New Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund are optimistic of keeping their stars for next season after the club’s director of sport said yesterday they had received no offers for Turkey midfielder Nuri Sahin.
Dortmund secured their seventh German league title on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Nuremberg.
“When and if the issue arises, we will concern ourselves with it, but for now, that is not the case,” Dortmund’s Michael Zorc replied when asked about interest in Sahin.
“We must expect that some of our players are coveted by big European clubs, but our goal is to keep our workforce.”
Promoted QPR await FA ruling
QPR manager Neil Warnock is keeping his fingers crossed that the FA hearing into allegations the club breached rules on third-party ownership doesn’t cost his side promotion to the Premier League.
Warnock’s side returned to the top flight after a 15-year absence on Saturday but a report in The Sun said the club could be docked 15 points in connection with the signing of Argentinian midfielder Alejandro Faurlin.
“I just get on with winning games,” Warnock said. “When I looked at the coverage it destroyed us, the place was like a morgue. We’re all guessing, we have to wait until Friday.
“I don’t fear anything, I was brought in to win promotion and that’s what I’ve done.”
South America to back Blatter
Sepp Blatter’s campaign to serve a fourth and final term as FIFA president received a boost when the South American confederation said it would back the Swiss official.
“I take this opportunity to say that South America is unanimous and decided to support the candidature of Joseph Blatter for a new manadate at the head of FIFA,” said Julio Grondona, the chief of the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
“We have supported him since 1998 and we will continue.”
Blatter’s main rival for football’s top job is Qatar’s Mohamad Bin Hamman. The vote for the new president takes place on June 1.
Gerrard focused on recovery
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is pleased to have finally had surgery on a troublesome groin problem and now feels confident about his recovery and future fitness.
The England midfielder had surgery in early March, ruling him out of the remainder of the season.
“Being injured is absolutely killing me,” he said. “The manager and everyone else do their best to make you feel part of it but unless you are out there starting every week it doesn’t quite feel the same.
“Having said that, I am pleased I have had the surgery because for the first time in a while I’m feeling confident about my groin. Fingers crossed I’ll be there on the first day of pre-season.”
Napoli’s Mazzarri urges caution
Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri refused to get carried away by his team’s victory over Genoa that moved them to within five points of a place in next season’s Champions League group stages.
Having been embroiled in the title race until two weeks ago when they lost twice in a row, Napoli have now accepted that they won’t be crowned Italian champions but are on course to reach the Champions League.
But Mazzarri says he won’t break out the champagne until third place is secured.
“It’s a victory that means a lot because we came into it off the back of two straight defeats,” said Mazzarri.
“Nothing’s happened, there’s another nine points to play for and till our final position is certain you can’t talk about anything.”
FIFA to blame for race row – Roux
Veteran coach Guy Roux believes FIFA rules are to blame for the race row which led to the suspension of French Football Federation (FFF) technical director Francois Blaquart.
Blaquart was sanctioned following allegations the FFF is seeking to introduce quotas limiting the presence of ethnic minority players in the national team.
“France, with its history and colonial past, has thousands of people who are our cousins. Their children are born here and play football,” Roux said.
“By the law, they are French. FIFA allows you to play for the nation of your grandfather and even more without limit. This is a problem.”
Sheffield United chief takes blame
Sheffield United’s board of directors have admitted that a “short-term approach” has contributed to the club’s relegation from the Championship this season.
The Blades, who have Malta striker Daniel Bogdanovic on their books, dropped down to the third tier of English football for the first time since 1989 after Saturday’s 2-2 draw with rivals Barnsley.
“The club has to hold its hands up and acknowledge that we got it wrong,” chief executive Trevor Birch said in a club statement.
“We apologise to the fans that have so steadfastly stood by the club. They deserve success and we will work like hell to build a solid foundation on which we can base a team capable of not only promotion back to the Championship, but also the Premier League.”