..::Football II::..

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Robben: Bayern Munich is hungry for success

Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben has admitted the Bavarians' strong opening to the campaign has only served to intensify their hunger to win the Bundesliga.

Bayern, which comfortably saw off Schalke 2-0 at the Veltins Arena on Saturday, has won its opening four games and looks a formidable contender to Borussia Dortmund's crown.

After two seasons of disappointment, in which Dortmund has won consecutive titles, Robben remains wary of the reigning champion, but is up for the challenge.

"We are just in great shape, our organization is spot on and we are creating many chances," he told Bundesliga.com. "I had the feeling from the first day of preseason that we are really hungry. The team wants to prove and achieve something. We have not won a title for two years now and that is not a nice feeling."

The 28-year-old was also quick to salute Bayern's strength in depth in light of the club's positive response to the loss of key players through injury.

"We are now able to cope better when players aren't available because we have more strength in depth than we had last season," he continued. "Of course it is nice when this works right from the start of the season. Whether Franck [Ribery] has a small knock, or like I did last week, we are always able to compensate.

"The title has been our aim right from the beginning. That is not going to change. Just because we are currently ahead of Dortmund does not mean we will automatically win the league."

 

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Messi insists that there is no problem with Villa despite heated moment

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has hit out at claims that there is a rift between him and teammate David Villa, insisting that it was "quite the opposite."

Both Messi and Villa featured in Barcelona's 2-0 victory over Granada on Saturday, with television replays showing the Argentina international berating his teammate after the collapse of an attacking move.

Nevertheless, the 25-year-old sought to play down rumours of a bust-up, and explained that it was in the heat of the moment, with the relationship between the two still positive.

"People shouldn't look for a problem where there isn't one. We've got a spectacular squad. These things are part of football, with the tension of wanting to score to make everything easier and win," Messi told the club's official TV channel.

"It happens in training, and in matches as well. I haven't got any problems with El Guaje [Villa's nickname], quite the opposite. These things show the character of the team, to want to win and keep on playing well. We get heated, because we want the best, and the tension makes you react like that."

 

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Sir Alex Ferguson: Shelvey was trying to blame me for his clear red card

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted that Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey deserved his red card during the Red Devils' 2-1 victory at Anfield and claimed that the 20-year-old tried to blame him for his dismissal.

Ferguson's side was able to scrape the win thanks to Robin van Persie's penalty in 81st minute after the Reds had been reduced to 10 men in the first half.

Shelvey vented his anger at the United boss as he was leaving the field and posted on Twitter after the match claiming that the 70-year-old had contributed to the referee's decision to award a red card.

"I think it's a clear sending off, I've absolutely no doubts about it," Ferguson told MUTV. "I've seen the replay. It was reckless. Jonny Evans, who has dived in, went for the ball and got the ball, no question about that, but Shelvey was nowhere near getting the ball and could have given Jonny Evans a real bad injury. He was very lucky, actually.

"He [Shelvey] came and blamed me. Why not? Why look at himself in the mirror? Just blame someone else. I think the boy's young and when he looks at it again he'll realize the stupidity of it. He may apologize, he may not."

Ferguson admitted that he was not pleased with his side's performance but expressed his delight at sealing an important result at Anfield.

"In the last four years here we haven't played well," Fergusonsaid. "Today at least we've got a result. Hopefully that's a turning point for us because if you look back over the years we always did really well here.

"I think it was about five, six, seven years in a row we did exceptionally well, but it goes in cycles anyway. Before we had that run they had a period in the late '80s of getting results against us, so it's maybe our turn to start."

The manager went on to say that despite a poor showing, he felt his veterans got his side through the match.

"I thought we were poor, to be honest with you," he said. "I think the last four years we've allowed the crowd to get to us a little bit - they give fantastic support to their team and they really dominated the first half.

"Second half they got a great start. With 10 men I thought that was a great boost to them because it was something to hold on to, but credit to the players in that respect; the second half we played much, much better, but we were against ten men. I think Scholes, Carrick and Giggs' experience got us through."

 

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Carrera coy over Conte attendance against Fiorentina

Massimo Carrera has played down the significance of Antonio Conte potentially attending Juventus' Serie A fixture against Fiorentina on Tuesday.

The Scudetto-winning boss incurred a 10-month touchline ban prior to the start of the season after being found guilty of involvement in the Scommessopoli betting scandal, but sections of the Italian media claim that he could be a spectator at the Artemio Franchi.

However, speaking at a press conference in Vinovo ahead of the league meeting with Vincenzo Montella's men, the caretaker boss insists he shares the same line of thinking with Conte, and for that reason does not believe his presence could make an impact on the side's fortunes.

"Antonio and I are on the same wavelength, that's for sure," Carrera remarked. "He might not even come to Florence to watch the game, because for the past month and a half, we have worked this way.

"We have refined a method of telepathy, so we will carry on thinking the same way. We work during the week and we know what we must do in any case. We think the same way, we see football in the same way, we played together, we know what we want from the team and I think this is the most important thing."

Juventus and Fiorentina have developed a fierce rivalry in recent times following an incident on the last day of the 1981-82 Serie A campaign, when a fortuitous penalty saw the Old Lady pip the Viola to the title, but Carrera is confident that both sets of fans will be on their best behaviour.

"I hope that nothing happens between the fans, and ends with banter, as it should be in football," he added. "There is a rivalry, but I hope everything is sorted in the best way possible. Certainly we are aware of our strengths. We have improved our squad and we know what we have to do. More importantly, we know our aims and that we need to work hard in order to improve.

"We are only on the fourth matchday, and surely the other teams will begin to pick up form. We know that the road is still long."

Moving on to the opposition, Carrera expects to face a Fiorentina side which will employ a similar style of possession football to that of his own team, but concedes their 43-match unbeaten run in the league will act as extra motivation for other domestic clubs.

"It will be a difficult game because we know every team wants to beat us. We will find a team that will almost certainly mirror our style of play," he said.

 

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Pazzini: No regrets over AC Milan switch

Giampaolo Pazzini has revealed that he did not think twice about joining AC Milan as soon as he became aware of the club's interest in him.

The former Inter forward crossed the divide in August in an exchange deal involving Antonio Cassano, but aside from his hat trick against Bologna, he has failed to fire his team toward any other success since his transfer.


Nonetheless, the 28-year-old Italian international remains delighted with his move, and believes he will eventually be vindicated in his decision to leave the Nerazzurri in favor of their archrivals.

"It all happened quickly," Pazzini told Forza Milan. "My agent was contacted by Milan, and I immediately said yes without hesitation. I do not think it was the wrong choice, because from the beginning I made a very positive impression on my new employers."

Pazzini then spoke in length about his last few months at Inter, where he could only muster five goals in a turbulent season under a succession of coaches, before being frozen out of Andrea Stramaccioni's plans during preseason.

"I was disappointed at the end of last season," Pazzini said. "It was a strange year, because we changed coaches many times and I eventually lost my place in the national team, and the European Championship. I realized that I had only a few people I could count on in times of need, and this made me reflect on my position at the club. It helped me a lot.

"Although I trained a lot during the summer, I knew that I was out of the team and would play only one friendly in preseason. I felt excluded from the offset and discouraged, because I was still convinced that I could do a job on the pitch. It was not a good situation, but I found the motivation to continue in the respect that I have for myself."

 

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Mancini: New Manchester City players need time to jell

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has said that his new signings need more time before they become fully integrated into his title-winning squad.

City has started the season lacking the kind of form that saw the club win last season's Premier League title, dropping six points in their first five games. Mancini said that the late arrival of most of his new signings was part of the problem. He also admitted that his side was getting more desperate to secure another win in this opening stage of the season after two consecutive draws and conceded that his team needed to improve to achieve that goal.

"We had new players only in the last two or three days of the market, and maybe these players don't know their teammates well and need time," Mancini told the Daily Mirror. "The second year after winning a championship is always difficult, and I hope we start to win in our next league game, because we need a win. But we need to improve if we are to do that."

City is currently seventh in the league table and faces Aston Villa in the League Cup before travelling to Fulham for a league match over the weekend.

 

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Walcott: Arsenal contract delay not about money

Arsenal attacker Theo Walcott has insisted that his ongoing contract saga is not about money, hinting that it is because he wants to play in a more advanced role more often.


Walcott joined the Gunners from Southampton in 2006 and has made 150 appearances for the North London side, but the majority of them have been as a winger instead of his preferred role as a striker.

The 23-year-old English international is now in the final year of his contract but is rumored to be holding out for a deal worth 100,000 pounds per week, with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City said to be interested. The player has now denied that his financial demands have cause an impasse, though, but he has admitted some unhappiness over his deployment out wide.

“You have to ask the manager [why I haven’t signed a new contract],” Walcott told reporters. “It’s his decision. In the summer I had opportunities to leave, but I didn’t want to go and I have never said I wanted to go. I’ve always wanted to be an Arsenal player, and hopefully something can be sorted.

“It is going to take time, my last contract took over six months to happen, and it is one of those things where you just have to be patient. It has never been a money situation, I am not that sort of player. I have always made decisions about football. If it had been about money, I would have gone in the summer. I love Arsenal and I love playing with my teammates and hopefully something can be sorted and I can get back in that team and get a chance to play up front.”

 

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Rayo Vallecano 0-2 Real Madrid: Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo get Los Blancos back on track

Real Madrid got its La Liga campaign back on track tonight with a 2-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano thanks to goals from Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The teams had to wait nearly 24 hours to get going after the cables to the floodlights at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas in what Vallecano president Martin Presa labeled an act of “sabotage,” but Los Blancos wasted no time when the game finally kicked off this evening, taking the lead just 13 minutes in.

Marcelo’s classy backheel in midfield beat the first line of an anarchic press from the hosts and set Madrid off a sweeping move that ended with Angel Di Maria sending in a low cross for Benzema to tap into an empty net at the back post.

Michael Essien and Luka Modric got the nod ahead of German midfield duo Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil, and Modric almost grabbed his first goal for the club when he found himself unmarked 12 yards from goal shortly before the half-hour mark, but sent his shot straight at the keeper.

Jose Mourinho’s side came into the game on the back of a three-match losing streak away from home in all competitions, having already lost as many games as they did in the whole of last season, and had to survive a scare half an hour in when Iker Casillas did well to stop Andrija Delibasic’s header before Mikel Labaka’s follow up was cleared off the line by the chest of Xabi Alonso.

Rayo had lost its last eight matches against with Madrid, with the club's last victory against Los Blancos arriving 15 years ago, and rallied after going close to an equalizer. As promised by coach Paco Jémez, the hosts’ approach was admirable, but they always looked in danger of being caught on the break.

And so it was Madrid which went closest before halftime, Benzema finding space in the position Ronaldo has vacated before seeing his curled effort batted away by Ruben in the Vallecano goal.

Vallecano should have been level five minutes after the break, when Alvaro Arbeloa’s back-pass was sent straight to Delibasic inside the area, but the big Montenegro international couldn't remain in control with only Casillas to beat.

Benzema appeared to have doubled Madrid’s lead on the hour, only to have his goal ruled out when, after seemingly having stopped for an incorrect offside decision. Di Maria was awarded a useless free kick on the halfway line. Madrid’s inability to control possession in midfield was highlighted by Xabi Alonso picking up a booking for a rugby tackle on Lass Bangoura after they once lost the ball in midfield.

Modric faded out of the game in the second half and was replaced by Ozil with 25 minutes remaining, shortly after Jose Carlos shot narrowly over from outside the area.

Madrid won the corresponding fixture last season by a single goal, with Ronaldo´s wonderful back-heel settling a tight contest. The Portuguese international was making his 47th consecutive La Liga appearance and he doubled his side’s lead from the spot with 20 minutes remaining after his attempted cross hit the arm of a sprawling Jordi Amat.

Ronaldo should have put the game to bed a few minute later, but somehow managed to hit the post with the goal gaping from six yards after substitute Gonzalo Higuain had squared. But ultimately it proved nothing more than a slight embarrassment for Ronaldo during what was an often nervy display from Mourinho’s men. A miserable night for Casado was complete when he was dismissed in stoppage time, picking up second booking after a needless foul on Ozil.

There will be plenty to work on for Mourinho this week, not least his side's propensity to needlessly give the ball away. After the points they’ve already dropped this season, however, that won’t matter tonight.

 

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Lucas Moura: Brazil still adapting to life without former stars

Lucas Moura believes Brazil's struggles to impose itself on the international stage can be attributed to the side still trying to adapt to life without its experienced stars.

The Selecao, under Mano Menezes, have been criticized for their failure to live up to the hype warranted by some of their most prodigious young talents, with a dismal 2011 Copa America being followed up by defeat in the final of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

An injury-time Neymar penalty earned the country a 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Argentina last week in a game limited to domestically based players, and the Sao Paulo winger, who will join Paris Saint-Germain in January, concedes the team faces an arduous task in picking up from where its predecessors left off.

"People are a little impatient I guess, we are performing well, but we had a difficult time against Argentina, because it was a complicated match," Lucas told Goal.com in an exclusive interview. "They kept themselves behind the ball at all times and waited for us to attack. But we worked hard to find spaces, and we were rewarded with the late penalty scored by Neymar.

"I know that the Selecao isn't having its best moments, Mano Menezes is still looking for a way to make this team click. I always said that before you had players like Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Cafu, who were the 'face' of the Brazilian squad. But this isn't happening anymore, and we have to get something similar from the current generation. It's not a simple task regaining the the supporters' trust, but they will play a big part in our World Cup campaign."

Lucas agreed to a reported 45 million euro switch to PSG in August, and he is relishing the prospect of playing alongside world-renowned stars such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and compatriot Thiago Silva.

"It's a fine opportunity to grow as a player and as a person," Lucas said. "That's the sort of thing that I want to experience; to know that I can be on the same side as Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, [Gregory] van der Wiel, [Ezequiel] Lavezzi and [Javier] Pastore."

 

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Rosell: Barcelona is in excellent shape

Sandro Rosell has claimed that Barcelona is in "excellent" shape both on and off the field, after winning its fifth consecutive match league match against Granada on Saturday.

The former Nike executive returned to the Blaugrana in 2010, replacing Joan Laporta as president, and immediately brought about restructuring the club's finances, which resulted in the disclosure of record profits earlier this year, despite the team winning neither La Liga nor the Champions League.

However, they have made a perfect start to this season and Rosell believes the future is bright for the Catalans, as long as his strategic vision at Camp Nou is realised.

"Barcelona are in excellent health, and from an economic point of view we are keeping in check with our strategic plan," he said at a club ceremony on Monday.

"The team is in very good shape. I am very happy and content."

Barca hopes to continue its winning start in the league when it faces Sevilla on Saturday night.

 

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Schwarzer hails 'excellent' Fulham teammate Berbatov

Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has hailed the quality of recent arrival Dimitar Berbatov, expressing delight with the speed at which the striker has settled into life at the club.

Berbatov has enjoyed an impressive opening to his career with the Cottagers, having scored twice in two Premier League starts. Schwarzer singled out the forward, who joined from Manchester United on deadline day, as the club's star signing.

He told the club's official website: “Dimitar Berbatov is an excellent player, everyone knows what a great player he is and he’s been excellent for us since the day he arrived. He’s a top pro who is happy to help out the young boys and I think he’s a massive plus for us and we’ve seen that in the games he’s played.

“When you’ve got new players added to the squad, it’s always important to have that core of a team that have the experience and know what it’s like to play for Fulham Football Club. I think the players that have come into the club have done extremely well."

The veteran goalkeeper was also keen to deflect attention from his own solid performance during Saturday's 2-1 win at Wigan, praising his teammates' contributions.

“It was a really good away performance from us,” Schwarzer said. “We started the game very well and were a little bit disappointed that we weren’t a couple more goals up at halftime. We started a bit sluggish in the second half, but we worked really hard and then scored the second goal.

"You just do your job. You know going away from home that you’re going to be under pressure, and I just get on with it and play my game and as a team we got the result, which is the main thing.”

 

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Casillas posts picture of himself and Ronaldo on Facebook amid fallout claims

Iker Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo have seemingly patched up their differences after a photograph of the duo was posted on the goalkeeper's Facebook account on Monday.


The picture was uploaded following the Blancos' 2-0 Liga win at Rayo Vallecano, in which both the goalkeeper and winger starred, and bears the caption: "You'll have to take this with humor".

It comes in response to a report in El Confidencial Digital, which referred to a dressing-room incident between the pair, which had arisen from the inauguration of the UEFA award for Best Player in Europe, eventually won by Andres Iniesta.

Their relationship was also called into question after Casillas appeared not to celebrate Ronaldo's last-gasp winner in Madrid's 3-2 Champions League triumph over Manchester City.

 

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Klopp: Dortmund has work to do in defense

Jurgen Klopp has voiced his disappointment with Borussia Dortmund's relatively poor defensive performances in the 2012-13 campaign in the wake of Tuesday's 3-3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt.

The reigning Bundesliga champion has conceded six goals in the last two league games, and only Hoffenheim and Stuttgart have conceded more goals at this point.

"We have conceded the third-most goals in the league. This is a terrible statistic. We will approach this problem, and we have a lot of work to do," Klopp said at a press conference.

"The lads have not lost their memory. We just focus on the wrong things. We often were half-a-yard off. We are totally spoiled offensively, but we need to give better protection to our attacks. And if we do that we won't make it so easy for our opponents, even for well-playing ones."

Dortmund currently sits fifth in the Bundesliga with eight points from five games.

 

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Song: You can't say no to Barcelona

Alex Song has stressed that it was impossible for him to turn down Barcelona after the Catalan powerhouse showed an interest in signing him.


The versatile midfielder joined the Blaugrana from Arsenal in the summer transfer window, and even though he has admitted that it was not easy to say farewell to the Premier League side, he did not need long to consider Barca's offer.

"When Barca want you, you can't say no. A train like that only passes once in a lifetime and you have to catch it," Song was quoted as saying by El Mundo Deportivo.

"I first heard about their interest in July. They talked with Arsenal, and Arsene Wenger came to tell me. It was difficult to convince Wenger and to say goodbye, because he helped me and my family a lot when I arrived at the age of 17."

The Cameroon international then looked ahead to the upcoming Clasico, and stressed that he will be more than ready if the coach needs him.

"I don't know whether I will play against Real Madrid. It is up to Tito Vilanova," he said. "We would obviously be stronger with Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique, but I am ready for the task at hand. I've played against Cristiano Ronaldo before in the Premier League."

Barcelona hosts Real Madrid on Oct. 7, but will take on Sevilla and Benfica before then.

 

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Securing Guardiola or Mourinho would enhance Ferguson's Manchester United legacy

Sir Alex Ferguson has never been about short-term success. That is how he has managed to continually recycle and rebuild title-winning teams during nearly 26 years as manager of Manchester United.

It makes perfect sense, therefore, that he is thinking ahead to make sure United is in the best possible shape when he eventually retires - and he is likely to have the deciding say on who succeeds him at Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola are, in Ferguson’s mind, the only two candidates who can take on a job that is virtually impossible. How do you replace the greatest club manager ever, a man who has won 12 Premier League titles?

It is not a task that someone like David Moyes could take on with confidence given he has never won a trophy with Everton.

Nor is it a job for a United legend like Ryan Giggs or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Yes, they are certainly the type of figures who know the club and are worth having in the coaching setup, but the job is too big for them. A few years ago, the likes of Roy Keane, Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes were all being mentioned as potential replacements for Ferguson but would not even make a 50-man longlist now.

No. Replacing the best requires the best. Ferguson knows this, and as he edges towards his 71st birthday in December, Guardiola and Mourinho are the two standout candidates.

They have worked for the two biggest clubs in Spain, possibly Europe, and won domestic and European titles. They have dealt with expectation, handled the tough questions, made the big tactical decisions and bought the right players.

Securing Mourinho or Guardiola could arguably be the most important thing Ferguson ever does for United, ensuring success and progress, eliminating the possibility of a slide into football’s backwaters.

The last time United were the most successful club in the country, they made a mess of the succession as Sir Matt Busby’s shadow loomed too large over managers who did not have the pedigree to stand out in their own right.

Men like Wilf McGuinness, Frank O’Farrell, Tommy Docherty and Dave Sexton all tried but were unable to bring back the glory days as United spluttered for two decades in the 1970s and 1980s, while rivals Liverpool swept all before them.

Ferguson will know that he cannot make the same mistake.

The Scot is doing what he can to help the next United manager, building a young squad with a number of players who are unlikely to peak while he is still in charge.

Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are lined up to eventually replace Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic; David De Gea provides a long-term No.1 goalkeeper; Tom Cleverley, Nick Powell, Chicharito, Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa still have plenty of time on their side.

Ferguson said as much in July, insisting the foundations are in place for United to stay at the top and win major honors once he leaves Old Trafford.

"Of course, there will be life after me," Ferguson said. "Absolutely. Manchester United is an institution and the history of the club forces everything.

"We have support all over the world and that in itself raises expectation levels.

He added, "But it won't be an impossible job to succeed me with the structure we have at this club. It will need an experienced manager – and I don't think the club will choose a young manager because of what the job demands.

"But no one will refuse this job after me – whatever the situation."

Ferguson will know, too, that he must take a step back and let the new boss get on with the job. He will take an ambassadorial role but he must not be seen to be pulling strings behind the scenes, should not be hanging around Carrington talking to players. His shadow will be great enough as it is.

If he does that - and can help secure Guardiola or Mourinho as his replacement - then Ferguson’s spirit will live on for many years to come.

 

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Enrique backs Suso to become a 'top player for Liverpool'

Jose Enrique has praised the burgeoning talents of Liverpool teammate and fellow Spaniard Suso.

After making his senior debut in the Europa League last week, the 18-year-old achieved his Premier League bow against Manchester United on Sunday.

Enrique, impressed by his recent displays, has backed Suso to become a “top player for Liverpool”.

"I know Suso well because we speak Spanish together and I think he is a top player already," he told Liverpool Echo. "He can be a really top player for Liverpool and for any team in the world."

Enrique has become a mentor for his compatriot, sharing with him the importance of working hard.

"I tell him he has to work very hard in the Premier League and work back like all the other players. That is very important, but I tell him if he works hard he has all the qualities," he said. "I think he is ready now. We saw that against Manchester United. He played very well."
Enrique adds that he is also impressed with Liverpool's young starlet Raheem Sterling.

"We knew Raheem Sterling was confident because we have seen him play a few times already, but he surprised me by trying all the things he is trying in matches at 17-years-old.”

After impressing Rodgers in the Europa League, it looks likely that several young players will be given an opportunity to impress against West Brom on Wednesday night.

Enrique believes the club’s young players have the ability to beat the Premier League side, pointing to the 4-3 win over Swiss side Young Boys in the Europa League.

"Every competition is important and we all remember the League Cup well from last season," he explained. "It might be a young team again, but we saw in Switzerland how good the young players at the club are."

 

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Pirlo should retire from international football, says Boban

Former AC Milan star Zvonimir Boban feels it would benefit Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo's form if he retired from international football with the Azzurri.

The experienced midfielder has been struggling to find his best form in the opening weeks of the 2012-13 campaign, and Boban believes representing Italy as well as competing in the Champions League with Juve could be too much for Pirlo at his age.

"I think that it's time for Pirlo to leave some duties behind. He should retire from international football," Boban stated to Sky Sport Italia.

"He has been lacking the brilliance that he showed last year, and I think it may be down to the fact that he has too many commitments. He hasn't had much rest this summer."

Boban then went on to voice his opinion that Fiorentina attacker Stevan Jovetic, who was close to joining Juve in the summer transfer window, is not of the highest caliber just yet.

"He is a superb player and I have no doubts that he would have done well at Juventus had the transfer gone through," Boban said. "Nevertheless. I do not think that he is good enough to be described as world-class."

Jovetic has netted four goals in five Serie A games this term, but was unable to score in the scoreless draw against Juventus on Tuesday.

 

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Manchester United to field youngsters in League Cup, confirms Phelan

Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan has confirmed that the club will likely field a largely inexperienced side against Newcastle United in the League Cup on Wednesday.
The Red Devils have been eliminated at the fifth-round stage in the previous two seasons, but Phelan has insisted the tournament is high on the club’s agenda despite Sir Alex Ferguson’s insistence to include youngsters.

“We've got options and we have to make sure this game helps us involve other players as well as the ones who have been playing in the last five or six games,” Phelan told the club’s official website. “It's important we given them the opportunity to perform.
He added, “We've got a good mix of youth and experience and we want to make sure we perform and the players involved show their abilities and what they can offer.

“The manager has always seen these games as an opportunity to look at progress and to see where some players are at and if they're capable of being part of a long season. The hardest part is giving them the competitiveness and the games in order to prove that."
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has also confirmed that his own matchday squad will also include those on the fringes of the squad, but Phelan is aware the club will not risk its chances to progress too much and is still expecting a number of first-team regulars.

“I don't know what Newcastle will do [in terms of team selection], but over the past year or two teams in general have started to look at this competition as an opportunity, not just to blood one or two youngsters, but to chase the cup and try and win it," Phelan said.

"There's a trophy at the end of it for someone, and we always set out to win every competition we’re involved in."

 

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Dani Alves: I'm looking forward to seeing Messi and Neymar together at Barcelona

Dani Alves is hopeful that Santos attacker Neymar decides to join Barcelona once he makes the decision to leave his current club.

The 20-year-old is one of the most sought-after players around and is continually being linked with a move to Europe as clubs such as Barca, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United and Juventus are believed to be keeping tabs on him.

Santos is hopeful of holding on to their star player until after the 2014 World Cup, but Dani Alves hopes Neymar's future will be resolved before then.

"I hope that the Neymar-saga will end soon and that the outcome will be satisfying for everyone," Dani Alves stated to RAC1.

"I am looking forward to seeing Neymar and Messi play together. He would fit in very well. Barcelona will arguably have the two best attackers in the world with him."

The right back then went on to say the Barcelona squad feared the departure of Pep Guardiola at the end of the 2011-12 campaign would lead to a number of changes, but he's happy that Tito Vilanova has stuck to the Barca philosophy.

"Guardiola has left the team in good hands. We were a bit concerned that Tito would embrace another philosophy, but nothing has changed," Alves said.

Barcelona has won its opening five Liga games of the 2012-13 season and sits atop of the table.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Tim Cahill targets first career league trophy with New York Red Bulls

NEW YORK -- Tucked away, leaning against the walls of Manhattan nightclub Spin, Tim Cahill appears more relaxed than usual.

No, it's not because he's avoided the massive amount of media swarming his well-known Red Bulls teammates Thierry Henry or Rafa Marquez at a party showcasing the new FIFA 13.

Rather, it's the Australian Designated Player's first real night on the town since joining the New York Red Bulls in July.

"To be totally honest with you, it's my first day off in a while," Cahill tells Goal.com. "All I've done is either trained or played since arriving here."

In the past two months, Cahill has traveled across the globe, playing for his national team in Jordan and Lebanon with stops in Houston, Kansas City, D.C. and Boston for the Red Bulls. Cahill's road trips with his former club Everton averaged between mostly 300 to 400 miles. Despite the grueling transition, Cahill hasn't complained much about the lengthy amount of time that he's had to spend on the road.

"I've done the best I can to stay fit and stay in the time zone," Cahill says. "I'm finishing games and training the next. Regrouping real quick. I'm happy with where my body is and the way the season is going."

New York has gone 3-3-2 in the eight games that Cahill has played, with the midfielder scoring a goal and providing two assists. With the league's highest payroll, it will be up to head coach Hans Backe to effectively utilize the 32-year-old if the Red Bulls hope to contend for the MLS Cup.

Cahill believes it's only a matter of time before New York develops a cohesive understanding and pulls together results.

"I don't think much needs to change," Cahill says. "We always look for consistency and want to improve but I think we've got a great team with good players."

If there's is one thing that is becoming obvious about Cahill, it's his desire to finally win a league trophy.

During his eight years with Everton, the closest Cahill came to the Premier League trophy was his first, when the Toffees finished fourth. Still, the Merseyside club was 34 points adrift from title-winning Chelsea FC. For the remainder of his career, Everton hovered consistently between fifth and ninth place in the Premier League.

So Cahill is intrigued by MLS's playoff structure.

"It gives a lot teams a chance to win a title, which is a pretty unique thing," Cahill explained. "I want to enjoy the whole experience of playing away, playing at home, playing in big games. I just want to see what happens."

With the LA Galaxy proving last season that MLS teams can win with star power, eyes will be focused on New York to see if the club can win its first MLS Cup.

Cahill doesn't pay attention on those expectations, instead wanting to focus on developing his relationships with his teammates and getting comfortable in his surroundings. He says that he's involved with a fantasy NFL league with his fellow Red Bulls players and has already been to both a Giants and a Jets game.

Thus far there are no regrets in his decision to move to MLS and New York.

"I've enjoyed the football. It's been a pretty special place," Cahill said. "It just makes me feel like we can reach the playoffs and go on a really good run. "