English football is on hold until April 30, although the measure is expected to extend beyond that date. Footballers and coaches can do little other than stay fit and ready for when he resumes. On a social level, many of them are becoming involved at various levels in the battle against the coronavirus. This is the case of Pep Guardiola. The Spanish coach of Manchester City has collaborated with the donation of a million euros to support the fight against the pandemic. Today he has addressed his fans through Manchester City social networks to urge them to follow medical recommendations. “We miss football, we miss the life we had until a few days ago, but now is the time to follow and listen to the recommendations of our scientists and our doctors”, Explain. Guardiola has wanted to be close to the people who are confined at home. “We are a family and we will do everything we can to make you feel better. We will come back from this stronger, better, friendlier and … a little fatter ”, The coach commented before concluding, they are the motto “stay home, stay safe”. The City tries to liven up its own with videos of personal training sessions for its staff, as well as challenges and even explanations of the favorite recipes of its footballers.
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“Returning to Barcelona is a dream” Xavi Hernández has given an interview to DjMaRiiO and the Post United channel. The famous youtuber discussed all the issues with the former Barcelona soccer player: how he is carrying the coronavirus, Barcelona, the Champions of Real Madrid … “Barça have won them when they have been far superior to their rivals, they cannot play the historic luck that other clubs have had“He said. Later, he clarified that he was referring to the eternal rival. Ansu Fati: “I think it is great news for Barcelona. It is also from the quarry, a sign that work is being done well and that you have to bet on people from home. I was there at 18 years old and I had yet to mature. Ansu has a self-confidence. unusual. It is a very good surprise for Barça and for Spanish football as well. “His best football: “There is a lot of talk that I didn’t explode until I was 28, but at 23, 24, my football was already high-level. It is normal for people to be pro-results. When there are no results, people don’t even look at you. As Luis said Aragonese, no one remembers second place. In Guardiola’s time, everyone admired us for what they played and what they won. Like Spain too. “Coach or player: “It costs me more to accept defeat as a coach. They point you out, it’s the coach’s team. You feel singled out. When you win you take glory, when you lose you are responsible and it costs you sleep. You suffer twice as much.” Barça this season: “I always see him as a favorite in the league. In the Champions League it is more difficult. Barça have won them when they have been much superior to their rivals. Barça cannot play that historic luck that other clubs have had. Barça has to be very dominator, very sure of himself. History says he wins when he has been much better than the opponent. “Do you mean Madrid?: “Yes, Madrid, yes. Why not? Not only Madrid, but other clubs have had it. Barcelona were lucky at Stamford Bridge, with Iniesta’s goal with ten players and almost without shooting on goal. That It’s luck. I mean, you don’t have a good season in LaLiga, you’re fourth, fifth, sixth … and you win the Champions League. Barça hasn’t been through that, Madrid has called it a bit of luck. “Coach of Barcelona?: “I do not know why people see me like this, but I am proud and I like it. Now that I have tried as a coach, I see myself as capable and it is an illusion, a dream to return to Barcelona. I have said it on many occasions, I consider Barça is my home, it is my life. I am in an apprenticeship, I am learning a lot as a coach here in Qatar. Obviously coaching Barça are big words, you have to see it clearly, be very prepared. It is all a process and I hope that someday I can arrive”. “Playing without an audience would be sad” Qatar: “It is an easy country. I understand that there are many prejudices: the Arab culture, Qatar … But we are very good. It is comfortable, simple, it is all focused on the family and children, that in Qatar there are many. a luxury living here. “Do you want to come back?: “We are here very well. It has been one of the best decisions of my life, there are international schools, my son speaks English that seems native … It is wonderful to be here.”Soccer desire: “They do not leave me, it is a passion, it is my life. Now that there is no soccer I am half bored, although I am with the children. I lack the adrenaline of competing, training, motivating the players.”The Barcelona: “You suffer more when you are inside. You see that things do not go away, that there are criticisms of you … Now I suffer because I have friends, I am a culé … But you suffer less not being in Barcelona.”De jong: “It is normal that he has not yet given everything. First, because he is very young and can explode at any time. It is seen that he has conditions and needs a little more consistency and maturity. It is not the same to play in Ajax as in Barcelona , that in Madrid, that in United. Here you are to examination every game, they look at you with a magnifying glass and more when they have paid so much for you “.The pass, training or gift?: “Both. There must be some natural talent, but it is 100% workable. At Barça you do a master’s degree.” Xavi Xavi Real Madrid today: “I see him strong. It is hard to see him weak. Historically I have rarely seen him like last year. This year he is much stronger and has high-level players.”Look alike on the grass: “Gundogan, De Jong, Arthur, Kroos, Modric, Cazorla … They resemble me, technically they have vision of the game, they don’t lose the ball easily.” Xavi Second coach?: “Iker could be the head coach, but he hasn’t tried it. In my last two years, I started thinking about being a coach, I already had my methodology and I came to the course with it. Casillas is prepared to lead, I don’t see him as second, but as head coach. “Memories of the Selection with Iker: “There was friendship, companionship, leadership, captaincy. I have seen him suffer, I have seen him happy … I love him very much, he is like my brother and I wish him the best.”Lautaro: “I like it, who doesn’t? He stands out well, he gives depth, he plays space, with few spaces. Barça does well when interested.”The Madrid-Barça de Mourinho: “The tension is normal. Iker is very Madrid and I am very Barça. It is the only thing we did not agree with. From the first day we met we have got along very well. There has been tension, we all wanted to win because the two clubs they are made for it. “The best Barcelona: “Barça feel comfortable when they dominate the game, they have that big ball possession, 60 or 70%. That is when they are dominating. In recent years it has been costing a bit more and they have Rome or Liverpool. “How are you carrying the coronavirus?: “Well, we are in Doha and here everything is more controlled. There are few deaths, we are confined, but it is not as cool as in Spain. They have closed everything, football is stopped, training at home … We are 35 degrees, but we have a garden and we go into the pool. “ “Neymar? Why not? Soccer football leaves me no doubt” “Casillas would be a great coach” Xavi Solutions for football: “It would be sad to play without an audience. Here we often play with few people and it is sad. We play soccer for people, who are passionate about it. It is a luxury to see crowded stands. If there is no other solution, it would be the last solution to play without an audience … People don’t do much for the league here. Maybe they could reduce the schedule for the next season, now you couldn’t name a champion or who will go down. It would be very unfair to decide now. Everything has to end in the field. That next year there are other ways, but that they be known beforehand. “Neymar’s Return: “Why not? Soccer-wise I have no doubts and I have lived with him in a locker room and he seems to me a great person in coexistence. He was a professional here in Barcelona and would make a difference. Then there is the social, bureaucratic issue, that there I’m not getting into it. But in the field it’s among the five best in the world.Casillas: “He is a leader and he can be a great coach. But Guardiola is my reference as a coach. Of course, I have also learned from everyone I have had in many things, from the tactical to the emotional.”Philosophy: “When my team has the ball it is when I am calm I prefer that my team have the ball, it is not having it for having it. You have to go on the attack. You have to work high pressure.”Goodbye to Cristiano in Madrid: “A player like him who scores 40 or 50 goals per year … You miss him, of course.”
Jorginho James was on a mission on Monday night – a mission to prove that he was good enough, and he did just that in the Red Stripe Premier League as he led Harbour View to a thumping 5-0 over UWI.Smarting from his ‘rejection’ by the US Major League Soccer (MLS), the ambitious 21-year-old box-to-box midfielder felt that there was only one way to handle the issue – perform.”I have been working very hard on the training ground. I have been away and things did not work out the way I wanted them to, but I came back here to prove something, to show that they made a mistake when they did not choose me in that (MLS) combine, so for me personally, it is good and I have a lot more to work on in my game to get overseas,” said the former Papine, Wolmer’s and Kingston College student.James, who showed his qualities with a goal-scoring debut for the Reggae Boyz as a 17 year-old, was Harbour View’s best player on the night, as he scored the first goal for Harbour View in the fourth minute, had a hand in the second and scored the fifth, as they spanked the promoted UWI outfit.John-Ross Campbell (51st), Brian Brown (71st) and substitute Rojay Smith (78th) scored the other goals for the team, which improved its tally to 33 points and narrowed the gap on fourth-placed Humble Lion to two points.”I was not disappointed in my performance in the MLS combine because I went over there and did well. I think it was some administrative matters that caused it not to work and not about the performance that I gave on the field.”I did well. My agent has talked to me and told me that I have nothing to worry about. He said I will be back there and will be in even better situations, so I have come back and refocus on getting the balls in the back of the net. This is important for myself and the club,” James said.James admitted that not having the contract he thought he would have had at this time especially after an opportunity to play professionally in Japan also fell through can be frustrating.Having had just one national cap after making his debut for a total of two, James said it is not enough for him and the desire to get back into the fold burns in his belly.BACK ON NAT’L SIDE”It most definitely is my plan to get back into the national team. That is what I am working on. It is hard for us to get called up from the local league, so I am putting in the work to get overseas and it will be much easier for me. It is there in the making to come. It will come,” he declared.But the only way to get abroad is to do the work at, ‘yard’ and part of that is personal performance and winning with the team.”I am most elated about the win this evening. We have been training hard, and the players are dedicated. I feel very good to know that the team scored five goals tonight. The way we did it also was very good. It was not just a one player, but a number of different players. It is very good for the club, the fans and the coaching staff.”We are gunning for the championship. That is why we are playing not just to compete, but to win the competition not only this season, but every season,” the very focused player said.POINTS STANDINGTeams P W D L GF GA GD PtsArnett 23 13 4 6 35 20 15 43Portmore 23 13 4 6 28 20 8 43MoBay Utd 23 11 9 3 34 13 21 42H Lion FC 23 9 8 6 21 18 3 35H.View 23 8 9 6 28 22 6 33UWI FC 23 8 6 9 24 34 -10 30Cavalier SC 23 7 6 10 18 23 -5 27Boys’ Town 23 7 6 10 25 33 -8 27Reno 23 6 9 8 22 30 -8 27Rivoli 22 5 7 10 23 30 -7 22W’house 23 4 9 10 20 28 -8 21Tivoli 22 5 5 12 24 31 -7 20
However, the KC athlete, who admitted that he came into the championships at around 60 per cent and is the only schoolboy many genuinely believe can beat Taylor over the 400m, made sure he conserved this time so that he could participate in the relays. So when both were pitted against each other on the final leg of the 4x400m, it had the entire stadium on its feet in excited anticipation. They were not disappointed, as it was a race for the ages, truly one of the great races of ‘Champs’. When Taylor received the baton approximately 10 metres ahead of Bloomfield, the Calabar fans were celebrating wildly. But the moment Bloomfield got hold of the baton, the noise of the KC faithfuls snuffed out that of their perennial rivals, as Bloomfield – in all his magnificence – rounded Taylor on the backstretch and went on to create a 10-metre gap at the 200 mark. It was then that Taylor made his move. As they headed into the final straight, like David and Goliath, the gigantic Bloomfield began to wane, while the pint-sized Taylor, who always appeared to have energy to spare, stood tall, caught and passed his opponent with nearly 50 metres and sprinted to a clear victory. The modest youngsters told The Gleaner that only God can explain his extraordinary talent and put his win over Bloomfield down to his race strategy. “I can’t say anything about that (talent). God gave me the talent and the speed … you would have to ask God that question,” he commented. “The strategy going into the race (4x400m) was that if I got the baton first, I am just going to maintain my pace, no big outburst of speed, then accelerate in the home straight,” Taylor pointed out. “I was confident in my team and knew that I would play my part, and I just went and executed a perfect game plan in the final of the 4×4, and I give God thanks for the victory,” he said on Saturday night after the event. Everyone knows Calabar High School’s track and field star, Christopher Taylor, is special. However, the just-concluded 2016 Girls and Boys’ Athletic Championships proved much more. The young Calabar athlete burst on to the scene as a 400 metre sensation with stamina to burn and no one in his age ranks close to being his rival, as he broke record after record in the event. This season, however, he revealed that he is a true sprint phenomenon. At the championships, he easily walked away with the Class Two 200m and 400m gold medals, setting records in both events (20.80 in 200m and 46.33 in 400m) in the preliminaries and won the respective finals in 21.24 and 47.76. He also helped Calabar break the Class Two 4x100m record, erasing the old mark of 40.54 set by JC in 2013 with a scorching 40.29. However, it was the young runner’s magnificent run in the meet’s closing event, the 4x400m anchor leg against Kingston College’s (KC) outstanding and talented quarter-miler/sprinter, Akeem Bloom-field, that brought the house down and lifted his stocks among track and field enthusiasts to another level. Bloomfield, the Class One record holder, set the record (44.93) last year, but took no part in the relays. “I didn’t surprise myself because I have been training for this for the last months, but coming out here tonight and doing this is really amazing.” Calabar’s assistant coach, Omar Hawes, said Taylor surprises them everyday. “This is how we normally set up our (4x400m) team, it is not a Bloomfield situation why we put him out there, that is where he normally runs in the order. But if Bloomfield is there and he thought he could have gone past Christopher Taylor and won that race, he had a next thing coming. That young man is so talented that everyday he does something new, I am impressed again, he is that special.” The school’s head coach, Michael Clarke, says it is a joy working with the youngster. “He is an extraordinary talent, a wonderful person to work with, and I’m looking to work with him for some time to come.” PREPARED WELL HEIGHTENED ANTICIPATION
disciplined team ATLANTA, Georgia: BELIEF and strength in unity. Those are the pillars on which Jamaica’s senior men’s national football head coach, Winfried Sch‰fer, has built his team, pushing forward at this CONCACAF Gold Cup with the motto, ‘all for one, one for all’. Those pillars will be tested by the United States of America, the defending champions, in their semi-final showdown at Georgia Dome here this evening, beginning at 6 o’clock (5 o’clock Jamaica time). The match has a distinct German flavour, with Sch‰fer and 1990 World Cup hero, J¸rgen Klinsmann, heading the teams’ coaching staff. “David against Goliath,” was how Sch‰fer described the clash yesterday between the 34th-ranked Americans and 76th ranked Jamaica. “Everybody wants Mexico-US in the final. But we’re not finished; like David, we want to win against Goliath.” He added: “Tomorrow is a fight; we have 11 players, two German coaches, 68,000 people against us. The German style is discipline, fitness, heart and fight.” The team was instructed to change its predominantly yellow outfit to green, but Sch‰fer chose to look at the brighter side. “Green in German means hope. Maybe green is our hope against the States,” he noted. “I’ve confidence in my team and our team spirit. What is important is everybody gives 100 per cent.” The coaches have done much to instill a level of discipline in their team’s mentality and approach, which will be key in strategising for a place in Sunday’s final at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. “The semi-final is not the finish. I want to go in the big stadium in Philadelphia on Sunday, not Saturday,” Sch‰fer said about the preceding third-place play-off. The Reggae Boyz, the Carib-bean champions, have never played in the Gold Cup final, while the Stars and Stripes have done so on nine occasions, winning five times. In previous tournaments, the Jamaicans have been in the semis twice, 1993 when they finished joint third and 1998, when the Boyz historically qualified for the first World Cup final. Mexico are the all-time Gold Cup winners, knocking off six titles. They are on course to add a seventh, being involved in the other semi-final matchup at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. Jamaica time) against Panama. Mexico’s earned their place with an undeserved penalty in the last minute of extra-time to oust Costa Rica 1-0 on Andres Guardado’s goal in the quarter-finals, while the Panamanians beat Trinidad and Tobago 6-5 in a penalty shootout, after both teams finished 1-1. The United States and Jamaica had contrasting quarter-final results, with the Americans routing a weak Cuba team 6-0 while Jamaica were taken to task in a 1-0 victory over Haiti, as centre forward Giles Barnes scored at the seventh minute. Klinsmann liked the way his team looked: “I think we’re in a very good spot going into the semi-finals in Atlanta. Our goal now is to win the Gold Cup.” He added: “It’ll be a very tough match on Wednesday night in Atlanta.” Clint Dempsey leads the tournament in scoring with six strikes and his team has a 13 wins, one loss and eight draws record against Jamaica in senior team matches, with the Reggae Boyz first and only win coming in a World Cup Qualifier at ‘The Office’ in 2012. Given the way the teams match up, with Jamaica’s overall quality and strong defending, plus the US’ general straightforward attacking style, the Jamaicans have a very good chance to win. Dempsey will be key for the US, who have scored 10 goals while conceding two, along with Michael Bradley, who is good at finding space in midfield, from which he engineers offence with his passing skill. “It’s a very good team, athletic team, physical team so we know it will be a very difficult game,” Bradley predicted. “Our mentality is six games, one at a time, we want to lift the trophy. Right now, we’re four down,” he added. Key Reggae Boyz are out of the Jamaica squad for today’s matchup. Centre half Jermaine Taylor picked up a hamstring injury – that required surgery – in their group stage 1-0 win over El Salvador in Toronto; scoring fullback/midfielder Demar Phillips is also back with his club through injury; and Alvas Powell turned his back on his country by walking out of the team after their Toronto victory. Sch‰fer though, has always focused on the players at hand, noting: “We need all players to win. We’ve 23 players and I trust all my players.” Two of his most trusted, central midfielders Je-Vaughn Watson and striker Darren Mattocks, will add depth to his squad after missing the quarter-final tie through suspension. “I’ve more possibility for changes,” Sch‰fer observed. “Both players know about the States because they play in the MLS.” Watson, with quickness of feet, plus the ability to pass with both feet and defend, has been instrumental for Jamaica in the centre of the park with hardworking captain, Rodolph Austin. Their work has been complemented well by the experienced Joel (Jobi) McAnuff and effective Garath McCleary, in a Jamaica team that has grown much in stature to the one that faced the US at the Gold Cup, in the 2011 quarter-final. “We should not fear them,” said central defender Michael Hector. “Obviously, they’re a good side, they’re in their backyard and they’re doing well. We’ve got respect, but sometimes it goes out the window when it comes to the game. “If we play well I don’t see why we can’t beat them.”
SATURDAY, SEPT 12ARSENAL 2STOKE CITY 0GOALS:-ARSENAL: WALCOTT 31; GIROUD 85.Arsenal moved up to third on Saturday with their first home win of the new campaign as Stoke dropped to the foot of the Barclays Premier League. The Gunners forced 29 attempts on goal but took more than half-an-hour before Theo Walcott netted to claim his 11th goal in 11 starts. Substitute Olivier Giroud added a second late on.CRYSTAL PALACE 0 MANCHESTER CITY 1GOAL:-CITY: IHEANACHO 90.Manchester City left it late to secure a fifth straight win at fellow high-flyers Crystal Palace. After a frustrating 90 minutes, Nigerian teenager Kelechi Iheanacho scored his first senior goal with 20 seconds remaining of normal time, after Samir Nasri’s shot was saved. City also kept a fifth straight clean sheet from the start of the season for the first time in their history.EVERTON 3CHELSEA 1GOALS:-EVERTON:NAISMITH 17, 22, 82. CHELSEA: MATIC 36.Steven Naismith scored a perfect hat-trick to hand champions Chelsea their third loss in their opening five league games. Naismith replaced the injured Muhamed Besic early on and headed in Brendan Galloway’s cross before sending a left-footed shot to put the Toffees 2-0 up. Chelsea responded through Nemanja Matic, but Scotsman Naismith added his third with his right foot.MANCHESTER UNITED3 LIVERPOOL 1GOALS:-UNITED: BLIND 49; HERRERA PEN 70; MARTIAL 86. LIVERPOOL: BENTEKE 84.Manchester United’s £36-million teenager, Anthony Martial, marked his debutwith a stunning goal. Christian Benteke’s equally impressive overhead kick had thrown Liverpool a lifeline after Daley Blind’s neat finish and Ander Herrera’s penalty had put Louis van Gaal’s side in control to lift United into second place in the Barclays Premier League table behind Manchester City.NORWICH CITY 3AFC BOURNEMOUTH 1GOALS:-NORWICH: JEROME 35; HOOLAHAN 52; JARVIS 67. BOURNEMOUTH: COOK 81.Wes Hoolahan inspired Norwich to an impressive victory over fellow promoted side Bournemouth. Hoolahan set up Cameron Jerome for the first goal before Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson hit the post. Hoolahan scored from outside the box for the second and then winger Matt Jarvis added a third on his debut before Steve Cook headed home a lateconsolation.WATFORD 1SWANSEA CITY 0GOAL:-WATFORD:IGHALO 59.Odion Ighalo’s second-half goal handed 10-man Watford their first Premier League victory of theseason. The Nigerian forward converted a headed pass from Troy Deeney from eight yards to score the club’s first home goal of the season. Watford were reduced to 10 men when Valon Behrami was sent off after appearing to stamp on Andre Ayew.WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0SOUTHAMPTON 0GOALS:-NONE.Southampton’s disappointing start to the season continued at The Hawthorns with a drab, colourless goalless draw on Saturday. The Saints have won just two of their last 11 games in the Barclays Premier League, though West Bromwich Albion have netted just three goals in five games so far this campaign.SUNDAY, SEPT 13SUNDERLAND 0TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1GOAL:-SPURS:MASON 82 .Ryan Mason’s late strike earned Tottenham victory at Sunderland and the club’s first Barclays Premier League win of the season. Spurs finally broke the deadlock when Mason placed his shot past keeper Costel Pantilimon. Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe had the best chance prior to the goal when his shot cannoned off the post.LEICESTER CITY 3ASTON VILLA 2GOALS:-LEICESTER: DE LAET 72; VARDY 82; DYER 89. VILLA: GREALISH 39; GIL 63.Leicester City moved into second place in the Barclays Premier League after staging a remarkable comeback to beat Aston Villa. Villa took the lead through Jack Grealish, and Carles Gil swept in a second before Ritchie de Laet volleyed the hosts a lifeline. Jamie Vardy prodded Leicester level before sub Nathan Dyer’s brave late headed winner on his debut.
Marsha Francis, the People’s National Party’s (PNP) candidate vying for the western St Thomas seat, is feeling pretty confident about her chances. According to her, the comrades are already celebrating and as a daughter of the soil, she is confident that she will be victorious. Francis, who was made aware of the low voter turnout, says that she knows for sure that the comrades came out to vote. “Especially in my division! Comrades definitely showed their support. I believe that the constituency is depressed and as a daughter of the soil I have experienced it too. People are unsatisfied with level of representation so it’s time to move on,” she said. Francis told reporters that she sees herself as a hard worker who is ready to rebuild her constituency.
LIVERPOOL, England (AP): It’s a year since Juergen Klopp breezed into English football as the new manager of Liverpool, and the bespectacled, fun-loving German has established himself as the most charismatic coach in the Premier League. He’s proving to be the shrewdest, too. In a summer transfer window of record spending by English top-flight clubs that topped one billion pounds (now US$1.2 billion) for the first time, Liverpool returned a profit – reportedly between £10-£15 million – as Klopp juggled his squad with mostly lower-profile recruits. Fears that Liverpool would be left behind by their big-spending rivals have proved unfounded: The strategy has worked out just fine. Klopp’s team has had the toughest schedule of anyone in the league after seven games but is currently fourth in the standings, two points off first-place Manchester City. The Reds have taken a total of seven points from away games against Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea, thrashed champions Leicester 4-1 and are the joint leading scorers with 18 goals. That start to the season compares favourably to that of Manchester United, who visit Anfield on Monday for what traditionally is the biggest game on the English calendar between the two most decorated teams in the country. United had the second-biggest net spend (an estimated $170 million) of any English club in the transfer window under new coach Jose Mourinho, taking a Galactico-style approach to its signings by bringing in Paul Pogba for a world-record fee and superstar striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. United are three points behind Liverpool in seventh place, despite having had easier-looking fixtures. Klopp spoke yesterday of the “world-class players” that Mourinho has brought in, but without a sense of jealousy. Quite simply, he’s happy with what he’s got. “It’s not a competition. It’s not that you win the league before the season,” Klopp said at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground. “You have a team without spending money and you have a team with spending a lot of money. Everybody has their own possibilities, their own ideas. “We did what we did because we thought it’s the right thing, for us.” Monday will mark a year since Klopp took charge of his first Liverpool match – a 0-0 draw at Tottenham – and he’s quickly stamped his mark on the team. Liverpool have a defined style of play, the high-energy counterpressing game long favoured by Klopp and carried over from his time in Germany with Mainz and Borussia Dortmund. He spoke effusively of the performance of his “wild boys” after Liverpool beat Hull 5-1 in the last match at Anfield, led by the energetic and nimble forward trio of Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane. It’s in this regard that Liverpool are way ahead of United, who are still searching for an identity in the early months of Mourinho’s reign. Mourinho has repeatedly said it would take time for the methods of his predecessor, Louis van Gaal, to be completely erased. After winning their first three games, United won only one of their next four. “What I heard is that you think we are in a good moment and they (United) are not in a good moment,” Klopp said in a news conference. “I can’t see the big difference with three points. They have big quality in their team and we have to respect this but, of course, it’s Anfield. We have to show this. I’m hoping for the best atmosphere. It will help.” The home “atmosphere” helped last season, when Liverpool overwhelmed Van Gaal’s United in a 2-0 win at Anfield in the Europa League’s round of 16. “Creating a special atmosphere is important,” Klopp said. “That’s the challenge for us – take the special thing about this game, then (add it to) our usual and normal style.” For his part, Mourinho was terse in his assessment of both Liverpool’s title credentials and Klopp’s influence at Anfield. “You have to ask them; they are a good team,” Mourinho said. When asked about Klopp’s impact, Mourinho replied simply: “I’ve not much to say.” DOING THE RIGHT THING
Leaders UWI FC will try to extend their advantage when they tackle Boys’ Town at UWI Bowl, Mona, in one of today’s rescheduled fixtures in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) football competition. Following their 1-0 win over previous leaders Humble Lion on Sunday, UWI now head the standings with 16 points and will be looking for another win against second-from-bottom Boys’ Town, who are desperate to add to their four points. One of the round’s biggest clashes pits Washington Boulevard neighbours Waterhouse and Maverley-Hughenden, one of this season’s newcomers, against each other. Waterhouse lost their first four matches then won back-to-back games to move to six points before falling to champions MoBay United last Sunday. Maverley-Hughenden have been steadier, with five draws to date, but form counts for little in matchups of these sorts of derbies. MoBay United (13) and Arnett Gardens (13), who have shared the league championship for the past three years, meet in the day’s biggest clash. Both have made a decent start and registered wins on Sunday and will be engaged in a dogfight. Today’s matches – 3 p.m.: Waterhouse vs Maverley-Hughenden at Drewsland Stadium – 7 p.m.: Harbour View vs Humble Lion at Harbour View Stadium – 3 p.m.: Montego Bay United vs Arnett Gardens at Wespow Park – 3 p.m.: Portmore United vs Reno at Juici Park, Clarendon – 3 p.m.: UWI FC vs Boys’ Town at UWI Bowl, Mona – 3 p.m.: Jamalco FC vs Tivoli Gardens at Wembley Centre of Excellence
Head coach Robert Samuels expects Jamaica Scorpions to rebound from their first game loss to Guyana and defeat the Windward Islands Volcanoes in the second round of the WICB Regional Four-day Championship at Sabina Park, starting today.The match, one of three across the region on the weekend, is set to get under way at 10 a.m.”Coming out of the first game, we had a lot of pluses despite losing to Guyana,” said Samuels, who is in his first stint as head coach.”We prevented them from getting full batting points. We got some fast-bowling points, and we got some batting points, which, for the last couple of years, we did not get a batting point until about the fifth or sixth round.””I also mentioned before the start of the season that I want to put a ‘team’ out on the park, and we did play as a team. We bowled well, we fielded well, and the energy was high.”IMPROVINGBATTINGCurrently fifth in the six-team championship, Jamaica will enter the clash looking to improve on their batting, which yielded totals of 208 and 147 against the Guyanese in their 181-run defeat on the final day.West Indies middle-order batsman Jermaine Blackwood, with 96 out in the second innings, was the best Scorpion batsmen, while opener John Campbell was next best with 71 in their first time at the bat.Samuels, a former West Indies opener, also said he was also encouraged heading into the encounter by the fact that the Windwards also lost their opener by nine wickets to the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at Queen’s Park Oval.”I am looking forward to this game as we are now at home,” continued Samuels, who, last season, was assistant coach to now chairman of selectors, Junior Bennett.”The Windward Islands also lost their opening game to Trinidad, and as such, the aim is to rebound.”Jamaica have made one change to the squad of 13 for the showdown, with West Indies ‘A’ fast bowler, Reynard Leveridge replacing injured seamer Jason Dawes.Leveridge returned home prematurely from the West Indies ‘A’ team tour of Sri Lanka after picking up a groin injury.He has subsequently recovered and over the past two weeks, represented the Jamaica Defence Force in the ongoing Jamaica Cricket Association national one-day tournament.Jamaica Scorpions (from) – Nikita Miller (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, John Campbell, Reynard Leveridge, Derval Green, Trevon Griffith, Damion Jacobs, Brandon King, AndrÈ McCarthy, Marquino Mindley, Devon Thomas, Shacaya Thomas, and Chadwick Walton.Windward Volcanoes (from) – Liam Sebastien (captain), Sunil Ambris, Narsingh Deonarine, Tarryck Gabriel, Kavem Hodge, Delorn Johnson, Mervin Matthew, Kenroy Peters, Jerlani Robinson, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Tyrone Theophile.