Sports FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015 Toothless Chelsea beaten by Fiorentina LONDON: The paucity of Chelsea’s striking options was once again laid bare on Wednesday as they fin- ished their pre-season preparations with a lackluster 1-0 loss at home to Fiorentina. Visiting captain Gonzalo Rodriguez bundled in the only goal in the 34th minute at Stamford Bridge and with Diego Costa once again absent due to hamstring trouble, Jose Mourinho’s side toiled in attack as they went a fifth consecutive game without victory. Radamel Falcao and Loic Remy squandered another chance to prove themselves as understudies for the absent Costa, leaving Mourinho with food for thought ahead of the start of his side’s Premier League title defence at home to Swansea City tomorrow. “We have the real football tomorrow and today we couldn’t face this game in another way,” said Mourinho. “Competitive minutes against a good team, who played for a result and gave us a very good training session.” Asked if Costa would be fit to face Swansea, Mourinho replied: “I don’t know. I don’t risk to say yes, but I also don’t risk to say no.” It was a second consecutive prestige friendly win for Fiorentina, fourth in Serie A last season and semi- finalists in both the Coppa Italia and Europa League, following their 2-1 victory over European champi- ons Barcelona on Sunday. “It was a good victory, a victory for the whole squad,” said coach Paulo Sousa. “I am happy for all the players.” Hazard, Fabregas enter fray Chelsea made 10 changes to the team beaten 1- 0 by Arsenal in the Community Shield at the week- end, with skipper John Terry the only player to keep his place, while Falcao, Asmir Begovic, Bertrand Traore and Ola Aina made their home debuts. Sousa LONDON: Fiorentina’s Spanish defender Marcos Alonso (left) goes down after contesting a header with Chelsea’s Colombian striker also rang the changes, making seven in total. The Radamel Falcao (2nd left) during the pre-season friendly International Champions Cup football match between Chelsea and Fiorentina visitors threatened first, Matias Fernandez testing at Stamford Bridge on August 5, 2015. — AFP Begovic low to his right. Chelsea began to take control, Ruben Loftus- at the near post by former Stoke City goalkeeper ing Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi, who missed the who replaced Falcao on the hour, shot wastefully Cheek heading over and seeing a shot blocked and Begovic, the ball squirted out to Gonzalo, who bun- entirety of the 2014-15 season following the third wide after cutting inside Alonso. Having also lost Aina having an effort deflected over, but after dled home. Beginning at half-time, Chelsea made serious knee injury of his career. Substitute Josip to New York Red Bulls and drawn with Paris Saint- Matias Vecino had thundered a shot against the bar nine changes in the second half, with Eden Hazard, Ilicic and Ante Rebic threatened for Fiorentina and Germain and Barcelona-both of whom they beat for the visitors and Begovic had parried a curling Cesc Fabregas, Gary Cahill and Nemanja Matic although Chelsea finished the game in the ascen- on penalties-it completed an underwhelming pre- attempt by Khouma Babacar, Fiorentina struck. A among the first-team stalwarts to enter the fray. dancy, they could not find an equalizer. Cahill saw season for Chelsea, who have only two days to find cross from the right was chested down by Marcos Fiorentina also sent on nine substitutes, includ- a pair of headers saved by Luigi Sepe and Remy, a higher gear.— AFP Alonso and although his left-foot effort was blocked Coach ‘absolutely sure’ Man EPL Champions resist City will win Premier League temptation to spend LONDON: Manchester City are brimming on Monday night. Spain international David with optimism with coach Manuel Pellegrini Silva feels City have earned respect with LONDON: Chelsea begin their Premier League on Sunday (1500), have forked out nearly 80 mil- “absolutely sure” of winning the Premier their success in England in the past few title defense against Swansea City tomorrow lion, principally on Christian Benteke from Aston League title back this season and midfielder years and with the recent additions to the (1630 GMT) in the unusual position of heading Villa and Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim. David Silva eyeing Champions League glory. squad the Manchester club can target into a new season having been significantly out- Arsenal, who beat Chelsea in the curtain-rais- City, who conceded four goals in both their European glory. “We are just missing that spent by their rivals. Jose Mourinho’s side had ing Community Shield last weekend and host defeats against Real Madrid and Stuttgart in step of winning the Champions League, but paid lavish sums to bolster key areas by this time West Ham United on Sunday (1230), are the only pre-season friendlies, finished eight points doing that will help us grow even more,” the last year but, having claimed the title at a canter, potential title challengers who have not spent behind champions Chelsea in the Premier 29-year-old midfielder, told the Daily the motto of this transfer window seems to be: if it heavily so far. Yet they have stolen a psychologi- League last season. “I am absolutely sure Telegraph in an interview. “I would see it as ain’t broke, don’t fix it. cal march on Mourinho’s side by signing their that we are going to have a very successful a failure (if I don’t win the Champions The club’s marquee signing of the close sea- keeper Petr Cech, who played second fiddle at season. We must bring back the title here to League at City). It is the one thing I want and son has been a loan deal for Colombia forward Stamford Bridge last season, to fill a long-time our fans,” the 61-year-old was quoted as say- one day I hope to win it.” Radamel Falcao, who, like seven-million-pound problem position. Not that Chelsea are feeling the ing by Sky Sports. City crashed out in the last 16 stage of ($10.91-million) goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, is like- pressure. If anything, Mourinho’s show of confi- “We are sure, as I have just said, that we the Champions League in the past two sea- ly to feature only as a back-up in the coming cam- dence in his squad has merely added to their are going to bring it back. We had a good sons after being paired against Barcelona. paign. Their spendthrift summer contrasts sense of self-belief if you listen to captain John pre-season.” With the sale of Stefan Jovetic “It’s difficult playing against big teams like markedly with previous years when owner Roman Terry. to Inter Milan and Edin Dzeko being strongly Barcelona, Bayern. But why? I cannot tell Abramovich has spent freely building a squad “The players are mentally and physically ready linked with a move to Roma, City is poised you,” added Silva, who has one World Cup that is estimated to be worth around 400 million but it’s going to be tough, other teams have to start the season with only two frontline and two European Championship winners’ pounds according to the statistics website trans- strengthened, we have seen the players they have strikers in Sergio Aguero and Wilfried Bony. medals with the national team. “But with fermarkt.co.uk. brought in and spent a lot of money,” he told Sky “We have Kelechi (Iheanacho), that is a good, new players, for sure we will have an Their habitual rivals have not been shy about Sports. “Other teams needed to strengthen, we young player who I think must find a place opportunity to be there fighting and maybe bringing out the chequebook. Manchester City, were that much better than other teams last year here in our squad,” the Chilean manager able to do it.” Silva, who joined City in 2010 who finished second and start their season at that maybe we’ve forced their hands a little bit. added. “(Raheem) Sterling can also play in from Valencia, has set a personal target of West Bromwich Albion on Monday (1900), broke The manager feels we have a good enough and front. I think we are going to bring in other scoring more goals this season. “I want to be the bank to bring Raheem Sterling to the club big enough squad to deal with it and we’ll give it players but not in that position.” important in the team and win titles in all from Liverpool in a deal worth up to 49 million a good fight.” Bournemouth embark on the first City, who won the Premier League title in competitions,” he added. “It is always in my pounds. Manchester United, who host Tottenham top-flight campaign in their 116-year history at a close finish in 2013-14, kick off their cam- mind to become better and I can improve Hotspur tomorrow (1145), have spent in the home to Aston Villa tomorrow, while fellow new- paign with a trip to West Bromwich Albion this year by scoring more goals.”— Reuters region of 70 million on four players, while comers Norwich City host Crystal Palace and Liverpool, whose campaign begins at Stoke City Watford visit Everton (all 1400). — Reuters.