QPR manager Harry Redknapp bears no grudge against Adel Taarabt following their public spat last week and insists he merely wants the playmaker to return to shape and form.
Redknapp and Taarabt had a public argument after the Rangers boss accused the midfielder, who spent last season on loan at Fulham and Milan, of being overweight.
“I don’t hold grudges,” Redknapp said.
“He got pushed into writing a load of stuff that wasn’t true. I don’t think he’s been fined and I wouldn’t want to fine him.
“Unfortunately at the moment Adel needs to produce... he could be an incredible player.”
Werder sack Dutt
Werder Bremen have sacked manager Robin Dutt following Friday night’s 1-0 defeat at home to Cologne. The result left the side rooted to the bottom of the Bundesliga table with only four points from nine games this season.
Former reserve-team coach Viktor Skripnik has been appointed as Dutt’s successor.
Dutt led training as normal yesterday, while club bosses met to discuss his future and ultimately take the decision to relieve the former German football association’s director of sport of his duties after just over 15 months in the role.
Former Bremen midfielder Torsten Frings and keeper Christian Vander will form part of Skripnik’s backroom staff.
LVG’s iron shield
Louis van Gaal will put up his “iron shield” and do battle with those who criticise his methods at Manchester United.
Van Gaal faces the biggest test of his reign as United boss today when unbeaten league leaders Chelsea come to Old Trafford.
“Maybe you know that I am always controversial and a lot has written about that, but I (have) an iron shield,” the United boss said.
“It’s been like that since I came to England. Everyone can write or speak about me and I cannot change that. It took a long time for me to understand but I cannot change that. I have learned not to react and to believe in myself, my players and staff.”
Andreolli hopeful
Inter are hoping to spark their season into life by becoming the first team to win a match at Cesena today.
The Nerazzurri head into the encounter with only two victories in seven league games. They are winless in their last three, including a goalless draw at home to St Etienne in the Europa League.
“We wanted to win but the game got complicated,” Inter defender Marco Andreolli said.
“We have spoken among ourselves and know we still have the possibility of doing well in Italy and in Europe. We need to give a lot more, playing games as though they were finals.
“Only like this we can grow, and do so as a group.”
Gascoigne ‘sectioned after binge’
Tottenham say they are supporting Paul Gascoigne after it was reported he had been placed on an emergency three-day detox.
Medics sectioned the 47-year-old former England, Tottenham and Newcastle footballer under the Mental Health Act at 3am on Friday after a drinking binge, according to reports.
A spokesman for Spurs said: “We are aware of the situation with Paul and continue to offer our support.”
His close friend and former Tottenham team-mate Gary Mabbutt said: “Paul hasn’t been well for the past couple of weeks, he wants to get better and he has asked for help.
“He is being looked after very well... he has got a lot of support around him.”
Lucescu not leaving Shakhtar Donetsk
Romania failed in their bid to appoint Shakhtar Donetsk manager Mircea Lucescu as their national coach after the Ukrainian club rejected their proposal for the 69-year-old to combine both the jobs.
“We met with the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) president, Mr (Razvan) Burleanu, and I explained that Mircea Lucescu can’t combine the two jobs,” Shakhtar’s general manager Sergei Palkin was quoted as saying yesterday.
“He has a contract with Shakhtar until the end of the season and he’ll remain here.”
Romanian head coach’s position became vacant last week when Victor Piturca quit after agreeing to join Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad on a lucrative contract.
Latvian club probed over match-fixing
Latvian club Daugava Daugav-pils are being investigated for match-fixing over their 7-1 defeat to Elfsborg in a qualifying match for last season’s Champions League, UEFA said.
UEFA said that club members had been arrested on Wednesday and that it would launch “the appropriate disciplinary proceedings against Daugava Daugavpils and the club president, as well as the players concerned” after collecting evidence.
Daugava, who won the Latvian league for the first time in 2012, conceded five goals in the last half-hour on their way to the defeat against Elfsborg in the second qualifying round, first leg tie.
They lost the second leg 4-0.