Caroline Weir has signed up with two sporting success stories already in 2020. In January, the midfielder extended her contract with Manchester City until 2022. In March, she committed to Andy Murray’s agency, 77 Sports Management.
“I am Scottish and a huge Andy Murray fan so that was a bit of a pull for me,” said the 24-year-old. So, too, was the chance to tap into the knowledge of the first British man to win a Grand Slam singles tournament since 1936.
“Andy has said from the beginning he is not a football player and he doesn’t claim to be a football expert,” said Weir. “From a professional athlete kind of view and the mental side of the game, he has had his fair share of struggles and success as well.
"When I think I could do with some advice, whether it is physical, training or mental, he is at the end of the phone and he is really helpful.”
It helps that Murray is something of a trailblazer. He appointed Amelie Mauresmo as his coach and has been a vocal advocate of equal pay for female tennis players.
“It just feels a natural thing for him to talk about,” Weir said. “As I get older and more experienced it is something I am more interested in and hopefully I can make a difference.”
Weir, a 2018 signing from Liverpool, has made a difference on the pitch. City finished second, seven points behind Arsenal, in last season’s Women’s Super League. When football halted, they were leading a tight title race. Chelsea are unbeaten this season but still behind City following an action-packed draw between the top two.
“We had that 3-3 which just showed how close all the teams really are,” Weir said. “I feel every year the league gets more competitive and that has been the case this year. The top three are battling it out, Arsenal, Chelsea and ourselves, but it is great to be part of it. There is no good time for a global pandemic but the season was going well and it was getting to the exciting part.”
Weir got City's campaign off to a memorable start. The first Manchester derby of the WSL era was decided by her spectacular long-range strike.
“A personal highlight,” she said. It ranks as one of her greatest goals. “I couldn’t really have asked for a better game: the atmosphere, playing in front of the [31,213] fans at the Etihad, it really was amazing. It was a derby and we needed the three points so it is up there for me.”
The disappointment was a second successive Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid. “It doesn’t sit well with us,” Weir said. “I don’t think we are that far off but we weren’t good enough over the two legs. But we kicked on in the league.”
They did so despite the departure of manager Nick Cushing to New York City FC following a successful six-and-a-half year reign.
“Nick is the best coach I have worked with,” said Weir. “He can make an average player a good player and a good player a great player.”
City are yet to appoint a permanent successor, but in the meantime, the interim manager and former Republic of Ireland international Alan Mahon has been spearheading their title challenge.
“Much as Nick was a great coach, the transition has been quite smooth,” Weir said. “Alan was also a midfielder when he played and left footed so I feel like we are quite similar in some ways.”
Mahon, who played for Tranmere, Wigan, Blackburn and Burnley, had a reputation for scoring special goals. As Manchester United can testify, it is a trait Weir shares.
RESULT
Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')
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The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
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Results
2pm: Handicap Dh 90,000 1,800m; Winner: Majestic Thunder, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
2.30pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,950m; Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
3pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m; Winner: Native Appeal, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Classic Conditions Dh300,000 1,400m; Winner: Thegreatcollection, Adrie de Vries, Doug Watson.
4pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m; Winner: Oktalgano, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.30pm: Conditions Dh250,000 1,400m; Winner: Madame Ellingtina, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m; Winner: Mystery Land, Fabrice Veron, Helal Al Alawi.
5.30pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,000m; Winner: Shanaghai City, Jesus Rosales, Rashed Bouresly.
