TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016 SPORTS Conte to be cleared of fraud, affirm lawyers

MILAN: Future Chelsea manager The former Juventus coach is Following a hearing in Cremona on being fixed for betting purposes ended Conte’s lawyers have elected for a Antonio Conte will be cleared of sport- accused of sporting fraud, having Monday, they believe he will be cleared. with a 1-0 away win for Conte’s side at fast-track trial in order to get it ing fraud charges because he is “a total failed to expose an allegedly rigged “He’s a total stranger to the betting Albinoleffe. Siena gained promotion to wrapped up before the European stranger” to the world of sports bet- second-division match in May 2011 world and that’s why he will be cleared that season, with that success championships begin in France on June ting, his lawyers claimed yesterday. when he was coach of one of the by the judge,” Francesco Arata, one of earning Conte the job at Juventus, the 10. Conte, who steered Juventus to Conte’s appointment as Chelsea man- teams involved, Siena. Conte’s lawyers, was quoted as saying club he graced as a player for 13 years. three consecutive Serie A titles in 2012- ager last week was overshadowed Conte, who denies any wrongdoing, throughout the Italian media following In 2012, when he was in charge of 2014, will take over at Stamford Bridge when an Italian court called for the 46- was also ordered to pay an 8,000 euros the hearing. “The sports betting world Juventus, Conte was hit with a 10- after Euro 2016 in France. He will suc- year-old to receive a six-month sus- ($9000) fine, by Cremona court public and Conte’s world are at opposite ends month ban by the Italian football feder- ceed , appointed interim pended prison sentence over match- prosecutor Roberto Di Martino. But of the scale.” ation (FIGC) over the affair, reduced to manager after Jose Mourinho’s sacking fixing allegations. Conte’s lawyers are hitting back. The May 29, 2011 game suspected of four months on appeal. in December. — AFP

Van Gaal’s sliding doors moment impacted Man United, Spurs LONDON: What appeared a snub two dugout at just the right time but perhaps years ago could have been a lucky took the United job at the wrong time. escape for Tottenham and a missed Inheriting a team that finished five opportunity for . points below Tottenham in 2013-14, Van Had Van Gaal not spurned Gaal did turn that around to a six-point Tottenham’s interest in 2014, the advantage the following May to steer Dutchman could have been managing United back into the Champions League, the London club rather than Manchester but only by finishing fourth. United in Sunday’s United was then embarrassed in the match. group stage and may not return next Instead, with the smart, ambitious season as it is currently four points Mauricio Pochettino at the helm of a rap- behind fourth-placed Manchester City, idly developing young squad, Tottenham with six rounds remaining. blitzed a ragged United 3-0 and exposed Reviving a fallen power has proved Van Gaal’s flawed tactics and badly-con- beyond the 64-year-old coach despite structed squad. being allowed to spend more than $350 Not only did it end a 15-year drought million on new talent. Young players, without a home win over United but it notably teenage forward Marcus gave Tottenham a 12-point lead over the Rashford, only gained first-team oppor- visitors in the league. tunities due to injuries. Such a gulf would have been unthink- Van Gaal’s 2014 snub led to Spurs able during ’s United reign resorting to their backup plan. when points were rarely dropped against Pochettino was prized away from Tottenham, which was renowned for Southampton, securing the services of managerial instability and cashing in on an impressive younger coach albeit one its best players. without a trophy on his C.V. The 44-year- “Lads,” former United captain Roy old former Argentina international has Keane recalled Ferguson telling them steadily - without much fanfare or blus- before games. “It’s Tottenham.” ter - steered Spurs up the standings, with Now, while Tottenham is second and only Leicester ahead of them. on course for its highest finish in more than 50 years, United is languishing out- TOP SCORER side the Champions League places in Had Van Gaal taken the Tottenham job : Wolfsburg’s Carlos Ascues, left, vies for the ball with teammate Dante during a training session at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in fifth. “In the balance we are still ahead,” would he have been as astute as Madrid, yesterday. Wolfsburg will play a Champions League soccer match against Real Madrid today. — AP Van Gaal said, comparing the two teams Pochettino, who has turned academy after Sunday’s loss. “And you take one product into the league’s top match as something that I have to say, scorer, developed third-tier ‘The challenge is bigger’? The challenge into an England international Zidane seeks patience in is always bigger in a bigger club. and transformed record-signing Erik “But I (would have) liked to also sign Lamela from the flop he inherited into a for Tottenham Hotspur and (chairman) first-team mainstay? Tottenham has been Daniel Levy knows that. But the chal- shedding its chokers reputation and Madrid recovery mission lenge was bigger for me in Manchester holding its own in second place under United and shall always be bigger.” Pochettino. Van Gaal, though, bristled on Undoubtedly, United with its $3 bil- Sunday at suggestions that his sliding MADRID: Real Madrid coach games since he took charge in January. “The the Germans were underestimated by Madrid in lion-plus valuation and reputed 659 mil- doors moment in 2014 saw him make insisted he remains positive his side will over- message is patience because we know anything the first leg will certainly not be repeated in the lion global followers is the bigger club. the wrong coaching move. come a 2-0 first-leg deficit to reach the can happen in football,” he added. “As we’ve seen Spanish capital. “If it was the case that Real had But more immediately, it is Tottenham “I’m sorry for Tottenham but Champions League semi-finals against in -with Barcelona’s goal we were 13 underestimated us in the first leg, they definitely with the more balanced, hungrier Manchester United is a bigger club,” Van Wolfsburg today. Madrid need to end a run of points behind and now we are four. That is the won’t do that again,” he said. However, German younger squad. Gaal told reporters at White Hart Lane. bowing out in the Champions League the last great thing about football. “We have to keep our international Andre Schuerrle claimed his side Van Gaal looked all set to take his job “And I think it is a little bit pathetic that eight times they have lost the first leg, but heads, we are not going to win (the tie) in 10 or were “one million percent ready” to continue in England at Tottenham before the you ask that. Because they have won 3-0, Zidane also stressed the need for patience as an 15 minutes. their historic European run and the former United hot seat became vacant with the it’s easy to ask that. But OK, you enjoy away goal for the Germans would leave Real “It will be much more difficult if they score a Chelsea forward is hopeful of killing the tie off firing of Ferguson’s ill-fated successor, yourself.” needing four to go through. goal. Anything can happen, but we need to be with an away goal. “We have already shown that . Van Gaal, preparing to lead Van Gaal doesn’t seem to be enjoying “I am always positive and I achieved some- concentrated from the first minute.” Madrid will we have the quality up front and if we get a goal, the Netherlands into the 2014 World himself at United, with no sign he will thing as a player with this philosophy,” said be at full strength as Karim Benzema has recov- that will make it all a lot easier.” — AFP Zidane, who scored the winner for Real in the ered from a knee knock that forced him off in Cup, naturally chose the record 20-time replicate the trophy success he enjoyed 2002 Champions League final. the first leg. English champions over a club without a at Ajax, Bayern Munich and Barcelona. “What most concerns me is to see the faces of league title since 1961. With a second season ending without my players and they are very focused on the GREAT TEAM Matches on TV “I could have opted for an easier job,” a trophy and United not denying they game, so that eases the pressure. “We need to Captain Sergio Ramos returns from suspen- Van Gaal explained at the time. “If I had are planning a managerial change in the score, but we have 90 minutes or more to do so.” sion, whilst the likes of , Toni Kroos (Local Timings) gone to Tottenham, the job would not summer, Van Gaal looked doomed. Madrid’s fortunes have turned around dramati- and Luka Modric were rested for Saturday’s 4-0 have been as enormous.” And if United overlooks Jose cally in La Liga in recent weeks as they came thrashing of Eibar. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Mourinho again, the American owners from behind to end Barcelona’s 39-game “We have a great team full of talent and I JOB AT THE WRONG TIME could be battling with Tottenham once unbeaten run earlier this month before closing think that the whole side is capable of coming Man City v PSG 21:45 United’s pursuit of Van Gaal looked more for the services of a manager. to within four points of the leaders with six back tomorrow with the help from our fans,” said savvier when he steered an under- Pochettino’s work at White Hart Lane has games to go after Barca lost again at Real Modric. Wolfsburg weren’t so successful at the beIN SPORTS 1 HD Sociedad on Saturday. And Zidane is hopeful weekend as a 1-1 draw at home to Mainz all but whelming Dutch team to third place at made him the standout choice to lead Real Madrid v Wolfsburg 21:45 the World Cup. Just look how even quali- United. Soon he could have the same the momentum of their league form will carry ended their hopes of qualifying for next season’s fying for Euro 2016 proved beyond his decision to make as Van Gaal: Tottenham into a famous night at the Santiago Bernabeu, Champions League through the Bundesliga. beIN SPORTS 2 HD successors. Van Gaal vacated the Oranje or United? — AP where Madrid have scored 37 goals in nine Coach Dieter Hecking admitted any chance

City sells star power to SOCCER BRIEFS

Getafe sack coach Escriba Feghouli,” Valencia said in a statement yesterday. “During fill venue against PSG MADRID: La Liga strugglers Getafe have sacked coach the processing of said procedure, and awaiting the reso- Fran Escriba after a 12-game winless run saw them slip into lution of the matter, the player will be suspended as a MANCHESTER: Manchester City is trying But it has coincided with City’s best run ’ TURN the relegation zone with just six games remaining. “Fran cautionary measure.” Feghouli was introduced as a sec- to harness the star power of Paris Saint- in Europe’s elite competition. “If you are With center half suspend- Escriba is no longer the coach of Getafe,” the club said in a ond-half substitute at the weekend as Valencia took a Germain forwards Zlatan Ibrahimovic and superstitious, we continue winning ed, the versatile Marquinhos is expected statement yesterday. “The club thanks his work for this huge step towards ensuring their place in the Spanish Angel Di Maria in a late bid to fill the sta- when they boo the anthem,” Pellegrini to line up in central defense for PSG. institution and we wish him the best in his professional top flight next season with victory in Pako Ayestaran’s dium. City told The Associated Press yes- said. Here are some other things to Marquinhos was left out of the side future.” The club have yet to name Escriba’s successor, but first home game in charge since replacing the sacked terday afternoon that it had 1,595 know about today’s match: in the first leg to make way for the Madrid sports daily reported former midfielder Gary Neville. However, Spanish sports daily Marca and remaining seats out of 53,045 for today’s return of Serge Aurier. The defender Javier Casquero is set to be put in charge for the rest of the Valencian newspaper Superdeporte reported Feghouli second leg of the Champions League VERRATTI DILEMMA was right back into the side following a season. Getafe are two points from safety and face the refused to take part in a warm-down after the game hav- quarterfinals. The club website was still PSG coach is debating club suspension for an expletive-laced daunting task of a visit from Real Madrid on Saturday. ing also missed a training session last week. Feghouli is showing availability in many parts of the whether to risk starting central midfielder rant on social media where he insulted expected to leave the club when his contract expires at Etihad Stadium as radio stations in the against City. The Italy inter- Blanc and teammates. Marquinhos was FIFA warn Nigeria over elections the end of the season. —Agencies city began airing ads calling the match national is trying to recover from a groin a regular in Aurier’s absence and felt he ABUJA: Football’s world governing body FIFA yesterday “unmissable.” injury that has kept him sidelined since should have started at right back told Nigeria they risk suspension after a court ruling There’s still much to play for, with City Feb. 20. Blanc is desperate to have him instead of him. Blanc’s decision to which nullified the elections of the executive committee holding a slight advantage after securing back given how cheaply PSG gave the select Aurier instead - given the circum- of the Nigeria Football Federation. “The decision of the a 2-2 draw in Paris tomorrow. ball away in midfield in the first leg, with stances and given Aurier’s lack of match Federal High Court in (the central city of) Jos, if imple- City manager is try- both of City’s goals stemming from slop- fitness - faced criticism in France. Aurier mented, would likely be considered as an interference in ing to end his career with the club in May py mistakes near the halfway line. With was at fault for City’s second goal, los- the internal affairs of the NFF,” the letter read. Should the by delivering the club’s first European midfielder suspended for ing the ball as he pushed up into mid- ruling be implemented, FIFA would consider sanctions, title. Winning could also be the only route the game, Blanc has an even greater need field and then getting involved in a mix- “including the suspension of the NFF”, the letter dated back into the competition next season for Verratti. One solution could be to up with center half in the April 11 from acting secretary general Markus Kattne, when is in charge, with bring Verratti on in the second half. penalty area.— AP added. FIFA statutes dictate that member states should City’s place in the top four of the Premier “manage their affairs independently with no influence League not yet secured. “The fans maybe from third parties”. The warning came after the court last for different reasons have not been 100 week ruled that the September 2014 election of NFF percent (attending games) in this president Amaju Pinnick was null and void. The case European competition,” Pellegrini said against Pinnick’s election dates back two years when yesterday. “But as we continue further Chris Giwa claimed he had been elected NFF president they will (come). They know tomorrow is but FIFA did not endorse the vote and again threatened a very important achievement for the suspension unless the vote was re-run. club so I don’t have any doubt we will have ... a full capacity.” Feghouli suspended by Valencia It’s the latest sign of an uneasy rela- MADRID: Valencia have suspended Algerian interna- tionship with the Champions League tional Sofiane Feghouli until the completion of a discipli- ISTANBUL: Supporters of Besiktas football club and competition organizer UEFA, which nary procedure against the 26-year-old amid reports he cheer their team before the start of the Turkish Spor sanctioned City and PSG because their refused to take part in a training session following Toto Super league football match between Besiktas owners spent too much to strengthen MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s French defender Bacary Sagna (L) and Sunday’s 2-1 win over Sevilla. “Valencia have decided to and Bursaspor at vodafone arena stadium yesterday their squads. Throughout the season Manchester City’s Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini (C) attend a press con- open a disciplinary procedure involving player Sofiane City has booed the Champions League ference following a team training session in Manchester, northern England in Istanbul. — AFP anthem when it is played before games. yesterday. — AFP