Prem return is risky business
“Your money or your life” is the uncompromising headline on the back page of the Daily Mirror above a photo of Gary Neville.
The former Manchester United star turned pundit claims that the Premier League’s “Project Restart” is driven purely by financial necessity and he worries over the health and safety implications for players.
“If this was a non-economic decision, there would be no football for months,” Neville told Sky Sports. “There will be people who will look at it as a risk factor, but if people are really serious about putting health first, we wouldn’t be discussing football returning at this moment.”
Neville also believes that the prospect of losing millions in TV money had prompted football bosses to lose sight of the bigger picture.
He added: “There are big prizes up for grabs and huge economic loss that’s going to be incurred and it does cloud minds in terms of the level of risk people are willing to place on lives in order for the return of football.”
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The Special Delivery One
The Sun and The Times adorn their back pages with the same photograph of a masked Jose Mourinho making a delivery of food to local communities produced at Tottenham’s Kitchen Garden.
Spurs manager Mourinho has volunteered to help out as a delivery driver during the coronavirus crisis and he earns praise from the papers for doing his bit and for taking the necessary precautions.
Poch to pocket Saudi millions?
The Daily Star and the Daily Express report that if a Saudi Arabian consortium buys Newcastle United their first choice to manage the club will be Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentine has been unemployed since leaving Tottenham at the end of last year, but apparently he could soon be quids in on the Tyne.
The consensus among the press is that the new owners are prepared to pay him a mouthwatering £19m-per-year deal, which works out at £355,000-per-week.
Not a bad little earner for a sport apparently facing a financial crisis on account of coronavirus.
The Daily Mail says if those sums are right then Poch would be the second highest-paid manager in the Premier League after Pep Guardiola and his £20m at Man City.
Today’s sport headlines
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For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world – and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda – try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today
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