Grondona says Messi is best No. 10 for Argentina

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP): Argentine Football Association President Julio Grondona says Lionel Messi is the best player to ever wear the No. 10 for the national team, an obvious slap in the face for Diego Maradona.

In a radio interview, Grondona said Messi, Maradona, Juan Roman Riquelme and Juan Sebastian Veron were in a class above the rest although he said "Messi is the best" of the group.

Grondona's comments are a dig at Maradona and part of a feud. Last week Maradona said he was taking Grondona to court, accusing him of spreading false information about his problems with drugs and alcohol.

Maradona says he has been clean for six years and Grondona has suggested otherwise. "Messi is the best No. 10 in the history of Argentine football," Grondona told Radio 10. "Messi, Maradona, Riquelme and Veron are from another planet."

In an interview last week, Maradona accused the 79-year-old Grondona of being senile - calling him "gaga" in Spanish - and suggested he was receiving treatments several times a year at an expensive Swiss clinic.

Grondona responded, suggesting everyone was aware of Maradona problems. Maradona has been unable to find work since being released by Grondona following Argentina ouster five months ago in the quarterfinals of World Cup.

It was Grondona who hired Maradona two years ago as the national team coach.
  

Ljungberg joins Celtic after passing medical

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP): Celtic has signed Freddie Ljungberg after the former Sweden midfielder passed a medical examination.

The 33-year-old Ljungberg has been without a club since leaving the Chicago Fire at the end of the 2010 Major League Soccer season.

Celtic announced the signing on its website Thursday and said Ljungberg "could be in contention" to make his debut in the Old Firm derby against Rangers on Sunday. The club did not disclose details of the contract.

Ljungberg spent nine years at Arsenal before moving to West Ham in 2007. But he left the Hammers just one year into a four-year contract and took a brief break before joining the Seattle Sounders.
  

Malaysia reap fruits of two special virtues to gain some measure of respect

THEY now call him the “Special One”.

Coach K. Rajagopal has raised the bar for Malaysian football from laughing stocks to gaining some measure of respect on the international stage.

The 54-year-old former international, who played alongside the legendary Mokhtar Dahari in the early 80s, is now making a name for himself as one of the most successful coaches in Malaysia.

He has back-to-back victories at the 2009 Laos SEA Games Under-23 tournament and in the just concluded Suzuki Cup Asean Football Federation (AFF) championship for senior national teams.

The man deserves credit for making something out of nothing. He did not have his best men for the job in the AFF tournament with 10 key players not available for selection because of injuries.

The entire back four, comprising Mohd Muslim Ahmad, Mohd Fadhli Shas and Mohd Sabree Abu from the Harimau Muda National Under-21 squad and Selangor’s Mohd Asraruddin Putra stood in for Norhafiz Zamani Misbah, Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak, Mohd Nasriq Baharom and Azmi Muslim.

And goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat was also making his senior international debut in the tournament.

Rajagopal said that he was tired of telling Malaysian fans that these boys needed time to get better.

“Don’t have high hopes, yet. They have a long way to go and need to play top-notch matches regularly,” he said yesterday.

“It’s not easy as what some people think. I go through a lot and have sleepless nights, thinking of game plans and strategies with this young national side, whose players have an average age of 22.”

Rajagopal added that the fans and the people of Malaysia should start believing in the players and the national team.

“We didn’t have that kind of undying support from our fans until we reached a certain stage,” he said. “See how the Indonesian fans kept motivating their players despite having lost (0-3) to us in the first-leg final.

“It was the same in Vietnam (in the semi-final tie).

“They have passion for their national team.

“We deserve the same, too. Would our fans still be behind us if we had lost 0-3 in the first-leg at home?

“The media played their part. They hyped up the game and were there for the team through thick and thin.

“It is this kind of positive support that the players need to be encouraged if they are to go far.

“They should not be made the laughing stock each time they lose a game.

“We lost to Indonesia (1-5) in the opening game because we had a young team, who had not settled down well yet.

“They made individual mistakes and they learnt from them.

“Why criticise them? They have to be given a second chance.

“I have these boys with me for two years. Nobody gave us a chance to be in the final. These boys worked their guts out and they deserve all the credit for that.

“It is not just my training alone that made them champions.

“It is a concerted effort by all quarters concerned to make it happen.”

True gem in our hands

GOALKEEPER Khairul Fahmi Che Mat has stood out in the Kelantan team since taking over from former internationals Halim Napi and Shahrizam Ismail. He went on to dislodge Mohd Farizal Marlias and Mohd Sharbinee Allawee in the national team and starred in the Guangzhou Asiad in November and in the just concluded AFF Suzuki Cup. STARSPORT’s ERIC SAMUEL speaks to the new sensation of Malaysian football.

Q: You were making your international senior debut in the AFF tournament. What did you expect playing against strong teams?

A: Many wrote us off after the opening defeat by Indonesia (1-5) in the group stage. But we knew that we could come back and surprise the others.

It was our persistence and the desire to get something out of this tournament that kept us going. It was great.

Q: How do you sum up your performance, so far?

A: I am satisfied with my performance. It could have been better but I am still in the learning process.

And I could not have done it without the help of my coaches (K. Rajagopal, Tan Cheng Hoe and Faozi Mukhlas). The seniors in the team were also great. There was unity and excellent team-work.

Q: Why did you take up goalkeeping? Who was your mentor?

A: It all started from my primary school days in SK Tapang in Kota Baru. I loved to play as a striker but it was my school coach (Mohd Zuki) who made me play as the goalkeeper. From there, I made it to the national sports school in Bukit Jalil when I was 15 before I was drafted into the Harimau Muda squad.

Q: How did you manage to upstage the more senior goalkeepers, Mohd Farizal and Mohd Sharbinee, to get into the first 11 of the national team?

A: It was a huge dose of luck. Both Mohd Farizal and Sharbinee picked up late injuries before the start of the Asian Games and I got the break to play against Kyrgyzstan (2-1), Japan (0-2), China (0-3) and Iran (1-3). It was a valuable experience.

Q: What can you tell us about your experience in the Suzuki Cup final?

A: The first-leg against Indonesia in Bukit Jalil was a memorable one. I kept a clean slate in front of 100,000 fans at the National Stadium.

Then, there was the penalty save in the second-leg final at the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.

Coach Rajagopal and Faozi tipped me off before the start of the final. They said that Indonesian captain Firman Utina in taking a penalty would hit it to the goalkeeper’s left. I dived in that direction and made the save.

Q: What ambitions do you have with the national team now?

A: We have just conquered South-East Asia. Perhaps, we should look at the 2015 Asian Cup Finals. This is the next big goal for me.

We have never won or had a podium finish in the Asian Cup. This is a top quality tournament and we must be able to stamp our mark before we can dream about going to the Olympics or the World Cup Finals.

Q: How much did the laser beam light problem bother you in the Suzuki Cup?

A: Yes, the laser beam lights were a nuisance but it did not really bother me or affect my performance. The fans were shooting the laser lights but my focus was on the game and not at the stands.

Football fans should not bring such banned items to the stadium. It is not the right thing to do.

Q: You have made great strides for a rookie international goalkeeper. Malaysia had top-notch goalkeepers, among them the late R. Arumugam. Some also plied their trade abroad, among them Wong Kam Fook, Lim Fung Kee and Chow Chee Keong. What are your plans for the future?

A: I am game to play abroad. I want to go as far as possible in my playing career. There is still a long way to go but I am prepared to take up this challenge.

Skipper Safiq has faced hell and come through it

SKIPPER Safiq Rahim is a rookie in the business.

He just got to wear the captain’s armband late this year and he has already experienced hell.

“It was like going war,” said Safiq of his experience in travelling with his team-mates on board a police armoured vehicle (Baraccuda) for the second-leg final of the Asean tournament at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Wednesday night.

“It was some experience for me and the boys. But it was a great feeling to come out of it all tops. It was a great team effort from everyone and we should maintain this family bond for our future aspirations.”

The Selangor midfielder was handed the skipper’s armband at the Guangzhou Asian Games last month in the absence of Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak and Norhafiz Zamani Misbah.

Mohd Aidil did not make the squad for the Asiad after undergoing knee surgery while Norhafiz picked up injury in the opening match against Kyrgyzstan.

Safiq was made captain for the first time in the match against Asian giants Japan, which Malaysia lost 0-2. Then came the nightmare when he was sent off in the match against China for protesting against the referee’s decision.

“It was a terrible thing to happen. We had injury problems and the coach had no depth in reserves in the squad. It was a painful experience but I guess it is all for my benefit,” he said.

Safiq plays a commanding attacking role in the national team. He scored a brilliant goal in Malaysia’s 1-0 win over the South Korean Olympic side (national Under-21) in a friendly match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil in July.

Hotshot Safee set to go abroad

HOTSHOT Mohd Safee Sali has offers to play in the Indonesian League next season.

The 26-year-old Selangor striker said that he was approached by a few clubs during the Asean Football Federation (AFF) championships and he would discuss the matter with the FA of Selangor (FAS).

“They said that they would get in touch with me after the championships,” said Safee before the team’s departure for home from Jakarta yesterday.

“I was told that the competition in Indonesia is competitive and I will give it a go if all goes well.”

The 26-year-old stocky Selangor striker was given a new lease of life in the national team with a call-up from coach K. Rajagopal to replace Mohd Zaquan Adha Abdul Razak, who was not available for the AFF tournament after undergoing ACL on the knee a couple of month ago.

Safee seized on the big opportunity on his return to the international stage after a two-year hiatus. He played a cracking role in Malaysia’s success to win the Suzuki Cup and he also won the Golden Boot award as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals.

“It was totally unexpected. We started with a thrashing by Indonesia at the Bung Karno Stadiun in Jakarta and ended being crowned as champions at the same venue. Everyone is in a happy mood now,” said Safee.

He hopes that the success in the Asean senior international championship will continue to take Malaysian football to greater heights.

“I hope the public out there would stand by the team. I see there is a good future with these young boys, especially from the Harimau Muda (national Under-21) squad,” said Safee.

The team for the AFF tournament comprised mostly Under-23 boys from the 2009 SEA Games gold medal winning squad. The others were Harimau Muda boys with Safee as one of the three seniors in the side together with Mohd Amri Yahyah and Razman Roslan.

Safee fired blanks in the group stage before scoring a brace in the first-leg semi-final that gave Malaysia a 2-0 aggregate win over defending champions.

The top goal scorer for the Red Giants in the Super League this season netted another two goals in Malaysia’s 3-0 win over Indonesia in the first-leg final. He added another in the 1-2 defeat in return match on Wednesday.

Honeymoon time for Norsharul

IT’s honeymoon time for nippy striker Norsharul Idlan Talaha.

The 24-year-old Kelantan striker married his sweetheart Siti Aisya Adam on Christmas Day, the eve of the first-leg final match of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) championship between Malaysia and Indonesia at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

“I packed my bags after the wedding to be with the team. My wife understood because I was on national duty. I am happy we became champions and now it’s honeymoon time,” said Norsharul before leaving Jakarta for home yesterday.

However, Norsharul was quick to point that it would be business as usual after spending time with his wife on a honeymoon, probably outside Malaysia.

“I am still young and have many more years to play for the country. And I want to continue to be part of coach Rajagopal’s history-making team,” said Norsharul, who was named best striker and Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the national football awards last month.

Norsharul has been a regular feature in Rajagopal’s squad since the SEA Games (Under-23 international) in Laos last December. Then, Malaysia won the gold medal for the first time in 20 years in the biennial Games.

On Wedneday, Malaysia were crowned as Asean champions (senior international) for the first time since the tournament’s inception in 1996.

“We want to continue achieving success with the coach. Perhaps, the next target is the Asia Cup Finals in 2015. We will work towards that,” said Norsharul, a player rated “special” by Rajagopal.

Besides the national team, Norsharul also recorded history with his state team, Kelantan, when they won the Malaysia Cup for the first time in 89 years.

“I am looking forward to a honeymoon. After that, I will return for the Charity Shield match against Selangor on Jan 29,” he said.

Norsharul has the ability to take on defenders with his trademark “burst and dash” tactics to beat his marker from the byline to set up strikes for his team-mates.

He played the role with devastating effect on the opponents in the SEA Games and AFF tournament.

Inter's new coach sticking to the same players used by Benitez

MILAN: Newly appointed Inter Milan coach Leonardo said he had no plans to “revolutionise” the team, meaning he will likely use the same players as Rafa Benitez.

However, Inter intend to make some moves in the transfer market, and have reportedly already concluded a deal for Genoa defender Andrea Ranocchia.

Leonardo also said he consulted Jose Mourinho, who won an unprecedented treble for the Italian team last season, after having agreed to replace Benitez at the struggling Serie A club.

Leonardo was introduced by Inter president Massimo Moratti on Wednesday, revealing he called Mourinho to discuss the club that the Portuguese coach led to Serie A, Italian Cup and Champions League titles – the first such treble for an Italian team.

“I’m not Mourinho, though. I’ve only coached one season,” said Leonardo, who led Milan last season and spent much of his playing career at that club.

Mourinho departed for Real Madrid at the end of last season and Inter hired Benitez from Liverpool.

While Benitez led Inter to the Club World Cup title last week, Inter have struggled in Serie A, languishing 13 points behind leaders and city rivals AC Milan in seventh place.

Benitez had a falling out with Moratti, who stood by Leonardo during his presentation.

“Leonardo demanded that I be here today,” Moratti said. “It’s the first time someone has asked me and it’s very pleasing. ... Our relationship was born of reciprocal respect.”

Leonardo returned the praise.

“It didn’t take long for me to accept president Moratti’s proposal,” Leonardo said.

“But I never really thought it would happen. ... Being a coach is a very delicate job and when I stopped coaching Milan I reflected a lot, but the opportunity that was offered me by Inter made me realise that this is what I really wanted to do.”
  

Baptista headed for Malaga

MALAGA: Roma’s Brazilian forward Julo Baptista is on the brink of joining Spanish side Malaga, according to reports in the Spanish and Italian press on Wednesday.

The El Diaro Sur daily claimed that the 29-year-old reached an agreement on a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Andalusian club on Tuesday.

Italian daily Corriere dello Sport reported that Malaga will pay two million euros for Baptista, whose annual salary will fall from €3.2mil to €2.5 mil.

The final decision on the transfer rests with Italian bank Unicredit, who are Roma’s majority shareholders.

Baptista, a member of Brazil’s World Cup squad, made his name in Europe with Sevilla before joining Real Madrid in 2005.

He spent a season on loan at Arsenal in 2006-07 and signed for Roma in 2008, but has failed to hold down a first-team place at the Italian side.

Drenthe threatens to quit Hercules over unpaid wages

MADRID: Dutch midfielder Royston Drenthe, on loan from Real Madrid to Hercules, is reportedly refusing to return to his new team unless he receives months of unpaid wages.

“If they don’t find a solution for my pay I will go back to Real Madrid to train and regain my strength,” Drenthe said in an interview with Spanish sports daily Marca while in Rotterdam.

“Of the six months I have been here they have only paid me for one, and they owe me five. I have a lot of expenses and I cannot work without pay,” said Drenthe, who is on loan for the 2010-2011 season.

“At Hercules they have given me a lot of talk but no action. Until there is action, I am not going back. I love the Hercules fans but this is not right.”

Hercules captain Joaquin Rufete said pay problems at the Alicante-based team were no secret.

“But we have to train because the team comes before anything else,” Rufete told the paper.

Hercules admit that they owe players wages for November and December but say they will be able to pay salaries in mid-January when they receive expected income, according to the Spanish press.

Other Spanish clubs face similar problems with salary payments, apparently feeding tensions between the Spanish Players’ Association and the Professional Football League.

The players’ association is calling for matches scheduled on Jan 2 to be suspended, saying a collective agreement calls for no official games between Dec 23 and Jan 2 inclusive.

Puyol out for 10 days

MADRID: Barcelona captain Carles Puyol will be out for up to ten days after pulling a leg muscle in Tuesday’s friendly international between a Catalan XI and Honduras, which the Catalans won 4-0, his club said on Wednesday.

Puyol “will be out for between seven and 10 days,” a Barca statement read. 

Hodgson turns on the fans as Liverpool crash again

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson insisted he could cope with the mocking taunts of supporters after his struggling side hit rock bottom this season.

Fans turned on Hodgson during a shocking 1-0 home defeat by relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield here on Wednesday.

Thousands sarcastically chanted “Hodgson for England” after he replaced David Ngog with Ryan Babel during the second half while they also bellowed the name of club legend and former boss Kenny Dalglish.

Dalglish was overlooked for the manager’s position when Rafa Benitez left in pre-season.

“I am getting used to it,” said Hodgson after Stephen Ward’s 56th minute goal sentenced Liverpool to a third defeat in four games.

“That’s the way it is. He (Dalglish) was a rival for the job but the job was given to me and he is a Liverpool legend,” the former Fulham manager added.

“I don’t like hearing those things. I am trying to do the best job I can and I am working hard. It is not something I appreciate but it is not something I can control.

“It’s the Kop’s way of showing they are not happy with the way the team is playing.

“As manager, you have to accept responsibility for that and take it on the chin.

“We have had to live with that for some time. Ever since I came here the famous Anfield support hasn’t really been there,” said Hodgson in a remark that risked alienating yet more sections of Liverpool’s core support.

“You have seen these players before. They are just not playing like they have done in the past so I think it is time for the fans to really help as well,” added Hodgson, who has managed in several European countries including a spell at Italy’s Inter Milan.

“It is not for lack of trying that we are not winning matches. Maybe we are lacking quality and lacking confidence and the negativity doesn’t help. The players are not getting on the ball for fear of making mistakes.”

Liverpool end 2010 in 12th place in the Premier League but just three points above the relegation zone and another home defeat to Bolton on New Year’s Day could spell the end of Hodgson’s six month reign.
  

Stoke sign Pennant on permanent deal from Zaragoza

LONDON: Stoke City have signed winger Jermaine Pennant on a permament deal for Spanish side Real Zaragoza following a loan spell, the English Premier League club announced on Wednesday.

Pennant, who made his name at Arsenal, joined the Potters on a temporary basis in pre-season after failing to cement a spot at Zaragoza.

But now Stoke have given him a two-year contract, subject to international clearance and registration with English football authorities in a deal that has already cost the Midlands club £1.725mil (US$2.668mil) and could rise to £2.8mil (US$4.3mil).

“I think everyone knows how I feel about being at this football club,” Pennant told 
stokecityfc.com.

“The supporters, players and management have been absolutely fantastic to me over these past four months and I desperately wanted to stay here because I love it so much,” the 27-year-old added.

“I know I have only been here a few months, but it really does feel like I have been here for years.

“The atmosphere around the place is brilliant, so I am looking forward to the fact that I am here at Stoke now for the long term and back in the best league in the world.”

Stoke manager Tony Pulis, whose side are 10th in the 20-team Premier League, said: “This is fantastic news, just what we all wanted.

“Jermaine has made such a big impact since he has been with us and he has become a big favourite with the supporters, so I know that everyone will be delighted that we have completed this signing.

“The important thing has been getting him comfortable and settled, and now that we have done that I am sure he can go on to play an even bigger part in our plans.

“Natural wingers are hard to come by, but we have two of them with Jermaine on the right and Matty Etherington on the left, so that gives us a real threat down both flanks.”

Celtic’s Lennon fumes over Brown sacking

GLASGOW: Neil Lennon was left fuming after a late red card for midfielder Scott Brown in his side’s 1-0 win over Motherwell ruled the Celtic captain out of Sunday’s Old Firm derby.

A wonder goal from Paddy McCourt on Wednesday moved the Hoops to the summit of the Scottish Premier League but Brown’s sending off left a sour taste in the mouth of his manager.

Brown, who had received his first booking just after the break, was shown a second yellow by referee Stephen Finnie for sliding in with his studs showing on Stephen Hammell in stoppage time.

The Celtic captain will now miss the match away to fierce rivals Rangers at Ibrox this weekend and his manager was clearly angry at the decision.

“If you see again he has done everything he can to pull out the tackle and Hammell’s actually kicked him on the follow through,” Lennon said.

“He’s gone in, he’s pulling away and then he’s slipped so it’s totally accidental and I’m very disappointed with that decision amongst many I was disappointed with.

“I thought he was trying to pull out of it so I don’t know if he was making a challenge or not. His left foot has come away and he’s actually carrying the weight to avoid any contact but the referee has deemed it as a second yellow and we’re pretty upset about it.

“It’s two yellow cards so I don’t know if we can appeal it or not.”

With Rangers’ game away to St Johnstone on Wednesday having been postponed due to a frozen pitch, Celtic will go into the new year and Sunday’s clash against Rangers one point clear of their fellow Glasgow giants, albeit having played two games more.