Today’s back pages: Paul Pogba chats with Zinedine Zidane in Dubai and Eddie Jones hails England’s samurai warriors
A round-up of the sport headlines from UK newspapers on 18 October
‘Wish you were here’
The Daily Mirror has a world picture exclusive today that shows Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba in conversation with Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane in Dubai.
During the international break French World Cup winner Pogba has been recuperating from an ankle injury in the UAE. He will miss United’s huge Premier League clash against leaders Liverpool on Sunday.
The 26-year-old has been regularly linked with a move to the Spanish giants, so the picture of him chatting with fellow Frenchman Zidane will no doubt fuel fresh speculation over his future at Old Trafford and “set tongues wagging again”.
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When asked about the photo United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told Sky Sports: “Here we go with the picture! I’ve not heard Paul Pogba say he doesn’t want to be here. Paul wants to stay here and play well.
“Then there is a picture and being at Manchester United you do get pictures and speculation - but I don’t have any problem with that at all.”
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Do-or-die time for England’s samurais
The Daily Express and Metro report that England head coach Eddie Jones has warned Australia he has a team of samurai warriors who will fight for their lives in tomorrow’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
Speaking ahead of the last-eight clash against the Wallabies in Oita, Jones said: “It’s do-or-die time. Every time the samurais fought, one lived and one died. It will be the same on Saturday: someone is going to live and someone is going to die.
“That’s what the game is about and that’s the excitement of the game. You get the best eight teams, all playing for their lives.
“The great thing about the World Cup is that every game is a knockout. No one has won a World Cup after losing a game and there’s a reason for that. That’s what I enjoy so much about a World Cup.”
Today’s back pages
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