Arsenal, Liverpool Focus on Points Not CUP Glory
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Sports FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 Former managers say reform vital to England’s World Cup hopes LONDON: England’s prospects of ever winning another on Wednesday, said English players accounted for a mere of 25 to be reduced from 17 to 13, phased over four years World Cup will suffer unless reforms are introduced to 32 per cent of playing time in the Premier League last year from 2016. give home-grown players more chances to shine, five for- compared with almost 70 per cent two decades previously. “In 2014, just 23 English players were playing mer England managers have warned. Champions League football. That compares with 78 Glenn Hoddle, Kevin Keegan, Sven-Goran Eriksson, ‘The trend cannot continue’ Spanish players, 55 from Germany and even 51 from Graham Taylor and Steve McClaren signed a joint letter to “There are many reasons why England has failed to win Brazil-and the numbers will only get worse,” he said in an FA chairman Greg Dyke backing his proposals for change, any major honours since 1966 and each of us bears a por- FA statement last month. the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on Thursday. tion of that responsibility. “However... the pool of English “If we want to maintain a national side capable of com- In the letter, they called for swift implementation of talent playing at the very top level is shrinking and it’s an peting against the world’s best, we need change.” Dyke measures to ensure English players are given more match undeniable fact that this is a clear disadvantage for any set up the England Commission in 2013 to look at ways of exposure at top clubs to boost England’s chances of England manager,” added the managers. improving the chances of young English talent succeed- repeating the country’s lone 1966 World Cup success. Dyke has proposed changes to the home grown player ing at the highest levels of the game. “Failure to do so risks England falling further behind rule in English football to help more “top quality” English The Commission specifically identified a lack of quality the leading football nations and will only make it harder to players break through. coaching and opportunities for home grown players to end the long wait to win the World Cup,” they said. He wants a reduction in the maximum number of non- play competitive first team football between the ages of The letter, which the newspaper said was sent to Dyke home grown players permitted in a club’s first team squad 18 and 21. —Reuters State of the Premier League championship race LONDON: Premier League. With no European prizes left to chase this season, England’s top clubs are focused on winning the Premier League title, although that goal looks beyond all but Chelsea. Arsenal and Liverpool, both in the top five with eight match- es left, have the added incentive of trying to win the FA Cup but leaders Chelsea, champions Manchester City and a rejuvenated Manchester United are focused just on the main prize. Chelsea are strong favourites to finish as champions for the first time since 2010 as they lead with 67 points, six clear of City with a match in hand. Arsenal are a point further back after winning nine of their last 10, while United, fourth on 59, have also been in excellent form, winning their last four including a 2-1 win at Liverpool. Chelsea have led the table since the third week of the season and, despite a slight dip in form with two draws in their last four games, appear too far ahead to be caught. Coach Jose Mourinho is confident of a third title with the club after success- es in his first spell in 2005 and 2006. Champions League The other battleground is the one for next season’s Champions League places and, while Arsenal and Manchester United have forged ahead of them, Liverpool, Southampton and SAO PAULO: Emerson (R) of Brazil’s Corinthians vies for the ball with Jorge Gravi (L) of Uruguay’s Danubio, Tottenham Hotspur are still hoping for a top four finish. during their 2015 Copa Libertadores football match held at Arena Corinthians stadium, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on April 1. —AFP Europa League The consolation for Liverpool, Southampton and Spurs if they miss out on the Champions League could be a Europa League place. With League Cup winners Chelsea set to play in Arsenal, Liverpool focus the Champions League, their Europa spot will go to the sixth or seventh-placed team depending on who wins the FA Cup. on points not Cup glory Relegation Six clubs-Hull City (28 points), Aston Villa (28), Sunderland (26), Burnley (25), QPR (22) and Leicester City (19) are involved LONDON: The Premier League bursts least until Manchester City play at points, will be hoping to stay in touch in the battle to avoid relegation. back into life after the international Crystal Palace on Monday. with the leading quartet, both Villa’s form has picked up since Tim Sherwood took over as break this weekend with Arsenal and Chelsea, leaders since late August, Southampton and Totttenham will look manager six weeks ago, while Sunderland need a quick Liverpool clashing in a potential FA Cup host Stoke City, managed by the to overtake them if they should slip up. improvement under their new coach Dick Advocaat to avoid final dress rehearsal in the early kick-off London club’s ex-striker Mark Hughes, in Saints and Spurs are both a point slipping into the bottom three. at the Emirates tomorrow. Saturday’s late match and anything oth- behind Liverpool with the former travel- Burnley might take heart from their recent 1-0 win over Although the two teams are the er than a home win would be a major ling to erratic Everton and the latter vis- Manchester City, but QPR and Leicester look doomed to an favourites to meet in the Cup final at upset. iting relegation-threatened Burnley. immediate return to the Championship. Wembley at the end of May, of more Chelsea have played 29 matches, one Spurs had four players-Harry Kane, immediate concern to both will be the fewer than all of the chasing pack, and Ryan Mason, Kyle Walker and goalscorer Cup three points at stake tomorrow. are on 67 points, with second-placed Andros Townsend-in the England team Holders Arsenal face Reading in one FA Cup semi-final Victory for Arsenal would maintain City on 61, Arsenal with 60 and that drew 1-1 with Italy on Tuesday. while either Liverpool or Blackburn Rovers, who meet in a their unlikely late challenge for the title, Manchester United on 59. They will be hoping for a third win in quarter-final replay on April 8, face Aston Villa in the other while a Liverpool win would rekindle four over Burnley this season after beat- semi. their hopes of a top-four finish after IMPROVING VILLA ing them in an FA Cup third round their last match before the break ended Tomorrow, United host Aston Villa, replay in January. Promotion in a 2-1 home defeat by Manchester who have looked a better side since Tim Kane, meanwhile, who has scored 29 The tightest league in Europe has seen the Championship United. Sherwood took over as manager from goals for Tottenham this season includ- lead change hands throughout the season with Bournemouth, Arsenal have won their last six league Paul Lambert six weeks ago but are still ing a hat-trick against Leicester City last who have never played in the top flight, currently top, a point matches and halved the gap on leaders involved in the relegation fight. United time out, needs one more goal to ahead of Watford who occupy the other automatic promotion Chelsea from 14 points on Feb. 10 to should chalk up a fifth successive league become the first Spurs player since Gary spot. —Reuters seven now and a win for the Gunners win. Lineker in 1991-92 to hit 30 goals in a would lift them into second place, at While Liverpool, who are fifth on 54 season. —Reuters.