Valencia reject Barcelona offer for Mata – reports

August 8, 2009


Cash-strapped Valencia have refused an offer of over 20 million euros from European champions Barcelona for their Spanish international winger Juan Mata, Spanish media reported Friday.

Valencia president Manuel Llorente told the 21-year-old player’s agent earlier on Friday that the club did not want to let him go and was in no position to offer him a higher salary, the online editions of sports daily Marca said.

“We know that he is a great player who is young and needs protecting and should stay with Valencia,” Llorent was quoted by daily El Mundo Deportivo.

Spanish media report that Mata earns around 600,000 euros per season, which would would make him one of the lowest paid members of Valencia’s squad.

Mata has been a regular fixture at Valencia since he joined the club from Real Madrid’s youth team in 2007.

MADRID (AFP)

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Torres hints towards one more Liverpool signing

June 28, 2009


Liverpool FC and Spanish striker Fernando Torres has revealed that he has suggested some names to manager Rafael Benitez, who should be at Anfield for next season.

The former Atletico Madrid frontman believes that Liverpool need “small players with quality” and would like Benitez to sign David Silva, Juan Mata or David Villa from Valencia.

“English football is very difficult because it’s very physical and played at a high tempo,” Torres said. “We have a fantastic team to play against the big teams and we are competitive.

“But maybe against those teams lower down we are not good enough. We have to improve that and I think we can.

“I think we can definitely be stronger at home. We have some very good players but maybe we need other players. I hope Liverpool will bring people like Silva, Mata or Villa. These are small players with quality like United had with Carlos Tevez and also with Paul Scholes.”

“They are clever players and maybe they can make the difference. Yossi Benayoun plays like these kind of players and I hope we can bring more like that so then we have different options to play against all the sides.”

The 25 year-old added: “It was frustrating but football is difficult against the smaller teams. We need players with quality to try to win these matches and I want Liverpool to sign players like this.”

“We finished four points behind United but we are improving. We are getting more points every season. I know that every year we can finish with more points. I have recommended the names to Benitez and I hope we have the money.”

Written by: Abhimanyu Rajput

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Villa goal sends Spain into Confed Cup semis

June 18, 2009

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BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AFP) – A rampant Spain remain on track to equal Brazil’s record unbeaten streak after extending their own unbeaten run to 34 games by beating Iraq 1-0 at the Confederations Cup.

A goal by Valencia striker David Villa, at the centre of transfer speculation with Manchester United and Barcelona reportedly interested, was enough to break down a tough Iraqi defence.

It put them into the semi-finals and moved the European champions even closer to equalling the 35-match unbeaten run by Brazil between 1993 and 1996.

It also ensured their place in the record books by matching the 14 straight victories held by Australia, Brazil and France.

In the semis Spain will either play Italy, or Brazil.

Coach Vicente del Bosque, who was won all 12 matches since he has been in charge, said he was proud to be working with such a talented group of players, led by the likes of Villa and his strike partner Fernando Torres.

“I’m very happy that this group is breaking records and creating new runs by the day,” he said.

“Villa and Torres could play in any team in the world.”

But it wasn’t easy against Iraq, who played an effective defensive game with five men at the back.

“It was really tough and hard to find our rythem but we got the goal and it took us to the semi-finals which was the main goal,” added Del Bosque.

Despite losing, wily Iraq coach Bora Milutinovic said it was a sweet defeat.

“It was a dream for my players to play against Spain and to put up that sort of performance really makes me proud,” said the veteran Serb.

“They played very intelligently. I’m very, very happy for Iraq.”

Del Bosque was forced to start without Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas who limped out of training on Tuesday after a strong tackle by Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

He also rested Carles Puyol, Albert Reira and Raul Albiol, with Carlos Marchena, Gerard Pique, Juan Manuel Mata and Santi Cazorla in the starting 11.

Milutinovic also rested several players with his focus on their last match of the group stages against New Zealand, which he believes they can win.

Compared to their 5-0 thrashing of New Zealand on Sunday, this was a much tougher test for Spain.

It took them eight minutes to unleash their first shot when Cazorla’s left foot strike was easily gathered by goalkeeper Mohammed Kassid.

Pique’s glancing header went close on 15 minutes and Torres, Spain’s hat-trick hero against New Zealand, almost got on the end of a looping Xavi through ball minutes later.

Spain’s best chance came midway through the half when Cazorla fired a cross in from the right to find an unmarked Villa whose left-foot volley whistled past the post.

Spain were threatening a goal but a composed Iraq held tight, getting bodies behind the ball effectively and they went to the break all square.

The European champions upped the tempo after the restart and Villa should have buried a golden opportunity eight minutes into the half when he fired a close range header straight at the goalkeeper.

But he made no mistake a minute later when he got on the end of a Joan Capdevila cross and angled his header into the right-hand corner to break the deadlock.

It fired up Spain with Alonso, Torres and Mata all going close but Iraq never gave up, fighting bravely to the bitter end but unable to draw level.

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League next as Barca on brink of double

May 16, 2009


MADRID (AFP) – With the King’s Cup in the bag, Barcelona look to complete the double this weekend, needing just a point at Real Mallorca on Sunday to secure their 19th league title.

Barcelona destroyed Athletic Bilbao 4-1 to win the King’s Cup on Wednesday and have the chance to make it two titles in five days with a draw at Mallorca and could even be crowned champions without playing should Real Madrid fail to defeat Villarreal on Saturday.

“If we become champions because Madrid slip-up, so much the better,” said captain Carles Puyol.

“If they don?t, we?ll go to Mallorca to win the game as we have done all season.”

Pep Guardiola?s side are eight points clear of Real with three games left so a point would be enough as they have a superior head-to-head record.

Barcelona looked set to win the championship in front of their own fans at Camp Nou last weekend but conceded two late goals in a 3-3 draw with Villarreal.

They now need a point to get the job done as they go for an historic treble, with the Champions League final against Manchester United on May 27 the final installment.

Real, beaten 3-0 by Valencia last time out, seem to be playing for pride alone, although some of their players are playing for their futures with a summer of change expected.

On Saturday the reigning champions travel to Villarreal, three points off fourth spot, who must win to maintain their Champions League push.

Real are poised to splash the cash to re-build their team and goalkeeper Iker Casillas has urged the club to raid Valencia for the Spanish trio of Juan Mata, David Villa and David Silva.

“I am not xenophobic but I simply think that players such as Villa, Mata and Silva would fit perfectly at a club like Real,” said Casillas.

Valencia are desperate to hang onto their star trio but will probably need the Champions League windfall to keep them and have a make-or-break match on Sunday at rivals Atletico Madrid.

As it stands Valencia hold the desired fourth position but are just a point ahead of Atletico and go into the Vicente Calderon clash without Silva, who is out for at least a fortnight with a foot injury.

“If Villarreal don?t win (against Real Madrid) a draw at the Calderon would maintain the gap with one game less but that is not to say I would take a draw,” explained midfielder Ruben Baraja.

Like Valencia, Atletico also need the financial benefits of Champions League football to hang onto their striking duo of Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero and Diego Forlan next season.

“We know what is at stake and we can?t fail,” said Atletico captain Maxi Rodriguez.

Uruguayan forward Forlan has scored seven goals in his last five games to take his season?s tally to 27 and he is just one goal behind Barcelona?s Samuel Eto?o in the Pichichi race to become the league?s top-scorer.

Third-placed Sevilla are closing in on the Champions League and if they can beat Osasuna on Sunday and Valencia lose at Atletico they will qualify for Europe?s flagship competition.

Osasuna are one of several teams fighting to stay in the division as the relegation battle goes down to the wire.

“It will be a difficult game with their passionate fans and we understand they will fight to the death given the situation they are in,” explained Sevilla midfielder Aldo Duscher.

“However, we are prepared to do the same to reach our goal (the Champions League).”

Osasuna are in the final safety spot, two points above the bottom three of Sporting Gijon, Recreativo Huelva and Numancia.

Basement boys Numancia host Recre, one point above them, on Sunday in a crucial six-pointer in Soria.

“Although some people don’t believe in us, we have faith in ourselves and we can survive if we all can pull together,” said Numancia’s Cesar Palacios.

Fixtures

Saturday (1800GMT unless otherwise stated)

Osasuna v Sevilla, Deportivo La Coruna v Getafe, Villarreal v Real Madrid (2000GMT)

Sunday (1500GMT unless otherwise stated)

Real Betis v Almeria, Espanyol v Athletic Bilbao, Racing Santander v Valladolid, Sporting Gijon v Malaga, Numancia v Recreativo Huelva, Real Mallorca v Barcelona (1700GMT), Atletico Madrid v Valencia (1900GMT)

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Barcelona can win Spanish League after Real crash

May 10, 2009


MADRID (AFP) – Barcelona can win the Spanish league for the 19th time on Sunday after double champions Real Madrid waved the white flag in the title race with a 3-0 loss at Valencia on Saturday.

Real trail Barcelona by seven points and Pep Guardiola’s side will be crowned champions with three games to spare if they can beat Villarreal at Camp Nou on Sunday.

Real were still reeling from their 6-2 drubbing by Barcelona last Saturday in ‘El Clasico’ and they were outclassed again as two goals in three minutes laid the foundations for a comfortable Valencia win.

Juan Mata, a youth product let go by Real in 2007, scored his 11th goal of the season on 29 minutes before David Silva, a Real transfer target, netted a second in the 32nd minute.

Ruben Baraja scored a great second-half volley and it could have been more but for some poor finishing.

It was Real’s first away defeat since mid-December when they lost 2-0 at Barcelona who are poised to dethrone them as champions.

Valencia move four points behind Sevilla, 3-1 winners over Real Mallorca on Saturday, and more importantly, open a four-point gap over Champions League rivals Atletico Madrid and Villarreal who both play Sunday.

“This was a massive win for us and we just have to keep pushing for the Champions League spot,” said Silva.

“Atletico and Villarreal are still in the hunt and we will see what they do (on Sunday). We have done our bit.”

Real lost French international Lass Diarra to a bout of flu so Javi Garcia, a youth team product back at the club after a season at Osasuna, partnered Fernando Gago in a very defensive-minded midfield.

Valencia were on top early on as Real struggled to shrug off their ‘El Clasico’ hangover and Iker Casillas pulled off a fine save in the opening minutes to stop Baraja’s header.

On 29 minutes, Valencia got the breakthrough they deserved with Mata, capped by Spain for the first time this season, finishing with aplomb after a great lay-off from David Villa.

Real tried to sign Villa for a reputed 40 million euros in the summer and are tipped to bid again at the end of this season.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 as Silva was given too much time to shoot and Casillas couldn’t keep out the effort despite getting a hand on the shot.

Real coach Juande Ramos, whose future is looking bleak after recent results, didn’t make any changes at half-time and Valencia continued to carve open the best chances.

Baraja hammered in a great left-footed volley to clinch the game and Real couldn’t wait to get off the pitch.

Sevilla still hold a four-point gap over Valencia after a 3-1 comeback win over Mallorca.

Aritz Aduriz put Mallorca ahead but Sevilla responded with a Freddy Kanoute penalty before second-half goals from Luis Fabiano and Jesus Navas sealed a first home win since late March.

“We are close to our objective (third place) and this win guarantees that we will be third until the penultimate weekend of the season,” said Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez. “It would be tough on our fans if we didn’t finish third.”

Athletic Bilbao warmed up for Wednesday’s King’s Cup final against Barcelona with a 1-0 win over troubled Real Betis.

Ion Velez scored the only goal of the game in the 29th minute to boost Bilbao’s hopes for the Barcelona challenge.

Bilbao will start as strong underdogs but have a great record in the domestic cup, winning it on 24 occasions, although this will be their first final since 1985.

“We have to have faith in ourselves and if we are fortunate enough to win we will also have the satisfaction of beating the best team in the world,” said Bilbao coach Joaquin Caparros.

For Betis, staying in the league is the only priority with the Seville-based club just three points above the relegation zone.

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Valencia Cup defence on the edge as they lose Villa

January 21, 2009

MADRID (AFP) – Valencia’s hopes of retaining their Spanish Cup trophy hang on a knife edge after they scraped a 3-2 home victory over Sevilla in their quarter-final first leg clash on Wednesday.

Indeed victory may have come at a cost as Spanish international striker David Villa, having scored their opener in the fifth minute had to come off injured later in the first-half and be replaced by former Spanish international Fernando Morientes.

Sevilla rebounded in the second-half to take a 2-1 lead as first Luis Fabiano and then Adriano gave them the advantage, though, the latter’s goal had an air of offside about it.

However, Valencia showed resilience by scoring twice in the last seven minutes – through Ruben Baraja and then Juan Mata – to take their slender advantage to Sevilla next week.

The evening’s other match saw Espanyol pull off a satisfactory result in their first match under former Argentine defender Mauricio Pochettino – who replaced ‘Mane’ at the helm of the relegation-threatened club on Tuesday – hold city rivals Barcelona 0-0.

Barca coach Josep Guardiola opted to rest the majority of his first choice players as is is habit for the Cup, though, he did send on Argentine star Lionel Messi and Spain’s Euro 2008 winning playmaker Xavi in the second-half to try and force a victory.

Written by: AFP

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