11 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 sports City clash will be good barometer of Everton’s progress: Ancelotti Sharapova accepts AFP | London anchester City will pro- Mvide a test of see how genuine Everton’s revival is, Carlo Ancelotti yesterday, despite the Premier League Brisbane wildcard champions’ shaky campaign. Everton coach Ancelotti, 60, has guided Everton to two Maria Sharapova to return next month as Brisbane wildcard wins in his first two matches in charge since replacing Marco Reuters | Sydney yesterday. “To be fair when I was young- Silva, who was sacked in early “There were a lot of ups and er I never saw myself playing December after they slipped ormer world number one downs, there were times when past 30,” she added. into the bottom three. Maria Sharapova will re- I was ready but the shoulder “But I still feel there is a lot There were a lot of However, Ancelotti -- one of Fturn to tournament action wasn’t. But I have had a fairly in me to give. I still have a lot of ups and downs, there only three managers to have at the Brisbane International good off season and I am mo- fire in me and I am big compet- were times when I won the Champions League next month after being awarded tivated to compete. At this itor. As long as the shoul- was ready but the three times -- says City will Carlo Ancelotti reacts during a match a wildcard to play in the Austral- point in my career when der stays healthy and my shoulder wasn’t. But I provide a more realistic ba- (file photo) ian Open warm-up. I have that feeling, it’s a body allows me to, I hope rometer on where Everton The 32-year-old Russian, good sign.” there is a lot of time left have had a fairly good stand despite the welcome defence of the league title has who last played a competitive Sharapova has been for me.” off season and I am wins over Burnley and New- gone awry and trail leaders match in the first round of the troubled by shoulder Sharapova’s lowly rank- motivated to compete. castle. Liverpool by 14 points. US Open in August, has dropped problems throughout her ing means she will also At this point in my “Against City this is a fantas- “Maybe City aren’t at the to 133rd in the world after career and the need a wildcard to career when I have tic test to see where we are at,” same level as last year but they a season in which a current issue get directly into that feeling, it’s a good Ancelotti said at his pre-match still remain a fantastic team long-standing shoul- required the main sin - sign press conference. with fantastic players and a der injury restricted her surgery gles draw “They are a really strong fantastic manager,” he said. to eight tournaments. ear- for this MARIA SHARAPOVA team but we can have confi- “It will be really tough to The five-times Grand Slam year’s dence to do our best. compete with them, but we champion will join current l y Austral- shoulder holds up, but I am defi- “I think at this moment it is need to have the confidence to world number one Ash Bar - last ian Open, nitely up for that test,” she said. good to have this kind of test.” compete and to be focused on ty, Naomi Osaka and Karolina year with which begins Sharapova won her third ma- Ancelotti, who in his previ- our football. Pliskova in a strong field at the lingering on Jan. 20. jor title at Melbourne Park in ous stint in England won the “We don’t have to look too Queensland Tennis Centre from problems “While it is 2008 but also tested positive domestic double with Chel- much to the opponent because Jan. 6-12. hampering about results for for a banned substance at the sea in the 2009/10 campaign, they are really strong so it’s “It’s a fresh start after a tough her through- me, it is more about tournament in 2016 and served said City remained a formi- better to be focused on our last season,” Sharapova told out the 2019 how I feel day to day, a 15-month suspension from dable opponent even if their idea of football.” Australian Associated Press season. making sure my the game. Maria Sharapova Ibrahimovic set for AC Milan Rooney gets starting nod from Derby boss AFP | London On Monday, teen- a man down after Krystian Bie- age midfielder Ja- lik was sent off for a crude chal- presentation on January 3 ngland’s record goalscorer son Knight scored lenge on Conor Gallagher. EWayne Rooney will make his first goals in Knight put Derby ahead in AFP | Milan with Milan, seven years after his debut for second-tier Derby professional foot- the 10th minute at Pride Park he left for Paris Saint-Germain. against Barnsley on Thurs- ball to give Der- when he forced the ball in at the wedish star Zlatan Ibrahi- He played for the Rossoneri day, the club’s manag- by the three back post only for Bielik to see Smovic will be officially pre- from 2010-2012 scoring 56 goals er Phillip Cocu con- points, end- red soon afterwards. sented as an AC Milan player in 85 appearances and helped firmed. ing a run But 10-man Derby still dou- on January 3, the Italian club the club win their 18th and last KNOW WHAT Rooney, 34, joined of seven bled their lead 13 minutes from confirmed on Monday. league title in 2011. Derby as a play - games time when Knight scored his Ibrahimovic returns to the One of the most suc- er-coach from MLS without second following a cross from side on a six-month deal, cessful clubs in the side DC United a win. Max Bird. promising to help rescue the world, AC Milan are Ibrahimovic left Los but has been in- Victo- Charlton ensured a nervous struggling Serie A outfit’s 11th in the table just Angeles Galaxy last eligible to play for ry came finish for the home side when season. seven points above month after a two- his new side until despite the south London club pulled The 38-year-old will relegation. January. the a goal back seven minutes from undergo his med- “I’m com- year stay having “If a player with Rams time thanks to Lyle Taylor’s ical on Thurs- ing back to a scored 52 goals in the qualities, career playing successful penalty, awarded af- day, January 2 club I huge- 56 games and the experience of most of ter Curtis Davies brought down and will hold ly respect Rooney (is available) the match Gallagher in the box. his first press and to the you have to be very conference city of happy and glad he is the follow- Milan here,” said Cocu af- Wayne Rooney CLASSIFIEDS ing day. I love,” ter Monday’s 2-1 home “AC Mi- the Galaxy last month after a two- win over Charlton in the Cham- lan an - for- year stay having scored 52 goals pionship. nounces mer in 56 games, allowing to sign “He’s fit, he can start but he that Zla- Swe- with another side for free. will need a few games. Expecta- tan Ibra- den forward He had previously won three tion will be high when he starts himovic’s said after the an- league titles with Inter Milan, playing but we have to give him press con- nouncement of and two with Juventus, which a few games to build up his min- ference i s his return. were revoked following the utes and get in the team. scheduled for Fri- “I’ll fight to - match-fixing scandal. “So maybe not perfect from day January 3rd at gether with my Milan’s first game after the the start but it’s important he Casa Milan at 10 am.” teammates to winter break will be at home will get in the team as soon as (0900GMT),” they said in change the course against Sampdoria on January possible so we get a certain a statement. of this season. I 6. shape in our team.” The six-month deal is re- will do everything Ibrahimovic started his ca- Rooney’s debut can’t come th ported to be worth around to make it happen.” reer at Malmo in his native soon enough for Derby. 17 January, 2020 3.5 million euros ($3.9 mil- Milan have come Sweden. Their win on Monday moved lion) plus bonuses, with up short in their at - He went on to play for Ajax, them into 17th place in English the option of a further tacking options with Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, football’s second-tier. year. just 16 goals in 17 games Milan, PSG and Manchester However, they are still nine It will mark the so far this term. United, winning trophies with points shy of the play-off spots Please Call / WhatsApp: +973 38862215, 33784481, 33911860 Swede’s sec- Ibrahimovic all these clubs but never the and 21 behind the two automat- ond stint left Los Angeles Champions League. ic promotion places. Zlatan Ibrahimovic.