Lionel Messi scores Paris Saint-Germain's third goal during a 3-1 Ligue 1 win over Nantes at the Parc des Princes on Saturday, November 20, 2021. AP
Lionel Messi scores Paris Saint-Germain's third goal during a 3-1 Ligue 1 win over Nantes at the Parc des Princes on Saturday, November 20, 2021. AP
PSG's Lionel Messi and Nantes' Randal Kolo challenge for the ball. AP
PSG's Lionel Messi and Nantes' Randal Kolo challenge for the ball. AP
Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates with Kylian Mbappe after scoring his first goal in Ligue 1. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates with Kylian Mbappe after scoring his first goal in Ligue 1. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates with Kylian Mbappe. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates with Kylian Mbappe. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring. AFP
Lionel Messi in action. AFP
Lionel Messi in action. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Lionel Messi shoots and scores. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Lionel Messi shoots and scores. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi. AFP
Lionel Messi gives the thumbs up. AFP
Lionel Messi gives the thumbs up. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi kicks the ball. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi kicks the ball. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi before the match. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi before the match. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe fights for the ball with Nantes' French midfielder Batista Mendy. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe fights for the ball with Nantes' French midfielder Batista Mendy. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe fights for the ball. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe fights for the ball. AFP
Kylian Mbappe takes a corner kick. Reuters
Kylian Mbappe takes a corner kick. Reuters
Kylian Mbappe eyes the ball. AFP
Kylian Mbappe eyes the ball. AFP
PSG's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal. AP
PSG's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal. AP
PSG's Neymar walks off the pitch after being substituted. AP
PSG's Neymar walks off the pitch after being substituted. AP
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar leaves the pitch. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar leaves the pitch. AFP
PSG's Neymar, left, and Nantes' Fabio challenge for the ball. AP
PSG's Neymar, left, and Nantes' Fabio challenge for the ball. AP
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar takes a tumble. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar takes a tumble. AFP

Sport

Pep Guardiola: not even Lionel Messi knows what he is going to do next

Manchester City manager, ahead of their Champions League match against PSG on Wednesday, on the difficulty in trying to contain Argentine star

Richard Jolly
Richard Jolly

November 23, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Pep Guardiola believes part of the difficulty in halting Lionel Messi is that not even he knows what he is going to do next.

The Manchester City manager has the task of formulating a game plan to stop Messi on Wednesday as his side host Paris Saint-Germain, looking for the point that would book their place in the last 16 of the Champions League for a ninth consecutive season.

But he benefited from Messi’s unpredictability during a four-year spell in charge at the Nou Camp when the Argentinian scored 211 goals and Barcelona won the Champions League twice.

“It’s so difficult. Sometimes when he has the ball he doesn’t know what he’s going to do.” Guardiola said. “There are players who you can say if they will go right or left. When he has the ball, not even he knows exactly what he is going to do.”

Messi scored his first goal for PSG when they beat City 2-0 in September and Guardiola believes the 2020 Champions League finalists can field three more of the game’s outstanding attackers, adding: “Neymar, [Kylian] Mbappe, [Angel] Di Maria: every player could be the star in any team around the world and all four are in the same team.”

City are without Kevin de Bruyne, who has tested positive for coronavirus, but Jack Grealish is back in contention while Sergio Ramos is fit to make his belated PSG debut.

For Guardiola, it is a rematch with Mauricio Pochettino, who he beat in last season’s Champions League semi-finals. The former Tottenham manager is the favourite for the Manchester United job but his only silverware as a coach is the Coupe de France.

But Guardiola insisted: “You can be a top manager without titles, of course. The managers who have the chance to win titles are at top, top clubs with good investments and exceptional players. Otherwise, it is impossible to win. That doesn’t mean the managers outside the top cannot be excellent managers in tactics, and communication, leading the team, as human beings.”

PSG 2 Manchester City 0: player ratings

PSG RATINGS: Gianluigi Donnarumma 9 – Always quick off his line to clear danger. He made two good stops in the first half; first to deny Cancelo from the edge of the box, and again to stop Dias heading home at the back post. Made another vital stop with his feet in the second half to deny De Bruyne, and then again from Mahrez, twice. Getty Images
PSG RATINGS: Gianluigi Donnarumma 9 – Always quick off his line to clear danger. He made two good stops in the first half; first to deny Cancelo from the edge of the box, and again to stop Dias heading home at the back post. Made another vital stop with his feet in the second half to deny De Bruyne, and then again from Mahrez, twice. Getty Images
Achraf Hakimi 8 – Did well to marshall Grealish and made a key header at the back post to deny the former Villa man from getting on the end of a set piece. Grealish was substituted, which tells you all need to know about who won this particular battle. EPA
Achraf Hakimi 8 – Did well to marshall Grealish and made a key header at the back post to deny the former Villa man from getting on the end of a set piece. Grealish was substituted, which tells you all need to know about who won this particular battle. EPA
Marquinhos 8 – Went about his business quietly and efficiently and made more clearances than any other player in the first half. Looked strong in the air, and was a key player for the home side in Europe once again. Getty Images
Marquinhos 8 – Went about his business quietly and efficiently and made more clearances than any other player in the first half. Looked strong in the air, and was a key player for the home side in Europe once again. Getty Images
Presnel Kimpembe 7 – Was lucky not to concede a penalty in the first half when it looked as though he brought down Ruben Dias, but his defending was superb at times. Getty Images
Presnel Kimpembe 7 – Was lucky not to concede a penalty in the first half when it looked as though he brought down Ruben Dias, but his defending was superb at times. Getty Images
Nuno Mendes 6 – Struggled to contain Riyad Mahrez on occasion but improved in the second half. Looked impressive going forward. Getty Images
Nuno Mendes 6 – Struggled to contain Riyad Mahrez on occasion but improved in the second half. Looked impressive going forward. Getty Images
Idrissa Gueye 7 – Superb. Was first to react when Neymar missed with a wild swing and thundered the ball into the top corner to give PSG the lead. It was his first goal in his 24th European tie. Disciplined performance in the heart of the midfield. Reuters
Idrissa Gueye 7 – Superb. Was first to react when Neymar missed with a wild swing and thundered the ball into the top corner to give PSG the lead. It was his first goal in his 24th European tie. Disciplined performance in the heart of the midfield. Reuters
Marco Verratti 8 – Showed some quick feet in tight areas to get himself out of trouble and showed his experience throughout. Worked tirelessly until he was substituted. EPA
Marco Verratti 8 – Showed some quick feet in tight areas to get himself out of trouble and showed his experience throughout. Worked tirelessly until he was substituted. EPA
Ander Herrera 6 – Came close to scoring when Mbappe broke clear and pulled the ball back to him, but Ederson pushed his shot over the bar. Was stretched throughout but grafted well alongside Verratti. EPA
Ander Herrera 6 – Came close to scoring when Mbappe broke clear and pulled the ball back to him, but Ederson pushed his shot over the bar. Was stretched throughout but grafted well alongside Verratti. EPA
Lionel Messi 8 – The home supporters made huge cries of anticipation every time he touched the ball. Dropped deep to collect the ball and worked it well from side to side. Scored his 27th goal against an English club in European competition when, after playing a one-two with Mbappe, he curled the ball into Ederson’s top corner. Classic Messi finish. Getty Images
Lionel Messi 8 – The home supporters made huge cries of anticipation every time he touched the ball. Dropped deep to collect the ball and worked it well from side to side. Scored his 27th goal against an English club in European competition when, after playing a one-two with Mbappe, he curled the ball into Ederson’s top corner. Classic Messi finish. Getty Images
Kylian Mbappe 9 – Influential throughout. In the first goal, after having reached the byline, he cut the ball back for Neymar, for Gueye to score. The Frenchman was a constant menace, swapping wings and at the centre of everything PSG offered going forward. Played a one-two with Messi for the second. Getty Images
Kylian Mbappe 9 – Influential throughout. In the first goal, after having reached the byline, he cut the ball back for Neymar, for Gueye to score. The Frenchman was a constant menace, swapping wings and at the centre of everything PSG offered going forward. Played a one-two with Messi for the second. Getty Images
Neymar 6 – Was perhaps the quieter of PSG’s attacking three but he had a glorious opportunity to double the advantage, but he could only fire wide when through on goal. Getty Images
Neymar 6 – Was perhaps the quieter of PSG’s attacking three but he had a glorious opportunity to double the advantage, but he could only fire wide when through on goal. Getty Images
SUB: Georginio Wijnaldum (Verratti, 78) N/A – A like-for-like replacement and fresh legs when PSG needed them most, just after Verratti, back from injury, was carded. Getty
SUB: Georginio Wijnaldum (Verratti, 78) N/A – A like-for-like replacement and fresh legs when PSG needed them most, just after Verratti, back from injury, was carded. Getty
SUB: Danilo (Gueye, 89) N/A – A late addition as Barca looked to close out the game. EPA
SUB: Danilo (Gueye, 89) N/A – A late addition as Barca looked to close out the game. EPA
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson 5 – Could do absolutely nothing to stop Gueye’s thunderbolt, or Messi’s curler, but he was on hand to palm over from Herrera. AFP
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson 5 – Could do absolutely nothing to stop Gueye’s thunderbolt, or Messi’s curler, but he was on hand to palm over from Herrera. AFP
Kyle Walker 7 – Couldn’t get more than a toe onto Mbappe’s cross to thwart the opening goal, but he then made a vital interception to deny Neymar from Messi’s needle-threaded through ball. Made another timely intervention when Neymar was clean through, doing just enough to put off the Brazilian. Getty Images
Kyle Walker 7 – Couldn’t get more than a toe onto Mbappe’s cross to thwart the opening goal, but he then made a vital interception to deny Neymar from Messi’s needle-threaded through ball. Made another timely intervention when Neymar was clean through, doing just enough to put off the Brazilian. Getty Images
Ruben Dias 7 – Came close to levelling when, after evading his marker, he headed towards goal at the back post. His effort was saved by Donnarumma. Getty Images
Ruben Dias 7 – Came close to levelling when, after evading his marker, he headed towards goal at the back post. His effort was saved by Donnarumma. Getty Images
Aymeric Laporte 6 – Was guilty of not closing down Mbappe on the right touchline when the Frenchman crossed for the opening goal. Getty Images
Aymeric Laporte 6 – Was guilty of not closing down Mbappe on the right touchline when the Frenchman crossed for the opening goal. Getty Images
Joao Cancelo 8 – Fed a teasing ball into the area that was cleared before it reached Bernardo Silva. Picked up a yellow card for scything down Mbappe. He came close with a shot from the edge of the area, but it was well saved by Donnarumma. EPA
Joao Cancelo 8 – Fed a teasing ball into the area that was cleared before it reached Bernardo Silva. Picked up a yellow card for scything down Mbappe. He came close with a shot from the edge of the area, but it was well saved by Donnarumma. EPA
Bernardo Silva 6 – Should have done better when he reacted first to Sterling hitting the bar, but he somehow contrived to hit the bar again from close range with the goal seemingly gaping. EPA
Bernardo Silva 6 – Should have done better when he reacted first to Sterling hitting the bar, but he somehow contrived to hit the bar again from close range with the goal seemingly gaping. EPA
Rodri 7 – The Spaniard made a key interception to deny Messi when the Argentine threatened to weave his way into the City area. EPA
Rodri 7 – The Spaniard made a key interception to deny Messi when the Argentine threatened to weave his way into the City area. EPA
Kevin de Bruyne 8 – Played an absolutely delicious ball with the outside of his boot that Sterling headed onto the bar. Came close to scoring himself when linking well with Mahrez, his run into the channel ending with a shot saved by Donnarumma. A constant source of teasing balls into dangerous areas, and needed a no.9 to get on the end of them. Getty Images)
Kevin de Bruyne 8 – Played an absolutely delicious ball with the outside of his boot that Sterling headed onto the bar. Came close to scoring himself when linking well with Mahrez, his run into the channel ending with a shot saved by Donnarumma. A constant source of teasing balls into dangerous areas, and needed a no.9 to get on the end of them. Getty Images)
Riyad Mahrez 8 – Looked a menace on the right hand side. Seemed reluctant to cut in on his left foot and so continually attacked the byline. Made some nice passes into the channels, one of which fashioned a shooting chance for De Bruyne. Came close with two efforts that forced Donnarumma into saves low to his right. Getty Images
Riyad Mahrez 8 – Looked a menace on the right hand side. Seemed reluctant to cut in on his left foot and so continually attacked the byline. Made some nice passes into the channels, one of which fashioned a shooting chance for De Bruyne. Came close with two efforts that forced Donnarumma into saves low to his right. Getty Images
Jack Grealish 5 – A frustrating evening for the England international. He was given little room to manoeuvre by Hakimi, nor little protection from the referee. Was hooked with 23 minutes left on the clock. EPA
Jack Grealish 5 – A frustrating evening for the England international. He was given little room to manoeuvre by Hakimi, nor little protection from the referee. Was hooked with 23 minutes left on the clock. EPA
Raheem Sterling 7 – Was unlucky to hit the woodwork with a header and then again when he had the ball fired into his feet when unmarked in the area, but he couldn’t control it. Got the better of Kimpembe early in the second half but his shot couldn’t match his run. Getty Images
Raheem Sterling 7 – Was unlucky to hit the woodwork with a header and then again when he had the ball fired into his feet when unmarked in the area, but he couldn’t control it. Got the better of Kimpembe early in the second half but his shot couldn’t match his run. Getty Images
SUB: Phil Foden (Grealish, 69) 5 – His first contribution was a stunning flick on the edge of his area to clear the ball. Getty Images
SUB: Phil Foden (Grealish, 69) 5 – His first contribution was a stunning flick on the edge of his area to clear the ball. Getty Images
SUB: Gabriel Jesus (Sterling, 78) N/A – His introduction seemed too little too late, with City having needed an out and out goalscorer to get on the end of De Bruyne’s balls throughout. EPA
SUB: Gabriel Jesus (Sterling, 78) N/A – His introduction seemed too little too late, with City having needed an out and out goalscorer to get on the end of De Bruyne’s balls throughout. EPA

Guardiola argued his own success owes much to his former Barcelona teammate, and City director of football, Txiki Begiristain, who has persuaded him to remain at the Etihad Stadium and who he feels is the club’s unsung hero.

“One of the reasons why I extended my contract two times is because Txiki is here,” he said. “We met each other when I was 19. Since then, we have been close friends and we work together incredibly well and when we are winning we try to analyse why and when we are losing we try to analyse why and no one judges the other one, good or bad.

“He's the most humble person I have ever met. He is always behind the scenes and you don't find these type of people in this world because their egos are also so, so high- and I put myself as an example. He’s exceptional.

“It is a joy to work here with people like Txiki. He is an exception, with what he has done in Barcelona, creating one of the best teams of all time and now what he has done now. Man City is incredibly lucky to have this person.”

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The major Hashd factions linked to Iran:

Badr Organisation: Seen as the most militarily capable faction in the Hashd. Iraqi Shiite exiles opposed to Saddam Hussein set up the group in Tehran in the early 1980s as the Badr Corps under the supervision of the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The militia exalts Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei but intermittently cooperated with the US military.

Saraya Al Salam (Peace Brigade): Comprised of former members of the officially defunct Mahdi Army, a militia that was commanded by Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr and fought US and Iraqi government and other forces between 2004 and 2008. As part of a political overhaul aimed as casting Mr Al Sadr as a more nationalist and less sectarian figure, the cleric formed Saraya Al Salam in 2014. The group’s relations with Iran has been volatile.

Kataeb Hezbollah: The group, which is fighting on behalf of the Bashar Al Assad government in Syria, traces its origins to attacks on US forces in Iraq in 2004 and adopts a tough stance against Washington, calling the United States “the enemy of humanity”.

Asaeb Ahl Al Haq: An offshoot of the Mahdi Army active in Syria. Asaeb Ahl Al Haq’s leader Qais al Khazali was a student of Mr Al Moqtada’s late father Mohammed Sadeq Al Sadr, a prominent Shiite cleric who was killed during Saddam Hussein’s rule.

Harakat Hezbollah Al Nujaba: Formed in 2013 to fight alongside Mr Al Assad’s loyalists in Syria before joining the Hashd. The group is seen as among the most ideological and sectarian-driven Hashd militias in Syria and is the major recruiter of foreign fighters to Syria.

Saraya Al Khorasani:  The ICRG formed Saraya Al Khorasani in the mid-1990s and the group is seen as the most ideologically attached to Iran among Tehran’s satellites in Iraq.

(Source: The Wilson Centre, the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation)

Plastic tipping point
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

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Where to buy art books in the UAE

There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.

In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show. 

In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.

In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.

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More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

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Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

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Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports

Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The biog

Nickname: Mama Nadia to children, staff and parents

Education: Bachelors degree in English Literature with Social work from UAE University

As a child: Kept sweets on the window sill for workers, set aside money to pay for education of needy families

Holidays: Spends most of her days off at Senses often with her family who describe the centre as part of their life too

Tips for entertaining with ease

·         Set the table the night before. It’s a small job but it will make you feel more organised once done.

·         As the host, your mood sets the tone. If people arrive to find you red-faced and harried, they’re not going to relax until you do. Take a deep breath and try to exude calm energy.

·         Guests tend to turn up thirsty. Fill a big jug with iced water and lemon or lime slices and encourage people to help themselves.

·         Have some background music on to help create a bit of ambience and fill any initial lulls in conversations.

·         The meal certainly doesn’t need to be ready the moment your guests step through the door, but if there’s a nibble or two that can be passed around it will ward off hunger pangs and buy you a bit more time in the kitchen.

·         You absolutely don’t have to make every element of the brunch from scratch. Take inspiration from our ideas for ready-made extras and by all means pick up a store-bought dessert.

 

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Updated: November 23, 2021, 2:25 PM`