Benitez still up for the FA Cup after Reading draw

January 3, 2010

Rafael Benitez insisted the FA Cup remained a top priority for Liverpool after his side were fortunate to scrape a 1-1 third round draw away to Reading.

Reading, who sit two points and two places above the second-tier Championship relegation zone, threatened an upset when Simon Church gave the hosts a 24th minute lead after Benitez’s side failed to deal with a free-kick.

Steven Gerrard’s hopeful long shot rescued a draw for Liverpool at the Madejski Stadium here on Saturday to set up a replay, currently scheduled to take place at Anfield on January 12.

And Benitez admitted his team must improve if they are to complete the job at the second attempt.

“I’m relieved,” said the under pressure manager. “I think it was difficult. “I think they (Reading) played really well. To play in front of the TV (cameras) and against Liverpool I think was a massive boost for them and you could see they played really well,” the Spaniard added.

“You could see we were trying to do our best with a really strong team and we will play one again at Anfield for the replay.

“We had two or three situations that could have been better but also they had some chances.

“So credit to them and we are still in the competition,” Benitez said.

Benitez fielded both Gerrard and Fernando Torres in his starting line-up for a competition that, along with the Europa League, has suddenly assumed a greater priority although the manager conceded the burden of a replay will do nothing to boost Liverpool’s hopes of finishing in the top four and claiming a place in next season’s Champions League.

“We know that we have two clear chances to win trophies – the Europa League and the FA Cup – so we will try to our best in both and keep improving in the League,” said Benitez, whose side are four points adrift of English football’s leading quartet.

“I am disappointed (with the result) because we didn’t want to play more games. But it was a tough, tough game so we needed to work hard.”

Benitez admitted he is looking at bringing in players to strengthen his squad during the January transfer window but refused to be drawn on whether he had made a move for Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

“We are not talking about players but I will say that it will be very, very difficult,” he said.

He was equally coy when asked about whether Liverpool were interested in signing Aston Villa forward Emile Heskey.

“I will not talk about names,” Benitez insisted. “This one because it is in all the press here and also in Spain. But we are not trying to bring him so it will be very, very difficult to get him.”

Reading caretaker-manager Brian McDermott is keen to land the job full-time and hopes the Royals’ efforts against Liverpool can bolster his chances.

He is more concerned, though, with picking up points in next weekend’s league clash against Championship leaders Newcastle.

“Points are our priority,” McDermott said. “We play Newcastle next week with another full house. We have to be spot on or we’ll get nothing. The Championship is a tough, tough league.

“We need to play like that every week. The most important thing we’ve lacked is consistency and we have to get back to that.

“People said there was no pressure on us today but there is always pressure. The last thing we want to be is embarrassed in a game of football. A side like Liverpool can embarrass you if you are not careful.

“A replay was the least we deserved.”

READING, England (AFP)

Tags: anfield, Brian McDermott, champions league, emile, England, english football, FA Cup, Fernando Torres, four points, free kick, Liverpool, madejski stadium, MADRID, NEWCASTLE, play one, quartet, rafael benitez, reading reading, replay, Spain, Spaniard, starting line, Steven Gerrard, top priority, trophies, tv cameras

Chelsea face test of progress

October 17, 2009

For all the progress Chelsea have made under Carlo Ancelotti, doubts over their away form continue to hang over them ahead of a difficult trip to Aston Villa.

Just 24 hours after the club were scheduled to lodge an official appeal against a FIFA-imposed transfer ban until January 2011, in light of the manner in which they induced Gael Kakuta to the club from Lens in 2007, Chelsea travel to Villa Park aiming to prove their recent showings on the road were no more than a minor blip.

The transfer issue will linger behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge until Christmas, at least, and on the field manager Ancelotti must ensure his players keep their focus.

A 2-0 success over title rivals Liverpool before the international break helped them remain ahead of Manchester United at the summit of the Premier League, yet the trip to the Midlands poses the latest question over this side’s character.

Chelsea’s last domestic away fixture resulted in a 3-1 defeat at Wigan. The scoreline led to captain John Terry calling on his teammates to show a better work ethic.

Since then, Chelsea have beaten Apoel Nicosia in the Champions League, but even that display in Cyprus was unconvincing.

Over the international break Ivory Coast forward Salomon Kalou and Brazilian defender Alex have agreed new contracts.

They join Terry, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba and Michael Mancienne in committing their long-term futures to Chelsea, and the spirit within the side is clearly a strength Ancelotti is attempting to turn into one of his main assets.

Keeper Petr Cech believes there are enough signs to suggest Chelsea are moving in the right direction but that confidence will be quickly shattered if they slump to a second league defeat, particularly as United are expected to claim maximum points at home to Bolton

“When you have a good start, even in the games you don’t play particularly well in, you manage to win the games and that’s a good sign,” Cech said.

“After the Wigan game, when we didn’t play well and lost, we had a great reaction against Liverpool and now we’ve got Villa away which is always a difficult game.

“If we can get three points we’ll have another advantage.”

Villa’s Stephen Warnock, meanwhile, admits the style of Chelsea’s football this season has made the London club more formidable opponents than the side that fell short of matching United last year.

Warnock believes the diamond formation allows Ancelotti’s side to be more fluid in their attacking play and, as a left-back, is bracing himself for a testing 90 minutes.

“In the diamond they’ve got Michael Essien moving out wide and Nicolas Anelka and Jose Bosingwa go out there too,” said Warnock.

“So I won’t be getting much sleep at all the night before. It will be the same as usual when I come up against Chelsea.”

The main issue surrounding the home side surrounds the future of forward Emile Heskey.

During the international break he made it clear that he will seek a move away from the club in Janaury, in order to enhance his chances of being involved in the World Cup with England.

Heskey has started just once in the Premier League for manager Martin O’Neill this season, and Villa are likely to start with Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew in attack against Chelsea.

After a shaky start to the campaign, Villa are up to seventh place in the table, but Ashley Young (foot), Curtis Davies (shoulder) and Stewart Downing (ankle) all remain absent.

Chelsea, meanwhile, can call on fit-again Joe Cole, while Cech is available following suspension.

BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP)

Tags: alex, ashley cole, Birmingham, blip, captain john, captain John Terry, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, Cole, didier drogba, emile, gabriel agbonlahor, Ivory Coast, john terry, Jose, kakuta, Liverpool, Martin O'Neill, maximum points, Michael Essien, Michael Mancienne, moving in the right direction, Nicosia, Petr Cech, premier league, salomon, Salomon Kalou, scoreline, stamford bridge, stephen warnock, stewart downing, term futures, terry ashley, transfer ban, villa park, work ethic

Barry backs Heskey over Villa exit talk

October 13, 2009

Gareth Barry admits Emile Heskey is right to consider leaving Aston Villa to keep his place in the England team ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Heskey is in the unusual position of being an England regular while struggling to get a starting place in Martin O’Neill’s Villa line-up.

The former Liverpool forward revealed after England’s 1-0 defeat against Ukraine on Saturday that he may be forced to look for a move when the transfer window re-opens in January because he can’t afford to lose his spot in Fabio Capello’s team.

England coach Capello has made it clear that ideally players need to be starting regularly for their clubs and Heskey fears that will count against him sooner rather than later.

Barry, who quit Villa for Manchester City in the close-season, said: “The World Cup is in the back of everyone’s mind so I can understand where Emile is coming from. It’s not just Emile, it’s that time of year when you want to be playing regularly.

“He has his place in the England team at the moment and won’t want anything to change that. Playing regularly for your club can help you cement a place in the England squad.

“Emile has struck a great partnership with Wayne Rooney in the qualifying campaign. His work-rate and the way he plays for the team is second to none.

“Wayne and the other attacking midfielders have thrived playing off him. He’s a big part of the England team.”

Barry hopes to regain his place in Capello’s team against Belarus on Wednesday after Manchester United’s Michael Carrick started ahead of him against Ukraine.

“You want to play in every game and when you are left out it increases your hunger to get back in,” he said. “I’ll work hard and try to make the next team.

“Every player knows competition is very high and in World Cup year it goes up another level.”

Meanwhile, Barry fears City’s players could become the game’s new boo-boys as fans, jealous of the club’s spending spree, start to lash out.

“We’ve spoken about it among ourselves at City this season,” Barry said. “People outside of the club may look at us in a different way and it is something the players, including myself, can deal with. It’s important that we don’t let it affect us.

“Anyone would be lying if they said they don’t want a good reception when they go back to their old club. I have a lot of friends in Birmingham so it was something that I was expecting – a mixed reception if you like.

“It was another learning curve and another experience for myself. You can learn from these and still improve.”

WATFORD (AFP)

Tags: Barry, belarus, Birmingham, CITY, emile, Emile Heskey, England, england coach, england squad, england team, fabio capello, fears, Gareth Barry, hunger, Liverpool, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, martin o neill, Martin O'Neill, Michael Carrick, midfielders, second to none, spending spree, team england, time of year, ukraine, wayne rooney, World Cup

Heskey backs Rooney to put England top of the World

June 8, 2009

WATFORD (AFP) – England forward Emile Heskey believes Wayne Rooney can fire Fabio Capello’s team to World Cup glory in South Africa.

For the second time in his England career, Heskey is the foil for one of the world’s best strikers and the Aston Villa star is convinced his partnership with Rooney can be even better than the relationship he established with Michael Owen.

It was Heskey’s muscular presence that allowed Owen to thrive during Sven Goran Eriksson’s reign. After a spell in international exile, Heskey was brought back into the fold by Fabio Capello because the England coach felt his selfless style would give Rooney room to flourish.

Capello’s decision has already paid dividends. Rooney’s goal in Saturday’s 4-0 victory over Kazakhstan was the Manchester United player’s eighth in six games for his country, while Heskey netted his second in two matches.

Heskey has never been one to blow his own trumpet but he is willing to express his admiration of Rooney and makes a convincing case for his team-mate to make a major impact in next year’s World Cup finals.

“Wayne Rooney is a great player. He has shown it on many occasions for his club and for England as well,” Heskey said.

“He is up there with the best in terms of his ability. He can play in different positions and do great jobs. That shows how good he is.”

Heskey and Rooney have one final chance to fine-tune their partnership before heading off for their close-season holidays when England host Andorra on Wednesday.

Group Six leaders England are already within touching distance of the finals and a victory at Wembley would all but cement their place, but Heskey insists there is no chance of complacency creeping into the squad.

“No, we’re not thinking about South Africa. The lads are very focused on the games. We want to keep going,” Heskey said.

“It’s going to be a difficult game after coming back from Kazakhstan on a long flight but we are very focused on getting the right result.

“The lads are really focused on the game. It’s the last game (of the season), and it’s at home so we are very confident and set on what we have to achieve.”

Heskey has extra motivation to help England achieve their goal of qualification after failing to make the squad for the 2006 World Cup.

The former Liverpool targetman’s international adventure seemed to be over when he was cast adrift by Eriksson, but he insists he never gave up hope.

“No, never,” he said. “You just have to focus on playing well for your club. Once you’ve done that, you don’t know what’s going to happen.

“I got a taste of it, and I’m enjoying it now. I want to go to every tournament with England.”

While Heskey is enjoying his combination with Rooney, he could get a chance to rekindle his relationship with Owen as well if reports that the Newcastle star is set for a move to Villa prove true.

“It would be nice. Obviously Michael is a great player. He has shown that on many occasions,” Heskey said. “He’s been knocked and always got back up and performed.”

Tags: admiration, Andorra, aston villa, complacency, convincing case, emile, Emile Heskey, England, england coach, English Premier League, fabio capello, fine tune, kazakhstan, lads, Liverpool, Manchester, manchester united player, Michael, michael owen, NEWCASTLE, six games, South Africa, strikers, Sven Goran Eriksson, team mate, wayne rooney, wednesday group, Wembley, World Cup, world cup finals, world cup glory

Martinez set to become new Wigan boss

June 4, 2009

WIGAN, England (AFP) – Roberto Martinez is set to become the new manager of Wigan after the Premier League club reached an agreement with his current club Swansea on the terms of his release.

Wigan owner Dave Whelan confirmed Thursday that he had agreed to pay the Championship club around two million pounds in compensation and voiced confidence that he could quickly wrap up negotiations on Martinez’s personal terms.

The 35-year-old Martinez is a former Wigan player who has established a reputation as an astute manager after guiding Swansea to the League One title and then within two places of the Championship play-offs in successive seasons.

“Roberto played good football and I’ve followed his career go on and on,” Whelan said Thursday. “His players play football from back to front, I like what I see and I am really excited Roberto is coming back to Wigan.

“Compensation was something we had to agree, that is only fair and right. We did that with Birmingham and we have now agreed with the chairman of Swansea.

“Hopefully things will be sorted out and contracts signed by tomorrow morning.”

Martinez had also been linked to the managerial vacancy at Celtic but Swansea had refused the Scottish club permission to talk to him without a prior agreement on compensation.

The new manager will succeed Steve Bruce, who guided Wigan to 11th place in the Premier League but opted for a move to Sunderland after growing frustrated with the financial constraints that resulted in key players including Wilson Palacios and Emile Heskey being sold.

Antonio Valencia is expected to follow those two out of the JJB Stadium this summer but Martinez has been promised some funds for rebuilding.

“We are not the biggest club but we will talk and we have the money we require to replace players,” Whelan said.

“Roberto will be getting the funds that we can afford to replace the players we need.”

Tags: Antonio Valencia, Birmingham, celtic, championship play offs, current club, dave whelan, emile, Emile Heskey, England, English Premier League, financial constraints, jjb stadium, managerial vacancy, negotiations, personal terms, premier league, reputation, Roberto, roberto martinez, scottish club, Steve Bruce, Sunderland, Swansea, tomorrow morning, two million, Wigan, wigan england, Wilson, wilson palacios

O´Neill hoping Villa young guns thrive on pressure

February 15, 2009

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) – Martin O’Neill heads into a crunch phase in Aston Villa’s season hoping his young stars can continue their excellent progression with an FA Cup victory at Everton on Sunday.

O?Neill is far too canny to admit it publically but he must be aware that he faces a crucial seven days as Villa battle to land a top-four finish in the Premier League and win the FA and UEFA Cups.

Villa kick off their week of destiny with the tough FA Cup fifth round trip to Goodison Park, before facing CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Cup on Wednesday.

O’Neill will then present new Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink with his first Premier League test in a monumental clash at Villa Park on February 22.

He said: "Here we are in mid-February involved in three competitions. This time in a fortnight, we might be in one.

"That’s something I’ve been used to as a player in the past and I think that it can happen.

"I love the FA Cup and we’ve managed for the first time in a year or two to get past the third round.

"But with the Premier League being the holy grail that’s where we’ve got momentum going and that would be pretty important to us.

"In really big games now this gives an opportunity to players to step up and that’s all I can ask."

O?Neill’s preparations for the game at Goodison Park have been disrupted by the potential loss of England international striker Emile Heskey.

The Villa boss is ready to demand an explanation from England coach Fabio Capello as to why Heskey was pressed into international duty for the friendly against Spain.

Heskey played the first half in Seville despite suffering with an Achilles injury and is now struggling to be fit for Sunday.

The striker was substituted in Villa’s win at Blackburn last weekend and O?Neill insists he made his concerns clear to Capello and his medical staff before Wednesday’s friendly.

He said: "I was surprised he played. I have spoken to the England doctor and obviously voiced some concerns there and I will also speak to the management team.

"It’s a friendly game at the end of it all. I could understand it if it was a qualifying game.

"He did come off in the game against Blackburn Rovers with an Achilles problem. He didn’t come off because he was tired.

"He actually had a problem with it and you would have thought that rest this particular week was the order of the day. But England deemed him fit t o play in the game.

"Emile must have thought he was fit himself. From that view point it would be hard to put up a complete argument but I was surprised that he was selected."

Everton could be boosted by the return of Louis Saha, the France international, for this weekend. Saha has not played since he was stretchered off during the 1-0 win at Tottenham on November 30 with a hamstring problem.

It was initially hoped Saha would only spend two to three weeks on the sidelines but further scans showed he had suffered serious damage to the muscle.

Results, of course, have not suffered during the Frenchman’s absence but Moyes is eager to get Saha back involved on Sunday as Marouane Fellaini is out with a small crack in a bone in his back.

On-loan Manchester City striker Jo is cup tied and South African midfielder Steven Pienaar is suspended.

Written by: AFP

Tags: AFP, aston villa, big games, CHELSEA, coach fabio capello, CSKA, cska moscow, cup victory, emile, Emile Heskey, England, English Premier League, FA Cup, fabio capello, first premier, Goodison Park, hiddink, holy grail, Liverpool, liverpool england, manchester city, martin o neill, Martin O'Neill, medical staff, Moscow, Moyes, Neill, Saha, seville, Spain, steven pienaar, striker emile heskey, uefa cups, villa park, young stars

O´Neill anger at Heskey´s England start

February 14, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP) – Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill plans showdown talks with England coach Fabio Capello after admitting he was surprised that Emile Heskey started Wednesday’s friendly against Spain.

Heskey, 31, suffered an Achilles injury during Villa’s win at Blackburn last weekend, but was declared fit enough to play by the England medical staff.

The former Liverpool star lasted only 48 minutes of the 2-0 defeat in Seville before coming off and has now suffered a reaction to the problem.

He has been unable to train since returning to Villa and is a major doubt for Sunday’s FA Cup fifth round tie at Everton.

O’Neill cannot understand why Heskey was risked in a non-competitive game and will speak to Capello to let him know his feelings.

"Knowing Emile, he would have wanted to have gone down there and played in a bit of discomfort but I was surprised he played considering he wouldn’t have been fully fit," O’Neill said.

"The ruling now is that you go down and be assessed at international level by the international medical team.

"If you are fully fit to play, I don’t have a problem and you take your chance. If you have been suffering from something a couple of days before, then I think a bit of care should be taken.

"Emile has come back, he didn’t train on Friday, the Achilles is particularly sore at this minute. If the game was this minute, he couldn’t play.

"It was a friendly international at the end of it all. I can understand it if it was a qualifying game because they are very important to the well-being of the country.

"I have spoken to the England doctor and voiced some concerns and I will speak to the manager."

Written by: AFP

Tags: achilles injury, AFP, anger, aston villa, Birmingham, birmingham england, coach fabio capello, couple of days, doubt, emile, Emile Heskey, England, england coach, English Premier League, everton, FA Cup, fabio capello, feelings, Liverpool, martin o neill, Martin O'Neill, medical staff, medical team, Neill, reaction, ruling, seville, something, Spain, tie, Wednesday, win

Rooney urges Man Utd to seize league initiative

January 14, 2009

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) – Wayne Rooney has urged reigning champions Manchester United to take full advantage of their games in hand and leave themselves looking down on the rest of the Premier League once again.

United can hit the top of the table, for a brief spell at least, should they claim maximum points from their two games in hand, starting with Wednesday’s visit of Wigan Athletic to Old Trafford.

England striker Rooney has no intentions of basking in the glow of Sunday’s thumping win over title rivals Chelsea and is keen to look forward instead of back.

Rooney insists all United are bothered about is reaching the Premier League summit as quickly as possible to increase the pressure on current leaders Liverpool, who have still to visit Old Trafford this season.

"It’s down to us," he said. "If we win our two games we’ll be top of the league.

"That might only last until Liverpool play Everton on the Monday but on Saturday night (after United face Bolton) we want to look at the table and see ourselves at the top.

"The win against Chelsea was very important. After watching Liverpool (draw 0-0 at Stoke) we needed to take advantage and get the win.

"We’ve done that now so come Saturday, if we do our job right and win our two games, then we’ll be top."

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to be without influential defender Rio Ferdinand once again due to back trouble.

Ferdinand has been suffering spasms and was forced to miss his side’s win over Chelsea before being sent for further scans on the problem.

United are still awaiting the results and Ferguson admits his absence is a big blow, although he has been full of praise for the England international’s replacement at the heart of United’s defence, Jonny Evans.

Evans, who is just 21, appears to be a star in the making and has deputised without putting a foot wrong.

Ferguson said: "He’s been marvellous. For a young boy, 21 only a week ago, he was absolutely superb (against Chelsea).

"His reading of the game, his use of the ball, he was a giant like many of our players. I was very pleased for the boy."

Wigan manager Steve Bruce takes his in-form side to Old Trafford on the back of an incredible run of six wins in the last seven league games, but is more concerned with the future of Emile Heskey.

The England striker has been linked with moves to Liverpool and Aston Villa but Bruce has warned him that leaving the JJB Stadium could ruin his hopes of being involved in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Former United centre-half Bruce said: "Emile knows that we play to his strengths and that has helped him get himself back into the England team.

"It’s no secret that his return to the international scene is a result of what he has done for us.

"He is enjoying it, so what he has to ask himself is, if he wants to go to the World Cup as England’s centre-forward, then where does he need to be to give him his best chance of doing that?

"At his age, Emile needs to be playing every week and he will do that here. But the big clubs like to change things around and he knows that.

"So when the season ends, I’m sure that is something he will think about when he comes to make up his mind."

Written by: AFP

Tags: AFP, Aston, Bolton, Bruce, CHELSEA, emile, Emile Heskey, England, england international, English Premier League, everton, Ferdinand, jjb stadium, Liverpool, Manchester, manchester england, manchester united, maximum points, old trafford, premier league, Rio, rio ferdinand, rivals, saturday night, sir alex ferguson, South Africa, Steve Bruce, striker, summit, two games, wayne rooney, Wigan

England striker Rooney tells ManUnited to seize initiative

January 14, 2009