Established 1961 15 Sports Sunday, March 14, 2021 Moyes enjoys renaissance after wilderness years ‘Impressive’ West Ham face Man Utd test in Premier League LONDON: West Ham boss David Moyes returns to consistently kept them in the top half of the table on Manchester United tonight with his reputation a limited budget. restored after a long period in the wilderness follow- Moyes’ appointment at United had been ing his Old Trafford nightmare. Moyes has West Ham endorsed by Alex Ferguson, who recommended his flying high in the Premier League and a win at his compatriot before retiring. Inheriting a title-winning old club would boost their unexpected bid to qualify team, Moyes signed a six-year contract and was for the Champions League via a top four finish. expected to refresh an ageing squad while main- The fifth placed Hammers have won four of their taining the success of the Ferguson era. last six league games, closing within two points of But he never looked comfortable in the harsh fourth placed Chelsea and six behind second placed glare of the Old Trafford spotlight, with each deci- United, with a game in hand on both. “If we can go sion picked apart by fans, pundits and even his own to Old Trafford and pick up three points that would players in an unforgiving way he never had to be an incredible achievement for us,” Moyes said. endure at Everton. “We have been on a really good run since the start of this year. We are in good form, the players have Remarkable rehabilitation taken on all the games and we want to keep that He was criticized for his cautious tactics and record going.” ridiculed after signing Everton midfielder Marouane This time last year, Moyes was fighting to steer Fellaini, a player whose rudimentary style contrast- West Ham away from the relegation zone after tak- ed with United’s purist principles. Moyes soon wore ing charge of the east London club in December the anguished expression of a man who knew his 2019. Moyes has revamped his squad with a series dream was fading before his eyes. of astute signings, including Czech duo Tomas After less than a season in charge he was sacked in Soucek and Vladimir Coufal, promising winger April, 2014 with United languishing in seventh place Jarrod Bowen and, most recently, Jesse Lingard on and destined to miss out on a Champions League loan from Manchester United. place for the first time since 1995. Moyes was back in Lingard is not eligible to face United this week- management at Real Socieded just months later, but LONDON: The television camera follows West Ham United’s Scottish manager David Moyes as he end, but Moyes’ ability to revitalize the midfielder’s once again he was a fish out of water. leaves after the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Leeds stalled career, together with his development of The often terse Moyes was a bad fit in the cul- United at The London Stadium, in east London on March 8, 2021. —AFP Declan Rice, prove he has rediscovered the midas tured environment of La Liga and he was sacked touch that made his name at Everton. after just 12 months. That lost year in the Basque When Moyes was hired by United in 2013, the country was followed by an even more chastening his crumbling career. But the 57-year-old has been him to work in peace without the pressure of the Scot was widely regarded as one of the brightest experience at Sunderland. rewarded for sticking to his belief that work ethic notoriously demanding Hammers’ faithful. Beating young managers in the Premier League after his Taking over at the Stadium of Light in 2016, and team-spirit are the foundations for any suc- United tonight would be another feather in his cap, impressive 11-year reign at Goodison Park. Moyes’ return to the Premier League was a disaster cessful team. but whether West Ham reach the Champions Although he was unable to deliver any silverware, as Sunderland were relegated in his first season. At Moyes has also been helped by the coronavirus League or not, Moyes’ remarkable rehabilitation is he had led Everton to a top four finish in 2005 and that point it was hard to imagine Moyes salvaging lockdown removing fans from stadiums, allowing one of the stories of the season. —AFP the visit of West Ham, Solskjaer said: “David is back Solskjaer unsure in Manchester. He is quarantining or self-isolating. News in brief “He’s just touch and go for Sunday, I think. I can’t about De Gea’s really know when he came back, so I’m not really Di Maria signs extension sure if it was Monday or Tuesday that he arrived back in Manchester.” PARIS: Argentina star Angel Di Maria has signed a return after Spain trip Current regulations allow travellers from Spain to one-year extension to his contract with Paris Saint- be released from quarantine if they test negative for Germain, tying him to the club until June 2022, the LONDON: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says David de COVID-19 after five days of isolation. Pushed to French champions announced on Friday. In a statement on the club’s website, PSG said the deal included the Gea is “touch and go” for Manchester United’s clarify De Gea’s situation, the United boss added: “I Premier League clash with West Ham tonight option for an extra season. Di Maria, who turned 33 last think the rules are that he’s got to stay at home. month, joined PSG from Manchester United in 2015 after returning to England following the birth of “He’s not training with us anyway. It’s different if having previously starred for Real Madrid. He has also his first child. Despite the potential coronavirus- you travel away and compete so, no, he’s not been played for Benfica and Rosario Central. PSG’s main related quarantine headaches, the Red Devils training since he came back.” MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s Norwegian man- focus is on extending the contracts of superstar for- boss allowed the 30-year-old to fly to Spain to be United, second in the Premier League, are count- ager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer leaves the pitch at the end wards Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, both of whom will with his partner. ing the cost of a spate of injuries in forward posi- of the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg foot- see their existing deals expire at the end of next sea- Dean Henderson has had a run in the side in the tions. Anthony Martial is a doubt after a hip com- ball match between Manchester United and AC Milan son. The Qatar-owned club this week ousted Barcelona absence of United’s number one, who has been plaint forced him off at half-time on Thursday, com- at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on to qualify for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions inconsistent this season. He impressed in last week’s pounding the absence of fellow frontmen Marcus Thursday. —AFP League, while they currently sit second in Ligue 1, two 2-0 win against Premier League leaders Rashford and Edinson Cavani. points behind leaders Lille. —AFP Manchester City but was criticized for allowing an “Anthony, he got a whack on his hip so that’s injury-time header to beat him as AC Milan another forward that we need to scan and have to need him. Edinson I don’t think will be ready for snatched a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the last-16 tie look at,” Solskjaer said. “Definitely hope Marcus is Sunday.” Paul Pogba, Donny van de Beek and Juan Lazio struggle past Crotone in the Europa League on Thursday. back for next Thursday in Milan. I’m not sure if he’ll Mata are also set to be unavailable to face the high- Asked on Friday about De Gea’s availability for make Sunday, but fingers crossed because we will flying Hammers. —AFP ROME: Lazio beat rock-bottom Crotone 3-2 in the Italian top flight on Friday, just days ahead of facing Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Simone Inzaghi’s team north London derby win. are already 4-1 down to the defending European champi- Arteta fears ‘special’ “It’s very difficult because the level of quality, ons after the first leg of their last 16 tie. Despite Friday’s precision, understanding and chemistry that they win, Lazio are still only seventh in Serie A, while Crotone are anchored to the foot of the table seven points adrift of have between them makes them probably one of the Spurs attack in safety. Lazio took the game to the Stadio Olimpico visi- most special (attacks) in Europe,” Arteta said. “And tors but were pegged back the first two times they went they don’t need much. They are able to create their ahead. A cool finish from the six-yard line from Sergei London derby own chances, they are able to link as a team. So it is Milinkovic-Savic on 14 minutes gave Lazio the lead before really difficult to do, but we will prepare the game Nigerian forward Simeon Tochukwu Nwankano levelled. LONDON: Mikel Arteta has warned his Arsenal well to try to stop them obviously.” Luis Alberto restored Lazio’s lead on 39 minutes only for players they will face one of the most “special” Kane, Son and Bale have hit 34 Premier League Nwankano to equalise again with a 50th-minute penalty.