THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017 SPORTS Mendieta wants Lim to change tack at Valencia LONDON: Former Valencia midfield- told AFP during an interview in London through the dug-out since he took over left,” said Mendieta, who spent nine within his rights to speak out. “Of course er Gaizka Mendieta 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- Peter Lim 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 La Liga 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 Cesare Prandelli and Jesus Garcia going, all the players on loan, is some- Mendieta, blond-haired star of the port for his compatriot Aitor Karanka, 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, Middlesbrough. team has been working in a way, not Voro 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 Premier League 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 Spain at desperately needed. Juan Antonio Pizzi, Nuno Espirito KARANKA BACKING phere by “asking for long balls”. Star Sixes, a six-a-side indoor tourna- “The owners should maybe change Santo, Gary Neville, 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 Italy 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 midfielder 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.