Defeat will ruin Chelsea, says Ribery May 17, 2012 BAYERN Munich star Franck Ribery has heaped pressure on Chelsea ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League final, claiming the Blues would struggle to recover from another near miss in the competition Roman Abramovich prizes highest. The success or failure of Chelsea’s season – and perhaps manager Roberto di Matteo’s position – rests on whether they can [...]
Liverpool open Martinez talks May 17, 2012 LIVERPOOL are set to open talks with Wigan manager Roberto Martinez about the Anfield vacancy after being granted permission by the Latics yesterday. Reds chiefs made an approach to Wigan chairman Dave Whelan 24 hours after sacking Kenny Dalglish over their worst Premier League finish for 18 years. The club’s American owners, Fenway Sports Group, [...]
Allardyce: We mustn’t freeze in £90m final May 17, 2012 WEST HAM manager Sam Allardyce has warned his players not to let the importance of tomorrow’s £90m play-off final against Blackpool threaten their quest to return to the Premier League at the first attempt. The Hammers are hot favourites to record a third win of the season over the Tangerines, whom they have already smashed [...]
Dalglish axed as door opens for AVB return May 16, 2012 FORMER Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas last night emerged as a leading contender to replace Kenny Dalglish after Liverpool’s American owners brought the Scot’s second spell in charge to an abrupt end. Newcastle’s Alan Pardew, Wigan’s Roberto Martinez and Swansea’s Brendan Rogers form a trio of rising stars also touted for the Anfield hot-seat, while ex-Reds [...]
Roy’s right: too big a risk to take Ferdinand and Terry May 16, 2012 ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson’s decision to take John Terry and not Rio Ferdinand to the European Championship has stirred a hornets’ nest but I believe he is right; it would have been asking for trouble to take both. I’m not talking about suggestions the pair would not get along or whether that came into Hodgson’s [...]
Formula One revving up for listing in two weeks’ time May 16, 2012 FORMULA One’s eagerly anticipated £6bn flotation in Singapore will take place earlier than expected within the next two to three weeks, City A.M. understands. It had been feared global market turbulence would cause the initial public offering to be delayed until after the summer but the listing has now been given the green light, according [...]
Euro call-up is surreal, admits teenager Oxlade-Chamberlain May 16, 2012 UNCAPPED Arsenal starlet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain admits he was stunned by his inclusion in England’s squad for next month’s European Championship. The 18-year-old, who has made just six Premier League starts, only found out yesterday morning when manager Roy Hodgson telephoned to break the good news. “I would have probably laughed if someone had told me [...]
Ferdinand out and Terry in as Hodgson picks Euro 2012 party May 15, 2012 ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson is poised to omit international stalwart Rio Ferdinand and include former captain John Terry, despite his looming trial for alleged racial abuse, when he names his squad for Euro 2012 today. Hodgson is thought to have acted on concerns that 33-year-old Ferdinand, who has not played for England for almost a [...]
Indian Premier League players suspended over fixing claims May 15, 2012 FIVE Indian Premier League cricketers have been suspended and an investigation launched following allegations of spot-fixing. Pune Warriors’ Mohnish Mishra, TP Sudhindra of Deccan Chargers, Kings XI Punjab pair Shalabh Srivastava and Amit Yadav, and Abhinav Bali have been banned by domestic cricket chiefs until the probe is concluded. It comes after an Indian television [...]
Mancini warns rivals City will keep spending May 15, 2012 MANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini has urged the club’s super-rich owners to keep the purse-strings loose as he plots adding European titles to his first Premier League success. Sheikh Mansour has spent close to £1bn transforming City from top-flight also-rans into champions but Mancini insists further sprees are necessary if they are to claim the [...]