SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 SPORTS ‘Rome not built in a day’, says Inter boss MILAN: Embattled Inter Milan coach Frank The Dutchman said he accepts the flak, winners in 2010 when they completed the on Sunday would dent morale ahead of a some points. Already, I’ve seen improve- De Boer has called for patience amid a but, following the disruption of the inter- treble under former coach Jose Mourinho, crucial week that could see De Boer either ments that I’m satisfied with and I think frustrating start to the campaign that has national break last week, insists he needs have struggled in recent seasons. vilified, or revered by fans. we’ve taken a couple of steps forward.” already dented hopes of contending the more time to get the ‘Nerazzurri’ firing on Even the return of Mancini, who led the The former Ajax manager, who could Mario, fresh from winning the Euro 2016 Serie A title. Inter kickstart their Europa all cylinders. “The criticism is normal, I’m club to seven trophies including three con- hand former Sporting Lisbon midfielder title with Portugal, is “ready”, added De Boer- League campaign against Hapoel Beer- the new coach and I’ve come in here from secutive league titles in 2004-2008, failed Mario his Inter debut, is relishing the chal- although the Dutchman was tight-lipped on Sheva on Thursday but first face a tricky a different country,” De Boer told media to provide the spark after he was drafted in lenge-even if time to work fully with the where exactly the midfielder would play. trip to league newcomers Pescara today, a yesterday. “But you have to look at the big by the club’s former owner, Indonesian squad has been at a prime. “He’s ready, so he’ll travel with us tomorrow week before hosting Serie A champions picture, I only arrived here a few days Erick Thohir. A recent takeover by the “We’re looking forward to the next (Sunday),” added De Boer. “He’s a complete Juventus. before the opening game of the season so Chinese Suning Holdings Group, and a three games. The only downside is the fact midfielder that we can use in various posi- After a shock opening defeat to Chievo I need some time. “Rome wasn’t built in a subsequent summer spending spree that we haven’t had the chance to train all tions whether in the centre of the park or and a limp 1-1 draw at the San Siro with day. This is Inter Milan, the pressure is nor- helped lure Joao Mario from Sporting together. A lot of the players were on inter- out wide. That’s a big advantage for us.” Palermo last time out, De Boer is under mal but for me it’s not a problem. I’m sure Lisbon and Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ from Brazilian national duty so I only had seven players Ahead of the weekend fixtures, Inter sit in pressure less than a month after succeed- we’ll find success soon.” side FC Santos, has injected fresh hope. on the pitch,” he said. “But the squad is 17th place with one point, five shy of league ing sacked Roberto Mancini. Inter, Italy’s last Champions League But anything less than a win at Pescara determined to improve and start collecting leaders Genoa after two games. — AFP Dustin Johnson sets course record, ties for lead at BMW CARMEL: US Open champion Dustin lion reasons” why he wants to win, other Johnson doesn’t care about the physics rewards are available. He already is regard- behind his new putter. Seeing more putts ed a favorite for PGA Tour player of the drop is enough for him. year, and he is likely to move ahead of Johnson made two eagles in a span of Jason Day in the Vardon Trophy race for the seven holes, shot 31 on the back nine and lowest scoring average. Castro opened a set the course record at Crooked Stick on big lead early with three straight birdies on Friday with a 9-under 63 that gave him a the front nine, and for the longest time, it share of the lead with Roberto Castro in the looked as though no one could catch him. BMW Championship. Johnson holed out a bunker shot for eagle Johnson didn’t even know he set the on No. 9, narrowly missed a 45-foot eagle course record until Tony Pancake, the golf putt on the 11th hole and then surged into director at Crooked Stick, congratulated the lead. He made a 10-foot birdie putt on him on the way to the clubhouse. “I guess the par-3 13th, rolled in a 30-foot birdie no one was ever better than 63,” Johnson putt on the next hole and then made an said with a shrug and a smile. Castro was eagle putt from 25 feet on the 15th. the first player to reach 14-under 130 on Johnson has 11 victories on the PGA the rain-softened course. He kept bogeys Tour, including a major and a three World off his card, rolled in a pair of 30-foot putts Golf Championships. Castro has gone 125 and had another 65 in his last-minute bid starts on the PGA Tour without a victory, to get to the Tour Championship at East and he doesn’t hit nearly as long as Johnson Lake, just 15 minutes from his house. - not many do. Crooked Stick is renowned Castro is at No. 53 in the FedEx Cup and for favoring big hitters, whether it was John only the top 30 make it to the FedEx Cup Daly at the 1991 PGA Championship or finale at East Lake and a shot at the $10 McIlroy four years ago after a week of rain million bonus. Paul Casey, who had the 54- that made the course even longer. That did- hole lead last week at the TPC Boston until n’t seem to faze Castro. finishing two shots behind Rory McIlroy, “It’s a big course. It keeps your attention, had a 66 and was three shots behind. which I think helps me,” Castro said. “I think Johnson has one of the most consistent if you look at the tour, it sure helps to be years with 12 finishes in the top 10, along long. But the guy who is striping it usually with victories in the US Open and a World wins. Couple of my best weeks have come Golf Championship at Firestone. Even so, on really long golf courses.” NEW YORK: Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland returns a shot to Kei Nishikori of Japan during their Men’s Singles Semifinal Match on Day Twelve of frustration began to set in when the putts J.B. Holmes, who finished 10th in the the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Friday in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New stopped falling, so he switched to the Ryder Cup standings and is in need of a York City. — AFP TaylorMade Spider. “I was just struggling to captain’s pick to make his second U.S. team, get the ball to come out on the line I was shot 30 on the back nine and made a seeing,” Johnson said. “No matter what I strong run at Castro until he was slowed by Wawrinka outlasts Nishikori did, how much I practiced, training aids, a bogey on the par-3 third hole and at the whatever. It just wasn’t working. So just par-5 ninth. He wound up with a 65 and decided to switch it up.” was four shots behind, along with Chris to reach first US Open final Kirk. Two-time Masters champion Bubba FAVORITE Watson also needs a pick, and he delivered When asked about the physics involved, a 67 to at least get in the top 10. NEW YORK: Stan Wawrinka spent the first set of ranked Dan Evans before prevailing in five sets. between points, trudging slowly to his chair on Johnson said, “I don’t go into that stuff - as McIlroy stalled with three bogeys on his his US Open semifinal letting Kei Nishikori push But the 31-year-old started to look more like a changeovers. Still, he wouldn’t go away. Down a long as it goes where I’m looking.” That said, back nine for a 71. Jordan Spieth shot 72 him around the court. On an evening so humid two-time major winner in his quarterfinal victory break in both the third and fourth sets, he broke he did point out he took physics in high with four bogeys and a double bogey his racket slipped out of his hand during one over 2009 champ Juan Martin del Potro. back each time. But he just didn’t have enough school. “I got an ‘A,’ too, bud.” when he pulled a shot into the creek on the swing, Wawrinka never panicked. Down a set Nishikori came into Friday’s match with an left to pull ahead and couldn’t take advantage of Johnson already was virtually assured of 14th. He bounced back with an eagle on and a break Friday, he upped the pressure and eye-popping 5-0 record against top-10 players enough openings on Wawrinka’s serve. Nishikori being among the top five going into the the next hole, but there were too many handled the big points better, emerging with a at the US Open, the only Grand Slam at which he was 4 of 15 on break-point chances.