De Rossi warns Inter and praises Ranieri

February 3, 2010

Daniele De Rossi still believes Roma can mount a title challenge despite an eight-point gap with league leaders Internazionale.

Roma are back on track after a struggling start of the season and are unbeaten in seventeen games.

“It’s an incredible thing,” Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Many factors have tied in together: a maturation of character, serenity, results. It’s credit to the group.

“Other teams would have beaten someone up in the dressing room. Instead we always remained united. We are healthy. Sure, Inter are too, but the Champions League could bother them later on.

“The table says that, together with Milan, we are the anti-Inter. Let six or seven games pass and then we’ll see. Also because there is still a match to play against them at home.”

Asked to explain the difference Claudio Ranieri made since he took over from Luciano Spalletti De Rossi said: “He is an expert. He never gives up the charge.

“Claudio has given us the compactness that we needed. And it’s not true that he doesn’t love good football. Look at the games against Fiorentina and Genoa.”

Finally, De Rossi outlined his ambitions this season: “I would like to win the Europa League, but our objective now is to finish third and return to the Champions League without the preliminaries.

“It’s too important for us as a window and for the club on an economic level.”

Tags: ambitions, champions league, claudio, Claudio Ranieri, compactness, daniele de rossi, dello, dressing room, economic level, fiorentina, gazzetta dello sport, genoa, internazionale, la gazzetta dello sport, league leaders, luciano spalletti, midfielder, point gap, preliminaries, Rossi, serenity, seven games, title challenge

Gladbach hit by Dorda injury

January 5, 2010

Borussia Monchengladbach will have to play without the services of full-back Christian Dorda, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season after tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee.

The 21-year-old flew back from Gladbach’s training camp in Spain on Sunday and underwent surgery in Cologne on Monday morning.

He now faces six months on the sidelines, meaning his season is over.

Dorda, who has yet to appear for the Foals this season due to a succession of niggling injuries, was hoping to build up his fitness and join the first-team squad for the second half of the campaign.

However, he twisted his knee badly in training on Sunday and the club’s medical department, after consultation with a local hospital, agreed to send him back to Germany for surgery.

Dorda played seven games for Gladbach last season.

Tags: Christian Dorda, cologne, consultation, fitness, foals, Germany, local hospital, medical department, monchengladbach, monday morning, niggling injuries, patellar tendon, second half, seven games, sidelines, six months, Spain, succession, training camp

Carew keeps Aston Villa on course

December 19, 2009

John Carew’s goal kept Aston Villa in the hunt for Champions League football next season with a 1-0 win at home to Stoke City here on Saturday.

Norway striker Carew, on as a substitute, settled the match just after the hour mark when he headed in Ashley Young’s cross.

Stoke created few chances but were furious when a first-half effort from Mamady Sidabe was disallowed for a push on Stephen Warnock.

This was Villa’s fourth straight Premier League win and saw them stay among the top flight’s leading quartet, with Martin O’Neill’s men now unbeaten in seven games.

Villa made a bright start and Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen had to make a double save to deny Stiliyan Petrov and Gabriel Agbonlahor.

But the hosts suffered a setback when England striker Emile Heskey had to go off injured following a challenge with Danny Higginbotham, Carew taking the forward’s place.

Tuncay Sanli almost unlocked the Villa defence but the Birmingham club held firm and then won the match with a goal of the utmost simplicity as Carew got on the end of Young’s cross from the right to head powerfully past Sorensen.

BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP)

Tags: ashley, Birmingham, birmingham england, champions league football, Danny Higginbotham, England, gabriel agbonlahor, John Carew, martin o neill, Martin O'Neill, match, Norway, premier league, quartet, setback, seven games, stephen warnock, Stoke City, striker emile heskey, thomas sorensen, tuncay sanli, utmost simplicity

Five-star Gomez hoping to fire Bayern top

December 19, 2009

Germany striker Mario Gomez is hoping to score his sixth goal in seven games for Bayern Munich against Hertha Berlin on Saturday as his side aim to enter the winter break as Bundesliga leaders.

The 24-year-old started his purple patch in the 1-1 draw with league leaders Leverkusen on November 22.

Since then he has scored in all of the last three German league games plus a top class effort in the 4-1 win at Juventus which put Bayern in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Bayern have risen up the Bundesliga table from eighth and go into the weekend third in the league, just two points behind leaders Leverkusen.

A win over Hertha, who have failed to record a single league success since their victory on the opening day of the season, would give them a chance of finishing the year on top of the league.

Leverkusen would need to lose at Borussia Moenchengladbach and second-placed Schalke would have to fail to beat Mainz on Friday night, but Louis van Gaal-coached Bayern have a chance to claim the lead.

“I am not only scoring goals, I am creating them too,” said Gomez who is hoping for his sixth consecutive goal at Munich’s Allianz Arena.

“I had a chat with the coach (van Gaal) and he explained what he expects of me, since then everything has worked well and I feel liberated now.”

And for his partner up front Ivica Olic, who scored twice in last weekend’s 5-1 win over Bochum, Gomez is justifying the 30 million euros Bayern paid Stuttgart for him last summer.

“The combination works well,” said Olic. “I always have fun playing with a striker like Mario. He is showing why Bayern paid so much money for him.”

Bayern, who have gone 11 home games without a Bundesliga defeat, should have few problems against Hertha.

A 70th minute goal by Gojko Kacar was enough to see Berlin reach the last 32 of the newly-formed Europa League against Group D leaders Sporting Lisbon last week, but they are six points adrift at the foot of the Bundesliga.

Leverkusen have announced they will loan striker Theofanis Gekas to Hertha as they look to consolidate their place at the top of the table and victory at home to ‘Gladbach will see them finish the year on top.

Stuttgart coach Christian Gross will be without banned Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann who picked up a three-match ban after being sent off in the 1-1 draw against Mainz last Sunday.

Gross replaced Markus Babbel as coach earlier this month, but is still chasing his first Bundesliga success since taking over at Stuttgart as his side, who are 15th in the table, host Hoffenheim on Saturday.

Friday

Schalke 04 v Mainz 05

Saturday

Bayern Munich v Hertha Berlin, Borussia Dortmund v Freiburg, Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia M’gladbach, Hanover 96 v VfL Bochum, Eintracht Frankfurt v VfL Wolfsburg, VfB Stuttgart v Hoffenheim

Sunday

Hamburg v Werder Bremen, Cologne v Nuremberg

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: allianz arena, Bayern, bayern munich, class effort, FRANKFURT, german league, Germany, Hamburg, Hanover, hertha berlin, home games, ivica olic, jens lehmann, kacar, league games, league leaders, Lisbon, louis van gaal, mario gomez, markus babbel, minute goal, Munich, nuremberg, purple patch, scoring goals, seven games, six points, sixth goal, sporting lisbon, winter break

Lippi wary of taking group too easily

December 5, 2009

Italy coach Marcello Lippi sounded a warning to celebrating Italians after the reigning world champions were on Friday given what looked an easy draw in the World Cup.

Italy were grouped alongside debutants Slovakia, outsiders New Zealand and South Americans Paraguay in Group F.

But while that looks to be one of the weakest pools in the whole draw, Lippi warned that it would be dangerous to start thinking along those lines.

“The more you think a group will be easy the more difficult it becomes,” he said.

“Paraguay were top of the South American qualifying group for a long time before being overtaken by Brazil at the end.

“Slovakia are improving, they have players we know well, also some who play in Italy and they beat some good teams to get here.

“I’m neither satisfied nor upset. We will start to assess our opponents and their characteristics.

“They are all difficult opponents but then we will also cast an eye on the (possible) second round and quarter-final (opponents).”

However, while Lippi urged caution, Italian pundits were less reserved in their reactions.

On Sky Sport’s live televised coverage of the draw their commentators openly laughed and celebrated as each of Italy’s opponents was read out.

And former Chelsea manager and now TV pundit Gianluca Vialli said this was a group from which Italy should expect to progress.

“It’s a very manageable group but these are teams who will be going to the World Cup expecting to play three matches whereas Italy are going there hoping to play seven games, so we have to be very careful,” he said.

Slovakia actually topped a qualifying group including Slovenia, Poland and Czech Republic while Paraguay were only pipped by Brazil in South American qualifying.

New Zealand’s Oceania campaign was simple but then they had to negotiate a tricky two-legged play-off against Bahrain.

Paraguay are expected to be Italy’s toughest opponents with Brazil coach Dunga, who lifted the World Cup as a player in 1994 in the United States when Italy were beaten on penalties in the final, told the reigning champions to watch out.

“Italy’s group is not easy, Paraguay are a very solid team. They did very well during qualification, Italy will have to be careful,” he told Rai TV.

Italy begin their campaign against Paraguay in Cape Town on June 14 and the South Americans’ Argentine coach Gerardo Martino admitted that would be his team’s toughest encounter.

“Playing the first match against the reigning champions will of course be difficult but we’re confident that we will be well prepared enough to put up a fight not only in this match the also the others,” he said.

Underdogs New Zealand gave Italy a fright in a pre-Confederations Cup friendly in Pretoria a year ago before going down 4-3 and assistant coach Brian Turner says that has given them belief.

“We took a lot of confidence out of that game. We took the game to Italy but at the end of the day Italy were still too good, they’re a football power,” he said.

“But we’re delighted with the group we’re in and we’re delighted to be with Italy.”

ROME (AFP)

Tags: Argentine, bahrain, brazil, Brian Turner, cape town, CHELSEA, coach marcello lippi, commentators, czech republic, debutants, dunga, F. But, Gerardo Martino, italians, italy coach, marcello lippi, New Zealand, opponents, outsiders, paraguay, play seven, play three, Poland, pretoria, pundits, qualifying group, ROME, seven games, Sky Sport, South American, South Americans, United States, vialli, world champions, World Cup

Ronaldo wants Rooney at Bernabeu

October 31, 2009

Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo believes his former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney should follow him to the Santiago Bernabéu.

Ronaldo, who left Old Trafford in the summer for a record £80million fee to complete a dream move to the Spanish giants, has impressed with Madrid scoring nine goals in seven games before suffering an ankle injury which has kept him on the sidelines for the past month.

And while he admits Rooney is unlikely to leave England any time soon, the Portuguese winger believes the 24-year-old would fit in at the Bernabeu.

“Wayne would be a sensation out here. I think we could do with Rooney to help us out,” Ronaldo told The Sun.

“He would be brilliant if he came. This is the ideal place for the world’s best players and there’s little doubt he is one of them.

“Wayne has all the skill and determination you need to make a fine career here.

“He has shown just how good he is over the last few years in England.

“And there’s no doubt he would be the same sort of player in Spain. It would be lovely to see him here one day at Real Madrid.

“I realise it would take a lot for him to move from England.

“He loves the country, he loves Manchester and he is a Liverpool boy. And United is a good club for him. But you never know what could happen in the future.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: ankle injury, bernabeu, cristiano ronaldo, England, giants, Liverpool, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united team, no doubt, old trafford, real madrid, ronaldo, Santiago, sensation, seven games, sidelines, Spain, Sun, team mate, Wayne, wayne rooney, winger

Braga drop points in Portugal

October 25, 2009

Sporting Braga dropped their first two points of the season on Saturday, as the Portuguese leaders were held to a 1-1 draw at Rio Ave.

Hosts Rio Ave even took the lead through Joao Tomas in the ninth minute, but Evaldo limited the damage for Sporting with an equaliser in the 31st.

Sporting had won all of their first seven games this season but may well have to share their lead after this small slip-up as Benfica are only three points behind.

The Lisbon outfit host Nacional Funchal on Sunday, and a win would allow them to move into joint first place.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: benfica, Braga, drop, equaliser, Funchal, hosts, joao tomas, jonathan, Lisbon, outfit, portugal, portuguese, Rio, rio ave, Saturday, season, seven games, span, Sporting, sporting braga

Panathinaikos held by Kavala

October 19, 2009

Panathinaikos are no longer the only leaders in the Greek league, following Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Kavala.

Kavala initially seemed to head for a surprise result against Panathinaikos, with goals from Benjamin Onwuachi in the 21st and 43rd minutes.

But the experienced Kostas Katsouranis gave ‘Pana’ new hope in minute 57 and former Liverpool forward Djibril Cisse eventually saved the day for the visitors near the full time whistle.

Panathinaikos now have to share their lead with Olympiakos; both have 19 points from seven games.

AEK Athens beat Panthrakikos 3-2, with goals from Daniel Majstorovic, Zeljko Djokic (own goal) and Ignacio Scocco. Bedi Buval and Bertrand Robert scored for the guests.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: athens, bedi buval, benjamin onwuachi, bertrand, Bertrand Robert, daniel majstorovic, full time, kavala, kostas katsouranis, Liverpool, panathinaikos, roorda, seven games, surprise result, whistle

Mowbray not concered at Celtic home form

October 18, 2009

Tony Mowbray says he isn’t concerned by Celtic’s home form after watching his side lose top spot in the Scottish Premier League following a goalless draw against Motherwell.

The Celtic coach was visibly frustrated after watching his side waste a host of chances against Jim Gannon’s side, who also held Rangers to a goalless draw at Fir Park earlier in the season.

The pressure was on the Hoops going into the game after Old Firm rivals Rangers moved top of the league with a 2-1 away win to St Johnstone but the shot-shy Celtic strikers could not find a way past a well-organised Motherwell defence.

The result means that the Hoops have won just two of the seven games played at Celtic Park in all competitions so far this season.

Along with the draw against Motherwell the Bhoys have dropped points to Dundee United, lost to Arsenal and Dynamo Moscow in the Champions League and needed a last-minute winner to see off Hearts.

Celtic face German giants Hamburg at Parkhead on Thursday as they attempt to kick-start their Europa League campaign but Mowbray shrugged off suggestions of a crisis in confidence at home.

“You can massage the stats all you want. I think we have drawn against Dundee United and now Motherwell,” Mowbray said.

“I’m not interested in Arsenal at home in the Champions League or Moscow. You can throw stats at me all you want but our league form is fine.

“It’s the first time we’ve failed to score a goal in the league this season. I defy anyone to say there was a lack of effort and lack of determination about the way the team went about the job.

“If we had scored two of our 15 efforts on goal we would have been sitting here saying job done, let’s move on to next week.

“But we missed them so we are disappointed and frustrated. The centre-halves have kept a clean sheet today after a little bit of flak they have taken in recent weeks so the strikers might score a hatful next week.”

Rangers had to come back from a goal down at St Johnstone after falling behind to a 17th-minute strike from Collin Samuel and Gers boss Walter Smith praised his opponents’ industriousness.

“We were always going to have to work hard for a win today and St Johnstone made us do that,” he said.

“In spells they played well and so did we play well in spells.

“Although St Johnstone had possession of the ball at times, there weren’t that many opportunities for either side.”

The champions hauled themselves level shortly before half-time through Kris Boyd before Bosnian defender Sasa Papac secured all three points with a fine curling shot in the 83rd minute.

“It was a good finish for a full-back, getting himself into that position,” said Smith. “Last season and this season Sasa Papac has shown he is capable of getting forward.

“That’s back-to-back wins for us and that is something we have struggled to do this season and hopefully we can keep it going.

“We’re struggling to find consistency of performance but the signs are getting better with each game.”

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: bhoys, Boyd, celtic park, champions league, Collin Samuel, dundee united, dynamo moscow, Europa, Fir Park, flak, giants, Glasgow, Hamburg, hoops, jim gannon, league campaign, minute winner, Moscow, motherwell, parkhead, premier league, rivals, Scottish Premier League, seven games, st johnstone, strikers, tony mowbray, walter smith

Ronaldo for WC play-offs – Quieroz

October 17, 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo should be in full form for the World Cup play-off in November.

Ronaldo is sidelined for the upcoming weeks of action for Real Madrid since his ankle injury flared up once again on international duty with Portugal. But Coach Calos Quieroz is confident over the fitness of captain Ronaldo for the WC play-off. Portugal’s opponent for the two-legged qualifier will be known after Monday’s draw in Zurich.

“We still have five weeks before the first game of the playoffs. Anyway, we are absolutely confident that we will see Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Real Madrid before then,” says Quieroz. “The talk of three or four weeks off is just an hypothesis,” adds the team physiotherapist Antonio Gaspar.

Ronaldo has scored nine goals in seven games for RM and their defeat to Sevilla brought up talks of Madrid’s dependency on winger CR. For the upcoming matches, Madrid might will endure a trial by fire of sorts in an effort to develop a more complete style of football to supersede their opponents.

Anurada Bhat