Pro Eleven Headline News

Benitez tells Reds to forgot Cup trauma

Rafael Benitez has challenged his Liverpool players to make up for their premature FA Cup exit by bringing the league championship back to Anfield for the first time in 19 years.

Liverpool travel to struggling Portsmouth on Saturday looking to make amends for Wednesday?s heartbreaking 1-0 extra-time fourth round defeat at the hands of Merseyside rivals Everton.

Benitez says cup elimination leaves his side free to concentrate on wrestling the Premier League title from Manchester United's grasp.

"I don't think our confidence will take a blow by what happened on Wednesday," he said. "The players showed great character and when you lose in this way it won?t affect the confidence of the team.

"It's very disappointing to be out of the cup but now we have to concentrate on the league and the Champions League so there is still a lot to play for.

"They are two massive competitions and we are in a very good position."

Liverpool?s Goodison Park misery was compounded by Steven Gerard hobbling off with a hamstring tear after only 16 minutes.

The Reds skipper is out for a minimum of three weeks and will miss this weekend?s trip to Fratton Park, which is particularly worrying for Liverpool because Fernando Torres is struggling with his match fitness after missing most of the early months of the season with his own hamstring problem.

"Torres was really tired on Wednesday and that is why I took him off," Benitez said. "Clearly he has to keep playing games and keep training because his match fitness is not at its best."

Benitez will receive little sympathy from Portsmouth counterpart Tony Adams, who is battling to save his job.

Last weekend?s 3-1 defeat at Fulham left Adams with only two wins from 15 Premier League games in charge and he had to suffer the abuse of his own supporters for the first time in a career spanning 25 years.

Former Arsenal and England captain Adams said: "I received verbal abuse getting on the bus after the game on Saturday and that hurt.

"There were a couple of fans who were not happy over the way the team is playing and the results. They shouted they did not want me at the club again. To be honest it was put stronger than that.

"I tried to explain myself to them but they were not listening. I have had stick from opposing fans of course. I played a lot of games in my career and you don?t expect to be liked by rival supporters but I have never experienced that before in my career.

"It was only a couple of guys angry at me but it did not stop me feeling bad about it.

"We had another bad result and I understand people?s reaction but the club has changed and I am doing my utmost to scrap away and improve things."

With Gerrard sidelined, Dirk Kuyt could be in line for a more central attacking role after spending most of his time at Anfield playing wide on the right.

The Dutchman warned that his team-mates that they they cannot afford to feel sorry for themselves in the wake of the cup defeat.

"Obviously we are all really disappointed to lose a game so late on because it did not look like they were going to score," Kuyt said. "That is football though and now we just have to keep going and look forward.

"The key now is how we react to this defeat. The positive thing from our point of view is that on the two other occasions we have lost games this season we managed to come back in the weeks that followed. That is what we must do now." AFP


Beckham rejecting big money to stay with AC Milan

David Beckham wants to stay with AC Milan because he's "rediscovered" himself as a soccer player.

The ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid player has expressed a desire to stay with Milan and secure a spot with the England national team rather than return to the Los Angeles Galaxy after his three month loan period expires on March 8.

"At the moment, Milan is more important than money. I want to think about football before everything else. I said in a clear manner what I think, I want to stay at Milan because I've rediscovered myself as a football player," he said in Friday editions of Corriere dello Sport.

Beckham is about two years into a $32.5 million, five-year contract with the Galaxy of the MLS.

"The immediate aim is to stay here in Milan and play at the highest level possible," he said. "This would give me the best possibility of securing a place with the England national team."

So far there have been no talks between the two clubs, though it is expected that the Italians will begin negotiations soon.

Some observers viewed the transfer as an opportunity for Milan to cash in on Beckham's commercial appeal while the former England captain kept himself in shape and in contention for the national side.

Beckham and Milan have been surprised by his on-field success. He's started all five matches since arriving, scoring two goals and becoming "indispensable," according to coach Carlo Ancelotti.

"Not even I thought the situation could go so well so quickly. In truth I was expecting to do well at Milan, but I was never expecting to enjoy myself this much," Beckham said.

Ancelotti included Beckham on his 25-man roster this week for the UEFA Cup, despite only being available for two games against Werder Bremen. Ancelotti said it suits Beckham to play on the right of a three-man midfield, alongside Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini.

"Beckham has stated his desire and now we'll see how the situation evolves," Ancelotti said Friday. "There's time to find a solution before March 9. For sure he has made a bigger contribution to what we expected."

Negotiations are expected to be tricky, with Beckham's image rights likely to prove a sticking point.

"We will have to see what happens between the two clubs, Galaxy and Milan. I have faith (in them) and therefore I've made my decision. I have a lot of respect for Galaxy, but I want to stay at Milan and I hope the two clubs can come to an agreement," Beckham said.

Alex Ferguson, Beckham's former manager at Manchester United, would be pleased to see him return to Europe.

"If they give him that opportunity, it would be silly not to take it," Ferguson said Friday. "He's had a spell at Galaxy and, fine, they've paid him an awful lot of money and they should have some loyalty from him.

"But being selfish, if I was given the chance to go to Milan, I would take it. There's no chance he can do it in two years. This is a golden moment for the lad, and I think he'll take it. If they can work out a deal between Milan and Galaxy, I think it will happen." Associated Press


Beckham's desire boosts Milan title push

AC Milan continue their pursuit of Inter Milan this weekend boosted by David Beckham's admission that he wants to stay in Italy rather than end his loan deal in March.

The former England captain joined Milan from LA Galaxy at the end of December and is due to return to the US on March 9, a day after Milan host Atalanta in Serie A.

But having previously kept diplomatically quiet regarding the subject of staying, Beckham made it clear following Wednesday's 2-2 friendly draw against Rangers in Glasgow that he wants to continue his Italian experience for as long as he can.

"I have enjoyed my time here. I knew I would enjoy it but I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I have," said the 33-yar-old.

"I've expressed my desire to stay here for a while but at the moment I'm still a Galaxy player. I respect the Galaxy and everything they have done for me. They have always been great to me.

"But I hope they can come to an agreement and it's down to the clubs now. To be given the chance again to play at this level at my age is pretty incredible and I've enjoyed it so much I would like to continue it."

Beckham himself and many others felt that when he left Real Madrid for Galaxy 18 months ago at the age of 32 he was stepping into semi-retirement.

But his desire to keep representing his country and to overhaul Bobby Moore's record 108 England caps for an outfield player has seen him continue to perform at the highest level and to try to keep in England manager Fabio Capello's World Cup plans.

"I want to have a chance of being involved in 2010 and I believe my best chance of doing so is to remain here (at Milan)," he said.

Beckham's continued presence in the Milan team will only help them in the chase to close their six-point gap to city rivals Inter.

Milan are unbeaten in Beckham's five matches, during which time he has already scored twice while last weekend he set up two goals in the 3-0 win at Lazio with trademark crosses.

Inter, on the other hand, have been inconsistent since Serie A resumed following the winter break, losing 3-1 at Atalanta and being held to home draws by both Cagliari and lowly Torino.

They face a trip to Lecce on Saturday to play a team that has lost only once since the turn of the year while Milan play at home to rock bottom Reggina.

The other team still in the title race are Juventus, who are desperate for a victory to reverse their recent slump.

They have lost their last two league matches against Udinese and Cagliari while on Wednesday they were taken to a draining penalty shoot-out in the Italian Cup by Napoli.

Their trip to Sicily to face Catania on Sunday will be far from straight-forward, particularly for a team jaded from its midweek exertions.

However, they are at least strengthened by the return of Gianluigi Buffon, who has recovered from flu, while former France striker David Trezeguet is pushing for his first start of the season since recovering from a knee problem.

The other significant match this weekend will be in Rome where AS Roma host Genoa in a crucial battle in the race for fourth place and Champions League football next season.

Genoa hold third place just ahead of Fiorentina, who host Lazio, with Roma in sixth.

Fixtures:

Saturday

AC Milan v Reggina, Lecce v Inter Milan

Sunday

Cagliari v Atalanta, Catania v Juventus, Fiorentina v Lazio, Palermo v Napoli, AS Roma v Genoa, Sampdoria v Siena, Torino v Chievo, Udinese v Bologna. AFP




Nelson Dida Learning English As Newcastle Move Looms – Report

Milan goalkeeper Nelson Dida could be on his way to Premier League strugglers Newcastle United at the end of the season as his current employers have not moved to offer him a new deal.

Tuttosport claim the Magpies are in line to take the Brazilian on after Shay Given moved to Manchester City. Dida's current deal at San Siro expires in 2010, however, the Rossoneri do not seem keen on extending their relationship with the ‘keeper.

Reports suggest the shot stopper is taking up English lessons during his spare time, fuelling speculation that he will be heading for an adventure in the Premier League.

Milan renewed Christian Abbiati's contract during the winter transfer window and he has been Carlo Ancelotti's first choice in the league. The Brazilian has been used in UEFA Cup matches and in friendlies. It is unlikely that Dida will be given a regular starting role and so he would welcome a move away from Milanello.

In addition, Dida earns €4 million per season. The Rossoneri are not keen on paying a reserve goalkeeper such a vast amount of money.

Milan are now waiting for Newcastle to make their move for the error-prone goalkeeper. Many will remember his antics against Celtic in the Champions League two years ago: it has been downhill since then. Goal


Del Piero To Fight Facebook

Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero is preparing to take legal action against the social networking site Facebook after a fake profile with his name and image appeared on it.

The profile had links to a Nazi propaganda group and it contains pictures of Del Piero, which have led the striker to consider taking action for defamation.

ANSA claims the player's agent and brother, Stefano, has announced that Del Piero will be contacting his lawyers to protect his image. The player's entourage have made it clear that the Nazi-linked profile has nothing to do with him, and they have stated that Del Piero has never had a profile on the Facebook site.

It is believed that the Italian is furious and that he will do everything to protect his exemplary image from being tarnished.

Meanwhile, Juventus will be happy this morning after progressing to the Coppa Italia semi-final. The Bianconeri beat Napoli at the Olimpico on penalties after a drab stalemate. Claudio Ranieri's unit will now face Lazio in the semi-finals and either Inter or Sampdoria in the final if they get there. Goal