• Barcelona manager Ronald Koemam with striker Sergio Aguero during training at the Joan Gamper Sports City ion Tuesday, October 26, ahead of their La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano. EPA
    Barcelona manager Ronald Koemam with striker Sergio Aguero during training at the Joan Gamper Sports City ion Tuesday, October 26, ahead of their La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano. EPA
  • Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti, left, and midfielder Osmane Dembele during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
    Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti, left, and midfielder Osmane Dembele during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
  • Barcelona manager Ronald Koemam with defender Samuel Umtiti, left, and Gerard Pique during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
    Barcelona manager Ronald Koemam with defender Samuel Umtiti, left, and Gerard Pique during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
  • Barcelona's midfielder Philippe Coutinho during training on Tuesday. EPA
    Barcelona's midfielder Philippe Coutinho during training on Tuesday. EPA
  • Gerard Pique during Barca's training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
    Gerard Pique during Barca's training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
  • Barcelona's striker Luuk de Jong during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City . EPA
    Barcelona's striker Luuk de Jong during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City . EPA
  • Ronald Koemam after the team training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
    Ronald Koemam after the team training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
  • FC Barcelona's Dutch head coach Ronald Koemam (C) with his staff Alfred Schreuder (R) and Henrik Larsson (L) during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City in Barcelona, Catalonia 26 October 2021 in preparation for their next LaLiga match against Rayo Vallecano. EPA / Alejandro Garcia
    FC Barcelona's Dutch head coach Ronald Koemam (C) with his staff Alfred Schreuder (R) and Henrik Larsson (L) during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City in Barcelona, Catalonia 26 October 2021 in preparation for their next LaLiga match against Rayo Vallecano. EPA / Alejandro Garcia
  • Barcelona goalkeepers Marc-Andre ter Stegen, left, and Neto Murara during training. EPA
    Barcelona goalkeepers Marc-Andre ter Stegen, left, and Neto Murara during training. EPA

Koeman puts on brave face during Barcelona training with job on the line - in pictures


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Ronald Koeman oversaw Barcelona's training session ahead of their next challenging fixture - against an in-form Rayo Vallecano - seemingly at the end of his stint as manager.

The Dutchman was appointed in August 2020 but has seen the club's fortunes plummet after Lionel Messi moved to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this year. An indifferent start to the season has yielded just 15 points from nine league games, with pressure on the manager mounting after the clasico defeat to Real Madrid.

"I'm a grown up and I know how those things work," Koeman said.

"I want to enjoy the time that I have left, either if it is eight years, six months, one year, or some weeks. I think it's important that we win this game, we can't afford back-to-back losses."

Koeman also dismissed the significance of some supporters surrounding his car as he made his exit from Camp Nou following the defeat to Real.

"It is a social problem. Uneducated people that don’t understand rules and values. Inside the stadium the environment was completely different and that is what I keep in mind, that festive vibe, not with those kinds of people," he said.

A major issue for Koeman is that he may be without teenage forward Ansu Fati because of pain in his surgically repaired right knee.

"He doesn't feel right, we will decide on Wednesday morning if he makes the trip," the manager said.

Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE fixtures:
Men

Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final

Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tell-tale signs of burnout

- loss of confidence and appetite

- irritability and emotional outbursts

- sadness

- persistent physical ailments such as headaches, frequent infections and fatigue

- substance abuse, such as smoking or drinking more

- impaired judgement

- excessive and continuous worrying

- irregular sleep patterns

 

Tips to help overcome burnout

Acknowledge how you are feeling by listening to your warning signs. Set boundaries and learn to say ‘no’

Do activities that you want to do as well as things you have to do

Undertake at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. It releases an abundance of feel-good hormones

Find your form of relaxation and make time for it each day e.g. soothing music, reading or mindful meditation

Sleep and wake at the same time every day, even if your sleep pattern was disrupted. Without enough sleep condition such as stress, anxiety and depression can thrive.

The specs

Engine: 2x201bhp AC Permanent-magnetic electric

Transmission: n/a

Power: 402bhp

Torque: 659Nm

Price estimate: Dh200,000

On sale: Q3 2022 

Like a Fading Shadow

Antonio Muñoz Molina

Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez

Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)

WHAT FANS WILL LOVE ABOUT RUSSIA

FANS WILL LOVE
Uber is ridiculously cheap and, as Diego Saez discovered, mush safer. A 45-minute taxi from Pulova airport to Saint Petersburg’s Nevsky Prospect can cost as little as 500 roubles (Dh30).

FANS WILL LOATHE
Uber policy in Russia is that they can start the fare as soon as they arrive at the pick-up point — and oftentimes they start it even before arriving, or worse never arrive yet charge you anyway.

FANS WILL LOVE
It’s amazing how active Russians are on social media and your accounts will surge should you post while in the country. Throw in a few Cyrillic hashtags and watch your account numbers rocket.

FANS WILL LOATHE
With cold soups, bland dumplings and dried fish, Russian cuisine is not to everybody’s tastebuds.  Fortunately, there are plenty Georgian restaurants to choose from, which are both excellent and economical.

FANS WILL LOVE
The World Cup will take place during St Petersburg's White Nights Festival, which means perpetual daylight in a city that genuinely never sleeps. (Think toddlers walking the streets with their grandmothers at 4am.)

FANS WILL LOATHE
The walk from Krestovsky Ostrov metro station to Saint Petersburg Arena on a rainy day makes you wonder why some of the $1.7 billion was not spent on a weather-protected walkway.

Teams

Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq

Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi

Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag

Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC

Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC

Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan

Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes

Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals

No Shame

Lily Allen

(Parlophone)

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Updated: October 27, 2021, 2:35 AM