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p17 2.e$S_Layout 1 3/7/15 10:53 PM Page 1 SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2015 SPORTS John Terry, the last of England’s football legends? PARIS: England is running short of leg- fide megastars still at the top who meet his 18th for the only club he has played By some measures, this already has club’s Stamford Bridge stadium. ends. Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard the dictionary definition of a legend: “A for, and possibly even beyond that. been one of Terry’s best Chelsea seasons. Kurt Zouma, signed a year ago from both qualify. But this Premier League person having a special place in popular To prevent the onset of complacency, Already the highest-scoring defender in French club Saint-Etienne, is a fabulous season looks like being their last. The all- opinion for their striking qualities or to keep them motivated and “to make club history, Terry added another six in defensive prospect, quick-thinking, cool time record goal-getter for Chelsea and deeds.” them feel the past doesn’t play a role and 36 games before the trip to West Ham, under pressure, and able to play in front the Liverpool captain both head for Remarkably for a player his age, John it’s all about the present and tomorrow,” including Chelsea’s opener in its 2-0 tri- of the defense as well as in it. Major League Soccer swan songs from Terry still ticks that box. There are few Chelsea offers older players take-it or umph over Tottenham in the League Cup But Zouma is only 20. He will learn July. Paul Scholes, one of the top names more unappealing characters in the leave-it one-year deals, even to those of final on Sunday. from another season under the most suc- on Manchester United’s official list of English game than Chelsea’s captain. Terry’s stature, who agreed to such a con- Unlike with other players more reliant cessful captain in Chelsea history, just as “legends,” by virtue of his 718 appear- Legendary deeds - Terry has won titles tract for this season, Mourinho on raw speed, age hasn’t seriously erod- the younger Terry did in his early club ances and 155 goals for the club in two galore at Chelsea - don’t automatically explained. ed skills that have long made Terry one days under Marcel Desailly and Frank decades of success under Alex Ferguson, also make someone likable or even “If they don’t accept they are not of the world’s best defenders. He still Leboeuf, 1998 World Cup winners with has recycled himself as a sharp TV pun- admirable. The racist insult Terry directed ready for the challenge, and we wouldn’t foresees danger and quickly reads the France. And once Terry, Lampard, Gerrard dit, surprising for a player so taciturn and at a black player, Ferdinand’s brother want them. John accepted the first chal- game and remains the tough guy willing and other giants are gone, who will be private before his retirement in 2013. Anton, in 2011 and repeated boorish off- lenge last year, accepted this season to put himself in harm’s way, as he England’s legends in future? Former England captain and Scholes’ field behavior are indelible stains. already. That is a guarantee the fire is famously did when kicked unconscious The Premier League was more ex-teammate Rio Ferdinand, now 36, is But credit where credit is due. there,” the manager said. “If the fire is diving for a header in Chelsea’s League English, with greater use of home play- winding down at Queens Park Rangers, Convincing Jose Mourinho, a manager there, this (next) contract will not be the Cup final win against Arsenal in 2007. ers, when Terry started for Chelsea in in the bottom reaches of the Premier with no qualms about discarding players last contract he signs.” But it is Terry’s on-field management 1998. Wayne Rooney is on course for leg- League as age blunts the elegant pace who don’t meet his exacting standards, Such a public vote of confidence for a that Mourinho most needs, marshalling endary status, with Bobby Charlton’s that graced his 12 years at the top with that he is still indispensable to Chelsea’s central defender who will turn 35 in and stiffening the defense that allows scoring records for England and United. Which leaves who? future is an achievement. Before Chelsea December signals that Mourinho is Chelsea’s fearsome attack to roam for- Manchester United in his sights. One consequence of allowing so crossed London to West Ham on determined not to make manager ward. Terry’s partner at the back, Gary But English players with such stature, many foreign imports to crowd out Wednesday night, looking to increase its Arsene Wenger’s mistake at London rival Cahill, still doesn’t provide the same you- experience and achievements look an homegrown players is that the Premier Premier League lead over Manchester Arsenal, building teams top-heavy with shall-not-pass bulldog presence as increasingly rare breed in a league rely- League now has just a handful, and City to eight points, Mourinho said he young talent but wobblingly short of a Chelsea’s “captain, leader, legend,” to ing ever more on foreigners for “striking arguably not even that, of English bona- will keep Terry next season, which will be seasoned spine of leadership. quote the banner hung by fans at the qualities or deeds.”—AP Strength in depth can help Celtic’s Cup ambitions GLASGOW: Scott Brown insists the made because we’ve lost a couple of strength of the Celtic squad can help fire games,” McNamara said. “There’s no better them to victory against Dundee United in opportunity than a quarter final at home to their Scottish Cup quarter-final clash yes- Celtic.” Celtic are waiting on news of terday. defender Adam Matthews, who twisted his The Hoops face United at Tannadice just ankle in the midweek defeat to St four days after slipping to a 1-0 defeat to St Johnstone, while striker John Guidetti, Kris Johnstone - their first domestic defeat of Commons and Emilio Izaguirre all face late 2015. Ronny Deila’s side will have to do fitness tests. —AFP without Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong, who have made a sensational start to their Celtic careers since joining from Dundee United on transfer deadline day. The pair are cup-tied against their for- Matches on TV mer employees, but Celtic captain Brown (Local Timings) says the squad is strong enough to cope without them as the Glasgow giants con- England FA Cup tinue their quest for a domestic treble. “We have a big enough squad and we Liverpool v Blackburn Rovers 19:00 have people in the squad who would prob- beIN SPORTS 11 HD ably get a game for most Scottish Premiership teams, so it shows we’ve got a Spanish League good squad and they will be wanting their Granada v Malaga 0:00 chance to get a game,” he said. beIN SPORTS 2 HD “It’s going to be hard. We have played beIN SPORTS 14 HD more games than anyone in the Scottish Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano 14:00 Premiership but we have a bigger squad beIN SPORTS 2 HD than anyone else and we will use it wisely. beIN SPORTS 12 HD “Every game is important for us. It was beIN SPORTS 14 HD LONDON: Liverpool’s English midfielder Raheem Sterling has an unsuccessful shot during the English Premier League football match in this file the exact same last season and we were Sociedad v Espanyol 19:00 photo. —AFP disappointed to go out the cups so early. beIN SPORTS 2 HD “It was a learning curve on Wednesday Villarreal v Celta 21:00 night, and it shows it’s not all easy street for beIN SPORTS 9 HD beIN SPORTS 14 HD Rodgers wants silver us, that we are going to win every game from now until the end of the season.” beIN SPORTS 2 HD Atletico v Valencia 23:00 EARLY EXITS beIN SPORTS 2 HD Despite the weakened state of tradition- beIN SPORTS 13 HD finish against Rovers al rivals Rangers, currently languishing in beIN SPORTS 1 the second tier, the Hoops have struggled in cup competitions in the past three sea- Italian Calcio League LONDON: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers penalties in the League Cup final and then losing 2- ries for the Lancashire club, who are currently 10th sons, winning just one of the previous six Cesena v Citta 14:30 has challenged his players to turn their scintillating 1 to Chelsea in the FA Cup final. in the Championship. It was there, in May 1995, domestic cup trophies up for grabs. beIN SPORTS 3 HD current form into silverware ahead of today’s FA Rodgers succeeded Kenny Dalglish less than a that a team bankrolled by late former owner Jack Celtic made early exits in both cup com- Empoli v Genoa 17:00 Cup quarter-final at home to second-tier Blackburn month after that loss to Chelsea and having Walker pipped Manchester United to the Premier petitions to Morton and Aberdeen last sea- beIN SPORTS 2 HD Rovers. After a poor start to the campaign, steered Liverpool to the brink of last season’s League title despite a nerve-jangling 2-1 loss to son and Brown says his side are determined Chievo Verona v AS Roma 17:00 Liverpool have rediscovered their swagger in 2015, league title, his shrewd mid-season adjustments- Liverpool on the season’s final day.