18 Tuesday, April 30, 2019 Sports PSG coach hits out at Neymar Barcelona hurdle for L’pool; after fan attack

afp Spurs regroup for Ajax in UCL Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France Thomas Tuchel on Monday blasted Neymar for hitting a fan Manager Mauricio Pochet- who insulted Paris Saint-Ger- Liverpool are in tino has several other concerns main players as they filed up to including Moussa Sissoko, who collect their French Cup losers’ fine form, with 10 has a groin injury, and defender medals. straight wins Jan Vertonghen, who sat out A 28-year-old delivery driv- Saturday’s 1-0 loss to West er from Nantes had been film- and 19 games Ham due to fatigue. ing the PSG players and making Spurs are also up against less than flattering comments unbeaten in all the clock having played at the about them when a simmer- weekend while Ajax were given ing Neymar grabbed the hand competitions off by the Dutch league. that held the mobile phone and “We need to assess the play- shoved it towards the fan’s face. DPA ers and we’ll see,” he said.”I “I don’t like it. You can’t Berlin hope we can recover some play- do that, you just can’t do that,” ers and now it’s about recovery Tuchel said of the incident, Barcelona will be aiming to until Tuesday.” which was caught on video by keep the Champions League in Ajax’s have lifted the Euro- fans at the Stade de France. Spanish hands when they take pean trophy four times - includ- Neymar lashed out on Sat- on last year’s losing finalists Liv- ing three straight in the 1970s urday after his side threw away erpool in the first of their semi- with the legendary Johan Cruyff a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with final showdowns. - but not since 1996. And while Rennes before losing the penal- The winner over the two they’ll be in their eighth semi- ty shootout 6-5 after extra time. legs will undoubtedly be re- final, the last of those came 22 “It’s not easy to go up the garded as title favourites for years ago. steps after a defeat. It’s very dif- the June 1 final in Madrid, but Spurs on the other hand ficult for me, for everybody, but no one can now overlook Tot- have only one semi-final ap- we have to accept it,” Tuchel tenham Hotspur and Ajax after pearance in the former Euro- added. their achievements in putting pean Cup 57 years ago. “If we lose, we have to show out some big hitters. Ajax have been lauded for respect. You can’t get into a fight Liverpool’s never-ending their talented youngsters but with a spectator.” pressure cooker continues as coach Erik ten Hag has pointed The blow continued a bad- they shift focus from the Pre- out the importance of acquiring tempered end to the evening for mier League title for the visit to Tottenham Hotspur’s English midfielder Dele Alli, defender Danny Rose, defender Eric Dier and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris attend a team training experienced players like Daley PSG. Neymar’s strike partner Barcelona on Wednesday. session at Tottenham Hotspur’s Enfield Training Centre in north London on Monday.( AFP) Blind from Manchester United Kylian Mbappe was sent off for Liverpool are in fine form, and Dusan Tadic from South- a dreadful tackle with two min- with 10 straight wins and 19 dersfield with a slight muscle chester United in the quarter- won the title in 2015 following Ajax have taken out three-time ampton. utes left in extra time. games unbeaten in all competi- tear suffered in training. finals, and with the Spanish Real Madrid in 2014 and over defending champions Real Ma- “They are a fantastic young The defeat ended PSG’s tions, and should be confident “Apart from the word ‘tear’ league title again in their hands the past three seasons. drid and Juventus. side, an exciting side to watch,” four-year reign in the French ahead of a stern test at the Nou everything else is positive,” and Lionel Messi - the season’s Surprise giant killer Tot- Tottenham are without two Tottenham midfielder Eric Dier Cup and means that, while they Camp. Klopp said after the match. Champions League top scorer tenham and Ajax face off on key players up front in the in- said. have retained the French league Manager Juergen Klopp “It is Bobby, so he might be - rested they will be hoping to Tuesday. Spurs have beaten jured Harry Kane and suspend- “They play attractive foot- title, they have won none of the does have one major injury ready for Wednesday, but we gain a good first-led advantage Borussia Dortmund and Man- ed Son Heung Min, leaving Fer- ball, lots of good, young players. cups they entered this season, worry in striker Roberto Fir- obviously don’t know in the mo- over the Reds. chester City, the latter on away nando Llorente, who scored the They deserve to be where they with the most painful exit at the mino, who sat out Friday’s 5-0 ment.” Barca, like Liverpool five- goals in a thrilling quarter-final, decisive goal against Man City, are and we know it’s going to be last 16 stage of the Champions Premier League win over Hud- Barcelona outclassed Man- time European champions, last in the knockout rounds, while likely leading the attack. a very difficult game.” League to Manchester United. Amir Cup Trophy Tour makes Jordan thump Portugal to retain Aspire stop at Lagoona Mall Tribune News Network a photo opportunity with the Embassies Football Tournament trophy greatest prize and in doing so, become a part of football his- In commemoration of Fifty tory. One East long-standing part- Also, supporters will have a nership with the Qatar Football chance to enjoy a range of activi- Association (QFA), Lagoona ties at The PlayStation Majlis on Mall recently hosted the pres- May 3 and 4 at Lagoona Mall. tigious Amir Cup Trophy Tour During the Amir Cup tour, mall in the presence of QFA officials, visitors can also benefit from Karim Boudiaf, Qatar National special offers on Sony products. Football team and Al Duhail SC The promotional tour is player, and members of Fifty an ideal opportunity for many One East’s management team. organisations and entities in For the ninth year and run- the country as well as schools, ning, the Amir Cup Trophy Tour trading partners and sponsors honoured Fifty One East with to host the prestigious trophy. another historic appearance All of these activities indicate in the mall, offering a unique further that the Amir Cup is opportunity for hundreds of considered as the most impor- football fans, aspiring players tant and anticipated event of and mall goers to get a glimpse the year as it represents great of the priceless cup. Attendees sporting, social and cultural sig- lined up for the chance to have nificances. Jordan celebrate on the podium with the trophy and winners cheque. A younfg Jordanian fan cheers on the team.

Tribune News Network formance through the three tournament is to encourage the the Hashemite Kingdom of Jor- well as members of the expat Doha editions of the tournament, practice of physical activity in dan, commented on his team’s communities.” initially walking away with the an informal setting and allow victory saying: “We are thrilled At the closing, Qatarneh Jordan clinched the 2019 silver medal at the inaugural open communication amongst to win the championship for awarded the tournament ref- title of the Aspire Football As- competition. members of the diplomatic mis- the second time in a row. We erees while Al Kuwari handed sociation Championship in its Commenting the tourna- sions assigned to Doha. It was are always keen to participate over gold medals and a trophy third edition after defeating ment, Aspire Zone Foundation great to see ambassadors and and support sports activities to the Jordanian Embassy team. Portugal with a spectacular (AZF) Chief Marketing Officer heads of missions and members amongst members of the Jorda- HE Saeed Ali Al Hajri, As- 6-0 performance. Mohammed Mubarak al Ku- of expat communities enjoying nian community in Qatar who sistant Director of Protocol The Bosnian Embassy se- wari, said: “I congratulate the the ambiance of the tourna- have shared in our joy of win- Department at the Ministry of cured bronze after a closely Jordanian Embassy team for ment,” Kuwari added. ning.” Foreign Affairs, presented a fought match with their Malian their outstanding victory and Kuwari thanked Qatar’s Qatarneh added, “I would trophy and silver medals to the counterparts that ended 4-1. success in defending their title. Ministry of Foreign Affairs like to thank the organizers, Portuguese team, while, Alaa With these results, the Jor- Their participation and enthu- (MOFA) for their support in or- AZF and MOFA, for organiz- Kamal, Marketing Manager at danians succeeded in firmly siasm during this year’s tourna- ganising the tournament. ing an event that supports the Vodafone Qatar, presented a Al Duhail’s Karim Boudiaf with officials during the Amir Cup Trophy defending their 2018 title and ment has been incredible.” Meanwhile, HE Ashraf E. cultural exchange between the trophy and bronze medals for Tour stop at Lagoona Mall. continue their remarkable per- “The main objective of the Qatarneh, Consul, Embassy of embassies, their members as the Bosnian team. Seven Al Sadd players make up Qatar11 at QPA awards Tribune News Network Sadd media officer Ahmed al Doha Ansari and a number of officials from the different clubs, in ad- The Qatar Players Association dition to domestic and foreign (QPA) held its annual awards players. ceremony at the Ooredoo Arena The Qatar11 lineup was at Mall of Qatar on Sunday, pre- dominated by QNB Stars senting its lineup of Qatar11, the League champions Al Sadd best eleven players in the coun- players, seven of whom were try. chosen. The Qatar11 was chosen by The full lineup are: Saad the currently active players in al Dosari (GK), Hamid Is- the 17 Qatari clubs in the first mail (RB), Khoukhi Boualem and second divisions, based (CB), Bassam al Rawi (CB), on the model of FIFA’s FIFPro (LB), Ka- World 11 awards. rim Boudiaf (CM), Abdulaziz The ceremony was attended Hatem (CM), Hassan al Haydos by QPA President Salman al (RW), (LW), Rod- Ansari, Al Sadd sporting direc- rigo Tabata (CAM), Baghdad Asian Cup 2019 winner and Al Duhail’s Bassam al Rawi receives his tor Mohammed Gholam, Al Bounedjah (FW). award for best defender at the QPA Awards.