Rooney injury could shatter United´s title bid: Ancelotti
January 27, 2010
Carlo Ancelotti has warned Manchester United that an injury to Wayne Rooney could shatter their Premier League title challenge because they don’t have the same squad strength as Chelsea.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s pre-season move to Real Madrid has allowed United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to restore Rooney to his favoured central attacking role and the England forward has responded with a superb run of form.
He has already scored 20 goals in all competitions and emphasised his importance to United with the first four-goal haul of his career, against Hull on Saturday, to send the champions to the top of the table.
But Chelsea boss Ancelotti is convinced Rooney’s effervescent displays only serve to underline how much Ferguson’s team depend on the 24-year-old.
“Without Rooney it would be difficult (to win the league). He’s the best striker at Manchester United, one of the best strikers in the world,” Ancelotti said.
“Rooney, for me, is a fantastic player. He’s not only a striker because he’s not only a finisher, he’s a champion, a world-class player.
“He plays for the team. I saw him play left wing last year and coming back to help out the team defensively. He’s a football player. I’m a big fan of Rooney’s.
“He’s a very decisive player for United. We have a possibility without Didier because we can put Anelka on, another top striker in the world.”
Ancelotti feels United would struggle if Rooney was sidelined for a long period because, in contrast to his own squad, Ferguson has only the aging Michael Owen to turn to.
Although Chelsea have been without star striker Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, one of his main understudies, over the last month due to the African Nations Cup, Ancelotti has been able to rely on Nicolas Anelka – who has five goals in four games – and highly-rated youngster Daniel Sturridge.
Even without Drogba, who is expected back for Saturday’s game at Burnley, Chelsea had scored 14 goals in three matches prior to Wednesday’s clash against Birmingham.
Ancelotti believes that is a tribute to the quality of Anelka and his squad’s impressive depth.
“Without Didier we have the possibility to put other strong, fantastic players in. Without Didier in the Champions League at the start of the season, Nicolas did very well,” he said.
“Now we have Nicolas and Sturridge doing very well in this month. So we had the possibility to play without Didier.
“We changed something on the pitch but if we have less strength in forward areas we can use other players.
“Our aim was to keep all the players in good condition because, if we stay without four players and we then have some injuries, it could have been a difficult period.
“We have those injuries but we can put Deco in because he’s in good condition. In training and work, the players have worked very hard in this period and we could do well without those (African) players.”
With the title race looking set to be a three-horse sprint between Chelsea, United and Arsenal, Ancelotti believes the team that keeps most of its’ star players fit during the run-in will lift the trophy.
“I think that, in this moment, to avoid injury is very important,” he said. “We have to control training and the players’ rest and we can do that because we have good facilities.
“We have to control the load of the matches and training. To have injuries now is very difficult. The risk is to arrive at the end of the season with a tired squad.”
COBHAM, England (AFP)
Tags: Birmingham, carlo ancelotti, cristiano ronaldo, Daniel Sturridge, didier drogba, effervescent, football player, four games, HULL, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, michael owen, Nicolas Anelka, premier league, real madrid, ronaldo, Salomon Kalou, sir alex ferguson, star striker, strikers, Sturridge, title challenge, wayne rooney, youngsterRelated posts
Doctor Cristiano and Mister Ronaldo
January 26, 2010
The best and the worst of Cristiano Ronaldo were again on display in Sunday’s 2-0 La Liga win over Malaga, and his sending off for violent conduct has prompted fierce debate over what some in Spain are calling his “ Jekyll and Hyde” character.
The Portuguese forward netted a superb first-half double to put Real Madrid in command at the Bernabeu but his night turned from glory to shame when he was dismissed for lashing out at Patrick Mtiliga and breaking the defender’s nose.
It was his second red card of the season after his sending-off against Almeria in December for kicking out at an opponent and he appeared lucky to stay on the pitch in this month’s defeat at Athletic Bilbao for a similar incident.
“Cristiano Ronaldo, hero and villain” (El Pais), “Cristiano Ronaldo, again angel and demon” (La Razon) and “Doctor Cristiano and Mister Ronaldo” (Marca), were some of the headlines in Monday’s Spanish press.
Marca columnist Roberto Palomar said Ronaldo’s behaviour had been his “umpteenth act of idiocy this season” and slammed him for letting the team down with Gonzalo Higuain injured and Ruud van Nistelrooy sold to Hamburg SV at the weekend.
“Anyone who gets sent off against Almeria and Malaga with the match already won is a fool,” Palomar wrote.
“Someone needs to sit down with the lad and explain what’s what because you can’t go through life behaving like that.”
Ronaldo apologised to Mtiliga and said he never tried to hurt another player. But that being the case, why did he feel the need for a second backward swing of the arm when he had already shaken free of the Dane’s challenge?
“People who understand football know that my intention is always to try and play. The red card is a disgrace I don’t understand it,” he told reporters.
“I know you saw blood on the TV screens but I was just trying to break free. I never try to hurt anyone.”
There are many great players who, on occasion, have seemed to succumb to an inner demon – Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona, Eric Cantona and Hristo Stoichkov to name only a few.
El Mundo columnist Orfeo Suarez noted on Monday that it’s rare to find a good forward without a touch of devilry inside but how far should we accept acts of folly as being unavoidable characteristics of football genius, the angel and the demon?
As Palomar wrote in Marca, Ronaldo is not fouled any more regularly than players like Messi or Atletico Madrid forward Sergio Aguero and there are many players around who have the same hunger for success.
Ronaldo will be suspended at the least for Saturday’s difficult trip to Deportivo Coruna and his latest lapse puts his goal of winning the FIFA World Player Award back from Messi in jeopardy.
Time to see more of the Jekyll and less of the Hyde.
PHOTO: Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo reacts to his sending-off against Malaga in La Liga, Sunday Jan. 24. REUTERS/Sergio Perez
Tags: almeria, apologised, athletic bilbao, bernabeu, Bilbao, columnist, cristiano ronaldo, Dane, diego maradona, disgrace, Doctor Cristiano, eric cantona, hamburg sv, jekyll and hyde, la razon, lad, MADRID, Malaga, marca, messi, palomar, Patrick Mtiliga, real madrid, Roberto Palomar, ronaldo, ruud van nistelrooy, Sergio, sergio perez, Spain, spanish press, tv screens, violent conduct, ZinedineRelated posts
Rooney ready to stay at United
January 26, 2010
Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney said Monday that while interest from other clubs was flattering, he had no plans to leave Old Trafford.
The England striker has been in superb form this season, scoring 19 goals in the Premier League alone – including all four in United’s 4-0 win over Hull on Saturday that took the defending champions back to the top of the table.
Rooney’s goals have been a huge boon to United in the absence of Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Old Trafford before the season started for Spanish giants Real Madrid in an 80 million pounds move.
Real and domestic rivals Barcelona are both reportedly interested in Rooney but the 24-year-old said he was happy to stay with the Red Devils, telling United’s official website: “There’s always speculation, and when other big teams are talking about you, it’s nice that you’re talked about.
“But as I’ve said many times before, I’m a United player and I’m very happy here.”
The ex-Everton forward added: “I hope we can win the title again this year.
“We’ve won the league the last three years and nobody has ever won it four times in a row. We want to create history.
“The title race is much tighter this year and it’s probably more exciting for the neutrals or fans around the country. But we’re hoping that now we are top we can go on and remain there for the rest of the season.”
Former England striker Alan Shearer, speaking after the Hull match, said Rooney had been the key factor in United staying in title contention, telling BBC Radio: “They would not be where they are in the league (without Rooney).
“He has carried them at times but he is a great player and that’s what great players do.
“When the clubs need them they step forward.”
Shearer also said Rooney was vital to England’s hopes of World Cup glory in South Africa this year.
“As important as he is to Manchester United, he is just as important to England, I don’t think anyone should forget that,” said Shearer.
“But on the other hand there were question marks. People were saying he has to step up his performance this year because of the loss of Ronaldo and boy has he done that,” the Newcastle great added.
“I think he has actually carried Manchester United on his own at times this season. That’s saying something for the size of that particular club.
“I think his performances have been spectacular and I hope he’s not peaking too soon, as an England fan.”
Rooney’s committed style has led to concerns he may either injure himself or simply run out of steam before the World Cup and Shearer said: “The fear I have with him is injury and that is not something he, nor anyone, can do anything about,” the former Newcastle boss added.
“If that is going to happen it’s going to happen – we’re are in the lap of the gods I’m afraid.”
MANCHESTER (AFP)
Tags: alan shearer, Barcelona, bbc, boon, cristiano ronaldo, England, everton, giants, HULL, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, neutrals, NEWCASTLE, old trafford, portugal, premier league, real madrid, red devils, rivals, ronaldo, South Africa, speculation, striker, title contention, wayne rooney, winger, world cup gloryRelated posts
Angry Ronaldo: ‘This is not a red card here or in anywhere in the world’
January 25, 2010
On Sunday, Cristiano Ronaldo guided Real Madrid to a victory over Malaga. But the Portuguese star won’t look back in joy.
Ronaldo was shown a straight red card in the 70th minute of the match after his swinging elbow caught Malaga defender Patrick Mtiliga in the face.
The former Manchester United winger has insisted that he did not mean to hurt his opponent and Real Madrid will appeal against the booking.
“It was not my intention to injure Mtiliga,” Ronaldo said after the match. “I’m very sad for what happened but calm.
“This is not a red card here or in anywhere in the world.”
The Portugal international said that it wasn’t an intentional elbow. “I didn’t mean to injure the lad.
“It was bad luck to hit him on the nose because he’s only 1.70m and if he had been taller I would have struck his chest.”
The challenge left the Danish defender with a broken nose which will sideline him for a couple of weeks. After the match, Ronaldo visited Malaga’s locker room to apologise to Mtiliga.
“I’ve spoken with Mtiliga and he told me that I didn’t need to apologise because he doesn’t believe I hurt him intentionally and he’s right about that,” Ronaldo added.
“Those who understand football know that my intention is always to play the ball.
“I wouldn’t want to injure anybody. I’m not that type of person. I’m not a bad person. I only want to shine by playing football.
“Now I’m going to be angry when I get home because I won’t be able to play through suspension.”
Ronaldo, as a minimum, will now sit at next week’s trip to fifth-placed Deportivo La Coruna and might be banned for a longer period.
Tags: bad luck, bad person, broken nose, cristiano ronaldo, elbow, la coruna, lad, locker room, MADRID, Malaga, Manchester, match, Patrick Mtiliga, portugal, portuguese, ronaldo, sideline, victoryRelated posts
Bilbao sink mighty Real Madrid
January 17, 2010
Real Madrid fell to their third defeat of the season losing 1-0 to a battling Athletic Bilbao at San Mames on Saturday meaning leaders Barcelona can move five points clear with victory over Sevilla.
Spanish international forward Fernando Llorente headed the decisive goal after just two minutes and Bilbao survived an onslaught – with Karim Benzema, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo all going close – to hold on for an historic win.
Real dropped two points in their last away match with a 0-0 draw at Osasuna and fired blanks again in Bilbao and now sit two points behind Barca having played one game more.
Champions Barcelona face Sevilla for the third time in 11 days at Camp Nou later on Saturday knowing a win would see them go five points clear.
Sevilla eliminated Barcelona from the last 16 of the Kings Cup on Wednesday, largely thanks to a 2-1 win at Camp Nou, and hope to repeat the trick.
Real coach Manuel Pellegrini replaced injured top-scorer Gonzalo Higuain with Benzema for the Bilbao game, leaving captain and club legend Raul out in the cold once again.
Xabi Alonso overcame a niggle to start in midfield alongside Lass Diarra with Kaka and Ronaldo providing the guile going forward.
Bilbao were far from intimidated, however, and hit the woodwork twice in the first minute.
Carlos Gurpegi thumped the left hand post and the ball came out to Gaizka Toquero who crashed his shot against the other upright from close range.
It was a warning, but Real didn’t take enough notice as they conceded a minute later.
A corner from the left took a slight deflection and Llorente powered a header past international team-mate Iker Casillas.
Real had kept three consecutive clean sheets so the goal was a shock and they responded in the best fashion with Benzema forcing a save from Gorka Iraizoz.
On 34 minutes Real thought they had equalised when Kaka’s threaded pass found Benzema but the Frenchman’s shot came back off the post into Iraizoz’s grateful arms.
In the second half Llorente almost unlocked the Real defence with a great turn and footwork to bamboozle two defenders but couldn’t get his shot off.
Ronaldo, constantly jeered by the home fans, almost equalised on the hour mark but Iraizoz thwarted him.
Real used up all the options with Guti, Esteban Granero and Raul on as substitutes and it was backs to the wall for the hosts.
Ronaldo was denied by a brilliant save in stoppage time and Bilbao held on for a much-needed final whistle.
Earlier Osasuna won their first league match since the end of November with two early goals inside a minute securing a 2-0 home victory over Espanyol on Saturday.
Osasuna had gone four games without a win or a goal in the league but had a terrific start against Espanyol scoring twice inside the first eight minutes through Juanfran and Walter Pandiani.
Espanyol hit the post and pushed hard but it was not to be as they fell to a sixth successive away defeat.
Valencia host derby rivals Villarreal in the highlight game on Sunday between two sides recovering from the disappointment of exiting the Kings Cup in midweek.
Villarreal are 12 points behind third-placed Valencia in the league and can’t afford any more slip-ups if they are to have a shot at snatching one of the four Champions League slots.
MADRID (AFP)
Tags: athletic bilbao, Barcelona, Bilbao, camp nou, clean sheets, close range, cristiano ronaldo, decisive goal, deflection, diarra, Esteban Granero, Fernando, Fernando Llorente, five points, kaka, Karim Benzema, kings cup, MADRID, manuel pellegrini, midfield, osasuna, raul, real madrid, ronaldo, San, san mames, SEVILLA, team mate, third defeat, ValenciaRelated posts
Zidane: I dream of managing Real Madrid
January 14, 2010
France legend Zinedine Zidane has revealed that he would one day like to manage Real Madrid, and has also praised the impact of the club’s current star, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Zidane, now working as an advisor to Real president Florentino Perez, admitted in an interview with Iznews in China that he has enjoyed life back at the Bernabeu since re-joining the club seven months ago.
“It is a great pleasure to work alongside Florentino Perez, who wants to make another team make history,” Zidane said. “Right now, I am learning and Florentino has given me great freedom to learn all the aspects of Madrid. My dream, some day, is to be manager of the club.”
The 1998 World Cup winner hailed the impact of world record signing, a tag the Frenchman garnered himself after moving from Juventus to Real for €78 million in 2001, Cristiano Ronaldo.
“He fascinates me as a player and it surprises me that he adapted to the Spanish League so quickly,” Zidane said.
“I feel that is a special player, because with his belief, he has infected the rest of the team. It is almost inconceivable all that Cristiano has achieved already, at his age.”
Zidane, widely considered the best player of his generation, was also happy to heap praise on Real’s bitter rivals Barcelona, and the current FIFA World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi.
“I really like Iniesta, for his collective sense of play,” the Frenchman added. “But Messi is special, there is only one. When he gets the ball, everyone knows what is sure to happen: that the ball will finish in the opponent’s goal.”
Former playmaker Zidane played a pivotal role in France’s World Cup victory in 1998, scoring two goals as Les Bleus beat Brazil 3-0 in the final.
But ‘Zizou’ believes that 2008 European Championship winners Spain will be the team to beat at this year’s finals in South Africa.
“I have always thought that they will be the champions” Zidane added.
“I love how they play. It reminds me of France in Euro 2000, who came out champions. It will be difficult to stop them and it will be great if they come up against Portugal or Brazil in the second round.
Tags: Barcelona, bernabeu, best player, bitter rivals, brazil, championship winners, China, cristiano ronaldo, euro 2000, fifa world player, fifa world player of the year, France, heap praise, iniesta, les bleus, lionel messi, MADRID, pivotal role, portugal, real madrid, ronaldo, seven months, South Africa, Spain, spanish league, world cup victory, world cup winner, zinedine zidaneRelated posts
Real´s Higuain sidelined with leg muscle injury
January 13, 2010
Real Madrid’s Argentine international striker Gonzalo Higuain has suffered a tear in his left calf muscle and will be sidelined for three weeks, the club said on Tuesday.
The injury was detected after the 22-year-old underwent medical tests at a Madrid hospital on Tuesday, it said in a statement.
“We were all very surprised because nobody thought that he had such an injury. But this happens during such a long season with so many matches,” said Real keeper Iker Casillas.
Higuain has been a regular for Real this season, scoring 11 times in the league and two in the Champions League despite the arrival of Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Brazil’s Kaka and France’s Karim Benzema.
Benzema, the top scorer in the French league the 2007-2008 season who has struggled to impress since he joined Real from French side Lyon in July, is likely to take Higuain’s place.
Real are currently in second place in La Liga, two points behind Barcelona.
MADRID (AFP)
Tags: Argentine, Barcelona, barcelona madrid, calf muscle, champions league, cristiano ronaldo, France, french league, french side, kaka, Karim Benzema, leg muscle, Lyon, MADRID, medical tests, muscle injury, portugal, real madrid, ronaldo, ronaldo brazil, striker, top scorerRelated posts
Ronaldo most popular sports star on Facebook
January 7, 2010
Real Madrid’s Portuguese international striker Cristiano Ronaldo is the most popular sports star on Facebook, the sports daily Marca reported on Wednesday.
The flamboyant footballer could count 3.2 million fans on his social network site on Wednesday, putting him ahead of Swiss tennis star Roger Federer with 3.18 million and US swimmer Michael Phelps, 2.86 million.
Ronaldo, 24, arrived in Real Madrid from Manchester United last summer in a world record 94-million-euro deal.
He is also the most profitable player ever in a club which had such stars as Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham, generating 80 million euros in advertising revenues per year.
MADRID (AFP)
Tags: advertising revenues, cristiano ronaldo, David Beckham, euro deal, footballer, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, michael phelps, popular sports, portuguese, real madrid, roger federer, ronaldo, striker, swimmer, swiss tennis, tennis star, U.S., world record, zinedine zidaneRelated posts
Kaka back in action during training
January 1, 2010
Real Madrid’s Brazilian midfielder Kaka touched the ball during a training session on Thursday for the first time since he was sidelined at the end of November with a hernia, the Spanish club said.
“Kaka appears to have recovered from his sports hernia and today got his first feel for the ball in several weeks. He and Cristiano Ronaldo teamed up during the second half of the session to work on various drills,” the club said in a statement.
Real will hold two more training sessions before it faces Osasuna in the league on Sunday in Pamplona and it is not yet clear if the 27-year-old will be called up for the squad for that match.
The Spanish giants have won all four of their matches in Kaka’s absence, leading some in the Spanish media to suggest that Real play better without the 65-million-euro (93.5-million-dollar) summer signing from AC Milan.
But Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, who has replaced Kaka during his absence, is also in doubt for the match as is Spanish midfielder Guti.
Real went into the Christmas break two points behind leaders and champions Barcelona in the Primera Liga.
MADRID (AFP)
Tags: ac milan, Barcelona, Cristiano, cristiano ronaldo, doubt, giants, hernia, kaka, MADRID, osasuna, pamplona, Primera, primera liga, Rafael van der, real madrid, real play, ronaldo, second half, sessions, spanish club, spanish media, training sessionRelated posts
Barcelona´s Messi named World Player of the Year
December 22, 2009
Barcelona and Argentina striker Lionel Messi was crowned World Player of the Year by world football’s ruling body FIFA on Monday.
Messi, whose goals this year helped Barcelona win the Champions League final and World Club Cup final, thus succeeds Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo as the world’s top player, as voted by national team captains and coaches.
Messi has played a huge role in the recent success of Spanish giants Barcelona, who have won a total of six trophies in the past season including the Champions League title and the World Club Cup trophy last week.
The Argentine forward’s talents were given the ultimate thumbs-up earlier this month when he was voted the winner of the Ballon d’Or for the European Footballer of the Year.
On Monday Messi, 22, had been in contention with Barcelona teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi, both from Spain, Brazilian striker Kaka of Real Madrid, the winner in 2007, and last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo also won both trophies last season.
While Ronaldo won the Ferenc Puskas award for goal of the season while playing with former club Manchester United, one of Messi’s goals was among the highlights.
Messi profile
Despite his diminutive stature Messi, who stands 1.69 metres or five feet seven inches tall, rose above United’s defence in the Champions League final in Rome to head the second of Barcelona’s goals in their 2-0 victory.
The Argentine is also known for his superb dribbling and fast, mazy runs that leave opposition defences in tatters, and on Monday he was just as quick to share out the plaudits.
“I want to thank my teammates, notably those who are present here tonight, without whom none of my achievements would have been possible,” said Messi.
“2009 has been a wonderful year for Barcelona and also for me.”
Messi’s goal against United in last season’s final was his ninth of the 2009 Champions League campaign and left him as the competition’s top scorer.
Last week Messi also proved decisive in the World Club Cup final. He scored Barcelona’s second goal in the 2-1 victory over South American champions Estudiantes of Argentina.
In 2009 Barcelona also won the league title, the King’s (Spanish) Cup, the Spanish Super Cup and the European Super Cup.
ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP)
Tags: Andres Iniesta, Argentina, Argentine, Barcelona, body fifa, champions league final, club manchester united, cristiano ronaldo, cup trophy, five feet seven, footballer of the year, league campaign, lionel messi, MADRID, plaudits, real madrid, ronaldo, South American, Spain, Switzerland, tatters, team captains, wonderful year, world football, world player of the year, ZURICH, zurich switzerlandRelated posts
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