• Written by: admin
• Comments: N/A
• Views: 452

Gabriel Heinze had admitted his fall out with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the biggest regrets of his career as he prepares to renew acquaintances with his former boss in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Heinze had established himself as a leading light of United’s defensive line before he attempted to force through a contentious transfer to Liverpool in the summer of 2007. Ferguson, though, refused to do business with his fierce local rivals, choosing to offload the defender to Real Madrid instead.

The Argentinean’s moderate success at the Bernabeu was in contrast to United’s consistent triumphs since his departure, but he now has the opportunity to square off against his former employers as his Mars eille side attempt to upset Ferguson’s Premier League stars in the last-16 of the Champions League.

With the dust now settled on their public bust-up, Heinze is keen to try and end his feud with Ferguson as he claims this tie is setting his pulse racing like few he has been a part of in his lengthy career.

“I don’t have many regrets from my career as a footballer, but that episode with Ferguson [has] to be one of them,” said Heinze. “I’m impulsive and strong-willed and this has got me into trouble at times, which was the case at the time when I left United.

“On reflection, it is easy to see that Ferguson was a major influence on my career, in a positive way. I thought my mind was set to be a winner before moving to United, but I had only completed part of the journey. Sir Alex makes every player he comes into contact with so much more driven and committed. He demands that his players dig as deep for the cause and I’m sorry that we fell out in the final days because I still have so much respect for him.”

Ferguson claimed Heinze and his agent were itching for a move away from United less than a year after he signed on at Old Trafford, as he believed the player and his advisor placed their desire to make a fast buck ahead of sporting ambition.

Four years on and the 32-year-old Heinze appreciates that he turned his back on a special club, with his affection for United apparently running deep. “I cannot wait for the chance to go back onto the pitch at Old Trafford because this is the most special club of all, and I include Real Madrid in this list,” he said. ”United is a club built on success. It has heritage, legends and trophies, but for me Old Trafford is also a very human and warm place.

“To get my point across I usually tell people about Sir Bobby Charlton. This man is an icon, a sporting god, but also a simple and sincere gentleman. As one of the survivors of the Munich air crash, he wasn’t too comfortable on planes, but when he heard that I was also a poor flyer, he sat next to me during a trip abroad and did his best to keep my mind off my fears. What a special person.

“I have an affinity for United, but I have to make sure I don’t allow sentiment to upset me in these two games. With a place in the quarter-final of the Champions League at stake, there’s no chance of anyone in our team taking a step back. Marseille lives for football, just like Manchester, and I certainly wouldn’t write off our chances of winning this tie.”

Heinze’s optimism does not appear to be shared by Marseille boss Didier Deschamps, who is playing a well-used card to ease the pressure on his side by writing off their chances against United before a ball has been kicked.

Suggesting that this is a nightmare draw for his team, the 1998 French World Cup-winning captain believes only three teams have a realistic chance of lifting the Champions League trophy this season, picking out United, Barcelona and Real Madrid as the favourites to claim glory at Wembley in May.

“United were one of the teams we needed to avoid in this draw, but we have to accept our fate and try to believe something amazing can happen,” said Deschamps. ”I respect the other English sides and there are some strong contenders in this Champions League, but Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid are the three teams that have the biggest chance to be champions. For me, the winner comes from those three.

“Bearing in mind Marseille hadn’t reached the last-16 of the Champions League for over a decade, our initial target to come through the group is already something to be proud of, so anything more from here would be a massive bonus. I don’t want to say my team have no chance in this tie as our fans have every right to dream of winning this competition or beating a top side like United, but you have to tell it as it is.”

While there are few more intimidating caldrons than their 60,000 capacity Stade Velodrome on a big European night, United’s team of experienced European competitors have seen it all before and Deschamps believes they offer a much bigger threat than the Chelsea side Marseille beat on home soil in the Champions League a couple of months ago

“You cannot say everything has been perfect for United this season and yet they find themselves top of the Premier League,” he said. “The mark of a good side is to find a way to win when you are not at your best and United have done this all season. I put this down to the mentality of the club and especially the manager, who for me is the greatest coach in football.

“Alex Ferguson is the prototype of a winner and this is the manager I will try to emulate in my coaching career, even though I know this ambition is impossible as no manager will ever again remain at the top of a major club for so long.

“You don’t pile up the trophies Ferguson has by accident. He has been leading Manchester United for over a quarter of a century and yet his hunger never fades. He has made United in his image. They are never satisfied and will always looking forward to the next challenge.

“Sir Alex is a great host when you meet him away from a big game and this is the way I like to spend time with him. When he is plotting the downfall of your team on the touchline, this is not a good position to be in.”

Marseille’s Champions League adventure will end in predictable fashion unless they turn on the style in the first leg at their Stade Velodrome amphitheatre this week, so Deschamps has to hope his negativity does not rub off on his players when United come to town.

Credit: By Nick Bidwell,http://soccernet.espn.go.com

• Written by: admin
• Comments: N/A
• Views: 345

Blackburn Rovers’ Indian owners are preparing to make an audacious money-no-object bid for Kaka in the summer.

After failed bids for Ronaldinho and David Beckham in January, the ambitions of the Venky’s Group remain high, and ESPNsoccernet has been told to expect a crazy offer for Real Madrid’s Kaka. Manchester City tried and failed with a near-£100 million bid and he eventually joined Real for £56 million in the summer of 2009.

Kaka is one of several of the world’s biggest names being currently sounded out as to their interest in becoming the first marquee Blackburn Rovers signing of the new regime – but he remains the prize they really want. A salary of £200,000-a-week would be on the table with added image rights from shirt sales added to a fee of more than £30 million that Blackburn believe would tempt Real to let him go.

A source close to the Venky’s operation told ESPNsoccernet that a number of Brazilians have been considered: “I have seen the club linked with Robinho, but he is not going to leave AC Milan. Elano is another, but his experiences at Manchester City will tell you he might not be the one to go for, while Neymar is a young, unknown quantity, but still a player much admired.

“Kaka, though, has suffered a long-term injury, and it’s well known that Jose Mourinho, should he stay, would listen to a bid for Kaka,” said the source on their main target. “Of course, Jose might not be at Madrid, and Kaka might prefer Chelsea, maybe Chelsea will still be keen to throw money at the big names again.”

Blackburn are keen to make a statement that will provide their owners with a place on the footballing map. “There is no doubt that Blackburn mean business and who knows what might happen in the summer,” the source continued.

“We do know that they wanted to put the money on the table for Ronaldinho but we also all knew he had made up his mind to return to Brazil, so that was a non-starter, and Beckham was only going to to Spurs or nowhere, so that too was a non-starter.

“Kaka is not a non starter because they are ready to put the money on the table. It would depend on whether the player fancies living in Manchester, and remember he has already turned down City, so we shall have to wait and see.”

After the failures to tempt the likes of Ronaldinho and co, Blackburn need to capture a major star if they are to fulfill the publicity-generated ambitions of their owners.
Credit by : Harry Harris, Football Correspondent,http://soccernet.espn.go.com

• Written by: admin
• Comments: 1
• Views: 650

Gomis spoils Benzema’s homecoming

Bafetimbi Gomis struck a late equaliser for Lyon but Real Madrid will be favourites to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in seven years thanks to Karim Benzema’s away goal.

Benzema, who joined Madrid from Lyon in 2009, scored just seconds after coming on as a 64th-minute substitute to put Madrid ahead in tonight’s last-16, first leg tie.

Madrid could not hold onto that advantage with Gomis volleying home in the 83rd minute, but Jose Mourinho’s men will fancy their chances in the second leg at the Bernabeu, where they have won their last 22 competitive games.

Madrid have been knocked out at this stage of the competition in each of the last six seasons, including at the hands of Lyon last year.

That exit was particularly painful for Madrid as last season’s final was held at the Bernabeu, but they are on course to take revenge over the French outfit under Mourinho.

Mourinho, who last May led Inter Milan to the Champions League title to become only the third coach to conquer Europe with two separate clubs, opted for an attacking line-up with Emmanuel Adebayor up front in place of Benzema.

However, it was the home side which started the better, captain Cris sending an overhead kick wide early on before Kim Kallstrom fired a 25-yard drive wide.

Madrid’s first serious effort came from Angel Di Maria’s long-range drive on the half-hour mark, but that was saved relatively comfortably by Hugo Lloris despite bouncing awkwardly just in front of the Lyon goalkeeper.

Lloris was given a tougher test moments later when Cristiano Ronaldo tried his luck with a free-kick, the goalkeeper diving to his right to parry.

The best chance of the opening period arrived in the 35th minute when Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas pushed out a cross and Gomis latched onto the loose ball inside the area, but his shot was deflected over the bar for a corner.

Madrid might not have been in top gear in the first half, but they started the second period in devastating fashion and hit the woodwork twice within five minutes of the restart.

Ronaldo’s free-kick from the side of the area beat Lloris before coming back off the far post and Sergio Ramos’ looping header from Mesut Ozil’s corner then struck the bar with Lloris again beaten.

Madrid felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the 64th minute for handball after another Ronaldo free-kick had been blocked, but that was waved away by the referee.

Soon after that Mourinho sent on Benzema for Adebayor, a move which paid immediate dividends as the France international scored just moments later.

Ozil and Ronaldo combined on the edge of the area to put in Benzema, who powered his away across the centre of the box before squeezing his shot through Lloris’ legs.

That looked set to be the winner, but Lyon fought back and equalised with seven minutes to go.

A free-kick was deflected up into air and Cris climbed highest to head the ball into the path of the unmarked Gomis, who volleyed past Casillas to earn his side a draw.

Credit By : espn.go.com

• Written by: admin
• Comments: N/A
• Views: 681

Anelka doubles soothes Chelsea

Chelsea proved they were very much alive and kicking tonight as Nicolas Anelka fired them to within touching distance of the Champions League quarter-finals.

Anelka ensured the faltering Blues stayed in the hunt for silverware this season and eased the pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti with a deadly double at FC Copenhagen, extending his remarkable scoring record in the competition to seven goals in six games.

Ancelotti defiantly declared yesterday, “Chelsea has not died”, and Copenhagen proved the perfect opponents for a side who arrived in freezing Denmark with their season in danger of unravelling completely, the hosts clearly showing the effects of having not played a competitive match for two and a half months.

So while tonight’s victory was much-needed, the Blues will need to repeat it against Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League next week to demonstrate they are back on track.

They will also be concerned at another night to forget in front of goal for the recalled Fernando Torres, whose overall performance improved but who fluffed his chances against a side who were tailor-made for him to break his duck.

The home side’s ring-rustiness was evident from the first minute, Torres too easily allowed to cross for Florent Malouda, who volleyed high and wide.

The heavy touch that dogged Torres at Fulham last week cost him an early chance to break his duck after Mathias Zanka was booked for wrestling him to the ground, Johan Wiland saving well at the striker’s feet.

The £50million man began to settle, playing in Anelka for a shot that was blocked behind and showing more good touches.

There was minor panic in the Chelsea defence when Zdenek Pospech burst forward and saw a shot blocked and ricochet around the area.

But any nerves were calmed when their opponents gifted them a 17th-minute lead, former Stamford Bridge winger Jesper Gronkjaer of all people misplacing a pass straight to Anelka, who bore down on goal and calmly slotted past Wiland.

Torres lacked conviction when he tried to beat the last man and was again closed down by Wiland and also made a mess of a Frank Lampard through ball, while Anelka headed Malouda’s cross over as Chelsea maintained their stranglehold.

The visitors were queuing up to score at times, Ashley Cole mis-controlling the ball on his chest when in acres of space six yards out and Anelka miscuing a left-foot strike straight into Wiland’s arms.

Having wasted a hatful of chances in their previous two games, Chelsea knew a second goal could be crucial.

Torres was cautioned 10 minutes from half-time for tripping Cristian Bolanos before Anelka drilled over another decent opportunity.

Copenhagen tried to wrest the momentum by bringing on Martin Vingaard for Santin during the interval.

The new man made an immediate impact by forcing the first significant save from Petr Cech with a long-range strike.

He then curled straight into Cech’s arms as the hosts began to show a determination almost completely absent during the first half.

But they were hit by a sucker-punch goal nine minutes in when a delightful first-time through ball from Lampard released Anelka, who drilled low across Wiland into the far corner.

Torres’ misery in front of goal continued when he magnificently turned two defenders but sent his left-foot finish too close to Wiland.

Copenhagen’s fans screamed for a penalty when Gronkjaer threw himself to the ground after turning Branislav Ivanovic but the flag was already up for offside.

The hosts’ frustration boiled over when Pospech was booked bringing down Torres, ruling the defender out of the second leg.

Anelka left the field to a standing ovation from the visiting fans 16 minutes from time, as Drogba resumed his partnership with Torres.

The latter was again denied after superb skill from Malouda, his scuffed finish cleared off the line by Oscar Wendt, who was immediately withdrawn for Pierre Bengtsson.

N’Doye drilled wide from 25 yards and Vingaard and Claudemir fired straight at Cech from similar range as Copenhagen became increasingly desperate.

Malouda picked up a needless booking for time-wasting while leaving the field five minutes from time, Yury Zhirkov the substitute.

John Terry immediately followed for an unnecessary foul before Kenneth Zohore came on for Gronkjaer.

Michael Essien almost added a third Chelsea goal in the closing moments before Torres was replaced in stoppage-time by Salomon Kalou.

Credit By: ESPNsoccernet staff, espn.go.com