A round-up of other soccer news...
Agger not happy with support role
LIVERPOOL defender Daniel Agger claims he could walk out on the club if he remains on the fringes of the first team at Anfield.
Agger has found himself down the pecking order under Rafael Benitez and the 24-year-old Dane said: “Let me be honest and admit that, if I don’t play, then it’s untenable and it can’t go on like that. It’s never nice for a footballer to not play regularly. That is something I will not hide.”
Giggs signs contract to stay at United another year
RYAN Giggs has signed a one-year contract extension which will keep him at Manchester United until June 2010, the Premier League leaders said yesterday.The deal will extend the 35-year-old Welsh winger’s United career to just a few months short of his 37th birthday.
“I feel fit and I’m enjoying my football more than ever,” Giggs said. “This is an exciting young team and the spirit is great in the dressingroom. I want to be a part of that and achieve more success.”
United manager Alex Ferguson has stated his team retaining the Champions League is the priority ahead of domestic honours.
United lead the English Premier League, are through to the final of the League Cup and take on Derby County in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday. But “The European Cup” is Ferguson’s preference.
“You look at our record in Europe and it should have been better.” says Ferguson. “Nobody has successfully defended the Champions League. That is a great challenge to us. Hopefully, we can do it again.”
Chelsea post doesn't tempt Ancelotti
CARLO Ancelotti would turn down the chance to coach Chelsea from June, the AC Milan manager said yesterday. The Premier League club, who courted Ancelotti in the close season before appointing Luiz Felipe Scolari, have appointed Guus Hiddink until the end of the campaign after sacking Scolari.
“The only club which has come forward has been Chelsea. In the summer I met (owner Roman) Abramovich but I didn’t want to leave Milan,” Ancelotti said. “The same thing is happening now but I am not thinking about leaving.”
Meanwhile, Hiddink, who arrived at the club’s Cobham training ground to meet the first-team squad yesterday, insists the club can still win Premier League title.
“There is a 10-point difference (if United win their match in hand),” he said. “but if you look in the past of this league and other leagues as well, some things can happen during the final stages of the championship.”
Beckham feels Milan is a better place
DAVID Beckham remains hopeful of sealing the permanent deal to AC Milan that he believes will prolong his international career, as the deadline looms for his move from the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The 33-year-old midfielder featured against Spain on Wednesday and the focus is now on where he will play his club football, with Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber insisting a deal must be agreed this weekend.
There has been no breakthrough yet on making his loan to Milan permanent but Beckham said: “I am still hopeful. It is something I want to happen, we have to wait and see. We want it sorted out as quick as possible.
“Fitness-wise Milan has done me the world of good,” he added. “I’m a lot fitter than I was a few months back and even in the month and a half I’ve been there my fitness has gone up 100 per cent.”
Eriksson won't quit Mexico job
SVEN-Goran Eriksson has insisted he will not step down as Mexico manager and is confident his side will make it to the World Cup despite the 2-0 qualifying defeat in the United States.
Even though local media are criticising the Swede’s handling of his team, Eriksson – who is being strongly linked with the vacancy at Portsmouth – claims he is brave enough to face difficult moments.
“Why I will continue? Because I still have a running contract and I think that I would be a man without courage if I quit now,” Eriksson told reporters in Mexico City.
JAMAICAN international and Wigan striker Marlon King (28) has been charged with sexually assaulting and then attacking a young woman in a London bar, police confirmed yesterday.
SLIGO Rovers have confirmed that manager Paul Cook, who resigned last month due to financial constraints imposed by the club, has returned to the club and will be in charge of the first team for the start of the new season.
