The Borussia Dortmund Chief executive, Hans-Joachim Watzke, challenged the spending of Sheikh Mansour at Manchester City, prior to the 1-1 meeting between the two sides last night.
He went on to mention that clubs who receive lucrative sponsorship deals, just as City have done with Etihad, should be thrown out of the Champions League.
Manchester City signed a 10 year deal with the sponsor for £350 million pounds and Watzke was not afraid to suggest that this constituted ‘back door funding’ reports the Daily Mail.
The Bundesliga champions’ chief executive is all too aware that he does not have anywhere near as much income as last night’s opponents with 51% of the club owned by the supporters.
He made further calls for UEFA to crack down on what is deemed to be overspending in the wake of new financial fair play rules.
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The penalty for not complying with these rules could mean expulsion from the Champions League.
Manchester United star Darren Fletcher has insisted that he never thought his football career was over even after he missed ten months with a chronic bowel problem.
The 28-year-old was forced to take nearly a year out of the game and rumours spread that was going to be forced to retire because of the illness. However it was just speculation and instead, back fit, Fletcher captained Scotland during their 2-1 defeat to Wales last night.
He told Sky Sports that he is delighted to be back playing for both club and country: “I didn’t doubt that I would play again,” he said. “I always felt I would be back. I think I needed to have that kind of attitude.
“There were other people who doubted it but, for me, to be here I always needed to believe.
“I couldn’t let myself think I might not make it. I always told myself I’d be back one day and fortunately that’s the case. But it’s not been plain sailing along the way by any stretch of the imagination.
However, Fletcher has admitted that he faces a battle for every day of his life to prevent his chronic bowel problem returning and that he’ll never reach 100% of his previous fitness again which could be an issue in the Premier League.
“The doctors just needed to find out if not playing would make me healthier,” he said. “Then I would have been left with a decision to make. Do I want to play football or do I want to live a healthy life?
“But deep down I was always confident it wasn’t going to end that way. I always felt we would find a medication that would work. I just had to stay positive even though many people, maybe even the doctors, didn’t think I’d ever be back.
“The condition never goes away and that’s the thing I have to live with. Every day is a battle for me. I have to watch my diet and take certain medication or it could come back.
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“I’m never going to be 100% and that’s something I’m going to have to live with for the rest of my life. But the position I’m in now, compared to where I was? I’d gladly accept being like this for the rest of my life. It’s not ideal, but it’s manageable.”
Liverpool FC forward Luis Suarez has started the new campaign in decent form but the impact that his presence has on the rest of the side does carry within it the potential to disrupt.
They have become in danger of getting far too over-reliant on him this term, but does he unsettle his team-mates?
It’s clear at the moment given that manager Brendan Rodgers has limited attacking options available at his disposal that Suarez will bear the brunt of the workload up until at least January. With five league goals in eight games, including a hat-trick at Carrow Road against Norwich for the second successive season, there’s no denying that he’s assuming the mantle of the most experienced front-man well.
However, there’s a school of thought emerging which points to the Uruguayan’s selfishness going forward and that while clearly an exceptional player, that this is harming not only his effectiveness but the form of those around him which could then in turn have an impact on results.
A truly telling statistic courtesy of Opta is that Sunderland, spearheaded by Steven Fletcher this term, have mustered 26 shots off target so far this season; Suarez by himself has had a staggering 27. Another is that Liverpool have had 150 shots in total this season in their eight Premier League games so far and Suarez has taken 50 of them alone, with the side hitting the back of the net just 10 times.
While the club’s profligate ways in front of goal are well documented and the weaknesses apparent, it doesn’t help matters much that Suarez is trying to go it alone; he may have assumed the responsibility well in terms of goals, but when it comes to divvying up the chances created, he could do with sharing with his team-mates a little more.
Of course, the natural counter-argument to this is that as by a country mile the most creative, threatening and dangerous player in the side, Suarez often creates most of his chances himself virtually out of nothing and it’s widely-known that he’s not a predatory and clinical finisher, rather a more mercurial, instinctive talent.
His pass through to Raheem Sterling against Reading, setting up the 17-year-old for his first ever senior goal, displayed exactly what Suarez is capable of as a creator and instigator of attacks as opposed to the person in the side whose role it is to finish them. Against Reading he attempted almost half of the team’s dribbles, with 12 out the side’s 25 coming from Suarez.
In the same game, he had ten shots, six of which were off target and three were blocked. It’s his ability to beat a man which stands at the most from the aforementioned stats and he has an unusual style, getting right close to his marker before poking the ball past him using a combination of his acceleration and strength and he’s a deceptively powerful player. In essence, he’s a modern-day Peter Beardsley.
The players either side of Suarez, in the talented duo of Suso and Sterling have shown promising signs early on this campaign but Rodgers will be expected to bring in at least one more attacker in January, after showing a reluctance to recall Andy Carroll from his loan and Fabio Borini’s struggles prior to his foot injury.
It’s fine to constantly harp on about Liverpool being wasteful in front of goal but it seems that little is ever said about why they are. The root problem is rarely ever discussed let alone addressed and Suarez being the main and most obvious culprit, perhaps the fault lies with him, even if he is a superb player on the whole.
He can still be frustratingly inconsistent, often within a few minutes of a sublime piece of skill and his passing can often be woeful. He usually looks dangerous during a match and his movement is superb, but there’s very little end product when compared to how much he sees of the ball.
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If Rodgers side are to get the best out of, what on paper, looks like a squad capable of competing for a top six place, then Suarez needs to stop trying his luck from ridiculous angles and instead focus on being more of a team player – that means more than being a willing runner, boasting excellent technique and possessing the ability to beat a man almost at will, and until he realises that, the side will continue to frustrate in front of goal, failing to add the substance that their style deserves.
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Big Merseyside derby this weekend. Click here to post your Everton v Liverpool predictions…
Liverpool have received a boost with the news that midfielder Lucas Leiva could return from his thigh injury by the end of the month.
The Brazilian has been sidelined for four weeks so far after pulling up just five minutes into the Reds’ Premier League clash with Manchester City.
It was only the 25-year-old’s fourth appearance following a lengthy period on the treatment table due to cruciate knee ligament damage.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers admitted he is pleased that his anchorman is making a speedy recovery and could be in contention for the hectic winter schedule:
“Lucas has been out on the field in the last week or so which is great.” He is quoted by the Liverpool Daily Post.
“We’re starting to open up his running.
“He’s not doing multi- directional movements yet but he’s doing a lot of straight line running and endurance work.
“I’m anticipating maybe another three weeks but his professionalism is great and he’ll get back probably sooner than is anticipated.”
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Lucas is widely regarded as one of the key first-team players at Anfield, with his ability to read the game and win the ball important in the club’s style of play.
His absence has allowed the likes of Jonjo Shelvey and on-loan Turkish playmaker Nuri Sahin greater opportunities, with both impressing.
Daniel Agger has admitted that he was not fully fit when playing for Liverpool FC against Chelsea last Sunday.
Agger, who is suffering with a groin problem, had to stand in for Martin Skrtel who was too ill to play at the weekend.
However, Agger has now ruled himself out of Denmark’s international friendly this week, as he feels the need to rest after going through 90 minutes with a knock, but hopes to be back to full fitness for Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Wigan on Saturday.
“I should not have played on Sunday but Skrtel was ill and there was not much I could do,” he said.
“I was thrown into it. I have a pulled groin. It was something that should have kept me out on Sunday but it did not. I played the game. It takes hopefully only a few days (to recover).
“The reason why I have cancelled for Wednesday is that it is a bit early to play three days after I played 90 minutes with a groin problem.”
Agger has also expressed how pleased he is to have won his second Denmark’s Player of the Year award.
“Winning this award is one of the greatest things you can achieve as a Danish footballer,” he added.
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“I have been down and out with injuries but awards like this make me want to keep going. It is my attitude that means I am standing in this position.”
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina’s future has been plunged in doubt with manager Brendan Rodgers considering moves for Birmingham’s Jack Butland or German starlet Ron-Robert Zieler, report the Daily Mail.
The Reds’ number one has been short of his best so far this term and it’s believed that Rodgers is keen to draft in a long-term replacement for the 30-year-old.
The Anfield club are rumoured to have made an approach for Butland during the summer, but backed out at the last minute as they stepped up their pursuit of a striker.
But, they are ready to return for the 19-year-old England international once the transfer window opens.
Zieler has been mooted as an alternative, with the 23-year-old earning rave reviews in Germany for his performances for Hannover.
If either of duo are drafted in it would look likely that Reina may make way. Arsenal are believed to be interested, having previously approached the Spaniard, and could include unsettled winger Theo Walcott as part of any potential deal.
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But, it is unclear as to whether Arsene Wenger still feels that his goalkeeping situation is a particular worry.
Liverpool are also thought to be closing in on former youth player Thomas Ince, now at Blackpool, and Chelsea back-up striker Daniel Sturridge as they attempt to ease the goal scoring responsibility placed on Luis Suarez.
Birmingham City star Jack Butland is set to leave the Blues in January as their financial state worsens.
Liverpool are heavily linked with a move for the England goalkeeper in the January transfer window and Birmingham acting chairman Peter Pannu has confirmed he may well leave.
The Midlands club rejected a £6million bid from Premier League new boys Southampton in the summer but as their financial state worsens, fire sales in January is the only option.
Club owner Carson Yeung is still unable to come to England or have any involvement with City as he is facing trial for money laundering in Hong Kong.
Butland may not be the only player leaving St Andrews next month with fellow youngster Nathan Redmond and high earning Nikola Zigic also thought to be on their way.
Pannu has given an in depth interview to let the fans know exactly what is happening in the Blues board room.
“I can’t say that we are in a very wonderful situation, I would be lying if I said that,” Pannu told the Birmingham Mail.
“This is a very tricky question (player sales). What I can say is that – and I might be blasted for this by the fans – but no-one is for sale and everyone is available. As at any club.
“Give me a £15m offer for Jack Butland, can I say no?
“I have rejected £6m from Southampton (in the summer) but I rejected it when our finances were okay.
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“As the time is ticking, I might not be able to reject it if I get something similar.
“I do have a responsibility to keep the club running.
“My top priority now – and if I do offend anyone, I care not – is to make sure this clubs stays afloat.”
They say that buying big in the January transfer window amounts to some very risky business indeed, but if you’re Tottenham Hotspur, you don’t necessarily have a choice.
For the umpteenth transfer window in a row, Spurs played a very high stakes game of Risk during the summer, which has produced some rather mixed results for the Lilywhites. They may currently sit fourth in the Premier League, but supporters won’t be foolish enough to let that paper over the cracks.
Take your pick from a viable No10, another astute frontman or the desperate need for cover at left-back, to the list of issues that Villas-Boas will be looking to resolve next month. So to give him a little bit of help, we’ve saved the club a packet in scouting costs and knocked up a Top 10 Tottenham transfer wishlist for him to mull over.
And you can, too: click on Fernando Llorente, flick through and tell us who you want to see come to the Lane in January
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QPR are set to rival Sunderland in the race for Swansea striker Danny Graham, according to reports from the Daily Mail.
The 27-year-old is expected to leave the Liberty Stadium during January, after falling out of favour with new manager Michael Laudrup.
The Black Cats were thought to be close to securing his signature, but now Rangers boss Harry Redknapp has entered the battle.
QPR have the joint worst attacking record in the Premier League, alongside Aston Villa, having netted just 17 times in 21 games.
‘Arry is believed to be keen to correct this, and is considering a £4m swoop for Graham.
He is said to have grown frustrated with current first-choice striker Djibril Cisse and is unsure as to whether Jamie Mackie can deliver the quantity of goals needed for survival.
Graham has been a bit part player with the Swans this term after an impressive 2011/12 season under Brendan Rodgers.
But, he has recently returned to the South Wales club’s first-team, capping some impressive displays with a late equaliser against Arsenal in the FA Cup, forcing a replay.
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This has alerted a number of teams including Newcastle, Reading, and Norwich, as well as Sunderland and QPR.
Leeds United manager Neil Warnock has claimed that he doesn’t envy Roberto Mancini for the job he has at Manchester City.
Leeds visit the Etihad this afternoon in their FA Cup fifth round clash as they look to continue a weekend of shock results.
Mancini is fighting to save his job at the current Premier League champions after a poor season that has seen them humiliated in the Champions League and drift 12 points behind bitter rivals Manchester United in the title race.
The FA Cup takes on a vital role in City’s season and Mancini is looking to win it for a second time since his arrival at the club.
Warnock has admitted that while he is jealous of the talent Manchester City possess, he wouldn’t want to swap jobs with the Italian as he has far too many players to keep happy and has to deal with huge amounts of expectations.
‘I don’t think I’d be able to cope. I only had six months with the current type of Premier League players and I didn’t enjoy that at all,’ Warnock told the Daily Mail.
‘I wouldn’t like to have two teams where you’ve got 11 or 12 not in the team to deal with, who are world class players, who all think they should be in the team, who all their agents think they should be in the team. Good luck to them.
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‘I don’t envy that at all. It’s fabulous to have a team like that, but I don’t envy the off-the-field things that you get.”