08-02-2021

MONDAY, FEbrUArY 8, 2021
9
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his side should not be considered Premier
League title contenders after twice blowing the lead to draw 3-3 at home to Everton. Photo: AP
Man Utd not title contenders, says
Solskjaer after everton draw
england all out
for 578 in first
India test
SPOrtS DeSk:
england were bowled out
for 578 by India on the third
morning of the opening test
in Chennai on Sunday with
Jasprit Bumrah and
ravichandran Ashwin
claiming three wickets each,
reports BSS.
Bumrah trapped overnight
batsman Dom Bess lbw for 34
with the score on 567 after
england had resumed on 555-
8.
Ashwin bowled number 11
James Anderson for one to
wrap up the england innings
after the opposition bowlers
had toiled for 190.1 overs
during more than two days in
the field.
england captain Joe root
on Saturday became the first
player to score a double
century in his 100th test
before being dismissed for
218.
Djokovic has 'not much
respect' for kyrgios
off the court
SPOrtS DeSk:
World number one Novak
Djokovic said Sunday he had
little respect for Nick
kyrgios's off-court antics
after the polarising
Australian recently called
him "a tool", reports BSS.
kyrgios has waged a
running battle with the Serb
in recent times, sparked by
Djokovic's ill-fated Adria
tour exhibition series last
year as the coronavirus
pandemic raged.
After lashing his
"stupidity" when several
players who took part
contracted Covid-19,
kyrgios also quickly weighed
in when Djokovic was
sensationally disqualified
from the US Open for hitting
a woman line judge in the
throat with a ball.
And last month, he
dismissed him as a "tool"
after the Serb issued a list of
demands for quarantined
players who arrived on
charter flights for the
Australian Open.
Djokovic, who is gunning
for an 18th Grand Slam title
at the Australian Open, said
he had mixed views on the
combustible kyrgios.
"I think he's good for the
sport. Obviously he's
someone that is different.
He goes about his tennis, he
goes about his off court
things in his own authentic
way," he said.
"I have respect for him. I
have respect for everyone
else really because everyone
has a right and freedom to
choose how they want to
express themselves, what
they want to do.
"My respect goes to him
for the tennis he's playing.
"Off the court, I don't have
much respect for him, to be
honest. "that's where I'll
close it. I really don't have
any further comments for
him, his own comments for
me or anything else he's
trying to do."
kyrgios's feud with
Djokovic dates back to 2019,
he when he told the No
Challenges remaining
podcast: "I just feel like he
(Djokovic) has a sick
obsession, wanting to be
liked."
SPOrtS DeSk:
Manchester United manager Ole
Gunnar Solskjaer said his side should
not be considered Premier League title
contenders after twice blowing the lead
to draw 3-3 at home to everton on
Saturday, reports BSS.
Victory would have pulled United
level on points with leaders
Manchester City, but they have now
won just one of their last four games to
allow their local rivals to open up a
commanding advantage at the top of
the table. City enjoy a two-point lead
but also have two games in hand over
United, the first of which comes away
to defending champions Liverpool on
Sunday.
"We're not talking about winning
titles, this team has come a long way,"
said Solskjaer, who side finished 33
points behind Liverpool last season.
"We shouldn't be considered as title
chasers. that's one for you (the media).
We've got to get better as a team and
see where we end up.
"Going forward we were very good,
Medvedev, rublev
fire russia to maiden
AtP Cup victory
SPOrtS DeSk:
A relentless russia
crushed Italy 2-0 to win
their maiden AtP Cup
Sunday with Daniil
Medvedev and Andrey
rublev in red-hot form
leading into the Australian
Open, reports BSS.
russia were the only
nation in the 12-team event
to boast two top 10 players
and they had swept past
Japan, Argentina and
Germany en route to the
decider. Italy faced the same
juggernaut on rod Laver
Arena, with rublev
destroying Fabio Fognini 6-
1, 6-2 in just 61 minutes
before Medvedev
overpowered Matteo
Berrettini 6-4, 6-2 in 79
minutes.
"Such a pleasure to be part
of this team," said russia
captain evgeny Donskoy.
"It's not a tough job to be
captain of such a strong
team."
but we need to stop conceding easy
goals."
everton's late show extends their
unbeaten run on the road to seven
games and moves Carlo Ancelotti's
men back up to sixth, three points off
the top four.
Ahead of the game, the Munich air
disaster - in which seven United
players were killed 63 years ago - was
remembered with wreaths laid by both
captains. A slow start followed that
sombre note, but the match burst into
life after edinson Cavani's excellent
movement created space for the
Uruguayan to head home Marcus
rashford's pinpoint cross at the far
post on 24 minutes.
Ancelotti cut a frustrated figure on
the touchline during the first-half as his
side constantly played themselves into
trouble rather than seeking out the
pace of richarlison and Dominic
Calvert-Lewin on the counter-attack.
"We were a little bit shy in the firsthalf,"
said Ancelotti.
"We had the opportunity in counterattack
in the first-half, but we were not
clinical in passing forward.
"We didn't deserve to lose. I think the
draw was fair because the effort and
spirit in the second-half was really
good." the one time a long ball did find
richarlison he nearly caught out David
de Gea with an audacious effort from a
narrow angle.
United were dealt a blow six minutes
before the break when Paul Pogba
hobbled off with a thigh muscle injury
to be replaced by Fred. Pogba would
have been a far better option on the
edge of the box when the Brazilian
dragged a shot wide moments later.
However, Bruno Fernandes is
United's star man from that range and
showed why with a sumptuous lobbed
effort over robin Olsen for his 18th
goal of the season.
At that stage, Solskjaer's men looked
in complete command, but they got a
warning of what was about to come in
first-half stoppage time when Calvert-
Lewin slotted wide when one-on-one
with De Gea.
Lyon see off Strasbourg to
move top of Ligue 1
Sports Desk: Memphis Depay scored
twice as Lyon piled the pressure on their
title rivals by moving top of Ligue 1 on
Saturday with a straightforward 3-0 win
over 10-man Strasbourg, reports BSS.
rudi Garcia's men now sit one point
ahead of previous leaders Lille, who visit
struggling Nantes on Sunday, with
reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain
three points further back ahead of their
game at arch rivals Marseille.
Lyon have lost just one of their last 21
Ligue 1 matches as they bid for a first
league title since the most recent of their
seven straight crowns in 2008.
"We had a very good game. I enjoyed
watching my team play," said Lyon coach
Garcia.
"We wanted to string together our
fourth consecutive victory and put
pressure on our rivals who play on
Sunday."
the visitors were left with a mountain
to climb early on at the Groupama
Stadium, as Adrien thomasson lost his
composure and was booked twice in the
space of 40 seconds in the 14th minute.
Depay turned in the opening goal six
minutes later, scoring for the 12th time in
the league this season.
Strasbourg goalkeeper eiji kawashima
denied the Dutch forward a second soon
after, but Lyon did double their
advantage on the half-hour mark as karl
toko ekambi dinked in after collecting
thiago Mendes' pass.
Former Manchester United winger
Depay, who had gone four games without
a goal before kick-off, curled in the hosts'
third with a free-kick in the 68th minute.
Strasbourg, who are winless in four
outings, appeared resigned to their fate
from very early in the match and Lyon
completed victory despite barely
breaking sweat.
elsewhere, european hopefuls Lens
and rennes played out a drab goalless
draw at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
the hosts move into sixth, two points
behind fifth-placed rennes, but having
played a game more.
Lorient beat reims 1-0 to continue
their fine run of form, which includes a
remarkable 3-2 victory at PSG last
weekend, to move three points clear of
the bottom three.
Memphis Depay scored twice as Lyon piled the pressure on their title rivals by moving top of
Ligue 1 on Saturday with a straightforward 3-0 win over 10-man Strasbourg. Photo: AP
World number one Novak Djokovic said Sunday he had little respect for Nick Kyrgios's off-court
antics after the polarising Australian recently called him "a tool".
Photo: AP
'Suffering' Nadal's
Aussie Open in
doubt with back
injury
SPOrtS DeSk:
rafael Nadal admitted
Sunday he had been
"suffering" for 15 days with
a sore back and could not
guarantee he'll play the
Australian Open, with the
injury threatening to derail
his bid for a record 21st
Grand Slam, reports BSS.
the world number two
sat our Spain's AtP Cup
campaign in warm-up
week, and he hasn't played
a competitive match since
the AtP Finals in London
in November.
His only appearance
since was an exhibition
game against Dominic
thiem in Adelaide nine
days ago, where he first
experienced stiffness in his
back.
"Not great obviously," he
said of the back injury on
the eve of the first Grand
Slam of the year. "It's true
that for the last 15 days I
have been suffering.
"In the beginning, the
muscle was just a little bit
tired but I feel (now) a little
bit more stiff than usual."
the 34-year-old has been
hitting the practice courts
at Melbourne Park in a
desperate bid to be fit and
firing for the Australian
Open, which starts
Monday.
Nadal insisted the injury
was "not serious" but
remained unsure whether
he would take to the court
for his first-round match
against Laslo Djere of
Serbia which is scheduled
for tuesday.
"the muscle is still tight,
so it is difficult to play with
freedom of movement," he
said.
evergreen ronaldo lifts
Juventus to third in Serie
A, Napoli sink in Genoa
SPOrtS DeSk
evergreen striker Cristiano
ronaldo scored the day after
turning 36 as Juventus
overtook roma to go third in
Serie A on Saturday with a 2-
0 win over the capital side as
Napoli slumped in Genoa,
reports BSS.
Juventus move five points
behind leaders Inter Milan,
who beat Fiorentina 2-0 on
Friday, with a game in hand.
Second-placed AC Milan
are one point off top spot
before hosting struggling
Crotone on Sunday.
Napoli missed the chance to
pull level on points with
roma, falling to their second
defeat in three league games,
2-1 against resurgent Genoa.
ronaldo put Juventus
ahead on 13 minutes with his
16th league goal of the
campaign to extend his lead
as Serie A's top scorer this
term ahead of Inter's romelu
Lukaku. the Portuguese
striker, who scored a double
in the Italian Cup in midweek
against Inter, ended his threematch
league run without a
goal.
the five-time Ballon d'Or
winner missed other chances
as he was denied by the
crossbar in the 23rd minute
and roma goalkeeper Pau
Lopez seven minutes before
the break.
Juventus's second goal
Sparkling Spieth shares Phoenix
Open lead with Schauffele
SPOrtS DeSk
Former world number one Jordan Spieth, seeking a first
victory in more than three years, fired a scintillating 61 at
tPC Scottsdale on Saturday to share the Phoenix Open
lead with Xander Schauffele, reports BSS.
Spieth had 10 birdies in his 10-under par 61, tying his
career-low round on the US PGA tour for an 18-under par
three-round total of 195.
Overnight leader Schauffele fired a six-under par 65.
A victory would mark a return from the wilderness for
Spieth, who won the 2015 Masters and US Open before
his 22nd birthday but hasn't landed in the winner's circle
since capturing his third major title at the 2017 British
Open at royal Birkdale.
"I have no expectations on the results tomorrow, I really
don't," said Spieth, who has dropped to 92nd in the world
amid his struggle to rebuild his game and regain his
confidence. "I built some freedom now seeing these
results the first few days here to where I feel really good
about the path I'm on.
"I feel good about what the long-term ahead looks like for
me. And sometimes that has been in question, to myself."
came 20 minutes from time
when roger Ibanez turned
into his own net while trying
to stop ronaldo getting to a
Dejan kulusevski cross.
"We'd prepared for this sort
of game," said coach Andrea
Pirlo, whose side drew 2-2
with roma the last time the
teams met.
"In the reverse fixture,
roma employed the same
tactic against us and this time
we wanted to turn the game
on its head tactically.
"Morale is high. Defensively
we're strong and we're more
alert than we were before."
Pirlo has settled into his role
as Juventus boss after a
stuttering start to the
campaign, with six wins in
seven league games in 2021.
"You learn from matches and
defeats. You learn something
from every game, especially as
it's so tactical in Italy and you
can't play every game the same
way," said the former Italian
World Cup winner. ronaldo
later tweeted: "Happy to score
and help the team against a
tough opponent! 3 important
points!"
Meanwhile, Paulo
Fonseca's roma have still not
beaten any of the other top
eight teams this season.
Former captain edin Dzeko
returned after being sidelined
following a falling out with
Fonseca, but the Bosnian's
presence did not lift his side.
roma are two points
behind Juventus in fourth,
having played one game more
than the turin giants.
"We had more shots on goal
(14 to 3), more corners (9 to
2), but it's the team that scores
goals that wins," said
Fonseca.