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International
Monday, April 28, 2014
International
Monday, April 28, 2014
Sp rt
Man United beats Norwich 4-0 as Giggs takes charge Associated Press Writer
MANCHESTER, England — Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata scored twice to ensure Ryan Giggs’ spell as interim Manchester United manager began with a comfortable 4-0 victory against a mediocre Norwich side in the English Premier League on Saturday. It was an upbeat end to a turbulent week at Old Trafford that saw manager David Moyes dismissed just 10 months after succeeding Alex Ferguson, paying the price for taking the club from champions to seventh place. ager but that’s down to the board,” Rooney said. The 40-year-old Giggs has grown up at Old Tafford, from coming as a supporter, rising through the youth team, becoming the club’s most decorated player, and now occupying the manager’s seat in the dugout. “I was nervous, but as soon as I came out of the tunnel the reception I got, the staff got, and the players got was brilliant,” Giggs said. “I’ve got to thank the fans for that because it’s not been an easy week, but I felt 10 feet tall.” Having joked on Friday he would award himself a new five-year playing contract, Giggs denied himself a 963rd United appearance. Watching from the sidelines in a club suit, Giggs ensured the team provided the cathartic experience desired by all at
Old Trafford, near the end of a season of unparalleled inferiority and disorder in the Premier League era. Although there was never a mutinous atmosphere even in the lowest points of Moyes’ ill-fated reign, there has not been this much joy inside the ground for some time; supporters cheered loudly as Giggs emerged from the tunnel before kickoff. Fans inside the so-called Theatre of Dreams will start dreaming again of a brighter future. As if to emphasize the extent of the club moving on after Moyes, it came with Saturday’s start. Marouane Fellaini, the overpriced 27.5 million pound midfield signing which defined Moyes’ reign, didn’t even make the bench and Mata, the club’s record 37.1 million pound
Associated Press Writer
signing in January, was dropped from the starting lineup. Talented teenager Adnan Januzaj, who broke into the first team under Moyes, wasn’t in the matchday squad. The pre-match message by Giggs to the team was: Entertain, attack, play with a tempo. But it was listless for much of the first half until Rooney’s penalty kick lifted the atmosphere just before halftime. Rooney scored again within three minutes of the new half, and Mata’s arrival from the bench ensured the victory was even more convincing. Had United managed similar displays against the leading teams this season, Moyes might still be in a job and the team might be challenging for the title and not a Europa League spot. “We underperformed, we obviously have to take a lot of the responsibility but we have to move on,” Rooney said. “We have to show we are a top team and that’s what we plan to do.”
REUTERS/ Nigel Roddis
“They’re all good players and all of us have let ourselves down this year,” Giggs said. “We haven’t played to the level that we’re capable of this season, but we did that today.” However uplifting this rout was for disgruntled fans, it came against a relegation-threatened team with the worst away record in the league. And United did also score four goals in winning two of Moyes’ last three domestic fixtures. Although there could be a clamor for Giggs to stay in charge after these remaining four matches of the season, United plans to appoint a more experienced, proven trophy winner. Outgoing Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal is the favorite for the job. “Giggs has got all the credentials to be the next man-
Bayern rallies, beats Bremen 5-2 in the Bundesliga
Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney celebrates after scoring a second goal against Norwich during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England April 26, 2014.
Ronaldo strikes twice as Real close on Atletico Reuters
Real Madrid’s rampant Cristiano Ronaldo looked to be back at his best as he scored at the start of each half to set up a 4-0 victory over lowly Osasuna and put the pressure back on La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid on Saturday. Sergio Ramos and Daniel Carvajal also netted for Real who are second on 82 points, three behind Atletico before their trip to Valencia on Sunday with both teams having played 34 games. Barcelona, mourning the death of former coach Tito Vilanova on Friday, are now in third place with 81 points from 34 matches and travel to Villarreal on Sunday. Real did not risk Gareth Bale or Karim Benzema against Osasuna ahead of their Champions league semi-final second leg at Bayern Munich on Tuesday in which they hold a 1-0 advantage.
But there was no holding Ronaldo, who only returned from injury in Wednesday’s first leg against Bayern at the Bernabeu having been out since early April, as he cut in from the left wing and fired into the corner of the net after six minutes. The prolific Portuguese forward then cracked home a fine long-range drive after 52 minutes before being substituted leaving Ramos and Carvajal to wrap up the win with headers. “Cristiano is fine and he played with more assuredness and confidence than on Wednesday. It all went well for him and us,” Real coach Carlo Ancelotti told a news conference. “We were able to rest some players and it was a good game even though there was no great intensity.” The Italian added that Bale and Benzema will be fine to face Bayern, saying: “Benzema is improving and won’t have any problems
for Tuesday. He will train normally tomorrow. “Bale had a cold that has left him very weak and we have preferred that he trains on his own but he will also be ready to play,” he said. Earlier, Adrian Colunga struck for Getafe who beat Malaga 1-0 to boost their survival hopes and condemn Real Betis to relegation. The Andalusian side went on to lose 1-0 at home to Real Sociedad with Carlos Vela scoring the only goal from the penalty spot at the start of the second half. RONALDO UNFORGIVING
Osasuna went out with the aim of being solid and frustrating Real as they did at home in the league, where they got a point, but Ronaldo only needed a sniff of goal which fullback Damia Abella gave him after a few minutes and he
was unforgiving. Real controlled the midfield with Osasuna limited to counter-attacks where they created little danger. There were anxious glances when Ronaldo held the back of his leg midway through the first half but it proved a false alarm and he continued to look lively on the ball. A free-kick from the Portuguese forward whistled just wide and from another set-play he set up Ramos who shot over. Marcelo and Luka Modric also tested keeper Andres Fernandez and after the restart Ronaldo extended the lead with a moment of quality when his shot from distance nestled in the top corner. Shortly afterwards he was taken off but the goals continued to flow as Ramos nodded in an Angel Di Maria cross and then Isco set up substitute Carvajal to head in for a resounding victory.
FRANKFURT, Germany — Bayern Munich warmed up for its Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid with a 5-2 win over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Bayern trailed twice but scored three goals in a seven-minute span in the second half to put the match away. Franck Ribery scored and played a role in two other goals as his form finally improved ahead of Tuesday’s match against Madrid, which holds a 1-0 lead from the home leg. Claudio Pizarro scored twice for Bayern against his former club. “We conceded two counter goals and we can’t let it happen on Tuesday,” Pizarro said. “Perhaps it’s better not to score so many if we give away fewer.” Bayer Leverkusen drew 2-2 at home with Borussia Dortmund and failed to consolidate a place in Champions League qualifying. Leverkusen was only one point ahead of Wolfsburg. Dortmund remained second and was sure to play in the Champions League next season. Wolfsburg’s mood was dampened by a 2-2 draw against Freiburg at home. Bottom clubs Nuremberg and Eintracht Braunschweig both lost, which means they can avoid relegation only by reaching the playoff spot at the expense of Hamburger SV, which plays on Sunday in Augsburg. There are two rounds left. Hamburg has a match in hand and could escape from the playoff spot. Nuremberg lost 2-0 in Mainz, Braunschweig went down 2-0 at Hertha Berlin, and Hoffenheim and Eintracht Frankfurt drew 0-0. Bayern’s players wore black armbands and a minute of silence was observed before kickoff in honor of former Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova, who died on Friday. Bayern also expressed condolences, in German and Catalan, on its website. Before becoming head coach, Vilanova was the assistant of Pep Guardiola, who is now the Bayern coach. “We experienced a lot together. We lost together and won together. This is a very difficult situation,” Guardiola said. “The sadness will accompany me forever.”
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Napoli fail to take chances in draw with Inter Reuters
ROME - Napoli missed a chance to secure Champions League football next season when they shared a goalless draw at Inter Milan in an entertaining encounter on Saturday. Rafael Benitez’s third-placed Napoli have 69 points and extended their lead over Fiorentina, in fourth, to eight points with three games to play. Benitez’s men created plenty of chances but failed to capitalise on their superiority, particularly in the second half. Jose Callejon was the worst culprit, volleying wide from Dries Mertens’s pinpoint through ball in the 13th minute with the goal at his mercy, while Gokhan Inler struck the inside of the post with nine minutes left. “I could have finished the match. It wasn’t easy but I was in front of (Inter keeper Samir) Handanovic. It’s a shame,” said Inler. Vincenzo Montella’s Fiorentina, who take on Napoli in next Saturday’s Italian Cup final, crushed relegation-threatened Bologna 3-0 thanks to a double from Juan Cuadrado and a deflected strike from Josip Ilicic. Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain may miss the final after leaving the field on a stretcher four minutes before the end following a thumping challenge from Marco Andreolli on the edge of the box just as the Argentine striker was set to shoot. “He has bruising to the ankle and we’ll have to keep an eye on his condition over the next few days,” said Benitez. “We need to wait and see, we still don’t know anything.” Inter, who created chances of their own in a frantic first half, are fifth on 57 points. They are four points behind Fiorentina and six ahead of AC Milan, who lost 2-0 at AS Roma on Friday, and Parma who travel to Cagliari on Sunday. Napoli and Inter came roaring out of the blocks and the home team had marginally the better of the opening exchanges.
Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne, right, challenge for the ball with Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo, of Japan, during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Napoli, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Saturday, April 26, 2014. TIGHT MARKING
Mateo Kovacic did well to spin away from tight marking and force a good save from Pepe Reina with a drilled shot from just outside the area with 11 minutes gone. The best chance of the first half fell to Callejon who timed his run perfectly to meet a beautiful pass from Mertens only to screw his volley wide from 12 metres. Napoli turned the screw in the second half and would have come away with the three points had it not been for solid Inter defending and some bad luck in front of goal. Yuti Nagatomo did well to block Higuain’s 50th-minute shot when he looked set to score while seconds later Mertens flashed Jorginho’s lobbed pass across goal and through the legs of Inter defenders only to see the ball roll wide.
AP Photo/Luca Bruno
Inter looked dangerous when they ventured forward, with Nagatomo hitting a shot into Reina’s legs from a tight angle. However, if Inler’s shot had gone in rather than crashed against the post Walter Mazzarri’s Inter could have had no complaints. “We had chances and lots of possession against a very good Inter team,” said Benitez. “We created and controlled the game - a draw against them is a good result but we could have done even better. “Sometimes we’re too selfish with the ball but today we were looking for a team mate too often instead of shooting.” Mazzarri was particularly pleased with his Inter team’s performance in the opening 45 minutes. “We played brilliantly in the first half,” he said. “I was disappointed that we didn’t score because we played really well.
Thousands gather in memory of Barcelona’s coach Associated Press Writer
AP Photo/Manu Fernandez
A man places flowers for pay his respect to late former FC Barcelona’s coach Tito Vilanova at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 26, 2014.
BARCELONA, Spain — More than 20,000 of Barcelona’s fans gathered along with players to pay their respects to Tito Vilanova at Camp Nou on Saturday, a day after the former coach died following a battle with throat cancer. Condolences continued to pour in from across Europe, with Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola saying he would never forget his former coaching partner at Barcelona, who died at the age of 45. “We experienced a lot together,” Guardiola said. “We lost together and won together. This is a very difficult situation. The sadness will accompany me forever.” The day began with Barcelona’s players signing a
book of condolence and silently remembering Vilanova. The club then opened the temporary memorial site to the public. It said 20,802 mourners came to pay their respects. The attendees included Artur Mas, Catalonia’s regional president, and the club president of crosstown rival Espanyol, Joan Collet. “It’s a difficult moment,” Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said. “We send our support to his family and friends. A great, complete person, an example, has left us. This is a difficult blow.” Vilanova’s illness forced him to step down as Barcelona coach last summer after winning the 2012-13 Spanish league. He previously served as Guardiola’s assistant at Barce-
lona for a four-year run during which the team won 14 of a possible 19 titles, helping to establish the club’s most successful era. Bayern expressed its condolences on its website, underscoring the relationship between Guardiola and Vilanova, which the Bundesliga champion’s statement said “went well beyond a professional bond.” A minute’s silence was held for Vilanova before this weekend’s round of league matches in Spain, and also before Bayern’s home game against Werder Bremen, with Bayern players wearing black armbands. Barcelona has declared three days of mourning for Vilanova, whose funeral will be on Monday in Barcelona’s cathedral.