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Home , Gaizka Mendieta, Manolo (footballer), Peter Lim, Star Sixes, Voro (footballer)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017 SPORTS Mendieta wants Lim to change tack at

LONDON: Former Valencia midfield- told AFP during an interview in through the dug-out since he took over left,” said Mendieta, who spent nine within his rights to speak out. “Of course er believes owner on Tuesday. “When managers keep in June 2014. The Singaporean busi- years at Valencia. “Through my experi- he’s allowed to do that,” said the 42- needs to adopt a more coming and going, when people on the nessman has faced open revolt from ence, I don’t see in the club people who year-old, who also played for Barcelona long-term approach to running the football side keep leaving, this is not a fans over Valencia’s recent struggles. know the club and the city and the and Lazio. “I think every manager is club, as they teeter above the good sign. That means the owners are Supporters took to the streets to call country and the league well enough to allowed to say whatever he wants, espe- relegation zone. not giving stability to the club. for his departure after the recent 4-1 make football decisions. “But Peter Lim cially if you feel fans are not really sup- Valencia have gone through five “It’s not a club that in the last two Copa del Rey defeat by Celta Vigo and is a mega-successful businessman, so porting your team when you most need coaches and three sporting directors in years has had any consistency and foot- fans on social media have rallied around I’m not going to tell him what to do.” them. “In the same way that fans have Lim’s two-and-a-half-year tenure, with ball needs that. Players coming and the hashtag #LimGoHome. Mendieta also offered words of sup- the right to express their opinion and and Jesus Garcia going, all the players on loan, is some- Mendieta, blond-haired star of the port for his compatriot , maybe say: ‘Play in a certain way.’ Pitarch the latest figures to give up the thing that needs to be arranged.” Valencia team that reached the who is managing another of his former “Fans have to understand that the respective roles. Valencia finished fourth at the end of Champions League final in 2000 and clubs, . team has been working in a way, not Gonzalez is now in his fifth stint Lim’s first season in 2015, but slipped to 2001, thinks there are not enough peo- Karanka hit out at fans after Boro’s 3- only for that week, (but) for years or for as caretaker coach at the Mestalla and 12th last season and could now face a ple at boardroom level with a feel for 1 loss at home to West Ham United in months. If they want to play that way, with Valencia three places above the relegation battle, albeit having wit- what the club means. the last Saturday, accus- it’s for a reason.” bottom three, Mendieta says stability is nessed an upturn in results under Voro. ing them of creating an “awful” atmos- Mendieta will represent at desperately needed. , Nuno Espirito KARANKA BACKING phere by “asking for long balls”. , a six-a-side indoor tourna- “The owners should maybe change Santo, , Pako Ayestaran and “It seems from outside there’s not Karanka is reported to have ment for former international foot- the way they’re running the club, former coach Prandelli, who enough football people in the club, expressed regret over his outburst to ballers taking place at London’s O2 because it’s definitely not working,” he resigned last month, have all passed especially now the sporting director has club officials, but Mendieta feels he was Arena in July. —AFP Carrick says Man Utd will go for it at Hull

LONDON: Michael Carrick has pledged and celebrate victories and win things, lift that Manchester United will not rest on trophies, have a good day out and enjoy it.” their laurels when they travel to Hull City looking to close out victory in their League MASON SUPPORT Cup semi-final. United won 2-0 in the first United captain Wayne Rooney will go leg at Old Trafford courtesy of second-half into the game with a spring in his step, hav- strikes from Juan Mata and Marouane ing scored a record-breaking 250th goal in Fellaini, putting them within reach of a final the club’s colours with a stoppage-time showdown with either Liverpool or free-kick to equalise at Stoke. Southampton. But Hull have shown signs Mourinho will be able to recall centre- of improvement under new manager back Marcos Rojo after he missed the Stoke Marco Silva, giving Premier League leaders trip through illness, meaning Eric Bailly, Chelsea a decent game in Sunday’s 2-0 who is at the Africa Cup of Nations with defeat at Stamford Bridge, and Carrick says Ivory Coast, is the only expected absentee. United will take no chances. “It’s definitely Hull’s preparations for the game have been not over, we all know that,” the 35-year-old overshadowed by the serious head injury told MUTV. suffered at Chelsea by midfielder Ryan “We are telling ourselves that. I think Mason. Mason, 25, had to undergo surgery we’ll be pretty much full-strength and will at a London hospital after fracturing his approach the game like it’s a 0-0 and start- skull in an aerial collision with Gary Cahill, ing from scratch. “It’s dangerous when you with Hull revealing on Tuesday that he was go in there defending a lead to tell yourself making “excellent progress”. this result will do or that result will do, or Hull’s players will wear ‘MASON 25’ T- we can afford to do this or that. “We need shirts during the warm-up-a reference both to approach it like any other game, keep to Mason’s age and squad number-and fans our focus and intensity and try to win the have been encouraged to join in with a game.” After a run of nine successive wins minute’s applause in the 25th minute. Hull in all competitions, United’s advance have bolstered their ranks with a loan towards the Champions League places has move for Serbian winger Lazar Markovic, been held up by 1-1 draws against who had been on loan at Sporting Lisbon Liverpool and Stoke City. from Liverpool. Markovic, 22, joined NAPLES: Napoli’s Jose Callejon, center, scores on a header during an Italian Cup, Round of 8 soccer match between Napoli and Fiorentina, at the It means they remain sixth in the league Liverpool from Benfica for £20 million ($25 San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy, Tuesday. — AP table, four points off the top four, but million, 23.3 million euros) in 2014 and hav- Carrick feels a Wembley final appearance ing failed to make an impression in his will show Jose Mourinho’s men are on the Anfield career to date, he is eager to prove right track. his worth. “I hope that my actions will Callejon strikes as Napoli “Going to Wembley, winning a trophy, speak louder than words and I can prove how can you not like that?” said Carrick, myself to the club and to everyone in whose side last reached a League Cup final English football,” Markovic told the Hull set up Juve or Milan Cup semi in 2010, when they beat Aston Villa 2-1 to website. “I joined Liverpool when I was very claim the trophy for a fourth time. young and have not yet had a long run in “Especially when we feel we are as close as the side to show people what I am capable MILAN: A fine second-half header from Jose Fiorentina’s sole chances came on the count- tions this season. Fiorentina pressed in the later we are to getting there, without taking any- of. “I hope to use this loan spell with Hull Callejon fired Napoli into the semi-finals of the er, but the threat was real, Pepe Reina palming stages, Reina forced down quick to collect Josip thing for granted. City to prove myself in the best league in Italian Cup and a last four date with either Federico Chiesa’s shot over from a tight angle Ilicic’s deflected drive. Hysaj saw red moments “That’s what you play for and that’s what the world, because I feel there is lots more Juventus or AC Milan after a bad-tempered 1-0 before producing a fine one-handed save to par- later, on 90 minutes, for a second bookable the fans want to watch. They want to go to come from me.” — AFP win over Fiorentina on Tuesday. ry a Davide Astori header. Fiorentina resumed in offence but La Viola’s chances of a late leveller Both sides finished with 10 men at the determined fashion, Chiesa dribbling his way were hit when Olivera was sent off after earning Artemio Franchi stadium after a fiery finale that into the area only to be stopped in his tracks by a second caution. — AFP saw Napoli defender Elseid Hysaj then an onrushing Reina. At the other end, Insigne’s Fiorentina’s Maximiliano Olivera sent off within angled drive on the left flank that was blocked Cavani, Di Maria fire minutes of each other. But Napoli were fully yards from goal. But Napoli regained command, deserving of the win in a season which has seen Pavoletti beating a flailing Tatarusanu but seeing Matches on TV PSG in League Cup final Maurizio Sarri’s men keep Juventus on their toes his free kick from outside the area hit post and as they bid for a record sixth consecutive crossbar, prompting Sarri to immediately replace (Local Timings) title. Stand-in striker Dries Mertens started on the big front man with the more diminutive, but PARIS: Edinson Cavani and Angel Di Maria Kevin Trapp after Thomas Meunier mis- the bench as Sarri gave Leonardo Pavoletti his more successful Mertens. ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP propelled holders Paris Saint-Germain into judged a cross, but the away side struck first start in a Napoli shirt, and the absent Mertens has taken his league tally to an a fourth straight French League Cup final first when Di Maria drilled a 30-yard free- Belgian’s clinical finishing was perhaps missed in impressive 12 league goals after stepping in to Hull City v Man United 22:45 with both scoring twice in a 4-1 victory at kick past Jerome Prior. Blaise Matuidi a wasteful first half for the hosts. Pavoletti replace injured Poland centre-forward Arkaduisz beIN SPORTS Bordeaux on Tuesday. Argentine Di Maria’s should have doubled the lead but could blazed over the Fiorentina bar and Ciprian Milik during his lengthy injury absence. stunning free-kick gave record six-time only shoot tamely at Prior when clean Tararusanu was even more alert to the danger But his thunder was stolen in fine style when champions PSG the lead, but Diego Rolan through, and Bordeaux hit back as Rolan when he tipped Lorenzi Insigne’s free kick at the Callejon ran in to meet Marek Hamsik’s swift SPAIN COPA DEL REY cancelled out the winger’s effort just past stabbed into an empty after an effort from near post on to the crossbar. delivery from deep on the left with a bullet the half hour. Malcom deflected off Thiago Silva and into Insigne, then Callejon spurned further header that left Tatarusanu no chance from six Barcelona v 23:15 Cavani put the visitors back on top with his path. But Cavani, who reached 20 chances before the end of a first half which, after yards. Along with teammate Manolo beIN SPORTS 3 HD a thumping finish on 60 minutes before league goals in for the first time at battling to a thrilling 3-3 draw in their last league Gabbiadini, Callejon is now the only other adding a second, while Di Maria again the weekend, applied a clinical finish to outing, surprisingly finished scoreless. Napoli player to score goals in three competi- struck from distance as PSG set up an April restore PSG’s lead on the hour as he ran 1 showdown with the winner of onto a through ball from Lucas. Wednesday’s semi-final between Monaco The Uruguayan demonstrated his and Nancy. Paris have dominated this com- predatory instincts to grab his second on petition in recent years, winning each of 74 minutes after Marquinhos headed back Messi has evolved into the past three editions, and across goal from a corner. ignored any temptations to rest players Di Maria, making his first start of 2017, ahead of Sunday’s pivotal clash with Ligue completed his brace nine minutes from 1 leaders Monaco by fielding a full-strength time with an angled drive that brushed the ‘total footballer’: Enrique side. PSG survived an early scare when fingertips of Prior before nestling inside the Malcom steered straight at PSG goalkeeper far corner. — AFP BARCELONA: Barcelona coach and vary his position,” added Luis Enrique. “It would be an error to think we’ve already paid tribute to yesterday for his “When you add all that with the technical and got the job done. Against an opponent of this evolution into a “total footballer” throughout his physical qualities he has then you get the player magnitude, it’s a very dangerous game,” added career, which he believes will help the five-time we see every day, which is a unique player.” Luis Enrique, whose side are looking to book World Player of the Year maintain his quality Barca host Sociedad on Thursday with a 1-0 their place in the Cup semi-finals for a seventh long into the future. advantage from the first leg after beating the consecutive year. “The players are aware of that The Spanish champions are confident their Basques away from home last week for the first and so are our fans. We’ve always struggled to all-time top scorer Messi will sign a new contract time since 2007, although they will be without beat Real Sociedad, especially away, and they until 2022 in the near future, which would tie Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta will make things complicated for us. After the him to the club until he is 35, with sporting through injury. first leg they have nothing to lose.” —Reuters director Robert Fernandez saying on Tuesday that negotiations on the new deal were “going very well”. “Messi’s footballing evolution is beyond any doubt, and the process happened because of his maturity. Before he was almost our only goalscorer but he’s evolved into a total footballer,” Luis Enrique told a news conference on Wednesday ahead of Barca’s King’s Cup quar- ter-final second leg with Real Sociedad. “He’s capable of doing anything in attack or defence, as he’s a very intelligent player he will compensate for any possible weaknesses he may end up experiencing in a very far away future when his physical condition declines.” Messi has scored more than 30 league goals in five of the 12 full seasons he has played for Barca, hitting a La Liga record of 50 in the 2011/12 season, and despite taking up a deeper role in the last two years to accommodate strike partners Neymar and Luis Suarez, he has netted 15 times this season in the league. GABON: Burkina Faso’s midfielder Prejuce Nakoulma (C) takes part in a training ses- “With the type of player he is he doesn’t need SANT JOAN DESPI: From (left to right) FC Barcelona’s Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar sion in Libreville on Tuesday during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations football tourna- much strength because he’s able to play with exercise during a training session at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in Sant Joan ment in Gabon. Burkina Faso will face in the quarter finals of the 2017 Africa one or two touches, he knows where to run to Despi, Spain, yesterday FC Barcelona will play against Real Sociedad in a Spanish Copa del Cup of Nations football tournament. — AFP receive the ball and how to play without the ball Rey, quarter final, second leg today. — AP