Calm Cassano respects Del Neri

February 4, 2010

Antonio Cassano says he has respect for Sampdoria coach Luigi del Neri despite being controversially dropped for two games in a row.

The former Real Madrid forward moved to the bench for ‘technical’ reasons and almost joined Fiorentina on loan near the end of the transfer window.

“Everything is in place with the Coach. You need to say ‘yes’ to his decisions, and that’s it,” he said in Le lene, an Italian TV show.

“The time of the cassate, actually the cassanate, is now in the past. That’s the stuff of 10 years ago,” he added, referring to his famous temper outbursts.

Cassano has made 20 starting appearances for Samp this season, scoring three goals.

Tags: 10 years, antonio cassano, bench, border, cassate, coach, decisions, del neri, everything, fiorentina, italian tv, lene, Luigi Del Neri, MADRID, real madrid, respect, respects, temper outbursts, two games

Mourinho explains Balotelli row

February 4, 2010

Jose Mourinho has explained the reason behind last night’s shouting match with Mario Balotelli during Internazionale’s Coppa Italia match against Fiorentina (1-0).

The Portuguese manager commented on the cause of the touchline row. “He’s got to defend first, then focus on his problems.”

A furious Balotelli was substituted moments after the row and the youngster went straight into the tunnel, throwing his gloves on the ground and avoiding the Inter bench entirely.

“In my tactics the players must always defend first and foremost, even if they have a problem,” explained Mourinho on RAI television.

“I don’t care if they picked up an injury or lost their contact lenses. He’s got to defend first, then focus on his problems.”

Diego Milito produced the only goal in the first leg win at the Giuseppe Meazza while the second leg is in Florence on April 14.

“I liked the result more than the performance, especially in the second half,” added Mourinho.

“I expected more from my men, but the Viola controlled the tempo and forced me into certain changes.

“Only after the second leg will we know if this was a good result. It is already an advantage that we did not concede on home turf.

“Playing in Florence will not be easy and they’ll be eager to overturn this defeat.”

Tags: april 14, balotelli, bench, contact lenses, coppa italia, diego milito, Florence, giuseppe meazza, gloves, home turf, internazionale, Jose, jose mourinho, mario, Mario Balotelli, Rai, second half, shouting match, television, tempo, viola, youngster

Raul resigned to life on the Real bench

February 2, 2010

Real Madrid captain Raul Gonzalez said Tuesday he has come to terms with his new role as a subsitute.

“It’s not an ideal situation for any player. For 15 years I have won practically everything, and in the last three months I have played less. Sooner or later I had to come to this point,” he told a news conference.

The 32-year-old Real icon, who with 66 goals is still the Champions League’s top scorer, had been a regular in the first team since he made his debut with the club at 17.

But coach Manuel Pellegrini has left him on the bench in recent months in favour of France’s Karim Benzema and Argentine Gonzalo Higuain, and he has scored only five goals in 26 matches this season.

Raul said he hopes to remain at Real “for now” and “there will be time to talk” about “what may happen” in the future.

The striker has won more than 100 caps for Spain. But he has not appeared for the national side since September 2006 when he was controversially dropped by former Spain coach Luis Aragones.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: bench, caps, champions league, coach, debut, favour, gonzalo higuain, Karim Benzema, Luis Aragones, manuel pellegrini, news conference, raul gonzalez, real madrid, Spain, striker, subsitute, three months, top scorer

Quick report: Nigeria 1-0 Algeria

January 30, 2010

Nigeria finished third at the 2010 African Cup of Nations following a 1-0 win over Algeria on Saturday.

The Nigerians, who lost their semi final encounter with Ghana, faced a rather different Algerian team that had to replace no less than three suspended players and left several others benched.

Nigeria also left some of their key players on the bench, although manager Amodu allowed some of his starts to come on in the second half.

The only goal of the match was scored after 56 minutes. Poor defending from Algeria allowed Victor Nsofor to collect the ball near the edge of the penalty area, after which he blasted it past keeper Zemmamouche for 1-0.

The final, which is to be played on Sunday, has Ghana challenge defending champions Egypt.

Tags: african cup of nations, algeria, bench, Egypt, final encounter, ghana, match, nigeria, nigerians, second half, Victor Nsofor

Robben calls for Ribery’s return

January 29, 2010

Arjen Robben hopes Franck Ribery will get a chance to show his qualities from the first whistle when Bayern München takes on FSV Mainz 05. It seems though that Robben’s wish will not be granted by Louis van Gaal.

On Friday, the Dutch coach said that Ribery will start on the bench against Mainz. “Because I don’t think he is 100 percent fit yet,” Van Gaal told the German press. “It’ll take a while, he hasn’t played for months and I can only use players that are 100 percent fit.”

Van Gaal doesn’t bare any nice memories of Saturday’s opponent, as he stated clearly after Friday’s training session. “When I hear the name Mainz, I instantly think of our first defeat of the first competition half.

“It was the first game I lost with Bayern and the first game where my players weren’t 100 percent focused. That really disappointed me.”

Tags: Bayern, bench, coach, defeat, first game, franck ribery, FSV, fsv mainz 05, german press, hasn, Louis, louis van gaal, memories of saturday, name, opponent, percent, robben, Saturday, training, training session, van, Van Gaal, whistle

Upset Mourinho: ‘Nobody respects Ferrara’

January 29, 2010

Jose Mourinho’s Internazionale reached the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia on Thursday night, knocking out Juventus: 2-1. Afterwards, the Portuguese manager backed under fire Juve coach Ciro Ferrara who is expected to be axed on Friday after a dismal run.

“We are men, we have families,” said Mourinho to support his colleague. “It’s not nice all this talk of every other coach.

“I don’t like the atmosphere around him.

“Ferrara deserves respect. If the club decides to make a change, we know that is part of our job, but at least while we are still on the bench and working we deserve respect.

“Right now nobody is giving Ferrara respect. Nobody. But I respect him.”

Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc didn’t exclude a dismissal of Ferrara. “We are very disappointed, as we have failed at another of our objectives for the season,” said Blanc after the match against Internazionale.

“Tomorrow (Friday) we will make a decision and when we have made it, we will let you know.”

Ferrara remained calm as usual after another setback. “I have not been told of anything. I will be conducting Juventus training tomorrow, as per usual,” Ferrara stated.

Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon rued the Bianconeri’s ‘unlucky period’. “We wanted to win this evening, and did not deserve to lose,” the Italy international said.

“But Inter also did not deserve to lose.

“Unfortunately, the team has been unlucky in this period, but we are trying to rectify this.”

The 32-year-old goalie picked up a red card in last Saturday’s match against Roma (1-2 loss) and will miss the game against Lazio this weekend.

Tags: atmosphere, bench, bianconeri, ciro ferrara, coach, colleague, coppa italia, dismal run, Ferrara, game, gianluigi buffon, internazionale, Italy, Jean-Claude, Jose, jose mourinho, last saturday, lazio, respects, semi finals, setback, thursday night

Maradona: ‘I could only talk on phone with my players’

January 26, 2010

Diego Maradona returns to Argentina’s bench when they play Costa Rica on Tuesday. The Argentine legend found it hard to cope with his two-month ban. “I would not wish this on anyone.”

The friendly match against Costa Rica marks the end of Maradona’s ban. El Pelusa was banned from football for two months following controversial comments at a press conference after his team secured their place at the World Cup finals.

“It was very hard but it’s past and now I’m only thinking about the World Cup,” said Maradona. “Those two months were very painful.

“I asked FIFA if I could pay a fine with my money and not to distance me from the players but I couldn’t do absolutely anything, just speak to the players on the phone.

“I don’t wish it on anybody.”

Maradona has called up more than 90 players for 15 matches, eight of them World Cup qualifiers, since his first game in charge, a friendly against Scotland in Glasgow in November 2008.

“Of course I called up many, but I want to see them all.”

Tags: Argentina, Argentine, bench, controversial comments, Costa Rica, diego maradona, first game, friendly match, Glasgow, money, pelusa, scotland, world cup finals, world cup qualifiers

Man City eye Real’s Gago – report

January 25, 2010

Manchester City have made an offer for Real Madrid’s Argentina midfielder Fernando Gago, who is desperate to leave the club after spending too much time on the bench, a Spanish newspaper said Monday.

Gago “will try until the end to convince Madrid to let him leave, and for that he is meeting on Monday with (sporting director) Jorge Valdando to discuss his future,” the daily Marca said.

“The best offer is from Manchester City, which is ready to pay 15 million euros.”

But it said Real appear reluctant to let him go.

Gago, 23, joined Real Madrid in January 2007 from Boca Juniors to replace another Argentinian, Fernando Redondo.

But he has spent much of this season on the bench, and is keen for more first-team play ahead of the World Cup in South Africa in June.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: AFP, Argentina, bench, boca juniors, fernando gago, fernando redondo, Jorge Valdando, MADRID, man city, manchester city, marca, midfielder, South Africa, team play, World Cup

Fowler faces bust-up with coach

January 24, 2010

Former England and Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has caused controversy following a selection fall-out. His future at Australia’s A-League with his North Queensland Fury looks uncertain.

Fowler refused to play in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Brisbane Roar. After coach Ian Ferguson changed his playing formation and moved Fowler to the bench, the 34-year-old sat in the stand in street clothes.

Fury chairman Don Matheson said he would talk to Fowler, the highest-profile signing in the five years of the A-League.

“They were unlucky not to take the game and, although Robbie has been fantastic for the club, we’re not a one-man team,” Matheson said. “He’s here to play football. He didn’t play last night for reasons between him and the coach.

“Obviously I’ve been set up to speak to Robbie to sort out their differences.

“It didn’t pan out the way I would like so I will probably intervene on that tomorrow and we’ll move forward from there.”

Fowler joined the Fury last year after finishing as the fourth highest scorer in Premier League with 161 goals.

Tags: Australia, bench, brisbane, chairman don, coach, controversy, don matheson, England, Ferguson, Ian Ferguson, Liverpool, man team, north queensland, premier league, Roar, Robbie, robbie fowler, scorer, street clothes, striker

Huntelaar set to leave Milan

January 19, 2010

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar hopes to leave AC Milan during January’s transfer window. The Dutch striker was told several times that the club wants to keep him at Milan and he got playing time against Genoa and Juventus.

But that’s not enough for Huntelaar: the former Real Madrid forward has told his agent to look for another club.

“They told me this month that they insisted on keeping me at Milan and that they have much confidence in me,” Huntelaar told Dutch paper De Telegraaf.

“Since then I moved up in the pecking order from third striker to second striker. I also got more match action but it’s still not enough for me. I simply want more.”

Now, it seems like Milan is also convinced that an exit from the San Siro is the best solution for both.

“It looks like the club only wants to sell me but I prefer a move on loan because I still want to succeed at Milan,” said Huntelaar who has rejected a move to Shakhtar Donetsk, because he doesn’t want to play in Ukrain.

Huntelaar also excluded a return to Ajax. “I already spoke German and English and my Spanish and Italian is also pretty good. I prefer a move to one of the big four leagues,” added ‘The Hunter’ who said that there have already been six clubs that contacted his agent about a possible move.

Huntelaar joined Milan from Real Madrid this summer for €15 million. He failed to make an impact for the Rossoneri and has been warming the bench most of the time. Milan boss Leonardo prefers Marco Borriello at the striker position.