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Home , Carlo Ancelotti

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015 SPORTS

Benitez well-placed in Real search for Spanish-speaking boss : Upon sacking Carlo Ancelotti many by surprise. when he took temporary charge for the as Real Madrid coach, club president Madrid sports daily AS mocked Perez final four months of the 1993-94 sea- Florentino Perez offered the solace that with his own words yesterday on their son. the 10th boss of his reign in charge will front page as he replied “I don’t know” “It is not my decision,” said Del be named next week. when questioned in what aspects Bosque in his usual languid style in Moments later when questioned by Ancelotti had failed after a season with- announcing his latest Spain squad yes- the press if the new coach would be a out a major trophy. Ancelotti delivered terday. “The person that has to make native speaker, Perez agreed it “would the club’s most successful ever year in that decision will bring in the best be very good if he speaks Spanish.” 2014 with the Copa del Rey, UEFA Super coach, but he (Benitez) is among the That confirmation has eliminated Cup and Club World Cup adding to the best.” any doubt that remained among the glory of ending a 12-year wait for their It is another twist of fate that Spanish media that the next man to 10th European Cup. Ancelotti’s sacking came 10 years to the face the task of living up to Perez’s Moreover, he was loved within day since arguably the most memo- highest of standards will be current Madrid’s star-studded dressing room rable match of his and Benitez’s mana- Napoli boss Rafael Benitez. The 55-year- with , James Rodriguez gerial career as the latter’s Liverpool old is expected to take charge of his and among those to demon- came from 3-0 down at half-time to final game at the Stadio San Paolo strate their thanks to the Italian on beat Ancelotti’s AC Milan on penalties before his contract expires on Sunday social media after his dismissal, whilst in the Champions League final in when Napoli host Lazio in effectively a had preempted Istanbul. playoff for the third Champions League Perez’s decision by calling for Ancelotti Yet, Benitez’s lack of major trophies spot in . to stay at the weekend. since means there are plenty of “Rafa Benitez is 99 percent certain to The decision has been likened to doubters as to whether he is the right ITALY: Napoli coach Rafael Benitez gives instructions to his players in this file be Real Madrid coach,” Ancelotti’s agent Perez’s sacking of Spain manager man to deliver on the expectations of photo. —AP Ernesto Bronzetti told Italian television in 2003 despite hav- the world’s most expensively assem- station RAI on Monday. For a president ing won and just a year after bled squad. convinced. However, arguably his best fans with Ancelotti’s dismissal, Perez that has based his mandate around winning the Champions League. One FA Cup with Liverpool, a Europa work came during his last job in Spain now must hope Benitez is just as suc- signing the world’s biggest and most Ironically it was as Del Bosque’s League in a short stint at Chelsea and a over a decade ago in winning two cessful on his return home to ward off expensive stars, Perez’s decision to assistant that a fledgling Benitez took with a Napoli side that has league titles and the UEFA Cup with serious questions over his competency replace the three-time Champions his first steps in management as Real’s B gone backwards in the past two years is Valencia. to continue leading the world’s richest League winner with Benitez has caught team coach and assistant to Del Bosque not a CV that leaves most Madrid fans Having angered the players and club.—AFP Now the hard work begins for Norwich

LONDON: Norwich City may be celebrating agement approach has already been com- promotion back to the via pared to the steely determination of fellow the playoffs but their ambitious young Scot . manager Alex Neil is already thinking “I set goals and I’m really determined to about strengthening his squad. try to achieve those goals. I don’t get over- Neil, 33, who is set to be the only awed by anyone or even any place. I’m Scottish manager in the English top flight there to do a job and I’ll do it as best I can,” next season, steered the humble Canaries he said. to a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough at Among his priorities will be a winger on Monday. and a central defender to free captain The rugged Scot has little time to enjoy Russell Martin to play in his favoured right the achievement, however, with meetings back position instead of filling gaps in the scheduled to discuss reinforcements for the middle. task ahead before he takes a well-earned “It’s going to be a huge task for us,” said holiday. “The next couple of days will be Neil. “We’re probably one of the smallest busy. It’s been a long two seasons for me clubs going up into the Premier League but and the playoffs is another three weeks. I’m there are other clubs that do well of a simi- here to do as well as I can to make us as lar size.” good as can be,” he said. Having brought success to the club co- “We’ve got two plans set in place in owned by celebrity cook Delia Smith, after terms of recruitment,” he added as his replacing Neil Adams in January, Neil thoughts turned to the Norfolk club’s Plan knows he has raised the bar and that brings A. Having secured a promotion that will its own pressure. bring riches of at least 120 million pounds “My biggest challenge is going to be ($185.62 million) from ticket sales, TV expectation,” he said. “People will expect us rights, prize money and sponsorship, he to do really well in the Premier League but has money to spend. it’s extremely difficult. “There will be a hell Norwich are fortunate to have a man of a lot of hard work just to make sure we who is confident in his ability and his man- can compete at that level.”—Reuters Key Real players rally behind sacked Ancelotti

MADRID: Some of Real Madrid’s key play- helm of the world’s richest club by income, WARSAW: Dnipro’s Papa Gueye (second left) and his teammates jog during a training session on the eve of the final match of the uropaE League ers have rallied around coach Carlo said he did not mind the players advertis- soccer against Sevilla. —AP Ancelotti after the Italian was made the ing their affection for Ancelotti. Going so scapegoat for a season without major tro- obviously against the wishes of a majority phies and sacked on Monday. of the squad may, however, make the job of Top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo had whoever succeeds Ancelotti that much Euro success lifts gloom already offered his support for Ancelotti on harder. Saturday, the Portugal forward saying he While Real’s two captains, hoped to work with him again next season. and Sergio Ramos, have yet to comment in President Florentino Perez decided, public following Ancelotti’s dismissal, the in war-weary Ukraine however, that “a new impetus” was needed decision of some players to make their feel- and fired Ancelotti two years into a three- ings known on social media is unusual at a year contract. club that obsessively controls the flow of UKRAINE: Eastern Ukrainian club Dnipro are neighbouring big cities such as Donetsk. friends and friends of friends who are fighting. The decision, taken just a year after information. unexpectedly poised for possible European soc- Many attribute this to Ihor Kolomoisky, FC They have been drafted into the army or are in Ancelotti guided Real to their historic 10th Perez said the club would unveil Real’s cer glory, lifting the gloom in their war-weary Dnipro’s billionaire owner and president, who volunteer battalions. We and our fanatical fans European Cup triumph, prompted several new coach next week, with local media country, at least for a while. bankrolled formation of a pro-government mili- help them as best as we can,” Fedetsky said. important figures in the dressing room to reporting Napoli’s Spanish manager Rafa With fighting raging on the doorstep of its tia to stop early signs of separatist sympathies “The world should know about our country show their appreciation for the coach on Benitez as the front runner. hometown of Dnipropetrovsk, the club had to taking root. He later fell foul of the pro-Western and know that, despite the war, life goes on and Twitter. “Thanks for everything boss,” Real’s “The players have shown their affection travel 500 km (310 miles) to play their Europa authorities and was dumped as regional gover- that the entertainment of football is not foreign Brazil left back Marcelo wrote. “You are real- for Ancelotti, the same affection myself and League home matches in the capital, Kiev, away nor, though his Privat banking group still holds to us,” said Oleksander Moiseyenko, a 49-year- ly great.” Germany Toni Kroos the supporters have for him,” Perez told from their fans and often at near-empty stadi- FC Dnipro. old shopkeeper in the city. added: “Thank you boss. It was a pleasure reporters. ums. That sapped morale early on, they say. Dnipro’s success on the pitch has been the to work with you. I wish you all the best for “Not only does that not upset me but I But despite the odds, they have fought their WAR GIVES AN EDGE result of waiting for errors from their opponents the future.” think it is a natural response to have when way to the Europa League final today against The main boulevard of Dnipropetrovsk, and moving quickly to punish them. Their out- Colombian international James someone is leaving Madrid after spending Spain’s Sevilla, and when they run onto the pitch where acacias throw off a heady scent in the standing player is Yevhen Konoplyanka, 25, who Rodriguez also thanked Ancelotti, saying a period of time here,” added the construc- in Warsaw they say they will have their compatri- evening, is still called Prospekt Karl Marx-but expertly laid on the winning second goal to he had “learned a great deal in a short time” tion magnate. “It is gesture of fondness and ots on the front line in mind. probably not for much longer as a national pro- clinch a 2-1 win over Napoli in the semi-final. from the 55-year-old, while France forward affection from the players.” “These are hard times for our state and for us gramme for dropping Soviet name tags takes Football pundits say it is unlikely that Dnipro expressed his gratitude for Ancelotti has said he plans to take a year too. We are hoping our sporting achievement hold. As in many Ukrainian cities, a monument will triumph against Sevilla, who captured the “two great years”. out and will have surgery in Canada to cor- will inspire our heroes who are defending our to Soviet state founder Vladimir Lenin was taken Europa League trophy last year against Perez, who has worked his way through rect a neck condition that was causing tin- country from the enemy,” Dnipro defender down in the centre last year. Portugal’s Benfica and have won 10 of their 14 nine coaches in two six-year stints at the gling in his hands. —Reuters Artem Fedetsky told Reuters. “We know the The team had to fly back and forth to Kiev for Europa League matches this season. By contrast, whole of Ukraine will be with us at the stadium. qualifying matches after a ruling by soccer’s Dnipro’s record en route to the final has been We will be playing for them,” head coach Myron organising body UEFA that the Dnipro Arena sta- seven victories and four defeats, with five Markevich said. An industrial city of just under dium was too dangerous. matches drawn. one million, Dnipropetrovsk has avoided being “We had to play all our home matches in Kiev No matter what happens in Warsaw, the club sucked into the war against Russian-backed and the stands were practically empty and with- will celebrate triumph over adversity. “We (have) rebels, a conflict which has killed more than out the Eurocup feel that there should be,” said understood that, since things are not easy for 6,200 people in just over a year. Fedetsky, 30. “But we gritted our teeth, fought our country just now, we should strive to do bet- It has seen an influx of refugees and is home on and eventually people got interested. At the ter in European Cup matches so that people can to an important medical centre for treating mili- game with Napoli there was a full stadium.” see in Europe and elsewhere that, though things tary wounded, and has come to be regarded as a The war has added an edge to the support are difficult for us now, football is still alive in bulwark against the separatist threat affecting Dnipropetrovsk has shown for the team. “I have Ukraine,” Markevich said. —Reuters Tense talks on Israel expulsion vote at FIFA

ZURICH: FIFA leaders yesterday stepped up motion that will require the backing of three told the FIFA executive committee on Monday efforts to head off a vote called by Palestine to quarters of the 209 member federations to pass. about his trip to the Middle East last week to expel Israel from football’s world body claiming “Our asks are clear, just and fair: Freedom of meet Netanyahu and Abbas. But he did not unfair treatment of its players. movement, end of racism and expulsion of all report a deal. “Negotiations are still going on but they are teams from illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Blatter’s main talks have been with Rajoub very complicated,” a top FIFA official told AFP. Palestine competing in the Israeli league.” and Israel Football Association President Ofer “There may not be a solution until the final Rajoub said Monday as he left for Zurich. Eini who says restrictions on Palestinian players hours,” added the official, speaking on condition He said that if the conditions are not met “we are a security question. of anonymity. FIFA president Sepp Blatter has will push for our resolution to be voted in the “The FIFA president will report to the held talks with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin FIFA congress to suspend the Israeli Football Congress on this dossier later this week with the Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Association.” aim of providing a framework for strengthening Abbas in a bid to prevent the politically charged Palestine, which has been a FIFA member the development of football in the region,” said a vote at a FIFA congress on Friday. since 1998, wants world football’s governing FIFA statement. FIFA would not discuss the talks. But a body to bar Israel from international competi- Blatter strongly opposes the vote saying it is spokeswoman for the governing body said “only tion over its restrictions on the movement of bringing politics into football and that Israel has Palestine can withdraw the demand to suspend Palestinian players. not breached FIFA’s statutes. “The executive Israel from the agenda.” It also opposes the participation in the Israeli underlined that a FIFA member association SPAIN: Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring a goal in this file Palestinian Football Association president championships of five clubs located in Jewish should not be suspended if it has not violated photo. —AP Jibril Rajoub has so far refused to withdraw the settlements in the occupied West Bank. Blatter the FIFA statutes,” said the statement. —AFP