Manchester United dumps plan to sign David Villa

Published>Fri, Apr 09 10 04:10 PM

London, Apr 9(ANI): Manchester United has reportedly rejected the option to sign Valencia striker David Villa, as they cannot afford the 40 million pound asking price.

Villa is set to leave cash-strapped Valencia this summer, with United believed to be his preferred destination.

However, under financial restrictions imposed upon United by the Glazer family, a signing seems improbable.

Manchester City and Chelsea will now step up the hunt for Villa in the summer, The Mirror reports.

The 28-year-old has also been linked with top clubs, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Argentina either World Cup winners or first home - Ardiles

Published>Fri, Apr 09 10 03:10 PM

Argentina are as likely to win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as they are to be knocked out in the group stage, 1978 World Cup winner Ossie Ardiles has said.

With the emotional Diego Maradona at the helm, Argentina's qualifying campaign was a rollercoaster ride, with victory in the final two games sealing a place at the finals as South America's fourth best team.

Despite making heavy weather of getting to South Africa, talk since then has inevitably turned to their chances of winning the tournament for the first time since the diminutive Maradona lifted the trophy in 1986.

"I guess that a bit like Diego himself, there's no middle ground," a sweating Ardiles told Reuters after a coaching clinic on Singapore's Padang field.

"I can just as easily see Argentina winning it or I can see us going home after 10 days."

Argentina have been drawn in Group B for the June 11-July 11 World Cup in South Africa alongside Nigeria, South Korea and Greece.

"We have the calibre and quality of players to win it but our qualifying campaign showed that having a cast of world-class players doesn't automatically convert into a unbeatable team."

Argentina were humbled 6-1 by Bolivia and 3-1 at home to rivals Brazil in qualifying before scraping through to South Africa with a 1-0 win over Uruguay in their final match.

Ardiles, a good friend and former team mate of Maradona, believes that the current coach is beginning to put his mark on the team and has learned from the mistakes made in qualifying, where the coach chopped and changed his team regularly.

"I think, and perhaps even he will admit it, Diego picked some odd players in qualifying," explained the former Tottenham player.

"Anyway, I think he now knows his best team and the performance against Germany (Argentina won 1-0 last month) showed that Diego understands what is required of him as a coach. It was an impressive performance."

BRAZIL AND SPAIN

Ardiles, however, doesn't subscribe to the view that the inspirational Lionel Messi is the key to Argentina success in South Africa.

"Of course, everyone is expecting Messi to be the player of the tournament but great players do not win World Cups on their own. Even in 1986, Diego didn't win the World Cup all on his own."

If Argentina do progress to the latter stages, Ardiles expects Spain and Brazil to be the main threat.

"Any team which can leave Cesc Fabregas on the bench, has to be feared," was his verdict on Vicente Del Bosque's men. As for Brazil? "It's hard to single anyone out in that team because they are all so good."

England, however, where Ardiles made his name as player, are not the threat they were, said the 57-year-old.

"A few months ago, they were very settled and had great confidence but they have some injury problems and some weaknesses.

"If (Wayne) Rooney gets injured, I don't think they have someone else like him. And they are weak in goal as well. I don't think Rio Ferdinand is fit either.

"But I don't see any issue with the scandal between John Terry and Wayne Bridge," Ardiles said after newspaper revelations that the former England captain had an extra-marital affair with the ex-partner of his team mate.

"Believe me, I was a room mate of Maradona's so I know all about scandal and problems."

Source: Web Search

Financial help for former volleyball player Sally

Published>Fri, Apr 09 10 02:50 PM

New Delhi, April 9 (IANS) The sports ministry Friday said a financial assistance of Rs.250,000 has been sanctioned for former international volleyball player Sally George Joseph.

Sports minister M.S. Gill sanctioned the ex-gratia assistance, from the National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons, to Arjuna awardee Sally, who is living in indigent conditions.

Sally had played volleyball at national and international levels from 1980 to 1986.

'Taking into consideration her financial position, the Sports Minister has sanctioned ex-gratia payment to Sally,' a statement from the sports ministry said.

Source: Web Search

Tiger Woods' relationship with wife 'getting worse'

Published>Fri, Apr 09 10 02:10 PM

Washington, April 9 (ANI): Professional golfer Tiger Woods is said to be making his golf comeback at the expense of his marriage.

Woods, 34, had made headline with his return to the Masters, but his wife Elin is said to be getting furious day by day with his decision to put his game before their relationship.

"There's a reason why Elin didn't go to the tournament and it's simple," RadarOnline.com quoted a source as saying.

"She thinks he's breaking his promise to her by returning to golf so soon. And as every day goes by she gets a little angrier," the source said.

The source also revealed that the couple fought about his golf return a few weeks ago when Woods first told Elin.

"And since then she has been ice cold to him. Not only did she refuse his request to go to the tournament but she also has moved away from him emotionally," the source revealed.

The two had been trying to repair their marriage after his secret cheating life was revealed, and they were also at one point about a month ago seen hugging outdoors with Woods giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"That was when things peaked," the source, who sees them on a regular basis, said.

"They are not living in the same house and Elin has grown very cold.

"In fact now when she drops the kids off to his house, sometimes she has a nanny take them inside. Other times she will ring the bell and when Tiger answers, give him the children but not go inside.

"It's a very cold, cold message. Tiger is extremely upset about it and wants Elin to move back home. She rented a house about a mile away and is also refusing to wear her wedding rings.

"Elin thinks if Tiger rushed his golf comeback then all he was interested in was getting back to where he was and she doesn't want to go back to where they were.

"There were so many other women, so many years of betrayal, of Tiger living a lie. Elin has to learn to trust him again and that is not happening.

"In fact, his return to golf has made her trust him less," the source revealed.

Elin, who is normally an extremely upbeat person, has been more uptight and in bad moods the past several weeks.

"There's no question it's all directed toward Tiger. She barely goes near him most days. He's going to have to do something drastic to improve things," the source added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Dour Denver defence drains Kobe-less Lakers

Published Fri, Apr 09 10 01:50 PM

A stifling defensive effort and 31 points from Carmelo Anthony lifted the Denver Nuggets to a 98-96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

The Nuggets overcame a seven-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter by forcing three critical turnovers in the final minutes and blocking Derek Fisher's three-point attempt as time expired.

"That felt just as good as hitting the game-winner," Anthony said of his game-ending block.

"Tonight it was meant for me to be out there and play defence on that last play. I made the block and saved us tonight."

Denver (52-27) won its fourth straight game to move into second place in the crowded Western conference playoff race, half a game in front of Dallas and Phoenix.

NBA champions Los Angeles (55-23) played without the resting Kobe Bryant, leaving Pau Gasol to take the lead with 26 points and 13 rebounds.

Tuning up to defend their title in the playoffs, the Lakers have appeared out of sync in losing four of their last five games.

They trailed by 10 to the Nuggets at halftime and by 14 in the third before a big 20-4 run turned the game around.

The Lakers' own 87-80 lead slipped away in the fourth, though, when three-pointers and three straight free throws gave Denver a 97-94 advantage with 44 seconds to go.

J.R. Smith bolstered the Nuggets with 26 points off the bench, bouncing back from a 4-for-13 shooting performance the previous night.

Ron Artest chipped in 22 for the Lakers, who were already without centre Andrew Bynum, who is out with a foot injury.

Coach Phil Jackson said that Bryant was given the option to rest and made a late decision to sit the game out after he had struggled in his previous two outings.

"I don't anticipate (him playing on Friday at Minnesota) but I'll let him make that decision," Jackson said. "He knows exactly what he needs to do to get himself ready."

Source: Web Search

Liverpool players must push for Champions League return: Rafa

Published>Fri, Apr 09 10 01:40 PM

London, Apr.9 (ANI): Coach Rafa Benitez has said that Liverpool's players must push for a Champions League return after entering the semi-finals of the Europa League.

Fernando Torres scored twice after the interval to add to the first-half strikes from Dirk Kuyt and Lucas as Benfica wilted.

Benitez said: "It was a very good performance. Now we must look to win every game for the rest of the season. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Messi the greatest? Not just yet, says Ardiles

Published>Fri, Apr 09 10 01:10 PM

To crown Lionel Messi the greatest player of all time would be a little premature, says 1978 World Cup winner Ossie Ardiles, but the coronation is not far off.

In the week the 22-year-old's four-goal haul against Arsenal in the Champions League had everyone from team mates, opponents and media searching for new superlatives, it was left to his fellow Argentine to put Messi's achievements into perspective.

"Messi's so good that comparisons with other players currently playing football are simply not valid," a sweating Ardiles told Reuters after a coaching clinic on Singapore's historic Padang.

"So in that sense, it is right that people are comparing him with the greats of the past, like (Diego) Maradona, Pele and (Johan) Cruyff.

"He's still only 22 and you have to maintain this level for many years to earn the right to be considered better than these giants."

Of these three, Ardiles believes the most apt comparison, at least in terms of technical ability, should be made between Messi another diminutive Argentine, Maradona.

"There are a lot of similarities between them," the 57-year-old Ardiles smiled.

"Both are small, left-footed and have a low centre of gravity. I think Messi is probably a touch quicker but I think Diego was a touch more skilful."

MARADONA "INSPIRATION"

For Ardiles, a one-time room mate of Maradona, the comparisons end there -- at least in terms of playing style.

"The big difference is their temperament," continued the man who won the FA Cup with Tottenham Hotspur in 1981 and was wearing the club's kit on Friday.

"Everything with Diego was a fight and he had so many problems off the pitch. Despite this, he was still able to cross the line and put these problems to one side and be the leader, the inspiration for his team mates and his country.

"Messi, on the other hand, is much more focused on his game and a much calmer man, obviously. He is very settled and is well protected by his family.

"You'll never see him in a nightclub, so in many ways, he is the perfect boy."

There was no suggestion from Ardiles that Messi might have achieved too much too soon, despite already having three La Liga titles to his name as well as the Ballon D'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year.

The former Yokohama Marinos coach Ardiles does believe, however, that disappointment and heartbreak can act as the spur to drive a player on to great things.

"Diego missed out on the 1978 World Cup in Argentina after being picked in the 25-man squad," recalled Ardiles.

"The coach had to let three players go and he was one of them. I was his friend and I know how hard that hit him. It hurt him, it really did. But I think it also made him fight harder in future.

"I don't think Messi will become complacent because he has a good family and support, but it will be interesting to see because he has achieved a lot already.

"It's an awesome thought to imagine what he could achieve in the future."

Source: Web Search