Manager Terry Butcher says low crowds have caused him to question whether his Inverness really deserves to be challenging for European football. A crowd of 2,529 watched their 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock on Wednesday in poor weather conditions.
“I honestly don’t know how much more we can do. We played some of the best football of the season,” said Butcher.
“Does this city deserve a football team like we’ve got? I don’t know.”
Second-placed Inverness have the second-lowest average attendance in the SPL at 4,017 – higher only than St Johnstone and lower than rivals Ross County.
Scholes out
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson expects Paul Scholes to be missing for another fortnight with a knee injury. The United veteran has been struggling with the problem and sat out the midweek trip to Real Madrid.
And Ferguson revealed Scholes will not be available for Monday’s FA Cup tie with Reading.
“It is a knee injury, which has been bothering him a bit,” said Ferguson.
“We have tried another treatment during the week. He will probably be back in another couple of weeks.”
Pellegrini says no to Roma
The agent of Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini revealed that they had an offer from Roma earlier this month but it was turned down. Roma fired Zdenek Zeman on February 2 and promoted Aurelio Andreazzoli from the staff as his replacement.
“Less than 15 days ago we had an offer from Roma, but we declined outright,” agent Jesus Martinez was quoted as saying.
“We said no because we are midway through the season.
“Manuel would love to manage in the Premier League, but he’d also like to go to Germany, Italy and other championships.
“There is plenty of time to analyse where he will be next season.”
Sydney FC hopeful over Del Piero
Sydney FC are hopeful of keeping Alessandro Del Piero at the club next season. The 38-year-old Italian signed a two-year deal in September but Sydney are willing to offer him an extension now to ward off reported interest from Brazilian side Flamengo.
Del Piero’s brother and agent Stefano is in Sydney with talks scheduled for the weekend.
Club chief executive Tony Pignata is optimistic an announcement will be made soon.
“We hope so. These things take a bit of time but we’ll do what we can as quickly as possible,” said Pignata.
“They’re (Del Piero’s representatives) here to have a discussion but as I’ve said before we’re very confident of retaining Alessandro for next season.”
Simeone error
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone (picture) admitted the blame for Rubin Kazan’s potentially decisive second goal in Thursday’s Europa League clash lies with him.
With Atletico trailing 1-0, goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo ventured forward for a corner four minutes into stoppage time.
Rubin then cleared the corner and, with Asenjo still struggling to get back, Pablo Orbaiz was able to slot into an empty net.
Simone said: “The decision was mine. I thought the game was finishing and 1-1 would have given us a much better chance.
“And football is a game of risk. This time it turned out bad and means we now have to score twice in the return leg.”
Maradona becomes a father again
Diego Maradona’s girlfriend Victoria Ojeda has given birth to a boy called Diego Fernando.
The pregnancy triggered angry exchanges on social media networks between Ojeda, 35, Maradona’s ex-wife Claudia Villafane and his daughters Dalma and Giannina.
In the 1980s, during his days at Napoli in Italy, Maradona, 52, fathered another son, called Diego Jr, who he said was born following a relationship that lasted a day.
Maradona took up his current post as honorary sports ambassador in Dubai in September, less than two months after being sacked by the United Arab Emirates club Al Wasl.
Milito set to miss rest of season
Inter’s main striker Diego Milito is likely to miss the rest of the season after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury during Thursday’s 2-0 Europa League win over CFR Cluj.
The Argentine had only just returned from injury and was in tears when he was carried off after six minutes at the San Siro.
“It’s his cruciate ligament, a new type of injury for Diego, nothing to do with the problems he’s had before,” coach Andrea Stramaccioni told reporters.
“We’re gutted for Diego as a person first and foremost, and then of course for what he represents as a player.”