Football news

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has said his side must win at Hanover today or risk being left behind in the Bundesliga as they struggle to defend their German league title.

Dortmund have picked up just seven points from their first five league games this season and were shocked 2-1 at home to Hertha Berlin last weekend having also lost at Hoffenheim on August 13.

“Because we lost to Berlin, the gap is starting to grow and we are lagging behind by two or three points,” Klopp told Bild. “We need to correct this in the coming weeks.

“The distance should not be allowed to become too big.”

Keane fourth on MLS salary list

Ireland striker Robbie Keane became Major League Soccer’s fourth-highest paid player when he signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy in August.

Keane, 31, has a base salary this year of $2,917,741 according to figures released by the MLS Players Union. His total compensation is $3,416,243, which includes a pro-rated portion of his signing bonus and other guaranteed compensation.

Galaxy team-mate David Beckham is the highest paid player in the league with $6.5 million in guaranteed compensation. He’s followed by New York Red Bulls duo Thierry Henry ($5.6 million) and former Barcelona defender Rafa Marquez ($4.6 million).

Saha gutted about Everton omission

Everton striker Louis Saha took to Twitter to reveal his torment after being dropped for yesterday’s Premier League clash against Wigan at Goodison Park.

Saha was quick to give vent to his frustrations on the micro-blogging website when he discovered that Toffees boss David Moyes had left him out of the match-day squad.

“I am not good enough. Absolutely destroyed,” Saha tweeted. “It’s coz I’m confident in my ability that I’m gutted.”

It is understood Saha was at Goodison Park but left the ground soon after discovering he was not in the squad.

Robson never doubted Rooney

Manchester United and England legend Bryan Robson never had any doubt Wayne Rooney would eventually discover his top form again.

“I didn’t think there was ever a danger of Wayne Rooney not getting back to where he once was,” Robson said of the Manchester United striker who went through a turbulent spell last year.

“If you are a top player, you have dips in form. You are not going to play fantastic football all your career. That is all it was with Wayne.

“I don’t think the ankle injury helped him going into the World Cup. Then he had a few problems in his private life.

“Thankfully he, and his family, are over all that and he is playing his best football again, which is great for Manchester United and England.”

No mind games for Villas-Boas

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas insists he has no intention of playing mind games with Sir Alex Ferguson and the rest of the Premier League’s top bosses.

Villas-Boas will go head to head with Ferguson for the first time today when Chelsea visit Old Trafford for the kind of high-stakes fixture that often triggered verbal sparring between managers when his mentor Jose Mourinho was in charge of the Blues.

“I don’t see any reason to play mind games,” he said. “If you react to things people say it might look as if you are vulnerable to pressure.

“That is why I took care in reading Ferguson’s full press conference before this match. I knew what he said before I came here (to speak to the press) and he didn’t say anything disrespectful.”

Adam not resting on his laurels

Midfielder Charlie Adam is satisfied with the start to his Liverpool career but knows he has to keep on improving to maintain his place in the side.

The Scotland international has started every match this season, including the League Cup victory at Exeter, but last weekend’s defeat at Stoke was probably his poorest performance of the five.

“I’m happy with my form so far but obviously you want to do better,” he said.

“The manager makes that decision on whether he thinks you are doing well and deserve to stay in the team.

“He gives you the confidence when it’s needed and a rollicking when it’s not.”

Figo ‘proud’ to be linked with Inter job

Luis Figo said he was “surprised and proud” to be touted as a candidate for the Inter coaching job as pressure mounts on current mentor Gian Piero Gasperini.

Gasperini lost all three of his official games this season in the Italian Super Cup, Serie A and Champions League before last night’s Serie A match against Roma.

“I am surprised and proud to be considered,” Figo told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“It means I left a good impression in the Inter camp, but for the moment I give my full support to current coach Gasperini.”

The former Portugal winger retired from football in May 2009 and is currently working as a consultant for Inter’s commercial arm.