Motivation not a problem for retiring Van der Sar

LONDON: Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar insists he remains fully committed to his team even though he is just months away from the end of his career.

Van der Sar confirmed on Tuesday that he will retire at the end of the season after 20 years as one of Europe’s top keepers.

Although the 40-year-old former Juventus and Ajax star could be forgiven for letting his mind drift to thoughts of his post-playing life, van der Sar has no intention of letting his standards slip now.

“I don’t see motivation until the end of the season being a problem at all,” he said.

“There was a point last year when it was four degrees and the rain was pouring down. Ben Foster asked me whether I still wanted to do it in such rubbish weather. I said I loved it.

“That is still the case. I had a calf injury just after Christmas and was not able to go outside for 12 days.

“The only time I went outside was to get from the training building to the car, and then from the car to the house.

“After 12 days I wanted to go outside. That feeling will always be there. I want to train and I want to contribute to a team that deserves to win something.”

With the Premier League, the Champions League and the FA Cup all still in United’s sights, van der Sar’s career could have a glorious finale.

But even if they finish empty-handed, the Dutchman will have no regrets about deciding to walk away from football. 

  

Bradley joins list of Americans to play in the EPL

LONDON: Michael Bradley has become the latest United States international to join the Premier League after Aston Villa agreed a loan deal with German club Borussia Moenchengladbach on Monday.

The New Jersey-born midfielder will play for Villa until the end of the season when the move could be made permanent.

Irish midfielder Stephen Ireland will not be playing alongside Bradley, however, after he was loaned to Newcastle following a disappointing spell at Villa since signing from Manchester City.

The 23-year-old Bradley, son of US coach Bob, has won 50 caps for his country after making his name with New York MetroStars and Dutch club Heerenveen.

“For me the Premier League is the best league in the world,” Bradley told Villa’s website.

“The speed of the game, the pace and the power all stand out.

“I heard that (manager) Gerard Houllier was interested in bringing me here. From that moment I was excited and just hoping that everything could get done.”

Bradley will have to wait for international clearance before making his Villa debut.

Fellow American Clint Dempsey has enjoyed a successful spell at Fulham and Landon Donovan impressed during a short loan period at Everton. Midfielder Stuart Holden is at Bolton Wanderers while Jonathan Spector plays for West Ham United.

Bradley will have fellow countrymen for company at Villa in the form of goalkeeper Brad Friedel and defender Eric Lichaj. 

  

Holloway plans to appeal weakened team fine

LONDON: Blackpool manager Ian Holloway plans to appeal against a £25,000 fine for fielding a weakened side against Aston Villa in Novem-ber.

The Seasiders were punished by the Premier League after Holloway sent out an under-strength team in their 3-2 defeat at Villa Park late last year.

However, Holloway, who threatened to resign over the incident, has vowed to fight the fine as he is incensed with the Premier League effectively influencing which players he selects.

“I am totally confused as to the rules, who is making them and why I am a football manager and I’m not allowed to manage,” he said on Monday.

“How can they dare say my lads who did play are not good enough – which is basically what they are saying?

“I feel totally offended by it. I actually offered (chairman) Karl Oyston my resignation because I don’t understand where I can go.

“He refused it and said he would deal with it and for it not to stop me trying to do what I am trying to do.

“I am glad he hasn’t accepted it but I am very confused and bitter. I feel incensed.

“Absolutely there will be an appeal and I’d like there to be an amendment to the rules.

“Hopefully the League Managers’ Association are on that. They have asked me not to talk about it but I’ve gone and let them down because I feel so strongly about it.”

Holloway believes he is being punished for a precedent applied to other clubs in previous campaigns which should now not exist as clubs have to name a 25-man squad at the start of the season.

“I think it is a total disgrace that I am told who I can pick and when I can pick them,” he added. 

  

Wheeler-dealer Dalglish faces up to Stoke test

LIVERPOOL: Kenny Dalglish wants Liverpool to keep their feet on the ground against Stoke today after a frenetic finale to the January transfer window saw the Anfield great involved in two huge deals.

Liverpool sold Spain striker Fernando Torres to English champions Chelsea late on Monday’s deadline day.

Dalglish, in his second spell in charge of Liverpool, was appointed on an “interim” basis by the club’s new American owners after Roy Hodgson was sacked in January.

Widely regarded as Liverpool’s greatest player, Dalglish is revered in the ‘red’ half of the city.

And the fact big-money moves have happened on his current watch will strengthen the belief among the Anfield faithful that the former Scotland striker is to become a permanent rather than a caretaker manager.

Certainly results have picked up since Dalglish replaced the hapless Hodgson, with Liverpool winning their last two games – and keeping clean sheets in both as well – to maintain hopes of Europa League qualification.

“We’re delighted with two clean sheets in two games – and we’re delighted with two wins in two games but we know there is a long way to go,” Dalglish, speaking before Liverpool’s late flurry of transfer activity, said on Monday.

“We know we have moved a significant number of places up the table, but we also know our ambitions lie further afield than that,” added Dalglish of a Liverpool side who are currently seventh but still a massive 19 points behind Premier League leaders and arch-rivals Manchester United.

“We don’t think we’ve done what we’re capable of doing as of now. We enjoyed winning the two games and that should take us forward.

“Once you enjoy something, you want to repeat it – and we will be trying our best to repeat it on Wednesday.”

Liverpool will have Jamie Carragher available for the first time since the veteran defender dislocated his shoulder against Tottenham Hotspur in November.

Stoke, currently 10th and two points behind Liverpool, will present Carragher, should he play, with a testing challenge because of their uncompromising style.

Dalglish refused to criticise Tony Pulis’ side though and new Stoke loan signing John Carew, who has joined from Aston Villa until the end of the season, insisted there was more to the Potters than physical threat.

“People say to me I must enjoy playing in this team because I get so many balls in the air,” said Norway striker Carew.

“But, first of all, I want to kill that rumour a bit because I think I got more long balls at Villa when I was playing there than here.

“Here we also get the ball on the ground. We also have football players.” 

  

Barry expects great things from City’s new boy Dzeko

BIRMINGHAM: Gareth Barry believes Edin Dzeko’s first goal for Manchester City could herald the start of a prolific spell for his team’s latest big-money signing.

City paid £27mil to sign Dzeko from German club Wolfsburg and the Bosnian forward repaid a small slice of that fee as his late equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw against League One club Notts County in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday.

While that result was hardly one of City’s best this season, England midfielder Barry is hopeful Dzeko’s goal will boost his confidence and lead to another predatory display against Birmingham in today’s Premier League clash at St Andrew’s.

“The longer a striker goes without a goal it can affect him so maybe this will send him the other way,” Barry said.

“Strikers thrive on confidence, so hopefully it will be the start of many goals.

“If you look at his record, his ratio of goals per game is good and if he keeps that going he will be a big star.

“The competition is very tough at City now and Edin is another quality player going straight into the team.”

Meanwhile, City boss Roberto Mancini has accepted the loss of Adam Johnson will hit them hard as they try to catch Premier League leaders Manchester United.

England winger Johnson has been one of City’s most influential players this season but has damaged ankle ligaments in training.

He may be out for the season which is a blow for City, especially because Argentine forward Carlos Tevez is also struggling at the moment with a back complaint.

“We have a big problem with Johnson out for three months,” Mancini said.

“It is the same injury as Aleksander Kolarov had at the start of the season, and he is very unlucky.” 

  

Harimau bite back

SHAH ALAM: Supersub Izzaq Fariz Ramlan scored a brace in Harimau Muda ‘A’s come-from-behind 3-1 win over Pahang in a Super League match at the Shah Alam Stadium last night.

The national Under-21 boys turned on the heat after the breather and the lanky Izzaq hit the target in the 51st and 62nd minutes.

Izzaq also had a hand in the third goal when he won the penalty which Mohd Fandi Othman cooly slotted home from the spot in the 87th minute.

Pahang had taken a shock third-minute lead through Famirul Asraf Sayuti.

Meanwhile, defending champions Selangor got back on track after defeating Perlis 2-0 at Stadium Utama in Kangar. Mohd Safee Sali and Mohd Fitri Shazwan were on target for the Red Giants in the 63rd and 76th minutes respectively.

In the east coast derby, Kelantan and Terengganu played out a 1-1 draw at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru. Skipper Mohd Badhri Radzi put the Red Warriors ahead in the 34th minute before Marzuki Yusoff equalised for the Turtles in the 68th minute.

In Shah Alam, Harimau Muda started with three regulars – centre-back Mohd Muslim Ahmad, midfielder K. Gurusamy and striker Izzaq – on the bench.

Pahang, riding high after their success over Perlis (3-1) on Saturday, got off to an aggressive and lightning quick start to put the national Under-21 boys under pressure.

Their positive approach was rewarded when Mohd Alafi Mahmud created the opening for Famirul to score from close range.

That goal roused the Harimau Muda from their slumber and they hit back immediately, launching a quick counter attack in the next minute.

But midfielder Gary Steven squandered a sitter in front of goal, shooting straight at Pahang custodian Mohd Suffian Abdul Rahman in a one-on-one.

Harimau Muda coach Ong Kim Swee made two tactical changes for the second half, bringing on lanky striker Izzaq for Wan Zack Haikal and Wan Zaharul Nizam Wan Zakaria for Steven.

The substitution paid off when Izzaq scored the equaliser six minutes into the second half, heading in Mohd Fandi Othman’s cross into goal.

Pahang lived dangerously and defended in numbers as Harimau Muda continued to pile on the pressure.

Then, in the 62nd minute Izzaq was presented with an open chance after being put through by Syahrul Izwari for the second goal.

Izzaq continued to trouble the Pahang defence and it was no surprise when he was fouled by Mohd Saiful Nizam in the 87th minute.

Saiful was sent off for the foul and Fandi made no mistake from the penalty spot.

  

Real Madrid's title hopes written off in Spain

MADRID (AP) - The pressure is on Jose Mourinho to prove to the Spanish football world that he is indeed the "Special One."

Spanish media have already written off Real Madrid's title chances after a 1-0 loss at Osasuna left the club trailing two-time defending champion Barcelona by seven points in the standings.

"Seven Points - Too Much" sports daily AS splashed across its front page, while Marca said it was time to focus on the two other trophies still available in the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.

Barcelona-based daily El Mundo Deportivo was succinct: "League KO."

Mourinho, the self-anointed "Special One," was hired by Madrid to snap two-plus seasons without silverware. The Portuguese coach led Inter Milan to a treble last season but has come up against a Barcelona team that just equaled a league record with its 15th straight win.

Madrid went into Sunday's match against Osasuna at the Reyna Navarra Stadium stating it needed to win all of its remaining games to keep up the pressure on Barcelona. But even new signing Emmanuel Adebayor couldn't make that happen.

"It's our second league loss, and it leaves us in a much more difficult position in respect to the standings," said Mourinho, a former Barcelona assistant coach who is in his debut season with Madrid.

Barcelona is on course to set records in most domestic categories if it continues on its current run, which included a club record 28-game unbeaten run in all competitions until a loss to Real Betis in an already lopsided domestic cup series win.

"This year we can win the treble," Barcelona defender Eric Abidal said Monday, "but the journey will be very long and we'll have to work hard to the very end."

A victory against Atletico Madrid on Saturday would see Barcelona set a record of 16 straight league wins to topple Real Madrid's mark from 1960-61, which it tied with Saturday's 3-0 win at Hercules. The club's 10th straight road victory leaves it closing in on another record for consecutive away wins to start a season.

Barcelona is also poised to break season points total - it set the current total of 99 last season - victories, goals scored and fewest conceded. It has outscored opponents 67-11 with 17 games to play as it sets its sights on Madrid's record of 107 scored in 1989-90.

Barcelona's 5-0 win over Madrid earlier this season was Mourinho's most lopsided loss in a career that includes two Champions League titles and league titles in Portugal, England and Italy.

At this same juncture of last season under former coach Manuel Pellegrini, Madrid trailed Barcelona by five points.

"A league cannot be over at the halfway point for a club like Madrid," director general Jorge Valdano said. "The result is really tough, but not definitive."

Even if Mourinho is able to avenge that loss and snap a record five-game losing run against its biggest rival, Madrid now needs Barcelona to slip up to give it a chance. Barcelona has dropped only five points all season.

"There's still 17 games left to play," Madrid captain Iker Casillas said.

Barcelona could even stand in the way of the other two cups. Madrid and Barcelona are both poised to reach the Copa del Rey final, which would be played three days after its second "clasico" match of the season at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on April 17.

In the Champions League, if Madrid gets past Lyon and Barcelona beats Arsenal, the pair could be drawn in the quarterfinals, possibly setting up an unprecedented four head-to-head matches in two weeks.