Football news

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has conceded it was a mistake to start William Gallas in the Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona after the defender was ruled out for the rest of the season with a recurrence of a calf injury.

France coach Raymond Domenech was quoted by British media yesterday as telling members of the French Football Federation he was "livid" with the decision to play Gallas.

"It was a gamble which did not pay off and was a mistake," Wenger was quoted on Arsenal's website (www.arsenal.com). "I don't think it will cost him his World Cup.

"He declared himself fit and I had (good) reports from the rehabilitation centre where he worked for 10 days. He had four days training with the team too," added Wenger.

Shooting victim Caceres back home

Former Argentina international Fernando Caceres left hospital on Friday, five months after being shot in the head during an attempted robbery, La Red radio reported.

The 40-year-old former defender, who won 24 caps, was left blinded in one eye in the attack on November 1.

"I am savouring being able to feel good. It was a complicated issue but thankfully it's now in the past. I am in the final stages of my convalescence," said Caceres, who lost the sight in one eye and is deaf in one ear.

Caceres was driving in a Buenos Aires suburb when at least four men surrounded his car. He was shot with the bullet just missing his right eyeball.

I was stupid, says Babel

Liverpool forward Ryan Babel has admitted to being "stupid and silly" after his sending-off in last week's 2-1 Europa League defeat to Benfica in Lisbon.

Liverpool took an early lead through Daniel Agger, but the match turned on the 30th-minute dismissal of Babel.

"The referee told me the red card was for touching Luisao's face − that was it," he said.

"It was clear that Luisao had made an awful foul and all I wanted to do was back up Fernando.

"Too harsh maybe. In the end maybe it was a stupid, silly thing for me to touch him in the face.

"But it was a mistake by me, I will learn from it and it won't happen again."

Colomba to stay at Bologna

Franco Colomba has agreed a new two-year deal with Serie A club Bologna.

The 55-year-old, who began his playing career with Bologna in 1973, took over the hotseat from Giuseppe Papadopulo last October.

The club have climbed away from the relegation zone under his leadership and are currently seven points clear of the bottom three.

Colomba, whose 20-year managerial career has also included spells with Reggina, Livorno, Napoli and Cagliari, had no hesitation in committing his future to Bologna.

Boyd's future on hold

Rangers manager Walter Smith expects Scotland striker Kris Boyd to put his future on hold until the end of the season.

Reports suggest Boyd is set to be reunited with former Rangers boss Alex McLeish at Birmingham when his contract expires at the end of the season.

But Smith is convinced Boyd, who has scored 24 goals this term, is happy to wait until the end of the season to decide if he wants to remain at Ibrox.

"I spoke to Kris earlier in the season and he is going to make his decision at the end of the season," Smith said.

"We respect that. That's what he has to do and it's an important stage of his career."

First half show a one-off - Guardiola

Barcelona's mesmerising opening few minutes against Arsenal in the Champions League midweek was "once in a lifetime" soccer, coach Pep Guardiola said.

The European champions could have scored four or fives times in an electrifying start to their quarter-final first leg in London last week.

That attacking display earned praise from all quarters despite Barca only coming away with a 2-2 draw on the night.

"Eleven shots in 15 minutes as happened against Arsenal only occurs once in a lifetime," Guardiola said.

"We can't go out tomorrow expecting a repetition. We have to try and maintain the same work rate as the first half against Arsenal."

O'Neill slams Terry's comments

Martin O'Neill has hit back at Chelsea captain John Terry's claim that Aston Villa are not fit enough to last the pace in Premier League matches.

Terry was part of the Chelsea team that thrashed Villa 7-1 last week and the England defender wasn't impressed with the way O'Neill's side faded in the closing stages.

"I thought it was an idle comment from John Terry because statistically it is not proved," O'Neill said.

"In fact, if you want to go into statistics, and we use them like every football club, we are one of the fittest teams in the country. Those sort of comments, you would hope, wouldn't come back to haunt the player or his team in the near future."