'Homesick' Chinese Teams Stuck in Qatar After Champions League Exit

38 Friday Sports Friday, December 11, 2020 ‘Homesick’ Chinese teams stuck in Qatar after Champions League exit Evergrande players desperate to return to China SHANGHAI: Guangzhou Evergrande players Midfielder Yan Dinghao wrote on the Twitter-like say they are homesick and desperate to return to Weibo that he was on “the edge of collapse, real- China after being stuck in Qatar following their ly homesick”. elimination from the AFC Champions League. Team-mate He Chao added: “When will we be Fabio Cannavaro’s side are among three Chinese able to return?” Forward Wei Shihao also wrote Super League teams still in Qatar despite being on Weibo: “I can only stay locked in my hotel knocked out of the premier Asian competition room. I can’t see my family. I want to go home.” last Friday, with reports saying they are awaiting Yesterday’s Shanghai Morning Post said CSL approval for a charter flight. players were “exhausted physically and mentally” The others are Shanghai SIPG, who lost in the having already spent several months separated last 16 on Monday, and Shanghai Shenhua, who from family during the domestic season. All four have been stewing for a week since their conti- Chinese teams - Beijing Guoan play in the quar- nental title bid ended. The Asian Football ter-finals later - “expressed their desire” not to Confederation (AFC) suggested that the hold-up go to Qatar in the first place, the newspaper said. was likely due to coronavirus arrival rules in The Post said that the AFC subsidised meals and China, not because of any local difficulties. hotel accommodation while teams remained in the This year’s delayed Champions League is tak- competition, but the clubs have to foot the bill once ing place behind closed doors in a secure “bub- knocked out. The AFC told AFP that it was doing its ble” in Qatar because of the pandemic. utmost to help the teams, “who are currently awaiting Beforehand, global footballers union FIFPro the due process and protocols to be put in place by accused the AFC of failing to consult players the Chinese authorities”. “In the meantime, the AFC about moving the tournament to the nation host- and LOC (local organizing committee) are also work- GUANGZHOU: This file photo shows players of Guangzhou Evergrande lifting up their head coach Fabio ing the 2022 World Cup. With their season over ing to ensure all players and team officials are receiv- Cannavaro in celebration after defeating Shanghai Shenhua to win the Chinese Super League (CSL) and Cannavaro seemingly on the brink of the ing the best possible support and care until the sack, Evergrande’s players have broken rank. departure arrangements are finalized,” it said. — AFP football championship. — AFP Hamilton and Russell US overpowers in season-ending Abu 6-0 El Salvador Dhabi waiting game in friendly ABU DHABI: Lewis Hamilton is back in training and set to LOS ANGELES: Chris Mueller made return for Mercedes at this weekend’s season-ending Abu the most of his international debut and Dhabi Grand Prix, but only if he is passed fit and returns veteran Paul Arriola scored in his first negative tests for COVID-19. The seven-time world champi- start since suffering a torn Achilles ten- on was absent from last week’s action-filled Sakhir Grand don as the US routed El Salvador 6-0 Prix in Bahrain where his replacement and fellow-Briton in an international friendly on George Russell shone, despite a bungled Mercedes pit-stop, Wednesday. Mueller scored twice and on his way to ninth - his first points-scoring finish. Ayo Akinola, also in his first game, got a Hamilton, 35, is expected to be given until tomorrow goal as the Americans closed out the morning at the very latest to prove his fitness, if needed, pandemic-disrupted 2020 campaign with the team continuing with Russell in his car. Russell was with an impressive performance at Inter nominated on Wednesday to be the Mercedes representa- Miami Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, FLORIDA: Ivan Mancia #4 of El Salvador clears a header against the United States during the tive at a pre-event news conference at the Yas Marina Florida. Arriola was playing his first first half at Inter Miami CF Stadium on December 09, 2020 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. — AFP Circuit yesterday. Nothing is certain, however, ahead of a game with the national team since tear- race in which the champion team - for an unprecedented ing his right Achilles in an MLS presea- seven successive years - seek some redemption following son game in February. Brenden fewest games since playing three in board in the 17th minute when Arriola their embarrassing tyre gaffes last Sunday. Aaronson got his first goal and goal- 1987. The United States is trying to took a pass from Mueller and scored “We head into the final race looking for redemption after keeper Bill Hamid got the shutout in his rebuild its standing as one of the top from 12 yards out. Mueller made it 2-0 a disappointing race in Sakhir, where both George and first international start since 2018. teams in the Americas after failing to just three minutes later with a 15-yard Valtteri (Bottas) lost the opportunity to win,” said team chief The US team decided to have fans qualify for the 2018 World Cup. The right-foot shot following a pass from Toto Wolff. “The pit stop problem has uncovered an under- into the stadium for the first time since Americans did the unthinkable, losing to Jackson Yueill. Sebastian Lletget got his lying problem with our intercom and we’ve put measures in the global pandemic struck, allowing Trinidad and Tobago and failing to fourth goal with an 18-yard chip in the place, both technically and in the way we operate, to make 2,500 people into the building. The US reach the World Cup for the first time in 23rd and the rout was on. Mueller sure it doesn’t happen again.” The team’s blunder happened has been the hardest hit country by the over 30 years. scored again in the 25th minute on a when both drivers came in for new tyres and were sent out deadly virus with more than 3,000 El Salvador, which has a population diving header off a pass from Akinola, on the wrong ones - with Bottas having to continue on a set deaths nationwide on Wednesday of about six million, has been to the who grew up in the Toronto area and is he was prepared to discard. — AFP alone. Because of the pandemic the US World Cup just twice in their history in also eligible to play internationally for played just four times this year, their 1970 and 1982. The US got on the Canada. — AFP .

Load more