Wenger: Jose lacks respect

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Arsene Wenger fired the latest shot in his war of words with Jose Mourinho, branding the Chelsea boss disrespectful.

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London - Arsene Wenger fired the latest shot in his war of words with Jose Mourinho on Friday, branding the Chelsea manager disrespectful.

In response to home fans chanting ‘boring, boring Chelsea’ during last weekend’s goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium, Mourinho claimed it was Arsenal’s 10-year title drought that was boring.

When asked about the jibe on Friday, Wenger said: ‘The biggest thing for a manager is to respect other managers. Some people have to improve on that.

‘Look, everybody lives with his own internal problems and I live with mine. That’s enough.

‘You can have incidents with other managers sometimes. It gets a bit heated when you fight directly with them, but in the end I believe time heals and the important thing is to respect each other as much as you can.’

Mourinho, when asked about Wenger’s comments during his press conference, refused to comment.

But privately the Portuguese, whose side can clinch the title tomorrow with victory at home to Crystal Palace, is said to be furious with Wenger’s disparaging remarks.

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Rooney fit for Man United

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Wayne Rooney is fit to lead the Man United attack against West Bromwich Albion, coach Louis van Gaal said.

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London - Wayne Rooney is fit to lead the Manchester United attack in the weekend's Premier League game at home to West Bromwich Albion, coach Louis van Gaal said on Friday.

The England captain limped off near the end of Sunday's 3-0 loss at Everton with a knee injury but will be available to face West Brom at Old Trafford on Saturday.

“Rooney is fit to play, it was not so heavy as we expected,” Van Gaal told reporters.

Defender Phil Jones and striker Robin van Persie have also recovered from injuries but Luke Shaw and Jonny Evans will not play as United bid to consolidate fourth place in the table.

“Jones is fit but we have to see his match rhythm, but Shaw has trouble with his groin so he cannot play,” Van Gaal said.

United have lost their last two games, ending a resurgence in form that took them above champions Manchester City in the race for second place behind runaway leaders Chelsea.

Van Gaal said he had been given three years by the club to bring the Premier League title back to Old Trafford for the first time since 2013.

“The board has given me three years for that objective,” Van Gaal said.

“This year we have not challenged Chelsea but we are very close to second position.

“Chelsea are far above the other clubs. Next year it can be different. Next year we shall be better prepared.”

West Brom manager Tony Pulis believes Van Gaal will start to feel the pressure next year.

“Louis has obviously spent a bit of money and brought quite a few players in, I think he has had a year to look at it,” Pulis said.

“Next year he has to come close to winning the league - he'll know that.

“It's been great experience for him this year. I'm sure he'll add a few players to the squad next year. They'll want to win it, I see them getting stronger, I can't see them getting weaker.”

Reuters



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Palace determined to make Chelsea wait

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Crystal Palace are determined to bounce back from a disappointing performance to delay Chelsea's title celebrations.

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London - Crystal Palace are determined to bounce back from a disappointing performance last weekend to delay Chelsea's Premier League title celebrations, manager Alan Pardew said on Friday.

Palace lost 2-0 at home to struggling Hull City last time out and a third defeat in a row at Chelsea on Sunday would seal the title for their London rivals.

“Last weekend was below the group's standard. I didn't even need to tell them, they told me,” Pardew told reporters.

“It was by far the worst performance during my time here. We have worked really hard to put that right.

“This is one terrific group of players. Our solution this week has been to work hard. Work on our fitness levels, our technical skills and our team shape.”

Pardew knows all about the strengths of Chelsea.

“I know Stamford Bridge well. If there is a team that I know well, it'd be Chelsea,” he said.

“I studied there. We've got to try and produce a performance that doesn't get carried away in the emotion of the day. They will dominate possession and the two thirds of the pitch that we have to defend, but we carry a threat.”

Palace are sitting comfortably in 12th place in the table, guaranteed another season in the top flight.

“We always knew it was tough. We wanted to get the job done and we've done that. We need to respond following our recent defeats,” Pardew said.

“For ourselves and to keep the Premier League title race interesting.

“They have lost two games this season - one to Spurs, one to Newcastle. That's an outstanding record. I think Chelsea, in terms of quality and the team they have, the manager they have, will win the league.”

Reuters



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Rodgers ready to revamp Liverpool

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is expecting a busy close season.

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London - Shopping for new players, solving Daniel Sturridge's injury problems and getting Liverpool back in the Champions League, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is expecting a busy close season.

His team finished Premier League runners up last season but despite investing heavily after Luis Suarez's departure to Barcelona, they have struggled to build on their success and are lying fifth in the table with four games left.

“Come the end of the season you look to improve the squad,” Rodgers told a news conference on Friday.

“What I've said is we have been short of goals this season, but that's not the strikers, it's the whole team.

“Wide players, midfielders, defenders. These are areas we want to improve on. I knew 100 percent the model here. We have a real good team of people here. We have to look at it and see how we can improve our squad again.”

Next on Rodgers' to-do list is trying to find a long-term solution to Sturridge's fitness problems.

The 25-year-old has been sidelined by hip and thigh injuries and has only played 18 games in this campaign, scoring five goals, compared to 33 appearances last season and 24 goals.

“We have found some underlying issues that have related to the problems he's had,” Rodgers said. “We are just doing everything we possibly can to get him fit.

“Daniel wants to play and be available. This has been a season that he wanted to build on. He has had issues throughout his career but we wanted to give him the chance when he came here to be one of the best in Europe.”

Liverpool trail fourth-placed Manchester United by seven points and Rodgers admits Champions League qualification could be out of reach.

Queens Park Rangers travel to Anfield on Saturday in desperate need of victory to boost their survival chances as they are four points behind 17th-placed Leicester City.

“This isn't a team lacking effort or commitment. They will fight right to the end,” Rodgers said.

“We won 10 out of 13 and confidence was high. In couple of big games we fell short and that can dent your confidence.

“It will be a tough game against QPR. (Charlie) Austin and (Bobby) Zamora are a real handful. We totally respect them and their fight.”

Reuters



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Injuries hurt Arsenal's title bid, says Wenger

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“We had injuries to key players after the World Cup. We needed to find balance in the team. Looking back, we dropped big points...

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London - Although pleased with the progress of his Arsenal side this season, manager Arsene Wenger is frustrated injuries have hampered the Gunners' premier league challenge.

Fourth-placed finishers for the last two seasons, Arsenal currently sit third, level on 67 points with second-placed Manchester City, but with a game in hand.

The Gunners have not lost in the league since a 2-1 away defeat away to north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in February, but despite their fine run of form they are 13 points behind champions-elect Chelsea.

“We have made progress so I look at it in a positive way,” Wenger told reporters on Friday. “What you want to show during the season, is that you are getting better. We were faced with a big challenge especially with Chelsea out in front.

“They have proved to be more consistent from the start to the end and we weren't able to reel them in.

“We had injuries to key players after the World Cup. We needed to find balance in the team. Looking back, we dropped big points... and that was a big disappointment.”

Chelsea can seal the title with a win against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and Wenger believes their ability to grind out results is what sets them apart from the rest.

“Once you are fighting for the Championship you win some games because you smell you can do it, games that you don't necessarily win if you are fourth or fifth. That doesn't always represent the value of the team,” Wenger said.

“The gap is there because they have been more consistent than us from start to end. They had a very strong start, and that got them through to the end.”

Arsenal travel to Hull City on Monday hoping to edge ahead of Manchester City in the race for second place, and leave fourth-placed Manchester United further behind.

“Manchester City had ups and downs and started stronger than us and were in front for a long time. Manchester United had a slow start and became stronger,” Wenger said.

“We fight with each other to show who will be the best at the end. The only thing I can say is if we do well we can get in front of them.”

Reuters



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It's Bale of the century

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Man United’s ever-increasing financial muscle means Louis van Gaal can pursue Gareth Bale if he becomes available.

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London - Manchester United’s ever-increasing financial muscle means manager Louis van Gaal can pursue his major summer transfer targets and still have enough for Gareth Bale if he becomes available before next season.

Van Gaal’s first serious assault on the Barclays Premier League title next season will be built on the back of a £100million surge in transfer funds driven by a return to the Champions League and United’s mammoth new kit deal with adidas.

United will net about £50m for returning to Europe and another £75m from the first instalment of the record adidas contract that starts on August 1. With the huge new Premier League TV deal due to kick in a year later and United one of the few clubs in Europe largely untroubled by Financial Fair Play rules, United’s board are happy to spend big this summer.

This means that Van Gaal can pursue his prime summer targets such as Dortmund defender Mats Hummels, PSV midfielder Memphis Depay and Southampton full back Nathaniel Clyne knowing that there will still be money for Bale.

United are also in the market for a world-class centre forward and possibly a goalkeeper if David de Gea decides to leave for Madrid.

United are desperate to keep De Gea and will not consider using him as leverage to get Bale. Any deal for the Welshman will be based on a straight cash offer.United spent heavily last summer with Angel di Maria, Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw taking their outlay above the £100m mark. This year, they could well top that as they look to make up lost ground on Manchester City and Chelsea.

Madrid have not yet signalled their intention regarding Bale but United will head the queue if he does become available. The Spaniards tend to sell one marquee player every summer and United have tracked Bale since he was a teenager at Southampton.

Van Gaal and United chief executive Ed Woodward want to do most of their business before United go on tour in mid-July but Bale could be the exception as Madrid often do their selling in late summer.As for De Gea, United are waiting for the goalkeeper to decide.

With a £200 000-a-week offer on the table, it is understood he is torn between returning to Spain to be with his girlfriend staying two more years in England.

United also want to keep Adnan Januzaj but plan on converting him into a centre forward. The 20-year-old Belgian has played a bit-part since Van Gaal’s arrival but those who have worked with Januzaj at youth level believe he has the game to play as a central striker.

Radamel Falcao looks set to leave this summer, leaving only Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and rookie James Wilson as Van Gaal’s recognised strikers. A move for Burnley’s Danny Ings is being considered but Januzaj will get the chance to convince in pre-season.

Meanwhile, United expect midfielder Tom Cleverley to join Everton permanently when his loan spell at Aston Villa runs out next month and will reluctantly take back Portuguese winger Nani from his loan at Sporting Lisbon, who cannot afford to buy him.

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Jose: Take points off City for FFP sins

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Jose Mourinho says Man City should have been docked points for failing to meet UEFA Financial Fair Play guidelines.

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London - Jose Mourinho says Manchester City should have been docked points for failing to meet UEFA Financial Fair Play guidelines and vowed that Chelsea would never break those rules.

The Chelsea manager, now in touching distance of his third Barclays Premier League title after Wednesday night’s win at Leicester, refused to back down when it comes to his views on big-spending City.

City were fined £49million last year for breaching FFP guidelines and hit with a spending cap but Mourinho said last night: ‘When Manchester City pays off 50 millions of fine because they exceeded the FFP, I think it’s unfair. FFP should be fulfilled and that’s it.

‘(Clubs) should be punished with loss of points. Our owner (Roman Abramovich) wants to fulfil FFP. He doesn’t want to enter these dynamics of paying the fine.

‘FFP benefits clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern, who have a big fan base and get huge revenues on sponsorship and merchandising. At Chelsea, for instance, we refuse to pay any fine. We live with what we produce.

‘I feel really well about that. It forces us to be better, to manage better our resources, to live with what we create.

‘It forces us to think more. We have to sell in order to buy, to be aware of what you sell and what you buy.’

In an interview with the official magazine of the Portuguese FA, Mourinho said that the Premier League is the best in the world but adds that the hectic Christmas period costs English clubs when European competition resumes. ‘England will always have the most spectacular league,’ he said. ‘There’s no Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern, it’s true, but as a league it’s the most spectacular. The product they sell is appealing. Many millions watch Sunderland against Newcastle, for example.

‘In Europe, there are several factors that can explain it. The first is Christmas. I love to play during that period, no matter how hard it is for my family.

‘It’s a bit like the actor who has a theatre play on Christmas Day - people want to go to the theatre on that day. But I can’t agree that there’s no (break) after that superhuman period.

‘Get to February and English teams are struggling.’

Mourinho also spoke about his relationship with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Asked if he missed his rival, he said: ‘Not the man, we talk more often now, on the telephone and even personally.

‘We met in London, Paris... but I miss a bit my opponent Alex Ferguson. I always asked him a lot of questions.

‘I remember a chat we had when he was still coaching, before Manchester United-Real Madrid (in March 2013).

‘We both had butterflies in our stomachs and I asked him: “Does this ever change?”.

‘He told me: “No! It will be like this until the end!”. I told him that was my plan.

‘Now I ask him if he’s fine, if he’s happy and if he regrets. And he’s happy.’

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Sturridge back in US over surgery fear

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Daniel Sturridge has gone to see a specialist in Boston to determine whether he needs surgery to sort out his hip.

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London - Daniel Sturridge has gone to see a US specialist in Boston to determine whether he needs surgery to sort out a troublesome hip.

The Liverpool and England striker has played only twice since being injured against Manchester United on March 22 and his club manager Brendan Rodgers last week cast doubt on whether he would play again this season.

That now seems even more unlikely after Sturridge was booked in to see Dr Peter Asnis, an orthopaedic surgeon connected to baseball’s Boston Red Sox.

It is the second time the 25-year-old has been sent to America. Last December he was in Los Angeles and then Boston, working on a thigh problem that had kept him out for five months.

Rodgers will now step up efforts to sign a new striker this summer. PSV Eindhoven’s Memphis Depay is the top target and the Holland star seems keen on the move. Sturridge has endured a year to forget because of fitness issues - as has full back Jon Flanagan, who has been ruled out for up to nine months by further knee surgery.

Apart from 31 minutes of a charity match in March, the 22-year-old has not played for Liverpool at all this season because of knee and cartilage problems.

He is out of contract this summer, although Rodgers said the club were keen to sort out his future.

Liverpool’s recent form has been poor but they need to qualify for Europe to have a chance of signing James Milner from Manchester City on a free transfer when the window opens.

Arsenal and Roma are also hovering but the 29-year-old wants a North West club - providing they are involved in European competition.

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EPL teams battle to avoid relegation

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The congested battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League is set for a tense finish this season.

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London - The congested battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League is set for a tense finish with Leicester City, Burnley and Queens Park Rangers hoping to avoid becoming the first promoted sides in 17 years to all go down.

The only time since the Premier League's inception in 1992 that all three sides who came up from the second tier were immediately relegated was in the 1997-98 campaign when Barnsley, Bolton Wanderers and Crystal Palace all failed to beat the drop.

Bottom side Burnley have won just one of their last 13 league fixtures, but despite their struggles boss Sean Dyche has

been praised by many who predicted his side would be dead and buried by now.

“It's different for us, I said to the lads 'you've been written off now, you've been written off all season', so it makes no difference to us,” Dyche said after his side's defeat to Leicester last weekend.

QPR's resistance has not been helped by a dismal away record, an ageing squad and former manager Harry Redknapp's surprise decision to step down in February.

Sunderland currently occupy 18th spot, the final relegation place.

They are a point behind 17th-placed Leicester, but boast a crucial game in hand on Nigel Pearson's side, whose run of four straight league wins came to an end against runaway leaders Chelsea on Wednesday.

While the promoted teams and Sunderland are in a nip-and-tuck battle to avoid the drop, familiar Premier League faces Newcastle United and Aston Villa are not yet safe. Newcastle's interim manager John Carver has endured a torrid time since taking over from Alan Pardew in December and last Saturday's 3-2 defeat by Swansea City at St James' Park was the club's seventh straight loss.

Carver could have also done without 15th-placed Hull City recording back-to-back league wins to move to within a point of Newcastle.

FA Cup finalists Villa, who have never been relegated during the Premier League era, are two points above the drop zone after last weekend's 3-2 defeat against Manchester City.

Ever the optimist, manager Tim Sherwood, who took charge in February, is adamant his side will survive if they perform like they did against last season's champions City.

“What? We play like that and get relegated? You are having a laugh aren't you?,” Sherwood said when asked if he feared dropping down to the Championship.

Premier League bottom seven:

Standings P W D L F A Pts

15 Hull City 34 8 10 16 32 45 34

16 Aston Villa 34 8 8 18 26 48 32

17 Leicester City 34 8 7 19 36 54 31

18 Sunderland 33 5 15 13 26 49 30

19 QPR 34 7 6 21 38 59 27

20 Burnley 34 5 11 18 26 52 26

Reuters



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Footballer dies after collapsing

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Belgium under-21 international Gregory Mertens died three days after collapsing with heart failure during a match.

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Brussels - Belgium under-21 international Gregory Mertens died three days after collapsing with heart failure during a match, a spokesman for his club, Sporting Lokeren, said.

The 24-year-old defender had been in a coma since going into cardiac arrest early in a reserve team game on Monday.

Club spokesman Herman Van De Putte told Reuters that his condition continued to worsen and the player's family had agreed with doctors to switch off the life support system.

“With sadness we announce the loss of Gregory Mertens,” Lokeren said on its Twitter feed. “We wish family and friends all strength.”

Mertens, who joined top flight Lokeren last summer after nearly 100 appearances for Cercle Brugge, collapsed 15 minutes into the game at KRC Genk and despite lengthy efforts to bring him round doctors quickly said his survival needed a “miracle”.

His death shocked many across European soccer.

“Shockingly sad,” tweeted former England striker and television presenter Gary Lineker.

Manchester City said on Twitter: “Our thoughts are with the friends and family of @KSCLokeren's Gregory Mertens at this sad time.” – Reuters



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Pearson apologises for rant

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Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson apologised after a bizarre personal attack on a journalist during a post-match news conference.

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London - Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson apologised after a bizarre personal attack on a journalist during a post-match news conference following his side's Premier League defeat by Chelsea.

Pearson was angered by a question regarding criticism of his relegation-threatened squad this season and called the reporter “an ostrich” before storming out of the press conference after Wednesday's 3-1 defeat.

But speaking at a news conference on Thursday, the 51-year-old Pearson said sorry.

“Apologies,” Pearson said. “They wheel us out and I was not happy about losing.

“I react. Is it pressure? It might be. It's emotion more than anything. I'm not afraid of showing my emotion.

“I also accept when I've stepped out of line so it is only right to apologise.”

Pearson was asked to clarify his views on the “criticism and negativity” after Wednesday's defeat and replied: “If you don't know the answer to that question then I think you are an ostrich.

“Your head must be in the sand. Is your head in the sand? Are you flexible enough to get your head in the sand? My suspicion would be no.”

Pearson has been no stranger to controversy this season and was involved in a touchline spat with a Leicester supporter during a home defeat against Liverpool in December.

Rumours also swirled in February that Pearson had been sacked after a string of poor results and a bizarre sideline tussle with Crystal Palace's James McArthur, where the Leicester boss grabbed the midfielder by the throat.

Seventeenth-placed Leicester remain deep in a relegation battle with 31 points from 34 games, one point ahead of 18th-placed Sunderland but Pearson's side have played a game more.

Leicester had won four straight Premier League matches before the visit of Chelsea and they will be hoping to return to winning ways and condemn Newcastle United to an eighth successive league defeat on Saturday. – Reuters



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Relegation drama continues

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The musical chairs at the bottom of the Absa Premiership continued following AmaZulu’s goalless draw against Platinum Stars.

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The musical chairs at the bottom of the Absa Premiership continued as AmaZulu’s goalless draw against Platinum Stars in KwaMashu moved them back above Moroka Swallows.

The game with few clear-cut chances saw both sides deservedly share the points. AmaZulu’s point helped them leapfrog Swallows courtesy of a better goal difference – both stand on 24 points from 27 matches.

After Free State Stars won in an early game yesterday it looks unlikely that either Swallows or AmaZulu can avoid relegation altogether at the end of 30 games.

Chances are either would have to negotiate the play-offs to stay up, if they avoid automatic relegation.

Whatever happens in AmaZulu’s three remaining games, Durban is favoured to continue enjoying top-flight football next season. This after local side Lamontville Golden Arrows virtually confirmed their return to the top division with a 3-2 win at Thanda Royal Zulu in the First Division.

Arrows twice came from behind to edge the victory in Richard’s Bay to cement their lead at the top of the table with two rounds of games left to play. Goals from Mabhudi Khenyeza, Zukile Mkhize and Nkanyiso Cele cancelled out strikes from Thanda’s Junior Sekete and Mazwi Mncube in the KwaZulu-Natal derby.

The result took the Durban outfit to 15 wins and 56 points, the maximum number of points that second-placed Jomo Cosmos can reach if they win their last two matches.

That means Arrows need only a point from their two games, regardless of how Cosmos fare, to go back up after last season’s relegation.

Cosmos kept up the pressure on Abafana Bes’thende with a 5-0 thumping of Royal Eagles in another match in Durban yesterday. At worst Cosmos should finish second or third to ensure they qualify for the play-offs. Thanda are still in that play-off race as well.

AmaZulu were made to sweat for whatever little possession and goal chances that came their way in the first half against Platinum. Most of the target-shooting came from the visitors, and luckily for Usuthu, the shots were held well by goalie Energy Murambadoro.

Mogakolodi Ngele and Ndumiso Mabena tested Murambadoro, and the latter almost snuck in for a one on one situation with the goalkeeper. Luckily for AmaZulu defender Marc van Heerden slid in to cover for Mbulelo Mabizela and Sadate Ouro-Akoriko in the heart of the defence. - The Star



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Title race will be closer next season

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he expects a much-closer title race next season as his major rivals regroup.

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London – Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he expects a much-closer title race next season as his major rivals regroup.

Thirteen points clear at the top, victory over Crystal Palace will see Chelsea win their fourth Premier League title, but first for five

years.

And Mourinho believes it would be almost impossible for his side to dominate the league next season.

“At this moment, it’s very difficult in the Premier League for a team to be dominant,” he said.

“This is not Germany with Bayern (Munich). This is not Switzerland with Basel. This is not Scotland with Celtic.

“It’s even more difficult to dominate than before. How can you speak about domination when everyone knows what will happen next summer?

“Arsenal have a phenomenal squad. Thierry Henry said they need four top-class players. Give Arsenal four top-class players and I think they will again be the ‘Invincibles’.

“Man United have a phenomenal squad, including the most expensive player in the history of the Premier League (Angel Di Maria), who is not playing.

“They are a club where financial fair play doesn’t make a huge difference for them and they will invest hugely again in the summer.

“Man City have done phenomenally, winning two titles in three years, and people say they will invest hugely.

“Liverpool is fighting for the title for many years. So next year it will be even more difficult for everyone than this year.” – DPA-ANA



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Leicester boss rages at journo

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Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson accused a journalist of being “an ostrich” during a peculiar tirade following his side's 3-1 Premier League loss at home to Chelsea.

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Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson accused a journalist of being “an ostrich” during a peculiar tirade following his side's 3-1 Premier League loss at home to Chelsea.

Ian Baker, who was covering Wednesday's match at the King Power Stadium for AFP, asked Pearson to elaborate after he told his post-match press conference that his players had had to deal with “criticism and negativity”.

“Have you been on holiday for six months? Have you been away for six months?” responded Pearson, whose side are a point above the relegation zone with four matches of the season remaining.

“I think you must have either your head in the clouds, or been away on holiday, or reporting on a different team, because if you don't know the answer to that question...

“Your question is absolutely unbelievable, the fact you do not understand where I am coming from. If you don't know the answer to that question then I think you are an ostrich.

“Your head must be in the sand. Is your head in the sand? Are you flexible enough to get your head in the sand? My suspicion would be no. I can, you can't.”

Pearson, 51, also mockingly mimicked Baker's voice and described him as “daft” and “very stupid” before cutting the press conference short and leaving the room.

The incident created a stir on social media, while a YouTube video of Pearson's outburst had been watched 56,000 times by Thursday morning.

It is not the first time that Pearson, who steered Leicester to promotion from the Championship in 2014, has found himself in the headlines this season.

He was fined £10,000 ($15,470, 13,780 euros) and given a one-match touchline ban by the Football Association for swearing at a Leicester fan during a loss to Liverpool in December and also swore at a journalist last month.

In February he was involved in a curious touchline tussle with Crystal Palace's James McArthur that saw him playfully grab the midfielder by the neck and then prevent him from returning to the pitch by holding his shirt.

Baker maintained a sense of humour over the press conference incident, writing on Twitter: “If getting called an ostrich by Nigel Pearson is not a career highlight I don't know what is.” – AFP



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Birds coach in a race against time

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Just three matches into his tenure as Moroka Swallows coach and Craig Rosslee is already beginning to sound like a stuck record.

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Just three matches into his tenure as Moroka Swallows coach and Craig Rosslee is already beginning to sound like a stuck record.

The refrain “we should have had the maximum points” has become such a part of his post-match interviews that an uninformed observer would think he’s reading from a script.

And while he might be right, Rosslee would do well to sing from another sheet.

After all, what use is it to lament what could have been. A coach’s job is to ensure his team gets the job done, at all costs – and so far Rosslee is failing.

Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at the University of Pretoria should easily have been a win, Swallows dominating proceedings but lacking that killer instinct which has contributed directly to their looking set for relegation.

Yet there was Ross-lee, holding counsel with the media hounds on the pitch long after the final whistle had blown, waxing lyrical about his team’s “good, organised performance” and the fact his goalkeeper “never had to make a save”.

Well, it would all be grand had Sage Stephens stopped Atusaye Nyondo from cancelling out Vuyisile Wana’s strike.

But when you are in the throes of relegation, playing pretty counts for nothing, especially when it does not bring home the desired three points. And this was the case with the Birds at Tuks Stadium as it was nearly two weeks ago in Polokwane where they had the same result against SuperSport United.

Just as against Matsatsantsa, Swallows scored first on Tuesday but failed to defend their lead, or better still add to it, against a side that never really came to play. “It feels like a massive loss given our dire situation,” Rosslee said of the result “We should have been more like the Italians that when we go 1-0 up we don’t concede, especially a goal like the one we did.”

No use saying that after the match though, is it? A good coach would have explained such things to his players before the match. Now Swallows are left to hope for miracles although Rosslee seems to believe they still have their fate in their own hands.

With just three matches remaining in their campaign they better do that fast or prepare for life in the lower division. Tomorrow night they host a Maritzburg United outfit that was beating Ajax Cape Town 1-0 on Tuesday night as Swallows settled for a point at Tuks.

Thereafter there’s a duo of tough clashes against Ajax and Bloemfontein Celtic, making for a bleak outlook for Swallows’ future as one of only five ever-present teams in the elite league since the founding of the Premier Soccer League in 1996. - The Star



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