Roberto Mancini has stated that Liverpool have made mistakes over their handling of the Luis Suarez racial abuse incident, but feels the Reds’ striker is not a racist.
The Uruguay international has been given an eight-match ban from the FA after he was found guilty of insulting Manchester United defender Patrice Evra due to his ethnicity.
The Anfield club have been widely criticised due to their unrelenting support of Suarez, and an incident of racism against Oldham defender Tom Adeyemi by a club fan.
The Manchester City boss has stated that things can happen in the heat of the moment, but must be apologised for in the aftermath.
“I think that sometimes it can happen on the pitch, a situation like this. It is important to apologise for what you did,” he told The Telegraph.
“Sometimes on the pitch you can do something you don’t want to do, because you are nervous, you don’t think on the pitch. I don’t think Suarez is a racist. I think he made a mistake, probably, yes.
“Everyone can make a mistake sometimes, everyone. It is impossible that we are always perfect. It is important to say ‘I am sorry, I made a mistake, I apologise for this’ and accept the charge.
“Everything was said to me during my 20 years as a player, but I understand. I didn’t cry for this on the pitch because, I repeat, I have my opinion that on the pitch everything can happen because you don’t think, because you are tired, because you are stupid, you are young, for many reasons,” he concluded.
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Juventus boss Luigi Delneri was left fuming after his side threw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at home against Catania on Saturday.Two first-half goals from Alessandro Del Piero put Juventus comfortably ahead at the break, but Catania fought back with strikes from Alejandro Gomez and Lodi – from a free kick on the stroke of full-time – to secure a crucial point in their battle to avoid the drop.
Delneri, whose side are in seventh place and three points short of a Europa League berth with four games to play, was furious by the performance of his men and referee Mauro Bergonzi, who allowed five minutes of stoppage time.
“I am angry with everything, not just with Juventus’ performance, but also with the serious mistakes we made in the second half and the mistakes in the game’s finale due to high tension and due to errors from the referee,” Delneri said.
“At the end he did so many things he (Bergonzi) shouldn’t have done.”
“There was a series of quite complicated factors – the injury time, their free kick from (Felipe) Melo’s foul that wasn’t a foul, because it would have been impossible not to use that arm.”
“A more serious foul by (Pablo Martin) Ledesma was not seen from a Del Piero free kick, so to tell the truth I think he made quite strange decisions.”
“I’m not saying he did that on purpose, but if you are a referee you should behave as a referee otherwise it would be better to change profession. You should have a logic in what you see.”
Many Derby County fans would have been disappointed with the exit of striker Rob Hulse. The well-travelled striker has won promotion twice in his career and has been a purchase for teams who were promoted without his services. Now at Championship table-toppers Queens Park Rangers, he will hope to make it three promotions and have a second crack at the Premier League.
Indeed, the first game of the season showed some promise for Derby, who so far under Nigel Clough’s reign have had to endure a transitional period with a massive squad overhaul in the past 20 months in order to create a more manageable wage bill.
Clough, who left Burton Albion after 10 years of service, now faces a new challenge: to revive the fortunes of Derby and once again turn them into Premier League contenders.
An opening-weekend win at Leeds (the opener, scored by former Elland Road favourite Rob Hulse, was his last goal and appearance for the club) would have given fans early hope. The combination of Paul Green, Kris Commons and Hulse was particularly impressive. The latter of course was a key focal point to this attack and, as many Football League defenders will be aware, is more than a mere battering ram.
However, since the opening weekend of the Championship Hulse has been injured and Derby have had to endure two defeats and a draw at home to QPR. Such has been the extent of the injury list at Pride Park that former Exeter defender Dean Moxey has been used as a makeshift striker in variations of 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations.
Before discussing the importance of Rob Hulse’s departure to QPR, there are a number of factors that need to be considered. Hulse is now 30; although still more than capable at that age, he missed 16 games last season and has only played one so far in the current campaign. More crucial to the decision to sell Hulse was that the money on offer was too good to turn down for a striker with only nine months left on his contract, points highlighted by Derby executive chairman Tom Glick.
Hulse has been the top scorer for the Rams for the two previous seasons, chipping in with 28 league goals in his last three campaigns, and his departure will no doubt harm the Derby’s chances of promotion. In addition, Clough may have to re-think tactics; Dean Moxey cannot be relied upon for an entire season, and naturally as a defender he will not match Hulse’s prolific goal-scoring rate.
The departure of the 6ft 2in striker will not aid Derby’s aspirations this season, but the Midlands club are in no hurry.
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While Derby are in the middle of a five-year plan to reach the Premier League, 30-year-old Hulse’s aspirations for top-flight football are more immediate; and under new manager Neil Warnock who would bet against it happening this year.
A football fan always becomes excited by a big name signing or a new look team taking shape at their club, but there is one new addition that always creates a unique buzz around a stadium. I am obviously talking about the introduction of a youngster from the youth academy that you have heard a lot about but have not really seen him play. The under 18’s and the reserve’s have become easy work for him and he is compared to a former legend at the club depending on what position he plays. The cheer that he receives when he comes on from the bench is unrivalled and when he notches that first professional goal, he seems to share the moment with thousands of fans who already adore the 17-year-old.
But it is not always a fairytale ending when youngsters are thrown in at the deep end; unable to make an impact in men’s football and after all the hype they are loaned out to a side two divisions below and seem to be forgotten just as quickly as they were introduced. Admittedly the pressure on any professional footballer is high and some newcomers can’t handle that but sometimes they simply aren’t good enough. Everyone will have a player at their club that has not lived up to their hype as a youngster so here are the top ten youngsters who haven’t fulfilled their hype.
Click on Freddie Sears to unveil the top 10
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Have I missed one out from your club? Let me know on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard
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Chelsea are 1-0 down at home to Manchester United in the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final, and with twenty minutes to go, Carlo Ancelotti decides to substitute 33 year-old Didier Drogba, who has scored one goal in his last eleven games for the Blues. A hum of disappointment quickly surrounds Stamford Bridge, not because the home supporters are uninspired by Nicolas Anelka’s introduction (although the Frenchman hasn’t scored since February), but because their new £50million ‘hero’ remains on the pitch for the remainder of the match, eventually completing 617 minutes without a goal for his new club.
Chelsea fans are not known for their patience, and their chairman is always quick to point out when something is wrong, but is it now time for Fernando Torres to realise he made a big mistake in forcing through his Liverpool exit, especially considering the different directions both clubs are now heading in?
Allow me to start by clearing up one issue – Fernando Torres is not a similar case to that of Andriy Shevchenko. Torres’ Chelsea displays are not a result of failing to adapt to the style or rigours of the Premier League – the Spaniard scored 75 goals in 126 games for Liverpool during his first full three seasons in England, and spearheaded Spain’s attack during successful European Championship and World Cup campaigns whilst a Liverpool player.
However, almost exactly 12 months ago, Torres revealed that he felt daunted by the prospect of an extended career in England based on the continual demands of Premier League football. “This is my third season and I’m still amazed to see Gerrard, Rooney and Lampard, players who have been here a long time, still playing at such a high level and with such impressive rhythm because the English league really wears down a player. I just can’t imagine what state I’ll be in within five or six years if I continue to play here – it could easily give me problems when I stop playing. The physical level is superior to all other countries.”
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Torres announced these concerns following a knee operation which he never fully recovered from before joining his Spanish team-mates in South Africa last summer. He had actually scored 18 goals in 22 League games for Liverpool before the operation, but his performances and evident fitness concerns at the World Cup delayed his move to Stamford Bridge until January. It was thought that Torres would leave Anfield last August following Liverpool’s failed bid to qualify for the Champions League, but the striker committed to Roy Hodgson’s vision, which in hindsight was an egregious decision.
Torres then faced a fitness struggle in the midst of a rancorous ownership and managerial transition and was not the only high-profile Liverpool player to express doubts about the future of the Merseyside club. Pepe Reina has been broadcasting almost monthly updates on his contract situation since the start of the season, and it looks more than likely that he will depart this summer given that Liverpool have yet again failed to infiltrate the top 4.
In January of this year, Liverpool sacked their second manager in 6 months and Torres was only starting to regain his form sporadically between injury spells. Meanwhile, Chelsea had been two months in to a sequence that saw them drop down the Premier League table after their worst run of results for 15 years. These factors, in addition to Torres’ two goals against the Blues in November, convinced Roman Abramovich to renew his interest in the forward and he spent £50million to secure his services. Although he has yet to convert for his new club, Torres is beginning to demonstrate his class gradually and was unfortunate not to score against United in last week’s first leg.
Torres does not legitimately fit in to the categories of Michael Owen, who began his career exceptionally and struggled to improve over time, or Andriy Shevchenko, who dominated Europe until the age of 29 when he should have been hitting his prime but instead rapidly regressed. Torres is of the same mould as Samuel Eto’o, a striker who has delivered explosive goal-scoring form consistently throughout his career.
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The Cameroonian is almost exactly three years older than Torres, and three years ago found himself in a similar position to the Spaniard. He had scored 19 goals for Barcelona during an injury-plagued season and was unsettled by a change of manager at the Nou Camp, as Pep Guardiola had announced his intentions to neglect the striker. He stayed, and in fact scored 39 goals in Guardiola’s first season as Barca completed a European treble, but was sold that summer to Inter. Apparently not good enough to remain with the European champions, Eto’o led Inter to Champions League glory the following season, which is something Abramovich might have considered when signing the cheque for Torres. Abramovich’s craving for Champions League supremacy is well known, and Torres could conceivably be the man to lead Chelsea to a European Final, if not this season, then next.
Support Torres by following Josh Sheridan on Twitter
Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has admitted that he would be interested in succeeding John Toshack as manager of the Wales national team.
The 36-year-old is the favourite to take charge when Toshack steps aside and is confident that he can combine that job with his continuing playing career with the Red Devils.
He told the Daily Telegraph:"If you go into management, the big job is to be in charge of your country and I'm no different in terms of thinking like that.
"At the moment it is difficult, because I still have commitments as a player, but I always use the Mark Hughes situation as an example.
"One minute he is playing for Wales and in the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers, then the next thing you know, he is managing his country.
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Germany defender Marvin Plattenhardt is currently being linked with a move away from Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin in this summer’s transfer window.
Everton are believed to be interested – as reported by Sky Sports News – and the Merseyside club’s supporters have been quick to reveal their feelings on the potential deal.
Plattenhardt is currently with the Germany squad at the 2018 World Cup, and he will enter this summer’s international competition off the back of a fine season at Hertha.
Indeed, the left-back, who is valued at £13.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, registered eight assists in 38 appearances for Hertha last season, with seven of those assists coming in the Bundesliga.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”252976″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch 21 things that will definitely happen at the World Cup”]
Everton could well be in the market for more than one left-back this summer when considering that Leighton Baines is being linked with a move away from the club.
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Watford are also said to be interested in Plattenhardt, but Everton will fancy their chances of beating the Hornets to the defender’s signature.
The Everton fans clearly want the deal to occur this summer, and a selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is hopeful that Marouane Fellaini will soon sign a new contract with the 20-time English champions.
Fellaini will see his current deal at Old Trafford expire at the end of the season.
The 30-year-old is believed to have rejected at least one offer from United, and he has been strongly linked with a move to Turkish football.
Fellaini is a favourite of Mourinho, however, with the Belgium international offering a physical presence in both penalty boxes.
The United boss has paid tribute to Fellaini on a number of occasions in recent months, and the Portuguese is hopeful that the former Everton midfielder will soon pen a fresh contract with the team that are currently second in the Premier League table.
Mourinho told reporters:
“He’s a very important player for me and a great professional who is giving everything to help the team.
“There’s a desire from myself, the board and the player to stay together and that’s our objective. Are we going to agree? I don’t know. But what I know is myself, the board and the player we would like to have a happy end.”
“He knows that I want him and the club wants him. I think this is also important for him. But you only sign a paper when you are happy with what is written in the paper.”
Fellaini, who is valued at £10.8m by transfermarkt.co.uk, is expected to be in the United squad that travels to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
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Everton are preparing a £10.5million bid for QPR striker Loic Remy, reports the Irish Independent.
The French forward is currently on loan at Newcastle United, where he has scored 13 league goals. The striker is expected to receive multiple offers this summer, especially if QPR fail to get promotion back to the Premier League.
The Toffees want to sign Romelu Lukaku on a permanent deal from Chelsea, have been told to pay £20million for the Belgian, twice as much as they are going to bid for Remy. Chelsea are preparing a £40million move for Diego Costa, but are reluctant to lower there valuation of Lukaku, who has impressed on loan for both Everton and West Brom.
Remy is valued lower than Lukaku because the Frenchman has a release clause, which Newcastle and Tottenham have been rumoured to be interested in activating, as well as Roberto Martinez’s side. The Frenchman has also been linked with Arsenal in past transfer windows.
Martinez is eager to make multiple signings this summer, with Everton fans anticipating European football next season. Everton are currently sitting in an Europa League space, and are just 4 points behind 4th place Arsenal, with a place in next year’s Champions League not an impossibility for the Toffees. The Spaniard has been linked with moves for Gareth Barry on a permanent deal, and an attempt to bring Jack Rodwell back to Goodison Park.
For your chance to WIN two tickets to Everton vs Manchester United on Sunday April 20 AND a copy of FIFA14, simply comment below with your score prediction for the game…
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[ffccomp link=”https://www.footballfancast.com/football-blogs/win-tickets-to-everton-vs-manchester-united-a-copy-of-fifa-14″oneliner=”For your chance to WIN two tickets to Everton vs Manchester United on Sunday April 20 AND a copy of FIFA14, simply comment below with your score prediction for the game…” step=”PREDICT THE SCORE
BELOW” terms=”http://everton-manchester-united-tickets.pen.io” topics=”premier league, manchester united, everton, football, soccer”]
Believe me there was no one in Old Trafford more stunned that Andre Villas-Boas after Spurs wiped the floor with United in their own backyard last Saturday. So much so that the Portuguese tactician resolved to punching himself in the face mid-celebration just to certify that he wasn’t dreaming. One thing is for sure and that is the North London club were on cloud nine as the final whistle blew to confirm their first victory at the home of the Red Devils since 1989. It was arguably Villas-Boas’ finest hour since taking over as Spurs boss and provided a demonstration of effect he has had on the players and club as a whole. To say they ripped the hosts apart with a deadly mixture of unrelenting pace and power would be an understatement as the United defence was obliterated with the midfield forced to sit and watch. Not many can say they’ve done that over the years!
This week on FFC is AVB running a huge risk playing full strength teams in the Europa League and which Portugal star won’t be coming to White Hart Lane?
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Best of FFC
Time for Tottenham Hotspur to finally put these to bed
Already proving The top TEN ‘transfer coups’ this summer
Slowly pushing for a start at White Hart Lane?
Are Tottenham taking a risk in the Europa League?
Tottenham vs Aston Villa – Match Preview
Why Jan must stay central within Tottenham’s plans
Tottenham show how laughable the situation is
Liverpool and Spurs keep tabs on Palace ace
Portugal playmaker dismisses move to White Hart Lane
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Best of WEB
Dust to Dust: Athens to Athens. – Spurs musings from Jimmy G2
Shameful Self Indulgent Time Wasting No Mark Booze Hound Bums On Tour – Harry Hotspur
Unleash purgatory! – Dear Mr Levy
£25M Is Far Too Much Money …As Levy Is Bound To Point Out… – Transfer Tavern
From Turmoil to Triumph – Spurs musings from Jimmy G2
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The only Hazard that matters – Dear Mr Levy
Jan Vertonghen Mashed Up – Harry Hotspur
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Quote of the Week
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“It doesn’t stop here. The emotions we were living (after the United win) are very inspiring and results are also good to build confidence. That confidence is good for us as we approach our next couple of games. We have two games at home now, and we have to improve our home form to make sure that this becomes a sequence for us.” Last weeks win at Man Utd is just the start for Spurs according to AVB.