MONDAY, MAY 8, 2017 SPORTS Hardline Conte tells Chelsea to go for the kill : Antonio Conte is on the boss arrived at Stamford Bridge last July tem and the Blues immediately reeled players happy. We must win,” Conte said. than looking ahead to a potential title verge of winning the in he faced the tricky task of uniting a off 13 consecutive league wins. But, just “You speak about ‘happy’. I speak about celebration later in the week. his first season at Chelsea and the squad split into feuding cliques follow- as significantly, Conte persuaded his ‘to win’ and to work very hard. “Players “For me it’s not the first time to win uncompromising Italian has challenged ing Jose Mourinho’s sacking the previ- players to buy into his belief that the are not always happy to work very hard. the title. I have a good experience to his players to now go in for the kill. ous season. Against that acrimonious foundations for success are laid on the But I think my target is to put in the face this type of situation,” he said. “But it Buoyed by second-placed Tottenham’s backdrop it was something of a gamble training pitch, where focus on tactical mind of my players a winning mentality. won’t be easy until the end. My expecta- 1-0 defeat West Ham on Friday, Conte’s by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to discipline, patterns of play and supreme “It’s very difficult to keep 20 players hap- tion for this game is we must play a side host Middlesbrough today know- hire a manager with no experience of physical fitness have all been rewarded. py. I want players ready to fight and to great game against Middlesbrough. ing they need six points from their last the Premier League. At first Conte Ensuring that powerful dressing room try to put themselves in the team, to try “They are struggling to avoid relegation. four games to be crowned champions. seemed unsure how he would tame a voices like , and to win together. We must be ready to fight, ready to find A title race that looked set to go down team of prickly and fragile egos and the Cesc Fabregas weren’t granted special “Then, if you are happy or unhappy, I the right way to take three points.” With to the wire now seems certain to be a alarm bells were ringing when treatment also won over players who felt don’t care.” Having won five only one win in their last 18 matches, lengthy coronation party for Chelsea, Abramovich felt compelled to make a undervalued during Mourinho’s turbu- times with Juventus, Conte knows how second-bottom Middlesbrough must who can clinch the trophy with a victo- visit to Chelsea’s training ground follow- lent reign. to insulate his players from the pressures win today and hope other results go ry at West Bromwich Albion next Friday, ing successive defeats against Liverpool of the title battle and it would be a their way to have any chance of a dra- providing they defeat Middlesbrough and Arsenal in September. WINNING MENTALITY major surprise if they surrender their matic escape from relegation. “We’ve not first. That would cap an incredible Those chastening results have been Conte this week gave a glimpse of four-point lead over Tottenham. The 47- had much luck this season. If that comes revival of Chelsea’s fortunes under heralded as the turning point in the steely streak he has imposed on his year-old isn’t taking anything for grant- our way over the next few days, then Conte’s astute leadership. Chelsea’s season as Conte switched to players so impressively. “I like to under- ed however and urged his players to we’ll take it,” Middlesbrough manager When the former Italy and Juventus his preferred three-man defensive sys- line a concept, I don’t have to keep the focus on beating Middlesbrough rather Steve Agnew said.— AFP

Robson set benchmark for English managers abroad

LONDON: English football managers English managers. “Nowadays it looks to should take a leaf out of the late Bobby me that English managers either don’t like Robson’s book, Manchester United’s Jose to go abroad or people abroad think Mourinho told the Mail yesterday. English managers are for the English game,” Mourinho formed a close friendship with said Mourinho. “They haven’t had someone Robson-who died in 2009 from cancer-first to open the door for them in the last as his interpreter at Sporting Lisbon and decade. “To be honest, I think that myself, then at Porto whilst at the same time (Pep) Guardiola and (Carlo) Ancelotti are becoming a tactical analyst, the duo’s time guilty of why it’s quite trendy to have man- together peaking at Barcelona. agers from or Spain or Italy. Mourinho, who later Sunday tackles “Obviously the other guys then have to Arsenal in a pivotal match in the race to fin- do well to keep it going, Leonardo Jardim ish in the Premier League top four and earn at Monaco is doing phenomenal, Antonio Champions League qualification, spoke to Conte at Chelsea, others. “Maybe also in the newspaper as part of the 20th anniver- England, they don’t have the jobs that sary of Robson coaching Barcelona to a give access to the big prizes. If you have a Cup Winners Cup victory over holders Paris British manager like and you are Saint-Germain. Robson, who guided at West Bromwich Albion, it is very difficult England to the 1990 World Cup semi-finals to win a European Cup.” Mourinho, who where they lost to the then-West Germany has gone on to be one of the most suc- on penalties, was able to adapt to cessful managers in club football, said it European football, said Mourinho, and han- was no surprise that several of the dled the fallout of replacing Dutch legend Barcelona side went on to become really Johan Cruyff at the helm brilliantly. successful club coache. “Sir Bobby’s mentality was to be very Amongst those are , who open-minded,” Mourinho told the newspa- coached Barcelona to the treble in 2015, per. “He enjoyed living and coaching Guardiola, who led Barcelona to two abroad, meeting different people. “He was Champions League triumphs amongst a humble despite his experience. “He wanted plethora of other trophies, and Juan to learn the differences between the Antonio Pizzi, who won the 2016 Copa leagues and didn’t mind asking for advice America with Chile. “When you are intelli- or asking for help. “He changed and gent, you learn to drink from every source improved through the new experiences. He and Cruyff and (Louis) Van Gaal (who arrived in Portugal as a 4-4-2 coach when replaced Robson) were also important,” NEWCASTLE: Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez celebrates with the Championship trophy after they won their English Championship soc- every team there played with lots of people Mourinho said. “But Bobby’s leadership cer match against Barnsley at St James’ Park, Newcastle yesterday. — AP in midfield. “He understood that he needed was phenomenal and that is a very impor- to change so he became more multi-func- tant part of management.” Mourinho said tional. Even as an older manager.” Robson had taught him another important Mourinho, who said Robson proved a lesson. “I would always get really upset Blackburn make unwanted rock when he lost his sister and mother-in- after bad results, I am still the same, but law in the same year as his daughter was Bobby helped me by saying if I thought of born, said this spirit of adventure and will- the other dressing room, that the other history, Newcastle win title ingness to learn new things by coaching guys are very happy, it makes you feel less abroad is no longer a characteristic of sad,” said Mourinho.—AFP Former EPL champion Blackburn plunge into 3rd tier LONDON: Blackburn Rovers became the first going into the net and the Seagulls were held penalty-shortly after a superb save by their Premier League champions to drop into the 1-1. Blackburn at least departed with a 3-1 win ‘keeper Jordan Smith had kept the scores level- third tier of English football on Sunday whilst over Brentford but that was little consolation as and added his second and the hosts’ third with Newcastle claimed the Championship title on a they contemplate League One and third tier an excellent solo effort in the second-half. nerve-racking final day of the regular season. football for the first time since 1980. That had Forest manager Mark Warburton, Wins for another historic club, two-time “We gave it everything we had today. It is a who took the job after an acrimonious depar- European champions Nottingham Forest - 3-0 really disappointed day because we gave it ture from Scottish giants Rangers earlier this over Ipswich-and Chinese-owned Birmingham absolutely everything,” Rovers Jason season, charging down the touchline fist City, who beat Bristol City 1-0, condemned Lowe told . “We knew if we won pumping in celebration. Birmingham, whose Rovers, owned by Indian poultry firm Venkys, to today we still didn’t know what it would mean.” wounds were largely self-inflicted with a dis- the drop. Rafael Benitez-managed Newcastle Things had looked extremely rosy for Rovers astrous run under after the did what they had to do beating Barnsley 3-0 early on as they stormed into a 2-0 lead-Scottish owners removed despite being but it took a howler from Brighton goalkeeper international midfielder Charlie Mulgrew’s goal, just outside the play-offs, scraped the win David Stockdale to ensure they returned to the a delightful freekick, the pick of the two. they needed at the very least. A first-half goal top flight as champions. However, by the time Craig Conway converted a by Che Adams-in front of Bristol City’s Brighton-who started the day a point ahead late penalty to make it 3-1 the game was up as biggest crowd for 37 years of more than of Newcastle-looked to be heading to a 1-0 win Forest and Birmingham were winning. Forest’s 25,000 - raised a smile from veteran caretaker over Aston Villa until Stockdale somehow failed hero was Congolese striker Britt Assombalonga manager and sighs of relief to prevent Jack Grealish’s long range effort who set them on their way with a first-half from the fans.— AFP Manchester City’s Spanish manager Guardiola urges players to FC grab A-League crown show more ruthless streak SYDNEY: Player of the season Milos Ninkovic minute strike by the A-League’s all-time leading three previous losing grand finals. The Sky MANCHESTER: Pep Guardiola says chances and suffered as a result, most converted the winning penalty to crown Sydney scorer . The striker turned Blues have been hailed as the A-League’s great- Manchester City are the Premier League’s notably their 4-0 defeat in January at FC the champions of ’s A-League in a defender and then fired past est team after finishing the regular season with most creative team, but the Spaniard Everton, who scored their goals with their gripping shootout win over Victory goalkeeper to put Victory a record 66 points from 20 wins and just one warned his players must show a more ruth- only four shots on target. “In the game in the grand final yesterday. The Serbian mid- ahead.Sydney FC forced extra time when defeat in 27 games. less streak despite their 5-0 rout of Crystal against Everton, they arrive four times and fielder fittingly put away the clinching penalty defender rammed home David Yet due to the unique nature of Australian Palace. Guardiola’s side were in prolific form we lose 4-0. We arrive more times than any to win the shootout 4-2 after the two sides were Carney’s partially saved volley with just over 20 finals football, Sydney FC had to beat as they thrashed Palace at Eastlands on other team,” he said. “You see Real Madrid, locked at 1-1 following extra time. The victory minutes of normal time remaining. Melbourne Victory for a fourth time this season Saturday to climb to third place, at least Barcelona and Juventus, they create completed a record-breaking season for An intense struggle was only decided when to lift their third A-League championship. until Liverpool play Southampton. enough chances, similar to us, but they ’s Sky Blues, who won their third Vukovic kept out ’s penalty attempt Berisha scored for the fifth time in an A-League However, it was only City’s third win in nine score goals. We’ve miss that this season a championship title. in the shootout with a diving right-hand save. grand final and is the competition’s all-time league matches, and their inconsistency lot.” City are effectively in a three-way fight “It’s not the greatest way to win or lose,” Ninkovic, who won the John Warren Medal as leading scorer with 102 goals. Melbourne this season has left them 12 points adrift of with Liverpool and Manchester United for Arnold told reporters. “I wanted it so badly for the A-League’s best player, then stepped up to Victory, coached by , were chasing leaders Chelsea with three games to play. the final two Champions League places. the players, for all they have done this year.” put away the winning penalty and spark jubi- their fourth championship. “It’s gut-wrenching Guardiola believes City would have There is, though, the possibility that all Melbourne Victory, who finished 17 points adrift lant scenes among the sold-out 41,500 crowd trying to find the words now to explain to the been worthy champions this season had three could still qualify, if United win the of Sydney FC after the 27-round regular season, at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium. It was the first players how they have lost. They didn’t deserve they been more clinical in front of goal. Europa League and finish fifth. “Today was looked on track for an upset following a 20th- championship for Vukovic and Wilkinson after to lose,” Muscat said.— AFP And he argued that the only time this sea- important because we are playing for the son that they have created fewer chances future of the club,” he said. “The Premier than their opponents was at Tottenham in League is tough. There are four amazing early October, when City lost 2-0. “Maybe I teams fighting for the final two places. “I remember one game this season where hope United can focus on the Europa the opponent create more chances. One - League and next season we can have five at White Hart Lane. The others, no chance,” English teams in the Champions League. It Guardiola said. “We are better than all the will be amazing.” Palace manager Sam other teams. Against Chelsea, we create Allardyce was critical of his players, suggest- more chances both here and at Stamford ing that they effectively gifted City the win. Bridge but in the boxes we are not good. Allardyce’s side remain on 38 points “We are the best team in the Premier after falling to a third successive defeat League for creating clear chances. We are that kept them from securing their top- the best one. But we are not able to score flight survival. “Defensively we made too goals. “The most difficult thing in foot- many mistakes and they punished us ball, basketball, tennis - in all the sports - heavily,” Allardyce said. “Our recovery is that final moment.” Without the injured from the first goal was good but we fell Sergio Aguero, City enjoyed their biggest into the same shape at the start of the league victory under Guardiola, with second and it was a bit of a capitulation. goals from David Silva, Vincent Kompany, “All five goals could have been avoided if Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and we had defended properly. That is the Nicolas Otamendi. biggest disappointment. “Manchester City, normally when they beat you here, AMAZING TEAMS produce outstanding skills but we gifted SYDNEY: Sydney FC’s team celebrates their victory after the 2017 A-League Grand Final football match against Melbourne Victory at Allianz Yet the manager can cite many exam- them easy chances to score and they Stadium yesterday. Player of the season Milos Ninkovic converted the winning penalty to crown Sydney FC the champions of Australia’s A- ples of games where City did not take their thrashed us.”— AFP League in a gripping shootout win over Melbourne Victory in the grand final.— AFP