Sport

Chelsea to sign at least two

LONDON (AP):

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck says the English league and cup champions will sign at least two players during the summer, with two players expected to leave.

Midfielder Michael Ballack has been linked with a move back to Germany and playmaker Deco looks likely to return to Brazil.

Buck told the Press Association that coach Carlo Ancelotti will sign two or three replacements during the offseason.

The American added that Ancelotti will also try to lower the average age of the first team by pushing players up from the reserve and youth teams.

Buck reiterated that Frank Lampard will be staying at the club, despite reports linking the talismanic midfielder with a move to Real Madrid.

No charming enough

PARIS (AP):

Former Arsenal and France midfielder Robert Pires says he has turned down an offer from MLS club Philadelphia Union.

The 36-year-old Pires told the website of French newspaper L'Equipe that he would like to play in the United States but did not think the town of Philadelphia was charming enough for him and his family.

Pires, whose contract with Villarreal was not renewed after starting only 13 games for the Spanish club this season, said he does not "want to be fussy but if I have to go far away with my family, I prefer to do it in a beautiful town".

Pires won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European championship with France, as well as two English league titles with Arsenal.

Nadal's expensive timing

PARIS (AP):

Rafael Nadal will have no excuse now if opponents give him a hard time about taking too long between points.

The four-time French Open champion will play matches wearing a Richard Mille watch designed specifically for Nadal, using materials used in space exploration. Mille says there are 50 for sale - at a price of €344,500 (US$425,000).

Nadal never before has worn a watch while competing.

He flew from Spain to France yesterday and was planning to practise at Roland Garros. The tournament begins Sunday.

His uncle and coach, Toni, says Nadal couldn't flex his knees last year, when his 31-match winning streak at the French Open ended. This year, Toni says his nephew's knees are "perfect".

F1 to clear air on penalty

PARIS (AP):

Formula One's governing body will clarify an overtaking rule that penalised Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher at last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix.

Schumacher overtook Fernando Alonso of Ferrari at the last corner when the safety car had been taken off the track after being deployed for the last few laps.

Overtaking is not allowed when the safety car is out, and Schumacher dropped from sixth to 12th with the ensuing penalty.

Mercedes argued that the safety car had been removed before the end of the lap.

The International Automobile Federation said yesterday it will "clarify the procedure that cars must meet when the last lap is controlled by the safety car whilst also ensuring that the signalling for teams and drivers is made more clear".

'Still strong without Ballack'

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP):

Germany coach Joachim Loew believes he will be taking a strong squad to the World Cup finals, even without missing injured captain Michael Ballack.

The Chelsea midfielder has been ruled out of the tournament in South Africa with an ankle injury but Loew said yesterday the coaching staff has confidence in the rest of the squad.

In an interview on the national team's official website, Loew declined to say which three players will be dropped from his preliminary squad when the final 23-man selection is announced.

"We have a strong team and we hope that we will play a good World Cup, regardless of how bitter the absence of Michael Ballack is," Loew said from the team's training camp in Sicily. "We can only reaffirm that we have confidence in our squad for South Africa. And we have a plan for the upcoming personnel decisions."