Galliani refutes Kaka claims

February 6, 2010

Adriano Galliani has refuted claims that Milan sold Kaka to Real Madrid knowing he was struggling with an injury.

The Brazilian playmaker has failed to make the expected impact at the Bernabeu this season following his big-money summer switch.

His cause has been hindered by a niggling groin problem which has prevented him from maintaining his high standards.

Reports in Madrid had suggested Kaka had been carrying the problem for some time, with Milan said to be aware that the 27-year-old could struggle.

However Galliani has strenuously denied such accusations, with the Rossoneri vice-president quick to point out that the Samba star never struggled with injuries throughout his time in Serie A.

“It’s absurd,” he said.

“Last season Kaka played 31 games in the Italian league and was a virtual ever-present. I don’t like the suggestion that we gave Real Madrid an injured player.”

Tags: accusations, adriano, bernabeu, Galliani, games, groin problem, italian league, kaka, MADRID, Milan, money, playmaker, Real, real madrid, rossoneri, samba, suggestion, vice president

We’re all to blame for Ferrara sacking: Buffon

February 3, 2010

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said on Wednesday that he and his team-mates must share the blame for the sacking of Ciro Ferrara.

Last week Ferrara was dismissed after just eight months in charge and replaced by Alberto Zaccheroni following nine defeats in Juve’s previous 12 games, during which time they crashed out of two cup competitions and slumped from second to sixth in the league.

“Unfortunately it’s easier to change one person rather than 25 players but if those players have even a small sense of responsibility then they know that there are no more excuses,” said Italy’s number one.

“It’s our responsibility that there has been a change of coach, it’s not just one person’s fault but all of ours. The sacking should sound an alarm for us players. I feel sorry for Ferrara, he paid the price for everyone.

“It’s an all-round failure that touches us players as well. But I know that Ferrara will bounce back.”

Buffon and his team-mates have also had to accept their remodelled objectives for the season.

Out of the Champions League and the title race, they are now focusing on Europe’s secondary competition and a top-three or -four finish.

“We’ll try to win the Europa League and in the league we’ll try to qualify for the Champions League,” he said.

“Better to do so directly (with a top-three finish) but we’d be happy also with fourth place (and a place in the Champions League preliminary rounds).

“As for the title, that discussion is closed, both because of Inter’s advantage (15 points with a game in hand) and because of their strength.”

Buffon described this period as the most difficult during his time at Juventus, despite having stood by the club in 2006 when they were relegated to Serie B for match-fixing.

And he insisted he will again remain loyal regardless of what happens.

“Will I leave if Juve don’t qualify for the Champions League next season? I haven’t even taken that into consideration,” he said.

“Would I like to play abroad? Yes, with Juve in the Champions League, next year. I can’t explain what’s happened but this is the toughest period in the last 10 years, including the period in Serie B.”

ROME (AFP)

Tags: Alberto Zaccheroni, buffon, champions league, change, ciro, cup competitions, discussion, eight months, Europe, failure, Ferrara, game, games, gianluigi buffon, Goalkeeper, Italy, juve, juventus, match, no more excuses, ROME, sense of responsibility, team mates

Ferguson: ‘Everyone thinks Nani is fantastic’

February 2, 2010

Reports suggested that Sir Alex Ferguson was fed up with Nani and that the Portuguese international was set to leave Manchester United during the winter break. However, the 23-year-old winger stayed at United and silenced his critics with an excellent performance against Arsenal.

Nani played a part in two of United’s goals as United closed the gap on the leaders Chelsea to a single point. Ferguson believes the former Sporting Lisbon player is now coming of age, presenting a welcome selection dilemma in competition with Antonio Valencia.

“Nani has settled down now and is getting maturity,” Ferguson said on MUTV. “He has been pretty immature since he came to the club, but you are seeing the development now.

“He is a shy boy and you hope games like at Arsenal will give him the confidence to know he is a United player.

“We are all delighted with him. It is amazing when you talk to the players, they all think he is fantastic and want him to play.

“We are getting consistency from him now. It gives me a massive decision now between Nani and Valencia.”

Tags: alex ferguson, Antonio Valencia, arsenal, CHELSEA, coming of age, consistency, dilemma, Ferguson, games, gap, Manchester, manchester united, maturity, nani, portuguese, shy boy, single point, sir alex ferguson, sporting lisbon, winger

O’Neill angry at Wenger

January 30, 2010

Aston Villa boss Marton O’Neill is angry at Arsene Wenger and blames the Arsenal boss of getting “carried away with his own importance”. O’Neill has been left fuming by Wenger’s criticism of his team following their goalless draw between the sides at Villa Park on Wednesday.

Wenger labelled Villa a a long ball team, something which has infuriated O’Neill who has attacked Wenger accusing the French tactician of being “on another planet”.

“Wenger has an opinion on everything,” O’Neill told The Sun. “There is not a subject in this world at this minute – whether it is political, religious, anything – that he does not have an opinion on.

“He does say things for effect. You can get carried away with your own importance, you really can. Sometimes he does.

“After what he said about my team on Wednesday, I did go looking for him. I told him what I thought about what he had said.

“He has made a great contribution to the game here but he is not on a different planet.

“What he wants to do is try and point out to everyone who is under his spell that Arsenal are the only delightful team around.”

O’Neill says Wenger’s touch-line antics can have an influence on games.

“There is a plan throughout. If he puts his hands in the air enough times, they (officials) will probably accept the fact he can see it from that distance, that Sol Campbell hadn’t fouled Richard Dunne, and the referee obviously agrees with him,” added O’Neill.

“He’s a very skilful manager but he has another record, like he has had something like 99 sendings off this year – and 98 of them weren’t his fault. That is the problem.

O’Neill also says that Wenger does not acknowledge when his players behave in a nasty manner.

“There are things that happen in the game you cannot always be fantastically proud of your team. There can be some nasty challenges made by Arsenal players – you cannot condone everything.

“William Gallas is just one the other week. You cannot condone everything. You have to say ‘On reflection, I’ve seen it again and it’s a nasty challenge’.”

Tags: antics, arsenal players, aston villa, boss, challenges, game, games, hadn, hands in the air, marton, Marton O'Neill, referee, reflection, richard dunne, sol campbell, Sun, tactician, villa park, Wenger, William Gallas

Redknapp disappointed with Cup draw

January 24, 2010

Tottenham manager Harry Redknappo was disappointed to see his side draw with Leeds in their FA Cup clash on Saturday. The Premier League giants were held to a 2-2 by Legaue One outfit Leeds in what was a thrilling contest at White Hart Lane.

Redknapp admits his side need to be better at closing games out after Leeds equalized in the dying moments of the game from a spot-kick.

“We won’t dwell on it. It’s one of those things,” he said.

“I’m disappointed tonight because we threw the game away when we had it in the bag. It didn’t happen, though, so you have to pick yourself up and go again Tuesday (against Fulham). That’s football, what can we do?”

Tags: cup clash, FA Cup, fulham, game, games, giants, Harry Redknappo, Hart Lane, LEEDS, premier league, Redknapp, white hart lane

De Ridder leaves Wigan on loan

January 23, 2010

Dutch forward Daniel de Ridder will spend the rest of the season on loan at Israel’s Hapoel Tel Aviv, after failing to make a regular appearance in Wigan Athletic’s line-up.

The 25-year-old, who also holds the Israeli nationality through his mother, has not played a single league match this season, after featurinf in 18 games in the 2008-09 edition of the Premiership.

De Ridder began his career at Ajax in 2002, and has since represented Celta de Vigo and Birmingham City before joining Wigan in the summer of 2008.

The player also formed part of the Dutch Under-21 side that won the European Championship in 2007, delivering three assists in the final against Serbia.

Tags: Ajax, appearance, assists, birmingham city, Daniel, daniel de ridder, Dutch, European, games, hapoel tel aviv, israel, nationality, premiership, s line, Tel Aviv, Vigo

Olympiakos sign Datolo on loan from Napoli

January 18, 2010

Jesus Datolo will finish the season on loan at Olympiakos Pireaus. The Argentine international has failed to make an impact at Napoli this season.

Datolo will stay at the Karaiskakis Stadium till the end of the season, following which Olympiakos have an option to make the transfer permanent by paying Napoli a fee of €4.5 million.

Napoli signed Datolo from Boca Juniors for a fee of €6 million. The 25-year-old winger penned a five year deal at the San Paolo. So far he only managed to net one goal in 22 Serie A games.

Datolo will look to secure a place in Argentina’s World Cup squad at Olympiakos. He made a stormy debut for Diego Maradona’s side last year by scoring in Argentina’s friendly against Russia (3-2 win).

Tags: 5 million, 6 million, Argentina, Argentine, boca juniors, debut, diego maradona, games, Jesus, Karaiskakis Stadium, napoli, olympiakos pireaus, one goal, Paolo, russia, San, san paolo, winger, world cup squad

Celta dumps Villarreal out of Copa del Rey

January 13, 2010

Villarreal have been knocked out of the Copa del Rey after suffering a 1-0 home defeat to Celta de Vigo.

Celta only managed to draw Villarreal (1-1) in the first match of the eight finals. The second division side struck in the return leg, although it took Celta until injury time to decide the match in their favour.

Roberto Trashorras’ penalty secured the victory for Os Celestes. Villarreal Goalkeeper Diego Lopez got a touch to Trashorras’ spot kick but couldn’t keep the strike out as Celta Vigo advanced to the quarterfinals 2-1 on aggregate.

On Wednesday, holder Barcelona must overcome a 2-1 deficit when it travels to Sevilla.

In other return leg games on Wednesday, Deportivo La Coruna leads Valencia 2-1, Malaga leads Getafe 2-1, Racing Santander holds a 3-2 advantage over third-tier Alcorcon, and second-division leader Hercules leads Osasuna 2-1.

Tags: aggregate, alcorcon, Barcelona, copa del rey, deportivo la coruna, Diego Lopez, division leader, favour, games, Goalkeeper, hercules, injury time, la coruna, Malaga, match, racing santander, return leg, roberto trashorras, santander, SEVILLA, Valencia

Panathinaikos, PAOK win in Super League

January 10, 2010

There were no major surprises in the Greek Super League on Saturday as both leaders Panathinaikos and third-placed PAOK won their games.

Panathinaikos, who took considerable distance from the rest of the Super League in recent weeks, were particularly inspired by Frenchman Djibril Cisse who scored both goals against Xanthi, in the 27th and 89th minutes.

Dimitrios Souanis gave home fans a little reason to celebrate, pulling back a goal in the 90th minute.

PAOK defended their third place and put pressure on Olympiakos with a 0-2 win at Levadiakos. Vladimir Ivic and Lino found the target for the visiting side.

Tags: cisse, Dimitrios, djibril cisse, frenchman, games, home fans, Levadiakos, lino, Olympiakos, panathinaikos, paok, Super, surprises, target, vladimir ivic, xanthi

Maxi López refuses to play for Grêmio

January 6, 2010

Argentine forward Maxi López told Brazilian side Grêmio on Tuesday that he does not intend to stay on at the club, and could be headed for a move to Europe.

López, 25, is on loan to the Porto Alegre side from Russian Premier League outfit FC Moscow. In 24 games with the club, López has scored 11 goals for Grêmio, who finished eighth in the most recent Série A season that ended in December.

Grêmio has indicated that they intend to pursue legal action against López, who was set to remain with the club for the 2010 season. He has been rumored with a possible move to Italian side Lazio for the second half of the Serie A season.

Grêmio paid half of the money needed to secure the rights to the player from the Russian side permanently, but López remains adamant that he will not play for Grêmio in 2010.

López is yet to respond to the report of legal action.