United eye return to the top

January 23, 2010


With Chelsea and Arsenal otherwise engaged on FA Cup duty, Manchester United can steal a march on their rivals and return to the top of the Premier League table with victory over Hull at Old Trafford.

United’s third-round defeat by League One Leeds ensured United were able to bring forward their meeting with the Tigers, originally scheduled for the middle of next week, and they can’t afford to pass up the opportunity of three points.

Arsenal moved to the top of the table with a 4-2 win over Bolton in midweek but United could return to the summit with a win over Phil Brown?s side.

United manager Sir Ferguson surprised some with the strength of the team that he fielded in the League Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester City on Tuesday.

That match ended in a 2-1 defeat and now Ferguson must decide how many of his first-choice players he can afford to rest on Saturday ahead of the second leg against City at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Ryan Giggs is likely to sit out the Hull match and Gary Neville may feature while Dimitar Berbatov’s knee problem could mean a rare Premier League start for Michael Owen.

The game looks likely to come too soon for Rio Ferdinand, who is working his way back from several months on the sidelines with a back injury and Ferguson is still digesting the news that John O?Shea is likely to miss the rest of the season with a leg problem that he picked up in November.

Even though United were beaten at City, assistant manager Mike Phelan saw some promising signs and insists they can string some victories together if they start taking their chances.

Phelan said: “We want to keep some consistency in our game. At City there were signs that Manchester United are on the way forward.

“If we can stick the ball in the back of the net we are in business

“People keep saying the League Cup is not on anyone’s priority list but it is a cup game.

“When you get to the semi-final of a cup you want to get to the final. Both clubs are desperate for that.”

Hull boss Phil Brown is hoping that his side’s relegation battle can be boosted by the return of captain Ian Ashbee before the end of the season.

Ashbee has been out since May with a hamstring injury but has also been diagnosed with a recurrence of the degenerative bone condition that he struggled with early in his career.

Brown said: “I would never write Ian Ashbee off, never. Even if he said he wasn’t fit, I still wouldn’t write him off.

“The beauty of Ash of late is that he’s got a new focus in life, and that is that he can see light at the end of the tunnel.

“When anyone can’t see that, I can understand how they must feel and how hard it is to motivate yourself.

“But all of a sudden, I can see a realignment of his focus and I think he can see an end to all of this. We are seeing a different Ian Ashbee now, and long may that continue.”

Amr Zaki, the Egyptian striker who is joining Hull on loan, will not be considered for this weekend’s match because he is not fully match fit.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

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Ribery angling for Real Madrid deal – media

January 22, 2010


Bayern Munich’s French star Franck Ribery is angling for a new deal that would allow him to join Real Madrid if the Spaniards put 40 million euros on the table, AS daily reported.

Ribery “would only renew his (Bayern) contract with a 40 million pro-Real clause” included, according to AS, which added that otherwise “Ribery will not sign”.

The paper, citing “sources very close to the player,” said that talks were under way between the two clubs regarding an eventual move and that the sum “would be around 40 million euros”.

That would be less than the purported 55 million figure bandied around last summer for the former Marseille man, whose contract expires next year.

Ribery has endured a difficult time recently with injuries having kept him sidelined since early October and Bayern coach Louis van Gaal indicated earlier on Friday that he would not start Saturday’s match against Werder Bremen but might be brought on from the bench.

Owing to a serious knee problem Ribery, 26, has only made six league appearances this season. He was due to return in December but a foot injury suffered in training prevented him from doing so.

Then in a winter training camp in Dubai he suffered from inflamed toenails that meant he could not even put his boots on.

AS, meanwhile, added that Real were hoping to snap up Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi, reporting that the Italians were ready to sell for financial reasons.

Real are also rumoured to want Racing Santander youngster Sergio Canales but Marca sports daily reported that Real were not prepared to get into an auction for the 18-year-old, who the paper said also interests Manchester City and Chelsea.

MADRID (AFP)

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Man City have more to lose in derby semi: Ferguson

January 19, 2010


Sir Alex Ferguson has tried to up the pressure on Manchester City by claiming their League Cup semi-final against Manchester United matters more to them than to his team.

United travel to Eastlands for the weather-delayed first leg on Tuesday with their local rivals desperate to end their long wait for silverware.

City have not appeared in the final of a major tournament since 1981 and have not lifted a trophy since winning the League Cup in 1976.

By contrast Ferguson has presided over the most successful period in United’s history with 11 league titles, two European Cups and five FA Cups among the trophies the Scot has brought to Old Trafford since joining from Aberdeen 24 years ago.

However, expectations at City have multiplied since they were taken over by the wealthy Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008 and they hope to break into the Champions League places this season at the very least.

“A semi-final against United when they haven’t been in a final for so long is the biggest motivation City could have so far this season,” Ferguson said.

“So it’s a bigger, more important game for them than us,” he added. “It’s a game for the fans and their emotions.”

Ferguson has already confirmed the likes of Darron Gibson and Rafael and Fabio da Silva are likely to feature against Roberto Mancini’s team.

And while he is keen to give some players a break, he insists he is not taking the tie lightly and intends to be in a strong position going into the home leg.

“You don’t underestimate these things and I’ll pay particular attention to it. Once you?re in a semi-final, you want to be in the final. We want to be in a healthy position back at Old Trafford for the second leg,” he said.

Ferguson is likely to be without Dimitar Berbatov, who may need surgery on his knee problem, and the game is likely to come too soon for Rio Ferdinand to recover from his calf injury.

Mancini goes into this match on the back of his first defeat as City manager, following his team’s 2-0 league loss away to Everton on Saturday.

But City midfielder Nigel de Jong hopes striker Carlos Tevez’s desire to prove Ferguson wrong after being released by United and then signed by their Manchester rivals at the end of last season will work in the home team’s favour.

The Argentina forward has scored 15 goals for City so far this season and de Jong said: “Every player needs to be loved. I don’t know what Carlos’s situation was at Old Trafford. I’m just glad he’s here.”

United and City shared seven goals in a Manchester derby thriller in September with reigning league champions United triumphing 4-3 thanks only to Michael Owen’s stoppage-time winner.

“People still talk about what happened at Old Trafford in the league, but that game is in the past, we don’t want to keep looking back,” de Jong said.

“This is a new game. We want to look to the future,” the Dutchman added.

Instead de Jong said he thought United’s recent shock FA Cup exit at the hands of third-tier Leeds United would be of more relevance to the outcome of the tie.

“I don’t know whether their manager is going to play his full-strength team or his reserves after their FA Cup misery!,” de Jong said. “It’s up to Ferguson, he’s the manager and he knows his squad the best.

“I don’t think it is a sign of disrespect if he doesn’t pick his strongest team. He made it clear at the beginning of the Carling (League) Cup that he would try to rest players because other competitions were more important.

“But it is a semi-final and they are playing a derby against their biggest rivals,” he added.

“It’s a semi-final, one of the biggest games for City in a few years, so we have to do our best to reach the final, whoever it is we play against.”

Aston Villa appear in control of the other semi-final after a 1-0 first-leg win away to Blackburn Rovers.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

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Early goals take Hull away from drop zone

November 26, 2009


An early three-goal salvo gave Hull City three vital points in securing a 3-2 win over Everton in the English Premier League on Wednesday.

Stephen Hunt snatched the opener after nine minutes and Andy Dawson netted a free kick in the 20th minute before Dean Marney grabbed a third just before the half hour mark to leave Everton, themselves too close to the drop zone for comfort, shellshocked.

After the break the Merseysiders fought their way back into the contest and a comical own goal from Kamil Zayatte four minutes after the restart gave David Moyes’ men a sliver of hope.

Louis Saha converted a spotkick which Zayatte conceded by fouling the French striker midway through the second period but the Tigers then battened down the hatches and held on for a win which takes them to 15 points, level with the Toffees.

Everton now have just one win in their last 10 games while Hull boss Phil Brown’s gamble of resting experienced veteran Jimmy Bullard owing to a minor knee problem paid off.

Everton had won a League Cup encounter between the sides 4-0 at the KC Stadium earlier this season but were a pale shadow of themselves by comparison.

The win takes Hull up a notch to 15th level on points with Wednesday’s rivals and one clear of Wigan, trounced 9-1 at Spurs at the weekend.

Also on Wednesday, Fulham saw off Blackburn 3-0 as the Londoners moved into the top half of the table with goals from Erik Nevland just before the interval and a second-half brace from Dempsey.

Blackburn dropped back to 12th as their conquerors leapfrogged them.

LONDON (AFP)

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Neville: Toffees will bounce back

October 24, 2009


Everton’s injured captain Phil Neville insists the Toffees will bounce back from their Europa League humiliation in Lisbon.

Everton face a quick turnaround and a tough Barclays Premier League clash at Bolton tomorrow, still struggling with nine players doubtful because of injury.

Neville will not be back from his knee problem until Christmas but still travelled to Portugal on Thursday for what became a disastrous 5-0 defeat by Benfica.

But Neville said: “When the chips are down and our backs are to the wall and people are writing us off, that is when this club gels together – and we will do that, I am sure of it.

“Everyone is disappointed after Lisbon, but we have to win on Sunday now to put that result behind us.

“They had world-class players, but I’m sure when we get them back to Goodison and we get everybody fit – because we had a really inexperienced side out – it will be a different game.”

Everton suffered their worst European defeat but are already planning their revenge in the return fixture.

“You will see a different Everton side next time,” Neville predicted.

“I am convinced we can beat them.

“The scoreline tells you we made five mistakes. We can’t make those mistakes against top European sides if we want to progress and win this competition – which we do.”

Everton were missing 11 players in Lisbon. But two – John Heitinga and Lucas Neill, who were ineligible for the match – will both play at the Reebok .

Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov will have a scan on a groin strain but may be fit to face Bolton.

But Leighton Baines, Joseph Yobo, Leon Osman, Steven Pienaar, Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, Neville, Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan are all likely to still be unavailable.

Boss David Moyes said: “The players gave everything on the night.

“We were up against a very good team, and I would like to face them when we have a full side out. That will happen in a couple of weeks when Benfica come to us.

“We had a lot of youngsters, and they will learn from facing top players. But I cannot fault the effort.

“I do not really know yet who may be back from injury, that is up to the medical department. I will just have to wait and try to find 11 players to face Bolton.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

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Allardyce trashes Trapattoni over Reid claims

October 23, 2009


Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has launched a stinging attack on Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni after the Italian claimed Rovers midfielder Steven Reid would never fully recover from a knee injury.

Ireland international Reid, 28, has made just two appearances in nearly a year due to a serious knee problem and his comeback has also been hit by an Achilles tendon injury.

Trapattoni recently insisted Reid would find it “very, very difficult” to reach peak form again after such a long time on the sidelines.

But Allardyce is furious with those claims and has demanded an apology from both Football Association of Ireland and Trapattoni himself.

“It’s disgraceful, completely out of order,” Allardyce said on Friday. “He’s not talking correctly in terms of Steven’s injury. What he is saying is completely untrue and something he should apologise for.

“He has undermined us as a football club, undermined Steven as a player and he has really been very, very naughty in what he has said.

“He should make a public apology and hopefully that will be the end of it.

“Steven has had a long haul and he’s trying to resurrect his career and secure a new contract. He also wants to go and play for his country as he has done many, many times and given his all on every occasion.

“There’s no player more honest than Steven and to be dealt that sort of a blow at this stage, when he’s not feeling the best, trying to come back from a big injury and picking up another little niggle, is very, very disrespectful to say the least. It’s disgusting.

“I think his association should bring him to task. I think we as a football club should bring him to task and make him justify what he has said, but the thing is he can’t.

“I’ve never spoken to him and after what he’s said I don’t want to. Steven’s had a very difficult time and the last thing he needed was to sit down and read his international manager trying to write him off.”

BLACKBURN, England (AFP)

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Robben relieved but set for a month on the sidelines

October 1, 2009


Bayern Munich midfielder Arjen Robben will be out for four weeks but was a relieved man on Thursday after a scan of his injured right knee revealed the damage is not as bad as first thought.

The 25-year-old Dutch winger limped off just before half-time in Wednesday’s scoreless draw against Juventus in a Champions League group match.

A scan revealed only a minor knee problem for which Robben will still need a minor operation, but he will return quicker than originally thought.

Given the Dutchman’s previous injury history there was relief around Munich’s Allianz Arena, especially as Robben only joined from Real Madrid last month.

“It is not as bad as we first thought, but it is obviously still a problem,” said Bayern coach Louis van Gaal.

“Thank goodness for the international games next week.”

Van Gaal will be missing both his playmakers for the Bundesliga game with Cologne on Saturday as both Robben and Franck Ribery – who the German media have dubbed ‘Robbery’ – are carrying injuries.

The Frenchman also suffered a knee injury against Juventus.

And Belgian defender Daniel van Buyten is doubtful for the Cologne game after damaging his ankle against Juventus.

MUNICH, Germany (AFP)

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Defoe treble helps five-star Spurs turn on style

August 20, 2009


Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe scored a hat-trick as his side turned on the style to crush Hull 5-1 at the KC Stadium on Wednesday.

Defoe has made an impressive start to the campaign after notching a double for England in last week’s friendly against Holland and he tore Hull’s defence to pieces.

After Defoe had opened the scoring, Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios claimed his first goal in English football.

Stephen Hunt pulled one back for Hull, but Defoe struck again, then Robbie Keane underlined’s Tottenham’s dominance before Defoe completed his treble.

After beating Liverpool on Sunday, Harry Redknapp’s side have now won their opening two matches of the season for only the second time in 14 years to go top of the table, while Hull are without a win in 12 league matches dating back to their dismal end to last season.

With Ledley King unable to play two games in a week due to his degenerative knee problem, Redknapp moved Vedran Corluka to centre-back and brought in Alan Hutton at right-back.

Even without King, Redknapp’s team looked full of confidence after their win over Liverpool and ripped into Hull in the early stages.

Defoe opened the scoring in the 10th minute as he took Tom Huddlestone’s pass and drove a typically clinical strike past Boaz Myhill.

Before Hull had a chance to regroup, Tottenham increased their lead four minutes later as Keane picked out Palacios and the former Wigan midfielder calmly slotted home.

There was a blow for Tottenham when goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, who had hurt himself stretching for a high ball moments earlier, had to be replaced by Carlo Cudicini.

Tigers boss Phil Brown responded to Hull’s problems by hauling off striker Daniel Cousin and sending on Brazilian midfielder Geovanni after 21 minutes.

In the 24th minute Geovanni won a free-kick on the right touchline and Hunt, a scorer on his debut at Chelsea on Saturday, floated in a cross that bounced past Geovanni and into the net as Tottenham’s defence stood flat-footed.

Brown’s team thought they had equalised when Caleb Folan fired past Cudicini but referee Chris Foy blew for a foul on Sebastien Bassong.

Just as the Tigers were starting to dominate, Defoe broke clear on the stroke of half time to lash home his second goal after Michael Turner was wrong-footed by Keane.

Hull appealed for a penalty in the second half after Geovanni went down in the area but Foy was unmoved and referee turned down more Tigers penalty protests for hand ball soon after.

Geovanni looked to be Hull’s most likely hope of an equaliser and he shot straight at Cudicini before testing the Italian keeper with a powerful header.

But Spurs wrapped up the points in the 78th minute after breaking following a Hull corner.

The ball was worked wide to Aaron Lennon and the England winger lofted a perfect cross for Keane to head in.

There was still time for Defoe to have the final word when he drilled home a fierce left-footed shot in injury-time.

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Hughes relishes City´s spell in spotlight

August 15, 2009


Mark Hughes can hardly wait for the Premier League season to start as Manchester City prepare for their eagerly anticipated opening game at Blackburn on Saturday.

Hughes has spent almost 100 million pounds on a galaxy of star names during the close season and the City manager knows his revamped team will be under intense scrutiny when they travel to his former club.

Of the major new signings, Kolo Toure, Gareth Barry and Carlos Tevez could all make their debuts at Ewood Park.

And while Paraguayan Roque Santa Cruz is ruled out until the end of the month with a knee problem, Emmanuel Adebayor will also be in line for a first appearance if he overcomes a groin problem sustained on international duty with Togo.

City, who are still chasing Everton defender Joleon Lescott, are the talk of the Premier League and have been hotly-tipped to launch a sustained challenge for the top four, although Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson maintains City are not yet a title threat.

Hughes knows he can do nothing about the increasing expectation at Eastlands but feels his squad will improve significantly on last season’s 10th position.

Key to that will be bettering away form that brought City just two wins on their travels in the Premier League last season. But after all the talk, Hughes is just desperate for the season to start.

“All the pre-season games and preparation have been geared towards just one thing and that is the opening contest at Ewood Park,” he said.

“We are chomping at the bit to get going. There is a tangible feeling of anticipation both within in the club and amongst the fans.

“We want to put on a great show for our fans. We needed to address our away form from last season and we have the opportunity on Saturday to start on the front foot. We can make a statement.

“Last season in terms of the total number of Premier League games played by our players we had an inexperienced side. We have addressed that now.”

City’s England U21 defender Nedum Onuoha has echoed those sentiments and admits he will be just as fascinated to see how Hughes’ new-look team actually get on.

He said: “We just want to get started. I’m really excited, all the squad are because there has not been a time recently where there has been so much attention on Manchester City.”

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce is hoping that captain Ryan Nelsen will overcome a knee problem to feature in the opening match.

The New Zealander picked up the injury in last Saturday’s 2-0 friendly defeat to Dundee United.

But at least Allardyce can call on Australian midfielder Vince Grella and defender Chris Samba.

New signing Nikola Kalinic is still waiting for a work permit and so South African striker Benni McCarthy looks set to start in attack.

Nelsen feels that Rovers will benefit from last season’s brush with relegation.

He said: “While it was an extremely difficult year it was also a very rewarding one.

“We have gone through a lot of adversity, have been in deep, deep trouble but we have got out of it.

“We know we can look at our team mates and know if there is ever a battle in the future you have guys who are going to fight.

“If you look at the games under Sam Allardyce and the results we had and the injuries we had, then we still produced close to European form.

“Now, if we keep certain bodies fit, and if we can keep a good strong squad then hopefully it will be a pretty exciting year.”

BLACKBURN, England (AFP)

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Recovering Ribery may play, says Domenech

August 12, 2009


Franck Ribery, who missed Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga opener last weekend due to injury, could make an appearance for France in their World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands here on Wednesday.

France coach Raymond Domenech said on the eve of the Group Seven fixture that he was prepared to deploy the playmaker in some capacity even though Bayern coach Louis Van Gaal initially only allowed Ribery to make the trip on the condition that he wasn’t called to play.

“Franck is ready to play part of the game,” Domenech insisted here on Tuesday about the player who is recovering from a left knee problem.

The French boss added: “I had Van Gaal on the phone, we are in agreement that we have to return him (Ribery) in the best condition.

“He could play, if needed, for 15 to 20 minutes, like that he’ll get ready for Bayern’s match on Saturday, that’s part of our agreement, but we won’t necessarily ask him to play unless there’s a problem.”

Van Gaal had stated last Friday that Ribery would not be playing against the Faroe Islands, insisting that he was only allowing him to join up with the national squad “for a change of scenery”.

Switching to Thierry Henry Domenech said he had been aware for some time that the Barcelona striker may not be fit enough to join them for this trip to the North Atlantic island.

Henry was ruled out Monday with his club Barcelona revealing he was suffering from an Achilles problem.

“We’ve known for a few weeks that he wasn’t right but was continuing to play.. after talking to him we thought it wasn’t worth him coming to us to have his injury checked.

“It’s best that he rests, we’ll need him in September and October. I have confidence in ‘Titi’, the France team is his permanent dream.”

In Henry and regular captain Patrick Vieira’s absence the skipper’s armband will be worn by Arsenal’s William Gallas.

France need a win from Wednesday’s qualifier to close the gap with Group Seven leaders Serbia, who enjoy an eight-point cushion although the Serbs have played two more games.

“The three points are essential,” conceded Gallas.

TORSHAVN, Faroe Islands (AFP)

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