•••• SPORTS NEWS •••• Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn rates the London club as huge favourites to win the FA Cup and end their nine-year trophy drought. Arsenal face Wigan on Saturday in an FA Cup semi-final, while Hull will take on Sheffield United on Sunday for a spot in the final as well. Winterburn believes Arsenal have too much quality to miss out on lifting the FA Cup at the end of May, which would be their first trophy since they won the same competition in 2005. AZ Alkmaar coach Dick Advocaat conceded his team were not good enough to match Benfica as they were eliminated from the UEFA Europa League. Benfica won Thursdays quarter-final second leg in Lisbon 2-0 to triumph 3-0 on aggregate with Rodrigo scoring a brace for the home side. Advocaat paid tribute to Alkmaars work ethic in Portugal but claimed his team were simply inferior compared to Benfica. Sevilla boss Unai Emery refused to get carried away despite a 4-1 win over Porto which secured their UEFA Europa League semi-final berth. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Sevilla produced a rousing display with three goals in the opening half hour from Ivan Rakitic, Vitolo and Carlos Bacca. Coke was sent off just after half time for the victors, but Kevin Gameiros strike saw them move ahead 4-1 on aggregate, meaning Ricardo Quaresmas late consolation had little impact. Sevilla have not reached the semi-finals of Europes secondary club competition since 2007, when they won it, but Emery urged caution following Thursdays 4-2 aggregate win. Giorgio Chiellini and Juventus are dreaming of the UEFA Europa League final in their own stadium after a quarter-final victory over Lyon. After their 1-0 first-leg win in France the Serie A leaders secured their progression to the semi-finals with a 2-1 victory in the Juventus Stadium on Thursday.They join Benfica, Sevilla and Valencia in the last four and Chiellini admits reaching next months final, which is being held in Turin, continues to motivate them. Borussia Dortmund followed up their capture of Adrian Ramos by announcing Nuri Sahin has joined the club permanently. Sahin returned to Dortmund on loan from Real Madrid in January 2013 and has impressed manager Jurgen Klopp with a series of dynamic midfield performances. Dortmund reportedly had a clause in the loan deal that stated they could buy him at any time – and that is exactly what they did on Thursday. After announcing the signing of striker Ramos from Hertha Berlin earlier in the day, Dortmund confirmed Sahin had permanently joined the club, for a fee said to be in the region of €7million. Benfica coach Jorge Jesus conceded that their UEFA Europa League win over AZ had been overshadowed by the serious injury to Silvio. The Lisbon club cruised into the semi-finals of Europes second tier club competition as a Rodrigo double ensured a 2-0 success - and 3-0 on aggregate - for last seasons beaten finalists. Full-back Silvio was taken off on a stretcher in the second minute though, after he collided with team-mate Luisao as both players attemped to tackle AZs Roy Beerens. Jesus confirmed that Silvio has sustained a broken leg and will require an operation. And, despite a fine performance from his side, Jesus admitted that the mood in the Benfica camp was not one of celebration. Manchester City could have spent more money in their quest for success under Sheikh Mansour, according to former chief executive Garry Cook. Citys willingness to invest heavily in their playing squad has gained much attention in recent years. However, Cook, who left the club in 2011, insists the Etihad Stadium outfit were relatively cautious with their dealings after Mansour completed his takeover in 2008. The players and agents and football clubs all think, because youve got all that money, you should pay it, said Cook. Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has travelled to Sweden for further treatment on a hamstring strain. Ibrahimovic picked up the injury in PSGs 3-1 UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Chelsea last Wednesday. The Sweden international was unavailable for the second leg of the tie, and his absence proved costly as Chelsea fought back to win 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, levelling the tie at 3-3 and progressing on the away goals rule. Former Barcelona, Milan and Inter man Ibrahimovic is expected to be out for another three weeks, meaning that he will miss PSGs Coupe de la Ligue final with Lyon on April 19. Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is to miss the FIFA World Cup through injury. Germany international Gundogan has made just three appearances for Dortmund all season because of a back problem sustained in August. The 23-year-old looked set to return in January, only for a bout of bronchitis to disrupt his progress before an inflamed nerve prolonged his absence from the side. Those setbacks had raised questions over Gundogans availability for the World Cup, which begins in Brazil in June, and Klopp revealed that the former Nuremberg man will miss out as Germany aim to seal a fourth title. Pepe Mel insisted that the West Brom dressing room was a happy one, despite reports of a scuffle after the 3-3 draw with Cardiff City. Reports emerged two weeks ago that Saido Berahino and James Morrison had been involved in an argument after Cardiffs stoppage-time equaliser at the Hawthorns. Whatever the reality, Mels side - who sit 16th in the table - responded in the best possible fashion last time out as Morgan Amalfitanos goal earned them a potentially priceless 1-0 win at fellow strugglers Norwich City. The Spaniard said he would be happy for arguments to continue as long as his side were picking up victories, but insisted that there were no problems within his squad. Real Madrid have been handed a timely boost with Marcelos return to training following a hamstring injury. The Brazil international has not featured for Real since a 2-1 defeat at Sevilla on March 26, though he was an unused substitute in the 5-0 demolition of Rayo Vallecano three days later before suffering a tear in his hamstring. Marcelos injury had left Carlo Ancelotti sweating on the fitness of the left-back ahead of next Wednesdays Copa del Rey final with fierce rivals Barcelona. But it appears Real may receive positive news in that regard, with Marcelo joining the rest of the squad in training ahead of Saturdays La Liga showdown with strugglers Almeria at the Bernabeu. With Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo set to miss the Copa final with a thigh problem, Marcelos availability would at least provide some positive injury news for Ancelotti. Marcelo has made 33 appearances for Real this season in all competitions. Fiorentina have been handed a double fitness boost, with Giuseppe Rossi returning to training and Mario Gomez soon set to join him. The strikers have each been plagued with injuries this season, and their respective absences have hindered Fiorentinas hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. Italy international Rossi has been unavailable since January when he suffered ligament damage in his right knee in a Serie A clash with Livorno. Gomez missed five months earlier in the season with a serious ligament injury, also in his right knee, and his return in March proved brief as the Germany forward suffered a sprain to his left knee in a 1-0 win at Napoli. Monaco vice president Vadim Vasilyev has criticised unjustified rumours that head coach Claudio Ranieri could depart the club. Ranieri guided big-spending Monaco back to Ligue 1 last term, and was afforded a large budget to bring the likes of Radamel Falcao, Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez to Stade Louis II this season. Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain have dominated the current Ligue 1 campaign though, despite Monacos big financial outlay, and they sit 13 points behind the capital club with just six games remaining. Monaco are in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France, and are on track to secure a UEFA Champions League place next season, but reports in France have suggested that Ranieri could leave the club - with France legend Zinedine Zidane tipped as a possible replacement. Arsenal have injury concerns over three players ahead of Saturdays FA Cup semi-final with Wigan Athletic, but Aaron Ramsey is fit to start. Arsene Wengers mens pursuit of a first trophy since 2005 continues against the Cup holders this weekend, and they head into the tie on the back of a four-game winless run in the Premier League that has damaged their aspirations of UEFA Champions League qualification. And Arsenals chances of taking another step towards ending their silverware drought could be hindered by injury problems, as midfield duo Tomas Rosicky and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are doubtful, while full-back Kieran Gibbs also remains a concern with an ankle injury. Arsenal have injury concerns over three players ahead of Saturdays FA Cup semi-final with Wigan Athletic, but Aaron Ramsey is fit to start. Arsene Wengers mens pursuit of a first trophy since 2005 continues against the Cup holders this weekend, and they head into the tie on the back of a four-game winless run in the Premier League that has damaged their aspirations of UEFA Champions League qualification. And Arsenals chances of taking another step towards ending their silverware drought could be hindered by injury problems, as midfield duo Tomas Rosicky and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are doubtful, while full-back Kieran Gibbs also remains a concern with an ankle injury. Everton boss Roberto Martinez has lauded English footballs vital loan system, which he has used to great effect this season. Martinez brought in Romelu Lukaku, Gerard Deulofeu and Gareth Barry on season-long loan deals last year, and that trio have been influential in guiding the club to the brink of UEFA Champions League football. Following a run of six straight Premier League wins, Everton sit fifth in the table - a point behind fourth-placed Arsenal having played a game fewer than the London club.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 05:21:26 +0000
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