Schuster Plays Doen Job Fears

Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster is remaining calm about his future at the Bernabeu despite seeing his stuttering side sink to a new low on Tuesday night with an embarrassing Copa del Rey fourth-round exit at the hands of Segunda B side Real Union.

Trailing 3-2 from the first leg, Madrid were victorious 4-3 in front of their own fans thanks largely to a Raul hat-trick, but it was not enough to save the two-time reigning Spanish champions from tumbling out on the away-goals rule.

That has further increased the pressure on Schuster, whose side had lost three of their previous six competitive games prior to Tuesday's match.

But the German insisted: "I'm not worried about my job, but I understand that others will have some doubts. That's logical with what we are seeing."

However, Spanish media today are suggesting that the former Getafe coach could find himself sacked if Madrid do not beat Real Valladolid in this weekend's Primera Liga match at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla.

If that should happen then technical director Miguel Angel Portugal, the former Racing Santander and Real Madrid Castilla coach, is being tipped to replace Schuster in the hotseat.

Regarding Tuesday night's match, Schuster added: "I don't think there's a problem with attitude, all the players ran and worked hard. The problem is that teams manage to get us into trouble with few chances on goal, which is what has happened in recent matches.

"The problem is that teams score against us from the first chance they get.

"They don't dominate us, they don't really put pressure on us, and without causing us to many problems they manage to score.

"This team is always willing to fight back, but you cannot keep doing it in every clash. It works in one game or two, but not always."

...Read More»»

Elano bemused by snub

Manchester City midfielder Elano cannot understand why he remains on the fringes of the first team fold under Mark Hughes.

The Brazilian quickly established cult hero status at Eastlands last season, with his South American flair endearing him to an expectant fan base.

However, with Sven Goran Eriksson having departed the Blues hot-seat over the summer, the playmaker has endured a difficult second season in England.

His failure to establish a regular role in the side under Hughes has seen him become increasingly frustrated, although he insists that he has no desire to secure a move elsewhere.

Capable
"When I am playing I know what he wants and when I come off there is nothing from him," Elano told Sky Sports News on his relationship with the Welsh coach.

"It's his right, he is the manager. I respect him and I will keep working, arriving on time and doing my duties at the club, but my sadness is not playing.

"I can't hide that from the fans or the president - who wants to make this a big club. I think I have the capabilities to be playing."

Money
With the Abu Dhabi United Group expected to usher in an exciting new era at City, Elano hopes he will be given an opportunity to play his part in any future success.

"City have a big project, they have something which not many clubs have at the moment - money," he added.

"I want to help by playing. I respect everyone here. I have many friends here and get on with the team 100 per cent.

"I respect the manager a lot but I cannot be happy if I don't play."

...Read More»»

Meteb Claims TOFFEES Deal

Emad Meteb's agent claims the Egypt international will be joining Everton in January.

The striker, currently on loan at Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad, saw a summer move to Championship side Bristol City fall through.

But now it is claimed his dream move to England will come to fruition courtesy of a switch to Goodison Park.

"I travelled to England a week ago to agree on the final details of the contract with Everton," his agent Mohamed Hamid told the Egyptian media.

"We agreed on everything. Emad was informed about the course of negotiations, and he is glad about it."

It is claimed Everton could pay as much as £2million to his parent club Al Ahly.

Meanwhile, Everton are understood to have opened contract talks with Jack Rodwell.

The highly-rated 17-year-old's current deal expires at the end of the season and David Moyes is determined to keep hold of the player - who has broken into his first-team this season.

...Read More»»

Cruz Strikes Late For Inter

Julio Cruz's stoppage-time winner snatched all three points for Inter Milan in a disappointing encounter against Udinese at the San Siro.

It is a mark of true champions that they can still grind out results even when things appear to be going against them, and that is what Inter did as they fought to the end in a match that was more about gritty determination than stylish football.

The result was a harsh blow for the Friulians who deserved at least a point, but return to Udine empty-handed and drop three places to fifth in the Serie A standings.

Inter have once again dominated the headlines this week.

A comedy of errors in Cyprus on Tuesday saw the Italian champions draw 3-3 against Anorthosis Famagusta in the Champions League as they capitulated defensively.

Moreover, the Udinese match marked the fourth time on the trot that Adriano had been dropped from the squad, with coach Jose Mourinho insisting it was simply a tactical decision.

Those two facts perhaps played a part in Inter's performance on Sunday as the players were cautious to avoid a repeat of the individual errors that cost them dearly in midweek while they were obviously missing the creativity of Adriano.

Mario Balotelli was one of the few to shine in Cyprus and he almost helped Inter take the lead in the 23rd minute as a great pass from him picked out an unmarked Zlatan Ibrahimovic who had only Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to beat, but a timely tackle from Maurizio Domizzi snuffed out the threat.

Balotelli was again at the heart of the action three minutes later with a good cross in towards Andrade Quaresma but Handanovic was not troubled by the weak low shot.

Udinese could have taken the lead five minutes from the end of a lethargic first half with a spectacular 35-yard thunderbolt from Gokhan Inler which Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar could only parry, but fortunately for him it fell to Walter Samuel who was able to clear the danger.

Inter enjoyed a good chance just two minutes later as Balotelli's free-kick from the edge of the box tested Handanovic who needed two attempts to hold the ball.

The second half was a slight improvement on the previous 45 minutes and Inter had one of their best opportunities shortly before the hour mark as a great save from Handanovic turned away Ibrahimovic's ball to the near post.

The home crowd were growing increasingly restless but they were almost sparked into life in the 66th minute as their team threatened with a fine free-kick from Esteban Cambiasso but Handanovic palmed it away and then managed to hang on to the resultant goalbound header.

The fans were in full voice two minutes later as they screamed for a penalty when Domizzi charged down a shot by Ibrahimovic and it hit his hand, but the referee adjudged it to be unintentional.

Inter should have taken the lead two minutes from time as Javier Zanetti's 30-yard shot crashed off Handanovic's left post, but they finally grabbed a goal in the second minute of stoppage time.

Cruz, who had rescued a point for Inter in Cyprus 10 minutes from time, was again his side's saviour as he headed home a late winner to inflict Udinese's second defeat of the season.

Full Result
Bologna 1-1 Roma (Sat 19.30)
Catania 2-1 Cagliari
Chievo 0-2 Juventus
Fiorentina 2-1 Atalanta
Genoa 4-0 Reggina
Inter 1-0 Udinese
Lazio 3-0 Siena
Lecce 1-1 Milan (19.30)
Napoli 2-0 Sampdoria
Torino 1-0 Palermo (Sat 17.00)

...Read More»»

Own Goal Woe For Roma

An own goal by Cicinho in stoppage time gifted Bologna and new coach Sinisa Mihajlovic their first draw of the season - 1-1 against Roma.

Francesco Totti celebrated his 400th Serie A appearance with a 69th-minute goal, which seemed to be enough to grant Roma their second win in a week, before Cicinho headed into his own net in the second minute of stoppage time.

The result ensures the Giallorossi remain just one point above their opponents, who remain inside the bottom three, and Roma could drop into the relegation zone on Sunday should Chievo or Reggina win.

Torino hauled themselves out of the Serie A relegation zone as Jurgen Samuel's late goal against the 10 men of Palermo helped them to a 1-0 victory.

Toro looked to be heading for a frustrating draw until a red card for Antonio Nocerino seven minutes from time changed the face of the game, and Samuel was able to produce the winner with 89 minutes played.

...Read More»»

Eto'o Heroics Seal Barca Win

Samuel Eto'o struck four first-half goals as Barcelona thrashed Real Valladolid 6-0 at the Nou Camp on Saturday night.

The Cameroon striker was left on the bench for Tuesday night's Champions League draw at home to Basle, but was restored to the starting line-up for this match by coach Pep Guardiola and fired a brilliant quadruple in the first half to set Barcelona on their way to an eighth successive Primera Liga victory.

Eto'o opened the scoring after 12 minutes, adding a second on the half-hour mark and completing his hat-trick in the lead-up to half-time.

The forward then added a fourth goal a minute before the interval to round off a superb first half for the Catalan side.

Eidur Gudjohnsen and Thierry Henry also netted late on to complete a fantastic win for Guardiola's side.

Barca's win keeps them two points clear of bitter rivals Real Madrid, who were also in action on Saturday.


Gonzalo Higuain achieved the same feat as Eto'o by scoring all four goals as 10-man Real won an astonishing encounter 4-3 against Malaga at the Bernabeu.

Higuain was the star man on a crazy night in the Spanish capital, which saw Madrid trail three times and have Sergio Ramos sent off in the first half before the champions finally prevailed to claim their seventh win of the season.

The match was a rollercoaster affair that also produced three penalties, eight yellow cards and enough incident to ensure the encounter will be talked about for a long time to come.

...Read More»»

Keane Fires Reds To The Summit

Robbie Keane netted twice as Liverpool returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League after comfortably brushing aside West Brom 3-0.

Keane had only previously scored twice in the Champions League prior to his 12th league appearance for the club since his £20million move in the summer.


But Keane scored in the 34th and 43rd minutes while to secure the points while Alvaro Arbeloa blasted home another in stoppage-time as the Reds extended their unbeaten home record this year.

Meanwhile Arsene Wenger got the response he wanted as Arsenal bounced back from turmoil to defeat Manchester United 2-1, with Samir Nasri scoring twice at the Emirates Stadium.

Gunners boss Wenger admitted dressing-room morale was low after their draw with rivals Tottenham and defeat to Stoke - but this win breathes life into their campaign and lifts them above United in the Premier League table.

Wenger had Emmanuel Adebayor injured and Robin van Persie suspended. But Nasri provided the attacking threat, taking advantage of slack marking in each half to grab his fourth and fifth of the season.

Rafael da Silva, on as a substitute, volleyed home to give Sir Alex Ferguson's men hope - but there was no repeat of the memorable Spurs comeback.

Thomas Sorensen made a series of fine second-half saves to secure another valuable point for Stoke in a below-par goalless draw with Wigan at the JJB Stadium.

Sorensen pulled off a late double-save to deny both Amr Zaki and Antonio Valencia and also got down well to gather an effort from Emile Heskey.

Tony Pulis' men offered little in the attacking department besides a 55th-minute header from Ryan Shawcross which sailed into the arms of home goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.


Jermain Defoe handed Tony Adams his first win as Portsmouth boss as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Sunderland.

The England striker converted an injury-time penalty after Black Cats substitute El-Hadji Diouf had tripped Glen Johnson.

Algerian midfielder Nadir Belhadj had earlier cancelled out Djibril Cisse's fourth-minute opener six minutes after the break, but the home side wasted a series of opportunities to kill the game off.

Matthew Taylor inflicted a third successive defeat on Hull, but it was Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen who emerged his side's real hero in the 1-0 triumph at the KC Stadium.

For the first time since mid-April Bolton manager Gary Megson can reflect on back-to-back victories after Taylor's 50th-minute half volley was all that separated the sides.

However, such a feat would not have come about but for Jaaskelainen who produced a virtual one-man show for the remainder of the half to frustrate all connected with the Tigers.

Three goals in five minutes capped a sensational Everton fightback as they claimed a 3-1 victory against West Ham at Upton Park.

West Ham looked to be cruising to all three points when substitute Jack Collison scored on his home debut in the 53rd minute.

But an equaliser from Joleon Lescott in the 83rd minute was followed by a superb brace from Louis Saha in the 85th and 87th minutes to crown an amazing comeback by the Toffees.

...Read More»»