12 WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2020 sports
Sergio Ramos laments Man Utd did not deserve the Madrid’s lack of focus points against Saints: Solskjaer Manchester United stunned by Obafemi as Southampton mixed up top-four race
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s• men were unable to take advantage of weekend defeats for Chelsea and Leicester to remain in fifth Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos reacts after sustaining an injury Reuters | Madrid ing a cheap goal.” Reuters | London Goalkeeper Thibaut Cour- eal Madrid captain Ser- tois had to make a brilliant save anchester United Rgio Ramos criticised his late on to preserve Real’s lead manager Ole Gunnar side for falling into the trap of while Ramos blocked a shot MSolskjaer said his side complacency in Monday’s 2-1 on the goal-line, but his side did not deserve the three points win at Granada in La Liga as recorded a ninth consecutive after a stoppage-time equalis- they were left desperate for the win to move within range of er from Michael Obafemi gave final whistle after strolling into securing the title. Southampton a 2-2 draw at Old a two-goal lead in the opening Real will land their first La Trafford on Monday. 16 minutes. Liga crown since 2017 with United had been 2-1 up after Zinedine Zidane’s side re- victory at home to Villarreal goals from Marcus Rashford and laxed after goals from Ferland on Thursday before they visit Anthony Martial in response to Anthony Martial of Manchester United shoots as he is challenged by Jack Stephens of Southampton Mendy and Karim Benzema Leganes on the final day of the Stuart Armstrong’s early opener had got them off to a dream season next Sunday. for the visitors. cede a goal but it happens in three points and Southamp - start and they nearly paid for “Winning the league would Instead of moving into third football. We have won so many ton are a very good side,” he it as Granada peppered their mean a lot to us, it would be the place, United stay fifth and face games in that way. It is all part BETTER said. area in the second half after reward for the consistency we a real fight to qualify for the of the learning for this team,” Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuet- Darwin Machis pulled a goal have shown and for how hard Champions League with a top- he added. tl was delighted with the way back. we have worked throughout four finish. United played the same start- KNOW his vastly improved 12th placed “Without realising it, we the year,” added Ramos, whose “You think you have three ing team for the fifth straight team approached the match. made the mistake of letting side were two points behind points in the bag but we prob- league game, the first time they “We developed our game our guard down after getting Barcelona when the season ably didn’t deserve three points have done so since 1993, but Sol- United had become the with the ball extremely (well) a scoreline which we would was halted in March due to the today,” said the Norwegian skjaer did not feel his side had first side in Premier in the last few weeks. We are have been very happy with,” COVID-19 pandemic. coach. suffered from fatigue. League history to win becoming more brave. We are Ramos said. “The lockdown served us “Southampton are a good “I don’t think tiredness was four consecutive games taking more risks. If you take “But it wasn’t good enough well and proved to be a turning team, they run, and run and the case. It was just one of those by a three-goal margin, more risks things can happen,” and today you can’t beat an- point as we worked on pre - chase. We never got into our days we did not take our chanc- but there was no cruise he said. yone unless you are fully paring to return to action and rhythm today. We played some es and they took theirs. “We wanted to be brave, we focused for 90 minutes. We set ourselves the objective of fantastic football at times. The “David de Gea had one really for the Red Devils this have nothing to lose and we won the first half and lost the winning the title. two goals we scored were very, good save but apart from that time even after they re- can play free. You can feel the second and although we got “Now we are in the title fight very good. we had the bigger chances but sponded to Stuart Arm- guys really enjoy (it) at the the victory we did things we and I hope that on Thursday “It was the worst time to con- you are not going to be given strong’s early opener moment.” should never do, like conced- we can celebrate it properly.”
Le Tissier expects top-half finish England to back Buttler, but Denly in the firing line for Southampton next season Reuters | London
ngland are set keep faith Ewith Jos Buttler despite de- feat to West Indies in the first I’m not gonna go Test of a three-match series, but down that road yet time may be up for Joe Denly. of putting Jos under Captain Joe Root is set to re- pressure, because I turn for the second Test starting on Thursday at Old Trafford don’t think it’s going after missing the four-wicket to help him. First defeat in Southampton to attend and foremost we the birth of his second child. want to give Jos the The England selectors have best opportunity to big decisions to make after again succeed losing the game with the bat rather than the ball despite the CHRIS SILVERWOOD Southampton’s Michael Obafemi celebrates equalising against Manchester controversial omission of Stuart United Broad. England players Joe Denly (l) and Jos Buttler share a joke during England nets the second innings he appeared Reuters | London stils in them, wants from them An under-par 204 in the first (file photo) to make an irresistible grab for and demands from them,” innings and the loss of five wick- the shirt. outhampton’s performanc- Le Tissier, who scored 209 ets for 30 runs on the fourth and now only one hundred in well. “We’re all desperate to see Joe Ses since the Premier League goals for Southampton dur- evening set the platform for the 75 innings. “From our point of view it’s do really well. We can see he’s restart are a credit to manag- ing his 16 years at the club, tourists to take first blood. “I’m not gonna go down that just making sure that he feels trying hard, he’s training hard er Ralph Hasenhuettl and the said. Denly and Buttler were in- road yet of putting Jos under confident in the environment and he’s a great bloke, hence team has the potential to finish Hasenhuettl also guided volved in both passages and find pressure, because I don’t think he’s in.” why we all went to see him do in the top half of the table next Southampton to a 1-0 win over themselves increasingly under it’s going to help him,” said Sil- There looks certain to be well,” said Silverwood. season, club great Matt Le Tis- second-placed Manchester pressure for their places -- the verwood. “First and foremost change higher up the order, “But obviously he’s under sier has said. City earlier this month and Le former being squeezed by Root’s we want to give Jos the best though, with Denly’s knocks of pressure a little bit, yes. Zak is Southampton have lost just Tissier said their form against return and Zak Crawley’s fine opportunity to succeed. 18 and 29 doing little to show improving constantly. I think once since the league resumed the top sides showed what they 76 on Saturday, the latter from “But I’m sure he is asking the that he can haul his performanc- he certainly showed maturity following the COVID-19 shut- could accomplish. Surrey gloveman Ben Foakes. same questions. He looked bril- es up to the required standard and the innings he played was down, winning three matches “When you look at what England head coach Chris liant coming into this game, in for a long-term Test number very good. and drawing twice, including a we’ve been capable of in the Silverwood, though, has only practice and everything and he three. “We have some young players 2-2 draw at Manchester United past few weeks -- we’ve just offered strong reassurance to looked very good in the first At just 22, Crawley is 12 years in that side that seem to have on Monday. played City at home, Man - one of the duo. innings. He just needs to go Denley’s junior and by produc- good heads on their shoulders, “It’s professional pride, but chester United away, Everton Buttler has a Test average of and make those big scores now ing England’s top score of the and he’s one of them. That’s it’s also what the manager in- away,” he said. just 23.22 since the start of 2019 doesn’t he? He knows that as match in tense circumstances in what we are looking for.”