Chelsea lost 1-0 at home to Leicester in another surprise result, with Jamie Vardy’s winner allowing Arsenal to move level on points with their fourth-place London rivals after a 3-1 win over Burnley.

United are eight points back in the race for a top-four finish as goals from Marcus Rashford, Ander Herrera, Anthony Martial and a Jesse Lingard double in the Welsh capital meant that for once this season it was a good day for the red half of Manchester.

Liverpool opened up a four-point lead at the top with a highly impressive 2-0 win at Wolves on Friday to extend their unbeaten start to the campaign.

And City failed to cut the gap as they dropped points at home for the first time this season in a 3-2 defeat at the Etihad despite going ahead through Ilkay Gundogan’s header.

Jeffrey Schlupp levelled for Palace against the run of play just after the half-hour mark and two minutes later Andros Townsend thumped a stunning volley into the top corner from well outside the area.

Pep Guardiola summoned Sergio Aguero from the bench soon after the break but City had a mountain to climb when Kyle Walker chopped down Max Meyer and Luka Milivojevic dispatched the resulting penalty.

“We cannot concede the penalty we conceded,” said Guardiola. “We have to try and avoid it. Football is like this. Three shots on goal and three goals.”

Kevin De Bruyne was also thrown on to try and turn the game around and his intended cross that flew in off the post brought City back into the game five minutes from time.

But despite incessant pressure, the champions could not find an equaliser, handing Liverpool a huge boost ahead of their trip to City on January 3.

“You don’t produce that sort of performance by waving a magic wand or having a five-minute team talk,” said Palace boss Roy Hodgson. “There’s a lot of work that goes into that structure and we were excellent.”

– Man Utd transformed –

The axe finally fell on Jose Mourinho’s time in charge of United on Tuesday with the 20-time champions 19 points off the top after just 17 games and the decision to sack the Portuguese was justified by a transformation in performance from the side beaten 3-1 at Liverpool last weekend.

Paul Pogba was restored to the starting line-up and played a role in all of the visitors’ first three goals as Rashford’s free-kick, a deflected long-range strike from Herrera and a brilliant team goal finished off by Martial put United in command before half-time.

Both sides benefited from dubious penalty calls as Victor Camarasa briefly halved Cardiff’s deficit in the first half before Lingard made it 4-1 after the break.

And another defence-splitting pass from Pogba freed Lingard to round off the scoring a minute from time.

Solskjaer, famous for the scoring the winner for United in the dramatic 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich, is refusing to give up on a top-four spot and spoke of his pride at taking the helm as caretaker manager.

“We’re eight points behind — our job is to take one game at a time,” he said. “We always play well in the second half of the season, we always do.”

United scored five goals in a Premier League game for the first time since Alex Ferguson’s final match in May 2013.

“They are good players, they are very good players, talented players,” Solskjaer said. “They’ve approached the game properly, worked hard. A Man Utd team should never be outworked.”

Chelsea’s first defeat at Stamford Bridge under Maurizio Sarri allowed Arsenal pull level on 37 points after two goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a 3-1 win against Burnley, taking him to a league-best 12 for the season.

Mesut Ozil made his return to Unai Emery’s starting line-up in the Premier League for the first time since November 11 and helped set up Aubameyang’s opener.

Watford moved up to seventh by beating West Ham 2-0 while Bournemouth are eighth as David Brooks’s double beat 10-man Brighton 2-0.

Southampton’s upturn in fortunes under Ralph Hasenhuettl continued with a 3-1 win at Huddersfield.

And Fulham remain rooted to the foot of the table despite avoiding defeat on the road for just the second time this season in a 0-0 draw at Newcastle.

Not since Alex Ferguson’s final game in charge in 2013 had United scored five goals in a single Premier League game and the Red Devils looked a side transformed from the turgid football of Jose Mourinho’s final days in charge.

“They are very good players, talented players, they’ve approached the game properly and worked hard. A Man Utd team should never be outworked,” said Solskjaer.

The Norwegian has been put in charge until the end of the season after Mourinho was sacked on Tuesday and could not have asked for a better start in the Welsh capital.

As well as getting Solskjaer off to a flying start, victory also sees United crucially close the gap on the Premier League top four to eight points thanks to Chelsea’s 1-0 home defeat by Leicester earlier in the day.

“We’re eight points behind, so our job is to take one game at a time,” added Solskjaer.

“We always play well in the second half of the season.”

Paul Pogba was forced to watch the full 90 minutes from the bench last weekend as Liverpool inflicted the final blow to Mourinho’s time in charge with a 3-1 win that left United 19 points off the top after just 17 games.

The French World Cup-winner was restored from the start for the first time in four league games and looked far more like the player United splashed a then world-record £89 million ($113 million) on in 2016 than the one that clashed with his former boss off the field and disappointed on it for much of the past two seasons.

– ‘Nothing like’ United this season –

“The performance of the team was great and we are happy that the first game of the manager starts like this,” said Pogba. “It’s important now to carry on like that.

“We can not play like this and win with five goals and then the next game lose.”

The visiting fans enthusiastically chanted Solskjaer’s name throughout and were enjoying their side moving the ball around with a speed and accuracy more reminiscent of his days as a player at Old Trafford when United dominated English football.

“It’s nothing like they have been playing,” said Cardiff boss Neil Warnock. “We expected that from the teamsheet.”

Pogba was at the heart of United’s best work and having been fouled for the free-kick leading to Marcus Rashford’s opener, his intelligent pass picked out Ander Herrera, whose shot flicked off Greg Cunningham to loop over the helpless Neil Etheridge to make it 2-0 inside half an hour.

If Solskjaer’s side were fortunate then, it was Cardiff who got a break nine minutes later when the assistant referee adjudged Rashford to have handled rather than control the ball with his shoulder inside the area.

Victor Camarasa’s perfectly-taken penalty could have sparked a collapse for a team short on confidence in recent times.

Instead, United responded resoundingly with a fantastic team goal as a quick interchange of passes between Pogba and Jesse Lingard freed Anthony Martial to score his ninth goal of the season.

Lingard took responsibility from the spot just before the hour mark after another soft penalty was awarded for a foul by Sol Bamba on the England international.

And Lingard was the beneficiary of another defence-splitting pass from Pogba a minute from time as he rounded Etheridge and slotted into an empty net.

Thongchai Jaidee and Pornanong Phatlum (Photo credit to Naratip Srisupab/SEALs Sports Images)

Thailand, with a 5-3 lead after Friday’s play, won the morning’s foursomes 3-1 and drew 2-2 with the visitors in the afternoon’s fourballs as a huge crowd finally turned out for the inaugural mixed team golf event.

In the morning’s foursomes, the Kingdom conceded the first point when Thongchai Jaidee and Thidapa Suwannapura lost to Masahiro Kawamura and Erika Hara 2&3. This was the third point the 19-year-old Hara has won for her country.

“I am really enjoying the competition. This is my first overseas trip, so I’m really happy,” said the Japanese teenager who only turned professional this year.

Thailand fought back when long-time friends Ariya Jutanugarn and young gun Jazz Janewattananond fired six birdies with no bogeys to beat PGA Tour RBC Heritage’s champion Satoshi Kodaira   and Sakura Koiwai 7&5.

“We got along very well and had the same game plan. We hit our shots first and fixed things up later. We were playing unbelievably, while the Japanese team could not bring their best form,” said the 23-year-old Jazz, from Hua Hin.

“Actually Ariya and I have been friends since the junior years. She has improved a lot and is probably the best player in the world right now. I’ve got to learn from her and from Satoshi who is PGA Tour champion.  I realised I have plenty of room to improve,” said the two-time Asian Tour champion.

Ariya also saw tremendous change in her old friend, winner of the 2017 Bangladesh Open and July’s Queen’s Cup.

“Jazz was playing so well that he could have played alone without me. He’s improved so much from the old days,” said two-time Major champion Ariya.

Thailand won the seventh point from amateur Sadom Kaewkanjana and Women’s British Open runner-up Pornanong Phatlum after they outclassed Yuto Katsuragawa and Mami Fukuda 6&5.

“I hit tee shots and approach shots most of the time on the front nine and left Pornanong to take care of the putts. She made great putts from everywhere on the greens,” said the 20-year-old Sadom who will turn professional after this tournament.

Jazz Janewattananond (Photo credit to Naratip Srisupab/SEALs Sports Images)

Prom Meesawat and Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras wrapped up the morning’s session with another win for the home team, beating Ryuko Tokimatsu and Nasa Hataoka 1 up.

In the afternoon’s fourballs, it looked like Thailand would take full control again before two-time Japan Tour winner Kodai Ichihara and Mami Fukuda, ranked No 118 on the LPGA Tour,  fought back from one down after 15 holes to beat three-time Asian Tour No 1 Thongchai Jaidee and  Pornanong 1 up.

Thailand had to be content with two points from Jazz and Thai No 2 Moriya Jutanugarn and from Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Ariya. Jazz and Moriya ousted Masahiro Kawamura and Fumika Kawagishi 2&1. Jazz is the only Thai player to win all three matches he played.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Ariya produced the 10th point for the home team, beating Satoshi Kodaira  and Nasa Hataoka 2&1 in the group that draw the biggest crowd of the day.

In the last match, Prayad Marksaeng and Atthaya Thitikul were no match for the red-hot Hideko Tanihara and Yuri Yoshida who relied on their sharp putts to win 5&3.

A total of 12 points are up for grabs in Sunday’s singles, with the first nation to earn 14.5 points clinching the trophy. Despite a four-point lead, Thai captains Boonchu Ruangkit and Virada Nirapathpongporn don’t consider they are in the driver’s seats.

“Japanese players are quite strong physically, especially the women. But Thai players are fighters. There will be exciting battles on Sunday,” said Boonchu, 62.

Erika Hara 

Virada , the first Thai player to earn a full card on the LPGA Tour, said: “There’s no guarantee at this point as this is match-play competition. The momentum can shift anytime. All of the Japanese players putt well so they can be dangerous on Sunday.”

“We were leading but for the singles competition, the Japanese women hit further except for Ariya. Even if one side is three up, the other will still fight back and put up a fight until the end.

Japanese captain Joe Ozaki still believes his side can turn things around.

Even though we’ve fallen behind, it’s not a big lead. We still have plenty of points available to come back in the competition. Japan has good teamwork and will try hard to win.”

Saturday Foursomes

Thailand 3, Japan 1

Thongchai Jaidee and Thidapa Suwannapura lost to Masahiro Kawamura and Erika Hara 2&3

Prom Meesawat and Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras beat Ryuko Tokimatsu and Nasa Hataoka 1 up, followed lop-sided wins

Jazz Janewattananond and Ariya Jutanugarn beat Satoshi Kodaira  and Sakura Koiwai 7&5

Sadom Kaewkanjana and Pornanong Phatlum beat Yuto Katsuragawa and Mami Fukuda 6&5

Saturday Fourballs

Thailand 2, Japan 2

Jazz Janewattananond and Moriya Jutanugarn beat Masahiro Kawamura and Fumika Kawagishi 2&1

Thongchai Jaidee and Pornanong Phatlum lost to Kodai Ichihara and Mami Fukuda 1 down

Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Ariya Jutanugarn beat  Satoshi Kodaira  and Nasa Hataoka 2&1

Prayad Marksaeng and Atthaya Thitikul lost to Hideko Tanihara and Yuri Yoshida 3&5

In the main event, reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio of the Philippines will defend his title against Yosuke Saruta of Japan.

Joshua “The Passion” Pacio, who hails from Baguio City, Philippines, captured the ONE Strawweight World Championship with a unanimous decision victory over former titleholder Yoshitaka Naito at ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES last September. It was an epic rematch between the two warriors, as Pacio put together the performance of a lifetime to claim the prestigious title.

The 22-year-old Filipino has shown tremendous improvement over the past few years leading up to his title reign. With the ONE Strawweight World Championship firmly in his grasp, he looks to make a successful first defense at ONE’s first event of 2019.

Standing in his way is Japan’s Yosuke Saruta, a Shooto Strawweight World Champion who signed with ONE Championship after defeating several of the best athletes Shooto and Pancrase had to offer. Saruta has had one goal since he joined the world’s largest martial arts organization, and that is to become the ONE Strawweight World Champion. If he can defeat Pacio, he will have achieved his long-time goal.

Featherweight prodigy Christian “The Warrior” Lee of Singapore and veteran martial artist Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly of the Philippines first met at ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON last September. However, their bout ended in controversy when Lee was disqualified for the inadvertent use of a suplex maneuver. At ONE: ETERNAL GLORY, the two athletes get the chance to set the record straight.

Lee is the younger brother of ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee and is one of the promotion’s top featherweight talents. Kelly is a member of the famed Team Lakay camp, and he trains alongside a collection of ONE World Champions including Pacio, Eduard Folayang, Geje Eustaquio, and Kevin Belingon. Both Lee and Kelly aim to shoot up the ranks, and a victory for either man in this highly-anticipated match-up would certainly move the winner up the ladder.

Indonesian national wushu champion Priscilla Hertati Lumban Goal had an exceptional 2018, competing for a total of six times and going 5-1 on the year. To kick off 2019, she will face Indian national wushu champion Puja Tomar in a women’s atomweight showdown.

Lumban Gaol has emerged as one of Indonesia’s fastest rising stars over the past 12 months, having turned in a series of spectacular performances to captivate the local audience. She aims to make a statement in her next bout and possibly a run at the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Title. Tomar, however, stands in her way and looks to steal the Indonesian’s thunder with a victory of her own.

Milan, Italy’s Joseph “The Hurricane” Lasiri is back in action against Jonathan Haggerty of England in a ONE Super Series Muay Thai contest.

Lasiri began training in Muay Thai at the age of 17 and went on to become a World Champion in the discipline. He is a former WBA Super Bantamweight and WBC Interim Super Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion. Haggerty, on the other hand, is an ISKA Super Featherweight World Champion and is considered one of the top prospects in the striking arena. The two are ready to bring the crowd to its feet in what should be an action-packed flyweight encounter.

Indonesia’s Stefer Rahardian is making his long-awaited return to action at home against the Philippines’ Robin “The Ilonggo” Catalan. The two are scheduled for a strawweight battle that provides fans with an interesting clash of styles.

Rahardian is the former ONE Indonesia Flyweight Tournament Champion and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist under the lineage of the legendary Carlson Gracie. The Indonesian warrior will need every bit of his grappling skills to face Catalan, a former wushu and Muay Thai World Champion who plans to test Rahardian’s striking.

Two-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu No Gi World Champion Bruno Pucci of Brazil looks to put together the first win streak of his ONE Championship career when he takes on Japanese warrior Kotetsu “No Face” Boku in a featherweight contest.

Pucci defeated China’s Xie Chao last November, impressively claiming victory via first-round guillotine choke. The grappling specialist is always dangerous on the mat. However, Pucci will need every bit of his grappling ability in order to defeat the veteran Boku. “No Face” brings nearly two decades of competitive experience to the table, and he is also a former ONE Lightweight World Champion.

The Netherlands’ Anthony “The Archangel” Engelen made a successful return to the ONE Championship stage in 2018, finishing both Meas Meul and Jimmy Yabo in the first round. He will take on Cambodia’s Thai Rithy at ONE: ETERNAL GLORY.

Engelen, who is based out of Jakarta, joined ONE Championship in December 2015 after becoming the IFC Lightweight Champion. He looks to extend his two-bout win streak by defeating Rithy. Rithy is a KWC Featherweight Champion and a striking specialist well-versed in the Cambodian martial art of Kun Khmer.

Kickboxing world champion Florent Kaouachi of France will take on Steve “The Smashing Machine” McKinnon in a ONE Super Series kickboxing contest.

Kaouachi is a former French national kickboxing champion and is one of the world’s top strikers. He began training in martial arts at 15 years of age and proved to be a natural talent. McKinnon, in contrast, owns a black belt in Shotokan Karate and began his professional kickboxing career at age 16. Along the way, he has been decorated with accomplishments such as winning the 2008 WBC Muay Thai World Super Cruiserweight Title.

Former Afghan bantamweight and featherweight champion Ahmad Qais Jasoor will be taking on Japanese martial arts veteranMasakazu “Ashikan Judan” Imanari in a featherweight contest.

Jasoor is skilled in both boxing and combat sambo, and he is a two-division champion in regional promotion HFC. He joined ONE Championship in June 2018 as one of the top martial arts talents to emanate from the Middle East. Conversely, Imanari is an experienced veteran with over 50 professional mixed martial arts bouts on his record. Most recently, Imanari proved that he only gets better with age after finishing Radeem Rahman via first round submission.

Also, top lightweight talents are set to collide as Kharun “The Predator” Atlangeriev of Russia takes on Koji “The Commander” Ando of Japan.

The two incredibly talented athletes both feature a well-rounded skill set and will look to put on a show at ONE: ETERNAL GLORY. Atlangeriev is a former Russian sambo champion and is dangerous on the feet as well as on the mat. Ando sports a similar style but is more careful with his approach to both offense and defense. The Japanese martial artist defeated Roger Huerta in one of the best ever match-ups of 2015, and also owns victories over Rafael Nunes, Zorobabel Moreira, and former ONE Featherweight World Champion Narantungalag Jadambaa.

Veteran competitor from Indonesia, “The Iceman” Yohan Mulia Legowo, is set to return to action against Malaysia’s AJ “Pyro” Lias Mansor in a featherweight contest.

Legowo is a highly-versatile martial artist with experience in kung fu, sanda, boxing, wrestling, judo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has also competed in professional Muay Thai in Thailand. Mansor is the well-respected head coach of the renowned Borneo Tribal Squad in Kota Kinabalu. He is responsible for guiding ONE Championship talents such as Ann “Athena” Osman, Audreylaura Boniface, and just recently the Philippines’ Jeremy Miado. After a lengthy absence from competition, “Pyro” makes his much-awaited return to the ONE Championship cage.

Local martial arts talents Riski “Kong” Umar and Aziz Calim are set to do battle in a three-round strawweight contest.

The two Indonesian martial artists are known for their aggressive striking styles. Umar began his martial arts career with Muay Thai in Thailand, and he has spent time at both Bali MMA and Tiger Muay Thai. Conversely, Calim found a home at Han Academy under veteran Yohan Mulia Legowo where he honed his skills in a wide range of disciplines including boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Chon Buri – Hosts Thailand took first-day honours over Japan but Thai ace Kiradech Aphibarnrat urged local fans to turn up in greater numbers at the US$1.2 million Amata Friendship Cup at the Amata Spring Country Club.

The hosts scored two and a half points from the morning’s foursomes before doubling their lead in the afternoon in the inaugural edition of the mixed team event to lead 5-3 overnight.

Even though the Thais took a two-point overnight lead, it was the visitors who had more support from their fans, prompting Thai No 1 Kiradech to urge home fans to show up in greater numbers and get behind their team.

“I was a bit sad that there were more Japanese fans out there today when this is our home tournament,” said Kiradech, who teamed up with teenage prodigy Atthaya Thitikul in the foursomes against Satoshi Kodaira  and Yuri Yoshida, a match that ended all-square.

“I really hope to see more Thai fans over the weekend.

“We played quite well and had four birdies without a bogey. But we were facing two players who were playing incredibly well too. However it ended up being all square. At least we earned half a point,” added the world No38.

Thailand got off to a flying start in the morning’s foursomes, the superb pairing of Prom Meesawat and rising star Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras seeing off Masahiro Kawamura and Mami Fukuda 2 up, followed by another point from three-time Asian Tour No 1 Thongchai Jaidee and Thidapa Suwannapura, winner of the LPGA Marathon Classic in July, who beat Kodai Ichihara and Sakura Koiwai 1 up.

Japan’s only win in the foursomes competition was by Ryuko Tokimatsu and Erika Hara of Japan, who beat Prayad Marksaeng and Moriya Jutanugarn 6&5.

In the afternoon’s fourballs, Thailand stretched their lead to 3-1 when young gun Jazz Janewattananond and Thai No3 Pornanong Phatlum beat Hideto Tanihara and Nasa Hataoka 3&2.

“We are like ham and egg – when one played badly, the other played well,” said Jazz, winner of the Queen’s Cup in Pattaya in July. “I like playing with Pornanong and we will team up again on Saturday.”

Final-hole bogey denies tourists

Japan reduced the arrears to 3-2 when Tokimatsu and Hara earned their second point of the day, beating Prom Meesawat and Pannarat 4&3.

Prayad and world No 1 Ariya Jutanugarn fought back from one down to share the honours with Kodai Ichihara and Fumika Kawagishi but only after the Japanese duo carded a bogey on the final hole.

“Luckily, the Japanese players missed their shots, one in a bunker and other into the water, which opened a chance for us. So I told Ariya to just hit it on to the green and she did it,” said the 52-year-old Prayad, who bemoaned the fact he had to play 36 holes in one day.

Ariya, meanwhile, was thrilled to finally pair up with the three-time Japan Senior Tour No 1, one of the Kingdom’s legendary golfers.

“I couldn’t control the ball at the beginning. But we finally fought our way back which is really satisfying,” said the 10-time LPGA Tour winner.

In the last match of the day, Sadom Kaewkanjana and Moriya Jutanugarn  beat Yuto Katsuragawa and Sakura Koiwai 1 up to ensure the Thais retained their lead.

hailand 5 Japan 3

Foursomes:

Prayad Marksaeng and Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand lost to  Ryuko Tokimatsu and Erika Hara of Japan 5&6

Prom Meesawat and Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras beat  Masahiro Kawamura and Mami Fukuda 2 up

Thongchai Jaidee and Thidapa Suwannapura  beat Kodai Ichihara and Sakura Koiwai 1 up

Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Atthaya Thitikul A/S with  Satoshi Kodaira  and Yuri Yoshida

Fourballs:

Prayad Marksaeng and Ariya Jutanugarn halved with Kodai Ichihara and Fumika Kawagishi

Jazz Janewattananond and Pornanong Phatlum beat Hideto Tanihara and Nasa Hataoka 3&2

Prom Meesawat and Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras lost to  Ryuko Tokimatsu and Erika Hara 3&4

Sadom Kaewkanjana and Moriya Jutanugarn beat Yuto Katsuragawa and Sakura Koiwai 1 up

Dejphon, whose family runs the Thai Union Group, the world’s largest producer of canned tuna, bought the team, nicknamed the Owls, for 37.5 million pounds from former Portsmouth and Leicester City owner Milan Mandaric in 2015.

At the time Dejphon announced they were targeting promotion to the Premier League within two years but they narrowly missed out in 2015-16 and 2016-17, finishing sixth and fourth respectively.

This season has seen a downturn – they have picked up just six wins in 22 games, to sit at a lowly 18th in the table and there were also problems off the field, with the club placed under a temporary transfer embargo after breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.

“I will put this club on the market and I believe many people will want to buy it,” Dejphon told a fans’ forum on Thursday (Thailand time).

Local broadcaster BBC Radio Sheffield reported that angry fans demanded an explanation for the current demise.

“The forum was at times heated, which is understandable given the recent performances of the team,” said sports editor Andy Giddings.

“An emotional Chansiri then saved the most striking bit until last in announcing that he’d listen to offers for the club, a surprise move but not a total shock as there’d been rumours of talks in the background for a month or so.

“Both sides gave as good as they got in the debate about various issues, not least the future of the manager Jos Luhukay, but with other points more questions were left than answers.”

Solskjaer, 45, made more than 360 appearances in 11 years for United and scored a dramatic Champions League winner in 1999 to seal a historic treble.

“It feels like coming home. It’s been a few whirlwind days, very hectic,” he said in his first interview since taking over from Jose Mourinho.

United called time on Mourinho’s two-and-a-half years at the club on Tuesday, with the club languishing sixth in the Premier League, 19 points behind leaders Liverpool.

Solskjaer will be at the helm at Old Trafford until the end of the season, when the club will appoint a full-time successor.

Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino is the current front-runner.

“It’s six months, I’m going to enjoy the ride. It’s about being myself. The club’s running a process to find the next manager so I’m just going to be myself in the meantime,” he added.

He will take charge of his first match on Saturday against Cardiff, where he spent an unhappy spell as manager in 2014.

The incidents claimed 13 lives in October in the town that neighbours Nadal’s home of Manacor.

The 17-time Grand Slam winner had also made his tennis academy available for those impacted by the sudden downpour.

“In the name of the municipality and the residents especially those effected by the flood in October, we want to thank him for the sensitivity he has shown since the beginning and after what happened here in Sant Llorenc,” Puigros said in a video.

Photo by  Naratip Srisupab/SEALs Sports Images

Chon Buri – World No 1 Ariya Jutanugarn is determined to overcome fitness issues and help Thailand to win the inaugural Amata Friendship Cup against Japan which kicks off this morning at the Amata Spring Country Club.

Thailand’s sporting superstar has been busy with non-stop commitments during the four weeks she has been back home and even had to spend a few days in hospital two weeks ago due to influenza. She and her sister Moriya only joined their teammates for belated practice on Wednesday’s afternoon.

Ariya, along with five other Thai women and six men, will take on their Japanese counterparts in foursomes and fourballs format today and tomorrow before the concluding singles on Sunday.

“I’m still OK and will give it a 100 per cent out there, especially since I am in the same team as Thai legends which gives me extra motivation,” said 10-time LPGA winner Ariya after practice round on Thursday.

“I feel quite excited with this format and a bit fearful I might be a burden if my partner is a legend.

“Teaming with any Thai legend will be an honour,” added Ariya ,whose high-profile playing partners include eight-time European Tour winner Thongchai Jaidee, 10-time Asian Tour victor Prayad Marksaeng and the current Thai No1 and world No38 Kiradech Aphibarnrat, the Kingdom’s first holder of a card to play on the world-leading PGA Tour.Although the hosts are also blessed to have other world-class stars such older sister Moriya Jutanugarn and Thidapa Suwannapura, each an LPGA victor this year, Ariya says she would never underestimate Japan, whose men’s team is led by world No 47 Satoshi Kodaira and the women by two-time LPGA winner Nasa Hataoka.

Photo by  Naratip Srisupab/SEALs Sports Images

“You don’t know what’s going to happen in matchplay format as anyone can be on fire at any given day. I can’t say if we have the advantage but I can say we are a very strong team,” Ariya added.

According to Thai men’s captain Boonchu Ruangkit, Kiradech will be paired with Thai No 1 amateur Atthaya Thitikul in the foursomes this morning after which the remaining pairs will be revealed.

“I’ve never competed in this format before but I believe in the abilities of our female players. As for Atthaya Thitikul, she is the No 1 amateur in Thailand,” said Kiradech, who suggested that Ariya could strengthen her game even more by using the driver more.

“If she can use two-irons or three-woods and still be No 1, she could rule women’s golf for another five years by using the driver more,” he said.

Skipper Boonchu is somewhat concerned that exhaustion might take its toll on the Jutanugarn sisters but is still confident they can pull it off.

“Ariya and Moriya have been very busy and have had little time to practice,” he admitted. “But I still believe in their competence. Some of our players are stronger than the Japanese teams while the rest are quite close. I’m confident we have the edge a bit but we won’t underestimate Japan.”

The visitors players are also unfamiliar with the mixed-team format and say they’ll need time to adjust.

“This will be the first time the men’s and women’s have competed together. So we don’t what to expect but it will be fun,” said Japanese men’s captain Joe Ozaki.