Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has confirmed Gian Piero Gasperini will remain in charge of the Rosaneri despite Sunday’s calamitous defeat at Bologna.
The Sicilians had three players sent off as Stefano Pioli’s men triumphed 3-0, leaving Palermo in the drop zone.
Zamparini is notorious for his impatient approach to hiring and firing but he insists Gasperini is in it for the long haul.
He said: “Is Gasperini at risk? No way, he will stay for many years. It’s not his fault that we lost.
“The team is struggling because the players don’t have the mentality for the fight.”
Mancini junior defends father
Roberto Mancini’s son Andrea has defended his father against his critics and claimed the Manchester City boss knows more about football than Jose Mourinho.
Andrea Mancini, who is currently at Real Valladolid, said: “I don’t understand the criticism. He’s just become Premier League champion with City, which they haven’t won for 44 years.”
Andrea Mancini was also asked about any similarities between Roberto and Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho, who come face-to-face in the Champions League today.
The 20-year-old said: “They aren’t alike. My father was a player for many years. He has a lot of experience and knows more about football than Mou.”
Jovetic okay
Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic has not suffered a recurrence of the calf injury which had sidelined him for three weeks, according to the club’s doctor.
The Montenegrin tore the soleus muscle in his calf after scoring in the Viola’s 4-1 victory over Cagliari on November 4 and had to be replaced in the second half.
The 23-year-old earned a recall to the squad to face Atalanta on Sunday, only for his name to disappear from the teamsheet shortly before kick-off.
But club doctor Paolo Manetti said: “Jovetic has recovered from injury. He actually suffered a muscular problem in his other leg on Saturday and we didn’t want to risk him.”
Feyenoord keen to keep Koeman
Feyenoord are hoping to tie coach Ronald Koeman down to a new contract.
The former Holland defender’s current deal expires at the end of the season but technical director Martin van Geel is hoping his stay at De Kuip can be extended.
Koeman guided Feyenoord to a second-placed finish last season and they are currently fifth in the Eredivisie, nine points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven.
Van Geel said: “That we were second last year and now, even though we had to let some key players go, are fifth is clearly largely due to Koeman. We’ll talk during the winter.”
Domenech takes aim at ‘divas’
Former France boss Raymond Domenech, who presided over a mutinous squad at the 2010 World Cup, insisted this week his new book Tout Seul (All Alone) was not an attempt to “settle accounts”.
Domenech insisted he wanted to show “how you deal with the weight of pressure in having a team which is falling apart.” In the book, Domenech criticised Bayern midfielder Franck Ribery.
“Ribery continued to spoil the atmosphere with his attitude of susceptible diva,” said Domenech.
The Frenchman also suggested that players today “are not mature enough” to cope with the salaries top stars currently attract.
Petrov grateful for Villa fans’ support
Stiliyan Petrov has thanked the Aston Villa fans for their support as he continues down the “long road” to beat acute leukaemia.
The Villa fans have taken to singing the Bulgarian’s name in the 19th minute at each match – Petrov wore the no.19 shirt.
Petrov said: “I’m on the edge of starting crying every single time (they sing and applaud).
“I really appreciate it. The fans have been very supportive from the start until now. It’s already been eight months I’ve been on treatment.”
Petrov tries to attend as many Villa matches as possible but admitted: “I’ve got another priority at the moment. I’m in remission and had quite a lot of chemotherapy.”
Llorente explains Bilbao no show
Athletic Bilbao’s unsettled striker Fernando Llorente has said his failure to attend a club news conference on Monday was because he had already committed to another interview.
Bilbao took the unusual step of publicising the fact that Llorente had refused to attend a media event, stirring up further speculation over the 27-year-old’s future at the club.
“They told me just as I was leaving training and I didn’t have time,” Llorente said.
“I can’t be in two places at once. I don’t have a problem with speaking on another day.”
Llorente, known as the ‘Lion King’, turned down a contract extension beyond 2013 in the close season but Bilbao have refused to negotiate with interested parties.