Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini admits unsettled striker Carlos Tevez could still have a role to play in his side’s challenge for the Premier League title.
“Everyone knows Tevez is a top player and it probably would have been better for us if he’d been here,” Mancini said.
“Carlos has the ability to change a lot of games. If he comes back next week, maybe he can help us in the last three months.
“I don’t know if he is in good condition or not.
“I don’t think so because he hasn’t played for four months. But Carlos recovers strength quickly. Carlos knows the situation. If he comes back, we talk. Why not? I don’t have a problem.”
Skibbe sacked after five games
Hertha Berlin yesterday sacked coach Michael Skibbe after just five games and 41 days in charge in the wake of his team’s 5-0 hammering at Stuttgart in the German league.
According to SID sports agency, Skibbe parted company with the team yesterday with captain Andre Mijatovic commenting: “The fact is that we have lost five times, that’s the coaching business”.
Hertha need to find an interim coach quickly ahead of their 1,000th Bundesliga game next Saturday at home to champions Borussia Dortmund.
Barcelona at Real mercy – Guardiola
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola admitted his side’s sinking hopes of hanging onto their La Liga crown were at the mercy of bitter rivals Real Madrid following Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Osasuna.
“Win the title? Well, we will try to defend our Champions League crown and then attempt to negotiate each match in La Liga,” said Guardiola.
“We will see what happens. But we are a significant distance behind. The league will be more difficult for us now.
“In the second half tonight (against Osasuna) we did well on this pitch but we should have done better in the first half.”
Celtic boss Lennon praises players
Neil Lennon heaped praise on his players as he celebrated his 100th game in charge of Celtic with a 1-0 win over Inverness.
The victory was Celtic’s 14th league win in a row and keeps the Hoops four points above rivals Rangers at the top of the Premier League.
“Things are going very well but there is still a long way to go,” the Celtic manager said.
“I was wary of this game on the back of Wednesday night (Celtic beat Hearts 4-0). The lads have not had much time to recover and go again but their attitude and quality at times against Inverness was fantastic.”
Villas-Boas shrugs off Chelsea slump
Andre Villas-Boas shrugged off taunts from Chelsea fans and demanded a huge improvement from his players after their top-four hopes suffered a serious setback at Everton.
The Chelsea manager was taunted with chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ by thousands of travelling fans during the 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park.
Asked after the game what he thought of the chants from Chelsea’s fans, Villas-Boas said: “It’s part of the job. At the moment we’re sitting fifth in the league and it’s not enough for us.”
The former Porto manager added: “I think it was our worst game of the season in every sense of the word.”
Henry fairytale
Arsene Wenger has refused to rule out another return to Arsenal for Thierry Henry after the Gunners legend said farewell to the Premier League with a dramatic winner as the Gunners came from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1.
The France forward, who rejoined Arsenal on loan from New York Red Bulls, returns to America after Wednesday’s Champions League second round first leg trip to Milan.
Asked if Henry may come back again, Wenger said: “We’ll see next season, he might want to stop at some stage.
“I felt it might haunt me because when he goes again, people would say, ‘Why did he not stay?’ Thierry finished the story of the legend. I hope he reacts in the Champions League on Wednesday.”
Give armband to Gerrard – Rooney
Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney said he would cherish the opportunity to become England captain, but backed Steven Gerrard to get the job once a new coach is installed to replace Fabio Capello.
“For everyone asking I would love to be England captain. But that’s up to the new manager to decide.
“Gerrard is perfect choice for me,” Rooney wrote on his Twitter account on Saturday.
Rooney scored both goals on Saturday as his Manchester United side beat Gerrard’s Liverpool 2-1 in a stormy Premier League clash at Old Trafford.