Football news

Gianfranco Zola does not intend to leave West Ham and join his former club Chelsea whose manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, is under pressure after a string of poor results and reports suggesting the Blues could be looking for a replacement.

Zola has been tipped as an ideal candidate for the job but the Italian has other plans.

"In football you never know what lies round the corner but I have no intention of walking out on West Ham," Zola said.

"I owe a lot to them. Not many clubs would have given me this opportunity."

Capello impressed by Beckham's fitness

David Beckham looks likely to make his 108th England appearance this week after coach Fabio Capello recalled him to the squad having been impressed by the midfielder's fitness since he joined Milan.

Beckham, 33, will equal Bobby Moore's record number of caps for an outfield player if he plays in the friendly against Spain in Seville on Wednesday.

"He is better than he was six months ago," Capello told reporters.

"He is fit now... every player in the squad has to play, not just train.

"He is a very important player and I've watched him in one game in Milan and (deputies) Italo Galbiati and Franco Baldini saw his other games. He is getting better and better with each game."

Southgate happy to carry pressure

The 1-0 upset to Manchester City on Saturday was the 13th successive winless result in the league for troubled Middlesbrough but manager Gareth Southgate is confident he can handle the pressure.

Southgate, however, is happy to carry the weight of responsibility on his shoulders.

He said: "No one needs to take pressure off me. It is for me to carry, because the players need to be able to go out and play.

"I am not shirking my responsibility. Taking responsibility is what I have done all my career. It is what I am paid to do."

Boro's plight is hardly helped by the potential loss of Chris Riggott, who will have tests to establish the severity of the twisted knee he suffered at Eastlands.

Van Bommel wants longer deal

Mark van Bommel is looking for an extended deal to stay with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. The Dutchman's current contract runs out at the end of the season.

Bayern, who already signed Anatoli Tymoschuk from Zenit for next season, had offered van Bommel a 12-month extension and had hoped to have the deal signed by the end of this month. But the player did not agree.

"I feel at home here," van Bommel said. "I would really like to stay on but not for just one more year.

"I will take my time over a decision since there is no deadline for me."

Kaka ruled out of San Siro derby

Brazilian midfielder Kaka has been ruled out for at least 15 days with a foot injury, his club Milan said yesterday.

The playmaker, who was injured during Saturday's 1-1 Serie A draw with Reggina, will miss Brazil's friendly with Italy tomorrow and next Sunday's league derby with Inter.

"Kaka reported a trauma to his left foot. The checks made after Milan-Reggina did not show any kind of fracture," Milan said in a statement.

"The prognosis is at least 15 days," a later statement added.

O'Neill won't stop Barry move

Martin O'Neill admitted that he would not stand in the way if Gareth Barry decides to leave Aston Villa.

The England midfielder became embroiled in a long-running transfer saga involving Liverpool last year, before ultimately opting to stay at Villa Park.

O'Neill hopes the club's latest progress will persuade Barry to stay but claims he will understand if the England international still harbours a switch elsewhere.

"Gareth is here until the end of the season. He was true to his word that he would stay in January," O'Neill said.

"If we keep the momentum going, who knows? But if we don't qualify for Europe this season then things will be in the balance."

Torres, Kuyt were tired - Benitez

Rafa Benitez's risky decision to start Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt on the bench looked like a masterstroke on Saturday after the strikers came on late to earn a 3-2 victory at Portsmouth which sent Liverpool top.

Kuyt blasted a shot past keeper David James and Torres then pounced in stoppage time to bullet a header home from Yossi Benayoun's cross.

"Torres, Kuyt and Alonso were really tired," Benitez said.

"We had to play extra-time with 10 men in the FA Cup replay. I talked with the medical and technical staff and made the decision. If you ask the players, all of them will say they are fit, but you have to decide based on all the information."