22 Wednesday, February 7, 2018 SPORTS ‘close’ to Chelsea Ballon d’Or: Ronaldo thrashed

at Watford Neymar (file pic) London onaldo believes Neymar has “everything to be happy” at Paris Saint-Germain and told SFR Sport hisR fellow Brazilian is close to winning the Ballon d’Or. Since Neymar’s world-record €222 million transfer from Barcelona to PSG last summer, there have been reports in the French and Spanish media that have suggested the Brazil international has regretted the move. “I haven’t really spoken about it with him, but I think Gerard Deulofeu rolls home the third Watford he has everything here to be happy,” Ronaldo explained. goal on a night (Pic courtesy: theguardian) “He’s in a marvellous city. He’s in a team that plays very well, who’ve had a good start to the season. Perhaps he’s Watford Janmaat scored his own 2-1 win for Chelsea here last picked out inside the box. under a lot of pressure, but he’s used to it. I think this ntonio Conte’s future memorable effort to put season. That was the second Bakayoko was enduring project is incredible. as Chelsea boss was cast Watford back in front before game of a campaign which another dismal display in a “He has everything to be happy and you can see Ainto further doubt as his 10 Gerard Deulofeu, man of the ended in Premier League Chelsea shirt and was booked that on the pitch. When he plays in a relaxed manner, men were thrashed 4-1 by match on his home debut, and glory for the Blues but, like for bringing down Etienne happy, the results come. He pulls off great moves, scores Watford on Monday night. substitute Roberto Pereyra those goalscorers last August, Capoue inside the Chelsea beautiful goals. He gives joy to football.” The Blues, who lost 3-0 rounded off the win with Chelsea’s hopes of retaining half before Pedro hit a post on One of the reasons put forward for Neymar’s at home to Bournemouth breakaway goals to secure an their crown are gone. a rare Chelsea foray forward - willingness to leave Barca was his desire to step out of last week, were poor again emphatic win. Either of those strikers only to see a free-kick given the shadow of and become the star of his at Vicarage Road and had Conte had called on would have had a chance of for handball against Victor club. The Brazilian has scored 18 league goals this season Tiemoue Bakayoko sent off Chelsea’s hierarchy to playing here as Conte once Moses in the build-up. and has assisted on another 11. (Espn) inside half an hour. “prepare a statement...to say again deployed Hazard as Troy Deeney scored a they trust me in my work’’ Chelsea’s main attacking The challenge became penalty in the closing stages of ahead of the game but it was option with new signing harder for Conte and his the first half but Chelsea stayed another dismal evening for Olivier Giroud warming the players when Bakayoko’s Koeman named in the contest and equalised the defending champions, bench. evening came to an abrupt through a magnificent Eden who are now 19 points adrift Deulofeu was lively in the end as a second yellow card Hazard goal. of leaders Manchester City. early exchanges and sent a for a crude foul on Richarlison Netherlands manager The visitors were not level Michy Batshuayi and Diego shot into Thibaut Courtois’ saw him dismissed by referee for long, however, as Daryl Costa scored the goals in a side-netting after being Mike Dean. (PA Sport) Laxalt gives Genoa late winner London iego Laxalt snatched a last-gasp victory for Genoa as Lazio fell further away from the title race with a 2-1 Ronald Koeman Ddefeat at the Stadio Olimpico. Goran Pandev silenced the home fans after 55 minutes when he finished off a London flowing counter-attack, but ’s men were ormer Everton manager Ronald Koeman has been level moments later through captain Marco Parolo. appointed as manager of the Netherlands. Laxalt thought he had put Genoa ahead when he FKoeman, who has been out of work since being sacked pounced on a Martin Caceres mistake after a long ball by Everton in October, will take charge for the first time from goalkeeper Mattia Perin with eight minutes left, only against England on 23 March. for the Video Assistant Referee to chalk off the goal for a He has signed a four-and-half-year contract up to and harsh handball call. including the 2022 World Cup. However, the home defence could not stop the The 54-year-old replaces Dick Advocaat who resigned Uruguayan from scoring his second goal of the after failing to guide the Netherlands to the 2018 World season in the second minute of stoppage time as he Cup. powered home Oscar Hiljemark’s right-wing cross. “I’m really positive about the future of the team. We Lazio pressed from the onset with Luis Alberto testing have enough talent but we have to change some things, Perin from long range and Parolo heading wide, while which I will talk about at a later stage,” Koeman said at Hiljemark blazed over the crossbar with an effort from a news conference. the edge of the penalty area in a tepid first half. Despite the A legend with the Netherlands national team, Koeman home side’s dominance and possession, Biancocelesti fell Genoa’s Diego Laxalt (L) was capped 78 times as a player and won the European behind when Stefan de Vrij failed to deal with a Hiljemark competes with Lazio’s Marco Championship in 1988. (BBC) pass in the area following a lightning break before former Parolo (Pic courtesy: Xinhua) forward Pandev calmly slotted home. (PA Sport)