SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2013 SPORTS

SPL PREVIEW Celtic desperate to Mourinho hopes for remain unbeaten : Anthony Stokes has become the latest Celtic player to talk up the importance of continuing ‘little Suarez injury’ his side’s 17-game unbeaten start to the season. The Glasgow giants’ 1-0 victory over St Johnstone on Thursday sent the Parkhead LONDON: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho enjoyed a typi- club 11 points clear at the top of the table from sec- cal moment of mischief on Friday when he suggested a “lit- ond place Motherwell to leave ’s side tle injury” might deprive Liverpool of in-form striker Luis firmly on course to retain their title. Suarez for today’s Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge. The Hoops manager has played down talk of his Speaking to Chelsea TV, the Portuguese coach avoided any side remaining unbeaten for the entire season but, mention of Suarez’s controversial behavior in the clubs’ last ahead of their trip to Inverness on Sunday, Irish strik- meeting, at Anfield in April, when he bit the arm of defend- er Stokes said it was what the players were focusing er Branislav Ivanovic. Instead, Mourinho said he hoped the on now their European run had come to an end. “It is free-scoring Uruguay striker - who was suspended for 10 massive. It is something we pride ourselves in,” matches for his dental attack - would not be available to Stokes said of the unbeaten run. “We have had a play in the clash of the third and fourth-placed clubs. great start to the season, the consistency has been “Maybe Suarez has got a little injury,” he said following tremendous and we want to maintain that. “We are Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at Manchester City on Thursday. “I’m taking it game by game and we just want to keep it not asking for a big injury... Just a little injury to stop him up, winning games is what it is all about. It is playing for four days.” Knowing that Suarez has scored 19 demanded at this club and we will keep striving goals in 13 league games this season, Mourinho - who has towards that. bemoaned his own strikers’ profligacy this term - unsurpris- “Obviously this year has been a bit disappointing, ingly avoided making comparisons. His three main strikers with Europe, but we want to finish this season on a - Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba - have high and win trophies. At the end of the day, that is scored only five times between them. what it’s all about.” Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk is “Every game is hard,” he said. “The difference is some also keen to keep the unbeaten run going for as long teams are bigger - bigger name, bigger impact... Man City- as possible. His wonder goal clinched victory against Liverpool, Chelsea-Liverpool, Chelsea-Arsenal... “But every St Johnstone and after netting two on his last trip to game is difficult. The last two matches we played (at the Highlands to face Ross County he hopes to add home), Swansea and Crystal Palace: 1-0, 2-1. You have to to his tally when they take on Inverness Caledonian give everything to win matches.” The Portuguese praised Thistle. Eto’o, despite the Cameroon international having missed “I¥ve never been unbeaten for maybe more than two clear chances to net his third league goal of the sea- two games so this is new for me as well,” van Dijk son. “He did well,” Mourinho said. “I want that feeling that said. “I like winning so hopefully we can keep it my strikers are working to have chances. I want them to going. I’m expecting another battle against shoot, I want the goalkeeper to save, the ball to hit the Inverness, definitely. It¥s a long trip as well so you post.” have to be ready for the game. “I hope I can add to my tally up there. I love scoring-I think it¥s what TIGHT RACE LONDON: Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic (left) jumps for the ball with a Swansea City player during their English everybody loves.” Celtic have no fresh injury worries Mourinho also said he hoped to see Chelsea awarded Premier League soccer match at the Stamford Bridge ground in London on Thursday, Dec 26, 2013. Chelsea won for the trip north with Derk Boerrigter, Mikael Lustig, more penalties for fouls on their tricky Belgium winger the match 1-0. — AP Beram Kayal and Steven Mouyokolo all out while Eden Hazard, who scored in a 1-0 win over Swansea City on Charlie Mulgrew remains a doubt. Thursday. “I think that it happens a lot,” he explained. “That because they have one week to prepare the match, team because of the frequency of matches. Elsewhere, Dundee United will hope to get back Eden Hazard beats people, goes into the box and is not then they play the match - because they are not Chelsea will be without their suspended Brazil mid- to winning ways following a surprise defeat to St getting penalties in situations like that.” Mourinho also involved in the heat of the knockout of the Champions fielder Ramires, who is likely to be replaced by Mirren when they travel to take on St Johnstone at foresees a very championship race, saying: “This year I think League or even the Europa League,” the Portuguese England’s Frank Lampard on an afternoon when captain McDiarmid Park, second place Motherwell are away the pressure will be not only to win the title, it will be to said. John Terry is set to make his 600th appearance for the to Partick Thistle and Aberdeen host Ross County. get into the top four. “The manager (Rodgers) is one of my best friends in west London club. Ivanovic is expected to continue at Bottom club Hearts, who were started the season It will be hard. I think Manchester City is a big, big the game. I have full respect for a team like Liverpool. right back and, rejecting any chance to talk about on minus 15 points as a punishment for entering favorite.” He said Liverpool, managed by Brendan He’s doing a fantastic job. He’s training every week in a Suarez, the Serbia international stressed the impor- administration, look set to start the new year still in Rodgers who worked under him at Chelsea during calm way, training every day. “He has a big advantage tance of the fixture. “It’s going to be a very important negative figures unless they get a win away to St Mourinho’s first stint in charge, had an edge by not compared to the other teams... It’s easier for a team that game for us, one of the deciding games this season,” he Mirren.— AFP being involved in European competition. “Liverpool are does that every day, every week,” said Mourinho, who said. “We must be ready for the big fight. Our team likes on holiday this season. They have a big advantage has bemoaned being unable to work on tactics with his to play big games and big challenges.”— Reuters Sherwood aims to get Hotspur back on track

LONDON: Tim Sherwood will continue his crash- ry for ourselves. Hughes’ side - who were reduced to nine men by course introduction to management as he attempts “We have to be up for it, we have to be mentally the dismissals of and Marc Wilson - to ensure Tottenham avoid another home disap- right.” It is Sherwood’s job to ensure his team lost 5-1 at St James’ Park after regular number one pointment when Stoke visit White Hart Lane today. bounces back and after overseeing a win, loss and a Asmir Begovic was ruled out for up to six weeks Sherwood marked his first game since agreeing an draw in his three games since first taking caretaker with a broken finger sustained on Christmas Day. 18-month contract to succeed Andre Villas-Boas as charge, he is learning quickly about the ups and Stoke also have the option of England Under 21 Tottenham boss with a frustrating draw against downs of the job. The former Spurs midfielder goalkeeper Jack Butland after he returned from a struggling West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day. admits chairman Daniel Levy has taken a chance in loan spell at Barnsley.”We knew straight away Asmir That extended Spurs’ poor run of form on home turf appointing but is convinced he will rise to the chal- was struggling,” said Sorensen. “They did a light scan where they have failed to win in four Premier lenge. “It’s a gamble because I’ve never done it and they saw a break in there. He was really in pain. League and exited the League Cup at the hands of before,” Sherwood said. “But there are a lot of good It will be three, four or five weeks. “It wasn’t the West Ham. managers who had never done it before and comeback I had imagined. We controlled the game Tottenham’s continuing inconsistency has left become a success. and kept them to a minimum of chances while we them five points adrift of the Premier League’s top “I was never a professional player until I stepped created chances. four going into the next round of matches and mid- on the field.” Sherwood hopes to welcome Aaron “But then two sendings-off at this level, away fielder Lewis Holtby admits anything other than vic- Lennon back into his squad after the winger missed from home against a team with the amount of tory over Mark Hughes’ Stoke side will be a major the West Brom clash with a stomach strain, but attacking flair they had it was going to be a long blow to their hopes of qualifying for the Champions Jermain Defoe and Mousa Dembele are rated second half and so it proved. “It was a bad loss, but League. “We have to win this game against Stoke doubtful. Brazil midfielder Paulinho returns after under the circumstances I don’t think there was because it’s vital we stay up near the top with the suspension but right-back Kyle Walker serves a one- much we could do. “Spurs have obviously lost their European places,” Holtby said. “It was a very disap- match ban. Meanwhile, Stoke keeper Thomas manager and a new one in Tim Sherwood has come pointing result at home against West Brom. Sorensen is hoping to retain his place despite con- in who will have different ideas and play players in Everyone wanted the win, we needed the win but in ceding five on his first Premier League appearance different positions. “We will get home, recover from the Christmas period there’s no time for feeling sor- in 19 months at Newcastle. this one and then start focusing on Spurs.”-—AFP Washington beat BYU in Fight Hunger Bowl SAN FRANCISCO: Washington’s Bishop Sankey ran Marshall’s Rakeem Cato threw for 337 yards and pleted 28 of 44 passes with no interceptions. for 95 yards and two scores to tie the college’s three touchdowns to lead the Thundering Herd to a Maryland (7-6) scored only one touchdown after career touchdown record and the Huskies went on 31-20 win over Maryland. Marshall trailed 20-17 halftime, and AJ Leggett followed Cato’s final TD to beat Brigham Young University 31-16 in the Fight before Cato brought them back. After directing a pass with an interception to set off a celebration Hunger Bowl on Friday. In the day’s other bowl 63-yard march to put his team up 24-20 with 12:05 among the Marshall fans. Brandon Ross rushed for games, Syracuse got a late touchdown to edge left, Cato clinched it with an 8-yard touchdown 116 yards for the Terrapins, and CJ Brown went 14 Minnesota in the Texas Bowl and Marshall used two throw to Gator Hoskins with 3:42 to play. Cato com- for 24 for 197 yards.— AP fourth-quarter scores to beat Maryland in the Military Bowl. Washington’s Keith Price added a 16-yard touch- down pass to Austin Seferian-Jenkins, and John Ross returned a kick 100 yards for another score to help the Huskies complete their best season since BARCELONA: Spanish football international Andres Iniesta arrives with her winning the Rose Bowl in 2000. BYU’s Taysom Hill daughter Valeria before signing to extend his Barcelona contract until at threw for 293 yards and ran for 133 yards and a least 2018 at the club’s offices in Barcelona. His current contract, which score for the Cougars (8-5), who had their four- runs out in 2015, carries a 200-million-euro release clause. —AFP game bowl winning streak snapped. Justin Sorensen kicked three field goals but also missed one in the third quarter after an interception by Barca ‘not scared’ of City Robertson Daniel had given BYU prime field posi- MADRID: Barcelona are “not afraid” of scared of anyone.” “It’s going to be an tion. facing Manchester City in the intense and exciting tie. I think City The game capped a whirlwind month for the Champions League last 16 next was the toughest side we could have Huskies that began with coach Steve Sarkisian leav- month, the Spanish giants’ emblemat- drawn and will prove a good test for ing for the same job at Southern California. Chris ic midfielder Andres Iniesta said in an us,” the 29-year-old added. Iniesta, Petersen was lured from Boise State to take over, interview published yesterday. Last who signed a three-year contract but quarterbacks coach Marques Tuiasosopo week Manchester City midfielder Yaya extension with Barcelona on Monday coached Friday on an interim basis. The defense led Toure said Barcelona-who he used to which will keep him with the La Liga the way this game, holding the Cougars to four field play for-were afraid of their impend- leaders until at least June 2018, said goal attempts and one touchdown on five drives ing clash because of the English club’s he would like to end his career at the inside the Huskies 30. The game made history by excellent form. club. being the first ever in the bowl series with two “They are quite afraid about us, the “I think I still have many years left female officials. Sarah Thomas was the line judge way they see us play in the Premier playing at the highest level and only and Maia Chaka was the head linesman based on League at home especially, they’re time will tell where I end up. I’d like to their work in Conference USA this season. quite scared,” said the 30-year-old, end my career at Bara, but ultimately, In Houston, Syracuse quarterback Terrel Hunt who joined Manchester City from my career will be defined by what I’ve scrambled 12 yards for a touchdown with 1:14 Barcelona in 2010. “We play fantastic won,” he said. Under the deal he remaining to lift the Orange to a 21-17 win over football and we score goals, it’s total signed last week, after 2018 Iniesta’s Minnesota. Brisly Estime set up Hunt’s touchdown attack. But it’s going to be a tough contract will be automatically extend- with a 70-yard punt return. Syracuse led 14-3 enter- game and for us we know if we’re to ed annually if he has played a certain ing the fourth quarter before Mitch Leidner threw win we need to be at the top of our number of matches in the previous two touchdown passes and a 2-point conversion to game.” season. Winner of three Champions put the Golden Gophers up 17-14. After the Orange Asked about Toure’s comments League trophies with Barcelona in regained the lead, Minnesota attempted two long during an interview with Spanish 2006, 2009 and 2011, Iniesta was also passes to the end zone on the final plays. The first sports daily Marca, Iniesta said: “We key to Spain taking the World Cup in slipped through Drew Wolitarsky’s arms and the SAN FRANCISCO: Offensive and Defensive Players of game Bishop Sankey #25 and Hau’oli Kikaha #8 are not scared. This is football, the 2010 and being crowned European second, as time expired, was knocked down near of the Washington Huskies holds up the Championship Trophy after they defeated the BYU Cougars Champions League and Barca can’t be champions in 2008 and 2012.—AFP the end zone. 31-16 in the Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park on December 27, 2013. —AFP