Category: Football

West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo has confirmed his interest in signing former Manchester United and Aston Villa midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba.
The Odense player has held talks with the Baggies and watched them in action during Tuesday’s friendly clash at Doncaster.

Di Matteo will hope Djemba-Djemba can make a bigger impact than at Old Trafford and Villa Park where he made only a limited number of first-team appearances.
He said: “Eric has come over to talk to us but we haven’t got anything to announce yet.

“It’s ongoing and we hope there will be a resolution soon. He’s had a good couple of years in Denmark.
“We are looking for players who have experience in the highest leagues whether it is England, Germany, Spain, Denmark or Switzerland.”
Di Matteo is aware that he has to bring in more new blood before the season starts and a striker is a priority.

Roman Bednar, Luke Moore and Simon Cox are all struggling for fitness and a bid to sign Liverpool’s David N’Gog on loan looks to have failed.
Di Matteo said: “It is a big concern to us at the moment. We are working on things but it’s difficult. Everyone is after a striker.
“I’ve been saying since the end of last season that we need more players.”

Ishmael Miller is the only experienced fit striker at present and Di Matteo has been linked with moves for Stoke’s James Beattie and PSV Eindhoven’s Marcus Berg.

West Ham have confirmed they have rejected an offer from London Rivals Tottenham for Scott Parker, with chairman David Sullivan insisting the midfielder is not for sale at any price.

The 29-year-old England international has been linked with a summer move away from Upton Park, with White Hart Lane a possible destination to link up with former Hammers boss Harry Redknapp.

But Sullivan told www.whufc.com: “I made a promise that I would not sell Scott and I will not, for any amount of money, break that promise to the West Ham supporters.

“Scott is not for sale at any price, to anyone. West Ham supporters, for far too long, have had owners that sell their best players and promise one thing and do another.

“This is a new era. We are building a bigger, better West Ham and when we make a promise, we honour it.”

Real Madrid legend Raul has signed a two-year deal with Schalke, the Bundesliga club have announced.

Raul bid an emotional farewell to Madrid on Monday, bringing the curtain down on a 16-year career at the Bernabeu.

The veteran had long been expected to move to Schalke on a free transfer and has now completed his move.

Schalke coach Felix Magath told the club website: “It’s great news for FC Schalke 04, I am pleased that we have succeeded in such an exceptional footballer and world-class striker switching to the Bundesliga for Schalke 04.

“He will be an inspiration. His qualities will help us.

“His commitment is a crucial step in our efforts to strengthen the squad for future tasks, and to restructure. I look forward to working with this good professional.”

Raul was a key part of one of Madrid’s most successful sides ever, winning three Champions League trophies and 16 titles in total, but was only a bit-part player last season and has decided to end his career elsewhere.

The former Madrid captain had been at the Bernabeu since joining their youth team in 1992 and is the club’s all-time top goalscorer, with 323 goals in 741 games.

Raul also bagged 44 in 102 appearances for Spain.

Villa manager Martin O’Neill has confirmed that the club have received an offer for defender Luke Young.
Young was one of half a dozen players made available for transfer at the end of the season if the price was acceptable.
O’Neill told the club’s website: “There has been an offer from a football club which Luke is mulling over and, if it doesn’t materialise, then he would join us (in Portugal for the Guadiana Cup) because he needs to play some football soon.
“We will see how that develops.” The 31-year-old was a key performer during his first campaign at Villa after making a £5million switch from Middlesbrough during the summer of 2008.
But he suffered early injury problems last season, then was given compassionate leave after the death of his brother, and saw Carlos Cuellar cement his position at right-back.
Fellow defender James Collins will have a scan today to determine the extent of the calf injury suffered during last night’s friendly with Walsall at the Banks’s Stadium.
The Wales international was substituted after only three minutes of Villa’s 2-1 success.
James Milner will fly out today with his team-mates to Portugal to prepare for the weekend tournament which will comprise matches with Feyenoord on Saturday and Benfica 24 hours later.

O’Neill indicated after last night’s game that Manchester City “have gone as far as they want to” in terms of signing Milner after having an initial £20million bid rejected.

Wayne Rooney returns to Everton on Saturday with Sir Alex Ferguson convinced his star striker is now one of the world’s best players.

By spending £27million to lure Rooney to Manchester United from the team he supported as a boy in 2004, Ferguson never had any doubts over Rooney’s potential.

Yet there have been times during the intervening years when the 24-year-old did not appear to be developing as planned, especially compared to Cristiano Ronaldo’s meteoric rise.

But, after dragging United along virtually single-handed for most of the campaign, Rooney’s team-mates have come to his assistance in recent times, improving the Red Devils’ performances to such an extent that their star man has been catapulted into the elite group alongside Ronaldo, Kaka and Lionel Messi.

“Over the last month or so his game has just taken off,” said Ferguson.

“Confidence has something to do with it of course but he has been in absolutely incredible form over the last few weeks.

“Before, we said that his goalscoring tended to come in bursts. Now he is far more consistent and goalscoring is the area you always want to be judged as a striker.

“It is the area of biggest improvement and with him doing that you have to put him in the same bracket as all the best players. The evidence is there.”

Ferguson is refusing to budge from his target of 30 goals for Rooney, which, while a significant figure, seems a conservative aim given the England forward’s double at the San Siro on Tuesday took him to 25.

Rooney will certainly be desperate to add to his tally on Saturday.

Despite growing up with Everton posters plastered all over his walls and still keeping a close eye on events at Goodison, Rooney has never been forgiven by the Toffees faithful for abandoning them so early in his career.

At one point he was even abused by a sponsor’s wife, such is the fervour Everton fans retain for their dislike of Rooney.

“He always gets a rough ride there although he is probably used to that now,” said Ferguson.

“There is a special motivation for Wayne to do well against Everton but we couldn’t have him in better form really and it doesn’t matter where we are going.

“He has been the main player. Without a doubt he has been the star for the last few weeks.

“He is in such good form we are going there in great confidence.”

Ferguson will expect Rooney’s hunger to filter all the way through a squad that will elevate Antonio Valencia to a starting slot after a couple of eye-catching cameos recently, including crossing for Rooney’s first goal on Tuesday.

“We gave Valencia a break because it is his first season at Old Trafford and we don’t know everything about him,” said Ferguson.

“He was doing so well for us beforehand and now he is fresh.

“He has come on in the last two games and done exceptionally well so, with Nani suspended, he will start.”

In addition to Nani, United are also missing Rio Ferdinand through suspension.

But Anderson is available after a reserve-team outing last night, while tough-tackling defender Nemanja Vidic is also included.

The Serbian has yet to make an appearance during 2010 after suffering a nerve problem in his leg, leading to claims that he may well be on his way out of Old Trafford this summer, something both the player and his manager have been at pains to deny.

His return is certainly welcomed given Ferguson feels Saturday’s trip represents one of the key games for United, who trail leaders Chelsea by a point thanks to the Merseysiders’ victory over Carlo Ancelotti’s men nine days ago.

“We have a good record there,” observed Ferguson.

“Maybe the atmosphere does help us because it is a real football stadium.

“Goodison Park is an old ground but it has got the football tradition still attached to it.

“The crowd are always very noisy and they will make that noise felt tomorrow.

“But we have experienced that many times before.

“It is a massive game for us, we recognise that.

“Beating Chelsea shows Everton’s potential, so if we could get one, a positive result would be very important.”

Portsmouth manager Avram Grant is ready to accept players being sold behind his back – for the first and last time in his career.

Portsmouth are reportedly £60 million in debt and facing a winding-up petition from HM Revenue and Customs in the High Court early next month.

Those problems have prompted the club to apply to the Premier League for permission to sell players outside of the usual transfer windows.

The likes of Algerian left-back Nadir Belhadj and promising centre-half Marc Wilson have both been linked with moves away to balance the club’s books.

Chief executive Peter Storrie admitted he and Grant nearly walked out of Fratton Park last month, when Younes Kaboul and Asmir Begovic were sold without their say-so.

But the former Chelsea manager is prepared to do his best for the club as long as he is in charge, despite the prospect of his already threadbare squad being further depleted.

On the subject of players being sold behind his back, Grant said: “It has happened to me for the first time in my life.

“I needed to take a decision, and I took a decision to stay and do everything I could for the club.

“There are many things that have happened here that I don’t like. Things have happened here that I never accepted in the past and I will not accept in the future.

“But because of the club and the fans, I am trying to do the best I can with this situation.”

After the high of knocking local rivals Southampton out of the FA Cup last weekend, Grant admits he was brought back down to earth with a bump when he heard news of Portsmouth considering more player sales.

He said: “At the beginning, I thought it was a joke. But now I know it is not a joke.

“I don’t even want to talk about this because I came to this club to do something.

“But every week, or every day sometimes, there is a new thing and I don’t know whether these things are sad or funny sometimes.

“Everything happens after we get a good result – something happened after the wins against Burnley and Liverpool.

“We got a good result against Southampton and I thought nothing could happen now because there is no transfer window. You cannot say there is no creativity at this club.”

When he took over as manager from Paul Hart in November, Grant was not expecting his every wish to be provided.

But he says a string of broken promises have severely hampered his efforts to keep a sinking club in the Premier League.

He said: “I’m not happy with the situation because when you promise something, you need to keep your promise.

“I know it’s not easy in football and I know not 100 per cent of the things I want can be done. But it’s not possible that 100 per cent of the things will not be done.

“I don’t know who is at fault – I am not involved with the financial situation.

“But I’m trying not to think about myself at the moment and I’ll give everything to the team, which is important for the future of the club.

“I know not many people believed I would stay two months ago, but I stayed even though the situation was very bad.”

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed that Craig Bellamy could be available for selection against Liverpool on Sunday.

The Italian has denied a report of a serious rift with the striker, who has been sidelined with a knee injury.

However Mancini said they had a difference of opinion about the way the problem was being managed.

He will now monitor Bellamy’s fitness over the weekend and the Welshman might come into contention and face Liverpool.

According to the report, Mancini screamed at Bellamy after the player refused a request to train on Thursday with one of the manager’s Italian staff.

The Italian apparently then told him not to come back from three months.

That was emphatically disputed by Mancini, who said: “Today Craig is here, working with the physio. It was the same yesterday.

“These things (an argument) can happen in a job. I don’t have problems with Craig.

“I spoke with him in the office and read that I shouted at him. But I didn’t. We just spoke face-to-face.

“He is having treatment at the training ground and if the knee is okay, he will be available for Sunday.”

Mancini insists he can deal with Bellamy’s feisty personality – as he has worked with the best in the game.

The former Inter Milan coach said: “I have worked with players who won the Champions League and the World Cup.

“They had the right attitude and that is very important. So I have no problem with Craig.

“He is an important player for us. I have respect for him and all my squad.”

The Football Association have confirmed Patrick Vieira will serve a three-game ban after the Manchester City midfielder opted not to contest a charge of violent conduct.

The veteran Frenchman escaped punishment at the time after kicking Stoke’s Glenn Whelan between the legs during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium.

But he was charged after video evidence was reviewed and will now miss Barclays Premier League games against Liverpool and Chelsea and the FA Cup replay against the Potters.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said: “Patrick made a mistake as far as I am concerned.

“He will now miss three important matches. It is a big problem for me, as he is experienced, and for Patrick as he needs games.”

Thousands of people are to gather on Merseyside to remember the 96 Liverpool football fans killed in the Hillsborough disaster 20 years ago.

The supporters were crushed to death on 15 April 1989 during Liverpool’s FA Cup semi-final tie with Nottingham Forest at the stadium in Sheffield.

Victims’ families, survivors and players past and present will gather at Anfield for a remembrance service.

During the event candles will be lit for each of the victims of the tragedy.

Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool’s manager at the time, will give a reading and relatives of the victims will be given the freedom of the city by civic leaders.

A spokesman for the club said: “We rely upon the eternal flame of the Hillsborough Memorial to burn some light into the darkest night.”

The service will begin at 1445 BST and a two-minute silence will be held at 1506 BST, the exact time the game was abandoned two decades ago.

The same silent memorial will also be observed in the city centres of Liverpool, Sheffield and Nottingham.

Liverpool Football Club said it will open the lower tier of the Centenary Stand to accommodate the huge number of fans wishing to attend.

At the same event on the 10th anniversary, 10,000 fans turned out but many more are expected for Wednesday’s service.

On the day of the tragedy, Liverpool supporters were in the Leppings Lane end of the ground.

Liverpool fan Trevor Hicks attended the game with this family. His two daughters Sarah and Victoria were killed in the crush.

Since their tragic deaths he has campaigned for justice and is the chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group.

He said: “We’re sick of it, we wish it had never happened. Similarly, we’re sick of all the backsliding, we’re sick of all the lying and cheating, the unfulfilled promises from politicians, from organisations.

“And really we have no option but to keep on doing what we’re doing, because quite frankly a lot of people don’t listen to us.”