SPORTS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2014

Mulgrew not concerned about Celtic record run GLASGOW: Charlie Mulgrew claims the Celtic tics aren’t being discussed in the Celtic changing time as Celtic scored their 15th goal in four players aren’t concerned by setting records room. “We are trying not to think too much games without reply. It came on the back of a 4-0 despite the Scottish champions extending their about records,” the Scotland international said. defeat of Hibernian but Mulgrew revealed the unbeaten run to 23 games. “We don’t speak too much about it to be hon- Celtic players hadn’t been satisfied with their The Hoops moved 18 points clear of est. I know it is there in the background and performance in Edinburgh. Aberdeen at the top of the Scottish Premiership sometimes it is hard to ignore but-and I know it “We weren’t happy with a couple of things at after their 4-0 thrashing of Kilmarnock on is a cliche-we are trying to take one game at a Easter Road on Sunday and we wanted to put Wednesday. It was Celtic’s 12th victory in a row time and do the best we can. We just try to that right,” the Celtic player said. “We were a bit in a season where they have only dropped six ignore it. more lively and energetic. I know we got four points. “The manager is on our case all the time every goals at Easter Road but we didn’t play well and Another clean sheet means means English day in training. He is keeping on top of us and there were things we could have done better. goalkeeper Fraser Forster equalled Charlie making sure we are always on our toes and not “The performances were great before that Shaw’s record of 10 league games without con- letting us slack off.” On Wednesday, Mulgrew’s and we continued that against Kilmarnock.” Next ceding a goal-a record first set 100 years ago second half strike made it 3-0 to Celtic after Joe to try and derail Celtic are St Mirren, who could before being equalled in 1921/22. Ledley had fired the Hoops into an early lead and include Josh Magennis in their squad after the However, Mulgrew, whose side take on St Lee Ashcroft added an own goal. Aberdeen forward agreed to join the Buddies on Mirren at Parkhead on Sunday, says such statis- Amido Balde grabbed a fourth in stoppage loan until the end of the season. —AFP Young delights in Mata’s Man United impact

MANCHESTER: Ashley Young he has done that again. “There will things, we believe we can progress believes Juan Mata’s arrival has taken be a lot of talk about Juan’s arrival up the table. competition for places to another and the fact that we have broken the “We’re definitely not panicking, level at Manchester United as the transfer record for him, but he looks we’re just going to try and keep per- English champions prepare to visit like he has been here for years. forming.” Stoke midfielder Steven Stoke. “It was his first game but he has Nzonzi is suspended after his red Mata, who joined from Premier gelled straight away with the way we card in the defeat at the Stadium of League rivals Chelsea for £37.1 mil- play. He is going to add something Light but German defender Robert PRISTINA: A street vendor shows a Manchester lion ($61.2 million, 44.8 million euros) special to the squad.” But today’s Huth could return following a knee United jersey bearing the number of forward Adnan earlier this month, made his debut game is likely to come too soon for injury. —AFP Januzaj in Pristina yesterday. Manchester United for United in the 2-0 win over Cardiff Marouane Fellaini, who has been teenage starlet Januzaj has decided to play interna- tional football for England, according to British on Tuesday. absent since December with a wrist media reports. Januzaj is also eligible to play for That match saw Robin van Persie injury, while fellow United midfielder Matches on TV Belgium, Albania,Turkey, Serbia or Kosovo - if they and Wayne Rooney return from injury Michael Carrick is also set to miss out (Local Timings) are granted recognition by FIFA. —AFP lay-offs, and both will be in con- with an ankle problem. tention for a place at the Britannia Winger Nani has been sidelined ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Mourinho says Chelsea Stadium today. It would mean with a hamstring injury since United’s star strikers starting together December 7 and is unlikely to return Newcastle v Sunderland 15:45 ‘not title candidates’ for just the eighth time in 24 Premier against former United striker Mark beIN SPORTS 1 beIN SPORTS 1 HD LONDON: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has dismissed his League matches this season. The Hughes’s Stoke side. Despite beating side’s chances of winning the Premier League this season no mat- availability of the three players means Cardiff, United are still 13 points ter what the outcome of their trip to leaders Manchester City on other places in the front four are sure behind leaders and local rivals West Ham v Swansea City 15:45 Monday. to be squeezed. Manchester City and six adrift of the beIN SPORTS 3 Chelsea will head to the Etihad Stadium three points adrift of England winger Young, who will fourth Champions League spot cur- beIN SPORTS 3 HD City, who replaced Arsenal at the summit after crushing Stoke v Manchester United 18:00 Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at White Hart Lane on Wednesday. A victo- be battling with Adnan Januzaj, rently occupied by bitter foes ry against Manuel Pellegrini’s side will see Chelsea draw level on Antonio Valencia and Danny Liverpool. United’s latest trip to the beIN SPORTS 1 points with them, but Mourinho believes his team are not yet Welbeck for the last spot in manager Britannia Stadium, where they have beIN SPORTS 1 HD ready to be installed as genuine title contenders. David Moyes’s strongest side, said: won five and drawn one of their six “We are not favourites to win any competition,” he said, before “You have to be on the ball. You have previous visits, comes with Stoke just ITALIAN CALCIO LEAGUE vowing that Chelsea will pose a greater threat next term. “The Cagliari Calcio v Fiorentina 20:00 speech will change completely next pre-season, and not just the to put in big performances every three points above the relegation speech. Normally the speech is adapted to the feelings, knowledge week. We have a big squad and we zone after a midweek 1-0 loss to beIN SPORTS 6 and experience. can rotate the team. Sunderland. beIN SPORTS 6 HD “Next pre-season, day one, I will say we are candidates to win “When you are playing well, get- The Potters have lost their last Bologna v Udinese Calcio 20:00 the Premier League. This season, I won’t say that. It’s not what we ting goals and assists, you are there three matches, all by a 1-0 scoreline, beIN SPORTS 3 feel or what we’re working for. “If we win or if we lose (at City), I beIN SPORTS 3 HD don’t think we’re candidates. If we win, obviously, we’re the same in the manager’s thoughts,” added and face a difficult schedule with points as City. If we lose, the distance is six. the 28-year-old, who scored United’s games against United and AC Milan v Torino FC 22:45 “It doesn’t matter. It is not what concerns me. What concerns second goal against Cardiff following Manchester City in the weeks ahead. beIN SPORTS 3 me is my team playing well and trying to get the best possible Dutch striker van Persie’s sixth- But Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic beIN SPORTS 3 HD results, feel the improvements. “And next pre-season, you will hear minute opener at Old Trafford on said: “It’s so tight but there’s no pan- me say something completely different. I don’t give up. I’ll try to SPANISH LEAGUE win the next match, against whoever. We will try to win.” Tuesday. icking around the club. Mourinho’s efforts to build for the future have been strength- “We have competition for places “The manager (Hughes) is dealing Barcelona v Valencia 18:00 ened by the signing of Kurt Zouma, the France Under-21 defender, and that keeps you on your toes. You really well with it. He’s praised every- beIN SPORTS 2 from Saint-Etienne for a reported fee of around £12 million ($19.8 want to keep playing well and train- one and just wants us to keep our beIN SPORTS 2 HD million, 14.6 million euros). ing well, because that is the only way heads up.” Bosnia international Levante v Rayo Vallecano 20:00 The 19-year-old centre-back has signed a five-and-a-half-year beIN SPORTS 9 HD contract, but will remain on loan at his current club for the remain- to keep yourself in the team,” Young Begovic added: “We’re not getting der of this season. “He’s another young player in the profile of explained. the luck that we deserve at the Getafe v Real Valladolid 22:00 some Chelsea signings in the last few years. We like the profile. We “Robin is a goalscorer. You put moment. As long as we stick togeth- beIN SPORTS 2 think he’s very much adapted to the Premier League,” Mourinho him in the box and he will score, and er, though, and keep doing the right beIN SPORTS 2 HD said. —AFP