TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2015 SPORTS

Liverpool’s decline leaves Rodgers’ future in jeopardy

LONDON: As subscribers to the name is about to leave the club, with every right to be angry and frustrated Liverpool failed to get out of its The summer is also likely to be domi- “Moneyball” approach, Liverpool’s captain Steven Gerrard swapping and of course I take full responsibility for group in the Champions League and, at nated not by who comes in but whether American owners like to do their busi- Liverpool for Los Angeles after 17 years that.” one stage, was in 12th place in the Liverpool is able to keep hold of winger ness based on cold, hard statistics. as a professional at Anfield. Gerrard A 6-1 loss to a mid-table team with league. Later, Rodgers acknowledged Raheem Sterling, the team’s best young So here are some damning numbers scored three of Liverpool’s last four goals nothing to play for is the kind of result that at that time he feared for his job. player, who is refusing to sign a new for the hierarchy at Fenway Sports this season, taking his overall tally to that gets a manager fired, and social Rodgers changed the team’s forma- contract. Group to chew on before they sit down 186, and some pundits believe the play- media and radio phone-ins were filled tion to a 3-4-3 and the Reds went Gerrard’s departure leaves a gaping with Liverpool manager Brendan er who has held the club together for with Liverpool fans calling for the unbeaten in the league for 13 games. hole, not just in the team but at the club Rodgers for his end-of-season review in the past decade is leaving too early. It all removal of Rodgers after the game. With However, the final two months of the itself. the coming days. makes tough reading for Rodgers, who a respected coach like Juergen Klopp season saw Liverpool win just two of its And next season’s schedule already Liverpool finished a miserable season on Friday declared himself “150 percent” looking for work after leaving Borussia nine league games - against relegation looks complicated for Liverpool, which with a 6-1 loss at Stoke, its worst defeat sure that he’d still be in his post at the Dortmund, Rodgers is on shaky ground. contenders Newcastle and Queens Park must - because of its sixth-place finish - in the 23-year history of the Premier start of next season. Ever since Luis Suarez left for Barcelona Rangers - and lose to Aston Villa in the go through two qualifying rounds to League and its heaviest in 52 years. For Some aren’t so sure anymore - and last July, things have gone downhill for FA Cup semifinals in arguably the low compete in the group stage of Europa the first time in 84 years, the Reds con- that includes Rodgers himself. The man Liverpool and Rodgers. point of the campaign. At least before League. That competition has loaded a ceded five goals in the first half of a top- widely regarded as the top young man- The summer signings have been travelling to Stoke. heavy burden on English teams in recent division game. ager in Britain last season for guiding majorly disappointing - and Rodgers’ “It’s evident for all to see,” former years. In the space of a year, Liverpool has Liverpool to the brink of a first league lineup for the Stoke game reflected that. Liverpool defender said And there’s still room for one last gone from the second best team in title since 1990 had a shell-shocked look wasn’t in the squad, fel- on his Facebook page, “there is problems insult for Liverpool fans. Belgium striker England to No. 6, despite an outlay of to him as he was asked to explain the low striker Rickie Lambert started on the at both ends of the field that will hope- Divock Origi, who will join on a perma- 116 million pounds (now $180 million) capitulation at Stoke. bench as Liverpool began the game with fully be rectified in some way this sum- nent basis this summer after being on new players in the last offseason. “If the owners want me to go then I no recognized forward, Dejan Lovren mer.” loaned back to Lille following his 10 mil- Rodgers has had three years as go,” an emotional Rodgers said, “but I and Lazar Markovic - who reportedly With no Champions League football lion-pound (now $15.5 million) transfer Liverpool’s manager and hasn’t won a want to be here.” “The fans deserve an cost a combined 40 million pounds (now on offer and with the likes of Manchester to Liverpool last year, was named in the trophy. apology,” he added. “They were angry at $62 million) - were unused substitutes, City and Manchester United set to spend French league’s worst team of the sea- Meanwhile, a man with the experi- halftime - and rightly so - because that and Adam Lallana and Emre Can played big this offseason, Liverpool is unlikely son by respected French newspaper ence of 710 Liverpool appearances to his was awful, absolutely awful. They have out of position. to attract the top names to Anfield. L’Equipe. —AP Mourinho hails departing Drogba

LONDON: Jose Mourinho believes Didier keeping Cech. Drogba’s influence will continue to be felt “I keep saying the same. He’s a legend of at Chelsea even though the Ivory Coast for- this club, but he’s a legend at 33. Thirty- ward has called time on his second spell three for a goalkeeper is a very young leg- with the Premier League champions. end,” Mourinho said. Drogba announced his intention to leave “One of our strengths this season was to Stamford Bridge before the 3-1 victory over have the two best goalkeepers in the Sunderland on Sunday that ensured Premier League. When Thibaut Courtois Mourinho’s side ended their title-winning was injured, Petr made decisive saves in campaign in fitting style before being pre- matches for us. sented with the trophy after the final whis- “I’m not sure if Petr was not here in tle. these seven matches if we could be cham- The 37-year-old is keen to play on for pions, so his contribution was decisive. “But one more year, but will have to look else- we also have to be fair, and not emotional where for more regular first team action. with our analysis, and say that Thibaut is an Drogba was named captain but played amazing goalkeeper who had a fantastic only 28 minutes before being chaired from season for us. He’s a big champion.” the pitch by his team-mates as he was Members of Chelsea’s 2005 title-winning replaced by Diego Costa. team were reunited before kick off and And Blues boss Mourinho insists the vet- Mourinho said: “For me, to have here today eran’s legacy will continue to be felt the champions of 2004-05 and the champi- because of his impact on the development ons of 2014-15 is an amazing feeling of the club’s younger players. because I feel as if I belong to both. “The substitution was decided because “I belong to two generations. To be back he had a problem with his knee and, in nor- for the end of my team was hard. To see mal conditions, he could not play for long. Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Michael Essien We left him on for half an hour,” Mourinho and Didier Drogba leave is very hard. said. “The captaincy was ’s desire, “But my job is Chelsea’s future and to give him the armband. The players to Chelsea’s future is this team that we’ve bring him off the pitch? I think that was been working with in the last few years. “It LONDON: Middlesbrough’s Belgium player Jelle Vossen attempts an overhead kick as he is marked by Norwich City’s French player Sebastien decided between them because they like would be a dream to be here in 2025 and Bassong during their playoff final at Wembley Stadium. —AP him a lot. be with the champions of 2005, 2015 and “I’m really happy because he was part of 2025.” Sunderland arrived at Stamford the other team, but he belongs also to this Bridge having already secured their new Chelsea. “For these players to know Premier League status and boss Dick Norwich win promotion jackpot him, train with him, live with him, play with Advocaat, who masterminded their escape him, share with him is fantastic. after arriving on a short-term deal in March, LONDON: Norwich City won the promotion believing it and another thing doing it,” Neil ward to double their lead three minutes later. “He was very, very good for these young insisted he would make a decision on his jackpot as they swept back into the Premier said. “Big players arrive on the big stage and you This was a far more emphatic strike from people: Eden Hazard, Willian, Oscar. They own future soon. League with a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough saw that in the first 20 minutes. We were unbe- Neil’s team, whose confidence, already high learnt from a good example. His was a fan- “Wait and see. It’s not up to me, because in the Championship play-off final yesterday. lievable.” after their play-off semi-final win over bitter tastic contribution this season.” they offered me already two or three years. Alex Neil’s side raced into a two-goal lead Middlesbrough’s team bus had been caught rivals Ipswich, had gone through the roof in the Petr Cech also started on what could be But I have to be honest to myself and to inside the first 15 minutes at Wembley thanks to in the busy bank holiday traffic en route to moments after Jerome’s opener. They swag- his last appearance for the club. The everybody what I will do for the future,” goals from Cameron Jerome and Nathan Wembley, arriving later than expected. Aitor gered towards the penalty area in blur of quick Chelsea goalkeeper, 33, is keen to move in Advocaat said. “It will be as quick as possi- Redmond and that early blitz was enough to Karanka’s players appeared unsettled by that passes before Steven Whittaker played a precise search of more regular first team football ble, because the club must know. “Let’s secure an immediate and lucrative return to the disruption and the flaws that would undermine ball into Redmond, the young Norwich winger and has been strongly linked with Arsenal, wait till next week and then I’ll make the Premier League just 12 months after the pain of them were immediately on display when a slop- matching the quality of the approach play as he but Mourinho has not given up hope of decision.”—AFP relegation. py Dean Whitehead clearance fell to Norwich a touch before driving a fine finish into the far Promotion is worth an estimated £120 mil- midfielder Bradley Johnson, who smashed a corner. lion ($185 million), but, while the cash is impor- left-footed strike against the crossbar. That nar- Despite beating Norwich twice this season, tant to Norwich’s prosperity, it was the thought row escape prompted a brief surge of adrena- Middlesbrough had been completely over-run of taking their place alongside the likes of line from Middlesbrough as they charged and spent the rest of the half just trying to Chelsea and Manchester United that fuelled the straight down the other end and hit the bar recover their composure. jubilant celebrations at the final whistle. themselves through Jelle Vossen’s curling 25- It didn’t help that Patrick Bamford, the gifted Winning promotion in such style will also yard drive. But, fatally, Middlesbrough couldn’t young striker loaned to Karanka by his friend add to the growing reputation of the 33-year- quell their nerves and more lackadaisical and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, struggled to old Neil, a fiery Scot who has already earned defending proved their downfall in the 12th make an impact as Norwich’s industrious mid- comparisons with former Manchester United minute. field cut off the supply lines. After a first half manager Alex Ferguson and seems to have the Whitehead put his team-mate Daniel Ayala in that must have exceeded their worst night- midas touch when it comes to the play-offs. trouble with a slow backpass and Jerome mares, Middlesbrough made a brighter start to Neil guided Hamilton into the Scottish pounced to devastating effect. He muscled the second period and Bamford’s shot on the Premiership via the play-offs last season, and Ayala off the ball and advanced into the penalty turn forced a sprawling save from John Ruddy. now he has led Norwich to promotion in the area before guiding a cool finish past goalkeep- Ayala had a header blocked on the line by Lewis same fashion after a remarkable 17 wins in the er Dimitrios Konstantopoulos from a tight angle Grabban in the closing stages. 25 games since he was hired to replace the at his near post. But Middlesbrough’s revival came too late to sacked Neil Adams. Jerome’s 21st goal of the season was a terri- disturb Neil’s team, who cruised to the finish “We worked so hard to get here and I ble one to concede and Karanka’s team still line while their yellow-clad fans got the promo- believed we would do it, but it’s one thing looked shell-shocked when Norwich swept for- tion party started.—AFP

LONDON: Chelsea’s Didier Drogba (front left) holds up the English Premier League trophy with teammate John Terry as the team parade through the streets near their Stamford Bridge stadium. —AP Boca stunned Man United decide Thousands flock to by Aldosivi against signing Falcao BUENOS AIRES: ’ woes, the product of their LONDON: Manchester United will not on one up front during the team’s Chelsea victory parade Libertadores Cup fracas 11 days ago, continued with a shock 3-0 be signing Colombia forward best run in the third quarter of the defeat by modest Aldosivi at an empty La Bombonera in the Radamel Falcao on a permanent campaign, another frontman may not LONDON: An estimated 70,000 people League and FA Youth Cup-winning squad. Argentine championship on Sunday. basis, the Premier League club said be needed. Borussia Dortmund took to the streets of west London yester- Veteran striker Didier Drogba, who played The defeat, Boca’s first in 13 league matches this year, denied on Sunday after the final game of the defender and Germany World Cup day to watch Chelsea show off their the final game of his second Chelsea spell them sole leadership of the standings which they now share on 28 season. winner Mats Hummels has been Premier League and League Cup trophies against Sunderland, was on the first of the points with San Lorenzo, who beat Sarmiento 3-0 on Saturday. The 29-year-old will return to par- repeatedly linked with United in in an open-top bus parade. three buses. Boca, playing behind closed doors and unable to draw on the ent club Monaco, at least initially, media reports. —Reuters Hordes of blue-clad fans exploited the Long-serving goalkeeper Petr Cech is normally passionate atmosphere of their cavernous stronghold, after four goals in 29 appearances opportunity afforded by a public holiday to also expected to leave the club after losing were a pale shadow of the team that had held a three-point lead was not deemed good enough for line the route as three buses took players his place to Thibaut Courtois, but he did at the top of the table. Italy striker Dani Osvaldo botched a chance United to consider splashing out the and staff on a winding tour of the roads not discuss his future when he addressed to give Boca a 31st-minute equaliser when he put his penalty wide reported 55 million euros ($60.5 mil- adjacent to their Stamford Bridge home. supporters. after defender Matias Lequi had fired Aldosivi ahead in the eighth. lion) fee to buy him. Chelsea lifted the Premier League trophy “We are all blue, so we are all the same,” Striker Roger Martinez and substitute Angel Vildozo added sec- “Falcao is a top professional and a on Sunday after winning 3-1 at home to said the 33-year-old Czech Republic inter- ond half goals while Boca were down to 10 men for the last half good human being. On behalf of Sunderland in their final league game, hav- national. But his Nigerian team-mate John hour after midfielder Pablo Perez was sent off. myself and everyone at the club I ing beaten Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the Mikel Obi led the crowd in a chorus of: “Petr would like to wish him well for the League Cup final in March. Cech, we want you to stay!” The match was played behind closed doors as punishment for the incident on May 13 when fans sprayed an irritant at River Plate future,” manager Louis van Gaal told Addressing the fans, manager Jose In an interview broadcast earlier on ManUtd.com after the 0-0 Premier players, four of whom ended up in hospital with burns to their Mourinho said: “Thank you for everything, Chelsea’s in-house television channel, League draw at Hull City left United eyes, before the second half of their Libertadores last-16 second for all your support. Book another place for Mourinho warned that his side will have to fourth in the table and in the leg, which was 0-0 at the time and then abandoned. The South the parade next season. I hope we can give improve if they want to successfully defend Champions League playoff spot. American Confederation (CONMEBOL) kicked Boca out of its elite you that.” the league title next season. Falcao was once one of the hottest club tournament, fined them $200,000 and banned La Bombonera The 52-year-old Portuguese, who “We have to be better if we want to be properties in world football but a returned to Chelsea for a second stint as successful again,” he told Chelsea TV. “The for four home matches in international competition while arch curious move to Monaco and a seri- manager in 2013, then made an unconvinc- other opponents are not going to accept rivals River, who had won the first leg 1-0 at home, went through ous knee injury have curtailed his ing attempt at a Chelsea anthem, singing: this without a fight. to the quarter-finals. River, with 25 points, could have caught the career. “Blue is the colour, la, la, la, la, la!” “Next year will be more difficult, but joint leaders but their late kickoff at Tigre (0030 GMT) was sus- United have already recruited for- The club’s Russian owner Roman because it’s difficult is one of the reasons pended after a second division player collapsed and died during a ward Memphis Depay from PSV Abramovich took part in the parade, along why I came back to England. I will enjoy it match in Corrientes, the second such incident in 10 days.—Reuters Eindhoven and with Van Gaal settling with members of Chelsea’s European Youth again.” —AFP Radamel Falcao