26 February 2004

Mourinho Goads Taggart

Porto coach Jose Mourinho has given Man United coach Alex Ferguson a verbal beating to match his
teams magnificent Champions League performance on Wednesday after Taggart complained that
Porto goalkeeper Vitor Baia's playacting was to blame to Roy Keane's red card :

"I understand why he is a bit emotional. You would be sad if your team gets as clearly dominated by
an opponent who has been built on 10% of the budget. Ferguson told me in the tunnel that he thought
Vitor had made the most of it. I said I wanted to see it on television before I would make a comment
but if he was right, I would apologise. However, if he has no reason to make the claim he can apologise
to me. Vitor told me he was diving for the ball, Keane left his foot in and he felt a bit of pain with the
contact. I understand why he is a bit emotional. He has some top players in the world and they should
be doing a lot better than that."

FIFA Crackdown On 2006 World Cup Tickets Scam

"Anybody attempting to sell tickets on the Internet is taking a huge risk because the tickets have not even
been printed yet. " World Cup organising committee vice-president Wolfgang Niersbach

Tickets will be on sale from 2005 and a Munich court recently closed down a website selling tickets for
misleading the public.


25 February 2004

Kahn Vows To Make Up For Blunder

After pissing away 3 points against Real Madrid in Munich, Bayern 'keeper Oliver Kahn has vowed to win
the return leg :

"You just have thoughts of escape on your mind. You simply want to get out of the place. I should be able
to stop a ball like that, period (Roberto Carlos' weak free kick). It was one you could stop without arms
and legs. Whoever knows me realises that I will rise above it in the return leg... So I will win the match in
Madrid on my own." 

Zalayeta Out For Season

Perugia striker Marcelo Zalayeta, on loan from Juventus, will miss the rest of the season after fracturing
his left foot in a friendly match.


24 February 2004

Van Nistelrooy Admits To Missing Beckham

"Becks is missed here at United as a player as well as a person. From what I've seen of him in Spain,
he's doing really well. With the language barrier, it's not easy for a player to make a move like that
but Becks has put in some great performances for Real." - Van Nistelrooy

Russian Billionaire Prepare Roma Takeover

Roma president Franco Sensi has confirmed reports that a Russian oil company (Nafta Moskva) is
preparing a takeover for the cash strapped club :

"There are negotiations taking place but it will be a long process. Even if the Russians arrive then
I will still be here as the honorary President. After all, we just want what is best for Roma."


23 February 2004

Ancelotti Insists He Is In Charge

Following dinner with Milan President Silvio Berlusconi, coach Carlo Ancelotti insists he is in charge
after supposedly being 'ordered' to play two strikers in every match :

"I still feel like the Milan Coach. Exactly how I felt before. I had a good evening with the President
where we spoke about football, ate and I didn’t even have to pay but nothing has changed in the
slightest. In fact, you can say that I always play with two strikers as I have men like Shevchenko,
Kaka, Borriello, Inzaghi, Rui Costa and Tomasson."

Milan Vice President Adriano Galliani told the press Ancelotti was free to coach the team as he sees
fit  - "Nobody tells Ancelotti how the team should play. After all, we love Carlo at this club."


21 February 2004

John Charles Dead At 72

John Charles, considered to be one of the greatest ever foreigners to play in Serie A and a true legend
of the game, has died aged 72 after a long battle against illness. John Charles, dubbed 'The Gentle
Giant' spent five years at Juventus, scoring 93 goals in 155 games. Charles started his career at
Leeds where he spent 8 years, scoring 150 goals. He joined Juventus in 1957 for a then record
fee of €100,000. Charles also won 38 caps for Wales, scoring 15 goals.

Ancelotti Ordered To Play Two Strikers

"This is not a suggestion, but rather an order to anyone who will be in charge of this club.
Milan are a winning team and must therefore always go out there with the ultimate attacking
potential at our disposal. As of Monday this side must play with two strikers upfront or
whoever is in charge will no longer be the Coach of Milan." - Silvio Berlusconi

20 February 2004

Three More Years For Zidane

Zinedine Zidane has extended his contract with Real Madrid until 2007 when he will be 35 years old :

"I'm delighted. It was what the club wanted and what I wanted. For me the most important thing is
to play football and doing that here at Real Madrid is the greatest pleasure I could have."


17 February 2004

Valencia To Sue Ref

30 Valencia fans plan to sue referee Pedro Tristante Oliva for awarding a last minute penalty to
Real Madrid during Sunday's league match at the Bernabeu.

Andres Sanchis, the lawyer representing the fans said :

"We want the error to be publicly acknowledged and compensation paid as professional negligence
has been committed."


16 February 2004

Good News For Ancona - Hedman Injured

Ancona, bottom of Serie A, have finally received some good news - goalkeeper Magnus Hedman,
a recent arrival from Celtic, will be out for six weeks after undergoing knee surgery.


11 February 2004

FIFA Explain 'New' Offside Ruling To Ignorant British Media

"There seems to be misunderstanding in the media, but not among those in the game. This is not 
a new rule (the ruling came into effect in June 2003), it is a clarification of the interpretation of a
rule. Further details of the rule were given to ensure the laws of the game are respected, and to
protect the attacking players."

The rule states that a player in an offside position is only deemed offside if interfering with play,
interfering with an opponent or gaining an advantage by being in that position.

The poor positional sense of your average EPL defender and an over reliance on playing the offside
trap is a recipe for disaster. It's a blessing in disguise because it will force defenders to mark players
instead of marking space. I'm not surprised the dimwits on ITV and the EPL coaches are making such
a big deal over it. They don't know the first thing about defending.


6 February 2004

Van Nistelrooy Staying Put

On suggestions by former team-mate David Beckham to join the Spanish Champions :

"I thank David for his faith. He's a friend but I have just renewed my contract with Manchester United
until 2008 and I haven't the intention of moving. I think it is the same for Totti. I don't see him in a
different jersey than Roma's. I don't know if any club would be disposed to waiting for me. At 32 years
old, when my contract finishes with United, no-one in Italy will probably want me. Anyway, I can't
look so far forward. If I had to indicate a preference, I would say Milan, for Marco van Basten, my
idol and the big connection with Holland." 


3 February 2004

Materazzi Banned For Two Months

Inter defender Marco Materazzi has been given a two month ban for smashing Siena defender
Bruno Cirillo in the face during a clash in the tunnel at the end of last week's match.

Leicester Sign Development Deal With Indian FA

Leicester City have signed a deal with the Indian FA which will see the top Indian players join
the club. Leicester have the largest population of Indian's in England.