Lippi lavishes praise on boss Benitez
Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi has hailed Rafael Benitez ahead of Liverpool's Champions League final against AC Milan.
The Merseysiders have ousted several clubs with arguably stronger squads on their way to the final in Athens and Lippi, who quit the Azzurri post after leading them to glory in Germany last summer, believes their success is largely due to the Spaniard.
'Benitez has the rare characteristics of a great tactician,' said Lippi.
'He gets the best out of his players, especially at a crucial time in a competition, even if his team's quality may be inferior to that of their opponents.
'He is practical and precise.'
Benitez's quality first came to the fore on the European stage in 2003-04 when he led Valencia to a Primera Liga and UEFA Cup double.
He moved to Anfield in the summer of 2004 and led Liverpool to the Champions League final a year later in which they beat Milan on a penalty shoot-out after coming back from a 3-0 half-time deficit.
Lippi, a Champions League winner with Juventus, believes the Rossoneri will have a battle on their hands if they want to avenge that painful defeat in Istanbul.
'Liverpool defend very well,' he added. 'They are strong on the counter-attack and have Steven Gerrard, who controls a strong midfield alongside Xabi Alonso.
'Then they have Peter Crouch in attack, who is an effective forward.'
Lippi has not ruled out a Milan win, however, after being impressed with the way Carlo Ancelotti's side brushed aside Manchester United in the semi-finals.
'I don't want to make any predictions,' he said. 'There is one certainty, though, and that is that Milan go into the encounter in great condition physically and mentally.
'They go into the final in confident mood having played a great game against Manchester United.'
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Praise for Benitez
Hargreaves transfer to MU
Hargreaves' £17m Man Utd deal moves closer
Owen Hargreaves expects his £17million move to Manchester United to be completed by the end of the week.
Bayern Munich have already confirmed Hargreaves is leaving the Allianz Arena and while the Red Devils have refused to make any comment on the issue, it is inconcievable the 26-year-old will not become Sir Alex Ferguson's first summer signing.
Although Hargreaves was due to feature for England B against Albania at Burnley on Friday, there is now some speculation Steve McClaren has said he does not need to see the midfielder in action prior to next week's friendly with Brazil and the key Euro 2008 qualifier with Estonia that follows on June 6.
Such a move would leave Hargreaves free to complete the final stages of his United move and the player confirmed further details should be known by the end of the week.
'It has been one of the longest transfer sagas,' he told BBC's Inside Sport.
'I am sure this week we'll hear some new information.'
With Ferguson due to watch the Champions League final in Athens and chief executive David Gill heading out to Malaysia in an attempt to smooth the anger which erupted over United's impending summer tour, the deal may not actually be concluded until the end of the week.
However, having idenitified Hargreaves as one of the men to take the Red Devils forward following their Premiership title triumph this term, Ferguson will eventually tie the Calgary-born player up on a four or five-year contract.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Vfb Stuttgart won Bundesliga title on final day
There were more tears at Schalke on Saturday. Yes, the fans and the players had resigned themselves to the fact their chances were slim - but fate does tend to be cruel and gave them a glimmer of hope.
Having lost the Bundesliga Schalke's beaten players perfrom a lap of woe.
With Schalke leading Bielefeld 2-0, Stuttgart suddenly fell behind against Cottbus. The Royal Blues were on top - for eight minutes, until Thomas Hitzlsperger showed why he was called 'The Hammer' in England, scoring with an unlikely and stunning volley from 20 or so yards out.
It was tough on Schalke. But there is some sort of poetic justice to the way this Bundesliga season ended. I'm aware that this sentence will elicit howls of protest from people in Bremen and Gelsenkirchen (Schalke). Perhaps even in Munich, where they always protest about one thing or another. So let me explain what I mean.
I'm sure you all remember my column entitled 'It's good to be back' from way back, meaning August of 2004. That was the month the German Football League (DFL) introduced those stars worn on the players' shirts, representing championships won. Or rather Bundesliga titles won, which is not the same, as our professional league only came into being sixty years after the first national champions were crowned (VfB Leipzig, in 1903).
As you no doubt recall, there was a story about how and why the DFL introduced those stars which, erm, starred VfB Stuttgart quite prominently. For the benefit of the readers who have not memorised all of my 123 regular columns to date, let me not so briefly recap and expand.
VfB Stuttgart were formed in 1893 as a multi-sports club. (The unwieldy abbreviation VfB stands for, believe it or not, Club for Physical Games.) Hmmm, well. As is so often the case in Germany, where those years of foundation are a great source of pride, the year given is not entirely correct.
What was founded in 1893 was actually a club called FV Stuttgart. The 'F' stood for football, but in those days that meant rugby football. It was only some years later that the club also created an association football, or soccer, team.
In April of 1912, FV Stuttgart 93 merged with another club to form VfB Stuttgart. Of course the older club's foundation date was chosen to adorn the new entity's name. I say 'of course' because this is common practice when clubs merge in Germany.
Anyway, considering 1893 is universally accepted as VfB's year of birth, the club should have celebrated its centenary in 1993. But apparently the Swabians, as we shall see, have their own ideas of jubilees or when and how to celebrate what.
Granted, there was a problem in 1993, namely the fourth World Championships in Athletics, which were held at Stuttgart's ground in August. Since this month, the football off-season, would have been the best time to celebrate their jubilee, VfB simply decided to hold many of the planned festivities a year later, in 1994.
I suppose there must have been a few people at the club who felt that this was somewhat incorrect and didn't constitute a proper birthday bash.
At least that's my best explanation for the fact that there was suddenly another flurry of celebratory activity in 2003, on the occasion of the club's 110th birthday. (Which is not a real jubilee, but who cares about semantics?) There were, for instance, a few charming items that got printed, among them a commemorative coin. And players' shirts with four stars on them.
Those stars referred to the four championships Stuttgart could lay claim to at that time, won in 1950, 1952, 1984 and 1992. It was a nice idea - but also a rather bold one, as VfB had not asked the league for permission to wear this garment. This being Germany, the DFL quickly decreed that people couldn't do as they please and, this being football, that there had to be a rule for everything.
This rule was finally formulated and put into practice in 2004. It said that a club could wear one star for three Bundesliga titles won (two stars for five, three stars for ten or more). Yes, read the fine print: Bundesliga titles. That meant neither championships before 1964 nor league titles won in the GDR would count.
The German FA, who ran all of this country's football until the professional leagues won partial independence in 2000, were in favour of honouring all championships, but the DFL held firm and declared, in April of 2005, that the professional game would reward Bundesliga titles only.
VfB Stuttgart celebrate the Bundesliga title
Slyly, and perhaps even mischievously, the FA allowed those amateur clubs which were crowned champions at least once either before 1964 or in the GDR to incorporate a star into their badge.
However, that snubbing of the DFL was of no help whatsoever to VfB Stuttgart. They had instigated all that hullabaloo, all those red tape debates, but were left out in the cold when the dust settled. The DFL's rule meant that only the 1984 and 1992 titles won by Stuttgart would count - meaning no star for you, Swabians. Let alone four.
But Swabians are not only considered diligent, tidy and thrifty in Germany - they are also known for being cunning. And so they came up with an absolutely watertight plan to get their will after all: win the Bundsliga for a third time.
Last Tuesday, three days after VfB had gone two points clear at the top, Tom Bender (the DFL's managing director for marketing and communications, not the American green activist, obviously) declared that Stuttgart would become the sixth professional club permitted to wear a star on the shirt should they end the season in first place.
That's what they have done now, thus earning the right to legally wear the patch of honour that was denied them in 2003. And the team could do one better next weekend, when they contest the German FA Cup final against Nuremberg in Berlin.
So far, only four (West) German teams have ever won the league and Cup double: Bayern, Bremen, Schalke and Cologne. Should VfB become the fifth, I have a hunch they'll try to sneak something by the DFL again.
Perhaps the summer break will see football officials discussing how and where to honour doubles on a shirt.
Having lost the Bundesliga Schalke's beaten players perfrom a lap of woe.
With Schalke leading Bielefeld 2-0, Stuttgart suddenly fell behind against Cottbus. The Royal Blues were on top - for eight minutes, until Thomas Hitzlsperger showed why he was called 'The Hammer' in England, scoring with an unlikely and stunning volley from 20 or so yards out.It was tough on Schalke. But there is some sort of poetic justice to the way this Bundesliga season ended. I'm aware that this sentence will elicit howls of protest from people in Bremen and Gelsenkirchen (Schalke). Perhaps even in Munich, where they always protest about one thing or another. So let me explain what I mean.
I'm sure you all remember my column entitled 'It's good to be back' from way back, meaning August of 2004. That was the month the German Football League (DFL) introduced those stars worn on the players' shirts, representing championships won. Or rather Bundesliga titles won, which is not the same, as our professional league only came into being sixty years after the first national champions were crowned (VfB Leipzig, in 1903).
As you no doubt recall, there was a story about how and why the DFL introduced those stars which, erm, starred VfB Stuttgart quite prominently. For the benefit of the readers who have not memorised all of my 123 regular columns to date, let me not so briefly recap and expand.
VfB Stuttgart were formed in 1893 as a multi-sports club. (The unwieldy abbreviation VfB stands for, believe it or not, Club for Physical Games.) Hmmm, well. As is so often the case in Germany, where those years of foundation are a great source of pride, the year given is not entirely correct.
What was founded in 1893 was actually a club called FV Stuttgart. The 'F' stood for football, but in those days that meant rugby football. It was only some years later that the club also created an association football, or soccer, team.
In April of 1912, FV Stuttgart 93 merged with another club to form VfB Stuttgart. Of course the older club's foundation date was chosen to adorn the new entity's name. I say 'of course' because this is common practice when clubs merge in Germany.
Anyway, considering 1893 is universally accepted as VfB's year of birth, the club should have celebrated its centenary in 1993. But apparently the Swabians, as we shall see, have their own ideas of jubilees or when and how to celebrate what.
Granted, there was a problem in 1993, namely the fourth World Championships in Athletics, which were held at Stuttgart's ground in August. Since this month, the football off-season, would have been the best time to celebrate their jubilee, VfB simply decided to hold many of the planned festivities a year later, in 1994.
I suppose there must have been a few people at the club who felt that this was somewhat incorrect and didn't constitute a proper birthday bash.
At least that's my best explanation for the fact that there was suddenly another flurry of celebratory activity in 2003, on the occasion of the club's 110th birthday. (Which is not a real jubilee, but who cares about semantics?) There were, for instance, a few charming items that got printed, among them a commemorative coin. And players' shirts with four stars on them.
Those stars referred to the four championships Stuttgart could lay claim to at that time, won in 1950, 1952, 1984 and 1992. It was a nice idea - but also a rather bold one, as VfB had not asked the league for permission to wear this garment. This being Germany, the DFL quickly decreed that people couldn't do as they please and, this being football, that there had to be a rule for everything.
This rule was finally formulated and put into practice in 2004. It said that a club could wear one star for three Bundesliga titles won (two stars for five, three stars for ten or more). Yes, read the fine print: Bundesliga titles. That meant neither championships before 1964 nor league titles won in the GDR would count.
The German FA, who ran all of this country's football until the professional leagues won partial independence in 2000, were in favour of honouring all championships, but the DFL held firm and declared, in April of 2005, that the professional game would reward Bundesliga titles only.
VfB Stuttgart celebrate the Bundesliga titleSlyly, and perhaps even mischievously, the FA allowed those amateur clubs which were crowned champions at least once either before 1964 or in the GDR to incorporate a star into their badge.
However, that snubbing of the DFL was of no help whatsoever to VfB Stuttgart. They had instigated all that hullabaloo, all those red tape debates, but were left out in the cold when the dust settled. The DFL's rule meant that only the 1984 and 1992 titles won by Stuttgart would count - meaning no star for you, Swabians. Let alone four.
But Swabians are not only considered diligent, tidy and thrifty in Germany - they are also known for being cunning. And so they came up with an absolutely watertight plan to get their will after all: win the Bundsliga for a third time.
Last Tuesday, three days after VfB had gone two points clear at the top, Tom Bender (the DFL's managing director for marketing and communications, not the American green activist, obviously) declared that Stuttgart would become the sixth professional club permitted to wear a star on the shirt should they end the season in first place.
That's what they have done now, thus earning the right to legally wear the patch of honour that was denied them in 2003. And the team could do one better next weekend, when they contest the German FA Cup final against Nuremberg in Berlin.
So far, only four (West) German teams have ever won the league and Cup double: Bayern, Bremen, Schalke and Cologne. Should VfB become the fifth, I have a hunch they'll try to sneak something by the DFL again.
Perhaps the summer break will see football officials discussing how and where to honour doubles on a shirt.
FA Cup final : Chelsea vs Man Utd (2006-2007)
Didier Drogba pounced five minutes from the end of extra-time to hand Chelsea the FA Cup and thwart Manchester United's Double dream with a 1-0 win at Wembley.
Didier Drogba scores past Edwin Van der Sar to win the FA Cup for Chelsea
Among the biggest let-
downs of a final where tired legs ensured there was no hope of lofty pre-match expectations being met by England's top two, Drogba produced his 33rd and final goal of an incredible season at just the right time as a penalty shoot-out seemed certain.
It was harsh luck on United, who were marginally the better side, but there was so little in the contest they could not really complain and the excellence of Drogba's finish, after playing an excellent one-two with Frank Lampard, was beyond debate.
United did their best to rally but after a draining season, in which they extended every sinew to finish champions, they had nothing left to give as two teams too tired to reach the Champions League final did finally fall on the ropes exhausted.
The evidence of a draining campaign was there for all to see.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Drogba, widely accepted as the best two players in the Barclays Premiership, were virtual bystanders.
Ronaldo was walking by the end of normal time, unable to raise a gallop to aid Wayne Rooney as the United youngster tried in vain to inspire his side to a late winner without the need for an extra 30 minutes.
As usual, Rooney defied his body, pushing it to the absolute maximum.
One admirable burst took him from one box to another without single team-mate able to support.
But like so much in this heavyweight contest, a brief moment of excitement gave way to a sigh of disappointment.
At least there was something to enthuse about after half-time for, after the big build-up, the opening 45 minutes proved to be the dampest of damp squibs.
Aside from Paul Scholes dropping deep and isolating Chelsea's full-backs with a series of eye-catching crossfield passes, the creative element to the game was non-existent.
It was more an exaggerated arm-wrestle in which neither side was prepared to give an inch.
Despite losing so many key men to injury, Chelsea did create the most obvious of what could be classed as opportunities.
Frank Lampard's long-range effort skimmed the top of Edwin van der Sar's net without ever looking like going in it.
The England international also stormed onto Paulo Ferreira's square ball only to find the United keeper's giant frame in the way as he tried to fire into the bottom corner.
With Ronaldo subdued, Ryan Giggs equally muted and Scholes' pinpoint passing not triggering the required response, United looked to Rooney for a spark.
It took the half-time introduction of Arjen Robben for Joe Cole to send a current of electricity through the contest to finally jerk it into life.
The Dutchman's direct running forced United into a defensive rethink but also encouraged Chelsea to shed some discipline too in the hope of gaining a reward.
As gaps started to open, Petr Cech was forced into his first save as Rooney wriggled his way into space and let fly with a powerful 25-yard effort.
That dreaded offside flag rendered Giggs' attempt to ram home the rebound worthless but Cech denied him anyway.
On the cusp of another piece of history, Giggs volleyed United's best chance just over after Scholes had dropped one of his devastating bombs over the Chelsea defence.
Inspired by Robben, Chelsea were getting into the attacking spirit as well and after Scholes had picked up the first yellow card of the contest for upending Lampard, Drogba struck the outside of a post with his low free-kick.
But United were on something of a roll. Cech dived bravely at the feet of Rooney after Terry seemed to lose his bearings on the edge of the six-yard area, then Michael Essien thundered into Giggs to prevent the Red Devils skipper causing havoc after he had beaten the Chelsea offside trap.
Essien produced a replica meaty challenge to snuff out the danger when Rooney skipped past Ferreira in stoppage time, by which point Lampard had almost, but not quite, carved out an excellent shooting chance for himself.
Extra-time brought more evidence of legs drained of energy, plus a moment of controversy as Giggs slid in to meet Rooney's far-post cross.
The United skipper rose to claim the ball had crossed the line as Cech clutched it to his body.
TV replays showed Giggs was correct, although if it had not been for him maintaining his slide to bundle into Cech, he would not have been.
Still, as referee Steve Bennett did not give what appeared to be an obvious foul, United could feel aggrieved, although not as aggrieved as Chelsea would have been if they had fallen behind.
Jose Mourinho could have had no complaint if Rooney had been able to control another inspired Scholes pass.
Instead, not for the first time, Cech came to the rescue with a brave save which, in the end, was to prove so crucial.
Didier Drogba scores past Edwin Van der Sar to win the FA Cup for Chelsea
Among the biggest let-
downs of a final where tired legs ensured there was no hope of lofty pre-match expectations being met by England's top two, Drogba produced his 33rd and final goal of an incredible season at just the right time as a penalty shoot-out seemed certain.It was harsh luck on United, who were marginally the better side, but there was so little in the contest they could not really complain and the excellence of Drogba's finish, after playing an excellent one-two with Frank Lampard, was beyond debate.
United did their best to rally but after a draining season, in which they extended every sinew to finish champions, they had nothing left to give as two teams too tired to reach the Champions League final did finally fall on the ropes exhausted.
The evidence of a draining campaign was there for all to see.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Drogba, widely accepted as the best two players in the Barclays Premiership, were virtual bystanders.
Ronaldo was walking by the end of normal time, unable to raise a gallop to aid Wayne Rooney as the United youngster tried in vain to inspire his side to a late winner without the need for an extra 30 minutes.
As usual, Rooney defied his body, pushing it to the absolute maximum.
One admirable burst took him from one box to another without single team-mate able to support.
But like so much in this heavyweight contest, a brief moment of excitement gave way to a sigh of disappointment.
At least there was something to enthuse about after half-time for, after the big build-up, the opening 45 minutes proved to be the dampest of damp squibs.
Aside from Paul Scholes dropping deep and isolating Chelsea's full-backs with a series of eye-catching crossfield passes, the creative element to the game was non-existent.
It was more an exaggerated arm-wrestle in which neither side was prepared to give an inch.
Despite losing so many key men to injury, Chelsea did create the most obvious of what could be classed as opportunities.
Frank Lampard's long-range effort skimmed the top of Edwin van der Sar's net without ever looking like going in it.
The England international also stormed onto Paulo Ferreira's square ball only to find the United keeper's giant frame in the way as he tried to fire into the bottom corner.
With Ronaldo subdued, Ryan Giggs equally muted and Scholes' pinpoint passing not triggering the required response, United looked to Rooney for a spark.
It took the half-time introduction of Arjen Robben for Joe Cole to send a current of electricity through the contest to finally jerk it into life.
The Dutchman's direct running forced United into a defensive rethink but also encouraged Chelsea to shed some discipline too in the hope of gaining a reward.
As gaps started to open, Petr Cech was forced into his first save as Rooney wriggled his way into space and let fly with a powerful 25-yard effort.
That dreaded offside flag rendered Giggs' attempt to ram home the rebound worthless but Cech denied him anyway.
On the cusp of another piece of history, Giggs volleyed United's best chance just over after Scholes had dropped one of his devastating bombs over the Chelsea defence.
Inspired by Robben, Chelsea were getting into the attacking spirit as well and after Scholes had picked up the first yellow card of the contest for upending Lampard, Drogba struck the outside of a post with his low free-kick.
But United were on something of a roll. Cech dived bravely at the feet of Rooney after Terry seemed to lose his bearings on the edge of the six-yard area, then Michael Essien thundered into Giggs to prevent the Red Devils skipper causing havoc after he had beaten the Chelsea offside trap.
Essien produced a replica meaty challenge to snuff out the danger when Rooney skipped past Ferreira in stoppage time, by which point Lampard had almost, but not quite, carved out an excellent shooting chance for himself.
Extra-time brought more evidence of legs drained of energy, plus a moment of controversy as Giggs slid in to meet Rooney's far-post cross.
The United skipper rose to claim the ball had crossed the line as Cech clutched it to his body.
TV replays showed Giggs was correct, although if it had not been for him maintaining his slide to bundle into Cech, he would not have been.
Still, as referee Steve Bennett did not give what appeared to be an obvious foul, United could feel aggrieved, although not as aggrieved as Chelsea would have been if they had fallen behind.
Jose Mourinho could have had no complaint if Rooney had been able to control another inspired Scholes pass.
Instead, not for the first time, Cech came to the rescue with a brave save which, in the end, was to prove so crucial.
Takeover for Leeds United
Sheikh consortium target Leeds takeover
Multi-millionaire businessman Sheikh Samir Mirdad is heading up a Dubai-based consortium interested in taking over Leeds United.
Sheikh Mirdad, chairman of the Dubai-based Linx group of companies, intends to talk to Leeds chairman Ken Bates about his plans for the club, which was put into administration before the final game of the Championship season.
He told the Daily Star Sunday: 'Leeds United is a prestigious club that has, in the recent past, suffered setbacks. My vision is to bring the club back to its former glory.
'The club has a huge fanbase and because of the history and the desire of the people of Leeds to see Leeds United back in top-flight football we think this may be the ideal challenge for us.
'I am very passionate about football and I want to help a lot of other people who share this passion. My intentions should follow the vision that would be shared between me, Mr Bates and the people of Leeds. There is a lot of potential for the club.'
When Bates put Leeds into administration the appointed administrators, KPMG, immediately agreed to sell the club back to a new company headed up by Bates. Bates' deal, along with a bid from local businessman Simon Morris, will be discussed at a June 1 creditors meeting.
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