Neville under FA scanner over Tevez gesture

January 20, 2010

Gary Neville could face disciplinary action for directing a one-fingered gesture at former team-mate Carlos Tevez after the Football Association confirmed they were looking into an incident in Tuesday night’s League Cup semi-final.

Neville made the gesture from the touchline as Tevez celebrated the first of his two goals in Manchester City’s 2-1 first leg win over Manchester United at Eastlands.

The Argentina striker’s celebrations had included a ’stop talking’ gesture to Neville and appeared to be a response to the United defender’s pre-match comment that the club had made the right decision in allowing Tevez to leave the club at the end of last season rather than find the 25 million pounds it would have cost to sign him permanently.

Neville is effectively on probation with the FA having been warned about his conduct earlier in the season following provocative celebrations of Michael Owen’s late winner for United in the Manchester derby match at Old Trafford in September.

Tevez celebrated his second goal in similar fashion, running in front of the United dugout and cupping his hands behind his ears.

But he failed to get a reaction from United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who has also expressed the opinion that the striker is not worth 25 million pounds.

“It is just the way these things happen,” Ferguson said. “Football can be like that. It can bite you. We have had a few players leave the club and score against us. There is no issue. I am happy with the players we have got.”

Tevez has now scored 17 goals for City this season and his team-mate Pablo Zabaleta believes he was fuelled by a desire to make a point to Ferguson and Neville.

“One Manchester United player talked about Carlos before the game so he showed he is top class, a top player,” Zabaleta said.

“He is amazing, everyone knows Carlos is a great player. Everyone loves him. This was a special game for him, one he has been dreaming about.

“I am aware of his qualities and think he can give a repeat performance against United next week.”

United took an early lead on Tuesday evening through Ryan Giggs, but Tevez equalised from the spot after Rafael pulled back Craig Bellamy and then headed in the winner.

Zabaleta added: “Our reaction was fantastic after we lost the goal. It was a good performance from the team, we played well and showed strong mentality.

“It is a great result for us and an important one for the next leg. It was unbelievable near the end. United kept coming and had many chances but we never stopped working.

“We want to please our supporters and get to the final. There was a lot of satisfaction after the game but we have to show this commitment again next week. You can see we have great players and a strong character.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Argentina, Carlos, carlos tevez, CITY, disciplinary action, dugout, Eastlands, football association, former team, gary neville, london, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united player, michael owen, Neville, nex, old trafford, Pablo Zabaleta, Rafael, repeat performance, ryan giggs, sir alex ferguson, special game, team mate, touchline

Zabaleta: ‘Neville’s words fired up Tevez’

January 20, 2010

Carlos Tevez performed excellent in the League Cup encounter with Manchester United. The Manchester City striker scored twice against his former club.

Tevez was fired up by Gary Neville’s pre-match words, according to City defender Pablo Zabaleta.

Before the game Neville was quoted as saying United were right to let the Argentine go last summer, paving the way for his move across the city to Eastlands.

“Carlos was fired up because of what was said. United fans know he was a big loss because he was a great player for them.”

Zabaleta stressed Tevez’ importance for City. “Every team wants Carlos Tevez, and we have a great opportunity to enjoy him at this club.

“I am sure that Carlos will try to take Manchester City right to the top.

“He’s a very passionate player, and it was a very difficult decision to change to a team in the same city.

“This game was a dream for him, a special game. He showed he is top class.”

Zabaleta was clear about City’s chances in the second leg of the semi-final, next week. “”We know that it will be difficult at United, but we have a chance.

“Old Trafford is a great stadium, and there will be a lot of pressure on us, but we have players with strong character.”

Tags: Argentine, Carlos, carlos tevez, CITY, city defender, difficult decision, Eastlands, encounter, gary neville, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, match, Neville, old trafford, Pablo Zabaleta, paving the way, special game

Marseille, PSG resume hostilities

November 20, 2009

A huge week in French football continues on Friday when the country’s two biggest clubs, Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain, meet in a re-arranged league fixture at the Stade Velodrome.

With the country still abuzz over France’s controversial World Cup qualification, the two best-supported teams in the top flight renew their heated rivalry in a match renowned for its intensity.

The original match was postponed at short notice on October 25 after an outbreak of swine flu at the Parisian club and Marseille midfielder Benoit Cheyrou says the ensuing wait has served only to motivate his side.

“It was a strange feeling to be told on the day of the game that it had been called off,” he said.

“But that’s just the way it was and we didn’t get to have our say in the matter. It just means we’ll be even more motivated for Friday.”

Marseille’s last league outing saw them snatch an incredible 5-5 draw at Lyon after coming back from 4-2 and then 5-4 down, and victory over PSG would take them to within three points of league leaders Bordeaux.

“It’s always a special game and we’re ready to do everything to take the three points,” said Cheyrou.

“It’s the first game of a big run for us as we’ll be playing every three days until Christmas.”

PSG will be without suspended skipper Claude Makelele for the trip to the south coast, but swine flu victims Mamadou Sakho, Ludovic Giuly, Jeremy Clement and Loris Arnaud have all returned to full fitness.

Antoine Kombouare’s side are currently 13th in the table after a stuttering start to the season but victory on Friday night would move them level on 19 points with eighth-placed Marseille.

“We’re going to go there in the right frame of mind to play well,” said Sakho. “We know there are a lot of things that go on around a match like this, but we just have to concentrate on what happens on the pitch.”

Defending champions Bordeaux signed off before the international break with a 2-0 defeat at improving Lille and on Saturday host a Valenciennes side who are the most prolific team in the division.

Philippe Montanier’s men have not lost since a 3-2 defeat at Nice on October 3 and have scored a league-high 23 goals in their 12 games to date.

“The France team will need a rest,” said a jocular Montanier, in reference to the mid-week exertions of Bordeaux’s French international midfielders Yoann Gourcuff and Alou Diarra.

“It’s understandable: Gourcuff and Diarra will need a rest on Saturday.”

Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc, whose side travel to Turin to face Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday, conceded that both players needed rest.

“Yoann Gourcuff came off with an adductor muscle problem,” he said.

“We will see what it is. For Alou, playing 120 minutes in those conditions is psychologically very difficult.”

Lyon, a point behind Bordeaux in second place, travel to Grenoble, who picked up their first point of the season in a 0-0 draw at Monaco last time out but are still 11 points adrift of safety at the foot of the table.

Third-placed Auxerre are the league’s in-form team and will look to extend their winning streak to seven matches when they welcome fourth-placed Monaco to the Stade l’Abbe-Deschamps in Saturday’s evening game.

Montpellier, promoted from Ligue 2 last season and riding high in sixth place, visit Lille on Sunday, while 10-time champions Saint-Etienne will hope to put further daylight between themselves and the relegation zone when they host fifth-placed Lorient.

Fixtures

Friday (2000GMT)

Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain

Saturday (1800GMT unless otherwise stated)

Bordeaux v Valenciennes, Grenoble v Lyon, Lens v Nancy, Rennes v Le Mans, Auxerre v Monaco (2000GMT)

Sunday (1600GMT unless otherwise stated)

Nice v Toulouse, Saint-Etienne v Lorient, Montpellier v Lille (2000GMT)

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: benoit cheyrou, Claude Makelele, days until christmas, first game, flu victims, frame of mind, french football, league fixture, league leaders, league outing, loris, Ludovic Giuly, paris saint germain, parisian, special game, stade velodrome, strange feeling, swine flu, top flight, world cup qualification

Marseille seek to build on bright start ´at home´

August 15, 2009

Marseille play their first ‘home’ match of the new campaign against Lille this weekend aiming to consolidate their position as pre-season favourites to take their first title in almost two decades.

The fixture is being held in Montpellier as Marseille’s Velodrome stadium is still shut following the death of two stage hands setting up a Madonna concert last month.

“It’s a special game, we’d prefer all the same to be playing at the Velodrome in front of our fans and our surroundings. We know the reasons for this move and we don’t have a choice,” said midfielder Benoit Cheyrou.

Didier Deschamps’ team, runners-up last term, avoided an opening day slip-up at Grenoble and now face a Lille side who lost out to Lorient in their 2009-2010 curtain-raiser.

Deschamps, Eric Gerets’ successor, said there were more positives than negatives to be taken out of last weekend’s win and he will be counting on his men to maintain their favourable early impression in Sunday’s late match.

For striker Hatem Ben Arfa, Marseille, who signed no fewer than ten players in the close season, are on the right track.

He said: “There are lots of new players, that’s changed a lot compared to last year.

“We have to give them time to adapt. There’s a good atmosphere though, we felt that at Grenoble.”

Bordeaux, coached by Deschamps’ former France teammate and fellow 1998 World Cup winner Laurent Blanc, can steal an early march on their rivals with a result on the road at Sochaux 24 hours earlier.

Bordeaux took last season’s title by just three points to end Lyon’s seven-year grip on La Ligue.

The former multiple champions were only saved an embarrassing opening loss to minnows Le Mans by new signing Lisandro Lopez, who netted a last minute freekick to salvage a 2-2 draw.

They now face Valenciennes at their Stade Gerland.

Lyon boss Claude Puel was frustrated by last week’s draw, and said: “We have to be more consistent throughout the entire match. That’s what we’ve been looking for in all our pre-season friendlies.”

On his side’s second run out of the season Puel, with one eye on next week’s Champions League tie with Anderlecht, added: “It’s a league encounter which comes before a European one against two teams which play a very different style of football.

“Valenciennes turn up with a very solid defensive base.”

Like Lyon, Toulouse had some players on international duty this week, not least Andre-Pierre Gignac who saved France in Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier in the Faroe Islands.

The big striker produced his first goal for his country and he will be out to perform similar sterling work for his club when they host Saint Etienne in Saturday’s late kick-off.

Both teams are seeking to get off the mark after suffering defeats to Deschamps’ former side Monaco and Nice respectively.

Fixtures

Saturday (all 1700GMT unles stated)

Lens v Auxerre, Lorient v Montpellier, Lyon v Valenciennes, Nancy v Monaco, PSG v Le Mans, Sochaux v Bordeaux, Toulouse v Saint Etienne (1900GMT)

Sunday (all 1500GMT unles stated)

Boulogne v Grenoble, Nice v Rennes, Marseille v Lille (1900GMT at Montpellier)

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: Andre-Pierre Gignac, benoit cheyrou, Bordeaux, Boulogne, claude puel, curtain raiser, didier deschamps, entire match, eric gerets, faroe islands, France, freekick, Grenoble, hatem ben arfa, home match, laurent blanc, lisandro lopez, Lorient, Lyon, Madonna, madonna concert, Marseille, minnows, Monaco, Montpellier, Nancy, Nice, PARIS, Rennes, sochaux, special game, stade gerland lyon, stage hands, team runners, Toulouse, velodrome, world cup winner

Bayern happy with Barcelona draw

March 20, 2009

BERLIN (AFP) – Bayern Munich were celebrating mildly on Friday despite being drawn against Spanish giants Barcelona – one of the title favourites – in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The German champions had been hoping to play the first leg away from home, and that wish was granted in Nyon Friday where Manchester United drew FC Porto, Liverpool drew Chelsea and Arsenal were handed a tie with Villarreal.

The first leg of Bayern’s showdown with the Catalan giants and 2006 Champions League winners takes place at the Nou Camp stadium on Wednesday 8 April with the return in Germany on Tuesday 14 April.

"This is fantastic news for our football club," enthused Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness.

"As we’ve been saying all along, if we’re to be drawn against one of the giants, we want the first leg away from home, and that’s what we’ve got. Barcelona at the Allianz Arena in the return is a dream come true for our fans."

Klinsmann added: "Coming face-to-face with the best team in Europe at the moment is a terrific challenge for us all.

"It’s something truly out of the ordinary. Barcelona will be exceptionally tough, but anything’s possible. We believe in ourselves, and there’s no need to be overawed."

Bayern last triumphed in the competition in 2001. Should they reach the semis the Bavarian giants would face either Liverpool or Chelsea in the last four, with the first leg at the Allianz Arena on 28/29 April, and the return in England on 5/6 May.

"It’s a shame we don’t have the same sequence [with the return at home] for the semi-finals," Hoeness commented.

The quarter-final tie will be an emotional affair for Mark van Bommel, a Champions League winner with Barcelona in 2006.

"It’s a very special game for me," the Bayern captain told www.fcbayern.de.

Tags: allianz arena, arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern, bayern munich, berlin, Bundesliga, CHELSEA, emotional affair, England, Europe, fantastic news, fc porto, fcbayern de, german champions, klinsmann, league winner, league winners, Liverpool, manchester united, Mark van Bommel, nou camp stadium, nyon, PORTO, porto liverpool, quarter finals, quot, semis, special game, terrific challenge, uli hoeness, World Cup

Spanish reunion as Torres, Benitez return to Madrid in Liverpool?s colours

February 25, 2009

MADRID (AFP) – Rafael Benitez and his array of Spanish stars return to their homeland on Wednesday as Liverpool tussle with Spanish champions Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu with both vying for a first leg advantage as they bid to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Real are strong at home and have won nine consecutive league matches, including a 6-1 win over Real Betis on Saturday, while Liverpool fell further behind leaders Manchester United with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Sunday.

It is a mouth-watering duel between two of Europe’s most successful clubs and there is added spice with Benitez returning to Real where he began his coaching career working with the youth team before going on to make his mark with Valencia and then Liverpool.

Benitez is sweating on the fitness of his inspirational captain Steven Gerrard, who has not played since tearing a hamstring on February 4. The England international has been included in the travelling squad but how fit he is remains to be seen.

It will be an extra special game for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, who is a lifelong fan of Real’s city rivals Atletico Madrid where he was captain before leaving for Liverpool in 2007.

Torres missed an emotional return to Atletico during the group phase due to injury but will be present for this Madrid homecoming and will hope to break his goalscoring duck at the Bernabeu.

"I think Fernando has been saving his goal for Wednesday night," said Benitez. "It is hard for any team to score at the Bernabeu, but for me it is just a coincidence that Torres hasn’t yet scored there.

"Fernando is happy to score against any team – but it would be extra special for him to score in the Bernabeu because he grew up as an Atletico fan and player. He is now very close to being back to his best."

The game is also special for Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa who came through the youth system at Real but didn’t make the grade.

It is billed as Spain’s most successful team versus Spain’s most popular team abroad with Liverpool having a huge following in Spain due to their Spanish influence including their manager and several internationals.

Torres, Arbeloa, Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso and Albert Riera are Spanish internationals brought to England by Benitez and the two sets of players will know each other well.

Liverpool beat Barcelona 2-1 at Camp Nou in the first knockout stage of the 2007 Champions League campaign and Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt said there was no reason why they couldn?t do the same to Real.

"We beat Barcelona that night and nobody expected it, so we know we can beat Real Madrid too," said Kuyt.

Real’s Spanish international right back Sergio Ramos insists the hosts need to shut out Liverpool in Madrid and then go for an important away goal in the return leg on March 10.

"It will be a great game because there are a lot of my Spanish team-mates in their side and I am looking forward to facing them," explained Sergio Ramos. "Liverpool are a great team and we have to concentrate on keeping a clean sheet at home and then try and score at Anfield."

For Dutch star Arjen Robben revenge is the dish of the day with the winger still haunted by the pain of the two recent Champions League semi-final defeats to Liverpool (2005 and 2007) when he was at Chelsea.

"I want to beat Liverpool because I lost twice in the semi-finals," explained Robben.

"Liverpool are a strong team and have a manager that is good tactically. The most important thing is to score some goals at the Bernabeu. Ideally we have to win by more than two goals at home because the return leg at Anfield will be hard."

The Bernabeu has proved a fortress for Real over the years and Arsenal are the only English team to defeat them on their own turf winning 1-0 in the 2005/06 first knockout round.

With a combined 14 European Cups between them – Real have nine to Liverpool’s five – it is a surprise that the two teams have only met once before in European competition and it was a notable event with the Reds defeating Real 1-0 in the 1981 European Cup.

Real have won the European Cup more than any other team but have failed to get past the quarter-finals since 1993 while Liverpool have flourished under Benitez with two final appearances (2005 and 2007) and one semi-final showing (2008) in the past four seasons.

Written by: AFP

Tags: Albert, Alonso, alvaro arbeloa, Barcelona, camp nou, captain steven, captain Steven Gerrard, CHELSEA, city rivals, consecutive league, dirk kuyt, emotional return, England, england international, English Premier League, Europe, Fernando, Fernando Torres, group phase, inspirational captain, LA Liga, lifelong fan, Liverpool, liverpool benitez, MADRID, manchester city, rafael benitez, real betis, real madrid, Reina, Santiago, santiago bernabeu, Sergio, sergio ramos, spanish champions, spanish stars, special game, Steven Gerrard, successful team, UEFA Champions League, Valencia

Spanish reunion as Torres, Benitez return to Madrid in Liverpool?s colours

February 25, 2009