Indonesia do not fear fans

INDONESIA do not fear a hostile reception from Malaysian fans in the final first leg at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil tomorrow when they attempt to win the AFF Suzuki Cup for the first time.
After winning all five of their matches so far, albeit each one in Jakarta, Indonesia are considered the favourites with the added advantage of having beaten Malaysia 5-1 in the preliminary stage.

"It's no problem, it's the same for us whether we are playing in Kuala Lumpur or Jakarta.," said Indonesia team manager Andi Darussalam, standing in for coach Alfred Riedl at the pre-match press conference in Bukit Jalil yesterday.


"We are used to playing here and Bambang (Pamungkas) has experience playing here from his days with Selangor."

Indonesia have reason to be confident as they have not lost to Malaysia in their past five meetings here, dating back to 1989.

Andi however played down the fierce rivalry between Malaysia and Indonesia and hoped the match will be played in the right spirit.


"After playing each other in Jakarta, both teams are familiar with each other and we are looking forward to a classic clash on Sunday (tomorrow).

"This is a football match for 90 minutes and there is nothing else to it. We are all friends, from the same background. We should not bring politics into it," added Andi, in attempting to defuse the distaste for the Malaysian team by a segment of the Indonesian fans.

Riedl's absence from the press conference is probably to deflect attention and pressure away from him to deliver the trophy after falling at the last hurdle three times in a row from 2000 to 2005.


The Austrian however did speak to the Malaysian press after yesterday's training session at the National Sports Complex and despite having his injured players back in training, was reluctant to say if he would play them.

Tournament top scorer Cristian Gonzales was earlier reported to have suffered a groin strain but showed no ill effects from the supposed injury.

Skipper Firman Utina is likely to lead his team out tomorrow while winger Oktovianus Maniani has also recovered although both Riedl and Andi said the latter's participation tomorrow is still in doubt.                        

    

Muslim, Fadhli impress

THE improving performances of young centre-backs Muslim Ahmad and Fadhli Shas in the AFF Suzuki Cup have not come as a surprise to Young Tigers coach Ong Kim Swee.
The two players are the youngest defensive combination in the tournament and both have impressed as their steady performances at the back helped Malaysia into the final for the first time in 14 years.

National youth coach Kim Swee has overseen their development at Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 levels and believes their international exposure under national coach K. Rajagobal will benefit the national team in the long run.


"I'm not surprised as they have been playing together for some time and are exposed to international matches at age-group level.

"The stints in Slovakia have also helped them and given them the chance to break into the national team. I must say Raja made a daring decision to put two raw players into the first team, not many coaches would have done that.

"Fadhli especially, since he is only 19, but I have worked with him since he joined us from Bukit Jalil Sports School at 17 and Muslim too has been knocking on the door for some time.


"What they need to do now is to be consistent in their performances and they will improve over time," said Kim Swee yesterday.

Fadhli made his first senior international start in the calamitous 5-1 defeat to Indonesia in the opening group match but has grown in stature since then playing alongside the 21-year-old Muslim.

"Muslim and Fadhli can go on to be our main centre-backs just as how Santokh (Singh) and (Datuk) Soh Chin Aun used to be (in the 1970s and early 1980s).


"They can be role models not just to their teammates (in the Olympic squad) but also to other players. There are three players who are capable of taking the places (of the legends)," added Kim Swee, who also included reserve centre-back Faizal Muhammad in his assessment.

Give us a break, plead Premier League bosses

LONDON: Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini added his voice to calls for the English Premier League to follow their European counterparts and introduce a winter break.
With Spain, Italy and Germany enjoying a Christmas and New Year rest, English clubs face the prospect of four games in a 10-day period which could play a major role in the destination of the title.

Tomorrow's Boxing Day programme marks the start of the gruelling schedule.


"In England, Boxing Day is very important game," said Mancini. "But maybe English players need a rest sometimes.

"It might not be Boxing Day but maybe in January you could have a week off for all the players. That would be a good opportunity for them."

Mancini's fellow Italian Roberto Di Matteo, who coaches West Brom, has backed the Eastlands manager.


"We're not living in the Middle East or Africa. We live in England, in Northern Europe, so let's have a winter break," said Di Matteo.

"Every year it snows, the pitches are frozen, training pitches are frozen, it's not safe for supporters, so let's have a break.

"This weather we are having now shouldn't be out of the blue because geographically it's where we are and the chances of it happening are high.


"In March we have two games. Can we not put another game in there, even though it's an international break?

"Why not put one or two at the end of May when the pitches are beautiful and people will flock to the stadium.

"I know of the Boxing Day tradition but you will still get packed stadia later in the year because it's a better climate and people will enjoy it more."

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti slammed the Premier League fixture planners as his side prepare to play twice in three days over Christmas.

Ancelotti's team, who trail leaders Manchester United by three points, will play a crucial clash against title rivals Arsenal on Monday before a home match against Bolton two days later and the Italian is unhappy with the champions' workload.

Bolton host West Bromwich Albion tomorrow as part of the traditional Boxing Day schedule, while Chelsea have to wait another 24 hours before their fixture at Arsenal as the game is being shown live on television in England.

That means Owen Coyle's players will have an extra day to ease their aching limbs before travelling to Stamford Bridge to face the Blues and Ancelotti believes that gives Bolton a significant advantage.

"I want to say something about the Bolton game because we won't have the possibility to recover," Ancelotti told reporters on Thursday.

"We'll have two days, compared to Bolton who, unfortunately, play on the 26th. We play on the 27th. That's not a good thing, to have one day less to recover. I'm not happy about that."
  

Mourinho: I am No 1, not del Bosque

ROME: Jose Mourinho said on Thursday he deserved to be named coach of the year and not Spain's World Cup winning coach Vicente del Bosque.
The ever immodest 47-year-old Real Madrid coach told the Gazzetta dello sport that he firmly believed he had achieved more in 2010 when he was in charge of Inter Milan than the Spanish handler, who delivered Spain their first world title when they beat the Netherlands 1-0 in July's final.

"Me, I've made my choice. 11 months work, 57 matches played, three titles including the most important of all, 'THE' tournament, the Champions League (plus the Italian Cup and the Italian league title)," said Mourinho, who left Inter for Real in the summer.


"I have won everything, I could not do any more than that, equally so for the players."

Mourinho, whose successor as coach of Inter Rafael Benitez was sacked on Thursday, also defended his Dutch playmaker at Inter Wesley Sneijder, who was not even nominated for the Ballon d'Or, an award which according to Gazzetta will go to Barcelona's Spanish playmaker Andres Iniesta.

Sneijder to many people's amazement including that of UEFA president Michel Platini was not even on the shortlist despite his inspirational play for Inter last term and then outstanding performances for the Dutch at the World Cup.


"If the winner is Iniesta, who unhappily was not able to play for the first five months of the year because of injury, but after that played six matches and scored a goal in South Africa (the winner in the World Cup final), then anything can happen in the year of a World Cup final and the rest counts for nothing," said Mourinho, whose only serious reverse this year was the 5-0 hammering by Barcelona in their first 'clasico' meeting of the season at the end of November.

"I can understand if there was a debate if the trophies were shared, but when one has won everything?

"What can one say? I would prefer to win the match on Sunday than the Ballon d'Or," he added.


The Ballon D'Or will be announced in Zurich on Jan 10.

  

McClaren gets vote of confidence from board

BERLIN: Former England coach Steve McClaren received the dreaded vote of confidence from the board of struggling Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg on Thursday.
The 49-year-old's position had become increasingly precarious after a a winless run of seven Bundesliga matches - which leaves the 2009 champions in 13th place just four points above the relegation zone - and reached its nadir with a 3-1 German Cup home defeat by Second Division Cottbus on Wednesday.

However, the board gave McClaren, who is in his first season in charge after a successful spell at Dutch side Twente where he guided them to the title, backing after a heated two hour meeting on Thursday.


The players had already been punished for their poor run by having their Christmas holidays shortened.

McClaren, whose unsuccessful tenure as England coach ended when they failed to qualify for Euro 2008 and earned himself the unwanted moniker of 'the wally with the brolly' as he watched England lose at home to Croatia in the pouring rain, had expressed his frustration after the Cottbus defeat.

"I am angry and frustrated," said the former Middlesbrough manager, who was best known for being assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.


"We have problems in the dressing room, and on the pitch. This club needs changes to be made.

"Which ones? I don't know, it is not for me to judge, no-one knows what will happen in the days to come, but it is imperative that a clear signal is sent."
  

Moyes hails 'youthful' Cahill

LIVERPOOL: Everton boss David Moyes hailed Australian talisman Tim Cahill as a born-again player on Thursday.
Cahill grabbed his ninth goal of the season in Monday's 2-1 win at Manchester City, topping an overall display which prompted goalkeeper Tim Howard to describe him as a Goodison Park legend.

Moyes was equally forthcoming in his praise for a player who will leave for the Asian Cup in Qatar in the first week of January.


"In my time here we have not had an awful lot to shout about but I think Tim Cahill is one who could stand up and say he has really played his part in this period," said Moyes, whose side host Birmingham on Sunday and visit West Ham two days later.

"A few weeks ago I saw a drop in his energy and I was a bit worried about him.

"But the other night he was back to his best. He was back to being young, youthful, working really hard for the team. He always gives his full self and because of that he is appreciated."


Meanwhile, Moyes is keen to tie midfielder Steven Pienaar to a new contract.

The South African is in the final year of his present deal and has persistently been linked with other clubs.

That has led to suggestions Moyes may sell next month to avoid losing him for nothing but the player was this week quoted saying how much he likes Everton.


Moyes said: "I have always said if Steven wants to stay we would be delighted to help him.

"I don't think anyone at Everton can question Steven's attitude or desire in the games.

"We have got to hope between now and the end of the season we can make something else happen."

Out for win, not revenge

THERE are no two ways about it. Malaysia need to win the first leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup final to have any hope of lifting the trophy for the first time.
With memories of the 5-1 opening match mauling still fresh in the minds of both teams, tomorrow's encounter at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil takes on added significance.

There is talk of a revival of Malaysian football following the young national team's run to the final after a horrible start and for once, the fans will be out in full force in support of coach K. Rajagobal's side.


Few, if any, had expected the team to reach this far but now that they are here after 14 years, Rajagobal wants an all-out effort from his players to return to a time when winning trophies at regional level was a matter of course for the national side.

"Any coach, if you asked, would say they want to win. Now that we have come so far we want to seize the opportunity," said Rajagobal at the pre-match press conference in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

"We want a positive result, and by positive it means we are going for a win. We have no choice because we have to go back to Jakarta for the second leg where nothing is guaranteed.


"I want the players to do well and get the win."

Rajagobal, who expects a closely contested and exciting match, played down any thoughts of revenge for the Dec 1 embarrassment in Jakarta.

"We know what we have to do and both teams already know each other well. There are some areas we need to put greater emphasis on but I cannot disclose that now.


"We are ready for the final and I think it's going to be a very exciting match," said Rajagobal, who can expect his team to play in front of an 85,000-strong crowd tomorrow.

Indonesia enter the final with a 100 per cent record but all five of their matches have been played in the comfortable confines of Senayan.

"I don't think it will be an advantage for us whether they have played away or not. But we'll see how they adapt to the situation of playing without strong crowd support and whether they can play their normal game," added Rajagobal.

Rajagobal confirmed that only winger Khyril Muhymeen Zambri is unavailable because of a knee injury but would not say if Amirulhadi Zainal, who has just returned to training, also from a knee injury, will play tomorrow.

Ashaari Samsudin is on standby to start on the right and the rest of the lineup should be the from the eleven who drew 0-0 with Vietnam in Hanoi last Saturday.