Algeria´s Saadane: “I have nothing to prove”

January 22, 2010

Algeria are into their first World Cup finals in 24 years and the Africa Cup of Nations quarter finals – yet the architect behind those twin achievements feels undervalued, unappreciated and underfire.

Coach Rabah Saadane has nothing to prove, yet his critics, sections of the Algerian media, have rounded on him here in Angola leaving him embattled and bitter.

Born months after the end of World War II, the father of four who graduated from university with a degree in science is on his fifth ‘marriage’ with the national team.

He was assistant coach at the 1982 World Cup, and head coach at the 1986 World Cup when Algeria failed to make it out of the first round after a draw with Northern Ireland and losses to Brazil and Spain.

Saadane, who cuts a doleful figure with his droopy eyes and walrus moustache, served his country again for an unhappy four month spell in 1999 and returned for a fourth time in 2003, leading the Desert Foxes to a quarter-final at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

Hired again in 2007 this latest tenure has proved his most successful, with qualification to South Africa 2010 and now a last eight date with Ivory Coast on Sunday.

He has achieved mission impossible as none of his critics believed either of those two feats were possible, especially Algeria’s progress through the Africa Cup of Nations’ first round after their opening 3-0 loss to Malawi.

That led to calls for his sacking.

“After that defeat I discovered who were my friends and who were my enemies,” Saadane, who has clearly been hurt by the press onslaught, told AFP.

“I was attacked before we came to Angola for choosing Toulon as our training base, and attacked again when we lost to Malawi.

“The criticism became personal, this was disrespectful after the sacrifice made to help put Algeria back on the continental and international stage.

“I don’t need to prove anything to anyone. My record speaks for itself.”

“I feel unappreciated,” added the man who is called ‘Cheikh’ by his players.

“No one dreamed we could qualify for the World Cup. All those who criticise me know nothing – we lost one game and nobody will forgive us.

“My critics forget who is Rabah Saadane – if they want to know who he is they must look back to the past, or to just a few months.

“I have nothing to prove.

“Training the national team is an honour for me – but it is also a huge responsibility. Eevery time I am asked to become coach I answer the challenge and I make a successful job of it.”

When he was summoned to become coach for the fifth time in 2007 his wife begged him not to accept, as when times get rough fans can get rough too.

“I took on the job again even though I know the risk it presents on my family, on my life – I do not give up easily.”

After their rocky start Algeria went on to beat Mali 1-0 and draw 0-0 with Angola to reach the quarter-finals as Group A runners-up, leaving Saadane satisfied that his team are on the right path.

“We have reached our objective of making the quarter-finals.

“We have a good team, who are making progress with each match. We will continue to work hard, to concentrate, to try to go far in this tournament.”

The North Africans are drawn in the same World Cup first round group as England, the United States and Slovenia, and Saadane, a former defender with French side Rennes, believes this Angola dress rehearsal will prove an invaluable experience for South Africa.

“We have shown here in Angola that we are on the right path for the World Cup.

“But what we have done here shouldn’t be regarded as a message to England, USA and Slovenia. The conditions at the World Cup will be very different to here in terms of weather, tactics and our preparation.

LUANDA (AFP)

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Argentine Bielsa becomes Chile’s unlikeliest sex symbol

October 10, 2009

Marcelo Bielsa’s feats – leading Chile’s national team to the third spot in the World Cup qualifiers and just one win from a ticket to South Africa 2010 – have turned him into one of Chile’s most beloved figures. Men say he should run for president; women rank the introverted coach a sex symbol.

His popularity is backed by numbers. A poll in El Mercurio newspaper ranks Bielsa the best trainer in Chile’s soccer history, above Nelson Acosta who took the team to the second round of France 1998 and Fernando Riera who led “La Roja” to the third spot in Chile 1962.

But passion for the Argentine transcends the soccer pitch and enters the realm of the altar.
In the most recent act of fervour, a group of fans is asking the Vatican to canonise him. The site asks fans to support the effort by lighting 100,000 virtual candles for “San Marcelino.”

Bielsa, who is pictured with a halo on an altar, wearing the red jumper of the Chilean squad, even has prayers in his honour. “Blessed San Marcelino, lead your serious glare towards our fans and fill our nation with your glory,” reads one of them. It adds: “The nation you’ve chosen to change history and bring only triumphs to La Roja.”

The site asks for three miracles from “the saint”: Chile’s classification to the next World Cup, reaching round two, and winning the tournament.

The first miracle could be granted if “Saint Marcelino’s” Chile beats Colombia in Medellin on Saturday. For now fans can only pray and hope the miracle is achieved and their team can come back to a World Cup after 12 years of purgatory.

PHOTO: Chile’s coach Marcelo Bielsa listens to a question during a news conference at Santiago August 31, 2009. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

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Ronaldo needs time to adapt to Real, says Pellegrini

August 25, 2009

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini says Cristiano Ronaldo needs more time to adapt to his new club after the Portuguese winger failed to impress during his side’s trouncing of Rosenborg on Monday in the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy.

“Cristiano Ronaldo needs a little time to adapt to his new team’s style. Every player on the squad is working hard to be fit and play well,” he said in comments published Tuesday on the Real Madrid website.

“Cristiano has experienced a change in style and now lives in a different country. He needs a little more time unlike those who already know La Liga.”

Spain’s media expressed disappointment Tuesday in Ronaldo, who joined Real from Manchester United last month for a record 94 million euros (135 million dollars), over his failure to score during the match.

Top-selling El Pais said the 24-year-old has “struggled to find his place” possibly “because he tries too much to please the public with his technical feats” while ABC said he “spends more time watching the stands than the match itself”.

Sports daily AS said Ronaldo put in a “discreet” performance and “did not score despite having numerous chances”.

“He showed himself very impatient to try to score,” it said.

The comments contrast to the words of praise heaped on French striker Karim Benzema who joined Real from Lyon for 35 million euros last month and who scored twice during the club’s friendly match at home against Rosenborg.

“He is only 21 and he is already shining,” said AS while ABC praised Benzema’s “indeterminable and fatal powder”.

El Pais said the match “was only a preview of Benzema’s enormous possibilities”.

Real called Benzema “the best player of the match” in a review of players’ performances during the match posted on its website on Tuesday and said Ronaldo “constantly showed the quality of his footwork”.

“Everything indicated when you watch him on the pitch that his final explosion will be a matter of time and trust,” it added.

Real will play their first match of the new Spanish league season on Saturday at home against minnows Deportivo La Coruna.

MADRID (AFP)

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Giggs is one of a kind for United

February 14, 2009

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) – Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan admits is will be almost impossible for another player to match the feats of Ryan Giggs.

The Welsh winger, 35, has just signed a one-year contract extension at Old Trafford to keep him at United for a 19th season.

Giggs made his United debut in March 1991 and, as well as holding the club’s record for appearances with 787, he has an unparalleled trophy haul.

The veteran has won the Premier League 10 times, lifted the Champions League twice and won the FA Cup four times.

Phelan played alongside Giggs in the twilight of his career as the then-teenager burst onto the scene in the early 1990s.

And Sir Alex Ferguson’s number two believes that Giggs’ record will be tough for a modern player to match.

"I was probably the one that left when he came through. He was one of the new generation but you could see even when I was playing in the team that he was on the verge of breaking in," Phelan said.

"It was great to watch him training and everybody was talking about him. Once he got in there was not stopping him.

"When you talk about the games he’s played, the competitions he’s been involved in, he’s had the opportunity to get to finals with a good team, a good club, all these factors play a part but he’s had a couple of injuries and he’s come through that.

"The amount of games we play now, does a player play 40 or 50 games a season now? Squad rotation all plays a part.

"Anything’s possible but what Ryan has done, in some ways it’s ridiculous, in other ways it’s fantastic.

"Someone of the quality of Ryan Giggs should be held in high esteem. He’s a credit to the club and the young players do. That’s come through hard work and talent and he’s been rewarded for that."

Even though United sit top of the Premier League table, are in the last 16 of the Champions League and have a League Cup final with Tottenham next month, Phelan feels there is still plenty more to come from Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

The assistant manager believes that United, who have won eight consecutive matches in all competitions, can move to another level once their attack gels.

He added: "We feel as though we can get better and we feel we can score more goals. That’s our aim.

"We work in training on all aspects of the game, on attacking teams, on using the pitch as much as we possibly can.

"But there’s another team you’re playing against and sometimes they try to put you in situations that make it more difficult to score goals and we’ve found that this year.

"We’ve looked comfortable in certain games even though it’s been a 1-0. I know it’s unusual for us to have 1-0s but three points is three points in the league and we’re happy to get them.

"It’s a matter of winning football matches and if we win 4-3, terrific. That’s the record gone but it’s something that happens throughout the course of the season."

Brazilian Anderson has been struggling with an ankle injury for the past month but Phelan has revealed the midfielder will step up his rehabilitation next week.

Written by: AFP