Chelsea not ready for Premier League title tilt, says Maresca

Chelsea not ready for Premier League title tilt, says Maresca
Chelsea’s Pedro Neto celebrates scoring their second goal with Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo and Cesare Casadei during their Europa Conference League match against Gent at Stamford Bridge, on Oct. 3, 2024. (Reuters)
Short Url
Updated 04 October 2024
Follow

Chelsea not ready for Premier League title tilt, says Maresca

Chelsea not ready for Premier League title tilt, says Maresca
  • “I really don’t think we can compete with City and Arsenal,” Enzo Maresca said
  • “The reason why is that City are working with the same manager for nine years, Arsenal for five years“

LONDON: Enzo Maresca says Chelsea are not ready to compete with Manchester City and Arsenal for the Premier League title despite their impressive start to the season.
The Blues are fourth in the table and, with 15 goals, are the division’s top scorers after winning four of their six league games under the Italian.
Cole Palmer, who scored four first-half goals against Brighton last week, is one of the form players in the top-flight.
Maresca demonstrated Chelsea’s enviable strength in depth by fielding an entirely changed starting line-up for Thursday’s 4-2 Europa Conference League win over Gent.
However, three months into his tenure, the former Leicester boss dismissed suggestions Chelsea could challenge the league’s established top two and win a first title since 2017.
“I really don’t think we can compete with City and Arsenal,” he said. “I really think that, because we are not ready.
“The reason why is that City are working with the same manager for nine years, Arsenal for five years. It’s something that if you want to compete for important things, you need that time.”
Chelsea host Nottingham Forest on Sunday seeking their fourth league win in a row.
The mood around the club has been transformed since Forest’s last visit to Stamford Bridge a year ago when they won 1-0 during a poor run for Chelsea, who ultimately finished sixth after a strong finish.
Chelsea have spent lavishly over the past two years, compiling a huge squad with mixed results, but there are signs they may have turned a corner at last.
“When you win games it always creates energy, trust, confidence,” said Maresca. “It’s helping the process.
“But the players are the first to recognize when the team plays well or not. The results are helping but they are convinced because they can see clearly the purpose and identity we have.”


Max Verstappen strikes title blow with chaotic Brazilian GP win, Lando Norris sixth

Max Verstappen strikes title blow with chaotic Brazilian GP win, Lando Norris sixth
Updated 33 sec ago
Follow

Max Verstappen strikes title blow with chaotic Brazilian GP win, Lando Norris sixth

Max Verstappen strikes title blow with chaotic Brazilian GP win, Lando Norris sixth
SAO PAULO: Three-time world champion Max Verstappen produced a virtuoso drive in often atrocious conditions to regain control of this year’s world championship on Sunday when he charged from 17th on the grid to win the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Without a win in 10 races since the Spanish Grand Prix in May, Red Bull’s series leader made light of the chaotic, rain-swept conditions to register a 62nd career triumph and fastest lap while nearest title rival Lando Norris of McLaren went from pole position to sixth.
The Dutchman’s triumph lifted him to 393 points, increasing his advantage over Norris, on 331, to 62 with just three Grands Prix and one sprint race remaining.
Verstappen finished 19.477 seconds ahead of Alpine’s French duo of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly with Mercedes’ George Russell fourth and Charles Leclerc fifth for Ferrari in a tumultuous contest of accidents, two red-flag stoppages, penalties and planned post-race investigations.
For Alpine, the reward was a leap from ninth to sixth in the constructors championship, reportedly valued at an estimated $50 million.
Norris, who struggled to find his usual pace, came home sixth ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, RB’s Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes.
Verstappen’s success came on the day he overhauled Michael Schumacher’s record of leading the drivers standings for 896 days while many of his rivals faced post-race investigations for various sporting misdemeanours.
“My emotions have been a rollercoaster today — that unlucky qualifying and starting 17th made it such a tough race, but we stayed out of trouble, made the right calls and it is unbelievable to win here from so far back,” said Verstappen.
“What a day,” said a beaming Ocon. “After this difficult season, it’s so nice to drive here and the rain levelled out the performance so I am very happy.”
Gasly added: “Just incredible! For the whole team, after such a tough season, struggling for points, but two cars on the podium. Nobody would have put that on their bingo card.”
After a wet and wild qualifying, Lance Stroll set the tone when he spun off in his Aston Martin on the formation lap, leading to a delayed second start before which Norris led away without a green light and, along with Russell and both RB drivers, faced a post-race investigation.
The big Sunday crowd, part of an Interlagos weekend record of 291,717 waited patiently as Norris finally led a third formation lap before Russell beat him at the start.
Norris tucked into second ahead of Tsunoda on a frantic opening lap that saw Verstappen climb from 17th to 11th, passing Hamilton for 10th on lap two as light rain fell. By lap six, Verstappen was eighth.
By lap 11, Verstappen was sixth and clearly the fastest man on track while a struggling Hamilton bounced off before being passed by Williams driver Franco Colapinto to the delight of the many Argentine fans.
As heavy rain arrived, Leclerc pitted and fell to 11th, Lawson slid off and Nico Hulkenberg pitted before beaching his Haas, prompting a Virtual Safety Car on lap 28.
The German recovered, with aid, to re-join for which he was disqualified.
Another round of pit-stops left Ocon leading ahead of Verstappen, who stayed out to gain a tactical advantage, as Norris passed Russell for fourth behind Gasly as a Safety Car was deployed again before being red-flagged on lap 33 when Colapinto smacked the barriers at Turn 14.
“I guess everyone can just change tires for free now,” said a glum Norris realizing Verstappen had been given a cost-free pit-stop that transformed the race.
A second Safety Car, the seventh of the day, intervened on lap 40 when Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz spun off at Turn Eight and retired.
On resumption, Verstappen seized control when he powered inside Ocon to lead at Turn One while Norris ran off and dropped to seventh.
Ocon stayed second ahead of Gasly and Leclerc, but the Dutchman had the initiative and momentum, turning most pre-race forecasts on their head, making a fourth drivers title look inevitable.

Swiatek and Gauff make winning starts to WTA Finals campaign in Riyadh

Swiatek and Gauff make winning starts to WTA Finals campaign in Riyadh
Updated 49 min 15 sec ago
Follow

Swiatek and Gauff make winning starts to WTA Finals campaign in Riyadh

Swiatek and Gauff make winning starts to WTA Finals campaign in Riyadh
  • Polish superstar began her title defense with an almighty comeback
  • American had a more straightforward evening

RIYADH: Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff enjoyed winning starts to their WTA Finals campaigns in Riyadh on Sunday, albeit in contrasting fashion.

Swiatek began her title defense with an almighty comeback, rallying back from a set and a double-break down to overcome eighth-seeded Barbora Krejcikova 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in two hours and 33 minutes.

The win was crucial for the Polish second seed to keep her hopes of wrestling back the number one ranking from Aryna Sabalenka alive.  

Meanwhile, third-ranked American Gauff had a more straightforward evening, completing a 6-3, 6-2 win over her compatriot and US Open finalist Jessica Pegula in 75 minutes.

“It was a tough match. She's always a tough opponent. And these conditions against her, it’s tough,” said Gauff, who snapped a three-match losing streak to Pegula.

“But overall, I think I'm just happy with how I played. Sometimes it was sloppy, sometimes it was great, but that's tennis. I thought we both were playing at a high level. I think I just, was able to break through on some of the more important points.”

Earlier at King Saud University Indoor Arena, making her first competitive appearance in two months, Swiatek fell behind 4-6, 0-3 before she mounted a successful comeback against Krejcikova.

"For sure it wasn’t easy. At the beginning I felt a bit rusty but I’m happy I found a way to play a little bit more solid," said Swiatek, who finished the match with a total tally of 10 aces.

"I tried to do the usual stuff that I do to control the ball a bit more because it was flying like crazy off my racquet.

"I knew I had this game in me, I just needed to find it. It was hard to be patient with that but at the end I’m glad I just kept it going and didn’t think what the score was."

Swiatek, a five-time major champion, skipped last month’s Asian swing and hadn’t played a match since her US Open quarter-final exit in early September.

The 23-year-old Pole parted ways with her coach of three years Tomasz Wiktorowski and debuted her new partnership with Belgian coach Wim Fissette at these WTA Finals.

Krejcikova is ranked 13 in the world but claimed a place in Riyadh as one of the tour’s best eight players due to a new rule implemented this season that gives priority to a grand slam champion that maintains a ranking between nine and 20 over the eighth-ranked player in the Race.

FIGHTBACK

Swiatek stared down three consecutive break points in her opening service game. She saved the first two but overcooked a forehand, sending it long to get broken at the start of the match.

A costly double fault saw Krejcikova fall behind 0-40 but the Czech swept the next five points to get out of trouble and inch ahead 4-2.

Swiatek saved a set point with a good serve in the ninth game to hold but Krejcikova was unnerved as she comfortably served out the set to take the lead in 47 minutes.

The two-time Grand Slam champion looked on her way to a comfortable straight-sets victory when she went up 3-0 with a double-break in the second set, punishing Swiatek’s second serve and benefitting from her opponent’s mistimed shots.

But that only sparked a fightback from Swiatek, who erased her deficit by grabbing the next four games to take the lead for the first time in the match.

Krejcikova double-faulted at a crucial moment, handing Swiatek two set point opportunities in game 12. Swiatek converted her second chance to clinch the set and force a decider.

That took the wind out of Krejcikova’s sails as Swiatek quickly carved a 5-0 gap. 

Swiatek got broken while serving for the match but quickly self-corrected, breaking Krejcikova in game eight to seal the win.

With Sabalenka’s opening round win over Zheng Qinwen on Saturday, Swiatek will now need to win the title, while winning at least two round robin matches, in order to secure the year-end number one ranking.


Ajaz stars as New Zealand beat India 3-0 in historic Test sweep

Ajaz stars as New Zealand beat India 3-0 in historic Test sweep
Updated 03 November 2024
Follow

Ajaz stars as New Zealand beat India 3-0 in historic Test sweep

Ajaz stars as New Zealand beat India 3-0 in historic Test sweep
  • Spinner Ajaz Patel takes six wickets as New Zealand beat India by 25 runs 
  • It is the first time India has been swept in Test series at home since 1999-2000 

MUMBAI: New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel took six wickets as his side sealed a historic 3-0 Test sweep in India with a thrilling 25-run win in the third Test on Sunday.
Chasing 147 for victory, India were bowled out for 121 in 29.1 overs on day three, after Rishabh Pant hit a valiant 64 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Ajaz roared in delight as he bowled Washington Sundar to take the final wicket and the Black Caps celebrated a first Test series win on Indian soil in style.
It was the first time India had been swept in a Test series at home since South Africa’s 2-0 win in 1999-2000 and the first time they were beaten 3-0 at home.
“This will be a very low point in my career, having lost three games at home,” India skipper Rohit Sharma told reporters.
“I fully take responsibility for that. As a leader, I have not been at the best of my abilities right from the start of the series.
“With the bat as well, I have not been good enough.”
New Zealand did the unthinkable under new captain Tom Latham, and in the absence of senior batsman Kane Williamson, who was recovering from a groin injury back home.
The Black Caps turned around their fortunes from a 2-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka, and made India suffer their first Test series loss at home in 12 years.
“Very ecstatic,” said Latham. “Looking back at the start of the series, to now be in this position, the boys have done a fantastic job over the last three Test matches.”
Mumbai-born New Zealander Ajaz ended with a match-haul of 11 wickets at a venue where he created history by claiming all 10 wickets in a Test innings in 2021.
In a tricky chase on a turning pitch, New Zealand reduced India to 29-5, before the left-hander Pant made counter-attacked with his half-century.
Ajaz, after lunch, had Pant caught by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, a decision denied by the on-field umpire but successfully reviewed by New Zealand. An unconvinced Pant trudged back.
“If we say something, it will not go down well. If the decision is not conclusive then the decision has to stand with what the on-field umpire calls,” said Rohit.
“I don’t know how that decision was overturned.”
Glenn Phillips then got two in two balls and Ajaz wrapped up the innings to be named player of the match.
India bowled out New Zealand quickly for 174 in the first session, with Ravindra Jadeja taking five wickets on a turning wicket for 10 in the match.
But the New Zealand bowlers led by Ajaz ripped into India’s top order.
Fast bowler Matt Henry dismissed Rohit Sharma in the third over, getting the captain to mis-hit to Phillips at midwicket for 11.
He extended his poor run with the bat in the series with scores of 2, 52, 0, 8 and 18 in his previous five innings.
Ajaz bowled Shubman Gill and then had Virat Kohli, on one, caught by Daryl Mitchell at slip to silence the home crowd.
Kohli has also struggled in the series, with just one half-century and four single-digit scores in the series.
Pant put on 42 runs for the sixth wicket to revive the chase, but Ajaz struck again to remove Jadeja for six.
Will Young’s 71 and 51 in the two New Zealand innings proved key and he was named player of the series for amassing 244 runs.


Cody Rhodes and Liv Morgan take titles at WWE Riyadh Season event

Cody Rhodes and Liv Morgan take titles at WWE Riyadh Season event
Updated 03 November 2024
Follow

Cody Rhodes and Liv Morgan take titles at WWE Riyadh Season event

Cody Rhodes and Liv Morgan take titles at WWE Riyadh Season event
  • The night was not short on surprises, as the match between Randy Orton and Kevin Owens ended with no result because of unexpected interference

RIYADH: In an extraordinary night at Mohammed Abdu Arena as part of Riyadh Season’s WWE events, “Crown Jewel 2024” delivered a memorable evening of intense matches that wrestling fans will not soon forget.

The General Entertainment Authority CEO, Faisal Bafarat, awarded Cody Rhodes the “Crown Jewel 2024” men’s title and Liv Morgan the women’s title, with both receiving a new championship belt adorned with 50 carats of diamonds as the first champions in Crown Jewel history.

The event kicked off with an explosive opening match in which “The Bloodline,” led by Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga (accompanied by Tanga Loa), achieved a historic victory over Roman Reigns and “The Usos” (Jey and Jimmy Uso) in a six-man tag team match.

In the WWE women’s tag team championship match, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill defended their titles successfully against fierce competition from teams including “Damage Control,” “The Meta-4,” and Chelsea Green with Piper Niven. Seth “Freakin” Rollins also delivered an outstanding performance, defeating “Big” Bronson Reed.

In the women’s showdown, Liv Morgan, the reigning RAW women’s champion, claimed the title of “Crown Jewel Women’s Champion” after defeating SmackDown women’s champion Nia Jax in a grueling battle.

The night was not short on surprises, as the match between Randy Orton and Kevin Owens ended with no result because of unexpected interference, heightening the evening’s excitement.

In a triple-threat match for the United States Championship, LA Knight retained his title after an intense victory over Andrade and Carmelo Hayes.

The night culminated in a grand finale as Cody Rhodes, the undisputed WWE champion, defeated heavyweight champion Gunther, emerging as the Crown Jewel Champion to thunderous cheers from the crowd.

 


Pakistan pick pace-dominated XI to rattle Australia in first ODI 

Pakistan pick pace-dominated XI to rattle Australia in first ODI 
Updated 03 November 2024
Follow

Pakistan pick pace-dominated XI to rattle Australia in first ODI 

Pakistan pick pace-dominated XI to rattle Australia in first ODI 
  • Pakistan head into Melbourne ODI with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain and Haris Rauf in playing XI
  • Green shirts will play three ODIs against Australia on Nov. 4, 8 and 10 at Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, respectively

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will head into the first ODI against Australia on Monday with fiery fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain featuring in the playing XI squad, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said. 

Pakistan’s new white-ball skipper Mohammad Rizwan will lead his side for the first time since assuming captaincy this month at Melbourne against Australia on Monday. 

The South Asian country is scheduled to play three ODIs on Nov. 4, 8 and 10 in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, respectively before taking on Australia in a three-match T20I series on Nov. 14, 16 and 18. 

“The men’s national selection committee has confirmed Pakistan’s playing XI for the first ODI against Australia,” the PCB said in a statement. 

Rauf and Hasnain have both had ample experience playing on Australian pitches for the Big Bash League (BBL). Both bowlers have the ability to bowl above 150 kmph and bamboozle batters through sheer pace. 

Australian pitches favor pace and bounce, serving as ideal hunting grounds for pacers from Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and the West Indies in the past. 

Afridi and Shah, Pakistan’s experienced pace bowlers, will return to the squad after they were dropped from the Test squad after England drubbed Pakistan in the first Test in Multan last month. 

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam and Kamran Ghulam have both been included in the squad while the green shirts will rely on openers Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub to deliver the goods with the bat against Australia. 

Playing XI:

Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain