WEDNESDAY, AUGUST, 3, 2016 SPORTS Schalke sign Chelsea’s Baba on loan

BERLIN: Schalke 04 has signed Ghana coach and he told me that I would prob- games, plus 24 matches in Champions League. “I already know Markus from my time international left-back Abdul Rahman ably not to play very often in his system,” Germany’s second tier. He worked with He was part of the Ghana side that at , we get along really well Baba on loan from Chelsea for the com- explained Baba on the Schalke website. Schalke’s head coach Markus Weinzierl reached the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and he has a lot of confidence in me, ing season, both clubs confirmed yester- “I want to be on the pitch, so I told while at Augsburg. final, when his side lost to Ivory Coast on which is an important thing for any play- day. Last season, Baba made 23 appear- the management in London that I want- “Abdul is a strong attacking left back, penalties. Having already trained with er.” The defender is relishing his return to ances for Chelsea, 19 of them starts, ed to transfer. “I found a very good club one who I have a lot of faith in. his new team-mates, Baba says he has Germany’s top flight when Schalke play including his debut in the Champions in the form of Schalke 04 and I’m sure He will fit in well here, because of his quickly found his feet in Gelsenkirchen. their first game of the season at League, but has been sent on loan by that I have made the right decision.” excellent attitude,” said Weinzierl. Baba “The lads have warmly welcomed me. Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday August new Blues boss Antonio Conte to The 22-year-old spent the 2014/15 signed a five-year contract with Chelsea I have enjoyed my time with the squad 27. “Long balls are used a lot more often Schalke, who finished fifth in Germany’s season with Augsburg, knows his way in 2015 and has made a total of 15 so far. I noticed from the very first train- in the Premier League,” said Baba. “A lot top flight last season. around German football after a stint Premier League appearances for the ing session that Schalke have a strong more value is placed on the technical “I spoke with the new Chelsea head with Greuther Fuerth and has played 51 Blues, featuring four times in the team with a lot of quality,” said Baba. aspects of the game in Germany.” — AFP Bayern open door to Schweinsteiger return

BERLIN: Bastian Schweinsteiger has years left on his United contract. been told there could be a place for him “No respect!” tweeted his brother back at Bayern Munich in the wake of his Tobias Schweinsteiger, a former second fall from grace at Manchester United. division player and youth team coach at Schweinsteiger turned 32 on Monday, Bayern. His reported annual wage bill of the same day his locker in United’s first- £7.5 million ($9.9m, 8.8m euros) might team dressing room was cleared out and put off any potential employer. he was ordered to train with the reserves The defensive midfielder has been by new United boss Jose Mourinho. linked to AC Milan and Inter Milan, as He is one of nine players told they are well as Paris Saint-Germain, while any free to go on loan by Mourinho and are Major League Soccer club would be not in the United boss’ plans. delighted by the profile boost his arrival Schweinsteiger announced his interna- in the USA would bring. tional retirement last week after 12 years, And Schweinsteiger is too young to 24 goals and 120 appearances in the retire, according to his ex-Germany and famous white shirt. Bayern team-mate Oliver Kahn. “I’m sure At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, he that with all his experience, Basti can still enhanced his reputation as his battling be the leader of a top team. He is defi- display in Germany’s midfield helped nitely too young and too strong to retire,” beat Argentina in the final. Kahn wrote on his Facebook page. After winning eight Bundesliga titles Schweinsteiger, who married tennis with Bayern, as well as the German Cup player Ana Ivanovic last month, is weigh- seven times and the 2013 Champions ing up his options. Rummenigge says he League, he moved to Old Trafford in does not expect Schweinsteiger to strug- 2015. But his star has fallen after an gle to find a new employer and it seems injury-ravaged season in Manchester he has a future with Bayern when he which yielded only 31 appearances, and hangs up his boots for good. Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz “It’s important to bind players who Rummenigge says the door is open for deserve it to the club,” Bayern captain WEST BANK: Players of Hebron’s Ahly al-Khalil football club celebrate with the trophy after beating Gaza’s Khan Yunis during the second leg of him to return. “Should he speak at some Philipp Lahm told magazine Sport Bild. their Palestinian Cup final yesterday in the West Bank city of Hebron. The winner of the match between teams from the Gaza Strip and the West point about a desire to return, then we “Basti knows everyone and everything Bank, will be qualified for next season’s AFC Cup, Asia’s premier club football tournament. The match ended 1-1 and al-Ahli qualified for the will discuss it with him,” Rummenigge here, he would be predestined to work in Asian Cup. — AFP told magazine Sport Bild. the team.” The imminent return of France’s Paul Bayern have a history of finding jobs Pogba to Old Trafford, and his own for their chosen sons and Rummenigge demotion, means Schweinsteiger’s days has already said they will “discuss the Brazil hoping to end in Manchester look numbered with two matter in due course”. — AFP

Coach Bauza plans to woo US women’s gold rush RIO DE JANEIRO: A dominant United States away from Rio in the Amazonian jungle. Cristiane. Brazil face a tough start at Rio’s Messi back for Argentina team face stiff competition from hosts Brazil for Co-captain Becky Sauerbrunn admitted pre- Olympic stadium on Wednesday against China, a fifth Olympic gold medal in six games when vious success makes the Americans heavy who qualified at the expense of 2012 silver the women’s football tournament kicks off Rio favourites to claim gold once more in the final at medallists Japan and reached the World Cup BUENOS AIRES: Argentina’s new coach in the first week of September. “There 2016 today. Rio’s iconic Maracana stadium on August 19. quarter-finals in Canada last year. Edgardo Bauza has set his mind to woo- isn’t much time. My first squad won’t The States’ quest for a fourth consecutive “We always look for that next challenge Eccentric French coach Bruno Bini has aided ing Lionel Messi back from international have many changes but I want to talk gold begins against New Zealand in Belo because we constantly want to achieve that next the continued rise of women’s football in China retirement as he ponders his squad for with five or six of the leading players,” Horizonte with both men’s and women’s tourna- level of greatness,” she told US Soccer’s website. and caused a stir on the eve of the tournament next month’s South American 2018 Bauza said, no doubt referring to the ments spread across six cities which hosted the “People expect us to win, we know what it actu- by claiming that “Chinese women work harder World Cup qualifiers. Bauza was named likes of Javier Mascherano, Angel Di 2014 World Cup. ally takes to win and that comes with a different and they complain much less,” than the French on Monday to replace Gerardo Martino, Maria and Gonzalo Higuain. The world champions are without all-time level of accountability and sacrifice.” side he led to the 2011 World Cup semi-finals. who resigned a month ago after steering He also opened the door for Carlos leading international goalscorer Abby Wambach Brazil have never won a football gold medal Chinese hopes will depend much on star Messi’s side to two successive Copa Tevez, overlooked by Martino since a at a major tournament for the first time in over a at the Olympics and although the women’s side striker Wang Shanshan and she backed Bini’s America finals which ended in penalty World Cup qualifier against Paraguay in decade after she retired following the World Cup won’t have the same pressure and expectation unconventional methods. “Each day, he tells us shootout defeats to Chile. Asuncion last October where he won his last year. as their male counterparts, there is belief they something new. He usually encourages us with a The more recent of those results in the 76th cap. “I’m thinking of Tevez as I am However, unlike the men’s Olympic tourna- can go one better than extra-time defeats to the motto, a poem,” Wang told FIFA.com. Copa America Centenario in the United about other players ... Tevez is a player ment, there are no age restrictions on the play- USA in the finals at the 2004 and 2008 games. “With his guidance the team unity is getting States in June led to Messi deciding to good enough for the national team,” ers that can be selected so the USA’s English Five-time World Player of the Year Marta better and the spirit is going up.” All 12 teams are coach Jill Ellis can call upon World Player of the spearheads a Brazilian side that also contains in action yesterday as World Cup quarter-finalists quit the team. It was his fourth defeat in Bauza said. Year Carli Lloyd, as well as the experienced veteran defender Formiga, who will compete in Canada and Australia face off in Sao Paulo. a major final with Argentina. Bauza, a former central defender, Megan Rapinoe and star striker Alex Morgan. her sixth Olympics. “Although people say we Two-time world champions Germany take on “I’m optimistic about Messi,” Bauza rejected a tag as a defensive coach, say- The USA are in need of a fast start as they face don’t have to go and win the gold, for me, as Zimbabwe in the other game in Group F. The top said. “I hope the chat with him will help ing: “I’m one of those who think that all a huge clash with France on August 6 and end someone who has played at other Olympics, two sides and two best third-placed teams from for him to carry on in the national team. (the team) have to defend. Football the opening stage of their campaign against won two silvers and come close to the gold, I the three groups will progress to the quarter- “I want to explain to Messi what my today is like that. Colombia in Manaus, nearly 3,000 kilometres think we are obliged to win it,” said striker finals. —AFP (tactical) idea is. The least of my worries “You can defend in your opponents’ is his position on the pitch,” Bauza was half if the pressure is high (up the field) quoted as saying in the Argentine daily but it’s easier when you have players of La Nacion on Tuesday. “There’s no need the quality of the Argentina team. The to convince Messi of anything, the plan is options they offer you are many.” City confirm signing of to talk about football,” said Bauza, speak- Argentina are third in the 10-nation ing in Brazil where he has coached Sao South American World Cup qualifying Paulo for eight months. group with 11 points from six matches, Bauza, who quit his job with Sao Paulo two points behind leading pair Uruguay Leroy Sane from Schalke to accept the Argentina vacancy and will and Ecuador. The top four teams after sign his contract in Buenos Aires on 18 matches go through to the Russia LONDON: Germany winger Leroy Sane has 2016 semi-finals. Guardiola is confident his new hard for the team and scores goals, too. He also Friday, has only a couple of weeks to finals while the fifth-placed team goes signed a five-year deal for Manchester City, both recruit, who scored eight goals in 33 Bundesliga has a very positive attitude and will fit in well decide on his squad for qualifiers at into an intercontinental playoff for one the Premier League side and his now former games last season, is tailor-made for the unique with our squad. “At 20, he is still developing as a home to Uruguay and away to Venezuela more berth. —Reuters Bundesliga club Schalke 04 confirmed yesterday. demands of the Premier League. player but he is already a member of the City tweeted a picture of Sane signing a con- “He is a special talent, and an exciting player German national side and I think he will be a fan- tract, which is reportedly worth £37m (43m that I think our supporters will enjoy watching,” tastic asset to our club.” Sane’s arrival in euros), plus add-ons, after he completed the Guardiola said. “He has great technical ability, is Manchester continues former Bayern Munich medical examination in Manchester on Monday. comfortable on the ball and there is much to boss Guardiola’s rebuilding of the City squad fol- The 20-year-old said the prospect of playing admire about the way he plays football. “He is lowing the signings of Nolito, Ilkay Gundogan under new City boss Pep Guardiola had helped fast, enjoys creating chances for others, works and Oleksandr Zinchenko. -—AFP persuade him to move to Eastlands. “One of the reasons I decided to join City was Pep Guardiola; he convinced me to come here and that I can continue to progress,” Sane told City’s website. “I know I will learn a lot under him and now I can take the next step in my career. “I followed Pep at Barcelona and at Bayern where he achieved a lot and worked really well with young players. “I think he can make me a more complete player. I think I will need a bit of time to start with because it’s another league and there’s a different style of play but I think I can adapt very quickly.” If the £37m fee is confirmed, it will make Sane the most expensive German signing of all time. “We have given the green light for the transfer. Those in charge of Manchester City behaved professionally at all times. There were difficult, but fair discussions,” said Schalke’s director of sport . Sane is a rising star in the Germany squad and has already posed for pic- tures with City fans in Manchester. The reported transfer figure seems astronom- ical given that Sane has made just 47 Bundesliga appearances, scoring 11 goals and creating sev- BUENOS AIRES: Argentina’s Football Federation (AFA) acting president Armando en more, since his debut in Germany’s top flight Perez (2nd-R), speaks during a press conference at the AFA’s headquarters in Buenos in April 2014. The fleet-footed forward made the MAINZ: This is a Friday, Feb 12, 2016 file photo of Schalke’s Leroy Sane during a German Aires. Argentina have named coach Edgardo Bauza to run the national team, media last of his four international appearances for the Bundesliga soccer match between FSV Mainz 05 and FC Schalke 04 in Mainz, Germany. reports said Monday, as the nation seeks to regain its football prowess and convince world champions as a late replacement in last Manchester City took its offseason spending close to $100 million under new coach Pep superstar Lionel Messi to return. — AFP month’s 2-0 defeat to hosts France in the Euro Guardiola by signing Germany winger Leroy Sane from Schalke yesterday. —AP