SUNDAY, MAY 28, 2017 SPORTS

Attack sparks robust security for FA Cup and other sporting events

LONDON: Armed police looked on as thousands al between England and South Africa in beyond the final whistle and away from specific sta- allowed to enter their stadium. watched the Great CityGames in the centre of Southampton all on Saturday will see a significantly dia. “This will also apply right throughout the trans- Events further down the track will also see extra Manchester just days after a suicide bomb at a pop increased armed police presence on the periphery port network. “I would ask people to be our eyes armed police deployed including two major horse concert claimed 22 lives and wounded dozens. of the stadia. and ears-if you see something suspicious tell a racing events, Saturday week’s Epsom Derby and Similar robust security measures will be a fea- They have also been asked to turn up earlier police officer or member of security staff.” Royal Ascot later in June-both of which are regular- ture of English football’s showpiece event the FA than usual for security checks and to act as eyes ly attended by Queen Elizabeth II and other mem- Cup final at Wembley and several other high profile and ears for the security services. ‘REASSURE, HELP AND KEEP YOU SAFE’ bers of the royal family. sporting events in the weeks to come. “We are working closely with both the Football There will also be an armed police presence at Fans going to Cardiff for European football’s pre- The reinforced measures have been put in place Association (FA) and Wembley to ensure this week- Monday’s one-day international between England mier club competition the Champions League final with the terror alert raised to its highest level of end’s iconic football matches pass off without inci- and South Africa at Lord’s in north west London. on Saturday week have also been assured by UEFA ‘critical’ meaning another attack is believed to be dent,” said Britain’s top counter terrorism police offi- “Advice has been sought from the Metropolitan on Friday that the fan zones will be open. imminent. With the heightened security threat, cer Mark Rowley. “Together we have a long history Police and, in line with other major sporting and “Contrary to what has been said in some media Chelsea have cancelled Sunday’s parade in London of delivering safe and secure major sporting events. public events being held this week, there will be an outlets, the “fan zones” and festival will take place to celebrate their title, saying they “This will include extra armed officers on foot patrol armed police presence outside Lord’s on Monday,” as planned under strict security measures, meas- thought it was “inappropriate to go ahead” follow- around the environs of the Stadium, and the said Derek Brewer, Secretary of the Marylebone ures which have been developed over months in ing the bombing. Arsenal, who face Chelsea in the deployment of police armoured vehicles to support Cricket Club the owners of Lord’s. cooperation with the Football Association of Wales FA Cup final, have also said they will not hold a vic- road closures. English rugby club Northampton, who are host- and the local authorities.” tory parade if they win at Wembley. “At Twickenham rugby fans will see more armed ing French side Stade Francais in a European Rugby Rowley also wished to strike a reassuring note. Spectators attending the Scottish Cup final in officers on foot around the stadium. “Our opera- Championship play-off match on Friday, imple- “If you are out in London this weekend or at an Glasgow, the English Premiership rugby union final tions will include a range of highly visible but also mented an ‘Open Jacket Policy’ demanding sup- event talk to our officers, they are there to reassure, at Twickenham and the cricket one-day internation- covert and discreet tactics and this will run far porters wearing jackets to unzip them before being help and keep you safe.” — AFP

Barca seek winning SOCCER end to coach Luis Wenger invokes spirit of Enrique’s reign 2005 in FA Cup history bid MADRID: Gerard Pique wants Barcelona top flight after a decade in the lower LONDON: History-chasing Arsenal manager to reward outgoing coach leagues. Arsene Wenger believes his team will upset the with a ninth trophy of his three-year spell “I am very thankful to these boys for the form book and overcome their defensive injury in charge in Copa del Rey final against work they have put in,” said Pellegrino. crisis by beating Double hopefuls Chelsea in FA Alaves. Victory would see Barca lift the “There is not one of our players that Cup final. Despite Antonio Conte’s claims to the Cup for the third straight season under doesn’t deserve to play the final.” contrary, Chelsea are the favourites, having Enrique, but unlike in the past two years it already swept to glory in the Premier League and would be Barca’s only major silverware of ‘HISTORIC EVENT’ with a fully fit squad at their manager’s disposal. the campaign. Whilst Alaves have never reached But Wenger says the example of the 2005 FA The Catalans missed out on La Liga to Spanish football’s showpiece occasion Cup final, when Arsenal weathered a battering by Real Madrid last weekend and were before, they did reach the UEFA Cup final Manchester United to prevail on penalties in dumped out of the Champions League at back in 2001. Liverpool edged a thrilling Cardiff, shows his team could upset the odds the quarter-final stage by Juventus. And final 5-4 back then and Alaves captain again. “Of course I expect us to win,” said Wenger, Pique wants his boss to go out as a winner Manu Garcia urged the club’s fans to revel who is still to commit himself to Arsenal beyond in the last ever competitive game at in the atmosphere as they did 16 years ago Saturday’s match. Atletico Madrid’s Vicente Calderon stadi- in Dortmund. “It’s true that in neutral opinions, Chelsea will um. “He is one of the best coaches in the “This is a historic event,” he said. “It is a be favourites. But we have gone into finals like history of the club,” said the defender. final and we only want to be champions. that as well. “I remember in 2005 we had no play- “He deserves a great final. The best way “I want to tell the fans to enjoy the day ers available any more. I played with Dennis to leave would be on a high with a trophy as much as possible. “As a youngster I Bergkamp up front against Manchester United, and tomorrow is a good opportunity. experienced Dortmund, I have a lot of who had (Cristiano) Ronaldo, (Wayne) Rooney, “I want him to leave as a winner.” memories of that day and I want the fans (Ryan) Giggs, (Paul) Scholes. However, Enrique himself warned to go there with their shirts, flags and “We won, maybe without deserving it, but we against the threat posed by Alaves as the scarves and be proud of Alaves.” won it.” Wenger failed to secure Champions Basques played a huge role in costing Alaves’ quest to make history will be League qualification with Arsenal for the first Barca the league with a shock 2-1 win at helped by the absence of the suspended time in 20 years, but he can still make history by the Camp Nou back in September. Luis Suarez. becoming the first manager to win seven FA “I have the chance to end my cycle with Barca also have no natural right-back Cups. Arsenal are also hoping to steal a march on LONDON: Arsenal’s Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech warms up ahead the English FA Cup final Barca with another title, but we are facing available with Sergi Roberto also suspend- United by winning a 13th FA Cup, which would football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at in London yesterday. without doubt the revelation of La Liga ed after both players were sent-off in the make them the outright most successful team in Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger restored cup goalkeeper David Ospina in place of Petr this season.” Indeed, on a night of good- second leg of a tempestuous semi-final the tournament’s 146-year history. Cech, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made his return from a hamstring injury as an auxil- byes at the Calderon, Mauricio Pellegrino against Atletico Madrid. It is not the first time Wenger finds himself iary left-sided wing-back. — AFP could also be taking charge of Alaves for However, Pique expects Barca to have looking to the world’s oldest cup competition for the final time with plenty of clubs eyeing the resources to cope. “We have to face up solace, with the FA Cup having enabled him to the semi-finals courtesy of an extra-time winner the league,” said the Italian, whose side overcame the Argentine’s services. to that problem. There are players here apply silver finishes to the season in both 2014 by Alexis Sanchez. Wenger’s switch to a back Tottenham 4-2 in the last four. “We won the As well as taking Alaves to their first with the ability to replace them,” he added. and 2015. three-mirroring Chelsea-has helped Arsenal find league and we celebrated the league. It was right Copa del Rey final, Pellegrino’s men fin- “We are Barca. Whoever plays has to But he has never before gone into a final a second wind, but the defence he aligns to enjoy the moment, to celebrate the league. ished ninth on their return to the Spanish perform.” — AFP knowing it is his last hope of salvaging anything beneath the Wembley arch will be far from a first- “Instead, on the other side, we face a team from the season, after Arsenal missed out on the choice triumvirate. who lost out on the possibility to play in the top four and fell by the wayside in the League With Laurent Koscielny banned, Gabriel Champions League next season and they have Cup and Champions League. While the injured and Shkodran Mustafi a doubt due to only this possibility to save their season. We must Eastern’s trailblazing Frenchman continues to be targeted by the concussion, club captain is set to pay great attention and focus.” The game will be vociferous ‘Wenger Out’ brigade, Arsenal’s sea- make his first start of the entire season. ’s last in Chelsea’s colours and son-ending run of seven wins in eight games Chelsea manager Conte hopes to emulate his although he is not expected to start, he could female coach resigns means they approach the game with something Italian compatriot ’s feat from the bow out by lifting his 17th trophy as captain and of a spring in their step. 2009-10 campaign by steering Chelsea to a 18th in total. league and FA Cup Double in his first season at Monday’s terror attack in Manchester, which HONG KONG: Chan Yuen-ting, the first Asian Football Confederation and will Stamford Bridge. But he believes Arsenal’s disap- left 22 people dead, means there will be a heavy female coach to lead a men’s profes- have to be out of Hong Kong a lot MANCHESTER TRIBUTES pointment over their failure to secure a top-four police presence around Wembley. The players sional soccer club to a top-flight title, between June and December, so she Their most recent Wembley outing will also finish makes them doubly dangerous opponents. will wear black armbands and there will be a has resigned from her position as head decided she could not continue as stand them in good stead, with Arsenal having “We could start as underdogs because we won period of silence before kick-off. — AFP coach of Hong Kong’s Eastern Sports head coach.” seen off ’s Manchester City 2-1 in Club. Chan won the league title with Chan made headlines international- Eastern last season before taking the ly after guiding the club to the Hong club into the Asian Champions League Kong Premier League title last season, for the first time. but decided to stand down at the end Eastern, however, struggled in the of the just-completed campaign after continental competition, picking up Eastern relinquished their title to rivals just one point in the group stages and Kitchee. “Chan Yuen-ting has resigned suffering two heavy defeats at the as head coach, but will remain on the hands of Chinese Super League cham- club’s coaching staff,” a club spokesman pions Guangzhou Evergrande. Szeto told Reuters. Man-chung, who previously worked as “She will be studying for the next team manager, will replace Chan as level of coaching badges with the head coach. — Reuters

LONDON: Chelsea’s Italian head coach Antonio Conte gestures from the touchline during the English Premier League football match. — AFP Clean-living Conte keen for Wembley cigar

LONDON: Health-conscious Chelsea manager Arsenal-an outcome Conte admits was practi- subsequently spending three days at the club’s Antonio Conte plans to indulge himself with cally unthinkable at the time. training ground, Conte says he never felt under some champagne and a cigar if his side succeed “It was very difficult to think about celebrating threat. “He came for three days to watch our in overcoming Arsenal in FA Cup final. Conte, 47, winning the league after the Arsenal defeat, to training sessions, to watch the video analysis, to does not smoke, generally steers clear of cham- think we’d arrive at the end of the season and be stay with us. He supported me,” said the Italian. pagne and even eschews carbohydrates, but he celebrating winning the league,” he said. “He never showed me he was angry. I think the will make exceptions if his team manage to com- “Honestly, that felt very difficult. Not impossi- club always saw my job, during pre-season and in plete a Premier League and FA Cup Double. ble, but in that period we had a lot of big prob- that period, and trusted in my job. I never “We have to finish this great season and make lems to solve. To find the right solution quickly is thought the club was thinking about sacking me.” it a fantastic season. There’s only one way to do not easy. “You must be very good, very prepared, The showpiece showdown with Arsenal could that,” he told reporters at Stamford Bridge on but also lucky in these circumstances. prove to be ’s last game with Chelsea, Friday. “To try to win tomorrow and to celebrate. “For that reason, I was lucky to have a group of amid reports he is seeking a move away from To drink a bit of champagne. I don’t smoke, but players who put themselves in Chelsea and my Stamford Bridge. The Brazil-born Spain striker has tomorrow I’m hoping to smoke a cigar if we win. ideas of football and we put ourselves in a posi- admitted he has struggled to adapt to the British I’m ready to do this!” tion where we could secure a fantastic title and climate, but Conte hopes forecasts of scorching The Wembley encounter is a repeat of the celebrate. “At the start of the season, if you’d said temperatures at Wembley will help inspire both late-September fixture that proved to be the we could qualify for the Champions League, I’d Costa and his team-mates to great things. turning point in Chelsea’s season, with Conte have signed for that. Then I found great players “Tomorrow we will have fantastic sun. For this rea- switching to a back three after his side crashed and we were able to change our season.” son, I hope to see a great game and all my players LONDON: Two Chelsea supporters wave a flag as they arrive at Wembley Stadium in to a 3-0 defeat at the . Chelsea trying to win for us,” Conte said. “When we finish London yesterday ahead of the English FA Cup final football match between Arsenal finished the league season seven points clear of COSTA DEL SOL the season, then it’ll be the right moment to and Chelsea. — AFP Tottenham Hotspur and 18 points above Despite Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich speak about the future of my players.” — AFP