Antigua and Barbuda Head Coach Mikele Leigertwood has praised his team for the quality of their play that saw them go unbeaten in the latest round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers and go top of Group A over El Salvador and Grenada.
The Benna Boyz have four points from their two matches having beaten US Virgin Islands 3-0 on March 27. They drew 2-2 against Montserrat on March 24. El Salvador, meanwhile, trail on goal difference following their 1-1 draw with Montserrat on March 28 after previously defeating Grenada 2-0 on March 25.
The 38-year-old England-born Antiguan, who represented the Caribbean nation 11 times between 2008 and 2012, said given the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, he was chuffed at the way the team responded on the field of play.
“A lot of praise must go to the players,” he said, “because of the pandemic a lot of players haven’t played for a long time so to play as well as they did, they deserve a lot of praise. I am delighted with the performances.”
Leigertwood said he was delighted with the way the team progressed from their 2-2 draw with Montserrat to trounce the USVI.
“The Montserrat game showed that we had more quality. If you look at the goals, we’re obviously disappointed with the goals we conceded because they came from our own mistakes but I think it showed when we started to get the ball down and play football and played to our strengths, I think that was the catalyst to us being quite dominant in the USVI game,” he said.
“We know we have got quality. We know we’ve got players that can go and win matches and ultimately if we can stamp out our mistakes will then have bred confidence and hopefully, we can take that into the upcoming games in June.
“We’re under no illusion that there is still a lot of work to be done so we’re happy that we have given ourselves the best opportunity to move forward,” he said.
He told Sportsmax.TV today that the players were focused from the outset and highlighted that much of the team’s success was also due to how well the overseas-based and local players manage to integrate and get the desired results.
Players like Josh Parker, Zaine Francis Angol and Zain Mohammed, who are based abroad had a positive influence on the team, he said, as well as the experience of players like Tamorley Ziggy Thomas and Peter Byers, who helped the younger players in the squad.
As he looks forward to those games in June, the cautiously optimistic coach hopes to convene a number of camps to prepare the players as soon as some of them recover from muscular injuries suffered during the last two matches.
He also plans to spend some time on video analysis of their play in the recent games as well as those of their next opponents Grenada and El Salvador.
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Stellini tries to promote unity following explosive end to Conte's reign
Tottenham interim head coach Cristian Stellini attempted to promote togetherness after Antonio Conte's reign came to an end in explosive fashion.
Conte was dismissed on Sunday after a week of intense speculation suggesting the club's hierarchy were going to dismiss him.
The Italian had blasted his players in an extraordinary rant eight days earlier following Spurs' 3-3 draw with Southampton, a game that saw them throw away a 3-1 lead.
That outburst, coupled with recent poor form and reports neither he nor the club wanted to agree a new contract, ultimately led to Conte's exit.
But his assistant, Stellini, has stayed on to take charge until the end of the season, and his first task is to rebuild morale and trust with the squad and fans.
"We know when you're not winning or [when you] lose games, the fans are unhappy," he told SPURSPLAY ahead of his first game at the helm on Monday away to Everton.
"It's normal and we have to accept this. All the staff, the players, we want to work hard until the end of the season, because this is our club, and we want to bring everyone with us. This is important for the next 10 games.
"I feel very honoured and feel I'm in the right position to do this. I feel that, and I want to do this with all the staff, with Ryan [Mason, assistant head coach], that's very important for me and the club, and it was important when we were in charge when Antonio wasn't here [when Conte had time away due to illness].
"We feel we can do what we did before, we want to improve, and this is a moment to take responsibility and to improve, all together."
Spurs are fourth in the Premier League with 49 points from 28 games, but Newcastle United are only two points behind and have two matches in hand.
De Gea reiterates Man Utd happiness as contract talks continue
David de Gea remains content at Manchester United and is focused on helping the Red Devils qualify for the Champions League, as talks over the goalkeeper's new contract continue.
De Gea's contract with United is set to expire at the end of the season, though the Spaniard has repeatedly expressed optimism he will extend his 12-year stay at Old Trafford.
The 32-year-old outlined his desire to finish his career at United earlier this year, though a report from The Athletic this week suggested he had turned down the club's first offer of fresh terms.
While that report suggested a positive outcome remains likely, De Gea is putting his future to one side as United look to beat Tottenham, Newcastle United and Liverpool to a top-four Premier League finish.
"I've been here many, many years, enjoying every moment at this club and playing many games," De Gea told Sky Sports.
"Of course it's great to be here, it's a massive club. I love the club and I'm really happy here.
"It's been the same over the years. There's a lot of noise about everything at this club, but the players just focus on games, especially the one we have on Sunday – it's a massive game for us because we want to finish in the top four.
"We have many games so I think we have to be really caring about training, recovering well, helping the team and that's the most important thing, more than contracts or anything."
United visit top-four rivals Newcastle on Sunday, with the fifth-placed Magpies just three points adrift of Erik ten Hag's team in third.
United have won more Premier League away games against Newcastle than against any other side (14), though they have lost on two of their last five trips to St James' Park (W2 D1).
Richarlison denies being 'mutiny leader' behind Conte's Spurs exit
Richarlison has hit back at suggestions he played a key role in Tottenham's decision to sack Antonio Conte, denying being the "mutiny leader" behind the Italian's exit.
Spurs parted company with Conte last week, eight days after the former Chelsea boss launched a scathing attack on the club after a 3-3 draw at Southampton.
Conte described Tottenham's players as "selfish" and appeared to criticise chairman Daniel Levy, saying: "Tottenham's story is this – 20 years there is this owner and they never won something. Why?"
That rant came less than a fortnight after Richarlison publicly questioned why his playing time had been limited amid a dire run of form for Spurs.
Following Conte's dismissal, a journalist from Argentinian broadcaster TyC Sports suggested Richarlison had been involved in giving the club an ultimatum regarding the coach's future – a claim the forward vehemently denies.
Responding to the rumour on Twitter on Thursday, Richarlison wrote: "Questioning and criticising me as a player for my performance is part of football and I get it.
"However, telling lies about me, I don't accept! I've always had a lot of respect for Conte and for all my coaches.
"He helped me a lot in my coming to Spurs and whenever we had a problem (even if it was public) we solved it based on conversation and professionalism – and this he can confirm.
"I wasn't a mutiny leader against him, it was quite the opposite. I'm sorry I didn't deliver as much as he expected of me and I didn't do enough for him to stay.
"When he left, I sent him a message thanking him for everything and wishing him the best [because] that's what he deserves!
"On the other hand, the journalist responsible for this awful lie did not even do the least which would be talking to my PR or listening to me. Bad professional and bad character!"
Conte's former assistant Cristian Stellini begins his interim period at the helm with a trip to Everton on Monday, with Tottenham sitting fourth in the Premier League.
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