MEARS CLOSES IN ON OLYMPIC DREAM February 21, 2012 BRITAIN’S Chris Mears secured an additional place in the Olympic 3m springboard diving competition with a top 16 qualifying display at the FINA World Cup in London. Mears’s performance should all but secure his Olympic selection, subject to official confirmation by the British Olympic Association. Picture: GETTY
Man Utd cash down, revenue up February 21, 2012 FOOTBALL: Manchester United’s cash reserves plummeted £100m in the second half of 2011 as they spent big on signings and stadium improvements and bond repurchasing. Revenue was up 10 per cent to £175m.
Vettel outpaces Lewis in Spain February 21, 2012 FORMULA ONE: World champion Sebastian Vettel set the pace as the second pre-season test in Barcelona began yesterday. Britain’s Lewis Hamilton was third fastest, behind Nico Hulkenburg.
Tevez finally says sorry to City February 21, 2012 FOOTBALL: Five months on from going on strike Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has apologised “sincerely and unreservedly” for his conduct.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TIPPING February 20, 2012 THE pick of Tuesday night’s Champions League action sees an under pressure Chelsea side travel to one of the toughest grounds in European football, the Stadio San Paolo. Andre Villas-Boas was supposed to be the new Jose Mourinho but as yet, he’s been unable to get his Chelsea team anywhere near the heights that their [...]
Villas-Boas calls for club to back him February 20, 2012 Under-fire Blues boss chooses eve of Champions League clash to request the support of the board NAPOLI vs CHELSEA CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas has responded to fresh questions regarding his future by challenging the club’s hierarchy to underline their faith in his ability by providing him with public backing. A 1-1 draw at home against [...]
Madman Bielsa linked with Stamford Bridge hotseat February 20, 2012 FORMER Argentina and Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa has been sounded out about replacing Andre Villas-Boas at Chelsea, according to reports in Spain. Bielsa, whose eccentricity has earned him the nickname Madman, has only been in charge at Athletic Bilbao since the start of the season. But he is said to be willing to consider switching [...]
KNOW YOUR ENEMY: NAPOLI February 20, 2012 FORM They may be struggling to match the heights of last season’s top three finish but Napoli are currently on a decent run, having lost just once in nine Serie A games and not conceded in more than six hours. Friday’s 3-0 win at Fiorentina left them sixth in the table. EUROPEAN CLOUT Napoli are [...]
Top Europeans can lay down some early Ryder Cup markers February 20, 2012 THE RYDER Cup might still be seven months away but both team captains will be casting their eyes over events at the Match Play Championship in Tuscon this week. It might be early in the season but it’s certainly an opportunity, should the draw go to form, for one or two Europeans to gain a [...]
Arsenal urged to consider rights issue to protect £50m war chest February 20, 2012 STRUGGLING Arsenal were last night urged to consider issuing new shares in a bid to bolster their finances and free up cash for new players. The Gunners are poised to confirm more healthy financial results, with last summer’s sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri swelling their available cash to £50m. But that could be [...]