Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has said he hopes to be in charge of the London club next season as they set their sights on European football next term.
The Londoners, who are currently seventh in the Premier League, take on Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton at the Amex Stadium tonight before facing Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on the last day of the season on Sunday.
The Blues can still qualify for the Europa League or Europa Conference League, depending on Manchester United’s final league position and whether or not they win the FA Cup. Erik ten Hag's team – currently eighth – meet sixth-place Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Tuesday before travelling to Brighton on Sunday.
Pochettino caused speculation about his future last week when he said it would not be the “end of the world” if he left in the summer and that his position would be decided one way or the other by the end of the next week.
Chelsea came from behind to beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 at the City Ground on Saturday and continue their late surge for European qualification. It was their third straight victory in the league.
And before the clash with Brighton, Pochettino revealed that he is already planning for next season.
He said on Tuesday: “We are planning, we are working. Some comments from my side have been put in a negative way. But I never said I am not thinking of the future. We are thinking of the future – it is already planned.
“The plan is there to start the pre-season – and then it is not in my hands to be here or not to be here.
“To finish in a positive way is important. To prepare for the next season, if we are able to finish well and get into Europe, for sure we can start the next season with hope to be in a better position than we were in this season.”
Asked about his first season at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino said: “I really enjoy it. We are much better now, with the coaching staff. When you win games you enjoy more. When you have the problems that we have had this season, the proof is if you have the capacity to deal with this and these circumstances.
“Over the whole season I have kept my mood, always smiling, always positive, even when the team had 14 players out because of injuries. It is hard to be positive in this situation, that is natural.
“It has been a very difficult season for everyone. To build a new project is always a tough situation – you need patience and time.”
On European qualification, he added: “It is important to keep a strong mentality and really believe that we can get [into Europe].
“It is true that it is going to be two really tough games because tomorrow against Brighton is a really good team and they are going to be really tough to play against, and then [we have] Bournemouth at home [on the final day].
“The most important thing is to believe. If we can compete well in the last two games then we have the possibility to get into Europe, which would be amazing for us.”
The specs
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm
Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto
Price: From Dh139,995
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
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Retirement funds heavily invested in equities at a risky time
Pension funds in growing economies in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East have a sharply higher percentage of assets parked in stocks, just at a time when trade tensions threaten to derail markets.
Retirement money managers in 14 geographies now allocate 40 per cent of their assets to equities, an 8 percentage-point climb over the past five years, according to a Mercer survey released last week that canvassed government, corporate and mandatory pension funds with almost $5 trillion in assets under management. That compares with about 25 per cent for pension funds in Europe.
The escalating trade spat between the US and China has heightened fears that stocks are ripe for a downturn. With tensions mounting and outcomes driven more by politics than economics, the S&P 500 Index will be on course for a “full-scale bear market” without Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, Citigroup’s global macro strategy team said earlier this week.
The increased allocation to equities by growth-market pension funds has come at the expense of fixed-income investments, which declined 11 percentage points over the five years, according to the survey.
Hong Kong funds have the highest exposure to equities at 66 per cent, although that’s been relatively stable over the period. Japan’s equity allocation jumped 13 percentage points while South Korea’s increased 8 percentage points.
The money managers are also directing a higher portion of their funds to assets outside of their home countries. On average, foreign stocks now account for 49 per cent of respondents’ equity investments, 4 percentage points higher than five years ago, while foreign fixed-income exposure climbed 7 percentage points to 23 per cent. Funds in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan are among those seeking greater diversification in stocks and fixed income.
• Bloomberg
Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier
UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs
Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)
1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0
Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am
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Infobox
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August
Results
UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets
Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets
Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets
Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs
Monday fixtures
UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
Remaining Fixtures
Wednesday: West Indies v Scotland
Thursday: UAE v Zimbabwe
Friday: Afghanistan v Ireland
Sunday: Final
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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