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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 AUGUST 2018 30 SPORTS FOOTBALL Messi succeeds Iniesta as new Barcelona captain Lionel Messi was named as Barcelona's captain on Friday following the departure of long- serving midfielder Andres Inies- ta, while defenders Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto were named new vice-captains in a statement by the La Liga champions. Messi, Barca's all-time top scorer, has been a vice-captain since 2015 and takes the club's armband from Iniesta, who succeeded Xavi Hernandez as captain in 2015 but left for Jap- anese club Vissel Kobe in June. Midfielder Sergio Busquets was named first vice-captain, followed by Pique, who has been at Barcelona since 2008. It's the first time Pique has been named a vice-captain at the club. Academy graduate Roberto took the final position, vacated by Javier Mascherano who left earlier this year for Chinese outfit Hebei China Fortune, despite only being a first team regular for three seasons. It is the first time since the 2014-15 season that all the club's four captains have come through the club's famous La Masia youth academy. Sarri rules out Chelsea exit for Hazard Jose Mourinho: I'm now a coach, not a manager CHELSEA boss Maurizio Sarri believes his squad is "complete" following the arrivals of Kepa Arrizabalaga and Mateo Kovac- ic, and said he does not expect Eden Hazard to leave the club before the European transfer deadline on Aug. 31. Chelsea broke the world re- cord fee for a goalkeeper when they signed Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao for 80 million euros (£71.65 million), before securing a season-long loan deal for midfielder Kovacic from Real Madrid. Spanish media have reported Hazard as a transfer target for Real Madrid throughout the close season. When asked about the pros- pect of a foreign team making a move for Chelsea players, Sarri said: "It's impossible because, here, the market is closed. We cannot change important play- ers now. "Hazard is with us. I think, definitely. Not a problem. I have spoken with him three or four times for everything. He never said something about the market, so I think he's very happy to stay here." Arrizabalaga has the daunting task of replacing World Cup Golden Glove winner Thibaut Courtois, who established him- self as one of the finest goal- keepers in the Premier League after arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2011. Sarri conceded Arrizabalaga will need time to adapt to the English game but praised Chelsea for acquiring "one of the most important" young goalkeepers in Europe. "I'm very happy for both because Courtois' situation was clear," Sarri said. "He wanted to go to Madrid so we lost maybe one of the most important goalkeepers in the world. But we bought a young goalkeeper, one of the most important among the young goalkeepers in Europe, so I'm really happy. "(Also) for Kovacic, because he has the right characteristics for us. He is a very technical player who can play between the lines of the opponent. I'm very happy and now I think the squad is complete." JOSE Mourinho claims football is changing and that his future at Manchester United is more as a coach than a manager. Speaking after United's 2-1 win over Leicester City on the open- ing night of the Premier League season, Mourinho admitted he had accepted his club's failure to produce the new signings he craved, most notably a central defender. United spent over £70m in the summer window to sign Fred, Diogo Dalot and third-choice goalkeeper Lee Grant, but was frustrated to be left without a new centre-half. Leicester defender Harry Maguire was a target, but a £60m United bid was apparently thrown out. Mourinho admitted he may have to get used to not getting his own way in the modern world having suggested last weekend United would face a difficult season if they did not bolster their squad. "It will be a difficult season for everybody, not just for us," he said. "I had my plans for many months and I find myself with the market closed in a situation I did not think I would be in. It's the last time I speak about it. It's over, the market is closed. Mourinho believes United should be content with a win over a side who spent more money than them in the close season. An early penalty from Paul Pogba and a late Luke Shaw finish settled the match in United's favour with Jamie Vardy netting a consolation for the visitors. "It's important to win and play well, we played well in periods against a good team that invest more than us," said Mourinho. "We must get used to teams who have players of the same quality that we have. Every team is a good team, forget the name, for- get the history, forget the shirt. "I am very pleased for Luke Shaw. He made one mistake in 90 minutes, he was very good defensively. He had a good pre- season." Mourinho, missing several midfield options due to injury, praised Pogba for his willing- ness to start the game after only recently returning from his post- World Cup break. "He was a monster. We thought he would manage maxi- mum 60 minutes and he went much longer," said Mourinho. The Frenchman, who had been linked with a possible transfer window move to Barcelona, said he remained hungry for more success. I won't be full from a World Cup. I know it's a great cup, it will stay in my mind, but I want to win all the trophies. I haven't won the Premier League, I haven't won the Champions League, I haven't won the Euro- pean Championship so there are more to win," he said. Leicester manager Claude Puel felt his side deserved a draw. "We showed good control, good football, a lot of chances," he said. "We had chances to score in the first half. It was more difficult in the second half without the energy. I am happy with the squad and the transfer window. We need to continue and build some good momen- tum. "We deserved a minimum of a draw.