Zola backs Chelsea
West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola believes his former club Chelsea will beat Juventus in the Champions League.
The Bianconeri was paired with the Blues in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Zola has been voted to greatest player of all time at Stamford Bridge.
“I think Chelsea will win but only just,” Zola told Tuttosport.
“I think the match between the Blues and Bianconeri will be very interesting.
“On one part there is the prestigious Chelsea of my career and, on the other, you have Claudio Ranieri who gave me so much. I am sure the game will give some good and spectacular for everyone.
“I think it will all come down to whoever is in the best form physically.”
[Source: Tuttosport]
Written by Hakon Hoyland · Tags: English Premier League, General Soccer News, Transfer News & Transfer Rumours
Lampard hails Owen
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard does not believe the Blues need to make a January move for Michael Owen.
Owen, who is out of contract in the summer, has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.
The midfielder told The Sun: “Obviously, it’s the manager’s decision. Michael’s a top player - he showed that with the goal he scored against Portsmouth last week, it was an unbelievable finish, top quality.
“If he is fit, which he’s struggled with a bit, he’s a top, top player.
“At the right price, whether it’s for us or not, he’s going to be a good buy for someone for sure.
“But with Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba fit, I’d look at us and say we’ve got enough.”
[Source: The Sun]
Written by Hakon Hoyland · Tags: English Premier League, General Soccer News, Transfer News & Transfer Rumours
Beckham expected at San Siro to watch struggling Milan
David Beckham will get plenty of headlines when he arrives in Milan on Saturday but his new temporary employers will probably be wishing he could take to the pitch against Udinese a day later rather than watching the game from the stands.
AC Milan have been beset by injury problems to key players this season and are sweating over the return of Kaka ahead of this weekend's match.
And with Andrea Pirlo forced off at half-time during Wednesday's 2-2 UEFA Cup draw against Vfl Wolfsburg and Gennaro Gattuso out probably for the rest of the season, now would be a good time to blood the former England captain.
However, Beckham cannot start playing for Milan until the January transfer window opens and in the meantime, coach Carlo Ancelotti shows no sign of letting up his complaints about injury problems.
“This is a difficult time for us because we've been decimated by injuries which prevents us from taking to the pitch with the team we want to or from playing our best,” moaned Ancelotti.
As well as Pirlo coming off against Wolfsburg, on-loan Switzerland centre-back Philippe Senderos lasted only eight minutes.
“Senderos had a classic back spasm, Pirlo felt a muscle problem and, given the current emergency, it was better not to risk him after the break, and on top of that (Clarence) Seedorf (who played the full 90 minutes) hurt his knee.
“We need to stand strong and deal with these problems and the next few days will be very important to prepare for the Udinese challenge.
“Individually everyone is giving his all but it's very difficult to play under these conditions because we're forced to play several players out of position.”
However, Kaka, Pirlo, Seedorf and even France midfielder Mathieu Flamini all look likely to be fit at the weekend leaving only long-term absentees Alessandro Nesta, Gattuso, Marco Borriello and now Senderos missing.
But while Ancelotti has bemoaned his sick-list, midfielder Massimo Ambrosini had a more sober assessment of Milan's predicament.
“If we want to win things, this team has to overcome this difficult period,” he said.
Sunday's visit of Udinese is thus a must win game for Milan, although with a nine point deficit to champions, leaders and bitter city rivals Inter Milan, every match will be until they have drastically shortened the gap.
The plus side for Milan is that Udinese are the team in the worst current form in Serie A having not won in seven matches since topping the table in early November.
However, they did show glimpses of returning to form by sprinting out to a 3-0 lead over Lazio last week, before their defensive frailties came back to haunt them and they were pegged back to 3-3.
In other matches Inter travel to Siena on Saturday night while second-placed Juventus face a trip to Bergamo to play Atalanta.
AS Roma defend an eight-game winning run, including five in Serie A, as they travel to Sicily to face Catania hoping to put more pressure on the teams holding European qualification places.
Third-placed Napoli have a tricky trip to Torino while fifth-placed Fiorentina travel to Genoa to face Sampdoria.
That match will pit Serie A joint-top goalscorer Alberto Gilardino against Sampdoria captain and mercurial genius Antonio Cassano, a challenge Gilardino is looking forward to.
“Antonio Cassano is an exceptional talent, a player who in any moment can produce something incredible. In my opinion he should be in the Italy squad,” said the former Parma and AC Milan forward.
Italian league fixtures
Saturday
Lazio v Palermo, Siena v Inter Milan
Sunday
AC Milan v Udinese, Atalanta v Juventus, Cagliari v Reggina, Catania v AS Roma, Chievo v Genoa, Lecce v Bologna, Sampdoria v Fiorentina, Torino v Napoli
Written by SoccerNews · Tags: Serie A
Ramos chasing wingers
New Real Madrid boss Juande Ramos has admitted that he would like to sign a new winger in the January transfer window.
The Spanish giants have been linked with Ashley Young and Aaron Lennon.
He told AS: “It is true that the market for wingers is limited and the clubs that you call raise the price because they know that we need the player.
“It is important that we bring in a right winger to help us in the UEFA Champions League and in the league.
“There are some interesting players in the English market and I know clearly who they are. I have told the club what I think and now it is a question of money.
“It seems to me that with (Arjen) Robben on the left and another player on the right we would be complete. Although Robben can play on the right, I prefer wingers to play on their strongest side and not switch over.”
[Source: AS]
Written by Hakon Hoyland · Tags: General Soccer News, La Liga, Transfer News & Transfer Rumours
Ronaldo looking to excel at new club Corinthians
The 32-year-old 1994 and 2002 World Cup winner and European footballer of the year in 1997 and 2002 has not played officially this season though appeared in Morocco in a United Nations-organised match in November.
The former Real Madrid forward told television station SporTV: “I am now setting myself new goals and I want to make the most of this opportunity at Corinthians to excel, and perhaps return to Europe, though this is not a current goal.”
Ronaldo, who seriously injured his left knee in February last year and was out-of-contract with AC Milan in the summer, will be presented by the second division champions on a one-year contract on Friday. No transfer fee has been revealed.
He added that patience would be needed in a “gradual” comeback. “It has been nine months since my operation and during my comeback little muscular problems could arise which in themselves may not be serious but which would be painful and could mean I lose two or three weeks.”
Written by SoccerNews · Tags: General Soccer News
Bayern frustrated by Stuttgart´s Khedira
Bayern Munich goalscorer Tim Borowski admitted the defending Bundesliga champions were bitterly frustrated at dropping two points in Saturday's 2-2 draw with VfB Stuttgart.
Bayern had been leading 2-1 away from home with time almost up as second-half goals from Italian World Cup winner Luca Toni, his sixth in consecutive league games, and Borowski cancelled out a first-half header from
But
The single point was enough to put Bayern top of the table on Saturday night before Hoffenheim's Sunday game against Schalke 04, the final German league game of the year ahead of the winter break.
“Obviously, we shouldn't be conceding an equaliser like that, that's totally frustrating,” Borowski told the Bayern website.
“We could even have made it 3-1 or 4-1 on the break, we should have been far more ruthless.”
Oddo was shown a straight red card when he appeared to kick
“The red card turned the game,” said ex-Germany boss Klinsmann, whose side had gone from 11th in the league at the start of October to first.
“We took a 2-1 lead after a very convincing second half, so it's obviously a shame we were pegged back in the last minute.
“We really don't understand Massimo Oddo's sending off.
“Massimo was just getting up to play the ball.
“He had no intention whatsoever of injuring his opponent, he just didn't see him coming.
“Giving a red card for that is a mistake.”
The draw with Bayern was an impressive result for
Babbel's side is unbeaten after his first three games in charge and have taken seven points from a possible nine.
“I saw a sensational team performance out there,” said Babbel.
“My team did everything they could to win the game.
“We more or less deserved to take the lead, but we were careless and tossed it away.
“It took unbending resolve to earn the equaliser.”
And
“We made a fight of it right until the final seconds and our heads never went down, even against as good a team as Bayern,” said the ex-Aston Villa midfielder.
“It shows how determined we are, and we need to keep that going.”
Written by SoccerNews · Tags: Bundesliga
Inter Milan survive Chievo scare to extend lead
Inter Milan went nine points clear at the top of Serie A ahead of Sunday night's late match between pursuers Juventus and AC Milan after a nervy 4-2 home victory over rock-bottom Chievo.
Inter looked to be coasting two minutes into the second half when they led 2-0 but the Flying Pigs staged an unexpected fight-back to level things at 2-2 before Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted a late brace.
It leaves Jose Mourinho's champions nine points clear of Juve, Milan and Napoli, who beat Lecce 3-0 on Saturday, and able to watch Sunday's big match in the knowledge that at least one of their main rivals will drop points.
Inter were off to a dream start on three minutes as Brazilian full-back Maxwell cantered down the left on the overlap, took a pass from Dejan Stankovic, cut inside and rifled home right footed.
It was a similar story at the start of the second period as the champions fashioned a brilliant goal through Stankovic.
The Serbian midfielder fed Maicon galloping down the right and he crossed into the box where Ibrahimovic's deft flick fell perfectly for Stankovic to fire home.
Leading 2-0 at home to the bottom side, Inter would have been expected to win at a canter but instead Chievo mounted an unlikely comeback.
Sergio Pellessier started things off with a stunning shot from distance that gave Julio Cesar no chance in the Inter goal.
And on 65 minutes the San Siro was stunned into silence as Andrea Mantovani got to the byeline on Chievo's left and crossed for Simone Bentivoglio to bundle home from barely two yards out, and courtesy of a deflection off Maxwell.
Mourinho didn't waste much time in trying to kick-start his team, throwing on strikers Hernan Crespo and Mario Balotelli as well as winger Luis Figo.
But it was Ibrahimovic who made the difference, rising highest to head home a cross from Maicon with 11 minutes left.
Chievo's Santiago Morero was sent off for a second booking and then the Swede smashed home a stunning right foot shot two minutes from time to put an undeserved gloss on the victory.
AS Roma won for the fifth match in a row to continue their recent resurgence with a come from behind 3-2 success at home to Cagliari.
Roma have been upwardly mobile since a disastrous start to the season in which they lost six of their first nine matches and they now find themselves in the top half of the table for the first time this campaign.
Things looked good as Francesco Totti put them in front but goals from Daniele Conti and Brazilian Jeda turned the match on its head before Simone Perrotta's acrobatic finish restored parity.
Roma threw everything but the kitchen sink at
Adrian Mutu and Alberto Gilardino scored as Fiorentina went fifth with a 2-0 home win over Catania.
Udinese's slump continued as they blew a 3-0 lead at home to Lazio to draw 3-3 and extended their winless streak to seven games.
Written by SoccerNews · Tags: Serie A
Real haven´t thrown in towel says Puyol
Barcelona captain Carles Puyol admitted Saturday's 2-0 win over Real Madrid in 'El Clasico' at Camp Nou was a major step in the title race but said there was no way reigning champions Real would throw in the towel despite being 12 points adrift of the leaders.
Barcelona scored twice in the final seven minutes in a sensational finale with Samuel Eto'o netting on 83 minutes before Lionel Messi scored with a 91st minute chip to secure a first Clasico win since November 2005.
Sevilla and
“We worked very hard and that drained us, but the most important thing is the three points,” said Puyol. “The gap of 12 points is important, but
“The hype is something that we cannot control. We were not that bad before and we are not that great now, everyone has to look for the middle ground.”
Spanish international Puyol helped set up the opener for Eto'o and revealed it was a training ground move.
“We practiced the move for Eto'o's goal with me arriving to meet the cross and look what happened!” enthused Puyol.
Eto'o, who had missed a penalty 13 minutes earlier, celebrated by tearing off his shirt and running to the touchline.
Messi then sealed the game with a brilliant chip that Fabio Cannavaro could not clear off the line and wild celebrations followed.
“
“There were a lot of jokes about how many goals
“Only 15 games have been played and there are a lot of other teams around us to play, like Villarreal and
“In January we will play in three competitions again and that will take a lot out of the side.”
Guardiola also took a swipe at Real for their harsh treatment of Argentine Messi who was fouled throughout the match.
“I have no doubt that forms part of the game plan,” Guardiola seethed. “There were three consecutive fouls on him that could have done a lot of damage. I was worried that the game was going to carry on like that.”
Real coach Juande Ramos, who replaced Bernd Schuster four days ago, said Messi's habit of running with the ball accounted for the fouls rather than a malicious tactic.
“Messi will always play with the ball at his feet and is therefore more likely to get injured,” said Ramos. “There was no form of aggressiveness in this match.”
Winning a third consecutive title looks a big ask with Ramos admitting
“It's a substantial lead, but there is still a lot of games to be played and it depends a lot on how others teams do,” declared the former Sevilla coach.
“
Both
Written by SoccerNews · Tags: La Liga
We´re relishing fixture pile-up, says Rooney
Wayne Rooney insists Manchester United are relishing the fixture congestion that the Club World Cup has brought the Old Trafford side.
With United's march to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup adding to their commitments, the club face a hectic schedule in December and January.
But despite the task of making up two Premier League matches on main rivals Liverpool and Chelsea on their return from
“I think we're prepared,” he said before United's departure for
“We're coming up to nearly halfway through the season and we all feel pretty fit and although there are a lot of games, they're games that you want to be playing in and I think as a footballer you want to play games every week and midweek.
“It will be a good experience for us all. Many of us have never played in this competition before and if we can go there and win the trophy that'd be great, so I'm really looking forward to it.”
United, who play their opening game here on Thursday against
Having played in Japan on pre-season tours before, Rooney, facing disciplinary action from UEFA for an incident in last week's Champion's League draw with Aalborg, said there was a special atmosphere in the country.
And he is determined to put on a show for
“It's amazing because when you go to the hotel there are hundreds and hundreds of fans outside the hotel that have come to support you which is brilliant,” the striker said.
“We want to try to entertain them as well, to put a good show on for them.
“When you go out to warm up, the stadium's full and they've all got horns and it's really loud so it's a great atmosphere and when I've been there, they've been good games so I'm really looking forward to it.
“The fans in
Rooney is also determined to follow the advice of experienced teammate Ryan Giggs and make the most of experiences such as the Club World Cup. United last played in the competition in 2000.
“It's very important. I heard Ryan Giggs say after we won the Champions League this year that he enjoyed this one more than 1999 because when he was younger he didn't take it in as much as he did this year,” said Rooney.
“After hearing that, I'm trying to take everything in and enjoy it as much as I can and hopefully I can do that in
Written by SoccerNews · Tags: English Premier League
Scolari ready to go bargain shopping
Chelsea boss Big Phil Scolari has targeted Emile Heskey, Kenwyne Jones and Kevin Davies for the January transfer window.
Scolari will be forced to make bargain signing after being told that the Blues needs to save money.
It is believed that with a £9million transfer tag, Kenwyne Jones, will be the most expensive of the three players.
A Blues insider told News of the World: “All three are similar players who would give Chelsea a totally different option and that’s something we desperately need.
“Okay, they might not score a lot of goals themselves but they are all a handful and can create havoc in any defence.
“The fact is, the days of big spending are over . . . and they won’t be back for a while.”
[Source: News of the World]
Written by Hakon Hoyland • Tags: English Premier League, General Soccer News, Transfer News & Transfer Rumours
