Australian hardman Kevin Muscat announced his retirement yesterday, three weeks after receiving an eight-match A-League ban for a vicious tackle that left Melbourne Heart’s Adrian Zahra needing knee surgery.
Muscat said he would quit at the end of his club Melbourne Victory’s Asian Champions League campaign, after last month’s lengthy ban brought his domestic season to an early close.
“After a lot of consideration and deliberation, I kept asking myself ‘was it time?’, and I realised how frustrated I’d become,” Muscat said.
“Turning up for training, not being able to do what I asked of other people throughout my career – and that’s giving 100 per cent.”
Ronaldo eyes final Brazil showing
Ronaldo, who announced his retirement on Monday, has said he hopes to bow out of the game by making a final showing for his country.
“I want to make it a great party. I will go and see (Brazilian Football Confederation) president Ricardo Teixeira to make it a match for the national side,” the 34-year-old said.
“I want to bring together players who were with me and appear in front of a public who loved and helped me.
“These people deserve a send-off,” said Ronaldo who has ap-peared sporadically for Corinthians since returning from Italy but who says his body cannot take up more strain after a raft of injuries dogged much of his career.
Newcastle boss sees life after Carroll
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew believes the Magpies will recover from the shock departure of Andy Carroll after watching his side triumph 2-0 at Birmingham.
Goals from strikers Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best gave Newcastle their first win since Carroll was sold to Liverpool at the end of the January transfer window, a victory Pardew believes augurs well for the future.
“I think it was evident that the players we have can fill the gap after Carroll,” Pardew said.
“The pleasing thing is that the two strikers showed commitment des-pite the pressure that is on them.”
Run-in gets Scholes excited
Paul Scholes views the resumption of the Champions League as the beginning of the end for Manchester United this season.
Although United are not in action this week, the resumption of hostilities across Europe marks the emergence from the depths of winter.
And for Scholes, it is also the start of a run-in to what he hopes will be a glorious end to the season.
“It’s the sign for the run-in,” said the veteran midfielder.
“It just kind of happens without you knowing it. You know there are 12 games left in the league, the FA Cup is getting down to the latter stages and Europe is starting again.
“Every game becomes more important. It is the time to stand up and start playing.”
Mancini demands more from Dzeko
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has challenged Edin Dzeko to raise his game and start scoring.
The former Wolfsburg striker was out of luck during Tuesday’s 0-0 away draw with Aris Salonika in the Europa League as he was twice denied by goalkeeper Michalis Sifakis.
Mancini said: “I expect more for Dzeko – he needs to improve. He is a good player.
“I think he has the same difficulty as (Fernando) Torres at Chelsea because when you arrive in January you don’t know your team-mates, it is not easy.
“He can change in every game. It is important that he improves very quickly. We should cross the ball more to him.”
Adams admits Blades were lucky
Sheffield United manager Micky Adams admitted his side were fortunate to claim a point in their 1-1 draw with Reading.
The Royals dominated for large periods of the game and Blades goalkeeper Steve Simonsen had to make several fine saves before he was finally beaten when Shane Long slotted home from Jobi McAnuff’s through ball in the 81st minute.
However, seven minutes later, Andy Griffin rashly challenged Daniel Bogdanovic in the area and the substitute got up to net the resulting penalty.
Adams said: “We got a lucky point. Reading were the better team.
“At times, we couldn’t cope with their shape and we had to change ours to combat it but we’ve played a lot better than that and lost so maybe our luck is turning.”
Abbiati injury not serious
Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati is expected to be sidelined for five days after suffering an injury against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday.
The 33-year-old was stretchered off the pitch wearing a neck brace after 15 minutes of the Champions League game and was taken to hospital for an MRI scan.
Abbiati suffered a knock to his head and for a time had difficulty finding his balance, but medical tests showed that the injury was not serious.
He has been advised to rest for five days and joins several of his Milan team-mates on the casualty list.