The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Malaga success no miracle says Pellegrini Posted: 04 Oct 2012 03:30 AM PDT  Malaga's Joaquin (R) celebrate his goal against Anderlecht with Martin Demichelis during their Champions League Group C soccer match at the Constant Vanden Stock stadium in Anderlecht, October 3, 2012. — Reuters pic The Qatar-owned team knocked three goals past Anderlecht without reply in their Group C clash in Brussels yesterday, including a pair of stunners from midfielder Eliseu. Malaga also thumped Zenit St Petersburg by the same score at their Rosaleda stadium two weeks ago and top the group on six points, two ahead of seven-times European champions AC Milan, who visit Malaga on October 24. "Six points from six is significant but it's not definitive because as quickly as you accumulate points in a group you can drop them too," Pellegrini said on UEFA.com. "We maintained a good approach tonight. We were at quite a high level as a team, playing collectively as opposed to individually," added the Chilean, a former Real Madrid and Villarreal coach. "This is not a miracle. It's based on hard work, compromise and is helped by the unity of our supporters." Malaga had an uncertain summer, marked by delays in wage payments, the departure of some of their best players and rumours owner Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nassar Al Thani was preparing to sell up after only two years. They now appear to have put the crisis behind them after Al Thani reaffired his commitment to the club, helping to kick off a process of restructuring designed to help them become economically viable. Their performances on the pitch have been impressive and they are third in La Liga behind leaders Barcelona and second-placed Atletico Madrid thanks to four wins and two draws in their six matches. Anderlecht coach John van den Brom certainly believes they are capable of great things. "Welcome to the footballing elite," he said at his post-match news conference yesterday. "We can conclude from tonight that we are still far, far away from joining it. The respect I already had for Malaga has only increased after that. "You have to be really at the top of your game to do something against such a fantastic side and Malaga were top. We certainly were not." — Reuters |
| Gervinho bursting out of Van Persie’s shadow Posted: 04 Oct 2012 03:18 AM PDT  Manchester City's Vincent Kompany (L) challenges Arsenal's Gervinho during their English Premier League soccer match in Manchester, northern England September 23, 2012. — Reuters pic Gervinho, who spent his first season in north London very much in the shadow of the Dutch master, is suddenly re-discovering the form that tempted manager Arsene Wenger to sign him from Lille while in Germany's Lukas Podolski, they boast one of the most natural goal predators in Europe. With the prolific Van Persie banging in 37 goals last season, the "one-man team" jibe was often directed at Arsenal but his departure, unpopular as it was with fans, may have paved the way for a genuine strike partnership to evolve. Gervinho managed just four Premier League goals last season and none in the Champions League and the Ivorian found himself consigned to the bench for long periods after returning from the African Nations Cup early this year. He appeared something of a misfit and few of the club's supporters would ever have thought that he could go anywhere near plugging the gap left by Van Persie. After he scored the opener in Arsenal's unconvincing 3-1 victory over Olympiakos in the Champions League yesterday to continue his early-season form there are signs that the hard-working player, signed more as a wide man, is winning them over. He has now scored five goals in his last five games, three in the Premier League and two in Europe. "He is scoring goals, so his confidence is sky high," assistant manager Steve Bould said of Gervinho, who also set up Podolksi's crucial second goal early in the second half against Olympiakos. "I think his link-up play is gradually improving. He is learning his trade at centre forward. I don't think he has played there an awful lot and he is a danger with his pace and movement at times. He could be a top player." He will have to go some to get anywhere near the levels of another winger transformed into a centre forward by Wenger, one Thierry Henry, but his form and his understanding with Podolski and Spanish playmaker Santi Cazorla mean that Arsenal's goal tally this season will be less reliant on one man. "If he gets anywhere near Thierry Henry we'll take that all day long," Bould added. "He is learning and doing OK. I'm delighted." Podolski's impact is less of a surprise. While lacking the pace and flair of Van Persie, he displaying the same eye for goal that has made him one of the Bundesliga's most reliable marksmen and a fixture in the Germany team since 2004. "He really is deadly and long may that continue," Bould said. Arsenal top Group B of the Champions League with six points and with a double-header against Schalke to come, are in pole position to qualify for the last 16. — Reuters |
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