Tevez backs Man City boss

December 19, 2009


Manchester City’s Argentine striker Carlos Tevez has backed coach Mark Hughes as the man for the job amid reports the club are interested in former Chelsea interim coach Guus Hiddink.

Tevez, on target twice in last week’s draw at Bolton, reacted to reports that Hughes is fighting for his job with the club eighth in the table despite massive summer outlay and only two league defeats to date.

Ahead of Saturday’s game with Sunderland, Tevez, who arrived in the summer from rivals United, said: “When I first joined the club I had a long chat with Mark Hughes and he gave me a vision of how the club was going to go forward.

“The reason I joined was because I believe in his vision. I believe in what he had to say,” Tevez told the Daily Telegraph.

“I believe in the club. I also believe in Mark. We will be a big club. I’m 100 per cent behind the manager. I’m really surprised that a question about his future even exists at such an early stage.

“Every team in the Premier League will say they can do better and we are no exception. But the team is in transition with a lot of new players coming in and we have had a lot of injuries.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

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FA Cup draw leaves Ancelotti singing with delight

November 30, 2009


Holders Chelsea set out on the first steps towards a defence of their FA Cup crown with a home tie against Championship side Watford, finalists in 1984, in the third round draw made on Sunday.

The pairing had Chelsea coach Carlo Anceletti drooling at the prospect of getting the chance to meet one of his singing heroes, former Watford chairman Sir Elton John.

“I do not know Watford very well at the moment but I will have the opportunity to learn about them,” he said after Sunday’s 3-0 Premier League win at Arsenal.

“The owner of Watford many years ago was Elton John. Elton John is my favourite singer. The match will be an opportunity to meet Elton John.”

West Ham will host London rivals Arsenal, who last lifted the trophy in 2005 and have not picked up any silverware since, in one of three all Premier League fixtures.

The other two top-flight affairs see Aston Villa host Blackburn and Hull travel to Wigan.

Everton, the side Chelsea beat under then interim coach Guus Hiddink in last season’s final, welcome League One side Carlisle to Goodison Park.

The Toffees’ Merseyside rivals, seven-time winners Liverpool, were drawn against second-tier Reading.

Non-league Kettering could be set for a dream trip to Old Trafford to face 11 time winners Manchester United should they manage to negotiate their second round replay with Leeds.

Kettering player-manager Lee Harper vowed that he and his team-mates would give it their “best shot”.

Kettering must knock out League One leaders Leeds first, after the two teams drew 1-1 at Rockingham Road on Sunday.

“It will be really hard but we will give it our best shot,” Harper told ITV1.

“We’ve got an enormous task ahead of us before we start thinking about getting there (Old Trafford) yet.

“The club is in a bit of trouble at the moment, it is difficult for us financially but we will go to Elland Road, try to have a great time and see where it gets us.”

Either Oxford or Barrow will definitely get the chance to claim a Premier League scalp, with the winner of their replay set for a trip to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, while York, from the semi-professional ranks of the Blue Square Premier league (the fifth division) travel to Stoke.

Another non-league side, Staines Town, who forced a replay with 2004 finalists Millwall at Wheatsheaf Park, have the incentive of a home tie with Derby.

The 2008 winners Portsmouth have been drawn at home against Coventry.

Of the remaining Premier League clubs Manchester City will return to Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium, Tottenham host Peterborough, Bolton are at home to Lincoln, Fulham face Swindon, Wolves will meet either Tranmere or Aldershot and Birmingham are away to Nottingham Forest.

Draw for the third round of the FA Cup made on Sunday:

FA Cup

3rd rd draw

Tottenham v Peterborough

Brentford v Doncaster

Middlesbrough v Manchester City

Stoke v York

Notts County v Forest Green Rovers

Huddersfield v West Brom

Sheffield United v Queens Park Rangers

MK Dons v Burnley

Chelsea v Watford

Nottingham Forest v Birmingham

Preston v Colchester

West Ham v Arsenal

Aston Villa v Blackburn

Portsmouth v Coventry

Sunderland v Oxford or Barrow

Wigan v Hull

Everton v Carlisle

Sheffield Wednesday v Crystal Palace

Tranmere or Aldershot v Wolves

Blackpool v Ipswich

Fulham v Swindon

Stockport or Torquay v Brighton

Scunthorpe v Barnsley

Southampton v Rotherham or Luton

Bristol City v Cardiff

Reading v Liverpool

Staines or Millwall v Derby

Plymouth v Newcastle

Leicester v Swansea

Bolton v Lincoln

Accrington or Barnet v Gillingham

Manchester United v Kettering or Leeds

Ties to be played on weekend of January 2 and 3.

LONDON (AFP)

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Essien: I´m stronger after injury hell

July 29, 2009


Ghana midfielder Michael Essien believes the trauma of missing most of last season with a serious knee injury has made him a stronger player.

Essien was sidelined for seven months after suffering a knee ligament tear but still managed to have a major influence on the team when he returned to action.

The 26-year-old helped Chelsea reach the Champions League semi-finals with superb displays against Juventus and Liverpool. He also featured as the Blues gave interim coach Guus Hiddink a winning send-off by beating Everton 2-1 in the FA Cup final.

With that up and down campaign behind him, Essien is convinced the experience has added an extra layer of steel to his personality.

“The injury has actually helped me a lot. I had to be strong to cope with the rehab and all the hard work. I have come back stronger than I was before,” he told the London Evening Standard.

“After coming back from an injury like that I am now tougher mentally. You have to be in order to cope with it.

“I don’t worry about the injury now because I’m the kind of person that when I’m on the pitch I forget about everything and just get on with my football.

“It was really tough to watch the games from the stands and seeing my team go through difficulties last season. I’m the type of person who wants to be on the pitch so that we win and lose together.”

Essien is well established as a key member of Chelsea’s squad but once again there is plenty of competition for places in new boss Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, John Obi Mikel, Deco, Joe Cole, Florent Malouda and new signing Yuri Zhirkov are all battling with the Ghanaian to make the starting eleven, but Essien expects the competition to raise standards at the club even higher.

“I think we have one of the best midfields in the world,” he said. “When you look at who we have you can see some good quality. We are strong now, but maybe we will be stronger in the future.”

LONDON (AFP)

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Honduras prevails over Canada 1-0 on PK

July 19, 2009


PHILADELPHIA – Honduras advanced to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the third time, beating Canada 1-0 Saturday on a first-half penalty by Walter Martinez.

Playing before a spirited crowd filled largely with the familiar blue and white shirts and flags, Honduras – which lost to the United States in the 1991 final and in the 2005 semifinals – will travel to Chicago to face the winner between the USA and Panama.

“We knew anything could happen,” Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda said through a translator. “We knew we had to play for 95 minutes and if we did, we would get the result.”

Honduras controlled the first 10-15 minutes, but Canada slowly began to take possession. The Catrachos, however, got its break in the 36th minute when Canada defender Paul Staltieri was whistled for an infraction on a bicycle kick attempt by Martinez. The ball ricocheted inadvertently off Staltieri’s hand and out of bounds.

Martinez capitalized by sending the penalty kick down the middle while Canada goalkeeper Greg Sutton dived left.

“All referees make mistakes and are human,” Martinez said through a translator. “I didn’t think it was a penalty, but I was able to score.”

Staltieri argued the call for what many thought was a handball, but earned a yellow for his tug of Martinez’s jersey disputing the decision by Salvadoran referee Joel Aguilar.

“From the end of the bench, it looked phantom to me,” Canada interim coach Stephen Hart said.

Canada had a couple of good scoring chances earlier in the half, most notably in the 22nd minute.

That’s when Atiba Hutchinson received a pass from Patrice Bernier and fired from 15 yards. But Honduran goalkeeper Donis Escober was able to get low and block the attempt with his left hand.

Just when it seemed as if the momentum had changed for Honduras, Canada nearly tied the game. In the 56th minute, Bernier sent a cross in front where an unmarked Josh Simpson. But Escobar again was able to make a diving save to preserve the advantage.

Playing in its ninth Gold Cup since 1991, Honduras will be trying for its first championship. Honduras has failed to qualify for the Gold Cup only in 2002. It has advanced to the World Cup finals once (1982) and remains in contention for 2010.

“I think with our speed, which is our strength, we were able to manage the game and pack it off in the back,” Martinez said. “We were able to get the result we were looking for.”

Canada, meanwhile, was eliminated after a nice run through the tournament. It was hoping for a Gold Cup title for the first time since 2000.

“I’m very proud of the players,” Hart said. “I think we showed a lot of character.”

Canada lost in a disputed semifinal to the United States in 2007 and fell just short in a potential rematch. Canada has now lost two of three matches to Honduras in the Gold Cup. Honduras won their meeting in 1991, 4-2, while Canada was victorious 3-1 in 1996.

On this particular night, Canada wasn’t able to score despite a number of solid opportunities late in the second half. The best chance came in the 85th minute when Kevin McKenna’s header struck the left post.

“In the second half, we did much, much, much better,” Hart said. “Sutton came up big on chances. In the end, you lose on a penalty. What can you do?”

It was the second time Canada has lost on a disputed goal. In 2007, a Canadian goal was disallowed in injury time in a 2-1 loss to the United States in the semifinals.

“We executed our game plan pretty much the way we expected to,” Sutton said. “You take away the tough call against us in the first half, which I think explains itself, we held possession of the ball. In the second half, we created a lot of chances.”

By Andy Jasner

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Ancelotti confirmed as new Chelsea manager

June 1, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Chelsea on Monday confirmed the appointment of Italian Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager.

He will succeed Guus Hiddink, who stood down as interim coach at Stamford Bridge after Saturday’s FA Cup final victory over Everton.

Ancelotti, who has long been linked with the Stamford Bridge post, left AC Milan by mutual consent on Sunday.

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England keeper crisis as James has shoulder op

May 19, 2009


LONDON (AFP) – England manager Fabio Capello will have to rely on third-choice goalkeeper Robert Green for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Kazakshstan and Andorra after David James opted for shoulder surgery.

Manchester United’s Ben Foster, who had moved past Green in Capello’s pecking order, is also unavailable for the trip to Kazakhstan and the Wembley meeting with Andorra after having an operation to correct a ligament problem in his thumb.

James has had a problem with his left shoulder for some time but delayed a decision on surgery until his club, Portsmouth, had secured their survival in the Premier League.

He missed Monday night’s 3-1 defeat of Sunderland and decided to have the operation on Wednesday rather than wait until after the England matches, on June 6 and 10, and risk not being fit for the start of next season.

The 38-year-old is taking a calculated gamble over his England place by handing Green or someone else the chance to come in and catch Capello’s eye only a year before the World Cup finals in South Africa.

Portsmouth’s interim coach Paul Hart said the goalkeeper accepted that.

“He’s a strong-minded person and he knows what he’s doing,” said Hart. “He weighed up missing the England games before making his decision.”

James said he had been carrying the injury for 18 months. “I have to look at the bigger picture. I want to be fit for the start of next season and I trust England to do well without me.”

Green has yet to play in a competitive fixture for his country but has had a good season with West Ham and collected a second cap in February’s friendly defeat by Spain.

England travel to Kazakhstan with a five point lead over Croatia after winning their first five matches in group six. Having beaten the Kazakhs 5-1 at Wembley in October, they will be confident of extending that winning run.

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Advocaat edges closer to Belgium job

May 12, 2009


BRUSSELS (AFP) – The Belgian Football Federation (URBSFA) announced Tuesday they have held a second meeting with Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, who is a candidate for the vacant position of Belgian national coach.

“The URBSFA is continuing to speak to Mr Dick Advocaat,” the federation said in a press release.

“The discussions are evolving positively with a view to a possible agreement.”

Adovcaat has indicated his interest in the Belgium job a number of times in the media.

He is currently under contract at Russian side Zenit St Petersburg until December 2009, having led the club to the UEFA Cup title in 2008.

According to the Belgian press, Advocaat could take charge of the Belgium team from January 1, 2010, with interim coach Franky Vercauteren continuing in his role until then.

The URBSFA have also approached Advocaat’s compatriot Louis Van Gaal, who recently led AZ Alkmaar to the Dutch championship, but he is expected to be named as the new manager of German giants Bayern Munich.

Rene Vandereycken was sacked as coach of Belgium at the beginning of April after three years in the role.

Belgium are currently fourth in World Cup qualifying group five and stand little chance of qualifying for next summer’s tournament in South Africa.

They also failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship.

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Ancelotti to take over at Chelsea next season

April 9, 2009

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LONDON (AFP) – AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has agreed to take over at Chelsea next season to replace interim coach Guus Hiddink, the Sun newspaper reported on Thursday.

The report said Ancelotti has agreed a contract worth 5.8 million pounds (6.4 million euros, 8.5 million dollars) a season to move into the hotseat at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea, who took a giant step towards the Champions League semi-finals by beating Liverpool 3-1 in Wednesday’s quarter-final first leg at Anfield, earmarked the Italian as their first choice after Hiddink insisted he wanted to resume coaching the Russian national team on a full-time basis at the end of the season.

The Sun, quoting unnamed sources at AC Milan, said the personal intervention of Chelsea’s billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich had proved decisive in swinging the deal with Ancelotti.

Chelsea’s form has improved since Hiddink took over from Luiz Felipe Scolari in February but Abramovich has been unable to persuade the Dutchman to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge beyond May.

Ancelotti has one year left on his contract at the San Siro, but the Sun said he had an agreement with the club allowing him to leave at the end of the current campaign.

AC Milan’s vice-president Adriano Galliani insisted on Wednesday that neither Ancelotti nor the club’s Brazilian star Kaka would be leaving after interest in both from Spanish giants Real Madrid.

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Shearer’s arrival could give Toon Army false hope

April 8, 2009

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Newcastle’s interim boss and Geordie hero Alan Shearer opened St. James’ Park on Tuesday and his Premier League side trained in front of 7,500 fans.

It could prove to be a masterstroke. As the sun shone down and school kids on half-term flocked to the stadium, it had the city buzzing again just two days after the disappointing loss to Chelsea.

But the Geordie faithful are precisely that, and rarely do they turn their backs in disgust when things aren’t going well, just ask Habib Beye.

If the Magpies don’t escape relegation, it will be horribly sad to see St. James’ Park half-full at best for Championship games.

Newcastle’s run-in however is a tough one, and with just seven games remaining I fear for the club and their most loyal fans.

Seeing the optimism that abounded on Tuesday among the young faces was uplifting, but the effect Shearer’s return has had could turn to heartbreaking scenes come the season’s end.

PHOTO: Newcastle United’s interim coach Alan Shearer gestures during their training session at St James’ Park in Newcastle April 7, 2009. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

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Hopes high as qualifying for 2011 Asian Cup begins

January 14, 2009

SINGAPORE (AFP) – Qualifying for the 2011 Asian Cup kicks off on Wednesday with China under the microscope after a miserable 2008, in contrast to heavyweights Australia and Japan who are expected to coast.

China, with Yin Tiesheng as interim coach after Serbian Vladimir Petrovic quit when the team crashed out of 2010 World Cup contention last June, face a tricky first game away to Syria.

Yin has been put in charge only for their opening two Asian Cup qualifiers but knows the side need a win to boost their confidence.

He has vowed to restore discipline.

"I will be in charge of the team for a short period, and I hope I can instil a fighting spirit into the team," Yin said.

"Maybe this will be the most noticeable change I can bring to the team."

Lebanon and Vietnam are also in their group and play each other Wednesday with only the top two from each group making the finals.

Australia and Japan must go through the motions and qualify for the showpiece in Qatar after failing to shine at the last event in 2007.

Five teams though will sit back and watch the action knowing they have already booked their tickets.

Qatar qualify automatically as hosts while Iraq, Saudi Arabia and South Korea are assured of their places after finishing as the top three teams in 2007 tournament.

India make the finals for the first time since 1984 after winning the AFC Challenge Cup last year, an event featuring second tier Asian nations. The winner of the 2010 tournament will also go through to the finals.

Australia, whose initiation in Asian football after defecting from the Oceania confederation was at the 2007 Asian Cup, are in group B that also includes 1980 champions Kuwait, Indonesia and Oman.

They don’t open their campaign until later in the month and will have a chance to scout their opposition when Oman host Indonesia next Monday.

Japan are three-time winners of the Asian Cup and face Yemen in their opener at home next Tuesday. Bahrain and Hong Kong complete their group.

Iran, also three-time champions, host Singapore on Wednesday with nothing short of victory expected from coach Ali Daei.

His Singapore counterpart Raddy Avramovic has other ideas, confident his team can make their first ever Asian Cup finals.

"Iran are a physically very strong and compact team and have very fast, attacking individuals" he said.

"We’ll have to keep them out of our penalty box and cut their passing game."

Also in their group are Jordan and Thailand, who clash Wednesday in Amman.

The final group only has three teams — Uzbekistan, UAE, and Malaysia. India were initially drawn in this group but progressed automatically with the Challenge Cup victory.

Qatar, which successfully hosted the Asian Games in 2006 and boasts top-rate sports facilities, was the only country that bid for the tournament after India and Iran pulled out.

It will be held in January 2011 with the only other FIFA window available, in July and August when the tournament is usually held, considered too hot in the Gulf region.

Qatar last played host in 1988 when Saudi Arabia won.

Written by: AFP

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