Established 1961 15 Sports Monday, March 19, 2018 Late Alves goal sends PSG to massive 17 points clear Two teams provided a lively spectacle NICE: With Paris Saint-Germain struggling to find Monaco. Allan Saint-Maximin gave the home team the inspiration, veteran defender Dani Alves did a surpris- lead after 17 minutes with a deft finish which was just ing impersonation of injured compatriot Neymar to the fifth touch of a breathtaking move that began on the score the winner in Nice yesterday. Nice goal line. Angel di Maria quickly replied, speeding With eight minutes left and after better-known through a suddenly uncertain Nice defence and swerv- attacking talents had squandered a string of chances, ing in a shot that squirmed past Walter Benitez. Alves, who is just 1.72 In the absence of metres (5-foot-6) ghost- Neymar, the two best ed into the centre for- known strikers on dis- ward position and out- play almost gave the leaped the defence to Chinese prime-time head in a cross from Two best audience goals to cheer. Adrien Rabiot to seal a Edinson Cavani of PSG 2-1 victory.“After the strikers hit a post from close defeat against Real range in the first half Madrid (in the on display after hesitation in the Champions League), we Nice defence. Mario have reacted very well. Balotelli forced a flying I’m pleased to see how save from PSG keeper the team has responded Alphonse Areola and lat- after that loss,” PSG er hit the bar with a coach Unai Emery said. “We were lacking that little header. Saint-Maximin’s pace repeatedly troubled PSG, something to forget the defeat. Perhaps a tiny element but he was unable to repeat his cool finish, though he of it will never leave. But we’ve won against Metz, came close with one shot that clipped the knee of the Angers, and now here and I like that.” A rare Sunday sprawling Areola. At the other end, Di Maria forced a lunchtime (1200 GMT) kick-off was part of the devel- full-stretch save from Benitez with a daring volleyed oping French league strategy of emulating more suc- back flick. Kylian Mbappe, who seemed out of touch, cesful European leagues and targeting Chinese viewers. wasted a glorious close-range chance with 12 minutes NICE: Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian defender Daniel Alves (Bottom R) shoots on goal as (From L) Nice’s French The two teams provided a lively spectacle which left. Alves also forced a leaping save from Benitez with defender Malang Sarr, Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani, Nice’s French defender Maxime Le ended with PSG stretching their lead to 17 points over a bold overhead kick. — AFP Marchand and Nice’s Argentinian goalkeeper Walter Benitez look on during the French L1 football match. —AFP play, who want the responsibility to have ‘No personality, the ball, who have the desire really to play-it is difficult to have a good per- formance “So I am not happy with the Salah can pass no class’ as performance all all. But I am happy with the result.” Mourinho England full-back Luke Shaw was the Messi and be one player named by Mourinho as having failed to follow his game plan and was, blasts Man Utd accordingly, substituted at half-time. best in world, That made Shaw an obvious target for Mourinho to be questioned about insists Klopp MANCHESTER: Jose Mourinho although the United manager clearly had launched an astonishing verbal tirade other players in mind when issuing his against his Manchester United players widespread critique. “I wanted more per- LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp after they reached the FA Cup semi- sonality in the team because many, many believes comparisons between Mohamed Salah and finals, accusing them of “a lack of per- times I felt that Matic was an island of Barcelona’s five-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi sonality, lack of class and lack of desire.” personality, desire and control surround- are premature, but that the Egyptian is on his way to Just 24 hours after the United manag- ed by lack of personality, lack of class one day becoming the best player in the world. er had made a memorable defence of his and lack of desire. Salah’s stunning season continued with a four-goal own record in the pre-match press con- “I have to say that for example haul in a 5-0 thrashing of Watford at Anfield to take Jose Mourinho his tally for the season to 36 on Saturday-the most ference, Mourinho turned his attention to McTominay lost more passes today in all goals ever scored by a Liverpool player in their debut his players after a comfortable 2-0 quar- the matches he played put together but lose?” he said. “And the ones that are Mourinho, whose only hope of a tro- year at the club. ter-final victory over Brighton. Only he was a Manchester United player. Messi showed why he is still widely considered the Nemanja Matic, who set up the opening “And for me a Manchester United player always there are the ones that will phy this season is the FA Cup, warmed always be there. And that is an example to his theme. He said that some of his big world’s best by scoring his 100th Champions League goal for Romelu Lukaku before scoring a is one who when he plays badly still gives goal in tearing Chelsea apart in a 3-0 win on of personality. name stars are simply scared of the job late second himself, and youngster Scott to the team. That is a question of person- Wednesday. But Klopp believes Salah, 25, has time on McTominay were spared massive criti- ality, that is a Manchester United player “You have the kid that didn’t play well in hand at Old Trafford. “A few of the his side to succeed Messi and Real Madrid rival cism. And after Mourinho claimed he was for me. And that is what some of the oth- at all (McTominay). I told him already, he guys, I saw them scared to play. You Cristiano Ronaldo, both now in their thirties, as the looking for a response to the midweek ers did not have.” Mourinho had hinted was the first one I spoke to individually know when the sun is shining-and in world’s best player. “I think Mo is on the way (to Champions League exit to Sevilla, the before the game that many of his stars in the dressing room. “And instead of football the sun is shining when every- being the best in the world),” said Klopp. “I don’t Portuguese veteran even claimed some of are currently under-performing and, being critical with him, I was positive thing goes well, you win matches, you think Mo or anybody else wants to be compared with his players lacked the personality and tellingly, Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez with him because ‘You played very bad score goals, everything goes in your Lionel Messi. He is the one who is doing what he’s desire to play for the famous Premier were both left out of his starting line-up. but you did the basic things that one direction-every player is a good player doing for what feels like 20 years or so.” League club. player has to do.’ “The basic things is to and every player wants to play and And Klopp challenged Salah to maintain the stan- “I didn’t like the game,” said ‘SCARED TO PLAY’ keep the emotional balance to play with every player wants the ball and every dards he has set this season in the manner Messi and Mourinho. “I think we deserved to win But the United manager’s response to that red shirt, which is a heavy shirt to player is confident to play and every Ronaldo have for the past decade. “As it always is in but I didn’t have the reaction from all of what was, after all, a comfortable victory wear. And the kid, in his worst perform- player looks amazing. life, if you have the skills, you have to show that con- them. “I had the reaction from some of was an astonishing psychological tactic ance by far, he was there and he had “When it is dark and cold, and that in stantly, and consistently he is very good and he helps them. Some of them were mentally strong that may, ultimately, backfire-a point that body to wear that shirt. “He was not football means a period of bad results or us a lot.” Salah even defied the slippery conditions of enough with the football quality to play- Mourinho accepted when asked why he afraid to play. He played bad, and every a bad result like what happened to us a a snow storm as he weaved his way past Jose Holebas to slot home the opener after just four minutes. that was the reason we won. “But a team had made such a calculated outburst. player can play bad. “But to feel not couple of days ago, not everybody has “Conditions were difficult. It was obviously slip- of 11, when you have a minimum of six or “My calculation is that without pres- comfortable to play - ‘Please Mister, take the confidence and the personality to me from the pitch.’ I felt that.” play really.” — AFP pery and everybody suffered, but not Mo in that situ- seven players performing and wanting to sure, they don’t perform well.