Matic hails boss Mourinho as Chelsea seal his £21m return January 15, 2014 NEW Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic branded boss Jose Mourinho the world’s best yesterday, after completing his £21m return to Stamford Bridge. Matic moved to Benfica from Chelsea three years ago as part of the deal which saw defender David Luiz move the opposite way. But the 25-year-old, who worked under Carlo Ancelotti during his first [...]
I hope Murray’s back isn’t better, says opponent January 15, 2014 FOURTH seed Andy Murray is not the only man at the Australian Open aiming to return to top form after a debilitating back injury. In fact, his opponent for this morning’s second-round match, Frenchman Vincent Millot, also spent much of the second half of last year nursing such an ailment. Tennis similarities between the Wimbledon [...]
Pochettino’s Saints future in doubt January 15, 2014 FOOTBALL: Uncertainty over the future of Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino grew last night, after chairman Nicola Cortese resigned. Pochettino indicated in May 2013 he could not envisage working at the club if Cortese left, saying: “I would not understand a Southampton without Nicola being here.” Saints owner Katharina Liebherr has assumed the role of non-executive [...]
Barker, 31, hangs up his gloves January 15, 2014 BOXING: Former world middleweight champion Darren Barker announced his retirement yesterday. The 31-year-old dislocated his hip during defeat to Felix Sturm in December. It was his first title defence after winning the IBF belt against Daniel Geale in Atlantic City in August.
Row as tennis stars faint in 42C heatwave January 14, 2014 AUSTRALIAN Open tennis chiefs were forced to defend their refusal to implement an extreme heat policy yesterday after players and ball boys fainted on court as temperatures in Melbourne rocketed past 42C. Canadian Frank Dancevic called the decision to allow matches to continue “inhumane” after he passed out from heatstroke during his first-round defeat, adding: [...]
Cricket Comment: Selectors cannot disregard Cook woe indefinitely January 14, 2014 ENGLAND’S problem, in Test matches and now one-day cricket too, is that they have forgotten how to get runs on the board and build a strong start. And that is why the current malaise afflicting their captain in both forms, Alastair Cook, is a concern that is increasingly difficult to ignore. Cook managed just four [...]
Hull owner threatens to quit if Tigers name change is blocked January 14, 2014 CONTROVERSIAL Hull City owner and main financial backer Assem Allam has warned he will walk away from the football club if he is not permitted to change their name to Hull Tigers. Allam has defied some supporters of the Premier League side by lodging an official request with the Football Association to change their name. [...]
Top class field ready to block Farah’s London Marathon bid January 14, 2014 DOUBLE Olympic champion Mo Farah admits he faces one of the toughest challenges of his career, as he bids to become the first British male winner for 21 years of the London Marathon against an elite field unveiled yesterday. The 30-year-old is set to make his debut over the 26.2-mile course on 13 April against [...]
FA Cup: Fulham chase Morrison as they reach round four January 14, 2014 FULHAM 3 vs NORWICH CITY 0 FULHAM manager Rene Meulensteen is confident of landing West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison this month, despite revealing shortly after his team’s safe passage into the FA Cup fourth round that a bid had been rejected. Goals from Darren Bent, Ashkan Dejagah and top-scorer Steve Sidwell decided the third round [...]
Holt completes Villa loan switch while Stoke seal double swoop January 14, 2014 NEW Aston Villa striker Grant Holt is relishing a return to the Premier League after completing a surprise loan switch from Wigan yesterday. Holt has struck just two goals in 21 matches since his £2m summer move from Norwich to the FA Cup holders. But Villa boss Paul Lambert has swooped to bring in the [...]