Football news

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp admitted he was far from happy the German league leaders had to play in sub-zero temperatures in their 4-0 German Cup quarter-final win at minnows Holstein Kiel on Tuesday.

“It was like ice hockey on grass,” fumed Klopp as the live-screened match went ahead even though the pitch at Kiel’s Holstein Stadion ground was partly frozen amidst temperatures of minus 18 Celsius.

“The pitch was unplayable, but there was pressure from TV not to cancel the game.

“I was so tense that it was easy to fire up my players as if they were playing in a World Cup final.

“There was a great danger the players were going to get hurt.”

Villa fans plan McLeish protest

Aston Villa supporters are being urged to attend a pre-match protest against manager Alex McLeish ahead of Sunday’s home clash with Manchester City.

A statement posted on the ‘Vital Villa’ (VV) fans’ website claims the current record of six wins in 24 Premier League games is “relegation form”.

It also claims the Villa players are “seeming to be in open revolt” following Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Newcastle.

The statement reads: “We have played 24 games this season, we have won six! Is this good enough? No. This is relegation form. Alex McLeish is not the man to lead Aston Villa.”

Senegal fire coach Traore

Senegal have fired the coach of its national team, Amara Traore, along with his technical staff, following the team’s poor performances at the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), the national news agency reported.

“It was a failure and it is the coach’s responsibility,” Augustin Senghor, president of the Sene-galese Football Federation, told reporters.

Senegal were pre-tourna-ment favourites in the first round of the competition in Equatorial Guinea, but returned home at the bottom of their group after failing to secure a single point.

Chivu agent denies Bayern link

The agent of Inter centre-back Cristian Chivu has brushed aside reports linking his client with a move to Bayern Munich this summer.

The 31-year-old could leave the San Siro outfit with his current contract expiring this summer.

However, Chivu’s agent Victor Becali told reporters: “We have not spoken to Bayern Munich.

“He has already been linked to at least 10 teams but it’s all speculation.

“We will begin negotiating with Inter at the end of this month and we will see what Inter offer and then we will make a decision.”

Cruyff blocks Van Gaal return

Ajax legend and board member Johan Cruyff has won his battle before an Amsterdam court to block the appointment of Louis van Gaal as general manager of the Dutch club.

The appointment had been made by the club’s Council of Commissioners without consulting Cruyff, who is one of the five board members.

Cruyff, who has never been able to hide his dislike of his countryman Van Gaal, took legal action and was backed by 15 coaches from the club’s training centre.

Cruyff had restructured the club in recent years by giving more power to former players such as Frank De Boer and Dennis Bergkamp, who are coaches, Danny Blind who is sporting director and Wim Jonk responsible for training.

Kello not eyeing Celtic switch

Hearts goalkeeper Marian Kello does not anticipate joining Celtic at the end of his current contract.

The 29-year-old Slovakia international has been made unavailable for selection for Hearts after clashing with the club board over his refusal to make a transfer deadline day move to Austria Vienna.

Kello is uncertain if he has played his final game for Hearts, but does not expect to join Neil Lennon’s side as he wants to be first choice.

He said: “I would sit there on the bench in the Scottish league. For me there’s no point.”

Rocchi sidelined

Lazio captain Tommaso Rocchi will be sidelined for at least three weeks with a muscular injury.

The Italian striker sustained the problem during Sunday’s 3-2 defeat at Genoa.

“Tommaso Rocchi under-went an MRI that revealed a second degree lesion in his left thigh,” read a statement from Lazio.

The 34-year-old will miss his team’ next three Serie A games as well as the Europa League last 32 tie against Atletico Madrid.

Rocchi, who has scored eight goals in 18 appearances for Lazio so far, could recover in time for the derby against Roma on March 4.