Leaving Turkey, Roberto Carlos eyes Real return

December 15, 2009


Brazil defender Roberto Carlos, who is leaving Turkish giants Fenerbahce for Sao Paulo’s Corinthians, said he hopes instead to return to Real Madrid to replace the injured Pepe.

“I am negotiating my December departure from Fenerbahce,” he told Spanish sports newspaper Marca on Tuesday.

Reports from Turkey last week said Carlos, whose contract with Fenerbahce ends on December 20, had agreed a two-year deal with Corinthians.

Corinthians “are interested in me and we have a verbal agreement, but if Real calls me I will go immediately.”

The 36-year-old arrived at the Turkish club in 2007 after 11 years with Real, which is now seeking a replacement for Pepe, who is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

“My life in football and the club of my heart is Real,” Marca quoted Carlos as saying. “It would be a dream to return home to the Bernabeu and help this club win titles.”

Earlier, Fenerbahce said on their website that the defender had met with club chairman Aziz Yildirim to agree his departure while Hurriyet and Sabah newspapers reported that there would be a small ceremony for Roberto Carlos following Thursday’s Europa League match at home to Sheriff of Moldova.

MADRID (AFP)

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Mixed emotions as Gerrard joins 500 club

December 5, 2009


Steven Gerrard will make his 500th Liverpool appearance at Blackburn on Saturday but the England midfielder will be in no mood to celebrate after admitting his side’s Premier League challenge for the title is effectively over.

The England midfielder will reach the personal milestone against the same side he faced on his debut as a gawky teenager 11 years ago, with Liverpool looking to follow-up last weekend’s Merseyside derby win and strengthen their hopes of a top four finish.

Gerrard admits league leaders Chelsea are in pole position to push on for the title and that Liverpool will find it almost impossible to bridge the 13-point gap that currently exists between his side and Carlo Ancelotti’s.

But he is confident that, with Fernando Torres due to return from a groin problem, the Reds can go on a run that will secure Champions League qualification at the very least.

“It means everything to me personally to get to 500 games because I’m a local boy,” Gerrard said.

“My dream when I was young was always just to play one game for Liverpool, so to reach this milestone is a really proud moment for myself and my family.

“Around the time I made my debut my dad was always saying to me ‘you are so close to getting your chance’. I was just praying that chance came along.

“At the time we had injuries to big players like Steve McManaman and Paul Ince and I managed to sneak on as a sub. That was against Blackburn and now 500 games later I’ll be starting as captain against them this weekend.

“I’ve had an amazing career so far and hopefully it will continue to go the same way. I’m living the dream. But we have to be realistic, and at the moment we’re out of the title race.

“There is a lot of football to be played but Chelsea are looking really strong. Our main target now is to get back in the top four. We’re on the back of a fantastic win against Everton and we want to continue that against Blackburn.

“We were so close last season, but with virtually the same group of players we have under-achieved so far this season. What we’ve learned is that if you under perform you will fall behind as we’ve done.

“But I’ve got total belief in my team-mates that moving forward we can challenge for it. It has been too long since the club won the title and because it’s missing from my collection it’s the one I?m most desperate for. It’s a very difficult trophy to win but we won’t stop trying.”

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce will return to frontline management following minor heart surgery with a smile on his face following his side’s thrilling League Cup victory over Chelsea in midweek.

How long it stays there remains to be seen considering Rafa Benitez will be in the opposite dug out. The duo fell out at Anfield last season when Allardyce accused the Spaniard of being disrespectful towards him and the Blackburn boss will be desperate to gain revenge.

Blackburn are only five points clear of the relegation zone but goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes confidence will be bolstered by the penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea in midweek which has put the club into the League Cup semi-finals.

“Bring on Liverpool!” Robinson said. “The cup run is a huge boost for our confidence. Okay, that wasn’t Chelsea’s first-team, but it was still a pretty decent side they had out.

“We did a good job on them and now we have Liverpool on Saturday and they will not be looking forward to that.

“It will be a difficult game but they won’t be too keen on playing us in this form and at Ewood where our record has been fantastic.

“We always have confidence now at home, so we do not have any fears about Liverpool coming here next.”

BLACKBURN (AFP)

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Unhappy Gattuso drops exit hint

November 27, 2009


AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso dropped a clear hint on Thursday that he will be looking for a transfer during the January window.

Gattuso is unhappy at no longer being an automatic first choice in the Milan team after 11 seasons at the club.

“I’m Rino Gattuso and I shouldn’t have to wait until someone is injured to be able to play,” he told reporters.

“I still feel strong and I’m disappointed to not be showing that but I won’t accept the thought that I am no longer indispensible.

“Will I go? There’s still five or six matches to go before the Christmas break, I have to talk to the club and with (vice-president Adriano) Galliani because it’s not nice after 11 years to play only occasionally.”

Gattuso has made only seven starts in Milan’s 20 matches this season and has played only 37 minutes of their five Champions League matches, although he has had some small injuries and a suspension.

In coach Leonardo’s preferred 4-4-3 formation he has been competing with club captain Massimo Ambrosini and Mathieu Flamini for the third midfield spot alongside Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf.

And with former England captain David Beckham due to arrive in the new year, midfield competition is set to get even tougher for the former Rangers player.

ROME (AFP)

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Lyon juggernaut heads for Paris

September 19, 2009


Lyon will hope to take their impressive recent form into their French first division clash at Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, in what will be the first genuine test of their title aspirations.

Claude Puel’s team are Ligue 1’s form side, having won their last four league games, and they made a positive start to their Champions League campaign with a 1-0 victory at home to Serie A heavyweights Fiorentina on Wednesday.

Bordeaux’s title triumph last season left Lyon trophyless for the first time since 2000, but their performances in recent weeks suggest they are well placed to challenge for honours again and they go into Sunday’s game level on points with Bordeaux at the top of the table.

“The team looks great to me,” said PSG goalkeeper Gregory Coupet of his former side Lyon, who he left after 11 years’ service in 2008.

“They have ambition, which is plain to see. The new players have integrated well. Everything’s going well. Mr Puel’s methods have been taken on board and the team is evolving.”

PSG’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end in cruel fashion last weekend, when two goals in the last five minutes saw them go down 2-0 at Monaco.

The capital side currently trail Bordeaux and Lyon by three points and the fans at the Parc des Princes will be desperate for a victory to prove they have what it takes to maintain a sustained challenge in the upper reaches of the division.

Beninese midfielder Stephane Sessegnon misses out through suspension after being sent off at Monaco, while Turkish international striker Mevlut Erding is also out after undergoing surgery on his shoulder.

Lyon, meanwhile, have doubts over centre-back Mathieu Bodmer and Brazilian winger Michel Bastos, both of whom picked up injuries during the win over Fiorentina.

Montpellier have been the surprise package of the fledgling season, currently sitting third after their promotion, but they face a daunting trip to Mediterranean neighbours Marseille on Saturday.

Didier Deschamps’s men fell to a 2-1 loss at home to AC Milan in their rain-lashed Champions League opener at the Stade Velodrome on Tuesday but they boast the best defence in Ligue 1 and are unbeaten in the league so far.

Montpellier could be forgiven for approaching the assignment with a degree of trepidation but Colombian striker Victor-Hugo Montano insists they can pull off a surprise against the pre-season title favourites.

“We’ll have to be clever,” said the 25-year-old. “If you’re a footballer you play to take part in games like this in the cauldron of the Velodrome. We can do something there, I’m sure of that.”

Bordeaux remain the team to beat and the table-toppers began their Champions League campaign with an impressive 1-1 draw at Juventus that left manager Laurent Blanc in raptures.

“I was delighted to see my team cause problems for Juventus,” said the former France international centre-back.

“It’s our best away performance and on a similar level to our 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea (in the Champions League) last season.”

Les Girondins visit new boys Boulogne-sur-Mer, currently eighth, on Saturday while bottom side Grenoble’s quest for a first point of the campaign continues at home to unbeaten Rennes.

Fixtures (1700GMT unless otherwise stated)

Saturday

Boulogne v Bordeaux, Grenoble v Rennes, Lorient v Nancy, Nice v Monaco, Sochaux v Valenciennes, Saint-Etienne v Auxerre, Marseille v Montpellier (1900GMT)

Sunday (1500GMT unless otherwise stated)

Lens v Lille, Toulouse v Le Mans, Paris Saint-Germain v Lyon (1900GMT)

PARIS (AFP)

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Spurs make Walker swoop

September 4, 2009


Jimmy Walker has completed his move to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer after being released by West Ham last season.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp was desperate to bring in a new goalkeeper during the transfer window as cover for Carlo Cudicini with Heurelho Gomes out injured.

Rumours linking Redknapp with a move for his former charge David James failed to materialise on deadline day and the former Portsmouth boss has decided to settle on 36-year-old Walker.

The former Hammers shot-stopper helped the Upton Park club win promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2005 but over recent seasons found himself behind No.1 Robert Green.

Walker spent the majority of last season on loan at League One side Colchester before ending his five-year stay with West Ham at the end of last term.

The veteran keeper made his name at Walsall, who he joined from Notts County, making 476 appearances during his 11 years at the Banks’s Stadium.

Abhimanyu Rajput

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Terry signs new five-year contract at Chelsea

September 1, 2009


Chelsea captain John Terry signed a new five-year contract on Monday that ties him to the Premier League club until 2014.

Terry, 28, had been promised an improved deal when he rejected Manchester City’s attempt to sign him during the close-season.

City were reported to have offered Terry around 200,000 pounds a week to move to Eastlands, but the England defender turned them down and is now likely to finish his career at Stamford Bridge after putting pen to paper on a contract worth a reported 150,000 pounds a week.

“Chelsea is delighted to confirm that John Terry has signed a new five-year contract that keeps him at the club until the end of the 2013-14 season,” a statement on the club’s website announced.

“This reaffirms both John’s and Chelsea’s long stated desire for John to be at Stamford Bridge for the rest of his playing career.”

Terry, who has been at Chelsea since the age of 14, had two years left on his previous contract. But Blues owner Roman Abramovich personally intervened when City came calling and gave the green light to improved terms that will make Terry the highest paid player at the club.

He has made 276 appearances in 12 seasons at Stamford Bridge and has won 54 England caps since 2003.

Terry is the most successful captain in Chelsea’s history, having led his club to two Premier League titles. He has also won four FA Cups, three League Cups and a Cup Winners Cup in the last 11 years.

The Blues are currently top of the Premier League after winning all four of their matches under new manager Carlo Ancelotti.

LONDON (AFP)

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Chelsea conspiracy theory dismissed

May 7, 2009


LONDON (AFP) – UEFA General Secretary David Taylor has slammed the conspiracy theorists who believe Chelsea’s controversial exit from the Champions League reflected the governing body’s desire to avoid another all-English final.

Several Chelsea players believe that might explain the erratic refereeing of their semi-final second leg against Barcelona by Tom Henning Ovrebo.

The Norwegian official’s failure to award any of the London club’s four strong penalty appeals on Wednesday night effectively cost them a chance to avenge last season’s final defeat by Manchester United.

Ovrebo undeniably made a string of errors but Barcelona were also victims of his poor decision-making with Eric Abidal sent off 25 minutes from the end for tripping Nicolas Anelka, who actually tripped himself up.

Taylor, who was at the match at Stamford Bridge, said he was angered by the implication that UEFA would try to influence the outcome of a match.

“If anything it’s a media conspiracy against UEFA,” he said. “It does make me angry. It really annoys me because it’s a load of rubbish.”

The conspiracy theorists were also rubbished by former top referee Graham Poll.

“I refereed in UEFA for 13 years, I was involved for 11 years in their top 30 referees, I did two World Cups,” Poll told the BBC.

“Never was there any suggestion, any thoughts about ‘it would be nice if this team won’ or ‘could you do this team a favour’. I promise you.

“You cannot guarantee things in life because you are always shocked by things, but it’s 99.9 percent certain that there is not a possibility of anything untoward here. It doesn’t happen.”

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Given braced for City roller-coaster ride

February 2, 2009

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) – Goalkeeper Shay Given left Newcastle for cash-rich, but success-starved, Manchester City on Sunday and admitted he was braced for a roller-coaster ride at the Premier League club.

The 32-year-old played 450 times for Newcastle over 11 years and has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Mark Hughes’s misfiring team.

"The profile of the club has changed dramatically and there are already some fantastic players here," Given told the club’s website, mcfc.co.uk.

"It looks like some good players will come here in the future as well, and I am sure the fans must be on the edge of their seats to see who comes here.

"There is already the nucleus of a very good team here and I hope I can add to that. I am just delighted that they have chosen me to strengthen their goalkeeping department as well.

"It’s exciting times at Manchester City with the new owners and this manager. I have a lot of friends at Newcastle and the supporters are fantastic. They have been great to me for so many years and I thank them for that.

"But I just felt that this was an opportunity for me to come to a club that, in my opinion, is really going to be going places."

Given is City’s fourth signing in the transfer window, joining Wayne Bridge, Craig Bellamy and Nigel de Jong at Eastlands.

Manager Mark Hughes added: "I have said for a long time that we need the experience of a keeper like Shay.

"I am delighted that we have been able to acquire such an accomplished keeper, and one so highly-regarded by everyone in the Premier League."

Written by: AFP

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Given set for City switch, Jo eyes Everton move

February 1, 2009

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) – Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given is reportedly set to join Manchester City after travelling for a medical with Mark Hughes’s team.

It is believed that the 32-year-old Republic of Ireland international was given the green light to join City after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee.

Given, who has been at Newcastle for 11 years, has agreed personal terms and the deal is close to going through ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline.

Meanwhile, Everton are reported to be in talks with City to sign their Brazilian striker Jo on loan until the end of the season.

Jo, 21, has struggled to make an impact for City since signing from CSKA Moscow last season and the arrival of Craig Bellamy at Eastlands will further limit his opportunities.

Everton boss David Moyes is desperate to land a forward after injuries ruled out Ayegbeni Yakubu and Louis Saha.

Written by: AFP

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Given considers Newcastle exit

January 2, 2009

NEWCASTLE, England (AFP) – Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given is ready to quit the struggling Premier League club, according to his lawyer.

Given has grown increasingly unhappy with Newcastle’s on and off-field problems and last weekend’s 5-1 defeat at home to Liverpool was the final straw.

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear this week insisted Republic of Ireland star Given would not be allowed to leave in the transfer window.

But Given’s lawyer Michael Kennedy admitted the 32-year-old is considering his future at St James’ Park, with Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City all potential suitors for his signature.

"Shay is very despondent following the very poor performance of the team against Liverpool last weekend," Kennedy’s statement said.

"It was the lowest point of his football career and a performance that he would not wish to be repeated.

"When he signed a new five-year contract in 2006 it was on the basis that the club would challenge for major honours, but on the present evidence all that he can see ahead with the turmoil on and off the pitch is a battle for survival.

"Having served the club loyally for over 11 years, Shay feels compelled to consider his position in the light of the interest being expressed in him by Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham."

Written by: AFP

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