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Home , Nigel Pearson, Radamel Falcao

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015 SPORTS

A guide to all twenty Costa’s fitness, Falcao’s form teams key to Chelsea title defense ARSENAL Goalkeeper Petr Cech’s arrival NEWCASTLE LONDON: Chelsea regained the Swansea, here are some things of from London rival Chelsea signifi- Former England manager Premier League trophy with such things to know: cantly bolsters the strength of Steve McClaren has taken over at ease that Jose Mourinho felt his Arsenal’s defense. Finally, it has a Newcastle and fans have reason team’s achievement did not get the AGELESS TERRY backline potentially as stubborn to be optimistic after a slide recognition it deserved. Captain played all 3,420 as its attacking trio of Alexis toward the relegation zone in the But as rival fans directed “boring” minutes of the league campaign last Sanchez, and Theo second half of last season under chants at Chelsea last season, their season. Not bad for a 34-year-old cen- Walcott is flamboyant. If all goes John Carver. Signings of midfield- own teams were doing little to inject ter back who lost his guaranteed well, Arsenal could challenge for er Georginio Wijnaldum and strik- excitement in the pursuit of the title. starting place before Mourinho the Premier League title. er Aleksandar Mitrovic could From the first weekend of the season returned to take charge in 2013. Key player: Petr Cech make a top-10 finish possible. Chelsea was on top and stayed there There is a reliance on Terry, though, Key player: Georginio until collecting the trophy for the first with Branislav Ivanovic, Kurt Zouma, ASTON VILLA Wijnaldum time in five years. Gary Cahill, Cesar Azpilicueta the only Despite avoiding relegation Surely it cannot be as straightfor- other first-team defenders in the last season, Villa’s two best play- NORWICH ward for Chelsea again? That is likely squad. Chelsea is still pursuing John ers, Christian Benteke and Fabian Premier League survival will be to depend on how long striker Diego Stones but Everton is unwilling to Delph, left in the offseason. the first priority for Norwich, Costa stays injury-free and whether part with the 21-year-old Englishman Manager Tim Sherwood has which secured promotion via the newcomer Radamel Falcao is more in the final month of the transfer win- made nine signings so far, includ- second-tier playoff last season. prolific in front of goal than during dow. “Five is not enough. That’s obvi- ing Ghana striker Jordan Ayew, Manager Alex Neil has largely his insipid season at Manchester ous,” Mourinho said. “We cannot go to but most are unproven in kept last year’s team together, United. the Premier League with five defend- England. Anything other than a meaning Lewis Grabban and The Colombia forward is getting a ers. That’s our weakness.” battle to retain Premier League Cameron Jerome, who spearhead second shot at proving himself in the status appears unlikely. the club’s attack, must score Premier League on loan from TRANSFER BLUNDER? Key player: Jordan Ayew enough to keep them in the divi- as he fills the void left by Didier If Arsenal provides a greater threat sion. Drogba’s departure. this season to Chelsea, Mourinho BOURNEMOUTH Key player: Lewis Grabban “Very good player,” is captain John could soon regret allowing long- For the first time in its 116-year Terry’s assessment of Falcao. “Playing standing goalkeeper Petr Cech to history, Bournemouth made SOUTHAMPTON against him last season was excellent. move across London after 11 years at England’s top flight after winning A highest ever Premier League His movement, his strength, his fin- Stamford Bridge. the second tier last season. A rele- finish of seventh last season ishing’s been different class. The first sign of the 33-year-old gation favorite but neutrals means Southampton must now “Because he came a little bit late Cech’s value to the FA Cup winners would love to see the club stay balance Europa League football maybe the fitness may take a little bit came on Sunday with a symbolic vic- up. Manager Eddie Howe has tac- alongside the domestic cam- longer, but he’s looking sharp already tory over Chelsea in the Community and it’s great to have him here.” Shield.Asmir Begovic joined from tical acumen and, if Callum paign. The club has a thin squad Chelsea’s Colombian striker Radamel Falcao Wilson reproduces the form that and proudly relies on promoting Falcao should be getting a chance Stoke to deputize for first-choice got 20 goals last season, survival academy players. Attacker Sadio to reprise his strike partnership with goalkeeper . would be good for me because they quarterfinals at the hands of Paris is possible. Mane is one to watch after an Costa from their Atletico Madrid days, know now that I get a lot of kicks,” Saint-Germain, delaying Mourinho’s Key player: Callum Wilson impressive debut year at St. if the Spain international’s hamstrings HAZARD WARNING Hazard said. “I just want to play, to bid to become the first manager to Mary’s. are more durable in 2015-16. Eden Hazard was Chelsea’s star last dribble, to do some skills.” win European football’s top prize with CHELSEA Key player: Sadio Mane “Last season I had to live and con- season and topped the player of the three different clubs after successes Last season’s Premier League tend with injuries,” said Costa, who year voting by his fellow profession- EUROPEAN TARGET with Porto and Inter Milan. winner has added Radamel STOKE managed to score 20 goals in the 24 als and journalists. While determined to win back-to- Mourinho is irked that the Premier Falcao to its attacking options on Another team with its top Premier League games he played in The winger, though, pays the price back league titles with Chelsea as he League does not help Champions loan from Monaco, despite the Premier League finish last season his first season at Chelsea. “But I’ve for his trickery on the pitch - being did in 2005 and 2006, Mourinho League participants with more favor- Colombia striker faltering at rival - ninth - Stoke can expect another worked to prevent it occurring. I have the most fouled player in the league. craves a first European trophy with able fixture scheduling. “One day Manchester United last year. season of progress following to be careful this season so I can do And the Belgian no longer wants to the west London club. when England has only three teams Nothing less than more domestic eight astute signings. Ibrahim the best possible.” As Chelsea kicks off be the target of such physicality. An abject Champions League cam- in the Champions League people its title defense on Saturday against “If the referees can protect me, it success will suffice for Jose Afellay is the most notable addi- paign ended last season before the wake up,” Mourinho said.—AP Mourinho’s Chelsea and Eden tion from Barcelona. But Bojan Hazard is vital to the defense of Krkic, vital last season until injur- the trophy. ing his knee in January, will be Key player: Eden Hazard crucial to continuing improve- Di Maria passes PSG ment. CRYSTAL PALACE Key player: Bojan Krkic medical in Doha The club has been galvanized DOHA: Argentine international Angel di Maria’s pro- since the appointment of ex-play- SUNDERLAND posed move from Manchester United to Paris Saint- er as manager in Dick Advocaat guided January. He steered Palace out of Sunderland away from the relega- Germain has moved closer after the winger passed a the relegation zone and up to tion zone after arriving with nine medical with the French champions in Doha yesterday. 10th last season. Yohan Cabaye’s games of last season remaining. The 27-year-old had extensive tests at the Aspetar arrival from Paris Saint-Germain is The Dutchman has agreed to stay sports hospital after being given permission by the a coup and makes an improve- on for an entire campaign and Premier League giants to fly to the Qatari capital for ment on last season’s finish a real- has the soccer smarts to improve talks with PSG officials. istic aim. Sunderland’s fortunes. Jermain The two clubs have already agreed a fee of £44.3 mil- Key player: Yohan Cabaye Defoe, a proven scorer in lion (63 million euros; $68.9 million dollars) for Di Maria England, will lead Advocaat’s who will end his one-year stay at . United EVERTON attack. snapped up Di Maria for a British record £59.7m from Roberto Martinez’s first two Key player: Jermain Defoe Real Madrid last summer, but the winger’s form campaigns as Everton manager slumped dramatically after making an encouraging are poles apart. Last season’s fin- SWANSEA start to life in north-west England. ish of 11th was underwhelming guided Swansea After netting three goals and making four assists in after narrowly missing to a very respectable eighth last his opening six games for the 20-time English champi- Champions League football the season but will struggle to ons, Di Maria spent time on the sidelines with injury and year before. ’s improve on that finish, which was fell out of favour with Red Devils boss . scoring influenced both seasons. its best in England’s elite league. He started just one of the final ten games of last season He struggled last season but can Bafetimbi Gomis is a decent strik- with his final United goal coming in a 2-0 FA Cup third transform Everton if he hits top er but is not as clinical as Wilfried round win over Yeovil Town in January. form again. Bony, whom the club sold to Di Maria was also unsettled off the field after an Key player: Romelu Lukaku Manchester City in January and attempted burglary on his home in Cheshire in has not replaced. February. Since that incident, the Argentine has been LEICESTER Key player: Bafetimbi Gomis living in a city-centre appartment in Manchester-owned has replaced by former United player Phil Neville-with his family. The Nigel Pearson as manager, an TOTTENHAM former Benfica player had said he wanted to stay at intriguing decision after he was Harry Kane fired in 31 goals United but after failing to report for the second part of fired from his last job with Greece last season in all competitions as the club’s pre-season tour of the United States on July following an embarrassing defeat Tottenham finished fifth. If the 25, his future at Old Trafford appeared to be over. Di to the Faeroe Islands. Esteban striker can replicate that form, QATAR: A handout picture made available by the Aspetar hospital yesterday shows Argentinian football player Angel Di Maria (right) arriving for a routine medical check ahead of his transfer Maria-who has 65 caps for Argentina-scored four goals Cambiasso, key to Leicester’s ’s side could in 32 appearances for United. —AFP Premier League survival last sea- challenge for a Champions from Manchester United to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). —AFP son, has left. Ranieri is yet to find League qualification place. Toby a successor in midfield. Alderweireld, signed from Key player: Atletico Madrid, strengthens Torres scores with first touch in Atletico win Tottenham’s unpredictable LIVERPOOL defense. SHANGHAI: Fernando Torres scored with his first touch as Liverpool failed to qualify for Key player: Harry Kane the Champions League this sea- Atletico Madrid cruised to a 3-0 exhibition match victory over son, with its campaign derailed WATFORD Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Shanghai International Port Group by persistent injuries to Daniel After earning promotion to the (SIPG) in China yesterday. Sturridge. But Christian Benteke’s Premier League, Watford took the The former Liverpool and Chelsea striker came on at half- arrival lessens Liverpool’s strange step of parting company time and scored just seconds after the restart with a neat dependence on him and the strik- with its manager, Slavisa header from Yannick Carrasco’s looping cross. er is one of six signings by Jokanovic. Quique Sanchez In an open and attacking game played in very humid con- , who must mas- Flores, a 2011 Europa League win- ditions at Shanghai Stadium, Atletico had opened the scoring termind a return to the top four. ner with Atletico, is now at the in the ninth minute when Antoine Griezmann latched onto a Key player: Christian Benteke helm and has already made 10 long forward pass to slot the ball past SIPG keeper Sun Le. signings. A new-look squad will Moments before conceding, SIPG playmaker Dario Conca- MANCHESTER CITY need to gel quickly. the third highest paid player in the world when he signed for After surrendering the Premier Key player: Troy Deeney Guangzhou Evergrande in 2011 — could have scored. But the League to Chelsea, Manchester City signed Raheem Sterling from WEST BROMWICH ALBION Argentine’s low drive did not trouble Atletico keeper Jan Liverpool for $76 million to took over West Oblak. improve its hopes of reclaiming Brom in January and steered the SIPG, currently leading the 16-team Chinese Super League, the title. City will need him to hit club from 17th to 13th. Striker were without four first team regulars currently on internation- form swiftly but striker Sergio Saido Berahino will look to score al duty with China at the East Asia Cup in Wuhan. But they did Aguero’s fitness is essential. When regularly after netting an impres- not look out of place against their more illustrious opponents. Aguero plays, he scores - but sive 14 goals in the Premier However, in the 24th minute Atletico extended their lead injuries often restrict his appear- League last season. He will be when the ball fell to Griezmann on the edge of the box. The ances. partnered in attack by Rickie Frenchman scored his second of the night when his tame Key player: Sergio Aguero Lambert, who has joined from shot evaded SIPG keeper Sun to make it 2-0 to the Spanish Liverpool. giants. MANCHESTER UNITED Key player: Saido Berahino Atletico’s Lucas Hernandez should have put his side further A Champions League return ahead in the 28th minute when the French defender crashed made Louis van Gaal’s first season WEST HAM successful but United was often Former West Ham defender a header off the bar from close range. rescued by David de Gea during Slaven Bilic is back at the club as Torres scored the final goal of the match just after half- several poor performances. manager. This will be West Ham’s time, after which the pace of the game dropped considerably. Despite reports that a Real last season at Upton Park before SIPG’s Ivorian forward Jean Evrard Kouassi troubled Atletico Madrid transfer is impending, the moving to the Olympic Stadium. on the flanks in the second half with some dangerous balls goalkeeper remains but Wayne An improvement on last year’s into the box, but Shanghai lacked the firepower to breach the Rooney’s importance as captain 12th place under Bilic’s predeces- net of the 2014 Spanish League champions. will rise even more if De Gea does sor is a must. Goals Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group owns 20 per cent of depart. from Diafra Sakho are key. Atletico Madrid and helped arrange its visit to China. Atletico Key player: Key player: Diafra Sakho. —AP beat Japanese club Sagan Tosu 4-1 on penalties on Saturday CHINA: Atletico Madrid’s Spanish midfielder Oliver Torres (left) makes a pass through in the first game of their two-match Asian tour. —AFP Shanghai’s Chinese forward Zhengrong Zhu during a friendly football match. —AFP