Issue 320 | August 30 2013

AgueroThe Man City hitman talks exclusively to Sport

12

Issue 320, August 30 2013

Radar

08 Which manager are you? We reference The Manager: Inside

the Minds of Football’s Leaders and

create a flowchart to find out

10 The history book The original 13 Laws of Football, as

penned by Ebenezer Cobb Morley –

and now worth £2.5m

12 Bolt v Farah over 600m The science says this is the perfect

distance for them to race: but who

would come out on top? o this coming weekFeatures

22 Sergio Aguero The man who fired Manchester City

to Premier League glory is enjoying

life under Manuel Pellegrini

29 Zinedine Zidane By sheer coincidence, we sit down

with the former Real Madrid star

and have a chat about Gareth Bale

32 Cal Crutchlow MotoGP comes to Silverstone this

weekend – which means a chat

with Britain’s swiftest biker

36 American Football The NFL returns next Thursday, so

we take a look at the numbers that

count in the run to Super Bowl XLVIII

Extra Time

46 Gadgets If you liked Etch A Sketch, you’ll love

Wacom’s new graphics tablet

48 Kit In a desperate bid to stave off the

autumn, a page of summer footwear

50 Grooming A cycling-inspired travel kit from Ted

Baker... guess what they’ve called it

54 Entertainment Mark Wahlberg continues his quest

to star in every film released in

2013: this week, Pain & Gain

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Contents

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| August 30 2013 | 07

08 | August 30 2013 |

n The Manager, Mike Carson examines the

personality traits and philosophies of successful

football managers, with illuminating quotes and

insight from the likes of José Mourinho and Brendan

Rodgers. Read on to find out which manager you would

most match up to if you were in charge of a football club.

The Manager: Inside the Mind’s of Football’s Leaders

by Mike Carson, out now

IWhich manager are you?

1Are you committed to playing attractive football? 4

Are you a control freak?

Radarp10 – The Rules of the Game: as written

by Ebenezer Cobb Morley in 1863

p12– Bolt v Farah: we ask the author of

The Sports Gene who will win over 600m

Roy Hodgson“I concentrate for the most part on

the team – making sure they are

prepared for the challenge ahead.”

Roberto Mancini“I have good players because

you can’t win if you don’t

have top players.”

JosÉ Mourinho“I have to say we are speaking

about men. We are speaking

about human beings and

human sciences. So is football

a sports science? I think it is

probably a human science and

not a sports science.”

Brendan Rodgers“My philosophy is about

playing attacking and creative

football to win, but always

with tactical discipline.”

Harry Redknapp“He is committed to attacking

football and builds entertaining

sides. He is an uncomplicated

man who despairs of trends in

modern football, which he sees

as eroding the values of the

simple and beautiful game.”

Carlo Ancelotti“The only way to bring this idea

to life is to explain the idea to

other people and they have to

go on the pitch and show this

idea. For this, the relationship

between manager and players

has to be the best.”

Arsène Wenger“He is committed to

internationalism, to youth, to

fairness, to high-quality nutrition,

to sustainable transfer and wage

policies, to entertaining and

attacking football and to the

purity of the game.”

Sir Alex Ferguson“Sir Alex has a simple philosophy

of leadership in football: that

no one is bigger than the club.

This hard-fought principle, often

quoted in football circles, is at

least in part responsible for the

consistency of Manchester United.”

Sam allardyce“Perhaps his most telling

attribute is the manner with

which he welcomes change.

From new technology to new

psychologies, Allardyce wants to

be at the cutting edge.”

2Is tactical discipline important? 5

Is the team more important than individual talents?

6Do you need the best players to win?

3 Do you care about the club’s financial stability?

9Do you embrace new technologies and theories? 7

Is it important that the manager has a close personal relationship with his players?

8Before a game, will you focus on preparing your team tactically or motivating them?

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

START

Yes

NoNo

No

Tactics

Motivation

No

Yes

Yes

No

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f i a t . c o . u k

it’s A LITTLE BIT � exi

MPW

the NEW fiat 50ol mpw with 7 seats

Radar

10 | August 30 2013 |

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One year on from the Games, how has London

2012 changed things for Paralympic sport?

“London gave the Paralympic Games more profile

than ever before, and the performances of the

athletes proved that the sport is of the highest

quality. That has been a hugely powerful shift.

We saw with the recent coverage of both the

swimming and athletics World Championships, and

the Anniversary Games, that there is an appetite

for the sport. And I’ve seen evidence of how, across

the world, more countries, more sports and more

athletes are coming to the fore – so the competition

in Rio will be tougher than ever. Non-disabled people

particularly have started to think differently about

disability. They had their perceptions challenged

and changed by what they saw in London.”

We’ve seen first Oscar Pistorius and now Alan

Oliveira pushing the boundaries between Olympic

and Paralympic sport. Do you see that as positive

or negative for the future of the Paralympics?

“It will only ever be in a few cases where that will

be possible, because of the nature of the athletes’

impairments. Although they aren’t the only ones –

South African swimmer Natalie du Toit has competed

at the Olympics, and Dame Sarah Storey is a world

cycling champion on the track in non-disabled sport.

That demonstrates the standard of Paralympic

sport is very high, so it is only a good news story.

It also shows there is a similar ambition in all

athletes – they just want to be the best they can

be. None of the athletes we’ve mentioned are

anything other than very proud Paralympians.”

Team GB won their first gold medals

of the London 2012 Paralympic Games

one year ago today. And, with the first

National Paralympic Day taking place

at the Olympic Park on September 7,

Tim Hollingsworth, the chief executive of the British

Paralympic Association, told Sport the excitement

of 12 months ago is about to come flooding back

next weekend.

What will National Paralympic Day involve?

“We have four top-class international matches

going on throughout the day at the Copperbox

Arena in the Park, with wheelchair basketball,

sitting volleyball, boccia and table tennis all playing

internationals. It’s a free event, but the tickets have

now been snapped up. There’s plenty going on

elsewhere in the park, though, with the disability

sport festival Motivate East [which promotes

sports for disabled people living in east London]

giving anyone who comes along the chance to try

the sports – and there’s the Mayor’s Liberty

Arts Festival going on as well.”

A year in the making

By thebook

couple of weeks ago, we

featured some classic sports

writing, but this probably

tops the lot. The 1863 FA Minute

book was handwritten 150 years

ago by Ebenezer Cobb Morley at the

Freemasons’ Tavern in London, and

contains the 13 original laws of football

– including old favourites such as “no

tripping or hacking”, as well as forgotten

classics such as the ‘fair catch’ rule

(nothing in there about not taking

your shirt off in celebration, weirdly).

Valued at £2.5m, the book is now on

display at the British Library in Euston,

where it forms the centrepiece of its

first ever football display to mark the

FA’s 150th birthday.

Find out more at

thefa.com/foundingfathers

A

Who will have the genetic edge when

Mo Farah races Usain Bolt?

Answered by David Epstein, author of

The Sports Gene

ast month, the athletics world was put in

a tizzy when Usain Bolt suggested his

willingness to accept the 600m charity

race challenge posed by Olympic 5,000m and

10,000m champ Mo Farah. If this face-off of the

world’s pre-eminent distance runner and the

greatest sprinter of all time happens, where

to wager one’s charity money?

Bolt and Farah represent opposite extremes

of human physiology – a match-up of power

versus efficiency. Bolt’s legs are dominated by

fast-twitch muscle fibres, the sort that contract

explosively and do not rely primarily on oxygen for

energy production. Because Bolt’s main energy

pathway needn’t wait for the blood to deliver

oxygen, his body can produce the energy needed

Radar

12 | August 30 2013 |

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laying golf in a large group? Well, no longer will you have to ruin the restful

idyll of the course by bellowing your scores across it to your fellow

players. The VPAR real-time scoring app provides you with a virtual

scoreboard, just like the pros use, and accessible by anyone in your group with an

iPhone – all you have to do is choose what format and course you’re playing, and

input the players (no lewd names, please. This is a golf course, not a bowling alley).

What’s more, it also uses GPS technology to provide you with knowledge of the

course, and can help you decide which clubs to use and which shot to take. It won’t

carry your clubs or abuse you, but the days of the caddie still appear numbered.

Available on iOS, annual subscription £4.99

Farah v Bolt

P

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for violent muscle contraction extremely rapidly.

The trouble for Bolt is that this route of energy

production causes a build-up of chemical by-

products that bring the muscles to a screeching halt

in short order. Bolt sprints on borrowed time, but

because he rarely runs longer than 20 seconds,

it makes no difference when he’s in his element.

Farah, on the other hand, has a greater proportion

of slow-twitch muscle fibres that rely on large

quantities of oxygen delivered by the blood to

produce energy. Farah’s muscles don’t contract as

forcefully as Bolt’s, but the upside is that he can

make energy this way for hours without tiring.

The 600m should be close to the perfect distance

for these two extreme humans to meet. Sports

scientists have found that athletes in the 400m race

rely on Bolt’s primary method of energy production

(anaerobic) for about 60 per cent of the energy used in

the race; 40 per cent comes from aerobic production.

At 800m, that is exactly reversed: 60 per cent aerobic

and 40 per cent anaerobic energy production.

Bolt would surely win at 400m and Farah at

800m, but 600m is a meeting in the middle, with

around 50 per cent of the energy required for each

man coming via his biological strong suit.

Though Bolt is known to the world as a 100m and

200m champion, he was a 400m whizz long before

he moved to short sprints. He still holds Jamaica’s

national high school 400m record of 45.35s. But

Bolt is much bigger – now 207 pounds – than in his

long-sprinting prime, and Farah is extraordinary

even by the standards of champion distance

runners. His 3:28.81 for 1,500m in July gives

Farah the greatest range of any runner in history

– and he is also better accustomed to pacing races

of more than one lap. Thus, I give Farah the edge

over Bolt in any race longer than 500m.

The Sports Gene: What Makes the

Perfect Athlete by David Epstein is

published in hardback by Yellow Jersey

Press at £16.99, eBook available

Virtual Clubhouse

14 | August 30 2013 |

Radar Editor’s letter

Acting editor

Tony Hodson

@tonyhodson1

Sport magazinePart of UTV Media plc

18 Hatfields, London SE1 8DJ

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Email: firstname.lastname@sport-magazine.co.uk

EditorialPublisher: Simon Caney (7951)

Acting editor: Tony Hodson (7954)

Art editor: John Mahood (7860)

Subeditor: Graham Willgoss (7431)

Senior writers:

Sarah Shephard (7958), Alex Reid (7915)

Staff writers:

Mark Coughlan (7901), Amit Katwala (7914)

Picture editor: Julian Wait (7961)

Designer: Matthew Samson (7861)

Digital designer: Chris Firth (7952)

Production manager: Tara Dixon (7963)

Contributing editor: Bill Borrows

Contributors: Lee Roden, David Lawrenson

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Steve Hare (7930), Aaron Pinto del Rio (7918),

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Office Manager: Deborah Dilworth (7826)

Colour reproduction: Rival Colour Ltd

Printed by: Wyndeham Group Ltd

© UTV Media plc 2013

UTV Media plc takes no responsibility for the content

of advertisements placed in Sport magazine

£1 where sold

Hearty thanks to: Tim Stedman, Sarah Stade,

Shikira Austin, Nini Mikolajski at Monster

Don’t forget: Help keep public transport clean and tidy for everyone by taking your copy of Sport away with you when you leave the bus or train.

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At half-time in Manchester United’s 0-0 bore

draw with Chelsea on Monday evening, the Sky

television cameras chose to focus on David Moyes

striding purposefully down the Old Trafford touchline.

As I watched him go, two things struck me: one, that I could

not recall ever seeing Moyes walk down a touchline before;

and two, that it looked very odd seeing anyone other than

Sir Alex Ferguson followed in such a way.

There is no great mystery to either, of course. Such is the

configuration of Old Trafford, where the tunnel disappears

down a corner of the stadium rather than halfway along a

main stand, that the managers have a half-time walk almost

unique among those they take at Premier League grounds.

The result, though, is that every time United play at home,

Moyes will take the same stroll we have become used to

seeing Ferguson take every other week for the past two

decades. Following in the old boy’s footsteps, if you will.

It’s labouring the point to claim that this serves to

increase the pressure Moyes – a proud and self-assured

man – will feel in the Old Trafford hotseat. But the fact is

that, regardless of how invisible Ferguson remains for the

moment, his successor is surrounded by ghosts. On Monday

evening, for example, as the game drifted to the stalemate

José Mourinho so meticulously planned for, Martin Tyler

made specific reference to United’s propensity for late

winning goals under their former manager. He went on, in

fact, to suggest that he no longer felt the belief from the

Old Trafford faithful that such a strike was now as likely.

That, in the new man’s very first home game in charge

against serious opposition, was quite some claim.

There was no mention of the fact that Ferguson’s record

against Mourinho’s Chelsea was pretty ordinary, just that

Moyes had still never beaten his new adversary in the away

dugout. That may well change in time, of course, but for

now it is the memories residing in the home dugout that

continue to haunt him. He had better get used to them.

Lots of chat during the week about the fact that the spine

of England’s victorious Ashes team is being rested for the

ODI series that kicks off next Friday. It is a shame that we

will be deprived of the skills of Messrs Cook, Bell, Swann,

Broad and Anderson for what remains an important series

– but if their absence increases our chances of retaining

the Ashes this winter, then surely it’s the correct call?

The ghost of FergieIt’s not his fault, but David Moyes is already resembling a man haunted by his predecessor

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Reader comments of the week

Great front cover on

@Sportmaguk of

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Just read a great article

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& a person

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Great surprise to open

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@tonyhodson1 Great piece

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Get in touch @sportmaguk info@sport-magazine.co.uk

Walk the line: Moyes remains

unbeaten in his new job, but

the pressure is already on

16 | August 30 2013 |

Radar Opinion

Flats on Friday

With the rugby season about to begin, there will be sighs of relief coming

from professional players up and down the

country. You see, this means that pre-season training is

over for another year, and that can only be a wonderful

thing. Pre-season training is not something I miss

terribly. Generally around 10 weeks long, it is a period

designed to be uncomfortable in the extreme – and,

from memory, plenty of coaches took that too far.

The best pre-season I had was the simplest of all.

We met up in June, got flogged thrice daily for five weeks,

went to Portugal to get flogged somewhere hotter, then

came home and continued where we’d left off. What the

coaches did, though, was treat us like grown-ups.

We started at around 9am, and most afternoons saw

us sipping lemonade together in town by 3.30pm.

The hours in between were savage, but our lives didn’t

end because we were getting fit. Oh, and they gave us

every Friday afternoon off, which meant we got to enjoy

the odd glass of rosé as the summer evenings closed

in. We worked hard, but we enjoyed it as mates.

The worst I ever did still makes me shudder. Seven

days and seven nights in Aldershot. No, not the title for

Paris Hilton’s latest special movie, but our punishment

for playing at a club where the coach didn’t get it. The

instructors (military types) called their work ‘Mindset

Evolution’; we called it pointless hammerings. In seven

nights we slept for 15 hours total. We were woken

almost hourly, screamed at while running in the dark

and told to do push-ups on the gravel until we dropped.

Then, at 3am most nights, we were put through stress

positions. These were quite simple: stand up, bend your

knees so you’re in a half-squat position, extend your

arms to the front, pump your fists open and shut, and

close your eyes. Sounds easy, but we did it to exhaustion

and beyond. Why? To test our mettle, apparently.

The result was broken bodies and regretful minds.

I lost a lot of weight that week, but I had arrived fit – so

it was likely useful muscle bulk that had dissolved. And on

the mental side... well, they prepared individual reports

on each man’s psychological prowess. I had thought the

week destructive and pointless but, due to my relative

silence, was declared mentally fit to play professional

rugby. Being five years into my career, this wasn’t big

news. Tom Shanklin – the Welsh centre who looks like an

albino version of Gareth Thomas – received a somewhat

less glowing report: “Tom is not cut out for this life; he

is lazy, has awful body language and is not a team player.

Our advice: look elsewhere.” Shanks, a great mate of

mine, went on to become Wales’ most capped centre of

all time. He was crap at army camps, but so what?

Pre-season has to be grim. That will never change.

The chubby ones will be put into Fat Club, where they

will endure repetitive and unpleasant extra sessions at

antisocial times. But, for groups of athletes, this can be

the best bonding they ever do. And if the squaddies are

swapped for cider, it can even be fun, too.

@davidflatman

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Little point in Big Ron

It’s like this…Bill Borrows

What the hell do you think you are doing, man? Hang on! Wait

a minute. What the hell do I think I’m

doing? One minute I’m watching the football (Cardiff

City were beating somebody – can’t remember who)

and now, after a period of frantic channel surfing,

I’m actually watching Celebrity Big Brother.

Last time I found myself doing this I was ill in bed,

and Bez was in it. The show, that is, not the bed.

It was a reflex action that caused me to stop on

Channel 5 – I thought I’d just seen ‘Big Ron’

Atkinson. Further investigation revealed that I had,

in fact, just seen ‘Big Ron’ Atkinson – and, bugger

me sideways, he was in the ‘Big’ Brother house.

I vaguely recognised some of the other ‘celebrities’

on the show – I was once out drinking irresponsibly

with Les Battersby, for example – but here,

indisputably, was the former manager of West

Brom and Manchester United. On Big Brother.

He had, apparently, already been nominated for

eviction and was adrift in a sea of no-marks who

(former Corrie stars and Carol McGiffin aside) had

no idea who he was. That must be a living death for

someone like Big Ron: no amusing football anecdotes

to retell; no insider knowledge to impart; and

nothing other than sub-cruise ship crooning to

deliver to a largely unappreciative audience.

The poor old boy could not have been more out

of his comfort zone if he had inadvertently ended

up presenting the MOBOs. This was car-crash TV

by appointment.

Why is he on it? It’s hardly going to enhance his

career as a pundit. That ended, quite rightly, when

he called Marcel Desailly something he really

shouldn’t have in an unguarded moment – and, let’s

be honest, Gazza has more chance of a return to

management. Just in the brief time I watched, Ron

managed to ask a woman with a jumper on her head:

“You’re not carrying a bomb with you, are you?”

As a man who did more than any other post-war

football manager to pioneer the integration of black

players into the British game – before destroying his

reputation in the time it takes to strike a match – why

doesn’t he just retire? He doesn’t need to embarrass

himself any more, and he can’t need the money.

Truth be told, I don’t feel sorry for him. I feel sorry

for the younger me who used to respect him, even

when he managed United, because of what he did to

bring through black players at a time when racism in

the game was sickeningly prevalent. It’s time to call

it a day, Ronald. You’re becoming a clown.

@billborrows

Plank of the WeekJose Mourinho, Old Trafford

Is anyone going to tell him that the fans chanting

“Rooney, Rooney, Rooney” were not just Man Utd

fans? The ‘Special One’ might well think United are a

‘Special Club’, but he should know that supporters

of his own club were taking the ‘Special Piss’.

18 | August 30 2013 |

Frozen in time

| 19

Double headerSome sporting combatants would actually be

more successful with no head. Imagine Audley

Harrison without the weakness of his great, big,

crystal jaw. He’d be unbeatable. Probably.

However, one of these two judoka from this

month’s Asian Youth Games has taken it to the

next level and looks to be competing without

head, shoulders or torso, while his rival is merely

sans noggin. Unfair! That is, unless it’s just the

camera angle obscuring their straining faces.

On second thoughts, it’s probably that.Lin

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Sergio Aguero

22 | August 30 2013 |

A l l A b o u t

t h e g A m eSergio Aguero speaks exclusively to Sport about

his new club manager, La Liga v the Premier League and Argentina’s World Cup hopes for Brazil 2014

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Sergio Aguero

24 | August 30 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

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Pointing in the right

direction: Aguero

and Diego Forlan at

Atletico Madrid in 2010

Sergio Aguero is exceptional in many ways. Though still only

25, his professional career is already 10 years old, with his debut for boyhood club Independiente coming at the ludicrously young age of 15. It made him the youngest player ever to debut in Argentina’s top flight, breaking a record held by Diego Maradona, and was the first in a series of career benchmarks that include an Olympic gold medal, Atletico Madrid’s first major European trophy since 1962 and – most recently – a strike that won Manchester City their first league title in 44 years.

When Sport meets him, Aguero’s role

in Manchester City’s 4-0 victory over

Newcastle is less than 24 hours old, but he

is already back on the pitch and playing his

part in another match. Two young City fans

(and one more sheepish observer sporting

a Barcelona top) have been waiting patiently

to catch a glimpse of one of football’s elite,

and eventually their wish – and a whole lot

more besides – is granted.

The Argentinian sets up a game of two

against two: himself and one kid against the

Barcelona boy, who he calls ‘Messi’, and his

friend. Only after the kickabout reaches its

conclusion is he prepared to begin our

interview. This is a man who evidently still

loves football for football’s sake. He is equally

enthusiastic about his new boss, Manuel

Pellegrini – a man who reportedly allows his

players more room to improvise on the pitch

than other managers. So, is that true?

“Yes, he speaks with every one of the

players to see how they like to play,” says

Aguero. “In my case, he wants me to play

with freedom and to be calm on the pitch,

so that I can get in on goal. But also so that

I enjoy myself.”

After working with him for a little while,

has Aguero noticed anything else particularly

distinctive about Pellegrini’s methods?

“Every coach has his way of doing things

– his tactics,” he reveals. “We’re very happy

with the new arrival and now we just have to

try and adapt to the new ideas that he wants

to put in place. Against Newcastle, we not

only played very well, but carried out his

tactics and the way he wants to play.”

We suggest it must be nice to see the new

boss favouring a system with two strikers,

especially after Aguero had such success

in tandem with Diego Forlan (also a former

Independiente player) at Atletico.

“Yes, I really like playing with other

strikers,” he agrees. “It means there are

more players getting in on goal regularly and

getting involved – that’s why I like it. Since I

started out, I’ve always played with another

striker. In Independiente I played with one

other. In Atletico with another, with Argentina

I play with two strikers... or, rather, three

in total. And here, with two. It’s much better

because there are more opportunities to

attack and try and score goals. That said, it’s

the coach who will decide how he structures

his line-up to make sure we play the way he

wants us to.”

That use of two strikers is a key facet of

Pellegrini’s preferred 4-2-2-2 – a system he

used effectively at Villarreal, Real Madrid and

Malaga, and one he has now brought to the blue

half of Manchester. Though not commonly used

in Europe, it is a particularly South American

system – surely something that suits Ageuro?

“It’s easy to adapt to because he has a

South American style,” he confirms. “He

hasn’t changed his style since he was in

Villarreal, or Malaga, and he’s conveying it

here. He’s happy with the way it’s working;

we have the ball more, and we move the ball

towards the goal much quicker.”

S T A R T A S Y O U M E A N T O G O O NIt’s still very early in the season, and not

everything went to plan in last Sunday’s 3-1

reversal in Cardiff – but, based on City’s

display against Newcastle, that South

American style is going down well at the

Etihad. As are the arrivals of Jesús Navas

and Fernandinho. Their introduction, coupled

with the newfound competitiveness they

bring to the squad will, Aguero believes, help

City challenge on all fronts this season.

“I think we reinforced well,” he says. “They

will certainly give a lot to the club. I think there

is a really good level here in order to compete

for the Premier League, the Champions

League and the other cups. I hope we continue

in the way we started, and we’ll see at the

end of the year how everything goes...”

The Champions League may not hold good

memories for City, but their new manager is

something of a specialist in the competition.

When we ask Aguero if progress beyond the

knockout stages, at the very least, is a key

goal for City this year, he is quick to give us

a definite answer:

“Yes. The first goal is to progress, yes.

Get to the knockout stage. Afterwards? >

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Sergio Aguero

26 | August 30 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

We’ll have to look at who we cross paths

with, and then try and do everything possible

to get as far as we can. The most important

thing is to perform well in the group stage to

get to the last 16.”

Since Aguero’s arrival at City two years

ago, a wave of players from La Liga have

followed the same path to England. Could this

influx of players who honed their trade on the

Iberian peninsula have an impact on the style

of football played in the Premier League?

“I don’t know,” he speculates. “They’ll

always play the same in the Premier League.

But as more players from La Liga come, the

Premier League is getting better technically,

and that’s good for the English game. It’s nice

that there are quality players coming, because

it draws attention from across the world.”

And what of the league he has left behind?

The exodus of stars from La Liga to England

is seen by many as a consequence of the

unfair distribution of TV money in Spain, with

Barcelona and Real Madrid able to negotiate

their own deals individually and earn much

more than their competitors. Does that, we

wonder, damage La Liga, preventing it from

being as competitive as it should be?

“That’s exactly what it’s like,” Aguero

agrees. “It damages the league. Only Barca

and Madrid can strengthen with top-level

players, and the others can’t reinforce well.

The logical thing would be if it was more like

here in the Premier League – that the money

was shared to everyone more equally, and

that every team could strengthen in order

to try and stay in the league, or win titles.

It makes the league better, too. These are

problems for the Spanish league to deal with,

but evidently it favours Barca and Madrid,

rather than the other teams. That’s clear.”

That said, Atletico Madrid have enjoyed

themselves since Aguero’s departure,

winning a second Europa League in three

seasons by trumping Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in

the 2012 final. They followed that with a

Copa del Rey victory in the Bernabeu in May,

beating city rivals Real 2-1 in extra time,

with Aguero’s compatriot Diego Simeone

overseeing it all.

“He’s doing a good job, and obviously I’m

happy because he’s Argentinian and things

are going well,” says Aguero. “He’s getting

the chance to become well known in Europe

and across the world, so I’m pleased it’s

going well for him, and for the club.”

With Tata Martino, Barcelona’s new boss,

also hailing from Argentina, and Marcelo

Bielsa taking Athletic Bilbao to two cup finals F

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When talk turns to the topic of Aguero’s boyhood

club, Independiente, the striker’s face lights up

instantly. And that, despite the club being relegated to

Argentina’s second division this year for the first time in

their history. So, has he managed to follow the early steps

of their first ever campaign in the second tier?

“I’m following them, yes,” he says. “They didn’t start well

[one loss and two draws so far], but they’ve only played

three games. There’s a long way to go. I hope that they’ll

achieve the most important thing, to return to the top

flight, and the financial situation calms down. It’s not easy

at all to play in the second division in Argentina, it’s a tough

league, but Independiente have a team worthy of the top

flight. We need to support the team, and the people that

are working to make sure this team goes up.

“That’s why I took part in a video campaign asking the

club’s fans to continue to back the team despite difficult

times. Because, as well as being a player, I was a fan.

So I’m happy the campaign to raise support went well,

and that people have liked it a lot. It’s great, really.”

G o n e , b u t n ot f o r G ot t e n

“ Y e s , m e s s i s h o u l d c o m e t o m a n c h e s t e r c i t Y . t h e n w e ’ l l d e f i n i t e l Y p l a Y t o G e t h e r ! c i t Y s h o u l d b u Y h i m ”

in the 2011-12 campaign (losing the Copa del

Rey final to Barca), Argentinian managers

are, we suggest, particularly sought after

in Europe.

“There are good, bad and average

Argentinian coaches, like coaches from any

country,” says Aguero. “But the good ones are

in Europe, and that’s great for Argentina, our

people and for our football too. So I’m happy.”

o n c e i n a l i f e t i m eArgentina are currently top of the

CONMEBOL qualifying table for the 2014

World Cup, and look stronger than they have

in years. Can they be considered one of the

favourites to lift the trophy in Brazil?

Aguero doesn’t think so: “No... favourites?

No. I think that we have a great team, though.

I really hope we have a good World Cup,

and getting as far as possible is the most

important thing. If we can bring it home, even

better. But there are other countries that are

even more difficult to beat waiting ahead, so

it’s all left to play for. World Cups aren’t easy,

it all comes down to what happens there in

that moment. We have to prepare well, be in

good shape, and mentally believe that we are

capable of winning it. But it’s very difficult.”

Would lifting the trophy on Brazilian soil be

particularly sweet for an Argentinian?

“First and foremost it would be important

for an Argentina team to win the World

Cup in any place – for the players, for the

country,” he says. “It happens only once in

a lifetime, so obviously winning a World Cup

would make any Argentinian player extremely

happy. And, moreover, the people.”

Playing for his country also presents

Aguero with a rare opportunity to play

alongside Lionel Messi. Could that be a

possibility at club level, one day?

“Yes, he should come to Man City,” he says

with a smile. “Then we’ll definitely play

together! City should buy him!”

And with that, Aguero takes his leave,

probably in search of another impromptu

game of football. The kid from Quilmes is

quite clearly all about the game. And if things

go well this year for City and Argentina, the

game itself could end up being all about him.

Lee Roden @LeeRoden89

Sergio Aguero wears PUMA evoSPEED

football boots. Go to pumafootballclub.com

to join the PUMA FC community

Brothers in arms: Messi

celebrates with Aguero

after scoring against

Switzerland in a friendly

last year. But will the two

ever link up at club level?

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| August 30 2013 | 29

Zinedine ZidaneP

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T h e R e a l d e a lThe finest player of his generation spoke to Sport about his own stellar career, his favourites for next year’s World Cup, and why Gareth Bale could be so important in the Spanish capital >

Zinedine Zidane

| August 30 2013 | 31Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

Zinedine Zidane is –

should you need

reminding – a World

Cup and European

Championship winner,

and a three-time FIFA

World Player of the Year. He has been

declared the best European footballer

of the past 50 years by UEFA; he has

held aloft the Ballon D’Or, and won the

Champions League, two Serie A titles

and one La Liga; and he is the one-time

most expensive player in the world

whose image has been projected on

to the Arc de Triomphe.

In short, Zidane is some role model – and

exactly the man you’d want on your side at

the Bernabeu if you were, say, a 24-year-old

joining the grandest of European clubs for

a world-record fee.

We meet Zizou at his Z5 five-a-side centre

in the middle of the rolling countryside of

Provence, where he is promoting adidas’

new Team Five range in his role as an adidas

bodycare ambassador.

“What is really interesting is that the

ingredients that go into the Team Five

fragrance are a really nice reflection of this

southern area of France,” he says of the new

range. “They’ve encapsulated the spirit of

the area, but also the spirit of five-a-side,

the dynamism and the speed.”

Those last two qualities, monsieur, we’d

like to know more about – as embodied by

Gareth Bale. Just what is it about him that led

Zidane to label him the best player in Europe?

“I want to say ‘everything’, because he’s

a player who’s different,” he says, through a

translator. “You have players like Ronaldo or

Messi, and he is very different from those

two. I saw him play a lot last season, and in a

way I wasn’t surprised because I knew he had

great qualities. But I was surprised by his

ability to score at key moments of a game.

He is a player who started [his career] playing

left-back, and now he plays everywhere.”

“C’est incroyable,” Sport suggests in our

best French, in reference to Bale’s previous

defensive position. Zidane breaks out into

a grin before answering, in English:

“Incredible.” Then back to French.

“There are lots of excellent players, but

the one that really caught my attention this

season is Gareth.”

Since our interview Zidane, who at 41 is

now assistant coach and sporting director

at Real Madrid, has said that he knows what

it is to be the most expensive player in the

world – and that he can hopefully offer Bale

advice and mentor him.

“There’s always a lot of attention with a

big transfer fee,” he told The Sunday People.

“As a player you don’t even think about the

fee, but there is hysteria that comes with it...

we are looking at a guy who can be the best

in the world for the next four or five years.”

Madrid’s ambitions, Zidane tells us when

we ask what his club can achieve this season,

are always the same: “They just want to win

everything. The principles and values of this

club are always the same, and that is what is

so wonderful for a player when you join this

team. For a player who doesn’t really know

what it is like to win, when you join Madrid,

then you learn exactly what it is about.”

T H E S P E C I A L O N E SAnd what of his time at Madrid – what does

he miss about playing? “The green rectangle

– I’ll always miss it. The adrenaline, the

pressure just before the match, the fans.”

And the best player he ever played with?

“Ronaldo. The Brazilian Ronaldo. He was

simply the best player in the world.”

It’s no surprise Zidane selects that

Madrid team, which also included Luís Figo,

Raul and David Beckham, as the best in which

he played. “Even though I played in very, very

good teams everywhere I went, Madrid is

really special,” he says.

The quality of that team aside, was there

an opposition defender he found toughest?

“There wasn’t any,” he replies, before

breaking out into laughter. “Just joking.

Maldini. Paolo Maldini.” What about British

players – is there one he can single out?

“I will tell you a small story,” Zidane says.

“In 2004, during the European Championship

in Portugal, I scored a goal in the semi final,

and I made this gesture after I scored, to

salute Alan Shearer [he lifts an arm, palm

flat, in classic Shearer fashion] because he

was a great goalscorer, and every time he

scored he made the same gesture. So, with

my friend Christophe Dugarry, I promised

him if I scored, I would celebrate with the

Alan Shearer gesture.”

The goal Zidane is actually referring to was

a penalty against Portugal in the 117th minute

of the Euro 2000 semi final in Belgium, to give

France a 2-1 lead. Faux pas, but when you’ve

notched as many crucial goals as Zizou, you

can’t expect to remember the details of every

one. Having played in six major international

tournaments (and won two), we’re keen to

know who his favourites are for next year’s

World Cup. Germany, comes the reply. Why?

“Because they have a game that I’m

starting to really enjoy,” says Zidane. “It’s a

game that’s very different from the football

that the Germans have played so far. The

German game has always been very serious,

a little bit predictable – particularly in the

final phases of a tournament. But now more

and more foreign players are playing for

German teams, they have brought something

different to German football, and they [the

national side] have started to integrate it

into their game... that foreign influence.” 

We eschew the temptation to mention

Zidane’s final contribution to the World Cup

as a player: his sending-off for headbutting

Marco Materazzi in the 2006 final. We ask

instead if he has any regrets.

“No,” he replies. And, a gentleman to the

dénouement: “Merci beaucoup.”

Graham Willgoss @grahamwillgoss Liu

Jin

/AF

P/G

ett

y Im

ag

es

Adidas’ Team Five

is represented by

international football

superstar Zinedine

Zidane. The adidas

Team Five range

includes EDT, shower

gel, body spray and

deodorant and is

priced from £2.03,

available nationwide

“ E v E N T H O u g H I P L Ay E d I N v E r y , v E r y g O O d T E A m S E v E r y w H E r E I w E N T , m A d r I d I S r E A L Ly S P E C I A L ”

Cal Crutchlow

32 | August 30 2013 |

Cal Crutchlow sounds a bit annoyed. We have

just asked the MotoGP rider if he thinks he

can find his maiden race win before the

end of this season, his third at this level,

and his answer is blunt: “I have no idea. People say:

‘Which race are you going to win, blah, blah blah?’

But I have no idea. I try and win every race and

sometimes – well, most of the time – it doesn’t

happen, so the only race I’ve won this year is a

go-kart race, same as last year. It’s not easy, and

most of the grid haven’t done – there are only four

riders on the grid who have won races in MotoGP.”

The 27-year-old British rider is adored by fans for

his never-say-die attitude. That was typified by his

performance at Silverstone last year, when he broke

and dislocated his ankle in final practice on Saturday,

but still raced on the Sunday. Starting at the back

of the grid because he missed qualifying, he still

managed to finish as high as sixth.

Like most participants in this often insane sport,

Crutchlow speaks matter-of-factly about the various

body parts he’s smashed, grazed and otherwise

abused in his racing career.

“Yeah, I’ve had some bad injuries,” he says. “Broken

collarbones, wrists, been cut up quite badly from

abrasions. But this is racing – motorcycle racers

defy the odds all the time. That’s what keeps us

coming back, I suppose.”

If it’s hard racing with a broken ankle, it’s even

harder when you don’t have the same level of

equipment or financial support as your competitors.

Crutchlow is the best-performing rider from any of

the so-called ‘satellite’ teams, regularly challenging

for podium finishes with Tech3 Yamaha. Although he

and the team enjoy a degree of support from the

manufacturer, Crutchlow doesn’t get the full financial

or technical backing enjoyed by the factory racers

– in Yamaha’s case, that’s Jorge Lorenzo (three

wins this season) and Valentino Rossi (one).

However, he will soon get his first taste of racing

for a factory team – from next season, he will be >

“The only raCe I’ve won ThIs year Is a go-karT raCe”

| 33

SUNday

MOTOGP | HERTZ BRITISH

GRAND PRIX | SILVERSTONE

BBC TWO 1PM

Cal Crutchlow

34 | August 30 2013 |

leaving Tech3 to join Ducati, who are on a winless run

of their own stretching back to 2010. With his career

seemingly on an upward trajectory – he’s already

finished on the podium more times this season than

in his first two years combined – we’re interested

to find out why Crutchlow wants to join a team that

has seen a series of talented riders struggle in their

red leathers...

What was behind your decision to join Ducati from

next year?

“I was very interested in the project, very interested

to continue my career with them. That’s one of the

reasons. The other reason is that what I was being

offered from Yamaha was not a factory ride – the

package was not guaranteed, and there was no room

for me to improve or move up within Yamaha in the

next few years. So I took the decision based on that.”

Seven-time champion Valentino Rossi did not do

well after he moved to Ducati in 2010 – is it a bit

of a gamble for you to join a team that have been

labelled ‘career killers’?

“Everything’s a gamble. Staying where I was would

have been a gamble because I was not guaranteed

to have a factory ride this year. Going to Superbikes

would have been a gamble. Riding my bicycle is

a gamble because I could get knocked off. At the

end of the day, I don’t see it as a gamble. I believe

my 100 per cent is good enough to challenge. For

sure, they need to make some improvements with

the bike. I think they know that, but the guys at

Ducati are gonna give 100 per cent and try their

best as well.”

Can you keep that upward trajectory going?

“I hope so. Obviously my career at the moment is

going up and up and up, and people would say that

maybe this won’t carry on – but who’s to say? I can’t

comment because I haven’t ridden the bike, I haven’t

been with the team.”

What will you miss from your current team when

you leave?

“I don’t like to leave the team. I don’t want to leave

the team – my guys are fantastic. This has really

become like a family, and they’re very close friends

as well as my colleagues. To leave Tech3 is very

difficult. And, you know, Hervé [Poncharal, Tech3

team principal, who has described Crutchlow as

“a man I really appreciate and love”] sat down with

me and discussed my decisions. He told me that this

was the best option for me, but that the door is

always open to come back in the future.”

You must be looking forward to having a factory

ride, though?

“Yeah I think having a manufacturer behind you...

I know they’re not as big as the others on the grid,

but there are more people actually involved with

the team – so I look forward to that. I’ve always said

a factory rider has so many fewer worries than a

satellite rider, and a lot of people don’t understand

that. You have to look at their everyday lives – they

have somebody running around for them a lot more

than what I have. I don’t mean that in a derogatory

way – it’s just that going to a factory team makes

things a lot easier, and I think I deserve to be

a factory rider.”

How long will it be before you can challenge for

race wins with your new team?

“I think it’ll take a while, for sure. I’m not expecting

to go and win the first race by 20 seconds, but you

know it’s gonna be a long process. I really can’t say.

I can’t comment on what the guys are doing on the

bike now, so for sure it’s going to be more difficult

than riding the Yamaha in the first moment. But that’s

why we’re going there – that’s what I obviously want

to try and develop.”

It’s been said that the way the bike handles will be

well suited to your riding style. Do you agree?

“People say that you need to ride the bike like this

or like that, but I don’t understand why they say this

when they don’t ride the bike. The only guys that

can comment are the guys who are racing the bike,

not anyone who has previously rode it. Everyone

says my riding style will be good for it because I can

manhandle a motorcycle, but that doesn’t mean that

suddenly everything is going to be perfect. We need

to improve as a team, and I need to improve my riding

style and my experience of MotoGP.”

Switching back to this season, you’ve picked up four

podium finishes so far. Is that better or worse than

you’d hoped for at the start of the year?

“I think it’s going as expected. I’m not over the moon,

but I’m not... under the moon. We’ve had some good

podiums and some very strong finishes, but I’ve also

had some bad finishes. I crashed in Barcelona and I

had a bad result in Laguna [where he qualified fifth

and finished seventh – his worst result of the season

before last weekend in the Czech Republic, where he

finished 17th, rejoining the race after crashing out

on lap eight], and I wasn’t too pleased with how I rode

at Indianapolis. But that’s racing – riding in MotoGP is

very tough. People don’t understand how tough it is.

They really don’t, and it’s a big step up from anything

I’ve rode in previously.”

When Casey Stoner retired, it opened a gap at the

top that you must have been confident of stepping

into. Is it galling to find a resurgent Valentino Rossi

[currently fourth in the championship] and rookie

rider Marc Marquez [first] in front of you this year?

“No... I think it was as expected. We know Rossi is still

a fast motorcycle racer, and we know Pedrosa and

Lorenzo were the best two in the world last year,

along with Casey. Marquez is gonna be, or is at the

moment, by far the best rider. He’s riding incredibly.

But he’s not just beating me – he’s beating everybody.

He’s come in and embarrassed a lot of riders. For

sure, he’s gonna be one of the best riders in the

world for a long, long time. But he is not unbeatable.”

You have your home race coming up this weekend,

at Silverstone. You haven’t had the best of times in

your two MotoGP races there [he did not start in

2011, having crashed out in qualifying], but are you

still looking forward to it?

“Yeah, of course – going to your home Grand Prix is

always something special. Sure it hasn’t always gone

the way I’d like, but last year we had a strong result

coming from the back of the grid. Unfortunately, I’ve

had some bad crashes there over the past few years,

but it doesn’t change my attitude to racing at home.

I look forward to going home, and to trying to do my

best at home for me and for the fans.”

Amit Katwala @amitkatwala

“riding in motogp is tough. people don’t get how tough it is”

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102.4

1,964

7NFC East

NFC North

NFC wEst

a sEasoN iN American Football

36 | August 30 2013 |

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NFC East

NFC North

NFC wEst

The passer rating of Washington

Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin

III, the highest ever rating by a rookie

in NFL history.

The Redskins finished last season

with seven consecutive wins, clinching

the division. Their continued success

this season may well depend on the

fitness of star quarterback RG3 as

he returns from both LCL and ACL

surgery on his right knee. The

Redskins also topped the league in

rushing, with rookie Alfred Morris

breaking the franchise rushing record.

Losing the last game of the season

to the Redskins meant a third straight

year without playoff football for

the Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile. To

counteract that, they have appointed

a new defensive co-ordinator in Monte

Kiffin and also re-signed talented

quarterback Tony Romo to a $108m,

six-year contract.

Receiving yards by wide receiver Calvin Johnson (right) of the Detroit

Lions, breaking a record set by Jerry Rice in 1995. The Lions have

upped the ante for the 2013 season by signing running back Reggie

Bush, improving their running game and giving more options to

quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Green Bay Packers were divisional

champions in 2012, and will be the team to beat once again this season.

Although quiet in the offseason, they will be improved defensively by

first-round draft pick Detone Jones. The Minnesota Vikings will push

the Packers all the way – in 2012, star running back Adrian Peterson

ran for a staggering 2,097 yards, the second most in NFL history.

Career receptions by Atlanta Falcons running back Tony Gonzalez (above), second

only to Jerry Rice. The Falcons lost the NFC Championship to the San Francisco

49ers, so Gonzalez put his retirement on hold as they look to go one better this

time. The return of coach Sean Payton to the New Orleans Saints, after a year’s

suspension, will be a boost after a disappointing 7-9 record in 2012. The Saints

offense, led by quarterback Drew Brees, were the most effective passers of the

ball, completing more than 5,000 yards, but they also had the NFL’s worst defense.

Regular season starts by new star

quarterback Colin Kaepernick (above).

Seemingly from nowhere, Kaepernick

led the San Francisco 49ers to the

Super Bowl last season. His ability to

run the read option offense makes him

a dual threat QB – he threw for 1,814

yards in his seven starts, but also

rushed for 415 yards. The 49ers have

also boosted their squad with receiver

Anquan Boldin.

Also running the read option to great

effect in Seattle was rookie QB Russell

Wilson. The Seattle Seahawks finished

11-5, but lost to the Falcons in the

divisional round of the playoffs. Wilson

was named Rookie of the Year, but his

team will have to wait until Thanksgiving

for the return from injury of new wide

receiver Percy Harvin.

NFC south1,242NFC south

Sport StackS up the

numberS that matter

ahead of thurSday’S

return of the nfl

afc weSt

mIllIon

1011/2

120.6afc eaSt

afc Southafc north

n StatSn StatS

| 37

afc eaSt

afc weSt

afc Southafc north

The number of times the New England

Patriots have won the AFC East division

in the 13 years Bill Belichick (above) has

been coach. The Patriots will begin 2013

favourites to triumph once again.

Quarterback Tom Brady is now 36 and

knows time is running out for him to add

to his collection of three Super Bowl

rings. The Pats also lost Wes Welker

(a free agent) to the Broncos, replacing

him with Danny Amendola from the St

Louis Rams – but he will need to stay

healthy, having played only 12 games in

the past two years.

Perhaps their biggest challenge will

come from the Miami Dolphins. They

have overhauled their team, adding,

among others, receivers Mike Wallace

and Brian Hartline, and spending

$146m on free-agent contracts.

Julian Wait

What the contract handed to quarterback Joe Flacco (above) is worth in dollars

after he led the Baltimore Ravens to win the Super Bowl and was named the MVP

for the game after three touchdown passes. The Ravens return with changes to

their roster in 2013, with several players leaving as free agents and Ray Lewis

retiring. Revamped by general manager Ozzie Newsome, they will have to scrap it

out in the tough AFC North with a Cincinnati Bengals side that has reached the

playoffs in both 2011 and 2012, and a Pittsburgh Steelers team that will always be

a force if QB Ben Roethlisberger remains healthy after an injury-hit 2012.

Number of sacks by Houston Texans

defensive end JJ Watt (above), equal

sixth for single-season sacks in NFL

history. The Texans initially made light

work of the AFC South, going 11-1

before losing three of their final four.

They still won the division, but lost in

the playoffs to the Patriots.

The Indianapolis Colts, who traded

away Peyton Manning, found a new

hero in rookie quarterback Andrew

Luck – he threw for 4,374 yards and

led the team to the playoffs. Coach

Chuck Pagano is also back at the helm

after his battle with leukaemia in 2012.

22.5

Odds on the Denver Broncos winning Super Bowl XLVIII,

making them favourites to lift the Vince Lomardi trophy in

2014. They finished last season 13-3, but went out of the

playoffs in an amazing double overtime loss to the Ravens.

Legendary quarterback Peyton Manning returned from neck

surgery to throw for 37 touchdowns, and this year the

Broncos will be boosted by the arrival of receiver Wes Welker

from the Patriots. The Kansas City Chiefs had the equal worst

record in 2012, going 2-14 – but they have a new general

manager in John Dorsey, from the Packers, and a new coach

in Andy Reid from the Philadelphia Eagles. They signalled their

intentions by signing quarterback Alex Smith from the 49ers.

Few golf courses in the world are quite as stunning

as Crans-sur-Sierre, the location for next week's

Omega European Masters.

Perched 5,000 feet above sea level in the Swiss

mountains, it provides a unique test on tour, with

balls flying much further at altitude than they usually

would. That means big hitters can easily lose their

range here, while the smarter golfers get the

job done.

Step forward everyone's favourite player: the

cigar-smoking, rioja-drinking Miguel Ángel Jiménez. Ric

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7 DaysAUG 30-SEP 5

HIGHLIGHTS

» Football: Premier League » p40

» UEFA Super Cup: Bayern Munich v Chelsea » p42

» Rowing: World Championships » p42

» Rugby League: St Helens v Warrington » p44

» Motorsport: World Superbikes Round 10 » p44OUR PICK OF THE ACTION FROM THE SPORTING WEEK AHEAD

THURSDAY > GOLF | OMEGA EUROPEAN MASTERS | CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, SWITZERLAND | SKY SPORTS 2 3.30PM

38 | August 30 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

He loves this place: so much so that he's playing in this

event for the 25th consecutive year. He won in 2010

and has 10 top-10s at Crans – and, as he showed at the

Open last month, he is still playing as well as ever.

There will be plenty of challengers, though. Danish

veteran Thomas Bjørn is another former champion

who enjoys playing here, while Italian wonderboy

Matteo Manassero – who took his game to another

level when he won the BMW PGA in May – has the

course management and short game to add this

title to his roll of honour.

Mount pleasant

40 | August 30 2013 |

7 Days

Liverpool’s solid start to the season – two wins, two

clean sheets, two goals – faces its biggest test yet on

Sunday, with the arrival of Manchester United at Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers’ side lost home and away to the

champions last season, with the game at Anfield hinging

on a first-half red card for Jonjo Shelvey and a late penalty

from Robin van Persie (who has scored six goals in his

past seven games against Liverpool). It was a win former

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted they were lucky

to get, with the home side dominating for long periods.

Van Persie was on the scoresheet again when the sides

met at Old Trafford, as was Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge.

This time, both strikers go into the game with two league

goals to their name from two games played, although

Sturridge’s eight goals in his last seven appearances in

the league beat van Persie’s tally (seven from seven) by

a single goal.

United’s star man was kept fairly quiet against Chelsea

on Monday night, as he took a back seat to the Wayne

Rooney saga that may or may not still be running by the

time you read this. The first goalless draw Old Trafford

has seen in the league in 77 games saw United struggle to

create too many clear-cut chances, with just three shots

on target. Against a Liverpool side that is yet to concede,

van Persie and Rooney might have to get their games in

sync to break them down.

Arsenal’s 100th London derby win

in the Premier League last weekend

was important, but not as important

as getting number 101 against Spurs

would be. The more free-spending

north Londoners have won their

opening league games thanks to

two penalties from Roberto Soldado,

while the more free-scoring side is

starting to see the best from Olivier

Giroud. It has finished 5-2 at the

Emirates for the past two seasons.

It couldn’t happen again, could it?

sunday arsenal v tottenham

emirates stadium | sky sports 1 4pm

Manchester City were undone by

two corners and some shaky

goalkeeping in Cardiff. Vincent

Kompany’s injury left Manuel

Pellegrini with Joleon Lescott and

Javi Garcia at centre half – a pairing

he’s likely to change, with Matija

Nastasic fit again. Hull’s only goal in

the league so far has been a penalty,

but Steve Bruce believes it’s their

defensive stability that will keep

them up. If they can keep City at bay

for 90 minutes, he could be right.

saturday man city v hull city | etihad stadium

bt sport 12.45pm

There’s a quiet affair at Anfield on Sunday lunchtime, while north London neighbours get together at the Emirates and Manchester City thrash Hull. Probably

Premier League

sunday liverpool v manchester united | anfield | sky sports 1 1.30pm

Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

saturday newcastle v fulham | st james’ park | 3pm

| 41

Everton drew 15 games last term

– more than every other team,

except Stoke. Despite the change in

manager, they’re following the same

pattern this season, with two draws

from two in the league. It’s a far cry

from Cardiff’s rip-roaring start to

life in the top flight – lulling others

into a false sense of security with a

lifeless display at West Ham before

submitting Man City to a show of

passion and belief nobody was

expecting. Whatever next?

saturday norwich v southampton | carrow road | 3pm

Five shots on target from 24

attempts so far – are West Ham

missing Andy Carroll, even if four

points from a possible six hints

otherwise? Modibo Maiga has been

the man they’ve looked to so far, and

Big Sam could blood Ravel Morrison,

who he has described this week as

an “exceptional talent” – even if he

does wear gloves in August. Mark

Hughes’ side, meanwhile, bagged a

league brace last weekend for the

first time since last December.

saturday west ham v stoke | upton park | 3pm

Marouane Chamakh’s first Premier

League goal in 707 days was a

welcome sight for Ian Holloway,

but zero points from two games is

not – the Eagles are now the only

promoted side still chasing a win.

For Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio,

a point against Southampton was

frustrating after they led the game

for 85 minutes. Given that they had

lost six of their past seven league

games on the road, they’ll travel to

London with a bit more belief.

saturday crystal palace v sunderland | selhurst

park | sky sports 1 5.30pm

Incroyable! That’s the only way to

describe the luck compounding

Monsieur Pardieu’s opening to the

season, after his side failed to hit

the target with any of their 14

attempts last week – including a

Yoan Gouffran effort that will have

had Nick Hancock salivating. As if

that’s not enough, the very man they

wanted to sign to provide goals is in

town – Darren Bent is already finding

his feet at Fulham. Still, we’re sure

Joe Kinnear has a plan.

He might not be a Wolf in Lamb(ert)’s clothing quite yet, but Ricky van

Wolfswinkel is trying his best to do for Norwich what his counterpart has

been doing for Southampton’s goal tally for some four years now.

The new man has had two chances in yellow and green (in a side that has

conjured a total of 15 shots in two games), scoring one and forcing a blinding

save with the other. Memo to Chris Hughton – get the ball to this man.

Rickie Lambert meanwhile, drew a blank against Sunderland last week,

but remains Southampton’s major threat, especially in the closing stages.

The Saints’ two goals this season have both arrived in the final two minutes.

Neither side managed a win from their two meetings last term, with the game

at Carrow Road ending goalless and both teams scoring once at St Mary’s.

Hughton says he wants Norwich to be “hard to beat” this season. And that’s

fine, but the winning bit will need to happen at some stage, too.

P W D L F A Pts

Premier League tabLe

Goalless draws

in the Prem last

weekend – that

happened only

twice in the whole

of last season3

Chelsea 3 2 1 0 4 1 7

Liverpool 2 2 0 0 2 0 6

Tottenham 2 2 0 0 2 0 6

Man Utd 2 1 1 0 4 1 4

West Ham 2 1 1 0 2 0 4

Southampton 2 1 1 0 2 1 4

Man City 2 1 0 1 6 3 3

Arsenal 2 1 0 1 4 4 3

Aston Villa 3 1 0 2 4 4 3

Stoke 2 1 0 1 2 2 3

Cardiff City 2 1 0 1 3 4 3

Fulham 2 1 0 1 2 3 3

Hull City 2 1 0 1 1 2 3

Everton 2 0 2 0 2 2 2

Norwich 2 0 1 1 2 3 1

Sunderland 2 0 1 1 1 2 1

West Brom 2 0 1 1 0 1 1

Newcastle 2 0 1 1 0 4 1

Crystal Palace 2 0 0 2 1 3 0

Swansea 2 0 0 2 1 5 0

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saturday cardiff v everton | cardiff city stadium | 3pm

While the majority of the football

world is focused on Anfield, last

season’s surprise packages will be

trying to kickstart their season.

Defeats to Man Utd and Tottenham

are hardly panic-inducers, but a lack

of bite has left Swansea at the foot

of the table – and Cardiff’s shock win

over Man City won’t have helped. A

win against a side that failed to find

the net against both Southampton

and Everton is a must – and that in

itself is quite a worry for West Brom.

sunday west brom v swansea | the hawthorns | 1.30pm

“In this room [the press room], he’s the f***ing chief, the f***ing man,

the person who knows everything about the world and I don’t want to

compete with him at all.” Pep Guardiola’s f-word-laden description of

José Mourinho, as uttered during their spells managing Barcelona and

Real Madrid respectively, could come back to haunt him on Friday

evening, as he goes head to head with his old foe once more.

Now settled into their new roles at Bayern Munich and Chelsea,

Guardiola and Mourinho will be competing in Prague’s Eden Stadium

for the honour of being named the champions of the champions

(of Europe). Catchy.

It’s Chelsea’s second consecutive appearance in the UEFA Super

Cup, coming 12 months after they were on the receiving end of

a 4-1 pasting from 2012 Europa League winners Atletico Madrid. One

sacking and one interim manager later, the Blues are back. This time,

they go into it as underdogs (or Europa League winners, if you will)

against a Bayern side that won the treble last year – and then brought

in one of the most highly regarded managers in the world. They lost

the German Super Cup to Borussia Dortmund in their season-opener,

but have since won three out of three in the league.

Neither manager was in situ for the previous meeting between

these sides in May 2012, when the Bundesliga champions missed their

chance to win the Champions League on home turf thanks to a late

Didier Drogba equaliser and the ensuing carnage of a penalty

shootout. But it’s clearly something that still rankles Bayern’s players,

with Thomas Müller claiming this week: “We have a score to settle...

we will try to win this title with a vengeance.”

42 | August 30 2013 |

7 Days

Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

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FRIDAY FOOTBALL | UEFA SUPER CUP: BAYERN MUNICH v CHELSEA | EDEN ARENA, PRAGUE | SKY SPORTS 1 7.45PM

FRIDAY > ROWING | 2013 WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS | CHUNGJU, SOUTH KOREA | BRITISH EUROSPORT 7AM

Know-it-all in for another Pep talk?

GB rowers hunting more gold

The week-long World Rowing Championships reach their

conclusion this weekend, with most of the finals taking

place over the final three days of competition.

The GB crews picked up a wealth of medals in the first two

World Cups of the 2013 season in Sydney and Eton Dorney – but,

at the third and most recent regatta in Lucerne, they left with a

largely disappointing haul of just three medals. The squads

headed off to an altitude training camp for final preparations

ahead of the trip to Korea. The result? A mild rejig of the crew

order in the men's eight, as well as small tweaks to the women's

eight and quad.

It's the pair of Polly Swan and Olympic gold-medallist Helen

Glover (pictured) who head to the championships with most

expected of them, having already completed a hat-trick of wins

in this year's World Cup series. Not bad for a pair who are very

much the new kids on the block in their boat class this season.

A SWARMIS COMING

#EVERYFANCOUNTS

GO TO WASPS.CO.UK OR CALL 020 8993 8298

FACEBOOK.COM/LONDONWASPSTWITTER.COM/WASPSRUGBY

WASPS_10070 Sport Magazine advert (232 x 300 + 5mm bleed) .indd 1 27/08/2013 16:59

44 | August 30 2013 |

7 Days

Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

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FRIday Rugby League | SupeR League: ST HeLeNS v waRRiNgToN woLveS | LaNgTRee paRK | SKy SpoRTS 4 8pM

SUNday MoToRSpoRT | woRLD SupeRbiKeS RouND 10: NuRbuRgRiNg, geRMaNy | bRiTiSH euRoSpoRT 2 11aM

Down to

the deuceWith just two rounds of the Super League

left, the top eight might have been decided

– but some fierce fighting remains for the

final playoff placings. Warrington must

win their final two games if they have any

hope of replacing Huddersfield at the top

of the table, and the first of those is a very

awkward fixture at St Helens.

The Saints have had their worst ever

Super League campaign, but have strung

together five successive wins and sit fifth.

Saints are also one of only two teams to

have won at the Halliwell Jones this year.

For Warrington, Stefan Ratchford (left)

is maturing into a fine stand-off, hooker

Mickey Higham is in the form of his life and

England back-rower Ben Westwood will

make his presence felt. Saints have already

welcomed back big-hitting Sia Soliola,

while England hooker James Roby is

scheduled to make his long-awaited return

after a two-month absence. These two

never fail to serve up a thrilling contest –

expect the same again tonight.

While Cal Crutchlow aims to become the first racer from these

shores to win a MotoGP race in years at Silverstone on Sunday,

over in Germany a British win is a much more likely prospect.

Jonny Rea, Chaz Davies and Tom Sykes (right) have shared

eight race wins between them in the 2013 World Superbikes

season, and with just four rounds remaining after this weekend

at the Nürburgring, Sykes in particular (with 249 points) is hot

on the heels of Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli (on 262).

The 31-year-old Guintoli has been using the month-long

summer break to recover from a dislocated collarbone

sustained while cycling (dangerous pursuit). But he will start

favourite to be back atop the podium in Germany.

Euro dash

46 | August 30 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

Extra timEMaking the most of your time and money

P54

mark Wahlberg

gets his pump

– and his

chainsaw – on

in Pain & Gain

Drawn together

Gadgets

Wacom Cintiq 13HD

Graphics tablet

A shrunk-down version of the

drawing equipment used by

illustrators and designers, the

13HD is designed to take up less

desk space than its big brothers

while still providing pressure-

sensitive drawing capability.

Perfect for sporting artists such

as Ian Holloway, David James

and Jody Craddock (he retired,

still at Wolves, in May), who all

dabble with the brush.

£750 | uk.shop.wacom.eu

alcatel One touch idol

A premium smartphone that’s

expected to be released at an

affordable price point, the

One Touch Idol has everything

you’d expect from top-of-the-

line phones: brushed metal

finish, 4.75-inch screen and

8-megapixel camera that comes

with the usual array of options.

£TBC | alcatelonetouch.com

Orbitsound Soundbar SB60

Flatscreen televisions can lack

something of the audio punch

of their chunkier predecessors.

Designed to sit under 35-inch to

55-inch modern TVs, the SB60

boosts your audio without the

need for a separate subwoofer

– a valuable asset in today’s

ever more cramped living areas.

£299 | johnlewis.co.uk

Sigmo Voice

translation Device

This crowdsourced device will

break down language barriers

by translating for you at the

press of a button. Pair it with

a smartphone and the Sigmo

app and, when you speak, your

words will be translated into

your choice of 25 languages.

From £20 | buysigmo.com

Skullcandy Crusher

Headphones

Released today, the Crusher

headphones are designed to

replicate the ear-splitting

low-end you hear at gigs. They

have a slider on the back that

lets you adjust the powered bass

boost to your liking, or turn it off

completely if you’re a big wuss.

From £99 | skullcandy.com

iPad edition on Newsstand now

ET

48 | August 30 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

holding on To ThE summErDress for the job you want, not the job you have. We’re taking a similar approach to where we’d like to be right now – and beach shoes are right at the top of the list

Kit

havaianas Brasil

Flag Flip Flops

No prizes for name

originality, but the

flip flop kings won’t

send you far wrong.

£18 | havaianas-

store.com

o’neill

Esplanade

Cotton upper on a

rubber sole ensures

comfort and a cool

look – available

in five colours.

£30 | O’Neill stores

h by hudson

Cabana shoes

Want to look smart

without socks?

These woven

leather beauties

will sort you out.

£75 | surfdome.com

o’neill Poseidon

Flip Flops

Named after the

god of the sea, and

they’re the same

colour as his fave

hangout. Clever.

£18 | O’Neill stores

Espadrij

Classic shoes

Stripes make you

look thin. These,

with flexible grip

soles, will simply

make you look ace.

£20 | surfdome.com

Animal Break

Flip Flops

With Spandex

lining and soft

webbing toepost,

they’re also

available in blue.

£16 | animal.co.uk

Cushe Evo-lite loafer

Comes in brown, mid grey

or tan, with premium suede

upper and breathable canvas

lining. Go nicely with shorts

by day and jeans by night.

£50 | amazon.co.uk

STORAGEWARS_SPORT_232x300.indd 1 27/08/2013 11:37

ET Grooming

50 | August 30 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

Fish head

Fish Minis

Fish have crammed three of their best-selling styling products tighter

than a tin of sardines into mini versions: Fishfingers Shape Defining

Wax (suited to shorter, spikier hairstyles and will help mould, sculpt,

define and shape), Fishshape Texturising Cream (combines the

benefits of a gel and wax to hold your style without drying hard) and

Stonefish Matt Texturising Clay (for short, choppy styles, providing

a textured look with a matt finish). Mini, yet undeniably mighty.

£2.99 each for 25ml | Boots stores nationwide

Ted Baker Tour de Ted Body Maintenance KitA unique dash of tradition with state-of-the-art scents technology, Ted says of his new (be)spoke collection that will

keep you as “fresh as a bright Yellow Jersey”. His Tour de Ted kit comes in two flavours: Omnium Orange, with eucalyptus,

geranium and patchouli; and Racing Green, with bergamot, cedarwood, sandalwood and musk. Those scents can be found

in a 50ml hair and body wash and body spray, each small enough to keep in your saddlebag. £12 | Boots stores nationwide

A sporTinG chAncEThe Vuelta a España began last weekend – how better to get on yer

bike than with a tour-themed travel pack? Plus: Zizou cleans up

Leader of the Gc

ZZ top

adidas Team Five Limited Edition

“When you’re an athlete, you always need products like these,” says

adidas bodycare ambassador Zinedine Zidane. His favourite? “The EDT

(£4.99 for 100ml). It’s really nice to smell so fresh. You find the same

fragrance in the shower gel (£2.54 for 250ml), with the same notes.”

They would be apple and lemon with basil, a heart of lavender and

sage, and bottom notes of amber wood and pine. You can also find that

scent in the antiperspirant spray (£2.64 for 200ml) and body spray

(£2.64 for 150ml). C’est super. adidasbodycare.com/en

Neither should anyone’s son. Or Grandad. No cousins or nephews. Not the boys from the rugby club or the lads from the pub. No boyfriends or husbands or father-in-laws. Not the chap from the chip shop or the noisy lads at the back of the bus. Not your best mate. Not a single stranger. No one whatsoever.

No one should face cancer alone.With your support, no one will.

Text DAD to 70550 and donate £5 today.

Texts cost £5 plus your network charge. We receive 94p of every £1 donated in this way. Obtain bill payer’s permission first.

Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). MAC14175_07_13

MAC14175_Golf_Ball_Sports_Magazine_232x300.indd 1 05/07/2013 12:26

People who are destined for sporting

success at a young age, only for nature

or ill fortune to intervene, often end up

as bitter, jaded individuals. Some sink so low as

to get jobs in sports journalism. Not this path

for Analeigh Tipton, however. A promising US

pairs figure skater, it all went south when she

shot north: a growth spurt took her from an

optimum 5ft 5ins to over 5ft 9ins. So she quit

the sport aged 16, went into modelling, and

is now a burgeoning Hollywood actress.

Granted, this is one way of handling failure,

but can starring alongside Ryan Gosling (as

she did in 2011’s Crazy, Stupid, Love) really

compete with being tossed into the air by

some Christopher Dean type in a Blades of

Glory-style unitard? We’d argue not.

52 | August 30 2013 |

Extra time Analeigh Tipton

Tip flop

CP

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oto

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54 | August 30 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

Upstream Colour

Called both a striking, mysterious

thriller and a pretentious mess,

this US indie film has divided

opinion. It begins with a woman

being unknowingly drugged, then

having her savings stolen. Soon

after, she falls in love with a man

who’s been through something

similar, but in trying to rebuild

their lives the pair are drawn into

a bizarre and fractured world.

Out today

Northern Soul: An

Illustrated History

The UK mod scene inspired more

than just Paul Weller’s mutton

chops. It also sparked this north-

of-England soul music, dance

and fashion movement that

maintains a cult following today.

This immersive new book mixes

personal accounts and vibrant

images to perfectly capture the

rise of a cultural phenomenon.

Out Thursday

Pain & GainMark Wahlberg displayed his comic

touch with 2012’s Ted, but this year he’s

dropped the cuddly bear and picked up

The Rock. Michael ‘Transformers’ Bay

is a divisive director, but he’s put his all

into violent action/comedy Pain & Gain

– based on the (supposed) true story of

a gang of Miami gym muscleheads who

kidnap one of their rich, repellent clients

in order to extort cash from him. They

set about living the high life, which goes

predictably wrong – particularly for The

Rock’s confused former coke addict

who’s found religion, Paul Doyle (sample

dialogue: “Christ himself has blessed

me with many gifts. One of them is

knocking someone the f*** out”). It’s

predictably light on subtlety and high

on pumped-up action scenes, but the

cast and crew approach the film with

a sense of giddy abandon. In common

with its central protagonists, Pain & Gain

will never be famed for its brains, but

it has guilty pleasure scribbled all over it.

Out today

Star

Trek Into

Darkness

It wasn’t quite

as thrillingly

fresh as

his 2009

reboot, but

JJ Abrams’

second Trek

feature is still a superb blend

of dazzling sci-fi action and

wry comedy. An area where it

improves over its predecessor

is the villain, Benedict ‘Sherlock’

Cumberbatch channelling Alan

Rickman to deliver a sneering

terrorist intent on destroying

Starfleet. The strength of the film

once more, however, lies in the

bromantic chemistry between

Chris Pine’s cocky Captain Kirk

and Zachary Quinto’s ruler-haired

Spock, who eventually loses his

rag to spectacular effect.

Out Monday

The 1975 The 1975

The warbled, impassioned vocals

are a tad Kooks-like, the songs

painstakingly anthemic, but

hyped indie newcomers The 1975

are saved from their own cliches

by their brisk, bright stadium-

sized hooks. Songs such as

(risque title alert) Sex highlight

the Manchester band’s strengths:

slick, infectious, funky guitar pop.

Doesn’t go on too long, either.

Out Monday

Community Season Three

It features comedy heavyweights

Chevy Chase (as moist towelette

tycoon Pierce Hawthorne) and

third-season guest star John

Goodman, but this sitcom works

thanks to its offbeat skewering of

modern-day pop culture. Based

around an eclectic group of adult

students at a community college,

it’s a mix of knowing self-parody

backed by razor-sharp writing.

Out Monday

Film Blu-ray

Film Book Music DVD

Feel THe BrAwN

eT entertainment Marky Mark’s bodybuilders turn to crime, while Chevy Chase

stretches his range in playing an egotistical millionaire

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