Totti and Balotelli exchange pleasantries while Maradona insists he has a plan
By Paul Madden
14 May 2010 16:33:00
"Sooner or later I will coach Real Madrid. I coached a big team in England, I am coaching a big team in Italy, and then I will coach a big team in Spain. I have won everything in three countries and I don't need anything. But, what makes me laugh is when some presidents compare me to their own coaches who haven't won anything," You don't even need to guess who said this. After conquering Spain Jose Mourinho will probably coach a big team to a World Cup win and then lead mankind to inter-stellar domination.
"Ni**er… yes, that’s what he said," Mario Balotelli claims Francesco Totti racially abused him but Totti denies it. He claims he insulted the Inter star after being provoked: "Yes, I made a mistake, but I was provoked. But I never said that he was a ni**er, though I did call him a piece of s***. He provoked me, saying I was a 'finished grandad'."  


"[Do I feel pressure?] No. It's part of the game and I came here for this [to win the World Cup]. For me, not arriving in the final would be a failure," England boss Fabio Capello believes not getting to the final would be a failure.
Veteran defender Sol Campbell reckons he can play two more seasons for Arsenal: "Deep inside I feel I’ve got two real gritty years left in me, the years in which I can affect things. If I’m in the team I can really make a difference. I know that. And after two years I will look at it again and we’ll see."
Sol is keen to stay but what about Cesc's latest comments? If Fabregas were to leave it would only be for Barcelona: "If I decide to leave Arsenal, it will be to wear the shirt of Barcelona. I don't know when this will happen though. I'm very happy at Arsenal. I'm in no hurry to leave the club."
"There is nothing strange and nothing to explain about Zanetti's exclusion. It was already decided a long time ago. And as for Cambiasso, it's the same story. This is the idea, and since I took charge I started a plan not just thinking about the World Cup in South Africa, but also the Copa America," former football legend and current Argentina coach Diego Maradona reckons he has a plan in place.
"Madrid has been lucky in many games, but they found the luck they were looking for," Barca playmaker Xavi reckons los Merengues are lucky to be keeping pace with his side this season.
""I don't want to knock him. He hasn't come up to the standard he set at Spurs, but when he was there he looked an extremely good player. He's always had that laid-back style, even when he was at Tottenham, and that's what the fans admired him for but now he gets criticised for it," former Manchester United hero Denis Law feels a certain sympathy for the laid-back, £30.75 million Bulgarian stiker Dimitar Berbatov.  


We Say
"Following the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake, he told homeless victims to think of their experience as a 'camping weekend' before offering to fondle a female councillor. He attracted criticism for aiming a gun gesture at a Russian journalist who had irked his friend, Vladimir Putin with a personal question," Goal.com looks at the weird and wonderful world of football club chairmen and the king of controversy Silvio Berlusconi.
Speaking of controversial chairman, it's the over to Merseyside to see what the hamburger guzzling Dallas cowboy and his Wisconsin side-kick are up to as
Neil Jones examines the state of affairs at Anfield after a miserable season for Liverpool: "Latest reports suggest the club is more than £350 million in debt, crumbling beneath the weight of borrowing undertaken by wantaway owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks. Last year saw a pre-tax loss of £53m, most of which came from interest on loans taken out by the American duo. This famous footballing institution is on its knees."   They say you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear but apparently with very little effort or care you can do the opposite and still make a massive profit.


http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2557/news/2010/05/14/1924045/quotes-of-the-week-youre-finished-grandad

"You're finished, grandad!"
This is so precious X

"Ronaldinho is the stick with which Dunga will be beaten if Brazil fail in South Africa. Serie A fans have been enraptured and delighted with some of the former Barcelona man's performances this season; the familiar smile has returned to his face as he prospers under Leonardo, and some have even said that he is back to his best," Anthony Wright reckons Brazil coach Dunga is playing with fire not picking Ronaldinho.
"The decision to overlook Inter duo Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso is a crime against football..... For two tournaments on the bounce now, the greatest full back of the last 15 years has been robbed of playing in the World Cup. In 2006, Lionel Scaloni was scandalously favoured. When Gabriel Heinze is your strongest terzino, you begin to worry about Argentina at full back. This is an area where the opposition can really hurt the South Americans." Carlo Garganese doesn't mince his words in a who's who of the worst managerial picks for the World Cup.