Torres rules out title tilt
Liverpool star Fernando Torres has admitted to Sky Sports News that Liverpool are now targeting Europa League and FA Cup glory this season.
The Spaniard insists that a top-four finish, along with some silverware, will result in a successful campaign for the Reds.
Torres concedes that Liverpool’s campaign has not hit the heights they expected back in August after an early exit from the UEFA Champions League and a weak Premier League bid.
“This season is not the season we were expecting at the beginning of the season, but these things happen,” he told Sky Sports News.
“We were thinking of trophies, first choice was the Champions League and the Premier League – we are out of the Champions League, and we are really far out from the Premier League, so we now change our targets.
“We have to think the Europa League and FA Cup are the two competitions we can win this season and obviously trying to stay in the top four.”
Togetherness
Torres insists that despite their indifferent campaign, Liverpool can still achieve much this season, but they need to remain united.
“Staying together is the main thing now,” he insisted.
“If we can stay together, manager, players, staff, everyone at the club, we have quality enough to stay in the top four and win trophies.
“At the end of the season if we win one trophy, it will have been a nice season, so we are on target.
“The people of Liverpool deserve to play in finals, whether it be in Europe or England, it is a long time since we played in a final and they deserve, they deserve more trophies.”
Looking ahead to the Super Sunday clash with Arsenal – which you can see live on Sky Sports – Torres is hopeful they can overcome Arsene Wenger’s men.
“Arsenal are doing quite well this season,” he said. “They are close to the top and playing with young players and doing really good. The mentality of the manager and players is brilliant.
“But we are playing at Anfield and with the help of our supporters we can beat anyone.”
Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Anfield, Ars, Cup Glory, Early Exit, Fa Cup, Fernando Torres, First Choice, Liverpool, Mentality, Premier League, Reds, Silverware, Sky Sports, Sky Sports News, Spaniard, Target, Title Tilt, Togetherness, Trophies, Uefa Champions League
Wenger rules out Ruud move
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has laughed off talk linking him with a shock move for former Manchester United star Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Van Nistelrooy has been mentioned as a possible January transfer target for Wenger as he looks to bring in a new striker to compensate for the loss of Robin van Persie to long-term injury.
Real Madrid are believed to be willing to let van Nistelrooy leave the Bernabeu in January as he is well down the pecking order in the Spanish capital and the player could be interested in a move away as he looks to secure his place in the Holland squad for next summer’s World Cup finals.
Wenger admits any move is highly unlikely considering van Nistelrooy’s popularity among Arsenal fans following a number of high-profile incidents during games between Arsenal and Manchester United.
Relationship
Asked about his pursuit of a striker and the chances of signing van Nistelrooy, Wenger said: “It would not be the best of starts, bearing in mind our past relationship! You have my number – you can text me all the names you find!”
Wenger also played down Arsenal chances of brining in a new forward during the January transfer window as he accepts his options are limited.
“We’re at the beginning of December, if we are in the same situation with injuries in January then I will see,” added Wenger.
“But we can’t dream too much of finding a world class player because that’s what is needed to strengthen our team.
“But they also need not to be European cup-tied and who is also free so we must hope Father Christmas is good to us!”
Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Arsenal Boss Arsene Wenger, Arsenal Fans, Bernabeu, Boss Arsene Wenger, Christmas, Father Christmas, Holland, Manchester United, Names, Pecking Order, Popularity, Real Madrid, Relationship, Robin Van Persie, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Shock Move, Spanish Capital, Striker, Target, World Cup Finals
Ballack – Blues will bounce back
Michael Ballack insists Premier League leaders Chelsea will bounce back from their weekend defeat to Manchester City.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side lost 2-1 at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday evening thanks to Carlos Tevez’s winner.
Frank Lampard had a chance to secure a draw, but saw his second-half penalty saved by Shay Given.
The defeat was Chelsea’s third in the league this season and Ballack believes his team-mates will respond positively, as they did following the losses to Wigan and Aston Villa.
The Germany international thinks the result signals City’s intent to mount a serious challenge for the title following a string of disappointing draws.
Bounce back
“We bounced back after defeats to Wigan and Aston Villa and we must do it again,” said Ballack
“We could have got a draw if we’d scored from the penalty spot and that would have been a good away result.
“Even after that we had a good chance to equalise, so we have to take some positives from the game.
“We’re disappointed to lose but we have to remember the good things – the way we fought back and the fact we deserved a draw.
“We respect every team behind us and we’ve lost against a strong team. It looks like City are ready to fight for the title.
“I don’t know what their target is but they showed against us that they have a good team and with a bit of luck they can beat sides like us.
“They’ve spent a lot of money, and they have a lot of good players, so it’s not a surprise. But even if you spend a lot of money you have to go step-by-step.”
Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Aston Villa, Carlo Ancelotti, Carlos Tevez, City 13, City Of Manchester, City Of Manchester Stadium, Draws, Frank Lampard, Good Chance, League Leaders, Losses, Manchester City, Michael Ballack, Premier League, Saturday Evening, Second Half, Shay, Target, Team Mates, Wigan
Gerrard admits title Liverpool’s hopes are slim
• Captain says they must focus on getting back into the top four
• Midfielder sees win over Everton as platform for a winning run
Steven Gerrard has admitted a top-four finish is now a more realistic aim for Liverpool than winning the Premier League this season as they lie 13 points behind the leaders, Chelsea, after a poor run of form throughout October and November.
Gerrard said: “I think we have to be realistic. At the moment we’re out of the title race, but we will keep trying to get back in it. There is still a lot of football to be played and it is possible to turn it around, but I think Chelsea are looking really strong at the moment.”
Liverpool have not won the league since 1990 and Gerrard said: “It’s been too long without a league title and because it is missing from my collection it is one that I’m most desperate for going forward.”
However, he said their target now was “to get back into the top four. We’re coming off the back of a fantastic win at Everton and we want to continue that against Blackburn and try and go on a run of games where we can get closer to the teams above us.”
Gerrard, 29, is due to make his 500th appearance for Liverpoool in Saturday’s match against Blackburn Rovers at Anfield and said: “It means everything to me personally. I’m a local boy and my dream when I was young was always just to play one game for Liverpool. So to reach this milestone is a really proud moment for my family and myself.”
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Amp, Anfield, Appearance, Blackburn, Chelsea, Everton, Game, Gerrard Liverpool, Guardian News, Liverpoool, Local Boy, Match, Midfielder, Milestone, Play One, Premier League, Proud Moment, Realistic Aim, Steven Gerrard, Target
West Ham in talks to sign Luca Toni
• Carlton Cole injury leaves Hammers short of strikers
• Toni has fallen out with Bayern’s manager, Louis van Gaal
West Ham United are in advanced talks with the Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni about bringing the Italian World Cup winner to Upton Park in next month’s transfer window. Any move may be dependent on how soon Carlton Cole returns from injury. The England striker limped out of West Ham’s 5-3 win over Burnley at Upton Park on the weekend at half-time after suffering knee ligament damage, having earlier scored a seventh goal of the season.
Initial reports suggested he may be ruled out for four months. Yet after these were scaled down to around six weeks, the club’s website confirmed tonight that, though Cole will miss Manchester United’s visit on Saturday, the 25-year-old, “having being closely assessed in recent days, will start his rehab soon”.
Yet even if Cole does return over the coming month, Gianfranco Zola, the West Ham manager, may still move for Toni, with the club having engaged in talks with the player and his representatives for the past two weeks. As reported in the Guardian, the 32-year-old was a summer target for Zola, who is a friend of the former Fiorentina centre-forward.
Two years ago Toni finished his debut season at Bayern as the Bundesliga’s top scorer with 24 goals. Yet, despite collecting 14 more in 25 league appearances last year – which allowed him to lead Munich’s scoring charts for consecutive seasons – in a campaign disrupted by an achilles tendon injury, Toni fell out of favour with Louis van Gaal, once the Dutchman became head coach in July.
Toni has since featured only occasionally and his rift with Van Gaal became public last week when he criticised him. He said of their relationship that it “was good as over”, having had “problems” with him for months.
After Toni was subsequently fined €25,000 (£22,600) for the outburst he closed the door on any possible future at Munich when he said: “I have no problems with the club and fans but the coach prefers other players. Fortunately soon the market will re-open. I will talk with the club because I don’t like this situation.”
In January Toni will have around 18 months remaining of his four-year deal, which may make any potential fee nominal, should West Ham decide to firm up their interest with Bayern.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Achilles Tendon, Achilles Tendon Injury, Bayern Munich, Consecutive Seasons, Debut Season, Gianfranco Zola, Head Coach, Initial Reports, Italian World, Knee Ligament Damage, League Appearances, Louis Van Gaal, Luca Toni, Manchester United, Target, Top Scorer, Upton Park, West Ham United, Who Is A Friend, World Cup Winner