14 Established 1961 Sports Tuesday, May 25, 2021 Who will challenge for Man City’s Premier League crown next season?

LONDON: Manchester City cruised to their chance to win the first trophy of his reign in the third Premier League title in four seasons, but Europa League final against Villarreal on Pep Guardiola’s side are likely to face a tough Wednesday. defense of the crown next season. Liverpool Portugal star Bruno Fernandes has been the and Manchester United look capable of push- catalyst, providing on-field inspiration and ing the champions, while Chelsea should be in dressing room leadership in equal measure, a the mix after Thomas Tuchel’s impressive stark contrast to the gifted but temperamental impact on the Champions League finalists. AFP . Marcus Rashford and Mason Sport looks at how the four leading title con- Greenwood were potent in patches and keeping tenders will shape up: was a wise move, but Kane has also been linked with a move to Old Trafford with Manchester City Solskjaer needing a world-class striker in his After the midway point of the season, City prime to really worry City. were virtually untouchable as they surged clear Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish are also with a record 21-game winning streak in all com- reportedly targets to add extra creativity and petitions by an English top-flight side. goals from the wide areas. But bigger questions Revitalised by the addition of Portugese interna- remain in defence with Harry Maguire and Victor tional center-back Ruben Dias and the emer- Lindelof not always convincing at centre-back, gence of England playmaker Phil Foden, City while Dean Henderson and David De Gea battle to silenced the critics who questioned Pep be number one goalkeeper. Guardiola after the Spaniard suffered the worst start to a season in his managerial career. Liverpool Regaining the title from Liverpool, while also Hamstrung by a seemingly endless injury list winning the League Cup and reaching their first that deprived them of key leaders Virgil van Dijk Champions League final, suggests City are in posi- and Jordan Henderson for most of the season, tion for a period of sustained dominance. They Liverpool finished outside the top two for the first MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s Brazilian Fernandinho (center) lifts the Premier League trophy have few weaknesses but the close-season depar- time in three years. Jurgen Klopp’s often tetchy during the award ceremony after the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and ture of Sergio Aguero, the club’s record goalscor- demeanour reflected the stress of an arduous cam- Everton at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on Sunday. —AFP er, leaves a void that needs filling. paign as Liverpool failed to build on last season’s England striker Harry Kane could be top of first English title in 30 years. Guardiola’s shopping list after confirming he wants But a strong run of eight wins in their last 10 Chelsea Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid unable to to leave Tottenham, but his mooted £150 million league games earned a third-place finish, provid- When Frank Lampard was sacked in solve the tactical tweaks that made the Blues ($213 million) price tag may convince him to look ing optimism for next term. Sadio Mane, Roberto January, Chelsea were languishing in ninth solid in defense and deadly on the counter- at the younger and cheaper Borussia Dortmund Firmino and Trent Alexander-Arnold must improve place as a troubled season threatened to spi- attack. goal machine . on patchy individual campaigns, with Mohamed ral out of control. However, the decision to Having healed the fractures in a squad divid- Salah’s future also up for debate after his flirtation hire Thomas Tuchel as Lampard’s replacement ed by Lampard’s methods, Tuchel has already Manchester United with Real Madrid. proved inspired and the German has fourth- masterminded two victories over City and one United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer survived While Liverpool have work to do if they are to placed Chelsea nicely positioned to push on against Liverpool. To truly turn Chelsea into a some rocky spells to establish his side as genuine regain their position as the Premier League’s pre- next season. force, the former Paris Saint Germain boss must title contenders heading into next season. eminent force, the return of Van Dijk, Henderson Aided by Mason Mount’s superb form, solve the problems posed by the erratic form of Solskjaer led United to a second place finish — 12 and Joe Gomez next season will be a significant Tuchel has taken Chelsea to the Champions expensive signings Timo Werner, Kai Havertz points behind City — and the Norwegian has a boost to their title hopes. League final for the first time since 2012, with and Hakim Ziyech. —AFP

News in brief second-place finish days after Juventus, Milan losing out in the Coppa Italia final to Juventus. Cristiano Ronaldo was left on Aguero close to Barca the bench by Juventus coach Andrea qualify for CL, Pirlo who opted for an attacking line-up LONDON: Sergio Aguero is close to agreeing a move to of Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata Barcelona that would unite him with fellow Argentine super- Napoli miss out flanked by and Dejan star , according to Manchester City manager Kulusevski. Pep Guardiola. City’s record goalscorer, who has spent a MILAN: Juventus qualified for the “It was a shared choice, Ronaldo was decade at the Etihad, scored a quickfire double in the cham- Champions League on the final day of tired after the fatigue on Wednesday,” pions’ 5-0 win over Everton in his final Premier League the season on Sunday with a 4-1 win at said Pirlo. “He made himself available to appearance for the club on Sunday. The goals took his Bologna and were joined by AC Milan the team but I chose to have another Premier League tally to 184 — the most by any player for a who beat Atalanta 2-0. Napoli had to player named Morata play, who is not the single club. If the move goes ahead it would be Aguero’s settle for a Europa League spot, finishing latest arrival. I have a quality team, with second spell in Spain — he made his name at Atletico fifth, one point behind Juventus, after a 1- many choices available.” A Morata brace Madrid before the move to Manchester in 2011. —AFP 1 draw at home against Hellas Verona. A along with goals from Chiesa and Adrien pair of Franck Kessie penalties at the end Rabiot prevented Juventus missing out of either half ensured AC Milan finished on the elite European competition for the Ronaldo top scorer the season second — 12 points behind first time since 2012. BOLOGNA: (From left) Juventus’ Spanish forward Alvaro Morata, Juventus’ city rivals Inter Milan — and return to In Naples, Amir Rrahmani scored for Argentine forward Paulo Dybala and Juventus’ Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrate after Juventus secured its qualification for the Champions MILAN: Cristiano Ronaldo made more history on Sunday the Champions League for the first time Napoli after an hour against his former becoming the first player to finish the season as top scorer since the 2013-2014 season. League at the end of the Italian Serie A football match Bologna vs Juventus club, which would have been enough to Turin on Sunday at the Renato-Dall’Ara stadium in Bologna. —AFP in three major leagues — England, Spain, and Italy. The 36- “We deserved the Champions League secure a berth at the top table but Davide year-old scored 29 goals this campaign, five more than sec- as well as second place,” said Milan Faraoni pulled one back for the visitors ond-placed Belgian Romelu Lukaku for champions Inter coach Stefano Pioli whose side had nine minutes. Gennaro Gattuso’s side with Roma finishing seventh after coming at the Stadio Dall’Ara. Morata got the Milan. The Portuguese striker was top scorer in England missed the chance to seal their berth last were denied a return to elite European from two goals down to hold Spezia 2-2. second just after the interval latching with Manchester United in 2008, and three times in Spain weekend against Cagliari. “We went action after also missing out last season. In Bologna, Italy forward Chiesa, who onto a ball Juve goalkeeper Wojciech with Real Madird, 2011, 2014 and 2015. But it is the first through the whole championship at the In a tense game in Bergamo, Milan scored the Coppa Italia winner midweek, Szczesny blasted up the pitch. The time in three seasons the former five-time Ballon d’Or win- top, unfortunately we had thrown away held on despite playing without injured finishing off a Kulusevski cross into the Spaniard controlled the ball and raced ner has scored the most goals. There has been speculation the match point last Sunday. I’m really star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Kessie box from close range after six minutes forward to finish off. Riccardo Orsolini about Ronaldo’s future with the club if they failed to reach excited, happy, I have to thank the club proved solid in front of goal taking the for his 15th goal in all competitions this pulled a goal back for Bologna past the Champions League for the first time since 2012, after because they made us work in a spectac- first penalty three minutes before the season. Juve’s third-choice goalkeeper Carlo their nine-year league reign ended this campaign. —AFP ular way.” Atalanta had already ensured a break and the second deep into injury Dybala set up Morata to nod in the Pinsoglio who got his first outing this third consecutive season of Champions time. Lazio join Napoli in the Europa second before the half-hour mark with season coming on for Szczesny for the League football but missed out on a first Gattuso exits Napoli League despite a 2-0 loss at Sassuolo Rabiot adding a third before the break final quarter of an hour. —AFP

MILAN: Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis on Sunday confirmed that coach Gennaro Gattuso will leave songs in the northern city’s central the club after failing to qualify for the Champions League. Lille win French Place Charles de Gaulle in jubilation The southerners finished fifth, one point behind fourth- at a historic triumph against far placed Juventus, after a 1-1 draw at home against Hellas title for wealthier opposition. “This is excep- Verona. A win would have guaranteed a top four finish, but tional. It’s been a long day and a lot of Napoli miss out on a second season of Champions League pressure. To beat Paris Saint-Germain football. “Dear Rino, I am happy to have spent almost two fourth time to the league title is something seasons with you,” De Laurentiis wrote on Twitter. The exceptional,” a jubilant Galtier said to relationship between the pair had been tense with the club PARIS: Lille won the Ligue 1 title on Canal+. “The players were amazing... having imposed a media boycott for months. —AFP Sunday thanks to a 2-1 victory at Angers the credit goes to the players, they which ensured they were crowned are the heroes.” French champions for the first time since The title triumph came after another Super Cup returns to Saudi 2011 on the final day of the season. An away success for Lille, who finish the early Jonathan David strike and Burak season unbeaten on the road since ROME: The Italian Super Cup will return to Saudi Arabia Yilmaz’s penalty in first-half stoppage November, and ends a three-year league next season when champions Inter Milan face cup win- time ensured that ’s winning streak for PSG. It was fitting ners Juventus, the Italian League announced yesterday. Lille finished one point ahead of second- that it was David and Yilmaz who scored “The next Super Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia, with placed Paris Saint-Germain, who won 2- the crucial goals at Angers, as both have fans, as stipulated in our contract,” league president 0 at Brest. been key to an improbable run to the ANGERS: Lille’s French head coach Christophe Galtier (center) celebrates Paolo Dal Pino told Italian radio. The 2017-18 Super Cup pulled one back in title that has also held significant pres- with Lille’s players after winning the French L1 football match between was played in Jeddah in January 2019 and the following added time at the end of the match, but sure from Monaco. Angers SCO and Lille OSC at The Raymond-Kopa Stadium in Angers, north- season was held in Riyadh in December 2019, before the hosts couldn’t stop Lille becoming Canadian young gun David latched western France on Sunday. —AFP being staged in Reggio Emilia this season. No date has champions for the fourth time in their on to a superb Renato Sanches pass to yet been set, but the Super Cup could take place in history. The match was played behind coolly slot home his 13th of the league January 2022, according to Italian media reports. —AFP closed doors due to COVID-19 restric- season with nine minutes on the clock, make sure of the title. Bernardon bringing the 21-year-old tions but fans poured into the streets of immediately calming any nerves after David was the man who won the down and allowing Yilmaz to score his Lille to celebrate at the final whistle. last week’s disappointing draw with penalty that secured the points and the 16th league goal of a remarkable season Sevilla end season on a high Supporters lit flares and chanted Saint-Etienne left them needing a win to championship just before the break, Paul for the veteran Turkey striker. —AFP

MADRID: Sevilla finished with a 1-0 win over Alaves this season and has featured just five times since the Spain but, in this case, the best thing to do is rest, fully on Sunday as Papu Gomez scored a 92nd-minute win- start of the year. “It was a very difficult decision but he recover and come back next year like we’ve always ner in the final match of the La Liga season. Julen Spain leave Ramos has not been able to play this season and has hardly done. It hurts not to represent your country, but I have Lopetegui’s side end the season just two points behind trained since January,” Luis Enrique told the press con- to be honest and sincere,” he wrote on Twitter. “I hope Barcelona in third, after briefly joining the title race a out of youthful ference as he announced a 24-man squad. we have a great Euros. I’ll be another fan cheering on few weeks ago. Champions League qualification had “I called him yesterday (Sunday), it was hard, diffi- from home.” long-been secured, with Real Sociedad 15 points cult. I feel bad, because he is very professional and he Spain have also qualified for the Olympics where behind Sevilla in fifth. Alaves might have snatched a Euro 2020 squad helps the national team a lot. And he can still help it in they are scheduled to kick off the tournament against surprise win at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan had Manu the future. But I have to look for the best for the squad,” Egypt on July 22 in Sapporo their Olympic July 21, ten Garcia’s finish from Luis Rioja’s cross not struck the MADRID: Spain coach Luis Enrique yesterday left vet- the coach said. days after the Euros end. Ramos could be selected as post in the second half. But it has been a good season eran defender Sergio Ramos out of his Euro 2020 squad The absence of Ramos means there is not a single one of three overage players. Luis Enrique refused to for Alaves too after they finished 16th, four points clear of but called up center-back Aymeric Laporte, who Madrid player in the Spain squad. “It pains me not to comment on the possibility because he does not select the bottom three. —AFP recently switched his football nationality. Ramos, the 35- year-old Real Madrid captain has struggled with injury have been able to help my team more and not to play for Olympic squad. —AFP