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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2015 SPORTS Spurs’ Pochettino pleased but calls for consistency LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur manager City. They also jumped three points The stylish performance definitely “We have a very strong mentality in stop.” West Ham were playing without Mauricio Pochettino urged his side to clear of sixth-placed West Ham, whose pleased Pochettino. “After the game the team in terms of working to help our the injured Dimitri Payet, who has been keep producing the kind of football that best start to a Premier League season that we’ve played, I think that we have team mates. And, when we have the ball, ruled out for three months with an ankle saw them swat aside London rivals West was rudely arrested, and lie fifth on 24 quality enough,” Pochettino said of a we always look forward.” injury, but manager Slaven Bilic refused Ham 4-1 on Sunday and said they have points, two behind Arsenal and third- potential top-four finish and a Pochettino said, however, that it was to blame the midfielder’s absence for the quality to qualify for the Champions placed Manchester City and three off Champions League berth. crucial to maintain that level of perform- their embarrassing defeat. “No excuses, League. Manchester United. Pochettino’s men “It was a complete performance from ance if Spurs were to reach their goals. they were better,” he said. “They were Tottenham, unbeaten in the league were rarely troubled by West Ham on the team. Maybe it was the best of the “We were fantastic, but in football you quicker than us, physically stronger, since a 1-0 defeat at Manchester United Sunday, with Harry Kane scoring twice season, but it was certainly one of the have to show it today and tomorrow in scored goals and grew in confidence. We on the opening day, moved to within and Toby Alderweireld and Kyle Walker best. It’s about philosophy, and how we the coming games. We have to show the have to admit it could have been more. four points of surprise leaders Leicester also getting on the scoresheet. defend when we don’t have the ball. level that we reached here. We cannot It was a shock.” —Reuters Blatter was close to death, ‘between angels and devils’ ZURICH: Suspended FIFA president Sepp Asked if he felt he was close to death, he Blatter said he had been close to death as replied: “I was. I was close ... The pressure he lay in hospital during a mounting scan- was enormous.” The interview, released in dal over his time at the head of world soc- part to the media late on Sunday, will be cer’s governing body. In his first public broadcast in full tomorrow. The commit- comments since emerging from treatment, tee’s announcement on Saturday dealt a Blatter told Swiss broadcaster RTS: “I was new blow to Platini’s bid to succeed Blatter really between the angels who sing and the as head of FIFA. devil who stokes the fire. It was the angels Blatter told RTS that Platini “an honest who sang” - but did not go into details on man”. “If he comes back, then he will be his condition. elected ... and if he comes back, then I will Blatter was admitted to hospital in early come back as well.” “There was nothing November, weeks after FIFA’s ethics com- under the table ... even in the FIFA rules, it’s mittee launched an investigation into his allowed to make a written or an oral con- conduct and that of his former protege, tract,” he added. Blatter, who has been at European soccer boss Michel Platini. The the head of FIFA since 1998, faces criminal FIFA body suspended both men, then investigation in Switzerland over a 2 million called on Saturday for sanctions against Swiss franc ($1.96 million) payment from them, deepening the storm building up FIFA to Platini. Both men have denied around the sport which is also facing crimi- wrongdoing. nal enquiries in Switzerland and the United The payment was made in 2011 for work States. Platini had completed nine years earlier, Blatter, who left hospital on Nov. 12, the Swiss attorney-general’s office has said, again defended his record in the interview adding Platini was considered “between a but said he wished he had stepped down witness and an accused person”. at the height of his career, after last year’s Buffeted by scandals over the last few World Cup in Brazil. “I regret that I didn’t say years, FIFA was thrown into turmoil in May to myself ‘Blatter, you have reached the by the US indictments of 14 football offi- peak, you have done some good things, cials, including two FIFA vice-presidents, you can’t do more than this, you should and sports marketing executives for stop.’” alleged corruption. — Reuters Depleted Juventus set to reshuffle for City visit HAIFA: Chelsea’s soccer team players run during a training session ahead of Group G Champions League soccer match in Haifa, Israel, yesterday. MILAN: Juventus are preparing to do looking to put Manuel Pellegrini’s men Chelsea will play against Maccabi Tel Aviv today. — AP without Sami Khedira, Patrice Evra and to the sword. Hernanes when they host Manchester Morata equalled a club record, set by City tomorrow looking to clinch their former Juve great Alessandro Del Piero, Hazard solving slump mystery place in the last 16 of the Champions when he scored for the fifth time con- League. Serie A champions Juventus secutively in a Champions League game claimed a third consecutive win in Italy’s during Juve’s 2-0 win over Sevilla last key to Chelsea recovering form top flight for the first time this season month-narowly missing on making the with a 1-0 win over AC Milan in Turin on record his own when he then missed a Saturday. great chance in a scoreless draw against LONDON: If one player epitomizes Chelsea’s Mourinho. “I said to him, ‘Maybe we have to point and sits five behind Dynamo Kiev with But the victory came at a price, Borussia Monchengladbach. slump it’s surely Eden Hazard. The playmaker try to change something. If I can play num- two games remaining. Domestically, Maccabi France international Evra hobbling off Juventus will qualify for the knockout was feted as the Premier League’s finest tal- ber 10?” Hazard recalled. is thriving at least: winning six of its last sev- with an ankle injury and Brazil midfield- phase with a win, or with any result if ent as last season ended with Chelsea win- At a time when Chelsea is struggling to en league games. er Hernanes-who is already suspended Sevilla do not beat Borussia ning the title and England’s top two individ- score, Hazard’s only goals this season have for Wednesday-suffering a thigh “muscle Monchengladbach on Wednesday. ual awards were presented to the 24-year- come while on international duty with four BUENO PUSHES FOR A PLACE problem”, according to the club. City, stunned 4-1 at home by old Belgian. for Belgium. Hazard accrued 19 goals for With Porto winning eight in nine in the Khedira did not even make Liverpool at the weekend, will clinch As Chelsea has struggled since August - Chelsea in winning the player of the year league, Alberto Bueno is being kept out of Massimiliano Allegri’s matchday squad first place in the group with victory in starting its title defense by collecting 14 awards for 2014-15. Far from that being a the team. The Spanish striker arrived at the after a scar from a recent thigh injury Turin. — AFP flared up while he was on international points from a possible 39 and sitting second launch-pad to try to challenge Lionel Messi Portuguese club in the summer transfer win- duty with Germany. in Champions League Group G - so has and Cristiano Ronaldo for elite global status, dow from Rayo Vallecano, where he excelled Reports say Khedira will “train apart” Hazard.”I didn’t start the season well. I tried Hazard’s career has stalled. with 17 goals last season. But Porto’s solid from the rest of the squad this week and to find out why, but I don’t know,” Hazard Mourinho isn’t being blamed for his or run and the top form of Vincent Aboubakar is definitely sidelined for the visit of Matches on TV said ahead of Tuesday’s match at Maccabi Tel Chelsea’s loss in form. “I don’t have a problem and Yacime Brahimi in Porto’s attack has shut Aviv. with him,” Hazard said. “He is the best man- Bueno out of the main competitions so far. Group D leaders City, who qualified for (Local Timings) the last 16 with a 3-1 win away to Sevilla “Sometimes you don’t know. You have to ager. He is the best manager for Chelsea and Only when coach Julen Lopetegui made last time out. keep going. I gave everything in training, on we hope we can win a lot of trophies togeth- six changes to his usual team for the UEFA Champions League Evra, meanwhile, is set for fitness the pitch when I played. I hope I can get a lot er. Maybe not this season because it will be Portuguese Cup game against lowly tests on Monday and Tuesday on his left of form and try to help the team win games.” difficult, but next season and on.” Here are Angrense did Bueno open his account for ankle. Alex Sandro is the logical replace- Petersburg v Valencia 20:00 Chelsea, which can qualify for the knock- some other talking points ahead of Tuesday’s Porto: scoring both goals in a 2-0 win.