Related items

• Criticism of Retegui call-up 'dinosaur stuff', says idol Vieri

  Christian Vieri believes criticism of Roberto Mancini's decision to call up Argentine-born Mateo Retegui to the Italy team is "dinosaur stuff".

  Retegui was born and raised in Argentina, has spent his entire career in South America and cannot speak Italian, but he qualified for the Azzurri through a grandparent.

  The striker, who counted Vieri as an idol, made his Italy bow this month, scoring against both England and Malta to prompt links to Inter.

  There has still been scepticism around his role in the Italy side, with Mario Balotelli among those to suggest Mancini should be relying on players closer to home.

  But that is not an assessment Vieri agrees with, having grown up in Australia before representing Italy at two World Cups.

  "They are poor people," Vieri told Corriere della Sera of the critics. "It is an ancient mentality, dinosaur stuff.

  "In Australia, I grew up with kids from all over the world."

  He added of Retegui: "It is promising, a positive impact. A really nice goal against England, perfect control and immediate, precise shooting, and a pure centre-forward's goal in Malta.

  "Mancio was right once again: if he sees a good player, he throws him in without much problem. In any case, Mateo has to play and still improve a lot."

  Mancini has repeatedly pointed to the lack of Italian talent in forward positions in Serie A, perhaps best illustrated by runaway league leaders Napoli.

  Georgia's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nigeria's Victor Osimhen have inspired their outstanding campaign and are counted among Vieri's stars of the season – all of whom play for the Partenopei and none of whom are Italian.

  "In first place is Kim [Min-jae]," Vieri said. "Kim Kardashian, I say.

  "Seriously, I didn't even know who he was. And here I think back to [the work of Napoli sporting director Cristiano] Giuntoli. I was very impressed by the personality of the Korean.

  "Then, of course, there's Kvaratskhelia – he seems to me George Best for the way he walks, dribbles, even for his hair.

  "I say Osimhen, devastating. Italy completed him from all points of view, and today he is among the three strongest strikers in the world.

  "Finally, we mustn't overlook the 'old' [Stanislav] Lobotka, who reminds me of Xavi, someone who made a mistake every 10 to 12 months."

  Can Napoli win the Champions League as well as the Scudetto then?

  "It wouldn't be a surprise for me, even if they'll have to be very careful about Milan," Vieri said.

• 'He's just top level' – Havertz lauds new Bayern boss Tuchel

  Kai Havertz hailed the impact Thomas Tuchel had on his career, with the new Bayern Munich boss having coached the Germany international at Chelsea.

  Tuchel, who was announced as Bayern's coach following the shock sacking of Julian Nagelsmann last week, took charge of the Blues between January 2021 and September last year.

  The German guided Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021, with Havertz scoring the first-half winner in a 1-0 victory over fellow Premier League side Manchester City.

  Speaking to The Guardian on Tuchel's influence, he said: "Tuchel gave me a different idea of football. 

  "Every detail counts, every centimetre, how you touch the ball, how you control, where you pass, which foot, movement, creating spaces: he's just top level. 

  "To come and win the Champions League in six months says it all.

  "My brother and I used to watch every Champions League game and to hold the trophy with your family on the pitch was such a relief. 

  "I scored this goal, I can be happy. I made my childhood dream come true."

  Chelsea remain in this year's competition after overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit to Borussia Dortmund with a 2-0 home win at Stamford Bridge. 

  Havertz scored the crucial second goal from the penalty spot and his side now face reigning champions Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

  "The ambition is still there," Havertz said about Chelsea's Champions League aspirations this campaign. 

  "In the league, we are not very good and we feel for the fans but against Dortmund, the atmosphere was the best I have seen. You feel the excitement. 

  "The Premier League is big and winning it may be even more difficult but the Champions League is different. Hearing that anthem, playing at night, it's special."

  Despite progress in the Champions League, Tuchel's successor Graham Potter sees his side sit tenth in the Premier League and 11 points off a top-four position heading into the final stage of the season.

  Regardless of the pressure on Potter and the new singings brought in as part of an ambitious January spending spree, Havertz believes all of them will thrive at the club given time to develop. 

  "Potter is very good for Chelsea even though he gets criticism; in the changing room, everyone knows his qualities.

  "Enzo [Fernandez] and [Mykhaylo] Mudryk have come for a lot of money and they're only 22, you know? You cannot expect them to be Neymar straight away. It's like me: it takes time."

• Ten Hag pays tribute Ferguson for defining Man Utd ethos after HOF induction

  Erik ten Hag hailed Alex Ferguson as the defining personality in Manchester United's recent history following his induction into the Premier League Hall of Fame.

  The league confirmed on Wednesday that Ferguson and his former rival Arsene Wenger are the first two inductees of 2023.

  During a remarkable 27-year managerial stint at Old Trafford, Ferguson took standards to an altogether different level and he arguably remains the benchmark.

  He took charge in 1986, six years before the foundation of the Premier League, and went on to win the competition 13 times – that is nine more than any other coach or manager.

  United are waiting for their first Premier League title since Ferguson's retirement in 2013, and Ferguson's legacy still lauds over every manager who arrives at the club.

  Ten Hag is the latest to try his luck and recognises the influence held by Ferguson, which is acting as a guide for the Dutchman as he looks to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford.

  "You feel it every day because he left a legacy and Manchester United is Alex Ferguson," Ten Hag told the Premier League.

  "He set the highest standards, the highest values, and brought the winning attitude. He built that in the club… and that is the standard that you must face if you want to play for Manchester United or work for Manchester United.

  "First of all, he knew when to rebuild and reconstruct a new team because he did it over two decades and every time he was successful. He did it with a balance of homegrown players and bringing big stars in.

  "He got the best out of it, like working with Eric Cantona, working with [Ruud] van Nistelrooy, [Robin] van Persie, Wayne Rooney.

  "That is huge if you are able to handle those personalities, but also to let them play as a team. That was always one of his most important qualities – that the team is always above any individual. It's difficult to construct one winning team. He did it so many times!”

  Ten Hag was spotted having dinner with Ferguson in February before United played host to Barcelona in the Europa League.

  At the time he spoke of how "committed" Ferguson still was to the club with his desire to help those who came after him.

  Now, he is hoping to make such meetings more of a regular occurrence, such is Ferguson's wealth of experience.

  "His experience is huge, so with all the knowledge he can help you with, he can," Ten Hag added.

  "I'm really pleased that he wants to share his knowledge with me. It's great to talk and learn from him, and I hope we can do it more often."