Snak

De Felippe: "Se necesita trabajo"

BUENOS AIRES -- El nuevo entrenador de Independiente, Omar De Felippe, afirmó que el equipo de Avellaneda necesita "trabajo y paciencia" para torcer el muy pobre presente deportivo en la B Nacional, y hasta argumentó que "muchos no tienen ni idea de lo que significa" jugar en el ascenso y deben adaptarse.

"Creo que falta trabajo y paciencia, porque se ve un apuro de tres cuartos de cancha hacia adelante, no hay precisión, velocidad y por eso las llegadas que tuvimos fueron muy sucias", comentó De Felippe en conferencia de prensa.

Luego de empatar sin goles ante Independiente Rivadavia de Mendoza, De Felippe analizó que ante un adversario que los "esperó mucho", les "faltó cambio de ritmo para abrir espacios" que "permitieran ganar el partido".

El ex conductor de Olimpo de Bahía Blanca y Quilmes remarcó que entiende "que el hincha quiera ganar, pero hay que darles confianza a los jugadores y en estas situaciones el apuro no es un buen consejero".

"Muchos no tienen idea de lo que significa el Nacional B, todavía tenemos que adaptarnos a esto", sostuvo quien fue soldado conscripto durante la Guerra de las Malvinas.

INSULTOS CONTRA LA DIRIGENCIA

Los hinchas de Independiente reprobaron el rendimiento del equipo luego del empate sin goles frente a Independiente Rivadavia de Mendoza e insultaron a la dirigencia que encabeza Javier Cantero.

Apenas finalizó el partido, los hinchas del "Rojo" despidieron con silbidos e insultos al equipo, y un grupo minoritario se acercó al hall central de la platea Erico y propinó cánticos e insultos a la dirigencia y al plantel.

"Fue peor el remedio que la enfermedad", rezaba una de las banderas que se desplegaron a metros del ingreso al vestuario local, en un claro mensaje al desembarco en el club de Cantero en lugar de Julio Comparada.

El comienzo del ciclo de De Felippe en el club no fue el esperado y los hinchas, al igual que en la derrota ante Brown de Adrogué y el empate con Aldosivi, mostraron su disconformismo hacia el plantel y la dirigencia.

Bianchi se ilusiona con Boca

BUENOS AIRES -- El entrenador de Boca Juniors, Carlos Bianchi, celebró el triunfo y la forma en que lo logró ante Vélez Sarsfield al sostener que invita a "ilusionarse" con el porvenir del equipo.

"El partido que hicimos hoy ante un adversario de primer nivel como Vélez nos ilusiona. Esta actuación nos da esperanza para lo que viene", señaló Bianchi al término del partido. Asimismo, se abstuvo de endilgarle al cambio de esquema la mejoría del funcionamiento del equipo.

"No sé cuánto influyo el cambio de esquema, lo importante es que desde el inicio el equipo trató de jugar en campo contrario y lo logró. Vélez es un adversario al que le gusta manejar los partidos y fue importante quitarles la pelota", evaluó.

Cuando se lo consultó si este había sido el mejor partido de esta última etapa con él en el banco de suplentes, dijo: "Se jugaron buenos partidos contra Corinthians y Newell´s, pero este fue bastante completo. Fueron 90 minutos muy intensos contra un rival muy difícil, que a pesar de haber jugado el jueves y haber quedado con 10 al final, nos complicó la vida hasta la última pelota parada", sostuvo.

Y agregó: "Pero igual creo que merecimos la victoria y tal vez pudo haber sido un poco más holgada, ya que jugamos 90 minutos bastante plenos, con mucho contenido futbolístico. El público de Boca se merecía una actuación como ésta, ya que con su aliento llevó al equipo hacia adelante y eso hace que el jugador se sienta comprometido".

Finalmente se refirió a Fernando Gago. "En principio no iba a estar desde el inicio, prefería hacerlo entrar después. Pero al final nos decidimos y jugó desde el minuto uno. Bajó un poco su rendimiento por el aspecto físico, pero no lo sentimos porque técnicamente puede hacer esas cosas que sólo él puede hacer", confió.

GAGO: "SE GANÓ Y SE JUGÓ BIEN"

El mediocampista Fernando Gago celebró su vuelta en un "partido completo", al vencer a Vélez Sarsfield en La Bombonera con un juego de alto vuelo.

"Fue un partido completo en todo sentido: se ganó y se jugó bien", sostuvo Gago, quien jugó durante todo el encuentro, ya recuperado de la lesión que arrastraba desde que estaba en Vélez.

Gago volvió a jugar en Boca luego de irse a España en diciembre de 2006 y celebró con el nuevo triunfo "estar cerca de la punta".

El mediocampista del seleccionado evaluó que Boca hizo "un partido muy serio porque Vélez maneja mucho la pelota y la idea era manejarla nosotros".

Por su parte, el delantero Nicolás Blandi volvió a marcar, dándole a Boca el triunfo y hasta opinó que el Xeneize "merecía un gol más".

"Hicimos un buen partido, y necesitábamos un triunfo así para seguir ganando en confianza", señaló el atacante al hablar en el programa Fútbol para Todos.

With a prodigal return, Kaka dreams of turning back the clock

So Ricardo Izecson dos Santos is once again an AC Milan player after the Italian "sleepy giants" managed to secure a free transfer from Real Madrid. The only certainty so far is that the Brazilian blinked in the long arm-wrestling bout with the Spanish club. Four years after Real paid £56 million for his services and Kaka briefly became the world´s most expensive player (Cristiano Ronaldo went for £80 million a few days later), the midfielder returns to the club that made him famous and is almost as desperate for Kaka as Kaka is desperate for top level football.

Few would dispute that Milan these days are far from the fearsome club that last decade won two Champions League titles and somehow managed to lose a third to Liverpool. Without the financial muscle from the Berlusconi years, the Rossoneri should be side act this season in Italy and Europe. For Kaka, however, they represented the hope of regular games among the continental elite, a possibility that had become remote in Madrid even before Real committed a fortune to bring Gareth Bale to Bernabeu.

In May, the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti´s arrival at the Spanish club was seen as a sign of hope and some of the Brazilian advisers did not hide their enthusiasm with his reunion with the manager who oversaw his blooming for Milan and his crowning as FIFA Player of the Year in 2007. Kaka himself thought he could roll back the years, only to find himself once again on the fringes of the Real´s first team.

That broke his spirit, which was already battered by his exclusion from the Brazilian national by Luiz Felipe Scolari after a promising return with Mano Menezes. Even in the worst periods of his relationship with Jose Mourinho at Real, Kaka had never gone public to demand a transfer. The significance of his post-match comments after Real´s 4-0 drubbing of Deportivo La Coruna in a friendly match last week could not be understated. It was just a matter of knowing how much Kaka was willing to sacrifice in order to find a place to play.

Red carpets would be rolled up to him in Brazil, not only because of the incredible marketing power still attached to him but also because even after a string of injuries and two knee operations, Kaka still sits above legions of average players. It is no secret either that Major League Soccer could do with a star of his magnitude stateside and has blown kisses across the Atlantic -- the player himself saying he would like to follow the statesman steps of former Milan teammate David Beckham.

But Kaka never planned to cross the ocean before the 2014 World Cup. Staying in Europe for him offers more visibility and regular football could put him back into Scolari´s plans. Brazil might have surprised a lot of people with their recent rise, but the World Cup is a much tougher tournament than the Confederations Cup and one could see how a more experienced player in the group could have helped calm things down -- exhibit A is how both Thiago Silva and David Luiz had ´Sunday League´ moments against Uruguay in the semifinal.

Kaka´s leadership qualities would be a great asset for the Brazilian national team come next summer.Whoever has watched a single Brazil training session (and there are many people who haven´t and still feel they can talk about team dynamics) where Kaka was present could see how he had turned into the most important leader for the Selecao after the departure of Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Rivaldo. Unlike Ronaldinho, who never felt really comfortable in the reference role when playing for his country, Kaka relished in the responsibility.

It´s a shame the rumours linking him to the Premiership never really advanced, although it is quite understandable some would consider his signing quite a risky bet. But even after the years and the injuries forced him to drop back from that quasi-striker role that worked so fine at Milan, Kaka´s intelligence could have been useful in the Premiership -- it´s even more of a shame that Mourinho blocked a move to United in the summer transfer window last season, claiming he couldn’t sell the Brazilian to a direct European rival.

Much is said about the huge wage reduction Kaka accepted as part of the "operation prodigal return" to Italy. Yeah, his pockets will take a hit but we are hardly talking about a player in financial difficulties or known for being greedy. If that were the case, Kaka would have accepted that obese Abu Dhabi paycheck when City came knocking in 2009, allegedly worth £200-plus in weekly wages. Real obviously rewarded the Brazilian handsomely to bring him from Milan four years ago but no one needs reminding of how the Merengues rate highly in the collective imaginary. Besides, he could see Milan was headed toward turbulent times and the dressing room was not the most fun place to be around, with old timers like Massimo Ambrosini and Genaro Gattuso still barking loudly.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are talking about a very intelligent player whose advisers are by no means dumb. One needs to remember how the Brazilian managed to "share the blame" with the Milan board on the occasion of his £56 million move to Madrid four years ago by also pointing out the club wasn´t making a huge effort to hold him back. It is not that Real fans were actually very concerned about losing the midfielder´s services, especially with all the fuss surrounding Bale, but Kaka always has always tried to differentiate himself from the general behavior of his colleagues. He never really forgave himself for failing to live to expectations in Madrid and part of his resilience to stay was linked to that.

The problem Kaka faces now is that the world moved on much faster than he could ever expect. At 31, he is by no means a hardened veteran in chronological terms, but aged significantly on the pitch. Forced to reinvent himself as a player, Kaka has so far found it hard to convince people. But, Brazil simply dismissing Kaka as a has-been could still be premature.

The clock has never ticked louder, but it is not simply by sewing religious slogans to his boots that Kaka has proved to be a man of strong faith.

Suazo vuelve ilusionado

SANTIAGO DE CHILE -- El delantero chileno Humberto Suazo se manifestó "ilusionado" con su regreso a la selección de su país siete meses después de su anterior convocatoria y se declaró "contento" y dispuesto a llevar "al equipo adelante".


"Uno siempre está con la ilusión de volver a la selección. Se habló mucho cuando no vine a los otros partidos, pero tuve mis razones y se las hice sentir a la gente", dijo el goleador del Monterrey mexicano a los periodistas en el aeropuerto de Santiago.

"Ahora estoy muy contento de regresar y de llevar al equipo adelante", añadió "Chupete", que tras su llegada se unió a la plantilla de la Roja, que se prepara para jugar el próximo viernes con Venezuela, en las eliminatorias del Mundial de Brasil 2014.

"Tengo ganas de aportar lo que tengo, (la convocatoria) me pilla en un muy buen momento y espero estar a la altura, con mucha motivación, con muchas ganas de trabajar y espero prepararme bien para el partido del viernes", remató el goleador chileno en el clasificatorio del Mundial de Sudáfrica 2010.

Para el ariete, el partido con Venezuela "es clave, nos jugamos muchas cosas el viernes. Va a ser fundamental que el equipo siga jugando como lo viene haciendo".

Chile suma 21 puntos en el clasificatorio, mientras la "Vinotinto" tiene dieciséis.

Los jugadores convocados por Jorge Sampaoli para jugar el viernes con Venezuela y posteriormente, el 10 de septiembre, un amistoso con España en Ginebra, comenzaron a llegar a Santiago este domingo, cuando lo hicieron el delantero del Barcelona Alexis Sánchez y el volante del Cardiff inglés Gary Medel.

También se encuentran ya en Santiago el centrocampista Jorge Valdivia, del Palmeiras brasileño, el defensa Gonzalo Jara, del Nottingham Forest inglés, Jean Beausejour, del Wigan de ese mismo país y Eugenio Mena, lateral del Santos de Brasil.

Para este lunes se espera la llegada de otros jugadores, entre ellos Arturo Vidal y Mauricio Isla (Juventus de Italia), Marcelo Díaz (Basilea de Suiza) y Ángelo Henríquez (Zaragoza de España).

En tanto, el seleccionador Jorge Sampaoli convocó a cuatro jugadores del medio local para completar la plantilla: los porteros Cristopher Toselli (Universidad Católica) y Paulo Garcés (O´Higgins), el defensa José Rojas y el volante Charles Aránguiz, ambos de la Universidad de Chile.

Ramón: "Le faltan el respeto al club"

BUENOS AIRES -- En su cadena de cuestionamientos al referato argentino, el entrenador Ramón Díaz aseguró este lunes que los árbitros le están "faltando el respeto a River".

"No fue penal y el arquero no se adelantó", fue la justificación de Ramón tras una nueva derrota, esta vez ante San Lorenzo.

Esta vez asumió "toda la responsabilidad" por las fallas de ataque, el punto flaco que encontró y que, dijo, deber corregir "urgentemente".

"Fui yo el que armó el equipo, el que puso a Fabbro, Teo y Mora pero para jugar en River deben jugar mejor", advirtió aunque confió en que mejorarán por ser "grandes jugadores, de Selección".

Ramón Díaz se fue sin hablar el domingo tras la caida ante San Lorenzo en el Nuevo Gasómetro y eligió hacerlo un día después en una conferencia en el Monumental tras el entrenamiento.

"Tuvimos un mal arranque, la mayor dificultad la tuvimos de mitad de cancha para adelante, tuvimos errores tácticos y lo tenemos que corregir dos o tres cosas urgentemente. Fuimos superados por San Lorenzo en el primer tiempo y en los primeros minutos tuvieron dos o tres situaciones en las que pudieron haber concretado", fue la rápida secuencia de la autocrítica a modo de siempre prólogo.

El corazón de la conferencia de prensa fue arremeter contra los árbitros, aunque adelantando que era la última vez que se referiría a ellos.

"No me están faltando el respeto a mí, le están faltando el respeto al club", acicateó Ramón.

Esta vez los apuntados fueron el árbitro Darío Herrera por haber cobrado el penal de Vangioni a Gonzalo Verón y porque su asistente, Julio Fernández, marcó que Marcelo Barovero se había adelantado al atajarle el primer penal a Julio Buffarini, quien convirtió en segunda instancia.

"Me encanta que me ganen bien", condimentó para darle duro a los árbitros, a quienes viene criticando tras cada derrota.

Aunque no tuvo adelante papel alguno, pareció bien estudiado el cometido de su conferencia de acuerdo a cómo la cerró: "Lo único que quiero es que los árbitros no le falten el respeto al club", repitió.

UNA PAUSA EN TWITTER

Por otra parte, Ramón Díaz, anunció que cerrará la cuenta de Twitter para recuperar "tranquilidad", aunque lo habría hecho por las críticas que se suceden.

"Agradezco el cariño q me dieron por este medio, pero por la falta de memoria de algunos pocos, decido cerrar esta cuenta. Saludos", escribió Díaz en su despedida de la red social en referencia a los cuestionamientos que recibe.

Al hablar luego en conferencia de prensa argumentó querer "mantener la tranquilidad".

Asimismo dejó entrever que la reabrirá más adelante: "vamos a ver cómo va y la vamos a abrir nuevamente".

Paraguay Division Profesional Wrap: Cerro Porteno stay well clear

Cerro Porteno continued their unbeaten start to the Paraguay Division Profesional with a 2-1 win at Sportivo Luqueno.

The 2012 Apertura champions scored the opener five minutes before half-time when Julio Dos Santos converted from the penalty spot.

Diego Godoy doubled Cerro Porteno´s advantage in the 58th minute before Rodrigo Lopez´s penalty pulled a goal back for Sportivo on 64 minutes.

But the home side could not find an equaliser and Cerro Porteno now move four points clear on top of the table - ahead of other unbeaten side General Diaz, who won 1-0 against Sol de America.

An unfortunate own goal from Sol de America´s Hugo Rafael Baez secured the three points for Diaz.

Baez was also given his marching orders for a second bookable offence in stoppage time.

A 25th-minute strike from Dionisio Perez handed Deportivo Capiata a 1-0 triumph at strugglers Cerro Porteno PF.

It was Cerro Porteno PF´s fifth loss from six league games as they remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

Rubio Nu managed to overcome Olimpia 2-0 despite the disadvantage of playing 42 minutes a man down.

After scoring Rubio´s first goal on 10 minutes, striker Francisco Vera received his second yellow card in the 48th minute.

Olimpia pushed hard for the equaliser but Osvaldo Hobecker wrapped up the victory for Rubio eight minutes from time.

Deportivo Carapegua salvaged a 2-2 draw against 10-man Guarani with an 89th-minute goal from Serginho.

Carapegua led 1-0 when Guarani substitute Federico Santander was given two yellows in the 59th minute - only five minutes after entering the field of play.

Even with the disadvantage, Guarani scored twice and looked set for an unlikely victory until Serginho´s late effort.

The clash between Libertad and Nacional Asuncion was postponed.

Argentina Primera Division Wrap: Newell´s, Argentinos held

Newell´s Old Boys stayed on top of the Argentina Primera Division despite a 1-1 draw against Estudiantes on Saturday.

After a scoreless first half, Newell´s struck first in the 54th minute when Pablo Perez converted Maxi Rodriguez´s assist.

It seemed as if Alfredo Berti´s men would pick up their third consecutive win until Leandro Desabato popped up on 92 minutes to steal a point for Estudiantes.

Despite the draw, Newell´s moved to 11 points with Argentinos Juniors, Colon and Gimnasia La Plata one point behind.

Argentinos also had a draw with their game finishing 0-0 against Arsenal while Gimnasia La Plata and Godoy also finished goalless.

Ruben Ramirez´s brace powered 10-man Colon to a 2-1 triumph over Rosario Central.

It only took until the 28th minute for Ramirez to snatch the lead for his side before Rosario´s Sebastian Abreu levelled the contest from the spot after Colon´s Bruno Urribarri was given a straight red card on 41 minutes.

Even with the disadvantage, Colon still worked hard to create chances on the break and in the 79th minute, Ramirez weaved his way between two defenders before being brought down in the penalty area.

Ramirez´s spot-kick was saved by Rosario goalkeeper Mauricio Caranta but the 30-year-old smashed the rebound into the empty net.

Belgrano recovered from a two-goal deficit to defeat Atletico Rafaela 3-2.

First-half strikes to Rafaela´s Cristian Canuhe and Andres Rodales established the lead for Belgrano before Ezequiel Maggiolo salvaged a goal for Belgrano in the shadows of half-time.

Maggiola´s second goal tied the contest just after the restart and Luciano Lollo completed the fightback to put Belgrano in front in the 68th minute.

Rafaela imploded after conceding the lead with Federico Gonzalez given a straight red card on 73 minutes.

In other matches, Lanus thrashed Olimpo 3-0, San Lorenzo overcame River Plate 1-0 and Boca Juniors defeated Velez Sarsfield 2-1.

All Boys won 1-0 against struggling Racing Club and Tigre won by the same score-line against Quilmes.

Mål

https://www.youtube.com/…zHdl5T9oql8

Colombia Primera A Wrap: Atletico Nacional stay unbeaten

Atletico Nacional remain the only unbeaten side in the Colombia Primera A after a 1-0 win at Junior on Sunday.

Sherman Cardenas scored the only goal of the game on 65 minutes for Juan Carlos Osorio´s men.

The reigning Apertura champions have started the season in stunning style, streaking to the top of the standings with five wins and a draw.

Three teams are in second place on 14 points including Millonarios, who needed a stoppage-time winner to fend off Atletico Huila 3-2.

Huila have struggled so far with only one win in their first eight games but were buoyed by Luis Paez´s 12th-minute opener.

The lead only lasted 14 minutes when Dayro Moreno equalised before Dawlin Leudo handed Millonarios the advantage a minute later.

It seemed as if Millonarios would hold on for victory but Mario Leguizamon´s 81st-minute strike levelled the contest for Huila.

There was yet another twist on 92 minutes as Moreno completed his brace, handing Millonarios their fifth consecutive win.

Deportivo Cali joined Millonarios on 14 points after a narrow 1-0 victory over Itagui.

An 82nd-minute goal to Carlos Lizarazo was enough to secure the points for Cali.

In other matches, Envigado drew 2-2 with Boyaca Chico, Patriotas Boyaca won 3-0 against Deportes Quindio and Medellin fought out a goalless draw with Deportivo Pasto.

Once Caldas and Alianza Petrolera finished 1-1, while La Equidad drew 0-0 against Cucuta Deportivo.


Mål

https://www.youtube.com/…qMbpKfPaIK8

Alexandre Pato called up to Brazil squad to replace Fred

Corinthians striker Alexandre Pato has been called up to the Brazil squad to replace Fred, as the Fluminense forward faces three months out with injury.

Pato has been summoned to the team who will play Australia on Saturday at the Mané Garrincha stadium, in Brasilia. They will then face Portugal in the USA on Wednesday, at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

The former AC Milan forward turned 24 today, and the call-up to the national side will come as a welcome birthday present for the player.

He’ll be fighting with Atlético Mineiro centre forward Jô, for a place in the starting eleven, with the other forwards Neymar and Hulk likely to play in wider roles.

Fred’s thigh injury comes as a blow for both the national side, and his club side Fluminense who are struggling in the league this season.

Vela and Ochoa refusals leave Mexico fans with questions

Most fans of Mexico´s national team will agree that they want to cheer for a team that displays a combination of thrilling skill and dedicated effort. The value placed on the different elements may vary from one supporter to another, which is why the arguments of who should start are as timeless as they are passionate. With the recent revelation from Mexico coach Jose Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre that forward Carlos Vela and goalkeeper Guillermo "Memo" Ochoa have chosen to refrain from offering their skills to El Tri, supporters are left to question whether those players, who "abandoned" Mexico in its time of trouble, are sufficiently dedicated to be considered in the future.

A very plausible scenario for Mexico´s national team is that the squad does survive the next round of Hexagonal qualifying, securing a spot to Brazil in 2014, but it does so in a stumbling, bumbling manner that causes the remaining federation administrators in De la Torre´s corner to abandon him. He is replaced by another coach. Should that new coach forgive the former holdouts and welcome them back into the fold in time for the World Cup?

Forgiveness may come at a cost, but resentment has its own price. Mexico fans have long dreamed of making an impact at the World Cup level the way the squad has already done in youth World Cups and at the Olympics.

It may indeed reward service and loyalty and call only players for the World Cup who have played during the often tedious and difficult qualifying stages, but it´s not necessarily the best way for a team to advance from group play, let alone deep into the tournament.

Common sense dictates that the best players are the key elements to achieve the best results possible. This is seen time and again on the world´s top club teams, where skillful players from around the globe unite to win the top trophies.

Then again, others might argue that the collective whole is what really matters to a squad. The bonding of blood, sweat and tears of players who have sacrificed and come together is worth more than the prima-donnas -- no matter their ability.

On the other hand, the elephant in the room regarding this situation is De la Torre. The politically connected coach has a thin skin and a reputation for lashing out. Going public with Ochoa´s supposed demands is a scorched-earth policy that seems to purposely make it difficult for the goalkeeper to get back into the squad, even under new administration.

It´s also hard to reconcile Vela´s statements of loyalty to his country with his actions of direct refusal to play for De la Torre. The strong implication left is that Vela is perfectly willing to play for El Tri, but not De la Torre. Vela, at least, has kept the specific reasons of why quiet, perhaps hoping that a change would come at the helm without his bridges of a return to Mexico burned too badly.

So are the players just too picky, disloyal and demanding, or is the coach too tyrannical, paranoid and incompetent? Is that choice too simplistic, or is there fault on all sides? How can fans be sure of anything and thus, decide which side deserves support? At some point, it will be sorted out and people will make their selection.

Many are putting the decision aside, though, as there are more urgent matters at hand. Despite the assumption that many have made that Mexico will qualify, it hasn´t happened yet. What´s interesting is that both the players and the coach involved in this latest dust-up have common ground on this count. All three -- Vela, Ochoa and De la Torre, have indicated they think Mexico will qualify, even without the contribution of the two players.

Perhaps the alternative is too horrible to contemplate. Or more likely, none of the trio wants to seem like the person who does not have faith in Mexico´s ability to reach the goal. It´s not potential that El Tri has lacked this year, however. It´s successful execution. There have been a few decent performances, like the recent one versus Ivory Coast, but few and far between a host of listless displays.

When the squad plays against Honduras on Sept. 6, Mexico fans will wait to see if De la Torre is worth his continued tenure. Presumably, somewhere in Europe, two of Mexico´s best will be watching as well.