Paolo Maldini has signed a one year extension to his contract
taking him into his 23rd season at the age of 39. Maldini will now retire at the end
of June 2007.
Massimo Ambrosini has signed a two year contract extension until June
2008. Ambrosini had been linked with a move to Real Madrid or Juventus
at the end of the season.
Platini Turned London Giants
"I had proposals from English clubs like Arsenal and Tottenham and
my wife wanted to go to London but I decided against it because you play too many
games in England, and I went to Italy. You don't have such a heavy schedule
in Italy. In five years in Serie A, I was never injured." - Michel Platini
Wenger Questions England's US Tour
"On the one hand you want the England national team to have a
four-week break
before the World Cup in 2006 but then you don't want to give them a
holiday after a
long and exhausting season. I cannot understand the logic of going to
the United
States. Half of the team will pull out anyway and the other half will
be going after
having played 55 games. Next season will start early anyway because of
the World
Cup and that means that the close season this year will be short. I
cannot
understand why international teams who are preparing for the World Cup
have a
busy summer this year. The most important thing is to give the players
a breather."
Arsene Wenger
Moyes Calls for Calm Ahead of Derby
Everton coach David Moyes has tried to play down the importance of
Sunday's
Merseyside derby. Everton are in 4th place, 7 points ahead of
Liverpool.
"I am doing my best to play everything down. We are in a comfortable
position right
now and whatever happens on Sunday we know we will still be in fourth
place,
the position we have held almost all season. Everybody knows the
importance of
the game and I do not need to impress that on anyone. We know that the
position
we are in is the one all but the top three in the division would love
to be in. It is a
healthy position but we also know that if we do not play well that
position will
dwindle away. I am trying to treat the game like any other, and we
will go to
Anfield with our usual attitude and as always we want to win every
game. And that
is what we will try to do on Sunday. I do not think that if we win it
will make it
certain that we will qualify for the Champions League. Even 10 points'
lead on
Liverpool will not be enough because they will not give up the chase.
All I can do
is make sure we keep up the same levels of performance we have been
producing
all season, and I can assure our fans that we will be doing our best
to continue the way we have been playing." - David Moyes
Benitez Rules out Real Madrid Move
"I want to say clearly, I have a deal with Liverpool and I am very
happy here and
grateful to the supporters and the board. My idea is to be here next
season and to
win trophies with Liverpool. People talk a lot, and there are always
rumours about
Spain but I see and hear the people here, the supporters. I am
grateful to them
for their support, as well as the board's. I am very happy here and
want to win
trophies with Liverpool next season and I am not thinking about the
future, I am
only thinking about three points and reducing the gap on Everton. I do
not like to
hear rumours, I want to make it clear I have a deal with Liverpool and
want to stay
here to win trophies." - Rafael Benitez
Ferguson Claims Ronaldo Could be World's Best
"He has enormous talent. He has two good feet, an extraordinary
technique, he
works well and above all he is very fast, These rare characteristics,
which combined
with a little experience, can make him not one of the best, but the
best in the world.
Then there is another aspect: he has enormous courage. He does not get
intimidated
on the pitch. He treats the ball like a toy. He takes pleasure in
playing."
Beckenbauer Considers UEFA presidency
Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer has said he would consider
applying for
the UEFA presidency :
"First of all it needs to be confirmed that (UEFA President Lennart)
Johannson is
stepping down. Then if I have the backing of the DFB and UEFA I am
prepared to
make serious thoughts about the job."
Beckenbauer would be the safe choice given the ideas of the other
leading candidate
Michel Platini include who merging the Champions League and UEFA Cup
into one
knockout competition.
