tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49757716125203478972024-03-05T07:25:13.734-08:00Football Newsandria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-4814039858673949342009-09-11T16:15:00.000-07:002009-09-11T16:16:27.516-07:00La Liga Preview: Espanyol – Real MadridReal Madrid are coming to town and the city of Barcelona is buzzing with anticipation. However, it is not FC Barcelona that the visitors will face, but a Clasico of a slightly different nature as Espanyol prepare to open their brand new stadium, the Estadi Cornella-El Prat, for official competition.<br /><br />The match has all the hype of the more famous Clasico though, as confrontations between Espanyol and Real Madrid tend to be, this could well be one of the most competitive fixtures that La Liga has to offer during the course of the season. <br /><span class="fullpost"><br />In this encounter, the ‘Floren Team’ of Galacticos inaugurate the new Perico stadium, providing added incentive for Espanyol to treat their fans, who will have paid a pretty penny (or more precisely, centavo) for tickets and the team hopes for a memorable beginning to a new era.<br /><br />Besides the a star-studded Madrid coming to town, the match has earned a good deal of international attention, especially in Japan, as Japanese superstar Shunsuke Nakamura makes his home debut for the Blanquiazules. Days in advance of the match, Barcelona has been bouncing with members of the Japanese media and the Saturday’s duel will be broadcast live in Tokyo as fans in the Far East are to be treated to a mouth-watering combination of their idol, top-class Liga football, and a world-renowned Real Madrid.<br /><br />Finally, Espanyol fans will be given to chance to christen their new stadium by paying tribute to the fallen Dani Jarque after the former captain tragically died of a heart attack during the team’s preseason tour to Italy. A minute of silence will precede the match, but one can be sure that the following 90 minutes will be anything but silent and the new stadium will likely shake in its foundation as fans drive their team on.<br /><br />Stars Return to the Galaxy<br /><br />After a week-long international break of World Cup Qualifiers, which left the Madrid training pitch in Valdebebas with only 11 first-team players, Los Blancos could have some problems with fatigue in matching up against a Catalunyan side that has had far more time to prepare.<br /><br />Thus far, Los Merengues have performed well, having looked strong throughout the pre-season and fighting with admirable zeal to defeat bogey team Deportivo La Coruna in the Liga opener. But in the hiatus of international matches, the Spanish press has had time to develop storylines analysing the team’s new stars, with most popular headlines being speculation over the amount of time it will take for Cristiano Ronaldo to adapt to the style of Liga football.<br /><br />Unable to provide a convincing performance to lead a lacklustre Portugal to an emphatic victory in the week’s World Cup Qualifying matches, CR9 will be anxious to recover the form of his Manchester United days and a goal from a free kick would serve as a way to begin recovering this confidence.<br /><br />FORM GUIDE<br /><br />RCD Espanyol<br /><br />29/07/2009 Preseason Palafrugell - Espanyol 1-2<br />02/08/2009 Preseason Espanyol - Liverpool 3-0<br />05/08/2009 Preseason Napoli - Espanyol 0-0<br />22/08/2009 Preseason Girona - Espanyol 1-2 <br />30/08/2009 Liga Athletic Bilbao - Espanyol 1-0<br /><br />Real Madrid<br /><br />7/08/2009 Preseason D. C. United-Real Madrid 0-3 <br />15/08/2009 Preseason Real Sociedad-Real Madrid 0-2 <br />19/08/2009 Preseason Borussia Dortmund-Real Madrid 0-5 <br />25/08/2009 Preseason Real Madrid-Rosenborg 4-0<br />29/09/2009 Liga Real Madrid - Deportivo 3-2<br /><br /><br /> <br />TEAM NEWS<br /><br />RCD Espanyol<br /><br />Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino is set to employ his ‘Barcelona recipe’—a high-pressure system of play in which his team pursues the ball well into the opposition’s half of the pitch; it is this strategy that saw Espanyol beat a seemingly invincible Barca by a 2-1 scoreline at the Camp Nou last season and Madrid showed problems coping with such advanced pressure last year.<br /><br />Morale is high in the Espanyol camp as the squad is intent upon paying tribute to Dani Jarque and players like striker Luis Garcia have shown confidence that they will beat Madrid to open their new stadium. Pochettino is likely to repeat the same starting XI that played last week against Athletic Bilbao with the hope of achieving a different result than the 1-0 defeat last week at the San Mames. Ivan de la Pena will likely see action off the bench; the aging 'Buddha' tends to play very well against top-class competition and Saturday should be no different.<br /><br />Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Kameni – Pillud, Forlin, Pareja, Chica – Moises, Verdu – Luis Garcia, Ivan Alonso, Nakamura – Raul Tamudo.<br /><br /><br />Real Madrid<br /><br />The big news in Madrid has been the recovery of Sergio Ramos after the player spent over two-and-a-half months out with tendonitis. However, the Sevilla youth product has been left out of the squad for the trip to Barcelona, instead, according to coach Manuel Pellegrini, to debut in next week’s match. Also not making the trip are Rafael Van Der Vaart, who again seems not to fit into Pellegrini’s plans, and Fernando Gago, who has been given a cold shoulder since the Chilean coach arrived at the helm. Pepe also continues to be out, serving the last four matches of a ten-match suspension.<br /><br />Those that have been included in the squad have been Ruud van Nistelrooy and Mahamadou Diarra who have both recovered from their long-term injuries and are fit enough to play. Both could see extensive action in Saturday’s highly anticipated affair.<br /><br />Probable Starting XI (4-2-2-2): Casillas – Arbeloa, Albiol, Metzelder, Marcelo - Xabi Alonso, Lass - Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo; Raul, Benzema.<br /><br />PLAYERS TO WATCH<br /><br />RCD Espanyol<br /><br />Former Real Madrid youth product Luis Garcia is a player of exceptional talent and is due to have a season similar to the one that saw him earn a call-up to the Spanish national side two years ago. In goal, Kameni will likely see a barrage of shots come down on his net and the Cameroonian goalkeeper will be called upon more than once to pull out the spectacular saves he frequently makes. Finally, Ivan de la Pena will come off the bench in the hope of adding new life to his team’s attack in the second half. Against Barcelona last season, the Buddha was pivotal in leading Los Pericos to victory.<br /><br /><br />Real Madrid<br /><br />After a brilliant showing with Brazil in the World Cup Qualifying match against Argentina last week, Kaka will be looking to continue his awesome form against an Espanyol side that will not easily back down. Cristiano Ronaldo will also be worth one’s eye as the Portuguese will be looking to score his first free kick for Los Blancos. After inexplicably playing only 17 minutes total in the World Cup Qualifying matches with France, Karim Benzema will be fresh and ready fire away at Kameni’s goal. Raul also has a penchant for scoring against Espanyol and it would not surprise if the captain were to find the back of the net again. Finally, the return of Van Nistelrooy and Diarra to official competition could be noteworthy—the former single-handedly won matches for Madrid last season and the latter was an absolute rock in defence before going down with an injury.<br /><br /><br />PREDICTION<br /><br />Security is high and tensions are even higher as Madrid come to Barcelona to take on Espanyol in their new stadium’s inauguration. With a minute of silence in honour of Dani Jarque, the ambiance surrounding this encounter has the makings of a real classic.<br /><br />Espanyol will likely come with everything they have and should Madrid’s expensive star power falter in La Liga, the press will pick up on the story and the pressure will mount. Thus far, Los Blancos have performed well and while, despite the international break, there is no reason that should change, Los Pericos could surprise.<br /><br /><br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-3907267653049990972009-09-11T16:14:00.000-07:002009-09-11T16:15:40.617-07:00Premier League Preview: Tottenham Hotspur - Manchester UnitedTottenham's storming start to this league campaign, which has seen them win all four of their games, couldn't be more different to the abject opening sequence they put together in 2008/09, under the ill-fated leadership of Juande Ramos.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Most of the credit for this new-found swagger goes to manager Harry Redknapp, who has instilled a team spirit into a group of players that previously had failed to gel. Up front, Jermain Defoe – ever the confidence player – is showing the sort of sharpness that makes you wonder why he was ever less than first-choice at Spurs, while the other senior strikers – Robbie Keane, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko – offer a useful blend of physiques and playing styles. The sense of balance is just as obvious in midfield, where Aaron Lennon and Luka Modric flank the engine room of Wilson Palacios and Tom Huddlestone/Jermaine Jenas; the unfortunate loss of Modric, who broke a bone in his leg in the 2-1 win against Birmingham, is a huge blow to the club's momentum. Thankfully, the emergency signing of Niko Kranjcar from Portsmouth should paper over that crack nicely.<br /><br />There are, however, still question marks about this Spurs side, most notably about the frailty of its central defenders – stand up Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate, if you can – and the mental state of goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, for whom the phrase 'a rush of blood to the head' was invented.<br /><br />Still, there are many more positives than negatives. Having soundly beaten Liverpool at White Hart Lane in their first game of the season, Spurs will not fear a visit from Manchester United. But as the season goes on, and injuries take their toll, I wonder how much longer they can survive near the summit of the league.<br /><br />Intimidating track record<br /><br />Manchester United have stuttered in the early stages of this campaign, as they seek to win an unprecedented fourth straight title. But Alex Ferguson will be comforted by his team's exemplary record against Tottenham. They have not lost to the north-London side in their last 16 league meetings, a run that dates back to May 2001, when Spurs won this corresponding fixture 3-1. Of course, such runs don't last forever, and Ferguson is wary of a Spurs team that has improved almost beyond recognition since the opening matches of last season.<br /><br />Recent history apart, also in United's favour is the fact that many of their stars were not called upon during the international break, including Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Michael Owen and Anderson. With so many players either rested or returning from injury, United won't be able to blame fatigue if they leave White Hart Lane without a point.<br /><br />FORM GUIDE<br /><br />Tottenham Hotspur<br /><br />Aug 29 Tottenham 2-1 Birmingham<br />Aug 26 Doncaster 1-5 Tottenham (League Cup)<br />Aug 23 West Ham 1-2 Tottenham<br />Aug 19 Hull 1-5 Tottenham<br />Aug 16 Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool<br /><br />Manchester United<br /><br />Aug 29 Man Utd 2-1 Arsenal<br />Aug 22 Wigan 0-5 Man Utd<br />Aug 19 Burnley 1-0 Man Utd<br />Aug 16 Man Utd 1-0 Birmingham<br />Aug 9 Chelsea 2-2 Man Utd (Community Shield; Chelsea won 4-1 on penalties)<br /><br /><br />TEAM NEWS<br /><br />Tottenham Hotspur<br /><br />Centre-back Sebastien Bassong has recovered from a knock he picked up on international duty for Cameroon, and should start against the Premier League champions.<br /><br />New signing Niko Kranjcar, who made little impact for Croatia in their 5-1 defeat by England at Wembley on Wednesday, is expected to replace compatriot Modric on the left side of midfield.<br /><br />Ledley King's famously dodgy knees are not the problem this time – the fragile defender strained his groin against Birmingham – but he's tipped to start at the back alongside Bassong.<br /><br />In goal, Carlo Cudicini will continue to deputise for the injured Heurelho Gomes.<br /><br />Last starting XI: Cudicini, Bassong, Corluka, King (Hutton 46), Assou-Ekotto, Huddlestone, Lennon, Palacios, Modric (Crouch 49), Keane, Defoe (Pavlyuchenko 80).<br /><br />Manchester United<br /><br />Versatile Irishman John O'Shea is out with a calf strain and is set to be replaced at right-back by Gary Neville. United's club captain proved his fitness in a reserve game last week and will be desperate to return to the first team.<br /><br />Rio Ferdinand suffered a thigh strain in the Community Shield in August and hasn't played since. But the English defender is back in training and will partner Nemanja Vidic as usual, subject to a late fitness test.<br /><br />Last starting XI: Foster, Evra, Brown, Vidic, O'Shea, Giggs (Berbatov 85), Carrick, Nani, Fletcher, Valencia (Park 63), Rooney.<br /><br /><br />PLAYERS TO WATCH<br /><br />Tottenham Hotspur<br /><br /><br /><br />With his revelatory, man-of-the-match performance for England against Croatia on Wednesday, Aaron Lennon proved that he is one of the most-improved players in England. His raw pace and skill were never in question, but now there are welcome signs of maturity in the winger's overall play. Already this season, he has shown much greater intelligence in his use of the ball, especially in choosing when to cross – a glaring weakness in the old Lennon – and when to run at defenders. That said, if any full-back can keep him quiet, it's United's Patrice Evra. It should be a fascinating duel between two of the quickest performers in the league.<br /><br />Manchester United<br /><br /><br /><br />It's something of a football cliché that ex-players always return to haunt their old clubs, but that's exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson will hope Michael Carrick does at White Hart Lane tomorrow. Carrick's 'Marmite' status means he will always have his critics, but there's no doubt that the former Spurs star is now a key component in United's team. He is not a showy player but his range of passing and positional sense are both first-class – he has that rare ability to keep a team ticking over, even if many fans choose to ignore such an attribute. As Harry Redknapp searches for the best partner for Wilson Palacios in the heart of his midfield, no doubt many Tottenham supporters will spare a thought for the playmaker they once called their own.<br /><br />PREDICTION<br /><br />Spurs made light work of Liverpool at home on the opening weekend of the new season and their confidence will be high as they look to scalp another of the so-called 'big four'. Crucially though, there is now a Luka Modric-shaped hole in the hosts' midfield. The Croatian has been vitally important for Spurs so far this season, and although the pace of Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe will no doubt cause United problems at times, Modric will be sorely missed. In light of United's excellent record at Spurs, and with Rio Ferdinand back at the heart of their defence, I expect United to be good enough to take three points from what should be a very tight contest. No one would be surprised if it's Tottenham old boy Dimitar Berbatov – rather than Wayne Rooney, who ran his socks off for England on Wednesday and must still be slightly jaded – who gets the winning goal for the visitors.<br /><br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-27956368527451258522009-09-11T16:11:00.000-07:002009-09-11T16:14:15.793-07:00Premier League Preview: Liverpool - BurnleyTurning Point<br /><br />It's been a strange old start to the season for Liverpool. They headed in with sky-high expectations after taking home the silver medal in last season's Premier League race, but the mob from Merseyside have lost two and won two in their first four games of 2009-10.<br /><br />And it could have been worse - for when the half-time whistle blew in their last outing against Bolton Wanderers, it looked like the Reds would go into the international break with three defeats under their belts. However, Steven Gerrard struck late to secure what was a morale-boosting victory.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Spirits have been alarmingly low at Anfield over the early stages of the season, with questions continuing to mount as to whether Rafael Benitez's Xabi Alonso-less squad can match, let alone exceed, the standards set in the last campaign.<br /><br />The manager has acknowledged the problem but believes the gritty win at the Reebok could prove a turning point for Liverpool.<br /> <br />"When you are not doing well you always need character - and the players showed character against Bolton," Benitez told the press on Thursday. "We controlled the game and although we conceded two goals, we scored three and came from behind to win. That is very positive and hopefully it will be a different situation for us now."<br /><br />Upsetting The Odds<br /><br />It is Burnley who visit Anfield this weekend, and recent events indicate that the promoted club could cause their out-of-sorts hosts any number of problems.<br /><br />The 3-0 drubbing by in-form Chelsea last time out was something of an anomaly for the Clarets, who have sent out warning shots to their doubters with shock wins against Manchester United and Everton.<br /><br />Thus, although situated three places back in 10th, Owen Coyle's men stand level on points with their upcoming opponents, whom they famously ousted from the FA Cup in 2005.<br /><br />And while both Burnley's wins so far this season have come at Turf Moor, they head to Liverpool confident of competing. Veteran defender Graham Alexander said recently: "It's an amazing spirit we've got, the gaffer instils it and breeds it that we can beat anyone on our day."<br /><br />Early trends suggest that away form could be the Lancashire outfit's undoing, as they have yet to pick up a point - or score a goal - on the road this term.<br /><br />FORM GUIDE<br /><br />Liverpool<br /><br />Aug 29 Bolton Wanderers 2-3 Liverpool (Premier League)<br />Aug 24 Liverpool 1-3 Aston Villa (Premier League)<br />Aug 19 Liverpool 4-0 Stoke City (Premier League)<br />Aug 16 Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Liverpool (Premier League)<br />Aug 8 Liverpool 2-1 Atletico Madrid (Friendly)<br /><br />Burnley<br /><br />Aug 29 Chelsea 3-0 Burnley (Premier League)<br />Aug 25 Hartlepool United 1-2 Burnley (League Cup)<br />Aug 23 Burnley 1-0 Everton (Premier League)<br />Aug 19 Burnley 1-0 Manchester United (Premier League)<br />Aug 15 Stoke City 0-2 Burnley (Premier League)<br /><br />TEAM NEWS<br /><br />Liverpool<br /><br />Five of Benitez's first-team players featured over the international break, including England heroes Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson, but all appear to have reported back to Melwood unscathed.<br /><br />In some good news, Fabio Aurelio is available for selection after recovering from a freak knee injury sustained duting the summer. Young Emiliano Insua has impressed at left-back in the Brazilian's absence.<br /><br />Alberto Aquilani (ankle) and Daniel Agger (back) remain sidelined with long-term problems.<br /><br />Possible Starting XI: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua; Mascherano, Lucas; Kuyt, Gerrard, Benayoun; Torres.<br /><br />Burnley<br /><br />Manchester United product Richard Eckersley is back in the frame after completing a suspension, giving Coyle an extra option in defence.<br /><br />At the other end of the pitch, David Nugent could make his league debut for the Clarets. The one-time England striker - who began his career in Liverpool's youth team - recently moved from Portsmouth on loan.<br /><br />Nugent has impressed his new manager in training and is an outside chance to start ahead of Martin Paterson, who played in Northern Ireland's midweek defeat by Slovakia.<br /><br />Possible Starting XI: Jensen; Mears, Bikey, Carlisle, Jordan; Elliot, Alexander, McCann, Blake; Fletcher, Paterson.<br /><br />PLAYERS TO WATCH<br /><br />Glen Johnson (Liverpool)<br /><br />The dashing wing-back has made a superb start to life at Anfield since his summer move from Portsmouth, yet his defensively suspect performances for England continue to draw criticism. Thus, he will be hoping to bounce back with another dynamic display in red.<br /><br />Robbie Blake (Burnley)<br /><br />In a career that has been spent largely in the lower divisions, this man has often been touted as the best player outside the Premier League. The wily 33-year-old has already shown his class this term with a magnificent strike against Man United - could he undo the other giants of the North West?<br /><br />PREDICTION<br /><br />It's always tough to judge what will happen immediately after an international break, but Liverpool seem to have developed a 'flat-track bully' mentality that will serve them well against an impassioned Burnley outfit. Still, they'll have to fight - so a narrow win to the hosts.<br /><br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-80856568913591435422009-09-10T20:29:00.001-07:002009-09-10T20:29:52.289-07:00Real Madrid Named Club Of The Century By Stats FoundationReal Madrid have been named as the best club of the 20th century after an exhaustive study by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).<br /><br />The Spanish giants finished out in front of Juventus, who were second, while Barcelona, Milan and Bayern Munich completed the top five in the historic record books.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />In recent seasons the IFFHS have judged clubs in order of merit, but have only done so in the Club World Ranking that began in 1991.<br /><br />Demand was high for a ranking based on titles won, placings in competitions and other factors over the entire 20th century, and now the IFFHS have explained how they reached their conclusion.<br /><br />"For some years now, the IFFHS has been asked by clubs, sports journalists and fans to determine the clubs of the century for the individual continents but on a realistic basis without imaginary values and subjective influences," the statement on the IFFHS website explains.<br /><br />"The rankings published so far have been based on the number of titles won or placings or marathon tables in competitions.<br /><br />"Because the Club World Ranking (by IFFHS) has been determined monthly only since January 1991, it cannot be used as the basis for determining the club of the century.<br /><br />"The IFFHS has decided these continental clubs of the century and with it continental rankings of century to determine exclusively on the base of individual match results of the continental club competitions.<br /><br />"The national competitions are merely a prerequisite to qualify for the continental club competitions. Intercontinental club competitions were not taken into consideration."<br /><br />A point system saw clubs rewarded for their performances in the Champions League, UEFA Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup, Mitropa Cup, Copa Latina and the European Super Cup.<br /><br />Below are the top ten clubs of the 20th century:<br /><br />Points Club<br />563.50 Real Madrid<br />466.00 Juventus<br />458.00 FC Barcelona<br />399.75 AC Milan<br />399.00 Bayern Munich<br />362.00 Inter<br />332.75 Ajax<br />300.25 Liverpool<br />299.00 Benfica<br />231.00 Anderlecht<br /><br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-22257634264849276602009-09-10T20:27:00.000-07:002009-09-10T20:29:08.346-07:00Cristiano Ronaldo Has Nothing To Prove At Real Madrid - Ivan De La PenaEspanyol face Real Madrid in the Primera Division on Saturday, and their captain is puzzled by the criticism that los Merengues' Portuguese star has received from some quarters.<br /><br />"Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't have to prove anything," Ivan de la Pena stated in an interview with AS.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />"I saw him play against Deportivo La Coruna and I liked him. The fact is any Real Madrid player can turn a game: [Karim] Benzema, Kaka, Cristiano, Raul...<br /><br />"Xabi Alonso gives the team a lot of options," the 33-year-old added.<br /><br />While the 'Little Buddha' was full of praise for Saturday night's opposition, he is also quietly confident that Espanyol could find a result against their illustrious opponents.<br /><br />"We must be ourselves and play our football. If we are able to play a good game, we will get a good result. We want to play a part," he declared.<br /><br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-17655124580228944592009-01-06T18:12:00.001-08:002009-01-06T18:18:09.433-08:00Scolari Needs A Left-Winger At ChelseaChelsea need a left-winger who is left-footed, according to manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, before they can even think about regularly partnering Didier Drogba with Nicolas Anelka up front.That lack of a genuine left winger is what is preventing the Brazilian switching his 4-3-3 formation to a 4-4-2, despite the Blues' form, especially at home, suggesting that change is needed.<br /><br />Scolari feels that out of his current squad Florent Malouda, currently sidelined with injury, is the only player who can fill the left-wing position adequately, despite the Brazilian having Joe Cole at his disposal.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Cole has played on the left wing for England on many occasions, and has performed well in the role, but Scolari doesn't feel that he can do an effective wide job in a 4-4-2 formation. Another option would have been Wayne Bridge, who can occupy a role further forward than his usual left-back position, but he was sold to Manchester City yesterday.<br /><br />"I will play 4-4-2 when I have a winger who can play on the left and with his left foot," Scolari said in the London Evening Standard. "When you don't have players with these characteristics it is difficult to adapt one player to play in 4-4-2.<br /><br />"Florent Malouda is the only player who can play with his left foot and he is injured. Everyone else is right-footed."<br /><br />Chelsea have won only three of their last ten games and take on Manchester United at Old Trafford this weekend.</span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-24263195236714190092009-01-06T18:07:00.000-08:002009-01-06T18:11:47.584-08:00BREAKING NEWS - Zenit Chief: We Are In Talks With Arsenal About ArshavinIn the long-term absence of perma-crocked Czech Republic star Tomas Rosicky, and the four month lay-off of young playmaking captain Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been linked with a replacement who can pull the strings while the former two ensure the club's physios earn their wage.<br /><br />Despite reports to the contrary suggesting the buy would be too flambouyant, confirmation has just this moment arrived that Arsenal are indeed in talks with Zenit St Petersburg over Russian attacker Andrei Arshavin. A Zenit chief today told Sky Sports: "We have been in discussion with Arsenal now for some time.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />"They are hoping that a deal will be concluded within the next ten days to two weeks."It is no secret that Zenit value the Russian international at £20 million, and if Arsenal were to pay the full amount, then it would smash the club's record.<br /><br />The Gunners paid £13 million for Sylvain Wiltord in August 2000. In the winter window in 2003- 04, the fee paid for Jose Reyes was initially £10 million, but could have risen to £17 million due to top ups, but was unlikely to dwarf the transfer for Wiltord.</span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-87060785827993678532008-12-19T21:34:00.000-08:002008-12-19T21:35:45.587-08:00Scolari To Choose Luis Fabiano Or Andrei Arshavin For Chelsea?English tabloid The Star claims to have inside information regarding Chelsea's January transfer plans.It has appeared as though boss Luiz Felipe Scolari would have to take his squad 'as is' into the New Year, as the board have seemed unwilling to splash out in the January transfer market.<br /><br />However, the report claims that the Brazilian boss is winning his boardroom battle to have some cash injected into the Blues' glory push. Now, he could be set to be given the option of pursuing one of his two main targets: Luis Fabiano or Andrei Arshavin.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />Spanish outfit Sevilla are reluctant to sell Luis Fabiano, but they crashed out of the UEFA Cup ahead of schedule and the player could now start looking elsewhere.<br /><br />Arshavin is a more achievable target, as Russian side Zenit St Petersburg, the UEFA Cup holders, fully expect him to move on sooner rather than later.<br /><br />Indeed, fresh gossip had already linked the 27-year-old with the Blues, with the player set on an imminent move to "Spain or England."<br /><br />The Sun reported this week that Zenit general manager Maxim Mitrofanov had given Arshavin the green light to negotiate with other clubs and the new claims suggest that his people have been doing just that with the beaks of Stamford Bridge.<br /><br />Whether Roman Abramovich, Peter Kenyon, Bruce Buck and the rest of the Pensioners supremos have really softened up on their winter transfer policy remains to be seen, but Scolari is sure to have given them an ear-bashing.<br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-64693337279126578032008-12-19T21:33:00.000-08:002008-12-19T21:34:45.949-08:00David Villa Proud To Remain With ValenciaSpeaking at the launch of his official website, David Villa remarked that he was in no hurry to leave his current club, Valencia, despite constant rumours linking him with the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City.<br /><br />The €127 million price tag slapped on him by the Mestalla top brass may have played a part, but the striker nonetheless seemed more than happy with his current lot."I am pleased to be here and for now things are going well for me," he said. "I am proud to stay at Valencia."<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />David Silva, his team-mate, is another one who has been linked with an exit, quite possibly to the Bernabeu. But the Asturian denied that his Canarian colleague was on the way out - for now, at least.<br /><br />"Silva will play in the 15th matchday against Real Madrid tomorrow," he said.<br /><br />"That match is an important one for us because we can achieve something more than our 2008 target, which was to end the year with 30 points.<br /><br />"What's more, we have the chance to hold on to second place."<br /><br />Europe, too, was on the forward's mind as he was questioned about Valencia's UEFA Cup meeting with Dynamo Kyiv.<br /><br />"They will be a tough rival because they entered this competition via the Champions League, and also because it's very difficult for us to play in Kiev," he warned.<br /><br />"But still, we need to knock them out if we want to progress in the UEFA Cup."<br /><br />Seventh Heaven<br /><br />Villa's website has the number '7' in pride of place in its address, leading some in the press to question whether or not he's tempting fate: currently the striker wears this number for Spain but such matters are always open to change.<br /><br />But David said, "I'll always have this question around me, even if I manage 2,000 goals or get called up to every single squad!<br /><br />"I am the '7' firstly because I am going to be called up that way and secondly because I'm allowed to be. On the day that I'm not called up, it'll be someone else."<br /><br /><br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-81409898483531957082008-12-19T21:32:00.000-08:002008-12-19T21:33:34.933-08:00Javier Aguirre: Porto Tie Will Be Very EvenJavier Aguirre admitted that Atlético de Madrid will not have it easy when they meet Porto in the Champions League after the clubs were paired together in Switzerland on Friday.The Mexican coach does not think that Los Colchoneros have been given a favourable draw and believes that the Portuguese giants will test his side in what will be a close contest.<br /><br />Despite having avoided many of the tournament favourites, Aguirre was not prepared to make any predictions about his team's chance against Porto."The tie will be 50-50. They are a strong team with a good coach, former champions of Europe, and they have good players who play in a strong system. It will not be easy," Marca quote him as saying.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />"It will be very even, but we will be calm."<br /><br />While the media focus on the Champions League, Aguirre was keen to concentrate on Atlético's last game of the year against Espanyol on Saturday night in Barcelona.<br /><br />"The team is doing well and we really want to finish the first stage of the season with a win. We will not relax because we are not on holiday yet," he continued.<br /><br />"Until midnight on Saturday we will not take the break that we deserve. I am only thinking about playing well in Montjuïc and moving into the top four.<br /><br />"Espanyol is all that is important now."<br /><br /><br /><br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-72501712853849851822008-12-19T21:30:00.000-08:002008-12-19T21:32:14.781-08:00Real Madrid's Juande Ramos Not Happy To Be Playing LiverpoolJuande Ramos has admitted that he is not happy that Real Madrid were paired against Liverpool in the first knockout round of the Champions League in Switzerland on Friday.Los Merengues' coach had hoped to avoid English opposition and he stated that he was not pleased, but did consider that Rafa Benítez would also not be satisfied.<br /><br />It will be an even contest though as Ramos knows Liverpool well from his time at Tottenham, while the Reds' manager knows Madrid as he was a coach there before."We have not liked the draw that we have been given and I suppose that they will not have either," Ramos told reporters.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />"Rafa Benítez knows Real Madrid very well and I also know Liverpool and Benítez well from my time in England."<br /><br />Although he is not pleased with the draw, Ramos admitted that while Liverpool are a strong side Madrid should not worried about playing any team in particular.<br /><br />"They are a complete and difficult team and have some very good players," he continued. "But Real Madrid cannot fear anyone and we have the same chances as them to go through."<br /><br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-29440340856656686442008-12-19T21:29:00.000-08:002008-12-19T21:30:44.033-08:00Rossi Demands Good Display Against PalermoLazio coach Delio Rossi is demanding a good showing against Palermo tomorrow evening.The Biancocelesti have fallen off the pace over the last few weeks, but they will look to make amends against the Sicilians and end the year on a good note.<br /><br />Lazio have been distracted this week by constant talks of an exit for the coach, as well as dressing room unrest.However, Rossi has brushed all that under the carpet as he looks ahead."We have a tough game against Palermo as they are a direct rival for Europe," Rossi told Sky Sport Italia.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />"I hope my players can take advantage of playing at home.<br /><br />"Palermo have picked themselves up after a fairly slow start to the league.<br /><br />"They are doing very well and they are a team which will fight until the end."<br /><br />Christian Brocchi is injured for the Aquile, and Rossi is likely to start with an attacking trident composed of Mauro Zarate, Goran Pandev and Tommaso Rocchi.<br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-18110113084779394002008-12-19T21:28:00.000-08:002008-12-19T21:29:40.195-08:00Milan Satisfied With UEFA Cup DrawMilan have reacted to the UEFA Cup draw having been paired with Werder Bremen in the knockout phase.Early talk seems to suggest they are not too worried.<br /><br />Club director Silvano Ramaccioni was in Nyon as he followed the draw and he is confident in his side's abilities, despite meeting a Champions League drop-out."It's a serious draw but not severe," the director told La Gazzetta Dello Sport.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />"It will be a difficult game because Werder are a strong team and they are used to playing Italian sides.<br /><br />"We have to play them with maximum concentration and conviction. Overall, I think it's better to have drawn Werder."<br /><br />The Rossoneri have not been too special in Europe, drawing with both Portsmouth and Wolfsburg in the group stage.<br /><br />Reports in Italy have suggested Milan would rather win the Scudetto than the UEFA Cup.<br /><br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-59149737361012763232008-12-19T21:27:00.001-08:002008-12-19T21:28:22.455-08:00Del Piero And Sissoko Wary Of ChelseaJuventus captain Alessandro Del Piero has warned it will not be easy to head to Chelsea and come away with a good result as he looks ahead to the Champions League last 16 stage.Del Piero and company were drawn with Luis Felipe Scolari's Blues side in one of the games of the round.<br /><br />The game will be like a home coming for Juve coach Claudio Ranieri. The Tinkerman is happy at heading back to Stamford Bridge, 'Pinturricchio' not so."It's a difficult draw. Every team is strong at this stage but what makes Chelsea different is their squad," Del Piero told Il Corriere Dello Sport.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />"They have an excellent team at their disposal."<br /><br />Momo Sissoko, who played in the Premier League for Liverpool, is looking forward to returning to England.<br /><br />"I always follow the English game and it will be very difficult for us," added the Mali international.<br /><br />"Chelsea are not going through a great patch but the have excellent players.<br /><br />"We will be at the top of game and level on terms with them."<br /><br /><br /><br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-12767252792231017512008-12-19T21:26:00.000-08:002008-12-19T21:27:10.638-08:00Neville On Ronaldo Rumours: 'United Don't Let Players Go'As a result of their Champions League success last term, Manchester United are currently contesting the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.They smashed Gamba Osaka 5-3 in the semi-final and have now booked a date in the final with Ecuadorian team LDU Quito.<br /><br />Despite the prospect of becoming world champions, talk has still refused to veer away from man-of-every-moment Cristiano Ronaldo who, according to latest reports, has made a verbal agreement to join Real Madrid.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />Club captain Gary Neville though is adamant that the Portuguese recipient of the Ballon d'Or will remain at Old Trafford.<br /><br />Respect<br /><br />"There should be a level of respect shown between the clubs, but we can't do anything about the specualtion. All we can do is look after our own situation," the United right-back told the club's official website.<br /><br />"Cristiano is our player and he will continue to be our player as long as we want to keep him. The manager has already said that.<br /><br />"Manchester United don't let players go that they don't want to sell, it's as simple as that. And they want to keep Ronaldo."<br /><br />The draw for the first knock-out round of the Champions League was announced today, and United have been partnered with Jose Mourinho's Internazionale.<br /><br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-40582892204924407592008-12-19T21:25:00.000-08:002008-12-19T21:26:03.355-08:00Steve Sidwell Confident Of West Ham WinDespite Aston Villa succumbing to a midweek loss against Martin Jol's Hamburg in the Uefa Cup, Steve Sidwell - who was red carded in the closing stages of that game - believes the Villans can return from east London with maximum points at the weekend.<br /><br />Aston Villa are currently occupying a Champions League spot, and if they are to maintain their advantage over fifth-placed Arsenal, then a weekend win is a must, as this will stand them in good stead for when the Gunners visit Villa Park on Boxing Day.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />Sidwell shared his thoughts about Villa's plus points with the press today: "With the pace we’ve got we are at our most dangerous on the counter.<br /><br />Counter Attack<br /><br />"We can catch teams on the break very easily away from home because they’re trying to come out and score against us. We know what we can do away from home.<br /><br />"When you play at home the away team arrive not expecting to win.<br /><br />"West Ham are at home. They need to come out and entertain their own crowd," he explained.<br /><br />Since the injury to John Carew, Martin O'Neill has experimented with England hopeful Gabriel Agbonlahor in the lone role in a 4-5-1 formation.<br /><br />"When we’re at home maybe the 4-5-1 doesn’t work so well.<br /><br />"Sometimes we do struggle to break teams down when they come to Villa Park and put 10 men behind the ball," Sidwell said.<br /><br />"But we know what we have to do and we’re working hard in training on it."<br /><br />Despite the installation of charming Italian tactician Gianfranco Zola, West Ham have only managed to register one win since the victory over Fulham in September. That was at Sunderland a month ago.<br />Villa though have not won at Upton Park for precisely 12 years.<br /><br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-58438462945377389432008-12-19T21:24:00.000-08:002008-12-19T21:25:07.825-08:00Redknapp Refutes Jermain Defoe SpeculationEarlier this week, Portsmouth's Cameroonian right back Lauren announced that there was a distinct possibility pacy striker Jermain Defoe would be reunited with former mentor Harry Redknapp at White Hart Lane.<br /><br />The England international has twice played under the tutelage of Redknapp; at the forward's current club Pompey, and also at West Ham United. Rumours suggest that he may be going for the hat-trick by making a sensational return to Tottenham during the January window.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />Redknapp though has been quick to pour cold water on the red hot speculation, and has announced that the club have made no official bid.Jer-Main Man<br /><br />"We haven't made an offer for Jermain," Redknapp explained to the press today.<br /><br />"I do like Jermain but there are a lot of players at Portsmouth I like. They have a great squad of players there.<br /><br />"We are short in certain positions without a doubt," Redknapp stressed.<br /><br />"We've got a good squad here, it just needs thickening up. If we find the right players, we will bring them in."<br /><br />Red-top newspaper The Sun believes that Antony Annan and Dean Ashton are Spurs-bound, while The Guardian have reported that Matthew Upson and Carlo Cudicini are likely candidates on Redknapp's shortlist.<br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-60102507202001338452008-12-19T21:22:00.000-08:002008-12-19T21:23:58.881-08:00Champions League Draw!12:20 CET: Well, what can we take from this? At this stage it's churlish to try to select a "tie of the round" due to the sheer strength of the teams involved, but there are three English teams meeting three Italian teams here in what will surely be huge matches right across the board. Villarreal-Panathinaikos could potentially provide a surprise semi-finalist, while Lyon-Barcelona could be especially intriguing if the French champions get a good first leg result.<br /><br />That's it for our live coverage, but join us throughout the afternoon and beyond as we bring you the latest reactions from inside the clubs, not to mention our unsurpassed editorial content. And remember, the Goal.com forums are just waiting for your contribution! Goodbye!<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />12:19 CET: That's the draw complete - here it is in full:<br /><br />Chelsea - Juventus<br />Villarreal - Panathinaikos<br />Sporting - Bayern<br />Atletico Madrid - FC Porto<br />Lyon - Barcelona<br />Real Madrid - Liverpool<br />Arsenal - Roma<br />Inter - Manchester United<br /><br />12:18 CET: And then ARSENAL meet ROMA by default, leaving one more tie - INTERNAZIONALE meet MANCHESTER UNITED!<br /><br />12:17 CET: Struggling REAL MADRID remain a massive test for... my, oh, my! LIVERPOOL!<br /><br />12:16 CET: OLYMPIQUE LYON are out next. Lyon are going to face FC BARCELONA!<br /><br />12:15 CET: And then ATLETICO MADRID are drawn to face... well, it's none other than FC PORTO! Once again it looks like big guns versus big guns are coming up soon - but both of those sides will feel that this tie is winnable!<br /><br />12:14 CET: Next up is SPORTING CP. They will face... BAYERN MUNICH! Well, this leaves several of the bigger guns free to be drawn against each other!<br /><br />12:13 CET: VILLARREAL are next out. Who will Manuel Pellegrini's side meet this time? It's... PANATHINAIKOS. (Scroll to the foot of the page to see the whole draw, by the way, as it happens._<br /><br />12:12 CET: AND WE'RE UNDERWAY! The first team out is CHELSEA. And their opponents... JUVENTUS! Claudio Ranieri meets his old side!<br /><br />12:11 CET: The UEFA boffin is explaining the different draw permutations. Of course Goal.com has already kept readers informed of who can meet whom here (opens in a new window), so feel free to take a little two-minute snooze until the draw takes place!<br /><br />12:09 CET: And now a UEFA functionary has appeared to conduct the draw. There are just minutes to go but, curiously enough, the presidential seating at the front of the room is nowhere near full, but the press area at the back is chock-a-block...<br /><br />12:07 CET: Now we take a moment to remember the contributions of Bruno Conti. The former AS Roma legend is now a UEFA Champions League ambassador. He spent seventeen years with the giallorossi, believe it or not, in a wildly successful career. He may not have ever won the European Cup but he did finish as a runner-up...<br /><br />12:06 CET: We're now midway through one of those highlight reels that UEFA do so well, in which the 16 remaining sides are being showcased. Of course it's hard to draw too many conclusions from a 20 second clip of each side, but Panathinaikos, despite their relatively modest stature, look to be a force to be reckoned with...<br /><br />12:02 CET: Mr. Taylor reveals that of the 16 remaining teams, no fewer than 13 are past finalists of Europe's premier competition. I'll let you rack your brains to see if you can work out which three have never made it to the last two...<br /><br />12:00 CET: And we're underway! UEFA General Secretary David Taylor of Scotland is waxing lyrical about the Champions League's unique charm. Michel Platini, the UEFA chief, sends his apologies - he's at the Club World Cup in Japan at the moment, preparing to cheer on Manchester United (apparently.)<br /><br />11:59 CET: I'll be watching this article's comments as the draw takes place, so keep them coming. Above all, though, you should think about getting involved with your fellow fans on our Goal.com forums (opens in a new window), where the Champions League is just one of many topics. And, as always, our FREE Goal.com Manager (opens in a new window) game brings you the best of the Champions League excitement.<br /><br />11:57 CET: Indeed, while Barcelona's draw may be considered "easy", another look at the teams involved suggests that there is no simple passage to the next stage. After all, even those names considered less than huge on the continental stage have their advantages. Panathinaikos, of course, managed to win their group ahead of Inter. The Italian champions thus can only meet Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, or Porto. Not long to go now!<br /><br />11:53 CET: Just seven minutes to go until the ceremonies begin. The draw itself will follow after the usual pre-amble. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has more reason than most to be nervous at the moment: such is his side's seeding that they can only be drawn against Chelsea, Inter, Lyon, or Arsenal. But, as the cliché goes, to be the best, you have to beat the best...<br /><br />11:46 CET: The great, the good, and the not-so-great of European football are assembled in Nyon to follow the draw, which, in true UEFA fashion, is somewhat Byzantine in its structure. It's not as simple as two sets of seeds being drawn against each other. Instead ther are certain stipulations: teams from the same group must avoid each other, as much those from the same national league. Our Goal.com guide to the qualifiers is here (opens in a new window) if you want a last-minute look at who can face whom.<br /><br />11:44 CET: Welcome to Goal.com's LIVE coverage of the UEFA Champions League draw in Nyon! I'm Ewan Macdonald and we at Goal.com will be with you every step of the way as Europe's top 16 teams learn their fate on a cold, Swiss afternoon...<br /><br />DRAW<br /><br />Chelsea - Juventus<br />Villarreal - Panathinaikos<br />Sporting - Bayern<br />Atletico Madrid - FC Porto<br />Lyon - Barcelona<br />Real Madrid - Liverpool<br />Arsenal - Roma<br />Inter - Manchester United<br /><br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-52625190729679864272008-12-16T00:47:00.000-08:002008-12-16T00:50:46.726-08:00Barcelona Begin Victor Valdes Contract Talks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhC4pyYFlAltISrXO6_hRsVE8irH0A8j9lVlgM385aWAH9_mA-2JJwLYGJqgacFZmIP4pMCZ_ooySyCmrRrilr41elHTH1EdIUlzEcV0X8nE5s-otFUlnpMka4A7myYk00acdd3qUSDVA/s1600-h/32402_news.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhC4pyYFlAltISrXO6_hRsVE8irH0A8j9lVlgM385aWAH9_mA-2JJwLYGJqgacFZmIP4pMCZ_ooySyCmrRrilr41elHTH1EdIUlzEcV0X8nE5s-otFUlnpMka4A7myYk00acdd3qUSDVA/s200/32402_news.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280307411810617298" /></a><br />Following his heroics for Barcelona against Real Madrid in El Clasico at the weekend, Victor Valdes is set to be richly rewarded as the Blaugrana prepare to open talks to offer him a new contract.With the club having safely tied up the future of midfielders Xavi and Sergio Busquets, they are now eager to ensure that Valdes, considered the best goalkeeper at the Camp Nou since the days of Andoni Zubizaretta back in the late '80s and early '90s, commits his future to the Catalan cause.<br /><br />Barcelona-based daily Sport reports that initial meetings began several weeks ago between Barca sporting director Txiki Begiristain and the player’s agent and father, Jose Manuel Valdes. <span class="fullpost"><br />It is believed that a new deal will be offered to the 26-year-old to extend his current agreement, which expires in 2010, until 2014 while maintaining his buy-out clause, which stands at €100 million.<br /><br />However, negotiations have been put on hold momentarily as Begiristain has been forced to fly out to Japan to attend to his brother who has fallen ill.<br /><br />Barcelona are also keeping a close eye on Villarreal’s Diego Lopez, should the negotiations with Valdes run into any complications. <br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-8856355912032097352008-12-16T00:36:00.000-08:002008-12-16T00:47:29.405-08:00Arbeloa: Liverpool Should've Beaten Hull City<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTSlEp0hYJM0V66aZO5DIcenH-NFtLUv0-IQ2H_5OSM4qvcQdfg6FTPrc-GdWOJyrqOxEmFbeVItGarlTEUQFffNt6qN-2E_7EjjYH8RsqZYijVFml4Q2qDQstZh1PdI7NCZiD-gZc3g/s1600-h/28737_news.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 147px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTSlEp0hYJM0V66aZO5DIcenH-NFtLUv0-IQ2H_5OSM4qvcQdfg6FTPrc-GdWOJyrqOxEmFbeVItGarlTEUQFffNt6qN-2E_7EjjYH8RsqZYijVFml4Q2qDQstZh1PdI7NCZiD-gZc3g/s200/28737_news.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280306732621454594" /></a><br />Liverpool went two goals down against Hull City on Saturday, before Steven Gerrard leaped to the rescue in typical fashion to give his side a share of the points.Nonetheless, Alvaro Arbeloa reckons the Merseysiders were unfortunate not to claim victory after lifting their game in the second half.<br /><br />"I thought we played well and we were much better than the last two games at home, but we should have taken all three points," the Spain defender told Liverpoolfc.tv.<br />"We conceded two bad goals but we then showed character and got it back to 2-2 thanks to Stevie.<span class="fullpost"><br /> <br />"We then had some clear chances towards the end of the first half but we couldn't get the third goal.<br /> <br />"I think we tried everything to win the game. We had three or four clear chances in the second half and Sami hit the post but couldn't score.<br /> <br />"We played really well in the wide areas and I think overall we were unlucky."<br /><br />Liverpool head to the capital this weekend to take on struggling Arsenal, who have been edged out of the top four by in-form Aston Villa.<br /><br />Both clubs boast a perfect record against their title rivals this season, and Arbeloa is hoping to complete what would be a prestigious hat-trick.<br /><br />"We have a difficult game against Arsenal but we believe in ourselves and we can get a good result there," he added.<br /> <br />"We have beaten Manchester United, we have beaten Chelsea and now we want to beat Arsenal.<br /> <br />"We have a really good team and I don't think they are playing their best football at the moment, so we have a good opportunity to show what we can do." <br /><br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-46283853133328479732008-12-16T00:34:00.000-08:002008-12-16T00:35:43.639-08:00Wayne Rooney Eyes Fifa World Club TitleManchester United striker Wayne Rooney revealed his desire to win the FIFA Club World Cup when his club travelled to Japan yesterday to take part in the tournament that begins for them on Thursday.If The Red Devils win the competition they will become the first ever English winners of it, and will be regarded by many as the best team in the world.<br /><br />The Champions League holders took place in the competition eight years ago in Brazil when they crashed out early after successive defeats. United's decision to take part in the competition that year caused uproar in England after they withdrew from the FA Cup in order to participate.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />They returned from that tournament in a good position as none of their title rivals had failed to make any headway in their absence, and The Red Devils will be hoping for more of the same when they return to Premier League action.<br /><br />Rooney is determined to pick up a winner's medal, and speaking to The People, said, "To say you are the world club champions and the best team in the world would be fantastic.<br /><br />"Our main objective at the start of each season is to win all the trophies we are involved in.<br /><br />"If we can return as World Club Champions it will be a fantastic achievement and something to be proud of for the players and the club.<br /><br />"That's why we are not going to Japan to take the games lightly and rest all the big names, we will definitely be going in there committed to winning it because that is the mentality of the manager and the players.<br /><br />"There would be no point going all that way and not attempting to create history. I came to United to win trophies, and to win something no other English club has ever won is all the motivation we need.<br /><br />"It's coming up to nearly halfway in the season and we are all feeling pretty fit. The games have been coming thick and fast but as a player you want to be playing twice a week."<br /><br />The 23-year-old striker insists that despite his team's absence from the Premier League, they will be keeping an eye on events back home whilst in Japan.<br /><br />"When we are there we aren't going to ignore what's happening in the Premier League," Rooney continued.<br /><br />"We will definitely watch some games if we get a chance. We only miss one game against Wigan, it could have been worse, but it's worthwhile to maybe fall a few points further behind for winning the European Cup.<br /><br />"If you want to be the best you have to deal with whatever problems come up."<br />Finally, Rooney sees no reason why United can't receive an invitation to next year's tournament by becoming the first team to retain the Champions League trophy this year.<br /><br />"I believe we have the quality within the squad to win more major titles. We are still a very young side and there is no reason why our success cannot go on and on," added the former Everton man.<br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-43781313124355940622008-12-16T00:31:00.000-08:002008-12-16T00:33:32.954-08:00Manchester United's Scholes Would Rather Be At HomeIt would be fair to say that many people in England view the Club World Cup as a somewhat pointless competition, an unnecessary distraction from more pressing domestic matters.Paul Scholes would seem to be one of those people. Ahead of his club's appearance on Thursday in the competition in Japan, the former England midfielder has spoken of how he'd much rather be at home helping his club retain their Premier League crown.<br /><br />"It's a big competition and we want to win," admitted Scholes, before going on to express reservations about the tournament.<span class="fullpost"><br />"But obviously, we'd probably rather be here, playing our league game and not have so many fixtures in January like we've got.<br /><br />"It's one of those things. We managed to win the European Cup last year and sometimes afterwards you have to do things maybe you don't want to do."<br /><br />United will face a hectic January fixture schedule as a result of competing in the FIFA tournament, and by the time they return current league leaders Liverpool could have forged a nine point lead over the Old Trafford outfit.<br /><br />Saturday's 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotpsur also did little to help United's cause, despite their rivals from Merseyside being held at home to a 2-2 draw by Hull City.<br /><br />United are now six points behind Liverpool having played a game more, but Salford-born Scholes was remaining upbeat.<br /><br />"We would have liked to win but coming to a place like this is tough and we will take a point," he continued.<br /><br />"It is a bit frustrating not to be closer to those at the top but Liverpool were expected to beat Hull so our point is probably better than theirs."<br /><br />Scholes is returning to fitness following a knee injury, and despite his reservations about the Club World Cup, is pleased with the opportunity it provides to help him with his match fitness.<br /><br />"I am not far off," he explained. "Maybe I can try for 70, 80 or even 90 minutes in Japan and can come on from that."<br /><br />Manchester United play Gamba Osaka on Thursday, their first appearance in this year's competition.<br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-35798559905760220052008-12-16T00:27:00.000-08:002008-12-16T00:30:39.125-08:00Mexes, Pato On Arsenal Radar – ReportsArsenal have had a relatively inconsistent season thus far, and as a result they find themselves fifth in the Premier League table, nine points off the pace set by the current leaders, Liverpool.Their most recent disappointing result came at the weekend when they were held to a 1-1 draw at the Riverside Stadium against a determined Middlesbrough outfit, further putting the pressure on Arsene Wenger and his men.<br /><br />The English Sunday’s The People has reported that Wenger is interested in acquiring the services of two Serie A stars to help bolster his side for the second half of the campaign and beyond.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />The players that the manager is reportedly interested in signing are Roma’s central defender Philippe Mexes and Milan’s young sensation, Pato.<br /><br />The Brazilian has been phenomenal for the Rossoneri this term, and given his young age, he would fit in well with the youthful Gunners.<br /><br />As for Mexes, Wenger is reportedly keen to reinforce his defensive ranks, to cater for the almost certain departure of William Gallas. The Roma centreback is seen as an ideal figure to strenghten Arsenal's back-line.<br /><br />Both players would undoubtedly be great additions for the Gunners; however for now, these reports are just speculation, as there are yet to be any official offers made by the club.<br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-35245135716903544972008-12-16T00:24:00.000-08:002008-12-16T00:27:10.097-08:00Lucarelli Not Joining Palermo – GuidolinParma coach Francesco Guidolin has rubbished the claims that his star striker, Cristiano Lucarelli, will be joining Palermo this January in the upcoming transfer window.Guidolin reassured the Gialloblu fans that the former Livorno player will remain at the club at least until the end of the season to help the team obtain a quick return to Serie A.<br /> <br />“We never received the news of a possible Palermo interest for the player,” explained the former Bologna and Rosanero coach.“I only think about the transfer market in January but, in any case, I can easily say that we don’t want to lose our striker.”<br /><br />Parma are currently fighting for the top positions in Serie B as they are currently tied in third place with four other teams, with 29 points from 18 league games, three points behind league leaders Sassuolo.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975771612520347897.post-59431418348123782052008-12-16T00:15:00.000-08:002008-12-16T00:20:00.345-08:00Chelsea To Scolari: No Funds For January AcquisitionsIt seems that Chelsea really are no longer the Premier League's money men, after owner Roman Abramovic told manager Luiz Felipe Scolari he will not be given funds to sign players in January.According to a report in the British tabloid The Sun, the World Cup-winning Brazilian had hoped to sign Newcastle United's Michael Owen & Orlando Sa from Braga in a bid to install more competition in attack.<br /><br />Apparently, Sa, a Portugal under-21 international, had been on trial at Stamford Bridge and looked all set to remain with the Blues, until Braga demanded a fee of €6.1 million.It seems that 'Big Phil' may be content to settle with what he already has at his disposal for this season, after declaring: "I don’t think the club will buy, I don’t think they’ll sell. This is my squad, these are my players."<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />When reminded of the club's less prosperous home-form this season, Scolari replied: "I need to work harder and I need to find the solution for this situation.<br /><br />"I need to look at putting one player in a different position or making a special position for one player in some games.<br /><br />"But I know I need to think about my squad only, not new players."<br /><br />When asked what he feels is letting Chelsea down at Stamford Bridge, the 60-year-old remarked: "I need a good connection between the middle and front of the team.<br /><br />"Sometimes I have the connection but I don’t have the players there to score a goal.<br /><br />"Sometimes I have the players to score but I don’t have the connection from behind."<br /><br /></span>andria wijayantohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090599911393195414noreply@blogger.com0