Mourinho rejects Real quit talk August 23, 2011 FOOTBALL: Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insists he is not quitting Real Madrid despite Spanish chiefs vowing to investigate his conduct against Barcelona last week. Rumours about Mourinho’s future gathered pace after the probe was launched into an incident with Barca coach Tito Vilanova in which he appeared to put a finger in his opponent’s [...]
Morgan backed for captaincy August 23, 2011 CRICKET: Coach Andy Flower has hailed Eoin Morgan’s leadership qualities as the batsman prepares to captain England for the first time in tomorrow’s one-day match against Ireland. Irish-born Morgan stands in for the rested Alastair Cook and Flower said: “He’s a confident young man, he is confident in his ideas about the game, he chooses [...]
Serena US Open seeding blow August 23, 2011 TENNIS: Bookies’ favourite Serena Williams faces a tricky route at the US Open after tournament organisers seeded her 28th. Williams has won the grand slam three times and has just claimed back-to-back hard court tournaments, but seedings are based on world rankings, in which she is No29. World No1 Caroline Wozniacki is top seed at [...]
INVINCIBLE August 22, 2011 We expect to win now, says Strauss, after Swann stars in innings victory to cap series whitewash ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss attributed his side’s rise to No1 in the world to a collective feeling of invincibility after they completed a 4-0 series whitewash over India. Spinner Graeme Swann led the attack with four wickets yesterday [...]
Redknapp promises to keep Modric after United defeat August 22, 2011 TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp insists unsettled midfielder Luka Modric will definitely not be sold after Spurs lost their opening Premier League fixture 3-0 to a youthful Manchester United. Modric was left out of the side amid interest from Chelsea as second-half goals from Danny Welbeck, Anderson and Wayne Rooney downed the north Londoners and swept [...]
Johnson’s pain at denying Riki homecoming August 22, 2011 ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson insists he wishes he could take Riki Flutey to the World Cup – but says the make-up of the squad proved more important than any individual. The New Zealand-born Wasps centre was the highest-profile casualty as Johnson confirmed his trimmed down 30-man squad last night. An injury to Danny Care means [...]
Welbeck the star as green United leave Spurs blue August 22, 2011 MANCHESTER UTD (3) vs TOTTENHAM (0) MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson has long since obliterated the notion that, to paraphrase pundit Alan Hansen, kids don’t win trophies. However, he seems determined to prove that point all over again, having assembled a young team that swept Tottenham aside last night and who should not fear [...]
Banned Wenger set to miss Udinese showdown August 22, 2011 EMBATTLED Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s miserable start to the season continued yesterday when he was handed a further two-match touchline ban by European chiefs. Uefa found Wenger guilty of breaking the rules of his original suspension, which applied to last week’s Champions League clash with Udinese. The Frenchman communicated with the bench via coach Boro [...]
Scotland’s Paterson set to play in fourth World Cup August 22, 2011 FULL-BACK Chris Paterson is set to become the first Scottish player to feature in four World Cups after being named in Andy Robinson’s squad. Paterson, who played in 1999, 2003 and 2007, was yesterday picked in the 30-man squad to travel to New Zealand later this month. Alastair Kellock will captain the side and British [...]
West Ham in clear over stadium August 22, 2011 OLYMPICS: West Ham have edged a step closer to moving into the Olympic Stadium after an independent inquiry found no evidence of wrongdoing by Dionne Knight, an employee of legacy chiefs the OPLC. Ms Knight also did paid consultancy work for the Hammers but auditors Moore Smith found no evidence that she accessed confidential information [...]