Sports

Fulham boosted their Premier League survival hopes after Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a stoppage time winner to give them a 1-0 win over bottom team Huddersfield Town at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

The result lifted Fulham one place up to 18th on 14 points from 20 games, two more than Burnley who are at home to West Ham United in one of Sunday’s four fixtures. Huddersfield have 11 points after suffering their seventh successive defeat.

Having had a bullet of a header saved by Jonas Lossl, who also kept out an Aboubakar Kamara penalty, Mitrovic delighted the home fans after taking a Ryan Sessegnon pass in his stride and firing it past the visiting keeper.

Kamara will have been particularly relieved with the outcome as he snatched the ball away from Mitrovic to take the spot kick he earned after Chris Lowe handled the French forward’s attempt to control the ball. 

Kamara was booed by the home fans every time he touched the ball in the closing stages and just when it seemed he would be left to rue his ill-judged perseverance, Mitrovic spared his blushes with a superb finish.

Huddersfield launched a dangerous raid at the other end and after Fulham cleared the danger, they launched a quick breakaway move with Sessegnon feeding Mitrovic to rifle the ball past Lossl from just inside the penalty box.

Leicester City 0, Cardiff City 1

A 92nd-minute goal from midfielder Victor Camarasa and a penalty save from goalkeeper Neil Etheridge ensured Cardiff City beat Leicester City 1-0 for their first away victory of the Premier League season on Saturday.

Claude Puel’s Leicester, carrying momentum from consecutive wins against Chelsea and Manchester City, dominated the early exchanges at the King Power Stadium, and came close with long-range efforts from James Maddison and Ricardo Pereira.

Leicester had their best chance of the first half in the closing stages when Jamie Vardy was slipped through by Maddison, only for the striker to shoot straight at Etheridge.

The hosts looked certain to claim consecutive home wins for the first time this season when Maddison was clipped inside the box by defender Sean Morrison, but they were denied thanks to Etheridge’s heroics.

With Leicester supporters heading towards the exit, Camarasa curled the ball past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from the edge of the box to secure a dramatic win for the Welsh side.

Brighton & Hove Albion 1, Everton 0

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Dutch striker Juergen Locadia pounced just before the hour as they carved out a 1-0 home win against an unlucky Everton side, who hit the woodwork twice in their Premier League clash on Saturday. 

After a pedestrian opening 45 minutes, tempers flared in the second half of Everton’s 4,500th game in the English top flight when their forward Richarlison went down injured and Brighton declined to put the ball out of play after winning it back. 

Kurt Zouma hit the woodwork for Everton, sending his header from Gylfi Sigurdsson’s free kick onto the crossbar in the dying minutes as the Blues slumped to their fourth defeat in seven league games in December.

Watford 1, Newcastle United 1

Abdoulaye Doucoure came off the bench to bundle home the equaliser and then almost grab a winner as Watford secured a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United at Vicarage Road in the Premier League on Saturday.

The French midfielder was brought on at the start of the second half as Watford went all out to avoid a sixth home league defeat this season.

Doucoure met Gerard Deulofeu’s cross with a superb header in the 82nd minute to set up a frantic final few minutes.

Newcastle had led for much of the game after Salomon Rondon, who had been left out of their 4-0 defeat at Liverpool on Wednesday, headed home Matt Ritchie’s centre cross.

Tottenham Hotspur 1, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3

Tottenham Hotspur’s status as Premier League title chasers was seriously harmed on Saturday as they fell to a first defeat in seven league games, losing the lead to go down 3-1 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Harry Kane fired a largely unimpressive Spurs side in front midway through the first half, picking the ball up from deep out wide, cutting inside and finding the top corner from outside the area with a sumptuous strike on his weaker left foot.

The goal was Kane’s fourth in three league games, but was not enough to see off the dogged visitors, who have taken points off some of the biggest teams such as Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United in their return to the top flight.

Mexican forward Raul Jimenez then gave them the lead in the 83rd minute and Helder Costa sealed the win with a counter-attack goal in the 87th.

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City's surprise run of three defeats in four games, the latest in Wednesday's 2-1 defeat at Leicester City, has been widely attributed to one simple cause — the absence of defensive midfielder Fernandinho.

Yet, while the Brazilian's injury has clearly dented their Premier League title defence, given the absence of any effective replacement to shield their defence, City's woes run deeper than the loss of just one individual, however influential.

The defeats at Chelsea and Leicester and at home to Crystal Palace, with only a home win against Everton limiting the damage, have seen Pep Guardiola's champions fall from being clear favourites and leaders to third place.

They are now a point behind Spurs and seven behind top side Liverpool, who visit the Etihad on January 3.

Last season's record-breaking title win was built on remarkable consistency, in results of course but also in terms of the starting line-up and approach.

Yet, while the inevitable injuries picked up through a season did little to knock City off course last term, this season Guardiola has had to deal with not just the recent loss of Fernandinho, but also of several key players at the same time.

David Silva missed City's last five games before returning at Leicester and his importance to the team's trademark style was certainly highlighted in the recent losses.

For what Fernandinho provides in solidity, defensive protection and the ability to stop counter-attacks and opposition momentum, Silva matches as the essential link in the short, quick passing game which makes City so hard to defend against.

Silva not only provides goals and assists, but brings out the best in those around him, particularly wide players Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling, who have both been out of sorts in recent performances.

Sane and Sterling know that when Silva has the ball, the Spaniard, with his supreme reading of angles and timing, will find them if they make a move.

Without Silva, they have too often received the ball when stationary, allowing defenders time to set up and nullify them instead of finding themselves on the back foot being attacked with momentum and impetus.

Kevin De Bruyne is another to have only recently returned from long-term injury and, while City initially coped with the absence of the Belgian central midfielder, they have missed his ability to swiftly turn defence into attack with a surging run or sweeping pass.

Much of the focus on City's improvement last season was placed on the full back positions but with Benjamin Mendy injured, Fabian Delph has, of late, rarely looked much more than an adequate replacement.

Worse, England defender Kyle Walker's form has been shaky, and he paid the price for a poor performance in the 3-2 home defeat to Palace by losing his place at Leicester with Danilo preferred at right-back.

The defence is no longer as solid, the midfield has missed key elements and the forward line is not operating anywhere near full effectiveness.

"What we have to do is try and change the dynamic to winning games. We are able to do that but I have to reflect myself, think about what the team needs and try to help them," said Guardiola.

"That is what will concern me for the next few days. Good results are miracles for the mind and I have to help the players come back, change something and try to win again."

A trip to Southampton is next on Sunday and, with Spurs and Liverpool in full flow, City can ill-afford another stumble if they are to avoid a poor December becoming an irretrievable slump.

AMMAN — Jordan  plays China on Friday in its final friendly ahead of the 2019 Asian Cup in the UAE.

Jordan has had a tough week. Following a training camp in Oman, the national team lost its first two friendlies during its current training camp in Qatar: they lost the first 1-0 to  Kyrgyzstan and second 2-0 to its host. 

While the national team's path to the Asian Championship was not difficult against relatively unknown teams, the Asian Cup might not be that easy as Jordan will join  24 teams playing in 6 groups with the top two from each group and four third placed teams advancing to the Round of 16. 

Jordan ended the year at 109th — its best ranking of the year — when the latest FIFA rankings were issued this week as the team started the final countdown to the Asian Cup where Jordan will play  in Group B against Australia on January 6, Syria on January 10 and Palestine on January 15.

Earlier this month, Jordan hosted two friendlies, beating India 2-1 and holding Saudi Arabia 1-1. Earlier, it held Albania 0-0 and lost 2-1 to World Cup runner-up Croatia. Jordan also tied Oman 0-0 and lost 1-0 to Lebanon.

After being among the Asia top 10, Jordan is now 19th on the continent lagging behind relatively uncompetitive Asian teams compared to their best FIFA ranking of 37th in 2004.

Since first taking part in Asian Cup qualifiers in 1972, Jordan reached the Asian Championship three times. The peak was at the 13th Asian Cup, when Jordan lost to Japan in the quarterfinals and jumped to its best ever FIFA rank of 37th in August of 2004. It also reached the Asian Cup in 2011 and 2015.

After elimination from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, playing in the Asian finals became Jordan's focus. The team has had inconsistent results compared to 2013, when Jordan was on the verge of qualifying to the 2014 World Cup for the first time and advanced to play then world's 6th ranked Uruguay in an intercontinental qualifying tie. 

Jordan had never reached that far in World Cup qualifying. Round 3 had been the furthest Jordan had reached their past 7 attempts. 

LONDON — Liverpool treated their fans to some Christmas cheer with a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle United at Anfield on Wednesday, extending their lead at the top of the table. 

The win put Liverpool on 51 points at the halfway point in the season, six ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, who hammered Bournemouth 5-0, and seven ahead of champions Manchester City who lost 2-1 at Leicester City. 

Returning to the club he led to the Champions League title in 2005, Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez picked his team with defence in mind, stringing five players across the back. 

But defender Jamaal Lascelles inadvertently teed Dejan Lovren up for the opening goal, carelessly heading an attempted clearance into the path of the Liverpool centre back, who cracked home a fine half-volley in the 11th minute.

Newcastle managed to hold firm until halftime, but within minutes of the restart they were two down as Mohamed Salah scored his 13th league goal of the season from the penalty spot following an innocuous foul on him by Paul Dummett. 

Liverpool's enormous pressure threatened to give them a third goal at any moment, and it came when Xherdan Shaqiri stabbed home Trent Alexander-Arnold's low cross from close range in the 79th minute. Fabinho made it 4-0 by heading home Salah's corner. 

Liverpool's fans burst into song as news reached the Anfield stands that Manchester City had lost at Leicester, giving the Merseysiders the Christmas gift they wanted, as they chase a first league title since 1990. 

Solskjaer wins 

Old Trafford debut

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continued his dream start as Manchester United caretaker manager with a 3-1 Premier League win over Huddersfield on his Old Trafford debut in the dugout on Wednesday. 

Paul Pogba scored two superb goals in the second half after Nemanja Matic fired United ahead in the 28th minute to continue United's revival under their former striker Solskjaer, who hit the ground running in Saturday's 5-1 win at Cardiff City.

The result left United sixth on 32 points from 19 games halfway through their campaign, while Huddersfield stayed rooted to the bottom with 10 points after suffering their sixth successive league defeat. 

Serbian enforcer Matic swept in a rebound from two metres after visiting keeper Jonas Lossl parried a glancing Victor Lindelof header from a corner to fire United ahead after the home side had suffered an early scare.

Defender Terence Kongolo blazed his 10th-minute shot over the bar for Huddersfield, but United never looked back after taking the lead and their incessant pressure produced two sublime Pogba strikes after the break.

The France World Cup winner drilled in a fierce low shot from 13 metres in the 64th minute and sealed United's win with a rasping long-range effort in the 78th before Mathias Jorgensen netted a late consolation for Huddersfield. 

City lose after 

Ricardo stunner

Manchester City suffered their second straight Premier League defeat, as they were stunned by a late strike from Leicester City's Ricardo Pereira in a 2-1 loss on Wednesday.

City were looking to bounce back from their 3-2 defeat by Crystal Palace and were in front after 14 minutes when Bernardo Silva finished with his left foot after being played through by Sergio Aguero. 

But four minutes later Leicester were back on level terms after Marc Albrighton met Jamie Vardy's cross with his head from close range.

Leicester's defence held tight despite an onslaught from City, with Fabian Delph and Aguero both missing good chances.

Pep Guardiola's team were may to pay for those spurned opportunities as Ricardo unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top left corner beyond Ederson with less than 10 minutes from the end.

Things went from bad to worse as Delph was shown a straight red for following through in a challenge on Ricardo, capping a miserable afternoon for City who slipped to third in the league.

Liverpool will be open to signing players in the January transfer window should they need reinforcements to aid their Premier League title challenge, manager Juergen Klopp said on Monday.

Klopp's side has suffered a number of casualties in recent weeks, with defenders Joel Matip and Joe Gomez ruled out until mid-January with injuries.

While full back Trent Alexander-Arnold and midfielder Naby Keita could return against Newcastle United on Wednesday, Klopp suggested further fitness problems could force him to rethink his transfer strategy.

“I'm very happy with what I've got, but you don't know. That's why I always keep the door open, in case something happens and we need to have a look,” Klopp told a news conference.

“If a few more things happen then we need to have a look because there are a monstrous number of games still and it's really important that we can always react. 

“If something will dramatically change then we need to have a look, that's all. If nothing happens, then I would say we will not do anything.”

Liverpool powered past Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 on Friday to extend their lead to four points after rivals Manchester City suffered a shock 3-2 defeat by Crystal Palace.

Klopp has urged his players to maintain their focus when they host Newcastle at Anfield on Boxing Day, with potentially season-defining games against Arsenal and Manchester City on the horizon.

“The most important thing for us is [the reaction] after you win the last game — that is why the Wolves game was such a big challenge [after win against Manchester United],” he added.

“So I was really happy with our attitude. That is what we need — to stay angry, greedy and in the job. That is what we have to do against Newcastle.”

Anfield return 

Klopp expects former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez to receive a warm welcome when he returns to Anfield for the fifth time as a visiting team manager.

Benitez, who won the 2005 Champions League with Liverpool, has endured a difficult season with Newcastle, who are 15th in the league and five points clear of the bottom three.

“I think the supporters of this club are famous not to forget people who did an outstanding job here,” said Klopp.

“I heard that nobody was really happy with the amount of money they (Newcastle) had to sign players.

“Rafa is too experienced to carry that for a full season, those emotions. They are really settled and in a good moment results wise. It is always difficult to play against them.” 

AMMAN — Ahli were crowned Jordan basketball champions — a title that had eluded them since 1994 — when they won Game 5 against Kufr Youba 73-64 in the best-of-five play-offs for the title of the Jordan Basketball league, which ended on Sunday evening.

Ahli forced a title-deciding match after Kufr Youba won the first match 92-85 before Ahli won the second 95-78. Kufr Youba came back to win game three 87-77, but again Ahli leveled the series winning 80-74.

Ahli made history this year. After disbanding the team for over a decade, the club won the Jordan Cup earlier this season, thanks to the efforts of its governing board of directors led by the late Said Shuqom. 

Former star Zeid Alkhas was assigned as team coach and the combined efforts of the team led by Zeid Abbas, Ibrahim Hamati and a young lineup seemed determined to win, as Jordan's first player draft and national team stars were dispersed to play among the clubs to recapture the zeal of competition.

Veteran club player Imad Saeed replaced Alkhas during the season as Ahli eliminated Wihdat 87-84 and 76-70, in the best-of-three semifinal round to move to the final playoffs, while Kufr Youba eliminated Orthodoxi in closely contested matches beating them 65-63, and 76-73.

Wihdat went on to beat Orthodoxi to take third place in the league, which seemed to revive memories and a competitive spirit in the Kingdom's second most popular sport, with many closely contested  matches early in the season. Titleholders Riyadi and Jazira failed to make it to the final four after an inconsistent season. Riyadi, champions for the past two seasons, lacked the winning edge, while Orthodoxi stumbled in the final four.

In the 2015-16 season,  Riyadi were crowned league champions — a title which had eluded them for 20 years — when they beat titleholders Orthodoxi. Riyadi had last won the league in 1997. Riyadi won the League again in the 2016/2017 season.

Orthodoxi, who won their record 23rd league title in the 2014-2015 season, won the Jordan Cup in 2016. The Basketball League began in 1952, and has had 59 editions with eight teams crowned champion. It was cancelled in three seasons and discontinued once. Orthodoxi have won 23 times, Ahli 21, Zain (Fastlink) 6 times, ASU four times, Riyadi and Jazira-Aramex 2, while, Urdun, Watany and the Electricity Co. have each won once.

Teams like former league and cup champs Applied Science University, Ittihad and Zain have pulled out of the competition.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has thanked Jose Mourinho for helping him “improve as a person” despite the breakdown of their relationship in the last few months leading up to the former manager’s sacking on Tuesday.

Mourinho, who replaced Dutchman Louis van Gaal in 2016, won the Europa League and League Cup in his first campaign, but his third season was dominated by media reports of a rift with Pogba while United laboured on the pitch playing dull soccer.

Pogba was stripped of vice captaincy earlier this season and dropped for the final three league games of Mourinho’s tenure, but the France international said that he had no hard feelings towards the Portuguese.

“We won trophies with Jose and I want to thank him for that. Not everything worked well, but [some] things went well,” Pogba told the British media.

“He makes me improve, as a person as well, and that’s it. That’s the past, I want to thank him for that. I’m sure that is the same for all the players.” 

Pogba was immediately restored to the starting line-up under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and produced two assists in Saturday’s 5-1 Premier League thrashing of Cardiff City.

After City’s sensational 3-2 reverse against Crystal Palace at their Etihad fortress, United seemed liberated and re-energised under Solskjaer as they romped Cardiff City — the first time they have hit five in the league since the final match of the golden Alex Ferguson era in 2013.

So, what recently looked like an imperious title defence now looks problematic as City lie four points behind leaders Liverpool, who had thrown down the gauntlet with a 2-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday.

In stark contrast, after a traumatic week which saw the end of Mourinho’s two-and-a-half-year reign, Manchester United seemed mentally and physically reborn, playing with verve, pace and attacking intent that reflected the smile of their still fresh-faced caretaker boss and old club hero, Solskjaer.

He was beaming after three minutes when Marcus Rashford’s free kick put United ahead and further goals before halftime from Ander Herrera and Anthony Martial — after a dazzling passing interchange — and a second-half double from Jesse Lingard made it a perfect start for the Norwegian.

United, with Paul Pogba back in the fold, poured forward in a free-spirited manner rarely seen under Mourinho as Solskjaer lifted the gloom of United’s worst start in 28 years.

“Football is easy if you have good players. This is such a great group of players. The quality is just unbelievable,” Solskjaer said, as both his team and ex-United players, headed by Wayne Rooney, all praised the instant “Ole effect”.

Chelsea’s loss at Stamford Bridge seemed almost as unlikely as Manchester City’s with Leicester facing the prospect of a third straight defeat but Jamie Vardy’s first-time finish soon after the break brought much-needed relief for the Foxes’ manager Claude Puel.

“The performance of the team was great and we are happy that the first game of the manager starts like this,” Pogba added.

“It’s important now to carry on like that. We cannot play like this and win with five goals and then the next game lose.”

United, who are sixth in the standings with 29 points after 18 matches, host Huddersfield Town on Wednesday.

AMMAN —  Jordan  ended the year at 109th — its best ranking of the year — when the latest FIFA rankings were issued over the weekend as the team begins the countdown to the 2019 Asian Cup finals in the UAE.

The Jordan Professional League is now on hold for the national team’s Asian Cup preparations, where Jordan will play in Group B against Australia on January 6, Syria on January 10 and Palestine on January 15.

Following a training camp in Oman, the national team is now holding a training camp in  Qatar, where they lost the first friendly 1-0 to  Kyrgyzstan. Jordan will play Qatar today and China on December 28, in the final phase. Earlier it played two friendlies at home beating India 2-1 and holding Saudi Arabia 1-1. Last month, Jordan held Albania 0-0 and lost 2-1 to World Cup runner-up Croatia. It also tied Oman 0-0 and lost 1-0 to Lebanon.

The Kingdom’s competitive edge is lacking and judging by FIFA rankings it seems they have a tough task ahead. Jordan is now 19th in the Asian continent trailing Iran (29), Australia (41), Japan (50), South Korea (53), Saudi Arabia (69), Syria (74),  China (76), the UAE (79), Lebanon (81), Oman (82),  Iraq (88),  Kyrgyzstan (91), Qatar (93), Uzbekistan (95), India (97), Palestine (99) Vietnam (100), North Korea (109). 

Tunisia is the top-ranked Arab team at 26, followed by Morocco (40), Egypt (56), Algeria (67), Saudi Arabia (69).  Once among the Asian top 10, Jordan is now 19th, lagging behind relatively uncompetitive Asian teams compared to their best FIFA ranking of 37th in 2004.   

Belgium is in top spot with World Cup champs France (2nd)followed by Brazil, Croatia, England, Portugal, Uruguay, Switzerland, Spain and Denmark. 

While the  national team’s path to the Asian Championship was not difficult against relatively unknown teams on the continent, the Asian Cup is a different story: Jordan will join  24 teams playing in six groups with the top two from each group and four third placed teams advancing to the Round of 16. 

Since first taking part in Asian Cup qualifiers in 1972, Jordan has reached the Asian Championship three times: the peak of which was at the 13th Asian Cup, when it lost to Japan in the quarterfinals and jumped to its best ever FIFA rank of 37th in August 2004. Jordan also reached the Asian Cup in 2011 and 2015.

After elimination from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, playing in the Asian finals became Jordan’s focus. The team has had inconsistent results compared to 2013 when Jordan was on the verge of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup for the first time and advanced to play then world’s 6th ranked Uruguay in an intercontinental qualifying tie. Jordan had never reached that far in World Cup qualifying. 

AMMAN —  Ahli have forced a title-deciding Game 5 against Kufr Youba in the best-of-five Jordan Basketball League play-offs for the title, which ends today.

Kufr Youba won the first match 92-85 before Ahli won the second 95-78. Kufr Youba came back to win game three 87-77, but  again Ahli leveled the series on Friday winning 80-74 at Prince Hamzah Arena.

Now it is up to Game 5 to decide the champion. Ahli, who last won the league in 1994, have a chance to make history again. They won the Jordan Cup earlier this year, and have now advanced thanks to the combined efforts of the team led by Zeid Abbas, Ibrahim Hamati and a young lineup led by coach Zeid Alkhas, who has now been replaced by veteran club player Imad Saeed. 

Wihdat edged Orthodoxi to take third place in the league, which seemed to revive memories and a competitive spirit in the Kingdom’s second most popular sport, with many closely contested  matches earlier in the season. Titleholders Riyadi and Jazira failed to make it to the final four after an inconsistent season. Riyadi, champions for the past two seasons, lacked the winning edge while Orthodoxi stumbled in the final four.

An unlikely finalist, Kufr Youba eliminated Orthodoxi in closely contested matches in the best-of-three semifinal round beating them 65-63 and 76-73, while Ahli eliminated Wihdat 87-84 and 76-70 to move to the final play-offs.

In an effort to revive the game which was suffering from administrative issues, low funding, the withdrawal of clubs as well as fan disenchantment, the Jordan Basketball Federation’s temporary board held the Jordan Cup earlier this year and eventually had 21 clubs competing again. The board even held Jordan’s first player draft and national team stars were dispersed to play among the clubs to get the zeal of competition flowing again. Following the Jordan Cup, won by Ahli, the top 6 headed into the Premier Division, and the rest into the First and Second Divisions.

In the 2015-16 season,  Riyadi were crowned league champion — a title which had eluded them for 20 years — when they beat titleholders Orthodoxi. Riyadi had last won the league in 1997, by then the Jazira-Aramex team (whose players later formed Riyadi’s lineup). Riyadi won the League again in the 2016-2017 season.

Teams like former league and cup champs Applied Science University, Ittihad and Zain had pulled out of the competition over differences with the Jordan Basketball Federation and players dispersed over the rest of clubs. Orthodoxi, who won their record 23rd league title in the 2014-15 season, won the Jordan Cup in 2016.  

The Basketball League started in 1952 and has had 59 editions with eight teams crowned champion. It was cancelled in three seasons and discontinued once. Orthodoxi have won 23 times, Ahli 21, Zain (Fastlink) 6 times, ASU four times, Riyadi and Jazira-Aramex twice, while, Urdun, Watany and the Electricity Co. won once each.

LONDON — Lewis Hamilton may be the greatest Formula One driver of all time but “negativity and envy” are denying him the recognition he deserves, according to his Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.

Comparing the five-time world champion to retired Ferrari great Michael Schumacher, Wolff suggested people might not appreciate the 33-year-old Briton’s achievements until he too had left the scene.

“Not everybody recognises a great career, a great sportsman or greatness overall while it’s happening. There is a lot of negativity and envy whilst it happens,” Wolff told Reuters in a telephone interview.

“It’s only being recognised once a career has ended as having been really great and I don’t know why that is. We are extremely privileged in following a career of maybe the greatest racing driver of all time.

“Obviously Michael has set the records and was unbelievable but Lewis is on a similar trajectory,” he added. “Also with Michael, it was only recognised after he retired and even more when tragedy struck. And I think it’s a pity.”

Schumacher, who turns 50 in January, has not been seen in public since the German suffered severe head injuries in a skiing accident five years ago.

Hamilton has set a string of records on his way to his fifth title this season, and could go on to match Schumacher’s seven championships and 91 wins.

The Briton, now on 73 victories, has won 51 of the 100 Grands Prix in the V6 turbo era that started in 2014 and four of the last five championships. 

Hamilton also has a record 83 pole positions and is only the third driver ever to win five titles or more.

Runner-up

Last Sunday, he was runner-up in the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year awards — a public vote — to Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas.

He was condemned on social media for “slum” comments about his boyhood town Stevenage, words he later clarified, and has been criticised for moving to the tax haven of Monaco where many other Formula One drivers reside.

“We are live spectators, live witnesses of a great racing driver at the peak of his abilities,” said Wolff. “In the US you are very much inspired by success. In Europe it triggers much more envy and negativity.

“I am certainly biased because I have an emotional attachment to Lewis, for me the greatest sports person that is in his career in Britain.”

Wolff said Hamilton was fully motivated to chase his sixth title next season and that the Briton, who leads a jet-setting celebrity lifestyle with interests in fashion and music away from the racetrack, would also not be the champion he was without dividing opinion.

“Everybody wants to be recognised, particularly in their own country, and in order to achieve the success he has, you need to be sensitive,” he said. 

“He is that exceptional sports personality also because he polarises. And I think at the end of the day, he’s thinking that he’d rather polarise than be just in the middle and boring.

“He stays true to himself and his values and that is the most important thing.”

Mercedes have won both titles for the past five years, something only Ferrari had ever done previously, and the German manufacturer has enjoyed the best year of its motorsport history.

Their British driver George Russell won the Formula Two title, Schumacher’s son Mick was European Formula Three champion in a Mercedes-powered car and Mercedes also won the DTM (German Touring Car) championship.

“I think we have achieved records this year which I think the sport has not seen,” said Wolff.

“We have exciting new challenges ahead with Formula E that we are going to embark on in season six [2019/20], replacing DTM, and in the same way Formula One provides its own challenges about staying relevant.

“I have no doubt that Ferrari and Red Bull in Formula One are going to continue to push the organisation too. Remaining on top and setting benchmarks is an exciting objective.”