Tuesday World Sports

I was made a victim: Mashud 
Staff Correspondent 
 

Former Bangladesh captain and wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud said he was a victim of the selectors’ personal animosity towards him as he did not get selected to play for the national team for more than a year.
  ‘I don’t want to blame the Board as it showed enough courtesy to me. But definitely I was a victim of the selectors’ personal wrath,’ alleged Mashud at a press conference on Monday.
  The long-serving stumper, who last represented Bangladesh in a Test match against Sri Lanka in June 2007, was speaking a day after he formally retired from international cricket.
  Another former captain Faruque Ahmed led the selection committee when Mashud was dropped finally. It was believed that the Reebok scam in which a selector was accused of accepting commission from the players played a role in his expulsion.
  Mashud for the first time conceded that he had divulged the scam to media and said it might have had an effect on his career. He was not included in the Bangladesh squad for the World Cup in the Caribbean that had effectively ended his one-day career and soon he also lost his place in the Test squad.
  ‘Yes, I told it to the press out of my conscience. I felt it was unethical for a selector to accept commission from the players. It might have compelled him to favour certain player. Maybe this was one of the reasons for me to incur the wrath of selectors,’ he said.
  ‘However, I don’t like to blame the previous selection committee for putting me in such a situation. Before the last World Cup, they at least had explained to me why I was not included in the squad,’ he said.
  ‘But the current selection committee never gave any explanation. I was told by many that my wicket-keeping has no problem and only the batting has kept me out of the national team,’ added Mashud.
  ‘But when I became fifth highest scorer in the last National Cricket League the excuse was different. Then some people said that I could be considered for national team as I did not do enough wicket-keeping in the NCL,’ he said.
  The former captain pointed his finger to Akram Khan
  and Naimur Rahman, his two former captains in the national and club teams, who are now members of the selection committee.
  ‘When they captained the side, they were like another player. So they always communicated with the players and I also enjoyed playing under their captaincy. But now I think they have very little time for the players,’ said Masud.
  Mashud vowed to change the attitude if he is made selector in future. ‘Just look at my Rajshahi team. We may not have too many stars but every player feels for the team. I think Bangladesh team now lacks it,’ he said.
  ‘I don’t like to blame the foreign coach. They come and make us dream and go away afterwards and then another one comes. I think it is the nature of every professional coach. It is the duty of our local management to make things happen,’ he said.
  ‘Since Bangladesh got the Test status, people kept on saying that we were going to make a team for the future. How long we should say this? Eight years have elapsed and we are still a team of future. My question is that when we would be a team of present?,’ asked Mashud.
  “It has been said that we are building a team for the 2011 World Cup. I am sure after the World Cup; the same people will say that the players did not have the commitment,” said Mashud. 
New Zealand arrive today 
Staff Correspondent 

The New Zealand cricket team arrives in Dhaka today to play three one-day internationals and two Tests against Bangladesh. The first ODI starts at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium at Mirpur on October 9.
  Bangladesh have so far played six Test matches against New Zealand – four away in New Zealand and two in Dhaka – and lost all of them. The Kiwis have also won all the eleven ODIs played between the two countries.
  Aggressive top-order batsman Jesse Ryder after recovering from a serious hand injury will try to make a mark on the tour. Ryder burst onto the international stage this year against England before injuring his hand in a nightclub incident that required surgery which stopped him from touring England in May. He returned to action with the emerging players’ tournament in Australia in July.
  Fast bowler Chris Martin, a regular player in the Test side in recent years, was also recalled for the Test series and he will be replaced by Michael Mason in the one-day squad. Batsman Aaron Redmond, who made his international debut in England, has been named just for the Test series.
  Squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Grant Elliott, Daniel Flynn, Mark Gillespie (ODI only), Gareth Hopkins, Jamie How, Michael Mason, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Iain O Brien (Tests only), Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Aaron Redmond (Tests only), Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris (ODI only) and Ross Taylor.
   
  Itinerary
  Oct 9: 1st ODI – SBNS, Mirpur
  Oct 11: 2nd ODI – SBNS, Mirpur
  Oct 14: 3rd ODI – Chittagong Divisional Stadium
  Oct 17-21: 1st Test – Chittagong Divisional Stadium
  Oct 25-29: 2nd Test – SBNS, Mirpur 
‘No security worries in India’ 
Agence France-Presse . Bangalore 

Top batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Monday played down security concerns for the Test series against Australia, saying cricketers will never be targeted in India.
  Fears were raised after 25 people were killed and more than 100 wounded as bombs went off across New Delhi in recent weeks.
  ‘I don’t think it bothers us. We are confident nothing bad will happen,’ Tendulkar told reporters at a training camp ahead of the first Test starting here on October 9.
  New Delhi is the venue of the third Test from October 29 and security has been increased around the Australian team, who play a four-day practice match in southern Hyderabad from Thursday.
  Tendulkar declined to comment on Australia’s security fears but insisted Indian players had nothing to worry about.
  ‘This is our homeland. In our homeland I don’t think anyone can harm us,’ said the 35-year-old father of two, one of India’s most famous public figures.
  ‘We should be free to move wherever and whenever we want.’
  Cricket Australia have said they will go ahead with the tour after the Indian board asked local organisers to increase security at all four Test venues.
  ‘We are scheduled to get to Delhi in just under a month’s time but the advice we’re getting is that the things that need to be happening are happening,’ CA spokesman Peter Young said.
  ‘We’re not aware of any advice that says we need to change our security processes.’
  Australia cancelled a scheduled Test tour of Pakistan in March due to security concerns and were also one of the teams that forced the Champions Trophy there to be delayed by a year. 
British clubs out to impress 
after opening stalemates 
Agence France-Presse . Paris 
 

Arsenal, embarrassed by newly-promoted Hull City in the Premier League at the weekend, are out to put that rare reverse to their impressive start to the season behind them against FC Porto today.
  The Gunners, beaten finalists in 2006, needed a late William Gallas equaliser to eke out an unconvincing 1-1 draw against Dynamo Kiev in their Group G opener.
  Their Portuguese guests have an unhappy record against English clubs, losing in each of their last four Champions League campaigns.
  But the 2004 winners turn up at the Emirates Stadium on a high after a 3-1 home success over Turkish giants Fenerbahce a fortnight ago.
  Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned his highly-skilled but largely-inexperienced side will struggle to win on foreign fields, making this home fixture a must-win affair.
  With trips to Fenerbahce and Porto still to come, Wenger believes this is the hardest group he has faced in 12 years with Arsenal.
  ‘This group is tougher than in previous years. It is definitely the most even group we have had because there are no easy games,’ he said.
  ‘That makes the match with Porto more important. We know in the Champions League you qualify with 10 points, so if we win our home games we are through.’
  Arsenal weren’t the only British club to stumble on their first steps in Europe’s top club competition - champions Manchester United were held to a goalless draw by Villarreal at Old Trafford, and Celtic could only manage the same result against Aalborg.
  The Danish minnows host United, who moved into the top half of the Premier League table for the first time after their win over Bolton on Saturday, in a tie that pits Scot Bruce Rioch against his compatriot Sir Alex Ferguson.
  On paper at least Celtic have a far stiffer test in an away trip to Villarreal.
  Defender Mark Wilson said: ‘We will be looking to pick up a point or three but if we don’t, I don’t think it’s the end of the campaign by any means.’
  In Germany, Bayern Munich, who took three points off Steaua Bucharest in their curtain-raiser, are involved in arguably the draw of the night against seven-time French champions Lyon.
  Jurgen Klinsmann’s German champions need a result at the Allianz Arena after slumping to two consecutive defeats in the Bundesliga, their 5-2 drubbing by Werder Bremen followed at the weekend by their first loss to Hanover in 20 years.
  Klinsmann described that defeat as ‘unnecessary and very annoying’.
  ‘To improve, we need to get back the things which are missing: creativity, some cleverness on the ball and hard work off the ball,’ he added.
  Lyon, perennial quarter-finalists, kicked off their campaign with a come from behind 2-2 draw against Italians Fiorentina, who host Steaua Bucharest in Group F.
  In Group H, two-time champions Juventus, returning to the event after a two-season absence, are out to follow up their opening win over UEFA Cup winners Zenit St. Petersburg, away to Belarus outfit Bate Borisov.
  In the same group, Zenit have the not inconsiderable job of hosting nine-time champions Real Madrid, comfortable 2-0 winners over Borisov in their opener. 
Shah, Swann named in England 
squad for India tour 
Agence France-Presse . London 

Owais Shah and Graeme Swann have been named in England’s 15-man squad for the forthcoming two-Test tour of India.
  Middlesex star Shah pipped Young Cricketer of the Year Ravi Bopara to the last batting spot after a prolific campaign.
  Uncapped Nottinghamshire spinner Swann has been chosen to back up Monty Panesar and Sussex wicketkeeper Matt Prior has also been recalled.
  With former captain Michael Vaughan not considered due to a lack of form, Shah will get the chance to fight for a third Test cap.
  His debut came in India two years ago when he stepped in for the ill Alastair Cook and struck an imperious 88 in the series-levelling victory in Mumbai.
  ‘Our decision to pick Owais Shah was based on the fact that he is an excellent player of spin who played a superb innings in India on his Test debut two years ago,’ said national selector Geoff Miller.
  ‘It’s a further opportunity for him to build on his success with the one-day side this year and his inclusion in the squad will create real competition for places within the batting unit.’
  It is anticipated that Prior will now assume the role of number one gloveman in all forms of the game, and the four-man selection panel have sought to emphasise their faith in Tim Ambrose as his most natural competitor by adding him as limited-overs cover for the seven-match series which precedes the Test tour.
  That is a move which will disappoint supporters of James Foster, who has built a strong case for a recall. According to the England camp, he was not picked for either the full tour or the performance squad due to a shoulder injury.
  ‘Matt Prior has enjoyed an impressive domestic season with Sussex and having re-established himself in the England one-day side, he will now compete with Tim Ambrose for the position of Test wicketkeeper,’ said Miller.
  ‘Matt remains our first-choice keeper in the one-day game, but Tim will join the squad in India as reserve wicketkeeper for the duration of the one-day series.’
  With a second-string side also on the subcontinent during the tour and linking up with the full party for the second Test in Mumbai, England resisted the temptation to add a third spinner, relying on off-spinner Swann.
  Yorkshire all-rounder Adil Rashid, whose leg spin reaped 62 wickets in Division One of the County Championship, will be among that group of developing players on standby for the Tests should injury or illness strike.
  ‘The inclusion of Swann as off spinner provides us with a right-arm/left-arm slow bowling combination which we believe can be effective in India,’ added Miller.
  ‘Graeme has bowled well in tandem with Monty Panesar when they were at Northamptonshire together and he will be keen to renew the partnership this winter.’
  Miller backed Bopara, Foster and Rashid to bounce back from their tour disappointment.
  ‘Everyone’s unlucky when they aren’t playing but they will show character and they will keep knocking on the door and they will have to take the opportunity when they get it,’ Miller said.
  ‘We make sure we are fair with everyone. I talked to James (Foster) and he knows where he stands. It is unfortunate for him, but I’m sure he’ll continue to work at his game.
  ‘Ravi (Bopara) has worked on his game really well this year and it was a tough decision and unfortunately Bopara missed out. I’m sure he’ll bounce back.
  ‘Adil Rashid has bowled very well towards end of year. There’s a long time spent on selecting these sides.’
  England travel to India ahead of the first Test in Ahmedabad on December 11. The second Test begins in Mumbai on December 19.
  England’s 15-man squad for the two-Test tour of India:
  England’s 15-man squad for the two-Test tour of India:
  Kevin Pietersen (capt, Hampshire), Tim Ambrose (wkt, Warwickshire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Alastair Cook (Essex), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), Steve Harmison (Durham), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire), Matt Prior (wkt, Sussex), Owais Shah (Middlesex), Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), Andrew Strauss (Middlesex), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire) 
Seizing opportunities key to 
India win: Laxman 
Cricinfo 

VVS Laxman has said the key to an Indian victory in the upcoming Test series against Australia was to seize every opportunity. ‘I think you should grab the opportunities and not lose them,’ he told the Indian news channel CNN IBN. ‘With other teams you can get back in the game, but against Australia, when you get the opportunity, make sure you are on top’.
  He said batting well would be crucial to put the Australians under pressure. ‘Whenever we have batted well against them and put up a huge score, we have always put them under pressure,’ he said. ‘The Indian spinners then, could also use the home conditions to their advantage.’
  Laxman, who boasts a formidable record against Australia, said the rivalry would be the best draw for cricket lovers. ‘We have played against a lot of teams in various series but playing against Australia always, right from the 2001 series to the last one in Australia, went down to the wire,’ he said. ‘The highly intense battles were the best cricket for the viewers’.
  Laxman averages 50.63 in 20 Tests against the Australians. He said he enjoyed performing against them, particularly their pace attack, now spearheaded by Brett Lee. ‘It gives you a lot of satisfaction when you perform against the best side and the best bowling attack in world cricket’.
  He said the nature of his batting depended on the situation. ‘I could play an innings like I did at Sydney where I batted at No 3 and went after the bowling’. Laxman scored a brisk 109 off 142 balls in that match. ‘I could also play an innings like the one in Perth where I batted with the tail and got 79 which was very useful in the context of the game as India won by 72 runs’.
  Laxman, who played for Rest of India against Delhi in the Irani Trophy recently, said he was looking forward to a highly-competitive series. ‘It’s going to be a intense series. So I’d like to do my bit and help India win the series’. 
Srikkanth embarks on World 
Cup mission 
Agence France-Presse . New Delhi 

India’s newly-appointed chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth said on Monday he has set his sights on building a winning team for the 2011 World Cup.
  ‘We will develop a team towards the World Cup 2011,’ the former opening batsman, who played a key role in India’s only World Cup triumph in 1983, told reporters.
  ‘It is a slow process. But every Indian’s dream has been to win the World Cup again after 1983.
  ‘We have the ability to win the World Cup, but we need to be focused for that.’
  Srikkanth, 48, was appointed chairman of India’s first ever paid selection panel on Saturday. Other members of the panel are Narendra Hirwani, Raja Venkat, Yashpal Sharma and Surendra Bhave.
  Srikkanth’s first task as chairman will come on Wednesday when the selectors pick the Indian squad for the first two Tests of the four-match series against Australia starting in Bangalore on October 9.
  Srikkanth, a free-stroking batsman, needs to rebuild the Indian team after it crashed to a 2-1 defeat on the recent tour of Sri Lanka.
  Srikkanth, however, refused to join the debate on whether veterans like Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and Venkatsai Laxman should call time on their careers.
  ‘Younger players like Subramaniam Badrinath, Rohit Sharma and a few others have the talent, but it is not ability alone that makes a player tick at the highest level,’ he said.
  ‘Mental strength is critical and cannot be taught, it has to come from within, and the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid and Kumble have shown the way over a good period of time.
  ‘An eye for the future is equally important. Hard decisions might have to be taken in the future. But the current Test team is one of the best India has ever had and it will not be easy replacing them.’
  Srikkanth, who captained the Indian team on the tour of Pakistan in 1989 but was later sacked for demanding better payments for his teammates, said he favoured different teams for the various formats of the game.
  ‘Different skill sets are needed to excel in each form,’ he said. ‘With Twenty20 also coming into the mix, it is crucial to identify talent for each form and nurture them.
  ‘The team has had some good results in the recent past and it’s important to keep the good work going.’
  Srikkanth played 43 Tests, scoring 2,062 runs at an average of 29.88. In 146 one-day internationals, he made 4,091 runs at 29.01. 
Tendulkar: Don’t underestimate 
Aussies 
Agence France-Presse . Bangalore 

Batting ace Sachin Tendulkar said on Monday Australia would be tough to beat in the upcoming Test series in India despite their lack of experience.
  Only four Australians—skipper Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke and Simon Katich—have played a Test in India but Tendulkar said the new players had a lot of first-class experience.
  ‘They have not played Test cricket in India but that does not mean they cannot deliver,’ Tendulkar said ahead of the four-match series starting on October 9.
  ‘They (Australia) still have a lot of players who have played first-class cricket back home. They have played a lot of cricket and we’d like to respect that. We don’t want to be caught off-guard.’
  Tendulkar said the Indian team management needed to plan a lot in the coming days on how they wanted to approach the series against a tough opposition.
  ‘We’d like to focus on our performance,’ said Tendulkar, who needs just 77 runs to surpass retired West Indies captain Brian Lara’s world record tally of 11,953.
  ‘It’s India v Australia. It’s not certain individuals v certain individuals. Both the countries are competing against each other.’ 
Exhibition match on Eid day 
Staff Correspondent 

An exhibition football match between BFF XI and NSC XI will take place at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 6:00pm on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.
  The BFF has requested all the football lovers to enjoy the match. Former national booters will take the field for the BFF XI. 
Joy opts out of Merdeka Cup camp 
Staff Correspondent 
 

Former national football captain Arif Khan Joy on Monday informed the Bangladesh Football Federation about his unavailability in the national camp for the Merdeka Cup. The veteran midfielder has not joined the camp that began at the BKSP on Friday.
  The chairman of the National Team Management Committee, Badal Roy, received Joy’s letter at the BFF House. ‘He cited personal reasons for his unavailability in the national camp. However, he did not mention whether he has retired from football or not, he just said that he was sorry for not joining the camp and he would not be able to join us,’ said Badal.
  Joy is taking preparation to contest the upcoming parliamentary election as an Awami League candidate from Netrokona. 
Vaughan could join performance squad 
Agence France-Presse . London 

Michael Vaughan could tour India later this year as part of the England Performance squad, according to national selector Geoff Miller.
  As expected, Vaughan was missing from England’s 15-man squad, announced on Monday, to take on India in a two-Test series in December.
  Despite being awarded a central contract by the England and Wales Cricket board earlier this month, Vaughan is taking a three-month break from Test cricket after the Yorkshire batsman struggled to regain his form following his decision to step down as England captain.
  It has been suggested that Vaughan might join up with the England Performance team in India or play in South Africa or Australia to try to rediscover his form that saw him become one of England’s best batsmen.
  Miller has revealed the 34-year-old could be involved with England’s second-string as part of his rehabilitation.
  ‘It is a possibility that he could link up with the Performance Squad, we could use that,’ he told Sky Sports News. There’s a lot of opportunities for him to play.
  ‘It’s all about winning matches and sessions and we’ll look after Vaughan as much as we can. We could look at that or send him out somewhere in the world.
  ‘We see him as an integral part of our plans. There’s lots of cricket coming up. He’s played for England for 10 years and deserves a bit of a break.’
  ‘Andrew Strauss came back and did well after a break and Vaughan will hopefully do that as well.
  ‘Going abroad might put his mind right. We will organise where he goes so he can try and get back in the side. We know what he is capable of.’
  Miller added that Kevin Pietersen, Vaughan’s replacement as captain, was relishing the upcoming tour.
  ‘He (Pietersen) is very competitive. He wants to win home and away,’ Miller said.
  ‘He’ll be looking forward to doing well in India. We have faith in him as much as we have in the rest of the side.’ 
Yousuf gets a T20 lifeline 
Reuters/Bdnews24.com . Karachi 

The Pakistan Cricket Board has thrown a Twenty20 lifeline to senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf after naming him among the probables for a four-nation tournament in Toronto next month.
  Pakistan’s top Test and one-day batsman, who has bitterly complained in the media for being ignored for Twenty20 matches, is among the players for whom the PCB has sought visas.
  ‘Yousuf’s name has been sent as he is very keen to play in this form of the game. If he performs well in the national T20 championship, he can be considered for the Toronto event,’ a board official told Reuters on Monday.
  Yousuf, 34, who has played in 79 Tests and 269 one-day internationals, has played only one Twenty20 international, in 2006. 
Chappell predicts Ponting 
blitzkrieg in Test series 
Press Trust of India . Melbourne 

Ricky Ponting’s barren run in India is all set to end in the upcoming four Test series, asserts Australia’s assistant coach Greg Chappell, who feels Anil Kumble’s men should be wary of the Aussie captain’s resolve.
  ‘I can see a steely glint in his eye and I always worry when I see that in good players because that means there are a few runs around the corner,’ Chappell, a former India coach, was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald .
  ‘If I was the Indian team and I wanted to worry about something, I would worry about that. The only discussion we have had about it, in fact he (Ponting) was the one that initiated and made the comment that basically what he has to do is trust his method,’ he added.
  Ponting has more than 10,000 Test runs under his belt but has always struggled on the turning tracks of India, averaging little over 12 there.
  Even in the ongoing tour, the feisty right hander has not made a very good start, scoring just five runs in a practice game in Jaipur against an attack that comprised Ranji level bowlers.
  Chappell, however, foresees Ponting doing well in the Test series starting October 9 in Bangalore provided the Aussie skipper continues to believe in himself.
  ‘If he trusts his method and applies it here, I have no doubt that he will be successful. I think there have probably been a few occasions in India where he has got away from that method and that has perhaps been part of the issue when it comes to performance in India,’ he said. 
McGain, Krejza compete for 
spinner’s spot 
Cricinfo 

Leg-spinner Bryce McGain and off-spinner Jason Krejza will be competing for the specialist spinners’ spot in Australia’s line-up after coach Tim Nielsen indicated they are likely to field three fast bowlers and a spinner for the Tests.
  Australia’s attack during their previous Test series, against West Indies earlier this year, comprised Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, and Stuart MacGill in the first two Tests, while Beau Casson replaced the leg-spinner for the final match. The spinners in the current squad, McGain and Krejza, haven’t played a Test yet.
  ‘I think we did a pretty reasonable job in the West Indies playing on low, flat, pretty slow wickets that spun late in the game, especially the first two Tests, with three quicks and a spinner,’ Nielsen said. 
Ferguson warns United 
Agence France-Presse . London 

Sir Alex Ferguson has warned Manchester United not to underestimate Aalborg as the Champions League holders bid to kick-start their European campaign today.
  Ferguson’s side were held to a disappointing goalless draw by Villarreal in their opening Group E match, but they are heavy favourites to take all three points in Denmark.
  It would be a massive shock if United, who boast some of the world’s best players in their squad, even drew against an Aalborg team who would struggle to raise a flicker of recognition outside their home town.
  But the Danes, coached by former Arsenal and Middlesbrough boss Bruce Rioch, managed to frustrate Celtic in their first group match and Ferguson is determined to make sure his players don’t take a victory for granted.
  ‘Aalborg were lucky to get a draw at Celtic but they will be at home against us and my old mate Bruce Rioch will have them fired up,’ Ferguson said.
  ‘They are playing Manchester United, they will have a sell-out crowd and the whole town will be up for it. Danish clubs are always battlers.’
  That opening draw at Old Trafford has left United with little margin for error.
  Ferguson knows the Premier League champions, who still have to travel to Celtic and Villarreal, will face an up-hill struggle to reach the last 16 if they fail to win in Denmark.
  ‘Having dropped two points in our first game it is important we get it right against Aalborg,’ Ferguson said. ‘Going to Villarreal for a win will be very difficult and the last thing we need is to be going to Parkhead needing three points to go through.’
  While Ferguson is preaching caution, in private he must expect a convincing win against the weakest side in Group E.
  United found it hard to break down Bolton on Saturday but eventually claimed a 2-0 victory and Ferguson could take heart from the return to goal-scoring form of Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov’s most influential performance since his 30 million pounds move from Tottenham.
  Berbatov has yet to score in three matches for United but Ferguson has been impressed with his play outside the penalty area and expects fireworks from the Bulgarian striker soon.
  ‘You don’t need to pass to him in space all the time. You can pass to him when he’s marked - he’s brilliant at that and he produced some great moments, against Bolton,’ Ferguson said. ‘His touch was fantastic at times.’
  Berbatov’s passive demeanour on the pitch often led to accusations that he doesn’t care enough at Tottenham, but he is determined to make a big impact at United and he believes the goals will flow soon.
  ‘I really wanted to score a goal (against Bolton), but the three points are the most important thing and we were the better team,’ Berbatov said.
  ‘We scored two goals but missed four or five chances. I’m happy with how I’m playing, particularly after the Bolton game.
  ‘The game was good for me. I didn’t take my chances so hopefully in the future I will score.
  ‘I think it was a big improvement from myself and from the team. I’m working really hard to help the team and so I can develop a better understanding with everyone. I’m sure that will happen.’ 
Ramos feels the heat 
Agence France-Presse . Portsmouth 

Juande Ramos insisted his job was not under threat after angry Tottenham fans turned on the Spanish coach during a dismal 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth.
  Ramos’s side have lost four of their first six matches and are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table following their worst start in 53 years.
  Inevitably it was former Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe, sold by Ramos in January, who plunged his old boss further into the mire with a first-half penalty and a key role in Peter Crouch’s goal after the break at Fratton Park.
  Not for the first time this season, Spurs looks woefully short of confidence and cohesion.
  The final straw for the 2,000 supporters who had travelled down from north London was Ramos’s decision to replace Roman Pavlyuchenko with Darren Bent in the closing stages.
  Chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ echoed around the away end but Ramos was adamant he retains the full confidence of chairman Daniel Levy and his board.
  ‘Absolutely. We speak regularly and everyone is aware of our delicate position,’ Ramos said.
  ‘Whether I survive is something for the chairman and the board to decide but I’m not hurt (by the fans’ abuse). What hurts is not winning matches.’
  Ramos takes his team to Poland on Thursday with a slender 2-1 lead in the UEFA Cup and a defeat against Wisla Krakow would increase the pressure on the former Sevilla coach.
  Ramos admitted: ‘We are in a complicated situation and nobody seems to help us when we need it.
  ‘Portsmouth scored from a penalty today but in the same kind of incident we were denied a penalty - the same as against Wigan last week. In critical moments we are not getting these decisions.
  ‘We have been playing with two strikers in most games but we used just one against Newcastle and it worked better. Bent had played every minute of the six previous games and needed a break.
  ‘It is true that when you come here and feel up for winning that it is very disappointing when you lose, but the players know we have another game in another competition on Thursday and we must recover from this very quickly.’
  Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp was delighted with his side’s display but instead of talking about Defoe and company he had to respond to an admission from owner Alexandre Gaydamak that he could be persuaded to sell the club. 
Lyon fret on Juninho while 
Bayern worry over form 
Agence France-Presse . Berlin 

While French champions Lyon might have injury concerns about Brazilian captain Juninho ahead of today’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, the Germans have plenty of worries of their own.
  A groin injury is troubling the influential 33-year-old playmaker, who missed Lyon’s 2-1 win over Nancy in the French league on Saturday.
  He faces a race against time to be fit for Tuesday’s Group F clash at Munich’s Allianz Arena against struggling Bayern.
  Lyon coach Claude Puel can still call on France striker Karim Benzema to lead the French side’s attack.
  Benzema came off against Nancy with a foot injury but Puel insisted ‘there will be no problems for him to face Bayern’.
  Lyon had few problems at home to mid-table Nancy on Saturday with Benzema and Brazilian Fred scoring first-half goals to seal victory.
  With five wins from six and atop the French league, Lyon are in form and drew their opening Champions League game 2-2 at home to Fiorentina.
  Bayern may top the table by virtue of their 1-0 win at Steaua Bucharest, but they have slumped in the Bundesliga where two consecutive defeats have left Jurgen Klinsmann’s side ninth in the table.
  The defending Bundesliga champions were hammered 5-2 at home by Werder Bremen and were then beaten 1-0 by a poor Hanover side on Saturday which has caused more than a few nervous faces in Bavaria.
  ‘We were totally in control for the first 20 minutes, but we let them seize the initiative with a stupid goal from a free-kick,’ fumed Bayern manager Uli Hoeness after his side lost for the first time in Hanover for 20 years.
  ‘Thankfully we have our next game on Tuesday against Lyon.
  ‘We can use it to test ourselves at the European level and hopefully find our rhythm, so we play better in the league than we have done recently.’
  Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann has been resting his main stars ahead of the Lyon clash and strikers Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose are expected to play with flying Frenchan Franck Ribery back in midfield.
  Ribery is short of match fitness after three months out after tearing ankle ligaments playing for France against Italy in Euro 2008 in June and
  he made his return in the debacle against Bremen just over a week ago.
  Bayern captain Mark van Bommel is expected to lead the side, but their are question marks over Michael Rensing - Oliver Kahn’s replacement in the Bayern goal - who has made mistakes in the last two games.
  But Bayern will need to improve on their recent performances if they are to stay unbeaten at the top of the group. 
Romania need to win more 
than France, says Hagi 
Agence France-Presse . Bucharest 

Romania need to beat France in their third World Cup qualifying game on October 11 and are capable of it given the return from injury of two star players, according to former Romania great Gheorghe Hagi.
  ‘We need to win even more than France,’ Hagi told AFP, speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony in which he was unveiled as his country’s ambassador for the UN children’s agency UNICEF.
  ‘It will be a very difficult game for the two teams but if ours really believe in it, it (victory) is possible.’
  Captain Cristian Chivu and star striker Adrian Mutu, who both missed Romania’s World Cup qualifiers against Lithuania and the Faroe Islands, return to their national side for the crunch showdown against France.
  Chivu and Mutu are two of 10 foreign-based Romanians called up by coach Victor Piturca for the third qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, which will be played in the Black Sea city of Constanta.
  Chivu (shoulder) and Mutu (elbow) missed Romania’s humiliating 3-0 loss to Lithuania on September 6 and the narrow 1-0 win over the Faroes four days later, but have both since made their returns for Inter Milan and Fiorentina in the Italian league.
  ‘It’s obvious the team will be stronger with them,’ Hagi, who formerly starred for Steaua, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Galatasaray among other clubs, said of the two players’ return.
  ‘Both are excellent players, technically skilled and very strong mentally.’ 
Espanyol to protest incidents 
at Barca match 
Agence France-Presse . Madrid 

Espanyol plans to make an official protest over the ‘anti-sporting’ behaviour of some Barcelona players during incidents in the derby match at the weekend.
  ‘We will inform the national anti-violence commission of the behaviour of some Barca players during Saturday’s match, which Barcelona won 2-1, a spokesman for Espanyol, Xavi Andreu, told AFP Monday.
  With 10-man Espanyol leading 1-0, referee Luis Medina temporarily stopped the match in the 69th minute after Barca fans threw flares at the celebrating Espanyol fans.
  After Lionel Messi scored the late winning goal with a penalty, some Barcelona players celebrated before a group of radical Barca fans in the stands known as the ‘Boixos Nois’.
  Espanyol believe the players’ behaviour was ‘anti-sporting’ and an ‘incitement to violence’, Andreu said.
  ‘We are going to analyse the video images’ to determine which Barca players were involved, he said.
  Photographs published in the Spain’s sporting press showed Messi, Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry were part of the group.
  Five Barca supporters were arrested following the match.
  Spain’s anti-violence commission, made up of members of the Sports Council, which is part of the education ministry, has the power to impose fines on clubs and ban supporters from matches. 
Ronaldinho fires Milan 
to derby victory 
Agence France-Presse . Rome 

Ronaldinho scored his first goal in Italian football to give AC Milan a vital 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in a pulsating city derby at the San Siro on Sunday.
  Inter Milan had two players sent off – although Marco Materazzi was dismissed after he’d been substituted – as Jose Mourinho tasted defeat as Inter coach for the first time.
  It means that despite losing their first two matches, Milan are right back up in the thick of the title race having won their next three in a row.
  Ronaldinho dedicated his goal to the Milan fans and club president – and Italy prime minister – Silvio Berlusconi, who celebrates his 72nd birthday on Monday.
  ‘I’m very happy, I was hoping to score a goal. This one is for the fans who’ve made me feel at home,’ said the Brazilian.
  ‘It’s a moment of great happiness, I know tomorrow is president Berlusconi’s birthday, this goal is for him.’
  Previous leaders Inter drop down to fourth with the loss as the Serie A table takes on an unfamiliar look.
  Lazio are the new Serie A leaders after they won 3-1 at Torino while Napoli, one of only two remaining unbeaten teams, are up to an unlikely second following their 1-0 success at Bologna.
  Udinese are third having won 2-1 at home to Siena while Catania, who beat Chievo 1-0, are fifth ahead of Milan and Juventus.
  In Milan, Inter had more of the ball but Milan were looking dangerous on the break and on 25 minutes Kaka beat Maicon down the left before crossing for Ronaldinho, whose left foot shot was blocked by goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
  Milan went in front on 36 minutes on the counter as Ronaldinho fed Kaka wide on the right before charging into the penalty area to meet his countryman’s cross with a bullet header into top corner from almost on the penalty spot.
  Mourinho waited less than a quarter of an hour after the break before deciding he’d seen enough and he threw on two strikers.
  Brazilian Adriano and Argentine Julio Cruz came on for centre-back Materazzi and winger Alessandro Mancini in a typical Mourinho substitution.
  Inter’s task was made tougher when Nicolas Burdisso was sent off with a quarter of an hour left after picking up a second yellow card.
  Mourinho brought on Dejan Stankovic with his final throw of the dice and he forced Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati into parrying a vicious volley before Adriano blasted the follow-up over the bar.
  In a thrilling finale, Materazzi was shown a red card for berating the referee from the sideline and Milan substitute Andriy Shevchenko forced Julio Cesar into a fine save before Adriano headed wide from inside the six-yard box.
  Mourinho refused to comment on the referee and defended his attacking substitutions.
  ‘I don’t think either side deserved to win more than the other, they scored a goal so well done Milan,’ he said. ‘I’m not talking about the referee, I want to be on the bench for the next game.
  ‘I’m not afraid, when I’m not happy with the result I take risks. Unfortunately with 10 men I can’t make more attacking changes.’
  Lazio have been the surprise team of this season and their fourth victory in five matches ensured their place at the top.
  Macedonia forward Goran Pandev and a brace from scudetto top scorer Mauro Zarate, one from the spot, put them 3-0 up before nine-man Torino scored an injury time consolation goal from a Nicolas Amoruso penalty.
  Lazio coach Delio Rossi said there was still more to come from his table-toppers.
  ‘I’m happy to be the coach of players who give their all and play to their best,’ he said.
  ‘It seemed easy today but Torino played well. I thought in the first half they played better than us but for the rest of the game it was all Lazio.
  ‘We have worked hard and this group can develop and improve as we’re missing important players like (Tommaso) Rocchi and (Francesco) Matuzalem.’
  In the capital, last season’s runners-up AS Roma won for only the second time this season in a 2-0 home success over Atalanta.
  Centre-back Cristian Panucci opened the scoring through a deflected strike before Montenegro forward Mirko Vucinic added the second with a slick turn and shot. 
Goal machine Villa fires 
Valencia to top 
Agence France-Presse . Madrid 

David Villa’s hot streak in front of goal continued with two goals as Valencia returned to the top of the Spanish first division after a 4-2 home win over Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.
  Valencia, league champions in 2002 and 2004, knocked Villarreal off the summit on goal difference as they continued their unbeaten start to the season under new coach Unai Emery.
  ‘We are getting over the problems of last season (when they finished 10th) and today we showed what we are capable of,’ said Emery.
  ‘It is nice to be top but what we are concerned with is consistency and growing as a team. We don’t know our limits because it is early on in the season.’
  Sevilla moved up to fourth, two points behind Valencia, with a 1-0 win at Atletico Madrid late on Sunday.
  A 21st-minute free-kick from Brazilian attacker Luis Fabiano, who scored 24 league goals last season, clinched the match for the visitors.
  ‘Atletico are a magnificent team that clearly like to go forward but the difficulties they had today are due to the qualities of Sevilla,’ said Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez.
  ‘They had problems because of the pressure we exerted, we didn’t let them move the ball about like they can and our defence was solid too.’
  Atletico defeated Sevilla home and away last season before stealing fourth spot and a Champions League berth from them so this was pay back for Sevilla.
  Javier Aguirre’s Atletico drop to seventh and need to clear their heads for Wednesday’s Champions League home match against Marseille.
  ‘We tried and tried from every way we could,’ explained Aguirre. ‘It was difficult after they scored because they could sit and play on the counter-attack.’
  While Atletico failed to come from a goal down Valencia showed great resilience to overcome Depor after an own goal from Italian defender Emiliano Moretti just 11 minutes in saw them fall behind.
  The home side responded with Juan Mata levelling and Spanish star Villa put them ahead four minutes into the second half.
  Winger Joaquin made it 3-1 before Villa got a tap-in and he now sits top of the goalscoring charts with six goals from just five games showing why Real Madrid tried so hard to sign him this summer.
  Portuguese side CS Maritimo are Valencia’s next opponents on Thursday in the UEFA Cup with the Spaniards holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg.
  While Emery has had a great start to life with Valencia – four wins and a draw in his first five matches – Racing Santander’s new manager Juan Ramon Muniz is finding it tough going.
  Muniz watched his side lose 2-1 at home to Real Mallorca on Sunday plunging the club into the bottom three without a win to their name.
  ‘We lost because of the mistakes we made not because of one by the referee,’ raged Muniz.
  Cameroon striker Pierre Webo struck four minutes from time to sink Racing who had initially taken the lead through Ivan Marcano before Fernando Varela equalised for the visitors.
  It was a sweet win for Mallorca who lost out on the final UEFA Cup spot to Racing on the final day of last season and they go ninth while Racing lie second from bottom with two points from a possible 15.
  Last season under Marcelino Garcia Racing were vying for a Champions League spot before finishing sixth to qualify for the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history.
  But Marcelino walked out on the club and Muniz is struggling to fill his shoes still waiting for his first league win in charge.
  Newcomers Malaga, who Muniz led to promotion last season, recorded their first win of the campaign with a 2-1 over Valladolid on Sunday.
  After four games without finding the net Manuel Lolo scored Malaga’s first goal of the season on 33 minutes and the decisive second came on 54 minutes through Adrian Lopez.
  Elsewhere, Almeria sit sixth in the standings with Argentine Alvaro Negredo scoring the winning goal five minutes into stoppage time to down nine-men Recreativo Huelva. 
Ancelotti urges improvement 
Agence France-Presse . Rome 

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has called for calm following his team’s 1-0 victory over cross-city rivals Inter in Serie A action on the weekend.
  Ronaldinho’s first-half header made the difference in Sunday’s match and means Milan have now gone on a run of four successive wins in the league and UEFA Cup, easing the pressure on Ancelotti after the club lost their two opening matches.
  ‘Milan did exactly what I wanted,’ Ancelotti told the club website acmilan.com.
  ‘We defended in numbers and hit on the counter attack, whilst always looking to play with balance and speed.
  ‘The whole team played with great humility, every player helped one another. Compared to the first two games our approach to the matches and our mentality has changed.
  ‘After this victory we must not lose sight of certain details. The losses against Genoa and Bologna are still fresh in the memory and I think it’s still early to say that Milan is healed.
  ‘Certainly the whole group learned from their errors and this helped us do better.’
  Inter’s loss to AC Milan was the first time that they have lost since Jose Mourinho took charge, their first since being crowned champions for the third season in a row and their ex-Chelsea coach Mourinho was in his usual abrasive mood following the defeat.
  ‘They played with all their players in midfield,’ the Portuguese told the club website inter.it.
  ‘Whereas we played with only two in central midfield. (Julio) Cruz had to come on to help our two midfielders with their marking, because (Clarence) Seedorf had far too much freedom.
  ‘It was a great derby and should have finished 1-1. That would have been a fair result, but it finished 1-0 to them and now we have to look ahead. We’ve lost a match, but we’re ahead of them (in the table) and I’m pleased with that.’
  Mourinho will certainly not be pleased that the winning goal came from an unlikely source – a Ronaldinho header, his first goal in Italy – and was further angered by first the red card shown to the already substituted Marco Materazzi for abusive language and then the second yellow card to his other central defender Nicolas Burdisso.
  However, captain Javier Zanetti urged the side to stay focused and not get sidetracked by the derby loss, with a Champions League fixture at home to Werder Bremen on Wednesday.
  ‘We have to stay calm and think about Wednesday’s Champions League match because there is still a long way to go in the championship,’ the Argentinian said.
  ‘Milan had one chance and scored. The referee got everything wrong when he sent off Materazzi. As captain I felt I couldn’t protest it in case I made things worse. The referee booked me and I hadn’t even said a thing.’
  AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini added: ‘For us, winning the derby was important. I think we looked for the victory more than them and we got it. We deserved the victory.
  ‘Now we are also in a good position in the standings.’
  Probably the happiest man in San Siro on Sunday was Italy prime minister and AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi, for whom the result began his 72nd birthday celebrations on Monday.
  However, despite his joy at the win, he still underlined that it was part of the team’s progress and that is musn’t become the season hightlight.
  ‘I saw a great Milan tonight, who played with great technique and heart. I did not see a single player not give his best.
  ‘Milan did what they had to do. They came on the pitch to win and control the play. But four victories aren’t that many, we have to continue like this.’ 
Wenger ready to wield the axe 
Agence France-Presse . London 

Arsene Wenger is ready to axe several of his Arsenal stars after admitting the shock defeat against Hull left him feeling ‘physically sick’.
  Wenger has rarely been so angry during his 12-year reign at Arsenal as he was in the aftermath of Saturday’s 2-1 loss at the Emirates Stadium and he will make wholesale changes for today’s Champions League clash against Porto.
  While the Gunners boss wouldn’t name the players he was most disappointed with, he made no attempt to hide his frustration at their second league defeat of the campaign.
  ‘There will be changes on Tuesday certainly,’ Wenger said. ‘I will see how many, but there will be changes. There were enough ingredients to make me physically sick.
  ‘What we delivered was not good enough and we know that. I believe that is more down to the mental side than anything technical. If we had the same level of commitment as Hull we would have won the game, as the technical advantage is with us.
  ‘What was most disappointing is that we struggled to score in the first half, finally went 1-0 up, yet still lost the game.
  ‘That is where we were guilty. We worked so hard to get ahead and then we let it go again.’
  William Gallas and Kolo Toure were both widely criticised by fans and pundits after the Hull defeat and Wenger admitted he was unhappy with Arsenal’s defending.
  ‘We gave them too much room on the first goal and we didn’t clear the second one and that’s it,’ he said. ‘Our centre-backs are not very tall. I don’t know what we can do.
  ‘What is important now is to recover and prepare for the next game. It is not important now how many games we lose in the season, it’s how we respond on Tuesday.’ 
Controversial penalty 
causes City crash 
Agence France-Presse . Wigan 

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes took out his frustrations on referee Steve Bennett after his side crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Wigan.
  City’s takeover by the billionaire-backed Abu Dhabi United Group has made Hughes’s club arguably the richest in the world, but unfashionable Wigan and cut-price talisman Amr Zaki cut them down to size at the JJB Stadium on Sunday.
  Zaki, a loan-signing from El Zamalek, outshone Robinho and company as he hit the winner from the penalty spot after City defender Vincent Kompany had cancelled out Antonio Valencia’s stunning opener.
  But Hughes felt hard done by as Wilson Palacios was fortunate to win the decisive spot-kick when he tumbled in an exaggerated fashion after nicking the ball ahead of Javier Garrido.
  ‘We are disappointed because we feel the referee has played an outcome in the result of the game,’ Hughes said.
  ‘There were a number of key decisions which we felt he got wrong and once Wigan got in front they were difficult to break down.
  ‘The two goals we conceded today were an outstanding strike from their player for the first one and penalty which we felt was really harsh. Their player had looked to gain an advantage and dived theatrically.
  ‘I thought initially maybe the referee had given it because he was in a poor position but he wasn’t so he feels he was right to give that decision.’
  Hughes also felt City should have had a penalty of their own just before half-time.
  Richard Dunne fell under pressure from Emile Heskey from a City free-kick but Bennett waved away their appeals.
  ‘Yes I think it was (a penalty). We tried to get an opinion on that decision but we were told it was a coming together of bodies and in the end he gave a free-kick for handball,’ Hughes said.
  ‘When you see it on the videos Richard Dunne was clearly impeded in the box and it should have been a penalty.’
  Wigan boss Steve Bruce disagreed with his former Manchester United team-mate and felt that Bennett’s decision was a correct one.
  Bruce praised desire shown by his players who constantly chased City and put them under pressure when they were in possession.
  ‘Sometimes you purr at what some of them produce and that is the case here,’ he said. ‘Zaki is going to get the headlines and rightly so. But people like Lee Cattermole, Emile Heskey and Valencia were superb.
  ‘When you analyse it from one to 11, although they are dodgy numbers these days, they produced a magnificent performance.
  ‘Because of their appetite and their attitude and also their ability we deserved to win the game in my opinion - there was no fluke about it.’
  It was Wigan who started brighter and their first sight of goal came from a short corner as Zaki’s shot flashed over the crossbar. The hosts kept up the pressure and City fell behind in the 16th minute.
  Olivier Kapo’s free kick was hacked away to Valencia 30 yards from goal and the Ecuador winger took a touch before driving a superb swerving shot past Joe Hart.
  Robinho had a glorious chance to equalise moments later when he ran onto Stephen Ireland’s clever pass, but the former Real Madrid star shot wide.
  City didn’t have to wait long to draw level. In the 22nd minute, Palacios made a hash of clearing Elano’s free-kick and Kompany was perfectly-placed to volley home from close-range.
  When Palacios just beat Garrido to a through ball and made an exaggerated tumble under the Spanish defender’s challenge, referee Steve Bennett had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.
  City felt hard done by and Robinho and Kompany were both booked for dissent as they protested. Zaki rubbed salt into City’s wounds as he sent Hart the wrong way from the spot to restore Wigan’s lead and notch his sixth goal in eight appearances. 
United penalty row rumbles on 
Agence France-Presse . London 

Bolton captain Kevin Nolan has revealed that even Manchester United’s players couldn’t believe Rob Styles gave them a penalty on Saturday.
  Styles awarded a spot-kick at Old Trafford following Jlloyd Samuel’s tackle on Cristiano Ronaldo, even though the Bolton defender clearly won the ball.
  Nolan claims that Ronaldo, who drove home the spot-kick to put United on course for a 2-0 win, and several of his team-mates said they didn’t think it was a penalty, while Styles will reportedly apologise to Bolton for the mistake.
  ‘Ronaldo was on the floor saying, “I didn’t want a penalty!”,’ Nolan told the Daily Mail.
  ‘I don’t think one of them put their hands up asking for a penalty. Fletcher’s going, “It’s not a penalty”, Tevez is going, ‘It’s not a penalty’. Twenty players who were in the box at the time knew it wasn’t a penalty.
  ‘But the man who was in black had the final say. They couldn’t believe their luck. But you’re at United and unfortunately that happens.
  ‘It does strike fear into you when you look at this magnificent stadium. Maybe that’s what’s happened to the referee. He said he thought Jlloyd took Ronaldo before the ball.
  ‘It didn’t make sense to me at all. But I can’t say too much or I’m going to get done by the FA.’
  Styles, who was demoted twice last season after awarding two erroneous penalties, apparently wanted to apologise immediately after the game but was restricted by the guidelines of his superiors at the referees’ governing body.
  Instead, he e-mailed his manager at the professional referees’ association and asked for an apology to be passed on to Bolton, the Daily Mail reported on Monday.