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SPORTS Wednesday 7 February 2018

Ronald Koeman appointed coach

of struggling Netherlands

By MIKE CORDER about discipline, love for Cup final to Spain.
Associated Press the game and pride in rep- Koeman said he will work
ZEIST, Netherlands (AP) resenting their country, he players harder on the train-
— Ronald Koeman took said. ing pitch.
charge of the struggling "I've sometimes missed that "We can do more in train-
Netherlands team on Tues- in the Netherlands team ing, we can train different-
day, saying he wants to and I think we can improve ly," he said. "Tactically, we
restore players' pride in that a lot," he said. "I some- can do more."
representing the three-time times get the feeling that Koeman played 78 interna-
World Cup runner-up. players think, 'we've left our tionals for the Netherlands In this file photo dated Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, Everton manag-
Koeman vowed to make club and it is nice and easy, at a time when the Dutch er Ronald Koeman gestures during the English Premier League
the team competitive we can relax.'" team was famous for stick- soccer match between Manchester United and Everton at Old
again, even though he The 54-year-old Koeman ing to an attacking 4-3-3 Trafford in Manchester, England.
does not have a wealth signed a contract until system. But the former de- Associated Press
of world-class talent at his the 2022 World Cup and fender said he is prepared been appointed when Van to qualify for Russia before
disposal. The Netherlands replaces Dick Advocaat, to switch up the way his Gaal left after the 2014 making way for Advocaat.
missed out on this summer's who was appointed as a team plays to get results. World Cup. Koeman made a name
World Cup in Russia, having stop-gap measure in June "I'm a coach who likes to In 2014, the Dutch Football for himself as a coach at
also failed to qualify for the after Danny Blind was fired. change systems," he said. "I Association opted for the teams including Ajax, PSV
2016 European Champion- The target now for the for- think the best is that players experience of Guus Hid- Eindhoven, Valencia, and
ship. mer Everton and South- can handle different sys- dink, a move that backfired Feyenoord, earning a repu-
"It is time for us to be back ampton boss is to reach tems because we know we as he failed to galvanize a tation as a leader who can
at a tournament," Koeman the same level, on and off don't have the best play- squad Van Gaal helped to get the best out of his play-
said. the pitch, as the team that ers but that don't mean overachieve in Brazil. ers. He was fired by Everton
Koeman was a key mem- finished third at the 2014 you cannot have the best Hiddink was fired in 2015 in October, two months
ber of the team that won World Cup in Brazil under team." and replaced by Blind, into his second season in
Euro 1988 and said the Louis van Gaal after losing Koeman has made no se- who could not secure charge.
team's recent decline on penalties to Argentina cret of his desire to coach qualification for Euro 2016 In his first season he led the
shows today's footballers in the semifinals. The Neth- the Netherlands, and was and began the ultimately team to seventh in the Pre-
need to learn from other erlands lost the 2010 World disappointed not to have unsuccessful campaign mier League. q
Patriots' Butler denies off-field misconduct before benching

BOSTON (AP) — Patriots Eagles racked up 538 yards
cornerback Malcolm Butler of offense, including 374
says he didn't miss a curfew yards passing, and won
or do anything off the field 41-33. Patriots coach Bill
that would have hurt New Belichick has not explained
England's chances of win- why Butler was benched.
ning the Super Bowl before After the game, Butler told
he was benched for the ESPN that he "could have
game. changed the game." He
In a statement released also used a profanity and
Tuesday on Twitter and In- said the Patriots "gave up"
stagram, Butler says reports on him.
of misconduct off the field In his statement, Butler
are "ridiculous." apologized for the lan-
He says he visited with fam- guage he used "during a
ily every night while in Min- very emotional time."
neapolis. He adds, "I never His statement was "liked" on
attended any concert, In this Jan. 25, 2018, file photo, New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler takes questions Instagram by teammates
missed curfew, or partici- from reporters in the team's locker room following NFL football practice in Foxborough, Mass. Tom Brady and Martellus
Associated Press
pated in any of the ridicu- Bennett.
lous activities being report- family." percent of the Patriots' de- made it on the field for only Butler is an unrestricted free
ed. They are not only false, Before the Super Bowl, But- fensive snaps and started one special teams play on agent this offseason.
but hurtful to me and my ler was on the field for 98 17 of their 18 games. But he Sunday as the Philadelphia q