Late goal denies Ajax, Zenit triumph

Dutch giants Ajax were held 1-1 by Dynamo Kiev in the first leg of their Champions League qualifying play-off in Ukraine on Tuesday night.

The four-time European champions took the lead in the 57th minute, a minute after Dynamo were reduced to 10 men.
Denys Garmash was ordered off for a second bookable offence, a foul on Jan Vertonghen.
And Ajax made them pay when Demy de Zeeuw's free-kick picked out Vertonghen who headed home, only to let in an equaliser nine minutes later when Oleh Gusev fired home.
Russian league leaders Zenit St Petersburg will carry a 1-0 lead into the second leg of their play-off against French side Auxerre, thanks to Aleksandr Kerzhakov's header in the third minute.
Steffen Iversen and Markus Henriksen scored for Rosenborg as they beat FC Copenhagen 2-1. The Danes pinched a late consolation through Jesper Gronkjaer to give themselves hope ahead of the second leg, when they will have home advantage.
Slovakian side Zilina put themselves into a strong position to qualify for the group stages for the first time in their history as they seized a 2-0 lead against Sparta Prague.
Momodou Ceesay fired Zilina in front after 51 minutes and the lead was doubled when Tomas Oravec headed home in the 73rd minute.
Swiss side Young Boys caused a major shock by beating Tottenham 3-2 in Bern in the evening's other game.

Ancelotti speaks up for Anelka

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti says Nicolas Anelka has never caused him a moment's bother and has blasted the FFF for giving him an 18-match ban.

The 31-year-old received the draconian suspension, which applies to France games only, after being sent home from the World Cup following a reported bust-up with coach Raymond Domenech.
Anelka, who has played for nine clubs in 12 years, has a reputation for being a sulky player who can be disruptive and difficult to handle.
But Ancelotti does not recognise that description of his striker.
"He is a very good man. I have never had a problem with him," said Ancelotti.
"I was very surprised at this behaviour during the World Cup. If I have to think of one player who would shout at me, Anelka would be the last.
"He likes his job, he loves football. He has fantastic skills but he doesn't like publicity and he has character. He never missed training last year.
"I think it was unfair for him - 18 games is too much. Anelka is an honest man and he didn't deserve the decision. He has reacted very well. He has taken it with good spirit."
Anelka blasted the FFF as "clowns" and laughed off the ban, insisting he had already retired from international football.
"It is good news for myself because he can stay here to train during the international break, he can maintain a good condition," said Ancelotti.
Anelka was not the only Stamford Bridge star to endure a difficult summer - but there was no World Cup hangover as Chelsea opened the season with a 6-0 thumping of West Brom.
It was a case of picking up where they left off last season.
Roman Abramovich wanted entertaining football and Ancelotti has delivered, with Chelsea scoring a record 103 goals on their way to the title.
Chelsea bagged seven on three occasions last year before rounding off the campaign an 8-0 thrashing of Wigan.
The two sides meet again at the DW Stadium on Saturday and the omens do not look good for Wigan.
Ancelotti is anxious for Chelsea to set the Premier League pace from the outset, while Wigan head into the game on the back of a 4-0 defeat to newly-promoted Blackpool.
"We will try to arrive for the game (against Manchester City on September) on top of the table," said Ancelotti.
"It is very important we make a good start, not just one game. Last year we won the first six games in the league and we want to do the same.
"In those first six games we grew our confidence and it was very important."
But Ancelotti was anxious to temper expectations that Chelsea will blast in six goals every week, insisting solidity at the back will be just as important and reminding that Chelsea's first defeat of last season was against Wigan at the DW Stadium.
"I will be happy if we win 1-0. It is important to keep a clean sheet. Winning 6-0 or 7-0 every week is not football," he said.
"It is important to win and to play well. We have to pay attention. The last game at Wigan we lost 3-1.
"We have to prepare well for this game and be right mentally. They caused us a lot of problems there last season, it was our first defeat, and we want to continue our good start to the season."

Schwarzer's all shook up - Hughes

Mark Hughes admits Fulham's Mark Schwarzer is being distracted by interested from Arsenal but is determined to keep him at Craven Cottage.

On Thursday, the Gunners renewed the £2million offer they made for goalkeeper Schwarzer in May hoping the Australian's decision to hand in a transfer request would force Fulham to sell.
But Hughes remains firm in his desire to keep the 37-year-old, who is a doubt for Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester United because of a back problem, and insists his departure is not a foregone conclusion.
"There wasn't an improved offer from Arsenal - it was exactly the same one that was put forward in May," said the Welshman.
"I don't know if Arsenal are trying to disrupt him. There are many things clubs, players and agents do to unsettle players.
"Mark is aware of the interest of Arsenal. That knowledge is distracting and disruptive.
"But the status quo is the same - we wouldn't encourage an improved bid. It's not at all inevitable he will leave."
Manchester City's Shay Given is viewed a possible replacement for Schwarzer should he depart, but his former boss at Eastlands refused to comment on the speculation.
"Shay is a very talented goalkeeper who I know very well and I paid good money to take him to Man City, but he's their player so it's not in my interest to talk about him," said Hughes.
Attempts to lure another City player to Craven Cottage failed when Craig Bellamy opted to join npower Championship club Cardiff.
Hughes held talks with the Wales international but accepts his decision to return to his home town - even if it is a loss to the Barclays Premier League.
"I'm delighted for Craig and he looks very happy with his decision. People should respect that," he said.
"He's gone back to his home town club at a time when he still feels he has the means and ability to make an impact.
"Good luck to him. I think he'll have a huge impact on Wales, Cardiff and the Championship.
"The only regret is that he should still be playing in the Premier League, but I wish him well.
"I had conversations with Craig but fairly quickly I understood he wanted to go home. I respect that."
Fulham are waiting on paperwork before completing the signing of Benfica's Algeria defender Rafik Halliche in a deal reportedly worth £1.3million.
Hughes is looking forward to locking horns with his old manager Sir Alex Ferguson when United visit Craven Cottage - the setting of their 3-0 drubbing last season.
Ferguson showered Paul Scholes with praise after Monday's victory over Newcastle and Hughes believes the emergence of the gifted midfielder resulted in his own departure from Old Trafford in 1995.
"I could see his quality back then and I think he hastened my exit!" he said.
"Alex had complete faith in the young players like Scholes, David Beckham and Nicky Butt.
"They were the future and I was the past. Sir Alex always was and still is very good at making key decisions at the right time. He got that one right."

Huang drops out of race for Anfield

Hong Kong businessman Kenny Huang has withdrawn his interest in buying Liverpool but has failed to provide a reason for doing so.

Huang issued a statement on Friday evening to say he and his company QSL Sports were pulling out of takeover talks with the Anfield club.
Huang was the first party to openly declare and interest in buying the Merseysiders from Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett, but refused to comment when it was claimed his bid was backed by the Chinese government.
The statement presented no reason for Huang's decision to pull out of negotiations.
Huang said: "Over the past few months, we learned first-hand that Liverpool has a very special place in the hearts of millions of fans around the world.
"We concluded that a plan that properly capitalises the business and provides funds for a new stadium and player-related costs would allow Liverpool FC to provide its great fans with the success they deserve.
"Our strategy and unique ability to expand the fanbase in Asia would also have been of benefit to all.
"We regret that we will not have the opportunity to implement this strategy.
"We thank the many Liverpool fans who expressed support for our efforts and wish the club great success in the years to come. I am now considering my future options and will be making no further comment at this time."
It was reported earlier this week that Huang was growing impatient with the Anfield board, who are carrying out due diligence on a number of bids received.
Huang's bid to buy Liverpool from its American owners is thought to have valued the club at around £325million.
His decision to go public with his bid was followed by another declaration of interest from a consortium fronted by Syrian businessman Yahya Kirdi.
Huang had pledged to clear Liverpool's debts and give manager Roy Hodgson funds to spend in the transfer market.
Liverpool were put up for sale by Hicks and Gillett in April with debts of £351.4million.
The Royal Bank of Scotland, their largest creditor, are thought to be owed around £237million with a penalty fee of £60million due if it is not repaid by October 6.
British Airways boss Martin Broughton was brought in as chairman in April to facilitate a sale.

Paper Talk - 21 August 2010

Paper Talk: Real prepare Drogba bid

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is planning a £20million bid for Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, while Fulham want Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic.

• Harry Redknapp has responded to criticism of his move for William Gallas by saying: "I've not signed the Yorkshire Ripper, I've signed a footballer."
• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has launched an astonishing attack on Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes, branding him "dirty".
• Stephen Ireland has slammed Roberto Mancini for failing to develop relationships with Manchester City's players.
• The PFA picked up £1million in commission from James Milner's move to Manchester City.
• Kenny Huang has pulled out of the battle to buy Liverpool.
• Fulham boss Mark Hughes has blasted Arsenal for their "disturbing" pursuit of goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
• Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is still another five weeks away from returning to action.

• Stephen Ireland has warned James Milner he faces a nasty shock at Manchester City.
• Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is claiming victory with Inter Milan over Javier Mascherano and Dirk Kuyt.
• Fulham are in the hunt for Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic - as an emergency replacement for Mark Schwarzer.
• West Ham's bid for Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo has collapsed over personal terms.
• Everton boss David Moyes wants to offload Joseph Yobo.
• Coventry have offered to make Marlon King their best-paid player after his release from jail.
• Blackpool may move for Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor.
• Blackpool remain keen on Bournemouth's Brett Pitman - despite the striker rejecting their first contract offer.

• Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is planning a £20million offer for Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.
• David Moyes has warned Steven Pienaar that Everton's current contract offer is as good as it gets.

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• Javier Mascherano could be forced to stay at Liverpool after Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti offered Roy Hodgson his personal assurance that they would not bid for the Argentina captain.

• Tottenham will have to spend £8.5million to bring Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra to White Hart Lane.
• David Moyes has piled the pressure on Steven Pienaar by describing Everton's contract offer as "brilliant" and insisting there are no plans to sell him.
• Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has urged Alberto Aquilani to accept a loan move back to Italy.
• West Brom have lined up a £2.5million move for Celtic striker Marc-Antoine Fortune.
• Aston Villa have rejected an approach from Blackpool to take Barry Bannan back on loan.
• Fulham are ready to offer Paul Konchesky a new contract.
• Everton, West Ham and Tottenham were back on alert last night after Loci Remy's £12million move to Marseille was called into question after the discovery of a heart problem.

• The Liverpool takeover saga is set to rumble on after Kenny Huang, the Hong Kong-based businessman, withdrew his bid to buy the club last night.

• Rangers boss insists Nikica Jelavic will be worth his wait in goals after he completed his move to Ibrox.
• Celtic and Rangers have both been alerted to the possibility of signing Everton defender Joseph Yobo on a season-long loan.

Milner's price is not right on any level

TEAMtalk feels Manchester City have paid way over the odds for James Milner, with Mesut Ozil twice as good as him but also twice as cheap.

Milner is a decent footballer. He has a good pair of lungs, a tenacious character, a solid temperament and is one of the few English players who can actually use both feet. The adjective of choice most used to describe him is "versatile", in as much as he can play as a winger, in midfield or at full-back on either flank. But, even if he could fly the team plane to away games as well, he would still not be worth the reported £26million it cost Manchester City to prise him from Aston Villa. Not even close. Not even in the money-mad world of football which saw England's lower league clubs pay agents combined fees of more than £12m last season. And certainly not when, by stark comparison, Germany's Ozil was pulling on a Real Madrid shirt after Werder Bremen had accepted a bid of £12.4m. Remember Ozil? You should do because in many ways he was the brightest star of the recent World Cup. He is the 21-year-old who put the vim and vigour into a German side who played the most exciting football in South Africa. A midfielder whose fleetness of foot and mind did more than fill the void left by Michael Ballack's injury. It turned it into the best break German football has had in years. It was Ozil primarily who drove the youngest German side in 76 years to the semi-final, on the way destroying England 4-1 in Bloemfontein. Ozil is worth it. There is no wish to be unkind here but can the same really be said of Milner? This is the player who, partly because of Fabio Capello's crass tactics, was substituted after just 30 minutes of England's first miserable World Cup match against USA because he was getting the runaround at right midfield by an ordinary Joe of an American full-back. True, he came back to supply the cross for Jermain Defoe's goal in the win against Slovenia and admittedly showed mental toughness. And Milner is a footballer every manager would like in their squad of 25 for his dependability. But Graeme Souness put his talents in context when he was manager of Newcastle. The club, Souness said, would not win anything "with a team of James Milners". Of course it is not Milner's fault that City have forked out so much in a deal which also took Stephen Ireland to Aston Villa. City's owners can afford to gush cash like oil from a fractured pipeline. But, ultimately, a deal which regards Milner more valuable than Fernando Torres, who cost Liverpool £20m, and Wayne Rooney, who cost Manchester United £23m initially, is one which takes English football another step closer to the asylum. It is a deal, too, which encourages the rest in their pursuit of even more cheap foreign imports because buying British is simply not cost effective. The deal threw up two other thoughts. One was the front of Sir Alex Ferguson in attacking the 'Kamikaze spending' of Premier League owners with bulging bank accounts. A bit rich that from a manager who has signed a few dubious cheques himself, most notably for £28.1m for Juan Sebastian Veron back in 2001. The other were the words of Ozil, who turned down the chance to play at Old Trafford to sign for Jose Mourinho at the Bernabeu. "I wanted to work with the best coach in the world and that is Jose Mourinho," said Ozil. "I spoke to Mourinho and he convinced me to come here. This is the best club in the world." Considering Mourinho has landed a footballing magician for £12.4m and City's Roberto Mancini has paid more than twice that for Mr Average, Ozil might just be right.

20 August 2010 paper

 20 August 2010

Paper Talk: Van der Vaart eyes United move

Rafael van der Vaart wants to join Man United, Besiktas have bid £16million for Robinho, while Birmingham want to sign Alan Hutton and Grafite.

• William Gallas is set to sign for Spurs - and instantly become a hate figure for Arsenal fans.
• Peter Kenyon is fronting Kenny Huang's £400million Liverpool takeover bid.
• Arsenal have angered Fulham by failing to increase their bid for Mark Schwarzer from £2million.
• Carlton Cole has given Avram Grant a major boost by pledging his future to West Ham.
• Besiktas have made an opening £16million offer for Man City misfit Robinho.
• West Ham are lining up a £3million bid for Bolton's Matt Taylor.
• Ian Holloway has threatened to quit Blackpool as a bankruptcy probe rocks the club.
• Leicester are keen to re-sign Emile Heskey.
• Birmingham are poised to make a £6million bid for Spurs right-back Alan Hutton.
• Charles N'Zogbia will play for Wigan against Chelsea tomorrow - even though Roberto Martinez admits the midfielder's mind has been scrambled.
• Gary Speed wants to make Nancy defender Jean Calve his first Sheffield United signing.
• Swansea and Leicester are battling to sign West Ham's Frank Nouble on loan.

• Roberto Mancini has rocked Manchester City by saying he wants to manage Italy.
• William Gallas is set to cross the north London divide and complete a free transfer to Tottenham.
• Newcastle have joined the race for FC Twente midfielder Check Tiote.
• Blackburn are ready to sign Jonathan Greening from Fulham on a season-long loan.
• Arsenal have been told by Sevilla to up their bid for Sebastien Squillaci.
• Bolton's Matt Taylor is a target for West Ham and Blackburn.
• Birmingham will fight Sunderland for Wigan's £9million-rated Charles N'Zogbia.
• Portsmouth's bid to sign Dave Kitson will fall through as their transfer embargo will not be lifted this month.

• Manchester City hope to instigage a bidding war between Fenerbahce and Besiktas for Robinho.
• Harry Redknapp is eyeing a transfer treble at Spurs, with William Gallas set for a medical and bids expected to go in for Steven Pienaar and Lassana Diarra.
• Blackburn striker Sam Allardyce is keen on Benjani.
• Birmingham are ready to step up their interest in Wolfsburg striker Grafite.
• Celtic want Everton defender Joseph Yobo on a season-long loan.
• Nottingham Forest have held talks with Cardiff midfielder Peter Whittingham.

• Tottenham are battling to snap up Arsenal old boy Alex Hleb for £5m.
• Arsenal have had a second bid for Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer rejected.
• West Ham have put a £6million price tag on Matthew Upson.

• William Gallas is set to sign for Tottenham after a medical today, while Brazil forward Luis Fabiano last night declared he would like to join him at White Hart Lane.
• Rafael van der Vaart has given Manchester United a boost by admitting they are the only team he could ever see himself leaving Real Madrid for.
• Middlesbrough could offer Richard Wright a way back into football after Brad Jones left for Liverpool.

• William Gallas, the former Arsenal captain, will undergo a medical at Tottenham today after agreeing to cross the North London divide.

• William Gallas will join Tottenham on a one-year contract in one of the shock signings of the transfer window.
• Arsenal's bid to sign Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer looks set to run into the last week of the transfer window.

• Former Manchester United and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has emerged as a key player in Kenny Huang's proposed takeover of Liverpool, it was reported last night.

• Fulham have rejected a second bid from Arsenal for Mark Schwarzer after the Gunners failed to increase their bid for the Australia goalkeeper from £2million.
• Robinho is close to ending his unhappy two-year spell at Manchester City by joining Besiktas.

• Vladimir Weiss says his decision to snub Celtic and join Rangers was down to the lure of the Champions League.
• Kilmarnock boss Mixu Paatelainen has rejected four foreign trialists this week.

Bayern leave it late to beat Wolfsburg

Germany World Cup heroes Thomas Muller and Bastian Schweinsteiger earned Bayern Munich a last-gasp 2-1 home win over Wolfsburg on Friday.

Bayern got the better of Steve McClaren's Wolfsburg in the opening game of the Bundesliga season at the Allianz Arena.
Schweinsteiger slid home an injury-time winner to condemn the former England boss to defeat in his first league game in charge.
Edin Dzeko had earlier cancelled out Muller's excellent ninth-minute opener.
Muller was one of the stars in South Africa, winning the Golden Boot as Germany reached the semi-finals, and he continued that form on Friday night with a fine piece of control and a volleyed finish.
The 20-year-old played a one-two with another member of that young German squad, Toni Kroos, back at Bayern after a spell on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, racing into the area to receive Kroos' dinked return pass, instantly controlling the ball as it came over his shoulder and then, as he held of defender Simon Kjaer, firing a low left-footed volley into the far right corner.
Muller, who scored five times at the World Cup, should have netted again in the 25th minute but could only fire over the top after Ribery's low cross from the left had found him unmarked beyond the back post.
Ribery was looking lively and his pass picked out left-back Diego Contento's run into the area and his shot towards the near bottom corner was saved smartly by goalkeeper Diego Benaglio.
The Wolves came out for the second half with far more purpose and were denied by the post within two minutes, Mario Mandzukic seeing his shot from just outside the area come back off the frame of the goal.
Bayern keeper Hans-Jorg Butt almost cost his side shortly after as his poor clearance presented the ball straight to half-time substitute Zvjezdan Misimovic.
The Bosnian shifted the ball on to his left foot to create an excellent shooting chance, but Butt's outstretched left foot deflected the ball away.
But Bayern's reprieve was short-lived as Dzeko, who was strongly linked with a move to Manchester City this summer, rose unmarked to head the resulting corner from Misimovic into the top corner in the 55th minute.
Dzeko then saw another effort tipped over the top by Butt before the hosts snatched the points at the death.
Ribery was again involved, sending in a cross from the left which had Benaglio scrambling across his goal and Schweinsteiger arrived at the far post to slide home the winner.