Wenger upbeat over Henry future

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger remains convinced Thierry Henry is not finished and can still have an impact as a central striker.

Henry - who left the Gunners in the summer of 2006 after becoming the club's all-time leading goalscorer - will demand showdown talks with Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola if he continues to be played out on the left wing for the Spanish giants.

Wenger feels his former protege, who was also at Monaco with the French coach before coming to Highbury in 1999 when he was converted into a world-class striker, has plenty of football left in him - if utilised to his strengths.

"I want him to be happy first of all because he made us happy for years. The least you want for him is to be happy and at the moment he is not," observed the Arsenal manager.

"But that unfortunately is part of the career of a player. He has gone through these kinds of times at the start of his career and at the end of his career."

Wenger, though, insisted: "I feel at the moment that he is too young for the end of his career.

"I found him quite sharp playing for France in the World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Serbia - but there is tough competition up there.

"I believe he should play through the centre where he feels more comfortable. It is more difficult to be a winger when you are over 30."

by espnstar.com/football

Tags: football, Arsenal, manager, Arsene Wenger, Thierry Henry, France, World Cup

New format and league for UEFA Cup

The UEFA Cup will be renamed the UEFA Europa League from next season, it was announced on Friday by UEFA.

The new-look league will have 48 clubs in 12 groups of four, with the top two in each joining the eight third-placed clubs from the Champions League in a 32-club knock-out stage.

UEFA took the decision at their executive committee meeting in Bordeaux, and also ruled that beaten cup finalists will no longer be eligible even if the cup winners have qualified for the Champions League.

A UEFA spokesman said: "The new format will result in many teams from all over Europe contesting the new UEFA Europa League, with teams from emerging countries or lesser known teams challenging the 'old' order of established European clubs.

"It is exactly this special character that the new identity will seek to capture."

The competition has TV rights sold centrally, in the same way as the Champions League, which should increase income to clubs.

UEFA president Michel Platini said: "I am convinced the new format will give the UEFA Europa League a successful new impetus."

UEFA are also expected to formally confirm in December that Wembley will host the 2011 Champions League final.

The British Government have confirmed an exemption to tax rules for players appearing in the final and the decision should be rubber-stamped by UEFA's next executive committee on December 16.

Dublin's Lansdowne Road is viewed as favourite to be named as venue for the 2011 Europa League final.

by espnstar.com

Tags: UEFA Cup, UEFA Europa League, Champions League

Gerrard hails Benitez tinkering

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says Rafa Benitez's tactical tinkering has made him become a world great.

Benitez has consistently been criticised for failing to turn out a settled starting XI, with Gerrard just one of the players who has been forced to regularly shift positions.

England international Gerrard has popped up in every position across the midfield, and has even been used as a second forward playing behind Spanish hitman Fernando Torres.

Despite media pundits and fans alike accusing Benitez of failing to get the very best from a wandering Gerrard, the 28-year-old has admitted that he has only benefitted from Rafa's chop and change policy.

"OK, he has played me in different positions," said Gerrard who will be on the hunt for his 100^th Liverpool goal against Everton on Saturday.

"But I feel a lot more comfortable now in that I can play almost anywhere on the pitch.

"Rafa has taken my game to the next level. I feel since he's been here my game has come on in leaps and bounds - he's certainly improved me as a player.

"There are some games when I have to change my style of play.

"If it is a big game, for example, I realise that I can't just be bombing into the box all the time.

"There are times when I have to be a bit more disciplined. We'll have to wait and see where I'll play for the majority of the season.

"But I know I can fit into a number of positions and do a job for the team."

With Liverpool enjoying a decent start to the season, Gerrard has found himself turning out in the centre of midfield thanks to the arrival from Tottenham of Robbie Keane, a more withdrawn role compared to the one he had last campaign when he scored a highly creditable 21 goals.

Gerrard, however, would not have any difficulties in pushing further forward - should his manager ask him to.

"I enjoyed playing in that role. The manager knows if there are ever any injuries or he simply wants to stick me up there again, I can play it," he said.

"Torres was running riot last season, causing defenders all sorts of problems.

"While they were worrying about him, I was sneaking in and nicking a few goals. There's no doubt Fernando has certainly helped me.

"I was really pleased with my goals tally last season and would be delighted to emulate it again this time.

"I don't really set myself a goals target as such but if you look at the way I play, as an attacking midfielder or in behind Fernando, I'd be expecting to get 15 or so a season.

"Nowadays, the game has gone to the next level.

"It used to be double figures for a central midfielder but I think Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard raised the bar to more like 15 or 20."

* Catch this game LIVE on ESPN, 27 Sept. starting 1900 HKT.

Tags: Liverpool, captain, Steven Gerrard, Rafa Benitez, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, LIVE, ESPN

Ronaldo chase was no failure

Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic insists their pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo cannot be deemed as a failure.

The 31 time La Liga kings launched a full blown assault to land the Portuguese starlet all summer and their eventual failure to snag the Manchester United winger saw the club miss out on a host of alternative targets.

However, Serbian Mijatovic claims that the Bernabeu outfit's unsuccessful attempt to sign Ronaldo cannot necessarily be constituted as failure.

"We had a great desire to sign him and our economic situation allowed us to, but Manchester United did not want to discuss things with us," he said in the interview with Onda Cero and Radio Marca.

"And when something like that happens, there is nothing we can do."

"They did not even put a price on him. As such, I do not look at it as a failure.

"We did all we could to bring Ronaldo here and if he had a buy-out clause in his contract, he would be here right now."

Mijatovic also endorsed the credentials of a Real playing staff who can challenge Ronaldo for the prestigious Ballon d'Or

"Casillas is performing spectacularly with great results, but he is unlucky to have to compete with a player like Ronaldo. But still, I would give it to Iker," he concluded.

by espnstar.com

Tags: Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mijatovic, Manchester United