We can't buy until we sell, says Mancini as Man City tighten the purse-strings

Manchester City might have spent more than £600million on new players under Abu Dhabi rule, but manager Roberto Mancini admits he must sell before he can buy when the transfer window reopens next week.

Carlos Tevez, still valued at £40million by City, would command by far the biggest transfer fee and Mancini also hopes to offload defenders Wayne Bridge and Nedum Onuoha.

He is concerned that injuries could derail City’s Premier League title challenge, with Yaya and Kolo Toure set to be missing for a month from mid-January on African Nations Cup duty.

But after more than three years of lavish spending, City’s wealthy owners are insisting on a more pragmatic approach.

‘Now we need to sell two or three players and then we’ll see,’ said Mancini. 

‘We want to sell and after that we may have time to buy someone if it’s possible.

‘But it’s not easy. I ask the owner for Messi but it’s not possible! 

‘Until now we have been lucky because we didn’t have any big injuries. This could be a problem in January because we lose Yaya and Kolo, and I hope we don’t lose any other players through injury.’ 

City have been linked with Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen, Lille’s Eden Hazard and Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote among others, but Mancini claims that clubs routinely ramp up the price when City inquire about their players.

He also admitted that another potential target, Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi, will be difficult to lure from the Italian capital.

‘De Rossi was born in Rome and it’s unlikely that he’ll leave the city,’ said the City boss.

‘There are players that could be good for us, but every time we want to buy a player their clubs ask for lots of money.’ 

City are top at Christmas for the first time in 82 years and will look to maintain their advantage when they visit West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

But Mancini has told his players that they must be mentally prepared to fall behind Manchester United during the course of the title race if they are to succeed in deposing their rivals as champions.

source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Man U calm over Euro reprieve bid

MANCHESTER UNITED are keeping calm about their chances of a return to the Champions League.

Alex Ferguson's side went out at the group stage after losing 2-1 in Basel this month.

But the Red Devils were given a glimmer of hope because of a long-running row between Sion — Basel's Swiss rivals — and football chiefs.

FIFA announced they will suspend the Switzerland FA unless the country's league deducts points from Sion for registering six players signed during a transfer ban.

When a national association is suspended, none of its teams are allowed to play foreign opponents and that would stop Basel meeting Bayern Munich in Champions League's last 16.
But sources believe a compromise will be met by the January 13 deadline.

An insider said: "United can't see it coming to anything."
While the word within FIFA was that any reprieve was "a long shot".

source: www.thesung.co.uk

Mancini fury as Balotelli hits Manchester nightlife ahead of Chelsea clash

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli faces the wrath of manager Roberto Mancini after preparing for Monday night's crucial game at Chelsea with a late night out that ended in the early hours of Sunday morning. 

Italian striker Balotelli is in the City squad for what is arguably their biggest game of the Barclays Premier League season at Stamford Bridge. 

But Sportsmail understands that Balotelli was out until at least 12.45am in Manchester city centre after a Saturday night out with friends.

City yesterday declined to comment on the alleged incident, but did confirm that first-team players are not expected to be socialising less than 48 hours before a game. 

Mancini is known to have a more relaxed attitude than some Premier League managers, but it is clear he will be unimpressed with another lapse in discipline from the controversial Balotelli. 

The 21-year-old was not thought to have been drinking alcohol in the Zouk Bar and Restaurant but was described by one eye witness as behaving 'boisterously' with a group of friends. 

City had their last training session before the clash in west London on Sunday morning, meaning Balotelli will not have had a full night's sleep beforehand. 

Sources at the Etihad Stadium told Sportsmail that Mancini does not have a problem with players enjoying a mid-evening meal out in the run-up to a game.

However, it was also made clear that the City boss will view a night out that ends in the early hours as a step too far. 

Mancini has gone to extraordinary lengths to accommodate Balotelli during the young centre forward's season-and-a-half in England. 

And there have been times recently when the former Inter player appeared to be listening. But this latest episode underlines that Balotelli still refuses to take some things on board. 

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Messi, Ronaldo and Xavi shortlisted for Ballon d'Or

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi have been shortlisted for the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2011, FIFA and France Football magazine have announced. 


Messi won the inaugural award last year after FIFA's World Player of the Year crown and France Football's Ballon d'Or gong merged.

The Barcelona forward is the favourite once more after another stunning season at the Nou Camp in which he scored 53 goals in all competitions.

Argentinian Messi was Barca's top scorer as Pep Guardiola's men retained the Primera Division title and re-claimed the Champions League trophy with a comprehensive defeat of Manchester United at Wembley.

Xavi was the architect of many of Messi's goals, the Barca veteran maintaining his position as arguably the premier midfielder in world football.

Ronaldo also scored 53 times for Real Madrid as they finished runners-up in Spain and lost out to Barca in the Champions League semi-finals.

Guardiola, Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson were shortlisted for the 2011 FIFA Coach of the Year award. 

Guardiola's men were again mesmeric in 2011, sweeping all before them with an attractive style of football. Madrid were their closest challengers, narrowly losing out in the domestic league and in Europe. They did, however, gain a degree of revenge by lifting the Copa del Rey with a 1-0 defeat of the Catalans in Valencia.

In addition to guiding United to the Champions League final, Ferguson also led the Red Devils to a record 19th English championship - the 12th under the Scot's stewardship.

United were also represented in the category for the 2011 goal of the year - the FIFA Puskas award - with Wayne Rooney nominated for his stunning overhead kick against Manchester City last season.

 The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Zurich on January 9, 2012.

source: www.soccernet.com, www.fifa.com

Samir scraps with Frimpong as pair renew hostilities after jeers on Arsenal return

Samir Nasri was involved in a tunnel bust-up with former Arsenal team-mate Emmanuel Frimpong after helping Manchester City reach the Carling Cup semi-finals. 

The pair, who clashed on Twitter when Nasri left for City earlier in the season, gestured to each other as they approached the tunnel after the final whistle of a tie settled by Sergio Aguero's only goal.  

Arsenal denied punches were thrown but a witness confirmed the players confronted each other as they left for the dressing rooms at the Emirates Stadium.

Nasri was jeered by home fans thanks to his £25million move in August but the France midfielder had the last laugh after playing his part in City's first win at Arsenal in  36 years. 

But City manager Roberto Mancini was disappointed with the 24-year-old's display and has demanded an improvement. 

'He can play better because he is a top player,' said Mancini. 'I'm sure he will improve. Sometimes you need time. Maybe it was his first night back at Arsenal and maybe he was nervous, it's not easy for a player who was here for four or five years.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger felt his side had the better chances but were guilty of 'naive' defending when Edin Dzeko broke from a corner and the ball  was worked to Aguero to score. 

'It was not an unfair result but I felt we were a bit naive because it was a corner for us and then goal for them,' said Wenger. 'We looked the winner of the game and it is frustrating because we put a lot of effort in and were not rewarded. But our midfield has battled well and showed quality.' 

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Picture: www.sport360.com

Time for AVB to start praying Bayer Leverkusen 2 Chelsea 1

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS was left praying for help last night as his Chelsea nightmare continued.

After a last-gasp Champions League defeat the under-fire Blues boss admitted: "We are in a negative spiral of results and the team is trying desperately to get out if it.

"Our confidence is low right now and they expect the manager to inspire them.

"That is my job — to motivate and inspire these players to change our fortunes. The responsibility is mine.

Group E

Team	Point
Leverkusen	9
Chelsea	8
Valencia	8
Genk	2

 

"But we will also need our fans behind us for our final group game at home to Valencia. It is a critical moment for the team.

"I think it was an unfair result. Neither team played good football but that's not what matters now.

"What matters is Leverkusen have taken three important points to change the whole nature of this group.

"It is still in our own hands to qualify and we expect to do our job, but Valencia are a team on the up.

"It's tough for a lot of the English teams in the Champions League at the moment. We have been suffering a lot, conceding a lot of goals and we have to get back to winning.

"At the moment, everything is happening to us but there are no excuses."

Villas-Boas revealed Brazilian centre-half David Luiz had to come off midway through the second-half and refused to blame sub Alex for Manuel Friedrich's last-gasp winner.

AVB added: "David Luiz was feeling very dizzy and sick at half-time. He decided to continue for the team but we had to make the substitution.

"Alex is a brave defender and the marking at the corner was correct but Friedrich got that inch to head the ball into our net.

source: thesun.co.uk

Milan vs Barcelona 2-3 Highlights

Highlights of exciting game between AC Milan vs Barcelona 2-3  for UEFA Champion League round 1







Milan vs Barcelona 0-1 ( Mark van Bommel own goal Milan 14′)
AC Milan vs Barcelona 1-1 ( Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal vs Barca 20′)
Milan vs Barca 1-2 ( Messi penalty goal vs Milan 31′)
AC Milan vs Barcelona 2-2 ( Kevin Prince Boateng goal vs Barcelona 54′)
Milan vs Barcelona 2-3 ( Xavi goal vs Milan 63′)

Don't wear club shirts on Napoli trip, Manchester City fans are told

Manchester City have taken the dramatic step of writing to supporters travelling to Italy for next week's Champions League match to urge them not to wear club shirts or scarves. 

City take on Napoli, where visiting supporters have previously been subjected to knife attacks. In a letter to the fans who bought tickets for the match, club officials have also urged them to avoid no-go areas, including the railway station and the Old Centre of the city.

It is the first time City have issued such advice. The move comes after four Bayern Munich supporters were slashed with knives outside the Stadio San Paolo before a Champions League match last month. There were numerous reports of knife-wielding thugs on mopeds carrying out vicious assaults and two more German fans were stabbed in the city centre.

Last year three Liverpool fans were knifed, with two taken to hospital, when they visited Naples in the Europa League. Worried Manchester City officials drew up the advice after meeting officials from police at home and in Italy.

City's letter, signed by the operations manager Steve Sayer, says fans should "take care and use common sense" and "travel in groups where possible".

It says the club is "confident that there is a low risk of problems" but adds: "We would also advise against wearing club colours away from the game, particularly when taking public transport."

Tensions around the televised encounter are set to be high as defeat could see the Italians knocked out of the tournament. No alcohol will be served inside the ground and City supporters will be locked in after the final whistle for 45 minutes.

City said they had been working closely with the British consulate in Naples, Napoli and the Italian police to ensure the safety of their fans. The Premier League club are second in Group A, with seven points, behind Bayern Munich on 10 and ahead of Napoli with five.

source: www.theguardian.co.uk, picture from www.dailymail.co.uk

Top 5 impossible goals

Some goals in the video looked very impossible but they became the beautiful scores.

Forgetful Fabio misses son's wedding due to England match

Fabio Capello just can't stay away from controversy it seems.

First the England manager saw his Euro 2012 plans wrecked by a three-game ban for talisman Wayne Rooney.

Then his captain John Terry was caught up in racism storm.

 

And now he has upset his son's wedding plans by England organising a friendly with world champions Spain.

It means Capello will miss his younger son Pierfilippo tying the knot with long-term partner Tiziana in Milan on Saturday - the same day as the England match at Wembley.

The friendly was originally scheduled for Friday but Spain insisted that the kick off was moved back 24 hours to give their Barcelona contingent more time to recover from Wednesday's Copa del Rey game against L’Hospitalet.

The rules oblige Barcelona to play at least seven recognised first-team players in the tie.

Capello forgot to tell his right-hand man Franco Baldini about the wedding plans when he organised the game with the Spanish federation.

And Pierfilippo, a sports lawyer who works in Milan and negotiated his father’s contract with the FA four years ago, said that the family had been able to see the funny side.

He told The Independent: 'It [Capello missing the wedding] is not a problem, absolutely not. He is a football manager first; he has been that ever since I was a child and sometimes being a football manager can make strange demands on your time. You just have to accept that.

'It will be a beautiful ceremony and a beautiful party. We will all toast him sitting there on the bench at Wembley and look forward to him coming to join us for the celebrations after the games.' 

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

Cristiano Ronaldo is Real Centurion

CRISTIANO RONALDO scored his 100th goal for Real Madrid as they saw off Lyon in the Champions League.

The £80million man reached the landmark haul on just his 105th appearance for the Spanish giants after leaving Manchester United two years ago.

Ronaldo's brace sealed Madrid's place in the last 16 of the tournament and left boss Jose Mourinho purring over his star player.

The Special One said: "It is an incredible record. To score 100 goals for Real is tremendous, especially scoring two goals here in Lyon where we have a negative record historically. I think it's fantastic."

Portugal superstar Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 24th minute by curling home a free-kick.

And he became a Real centurion on 69 minutes when he converted a penalty after Lyon fullback Mouhamadou Dabo had fouled him.

The win put Madrid top of Group D on 12 points — five clear of second placed Ajax, who thumped Dynamo Zagreb 4-0.

But the night belonged to Ronaldo, who is battling Barcelona's Lionel Messi for the World Player of the Year crown.

Argentine ace Messi hit a hat-trick last night in the 4-0 victory at Viktoria Plzen — taking his tally to an amazing 202 goals in 286 matches for the reigning Spanish and European champions.

source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/

Highlight video: Lyon vs Real Madrid : 0-2

Man City owner will pay Mancini's legal bill, if City boss is sued by Tevez

Manchester City owner Sheik Mansour has told manager Roberto Mancini he will personally pay his legal bills if he is sued by his former captain Carlos Tevez.

City are involved in an increasingly ugly dispute with Tevez over Mancini’s claims that the 27-year-old refused to come on as a substitute in Munich in the Champions League four weeks ago.

The Barclays Premier League leaders revealed on Tuesday that they were fining Tevez four weeks’ wages — in the region of £1million — after finding him guilty of five charges in relation to the incident at the Allianz Arena.

 

Tevez has immediately struck back by claiming he will sue Mancini for defamation, maintaining that the Italian’s suggestion that he had refused to play was untrue and therefore slanderous.

However, it is understood that Sheik Mansour is so furious at Tevez’s conduct over recent weeks that he has told Mancini he will foot any legal bills out of his own personal fortune.

City do not privately believe that Tevez will take Mancini to court. Such a move would risk harming the South American’s reputation even further.
 

Yet the club are ready for anything and have told Mancini they are fully behind him. Mancini spoke with City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak by telephone on Tuesday night moments after City announced that their internal inquiry had found Tevez guilty.
It is understood that City’s Arab owners are totally serious when they say Tevez will be banished to the sidelines for two years rather than be sold for a penny less than his £40m value when the transfer window opens in January.

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ and eurosport.yahoo.com
 

Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger want their stars to snub Olympics

ALEX FERGUSON and Arsene Wenger last night told Stuart Pearce: We do not want our players in the Olympics.

GB boss Pearce hopes to call up Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs from Manchester United plus Arsenal's Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs and Theo Walcott.

But he got short shrift from the Premier League's top managerial duo, who insisted London 2012 was a tournament too far. 

Fergie warned Olympic organisers: "Players need their rest, they need their pre-season training. 

"They need their recovery and recuperation from small injuries that they get throughout the season.

"The intensity of the English game is second to none. It is an exhausting, exacting season.

"I don't see how they can possibly get the players up to raise the bar after the season they have had in our game."

Wenger declared: "For me, it is not a real football tournament. The Olympics is for track and field basically.

"If you look at the organisation of the whole summer, it makes life impossible for the clubs and especially the players.

"I would say there is already no real break because of the European Championship and the Olympic tournament."

Wenger then joked: "Why not organise another tournament behind that, so we lose the players again?"

The Olympics is an Under-23 format.

But Pearce can include three over-age stars — possibly Rooney, Giggs and David Beckham, who by next summer will be 37.

For the Olympics, FIFA cannot force clubs to release players. It is up to the stars to seek to play.

Wenger added: "The worst thing is to leave that decision to the players."

The FA have vowed to open 'sensible dialogue' with England's senior clubs and Chelsea chief Andre Villas-Boas and Tottenham's Harry Redknapp appear more sympathetic to Olympic calls.

Villas-Boas said: "Stuart has to decide freely on what he wants."

Redknapp would allow his Wales star Gareth Bale to play for the GB team if the Welsh FA give the OK.

source: Thesun.co.uk, www.bettingexpert.com

Wenger tells Robin van Persie: Please sign new contract

Arsene Wenger last night urged Robin van Persie to sign a new deal after the Dutch superstar insisted he is 'committed' to Arsenal.

Van Persie hit the Gunners' fastest Premier League goal after 29 seconds and won the game with a 25-yard free-kick. 

He has 19 months left on his contract and has so far refused to discuss a new deal.  Fans fear that, come next summer, Van Persie will follow Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri out of the club.  The Dutchman, however, does not appear likely to sign a new contract, leaving Arsene Wenger with another of those agonising choices looming in the not too distant future. Does he sell his captain as he did when Samir Nasri hit the same point last summer? Or does he dig in and insist that his  captain honours the final year of his contract before leaving on a free transfer? The saga has already started.

However, Sunday's Robin van  Persie show the key word was ‘commitment’. He started it by devoting a section of programme notes to his housing situation. He wanted to point out that just because he was selling his house didn’t mean he was about to move to Manchester City.
His house in Hertfordshire is up for sale, he explained, but he has moved into a new one in Hampstead.

Van Persie said: "I am committed to Arsenal and that's how it is. I can see how frustrating it is from the fans' point of view but I am committed.

"This is my eighth year here and if you can say about one player that he is committed, it's me."

 Wenger said: "The ideal situation is he extends the contract. He knows we are ready to talk about it. If he doesn't, you have to respect that.

"What is important is that he plays like he plays.

"We are all here to see special football players and he's a special football player."

More urgently for Wenger, the win hauls Arsenal up to 10th in the Premier League and eases the pressure. Unfortunately for Steve Bruce, it leaves Sunderland in bother, languishing near the  relegation zone.

source: www.thesun.co.uk, www.dailymail.co.uk

Real Madrid's Ronaldo: Those who like football like watching me play

The Santiago Bernabeu star has shrugged off recent jeers and claims that football enthusiasts enjoy his style of play, even fans of his rival from the Camp Nou outfit.

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo believes football fans around the globe love watching him in action as he responds to recent criticism.
 

Ronaldo was jeered and hissed in September's 4-0 Euro 2012 qualifying win over Cyprus in which a number of fans shouted the name 'Messi,' referring to Lionel Messi, the Barcelona striker. 

"These things [the Cyprus jeers] are abnormal things. And, I don't care about them," Ronaldo is quoted as saying by AS.com.

The former Manchester United man shrugged shoulders at the whole affair and insisted he was not affected by it. In fact, he feels everyone loves his game - his message coming just days after former Madrid coach Bernd Schuster said Ronaldo is less selfish now.


"I think that all those who like football are happy when Cristiano Ronaldo is playing," he boasted.

It is an issue which had gone quiet in recent weeks, but following Portugal's 5-3 Group H win over Iceland on Friday, Ronaldo has returned to talk about what happened against Cyprus.
 

Ronaldo could be in action when Portugal play Denmark on Tuesday. His side need just a point from their final group game to secure a place at Euro 2012.  

source: www.Goal.com

No Rio or Gerrard for England

England will head into their Euro 2012 showdown with Montenegro without two of their most experienced players after Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard were both left out ofFabio Capello's squad.

England need a draw in Podgorica on Friday to book their place at next summer's European Championship finals. And Capello has decided they can achieve that mission without two men who have amassed a combined total of 167 caps.

Gerrard had already said he did not believe he was fit enough to be involved after only just recovering from a groin injury. However, Ferdinand was expected to be included after shaking off the hamstring strain he suffered at West Brom in August. 

Jermain Defoe and Joleon Lescott have lost their places, with Bobby Zamora  and Scott Carson recalled to a 24-man squad.

Zamora's only cap came in a friendly against Hungary in August last year, after which he was sidelined after suffering a broken leg the following month. He did return as a substitute for the June qualifier with Switzerland but did not play.

Now 30, Zamora was bizarrely cited by Capello as one of the young players on which England's future rested following their woeful World Cup performance.

Tottenham full-back Kyle Walker is recalled after impressing England coach Fabio Capello with a wholehearted display in Sunday's north London derby, culiminating in a 25-yard drive for the winning goal in a 2-1 victory for Spurs.

Capello has promised that his side will not look for a draw in Montenegro, but aim to take all three points.

"If you play for a draw it is a big mistake, you are defending a result and it is easy then to make silly or stupid mistakes," he told FATV.

"We need to go to win in Montenegro and not to play for a draw."

England squad: Scott Carson (Bursaspor), Joe Hart (Man City), David Stockdale (Ipswich); Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Bolton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Man Utd), Micah Richards (Man City), John Terry (captain, Chelsea), Kyle Walker (Tottenham); Gareth Barry (Man City), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Man City), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Man Utd); Darren Bent (Aston Villa), Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Danny Welbeck (Man Utd), Bobby Zamora (Fulham)

source: www.bbc.co.uk, ESPN (www.soccernet.com)

ALL players have a shelf life — even Frank Lampard

There is talk of a lack of respect towards a man who has played 88 times for his country and made more than 700 appearances for Chelsea and West Ham.

A lot of this is down to the fact Lampard is one of the brightest and most engaging footballers of his generation, not simply one of the best. 

He is courteous, approachable, uncontroversial and unconfrontational, though still extremely tough mentally.  So there is an obvious sadness at the inescapable demise of a popular figure. Yet time waits for no man.

A few weeks ago, an England team without Lampard produced a lively and impressive 3-0 win in Bulgaria.

Four days later, with Lampard restored, they laboured to a 1-0 victory over Wales at Wembley. It seemed Fabio Capello's team had taken one of its customary steps backwards.

That Lampard was no worse than James Milner or Gareth Barry is not the point.

As for Lampard's Chelsea career, though he may no longer be an untouchable, it is far from over.

But Andre Villas-Boas was not appointed by Roman Abramovich to maintain the status quo. And no manager is more powerful than in his first few months. There were always going to be high-profile casualties and Villas Boas has to be applauded for the brave decision in replacing Lampard at half-time against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Having lost the first half 3-0, they won the second 1-0.

With Meireles, Ramires and Mata in the side, there is more pace and fluidity in the team and a far better service to Fernando Torres.

Lampard was left on the bench for the 4-1 win over Swansea where 18-year-old starlet Josh McEachran rather than he came on as the third and final sub. The Mail on Sunday reports that Lampard then got up and walked down the tunnel without speaking to his manager. He then departed to prepare for a 60-minute warm-down rather than, as suggested, "storming off" to the dressing room.

Lampard, the arch professional, doesn't do "storming off".

With Torres now suspended for three league matches, both he and Didier Drogba could well start those games.

But the days of the Lampard-Drogba-JT axis of power are over. It wasn't bad while it lasted, though.

source: Thesun.co.uk