Football news

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger hopes 2012 will be his most successful year ever with four trophies up for grabs.

The Germany international believes Bayern are good enough to win the Champions League and is confident Germany are primed for glory at Euro 2012.

“I have a goal for this season and that is to win the Champions League in Munich and then become European champions in Poland and the Ukraine,” Schweinsteiger told Bild.

“To win this double title with Bayern and the national team seems more possible than in recent years.”

Meireles hits out at Liverpool

Raul Meireles has accused Liverpool of going back on their word and forcing him out of Anfield on the last day of the transfer window.

The Portugal midfielder signed for Chelsea in the final moments before the window closed on August 31 for a fee reported to be around £12m after just over one season at Liverpool.

Attempting to set the record straight he said: “All I have to say is that I had one promise at Liverpool which wasn’t fulfilled,” a comment that appeared to give credence to rumours he was promised a 100 per cent pay rise at Liverpool if he impressed during his debut season.

“It’s not the only thing to blame. But that’s why the Liverpool fans are unsure why I left.”

Ferdinand misses Benfica trip

Rio Ferdinand will miss Manchester United’s opening Champions League game against Benfica in Lisbon today.

Ferdinand was not in the 19-man squad that flew to Portugal yesterday, meaning United were without their first-choice central defensive pairing as Nemanja Vidic is currently missing with a calf problem.

It is not thought Ferdinand has suffered a fresh injury. However, after making his first appearance in a month during the 5-0 rout of Bolton, and with Chelsea due at Old Trafford on Sunday, Sir Alex Ferguson is not taking any chances with the 32-year-old.

Monaco call on Marco Simone

Former Italian international Marco Simone was yesterday named as joint-manager with Jean Petit at Monaco.

The Monaco board moved to shake up the coaching staff in the wake of the team’s fall from grace, demotion from the top flight at the end of last season and a discouraging 17th place this term in the second tier.

Simone and Petit replace Laurent Banide after Monaco gained a mere four points out of a maximum 18 with four draws and two defeats.

This is 42-year-old Simone’s first managerial post. The Italian is returning to the club where he enjoyed success as a striker, scoring 21 goals in the 1999/2000 season, a haul that helped lift Monaco to that season’s league title.

Warnock backs captain Barton

QPR manager Neil Warnock has explained his decision to install new signing Joey Barton as club captain, saying the controversial midfielder was the “logical” choice to skipper his team.

Warnock named Barton as captain on Monday as the newly-promoted side held Newcastle to a 0-0 draw, replacing last season’s skipper Adel Taarabt.

“It was just a logical thing really,” Warnock said.

“I had a chat with Adel last week. Adel was straight away right about it. He appreciates how far we have come now and that we need to drive on now.

“We need somebody as our leader. He (Barton) epitomised what we are about.”

Sanchez sale inevitable – Guidolin

Udinese boss Francesco Guidolin admitted that keeping Alexis Sanchez at the Serie A club was an impossible mission.

The pacey winger was a big hit at the Stadio Friuli last season and eventually completed a move to Barcelona in the summer for an initial fee of €26 million.

Guidolin conceded that he would still like to have the player at his disposal, but deep down he knew that the Chile international would move on.

“The club did all that it could to keep Sanchez,” the former Vicenza coach said.

“The problem is that when a club like Barcelona arrives there really is nothing that you can do about it.”

Tesser is our Ferguson – Novara

Novara president Carlo Accornero declared that coach Attilio Tesser was his club’s version of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The comparison came as the53-year-old coach led the newcomers to their first Serie A point of the season following a 2-2 draw at Chievo.

“We are happy to have a coach of Tesser’s class, plus the exceptional staff created by sporting director Mauro Perderzoli, who has brought in motivated players,” Accornero said.

“Tesser as Ferguson? I fully agree with this statement.

“The strength of this team’s force is in the group, and the comeback gives us great comfort for the championship.”