The Sport Matrix: Thursday 23 October 2014

Kompany angry over CSKA support

Manchester City’s captain, Vincent Kompany, has expressed his anger over the CSKA Moscow support at the club’s Champions League match on Tuesday, which was supposed to be behind closed doors. “You say: ‘No fans’ then the only team that hasn’t got fans is Man City,” he said. “Who’s getting punished? They’ll say it’s sponsors but why are we getting punished? Why the hell do we not have any fans here?”

Pochettino: Spurs is a happy place

Mauricio Pochettino has rubbished reports he has fallen out with Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen. “I never hear from Jan that he wants to leave,” the Spurs manager said of the Belgian centre-back ahead of tonight’s Europa League visit of Asteras. “Jan never told me he wants to leave. He is happy at Tottenham. Maybe sometimes he wants to play more but my role is to take these decisions.”

Serena humbled as Murray marches on

Serena Williams suffered her heaviest defeat in 16 years yesterday as she was stunned 6-0, 6-2 by Simona Halep at the season-ending WTA finals in Singapore. “Very embarrassing,” the world No 1 admitted afterwards of the loss to the Romanian. Elsewhere, Andy Murray continued his good recent form, beating Jürgen Melzer in the first round of the Valencia Open 6-3, 6-3.

Holy visit for victorious Bayern

Pope Francis yesterday welcomed the Bayern Munich team to the Vatican after their 7-1 Champions League rout of Roma, telling the players they had “played a wonderful game” and receiving a signed jersey and ball in return.

CEO Karl Heinz Rummenigge said it was “a great honour” for the German club and announced Bayern would donate €1m (£790,000) in proceeds from a match for charitable purposes.

Rummenigge told Francis it would be up to him to use the money “to help people in need”.

Francis was presented with a No 1 Bayern jersey with “Francis” across the back.

Froome may miss next year’s Tour

Chris Froome overshadowed yesterday’s announcement of the Tour de France route by stating he may not take part in next year’s race. “[We] will give careful consideration before we make any commitments,” the 2013 winner, who may compete in stead in the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España, said.