PARIS: Jurgen Klopp, the new global head of football at Red Bull, a minority shareholder in French club Paris FC, on Saturday watched from the stands during a French Ligue 2 game against Amiens.
Former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager Klopp has just started a new role with Red Bull which owns clubs RB Leipzig, Salzburg and New York Red Bulls.
Klopp happily posed for selfies alongside Pierre Ferracci, the president of the Parisian club which was sold to the family of France’s richest person Bernard Arnault and Red Bull two months ago.
The former solid Ligue 1 leaders, Paris FC have had a bad start to the year with consecutive defeats and are now third.
Klopp is due to speak for the first time since taking office on Tuesday at the Red Bull headquarters near Salzburg in Austria.
The 57-year-old won back-to-back Bundesliga titles with Dortmund before moving to Liverpool. At the Reds, Klopp won several major trophies, including the Champions League and Premier League.
Klopp’s appointment has however caused controversy, particularly in Germany where some fans are critical of the energy drink brand’s ownership of Leipzig, as well as multi-club models in general.
New Red Bull football boss Klopp in stands for Paris FC game
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New Red Bull football boss Klopp in stands for Paris FC game
- Klopp happily posed for selfies alongside Pierre Ferracci, the president of the Parisian club
- The former solid Ligue 1 leaders, Paris FC have had a bad start to the year
Sharjah Warriorz edge MI Emirates by 6 runs to seal first win of ILT20 season
- A composed 77 from Johnson Charles, backed up by a decisive all-round contribution from stand-in captain Sikander Raza, proved the difference
ABU DHABI: Sharjah Warriorz claimed their first victory of International League T20 Season 4 after edging MI Emirates by 6 runs in a tense encounter at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
A composed 77 from Johnson Charles, backed up by a decisive all-round contribution from stand-in captain Sikander Raza, proved the difference as the Warriorz successfully defended a target of 175.
Charles anchored the Warriorz innings with a measured knock off 53 balls, striking seven fours and four sixes as his side posted 174 for 3.
MI Emirates looked on course in the chase after a strong start, but timely breakthroughs in the middle overs swung momentum back towards the Warriorz, rendering Nicholas Pooran’s late assault in vain.
Chasing 175, MI Emirates were given early impetus by openers Jonny Bairstow and Muhammad Waseem. The pair raced to a 50 partnership inside the powerplay, taking their side to 54 without loss after six overs, with Waseem particularly aggressive against Maheesh Theekshana.
The turning point came in the middle overs as Raza struck twice to halt the chase.
He removed Bairstow in the eighth over before dismissing Waseem two overs later, triggering a collapse that saw MI Emirates lose wickets at regular intervals.
Matheesha Pathirana accounted for Tom Banton, before Junaid Siddique struck twice in the 15th over to remove Kieron Pollard and Romario Shepherd, leaving MI Emirates under mounting pressure. Despite Pooran’s valiant 48 off 35 balls, including three sixes in the final over, Siddique held his nerve to concede only 18 runs and seal a narrow victory.
Earlier, Charles set the tone after a cautious start, breaking free with a 17-run third over. Alongside Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who contributed 30, the opener ensured the Warriorz reached 48 without loss in the powerplay before accelerating through the middle overs.
Charles brought up his half-century in the 10th over as the opening pair added 112 runs, laying a strong platform. Although both fell in quick succession, Raza ensured the innings maintained momentum with 29 off 22 balls, while James Rew added a brisk 24. The Warriorz closed on 174 for 3, with Zahoor Khan bowling a tight final over.
MI Emirates skipper Pollard said: “It was a good wicket and 175 was a fair total, so I have no complaints about the score they posted. It was a game we should have finished. We’ve been the slowest side in overs seven to 15, and while this loss is disappointing, it’s not all negative. We lost by six runs, the result didn’t go our way, but we did fight back.”
Sharjah Warriorz stand-in captain Raza said that he was pleased with the clarity and courage his side showed in their innings.
“The feedback was that it was a slow surface, so trying to push for 195 and ending up with 160 could have hurt us. When the team wins, everything feels better, and in a crunch game like this, I’m glad we crossed the line,” he added.
