The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Nadal mauls Monaco to give Spain Davis Cup lead Posted: 02 Dec 2011 08:07 AM PST  Nadal has never lost a Davis Cup singles rubber on clay. — Reuters pic Playing on his favoured clay in front of a boisterous home crowd at Seville's Olympic Stadium, the world number two clubbed 27 winners, 20 of them on his fearsome forehand, as the 26th-ranked Monaco was dismissed with brutal ease. Nadal has never lost a Davis Cup singles rubber on clay and took his record on the red dust to 15-0 as Spain seek to add to their four titles against an Argentina side they upset to win the Cup in Mar del Plata in 2008. Spanish world number five David Ferrer, who is unbeaten in 11 clay singles matches, takes on number 11 Juan Martin Del Potro in today's second singles rubber, with the doubles to be played tomorrow and the reverse singles on Sunday. Monaco, who did not muster a single break point on the Nadal serve, gave the heavily outnumbered but vocal Argentine support little to cheer about on an unusually damp Seville afternoon. He made a slightly better fist of things in the third set but Nadal seemed to crush his spirit in the fifth game after an incredible rally that had both players scrambling all over the court and brought even Spanish King Juan Carlos to his feet. The point, which left Monaco with a bloodied left knee, secured Nadal his sixth break of the Argentine's serve and he broke again for a 5-2 lead before serving out the match to love. — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Mancini sees volatile Balotelli as easy target Posted: 02 Dec 2011 07:34 AM PST MANCHESTER, Dec 2 — Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli's reputation as someone who is easy to wind up makes him an easy target for other players and he needs to pay more attention if he wants to avoid more red cards, manager Roberto Mancini said today. The volatile, 21-year-old Italian lasted just 18 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute in last weekend's 1-1 draw at Liverpool before being sent off after two yellow cards, his third dismissal since joining City in August 2010.  Mancini realises he cannot afford to let the hotheaded Balotelli destroy City's chances of a first English league title since 1968. — Reuters file pic "I think there are some players that think this (that he is easy to wind up)," he replied. "Mario should play attention ... and he should be clever." Balotelli's colourful behaviour, flashes of brilliance and nonchalance when he scores a goal have made him a popular player among fans even if his red cards have sometimes proved costly. Last weekend his early departure left his team facing a desperate battle to keep their unbeaten record as Liverpool launched a frantic onslaught, while his red card against Dynamo Kiev in March played a big part in their Europa League exit. Goals such as the classy opener he scored against Manchester United in October's 6-1 drubbing have enabled much of his bad behaviour to be forgiven by the indulgent fans who smiled at the "Why Always Me?" T-shirt he wore under his shirt that day. Loveable rogue Well-documented antics such as setting fire to his house by letting off fireworks in his bathroom, as well as good-hearted gestures such as confronting one young City fan's bully at school, have led to him being seen as a loveable rogue. His mad-cap behaviour is mostly laughed off by Mancini, who explained the T-shirt episode as: "It's Mario ... He's crazy but I love him" and even made light of media reports that the striker had kicked a hole in the dressing-room door at Anfield. "If he damaged the door, he'll pay — like his house! Nothing else will happen to him," Mancini was quoted as saying last week. There is a serious side to the Balotelli issue, however, and Mancini cannot afford to let a hot-headed player destroy City's chances of a first English league title since 1968. During matches, the manager can be seen talking to Balotelli more than any other player from his technical area and, while he can try to encourage him to stay levelheaded, Mancini said it was up to the striker to keep a lid on his temperament. "We can't do anything, only he is on the pitch. He should pay attention on the pitch and think only about football, not other things," Mancini said. He added that Balotelli, who has scored six league goals this season, had matured of late and had improved as a player but urged him to realise he could not take risks as he did against Liverpool. "It's important that Mario understands that we need him as a player on the pitch," he said. "It is my opinion that if Mario had stayed on the pitch we could have won that game." Turning his attention away from the headline-grabbing Balotelli, Mancini was keen to maintain focus on some important matches ahead. "December and January will be key months," said Mancini, whose side host Norwich City in the league on Saturday before entertaining Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the Champions League where they face an uphill battle to avoid a group-stage exit. City have a five-point lead over champions Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table. — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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