SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2014 Chelsea boss to contest Rodgers shying away from the FA misconduct charge EPL title talk LONDON: Chelsea manager Jose LIVERPOOL: Brendan Rodgers continues to insist Mourinho announced yesterday that he there has been no discussion about Liverpool’s will contest the charge of improper Premier League title prospects as they look to pile conduct leveled by the Football the pressure on leaders Chelsea. Liverpool travel to Association following his side’s defeat Cardiff today four points behind Chelsea, with a at Aston Villa last weekend. The game in hand and with Jose Mourinho’s side still to Portuguese was charged after entering travel to Anfield. Last weekend’s 3-0 win at rivals Manchester United made it 26 points from a possi- the field of play during added time of a ble 30 since the start of 2014 for Liverpool and contentious game that ended with sparked renewed talk of a first championship since Mourinho’s side reduced to nine men 1990. following the dismissals of Willian and After the trip to Wales, Liverpool host struggling Ramires. Mourinho, who was fiercely Sunderland and off-color Tottenham before travel- critical of the performance of referee ling to West Ham. Home games against Chris Foy after the game, revealed that Manchester City and Chelsea come either side of a he will dispute the charge when he for- trip to Norwich and they finish the campaign with mally responds to the FA on Monday. matches against Crystal Palace and Newcastle. Speaking at his media briefing But Liverpool manager Rodgers is adamant that ahead of Chelsea’s meeting with not even the significant victory at Old Trafford has Arsenal at Stamford Bridge today, he had his players discussing ending the Anfield club’s said: “I don’t accept the charges. I have drought.”It was a wonderful result at Old Trafford to wait until Monday and work out but (there’s been) no talk about the title. what I will do. “For you, it’s enough to Chelsea’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho We are just enjoying our work and focused on know that, for obvious reasons, I don’t exchange in February when the would like to emulate Wenger with an Cardiff. “I don’t know how good the opportunity accept the charges.” Members of both Chelsea manager described his oppo- extended spell in charge of one club. “I is to win the league. There are tough games right benches encroached onto the playing site number as a “specialist in failure”. would like to do it, but it’s very, very dif- the way through. It’s a tough game against area at Villa Park immediately after ficult,” he said. “It was always difficult. In Cardiff. We will speak about the run in at the end of the season.” Ramires’s studs-up challenge on Villa ‘Difficult’ to emulate Wenger modern football, it’s even more difficult. Wales midfielder Joe Allen’s influence at midfielder Karim El Ahmadi, which Mourinho refused to discuss that “If I accumulate my first three and a bit Liverpool has been limited this season due to earned him a red card. Mourinho was exchange, but said that he admired years with Chelsea and this one, I have a injury and the form of others. But the former sent to the stands when he again Wenger’s longevity. Asked if he would few. Let’s see if I can reach, not 1,000, Swansea man, 24, has impressed in back-to-back crossed the touchline to approach Foy like to pay tribute to the Frenchman, he but 500. It would be fantastic.” Wenger matches against Southampton and United and after the referee had cleared the pitch. said: “The tribute is to say that I believe has never managed to register a victory Rodgers feels Allen will have a significant impact The Portuguese was fined £8,000 that any one of us, we would love to against a Mourinho team in 10 attempts, on the rest of the campaign. (£13,200, 9,600 euros) earlier this sea- have the same privilege with our clubs. but the Chelsea manager does not think “At Old Trafford, he covered more ground than son after being dismissed at Cardiff “I admire him and I admire Arsenal, that record will have any bearing today’s anyone. The way he presses the ball and looks after City and can expect a fine of around because it’s not possible to have 1,000 meeting. “It doesn’t matter,” he said. “It’s the ball; in this country, sometimes it can be £10,000 if he fails to overturn the latest matches unless the club is also a fantas- not against him. It’s Chelsea against frowned upon,” said former Swansea manager charge. Arsenal’s trip to Stamford tic club in the way they support the Arsenal. I didn’t play Arsenal with Inter, Rodgers. “People look for midfield players that are Bridge will mark Arsene Wenger’s manager, especially in the bad Madrid or Porto; just Chelsea. “It’s either scoring goals and wanting goals or smash- 1,000th game in charge of the moments, and especially when the bad Arsenal v Chelsea, not me against him. ing into challenges. “Joe is a really intelligent foot- Gunners. Mourinho’s relationship with moments were quite a lot. I admire the Records don’t play any role: a match is a baller; he understands the ball, he protects the ball the Arsenal manager has often been manager and the club.” match. It’s not coach against coach, it’s really well for the team, and his work-rate and strained and was marked by a fractious Mourinho also made it clear that he team against team.”— AFP intensity is incredible. “I believe that he is one of the top Premier League talents.” Man City’s Clichy Squad close to full fitness MATCHES ON TV As well as having no other competitions to con- tend with, Rodgers has also been boosted by his won’t settle for squad being close to full fitness for the final weeks ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE beIN SPORTS 2 HD of the season. France centre-back Mamadou Sakho, Chelsea v Arsenal 15:45 less than title who has been out since December with a ham- beIN SPORTS 1 GERMAN LEAGUE string injury, was on the bench at Old Trafford, beIN SPORTS 1 HD Stuttgart v Hamburger 17:30 MANCHESTER: Manchester City defender Gael leaving left-back Jose Enrique as the only played Cardiff v Liverpool 18:00 Dubai Sports Clichy has admitted that failure to win the Premier injured. Cardiff will kick off second bottom with League title this season would be unacceptable beIN SPORTS 1 Hannover 96 v Dortmund 17:30 their only win in their last six league outings being ahead of his side’s clash with Fulham today. City beIN SPORTS 1 HD Dubai Sports have already won the League Cup, but were on the a 3-1 success over basement club Fulham. West Ham v Man United 20:30 FSV Mainz 05 v Bayern Munich 17:30 end of a shock defeat by Wigan Athletic in the FA Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has failed to better beIN SPORTS 1 Dubai Sports Cup quarter-finals and were knocked out of the the results of his predecessor, Malky Mackay, and beIN SPORTS 1 HD VfL Wolfsburg v Augsburg 17:30 Champions League in the last 16 by Barcelona. They Cardiff supporters are planning to protest against Dubai Sports are currently fourth in the Premier League and six owner Vincent Tan before the match. ITALIAN LEAGUE Schalke 04 v E Braunschweig 17:30 points behind table-topping Chelsea although they They are upset that the Malaysian will not over- AC Chievo Verona v Roma 22:45 Dubai Sports have three games in hand on the leaders. And turn his controversial decision to ditch the club’s beIN SPORTS 3 Borussia M v Hertha Berlin 20:30 France international left-back Clichy said City must traditional blue shirts in favour of red, which Tan beIN SPORTS 3 HD Dubai Sports put recent disappointments behind them and go on regards as luckier-although no evidence for that and secure the only trophy they are still involved in. has yet presented itself on the pitch this season. SPANISH LEAGUE FRENCH LEAGUE “Just winning the Capital One (League) Cup won’t be Liverpool will aim to take full advantage of their Granada v Elche CF 18:00 Marseille v Stade Rennes 19:00 enough,” Clichy said. “If you don’t have this energy hosts’ problems and Cardiff striker Craig Bellamy, a beIN SPORTS 2 beIN SPORTS 5 and desire for winning every single game no matter former Anfield favorite himself, said: “This beIN SPORTS 2 HD beIN SPORTS 5 HD who you play, then you have nothing to do in City. Liverpool team, it’s the Liverpool team I grew up RCD Espanyol v Levante 20:00 Bastia v Stade Reims 22:00 “The project is fantastic, and we are lucky to be watching. here sharing this with the team-mates but, you beIN SPORTS 4 beIN SPORTS 5 know, it’s crunch time and we have to get the points “I get so excited watching Liverpool. I just feel beIN SPORTS 4 HD beIN SPORTS 5 HD until the end of the season starting with Fulham. “A this is such a great opportunity for Liverpool now Real Valladolid v Rayo Vallecano 22:00 FC Girondins v Nice 22:00 title is a title, this year is not in the pocket yet but to really establish themselves, and hopefully go on beIN SPORTS 4 beIN SPORTS 6 we’re going to try hard to give the fans who support and not just win a title, but kick on from there and beIN SPORTS 4 HD beIN SPORTS 6 HD City something to share at the end of the season.” dominate for a number of years.” The Bluebirds are Athletic de Bilbao v Getafe 0:00 Nantes v Montpellier 22:00 City won the 2011/12 Premier League title after they without injured defenders Mark Hudson, Ben beIN SPORTS 2 beIN SPORTS 9 HD chased down rivals Manchester United in the final Turner and Andy Taylor.