GILA Monster Shakes the Monkey Off His Back

Gila monster shakes the monkey off his back

Alberto Gilardino finally broke his goal-scoring duck this weekend, but some of his critics are yet to be convinced.

By: Paolo Bandini

Typical - you wait 171 days for a goal, and then two come along at once. To be fair they do say that an adult Gila monster can go a whole winter without eating, but after a five-and-a-half month goal famine in Serie A, Milan's Alberto was beginning to look decidedly worse for wear. When he finally broke his duck yesterday, threading the ball through Fernando Muslera's legs for the fourth goal in Milan's 5-1 rout of Lazio (he would add the fifth nine minutes later), Gilardino scarcely managed to hold back the tears as he was mobbed by his team-mates.

"There's been a summer in between," he protested when he was reminded of his lengthy drought after the game. "I can't exactly score when I'm not playing!" His demeanour betrayed him - the trademark haunted eyes and perma-frown giving way to the relieved look of a man who has cast not so much a monkey as Donkey Kong's obese chain-smoking uncle off his back - but the point was not without foundation. A more generous pundit might point out that Gilardino had actually only gone eleven games without a goal, if you include his Champions League strike against Manchester United on May 2, rather than simply his league goals as many chose to, and that in six of those matches he was on the pitch for 25 minutes or less. He played the full 90 minutes just twice.

Sadly constant criticism is a state of play Gilardino has had to become accustomed to since joining the Rossoneri. Having cost Milan €24m when he joined from Parma in July 2005, and having arrived on the back of consecutive 23-goal seasons, expectations were immediately placed somewhere between optimistic and totally unreasonable. A first-season haul of 17 league goals in 31 games - above the traditional strikers' benchmark of a goal in every other game - was greeted as a barely acceptable first effort. Last year's 12 in 30, meanwhile, were practically enough to get him hounded out of town.

Over the summer a significant section of fans campaigned for him to be sold, or even traded for Internazionale's out-of-sorts Adriano. When he returned this season one particular section of Ultras - "on strike" over various grievances with the club - heckled him and Dida mercilessly. Although said Ultras broke their strike last month, generously raising a banner saying: "Dida and Gila: We Forgive You", the grumbles have continued. Many Rossoneri fans have been counting down the days until ineligible Alexandre Pato, and injured Ronaldo become available, and Gilardino can be dropped.

Of course, the criticism is not entirely unjustified. This is a Milan team founded on Champions League success above all else, and it is here that Gila's record is flimsiest - having struck just twice in 21 matches. Furthermore, there is a growing sense that the striker is what American sporting terminology might dub a "tweener" - a player with undisputed talent, but one lacking the ideal skillset to fit any specific position. Despite being 6'1 and a decent header of the ball, Gilardino lacks the strength to be a target man; despite decent pace, good instincts and sometimes exceptional finishing, he lacks the wits and ruthlessness of a pure poacher.

There are those too who would contend, with justification, that Milan's move away from 4-4-2 towards 4-4-1-1 has hurt him, but for all the technical analysis, the concern lingers that Gilardino's greatest weakness might come down to mental frailty and an inability to deal with the fans' expectation. Even dating back to his time with Parma his starts to seasons have always been slow - last year he didn't open his account until October 28 - and it is worth noting that his first five goals for Milan all came away from home.

Less obviously relevant, yet in some ways equally revealing were his actions during the "Vallettopoli" (showgirl-gate) scandal last year. Photo agency owner Fabrizio Corona had been earning a tidy income by effectively setting up celebrities and sportsmen, introducing them to attractive young ladies on their nights out and then promptly taking incriminating shots.

Because they were "his friends", Corona would then offer to sell the photos exclusively back to said celebrities, hence keeping them out of the magazines.

Gilardino himself was soon snapped in one such (by-all-accounts rather innocuous) photo and promptly bought it back, yet when the police cottoned on to the scam he remained loyal to Corona, informing him of the police's investigation after he had been questioned. Corona was still jailed, yet the meekness of Gilardino seems staggering. Whether he feared Corona or was simply remaining loyal to a "friend" who had blackmailed him, his actions seemed out of step with the selfishness and "arsehole" qualities great strikers are traditionally required to possess.

Nevertheless, for now Gilardino, and indeed Milan, pick up a much needed boost, claiming only their second win of the season and in doing so avoiding their worst start to a campaign under Silvio Berlusconi ownership. It was a composed performance - Milan shrugging off both referee Emidio Morganti's baffling decision to wave away a penalty his assistant had rightly signalled for just minutes in, and Stefano Mauri's 23rd-minute equaliser - to systematically take apart Delio Rossi's side. Even Dida, not at fault for the goal, put in a solid performance, making five saves on his first game since the farce at Celtic.

Then again, they'll need many more similar performances to catch Inter, who moved three points clear after dismissing Napoli with far more ease than the margin of victory might suggest. The scudetto, of course, is a long way from decided but the Nerazzurri's attacking depth is ominous.

Source: The Guardian

VAN NISTELROY celebrates a 'dream come true'

Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy refused to let injury prevent him from celebrating Real Madrid's title success with the rest of his team-mates last night.

Van Nistelrooy, La Liga's leading scorer this season with 25 strikes, only lasted 33 minutes of Madrid's title decider with Real Mallorca after limping off with a hamstring injury.

That looked to be a huge blow for Madrid, who were trailing 1-0 at the time while title rivals Barcelona were well on their way to an eventual 5-1 thrashing of Gimnastic Tarragona.

But Madrid managed to recover from the loss of the prolific Dutchman, and two second-half strikes from Jose Antonio Reyes and an own goal from Angelos Basinas earned Fabio Capello's men a 3-1 win and their 30th league title.

Van Nistelrooy, who joined the club from United last summer, may not have finished the game, or won the European golden boot - he needed to score twice to pip Roma's Francesco Totti - but the Dutchman was not about to miss out on the post-match celebrations at the famous Cibeles fountain in the centre of Madrid.

'It has been my first year at Real Madrid, and we have won the league,' he said. 'Now we are at Cibeles.

'It is a dream come true. It is incredible. It is hard to explain the joy that I feel. I don't have the words.

'I don't even feel any pain. We're champions and the tear doesn't even hurt. All we have left to do is go to the party.'

Source: soccernet

Hungry GERRARD Leads Liverpool from the Front

Liverpool's players will stride out into the muggy heat of the Olympic stadium this evening with one final rallying cry from their captain ringing in their ears. "We do not want to leave Athens upset and with regrets that we have not brought the European Cup home," said Steven Gerrard.

"We want to make history, be heroes and come home as winners."

Memories of Istanbul two years ago will abound at kick-off tonight as Gerrard, the inspiration behind Liverpool's comeback at the Ataturk, leads his team out against a Rossoneri line-up primed for revenge. The midfielder usually revels on such stages, having been instrumental in claiming the Champions League and the FA Cup under Rafael Benítez, and any notion that the Merseysiders' motivation is any less in pursuit of a sixth European Cup was dismissed. This team may have enjoyed consistent successes in cup competitions in recent years but the hunger remains.

To win one final was absolutely magnificent but to do it twice would be really special," said Gerrard, who is expected to play in an advanced role off Dirk Kuyt. "But I do not feel fulfilled as a footballer yet. Not at all. I am 27, I have had a decent career so far as medals are concerned but I have still got a lot of ambitions and dreams to fulfil: winning the Premiership, perhaps, and I want to experience another Istanbul. I'm even hungrier now than I was when I started out."I want more medals and trophies. If we win this game I won't be happy. I want more European Cup medals and more FA Cups. I want as many honours for this club as I can before I retire and everything I win just makes me hungrier to keep going."

Gerrard saw Mohamed Sissoko hobble away from training last night, the Mali international struggling to overcome a hamstring injury, but insisted this Liverpool side is far stronger than the team that recovered from 3-0 down at half-time in Istanbul to rally and recover to take the game to penalties. "We're a better team this time around," he said. "We've been to the final before so we know what it's all about. Personally, in 2005, everything was new for me and it took its toll. Everyone was talking about the history this club has in the European Cup and our previous successes and we felt a bit of pressure on us to emulate some of their achievements.

"I know I wasted a lot of energy with nerves before that game and I won't be making the same mistakes again. When you're nervous you get tight, you don't make the right decisions and you don't play to the best of your ability. We were really naive back then and didn't do ourselves justice in that first half in Istanbul. It was only when we were staring down the barrel of the gun at half-time that we started to play anything like ourselves."

Liverpool will hope to capitalise on the Italians' desire for revenge. "Milan will feel they have something to prove after the way they caved in in the second half, and we'll be ready for that. They've looked a good team all the way through the competition and did well to get past Manchester United as well as they did because they've had a great season. But it's going to be different this time around. Hopefully, we'll be ready from the whistle this time and not left facing a mountain to climb like before."

Source: The Guardian

ETO'O Pledges His Future to Barcelona

Samuel Eto'o has rubbished newspaper speculation linking him with a £30m summer move to the Premiership by insisting he will "definitely be at Barcelona next season".

During the last few months Eto'o, the three-time African footballer of the year, has looked increasing unhappy at the Nou Camp. He has a brooding, often distant relationship with Ronaldinho, and he fell out with coach Frank Rijkaard after refusing to come on as a late substitute against Racing Santander.

During the last few months Eto'o, the three-time African footballer of the year, has looked increasing unhappy at the Nou Camp. He has a brooding, often distant relationship with Ronaldinho, and he fell out with coach Frank Rijkaard after refusing to come on as a late substitute against Racing Santander.

But despite regularly dropping hints that he'd like to play in England - in March he openly flirted with the idea of a move to Liverpool in FourFourTwo and the Daily Mirror - Eto'o now insists he wants to stay at Barcelona."I am happy here," he said. "There is no problem, no crisis. The press can write what they want, but I am staying."

When asked about a move to Liverpool, Eto'o was just as forthright. "I have not heard anything," he said. "These kind of things are usually just speculation and don't come through to me. I am happy at Barcelona and will definitely be here next season. I have no idea where I will be in a few years time, but at the moment I have a contract with Barcelona until 2010."

The fact that Ronaldinho is likely to leave for Milan over the summer may have persuaded Eto'o to stay. Or it might be that he's merely biding his time and assessing his options. Either way, he insists that rumours of his surliness are wide of the mark. "There have been so many lies written about me," he claimed. "In fact, I would say that 99.999% of the things I have read about myself in the papers have been untrue."

Source: Guardian

MALDINI the Fulcrum of Milan Generation Game

Paolo Maldini is seeking a fifth European Cup tonight before the years finally catch him up.

Column by Richard Williams

At the back of the room, behind the row of television cameras, there is a small commotion as a door opens. Il capitano, someone says. And as Paolo Maldini walks in, the smiling master of all the surveys and the very embodiment of la bella figura, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that he may be the only footballer currently active whose entrance can provoke the instinctive urge to rise to one's feet.

A month away from his 39th birthday, Maldini is the living symbol of a club he joined when he was 10 years old. Now Milan's leader on the pitch is looking forward to his eighth European Cup final, a run which began in 1989, when he was still a teenager. He has been a winner on four occasions and a loser on three. "I don't intend to equalise the score in Athens," he says.

Over the last three weeks he has been undergoing daily treatment for the long-standing knee problem that forced him to withdraw from the semi-final against Manchester United at half-time in the first leg at Old Trafford. But after coming through two full-scale training sessions this week, he is confident that tonight in the Olympic stadium he will be fit to make his 847th senior appearance in the red and black shirt.

Maldini's links with the club stretch back into the past and forward into the future. His father, Cesare, was a Trieste-born defender who appeared in the club's first European Cup final, a 3-2 defeat by Real Madrid in 1958. In 1963 he led them to their first victory in the competition with a 2-1 defeat of Benfica at Wembley.

Paolo's debut came as a 16-year-old substitute away to Udinese in January 1985. The player he replaced at half-time, Sergio Battistini, was deputising in the centre of midfield for the injured Ray Wilkins, but by the start of the following season the teenager had become the first-choice
left-back.

"You could have stuck him in any position," Wilkins said this week. "As soon as I saw him I thought, my God, this boy's got everything. He was 16 years old, 6ft 1in tall, quick and strong, with two good feet. And he was in love with football, which you can still see today. He's also stayed the same thoroughly decent bloke, a gentleman as well as an outstanding player."

Kaka, Milan's current star, has a younger man's perspective on Maldini. "When I arrived in Milan," he told me, "I realised very quickly that he was exactly the player I'd watched on television, so I wanted to learn his secrets. I found that his strong motivation is simply due to his character. You have to be born that way. He's a great man."

As Maldini's press conference began, the captain was asked if, after all this time, his blood runs red and black. "I suppose so," he said, "since my story here begins with my father, and I was born here. I don't know what I would have done without Milan. Maybe I wouldn't even have liked football." Now that the elder of his own two sons, 10-year-old Christian, is playing for the club's junior team, the Maldini dynasty seems destined to continue deep into the new century.

For Paolo himself, however, there will be just one more season, shortly to be confirmed in a new contract. "It only needs a signature," he said. "The main factor was how I felt about my physical condition. At the end of the season I'll be having an operation to sort out the problem with my knee, and then I'll be ready to start my last season."

Milan's success in reaching another final at the end of a difficult season helped persuade him to continue. "Playing in the eighth final of my career, and the third as captain, is a great motivation. It shows the nature of the club. If things don't go so well one year, you have a pretty good idea that you'll be back in contention a year later. For a player, that's a great reassurance."

Their pride was badly dented two years ago when they so dramatically surrendered a 3-0 lead to Liverpool in Istanbul. "That one hurt the most. In general when you deserve to win, you win. On that occasion we gave everything but we had to accept the way it turned out. You could say that meeting Liverpool is an opportunity for revenge, but we don't have anything against them. To reach the final in Athens is like a victory already for us, given the way the season started."

Maldini's continued importance to the team is a reflection of the work done by Milan's army of kinesiologists, chiropractors, nutritionists and physiotherapists in prolonging the active life of their best players. "Milan continue to win," he said, "because the club has a different approach to the game - and to life, too, I'd say. It's the only club that keeps players after the age of 35 - not just out of affection but because of what they can do on the pitch. Maybe in a physical sense I was a better player at 25 than I am now, but at 38 I have a great deal more experience. "Milan is not a club that has a quick turnover of players. We like to stay here because we live well and have the opportunity to reach goals that are not so common at other clubs. The quality of life here is important."

When he finally retires, Maldini will not be following his former team-mates Carlo Ancelotti, Mauro Tassotti, Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta into the club's coaching hierarchy. "I have other things I want to do in my life," he said. There is a Paolo Maldini football school for children in Senegal, a line of clothing run in partnership with his friend Christian Vieri, and a modelling contract with the H&M fashion chain.

Not even the thought of guiding his son's career can interest him in the idea of emulating the later career of his own father, who coached Italy's Under-21s for 10 years before taking the senior Azzurri, including Paolo, to the 1998 World Cup. "Christian isn't 11 yet, so he's only playing the game for fun," he said on the eve of yet another historic night in his record-breaking career. "I won't push him. But if it turns out that he wants to be a professional footballer, I can only hope that he has the same kind of life that I've had."

Source: The Guardian

KAKA would relish chance to play in the Premiership

By: James Ducker

Premiership defenders received the news that none of them will have wanted to hear yesterday: Kaká wants to play in England. But not before the AC Milan playmaker has tried to persuade Cristiano Ronaldo to join the Italian giants.

Manchester United’s Champions League semi-final against Milan had been billed as a battle between the world’s two best players, but while Kaká won that contest hands down as he inspired the Serie A team to a 5-3 aggregate victory, the Brazilian is keen to play in the same team as the United and Portugal winger. “He should transfer to Milan, then we could play together,” Kaká said yesterday. “You never know.”

Seemingly more likely, however, is the prospect of Kaká playing in the Barclays Premiership, although to judge from his performances — and three goals — over the two legs against United, that spells bad news for defenders.

“I love the competition, the challenge. There are many big teams,” he said. “Three English teams made the last four of the Champions League, so the challenge is very appealing. If one day I was to leave Milan, I would definitely look at an English team.”

Kaká is desperate to avenge Milan’s defeat by Liverpool in the Champions League final in Istanbul in 2005, when, leading 3-0 at half-time, they imploded before losing on penalties. Ominously, he believes that there is still more to come from him. “The final against Liverpool will be a unique game,” he said. “I sincerely hope it will be different from that in 2005. I reiterate that I am not playing at my top level. I still have a lot to improve on.”

Source: The Times

TEVEZ may stay a Hammer

Argentina international Carlos Tevez has hinted that he could stay with West Ham United next season and says he has been delighted with the support he has received from the club's fans.
Tevez and his compatriot Javier Mascherano moved to Upton Park in a controversial deal last August that prompted a Premier League investigation because of their association with the MSI group.

Although the Hammers were last week found to have been guilty of irregularities surrounding the transfers, they avoided a points deduction.

Tevez has played a key role in the team's recent good form which has lifted hopes that Alan Curbishley's side could still avoid the drop.

"There is a possibility I could stay," he told the club's official website.

"It is a case of sitting down with the directors of West Ham to sort out a few things, but certainly there is a chance I could stay with the club.

"The fine and everything surrounding my transfer is something for West Ham and the lawyers to take care of. My only concern, as always, is playing football.

"We will be doing everything we can to keep this club in the Premier League and for me it is an opportunity to repay the support the fans have shown me.

"They have supported me from day one and I have a very special relationship with them."
The 23-year-old has scored four goals in 27 appearances for the Hammers this season.

Source: football.co.uk

Beckham Sidelined for About a Month

MADRID, Spain -- David Beckham's return to form has taken a new twist -- a bad twist of his right knee.

The Los Angeles Galaxy-bound midfielder will be sidelined for about a month after hurting a knee ligament during a Spanish League game last weekend, an injury that eliminated his chance of being recalled to England's national team for upcoming European Championship qualifiers.

The 31-year-old hurt his right knee during Real Madrid's 1-1 tie with Getafe on Sunday when his momentum following a cross took him into an advertising sign behind the goal. He limped off the field, and a scan Monday revealed the injured ligament.

"Obviously, we hope it's not a serious injury so he can get back to helping Real Madrid challenge for the title," Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas said. "We do not expect this injury to affect his arrival in Los Angeles or his debut with the Galaxy."'

Beckham missed three games in November due to an injured left knee, which he hurt at the World Cup.

Beckham agreed in January to a five-year contract with the Galaxy worth about $27.5 million in base salary. His contract with Real Madrid ends June 30, and the Galaxy expect he will join the team in August.

Beckham was taken off in the 69th minute, 37 minutes after teammate Jose Antonio Reyes was carried off on a stretcher after hurting his left knee. Both will miss Wednesday's European Champions League game at Bayern Munich.

Famous for his bending free kicks and crosses, Beckham has 17 goals in 94 appearances for England. He was captain for 58, stepping down after England was eliminated by Portugal in last year's World Cup quarterfinals, when Beckham limped off with an Achilles' tendon injury. He has not played for England since.

His wife, Victoria, is a former member of the Spice Girls, and the pair are expected to provide a boost to MLS in attendance and television ratings.

Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello benched him from Dec. 20 until Feb. 10. When Beckham first agreed to a contract with the Galaxy, the coach said he wouldn't play for Real Madrid again, but Capello then changed his mind.

England plays at Israel on March 24 in a 2008 European Championship qualifier, and then visits Andorra four days later. The English team is tied for third place in Group E, trailing both Croatia and Russia. Only the top two nations in the group qualify.

Source: AP

Drogba ready to trade records for trophies

LONDON (AFP) - Didier Drogba is in the form of his life but the Chelsea striker would be happy not to score another goal if it means his side can win the Champions League.

Drogba is on the verge of becoming the first player to score 30 goals for Chelsea in a single season since Kerry Dixon in 1985.

The Ivory Coast forward has already bagged 29 goals so far this term and could emulate Dixon's achievement against Porto in the Champions League second round, second leg on Tuesday.

But he would gladly swap a place in the record books for the chance to get his hands on a Champions League winners' medal in Athens in May.

Drogba said: "I know how big Dixon was for Chelsea. It would be something great for me to reach his record, but there is no interest for me to score if we don't win.

"It would mean nothing special if we don't win this competition.

"I want my team to win and everybody to be happy. Even if I don't score until the end of the season it is not a problem if we win the Champions League and the FA Cup."

Drogba believes Chelsea can cope with the pressure of chasing Premiership leaders Manchester United, as well as trying to win Chelsea's first Champions League crown.

He said: "The only pressure is being second and having to win every game until the end of the season. Of course (Jose) Mourinho helped us but we are big players and can deal with the pressure."

Drogba has been the driving force behind Chelsea's bid to win all four major trophies this season.

He has already received recognition of his prowess after being named African Player of the Year and is in the running to win the English version of the award as well.

Only Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has made as much impact as Drogba this season, but the Chelsea star claims his Stamford Bridge team-mate Michael Essien would be equally deserving of the prize.

Ghana midfielder Essien has had to play in central defence in the second half of the season after injuries to John Terry and Khalid Boulahrouz.

Drogba said: "Everyone is speaking about Ronaldo and me but there are players like Essien and Paul Scholes who are having good seasons, so it is difficult to choose one.

"Essien is doing a lot. If I am voting for a player he deserves something big because he has made a great contribution."

After being condemned for some lacklustre displays and his occasional theatrics in the last two seasons, former Marseille star Drogba has won over the critics.

Chelsea boss Mourinho insists Drogha deserves all the credit for his transformation.

"It is different for a striker playing in this country and they need time to adapt," he said. "When we brought Didier we knew he had qualities to play the English game. That was our vision.

"He has improved year after year and at this moment he is at the top of his game. He has all the responsibiltiy for his improvement. For sure he is one of the players whose performance all over the season makes him a candidate for player of the year."

Source: AFP (by Steve Griffiths)

Informer Jibes Anger Shevchenko

Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko is furious at reports that he has become an unsettling influence at the club.

The 30-year-old striker is seen as the cause of a conflict between manager Jose Mourinho and the club's hierarchy.

He has been accused of being the dressing-room 'spy' of owner and friend Roman Abramovich but has strongly denied the accusations.

"I am being made a scapegoat for things that have nothing to do with me," Shevchenko told The Times.

He added: "My contract runs for four years. I am here now and I am staying here. I am continuing to work to fit inside the team.

"I have been attacked from all sides but I intend to carry on. I will grit my teeth. I am not a quitter I just want to be kept out of the politics."

It is no secret that Abramovich wanted Shevchenko and the Ukraine star moved to Chelsea in a £30m summer deal from AC Milan.

But he has struggled to fit into Mourinho's plans and reports suggest that new striking arrivals have been blocked with Abramovich keen for his manager to get the best out of Shevchenko.

Chelsea have yet to make any signings in the January transfer window, even though they have lost key players and fallen six points behind Manchester United in the Premiership title race.

Shevchenko's form - he has just three Premiership goals in 20 top-flight outings - has been a source of concern with his relationship with Abramovich resulting in accusations of him reporting back about team affairs to the Russian.

"Those rumours are all lies," said Shevchenko, who insisted he will only now speak on his personal website or club santioned news conferences. "A lot of things have been said which aren't true.

"They have caused a lot of hurt to myself and my family. I am a footballer, not a politician.

"My job is to play, that's all. It is what I've been doing since I was nine years old. People are crossing the limits in what they are saying."

Shevchenko has not been involved in Chelsea's last two games because of a hamstring injury, which has been called into question in some quarters.

He is fit ahead of the game at Liverpool on Saturday but, with Mourinho unhappy at his contribution, his inclusion at best is set to see him earn a place on the bench.

"If he decides I am not capable I just have to work harder," said Shevchenko. "It doesn't matter what I think."

Source: BBC.co.uk

Del Piero set for 500th Juve appearance

Alessandro Del Piero will make his 500th appearance for Juventus when the Serie B leaders host Bari this weekend.

The 32-year-old striker, a World Cup winner with Italy last year, is in his 14th season with the Turin club and was one of the few stars to stick by them when they were relegated from Serie A last summer for match-fixing.

Former Italy coach Marcello Lippi, who stood down after the Azzurri triumphed in Germany, heaped praise on Del Piero for his contribution to Italian football.

"Del Piero is exceptional," Lippi said.

"Few players have reached 500 appearances for Juventus, let alone score 203 goals.

"When anyone thinks of Juve, they think of Del Piero. He is one of the few real symbols of Italian football; he is a leader and has an immensely tough character, he demonstrated that at the World Cup.

"He stayed with Juventus after they were relegated and is a shining example to the rest of the squad."

Source: AFP