Football News

La Liga Preview: Espanyol – Real Madrid

2009-09-11T16:15:00.000-07:00

Real 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Stars Return to the Galaxy

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.

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.

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.

FORM GUIDE

RCD Espanyol

29/07/2009 Preseason Palafrugell - Espanyol 1-2
02/08/2009 Preseason Espanyol - Liverpool 3-0
05/08/2009 Preseason Napoli - Espanyol 0-0
22/08/2009 Preseason Girona - Espanyol 1-2
30/08/2009 Liga Athletic Bilbao - Espanyol 1-0

Real Madrid

7/08/2009 Preseason D. C. United-Real Madrid 0-3
15/08/2009 Preseason Real Sociedad-Real Madrid 0-2
19/08/2009 Preseason Borussia Dortmund-Real Madrid 0-5
25/08/2009 Preseason Real Madrid-Rosenborg 4-0
29/09/2009 Liga Real Madrid - Deportivo 3-2

TEAM NEWS

RCD Espanyol

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.

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.

Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Kameni – Pillud, Forlin, Pareja, Chica – Moises, Verdu – Luis Garcia, Ivan Alonso, Nakamura – Raul Tamudo.

Real Madrid

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.

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.

Probable Starting XI (4-2-2-2): Casillas – Arbeloa, Albiol, Metzelder, Marcelo - Xabi Alonso, Lass - Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo; Raul, Benzema.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

RCD Espanyol

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.

Real Madrid

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.

PREDICTION

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.

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.

Premier League Preview: Tottenham Hotspur - Manchester United

2009-09-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

Tottenham'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.

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.

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.

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.

Intimidating track record

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.

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.

FORM GUIDE

Tottenham Hotspur

Aug 29 Tottenham 2-1 Birmingham
Aug 26 Doncaster 1-5 Tottenham (League Cup)
Aug 23 West Ham 1-2 Tottenham
Aug 19 Hull 1-5 Tottenham
Aug 16 Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool

Manchester United

Aug 29 Man Utd 2-1 Arsenal
Aug 22 Wigan 0-5 Man Utd
Aug 19 Burnley 1-0 Man Utd
Aug 16 Man Utd 1-0 Birmingham
Aug 9 Chelsea 2-2 Man Utd (Community Shield; Chelsea won 4-1 on penalties)

TEAM NEWS

Tottenham Hotspur

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.

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.

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.

In goal, Carlo Cudicini will continue to deputise for the injured Heurelho Gomes.

Last starting XI: Cudicini, Bassong, Corluka, King (Hutton 46), Assou-Ekotto, Huddlestone, Lennon, Palacios, Modric (Crouch 49), Keane, Defoe (Pavlyuchenko 80).

Manchester United

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.

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.

Last starting XI: Foster, Evra, Brown, Vidic, O'Shea, Giggs (Berbatov 85), Carrick, Nani, Fletcher, Valencia (Park 63), Rooney.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tottenham Hotspur

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.

Manchester United

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.

PREDICTION

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.

Premier League Preview: Liverpool - Burnley

2009-09-11T16:11:00.000-07:00

Turning Point

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.

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.

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.

The manager has acknowledged the problem but believes the gritty win at the Reebok could prove a turning point for Liverpool.

"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."

Upsetting The Odds

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

Aug 29 Bolton Wanderers 2-3 Liverpool (Premier League)
Aug 24 Liverpool 1-3 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Aug 19 Liverpool 4-0 Stoke City (Premier League)
Aug 16 Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Liverpool (Premier League)
Aug 8 Liverpool 2-1 Atletico Madrid (Friendly)

Burnley

Aug 29 Chelsea 3-0 Burnley (Premier League)
Aug 25 Hartlepool United 1-2 Burnley (League Cup)
Aug 23 Burnley 1-0 Everton (Premier League)
Aug 19 Burnley 1-0 Manchester United (Premier League)
Aug 15 Stoke City 0-2 Burnley (Premier League)

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

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.

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.

Alberto Aquilani (ankle) and Daniel Agger (back) remain sidelined with long-term problems.

Possible Starting XI: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua; Mascherano, Lucas; Kuyt, Gerrard, Benayoun; Torres.

Burnley

Manchester United product Richard Eckersley is back in the frame after completing a suspension, giving Coyle an extra option in defence.

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.

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.

Possible Starting XI: Jensen; Mears, Bikey, Carlisle, Jordan; Elliot, Alexander, McCann, Blake; Fletcher, Paterson.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Glen Johnson (Liverpool)

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.

Robbie Blake (Burnley)

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?

PREDICTION

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.

Real Madrid Named Club Of The Century By Stats Foundation

2009-09-10T20:29:00.001-07:00

Real 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).

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.

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.

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.

"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.

"The rankings published so far have been based on the number of titles won or placings or marathon tables in competitions.

"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.

"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.

"The national competitions are merely a prerequisite to qualify for the continental club competitions. Intercontinental club competitions were not taken into consideration."

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.

Below are the top ten clubs of the 20th century:

Points Club
563.50 Real Madrid
466.00 Juventus
458.00 FC Barcelona
399.75 AC Milan
399.00 Bayern Munich
362.00 Inter
332.75 Ajax
300.25 Liverpool
299.00 Benfica
231.00 Anderlecht

Cristiano Ronaldo Has Nothing To Prove At Real Madrid - Ivan De La Pena

2009-09-10T20:27:00.000-07:00

Espanyol 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.

"Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't have to prove anything," Ivan de la Pena stated in an interview with AS.

"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...

"Xabi Alonso gives the team a lot of options," the 33-year-old added.

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.

"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.

Scolari Needs A Left-Winger At Chelsea

2009-01-06T18:12:00.001-08:00

Chelsea 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.

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.

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.

"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.

"Florent Malouda is the only player who can play with his left foot and he is injured. Everyone else is right-footed."

Chelsea have won only three of their last ten games and take on Manchester United at Old Trafford this weekend.

BREAKING NEWS - Zenit Chief: We Are In Talks With Arsenal About Arshavin

2009-01-06T18:07:00.000-08:00

In 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.

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.

"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.

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.

Scolari To Choose Luis Fabiano Or Andrei Arshavin For Chelsea?

2008-12-19T21:34:00.000-08:00

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

David Villa Proud To Remain With Valencia

2008-12-19T21:33:00.000-08:00

Speaking 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.

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."

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.

"Silva will play in the 15th matchday against Real Madrid tomorrow," he said.

"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.

"What's more, we have the chance to hold on to second place."

Europe, too, was on the forward's mind as he was questioned about Valencia's UEFA Cup meeting with Dynamo Kyiv.

"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.

"But still, we need to knock them out if we want to progress in the UEFA Cup."

Seventh Heaven

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.

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!

"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."

Javier Aguirre: Porto Tie Will Be Very Even

2008-12-19T21:32:00.000-08:00

Javier 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.

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.

"It will be very even, but we will be calm."

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.

"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.

"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.

"Espanyol is all that is important now."

Real Madrid's Juande Ramos Not Happy To Be Playing Liverpool

2008-12-19T21:30:00.000-08:00

Juande 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.

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.

"Rafa Benítez knows Real Madrid very well and I also know Liverpool and Benítez well from my time in England."

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.

"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."

Rossi Demands Good Display Against Palermo

2008-12-19T21:29:00.000-08:00

Lazio 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.

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.

"I hope my players can take advantage of playing at home.

"Palermo have picked themselves up after a fairly slow start to the league.

"They are doing very well and they are a team which will fight until the end."

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.

Milan Satisfied With UEFA Cup Draw

2008-12-19T21:28:00.000-08:00

Milan 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.

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.

"It will be a difficult game because Werder are a strong team and they are used to playing Italian sides.

"We have to play them with maximum concentration and conviction. Overall, I think it's better to have drawn Werder."

The Rossoneri have not been too special in Europe, drawing with both Portsmouth and Wolfsburg in the group stage.

Reports in Italy have suggested Milan would rather win the Scudetto than the UEFA Cup.

Del Piero And Sissoko Wary Of Chelsea

2008-12-19T21:27:00.001-08:00

Juventus 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.

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.

"They have an excellent team at their disposal."

Momo Sissoko, who played in the Premier League for Liverpool, is looking forward to returning to England.

"I always follow the English game and it will be very difficult for us," added the Mali international.

"Chelsea are not going through a great patch but the have excellent players.

"We will be at the top of game and level on terms with them."

Neville On Ronaldo Rumours: 'United Don't Let Players Go'

2008-12-19T21:26:00.000-08:00

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.

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.

Club captain Gary Neville though is adamant that the Portuguese recipient of the Ballon d'Or will remain at Old Trafford.

Respect

"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.

"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.

"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."

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.

Steve Sidwell Confident Of West Ham Win

2008-12-19T21:25:00.000-08:00

Despite 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.

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.

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.

Counter Attack

"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.

"When you play at home the away team arrive not expecting to win.

"West Ham are at home. They need to come out and entertain their own crowd," he explained.

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.

"When we’re at home maybe the 4-5-1 doesn’t work so well.

"Sometimes we do struggle to break teams down when they come to Villa Park and put 10 men behind the ball," Sidwell said.

"But we know what we have to do and we’re working hard in training on it."

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.
Villa though have not won at Upton Park for precisely 12 years.

Redknapp Refutes Jermain Defoe Speculation

2008-12-19T21:24:00.000-08:00

Earlier 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.

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.

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

"We haven't made an offer for Jermain," Redknapp explained to the press today.

"I do like Jermain but there are a lot of players at Portsmouth I like. They have a great squad of players there.

"We are short in certain positions without a doubt," Redknapp stressed.

"We've got a good squad here, it just needs thickening up. If we find the right players, we will bring them in."

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.

Champions League Draw!

2008-12-19T21:22:00.000-08:00

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.

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!

12:19 CET: That's the draw complete - here it is in full:

Chelsea - Juventus
Villarreal - Panathinaikos
Sporting - Bayern
Atletico Madrid - FC Porto
Lyon - Barcelona
Real Madrid - Liverpool
Arsenal - Roma
Inter - Manchester United

12:18 CET: And then ARSENAL meet ROMA by default, leaving one more tie - INTERNAZIONALE meet MANCHESTER UNITED!

12:17 CET: Struggling REAL MADRID remain a massive test for... my, oh, my! LIVERPOOL!

12:16 CET: OLYMPIQUE LYON are out next. Lyon are going to face FC BARCELONA!

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!

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!

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._

12:12 CET: AND WE'RE UNDERWAY! The first team out is CHELSEA. And their opponents... JUVENTUS! Claudio Ranieri meets his old side!

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!

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.)

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.

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!

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...

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.

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...

DRAW

Chelsea - Juventus
Villarreal - Panathinaikos
Sporting - Bayern
Atletico Madrid - FC Porto
Lyon - Barcelona
Real Madrid - Liverpool
Arsenal - Roma
Inter - Manchester United

Barcelona Begin Victor Valdes Contract Talks

2008-12-16T00:47:00.000-08:00

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.

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.
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.

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.

Barcelona are also keeping a close eye on Villarreal’s Diego Lopez, should the negotiations with Valdes run into any complications.

Arbeloa: Liverpool Should've Beaten Hull City

2008-12-16T00:36:00.000-08:00

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.

"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.
"We conceded two bad goals but we then showed character and got it back to 2-2 thanks to Stevie.

"We then had some clear chances towards the end of the first half but we couldn't get the third goal.

"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.

"We played really well in the wide areas and I think overall we were unlucky."

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.

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.

"We have a difficult game against Arsenal but we believe in ourselves and we can get a good result there," he added.

"We have beaten Manchester United, we have beaten Chelsea and now we want to beat Arsenal.

"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."

Wayne Rooney Eyes Fifa World Club Title

2008-12-16T00:34:00.000-08:00

Manchester 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.

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.

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.

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.

"Our main objective at the start of each season is to win all the trophies we are involved in.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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."

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.

"When we are there we aren't going to ignore what's happening in the Premier League," Rooney continued.

"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.

"If you want to be the best you have to deal with whatever problems come up."
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.

"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.

Manchester United's Scholes Would Rather Be At Home

2008-12-16T00:31:00.000-08:00

It 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.

"It's a big competition and we want to win," admitted Scholes, before going on to express reservations about the tournament.
"But obviously, we'd probably rather be here, playing our league game and not have so many fixtures in January like we've got.

"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."

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.

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.

United are now six points behind Liverpool having played a game more, but Salford-born Scholes was remaining upbeat.

"We would have liked to win but coming to a place like this is tough and we will take a point," he continued.

"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."

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.

"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."

Manchester United play Gamba Osaka on Thursday, their first appearance in this year's competition.

Mexes, Pato On Arsenal Radar – Reports

2008-12-16T00:27:00.000-08:00

Arsenal 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.

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.

The players that the manager is reportedly interested in signing are Roma’s central defender Philippe Mexes and Milan’s young sensation, Pato.

The Brazilian has been phenomenal for the Rossoneri this term, and given his young age, he would fit in well with the youthful Gunners.

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.

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.

Lucarelli Not Joining Palermo – Guidolin

2008-12-16T00:24:00.000-08:00

Parma 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.

“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.”

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.

Chelsea To Scolari: No Funds For January Acquisitions

2008-12-16T00:15:00.000-08:00

It 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.

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."

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.

"I need to look at putting one player in a different position or making a special position for one player in some games.

"But I know I need to think about my squad only, not new players."

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.

"Sometimes I have the connection but I don’t have the players there to score a goal.

"Sometimes I have the players to score but I don’t have the connection from behind."

Real Madrid To Hook Portsmouth's Diarra?

2008-12-16T00:09:00.000-08:00

Real Madrid are reportedly lining up a bid for Portsmouth's French midfielder Lassana Diarra, according to Sky Sports News.The former Arsenal and Chelsea player has been the subject of almost constant transfer speculation this season, particularly after the departure of Harry Reknapp from the Portsmouth manager's job.

Rumours of financial instability continue to surround the Fratton Park outfit, and the cash that a club like Real could pay would be very much appreciated by Pompey.The Spanish giants could face some significant English competition for the player's signature from newly wealthy Manchester City though, whose manager Mark Hughes is keen to boost his midfield options.

New Madrid manager Juande Ramos is reportedly an admirer of Diarra, having seen the player in action whilst he was the manager at Tottenham Hotpsur. With Mahamadou Diarra currently unavailable at El Santiago Bernebeu due to injury, Ramos is keen to bring in a defensive midfielder and the Portsmouth man would seem to fit the bill.

Diarra joined Portsmouth for £5 million in January 2008 but would likely jump at the chance of playing for the Spanish giants.

Cristiano Ronaldo Said He Wanted To Join Real Madrid - Calderón

2008-12-16T00:05:00.000-08:00

Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón has insisted that the Spanish giants only pursued Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer because the player told them that he wanted to join them.Los Merengues' supremo recognised that it could have damaged the club's relationship with the Premier League oufit, but stated that he only pushed because he thought the Portuguese star would do the same.

The Ronaldo saga lasted throughout the pre-season transfer window and dominated sports pages around the world, only for the whole thing to collapse when United stated that they would not sell.Now Caldéron has reflected on the relentless chase and admitted that the only did it because he believed that he was helping the player to make his dream come true.
"We have left that, it has been a very big story, which we didn't provoke," he told Sky Sports News. "The player said he wanted to come here, a dream to come to Real Madrid and we received and we were happy to know that.

"After that I talked to Manchester [United] but [chief executive] David Gill was very clear and said they did not want to sell at all.

"We want to have a good relation with all the big clubs in Europe and Manchester [United] is one of the best and I would like to have a good relationship with them forever, and they said for the moment no.

"I know the media in general like to give excitement to their readers and listeners and Cristiano Ronaldo is a fantastic player and he has won the Golden Ball - and I congratulate him on that and I wish him the best - regardless of where he is going to be in the future."

Ian Rush: Liverpool Lack Creativity

2008-12-03T00:08:00.000-08:00

Ian Rush won quite a few trophies with Liverpool during his time with the club in the 1980s. At that time, the Reds swept all before them at home and, prior to the ban on English clubs after the Heysel disaster, in Europe.
Rush, an instinctive and prolific goalscorer, played a huge role in that success, so it's fair to say that he has a good idea about how teams go about winning things. When he points out that Rafa Benitez's current Liverpool side lack creativity, people should probably listen to him.

Speaking today after last night's draw with West Ham United, Rush was fairly clear as to where he feels Liverpool's problems lie.
"Liverpool may have gone top of the league last night but it was another very disappointing display and it’s clear there are problems with the team just at the moment," he said.

"Last night there wasn’t enough urgency and certainly not enough creativity on show.

"And that’s why despite overtaking Chelsea, there are concerns and criticisms around from quite a few people and pundits today.

"The Reds struggled to find the cohesion and flair which was on display earlier this season – and again we failed to break down a team we were expected to beat without too much fuss."

And although Rush gave West Ham credit for their defensive performance, he also felt that Liverpool should have exploited the opportunities that did come their way. After all, the Hammers didn't line up like Stoke City and play entirely defensively at Anfield.

"You get chances to play your football against a team like West Ham – but we played in fits and starts last night," Rush continued.

"We had spells and I know we could well have scored from some of the opportunities, but there was never really the belief out there or a real confidence that we were going to outfox them and break them down."

Rush was also baffled as to why Benitez didn't change his tactics when his original plan clearly wasn't working.

"Another frustration was that when Plan A wasn’t working," said the former Welsh international, "we didn’t seem to have a Plan B to unlock West Ham. A couple of changes were made with Ngog and Babel coming on, but last night it didn’t really seem to have the impact we were all hoping to see."

Rush was not pessimistic though, and rather urged Benitez and his squad to show character and pull together through the rough patch. After all, they are still top of the table, despite Manchester United slowly gaining ground on them.

"It’s when things aren’t going well that you learn most about your players," Rush added.

"You see those who refuse to shrink and stand up to the challenge. So we’ll find out now who the big men and big characters really are in this squad. And let’s hope that’s all of them.

"Liverpool are top but no one’s happy. That’s because we are better than this – the team has proved it with other results and performances this season."

And Rush ended with a rallying cry for the Reds:

"Forget last night now. There are important games coming up and points to be won so let’s go out and start getting them, instead of letting them slip."

OFFICIAL: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar Joins Real Madrid

2008-12-03T00:04:00.000-08:00

Real Madrid and Ajax have officially confirmed they have reached an agreement over the transfer of forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
The 25-year-old is going to cost the Bernabeu club €20 million up front, with the total fee potentially rising to €27m with additional clauses based on appearances and his levels of success with Los Blancos included in the deal.

The transfer will take place subject to Huntelaar agreeing personal terms and passing a medical, with Madrid set to sign the striker on a four-and-a-half-year contract, running until the summer of 2013.
If everything goes as planned, the player will join Madrid on January 2.

Huntelaar, who will be eligible to play in the Champions League having only played in the Uefa Cup with Ajax this year, has earned former club Heerenveen €2.5m as part of a sell-on clause they held from his sale to the Amsterdan giants in 2005.

Madrid’s official statement read: "Huntelaar is the new Real Madrid player. Real Madrid and Ajax Amsterdam have reached an agreement for the forward.

"As usual, the deal is dependent on the player passing a medical and the signing of his contract with Real Madrid.

"Klaas Jan Huntelaar will be tied to Real Madrid until June 30, 2013."

Los Merengues have acted in the transfer market after a season-ending injury to Ruud van Nistelrooy left them short on striking options, with another signing expected to be announced for the January transfer window.

Huntelaar scored a superb 75 goals in 90 league games and a total of 100 strikes in 120 appearances in all competitions for Ajax, following up from a successful spell with Heerenveen where he netted 34 league goals in 46 matches.

The prolific striker also has 18 international caps for the Netherlands and has already scored 10 times for his country.

Manchester United Star Cristiano Ronaldo Wins Ballon d'Or

2008-12-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

France Football has handed its prestigious Ballon d'Or award to Cristiano Ronaldo, a decision that will surprise no-one given his outstanding performances over the past 12 months.The 23-year-old led Manchester United to the Premier League and Champions League titles last term, netting some 42 goals along the way - an incredible feat for a player who predominately plays on the right flank.

Ronaldo was a clear winner, collecting 77 votes from the 96 journalists who judge the award, while Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Liverpool's Fernando Torres filled out the placings.

It is just the latest of many individual triumphs for the former Sporting Lisbon sensation, who was dubbed player of the year by the Football Writers' Association and the Professional Footballers' Association in 2006-07. He was recently named the 2008 FIFPro World Player of the Year.

Ronaldo becomes the fourth Man United star to claim the Ballon d'Or, following in the footsteps of Denis Law (1964), Sir Bobby Charlton (1966) and George Best (1968). It is perhaps fitting that the Real Madrid target's win marks the 40th anniversary of Best's triumph, as he has often been compared to the late, great Ulsterman.

Next up for Ronaldo is the FIFA World Player of the Year gong, which has never been won by an English-based player.

2008 Ballon d'Or Top Ten Classification

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Manchester United) - 446 points

2. Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona) - 281 pts

3. Fernando Torres (Spain/Liverpool) - 179 pts

4. Iker Casillas (Spain/Real Madrid) - 133 pts

5. Xavi Hernandez (Spain/Barcelona) - 97 pts

6. Andrei Arshavin (Russia/Zenit St. Petersburg) - 64 pts

7. David Villa (Spain/Valencia) - 55 pts

8. Kaka (Brazil/AC Milan) - 31 pts

9. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/Inter) - 30 pts

10. Steven Gerrard (England/Liverpool) - 28 pts

Scholes Is Still The Best - Darren Fletcher

2008-12-02T23:48:00.000-08:00

Paul Scholes is expected to return to the Manchester United first team this evening after two months on the sidelines with a knee injury.
The former England ace's absence has left the United midfield looking rather thin in recent weeks, as Owen Hargreaves is also out of action and will be for the rest of the season.

Darren Fletcher has been one of the main beneficiaries of Scholes' bung knee, as he has enjoyed a rare run in the starting XI. And the Scot has made the most of it - he was among the Red Devils' best performers in their weekend derby win at Eastlands.
Still, the 25-year-old might be the one to make way for Salford's favourite son as the Old Trafford club take on Blackburn Rovers in the Carling Cup tonight - but he has no complaints.

Fletcher said in The Sun: “Paul is still the best midfielder in Europe, if not the world. Nobody can really control a game like he can.”

Carles Puyol: Messi Still The Best In The World

2008-12-02T23:46:00.000-08:00

Argentine sensation Lionel Messi only managed to secure the Silver Ball in last night’s European Footballer of the Year announcement, comprehensively beaten to the coveted Golden Ball by Cristiano Ronaldo.
As the debate rages on about who really is the best player at present, Barca’s captain and defender Carles Puyol has thrown his support behind his teammate.

“I congratulate Ronaldo for winning, but for me, Messi is the best player in the world,” he told reporters during a promotional outing.
“I enjoy watching him every day, just like how all the fans enjoy watching him play,” added Puyol.

The 31 year old versatile defender then turned his attention to Barcelona’s upcoming games, including the titanic tussle with eternal enemies, Real Madrid in less than two weeks’ time.
“We must take full advantage of the form that we are in now because things can change very quickly in football.

“But we mustn’t think about the game against Real Madrid. If we do, then we are sure to lose our next match [against Valencia]. We have to take things one day at a time,” he concluded.

Liverpool & Manchester United After Franco Zuculini

2008-12-02T23:43:00.000-08:00

According to the Daily Mail, both Liverpool and Manchester United are keeping close watch on Franco Zuculini, the Racing Club de Avellaneda midfielde
The 18-year-old has been hugely impressive in his short professional career of 20-odd games, so much so that Argentina coach Diego Maradona has dubbed him "one of the stars at the next World Cup".

Indeed, Zuculini has been strongly likened to one of Anfield's current favourites - although the original version is only 24 himself, everyone is raving about 'the new Javier Mascherano'.
'El Jefecito' arrived on Merseyside early last year after an ill-fated stint at West Ham United, and has since come to be recognised as arguably the best defensive midfielder in world football.

The former River Plate man signed on permanently for the Reds this January, so it is unlikely they will be seeking an immediate upgrade.

However, with questions being raised over whether Lucas Leiva can cut it in the Premier League, Rafael Benitez may look to ship out the Brazilian youngster and draft in a new understudy to Mascherano and Xabi Alonso.

Meanwhile, at Old Trafford, there are concerns over Owen Hargreaves' long-term future after he underwent surgery recently on a tendonitis problem that has plagued his career.

The Canadian-born England star has played just 25 league games since moving from Bayern Munich last year, and it has been whispered that Sir Alex Ferguson is keeping an eye out for a worthy replacement.

But Liverpool and Man United would not only be battling each other for Zuculini, as it is thought that Juventus are leading the race for his signature.

The Old Lady attempted to lure Mascherano himself to Turin last winter, but the €21 million price-tag was well out of their reach and they opted for the out-of-favour Mohamed Sissoko instead.

But Momo and his midfielder partner, Christian Poulsen, have disappointed all too regularly this term, and Juve are reportedly ready to upgrade when the transfer window reopens next month.

Udinese had a €2.5 million bid rejected by Racing, who are demanding €10 million for their young superstar-in-the-making. However, financial problems mean the Argentine club should settle for around €7 million.

Schuster Sets Target On Trezeguet

2008-11-25T23:36:00.000-08:00

Juventus frontman, David Trezeguet had been linked with Barcelona for the past couple of seasons, but now it seems Real Madrid are interested in the former Monaco striker. Los Merengues have been searching for options to replace long-term injury casualty Ruud Van Nistelrooy upfront and according to tuttosport, coach Bernd Schuster has added Trezeguet's name to his rather long wish list.

Juventus may be willing to part with the striker as Amauri has been in sizzling form since his arrival from Palmero this summer. However, it is not a move that the 'White House' and sporting director Predrag Mijatovic are likely to approve as Trezeguet, for one, is cup tied for the Champions League and he has also has been struggling with injury all season.Instead, it seems the La Liga champions are much closer to Ajax striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, although apparently Schuster would like to bring in Trez in addition to the highly rated Dutchman.However, that may be even too much of a luxury for Real Madrid to achieve, bringing in two of Europe's most sought after hit-men.

Wayne Rooney Says Sorry For Villarreal Dive

2008-11-25T23:30:00.000-08:00

Wayne Rooney marred an otherwise impressive performance in Manchester United's Champions League draw against Villarreal by trying to hoodwink the referee into a awarding a phantom penalty.The United boss said: “You don’t usually see it from him (Rooney). Maybe he had been watching Robert Pires too much. At least he said sorry. You would not hear Pires saying that, bloody hell!”

Another player who spent plenty of time kissing the grass at El Madrigal was Cristiano Ronaldo, the Red Devils' star winger.The Portuguese international was perhaps United's most influential player despite being marked especially closely by Manuel Pellegrini's side.

Ferguson added: “There is systematic fouling of Ronaldo. It is a tactic.
“One player fouls him, then another player and then someone else. Eventually the ref thinks he is diving all the time.”

Seedorf: I Could Leave Milan For England

2008-11-25T22:59:00.000-08:00

A host of clubs will no doubt be sizing up a January bid for AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf after he expressed his love for the English game.The 32-year-old snubbed a number of opportunities to make the switch during his prime years, but he has been thoroughly impressed by the competition's improvement in recent times.

"I would love to play in the Premier League," Seedorf said in the Daily Mail. "Which player wouldn't? It's one of the best leagues in the world. I'm happy at AC Milan but I never say never.
"The development of the Premier League over the last five years has been incredible. The football is exciting with much more quality. I love to watch it on television."

While it is unlikely that a top-four team will come calling for Seedorf at this stage of his career, Champions League hopefuls like Manchester City and Everton could use a player of his calibre and experience.

Fernando Torres: I Thought Benitez's Call Was A Prank!

2008-11-25T22:44:00.000-08:00

After weeks of negotiations between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid, Fernando Torres made the switch to England in the summer of 2007 for €25 million.Many questioned Rafael Benitez's decision to spend so much money a player whose goalscoring record in the Primera Division was no more than decent - even Torres himself, as it turns out.

The Spain star revealed that, after his soon-to-be manager made his intentions known, he contacted Reds goalkeeper Pepe Reina to make sure it wasn't a joke.
"When Rafa phoned me on my mobile, at the start I was asking myself if this was some person imitating him," he told the press yesterday.

"So I called Reina to make sure it really was Rafa’s number. After that, I didn’t have to think for long. I knew that was the call I had been waiting for."
60 games and 38 goals later, there are no longer any queries as to the validity of Benitez's interest - or whether Torres was worth the money.

Mutu To Join Milan In June - Reports

2008-11-25T16:09:00.000-08:00

In form Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu could be heading to Milan after his agent Alessandro Moggi was seen at the Rossoneri's headquarters in Via Turati on Tuesday afternoon.
Rossoneri chief Adriano Galliani had said earlier in the week that his club wouldn't be moving and shaking in the transfer market but the latest turn of events would suggest otherwise.

Sky Sport Italia claim the hit-man's agent met club directors with a view to begin talks over a possible deal which could see the prolific hit-man arrive in June.
Mutu has been outstanding so far this term and it seems as if Christmas will come late for the San Siro side.

The striker is likely to consider the move and reports suggest either Andriy Shevchenko or Marco Borriello will head the other way.
The Romanian was linked with Milan all summer but he was on the verge of joining Roma before the move collapsed at the last minute.

Everything seemed in place but the Viola owners scuppered the deal. They may now reconsider their options and a mega bid from the Diavolo could swing the scales in their favour.

The hit-man will be involved in Champions League action later tonight when his side lock horns with Lyon. A win is necessary if his side are to have any hope of getting into the next round.
Salvatore Landolina, Goal.com

Podolski To Roma Possible - Agent

2008-11-25T16:07:00.000-08:00

Lukas Podolski's agent Andrea Stops believes a move to Roma could suit his client.
The Bayern Munich man had warned he could leave the team but that was soon put into perspective after coach Jurgen Klinsmann had said he wasn't going anywhere.

However, the player's agent has now opened the door to a potential move to Serie A by claiming his man could move to the Giallorossi in future.
"I wouldn't want to comment at the moment," the agent told Roma24.it.

"Bayern has told us that he is not for sale and their stance is not to release him in January.
"However, Roma would be an incredible opportunity for him. But, like I said, there possibilities will be discussed with Bayern in June seeing that the club doesn't want to sell the player in January."

The 23-year-old forward has been at Bayern since 2006. Roma have had some problems up front this term and a decent striker could be the key.

I'm Not Eto'o Or Henry, But I Can Score - Keita

2008-11-25T16:06:00.000-08:00

Seydou Keita might not draw the same headlines as Samuel Eto'o or Lionel Messi but there is no doubt that he still does a great job for Barcelona on the pitch.
The midfielder joined the Catalan side this summer from Sevilla, and whilst he acknowledges he is not a goalscorer, he says he does his best for the team.
"I am not Henry or Eto'o, but if I can I will score," he told El Mundo Deportivo.
"I know very well what my goal is in the team. I work for my team-mates, to help in defence and to try and play a part in building the attacks. It it important though, that we are all prepared mentally to score because a goal, whoever scores it, can decide a game."

Ironically, as Keita is not known for his goalscoring, the former Sevilla player has now hit the net in his last two matches, against Recreativo and Getafe. He is currently preparing for Barça's Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon this week but he took time out to comment briefly on the subject of the week, Lionel Messi.

"He is a very important and very different player for the team," he said.

"It is clear though that neither he, nor anyone else, can play all the games. In the squad there is a lot of quality and we all have to be prepared because we will have opportunities."

Keita joined the club at the same time as new coach Pep Guardiola and he praised the selection policy of the Spaniard, saying the late decisions keep everyone on their toes.
"The coach has many options and even an hour before the game we do not know who will play," he mused.

"I believe that it is beneficial because it keeps us all tense and it stops the ones who aren't going to play from getting discouraged."

The Malian international acknowledged that not only can't Barcelona afford to lose to Sporting this week - they can't afford to slip up wherever or whoever they play.

"We cannot lose in Lisbon or to anyone," he declared.
"At a club such as Barça we must win every game, we must try and assure first place."

Valencia Without Vicente Or Moretti For Rosenborg Clash

2008-11-25T15:55:00.000-08:00

There is no question that after only drawing their first UEFA Cup match, Valencia need a win this week in Norway to keep their qualification hopes alive.
The Spanish side face Rosenborg, who were beaten by St. Etienne in their first match, and will have to do without a couple of key players for the match.

Both Vicente and Emiliano Moretti have been ruled out due to injury, and they will join the pair of Miguel Angulo and David Silva in the recovery room.
Also out of the match are Hugo Viana, Nikola Zigic, Timo Hildebrand, Iván Helguera and Curro Torres.

Coach Unai Emery has decided to select left-winger Jaume Costa to travel with the squad, whilst Asier Del Horno is a doubt for the match.
Valencia squad to face Rosenborg: Renan, Guaita, Miguel, Marchena, Alexis, Albiol, Del Horno, Jaume Costa, Maduro, Albelda, Fernandes, Baraja, Edu, Joaquín, Pablo, Mata, Villa, Morientes

Zenit On Brink After Juve Draw

2008-11-25T15:53:00.000-08:00

Zenit came into this game knowing that if they failed to win, a victory for Real Madrid later in the night would eliminate them from the Champions League. Coach Dick Advocaat was without Lee Ho due to injury, and defender Sébastien Puygrenier, who was serving a one-match ban following his red card on Matchday 4. Russian stars Pavel Pogrebnyak and Andrei Arshavin led the frontline, supported by Portuguese international Danny.

Juventus were already qualified for the last 16 after obtaining six points out of six against Real Madrid. A draw in this game would see them finish top of the group. Claudio Ranieri’s side was still decimated by injuries, as Jorge Andrade, Cristiano Zanetti, Jonathan Zebina, Gianluigi Buffon, David Trezeguet, Christian Poulsen, Dario Knežević, and Tiago were sidelined. Mauro Camoranesi began from the start on the right of midfield, while Vincenzo Iaquinta replaced Amauri as Alessandro Del Piero's partner in attack.

First Half

Juventus had the first chance of the game after just 90 seconds, as Vincenzo Iaquinta rose unmarked in the box to meet a Camoranesi free kick, but he could not keep his header down.

The Bianconeri were looking particularly dangerous from set-pieces and, from another Camoranesi dead-ball on nine minutes, Olof Mellberg crashed a header from six yards against the outside of the post.

Zenit threatened for the first time on 16 minutes when Pogrebnyak raced through behind the Juve defence, but Giorgio Chiellini got back to make a fantastic last gasp tackle. Moments later Pogrebnyak lashed a 30-yard free kick over the bar.

The home side were warming up now, and Konstantin Zyrianov cracked a right-foot volley on target, but Alex Manninger was equal to the effort.

However, midway through the half Juventus were centimetres away from taking the lead, as they struck the woodwork for a second time. Cristian Molinaro cut the ball back for Iaquinta, who directed the ball onto the post. Camoranesi could then only shoot wide from the eventual rebound.

The Argentine-born winger was getting into some promising positions, and on 32 minutes he darted in at the back post on a raking pass, but he was stretching and couldn't make decent contact. Pavel Nedved's dangerous near post cross was then plucked out of the near post by goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev.

Zenit had their first serious shot of the game in the 39th minute as Anatoliy Tymoshuk forced Manninger into a low save with a 20-yard free kick. Ivica Krizanac then saw a goal disallowed for offside, as the sides went in goalless at the break.

Second Half

Juventus came flying out of the blocks in the second half, and Del Piero almost scored immediately as he chest down Grygera's centre and lashed a volley towards goal, which was excellently saved by Malafeev. The ball then pinballed around the area, before Nedved fired over.

Danny burst into life on 50 minutes with a run and shot that was smartly saved by Manninger, before Pogrebnyak headed harmlessly wide at the back host.

Del Piero, who was improving after a quiet first half, curled a free kick straight at Malafeev before then testing the goalkeeper again from 20 yards.

However, on 54 minutes, The Golden Boy was guilty of a glaring miss to put his side ahead. Iaquinta cut the ball back into the area, but with the goal gaping Del Piero somehow fired the ball wide.

Zenit were not playing well, but on 65 minutes they created a gilt-edged opportunity as Molinaro gave the ball away carelessly, which eventually allowed Danny a clean run on goal, but he delayed his shot too long and allowed Claudio Marchisio to make a tackle. Seconds later Pogrebnyak crashed an unstoppable long shot against the post with Manninger completely beaten.

Del Piero had scored a brilliant free kick when these two sides met in Turin in September, but he was struggling to repeat the trick tonight, and with 13 minutes remaining he shot weakly at Malafeev. Substitute Sebastian Giovinco then replaced the captain.

Danny had been Zenit's most dangerous player in the second half, and with seven minutes remaining he almost toe-poked the home side into the lead, but the ball trickled inches wide of the far post. Nicolas Lombaerts then couldn't make the most of a scramble in the Italian box.

The game finished goalless, and Zenit's hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stages now hang by a thread. If Real Madrid beat BATE tonight, they will be eliminated. Juventus now look odds-on to finish top of Group H.

Teams

Zenit: Malafeev, Anyukov, Krizanac, Lombaerts, Sirl, Denisov, Tymoschuk, Zyrianov, Danny, Arshavin (Fayzulin 70), Pogrebnyak

Juventus: Manninger, Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro, Camoranesi (Marchionni 83), Sissoko, Marchisio, Nedved, Del Piero (Giovinco 77), Iaquinta (Amauri 86)

Liverpool's Gerrard Wants Istanbul Repeat

2008-11-25T15:52:00.000-08:00

The trophy that continues to elude Liverpool is the Premier League title and it is one that the club and fans arguably want the most now they have tasted all the other major titles.Talismanic midfielder Steven Gerrard though still has his eye on the continent's most prestigious prize, and is insistent that the club must attempt to repeat their 2005 Istanbul win.

"I've got a drive and a hunger to match Istanbul, if not beat it," Gerrard is quoted by Uefa as saying.
"Obviously Istanbul was mine and the club's finest hour for a long time. But I don't just want to milk that final. I think I'd have regrets if I didn't win anything else.

"I can understand why people are saying it," he continued. "We've gone 2-0 down a couple of times, we haven't given up, and we've managed to turn games around. So they're saying we've got title credentials.

"It's nice, but it raises expectations. It's important to stay humble. We know we're a good team, we know we're getting closer to a title challenge - we can say that. But we've got to prove we can stay in the race till the end.

"Liverpool belong in Europe," Gerrard added. "Yes, you have to earn the right to be in it, but our history, the number of cups we've won in Europe, it's our stage, it's where we want to be.

"We see how successful the club have been. Players before our generation delivered, and fans expect the same of us today," he concluded.

Liverpool play Marseille in matchday 5 of the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Late Bendtner Strike Puts Arsenal Through

2008-11-25T15:48:00.000-08:00

The new Arsenal era under the leadership of 21-year-old Cesc Fabregas got underway at the Emirates against Dynamo Kiev with as much focus on the man he succeeded, William Gallas, as on the Catalan playmaker himself.
Manager Arsene Wenger, unable to call on eight injured first-teamers, selected a starting XI team that included youngsters Aaron Ramsey, Carlos Vela and Johan Djourou - and with a bench populated by five teenagers. If there was a somewhat unbalanced feel about the Gunners it might have been because there were seven left-footers in the line-up.

Once the action got under way, Dynamo's goalkeeper Stanislav Bogush needed to stand tall to deny Ramsey when the 17-year-old Welshman collected a Carlos Vela cross and fired a shot goalwards.
Dutchman Robin van Persie showed his threat from set-pieces when he fired in a free-kick from the right that Bogush did well to punch away from a crowded area.
Vela then did well on the left and sent in a cross that eluded a line of Kiev defenders before Ramsey raced onto it but could only lash it wide.

The busy Vela found Van Persie with another cross, but when the striker switched it to his favoured left foot to shoot, Bogush saved it, though the Dynamo keeper appeared not to feel confident about catching the ball, and had to collect it at the second attempt.
Arsenal were playing some neat football, but lacking a cutting edge, and Dynamo were organised and very solid in defence, showing why they have conceded relatively few goals in this European campaign.

The Gunners were missing Emmanuel Adebayor's forward runs and leadership of the line, and the counter-attacking wing speed and trickery of Theo Walcott, with Denilson peripheral on the flank.

Poor Gallas, who looked sombre and subdued, nearly made unwanted headlines shortly before half-time, when a lapse in concentration allowed the dangerous Ismael Bangura to dispossess him and burst through on goal but shoot rather than pass, clipping the outside of Almunia's post.

Van Persie responded by firing in another dangerous free-kick from the right that Mikael Silvestre got to before Bogush but could only knee the ball over the bar from point-blank range.

On the stroke of half-time Gallas flicked the ball into the net from a corner but the Kiev defence had moved out en masse and the ex-captain was left in an offside position, as the linesman's flag confirmed.

Arsenal had built a decent platform but struggled to knit things together in the final third, while Kiev showed flashes of why they are top in Ukraine.

Shortly after the start of the second-half, Fabregas took a free-kick from wide on the left and the ball broke to Van Persie who fired at goal, but the ball struck the hapless Gallas, who effectively but unwittingly blocked it just in front of the line.

It was a fairly disjointed start to the second period, but Dynamo looked more purposeful going forward, and Aliev blazed over before Bangoura fired a shot wide to give a warning to the London side.

Dynamo were playing at a higher tempo, with Aliev more influential. He fired at goal and Almunia had to smother it with Bangoura ready to snap up any loose ball.

Bogush punched a Fabregas corner clear and Dynamo broke quickly with four against three, but Gael Clichy did well to snuff out the danger. In central midfield, with Alexandre Song looking harrassed, Arsenal were struggling to wrest control, and their lack of a goal threat was giving Kiev encouragement.

In response, Wenger made his first change after 69 minutes, sending on the pink-booted Nicklas Bendtner for Ramsey.

A minute later, Aliev let himself down abysmally when, rolling around on the ground in apparent agony, he spotted that Kiev were launching an attack and leapt up like a hare to join in. Classic, but ugly, simulation, which he was lucky to get away with.

When the ill-at-ease Song brought down Artem Milevskiy, Wenger used the moment to send on Jack Wilshere for Vela, and so make Wilshere the youngest Arsenal player to appear in senior European competition.

From the resulting free-kick, Milevskiy had a chance to score but was superbly thwarted by the alert Almunia, who saved at point-blank range to give Arsenal a mighty reprieve.

And almost immediately after that, the Gunners scored the decisive goal.
After the referee stopped play so that Djourou could receive treatment, he restarted it with a dropped ball. Fabregas won it, and as Kiev players backed off, he hit a sublime long pass into the path of Bendtner, who chested it down, took it forward and shot low into the net between Bogush and his near post. The Kiev players were angry about the goal, but basically they lost concentration, fatally as it happened.

In their frustration, Aliyev was shown a straight red card for trying to manhandle the referee away from the ball in order to take a free-kick quickly.

The final whistle soon followed, with Arsenal safely through and the Fabregas era having begun on a winning note. The Gunners remain unbeaten at the Emirates in the Champions League, but must now prepare to meet Premier League leaders Chelsea in a major domestic clash...

Arsenal: Almunia, Djourou, Gallas, Silvestre, Clichy, Denilson, Fabregas, Song Billong, Ramsey, Vela, Van Persie.
Subs: Fabianski, Wilshere, Bendtner, Gibbs, Hoyte, Merida, Simpson.

Dynamo Kiev: Bogush, Betao, Diakhate, Asatiani, El Kaddouri, Eremenko, Vukojevic, Ghioane, Aliev, Milevskiy, Bangoura.
Subs: Shovkovskiy, Dopilka, Sablic, Correa, Shatskikh, Cernat, Yarmolenko.

Wenger: Fabregas Is Arsenal's New Captain, Gallas Recalled

2008-11-24T23:57:00.000-08:00

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has also confirmed that Gallas will play in the Gunners' Champions League clash with Dynamo Kyiv at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow night, with the armband passing to Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
Speaking at an eagerly anticipated press conference, Wenger affirmed: "Fabregas will be the captain, permanently. I do not have to explain to you why.

"I believe the captain is the voice of the club towards the outside, and is one of the leaders of the team.
"Cesc is young, yes, but I do not believe in just one man in the dressing-room who sorts out all of the problems.

"A successful team has shared leadership and Fabregas will be one of the leaders - not the only one."
Asked if he regretted making Gallas skipper in the first place, the wily gaffer replied, "No.

"Gallas will play on Tuesday; he's a player who I rate and admire. He was under big pressure from the press and you do not want that high pressure to affect him or the team.

"However, he can come back stronger now.

"Will he leave in January? Suggestions are suggestions," he said sketchily.

The key events that led Wenger to relieving him of his duties included the defender's sit-down protest at Birmingham City last season, his tabloid-friendly partying and, finally, his behind-the-scenes exposé which hinted at inter-squad tensions.

Ferguson Defends Ronaldo Over Gestures At Villa Park

2008-11-24T23:45:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo has shown signs recently that things might have been getting to him.Whilst playing for Portugal against Brazil last week he was, for once, on the receiving end of some showboating and took his revenge with a spiteful tackle on Thiago Silva. When he was substituted towards the end of Manchester United's disappointing 0-0 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday, he was seen to respond to taunts from the Villa fans with a full repertoire of offensive hand-gestures which, coupled with his sulking facial expression, gave an impression of extreme petulance.

Some wondered if the player was beginning to 'lose it', but his manager Alex Ferguson thinks that the player, in general, acts well, especially when he has to endure such a high level of provocation week in, week out.
"Well, it depends on what side of the fence you are," said Ferguson, earlier.

"Having seen some of the criticism of Ronaldo, that he couldn’t take it on Saturday, I wonder how many of these people would be able to take it and keep walking down the street if someone was hitting them on a head with a baton. How many times can you take it? He’s a great player and he’s a target for the opposition fans. It’s not a problem for him."

Whilst it is difficult to justify Ronaldo's actions and see them as little other than a childish response to childish behaviour by fans, Ferguson does have a point. Many of those who taunt players would not expect the same treatment themselves.

Ronaldo travelled with the United squad to Spain and is expected to play some part in the game with Villarreal tomorrow night, despite the ankle injury he picked up against Villa on Saturday.

Peru Expelled From World Cup Qualifiers

2008-11-24T23:40:00.000-08:00

The general secretary of the South American Football Association, Eduardo Deluca, announced on Monday that Peru will be suspended from all international competition after a conflict with the Peruvian government.
Peru will be expelled from the South American World Cup qualifiers, because Arturo Woodman, the president of the Instituto Peruano del Deporte, has refused to recognize Manuel Burga as the FPF president.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter had no choice than to intervene, a measure that has the potential to greatly affect the interests of Peruvian football.
Not only will Peru be kicked out of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, but also from the 2009 Copa Libertadores, making it one of the harshest punishments to ever hit a South American nation.
For the mean time Peru are suspended, but Deluca explained that FIFA will make a final decision during a reunion with the Executive Committee, which will take place between the 19th and 20th of December in Tokyo.

On Tuesday the draw of the latest edition of the Copa Libertadores will be made. No single team from Peru will be include

Iniesta Back Training For Barcelona

2008-11-24T23:20:00.000-08:00

Andres Iniesta is almost certainly the best player in the world not to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or, and indeed many have questioned why the hugely influential Blaugrana midfielder is not on the shortlist for the prize.
He has been simply outstanding since guiding Spain to glory at Euro 2008, and his creative prowess has been sorely missed in midfield alongside his partner-in-crime Xavi.

Club doctors had initially put a six to eight week rehabilitation period on the muscle tear suffered against Basel on November 4, but now just three weeks after the injury the 24-year old has returned to light training.
He had been an ever present under Guardiola until sustaining the knock, so the coach will be delighted to see one of his key figures return to action sooner than expected.

Iniesta's imminent return couldn't come at a better time with Barcelona facing an extremely treacherous run of fixtures in December. They face title challengers Sevilla and Valencia on the way to El Classico fixture against arch rivals Real Madrid on December 14.
That is likely to be the fixture that El Anti Galactico, as Iniesta is known in the Spanish press, will set his sights on to make a return to action.

Too Many Problems For Schuster - Clemente

2008-11-24T23:10:00.000-08:00

The much-travelled coach is currently in control at Real Murcia, and has managed at the likes of Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Espanyol in his 27-year managerial career. As such, the Spaniard is well-equipped to discuss the pressures of being in the hot-seat, and he had nothing but sympathy for the mounting concerns that Schuster is faced with at the Bernabeu.

He said, "As a coach, I can relate to the things that are happening and I can only defend him (Schuster). He has a limited number of players in his squad, is involved in a few competitions, and has a huge amount of injuries.

He continued, "They have not changed they way they are playing but the performances are not there. It has worked for them in the past - the league is very long."

The hugely experienced 58-year old, who guided Athletic Bilbao to back-to-back Primera Division titles in the 80's, also commented that the competitive nature of La Liga this season could work in Madrid's favour.

He concluded, "The league is wide open, and the big teams do not win every match. There is not much difference between the sides. The league does not end now, it ends in May."

Los Merengues currently trail leaders Barcelona by three points after twelve matches this season.

Blame Liverpool, Not Lucas - Rafa Benitez

2008-11-24T22:26:00.000-08:00

Liverpool were held goalless at Anfield by a Fulham side who only just escaped relegation last season, and manager Rafael Benitez has had to step in to spare his players from some stinging criticism.
Lucas Leiva has perhaps been the most maligned, as the Kopites have begun to grow frustrated at the Brazilian's inability to recapture the form that saw him win the Bola de Ouro at Gremio in 2006.

The 21-year-old and his midfield partner, Javier Mascherano, were led a merry dance by Jimmy Bullard and Danny Murphy for much of the game, but Benitez has asked the supporters not to single out poor performers.
"We weren't passing the ball well but it wasn't Lucas, or it wasn't Javier Mascherano, it was the team," he told the club's official website.
The Spaniard also stressed that international fixtures a few days earlier contributed significantly to Liverpool's tired showing.

"When we were preparing for the game, I had a clear idea that we could not use four or five players who had played 90 minutes in midweek," he continued.
"They all would be tired at the same time, so you try to use players with fresh legs. We had Fernando Torres more or less fresh, Robbie Keane and Lucas."

Regardless, Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard are likely to be recalled for Wednesday's Champions League clash against Olympique Marseille.