After the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger was given another reason to smile yesterday. With his greatest adversary finally departing, Arsenal were the main beneficiaries as Chelsea and Tottenham punched each other into submission last night at the end of a thrilling derby.
It was a high-quality match played at a breathless pace but a 2-2 draw did not really suit either club. Chelsea still need another win to be sure of finishing in the top four and so cannot completely switch their focus to next Wednesday's Europa League final against Benfica while the Champions League fate of Tottenham, who twice fought back from losing positions last night, is now out of their hands. Should Arsenal win against Wigan and Newcastle, they will again finish above their north London rivals and would even have Chelsea in sight.
Rafael Benitez has admitted to concern that his players look at his team selections and draw their own conclusions about their place within his rotation system. If so, there was little encouragement last night for both John Terry and Frank Lampard ahead of next week's Europa League final.
Having been named among the substitutes, logic dictates that they will play against Aston Villa on Sunday and may well miss out next week.
That old guard, and particularly Lampard, have been perceived as the main instigators of the dressing-room resistance that undermined Andre Villas-Boas during his eight months at Stamford Bridge. Although he received what was little more than pantomime booing on being publicly welcomed back to Chelsea, he made a point of shaking hands with as many people as possible before the match, including Lampard and Terry.
Villas-Boas had caused a surprise of his own with his team selection, starting Emmanuel Adebayor and relegating Jermain Defoe to the bench. Scott Parker returned and Lewis Holtby rather than Gareth Bale started behind Adebayor. It meant pushing Bale out to the left and it was Chelsea who established control of the midfield.
Juan Mata, inevitably, was the catalyst behind most of their best play and went close with a volley after being released by Fernando Torres. Chelsea then forced a corner after Eden Hazard had been cynically tripped by Tom Huddlestone. Mata's cross was headed towards the goal by Gary Cahill, with Oscar evading Parker and timing his run perfectly to put Chelsea into the lead. Remarkably, this was Oscar's 77th game since the end of last season.
Chelsea's advantage might have been doubled moments later, when Mata found space but shot wastefully over from Cesar Azpilicueta's cross.
With David Luiz again sweeping up to great effect in his new holding midfield position, Chelsea's fans became sufficiently confident to start taunting Tottenham that 'you've only got one player'. They spoke too soon. Holtby dispossessed Hazard and Ramires before feeding the ball to Adebayor just inside Chelsea's half. Inexplicably, Azpilicueta and Cahill back-pedalled, inviting Adebayor into a shooting position. Petr Cech had also wandered off his line and, sensing his opportunity, Adebayor brilliantly lifted the ball over the Chelsea goalkeeper and into the top corner.
Tottenham might have been level but the momentum still remained with Chelsea. Torres, who was without his mask for the first time in several months, responded with a moment of individual skill and passed for Ramires to finish clinically past Lloris. With Adebayor producing a rare performance of real influence, Tottenham pushed hard for another equaliser but were almost punished on the stroke of half-time after another slick sequence that ended with Oscar shooting into the arms of Lloris.
Chelsea continued to dominate after the interval, with Mata giving a further demonstration of his vision to create a chance for Torres that was bundled wide by Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
A great chance went begging after Mata galloped clear following a wonderful touch from Hazard only for Ramires to lose his footing. There was then another moment of comedy when Luiz crept to the touchline and listened in to Villas-Boas's instructions to Holtby while nodding in mock agreement. The scoreline, however, was still not nearly as comfortable as it should have been for Chelsea, and Bale had a penalty appeal turned down after a tangle with Ashley Cole.
Luiz and Villas-Boas then found themselves embroiled in a heated exchange as the manager complained about the Brazilian's use of an elbow on Gylfi Sigurdsson. Clint Dempsey and Tom Carroll were also introduced as Villas-Boas sought to get something out of the game, although it was puzzling he should not opt for Defoe. Villas-Boas, though, was vindicated on 80 minutes when Luiz failed to track Sigurdsson's run and he ghosted into the penalty area unmarked to finish Adebayor's clever pass.
Chelsea fans were unimpressed when Benitez replaced Oscar with Yossi Benayoun, accusing their interim manager of not knowing what he is doing as a vital win went begging
Thursday, 9 May 2013
We can still make top four - GYLFI SIGURDSSON
GYLFI SIGURDSSON is convinced Tottenham still have a Champions League place in their sights.
Wednesday’s Stamford Bridge stalemate left Spurs relying on Chelsea or Arsenal slipping up to let them sneak into the top four.
Spurs are one point behind the Gunners and three behind Chelsea going into the final two games.
But midfielder Sigi said: “Arsenal have two tough games. Hopefully we’ll get six points and that will be enough.
“We’ve got Stoke on Sunday and then Sunderland in our last game. We have to make sure we’re ready.”
The Icelander, 23, said: “We knew we needed three points to keep it in our own hands but it wasn’t to be.
“I thought we were going to nick it in the end. It was disappointing to go behind inside 10 minutes but Emmanuel Adebayor scored a great goal for us to get back into it. Hopefully it will be a big point for us come the end of the season.
“I thought we started quite slowly. Chelsea were on top but we got back into it and at the end it was very open, we could have nicked it.
“We knew how important it could be to get the third goal, so we gave it our all. Chelsea had chances as well, perhaps 2-2 was about fair.
“The result shows the character of the team. We never give up.
Keshi not moved by Super Eagles’ rise in Fifa rankings
Nigeria moved up three places in the latest rankings released on Wednesday after climbing up three places.
While Keshi admits that it’s good news, he however revealed that a rise in the rankings is not the most important thing in his agenda as he continues his rebuilding process with the national.
“If Nigerians are happy with the rise in the rankings, then I am also happy with that too but to be perfectly honest with you, that’s not what I am most concerned about.
“I am concerned about providing things that Nigerians will be happy about,” Keshi exclusively told supersport.com on Wednesday.
The gaffer revealed that he has trained his sights on getting “decent results” in the upcoming 2014 Fifa world cup qualifiers away to Kenya and Namibia in June as well as the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil.
“Right now, I am focused on the upcoming friendly against Mexico and more importantly, the games against Namibia and Kenya next month.
“Also, the big one in Brazil; (the Fifa Confederations Cup) where we will meet some of the best teams in the world.
Victories in the matches we will play in the coming days will make Nigerians happier.
“As for the Fifa rankings, I don’t know how Fifa determines the system but like I said, if Nigerians are happy, then I am too,” he stressed.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles are now ranked 28th in the world, 4th in Africa after amassing 780 points in the latest rankings.
Former Nigeria Super Falcons coach Joseph Ladipo dies at 72
Coach Joseph Ladipo died on Thursday in southwest city of Ibadan at the age of 72.
Ladipo’s son, Tunji, said the coach died at about 10.a.m. at his Ibadan residence after taking his bath. Ladipo was admitted for months at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan due to a protracted ailment. He was said to have been discharged from the hospital some days ago. The coach was in the Shooting Stars squad that won the FA Cup on club basis in 1971. He was also in charge of the Falcons when they first lost the AWC crown in 2008 in the semi finals to hosts and eventual winners, Equatorial Guinea.
Vast of Bracket receiving treatment for blood cancer
Vast from the popular singing group, Bracket, has been diagnosed with Lymphoma, a type of cancer of the blood. The singer was diagnosed in February this year after suffering serious body pains, headaches, non stop coughing, loss of weight and weakness while in Paris for a show. He flew to London where a test conducted determined he had cancer. Vast has been receiving treatment at the Wellington Hospital in the UK since February and I hear he’s responding very well to treatment. He has undergone 4 cycles of chemotherapy with each cycle costing about N1.4million. He will do a few more before returning to Nigeria next month.
Sources say that he actually went to a hospital in Nigeria late last year when he started losing weight and feeling weak. They conducted a test on him but it took them forever to come back with the test result. Over three months actually. By then the cancer had spread to his liver. Thankfully he’s getting better and will return home soon.
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Benfica Displays Confidence Ahead Of Chelsea Europa League Clash
One of the interviews was with Coach Jorge Jesus who says his main concern is the weekend’s decisive championship clash against fierce rivals Porto and not the Europa League final which will take place in Amsterdam next Wednesday.
“Our priority in terms of objectives is the championship,” he said. “We have been saying this since the first day we started this journey.”
It will be the first European final in 23 years for the Lisbon club, who lost to AC Milan in the European Cup showpiece in 1990, and they have not won a European trophy since the second of their successive European Cups in 1962.
“We are very confident,” said Jesus.
“It’s a step for Benfica to reach their first European final for 23 years. The results we have got so far have taken us to this final. As always we have a lot of respect for Chelsea, but we very confident that we can win it.”
Influential Serbian international Nemanja Matic is ready to show Chelsea what they lost in next week’s Europa League final after he failed to impress in London and was shuttled to Benfica as part of David Luiz’s big-money signing for Chelsea in 2011.
“To tell the truth I don’t have any special feeling because for me that game is like every game in the Portuguese league or in the cup,” said Matic, who played two matches in two years at Stamford Bridge.
“Of course, it’s a final, we play against a good team and me and all the team will be at our best to win.”
This season Matic has earned the nickname “Spider”, because of his long and thin legs, coupled with his agility across the pitch.
He seemed pleased when asked what he thought about the moniker.
“I didn’t know that. Spider!? It is funny,” said the usually serious Serb said with a grin.
David Moyes given Manchester United job on Sir Alex Ferguson's approval
David Moyes will become the Manchester United manager today following Sir Alex Ferguson's recommendation to the club's hierarchy that his fellow Scot succeed him at Old Trafford.Moyes, whose 4 million pounds-a-year contract at Goodison Park expires at the end of the season, was in London on Wednesday evening to discuss his departure from Everton with the club chairman Bill Kenwright.
But with United confirming yesterday morning that Ferguson will end his 27-year reign as manager following the Premier League fixture against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on May 19, Moyes' arrival at Old Trafford is understood to be a formality, with the champions hoping to conclude negotiations today.
Despite long-term speculation linking Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho with the United job, the Portuguese was not considered by the club's American owners, the Glazer family. Ferguson informed them in late February that this season would be his last. Neither United chief -executive David Gill nor the Glazers tried to change his mind.
The Glazers and Gill sought Ferguson's advice on the man best suited to succeed him and he nominated Moyes. Senior figures at the club confirmed that the 71-year-old's -contribution was fundamental to the decision to pursue Moyes.
Although Moyes's lack of Champions League experience has been raised as a potential handicap to his ability to build on Ferguson's legacy of two European Cups, United are confident that the 50-year-old will thrive among Europe's elite.Leading figures in the game, including Ferguson, have made it clear to Gill and the Glazers that Moyes' tactical acumen is the equal of Europe's leading coaches. His commitment to building teams and his longevity at Everton have also been cited as crucial factors in -United's decision to recruit him.
Ferguson and Moyes have formed a strong relationship since the then-Preston North End manager rejected the opportunity to become Ferguson's assistant in 1999. Their shared principles have created a sense within United that they have hired a man who bears a close resemblance to the 44-year-old enticed from Aberdeen as Ron Atkinson's successor in November 1986.
Ferguson is understood to believe that the time is right to leave the club because United have reasserted their dominance both locally and nationally. United sources denied that the hip surgery later he has planned for the summer influenced the retirement decision.
"The decision is one that I have thought a great deal about and that I have not taken lightly," Ferguson said. "It is the right time. It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so.
"The quality of this league-winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level whilst the structure of the youth set-up will ensure that the long-term future of the club remains a bright one.
"I am delighted to take on the roles of both director and ambassador for the club. With these activities, along with my many other interests, I am looking forward to the future.
"In my early years, the backing of the board, and Sir Bobby Charlton in particular, gave me the confidence and time to build a football club, rather than just a football team."
Although Ferguson has accepted the role of non-executive director, he will not have an office at Old Trafford or Carrington, with his retirement described by sources as a "clean break". That will spare Moyes the prospect of his predecessor retaining a presence similar to Sir Matt Busby's following his retirement in 1969.Martin Edwards, the chairman who appointed Ferguson as manager in 1986, insists he will not present a distraction for Moyes. "Alex is aware of what happened when Sir Matt stepped down," Edwards said. "Any new manager would be happy to have him in the background and imparting his knowledge to them. I don't see the problem arising again."
Charlton, who has worked closely with Ferguson, echoed those comments. "Alex Ferguson doesn't work like that," Charlton said. "He won't interfere. It would be to the detriment of the club. He's famed for his -decision-making and this will just be another decision."
Former United captain Gary Neville, whose brother Phil has spent eight years working under Moyes at Everton, believes he will be an ideal successor to Ferguson. "I would welcome it and it makes sense in some ways," Neville said. "They [United] want someone to respect the tradition and history of the club and somebody who is there for the long-term. This is not a club that will go for quick fixes. I see the appointment as a result for sanity in football."
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