Gunners´ momentum born of mental strength: Wenger

January 5, 2010

Arsene Wenger has urged his on-form Arsenal squad to maintain the mental discipline that has lifted them back into the Premier League title battle when they take on struggling Bolton on Wednesday.

Having seemed out of contention following a 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea at the end of November, the Gunners have since revived their challenge with five wins from six league matches.

Another win at the Emirates on Wednesday would move Wenger’s men to within a point of leaders Chelsea and the Frenchman believes his young squad has proved its resilience.

“We have a good opportunity to come back very close to Chelsea, and we want to take it, to make it more interesting for everybody,” Wenger said. “One month ago we were far from the top teams, and since have created momentum.

“We refused to give up and continued to fight and believe in our strengths.

“The biggest test in our camp was the mental strengths of the players and the solidarity of the players. That has been tested.

“What we have realised in one month gives us a good springboard to go even further. Why should we stop here?

“The next two months will determine how ambitious and how hungry we are.”

Wenger added: “It does not mean Chelsea or Manchester United do not have hunger – but what I know is that within our team we have a great hunger for success. We have great solidarity and team spirit.

“We are a team who has grown up together and wants to achieve things. We have not won anything yet together and that makes us hungry for success.”

Wenger has admitted he would like to bring one or more new players into his squad during the January transfer window – notably a striker – but believes his faith in his policy of developing the club’s own youngsters is finally paying off.

“In the modern game, there is a lack of patience and one response when you lose a game – people say to you ‘buy, buy, buy’,” he said. “I believe sometimes when you have players who are 21, 22, that they can only become better.

“When they are 33, they can only be worse at 34 and that is why we are in a position where we need to have the needed strengths to be patient because we have the quality.

“Hopefully we can show until the end of the season that we can be successful.”

Arsenal will be without injured skipper Cesc Fabregas on Tuesday while midfielder Alex Song is away with Cameroon at the African Nations Cup.

Offsetting those losses is the fact that Denilson is fit again following a back problem and Wenger is confident the Brazilian can fill Song’s boots.

“Denilson is an all-rounder, but he can play in this position and will come in for Song,” Wenger said. “He is very strong in reading the game and winning the ball back.

“Denilson has 150 games in the Premier League. People do not notice how important he is for us and he can play in every single position in midfield.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: African, Alex Song, arsenal, arsenal squad, Bolton, cameroon, CHELSEA, contention, emirates, frenchman, great hunger, gunners, london, Manchester, manchester united, mental discipline, mental strengths, momentum, patience, premier league, resilience, solidarity, springboard, striker, team spirit, Wenger, youngsters

2009: Costa Rica carries CONCACAF flag to U-20 World Cup semis

December 19, 2009

Reaching the semifinals of the Under-20 World Cup doesn’t make up for Costa Rica’s inability to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa. It might take some of the sting out of it – especially for the future.

While its senior team fell 30 seconds short of making the World Cup finals next year, Costa Rica’s youngsters garnered the soccer world’s attention with a run to the final four in Egypt, and signaled the Ticos could be a significant CONCACAF power for years to come.

A second CONCACAF title run in Trinidad, capped by a 3-0 victory over the United States, continued in Egypt. After escaping group play on goal difference, Costa Rica upset host Egypt 2-0 before a partisan host crowd of 70,000 and then beat the United Arab Emirates in the quarterfinals.

A semifinal loss to Brazil ended the run, which would provide hope to the Central American nation for the prospects of its national team.

“I’m very happy with how my team responded – they were compact and tenacious, just as we’d planned,” Costa Rican manager Ronald Gonzalez said. “It’s a performance that gives us great confidence for the future.”

The loss on penalties to Hungary in the third-place match didn’t do anything to dampen the mood of a squad which represents an “excellent new generation of Costa Rican footballers,” Gonzalez said.

Marcos Urena, who led the team with three goals and an assist, Josue Martinez (two goals), Diego Estrada and David Guzman were the keys in helping Los Ticos improve on their first-round exit from the World Cup two years ago in Canada.

Gonzalez’s men advanced while CONCACAF’s other three representatives – the United States, Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago — all were eliminated in the group stage.

Costa Rica’s CONCACAF title was its first since 1988, sealed in the final with a pair of goals by Martinez and another by Estada.

It advanced to the final with one-goal victories over Canada and Mexico – which failed to get out of the group stage and was sent home without a victory – and a draw against Trinidad.

The United States dominated a first-round group including Honduras, Jamaica and El Salvador, winning twice and outscoring its opponents 5-0. Both the Americans and Costa Rica needed penalties to get past the semifinals after being held to goalless draws.

The United States prevailed over Trinidad, and Costa Rica outlasted Honduras. While its semifinal appearance assured the United States of a CONCACAF record 12th appearance in the World Cup, the Americans once again failed to claim the confederation crown at the U-20 level.

It was their first chance at a title since 1996, the last year CONCACAF conducted its finals as a championship at a single venue. Brian Perk was the U.S. hero, recording four shutouts before allowing three goals to Costa Rica in the title match.

By Vijay Setlur

Tags: brazil, brian perk, Canada, Central American, central american nation, concacaf, Costa Rica, david guzman, Diego Estrada, Egypt, egypt 2, El Salvador, final four, footballers, goal difference, Gonzalez, group play, group stage, Hungary, Jamaica, Marcos Urena, Mexico, new generation, quarterfinals, Ronald Gonzalez, semifinal loss, soccer world, South Africa, sting, ticos, Trinidad, trinidad and tobago, U.S, united arab emirates, urena, Vijay Setlur, world cup finals, youngsters

Ferguson to test youngsters against Besiktas

November 25, 2009

Despite Manchester United’s determination to hold on to their top spot in Group B of the Champions League, Sir Alex Ferguson will use the match against Besiktas to test his young players. The likes of Darron Gibson, Gabriel Obertan, Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck will form an unfamiliar United line-up as Fergie gives many of his established stars a night off.

United already booked a spot in the knockout stages, but still battles with VfL Wolfsburg for the first place in the group. However, Ferguson will not send his strongest team on to the pitch against Besiktas. “I’ll be making changes. Not a lot, but enough to freshen things up,” Ferguson said. “Gibson will definitely play, and I’m thinking about giving Obertan a start to see how well he does. We can use the likes of Welbeck. He will definitely play, and Macheda probably. They are the ones who need to challenge.

“They’ve reached a point, and it happens in football, when a footballer has the ability to be a top player and you recognise that. You have to give them the challenge. If you don’t, they lose the scent. But this club has been good at recognising that over the years.

“When Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes came through, we thought they were certainties. We had to give them a chance – and we did. That’s the nature of football. A young player turns the corner and then ends up taking someone’s job.”

Man United is three points ahead of runner-up Wolfsburg while Besiktas are at the bottom of the group with just one point out of their four previous matches.

Paul Haring

Tags: alex ferguson, besiktas, butt, champions league, darron gibson, federico macheda, footballer, Gabriel Obertan, job, knockout stages, man united, manchester united, match, paul scholes, pitch, recognising, sir alex ferguson, welbeck, Wolfsburg, youngsters

Ghana to test youngsters ahead of World Cup

November 18, 2009

Ghana travels to Angola for an international friendly on Wednesday. Head coach Milovan Rajevac says young members in the squad will get opportunities to show their qualities ahead of the African Cup of nations and the World Cup.

Ghana won the Under-20 World Cup in October and now five members of that squad are set to contribute to the senior team. With Agyemang Badu and Lee Addy already playing over the weekend in the World Cup qualifier against Mali (2-2), it could be time for Dominic Adiyiah and goalkeeper Daniel Agyei to make their senior debut.

“The young ones will always have opportunities. I intend to give them some playing time and see the level,” Rajevac told the official website of the Ghanaian Football Association. “They have the quality but they must be prepared to fight for places. The experience would be good for them.

“It would be good to see how they play with some of the seniors. In training, you can see that they are willing to go but we would see.”

The Black Stars will be without some regular squad members for the game against Angola.

Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Asamoah Gyan and Samuel Inkoom who all featured in last Sunday’s final qualifying match in the campaign for next year’s Nations Cup and World Cup competitions were left behind.

Paul Haring

Tags: african cup of nations, asamoah gyan, badu, black stars, dominic, football association, ghanaian football, Goalkeeper, last sunday, Michael Essien, nations cup, playing time, squad members, stephen appiah, sulley muntari, world cup competitions, world cup qualifier, young ones, youngsters

Wenger expects Arsenal starlets to shine at highest level

October 29, 2009

Arsene Wenger predicted his crop of Arsenal youngsters would reach “the top level in the game” after they scalped Liverpool in the League Cup fourth round.

The Frenchman did not pick any of his regular Premier League starters for Wednesday’s 2-1 victory against the Reds at the Emirates Stadium, but it made little difference against opposition who also boasted an unfamiliar look.

Goals from Fran Merida and Nicklas Bendtner were enough to see off Liverpool, who had levelled through Emiliano Insua’s excellent long-range volley, but it was the composed and polished quality of his tyros’ football which impressed Wenger.

“I thought the quality we showed made this more of a European Cup game than a League Cup game,” he said.

“Our players were up for it, the passing was very good. The ball was played at a high pace and we gave people what they paid for – top quality – and I am very happy to say that.

“Everyone did well. We had mental resources, as well, to come back when they equalised. It was very impressive and it shows you why we did not need to spend a lot of money during the close-season.

“Nearly all of the young players have already played in the first team. I think all who played will make it at the top level in the game.”

Wenger reserved his most glowing praise for Merida, the Spanish youngster whose future at the club was in doubt during the close-season when he was almost sent on loan to Levante.

The manager eventually decided to keep him at the club and the decision reaped rich rewards as he struck a sublime goal – a rising left-footed shot that went in off the post – and helped set up the second for Bendtner.

“Merida is a quality player,” Wenger said. “He comes from a very good school, by which I mean the Spanish school. But our school is also in line with the way he has been educated.

“He can certainly break through and I want him to stay here. I kept him as I thought he had the quality to break through. He shows perfectly the way we play football.”

There was also positive news for Wenger in seeing Samir Nasri complete his first 90 minutes since breaking his leg on the club’s pre-season training trip to Austria.

Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, also had good news on the injury front, as he gave Alberto Aquilani his first appearance in a Liverpool shirt since his move from Roma in the August.

The Italian midfielder had been sidelined with a long-standing ankle injury and, while he clearly needs more match practice before reaching his peak condition, Benitez believes he can supply the guile that has been absent from his team since the departure of Xabi Alonso.

“The worst thing was the defeat and the result but there were positives, passion, character, quality and Aquilani was one of these players,” he said.

“He needs to improve his fitness but he can pass in the final third and make a difference to us.

“For us, he could be an important player because we need quality and he is that kind of player. But we can’t push too hard with him. He just needs to keep working.”

There was grimmer news for Benitez on the condition of Steven Gerrard, who is set to miss Saturday’s visit to Fulham, although Fernando Torres is expected to play.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: alberto aquilani, arsene wenger, Austria, cup game, emiliano insua, emirates, Emirates Stadium, Fernando Torres, fran merida, frenchman, fulham, Liverpool, london, mental resources, Nicklas Bendtner, opposition, premier league, quality player, rafael benitez, reds, rich rewards, Samir Nasri, spanish school, starters, Steven Gerrard, top quality, volley, youngster, youngsters

Serie A coaches gang up on the kids of today

October 29, 2009

The coaches of the three biggest Serie A clubs recently indulged in what has always been one of the favourite pastimes of the older and wiser — picking fault with today’s youngsters.

Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho kicked things off when he criticised 19-year-old forward Mario Balotelli’s approach in training and suggested that footballers of his age were more interested in Ferraris and Bentleys than getting on with the job.

“It’s probably a generational problem,” Mourinho said. “At the moment it’s very difficult to find a player who’s 19 or 20 and thinks like a man.”

Reporters asked Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara what he thought, but if they hoped to stir up another Mourinho-versus-the-rest-of-Italy row, they were disappointed.

“I agree. It’s a problem of values,” Ferrara said. “Things have changed a lot and the purely sporting side often drops down to a secondary level.

“A young player becomes a star after just a few matches in Serie A. Million-euro contracts arrive and thoughts immediately go to the national team. It’s difficult for them to keep their feet on the ground.”

AC Milan boss Leonardo agreed too.

“I understand what Mourinho is saying. It’s difficult to teach certain values to youngsters,” he told reporters, adding that he believed it was a problem for society as a whole, not just soccer.

Maybe the managers have a point and all the money pouring into football has corrupted the game’s budding talent.

I’m not so sure. Football has always had its share of prima donnas and players who, let’s say, gave great importance to the economic side of the profession.

Moreover, those wondering why young players find it harder to get a chance to shine in Serie A than in other top flights, might have be given a clue to the riddle.

PHOTO: Inter Milan’s coach Jose Mourinho (L) argues with his player Mario Balotelli during their Serie A match against Siena at San Siro, May 17, 2009. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito

Source

Tags: A. Million-euro, ac milan, bentleys, clue, coac, economic side, feet on the ground, ferraris, footballers, giampiero, inter milan, jose mourinho, leonardo, Mario Balotelli, Milan, pastimes, prima donnas, riddle, Siena, sposito, youngsters

English player union head backs ban on under18 moves

September 6, 2009

Gordon Taylor, the head of the Professional Footballers’ Association, the players’ union, on Sunday advocated a ban on transfers for players aged less than 18 amid the fallout of Chelsea’s poaching of Gael Kakuta from French side Lens.

“There’s been a general feeling that a ban on movement of players under the age of 18 would be better for the game,” Taylor told BBC Radio as he assessed FIFA’s ban on Chelsea buying players until 2011 – a decision the club have appealed.

“Football is about competition. You can’t have all the best youngsters at the biggest, richest clubs.”

Taylor has a dual role in that, aside from his PFA role, he heads up international equivalent FiFPro, which also wants to block transfers for players aged less than 18.

“You need to encourage clubs, if they’re going to have youth development programmes, to be able to pick out the lads and have some time with them.

“If they do move on, which may be inevitable you need a system whereby proper, effective compensation is paid,” said Taylor, who added any move should attract “fair compensation” for the club losing its player.

“I don’t think this situation with Chelsea would have reached the stage it has now if compensation had been agreed between the two clubs,” he concluded, adding that with FIFA ready to clamp down he “wouldn’t be surprised if there were some more cases.”

Manchester United may face an investigation with another French club, Le Havre, set to ask FIFA to investigate the English giants’ capture of 16-year-old starlet Paul Pogba last month.

Currently, European law prevents players from signing formal contracts with a club before they turn 16 hence the club that discovers him could see another team come in and tempt him away.

If Chelsea are found, on appeal, to have breached FIFA’s article 17.4 on breach of contract then they will be banned from making signings for two registration periods through to 2011.

On Saturday, former Chelsea chairman Ken Bates welcomed FIFA’s crackdown, saying top clubs have been trading youngsters “like horsemeat.”

Bates, now chairman of third tier fallen giants Leeds, said such practices are widespread and a crackdown is needed.

Leeds and Bates themselves successfully won a reported 5 million pound (seven million euro) compensation package from Chelsea three years ago after the Londoners signed up Leeds teenagers Michael Woods and Tom Taiwo.

Bates, currently Leeds chairman, told Saturday’s Daily Mail: “The problem here is that the big clubs are stripping the small clubs of their youngsters.

“They are like Japanese fishing trawlers, just sweeping up everything in their nets.

“Right now some of these boys are just being traded like horsemeat.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: breach of contract, CHELSEA, chelsea chairman, dual role, fallout, FIFA, fifpro, formal contracts, french club, gordon taylor, kakuta, ken bates, lads, Le Havre, LEEDS, london, Manchester, manchester united, Michael Woods, Paul Pogba, professional footballers association, registration periods, starlet, tom taiwo, top clubs, youngsters

Former Chelsea chairman blasts transfer trading

September 5, 2009

Former Chelsea chairman Ken Bates has welcomed FIFA’s transfer ban for the Blues over their controversial capture of teenager Gael Kakuta, saying top clubs have been riding for a fall in trading youngsters “like horsemeat.”

Carlo Ancelotti’s side were rocked this week by a FIFA ban on signing any players during the next two transfer windows after snatching Kakuta and the English Premiership side have appealed the decision.

But Bates, now chairman of third tier fallen giants Leeds, says such practices are widespread and a crackdown is needed.

Bates, currently Leeds chairman, told Saturday’s Daily Mail: “The problem here is that the big clubs are stripping the small clubs of their youngsters.

“They are like Japanese fishing trawlers, just sweeping up everything in their nets.

“Right now some of these boys are just being traded like horsemeat.”

The FIFA transfer ban on Chelsea will see the club banned from making signings until January 2011 follows a decision by the world governing body’s Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC).

The DRC found Kakuta guilty of breach of contract and also found Chelsea guilty of inducing the player to break his contract with the French club, which had lodged a claim with FIFA seeking compensation and demanding sporting sanctions both on the player and Chelsea.

A statement from FIFA said the DRC “found that the player had indeed breached a contract signed with the French club”.

“Equally, the DRC deemed it to be established that the English club induced the player to such a breach.”

As well as paying 780,000 euros in compensation to Lens, for which Chelsea are jointly liable, Kakuta has been sanctioned in accordance with article 17, paragraph 3 and 4 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players while the Blues must also pay Lens 130,000 euros compensation.

Kakuta was just 15 when he signed a contract with Chelsea, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: accordance with article, breach of contract, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, chelsea chairman, compensation package, crackdown, daily mail, dispute resolution, french club, gael kakuta, ken bates, LEEDS, london, londoners, Michael Woods, premiership side, small clubs, tom taiwo, top clubs, transfer ban, world governing body, youngsters

Bates blasts Big clubs and their transfer policy

September 5, 2009

Former Chelsea chairman Ken Bates believes the Blues’ transfer ban is the result of a wider practice that sees top clubs trade young players “like horsemeat”.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side were rocked this week by a FIFA ban on signing any players during the next two transfer windows after luring teenager Gael Kakuta from Lens, a decision they intend to appeal.

Bates successfully won a reported £5million compensation payment from the Blues in 2006 after they signed teenagers Michael Woods and Tom Taiwo from his current club, Leeds.

Chelsea are not alone among the Premier League elite in scouring Europe for the brightest young talents but Bates has criticised the methods involved in such a recruitment policy.

Bates, currently Leeds chairman, told the Daily Mail: “The problem here is that the big clubs are stripping the small clubs of their youngsters.

“They are like Japanese fishing trawlers, just sweeping up everything in their nets.

“Right now some of these boys are just being traded like horsemeat.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abhimanyu, blasts, blues transfer, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, chelsea chairman, compensation payment, current club, daily mail, Europe, kakuta, ken bates, LEEDS, Michael Woods, premier league, recruitment policy, small clubs, talents, teenagers, tom taiwo, top clubs, transfer ban, youngsters

Ferguson laments growth in simulated fouls

September 4, 2009

Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson lamented Friday that simulation by players had crept into English football in recent years, after top European coaches agreed to try to root it out.

“It’s a very difficult area. In my experience in English football over the past 15 years it has crept into the game, there’s no doubt that’s not acceptable,” he told journalists.

Ferguson, one of the participants in the Elite Club Coaches Forum at European football’s governing body UEFA said it was one of the top general issues raised at the meeting.

“We all agreed that education is the best way forward, from the youth team to the first team,” he said.

“No one coach is proud that players simulate to get a decision,” Ferguson added, especially because of its impact on youngsters.

Arsenal announced on Thursday that they will appeal against UEFA’s decision to ban their striker Eduardo for two matches for allegedly diving to win a penalty against Celtic in a Champions League qualifier and “deceiving the referee”.

UEFA Technical Director Andy Roxburgh said Eduardo’s specific case was not discussed during the forum, in which Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger also took part.

Asked about the Eduardo sanction, Ferguson described it as a “big example,” even though he agreed with Arsenal’s stance in protecting its players and the difficulty of identifying the limits to disciplining simulation.

“It’s always difficult because I see it every week now, I see some guy dive,” Ferguson acknowledged.

“They (referees) can’t pick every instance, it’s impossible, there’d be no players left, but that’s the way it’s going.”

However, Ferguson insisted that high profile cases had to be tackled.

“UEFA’s position, and I tend to agree with it, is that there’s such a high profile competition now, that we have to make sure it’s done in the fairest possible way.

“In the moral high ground, I have to agree that something needs to be done. I wouldn’t be pleased if my player did that, but I wouldn’t say it in public.”

Roxburgh said the experimental use of two extra match officials on the touchline in this season’s Europa League might help referees spot cases of simulation and act as a deterrent.

GENEVA (AFP)