TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 SPORTS

Chelsea’s implosion leaves incoming Conte with a tough job

LONDON: If Leicester’s rise to the top of come to Stamford Bridge on the final room after being sent off late against rience and winning mentality leaves a the club’s training base at Cobham. English soccer is the most bewildering day of the season. Sunderland in what likely was his 703rd massive hole in the team. There’ll be no A huge rebuilding job appears neces- aspect of this chaotic season in the Ranieri was the coach fired by and final match for Chelsea. Champions League soccer at Chelsea for sary at Chelsea but will Conte get the Premier League, then the implosion of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich in The 35-year-old Terry, who has been the first time since the 2002-03 season. funds from Abramovich to do so? Chelsea runs a close second. A 3-2 loss 2004 as he chased the signature of Jose at Chelsea since he was 14, hasn’t been And there’ll be another new manager in Mourinho didn’t last year, perhaps pre- to Sunderland on Saturday made it offi- Mourinho. Chelsea started as the run- offered a new deal. “Captain. Leader. situ - current Italy coach Antonio Conte. cipitating his decline. And for Chelsea to cial: Chelsea will end the season with the away champions from the previous sea- Legend” reads the banner about Terry Where to start on Conte’s to-do list. get top stars without the lure of the worst title defense in the 24-year history son, with a squad to envy and a manag- draped across one of the stands at Replace Terry; attempt to keep hold of Champions League, it might have to of the Premier League. The Blues can fin- er widely regarded as one of the world’s Stamford Bridge. “We know what he has Hazard; decide whether Diego Costa is spend extra for players. With ish no higher than ninth place and could best. It’s turned into an absolute mess. done for this club and what he has won,” worth the effort and strengthen the for- Manchester City, Liverpool and still drop as low as 11th. There’s the Eva Carneiro saga from the Matic said of Terry. “All of us in the team ward line; try to attract players to a club Manchester United also likely to be in That’s much worse than Manchester opening day of the season that left the wish him all the best for the future and no longer in Europe’s elite; and assess the market for world-class players this United’s seventh-place finish under club in a bad light and will drag on into of course this is not a good way to finish how big a role youngsters like Ruben offseason, Conte will have to be astute David Moyes in his woeful 10 months June in the courts; the firing of in a club.” Stamford Bridge is going to be Loftus-Cheek, Kenedy and Bertrand and could end up turning to Italian play- in charge in 2013-14, which is some Mourinho in December; the fall from a very different place next season. Traore should have next season. If Italy ers in the transfer market. And there’s no achievement in itself. And there’s still grace of top players like Eden Hazard, With Terry set to leave - it’s unclear reaches the European Championship knowing how that will turn out. The one ignominy left in this sorry cam- Nemanja Matic and sulky striker Diego whether for the United States, China or final on July 10, Conte will have barely a soap opera that is Chelsea Football Club paign for Chelsea: On Sunday, the Costa; relinquishing the league title another English club - the last member month before the new English season has always guaranteed drama and head- team will give a guard of honor to with barely a whimper; and on of Chelsea’s old guard and spine (Petr starts. Planning is surely underway lines in the Abramovich era, but also a Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri and Saturday, the sight of long-time captain Cech, Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier already, but he’s still got precious little regular supply of silverware and his players when the new champions John Terry trudging to the dressing Drogba) disappears. Losing all that expe- time to get his feet under the table at European soccer. Maybe no more.— AP Galaxy send Revolution reeling Keane back with a bang

LOS ANGELES: Robbie Keane was firing on all cylinders on his return from knee surgery on Sunday, the Irish international scoring twice to help lead the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 4-2 victory over in their showdown. Two months after undergoing a right knee procedure, the 35-year-old Keane combined well with team mate Gyasi Zardes (two assists) to give the Galaxy plenty of optimism moving forward. “It feels like at the moment that we’re get- ting people back and then someone is miss- ing through suspension or injury,” Keane told reporters after the home victory. “Come July, hopefully we get everybody back together, everybody fit and healthy, and I think you’ll see a stronger, stronger team.” The Galaxy could hardly have looked any stronger early on Sunday as they stormed to a 3-0 lead in the first half. Keane kicked off the scoring in the 13th minute and added another in the 45th, while Giovani dos Santos tallied in between in a dominant display. The second half was a tighter affair, howev- er, with netting in injury time to complete the scoring after New England, winless in six games, had battled back through Kelyn Rowe and Juan Agudelo goals after the break. Los Angeles (5-1-3) are now undefeated in seven games and are riding high with their veteran striker back to lead the attack. “Robbie is very important for us, for the club. He’s a great player,” Dos Santos said. “I think the chemistry between me and him is Celtic’s Erik Sviatchenko, of Denmark, celebrates scoring a goal in this file photo. — AP getting better every game and for me, it’s always a pleasure to play with him.” In the only Celtic manager hails five in row, other match of the day, New York City beat DC CALIFORNIA: New England Revolution midfielder JeVaughn Watson (right) kicks the ball away United 2-0 after an in-form David Villa scored from Los Angeles Galaxy forward Robbie Keane during the first half of an MLS soccer game on blasts ‘little league’ disrespect his seventh goal of the season and Khiry Sunday, May 8, 2016 in Carson. — AP Shelton added another.— Reuters

GLASGOW: Celtic manager Ronny Deila Glasgow rivals Rangers. Dons boss Derek says his side’s title is McInnes felt his side’s performance in the every bit as special as the rest after his side match at mirrored his side’s Platini to quit clinched their 47th top flight championship title challenge. with a 3-2 win over nearest challengers “The players deserve a lot of credit for Aberdeen. A double from Patrick Roberts not folding and giving up and coming back UEFA after and a Mikael Lustig strike seemingly put fighting strong,” McInnes said. “I think it has Celtic in an insurmountable position before parallels to our league campaign. We had losing appeal goals from Jonny Hayes and Andrew to work for it in the end, we let them know Considine made for a nervy finish. we were there and weren’t going anywhere LAUSANNE: Suspended European soccer boss Michel The win moves Celtic 12 points clear of but ultimately we just fell a bit short.”Today the Dons with two games remaining and is about Celtic. For all the criticism that has Platini will resign as head of governing body UEFA after los- seals a fifth consecutive league title for only come the manager’s way and the players’ ing a top level appeal against a ban for ethics violations, the third time in the club’s history. way it hasn’t been through their league but he will continue to fight to clear his name. One of the However, Celtic have come in for criticism form. “Their points tally will be up there finest players of his generation who went on to become a this season with cup semi-final defeats to with any championship winning team. powerful sporting official, Frenchman Platini was suspend- rivals Rangers and Ross County, allied to Ultimately we beat them twice and we ed after his dealings with fallen world soccer chief Sepp poor European form, resulting in Deila probably needed someone else to lay a Blatter dragged him into the scandal which engulfed the announcing his decision to leave the club glove on them as well to get closer to LONDON: West Ham fans buy Pies and Eels ahead of the English Premier League foot- sport’s global governing body FIFA. in the summer. However, the out-going them, but they deserve credit today.” ball match at The Boleyn Ground in Upton Park, in east London. — AFP Sport’s highest tribunal, The Court of Arbitration for boss says his side’s title win deserves to be With Rangers’ return to the Scottish top Sport (CAS), upheld Platini’s suspension on Monday, valued as highly as previous victories. flight next season, McInnes acknowledges although it reduced the term from six years to four. “The “Of course it should be. It is a title. You he will face an increased challenge to Manchester Utd out to ruin CAS Panel was of the opinion that a severe sanction could have to fight against the teams in the repeat the feats of previous years. However, be justified in view of the superior functions carried out by league and you can’t say this is not more the Aberdeen boss believes his players can West Ham’s Boleyn farewell Mr Platini (FIFA Vice-President and UEFA President), the worthy than the others,” the Norwegian continue to improve. “My team deserve a absence of any repentance and the impact that this mat- manager said. “It is very disrespectful thing lot of credit because we are the one team LONDON: Manchester United have the glint- chances of a top-four finish are also effectively ter has had on FIFA’s reputation,” CAS said in a statement. to say about the other teams as well. “Our over the last couple of seasons who have ing incentive of a Champions League place in over following Saturday’s unexpected 4-1 The ruling means that UEFA, which has not replaced results have been consistent but the last taken the responsibility to challenge Celtic their sights as they prepare for an emotion- defeat at home to Swansea City. two months we have not had the same and give them something of a league title Platini since he was initially banned in October, will have charged Premier League contest at West Ham drive and energy in the team. There have race when really we shouldn’t be anywhere to elect a new president. UEFA said its Executive United today. Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with ‘Going to be special’ been some bad results which make the near it in terms of funds,” McInnes said. Committee would meet on May 18 in Basel to discuss the Arsenal at the weekend means that United It was West Ham’s first home defeat in the season a bit grey, rather than white “We are “Hopefully next season if we can get in a next steps, adding that no stand-in President would be can pip their cross-town rivals to a top-four league since August-a run of 15 games-and the best and the biggest club and every- similar position we can learn from this and appointed in the meantime. spot if they beat West Ham and then prevail at left a Europa League berth as their only realis- thing we achieve here is normal, other than put ourselves in a better position to chal- home to Bournemouth on Sunday. An FA Cup tic target for the end of the season. West Ham if you go to through the Champions lenge right to the end.”—AFP No figurehead final date against Crystal Palace follows, sud- slipped out of the qualifying places to seventh League and into the next round after the That decision means European soccer will almost cer- denly making United manager Louis van following Southampton’s 2-1 win at group games. Gaal’s horizon a great deal sunnier, but with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and Liverpool tainly have no figurehead during the European “So it is high demands and sometimes West Ham playing their last ever game at their are now just a point behind them after win- Championship, to be held in France over June and July. it is important to enjoy it. The fans showed Match on TV venerable Boleyn Ground home, United can ning 2-0 at home to Watford. Platini has pledged to continue his campaign to overturn that today and in the end they were hap- expect to face ultra-motivated opponents. Seventh place could yield a Europa League the ban. His only remaining recourse is to appeal to the py to get the championship. “You see in (Local Timings) Speaking before City’s draw with Arsenal, spot at the season’s end, but only if Swiss federal court, but this can only overturn the verdict if other leagues that small teams win but Van Gaal said: “It’s still very tough. “Now we Manchester City finish in the top four and it finds procedural irregularities. “I see this (decision) as a now we have five in a row and should be ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE have to play away to West Ham United and United beat Palace in the FA Cup final and fin- profound injustice... As agreed with the national associa- very proud of it and hopefully it will be a West Ham v Man United 21:45 we’ve seen already in the quarter-final of the ish in the top five. “I keep saying the gap tions I am resigning from my functions as President of lot more next season.” Aberdeen have pro- FA Cup (when United won 2-1) that it’s not so between us and the top four is bigger than vided the main challenge in the league in beIN SPORTS 2 HD UEFA in order to pursue my fight with the Swiss courts to easy. So we have to repeat that win. “West the gap between us and Southampton and recent seasons in the absence of their prove my integrity in this affair,” Platini said in a statement. Ham are a very good team-it’s not for nothing Liverpool below,” West Ham manager Slaven A lawyer for Platini, Yves Wehrli, said the Frenchman they’re in the top six of the table. We were Bilic said, prior to Southampton’s win at White would resign from UEFA “in the coming days”. The French lucky in the cup. “I think we deserved to win, Hart Lane. “That’s the gap that worries me and Football Federation (FFF) said it would respect the CAS West Ham sell all season but we were lucky West Ham had a goal disal- that’s the gap I’m still concentrating on. But decision. “The FFF nevertheless salutes the work of Michel lowed in the last minute.” we have a game today and we are still in a Platini and the quality of a man who has always worked in Marcus Rashford was United’s inspiration brilliant position. “We want to finish high. With the interest of football, particularly while he was UEFA tickets for new stadium on their last trip to the Boleyn Ground in April, two games to go we are talking about Europe. president,” it said. Platini was banished along with former opening the scoring with a fine individual It’s in our hands. It’s there for us.” effort, and the 18-year-old striker is expected Win, lose or draw, today’s game is sure to FIFA President Blatter over a payment of two million Swiss LONDON: West Ham United have sold out chairman Karren Brady said. “We find our- francs ($2.08 million) made to the Frenchman by FIFA with of season tickets ahead of next season’s selves going into our first season with to return to the starting XI after being rested be an occasion soaked with nostalgia as West Blatter’s approval in 2011 for work done a decade earlier. move to London’s Olympic Stadium, the more than 50,000 season ticket holders for Saturday’s 1-0 win at Norwich City. Centre- Ham bid farewell to the 35,016-seat Boleyn FIFA’s ethics committee said the payment, made at a Premier League club said yesterday. and tens of thousands of people on the back Daley Blind should return as well, having Ground, which has been the club’s home since Having sold more than 50,000 tickets for priority list for seats in 2017-18.” Slaven also been rested at Carrow Road, but forward 1904. Exciting times lie ahead with an immi- time when Blatter was seeking re-election, lacked trans- the 60,000-seater stadium, West Ham can Bilic’s men will be move to the Olympic Anthony Martial and full-back Matteo nent move to the 60,000-capacity Olympic parency and presented conflicts of interest. Both men boast of having more season ticket hold- Stadium after more than a century at the Darmian are doubts. Stadium, up the road in Stratford, but for fans, denied wrongdoing. Platini had been favorite to replace ers than any other London club and the Boleyn Ground and will play their final Martial was withdrawn from the starting XI local residents, staff and players, leaving the Blatter at the time. Instead, his former general secretary at highest percentage of permanent ticket home game in the 35,000-seater stadium against Norwich after complaining of muscu- club’s ancestral home will be an almighty UEFA, Gianni Infantino, entered the FIFA presidential race holders in England’s top flight. “Having against Manchester United today. The club lar discomfort in the warm-up, while Darmian wrench. “We’re itching to get back out there and won the election in February. Platini and Blatter were made the bold decision to move to the also said that the announcement practi- was stretchered off with an ankle problem. and put things right, of course we are,” said provisionally banned in October while FIFA’s ethics com- former Olympic Stadium, we are delighted cally guaranteed that the new stadium United’s FA Cup win ended West Ham’s hopes captain Mark Noble, whose West Ham career mittee investigated the case, then suspended for eight to see how it has captured the imagina- would be sold out for every Premier of bowing out at the Boleyn Ground with a began in July 2003. “It’s the last game ever at years each in December, reduced to six years by the FIFA tion of the Hammers fan base,” club vice- League game next season.—Reuters piece of silverware and the east London club’s this place and it’s going to be special.”—AFP appeal committee in February.— Reuters