TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 SPORTS ‘Manager eater’ dining out at once-mighty Leeds

LONDON: Hours into his tenure as the years ago. The past decade at Leeds had replacement for McDermott out of the owned by foreigners, some more rep- best thing he could do is get out of the latest Leeds manager, was been scarred by financial chaos and mis- English non-leagues. utable and savvy than others. Blackburn, club,” said Giles, a midfield great for watching the team lose when he heard management, though, and the club had seemed to be out of his depth and a for example, was an established Premier Leeds in its glory days. “It’s crazy stuff.” the inevitable chant from opposition slipped down the English league pyra- puppet for Cellino. “Coaches are like League team before being taken over by Despite his eccentricities, however, fans. “Sacked in the morning,” came the mid. The larger-than-life Cellino arrived watermelons,” Cellino said at Hockaday’s Indian poultry firm Venky’s. They talked Cellino could yet be a force for good at cry around Cardiff City Stadium, “you’re as the latest savior, saying of the fans: presentation, “you only know how good about signing David Beckham and Leeds. He at least has experience of own- getting sacked in the morning.” It’s a “They’ve had to put up with 10 (exple- it is when you open it.” Hockaday lasted Ronaldinho and returning to the heights ing a football club and turned out to be playful chant serenaded to losing coach- tive) years. six games of this season before he was of 1995 when the team won the English a success in his 22 years at Cagliari, es across the length and breadth of I want to make them proud again.” fired, ending one of the strangest mana- league. Instead the club was relegated establishing the Sardinian team in Serie England on most weekends, and it’s Problem was, he also arrived with bag- gerial reigns of recent times. within 18 months and spiraled into A. It is hard for Leeds fans to trust any rarely taken on face value. On this occa- gage. He had been convicted in Italy of Darko Milanic was the next full-time chaos, with four different managers in an owner of their club after the troubled sion, though, there could have been an tax evasion, a ruling he is still appealing, appointment and another to arrive out eight-month span in the second-tier tenures of , the outspoken for- element of truth about it. and was known in some circles as a of the blue, from Austrian side Sturm League Championship the following sea- mer Chelsea owner, and Bahraini-based And that just about sums up the sad “mangiallenatori” - the Italian word for a Graz. Hired on Sept. 23, Milanic, from son. Fulham is another traditional investment bank Gulf Finance House, state of Leeds United - a proud, once- “manager eater” - after making 36 coach- Slovenia, was fired after 32 days and did English club whose fortunes have tum- which preceded Cellino. mighty northern English club that is now ing changes in 22 years at Cagliari. not win any of his six games in charge. bled since it was put in the hands of an But, perhaps in desperation, they widely regarded as a laughingstock English football now understands Redfearn, who took temporary owner with apparently more money appear to have warmed to the Italian, operating on the merciless whims of an why he earned that moniker. Brian charge between the Hockaday and than sense. Under American business- who has stood among Leeds supporters eccentric, maverick Italian owner. Clough’s notorious 44-day reign at Leeds Cellino “eras” after being promoted from man Shahid Kahn since July 2013, during away matches and has injected - with his sunglasses in the mid-1970s seems like a lifetime in the academy, was hired as Cellino’s Fulham lost its status enough money and commitment into and slick, graying hair - breezed into charge compared to the rate Cellino is fourth manager in five months on within a year and has just hired its fourth the club to suggest he is in it for the in April when his company, going through managers. A month after Saturday. Leeds lost to Cardiff 3-1 that coach in 10 months. long haul. The way it’s going, though, which already owned Italian side taking over, Cellino fired Brian afternoon to drop to sixth from bottom Critics of Cellino say he is acting dis- he might just decide to do the coaching Cagliari, bought a controlling stake in McDermott, widely regarded as one of in the second-tier League gracefully and is damaging the reputa- himself. “I used to have a boat. I used to Leeds. This was the biggest football team English football’s “good guys.” Rumors Championship. “I remember in Italy my tion of one of England’s great clubs. And, pay the captain of the boat,” Cellino in England in the late 1960s and early had been spreading during the takeover dad sacked seven coaches in one year considering his conviction for fraud, they says. “You know what my strategy was? ‘70s in the era of Johnny Giles and Billy process, which was drawn-out because and one before the season had even still wonder how he passed the owners If he doesn’t do what I like to do with Bremner, the league champion in 1992 of Cellino’s tax issues, that McDermott started,” Cellino’s son, Edoardo, said last and directors test used by the Premier my boat, then I can drive my boat on when Eric Cantona starred up front and a was on his way out. week. “This is not a record.” League and Football League to assess my own.” Redfearn has been duly Champions League semifinalist only 12 Bizarrely, Cellino chose to pluck the English football is awash with clubs who can and can’t run a club. “I think the warned. — AP Casillas: Young and old can show Real the way

SPAIN: Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas believes the European champions have a side with the potential to be one of the all-time greats and it will be with likely trepidation that an off-color Liverpool visit the Bernabeu today. Led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Real have been in majestic form with 46 goals in their last 11 games as they have torn apart opposition in both Spain and Europe, with another win today guaranteeing progression to the Champions League last 16. The Group B match comes two weeks after Liverpool were easily beaten 3-0 at ITALY: Juventus Andrea Pirlo (center) celebrates with his teammates in this file home by Real in the reverse fixture and that was photo. —AP with Carlo Ancelotti’s side easing off in the sec- ond half with El Clasico on the horizon. They then swept aside Barcelona and hit four without Pirlo in full reply away to Granada in another exhibition of exhilarating attacking football on Saturday. “This team can make history, there are good flow for Juventus ingredients,” Casillas told reporters. “We are hop- ing to win the top trophies. We have a good mix ITALY: Andrea Pirlo is finally getting into his ele- the World Cup, suffered an injury, he was out for of youngsters and older players that can show gant stride for Juventus, just in time for the 40 days,” he added. “Pirlo broke his duck and I them what it is to be Madrid and how they need match which is likely to determine whether or think that is also a psychological breakthrough to play.” Real lead the group with nine points not they progress to the knockout stages of the after performances that were not up to his usual from three games while Ludogorets, Liverpool Champions League. After successive 1-0 defeats standards. He can make the difference at set and Basel all have three points. Real, who won away to Atletico Madrid and Olympiakos in pieces.” the King’s Cup as well as their 10th European SPAIN: Real Madridís Luka Modric (right) leads Marcelo (second right) Gareth Bale (third right) Group A, leaders Juve host the Greek Allegri was in charge when Pirlo left Milan for Cup last season, have hit form after losing two and Karim Benzema (fourth right) during a training session in Madrid. Real Madrid will play side today knowing another slipup could lead to Juventus and the coach’s arrival at Juve in July Liverpool today in a Group B Champions League soccer match. — AP a second successive group stage elimination. inevitably prompted some speculation about of their first three La Liga games. “The team is Although Paul Pogba, Claudio Marchisio and their relationship. building on the two trophies that we won and they have looked shaky, their main worry is in the group to qualify, which is the objective. It’s a Arturo Vidal give Juventus plenty of options in But the phlegmatic coach feels he was the we are looking to continue this. The results back attack for the trip with the imperious Luis big ask playing against arguably the best team midfield, they are not quite the same without an scapegoat when Pirlo left Milan after an indiffer- this up and the players that have come in have a Suarez long gone. England striker Daniel in the world at the moment.” on-form Pirlo, who has guided them to three ent season. “They continue saying that I was the lot of quality, as did those who left,” added Sturridge is nursing a calf injury while the After slipping to defeat against Newcastle successive Serie A titles since his move from AC one who sent Pirlo from Milan, they have made Casillas. unpredictable Mario Balotelli has looked United in the Premier League on Saturday, few Milan in 2011. me look like a hatchet man, but somebody laboured and Rickie Lambert lacks Champions would fancy Liverpool’s chances of causing an The 35-year-old playmaker has struggled to needed to take the blame,” he said. MAIN WORRY League experience. upset at the Bernabeu, but Rodgers is backing get going after missing the first six weeks of this Juventus, who finished third behind Real Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria departed “We’ve worked very hard over a couple of his players to rise to the challenge. season with injury but a much-improved per- Madrid and Galatasaray in the group stage last ahead of the season but new faces Toni Kroos years to get to this level,” Rodgers told the club’s “There are pressures in every game at formance against Empoli, including his first goal season, have three points while Atletico and and James Rodriguez have done well with the website (www.liverpoolfc.com). Liverpool. It’s not just Tuesday,” he said. “Every of the season from a trademark free kick, has Olympiakos each have six. latter getting a brace against Granada. “To play Real Madrid at the Bernabeu tells us game there’s always that expectancy, which given his team cause for optimism. Ideally, Juventus need to win by two goals to Liverpool’s return to the Champions League that we’ve been doing OK. But of course, we’re only exists at a number of clubs around the “I’m improving, I’m working a lot during the make sure they have a better head-to-head for the first time in five seasons has been far in a transition phase. We want to be better and world. It’s there every time we play. We under- week and that is the most important thing,” Pirlo record than the Greek champions, who lost 7-0 from smooth sailing and though defensively told reporters after Saturday’s 2-0 win sent on their last visit to Turin in 2003. we need to be better. “We’re still very much in stand that, we accept that.” —Reuters Juventus three points clear at the top of Serie A. “It’s as if it were a final, we have to play “I feel better with every game and I hope to knowing that there is only one result which is be in top form soon.” Coach any good for us, which is a win,” said Pirlo. agreed. “I think that Andrea is getting back to Olympiakos are second in the Greek league after Wenger impressed by being the player he has always been, he needs they were held to a goalless draw on Saturday at to play and he played a very good 65 minutes,” Asteras Tripolis, who played the entire second he said after the Empoli game. “Andrea played at half with 10 men. — Reuters Arsenal improvement

LONDON: Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal are but he has settled in much quicker than expected,” finally showing signs of developing the killer Wenger said. “Now I play him through the middle instinct required to succeed in the Champions and he has shown he can find the ball, he can drib- League. ble and he can go at you. Wenger’s side will aim to stay in the race to fin- “There are similarities with (Luis) Suarez a little ish top of Group D when they host Anderlecht bit by going at you, by being where you do not today and the Gunners boss knows it will be a expect him to be in the box, and by having that night when patience and predatory finishing will huge desire to be at the end of things.” be essential qualities. Arsenal are three points With the return of England winger Theo Walcott, behind group leaders Borussia Dortmund in sec- who made a late cameo appearance against ond place and a win over Anderlecht, combined Burnley after 10 months out with a serious knee with a victory for the Germans against Galatasaray, injury, Wenger will soon have increased attacking would guarantee the north Londoners a place in options. France forward Olivier Giroud is also set to the last 16, while keeping them in with a chance of be in contention following the next international finishing in first place and potentially earning an break after recovering earlier than expected from a easier draw in the knockout stages. broken foot. The Gunners snatched a 2-1 win against “For Theo it must be great as well to see that GERMANY: Dortmund’s Neven Subotic (fourth from right) exercises with the team Anderlecht in the reverse fixture two weeks ago everybody wants him to come on,” said Wenger, during a training session. Borussia Dortmund will play against Galatasaray Istanbul despite being outplayed for long periods, but who could also have England midfielder Jack in a Group D Champions League match today. — AP Wenger doesn’t expect the Belgian side to be so Wilshere available on Tuesday after a minor knee adventurous at the Emirates Stadium. With that in problem forced him to miss the Burnley match. Dortmund eye knock-out berth mind, Wenger has told his players to display the “Lukas Podolski also played very well after he kind of patient approach that eventually broke came on, he could have scored two. “When you DORTMUND: Borussia Dortmund are chasing With nearly a third of the season gone, down Burnley after 70 minutes of their 3-0 Premier think that we have not got a number of offensive both a place in the Champions League’s they are already ten points from qualifying for League victory on Saturday. Chile forward Alexis players like Ozil, Wilshere and Giroud, there is a lot knock-out phase and a confidence-boosting a Champions League place next season, Sanchez took his tally to 10 goals with a double of competition in the forward positions.” victory to remedy their dire domestic form which demands a top-three finish. strike to end Burnley’s stubborn resistence and Anderlecht have taken only one point from LONDON: Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez (right) when they host Galatasaray yesterday. To exacerbate matters, Dortmund host Wenger believes the way his team continued to their first three group matches and a defeat would celebrates with teammate Theo Walcott in Dortmund have dazzled in Europe this season Galatasaray without captain Mats Hummels stay positive despite the frustrations of seeing eliminate them from the competition. — AFP this file photo. — AP with an average of three goals per game to after the Germany centre-back suffered a Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton pull off a string of top Group D ahead of Arsenal with three sprained ankle in Munich. saves has them moving in the right direction. straight wins and a perfect nine points. His place in the back-four is likely to go to “In the recent games at home we were not Borussia have beaten Arsenal 2-0 at home, Neven Subotic, his replacement at Bayern. patient and we have learned. We look a bit more Matches on TV defeated Anderlecht 3-0 in Belgium, then The Serbia international says Dortmund des- balanced between offence and defence,” Wenger downed Galatasaray 4-0 in Istanbul a fort- perately need a morale-boosting win as said. “We were less in trouble when we lost the (Local Timings) night ago. much as three more Champions League ball, we were serious and that is very important in A fourth consecutive win today will con- points before they host third-placed Borussia the efficiency.” Key to Arsenal’s resurgence has UEFA Champions League Juventus FC Olympiacos 22:45 firm their place in the last 16. The 2013 Moenchengladbach next Sunday in the been the impressive form of Sanchez, a pre-season Zenit v Bayer 04 20:00 beIN SPORTS 3 HD Champions League finalists’ European form Bundesliga. Subotic also has a point to prove buy from Barcelona, who Wenger has deployed in a beIN SPORTS 3 HD contrasts sharply to their nightmare on Tuesday as his two errors led to Bayern’s more central attacking role following injury to Basel v Ludogorets Razgrad 22:45 Bundesliga run where they have dropped goals by Robert Lewandowski before he Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil. Benfica v Monaco 22:45 beIN SPORTS 6 HD beIN SPORTS 5 HD into the relegation zone, struggling in 17th fouled Franck Ribery in the area for the late Wenger is confident Sanchez can handle the Real Madrid v Liverpool 22:45 place after the worst start to a league season penalty which Arjen Robben converted. “That additional responsibility, having compared him Dortmund v Galatasaray 22:45 beIN SPORTS 4 HD in the club’s history. Dortmund have lost their is the next opportunity to show everyone and the Uruguayan former Liverpool striker Luis beIN SPORTS 2 HD last five domestic games after being beaten that we can do better,” said Subotic. “In the Suarez to tough South American “street footballers” Malmo FF v Atletico 22:45 Arsenal v Anderlecht 22:45 2-1 by league leaders Bayern Munich at the Bundesliga, our mission at Bayern failed in the build-up to Saturday’s match. beIN SPORTS 7 HD beIN SPORTS 4 HD Allianz Arena on Saturday. because of two blunders from me. —AFP “I was ready to give him time if he needed it,