TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017 SPORTS Chelsea masterclass gives Jose his mojo back LONDON: As Manchester United man- said former Tottenham Hotspur mid- Diego Costa with not even scraps to counter-attack. When they had the ball, over one of the other teams in the top six, ager Jose Mourinho sauntered down the fielder Jermaine Jenas, now a BBC pun- feed on. Marcus Rashford, meanwhile, we were compact and when they tried following November’s 1-0 success against Old Trafford touchline ostentatiously dit. “Mourinho has masterminded plenty seized a rare chance to shine at centre- to play counter-attack, we were always an off-color Spurs. pointing at the club crest on his gilet, of wins in big games down the years, forward by netting United’s seventh- in control of these two link positions.” But as the fruit of a carefully cus- the message was clear: I’m still the man. but he usually does it with a defensive minute opener and tormenting Rashford’s display suggested he tomized game plan designed to nullify Mourinho has had a challenging first approach and by setting up with a team Chelsea’s back three with his penetrative deserves to be given more chances the specific threats of a particular oppo- season at the United helm, with nine that, first and foremost, is very difficult running. Mourinho explained how he through the centre, where United’s top nent, it did not represent a blueprint for home draws in the league summing up to break down. “On Sunday, he flipped had shut Chelsea down with relish and scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic-rested on future success. “(Mourinho) got his tac- his difficulties, but Sunday’s 2-0 win over that model on its head. United played claimed his side would not have lost at Sunday-has started almost every game tics spot on and enjoyed a bit of luck, leaders Chelsea was a tactical master- with two up front and with wing-backs Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup last this season. but I don’t see that as a template,” class. In fielding an unorthodox 3-5-2 who were high up the pitch. They were month had Herrera’s dismissal there not “I think (Mourinho) has learnt some- Souness said. “Man United have to domi- system and charging two players with on the front foot and went at Chelsea disrupted his plans. thing,” former Liverpool captain Graeme nate the ball here. They have to be on man-marking jobs, Mourinho showed from the start.” Souness said on Sky Sports. “Rashford has the front foot and get everyone in the his famed tactical acumen has not The belligerent Ander Herrera was Not a template made it difficult for him to leave him out.” stadium on the edge of their seat, like deserted him-and blew the Premier the emblem of United’s victory, marking “I was convinced even before the cup As well as restricting Chelsea’s lead over they have done for the best part of 20 League title race wide open. Chelsea’s key man Eden Hazard out of (game) that controlling the two players Tottenham to four points, United’s win years. “I don’t think they could go and “United produced a brilliant attack- the game and claiming a goal and an that play behind Diego (Costa) and con- took them to within four points of the play like that every week against lesser ing display as well as a convincing assist at the other end. On the other trolling the full-backs would create lots Champions League places with a game in teams who will sit in and not try and defensive one that was tactically aware flank, Matteo Darmian successfully of problems and I repeat the same,” hand on fourth-place Manchester City. It open up against them.” For now, at least, of the different threats Chelsea posed,” stymied Pedro, leaving Chelsea striker Mourinho said. “They are phenomenal in was only United’s second win this season Mourinho has got his mojo back.—AFP SOCCER News China firm scraps deal to In brief buy Southampton stake SHANGHAI: China stadium builder Lander million) investment had been ongoing for Sports Development said yesterday it had months. Premier League Manchester City scrapped plans to buy a stake in English and West Bromwich Albion have received football club Southampton, blaming investment from China, while second-tier unspecified “policy” changes amid a Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers Chinese government clampdown on over- have Chinese owners. Chinese enterprises seas investments. The acquisition would also have taken significant stakes in clubs have made Southampton, currently ninth in Italy, Spain and elsewhere, after the gov- in the Premier League, the latest top-flight ernment in recent years encouraged com- English club to gain Chinese investment. panies to make overseas investments. But it In a statement, Lander Sports implied it has sharply reversed course lately amid was having difficulties completing neces- concerns over capital flight, a slumping sary procedures for the investments, Chinese currency, and slowing economic including a corresponding asset restructur- growth at home. The government began ing at Lander Sports. “Based on the princi- last year to roll out new restrictions to curb ple of prudence, the company has decided the outflow of money into “irrational” to terminate this major asset restructuring investments. in order to maintain normal development As a result, outbound investment has of the firm’s business and safeguard the plunged so far this year. A $1 billion bid by interest of all investors,” said the statement. China’s Wanda Group to buy the US opera- The statement was submitted to the tor of the Golden Globe awards was abort- stock market in the southern Chinese city ed, the US firm’s parent said last year, amid of Shenzhen, where Lander Sports is listed. reports that the Chinese investment clamp- Lander Sports’ shares, which were suspend- down was to blame. However, the clamp- ed since October as talks with down did not prevent Serie A giants AC Southampton were under way, resumed Milan being sold to Rossoneri Sport trading Monday and tumbled the maxi- Investment Lux last week in a deal which John Terry BARCELONA: This combination of file pictures created on April 16, 2017 shows mum 10 percent allowed by Chinese stock saw the Chinese-led consortium take a 99.9 Juventus’ coach Massimiliano Allegri (L) gesturing during the UEFA Champions regulators. Based in eastern China’s percent stake in the famous Italian club. League football match Juventus vs Olympique Lyonnais on November 2, 2016 at the Zhejiang province, the company said it had Under football fan president Xi Jinping, Terry to leave Chelsea LONDON: Chelsea defender John Terry will leave Stamford Juventus stadium in Turin and Barcelona’s coach Luis Enrique giving instructions signed an agreement in November with China has ambitions of hosting the World Bridge at the end of the season, the Premier League club during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs Valencia CF at the Camp club owner Katharina Liebherr for a stake in Cup and the country’s top companies and said yesterday. The 36-year-old former England interna- Nou stadium in Barcelona. FC Barcelona will face Juventus during their UEFA St Mary’s Football Group,Southampton FC’s richest entrepreneurs have rushed to pick tional played over 700 games for Chelsea and has been Champions league quarter-final football match at the Nou Camp stadium in holding company. It gave no details, but up stakes in foreign clubs and buy foreign their most successful captain. “John has given us more Barcelona, tomorrow. —AFP talks over a reported £200 million ($250 players for huge wages.— AFP than two decades of dedicated and exceptional service,” Chelsea said in a statement. “In that time he has displayed the utmost pride at wearing the Chelsea shirt.” Terry is Everton want to finish Chelsea’s third highest all-time appearance-maker and has among the EPL elites As Chelsea wobble, can Spurs captained them a record 578 times. LONDON: Everton must focus on their own perform- surge to Premier League title? ances and ignore what the clubs around them are Moyes defends credentials doing as they bid to finish among the Premier League’s LONDON: Sunderland manager David Moyes defend- top six, defender Ashley Williams has said. Everton, on MANCHESTER: A four point lead with in the season? Then there were gation candidates in Middlesbrough ed his credentials as a Premier League match winner 57 points after 33 games, currently occupy sixth spot, six games to go. Is the Premier League Conte’s comments about Saturday’s and Sunderland while the others are after he was jeered by some sections of the home three points ahead of Arsenal but having played three title race now back on, after so many FA Cup semi-final which pits the two against beatable mid-table teams in crowd during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with West Ham more games than the London club. Arsenal are at had assumed Chelsea had the cham- London title rivals against each other. Southampton and Watford. However, United. Rooted at the bottom of the league with just Middlesbrough later on Monday. “All we can do is pionship in the bag? The fixture list “It won’t be easy because I think the two away games will be more test- 21 points from 32 games, Sunderland picked up their look after our own performances. Hopefully we are in suggests that Chelsea should still be Tottenham now is the best team and ing-Everton have won eight straight first point in four games on Saturday.