Wojciech Szczesny maintains it is ridiculous to suggest Arsene Wen-ger has run out of ideas and should be replaced. Some critics have questioned whether Wenger, who transformed Arsenal since taking charge in September 1996, remains the right man for the job as Arsenal look to keep up with their big-spending rivals.
However, 21-year-old goalkeeper Szczesny insists Arsenal’s future is very much in the right hands.
“It is ridiculous. If you ask any of the players, they will stand by the manager,” the young Pole declared.
“He built this thing from nothing and I believe he is the best manager in the world. He puts his reputation on the line with young players.”
QPR hearing starts
A four-day FA hearing that could yet scupper QPR’s promotion to the Premier League got underway yesterday.
Rangers were confirmed as the winners of the Championship following Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Watford but their place among the elite remains in the balance with the club facing a possible points deduction over seven counts of wrongdoing relating to the signing of Argentinian midfielder Alejandro Faurlin in 2009.
The verdict will be delivered on Friday – just one day before the final round of fixtures.
QPR are due be presented with the trophy after their match with Leeds at Loftus Road this Saturday, but that could all change depending on the outcome of the hearing.
Inter’s Moratti says no Tevez talks
Inter president Massimo Moratti insists his club have not held any talks about a possible move to sign Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez this summer.
The Argentinian forward was reported to have met with Inter officials during a recent trip to Italy but Moratti claims there has been no contact between his club and the 27-year-old forward.
Moratti said: “I saw that on TV but there is no connection at all with us.”
Tevez has three years remaining on his City contract but there is growing speculation he will leave this summer, having made a transfer request in December before later withdrawing it.
Palermo deny Juve link to Pastore
Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has denied reports that they have received an offer for their star playmaker Javier Pastore from Juventus. Pastore has been heavily linked by the Italian media with a move to Juve in summer.
The Argentine is coveted by many of Europe’s leading clubs.
“We have not been contacted by Juventus and I really don’t think he enters into the Bianconeri’s bud-get,” Zamparini said.
“I have been approached by other clubs, such as Real Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona and Manchester City but the player has said he does not want to move and will remain at Palermo, unless he changes his mind.”
Kompany eager to break his duck
Vincent Kompany is ready to accept the challenge of following Nigel de Jong and Pablo Zabaleta into the Manchester City goalscoring charts.
Together with Jerome Boateng, the quartet were all awaiting their first City goals this season – until Sunday that is, when De Jong and Zabaleta both struck in the 2-1 win over West Ham that leaves the Blues odds-on to claim a Champions League place next term.
It leaves Kompany fearing he is going to be the butt of renewed dressing room banter about a failure to find the net in his 41 appearances so far this term.
“We joke about this but it is also a challenge. I had better start working on it now – I can score as well so it can’t be that long before I get one,” Kompany said.
No Seedorf offer from Milan
Veteran Clarence Seedorf has revealed that Milan have yet to offer him a contract extension to remain at the San Siro. The 35-year-old Dutch midfielder will become a free agent this summer.
“My future is uncertain. The club has not made me an offer,” he said.
“It’s still early to say whether I will stay or I will leave. Perhaps, you should ask (Milan vice-president Adriano) Galliani.”
Seedorf joined Milan from city rivals Inter in the summer of 2002 and has since made well over 200 appearances for the Rossoneri.
He scored three goals in 27 league appearances for Milan this season.
Canaries fly back to heady heights
Norwich City were promoted to the Premier League late Monday after they defeated Portsmouth 1-0.
Their fourth successive win – thanks to Simeon Jackson’s fifth goal in six games – leaves them four points clear of third-placed Cardiff with a match remaining.
It is Norwich’s second successive promotion and sees them return to the Premier League after a six-year absence.
Norwich manager Paul Lambert said it equalled the greatest moment of his playing career, which included winning the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund in 1997.
“In the two years we have been here it’s a miracle what has happened. And it’s how we’ve done it... it’s up there with anything I’ve done,” the Scotsman said.