Rest der Welt » e have to be in the Champions League next season. Leicester

CHICAGO -- The Kansas City Royals think this is only the beginning. Wait until next year comes around. Bruce Chen pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning and Kansas City beat the Chicago White Sox 4-1 on Sunday in the finale of the Royals best season in 24 years. "Its a good start. I think were making progress as an organization," said manager Ned Yost, who completed the final season of his contract but is expected to return next year. "Ten games over .500, its a significant first step and we need to continue to build on it." Kansas City won three of four in Chicago and went 17-10 in September for its most successful month of the season. The Royals 86-76 record was their best mark since they went 92-70 in 1989. "This team came out every game and expected to win every game regardless of what happened the night before," said Greg Holland, who got three outs for his 47th save. "We got to grind it out that way; thats how you get in the playoffs. We came up short but I think going into next spring were going to be pretty happy with where were at." Chens sharp outing put a damper on what might have been the last major league game for White Sox captain Paul Konerko, who is eligible for free agency and isnt sure if he will play again next year. The veteran first baseman is second in franchise history with 427 homers and 1,361 RBIs, and third with 2,249 hits. Konerko was greeted with loud cheers when he was introduced with the starting lineup, and the crowd of 22,633 saluted the slugger with a standing ovation when he came to the plate in the first. He was replaced by Conor Gillaspie with one out in the top of the second, and he stopped to shake pitcher Jose Quintanas hand as he left the field to more cheers. "It always feels good. The fans here have treated me great over the years," said Konerko, who tweaked his back during Saturday nights 6-5 victory, leading to the quick hook in the finale. "In a year like this, they treated me better than probably I deserved, really the whole team when you think about it." Konerko waved his hat to the crowd as he made his way to the dugout. With the Royals also standing and clapping on the other side, the six-time All-Star acknowledged the long ovation with a brief curtain call. "Well see how I feel in a month or a month and a half from now," Konerko said about his future, "and try to come to grips with whats what." Chen (9-4) allowed one run, struck out four and walked three in 6 2-3 innings. The crafty left-hander went 6-4 with a 3.61 ERA in 15 starts after he joined the rotation in July. "I feel like I helped the team in the second half," Chen said. "I feel like I was a major contributor on a team making a run on the playoffs and it was fun." Alexei Ramirez homered for the White Sox, who left seven runners on base. Konerko fouled out to first with two on in his only plate appearance. Chicago loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, but Holland struck out Gordon Beckham and Marcus Semien to end the game. It was a fitting end for Chicago (63-99), which had one of the majors worst offences this year. Hitting coach Jeff Manto was let go on Saturday, and the White Sox finished with their most losses since they had a franchise-record 106 in 1970. "Nobody is happy with losing," Quintana said. "We obviously didnt get to the goal as a team, but the positive thing is to learn from it and come back the very next year and see what we can do." Quintana (9-7) pitched seven innings to reach 200 for the season. He was charged with four runs and six hits. The lefty issued two walks, and each of them was costly. Johnny Giavotella got one before Salvador Perez hit his 13th homer in the fourth, and Justin Maxwell got the other before Brett Hayes first homer of the year in the seventh. Perez misplayed a popup in his first career start at first base, but finished with three hits. The usual catcher went 6 for 12 with two homers and four RBIs in the series. "What a day he had offensively," Yost said. "Salvys going to be a producer all the way around, defensively, offensively." NOTES: White Sox 2B Gordon Beckham made a great diving stop to rob Irving Falu of a hit in the seventh. ... It was Hayes first homer since Sept. 21, 2011, for the Marlins against Atlanta. ... Sundays crowd brought the season total for U.S. Cellular Field to 1,765,544, an average of 21,833 per game. ... Holland finished with 103 strikeouts, tying Jim York (1971) for the franchise record for a reliever. Brandon Roy Jersey . Darren Collison and Blake Griffin scored 23 points apiece and the Clippers beat the Suns 112-108 Wednesday night, their fourth win in a row and 17th in the last 19 games. Terry Porter Blazers Jersey . It was a move of some time in the making. “He hasnt thrown well, clearly some guys are being used more than him right now and the only way to get out of this funk is to pitch,” said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. http://www.blazersteamofficial.com/Zach-Collins-Blazers-Jersey/ . A police inspector told The Associated Press the crane operator is not yet suspected of any wrongdoing but is considered a key witness to the accident at the Arena Corinthians. Custom Portland Trail Blazers Jerseys .com) - Marian Gaborik scored his sixth goal in the last four games to help the Los Angeles Kings top the Arizona Coyotes, 4-2, Saturday at Staples Center. C.J. McCollum Jersey .Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have been neck and neck all season, with 17 points separating the rivals and double points on offer for the race.Tensions between them have spilled over during the campaign and the pairs fragile relationship was evident during Thursdays pre-race news conference, when Rosberg goaded Hamilton by advising him to race cleanly.School children invited to Manchester Uniteds Aon Training Complex in Carrington had a day to remember when the entire first-team squad joined them for an afternoon of activities. It was always going to be a memorable experience as they were told they were going to meet the clubs Foundation coaches for the afternoon.What they did not know, however, was that the United players would also be on hand at the event straight after training ahead of the weekend game with Leicester City, live on Super Sunday. The clubs Foundation has been in operation for almost a decade and has established a programme called #Schoolsunited involving 13 partner schools around Greater Manchester. Anthony Martial joined Manchester United team-mates at the clubs Foundation event We work in some of the most disadvantaged areas and, for some of them, Old Trafford is a dream, to even get to see a game, but to actually come and mix and engage with the first-team players is something they dream about, said hub manager Dave Chapman.Every child within this room now, every student, every participant has earned the right to be here. Weve got some children here who wouldnt speak to anybody, their confidence was shot, they were so low.And then a year or two into our partnership theyre here mixing with people from the other side of Manchester.The children from each of the schools were partnered with a member of Louis Van Gaals squad for the afternoon. Ashley Young takes part in the Manchester United Foundation activities And while the likes of captain Wayne Rooney and birthday boy Juan Mata have made their name on Old Traffords hallowed turf, this was an opportunity to see them doing something different, from playing table tennis to answering tricky questions from potential young journalists in a specially designed interview booth.One of the victims up for interview was midfielder Ander Herrera.Of course, of course because sometimes they are so sincere, he said. Thats why sometimes they make us feel a little bit in a problem but its very nice to answer questions because they are all fans, they are the future of Manchester United.The Foundations work is not just limited to working with schools, however, as the players soon discovered. Ander Herrera says Manchester United are aiming to prevent Leicester from winning the Premier League title at Old Trafford While Manchester Uniteds focus on the pitch is a top four finish in the Premier League and a first FA Cup final win since 2004, what about what the players do and eat when they are not playing or training?Something to chew on is a 10-week programme designed to educate youngsters about being healthy in a bid to tackle rising obesity rates.They are taught how to choose, cook and eat safe and healthy food, the sort of thing Manchester Uniteds superstars take for granted at Carrington, unless they have to make their sandwiches themselves, as Herrera discovered.I am the one who has to cook for the children today, he said. I am not so good at cooking so I will try to do my best but I think we have to teach them to eat in a good way. I think its very important for their health, for their lives and I will try to do my best! Manchesster United players join in at the clubs Foundation event It is not just about diet and nutrition as the Foundation is also looking at how to bolster the confidence of primary school children in the north west between the ages of four and eight.ddddddddddddMove with Manchester United has been devised to help improve their agility, balance and co-ordination in a bid to counter a growing trend that sees less youngsters playing outdoors.Herrera and his team-mates got involved in a session of jumping, balance and throwing, but how hard is it getting to grips with new training regimes for Manchester United players themselves and who are the worst trainers?I cannot say names about that but the only thing I can say is that its very important to do sport, the Spaniard said.Nowadays we are living in a generation of computers and video games but I think that its more healthy when you play football and you train, you make friends and thats what we try to do, to convince them that sport is very important. Anthony Martial joins in with the school children invited to Carrington After a tricky season that still has the potential to be a successful one for Manchester United, this was an afternoon where the players were able to put the scrutiny to one side.While it is the young players who have captured the eye on many occasions, plenty of their more experienced team-mates are parents themselves and literally jumped, ran and threw themselves into the activities.But it is their status as footballers that made it such a special occasion for the children invited to Carrington, and a big game beckons at the weekend, with Leicester, not Manchester United, in with a chance of being crowned Premier League champions at Old Trafford - something that only happened three times under Sir Alex Ferguson.First of all I have to say that we think about Manchester United, we are still in the race, we have to be in the top four its very important for us, Herrera said.After that it is true that we are playing against Leicester, a very good side who are playing fantastic. But we dont want them to win the title at Old Trafford - I think they deserve to win the league but I hope they can do it at home. Leicester can win the Premier League title with a win at Old Trafford We are Manchester United and we have to win because we have to be in the Champions League next season. Leicester can win the league at Old Trafford but it is not our business. Our business is Manchester United, we have to fight until the end for the top four and thats what we are going to do.After that if Leicester wants to win the league at home they will have to play very good because I think we are in a good moment.The Manchester United Foundation is about to celebrate its 10th anniversary. In the past year it has reached almost 10,000 school children and has seen 587 of them gain qualifications.As the United players bade farewell to the youngsters at the Academys indoor training centre, there is another landmark that beckons next month.It is almost 12 years since Manchester United last won the FA Cup and from the current squad only Juan Mata has lifted the trophy, and that was with Chelsea. So, like the children who enjoyed a big surprise at Carrington, they are hoping it will be a day to remember at Wembley on Saturday, May 21. Also See: Herrera: Utd future is bright Clattenburg to referee cup final Mata: I would take pay cut Manchester United fixtures ' ' '