..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Wolfsburg 5-1 Krasnodar: Hunt shines in easy win for home side

Wolfsburg kept their qualification hopes in good stead with a 5-1 win over Krasnodar at the Volkswagen Arena on Thursday, which leaves them four points clear in second place of Group H.

After a goalless first half, substitute Aaron Hunt broke the deadlock moments after the restart with a close-range header, before doubling his side’s advantage with a clinical finish.

Wanderson’s breakaway goal in 72 minutes briefly made things interesting, but Joshua Guilavogui replied barely a minute later, and substitute Nicklas Bendtner struck twice in the dying minutes to add further gloss to the scoreline.

Wolfsburg started brightly, and fashioned the first chance of the game after 13 minutes, when Kevin De Bruyne’s footwork saw him move into shooting space, only to miss the far post by inches.Not long after that, Krasnodar responded when Odil Ahmedov ran onto an early through ball, but saw his finish blocked by Diego Benaglio at the front post.

Both sides traded spells of possession, and an acrobatic effort from Wanderson nearly gave the visitors the lead in spectacular fashion, but for a great Benaglio save.De Bruyne then drove forward on the break, feeding Guilavogui on the right, who squeezed a shot about an inch too wide.

Dieter Hecking threw on Hunt for the second half, and the substitute needed only 60 seconds to make an impact, planting a close-range header past an unconvincing Andrey Dikan from Christian Trasch’s cross.

Hunt doubled his side’s advantage soon after, once again profiting from Trasch’s feed, this time racing clear of the defence to tuck the ball under the keeper.With 18 minutes to go, Wanderson slid a similar finish under Benaglio to set a few pulses racing in the stands.However, they needn’t have bothered worrying as straight form kickoff, De Bruyne crossed for Guilavogui to slide home from inside the six-yard area.

With only a few minutes left, Andreas Granqvist fouled Hunt inside the area, giving Bendtner the chance to score from the spot.The Dane was not done, and buried another from close range in injury time to round off a convincing win.

 

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Saint-Etienne 1-1 Inter: Vidic error costs Mazzarri's men

An untimely error from Nemanja Vidic allowed Saint-Etienne to secure a 1-1 draw against Inter in the Europa League on Thursday.

Bayal Sall cancelled out Dodo's opener as Saint-Etienne hauled themselves level on points with Dnipro and Qarabag, four points behind Group F leaders Inter.

Inter took a deserved 33rd-minute lead in Thursday's game thanks to Dodo's cushioned finish. It was the Brazilian's second goal in his last four European appearances, Inter's first goal in open play in five games in all competitions and the first Saint-Etienne have conceded in the group stage.

However, Bayal Sall stabbed home a loose ball 10 minutes into the second half for his first goal in almost a year to earn Saint-Etienne, who dominated the second half and are now unbeaten in five games it all competitions, a decisive draw.

A seven-game goal drought cost Ricky van Wolfswinkel his place in Christophe Galtier's starting XI, while Inter counter Walter Mazzarri rested key players Samir Handanovic, Andrea Ranocchia and Mauro Icardi and included Juan Carrizo, Marco Andreolli and 17-year-old Federico Bonazzoli.

Inter had the first chance after five minutes. Dodo's pass into the hosts' penalty area looked to be running out for a goal kick, but the sliding Bonazzoli's outstretched leg cut it back towards Zdravko Kuzmanovic, who failed to keep his effort on target from close range.

Rodrigo Palacio then intercepted an under hit back-pass, but in taking it round goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier, allowed two defenders to get back and found himself at an acute angle. Bayal Sall passed Palacio's tame shot to Ruffier, who pounced on it rather than blasting it clear.

An indirect free kick was awarded that was rolled to Mateo Kovacic six yards out. The Croatia international thumped it goalwards, but, after it cannoned off the post and into a defender, Saint-Etienne managed to thump it away.

Ruffier then caught a firm Ibrahima Mbaye header on his line before repelling a rasping Kuzmanovic effort.

Romain Hamouma finally produced Saint Etienne's first attempt after 25 minutes, cutting inside Marco Andreolli from the left before firing straight at Juan Carrizo.

It was merely brief respite for the hosts, however, and Inter finally made them pay 12 minutes before the break.

Palacio's header from a right-wing cross was parried by Ruffier, but the rebound fell to Dodo. The 22-year-old Brazilian still had work to do, but his cushioned volley from a tight angle went just inside the post.

Galtier's half-time team-talk seemingly reinvigorated Saint-Etienne and they swiftly equalised.
When Nemanja Vidic failed to clear a corner, Bayal Sall was quickest to react to the loose ball, firing past Carrizo from eight yards.

Saint-Etienne continued to take the game to Inter, with Palacio deflecting a goal-bound Hamouma drive over his crossbar and Kevin Theophile-Catherine forcing Carrizo to make a low save.

Substitute Van Wolfswinkel's quick footwork got him away from Vidic and clean through on goal after 85 minutes, but his close-range shot was saved by Carrizo, who did well to make himself big.

That proved the last opportunity of a game of two halves, leaving Inter on the verge of the last 32.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Asteras Tripolis 1-2 Tottenham: Kane continues prolific form

Harry Kane scored his 10th goal in 14 appearances this season as 10-man Tottenham moved to the brink of securing a place in the Europa League knockout stage with a hard-fought away win against Asteras Tripolis.

Andros Townsend's 36th-minute penalty put Spurs ahead, before Kane, who scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 hammering of Asteras at White Hart Lane a fortnight ago, doubled the visitors' lead with a close-range header that saw him reach double figures shortly before the break.

Asteras rarely troubled in the opening 45 minutes, but the Greek side improved vastly in the second half, with Diego Rolle and Facundo Parra guilty of wasting great chances before Pablo Mazza saw a superb effort rebound off the post.

Their efforts were eventually rewarded in the last minute when Spurs defender Federico Fazio was sent off for fouling Jeronimo Barrales in the area, with the Asteras substitute dispatching the subsequent penalty low to the right corner.

Tottenham held firm, though, and the win leaves them on the brink of qualification for the knockout stages, as another victory at home to Partizan later this month will be enough to confirm their progression.

After struggling to create openings in the early stages, Tottenham saw tentative claims for a penalty waved away by referee Javier Estrada in the 15th minute when Braian Lluy nudged Ben Davies to ground.

The visitors deservedly took the lead shortly after, though. Estrada pointed to the spot when Papa Sankare's hefty challenge sent Townsend tumbling in the area, and the England international duly fired the resulting penalty into the right-hand corner.

Townsend was involved again in the second goal in the 36th minute, as the winger jinked past Munafo on the left and stood up a wonderful cross for Kane to head home.Asteras were much improved after the restart, and Rolle should have halved the deficit when he side-footed wide from eight yards when one-on-one with Michel Vorm - who deputised in the Tottenham goal for the suspended Hugo Lloris.

Mazza then had two great opportunities to score, first cutting inside Jan Vertonghen before shooting wide of the far post in the area, before again bamboozling the Belgian centre-back only to fire straight over the crossbar.Asteras were then perhaps unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Fernando Usero appeared to be pushed in the area by Davies in the 66th minute.

Soon after Mazza went even closer to a deserved Asteras goal with a thunderbolt of an effort from the left of the box that beat Vorm but not the right-hand post.Asteras were given brief hope in the closing stages when Fazio received a second red card in just seven Spurs appearances for shoving Barrales over in the area, before the Argentinian fired beyond Vorm from 12 yards.

It was a case of too little too late for the hosts, though, and Spurs remain on course for the last 32.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

H.Kane patta nehhama match 1kakama wage goal score karanawa​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Everton 3-0 Lille: McGeady-inspired Toffees on brink of qualification

Everton have one foot in the last 32 of the Europa League after cementing their place at the top of Group H with a convincing win over an uninspired Lille at Goodison Park.

Leon Osman gave Roberto Martinez's men the lead in stylish fashion on 27 minutes, gathering in an Aidan McGeady cross at the back post and firing into the far corner.

Captain Phil Jagielka doubled the hosts' advantage three minutes before the break when he met McGeady's corner with a powerful header, and Steven Naismith added a third with a clinical finish to a flowing move.

Everton have now picked up an impressive eight points from their four games, meaning they are one point clear of second-placed Wolfsburg and, more importantly, five ahead of Lille in third with just two group matches remaining.
Everton got off to a strong start and almost took the lead when Romelu Lukaku's powerful drive was turned around the post by Vincent Enyeama.

That set the early tone for the game as Martinez's side dominated.They should have earned their reward in the 15th minute, yet Naismith headed a golden chance over from Aiden McGeady's free-kick.

Scenting an opportunity to capitalise on their opponents' profligacy, Lille came back into the game - epitomised by Tim Howard being forced into a solid save to keep out Ryan Mendes' effort.

Yet that merely served to reawaken those hosts, who took the lead when Osman - selected as one of four changes from the weekend's goalless Premier League draw with Swansea - half-volleyed home after McGeady's right-wing cross had reached the back post.Everton continued to press forward, with Lukaku heading just wide from the impressive McGeady's centre.And Martinez's team grabbed a second just before half-time, Jagielka meeting McGeady's corner with an excellent diving header.

Lille controlled the ball in the early part of the second period, yet Everton almost grabbed a third when Enyeama produced a fine save to keep out Lukaku's 25-yard free-kick.The hosts did not have to wait much longer to score again, however, as Naismith hammered Baines' cross into the roof of the net after a flowing team move also involving Lukaku.

Everton took their foot off the pedal thereafter, yet the ease and control with which they finished the game will have undoubtedly given Martinez more pleasure.And in a moment that summed up Lille's evening on Merseyside, their best effort to get back into the match came in the 87th minute, when Franck Beria shot high and wide of Howard's goal from distance.

 

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Liverpool played our best team against Real Madrid, insists Rodgers


Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is adamant that he "put out the best team" against Real Madrid on Tuesday.

The Northern Irishman raised eyebrows with his team selection for the Champions League clash, dropping a number of first-team regulars to the bench as the Reds lost 1-0.

Rodgers, who revealed that captain Steven Gerrard had undergone a scan a day before the match, insists that he set up his side to win.

"I put out the best team on Tuesday that could get a result," he told the press. "My players were magnificent; I think the criticism is a disservice to them.

"We had a game plan against the best team in the world right now, to stay in the game, [in] control. We then opened up the game with the subs.

"The idea was to be in the game still after 65 minutes, which we did, then use Steven's passing ability, Raheem [Sterling]'s pace and [Philippe] Coutinho's creativity.

"I was very proud of the players and the supporters - over 4,000 of them there giving the team a great backing. The criticism is unfair. To call Kolo Toure, Lucas Leiva or Adam Lallana a 'reserve'? Those players deserve more praise than that.

"I know in my heart that I make decisions in the best interest of Liverpool. The performance spoke louder than any words I can say."

Liverpool host unbeaten leaders Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday but continue to be without Daniel Sturridge (calf), who was not fit enough for an England call-up on Thursday.

"Daniel Sturridge was out on the field with the rehab team today but he's still a way off returning," explained Rodgers.

 

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Walcott, Berahino & Downing named in England squad


Saido Berahino, Theo Walcott and Stewart Downing are the surprise names called up to Roy Hodgson's latest England squad for the fixtures against Slovenia and Scotland.

Walcott made his return from a serious knee injury against Burnley on Saturday, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute in the 3-0 win to end a nine-month absence, but did not feature in the midweek 3-3 draw with Anderlecht.

Nevertheless, Hodgson has seen fit to include the 25-year-old in his 26-man party for the upcoming double-header, with Walcott joining West Brom youngster Saido Berahino in the squad.

Berahino has enjoyed a stunning season to date, scoring eight goals in 13 appearances in all competitions so far, and the 21-year-old, who was born in Burundi, will provide competition to fellow strikers Rickie Lambert, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck.

Downing, meanwhile, returns to the England fold, having played a key role in West Ham's rise into the top five. The winger, who has earned 34 caps, last featured under Hodgson in the 1-0 win over Norway on May 26, 2012, but will join the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Raheem Sterling and Andros Townsend in providing a wide option for the 67-year-old.

Elsewhere, Nathaniel Clyne retains his place in the squad, as does Calum Chambers, while Michael Carrick returns after an enforced absence through injury.

England squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Ben Foster, Fraser Forster

Defenders: Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Calum Chambers, Nathaniel Clyne, Kieran Gibbs, Luke Shaw, Phil Jagielka, Chris Smalling

Midfielders: Ross Barkley, Michael Carrick, Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Raheem Sterling, Andros Townsend, Jack Wilshere

Forwards: Theo Walcott, Rickie Lambert, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Saido Berahino

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Benzema: My best years are still to come

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema feels he still has not reached his footballing peak, insisting his best years "still to come".

The France international has started the current campaign well, scoring 10 goals and picking up five assists in the 12 league and Champions League appearances he has made for the European champions.However, he feels he will keep improving in the coming years.

"I feel good, I'm training hard and things are working well," he told Marca. "I’m only 26 years old, so I really believe that the best years of my career are still to come.

"I’ve always heard that a player hits the high point of his professional career when he turns 26. I hope this applies for me too."The former Lyon star added that the secret to his success is his dedication to training and feels that, although he is a No.9, he loves helping others score.

"For me, scoring goals isn’t the most important thing. What I aspire for is being involved in the collective play so we as a team create chances. There will be times when I score goals, and other times when this won’t happen."I love providing assists to my team-mates. If I see a player in a better scoring opportunity, I’ll pass them the ball.

"I’m pushing myself in training. Before the squad training at Valdebebas, I arrive earlier and work on improving the muscles in my legs. This helps me during matches."

It was Benzema who made the difference for his side when they lined up against Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday, scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory over the Premier League side.The player, though, opened up several chances for team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, who needs just one goal to pull level with Raul and now Lionel Messi, who scored two for Barcelona on Wednesday, on the all-time goalscoring chart for the competition.

Ronaldo failed to find the net, but Benzema says he wants to see his team-mate match his Barcelona rival and the Madrid legend."We didn’t speak about this matter before the game, but sure, I’d like to see Cristiano score. I passed to him as I was keen for him to score.

"There was to be no goal, but, with Cristiano, there’s no need for alarm, if it wasn`t Tuesday, it will be in the next game. The goal is imminent and he’ll break the record for sure."

 

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Ronaldo has overtaken Messi as world's best - Rooney

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney believes that Cristiano Ronaldo has "certainly overtaken Lionel Messi now as the best player in the world".

The Portugal international, a former team-mate of the England forward at Old Trafford, has been in incredible form for Real Madrid in recent years and already has 20 goals in 13 Liga and the Champions League games so far this season.

Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or for his exploits in 2013 and Rooney expects him to retain the trophy this time around.

"I think so," he replied when asked by MUTV if Ronaldo would win again. "He's had an incredible two or three years and I think he has certainly overtaken Lionel Messi now as the best player in the world.

"I'm sure it'll be difficult to give it to anyone else."

Ronaldo heads a 23-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or, which will be awarded in Zurich on January 12.

 

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Redknapp hints at move for Defoe

QPR manager Harry Redknapp has hinted that he would be interested in signing Jermain Defoe from Toronto FC in the January transfer window.

The England international has regularly featured for Redknapp during his career, enjoying spells at the likes of West Ham, Portsmouth and Tottenham.

Defoe left Spurs for MLS side Toronto early this year - registering 11 goals in 19 league appearances for his new club - and has been linked with a return to the Premier League with QPR.

Redknapp confirmed there had been no movement on a bid since a failed attempt to sign the 32-year-old in the summer but hinted at a potential move in the new year.

"I don't think anything is anywhere near being concluded," said Redknapp.

"Tony [Fernandes] the chairman is away, we tried to get Jermain before the deadline [but] I don't think there's any movement on that one.

"He's a player that certainly I'm sure we'd be interested in in January but it depends on the expense of it all and what the deal is really. Only Tony will deal with that so it's up to him.

"I'm a big fan of his, I've signed him enough times. He's a goalscorer and he's obviously a player you would like at your club if possible but the figures would have to be right and everything.

"I haven't spoken to Tony about that yet."

 

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Toure wants revenge against Chelsea


Kolo Toure says Liverpool will be out for revenge when they face Premier League leaders Chelsea at Anfield on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers' side appeared on course to pip Manchester City to the league title last season, only to then suffer a morale-sapping 2-0 home defeat to Jose Mourinho's side in April following Steven Gerrard's costly first-half slip that allowed Demba Ba to open the scoring.

Ahead of this season's first meeting between the two sides, Liverpool trail Chelsea by 12 points.

Yet former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Toure, who impressed in Tuesday's 1-0 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, is relishing the opportunity to do battle with the Blues again.

"They cost us the league, and now we have the chance to beat them – I can't wait for that, honestly," said the Ivorian.

"Is it a chance for payback? Definitely. It's a very important game when you think what they did to us last season."

Chelsea have yet to lose a competitive game this season, dropping their only points in 1-1 away draws with the two Manchester clubs, while Wednesday's draw with Maribor and a tie with Schalke are the only slip-ups in the Champions League.

Having been part of the Arsenal side that became the only team to complete an unbeaten Premier League season in 2004, Toure has additional motivation this weekend.

"It's a great chance to end any argument about [Chelsea] being invincible. But the most important thing is we want to win the game," he added.

"With the squad they have of course they can go through the season unbeaten, but it's not only the quality. It is about mentality.

"Every game is challenging and sometimes things don't go well for you but you need to be able to come back and carry on fighting."

 

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Benatia: Roma are not in crisis

Former Roma defender Mehdi Benatia sees no crisis at the Italian club despite a run of just two wins in their last eight games in all competitions.

Roma suffered a 2-0 Champions League defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich on Wednesday, with Franck Ribery and Mario Gotze on target either side of half-time.

Yet Benatia, whose Bayern side ran out 7-1 victors in the reverse fixture, believes his old club can still qualify from Group E ahead of CSKA Moscow and Manchester City."They're still in the hunt, I don't see where this ‘crisis’ is. They lost to Bayern but I don't see problems," Benatia told Sky Sport Italia.

"Roma are strong, and always will be."Are Roma in trouble? Certainly they've had easier times, but I know the team, and I know the group and the players - they have character, the desire to win, to do well."

With two rounds of games to play, Roma are level on points with CSKA and two ahead of English champions City.

 

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Tottenham winning is all that matters, insists Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino insisted the points were all that mattered after Tottenham limped to a 2-1 Europa League win at Asteras Tripoli.

The Premier League side were in complete control by half-time of Thursday's clash, as first Andros Townsend scored from the penalty spot before turning provider for Harry Kane to head home a second - the striker's 10th goal in all competitions this season.

However, Asteras made life difficult for Spurs in the second half as Diego Rolle and Facundo Parra wasted great chances, while Pablo Mazza saw a shot cannon off the post.

The Greek side were rewarded in the closing stages when substitute Jeronimo Barrales scored from the penalty spot in the last minute after being fouled by Federico Fazio, with the centre-back shown a straight red card.

But despite the Jekyll and Hyde nature of Tottenham's performance, Pochettino was happy to travel back to London with three points and the knowledge victory over Partizan in their next Group C match will book their place in the knockout stages.

"In the first half we were the better side and scored twice," he told ITV. "In the second half they started well.

"We came here to get the three points and we got the result. We knew it would be difficult so it's a good win. The first half was very good but in the second half we needed to be more solid.

"The most important thing is three points. If we beat Partizan we are through to the next round."

 

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Napoli are improving - Benitez

Rafael Benitez says Napoli 's 3-0 Europa League win over Young Boys on Thursday is proof that his side are improving.

The Partenopei had a slow start to the season but have improved in recent weeks, having beaten Roma 2-0 on Saturday before sweeping Young Boys aside to go level on points with Sparta Prague at the top of their group in the European competition.

And Benitez feels the win over Young Boys - with Jonathan de Guzman scoring all three goals - shows they are moving in the right direction.

"For the goal difference, it was important for us to score three goals and not to suffer. Maybe we should have made it even more. I do not want to the have problems as last year in the Champions League," he said, referring to his side's elimination from last year's competition despite finishing level on points with Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund.

"The whole team is growing now, our idea is to take a game at a time, we cannot look too far ahead. Then we'll see where we are."Young Boys are a team that knows how to play, but we worked with intensity and quality until the end. Even Rafael Cabral was good."

Hat-trick hero De Guzman was delighted to make the difference for his side, insisting they deserved the win."We played well and deserved the victory," he said.

"I am very happy with the goals, but we must continue to work hard. We played well in the last few games and that is very important for us."

 

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Liverpool played our best team against Real Madrid, insists Rodgers


Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is adamant that he "put out the best team" against Real Madrid on Tuesday.

The Northern Irishman raised eyebrows with his team selection for the Champions League clash, dropping a number of first-team regulars to the bench as the Reds lost 1-0.

Rodgers, who revealed that captain Steven Gerrard had undergone a scan a day before the match, insists that he set up his side to win.

"I put out the best team on Tuesday that could get a result," he told the press. "My players were magnificent; I think the criticism is a disservice to them.

"We had a game plan against the best team in the world right now, to stay in the game, [in] control. We then opened up the game with the subs.

"The idea was to be in the game still after 65 minutes, which we did, then use Steven's passing ability, Raheem [Sterling]'s pace and [Philippe] Coutinho's creativity.

"I was very proud of the players and the supporters - over 4,000 of them there giving the team a great backing. The criticism is unfair. To call Kolo Toure, Lucas Leiva or Adam Lallana a 'reserve'? Those players deserve more praise than that.

"I know in my heart that I make decisions in the best interest of Liverpool. The performance spoke louder than any words I can say."

Liverpool host unbeaten leaders Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday but continue to be without Daniel Sturridge (calf), who was not fit enough for an England call-up on Thursday.

"Daniel Sturridge was out on the field with the rehab team today but he's still a way off returning," explained Rodgers.

Liverpool at its best when they park the BUS...MY ass

 

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Monaco need to work harder – Jardim

​Leonardo Jardim has challenged his Monaco squad to raise their work-rate if they want to move up the Ligue 1 table.

After 12 matches, Monaco are already 10 points behind leaders Olympique de Marseille after a stuttering start under the Portuguese head coach.

A four-game unbeaten spell has helped their situation, but a midweek defeat to Benfica in the Champions League has raised concerns with Jardim.They face Saint-Etienne in the league this weekend and the 40-year-old expects to see more effort from his players to get back to winning ways.

"It was a tough match against Benfica," he admitted at a media conference on Friday. "The difference was on efficiency, this is our current problem.

"The team needs to work to be more effective. "Saint-Etienne are a very strong team that plays with a great atmosphere at home."My attackers have different qualities that offer me several solutions in every game. Our goal is to make a good game and win."

Jardim is sweating on the fitness of Yannick Ferreira Carrasco after the midfielder suffered an ankle injury in training on Friday, but he is definitely without Dimitar Berbatov for the trip to Saint-Etienne due to a groin strain.

 

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'Mourinho doesn't mind humiliating his players'

Almeria head coach Francisco Rodriguez has launched a scathing attack on the attitude of Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Mourinho won La Liga and the Copa del Rey during his three years with Real Madrid but rarely saw eye-to-eye with the Spanish media or several of his counterparts during his spell in Spain.

Rodriguez has now taken a surprising swipe at the Portuguese, claiming he has no qualms about "humiliating" his players in order to pursue success.

"We all know that he gets a lot out of his teams, although maybe he doesn't have that much affection for them as human beings; we have seen clear examples that he doesn't mind humiliating them," he said during the Nexa Forum on sports management.

Rodriguez also suggested Madrid forward Ronaldo is far more concerned with winning individual awards than Barcelona star Lionel Messi.Ronaldo claimed this week that he enjoys winning such prizes after he collected the Golden Shoe for his goals in 2013-14.

"Messi will be grateful to all of the team-mates he has had during his professional career," Rodriguez added. "The only person I know who is happy to get individual awards, and he said the same thing himself at a ceremony this week, is Cristiano Ronaldo. But he is a very good player and you have to be very good to say that."

 

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Inzaghi demands patience over misfiring Torres

AC Milan boss Pippo Inzaghi has called for patience over Fernando Torres after the striker's underwhelming start in Serie A.

The Spain international has managed just one goal since his summer loan move from Chelsea, but his head coach is adamant the goals will come when he regains match sharpness.

"I believe in Fernando and his way of working. It just takes patience," Inzaghi told a press conference. "He's come from a period of being inactive and he needs to regain match fitness. Hopefully the goals will come tomorrow [against Sampdoria]."

The former striker has also backed Stephan El Shaarawy to recapture his brilliant best after a series of injury problems - though he believes expectations on the young forward and Mattia De Sciglio became too great at the start of their careers.
"El Shaarawy and De Scligio became great players too quickly; now they want the moon," he said. "Yesterday, El Shaarawy had to rest but instead he asked me to train. With this attitude, he'll soon return to doing what he does."

Inzaghi - who revealed Marco van Ginkel is once again available for selection - also insists it is too early to judge Milan's season after their encouraging early form suffered a dip in recent weeks."We must not judge the players now. Everyone has the attitude I like. I get angry with players who are not committed, but they all are," he added.

"It takes patience. It would be nice to be perfect now, but also worrying.
"This year there is a real group, made by great men. This spirit is keeping us excited.

"At the end of December we will look at the standings and take stock of the situation."

 

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'Pellegrini has fallen short in the Champions League'

Manchester City great Dennis Tueart has questioned manager Manuel Pellegrini's tactical nous and Champions League credentials.

A 2-1 home defeat by CSKA Moscow on Wednesday – when City finished the game with nine men following the second-half dismissals of Yaya Toure and Fernandinho – leaves Pellegrini's men bottom of Group E with games against Bayern Munich and Roma to come.

It leaves City – yet to win in this season's competition – likely to require two victories in their remaining two group games to have any chance of reaching the last 16, though even that might not be enough.

Pellegrini is in the spotlight as City have lost three of their last four games in all competitions and Tueart - who scored the club's winning goal in the 1976 League Cup final – thinks that the Chilean's team selections have backfired.

"Well, I think it's an all-in responsibility," Tueart told Perform. "The manager picks the team, he has to assess the opposition, decide what their strengths and weaknesses are and select his team accordingly and, unfortunately, in the last couple of years, at the Champions League level with the manager, he's fallen short in both elements.

"What's come through after the last few games - Newcastle, West Ham and CSKA - is two things. First of all, team selection has to be analysed - whether the team selection we're making is suiting the quality players that are in the team.

"Secondly, without question, the value of David Silva ... I mean, that has been possibly not valued as great but without him we are a different side.

"Yaya [Toure]'s performances have been a little disjointed but I always go back to the [Roberto] Mancini reign when Yaya was at his marauding best, when we played a team selection of two holding midfield players with Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry allowing Yaya to use his element of attacking force and his power and his ability to get forward, without any real defensive responsibilities, with having those two holding midfield players.

"And we very rarely had that team selection again since and it mystifies me why that's not happening.

"I think you have certain levels of qualities when you're a Premier League club. You have the domestic trophies, you have the Premier League competition and you also have the Champions League.

"In each stage, there's a grade above the previous stage and I think we've acquitted ourselves very well in the Premier League but, in the Champions League, we haven't been able to get our strategy right, our team selection right, our attitude right ... all the things you need when you're playing in the next stage of quality."

He added: "When the owners look at the amount of money they've invested in the squad, individual salaries, and individual price-tags, they're quite entitled to expect a better performance and I would sort of understand where they're coming from and say 'we need to address this very quickly'."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Luis Enrique still working on Suarez solution

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has hinted he is yet to fathom a system best suited to accommodate summer signing Luis Suarez.

Suarez has made three appearances for the Blaugrana since completing a four-month ban for biting and is yet to score. His first two games ended in defeats – to Real Madrid in El Clasico and at home to Celta Vigo last weekend – but he did play a part in the 2-0 Champions League victory at Ajax on Wednesday.Luis Enrique has a wealth of talent at his disposal in attacking positions and admits he has not yet found the right blend.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Almeria, he said: "We have been thinking about how to incorporate Suarez into the line-up ever since he joined Barcelona and trying to figure out how to get the best out of the players."But you cannot always put all the players in their best positions.

"[Lionel] Messi, Neymar, Suarez, Munir and Pedro can play in many positions and they are all positive solutions."

The Catalans will be expected to get their La Liga title challenge back on track after successive domestic defeats has resulted in them sliding from top to fourth over the past fortnight.The former Roma coach insisted, however, that it won't be easy despite Almeria winning just two of their 10 top-flight games this season.

"Almeria are a proper rival to us," Luis Enrique added. "They have strengthened their squad and will try to make things hard for us. We are aware they have not yet won at home this season but they’re a better team than they were last season.
"We have no excuses, we have to be better than them."

The Barca boss also insisted there should be nothing read into Gerard Pique's recent exclusion from the starting XI. Centre-back Pique was not in the squad for the Celta loss and only made the bench for the win in Amsterdam.
Reports in the Spanish press suggest that Pique is being punished after he was supposedly caught on his mobile phone during a recent Copa Catalunya match with Espanyol.

Luis Enrique rubbished those suggestions, though, and stated that Pique is doing everything he can to earn a recall.

"He's [Pique] doing everything a footballer can do," he said. "I'll leave it to the press to blow things out of proportion."None of my players have showed a bad attitude since I've been here, in training or in games. I'm happy about that."

Friday’s Spain squad announcement saw five Barcelona players named in Vicente del Bosque’s selection; proof, according to Luis Enrique, that the club is in rude health."There are more Barca players in the squad than Real Madrid. That means we are not so bad," he added.

"This week we have 16 international players and that means I have a unique squad. I'm pleased."