18/03/2025

SPORTS TUESDAY | MAR 18, 2025

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Postecoglou fumes at ‘unacceptable’ 15 Premier defeats

Ű BY GEORGE SESSIONS

London and the decisions ultimately backfired. That decision ultimately came back to bite the Australian as after a dull first 45 minutes and Tottenham had squandered promising second half chances, Rodrigo Muniz fired the hosts ahead in the 78th minute. Lucas Bergvall appeared to be caught by Calvin Bassey in the penalty area seven minutes later, but referee Andrew Madley waved away appeals and Ryan Sessegnon made the points safe with an emotional second for Fulham late on. It was Sessegnon’s first goal at Craven Cottage since 2018 after an injury-ravaged spell at Spurs and left Postecoglou to reflect on a

15th defeat of the league campaign – the most the club have suffered since the 2008-09 season. “It’s unacceptable to see 15 league defeats,” Postecoglou admitted. “It’s nowhere near good enough, nowhere near the level we need to be and I understand the supporters’ frustrations with that. “Today wasn’t so much about performance, it was just another day when we let a game get away from us that we shouldn’t have. “I felt that up until the point they scored, we were the team that was getting on top. “We had a couple of good chances to go 1-0 up and that would have put the pressure on

But the 18-year-old would leave the field on a stretcher just minutes into the second half after suffering a serious-looking injury attempting to stop Patson Daka meeting a cross. Heaven was seen walking out of the stadium with his foot in a protective boot, and Amorim said: “We will see next week. “It’s hard to understand because even when he’s on the ground, he cannot speak. “He doesn’t know how to explain what he’s feeling because he’s so young. It’s hard to understand what he’s feeling.” While United head into the international break with a pep in their step, Leicester limp on knowing it is likely a case of when rather than if they are relegated. The Foxes sit 19th in the standings and nine points off safety with just nine matches remaining, with boss Van Nistelrooy vowing to keep fighting after overseeing a 13th defeat in 14 Premier League matches. Asked where it had gone wrong yesterday, the Leicester boss, who started the season as United assistant and had a spell in interim charge, said: “I think in efficiency, in taking opportunities, the score and defending key moment in the game. I think that’s where the difference was made today. “It’s about while mathematically there’s a possibility (we fight), so as long as that’s the case we are professionals, we keep doing our jobs. them, but it’s happened too many times this year.” Fulham toasted Marco Silva’s 200th Premier League match with a 2-0 win, which moves them up to eighth. “I am the same type of person, but of course with more white hair, a little bit older,” Silva smiled. “To be where we are right now is to be a privilege for us. It means we are doing something very good. “A season where we had to rebuild our squad and we did it in a very good way. “We know it is not always easy for us as a club, but I have to praise the guys that are in the dressing room.” – The Independent

ANGE POSTECOGLOU fumed at what he described as an “unacceptable” total of 15 Premier League defeats this season after going down 2-0 against Fulham. The Spurs boss did, however, bemoaned the call to not award his side a penalty during the loss. It was the latest setback for Spurs and saw them fail to capitalise on a crucial victory over AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League on Thursday night to keep alive hopes of qualifying for Europe next term. But Postecoglou made seven changes in west

Morale-boosting win Hojlund finding back of net really important for Devils, says Amorim R UBEN AMORIM was delighted for Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho after the Manchester United duo ended goal droughts in yesterday’s morale-boosting victory at struggling Leicester. manner the good things are going to show, and he also deserved a goal today.” Amorim can feel the “performances are improving” as United head into a two senior competitive start in Thursday’s 4-1 last-16 second leg win over Real Sociedad and Ű BY SIMON PEACH

and-a-half week break buoyed by an impressive win against Leicester and progress to the Europa League quarterfinals. Ayden Heaven made his first

made a promising start to his full Premier League debut at the King Power Stadium.

The Red Devils moved up to 13th with just their 10th Premier League win of a challenging season as they made light work of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s seemingly Championship-bound Foxes. Hojlund fired United into a deserved first half lead as he ended a 21-game scoreless streak, with Garnacho then ending a 24-match run without a goal before standout skipper Bruno Fernandes wrapped up a convincing 3-0 win at the King Power Stadium. “It’s really important for him,” head coach Amorim said of Hojlund’s first goal since Dec 12. “He’s doing the right things, he’s helping the team, he’s fighting for every ball and today he scored a very good goal, very important goal, especially at that moment in the game. “I think he deserved that goal more than anybody.” As for Garnacho, the United boss said: “He was really happy (to score), but the most important thing is the way he’s improving his game. “He’s playing both sides, not just on the left. He’s sprinting back. These small things he’s doing quite well. “When you do the small things in that Slot was asked after the match how he would ensure the defeat would not have a knock-on effect for the rest of the season. Liverpool, hot favourites to match Manchester United’s record of 20 English top-flight titles, are 12 points clear of second-placed Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with just nine matches to go. “We are here in one of the biggest clubs in the world, Liverpool, but it’s not for the first time in their history or in the last two seasons that they’ve lost two games in a row,” said Slot. “This is part of playing football, especially if one of them is when you face the best team in Europe at the moment and the other one is facing Newcastle, which is a very strong team in England.” Slot admitted it had been a “tough week” but pointed out that his side had extended their lead in the Premier League.

Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund (front) in action with Leicester City’s Conor Coady. – REUTERSPIC

“We can’t and won’t give up until mathematically it’s impossible.” – The Independent Merino downs Chelsea to snap Arsenal’s winless run

Defiant Slot focuses on League push ARNE SLOT was defiant after his Liverpool side ended a miserable week with defeat to Newcastle in the League Cup final yesterday, switching the focus to the team’s Premier League charge.

ARSENAL brought their three-game winless run in the Premier League to an end on Sunday with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates to strengthen their grip on second place. Mikel Merino’s (pic) clever header in the 19th minute settled a London derby that will not live long in the memory, the stand-in No. 9 looping Martin Odegaard’s corner in at

“I want to make clear one more time that the week started off really well by us beating Southampton,” he said. “That’s why we extended our lead to 12 points with nine games to go (the situation after Arsenal’s 1-0 against Chelsea on Sunday). “And, yeah, you know if you go far in tournaments that the opposition in your face gets stronger and stronger and that you can lose. Even Liverpool can lose football games. That’s what can happen.” Slot denied his men had been outplayed by Eddie Howe’s Newcastle despite their sub-par performance. “Outplayed for me is if you don’t touch the ball and they play through you every single time you try to press them and every time you’re too late,” he said. “That is for me outplayed. “But I agree with you if you say that they deserved to win because the game went in the way they wanted it to go. So, yes, they deserved to win but it wasn’t like we were only running after them. “We had to defend a lot of long balls, second balls and that’s their strength.” – AFP

bite to trouble Arsenal, who had little problem keeping the ball from them. Arteta heaped praise on his team but admitted his side’s margin of victory could have been much more handsome. “We should have done much more, but we are very happy, and it was an important game,” the Arsenal boss told Sky Sports . “We played a top opponent and the team played with an unbelievable spirit, and now we go to the international break. “The only thing we can do is try to win our matches. If we do, we are in a better position.” “We have had top players out for many, many months. Our team has

but he is scoring goals. “He is a really dangerous player in the box and he can help us. Really pleased, even physically it is a very different game to play as a nine.” Arteta went on to highlight the importance of Merino’s performances, acknowledging the midfielder’s ability to lead the line despite the challenge of filling an unfamiliar role. “Merino has been very helpful to us as a striker, and we need to keep getting good performances from the attacker. “He has what it takes to keep leading the line well for us, so we expect him to keep delivering until the season ends,” Arteta added. Merino’s ability to adapt and contribute in such a vital role has been a testament to his versatility and the team’s resilience. Arsenal will rely on his continued performances as they look to finish the season strongly and overcome the challenges posed by their injury crisis. – AFP/Agencies

the far post as Mikel Arteta’s side rekindled memories from earlier in the season of their effectiveness and cunning at set-pieces. Chelsea, playing for the first time in the League without the injured Cole Palmer, were by contrast completely bereft of ideas, the slow,

incredible resilience,” Arteta later told the BBC . “Mikel (Merino) really wants to do well, he has never played that position before,

t i m o r o u s approach that h a s characterised recent nervy wins lacking the