Mourinho plans Premiership return

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has admitted that he wants to return to the Premier League one day.

The 45-year-old won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the Carling Cup twice during his three year spell as Chelsea boss.

He told Sky Sports News: “I never hide. I am in love with the English game. I have to go back one day, for sure. I just love it.

“One of my ambitions is to win the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga. The three big championships in Europe.

“One day I will go back to England because I love it and one day I will go to Spain to win La Liga. But at the same time, I am really, really happy with Inter.

“I want to make Inter a better club. I am very, very happy with the way things have gone so far. It has been a new start to me.

“My team is almost like I used to call my Chelsea team in 2004/2005, a ‘victory machine’. You always have a feeling you will win because the team is so strong.”

[Source: Sky Sports News]

Schalke fight fire with Fährmann

It will probably be the most spectacular debut in the Bundesliga this season. With a crowd of more than 80,000 expected for arguably the most famous derby in Germany, 19-year-old goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann will make his first appearance for FC Schalke 04 on Saturday at BV Borussia Dortmund's Westfalenstadion. Fans in Gelsenkirchen may be nervous, but not Fährmann. "This is great," he said. "I'm ready."
No choice
Top of the league after three games, Schalke have been hit by a series of goalkeeping blows. With first-choice Manuel Neuer just returning to training after a broken metatarsal, deputy Mathias Schober tore a muscle in his right calf earlier this week. Coach Fred Rutten has no option but to give Fährmann his baptism of fire. "On the one hand this is not good," Fährmann said, "because I don't want my team-mates to be injured. On the other hand it's something special to play in a derby like this. I have the chance to show what I'm capable of against Dortmund."
'Strong personality'
Fährmann has spent the international break with Germany's Under-21s, though he failed to feature in either of their UEFA European U21 Championship qualifiers – against Northern Ireland and Israel – hardly ideal preparation for the 132nd Ruhr derby. Nonetheless, the teenager believes he can handle the pressure. "I know this is a very special and important match for our supporters, and I know how excited they are," he said. "Everybody wants to win against Dortmund. I think I'm cool enough. I left home in Chemnitz when I was 14 to play football for Schalke. I have a strong and stable personality."
'Cool customer'
Rutten may have been forced to blood Fährmann, but the 45-year-old Dutchman – who arrived in the summer from FC Twente – is putting on a brave face. "I'm not nervous because he is playing," he said. "He is a cool customer." Dortmund have won only one of their last nine home matches against Schalke, and their task could be made harder by the presence of forward Jefferson Farfán, poised for a Bundesliga debut for the visitors following his move from PSV Eindhoven. Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp knows how much is at stake, even this early in the campaign: "It's a very special match, so I don't see why I should pretend it's not."

Figo Inspires Me, Inter For The CL - Quaresma

Quaresma arrived at San Siro on the final day of the transfer window and he was brought in by Jose Mourinho to be Luis Figo’s successor when he decides to hang up his boots.
The former Porto man is delighted to have the opportunity of playing alongside his childhood hero and he believes that Inter can win both the Champions League and Scudetto this season.
"There was one player who I always used to try and copy when I was young and his name is Luis Figo," Quaresma told La Gazzetta Dello Sport.
"He is so impressive and I always used to tell myself that I wanted to be just like him one day. It has gone even better for me as now I am playing alongside him.
"Inter has some great players and we are trying to aim for the Champions League and Scudetto. I am thinking about where Inter can go rather than what I can achieve."
Quaresma is likely to make his Serie A debut for the Nerazzurri this weekend when Jose Mourinho’s men welcome Walter Zenga and his Catania side to San Siro.
The ‘Special One’ is looking for maximum points following the 1-1 draw with Sampdoria in week one but Catania will be no easy feat.
Salvatore Landolina

Spalletti: Good Luck Chelsea! Scolari: Arrivederci Roma!

The Giallorossi clash with the Blues on match day three of Europe’s elite club competition next month.

Spalletti has hailed ‘Big Phil’ and the Chelsea man repaid the compliments as both managers shared their excitement ahead of the big date. In true Scolari fashion they began by joking around before moving to the big talk.

“Good luck Chelsea,” said Spalletti, which then brought a reaction from Scolari who replied, “Arrivederci Roma.”

Both coaches then began speaking about Group A’s most anticipated fixture as they begin cranking up the tension.

“Scolari is a great man,” said Spalletti.

“It was so nice to be involved in the manager’s forum with all the other coaches and it has made me appreciate the human qualities of top tacticians like Scolari.

“He has won everything and when you speak to him about football you always learn something new.

“Chelsea are a great team and we have to work hard from now until October 22nd in order to go there and face them.

“Scolari’s team can be intimidating but we will go there with courage and the will to do well.”

It was then the Chelsea boss who spoke of Roma and he admits that he admires the Giallorossi and their coach.

“Roma are a team to be feared and Spalletti is an excellent coach,” said Scolari.

“I know Spalletti well and we are good friends. I like talking with him because he has humility amongst many other qualities.

“I have seen Roma play and you can tell the coach has interesting ideas and I believe they will go far.”

The Giallorossi have a poor record against English teams in the Champions League but they will be hoping their luck changes on October 22nd when they travel to Stamford Bridge in search of three points.

Champions League draw

Manchester United will face Celtic in a Battle of Britain in the UEFA Champions League and Fernando Torres can look forward to a return to Atletico Madrid with Liverpool following the draw in Monaco.

Last season's losing finalists Chelsea have been pitted against Italian side Roma, Bordeaux and Romanian champions CFR Cluj.
Fernando Torres will come up against his old side Atletico Madrid after Liverpool were paired with the Spanish side, Marseille and PSV Eindhoven in Group D.
Arsenal will be confident of progressing after being drawn against FC Porto, Fenerbahce and Dynamo Kiev in Group G.
United and Celtic locked horns in the group stages two years ago, with both sides claiming one win apiece in the two meetings, and it will be Gordon Strachan who pits his wits against former boss Sir Alex Ferguson again.
Bruce Rioch's Aalborg and Spanish side Villarreal make up the rest of Group E.
Elsewhere, Group H looks the toughest one to call with nine-times winners Real Madrid, returning Italians Juventus, Uefa Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg and Belarus champions Bate Borisov making up the group.
Barcelona have been handed a favourable draw in Group C, as they face Sporting Lisbon, Basel and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Rome's Stadio Olimpico will stage the final on 27th May 2009.
The first set of matches are due to be played on 16/17 September.
Group A
Chelsea
Roma
Bordeaux
CFR Cluj
Group B
Inter Milan
Werder Bremen
Panathinaikos
Anorthosis Famagusta
Group C
Barcelona
Sporting Lisbon
Basel
Shakhtar Donetsk
Group D
Liverpool
PSV Eindhoven
Marseille
Atletico Madrid
Group E
Manchester United
Villarreal
Celtic
Aalborg
Group F
Lyon
Bayern Munich
Steaua Bucharest
Fiorentina
Group G
Arsenal
FC Porto
Fenerbahce
Dynamo Kiev
Group H
Real Madrid
Juventus
Zenit St Petersburg
Bate Borisov

Ronaldo recognised as Europe's finest

Cristiano Ronaldo, the pivotal figure in Manchester United FC's march to UEFA Champions League glory last season, had more to celebrate today after collecting the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year prize at the awards ceremony in Monaco. The Portuguese international forward was also selected as the Best Forward while there was some consolation for Chelsea FC, the side United overcame in Moscow in May, as Petr Čech, John Terry and Frank Lampard were nominated as Best Goalkeeper, Defender and Midfielder respectively.

Sensational season
Ronaldo scored United's goal at the Luzhniki Stadium – his 42nd in all competitions in a prolific club campaign – and although he subsequently missed in the penalty shoot-out, United bounced back to become champions of Europe for the third time. It completed a sensational season for Ronaldo, who finished as the UEFA Champions League's eight-goal top scorer and also claimed the ESM Golden Shoe having struck 31 Premier League goals as United retained their title. The 23-year-old succeeds AC Milan's Kaká as the Club Footballer of the Year and is the second Portuguese international to land the prize after Deco in 2004. As he reflected upon the stars who had previously received the accolade, Ronaldo said: "It's a pleasure to be part of this magnificent group of players. To win this award is great for me and I feel very proud. The Champions League is a great level and to be one of the best players in it is great."

Forward accolade
Ronaldo also becomes the second United player to take home the overall award after David Beckham in 1999, while Ruud van Nistelrooy was voted Best Forward while at Old Trafford in 2003. Asked what was the secret of his success, Ronaldo replied: "Work. I think Manchester had a great season and I scored many goals. I feel very proud to be the best forward as I played as a winger – it is very good for me and gives me more ambition to become better. Thanks to all my team-mates and those that voted for me."

Chelsea cheer
Čech, meanwhile, beat off competition from United's Edwin van der Sar, Manuel Almunia, Manuel Neuer and Pepe Reina to lift the Best Goalkeeper gong for the second successive year and for the third time in total, having also been honoured in 2005. He was presented with his trophy by Peter Schmeichel, the winner of the inaugural prize in 1998. His abiding memory of the season was perhaps his role in the UEFA Champions League final penalty shoot-out. He said: "Of course it was difficult because it was only up to me and the five players who would shoot. But I tried to remember what I had seen from the videos I'd watched and what I'd talked about with other goalkeepers. This is what was going through my mind."

Terry honoured
Terry, who was handed his award by Franco Baresi, had been voted Best Defender in 2005, but was no less delighted about his latest silverware. "For me personally it's an amazing achievement," he said, adding: "To be a great defender you need a lot of attributes – to be quick, strong, good in the air and you also need plenty of great team-mates around you and I'm very lucky to have that." One of those colleagues, Lampard, became the first Chelsea player – and only the second English-based footballer after Beckham nine years ago – to take the midfield plaudits, given out by Sir Bobby Charlton. He said: "It feels very good. When you see the players that you're up against, there are some world-class players there. I've been up for the award for three years now so it's nice to finally win it."

Chelsea warned of Roma threat

Uefa's president, Michel Platini, has warned Roma that the Champions League final may be taken away from their stadium if there is any serious violence when they host Chelsea in their group match.

Roma's games against Manchester United in the past two seasons were marred by serious crowd problems and by knife attacks outside the Stadio Olimpico and Platini said Uefa would not accept further problems when Chelsea visit the Italian capital on November 4.

"We can't tolerate this level of violence," he said. "If we have any more violence we could withdraw the Champions League final from Rome. It's not an ultimatum, just a message that we are keeping an eye on it."

The draw in Monaco placed Chelsea, last season's beaten finalists, in a group that also includes Bordeaux and the Romanian champions CFR 1907 Cluj. The most intriguing draw, however, will see United play Celtic for the second time in three seasons. The holders will also meet the Danish champions Aalborg and the Spanish side Villarreal, against whom Wayne Rooney was sent off three years ago.

After a ceremony that saw Cristiano Ronaldo win Uefa's striker and overall player of the year awards and three Chelsea players - Petr Cech, John Terry and Frank Lampard - pick up the individual honours for goalkeeping, defending and midfield play respectively, Fernando Torres can look forward to an emotive return to his former club after Liverpool were pitted against Atlético Madrid. Liverpool will also face PSV Eindhoven and Marseille.

"It's not an easy draw for us and the overwhelming feeling after Wednesday's game [against Standard Liège] is that we are just happy to be involved," said Liverpool's...#65279; chief executive, Rick Parry. "The tie against Atlético Madrid is the one that stands out and will inevitably generate a lot of interest. It will mean a lot to all the Spanish players but especially Torres."

Of the Premier League sides, Arsenal will believe they face the most testing challenge, taking on FC Porto, Fenerbahce and Dynamo Kiev. But all four clubs will be grateful to have missed out on facing Bayern Munich and Juventus, both of whom were among the second seeds, and United will regard their opening group as a relatively moderate assignment.

"The pleasing aspect is that there will not be an awful lot of travel involved," said United's chief executive, David Gill, looking ahead to a tournament that begins on September 16-17. "Given that our next two league games are away at Liverpool and Chelsea, we're particularly pleased that the game that falls between those two is at home [against Villarreal]."

The Uefa Cup draw will be made here today and Gill intends to speak to Tottenham Hotspur's delegation to see if he can reach a compromise over United's pursuit of Dimitar Berbatov. The delays surrounding the proposed deal are clearly beginning to frustrate Sir Alex Ferguson. "In last week's press conference I said I was less optimistic, and I'm even less optimistic today," said the United manager. "I've no idea what's going on. It's very hard to get communication with some people."

Source: Guardian

Ribeiro To Miss 12 Months Of Action

Promising defender Christian Ribeiro made his first team debut for Bristol City in Tuesday evening’s Carling Cup First Round game against League One side Peterborough. However, it was an unfortunate start to the youngster’s career as he suffered a terrible injury in the 26th minute.

It did not look good when the player went to ground and the news that damage has been done to his anterior cruciate ligament will be a big blow for the young starlet. Now he faces up to, and possibly longer than, 12 months on the sidelines.

The Welshman, who normally operates at full back, is only 18. It is hoped, then, that he can make a full recovery and go on to enjoy a successful career. He has already attracted the attention of Premier League giants Everton.

Despite the injury to Ribeiro, City went on to win the game against Peterborough 2-1. They now face Crewe Alexandra in the Carling Cup Second Round, news that will alert Robins striker Nicky Maynard.

Maynard signed for City from Crewe this summer for a club record £2.25million. The forward scored 32 goals in 59 appearances for the Railwaymen becoming something of a fans favourite. Now he will return to Gresty Road, where he should receive a good reception from Crewe fans, looking to add to his Bristol City tally.

Del Piero To Partner Trezeguet

The Bianconeri return to Europe’s premier club competition tonight when they host Slovakian champions Artmedia in the third qualifying round first leg at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin.

There has been much talk in the press over who will play up-front for Juve, with Claudio Ranieri spoilt for choice with Del Piero, Trezeguet, Amauri and Vincenzo Iaquinta.

According to the latest reports, The Tinkerman has opted to go for the two most experienced options by pairing Serie A’s two top scorers from last season; Del Piero and Trezeguet. Iaquinta and Amauri will probably have to settle for places on the bench.

Juventus are without a host of players for the match, with Cristiano Zanetti, Marco Marchionni, Claudio Marchisio and Dario Knezevic injured, and Pavel Nedved suspended. Sebastian Giovinco and Paolo De Ceglie are on Olympic duty.

Christian Poulsen will make his official debut in midfield alongside Momo Sissoko, while Cristian Molinaro should return from injury at left back.

Probable Line-Ups:

Juventus (4-4-2): 1 Buffon, 21 Grygera, 4 Mellberg, 3 Chiellini, 28 Molinaro, 16 Camoranesi, 22 Sissoko, 18 Poulsen, 7 Salihamidzic, 10 Del Piero, 17 Trezeguet. Subs: (13 Manninger, 5 Zebina, 33 Legrottaglie, 27 Ekdal, 35 Esposito, 8 Amauri, 9 Iaquinta).

Artmedia (3-4-3): 1 Kamenar, 2 Farkas, 19 Cisowski, 17 Salata, 21 Urbanek, 12 Obzera, 23 Velicky, 25 Kozar, 9 Halenar, 22 Pospech, 13 Piroska. Subs: (30 Hyll, 24 Burak, 28 Szabo, 20 Fodrek, 0 Hasek, 11 Silva, 14 Oravec).

Gianni Wilson

United appreciate South African retreat

Just two months after becoming European champions, Manchester United will arrive in South Africa on Friday for their pre-season tour resembling a club in crisis rather than a team at the peaks of its powers.

The UEFA Champions League penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea on a rain-soaked night in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium in May was a true high-point for United, but the turbulence that has followed continues to reverberate throughout Sir Alex Ferguson's squad.

Cristiano Ronaldo's open desire to leave the Premier League champions for Real Madrid, the departure of Ferguson's trusted assistant, former South Africa coach Carlos Queiroz, and the failure so far to add to last season's squad, ensure that United will launch their tour, against Kaizer Chiefs in Cape Town on Saturday, with real uncertainty surrounding the club.

When they last visited South Africa two years ago, United were racked by similar problems. Ruud van Nistelrooy was on the verge of his transfer to Real Madrid and Ronaldo, once again, was questioning his future after his infamous World Cup bust-up with Wayne Rooney during Portugal's quarter-final clash against England.

Yet Ferguson and his team emerged as champions that season and the South Africa tour was viewed as a turning point, with Patrice Evra proving his worth and Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer re-emerging after two years of injury misery.

Buoyant mood
So while there remain question marks over Ronaldo's future, the prospects of signing Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov, and the identity of Queiroz's successor, United go into their three-game tour in buoyant mood, according to midfielder Michael Carrick.

"The season has come round pretty quickly, but it is the longest I have had off for a number of years. It was nice to have the break, but I have been ready to come back," Carrick said.

"We start from square one and have to do it all over again. It will be a long season once more but we are up for the challenge.

"We won our first pre-season game at Aberdeen last Saturday, but it was all about the fitness and getting the performance that little bit sharper.

"Now we move on to the next game and we will be ready for South Africa. Obviously we are nowhere near our peak but that is what pre-season games are for. We have trained hard, but the games are where you find your edge."

Although Ronaldo will be absent as he recovers from ankle surgery, England star Carrick will be joined by the likes of Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs on the tour as United send a strong squad ahead of the new campaign.

Fit-again captain Gary Neville also travels after 18 months of injury problems and he is likely to figure as United play games in Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria, before flying to Nigeria for a friendly against Premier League rivals Portsmouth in Abuja.

On their return to England, United will stage Old Trafford friendlies against Espanyol and Juventus, but manager Ferguson expects the South Africa tour to prove priceless in terms of readying his players for the season ahead.

Ferguson said: "The games in South Africa aren't easy games. It's a good, competitive level, so that should bring us on a good deal.

"I think by the time we get to the start of the season we'll be really ready."