Football news

Faltering Bundesliga leaders Schalke 04 have not succumbed to nerves despite taking just one point from their last three matches, director of football Andreas Mueller said.

"The team is quite relaxed about it all even if people on the outside keep trying to make them nervous," Mueller said after Schalke were beaten 2-0 at home on Friday by Hamburg SV.

"That's not the problem. Sometimes you need a bit of luck. The ball's just not going in for us right now. But the team is holding up well and working hard."

Despite two straight home losses and a 2-2 draw at VfL Wolfsburg two weeks ago, Schalke remain top with 49 points

Diarra urges Terry to rest

Lassana Diarra has warned his team-mate John Terry not to rush his return from an horrific head injury suffered in the League Cup final last week.

The Chelsea captain was knocked unconscious during the 2-1 victory after being accidentally kicked in the head by Abou Diaby and doctors have urged him to rest.

"John is a very important player for us but the most important thing at the moment is his health," Diarra said. "After what happened, though, it's important that he recovers fully from his injury so when he does return to the team he is on top form."

Man. United set to land Nani

Portuguese winger Nani is one of Manchester United's main summer targets, according to reports in the British press. Yesterday's Guardian claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping to tie up three major post-season transfers, and says Sporting Lisbon's Nani is one of them.

The report also says that United also want to complete a deal for Bayern Munich's midfielder Owen Hargreaves, and land a top striker as well.

The 20-year-old Nani is also wanted by several other clubs, with French champions Lyon among them. But United's strong relationship with Sporting could see them win the race.

Bazzani eyeing England move

Sampdoria striker Fabio Bazzani has admitted he would relish the chance to play in the English Premier League in the future.

The Italian international has just returned from a serious knee injury which has seen him sidelined for the past 12 months. He returned to score at the weekend, but with his contract due to expire in June his thoughts have turned to the future.

"My priority was to come back playing football and I have done it,'' Bazzani told La Stampa. "I'm certainly evaluating all the alternatives. I'm fascinated by English football, even if it wouldn't be an easy decision to take, because I have a son just born."

Trezeguet wants to stay at Juve

David Trezeguet insists he is willing to sacrifice Champions League football to stay with Juventus, despite persisting reports linking him with a move away from the Turin club.

"I have another year on my contract and intend to respect it," the French striker said. "At the start of the season I said I was disappointed not to play in the Champions League, but only because we had earned the right to enter that competition.

"For me, even with a second season out of Europe, what counts more is the relationship with my team-mates and they have asked me to stay next year."

Betis appeal to stadium ban

Real Betis have said they will follow the example set by other Primera Liga clubs in appealing against the three-match stadium closure imposed on them on Friday by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

The punishment was for incidents at their stadium in the King's Cup quarter-final against Sevilla on Wednesday when visiting coach Juande Ramos was knocked unconscious by a bottle thrown from the stands.

"It's clear that since the RFEF had the nerve to change its rules to favour Barcelona in 2004, the first stadium they decided to close was ours. We will seek to do what other big teams have done and go to court if we have to," Betis lawyer Manuel Castano said.

Castano was referring to the way Barcelona avoided a two-match stadium closure imposed by the RFEF after events marred their match in 2002 against Real Madrid in the Nou Camp.

Beckham realistic about US move

David Beckham will launch his new career in the United States later this year with realistic footballing ambitions.

"I would be stupid to think I can make it (soccer) as big as baseball, basketball and American Football," the Real Madrid midfielder said. "That is not going to happen.... probably half of America hasn't even heard of me."

Beckham, 31, is hoping to inspire the young footballers of the US. "I am not going there thinking I will change everything. My aim is to help the kids in America enjoy football," he said.

High demand for Euro 2008 tickets

Organisers of the 2008 European championship have reported a high demand for tickets following the first 24 hours of orders.

Fans had applied for 53,978 tickets via the official website within one day of the sales window being opened.

"That's 10 times more ticket applications than were received during the first day of ticket sales for Euro 2004 in Portugal," said the tournament's chief operating officer Martin Kallen.