SUNDAY, MAY 15, 2016 SPORTS

Benitez’s future up for grabs, Pochettino sticks with Spurs

NEWCASTLE: While Rafael Benitez’s earlier this week. But the Argentinian “I can understand it, for our supporters Benitez, who failed to prevent the tation to make sweeping changes for future at Newcastle United remains confirmed Ferguson was not attempting it’s special to be above Arsenal, but I club falling into the Championship for the final top flight game at St James’ uncertain, Mauricio Pochettino con- to persuade him to move to Old Trafford want to be second not because we’ll be the second time in seven seasons after Park for at least 15 months. Newcastle firmed his commitment to Tottenham and stressed he was now focused on above our enemy, our opponent, but taking charge for the final 10 games, has are unbeaten in five games, but can still Hotspur this week by agreeing a new making sure Tottenham finish above because we are ambitious. “Maybe one a relegation release clause in his current be overtaken for 18th place by Norwich. deal that will keep him at the club north London rivals Arsenal for the first day Arsenal finish eighth, we finish sev- short-term deal. Benitez is aware his side need to give until 2021. time in over 20 years. enth, yes we’re above but it’s not a suc- But he could well agree to remain at a good account of themselves given The two managers meet at St James’ “When I was young, when I started cess for us.” St James’ Park, providing he receives Arsenal can still overtake Tottenham to Park this weekend when Pochettino will my career as a manager, he (Ferguson) assurances about the transfer budget finish runners-up should Newcastle win attempt to cap a fine season by seeing was always my inspiration, my reference Too little, too late available, and the amount of control he today. Fabricio Coloccini is again set to his side confirmed as runners-up behind and when you can share two hours with Newcastle are set for further talks will have at his disposal. The former miss out with a calf injury that has kept champions Leicester a person who, for me, was the greatest with Benitez in an effort to persuade the Liverpool manager is said to be open to the defender out since City, while Benitez’s target is to ensure manager in the world, the history of Spaniard to remain as manager. After ini- an approach from his old club’s local February. The Newcastle skipper Newcastle restore at least some pride football, only you can enjoy,” said tial talks on Thursday, Benitez will meet rivals Everton regarding their vacant believes Benitez, who replaced Steve before dropping down into the Pochettino. “Did he ask about Newcastle managing director Lee manager’s role, but Newcastle hope to McClaren in March, could have saved the Championship. Manchester United? No. If you know Sir Charnley again early next week, with the tie him down to a long-term deal. club from the drop had he been given Pochettino sparked some concerns Alex Ferguson, he is a person we can all club hoping those discussions will see Despite their relegation fate being more time. “He’s changed things in the among Spurs’ fans when he was spotted learn from because he has a fantastic the 56-year-old stay in place to lead the sealed by north-east neighbors right way, but maybe it was too late and leaving a restaurant with Alex Ferguson, history about football and about life.” north-east club’s efforts to return to the Sunderland’s 3-0 victory over the Toffees that’s why we’re in this position,” said the former Manchester United manager, Turning to the table, Pochettino said: Premier League at the first attempt. in midweek, Benitez will resist the temp- Coloccini. —AFP Manchester duo fight for 4th as curtain falls on champions

LONDON: Manuel Pellegrini has warned his Manchester City stars to keep their eyes on the prize as they aim to secure a Champions League place at the expense of Manchester United, while champions Leicester will bring down the curtain on their astonishing season at Chelsea yesterday. With a memorable Premier League campaign coming to a conclusion with the final round of fixtures this weekend, the focus is split between the Manchester rivals’ battle for the last spot in Europe’s elite club competition and a fitting finale for Leicester as the fairytale champions bow out at the home of last year’s winners. For City manager Pellegrini, his side’s trip to Swansea offers an opportunity to leave on a high note as the Chilean prepares to clear his desk ahead of the arrival of Pep Guardiola, who moves to Eastlands from Bayern Munich in the close-season. Fourth placed City are two points clear of United and, with their goal difference at +30 compared to their fifth placed rivals’ +12, Pellegrini’s side need only to draw in south Wales to qualify for the Champions League and consign their neighbors to the drudgery of the Europa League. But Pellegrini knows a compla- cent attitude from his team could lead to a LONDON: Manchester United’s English striker reacts after losing the English MANCHESTER: Arsenal fans hold up signs calling for the resignation of Arsenal’s calamity at the Liberty Stadium. French manager Arsene Wenger after the English Premier League football match Premier League football match between West Ham United and Manchester United at The “This Premier League is not easy. Swansea are Boleyn Ground in Upton Park.—AFP between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. — AFP a difficult team when you play away,” he said. “They have done well in the last two games. We pens.” Just 10 months after being installed as could not imagine this, winning the title. But we must play a very good game to qualify. “If we 5,000-1 outsiders for the title, Leicester bid fight all the time and this is why we have done Arsenal struggles leave play the way we did against Arsenal (last week- farewell to the most remarkable season in the it.” Despite missing out on a first top-flight title end) and we win, it will be a good finish.” club’s 132-year history with a trip to Stamford for 55 years, Tottenham would have the consola- Wenger in the spotlight United’s 3-2 defeat at West Ham in midweek Bridge to face Chelsea. tion of finishing above north London rivals took their European fate out of their hands and It is an appropriate last hurrah for Claudio Arsenal for the first time since 1994-95 if they they host Bournemouth knowing only a victo- Ranieri’s side because the team-spirit and desire take a first runners-up berth since 1963. LONDON: Arsene Wenger again found his Dismal season ry, combined with a City defeat at Swansea, that played such a significant role in their title Mauricio Pochettino’s second placed side are future was the focus of attention ahead of The possibility of finishing behind bitter will be enough to snatch a top four finish. triumph stands in marked contrast to the lethar- two points ahead of Arsenal with a far superior Arsenal’s final game of the season against rivals Tottenham for the first time in Despite the unpromising situation, United gic efforts of Chelsea’s sullen superstars. goal difference, meaning a draw or win at Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium today. Wenger’s 20-year tenure also hurts. “We midfielder Michael Carrick, whose side face While Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and compa- Newcastle would make it irrelevant how the At the Gunners’ last home game, some sup- want to finish as high as possible and, if Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on May 21, ny showed little commitment to the cause in a third placed Gunners fare in their home fixture porters staged a protest urging Wenger to possible, in front of Spurs,” Wenger added. urged his team-mates not to coast through the desultory title defense, the likes of N’Golo Kante against bottom club Aston Villa. quit and two weeks on, the Arsenal manag- “We want to finish second, because Bournemouth game. and Jamie Vardy rose from obscurity to reach the “Finishing third would be hard to stomach,” er’s contract was again at issue, with the Leicester are now champions, so we will pinnacle of the English game. Leicester midfield- Tottenham striker Harry Kane said. “It would be Frenchman insisting he would not consider fight until the end. “If we are not second, Last hurrah er Kante, a £5.6 million ($8 million, 7.1 million good for the fans to have the bragging rights for extending his current deal until it is due to then hopefully we will finish third, but ide- “We have to stay focused, that’s the situation Euros) signing from Caen, summed up that nev- the first time in a long time. It’s in our hands.” expire at the end of next season. ally we want to finish in front of Spurs.” that has presented itself now,” Carrick said. “We er-say-die spirit with more tackles and intercep- West Ham, Southampton and Liverpool are all in Wenger admitted he would see how Arsenal will be without England for- were in control of it going into the West Ham tions than other Premier League player this sea- contention for Europa League spots, although next term pans out before deciding on his ward Danny Welbeck, who has been ruled game but we’ve let it slip. We have to win our son. “I am not a star player,” Kante said. “I think it qualification may not be decided until after the next move and the same no doubt applies out for nine months after picking up a last league game now and then see what hap- was the spirit of the team. “When I came here I FA Cup final. — AFP to the club, although the 66-year-old knee injury at Manchester City last week- enjoys strong backing from the board. A end. Aston Villa will look to end their dis- repeat of this season’s frustration will mal season with just their fourth victory in leave Wenger in a similar position, but it is the league, with their fate of relegation a measure of the consistency he has having been sealed mathematically almost Liverpool focused on Europa brought to the club that a likely third a month ago. place finish in the Premier League is Their players will depart for their holi- viewed as a disappointment. days after the final whistle at the as West Brom pays final visit They could even finish second if Emirates Stadium, not knowing who will Tottenham lose at Newcastle and Arsenal own the club or who will manage the WEST BROMWICH: Jurgen Klopp ing second thoughts about that ensure qualification for next sea- took charge at Anfield last October. beat bottom club Villa. But the main differ- team into next season. But caretaker boss has tried to say all the right things, after a rather wobbly performance son’s Champions League. All the Fellow striker Divock Origi is also ence this season is the widely held belief this Eric Black has ordered the players not to but Liverpool’s Premier League trip in a 1-1 draw. Not that the visit to same, Klopp is aware that a win back in training, having been out was the best chance Arsenal had of winning repeat the mistakes of this campaign in to West Bromwich Albion will be West Brom is completely meaning- today could come in very useful. since suffering an ankle injury in the title in years. “It was a strange season. their future careers. overshadowed by their looming less because Liverpool could still “It’s very important because we can the 4-0 league win over Everton on We’ve finished the season disappointed “The only discussions I have had with Europa League final appearance. secure a place in Europe through still move up two positions in the April 20. Captain Jordan Henderson because we felt we had the chance to win them is ‘try to ensure that you’re never part Reds boss Klopp is likely to rotate their league position. table,” he said. “In this moment, is making good progress in his the championship,” Wenger said. “Of course of anything like this again’,” he said. “Don’t significantly at the Hawthorns Klopp’s team, who go into the today afternoon is the most impor- recovery from the knee injury sus- we are frustrated but Leicester have had allow any standards to drop and don’t today in order to keep players fresh final round of league fixtures in tant game in the world.” tained against Borussia Dortmund consistent results and the rest of the division drop to other people’s standards. “I know for the following Wednesday, when eighth place, are three points in the Europa League on April 7. have had ups and downs. “Everybody else it’s a team sport but you’ve got to be sin- his side travel to Basel for the behind West Ham,in sixth, and one Final decisions Of the three, Ings has the great- can be frustrated but Leicester only lost gle-minded to have the best career you Europa League showpiece against adrift of Southampton in seventh. Klopp has three key players on est chance of featuring today and three games this season. Nobody else had can possibly have in football and that was holders Sevilla. Sixth place would guarantee a the way back from injury, and all Klopp appears to be keeping his the same consistency. “Is it down to the fact the only advice I gave them. The general consensus is that Europa League spot, while seventh may yet play some part against fingers crossed that Origi and that Leicester were a surprise package? Is it “It’s about personal pride and your the team Klopp picked for the would do so as long as Manchester Sevilla even if the West Brom fixture Henderson will be ready to face down to the fact that they only played one career so they have to learn from what’s midweek league match at home to United win the FA Cup final against comes too soon. Danny Ings is Sevilla. “We have to see,” Klopp said. competition? “Certainly there’s some expla- happened and don’t allow it to ever hap- Chelsea will start Liverpool’s first Crystal Palace. close to full fitness after battling “I haven’t made final decisions. We nation there, but if you only analyze the pen again. “I think Aston Villa will come European final since 2007, That will all be academic if back from cruciate knee ligament will see about Danny Ings and if technical numbers, there’s no rationale. again, I really do. I am confident we will see although the German may be hav- Liverpool beat Sevilla as that would damage sustained soon after Klopp he’s ready for West Brom. “With “That’s why you have to say they have been a very strong Aston Villa next year and very Divock and Hendo, they are both in absolutely remarkable and you have to con- soon they will be back in the Premier a good way. Hendo has done a bit gratulate them.” League.” — AFP more. “They are pretty close. If the final was one week later, now we’d be talking. But it will be close.” In a season when the Liverpool Indonesia applauds fans who were present at the Hillsborough disaster were cleared by an inquest of any blame for the lifting of FIFA ban tragedy, West Brom will pay their own tribute on Saturday to the 96 JAKARTA: Indonesia yesterday welcomed istry said in a statement. It suggested that supporters who died. The West FIFA’s decision to end the country’s year- FIFA’s decision was the result of the “good Midlands club have replaced 96 long ban from world football over govern- relationship” that has developed between blue seats in the away section of ment interference, saying it hoped for more Indonesia and football’s world governing the Smethwick End with 96 seats in transparency in the sport. FIFA president body since Infantino took charge. Liverpool red. The seats will remain Gianni Infantino announced Friday that Asian Football Confederation president unoccupied for the game and each Indonesia had been reinstated after Jakarta Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa also will bear the name of one of the sent a letter notifying that it had lifted applauded the move. “We welcome them victims. West Brom captain Darren sanctions on national football body, the (Indonesia) back into the Asian football Fletcher and former Liverpool strik- PSSI. Indonesia has been without a national family,” he said in a statement. “However, er Rickie Lambert, now with West football competition for the better part of a the AFC executive committee reiterated Brom but born on Merseyside, will year, after a feud between the PSSI and its this week their continued stand against lay flowers in front of the away fans. sports ministry saw the top-grade tourna- government intervention in sport generally West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace ment suspended. and football in particular.” said: “Albion and Liverpool have a “We hope the lifting of the ban will push AFC officials will meet their Indonesian rivalry which dates back to 1894 the nation to improve its national football, counterparts to discuss next steps regard- since when we have contested especially in regards to revamping its orga- ing competition matters, the statement nearly 150 games. “For a few nizational management, increasing trans- said. Indonesia launched an interim eight- moments today we will be as one parency, accountability and enhancing a month competition in April, but the sports and remember the context more harmonious relationship with the var- ministry said this was not a replacement for LIVERPOOL: Liverpool’s Spanish defender Alberto Moreno (C) attends a team training session at their Hillsborough makes of our daily ious stakeholders,” Indonesia’s sports min- its top-flight league. —AFP Melwood training complex. —AFP struggles.” — AFP