Pepe attempted to clarify his comments that Real Madrid players needed to “motivate themselves” for matches due to the timid atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Those words were reported in September, and unsurprisingly drew a lot of criticism for the defender who represented Los Blancos for 10 years before joining Besiktas in the summer. He has now backtracked – but only a little.
“People did not understand what I wanted to say in an interview I did with UEFA,” Pepe told BeINSPORTS Turkey, with translation from ESPN FC’s Dermot Corrigan. “In Spain they killed me for saying the Madrid fans were not good. I didn’t want to say that, I wanted to say they were different, fans here experience the game in a completely different way.”
Related – Ronaldo: Real Madrid was stronger with Pepe, Morata, Rodriguez
The 34-year-old is enjoying his time in Istanbul. The squad reads like a “Where are they now?” article – Pepe counts Ryan Babel, Alvaro Negredo, Ricardo Quaresma, Jeremain Lens, Gary Medel, and Adriano as teammates – but is currently mounting a title challenge on current Super Lig leader and local rival Galatasaray, and is on the brink of securing an early route from Champions League Group G.
But that on-pitch success is possibly trumped by the atmosphere in Besiktas’ Vodafone Arena.
“When I get home after games, and go to bed, I can still hear the noise,” the Brazilian-born Portuguese international said. “You have to experience it to know what it’s like, and I am thankful to be here.”
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — After Denver Broncos coach Vance Joseph had sifted through the football wreckage of Sunday’s 28-point loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, he has decided to give Brock Osweiler another start at quarterback.
Osweiler will be behind center when the 3-5 Broncos face the New England Patriots. And while Joseph didn’t like much of what he saw in the 51-23 loss to the Eagles, he said he believed Osweiler’s work in the days leading up to the game had earned the sixth-year quarterback another start.
“I thought Brock had an excellent week of preparation,” Joseph said Monday afternoon. “It felt good to our team, it was a confident week, the energy was there, it was detailed. … Brock’s experience Brock’s personality really helped our team bounce back and gave us confidence going into this week. I think Brock’s earned it from that standpoint.”
Vance Joseph thinks Brock Osweiler’s preparation going into the loss to the Eagles has earned him another start. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
And once again Joseph would only commit to Osweiler starting against the Patriots and said that he would re-evaluate things a week from now. Osweiler finished 19-of-38 passing for 208 yards to go with a touchdown and two interceptions in the loss to the Eagles.
“In the football game … he had two interceptions, which he can’t have, he understands that,” Joseph said. “He had a couple ill-advised throws. Brock had some good things, the red-zone audible for the (Demaryius Thomas) touchdown, that was one of Brock’s audibles. I think Brock deserves one more week to prove he’s the guy for us.”
For his part, Osweiler expressed his hope, following the loss, that he would get another chance.
“Absolutely, I think every player in the National Football League plays this game to be the starter, to contribute to his team, to help their football team win games,” Osweiler said. “So, I would love to be the starter of this football team. I can promise you that this game is not going to discourage me. I’m going to work harder than ever to clean up these problems and get us back in the win column.”
The Broncos have scored 14 touchdowns on offense in eight games and are 22nd in the league in scoring (18.8 points per game), 17th in total offense (327.3 yards per game), 21st in yards per play (4.9) to go with 18th in third down conversions.
The biggest issue, however, and the one that was likely the biggest factor in Siemian’s benching, has been turnovers. The Broncos are 31st in the league in turnovers, with 19 — only the winless Cleveland Browns have more.
That total includes 12 interceptions, second-highest total in the league behind the Browns’ 17. At the moment the Patriots are last in the league in total defense (417 yards allowed per game), last in the league in pass defense (295.5 yards allowed per game) and 24th in the run defense (121.5 yards allowed per game).
Sergio Aguero set a new all-time goalscoring record for Manchester City on Wednesday as Pep Guardiola’s men booked their route into the Champions League knockout phase.
Related: Aguero sets new Manchester City scoring record with 178th goal
The Premier League leader overcame Napoli 4-2 in an enthralling bout, marking a huge statement against a side also lauded for breathless attacking football. After four matches in Group F, City has a full complement of points.
Manchester City become the first English side to win a European away fixture at Napoli. ? #UCL pic.twitter.com/mturcjuk45
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 1, 2017
The host opened the scoring after 21 minutes thanks to some superb interplay between Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens. The latter returned the ball to his Italian teammate with a stunning pass spun perfectly into his path, and Insigne’s finish was beautifully lifted over Ederson Moraes.
Headers from Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones either side of half-time put City ahead, but the clash was levelled when Jorginho converted from 12 yards. The penalty was awarded after a clumsy challenge from Leroy Sane tumbled Raul Albiol in the area.
Then, in a ferocious counter-attack spearheaded by Sane, Aguero enjoyed breaking a scoring record that had stood since Eric Brook called time on his career in 1939:
The goal that broke the record ? #mancity (cc @aguerosergiokun) pic.twitter.com/M0nb7MTq3O
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 1, 2017
Raheem Sterling, who continued his rich vein of form in Campania, rounded off the scoring in added time, arrowing a low effort past Pepe Reina after being picked out by Kevin De Bruyne.
Manchester City now looks to complete the job in Group F. Guardiola’s lot currently holds a three-point cushion over second-placed Shakhtar Donetsk, and faces the Ukrainian giant in the final matchday on Dec. 6.
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints’ sixth straight victory was so thorough and dominating that the only time the Tampa Bay Buccaneers really put up a fight was during a sideline skirmish in the third quarter.
Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans was flagged 15 yards for drilling Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore in the back after Tampa QB Jameis Winston and Lattimore exchanged shoves when Winston wasn’t even in the game.
Other than that, it was All Saints Day in this first week of November, with Lattimore and the Saints’ defense continuing their stellar season, holding Tampa Bay to 200 yards in a 30-10 rout.
Justin Hardee’s blocked punt return for a touchdown set the tone early for the Saints. AP Photo/Butch Dill
According to ESPN Stats & Information, New Orleans is now just the third team in the Super Bowl era to go from 0-2 to 6-2. The others (1993 Cowboys and 2007 Giants) went on to win the Super Bowl.
It’s a little early to predict the Saints will make it 3-for-3, but this was probably their most complete victory yet, and they remained in control of the NFC South by climbing to 2-0 in the division.
Up next is a trip to Buffalo that should tell us even more about what the Saints are made of in a matchup of two of the league’s surprise teams of 2017.
Dominant defense: One of the most unlikely stories of this NFL season continues to get better, as New Orleans’ defense had another stifling performance. Lattimore continued his lockdown play, which has him as a leading candidate for the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, while matching up against both the sizable Evans and speedy receiver DeSean Jackson. Defensive ends Cameron Jordan (1.5 sacks) and Alex Okafor (0.5 sacks) were both excellent, among many others.
What I liked: A little bit of everything, but especially Kamara, who continued his stellar rookie season with 10 rushes for 68 yards, six catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns. His 33-yard TD catch on a screen pass in the second quarter was his highlight moment of the season to date. He appeared to be down around the 12-yard line, but braced himself with his hand, escaped the tackle and made another defender miss on his way into the end zone. He had four catches for 67 yards on that TD drive, which immediately followed his first career lost fumble on the previous drive.
Ingram also bounced back nicely from his two fourth-quarter fumbles last week. He had 16 carries for 77 yards. Kamara got the start, but the Saints proved that both backs will continue to play key roles.
What I didn’t like: The Saints had some ugly special-teams gaffes after that early TD. Receiver Willie Snead fumbled away a punt during a fair-catch attempt in the fourth quarter that set up Tampa Bay’s only touchdown. Ted Ginn Jr. muffed one earlier that he recovered. And kicker Wil Lutz missed one field goal attempt and had an extra point try blocked.
Injury update: The Saints didn’t escape clean. LT Terron Armstead (chest) and S Kenny Vaccaro (groin) both left the game early. But Fox reported that Vaccaro’s absence was precautionary.
