Ancelotti sings Terry’s praises

February 8, 2010

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti sang John Terry’s praises following Chelsea’s 2-0 win over rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Terry has been in the spotlight after his private-life issues surfaced in the media.

Terry put his off-field problems aside as he gave an excellent performance to help his side move back to the top of the table. The Chelsea skipper was stripped of the England captaincy by England boss Fabio Capello.

However, Ancelotti was delighted with Terry’s performance and described him as a “perfect” captain

“John is the perfect captain for Chelsea,” said Ancelotti.

“My captain has a fantastic attitude. He is doing very well in every game.

“It is very important for the team to have this leadership. He was always in control of the game. He has a strong mentality.

“He is working for his club and we are happy to have this performance from him in this moment.

“The England captaincy was not my decision and I do not want to judge about this decision. I knew John met Capello but I did not meet with (Terry) afterwards.”

Tags: arsenal, boss, bridge, captain john, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, England, fabio capello, fantastic attitude, game, John, john terry, mentality, private life, rivals, skipper, spotlight, stamford bridge

Defiant Benitez vows to continue despite Cup shock

January 14, 2010

Rafael Benitez on Thursday shrugged off the increasing pressure surrounding his position as Liverpool manager in the wake of the club’s embarrassing exit from the FA Cup.

Benitez, in charge at Anfield since 2004, was booed along with his players as they were knocked out of the competition after suffering a 2-1 extra-time home defeat at the hands of Championship strugglers Reading on Wednesday.

The result is a serious blow to Benitez’s hopes of ending Liverpool’s four-year wait for a trophy and means the Spaniard must win the second tier European club competition Europa League if he is to secure the club’s first piece of major silverware since the 2006 FA Cup triumph against West Ham United.

“It is really bad. Everyone wanted to progress but we can’t so we are disappointed,” said 49-year-old Benitez after the third round replay defeat.

“Reading worked very hard, but there were a lot of things I did not like. We had chances, they had chances. They were doing well but we might have won too. The chances they created worried me but we had some too.

“In the second half we had more control but after we made a lot of mistakes.

“We know the FA Cup is a massive competition and we wanted to progress. At this moment we are really disappointed, for the fans who came to support the team. We tried to win from the beginning.”

Benitez was already under pressure before this game after the team’s Champions League exit and their faltering Premier League campaign which sees them 12 points behind leaders Chelsea in the title race.

But losing to Reading has again put his position back in the spotlight ahead of Saturday’s tricky away game at Stoke City.

However, Benitez insists he can handle the criticism.

“For three months everyone was talking about me. At the end, as a manager you have to be disappointed but then move forward and think about Stoke on Saturday,” he added.

“We are frustrated but you have to carry on. Everyone is disappointed. We have to prepare for Saturday’s game because it will be difficult.”

As if Benitez did not have enough problems, his two best players Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are both major doubts for the weekend.

Torres limped off in the first half with a twisted knee while Gerrard has a hamstring problem. Both will undergo scans on Thursday.

“We’ll see what the doctors say,” said Benitez, who completed the signing of Argentine winger Maxi Rodriguez from Atletico Madrid earlier Wednesday.

Reading caretaker manager Brian McDermott insisted his side deserved the victory.

“We played some really good stuff,” he said. “We did the right thing, played in the right way.

“Liverpool’s goal could have hurt us but we responded well. I’m chuffed for everybody. To come here and win is terrific.”

On Wednesday, Liverpool were ahead after an own goal by Ryan Bertrand but were stunned by a stoppage time penalty leveller by Gylfi Sigurdsson which sent the tie into extra time.

Substitute Shane Long then headed a 100th minute winner for Reading.

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: anfield, Argentine, away game, Brian McDermott, champions league, CHELSEA, club competition, cup triumph, defeat reading, England, extra time, FA Cup, Fernando Torres, league campaign, Liverpool, MADRID, premier league, rafael benitez, replay, Ryan Bertrand, second half, Shane Long, silverware, Spaniard, spotlight, Steven Gerrard, Stoke City, three months, trophy, west ham, west ham united

Van Gaal faces Bayern axe

November 23, 2009

Louis van Gaal left the field under a chorus of whistles on Sunday. Bayern Munich were held to a draw by league leaders Bayer Leverkusen (1-1), a result that keeps the pressure on Van Gaal.

The Dutch tactician has been in the spotlight following Bayern’s poor form both domestically and in the Champions League, with progress to the knockout stages in severe doubt.

“I have to produce results,” said the Dutchman on Friday. “Because if I don’t, I’ll be fired. We have to win. The club needs success, but so does the coach.”

But Bayern failed to win, keeping their coach under fire. Van Gaal didn’t want to comment on a possible sack. “Our problem is that we saw a team which lacks confidence,” he said after the match against Leverkusen. “And I’m not the one who decides if I will be fired. I only have to focus on the squad.”

Club president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stated that Van Gaal remains at the helm at the Allianz Arena. “We want to try to turn the tide with Van Gaal.”

Sunday’s draw was Bayern’s sixth of the season and the only positive was they moved above Wolfsburg into seventh spot.

Paul Haring

Tags: allianz, allianz arena, axe, bayer leverkusen, bayern munich, champions league, club president, confidence, dutchman, helm, karl heinz, knockout stages, league leaders, louis van gaal, match, spotlight, tactician, tide, whistles, Wolfsburg

Allardyce backs physical challenges

October 31, 2009

Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce has warned that efforts to clamp down on the physical side of English football could prove disastrous.

Tackling has been under the spotlight again in recent weeks after Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell’s controversial challenge on Theo Walcott, which left the Arsenal and England winger with a knee injury that is likely to keep him out of action for a month.

Although match official Lee Probert did not award a free-kick at the time, former referee Dermot Gallagher has since suggested that such robust challenges are “outlawed” and have no place in the modern game.

But Allardyce, whose team play Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday evening, believes that tough tackling is a vital ingredient in the success of the Premier League.

“This is a physical contact game and fans love the commitment,” Allardyce said.

“You take that commitment away and you haven’t got a product. If you don’t have a product, you don’t have the money that you have got, you don’t have the worldwide recognition – you will destroy the game.

“(That is) irrespective of what other managers might say. The big managers will say, yes, let’s outlaw it, because they don’t want their big stars tackled, but it is a big part of the game – the fans love it, the whole of the world loves it.

“I’m a bit passionate about it, because it has become a game for pansies to be honest with you.”

Allardyce dismissed Gallagher’s comments as “nonsense”, arguing that a player should never give anything but 100% commitment when tackling.

“When I see Dermot Gallagher justifying that Ridgewell’s tackle against Theo Walcott should be outlawed, then I want the Football Association and the referees to justify to me how Ridgewell can tackle without making contact,” Allardyce said.

“Does he put a 60% challenge in? Does he put a 25% challenge in so it’s not quite as fierce? No – its absolute nonsense, what he (Gallagher) is talking about.

“If you go for a tackle, you go for a tackle. The tackle takes the ball and your impetus takes you through the player.

“There’s nothing you can do about that. You can’t start asking a player to be weighing up what pace he is running at or whether he should slow down before he does it. It’s a complete nonsense.”

Allardyce will be looking for a battling performance this evening from his Blackburn team, who go into the match having not picked up a point for nine consecutive away fixtures in the league.

“It’s about the mentality of the players and we have to have the same desire to compete against the opposition away from home as we do at home,” Allardyce said.

“We just seem to stand off the opposition, whereas at home, we are all over them like a rash.

“That’s what you need away perhaps even more than at home. It is a big concern for me, the staff and the players.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: absolute nonsense, arsenal, Birmingham, Dermot Gallagher, England, english football, football association, free kick, gallagher, knee injury, Lee Probert, Liam Ridgewell, Manchester, manchester united, old trafford, pansies, premier league, probert, referees, ridgewell, Sam, sam allardyce, saturday evening, spotlight, team play, theo walcott, vital ingredient, winger, worldwide recognition

Rogerio Ceni steals the spotlight as Sao Paulo beat Santos

October 26, 2009

Sao Paulo remain alive in the Brazilian championship, thanks to a hard-fought 3-4 victory at Santos on Sunday.

The Sao Paulo derby started well for Santos, who went ahead through Andre in the 5th minute. Hernanes leveled six minutes later, but Rodrigo Souto restored Santos’ lead in minute 25.

Washington (38th) and Jorge Wagner (59) then turned things around for Sao Paulo, but the hosts then set the score to 3-3 with an equaliser from Robson, six minutes after the hour.

The winning goal came from Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni in the 68th minute. The keeper went from hero to villain when given a red card nine minutes later, but substitute goalie Denis made sure that Santos wouldn’t score another goal.

Palmeiras lead the Brazilian Serie A with nine games to go, and have one point more than Atletico Mineiro. Internacional and Sao Paulo follow at another point.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Andre, atletico mineiro, brazilian championship, brazilian serie, denis, equaliser, games, hero, hosts, Internacional, Jorge Wagner, Robson, rodrigo, Rodrigo Souto, rogerio ceni, roorda, Santos, sao paulo, six minutes, souto, spotlight, t score, victory, villain, Wagner, Washington

Maradona in spotlight in battle for World Cup

October 10, 2009

Argentina coach Diego Maradona will be in the spotlight as six South American countries battle for the final berths for the 2010 World Cup final starting on Saturday.

With Brazil and Paraguay already assured of their tickets to South Africa next year, Maradona’s Argentina and five other teams will be vying for the two remaining automatic qualifying spots with the fifth-placed team going into a play-off.

Argentina, who have been further weakened by squabbling between Maradona and general manager Carlos Bilardo, need to beat Peru on Saturday, in the penultimate qualifier.

A defeat in Buenos Aires against tailenders Peru, who are already out of the running, would not end Argentina’s World Cup dream. But it would make their task extremely difficult before their visit to dangerous rivals Uruguay on Wednesday, who could also still be looking to qualify if they draw against Ecuador at the weekend.

Footballing legend Maradona acknowledged that after a disastrous qualifying campaign his job was on the line and he might quit after their must-win qualifiers.

The beleaguered football legend even sought divine intervention as he pondered Argentina’s chances of reaching the World Cup finals.

“The bearded one (God) saved me many times before – and I hope he will do so this time,” said Maradona.

The 1986 world champion famously dubbed his first quarter-final goal in that year’s competition the work of the “hand of God”.

Argentina are five points behind third-placed Chile (27) with Ecuador on 23. Sixth-placed Uruguay (21), Venezuela (21) and Colombia (20), are also in the running for qualification.

Bolivia (12) and Peru (10), are already ruled out, but will be eager to ensure that they avoid the humiliation of finishing last in the standings.

One of the two automatic qualifying spots looks certain to go to Chile, who will qualify if they beat Colombia on Saturday.

For the other, Argentina are trailing Ecuador and are just one point ahead of Uruguay and Venezuela. Maradona’s side must also be wary of Colombia who are just two points behind them.

The slightest slip up will mean Argentina fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1970.

Argentina don’t need to be reminded of that nightmare after what has been a trying time for the team this week after Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta picked up a hamstring injury on Monday.

The incident revealed a simmering row between the Argentina coach and Bilardo, who Maradona reportedly blames for not travelling to England to ensure that Zabaleta was freed earlier by his English team.

And the South American press has fired up the controversy even further by claiming that referees are being put under pressure to ensure that Argentina, World Cup champions in 1978 and 1986, qualify automatically.

“The only thing that worries me is the referee,” said Peru strike Johan Fano.

But Maradona’s main worry will be the configuration of his team.

The former play-maker has called up 78 players since his appointment a year ago, but is still looking for the right mix, and has given the nod to debutants Liverpool defender Emiliano Insua and Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain.

He has also recalled up Pablo Aimar to try and help Lionel Messi work some miracles for Argentine.

Uruguay, who play Ecuador on Saturday, will have every incentive to win as they can still grab fourth spot in the group and an automatic finals berth.

“We’re all dreaming of going to the World Cup. We have to get through these two matches to make it happen,” said coach Oscar Tabarez.

“It’s difficult but not impossible.”

Chile look assured of their spot in the World Cup for the first time since 1998 in France, and can qualify directly if they beat Colombia on Saturday and if Ecuador or Argentina lose.

Colombia need to win against both Chile and Paraguay to be in with a chance of making the fifth-place play-off against the fourth-placed Central American zone team.

Ecuador, meanwhile, are also dreaming of qualifying for their third consecutive World Cup finals. But they must beat Uruguay on Saturday, a result which would practically assure them the play-off spot and take a point from Chile in Santiago next week.

Venezuela have a difficult task to qualify for their first World Cup. They first need to beat Paraguay and four days later topple Brazil.

MONTEVIDEO (AFP)

Tags: aires, Argentina, berths, bolivia, diego maradona, divine intervention, Ecuador, five points, football legend, hand of god, humiliation, one god, peru, rivals, South Africa, south american countries, spotlight, world champion, world cup dream, world cup finals

Abidal: Barca are well prepared

September 28, 2009

Barcelona defender Eric Abidal is hoping the club’s blinding form in the Primera Division will stand them in good stead for their Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev.

Five wins out of five in the domestic competition have taken Pep Guardiola’s men second in the standings, behind only big-spending Real Madrid who have matched them blow for blow.

A 2-0 victory over Malaga at the weekend gave Barca further cause for celebration and the Spaniards, who began the defence of their European title with a draw against Inter Milan two weeks ago, are keen to carry that success into the Champions League.

“It is always better to win before a Champions League game to give you confidence,” Abidal told the club’s official website.

Dynamo are also a side in form though, and Abidal is aware they could prove tricky customers at the Nou Camp.

“Dynamo won their opening match and we drew,” the French left-back said.

“We know that all Champions League games are hard to win but we are preparing well for this one.”

The victory over Malaga came at a cost for Guardiola, who has lost two players to injury.

Ukrainian defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy, a summer signing from Dynamo’s rivals Shakhtar Donetsk, has been ruled of action for around three weeks after suffering ligament damage in his left knee on Saturday.

Striker Thierry Henry also picked up a thigh injury during the Malaga clash, and is a serious doubt for their European encounter.

Like Barca, Dynamo are unbeaten on the domestic front this season and a 2-0 victory over Zorya at the weekend marked their fifth successive win in the Superliga.

The Kiev side also hold the early advantage in Champions League Group F thanks to a 3-1 success at home to Rubin Kazan.

Striker Andriy Shevchenko is hoping his team-mates can cope under the spotlight at the Nou Camp.

“Barcelona were the best team last season, led by the best coach and with the best players in the world,” the former AC Milan star told the club’s website.

“The players have to show attitude, dedication. Speaking from experience, I know we need to give our all against this kind of team.

“We must believe in ourselves and in a positive outcome.”

Brazilian defender Leandro Almeida expects to have his hands full facing Lionel Messi during the match.

“The whole team in general are talented, but if anyone stands apart it is Lionel Messi,” he said.

“We have to be careful and alert so his speed and technique do not take us by surprise.

“Everyone knows the power of Barcelona, but if we can show what we are capable of then this match could end quite well for us.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: ac milan, andriy shevchenko, Barcelona, champions league group, domestic competition, dynamo kiev, early advantage, eric abidal, french left, inter milan, Kiev, league game, ligament damage, lionel messi, MADRID, Malaga, Milan, nou camp barcelona, pep guardiola, real madrid, rubin kazan, spotlight, team mates, thierry henry, thigh injury, Zorya

Twente sign Ruiz and Parker

July 16, 2009

FC Twente have completed the signings of Costa Rican Bryan Ruiz and South African Bernard Parker, as last season’s Eredivisie runners-up seem to be well prepared for the upcoming season.

Ruiz joins the Dutch side from Belgian outfit KAA Gent. The 23-year-old can play on the left wing or just behind the strikers, and reportedly costs five million Euros, a Twente club record.

Bernard Parker, also 23 years of age, is a striker of attacking midfielder and spent the last half year at Red Star Belgrade in Serbia. Here, he scored six goals in 16 games.

Parker played himself in the spotlight scoring both goals in South Africa’s 2-0 win over New Zealand at the Confederations Cup last month.

By: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: 23 years, African, Belgrade, Bernard Parker, Bryan Ruiz, confederations cup, dutch side, Eredivisie, games, half year, KAA, kaa gent, left wing, midfielder, New Zealand, Red, red star belgrade, roorda, runners, serbia, South Africa, spotlight, strikers

Rio Ferdinand & Rebecca Ellison Get Hitched

July 8, 2009

Rio Ferdinand and Rebecca Ellison have finally tied the knot…But unfortunately there’s no exclusive magazine interview!

The low-key couple decided to have a wedding out of the spotlight, flying select guests to the Caribbean on a private jet. Their guests were then treated to stay in a 5-star resort, the cost of the wedding is reported to be around £5million.

I respect their wishes to have a private wedding, but that OK! deal could have paid for at least £1m of the nuptials.

Unfortunately, the ceremony did not include a barn owl delivering rings as previously rumoured, damn that would have been hilarious!

I’m pleased Ferdinand has finally made an honest woman of Rebecca, after all she has put up with enough kiss-and-tell stories to last a lifetime, and of course there is the fact that they have two children together.

Congrats to the happy couple!

Who do you think will be the next footballing couple to walk down the aisle??

Go to Source

Tags: 1m, aisle, barn owl, Caribbean, ceremony, congrats, happy couple, Hitched, honest woman, kiss, KNOT, lifetime, magazine interview, nuptials, ok deal, owl, private jet, private wedding, rebecca, Rebecca Ellison, respect, Rio, rio ferdinand and rebecca ellison, spotlight, star resort, WAGS

Oceania needs a rethink after New Zealand thrashing

June 16, 2009

In the previous post, Martyn Herman looked at soccer’s international minnows while here Mark Gleeson discusses the particular plight of New Zealand.

Oceania, as a confederation, threatened to disintegrate under the weight of a quick fire Fernando Torres hat-trick on Sunday night.

The match-up in the Confederations Cup between European champions Spain and New Zealand, who represent FIFA’s smallest and least competitive confederation, was almost as one-sided as any major international in decades.

As Torres banged in three goals in the first 17 minutes, so the legitimacy of the 11-member confederation came under a stark spotlight.

Fortunately for Oceania’s cause, the Spanish managed just two more, albeit one profiting from a schoolboy error, but there will

Go to Source