Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com

Manchester City's Sergio Agüero says hamstring injury is fine
Which England wide men should Roy Hodgson be taking to the World Cup? | Daniel Taylor
Adam Lallana: Luke Shaw is the best young talent I've played alongside
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sorry for asking for Neymar's shirt mid-game
Samir Nasri says if Yaya Touré was Brazilian he would be hailed as best
John Carver is no stranger to hot-tempered moments
Daniel Agger believes Raheem Sterling can make England World Cup squad
Aston Villa make £52m loss in 2012-13
World Cup problems 'under control' as 100-day countdown begins - video
FA charge Adam with violent conduct
When managers attack: Alan Pardew is far from alone in having lost it | Arthur James O'Dea
Labour's Jim Murphy asks Fifa member to join him on trip to Qatar
FA's Mike Rigg and Matt Crocker eager to modify English football's DNA
Football Weekly: Sunderland swept away by City as Alan Pardew loses his head
Roberto Soldado could score 20 goals by season's end, says Tottenham Hotspur manager - video
The Fiver | Vigorously shoving another man's head with his own | Barry Glendenning
England v Denmark preview: Luke Shaw set for debut – video
Pardew charged with improper conduct by FA over head-butt
… but this time Atlético are not burnt
Luke Shaw shows off free-kick flair in England training – video
Yeung's murky past exposed
The best goals of the week: Messi, Tevez, Elano, Robben and Stevenage
Schalke and Leverkusen show harsh Bundesliga reality amid moose antics | Raphael Honigstein
Carson Yeung's conviction has 'no impact on Birmingham', claims Pannu
Roma refuse to surrender in Serie A title fight but no favours from Milan | Paolo Bandini

Manchester City's Sergio Agüero says hamstring injury is fine

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 03:05 PM PST

• Striker appeared in Sunday's League Cup victory at Wembley
• Agüero said there were no ill effects in Sunderland win

Sergio Agüero has confirmed he suffered no ill-effects when playing for the first time in more than a month in Manchester City's Capital One Cup victory over Sunderland following a hamstring injury.

The Argentinian was replaced in the 58th minute of the 3-1 win but this was a precautionary move because he had not featured since 29 January.

He said: "I felt fine. It was my first game since the injury. I am happy to be back, obviously there's always that worry when you come back that there's no reaction but it all went fine."

City face a busy programme until the end of the campaign but Agüero said: "In England you play a lot and we have to get used to it. Yes, there are a lot of games but we have to adapt to English football and get on with it."

Jamie Jackson

Which England wide men should Roy Hodgson be taking to the World Cup? | Daniel Taylor

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 03:00 PM PST

Wednesday night's friendly against Denmark is the last chance for players to get a seat on the plane to Brazil, and nowhere is the battle more intense than on the flanks

They were modelling England's World Cup strip at the team hotel amid the kind of security normally associated with presidential visits. Eight guards with blazers and walkie-talkies, standing arms folded in front of a taped-off area with 20ft-high black drapes, offers an insight into the detail – paranoia, one might call it – that goes into making sure nobody gets a glimpse of the kit before the official launch.

One hundred days on Tuesday before the start of the World Cup, there is certainly the sense now that the countdown to Brazil is under way. At the National Football Museum, where the World Cup artefacts include the ball from the 1930 final and Pelé's shirt from 1958, they are marking the event with a Mardi Gras. And, back at England's HQ, Roy Hodgson's players are preparing for their final match before he names his squad, wondering who will make the cut, looking at one another perhaps to size up the competition. "Secretly," was the word Adam Lallana used.

The process can be brutal sometimes. "Like waiting for the gallows," Gary Neville once described it. Neville made it into Glenn Hoddle's squad for the 1998 World Cup on the day his brother, Phil, was left "sitting on his bed in tears, inconsolable". Paul Gascoigne smashed a lamp in Hoddle's room when it came to his turn.

And, as Hodgson knows, there is always someone who thinks he could do better. Joey Barton, as helpful as ever, was certainly not impressed with Jordan Henderson's selection for Euro 2012. "On ability I walk in the squad," Barton said, modestly.

This time around, a group of 30 players has to be whittled down to 23. Seven, in other words, will be cut free before 13 May. Lallana, on recent evidence, will not be among them, but it is also the case that the competition for the wide spots is more intense than anywhere else. Two of Hodgson's specialists for that role will have to stand down, or possibly three. "You could be there for hours trying to work out what might happen," Lallana says. "But no one knows the manager's thoughts."

Hodgson has named six attacking wide players for Wednesday's game against Denmark, whereas a seventh player, Danny Welbeck, is officially classified as a striker but generally plays on the left. James Milner is a favourite of the manager's. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's return to fitness has been timed well, particularly in the absence of Theo Walcott, and Raheem Sterling has played with such distinction for Liverpool recently that his manager, Brendan Rodgers, has described him as the most in-form wide player in the league.

As it stands, Jay Rodriguez and Andros Townsend probably look the most vulnerable. Yet it is complicated. Townsend's form may have drifted but Hodgson is indebted to the Tottenham player's performances in England's last two qualifying matches against Ukraine and Poland and it was striking to hear Oxlade-Chamberlain recollect those nights. "I was at Wembley, watching as a fan, and the way Andros played really excited me. To see him going past players spurred me on. He was bringing something different to England that we didn't have before, making a positive statement on the squad."

Rodriguez might have struggled against Chile but so probably did everyone and his form for Southampton has stubbornly kept him in the picture. "Power, pace, clinical finishing," Lallana, his club colleague, put it. "Jay-Rod's been outstanding all season. Plus he can play in a number of different positions, which I'm sure has helped him get this England recognition."

Lallana can be pretty versatile too – "I played on the right against Chile and the left against Germany," he pointed out – and, without wishing to be presumptuous, he has already shifted his summer plans to accommodate the possibility of five weeks away.

His wedding to Emily was initially booked for 14 June, the same day England play their first game against Italy in Manaus. Instead, they brought it forward by six months and tied the knot a few weeks after his first two caps. "It's helped, stress-wise," he explained. "Imagine planning a wedding for the summer, when there's a chance you might not be there …"

England are suddenly overloaded with wingers bearing in mind Hodgson also gave strong consideration to calling up Adam Johnson from Sunderland. Johnson, according to Hodgson, can still come back into contention. Ashley Young, however, looks like he has blown his chance, with Aaron Lennon even further out of the picture.

For added intrigue, there are some strong bonds between the players competing for the same places. Lallana went as far as saying he would be "absolutely delighted" if Rodriguez, his good friend, edged him out. He also goes way back with "Chambo" to their days at Southampton, when it was not playing for England that occupied his thoughts but being relegated to League One "with administration, minus 10 points, talk of liquidation and one month where we didn't get paid; dark days."

There is certainly no sense of dog-eat-dog among this lot. "We're all good friends," Oxlade-Chamberlain said. "It makes it easier because you can have a laugh and a joke along the way. We're friends competing for places and opportunities. It's actually really nice to see so many young English wingers coming through. Raheem, for example, is a good friend of mine, someone I've been close to, with the same agent, from when he was 14 and moved to Liverpool. It's good for me to see him doing so well."

Oxlade-Chamberlain hopes his experience of playing in the last European Championship will give him an edge. "It definitely helps, no doubt about that. If you haven't been to a tournament before and don't know what to expect, it helps to know how it works and the way you need to be motivated, day in and day out, to get the best out of yourselves."

His goal in England's friendly against Brazil at the rebuilt Maracanã last June also goes in his favour. "Moments like that are nice to look back on when you're going through a tough time, like my recent injury. Little reminders can keep you inspired and motivated to get back playing. I've looked back on that moment a few times."

For Lallana, the most encouraging part is that he was the only player, bar Wayne Rooney, to start the Chile and Germany games. But his is an unorthodox story. At 17, a heart defect left him wondering whether he would even be able to play football again, told by doctors "there was a small chance things wouldn't go according to plan."

By his own admission, he also struggled to adjust when Southampton first returned to the Premier League. The idea then that he would be talking about playing in a World Cup seemed fanciful. "I would never have thought it," admitted the 25-year-old. "This time last year if you'd told me I'd have two caps for my country and be in the last England squad before the end of the season I wouldn't have believed you."

Daniel Taylor

Adam Lallana: Luke Shaw is the best young talent I've played alongside

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 03:00 PM PST

• Lallana praises Shaw before England friendly against Denmark
• 'He's probably the best player I've ever seen at 18'

Adam Lallana has hailed Luke Shaw as the best teenager he has played alongside as the Southampton pair prepare to audition for places in Roy Hodgson's England World Cup squad in Wednesday's friendly against Denmark.

The midfielder has seen Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and, most impressively, Gareth Bale graduate through the academy at the south-coast club but considers Shaw's progress the most jaw-dropping. The 18-year-old, who made his league debut for Southampton only last season, will gain a first cap against the Danes as he seeks to persuade Hodgson that he should be included ahead of Leighton Baines or Ashley Cole in the party for Brazil.

"He's got such a level head on his shoulders and is so grounded," said Lallana, who hopes to gain a third cap this week. "Luke wouldn't for one minute have thought he'd be involved in the senior team but he's an outstanding talent and one of the best, probably the best player I've ever seen at 18. He's won plaudits and gained recognition, and he's certainly good enough to be here today.

"It's hard to compare him with the others: Gareth's gone on and never looked back. I know Gareth did play left-back as well, so there are similarities there, but I wouldn't want to put too much pressure on Luke. He's done unbelievably for us this season. When Gareth was playing with us we were in the Championship. For Luke, at 18, to be playing so consistently well for us against some of the best wingers in the world, that's credit to him and his attitude and how he keeps his feet on the ground. Nothing fazes him and I'm really excited to hopefully see him gets some minutes on Wednesday."

Lallana, who took a slight knock against Liverpool on Saturday, was one of five players to concentrate on recovery work as Hodgson's 30-man squad trained at Tottenham Hotspur's Enfield complex on Monday. While Steven Caulker, Andros Townsend and John Ruddy are to play a full part in training on the eve of the Denmark game, Kyle Walker will miss out with a hip injury but will remain with the party. Ben Foster, the West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper, is expected to start the friendly.

The match is the last opportunity for players to impress in an England shirt before Hodgson names his 23-man squad, plus seven stand-bys, on 13 May for the tournament, with Lallana among those hoping to stake his claim.

"This is the last chance we'll have to impress, so it is going to be a big night," he said. "Performing for your country in a World Cup, there's nothing bigger. It's the pinnacle of a footballer's career. We all want to strive for greatness really. It starts this Wednesday, in terms of preparation."

The midfielder impressed in his two appearances last November, against Chile and Germany, only to be subsequently accused of having changed by the referee, Mark Clattenburg, during a Premier League defeat at Everton in December. Southampton lodged an official complaint to the Football Association, subsequently dismissed, after claiming the Fifa elite referee had told the player: "You are very different now, since you've played for England. You never used to be like this."

"Listen, through the duration of lots of games you have to speak to the referee, especially as the captain, and you feel as if you are protecting your team at times," added Lallana. "That was a long time ago now. Mark has refereed our games since and we are absolutely fine. The club made the complaint, not me. Me and Mark are absolutely fine. He managed our game against West Ham, and I saw him when we exchanged the team-sheets before the game, and we're absolutely fine.

"I don't feel I've changed at all. I've taken lots out of it, training-wise, playing with the best players not in the world but in England. It's where you want to be as a player. Hopefully it can continue. You have to try and take it in your stride as much as you can. It is a big deal, playing for your country and you want to do as well as you can. And that's all I've tried to do. I've continued to try and do that, to help my country and keep improving."

Dominic Fifield

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sorry for asking for Neymar's shirt mid-game

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 02:59 PM PST

• England winger criticised for request during Brazil game
• 'I agree … It's not the way to go about things'

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has admitted to committing a faux pas by asking to swap shirts with Neymar during England's friendly draw with Brazil at the Maracanã last summer.

The Arsenal winger was criticised at the time by Roy Keane, who was working as a pundit on the game, for approaching the hosts' striker in a bid to secure his No10 shirt at full-time.

"Roy hammered me for it but, to be fair, I did ask him during the game," said Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had entered the fray as a second-half substitute and duly scored the visitors' opening goal to equalise. "But I agree with Roy: it's not the way to go about things. To be fair, I didn't try and make it too blatant. It just happened that the camera landed on me right at the time I nudged him.

"It's not the ideal thing to be doing during the game, I have to hold my hands up. You're not in awe of these players. It's a mutual respect, especially a player like Neymar, a player of a similar age to me and someone I've got massive respect for what he's done in world football."

The England midfielder, who hopes to earn his 14th cap against Denmark on Wednesday, admitted the Brazilian's shirt is now gathering dust "in a draw at home".

Dominic Fifield

Samir Nasri says if Yaya Touré was Brazilian he would be hailed as best

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 02:29 PM PST

• Manchester City team-mate hails 'world's best midfielder'
• 'No other defensive midfielder scores as many goals at Yaya'

Samir Nasri has claimed Yaya Touré is not recognised as the world's best midfielder because he is from Africa, and says if the Ivorian was Brazilian or Argentinian "everyone will talk about him".

Touré scored the equaliser in Manchester City's 3-1 League Cup victory over Sunderland on Sunday, with an impressive 30-yard shot nine minutes into the second half. The goal – which was followed by others from Nasri and Jesús Navas – was Touré's third for City at Wembley, following the winners in both the 2011 FA Cup semi-final and final, and his 17th of the season.

Nasri believes the 30-year-old's display was the latest evidence that he is the best in his position. "I'm tired to talk about Yaya. You should know now [how good he is]. If he wasn't African everyone will say he's the best midfielder in the world," said the Frenchman. "He can do everything, he can score goals, he can defend, he can attack. When he gets the ball he is so powerful.

"You should just admire the way he plays because he's a great player. I might be a little bit biased because he's my friend, but for me he's in the top three of the best midfielders in the world. Of course it counts against him being from Ivory Coast. If he was Argentinian or Brazilian everyone will talk about him, everyone. You have some Brazilians or Argentinians, I don't want to say anything wrong, but just because they are from this country you pay them £40m or £50m.

"A guy like Yaya, he [has] won every trophy, he is always there. Tell me one defensive midfielder who can go forward like him who can score 16 or 17 goals in a season. Tell me one and then we can talk."

Nasri refused to draw comparison with his former France team-mate Patrick Vieira, considered one of the finest midfielders of his generation. "I played with Patrick at the end of his career. I didn't play with him when he was at Arsenal," said Nasri. "OK, I watched every game and I don't know, Patrick was amazing."

The triumph means Manuel Pellegrini's team could still claim a domestic treble. Wigan Athletic, who beat City in last May's FA Cup final, are next up in Sunday's sixth-round tie, and the two league games in hand over the Premier League leaders, Chelsea, plus superior goal difference, mean the six-point deficit could be overhauled.

José Mourinho's side hold no fears for Nasri. "I'm not scared about Chelsea or the league," he said. "There is plenty more to play and everyone is going to have difficult games and if we win our two games we are going to be top of the league. It's better not to talk but to act on the pitch.

"We are there in the league, if we win our two games in hand we will be top with Chelsea. It's going to be tough until the end because Liverpool are still there. And we play Wigan home in the FA Cup and it's going to be a good time to have revenge. After that the semi-final it's at Wembley so we don't have a weird place to play away, it's in one place."

Of his goal against Sunderland, Nasri added: "It's what they pay me for and bring me to the club [for]. It's about time to show them what I can do. Everyone at the club has been amazing with me, believed in me and when you have this feeling your confidence is really high and that's why you want to do good for them."

Jamie Jackson

John Carver is no stranger to hot-tempered moments

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 02:03 PM PST

The man who is expected to be Alan Pardew's temporary replacement at Newcastle has been fined in the UK and abroad, to say nothing of a 'wrestling' incident at an airport

John Carver, the man who will lead Newcastle United on match-days during Alan Pardew's expected ban for head-butting Hull City's David Meyler, may hope to rein in his own temper.

A year ago the assistant manager escaped his own touchline expulsion for a clash at Wigan Athletic following Callum McManaman's X-rated tackle on Massadio Haïdara during a 2-1 defeat.

Carver, 49, was also involved in an unseemly struggle with Craig Bellamy in an airport lounge while he was Sir Bobby Robson's first-team coach at St James' Park.

Pardew has been charged by the Football Association for improper conduct as a result of head-butting Meyler and could receive a heavy sanction if found guilty. He could be given a lengthy touchline ban and perhaps be barred from the stadium completely, as happened to Paul Ince for a five-match spell, after the then Blackpool manager pushed a fourth official last September.

Pardew's notoriously short fuse proved uncontrollable at the KC Stadium on Saturday, so the Newcastle owner, Mike Ashley, has turned to Carver, whose first test at controlling any technical area urges will come during Saturday-week's trip to Fulham.

Carver is a Geordie who was on the club's books until a thigh injury ended his career at 20. He rejoined the club in 2011 and two years ago told the Telegraph: "I'm Alan's link with the city. It's like being on the coalface, I know what's going on, what the buzz is, what people are thinking, what they're disappointed with."

On 17 March last year Carver strode on to the pitch at the DW to have a curt word with McManaman that developed into a row with Graham Barrow, the Wigan coach. Both were sent to the stands and subsequently fined £1,000, though only the Wigan man received a one-game touchline ban.

Carver's passion for the club he loves crossed a line then. Yet Kevin Blackwell, who twice appointed him as assistant, when manager of Leeds United, in 2005, and Luton Town in 2007, says Carver should have no problem filling in for Pardew.

"He has had a glittering coaching career and the players will know and respect him because he's been working very closely with Alan," says Blackwell. "I know Alan sometimes has to leave John in charge when he had things to do at United. So yeah I think it will be seamless, whether Alan's at the front of it, or whether its John: they know it'll be the same message."

The hiring of Carver, who took temporary charge of Leeds and Luton when Blackwell was sacked, was a no-brainer. Blackwell says: "I thought I wanted someone alongside me who had the same work ethic as I did and has got a reputation for being a good coach, because obviously that's what my reputation was. [And] if I wasn't around I wanted to make sure someone maintained the level of coaching I felt I was giving people – John fitted the mould brilliantly."

Yet as with the confrontation at Wigan, Carver's tangle with Bellamy during his spell at Newcastle as Robson's assistant, from 1999-2004, suggests a quick temper.

In his autobiography Bellamy described how he gradually wound Carver up after parking in his place at the training ground before a trip to play Real Mallorca ten years ago.

Bellamy wrote: "I wouldn't let it go. So by the time we got to Newcastle airport to get the flight to Mallorca, he was at snapping point and we had a confrontation. I was talking to someone else and I mentioned 'JC' loudly enough to make sure he heard me poking fun at him. He snapped and came marching over. I was yelling at him and he was yelling at me, but we were mates, basically, so were never going to start throwing punches at each other. We ended up wrestling stupidly on the floor."

The picture painted is as undignified as the clip that continues to be replayed of Pardew head-butting Meyler at the weekend. As his game-day stand-in, Carver will want no repeat. Blackwell believes his former No2 will start from a strong position with the Newcastle squad.

"John's been at the club quite a while now and [he's] steeped in Newcastle United," he says. "When John came training with me at Leeds he had Newcastle United shirts underneath his tracksuit so it just shows you that he's a dyed-in-the-wool Newcastle man. He worked under Sir Bobby and I know Bobby was a massive influence on John and he would have learned a lot from Bobby and would have picked up plenty from everybody else.

"He'll be well prepared. He actually had a little spell as a manager over in Toronto when Luton went bust. John went for about a year."

Yet even when in charge of Toronto FC Carver was fined $750 (£450) for criticising the referee, Tim Weyland, following a defeat to FC Dallas in April 2009. Then, he said: "I'm having a go at the referee because his performance was a disgrace."

Now, in the Premier League hothouse Carver hopes to keep his thoughts – and his head – to himself.

Jamie Jackson

Daniel Agger believes Raheem Sterling can make England World Cup squad

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 01:43 PM PST

• Liverpool winger can handle pressure in Denmark friendly
• Agger says 'Sterling has qualities England could use'

Daniel Agger is confident that Raheem Sterling can handle the pressure of senior international football as he targets a place in England's World Cup squad. Agger, who will be in the Denmark defence that faces England on Wednesday night, said: "He can handle the pressure, or else he would not play for us, for Liverpool.

It's a great opportunity for him. If he continues what he is doing right now I cannot see why not make the World Cup squad. He is a great, great talent and has some qualities England can use."

Despite finishing second in their group to Italy, Denmark did not qualify for the play-offs and so missed out on this summer's finals in Brazil. Their coach, Morten Olsen, has brought a mixed squad to London, with the Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen doubtful because of a back injury.

Nevertheless, Agger feels the Danes can make a statement with a solid display at Wembley. "We obviously know that it is a strong team we have to play, but we have come here to win and we want to win," he said.

"This is a great experience for young Danish players to come to this beautiful stadium.

"We have players who play in England, but all of the players here have grown up watching English football."

Agger is hoping for a chance to switch off from Liverpool's title challenge for a few days.

"I think as a footballer you have to look at the next game, and the next game is against England for Denmark, so I can put that away for a bit, and as soon as that game is finished, back to Liverpool," he said.

The striker Nicklas Bendtner is expected to feature at Wembley despite not being a regular at Arsenal. The 26-year-old was on the verge of leaving the Gunners in the summer, but had looked in good form before being sidelined by an ankle injury.

Bendtner now appears behind fit-again Yaya Sanogo in the pecking order, but will continue to try to force his way back into Arsene Wenger's plans.

"If you can find a footballer who says he is happy to sit and watch and not play, then I think he needs to find a different job. I want to play, there is no doubt in my mind," he said.

"I am fit and ready, am training well. That I am not selected is up to the manager, it is not up to me.

"All I can do is train well, which is what I am doing.

"If the manager chooses differently, then that is up to him."

Both Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are hopeful of making it into Hodgson's final 23-man squad for Brazil.

Bendtner said: "How they have played recently, I would have thought so.

"Alex has come back really strong since his knee injury and has scored a lot of important goals for us."

Arsenal slipped four points behind leaders Chelsea following defeat at Stoke.

Bendtner, though, insists the Gunners are not about to throw in the towel.

"It will be difficult, there are a lot of good teams, but I am sure we will be fighting to the end to win," he said.

Aston Villa make £52m loss in 2012-13

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 11:21 AM PST

• Departures of Young and Downing kept 2011-12 loss down
• Randy Lerner has converted £90m of loans to club into equity

Aston Villa have announced that the club made a loss of £52m in the 2012-13 financial year, £17m more than the £34m lost the previous year. In a statement on their website giving limited details from their 2012-13 accounts, which have not yet been filed for public view at Companies House, Villa said the club's owner, Randy Lerner, had converted £90m of loans to the club into equity.

Lerner, who inherited the MBNA credit card company and then sold it to Bank of America, bought Villa in 2006 from the former owners and the then chairman, Doug Ellis, and has since bankrolled years of losses. The reduction of the loss in 2011-12 was mostly due to selling Ashley Young to Manchester United for £17m and Stewart Downing for £20m to Liverpool, and Lerner is intent on reducing the financial burden on himself.

Lerner has invested in Villa in equity, through subscribing for shares, and with more than £100m of loans, on which he waives the payment of interest. Villa's statement said the club "continues to benefit from this largesse to the tune of £6.1m annually". The club's operating loss, the statement said, was £43m in 2012-13, a reduction by £10m from 2011-12. Robin Russell, Villa's chief financial officer, is quoted in the statement saying that despite the heavy operating loss and total post-tax loss of £52m, the club are in the current year moving towards breaking even.

"The 2012-13 accounts effectively close a chapter on a period of heavy losses," Russell's statement said. "As we near the end of the 2013-14 season, the club is financially sufficient, compliant with both Uefa's and the Premier League's financial fair play requirements, and we look forward to a period of continued growth and progress on and off the pitch."

David Conn

World Cup problems 'under control' as 100-day countdown begins - video

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 11:00 AM PST

The Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, is positive the 2014 World Cup will run smoothly, as the 100-day countdown begins

FA charge Adam with violent conduct

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 10:58 AM PST

• Foul on Arsenal striker missed by officials but seen on video
• Stoke City say Adam will 'appeal vigorously against decision'

Charlie Adam has been charged by the Football Association with violent conduct following an incident involving Olivier Giroud during Stoke City's 1-0 win against Arsenal on Saturday.

Adam appeared to stand on the opposing striker during the second half of the game at the Britannia Stadium, something not seen at the time by referee Mike Jones and his fellow match officials. Stoke's Scotland midfielder has until 6pm on Tuesday to respond to the charge.

The FA statement read: "The incident, which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video, occurred during the fixture between the two sides at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday 1 March 2014.

"Under a new pilot project in Premier League matches this season, if an incident has not been seen by the match officials, a three-man panel of former elite referees will be asked by the FA to review it and advise what, if any action, they believe the match referee should have taken had it been witnessed at the time.

"For an FA charge to follow, all three panel members must agree it is a sending-off offence.

"In this instance, the panel were of the unanimous decision that it was an act of violent conduct."

Stoke reacted to the FA's announcement by issuing a statement stressing Adam's intention to "appeal vigorously".

It said: "The club have learnt within the last hour that the FA has chosen to charge Charlie Adam. Charlie and the club are surprised and disappointed to learn of this and will appeal vigorously against the decision."

When managers attack: Alan Pardew is far from alone in having lost it | Arthur James O'Dea

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 09:41 AM PST

When Newcastle United's manager lost his temper with Hull's David Meyler he was following plenty of others

Delio Rossi v Adem Ljajic, Fiorentina 2-2 Novara, 2 May 2012

In an ugly, shameless attack, Fiorentina manager Rossi lost all sense of his surroundings when the 21-year-old sarcastically clapped him after being substituted in the 32nd minute with his side losing. Rossi snapped, diving into his own dugout to strike Ljajic, and was sacked by the club immediately after the match.

Paolo Di Canio v Leon Clarke, Swindon Town 1-3 Southampton, 30 August 2011

The former Swindon manager famously came to blows with his player – who had been at the club only 11 days – after a League Cup defeat. Clarke first rowed with a fitness coach, before Di Canio stepped in and asked the striker to leave the field. Clarke refused and the pair then became involved in a physical row down the tunnel. Di Canio's subsequent declaration that Clarke "will never play" for Swindon again under him came to fruition as Clarke was loaned to Chesterfield shortly afterwards.

Roberto Mancini v Mario Balotelli, Manchester City training ground , 3 January 2013

Balotelli has never been a stranger to controversy but a late tackle on Scott Sinclair during a training match proved the final straw for his manager, who confronted the striker until the pair were pulled apart by shocked players. It signified the beginning of the end for both men; Balotelli would leave City before January ended and Mancini departed in May.

Umit Ozat v Ankaraguca fan, Ankaraguca 1-3 Manisaspor, 30 January 2011

Turkish football descended into farce when the Ankaragucu manager, Umit Ozat, punched one of his own side's fans who ran on to the pitch to celebrate an equaliser. The fan didn't see it coming and was left flat on his back. Not yet satisfied, Ozat dodged the pursuing officials and made sure to land a few sly kicks before being finally dragged away. His side lost the match 3-1.

José Mourinho v Tito Vilanova, Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid, 17 August 2011

After a bad tackle sparked a scuffle on the sidelines in a Supercopa edition of el clásico, the Special One famously poked the then Barcelona assistant Tito Vilanova in the eye. Vilanova responded to Mourinho's actions by striking the Portuguese on the side of the head as the match – from which saw Barça emerge 3-2 winners to claim the Supercopa 5-4 on aggregate – finished in ugly scenes at the Camp Nou. Mourinho was given a two-game ban and €600 fine.

Labour's Jim Murphy asks Fifa member to join him on trip to Qatar

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 09:38 AM PST

• Wants Fifa to insist on changes for 2022 World Cup workers
• Murphy to meet migrant workers and visit camps

Jim Murphy, the shadow secretary of state for international development, has called on Britain's representative on Fifa's executive committee to join him in meeting migrant workers in Qatar this month.

Amid ongoing concern about the treatment of those who are building the infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup, the Labour shadow minister has written to Jim Boyce to invite him on a planned trip to Qatar on 31 March.

In the letter, seen by the Guardian, he says the situation faced by some migrant workers in Qatar – as detailed by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International and in a series of reports by the Guardian – "amounts to forced labour".

The International Trade Union Confederation has predicted that up to 4,000 workers could die in the run-up to the tournament.

"The 2022 World Cup can be a success but not if it is built on the backs of working people treated like cattle," said Murphy in the letter. "Instead, the focus brought by the World Cup must be a catalyst for change, not just for the workers building the World Cup venues, but for everyone building and working in the hotels, roads and railway projects that will help Qatar deliver for Fifa in 2022."

Fifa has said that it wants to see progress on the issue and has appointed the German executive committee member Theo Zwanziger to lead a working party. The Qatar 2022 organising committee last month issued a 50-page charter guaranteeing basic standards of accommodation, pay and conditions for all workers on its stadiums.

But Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have said authorities must go further to ensure the standards applied to all workers and reform the kafala system. The ITUC went further still and said the document was a "sham".

Murphy called on Boyce to ensure that Fifa insists on wide-ranging changes to employment law for all workers. "Fifa cannot take an attitude that the only things that are their business are the safe building of stadiums and laying of pitches. Fifa took the World Cup to Qatar and the entire process must now be Fifa's business," he said.

In the wake of the Guardian's original investigation in September into the conditions faced by Nepalese migrant workers, Boyce said he was "appalled and very disturbed" by the findings.

Murphy has asked Boyce to accompany him on a trip where he plans to meet with migrant workers and visit the camps in which they are housed.

A report commissioned by the Qatari government from the law firm DLA Piper on the conditions faced by expatriate workers is due to be published this month.

Owen Gibson

FA's Mike Rigg and Matt Crocker eager to modify English football's DNA

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 09:10 AM PST

FA's new talent developers explain their plans for a 'golden thread' from England Under-16s to Roy Hodgson's national side

Mike Rigg and Matt Crocker have been talking at St George's Park for the best part of an hour, passionately discussing their roles in the Football Association's brave new world. "Something I picked up, and I'm sure Mike would say the same, is there is a real thirst for positive change in the FA," Crocker, the FA's head of player and coach development, says. "People are ready for it. They want to be part of something special."

Recruited by Dan Ashworth, the FA's director of elite performance, Rigg and Crocker have key parts to play in shaping the future of English football, not least by helping to create the playing philosophy that will provide a "golden thread" running from the Under-16s through to Roy Hodgson's senior side.

The theory is that every representative team, and every coach at St George's Park, will be guided by the same principles, giving England a clear identity that will increase the chance of success further down the road and also help to make the transition for someone such as Luke Shaw, the 18-year-old Southampton left-back who hopes to win his first senior cap against Denmark on Wednesday night, as seamless as possible.

"I guess what we're trying to do is to create a culture or an environment where you go and watch an England team for five minutes and you should be able to know whether it's an England team whether they're wearing the kit or not," says Crocker, who was previously academy manager at Southampton.

"We need to clearly define ourselves tactically and technically in terms of what we're looking for, but also socially and psychologically what our players should be like."

Rigg, the FA's head of talent identification and former technical director with Manchester City and QPR, has visited the top clubs at home and abroad, as well as the leading nations, in search of ideas and good practice to help with the process of constructing English football's DNA. Yet it was a relatively unknown Spanish club, rather than the trip to Real Madrid's training ground, that left the deepest impression on him.

"A couple of months ago I went out to Alcorcón, who play in Segunda B, they were on the verge of the play-offs to get into La Liga last summer. The club is run by the council, it's about 20 minutes outside Madrid, it's got a stadium that holds about 4,500 people and an Astroturf pitch which is the training ground. I sat down with their sporting director and I was blown away with how they develop players because of their DNA. It was essentially about having a plan, sticking to it and getting everyone to buy into it."

With discussions still going on, Rigg and Crocker are reluctant to go into detail about what England's DNA might look like but there is a flavour of what to expect. "If you come into top level football, if you want to be able to compete, you have to have a work ethic, so we can't afford to carry players who aren't prepared, in simple terms, to press and go and close down the ball," Rigg says. "So part of our DNA is, off the ball, what is your attitude like to win it back? That's a real simple example of not just what gets you success at the highest level but something that is true to us as a nation – the hard work that is ingrained in our culture."

Crocker explains that no stone has been left unturned. "The biggest thing we're looking at in addition to what other countries are doing is research innovation. How Apple or Nike take an idea or a concept, put it into some type of process and it comes out the other end as ingrained in their culture. So it's massively broader than football. This is where Dave Reddin coming in [as head of performance services] is brilliant. We've opened our minds to all kinds of things that football would have probably frowned upon a few years ago."

The idea of an England coach standing up in a lecture hall on the eve of a game and explaining his team selection and tactics to a roomful of people who have nothing to do with the FA would also have been unthinkable at one time, but that it is a scenario played out regularly at St George's Park these days, with a view to creating a much more open culture, where ideas are exchanged and challenged.

"When England Under-16s played Belgium last month, we invited every Under-16 coach in the country [working at a professional club] to the game," Crocker says. "Before that Dan does a brief presentation, supported by Gareth [Southgate, the England Under-21 coach], on what we're doing. Then we'll bring in Kenny Swain [the England Under-16 coach] to talk about his how we're going to line up, how we'll play against Belgium and the reasons why. So we're getting a chance to forge relationships with clubs and share what we're doing."

That has not always been an easy alliance in the past, in stark contrast to Germany, where clubs buy into the bigger picture that the strength of the national team is crucial to the health of the domestic game. While it is difficult to ever imagine that being the case in England, Rigg and Crocker see positive signs. They view the Premier League's Elite Player Performance Plan as a force for good and highlight the value of the FA's 16 full-time youth coach educators, who work closely with academy staff, helping them to gain their qualifications and providing support on implementing each club's philosophy.

"I think there's a different mindset now," Rigg says. "We all went to Man City a couple of weeks ago – me, Matt, Dan and Gareth – and spent the day with Patrick Vieira, Gary Worthington, Txiki Begiristain and Brian Marwood. Their attitude was: what can we do to help you? The perception is those relationships aren't there. But they are there. Hand on heart, there has not been one door that has been closed."

But even if things are moving in the right direction on that front, and Rigg and Crocker are adamant that the talent is out there, it is impossible to ignore the sobering reality, which is that there are so few chances for young English players to break through at Premier League level. What, if anything, can Rigg and Crocker do to change that? "I don't think this is an answer us two can give you now," Rigg says. "We do agree, the opportunities and pathways into competitive football are a real challenge in this country. I know this is one of the areas the FA commission is looking into, which is a level above what we're doing."

An area where Rigg does have the scope to effect change in the English game is in relation to scouting and player recruitment. A fortnight ago every club with a category one and category two academy was invited to attend a talent identification conference at St George's Park, where Rigg put forward his case to "radically professionalise the side of football that is the least developed". He plans to introduce a five-level award, starting with a talent ID course at grassroots level that goes right through to a technical director's licence. Rigg says there is "100% support" among the clubs.

"It is the only department in a club, or an association, where you can literally go and get two fellows off the street, bring them in and say: 'You're now in charge of talent identification'," Rigg says. "In many ways it lets everyone else down, because you've got a coach who has gone through four years of education, effectively to a masters level, going through the youth modules, B licence, A licence and Pro licence, and Fred from the cafe can come in and be asked to find a player for them."

The conversation is coming to a close and Rigg and Crocker are both keen to stress that they are not trying to reinvent the wheel. English football is playing catch up and there is no quick fix. What the FA will soon have, though, is a clear framework to work from and that, at the very least, is a step in the right direction.

Crocker adds: "I think the aim has got to be for us, in the FA licensed coaches' club conference come December, rather than bringing in Belgium – where there is some great work going on – and all these different associations to give an insight, let's say: 'This is England, this is how we're going to play, this is our philosophy, this is what we're going to stick to for the next 10-15 years.' There might be people in the room who disagree with it but at least we are defining ourselves. Hopefully it will bring us some future success."

Stuart James

Football Weekly: Sunderland swept away by City as Alan Pardew loses his head

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 09:04 AM PST

It's a whopper of a Football Weekly we've got in store for you today, with the world's worst boyband - James Richardson, Barry Glendenning, Jonathan Wilson and Kevin Kilbane - looking back on Manchester City's triumph in the Carling Cup final and all the shenanigans in the Premier League.

And what shenanigans! There was Arsenal's collapse do Stoke's roughhouse tactics, Liverpool's 3-0 win at Southampton and, er, that's about it. Apart from Alan Pardew nutting David Meyler during Newcastle's 4-1 win at Hull. Oh, Alan, how could you?

Also in the podcast, we hear from Sid Lowe about the Madrid derby, gaze ahead to the midweek internationalzzzz, and discover more of Phil Brown's motivational secrets.

We'll try and replicate this jollity for Thursday - when Simon Burnton and Iain Macintosh will be joining us - but, let's be honest, it might be tricky.

Roberto Soldado could score 20 goals by season's end, says Tottenham Hotspur manager - video

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 08:38 AM PST

Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood believes Roberto Soldado can score another 20 goals by season's end.

The Fiver | Vigorously shoving another man's head with his own | Barry Glendenning

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 08:27 AM PST

Click here to have the Fiver sent to your inbox every weekday at 5pm, or if your usual copy has stopped arriving

HEADS UP

The instant Alan Pardew stuck the head on David Meyler at the KC Stadium on Saturday afternoon, it was immediate his surprising act of violence would have serious repercussions. Serious, often tedious repercussions. Despite the Hull City midfielder's apparent reluctance to make a big deal of the matter and Pardew's apparently sincere post-match apology for vigorously shoving another man's head with his own, it was abundantly clear that there would be Big Consequences for the Newcastle manager. And so they came to pass, ranging from an excitable Jeff Stelling predicting the vigorous throwing of books to assorted other commentators and media pundits engaging in sanctimonious hand-wringing and howling, before calling for Mike Ashley to sack his employee for an act of misconduct which, while genuinely surprising and unacceptable in the otherwise tranquil environment of a packed football ground, wasn't actually that bad.

Now let's be clear, the Fiver has never been above a bit of sanctimonious hand-wringing or howling and certainly isn't condoning Pardew's actions. We believe he deserves to be punished, not least because when it comes to touchline argy-bargy he's a reciv ... resida ... recidive ... repeat offender. But considering his head-butt was more Churchill Dog than Yosser Hughes and the victim of his billy-goat impression was unhurt, shouts for the man to lose his livelihood seem rather extreme. When those shouts emanate from the mouths of perpetrators of far more incendiary acts of jaw-dropping spur-of-the-moment touchline lunacy, such as Graeme Souness and Alan Shearer, then you can't help but wonder if the whole world isn't going a little mad.

Personally speaking, the Fiver would like to see Pardew pay for his indiscretion by being strapped into a Die Hard-style sandwich board that reads "I hate Mackems!" and then forced to walk around Sunderland city centre ringing a bell. Alternatively, he could be made to wear a giant foam stetson or sombrero for the duration of games throughout the rest of the season, in order to prevent such an incident happening again. We were also particularly taken by one Twitter-user's suggestion that the famously pleased with himself "Pards" should be locked in a room with a chocolate statue of himself for several hours, but not allowed so much as a single lick. As it was, Newcastle showed a stunning lack of imagination by simply fining their manager £100,000 and giving him a stern talking-to, then drawing a metaphorical line under the matter and suggesting that was that.

Sadly for Pardew, after being charged with improper conduct, the FAis likely to ride roughshod over Newcastle's metaphorical line and hit him with a hefty touchline or stadium ban in a bid to protect Premier League throw-in takers everywhere from his volatile temper. "The buck stops with Alan," said League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan. "It's unacceptable, it's inappropriate and it's insupportable from every perspective and Alan knows that." The Fiver expects Pardew would nod in agreement with this sentiment, but values its personal safety too much to get up close enough to find out.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"I love pressure – to manage a big team like Manchester United and to be in all the competitions is very good for all of us" – Manuel Pellegrini shows a hitherto unseen penchant for comedy after Manchester City's Milk Cup final win.

FIVER LETTERS

"Re: Laurent Koscielny donating €600,000 to an accordion factory (Friday's letters). Is it possible that some local thugs put the squeeze on him?" – Scott Henderson.

"I read with astonishment the story about the belt that once provided multiple weals across Lord Ferg's purple backside is now residing in his study as a deterrent to his naughty grandchildren. Would it not currently be better employed hanging up on a dedicated hook in the Old Trafford home dressing room for similar encouraging effect? Or am I merely stating the bleedin' obvious?" – Allastair McGillivray.

"Can I be the first of 1,057 to offer congratulations to Philippa (no accent, no relation) Suarez on hitting a purple patch of scoring form in this week's letters of the day. If she keeps this form up, surely she'll be a contender for the 2013/14 Golden Fiver award, the Franck Ribéry to Noble Francis and Paul Jurzdecka's Ronaldo/Messi" – Brent Lindsay.

• Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. And if you've nothing better to do you can also tweet the Fiver. Today's winner of our prizeless letter o' the day is: Scott Henderson.

JOIN GUARDIAN SOULMATES

We keep trying to point out the utter futility of advertising an online dating service "for interesting people" in the Fiver to the naive folk who run Guardian Soulmates, but they still aren't having any of it. So here you go – sign up here to view profiles of the kind of erudite, sociable and friendly romantics who would never dream of going out with you.

BITS AND BOBS

Fit and proper Birmingham City owner Carson Yeung has been found guilty of five charges of money laundering by a Hong Kong court. Judge Douglas Yau said Yeung's evidence was "self-contradictory" and that he was "making it up as he went along".

Cypriot referees will suspend the strike they called after their association president's car was bombed in order to allow the Norn Ireland international friendly to take place.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has denied Sol Campbell's claims that FA r@cism stopped the defender from being England captain for 10 years. "Not a chance – during my years, not a chance," sniffed the Swede.

The Torquay manager Chris Hargreaves has offered to buy all the club's supporters who watched them lose away against Hartlepool a drink, having given two of the 91 travelling fans £20 already. "It was the least I could do," said Hargreaves, who is presumably boozing in London if drinks are a tenner each.

Barnsley midfielder Stephen Dawson has apologised and agreed to make a "significant donation" to Barnsley Hospice after confronting fans who shouted "You're not fit to wear the shirt" at him following the club's 5-0 defeat to Huddersfield. The club is also investigating a gesture made by Brek Shea.

STILL WANT MORE?

You want 10 talking points from the weekend's action? Tough. You'll have to make do with nine.

Arsenal are the equivalent of a speed dater who repeatedly gets told they have a nice personality but goes home without a phone number, writes Sean Ingle, backing this theory up with cold, hard stats, of course.

For all the broader hierarchy of interests, Manchester City's boisterous, full-throated Wembley support celebrated their Fizzy Cup win like an island full of shipwrecked men who have just spied a sail on the horizon. It's human simile-generator Barney Ronay.

How good was the Madrid derby? It was 1,818 words of good, whoops Sid Lowe.

Raphael Honigstein has a look at the nature of the Bundesliga beast and concludes that if a mascot losing his head was the most unpredictable moment this weekend, something has to change.

Paolo Bandini gives us the lowdown on the Serie A title race, he also gives us a link to Rafa Benítez explaining his tactics using the empty seats between Italian hacks.

Proper journalist David Conn has a look at the Carson Yeung situation and doesn't like what he sees.

Download Football Weekly Now! Download Football Weekly Now! Download Football Weekly Now!

Oh, and if it's your thing, you can follow Big Website on Big Social FaceSpace.

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Want your very own copy of our free tea-timely(ish) email sent direct to your inbox? Has your regular copy stopped arriving? Click here to sign up. And you can also now receive our weekly World Cup email, O Fiverão; this is the latest edition, and you can sign up for it here.

WE DO YOUR WORK FOR YOU

Barry Glendenning

England v Denmark preview: Luke Shaw set for debut – video

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 08:20 AM PST

England train ahead of their international friendly against Denmark at Wembley on Wednesday, in which Luke Shaw is expected to make his debut

Pardew charged with improper conduct by FA over head-butt

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 08:05 AM PST

• Newcastle manager facing fine and stadium ban
• Incident designated as 'non-standard' by governing body

Alan Pardew has been charged by the Football Association with improper conduct and faces a record touchline ban which may extend to a complete stadium expulsion for head-butting Hull City's David Meyler.

The Newcastle manager will accept the charge, described as "serious violent" and "non-standard" by the FA, it is understood. Once the FA receives this officially a three-person Independent Regulatory Commission will convene to decide his punishment.

As of Monday evening the governing body had yet to receive the 52-year-old's guilty plea, though even if this is not lodged before Thursday's 6pm deadline the case is expected to be decided before Newcastle's next match, the trip to Fulham a week on Saturday.

The FA's designation of Pardew's proceedings as non-standard indicates he is facing what may be an unprecedented, record sanction for a manager. Blackpool's Paul Ince was given a five-game stadium ban and a £4,000 fine for "violently shoving" a fourth official during a 2-1 win over Bournemouth in September.

Two years ago Steve Evans, then the Crawley Town manager, was given a six-game ground expulsion and a £3,000 fine for using "abusive and insulting words" that "included a reference to gender".

As Pardew's head-butt on Meyler may be deemed a greater offence than either Ince's shove or Evans's abusive language, he appears set be handed a more severe penalty. Pardew has already been fined £100,000 and issued with a formal warning by his club for the incident that occurred during Saturday's 4-1 victory at the KC Stadium.

If he is banned as expected, John Carver, Newcastle's assistant manager, will take over. A year ago Carver narrowly escaped his own touchline ban after being sent to the stands for approaching Wigan Athletic's Callum McManaman following his dangerous challenge on Massadio Haïdara during Newcastle's 2-1 win. The incident involving Carver also included him shouting at Graham Barrow, the Wigan first-team coach. While both received a £1,000 fine from the FA and were warned about their future conduct, only Barrow received a one-game touchline ban.

Pardew will not face police action over the incident, Humberside Police have confirmed. It has received no complaint from Meyler or Hull City and the police are happy to let the FA deal with the matter.

Chief Inspector Rich Kirven said: "We have been working with the FA and the football club to progress the matter appropriately. Having reviewed the circumstances of the incident, it has been agreed that the matter will be dealt with by the FA rather than considering any criminal proceedings. There has been no complaint received from the player involved or Hull City Association Football Club at this time. Whilst we appreciate that some people may have found the behaviour displayed at the game on Saturday offensive, Humberside Police will not be taking any further action."

Although when issuing the fine and formal warning Mike Ashley, the Newcastle owner, was minded Pardew would keep his job, a ban that would prevent him from leading the team on match days until next season could test his resolve.

Ashley Wootton, a sport and employment solicitor at Thomas Eggar LLP, said: "If Newcastle believe that the effect of [a] ban and negative PR associated with the incident becomes too much, they may suspend their manager with a view to dismissing him for gross misconduct."

Jamie Jackson

… but this time Atlético are not burnt

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 07:26 AM PST

The tackles flew in a full-blooded derby that fizzed from first to last but Atlético did not crumble as they would in years past

Be careful what you wish for. It is only 18 months ago that Real Madrid's fans unfurled a banner in the dying minutes of yet another victory against Atlético Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu. The banner, a black slogan daubed across white tarpaulin, imitated a classified advert like something out of Segunda Mano, Spain's equivalent of Loot. "Wanted," it declared. "A worthy rival for a decent derby." Now they have one. The derby has been resuscitated. On Sunday afternoon, Real Madrid travelled to the Vicente Calderón to face Atlético Madrid and it was, most of the headlines agreed, just like old times. Just like last century, back when Atlético competed.

This time, the message was a different one. Before the game, the mosaic that ran along the east stand at the Calderón quoted the club's anthem to read: "Because they fight like brothers." And they fought. At the end, they were still standing, too. The bad news for them was that so were Real Madrid. When the final whistle went it had finished 2-2 and on the pitch players embraced like exhausted boxers. Raúl García and Xabi Alonso, Felipe Luis and Pepe, Sergio Ramos and Diego Costa. "Ramos kicks me and I kick him, but that's part of the game," Costa had admitted last week. Cristiano Ronaldo departed holding his head, just in case. When it came to the managers, there was satisfaction but they were seething too.

This was exhilarating if occasionally exasperating. There was little respite. Ancelotti said that Atlético had wanted a "violent" game. In the Madrid dressing room, they concluded that Atlético had not wanted to play; they had instead wanted to reduce it to a rumble. A referee who blew only rarely had helped. But if it was a rumble they wanted, there were Real players who wanted one too. In Marca, Santi Segurola called it "disagreeable … more like a fight down an alley than a football match". Others likened it to Kill Bill. AS's match report noted: "This was football, the way the British invented it in the middle ages … get the ball from one town to the other: whoever falls falls, the ball rolls and so do heads."

The tackles flew and the players flew too; there were bodies strewn on the ground. At times you winced; at times, you rolled your eyes muttering: "Oh, get up. Yes, you. And you. And you. And you. And you." Pepe in particular was, well, Pepe. The referee seemed to have decided that it was best to turn a blind eye: at times it was a free-for-all, largely lawless. Yet it was compelling, too; it was hard to take your eyes off it. And for all the puritanical complaints, in truth it was also less aggressive, less dirty and less cheaty than the recent cup game between the sides had been. Nor was it just a game born of the battle. There were gems to be found, picking through the rubble; Karim Benzema and Arda Turan, for a start. As for Costa, at times he was breathtakingly good. Above all, it was a contest.

Benzema it was who nudged in the first and for Atlético fans there was something frighteningly familiar about it. This was the ninth time in 12 games that Real had scored inside the first quarter of an hour. Normally, that's the cue for a collapse but Atlético did not crumble. Instead, they raced up the pitch and take the kick-off … with Real's players still celebrating near the corner. And then it did kick off. Properly. Filipe Luís crashed into Álvaro Arbeloa. Ramos bundled over Costa. The referee looked away; Ramos had been waving at Costa to get up before Costa had even gone down. High in the main stand, supporters kicked seats and implored journalists to take note and tell the world.

Still, Atlético did not crumble. Diego López saved from Costa. Turan turned Fábio Coentrão, leaving him slipping to the floor and Koke scored the equaliser. Koke's family name is Resurrección, Resurrection; Atlético were alive. Then Gabi got the ball. He was 36 yards out but he went for it anyway. The ball tore through the air; it tore through everything, through the fatalism, through the last 15 years, and into the net. The roar that went up when it went in might just be the loudest this column has ever heard in Spain. As the ball came back out of the net, Raúl García tried to boot it back in, a release of tension, joy unbound. Slipping, he sent the ball flying violently back off the bar. Somehow, that felt like an eloquent comment. Gabi, the captain, disappeared under a pile of bodies. Diego Simeone clenched his fists, grinning like Zippy. It was actually happening.

Atlético were 2-1 up; Modric could not escape, nor could Alonso. Atlético pushed them back and Costa was finding space, moving into the inside-right and inside-left positions, squeezing between the central defenders and the full-backs. At times, he seemed unstoppable. López was the man who had to stop him; another shot hit the side netting. Atlético were on top. The conclusion was clear: these really are different times. Atlético Madrid won the Copa del Rey final at the Santiago Bernabéu, then followed that up with a 1-0 league victory, and if the two sides finish level at the end of this season, it will be Atlético who prevail on the head-to-head. For the first time in nine games, Atlético were not going to be beaten by Real at the Calderón; their candidacy for the title remains. Defeat here and it surely wouldn't have done: six points would have been gigantic.

Something has changed in the capital. Something but not everything. "We're still alive," Simeone said afterwards. The problem was that, as the game wore on, so were Real Madrid. Atlético tired, but still had chances. As Madrid stepped forward the space opened behind. Since 1999, Atlético have probably not been closer to beating their neighbours at home. But they did not do so. Real Madrid have a three-point lead and are yet to lose there since 1999. The run goes back 5,378 days. It includes a recent cup victory: Real will play this year's final, not Atlético. Arda drew a save from López at the near post. Costa shot wide, headed wide, and completely missed one pull back near the penalty spot. He also went over in the area, tripped by Arbeloa. Which would have been bad enough but, worse, he got booked.

Over on the touchline, someone said something. The referee approached the Atlético bench and sent off Germán "The Monkey" Burgos who, to judge by the television footage filmed from the touchline, had barely raised his voice at that point. "He didn't say anything," Simeone insisted in the post-match press conference, pausing to add: "before". Afterwards, he certainly did. As the referee stood rigid before him, chest out, a defiant air about him, refusing to cede ground, Burgos went for him. Simeone, Turan, Esteban Arévalo, Pedro Pablo Matesanz, David Loras, Dr Villalón, Cristian Bautista, Oscar Pitillas, Jesús Vázquez … nine men tried to restrain him. It took six of them, together, to pull him away.

Real were still standing; the final blow had not been delivered. "Once we were able to make it about playing football, we got into the game," Carlo Ancelotti said. He changed both full-backs and brought on Isco. Simeone made just one change. "I thought it was hard for a sub to get into the pace of the game quickly," he explained. But Atlético were running on empty. Real started to create chances.

Ronaldo had two free-kicks, one of which was blocked by Gabi's arm; another possible penalty ignored. He then headed wide from Dani Carvajal's cross. And with eight minutes to go, Mario Suárez lost control, hit a tired, desperate clearance against Carvajal and lost possession inside his own area. Ronaldo scored a goal that, although it was not immediately apparent, was superb: first time, on the turn and right in the corner, brilliantly struck. There were eight minutes left. Atlético had had the victory within their grasp but it had escaped them. From top of the table, they lay third, three points off.

When the final whistle went, Atlético's fans were sort of satisfied but they knew this was a chance lost. Real's fans, high in the north stands, sang. Atlético's manager turned and headed quickly down the stairs behind the bench, stopping briefly to say something to someone. His target was out there somewhere and, more than saying it, Simeone spat it: a judgment delivered swiftly and unequivocally. Down the stairs and into the cramped, narrow, airless passageway beneath the stands with its low sloping ceiling, he went. You could imagine him sitting there in the dressing room, breathing deeply and counting to 10. Then 20, then 30, then 40 …

Ancelotti appeared in the press room, spoke briefly and then left. At the north end of the stadium, Real's bus pulled out and onto the M30. But there was still no sign of Simeone; something was eating at him, dark thoughts refusing to go away. When he did finally appear, it was almost an hour after the game and Real had long gone. As if he had been trying to calm down enough not to really let rip. When he did speak, there was a hint of victimism, a sense of injustice, in his words but there was pride too. There was also something enigmatic about it.

If this was a sign of weakness – one that was echoed by Filipe Luís talking about his perception that "no one wants Atlético up there: they want a two-team league with millions of difference between us. If Messi and Ronaldo left, this would be a shitty league" – Simeone appeared to be trying to turn it into a source of strength, almost a cause. Us against the world, the little guy fighting the powerful.

The anger and frustration simmered but said there was "no point" talking about the referee and when pressed on who he meant when he said that people were against his side, when he dropped hints about those who have an interest in seeing Atlético pushed out of the title race, he was evasive: "Who? Whoever feels like I am alluding to them … if they're listening, they know." Meanwhile, asked if it was impossible to beat Real he replied: "No. We've beaten them." With 12 weeks still to go, his team are still in the title race: "Being close to the leaders is nice and there's a Barcelona-Madrid soon which will be hard for some people," he said.

"I am very proud of the players, men who fight against everything," Simeone said. "We're still alive. It will upset a lot of people, but we're still alive."

Talking points and results

• There must be better ways to spend a Saturday night … Getafe versus Espanyol was cold, wet, and empty. It was also rubbish. There wasn't even any joy to be had from listening to Javier Aguirre talk about the game: he was suspended, watching the game from a radio cabin, and so it was his No2, Alfredo Tena, who spoke to the media. Getafe have now gone 11 weeks without a win, while Tena said that the 0-0 draw will do Espanyol just fine.

• Getafe was the third of four Saturday night games. The others were: Málaga 1-1 Valladolid, Levante 2-0 Osasuna, and Elche 1-0 Celta. Not the most exciting Saturday ever. Although Carles Gil's goal against Celta was a beauty.

• Player of the weekend: Aritz Aduriz. Well, not player of the weekend exactly because, well, this is Athletic Bilbao and they virtually never play at the weekend. But he did score a lovely hat-trick on Friday night.

• Barcelona scored four and could have scored more. One of them was a superb free-kick by Leo Messi. But ...

• Villarreal versus Betis was moved from Sunday night at 9pm to Sunday lunchtime at noon. The reason was simple: Villarreal had asked the league to let them hold a kind of homage to the fans to demonstrate that the person who threw tear gas on the pitch does not represent them and to congratulate the fans for the orderly way that they evacuated the stadium. That involved having the league's president, Javier Tebas, at the game, along with a few local dignitaries. It also involved not playing at 9pm, a kick-off time that's not exactly conducive to a big attendance and certainly not to kids going. The LFP said yes … but only if you play at midday. (Which at least made it easier for Tebas to get there and back.)

Now, the very fact that the idea of the LFP paying homage to match-going fans – the people they appear to despise more than anyone else in the world – is a bit of a laugh. But this was worse: in order to move Villarreal to noon (and not 7pm as they had requested), they moved Rayo-Valencia from noon to 9pm. That meant fewer Rayo fans went and virtually no Valencia fans did: from a trip they could comfortably do in a day it was now impossible to get back home on Sunday night. Oh, and it gets worse too: Villarreal's opponents, Betis, had been in Russia on Thursday night and only arrived back, shattered, on Friday evening. For them, the extra nine hours genuinely mattered.

In short, to pay homage to one set of fans for doing something that, quite honestly, is pretty unremarkable, they pissed off three sets of fans. How very like the LFP.

Results: Athletic 4-0 Granada, Málaga 1-1 Valladolid, Levante 2-0 Osasuna, Getafe 0-0 Espanyol, Elche 1-0 Celta, Villarreal 1-1 Betis, Atlético 2-2 Real Madrid, Sevilla 1-0 Real Sociedad, Rayo 1-0 Valencia, Barcelona 4-1 Almería.

La Liga table

Luke Shaw shows off free-kick flair in England training – video

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 07:16 AM PST

Southampton's young defender Luke Shaw shows off his free-kick flair during England U21 training

Yeung's murky past exposed

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 06:52 AM PST

As Birmingham City's owner awaits sentencing in a Hong Kong prison cell, his influence is set to remain at St Andrew's

Carson Yeung was approved by the Premier League as a "fit and proper person" to lead an £81.5m takeover of Birmingham City in 2009, despite an investigation having already begun in Hong Kong into the mystery swirling over how Yeung made his money.

Now, after nearly five turbulent, mostly horrible, years for the football club, Yeung has been found guilty of money-laundering in a Hong Kong court, which ruled that HK$720m (£55m) of the fortune he amassed between 2001 and 2007 was the proceeds of crime. After a 53-day trial Yeung, described as a habitual liar by the judge, Douglas Yau, was remanded in custody to await sentencing on Friday, when he could face a maximum prison sentence of seven years.

When he made his grand promises of an £80m investment into City after the holding company, Birmingham International Holdings, bought the club from David Sullivan and David Gold, how Yeung had risen to become a man of such means remained a puzzle. Just 10 years earlier he listed his occupation as a hairdresser and in response to questions his representatives in London issued a statement saying, with little additional explanation, that he was a director of two companies –Universal Energy Resources Holdings and Universal Management Consultancy.

The prosecution alleged that the £55m of Yeung's fortune had been paid into five different bank accounts from illicit sources including employees of casinos in the Chinese gambling hotbed of Macau. Yeung claimed he had made serious money as a hairdresser to Hong Kong's rich and famous, then accumulated fortunes in share-trading and high-stakes gambling in Macau.

Yau found this was untrue, and that there was an "extremely strange" lack of written contracts documenting Yeung's business dealings, even for transactions involving huge amounts of money. "I find the defendant not a witness of truth," the judge said. "I find that he is someone who is prepared to, and did try to, lie whenever he saw the need to do so."

Birmingham supporters are desperately hoping that Yeung's conviction will lead to new owners and a more decent future for the club, who were relegated in 2011, the same season they won the League Cup, and have fallen into serious financial difficulties since the arrest of Yeung, who had loaned City £15m.

However the club's acting chairman and long-term Yeung associate, Peter Pannu, reacted to the guilty verdict by insisting that the Hong Kong-listed holding company, Birmingham International Holdings, of which Yeung was the chairman until last month, will remain in charge. "I'd like to reassure all supporters and staff that today's verdict will have no impact on the day-to-day operations at the football club," Pannu said in an official statement, expressing "regret" that the club's "former president and benefactor," had been convicted. "Birmingham International Holdings limited … shall continue to support the football club … and will work to raise further investment."

This investment, which ultimately depends on approval by the Hong Kong justice authorities which are likely to seek to recover any assets they legally can, proposes Yeung writing off repayment of the £15m the club owes him, and remaining a 28% shareholder.

This is below the 30% threshold at which the Football League requires owners to be "fit and proper", free from criminal convictions for dishonesty. So Yeung, who resigned as a club and holding company director last month, could legitimately remain the largest shareholder in Birmingham City while serving time for money-laundering in a Hong Kong prison cell.

Pannu, the former Hong Kong policeman turned barrister who arrived at St Andrew's as one of Yeung's main executives in 2009, remains a director of the club, as does Yeung's 20-year-old son Ryan, who lists his occupation as "student", and Shui Cheong Ma, Yeung's brother in law, who joined the board last month, when Yeung resigned.

Ever since Yeung was arrested in 2011 and his assets frozen, Pannu, Carson and Ryan Yeung have repeatedly stated that the club itself will not be ensnared by the money-laundering trial and any consequences of Yeung being found guilty. Announcing a £4m loss for the financial year 2012-13 and the club's need for "additional funding" if it is to "continue its operations for at least 12 months", the club's most recent accounts stated: "The directors have not received any information to suggest that any funding provided to BCFC by Carson Yeung ... have any connection with the five charges that he faces. The directors do not have any credible reason to fear that the Hong Kong authorities have any recourse to the loans made to BCFC by Carson Yeung."

This confidence will now be tested. The Hong Kong justice authorities are also needed to approve Pannu's efforts to entrench the club's ownership in Hong Kong, with a planned £7m placing of shares and borrowing of £24m by issuing a bond to a company owned by a Chinese property developer, Yang Yue Zhon, who has twice previously loaned money to BIHL.

Buried in City's most recent accounts was the startling line about Yeung's £15m loan to the club. "The amounts … were advanced without formal documentation and there are no written terms for interest and the term of repayment."

The Hong Kong judge has found a similar lack of documentation for much of Yeung's business dealings, before he arrived to present himself as a mega-wealthy magnate joining other overseas owners attracted to English football's money and glamour.

Blues Trust, the supporters' trust, reacted to the guilty verdict by calling for greater involvement in the ownership and expressing hope for a new era. Pannu, though, plans to press ahead with the series of proposed deals which make fan involvement, and a sale of the club by the Hong Kong-registered holding company, still distant prospects.

David Conn

The best goals of the week: Messi, Tevez, Elano, Robben and Stevenage

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 05:32 AM PST

Featuring a delicious chip from Malaysia, a long-range free-kick from Brazil, some team goals from the Barcelona youth teams and a superb scissor kick from Israel

Paul Campbell

Schalke and Leverkusen show harsh Bundesliga reality amid moose antics | Raphael Honigstein

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 04:52 AM PST

Jens Keller's men go from bad to worse and Sami Hyypia's side remain in a stupor as goalkeeping blunders and a man in an animal costume provide the memorable moments

Matchday 23 provided the usual, much-loved mix of low-score dross and high-score bonanzas (including Hoffenheim's 6-2 over Wolfsburg in "El Plastico", as the Bundesliga afficionado Archie Rhind-Tutt put it somewhat uncharitably).

Teutonically incorrect goalkeeping blunders (see the 1-1 between Braunschweig and Gladbach) and a man in a moose costume stumbling over an advertising board and losing his (moose) head in the process – an instant classic in the sparsely populated/nuclear wasteland area known as German humour.

But amid all that enchanting heedlessness, two matches also provided a real glimpse of clarity, a cold, hard look at the nature of the beast numbered 13/14.

The first one was Bayern v Schalke. Pep Guardiola had praised the Royal Blues as "one of the best teams in the league" before that fixture. He was right, of course, but these days that statement amounts to little more than a backhanded compliment. Schalke, mathematically the fourth best side in the land, were even worse than in the 6-1 defeat by Real Madrid on Wednesday.

This is not an exaggeration. Against the Spaniards, Jens Keller's men had started reasonably enough and at least troubled Iker Casillas once. But at the Allianz Arena they were 1-0 behind thanks to a deflected free-kick from David Alaba and down and out from the kick-off.

The manager's idea to line up in deep rows outside the box resulted in Bayern flooding the midfield with up to eight players at a time. Schalke never got close to the ball, let alone into the game. "This was the worst thing I have ever seen," said Keller (probably not true, strictly speaking). "It was catastrophic, a truly extraordinarily abysmal performance," he added in relation to the first half. Bayern were 4-0 up at the interval. If it hadn't been for some fine goalkeeping from Ralf Fährmann it could have been 14.

"We have to be more [like] men," demanded the goalkeeper after the final whistle, which provided a relatively gentle 5-1 scoreline. But insufficient manliness isn't so much Schalke's problem as the huge gap between the undoubtedly talented players in the squad and those who should never share a pitch with Bayern or Real Madrid in the first place. There is enough money available to do much better. The real issue is quality control, in other words, and that pertains to the manager, too.

"We didn't even get 10% of our tactics right," admitted Keller. He's a 60% coach, at best. It's become painfully obvious that the 43-year-old is unable to get anything like the maximum out of the potential at his disposal, to say nothing about taking Schalke to a different level altogether.

"If we look for excuses now, it's already a wrong step," said Horst Heldt when asked about the manager's (surely non-existent) future beyond May. You guessed it: the sporting director expertly put the blame on the players instead. "You can get to each one of them in the end, the club is always more powerful," he threatened, "decisions will be made".

Heldt has become so good at questioning the motivation or ability of employees that he himself has hired that no one has ever seriously questioned his own role in the stasis.

The Peruvian winger Jefferson Farfán (who was seen sharing a joke with his international team-mate Claudio Pizarro after the final whistle) and Kevin-Prince Boateng ("the superstar enjoys all sorts of privileges but was again not fit," wrote Bild) are this week's convenient fall-guys, while Teflon Horst escapes scrutiny once again.

Schalke – this is the key point – are not even a club in crisis. They are more or less on course of hitting their targets but the game in Munich made it incredibly easy to see why the Bundesliga suffers from a lack of competitiveness at the very top. The Royal Blues have become specialists in failure under Heldt; the banal but devastating failure to use their considerable resources – they are the 13th richest club in Europe in terms of turnover – in a competent manner. No wonder the league's a friendly place for the Bavarians, if their potential worst enemies are this feeble.

Leverkusen v Mainz also made for an instructive lesson about everything that is wrong as well as right in German club football right now. Bayer, praised as a "results machine" by Jürgen Klopp in the autumn, have looked a broken side since December. Results are still being produced, albeit those of an exclusively faulty variety. The 1-0 defeat by Thomas Tuchel's team was the fifth loss in the league in a row for the "Werkself".

No one is quite sure what is wrong. The coach Sami Hyypia had brought in some psychologists to wake his side from their stupor but the performance on Saturday was the stuff of trauma again. The sporting director Rudi Völler admitted that this was more than a blip. "We have obviously got it wrong with a few players," he said, "we have to have a better set-up, mentality wise, in the future".

Leverkusen's phlegmatic tendencies have been a problem for many years and it's hard to see how things will ever change fundamentally. Bayer, a company-owned minnow of a club with deep pockets, are aware that the players they attract either see the club as a stepping stone for bigger and better things or are only there for their money. Or both. The kind of player who takes real responsibility and identifies strongly with a club is – by definition – elsewhere. Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim have similar issues.

These kind of clubs will never get to the next level – and stay there – as long as their squads are packed with players who define professionalism as switching off when the probabilities point to a defeat. There are only two ways out of this conundrum. The first is to spend even more money on players who are so much better than the opposition that the lack of motivation will be outweighed by the gulf in quality.

You might call that the "Monaco" option. But none of these teams are in a position to do so. The other way is to find an almost manically motivated manager who infects the side with his own ambition. Christoph Daum nearly succeeded at Leverkusen in that respect.

Talking of managerial talent, Tuchel's Mainz are the mirror image of the Schalkes, Leverkusens and Wolfsburgs of this league. They have no money but make up for it with an incredible amount of know-how in all aspects. Augsburg could also be mentioned in the same breath but there are natural limits to these sides' progress, too, of course. They will either lose their best players or their coaches at some stage and will then have to embark on a rebuilding process.

So this is where we are at. The league is incredibly competitive below first place because the biggest, and many of the smallest, clubs have arrived at similar levels of performance but from two very different directions. The former spend fortunes on mediocrity, the latter have managers (and sporting directors) who work wonders with very little.

Seen in this light, Bayern's peerlessness (and Dortmund's, to a lesser extent) is neither accidental nor the product of dark magic. They just happen to be the one club/two clubs who have been able to combine huge resources with a comparable level of expertise. It shouldn't be this rare a constellation.

Talking Points

• Thomas Schneider looked a goner after VfB Stuttgart's eighth defeat in a row, 2-1 at Frankfurt, on Sunday. "I don't rule out anything," the sporting director Fredi Bobic announced darkly but on Monday morning, Schneider was still in charge of training. The Swabians are seemingly willing to give the 40-year-old one last shot at the weekend, when they meet the bottom side Eintracht Braunschweig.

• One of the league's worst-kept secrets was revealed on Monday: Armin Veh will leave his position as Frankfurt manager at the end of the season. The 53-year-old would have been able to continue as manager but has seemingly lost interest. "We haven't talked to any possible successors," said the executive chairman Heribert Bruchhagen. That's not quite true, naturally.

• "I didn't know I was such an egotistical pig," said Zlatko Junuzovic after the 1-0 win in the "Nord-Derby" against HSV. The Werder Bremen midfielder scored the winning goal to pile more relegation worries on to Mirko Slomka's side but had managed to waste two more opportunities when it might have been better to pass the ball.

Rafael van der Vaart's comeback for the away team, meanwhile, only served to proved the doubters right. "He was a discreet runner who hardly got involved in the game," wrote Süddeutsche Zeitung. Hamburg's attack was "hapless like Schäferhund without teeth". To make matters worse, the bite of Slobodan Rajkovic will also be missed in the remaining fixtures. The defender suffered ligament damage in a knee. Two words sum up Hamburg's predicament: Heiko and Westermann.

Results: Hertha 0-0 Freiburg, Braunschweig 1-1 Gladbach, Augsburg 1-1 Hannover, Bremen 1-0 Hamburg, Leverkusen 0-1 Mainz, Dortmund 3-0 Nürnberg, Bayern 5-1 Schalke, Hoffenheim 6-2 Wolfsburg, Frankfurt 2-1 Stuttgart.

Raphael Honigstein

Carson Yeung's conviction has 'no impact on Birmingham', claims Pannu

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 04:14 AM PST

• Acting chairman Peter Pannu plays down guilty verdict
• Majority shareholder Yeung facing prison for money laundering

Carson Yeung's conviction on money-laundering charges will have "no impact on the day-to-day operations" at Birmingham, according to the acting chairman, Peter Pannu.

Yeung, the club's majority shareholder, was found guilty on five counts of money laundering by a court in Hong Kong on Monday. He was arrested and charged in 2011 having bought Blues two years earlier, and had denied laundering 720m Hong Kong dollars (£55.5m) through his accounts between 2001 and 2007. He will now be sentenced on Friday and could face a lengthy prison term.

Yeung last month resigned from his position on the boards of the football club, Birmingham City plc and Birmingham International Holdings Limited (BIHL), the club's parent company.

In a statement on the club's website, Pannu said: "I regret to inform all supporters and staff of our beloved club that Birmingham City FC's former president and benefactor, Carson Yeung, was today convicted of all charges he faced following a protracted period of legal proceedings.

"I'd like to reassure all supporters and staff that today's verdict will have no impact on the day-to-day operations at the football club.

"Birmingham International Holdings Limited, the holding company, shall continue to support the football club under the leadership of the group's new chairman, Mr Cheung Shing, and will work to raise further investment to support Birmingham City FC going forward."

The Football League said it was aware of Monday's developments and plans to release a statement in due course.

Yeung, 54, completed a takeover of Birmingham in October 2009. Birmingham won the 2011 League Cup but were relegated from the Premier League the same season and are currently 17th in the Championship.

Yeung, who had his assets frozen, cut ties with the Midlands club at the start of February to spend more time on his court case and to satisfy one of the requirements for the resumption of trading of BIHL's suspended shares on the Hong Kong stock exchange.

City's parent company subsequently agreed to sell 12% of its stake in the club to a Beijing-based advertising business operating in China, a deal that has since been delayed.

Roma refuse to surrender in Serie A title fight but no favours from Milan | Paolo Bandini

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 03:06 AM PST

Stranger things have happened than a frontrunner losing their nerve but Juventus are in pole position after Rudi Garcia's side failed to keep pace

Rudi Garcia refused to raise the white flag. On Saturday the Roma manager had watched his team draw 0-0 with Internazionale, wasting the opportunity to apply pressure on Juventus before the league leaders' trip to face Milan. With a victory, the Giallorossi could have closed the gap at the top to six points. Instead, they had to settle for eight.

And yet, Garcia remained optimistic. "There are still many matches left," he said. "So we'll see how things go from here. Even if Juventus were to beat Milan, for me the scudetto discussion would still not be closed."

Perhaps such defiance was justified. At the time of his comments, both teams still had 13 games left to play – a hefty 39 points up for grabs. Roma, furthermore, know that they will still have the chance to host Juventus on the penultimate weekend of this season. Stranger things have happened than a frontrunner losing their nerve at the end of a long campaign.

Even so, Garcia might quietly have hoped that Milan would do his team a favour. On paper it did look unlikely. If Roma were struggling to keep up with Juventus at the top then the Rossoneri had long ago stopped imagining that such a thing was even possible. And 31 points adrift of first place, Milan were closer to the relegation zone than they were to a Champions League berth.

None of it seemed to put fans off from scrambling for tickets. There would be more than 75,000 people in attendance at San Siro on Sunday, many of them drawn in by the improvement that Milan had been making under Clarence Seedorf. The Rossoneri had won four of six league games since his appointment in January, their lone Serie A defeat in that stretch arriving at third-placed Napoli.

Milan had lost to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League, too, of course, but even that defeat offered reasons for encouragement. Raising their game, as they so often have, on the European stage, the Rossoneri had dominated their Spanish opponents for long stretches before succumbing to a late sucker punch from Diego Costa.

Now those fans wanted to see their team perform with the same conviction against a domestic rival. And they especially wanted it to happen against the Old Lady. Milan's vice-president, Adriano Galliani, has argued in the past that this fixture, rather than Internazionale v Juventus, ought to be known as the real "Derby d'Italia" since "[Juve] have won the most Italian titles, whereas we have won the most international ones".

Despite the gulf between the teams in the standings, then, this was still a fixture that mattered. If anything it might have meant more than usual to Milan. Deprived of many other realistic targets to aim for – Galliani has been lukewarm on the subject of whether a Europa League spot would even be desirable for his team – here at least was the opportunity for one self-contained night of glory.

Seedorf was determined to approach that prospect in the right way. The Dutchman has challenged his team from day one to always play on the front foot, using attack as a form of defence and keeping the ball far away from their own goal.

That is exactly what Milan did in the opening stages of Sunday's game. Just as they had against Atlético, the Rossoneri pressed their opponents high up the pitch. Capitalising on Juve's tiredness following a midweek trip to Turkey, as well as the absence of the suspended Arturo Vidal, Milan dominated the midfield and sprang one attack after another. In the opening 15 minutes alone, Adel Taarabt, Kaká and Giampaolo Pazzini all flashed warning shots across the visitors' bows.

The first clear-cut chance did fall to Juventus, Stephan Lichtsteiner unable to beat Christian Abbiati from six yards, but Milan responded immediately – launching a lightning counter that ended with Pazzini's point-blank effort being smothered by Gigi Buffon at the near post. A few minutes later Kaká was put clean through on goal but after seeing an initial attempt blocked by the keeper, had his follow-up cleared off the line by Leonardo Bonucci.

Milan's assault continued until nearly half-time, Andrea Poli and Riccardo Montolivo joining in the barrage. And then, once again, the hosts were floored by a blow that they never saw coming. Two minutes before the break, Claudio Marchisio seized on a long ball forward in the right corner of the Milan penalty area, cutting it back to Carlos Tevez who then fed it first-time to Lichtsteiner. The full-back slipped a pass across the six-yard box for Fernando Llorente to slot home on the far side.

Seedorf tried to pick up his team during the interval and for the first few minutes of the second half Milan continued to take the game to their opponents. Gradually, though, their legs began to tire. They would be knocked off them altogether in the 68th minute by a blistering 25-yard shot from Tevez which crashed at 63mph into the underside of Abbiati's crossbar before nestling in the back of the net.

It was the Argentinian's 15th goal of the season, moving him ahead of Giuseppe Rossi to become the lone top scorer in Serie A. For Galliani, it must have been a galling sight. He famously had a deal in place to sign Tevez from Manchester City in January 2012 only to pull out after Alexandre Pato's move to Paris Saint-Germain had collapsed. Eighteen months later, the Argentinian joined Juve instead.

Milan's supporters, though, did not begrudge the player this moment, recognising Tevez's performance with a standing ovation when he was substituted in second-half injury time. The striker only hopes that Argentina's manager Alejandro Sabella will also take note of his form before this summer's World Cup. "I don't know if it's a political decision," said Tevez of his exclusion from the national team since 2011. "I think it depends only on Sabella."

For now, he at least has the wholehearted backing of his club manager. "The bigger a match is, the more he wants to play in it," said Antonio Conte of the former City player. "He is a lion and Llorente was exceptional too."

Between them, the two forwards have now scored 26 goals – the most of any partnership in the division. On Sunday, their goals helped Juventus to do what title-winning sides often do, emerge victorious from a game in which they had been largely outplayed. In doing so, they helped their team to increase the lead to 11 points at the top of Serie A.

Conte was quick to point out that the figure is misleading, since Roma once again have a game in hand. The Juventus manager, for one, agrees with Garcia's assertion that the "scudetto discussion" still has a way to run yet. Perhaps they are both right but it is certainly becoming a one-sided conversation.

Talking points

• Watching from the stands at San Siro was Mario Balotelli, who failed to recover in time from the injury to his right shoulder that he suffered during that loss to Atlético. The striker has actually missed all three of his club's games against Juventus since he signed for Milan in January 2013. He was suspended for both of the previous two.

• Tevez may be "a lion", as Conte put it, but it was not his likeness that appeared on the custom-made shinpads sported by Kaká last weekend.

• Roma's draw with Inter was also noteworthy for the exceptionally ill-tempered circumstances in which it was played. Both teams could have had more than one penalty in a game in which Juan Jesus got away with punching Alessio Romagnoli in the gut, while Daniele De Rossi did likewise after throwing a right hook from behind at Mauro Icardi's chin. Both aggressors may receive suspensions once the video evidence has been reviewed but in the meantime De Rossi has been excluded from the Italy squad to face Spain on Wednesday, his actions deemed to be in breach of Cesare Prandelli's code of ethics for the national team.

• The majority of Fiorentina's supporters waited until 10 minutes after kick-off to enter the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Sunday night, their late arrival an act of protest against recent refereeing decisions that have gone against their team. As a consequence, though, they missed the only goal of the game against Lazio – and it was scored by their opponents. Fiorentina, all of a sudden, are struggling, with only four points from their last five games. Already that run has done considerable harm to their prospects of a Champions League berth.

• Rafael Benítez got hands-on during his pre-game press conference this week, walking around the room and gesturing at the gaps between journalists to illustrate a tactical point. Sadly for him, his own players seem not to have been paying attention. Napoli were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Livorno, meaning that they were unable to take advantage of Roma's earlier slip. They remain six points behind the Giallorossi but having played a game more.

• Eusebio Di Francesco is reportedly set to resume his duties as manager of Sassuolo only four-and-a-half weeks after he was fired and replaced by Alberto Malesani. The latter has lost all five of his games in charge, including last weekend's 1-0 defeat at home to Parma and is consequently expected to get the sack, with the Neroverdi sat bottom of Serie A.

• As for Parma, that is now 14 games without defeat for Roberto Donadoni's side, not to mention a fourth consecutive victory away from home. And this, of course, is the team that Roma have to play for their game in hand …

Results: Atalanta 2-1 Chievo, Cagliari 3-0 Udinese, Fiorentina 0-1 Lazio, Genoa 2-0 Catania, Livorno 1-1 Napoli, Milan 0-2 Juventus, Roma 0-0 Inter, Sassuolo 0-1 Parma, Torino 0-2 Sampdoria, Verona 0-0 Bologna

• Latest Serie A table

Paolo Bandini

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Tuesday, 4 March 2014

Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com

07:30

Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com

Delio Rossi v Adem Ljajic, Fiorentina 2-2 Novara, 2 May 2012

Paolo Di Canio v Leon Clarke, Swindon Town 1-3 Southampton, 30 August 2011

Roberto Mancini v Mario Balotelli, Manchester City training ground , 3 January 2013

Umit Ozat v Ankaraguca fan, Ankaraguca 1-3 Manisaspor, 30 January 2011

José Mourinho v Tito Vilanova, Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid, 17 August 2011

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