Thursday, June 25, 2009

Rossi Eyes Return to Serie A

By Josh Allen - Giuseppe Rossi could be set for a return to Italy, according to his agent Federico Pastorello.

The 22 year old was one of the few players to come out of Italy's recent Confederations Cup (http://betting.betfair.com/international-football/internationals/confederations-cup-betting-a-dress-rehearsal-of-th-100609.html) campaign with any credit, scoring two impressive goals against the USA. He also has a good scoring record at current club Villarreal, where he has netted 26 times in 62 appearances.

Despite his young age, Rossi is already at his third club, following spells at Parma and Manchester United. Although he has played regularly at Villarreal, whom he joined in 2007, the forward could be on the move again.


Speaking to Radio Kiss Kiss, Rossi's agent Pastorello said: “Without a shadow of a doubt he is a player, who in the moment at which a call from a big club arrives he would respond as being ready, willing and able. “If this club were to be Italian, so much the better, because he feels Italian in every way”.

However Pastorello was also keen not to shut the door on his client's current employers. He said: “His [Rossi's] is a complicated situation. He is fine where he is. We are negotiating a contract renewal with Villarreal”.

Should Rossi leave, his most likely destination would be Juventus. The Turin giants have been impressed by the forward's recent performances and according to reports are already in talks with Villarreal.

Moving in the other direction could be striker David Trezeguet. The Frenchman has been at Juventus for over nine years but has recently falling out of favour and chairman Giovanni Cobolli Gigli says a swap deal is possible if: “Villarreal are able to reciprocate Trezeguet's salary.”

Rossi would represent the second major summer signing (http://betting.betfair.com/football/premiership/) for Juventus, who have already spent 25 million euros on Brazil international Diego.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Lippi is confident: "We are eager and Skilled"

PRETORIA, 14 June 2009 - We are in Pretoria and Lippi has selected his "Pretorian" Azzurri, seasoned, not old; confident, not in decay. In sum, on the eve of their debut in the Confederations Cup, Lippi relies on his veteran players, a group that has never let him down, while preparing for his next sports fight, the match against the United States.

ITALY'S CONDITION "We'll see tomorrow; but we are so ready! We really want to do well and this is a great group of lads, but it's useless to speak before the match. We must win and if possible, play well. We want to show that Italian football is always at top level. Italian football is not represented by individual teams, but rather by its National side."

THE U.S. "They are a different squad from the one that participated in the World Cup. The manager's son, who plays in midfield, is very good and they have, as usual, Donovan, Demsey and Beasley. They play in a 4-4-2 formation, with Donovan as a support player. Their physical form is great and we must watch out for them."

WORLD CHAMPIONS "My 'oldies'? Perhaps I didn't take into consideration the average age of the other teams. Ours is 28.5 years and is not too different from the average age of the other teams. They are only a bit younger than us, but I'm not worried. I have complete faith in my players. In the next few months we will include some Under 21 players. If I had to win a championship, I wouldn't have selected these players, but considering their quality in a 30-40-day tournament, I don't think there are many squads in the world that could be stronger than us right now. My lads are very eager to win."

CHARGED-UP "Yes, because I have watched the opening ceremony today, with the flags, and my hands became clammy."

SPAIN They have never won the World Cup and they have just won their first European Cup. They have built on their youth but it took them 6-7 years to win. Our football is not inferior to Spain's or Brazil's. Can we close the gap? What gap? We are the world champions."

LOGISTICS "We have been here for a week and the last bad thing we've encountered has been the weather, although that was just at the beginning. The weather is better now and the rest is perfect."

THE GREAT ONES "The Berlusconi-Obama meeting? It's not easy to rule the world. I hope we do it seriously and to the best of our abilities."

TONI-GILARDINO "Do I have doubts about which one to select? No, I don't have any doubts. I think that Legrottaglie, albeit not in his best form, will also be available."

From our Gazzetta.it correspondent Riccardo Pratesi (http://english.gazzetta.it/More_sports/14-06-2009/lippi-is-confident-we-are-eager-and-skilled-50529852998.shtml)

Monday, June 1, 2009

Ancelotti Outlines The Challenge Of Becoming Chelsea Boss And Learning English

The experienced Italian provided his first ever interview conducted in English.Alan Dawson

(June 1st Goal.com) - Carlo Ancelotti's induction into Premier League life and Chelsea Football Club has polarised opinion as some quarters believe the Italian's inability to speak fluent English may prove a stumbling block to instant results and success.

The former AC Milan boss, though, today gave a full interview to Chelsea TV in which he expressed gratitude to his former club, while also indicating how he will put all his new energy into the Stamford Bridge side.

Pausing in his delivery of deliberate but well-thought-out English, Ancelotti said, "Milan for me was a great experience as for five years we played as a great team and we won a lot of success. For eight years I got to train a great team but now I think that the time is to change and Chelsea, for me, was a great opportunity and a great time for a new experience."

Regarding linguistic challenges, he said, "This is the first interview in English I have done and for me it is not easy! I want to learn and to improve, though, and in time for the start of the new season I will speak well.

"It is important for me to speak to the operators who will work with me, the assistant, and the players."

He continued, "I want to say thank you to Milan. But now is the right moment for a new challenge and I want to put all my new energy into Chelsea."

On how how he will adapt to life at a club where the ambitions and expectations are high, he said, "There will be the same pressures [at Chelsea as there are at Milan].

"Chelsea and Milan are both great teams in Europe and they both want to win all the competitions so there will be the same pressures," he concluded.

Alan Dawson, Goal.com (click here to read article on goal.com)