Solskjaer Hails Pogba As ‘Best Midfielder in the World’ AFP Down Stubborn Opposition Can Get It Higher up and Com- Said
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Stokes, Woakes add to England uncertainties against South Africa PAGE 14 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2019 Entries open for Manateq QCCR The 2020 Manateq Qatar Cross-Country Rally in NBA February is expected to draw a big fieldPAG E 15 TORONTO RAPTORS VS BOSTON CELTICS OFF-THE-FIELD Solskjaer hails Pogba as ‘best midfielder in the world’ AFP down stubborn opposition can get it higher up and com- said. Solskjaer admitted pro- LONDON defences. bine like he did today.” “We haven’t kept the con- gress had been slower than ex- “Let’s see how he reacts to “That’s the beauty of hav- sistency as we would have pected but said he was focused PAUL Pogba has been hailed this, how he feels,” said Solsk- ing Paul, because he is the best liked the other way but we’ve on developing a team that as the “best midfielder in the jaer. “He did really well when all-round midfielder in the never gone on a big (bad) run could dominate and break world” by Manchester United he came on. Big, big plus and world,” added the United boss, like we did towards the end of sides down. Chelsea’s Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga throws a drink can manager Ole Gunnar Sol- it might be that we do get him who has said the 26-year-old last season so there will be a “It’s taken Liverpool a few off the playing surface during the English Premier League football skjaer after the Frenchman in from the start.” will not be leaving in the Janu- reaction, definitely.” years to get to that stage and match against Tottenham Hotspur in London on Sunday. (AFP) returned from a long injury Pogba, who had only ary transfer window despite United are struggling we need to keep on building lay-off. played twice since the end of links with Real Madrid. in eighth place in the because that’s what we want Tottenham ban fan as inquiry into The World Cup winner August due to an ankle injury, Solskjaer said he was Premier League, to get to,” he said. racism claims continues was in action for United for was introduced on Sunday looking for a reaction seven points “Yes, we’re good at coun- the first time since late Sep- with United already trailing from his players against behind fourth- ter-attacking. Yes, we’ve got LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur said on Tuesday they have banned tember as a substitute in their by two goals and went close to Newcastle after United placed Chelsea pace and fast players. We a fan for throwing a cup at Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga chastening 2-0 defeat at Wat- scoring during a late attacking again failed to turn despite recent should always keep that be- during Sunday’s Premier League clash at White Hart Lane. “We can ford on Sunday. flurry from the visitors. dominance of posses- morale-boost- cause that’s in our tradition. confirm that we have identified and issued an immediate ban to the He could be in the start- “He can play anywhere, he sion into a positive re- ing wins against Now we need to be better at individual responsible,” Spurs said. “We shall continue to take the ing team against Newcastle can play the whole midfield,” sult at Watford. Tottenham and breaking lower blocks.” strongest action possible against anyone found to be behaving in on Thursday as Solskjaer said Solskjaer. “One of the good Manchester Pogba could make his first this way.” Tottenham said they were continuing to investigate the desperately seeks the creativ- “He’s a box-to-box mid- things about the team City. start since September when claims of racial abuse made by Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger ity the team needs to break fielder. He can drop deep, this year, we have reacted his side face Newcastle on after the same match. Rudiger said he had heard “monkey noises” get it, play long passes. He after bad results,” he Boxing Day. during the match, while fans were told that racism had no place in football in three announcements on the loud speaker. Spurs said their initial findings after the alleged racist abuse of Rudiger are “inconclusive”. Rudiger put a statement on Twitter and Chelsea manager Frank Lampard gave his backing to his player. “I saw Toni’s social media post, I thought it was well put, from the heart and something that he feels very strongly about,” Lampard said. “I would like to think the players know I am with them on anything like this. I’ll have the same conversation with Toni that I had with Tammy after the incident earlier this year. “And I will tell them and take the time to make sure he knows I support him, and that I support all my players in this situation.” (DPA) Beauty of Paul He can play anywhere, he Liverpool’s Klopp turns South African can play the whole midfield. cricket captain Du Plessis into fan He’s a box-to-box midfielder. CENTURION: South African cricket captain Faf du Plessis said on He can drop deep, get it, Tuesday that a chance meeting with Liv- play long passes. He can erpool manager Jurgen Klopp had turned get it higher up and him into a fan. Du Plessis was having combine. That’s the beauty dinner with Springbok rugby captain Siya of having Paul, because he Manchester United’s French midfielder Paul Pogba before the start Kolisi in a Cape Town restaurant in No- is the best all-round of the English Premier League football match between Watford and vember when Klopp, on a private visit to Manchester United at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, London, South Africa, walked in. Kolisi has been midfielder in the world. on Sunday. (AFP) a long-time Liverpool fan and Du Ples- Manchester United manager sis posted a picture on both Instagram Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Twitter showing the two captains and Klopp, commenting that Kolisi had a “man-crush moment”. Klopp recognised Kolisi after watching the Springboks South Africa cricket win the Rugby World Cup final in Japan captain Faf Du Plessis. some 10 days earlier and came across Australian Open offers record prize money for tennis tournament to congratulate him. “Did he recognise you?” asked a journalist at Du Plessis’ press conference ahead of DPA million dollars (US$49 mil- The increase is an impor- prize money has more than tri- the first Test against England, starting on Thursday. N“ o,” admitted SYDNEY lion) will be up for grabs at tant step in attracting the very pled from 20 million in 2007. the cricket captain to laughter. “But he said he watches cricket. The the tournament in Melbourne best players, Australian Open “This year, as we do every Liverpool guys watched the Cricket World Cup and saw how well TENNIS pros competing in the in January, marking a 13.6 Tournament Director Craig year, we worked with the tours England did.” Du Plessis said he had never become a close follower upcoming Australian Open will per cent increase to the over- Tiley said in a statement. to establish the weighting for of football but said meeting Klopp had changed that. “For someone have their eye on a bigger prize, all prize purse from 2019. First-round qualifiers will “We have long been com- prize money increases round- to be that famous, he is a great guy and that’s what I believe real after organizers announced an In the singles tournament, get 20,000 dollars – up 33 per mitted to improving the pay by-round, and we pushed to leadership is about. It’s about connecting with people, having great increase to the multi-million- winners will take home around cent on 2019 – while semifinal- and conditions for a deeper reward players competing ear- relationships with people, so I became a massive fan.” (AFP) dollar reward on Tuesday. 4 million, with the runners-up ists will earn just over 1 million, pool of international tennis ly in the tournament in both A total of Australian 71 taking 2 million. marking a 13 per cent increase. players,” Tiley said, adding that singles and doubles,” he said. Djokovic seeks to secure legacy, not trophy-hunting drives AFP ly give yourself fuel from aware of the privilege that ABU DHABI the source, whatever the I have to fight for history Kim Clijsters eyes March source is,” Djokovic said at and to be able to possibly NOVAK Djokovic says the the Mubadala World Ten- achieve even greater things comeback after injury setback main source of his motivation nis Championship exhibition and that’s something that at this stage of his career is se- event where he secured third drives me of course, along- DPA curing a lasting legacy rather place with victory over Karen side other things.” STUTTGART than simply trying to win ten- Khachanov. Djokovic will begin his nis matches and trophies. “I think it’s always about 2020 season by represent- FORMER world number one For nearly two years, from finding that purpose, and the ing Serbia in the ATP Cup in Kim Clijsters has said that she mid-2016 until mid-2018, reason, the meaning of actu- Australia. will make her delayed return the 32-year-old Serb had ad- ally playing. For me, especially He remains midway to women’s tennis after a sev- mittedly struggled with mo- in the last couple of years, it’s through his pre-season prepa- en-year absence in March. tivation after pulling off the not only about winning a ten- rations, and leaves Abu Dhabi The Belgian Clijsters, 36, A file photo of Kim Clijsters historic feat of winning four nis match or a trophy.