SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013

SPL PREVIEW Photo of the day Celtic target winning run over busy festive period

GLASGOW: Celtic assistant manager Johan they are a very young team and confidence-wise Mjallby hopes the Parkhead side’s packed festive they have been struggling a wee bit lately,” the schedule will help them get over their disap- assistant manager said. pointment of exiting Europe. The Hoops failed to “But the main thing is not for us to go in and emulate last season’s achievement of qualifying think it’s going to be 7-0 all over again. That’s the for the last 16 of the Champions League, finishing worrying thing and something we need to press bottom of their group and leaving the Glasgow home, as we can’t go into the game thinking it giants with just the Scottish Premiership and will be easy. “It’s never easy to win football Scottish Cup to concentrate on Having beaten games. We really need to be spot on, try to play Hibernian in their first match following the end of with the tempo with which we have done lately their European adventure, the Parkhead club face away from home, make sure our passing is right four games in the space of 12 days starting with and our full-backs are going forward. “Goals the visit of Hearts today. change games, so obviously if we are solid at the But Mjallby insists the thought of extending back then we can push forward and focus on their 15-match unbeaten start to the defense of going ahead attacking-wise. their league title will spur the players on to pick “We will really have to work hard and make up some positive results over the festive period. sure we earn the right to play our football. We “It’s always busy over Christmas and New Year so always respect everyone who comes here to play you’re used to it and it’s great in a way after the us. But we know we have good enough players disappointment with Europe,” Mjallby said. “We and if they play well enough, we should get the have this unbeaten record and we have some- three points.” Crisis club Hearts could have just thing to motivate the players with. “And that’s 10 outfield players available according to assis- how it’s going to be now, making sure the players tant Billy Brown. The administration-hit club- are fully focused and keep progressing. Lately the docked 15 points and barred from signing new performances have been very good and hopeful- players-have lost striker Gary Oliver to a leg injury ly we can keep that up. and he joins Ryan Stevenson, back-up goalkeeper “We have players that we know can hurt other Mark Ridgers and midfielder Jason Holt on the teams, and we have been waiting for a long time sidelines. Midfielders Jamie Walker and Scott this season to see it really happening, but lately Robinson are also rated doubtful and manager it’s been great with free-flowing football-that’s Gary Locke will have to delve further into his the way we want to play.” Bottom of the table youth squad to make up a bench if they do not Hearts will provide the opposition today, just make the game. “We try not to make excuses and three weeks after the Parkhead club dished out a we haven’t done all season but things are getting record 7-0 defeat to the Jambos in a Scottish Cup close to the bone,” Brown said. “I have never tie at Tynecastle. However, Mjallby insisted his been involved in a situation like this but who has? Gisela Pulido wins 2013 PKRA World Championship in Pingtan, China on players wouldn’t be complacent against Gary We just have to get on with it and do the best we October 26th, 2013— www.redbull.com Locke’s struggling side. “It’s not easy for them as can.”— AFP ITALIAN LEAGUE PREVIEW Cool comfort for AC Milan fightback Japan at WCup

TOKYO: Japan have chosen the comfort of lots of green there.” The Italian manager has faces reality check a cooler resort to try to escape the rigors of earlier expressed worries about the heat Brazil’s hot and humid weather in deciding and humidity in Brazil-which Japan experi- MILAN: AC Milan’s bid to close a yawning gap to Serie Although he may only make an appearance from the their base camp for the World Cup. The enced firsthand at this summer’s A pacesetters Juventus, Roma and Napoli faces anoth- substitute’s bench, the Argentinian striker is fired up Japan Football Association said the Asian Confederations Cup where they lost all er reality check in the city derby at Inter tomorrow. by the memory of having scored his maiden champions will be based in Itu outside Sao three group matches against Brazil, After another inauspicious start to the season, Milan goal, for Sampdoria, against Milan last season. “I Paulo when they travel the expanse of Brazil and Mexico. He has also warned about sit mid-table but 24 points adrift of leaders Juventus dream the derby will be like last season when I scored in June to play Ivory Coast, Greece and stress from travelling in Brazil which he said and, perhaps more worryingly, with a 16-point deficit on my Serie A debut with Sampdoria,” Icardi told Sky Colombia in World Cup Group C. They have is “like moving inside a continent.” to Napoli who occupy the final Champions League Sport Italia. “All I can think about is giving my all when picked an as-yet unfinished three-storey “I heard there were several other teams qualifying spot. I come off the bench because I’m coming on to help building at the upscale Spa Sports Resort for eyeing the place but the (Japan Football The chances of Milan salvaging a top-three finish my team-mates and I have to get back to their level.” their home during the group stage of the Association) did a good job of securing it. at the end of the season look slim-and goalkeeper Juventus, meanwhile, bounced back from the dis- competition, the JFA said on Thursday. The Russia, Greece and Germany were appar- Christian Abbiati admits a win in the Rossoneri’s last appointment of their Champions League exit last week sprawling hotel and resort complex is com- ently looking in the same area,” Zaccheroni game before the festive break would be welcome. with a 4-2 win over Inter and will look to extend their “The derby is always a spectacular match and we five-point lead over Roma away at Atalanta. Despite plete with two pitches with natural grass, a said, according to Kyodo. “It’s only 30 min- probably need this win a bit more than them at the their exit in Europe, ’s side boast solid gym and a swimming pool. utes to the airport, which I think will be of moment,” Abbiati said Thursday. “We’ll have to form on the domestic front having won their last eight Japan’s group matches will be held in huge importance once the tournament defend with all 11 players tomorrow.” The first Milan games without conceding a goal. Conte, however, Recife, Natal and Cuiaba-three of the starts.” Geraldo Alckmin, the governor of derby of the season is one of the high points of the leads his side to Bergamo hoping to forget seeing his hottest venues at the World Cup. Located Sao Paolo state, said on his Twitter account pre-Christmas program but the San Siro ground name linked to the latest episode of the some 100 kilometers northwest of Sao on Thursday that almost a third of the 32 shared by both clubs will not be full. ‘Calcioscommesse’ match-fixing scandal to have resur- Paolo, Itu is a three-hour flight from the teams had announced they will be staying Inter, who sit fifth, 15 points behind Juve and sev- faced in Italy earlier this week. The Juve coach served a three locations but is cooler by 5 to 6 in the state, including Argentina. en behind Napoli, will have their ‘Curva Nord’ section four-month ban at the start of last season as punish- degrees Celsius. Zaccheroni, who coached Serie-A sides of the stadium closed as punishment after fans were ment for the role he played in the affair in his former “The hard part was in deciding whether including AC Milan and Juventus, took over found guilty of chanting ‘discriminatory’ remarks role as coach of Siena, and stressed: “There is nothing to base ourselves in a warm part of the the Blue Samurai after they reached the last against Napoli fans. Inter coach Walter Mazzarri admit- new or relevant from a legal point of view. I have been country so we can acclimatise, or hold camp 16 at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. ted to Sky Sport Italia: “I don’t think this will be good judged by the sporting authorities and served a painful in a nice area where we can put in good He also led Japan to a record fourth Asian for the image of our game.” However the Nerazzurri suspension.” Defeat to Atalanta, who have lost only training on a daily basis and fly for three Cup title in 2011. handler will likely be more concerned by what is hap- once at home this season, to Fiorentina, would give hours once every five days,” Japan coach Zaccheroni’s side expect to arrive in Itu pening on the pitch. Losing the first derby of the sea- some hope to title-chasers Roma, who dropped pre- Alberto Zaccheroni said, according to on June 7, a week before their opening son to a struggling Rossoneri side would do little to cious points in a draw at Milan on Monday but should Kyodo news agency. “I picked the latter.” game. To prepare for the Brazilian weather, boost Mazzarri’s stock, especially with Inter having bounce back against Catania. Napoli, who like Juve “It’s a great environment to train in. Very the Blue Samurai are considering training in taken only three points from their last four games. exited the Champions League, are away to Cagliari in spacious, and it’s out in the suburbs where the hot and humid US state of Florida before Inter are set to welcome Mauro Icardi back to the what should be an easy three points for Rafael it’s peaceful. The food is good and there’s moving to Brazil, reports said. — AFP fray following a lengthy absence due to a groin injury. Benitez’s side in today’s late match. — AFP