WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017 SPORTS Outside pressure child’s play for Zlatan Ibrahimovic LONDON: Swedish star Zlatan equaliser in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with national football following a disappoint- better the pressure becomes even things. “But it’s part of the game now. Ibrahmovic says the pressure on him Liverpool which ended his side’s six ing Euro 2016 finals, defended team- greater. “So it’s something that we learn What is too much, what is too less? We that comes from outside is like a kinder- match winning streak and leaves them mate and the world’s most expensive from and something we have to handle don’t know. We just follow the game. We garten compared to the pressure he 12 points behind leaders Chelsea. “I player France midfielder Paul Pogba because we belong to the top, Paul are professional, we train like always, try places on himself every time he trains or think the pressure I have all around me who was slammed for his below-par per- belongs to the top absolutely and the to do our best every game.” plays for Manchester United. is nothing compared to the pressure I formance against Liverpool. pressure will be there.” Ibrahimovic suggested the reason The 35-year-old striker-who has put on myself,” said Ibrahimovic. Ibrahimovic said although he didn’t Pogba’s poor performance came on the game passed Pogba by is that the defied the sceptics who thought he was “I really want to do not perfect, more know Pogba that well he felt he could the day the Old Trafford hoardings pro- game was not really played in midfield. too old to flourish at United but has than perfect, every game, even in train- handle pressure too. moted his #Pogba twitter hashtag- “For Paul (on Sunday) the game was scored 14 goals in 20 Premier League ing. I’m not happy if I don’t win in train- “Pressure is something I enjoy,” said Ibrahimovic admitted it was easier when different. It was a dirty game, in the way appearances-said the pressure he placed ing so imagine what it’s like in the Ibrahimovic. “I don’t know Paul personal- he started playing as social media was we had to play more direct, by jumping on himself was so immense because games. “That is the pressure I put on ly to be able to answer that for him. “But not part and parcel of life. “I think foot- over the midfield because the pressure nothing less than winning counted. myself and so your pressure becomes I think he likes it also because, without ball is like that today. With the social Liverpool put on us was hard. Ibrahimovic, who joined United in like a kindergarten for me. “My pressure pressure, we would not be on our toes at media, the media building up the game,” “It was difficult. The first game the close season last year after a hugely is really high. I’m not satisfied until I get the top level. said Ibrahimovic. against them was the same. The guys successful period at French champions what I want. What I want is to win.” “If you want to play at the top, pres- “When I started to play football there told me every game we play against Paris Saint Germain, scored United’s Ibrahimovic, who retired from inter- sure is 24 hours, and if you play well or was no social media, none of these Liverpool looks like this.” — AFP Maradona set for Napoli role, if tax settled MILAN: Napoli president Aurelio De goal against England at the 1986 World Laurentiis says a global ambassador’s role Cup remains a legend in Naples. will be offered to Diego Maradona-if the Thirty-metre high murals of Maradona former club legend settles his score with are painted on many of the city’s buildings the Italian tax man. while effigies, paintings and graffitti paying Maradona was served with a tax bill of tribute to ‘Il Pibe d’Oro’ (the Golden Child), around 39 million euros (£33m) four years who joined the club from Barcelona in ago when he returned to Italy, where he 1984, are omnipresent. led Napoli to their two Serie A titles in 1987 Maradona on Monday evening told and 1990. He is reportedly still in the red, hundreds of fans from a balcony: “I am real- having claimed in an interview with ly happy to be here with you.” Corriere della Sera last October: “I don’t Holding up his Napoli shirt to fans, owe them anything. The penalty, even Maradona claimed he rejected an offer by though it was unfair, was paid by Napoli in then Barcelona vice-president Joan Gaspart 2003.” De Laurentiis says once the dispute is to double his salary to remain with the settled, the 56-year-old Maradona, in Catalan giants. Napoli to help celebrate the 30th anniver- “This shirt allowed me to dream,” added sary of their maiden Serie A title, could be Maradona. “When I signed for Napoli, handed an official role at the club. Gaspart wanted me to stay, he offered to “For me, Maradona is a legend... as soon double my salary. as he resolves his issues over outstanding “I told him no, that I wanted to follow taxes, he will become our global ambassa- my heart. Napoli is beautiful and unique, dor,” said De Laurentiis, a film producer, on but they need to win another two league Monday evening. titles to become an even bigger club. “We Despite the controversy that has fol- have faith in president De Laurentiis.” lowed Maradona on and off the pitch Napoli sit third in Serie A at four points throughout his career, the player who behind leaders and champions Juventus became notorious for his ‘Hand of God’ and one point behind Roma. —AFP OYEM: Congo’s Lomalisa Mutambala, right, vies with Morocco’s Faycal Fajr, left, during their African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match Zidane leans on squad to between Congo and Morocco at the Stade de Oyem in Oyem, Gabon, Monday. —AP bounce back from defeat Ivory Coast stumbles, MADRID: Real Madrid boss Zinedine Barcelona aren’t in action until Thursday Zidane insists he has no reason to panic when they travel to Real Sociedad hoping and will once again use the depths of his to end an eight-game winless run in San squad against Celta Vigo in the Copa del Sebastian, stretching back to 2007. Congo beat Morocco Rey today looking to bounce back from a The Catalans were so outplayed on their first defeat in 40 games. most recent visit to Anoeta in November Madrid conceded twice in the final five that coach Luis Enrique described their 1-1 OYEM: Ivory Coast’s Europe-based stars stum- d’Oyem held up despite a desperate race to be do anything about the heat during the opening minutes in losing 2-1 to Sevilla on Sunday draw as “almost a miracle”. bled in the heat of northern Gabon in their ready in time, which saw workers scrambling match, though, with Togo coach Claude le Roy’s to see their lead at the top of La Liga over However, after a difficult start to the African Cup of Nations opener, with the defend- around the venue finishing all sorts of jobs on shirt covered in dark sweat patches after urging the Europa League holders cut to one year, Barca have begun to find their form in ing champion held by Togo to 0-0 on Monday in the day of the game. Television viewers won’t his team on to a promising draw against the point. Real did get the better of Sevilla in the past week in defeating Athletic Bilbao another twist to start the tournament. have seen the construction debris that sur- defending champion Ivorians. the Cup last 16 despite Zidane heavily to reach the last eight before hammering Ivory Coast’s title-winning coach fared worse rounds the outside of the stadium, which juts “It was very hot. We were sweating so much,” rotating his side with Cristiano Ronaldo not Las Palmas 5-0 on Saturday. as Congo beat Herve Renard’s Morocco 1-0 in out of dense jungle canopy around 15 kilome- Le Roy said. “We did what it takes. We are satis- even making the squad for both legs of a 6- Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta and the day’s second game. ters outside of Oyem. Even organizers couldn’t fied with the draw.” — AP 3 aggregate win. Neymar are set to return after being rested Congo, a team that was on strike and refusing And, whilst Zidane refused to confirm at the weekend, but Brazilian international to train two days ago, finished with 10 men on whether the four-time World Player of the midfielder Rafinha was ruled out on the field and on top of Group D. Year will make his first appearance in this Tuesday with a hamstring injury. Ivory Coast created few clear chances against Aubameyang promises year’s competition in the first leg of their Eibar have reached the quarter-finals for Togo, with Wilfried Zaha’s blocked shot in the quarter-final at the Santiago Bernabeu the first time in their history, but face a second half after a clever run probably its best. against Celta, the Frenchman insisted a first daunting task to reach the last four as they Zaha was substituted two minutes later and, better by hosts Gabon defeat since April last year won’t discour- travel to Atletico Madrid for the first leg of although Ivory Coast pressed hard in stages, it LIBREVILLE: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and made against Guinea-Bissau, like conceding a age him from rotating once more.