Celtic’s first cup defeat in four years leaves Lennon in the firing line

Glasgow (AFP) – Neil Lennon admitted his job as Celtic coach is hanging by a thread after a 2-0 home League Cup defeat by Ross County saw the Scottish champions lose a domestic cup tie for the first time in four years.

Ross Stewart’s first-half penalty and an Alex Iacovitti header five minutes from time ended Celtic’s 35-game winning run in cup competitions.

Lennon’s men have won just two of their last 10 games in all competitions to also crash out of the Europa League and fall 11 points behind Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Angry mobs of fans gathered outside Celtic Park after the match to demand Lennon’s removal and vent their frustrations towards the players as they left the stadium in what Scotland’s Justice Minister Humza Yousaf described as “disgraceful scenes.”

Glasgow is currently under Scotland’s most severe coronavirus restrictions.

“Utterly disgraceful scenes outside of Celtic Park from a minority of fans tonight with violence aimed towards Police,” Yousaf tweeted. “Officers have been front & centre keeping us safe during this pandemic, to treat them this way at any time is shameful, to do it during these times is a disgrace.”

Lennon insisted in his pre-match press conference on Friday he had the full backing of major shareholder Dermot Desmond and chief executive Peter Lawwell.

However, there was no sign of a response from his players and the Northern Irishman admitted after the match his time may be up.

“Today’s result won’t have helped,” said Lennon. “There is a demand for excellence and a demand for wins at this club. I’m not standing here like a happy clapper saying ‘Everything’s ok’. 

“I’m the face of the football department. It’s my philosophy, my tactics, what I am trying to work out is why we are more of less the same squad who were rampant last year and we’ve certainly not been rampant this year.”

Celtic will have the chance to claim a 12th consecutive major trophy in Scotland in next month’s delayed Scottish Cup final.

But the first silverware of 2021 will bring a changing of the guard with Rangers now heavy favourites to secure their first trophy under Steven Gerrard.

Gerrard’s men romped into the quarter-finals with a 4-0 win at Falkirk.

Jermain Defoe, Calvin Bassey, Borna Barisic and James Tavernier were on target as Rangers set up a clash with St Mirren in the last eight.

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Maradona’s surgeon responds tearfully to investigation into star’s death

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Diego Maradona’s surgeon responded to the launch of an investigation for involuntary manslaughter by saying he “everything he could, up to the impossible” for an “unmanageable” patient.

Earlier in the day prosecutors in San Isidro, near Buenos Aires, said they were investigating Leopoldo Luque while Argentine television showed police raiding the doctor’s surgery and home.

The probe was triggered by concerns raised by Maradona’s daughters Dalma, Gianinna and Jana over the treatment he received for his heart condition at his home in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires, judicial sources said.

Maradona died of a heart attack on Wednesday aged 60, and was buried on Thursday at the Jardin de Paz cemetery on the outskirts of the Argentine capital.

“Our investigations are ongoing, we are talking to witnesses including members of the family” of Maradona, a source close to the San Isidro inquiry said.

“The clinic had recommended that he go elsewhere to be hospitalised, but the family decided otherwise. His daughters signed for him to be discharged from the hospital,” said a family member, on the condition of anonymity.

Later in the day, Luque, who is no relation to Maradona’s former Argentina team-mate of the same name, gave an emotional televised news conference.

“You want to know what I am responsible for?” the 39-year-old doctor asked between sobs. “For having loved him, for having taken care of him, for having extended his life, for having improved it to the end.” 

Luque said he did “everything he could, up to the impossible” and considered himself a “friend” of Maradona and saw him “as a father, not as a patient”. 

Luque had posted a photograph of himself with Maradona when the former player left hospital on November 12, eight days after the doctor operated to remove a brain blood clot. Maradona returned home to Tigre where he received round-the-clock medical care and could remain close to his daughters.

“He should have gone to a rehabilitation centre. He didn’t want to,” said Luque who called Maradona “unmanageable”.

– ‘Nothing to hide’ –

Luque said he did not know why there was no defibrillator in case of a heart attack in Maradona’s home in Tigre, and made clear that the home care was not his responsibility.

“I am a neurosurgeon,” said Luque.

“I am the person who has been taking care of him. I’m proud of everything I’ve done. I have nothing to hide. I am at the disposal of justice.”

Maradona’s lawyer, Matias Morla, had called for an investigation into claims that ambulances took more than half an hour to reach the football star’s house in response to an emergency call on the day of his death.

Luque said an ambulance should have been parked outside.

“A psychiatrist had asked that there should always be an ambulance in front of his house. I don’t know who is responsible for the fact that there was no ambulance,” Luque said. 

Diego “was very sad, he wanted to be alone, and it’s not because he didn’t love his daughters, his family, or those around him,” Luque said. “He was brave.”

A judicial source told AFP that no official complaint has yet been filed. 

“The case was initiated because he is a person who died at home and no one signed his death certificate. It does not mean there are suspicions or irregularities,” the source said, requesting to remain anonymous.

A preliminary autopsy report established that Maradona died in his sleep at noon on Wednesday of “acute lung oedema and chronic heart failure”.

The prosecutor’s office is awaiting the results of toxicological tests on Maradona’s body. The three prosecutors working on the case have requested his medical records, as well as recordings from neighbourhood security cameras.

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Tottenham take back top spot but not ‘happy’, claims Mourinho

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho claimed his side were not happy just to settle for a point from a 0-0 draw at Chelsea that moved Tottenham back to the top of the Premier League.

Chelsea enjoyed the better of a game of few chances, but Spurs showed a resilience and steel to hold out for a fourth consecutive clean sheet that bolstered their claim to be contenders for a first league title in 60 years.

“The one thing I take from the game is normally a point here is a positive thing, to stay top of the league is also a positive thing, and my dressing room is not happy,” said Mourinho.

“That for me is fantastic. It’s a complete change of mentality and of personality.”

The evidence of the 90 minutes suggested Mourinho was indeed more than happy just to extend an unbeaten run in the league to nine games as cautious tactics from both saw the sides largely cancel each other out.

“We didn’t have many chances, I agree, but how many did they have?” Mourinho added.

“It’s a game where we respect them and they also respect us, nobody gambled. Everybody was in the situation of one mistake, I punish you, I win.”

A share of the spoils means Chelsea remain just two points behind their London rivals in third, with Liverpool trailing Tottenham only on goal difference.

Mourinho also ensured he did not lose three consecutive league meetings to the same manager for the first time in his career and to one of his former players, Frank Lampard.

– Kane, Son snuffed out –

Chelsea were wary not to give Tottenham any chance to counter-attack in the manner that cut open Manchester United and Manchester City in recent weeks.

“The clean sheet factor against a team we’ve seen recently are set up to counter-attack and have amazing players to counter-attack, I think that part of our game was excellent,” said Lampard. “Against Harry Kane and Son (Heung-min), we didn’t really give them a sniff.”

Only once did Spurs’ pace on the break threaten to cause Chelsea problems when Steven Bergwijn turned inside and blasted just over the bar early on.

The arrival of Edouard Mendy has resulted in a huge upturn in Chelsea’s defensive record with now six clean sheets in seven league games and the Senegalese produced a smart stop to deny Serge Aurier’s strike from outside the box.

But that was the only effort on goal either side managed before the break as Chelsea controlled possession with little penetration.

Timo Werner did produce an exquisite finish to fire in off the far post, but the goal was ruled out for offside against the German international.

Chelsea began to push with more purpose early in the second half as three times Tammy Abraham could not get a clean contact on inviting crosses from Reece James and Werner.

“We completely dominated the game possession wise,” added Lampard. “You can’t play through this Tottenham team because they are really compact and with any slack pass they want to counter-attack.

“I thought it would be hard to create chances but I thought we had enough to win the game.”

Lampard showed his intent to try and win the game by throwing on Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz and Olivier Giroud in the final quarter, while Mourinho kept Gareth Bale in reserve for the full 90 minutes.

Hugo Lloris was finally forced into a meaningful save 10 minutes from time when the Spurs captain turned Mason Mount’s powerful strike behind.

But the biggest chance to win the game came in stoppage time when Giroud pounced on a weak header from Joe Rodon, but he did not get enough on an attempted lob over Lloris and his French international teammate easily saved.

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Tottenham take back top spot with goalless Chelsea draw

London (AFP) – Tottenham moved back to the top of the Premier League after grinding out a 0-0 draw at Chelsea that bolstered their claim to be contenders for a first league title in 60 years.

Chelsea enjoyed the better of a game of few chances, but Spurs showed the resilience and steel of Mourinho’s three Premier League title-winning seasons when Chelsea manager to hold out for a fourth consecutive clean sheet.

A share of the spoils means Chelsea remain just two points behind their London rivals in third, with Liverpool trailing Tottenham only on goal difference.

By extending a now nine-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, Mourinho also ensured he did not lose three consecutive league meetings to the same manager for the first time in his career and to one of his former players, Frank Lampard.

Lampard showed what he has learned from the Portuguese as the cautious tactics from both saw the sides largely cancel each other out.

Chelsea were wary not to give Tottenham any chance to counter-attack in the manner that cut open Manchester United and Manchester City in recent weeks.

Spurs showed why with a sprightly team move that ended with Steven Bergwijn turning inside and blasting just over the bar early on.

The arrival of Edouard Mendy has resulted in a huge upturn in Chelsea’s defensive record and the Senegalese produced a smart stop to deny Serge Aurier’s strike from outside the box.

But that was the only effort on goal either side managed before the break as Chelsea controlled possession with little potent threat.

Timo Werner did produce an exquisite finish to fire in off the far post, but the goal was ruled out for offside against the German international.

Chelsea began to push with more purpose early in the second half as three times Tammy Abraham could not get a clean contact on inviting crosses from Reece James and Werner.

Lampard showed his intent to try and win the game by throwing on Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz and Olivier Giroud in the final quarter, while Mourinho kept Gareth Bale in reserve for the full 90 minutes.

Hugo Lloris was finally forced into a meaningful save 10 minutes from time when the Spurs captain turned Mason Mount’s powerful strike behind.

But the biggest chance to win the game came in stoppage time when Giroud pounced on a weak header from Joe Rodon, but he did not get enough on his attempted lob over Lloris and his French teammate easily saved.

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Spurs top after Chelsea stalemate, Cavani sparks Man Utd

London (AFP) – Tottenham moved to the top of the Premier League with a 0-0 draw against title rivals Chelsea, while Edinson Cavani inspired Manchester United’s thrilling 3-2 win at Southampton on Sunday.

Jose Mourinho’s side climbed above previous leaders Liverpool on goal difference after a sterile London derby at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham are unbeaten in nine league games and Mourinho seemed happy to frustrate his former club as they adopted a cautious approach with little attacking ambition.

Chelsea have not lost in their last 11 games in all competitions and sit in third place, two points behind Tottenham and Liverpool, who drew 1-1 at Brighton on Saturday.

Fourth-placed Leicester would go second if they beat Fulham on Monday.

Timo Werner thought he had put Chelsea ahead early in the first half with a superb finish, only for an offside flag to thwart the Germany striker.

Chelsea’s Mason Mount forced a good save from Hugo Lloris in the second half, while substitute Olivier Giroud should have done better than shoot straight at the Tottenham keeper in stoppage time.

The drab clash in west London was a stark contrast to United’s dramatic fightback from two goals down at St Mary’s.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were facing a dismal defeat after first-half goals from Jan Bednarek and James Ward-Prowse put Southampton in control.

But Uruguay striker Cavani sparked United’s escape act after coming on at the interval.

Cavani set up Bruno Fernandes to reduce the deficit and the former Paris Saint-Germain star grabbed the equaliser from his team-mate’s deflected shot.

The 33-year-old netted again in the final moments as his third goal since signing as a free agent in October extended United’s winning to four games in all competitions.

“Great impact of course. He is a number nine who wants to be in between the posts, he is always on the move. I’m very pleased with him,” Solskjaer said.

“On the training pitch, in the dressing room and during meal times, how meticulous he is. He knows what he wants to eat, how much he wants to recover — everything! 

“It was top movement and his timing is fantastic. His hunger to get on the end of things is the key for a centre-forward. 

“Sometimes it hurts and sometimes it doesn’t but to score you have to be in there.”

It was exactly the kind of influential display Solskjaer was hoping for from Cavani when he moved for him after United’s failed pursuit of Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho.

Written off as a panic buy in some quarters, Cavani proved his age should be no barrier to making an impact in the Premier League.

He is only the second player to be directly involved in three goals in a Premier League game after coming on as a substitute for United since Solskjaer scored four against Nottingham Forest in 1999.

United climbed to seventh place, two points adrift of the Champions League places, after setting a club record of eight successive away Premier League wins.

“It is a trait of Manchester United to never give in. Every single one of them, there was absolutely no chance they were going to give up. That’s a big thing for a Manchester United player,” Solskjaer said.

“I was quite calm at half-time. We must have had five or six clear-cut chances, so it was about taking them when we got the chance.”

United goalkeeper David de Gea came off at half-time with a knee injury and Solskjaer said: “Hopefully he can be okay for Wednesday but I’m not sure.”

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Barcelona and Napoli lead tributes to former star Maradona

Paris (AFP) – Clubs across Europe continued to pay tribute to Diego Maradona on Sunday with particularly poignant moments in Italy and Spain where the Argentine played.

Maradona, who played two seasons for Barca, one for Sevilla and spent seven mostly glorious years at Napoli, died on Wednesday aged 60.

Barcelona played on Sunday afternoon while Napoli were planning an elaborate and emotional tribute before their game in the evening.

Before Barcelona faced Osasuna, the club played ‘The Song of the Birds’ by Catalan cellist Pablo Casals as the teams stood around the centre circle where a Maradona shirt was laid on the centre spot.

Lionel Messi, who has inherited Maradona’s legendary Argentina number 10 shirt, bowed his head.

Flags at the Camp Nou flew at half mast, Maradona’s image was displayed on every screen and digital advertising hoarding, while a club official held a framed Maradona Barcelona shirt.

Messi got his goal in the 74th minute with a dazzling strike that sealed a 4-0 victory.

The Argentine picked up the ball in midfield, danced past two defenders and smashed a rising left-foot shot into the top far corner.

He celebrated by pulling off his Barcelona shirt to reveal a vintage Newell’s Old Boys jersey from Maradona’s one season with the club in Rosario, Argentina.  

Earlier this week, Newell’s tweeted a photograph from Maradona’s debut showing a six-year-old local prodigy, in a similar black and red shirt, doing ball tricks for the crowd at half-time. That boy was Messi.

“It was a great moment,” said Koeman. “Leo’s goal, his gesture dedicated to Maradona.

“It was something very big. We Europeans don’t realise how big Maradona is in Argentina.”

On Friday, Koeman said the best tribute his team could pay Maradona was to “show what we can do on the pitch”.

In Italy, in addition to the minute’s silence, players have stopped to applaud for 60 seconds as Maradona’s picture appears on the stadium screens in the 10th minute.

– ‘I felt like crying’ –

In Rome, Lazio’s players took to the pitch with special edition ‘AD10S’ jerseys in honour of Maradona but lost 3-1 to Udinese, for whom four Argentine-born players followed Koeman’s advice.

Roberto Pereyra set up the first goal, then Rodrigo De Paul provided assists for the next two, scored by Ignacio Pussetto and Fernando Forestieri.

After his goal, Pussetto opened his hands wide, to form 10.

“This victory is for him,” said Forestieri. “After the goal I felt like crying. Diego was the greatest of all time.”

Maradona’s former club Napoli host Roma with tributes planned for the player who led the club to their only league titles in 1987 and 1990 and the UEFA Cup in 1989.

Napoli will wear a jersey reminiscent of Argentina’s for their first league game since his death.

The club said the launch had already been planned with kit sponsors Kappa before Maradona’s death.

“A year ago, together with Kappa, we thought of designing a special jersey that echoes Diego Maradona, his beloved Argentina and the very strong bond with the people of Naples,” Napoli said in a statement.

“Together we hoped that Diego could see it, maybe wear it and share in the excitement with us. 

“The presentation of the new kit had already been agreed for the ninth matchday of the championship, on the occasion of the SSC Napoli-Roma match. 

“The Kombat that will be worn by the players tonight will have an even greater significance than initially assumed.”

In Germany, Bundesliga clubs observed a minute’s silence before games. In England, players applauded for a minute.

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Maradona’s doctor investigated for involuntary manslaughter

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Diego Maradona’s personal doctor was on Sunday being investigated for involuntary manslaughter four days after the Argentina legend suffered a fatal heart attack, prosecutors in San Isidro near Buenos Aires reported.

Police raided Leopoldo Luque’s surgery and home in search of possible evidence pointing to negligence, according to television images.

The probe was triggered by concerns raised by three of Maradona’s daughters Dalma, Gianinna and Jana over the treatment he received for his heart condition at his home in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires, judicial sources said.

“Our investigations are ongoing, we are talking to witnesses including members of the family” of Maradona, a source close to the San Isidro inquiry said.

Luque, who declined to comment when contacted by AFP, had posted a photograph of himself with Maradona on the day the 60-year-old left hospital on November 12, eight days after surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain.

Maradona returned home to Tigre where he received round-the-clock medical care and could remain close to his daughters.

He died of a heart attack on Wednesday, and was buried on Thursday at the Jardin de Paz cemetery on the outskirts of the Argentine capital.

“The clinic had recommended that he go elsewhere to be hospitalised, but the family decided otherwise. His daughters signed for him to be discharged from the hospital,” said a family member, on the condition of anonymity.

Maradona’s lawyer, Matias Morla, had called for an investigation into claims that ambulances took more than half an hour to reach the football star’s house in response to an emergency call on the day of his death.

No complaint has yet been filed. “The case was initiated because he is a person who died at home and no one signed his death certificate. It does not mean there are suspicions or irregularities,” a judicial source said, requesting to remain anonymous.

A preliminary autopsy report established that Maradona died in his sleep at noon on Wednesday of “acute lung edema and chronic heart failure.”

The prosecutor’s office is awaiting the results of toxicological tests on Maradona’s body. The three prosecutors working on the case have requested his medical records, as well as recordings from neighborhood security cameras.

Three funeral home workers provoked outrage for posing for photos next to Maradona’s open coffin, smiling with their thumbs up, as it lay at the presidential palace ahead of his burial. One of the men has since apologised.

Maradona’s last public appearance came four weeks ago for his 60th birthday celebration at the stadium of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, the club he was coaching before his death.

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