Tevez targets revenge against Man United
January 18, 2010
Carlos Tevez is set for an exciting evening as he looks for revenge over Manchester United. Manchester City’s Argentine striker faces his former club in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final on Tuesday.
The Citizens were handed a disappointing defeat at Old Trafford (4-3) earlier this season and Tevez has admitted that revenge will be a motivating factor in Tuesaday’s encounter.
“What happened at Old Trafford earlier this season is still in our heads and this is the moment for revenge,” Tevez told the Daily Mirror.
“I want to play in this match for many reasons. It’s a semi-final, a derby and there’s a bitter rivalry between the two clubs.
“I believe this is a good moment for us to play a local rival like United, who never normally give anything to their opponents.
“In a semi-final over two matches and in a derby, anything is possible. But I think the key will be the return game at Old Trafford and we must ensure we get a good result at home.”
Tags: Argentine, bitter rivalry, carlos tevez, citizens, daily mirror, encounter, man united, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, match, Old, old trafford, opponents, return game, revenge, striker, targets, TraffordRelated posts
So much for long-term projects at Manchester City
December 22, 2009
Manchester City’s chief executive Garry Cook has made an impassioned defence of the reasons for Mark Hughes’ sacking.
The feeling persists, however, that Hughes was harshly treated by the club.
Cook states that he and the club’s owners gave Hughes all the resources that he needed to achieve the target of 70 points for the season. The one resource Hughes did not get was time. Had just two of the almost freakish seven successive draws been turned into victories, City would have been in an extremely strong position in the race for a top-four spot.
Even as it stands, they are well-placed in sixth place with 29 points from 17 games, just six points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa with a game in hand. Cook’s statement that the trajectory of recent events gave no evidence to suggest City could reach 70 points is a curious basis on which to sack a manager.
Hughes was asked to put together a team that could threaten the established top four. City beat Chelsea and Arsenal, drew with Liverpool and lost to Manchester United to a goal deep in stoppage time. The only other league defeat was away to Tottenham Hotspur.
City have two very winnable looking games over Christmas. Had Hughes remained in his job and won those, it would have been very hard to justify sacking him, especially with a League Cup semi-final against Manchester United looming.
It all smacks of panic by owners who talked a good game about “long-term projects” but in reality got spooked when some of the league’s more humble clubs refused to roll over and surrender.
Hughes’ replacement Roberto Mancini spoke confidently about fourth place being his target, but not a necessity.
Mancini will get plenty of money to spend in January and next summer. He will also be set lofty targets by the club’s billionaire Arab owners.
A top-five finish this season would probably be seen as satisfactory but Mancini’s comfort zone will not last long. Next season the clock will be ticking.
Tags: arsenal, aston villa, billionaire, CHELSEA, chief executive, Christmas, CITY, clock, comfort zone, Garry Cook, good game, Liverpool, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, Mark Hughes, roberto mancini, six points, stoppage time, target, targets, term projects, trajectoryRelated posts
Real Madrid, Barcelona in race for Fabregas: report
November 17, 2009
Real Madrid and European champions Barcelona will battle to sign Arsenal’s Spanish captain Cesc Fabregas at the end of the season, sports daily AS reported on Tuesday.
“Cesc Fabregas has become one of the main targets of Madrid and Barcelona to reinforce their squads next season,” it said.
Real recently joined the list of clubs interested in signing the 22-year-old international midfielder, who rose through the ranks of Barcelona before leaving to join Arsenal in 2004, the newspaper said without naming its source.
Spanish media reported elsewhere that Sandro Rosell, a former Nike executive, wants to use the recruitment of Fabregas to boost his bid to be elected president of Barcelona at the club’s next elections in 2010.
“I’m comfortable at Arsenal. We have started strongly in the league and Champions League. We will see how it goes and hopefully injuries will be kind to us,” British paper Daily Mail quoted Fabregas as saying on Tuesday.
“My future? I’m focused on the short term and don’t look beyond that. I have a great responsibility to my club and now is not the time to think beyond that,” he added.
Fabregas is set to play for Spain in a friendly against Austria on Wednesday in Vienna, the scene of their Euro 2008 triumph.
MADRID (AFP)
Tags: AFP, arsenal, cesc fabregas, champions league, daily mail, elections, euro 2008, european champions, nike, real madrid barcelona, recruitment, sandro rosell, season sports, spanish media, targets, triumph, ViennaRelated posts
Money is not everything, says Drogba
October 10, 2009
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has warned Manchester City that money will not buy them everything.
The Eastlands outfit enjoyed a busy summer in the transfer market as they set about piecing together a squad capable of challenging for a top four finish in the Premier League.
They were able to land the services of the likes of Gareth Barry, Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor, but missed out on a number of other targets.
Their pursuit of Chelsea skipper John Terry dominated the headlines for long periods, although their efforts were ultimately in vain.
Terry’s Stamford Bridge team-mate Drogba feels the England ace was right to snub City, claiming Mark Hughes’ men have nothing to offer the world’s best players right now.
“I wouldn’t be tempted to move to City, not at all, and I don’t think John ever was really,” said the Ivorian striker.
“The top players in the world are all pretty loyal. If you are playing for a top European club, it is no secret you are going to be earning big money.
“It is unlikely you will move to somewhere you don’t want to be just for a little bit more money.
“No big players left Chelsea this year and that shows how much the players love it here. All of the other big four clubs had top players moving.
“I never thought John would really leave.”
Abhimanyu Rajput
Tags: Ace, bridge team, carlos tevez, CHELSEA, CITY, didier drogba, emmanuel adebayor, England, Gareth Barry, headlines, John, john terry, little bit, long periods, manchester city, Mark Hughes, premier league, skipper, stamford bridge, striker, targets, team mate, TerryRelated posts
Berbatov uses criticism to fuel United´s title charge
October 3, 2009
Dimitar Berbatov insists he has learned plenty from even his fiercest critics since arriving at Manchester United.
And the Bulgarian maintains he is satisfied as long as Sir Alex Ferguson is happy and his team are winning trophies.
Berbatov, 28, has divided fans since making a 30.75 million pounds move to Old Trafford from Tottenham 13 months ago.
The former Bayer Leverkusen striker, who has scored 16 goals in 53 United appearances, has regularly been labelled lazy by both pundits and critics during his first year at United.
But Ferguson has always stood by the player and is sure that Berbatov will thrive in a more advanced roles this season.
The ex-Spurs man admits he is irritated by the constant questions about what he brings to United, after helping the club to a third straight Premier League title and the Champions League final in his first season.
But he is adamant he will continue to justify the heavy price Ferguson paid to bring him to Old Trafford despite the constant criticism.
“It does frustrate me but you will never hear me complaining about it,” Berbatov told AFP. “I’ve spent all my life justifying myself and it’s not easy.
“But I try to work hard and I’m playing with the best players in the world for the best team in the world so you will never hear me complain, never.
“As long as the manager is happy, that’s it for me. No matter what you do there will always be somebody to criticise you but that’s ok.
“Even the meanest critics, you can see something and think ‘Yes, I need to work on that’ so I try to take the good stuff from it all and get better.
“I don’t put targets on goals about myself because the one thing that’s important for us is to win the title and obviously the Champions League which we didn’t win last time and if we win the title again it will be four titles in a row which nobody has ever done before.
“If I can help my team, assist them in any way, to help them win the championship then I’ll be happy.”
After the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo in June, Berbatov is relishing doing his bit to fill the void left by the free-scoring Portuguese star.
But he insists he will still drop into deep positions if he feels he can make key contributions and has revealed that life under Ferguson has brought a few surprises.
Berbatov, speaking on behalf of United sponsors Betfair, added: “He jokes around a lot and he’s always singing, you can hear him singing around Carrington and that really surprised me but all of a sudden the game comes.
“Literally when you talk before the game, it’s like, click, and he’s a different person.
“He’s fully concentrated on the game and he knows how to prepare for the game. I’ve been to pre-match talks and I’ve never heard anything like it in my life. He wants you to go out and destroy the opposition.
“I don’t sing with him though. He sings only opera stuff and that’s not my thing.”
Berbatov is settling into life in Manchester and admits he has enjoyed getting used to being a home player at Old Trafford.
The Bulgarian has experienced being a visitor to United’s home ground and now enjoys picking up on the tension in away players.
He said: “Every team that faces us is going on to the pitch with all the respect they have for us and sometimes they are a little afraid.
“That’s especially at Old Trafford but that?s normal because we?re the best team in the world.
“You can see it, honestly and I know that because when I was at Tottenham you would come here and you were against United, the best team, and some of the best players.
“I know that now when opposition come to Old Trafford, they’re a bit scared, they have respect, and we try to take advantage of that in the first minutes of games.”
MANCHESTER, England (AFP)
Tags: berbatov, champions league, good stuff, last time, manchester united, old trafford, premier league, pundits, ronaldo, sir alex ferguson, spurs, striker, targets, trophiesRelated posts
City continue their pursuit of Everton’s Lescott
August 21, 2009
Premier League big spenders Manchester City have not given up the chase for Everton’s Joleon Lescott.
While, the Eastlands club have had their two bids rejected for the Everton central defender, they are still keen to secure his services.
And Hughes denied reports he had walked away from the saga after his managerial counterpart David Moyes slated his behaviour.
“We are not at that point at this moment,” said the City boss.
“When we feel there is nowhere else to go and it is not going to happen, then we will walk away.
“We do not think we are quite at point as yet. Only time will tell.”
Hughes is still in the market for fresh faces before the window closes.
He said: “We are just trying to go about our business and bring good players to the club.
“We have been successful in that respect. Almost all the players we hoped to bring we have been able to do.
“Some we have missed out on but that will always happen. That’s a process you legislate for and make sure you have other targets.
“We have been quite active in the window but there is always speculation and I am sure that is not going to go away when it closes.”
Abhimanyu Rajput
Tags: behaviour, big spenders, central defender, chase, city boss, counterpart, David Moyes, everton, fresh faces, joleon lescott, manchester city, premier league, process, saga, speculation, targets, timeRelated posts
Francis edging towards a Stoke return
August 12, 2009
Gerry Francis, who helped the Potters last season, was back at Stoke’s training ground on Tuesday morning, hinting that he looks set to return to the club as a coach for the new season.
Francis spent most of last term helping out Tony Pulis and his coaching staff at the Britannia Stadium but there were doubts over whether he would return for this campaign.
He was back at the club’s Michelin training ground on Tuesday morning, however, ahead of an afternoon meeting with chief executive Tony Scholes.
He is unlikely to replace Dave Kemp as Stoke’s assistant manager but his return will ease the burden on Pulis, who has only had Mark O’Connor to help him with the coaching this summer.
Pulis, meanwhile, is still looking to add to his squad ahead of Saturday’s Premier League opener against Burnley, although nothing appears imminent at the moment.
The Potters have been in talks with a number of targets in recent weeks and are now waiting to hear back as they bid to strengthen a side that finished an impressive 12th last season.
Abhimanyu Rajput
Tags: britannia stadium, burnley, coach, Dave Kemp, doubts, gerry francis, kemp, mark o connor, Mark O'Connor, michelin, potters, premier league, rajput, Scholes, targets, tony pulis, Tony Scholes, tuesday morningRelated posts
Hughes expects Toure to be fit for Premier League opener
August 8, 2009
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes expects Kolo Toure to be fit for next week’s Premier League opener against Blackburn after the Ivory Coast defender was forced out of Saturday’s 2-1 win over Celtic.
Toure, who joined City from Arsenal for 16 million pounds last week, lasted just 18 minutes of the friendly before coming off with a hip problem.
But Hughes is confident his new signing will be available for next Saturday’s Premier League clash at Ewood Park.
“He had treatment on a rash at the top of his hip this week and felt quite comfortable, which was why I picked him,” Hughes said. “But after about 10 minutes, he said it was bothering him, so we took him off straightaway.
“I don’t anticipate it will be too much of a problem and he should be OK for next week.”
Regardless of Toure’s fitness, Hughes is still looking to sign another defender. But with Everton refusing to accept City’s bids for England centre-back Joleon Lescott, Hughes hinted he might look at other targets.
“We have to make a decision on any player we are pursuing,” he said. “If we feel a certain deal has run its course, we will look elsewhere.
“Whether we have reached that stage with Joleon only time will tell. Obviously we can do deals right to the end of the transfer window.
“However, we would prefer to do our business as quickly as possible, ideally by the end of this week.”
Despite the defeat, Celtic boss Tony Mowbray insists his team are capable of causing Arsenal problems when the two sides go head-to-head for a place in the Champions League later this month.
“It is an exciting draw and a game we will go into believing we can win,” he said.
“The top four in the Premier League are on a different level to everyone else, as I found out last year with West Brom, and it is going to be a big ask for us.
“But I know we have players who can give them problems. We are good enough, we just have to take our chances when they come along.”
Craig Bellamy scored City’s winner five minutes into the second half after Chris Killen had cancelled out Gareth Barry’s strike before half-time.
There was also a first sighting in a City shirt of Argentina striker Carlos Tevez, who came on as a second half substitute for his debut after his 25 million pounds move from Manchester United.
MANCHESTER, England (AFP)
Tags: Argentina, arsenal, blackburn, boss, carlos tevez, champions league, chris killen, CITY, clash, craig bellamy, England, Ewood Park, fitness, five minutes, game, Gareth Barry, Ivory Coast, Manchester, manchester city, Mark Hughes, premier league, rash, second half, targets, tony mowbray, Toure, west bromRelated posts
Crouch rebuffs Sunderland approach
July 21, 2009
England striker Peter Crouch will not be going to Sunderland after all, Black Cats manager Steve Bruce said on the club’s website on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old Portsmouth player held talks with Bruce last week after Sunderland offered 12 million pounds (19.7-million-dollar) for the former Liverpool star.
But Sunderland have been joined in the race for Crouch by Fulham and Tottenham, whose manager Harry Redknapp worked with the towering forward at Portsmouth.
Crouch has indicated he is more interested in a south of England club.
“Naturally this is hugely disappointing for us as Peter was one of our primary targets,” Bruce said in a statement on the website.
“I know he was impressed with the set-up here when he came for talks, but it’s simply a matter of geographical location and that’s not something we can affect.”
Bruce said he was looking at a number of possible players to be approached for the striker role.
“We have a number of irons in the fire at present and we will be looking to make several additions to our squad in the coming weeks,” he added.
SUNDERLAND, England (AFP)
Tags: additions, black cats, Bruce, England, england club, fulham, geographical location, Harry Redknapp, irons in the fire, Liverpool, peter crouch, Portsmouth, south of england, Steve Bruce, striker, Sunderland, sunderland england, targets, tottenhamRelated posts
Sturridge targets Chelsea Champions League dream
July 10, 2009
LONDON (AFP) – Chelsea’s new teenage striker Daniel Sturridge targeted the Champions League on Thursday, but neatly sidestepped the thorny question of John Terry possibly heading for his former club Manchester City.
The 19-year-old left City to link-up with Carlo Ancelotti’s new-look Chelsea but his first day at training was overshadowed by the future of club skipper Terry.
City have already had a 30million-pound bid for the veteran defender rejected.
“My main motivation was to play in the Champions League,” said Sturridge, explaining his switch to Stamford Bridge.
“I am very ambitious and want to push myself to the highest level and play with the best in the world. I believe I can achieve big things at Chelsea.
“I am very young and I will be very patient because there are world-class players here. I am not going to get too upset if I am not playing because I know it is a long season and a lot of games.
“I want to win as many trophies as I can. I am not saying Man City have not got ambitions for the Champions League or for any competition but the main thing for me was to come to Chelsea to better me as a player.
“I will become a man here. The likes of John Terry will push me on to become a better player.”
But Sturridge refused to be drawn into the debate over Terry’s future.
“That’s a matter for John and Chelsea to deal with. I am just looking to make an impact at the club,” he said.
Tags: ambitions, carlo ancelotti, champions league, CHELSEA, Chelsea Champions, CITY, club manchester, english championship league, John, john terry, league dream, london, lot of games, man city, manchester city, motivation, skipper, stamford bridge, striker, targets, Terry, thorny question, trophiesRelated posts
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