Soccer News

(GSM) – Hamburger SV defender Joris Mathijsen is determined to beat Fulham and reach the Europa League final after a hectic week. Ricardo Moniz took over from Bruno Labbadia, who was forced to leave the club after a dismal run in the Bundesliga.

Die Rothosen can’t be bothered too much by the sudden change of manager as they look to book a place in the Europa League final which is played at their own HSH Nordbank Arena.

“Last season we were also in the semi-finals, but this season we have the added motivation of the final being at our own stadium so we’re going to give it our absolute all,” said Mathijsen to UEFA’s official website.

“Monday was not good due to the change of coach, but yesterday we trained well and life goes on. How many times in your career do you play in a European semi-final? We will do everything we can to win.

“Fulham played very defensively last week but they travelled for a long time and that’s perhaps a reason.

“They’re at home this time, so they have to come out and do more, but it [defending] might still be their tactic because they have a great defence. The pitch is not that big and, of course, that’s an advantage for Fulham.

Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal admitted Thursday he is relieved his team will be facing Italy’s Inter Milan, rather than Barcelona, in the Champions League final on May 22 in Madrid.

After Bayern saw off Lyon 3-0 in Wednesday’s second leg, to claim a 4-0 win on aggregate, Jose Mourinho-coached Inter lost their second-leg tie 1-0 at Barcelona to book their place in the final 3-2 on aggregate.

“Against Inter, our chances are much better than they would be against Barca,” said van Gaal, who is chasing the treble of Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League titles in only his first season in charge.

“Inter do not play as offensively as Barcelona.”

The Champions League final will pit tough disciplinarian van Gaal against Inter’s flamboyant coach Mourinho and the pair worked together when the Dutchman coached Spanish giants Barcelona.

Mourinho was van Gaal’s translator and statistician at Barcelona before the self-styled “The Special One” went on to enjoy success at Premier League side Chelsea.

“He is a friend and an extraordinary coach,” said van Gaal.

Bayern will be contesting their first Champions League final since they beat Valencia on penalties in 2001 while Inter were last in the European Cup final in 1972 when they were beaten 2-0 by Ajax in Rotterdam.

(GSM) – Bolton manager Owen Coyle will not block Gary Cahill from moving away if a big club comes in with a lucrative bid for the defender. Cahill has been linked with a summer switch to several top clubs in England.

Cahill has won the admiration of Manchester United and the 24-year-old’s high-quality performances this season have seen his reputation grow and become an option for Fabio Capello’s England squad for the World Cup.

And Coyle says he will not stand in the way of Cahill’s ambition.

“I have always said, regardless of what club I am at, that if there comes a time when any player outgrows the football club, I won’t be the person to stand in their way,” Coyle said.

“I said it to my Burnley lads when I was there – if there is something better for them out there, then they would go and blossom. That will be the same with Gary Cahill.

“I have got everything crossed that Gary gets to the World Cup because if he does he will be terrific, if he is allowed the opportunity.

“And if that means that he is elevated to a position where they are all going to clamour for him, then good luck for Gary Cahill.”

Meanwhile Coyle stated his belief that Cahill is better than Tottenham defender and England squad rival Michael Dawson, describing his defender as the “full package”

“For me, Gary Cahill is the full package – and he is only 24, and getting better.”

(GSM) – Borussia Dortmund have issued a hands-off warning to Manchester United after reported interest in signing Dortmund’s Neven Subotic from the Red Devils. Reports in Germany claim that there is a long list of clubs tracking the Serbian. Devils have joined the long list of clubs tracking the Serbia international.

Subotic is seen as having the potential to be among the best in the world and it is widely believed that he will be looking to move to a big club soon. However, Dortmund are not planning to let go of their prized asset according club executive director Hans-Joachim Watzke.

“Selling Neven Subotic is a non-issue,” Joachim Watzke told Bild.

“If Manchester United is wanting to have him, they would need to sign over a property of two oil-fields to us.

“Or at least two big trucks full of packaged pound notes.

“We have no intention to sell the player, he is under contract.”

Meanwhile Subotic insists he is not looking to move away as he is happy at the club.

“It is no secret I am enjoying being a player of Borussia Dortmund,” said Subotic.

“I feel bloody good being a part of the squad and have the big ambition to be successful with the club in Europe, too.

“Therefore I am actually not thinking about a transfer away from Borussia Dortmund.”

(GSM) – VfL Bochum have sacked Heiko Herrlich, following a string of negative results.

That run, which included seven defeats, has dropped the club to third from bottom of the Bundesliga table, just one point ahead of Hannover.

A statement posted today on Bochum’s official website read: “Because of their sporting slide Bochum have split with coach Heiko Herrlich with immediate effect.”

Herrlich was only in the job for six months, having taken over from Marcel Koller in October.

Assistant coach Dariusz Wosz will take charge of the team for the final two games of the season.

(GSM) – Milan patron Silvio Berlusconi has confirmed that Leonardo will leave the club at the end of the season.

“Yes he will leave, we are working on a new coach,” Berlusconi told Il Corriere dello Sport.

The rookie tactician has privately expressed his desire to return to home to Brazil where his family still lives.

(GSM) – Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is not bothered after Manchester City were allowed to sign Marton Fulop outside a normal transfer window.

Shay Given suffered a serious shoulder injury and the Premier League gave City a special dispensation to bring in Fulop from Sunderland.

Redknapp, in his column in The Sun, said, “Whether Fulop should have been allowed to sign on loan from Sunderland doesn’t really bother me.

“Because in my view City have lost Shay Given for the run-in and he is irreplaceable.

“Shay is different class and his injury is a huge blow – where do you find someone of similar quality to fill his place at such short notice?

“I would have been far more upset had City been allowed to recall Joe Hart from his loan at Birmingham. As an England keeper you don’t want to be facing him.

“To me it’s no big deal Marton is going to Eastlands. If we win two more games then Aston Villa and Liverpool cannot finish above us and take fourth space. That still leaves the threat from City.

“But to be fair, who would have tipped us to be above Liverpool at this stage of the season?”

(GSM) – Cristiano Ronaldo is satisfied with his performances in his first year at Real Madrid and is confident they can still win a prize in his debut year.

The Portuguese superstar believes he has lived up to the expectations, that were very high after he joined Real from Manchester United for world record-breaking transfer fee of £80m.

Ronaldo has reflected with pride on his own personal performances over the course of the campaign, despite spending a period on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

“I am very happy with my season at Real Madrid,” he told the Portuguese press.

“If I had not suffered the injury with a two-month gap this could have been my best year as a professional.

“In a league like Spain it is not easy to start with 20 goals and seven assists.

“After the injury against Marseille I missed 12 matches but with confidence and hard work I have returned to a good level.”

Ronaldo is confident Real will finish above Barcelona if they can win all their remaining games.

“Real Madrid have still not achieved the title but we are in there fighting with Barcelona, and in football it is not always possible to win trophies,” he said.

“I am very motivated for the last four Liga matches.

“I am convinced that Barcelona will fail in this series and we will win all the matches to become champions.”

Sunderland look to maintain a push towards the top ten of the Premier League, whilst nothing but a win will do for Manchester United in their pursuit of Chelsea, and the premier League title.

Sunderland have finally regained their form during the past six weeks or so, and their run of good form has seen them surge up the table into tenth place, albeit with the following couple of clubs having a game in hand on the Black Cats. Steve Bruce will be looking for a really strong finish to the season in order to secure the necessary funding from owner Ellis Short to push the club up and along to the next level.  Sunderland still have selection problems, particularly in defence with Hutton ruled out with suspension, McCartney injured and Mensah and Turner both doubtful. Darren Bent will be looking to add to his season’s total of goals, with the Premier League golden boot a not unrealistic possibility if he can score two or more goals in their remaining two games.

Alex Ferguson will be delighted with the way the end of season is shaping up, given that his side’s chances of finishing first were all but ruled out two weeks ago. After slip ups by Chelsea, United are now just one point behind the leaders and they will know that if Chelsea fail to pick up three points against Liverpool, United will become favourites for the title. Injuries are few and far between for Ferguson but their main problem is the absence of their main goal threat, Wayne Rooney. United will have to find goals from elsewhere if they are to finish this season top of the pile.

This is a tough game to call but I think the overall quality in the squad of United will mean a Manchester United away victory

Verdict: Manchester United away win

Odds:2/5

Bookmaker: Sporting Bet

Uruguayan striker Abel Hernandez insists he does not have any plans to leave Serie A side Palermo this summer.

The Daily Mail reported earlier this week that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is considering making a move for the talented 19-year-old.

“I will stay here,” Hernandez told the Corriere dello Sport newspaper.

“There is no point talking about it. I want to remain here and become Edinson Cavani’s heir.”

Hernandez has scored 7 goals in the Serie A for Palermo so far this season.

The striker’s current contract with Palermo expires in June 2013.

[Source: Il Corriere dello Sport]