TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015 SPORTS Klopp out to shatter Bayern’s treble hopes

BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund coach Hertha Berlin, Werder Bremen and for a fight and we don’t want to weaken the fighting spirit with flowers.” with Roman Weidenfeller out. Jurgen Klopp plans to shatter Bayern Moenchengladbach en route to the ourselves with flowers,” said Klopp. The Allianz Arena semi is a repeat of Their treble-chasing means Bayern Munich’s dreams of a treble-winning semis, Bielefeld are one game away a Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke both the 2012 and 2014 German Cup are playing a game every three or four season in today’s German Cup semi-final first cup final appearance. has spoken to Bayern chairman Karl- finals. Dortmund routed Bayern 5-2 days and face Barcelona away in a clash. The 47-year-old brings Dortmund But Dortmund-Bayern is the key tie Heinz Rummenigge and the presenta- three years ago in Berlin when Borussia’s mouth-watering Champions League to Munich’s Allianz Arena for the last with Pep Guardiola’s Bavarians bidding tion will now be done after the game. Poland striker Robert Lewandowski semi-final on May 6. time as Borussia coach having to repeat their 2013 treble having “We are in the decisive phase of the sea- scored a hat-trick against his future But for now all focus is on Tuesday announced he will quit at the end of the already captured the league title on son-and not in farewell (for Klopp) employers. and Dortmund. “We are extremely deter- season after seven years in charge. Sunday for the 25th time. mode,” said Watzke. Bayern gained revenge last season mined to reach the (German Cup) final,” Klopp wants to bow out with one last Bayern had planned to present Klopp Rummenigge explained his reason with a 2-0 extra-time win in Berlin thanks insisted Bayern’s director of sport title and only holders Bayern stand in with a bouquet before kick-off after his for the flowers as he was presented with to goals by Arjen Robben and Thomas Matthias Sammer. the way of a German Cup final appear- side won the 2011 and 2012 German a bouquet in 1984 on his final appear- Mueller. Dortmund have lost home and “When you are in your rhythm, you ance on May 30 at Berlin’s Olympic league titles before finishing as runners- ance at Dortmund before his transfer away to Bayern in the league this sea- have to use the momentum. “Dortmund Stadium. up to Bayern for the last two seasons. from Bayern to Inter Milan. son. are just as up for it and we’ll have to put In tomorrow’s other semi, third divi- But the 47-year-old is more interested “I have no problem with that and can Bayern are hoping to welcome back in a great performance. “We definitely sion leaders and cup giant-killers in giving Bayern a proverbial black eye understand where they are coming Robben from injury today, while want to go to Berlin, which is always Arminia Bielefeld host VfL Wolfsburg. than picking up floral tribute. “It’s a very from,” said the Bayern boss. “I respect Dortmund will have Australia goalkeep- awesome, we want to experience it Having already beaten Bundesliga side nice gesture, but today we’ll be spoiling that he (Klopp) doesn’t want to break er Mitchell Langerak between the posts again.” —AFP Palmeiras takes lead in Sao Paulo state final

SAO PAULO: Striker Leandro Pereira scored In his match report, referee Vinicius in the first half to give Palmeiras a 1-0 win Furlan said Valdivia had harsh some words over Santos in the first leg of the Sao Paulo with the officiators in the changing rooms, state final Sunday. accusing them of being “thieves.” The inci- In Rio de Janeiro, Vasco da Gama edged dent may lead to the Chilean’s suspension Botafogo 1-0 at the Maracana Stadium to from the second leg. take the lead in that state tournament. Palmeiras and Santos, the Brazilian Palmeiras had a chance to take a bigger teams with the most national titles with advantage into the second leg in Santos eight each, hadn’t played in a state final next weekend, but striker Dudu missed a since 1959. 60th-minute penalty kick, striking the In Rio de Janeiro, Vasco da Gama defeat- crossbar. Santos played a man down after ed Botafogo 1-0 thanks to an injury-time the penalty because defender Paulo goal by substitute striker Rafael Silva, who Ricardo was sent off for the foul inside the beat the defenders to a free kick cross area. A draw at the Vila Belmiro Stadium inside the area to score with a left-footed will be enough to give Palmeiras its first shot. state title since 2008. Santos is playing in its Vasco is trying to win its first state title seventh straight final, but it hasn’t won the since 2003. Botafogo, which will play in the tournament since 2012. second division of the Brazilian league this Pereira scored in the 30th minute with a year, lifted the state trophy in 2013. shot from inside the area after a low cross Regional championships are played in by right back Lucas, igniting the record the first few months of the season in Brazil, crowd of nearly 40,000 at Palmeiras’ recent- with the Brazilian league beginning in May ly built Allianz Parque. and ending in December. Both teams loudly complained about In the Rio Grande do Sul state tourna- the officiating crew and both coaches were ment, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Gremio was held sent off at halftime. Palmeiras coach to a 0-0 draw with rival Internacional in Oswaldo de Oliveira watched the rest of front of nearly 47,000 fans at the Arena the match from the stands, along with the Gremio. The hosts played a man down from fans. Palmeiras played without Chile mid- the 63rd after defender Pedro Geromel was fielder Jorge Valdivia, while Santos was red carded for a hard foul. without former Brazil striker Robinho. Both In Minas Gerais state, Atletico Mineiro players are expected to be fit again in time was held to a 0-0 draw against Caldense in LONDON: Winner of the PFA’s (Professional Footballers’ Association) Young Player of the Year, Harry Kane of Tottenham and England poses for a for next Sunday’s match. Palmeiras had the front of nearly 54,000 Atletico fans at the photo holding his award in London. —AP return of World Cup veteran playmaker Ze Mineirao Stadium. Caldense eliminated Roberto, who was nursing a muscle injury. Cruzeiro in the semifinals.—AP Kane named best young Violence mars Serie A again ROME: It was just a few days ago when Here are a few things to know about this player after stellar year Italian football officials were hailing the week’s matches: return of Serie A clubs to the final phases of Europe’s top club competitions. Now it’s TITLE POSSIBILITIES LONDON: It took Harry Kane four years to firing in the league, Kane was scoring in Europe thing. He is happy in the changing room. His back to the more familiar problems of fan Juventus can clinch its fourth straight become an overnight sensation at Tottenham with the turning point coming at the end of team mates and supporters are happy, and so is violence. Before Sunday’s Turin derby, title with five matches to spare if it beats Hotspur in a season that began on the bench October. the club. “It is his first full season in the first team Torino fans attacked the bus carrying Fiorentina and Lazio does not beat Parma. but is ending with a Young Player of the Year He got a hat-trick against Asteras Tripolis to and he has the potential to be even better.” Kane Juventus’ players as it approached the sta- Juventus would also seal its 31st “scudetto” award as a full England international. His peers take his tally to six in four European games, then started training with Spurs when he was 11, dium, breaking a window. Juventus sup- if it draws against Fiorentina, Lazio loses in the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) came on to score a last-minute winner against turning professional at 17 in 2010. Although he porters retaliated by throwing fireworks at and Roma does not win at Sassuolo. had no doubt the 21-year-old striker who has Aston Villa in the league before netting what pri- made his debut for the club a year later, a long Torino counterparts inside the stadium, Juventus enters with a 14-point lead scored 30 goals for Spurs and one for England 79 oved to be the winner versus Asteras in Greece. and winding road still lay ahead of him. injuring several when pieces of seats start- over Lazio and a 15-point advantage over seconds into his debut, was the outstanding With the Tottenham fans clamouring for him Kane was loaned to Leyton Orient, Millwall, ed splintering in the air. At least five people Roma and holds the tiebreaker edge over young performer of the campaign. to start in the league, Pochettino gave him his Norwich City and Leicester City before returning were arrested. both Roman clubs courtesy of better head- He was also voted runner-up for player of the chance in November against Stoke City. He start- to White Hart Lane last season. “Complements to the police who identi- to-head records. year behind Chelsea forward Eden Hazard. No- ed the following week too-and scored-versus He brings more tomthe team than goals, fied and arrested those responsible for the one could have imagined how his season was Hull City and has never looked back. though, with his ability to hold the ball up and assault on Juve’s pullman and the explo- FULL-TIME TRAINING going to pan out, with Kane also captaining the bring others into play and the Spurs fans have sion that occurred inside the stadium,” After Napoli, struggling AC Milan has club that nurtured his talents and becoming the MASSIVE IMPACT recognised the rare home-grown talent as Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano also begun a full-time training camp, which first Tottenham player since Gary Lineker in “Harry has had a massive impact on English something special with a chant that he is “one of said. “There will be no clemency toward the could last until the end of the season. Milan 1991-92 to hit the 30-goal mark. Spurs manager football this season,” Argentine Pochettino said our own”. enemies of sport. These are hooligans.” announced Sunday that the training camp Mauricio Pochettino preferred Roberto Soldado when Kane was short-listed for the PFA awards With a strong physique, Kane not only plays Relatedly, Roma’s American president, - requiring players to sleep at Milanello - is and Emmanuel Adebayor as his front two for last week. as a striker, but makes runs from deep in his own James Pallotta, has been waging a verbal “open ended.” Premier League matches at the start of the cam- “I don’t think too many people expected half, and many have compared him to Teddy battle with his club’s hardcore “ultra” fans, The move comes after Milan’s four- paign, with Kane the third-choice striker among Harry would show the performances that he Sheringham who played a similar role for who have been disorderly all season. match unbeaten run was halted by a 2-1 the substitutes. has.” After Kane scored his 30th goal in all com- Tottenham, Manchester United and England. If “All Alfano needs to do is what we’ve loss at Udinese on Saturday, leaving the But he gave the youngster a starting role in petitions against Newcastle United last week, Kane enjoys half the success treble-winner been asking him to do for some time, Rossoneri in 10th place. Europa League matches, and Kane grabbed his the Spurs manager added: “I congratulate him. Sheringham had, he will have a glittering career which even an 8-year-old kid would do: Filippo Inzaghi’s side was completely chance. While Soldado and Adebayor were mis- “He deserves this moment. It is an historic to look back on. —Reuters Apply the English law and put police inside dominated until Giampaolo Pazzini pulled the stadiums,” said Napoli president Aurelio a goal back in the 88th minute with a leap- De Laurentiis. “But he turns a deaf ear.” ing header to take advantage of Milan’s Humble Hazard shines brighter than the rest Last week, Juventus advanced to the only on-target attempt of the match. Champions League semifinals while “The duration of the training camp is LONDON: Chelsea believe Eden Hazard is its power, he understands when the game Fiorentina and Napoli qualified for the open ended,” a Milan statement said. “The the third best performer in world soccer so becomes strategic. He understands his tal- Europa League’s last four - marking the first squad could remain at Milanello until it was little surprise the Belgium winger ent is fundamental for the team.” time Serie A has three clubs so far in those Wednesday, or until May 3, 10, 17, 24 or 31, was voted the Professional Footballers’ competitions since 2003. depending on the decisions of Milan’s Association (PFA) Player of the Year on THIRD TIME LUCKY “I’m tired and frustrated of seeing presti- coach, which will be taken based on the Sunday. According to his club manager It was third time lucky for Hazard on gious results by our athletes placed next to quality of the performances.” Jose Mourinho, only World Player of the Sunday because he was also on the short- this type of news,” said Giovanni Malago, Year Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and lists for the main prize and the PFA Young the president of the Italian Olympic PARMA’S PRIDE Barcelona great Lionel Messi are in better Player of the Year awards in each of the pre- Committee, which oversees all sports in Crisis-hit and last-place Parma put off form than the 24-year-old Hazard. To the vious two seasons. Italy. “The damage is incalculable.” Serie A relegation for at least a few more days by fans of Premier League champions-elect He was also runner-up for the young resumes right away with a midweek round. beating Palermo 1-0 Sunday. If not for a Chelsea, their No.10 is the modern-day player award on Sunday behind Tottenham On Tuesday, it’s Udinese vs. Inter Milan. seven-point penalty stemming from equivalent of the much-loved Gianfranco Hotspur’s Harry Kane. Hazard becomes the On Wednesday, it’s: AC Milan vs. Genoa; unpaid wages, Parma would have a legiti- Zola in both style and substance. second Chelsea player to win the PFA vote, Cesena vs. Atalanta; Chievo Verona vs. mate chance of avoiding relegation despite “He’s a kid but he knows that he is one after captain John Terry in 2005, and his Cagliari; Juventus vs. Fiorentina; Lazio vs. being declared bankrupt. “We’re showing of the three best players in the world, he is team mates are in no doubt as to his value Parma; Palermo vs. Torino; Sampdoria vs. that we still have a lot of desire to do well coping with that responsibility,” Mourinho to the side. Hellas Verona; and Sassuolo vs. Roma. On during this tortuous season,” Parma coach told reporters recently. “Eden is a quality player and he has the Thursday, it’s Empoli vs. Napoli. Roberto Donadoni said. —AP “I’ve had lots of stars. Hopefully in every qualities to play even better,” said hard-man club I’ve worked I’ve had stars but he is the defender Branislav Ivanovic earlier this year. humble star.” The diminutive Zola charmed “It’s hard to say how close he is to supporters up and down the land with his Messi... but for us at Chelsea he is like Messi twinkle-toed trickery and endearing humil- is for Barcelona.” The Londoners started the ity during the Italian’s seven years at campaign playing silky, flowing football as Stamford Bridge between 1996-2003. they sought glory in four different competi- One opposition defender described the tions. The sheer grind of playing three moment that Zola left him with “twisted games a week all season has led to blood”, so good was his dazzling footwork, inevitable tiredness creeping into their per- and the same can now be said for the formances in recent weeks but Hazard has quicksilver Hazard. been consistency personified. Such is his importance to Chelsea that “I’m playing my best season ever,” he Mourinho took the 5-foot-8 (1.73-metre) said. “With my experience, I succeed in Belgian to one side before last week’s 1-0 managing the strong and weak moments home victory over Manchester United to in a game better. “Last year I played a good tell him that he was his side’s potential season but I disappeared in some games. match-winner-and he duly obliged with This season I can’t really remember a game the only goal of the game. “Physically, men- where I really wasn’t into it. tally he’s getting very, very strong,” said “It’s impossible to be on top form in 40 Mourinho. “He understands his role. “He or 50 games in a season but I’ve been the ITALY: Torino’s supporters react after a firework exploded during the Italian Serie A understands clearly that especially in a best player in the team several times,” said LONDON: Chelsea’s Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard football match. —AFP moment where the team doesn’t have all Hazard.—Reuters runs with the ball in this file photo. —AFP