Pop star helps under-fire van Gaal

Last updated : 18 December 2002 By Martyn Elliott

Barca star Shakira
Apparently she had been staying in the same hotel as the team and paraded past the appreciative players in a revealing outfit on her way to a concert.

Stories suggest that Kieron Dyer’s dream like state when he failed to clear Tiago Motta’s tame header off the line were caused by visions of the South American singer.

If previous tabloid rumours are to be believed Kieron has seen more than his fair share of scantily clad women in the past and shouldn’t really have been too distracted.

In typical fashion Sir Bobby was left bemused by the story: "We used to have Shaka Hislop on our books but I've never heard of Shakira. Is she a singer?"