Emery glad to see Rashford make landmark appearance

Emery glad to see Rashford make landmark appearance
Aston Villa’s English striker Marcus Rashford focuses on the ball during their English Premier League match against Brighton and Hove Albion at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, on Apr. 2, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 04 April 2025

Emery glad to see Rashford make landmark appearance

Emery glad to see Rashford make landmark appearance
  • “Happy for him,” Emery said
  • “Happy because he is achieving individual objectives as well, with these appearances he is doing, playing matches here with us”

LONDON: Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said he was “happy” for Marcus Rashford as the England forward prepares to make his 500th career appearance.
Rashford has undergone something of an on-field revival since joining the Birmingham club on loan from Manchester United, with the England forward scoring three goals in his last two Villa outings.
He is now set to make his 12th appearance for Emery’s side at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, having made 426 appearances for United in total and won 62 caps for England.
“Happy for him,” Emery said. “Happy because he is achieving individual objectives as well, with these appearances he is doing, playing matches here with us.
“And try to enjoy with him, not more, try to feel comfortable himself every day here, with everything we are doing and with his team-mates.
“Training, playing and of course with the challenges we have together, to try to achieve, and to play in his best form, qualities, skills and confidence.”
Villa are chasing a seventh straight win in all competitions against high-flying Midlands rivals Forest as they aim to continue an impressive season.
They reached the FA Cup semifinals with victory at Preston on Sunday, and Wednesday’s 3-0 win at Brighton lifted them to within four points of the top four with eight games to play.
Spanish manager Emery could have a full-strength squad to face Forest, with Ross Barkley recovering from a long-term knee injury and Leon Bailey set for a late fitness test.
Emery said having returning players available again would be vital to how Villa finished the season, adding: “We don’t have now time to explain a lot about how we are, and how we are playing a lot of matches now being very, very important in Premier League, in Champions League and in FA Cup.
“Of course, the players now, we are recovering players, we are feeling stronger.
“We were in some moments in the season with some players injured, with some players not feeling physically good.
“We were struggling sometimes and not achieving the objective we were facing in that moment.
“Of course now, with the players we have more or less available for (Saturday’s) match, or the match we play before, I’m happy because my plan is to try to extend 90 minutes competing in the demands we have, and the demands (of) the opponent facing us.”


UAE raise medal tally to 11 at 2025 World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship

UAE raise medal tally to 11 at 2025 World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Updated 7 sec ago

UAE raise medal tally to 11 at 2025 World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship

UAE raise medal tally to 11 at 2025 World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship
  • U-16 girls’ team claim 1 silver and 3 bronze on Sunday in Thailand

BANGKOK: The UAE jiu-jitsu national team, sponsored by Mubadala Investment Co., raised their total medal tally to 11 at the 2025 World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship on Sunday in Thailand.

The tournament, which has age categories under 16, 18 and 21, began on Nov. 8 and ends on Friday in Bangkok.

The girls’ under-16 team added four medals on Sunday, including one silver and three bronze, to the seven medals won by the boys’ team on the opening day.

Sara Farook won silver in the 48 kg category, Mathail Alhammadi and Ghaiaheb Alrashdi earned bronze in the 36 kg division, and Maitha Alkarbi claimed bronze in the 40 kg division.

The UAE team’s total in the under-16 division now stands at 11 medals, including two gold, three silver and six bronze.

Abdulla Al-Zaabi, director of marketing and corporate communications at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, praised the team.

He said their skill and discipline highlight the continued development of women’s jiu-jitsu in the UAE, supported by the nation’s leadership and the federation’s commitment to nurturing Emirati talent.

“This strong start gives us great motivation to maintain our momentum in the under-18 and under-21 categories and to increase our medal tally further,” said Al-Zaabi.

“It also reinforces the UAE’s standing among the leading jiu-jitsu nations on the world stage.”

Silver medalist Farook commented: “Standing on the podium at the 2025 world championship and winning silver is a dream come true.

“The matches were tough, but with the guidance of our coaches and the support of my teammates, I stayed focused on representing the UAE in the best way possible.

“I’m proud to have contributed to the team’s success and will keep working hard to win gold and raise the UAE flag in future competitions.”

The championship continues on Monday, Nov. 10, with the boys’ under-18 category, as the UAE national team look to build more momentum and add to their medal count.