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Home , Dennis Aogo, Gabriel Martinelli, Granit Xhaka, Kyle Jamieson, Manu Trigueros

14 Established 1961 Sports Thursday, May 6, 2021 Villarreal stand in way of Arsenal vs Man Utd Europa League showdown

LONDON: Arsenal’s season appeared to be end- Arteta said that match was the perfect preparation ing with a whimper when they were reduced to 10 for the Villarreal game tonight. “Yes, because we men after falling 2-0 behind against Villarreal in had a strong and a very convincing performance,” last week’s first leg of their Europa League semi- he said. “We scored two goals, we kept a clean final. Instead, a precious away goal gave them sheet, won the points, and had some really strong hope they can finish an inconsistent campaign on individual performances too. “The only downside a high by setting up a showdown in the Polish city is the one with David (Luiz, who was injured dur- of Gdansk against Manchester United. ing the game) because we know how important he Arsenal are ninth in the table is to us. I think we lost him today.” and are unlikely to qualify for Europe next year Standing in Arsenal’s way is their former boss via that route but winning the Europa League and Europa League specialist , who would give them a ticket back to the Champions won the trophy three years in a row from 2014 League. ’s side won the FA Cup last when he was in charge of Sevilla and also took season but have failed to build on that triumph Arsenal to the 2019 final. Villarreal, who have nev- and are on course for a fifth consecutive finish er reached the final of the Champions League or outside the top four in the English top flight. Europa League, have put together a promotional The Spanish manager spoke last month of his video ahead of the clash against Arsenal starring belief that Arsenal — Champions League regulars Pau Torres, with the message: “Let’s flip the under former boss Arsene Wenger — have a script... It’s our time.” “responsibility” to deliver European football for next season. Their hopes hung by a thread when United romp was sent off with just over half an While Arsenal and Villarreal fans face a nervy hour to go in Spain last week after goals from night, Manchester United are virtually assured of Manu Trigueros and Raul Albiol had put the home a place in the final of a competition they won in side 2-0 up. 2017 after hammering Roma 6-2 in the first leg. VILA-REAL: Arsenal’s Brazilian striker , Arsenal’s Brazilian defender , But Nicolas Pepe stepped up to score from the United were in trouble when they were trailing 2-1 Villarreal’s Spanish forward and Arsenal’s Swiss hug after penalty spot to make the score 2-1 and give at Old Trafford last week but blitzed the Italians in the Europa League semi-final first leg football match between Villarreal and Arsenal at the Arsenal genuine hope they can reach a second the second half, with standout performances from Ceramica stadium in Vila-real on April 29, 2021. —AFP Europa League final in three years. Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returned to the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said after the game that scoresheet for the first time since early March in the job was not yet done but he is on the brink tions after Sunday’s match against Liverpool was years would not magically ease the festering Arsenal’s 2-0 win against Newcastle on Sunday. of ending his semi-final hoodoo and reaching a postponed following a pitch invasion at Old tensions at the club but it would add gloss to a The 31-year-old has recovered after contracting final for the first time as United boss. The Trafford as part of a protest against United’s season in which they are likely to finish second malaria while on international duty with Gabon. Norwegian will hope there will be no distrac- owners, the Glazer family. A first trophy in four in the Premier League. —AFP

Mourinho’s imminent arrival with the same kind of City’s Pep Guardiola have News in brief No longer the special hyperbole that greeted his decision to join reaped the rewards of Tottenham in 2019. “When Jose became available, connecting with their Flick favorite as Germany’s coach one, Mourinho heads to we immediately jumped at the chance to speak with players on a personal lev- one of the greatest managers of all time,” Pinto said. el, the acerbic Mourinho BERLIN: Outgoing Bayern Munich trainer Hansi Flick Roma in search of revival Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was no less suffered 10 league is the hot favorite to become Germany’s next head gushing two years ago, but his praise ended up defeats in a single cam- coach after receiving the backing of Oliver Bierhoff, LONDON: For over a decade, hiring Jose Mourinho being laced with irony. “In Jose we have one of the paign for the first time who will ultimately decide Joachim Loew’s replace- was a guarantee of instant success, but the new most successful managers in football. We believe he this season. ment, in a podcast yesterday. Flick, Loew’s assistant Roma manager’s decline has been so steep that he will bring energy and belief to the dressing room,” Mourinho hopes a coach when Germany won the 2014 World Cup, has heads to Italy facing a last chance to salvage his Levy said just 17 months before sacking the return to Italy can revive told Bayern he wants to leave at the end of the season tarnished reputation. Portuguese coach. his career in the same despite winning seven titles in the last 18 months. Mourinho agreed a three-year contract with way he rejuvenated Inter Jose Mourinho Loew will step down after 15 years in charge of Roma on Tuesday and will replace their current Out of touch Milan from 2008 to 2010. Germany after the Euro 2020 finals and last week the boss Paulo Fonseca at the end of this season. The Mourinho’s ability to get into the minds of his He won the Italian title twice and was named FIFA’s German FA (DFB) said they want to speak to Flick 58-year-old was ranked among the world’s top players, cajoling them to reach new heights, was world coach of the year in 2010 after landing a about taking over. Flick was Loew’s assistant coach managers after winning the Champions League at unparalleled during his golden spells at Porto, Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia treble. with Germany from 2006 until 2014, when he then Porto and Inter Milan, while enjoying domestic glo- Chelsea and Inter Milan. But he has looked increas- However, Mourinho will inherit an ageing Roma became sports director of the German FA until ry with Chelsea and Real Madrid. ingly out of touch with a younger generation of team, whose flaws were laid bare in last week’s 6-2 January 2017. —AFP But Mourinho’s midas touch has faded in recent players less responsive to his tough love approach defeat at Manchester United in the Europa League years and his last three jobs all ended in the sack at and bored by his rigid tactics. semi-final first leg. Edin Dzeko, Pedro, Henrikh Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham. He left Evidence of Mourinho’s steep decline was given Mkhitaryan and Chris Smalling are over 30 and Tottenham in April without winning a trophy during a high-definition gloss when Amazon’s All or Mourinho might struggle to lead Roma to Infantino urges restraint his reign for the first time since departing Uniao de Nothing documentary series went behind the Champions League qualification, let alone challenge Leiria in 2002. Once hailed as a serial winner, scenes in his first season at Tottenham. Dele Alli and champions Inter. LAUSANNE: FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he Mourinho finds himself reduced to working for seri- Danny Rose felt the lash of Mourinho’s tongue on Tottenham, with a new stadium and Harry Kane is not in favor of sanctions against the 12 clubs that al underachievers. Like Tottenham — last crowned camera, with Gareth Bale and Toby Alderweireld and Son Heung-min on the roster, were a far more tried to launch a European Super League. He said that English champions in 1961 — Roma, currently lan- publicly criticized by the manager this season. attractive proposition but Mourinho couldn’t end while sanctions should come “first and foremost” from guishing in seventh place in Serie A, fit that descrip- Boasting that his coaching methods were “sec- their trophy drought. Mourinho poked fun at himself national football bodies, followed by UEFA and finally tion perfectly. The Giallorossi won the last of their ond to nobody in the world” and saying “same in a recent TV advert when he admitted it “isn’t FIFA, he said “I always prefer dialogue to conflict, three Serie A titles in 2001 and their only European coach, different players” after one defeat, Mourinho easy being special”. But the self-appointed ‘special even in the most delicate situations”. He urged “listen- Cup final appearance ended in defeat against blamed everyone but himself as Tottenham slid one’ hasn’t lived up to that brash boast for some ing to everyone” to understand “how we have come to Liverpool 37 years ago. down the Premier League table. while and few expect his fortunes to change in this point”. Infantino said FIFA were working to There was a whiff of desperation about Roma While Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp and Manchester Rome. —AFP reform of the transfer market and planned to reintro- general manager Tiago Pinto as he hailed duce licenses for agents and wants to cap their com- missions. He also suggested “the introduction of salary ceilings, ceilings on transfer fees”, “a limit on the num- firmed that the final two Matchweeks of ber of players per club, as well as the obligation to Premier League the 2020/21 season will be limited to have a certain number of locally-trained players” and home fans, subject to the Government “minimum rest periods” between games. —AFP fans to return for easing lockdown restrictions in the United Kingdom,” the Premier League final two matchdays said in a statement yesterday. “Matchweek 37 will now be played on Hertha dismiss Lehmann LONDON: Fans will return to Premier League stadiums for the season’s final 18-19 May, with the final matches of the two rounds of fixtures later this month, season kicking off at 16:00 BST BERLIN: Former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper (1500GMT) on Sunday 23 May as has been dismissed from the super- subject to the UK government’s expect- ed easing of lockdown restrictions. planned.” visory board of side Hertha Berlin after No away fans will be allowed to ease inadvertently sending a WhatsApp message to for- Under the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, crowds of up 10,000 or 25 operational challenges, but the English mer Germany defender Dennis Aogo, whose father top-flight clubs are hopeful of a return is Nigerian. Aogo appeared as a pundit during the percent of capacity will be permitted from May 17. As a result, the Premier to full stadiums for the start of next sea- Champions League semi-finals for Sky on Tuesday son. “Fans have been greatly missed at and in the WhatsApp message sent to Aogo, League has altered its fixture schedule to ensure that each of the 20 teams gets Premier League matches and this marks Lehmann asked “Is Dennis actually your token a key step towards full stadiums, includ- black guy?” Aogo took a screen shot of the mes- the opportunity to host at least one home match with a crowd. ing away fans, from the start of the sage and posted to his 81,000 followers on 2021/22 season,” added the statement. WEST BROMWICH: A general view of the stadium before the English Instagram with the caption “WOW, are you seri- The UK has given more than 34 mil- Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and lion people a first vaccine dose with A series of test events have already ous? @jenslehmannofficial The message was prob- been held as supporters slowly return to Wolverhampton Wanderers at The Hawthorns in West Bromwich, central ably not meant for me!!!” Lehmann attempted to case numbers and hospitalizations from England on May 3, 2021. —AFP coronavirus falling. Bar a short-lived watching live sport in Britain. Leicester’s explain his comment. “In a private message from FA Cup semi-final win over my mobile phone to Dennis Aogo, an impression experiment with maximum crowds of Southampton hosted 4,000 fans at Leicester and Chelsea on May 15. final could rise to 50 percent capacity was created for which I apologized in conversation 4,000 in areas with low COVID-19 Wembley last month, while double that Wembley is also set to host eight at the 90,000 seater home of English with Dennis,” Lehmann wrote on his Twitter rates in December, the entire 2020/21 number saw Manchester City lift the matches at Euro 2020 with at least 25 football with a further easing of account. Lehmann did not say who his original English season has been played behind League Cup on April 24. A crowd of percent capacity. There is hope the restrictions expected across England message was intended for. —AFP closed doors. “The Premier League has today con- 21,000 will see the FA Cup final between crowd for the Euro semi-finals and on June 21. —AFP

Championship final against India. least 10 days, but he’s in pretty good spirits,” said Todd , Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Moeen Ali and IPL’s foreign The , the world’s richest Greenberg, the Australian Cricketers’ Association chief Sam and are beginning a 10-day hotel cricket tournament, was suspended on executive. quarantine after arriving back in Britain, the England stars scramble to Tuesday after several cases popped up in the six-city Warner posted a drawing of his family made by one and Wales Cricket Board said. World Cup-winning tournament’s bio-secure “bubble”. It left Australian crick- of his daughters on Instagram, with a caption reading: captain Eoin Morgan, Dawid Malan and Chris Jordan eters in limbo, as they are banned from returning home “Please Daddy come home straight away. We miss you have yet to leave India but are expected back by the escape COVID-hit India until at least May 15 after Canberra shut its borders and a lot and love you.” It gathered almost 850,000 likes in end of the week. threatened anyone entering from India with jail time. The a few hours. India, which has reported more than 20 million infec- SYDNEY: Cricket authorities in Australia, New Zealand group is likely to be flown by charter flight back to tions so far, with more than 220,000 deaths, is due to and England rushed to evacuate top players from Australia once the ban has been lifted, with the help of the ‘People are dying’ host the Twenty20 World Cup from October. The cash- COVID-hit India yesterday, after the lucrative Indian Board of Control for Cricket in India. Two more cricketers were confirmed as testing posi- rich IPL attracts many of the world’s top cricketers, Premier League was abandoned following a number of “The BCCI is working through arrangements to repa- tive for coronavirus — Delhi Capitals leg-spinner Amit including players from Australia, England and South positive tests. triate all the players, the support staff, and umpires com- Mishra and Sunrisers Hyderabad wicketkeeper-batsman Africa. Cricket South Africa also said it was in contact Cricket Australia said plans were under way to fly mentators as quickly and safely as possible,” said Nick Wriddhiman Saha. said it was try- with their players and support staff, working to bring 38 players and staff — including superstars Steve Hockley, Cricket Australia’s interim CEO. They are “work- ing to organise a charter to Britain for Test players Kane them home. Smith, David Warner and Pat Cummins — to the rela- ing to move the entire cohort out of India... the BCCI has Williamson, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson and Mitchell The IPL started in early April, with the decision to go tive safety of the Maldives or Sri Lanka in the next been working on a range of options. That’s now narrowed Santner, as well as three players signed to English coun- ahead in the face of a deepening health crisis prompting “two to three days”. down to the Maldives and Sri Lanka”. ty sides. criticism from some, while others defended it as a wel- Eight of England’s 11 players arrived back in The group departing India will not include 79-Test Britain is currently only allowing its own citizens to come distraction. “It has been unedifying at times watch- London, and New Zealand Cricket said it was arrang- veteran Michael Hussey, the Chennai Super Kings batting travel home from India but a New Zealand Cricket ing this tournament when people are dying just up the ing for its Test players to fly to Britain ahead of their coach, who has tested positive and will remain in isola- spokesman said “we’re confident of getting border road,” former England captain Nasser Hussain wrote in series there and next month’s World Test tion. “He’s in for a stint of isolation in his hotel room for at exemptions”. England’s Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, the Daily Mail. —AFP