Football news

Ivan Cordoba is hoping to earn an extension to his contract at Inter as his current deal runs out next June.

“I do hope to remain for next year. I want to continue playing for Inter,” he said.

With the exit of former coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who favoured three central defenders, Cordoba’s chances of playing more regularly were increased.

However, Gasperini was soon dismissed after a series of poor results.

“I think Gasperini did everything that he could to get us to win. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, but we gave our all as players to help him,” Cordoba said.

Mancini in awe of amazing Ferguson

Roberto Mancini has admitted Alex Ferguson remains the managerial master and he can only learn from the great Scot.

The pair go head-to-head in the derby tomorrow.

For once City are in the ascendancy, having established a two-point lead over their local rivals in assuming the Premier League leadership. But Mancini accepts in terms of experience, he is still the pupil.

“He is a teacher and I can learn from him. It is not just me, it is all the managers. He has won everything for 25 years but he wants to continue to win,” Mancini said.

Bayern boss blasts Klinsmann

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has criticised the reign of former coach Jurgen Klinsmann, saying the Bavarians had “spent a lot and had little success” under the US boss.

Hoeness said: “We had a coach named Jurgen Klinsmann. Then, we conducted team meetings with a PowerPoint presentation. Then, we bought computers for thousands of euros. Then, he showed the professionals on an epic scale how we wanted to play.

“And do you know what a team meeting with Jupp Heynckes looks like? Heynckes has a flip chart and five pens. That costs 2.50 euros.

“With Heynckes we win games for 12.50 euros and with Klinsmann we spent a lot of money and had little success.”

Stevens satisfied with Royal Blues

Schalke boss Huub Stevens was unable to find fault with his side after they defeated AEK Larnaca 5-0 in Cyprus late Thursday.

The result maintained the Dutch coach’s perfect record in the Europa League since taking over from Ralf Rangnick while it earned the Royal Blues top spot in Group J.

“We have scored five goals and you have got to be happy with that,” Stevens said.

“But it was also positive that we did not concede any goals this time. We only allowed our opponents one or two chances. After going 3-0 down, Larnaca were already concentrating on their next domestic league match.”

Schalke sign up keeper Hildebrand

Schalke said they had signed up former international goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand to compensate for the injury absence of Ralf Faerhmann, sporting director Horst Held said.

“We have reached agreement and it remains only to sign the contract,” said Held of the move to net Hildebrand, Bundesliga champion with Stuttgart in 2007 before heading off to Valencia in Spain.

Hildebrand, 32, has been without a club of late after a spell with Sporting Lisbon, but he has been training with second tier Eintracht Frankfurt.

Brazil unveil 2014 World Cup schedule

Brazil’s 2014 World Cup will see potential travel trauma for fans and the latest kick-off times ever for a finals tournament with matches starting as late as 11 p.m. or 3 a.m. (CET).

FIFA have performed a U-turn on promises to cluster teams in sectors to minimise travel distances. Instead, it was announced yesterday that teams will play each group match in a different city – some up to 2,000 miles apart.

The group stages will see matches kicking off at four different times (all CET) – 2 p.m., 5 p.m., 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.

The KO stages will be more suited to European prime time, with the latest kick-off being 5 p.m. in Brazil (10 p.m. CET). The final in Rio will take place at 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. CET.

Palestinian girls concede heavy 21-0 drubbing

Women’s World Cup winners Japan handed out a harsh lesson to their Palestinian counterparts on Thursday, racing to a 21-0 win in Hebron.

Watched by young fans, draped in Palestinian and Japanese colours, the Asian giants were 10-0 ahead at the interval against a team who wore black leggings beneath their shorts to cover their legs.

Women’s football in the region is still a relatively new development with a championship organised by the head of the Palestinian FA Jibril Rajoub only recently.

The tournament’s first match in the six-team league took place on February 22 in Ramallah.