Gerrard Offered New
Contract To Stay At Liverpool
Midfielder Steven Gerrard, 34, has been offered a new deal by
Liverpool, says manager Brendan Rodgers. The Reds boss has also
denied talk of a rift between himself and his captain, whose current deal
finishes at the end of this season. Gerrard has already branded rumours of a
fallout as “nonsense”. Asked if there was a rift, Rodgers, speaking
at a news conference before Tuesday’s Premier League game at Leicester, said:
“No, 150% no.” Rodgers said Gerrard will be given time to consider
the offer but added that money would not be an issue. “It is a big move
not just in his life but in terms of committing where his next contract is
going to be,” said Rodgers. “There are probably many things Steven
would have to think about in a decision like this but it certainly won’t be
money. I have spoken to him often enough and at length and that won’t be the case.”
“No matter how good a player has been, once they come towards those final
years then as manager you are having to think how you can get the best out of
the player.” He added: “Everyone knows his history at this club. What
a player he has been, and still is. I see his talent every day and just need to
manage that and think how it can be most effective. “I love working with
Steven Gerrard. I’ve enjoyed every single minute. I hope that continues.”
German striker
Miroslav Klose has revealed his frustrations at the lack of game-time at
Italian club Lazio. The former Germany striker, who hung up his
international boots after his side’s successful 2014 World Cup, joined the
Serie A side from German giants Bayern Munich two years ago, scoring 24 goals
in his first two seasons with the club. Yet the 36-year-old forward has been
used sparingly so far this season, starting just four games for the
Biancocelesti, who have preferred new Serbian recruit Filip Dordevic upfront,
having arrived from French outfit Nantes at the start of the campaign. Following
another appearance from the bench in last Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Chievo, the
World Cup leading goal-scorer vented his displeasure to the media. “I will now seek talks with Lazio’s
bosses and then we will see how this goes on,” he said. “I can
imagine many things happening; nothing can be excluded in football. I feel
healthy and I feel fit. That is why my claim is that I should be playing more
often. I am definitely not happy with the current situation.” Klose, who
scored 71 goals in 137 appearances for Germany, will be out of contract in June
next year when his current deal at Lazio comes to an end.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hit out at supporters who
have questioned his position at the club. Following two successive
league defeats to Swansea and Manchester United, Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory
over West Brom last Saturday, yet Wenger still received criticism from the
Gunners’ faithful, who unveiled a banner at the match calling for the Frenchman
to step down. Wenger, however, angrily hit back at those baying for him to
leave the post he took up 18 years ago. “I started to manage a team at the
top level in 1983 so, if I am completely useless tactically, I am a genius to
hide it so well,” Wenger told reporters. “I never know what a Plan B
is. I do what I love and I think I do it with honesty and total commitment. I
invite you to live with me and see in seven days what kind of work we produce
and you will see it’s with total commitment.” Wenger insists he is still the
right man to lead the London club, having taken them to the knockout stages of
the Champions League for a 15th consecutive year with a 2-0 win over Borussia
Dortmund last week. “I think we have shown extreme consistency and that’s
all you can do. Look, in the last 15 years we have qualified for the last 16 in
the Champions League,” he said. “Give me another club who has done that. There
is not another club. We’ve had ups and downs in the league, but you only come
back again when the spirit is strong and healthy and united inside the club. I
think if you have shown such a consistency it’s because we have that at the
club. We have values and we respect them.” Arsenal currently lie in sixth
spot in the EPL standings, 13 points adrift of leaders Chelsea.
World football
governing body Fifa announced the top three nominees for the 2014 Fifa Ballon
d’Or, it will be contested by Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer.
The initial list of 23 players was whittled down to three after captains
and coaches of both the men and women’s teams of all 209 Fifa associations, as
well as international media representatives, casted their votes. Firm
favourites Messi and Ronaldo, who share six Ballon d’Or trophies between them,
made the final cut, alongside Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who becomes the
first goalkeeper to make the final shortlist since compatriot Oliver Kahn in
2002. The trio were voted for by 87% of the captains and coaches, while 94% of
the media representatives that voted were in favour of the three named above. In
the women’s category, Germany’s Nadine Kessler, Brazilian sensation Marta and
Abby Wambach from the USA will contest for the title of best women player in
the world. The contenders for the FIFA World Coach of the Year for both men’s
and women’s football were also revealed. Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti,
Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone as well as German national team coach Joachim
Low made the top three in the men’s category, while Ralf Kellermann (VfL
Wolfsburg), Maren Meinert (Germany U-19 and U-20 national teams) and Norio
Sasaki (Japan national team) vie for the coveted women’s coach award. The three
nominees for the FIFA Puskas Award for the “most beautiful goal of the year”
were also announced, which include Stephanie Roche’s strike for Peamount United
against Wexford Youths, James Rodriguez’s World Cup cracker for Colombia
against Uruguay as well as Robin van Persie’s diving header for the Netherlands
against Spain. All the awards will be presented at the FIFA Ballon d’Or award
ceremony in Zurich on 12 January 2015.
Thierry Henry has
confirmed that he will leave MLS side New York Red Bulls when his contract
expires at the end of 2014. Henry (37) signed for Red Bulls in 2010 and
became their second-all-time leading scorer with 51 goals in 122 appearances. The
former World Cup winner with France, who remains Arsenal’s all-time top scorer
with 226 goals in 368 games, has not revealed what the future holds despite
being linked with a return to the Gunners. “I am taking this opportunity to
announce that unfortunately Saturday was my last game for the New York Red
Bulls. The decision has always been that I would leave after the duration of my
contract and although that was never going to change, I didn’t want it to
distract from the progress of the team,” said Henry. “I have immensely enjoyed
my four-and-a-half years here and would like to thank everyone involved with
this club who has made my time here so enjoyable.”
Algeria and FC Porto player Yacine Brahimi is the winner of
this year’s BBC African Footballer of the Year award. He is the
first Algerian player to win in the competition’s 23 year history. Brahimi emerged as the most popular
player in a competitive shortlist that included Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
(Gabon and Borussia Dortmund), Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria and Lille), Gervinho
(Ivory Coast and Roma) and 2013 winner Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast and Manchester
City). This year’s BBC African Footballer of the Year was the most successful
competition to date since the award first launched in 1992 as BBC African
Sports Star of the Year. Hundreds of thousands of football fans voted in the
2014 competition from around the world. The BBC’s Peter Okwoche presented
Brahimi with his trophy on Monday. Yacine Brahimi said: “It is a huge honour
for me to receive this wonderful trophy. I owe it to my country, Algeria; and
to all the people who voted for me. It is also a trophy for the whole of
Africa, because it rewards an African player. This trophy is going to give me more strength,
more desire to work, to get better and to learn, so that I can keep having
great performances. Both the African Cup of Nations and the Champions League
are coming, as well as the Portuguese League. These are big opportunities for
me. I hope I will be able to achieve big things this year both with my national
team and my club.” “I am sharing this trophy with my family, with all the
African countries and with all the Algerians who have always supported me”. Having
played for the French national youth teams, Brahimi was a late addition to
Algeria after switching nationalities in 2013. He showed maturity and
leadership at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where Algeria qualified from the
group stages for the first time in their World Cup history. Since then he has
helped to secure his country’s qualification for next year’s Africa Cup of
Nations. He has also blossomed in his club career at Porto showing panache in
midfield and impressive form in front of goal. Previous winners of the BBC
African Footballer of the Year award include: Yaya Toure (2013), Christopher
Katongo (2012), André Ayew (2011) and Asamoah Gyan (2010).
Manchester United
manager Louis van Gaal has bemoaned the Premier League’s busy festive schedule,
saying it “is not good for the players”. United, who moved up to
fourth on the table with a 3-0 win over visiting Hull City on Saturday, will
play seven games this month. “I don’t think it’s good for the football
players that they play within two days another match, but in December, it shall
be like that,” Van Gaal said. “I am not happy, but I cannot change
it. We also have families. I also have a wife and kids and grandchildren and I
cannot see them this Christmas, but I want to work in the Premier League, I
have to adapt and I shall adapt. But I don’t think it is good for players, neither
for the families.” The Red Devils next host Stoke City on Tuesday, with
Van Gaal naturally targeting another victory at Old Trafford.
Real Madrid have
broken a club record for most consecutive victories. Los Blancos beat
Malaga 2-1 last night thanks to goals from Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, both
assisted by Cristiano Ronaldo. It was their 16th win in a row, bettering the 15
set by Jose Mourinho’s team of 2011, and Miguel Munoz’s 1961 outfit.
Sewe Sport will take
a 2-1 lead into the second leg of the 2014 CAF Confederation Cup Final after a
late goal secured a home win over Al Ahly on Saturday. Koffi Kouame gave
the Ivorian club the lead in the 24th minute before Mahmoud Hassan equalised
with an important away-goal for the Egyptians. However, Roger Assale had the
final say at Stade Robert Champroux in Abidjan, netting in the 81st minute to
give his side a slender advantage heading into the second leg. Al Ahly take on
Sewe Sport in Cairo on 6 December.
Chelsea manager Jose
Mourinho has given the go ahead for the club to organise a Christmas Party for
the team, following their glittering start to the season. The Blues are
currently unbeaten in all competitions so far this season, and Mourinho feels
it is only right to reward the players for the commitment and effort they have
put in thus far. “Probably, because of that, the club is preparing a little
Christmas party for them and their families,” said the Portuguese. “Maybe
because their families also deserve it. For good things, we’ll find the time.
The traditional hospital visits and charity stuff, we also have time for that.
And because this is a squad with lots of kids – young guys with kids from a
couple of weeks to 10 years old – I think it will be good for them.” Chelsea
were meant to have a Christmas Party last year too, which included an organised
dinner at one of London’s top restaurants as well as a night out clubbing,
however, a shock loss to Sunderland in the League Cup prompted the boss to
abandon the plans. This time around, though, the two-time Premier
League-winning mentor feels the players and their families are more deserving
of the festivities. “There are Christmas parties and ‘Christmas parties’,” said
Mourinho. “This one I think the families deserve and the boys are very happy to
be with their families. My kids are 14 and 18. I don’t think they belong at
this [kind of] party. But I think I have to go to say a couple of words and
after that, to leave the players there with their families and kids.”
Liverpool boss
Brendan Rodgers says he will give his utmost to the club in order to stay at
Anfield for as long as possible, and insists that a fourth place finish is
within grasp. “No matter how we have been we are still within touching
distance of the initial aim, which was fourth and then moving forward,” he
said. “The players have the experience from last season and I have every belief
that we can do it. Sometimes things are never as bad as people say or write.
They are not always as good as people say or write either. You just have to
stay calm. We will improve but we need to show it through our actions on the
field.” After being tipped as the bookmakers’ favourite to face the axe,
Rodgers says, whether he stays or goes, he will do his level best in trying to
improve the side’s performances and results. “I will fight for my life to be
here for as long as I can,” he added. “You never like seeing or hearing things
like you are the bookies’ favourite to get the sack when six months ago I was
manager of the year but that is modern football. All I can do is my best and I
will continue to do my best. While I do that I can relax knowing that whenever
that time comes from the owners, whether it is in one month or 10 years, I will
walk out of here knowing I have given my absolute all to give the club what it
wants. I am happy with that,” concluded the 41-year-old.
Zimbabwe will not be
represented in the CAF Champions League after Dynamos decided not to
participate for financial reasons. The club announced the decision on
Thursday after a meeting with their sponsors Banc ABC, who revealed that they
were not able to fund the team’s campaign in the tournament. “We had a
meeting with our sponsors and they said they are unable to finance,” club
chairman Keni Mubaiwa says. “As a club we do not have the resources and I want
to apologise to our fans, our players and our coaches in telling them we are
unable to participate in the Champions League.” The latest development means Zimbabwe will not
be represented in the CAF Champions League, while FC Platinum are still to
confirm whether they will play in the Confederation Cup. The continental
football body has given all countries up to November 30 to register clubs for
the tournaments. Dynamos are Zimbabwe’s most successful club in African
football after reaching the Champions League Final in 1998, and the semi-finals
10 years later. They also reached the group stage in 1999 and 2010. Dynamos won
their fourth consecutive league title after finishing two points ahead of ZPC Kariba
in a competition that was decided on the last day of action.
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has undergone surgery and
will miss the next three months of action for his London club. The
22-year-old suffered a late challenge from Manchester United’s Paddy McNair in
his side’s 2-1 defeat to the Red Devils last weekend, and later tests revealed
the damage was more serious than initially thought. “Jack Wilshere has had
successful surgery on his left ankle and will be out for approximately three
months,” read a statement on Arsenal’s official website. “An assessment with a
specialist confirmed the need for an operation and the 22-year-old had
successful surgery to his ankle in London on Thursday afternoon.” The England
international took to Instagram to let his fans know that “everything went
well”, before posting an inspiring message as he contends with yet another
injury set-back. “Work hard for what you want because it won’t come to you
without a fight,” he wrote. “You have to be strong and courageous and
know that you can do anything you put your mind to. If somebody puts you down
or criticises you, just keep on believing in yourself and turn it into
something positive.”
Former Chelsea boss Avram Grant is the
new coach of Ghana after agreeing a 27-month contract, the country’s football
association announced last Thursday. The 54-year-old Israeli, who missed out on
Champions League glory with Chelsea in 2008 after a penalty shootout defeat in
the final against Manchester United, will lead Ghana in January’s African
Nations Cup finals. Grant replaces Kwesi Appiah, who led the Black Stars at the
2014 World Cup in Brazil but was fired in September. Ghana FA president Kwesi
Nyantakyi told a news conference that he had been given a mandate to “do
well at the 2015 Nations Cup and win the 2017 Nations Cup”. It is a second international assignment for
Grant, who coached Israel between 2002-06, narrowly failing to qualify for the
World Cup in Germany. He has also had spells in charge of West Ham United and
Portsmouth. Grant’s most recent job was at Partizan Belgrade where he spent the
final five months of the 2011/12 season and guided the team to the Serbian
title before resigning with a year remaining on his contract.
Brazil legend Pele is
still recovering in intensive care after undergoing surgery last week. The
former Selecao star was hospitalised after being diagnosed with a urinary tract
infection having had his kidney stones removed last month. He then underwent a
further operation on his kidney which has proved successful, with doctors at
the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paolo confirming he was “lucid and stable”
following the operation. Pele is reportedly showing good signs of recovery and
is responding well to antibiotics, and should be out of hospital by the end of
the week, with son Edinho telling reporters his father was “very upbeat”. However,
the danger is not fully over, as even though the doctors have stopped
administering dialysis to the former footballer, they say he may still need
further treatment if needed. “The renal support treatment was suspended until
tomorrow [Monday], when its necessity will be re-evaluated,” the Albert
Einstein Hospital said in a statement.