Monday International Sports News

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Fergie won’t rush to
replace Queiroz
Agence France-Presse . Aberdeen
Sir Alex Ferguson said he will take his time to appoint a new assistant after seeing Wayne Rooney inspire Manchester United to a 2-0 friendly win at Aberdeen on Saturday.
Ferguson is without a number two at Old Trafford following Carlos Queiroz’s departure on Friday for the post of Portugal national coach.
Queiroz’s exit is a big blow for Ferguson, who delegated many tasks to the former Real Madrid coach.
Despite a host of names being linked to the job, such as Laurent Blanc, Brian McClair and former Liverpool assistant Pako Ayesteran, the Scot has vowed to make a considered appointment.
Ferguson said, ‘There’s nobody in mind and no timescale. We take our time on these things because we’ve got a good staff. We have never made a quick appointment.
‘It’s always disappointing to lose good men and Carlos was a good man. He was honest and very loyal to me. He was also a very good coach who brought a lot of initiatives that we have acted upon in recent years.’
He added, ‘I knew when Portugal came in for him that it was going to be difficult for us.’
United’s trip to Aberdeen – their first outing since winning the Champions League in May – resulted in a comfortable win with goals from Michael Carrick and Rooney. And Ferguson admitted that his former club gave United a perfect work-out in their opening pre-season game.
‘It was the first game and quite an open one as well.
‘Both teams had a couple of chances and we needed to defend well at times, so it was a good exercise for us.
‘The big thing is boosting the fitness and avoiding injuries – that’s the key – and we came through on both fronts.
‘Wayne had a couple of chances in the first-half and made some nice runs that could have brought us a couple of goals.
‘But he made the goal for the first goal when he won the penalty and then he scored the header in the second-half.
He added, ‘Gary Neville came through ok, but we gave him just one half because it’s always difficult when a player has been out for a year. ‘At his age, we didn’t want to take any risks and he has come through and that’s what is important.’
Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood claimed that his players emerged with great credit against Ferguson’s experienced outfit.
‘United are a fantastic side, there’s no denying that. We had a young team out there, but it was a wonderful learning process for them against the quality players that United had out.
‘If you look at the older ones, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, their attitude, hunger to win, hunger for the ball and their touch was just fantastic.
‘I just thought that my lads did really well against that kind of quality.’


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Rooney’s friendly fire
burns Aberdeen
Agence France-Presse . Aberdeen
Wayne Rooney kicked off Manchester United’s Premier League preparations by inspiring the newly=crowned European champions to a 2-0 victory against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday.
Rooney won a first-half penalty, then netted a second-half header as United cruised to the win in their first game since winning the Champions League two months ago.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, back at Aberdeen to mark the 25th anniversary of the club’s 1983 European Cup-Winners’ Cup triumph against Real Madrid, named nine internationals in the starting line-up against his former club.
While the injured Cristiano Ronaldo was in Portugal recovering from a recent ankle injury, Rooney, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes all found themselves on duty at Pittodrie.
England striker Rooney could have claimed a hat-trick inside the opening ten minutes but for some wayward finishing.
On three occasions, Rooney found himself with only goalkeeper Jamie Langfield to beat, but the Aberdeen man denied him each time.
But Langfield was at fault on the stroke of half-time when his rash challenge on Rooney led to referee Calum Murray awarding a penalty.
It was harsh on the Scottish Premier League team, who had caused United problems in the early stages, but Carrick – a penalty shoot-out scorer against Chelsea in the Champions League final two months ago – calmly sent Langfield the wrong way to give United the lead.
United’s class began to come to the fore in the second-half and youngster Chris Eagles should have scored shortly after the interval with a far post volley that was wastefully directed over the crossbar.
But another United goal appeared inevitable and, after substitute keeper Bertrand Bossu had brilliantly kept out a Giggs header, Rooney was finally rewarded for his efforts on 68 minutes.
With Ronaldo set to be sidelined for up to three months, Rooney’s goals could be crucial and he made up for his earlier misses with a crisp header from Darren Fletcher’s cross that was too accurate for the helpless Bossu.


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Scolari: Chelsea
gambled on me
Sportinglife . London
Luiz Felipe Scolari admits Chelsea ‘gambled’ by making him their new manager, but insists he will strive to repay the club by bringing world-class football to Stamford Bridge.
The Brazilian coach was named as Avram Grant’s successor midway through his Portugal side’s Euro 2008 campaign and despite a glowing CV, which includes victory at the 2002 World Cup with his native country, there were some concerns about his lack of experience in top-level European club football.
Scolari agrees that there was an element of risk in his appointment but has backed himself to deliver the results – and the style – owner Roman Abramovich wants.
‘Chelsea gambled on my ability but I believe in myself,’ he said.
‘I had two meetings with the owner Roman Abramovich (before getting the job). He said to me “I want Chelsea to play well, beautiful and win”. I said ‘yes, I agree with you’.
‘I am not afraid of my job. All over the world coaches need to win competitions, not only in Chelsea.’
Jose Mourinho brought home back-to-back Premier League titles during his stint with the Blues but failed to capture the Champions League, while Grant got to the final of the competition before losing to Manchester United on penalties. But Scolari denies his focus will be on European success, instead choosing to cast his net wider.
The 59-year-old continued, ‘My pressure is the desire to become world-class, not just to win the Champions League.
‘If I say to my players that the Champions League is more important than another competition, I think the players might only prepare for the Champions League. I don’t think that’s the correct way to look at it. ‘I need to prepare my players for the Carling Cup, the FA Cup, for the Champions League, for the Premier League.
‘If I say to my players all competitions are important for Chelsea, then I think that is the way.’
Scolari also sought to clarify his position with Abramovich, insisting he has full control of all on-field decisions. ‘I also told him that when it comes to the pitch it is all mine, no-one interferes. He was happy with that.’
Meanwhile, the warning from Scolari could not have been more clear. Not only does he admire Sir Alex Ferguson and marvel at the Scot’s unquenchable desire for success – he is also prepared to give his own Brazilian version of the ‘hairdryer’ treatment for which the Manchester United manager is famed.
‘Frightening? Yes, sometimes. I think I have some similarities to Sir Alex,’ Scolari said. ‘My philosophy is the same. Sometimes, I listen to players like Ronaldo and Nani and yes, maybe I am like a grandfather.
‘But when I need to be hard, I will be. What makes me angry is when I see a lack of professionalism.’ That apparently means on and off the pitch – whatever the competition.


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Pele, Banks warn Cristiano
over Real deal
Agenec France-Presse . London
Football legends Pele and Gordon Banks both warned Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo against walking out on Champions League winners Manchester United and moving to Spanish giants Real Madrid on Saturday.
The 23-year-old forward has still four years remaining on his contract with United – with whom he also won the Premiership last season – and both Pele and Banks
ridiculed both his and FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s claims that he was being treated like a ‘slave’.
‘You are a slave if you work without a contract or you don’t get paid,’ said 67-year-old Pele, who was in Stoke,
central England, to unveil a statue dedicated to Banks and for a charity match for the former England goalkeeper’s charity foundation.
‘If you have a contract then in any job you have to finish the contract.
‘I think that when he finishes his contract, then he should be free to go wherever he wants to go.’
Ronaldo, who bowed out of Euro 2008 in the quarter-finals after a 3-2 defeat by Germany, is currently recovering from ankle surgery which will rule him out of the start of next season.
Banks, whose save from Pele in the group stage of the 1970 World Cup finals is
generally believed to be the greatest ever, accused Ronaldo of showing a lack of respect to Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
Banks, who was part of England’s 1966 World Cup winning side, said he could not understand why Ronaldo, who scored 42 goals for United last season, would want to move away from Old Trafford to Real Madrid.
‘I can’t understand why he said he felt he was being treated like a slave,’ said the 70-year-old, who lost an eye in a car crash in 1972.
‘If he has just signed a new contract then he should respect his manager and honour it. It’s stupid.
‘I don’t understand what the problem is. He plays for a team that has just won the European Cup and the Premier League. He plays for his country. What more does he want?
‘It’s like anything in life. If a businessman signs a contract then he has to honour it. It’s no different than a professional footballer.’
Real Madrid are believed
to be prepared to offer around 85 million euros ($134
million) for Ronaldo and pay him nine million euros on a five-year deal.
Ronaldo, a boyhood Real fan, has consistently been
linked with a move to the Spanish capital since the end of last season.
The management at Real believe that Manchester, who want to keep their star striker, who is under contract until 2012, will be eventually forced to reach a deal to let him go if he wants it.