WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2014 SPORTS Italy coach Conte shrugs off wages controversy

ROME: New Italy coach Antonio Conte brushed aside controversy over his wages, which will be part funded by the national federation’s spon- sors, when he was officially presented yesterday. “Nobody imposes anything on me. My eyes and those of my assistants will be the judge, not sponsors nor newspapers,” he told reporters after succeeding . Conte, who was appointed last week and takes charge of his first match against Netherlands in a friendly in Bari on Sept. 4, previously led Juventus to three successive Serie A titles in as many seasons. The media pointed out a possible conflict of interest after the Italian federation (FIGC) said it had reached an agreement with sponsors, including sportswear manufacturers Puma, to help fund Conte’s wages. “Everyone who knows me knows that this is not a problem,” said the new coach after signing his contract. “My con- tract falls within Italian federation parameters. There is a winning mentality and it’s right for the FIGC to reach an agreement with the sponsors. “Unlike my predecessors I have given up all my image rights,” added Conte. “For me the contro- versy over this contract is secondary, I want to work and there is a long and tortuous road in front of us. “I will prove myself with facts, not with words, ROME: New Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Carlo Tavecchio (right) poses with as I have always done.” FIGC president Carlo Italy’s national football team new coach Antonio Conte, prior to a press conference in Rome Tavecchio said the agreement with the sponsors yesterday. — AFP was a way of getting the federation out of a cor- ond time in a row the four-times champions had dropped if they committed serious acts of indis- ner. “This was borne out of sporting necessity fallen at the first hurdle. “I live for victories...and cipline in club games. “I prefer the word behav- and the economic reality. We couldn’t get a I’m here to bring that mentality,” said Conte, iour. Code is a word used by lawyers and I like to leader like Conte at a low cost,” he explained. adding that “only real men can get over difficul- be more practical,” he added. “I will make all the “We wanted the best, while bearing in mind the ties. “I know the challenge I face and I’m not selections according to my moral standards.” reality of the federation, and we managed to afraid of it. If I had to choose between someone Conte promised to work closely with the Serie A come up with something in three or four days.” who is a good player and a great man, and teams. “My aim is to have a good rapport with all someone who is a great player and an ordinary the clubs and players, a constant and intense World Cup man, I will always choose the first one. “Any rapport,” he said. “If we want to improve it’s only Prandelli quit after his team were knocked Italian player can be picked but you have to right the national coach is in touch with the out in the group stages of the World Cup follow- deserve the blue shirt.” clubs, to know how they play, their injuries and ing 1-0 defeats to Costa Rica and Uruguay, leav- Conte said he would drop Prandelli’s code of specific work. That’s how we can improve and ing Italian football at a low ebb. It was the sec- ethics, under which players were automatically build something.” - Reuters Super League foreigners will

MADRID: Argentinean football player Cristian Ansaldi poses with the ball during his boost India football: Djordjic official presentation at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid following his signing with Spanish club Atletico de Madrid on August 18, 2014. — AFP STOCKHOLM: Foreign players who join India’s organization to work as a team and win games. right direction,” he said, noting the positive influ- Super League are not just mercenaries chasing “People love football. You can see how many ence that foreigners have had in the US and China one final big payday but they will help to establish Indians watch the World Cup, how many watch in inspiring young players. “I think India has to Atletico struggle to keep up soccer in the cricket-mad country, former the Premier League. They have football in their concentrate on the youth first of all if they are Manchester United midifelder Bojan Djordjic said. blood, not just cricket. These big players will help going to have a team that is going to qualify at in arms race with Real, Barca The well-travelled 32-year-old is one of 49 interna- to raise the profile,” Djordjic added. Winner of the some time in the near future for a World Cup. They tional players who will be up for grabs in the draft young player of the year at Manchester United in are so low in rankings that something needs to MADRID: Just three months after remarkably Rodriguez, whilst Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor tomorrow ahead of the inaugural Super League 2000, Djordjic only made two appearances for the happen.” Though the deals offered to Djordjic and breaking Barcelona and Real Madrid’s grip on the Navas will rival Iker Casillas to be number one. “I season, which starts in October. The eight-team Premier League club but still went on to enjoy a his foreign compatriots are lucrative, he rejects the title, Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone think we have a better team than last season Super League will feature teams from cities such successful career, winning league titles with Red suggestion that players who are past their best are has denied any repeat of their miracle champi- because we have signed three players that add as Mumbai, Delhi, Goa and Bangalore, and run Star Belgrade in Serbia, Videoton in Hungary, and going to India simply to cash in. “When a young onship triumph is possible. “We have to try to quality to the team,” Real coach Carlo Ancelotti over three months until December. AIK in Sweden. player sees David Trezeguet in front of the goal - compete with Sevilla, Valencia and Athletic said on Monday. Of the three title contenders, The top four sides will qualify for the semi- you don’t lose that instinct, you don’t lose that Bilbao for the Champions League places,” he though, it is Barcelona who have undergone the finals, which will be played over two legs, with the Make it in Bollywood touch. Even Alan Shearer now would probably claimed on Monday ahead of his side’s Spanish most significant change as they look to bounce winners advancing to a one-off final. Strict rules He spoke to Reuters at an Indian restaurant in score more goals than some of the Premier Super Cup first-leg against Real yesterday. “With back from a first trophyless season in six years. apply to player rosters, with each team required to Stockholm, a stone’s throw from the former League strikers, you know?” he said laughing. 95 million euros we have signed nine players, The first change at the Camp Nou over the have one “marquee player”, seven foreigners and Rasunda stadium where he dominated the mid- “You can teach them the right movement, how Real Madrid have signed two players for 95 mil- summer was the coach as they turned to former 14 Indians, four of whom must be from the city in field for AIK in their double-winning 2009 season. you receive the ball, where you should be, and lion. That is the difference.” captain Luis Enrique to replace Gerardo Martino which the team is based. Djordjic will join mar- Well-known for his forthright opinions, the fiery that’s what India needs. To be fair, they’ve never The other major difference is that success has in the hope he can have the same impact as his quee names such as former Juventus striker David midfielder made an acrimonious departure from really had a big, big player, well-known around the also brought Atletico the struggle of holding former teammate Pep Guardiola did in charge. onto their best players. Top scorer Diego Costa With a two transfer window ban only temporarily Trezeguet and former Arsenal winger Fredrik the club shortly afterwards, but returned to AIK world that’s made an echo.” Djordjic admitted that and Filipe Luis have joined Thibaut Courtois in suspended, Barca have also been very active in Ljungberg in the first season of the fledgling foot- earlier this year as a youth team coach and as a he never expected to be leaving Sweden for returning to his parent club Chelsea after a the market with the capture of controversial ball league. player with feeder club Vasalund. But when he another foreign adventure at this stage in his three-year loan spell in the Spanish capital. That Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez leading their 150 Serbian-born Djordjic believes that educating was offered the chance to go to India, Djordjic career but he will be keeping an open mind about money has been reinvested in a promising million euro outlay. Suarez won’t even be able to the domestic players is key to long-term Super jumped at the chance to take part in what he sees extending his stay abroad. “You never know with attacking trio of Antoine Griezmann, Mario play until late October after his appeal against a League success. “They (the foreigners) will teach as a hugely exciting project. me,” he said. “There’s a few more continents I Mandzukic and Raul Jimenez, but the major four-month ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the these players how a midfielder, how a defender, “I’m hoping to bring something else there - haven’t been to. It’s going to be a great experi- coup of the close season for Atletico has been World Cup was rejected by the Court of how a striker works,” he said. “Indian players have there’s one billion people, they love the sport, and ence, and you never know - I might even make it holding onto the likes of Koke, Diego Godin and Arbitration for Sport last week. However, he the talent but they haven’t had the structure and I’m hoping we can move football forward in the in Bollywood.”— Reuters Miranda despite interest from Barca and Bayern could return for a mouth-watering first El Clasico Munich. By contrast, Real have splashed over clash between Real and Barca at the Santiago 100 million euros on the squad that won both Bernabeu should the game be scheduled for the Champions League and Copa del Rey last Sunday, October 26. Top six La Liga signings season without having to sanction any signifi- Enrique’s main task will be finding a blend for cant sales, although Angel di Maria could exit all of Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar to func- before the end of the transfer window. tion together as all three look to shake off a dis- An already oversubscribed midfield has been appointing end to their respective World Cups. bolstered by World Cup winner Toni Kroos and For all their attacking talent, questions also of the transfer window the competition’s top goalscorer James remain over Barca’s defense despite the expen- sive recruitment of Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia and Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen. MADRID: Despite Spain’s failure to shine at the World Cup in Brazil, La Liga has again lured a host MATCHES ON TV Goalkeepers Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen will also battle to succeed the departed of world stars to Spanish shores in recent months Victor Valdes as number one after being signed with Real Madrid and Barcelona predictably lead- for 12 million euros apiece. ing the way. With the new La Liga season due to UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Outside of the big three, Europa League win- get underway on Saturday, AFP sports looks at six Aalborg BK v Apoel Nicosia 21:45 ners Sevilla have made the most significant moves of the best signings of the close season. beIN SPORTS 3 HD in a bid to get back into the Champions League as Bratislava v BATE Borisov 21:45 they have brought in Barca loanee Gerard Luis Suarez beIN SPORTS 2 HD Deulofeu, Argentine international Ever Banega and (Liverpool to Barcelona) Sde Liege v Zenit St Petersburg 21:45 Liverpool reject Iago Aspas. Valencia should also Suarez’s latest indiscretion at the World Cup beIN SPORTS 7 HD be back in contention for the top four after earned him a four-month playing ban for biting beIN SPORTS 14 HD Singaporean businessman Peter Lim finally com- Giorgio Chiellini, but that didn’t dissuade Barca NK Maribor v Celtic 21:45 pleted his takeover of the club with Spanish under- from spending a reported 95 million euros (£75 beIN SPORTS 5 HD 21 international striker Rodrigo their big name million, $127 million) on the Premier League Player signing of the summer. Meanwhile, Basque duo beIN SPORTS 11 HD of the Year last season. The Uruguayan won’t be Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad retain ambitions Lille v Porto 21:45 able to make his competitive debut until October, of Champions League football despite losing but could prove a decisive figure in the title race beIN SPORTS 1 HD Ander Herrera and Griezmann to Manchester alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar in a sensational beIN SPORTS 13 HD United and Atletico respectively. — AFP looking front three. Guangzhou ‘getting better’ James Rodriguez (Monaco to Real Madrid) SYDNEY: Coach Marcello Lippi has warned yesterday. “At the beginning of the season after If Barca opted for the World Cup’s bad boy, Real Guangzhou Evergrande’s rivals that the Asian we won the Asian Champions League and the splashed out on the golden boy from Brazil by seal- champions are peaking as the climax of the sea- Chinese league last year, psychologically per- ing the signature of the tournament’s top scorer in son approaches and said winning a fourth haps the players had some problems. “But now Colombian James Rodriguez. Given Real’s abun- Chinese Super League title would be a “spectac- we are getting better and better each week and dance of creative talent, Rodriguez may struggle to ular achievement”. After the loss of a couple of this year we are again a very strong team.” The hold down a place in the playmaking role where he key players, the big-spending Guangdong club departure of prolific Brazilian striker Muriqui excelled in Brazil. However, coach Carlo Ancelotti BARCELONA: Barcelona’s Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic (center) takes part in a training ses- have been in less imperious form this season came after Argentine attacking midfielder Dario has already hailed his willingness to adapt to a role sion at the Sports Center. — AFP than they were last, when they won their third Conca returned to South America with on the left side of midfield to help feed the likes of successive Chinese title and maiden Asian Fluminense before the start of the year. They Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema. keeping up with the Jameses is a bit tricky for demands on the Croatian will be high as he is Champions League crown. have been replaced in the Guangzhou attack by Atletico given the financial gulf between them and expected to oust Barca’s most decorated player of They still lead the Chinese league by seven former Italy internationals Alessandro Diamanti Toni Kroos Spain’s traditional top two. Indeed they have lost all time in Xavi Hernandez for a place Luis Enrique’s points with eight matches to go, however, and and his former Bologna team mate Alberto (Bayern Munich to Real Madrid) many of their title-winning side to Chelsea as Thibaut starting line-up and he should add some athleti- on Wednesday take on Australian club Western Gilardino. Another star from the World Cup, Kroos Courtois, Filipe Luis and Diego Costa moved to cism to a midfield that has been worn down by Sydney Wanderers in the first leg of the Asian London. However, they will be hopeful that their success over the past six seasons. Champion League quarter-finals. Lippi, the only Tougher challenge patrolled the midfield as Germany were crowned coach to have led teams to the premier club “Gilardino arrived in our team just a month world champions for a fourth time. Supreme in Frenchman Griezmann can better the 16 La Liga title in both Asia and Europe after his success ago after a two-month holiday, so he’s getting possession, Kroos also offers a goal threat as he goals he struck for Real Sociedad last season after Rodrigo (Benfica to Valencia) with Juventus in 1996, said there had been better and better, particularly in his physical showed in scoring twice in the 7-1 World Cup semi- sealing a 30 million euro move to the Spanish capital. The pick of the business done by those outside some problems at the start of the season but he conditioning,” the World Cup-winning former final thrashing of Brazil and is seen as the long- the top three has been Valencia’s signing of prolific was confident they were now hitting their Italy coach said. “He’s a very strong player and term successor to Xabi Alonso in the Real midfield. Ivan Rakitic Spanish under-21 striker Rodrigo on loan from stride. he’s brought all his experience and quality to (Sevilla to Barcelona) Benfica. ‘Los Che’ have endured a couple of years in “The squad is a bit different from last year, the team. We were looking forward to bringing Antoine Griezmann Rakitic was arguably the outstanding midfielder the doldrums due to financial troubles, but backed particularly since Muriqui left and Gilardino him over. “And, of course, Gilardino and (Real Sociedad to Atletico Madrid) in La Liga last season and Barcelona beat off by new owner Peter Lim could be back in the race arrived, they are two completely different strik- Diamante are good together because they Despite breaking the Barca and Real hegemony reported interest from Real and Atletico to seal his for Champions League football come the end of ers,” he told reporters at Parramatta Stadium played together before.” —Reuters to win La Liga for the first time in 18 years last season, signature as a replacement for Cesc Fabregas. The the season. — AFP