THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2016 SPORTS Fans everywhere embrace Leicester’s title success LEICESTER: The partisanship that usually tion. Premier League chairman Richard defines soccer in England seemed to be tem- Scudamore said he has seen fans globally porarily set aside as Leicester City’s players “turning onto the Leicester phenomenon.” were acclaimed as the People’s Champions. “Ultimately if people are winning, people latch The unlikely run to the Premier League title onto them,” Scudamore told the BBC. has been embraced also by football fans around the world who followed the remark- Acclaimed in Italy able transformation of little Leicester from rel- Ranieri is a hero at home in Italy after engi- egation candidate to champion. neering Leicester’s glory within a year of tak- ing the job, his first topflight title in manage- Thai connections ment. Above an image of Ranieri depicted as Leicester was a second-tier club when it the Roman emperor Claudius, Tuesday’s front was bought in 2010 by the King Power duty page of the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper free company, which is owned by Thai billion- read: “King Claudio.” Matteo Renzi, the Italian aire Vichai Srivaddhanaprbha. The Bangkok premier, said Leicester’s title showed “fairytales headquarters of King Power staged a screen- simply come true.” “For those who followed Mr. ing of Sunday’s draw with Manchester United, Ranieri all season, saying every Sunday with attracting about 1,000 supporters. The trophy less and less belief, ‘It’s impossible,’ today is a was eventually clinched late Monday by sec- day for the history books,” Renzi said. ond-place Tottenham’s draw at Chelsea, giv- ing Leicester an insurmountable seven-point Backing in Britain lead in the premiership. When the Premier Leicester’s victory is a rare domestic soccer League trophy is presented to Leicester this success that seemed to spark affection rather weekend, it will be decorated with ribbons in than the usual acrimony. Twitter reported an the blue of Leicester and the yellow of 86 percent spike in usual activity in Britain as Thailand’s royal house. Leicester clinched the title. Prime Minister David Cameron acclaimed an “extraordinary, Leicester on the map thoroughly deserved” first top-flight title for The highest Leicester had finished in the the 132-year-old club. Even London-based English top flight before winning the title this Jose Mourinho was joining in the celebrations. week was second in 1929. And few people Mourinho was fired by Chelsea in December beyond England paid much attention to the directly after his championship-winning team Foxes until this season. “All the people around lost to Leicester. “I lost my title to Claudio the world are asking for Leicester,” celebrated Ranieri and it is with incredible emotion that I manager Claudio Ranieri said Tuesday. “The live this magic moment in his career,” said BANGKOK: Chief monk at the Wat Traimitr Withayaram temple Phra Prommangkalachan prays in a room with Leicester City memorabilia second team in Italy is Leicester, in Thailand Mourinho, who replaced Ranieri as Chelsea in Bangkok, Thailand. The Buddhist temple has turned overnight into a venerated site for Leicester City’s fans, at least in Thailand. After the first team is Leicester,” the 64-year-old manager 12 years ago for his first stint in all, it was Prommangkalachan, who some months ago had predicted that the team, which was a 5,000-1 outsider at the start of the sea- Italian added. “I’ve received letters from charge. Chelsea captain John Terry, who son, will win the English Premier League title. — AP Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, everywhere (saying) played under Ranieri at Stamford Bridge, ‘Leicester, Leicester, what a legend.’” The wrote on Instagram that he is a “real gentle- Leicester’s King Power Stadium on Monday dozens of photos from last night with thou- Monday, fan Mark Selby was winning his Premier League has discovered it doesn’t man and a top manager.” night to celebrate the title win. “I woke up sands of people celebrating and realized it own a world title - in snooker. “I don’t know require the elite of Manchester United, this morning and had to check my phone wasn’t a dream and it was like I felt that feel- what’s more of a shock,” Selby said. “Me win- Chelsea and Arsenal to be involved in the title Leicester celebrates because I thought I was dreaming,” said ing of us being champions again.” As ning the title twice or Leicester becoming race for the competition to have global atten- Thousands of fans descended on Harry Phillips, a 21-year-old student. “I saw Leicester secured the championship on the champions.”— AP

Hazard rediscovers Guardiola rues another passion for football LONDON: Chelsea’s Belgium forward gave my maximum,” Hazard told Chelsea’s Champions League exit Eden Hazard said he had recovered his website (www.chelseafc.com). “It’s been a MUNICH: Pep Guardiola views his can say what they want, but it was passion for the game after scoring a stun- complicated season for Chelsea and for three-year reign at Bayern Munich as really an honor to work with these ning equalizer to end Tottenham me. It hasn’t been like last season but we a failure having again failed to steer players.” Bayern can become the first Hotspur’s Premier League title hopes on have three matches left and we want to the Bavarians to the Champions team to win four consecutive German Monday. The 25-year-old came on at half- finish well by winning all three.” League final. But the Spaniard insist- league titles if they beat Ingolstadt on time in the ill-tempered derby and The Belgian, who will be in action at ed after the Bavarian giants went out Saturday and then face Borussia showed a glimpse of the form that made Euro 2016 which starts next month, said to Atletico Madrid on away goals that Dortmund in the German Cup final him England’s Player of the Year last sea- the intense derby atmosphere against he has “given his life” to Bayern whom on May 21. But Guardiola, who will son when he curled a Diego Costa pass Spurs helped inspire him to produce his he will leave at the end of the season coach Manchester City next season, into the top corner to ensure Leicester best display of the season. “I like matches for Manchester City. Bayern lost the says the chance to win the double City were champions. like that when they’re very hard and there semi-final first leg 1-0 in Spain, and does not make up for the disappoint- Hazard, who played a key role in is so much rivalry between the two went out on away goals despite beat- ment of another semi-final exit. Chelsea’s title-winning campaign last teams. It allows me to find my best form. ing Atletico 2-1 in return match in term, has endured a disappointing sea- It’s football at its best,” he added. Chelsea Munich on Tuesday. Atletico ‘deserve’ final son, with injuries and poor form restrict- are ninth on 48 points and visit Antoine Griezmann’s crucial goal He hopes his replacement, Carlo ing him to three league goals. “Recently, I Sunderland and Liverpool before finish- for Atletico made the difference as Ancelotti, can now win the European have rediscovered the pleasure to play. ing the season at home to champions the tie finished 2-2 on aggregate. title next season with Bayern. “Of When you’re injured it’s hard to get that Leicester, managed by their former coach Xabi Alonso and Robert course we want to win the German pleasure back. I played 45 minutes and I Claudio Ranieri. — Reuters Lewandowski netted for Bayern on a Cup, we also want to win the league, night when both teams missed but it won’t change my opinion of my penalties in Munich. Bayern again time here by winning the cup,” said Bayern Munich’s coach Pep Guardiola exited the semi-finals in Europe to Guardiola. “Titles are numbers, statis- Spanish opponents after losing to tics are statistics. “I wanted to reach feeling we let the fans down. “We Mueller was left to rue the chances Barcelona in 2015 and were also the (Champions League) final, I prepared well, but Atletico deserve to that got away. dumped out of the last four by Real haven’t managed it, I hope Carlo can reach the final.” “Football is sometimes so extreme,” Madrid in 2014. Guardiola was asked do it next season. “We haven’t man- said the 26-year-old. “We did a lot if he viewed his time in Munich as a aged it, we’re sad, but we have to ‘Bitter result’ right and only a few things wrong, failure despite winning five trophies prepare for the league game at Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said unfortunately it wasn’t enough. “I so far, including two German league Ingolstadt.” Guardiola said he had no the squad regretted failing to reach haven’t experienced many nights like titles. “Yes, in terms of what we have regrets in his team selection having the European final in Guardiola’s this here, the sting goes very deep. won,” he replied. recalled Thomas Mueller, Franck swansong season. “The team isn’t to “Of course, I am disappointed not to “It was my goal to win the Ribery and Jerome Boateng in three blame, we tried everything, but have converted the penalty.” Goal- Champions League final with Bayern changes from the side which lost the unfortunately it wasn’t enough,” said scorer Robert Lewandowski admitted after doing it with Barcelona (in 2009 first leg. “You are disappointed when Lahm. “We failed to get the goals at it was hard to bow out having won in and 2011). “Perhaps we have helped you don’t play well. When you go the right time. “It’s a bitter result that Munich. “It’s hard to accept, because the players, maybe it’s not enough, home feeling you have not given all. we haven’t been able to reward our- we had deserved the win,” said but it was the important thing for me. Today I don’t feel like that,” he said. selves and the coaching staff for the Lewandowski after Bayern failed to “I’ve given my life for this club, I’ve “We just didn’t achieve our goals. “We work over the last three years.” score a crucial third goal. “To go out fought and done my best, the people tried our best, but I don’t have the Having missed his first-half penalty, like that hurts.”— AFP LEICESTER: Leicester City’s football player Jamie Vardy is pictured in the chocolate on a ‘Vardiccino’ coffee at the Bru coffee shop in central Leicester, eastern England. — AFP Methodology behind Leicester: Ranieri is the ‘King of The Ranieri winning blueprint LEICESTER: Claudio Ranieri is still struggling gained the first lengthy insight into a team to comprehend how he managed to trans- that won six out of its last eight games form Leicester from 5,000-1 outsiders to under Pearson to stay in the Premier England’, says mum Premier League champions. “You have to League. “I said to them ... ‘It is difficult to MILAN: Claudio Ranieri’s triumph with Leicester City England and he’s getting compliments from all “Tinkerman”. Ranieri’s achievements with Leicester leave a little more (time) and taste slowly, understand 25 people. It is important you in England has more than made amends for being around the world.” have resonated around the world, especially in his slowly like a good wine. Savor it,” Ranieri understand only me. If we link very well we sacked by Roma, according to the Italian’s 96-year- Ranieri went to Rome to have lunch with his eld- native Italy. Sacked by Juventus before the end of said. “Maybe now is too early to think what can do something good,’” Ranieri recalled. old mother. “I’m sorry about how it finished for him erly mother on the day Leicester clinched their his- the season in 2009, Ranieri was appointed Roma we have done. Maybe in one or two years it Still, there were concerns about Ranieri’s at Roma: we’ve always been a big Roma-supporting toric Premier League title when Tottenham failed to coach months later after Luciano Spalletti quit after could be better to understand.” But for a half plans, including fears there would be two family,” Renata Ranieri told La Repubblica newspaper beat his former club Chelsea on Monday. It was only two opening defeats. It looked a dream appointment hour Tuesday, the genial manager did set training sessions a day. “Don’t worry, I want on Wednesday. “He took over (at Roma) when the two hours, but it gave her 64-year-old son “time to for the man who grew up supporting Roma while out in detail the blueprint behind this to continue with your style and I will add my season had already started. He didn’t earn the relax” and reflect on an unforgettable season at the working as a butcher’s boy before embarking on a improbable path to glory. Highlighting the knowledge,” Ranieri recalled telling the respect of his own city... and I’m disappointed it fin- tail end of what has been a storied, and not always modest playing career. But despite Roma going 24 team ethic, there is little self-aggrandize- squad. “Then I will change slowly with my ished like that for him. “But now, he’s the king of successful, career for the coach known as the games unbeaten, Ranieri’s popularity plummeted ment from the 64-year-old Italian who has ideas.” when they lost the title and the Italian Cup final to broken up the established order of English Jose Mourinho’s treble-winning Inter Milan. After a football. This is the methodology. Tweaking tactics 1-0 Cup final defeat to Inter, Mourinho mocked Ranieri decided in pre-season that a 4-4- Ranieri for showing his players the ‘Gladiator’ film in a Ridiculed appointment 2 formation best suited the team better bid to inspire them to victory. The first obstacle at Leicester was win- than Pearson’s 3-4-1-2. “Because a lot of Defeat to Inter in the Italian Super Cup final the ning over the doubters after his surprise hir- teams play with 4-3-3 if you play three at the following season preceded a negative series of ing in July. “Claudio Ranieri? Really?” tweet- back you end up with three against one and results and Ranieri quit Roma in February 2011. Five ed former Leicester striker Gary Lineker. I don’t like that so much,” Ranieri said. While years after the bittersweet experience, Ranieri’s Leicester had only just survived a scrape having the poor possession statistics, the coaching acumen is now being applauded around with relegation and yet gambled by replac- speed of Leicester on the break has unset- the world. “I started crying at the end of game,” his ing the fired Nigel Pearson with a manager tled opponents. “I watched (winger Riyad) mother said of Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham. who was humiliatingly dismissed from his Mahrez during last season and every time Although Ranieri was scheduled to be flying while previous job with Greece after losing to the he made a difference he was on the right Monday’s Premier League game was underway, the Faeroe Islands. “What can you do when you side and he cut inside,” Ranieri said. Italian reportedly watched the game live after train three days before a match?” Ranieri “Then I knew very well (Marc) Albrighton Leicester president Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha laid on recalled of his ill-fated, short spell as a could make a lot of crosses on the right but I a private flight. national team coach. “I have to get into the had to choose between him and Albrighton. “I only heard from Claudio later on because I was brain of the players slowly to understand, to Then I changed and I put Albrighton on the busy taking calls from grandsons and cousins. He bring them the same philosophy and go left and Riyad Mahrez on the right so they was very happy, like everyone was: now we can all together.” can come inside.” Speed on the counterat- relax,” added Renata. Defying odds of 5,000-1 to pre- At Leicester he would have time to tack was another asset, he said. “So I told vail ahead of England’s glamour clubs in a way that achieve just that in his second stint in the them we are like the RAF (Royal Air Force). turned Leicester’s unheralded players into household Premier League. Ranieri lost his job at We are so fast and they believed in this ... names, even Ranieri’s mother had doubts.”I didn’t Chelsea after failing to deliver the Premier when we were losing 2-0, (drawing) 2-2 ... LEICESTER: Leicester City’s manager Claudio Ranieri (centre) controls the ball during a train- expect him to win, but the players he had under him League title 12 years earlier, but just avoid- man that generates a lot of enthusiasm and ing session at Leicester’s training ground in Leicester England. Leicester clinched the most are all good lads. It wasn’t a little team he was in ing relegation was the Leicester objective. confidence (to win) and everything started improbable title of the Premier League era when second-place Tottenham was held to a 2-2 charge of, but they trained like true professionals,” On a pre-season trip to Austria, Ranieri to go better and better and better.” — AP draw at Chelsea on Monday night. — AP she said. — AFP