Snak

Pellegrino: "Hay que trabajar para definir antes los resultados"

BUENOS AIRES -- El director técnico de Estudiantes de La Plata, Mauricio Pellegrino, se mostró "feliz" por el triunfo obtenido el viernes (1-0) como local ante Arsenal de Sarandí, pero reconoció que tienen que "trabajar más" para "definir" antes los resultados.

Estudiantes venció como local a Arsenal con un gol convertido por el defensor Jonathan Silva, a los 24 minutos del primer tiempo, en un partido por la primera fecha del Torneo Final.

"Es una alegría que el esfuerzo haya dado resultado. Supimos neutralizar a Arsenal que es un gran equipo. Hay que trabajar para definir antes los resultados", reconoció el DT.

"Defendimos bien la pelota parada ante un rival muy fuerte y los primeros 30 minutos fueron buenos. Los muchachos dieron todo en la cancha y los hinchas lo reconocieron", explicó Pellegrino, que fue expulsado al comenzar el segundo tiempo por el árbitro Néstor Pitana.

En tanto Silva, autor del único gol del partido, contó: "fue una jugada preparada la del gol y si bien fue de carambola, pero entró".

"Estoy contento porque se ganó. No tenemos que desviar la mente del próximo partido ante All Boys. El gol me lo dieron a mí y me hizo feliz porque fue el primero que hice", se alegró Silva.


Gustavo Alfaro: "Perdimos, jugamos mal y me voy preocupado"

BUENOS AIRES -- Gustavo Alfaro, DT de Arsenal, dijo tras la derrota ante Estudiantes, en La Plata, por la 1ª feha del Torneo Final: "perdimos, jugamos mal y me voy preocupado. No hubo buena actitud y en el segundo tiempo mejoramos, pero el empate siempre lo vi lejano", se quejó.
"Estudiantes siempre estuvo más rápido y nos superó. Los refuerzos llegaron tarde, cuando se pudo y no cuando se necesitan. Ahora no hay tiempo y hay que acomodar las cosas como se puede", comentó.

Copa Libertadores Preview: Atletico Mineiro begin defence at Zamora

Atletico Mineiro begin their Copa Libertadores defence at Zamora on Tuesday, while Santos Laguna meet Arsenal.

Jo´s seven goals last campaign led Mineiro to their maiden title, but their form in the league has been questionable early in the season.

Paulo Autuori´s men have won just one of their opening four games, and Jo has netted twice already in good signs.

They have been drawn in Group 4 alongside Paraguay´s Nacional Asuncion, Venezuela´s Zamora and Colombia´s Santa Fe.

A trip to an in-form Zamora shapes as being tricky, with the Venezuelans in good form domestically.

Juan Falcon (eight goals), Pedro Ramirez (six), Ricardo Clarke and John Murillo (both five) have been scoring regularly.

Nacional Asuncion visit Santa Fe, also on Tuesday, in the other Group 4 game.

In Group 8, Santos Laguna host Arsenal with both teams looking to find some form early in the competition.

Oribe Peralta shapes as being the main danger to Arsenal with the Mexican striker a regular goalscorer in Liga MX.

His side sit seventh in the league after an indifferent start which has seen them suffer just one loss, but draw four times.

Penarol are set to travel to Deportivo Anzoategui for their opener.

Elsewhere on the opening match day of the group stages, Botafogo welcome San Lorenzo in Group 2.

Alongside them in the group are Union Espanola and Independiente del Valle, who do battle in Ecuador on February 18.

Atletico Paranaense start their campaign with a clash against The Strongest, while Universitario face Velez Sarsfield also in Group 1.

Group 3 sees Cerro Porteno take on Deportivo Cali and Lanus host O´Higgins.

Carioca 1 leaders Flamengo travel to Leon and Peru Primera Division frontrunners Real Garcilaso host Cruzeiro.

Out-of-form Defensor Sporting will be looking to end a seven-game winless run when they travel to Universidad Chile.

Elsewhere, Nacional do battle with Gremio, Emelec host Bolivar and Atletico Nacional take on Newell´s Old Boys.

Det var nok meget godt, at jeg missede, at FLA - FLU blev spillet igår/nat...

http://www.youtube.com/w…iteb5_NTlu8

ja, ærgeligt udfald. Jeg håbede også på en FLA sejr.

Ja Kayokay, der kunne godt ligge endnu en røvfuld og vente natten til torsdag, når de skal til Guanajuato - og møde de mexicanske mestre fra León.

Iøvrigt husk tirsdag aften 23.00 direkte fra Maracana - Fogão mod San Lorenzo.

Former Jamaica int’l Marshall to coach in U.S.

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – Former Jamaica international Tyrone Marshall was announced Thursday as the new head coach of the River City Rovers.

The club -- founded in 2010 and based in Louisville, Kentucky-- is a member of the United States’ USL Premier Development League (PDL).

"I´m very excited about the opportunity to join the Rovers organization," said Marshall. "The potential for soccer in Louisville is tremendous and the vision Rovers has outlined for the future is something I wanted to be a part of."

In a decorated 15-year MLS career (1998-2012), Marshall appeared in a combined 362 regular- and post-season games with five teams, winning two MLS Cups (LA Galaxy: 2002, 2005) and three US Open Cups (LA Galaxy: 2005; Seattle Sounders: 2009, 2010). He was also selected to two MLS All-Star games and played in two editions of the CONCACAF Champions League (2010-11: Seattle Sounders; 2011-12: Colorado Rapids)

Internationally, Marshall won 83 caps for the Reggae Boyz from 2000-2010. He took the field in eight matches over three CONCACAF Gold Cups (2003, 2005, 2009) and also made 27 appearances in three World Cup Qualifying campaigns (2002, 2006, 2010).

"Tyrone´s playing career speaks for itself," said Rovers President and GM Nathan Pitcock. "His playing experience will be an invaluable asset for players at the PDL level, as he knows exactly what it takes to make it at the highest level."

Marshall, 39, holds a USSF "A" License and, in addition to his duties as River City’s PDL head coach, he will also be working with the club’s youth academy.

Report: Fernando agrees Porto contract extension

Brazilian midfielder Fernando has reportedly agreed a contract extension with Porto.

According to O Jogo, the 26 year-old’s finally put an end to speculation about his future by signing a deal that will keep him at the Dragões until 2017.

Fernando’s current deal expires in the summer and initially reports had suggested that he’d decided to leave Porto after seven years with the club.

Juventus, Manchester City and Milan were all reportedly ready to offer him a lucrative deal, but it seems the Alto Paraíso de Goiás-native will now remain in Portugal.

Grêmio’s Zé Roberto targets “flamboyant” win over rivals Internacional

Zé Roberto has talked up his sides derby clash against Internacional tomorrow and admitted it is a different prospect compared to other games.

The experienced Grêmio midfielder also talked about his role in the side and how it is important that they attack Internacional, especially being the home team.

Lance spoke with the former Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen player, he said: “We have to play offensive, even more at home.

“That has to be our proposal. Positioning on the field depends largely on the coach. I feel comfortable both defensive and offensive.

“The important thing is to do my best in the field to help the team.”

Grêmio have enjoyed a successful start to their season and currently sit top of their State Championship.

The big match for themselves is the derby game dubbed the ‘Grenal’ in Brazil. Zé Roberto wants the team to achieve a classic win over their rivals.

He added: “The Grenal is a different game. But now we are in a sequence where the team has and will seek growth.

“I believe and hope our team can take that extra step in pursuit of flamboyant football. The biggest opportunity is to play a classic. Surely this game gives us this possibility.”

With Grêmio starting their Copa Libertadores campaign next week, they’ll hope to go into that competition following a derby win over Internacional.

@ Kayokay

Sambafoot Sunday: Where’s Wallyson? Botafogo find their new hero post-Seedorf

By James Nalton

Botafogo lost more than a player when Clarence Seedorf left the club. They lost a leader – a player who was a coach on the pitch as well as off it. The Dutchman was studying for his coaching badges during his time in Rio, and brought this with him to his Botafogo training sessions as he handed out guidance to the younger players.

At the same time they lost their coach Oswaldo de Oliveira to Santos. He’d been the father figure who guided the team to fourth place in the league, and even mounted a title challenge early in the season.

These departures meant there there were big shoes to be filled at the club, and you wouldn’t envy those who attempt to fill them. Coach Eduardo Hungaro stepped up to the first team, having previously been in involved in the various youth categories at the club, facing criticism almost immediately as they fell to defeat in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores qualifier in Quito.

The team looked devoid of ideas, cutting edge, composure, and leadership in their first Libertadores game since 1996, but if you judge the tie over the two legs you begin to see some reasoning behind the events in Quito.

At an altitude which gives the home team a big advantage, Hungaro set his team up to limit the damage. With two holding midfielders and only one striker, they looked similar in shape to the Botafogo we saw under Eduardo de Oliveira, but missed Seedorf playing in his wandering role behind the striker. After an unconvincing and lethargic performance they escaped with just a one nil defeat, and prepared for the return leg at the Maracanã.

The famous stadium in Rio de Janeiro saw a master-class of attacking football. Not necessarily from the team as a whole, as many players were panicky, rushed, and lacking composure as they were in the first leg, but from one individual playing in a free role off the striker, a la Seedorf.

Wallyson ran the Deportivo Quito defence ragged for the entire game. His direct running was similar to that of young former Botafogo player Vitinho, who left the club for CSKA Moscow last season, but the 25-year-old new signing looks to be a more complete package.

His display of trickery, guile, creativity, and good finishing led to a hat-trick for himself and a several chances created for others, as he guided Botafogo to a 4-0 win on home soil. This made the dull first leg look like part of a wider master-plan, as the Rio side altered their formation to include Wallyson in the starting line-up at the expense of one of the holding midfielders.

Former Brazil U20 star Henrique replaced Wallyson on the 82nd minute, as the new hero exited to raucous appreciation from the fans. Henrique was the top scorer in Brazil’s triumphant 2011 U20 World Cup campaign, but has struggled since. To come on as he did, scoring Botafogo’s fourth goal in this big occasion, should give him a huge boost in confidence.

Botafogo now face tougher tests as they enter the group stages where they play San Lorenzo of Argentina, Independiente of Ecuador and Chile’s Unión Española. The time for true heroes may be still to come, but for now, Wallyson has gone some way to filling the void.

Der er øjensynligt ikke mange penge i kassen, så jeg tror meget afhænger af om de unge præsterer når de får chancen - og hvis de endelig præsterer, ja, så ryger de efter en sæson.

Det overrasker mig meget at man har beholdt Doria, men Botafogo afventer vel et stort bud. Til gengæld tror jeg det var en rigtig god idé at satse på Henrique i stedet for Bruno Mendes.