Oscar not happy at Chelsea but Rafa Benitez rejects rift talk

Posted on December 19, 2012 by adminsports

Oscar's not happy because he's not playing… but there's no rift, says Rafa

UPDATED:

09:01 GMT, 19 December 2012

No problem: Rafa Benitez has played down talk of a rift with Oscar

Rafael Benitez welcomes Oscar's dismay at his exclusion from Chelsea's starting line-up in Sunday's Club World Cup final against Corinthians.

Oscar will feature in tonight's Capital One Cup quarter-final at Leeds but has been used sparingly by interim manager Benitez to date, starting just three of his seven games in charge.

The Brazilian playmaker expressed his disappointment after being selected on the bench against Corinthians, but Benitez insists there is no rift with the player.

'Oscar is fine. He's a very good professional. We don't have any issue with him,' he said.

'I try to manage players, especially in his position because we have Eden Hazard and Juan Mata, who can do more or less the same job.

'It's difficult for them but it's good for me because I have different problems. There's are no issues or problems.

'Oscar will have a lot of time on the pitch and I'm sure he'll be a great player for the club.

Backing: Benitez believes Oscar will be great for Chelsea but warned he must bide his time

'Oscar's not happy because he's not playing and that's fantastic. There would be a problem if it was the opposite.'

Leeds will be Benitez' eighth game in charge since taking over 25 days ago, a hectic schedule that continues with Christmas fixtures against Aston Villa, Norwich, Everton and QPR.

'We have to win every competition if we can. We have rivalry with Leeds and we have one less competition to win after losing on Sunday,' Benitez said.

'We can't just call it another game, it's a very important match for us.

'Christmas time is a crucial period because you can play so many games that will change everything.'

Plenty to ponder: Benitez admitted the club are busy identifying potential recruits for January

Benitez admits he is in daily discussions with technical director Michael Emenalo over potential transfer activity for January.

'Hopefully we have two or three days after this game where we'll have plenty of time to talk about names,' he said.

'There's no formal meeting because we can chat every day. Michael is watching the training session and we talk every day – about players and how the team is doing.

'I know what Michael likes and he knows what I like and we come to an agreement.'

Chelsea have been stretched by the loss of John Obi Mikel, Gary Cahill and Ramires to suspension and while striker Daniel Sturridge may return from his hamstring injury against Leeds, John Terry is still out with a knee problem despite returning to training yesterday.

Harry Redknapp hails Adel Taarabt after QPR score first win

Posted on December 16, 2012 by adminsports

Redknapp hails two-goal Taarabt after star midfielder helps QPR to first win

UPDATED:

20:21 GMT, 15 December 2012

QPR boss Harry Redknapp lavished praise on Adel Taarabt after he scored twice to help Rangers to their first Barclays Premier League win of the season.

The Morocco international scored two second half goals as QPR beat local rivals Fulham 2-1 at Loftus Road to move off the foot of the table.

It was the first win under Redknapp and QPR's first league victory since they beat Stoke on May 6.

On song: Adel Taarabt struck twice as QPR scored their first victory in the league this season

Taarabt was inspirational for most of the game and Redknapp enthused about his match-winning contribution.

'(He has) Fantastic ability, he was amazing today,' said Redknapp.

'He is an amazing talent, we all know that and we have all seen it since I went to Tottenham, no-one ever doubted his ability or his talent.

'I decided I had to get him in a position where he wants to play.

'He has been playing off the left but today I played him in the hole, off the front man and tried to get him between the lines – play little balls in those holes to him and every time he got the ball they were in trouble.'

Rangers dominated for much of the game but conceded a late goal through a deflected Mladen Petric strike and Redknapp admitted the goal led to a tense final few moments at Loftus Road.

'We deserved it (the win),' he said. 'I thought we were the better team and it would have been a travesty if we had conceded another goal in those hectic couple of minutes went they pushed (Brede) Hangeland up and bombed it into our box.

'When you have not won, psychologically the players must have been thinking “oh my God” when they have got the goal and they think an equaliser is going to come, it must have been difficult.

'It was difficult for me watching that last four minutes and they must have felt the same but we hung in there and got the result we deserved.'

Impressed: Harry Redknapp (left) was delighted with the mighty Moroccan

The result moves QPR onto 10 points and above Reading into 19th place and Redknapp felt it was a necessity to end the winless run before they were cut adrift.

'At least it keeps us in there, if we hadn't won today it would have been absolutely desperate,' he said.

'It is going to be tough, we are not going to kid ourselves but we have had one win but we are on a good run, we have had four games and taken six points.

'If you can take six points from every four games you will stay up – hopefully that can kick-start our season now and keep us going.'

Former Tottenham boss Redknapp was congratulated by his chairman Tony Fernandes at full-time and dedicated the victory to the Malaysian.

'I met him today for the first time, he came down and he was delighted – he was so pleased,' he said.

'The people here deserve it – as I've said a million times they are nice people and they deserve that win today so that was good, I was delighted for them today.'

Fernandes said at the end of the match that he was glad to pick up a first league win of the campaign and likened it to winning the league.

'I am a very relieved man. That is the best Christmas present ever,' he said.

That's more like it: QPR chief Tony Fernandes was very happy with the win

'It was a great team effort, they deserved it. We've been threatening for a while and what a way to get the winning goal.

'It is looking good and we're undefeated under Harry. I feel like I have won the championship.'

Fulham boss Martin Jol felt the majority of his players who played well in Monday's 2-1 win at home to Newcastle had not turned up at Loftus Road.

'I'm very disappointed with our style of play – I can complain about the goals but especially first half we never looked to earn the right to use our quality,' he said.

'We looked a bit rigid. On Monday we had players in midfield, like they had Adel today, they need to travel and do something extra.

'We didn't do the simple things or play in the flow. I wanted to give 10 of the 11 players who played last week the chance to do it again but there were too many players not there.'

The Dutchman also felt the defending from his side could have been better for both of Taarabt's goals.

'The second goal for example was very cheap and easy and the second was a deflection.

We tried to get in their half and the passing was sloppy and they could break us away from home. Our two central midfield players could never get up the pitch and support.'

Neil Lennon staying grounded after Helsingborgs IF win

Posted on August 22, 2012 by adminsports

Lennon staying grounded as Celtic move within 90 minutes of Champions League

UPDATED:

22:07 GMT, 21 August 2012

Fantasy football 2012

Celtic boss Neil Lennon was taking nothing for granted despite his side moving a big step closer to the Champions League group stage with a superb 2-0 win over Helsingborg in the first leg of their play-off at the Olympia Stadium in Sweden.

Kris Commons volleyed the Scottish side into the lead with less than two minutes on the clock following a cross from Georgios Samaras.

Hoops goalkeeper Fraser Forster made a series of saves as the Swedish champions fought back but in the 75th minute Samaras put Celtic in the driving seat for next week's second leg in Glasgow when he headed in a Commons corner.

Job done: Celtic's Georgios Samaras bagged the second goal against Helsingborgs IF

However, Lennon said afterwards: 'There is still a lot to play for in the tie as far as I am concerned.

'I don't think it's over although our home record is very, very good.

'There was enough there to worry me as Helsingborg were very impressive.

'But in the end we hit the bar twice and, on the counter-attack, we could have put the tie well out of sight.

'We'll set the team up differently and I'd like to think we would be in the ascendancy in the home game.

'It's a great result for us to take into the second game.

'A clean sheet and two away goals was more than I could have asked for really.'

Lennon rated the result as one of the best in his managerial career.

Grounded: Neil Lennon is taking nothing for granted after his side's 2-0 victory

He said: 'It's one of them. It's up there. But there is still a lot of work to do and 90 minutes still to go.

'There are a few bumps and bruises in there so we might have a casualty count in the morning.

'It's been a really hectic schedule for the players so their efforts tonight are even more remarkable.

'They are pretty grounded boys and they know they still have a big night ahead of them.

'But there's a big prize at the end it for them and you can see what it means for them.

'We might have to weather a bit of a storm at times in the second leg but I'm certain we will have more possession in the home leg than we did tonight.'

Routine: Goalkeeper Fraser Forster managed to keep a clean sheet in Helsingborg

Lennon felt Forster showed just why he was so keen to sign him on a permanent contract this summer after two loan spells from Newcastle.

The Northern Irishman said: 'Obviously we got off to a dream start which isn't like us because normally we're a goal down after two or three minutes away in Europe.

'So it was a great start but we took our foot off the pedal a little bit and we had to rely on Fraser making a couple of great saves.

'You can see why we pursued him so vigorously because we feel he is capable of doing that.

'We gathered ourselves at half-time and we were a lot better in the second half with James Forrest giving us a good out-ball on the right and I thought we restricted Helsingborg to shots from outside the box.'

Alastair Cook ready for Australia ODIs

Posted on June 26, 2012 by adminsports

Captain Cook ready to turn up the heat on the Aussies ahead of ODI series

UPDATED:

21:59 GMT, 25 June 2012

Alastair Cook will on Tuesday take an early chance to reacquaint himself with the Australia side who became sick of the sight of him during the last Ashes.

The England one-day captain plays for Essex against an Aussie team who are here for a series of five one-day matches squeezed into the middle of another hectic summer.

Cooking with gas: The England captain leads his side against the Aussies

England squad to face Aussies

AN Cook (capt), JM Anderson, JM Bairstow, IR Bell, RS Bopara, TT Bresnan, SCJ Broad, JW Dernbach, ST Finn, C Kieswetter, EJG Morgan, SR Patel, GP Swann, IJL Trott.

Cook, who scored 766 runs in his
triumphant Australian summer when England won the Ashes 3-1 Down Under,
wants to take a look at the old enemy’s attack ahead of Friday’s first
ODI at Lord’s. Ravi Bopara will join Cook in the tour match at
Chelmsford to bring back memories of the huge partnership the pair made
against Australia for their county during the fabled 2005 season.

England, who are unbeaten in six home
one-day series, have named a 14 unchanged from the original group who
beat West Indies 2-0. The players added to England’s squad for the
washed-out final 50-over match against West Indies — Stuart Meaker,
James Tredwell and Chris Woakes — were released in favour of the big
guns.

‘Playing against the No 1 ranked team
is an excellent test for us as we try to keep on steadily improving
ahead of the Champions Trophy next year and the 2015 World Cup,’ said
national selector Geoff Miller.

Old foe: Brett Lee is back on these shores to face England

This series, which is another step
towards overkill and the erosion of the greatest rivalry in cricket,
allows English audiences to take a look at Australia’s new great pace
hopes, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson, ahead of next year’s Ashes.

There are also some familiar faces in Michael Clarke, Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson.

Australia plan to field their first-choice team in Tuesday’s day-night game ahead of the start of the NatWest Series.

‘England will be formidable
opposition in their conditions but we feel like we have got our one-day
side going in the right direction,’ said Australia coach Mickey Arthur.

‘Our guys know where they stand and they are ready to take the baton on.’

Chelsea defensive headache after David Luiz injury

Posted on April 16, 2012 by adminsports

Luiz doubtful for Barcelona, but Terry should be fit to play again, says Di Matteo

UPDATED:

09:54 GMT, 16 April 2012

Chelsea are set to face European Champions Barcelona without David Luiz, but John Terry should be fit for Wednesday's semi-final clash.

Brazilian defender Luiz was forced off midway through the second-half over the Blues FA Cup thrashing of Tottenham at Wembley having appeared to pull his hamstring chasing Emmanuel Adebayor in the build-up to Spurs' only goal.

The match against Barca at Stamford Bridge is the second of four packed into 10 hectic days for Roberto di Matteo's man. But the Italian insists, despite the set back of Luiz, his squad are capable of emerging in a healthy position at the end of the run.

Down and out: David Luiz was forced off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury picked up while chasing down Emmanuel Adebayor

Fighting fit: John Terry

'We've picked up some niggly injuries, so it's a matter of assessing the team om Monday,' the interim boss said. 'David Luiz picked up a hamstring injury so we’ll have to have a look at him but he looks to be doubtful.

'Terry should be able to play again on Wednesday. The boys are looking quite fit at the moment. It’s always a matter of seeing how they are after the games and assessing each individual player for the game. I was just focusing on this game to get to the final.'

Meanwhile, goalscorer Frank Lampard is convinced Chelsea have the beating of their Spanish opponents if they reproduce the display that saw them thrash Tottenham 5-1.

He said: 'Barcelona are favourites because of the players they have in their team but if we play like we did against Spurs in the two games then we will have a chance. It gives us confidence. We have to carry that on.

'There’s no point in resting on that because the game on Wednesday’s huge.We need to take that into the Champions League games and all the rest of our league games.

'Any team’s beatable. They are the best, but we can’t show too much fear. We have to take them on and I think we can do it.'

Chelsea will be hoping they had not exhausted all their luck after another refereeing controversy went their way on Sunday.

Martin
Atkinson was forced to apologise to Spurs boss Harry Redknapp for
awarding the Blues’ second goal after a shot by Juan Mata, which
television replays appeared to show did not cross the line.

Ready for anything: Frank Lampard believes Chelsea are capable of upsetting Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final

Lampard said: 'It wasn’t a goal, simple as that, and for that you feel sorry for Tottenham. Goal-line technology needs to be brought in, in my opinion.

'I think it’s a no-brainer. It’s very simple. It’s in a lot of other sports. I know we’re all traditionalists and we want to keep our game as quick-moving and as simple as we want.

'But I think cricket was like that and cricket definitely benefited from it and was more exciting to watch. With football, it’s too big a business and too important.

'People come to watch games and support clubs throughout the season and it should be dealt with. The powers that be have to do it.

'It takes a few seconds to work out, probably, whether it’s a goal or not. Why not take it out of everyone’s instant reaction and put it in the eyes of Hawk-Eye, or whatever it might be'

Andy Murray: Olympics bigger than Grand Slams

Posted on April 11, 2012 by adminsports

Olympics 'bigger than Grand Slams': Murray ranks gold medal as his No 1 priority

UPDATED:

21:30 GMT, 10 April 2012

Andy Murray believes winning a gold medal at the Olympics would be a bigger achievement than a maiden Grand Slam title.

The British No 1 has three times been runner-up in a Grand Slam but has said standing on top of the podium at London 2012 would
provide the 'ultimate' moment.

Eyes on the prize: Andy Murray with the AEGEON Championships Trophy

The 24-year-old is preparing for a hectic summer which sees the Olympic
tournament, at the All England Club from July 28 to August 5, sandwiched
between the end of Wimbledon on July 8 and the start of the US Open on
August 27.

'This summer's going to be huge,' said world No 4 Murray.

'I'd be
desperate to win Olympic gold. I think either winning a Slam or Olympic
gold would be celebrated by the nation but winning an Olympic medal is
something that belongs to your country as well. In sporting terms I
would say the Olympics is bigger than winning a Grand Slam because
everybody knows what Olympic gold is, whereas not everybody knows what a
Grand Slam is.

Early exit: Murray lost in the first-round at the Beijing Olympics in 2008

'The Olympics is bigger than tennis, bigger than the Slams for sure.
It's a huge competition. In tennis, when you've finished playing people
would probably look at a Grand Slam before an Olympic gold, but in
sporting terms an Olympic gold is pretty much the ultimate achievement.'

Murray competed in Beijing four years ago but crashed out in the first
round of the singles to Lu Yen-hsun of Chinese Taipei and was eliminated
along with brother Jamie at the second-round stage of the doubles.

'The Olympics is just different,' he added.

Return date: Murray will be back at SW19 three weeks after Wimbledon ends

'You feel like you're
playing for other people, playing for your country. A lot of times when
you're on tour you're playing for yourself.

'In Beijing I didn't really play well but it's one of the best
experiences I've had as an athlete, being around all the top athletes in
the world. You don't get that chance often because tennis is such an
individual sport.

'Tennis at the Olympics has become a big deal, everybody plays it now,
whereas 10, 15 years ago people would skip it. You see the emotion of
the guys. (Novak) Djokovic won bronze and it was a huge thing for him.
If he'd lost in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam, he'd be disappointed.'

Come on Andy!: Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears and coach Ivan Lendl at last month's Sony Ericsson Open

Murray has confirmed he will defend his AEGON Championships title in
June. He has committed to playing at Queen's Club for the next five
years in
an arrangement which coincides with the event's new broadcasting deal
with the BBC, which runs to 2016.

Meanwhile, Britain's Anne Keothavong
yesterday beat Melinda Czink 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the first round of the
E-Boks Open in Copenhagen.

Dressed for success: Murray modelling the Stella McCartney-designed 2012 kit with other Team GB members

Luke Donald tops European Tour money list as Rory McIlroy falls short in Dubai

Posted on December 11, 2011 by adminsports

He”s in the money! Donald makes history as rival McIlroy falls short in Dubai

Luke Donald has became the first man to win the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic in the same season.

Donald was still on the Earth course in Dubai when Rory McIlroy, his only remaining challenger on the European circuit, failed to achieve the win he needed to keep the race alive.

Even then, England”s world No 1 was odds-on to add the title to his PGA Tour crown. He required a top-nine finish and was joint fourth with four to play.

Catch me if you can: Donald (left) has topped the European Tour

Catch me if you can: Donald (left) has topped the European Tour”s money list

McIlroy has been tired and drained after suffering with a viral infection and he said this had simply been a tournament too far at the end of a hectic schedule of playing events.

“I couldn”t get anything going when I needed to. I played a nine-hole stretch, the last two on Friday and the first seven on Saturday, in five over. That”s where the tournament got away from me,” McIlroy said after closing on 279, nine under.

The world No 2 also said he would be skipping next week”s Thailand Golf Championship, the last event of the season on the Asian Tour.

Step too far: Rory McIlroy was unable to stop Donald winning the money list

“I can”t wait to have a few weeks off,” added McIlroy. “People telling you what to do and where to go.

“Another flight, more sleeping patterns messed up. Next week would have been a big struggle too.

“The doctor told me last night that no matter how bad I”m feeling now I”d be even worse if I played next week.”

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Tag Archives: hectic

Oscar not happy at Chelsea but Rafa Benitez rejects rift talk

Harry Redknapp hails Adel Taarabt after QPR score first win

Alastair Cook ready for Australia ODIs

Chelsea defensive headache after David Luiz injury

Andy Murray: Olympics bigger than Grand Slams

Luke Donald tops European Tour money list as Rory McIlroy falls short in Dubai