The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Posted: 30 Dec 2011 06:41 AM PST  Carlo Ancelotti in his time at Chelsea. —Reuters pic Sporting director Leonardo made the announcement at a news conference. The club had earlier issued a statement saying Kombouare was leaving but gave no explanation. Kombouare's position had come under intense scrutiny after the club's ambitious new Qatari owners bankrolled a close-season spending spree of around €85 million (RM348.2 million). A bigger name such as Ancelotti fits with their aim of turning PSG into one of Europe's top clubs, and their pursuit of former England captain David Beckham, who reports say could sign soon, is another example. Italian Ancelotti, who twice won the Champions League as coach of AC Milan, left Chelsea at the end of last term despite guiding the London club to a domestic league and cup double the previous season. Ancelotti had previously said he would like to stay in England. Under Kombouare, PSG spent almost half their outlay on Argentina international Javier Pastore from Palermo, whose sparkling early-season form tailed off as the club, who had made a strong start, began to stutter at home and in Europe. They suffered an embarrassing 3-0 league defeat by arch-rivals Olympique Marseille in November and were knocked out in the group stages of the Europa League, winning only three of their six matches. However, they recovered in Ligue 1 to be top after 19 games but that was not enough to stop the owners and sporting director Leonardo, who worked with Ancelotti at Milan, from wielding the axe on the unheralded former Valenciennes boss. — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| United to keep Berbatov as Ferguson praises Spurs Posted: 30 Dec 2011 06:13 AM PST MANCHESTER, Dec 30 — Manchester United will be exercising their option to extend club record signing Dimitar Berbatov's contract by a further season, manager Alex Ferguson said today.  Dimitar Berbatov: More affinity with Sir Alex than chewing gum. —Reuters pic "We'll be exercising it (the option to renew)," Ferguson said. "I think it kicks in in March." Speaking to reporters before United's Premier League match with Blackburn Rovers tomorrow when he celebrates his 70th birthday, Ferguson dismissed reports that defender Chris Smalling was suffering from glandular fever and could be out for three months. "He has tonsillitis," Ferguson said, adding that Smalling should return to action next week. Berbatov, 30, the joint top scorer in the Premier League last season, has struggled to find a place in the United starting line-up with just two league starts this season, but he has netted four times in his past two appearances, including a hat-trick in United's 5-0 win over Wigan Athletic on Monday. United will top the table if they beat bottom-placed Blackburn at Old Trafford as they did last season when Berbatov scored five times in a 7-1 win. While Manchester City appear to pose the most serious threat to United retaining their title, Ferguson acknowledged the challenge of third-placed Tottenham. "They are playing the best football in the country. They could win it on this form," he said. With the season reaching its halfway mark this weekend, leaders City and United both have 45 points, seven ahead of Spurs who have a match in hand. Chelsea are fourth on 34, followed by Arsenal on 33. — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Sports To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan