Football news

Midfielder Alberto Aquilani feels he is settling in nicely at Juventus. The 26-year-old joined Juve on a one-year loan deal from Liverpool this summer.

“The team is gradually improving,” said Aquilani.

“The same applies to me and I’m happy.”

Aquilani enjoyed his second straight start for the Bianconeri in Juve’s goalless draw at Inter last weekend. That game allowed Aquilani to salute his former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, now in charge of Inter.

“It was nice to see him (Benitez) again,” said Aquilani.

“Despite a difficult year for both of us (at Liverpool), I had a good rapport with him.”

Ferguson tours White House

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson swapped Old Trafford for the White House on Friday, taking advantage of a window in the Premier League schedule to tour the US presidential mansion.

Ferguson was spotted going into the West Wing, where the Oval Office is situated, with a White House aide.

The veteran Scot had a brief chat with President Barack Obama’s press secretary Robert Gibbs, a soccer goalkeeper during his college days, the aide said.

Ferguson requested the tour through the British embassy. It was not clear what other engagements were on his schedule during his US visit.

Cash boost for Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday have revealed a third party investor has confirmed its intention to put money into the League One club.

Although known to the Owls and the Co-operative Bank, the investor has asked that its identity remain confidential while legal processes are being undertaken.

The investor has also confirmed that, as a sign of its commitment to the club, it will immediately advance approximately £2 million of its proposed investment to provide working capital which is urgently required to assist the cash flow.

Houllier wants Villa fit to pass test

New Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has introduced double training sessions so his players are fit enough to embrace the passing game he wants them to adopt.

The Villa squad are undertaking fitness work in the mornings and then technical work in the afternoons as the Houllier revolution begins to take shape.

The former Liverpool boss is putting emphasis on players doing more running when in possession of the ball and they can only manage this effectively if fit enough.

Villa defender Luke Young said: “I think the manager wants us as fit as we possibly can and we have no complaints. If I was a manager, that’s exactly what I would want as well and the lads are enjoying it.”

Mourinho rules out Bale bid

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho appears to have ruled out a swoop for Gareth Bale after insisting he does not want another left winger.

Real have been repeatedly linked with a move for Bale and Spurs rejected an approach for Bale from an unnamed club this summer, which also saw the 21-year-old sign a new four-year contract at White Hart Lane.

That has failed to calm speculation over his future but Mourinho claims he is not currently in the market for a left-sided player after being won over by Brazilian Marcelo.

He said: “Madrid are constantly being linked with this player and that player but I want to say that I do not want another left winger.”

Former Spurs star to boost Pakistan

Pakistan will hire former Tottenham defender Graham Roberts as football consultant to improve their standard ahead of the Asian Games in China next month.

“We are fortunate to have Roberts for two months as football consultant,” Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) secretary Ahmed Yar Lodhi told AFP.

“If all goes well, we can negotiate a long term contract to help us as coach,” he said.

Pakistan were once counted among the top 10 Asian teams in the 1960s, but now lie at 162 in the FIFA rankings issued in August this year.

The 51-year-old Roberts, who won two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup in 1984 with Tottenham, will be sponsored by a British-based Pakistani company for his two-month stint.

Magath defends under-fire Schalke

Schalke manager Felix Magath has reaffirmed his belief in his side and refuses to use the term crisis to describe their current predicament.

After signing the likes of Raul, Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Christoph Metzelder, Schalke were expected to challenge for the Bundesliga title this season, but they are instead stuck inside the bottom three with just four points from their first seven matches.

“Before we played Nurnberg, we had won twice and drawn one,” he explained.

“With our 2-1 win over Freiburg, we were under a hell of a lot of pressure and the 2-2 against Gladbach came after we were 2-0 down. Our 2-0 win over Benfica was our best game yet... so is that a crisis?”