A round-up of today's other stories in brief
England job for 'an older man'
HARRY REDKNAPP has claimed being England manager is "an older man's job". Redknapp, who is favourite to succeed Fabio Capello, certainly fits that criteria, having recently turned 65.
“There’s some young managers like Nigel Adkins and people like that, who in the future I’m sure would be fantastic but, at the moment, probably too young. It is an older man’s job, I think. It’s not a job for a young guy,” said Redknapp.
Ferguson reveals Berbatov likely to leave this summer
ALEX FERGUSON has confirmed Manchester United’s record signing Dimitar Berbatov is set to leave Old Trafford in the summer.
The €37 million forward has found a first-team place difficult to come by since being left out of the United squad for last season’s Champions League final defeat to Barcelona. And, on the eve of a last-16 Europa League second-leg tie with Athletic Bilbao, Ferguson confirmed the Bulgarian is set to leave in the summer.
“His concern is not getting first-team football,” said Ferguson.
“At 31, he is looking at first-team football. It is difficult for me to guarantee that so it could lead to him looking elsewhere.”
Berbatov’s contract is due to expire in the summer. However, rather than let him leave for nothing at the end of the season, they will trigger a one-way clause to extend the deal for a year, to receive a fee.
Gutierrez says van Persie out of order
NEWCASTLE UNITED winger Jonas Gutierrez has criticised Arsenal striker Robin van Persie following his bust-up with compatriot Tim Krul.
A simmering row between the two Dutchmen boiled over during the closing stages of the United’s 2-1 defeat at the Emirates on Monday night after Thomas Vermaelen snatched victory for the Gunners in injury-time.
Gutierrez said: “I think Van Persie was wrong. There was no need for him to do that – they have won the game, it is finished.”
Krul, however, was keen to move on. He told the club's official website, www.nufc.co.uk: "I was disappointed with the incident involving Robin. We are both professional sportsmen and what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch."
Gerrard eyes Champions League spot
STEVEN GERRARD has not given up on Liverpool making a late charge for a Champions League spot despite the club lying 10 points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with 10 games of the season remaining. “It’s a mountain to climb but we will never give up. We just have to try to win as many games as we can. We won’t give up on the top four until it’s impossible,” he said.
SOCCER FIXTURES
(7.45 unless stated)
Europa League Round of 16 Second Leg: Athletic Bilbao v Manchester Utd (6.0); Besiktas v Atletico Madrid (8.05); Hannover 96 v Standard Liege (6.0); Manchester City v Sporting (8.05); Olympiacos v FC Metalist Kharkiv (8.05); PSV v Valencia (6.0); Schalke 04 v FC Twente (8.05); Udinese v AZ Alkmaar(6.0).
Ronaldinho in early Olympics squad
VETERAN FORWARD Ronaldinho has been included in a preliminary Brazil squad for the London Olympics that also includes Chelsea defender David Luiz and Barcelona’s Dani Alves.
Ronaldinho, Luiz and Alves are among a number of high-profile players over the age of 23 on coach Mano Menezes’ list of 52 players, with Inter Milan goalkeeper Julio Cesar, AC Milan defender Thiago Silva and Porto forward Hulk also included.
Only three players over the age of 23 can be included in the final 18-man squad.
Among the younger players listed are Santos sensation Neymar, Milan forward Alexandre Pato, Manchester United defender Rafael and Tottenham’s Sandro.
Ronaldinho, who turns 32 next Wednesday and now plays for Flamengo, won Olympic bronze with Brazil in 2008, but the competition is the only major prize in world football the country has not won.
Richards calls for beer at Qatar 2022
FANS MAY boycott the Qatar 2022 World Cup unless beer is made freely available, Premier League chairman Dave Richards warned yesterday.
The sale of alcohol is severely restricted in the Middle Eastern country and Richards said that needed to be relaxed.
Speaking at the International Sport Security Conference in Doha, Richards said: “In our country and in Germany, we have a culture. We call it: ‘We would like to go for a pint’, and that pint is a pint of beer.
“It is our culture as much as your culture [in Qatar] is not drinking. There has to be a happy medium.
“If you don’t do something about it, you are starting to bury your head in the sand a little bit because it needs addressing.”
Hassan Al Thawadi, general secretary of Qatar 2022, has always insisted alcohol will be available for visiting fans at special zones but he said today he did not see the need for beer to be sold in stadiums.
