No plan B, says Barca

BARCELONA: Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has given his full support to under-pressure coach Luis Enrique, who was booed by fans during Sunday’s 2-1 home victory over Leganes. Luis Enrique has steered Barcelona to eight tournament triumphs since 2014, but is set for an early Champions League exit after the 4-0 last-16 drubbing at Paris St Germain last week, the most humiliating defeat of his coaching career. His contract expires at the end of the season. “Luis Enrique is the manager we want,” the president said yesterday. “We’re satisfied with his work. There’s no Plan B.” Barcelona are in the King’s Cup final and second in La Liga, a point behind arch rivals Real Madrid who have two games in hand. – Reuters

Explain the finger

BAYERN Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti has been asked to explain why he stuck a finger up at a group of Hertha Berlin fans at the weekend. The German Federation has asked the usually affable Ancelotti to explain his behaviour while going down the tunnel after Bayern earned a late 1-1 draw in Berlin. Ancelotti said on Sunday he had suffered a rush of blood to the head after he was spat upon. – SuperSport

Bidding wars

ENGLAND’S Ben Stokes fetched a staggering $2.17 million in the IPL auction yesterday, with the Pune Supergiants splashing out in a frenzied bidding war to land the all-rounder. The 25-year-old became the most expensive overseas player in IPL history. World No 1 T20 bowler Imran Tahir, David Wiese, Wayne Parnell and Dwaine Pretorius were not snatched up. Kyle Abbott did not make the cut either. South Africans retained by their franchises were David Miller for $1 865 million (Kings XI), AB de Villiers (Bangalore, $1 417 million) and Chris Morris ($1.044 million, Delhi). Zaahier Adams

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