Roma coach Luis Enrique has not given up hope of qualifying for next season’s Champions League despite losing to rivals Lazio on Sunday to fall 10 points adrift of third place.
For the second time this season, the Giallorossi had a man sent off in the Eternal City derby, with Lazio also finishing a man down as they sealed a 2-1 win.
“I would like to have played the derby with 11 men for a change,” said Enrique.
“It’s very difficult to play a derby with numerical inferiority. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this. We had prepared the whole week for a different type of game and then that episode changed the match.
“I am disappointed because I thought today we would win this game. That thought faded away early on.”
Cattermole handed four-match ban
Sunderland skipper Lee Cattermole has been handed a four-match ban in the wake of his side’s ill-tempered derby draw at Newcastle.
The 23-year-old midfielder was booked for the 10th time this season after clattering into Cheick Tiote after just 40 seconds, incurring a two-match suspension in the process, and his red card for foul and abusive language towards the referee after the final whistle earned him another two.
Black Cats forward Stephane Sessegnon’s 58th-minute dismissal for violent conduct after he elbowed Tiote will cost the 27-year-old Benin international three games on the sidelines.
Wilshere in frame for Euro 2012
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere may be fit to play for England in Euro 2012
The 20-year-old has not played at all this season after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury.
Gunners boss Wenger is now hoping the Wilshere can feature before the end of the campaign.
Wenger said: “The last scan was good and he can start to jog again so he is on the way back – but we have to be very cautious with him.
“I hope to have him back before the end of the season, but we go step by step.”
Rehhagel hails Hertha spirit
Hertha Berlin coach Otto Rehhagel was full of praise for his side after they ended a six-game losing streak with victory over Werder Bremen yesterday.
The 1-0 win in Rehhagel’s first home game in charge lifted the club out of the Bundesliga’s bottom three and gave the veteran coach hope that his side can avoid relegation this season.
“My lads fought,” he told Sky television.
“I have not screamed so much as I did today in months – even I fought like a lion. This is a starting point. If we had lost today, it would have been pretty grim.”
Juventus suffer defensive injuries
Juventus will be without defensive duo Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini for tomorrow’s Serie A game at Bologna.
Both Barzagli and Chiellini picked up injuries during Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Chievo and have left coach Antonio Conte short of options.
Barzagli, who had played in every minute of the campaign, was taken off before half-time with a calf complaint.
Chiellini, on his part, was forced to stay on the pitch with a calf injury as the Bianconeri had effected all their substitutions.
Conte is now expected to turn to Leonardo Bonucci and Martin Caceres to form the team’s central defence in Bologna.
Chelsea criticised for AVB sacking
The chief executive of the League Managers’ Association yesterday criticised Chelsea for sacking Andre Villas-Boas, warning that the London club is becoming an “embarrassment” to the Premier League.
Richard Bevan said that Chelsea’s billionaire owner Roman Ambramovich may have money behind him but he had not yet discovered the secret of building a successful club.
“Looking for what is an eighth manager in nine years is a serious embarrassment to the owner, the club, the fans and the league,” Bevan told BBC radio.
The 34-year-old has been replaced by Roberto Di Matteo, who now has the job of preparing his players for an FA Cup fifth round replay against Birmingham and a last 16 Champions League return leg against Napoli, in which they are trailing 3-1.
Refs complaint against Pique
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique faces a potential sanction after he accused a referee of giving him a “premeditated” red card at the weekend.
The head of the Refereeing Technical Committee said it would lodge a complaint against Pique’s comments with the Spanish FA’s competition committee.
“Pique’s statements are unfortunate and serious,” Refereeing Technical Committee president Sanchez Arminio said.
“I understand that your blood can boil but sportsmen have to have respect for each other.
“It affects the refereeing body and obviously we will lodge a complaint.”