jose - soccer

Manchester City have been long-term admirers of De Rossi and tried to sign the 29-year-old in the summer, only for him to commit his future to Roma. More recently, big-spending Paris St Germain have been linked with a January move for De Rossi after Carlo Ancelotti praised the player.

Baldini caused a stir earlier this month when he seemingly opened the door for De Rossi's departure by saying Roma would always to listen to offers for the midfielder. However, Baldini has ruled out any sale of the Italy international after conceding he may have been 'careless' with his original comments.

He told Rai Sport: "Maybe I was a bit careless and that has led to this situation, but Roma does not want to sell De Rossi. "I answered a question about what I would do if offers came in. But once and for all, we are not interested in selling." (skysports.com)

The former wife of Daniele de Rossi feels he should quit AS Roma. The midfielder is nicknamed ‘Future Captain’ and is a life-long Giallorossi supporter, but reports of a transfer escalated after his red card in the derby and clashes with Coach Zdenek Zeman.

“As his wife, then as his ex-wife, I always told him to take the money and leave,” Tamara Pisnoli told RTL 102.5 radio. “However, he always replied that he is attached to this jersey, to the team and his city, so could not do that to the fans. Only now he sees those same fans turning against him. “Gratitude doesn’t exist in football, as they all say that Daniele is playing badly without adding that the entire team is not exactly doing well.” (tribalfootball.com)

Liverpool have now knocked both Manchester clubs out of cup competitions in the space of four days, which counts as success in these parts whatever the league situation. Last week Kenny Dalglish was scathing of his players' efforts in losing to lowly Bolton Wanderers, this time the smile was back, at least until he was asked a question about the Liverpool fans' constant booing of Evra. Before considering the football, what there was of it, you will be wanting to know about the chanting. Liverpool obviously won the volume contest. There were far more people singing: "There's only one lying bastard," than were rejoining with: "There's only one racist bastard." With all the pre-match debate focusing on Evra's participation, United's goalkeeping situation had been overlooked, Ferguson sprang a surprise by choosing this high-profile encounter to reintroduce David de Gea to first-team duties. It was not a decision that paid off.

Liverpool began to crowd out the young goalkeeper at corners and took the lead after 21 minutes when Steven Gerrard swung one over from the left and De Gea came for the ball but found himself blocked by Andy Carroll, leaving Daniel Agger an easy header. United had begun the match looking the more threatening, with Antonio Valencia striking a post after a good run, though until the first goal there was little apart from the rivalry between fans to quicken the pulse and almost no chance of the occasion being remembered for the football, as had been the wish of both managers beforehand. Playing with only Carroll up front Liverpool rarely bothered De Gea apart from set pieces, and though United also lacked their usual attacking edge in the absence of Wayne Rooney they managed to get back into the game with a well-worked goal before the interval. Antonio Valencia sent Rafael da Silva racing down the right with a backheel flick and, though José Enrique was still favourite to reach the ball first, the United full-back took on his opposite number and delivered a low cross, met perfectly at the near post by Park Ji-sung with a firm finish that surprised Pepe Reina.

Liverpool had an appeal for a penalty turned down at the start of the second half when Chris Smalling stumbled in the area and appeared to put his hand on the ball in falling, then a minute later a rare chance fell Danny Welbeck's way and he failed to take advantage, pushing the ball past Reina towards an empty goal but not firmly enough to prevent Martin Skrtel arriving to tidy up behind his goalkeeper. Charlie Adam came on for the last half-hour and immediately offered a more direct threat than Jamie Carragher had managed from defensive midfield, launching a high cross intended to test De Gea and presumably gaining encouragement when the goalkeeper fumbled it to concede another corner. When Gerrard tried the same tactic from a similar distance it was clear Liverpool had been instructed to play on De Gea, though the Liverpool captain left the field shortly afterwards, making way for Craig Bellamy. Just when it looked as though the afternoon would end in a tame draw, Liverpool struck. (guardian.co.uk)

Gerrard was replaced by Liverpool's midweek hero Craig Bellamy with just under 20 minutes to go as both sides pressed for a winner. The game looked to be heading towards a draw until Kuyt — another second-half sub — became the hero with his first goal of the season. Reina's long boot forward was flicked on by Carroll over the head of Evra and the Dutch striker found himself clear through on goal to fire past De Gea at his near post. Kuyt should have put the game to bed moments later after Carroll had hit the bar but it wasn't to matter for the Reds who can now look forward to Sunday's draw. (thesun.co.uk)

Real Madrid have emerged as an unlikely candidate to rescue Ronaldinho from AC Milan. According to Sport, sources close to Ronaldinho's brother and agent, Roberto de Assis, have confirmed that he is looking for a change in scenery, at a club of similar stature.

it's clear that the former FIFA World Player Of The Year is unhappy in Italy, as can be seen from his comments while on international duty in Brazil, when he said, "I want a meeting with the directors of Milan at the end of the season." "This has not been a great season for me, but I am a professional and I want to help win titles. I will not speculate on my future until the end of the season."

According to Sport, sources close to Ronaldinho's brother and agent, Roberto de Assis, have confirmed that he is looking for a change in scenery, at a club of similar stature. Of course, Manchester City have been extensively linked with him, but Ronaldinho is thought not to be keen on a move to the club. In addition, Robinho has hardly painted a glowing picture of life at Eastlands to his compatriot.

All of this has alerted Florentino Perez, who is almost certain to take over at the Bernabeu. The ex-Real Madrid president managed to lure Ronaldo, and, of course, Luis Figo to Madrid despite their Barcelona connections, and could fancy his chances again. Ronaldinho's departure from Barcelona was far from amicable, and he could see a move to the capital as the perfect way to get back at Joan Laporta's administration.

The last word, however, goes to Roberto De Assis, who insists that, "Various clubs have contacted us about the possibility of signing Ronaldinho, but everything rests with AC Milan."

Ronaldinho risks the wrath of Barcelona fans with moves afoot to take the AC Milan star to Real Madrid next season. Sport says sources close to Ronaldinho's brother and agent, Roberto de Assis, state there's been contact with Real representatives about a return to Spain. The former World Player of the Year has failed to settle in Milan, where he again started from the bench before scoring in yesterday's victory over Lecce.

While Manchester City are also keen, Ronaldinho would prefer a return to Spain, even if it means upsetting his Barca fans.

(source: soccerway,tribalfootball,goal.com)

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink was delighted with his team's 1-0 victory over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge today, and believes it offers ample proof that the Premier League title race is far from over, especially after Liverpool's Old Trafford mauling of Manchester United on Saturday. The gap between United and Liverpool and Chelsea is now only four points, though the Red Devils do have a game in hand on their immediate rivals. "If it was just four points, it would be very close,” Hiddink told The Times. "They have that game in hand, but it’s clear that after [Saturday’s] unexpected result that the tension has come back in the league, which is good. It’s a boost. "But if we want to track them, we have to keep on winning. That’ll give tension to the end of the league season, which is good for everyone, unless you are [the one being] chased. “It gives a blow [to United]. It depends on their calmness. When you are chased, when you are in the driver’s seat and someone else is coming, and tries to occupy your back seat, then you can get a little bit nervous. The door is a little bit open."

Hiddink also showed his canny side, when he refused to be drawn in to any of the 'wars of words' and so-called 'mind games', so beloved by Alex Ferguson and, to a much lesser degree, Rafa Benitez. He concluded, "I have my head in Chelsea so I don’t want to talk too much about what happened and what went wrong with Manchester United. "That’s a question for Sir Alex. It’s not a battle between the managers, it’s a battle between the players. "They might change their minds about me when I put them on the bench or not even in the squad," Hiddink said. "But there is a good atmosphere of work here and we are very demanding of each other. If they are happy with the way we are working and it's going well with results it's all okay. "I have been very happy not just with the regular starters but with all the other players, who I've been watching and observing. Everyone is committed. "But I made it very clear a few weeks ago - and again recently - what the future will be after 30 May. I don't have to do that again."

Hiddink's side take on Manchester City in the league on Sunday, a match dubbed as the 'Clash of the Cash' due to Roman Abramovich's ownership of Chelsea and the wealthy Abu Dhabi United Group's acquisition of City last September, but while the former's riches have helped establish Chelsea as a dominant force in Europe, Hiddink believes it requires more than money for City to take on the elite four of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and United. "It can happen, nothing is impossible in this country, especially when you have power. But there are also the clubs with history, who have played as champions and fought for championships," Hiddink said. "They have the advantage of their history and the experience of being on top of everyone, if not every year then for a lot of them. This experience is very valuable for the big clubs. It's not easy to come between those teams if they are well managed. "If they continue as they have for the last few years it will be difficult to come in, but it's always good to have more competition for the title." "It's not always a matter of money to make a team. You have to be very careful about positions and the balance of your squad. It is not simply because of money that you have success as a team."

(source: goal, guardian.co.uk)

Tottenham Hotspur bukan termasuk klub hebat di Inggris, jika dibandingkan dengan Liverpool dan Manchester United. Tapi klub berjuluk The Spurs ini pernah memiliki kkebesarn di era 1980-an. Dan, penyihir yang membawa kebesaran itu tak lain adalah Glenn Hoddle. Gelandang yang membuat permainan Tottenham selalu efektif, berbahaya dan menarik.
Padahal ketika Hoddle masih remaja, nyaris tak ada yang memperhatikan kemampuannya. Maklum, waktu itu Hoddle belum memiliki klub karena hanya bermain dari satu klub ke klub kecil lainnya di Middlesex, kampung halamannya. Beruntung ada teman yang juga striker Tottenham, Martin Chivers. Atas sarannya, Hoddle masuk The Spurs sebagai pemain magang. Bahkan Chivers memberi rekomendasi, sehingga Hoddle diterima.
Belum lama magang di Tottenham, manajer The Spurs kala itu, Bill Nicholson dipecat. Ini justru memberi berkah buat Hoddle. Manajer baru Terry Neill, tak memandangnya sebelah mata seperti pelatih sebelumnya. Neill melihat bakat Hoddle luar biasa dan dengan berani memberi kepercayaan kepadanya saat masih berusia 18 tahun. Agustus 1975 ketika Hotspur berjumpa Norwich, Hoddle diturunkan sebagai pengganti Ian Smith. Sejak itu Hoddle sering dipasang dan menunjukan bakatnya sebagai gelandang kreatif dan punya tendangan keras. Lalu memasuki tahun 1976, dia sudah menjadi pemain inti dan mulai tampil penuh saat lawan Stoke City di bulan Februari. Bahkan berkontribusi untuk kemenangan 2-1 tim ibukota lewat gol tendangan jarak jauh yang memperdayai kiper kenamaan Peter Shilton.
Inilah awal kebintangan Hoddle, tak berapa lama dia segera jadi pahlawan White Hart Lane, markas Tottenham. Permainannya selalu mengundang kagum dan punya gocekan maut serta akurasi umpan yang berbahaya. Meski begitu, baru di era 1980-an, Hoddle membawa kebesaran bagi tim London. Bukan cuma dalam negeri tapi juga tingkat Eropa. Puncaknya dia mempersembahkan gelar Piala FA 2 tahun berturut-turut dan trophy Piala UEFA 1983-1984 kepada klub. Publik White Hart Lane ingat betul, pemain kesayangannya ini berandil besar dalam sukses tersebut. Salah satunya pada partai final FA Cup 1982, Hoddle mengukir gol untuk menaklukan Liverpool.
Terakhir, dia memperkuat Tottenham di final Piala FA tahun 1987, namun sayang The Spurs kalah dari Coventry City 2-3. Setelah itu Hoddle pindah ke Liga Perancis bersama AS Monaco dengan transfer 750.000 pounds. Torehan kenangan Hoddle selama berkostum The Whites adalah 490 laga dan mengoleksi 110 gol.
Meski tergolong uzur, 30 tahun, Hoddle ternyata masih tampil bagus berseragam Monaco yang saat itu diarsiteki calon “Professor” Arsene Wenger. Bahkan Hoddle menjadi motor serangan klub. Puncaknya dengan raihan juara Ligue 1 musim 1987-1988. Ini satu - satunya gelar kompetisi liga yang pernah diraih. Usai membantu Monaco merengkuh trophy Le Championnat, cedera lutut kanan yang dia derita sejak di Hotspur sering kambuh hingga Hoddle jarang diturunkan pelatih.
Tahun 1993 dia pindah ke Chelsea sebagai pemain nonkontrak, bertahan dua bulan kemudian hijrah ke klub Divisi I, Swindon. Hoddle merangkap menjadi pemain – manager dan menunjukan kemampuan sebagai calon manager brilian. Berkat sentuhannya pula Swindon promosi ke Premier League season 1993. Musim itu juga dia langsung kembali ke Chelsea juga sebagai pemain merangkap manager. Sekali Hoddle menjalankan tugasnya dengan baik. Chelsea seperti bangun dari tidur dan mampu bersaing di papan atas dengan para raksasa Premiership lainnya. Cedera yang terus menjerat memaksanya pensiun lalu berkonsentrasi sebagai pelatih.
Bagi public White Hart Lane, Hoddle dinobatkan menjadi pemain terbaik sepanjang masa dan rakyat Inggris menilainya sebagai pemain berbakat St. George Cross era 1980an. Memperkuat The Three Lions 53 caps dan 8 goal.

(reference: soccer classic 23th dec03)

All of Italy is reporting it now. At first it was just a crazy rumor. Nobody believed that Kaka would leave Milan for Manchester City. But now it’s slowly becoming official. According to Italian press reports (including Milan Channel, Milan’s official TV station), Milan have accepted Manchester City’s 120 million euro offer for Kaka. Kaka’s father has flown to Manchester to negotiate terms and once that is complete Kaka will be a Manchester City player. Yes, you’re reading right, Kaka will become a Manchester City player. Nobody expected this, but this truly shows the power of money in modern day football. This is similar to Juventus’ sale of Zidane to Real Madrid a few years back, where they didn’t really want to get rid of him, but the offer was too good to refuse. Same scenario here. With 120 million euro, Milan can makeover their whole squad, and fix all the areas of the team that need fixing. The way I see it Kaka doesn’t want to leave Milan, but he knows 120 million can really help the club he loves and he always stated how he’s fascinated by the EPL (he speaks fluent English as well). We’ll see how this all unfolds tomorrow, but right now it’s looking like Kaka is a Manchester City player.

It is being reported in the English tabloid press that Kaka is now expected to join Manchester City next week - though more through pressure than preference. Early editions of Saturday's Daily Mirror claim that Kaka has been "railroaded into accepting the £108 million move."

According to Mirror Sport, the Milan and Brazil playmaker bid an emotional farewell to club coach Carlo Ancelotti when he left training on Friday, and is unlikely to figure in the Rossoneri's Serie A clash with Fiorentina at the San Siro on Saturday night.

It remains to be seen how accurate this report is, but the paper, on its online version, says Kaka's love affair with the Milan club is over, adding that the blow will be softened by a £10m signing-on fee and a £15m-a-year salary. It also says that Kaka’s father and chief adviser, Bosco Leite, will hold talks with City officials in Milan on Monday, but reports claims from the Middle East that Kaka has already agreed to the transfer with Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi-based owners.

Despite the astronomical amounts of money being offered, former World Player of the Year Kaka, 26, is said by Mirror Sport's sources to be unhappy about the move, feeling that he is being pressurised into leaving a team he helped win the Champions League in 2007 for one embroiled in a battle to avoid relegation. City's last major trophy was the 1976 League Cup. Earlier this week Kaka revealed that he hoped to “grow old” with Milan, to whom he is contracted until 2013.

(source: goal, italy.theoffside.com)

Defender Wayne Bridge has become the first signing of what seems sure to be a busy transfer window for Manchester City after completing his expected transfer from Chelsea for a fee in the region of £10 million ($14.5 million). The England left-back completed his medical on Saturday morning and agreed personal terms on a four-and-a-half-year contract, before being introduced to supporters prior to City's FA Cup tie at home to Nottingham Forest. He watched on as his new team were humbled 3-0 by the second-flight side in a big upset.

The 28-year-old Bridge, who largely played second-fiddle to England colleague Ashley Cole during his spell at Stamford Bridge, is expected to make his debut against Portsmouth at Fratton Park next Saturday. "I played alongside Wayne at Southampton and saw him come through the ranks," City manager Mark Hughes told the club's Web site mcfc.co.uk. "He was an outstanding young player and he's progressed year on year in his career. He is an England international and has just played for one of the top four sides in the country. "He is of the right quality and is the type of player we need to attract. We need good players that understand this league and we will look to carry on in that way and add more if we can."

It is expected Hughes will return to old club Blackburn for Roque Santa Cruz early next week as City's Abu Dhabi-based owners begin to flex their vast financial muscle. Manchester City intensified their bid to sign Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn Rovers last night as Mark Hughes looked to reassert his authority over a demoralised squad. Hughes, the City manager, has been forced to contend with a series of problems in recent weeks, having identified Tal Ben-Haim and Elano among those responsible for a growing sense of disquiet in the dressing-room. But having sent a forceful message yesterday to any disgruntled players, it emerged that City have finally established formal contact with Blackburn as they try to secure the signing of Santa Cruz in a deal worth in the region of £15 million. Reports of an £8 million bid to sign Shay Given, the unsettled Newcastle United goalkeeper, were not confirmed by City officials.

John Williams, the Blackburn chairman, was quoted as saying yesterday lunchtime that he had yet to receive a formal offer from City for Santa Cruz, but contact has since been made between the clubs at boardroom level, with Hughes hoping that a deal for the Paraguay forward can be concluded sooner rather than later.

Hughes has spoken to Paul Aldridge, the City chief operating officer, to express frustration over the time taken to complete the proposed signings of Santa Cruz, Kolo Touré, the Arsenal defender, and Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy, the West Ham United duo. City have been frustrated by West Ham’s intransigence and have indicated that they will be forced to look elsewhere if the London club, having sought to sell Calum Davenport to Bolton Wanderers and Matthew Etherington to Stoke City, do not play ball.

The City manager has other targets, having identified Joleon Lescott, of Everton, as an alternative to Touré, and, with the signing of Wayne Bridge from Chelsea completed, Hughes maintains that his squad will be far stronger by the end of the month. He hopes to offload players such as Ben-Haim and Elano, but, in the meantime, has urged the malcontents in his squad to speak directly to him. “All the players know if they have any complaints, they can knock on my door,” Hughes said. “That is how it has always been. You are going to get these kind of stories when things are not going as well as you would like.”

(source: edition.cnn.com, timesonline.co.uk)

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech reckons Arsenal will be out of the title race if they lose to the Premier League leaders at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Arsenal have lost five league matches already this season, have slipped 10 points behind pacesetters Chelsea and Liverpool and are currently not even in the top four. Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger believes the London derby offers a chance for his side to kickstart their title challenge. "Ideally, I do not want to be 13 points behind Chelsea so let's make it seven on Sunday night," he said. "We know that direct confrontations with top teams become vital when you are in our position."


Champions Manchester United are also in action, knowing they can ill afford any slips at local rivals Manchester City. United, eight points behind Chelsea and Liverpool with a game in hand, were beaten home and away by City last season.

Tottenham Hotspur's resurgence under new manager Harry Redknapp will be tested when they host mid-table Everton at White Hart Lane looking to move clear of the relegation zone.

United have only won one of their lat three Premier League matches and Ferguson says they must start grinding out results even if they are not playing at their best. He added: "Results are important and we need to start grinding out results. Last season we had a period where we kept winning 1-0. "If that's the way we need to do it this season, then we need to start doing it very soon. Chelsea and Liverpool are out there at the moment, and it's about us getting back into the race."

United are currently eight points behind Chelsea and Liverpool with a game in hand. The Blues and Reds both dropped points last week only for United to do the same against Aston Villa. Ferguson will therefore hop United can improve on the 1-0 defeat they suffered to City in the corresponding fixture last season.

Stadio Olimpico will be boiling this Sunday as Lazio and Roma go head-to-head in the Eternal City for the season’s first Derby della Capitale.

Things look a little different this season. High flying Lazio are 14 points ahead of their struggling city rivals, who are frighteningly close to the relegation zone. Is the balance of power shifting in Rome? The fierce rivalry between the teams makes this fixture one of the most anticipated games in Italy as more than the bragging rights are at stake. Never mind the Scudetto, beating the rivals is the foremost priority for all Romanisti and Laziali.

The formbook goes out the window on nights like these and all three points are up for grabs. The winners will be the team that shows the most character on Sunday. Emotions steer the path and honor is at stake—in other words, it’s personal.


Disastrous is the way to describe Roma this season. Ten goals produced and eighteen conceded. Totti was back in the scoresheet on Roma’s last outing against Bologna, but unfortunately—so was Cicinho.

After the impressive win over Chelsea in the midweek Champions League clash, three points looked likely on their following trip to Bologna as their long-awaited turnaround seemed to be in the cards. Cicinho’s unfortunate own goal in the stoppages saved Mihajlovic's debut but the Giallorossi remained in 17th place in the league—only one point shy of the relegation spots.

De Rossi is ready for the derby despite having picked up a wrist injury in training on Thursday. The defensive midfielder has been one of the few bright spots in Roma thus far and his participation against Lazio is one of most importance for Spalletti. Cicinho, Taddei, Baptista, and Okaka all failed to take part of Thurday’s training and remain uncertain for Sunday night’s derby. Goalkeeper Doni sustained a head injury against Bologna, but the Brazilian is out of danger and is expected to start against Lazio. Playmaker David Pizarro is sitting out his suspension and Aquilani is ruled out due to a thigh injury.

Roma can make amends with a win against Lazio and get the mentality boost they so desperately need whereas a defeat at the hands of their bitter rivals would not only be a devastating blow to the club but also make life extremely difficult for the players.

(source: http://bleacherreport.com)