Football news

French midfielder Robert Pires said he had mixed feelings after finally making his league debut for Villarreal seven months after suffering a serious knee injury.

The 33-year-old former Arsenal player, who tore the cruciate ligament in his left knee in a pre-season game in Cadiz in August, played the final half hour of his side's 1-1 draw at home to Real Sociedad on Sunday.

"I was really pleased to have played again after so long out. I was really looking forward to it," Pires said.

"The disappointment was that we were only able to draw the match. We lost two points rather than earning one."

Curbishley still hopeful

Alan Curbishley said the battle against the drop is not over yet for West Ham after his side recorded their first away win of the season.

Carlos Tevez's penalty and a controversial Bobby Zamora strike sealed a 2-1 win at Blackburn and Curbishley is now targeting a second in a row when his side face Middlesbrough after the international break.

"If we could get successive wins that would give us a massive lift and put pressure on the teams above us," Curbishley said.

"It is not over yet by any means and there are a lot of games to go."

Curbishley admitted Zamora's winner did not cross the line.

"It is where we start and where we finish that concerns me," he added.

"Goal line incidents, fine, we can do something about that and perhaps penalties. Other decisions, I am not so sure about."

Juve move... a joke says Frings

Torsten Frings denied he intends to join Juventus.

"This is a joke," the Werder Bremen midfielder told reporters.

The German international was paired with Juve after reports in Italy suggested that he had been in contact with club representatives, but the player was eager to dismiss the news.

"Me at Juve? This must be a joke, these reports are absolutely groundless," said the 31-year-old.

"I have never spoken with anyone, the Italian newspapers always have to find something to write about."

Reading not geared up for Europe

Reading manager Steve Coppell has questioned the benefit of clinching a UEFA Cup place, with his side still in the running for a European berth.

The Premier League newcomers are only two points adrift of sixth place and a position that would book a UEFA Cup berth.

"We're not geared up for Europe," Coppell said. "It would be too heavy a load in our development, which would not be good for us."

Reading have already stated they would not enter the Intertoto Cup competition this year.

Kaka to lure Ronaldinho

Kaka has admitted he might try to convince Ronaldinho to move to Milan next season. The Barcelona star is a known target for next season and was reportedly closer to joining the Serie A after his brother and agent Roberto Assis was sighted in Milan last week.

However, Barca vice-president Ferran Soriano has since denied those claims, describing the reports as 'groundless'.

"I haven't spoken to Ronaldinho yet, but I will see him this month when Brazil play friendlies against Chile and Ghana," Kaka said.

"What will I tell him? First of all, I will see what his questions are. Then I will explain that Milan is a great club and I will maybe try to convince him to come here," added the Brazilian.

Barca for Zambrotta

Gianluca Zambrotta wants to honour his contract with Barcelona even though his time in Spain hasn't been entirely successful so far. Zambrotta was one of the first to leave Juventus when the soccer scandal broke out last summer, signing for Barcelona.

"I am not moving until the end of my contract, that is in 2010," Zambrotta said.

"I want to win all I can here, I will not leave, it wouldn't be fair to do so after only one year," added the player, who scored his first Liga goal on Saturday against Recreativo Huelva.

"This season's objective is the King's Cup and league... next year we will try to win the Champions League."

Robinson sympathy for Foster

Paul Robinson felt sorry for goalkeeper Ben Foster on Saturday after beating his Watford counterpart from 88 metres. The Tottenham no.1 hit a long clearance downfield that bounced over Foster and in during Spurs' 3-1 victory at home.

It had appeared that Danny Shittu should have headed the ball clear before ducking out of the way, although Foster later admitted he called for the defender to leave it.

"I was kind of watching it, but I thought I was going to get moaned at by the strikers for over-hitting the free-kick," Robinson said.

"It was just one of those things - a freak goal. Out of respect for Ben I didn't want to run off celebrating looking like I meant it."

Lampard vows to stay

Frank Lampard has no intention of invoking a FIFA rule that could see him leave Chelsea in the summer. The England international has been linked with Real Madrid as talks over a new deal have stalled at Stamford Bridge.

However, the free-scoring midfielder has no desire to end his highly productive stay at Chelsea.

"I want to stay at Chelsea," Lampard said.

"I have never wanted to leave the club and I don't intend to. I have everything I want in life where I am right now."