Sports

LONDON — Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was sitting up and talking to his family, reports said on Tuesday, as he recovers from emergency surgery following a brain haemorrhage. 

The 76-year-old, who suffered the haemorrhage on Saturday, remains in intensive care and there has been no official update on his condition from the Premier League club.

But Britain’s Mail Online said the Scot, who retired in 2013, was out of a coma and showing promising early signs of recovery.

“Surgery went very well and the 76-year-old’s response to treatment has given encouragement and cautious optimism to those close to him,” the report said. 

“However, they recognise it will still be a slow road to full recovery as he continues to be assessed.” 

“The prognosis is good and his closest friends in football are being kept abreast of any developments,” a source told The Sun newspaper.

One of the greatest managers in football history, Ferguson won 38 trophies in more than 26 years in charge of United, including 13 Premier League titles and the Champions League twice.

Support has flooded in from the football world and from those outside the game and United midfielder Michael Carrick said that the response shows the esteem in which his former boss is held.

“The whole football world is incredible but outside of that as well, from all corners of the globe and different walks of life, people have shown their support,” he told MUTV.

“That’s the effect he had on people. It was the effect he had on everyone. He means a lot to me, as he does to this club.

“We were all praying for him and thinking of him, Cathy and the family. It’s a tough time for everyone but I’m thinking positive and hoping he will pull through.”

Giggs tribute

Wales manager Ryan Giggs, who was part of all of Ferguson’s 13 Premier League title-winning teams after being given his debut as a 17-year-old in 1991, told the BBC: “I know the operation has been a success — but he is a fighter and that is what makes me think he will be able to make a recovery.

“Now is the time to pray and hope he can make a full recovery. He has been the biggest influence in my career, both on and off the pitch.”

Defender Phil Jones, one of a handful of players signed by Ferguson who is still at the club, added: “I know his character. I know he has that fight in him. Hopefully he’ll recover well.

“He has got all his family and friends around him, the support from all the players and staff at Man United and football around the world.”

United have thanked the many well-wishers, including Premier League managers Arsene Wenger, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, who have spoke of their admiration for Ferguson.

Wenger enjoyed a long, and at times fractious rivalry with Ferguson as they battled for Premier League supremacy in the first decade of the Frenchman’s long reign in charge of Arsenal. 

However, they later became friends and with Wenger leaving Arsenal at the end of the season, Ferguson presented his old adversary with a memento on his final visit to United’s Old Trafford ground just last weekend.

“I was with him on the pitch last week. I went to see him in the box after the game and he looked in perfect shape,” said Wenger, after his final home game as Arsenal boss on Sunday.

“He told me he is doing a lot of exercise, and he looked very happy but that kind of accident can happen. We wish him all well and to recover very quickly. He is a strong man and an optimistic man.” 

AMMAN — Reigning champion Manaf Hijjawi put on another masterclass as he maintained his winning start to the Jordan Rotax Max Karting Challenge, which is the national championship for the sport in the Kingdom and organised by Jordan Motorsport, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

Held at the Jordan Speed Centre, round two was dominated by the defending champion who maintained an average speed of just under 68kph throughout.

After winning Saturday’s first of two races, Hijjawi then went on to take the all-important second race for an overall haul of 94 points, putting him a comfortable 33 points clear of Rakan Qumouq, who finished third and fourth in round two’s races, in the overall standings, followed by Amir Al Najjar (60) and Abdullah Al Dulaimi (44).

Meanwhile, Faisal Al Nashkho won both Mini Max races to open up a lead in the National Championship for the youngsters. In the Junior Max, Hamzeh Qumouq remains on top of following two race wins in that category.

LONDON — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger signed off in style as they thrashed Burnley 5-0 in his last Premier League home game on Sunday with the kind of dominant performance he would have wanted after 22 years in charge.

Wenger was given a guard of honour from both teams and the match officials before kickoff, and received roars of support throughout the match from the home fans, most of whom had donned their complimentary red “Merci Arsene” T-shirts.

Arsenal’s January record signing, Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, opened the scoring in the 14th minute at The Emirates, racing into the area to guide home Alexandre Lacazette’s cross with the outside of his right foot.

France striker Lacazette then doubled the lead for the Gunners just before halftime, volleying in a low ball from Hector Bellerin on the right side of the goal.

Second-half strikes from Sead Kolasinac, Aubameyang again and Alex Iwobi put the game well beyond Burnley’s reach.

Burnley, who narrowly avoided relegation last season but are now preparing for their first season of European football since 1967, with qualification for the Europa League, had been hoping before the game to pull level on 57 points with Arsenal.

Instead, the result means the Gunners will finish the season in sixth place, with Burnley one place behind them in seventh.

The visitors suffered an early setback when Ashley Barnes, their joint top-scorer this season, crashed into the back of Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka and walked slowly off the field minutes later, cradling his left arm, to be replaced by Sam Vokes.

Arsenal’s emphatic victory, which matched their best result this season, was little consolation for the midweek loss in the Europa League semi-final to Atletico Madrid, however, which meant they miss out on Champions League football next season.

Merci, Arsene

After the game the Arsenal team and staff formed another guard of honour to say farewell to Wenger and captain Per Mertesacker, who will manage the club’s academy next season.

The German central defender came on briefly at the end of the match and drew huge cheers every time he touched the ball.

Former Arsenal and Scotland goalkeeper Bob Wilson then led the tributes to Wenger on the pitch, backed by huge letter-boards spelling out “Merci Arsene”.

“He has built the Arsenal that we know and love today. He has changed the face of football in this country. Hundreds of players owe their careers to him,” Wilson told the crowd, all standing for the occasion.

Pat Rice, Wenger’s assistant throughout his years at the club, then presented the 68-year-old Frenchman with the gold “Invincibles” trophy given to the club after their 2003-04 season, when the team won the league without losing a match.

Wenger first expressed his best wishes for his old rival, former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson, who was taken into hospital on Saturday after suffering a brain haemorrhage, before bidding his own farewell to the fans.

“Thank you all for having me for such a long time — I know that’s not easy,” he said, drawing a laugh from the crowd.

“Above all I am, like you, an Arsenal fan,” Wenger said to warm applause before saying farewell.

LONDON — If the football world has been left so shocked by the news of the serious illness to Alex Ferguson, it is partly because the patriarch of Manchester United has always cut such a seemingly robust, indestructible figure, an unbeatable giant of the game.

The 76-year-old had emergency surgery for a brain haemorrhage on Saturday, yet, it was only less than a week earlier that he had been on the pitch at Old Trafford, looking in fine form and fettle while making a presentation to Arsene Wenger. 

As he joshed with his old deadly Arsenal rival, it was a reminder how much the game has missed Ferguson since his retirement in 2013 and made one reflect once more about his towering, perhaps unprecedented influence in the modern game.

Indeed, whenever there is an argument among fans about who is the biggest sports personality of them all, Ferguson has always been right at the heart of the debate, a champion whose greatness was reflected in the clubs he managed.

A Scotsman who became the most successful manager ever in the annals of the English game, you could even make a convincing case for him being the world’s best down the years, so continually successful was he over such a long period.

In the fickle modern game, which treats managers as disposable tissues, Ferguson was immovable Glaswegian granite for more than quarter of a century, re-establishing and then constantly re-inventing United’s dazzle as the world’s most celebrated club.

His triumph was not just that he kept the United bandwagon rolling on unstoppably with different liveries but that he imbued each new red model with the same qualities of flair, panache and never-say-die commitment.

Explosive temper

“Fergie” time — and not just those dying minutes when his teams always seemed to come alive — was never dull. Neither were his pronouncements. “Football — bloody hell...” still stands as the perfect encapsulation of the game’s allure.

Where are today’s great manager-cum-dictators? Long gone. He was the last. What he said went. Cross him and you were history and when his explosive temper took over, his ideas left a lasting impression on his players.

No player at United was ever bigger than the club and none was ever bigger than “Fergie”. Not Eric Cantona, not Roy Keane, not even David Beckham.

Yet there were times when Ferguson gave a good impression of towering over the institution of United itself, so indispensable did he make himself at Old Trafford as the inheritor of the great Matt Busby’s mantle.

Indispensable? Well, ever since he departed, his shadow over the club that he led to so many trophies — 38 all told in his 27 years at Old Trafford, including 13 league titles, two European Cups and a Cup Winners’ Cup — United have never come close to recapturing the zest of his reign.

Indeed, his influence has cast a shadow over all his successors in the past five years, including the current incumbent Jose Mourinho, a serial winner, yet, one who is still not considered to be patch on Ferguson by United followers.

And it should never be forgotten that it was not just at United that he swept all before him.

Even before turning Old Trafford back into a theatre of winning dreams, he oversaw an extraordinary period of over achievement at Aberdeen in Scotland, smashing through the Celtic-Rangers duopoly with 10 trophies, including the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

That is the definitive answer to those who still suggest that at United he never had to build bricks from straw like Brian Clough, an old rival for Britain’s “greatest” manager tag, did at Derby County and Nottingham Forest.

Ferguson can claim to have done it all, from winning in Europe with an unfashionable smaller club, lifting league titles in two different countries, collecting European silverware with two clubs and annexing trophies in four successive decades.

Oh yes, and winning a unique treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League titles in 1999, the year in which he was also knighted.

It’s why the football world is rallying around him, wishing for much more Fergie time with the full recovery of one of the sport’s most monumental characters.

LONDON — Fresh from booking their place in the Champions League final after a dramatic night in Rome, Liverpool’s European heroes return to the fight for a Premier League top four finish when they face Chelsea on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are still on a high following a 4-2 defeat at Roma on Wednesday that clinched a 7-6 aggregate success in the Champions League semifinals.

Liverpool will take on holders Real Madrid in their eighth European Cup final appearance on May 26 in Kiev.

But first the Reds have to ensure they feature in next season’s Champions League.

Third placed Liverpool are six points ahead of fifth placed Chelsea, but they would give renewed hope to the Blues if they are beaten at Stamford Bridge.

A Liverpool win this weekend would make it impossible for Chelsea to catch them, ensuring the Reds will qualify for next season’s Champions League with a game in spare.

Even a draw in west London would effectively seal their top four place because Liverpool have a vastly superior goal difference.

Failing that, victory at home to Brighton on the final day of the league season would do the job before Liverpool focus on their European showdown with Cristiano Ronaldo and company.

Three draws in their past four league outings against Everton, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke — partly the result of Klopp prioritising Champions League progress — have allowed Chelsea to close to the gap.

Antonio Conte’s men have three league games remaining to Liverpool’s two, meaning if the Londoners win their remaining fixtures they will, at worst, finish level on points with the Champions League finalists.

For Klopp’s peace of mind and to rest a tiring squad with a growing injury list, guaranteeing qualification on Sunday is the ideal scenario.

With that in mind, Klopp has no intention of resting key players like former Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah and Brazil forward Roberto Firmino this weekend.

“We have two semis again against Chelsea and Brighton and then we have two weeks. The league is equally important [as the Champions League],” Klopp said.

“We can make life easier for us by winning at Chelsea.

“It is not we can decide about leaving one out. We cannot play players who are not available.

“From Wednesday to Sunday in terms of turnaround is OK. The whole season is a constant challenge. We have fought hard for our position in the league.

“Of course it is a big advantage for Chelsea not playing in the week.”

‘Good opportunity’

Chelsea have no margin for error as they look to end a troubled season on a high by finishing in the top four and winning the FA Cup final against Manchester United.

The deposed champions are five points behind fourth placed Tottenham, with both teams having three games to play.

Regardless of whether or not Chelsea finish in the top four, it seems likely manager Antonio Conte will leave at the end of the season.

Conte has feuded with the Chelsea hierarchy over their failure to back his transfer plans last summer and Napoli’s Maurizio Sarri this week became the latest manager to be linked with the Italian’s job.

Even so, Conte remains focused on getting Chelsea back into the top four after a run of three successive league wins.

Hopeful of taking advantage of Liverpool tiredness after their European exploits, Conte said: “This could be a good opportunity for us.

“As I said a lot of times in the last three games, if we want to keep the hope alive we have to win. We have to get three points.

“Liverpool are a good team. It won’t be easy, but if we want to keep alive the hope, we have to try to win, to get three points today.”

AMMAN — Jordan was drawn in Group B alongside titleholder Australia, Syria and Palestine at the Asian Cup draw on Friday.

The Kingdom is now 117th in the latest FIFA Rankings and the team’s latest results and ranking meant the squad would not be in best position for the Asian Cup draw, where 24 teams were drawn to play in six groups. 

The UAE, as virtue of being the host, was top seeds placed in Group A along with India, Thailand and Bahrain.

Korea Republic, China, Kyrgyz Republic and the Philippines made up Group C, while Iran, Iraq, Vietnam and Yemen were in Group D.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon and DPR Korea found themselves in Group E with Japan, Uzbekistan, Oman and Turkmenistan making up the final Group F.

The top two from each group and four third placed teams will advance to the Round of 16.

The real challenge starts now, as Jordan, once among the Asia top ten, is now 22nd in the continent and trails Iran (36) Australia (40), Japan (60), South Korea (61), Saudi Arabia (70), China (73), Kyrgyzstan (75), Syria (76), the UAE (81), Lebanon (82), Palestine (83), Oman (87), Uzbekistan (88), Iraq (88), India (97), Qatar (101), Vietnam (103), North Korea (112), Philippines (113), Turkmenistan (114) and Bahrain (116).

Advancing to the 2019 Asian Cup set for the UAE in 2019 was not a difficult task against relatively unknown teams in the Asian continent. The top two teams from each group moved to the finals as Jordan topped Group C after they beat Cambodia 7-0, Afghanistan 4-1, and were held 0-0 with Vietnam in Leg 1. In the return leg, Jordan managed a 3-3 draw with Afghanistan, beat Cambodia 1-0 and was held 1-1 with Vietnam as both qualified from the group.

Since first taking part in Asian Cup qualifiers in 1972, Jordan reached the Asian Championship three times. The pinnacle was at the 13th Asian Cup, when it lost to Japan in the quarter-finals and jumped to the best ever FIFA Ranking. It also reached the Asian Cup in 2011 and 2015.

Jordan ended 2017 at 107th — a position they did not better throughout last year. The team is now lagging behind relatively uncompetitive Asian teams compared to its best FIFA Ranking of 37th in 2004. Its lowest ranking of 152nd in 1996.

After elimination from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, qualifying to the Asian finals was a priority for Jordan who has steadily slid down FIFA Rankings and the team has had an inconsistent two years 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 lost the home game 5-0 and held the former World Cup champ 0-0 in the away match. Jordan had never reached that far in World Cup qualifying since taking part in qualifiers. Round 3 had been the furthest Jordan reached in the past seven times in the qualifiers since 1986.

ROME — Liverpool reached the Champions League final after riding their luck to contain a fired-up AS Roma in a 4-2 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday that sent them through 7-6 on aggregate. 

The five-times European champions, who will face holders Real Madrid in the May 26 final, suffered a nerve-shredding second half as the Italians pinned them back and scored twice late on through Radja Nainggolan.

Nainggolan’s second, which came from a stoppage-time penalty, moved Roma to within one goal of forcing extra time, but Liverpool, who clinched the last of their titles in 2005, held on to reach their eighth European Cup final.

They were far from their devastating attacking best, however, and a nervy defensive display saw them lose their first match in this season’s competition, despite cruising in the first half having twice taken the lead. 

Liverpool’s Sadio Mane was their most potent attacking threat and put them ahead after nine minutes, but a bizarre own goal by James Milner levelled for Roma. 

A Georginio Wijnaldum header put Liverpool back in front but Roma, who overturned a three-goal deficit to beat Barcelona in the last round, were given renewed belief when Edin Dzeko fired past Loris Karius early in the second half.

Nainggolan drilled in from distance after 86 minutes to make it 3-2 and smashed home from the spot, but it was too late for the Italian side who lost the first leg of the semi-final 5-2 in Liverpool. 

“We are deserved finalists 100 per cent,” said Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp. “You don’t come without luck. We needed it only one time tonight. 

“The boys deserve it, the character they showed, the football they showed — it was just crazy. I forgot the score. It was 7-6 right? Unbelievable.”

Liverpool’s task was seemingly straightforward — avoid suffering a three-goal defeat and a place in the final in Kiev was theirs. 

Their 5-2 first-leg victory at Anfield was a scoreline that had never been overturned in the competition’s history, but Barcelona’s shock defeat in the same stadium had served as a warning against complacency. 

The crowd certainly seemed to believe a repeat result was possible and the noise levels increased as Liverpool were pushed back in the opening moments.

Clinical counter

Yet, Roma’s spirits were dampened when Liverpool took the lead, capitalising on a catastrophic mistake with a typically clinical counter. 

Roma midfielder Nainggolan played a suicidal square ball that was pounced on by Roberto Firmino, who drove forward and played it through to Mane who buried his left-footed finish past Roma’s Brazilian keeper Alisson. 

That was the first goal Roma had conceded at home in the competition this season, but they were only behind for six minutes thanks to a calamitous own goal.

Dejan Lovren tried to clear a ball into the area but smashed his effort straight into the face of Milner and it ricocheted past Karius. 

The home fans rediscovered their voice, but their renewed spirits lasted only another 10 minutes before Liverpool retook the lead.

The hosts failed to clear a corner and the ball was headed back by Dzeko into the path of Wijnaldum who nodded past Alisson. 

Roma levelled for the second time seven minutes after the break as Stephan El Shaarawy’s shot was pushed tamely into the path of Dzeko by Karius and the Bosnian rifled his finish past the German keeper. 

It was then backs to the wall for the Premier League side as Roma chances came and went before Nainggolan took aim from the edge of the area and rifled a shot in off the post. 

He slammed home a penalty after substitute Ragnar Klavan was adjudged to have handled, but it was not enough to prevent Liverpool reaching the final for the first time since 2007. 

“Liverpool did not rob us of anything. They demonstrated they were a great team with some very great players,” Roma coach Eusebio di Francesco said. 

“The team that won, won on the details where we were not so good.”