MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017 SPORTS PREVIEW United confident of avenging Chelsea misery says Fellaini LONDON: Marouane Fellaini insists Chelsea have been equally powerful, “Of course they are confident so let’s be no surprise if they showed signs of It will be fascinating to see what sort Manchester United are confident of opening up a 10-point lead at the top of go there and see what we can do.” fatigue at Stamford Bridge. of reception Mourinho gets from avenging the worst moment of Jose the Premier League and advancing to Even so, Conte doesn’t anticipate an Chelsea’s supporters this time. But Mourinho’s reign when they return to the last eight of the FA Cup as boss FATIGUE easy ride from a team with United’s despite Mourinho’s protests, Conte has Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals Antonio Conte chases a double in his Chelsea’s hopes of securing a club strength in depth. “Manchester United, no intention of toning down the touch- today. Mourinho’s first visit to Stamford first season as Mourinho’s permanent record 13th successive home win may together with (Manchester) City, has the line theatrics that have become his Bridge since his sacking as Chelsea boss replacement in west London. have been boosted by the contrasting best squad in the league,” Conte said. trademark this season. last season ended in humiliation as his Although United are 17 points preparations the two teams have had “They have a lot, a number of great “I’ve shown at Chelsea, not only former club romped to a 4-0 victory behind Chelsea, United midfielder this week. players, with great talent and great Chelsea, every team that I managed that over United in October. United have Fellaini is adamant they can turn the While Conte and his players have experience to win. “We have a good I live the game with great passion,” used the memory of that painful loss to tables with a place in the semi-finals up been able to plot Mourinho’s downfall at identity, our team. But for sure it will be Conte said. “Sometimes I want to share fuel a dominant period which has seen for grabs. “Obviously we lost there a few their training base since Monday’s win at a really tough game for us and for them.” my enthusiasm, my passion with my them lose just twice in all competitions months ago, but now it is the FA Cup West Ham, United were forced to Conte’s wild touchline celebrations of players, with my staff, also with the fans. since then. They lifted the first major and we will see what happens,” Fellaini embark on a draining trip to Russian his team’s goals irked Mourinho in I think it’s normal. trophy of the Mourinho era with a said. “It will be tight, I think. It is the FA club Rostov on Thursday in the Europa October and the United boss accused “I’m very focused on the pitch. The League Cup final victory against Cup, it is one game. “They are top of the League. Mourinho bemoaned the poor his rival of deliberately stirring up the mind games (with Mourinho) don’t Southampton last month and remain in league, they have confidence, they have quality of the pitch in Russia and, with Chelsea fans, who taunted their former bring you the win. “For me the most contention for further silverware in the great players, but we will show our qual- his players not arriving home until the idol with chants of “you’re not special important thing is to try to win, then to FA Cup and Europa League. ity there and see what happens. early hours of Friday morning, it would anymore”. think for another celebration.” — AFP English Premier League table P W D L F A Pts West Ham United28 9 6 13 38 49 33 Chelsea 27 21 3 3 57 20 66 Burnley 28 9 4 15 31 42 31 Tottenham 27 16 8 3 53 20 56 Watford 27 8 7 12 33 47 31 Man City 27 17 5 5 53 29 56 Bournemouth 28 8 6 14 40 54 30 Liverpool 28 16 7 5 60 35 55 Leicester City 27 7 6 14 30 45 27 Arsenal 26 15 5 6 55 31 50 Swansea City 28 8 3 17 36 61 27 Man United 26 13 10 3 39 22 49 Crystal Palace 27 7 4 16 35 46 25 Everton 28 13 8 7 47 30 47 West Bromwich28 11 7 10 36 37 40 Hull City 28 6 6 16 26 54 24 Stoke City 28 9 9 10 32 40 36 Middlesbrough27 4 10 13 19 30 22 Southampton 26 9 6 11 32 34 33 Sunderland 27 5 4 18 24 50 19 Icardi, Banega hit hat-tricks as Inter Milan pummel Atalanta MILAN: Argentinians Mauro Icardi and Ever work hard. Today we had the perfect Banega struck a hat-trick apiece as approach, let’s keep it that way.” Champions League-chasing Inter Milan Champions Juventus took another step demolished high-flying Atalanta with a towards a record sixth consecutive Serie A defiant 7-1 romp yesterday. title with a controversial 2-1 win over AC Atalanta travelled to the San Siro confi- Milan on Friday, when Argentinian starlet dent of causing an upset having beaten Paulo Dybala hit a controversial, last-gasp Inter, Napoli and Roma at home in a season penalty for the hosts. that is turning out to be their best to date. Massimiliano Allegri’s men are now 10 But Gian Piero Gasperini’s men, who points ahead of Napoli, who saw Lorenzo have got used to being welcomed back to Insigne hit a brace, one from the spot, and Bergamo by hundreds of ecstatic fans Belgian forward Dries Mertens add another whenever they play away, are set for a from the penalty spot in a 3-0 home win scolding after a dismal display that saw over struggling Crotone. Days after crash- Atalanta drop two places to sixth. ing out of the Champions League following Gasperini said: “We got a lot of things a 6-2 aggregate loss to Real Madrid, Napoli wrong today, but in the kind of season that captain Marek Hamsik said the pressure is we’re having, we can allow ourselves the now on Roma. “This win has put them odd slip-up. under a little bit of pressure, we’ll see what LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s English midfielder Dele Alli (L) vies with Millwall’s English-born Jamaican defender Shaun Cummings (R) and “We’re still targeting the Europa League.” happens,” said the Slovak. Millwall’s Irish midfielder Shaun Williams during the English FA Cupquarter-final football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Millwall at Icardi completed his hat-trick in nine “Now, we have to turn our attention to White Hart Lane in London, yesterday. — AFP first-half minutes-including one from the our trip to Empoli, who are never easy to spot when he was tripped in the area-to play at home.” Elsewhere, Croatia striker SOCCER fire the Nerazzurri to a 3-0 lead by the 26th Nikola Kalinic saved Fiorentina’s blushes minute, with Banega netting twice and when he struck in the dying seconds to Remo Freuler hitting a 42nd-minute conso- secure a 1-0 home win over Cagliari. lation as Inter took a 5-1 half-time lead. The Chievo got back to winning ways follow- hosts twisted the knife seven minutes after ing a 3-1 reverse at AC Milan two weeks Son treble steers Spurs the restart when ex-Atalanta midfielder ago with a 4-0 romp over Empoli in Verona Roberto Gagliardini slammed the ball past where Roberto Inglese, Sergio Pellissier, stricken goalkeeper Etrit Berisha and into Valter Birsa and Bostjan Cesar were all on the top corner, before Argentina midfielder target. Chievo remain in midtable, with into FA Cup semifinals Banega completed his hat-trick with a Empoli edging dangerously towards the deflected free-kick on 68 minutes. relegation zone. They are only seven points Inter moved up to fourth to sit five ahead of third-from-bottom Palermo, LONDON: Son Heung-Min’s hat-trick fired inside the area. Victor Wanyama powered a timed run onto Kieran Trippier’s pass, Son got in points behind Roma, who occupy the third although the Sicilians will start as under- Tottenham into the FA Cup semi-finals, but his header against the crossbar as Tottenham behind the Millwall defence in the 54th minute and final Champions League qualifying dogs against Roma later. —AFP side’s 6-0 victory against Millwall was over- pressed for the second goal, which arrived in and volleyed a fine finish past King. Alli tapped place, although the capital club will pull shadowed by Harry Kane’s potentially serious spectacular fashion from Son in the 41st minute. in Eriksen’s cross for the fourth in the 72nd eight points clear of Inter with a win away ankle injury. Kane limped off in the 10th Picked out by Eriksen on the edge of the area, minute and Janssen made it five seven minutes to struggling Palermo later. minute at White Hart Lane after his ankle twist- Son cut inside and curled a sublime shot past later with his first goal from open play for Spurs Matches on TV ed awkwardly. King. Son’s first goal since January was the per- since signing last year. DEDICATED SONG (Local Timings) The England striker was sidelined with anoth- fect way to silence some unsavoury taunts There was still time for Son to be gifted his Roma’s city rivals Lazio, one point er ankle problem earlier this season and the aimed at him by Millwall fans, and the South treble in stoppage-time when King let his shot behind Inter in fifth, will leapfrog Inter if ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE injury is a major worry for Tottenham boss Korean wasn’t finished yet.