Saturday, October 12, 2013
Coaches Ike Shorunmu, Stephen Keshi & Daniel Amokachi
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Messi with a hamstring injury and will be out of play for three weeks
The Argentina international has been sidelined with a hamstring injury but the Catalans are hopeful that he will return in time for their meeting with Real Madrid on October 26 Barcelona have confirmed that Lionel Messi will be out of action for between two and three weeks due to a thigh injury.
The 26-year-old Rosario native opened the scoring in the 21st minute of Saturday's Liga meeting with Almeria but hobbled from the field just moments later. "Leo Messi has a minor hamstring injury in his right leg," read a statement on the Catalan club's official website. "This was confirmed this morning in the Medical Services Sports City.
"The Argentine should be out for approximately two-to-three weeks, forcing him to miss two games that Barcelona has this week: on Tuesday, against Glasgow Celtic, and on Saturday, at Camp Nou, against Valladolid." Messi, who was severely hampered by a hamstring injury during the final stages of last season, should therefore be in line to make his return to action against Osasuna on October 19.
"The Argentine should be out for approximately two-to-three weeks, forcing him to miss two games that Barcelona has this week: on Tuesday, against Glasgow Celtic, and on Saturday, at Camp Nou, against Valladolid." Messi, who was severely hampered by a hamstring injury during the final stages of last season, should therefore be in line to make his return to action against Osasuna on October 19.
Ronaldo: We didn't deserve to win Madrid derby
Speaking after the game, Ronaldo refused to make any excuses for the loss but called for a sense of perspective, despite the fact that Madrid now trail leaders Barcelona and Atleti by five points. "We did not play well; we did not deserve to win," the 28-year-old forward was quoted by Sport.es. "Atletico scored an early goal and won the game well. It wasn't comfortable for us because we had to play against them with all their players behind the ball. So it was difficult to score.
"We should not dramatise this. We should keep our heads up, fight and keep working because we have a lot to win this year." Los Colchoneros have made an excellent start to the season, with matchwinner Costa their star performer, having scored eight goals in the opening seven league fixtures to help his side maintain a 100 per cent record.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Iniesta: I am not at war with Barcelona
Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta
has spoken out about the uncertainty surrounding his future, insisting
that negotiations for a new contract are going according to plan. The club are keen to offer him a renewal on his terms, but reports suggested that the 29-year-old was reluctant to sign a new deal, with his current contract expiring in 2015, and Paris Saint-Germain said to be monitoring the situation.
However, Iniesta has rubbished such claims by restating his desire to end his playing career at Barca, explaining that a new agreement was in the interest of all parties. “There is nothing strange or any war going on between Barca and Iniesta. The club wants me here and I want to stay here,” he said at a press conference.
Iniesta also rejected any suggestion that the delay in negotiations was because of financial considerations, instead asserting his desire to better himself as a footballer during the seasons ahead at Camp Nou. “This has nothing to do with money or whether I am the second, third, fourth or fifth best paid player,” he continued. “What motivates me is knowing that I have some good years ahead in which I can keep improving and growing as a player.”
“The most important thing is that we are all getting to play a role and feel useful,” he said. “Nobody likes being dropped, but it happens to us all.
“You have to take things as they come. The coach has to make his decisions and the first thing on his mind is the decision which benefits the team.”
Thursday, September 26, 2013
AC Milan paying for each mistake, says Allegri
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has rued his side's profligacy in front of goal in the opening weeks of the 2013-14 campaign and feels they have been punished for all of their early mistakes. The San Siro side sit 12th in the Serie A table with five points from as many games and have already conceded 10 goals so far, much to the frustration of Allegri.
"A single point from our last two games means that we have to work more. At the moment it seems as if we're paying for every small mistake," Allegri said at a press conference. "We have got to improve in defence, but also in attack, seeing as we only convert about 30 per cent of our scoring opportunities.
"I can't criticise the team in terms of gameplay. Both against Napoli and versus Bologna we had a lot of chances. The important thing is to keep on getting into the opponent's penalty area as we're doing. "We have to be more careful in defence and work hard." Milan will be looking to return to winning ways on Saturday when they host Sampdoria.
Tottenham can challenge for the title, says Holtby
And Holtby says Spurs are looking forward to Saturday's fixture against Jose Mourinho's side, with the club eager to prove their title credentials to the rest of the league and themselves. "Absolutely, especially for ourselves," the 23-year-old told reporters. "It is very important to win a big game like that to stay up top and give us the confidence we need for the rest of the season.
Arsenal through after shootout drama
West Brom 1-1 Arsenal ( Gunners progress to face Chelsea)
After s 20-year-old German starlet, Thomas Eisfeld gave the away side the lead in the second half, latching onto a perfectly weighted through-ball from Nicklas Bendtner, before the Baggies responded through Saido Berahino.
But with the scores still level after extra-time, the match went to a penalty shoot-out. Serge Gnabry was the first player to miss, giving West Brom the advantage, but Craig Dawson and Morgan Amalfitano both failed to beat Lukasz Fabianski as Monreal converted the final penalty to win the tie.
Steve Clarke made eight changes to the side that beat Sunderland 3-0 on Saturday, with only Youssouf Mulumbu, Scott Sinclair and Stephane Sessegnon retaining their places.
Arsenal too took the opportunity to rest key personnel, with Per Mertesacker and Serge Gnabry the only survivors from the 3-1 win over Stoke City, while Bendtner made his first start for the club in two years.
West Brom had the first chance in the 25th minute when Dawson's looping header from Graham Dorrans' corner required Fabianski to tip over the crossbar. Arsene Wenger's side were then lucky not to have 18-year-old debutant Isaac Hayden sent off. The midfielder’s sliding tackle on Mulumbu was late and robust but referee Robert Madley deemed it only a yellow card.
Bendtner could have wrapped it up in the 97th minute when Serge Gnabry sent him racing clear, but the Dane took too long to get his shot away and allowed Dawson to recover and make a last-ditch tackle.
And with just four minutes remaining, substitute Amalfitano thought he had won it for West Brom but saw his drilled effort cannon back off the bar. Markus Rosenburg went close moments later, before Sinclair sliced a volley well wide from close range.
That meant the match headed to penalties where, after two successful spot-kicks for the hosts and one for the away side, Gnabry saw his effort saved.
But Dawson and Amalfitano both fired wide for the home side, leaving Monreal the chance to win the tie, and the Spaniard made no mistake as he fired high into the roof of the net to set up a fourth round clash with Chelsea.
But with the scores still level after extra-time, the match went to a penalty shoot-out. Serge Gnabry was the first player to miss, giving West Brom the advantage, but Craig Dawson and Morgan Amalfitano both failed to beat Lukasz Fabianski as Monreal converted the final penalty to win the tie.
Steve Clarke made eight changes to the side that beat Sunderland 3-0 on Saturday, with only Youssouf Mulumbu, Scott Sinclair and Stephane Sessegnon retaining their places.
Arsenal too took the opportunity to rest key personnel, with Per Mertesacker and Serge Gnabry the only survivors from the 3-1 win over Stoke City, while Bendtner made his first start for the club in two years.
West Brom had the first chance in the 25th minute when Dawson's looping header from Graham Dorrans' corner required Fabianski to tip over the crossbar. Arsene Wenger's side were then lucky not to have 18-year-old debutant Isaac Hayden sent off. The midfielder’s sliding tackle on Mulumbu was late and robust but referee Robert Madley deemed it only a yellow card.
Bendtner could have wrapped it up in the 97th minute when Serge Gnabry sent him racing clear, but the Dane took too long to get his shot away and allowed Dawson to recover and make a last-ditch tackle.
And with just four minutes remaining, substitute Amalfitano thought he had won it for West Brom but saw his drilled effort cannon back off the bar. Markus Rosenburg went close moments later, before Sinclair sliced a volley well wide from close range.
That meant the match headed to penalties where, after two successful spot-kicks for the hosts and one for the away side, Gnabry saw his effort saved.
But Dawson and Amalfitano both fired wide for the home side, leaving Monreal the chance to win the tie, and the Spaniard made no mistake as he fired high into the roof of the net to set up a fourth round clash with Chelsea.
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