WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2014 SPORTS Ferguson backs United overhaul

LONDON: Former Manchester United man- my products Tyler Blackett, Jesse Lingard, ager Alex Ferguson has praised Louis van Saidy Janko, Andreas Pereira, Reece James, Gaal for overhauling the squad at Old Paddy McNair and Tom Thorpe all being Trafford while maintaining the Premier handed their debuts. League club’s long tradition of giving “What has pleased me with Louis is he’s young players a chance. given seven young kids their debuts this Dutchman Van Gaal, who took over at year and that falls into line with the history United in July, spent around 150 million of our club,” Ferguson explained. pounds ($238.8 million) to bring in six new “I think the supporters particularly players, including Argentine Angel di Maria respond very, very well when a young play- for a British record fee. er gets his opportunity. Young people have The former Netherlands coach also let to be given an opportunity, particularly if go a number of players who were signed or they’ve got ability. If you wait too long, nurtured by Ferguson, causing critics to they just stagnate and you lose them.” question the club’s new policy of signing Ferguson retired in May 2013 and his foreigners in favour of home-grown talent. successor David Moyes was sacked in April But Ferguson, who lead the club to 13 as United ended seventh in the table, their league titles during his glittering 26-year lowest finish in the since its reign, backed Van Gaal’s recruitment policy, inception in 1992. which included signing Colombia striker Van Gaal, who has won league titles Radamel Falcao on a season-long loan. with Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, “It was really important because you has endured a difficult start to his Old need quality at Manchester United, you Trafford career. need the best players,” Ferguson, speaking His team suffered an opening day home for the first time about Van Gaal’s start at defeat by Swansea City and twice squan- , told MUTV. “When you can dered two-goal leads at promoted identify ability like that needed by Leicester City to lose 5-3 either side of a Manchester United, they have the humiliating 4-0 thrashing at third-tier MK resources to do that. Those are fees I never Dons in the League Cup. quite equalled but nonetheless they were Ferguson, who won 38 trophies for needing quite a big injection this year. United, pointed to his own difficult start “Maybe he’s doing the right thing to clear when he was appointed manager in 1986. the decks and build his own team, because “He’s not been getting the results that he’s got the experience and coaching abili- are expected but when I came to the club I SINGAPORE: Brazil forward (right) vies for the ball in a friendly match against Japan team at the National stadium in Singapore. —AFP ty to do that. I think the way he’s didn’t get the results I expected myself at approached is brilliant,” he added. the beginning,” he said. “Louis is going through that same YOUTH PLAYERS process and there’s no doubt in my mind Neymar slams four past Japan The 72-year-old Scotsman also said he he will sort it out.” United are fourth in the was encouraged that the Dutchman was league with 11 points and visit West giving youth players a chance with acade- Bromwich Albion on Monday. —Reuters SINGAPORE: Barcelona superstar Neymar pierced the Japanese defence once again when when he rounded a defender and shot with the thumped four goals past Japan in a spectacular he evaded the attentions of Tsukasa Shiotani on goal at his mercy, only to see the side-netting solo performance as Brazil hammered the Asian the left and went close with a shot which rolled bulge. champions 4-0 in Singapore yesterday. across the goalface. The 22-year-old was tormenting the defence The 22-year-old Barcelona forward was a But Japan were not prepared to roll over and and he set up first Liverpool’s Coutinho and then class apart at Singapore’s national stadium as he Yu Kobayashi flashed a volley over the crossbar 65th-minute substitute for carbon-copy scored all of Brazil’s goals and nearly provided as the Blue Samurai nearly found a quick reply. chances on the left which both went wide. more in front of a sell-out crowd. ’s Shinji Okazaki almost found the Kaka arrived to huge applause in the 72nd Neymar underlined his star billing as he target with a glancing header and Brazil dealt minute and he quickly drew the best from moved to 40 goals in just 58 games for Brazil and poorly with a corner on the stroke of half-time in Kawashima as his firm header, from a Neymar gave new coach a fourth straight win signs of hope for Japan. cross, was palmed onto the bar. with no goals conceded. But Japanese optimism receded three min- But the ball was not cleared and although The victory also rounded off a successful utes after the break when half-time substitute Kawashima kept out Coutinho’s fierce drive, Asian mini-tour for this year’s World Cup hosts Philippe Coutinho won possession in midfield Neymar pounced on the rebound for his third on after Saturday’s convincing 2-0 win over arch- and prodded the ball forward for Neymar. 77 minutes. rivals Argentina in Beijing. With Japan’s offside trap sprung, Neymar had Four minutes later and Neymar got his fourth Neymar looked dangerous from the off. In an plenty of time to pick his spot and put his sec- of the night, and 40th in a Brazil shirt, when he ominous start, he had a penalty shout waved ond goal of the night past Kawashima. met Kaka’s hanging cross from the left at the far away and grazed the side-netting with a free- Okazaki, now bolstered by substitute Keisuke post. kick. He duly put Brazil ahead on 18 minutes Honda, remained industrious and made the Substitute Yoichiro Kakitani nearly grabbed a when he ran on to ’s penetrating Brazilian woodwork shudder with a fierce shot late consolation for Japan. But there was to be through-ball, scampered around goalkeeper Eiji that cannoned off the near post. no fillip as the Blue Samurai look ahead to their Kawashima and finished with aplomb. Neymar Neymar should have have sealed his hat-trick Asian Cup defence in January.—AFP My ‘Clasico’ comeback is

EAST HARTFORD: In this Oct. 10, 2014, file photo, ’ makes a move with the ball. —AP fate, says Barca’s Suarez Klinsmann looks to old guard BARCELONA: Luis Suarez is likely to play his Suarez will join and Neymar in a to take on ‘mentor’ roles first competitive game for Barcelona in ’s formidable Barca attack and he said he was “Clasico” against Real Madrid later this month “hungry” to help the club return to winning BOCA RATON: United States coach “That is my message for the guys who and he says it is no coincidence his biting ban ways after they failed to win major silverware Juergen Klinsmann welcomes back his key have been on the block for so long now, expires the day before one of the biggest fix- last season. World Cup starters for late yesterday’s that they help that younger generation. tures in world soccer. “All I can say is that I have arrived with the friendly against Honduras and hopes they The biggest learning curve the young guys FIFA sidelined the controversial Uruguay desire to be a success at Barca that I am hungry take on ‘mentor’ roles with new faces in his can go through is by getting on the field striker for four months and banned him for nine to win titles,” Suarez said. squad. Klinsmann fielded experimental and getting minutes.” competitive internationals after he bit Italy “I have the chance to play for the team that I teams in friendlies against Czech Republic Klinsmann has a chance to experiment defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup have always wanted to play for and it’s a chance and Ecuador but will field a side with a mix ahead of next June’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, finals in Brazil. I intend to make the most of. I want to show the of youth and experience at FAU Stadium the first of four years with summer tourna- The ban ends on Oct. 24, meaning Suarez, fans that I want to be a success at Barca and to against the regional rivals. ments. Forward and “This is the period of time to do it,” he who had already been sanctioned twice for bit- help my team mates as much as I can.” , and Michael said. “Then the closer we get to the Gold ing opponents and once when he was accused Bradley return along with central defender Cup, which is a real tournament that hope- of racially abusing Manchester United defender WRONGLY ACCUSED . Klinsmann wants to see them fully qualifies us for the Confederations Patrice Evra, could run out at the Bernabeu the Suarez said he had found it difficult to admit guide new faces such as striker Bobby Cup, then you zoom in and it is clearly following day if selected by Barca coach Luis to his attack on Chiellini and it had taken him a Wood and full back . about getting the job done.” Enrique. few days before he was able to “face the truth”. “It’s a process between two World Cup Jones, whose combative displays at the “You know, I’m the kind of person who “Those were days when I didn’t want to cycles, you push the restart button. You World Cup in Brazil were one of the high- believes that things happen for a reason,” know about it. I just wanted to be with my wife want the more experienced players to get lights of US’s run to the last 16, is a player Suarez said in an interview published on Barca’s and children, who supported me through that challenged and you want the younger Klinsmann believes can have a big impact website (www.fcbarcelona.es) yesterday. time. players to come out of their shell and break on the new kids. “Out of all 19 teams in the league, it’s pre- “I didn’t want to listen to anybody, or speak in,” said Klinsmann, a former “Jermaine is a great example because he cisely against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu that to anybody. I didn’t want to accept it.” He admit- coach and World Cup winning striker. played many years in the Champions I’ll make my comeback,” added the 27-year-old. ted he had made mistakes but said he had “But at the same time when you create League, so really at the highest level,” he “There must be a reason.” been wrongly accused of racism over the Evra that competitive environment and intense said. training sessions, you also want the experi- “He went through a lot of up and downs Suarez has been training hard with his new incident. “I was accused without evidence and enced players to take the young ones in his career, he went through a lot of argu- team mates to make sure he is ready for action that’s what grieved me the most,” he said. “The under their wings. ments, changes, I don’t know how many when the ban expires and he does not appear others were actions when it was me who did “You almost want a mentor situation coaches. to have lost his instinct for goal. wrong. I accepted that and asked for forgive- where Clint Dempsey helps , “This is stuff we want him to commu- He netted a double for Uruguay in a 3-0 ness but the racism thing, when I was accused we want Jermaine Jones to talk to (mid- nicate to the younger generation. How friendly win over Oman on Monday, his second without evidence, that did upset me.” Barca are fielder) Mix Diskerud, and tell him ‘this is to deal with that, to adjust yourself to appearance for the South on their two points clear of Valencia at the top of La Liga what it takes, if you want to break through whatever is happening in a club environ- tour of the Middle East after he played in after seven matches and host Eibar on big time, you have got to do this’. ment.” —Reuters Friday’s 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia. Saturday.—Reuters Uruguay’s Luis Suarez Gignac stars as France beat Armenia

YEREVAN: Andre-Pierre Gignac marked his er Gignac, the leading scorer in Ligue 1, to due to injury, the chances kept coming for first start for France in more than four years start for Les Bleus for the first time since the 2- the visitors in the second half. When substi- with a goal and two assists as the Euro 2016 1 defeat to South Africa in the last match of tute ’s weaving run into the area hosts eased to a 3-0 friendly win in Armenia their disastrous 2010 World Cup campaign. was ended unceremoniously by Varazdat yesterday. Winning his 19th , Gignac needed just Haroyan, Gignac stepped up to send Gignac set up goals for Loic Remy and sub- eight minutes to make his presence felt, con- Berezovski the wrong way from the spot and stitute either side of con- trolling a long diagonal ball from Jeremy score his first international goal in exactly five verting a second-half penalty in Yerevan as Mathieu and crossing from the right side of years since netting in a 3-1 defeat of Austria. Didier Deschamps’ side followed up their 2-1 the box for Chelsea forward Remy to tap in at Remy and Gignac both had opportunities to friendly win over at the weekend the back post. add to the lead before the latter’s long with a comfortable victory. The 28-year-old almost got his name on through ball was picked up by Griezmann, Deschamps made eight changes to his the scoresheet eight minutes before the who rounded replacement ‘keeper Gevorg starting line-up from that win on Saturday, interval when he was left with just the ‘keep- Kasparov to complete the win. France are with goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, Raphael er to beat six yards from goal, but the veteran next in friendly action in November, when Varane and Blaise Matuidi the only players to Roman Berezovski got down well to save. they entertain Albania and , while keep their places. Karim Benzema, who had Nevertheless, against an Armenia side Armenia, who are yet to win in Euro 2016 ARMENIA: French Remy Cabella (center) kicks the ball during the friendly picked up a knock against Portugal, was deprived of ’s Henrikh qualifying Group I, go to Portugal next football match between Armenia and France. —AFP dropped to the bench to allow Marseille strik- Mkhitaryan and several other leading players month.—AFP