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Mourning Mancini: ‘We were unlucky’

On Wednesday night, Manchester City had a brilliant opportunity to book a first Wembley cup final appearance since 1981 but the mission of the Citizens failed dramatically.

A 2-1 lead on aggregrate out of the first match wasn’t enough for City who have now set their sights on the FA Cup. “I am very sorry because I thought we played very well,” said Roberto Mancini.

Again, the Italian manager saw Carlos Tevez netting a goal against his former club but this time without the desired result.

“We were under pressure for only 10 minutes,”stated Mancini. “We played well. We were unlucky.”

“For the rest of the game we played very, very well. I am very sorry for the players because tonight they played very well.”

Manchester United’s victory booked them a place in a record seventh final in this competition for Sir Alex Ferguson who praised United’s fans. “Our support was unbelievable. I’m very proud and I’m delighted for the fans.

“When they are like that you never want to let them down.”

Ferguson was also positive about the events on the pitch. “We missed a lot of chances,” he said. “Edwin van der Sar made one marvellous save (from a Micah Richards’ shot) after half-time but we produced a marvellous performance in the second half.

“We could have scored six or seven.”

Tags: appearance, carlos tevez, citizens, edwin van der sar, FA Cup, game, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, match, micah richards, mourning, roberto mancini, second half, sir alex ferguson, van der sar, victory, wednesday night, Wembley, wembley cup

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Dassier issues Mancini ultimatum

Olympique Marseille president Jean-Claude Dassier claims that if Mancini does not sign by Sunday the deal, concerning a switch to Stade Velodomre, is off.

The French giants have been pursuing the versatile Brazil international for the past fortnight and agreed a deal in principle with Internazionale on Wednesday night to sign him until the end of the season.

Mancini has yet to put pen to paper on a deal at the Stade Velodrome, with Manchester City and AC Milan also said to be interested in the 29-year-old, and Dassier has now laid down an ultimatum.

“It shouldn’t be too long now,” he told L’Equipe.

“We sent off the last documents asked for by his agent yesterday at midday.

“We have decided to wait for his response until Sunday. After, it will be too late.”

Mancini joined Inter from Roma in 2008 but is desperate for playing time after making just six league appearances all season.

Tags: AC, ac milan, brazil, fortnight, giants, internazionale, jean claude dassier, Jean-Claude, l equipe, league appearances, manchester city, Marseille, midday, olympique marseille, pen to paper, playing time, principle, Roma, stade velodrome, ultimatum, wednesday night

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Mexican champ Monterrey advances to Libertadores

Mexican Apertura champion Monterrey defeated America 3-1 on penalties after a 0-0 draw to claim the 2010 InterLiga title and a place in the start of next month’s Copa Libertadores.

Wednesday night’s victory before a capacity crowd of 27,000 at The Home Depot Center put Monterrey, which in December qualified for the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League, in Group 2 of the Libertadores along with Sao Paulo of Brazil, Nacional of Paraguay and Once Caldas of Colombia. It begins play Feb. 10 against Sao Paulo.

Monterrey finished second in its InterLiga group behind Puebla, earning the match against America, which it beat in the quarterfinals of the Apertura Liguilla.

Estudiantes Tecos also advanced to the Libertadores, rallying to beat Puebla 3-2 earlier in the night and securing a place in the preliminary round. It will face Juan Aurich of Peru in a two-leg series for a berth in the main draw.

Both join fellow Mexican clubs Morelia, San Luis and CD Guadalajara in the Libertadores. Morelia had the best regular-season record in the Mexican league of any team not already playing in the CONCACAF Champions League. San Luis and CD Guadalajara were given a special invitation following their withdrawal from last year’s tournament due to influenza fears.

CARSON, California

Concacaf

Tags: America, berth, brazil, California, capacity crowd, CARSON, carson california, champ, colombia, concacaf, concacaf champions league, copa libertadores, Guadalajara, home depot, home depot center, influenza, interliga, invitation, Juan, juan aurich, mexican apertura, Monterrey, paraguay, peru, Puebla, quarterfinals, San, sao paulo, tecos, wednesday night

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‘Beckham is a great acquisition, just like last year’

David Beckham made his return for Milan on Wednesday night in the home match against Genoa (5-2).

Injuries to Alexandre Pato and Clarence Seedorf meant second-placed Milan had to start the Englishman further forward than usual on the right of a front three.

“He had a week where we tried him in every role in training,” coach Leonardo said after the match.

“I think that is the synthesis of what he is all about. He has an absolute willingness to help, extraordinary quality and tactical intelligence.”

34-year-old Beckham hopes to secure a World Cup spot during his loan spell at Milan. National coach Fabio Capello advised the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder to continue his career in Europe.

Beckham produced some superb crosses, went close with a drive and worked hard defensively in front of Capello.

“Beckham, just like last season, has been a great acquisition,” Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani said.

“He earns very little from us. He came to Milan for all different reasons than money.”

Tags: acquisition, adriano galliani, alexandre pato, capello beckham, chief executive, clarence seedorf, coach fabio capello, crosses, David Beckham, different reasons, englishman, Europe, fabio capello, genoa, home match, leonardo, Los Angeles, los angeles galaxy, Milan, national coach, tactical intelligence, wednesday night, willingness, world cup spot

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Lehmann gets away with Unirea bathrooom break

VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper Jens Lehmann must have been sighed a huge relief at the final whistle when his side outplayed Unirea Urziceni in the Champions League match on Wednesday night, after it emerged he urinated behind the goal during the match.

Lehmann has admitted since that he was as “nervous as ever before”, presumably before the incident that occurred on one knee, behind the goal and in front of 40,000 fans.

Lehmann was interrupted by an attack from the Romanian side, meaning he had to jump back over the advertising signage before suffering the embarrassment of a conceded goal or a yellow card for leaving the pitch without permission.

But Stuttgart’s director of sport Horst Heldt was quoted in the Guardian praising Lehmann for his handling of the sticky situation.

“I thought he handled it very expertly,” he said.

“It was a tricky situation. He could hardly run into the dressing room while play was going on and it reminded me of the Tour de France – sometimes there are simply no options.”

Tags: champions league, dressing room, embarrassment, France, Goalkeeper, Guardian, Horst Heldt, jens lehmann, match, pitch, signage, stuttgart, tour de france, tricky situation, urziceni, vfb stuttgart, wednesday night, whistle

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Mourinho plays down axe rumors

Jose Mourinho has denied rumors suggesting he could be about to leave Inter Milan

Reports had suggested that the Portuguese coach was set to get sacked had Inter failed to reach the Knockout Stages of the Champions League.

However, the reigning Serie A champions secured their spot in the UEFA Champions League round of sixteen on Wednesday night with a 2-0 victory over Rubin Kazan in Giuseppe Meazza.

Although the media had speculated that Mourinho could be relieved from his duties by Inter, the former Chelsea boss denies receiving any kind of ultimatum by the club’s board.

“No-one at Inter has said anything to me, not before the game and not after it,” Mourinho said following the Rubin win.

“Journalists don’t make decisions, ex-players don’t make decisions and even if important people within the club who do make decisions said something to me, it wouldn’t be a problem.”

Mourinho has re-stated that he does not fear over his future as he can find a job in a week should Inter decide to fire him.

“I’m a calm coach because when a coach leaves a club it’s diffcult for him to find a job, but if I leave Inter I’ll be in demand. I can’t say I’d choose exactly where I’d go, but almost.”

Mourinho feels he has been treated unfairly in the Italian media as of late and has questioned those criticizing him.

“I thought that results mattered in Italy but in fact that’s not the case given that a team which won the title, is top of the league and has qualified from a Champions League group containing the holders is still being criticized,” he said.

Tags: axe, boss, champions league group, CHELSEA, coach, decisions, fear, giuseppe meazza, inter milan, italian media, Italy, Jose, jose mourinho, journalists, Milan, mourinho plays, rubin kazan, s board, uefa, UEFA Champions League, ultimatum, wednesday night

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Marathon returns to Champions League for third straight time

Two-time quarterfinalist Marathon will return to the CONCACAF Champions League for a third straight year next season, clinching at least a Preliminary Round berth with a 2-0 victory over Olimpia to win the Honduran Apertura title.

Pando Ramirez scored in the fifth minute and Jerry Palacios added a second-half goal for Marathon, whose victory Wednesday night overturned a first-leg deficit for a 2-1 aggregate triumph and gave the club its eight domestic title and third straight Apertura crown.

Marathon, which lost to the Puerto Rico Islanders in the quarterfinals of the Champions League last season, has been drawn to face Pumas of Mexico in March.

It is guaranteed at least a berth in the Preliminary Round, but could garner a place in the Group Stage if it wins the Clausura crown or finishes both seasons with the best overall record.

Marathon becomes the fifth team to clinch a place in the 2010-2011 Champions League, joining fellow quarterfinalist the Columbus Crew and fellow U.S. clubs Real Salt Lake, the MLS Cup champion, the Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles Galaxy.

NEW YORK

Concacaf

Tags: berth, columbus crew, concacaf, concacaf champions league, fellow, group stage, Los Angeles, los angeles galaxy, Mexico, MLS, mls cup champion, New York, olimpia, palacios, Puerto Rico, puerto rico islanders, pumas, quarterfinals, real salt lake, record marathon, seattle sounders, Sounders, straight time, triumph, U.S, victory, wednesday night

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Van Gaal suspends Toni

Luca Toni has been fined for his comments about Louis van Gaal. Yesterday, the Bayern Munich striker blasted his manager in the Italian media and he’s now been dropped from the squad for the Champions League match against Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday night by his angry coach.

Since Van Gaal’s arrival at Bayern this summer, there were reports about the troubled relationship between the Dutch coach and Toni. The towering forward was disciplined by the club board earlier this month, after leaving the Allianz Arena in a huff when he was replaced at half-time during the match with Schalke 04.

“It’s been four months that I have had problems with him,” Toni explained to RAI. “I wish Bayern well. Sure, I’d like to go back to Italy to score those goals that would bring me back into the national team. After all, I am still the striker who has netted more goals than anyone for the Azzurri. Roma? I do have a good relationship with Totti…”

Van Gaal was angered by Toni’s comments and suspended his problem child. “He has to behave himself, just like the other players,” stated Van Gaal. Bayern must beat Maccabi Haifa to have a chance of advancing to the knockout stage of the Champions League, should Juventus win Wednesday in Bordeaux, the only thing left for Bayern is to secure a place in the Europa League that goes to the third-place finisher in the group.

Paul Haring

Tags: allianz, allianz arena, bayern munich, Bordeaux, champions league, four months, good relationship, haifa, huff, italian media, knockout stage, louis van gaal, luca toni, place finisher, problem child, striker, totti, troubled relationship, wednesday night

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Bordeaux faces Juventus without Gourcuff

Juventus won’t be bothered by Yoann Gourcuff on Wednesday night. A groin injury prevents the Bordeaux midfielder from facing Juventus in their Champions League encounter.

Gourcuff suffered his injury during the home match of the French national team against Ireland and also missed Saturday’s match against Valenciennes (0-1 loss). “It’s not as bad as we feared, but he won’t be able to play against Juventus,” said Bordeaux boss Laurent Blanc.

The coach could also be shorn of Marouane Chamakh, the Moroccan striker who limped off in the first half of Saturday’s game. “We want to be certain that there is no injury to his abdomen or groin,” Blanc asserted.

Paul Haring

Tags: abdomen, Bordeaux, boss, champions league, coach, encounter, french national team, game, gourcuff, groin injury, home match, Ireland, juventus, laurent blanc, marouane chamakh, midfielder, moroccan, striker, wednesday night

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Chiellini: “I didn’t hurt Van Persie”

Italian international Giorgio Chiellini denies he hurt Robin van Persie. A challenge by Chiellini led to torn ankle ligaments that will keep the Arsenal man sidelined for several months.

“Some people tried to stir up trouble to distract attention from the performance,” Chiellini said after the friendly match against Sweden (1-0 win) on Wednesday night. “I have never gone into a tackle to hurt anyone in my entire life and Van Persie said the same thing.

“If you look at the footage it’s clear it was not a nasty challenge. I was the first to be upset about Van Persie and hope he’ll recover as soon as possible. I was actually surprised he was injured from that situation,” the Juventus defender said.

Chiellini scored the winner against Sweden. It was his second goal in 27 internationals for Italy.

Paul Haring

Tags: ankle ligaments, arsenal, friendly match, giorgio chiellini, internationals, Italy, juventus, Paul Haring, robin van persie, Sweden, Van Persie, wednesday night

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