20 | Thursday, January 21, 2021 HONG KONG EDITION | DAILY SPORTS

SOCCER Zhu: China’s stars can make Euro grade

Coach urges nation’s best homegrown For a very long time, last week named a 27­man squad for ized players, with Brazil­born pair a training camp in Haikou, Hainan Ai Kesen (aka ) and Alan talents to follow in Wu Lei’s footsteps we have believed province, starting Friday and con­ featuring in Li’s latest training our players should grow in tinuing until early February. Wu was squad. By SHI FUTIAN from La Liga last season, Wu had omitted due to his club commit­ However, Zhu believes the Chi­ [email protected] been the only China international foreign leagues. We hope ments in Spain, with the squad nese Football Association’s plans to playing in a major European league to see many promising mostly made up of players from CSL improve youth training are more Despite Wu Lei’s current strug­ following his transfer to the Barcelo­ giants Guangzhou FC and Beijing important to the nation’s soccer gles in Spain, former Team China na­based club from SIPG domestic players step out Guo’an. future than persuading foreign head coach has urged in early 2019. of our own league.” Because of the pandemic’s disrup­ imports to change nationality and more young Chinese players to try However, after a debut campaign tion to the schedule, the Maldives pull on the red jersey. and emulate the Espanyol forward packed full of standout performan­ Zhu Guanghu, former Team China coach match will be Li’s first game in “We need more pitches in our by forging a career in Europe. ces and milestones — including charge since being appointed in schools — seven­a­side, five­a­side or “For a very long time, we have becoming the first Chinese player to early 2020. even smaller pitches just for three­a­ believed our players should grow in score in La Liga — Wu now finds would have been better off seeking a has maintained that his stint abroad Zhu is confident his former side,” Zhu added. “Smaller pitches foreign leagues. We hope to see himself struggling for game time move away from Espanyol — either will improve not only his own game charge has what it takes to reinvig­ allow more young kids to get access many promising domestic players and goals in Spain’s second tier. to another European club or a Chi­ but also the fortunes of Team China orate China’s qualifying campaign. to soccer, and they can improve their step out of our own league,” the Typical of his frustrating 2020­21 nese Super League team. as it bids to qualify for the 2022 “I know the personality of . touch and pace of play. 71­year­old Zhu told zhibo8.cc on season, Wu was unable to make an Throughout his time in Spain, Wu World Cup finals. He is a man who never gives up. He “We also need more quality soccer Tuesday. impact in a rare start on Sunday has kept fans informed via a person­ The Chinese squad, which is due likes challenges and has very high youth training coaches. Meanwhile, “There are many players who against Osasuna and was substitut­ al blog, with his most recent entries to face the Maldives in its next 2022 standards on details,” said Zhu. we should create more opportuni­ have the potential, such as ed in the 75th minute of the 2­0 indicating he is determined to ride qualifier on March 25, currently sits “Both his pre­ and post­match anal­ ties and different competition for­ (Guangzhou FC striker) Wei Shihao Copa Del Rey defeat. out the tough times and fight his second in the Asian zone’s Group A, ysis is very thorough. mats for the young players. They and some young players of Shand­ The 29­year­old has only man­ way back into favor at Espanyol. ahead of the third­place Philippines “Most importantly, he has an should learn to compete — particu­ ong Luneng (now called Shandong aged three goals in all competitions “We are still running on the right on goal difference. Advancing to the indomitable spirit. I’m sure he will larly how to do so physically — from Taishan). As long as there are chan­ this season and started only 10 of track chasing our dreams and we second phase as one of the four best pass on his ideas, tactics and philos­ an early age. Throughout the ces, they should ply their trade in Espanyol’s 20 games so far. are the same young boys as we second­place finishers is, therefore, ophy of soccer to the players.” reforms, our priority has always foreign leagues.” That has led some voices on social were,” he wrote earlier this month. far from certain for China. China has been bolstered by the been to increase kids’ participation Prior to Espanyol’s relegation media to question whether Wu Throughout his time in Spain, Wu National team head coach Li Tie introduction of a number of natural­ in the game.” Lampard fears Chelsea chop as Blues’ woes continue

LEICESTER, England — Frank his eighth goal of the season. Lampard admitted he is unsure if he Lampard responded by turning to can hang on to his job as Chelsea $120 million worth of talent on the manager after his expensively bench as Werner and Ziyech were assembled Blues side crashed to a introduced for the final 25 minutes. fifth defeat in eight games at Leices­ Werner has now gone 11 Premier ter City on Tuesday. League games without a goal and The result lifted Leicester to top even when the Germany interna­ spot in the and tional did find the net to flick home increased the heat on Lampard after a late freekick, the offside flag res­ last weekend’s win at Fulham had cued Leicester, which leapfrogged afforded him a little respite. Manchester United into first place After spending nearly $300 mil­ in the standings. lion in the transfer market in the off­ “It sounds nice — ‘top of the Pre­ season, an expected Chelsea title mier League’,” said Maddison. “It’s a challenge has failed to materialize, good one psychologically because with reports suggesting Blues own­ we’ve worked really hard. It’s a great er Roman Ambramovich is consid­ achievement halfway through the ering axing the relatively season.” inexperienced Lampard, who The Foxes are exceeding even arrived at Stamford Bridge from sec­ their own expectations by going for ond­tier Derby County in July 2019. a second title in five years. “It intensified for me a while ago,” “There might be teams able to said Lampard of the growing scruti­ spend a lot more money than us and ny on his position. “Because the bring in quality from abroad and expectations at this club, whether pay big wages, but our team spirit they are right or wrong, are always and togetherness will continue to high. try and keep us up there,” added “I know we are in a different posi­ Maddison. tion with our squad — if you look at Chelsea manager Frank Lampard cuts a concerned figure as he watches the action during his team’s 2­0 English Premier League defeat at “We’re not up there by a fluke, our squad today and the age in our Leicester City on Tuesday. REUTERS we’re up there because we work squad and look at the composition of hard. People might talk about (Man­ our squad, it’s a mixture of a young chester) United, Liverpool, Totten­ squad, a lot of players, some new play­ club can buy him more time with played in all departments by the from a team playing well and we The Blues showed signs of life ham or whatever but let them talk. ers. I keep talking about a transition Russian owner Ambramovich. Foxes. were that team a month ago.” when Callum Hudson­Odoi fired We’ll do our business in the back­ but when you perform like that, it’s Asked whether he was confident “From the form we were in, to get “There are moments,” Lampard into the side­netting and the visitor ground and hopefully come the end normal people will ask questions.” Abramovich would show patience so quickly into the form we’re now added, “you have to dig in and do the thought it had won a penalty when of the season it will give us a chance Lampard is revered by Chelsea with him, Lampard replied: “It’s not in … we should be better than that. basics, and the bare minimum is to Christian Pulisic was upended by of being right up there.” fans as one of the club’s greatest­ever my decision. That’s something that Five losses in eight isn’t where we run and cover ground. Many of our . A VAR review, though, Foxes boss — players and its all­time top scorer. will always be there. want to be,” the 42­year­old said. players didn’t do it.” judged the foul had taken place out­ who has previously worked at Stam­ However, with the former England “When I came into this job, the “It takes character to turn from side the box, and four minutes ford Bridge as a youth and reserve international failing to get the best job of management, you understand that — I went with quite a young Flying Foxes before the break it was 2­0. team coach — is reportedly one of out of pricey offseason acquisitions some things are beyond your team today so they won’t be feeling Chelsea got off to a terrible start An Albrighton long ball forward Chelsea’s potential targets should Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Hak­ control.” nice. I’m not against the lads in the when smashed home found unmarked Lampard be dismissed. im Ziyech, it remains to be seen Lampard said he was “worried” dressing room because they’re dis­ a cross from just inside the area and the in­form whether his legendary status at the about his team, which was out­ appointed. They learned a lesson outside the box in the sixth minute. England midfielder slotted home AP/AFP

Digest

BASKETBALL SOCCER Tuesday. appearances and scored one goal The International Testing Agency California, after a McCollum’s blazing Nine­man Roma left Rooney’s side over two injury­interrupted seasons said late Monday it charged Rahim­ long struggle start halted by injury red­faced by cup shock had lost to rele­ in . He hailed the professional­ ov of Kazakhstan and Dumitru Cap­ with cancer. The gation rival Roth­ ism of the J­League but said he was tari of Romania with “an anti­ Atlanta Braves, In the midst of Spezia advanced to the quarterfi­ erham United in now looking forward to ending his doping rule violation for ‘urine for whom Sutton one of his best nals of the Italian Cup with a 4­2 win his first game career in his homeland. substitution’ which would have was a longtime seasons, Trail against nine­man Roma after extra since taking “I won’t leave Brazil now,” Vieira occurred over a period of time in broadcaster, said Blazers guard CJ time on Tuesday. charge on a full­ Wayne told reporters on Tuesday. “I will 2016”. he died in his Don Sutton McCollum has Former Roma winger Daniele time basis follow­ Rooney work hard at any club in Brazil. I’ve It is unclear if the allegations span sleep. suffered a hair­ Verde and Riccardo Saponara ing his spell as been able to play in other countries the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics A four­time line fracture in scored in extra time for Spezia, interim boss. four times and I’ve lived the experi­ where Rahimov took gold with a All­Star, Sutton had a career record his left foot. CJ McCollum which next plays Napoli. But the former Manchester Unit­ ences I had to live. Now I’m going to world­record lift in the men’s of 324­256 and an ERA of 3.26 while McCollum will The match changed two minutes ed and England striker was able to enjoy the family more and my little 77­kilogram class. Captari competed pitching for the Dodgers, Houston wear a walking into the extras when Roma defender celebrate a priceless three points aft­ daughters.” in the same event. Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oak­ boot and be evaluated in four weeks. Gianluca Mancini and goalkeeper er Krystian Bielik’s cool finish in the Vieira represented Gremio in 2017 Even at the time, Rahimov’s land Athletics, California Angels and McCollum was averaging a career­ Pau Lopez were sent off within 30 first half saw off promotion­chasing and 2018, netting nine times in 47 Olympic performance was doubted. the Dodgers again in 1988, his final best 26.7 points, as well as five seconds of each other, in separate Bournemouth at Pride Park. outings. He has also had spells with The bronze medalist in Rio, season. assists, per game when he was incidents. Derby moved above Rotherham, Atletico Mineiro, Cruzeiro and Fla­ Mohamed Mahmoud of Egypt, said The durable Sutton never missed injured on Saturday against the Mancini was dismissed following which was held to a 3­3 draw by mengo over a 14­year career. of his rival’s rapid improvement: “In a turn in the rotation in 756 big­ Atlanta Hawks. a second yellow card while Lopez Stoke, and the Rams are now two a very short time it cannot happen league starts. Only Cy Young and “I don’t want people to feel bad. received a straight red for clattering points above the bottom three. WEIGHTLIFTING like that.” Nolan Ryan made more starts than There’s a lot of people going through into Spezia forward Roberto Piccoli. “To get any win is great. Obviously Sutton, who never landed on the a lot worse situations than me,” he It was more misery for Roma, just Olympic champion I’ve not been looking at it like that (a charged in doping case BASEBALL injured list in his 23­year career. said Tuesday. “So I’ll be OK. I’ve a few days after an embarrassing 3­0 first victory) as I’ve been doing it a Hall of Fame pitcher A master of changing speeds and been through injuries before, some league loss to Lazio in the capital while but, yeah, I’m delighted,” Olympic pitch location, Sutton recorded just foot injuries that were more severe derby. Rooney said. weightlifting Sutton dies at 75 one 20­win season but earned 10 or that required surgery, some that champion Nijat Don Sutton, a Hall of Fame pitch­ more wins in every year except 1983 required not walking for months at Rooney gets first win as Vieira eyeing Gremio Rahimov has er who was a stalwart of the Los and 1988. Of his victories, 58 were a time. So I’ll be able to deal with permanent Derby boss been charged Angeles Dodgers’ rotation spanning shutouts, five were one­hitters and this accordingly.” return after Tokyo exit with swapping an era from Sandy Koufax to Fer­ 10 were two­hitters. The right­hand­ McCollum’s injury is the latest to Wayne Rooney earned his first Veteran forward Jael Vieira has his urine samples nando Valenzuela, died Tuesday. He er is seventh on the career strikeout befall the Blazers. Center Jusuf win as permanent Derby County expressed a preference to return to in a doping case Nijat was 75. list with 3,574. Nurkic fractured his wrist during a manager as the Rams beat Bourne­ his former club Gremio after parting that could Rahimov The Baseball Hall of Fame in game last week against the Indiana mouth 1­0 to climb out of the Cham­ ways with FC Tokyo. threaten his gold Cooperstown, New York, said Sutton XINHUA — AGENCIES Pacers and is out indefinitely. pionship relegation zone on The 32­year­old made just 22 medal. died at his home in Rancho Mirage,