Sport shorts: Leclerc plays down comparisons with F1 icon Schumacher and Uruguay stun Fiji at Rugby World Cup

1. Leclerc plays down Schumacher comparisons

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc says it’s an honour to be compared to Formula 1 icon Michael Schumacher, but insists that the talk is too early.

The 21-year-old secured his first victories in F1 in the recent Belgian and Italian grands prix and pundits have tipped the Monegasque driver to follow in the footsteps of seven-time world champion Schumacher.

Quoted by GPToday, Leclerc said: “For me, it is always very nice to hear these type of things, but I’m only 21 and I haven’t proved anything compared to what Michael has proved.

“For now it’s way too far to speak about these kind of things. I’m working on my career, trying to have the best career possible on my side.

“To be compared to Michael is an honour, but it seems very far to me.”

Ahead of this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix Leclerc is third in the 2019 F1 drivers’ standings, level on 200 points with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

2. Uruguay star Berchesi: ‘We need more players’

Uruguay fly-half Felipe Berchesi hopes that the stunning victory over Fiji can inspire more people to start playing rugby union in the South American nation.

This morning Uruguay secured what has been described as the “greatest result in their history” after beating the flying Fijians 30-27 in Rugby World Cup pool D.

Man-of-the-match Berchesi said: “I hope everybody could see that, and everybody joins to play rugby in Uruguay. We need more players.”

3. Pep defends Silva over tweet

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has defended Bernardo Silva after the midfielder sent a controversial tweet.

In the Twitter post, which was later deleted, Portugal star Silva was accused of using racist imagery which compared City team-mate Benjamin Mendy to a mascot used by a Spanish chocolate peanut brand, The Daily Telegraph reports.

When asked about Silva’s social media post, Guardiola said: “Bernardo is one of the most lovely people I ever met in my life. He speaks four or five languages and that is the best way to understand how open-minded he is. And one of his best friends is Mendy. He’s like a brother to him.

“The image is not about the colour of the skin. He took a picture of Benjamin when he was young and he related it to this cartoon, which was quite similar for the image.”

4. Wembley to host 2023 Champions League final

Uefa has confirmed that London’s Wembley Stadium will host the 2023 Champions League final. St Petersburg and Munich will host the 2021 and 2022 finals respectively.

Belfast’s Windsor Park has also been chosen as the host stadium for the 2021 Uefa Super Cup final.

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5. Klopp backs Gerrard as future Liverpool boss

Jurgen Klopp has tipped Steven Gerrard to be his replacement as Liverpool manager.

Klopp, who has three years left on his contract at Anfield, told FourFourTwo: “If you ask who should follow me, I’d say Stevie.”

Today’s back pages: Stevie G must follow me, says Liverpool boss Klopp

6. Coe stays on as IAAF president

Sebastian Coe will serve a second term as president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The British Olympic hero continues in the role for a further four years.

The announcement was made ahead of the World Athletics Championships, which start in Doha, Qatar, on Friday.

7. Barca star Messi injured again

After missing the opening matches of the season Lionel Messi has suffered another injury.

The Argentine injured an abductor muscle playing for Barcelona last night and was taken off at half-time during the 2-1 victory over Villarreal.

Messi was making his first start of the campaign after recovering from a calf problem.

8. Win was one of Murray’s best

British tennis star Andy Murray, who is continuing his return from hip surgery, is through to the second round of the Zhuhai Championships in China after a 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-1 win over Tennys Sandgren.

The three-time grand slam champion said: “In some ways it’s one of the best wins that I’ve had. Not in terms of just getting through that today, but everything that’s gone into getting back to this point.”

Murray will play Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the second round tomorrow.