Football news

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is not to blame for the weekend 1-2 upset to Juventus at home, club supremo Silvio Berlusconi said.

The country’s prime minister gave his backing to Allegri who had been accused of getting his tactics wrong against Juventus.

Berlusconi said: “I have nothing to reproach the coach and the team. Milan didn’t play badly and deserved to equalise. We had many chances and the law of football says that if you don’t profit from them then the others will score the goals.

“Anyway, this remains a team that is built to boss the pitch and the play and it’s in a position to compete in Italy and in Europe.”

Wenger won’t rush Ramsey return

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned Aaron Ramsey remains over a month away from making his return to the first team. Wenger last week revealed Ramsey was on target to resume full training but said at the time the Welsh teenager would not be rushed back.

Ramsey has not played since suffering a compound fracture of his right leg against Stoke in February. Although the 19-year-old midfielder will join up with the rest of the first-team squad at the end of this week, his manager has indicated it could be December before he is ready for the Premier League.

“Aaron should be in full training next Friday. But then you have to give him at least one month with the reserve team,” Wenger said.

Injury-hit Juventus set to spend

Juventus are likely to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window after a series of long-term injuries to some of their key players.

Juventus lost Paolo de Ceglie and Jorge Martinez for several weeks during the 2-1 win over Milan last week. They will join Gianluigi Buffon, Leandro Rinaudo and Vincenzo Iaquinta in the treatment room.

Reports said Juventus will almost certainly look into reinforcing the side when the transfer window opens again. Liverpool full-back Glen Johnson and Parma’s Cristian Zaccardo are just two of the names being linked with a move to Juventus.

Hoeness questions Van Gaal’s methods

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has hit out at the management style of coach Louis van Gaal.

The Bavarian giants are currently seventh in the Bundesliga, 10 points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund although their recent form has been encouraging.

That, however, has not stopped Hoeness from questioning the methods used by the veteran Dutchman.

In an interview with Sky90, Hoeness said: “It’s very difficult to have a conversation with Louis van Gaal.

“He can’t accept it when someone has a different opinion to him. Indeed, you can’t run a club all by yourself these days.”

Hughton silent over new contract

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton was remaining diplomatically tight-lipped on his contractual situation after strengthening his hand with a 5-1 derby day rout of Sunderland.

Hughton started the week having to deal with speculation that his time at St James’ Park could be drawing to a close, and received a degree of backing on Wednesday when the club released a statement confirming their intention to renegotiate his deal.

Asked if the rousing win had added firepower to his armoury, the 51-year-old said: “My position is no different this week to what it was last week and the week before.

“My remit at this moment is to do the best job that I can. I am incredibly proud of a group of players who made a very, very difficult game comfortable at times for them.”

Ferdinand missing from United squad

Rio Ferdinand was the major absentee from the 20-man Manchester United party which headed off to Turkey yesterday for the Champions League encounter with Bursaspor.

No immediate reason was given for Ferdinand’s absence although it seems highly likely Alex Ferguson’s decision was purely precautionary. Ferdinand has long-standing back problems and the four-hour flight is hardly conducive to easing his discomfort.

With crucial Premier League matches against Wolves and at Man. City and Aston Villa to follow in the next fortnight, Ferdinand has almost certainly been excused to give him the best possible chance of featuring in those fixtures.

Strike fears in Italy waning

The players association in Italy is close to striking a deal with the Football League, ending fears of a strike.

Such action has already been called off once this season and a similar action was looming large after talks faltered last month over the renewal of a collective bargaining contract.

“I wanted to talk to Lega Calcio president Maurizio Beretta to understand what the differences in opinion were,” association representative Massimo Oddo, who plays for Milan, said.

“During our meeting, I saw there was a great readiness to accept the proposals we players had presented. In my view, there are the conditions needed to reach a definitive agreement and cancel a potential strike.”