But Villarreal, who had won back-to-back league games heading into the encounter at the Bernabeu, responded almost immediately when Nicolas Pepe's header rattled the crossbar before Thierno Barry nodded over. 

    Los Blancos had further chances to increase their lead, but Antonio Rudiger sent an effort over the bar before Bellingham's long-range effort sailed wide of the post.

    But the victory was sealed 17 minutes from time with another sensational strike, this time Vinicius Junior tried his luck from long-range and curled a superb strike beyond the grasp of Diego Conde after being found by Valverde. 

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