Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has received a five-match ban for comments he made following the Champions League first-leg loss to Barcelona.Mourinho’s team were knocked out 3-1 on aggregate in the tie but it was the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 27 which was filled with controversy.
A Lionel Messi brace gave the Catalans victory, but Mourinho, defender Pepe and second-choice Barcelona goalkeeper Jose Pinto were shown red cards.
UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Board handed Mourinho a five-match ban, inclusive of the one he has already served during the second leg at the Nou Camp on Tuesday and a 50,000 euro fine.
A statement from the club on Friday read: “Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, who was dismissed from the bench in the first leg and made an inappropriate statement at the post-match interview, has been suspended for the next five UEFA club competition matches for which he would otherwise be eligible.”
After the 2-0 loss on April 27, Mourinho was critical of German referee Wolfgang Stark.
“As soon as Pepe was sent off, all of their (Barcelona’s) problems were solved,” Mourinho said after the game.
“If, in a sporting sense, it’s difficult to turn this around, I would say it’s now mission impossible.”
“If we go there (Nou Camp) and score a goal, they will kill us again. We have no chance. They have to get to the final and that’s that.”
Defender Pepe was suspended for one game after his challenge on Barcelona full-back Dani Alves saw him shown a straight red card in the clash, meaning he has already served his suspension.
Real Madrid have been fined 20,000 euros for the ‘improper conduct’ of their fans.
Barcelona’s Pinto was given a three-match ban after he received red for his involvement in a half-time scuffle and he too has already served one of those three games.
The recipients have three days to appeal their bans.
Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola believes the fact the Champions League final is played at Wembley is an advantage to Manchester United.The two sides collide in the decider of European football’s most prestigious club competition on Saturday, in a repeat of the 2009 final which saw Barcelona emerge victorious 2-0.
Guardiola says because the final is in England, his opponents will have an advantage while he also rejected suggestions that his side are far stronger than Sir Alex Ferguson’s outfit.
“It’s an advantage because they play there, it’s always more comfortable when you play at home,” Guardiola said.
“I don’t know the distance from Manchester to London, but one hour and a half is always more comfortable, for the supporters, for the team, for the refs, for everything. But we knew that at the beginning of the season so it’s not a problem for us to travel in London. “
“We know in England the atmosphere helps lifts the football there in their country. So for us it is always a pleasure.”
Much of the media build-up has been about how the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta will simply be too good for a Manchester United side missing the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez – who both featured in Rome in the 2009 final.
And although Guardiola conceded Ronaldo is a big loss, he still expects a big challenge from Ferguson’s side.
“In the United team there are still a lot of top names that were in the final in 2009 although (Cristiano) Ronaldo has gone. Ronaldo is an important player but they are still a powerful team,” he said.
“They have a lot of depth and are capable of four or five different line-ups without any problem. They are always competitive and are one of the best teams in the world and have been for the last five or ten years.”
“I saw United play in the second leg of the (Champions League) semi-final against Schalke and they were very strong even without several important players.”
“We are up against (Wayne) Rooney, (Antonio) Valencia and Chicharito (Hernandez) who are very good players that can pressure us a lot and are very dangerous in space. On top of that, though, they have a strong defence. Ferguson has been at the top for many years and is one of the great names of football.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said the club will do everything to keep French star Samir Nasri at Emirates Stadium next season.With Arsenal enduring their sixth consecutive season without silverware, there had been speculation in British media that some of their big names – including Nasri and captain Cesc Fabregas – could seek a move away from London.
But with Nasri, 23, out of contract after the 2011/12 season and being linked with a move to champions Manchester United, Wenger has said he is a required player at Arsenal.
“We will do everything to keep Nasri at the club. My wish is that he stays here,” Wenger told The Sun.
“If he looks back he can see that he’s come quite a long way with us, and I think there is still a bit to do. It’s the club that makes the player’s career.”
Fabregas has been surrounded by rumours of a move home to Barcelona – where he was a product of their famed youth academy – for over a year now, but Wenger insisted he will be an Arsenal player for some time yet.
“I will be pretty clear about this. For me, Fabregas is with Arsenal for a long time and he will stay with Arsenal,” the Frenchman said.
“It sometimes happens that the rumour can make the transfer.”
“Next year will see the introduction of the financial fair play system, which will limit the big transfers.”
“I think this is the last year that the summer will be hot – very hot.”
Barcelona look set to make a shock move for Chelsea defender David Luiz, according to The Sun.
The Brazilian only moved to Chelsea from Benfica in January of this year in a £21 million deal but now it seems the European Champions may be about to offer £27.5 million for the 24-year old.
Luiz made an impressive start to his Premiership career playing 12 games last season and scoring 2 goals on the way, including a fantastic finish against Manchester United. The defender is happy at Chelsea but is rumoured to be willing to listen to an offer from Barcelona.
The Catalan giants are looking for a long-term replacement for defensive stalwart Carles Puyol. At 33, the club captain struggled last season with a knee injury and only managed 28 games for the club.
Chelsea are unlikely to want to sell the Brazilian international, who has 5 caps to his name and signed a four-year contract in January.
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The club have just appointed Andre Villas-Boas as new manager and are unlikely to sell any players without his blessing. However, his arrival could spell the end of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka at Stamford Bridge with the expected arrival of Santos striker Neymar. The 33-year old is also expected to move for former players Falcao and Joao Moutinho, both still at Porto.
Peru midfielder Juan Manuel Vargas praised his side’s team spirit after they qualified for the Copa America semi-finals on Saturday.The 27-year-old Fiorentina star starred in the 2-0 extra-time victory over Colombia, scoring in the 112th minute to put the result beyond doubt.
The match had only gone to extra time after Radamel Falcao missed a second-half penalty, with goals from Vargas and Carlos Lobaton sealing victory for the Peruvians.
The win has set up an unlikely semi-final for Peru, with Vargas talking up their team spirit after the match.
“This group was very united on the pitch,” Vargas said.
“Now we have another, more important game (in the semi-finals) and we have four days to work at it and maintain what we have at the moment.”
“My goal came as a result of the work I put in on the pitch. But for me the important thing is to score the goal and help the team win.”
Peru manager Sergio Markarian echoed Vargas’ thoughts after the win and said that he has had to tinker with the team’s mentality, preferring results over style.
“We have good players,” Markarian said.
“Before, it was said that we play nice football but I have strived to make the team more efficient. Sometimes, you have to sacrifice style for substance.”
“The squad is united and this is critical. I have 22 players and none of them complained whether they played or not.”
“It is vital that we do everything we can from now until the semi-final. It will be difficult to recover.”
Luka Modric seems keen on Chelsea, Arsene Wenger is intent on holding on to Nasri and Sir Alex has all but ruled out a move for Wesley Sneijder. So what happens if that’s that for incoming transfers at Old Trafford?
The denial of Sneijder interest could obviously be a smokescreen but as much as I admire Sneijder, he isn’t a perfect fit for us right now. An incredibly gifted midfielder who will give us a new dimension in Europe and can win a game on his own. Yes. But someone who will track back as part of a centre midfield two and enjoy playing in deeper role’s when the boss’ tactics require. No.
It is also conceivable that we could make a late swoop for Modric or Nasri. With the defence bolstered and a new keeper signed up, midfield is our weak point but would it be catastrophic if we stuck with what we have?
United were criticised last season for being functional, with pieces of magic from Nani and Berbatov seeing us through the first half of the season and the Rooney/Chicharito partnership carrying us through the second. I believe this just re-iterated that football is a team game and a good squad is needed to be successful.
And I also think we would be fine with what we have if the season started tomorrow.
Ryan Giggs found some exceptional form in the second half of last season but I would imagine Sir Alex will use him even more sparingly this campaign, with important cameos replacing the match-winning performances we are used to. And of course Paul Scholes has retired.
On the other hand, we really missed Darren Fletcher last season and he hasn’t travelled to America, instead staying at Carrington to undertake some individual conditioning. Hopefully this will help him shake off the virus which has plagued him since March. Add a fit Darren Fletcher to an on-form Michael Carrick and things don’t look so bad.
Carrick went from strength to strength in the latter part of last season and started to show glimpses of his form of three years ago. Fletch and Carrick are equally comfortable in a 4-4-2 of 4-3-3 and keeping them fit and on form will be key to any success we have, whether we sign another midfielder or not.
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Then there is Anderson, who I did a piece on last month. If he can continue his progression from last season into this one, he will be a force to be reckoned with and may find himself quickly becoming one of our key players. I hope Anderson can hit the ground running this year and have no doubt that if he does, he will get better and better.
The width will look after itself, with Nani fulfilling his potential last season and likely to get even better this year. There is also a full-season to come from Antonio Valencia, who was unbelievably good last season, all things considered, bar the champions league final. Park Ji-Sung also missed a chunk of last season and showed his importance with some great performances during the run-in last season. And Ashley Young has joined, who I am not a massive fan of, but I do believe he will add something to the squad and I think he will improve while learning at United.
Then there are the two youngsters whose names seem to be on everybody’s lips. Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison. Pogba in particular I think will get some first-team action this season, with many commenting how much he has filled out over the summer, adding to his already impressive physical prowess. Sir Alex talked of debating with himself whether to take the young midfielder on tour in the States before deciding against and as far as Morrison is concerned, if he focuses on his football and puts everything into his United career, the sky is the limit.
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So, while a Modric/Nasri/Sneijder would be welcomed at Old Trafford, a new attacking midfielder is not the be all and end all. There are plenty of other reasons for excited optimism around Old Trafford this season.
Read more of Daniel Cross’ articles at ‘The Busby Way’
The transfer window has been a hive of activity with plenty of millions being spent.
It appears that with the new UEFA financial rulings looming large and certain clubs’ need to add to their home grown quota, the managers and chairman are looking to ensure that their squads are in decent shape for the season ahead.
While some clubs have taken such a gung-ho approach, other clubs have appeared to be cautious with many clearly having to sell before they can buy, much to the frustrations of many managers and supporters.
The media clearly believe that some clubs are simply biding their time in the transfer market and the next two weeks is likely to see a transfer storm erupt, but it begs the question as to whether Harry Redknapp and Tottenham will partake in some last minute shopping.
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Does Redknapp need to spend big – if so who would you like to see him bring in at White Hart Lane?
18-year-old John Flanagan was a surprise inclusion in the Liverpool side that faced Sunderland last Saturday. With Glen Johnson out with a hamstring injury, Dalglish chose Liverpool’s Young Player of the Year, Flanagan over the older and more experienced defender Martin Kelly demonstrating the sort of faith Kenny has in the home-grown youngster.
The teenage right-back has enjoyed a meteoric rise in Liverpool’s first team after making his debut in the Red’s 3-0 victory over Manchester City in April. He was so impressive in keeping Man City’s strike force quiet that he was able to keep his place for the last seven games of the season and was then rewarded for his fine performances with a new four year contract in the summer.
Flanagan may have had a difficult game on Saturday up against the impressive Sebastian Larsson but this will only help him develop as a footballer. He has had some moments of uncertainty for Liverpool, including giving away a controversial penalty against Spurs last season but this has to be expected from an inexperienced youngster. The good news for Liverpool fans is that he has age on his side and should only improve with first team football. He looks unfazed by the pressure put on him by Dalglish with some mature displays last season and if he can cut out the errors out of his game it is possible he could soon be worrying Johnson for a starting place and not just at Liverpool.
He has already been called up to the England U19 squad and can expect further national honours in the future. If he can fulfil his potential at Anfield, he might just be the long-term answer to the right-back weakness for England. With no obvious second choice to Johnson in the national team, it is possible we could see the right back position dominated by Liverpool players, highlighting the strength of Liverpool’s academy.
The youngster may have been guilty for some inexperience in recent matches but it is time to lay off the criticism as how often does an impressive young English right-back come through in the Premier League? It is one position where England are seriously lacking and hopefully Flanagan will be the long term answer.
He has versatility in his game with the ability to play at left back, despite being right-footed, and even in midfield as he recently in Liverpool’s pre-season friendly against Valencia. This means he is likely to get more game time this season even when Johnson returns from injury, giving Liverpool options across the pitch.
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He has already followed in the tradition of the tough tackling Scouse defender Carragher who worked his way through the youth setup to become such a vital player at Anfield. If Flanagan can take on Carragher’s mantle in the future and achieve what the England international has in his career then it is understandable to see why hopes are so high for the Liverpool youngster.
When I first read the new that Chelsea were interested in signing Ross Barkley for £20 million I’d have to say I was rather flabbergasted. A 17-year-old and with only a handful of first team game under his belt it seems rather deranged that the new Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas would be prepared to pay that amount of money for such an inexperienced player. With Manchester United also interested in acquiring the teenagers signature and Barkley’s status as a supposed ‘wonder kid’ it seems likely that a bidding war will ensue between the Premier League giants.
It’s plausible to say that Everton will, in all probability, accept any bid for Barkley that matches or exceeds what Chelsea are reportedly ready to offer due to their perilous financial state. With the Toffees latest prodigy likely to leave Goodison Park in the near future and two of the countries leading clubs vying for his services, a big decision will have to be made over who will offer the best platform for him to achieve his potential. Would Barkley be better off moving to Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge?
He has certainly warranted the interest in him after putting in some eye-catching performances in the opening weeks of the season with many fans and pundits already tipping him to reach the pinnacle of English football having already broken into Stuart Pearce’s under-21 side. His stock sky-rocketed since he made his debut against QPR in August where he displayed a feather light tough, razor sharp vision and determined attitude that is absent in a lot of young players these days. With his eighteenth birthday fast approaching it’s amazing to think he is being linked with a big money move just weeks after his Premier League bow. At his age he is still a rough diamond that needs to extensively polished if he is to become the player he is prophesized to be.
With Man Utd and Chelsea on his tail there is only one place Barkley should think about going should an offer from either team ever materialises. It’s a club who has nurtured some of the best players on the planet turning them from hot prospects into world-class footballers. They have a manager who knows the ins and outs of refining young talent, putting them on the right track to global stardom and helping them achieve more in their careers than most others will.
In my opinion Barkley should look no further than Manchester United if he aspire to reach footballs top level. You only have to look at the faces who have graced Old Trafford in the last 20 years that have gone on to be recognized as some of the finest players that have ever stepped onto a football field. Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Gary Neville, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nicky Butt, Wayne Rooney, Nani, Darren Fletcher, Paul Ince, Roy Keane and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer are just a few names that roll off the tongue who have come through the academy or signed for the Red Devils at a relatively young age and benefitted from the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson. The club is recognized as having one of the finest youth setups in the world along with a clutch of quality coaches and Barkley should take this into account if he ever has to make a decision over who to join.
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Chelsea are a good club but their track record of bringing through quality players pales in comparison to their rivals. The constant chopping and changing of managers in North London won’t benefit Barkley in the long run with Man Utd able to offer him a solid, consistent environment and a manager who knows the club from top to bottom. Ferguson is conscious of exactly what it takes to develop a young player with Barkley’s rare talents after 25 years in the Old Trafford dugout and will take the necessary steps to ensure he fulfills his promise. There are always calls from fans who think it’s imperative hot prospects like Barkley need first team games to gain the imperative experience that will transform them into world beaters.
Unfortunately for a player of his tender years being forced to play too much could result in burnout and injuries, which could then seriously hamper his development. Ferguson isn’t that naïve and Barkley will benefit massively from an approach that will see him given time to develop on the training field before he becomes regularly active in the first team. Just look at Ronaldo and Rooney who were bought when they were at a similar age to the midfielder. The Scot moulded them into world-class players with the former now the best and expensive player in the world after his £80 million move to Real Madrid.
There’s no guarantee that Barkley will reach the same level as the Portuguese winger or that of Rooney but from his early displays at Everton there is cause to say he could should he be given the right platform to flourish. Manchester United have a proven track record of giving young players a stage on which they can mature and prosper as footballers. A move to Chelsea certainly wouldn’t be the worst thing Barkley could do and ultimately the choice will come down to him should both sides solidify their interest. Where he decides to move will determine the direction his career goes. Red or blue?
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Arsenal attacker Andrei Arshavin has admitted that he has had a drop in form this season, and that the club’s supporters are right to demand more from him.
The Russia international has scored only one goal in his last 18 games for the Emirates outfit, and his below-par performances have coincided with a poor start to the campaign for Arsene Wenger’s men.
With so much ability and the fans still holding memories of Arshavin scoring four goals against Liverpool at Anfield back in April 2009, he admits he can play better.
“They should expect more from me, of course,” he told the side’s official website.
“They should expect more tricks, goals and unbelievable passes. To be honest, I am still expecting more from me as well. But, believe me, I do everything I can do. I just must give everything I can at the moment,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger has stated that he is happy with his summer signings, and that he has total belief in his players, despite the slow start.
“Overall, we have more experience and this could be important if we are in a strong position should we have interesting challenges in March or April. That could have a big part to play.
“I’m very happy with the signings we made and my challenge now is to prove that I made the right decisions. I have great belief in the players I bought in and I am convinced they will prove me right,” he concluded.
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Arsenal host struggling Sunderland on Sunday, and The Gunners supporters will hope for three points to stop the rot.