Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba made a tame Major League Soccer debut for Montreal Impact in their 1-0 home loss to Philadelphia Union on Saturday.
The former Ivory Coast player entered the game in the 59th minute to a standing ovation from the Montreal crowd but had his night spoiled in the end.
Philadelphia’s Sebastien Le Toux scored the winner in the 78th minute on an assist from Eric Ayuk Mbu, ending their five-game winless streak.
For the night, Drogba had two shots and two fouls in his 31 minutes for Montreal.
“I thought he brought a presence in the team,” Montreal coach Frank Klopas said.
“I just think we’ve got to find a better way to use him. That’s going to take time.”
Nigerian Taiwo joins HJK Helsinki
Former Nigerian international Taye Taiwo has signed a short-term deal with Finnish league leaders HJK Helsinki until the end of the season, the club announced yesterday.
Out of contract since being released by Turkish club Bursaspor in April, the 30-year-old left back won a league title in France with Marseille in 2010 and has also had stints with Milan in Italy and Queens Park Rangers.
“He has a very interesting history, and very few players from top European clubs have played in Finland,” HJK sporting director Tuomo Saarnio said.
Real not targeting another striker
Real Madrid are not planning to bring in another striker before the transfer window closes at the end of the month and have full confidence in France forward Karim Benzema, coach Rafa Benitez said on Saturday.
Benitez, who took over from the sacked Carlo Ancelotti at the end of last season, has set the Frenchman a target of 25 goals for the season, something he has not achieved since 2011-12 when he netted 31.
“I have said many times that I am convinced Benzema is a great forward,” Benitez said.
“That’s why I set him a target of 25 goals to motivate him. So we have a lot of attacking options and we are not looking for a striker.”
Anigo quits as Esperance coach
Former Olympique Marseille coach Jose Anigo has quit as coach of Tunisia‘s Esperance after just seven games in charge.
The 54-year-old Frenchman departed after Saturday’s 0-1 home defeat by Al Ahli of Egypt that confirmed Esperance’s exit from the African Confederation Cup.
Anigo had only joined Esperance in late June and lost five of his seven games in charge.
His assistant Bernard Rodriguez, who joined with Anigo, is to take over.
Milan to re-sign Balotelli – report
Adriano Galliani has hinted that Milan could be set to re-sign Mario Balotelli on a loan deal.
Italian media yesterday reported that the Rossoneri are on the verge of striking an agreement with Liverpool for the out-of-favour striker.
Sky Sport Italia reported that coach Sinisa Mihajlovic has already given his consent on the loan transfer and Galliani yesterday further added fire to the speculation.
“As (Italian song-writer Antonello) Venditti says, certain loves never die,” he said, when asked about Balotelli rumours.
“They draw enormous circles and then they come back. President Silvio Berlusconi and I are two romantics.”
De Bruyne is unsettled says Allofs
Wolfsburg’s director of sport Klaus Allofs admits the ongoing rumours surrounding the future of Kevin De Bruyne is affecting the Belgian midfielders’ performances after the Wolves were held by Cologne on Saturday.
Manchester City are expected to make a bid for last season’s Bundesliga Player of the Year this week, with reports claiming they have already struck an agreement over terms with the player.
“It’s true, of course, that it’s having an effect on us,” Allofs said regarding De Bruyne’s speculation. “But we must not start to complain.
“We have got to learn how to deal with this uncertainty.”
Best to come from Mahrez – Ranieri
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri is working on making Riyad Mahrez a more complete player.
Mahrez maintained his sparkling start to the season with another goal on Saturday – his fourth of the campaign – as the Foxes came from behind to draw 1-1 with Tottenham.
“In this moment Mahrez is in great condition and he is very good for the team,” said Ranieri.
“His passing is good, his shooting is good and his ideas are good – that is important for all the team. But I am interested also in how he defends, and he is getting better.
“He will improve and at the end he could be a very, very complete player.”