DT
32 Sport
THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015
Sterling wins Liverpool award, booed by some fans n Reuters, London
Madame Tussauds New York officially unveils the wax figure of football icon and star forward for FC Barcelona Lionel Messi portrayed in his Argentina national team uniform from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in New York City on Tuesday AFP
Raheem Sterling has been named Liverpool’s young player of the year but was booed by a small number of fans when he collected the award on Tuesday amid speculation that the England winger is angling for a move away from Anfield. Sterling was jeered by some supporters, while others shouted “Stay, Raheem” as he picked up the accolade a day after British media reported that the 20-year-old was poised to request a transfer. In February, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said that Sterling had been offered an “incredible” new contract, with some reports suggesting the club had put forward a deal worth 100,000 pounds ($154,980) per week. Sterling denied he was a “money-grabbing 20-year-old” in an interview with the BBC last month but also said he was in no rush to sign a new contract. Speaking at the club’s awards ceremony, Rodgers said this season has been a struggle for fifth-placed Liverpool because of a number of “distractions”. “Expectancy from last season was going to be high,” Rodgers said. “Things that have happened, the distractions, you can’t plan for them. “It has been a difficult, trying season but the players will all be better for it next year.l
Atletico primed for further Barca, Real slips: Simeone n Reuters, Madrid
Last season’s Spanish champions Atletico Madrid will be ready to pounce again if wealthy heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid show any more signs of weakness, according to coach Diego Simeone. Barca clinched the La Liga title on Sunday with a 1-0 win at Atletico, exactly a year after Simeone’s side pipped them to the Spanish league trophy, their first in 18 years, with a 1-1
draw at the Nou Camp. Atletico were able to capitalise on Barca and Real’s inconsistency in 2013-14 but with one game remaining this term, are left fighting for third place and a berth in the Champions League group stage. Atletico have 77 points in third, three ahead of fourth-placed Valencia, with Sevilla a point further adrift in fifth. Simeone’s men face a tricky final match on Saturday at Granada, who are 16th and fight-
ing for the top-flight survival. “We have to prepare as a team for when Real Madrid and Barcelona are not so attentive,” Simeone told Spanish radio station Onda Cero in a late-night interview on Tuesday. “Last year, they were not so focused and we were able to get in the mix but Valencia and Sevilla are also aware of this and that strengthens the league,” the Argentine added. “To become champions again we have to work to finish second, third and when
they (Real and Barca) get distracted win the title again.” Once Barca’s prolific Argentina forward Lionel Messi, who scored the winner on Sunday, retired, Atletico would have an even better chance, he joked. Despite losing top scorer Diego Costa to Chelsea, Atletico have still put together an impressive season, twice beating Real in La Liga, including a 4-0 drubbing of their neighbours at the Calderon in February.l
Van Gaal steals show at Man United awards n AFP, London Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was the talk of social media in Britain on Wednesday after an eccentric turn at the club’s end-ofseason awards ceremony at Old Trafford. The 63-year-old Dutchman clipped assistant manager Ryan Giggs around the ear after the Welshman outbid him for a round of golf with former United striker Dwight Yorke during an auction at the event on Tuesday. He then took to the stage to deliver a rambling seven-minute speech, at one point punching the air and roaring “Yes!” as he recalled a team meeting at which captain Wayne Rooney had urged the team to push for second place in the Premier League. Van Gaal also said that United had been “very close” to winning the title, despite the fact they currently
trail champions Chelsea by 15 points. After concluding his speech, which was broadcast live on United’s in-house television channel MUTV, Van Gaal returned to the stage and interrupted the presenter by saying: “Hello, hello! Pay attention to the manager!” He went on to chastise the crowd for not applauding a female saxophonist, saying: “I have seen a lady who plays the saxophone fantastically. Give her a big applause!” Former United captain Gary Neville tweeted: “LVG is cracking me up here. Great entertainment! One of the best/funniest 20 mins I’ve ever had!” United goalkeeper David de Gea, who has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid, won both the Players’ Player and Fans’ Player of the Year awards for the second season running.l
(From Top Left) Manchester United’s Dutch manager Louis van Gaal and players Falcao, Rooney , Victor Valdes, Robin Van Persie and Marcos Rojo pose for pictures on the red carpet of the ‘Manchester United Player of the Year Awards’ at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester on Tuesday AFP