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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Lyon reveal Benzema clause

Lyon striker Karim Benzema has a buy-out clause of US$147 million, club president Jean-Michel Aulas revealed.

The France international agreed a new contract at the end of last season with the reigning seven-time Ligue 1 champions, tying him to the club until the summer of 2013.

The 21-year-old is one of Europe's most sought-after youngsters but anyone wishing to sign him will have to break the world record for a transfer fee. Aulas, at a Lyon board meeting, said: "We made him sign a contract until 2013, with an exit clause of 100m euros."

He added: "His working contract does not include this clause, which would be illegal. It is a question of a contract 'sous seing prive'.

"The aim is to win the Champions League with Karim Benzema. It is a strong project, like the construction of a new stadium."

In French law, a contract which is 'sous seing prive' is one agreed in private by the parties involved.

Benzema was the top scorer in Ligue 1 last season with 20 goals, and he already tops the charts this season having found the net five times in six games.

by espnstar.com

Ballack back on title trail

Michael Ballack is determined to put his summer misery behind him and focus on winning silverware for Chelsea.

The 31-year-old midfielder lost in the Champions League final with his club last May then finished second in Euro 2008 with Germany, adding another chapter to his near-misses after losing three finals in a week when playing for Bayer Leverkusen, who were dubbed 'Neverkusen'.

Ballack is recovering from an ankle injury and could feature at Portsmouth tomorrow in the third round of the Carling Cup as Chelsea go in search of glory on all four fronts this season.

"I didn't just think about Moscow in the summer, I lost another final as well," Ballack said.

"You always think about football, I think about it all the time. If you lose two finals in four weeks, of course I'm going to think back.

"It's also good that you have a new season, new targets and a big motivation this season. We have a big squad and lots of competition so that is good in football."

The clash at Fratton Park will be a test of Luiz Felipe Scolari's promise to challenge for all four trophies, especially after a draining encounter against Manchester United at the weekend.

"The challenge for Chelsea is to win all the competitions in which we participate. Manchester United is one more game," said the Brazilian.

The Chelsea boss could rest his big players but also has injury problems - Deco and Ricardo Carvalho were injured before and during the United clash, respectively.

Deco will be out for at least a fortnight with a thigh strain, while Carvalho is on the sidelines for up to a month, joining Michael Essien on the treatment table.

Striker Didier Drogba is also struggling for match fitness after his knee injury, meaning Scolari could be short on numbers if he wants to rotate.

His squad list currently comprises 25 players after letting the likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips, Tal Ben-Haim, Steve Sidwell, Claude Makelele, Andriy Shevchenko and Claudio Pizarro leave in the summer.

Although Ballack is easing back to full tilt, he is pleased just to be playing - this time last year he was recovering from ankle surgery.

"Nothing has changed for me, I always wanted to win something," he said. "I had a big injury last season and had to come back in the middle of the season. For me, I enjoyed playing after this difficult period and I'm happy that I can play from the start."

If Drogba plays, he is anticipating a tussle with former Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra, who is now at Portsmouth after leaving Stamford Bridge for Arsenal last summer.

"When I was in Le Mans he came there and I knew him, so it has been a long, long time. He was 13 or 14 I think," said Drogba.

"When (former boss Jose) Mourinho wanted to sign him he told me and asked me about him. I said good things about him, and he thought he had found the next Makelele.

"For me, Lassana could be the next Makelele, but he also has more to his game and he likes to go forward as well.

"He just wanted to play more on the pitch and get games, which is understandable. Even though he is young he wants to play against the big players, go one against one and show himself, to work and to improve.

"To do that he knows he has to play against the best, so it's good for him that he is desperate to improve."

by espnstar.com

Owen saddened by Keegan exit

Newcastle captain Michael Owen admits he and his team-mates were devastated to see manager Kevin Keegan leave the club.

The 28-year-old's strike at West Ham on Saturday was too little to prevent the crisis-torn Magpies from slipping to a third successive defeat, the last two in the wake of Keegan's departure.

Caretaker boss Chris Hughton now faces the task of raising the players for Wednesday night's Carling Cup third-round clash with Tottenham, and Owen admits the manager's loss has had a lasting effect. He said: "We all liked Kevin Keegan and we were sad to see him go."

He added: "We are all feeling it at the moment - but we have got to snap out of the doom and gloom and try and get some confidence and results, and at the minute, not picking up the results is hurting the players.

"We are as much in the dark as the fans as to the next move and it does not make it any easier as Kevin Keegan was very popular with the players and the fans."

Remarkably, Owen has played under four permanent managers since arriving at St James' Park in August 2005 - Graeme Souness, who bought him, Glenn Roeder, Sam Allardyce and Keegan - and has quickly become accustomed to the turmoil which regularly engulfs the club.

He admitted: "You almost become immune to these happenings in football nowadays and I have seen plenty in my time.

"I had three managers in the space of a few months at Real Madrid.

"It's unfortunate but that's the way it goes. But players are paid to play and we have got to go out there and perform."

by espnstar.com

Blades claim victory in Tevez case

A FA arbitration hearing has ruled in favour of Sheffield United in their claim from West Ham over the Carlos Tevez affair.

The South Yorkshire club were relegated in a dramatic end to the 2006/07 season, when a Tevez-inspired Hammers beat Manchester United on the final day of the season to clinch top-flight safety at the Blades' expense.

The Premier League fined the Hammers a record US$10 million for fielding Tevez and Javier Mascherano when they were ineligible to play under league rules regarding third-party ownership.

United initially wanted to have their Premier League place reinstated and appealed that the monetary fine was insufficient.

Having failed in that regard they then turned their attentions to achieving a financial settlement.

And the club have issued a statement on their official website claiming success in that case, although the exact nature of the compensation is as yet unclear.

Newspaper reports suggest the Blades could be looking for a figure of around US$56 million, while chairman Kevin McCabe is on record as saying that relegation cost United at least US$93 million in lost revenues.

McCabe said: "I can confirm that both clubs have been notified of the ruling.

"The arbitration panel has awarded in our favour.

"The matter is still legally in process so I do not wish to comment any further until we have completed that process."

Intriguingly, the club statement also raises the question of a further intervention by the Premier League.

It read: "The Blades began their legal fight for reinstatement some 16 months which also included an arbitration hearing against the Premier League. This award could now pose a question as to what the Premier League will do."

A West Ham spokesperson told BBC Radio 4: "We need to digest the full findings of the arbitration panel and will consult our lawyers on the next steps we might take before making any further comment."

Tevez and Mascherano are both long gone from Upton Park, earning lucrative moves to Manchester United and Liverpool respectively, while Kia Joorabchian, whose MSI company were judged to have partially-owned the Argentinian pair, is now a transfer consultant with the Hammers.

He had originally taken legal action against the east London club, claiming he was owed US$13 million, but the parties agreed an out-of-court settlement earlier this year.

For their part, West Ham are now considering whether or not to appeal against this latest ruling through the Court of Arbitration for Sport, although that decision may hinge on the level of compensation that is fixed when the arbitration panel meets again to determine a figure.

Like Sheffield United, West Ham signalled their intent to withdraw from the debate while they consult legal representatives, adding: "It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."

by espnstar.com

Drug dealer caught at Anderson's home

Man United's Anderson has been cleared of any wrongdoing after a drug dealer was arrested at his home in Brazil.

Richard Alex da Silva Martins 'Gigi' was detained at the home of the Brazil international after a year-long investigation, but Public Ministry official Ricardo Herbstrich stressed Anderson was not involved in the case.

Herbstrich, who led the operation in the Menino Deus neighbourhood in Porto Alegre, told the Zero Hora newspaper: "There is nothing against Anderson in this investigation.

"According to what we have, he is just a friend of the dealer and maybe he doesn't even know he is a criminal."

Agent Paulo Tonietto, who manages Anderson's businesses in Brazil, added: "The only thing I can say is that Anderson, as well as any other person, can be a friend of whoever he wants, but he is not involved in any crime.

"Anderson is a professional and he will offer an explanation of what has happened soon."

by espnstar.com

Trezeguet out until 2009

French striker David Trezeguet will not play for Juventus again until next year, the Serie A club confirmed on Tuesday.

The French striker underwent surgery this morning on both knees and will be sidelined for four months.

Trezeguet had struggled with injury since the start of the season and his condition worsened after his team's Champions League triumph against Zenit St Petersburg.

"Trezeguet will be sidelined for 120 days and hence his expected return to the pitch should take place at the end of January," read a statement on the club's official website, www.juventus.it.

by espnstar.com

Arsenal's secrets revealed

A motivational sheet handed out to Arsenal players ahead of their game with Bolton has been leaked to the media.

While managers like Jose Mourinho and Sam Allardyce famously overload their players with details of opposition players and ProZone stats, this document is a simple A4 sheet of just 224 words.

The document was apparently drafted by a sports psychologist and was designed to motivate a team that had already played two difficult away games in the space of a few days.

Emphasis is firmly placed on the 'team' and advices the players to 'stay grounded and humble as a player and a person'.

The full advice is as follows...

CONFIDENTIAL

Team meeting 19th September 2008-09-22:

The team:

* A team is as strong as the relationships within it. The driving force of a team is its member's ability to create and maintain excellent relationships within the team that can add an extra dimension and robustness to the team dynamic.

* This attitude can be used by our team to focus on the gratitude and the vitally important benefits that the team brings to our own lives. It can be used to strengthen and deepen the relationships with it and maximise the opportunities that await a strong and united team.

Our team becomes stronger by:

* Displaying a positive attitude on and off the pitch

* Everyone making the right decisions for the team

* Have an unshakeable belief that we can achieve our target

* Believe in the strength of the team

* Always want more - always give more

* Focus on our communication

* Be demanding with yourself

* Be fresh and well prepared to win

* Focus on being mentally stronger and always keep going until the end

* When we play away from home, believe in our identity and play the football we love to play at home

* Stick together

* Stay grounded and humble as a player and a person

* Show the desire to win in all that you do

* Enjoy and contribute to all that is special about being in a team - don't take it for granted

by espnstar.com


Wenger taken aback by Platini attack

Arsene Wenger admits he is stunned by Michel Platini's attack on him in an interview with a French newspaper.

Platini, the head of European football's governing body, fired a couple of broadsides at the Arsenal manager during a frank interview with Grenoble daily Dauphine Libere, which was published on Tuesday.

The former France international slammed Wenger for having a business mentality rather than a football one.

And he also tore into the Gunners boss for calling for the introduction of video replays to rule on questionable refereeing decisions.

Wenger has been taken aback by Platini's criticisms.

"I am stunned by the aggressive content of Platini's words," he told L'Equipe.

"I am effectively a supporter of video assistance for referees, like all coaches, and I believe UEFA have an important role to play in this.

"I am for sporting justice and UEFA must be the guarantor of it."

Wenger added: "I am a supporter of good management of clubs, for financial equilibrium.

"And UEFA must equally support this idea. I am fighting for the future of the game and of football.

"I don't see why UEFA should take umbrage at ideas that are different from theirs."

In Platini's interview with Dauphine Libere, Wenger's name was raised during a question about the introduction of video technology.

Platini replied: "I like to talk about football, him (Wenger) about business. We must stop with Wenger and all that."

Platini then said he hoped video assistance would never come into football, adding: "It would make me happy that Arsene Wenger never sees it."

Later in the interview, Platini again targeted Wenger when asked about his thoughts on Romanian side CFR Cluj's unexpected victory over Roma in the Champions League last week.

"That is what makes football so great," Platini said. "It is what people like Wenger do not want, little clubs beating the big clubs, because they want their business."

by espnstar.com


Sneijder wary of Atletico challenge

Wesley Sneijder believes Atletico could mount a genuine title challenge to his side and Barcelona this season.

Atletico have not claimed any major silverware since winning the Primera Liga and Copa del Rey double in 1996, but they have shown gradual improvement in the last four years with league finishes of 11th, 10th, seventh and then fourth last season.

Despite that, the Rojiblancos have still provided little competition to Real Madrid in recent times, finishing a combined total of 37 points adrift over the last two campaigns as their rivals recorded back-to-back titles.

Sneijder believes it could be a different story this season though, with Atletico starting the campaign in impressive form after strengthening well over the summer.

When asked if he thought Barca would be their biggest rivals for the title, Sneijder told AS: "Yes, but we also need to be careful about Atletico Madrid. They have a very strong team.

"I saw them in the game against PSV Eindhoven, they won 3-0 (in Holland) and it's not easy to do that there. It seems as though it was easy, but it's not.

"Atletico have a very strong team to win the league."

As for their rivals from the Nou Camp, Sneijder added: "Barcelona have many quality players, but they are still not a team. I've seen two of their games.

"Although it's true that at the end Barcelona and Madrid will be fighting for the title."

Sneijder has missed the start of the season due to injury and when he returns to action, which is set to be the October 5 match against Espanyol, he will rejoin a Madrid team without the mercurial skills of Robinho.

The Brazilian left the Spanish giants in ignominious fashion earlier this month to join Premier League club Manchester City.

Sneijder believes it is right that an unsettled player should be able to move on, but feels Robinho was wrong to say he would rather be a travelling salesman than continue playing with Madrid.

"When a player has decided to leave it's best that he is allowed to leave. It's good for the club, for us and for him. Robinho is a very good player," said Sneijder.

"He wanted to go, although in my opinion he should never have talked about Madrid like that. I don't like it that he talks about the best club in the world this way."

by espnstar.com


Kahn defends Rensing

Former Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has jumped to the defence of his successor at Bayern Munich and ruled out a return from retirement.

Michael Rensing was on the losing side for the first time in his professional career on Saturday as Bayern lost 5-2 to Werder Bremen - the club's heaviest home defeat in the Bundesliga in almost 30 years.

And the new Bayern number one was singled out for particular criticism with at least two of the Bremen goals blamed on him.

Yet Kahn believes it is far too early to doubt the 24-year-old.

"I have always said that when you want to build young players, then you have got to expect the odd stumble along the way, and that is why it would be fatal to question Rensing now," said the 39-year-old in the Bild newspaper.

"The example of Iker Casillas comes to mind. He came into the Real Madrid team as a youngster and people doubted him, but Madrid stood by him and now he is European champion and one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

"A goalkeeper needs faith more than anybody else, given their relatively lonesome position."

A survey conducted by Bild saw over 60% of responses call for Kahn to return to the Bayern goal, but he dismissed the idea out of hand.

"That does not help at all - my career is over," he added.

"There is no turning back. Something new is beginning at FC Bayern and they need faith and time.

"You cannot make the mistake of thinking that Rensing will immediately reach the level I was at during the best spells of my career.

"He is young and will do things his way."

On Wednesday, Rensing will have the chance to prove the critics wrong in the second round of the DFB-Pokal against Nurnberg at the Allianz Arena.

"He should try not to think about it too much and it is good that there is the cup game on Wednesday for him," said Kahn.

by espnstar.com

Chargers light up Jets

Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes as San Diego bounced back with a 48-29 victory over the New York Jets.

Antonio Cromartie had a 52-yard interception return for a TD for the Chargers (1-2), who took a 31-14 lead at halftime and increased their advantage to 24 points on Tomlinson's 2-yard score to cap the first drive of the second half.

Rivers tossed scoring passes to Mike Tolbert, Chris Chambers and Antonio Gates to pace San Diego, which lost on the final play of the game against the Carolina Panthers in its season opener.

The Chargers then were beaten by the rival Denver Broncos on a two-point conversion after a controversial call with 24 seconds left in Week Two.

Brett Favre threw a 4-yard TD to Chansi Stuckey and Jay Feely added a 32-yard field goal to cut the Jets' deficit to 38-23 with 8:25 left in the fourth - the closest they would get after halftime.

Favre was 30-of-42 for 271 yards with three TDs and two interceptions for New York (1-2).

by espnstar.com

Hantuchova eases through

Daniela Hantuchova had little trouble advancing in the China Open after a straight-sets defeat of Gisela Dulko.

The seventh-seeded Slovakian cruised past the Argentinian 6-3 6-1.

Hantuchova next faces either Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn or fellow countrywoman Katarina Srebotnik in the second round.

The other seeded player in action on Monday was not as fortunate.

Ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki was ousted in her first round match, going down 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 to Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues.

The Spaniard will play either Kazakhstan qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova or Hungarian Agnes Szavay next.

Also winning on Monday was Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova, who rebounded from dropping the first set to defeat former world number one Amelie Mauresmo 3-6 6-4 6-3.

Next up for Cibulkova is the winner of the first-round match between eighth seed Anna Chakvetadze of Russia and Czech lucky loser Iveta Benesova.

Serbians Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic are seeded first and second, respectively. They received first-round byes along with fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and fifth seed Vera Zvonareva, both Russians.

The tournament's third seed, Dinara Safina, who won the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Sunday, withdrew due to injury.

In the men's event, Yen-Hsun Lu of Chinese Taipei and Bjorn Phau of Germany were victorious on the opening day.

Spain's David Ferrer, fresh from helping Spain reach the Davis Cup final with a 4-1 win over the USA in Madrid, is the top seed.

by espnstar.com


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