Category: Story

“It is not true a fee has been agreed. We are not close to concluding any transfer; [Andrei] Arshavin or anybody else. At the moment it is all quiet.” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says there is still no deal in the long running quest to sign the Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder.

“Robinho was told my feelings about the situation and the intention is to fine him. But there is a disciplinary procedure that has to be gone through. When that has run its course then Robinho will face some disciplinary measures.” Manchester City manager Mark Hughes denies there will be any special treatment for his Brazilian […]

U.S. midfielder Sacha Kljestan‘s hat trick for the national team against Sweden at the weekend may have actually harmed his chances of moving to Scottish champions Glasgow Celtic, writes Ronnie Cully. In short, the higher the player’s value, the less likely that Celtic can afford him. Kljestan “impressed everyone” during his six-day trial at Celtic […]

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said Monday that he wants on-loan L.A. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham to stay on at the club, and that he will be disappointed when, or if, he returns to California in March. Speaking on Italian radio the day after Beckham scored his first goal for Milan goal in a 4-1 […]

At Toronto FC’s press conference to introduce midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, the P-word was being thrown around by club officials "with reckless abandon," reports Gareth Wheeler. That stands for Playoffs, but Wheeler says that while such confidence is refreshing, another P-word could also be used about expectations: Premature.

Retired French referee Bruno Derrien has published a memoir, “Down With The Referee,” telling how managers and coaches cultivate their relationships with match officials. According to the book, “the canniest coaches manage their relationships with referees as studiously as they do with their players,” writes Ian Hawkey. Derrien tells, for example, how Manchester United manager […]

The English Football Association has called for "the strongest possible sanctions" against Millwall fans found guilty of violence and vandalism during Saturday’s fourth round FA Cup defeat at Hull City. A section of the visiting support ripped out 50 seats, threw missiles, and destroyed toilets before, during and after the game. Police made 12 arrests. […]

"I do like to take chances and be aggressive. I like to score goals. But I like to stay within a system, too. I want every player to have responsibility. I'm not going to be one of these coaches talking about how he's going to play aggressive, attractive soccer and use three or four forwards, […]

“The season hasn’t gone the way everyone expected it to, and it hasn’t gone the way I expected it to. But I came to another very good team with good players. The guys I’ve been competing with have been scoring goals, and when I got my opportunity, I didn’t put the ball in the net […]

"They saw me as that [a leader] in August when they signed me. I wouldn't know any other way to do it, but obviously I'll take as big a role as they want me to take." Seattle Sounder FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller on talk that he's the obvious choice for team captain.  

"We were so close, 45 minutes away from being in [MLS] Cup. We just couldn't quite get over the hump. It's just more motivation for this year. With the same guys returning, we're looking forward to more good times." Chicago Fire midfielder Justin Mapp signals the official opening of Preseason Optimism.  

"With sports you never know what is going to happen. One thing I know I'll always have is my degree." Santa Clara's Jide Ogunbiyi, selected at No. 18 in the 2009 SuperDraft by RB New York, faces the choice of either reporting for training camp immediately, or finishing his final year at college to earn […]