27 Sports Sunday, January 6, 2019 Solari happy with Real progress despite Barcelona points gap Solari has won five out of seven Liga games MADRID: Real Madrid coach Santiago “Our objective is to keep on climbing the up a point at Villarreal, who are one of Solari is pleased with the progress they table but we know that we had a very diffi- Spain’s top clubs despite being embroiled have made despite the revival being punc- cult start, we have risen from ninth place to in a relegation battle this campaign. tured by Thursday’s 2-2 La Liga draw at fourth,” Solari told a news conference yes- “The players are not machines, and no Villarreal, emphasising the difficult situation terday. “We have to keep fighting and relish team plays as many games as we do and it’s he inherited when he took charge in the challenge of taking on difficult situa- difficult and the players keep showing com- October. tions, which is what we’ve been doing. We mitment,” he added. Madrid are seven points adrift of leaders are happy with how we are doing and we “This is a competition, every team plays Barcelona with 17 games played and are have to keep on reducing the gap between and we have one of the best leagues where fourth in the standings as they prepare to us and the leaders.” no side gives anything away. host Real Sociedad today. Solari has won five out of seven Liga “Every team have players with talent to While that may not be good enough for games since taking over from Lopetegui, harm any team, it’s a very competitive league a team that has won the last three who lost six of his 10 matches, and also and you shouldn’t underestimate a draw Champions League titles, Solari said they earned a first trophy as a coach by winning against a team like Villarreal. “We obviously had made big advances since he succeeded the Club World Cup in December. want to win, but the league is wide open. We Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked in The Argentine said Madrid’s critics had played well in the first half against Villarreal, VILA-REAL: Real Madrid’s Argentinian coach Santiago Solari appaluds during the October when Real were also seven points to take into account their unforgiving now we’re going to try and get three points Spanish League football match between Villarreal CF and Real Madrid CF at La behind Barca. schedule and there was no shame in picking on Sunday.” — Reuters Ceramica stadium in Vila-real on January 3, 2019. —AFP about my dad I can tell you that he is periods in hospital over the years, often come alcohol abuse problems. In recent Maradona out well,” Dalma wrote on twitter after due to the extravagant lifestyle that months he has walked with the aid of fears over her father’s health spread. helped make him one of the most crutches due to problems with his Matches on TV “He is going home soon.” The 58-year- admired and iconic footballers of the knees. The unexpected news of his (Local Timings) of hospital old was having a routine medical in his 20th century. admittance to hospital on Friday came homeland before returning to Mexico, He last fell ill at the 2018 World Cup just hours after Maradona’s lawyer con- SPANISH LEAGUE after internal where he is coach of second division in Russia, where he was filmed passing firmed he would coach in Mexico for a side Dorados de Sinaloa, when doctors out in an executive box at the second consecutive season. SD Eibar v Villarreal CF14:00 discovered the problem. Argentina-Nigeria game. Argentina won Maradona took over at struggling beIN SPORTS HD 3 bleeding scare However, a source close to the family 2-1 to reach the last 16, where they were Dorados de Sinaloa in September and Sevilla FC v Atletico de Madrid 18:15 told Reuters the problem was not seri- knocked out of the tournament by even- got them into the playoffs where they beIN SPORTS HD 3 ous and that the former Boca Juniors, tual winners France. Maradona was tak- lost to Atletico San Luis. “Diego Real Madrid CF v Real Sociedad 20:30 BUENOS AIRES: Argentine soccer Napoli and Barcelona midfielder, who en into hospital in 2004 with severe Maradona has arranged to continue beIN SPORTS HD 3 great Diego Maradona was released famously led his country to the 1986 heart and respiratory problems linked to with the Dorados de Sinaloa and will Getafe CF v FC Barcelona 22:45 from hospital after being admitted earli- World Cup title, was not in any danger. cocaine use. He later underwent drug stay as coach of the team for the beIN SPORTS HD 3 er on Friday with internal bleeding in Another source said Maradona, who rehabilitation in Cuba and Argentina whole season,” his agent Matias the stomach which was discovered dur- left the hospital without talking to the before a stomach-stapling operation in Morla wrote on twitter. The club said ing routine examinations, his daughter media, may have to undergo more tests. 2005 helped him lose weight. his assistant Jose Maria Martinez Dalma said. Friday’s scare was the latest for In 2007 he checked himself into a would lead the team until Maradona “For those who were really worried Maradona, who has suffered frequent clinic in Buenos Aires to help him over- returned. — Reuters Shooting activities continue at Solskjaer says he Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Heritage Village will be judged on style at Man Utd By Addellatif Sharaa KUWAIT: For the seventh year running, shooting activ- ities continued at Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Heritage MANCHESTER: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has sug- Village, where village visitors enjoyed being at the gested he will be judged on playing style rather shooting range over the past years, as tournaments are than trophies if he is to land the Manchester United being held there on Fridays for all visitors who register manager’s job on a full-time basis. Solskjaer, their names, and the first three winners will be awarded appointed as interim boss last month to replace the gold medals and financial prizes. sacked Jose Mourinho, has made clear that he Meanwhile, Secretary General of Kuwait and Arab would love to stay at Old Trafford beyond the end Shooting Federatiosn thanked the Amiri Diwan Affairs of this season, when his temporary arrangement is Minister Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, and Advisor set to expire. Mohammad Daifallah Sharar, Chairman of the Higher The former United striker, on a managerial loan Committee of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad heritage village from Norwegian club Molde, has not spoken to and all those officials of the village for their backing of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward about a the shooting range at the village. longer stay. However, he feels that the key to being Al-Osaimi said KSSC board of directors was keen seen as a success is to return to the attractive, on providing the technical and administrative staff in attacking football that the club played for much of order to present the best service for village visitors, as Alex Ferguson’s near 27-year reign as manager. specialized coaches are on hand. Ferguson won 38 trophies before retiring in 2013 Al-Osaimi said competitions will be held every but his United team were also renowned for their Friday starting at 1:00 pm and there will be three win- positive football, which many fans felt went missing ners in each competition. in the final year of Mourinho’s reign. Solskjaer, when Results of the first competition on Friday were won asked what would constitute success and improve by Mishal Mohammad, Rawan Al-Mutairi, Mohammad his chances of getting the job permanently, said: “If Sharaf. we get to the summer and people are talking about the way Manchester United are playing. “If the style we’re playing, it reminds us of Sir Alex’s team, if it reminds us of the successful times.” Solskjaer said he is keen to win trophies this season Syria take field in but suggested that the style, for now, was more important. Asian Cup with “It has to start with the way we play because results you cannot control,” he said. “You can con- trol how you approach the game and how you play. fans divided by war “And of course, it’s about trophies-if you can get to the final of the FA Cup and get a trophy. Let’s see in May if it’s a success or not.” DAMASCUS: Syria take the field this weekend for Solskjaer has won his first four matches at the their first international football tournament in eight helm, including a 2-0 victory at Newcastle on years of war, but not all fans are happy. The Qasioun Wednesday, and hopes to extend that run when Eagles take on Palestine today in their first game of the Championship strugglers Reading visit Old Trafford Asian Cup group stage, hoping to make up for the in the FA Cup yesterday. heartbreak of narrowly missing out on the World Cup However, he expects there to be setbacks as he finals in Russia last year. attempts to improve United’s Premier League posi- Their qualification has thrilled Syrians in govern- tion from sixth over the second half of the season. ment-held territory, but angered fans in rebel areas “When you win games of football, you’re happy,” he who accuse the national team of playing for a regime said.