Mourinho takes dig at Lippi ahead of Milan clash

January 23, 2010

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho could not resist a dig at Italy coach Marcello Lippi ahead of Sunday’s crucial derby against AC Milan at the San Siro.

A storm has been brewing this week after Lippi chose to visit Juventus and Milan but not Inter.

Those inside the halls at the champions have accused the national team coach of bias towards the other two big sides in Italy while Lippi himself claimed there weren’t enough Italians at Inter to warrant a trip.

But Mourinho suggested on Saturday there was another reason the club’s former coach did not return.

“Maybe Lippi didn’t come back here because he wasn’t happy at Inter,” said Mourinho slyly.

“It’s not a problem for me but who knows, coming back here reminds him of a period of his career that didn’t go well.”

After great success – three Serie A titles and the Champions League – during his first spell at Juventus, Lippi joined Inter in 1999 but was fired one game into his second season.

In 2001 he returned to Juventus and led them to two more titles and another Champions League final.

While Mourinho took a dig at Lippi, he had much kinder words to say about his opposite number on Sunday, Leonardo.

The Brazilian had a torrid start to his Milan career, winning only three and scoring just six goals in his opening nine matches.

But since then Milan have soared, winning eight of their last nine Serie A encounters.

“First of all I’m happy things have gone this way and secondly it shows maturity on both his and the club’s part because there are clubs who at the first sign of fragility no longer guarantee their coach the ideal conditions to continue his work,” said Mourinho.

“At Milan it wasn’t like that, they protected Leonardo and now both he and the club are happy and everything’s going well for them. Hence well done to both Leonardo and the club.”

Leonardo for his part is looking forward to the game, although he was at pains to play down it’s significance in terms of the title race.

Inter lead his team by six points but Milan have a game in hand.

“Tomorrow night’s game against Inter will be an extraordinary match, you just need to look at the expectation surrounding this type of game and the number of people who will watch it,” he said.

“It will even be watched live in Brazil, they follow a lot of Milan games.

“But I don’t think it will be too decisive as there are a lot if games left until the end of the season and we still have to play our game in hand against Fiorentina.

“Also from a mathematical perspective you can’t be sure of who’s where because we have a game more to play.

“But it will be important on many other levels, such games as these always leave signals, both positive and negative.”

That was certainly the case when they met on matchday two and Inter, the away team, thrashed Milan 4-0.

That dented Leonardo’s team’s confidence to such an extent that it took them seven matches to recover and only then when they came away from the Bernabeu with a shock 3-2 win over Real Madrid.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: brazil, champions league, club leonardo, coach marcello lippi, first spell, former coach, fragility, happy things, Italy, italy coach, jose mourinho, juventus, juventus lippi, kinder words, leonardo, MADRID, Milan, national team coach, opposite number, ROME, san siro, second season, six points

Beckham lauds Capello, passionate about England

January 4, 2010

England veteran David Beckham, keen to use his loan spell with AC Milan to boost his chances of holding down a place at the World Cup, on Sunday saluted coach Fabio Capello, whose “scary” personality he credited with revitalising the national team.

“He’s brought an arrogance – but in a good way. Players go onto the field confident, they believe they’re going to win, and he gives us that confidence,” Beckham said in an interview with BBC radio.

“He’s brought a real seriousness, a professional side which was needed. He scares you – in a ‘respect’ way,” said Beckham, drawing a parallel with former Manchester United mentor Sir Alex Ferguson, who “was a father figure to me.”

Beckham is hoping to make enough of an impression at the San Siro – as he did in a first loan period last season – to persuade Capello to keep him on board with England at the World Cup finals.

He gave up the captaincy after the last World Cup and then found himself dropped altogether under former coach Steve McClaren before winning a recall.

Now he hopes to play his way on to Capello’s teamsheet.

“I’ve always said that I always want to be available for England whether I’m in the team or whether I’m not I’m passionate about playing for my country – I’ve enjoyed every moment whether it’s been good or bad times,” he told the BBC’s Sportsweek programme.

There has been speculation as to whether Beckham may feature in a more withdrawn role at Milan this season under coach Leonardo but the veteran star is unconcerned – as long as he features somewhere.

“I’m sure he’ll put me somewhere in midfield when I do start – he’s not a manager and a person who’s going to put me out of position unless it’s really desperate.

“Throughout my career there’s not one team I’ve played for where I expected to start.

“I’ve just been lucky enough I’ve been picked for most (games).

“Everyone knows I’m prepared to work hard to be part of the England squad and I’m going to do that,” said Beckham, a frontline ambassador for England’s 2018 World Cup bid.

Regarding his fitness, Beckham said: “I’ve always looked after myself – ate the right things. I’ve always tried to look after my body – I want to play for as long as possible.

“There’s nothing special I do – I’ve got three sons who are full of energy so I’m chasing them around for most of the day! That’s the thing that probably keeps my fitness up more than anything.”

Top of Beckham’s club agenda is an impending Champions League last 16 tussle against former club United.

“Manchester United is so special to me and I’ve never been back as a player – it’s an experience I want to cherish. It’s going to be such a special and emotional night,” said Beckham, who admitted that he would have liked to spend his whole career at Old Trafford.

“But it just wasn’t meant to be.”

Looking forward to facing United – having not faced the club during his four years with Real Madrid – Beckham said his loyalties were clear.

“I’d like us to win. Us is AC Milan! But as a Manchester United fan I always want them to win in every game – but maybe not this one!”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, arrogance, coach fabio capello, coach steve mcclaren, David Beckham, England, fabio capello, father figure, former coach, leonardo, loan period, london, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, midfield, Milan, professional side, San, san siro, seriousness, sir alex ferguson, speculation, Steve McClaren, world cup finals

PSG keeper ‘blackmailed’ by former coach

December 15, 2009

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Apoula Edel is being blackmailed by his former coach and advisor Nicolas Philibert, the club’s sporting director Alain Roche told AFP on Tuesday.

Philibert worked with Edel in Cameroon, where the player was born, and persuaded him to move to Armenia in 2002.

According to a report that appeared in Tuesday’s edition of Le Parisien newspaper, Philibert claims that Edel owes him 30,000 euros but the naturalised Armenian international refuses to pay him.

Following this refusal, Philibert allegedly provided information to Saint-Etienne, PSG’s opponents on Sunday, that cast doubt on the goalkeeper’s true age and identity.

Saint-Etienne accordingly filed a pre-emptory complaint prior to their match at the Parc des Princes, which they lost 3-0 with Edel keeping goal for the home side.

“In 2000 and 2001 I was the coach (at Cameroonian side Espoirs de Yaounde) of Ambroise Beyamena (Edel’s real name, according to Philibert), who was 19 years old,” Philibert told France Bleu radio.

“This player has behaved very badly towards me for four or five years.”

Philibert went on to allege that Edel has not settled outstanding debts between the two men.

“I visited him at his hotel in Montpellier before PSG’s match (on August 8),” Philibert said.

“I told him that I was not happy with his behaviour and he laughed in my face. I told him: ‘Wait until I denounce you for lying about your age and your identity’. He was 19 in 2000, so he is 27 today.”

PSG and the French Professional League officially list Edel’s date of birth as June 17, 1986, making him 23.

On Sunday, PSG president Robin Leproux lamented the reservations raised by Saint-Etienne ahead of the league game between the clubs.

“It is the act of club directors who have lost their nerve and their composure,” he said. “Regarding Edel, he has all his papers in order, approved by FIFA, passport etc.”

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: 19 years old, alain roche, ambroise, armenian, august 8, cameroon, club directors, former coach, France, france bleu, Germain, Goalkeeper, hotel in montpellier, league game, Montpellier, nicolas philibert, parc des princes, paris saint germain, professional league, robin leproux, saint etienne, true age, YAOUNDE

Upbeat Japan insist semi-final goal still on

December 5, 2009

Upbeat Japan coach Takeshi Okada insisted Friday making the semi-finals of the World Cup next year remained a realistic goal after they were drawn against the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark.

Japan have never made it past the round of 16 in three previous attempts and open their fourth World Cup campaign in Bloemfontein against Cameroon on June 14.

“I think all the opposition countries are rated above us in a sense, but they are within a range that we can cope with. I think the group is not so bad,” Okada told reporters.

“It will be the fourth World Cup finals for Japan and we are aiming for a top four spot. We don’t intend to change our goal and we continue to aim for a top four spot.”

The goal is widely seen as unrealistic and former coach Ivica Osim, who had to step down due to illness in 2007, said the Blue Samurai must not get their hopes up too high.

“The bigger the expectations, the bigger the disappointment,” the Bosnian told Japanese media ahead of the draw.

“Japan is capable of pulling off a surprise, but to get to where Japan is trying to go, they will need a trampoline,” he added.

“You can jump three meters, five meters in the air with a trampoline, but one has to understand how to use a trampoline in the first place.

“So the question is — will Japan be able to figure out how to use a trampoline?”

CAPE TOWN (AFP)

Tags: attempts, Bloemfontein, blue samurai, bosnian, cameroon, cape town, denmark, disappointment, former coach, Japan, japan coach, japanese media, june 14, okada, opposition, osim, realistic goal, semi finals, takeshi, Takeshi Okada, the Netherlands, trampoline, world cup campaign, world cup finals

Palermo fire coach Zenga after derby draw

November 23, 2009

Palermo on Monday sacked coach Walter Zenga, a day after their 1-1 home draw against Sicilian rivals Catania.

Zenga, a former coach at Catania, becomes the sixth Serie A coach to be sacked this season while Luciano Spalletti also quit as AS Roma boss.

His sacking comes as a surprise as Palermo were having a reasonable season and some had been suggesting that Zenga, a former Italy goalkeeper, would be in the running to be the next Inter Milan boss.

Palermo had not won in four games but one of those was a thrilling 5-3 defeat at leaders Inter where Palermo hit back from 4-0 down at half-time to 4-3 at one point.

Prior to those four games they had won three in a row, including a 2-0 success over Turin giants Juventus, prompting Zenga to proclaim that his team could finish in the top four this season.

They currently sit 12th but are only seven points off fourth in a tight mid-table.

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini, though, is known for his short patience. He bought Palermo in 2002 having previously owned Venezia since 1987 and has sacked 29 coaches during his 22 years in football.

“I thought about it all night and I decided we couldn’t continue like this,” said Zamparini, who only hired Zenga from bitter rivals Catania before the beginning of the season.

“After 13 games while all the other teams are progressing Palermo are getting worse without even having a game.

“I’m sorry on a human level but Zenga wasn’t the right coach for Palermo.”

Former Lazio coach Delio Rossi is considered by the Italian media to be Zenga’s likely successor.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: 22 years, bitter rivals, boss, catania, former coach, four games, giants, inter milan, italian media, italy goalkeeper, luciano spalletti, Maurizio Zamparini, mid table, Palermo, patience, seven points, turin, venezia, zenga

Angola prepare glitzy show for Nations Cup draw

November 18, 2009

Pop stars, politicians and a president are among those expected to attend the African Nations Cup draw being staged by tournament host Angola here on Friday.

The event, featuring Congolese artist Papa Wemba and other Angolan singers, is being held at a shiny new glass-and-steel convention centre in the purpose-built southern suburb of Talatona.

African Football Confedation (CAF) president Issa Hayatou and members of his executive committee can also expect a rare public appearance from President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, ruler of this oil-rich country for 30 years.

Representatives from the 16 qualifiers for the January 10-31 tournament will also be present to witness a split into four groups from which the winners and runners-up advance to the quarter-finals.

Portuguese Manuel Jose, coach of the host nation, said he did not mind who the Palancas Negras (Black Antelopes) come up against in the first round.

“I don?t have any preference,” he told reporters after a training session ahead of a friendly against Ghana on Wednesday. “I would be lying if I said I didn?t want easier teams, but it?s dangerous to think that way.”

The charismatic former coach of Egyptian club giants Al-Ahly took over Angola in June after they failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and suffered a string of friendly defeats.

“When we know the teams in our group, we will be analysing them as much as possible,” said Jose.

“It?s not going to be easy because they will play little now, but we will be sending our scouts to any games they do play and we will be watching videos and DVDs to know their strategies better.”

The draw is generating less discussion among Angolans than an on-going spat between Jose and star Manucho Goncalves.

Real Valladolid striker Manucho was dropped from the squad for friendlies against Congo and Ghana after arriving late for training in Portugal.

Jose publicly blasted the former Manchester United player, saying he needed to learn respect.

Manucho did apologise through the Angolan state media, claiming he was delayed by visa problems, but Jose said this was not good enough and the Angolan sports minister has joined the discussion.

Speaking at a football conference in the capital, Goncalves Muandumba said Angola needed Manucho in the team and that the player should have apologised directly to Jose, not through a media statement.

The 15 teams who have qualified to play in Angola are Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, defending champions Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Togo, Tunisia and Zambia.

The 32-fixture tournament will be played at four new Chinese-built stadiums in Luanda, Benguela, Cabinda and Lubango.

LUANDA (AFP)

Tags: african football, african nations cup, al ahly, angolans, congolese, egyptian club, former coach, friendlies, host nation, jose eduardo dos santos, manchester united player, new glass, palancas, papa wemba, pop stars, quarter finals, rare public appearance, real valladolid, southern suburb, tournament host

Pato signs Milan contract extension

September 26, 2009

Star Brazilian youngster Pato has signed a contract extension at AC Milan, the club’s vice-president Adriano Galliani told the official Milan TV channel.

Pato joined Milan in January 2008 from Internacional and quickly established himself in the first team.

The 20-year-old has signed a deal that will keep him tied to the club until 2014 in what many see as a bid from Milan to discourage interest from Chelsea and their former coach Carlo Ancelotti in the January transfer window.

He has scored 29 goals in 68 matches for Milan and started this season in sensational fashion, scoring twice in the opening day victory at Siena.

But he has failed to find the net in four matches since and was substituted early in the second half of Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat at Udinese.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, adriano galliani, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, contract extension, former coach, Galliani, half of wednesday, Internacional, Milan, milan tv, opening day, ROME, second half, Siena, signs, tv channel, udinese, vice president, victory

Italians only know how to criticise, says Mourinho

September 19, 2009

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho hit out on Saturday claiming Italians prefer to criticise rather than look for solutions.

Speaking at Saturday’s pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Cagliari in Sardinia on Sunday, Mourinho launched an attack on his adopted home.

“When I see the Italian press criticising their own teams playing in European competition it’s easy to see that we are a country that knows only how to criticise and not how to find solutions,” he said.

“We’re a country that loves crying floods of tears over problems and doesn’t do anything to solve them.

“When we play against another country we can see they have the opposite approach.

“When it comes to playing in Europe everyone pushes in the same direction. Here it’s the opposite.

“We’re always negative and never positive; Portuguese and Italians are twins in that respect,” added Mourinho.

Mourinho also hit out at those in the press who criticised his team for their performance in the 0-0 draw at home to title-holders Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday, such as former coach Alberto Zaccheroni.

“Luckily I’m someone who either gets mad or laughs about what these greats write in the press, like the person who lost 5-1 at home to Arsenal (Zaccheroni in the 2003/04 season),” said the former Chelsea coach.

“In these situations I prefer to laugh and to keep on doing what I’m doing and to remember that our last three Champions League matches were against the last two European champions (Barca and Manchester United).

“To conclude the debate about the Champions League I can advise you all to look at the statistics regarding (goalkeepers) Julio Cesar (of Inter), (Juventus’s Gianluigi) Buffon, (AC Milan’s Marco) Storari and (Fiorentina’s Sebastien) Frey to understand that tomorrow Julio won’t be able to play because he’s really tired from watching the (Barca) game,” Mourinho added ironically.

Inter were criticised for being second best to Barcelona on their own pitch, although despite the Spaniards dominating possession they created little more than Inter and Julio Cesar made only one significant save in the game, tipping over a shot from outside the box from Lionel Messi.

Mourinho could restore Serbian Dejan Stankovic to the starting line-up for the trip to Cagliari while Argentine midfielder Esteban Cambiasso is also pushing for a recall after injury.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, Alberto Zaccheroni, Argentine, barca, Barcelona, cagliari, CHELSEA, Esteban Cambiasso, Europe, european champions, fiorentina, floods of tears, former coach, gianluigi buffon, goalkeepers, inter milan, italian press, italians, jose mourinho, julio cesar, juventus, lionel messi, Manchester, manchester united, Marco, Marco Storari, Milan, ROME, Sardinia, sebastien, sebastien frey, spaniards

Ancelotti shrugs off Hiddink legacy

August 8, 2009

Carlo Ancelotti is adamant he feels no pressure to match the success Guus Hiddink enjoyed during his fourth-month stay at Chelsea and insists the Dutchman is welcome to return to his former club.

Hiddink transformed the club’s fortunes after being drafted in on a temporary basis following the January dismissal of Luiz Felipe Scolari, culminating in May’s FA Cup final triumph over Everton.

The Dutchman has now returned to his full-time job with the Russia national team with Ancelotti formally taking charge on July 1 after ending his eight-year spell with AC Milan.

The new manager has been given an immediate chance to stamp his own imprint on the club with Chelsea set to face Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.

Ancelotti is aware that many senior Chelsea players pleaded with Hiddink to stay, but he claims he does not see his predecessor as a threat.

And he admitted he would like to compare notes with Hiddink, going so far as to invite the former coach to return to club whenever he likes.

“For me, Guus was a good coach,” said Ancelotti.

“He has worked very well wherever he has been. Now I want to do my best for Chelsea. I wanted to speak with Guus but I haven’t had the chance, we haven’t found the right time to meet.

“But maybe sometime in the future and if he wants to come I will be happy.”

Ancelotti has declared himself pleased with the progress his squad has made during his first month in charge.

“Everybody at the club has started very well,” he added. “I’ve been impressed with the organisation, mental attitude and good quality of the players.

“One month ago I started this adventure with Chelsea and after one month I can say that I’m still very well here because I have a good feeling. I feel a sense of something special.”

Victory over Premier League champions United will compound that feeling of well-being as well as striking a crucial early psychological blow against Ferguson and his team.

The Italian said: “I hope that at Wembley all the fans will see a good team that plays well because my objective is that Chelsea have to play very good football.

“This is my first objective. And I think on Sunday we will play against a team who can also play very well.”

Ancelotti has spoken of his desire to recreate the bond he built up at AC Milan which he has described as a family-type atmosphere.

And the upbeat mood of his first weeks in charge has even extended to the manager expressing his unlikely admiration of the London’s typically grey skies.

“After one month I feel at home,” he said. “I like the weather. I don’t like the sun. Every day, rain, rain very good.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, community shield, dutchman, fa cup final, Ferguson, former coach, fortunes, full time job, july 1, league champions, london, Luiz Felipe, luiz felipe scolari, Manchester, manchester united, mental attitude, Milan, predecessor, premier league, right time, russia, sir alex ferguson, Wembley

Deschamps, Morientes reunited at Marseille

July 28, 2009

MARSEILLE, France (AFP) – Valencia’s veteran Spanish striker Fernando Morientes joined French giants Marseille on Monday and was reunited with his former coach, Didier Deschamps.

The pair worked together at Monaco – where Morientes goals played a large part in Monaco reaching the 2004 Champions League final – and Deschamps believes the experienced 33-year-old can make a crucial impact at the Velodrome next season.

“Fernando has the physical freshness and hunger for the top level,” Deschamps told the media here on Monday as he welcomed the arrival of another signing, midfielder Fabrice Abriel from Lorient.

“If we’d wanted to sign a 20-goal a season striker he (Morientes) would have cost us 15 million euros. We couldn’t do that.

“I’m not saying by that that Fernando is a second best option. I know him well. But he’s not going to be playing 40 games for 90 minutes, we’ll have to prepare him.”

Deschamps dismissed suggestions that at his age Morientes’ best days were behind him.

“I know that in France we tend to have doubts when we’re discussing players over 30. But Fernando isn’t worn out, and just look at the impact of (Filippo) Inzaghi or (Alessandro) Del Piero, who are 36 and 35.

“If we’d signed him three years ago he would have been inaccessible in terms of the transfer fee and his salary.”

Morientes, who has also had a spell with Liverpool, is expected to sign for two years or for one year with the option to extend his tenure at the south coast giants by a further 12 months.

Last week Marseille said goodbye to their Albanian captain Lorik Cana who moved to Premier League side Sunderland in a reported five million pound deal.