Durica joins Hannover 96 on loan

January 13, 2010

Hannover 96 has bolstered their defense with Jan Durica. The Slovakian centre back joins the troubled Bundesliga side from Lokomotiv Moscow.

Hannover manager Andreas Bergmann is very pleased with his latest acquisition.

“Jan Durica is a very strong and experienced defender. We are delighted that he has made the decision to join us. He really adds something to the team,” said Bergmann on the Hannover website.

The 28-year-old defender previously played for Dunajska Streda, Artmedia Bratislava and Saturn Moscow before joining Lokomotiv in January 2009. He failed to make an impact with the Russians though and has therefore been allowed to move on.

Durica is a regular starter for the Slovakian national team and is likely to be part of the squad that takes part in the World Cup in June.

Tags: acquisition, Andreas Bergmann, Artmedia, bergmann, Bratislava, Bundesliga, Dunajska, hannover, hannover 96, Jan Durica, Lokomotiv, manager, Moscow, russians, saturn, slovakian, World Cup

Podolski: I can understand boos

November 1, 2009

Cologne striker Lukas Podolski admitted the fans had every right to jeer following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Hannover.

The Germany striker has called for crisis talks after Cologne slumped to 15th in the table, just one place above the bottom three.

“We have all got to question ourselves, me included,” he said.

“We have a week and we have got to try to get our self-confidence back by discussing things.

“Otherwise, there’s no point even going to (Hertha) Berlin. We may as well stay here.”

Podolski joined Cologne from Bayern Munich for a club-record fee of 10million euros in the summer, but has yet to live up to the high expectations placed on his shoulders.

Around 45,000 fans turned up at the Mungersdorfer Stadion again, but were sent home disappointed with another lacklustre performance from their side.

“I can understand the fans’ disappointment,” said Podolski. “We were weak and deserved to lose. We showed absolutely nothing.

“You could see that our opponents mastered us and we did not play as a team. You cannot win games like that.”

Cologne travel to the capital next weekend for a true relegation battle with bottom club Hertha Berlin, who have won one game all season and are currently five points from safety.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: Bayern, bayern munich, boos, bottom club, cologne, disappointment, five points, game, Germany, hannover, hertha berlin, high expectations, lacklustre performance, Lukas Podolski, mungersdorfer stadion, opponents, relegation battle, self confidence, shoulders, striker

Babbel fears Stuttgart sack

October 24, 2009

Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel admits his side must win their next two games, or it would be understandable if he were to lose his job.

The 37-year-old is coming under increased pressure after the 3-1 defeat to Sevilla in the Champions League in midweek compromised Stuttgart’s chances of surviving the winter in Europe, and Saturday’s Bundesliga clash with Hannover as well as the DFB-Pokal tie against Furth next week could prove decisive.

“I am not so naive not to know what happens if we don’t get the results,” Babbel told the Bild newspaper.

Although no exact ultimatum has been set, the coach knows that director of sport Horst Heldt will be forced to take action if Stuttgart slip into the bottom three of the Bundesliga with defeat today.

And Babbel has even told him not to shirk his responsibility just because the pair enjoy a strong bond as friends away from the field.

“I told him, whatever friendship we have, he has a job to do and I have mine,” said Babbel.

“I have been in the business long enough to know that when the results don’t come, he will have to act.

“It would not surprise me. Whether he would like to do it or not does not come into it.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: bild newspaper, Bundesliga, champions league, clash, coach, dfb pokal, Europe, friendship, hannover, Horst Heldt, job, markus babbel, SEVILLA, stuttgart, two games, ultimatum, winter in europe

Veh: Wolfsburg open to Dzeko offers

September 25, 2009

Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh is considering breaking up the attack which was so successful in his club’s Bundesliga title triumph last season after admitting he may listen to offers for Edin Dzeko in January.

Dzeko had his heart set on moving to AC Milan in the summer, but Wolfsburg declared the man who netted 26 times in the league last season was not for sale.

However, the situation has now changed and, with the Wolves struggling for their form having been knocked out of the DFB-Pokal in midweek, Veh is contemplating changes to his side which may involve the sale of Dzeko.

“Of course players of his class attract the interest of other clubs,” he told the Wolfsburger Allgemeinen Zeitung newspaper.

“We have got to expect that. It was the case with Mario Gomez when I was at Stuttgart when we put a clause in his contract and the same would be the case with Dzeko.

“Players like him do have a price.”

After Milan’s bid failed, the Bosnian forward signed a new contract, including a buy-out clause, with the Wolves and Veh will now be expecting the Dzeko to play himself into the shop window, starting with Saturday’s derby match with Hannover.

On Wednesday, Dzeko can then parade his skills on the highest stage at Old Trafford against Manchester United in the Champions League, a game which will certainly be playing on the mind of the German champions this weekend.

And Hannover coach Andreas Bergmann wants his side to take advantage of this.

“Not everything is going so well for Wolfsburg,” he said.

“They are conceding many goals and are allowing many chances and we have also got to try to make the most of that.

“We want to be attack-minded and play for three points there.”

Bergmann will be satisfied with his first four games in charge since replacing Dieter Hecking with impressive draws against Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund settling his side down after a win against Nurnberg and narrow defeat to Hoffenheim.

“I feel a particularly high level of concentration and determination in my team,” he revealed.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: ac milan, Andreas Bergmann, Armin Veh, bergmann, Borussia, borussia dortmund, bosnian, Bremen, Bundesliga, champions league, concentration, dieter hecking, draws, four games, german champions, hannover, Manchester, manchester united, mario gomez, Milan, new contract, Nürnberg, old trafford, stuttgart, werder bremen, wolves

Ballack to consider international future

September 4, 2009

Germany’s Michael Ballack will consider his international future after next summer’s 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

The Chelsea attacking midfielder, 33 in three weeks’ time, has been the key player for his country for several years.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s friendly with South Africa in Leverkusen, he said: “I will decide after the World Cup in 2010 if I carry on or stop.

“This will be a new situation for me that I need to think carefully about. In any case, I’ll play as long as it gives me pleasure and I have ambition.”

Ballack’s admission is unlikely to come as a surprise to Germany coach Joachim Low, whose side continue to hone their preparation for their remaining qualifiers with a game against Bafana Bafana at the weekend.

The match comes four days ahead of a Group 4 qualifier against Azerbaijan in Hannover.

The crucial games in the pool are in October, when Germany travel to second-placed Russia before hosting third-placed Finland.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: 2010 fifa world cup, 2010 fifa world cup south africa, abhimanyu, admission, ambition, Azerbaijan, CHELSEA, crucial games, Finland, Germany, germany travel, hannover, joachim low, LEVERKUSEN, match, Michael Ballack, midfielder, new situation, pleasure, rajput, russia, South Africa

Voronin set for Liverpool return

April 18, 2009

BERLIN (AFP) – Ukrainian international forward Andrei Voronin, enjoying a successful loan season with Hertha Berlin, said Friday he is set to return to Liverpool at the end of the campaign.

“I am starting to pack my bags. The situation in Berlin regarding a contract has not changed much and Liverpool will probably take me back,” the 29-year-old told German sports news agency SID.

Voronin, suspended for three matches following his dismissal against Hannover last weekend, would like to stay with Hertha but the club are facing having to trim their budget if they do not reach the Champions League.

After a spell as league leaders their hopes are in the balance as they currently stand fourth, five points off top spot following a three-match losing spell.

“As things stand we cannot take any decision,” explained general manager Dieter Hoeness.

Voronin, under contract with Liverpool to 2011, would cost Hertha some four million euros and a further one million in wages.