Sports Sunday, August 23, 2020 13 Al Duhail SC president HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, QSL CEO Hani Ballan congratulate QNB Stars League champs

HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, president Al Duhail SC. Hani Taleb Ballan, CEO, QSL.

Tribune News Network to work strongly. Doha Now our focus has shifted completely to the rest of the Al Duhail SC President HE competitions before the start Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al of the new season, as there is Thani has congratulated eve- an important match await- ryone at the club on winning ing us in the semi-final of the the Qatar Stars League title. Amir Cup, and also in the AFC Al Duhail won their seventh Champions League. God will- league title after a 1-0 victory ing, the team will achieve good against Al Ahli on Friday helped results for Qatar and make its them finish one point ahead of fans and followers happy.” second-placed Al Rayyan and Hani Taleb Ballan, CEO, Sheikh Khalifa was delighted QSL, congratulated the Board with the team’s performance. of Directors of Al Duhail club on “The team won the title de- becoming the 2019-20 season spite all the difficulties and the QNB Stars League champions. players were ready and suc- He said, “On behalf of all ceeded in fulfilling their prom- staff of the QSL, I extend my ise and I congratulate them and sincere congratulations to Al all my brothers in the club and Duhail club, its players, tech- Al Duhail captain Karim Boudiaf (left) and Almoez Ali lift the Falcon Shield as the team celebrates after they won the QNB Stars League 2019-20 title at Al Janoub Stadium on Friday. also the technical and admin- nical as well as administra- istrative staff for this achieve- tive staff and all its employees praise the level of competi- achieved besides reflecting during the season in general cerned when football activ- Concluding his remarks, ment,” said Sheikh Khalifa. for emerging as superior this tion exhibited by all teams for on the strength and stature of and during the outbreak of ity was stopped and all parties Ballan thanked all stakehold- “The management will al- season and winning the well- various positions in the table QNB Stars League.” coronavirus (Covid-19) in par- demonstrated utmost respon- ers, sponsors, partners and ways be close to the players deserved league shield after a resulting from the readiness The QSL CEO praised the ticular, which led to a number sibility and commitment by media outlets for their efforts and provide them with the at- fierce competition that went of clubs and players, and the professionalism and discipline of precautionary measures adhering to the General Proto- and work during the 2019-20 mosphere that motivates them down till the last week. I also great professionalism they’ve of all staff, clubs and players taken by the authorities con- col and approved plan. football season. Sevilla make most of modest resources to fly flag for

AFP Cologne (Germany)

Sevilla’s sixth Europa League triumph in a thrilling final over ensured a Spanish side won one of Eu- rope’s two major competitions Inter Milan’s Italian head coach Antonio Conte takes off his medal as for the 10th time in 12 seasons, he walks past the trophy after Sevilla won the UEFA Europa League even in a lean year for final Cologne, Germany, on Friday.( AFP) giants Real , and Atletico Madrid. Inter were favourites to Conte and Inter Milan at a end Italy’s decade without a major European prize since crossroads after one season they won the Champions League in 2010. But despite AFP Eternally dissatisfied amassing almost an entirely Milan It has become a familiar story new team over the past year for the 51-year-old Conte who with annual revenues of 230 Antonio Conte’s future at despite his success rarely hangs million euros ($271 million) Inter Milan looks increas- around for the long haul. His less than the Nerazzurri, Sevil- ingly uncertain after just one three-year spell at Juventus is la’s capacity to upset the odds season, with the Italian coach the longest of a career already in the Europa League came hinting at his departure to rub spanning seven clubs. through once more in a mem- salt in the wound after another Even after a first season orable 3-2 victory in Cologne. night of bitter European dis- that saw Inter close the gap All six of Sevilla’s titles in appointment. on Juventus to just one point the competition have come in Inter’s 3-2 Europa League at the top of Serie A, Conte the past 15 years as the mas- loss to Sevilla in Cologne left plunged his future at the San tery of sporting director Mon- Conte searching for an inter- Siro into doubt when on the fi- chi in the transfer market and national trophy to add to his nal day of the domestic season an unshakable belief despite league titles in Italy and the he claimed he and his players the annual churn of players Premier League. had been offered “little protec- and a high turnover of coaches Sevilla FC team members holding their UEFA Europa League’s trophy upon their arrival at the airport of on Saturday, a day after their “Conte, are you leaving?” tion from the club”. has allowed the Andalusians victory in the UEFA Europa League final against Inter Milan. (AFP) asked the Gazzetta dello Sport “I’m not going backwards. to form a fearsome foursome on Saturday, while Corriere If we can improve things, we from La Liga in European Victory over Inter contin- youth academy, the winger chester United in the semi- can develop their talent.” dello Sport were already say- will, otherwise we will see. competitions. ued an incredible record of La won two Europa Leagues and finals and provided the cross A fourth-place finish in La ing “goodbyes” to the coach “I don’t want another year “Never give up is written on Liga clubs against non-Span- was part of the side that has for the first of the Dutchman’s Liga had already guaranteed who took over in May 2019. like that.” our hearts,” said Sevilla boss ish opponents in UEFA fi- come closest to winning La double against Inter. a return to the Champions An Italian team has not Conte has had a positive , himself in his nals, with 15 consecutive wins Liga over the past two decades De Jong himself was dis- League next season, where won a European trophy since impact on most of the teams first season with the club. stretching back to 2001. in 2006/07. carded by Newcastle and they have never progressed Inter secured the Champions he has managed. Barcelona and Real Madrid Sevilla have contributed As with most of Sevilla’s Borussia Monchengladbach beyond the quarter-finals. League to complete a treble He took Bari and Siena have each won four Champi- five of them with their only stars he was sold on, moving before arriving in admitted that is under Jose Mourinho in 2010. into Serie A, began Juven- ons Leagues and Atletico three win over a domestic opponent to Manchester City for £15 for €12.5 million last summer. the “next goal” as they seek in- “Now we’ll return to Milan, tus’ hegemony of the Italian Europa Leagues, alongside coming against Espanyol in million in 2013, where he nev- Ever Banega ran the game spiration from Lyon and Leip- we’ll take a couple of days off. top-flight by winning three two Champions League finals 2007. er reached the same heights in his final game against his zig’s run to the last four this We will try to plan the future straight titles, guided an un- appearances, in the past 15 and was derided for his deliv- former club who let the Argen- season. But it is the Europa of Inter with or without me,” fancied Italy to the semi-finals years as Spanish clubs have Navas comes full circle ery from wide areas. tine return to Sevilla after one League where they feel most said Conte. of Euro 2016 and won the Pre- swept up 17 of the last 29 ma- The lone survivor from that He returned to Sevilla on season at the San Siro. at home. As the slogan em- “I didn’t like some situa- mier League in his first season jor European trophies. side, Jesus Navas, proudly a free transfer three years ago “The philosophy of the blazoned on Sevilla’s dressing tions,” continued Conte with- at Chelsea. But Sevilla’s success is the lifted the trophy as captain in and has earned a recall to the club is to try to be close to the room wall on Friday read: “No out elaborating, although he But he has never tasted most striking without the fi- Cologne on Friday night. Spanish national team thanks player, to help the person and one wants it like us.” And they insisted his relationship was European success, falling nancial muscle of Barca and Also in his second spell to his performances as a right- not just the footballer adapt tend to get what they want. good with the club’s Chinese short with both Juventus and Madrid or the stability Atletico at the club, Navas is a per- back. as quickly as possible,” Mon- Scoreline: Sevilla (ESP) 3 (de owners and fans. Chelsea before his near-miss have enjoyed in the eight years fect illustration of how Sevilla Despite his deeper posi- chi told AFP of the secrets to Jong 12, 33, Carlos 74) Inter “I have an excellent re- with Inter. since ’s arrival punch above their weight. tion, Navas set up Luuk de Sevilla’s success. “The quicker Milan (ITA) 2 (Lukaku 5-pen, lationship with (club presi- As during his time at Ju- as coach. A product of the club’s Jong’s winner against Man- they adapt, the quicker they Godin 35). dent Steven Zhang), just like ventus and Chelsea, Conte with his father,” Conte said, blamed a Champions League as the former Juventus coach group-stage exit on a lack of thanked “the real Inter fans investment even though Inter who supported me despite be- smashed their transfer record Quick read ing a sporting enemy”. to sign for 75 Former Chelsea Oscar stars as Chinese football welcomes back fans after virus But Conte’s relation- million euros ($89 million) ship with club CEO Gi- as part of the fourth-highest Shanghai: The Chinese Super ment for football in China, where the limited number of fans back, while Oscar blew kisses to the offer a victory to our fans and I useppe Marotta is reported to transfer spend in Europe. League permitted spectators on the virus emerged last year, up the 60-million-euro Brazilian sparse crowd. “Football without think they are happy at this mo- be tense. On Friday, Zhang praised Saturday for the first time since to 2,000 people were allowed to setting up his side’s equaliser supporters is not football,” said ment. “We fought in the game A divorce could prove cost- Conte for “doing a great job”. the coronavirus pandemic, with attend the clash in Suzhou be- before making it 2-1 with 14 SIPG’s Portuguese coach Vitor and we represented the club, ly for Inter with Conte’s con- But the situation needs former Chelsea star Oscar mark- tween title rivals Shanghai SIPG minutes left. Beijing’s beaten Pereira, whose side is unbeaten the supporters, with our heart, tract running until 2022 and to be clarified with the Serie ing the occasion by hitting the and Beijing Guoan. SIPG captain players unfurled a banner after- so far in the coronavirus-delayed with our spirit, and I am happy worth a reported 12 million A season set to resume on winner. In a significant develop- Oscar seemed to relish having wards thanking their supporters, season. “We are very happy to for them.” (AFP) euros ($14 million) a season. September 19.