Snak

Cléo: Conca is confident of a Fluminense return

Brazilian striker Cléo believes that everything is in place for his Argentine team-mate to leave Guangzhou Evergrande and return to former side Fluminense this January.

Conca, 29, has made clear his desire to leave the Chinese side and is hoping to return to the club where he won the Brazilian championship in 2010. However, Fluminense have proved unwilling to meet Guangzhou´s US$7 million valuation of the player.

Cléo, though believes that his colleague is confident that a move in the pipeline:

"Conca wants to leave and he also said that Fluminense are the only team to bring him back," he told Gazeta Esportiva.

"He has spoken with the directors of Fluminense and says that everything is set for him to return. I don´t know if there is anything concrete, but I can say that he has a chance of going back."

Earlier this week, Evergrande secured the €6.5 million signing of attacking midfielder Elkeson in a move that many consider to be preparing for the inevitable departure of Argentina international Conca.

Corinthians coach Tite has no preference for Fifa Club World Cup semi-final opponent

Corinthians coach Tite says his team have no preference over who they play in the semi-final of the Fifa Club World Cup next week and are well prepared to face either of Sanfrecce Hiroshima, of Japan, or Al Ahly, of Egypt.

Tite, 51, was speaking to reporters at a news conference in Nagoya on Friday, and the coach is happy that his team are prepared for either opponent.

He said: "There is no preference, but rather preparation. We follow the games and know the characteristics and individual values of both teams.

"The monitoring is being done. We will watch the game (on Sunday)."

And Tite, who predicted that Auckland City, of New Zealand, would be the weakest team and lose to Hiroshima, knows that, looking at the history of the tournament, the semi-finals are always quite close affairs.

"All semi-finals show that few scores dilated. Rarely with two goals. It´s a game surrounded by expectation and responsibility. The margin of error must be small."

Corinthians will face the winner of Sanfrecce Hiroshima against Al Ahly on 12th December in Toyota.

Var det ikke Conca, der var en af de højest betalte spillere i verden?

Yup the one and only ....Kineserne har kassen - det her Financial fairplay - er jo en UEFA-ting...tydeligvis :-)

Fluminense coach Abel Braga: We will prioritise the Copa Libertadores

Fluminense coach Abel Braga has revealed that the recently crowned Brazilian champions will focus on the Copa Libertadores in the first half of 2013, citing his Internacional side of 2006 as an example.

Braga, 60, who won the award for best coach in Brazil this year, led Inter to the Copa Libertadores title in 2006 and used mainly a reserve side in the Gaucho state championship, something he believes is key to helping win the South American title.

"It´s right to prioritise the Libertadores," the coach told newsletter Direto das Laranjeiras.

"It must be so. It doesn´t not mean we will win, but it is the correct way. See Corinthians. They arrived on time and dropped the Brazilian championship, and was always saving, but they recovered in the end.

"And I also speak from experience with Inter - when we won the Libertadores, we use the reserve team in more than half of the championship and Gaucho championship games.

"We never played a full team to win the Gaucho, because we were really focused on winning the Libertadores. The competitions mix and that´s not cool."

Fluminense tried something similar this season, but without winning the Carioca championship in seven years, there was pressure to end that sequence. Now that they have, it´s Botafogo´s turn to deal with that pressure.

"This year, we will not focus well on the Carioca, because there was the anxiety of the club, the fans and the leaders since Fluminense had not won a State for seven years.

"Now, we have already conquered the State, I find it easier to achieve this year. Fluminense has how many state titles? And the club has no Libertadores.

"Not to say that we will win as well. But we can be more successful with greater attention to the Libertadores, instead of getting divided. Got to prioritise, because the difficulty is much greater," he added.

Cruzeiro offered Uruguayan youngster Rodriguez

Cruzeiro have been offered a deal for Uruguayan attacking midfielder Maximiliano Rodriguez as part of a suggested partnership with Montevideo Wanderers.

Rodriguez, 22, was thought to have agreed a deal to join Serie A side Pescara, but that transfer has been thrown into doubt by the possibility that he will first move to Brazil.

"Maxi can learn a lot from playing in Brazil," Edgar Goulart, the businessman negotiating the clubs´ partnership told Lance. "The country is a reference for the sport and he will add a lot of value if he were to sign for a club of Cruzeiro´s standing.

"In one of the conversations [Cruzeiro director of football] Alexandre Mattos asked me who is the most interesting Wanderers player. I told him he could go after Maxi Rodriguez.

"He is a young player, fast and very skilled. I like him a lot. It would be interesting for Cruzeiro to have him as there is the possibility of selling to Europe."

The Uruguayan went on to compare the youngster to Bernard, the rising star of Cruzeiro´s city rivals Atlético Mineiro.

There is some confusion, however, with a spokesman for Montevideo Wanderers insisting that the player had signed with Pescara.

"There is a proposal from Pescara. That´s true," countered Goulart. "Victor Mesa [Montevideo owner] is in Spain talking to the club. But, nothing is certain and there is a chance he will play for Cruzeiro."

Zé Roberto close to agreeing a new deal with Grêmio

Grêmio midfielder Zé Roberto is close to agreeing a new contract with the club and may even postpone his holiday to sign the deal.

Zé Roberto, 38, has been in excellent form since joining Vanderlei Luxemburgo´s side earlier this year after leaving Qatar club Al-Gharafa, and has revealed he is happy to stay in Porto Alegre for another year.

"I know they talked and everything is almost ready," he told Rádio Gaúcha.

"The club want me, I want to stay. The idea was to travel with everything already signed. The holiday is Sunday, but I´m thinking of going to postpone."

Zé Roberto is still training with the club at the moment as they prepare for the friendly against Hamburg on Saturday to open the new arena, and then his plan was to fly to São Paulo to meet his family, who live there, before heading off on vacation.

"We move a lot. I´m talking to Christian [Butcher, his manager] for a long time. We are just missing minor adjustments, which I understand to be reasonable.

"I think next week will be all set."

As well as the former Bayern Munich star, the club are also trying to get Pará, Anderson Pico, Souza and Julio Cesar to stay with the club for next season.

Caribbean Cup finals launch Friday

ST. JOHN´S, Antigua -- The finals of the 2012 Caribbean Cup open on Friday in Antigua and Barbuda with the region´s crown and four tickets to next year´s CONCACAF Gold Cup on offer for the eight participants.

Group A will get the festivities started with a doubleheader at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St. John´s. In the opener, Haiti faces Trinidad & Tobago, followed by an encounter between the host and the Dominican Republic.

On Saturday, Group B kicks-off at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound with another twin bill. First, Martinique takes-on Cuba and, then, two-time defending champion Jamaica meets French Guyana.

This year marks the 18th edition of the Caribbean Cup, a competition that has acted on many occasions as a Gold Cup qualifier, as well as a stand-alone regional championship.

Trinidad & Tobago has captured the trophy eight times, but not since defeating Haiti 3-0 in the 2001 final. Jamaica is a five-time champion, while Martinique and Haiti have tasted glory once each. There was no champion in either 1990 or 2003.

CONCACAF.com will provide Caribbean Cup coverage from the first kick to the final whistle.

For a Caribbean Cup schedule, click here.


Caribbean Cup Finals - A Quick Glance

1989
Host: Barbados
Champion: Trinidad & Tobago

1990
Host: Trinidad & Tobago
Champion: no champion

1991
Host: Jamaica
Champion: Jamaica

1992
Host: Trinidad & Tobago
Champion: Trinidad & Tobago

1993
Host: Jamaica
Champion: Martinique

1994
Host: Trinidad & Tobago
Champion: Trinidad & Tobago

1995
Host: Cayman Islands, Jamaica
Champion: Trinidad & Tobago

1996
Host: Trinidad & Tobago
Champion: Trinidad & Tobago

1997
Host: Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis
Champion: Trinidad & Tobago

1998
Host: Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago
Champion: Jamaica

1999
Host: Trinidad & Tobago
Champion: Trinidad & Tobago

2001
Host: Trinidad & Tobago
Champion: Trinidad & Tobago

2003
Host: Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago
Champion: no champion (two separate final round groups)

2005
Host: Barbados
Champion: Jamaica

2007
Host: Trinidad & Tobago
Champion: Haiti

2008
Host: Jamaica
Champion: Jamaica

2010
Host: Martinique
Champion: Jamaica

Caribbean Cup - Group A Preview

St. JOHN´S, Antigua -- To label Group A at the 2012 Caribbean Cup finals as "challenging" would certainly be a dramatic understatement. Moreover, the frequently used term "Group of Death" fails to capture appropriately what is in store for the four participants.

Group A, in fact, is incredibly competitive and the two sides that advance to the semifinals -- as well as obtain CONCACAF Gold Cup berths -- will have more than earned their rewards.

The group contains all three of the second-round group winners (Dominican Republic, Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago), plus a team that advanced to the semifinals of 2014 World Cup Qualifying, which by the way, is also hosting the tournament (Antigua and Barbuda).

It is hard to imagine that a group, at any competition, could possibly be more demanding or even.

All the action kicks-off on Friday with a doubleheader at the Antigua Recreation Ground. In the opener, 2007 titlist Haiti meets record eight-time champion Trinidad & Tobago, followed by a match-up between Antigua and Group 7 winner Dominican Republic.

Here´s a look at today´s games:

GROUP A
Antigua Recreation Ground -- St. John´s Antigua and Barbuda

Haiti v Trinidad & Tobago (5:00 pm ET)

HAITI
* One of only four countries to have won the Caribbean Cup (accomplished that feat by overcoming Trinidad & Tobago 2-1 in the 2007 final)
* Qualified for finals by winning second round Group 6
* CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifications: 4

2012 Caribbean Cup - Qualifying Stats
Record: 5 wins, 0 draws, 1 loss (15 GF, 3 GA)
Leading Scorer: Jean-Philippe Peguero (5 goals)


TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
* Won the Caribbean Cup a record eight times, but none since defeating Haiti 3-1 in the 2001 final
* Qualified for finals by winning second round Group 8
* CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifications: 7

2012 Caribbean Cup - Qualifying Stats
Record: 5 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses (20 GF, 2 GA)
Leading Scorer: Jamal Gay (5 goals)



Antigua and Barbuda v Dominican Republic (7:00 pm ET)

ANTIGUA and BARBUDA
* Has never won the Caribbean Cup...best finish came in 1998 (4th place)
* Qualified as host
* CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifications: 0

Antigua and Barbuda did very well to reach the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying for Brazil 2014, where it was eliminated from contention. It finished the competition with an overall record of 5 wins, 1 draw and 6 losses (32 GF, 18 GA). Peter Byers was the top scorer for the Benna Boys during the campaign with 10 goals in 12 games.


DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
* Has never won the Caribbean Cup
* Qualified for finals by winning second round Group 7
* CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifications: 0

2012 Caribbean Cup - Qualifying Stats
Record: 4 wins, 2 draws, 0 losses (11 GF, 5 GA)
Leading Scorer: Jonathan Fana Farias (6 goals)

En god nyhed at starte morgenen på La Brujita er tilbage ifodboldens verden - som ny Sportsdirektør i Estudiantes....

Estudiantes: Verón, director deportivo

LA PLATA -- La Comisión Directiva de Estudiantes aprobó el plan de Juan Sebastián Verón y será el director deportivo. El exmediocampista será presentado en los próximos días en reemplazo de Daniel Romeo, quien el jueves presentó su renuncia al cargo. Se hará hincapié en las divisiones inferiores y formativas del Pincha.

Desde hace algunas semanas, el presidente Enrique Lombardi tomó la iniciativa de acercarse al ex capitán para que se sume a la institución y luego de varias reuniones se llegó a un acuerdo.

La dirigencia -en horas de la medianoche pasado- decidió que la "mesa chica", compuesta por el presidente, los vicepresidentes, el secretario general, el secretario de fútbol y uno de los hombres de finanzas se junte en esta misma jornada con Verón para definir los detalles del proyecto y su implementación.

Una de las bases de esta instrumentación es trabajar desde las divisiones infantiles, pasando por juveniles en la formación de jugadores y también de entrenadores con un "ADN Estudiantes".

El jueves presentó su renuncia y decidió dar un paso al costado Daniel Romeo, quien había llegado al club tras las elecciones que ganó Lombardi a fines de 2011 para manejar todo el fútbol y como cabeza visible, de lo que el propio presidente decidió llamar "plan estratégico integral".

A partir de las decisiones tomadas recientemente, en consideración de los propios dirigentes era hora de realizar un cambio y se analizó la conveniencia de sumar a Verón.

La propia Brujita aceptó el diálogo y la propuesta, pero sólo si se implementaba para el fútbol el plan que él mismo venía elaborando.

Uno de los obstáculos que aparecen en el horizonte es la situación de Carlos Pachamé, actual coordinador del fútbol juvenil, ya que no tiene intenciones de alejarse del puesto que ocupa desde hace un año, y que según él, Enrique Lombardi le habría prometido una prórroga por dos años más.

Ambos proyectos parecen incompatibles, no por las personas, pero sí en las ideas.

En otro orden, se maneja la posibilidad de que Agustín Alayes, hoy jugador del plantel profesional y con pocas chances de jugar en el primer equipo, decida retirarse y se sume al cargo de manager y mano derecha de Sebastián Verón.

Consultado por Télam el defensor señaló que está "evaluando" que es lo que va a hacer: "Lo estoy meditando y en los próximos días tomaré una decisión", aclaró.

Lo concreto es que Verón vuelve a trabajar en su club, en una nueva función y en un proyecto, que según su propio autor, "es algo que hay que realizar a largo plazo, aunque algunos frutos pueden verse a la brevedad".

En ese contexto, la Brujita viajará el martes rumbo a Europa para ponerse en contacto con gente de Inter, Lazio, Sampdoria y Parma, de Italia, y Barcelona, de España, para interiorizarse sobre el manejo y las estructuras del fútbol formativo de esos clubes.