The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Puyol bids emotional farewell to Barcelona Posted: 15 May 2014 06:27 AM PDT Barcelona captain Carle Atletico Madrid visit the Camp Nou on Saturday in a match that will decide the La Liga title, but Puyol will not play a part in trying to win the seventh Spanish championship of his illustrious career. "I am not going to play. I have spoken with the coaches and we are playing for a title, so those that are 100% have to play. I won't even be on the bench," he said at a press conference on Thursday. Puyol confirmed in March that he would rescind his playing contract at the end of the current campaign due to an ongoing knee injury, but hinted he could stay with the Catalans beyond the end of the season in a different capacity. "My idea is to recover. It has been a difficult year when I have not been able to be with the team and help them in difficult moments. "I have to recover, not to play necessarily, but to have an active life, which I can't at the moment. "I could continue with the club, but not as a manager. I don't see myself as being a manager." Puyol has been linked with moves to Major League Soccer in the United States or joining his old international teammate Raul in Qatar, but ruled out continuing his playing career until he can prove he is fit enough. "I need to be honest. I couldn't play for anyone at the moment because my knee isn't responding, so I wouldn't want to kid anyone trying to sign me or myself." On top of his six La Liga titles, Puyol also led Barca to three Champions Leagues, two Copa del Reys, two World Club Cups and six Spanish Supercups, as well as winning the 2008 European Championships and 2010 World Cup with Spain. "I have lived the dream of millions of children," he said on a reflection of his career. "For 19 years I woke up to do what I most love, which is training and playing football." Two of Puyol's former coaches at Barcelona, Louis Van Gaal and Pep Guardiola, were among a series of former and current colleagues who paid tribute to Puyol's lion-hearted playing style. In a dedication on behalf of the current squad, midfielder Xavi Hernandez described him as the "best professional" he has ever played with. "Thank you for all that you have given us – your courage, bravery and sacrifice. You are an example. "You are the best professional I have ever shared a dressing room with by quite a distance, and any of your teammates would say the same." – AFP, May 15, 2014. |
| Li Na ousts Stosur as Wawrinka crashes in Rome Posted: 15 May 2014 06:15 AM PDT Stosur, a 2010 Roland Garros finalist, had beaten world number two Li in all six of their previous meetings going back to 2007. The victory was her second straight over an Aussie opponent after defeating qualifier Casey Dellacque in the previous round. China's top female athlete made inroads against Stosur's one-way scoreline with her first victory, achieved in 68 minutes with five breaks of the 30-year-old Australian. "In the last six matches I tried to control the ball, but she was able to get a lot of chances," said 32-year-old Li. "I'm just trying to focus now on every match I play." Li will play a quarter-final against Italian tenth seed Sara Errani, who beat Czech Petra Cetkovska 6-3, 7-6 (7/3). "Errani will be tough as she will have the crowd on her side and plays well on clay." Li finished Rome runner-up in 2012, holding a match point against eventual champion Maria Sharapova. Australian Open champion Li is looking for her third trophy of the season as she prepares for the French Open, which she won in 2011. Men's third-seeded Monte Carlo winner Stanislas Wawrinka joined fellow Swiss Roger Federer on the Rome scrapheap after a 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 loss to German 15th seed Tommy Haas. The 36-year-old has now won both of his matches with Wawrinka, a 2008 finalist at the Foro Italico. Haas ended with seven aces to eight for Wawrinka, who could not hold onto leads throughout the two-hour contest. The German produced 32 winners, while Wawrinka struck 40 unforced errors. Haas broke in the third set for 5-3, then finished with an ace a game later on his first match point. – AFP, May 15, 2014. |
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