TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016 SPORTS Van Gaal backs United to salvage Champions League place MANCHESTER: Louis van Gaal is con- dent mood following their 1-0 win over like that, I am very happy.” BLIND FAITH every player with his competitor, so it is vinced Manchester United are on track Everton at Old Trafford on Sunday. That Van Gaal has been under fire from Daley Blind, who was superb in polic- fantastic what he is doing.” to claim a Champions League place from was United’s fourth win in five domestic critics and fans alike, yet he can make ing the menace of Belgium striker Everton manager Roberto Martinez, the wreckage of one of Old Trafford’s league games and left them just a point great strides with his young squad in Romalu Lukaku at Old Trafford, is a case meanwhile, has to ponder a fresh round most difficult seasons in recent memory. behind fourth-placed Manchester City, what will be a critical month of April. in point. “Daley Blind has played nearly of criticism from Toffees fans as he pre- Van Gaal’s job as manager, in his second currently occupying the final Champions Home matches against doomed Aston all the matches, so I need to give him pares for the weekend trip to Watford. campaign at the club, has been the sub- League spot on offer to English clubs. “I Villa and struggling Crystal Palace offer rest,” said van Gaal. “I don’t want to, Told that many of Everton’s 3,500 follow- ject of widespread speculation since said in the dressing room after the six points to a team that has grown in because he is playing very well. I shall ing at Old Trafford had booed at the final United’s early exit from the Champions match that it was very important to win stature at Old Trafford in recent weeks, give him two days off, so then he is whistle because they were “fed up”, League group stage in December. today, otherwise the victory against while Van Gaal can steer United into the alright, I think.” Anthony Martial, who Martinez replied: “We all are. You can That failure was compounded by (Manchester) City was worthless,” said FA Cup Final by first winning an admit- scored United’s lone goal against hear our boos in the dressing room.” United’s defeat in the second-tier Europa van Gaal. tedly tough replay with West Ham and Everton on Sunday, has also been a will- Martinez wants to take 12th-placed League by arch-rivals Liverpool last “We keep in touch with City, one then a Wembley semi-final against ing workhorse in United’s cause. “I have Everton forward without panicking. “We month. However, van Gaal, who has point behind, and we keep in touch with Everton. already said that Anthony Martial, with are a club where there has been a bit of been tipped to make a summer depar- Arsenal, five points behind,” the veteran Van Gaal now needs to manage his his age (20) is an exception, because he a change of generation,” he said. ture to make way for Jose Mourinho, the Dutch boss added. “We have to play players wisely at the stage of a season has also played every match,” said van “A lot of players have come in. former Chelsea manager, will lead his Tottenham (next), not an easy match, where fatigue can creep in, especially Gaal. “To play every match then you Incredible young talent needs know- team into next Sunday’s game against but normally we are playing very well with international demands thrown in as have to be very strong and consistent, how and lessons, and to develop,” the Tottenham at White Hart Lane in confi- against the top teams. If we continue well. because every week I shall compare Spaniard added. — AFP Bayern out to reach 5th straight semifinal MUNICH: Bayern Munich hosts Benfica since taking over from Jupp Heynckes in for the first leg of their Champions 2013. League quarterfinal today, aiming to Guardiola, who is leaving at the end of leave the second leg a mere formality in the season to join Manchester City, is reaching the club’s fifth consecutive bidding to repeat Heynckes’ feat of win- semifinal. ning the treble in his last season in Confidence is high among Bayern’s charge. players and fans of getting past the Guardiola led Barcelona to 14 trophies Portuguese league leader and moving in a hugely successful four-year spell but another step closer to repeating the his tenure at Bayern will be judged on 2013 feat of Champions League, success in the Champions League, where Bundesliga and German Cup victories. semifinal defeats to Real Madrid and for- Benfica is bidding to reach the final mer club Barcelona represent his biggest four for the first time since 1990. “Benfica disappointments at the club. is a team that you simply have to beat,” Despite claiming back-to-back former Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld Bundesliga titles and being on the verge said. “I can’t imagine that Benfica can put of leading Bayern to an unprecedented Bayern in danger. Bayern will pass this fourth successive league title, Guardiola test with flying colors.” needs to match the mark set by his pred- The sides met three times before in ecessor to leave on a high note. European competition. Bayern prevailed on the three occasions. The German BENFICA’S BOUNCE powerhouse has won all nine of its previ- After a rocky start to the season under ous two-legged knockout ties against new coach Rui Vitoria, Benfica has found Portuguese opposition. its form in the final third of the season. Some things to know ahead of The players have finally clicked and the Tuesday’s game in Munich: team has surged into lead of the BARCELONA: Atletico Madrid’s coach Diego Simeone, front center, controls the ball during a training session at the Camp Nou stadium in Portuguese championship and its first Barcelona, Spain, yesterday. FC Barcelona will play against Atletico Madrid in a Champions League soccer match today. — AP STEP UP NEEDED Champions League quarterfinal in four Bayern survived a close shave against years. Juventus in the previous round on Benfica overwhelmed fourth-place Thomas Mueller’s injury-time equalizer Braga 5-1 last Friday to keep its two- and two more goals in extra time to point league lead with six rounds to play Atletico tougher than progress in dramatic fashion. though it travels to Munich as the under- The side will hope to avoid such dog in its biggest game of the season. excitement against Benfica by claiming “We’ve got past a lot of obstacles this Real Madrid, warns Pique another comprehensive quarterfinal vic- season. Some of them appeared impossi- tory over a Portuguese side at home. At ble,” said Vitoria, who is making his debut the same stage last season, Bayern in Europe’s top-tier tournament this sea- BARCELONA: Barcelona defender Gerard Pique talk about Cruyff, he arrived in 1988 (as coach) conditions. “It doesn’t matter what happened on defeated Porto 6-1 in Munich to recover son. believes Atletico Madrid pose an even greater when I was one-year-old,” added Pique. “When Saturday, they are an opponent that will make from the 3-1 loss in the first leg. threat to his side than Real Madrid, who ended he arrived, beating Madrid saved Barcelona’s our lives difficult.” Enrique is expected to make Bayern seemed to be conserving EYES ON JONAS Barca’s 39-game unbeaten run in El Clasico on season, it was our goal. only one change with Marc-Andre ter Stegen energy in Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Benfica striker Jonas is top-scorer in Saturday. Now we are in 2016 and the roles have replacing Claudio Bravo in goal. Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. the Portuguese league with 30 goals in Atletico travel to the Camp Nou today for the changed.” Indeed, despite a first defeat in six Atletico boss Diego Simeone confirmed Franck Ribery’s acrobatic scissors kick 28 games, earning him a recall to the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, months, Barca are still well-placed to repeat their Fernando Torres will start up front for the visitors was enough to maintain the side’s five- Brazil team though he hasn’t been able but are also Barca’s closest challengers in La Liga treble feat as they also face Sevilla in the final of after scoring in a 5-1 rout of Real Betis on point lead but the players will need to to reproduce that form in the Champions as they sit six points behind the European cham- the Copa del Rey on May 22. Saturday. However, Atletico have big problems step up against the Portuguese league League, where he has found the net just pions with seven games to go in La Liga. at the centre of their normally rock-solid leader. “The quality won’t be enough for twice. “They don’t scare us, but they are having an WINNING LA LIGA defence. Tuesday,” Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Jonas’s partner in attack, Konstantinos spectacular season. At the moment they are the “The game on Saturday is forgotten. What Diego Godin is expected to shrug of a ham- Rummenigge said. “We’ll have to play Mitroglou, has 17 league goals but may second best team in Spain, as the league shows,” concerns me is winning La Liga, the Champions string injury to start, but with Stefan Savic and much better.