Hamburg have sacked coach Thorsten Fink after their 6-2 demolition by Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, he said yesterday.
“I am proud to have worked here for two years,” Fink told northern German radio NDR.
“I coached a great club. Now there is still time to reach their goals, even with a different coach.”
The 45-year-old Fink, who angered club bosses after leaving the team following the heavy loss to join his family in Munich, had taken over in 2011 from Swiss side FC Basel.
Hamburg are in 15th place on four points from five games, having conceded 15 goals so far.
Bilbao inaugurate new stadium
Athletic Bilbao celebrated the inauguration of their new stadium with a stirring 3-2 comeback victory over Celta Vigo on Monday night.
Bilbao demolished their century-old San Mames arena, popularly known as “the cathedral”, at the end of last season and played their first match in the new stadium nearby even though one end is still to be completed.
Celta forward Charles put the visitors ahead in the 14th minute. Bilbao levelled four minutes later through Mikel San.
Captain Andoni Iraola made it 2-1 to Bilbao in the 61st minute and Benat sped clear and finished clinically to put them two goals ahead in the 68th before Santi Mina scored for Celta in the 79th.
Shelvey apologises to Swansea fans
Swansea City midfielder Jonjo Shelvey struggled to conceal his emotions after taking a leading role at both ends of the pitch in the 2-2 Premier League draw with his former club Liverpool on Monday.
Shelvey opened the scoring for Swansea but two poor passes allowed Liverpool to take the lead before his neat header set up striker Michu for a second-half aqualiser.
“I just want to say sorry to the Swansea fans for the two bad mistakes that gifted Liverpool a draw and I thought we deserved more than that,” Shelvey said.
Shelvey joined Swansea from Liverpool in July for £5 million.
Juanfran declined Arsenal move
Atletico Madrid defender Juanfran has revealed he turned down a lucrative offer from Arsenal this summer.
The Spanish international could have reportedly increased his salary had he accepted a move to the Emirates Stadium.
“It is true that I had an offer from Arsenal that any player would have liked to have accepted,” Juanfran told www.marca.com.
“But I am very happy here.
“For me, as everyone knows, there is no better club than Atletico.”
Totti to sign new Roma deal
Francesco Totti has confirmed that he has all but agreed terms with Roma to extend his contract.
“We are sorting out the final details,” Totti said when asked about his future following the 3-1 Serie A win over Parma on Monday night.
“There isn’t a lot to do. We’ll wait for the president now to make a decision on when to put pen to paper.”
The Roma captain’s current deal runs out at the end of the season but he is now set to extend his stay with the Serie A club until 2016.
Totti has spent his entire career with the Giallorossi after coming through their youth system.
Galliani hails Kaka gesture
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has applauded Kaka’s latest gesture towards the club.
After sustaining an adductor muscle injury in his left thigh in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Torino, Kaka confirmed his intention not to receive his wages until he returns to play.
“Kaka’s decision came about during a phone call that I received from him where he was crying,” Galliani told www.acmilan.com.
“He told me he wanted to feel the affection of Milan and to repay the fans for their support.
“He said he did not want a single euro until he returns to play.
“This act is evidence of the extraordinary rapport that Kaka has with the fans.”
Barcelona income to exceed €500m
Barcelona’s revenue is projected to rise to €509 million this season, the Spanish champions said yesterday, making the club only the second to cross the half-billion threshold after arch-rivals Real Madrid.
Income for the 2013-14 campaign will be boosted by extra cash from sponsorship deals, as well as the sale of Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara to Bayern Munich, Toni Freixa, a spokesman for the Barca board of directors, told a news conference.
The club were targeting a post-tax profit of €36 million, he added.
Freixa added that the construction of a new Nou Camp stadium or the renovation of the existing arena was under review.