Returning Erding sets PSG sights on Marseille

October 24, 2009

Paris Saint-Germain striker Mevlut Erding aims to make his return to action with a bang at fierce rivals Marseille on Sunday, having seen his team struggle during his injury-enforced absence.

The Turkey international, an 11 million-euro summer signing from Sochaux, began life at the Parc des Princes in impressive fashion, scoring twice in his first four games as the capital side climbed to second in the table.

But he was laid low after undergoing shoulder surgery at the beginning of September and PSG have since slipped to ninth, registering just one win in their last six matches.

Sunday’s trip to the 60,000 capacity Stade Velodrome is one of the marquee occasions in the French football calendar and Erding is already straining at the leash.

“While I was injured, lots of supporters told me that they were counting on me,” he said.

“I don’t want to let them down. It gives me added motivation to come back more strongly. And Marseille is the match which every PSG players dreams about playing in.”

PSG’s recent stutter means they are currently seven points behind league leaders Lyon after nine matches but Erding is adamant that his side should be aiming for the top.

“I came here to play in the Champions League,” he said.

“PSG is a club with a European stature. We, the players, have to be at a level to get the club back into Europe. Even though we know it will be very hard, we have to try to compete with the three big clubs in the division.”

The weekend’s Ligue 1 fixtures follow an impressive week for French sides in Europe, with the country’s ‘big three’ all prevailing in the Champions League.

Marseille warmed up for the visit of PSG with a 1-0 victory at FC Zurich, while Lyon produced one of the best performances in their recent history to upset five-time champions Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield.

Defending French champions Bordeaux, meanwhile, overcame German heavyweights Bayern Munich 2-1 – despite Yoann Gourcuff and Jussie both missing second-half penalties.

Lyon, who lead surprise package Montpellier on goal difference at the league summit, visit under-performing Nice on Saturday, with Bordeaux hosting Le Mans.

Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc is set to shuffle his pack following their mid-week exertions, with David Bellion and Fernando Cavenaghi competing to partner Marouane Chamakh in attack.

“It won’t necessarily be the same team,” said Blanc, whose side trail Lyon and Montpellier by a point.

Fourth-placed Monaco, sandwiched between Bordeaux and Marseille in the table, visit Ligue 1 debutants Boulogne-sur-Mer, while Montpellier’s fine start to the campaign will come under scrutiny at eighth-placed Rennes.

Bottom club Grenoble, who are still without a single point from nine matches, take on Nancy and in-form Auxerre will look to make it four wins on the spin at home to Europa League participants Lille.

Fixtures

Saturday (1700GMT unless otherwise stated)

Bordeaux v Le Mans, Boulogne v Monaco, Grenoble v Nancy, Nice v Lyon, Sochaux v Lorient, Saint-Etienne v Valenciennes, Rennes v Montpellier (1900GMT)

Sunday (1500GMT unless otherwise stated)

Auxerre v Lille, Lens v Toulouse, Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (1900GMT)

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: Bayern, Bordeaux, Boulogne, david bellion, euro summer, Europe, fc zurich, Fernando Cavenaghi, football calendar, four games, french football, french sides, Germain, gourcuff, Grenoble, heavyweights, impressive fashion, league leaders, Ligue 1, Liverpool, Lorient, Marseille, Monaco, Montpellier, Nancy, Nice, parc des princes, PARIS, paris saint germain, psg, saint etienne, seven points, shoulder surgery, sochaux, stutter, team struggle, time champions, Toulouse

Aston Villa can´t afford more mistakes: O´Neill

April 18, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP) – Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill admits his side can’t afford any more mistakes if they are to resurrect their fading challenge for a Champions League place.

Villa looked well placed a few weeks ago to pip Arsenal to a top four Premier League finish and secure a place in Europe’s top club competition next season.

But a poor run of form, which has seen the Birmingham-based club fail to record a win in their last seven league outings, has left them struggling to finish in the top five.

With six games remaining, O’Neill insists Villa can still make the top four but he admits they must return to winning ways – starting on Saturday at home to West Ham United.

“We have six games left and it’s going to be a tall order (to achieve a Champions League place),” said O’Neill, whose side start the weekend eight points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.

“For us to have any chance, we can’t slip up now. It would certainly make it interesting if we went on an extended run.”

Despite the poor run, O’Neill believes there has been little wrong with Villa’s performances.

“It’s up to us now. We need to turn our impressive performances into victories,” he added.

“Points are so difficult to come by in the Premier League. You go along merrily when you have won a few games and you think that life is rosy and terrific.

“You think that winning is just an easy habit forming. Then you stutter and you can’t get back on track for a while.

“You lose games you feel you should have got something out of. It’s hard to turn that around. It’s then about getting back to winning ways.

“For us, these six games are so vital. The importance of three points cannot be underestimated.

“Psychologically, the difference between drawing and winning a game will be like night and day.”

John Carew is hoping for a repeat of his first encounter with West Ham. Two seasons ago the 29-year-old Norway striker marked his home debut with the winning goal as Villa saw off the London club 1-0.

“It was my first goal for the club and it was a fantastic day for me,” said Carew, who has scored in each of his last two appearances to take his tally for the season to 13 goals.

That goal gave a clear indication that Carew would not take long to adapt to the demands of the Premier League following his move from Lyon.

“It’s been fantastic,” added Carew. “When you are in one league and you come to another one they always play a different type of football with different ways of doing things even though it is the same game.

“It can take time to adapt but I’ve adapted quite quickly. The league has suited me well.”

West Ham represent a formidable challenge for Villa.

They are just two places below them in seventh spot with manager Gianfranco Zola expected to be boosted by the return of Czech Republic midfielder Radoslav Kovac, although Scott Parker is a doubt again as he continues to recover from a groin injury.

“I remember so many games where Villa were struggling and then they nicked a goal at the end,” said Zola.

“It is always a team that has to be handled very carefully, and have a lot of potential. Maybe they are not as dangerous as they were at the start of the season, but they are a team that you have to treat with respect.”

Tags: aston villa, Birmingham, birmingham england, champions league, club competition, czech republic, England, English Premier League, Europe, first encounter, home debut, impressive performances, John Carew, london, london club, Lyon, martin o neill, Martin O'Neill, Norway, pip, premier league, Radoslav Kovac, scott parker, seven league, six games, striker, stutter, two seasons, west ham, west ham united, winning ways, Zola

Who is most likely to follow Hiddink at Chelsea?

February 20, 2009

Interim Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink is adamant that he will be leaving at the end of the season to concentrate on the Russia job.

Chelsea fans who had been hoping the Dutchman would decide to stay must now start contemplating a fourth manager in two years.

Frank Rijkaard is unemployed and the style of football his Barcelona side managed when winning the Champions League in 2006 would definitely go down well at the Bridge, especially after some dour displays in recent times.

On the downside, the Dutchman had a little run in with Chelsea when they met Barca in Europe a few years back while his agent has said he is enjoying a break from the game.

Roberto Mancini also has great pedigree and would seem available having been sacked by Inter Milan at the end of last season despite leading them to a third straight scudetto.

His departure from Inter though was rather strange. He said he would quit in May after losing to Liverpool in the Champions League last 16 but changed his mind the next day.

Chelsea fans might fret about whether he would offer the stability needed. A messy resolution of his Inter contract is also ongoing and could complicate any future employment.

Carlo Ancelotti is another Italian who has been linked with Chelsea in the media. He held a meeting with Chelsea before Luiz Felipe Scolari was appointed in the close season but decided to stay at AC Milan.

He has recently reaffirmed his desire to remain at the San Siro but if Milan, only fifth in Serie A last term, continue to stutter he could be out of a job come May.

They lost 2-1 to leaders Inter last weekend and are virtually out of the title race while Wednesday’s 1-1 UEFA Cup draw at Werder Bremen did not go down well with club owner Silvio Berlusconi.

He has won two European Cups with Milan but would Chelsea really want a coach who had just been sacked?

Bookmakers have given reasonably short odds on Avram Grant returning but given the way he was unceremoniously dumped after losing the Champions League final by the narrowest of margins, it would seem very strange for him to go back.

Any other contenders you think will end up at Chelsea? Inter’s Jose Mourinho has cheekily said he thinks he will one day go back to the Blues, but isn’t he really waiting for the Manchester United job?

Go to Source