Hammers host United, Blackburn go to Gunners

West Ham striker Carlton Cole is hoping the east London club can repeat their League Cup victory over Manchester United when they host the Premier League leaders on Saturday.
The Hammers thrashed a much-changed United side 4-0 in the quarter-finals but will likely face a stronger line-up this time round with Sir Alex Ferguson's men looking to regain the title from Chelsea.
Seventeenth-placed West Ham are among the ten teams still in the relegation dogfight and Cole is optimistic they can produce a repeat of that November performance, providing they continue to give their all. He told the club's official website: "It was a wonderful game. You just need to put in the hard work and the luck will be there with you.
"All the boys really tried hard and we need to show that again. We are building on our performances and we are all working towards moving the club up the table as quickly as possible."
Ferguson will watch his side from the stands as he continues to serve a five-match touchline ban imposed following his remarks about referee Martin Atkinson. United's closest challengers Arsenal host struggling Blackburn in the late game on Saturday.

We are building on our performances and we are all working towards moving the club up the table as quickly as possible.

Carlton Cole, West Ham United striker

Boss Arsene Wenger, whose side are five points adrift but do have a game in hand, will have to decide between returning goalkeeper Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almunia. Almunia was unimpressive in the 2-2 draw at West Brom last time out but Lehmann struggled for the reserves in the midweek defeat at Wigan.
The Gunners are also awaiting news on the knee injury striker Robin van Persie suffered in Tuesday's UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier between Holland and Hungary. Third-placed Chelsea have won their last three Premier League games but face a tricky trip to Stoke at the weekend.
Stoke's former Chelsea defender Robert Huth is relishing the opportunity to dent the Londoners' title ambitions. He said: "The fact that we are playing Chelsea doesn't give us fear.Yes, they are a top team with world class players, but here on our own turf we believe that we can beat any team.
"We have done well at home recently, and just as importantly we have looked good against the bigger teams this season. We want to make sure that continues to be the case when we play Chelsea at the weekend."

Yes, they are a top team with world class players, but here on our own turf we believe that we can beat any team.

Stoke defender Robert Huth on their game with Chelsea

Manchester City, in fourth, will have to wait until Sunday to meet Sunderland while fifth-placed Tottenham will surely have one eye on next week's Champions League quarter-final at Real Madrid when they go to rock-bottom Wigan 24 hours earlier.
The battle to stay in the top flight intensifies this weekend with the biggest game coming on Sunday lunchtime with 12th-placed Fulham hosting Blackpool in 15th. The bottom ten sides are separated by just six points with home form likely to be key.
The pressure is therefore on West Ham, Wigan, Birmingham, Newcastle, West Brom and Fulham. Birmingham take on Bolton at St Andrew's, 18th-placed Wolves visit Newcastle's St James' Park and West Brom host resurgent Liverpool.
Aston Villa, still firmly in the relegation shake-up as the pressure continues to grow on manager Gerard Houllier, face a difficult trip to Everton.

Rooney eager to eclipse Liverpool record

Wayne Rooney has set his sights on overhauling Liverpool by helping bitter rivals Manchester United win a record 19th title. Rooney told Inside United that as a former Everton player, helping United depose Liverpool as the most successful club in English football history would be especially sweet.
"I grew up an Everton fan so to be part of the team to overtake Liverpool's record would be brilliant. It would mean so much to us players as well as the fans," Rooney said. "It is something I have been thinking about a lot. I know all the Everton fans want us to do it and hopefully we can.
"You look forward to every game at this stage and you've got to enjoy it, especially when you are in the running for a few trophies. It is exciting for the fans and it's exciting for the players knowing that you are just a few weeks away from possibly winning a major trophy or two."

I grew up an Everton fan so to be part of the team to overtake Liverpool's record would be brilliant.

Wayne Rooney, Manchester United forward

United are currently five points clear at the top of the Premier League although second-placed Arsenal have a game in hand. United also remain on course for a possible treble, facing Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals next week and Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final in April.
Rooney said he is determined to down City as he seeks to make up for defeat in two FA Cup finals. "I am desperate to win the competition, having lost two finals. We have a great chance of going all the way this year," he said.
"It is a massive competition with a lot of history. I watched it religiously growing up and going so close twice has been hard to take."

Dalglish won't rush Gerrad

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will not be pressed into action sooner than he is ready according to manager Kenny Dalglish. The midfielder returned to full training this week having recovered from a groin operation on 10 March which forced him to miss three matches, one in the Premier League and two in Europe - where he rarely featured this season any way.
Earlier this week Gerrard said he hoped to be available for selection for Saturday's trip to West Brom to face former boss Roy Hodgson. However, Dalglish is wary of of rushing back one of his more influential players when there will be seven other equally-important matches to follow in Liverpool's run-in as they seek to reel in fifth-placed Tottenham in order to qualify for Europe.
"We'll have a look. He's recovered really well from the surgery he had so we'll see how he is before we decide whether he's in or out," said the Scot. "He's certainly done a lot of training this week - not all the training the other lads have done, but a lot of it.
"But two weekends ago at Sunderland Jay Spearing played really well. There is no need for us to be in a rush to bring Steven back."

[Steven Gerrard's] recovered really well from the surgery he had so we'll see how he is before we decide whether he's in or out.

Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool manager

There is mixed news on the injury front for Dalglish as, although all his players returned from international duty relatively unscathed, defender Martin Kelly has suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring strain sustained at West Ham in late February.
Fabio Aurelio's return from a similar problem was delayed slightly by an unconnected injury but he should be back with the full squad by the end of the week. Full-back Glen Johnson has a slight Achilles problem but midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has returned from knee surgery earlier than anticipated.
"Everyone has come back from international matches okay," said Dalglish. "Martin Kelly picked up an injury while he was trying to recuperate, a wee recurrence in the same area.
"Fabio Aurelio has had a setback as well but it isn't the same injury and he should be training before the end of the week while Jonjo Shelvey is back training."

Alves focussed for Madrigal, Real host Sporting

Full-back Dani Alves has warned his Barcelona team-mates they cannot afford to make any slip-ups between now and the end of the season. Barça resume league action following the international break with a trip to Villarreal on Saturday.
At the moment they have the comfort of a five-point gap back to second-placed Real Madrid, but Alves knows the stuffing could soon be ripped out of their cushion should the the leaders start to throw points away.
"It's very important that we win on Saturday away at Villarreal," Alves told www.fcbarcelona.com. "A victory would send out a message, and every mistake from now on could be costly. A win would allow us to, at least, maintain the difference of five points over Madrid, nothing more."
Barca have doubts over forwards Lionel Messi and Bojan Krkic. Messi received treatment on a slight groin injury after pulling out of Argentina's friendly with Costa Rica this week, though the club have stated there is no problem with his adductor muscle. Bojan is a doubt for the trip to El Madrigal after straining his ankle while playing for Spain U-21s on Monday.

A victory would send out a message, and every mistake from now on could be costly.

Barcelona defender Dani Alves on their game with Villarreal

Villarreal midfielder Cani admitted with unusual candour he would be happy to see Messi absent from the Barca line-up. "I would prefer not to play against Messi because he is the best player in the world," he told www.villarrealcf.es. "If in the end he played and we won, our victory would be more sweet, but we want the three points."
Villarreal are locked on 54 points with third-placed Valencia as the two battle to be the best of the rest. Valencia travel to Getafe on Saturday, while Real Madrid host Sporting Gijon, with everyone present at the Bernabeu set to pay tribute to recently retired Brazil striker Ronaldo, a former Real player.
General manager Jorge Valdano told www.realmadrid.com: "Fans are going to show profound respect for Ronaldo during Saturday's tribute before the match. He provided this club with a lot of thrills. We want fans to give him the farewell he deserves and for him to take the honorary kick-off. He left many fond memories here."
Sunday will see new Hercules coach Miroslaw Djukic take charge of his new side for the first time as they travel to Real Sociedad. Former Serbia boss Djukic faces a tough task having replaced Esteban Vigo following their 4-0 defeat at home to Osasuna which left the newly-promoted club at the foot of the table.
They are level on points with Almeria, who host Athletic Bilbao in the Monday evening game, and three points behind Malaga, who head to Levante on Sunday. Real Zaragoza, one point above the relegation zone, head to Sevilla while Deportivo La Coruna face Real Mallorca.
In Sunday's other games, Espanyol host Racing Santander while Atletico Madrid head to Pamplona to take on Osasuna.

King blow for Spurs as injuries mount

Tottenham captain Ledley King could be out for the rest of the season, manager Harry Redknapp revealed today as the club's injury crisis deepened.
Redknapp told Sky Sports News that centre-half King needs a second operation on a groin injury that has seen him sidelined since October, and is now likely to be ruled out of the remainder of Spurs season.
The King setback could not have come at a worse time for Spurs, who are preparing to take on mighty Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals next week. William Gallas has suffered a knee injury that may keep him out of Tuesday's trip to the Bernabeu while Younes Kaboul and Jonathan Woodgate are also fitness doubts.

We have lost Ledley King, it looks like he will have to have an operation that will finish his season.

Harry Redknapp, Tottenham Hotspur manager

Redknapp said he is now down to only two fit central defenders - England international Michael Dawson and Sebastien Bassong. "We started the year with six central defenders here. Now we have two," Redknapp told Sky Sports News. "We have lost Ledley King, it looks like he will have to have an operation that will finish his season.
"Jonathan Woodgate was making good progress but got a calf injury in a friendly against Barnet and Younes Kaboul is still out with a thigh strain. William Gallas has been for a scan on his knee today. He struggled at the weekend and we are now down to having just Michael Dawson and Sebastien Bassong."

Allegri braced for biggest game of his career

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has described Saturday's city derby against champions Inter Milan as the most important game of his career. Allegri is in his first season as Milan boss following two years at Cagliari having worked his way up through the lower ranks before that.
And having seen his team knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the second round stage by Tottenham, Allegri knows there is a lot riding on this game. Milan lead Inter by two points at the top of Serie A with eight games to play and Napoli only a point further back with outsiders Udinese just six points behind.
"This is the most important game of my career but life is a challenge so we'll go and play it," Allegri told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I'm enjoying myself and I feel calm. I was very confident at the beginning of the season and I still am now.
"It would have been nice to still have a ten-point lead (over Inter) but it's also nice to play a derby with as much riding on it as this one, which hasn't happened for many years."

This is the most important game of my career but life is a challenge so we'll go and play it.

Massimiliano Allegri, AC Milan coach

Milan held a 13-point lead over Inter (who had a game in hand) in mid-December but that has been slowly whittled down to their current two-point advantage, in no small part to Milan picking up just one point from their last two games. "The defeat at Palermo was the logical consequence of the draw with Bari but we still have a great chance to win both the league and the Italian Cup," added Allegri.
Milan will have to do without star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the derby as he serves out the second of a two-game ban for throwing a strike into the ribs of Bari's Marco Rossi. Playing at home to the team sitting well adrift at the bottom of the table who appear already doomed, Milan would have been expected to win comfortably but could only manage a draw.
However, the game proved more costly than that with Ibrahimovic's suspension to come but Allegri denies that he could have used such an opportunity to rest the Sweden forward. "He makes a difference even when he does less, how can I leave him on the bench," said the coach. "I could have done that against Bari but if we'd lost what would you (journalists) have said then?"
With Ibrahimovic missing, Allegri admitted he would gladly deprive Inter of their own star striker, Cameroon captain Samuel Eto'o. "He's someone who always looks like he's going to make a difference. Despite everything he's won and all the goals he's scored he still wants to chase up and down the line."

Barça dismiss Messi injury fears

Argentina forward Lionel Messi does not have a muscular injury, Barcelona confirmed today. The 23-year-old missed Argentina's friendly with Costa Rica this week because of a worry over his right groin, but Barcelona are satisfied it is nothing serious and he could yet face Villarreal on Saturday.

"Leo Messi arrived this morning at Barcelona, along with his team-mates (Diego) Milito and (Javier) Mascherano," read a club statement. "After completing tests the doctors have ruled out any adductor muscle injury in his right leg.

"The player will continue physio treatment until Saturday and will then be evaluated ahead of the match against Villarreal."

Fellow forward Bojan Krkic is a doubt for the trip to El Madrigal after straining his ankle while playing for Spain U-21s on Monday

Ibra misses crucial derby, Napoli face Lazio

AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic must settle for being a frustrated observer on Saturday when the Rossoneri go up against his former team Inter Milan. The Swede has to complete a two-match ban and that means the Serie A leaders will be without their leading scorer for one of the most important games of the campaign.
Milan go into the clash at the San Siro having failed to win in their last three games in all competitions and are only two points clear of Inter with eight rounds remaining. "Milan is the best team in Italy," Ibrahimovic said. "But we have made so many mistakes recently. If we don't win the scudetto it is all our fault."
Inter have won the last five league titles. "The derby will be important for the league title because it's not just an ordinary game," Ibrahimovic said. "I have played many derbies and this I know. It is going to be crucial and beautiful to win it."
Adding spice to the encounter is that Inter coach Leonardo will square off for the first time against AC Milan, the team he spent many years playing for, and coached last season.
Napoli go into this weekend's games in third and just one point behind Inter. The club have won back-to-back league games going into their clash with Lazio at the Stadio San Paolo. Napoli have not lost at home since 25 October.

The derby will be important for the league title because it's not just an ordinary game.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, AC Milan striker

Udinese are riding a 13-game unbeaten run in the league that has lifted the Friuli outfit into fourth place. Hoping to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League, Udinese visit Lecce.
Roma are running out of time if they are going to have a top-four finish. They host Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday night. Roma are sixth in the table, six points behind Udinese and five points clear of Juve, a club led by former Roma coach Luigi Del Neri.
Italian football has a Sicilian duel this weekend as Palermo travel to Catania. Palermo beat AC Milan 1-0 in their last game, a result that ended a five-match losing streak. Fiorentina have not given up hope of playing in Europe next season. They go into this weekend's game at Cesena trailing Roma by nine points.
A draw at Genoa would see Cagliari reach the 40-point threshold - a haul that nearly always guarantees top-flight football for the following campaign. Bottom side Bari travel to Parma needing a positive result to keep their Serie A hopes alive. The Galletti have not won since January 6 and head into this weekend's encounter 12 points behind Cesena, who hold the last position of safety.
Bologna will look to extend their four-match unbeaten run when they visit strugglers Brescia. Sampdoria will be under pressure to win in Verona against Chievo if they are to remain above the drop zone this weekend. Samp are just two places and three points clear of 18th-placed Lecce.

Juventus lose Chiellini for a month

uventus's woes deepened today with the news that Giorgio Chiellini will be out for a month with a pulled thigh muscle.

The centre-back limped out of Italy's friendly win in Ukraine on Tuesday after just 17 minutes and will now be out for most of the rest of the season.

Juve are also sweating on the fitness of veteran striker Alessandro Del Piero who pulled up in training on yesterday and is to undergo tests on tomorrow morning.

The Italian giants are seventh in the Serie A table with a trip to Roma to come at the weekend as they face a battle to secure European football next season.

Balotelli: I'm happy in England

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has dismissed speculation he is unhappy at the club, saying it is "a great experience" at Eastlands.

Balotelli has endured a troubled start to his career in England, having been sent off twice as well as suffering injury problems. City manager Roberto Mancini has grown increasingly exasperated at the former Inter Milan striker's attitude as City enter a crucial phase of the campaign.

However in an interview with goal.com, Balotelli said: "I hope the fans know that I like it here and I am really proud to write the history of this club. It is a great experience. All the people at Manchester City are fantastic and you can see the club growing every day.

"I try every day to repay the trust the manager and the club showed in me by signing me. It is quite different from Italian football but I like it. The stadiums in the Premier League are fantastic and the way the supporters experience the game is extraordinary."

New coaches return to Bundesliga action

The Bundesliga returns this weekend after a fortnight off due to international matches, and there are several changes from the last time the 18 top-flight teams took to the field. Schalke and Eintracht Frankfurt both have new coaches while Felix Magath prepares for his return to the VW-Arena for his second spell in charge of Wolfsburg.
Schalke's new coach Ralf Rangnick is also embarking on his second spell with the same club as he returns to Gelsenkirchen, but he has warned the fans not to expect miracles when they travel to St Pauli tomorrow night.
"I am excited to see how my players perform," he said. "We want to go into the remainder of the season with a win. But it has to be clear that I cannot give the team a new way of playing in such a short time."
Frankfurt have turned to Christoph Daum to save them from the threat of relegation and his first game back in the Bundesliga takes him to Wolfsburg on Sunday. However, he is now beginning to realise the scale of the job ahead of him having replaced Michael Skibbe.

I am excited to see how my players perform. But it has to be clear that I cannot give the team a new way of playing in such a short time.

Ralf Rangnick, Schalke coach

"Negotiations with (Frankfurt president) Heribert Bruchhagen were incredibly positive and, in the end, I said that I would try to help Eintracht," he told the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper.
"I did not really realise how serious the situation was when Heribert came to me. I had not considered Eintracht at all before then, but when I started to consider it more, I realised how serious it was."
Frankfurt are currently just three points above the bottom three and four ahead of Wolfsburg. St Pauli and Stuttgart are sandwiched between the two sides and the latter face a tricky trip to another struggler, Werder Bremen, on Saturday.
At the top of the table, league leaders Borussia Dortmund will be aiming to extend their seven-point lead over Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the table when they host Hannover, who also need the points to keep ahead of Bayern Munich in the race for a place in the UEFA Champions League.

Bayern are at home to bottom club Borussia Monchengladbach and they will expect three points at the Allianz Arena while Leverkusen will also be expecting to win at Kaiserslautern. Elsewhere, Mainz host Freiburg with both sides still in the hunt for a place in the UEFA Europa League while, finally, Cologne host Nurnberg on Sunday.

Bremen's Pizarro out with ankle injury

Werder Bremen striker Claudio Pizarro is set to be out for up to ten days after twisting his ankle while playing for Peru in a goalless draw with Ecuador, the Bundesliga club said today.

The 32-year-old ex-Chelsea star picked up the injury on Tuesday night during the friendly between the South American countries which was played in The Hague. A scan has revealed damaged ligaments and the striker is expected to be out for between seven to ten days.

He is already suspended for Saturday's match against relegation-threatened Stuttgart after picking up a fifth yellow card this season. Pizarro was making his first appearance for Peru since 2007.

Third of a million request Dortmund tickets

More than 300,000 fans of Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund have requested tickets for their team's final home game of the season with the Ruhr valley club set to lift the German league title.

Dortmund host Eintracht Frankfurt at their 80,000-seater Signal Iduna Park stadium on 14 May and the club have so far received 301,752 requests for tickets, in addition to their 50,000 season-ticket holders.

With 8,000 tickets available for Frankfurt fans, only 21,000 tickets are actually up for grabs with a ballet set to be held after the applications deadline on 10 April.

Dortmund's Bundesliga home match with Hanover this Saturday is already sold out, as is the game with Freiburg in Dortmund on 17 April. Only a handful of tickets will be on offer for the home game against Nuremberg on 30 April.

Dortmund have a seven-point lead at the top of the German league and are on course for their first Bundesliga title since 2002 with seven games left before this weekend's matches.

Casanova commits to Toulouse

Toulouse coach Alain Casanova has agreed a two-year contract extension with the Ligue 1 outfit. Casanova has guided the club to a position of mid-table comfort this campaign, clear of the relegation scrap although too far behind the top teams to mount a challenge for a European berth.

Coaching staff Thierry Uvenard, Christophe Gardie and Denis Valour have also penned new deals and a club statement read: "Satisfied with the work of his coach and his staff for three seasons, the Toulouse president Olivier Sadran wishes to pursue the path of trust and continuity."

The 49-year-old Casanova led Toulouse to an unexpected fourth-placed finish in Ligue 1 in his first season in charge in 2008/09, an achievement which saw the club qualify for the UEFA Europa League.

A 14th-placed finish last season was a comedown from the highs of the year before, but Casanova has impressed this term by stabilising the side despite the loss of star striker Andre-Pierre Gignac to Marseille last summer.

Maldives drawn against Iran in 2014 FIFA World Cup

Maldives has been drawn against Iran in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying round 2 match. Iran, who has competed on World football’s biggest stage on three previous occasions and three-time Asian champions, hammered 26-0 over two legs in the 1998 World Cup qualifiers. Maldives were beaten 17 -0 in the match played in Syria, Damascus and 9 -0 in the match played in Iran.

Maldives met Iran in 2000 as well. In the first leg, Iran managed to beat Maldives by 8 -0 and in Tehran they won the match by 3 – 0.

The first leg of the round will be played on July 23rd and the return leg will be played on 28th of July 2011.

The 15 winners from the second round will join the top five direct entrants (Japan, Korea Republic, DPR Korea, Australia and Bahrain) in the third round where they will be divided into five groups of four teams each.

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil – Asian Qualifiers

Round 1
Malaysia v Chinese Taipei
Bangladesh v Pakistan
Cambodia v Laos
Sri Lanka v Philippines
Afghanistan v Palestine
Vietnam v Macau
Nepal v Timor Leste
Mongolia v Myanmar

First leg, June 29
Second leg, July 3

Round 2
Thailand v Afghanistan or Palestine
Lebanon v Bangladesh or Pakistan
China v Cambodia or Laos
Turkmenistan v Indonesia
Kuwait v Sri Lanka or Philippines
Oman v Mongolia or Myanmar
Saudi Arabia v Hong Kong
Iran v Maldives
Syria v Tajikistan
Qatar v Vietnam or Macau
Iraq v Yemen
Singapore v Malaysia or Chinese Taipei
Uzbekistan v Kyrgyzstan
UAE v India
Jordan v Nepal or Timor Leste

First leg, July 23
Second leg, July 28

Round 3
September 2, September 6, October 11, November 11, November 15, 2011 and February 29, 2012

Round 4
June 3, June 8, June 12, September 11, October 16, November 14, 2012, March 26, June 4, June 11, June 18, 2013

Round 5 (AFC playoff)
September 6 and September 10, 2013

Round 6 (Inter-continental playoff)
October 15 and November 19, 2013 (dates to be confirmed by FIFA)

VB 3 - 2 New Radiant: Winning start for champions

Defending champions VB sports earned a narrow win in the opening game of this season’s Dhiraagu Dhivehi League. VB beat NewRadiant by 3-2 with Ali Ashfaaq scoring the first goal in the 23rdminute and Shamveel Qasim doubled lead before New Radiant leveledbefore the break, however second half substitute Lareef scored a luckywinner with twenty minutes remaining.

VB got the perfect opportunity in the 4th minute, a penalty wasawarded for a foul on Ashfaaq by keeper Ziyazan. Ali Umar couldn’tconvert the ball as keeper Ziyazan saved nicely.

But in the 23rd minute Ashfaaq found more than enough space to dribblepast keeper to send the ball to an empty net to score the opener.

In the 31st minute Shamveel scored a beautiful long range effort todouble their lead. But the best goal of the night came in the 35thminute as Ibrahim Shiyam scored a stunning goal to make it 2-1.

New Radiant leveled in the 43rd minute, a chance created by Wrightfrom the right flank was nicely finished by new signing Ali Fasir.

VB found enough chance to increase their lead in the second half butkeeper Ziyazan pulled out some wonderful saves but in the 70th minutea mistake from him let Lareef to score the winner.  Ziyazan failed tohold on to the powerful shot by Abu and Lareef fired the loose ballfrom close range to make it 3-2.

After the match, VB’s coach Vanli let out his frustration over the poor performance from his players.

“We won the game by just like. We played like s*** today. I am sorry to say this but we played like s***.”

“We played very well for 20 minutes and then we let them play the game. We just lost our concentration afterwards. We were simply very bad today. It’s not that New
Radiant was a better side than us. But we just didn’t play and we were bad”

“How can the players concentrate? The attitude of the players is simply wrong! I don’t want to name the player. But he didn’t sleep last night. How can he concentrate? This is the attitude of national team players.”

“The players’ attitude in the Challenge Cup was very good. Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Cambodia are much better teams than us. But our attitude was very good and we manage to qualify for the AFC Challenge Cup.”

“I came here to coach VB with a European mentality and attitude. But what I see here in the Maldives Island, I don’t know how to tell it. There is no attitude at all”

Meanwhile, Mohammed Shiyaz (Mohan) said despite the loss, he was very happy with the performance.

“Compared to VB we had few practices and we did not have much friendly matches even. The players played much better than we expected.”

“I didn’t have much choice today. So I had to use the young and new players. Some of these players did not play in this level of football. I am happy with their performance”

“Tom did not participate in a single practice. He is still injured, but I requested him to play tonight. He said he is scared to touch the ball even. But it was a splendid effort from him to play for the full 90 minutes.”

“Charles came back today and it took him 2 days for his travel to Maldives. Even though the player rested during the journey, he would be tired. So that was the reason for the change.

When asked by media regarding the referee’s decisions, Shiyaz said he don’t want to comment on it.

“I don’t want to comment on the referees decisions. If we comment on it, it might have an impact on our next games even. So, I don’t want to comment on it”

Lucas signs new Liverpool deal

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has signed a new long-term contract with the club. The Brazil international is currently enjoying his best season at Liverpool since arriving from Gremio in the summer of 2007 for £5 million.
"For me it was an easy decision because I know how big Liverpool are and I can see Liverpool are committed to me and are planning for a future with me," said Lucas. "The effort from the club was amazing and that makes me feel an important player. That's why it was an easy decision."
Lucas has grown in stature as a central midfielder following the departure of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano in recent seasons and made his 100th Premier League appearance against Wigan in February.
With the 24-year-old's previous contract having just over a year to run and continued speculation about Liverpool renewing their interest in Blackpool's Charlie Adam in the summer, there had been suggestions Lucas could be on his way out.

I am pleased with the way Liverpool tried to keep me and now I want to keep doing my best for them.

Lucas Leiva, Liverpool midfielder

Only this week he was linked with Serie A side Napoli, but the likeable Brazilian always insisted he wanted to remain at Anfield and has got his wish.
"I am pleased with the way Liverpool tried to keep me and now I want to keep doing my best for them," Lucas said. "I don't think people thought I could stay here for so long, but now I want to just keep on improving.
"I am really happy. The last few weeks have been really good for me and now I have signed a new contract and can spend more years at Liverpool. I will do my best all the time and try to help the club to be bigger and bigger, if that's possible."
Manager Kenny Dalglish praised Lucas not only for his work on the pitch, but his attitude off it. "He is a smashing lad to have around the football club but he hasn't been signed for that, he has been signed because of what he does on the pitch," said Dalglish.

"Certainly since I came in he has been a great asset to the team and has done tremendously well. He's happy to be here and play for the club and he's getting everything that he deserves at the moment - including being a fixture in the Brazilian team - because of what he's done on the pitch."

Forlan talks Atletico future, Uruguay win

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan is refusing to rule anything out as speculation over his future continues unabated.

The 31-year-old was once again asked about repeated rumours linking him with a return to England following Uruguay's 3-2 friendly victory over Republic of Ireland in Dublin last night. However, the former Manchester United player was consistent in his response.
Speaking at the Aviva Stadium, he said: "At the moment, I have two years left on my contract in Madrid and I am really happy. But I always say if there is a good offer, we will see what is going to happen."

I have two years left on my contract in Madrid and I am really happy. But I always say if there is a good offer, we will see what is going to happen.

Diego Forlan on a potential return to the Premier League

Forlan spent two and a half years at Old Trafford after making a £7.5m move from Independiente in January 2002, but has blossomed since leaving the Premier League for Spain, firstly with Villarreal and now at Atletico. He won the adidas Golden Ball at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ as he helped his country reach the semi-finals, and he admits the secret to his recent success is simple.
"I have had the chance to play all the games," Forlan said. "Your confidence when you have the chance to play every game is different. You get more confident and of course more experience, and you are learning different things. It's because of that."
Exacting test at the AvivaExperience was something Uruguay had plenty of and Ireland little last night, with the likes of Shay Given, John O'Shea, Sean St Ledger, Kevin Kilbane, Damien Duff, Aiden McGeady, Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle all missing. The South Americans responded to successive defeats by Chile and Estonia by racing into a 3-1 first-half lead, courtesy of some sublime finishing.
There was an element of good fortune about skipper Diego Lugano's 12th-minute opener, but after Shane Long had levelled three minutes later, Forlan's strike partners took over. Edinson Cavani and Abel Hernandez gave keeper Keiren Westwood no chance, putting Uruguay in complete control - or so it seemed.
The Republic were back in it three minutes after the restart when, after Martin Caceres had felled both James McCarthy and Andy Keogh, Keith Fahey made it 3-2 from the penalty spot. Giovanni Trapattoni's side battled all the way to the whistle for a share of the spoils, but the visitors held out despite the absence of most of their big names.
"You have to play against the team on the day and it was a difficult game," Forlan commented. "Maybe if we had been playing against more experienced players, we might have got more chances.
"You never know in football. With the experienced players who were missing, the team should be better - that's logical - but you never know."
Asked if he knew any of Trapattoni's under-studies, Forlan said: "I am always watching and I knew quite a few of them. I knew it was going to be a really tough game."

Form gives Inter the edge, says Stankovic

Inter Milan midfielder Dejan Stankovic believes his side are in a better position coming into Saturday's derby than Serie A leaders AC Milan.
Milan have a two-point advantage on Inter and are the nominal hosts at the San Siro ground the two sides share. They also won there earlier in the season but Inter have closed a gap that once stood at 13 points in mid-December and have by far the better form since the turn of the year.
"Maybe we're seen as favourites because of recent results, we've made a historic comeback and we don't want to stop there," said the Serbia captain. "We won't let up, that's for sure, but I am a little worried about their professional pride. They will want to show they haven't spent 20 weeks leading Serie A for nothing, to show that they have quality."
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri previously said Inter have more to lose in this game but it is the Nerazzurri who are still in the UEFA Champions League and also have the Italian Cup to play for. Milan's interest in European competition is over for another season and the club's hierarchy surely would not be satisfied with merely a Cup victory for their year's efforts not to mention their economic outlay over the past 12 months.

The Champions League gives you fuel for the league and vice versa. It's no coincidence that Milan dropped points against Bari and Palermo after going out of the Champions League.

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri

Inter follow up Saturday's game with a clash against Schalke 04 in the Champions League on Tuesday but Stankovic doesn't believe that will be a distraction. "We'll give everything against Milan and then we'll be taken by another emotion," he said.
"We know that the better you do at the beginning the better things happen thereafter. The Champions League gives you fuel for the league and vice versa. It's no coincidence that Milan dropped points against Bari and Palermo after going out of the Champions League."
Milan looked almost home and dry a couple of weeks ago after Inter had drawn away to lowly Brescia. The Rossoneri could have moved seven points ahead of their rivals with a victory but instead they drew at home to rock-bottom Bari and then lost away to Palermo the next week.
That has left them just two points above their bitter city rivals and under pressure also from Napoli, three points back, and outsiders Udinese, six points behind. For Inter coach Leonardo it may be a strange feeling as he takes charge of his third derby, but first on the Nerazzurri bench.
Last season he had an awful record in these two games, losing 4-0 when Gennaro Gattuso was sent-off and then being beaten 2-0 in the second match despite Inter finishing the game with nine men.
However, that was only his first season as a coach and Stankovic believes the Brazilian, who only joined Inter in late December, has come on in leaps and bounds since then. "(The 4-0) defeat was only his second match on the bench, it could have been that he didn't have everything under control," said the 32-year-old.
"Since then he's taken stock and improved. We had a mission (when Leonardo arrived) which was to rein in Milan so we could be playing for something important come the derby. With Leo we've done something incredible."

Aquilani open to Reds return

Midfielder Alberto Aquilani is willing to return to Liverpool at the end of the season if Juventus do not want to sign him on a permanent deal.
The 26-year-old is on a season-long loan with Juve, having failed to impress in his first season at Anfield after joining from Roma.
Juventus do have the option to purchase Aquilani at the end of the current campaign, but if they do not exercise it, he is happy to go back to Anfield.

I'm on loan and if I'm not retained I'd go back to Liverpool in the best league in the world.

Alberto Aquilani on his future

He told Gazzetta dello Sport: "The future? I'm at Juve, but I don't know what will happen. I'm on loan and if I'm not retained I'd go back to Liverpool in the best league in the world. We'll see."
Aquilani has also been linked with a move back to Roma. Asked if he would go back to the capital club, he said: "It is a delicate question. I would do, but I think it will be difficult.
"As a fan I'm curious to see what happens, especially if they begin to buy players and to revolutionise the team."

Abbiati disappointed with Leonardo switch

AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati has expressed his disappointment over Leonardo's decision to coach Inter Milan as the build-up to this weekend's derby intensifies.

The Brazilian will be in the Nerazzurri dug-out for the top-of-the-table clash, a season on from when he was in the opposite camp as Milan's coach.

After leaving the current leaders at the end of last season, he made a surprise return to the game as Inter's coach at Christmas, and has sparked a revival of their title challenge.

"The fact that when he left he made us understand that he wouldn't be coaching the following year left me perplexed," Abbiati told Sky Italia.

"I think his passage to Inter has disappointed many Milan fans. Some of my team-mates were also hurt by the decision."