WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2017 SPORTS

PREVIEW Fernandinho out to ruin Chelsea’s title stroll

LONDON: Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho But while Antonio Conte’s side remain over- NAVAS V HAZARD? Zabaleta short of fitness, Guardiola may have to believes his side can reignite their Premier League whelming title favourites, failure to beat City would City were one of the teams expected to chal- decide whether to persist with Jesus Navas at right- title ambitions today against a Chelsea team rocked give hope to the chasing teams who have spent lenge for the title, particularly after Guardiola’s back. The Spanish winger looked ragged at times by a shock 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace. much of the season trailing in their wake. much-trumpeted appointment, but as the draw at against Arsenal and in Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, he Ten points clear following the international Chelsea failed to avoid defeat against Palace Arsenal highlighted, they remain vulnerable in would be up against one of the most lethal attack- break, Chelsea saw their lead trimmed to seven despite boasting a close to full-strength team and defence. The result extended their current unbeat- ing players in the division. points after they crashed at home to Palace on having almost 80 minutes in which to turn the en run to eight league games-the longest such City received some good news on Monday when Saturday and second-place Tottenham Hotspur game around. sequence of Guardiola’s tenure-but the last three of Gabriel Jesus returned to training after breaking his won 2-0 at Burnley. City could not follow Spurs’ However, although neutrals will be crossing those matches have all been drawn. foot, but the Brazil starlet is not expected to be lead, drawing 2-2 at Arsenal on Sunday, but vic- their fingers for another slip-up against Pep City twice took the lead at Arsenal, only to be available for selection for several weeks. Chelsea tory at Stamford Bridge will leave them eight Guardiola’s City, Conte has urged his players to pegged back on both occasions, and Guardiola wing-back Victor Moses is a major doubt after miss- points below Chelsea with eight games of the think of the pressure in positive terms. believes his team struggle psychologically when ing the Palace game with a calf strain, which saw season remaining. “There is big pressure, but it is normal when you they have a lead to defend. “When the team is Pedro fill in on the right flank. City won 3-0 on their “The Premier League is still open,” Fernandinho are in a great club and you are very good,” the down, we react because everything is lost and we last visit to the Bridge a year ago, with Sergio Aguero told the City website. “We have a tough game Chelsea manager told the club website. “When you react in a good, good way,” he told reporters at the plundering a hat-trick in a game that saw Chelsea against Chelsea away. To be close to them, we have are lucky enough to fight for the title there is the Emirates Stadium after the stalemate against goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois sent off for upending to win that game and we will see what will happen pressure, but not only for us, for a lot of teams. Arsenal. “To handle a situation at 1-0 (up), we are not Fernandinho. Neither side came close to challenging at the end of the season.” Chelsea came from “Don’t forget, the other teams were candidates comfortable, not yet. But we will be better. We will champions Leicester City last season, but a similar behind to record a clinical 3-1 victory when the to win the title, but instead we stay top of the table improve in the future.” With Bacary Sagna expected outcome on Wednesday could have major repercus- teams last met at the Etihad Stadium in December. and we try to keep this position.” to miss out again due to a groin strain and Pablo sions for this season’s title race. — AFP

PREVIEW ‘Nothing impossible’ for title-chasing Pochettino

LONDON: Mauricio Pochettino insists Pochettino insists it would take a dramatic “nothing is impossible” as Tottenham shift in fortune to deny Chelsea the title. Hotspur attempt to increase the pressure “We reduced the gap by three points on Premier League leaders Chelsea. but it’s still a big gap, seven is a massive dif- Second-placed Spurs travel to face ference,” the former Southampton manager Swansea City today, with their title hopes said. “Chelsea, two-and-a-half years ago buoyed by Chelsea’s shock loss to Crystal they won the Premier League and 80 per- Palace last weekend. cent of the players have experience of how With north London club Spurs beating to manage the pressure. Burnley, it meant the Blues’ 10-point advan- “They can win or lose but it’s not putting tage at the top of the table was cut to sev- pressure or stress on them.” en points. And that gap could narrow even The Tottenham manager was dealt a further on Wednesday, when Chelsea are blow ahead of the Swansea clash when away to Manchester City on the same night young midfielder Harry Winks was ruled as Spurs manager Pochettino’s side are in out for the season with an ankle injury. action in south Wales. Swansea, having enjoyed an initial boost “That’s a good lesson for all-belief is the following the appointment of Paul Clement most important thing in football-not only as manager, are in need of a fresh lift after quality, running or being strong,” said three games without a win. Pochettino. The Welsh side’s failure to beat second- “Belief, faith and fight. Nothing is impos- bottom Middlesbrough at home last sible in football and that is our idea, our weekend was a particular disappointment philosophy.” The Argentinian added: “We and left the club one place and one point need to keep going in that direction and above the bottom three. But Swansea cen- it’s true the Premier League is tough to play tre-back Alfie Mawson insisted a goalless in, and to win every game and compete. draw with Middlesbrough had not dented It’s so competitive. the squad’s self-belief. “But if it can happen? Yes, of course it “We go again today against Tottenham can happen and our mind must be positive and with a big crowd behind us hopefully to try to imagine and dream and believe we can get the result we want,” he said. and give our best. “If we are focused only “Confidence is still very high going into SANT JOAN DESPI: FC ’s , right, , second left, and Luis Suarez attend a training session at the Sports Center FC on the next game and nothing around and today’s game. The squad is fit and ready for Barcelona Joan Gamper in Sant Joan Despi, , yesterday. FC Barcelona will play against Sevilla during a Spanish today. — AP nothing after, and if we are positive, I think the challenge. “The belief is fully there that we can get the three points but first of all we will stay up. I am very confident in us.” SOCCER we need to play, we need to be better than Clement hopes to welcome back striker Swansea and it’s sure we will need to fight who missed the Boro a lot against them.” game with an ankle injury. The manager With Messi back, Barcelona said: “We missed Fernando-he is a big focal ‘MASSIVE DIFFERENCE’ point for us. He has an ankle issue that I am Spurs, bidding to be crowned champi- hoping will not keep him out for long. ons of England for the first time since they “Today is achievable, although he is still faces free-falling Sevilla completed the ‘Double’ in 1961, when they a doubt for that game. “He has a chance, also lifted the FA Cup are in fine form. but we are very much looking at him day to They’ve won five successive games, but day.” — AFP : Lionel Messi is back, and just in time. Fully rested after the moment of the season, coming off five consecutive games without a win. international break and a yellow-card suspension, Messi returns to Among the setbacks was the disappointing elimination to Leicester in Barcelona’s team for the decisive Spanish league match against the last 16 of the Champions League. Sevilla today. Messi will be playing his first game in nearly two weeks “It’s not easy. We all thought that we were going to get past Leicester. when Barcelona resumes its pursuit of league leader Real Madrid at the It’s difficult for us to accept it,” Sevilla forward Stevan Jovetic said. “We Wenger believes . Barcelona is two points behind Madrid, which plays at have to find a way to recover. We are the same team that we were five Leganes later Wednesday. matches ago, when we were in second place. We need to win a match by “We saw Messi practice at the highest level,” Barcelona coach Luis two or three goals to regain our confidence.” in top four target Enrique said. “The mini break that he had was very positive.” Sevilla was fighting for the league title not long ago, but now it sees LONDON: Beleaguered Arsenal manager Suddenly it becomes important, so I am Messi’s last game was on March 23 with Argentina in World Cup quali- itself 10 points off the lead, in fourth place and already having to worry Arsene Wenger said yesterday a top four quite pleased that people realise that it’s fying, a 1-0 win over Chile with a penalty kick converted by the playmak- about qualifying for the top European club competition next season. finish and a place in the Champions League not as easy as it looks.” er. But he didn’t play in the national team’s 2-0 loss to Bolivia five days “Maybe the elimination against Leicester affected them,” is a realistic target for his stuttering team. Wenger’s future at the club he has man- later because of a four-game suspension for insulting a linesman, then said. “It’s not their best moment, not their best dynamic, but they remain But the 67-year-old Frenchman admit- aged for over two decades has become an missed Barcelona’s 4-1 win at Granada over the weekend. a difficult rival.” Madrid, which has a game in hand, faces a Leganes squad ted his team-presently sixth and seven increasingly febrile topic among fans-with Messi is the Spanish league’s leading scorer with 25 goals and has 41 that has drawn its last three matches and is struggling to avoid returning points off the Champions League places video footage appearing to show some overall this season from 40 matches. The 29-year-old Argentine has not to the second division next season. It is 17th in the 20-team standings, with a game in hand on fourth-placed fighting each other on Sunday when the gone two consecutive games without scoring since early September. He only one spot above the relegation zone. Manchester City-have their work cut out. “I Gunners fought back twice to secure a 2-2 has scored 10 times in his last nine league games. “No one should think that we will easily beat Leganes, that doesn’t tell myself to finish as high as possible... It draw with Manchester City. Neymar and Luis Suarez, who led Barcelona against Granada, are also exist in football,” Madrid coach said. (finishing in the top four) is a good chal- Having guided Arsenal to three expected to play today, when Barcelona will try to win its sixth straight Madrid has won four in a row in the league and has scored at least a lenge but I think it’s perfectly possible,” said Premier League titles, although none match against Sevilla. Sevilla enters the match enduring its worst goal in its last 50 games in all competitions. — AP Wenger. “Certainly for 20 years I have done since 2004, Wenger is yet to declare it and it looked always like it’s nothing. whether he will stay and sign a new two year contract or leave. The board are believed to be keen for Wenger-who has coached Arsenal to a top four finish every season he has been there- Matches on TV to re-sign but have also demanded he (Local Timings) make changes to his backroom staff. This season has been an especially tough one for Wenger with his side fading from title ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE contention and humiliated in the Southampton v Crystal Palace 21:45 beIN SPORTS Champions League by Bayern Munich. Arsenal v West Ham United 21:45 Uncertainty about the futures of Chilean beIN SPORTS Alexis Sanchez-who has cast a glum Hull City v Middlesbrough 21:45 figure of late-and German World Cup win- beIN SPORTS ning playmaker Mesut Ozil has also affect- Swansea City v Tottenham 21:45 beIN SPORTS ed the club. Liverpool v Bournemouth 22:0 beIN SPORTS ‘NOT IN POLITICS’ Chelsea v Manchester City 22:00 However, ahead of today’s clash with beIN SPORTS West Ham, Wenger insisted that his achievement in guiding Arsenal into the SPANISH LEAGUE Barcelona v Sevilla FC 20:30 top four year after year should not be beIN SPORTS HD 3 underplayed.“If you listen to (Manchester Deportivo Alaves v Osasuna 21:30 City manager) , he said the beIN SPORTS other day that to achieve the top four in Deportivo La Coruna v Granada 21:30 England is a trophy because it’s so difficult,” beIN SPORTS said the Frenchman. Sporting Gijon v Malaga CF 21:30 beIN SPORTS “Of course we have a difficult task in CD Leganes v Real Madrid CF 22:30 front of us, but I am happy as well that beIN SPORTS HD 3 people realise suddenly that it’s not as easy as it looked always.” Wenger, who has ITALIAN CUP equated retiring with dying, said he would SSC Napoli v Juventus 21:45 beIN SPORTS not comment on the debate amongst fans about whether he should stay or go. “I’m GERMAN BUNDESLIGA not in politics,” said Wenger, who VfL Wolfsburg v Freiburg 21:00 described the support of the fans on beIN SPORTS Sunday as outstanding. Monchengladbach v Hertha 21:00 “It’s not about majority or minority. You beIN SPORTS HD 5 FSV Mainz 05 v RB Leipzig 21:00 just want our fans to stand behind the beIN SPORTS team and the club, and that’s what they Augsburg v Ingolstadt 04 21:00 did. I’ve said many times, it’s not about me. beIN SPORTS “I wish just to dedicate my energy to foot- CANNES: Frejus-Saint Raphael’s forward Karim Tlili (L) vies with Guingamp’s French midfielder Thibault Giresse during the French Cup SV Darmstadt 98 v Bayer 04 21:00 ball and the next game, and leave my own beIN SPORTS final quarter football match between Frejus-Saint RaphaÎl (CFA) and Guigamp (L1) yesterday at the Coubertin stadium in Cannes, personal case out of the debate. — AFP southern France. — AFP