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Monday, April 1, 2013

Manchester United upbeat on Wayne Rooney's chances of facing Manchester City

Wayne Rooney: Manchester United striker suffered a groin injury on international duty

Wayne Rooney: Manchester United striker suffered a groin injury on international duty

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is hopeful Wayne Rooney will be fit for their Premier League game with Manchester City despite suffering a groin injury playing for England.

Rooney incurred the problem in England's 1-1 draw away to Montenegro in their World Cup Group H qualifier, with the setback forcing him to miss Saturday's 1-0 Premier League win at Sunderland.

He also sat out the FA Cup quarter-final replay with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday but, speaking ahead of that game, Ferguson revealed the striker could return to action for the match with rivals City on 8 April.

"He got a groin injury playing for England. He wasn't 100% and there is no point risking players with groin injuries," said Ferguson.

"It could exacerbate itself and you could be out for weeks. Hopefully he will be ready for next Monday's game."


Source : http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/8611371/Manchester-United-upbeat-on-Wayne-Rooney-s-chances-of-facing-Manchester-City
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Di Canio appointment 'worrying' - Powar

Di Canio appointment 'worrying' - Powar

Di Canio appointment 'worrying' - Powar

Paolo Di Canio must clarify his current political beliefs and distance himself from fascism, according to Football Against Racism in Europe director Piara Powar.

Di Canio was announced as a replacement for sacked Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill on Sunday night. Di Canio has previously admitted to having fascist leanings, telling Italian news agency ANSA in 2005: "I am a fascist, not a racist." Ex-foreign secretary David Miliband resigned as Sunderland's vice-chairman and non-executive director, citing the Italian's "past political statements".

Powar is concerned the appointment of Di Canio could have dangerous repercussions if his political beliefs are not immediately challenged.

"When there is a rise of intolerance and there is a coach in the Barclays Premier League, which is the most watched league globally, who hasn't clarified or wanted to renounce his fascist views during his time in the UK, it is a worrying time," Powar told Press Association Sport.

"Di Canio has the opportunity to clarify his views and let us know what his approach will be and how his strongly held views will influence how he will do his job. It would be hypocritical of us (at FARE) not to point out his self-proclaimed fascist past when we are outraged by Lazio fans when they make the Roman salute, which we all know has been made famous by Hitler and the far right."

Di Canio, who quit as manager of npower League One side Swindon in February, was the subject of a Football Association investigation last year after on-loan Leyton Orient striker Jonathan Tehoue claimed he was racially abused by the Italian.

Di Canio was later cleared of the charge, although Swindon made an apology to the player. However, with several other high-profile instances of racism in the game in recent times, Powar believes it is all the more necessary for Di Canio to explain his political leanings.

When asked if Di Canio could be the right choice for Sunderland to help ensure their top-flight survival, Powar said: "There are all these good footballing reasons to employ him, but are footballing reasons enough when someone comes with the baggage he comes with?"

Former Swindon chairman Jeremy Wray described Miliband's decision to quit as Sunderland's vice-chairman and non-executive director in response to Di Canio's past political statements as a "sad knee-jerk response".

He told BBC Radio Five: "I think anybody's political views and their private views - as long they're private and how they conduct themselves away from their job - are pretty irrelevant. Nothing of that was ever discussed during his time at Swindon. He was focused on success for us and that's what he'll do for Sunderland."



Source : http://www.football.co.uk/sunderland/di_canio_appointment__worrying__-_powar_rss3939942.shtml
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Tito Vilanova travels to Paris with squad

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The Barça boss, who led training on Friday and Sunday, was back with the squad on the flight to Paris this morning.

The Barça party flew out from Barcelona airport at 10-50 this morning and was headed by President Rosell and vice-presidents Bartomeu, Faus, Cardoner and Vilarrubí 

  • Trip to Paris 01/04/2013 Trip to Paris 01/04/2013

    Barça flew to Paris this morning ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League quarter final first leg against PSG. With the welcome addition of Tito Vilanova, the squad boarded their plane for the French capital just before take-off at 10.50 this morning following the boss’ return to lead training on Friday and Sunday.

    Training set for 19.00

    The party was headed by President Sandro Rosell, vice presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu, Javier Faus, Jordi Cardoner and Carles Vilarrubí, board members Susana Monje, Toni Freixa, Jordi Moix, Eduard Coll, Pilar Guinovart, Ramon Pont, Joan Bladé, Javier Bordas, Silvio Elías, Manel Arroyo, Dídac Lee, Josep Ramon Vidal-Abarca and Ramon Cierco, as well as Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta.

    The flight landed just after noon at the Charles de Gaulle airportand the players then went straight to their hotel – The Hotel du Collectionneur-Arc de Triomphe.

    Tito Vilanova has called up 21 players for the game and the team will train with them this evening at 19.00.

    Di Canio backed by former chairman

    Di Canio backed by former chairman

    Di Canio backed by former chairman

    Paolo Di Canio will "galvanise" Sunderland, according to the man who gave the controversial Italian his first chance in management.

    Former Swindon chairman Jeremy Wray also described David Miliband's decision to quit as Sunderland's vice-chairman and non-executive director in response to Di Canio's past political statements as a "sad knee-jerk response". Di Canio has admitted to having fascist leanings, telling Italian news agency ANSA in 2005: "I am a fascist, not a racist."

    Wray, who appointed the 44-year-old as Town boss in May 2011, does not think the outspoken views will conflict with Di Canio's attempts to keep Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League. He told BBC Radio Five: "It is a sad knee-jerk response. I doubt David Miliband has ever met Paolo Di Canio. I've known him for two years. I don't think politics was ever discussed once."

    He continued: "Paolo will have many strong views. He probably has a strong view on whether Italy should be in the Euro, gay marriage or the endangered Siberian tiger, but I doubt if it's really relevant to keeping Sunderland in the Premiership.

    "I think anybody's political views and their private views - as long they're private and how they conduct themselves away from their job - are pretty irrelevant. Nothing of that was ever discussed during his time at Swindon. He was focused on success for us and that's what he'll do for Sunderland."

    Sunderland dismissed O'Neill on Saturday evening following the club's 1-0 home defeat against league leaders Manchester United. That result left the Black Cats without a win in eight games and just a point clear of the relegation zone.

    With seven games remaining, Di Canio faces a fight to keep Sunderland in the top flight but Wray believes the former West Ham, Lazio and Celtic striker will be a roaring success on Wearside.

    "He will galvanise the team. He is passionate; he eats, sleeps and drinks it. He is full on 24 hours a day and will be focused on the last seven games of the season," he said.

    "The Sunderland fans who are nervous now and are doubting the appointment should have no fears and trust what I saw in him is what (Sunderland chairman) Ellis Short will have seen in him as someone who is committed to the job."

    Wray added: "There was no doubt that when he was at Swindon he was cutting his teeth in management, but I can assure you I think he's ready for the step up. He's learnt a lot, he's very intelligent, he's a quick learner and he's his own biggest critic. He'll have seen where he's gone wrong in the past and I think it's a really astute appointment."



    Source : http://www.football.co.uk/sunderland/di_canio_backed_by_former_chairman_rss3939627.shtml
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    Villas-Boas craves CL place over Europa success

    Villas-Boas craves CL place over Europa success

    Villas-Boas craves CL place over Europa success

    Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas admits Champions League qualification is more important than winning the Europa League, but is still desperate to secure silverware this season.

    Spurs climbed to third in the Barclays Premier League table with a 2-1 win at Swansea. The victory, combined with Chelsea's defeat at Southampton, leaves the north London club well-placed to secure a top-four finish. Tottenham are also challenging on the European front, and face Basle on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.

    Villas-Boas insists he and his players will be fully focused when the Swiss side arrive at White Hart Lane. He said: "We dream of winning trophies so our focus on the Europa League won't shift. We understand that we have to keep the team fresh and we are able to rotate as we have top-quality players that allow us to do so."

    The Portuguese continued: "Now we are in the Europa League quarter-finals we can only dream of winning the trophy. It has the same importance as every game we play, although I understand that it is always the league position that determines the success of the season."

    Despite their strong position, Villas-Boas knows the job of securing a place in European football's premier competition is not done yet. But he does not expect his side to struggle with the pressure of fending off the chasing pack.

    "You always get comfortable when you are further ahead from the pack but the other teams are so near," he said.

    "It is not the first time that the other teams have been so near to us and it shifts every week. The fact that we are going to be third this week doesn't put more or less doubt on ourselves or make us over-confident. We have to continue to do our job."

    He added: "It will depend probably on the fixtures against the teams who have the same objectives as us.

    "It may depend on what happens between Chelsea and Manchester United in the FA Cup as it could mean our game against them is postponed for later.

    "But we have Everton, Manchester City and Chelsea to come, if we can gather points in those games it could be decisive in terms of our final place in the league."



    Source : http://www.football.co.uk/tottenham_hotspur/villas-boas_craves_cl_place_over_europa_success_rss3939291.shtml
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    Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini baffled by Samir Nasri's inconsistency

    Samir Nasri: Frustrates his Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini

    Samir Nasri: Frustrates his Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini

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    Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini admits Samir Nasri's inconsistency makes him wish he could 'punch' the Frenchman.

    Nasri's ability has never been in doubt, with City having splashed out £24million to secure his services from Arsenal in 2011.

    He impressed during his debut season at the Etihad Stadium, as he helped to land the Premier League title, but has been criticised at times this term for an apparent lack of effort.

    Nasri was, however, back to his best during a crushing 4-0 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday and Mancini is confused as to why the 25-year-old cannot perform to those levels on a more regular basis.

    He said: "I would like to give him a punch, because a player like him should play like this always.

    "Every game. Maybe one game sometimes he can play badly.

    "I don't understand what was different. I can't understand how a player with his quality doesn't play like this every game.

    "The second year is always difficult to win the title again. And sometimes the player can think it is enough to play 50 per cent. We've probably had this problem this year."

    Mentality

    "They (United) have won a lot of games, difficult games, to stay on top and they deserve to win the title for this."
    Roberto Mancini

    Mancini is right in his assessment, with too many of City's players having allowed their standards to dip in 2012/13.

    An inability to repeat their heroics from last season has left the defending champions 15 points adrift of arch-rivals Manchester United in the Premier League title race, and Mancini admits that is 'too much'.

    With City set to face United in their next league outing, Mancini added: "We can't think we are 15 points behind because for me, the gap is not correct. Fifteen points is too much. I think it is six or seven, not 15.

    "We showed this in the first derby when we deserved to win and lost. You can play well, but if you don't score and concede, you lose.

    "They (United) have won a lot of games, difficult games, to stay on top and they deserve to win the title for this.

    "This is the mentality you have when you win everything for 20 years and you know if you don't play well it's important to win."


    Source : http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11679/8611054/Manchester-City-boss-Roberto-Mancini-baffled-by-Samir-Nasri-s-inconsistency
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    McAnuff remains upbeat

    McAnuff remains upbeat

    McAnuff remains upbeat

    Reading captain Jobi McAnuff accepts his side are going to have to find the form of champions over the final seven matches of the Barclays Premier League season to stay up - but insists it is not an impossible task.

    New Royals manager Nigel Adkins saw his side go down 4-1 at Arsenal, which pushed them onto the foot of the table where they are now seven points adrift of safety. However, with a home game against Southampton and then fellow strugglers QPR coming to the Madejski Stadium, McAnuff insists the Berkshire club can save themselves.

    "We have got games there that we think are winnable between now and the end of the season and we have got to move on as quickly as possible from this and make sure we are right come Saturday," the midfielder said.

    "It changes from year to year, but historically there's obviously a (points) mark teams need to get to. We know we're going to need a good few wins between now and the end of the season to reach that target. We have got to start getting that first win on the board as quickly as possible.

    "We feel we've got the games to do it, we've still got some teams in and around us and it's important not to get too down. We will make sure we learn from this defeat and move forward."

    McAnuff added: "We have got to really focus on ourselves, we have got a new manager now and everyone is working together to try and stay up. We have been through some rough times before and we have achieved a lot as a group of players and from our point of view that spirit will keep us moving forward."

    Adkins was only appointed as Brian McDermott's successor at the start of last week and had little time to implement any significant changes with so many of the squad away on international duty. The former Saints boss, however, continues to stay positive in the face of overwhelming odds.

    Adkins said: "It is a great challenge, a massive challenge.

    "We have got to keep working hard. We have to keep the belief about people.

    "There's a group of players who want to do well, to improve, want to learn and what we have to do is make sure that we all work very hard together so when we go on that pitch everyone is united."



    Source : http://www.football.co.uk/reading/mcanuff_remains_upbeat_rss3939152.shtml
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