Conte faces continuing uncertainty over Chelsea future

LONDON :  Chelsea manager Antonio Conte goes into Monday’s Premier League game at Watford with mounting uncertainty over his future amid concern the champions may miss out on a Champions League spot next season.

Fourth-placed Chelsea are one point ahead of Tottenham Hotspur after an unimpressive start to the year in which they were knocked out of the League Cup by Arsenal and beaten at home in the Premier League by Bournemouth.

Conte has been the subject of persistent British media reports that he will leave the club at the end of the season after publicly criticising their transfer policy.

Although the 48-year-old has been linked with a return to his former job as Italy manager, Italian football federation (FIGC) assistant commissioner Alessandro Costacurta said on Sunday that he has ruled himself out.

“As Conte reiterated the other day, he wants to continue working as a coach on a day-by-day basis at club level for at least the next 18 months, the length of his Chelsea contract, so he has pulled out of the running,” Costacurta said.

Conte has called on the Chelsea board to end the uncertainty over his future by publicly confirming they trust in his work.

One way or another he may well be disappointed.

The only time Chelsea have done anything similar was in Oct. 2015 when they released a statement backing Jose Mourinho following Chelsea’s worst start to a season since 1979. Two months later the Portuguese was sacked.

Conte’s methods underwent further scrutiny over the weekend when it was revealed that new signing Ross Barkley will miss Monday’s game at Vicarage Road after becoming the eighth Chelsea player to suffer a hamstring injury this season.

Conte has consistently said his squad is not strong enough, although striker Olivier Giroud and defender Emerson Palmieri were recruited last week in an attempt to provide more options.

Publicly at least, Conte is putting a brave face on the situation, refusing to confirm media reports he has been at odds with director Marina Granovskaia, one of owner Roman Abramovich’s most trusted employees, following November’s surprise departure of transfer chief Michael Emenalo.

Conte maintains that he intends to stay until at least until next summer when his contract runs out.

“We are doing the maximum for this club. If the club understands this and the club wants to extend a new contract, we can talk,” he said.

“We can talk. Why not? My contract expires in 2019. My desire and my will are to continue to work with this club.”



source: news agency

Bach hails North, South Korea for harnessing Olympic spirit

GANGNEUNG:  North and South Korea will send a “powerful message of peace” to the world when they march together under one flag at the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Games, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said on Monday.

Bach, speaking at the opening of the IOC’s 132nd Session in the South Korean coastal city of Gangneung which will host the sliding and skating events at the Feb. 9-25 Games, praised both governments for choosing to harness the Olympic spirit.

“The Olympic spirit has brought two sides together that for too long were divided by mistrust and animosity. The Olympic spirit has brought real hope for a brighter future for everyone on the Korean Peninsula,” Bach said.

While the Olympics had opened the door to opportunity for talks between the two Koreas, Bach said it was important to see the process through.

“This initiative gives all parties the chance to reflect on what the future could look like, if we were all guided by this Olympic spirit,” he added.

“But Korea’s journey does not end here. The political tensions will not disappear overnight. Sport cannot create peace, but the Olympic Games can open the way with powerful symbols.”

The talks between Koreas on the Olympics have brought some respite from the standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programmes.

North Korea are sending 22 athletes to compete in Pyeongchang, including 12 ice hockey players who will form a joint team with the South.

It will mark the first time the two Koreas will compete as a unified team at the Olympics but the decision has been met with anger from some South Korean athletes, while an online petition against the move garnered tens of thousands of signatories.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the atmosphere on the peninsula had brightened significantly thanks to the approaching Olympic festival of sport.

“One or two months ago, many countries worried over safety at the Pyeongchang Olympics,” Moon said.

”For many, North Korea participating in the Olympics or a peaceful Olympics where North and South Korea forming a unified team seemed impossible.

“However, those worries have disappeared and what seemed impossible is now a reality.”

Hopes that the Olympics could prove a springboard to serious dialogue between the two Koreas during the Games received a boost earlier on Monday with news that North Korea’s ceremonial leader is to make an unprecedented visit to South Korea this week.

source: news agency

Wicketkeeper De Kock adds to South Africa's injury woes

CAPE TOWN: South Africa’s worrisome injury-list has been lengthened after wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock was ruled out for up to four weeks with a wrist injury, officials said on Monday.

De Kock joins stalwarts Faf du Plessis, Dale Steyn and AB de Villiers on the sidelines, though the latter is expected to resume training in the next few days.

De Kock was injured during South Africa’s heavy nine-wicket loss to India in the second match of their six-game series in Pretoria on Sunday which the hosts lost to go down 2-0 ahead of the third fixture in Cape Town on Wednesday.

“Quinton suffered an extreme blow to the left wrist while batting in the second ODI on Sunday and felt severe pain and discomfort,” team manager Mohammed Moosajee said in a media release from Cricket South Africa.

”Further investigation revealed severe bony bruising to the area, with associated swelling around the tendon in the wrist.
“This type of injury will require between 2-4 weeks to heal, which subsequently rules him out of the remainder of the ODI and T20 series against India.”

South Africa already have uncapped wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen in their squad.

Du Plessis (finger), Steyn (heel) and De Kock will now face a race against time to be fit for the first of four home tests against Australia that start on Mar. 1.


source: news agency

High-Flying Churchill Impose A Threat To Aizawl

GOA: Churchill Brothers surprised everyone by beating Minerva Punjab FC who were looking invincible until that point in the season have another big task to cut out as they’re now going to face defending champions Aizawl FC at the Tilak Maidan in Goa tomorrow.

The Paulo Menezes-coached side who are coming from a stalemate against Chennai City FC would be wary of the Red Machines who are looking to be the team to beat at the moment.

Aizawl have reasons to be worried as they are winless in their last five matches – counting the AFC Champions League game against Zob Ahan.

The not-so-decent run of results has seen them slump to a lowly sixth on 16 points and Churchill Brothers are only three points behind the defending champions.

Churchill Brothers are growing in confidence with each passing game and they have targeted a top half finish for the season. After the addition of players like Koffi Mechac, Kalu Ogba, Eldor Hussein and others, the Red Machines look like a different animal.

“It is my belief that if we had this whole set of foreigners from the beginning, we could have been in the top two and even heading the league table with some distance. In the initial stages of the season, we lost five matches which is 15 points. So you see the recovery we had to make from the five defeats,” Churchill Brothers coach Alfred Fernandes suggested.

Even Aizawl coach Paulo Meneses agreed that this Churchill Brothers team is not the same as the side they had beaten in the reverse fixture.

“You cannot compare this Churchill Brothers to the one that played in Aizawl with us. They have improved a lot. It will be a very tough game. We are ready to play against them but we know it will be difficult. They are a very competitive team and they are improving. It is not the same Churchill Brothers,” Menezes said.

But Alfred Fernandes is prepared to face a backlash from Aizawl after their poor run of form.

“That (backlash) is always expected, especially Aizawl being the defending champions. Being in mid-table, they will come out hard against us. Playing out a draw against bottom-placed Chennai City FC must have hurt them a lot. We have to be prepared,” Alfred Fernandes said.

Menezes feels that the points table don’t justify their performances.

“The chances that we create in every game, it was enough to be with much more points. Our problem is to score. Hopefully, we have a better chance,” he said.

But the Portuguese coach feels that taking one game at a time is the best way forward right now.

“It’s a chance, it is a game. Even if you play against East Bengal, you just get three points. Not 15 or 16 points. If you play against Churchill Brothers, you get only three points and not more. Or maybe less like one point or zero points. It is not the best chance to take three points, it is just a chance,” Meneses stated.


source: aiff

Bengaluru look to turn the tables on Chennai

Chennai:It’s the showdown between two teams that have set the pace this season in the Hero Indian Super League. Even though both Bengaluru FC and Chennaiyin FC are comfortably settled in the top two positions in the league standing, there still will be a lot to play for when they square off at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Tuesday. 

Second placed Chennaiyin FC are currently four points behind table toppers Bengaluru FC but John Gregory's men have played one game less than their southern rivals. Chennayin had defeated Bengaluru 2-1 at their home and a win tomorrow will see the Chennai team cut the lead to just one point. But, it will not be easy. Bengaluru FC come into this game with three consecutive wins under their belt. And this time, Bengaluru will look to turn the tables on Chennai.

Mindful of the task at hand, Chennaiyin FC coach John Gregory told reporters at the pre-match press conference that for him, the season actually starts now.

"For me, the season starts tomorrow. This is when you find how good you are. Everything has just been jostling for positions. It just like practice lap in Formula 1. We are second in the grid and the race actually starts tomorrow. We have five games in 17 days that will determine if we make it to the play-offs," he added.  

Talking about the team selection for tomorrow's big game, Gregory said, he has the complete squad to choose from but he'll make that decision only before the game.  "Everyone is fit and healthy for this crucial period. I'm fortunate to have a good medical staff that has taken good care of the players," he added.

Though Chennaiyin FC have the advantage of a 2-1 win over BFC in the last game, the Bengaluru head coach Albert Roca believes that their loss to Chennai in the previous encounter will have no effect on his players when they face Chennaiyin for the second time in the season.

"I don't think it will play on our mind. Losing to Chennaiyin FC wasn't disastrous. Obviously, we want to win all games. Tomorrow, we need to be brave and try and get all three points," he said at the pre-match press conference. 

Bengaluru FC have been enjoying a great debut season in the ISL. Roca’s men have adapted to the new league with ease and are looking like title contenders. The Spanish tactician, however, feels it's too early for such claims.

"It's not finished yet. First, we have to finish all our games, perhaps we can talk a little about it and even then we also have to go through playoffs. At the moment it's a pack of six teams looking to get into top four. So the first goal is to be in top four. If we take all three points tomorrow, we'll be close," he concluded.

Neymar, PSG begin vital month in style

PARIS: A superb Neymar free-kick helped Paris Saint-Germain to a 3-0 win at troubled Lille on Saturday as the Ligue 1 leaders began a decisive month as they mean to go on.

The world's most expensive player netted the second goal at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy after Yuri Berchiche had opened the scoring just prior to half-time.

Giovani Lo Celso's delightful chip secured the victory late on, with PSG now 11 points clear of Marseille at the top of the table.

PSG have won 12 of their last 13 games in all competitions, including four in a row since a 2-1 defeat at Lyon last month.

Their season-defining Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid is fast approaching, with the first leg to come in the Spanish capital on February 14.

"The best preparation for the match in Madrid is to be competitive in every match and work on the things that we can improve," said PSG coach Unai Emery.

He will hope to have the likes of Adrien Rabiot, Julian Draxler and Thiago Motta back fit for that game, while Kylian Mbappe will almost certainly start at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The teenage France forward was absent on Saturday due to suspension after being sent off in the 3-2 League Cup semi-final win at Rennes in midweek.

"A lot of things can still happen. I cannot say today who is going to play in Madrid, that is impossible. I just hope the best is still to come," added Emery, whose team have a French Cup tie at Sochaux to come on Tuesday.

In Mbappe's absence, Angel Di Maria again started alongside Neymar and Edinson Cavani in attack, but the Uruguayan was unable to add to his club record tally of 157 goals.

Spaniard Berchiche was handed a start ahead of Layvin Kurzawa at left-back and he broke the deadlock right on half-time, drilling home after a poor attempted clearance by Junior Alonso fell to him.

Lille are a club with serious off-field worries, concerns about their finances leading to them being handed a transfer embargo that prevented them from adding to their squad in January.

Sports daily L'Equipe even reported on Saturday that the club had been told they face being relegated at the end of the season if their financial situation does not hugely improve, regardless of their final league position.

Christophe Galtier's side had looked set to go into the break on level terms before Berchiche struck, and they were upset that Cavani was not flagged offside in the build-up to that goal.

Just 13 minutes remained when Neymar effectively ended the game as a contest, finding the top-left corner with a free-kick from right on the edge of the area.

It was the Brazilian's 18th goal in 17 Ligue 1 appearances, with seven of those coming in his last three outings.

Lo Celso arguably topped Neymar's effort with his chip over Lille goalkeeper Mike Maignan, as the young Argentine again stood in well for the veteran Motta. The assist had come from new signing Lassana Diarra, on as a substitute for his league debut.

Marseille claimed an extraordinary 6-3 win over bottom club Metz on Friday, with Florian Thauvin scoring a hat-trick.

Fourth-placed Monaco host Lyon, who are third, in a key game in the battle for Champions League places on Sunday.


Elsewhere on Saturday, Mathieu Debuchy scored on his debut for Saint-Etienne in their 2-0 win at Amiens.

France right-back Debuchy signed a deal until the end of the season in midweek after being allowed to leave Arsenal. He was also involved in the build-up to Remy Cabella's goal that sealed the win.

source: news agency

Five Indians in ICC Under-19 World Cup team

DUBAI: The Indians expectedly dominated the Under-19 World Cup team announced by the ICC on Sunday, with five players from the triumphant side making it to the world eleven.

India on Saturday lifted a record fourth U-19 World Cup trophy after an eight-wicket rout of Australia in the final at Mount Maunganui in New Zealand, underlining their dominant run in the tournament.

The world team has the top three of the Indian batting line-up -- captain Prithvi Shaw (261 runs), player of the final Manjot Kalra (252 runs) and player of the tournament Shubman Gill (372 runs).

Left-arm spinner Anukul Roy (14 wickets) and fast bowler Kamlesh Nagarkoti (9 wickets) are the other Indians named in the world team.

The team of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup was picked by a five-person selection panel that comprised former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop, former India women's captain Anjum Chopra, former New Zealand captain Jeff Crowe, journalist Shashank Kishore and former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody.

South Africa captain Raynard van Tonder was named to lead the side which has representation from six countries. Van Tonder, who aggregated 348 runs in six matches including a highest score of 143 against Kenya, was selected to lead ahead of other captains for his better cricket acumen, the ICC said in a statement.

South Africa went out of reckoning for the title with a three-wicket loss to Pakistan in the quarter-finals but finished fifth beating Bangladesh by eight wickets in a play- off, which saw Tonder knocking an unbeaten 82.

Apart from van Tonder, the other South Africa players making the team are wicket-keeper Wandile Makwetu and fast bowler Gerald Coetzee. Makwetu had 11 victims during the tournament besides some useful runs while fast bowler Gerald Coetzee finished with eight wickets.

New Zealand batsman Finn Allen was rewarded for a consistent run which saw him get 338 runs while Pakistan's left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi (12 wickets) and Afghanistan leg-spinner Qais Ahmad (14 wickets) are the ones in the playing eleven.

West Indies batsman Alick Athanaze was named the 12th man after finishing as the highest run-getter in the tournament with 418 runs, which included centuries against Sri Lanka and Kenya.


The ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Team (in batting order): Prithvi Shaw (India), Manjot Kalra (India), Shubman Gill (India), Finn Allen (New Zealand), Raynard van Tonder (South Africa, captain), Wandile Makwetu (wicket-keeper) (South Africa), Anukul Roy (India), Kamlesh Nagarkoti (India), Gerald Coetzee (South Africa), Qais Ahmad (Afghanistan), Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan).


12th man: Alick Athanaze (West Indies).



source: news agency

Spain wins doubles in Davis Cup tie against Britain

Spanish doubles pairing of Feliciano Lopez and Pablo Carreno claimed a straight sets win over British duo of Jaimie Murray and Dominic Inglot to give Spain a 2-1 advantage in the Davis Cup tie.

The Spanish took advantage of Inglot's inexperience to break his serve on two occasions as they ended up winning a tight match 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(4), reports Xinhua news agency.

Lopez and Carreno gave Murray and Inglot few options in the match as the British duo had only one break point all game, which came in the second game of the match.

Lopez's service especially was impossible for the British duo to deal with and the Spanish are now clear favourites to win the tie.


source: news agency

Djokovic undergoes surgery to cure troublesome elbow

Novak Djokovic has undergone an elbow operation in an attempt to cure an injury that has troubled him for the past two years.

The 30-year-old Serb said he had agreed to surgery after last month’s Australian Open when he was treated on court in losing to unseeded South Korean Chung Hyeon in the last 16.

“I agreed with my team that I would try different methods after I finish in Australia and a few days ago I accepted to do a small medical intervention on my elbow. It seems like I am on the good road now to full recovery,” he posted on Instagram.

The 12-time grand slam champion had hoped the extended break he took last year might solve the problem but said he decided on more drastic action after still experiencing pain in Melbourne.

“I’ve been carrying this injury for the past two years, and during this time I’ve been seeing many doctors,” said Djokovic, who before last month had not competed since losing at Wimbledon last year.

“I took six months off last season hoping to come back fully recovered, but unfortunately I still felt pain,” he said.

”It’s quite a journey this one, I have to say. I‘m learning a lot and for that I‘m grateful. I’ve always taken care of my body and looked for the most natural ways to heal, and my body has rewarded me with some incredible years on tour.

“I am super positive and excited to follow my recovery through so I can come back to the place I love the most. The court.”

Serbia’s former Davis Cup coach Bogdan Obradovic predicted Djokovic would make a full recovery.

“I am convinced that Djokovic can return stronger, he has overcome many problems in his career,” said Obradovic, who led Serbia to their maiden title in the competition in 2010.

”He has made all the right moves - he took a break in an effort to avoid surgery, played at the Australian Open and when it didn’t work, having the surgery was the only option.

“He is still hungry for success and what he needs to do now is be patient,” he told Reuters.

Djokovic’s rival, Britain’s Andy Murray, is also recovering from surgery, to his hip, after also finding that rest did not cure his long-term injury.

Reporting by Neil Robinson; Additional reporting by Zoran Milosavljevic in Nis, Serbia; Editing by Ken Ferris


source: news agency

Mourinho gives few clues as to why he dropped Pogba

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho offered only the briefest explanation as to why he dropped the club’s record signing Paul Pogba for Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League win over Huddersfield Town at Old Trafford.

The Frenchman had been criticised for his midweek performance in the 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley, during which he was substituted in the 63rd minute after having an animated conversation with Mourinho on the touchline.

On Saturday, the manager refused to go into details about what was said but a video was widely shared on social media showing the Portuguese gesticulating at the Frenchman.

The upshot was Pogba dropped to the bench for the first time since joining United for 89 million pounds ($125.67 million) in August 2016, with 21-year-old midfielder Scott McTominay named in his place.

Asked why the Frenchman had been left out, Mourinho said: “Just change, try different qualities with different players.”

Pogba eventually came on as a 65th-minute substitute for Jesse Lingard in a disjointed United performance that still saw United close the gap on leaders Manchester City to 13 points.

“We had to be patient but had to keep the intensity high and the pressure. We had to break down the Berlin Wall organised so well by (Huddersfield manager) David Wagner,” said Mourinho.

Although Pogba has delivered some excellent displays this season, he has also been criticised on several occasions, notably for his rash sending off against Arsenal.

Mourinho also said that Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who limped off injured against Spurs, has undergone knee surgery and will be out for at least two months.

”He had surgery this morning,“ said Mourinho. ”I don’t want to be very specific. It’s not the end of his season, not at all. It’s a small intervention in his external (lateral) meniscus and I want to believe that by the end of March he can be back.

“If he can be back by the end of March, I hope we have a big April and a big May still to play in more than one competition.”


source: news agency

U.S. ski racer Wiles ruled out of Pyeongchang after crash

American ski racer Jacqueline Wiles has been ruled out of this month’s Winter Olympics after sustaining serious leg injuries in a crash during a World Cup downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany on Saturday.

The 25-year-old fractured her left fibula and tibia and suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, according to German media reports.

The race was won by Wiles’ team mate Lindsey Vonn.

“We are all extremely disappointed that Jackie suffered this injury so close to the Games,” said Luke Bodensteiner, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport, in a statement.

“It’s a big loss to our alpine ski team, especially after her very strong results this season.”

Wiles, who competed in the downhill at the Sochi Games, finished third in the downhill in Cortina d‘Ampezzo, Italy last month.

A decision on whether Wiles will be replaced in the U.S. squad had yet to be made, the statement said.


source: news agency

United take advantage as Man City held at Burnley

LONDON : Manchester United’s new signing Alexis Sanchez scored on his home debut in a 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town as they took advantage of a slip by cross-town rivals and Premier League leaders Manchester City on Saturday.

After City had been held 1-1 at Burnley, their daunting lead over United was reduced to 13 points when Jose Mourinho’s side eventually overcame a defensive Huddersfield side.

It took 55 minutes before Romelu Lukaku broke the deadlock after which Sanchez won a penalty, had it saved by Jonas Lossl, but tucked away the rebound in the 68th.

City paid the price for missed chances as they drew at Turf Moor with Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s 82nd minute equaliser earning Burnley a point.

City had dominated possession but, after taking the lead with a fine strike from Brazilian Danilo in the 22nd minute, the visitors failed to press home their advantage.

Raheem Sterling produced one of the misses of the season from two metres out and Burnley made the most of that let-off.

“We are frustrated in terms of the result but the performance was outstanding against a Burnley side who are the most British of teams in terms of long balls and the way they play,” said City manager Pep Guardiola.

City have 69 points from 26 games, ahead of United on 56 with third-placed Liverpool (50) at home to Tottenham Hotspur (48), who are fifth, on Sunday, while Chelsea (50), in fourth, visit mid-table Watford on Monday.

RELEGATION BATTLE

Huddersfield’s defeat at Old Trafford dropped them into the bottom three for the first time since being promoted as Southampton and Swansea City both moved above them.

Bottom club West Bromwich Albion lost 3-2 at home to Southampton on an emotional day at the Hawthorns, where there was a minute’s applause for the home side’s former striker Cyrille Regis, who recently died aged 59.

Albion led early on through Egyptian defender Ahmed Hegazi but were rocked by three goals in a quarter of an hour either side of halftime.

Southampton held on after Salomon Rondon’s goal to secure a first win in 13 league games, leaving Albion four points adrift at the bottom with 20 points.

Improving Swansea earned a valuable point with Federico Fernandez’s equaliser at Leicester City, for whom Jamie Vardy scored his 13th goal of the season in all competitions.

Bournemouth consolidated their place in the top 10 by coming from behind to beat Stoke City 2-1 and, on a good day for the south-coast sides Brighton & Hove Albion beat West Ham United 3-1 to draw level with them on 27 points.


source: news agency