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14 Established 1961 Sports Thursday, November 2, 2017 El Shaarawy nets double as Roma maul Chelsea 3-0 ‘Roma showed a hunger and desire to beat us’ ROME: Stephan El Shaarawy scored a brace as AS in the Roma attack with Chelsea counting on the trident Roma mauled Chelsea 3-0 to claim top spot in of Eden Hazard, Alvaro Morata and Pedro. After an Champions League Group C on Tuesday at the expense opening burst the hosts were ahead after just 38 sec- of the English champions. The rematch in Rome’s Stadio onds when Dzeko nodded down and El Shaarawy blast- Olympico after a 3-3 thriller in London two weeks ago ed into the back of the net past a stunned Thibaut did not disappoint the 55,000 crowd as Chelsea coach Courtois. Antonio Conte was frustrated on his return to Italy. “These are evenings you remember for your whole El Shaarawy rifled in two first-half goals-the first life,” said El Shaarawy. “Your first Champions League after less than a minute and brace doesn’t happen every the second nine minutes day.” Hazard-who scored a before the break-with brace in the first meeting Argentine Diego Perotti along with Dzeko-was adding a third on 63 minutes. omnipresent early for A second win in four games Chelsea with Alisson saving moves the Romans closer to We were always twice at the near post, the last 16, thwarting Chelsea dangerous’ says Morata also missing an who had been hoping to seal opportunity in front of goal a spot in the knockout rounds Di Francesco for the Blues. with two games to go. But after going close a Eusebio Di Francesco’s second time, El Shaarawy side are the only unbeaten broke through again on 36 side in the group and now minutes following a long ball have eight points from four games, one point ahead of from Radja Nainggolan. A Tiemoue Bakayoko header Chelsea, with Atletico Madrid third on three points looked dangerous but Alisson dived to clear four min- after being held 1-1 by Qarabag. utes before the break. “We were always dangerous,” said Di Francesco. “It was a great evening for our fans who also deserved this ‘RIGHT ATTITUDE’ victory. But it musn’t stop here, this game must be a Perotti got the third after the break following a Cesc starting point. We’re closing in on something impor- Fabregas error in midfield to pile the pressure on tant.” Conte’s Chelsea were a shadow of the team that Chelsea, who could thank Belgian keeper Courtois for ROME: Roma’s Radja Nainggolan, right, challenges for the ball with Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso during the played at Stamford Bridge earlier this month. “I didn’t pulling off some key saves including from a searing Champions League group C soccer match between Roma and Chelsea, at the Olympic stadium in Rome. —AP see anything positive in the second half, it was really Manolas header. bad,” said Conte. “Roma showed a hunger and desire And Perotti could have made it 4-0 minutes later as to beat us. They really deserved this victory.” unmarked he fired over an empty net. Fabregas came corner. Conte is now under increasing pressure as his the right attitude and if we don’t fight until the end.” French midfielder N’Golo Kante, who has just off midway through the second half with Danny side sit fourth in the Premier League ahead of next He added: “I honestly don’t care about the Qarabag returned from a hamstring injury, was left out by the Drinkwater getting his Champions League debut for weekend’s game against Manchester United. result, we have to think about how to improve and to Italian, along with Nigerian Victor Moses as Greek Chelsea. “We were unlucky in the first half. The second half have the new players as soon as possible.” Roma next defender Kostas Manolas started on the bench for But it was all Roma, as Nainggolan was kept out by was bad all round,” said Conte. “We have to understand travel to Atletico Madrid with Chelsea facing the long Roma. El Shaarawy and Perotti backed up Edin Dzeko Courtois, along with a Dzeko header from the resulting that this season will be very difficult if we don’t have trip to Qarabag in Azerbaijan. — AFP Atletico counting Wales boss cost of Champions Coleman unsure League collapse over future MADRID: Atletico Madrid woke up with a Halloween hangover yesterday needing a “miracle” to make it LONDON: Wales manager Chris Coleman said yester- beyond the Champions League group stage after failing day he has “no idea” if he will stay in the job after hold- to beat Azerbaijani debutants Qarabag for the second ing initial talks with football chiefs. Coleman’s current time in two weeks. contract expires at the end of this month after friendlies Since the arrival of Diego Simeone six years ago, away against France on November 10 and Panama in Atletico have been transformed into a European power- Cardiff on November 14. house. Los Rojiblancos won the Europa League in the The 47-year-old’s position has been under scrutiny Argentine’s first year and reached two Champions since last month’s defeat to Ireland cost them a place at League finals, a semi-final and a quarter-final in the the 2018 World Cup in Russia next summer. “I have no past four seasons. idea if these are my last games,” Coleman told a press Simeone, though, was left praying that “destiny” will conference near Cardiff. “Initial talks have been under- favour his side, who need to beat Roma and Chelsea in taken since our last game but we are no further for- their final two Group C games and hope Qarabag can ward. That’s where we are.” do them a favour by adding another draw to their Coleman was appointed Wales manager in January impressive first appearance in the group phase. 2012 following the death of his great friend Gary “I believe you get what you deserve,” said Simeone. Speed. He struggled at the start of his reign but the for- “We have to try to beat Roma and then destiny will mer Fulham manager took Wales to their first major decide if we deserve to continue or are eliminated.” MADRID: Atletico’s Fernando Torres, center, tries to break through the Qarabag defence during a Group C Champions finals for 58 years at Euro 2016 and steered them to the “More than a miracle needed,” read the front page League soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Qarabag at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid. — AP semi-finals in France. of Madrid sports daily Marca alongside a picture of the A players’ delegation-including star man Gareth off-form Antoine Griezmann with his head in his hands. Bale and skipper Ashley Williams-met Coleman straight like Griezmann, Koke and Saul Niguez. after his departure, Costa was bought back to recre- after the defeat to Ireland in attempt to persuade him For years Atletico have punched above their weight. to stay. “France in Paris is a fantastic game for us and if According to Deloitte’s Football Money League, they Griezmann did the honourable thing by staying when ate the spine of Atletico’s 2013/14 La Liga title-win- this is my last camp it’s not a bad way to sign off,” had only the 12th highest income of clubs across Atletico lost their appeal against the transfer ban in ning side, but the other core elements of that team are Coleman said. “It may be the (Euro 2016) final that nev- Europe in 2016 of 228.6 million euros ($266 million). June, but is unlikely to do so again should his 100-mil- starting to crumble. Once dominant from set-pieces, er took place and of course we’ve never played Yet, in UEFA’s coefficient to judge European per- lion-euro buyout clause be met by a host of interested Atletico again conceded from a corner against Panama. “I have to look and think, ‘Can I take it for- formance over the past five years they sit third - behind suitors, including Manchester United and Barcelona. Qarabag, as they had in drawing 1-1 at home to ward? Is the structure and facilities good to take us only cross-city rivals and perennial scourge in the The Frenchman has scored just three times this sea- Villarreal at the weekend. Indeed, seven of the 10 forward?’ So it’s not just me personally. All things need Champions League, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. son and, whilst his poor form has played its part, it is goals they have conceded this season have come from to be right for us to take it forward.” Atletico now face the cost of failure having just trying to muddle through until the new year without headers. Coleman has been linked with Premier League moved into their new 68,000 capacity Wanda Costa that has proved Atletico’s downfall. “Our calling card was to not concede goals and vacancies at Everton and Leicester-the latter since Metropolitano home at a cost of 310 million euros. The Spanish giants have taken just three points from score the few chances we had. That has turned com- filled by Claude Puel-in recent weeks. But he was reti- their four Champions League games, but had big pletely around,” added Gabi. After a very public falling cent when asked if there had been any interest in his GRIEZMANN TO GO? chances to win all of them.

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