Diego Costa doubtful for Barcelona clash

The Spain international is a severe doubt for Tuesday's game and head coach Diego Simeone has revealed he could miss the encounter

Diego Costa is set to miss the first leg of Atletico Madrid's Champions League tie against Barcelona after leaving training early on Monday.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone has conceded it will be "difficult" for Costa to play on Tuesday after the Brazil-born striker completed just 10 minutes of training before limping off the pitch.

Costa has scored 32 goals in all competitions for Atletico this season - including six in the club's past five matches - but Simeone does not expect the 25-year-old to take part at Camp Nou.

"The doctors will assess his fitness, but I can't see him playing," Simeone told reporters.

"Having seen him at training I think it is going to be difficult for him to make it, but we will wait as there's still a long while to go yet."

Costa's absence would be a huge blow for Atleti as Simeone feels the forward is as important to the Vicente Calderon side as Lionel Messi is to Barcelona.

"Without doubt. Cristiano (Ronaldo), Messi and Costa, all have their own style, but are all equally important.

"I think that Diego is growing day by day and Messi is demonstrating what good those two months off did him and will go into the World Cup in top form."

A final decision on Costa's availability is expected to be made in the final hours before kick-off.

Schweinsteiger: Manchester United clash will be 'incredibly difficult'

The Germany international is surprised to see David Moyes' side struggling domestically but still feels they will put up a good fight in the Champions League

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger believes his side's Champions League first-leg clash withManchester United will be a very tough encounter.

The Bavarian giants head into the game having already been crowned Bundesliga champions and remain the favourites to win the Champions League this season, while Tuesday’s opponents are struggling in the Premier League as they currently sit in seventh place.

But the Germany international has warned that they must not lose focus against David Moyes' men at Old Trafford.

"Everyone knows what to expect tomorrow," he told reporters in a press conference. "It will be an incredibly difficult game.

"It's something very special to be able to play at Old Trafford."

He added: "It's great to have already one title, but we can't lose focus now. We want to win every remaining game. We're a team that wants to win every game - even in training. This is no different."

The midfielder was then asked for his thoughts on the Red Devils' poor domestic form, to which he replied: "United should be one of the top four in the league all the time."

Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer also feels United will give the visitors a difficult test at Old Trafford.

"The name Manchester United deserves a lot of respect alone. They fought back well against Olympiakos," he said.

"We know just how well they can maintain their focus."

Kuffour still has regrets over 1999 Champions League final

The former Bayern Munich defender believes the final 15 years ago turned as a result of Lothar Matthaus's withdrawal with 10 minutes remaining

EXCLUSIVE
By Juliet Bawuah

Bayern Munich and Manchester United go head to head in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday night in a tie that brings back memories of the famous 1999 final between the two sides. 

Late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cancelled out Mario Basler's early opener and handed United the most dramatic of victories.

Sammy Kuffour - who was named man-of-the-match on the night - still believes the game in Barcelona turned on one late substitution by coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.

Lothar Matthaus, who had enjoyed one of his finest evenings despite his advancing years, was replaced by Thorsten Fink with 10 minutes remaining as Bayern headed towards a 1-0 win.

"If I was Matthaus, I would have played that game till the last drop of my blood," says Kuffour. "It was a Uefa Champions League final and everyone wants to get the glory and his stay on the field would have changed our game.

"Matthaus came to my room the night before the final and said to me: "If we handle [Andy] Cole and [Dwight] Yorke then we have won this game." Then they changed him in the 80th minute. 

"People were just asking "why did Lothar Matthaus go out in the 80th minute?" Because that was our plan. He was getting older at that time - he was 38-years-old - so he played to that standard. We brought in Thorsten Fink to come and hold in the midfield for us because that's what we were doing throughout the season. 

"Things didn't go as planned."

The rest as they say is history, with the late drama proving all too much for Kuffour, who was pictured beating the turf in frustration following Solskjaer's late winner. 

"To this day, I haven't watched the game. Everybody tried to pick themselves up afterwards. It wasn't easy at all when we went to the dressing room knowing we blew our chance to get our hands on the medal. Nobody could believe what had just happened. It was a very, very sad moment in the dressing room. 

"It was the fans I was worried about because they believed in us so much and although I won the man-of-the-match award it meant nothing to me. Seeing our fans cry was heartbreaking for the team."

Bayern were back in the semi-finals in 2000 and went one step further a year later, beating Valencia on penalties in the final after gaining revenge on United at the quarter-final stage. It was particularly sweet for Kuffour. 

"We couldn’t accept that defeat again so the vengeance was really huge for me personally because I had a lot at stake with friends teasing me. So after that game I called up my Manchester United friends to ask them what it felt like. It was a really good thing."

Kuffour was one of a band of players who survived the 1999 heartache to bounce back and win two years later, with captain Stefan Effenberg lifting the cup.

"I have seen and played with great players but Effenberg has a different character," Kuffour says. "He came to my room a night before the game and told me Sammy if we don't win this cup that will be the end of us.

From stars to star moms

Here are some Hollywood and Bollywood actors who give preference to their duties in real life than onscreen.

NEW DELHI: Be it Hollywood or Bollywood, actors invest their sweat and blood to achieve success and stardom. But once many of these glam girls tie the knot and have children, they prefer to be hands-on mothers. Their domestic duties often precede their decision to take up meaty roles and make picture-perfect red carpet appearances.

Here is a list of some of the star moms who are enjoying domesticity and give preference to their duties in real life than on reel.

Julia Roberts

The Oscar-winning actor is the mother of nine-year-old twins Hazel and Phinnaeus and six-year-old Henry. She is okay with doing one movie a year as her children still need her to be around. She has no qualms about it as the Pretty Woman star has already made a mark in the film industry. She was last seen in the Oscar-nominated film August: Osage County in 2013.

Karisma Kapoor

The actor, who entered the film industry as a teenager, used to feature in multiple films in a year. But after she became a mother in 2005, her presence on the silver screen began to decrease and she has no regrets. She was last seen in the 2012 film Dangerous Ishq, which was a well-publicised comeback, but not a successful one. She remains a devoted mother to daughter Samaira and son Kiaan, and has also penned a book on women.

Sonali Bendre

She made a comeback with Once Upon A Time Again and declared that her first priority is motherhood and if she would get any time after taking care of her family, only then will she take up any work.

Kajol

Ever since the Baazigar star gave birth to her daughter Nysa in 2003, her fans have seen less of her on the big screen. Kajol, who has a son too (Yug), made it clear that children are her priority. She recently said in an interview that she can’t dump them and go off to work. Like every mother, she feels her children need her attention. Wife of Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn, Kajol feels that since he acts in at least four films a year, she is required to be at home to spend time with their children.

Kate Winslet

While many stars worked hard to get back in shape post pregnancy, the Titanic star and mother of three chose to spend time with her children rather than sweating out in a gym. Winslet, who gave birth to her third child last year, said that she wants to be healthy and around for her children rather than concentrate on getting a flat stomach.

Victoria Beckham

The life of former Spice Girls’ band member and now fashion designer revolves around her four children, sons Brooklyn Joseph, Romeo James, Cruz David and daughter Harper Seven. She has people to handle her tight schedule, so that she can devote a considerable amount of time to her children. She plans everything around festivities, such as a parents’ night, nativity play or an Easter bonnet parade, so that she can always be there for her kids

Aamir, Ajay, Sonakshi win Golden Kela Awards

Golden Kela Awards are a satirical take on Bollywood winners of the worst performances are selected each year by an online poll and receive an award in the shape of a golden banana. PHOTO: FILE

NEW DEHLI: Actors Ajay Devgn and Sonakshi Sinha were announced the worst actors of 2013 at the Golden Kela Awards. Even Aamir Khan won an award for his performance in Dhoom 3.

Ajay won the worst actor award for Himmatwala, which was also named the worst film and Sonakshi was cited for R…Rajkumar.

“In Bollywood today, the box office figures have no correlation to the quality of the film. Our sincerest hope is that 10 years down the line, the figures will be forgotten, while the Kelas they got are remembered,” Anant Singh, creative head of Golden Kela Awards, said in a statement.

The honour for the Worst Actor in Supporting Role went to Aditya Roy Kapoor for Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Deepika Padukone, Jacqueline Fernandes and Amisha Patel jointly won the Worst Supporting Actor (female) for Race 2. As part of the special awards, Deepika also won Dara Singh award for the worst accent for Chennai Express. The Kela for the Worst Director went to Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Goliyon Ki Raas Leela…Ram Leela. The Baawra Ho Gaya Hai Kya (Have You Lost Your Mind) Award went to Aamir Khan for Dhoom 3.

“Aamir Khan once said that he loves the Kela Awards, because all other awards are rigged. Wonder what he has to say about us now,” quipped Singh.

Dhoom 3 also shared the Ra One Award for Worst Premise with Krrish 3. Voters chose Party All Night from Boss as most irritating song.

There were Anti-Kela awards too, honouring some of Bollywood’s good efforts. They were given to four outstanding films — Saheb Biwi aur Gangster Returns, Go Goa Gone, The Lunchbox and Shahid. 

English Premier League: Pellegrini credits ‘good week’ despite draw

Chelsea’s 1-0 loss at Palace meant that victory at the Emirates Stadium would have sent City top on goal difference, but they remain third. PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON: Manuel Pellegrini is convinced Manchester City have enjoyed a ‘good week’ despite failing to take an opportunity to go top of the Premier League.

Chelsea’s surprise 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Saturday gave City the chance to move above them, and Liverpool, with a win at Arsenal.

David Silva’s first-half goal put them on course to do just that but they had to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw when Mathieu Flamini equalised for the hosts.

But considering that only one team – Aston Villa on the opening day – has won at Arsenal in the Premier League, Pellegrini was not too disappointed to add only a point to a 5-0 home win over Fulham a week ago and Tuesday’s impressive 3-0 victory at fallen champions Manchester United.

“Four points from United and Arsenal, when both games were away, is a good week for us,” said the Chilean.

“Of course we could be more happy if we won today [Saturday] — and we had, especially in the first half, the chances to do so.

“We had a clear chance to score a second goal but we couldn’t. Arsenal had a better second half but no chances to score apart from the goal.”

Pellegrini is convinced Arsenal are still in that category that even though they have only added two points to their tally in the past seven days, which saw them thrashed 6-0 at Chelsea and held 2-2 at home to Swansea.

“Of course they are,” he said. “In football, if mathematics allows you to win then you have the chance to do it.”

Wenger was also adamant that his players were not too far behind. “We will fight until the end,” he said.

Mourinho admits to title race defeat

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho admitted defeat in the title race after his side’s loss to Palace.

A 52nd-minute own goal by Chelsea captain John Terry settled the game, prompting Mourinho to concede: “We depend too much on other results. When you depend a little, it’s possible. When you depend a lot, I don’t think it’s possible. We depend too much now. I don’t think we can win the league now.”

I was excited at the end: Serena

In a battle of the world’s top two players, the US world number one took her tally of WTA titles to 59 — including 17 grand slam triumphs. PHOTO: AFP

MIAMI: Serena Williams said she was thrilled with her victory as she snapped out of her early doldrums to roar to a record seventh Miami WTA title on Saturday with a 7-5, 6-1 win over China’s Li Na.

“I was excited at the end,” said Serena, who lives in Miami and first played the tournament as a 16-year-old.

“Obviously I wanted to have the most titles here. I guess that I’ve grown up coming to this tournament as a kid, watching so many players, and to be one of those players now is really awesome.”

In a battle of the world’s top two players, the US world number one took her tally of WTA titles to 59 — including 17 grand slam triumphs.

Trailing 4-2 in the first set, Serena fought off three break points in the seventh game only to surrender her serve for a second time on a double fault.

The seriousness of her situation woke Serena up. She won the next five games to take the set, saving a set point in the 10th game and hanging on to break Li in the 12th game that went to deuce six times.

“I really thought I could do better,” said Serena discussing being 5-2 down in the first set.

“I have been practicing all these years and I have a good return. I need to start implementing it.’”

She seized a 5-1 lead in the second set with a fierce backhand winner on her fifth break point of the game and wrapped up the contest on her first match point.

‘I don’t think I was playing badly’

Even though Li Na, reigning Australian Open champion, lost her 10th consecutive match against Williams, she said she was still satisfied with her performance in the final.

“I don’t think I was playing badly,” said Li. “I think it was a pretty good match.”

“At 5-2 up or after 5-all, I think I did exactly the same, so really there’s nothing to say because I did the best I could.”

Li’s only victory in the 12 meetings against Serena was back in 2008, but Serena said she always feels challenged by her.

“We just have this never say die attitude,” said the 32-year-old Serena. “It just goes to show that you can still shine at any age.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2014.

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