Football news

16 April 2013 06:56

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen is targeting three points in his side’s vital Premier League game against sixth-placed Everton.

The 27-year-old urged his team-mates to fight to the end as the season draws to a close, with the Gunners occupying third position while Everton look to keep their top-four ambition alive.

Arsenal are seeking their fifth consecutive win and Vermaelen believes they are primed to defeat David Moyes’s side at the Emirates Stadium.

“We are on a run now. We have got good momentum at the moment. We are winning a lot of games,” the centre-back told the club’s official website.

“Tuesday is an important game again at home so we have to keep fighting and try to get three points.”

16 April 2013 02:26

Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic has hit out at the selective vision of the Italian media for questioning his work rate.

The Montenegro international has come in for criticism of late from some sections of the national press, who have questioned his level of effort for the Bianconeri.

However, the former Roma forward has refuted the claims and suggested his detractors view the statistics of Juventus’ recent defeat to Bayern Munich to gain a little more insight into his commitment.

“We run like crazy at Juventus, but these people do not see it. They told me that I lacked commitment, but if we look at the statistics from the Bayern game you will see that is not true,” he told reporters.

“I accept criticism, but I cannot accept it when it is not true.”

The Old Lady moved a step closer to recording back-to-back Scudetto titles with a 2-0 victory over Lazio in Rome on Monday, prompting Vucinic to praise his team-mates for putting their Champions League disappointment to one side.

“Today we saw a great Juventus performance,” he added. “Despite being eliminated from the Champions League, we came to Rome with the right mentality.

“The Scudetto? No, we have not won it until it is mathematically assured.”

Antonio Conte’s men can potentially move to within a point of retaining their league title in the event they beat AC Milan in Turin and Cagliari beat second-placed Napoli.

16 April 2013 02:14

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is in favour of changing the Bundesliga calendar in order to prepare players for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

The hope is that by playing through the summer months, players will get a small taste of the extreme temperatures the nation experiences in June and July.

“From May to August is when we do not play football in Germany, although these are the months with the best weather. A change could be an advantage to us,” the Bayern Munich chairman told Die-Welt.

Another possibility being discussed is moving the 2022 World Cup out of the summer months in order to avoid sweltering temperatures.

And Rummenigge would welcome a change in schedule to avoid the poor weather during the winter months.

“The football family is united. Either pausing in January and February or in October and November, I can see in this model as an opportunity for the Bundesliga,” he said.

“We would prefer to pause when the weather is bad here.”

16 April 2013 01:47

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has warned that the Red Devils must remain focused as they close in on the Premier League crown.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s team are 15 points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand, at the top of the table with six matches to play.

Sunday’s 2-0 win over Stoke City was United’s eighth victory in their past nine league fixtures and Vidic believes that they will enter the final run-in full of confidence.

“Yes, you think you’re almost there but you have to win the games,” the centre-back told MUTV.

“(Winning at Stoke) helps us build up the confidence and a few players had a great game – people like Antonio (Valencia), Wayne (Rooney) and Robin (van Persie).

“It’s important for players like this to be in good form for the games to come.”

United face West Ham at Upton Park on Wednesday and Vidic is expecting another physical encounter after coming through a similar test against Stoke.

“Stoke is always a difficult place to go to but we fought for every ball, played some good football and, in the end, I think we deserved to win,” he added.

“It was physical. You know they’re going to get the ball to the forwards, they’re good at set-pieces, they’re going to challenge defenders.

“Now it’s West Ham and we have to play well again. They play in a similar style to Stoke – we’re going to have long balls and set-pieces to deal with.”

16 April 2013 01:40

Gianluigi Buffon believes Juventus’ 2-0 victory over Lazio was a big step forward for the club in retaining their Serie A title.

Two goals from Arturo Vidal saw the Bianconeri move 11 points clear of Napoli at the top of the table and leave the reigning champions needing just another seven to seal a second successive crown.

“I will not even pronounce the word championship,” Buffon said.

“(But) I can say that today we have made a big step forward. We had to absorb elimination in the Champions League, which was deserved, but it has still come as a surprise to us.

“There are still seven points to win by the end of the season. If we can achieve this goal, it will be another great accomplishment.”

Buffon was also quick to give credit to Lazio, who sit in sixth spot after the loss and have a fight on their hands to secure European football next season.

“I went to say goodbye to the Lazio fans after the game because they have always shown me great respect. They deserve it,” he said.

“Tonight we did well because it is not easy to win at the Olimpico. Lazio is always a tough opponent.”