Scotland lining up Olympic team September 18, 2013 OLYMPICS: Scotland will have its own team at the 2016 Rio Olympics if it votes for independence next year, according to Scottish Sports Minister Shona Robison. She said: “We’re assured Scotland will have its own team. It will bring many benefits.”
Champions League: Rooney tipped for greatness after 200th United goal September 17, 2013 MANCHESTER UNITED 4 BAYER LEVERKUSEN 2 STRIKER Wayne Rooney hit his 200th Manchester United goal to see off Bayer Leverkusen last night and manager David Moyes believes he can become a legend at Old Trafford. Rooney became only the fourth player in the club’s history to reach that milestone, scoring twice to help earn United’s [...]
Champions League: Perfect start but no priority for Pellegrini September 17, 2013 VIKTORIA PLZEN 0 MANCHESTER CITY 3 MANCHESTER City boss Manuel Pellegrini was delighted with the start his side made to their Champions League campaign, but insists their pursuit of the trophy will not take priority over winning the Premier League title this season. Second half goals from Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero earned [...]
Wenger fears French clubs in super-rich era September 17, 2013 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has warned his players that the strength of the French league goes deeper than the free-spending pair of Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco. Wenger believes tonight’s Champions League opponents Marseille are among those who have risen to the challenge of Ligue 1’s super-rich, and even benefited from their recruitment policies. “In the [...]
My eggs need crack at Europe, says Mourinho September 17, 2013 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho resurrected his egg analogy yesterday as he lauded the benefits of Champions League football but denied winning the competition had become his obsession. Mourinho was asked to compare his current group of players to eggs, as he memorably did six years ago on the eve of what would be the last [...]
O’Sullivan told by Hearn to name and shame match-fixers September 17, 2013 SNOOKER chief Barry Hearn has told five-time World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan he is contractually obliged to name players he believes have been guilty of match-fixing. Former world No5 Stephen Lee faces a possible life ban after being found guilty of seven counts of influencing matches between 2008 and 2009. And O’Sullivan, 37, took to Twitter, [...]
I’d rather have gone to hospital than lose the stage, says Wiggins September 17, 2013 OLYMPIC champion Sir Bradley Wiggins was happy to risk his own welfare to win stage three of the Tour of Britain yesterday. In driving rain, Wiggins, 33, completed the 10-mile course at Knowsley Safari Park in 19 minutes, 54 seconds and now holds a 37-second advantage over compatriot and Team Sky colleague Ian Stannard with [...]
Golf Comment: Johnson peaking as FedEx Cup finale nears September 17, 2013 THE BMW Championship may have ended a day late due to bad weather but there’s not too much wrong with Zach Johnson’s timing as the finale to golf’s richest competition arrives this week. Former Masters winner Johnson’s victory on Monday was his first of the year but capped a superb run of six top 10 [...]
Cilic ban: Star in appeal vow September 17, 2013 CROATIAN tennis star Marin Cilic has vowed to appeal his nine-month doping ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Former world No9 Cilic was this week suspended until February for returning a sample containing nikethamide at the Munich Open in May. His ban was reduced to nine months because he argued he had [...]
Ledley King: English coaches must learn to embrace the little guys or risk missing out on our own Lionel Messi September 17, 2013 Exclusive: Ex-Spurs captain on trouble with our academies, Bale and managing. HAD Lionel Messi been born in England the football world could have been robbed of one of its greatest ever stars. That is the belief of former Tottenham defender Ledley King, who fears the 5ft 7in Argentina forward, hailed by some as the best [...]