Aston Villa’s American owner Randy Lerner will wait until the end of the season before deciding upon his future with the club.
Reports over the last week said that Lerner is looking to end his ties with the former European champions, whom he purchased a 60 per cent stake in at the start of the 2006-07 season.
“There have been stories about me selling the club. On a personal level, I had hoped the emphasis would have been on the amazing effort on the part of the team to regroup throughout a very difficult week,” Lerner said.
“As regards my role and the steady rumours of a sale, I will address these after the season.”
Fabio Capello set to retire in 2018
Fabio Capello is planning to retire from the game after the 2018 World Cup.
The former Milan, Juventus and Roma coach is currently engaged with the Russian national team, and is preparing the team for this year’s World Cup finals in Brazil.
However, the veteran coach said that he will retire when his contract with the Russian FA expires in four years’ time.
“After the World Cup in 2018 I’ll be 71... and at that point it will be time to stop,” he said.
“This is my last contract. I’ll do what Alex Ferguson did. He went at 72... I’ll be gone a year earlier.”
Ronaldo back in Real training
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo completed a full training session yesterday as he races to regain fitness before tomorrow’s Champions League semi-final, first leg at home to holders Bayern Munich.
The Portugal captain, who has missed Real’s last four matches with knee and muscle problems in his left leg, is the top scorer in Europe’s elite club competition this term with 14 goals, equalling the record for one edition.
Wales winger Gareth Bale was unable to train due to a bout of flu and it remains to be seen whether he can recover for the match at the Bernabeu.
Burnley promoted to Premier League
Burnley secured a return to the English Premier League amid joyous scenes at Turf Moor yesterday when a 2-0 home victory over Wigan sealed automatic promotion from the Championship.
First-half goals from Ashley Barnes and Michael Kightly were enough for the Clarets to join Leicester in the top-flight next season.
“We were intent on getting promoted ourselves, not having to rely on anyone else for help. It’s getting harder to win automatic promotion to the Premier League because of all the constraints on teams like ourselves. I’m extremely proud,” manager Sean Dyche said.
Burnley spent one season in the top-flight in 2009-10 before being relegated.
CONI chiefs slams level of Serie A
Italy’s Olympic Committee (CONI) president Giovanni Malago (picture) said that the Serie A was well below par and made no secret of his dissatisfaction with the strength of competition in the Italian top flight.
“What is coming to an end has not been a great championship, even if Juventus and Roma have been fantastic,” Malago said.
“For too many months the positions in the league have been locked in a season which has been below par, as has also been shown by the Italian clubs’ path in the European Cups.
“There have been so many games that haven’t been pretty, topped with a spectacle in front of quiet stadiums.
“We have to do something.”
Sterling hailed as best European teen
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers hailed Raheem Sterling as the best young player in European football after the 19-year-old played a starring role in their 3-2 win against Norwich on Sunday.
Sterling scored the opening goal with a wonderful strike in the fourth minute before turning provider for Luis Suarez to double the visitors advantage in the 11th minute.
Sterling then capped a memorable display with a deflected finish after a mazy counter-attacking run and his performance had Rodgers purring.
“I think he’s the best young player in European football at the moment.” Rodgers said.
“At 19 years I don’t see anyone better. His intelligence with the ball, his movement... he’s been concentrating on his goals.”
Coach Martino hails Barcelona resolve
Gerardo Martino praised the attitude of his players after they came from behind to beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 to end a miserable run of results which had ramped up the pressure at the Nou Camp.
Barca lacked their usual cutting edge and fell behind to Aritz Aduriz’s 50th-minute strike, but turned it around with two goals in three minutes from Pedro and Lionel Messi with a quarter of an hour to go.
“The circumstances weren’t in our favour but we came from behind and won,” Martino told reporters.
“In addition to our football, we relied on our courage to fight back.”