AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri has denied that the club would back away from signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic permanently.The Swede’s successful reintroduction to the Serie A, following a poor first season in La Liga with Barcelona, has been soured by on-field disciplinary issues.
Ibrahimovic is serving a three-match suspension for abusing a match official during the side’s win over Fiorentina which resulted in a straight red card.
It was also his second red card in consecutive matches which prompted Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi to publicly express his disappointment with the former Blaugrana player’s behaviour.
But the Rosseneri coach dismissed comments that it could lead to the striker’s departure in the summer.
“I believe that Ibra will stay at Milan and that he has been exemplary this season aside from this month in which he has paid dearly for inappropriate behaviour,” Allegri said.
“He has done extraordinary things above all in the first five months and he’ll get back on track after his suspension.”
“I believe that Ibra wanted to repay us after his initial two-match ban so it’s a great disappointment for him to be suspended again.”
New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson was full of praise for England midfielder Joe Cole, after he made a fine debut for the Reds in the 2-0 home win over Rabotnicki in the Europa League third qualifying round.
Cole lasted the full 90 minutes at Anfield and Hodgson was delighted with the former Chelsea man's performance.
He told the club's official website:"His energy and enthusiasm meant he had a really good home debut.
"Joe is desperate to play. He came here because he thought he might get the opportunity to start more games than he did at Chelsea.
"He is a very enthusiastic, effervescent footballer who the more he plays, the happier he is. He is the type of player who wants to play every minute of every game.
"Whether that is going to be possible is another matter, but it's a good quality to have.
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"Joe can play a lot of positions, but it is going to be a question of where we need him most and how he will fit in best with us and the rest of the players.
"When you have got a player of his quality, you work hard to get him on the field and you put him on the field in a position where he is going to best serve the team."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Manchester City travel to Stamford Bridge on Monday night knowing a win over Chelsea could see them extend their lead at the top of the Premier League.
It will be a tough ask for Roberto Mancini’s men to overcome the Blues in West London following their confidence boosting 3-0 wins over Wolves and Newcastle. Andre Villas-Boas’ side turned the Geordies over in their own back yard last week to lift themselves back into the top four and ease the pressure on their managers shoulders. The former Porto coach’s job had come under increasing scrutiny after home defeats to Arsenal and Liverpool in recent weeks whilst a fall out with owner Roman Abramovich was reported in the press. However they’ve snapped out of their turgid run of form with two encouraging performances and two clean sheets despite still looking shaky at the back. John Terry and David Luiz still don’t look comfortable playing beside one another and the latter was lucky not see red after hauling Demba Ba down in the fourth minute as he bore down on Petr Cech’s goal. What has been most impressive about Chelsea in the last few weeks has been the understanding generated by the front three of Juan Mata, Didier Drogba and Daniel Sturridge. The latter was unstoppable on Tyneside last week as he dominated the right side with his speed and strength seeing him win a penalty and score late on to seal the game. Drogba has also rediscovered his form with another powerhouse display at St James’ Park whilst Mata continues to get better every week. All three will need to be in top form if the Blues are to overcome the lead leaders.
City are simply unstoppable at the moment and chalked up yet another high-scoring win last weak sticking five past helpless Norwich at the Etihad Stadium. It’s now 12 victories from 14 for Mancini’s side who continue to lead rivals United by five points at the Premier League summit and they know extending that is a real possibility should the Red Devils drop points on Saturday. Despite extending their unbeaten run last week they’ll travel to West London knowing they won’t be in for an easy ride against Chelsea. Mancini know the Blues forward line is currently in red-hot form and will be keen for his defence to snuff out Drogba and co at every opportunity and prevent them from even testing Joe Hart. However with the brittle nature of the home side’s defence City will be counting on their attacking players to punish any mistakes made the fragile Luiz. Sergio Agüero was inspired aganst the Canaries last week whilst David Silva produced yet another virtuoso performance. Getting the ball to the Spaniards feet and letting him work his magic will be the key to success in the capital.
Chelsea – 4th
Last Five: Won 3-0 v Newcastle (H), Won 3-0 v Wolves (H), Lost 2-1 v Liverpool (H), Won 1-0 v Blackburn (A), Lost 5-3 v Arsenal (H), Lost 1-0 v QPR (A)
Potential Starting X11: 1. P. Cech 2. B. Ivanovic 26. J. Terry [C] 4. D. Luiz 3. A. Cole 6. O. Romeu 7. Ramires 8. F. Lampard 10. J. Mata 11. D. Drogba 23. D. Sturridge*
Injury News: Villas-Boas has no new injury worries with Michael Essien the only player currently in the Stamford Bridge treatment room.
Key Player: Daniel Sturridge
Sturridge was the star of the show once again for Chelsea putting in another industrious display down the right flank at Newcastle last week. The youngster was a constant menace on Saturday giving Magpies full back Ryan Taylor his toughest afternoon of the season. His speed and strength won the Blues a penalty and a goal for himself at St James’ Park although he could have had more if not for goalkeeper Tim Krul. More terrorising forays down the wing will be expected as he comes face-to-face with his old club.
Match Fact: Chelsea have a good record at Stamford Bridge against City winning nine of the fourteen Premier League meetings between the two sides.
Manchester City – 1st
Last Five: Won 5-1 v Norwich (H), Drew 1-1 v Liverpool (A), Won 3-1 v Newcastle (H), Won 3-2 v QPR (A),Won, 3-1 v Wolves (H)
Potential Starting X11: 25. J. Hart 2. M. Richards 4. V. Kompany* 6. J. Lescott 22. G. Clichy 18. G. Barry 42. Y. Toure 21. D. Silva 7. J. Milner 19. S. Nasri 16. S. Aguero
Injury News: Mancini will be without left back Aleksandar Kolarov for the trip to West London whilst Owen Hargreaves also remains out.
Key Player: Vincent Kompany
With the likes of Agüero and Silva doing the business in the City attack it’s been a relatively comfy ride for Kompany and his back four. However when called upon the Belgian giant has completed his tasks with consummate ease. His strength in the air and no nonsense approach will be key to Mancini’s side coming away from Stamford Bridge with maximum points. His tussle with Drogba will be one to look out for.
Match Fact: City’s record in West London doesn’t make easy reading with only two wins in 14 Premier League visits. Their 4-2 success in February 2010 was their first since they beat they had beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge since January 1993.
Last Time at Stamford Bridge
Premier League 20 March 2011
Chelsea 2-0 Manchester City
Luiz (78) Ramires (90)
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Attendance: 41,741
Referee: Chris Foy
PREDICTION
Chelsea’s win over Newcastle last week will have boosted their confidence and lifted the pressure even further of Villas-Boas’ shoulders. With Sturridge, Drogba and Mata leading the attack they have the quality to beat the league leaders. However City are unstoppable at this current time and they don’t look like letting their momentum cease for a second. They’ll be coming out all guns blazing as they look to maintain their advantage at the top ahead of rivals United.
There is a common opinion that footballers are lazy, greedy and arrogant. This is a cheap and easy band wagon to jump on and I want to stress that not all footballers are like this. I understand that footballers are paid to play football and you might think they should be judged on that alone. But, whether they want to be or not, footballers are heroes to kids all across the world and that makes them role models too.
While some footballers are lovely, highly respectable professionals, some are far from that. The worst role models are those who are high profile players, likely to be idolised by thousands of kids. From cheating to being arrested, the ways some players represent themselves is shameful. Here are the top ten footballers who are the worst role models.
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Click on Barton below to see the Top TEN
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Veteran defender Sol Campbell looks set to sign for Newcastle United ahead of the new Premier League season.
The 35-year-old former England international had been in talks with both Sunderland and Celtic alongside Arsenal where he ended last season.
However, he appears to have settled on the Magpies where he is now expected to sign a one-year contract at St James' Park.
Campbell arrived in the north-east on Tuesday morning prior to a medical before being confirmed as manager Chris Hughton's third signing of the summer.
Hughton has added utility man James Perch and former Everton full-back Dan Gosling to his ranks in recent weeks.
However, with first-choice centre-back Steven Taylor struggling with a shoulder injury ahead of the new campaign, the current squad is short on numbers at the back.
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"If I look at what we've got at this moment, defence is probably the area where we're a little bit light," admitted Hughton on Monday.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Liverpool talisman Steven Gerrard has suffered another injury blow, as his club have confirmed that he will be on the sidelines with an ankle injury for a number of weeks.
After seven months on the treatment table due to a groin operation, the England international returned to fitness at Anfield and scored against Manchester United in his first match back in the Reds’ starting line-up last month.
However, the midfielder picked up a new knock in training last week, and missed Liverpool’s 2-0 win over West Brom at the weekend.
It has been revealed that Gerrard’s ankle injury has become infected, and that he will miss a number of weeks of action.
“Steven Gerrard has now undergone treatment to clear out all infection from his right ankle, which has been placed in a protective plaster cast,” a statement on the club’s official website reads.
“The player will not be available for this weekend’s game against Swansea City or for the upcoming England friendlies against Spain and Sweden.
“Steven will now continue his rehabilitation programme under the guidance of the club’s medical staff,” it concluded.
The 31-year-old will be frustrated by the setback, and it will be a blow for Liverpool in their ambitions to finish in the top four.
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Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has survived a knife attack in a Spanish airport that left his bodyguard with a 4cm stab wound.Former Chelsea manager Mourinho was moving through the La Coruna airport and signing autographs for Real fans when a man armed with a knife approached. One of Mourinho’s minders thought he had been punched by the attacker as they moved through the crowd before discovering a wound near his armpit when they boarded the team bus. Mourinho was only told about the full extent of the incident on Friday, a week after it happened. Police are investigating the attack using security camera footage from the airport. El Periodico reported: “Mourinho stopped to sign autographs in arrivals, where a large number of Madrid fans were waiting for the team.””The bodyguard was near the manager and noticed he had been stabbed in the armpit. Mourinho was very worried by the incident.” The club said it suspects the attack was intended for Mourinho. It will arrange increased security around its coach while police investigate.
Spain international Cesc Fabregas looks set to stay at Arsenal for at least one more season after new Barcelona president Sandro Rosell admitted his club may not have the funds to afford him this summer.
Rosell has confirmed that there are currently no talks between the two sides over a deal for the Gunners captain, who left the Camp Nou for north London when he was only 16.
Barca had a reported Euros 29million bid for Fabregas turned down by the Gunners earlier this summer while it was suggested that the player's failure to oust Xavi and Andres Iniesta from the Spain side at this summer's World Cup finals, prompted him to have a change of heart about leaving Arsenal.
"Arsenal feels very hurt by Barca," Rosell told Catalan TV3."They don't want to listen to offers or sell and they are not putting the player (Fabregas) on the market.
"There was a strong dispute a few months ago and they have not forgotten it. He (Fabregas) will arrive, even if it is not now, it will be next year. We will see.
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"One thing that is certain is that we will not go mad trying to sign him. No shareholder would pay Euros 60 or 70million for him. We will not go all out for him. We would only pay his value in the transfer market."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish has backed Alan Hutton after the defender injured West Brom’s Shane Long, and has urged him to continue his swashbuckling style of play.
The Scotland international right-back came under criticism after a strong challenge left Long with a knee injury in The Baggies 2-1 win at Villa Park last weekend, with Roy Hodgson in particular vocal in his displeasure.
Despite this, McLeish has stated that it was a 50-50 challenge, and that Hutton was right to go for the ball as he did.
“The unfortunate thing for Hutton was that Shane Long got injured. We are sorry about that outcome,” the former Birmingham manager told Mirror Football.
“But there are tackles like that that go on every week and when there is not an injury at the end of it nobody says anything. The ball was there – Hutton had to stretch for it more than Shane did.
“Unfortunately, you can’t, all of a sudden, reverse the momentum of your body and not make some kind of collision.
“Alan was in a leg-break himself in a tackle with Garry Hay, a Kilmarnock player, six years ago, when I was at Rangers. It was two players sliding in and Alan got a broken leg out of it. So Alan is not that kind of player to do anything deliberately,” he stated.
Despite the criticism, Hutton is set to feature for Villa this weekend against Sunderland at The Stadium of Light.
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Last Sunday lunchtime, Liverpool Football Club burst back onto the English footballing scene in a massive way. In no uncertain terms, Liverpool gave Manchester United a good hiding. Liverpool were up for it, they hassled Manchester United, and when in possession, the movement of Dirk Kuyt, Luis Suarez and Raul Meireles was too much for a Manchester United side who lacked so much, but most of all, passion. Liverpool were simply awesome. Even Steven Gerrard was allowed a poor game, that was how good Liverpool were.
Under Roy Hodgson Liverpool lacked passion. From Hicks and Gillett, to Roy Hodgson himself and down to the players – Liverpool where going nowhere, fast. Since the arrival of Kenny Dalglish, there is a positive energy coming out of Anfield. January signalled both the managers and the clubs intent. Liverpool spent big, and spent well in the transfer window. Kenny Dalglish has motivated his side, they are playing an expansive, attractive style of football and the fans are loving every minute of the ride. Sunday’s result was much more than a win over Manchester United. It was a statement of intent for next season.
When Kenny Dalglish took over from Roy Hodgson, many believed, myself included, that he had nothing to lose. He had inherited a side that wasn’t strong enough and his reputation was never going to be tainted if Liverpool had continued to struggle in the bottom half of the Premier League. However, he has been a breath of fresh air, and most of all he has a footballing vision. Every footballing pundit who said he had been out of the game too long has had to eat their words. He understands how Liverpool need to play both home and away. Liverpool’s triumph’s away to Chelsea and at home to Manchester United, were tactically very different, but still highly impressive. Dalglish taught Carlo Ancelotti and Sir Alex Ferguson a lesson on both occasions – his tactics were spot on.
Even though this season will be seen as a bitter disappointment for Liverpool, the errors of the first half of the season may in fact make Liverpool stronger. In recent memory, Liverpool have never been written off by so many. The club has had to fight negativity at every corner, but they have come out of it the other side. That is the spirit of Liverpool FC, and without a shadow of a doubt it has united the club. Now they are ready to push on. This season doesn’t have to end with a bitter taste. If Liverpool play to the standards they set against Manchester United, they could have a real push for the Champions League, or at least fifth position. Liverpool, under Kenny Dalglish are clearly building something special for the future. We have already seen a few glimpses of what they can do together. First step, Dalglish must be given a long term contract. With that in place, next season could be very special indeed for a club starved of domestic success.
Read more of Tom’s articles at the excellent This Is Futbol
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