The Sport Matrix: Saturday 29 November 2014

 

Saturday 29 November 2014 01:00 GMT
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Pele tweets from hospital: I’m doing fine

Pele took to Twitter yesterday to prove reports of his being at death’s door had been greatly exaggerated. The Brazilian legend has been in hospital since developing an infection following an operation to remove kidney stones on 13 November.

The Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paolo issued a statement on Thursday that he had been moved to a special care unit after his condition became unstable.

But Pele, 74, yesterday tweeted: “I want to let you know that I am doing fine. I was not put into intensive care today, I was simply relocated to a special room within the hospital for privacy only.”

He added: “I am blessed to receive your love and support, and thank God this is nothing serious. I am looking forward to spending the upcoming holidays with my family, and will start the new year with renewed health, with many international trips already planned! Thank you!”

His agent, Paul Kemsley, said Pele was moved “due to having an overwhelming number of visitors”.

Rodgers will adapt style to find form

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers yesterday admitted for the first time ahead of today’s home game against Stoke City that his ambitious philosophy will have to go as they attempt to find form. Liverpool have endured a poor run and Rodgers said: “I have methods, a belief and a philosophy but you also have to get results and I think I am not dogmatic enough to think I cannot change.”

Wolff promoted to official Test driver

Susie Wolff was yesterday named as the official test driver for Williams for the 2015 season, a move which edges her closer to her dream of competing in Formula 1. The 31-year-old is married to Toto Wolff, who owns 16 per cent of the Williams team and is CEO of Mercedes.

Cook delivers his homage to Hughes

England’s second ODI with Sri Lanka will go ahead as scheduled today, with the thoughts of Phillip Hughes in the minds of both sides. Captain Alastair Cook paid homage to Hughes, saying: “It’s incredibly sad for us in the changing room. All our thoughts are with the Hughes family, the Australian players who knew him so well and all his friends as well.” Cook added: “We will play the game in his honour.”

Gatland looks for strong Wales finish

Wales face South Africa today and aim to perform for 80 minutes, having lost late on in their last three games against southern hemisphere teams, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Wales head coach Warren Gatland said: “We are expecting South Africa to play a pretty structured game against us and to kick a lot, so we’ve got to be able to deal with that pressure.”

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