NBA | Page 5 CRICKET | Page 9 In-form Court clears To Advertise here Warriors Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 Amir’s path down Kings, to return to move to 29-1 Pakistan team Wednesday, December 30, 2015 FOOTBALL Rabia I 19, 1437 AH Louis van Gaal attacks GULF TIMES ‘lies’ and says he is staying at Man United SPORT Page 3 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN VS INTER MILAN AL SADD STADIUM, 7:30PM READY STEADY PLAY! After days of anticipation, Qatar will finally witness the blockbuster match between PSG and Inter today evening By Joe Koraith are doing a good job in the local league. Doha And we have great ambitions for the Champions League. PSG has done a good job during the last few seasons. he wait is over. After days of We are keen to match the expectations anticipation, football fans in of our fans and our administration,” Qatar will fi nally get to wit- said the 50-year-old. ness the blockbuster match “We are working towards our goal of Tbetween Paris Saint-Germain and In- winning the Champions League. I have ter Milan today evening. Such has been confi dence in my players and know the excitement surrounding this high- that we will do well. I am hoping that profi le friendly that the tickets for the success in the Champions League re- encounter at the Jassim bin Hamad fl ects our success in the French cham- stadium were sold out with a few days pionship,” he added. to spare. The Frenchman feels that his team Apart from the fans, the teams not only represents the French league themselves are also looking forward to but also Qatar in the Champions this duel. Both teams are leading their League and he believes that his team is respective leagues and are looking to not too far away from winning the ti- test themselves against quality Euro- tle. “In the last four seasons, PSG have pean opponents. PSG are here as part of had bigger objectives at the European their Qatar Winter Tour training pro- level. And we are not just represent- gramme and are using this camp and ing the French football but now we the friendly to prepare for the second have another role to represent Qatar. half of their season. “This winter camp Because they are the owners of our is of great importance to us. There are a team. Players have the determination lot of important matches in the French to achieve these objectives. If not this League and in the Champions League season, then in the coming couple of in the second half of the season. We are seasons, we will achieve our objective training hard here and looking to ben- of winning the Champions League,” efi t from this training camp. We hope said Blanc. for a good match tomorrow,” said PSG Inter are not playing in the Cham- coach Laurent Blanc during the press pions League because they failed to conference yesterday. fi nish in the top 3 last season but with Inter coach Roberto Mancini is ex- their current form which sees them top pecting a high-voltage clash, one that the Serie A standings, coach Mancini will entertain the thousands of fans in is feeling positive. “We have improved the stadium. “We are very happy to be a lot from last year. Inter should be here. We have good weather and good playing Champions League regularly. infrastructure here. We will play PSG, When we started this season, our tar- one of the top European teams. It will get was to qualify for the Champions be a good game and the fans who come League. We are now at the top of the to the stadium will see a fantastic game table but we don’t know what will hap- with fantastic players,” said Mancini pen by the end of the season. It’s pos- yesterday. sible for us to win the title but there are For PSG, this match will also help teams that are better than us. But we them prepare for their Champions are at the top at the moment and that is League Round of 16 tie against famil- important for us,” said the Italian. iar opponents Chelsea. There’s a lot of With both teams looking to show- pressure on PSG to match their league case to the world that they are Euro- success with a Champions League title. pean powerhouses and not just kings of But coach Blanc believes that success their own backyard, this match prom- in the Champions League shouldn’t ises to be a keenly-contested aff air. be the only yardstick to judge PSG. “If And that only bodes well for the packed we want to judge one team, we have to stadium that is expected to turn up to- judge it on the basis of all the compe- day evening. titions that we are taking part in. We Game on. BOTTOMLINE We are amazed at the response, says al-Ansari By Sports Reporter was unbelievable. We are proud of this sponsors have played a big role,” said time that Inter paid a visit and al-An- Doha achievement. It shows the passion for al-Ansari yesterday. sari hoped that it would be a pleasant both the teams,” said Mansour al-An- This is the second leg of a two-match experience for the Italian team. “PSG sari, QFA General Secretary and LOC, agreement that QFA had with PSG and have been having their winter camp uch is the excitement surround- CEO during the press conference yes- Inter and the QFA General Secretary is here in Qatar for many years now. This ing the friendly match between terday. hoping that it will be a match that spec- is the fi rst time that Inter Milan are Paris Saint-Germain and Inter tators will remember for a long time. experiencing these facilities. We hope Milan that the tickets were sold COLLECTIVE EFFORT “We are extremely proud and excited to they will be pleased with the hospitality Sout days in advance. The Local Organ- Organising such a high-profi le match host this friendly in Qatar. This is part of and the facilities.” ising Committee (LOC), which will be requires a lot of planning and execution our two-match agreement between the The ticket sales success was another same team that are organising the AFC and al-Ansari praised the eff orts of the teams. The fi rst leg was in Marrakesh last feather in the organising committee’s U23 Asian Cup are delighted with the diff erent stakeholders in hosting a suc- year which PSG won 1-0. We are looking cap. “100 percent of the tickets were response. cessful match. “This is the same com- forward to the second leg. I hope every- sold out a few days before the match “We were amazed at the response for mittee that is organising the U23 Asian one enjoys the match. And I wish that it’s and it was all online sales. This to us is the tickets for this friendly match. We Cup. There are many stake holders who one which everyone can talk about later,” an achievement and we look forward to have been sold out for the past three are playing a big role in organising this said the CEO of the LOC. having an organised match and give the days. The demand for tickets from Mansour al-Ansari, QFA General Secretary and Local Organising Committee, CEO event. I would like to say a big thank While PSG has visited Qatar multi- spectators an experience that they will people here in Qatar and even outside (centre) with PSG coach Laurent Blanc (R) and Inter coach Roberto Mancini yesterday. you to the men behind the show. The ple times for training, this was the fi rst love,” said al-Ansari. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, December 30, 2015 FOOTBALL FOCUS PSG academy inspiring the ‘They’ll stand there and listen to you. It’s when you can make the most progress, and when you really youth of Qatar appreciate all that you can do for them’ PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT PSG and Inter players during a training session yesterday. PSG players pose with the lucky kids who got to train with the likes of star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and coach Laurent Blanc. By Sports Reporter see that Paris Saint-Germain is really since there are very few kids who get this with a global reputation. Regardless of Doha taking on an extra dimension, and that’s chance. It was a really good experience.” whether they attend throughout the year a good thing,” said Paris Saint-Germain or at a camp during their school holidays, coach Laurent Blanc. “It is important for ABOUT THE PSG ACADEMY the children who take part get quality ome 50 boys and girls aged be- young people fi rst and foremost to want The Paris Saint-Germain Academy is a coaching based on the Paris Saint-Ger- tween 10 – 12 took part in a very to play football, and also to wear the Paris football school that is open to children main philosophy. special training session Tuesday Saint-Germain jersey. To let you in on a – both boys and girls – aged 5 – 16. It is The Paris Saint-Germain Academy morning held on the Aspire Zone little secret, once I retire from profes- run at 45 diff erent centres open around has enjoyed real success at its 11 cen- Sgrounds. Under the watchful eye of Lau- sional football, if I still have the energy, the year, and in 2015/2016 it is holding tres in the Paris area, four elsewhere in rent Blanc, Papus Camara and the coach- I want to coach kids – that’s what I fi nd over 120 seasonal camps in 12 countries.