Tag Archives: targets

Gallas targets trophy haul

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New Tottenham signing William Gallas believes that the club can win the Premier League title this season (Spurs 33/1 – Premier League outright).

The Frenchman moved across north London from arch rivals Arsenal this summer after spending four years at the Emirates.

Gallas failed to win any trophies with the Gunners and is now hoping that he can pick up some silverware with Spurs this season.

The White Hart Lane club (5/2 – top-4 finish) managed to secure Champions League qualification last season as they scraped past Manchester City to the fourth spot in the Premier League.

Spurs have looked to bolster the squad this summer to help them compete in Europe and domestically in the upcoming campaign.

However, Brazilian midfielder Sandro has been the only signing – apart from Gallas – to join the north Londoners.

Despite this the 33-year-old believes that Spurs can challenge for the title in the top flight this season.

He said: “We just have to believe in ourselves.”

“We have got young players with great quality, they just have to believe in their capacity to do something. I hope we can achieve this,” he added.

Tottenham lost the first leg of their Champions League qualifier 3-2 to Swiss side Young Boys and will have to win at home if they want to get through to the group stages of the competition.

Gallas has not been registered for European matches for Spurs and will have to watch his new club from the sidelines when they play the second-leg on Wednesday.

He said: “Spurs are ready for the Champions League, even though they lost the first game.

“I have seen the game and the team showed character to come back. I am confident we will win that game.”

“I have played many games in the Champions League. It is the best level to play at as you are up against the biggest teams and you can show how good you are,” he added.

Gallas would be registered for the group stages of the Champions League if they do manage to get a positive result on Wednesday against Young Boys.

Spurs have made a good start to the Premier League season, drawing against Manchester City and winning at Stoke.

Gallas is likely to feature for his new club when they take on Wigan at White Hart Lane.

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Sagna targets more silverware

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Bacray Sagna believes Arsenal must win some silverware this season if the players are to convince manager Arsene Wenger to stay with the Gunners (7/1 to be FA Cup winners).

The north London outfit haven’t lifted any silverware since they beat Manchester United on penalties in the 2005 FA Cup final.

Since then the Gunners have contested a Champions League final, numerous semi-finals and come within a few points of winning the Premier League.

However, the trophy cabinet at the Emirates Stadium still awaits its first addition since the club made the short move from Highbury to their new surroundings four years ago.

Wenger had enjoyed a hugely successful spell as Arsenal manager up until recently, winning three Premier League titles and four FA Cups.

Now though the Frenchman is coming under increasing pressure to deliver some silverware, with some sections of the Arsenal fan base going as far to call for the manager’s head in the wake of their barren spell.

Wenger has just one year left on his current contract and there is speculation he will walk away from Arsenal (7/1 Premier League winners) should he fail to guide the Gunners to any trophies this year.

Sagna has now called on his team mates to deliver this season, telling them that they must win some silverware if they want to keep Wenger at the club.

“I don’t need to say how important the boss is to Arsenal,” said the full-back.

“He has done great work at Arsenal and we want to win things for him. Everything he has given us we need to give him back.

“That is what we will try to do and it would be great to win something.

“I don’t know if it will be his last season at Arsenal. We just want to play and give back the trust he gave us.

“The contract situation is not a concern. Our job is on the pitch.”

While the Gunners are once again likely to challenge for top honours they are in danger of being overtaken by Manchester City and Tottenham.

So far Wenger has only brought in striker Marouane Chamakh and defender Laurent Koscielny to strengthen his side, despite calls from supporters to bring in a new goalkeeper and anther defender and striker.

The Gunners lack of strength in depth could already be exposed before a ball has been kicked with Nicklas Bendtner ruled out for the first few weeks, while Robin van Persie is also unlikely to feature in the first game against Liverpool (5/4 to beat the Gunners).

That leaves just Chamakh and Carlos Vela as the only available first team strikers for the trip to Anfield.

Not only has Wenger got concerns over his squad to deal with but he is also fighting hard to keep Cesc Fabregas at the club, the midfielder having been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona this summer.

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Ancelotti targets European challenge

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Chelsea manager Carlo AncelottiCarlo Ancelotti believes his Chelsea players can bounce back from World Cup disappointment to win this season’s Champions League (Chelsea 6/1 to win 2010/2011 Champions League Outright).

A whole host of Blues stars endured tough times in South Africa, despite expecting to have big tournaments with their countries.

Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and John Terry suffered an early exit with England, while French duo Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda, and Ivory Coast frontman Didier Drogba, crashed out in the group stages.

But Ancelotti feels his stars have the mental steel to respond in the right fashion, as Chelsea look to build on last season’s Premier League and FA Cup double.

Speaking to the Sun, the Italian admitted: “All my Musketeers, including Drogba, Malouda, Lampard and Terry, have played in a World Cup, which has lowered their profile.”

Ancelotti has made no secret of the fact that, following his domestic success last season, his main target in the new campaign will be the Champions League.

Having won the tournament with AC Milan (4/1 to win 2010/2011 Serie A title) as a player and a coach, Ancelotti knows exactly what is needed to lift club football’s biggest trophy.

He added: “In my first season with Chelsea, we won the Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield. But I missed out on the Champions League, so that is now my dream.

“At the moment everything here in London is good. But I know if we do not keep winning that things will soon change for me.”

Chelsea will start the new season with a clash against rivals Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley next Sunday.

They then kick-off the new Premier League campaign with a home game against newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion on August 14 (Chelsea 1/7, West Brom 11/1, Draw 11/2 – Match Betting).

With the English top-flight looking a more open league this campaign, Ancelotti is well aware how important it will be to get off to a good start.

The ex-AC Milan boss concluded: “We must quickly rediscover the enthusiasm we had last season and the same good football.”

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Mancini closes in on City targets

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Manchester City (9/2 to win the Premier League) boss Roberto Mancini believes the club are closing in on their big transfer targets ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

City have been strongly linked with Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli and Aston Villa midfielder James Milner during the off-season.

The Eastlands club have already added to a squad which looks like one of the strongest in the Premier League on paper.

Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure, Jerome Boateng and David Silva are three of the big signings that have joined the club this summer.

Mancini is also hoping that the former Real Madrid playmaker Robinho, who left City on loan last season, will return to the club for the Premier League campaign.

He said: “The situation is that Robinho will finish his contract with Santos. After that he will stay in Brazil for another week, play for the national team and after that he will return to Manchester City.”

The Blues boss has stated that whether or not Robinho stays at the club is up to the player, but the manager will hope the player returns after the 26-year-old performed well at this summer’s World Cup.

City have been trying to bring in former Leeds and Newcastle star James Milner to the club after the midfielder had a strong campaign with Aston Villa (7/1 to finish in the top four) last season.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill has stated that the two clubs are at a stalemate over the valuation of last season’s PFA Young Player of the Year, but he does not know whether their key man will be at Villa Park at the start of the season.

O’Neill said: “The latest stage of play seems to be Man City feel as if they have gone as far as they want to, but we will wait with baited breath on that one.

“I think obviously the overriding opinion of all Villa fans is that they would love James to stay at the football club. But as I speak here now at this minute, my honest opinion, I cannot guarantee that but we will see.”

Speculation has suggested that Milner would welcome a move to the Premier League’s big spenders as they push for a top four finish in the league.

City will begin their campaign against Tottenham as they look for revenge against the London side, who beat them to the final Champions League place last season.

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Neuer targets Spain shutout

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Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer says he is after clean sheet when his nation take on Spain (15/8 outright World Cup winners) in Wednesday’s semi-final.

The Schalke shot-stopper has made a big name for himself at the World Cup, producing a string of fine performances as Germany (7/4 to beat Spain) eased into the last four.

While the likes of Mesut Ozil, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose (7/2 top scorer) have grabbed the headlines it’s been Neuer keeping them in the matches at the other end.

The 24-year-old has made the most saves out of the four goalkeepers left at the World Cup, denying opponents on 18 occasions.

He has also conceded just two goals, although that should number should be one higher following Frank Lampard’s goal that wasn’t given in the second round.

Having been dubbed the ‘German Casillas’ by the nation’s media Neuer is keen to match his skills up against his Spanish counterpart, Iker Casillas.

“I haven’t heard that, but of course it’s an honour to be compared to Casillas,” said Neuer. “He is an incredibly good goalkeeper who has enjoyed so much success in the past. But I like to play for a zero and it will be the same on Wednesday.”

Having kept Argentina at bay in the last round, Neuer is confident of another clean sheet in Durban as he looks to help Germany avenge their Euro 2008 final defeat to Spain.

While Neuer has been in fine form in South Africa he believes it is all down to his defenders as to why he has only conceded two goals so far.

“It is thanks to some outstanding defending that we have only conceded two goals in the tournament, we can be very happy with that,” he said.

The German’s defence is likely to be tested to the limit by Spain, in particular by David Villa who has looked unstoppable at times during this tournament.

The Barcelona forward is currently leading the way in the race for the golden boot with five goals to his name and will be looking to take advantage of the slightly cumbersome centre-halfs Arne Friedrich and Per Mertesacker.

However, Neuer has backed his team mates to deal with Villa and co, claiming they can boss the game against the less physical Spaniards.

“You have to show the opposition who’s boss,” said Neuer. “If you manage that, you have already achieved a little something.”

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Evra targets England final

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Patrice EvraManchester United defender Patrice Evra wants to banish the memory of losing out on the Premiership title by beating England in the final of the World Cup, with France 16/1 to take the title this summer.

The 28-year-old was part of the United side who did their bit by beating Stoke 4-0 on the final day of the season, only to see Chelsea down Wigan by an incredible 8-0 scoreline.

But now the former Monaco star has turned his attention to the international scene as France look to win their second World Cup, following victory back in the 1998 tournament.

Evra has taken the loss of United’s Premiership crown badly and hopes that the upcoming showpiece in South Africa can go some way to deflecting thoughts of Chelsea claiming the trophy from his mind.

“The World Cup is the only thing that makes me keep smiling,” he told L’Equipe.

“I will be with the team of France on May 15 and I will have had six days off.

“But I will give the best of myself, as I have done for Manchester United.”

France are not many pundits’ choice as potential winners this summer, with Spain the red-hot favourites at 4-1.

Brazil trade at 5/1 with England at 6/1 and Evra would love to overturn those odds and beat the country in which he plies his trade at the business end of affairs.

“I hope to win the World Cup,” he added. “I hope we play England in the final and beat them, certainly.”

France face a tricky task to qualify from Group A in South Africa and are priced at 1/3 to make it to the knockout phase of the world’s greatest football tournament.

But they will have to work hard to get past Mexico (4/5), Uruguay (evens) and the hosts, who are on offer at 21/10 to make an unlikely appearance in the last 16.

France’s glory years appear to be behind them at present but momentum is an important factor in major tournaments and, if they get on a run, Raymond Domenech’s men may yet cause a few shocks over the next couple of months, with the likes of Thierry Henry and Frank Ribery in their ranks.

The initial 30-man squad contains a number of English-based players, with Chelsea stars Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda sure to remind Evra where the Premiership trophy will be displayed over the next 12 months.

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England boss targets final

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England manager Fabio Capello has stated that he will consider the World Cup a failure if his side not make it to the final in South Africa (England 6/1 to win the World Cup outright).

Capello has already picked his 30-man squad which will be whittled down to 23 on June 1 after friendlies against Mexico and Japan and a training camp in Austria (England 1/3 to win Group C).

The England boss has stated that it will be hard to choose which unfortunate seven will not go to the World Cup, but he will be telling them personally when he has made his decision.

Capello’s final squad are aiming to go all the way in this year’s tournament and the manager has said that the English media has affected how he coaches the side.

He said: “Every day the media here comes up with something new and the media has a lot of clout, they really influence public opinion.

“But you have to recognise that, at the same time, they have the pulse of English society. It’s part of the job and that’s why I’m here. If we don’t at least reach the final, we will have failed,” he added.

Capello has also revealed his opinions on the state of the England squad before he took over from former manager Steve McClaren.

He said: “When I arrived, I saw players who were switched off, scared, without a sense of belonging. I was surprised.

“So I tightened the screws, I demanded professionalism and this cemented our team,” he added.

Capello wants his side to focus fully on their task at the World Cup and not let distractions of potential summer transfers take precedence.

Speculation on the future of some of the England players have been in the media recently with Steven Gerrard’s position at Liverpool in question after the club failed to qualify for the Champions League.

The England manager said: “I hope the players do not change their team or have negotiations,” he remarked. “It disturbs the players all the time.”

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Capello targets German scalp

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England boss Fabio Capello has described what would be his perfect World Cup scenario, the Italian wants to lead England to semi-final glory over Germany before securing the trophy with victory over France in the final (England/France final 40/1).

Capello has already endeared himself to England fans after leading the Three Lions through an impressive and almost perfect qualification campaign, with only the Ukraine managing to beat England after qualification had already been assured, but could become a national hero if he manages to lead England to World Cup glory for the first time since 1966.

After falling at the hands of Germany in international tournaments on more than one occasion in recent times England fans would love to see their side knock the Germans out of the competition in South Africa and Capello remains hopeful the two sides will meet, and England will come out on top.

“The perfect scenario for me would be for England to beat Germany in the semi-finals, and then to win the World Cup by defeating France in the final,” said Capello. “It is high time that a European team wins the World Cup outside Europe. In my opinion there are four very strong European sides, and this time they will not have the excuse of there being a change of time zone.”

Capello does not mention the four European teams he considers ‘very strong’ but it seems safe to assume that Spain, who are the current favourites to take the trophy in South Africa (Spain 4/1 to win the World Cup), are in his thoughts.  The Italian has stated he wouldn’t have take the England job if he didn’t think they could lift international football’s greatest prize and at 11/2 England are certainly among the favourites to come out on top in South Africa.

Germany, finalists in 2006, are currently priced at 14/1 to emerge victorious in South Africa, while other European heavyweights include Holland (12/1), Italy (12/1) and France (16/1) and Capello believes there are no excuses for Europe’s top sides heading into the competition in South Africa.

However, the Italian tactician admits he is wary of the threat the African teams could pose, with England drawn in the same group as north African nation Algeria.  The South African World Cup is the first to be held in the continent and Capello believes the African participants will be keen to show their talents to the rest of the footballing world.

He added: “I am also on my guard about the African teams. Algeria are the most dangerous side in our group.”

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