Veteran Real Madrid midfielder Guti appears on his way back to playing for the Spanish giants after falling out with Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini at the end of October.
Guti trained with the rest of his teammates Wednesday for the first time since the reported falling out and is hoping to play against Mallorca in the Spanish league this weekend.
"I am ready if Pellegrini wants me," he told reporters when asked if he would be part of the Real squad which faces Mallorca on Saturday.
A product of Real?s youth system, the 33-year-old is one of the longest-serving members of the squad but he has been out of action since the club's embarrassing 4-0 Spanish Cup defeat against third division side Alcorcon on October 27.
According to media reports Guti had a half-time argument in Alcorcon with Pellegrini, and insulted the coach when he was told that he was going to be substituted at half-time.
The player, whose full name Jose Maria Gutierrez, also made an obscene gesture to Alcorcon fans at the start of the second half when sitting on the Real bench after someone launched an insult directed at him.
Pellegrini left Guti off his squad for several matches after the defeat against Alcorcon and then the player was sidelined with a tear to a thigh muscle.
The former Spain international joined Real's youth academy in 1985 and made his first-team debut in December 1995./AFP/
Thursday, January 7, 2010
David Beckham straight into AC Milan's starting lineup on return from LA
David Beckham is in the AC Milan starting team for his Serie A return against Genoa on Wednesday.
The England midfielder will replace the injured Alexandre Pato on the right of an attacking three, alongside Ronaldinho and Marco Borriello.
Beckham is on loan at Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy for six months as he looks to keep his place in England's squad for the World Cup in South Africa in June and July.
In 2009, Beckham scored twice in 18 appearances for Milan in a similar loan agreement./CA/
The England midfielder will replace the injured Alexandre Pato on the right of an attacking three, alongside Ronaldinho and Marco Borriello.
Beckham is on loan at Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy for six months as he looks to keep his place in England's squad for the World Cup in South Africa in June and July.
In 2009, Beckham scored twice in 18 appearances for Milan in a similar loan agreement./CA/
Monday, January 4, 2010
Chelsea Comment: Carlo Ancelotti Finds Path Of Least Resistance In Dealing With Florent Malouda And Watford
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti might have needed reminding of the value of the FA Cup, but yesterday his players showed they clearly don't need a refresher courses on how to beat lower league opposition.Clubs from the Championship (or even lower down the footballing pyramid) can be trickery propositions, as Manchester United found out to their cost yesterday at Old Trafford, but two goals from Daniel Sturridge, an own goal from John Eustace, and strikes apiece from midfielders Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda ensured the Stamford Bridge faithful witnessed a comfortable 5-0 win over nearby Watford.After the game, Ancelotti seemed sanguine when asked about the topic the media were most interested in: A report from French newspaper L’Equipe that quoted Florent Malouda as being unhappy at being left out of the big games and unfairly overlooked in favour of Lampard:“I explained my position, he explained his and for me it was finished,” Ancelotti said in his post-match press conference. “Afterwards he spoke with the French press, but for me it’s not a problem. It’s normal that a player wants to play in important games, but every game is important, and he has played a lot of games. I was a player and when I didn’t play I was a little frustrated, but it’s important when you don’t play to have a good reaction.”For his part, Malouda went down the well-worn path of insisting he had been misquoted:"Nothing that you could read today came out of my mouth,” Malouda told Chelsea TV after the game.
"I was really shocked and surprised when I came and we had a meeting at quarter-to-12 when I discovered my words."My reaction was to go and talk with the manager and talk with 'Lamps' [Lampard] and the meeting was clear. The rest, I don't want to talk about that because they did it on purpose and tried to put trouble in our team.”As for matters on the pitch, however, both player and coach were pleased with what they saw, particularly in the performance of Daniel Sturridge — who needs to have a good month for the club.“Sturridge played very well and for us it’s important because without Drogba and the African players it’s necessary to have players in good condition in January,” he said. “For a striker it’s important to score. It’s what he deserved because he has trained very well for a month. This performance was very important for him to improve his confidence. He has great quality and he can show it on the pitch in January.”
Perhaps of greatest relief to the Italian, neither Lampard or Malouda showed any negative effects of the midweek media speculation surrounding them.“I am proud of the way we played because that is the best way to answer and to show that we are partners and we are all trying to win things together,” Malouda said."I think Lamps and me reacted very well on the pitch. He scored a wonderful goal and me a goal off my shin and it was a good day to score for me. We have to look forward and I don't care what is written because I know it is not coming from my mouth."Whether Malouda's latest assertions are the truth — considering Ancelotti's comments seem to acknowledge that the 28-year-old both spoke to L'Equipe last week and does indeed harbour the gripes they reported — is perhaps debatable. Either way, Ancelotti has arguably passed on the perfect opportunity to assert his authority over the squad.With squad strength diminished and chances of additions in January slim (yesterday Ancelotti reiterated his pledge to run round the training ground naked if they buy in the window; but “I do not want to go naked in the cold”), perhaps practical considerations were at the forefront of the former AC Milan manager’s mind when he decided to play it cool on Malouda’s comments.
He can ill-afford to punish the Frenchman now, especially as — with a lack of strikers to lead the line and correct personell to fill the diamond — it looks likely he will rely even more on the width the former Olympique Lyonnais man can provide in the coming weeks.But surely at some point Ancelotti will have to brandish the stick to go with the carrot. The players need to fear him nearly as much as they respect him — and his authority needs to be nigh-on unquestionable.That is the difference between the success Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink had at the club, and the failure of Luiz Felipe Scolari and Avram Grant to keep their jobs.Malouda’s criticism can easily be brushed off, but when it is Lampard or Terry with the comments — players who arguably are being allowed to further cement their power and influence at the club as Ancelotti refuses to rebuke them (Malouda's comments about Lampard's status are perhaps accurate, and Ancelotti should surely have had more to say about Terry's underhand training ground tours) — then the problems will be harder to brush away.For now, however, Ancelotti is clearly steering his squad down the path of least resistance, hoping that is the best way to get them through what could be a trickery January period. In that respect at least, so far so good. /Goal/
"I was really shocked and surprised when I came and we had a meeting at quarter-to-12 when I discovered my words."My reaction was to go and talk with the manager and talk with 'Lamps' [Lampard] and the meeting was clear. The rest, I don't want to talk about that because they did it on purpose and tried to put trouble in our team.”As for matters on the pitch, however, both player and coach were pleased with what they saw, particularly in the performance of Daniel Sturridge — who needs to have a good month for the club.“Sturridge played very well and for us it’s important because without Drogba and the African players it’s necessary to have players in good condition in January,” he said. “For a striker it’s important to score. It’s what he deserved because he has trained very well for a month. This performance was very important for him to improve his confidence. He has great quality and he can show it on the pitch in January.”
Perhaps of greatest relief to the Italian, neither Lampard or Malouda showed any negative effects of the midweek media speculation surrounding them.“I am proud of the way we played because that is the best way to answer and to show that we are partners and we are all trying to win things together,” Malouda said."I think Lamps and me reacted very well on the pitch. He scored a wonderful goal and me a goal off my shin and it was a good day to score for me. We have to look forward and I don't care what is written because I know it is not coming from my mouth."Whether Malouda's latest assertions are the truth — considering Ancelotti's comments seem to acknowledge that the 28-year-old both spoke to L'Equipe last week and does indeed harbour the gripes they reported — is perhaps debatable. Either way, Ancelotti has arguably passed on the perfect opportunity to assert his authority over the squad.With squad strength diminished and chances of additions in January slim (yesterday Ancelotti reiterated his pledge to run round the training ground naked if they buy in the window; but “I do not want to go naked in the cold”), perhaps practical considerations were at the forefront of the former AC Milan manager’s mind when he decided to play it cool on Malouda’s comments.
He can ill-afford to punish the Frenchman now, especially as — with a lack of strikers to lead the line and correct personell to fill the diamond — it looks likely he will rely even more on the width the former Olympique Lyonnais man can provide in the coming weeks.But surely at some point Ancelotti will have to brandish the stick to go with the carrot. The players need to fear him nearly as much as they respect him — and his authority needs to be nigh-on unquestionable.That is the difference between the success Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink had at the club, and the failure of Luiz Felipe Scolari and Avram Grant to keep their jobs.Malouda’s criticism can easily be brushed off, but when it is Lampard or Terry with the comments — players who arguably are being allowed to further cement their power and influence at the club as Ancelotti refuses to rebuke them (Malouda's comments about Lampard's status are perhaps accurate, and Ancelotti should surely have had more to say about Terry's underhand training ground tours) — then the problems will be harder to brush away.For now, however, Ancelotti is clearly steering his squad down the path of least resistance, hoping that is the best way to get them through what could be a trickery January period. In that respect at least, so far so good. /Goal/
Manchester United Comment: Sir Alex Ferguson's Axe Ready To Fall In Aftermath Of Leeds United Debacle
Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to shake up his struggling superstars and ring the changes to prevent another embarrassing defeat to a bitter rival.
Yesterday’s 1-0 FA Cup Third Round loss to Leeds United of League One sent a tremor throughout the game. With the first leg of the League Cup semi final clash with Manchester City coming hot on its heels on Wednesday night, there is no time for the Scot to put his players through a gentle rehabilitation program.
Shock therapy is required to fix the chronic lethargy and woeful inability that permeated the weekend performance. The United manager has never settled for second best during his 23-year stay at Old Trafford and has promised to wield the axe in brutal fashion to stop the rot in time for the Manchester derby.Speaking in the aftermath of the FA Cup debacle, Ferguson didn't hold back in laying the blame at the door of his squad. He said: "I didn't expect that. The preparation was very good but I was shocked by the performance.
"It's a disappointment. Human beings can always surprise you, but we didn't expect that today.
"We have a semi-final on Wednesday and a lot of these players today won't be playing.”
The question of who will be spending time in the stands rather than the pitch has yet to be answered. On the limp display served up against Leeds United, however, few are safe from the cull.
Inevitably, the harsh gaze of the microscope has targeted young guns Gabriel Obertan, Anderson, Darron Gibson, Fabio da Silva and particularly Danny Welbeck.
Naturally a striker, Welbeck has served up goals when played through the middle before but the England youth international looked marooned on the wing.
Worryingly for the United management, the crux of the cup shock did not just stem from a soft underbelly. Seasoned performers failed to save the day when required.
Although just returning from injury, club captain Gary Neville looked every one of his 34 years as he toiled against a Leeds side bounding with youthful energy.
With a fan club decreasing by the game, Dimitar Berbatov also offered no solution to the critics’ barbs that castigate his big money arrival at Old Trafford. When the chips are down, the Bulgarian is rarely present to pick up the pieces.
In decades of shared history, Leeds and Manchester United both enjoyed the charisma and class of Eric Cantona. Likened to the great man upon his arrival, Berbatov has not touched the legacy left by the French genius who transformed both clubs’ fortunes.
Michael Owen’s air shot, Wes Brown defensive nightmare and Tomasz Kuszczak’s timidity all played their part as well. To ward off the City upstarts at the gates, key figures like Darren Fletcher will be called in to action, while redemption is at hand for forgotten goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Ferguson’s men went out of the most prestigious club competition in the world with a wimper. Another inept 90 minutes would not be accepted by United's fans and will sorely test the patience of their expectant boss./Goal/
Yesterday’s 1-0 FA Cup Third Round loss to Leeds United of League One sent a tremor throughout the game. With the first leg of the League Cup semi final clash with Manchester City coming hot on its heels on Wednesday night, there is no time for the Scot to put his players through a gentle rehabilitation program.
Shock therapy is required to fix the chronic lethargy and woeful inability that permeated the weekend performance. The United manager has never settled for second best during his 23-year stay at Old Trafford and has promised to wield the axe in brutal fashion to stop the rot in time for the Manchester derby.Speaking in the aftermath of the FA Cup debacle, Ferguson didn't hold back in laying the blame at the door of his squad. He said: "I didn't expect that. The preparation was very good but I was shocked by the performance.
"It's a disappointment. Human beings can always surprise you, but we didn't expect that today.
"We have a semi-final on Wednesday and a lot of these players today won't be playing.”
The question of who will be spending time in the stands rather than the pitch has yet to be answered. On the limp display served up against Leeds United, however, few are safe from the cull.
Inevitably, the harsh gaze of the microscope has targeted young guns Gabriel Obertan, Anderson, Darron Gibson, Fabio da Silva and particularly Danny Welbeck.
Naturally a striker, Welbeck has served up goals when played through the middle before but the England youth international looked marooned on the wing.
Worryingly for the United management, the crux of the cup shock did not just stem from a soft underbelly. Seasoned performers failed to save the day when required.
Although just returning from injury, club captain Gary Neville looked every one of his 34 years as he toiled against a Leeds side bounding with youthful energy.
With a fan club decreasing by the game, Dimitar Berbatov also offered no solution to the critics’ barbs that castigate his big money arrival at Old Trafford. When the chips are down, the Bulgarian is rarely present to pick up the pieces.
In decades of shared history, Leeds and Manchester United both enjoyed the charisma and class of Eric Cantona. Likened to the great man upon his arrival, Berbatov has not touched the legacy left by the French genius who transformed both clubs’ fortunes.
Michael Owen’s air shot, Wes Brown defensive nightmare and Tomasz Kuszczak’s timidity all played their part as well. To ward off the City upstarts at the gates, key figures like Darren Fletcher will be called in to action, while redemption is at hand for forgotten goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Ferguson’s men went out of the most prestigious club competition in the world with a wimper. Another inept 90 minutes would not be accepted by United's fans and will sorely test the patience of their expectant boss./Goal/
Real Madrid coach Pellegrini satisfied with Osasuna draw
Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini preferred to highlight the good work carried out by his side's defenders after Sunday night's 0-0 draw away to Osasuna.
The draw cost Real Madrid the chance to overtake FC Barcelona at the top of the BBVA Primera Liga. But after a game of few clear cut chances, Pellegrini was happier highlighting the efforts of a Real Madrid back line, which was without the injured Pepe, rather than the lack of effectiveness of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain.
"We were solid in defense and Osasuna hardly created any chances against us. I think that if we had been a bit more relaxed in front of their goal we could have unbalanced the game and taken one of our chances," he said in Monday's edition of Diario AS.
Pellegrini was unwilling to say whether he saw the match as a point gained in a hostile ground, or two points dropped in the race for the Primera Liga title
"It' s neither one thing nor the other. We know this is not an easy ground to come and visit."
"We were not very creative in the first half, but we improved in the second. I think it was a very even game," said the Real Madrid coach./Xinhua/
The draw cost Real Madrid the chance to overtake FC Barcelona at the top of the BBVA Primera Liga. But after a game of few clear cut chances, Pellegrini was happier highlighting the efforts of a Real Madrid back line, which was without the injured Pepe, rather than the lack of effectiveness of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain.
"We were solid in defense and Osasuna hardly created any chances against us. I think that if we had been a bit more relaxed in front of their goal we could have unbalanced the game and taken one of our chances," he said in Monday's edition of Diario AS.
Pellegrini was unwilling to say whether he saw the match as a point gained in a hostile ground, or two points dropped in the race for the Primera Liga title
"It' s neither one thing nor the other. We know this is not an easy ground to come and visit."
"We were not very creative in the first half, but we improved in the second. I think it was a very even game," said the Real Madrid coach./Xinhua/
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Team spirit pleases Ancelotti
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti hopes the unity within his squad will help to carry the Blues to glory.
The Stamford Bridge outfit endured a difficult December, taking only nine points from a possible 18.
They remain top of the Premier League table, though, two points clear of reigning champions Manchester United and four clear of Arsenal.
There is still much work to be done if they are to eventually go on and take the crown, but Italian tactician Ancelotti feels the omens look good.
He was pleased to see his players celebrate a come-from-behind success over Fulham in their last outing with an on-field huddle, and believes that sense of camaraderie will play a crucial role over the coming months.
"The huddle was an important moment for the team," Ancelotti said.
The Stamford Bridge outfit endured a difficult December, taking only nine points from a possible 18.
They remain top of the Premier League table, though, two points clear of reigning champions Manchester United and four clear of Arsenal.
There is still much work to be done if they are to eventually go on and take the crown, but Italian tactician Ancelotti feels the omens look good.
He was pleased to see his players celebrate a come-from-behind success over Fulham in their last outing with an on-field huddle, and believes that sense of camaraderie will play a crucial role over the coming months.
"The huddle was an important moment for the team," Ancelotti said.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Kaka back training with Real Madrid after being sidelined for a month due to groin injury
Real Madrid midfielder Kaka has returned to training after a month out because of a groin inury.
Madrid's website said the Brazil playmaker trained with the ball during Thursday's team session and "appears to have recovered."
Kaka hasn't played since Madrid's 1-0 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish league on Nov. 29.
The Spanish league resumes this weekend following the two-week winter break and Madrid plays Osasuna on Sunday. The club has not said whether the midfielder will feature in that game./CA/
Madrid's website said the Brazil playmaker trained with the ball during Thursday's team session and "appears to have recovered."
Kaka hasn't played since Madrid's 1-0 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish league on Nov. 29.
The Spanish league resumes this weekend following the two-week winter break and Madrid plays Osasuna on Sunday. The club has not said whether the midfielder will feature in that game./CA/
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