Moyes is not just another brick in the wall: Cahill

January 19, 2010

Australia’s Tim Cahill has said Everton players would “run through brick walls” for David Moyes, insisting trust in the manager had been key factor in the Merseysiders’ recent revival.

Injuries, and an inability to spend their way out of trouble, contributed to a difficult start to the season for Everton.

But lately the Toffees have hauled themselves out of a sticky situation with a seven-match unbeaten run that includes last weekend’s 2-0 win over cash-rich Manchester City, a result that saw Everton go 10th in the Premier League table.

“The manager and players don’t become bad overnight and it isn’t a fluke what we have achieved in the past,” Everton midfielder Cahill told Monday’s edition of the Liverpool Echo.

“The manager buys players he can trust. We would run through brick walls for him and the poor run hurt us as much as it hurt him.

“We were letting him down. Even when you have got knocks, you play and that says something about the relationship here.”

Cahill also said the way in which Everton’s board had backed Moyes since the Scot’s arrival at Goodison Park in March 2002, had also helped cement their place in English football’s top flight.

“The patience of the club is something. The relationship the chairman (Bill Kenwright) has with the manager is an honest one,” Cahill said.

“The patience shown is a credit to the board and I think it is a good lesson to other clubs because in the modern era of football it is hard for managers.

“They get the blame for everything, but it is the players who cross the line,” he added.

Cahill said it was important Everton used their recent good form as a springboard to challenge for a European place, as they have done in the past few seasons.

“Sometimes everything just falls into place and now it is about kicking on, keeping momentum and the attitude and making sure we are always fitter than the other team,” he told the Liverpool Echo.

“If we make sure we are fitter, stronger and always up for it then we will do well.

“We have got the grit back and playing here is an absolute delight. I think that for me is what got us to where we were in the past.”

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: Australia, bill kenwright, brick walls, cement, chairman bill, David Moyes, Echo, England, english football, fluke, Goodison Park, Liverpool, liverpool echo, manchester city, momentum, patience, premier league, revival, s board, Scot, springboard, sticky situation, tim cahill, toffees, top flight

Leonardo: ‘Ronaldino is the best in the world’

January 18, 2010

With his first hat-trick for Milan, Ronaldinho paved the way to victory against Siena (4-0) on Sunday. The Brazilian has started the new year excellent by netting six goals in three games.

Leonardo hasn’t been surprised by his compatriot’s performances. “Ronaldinho has always lived his career like this, transmitting passion and happiness,” the coach told the press.

“This is what he wants. He is the greatest footballer in the world and he has refound his taste for football.”

Milan benefits from Ronaldinho’s excellent form. The gap with league leaders Internazionale has been reduced to six points.

Leonardo was also keen to remember the other protagonists who have played their part in Ronaldinho’s revival.

“He has to thank this team, who could have given up on him when he made mistakes. Instead they supported him and took him to where he is today,” he concluded.

Ronaldinho has caught national coach Dunga’s interest with his recent performances, according to several Brazilian media. The 87-times capped forward played his last international match on April 1, 2009.

Tags: april 1, brazilian media, compatriot, dunga, footballer, happiness, hat trick, internazionale, league leaders, leonardo, Milan, national coach, new year, protagonists, revival, ronaldinho, ronaldino, Siena, six points, three games, victory

Leonardo: ‘Ronaldino is the best in the world’

January 18, 2010

With his first hat-trick for Milan, Ronaldinho paved the way to victory against Siena (4-0) on Sunday. The Brazilian has started the new year excellent by netting six goals in three games.

Leonardo hasn’t been surprised by his compatriot’s performances. “Ronaldinho has always lived his career like this, transmitting passion and happiness,” the coach told the press.

“This is what he wants. He is the greatest footballer in the world and he has refound his taste for football.”

Milan benefits from Ronaldinho’s excellent form. The gap with league leaders Internazionale has been reduced to six points.

Leonardo was also keen to remember the other protagonists who have played their part in Ronaldinho’s revival.

“He has to thank this team, who could have given up on him when he made mistakes. Instead they supported him and took him to where he is today,” he concluded.

Tags: april 1, brazilian media, compatriot, dunga, footballer, gap, happiness, hat trick, interest, internazionale, league leaders, leonardo, national coach, new year, protagonists, revival, ronaldinho, ronaldino, Siena, six points, three games

“On fire Drogba can make the difference”

November 5, 2009

Chelsea hosts their title rivals Manchester United on Sunday. Florent Malouda believes other teams should fear his teammate Didier Drogba.

Rampaging attacker Drogba scored twice on his return to the Champions League at Atletico Madrid. French international Malouda thinks Drogba’s recent form could make the difference against Manchester United.

Malouda, who faced Drogba in French football, said the strong centre forward is one of the leaders of the Premier League’s top side.

“I knew him from Guingamp and he has always been a leader, always speaking in the dressing room and bringing the team behind him.”

“With John Terry and Frank Lampard he is one of our world-class players and when he is like this every team has to fear him.”

Drogba often looked disinterested under Brazilian boss Luiz Felipe Scolari last season while suffering from a series of injuries. However, Malouda isn’t surprised by the revival of his Ivorian teammate.

“He has not changed, the fact he had a good pre-season without injuries can explain it, he is really happy and enjoying his form at the moment,” said the 29-year-old.

“He always believed in himself, even in the second division in France he was dreaming about it and preparing himself. Even at this level he is working harder and harder,” Malouda continued.

Malouda expects to see an attacking Chelsea at their own Stamford Bridge. The French international hopes an on fire Drogba will sink Man United.

“We have no choice, we have to win because we are two points in front and we want to stay in front. It’s going to be a big, big, big game and we have to play at our best level in front of our fans,” he insisted.

“We have a home record and we’re trying to keep it. Before the international break it would be a good result to win at home. To be five points clear would be a good thing for us, we have never been five in front for a long time.”

Paul Haring

Tags: atletico madrid, attacker, big game, champions league, dressing room, Drogba, felipe scolari, five points, florent malouda, France, frank lampard, french football, french international, john terry, Luiz Felipe, MADRID, man united, Manchester, manchester united, Paul Haring, premier league, revival, rivals, stamford bridge, teammate, time paul

Arsenal´s Djourou out for six months

September 5, 2009

Arsenal defender and Switzerland international Johan Djourou will be out of action for about six months after he underwent an operation on his left knee, the Swiss football federation said Saturday.

Djourou followed doctors’ advice and was operated on his knee cartilage in Geneva on Friday, the federation said on its website.

The 22-year-old had been hoping for a permanent slot in the Gunners’ extremely competitive back four following the departure of Kolo Toure over the summer.

But he quit the Swiss training camp before a friendly against Italy last month complaining of a revival in a recurrent knee pain.

Djourou hopes to regain fitness for a return to competitive football next March, in the hope of making it to the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 if Switzerland qualify.

Switzerland are currently second in Group 2, level on 13 points with first-placed Greece whom they face in Basel on Saturday.

GENEVA (AFP)

Tags: arsenal, doctors, football federation, geneva, greece, gunners, Italy, johan djourou, knee cartilage, knee pain, left knee, revival, six months, South Africa, swiss training, Switzerland, Toure, training camp, World Cup

United see off Derby to reach League Cup final

January 21, 2009

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) – Manchester United gave themselves the chance to win yet another trophy with a 4-2 League Cup semi-final second leg win over Derby County here at Old Trafford.

Tuesday’s result gave United a 4-3 victory on aggregate after their shock 1-0 loss away to the second-tier Championship strugglers in the first leg.

First-half goals from Nani, John O’Shea and Carlos Tevez put United in seemingly total command but Giles Barnes pulled one back for Derby with a penalty 10 minutes from time.

When Cristiano Ronaldo beat former United goalkeeper Roy Carroll with an 89th minute penalty it seemed all hopes of a Derby revival had been snuffed out only for Barnes to score a second goal in stoppage time with a fine free-kick.

English, European and world champions United will face the winners of the second semi-final between Burnley and Tottenham, who play their second leg on Wednesday, at Wembley on March 1.

Spurs will be firm favourites to make it an all Premier League final after winning the first leg 4-1.

Written by: AFP

Tags: AFP, aggregate, burnley, carlos tevez, derby county, England, English Premier League, free kick, giles, Giles Barnes, Goalkeeper, john o shea, John O'Shea, Manchester, manchester england, manchester united, march 1, nani, old trafford, premier league, revival, ronaldo, Roy Carroll, spurs, stoppage time, tottenham, Wembley, world champions

Robben key to Real revival

January 7, 2009

Real Madrid have suffered a flurry of criticism in recent times for some disappointing, and expensive, forays into the transfer market (Fernando Gago and Rafael van der Vaart to name two).

But the recruitment of Arjen Robben from Chelsea for a reported 36 million euros in August 2007 seems finally to be paying off, with the Dutch winger in the form of his life.

He scored another superb goal against Villarreal at the Bernabeu on Sunday, securing a 1-0 victory for the champions, and said it was the best he had scored since his move to the Spanish capital.

”I am feeling happy right now,” he told Tuesday’s As newspaper. “Finally I can show how I play.”

The problem for Real is that when Robben is absent, which is not a rare occurrence due to an unfortunate habit of getting injured or suspended, the team lacks momentum going forward.

They seem, in fact, a bit like the current Chelsea side and the Londoners may be regretting their decision to let Robben leave.

“When he is injured you notice it quite a lot,” Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas told reporters on Monday when asked about Robben’s recent form.

“He is a very important player for us, electric, fast and throws the opposition off balance. We have to look after him a lot and we hope he doesn’t injure himself because I am sure he will do great things and help the team a lot.”

With the Dutchman in the side, Real can look and play like champions. Without him they can look pretty ordinary.

PHOTO: Real Madrid’s Arjen Robben celebrates his goal during their La Liga match against Villarreal at the Bernabeu, Jan. 4, 2009. REUTERS/Juan Medina

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