Sports FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2017 Klopp rules out Joe Hart move LONDON: Liverpool manager Jurgen last two matches against Stoke and West “It is not for us in this moment and admitted Reds captain Jordan Henderson is Klopp has ruled out a swoop for exiled Bromwich Albion, the Belgian has been hopefully not for us in the future, not still struggling to return from the foot prob- Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart. particularly impressive. With that in mind, because of Joe, but we already have two lem which has sidelined him since early Hart is currently on loan with Serie A side Klopp is adamant he has no plans to strong goalkeepers. “Danny Ward is at February. Asked whether Henderson’s Torino after being banished by City man- make a move for Hart. Huddersfield and playing a brilliant sea- campaign could be over, Klopp added: “I ager Pep Guardiola. He could return to “Extra competition? You ask about son. He is our player so we will bring him don’t know, we will see. the Premier League next season, but it is goalkeepers but even though you don’t back next year so there is competition. “At this moment he cannot really unlikely he will play for City again and say the name is it about Joe Hart?” Klopp “The situation with our goalkeepers is train so we have to wait for this, that Liverpool have been linked with a deal said yesterday when asked whether he really good. I understand the question was the plan from the beginning. “We for the 30-year-old England international. was considering his goalkeeping options. but I cannot give the answer probably a are in intense talks with different med- Klopp’s keepers have been a constant “We don’t usually talk about these sort of few people want.” ical departments but we have to wait. problem this season after first-choice things but in this particular case I think Klopp, whose third-placed side host He is already not patient any more. “He Simon Mignolet struggled and was we can. “He is a fantastic goalkeeper, the Crystal Palace on Sunday, has more press- looks really healthy but he cannot play replaced by Loris Karius, who also failed goalkeeper of the English national team, ing issues, with midfielder Lucas Leiva and football and that is the situation at the to shine. But Mignolet has improved the highest quality, but we have highest- centre-backs Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan moment. If something changes we can since returning to the line-up and, in the quality goalkeepers. unable to train this week. The German also talk about it.” — AFP FA Cup won’t decide my fate, says Wenger LONDON: Arsene Wenger has slammed sug- trophy this season. So of course we are all ful- make a choice,” he said. “We are not in a posi- game is the semi-final of the FA Cup, so we gestions Arsenal’s FA Cup fate will have an ly focused on that. My future is Sunday. “What tion where you can make a choice, do we have to give absolutely everything to go to impact when he decides his Gunners future. I expect when you go into a semi-final is to go choose this or do we choose that? The next the final.” — AFP Wenger’s side face Manchester City in the FA to the final. I think somebody told me that I Cup semi-finals at Wembley on Sunday with had played 10 semi-finals in the FA Cup, so the Gunners boss yet to reveal if he will extend that means it’s a great experience and it’s his 21-year stay with the north London club. always something special. With Wenger enduring constant calls for “I remember my first one, we just spoke his resignation from furious Arsenal fans, it about it, when we played at Villa Park against has been claimed a limp exit from the FA Cup Wolves. That’s the day when I realized how might convince the Frenchman to quit when big the club is, how much it means to our his contract expires at the end of the season. supporters. “It is a special experience and, for The north Londoners have once again failed us, I think we are focused, highly motivated. to mount a challenge for the Premier League “Maybe not at the maximum of our confi- title and suffered an embarrassing dence because we had recently some disap- Champions League last 16 thrashing by pointing results, but that is a good opportuni- Bayern Munich. ty to show we are ready for a fight and how With Wenger’s record of qualifying for the much we want to go to the final. “Because it’s Champions League for the last 19 years under maybe our only opportunity to get a trophy severe threat this season, lifting the FA Cup this season.” might be the only way to salvage a wretched Even if they win the Cup, failure to qualify campaign. But, asked yesterday if winning the for the Champions League qualification Cup for a seventh time would have a bearing would taint any Wembley celebrations. But on his future, Wenger said: “It doesn’t play Wenger insists Arsenal, currently seven points any part in that. adrift of the top four, are not in a position “The FA Cup is a very important game for where they have to start prioritizing the FA me because it’s the next game and because Cup over the league yet. “You don’t think it’s an opportunity, as I just told you, to win a about it like that because we don’t have to MIDDLESBROUGH: Arsenal fans hold “Wenger Out” banners in reference to Arsenal’s French manager Arsene Wenger during the English Premier League football match between Middlesbrough and Arsenal at Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough, northeast England on April 17, 2017. — AFP .