The Sport Review: “Pep Guardiola likes watching Arsenal, not playing them” plus 4 more

Pep Guardiola likes watching Arsenal, not playing them
Harry Redknapp revels in ‘fantastic’ win over AC Milan
Protests threaten Formula 1’s season-opener in Bahrain
Renault confirms Robert Kubica’s condition is ‘positive’
I don’t regret my Liverpool reign, insists Roy Hodgson

Pep Guardiola likes watching Arsenal, not playing them

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 03:50 PM PST

pep guardiola

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola admits he enjoys watching Arsenal but is not looking forward seeing his side come up against Arsène Wenger’s men on Wednesday night.

Guardiola, who last week signed a new deal to keep him with the Catalan Giants until 2012, has warned his men they will be “chasing shadows” if they are not at their best during the first leg of the last-16 tie at Emirates Stadium.

Barça overcame Arsenal with a 6-3 aggregate quarter-final victory in last season’s competition and also got the better of the gunners in the 2006 final.

“With Arsenal if you are not well prepared you will be chasing shadows,” said Guardiola. “I like to watch Arsenal play football but I don’t like to play against them.

“Of course I have worries about the game that Arsène Wenger plays. Theo Walcott has some good moments, Wenger is an incredible coach and Robin van Persie is a very mobile player who has a lot of influence.

“When you play Arsenal you know what is required of you. The players of Barcelona know what we have to do.

“We will try to play attractive football, we have for the last 20-25 years. We might lose, we might win but we will always play attractive football for our fans.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger insists his side are in “ideal condition” ahead of Wednesday’s showdown.

“The only thing I can say is we are in an ideal condition to face them," said Wenger. "We cannot complain. We have the belief, the confidence and the players available.

“We are 90 per cent in February and that was not the case last year. I feel we are in an ideal position to face them."

The Frenchman, who has Samir Nasri available for selection again after the midfielder recovered from a hamstring strain, believes his side have a point to prove after last season’s defeat to the Spanish champions.

"We just want to show how good we are," he continued. "We want to show the belief we have in our game, in our quality, more than looking at the past.

"We have practiced. We are determined, focused and we want to win this competition. We know we face the super-favourites of this competition but the only way to do it is to knock them out.”

Harry Redknapp revels in ‘fantastic’ win over AC Milan

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 03:19 PM PST

harry redknapp

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, 15 FEBRUARY 2011

AC Milan

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp hailed his side’s united approach after Peter Crouch struck late to stun AC Milan at San Siro on Tuesday night.

Crouch stroked home Aaron Lennon’s pass 10 minutes from time to cap another memorable European night for Redknapp’s men and give the north Londoners the upper hand ahead of the return leg at White Hart Lane in three weeks.

Lennon broke with the ball from within Tottenham’s half and stormed past Mario Yepes before playing an inviting pass across goal for Crouch to bury the winner past the helpless Marco Amelia.

“It was a fantastic performance, the lads were absolutely brilliant tonight,” said Redknapp.

“First half I thought we were by far and away the better team, we knew the stuff would come and they would put some pressure on and its hard not to drop deep when you get put under a bit of pressure, but the lads were magnificent at the back and we hit them on the break and got the goal and it was well deserved.

“I said at half time we had to keep giving the ball to Aaron Lennon because he really had the beating of the left back all day. We had to keep trying to get him on the ball as much as possible.”

The Spurs boss added: “You hear the crowd singing – it’s a great night for them, it’s a great night for Tottenham.”

And match-winner Crouch insisted Spurs were worthy winners on the night. The striker said: “It was a great game of football, I thought we deserved the win in the end.

“I thought we limited them to not many chances and I think we were the better side. It’s a fantastic achievement.”

Spurs’ celebrations at the final whistle were cut short by a touchline fracas which saw Milan captain Gennaro Gattuso appear to headbutt Tottenham assistant manager Joe Jordan as the players left the pitch.

Gattuso, who will miss the return leg of the last-16 tie through suspension after being booked, had already been involved in an altercation with Jordan when he looked to have shoved him in the face close to the Spurs dug-out.

Protests threaten Formula 1’s season-opener in Bahrain

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 10:59 AM PST

formula 1

The 2011 Formula 1 season-opener in Bahrain could be in doubt after anti-government protesters threatened to disrupt the race.

Nabeel Rajab, vice-president of campaign group Bahrain Center for Human Rights, said on Tuesday that the race was being viewed as an opportunity for protesters to publicise their cause on a global scale.

"For sure F1 is not going to be peaceful this time," Rajab said. "There’ll be lots of journalists, a lot of people looking and [the government] will react in a stupid manner as they did today and yesterday. And that will be bloody, but will be more publicised."

Riot police have been out in force on the streets in Bahrain with tensions running high after a man was killed at a funeral being held for a protester who died in clashes with security forced on Monday.

Rajab added that the protests could go on for some time: "This will not stop, especially now when people have died. I don’t think it's going to stop easily."

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone admitted to the Daily Telegraph that the protestors could cause a problem, but said it was too early to say if, or how badly the race would be affected.

"The danger is obvious isn't it? If these people wanted to make a fuss and get worldwide recognition it would be bloody easy, wouldn't it? You start making a problem on the start grid in Bahrain and it would get worldwide coverage," said Ecclestone.

"I have no idea. It's hard to establish exactly what is going on.

"As I say, I'm speaking with the Crown Prince later on. We're watching events closely. We'll rely on what they think the right thing to do is."

"He a very realistic person. I have never had any problems in Bahrain in the past and I'm happy to walk around town there. But we don't know now. The world is changing."

Bahrain is also due to host the second round of the GP2 Asia Series this weekend, while F1's final pre-season test is scheduled to take place in Sakhir on 3 March ahead of the race 10 days later.

Renault confirms Robert Kubica’s condition is ‘positive’

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 10:41 AM PST

robert kubica

Renault has assured fans that Robert Kubica's general medical condition is "positive" after reports surfaced on Monday suggesting otherwise.

The 26-year-old suffered multiple fractures down his right side after crashing his Skoda Fabia in the Ronde di Andora rally in Italy on 6 February, losing so much blood doctors feared they might have had to amputate his right hand.

Kubica has undergone two lengthy courses of surgery since the accident, including a seven-hour operation to repair his hand, and more recently surgery to his arm and leg, with another operation on his shoulder still due to take place this week.

The Pole's progress has generally been positive and he even managed to talk to the press about his future, saying he expects to return to Formula 1 by the end of the 2011 season.

Polish news station TVN24 quoted Kubica’s girlfriend, Edyta Witas, on Monday morning as saying his "physical and psychological condition" had deteriorated since the last course of surgery and he had returned to intensive care.

But Renault has countered those claims saying: "The latest update on Robert is that his condition remains positive. He will stay in intensive care for the next couple of days to allow a complete check-up and to avoid another change of department before his final operation.

"His good general condition means that the final surgery is scheduled for Wednesday."

Doctors at the Santa Corona Hospital near Savona echoed Renault's comments with Dr Francesco Lanza already confirming that a third course of surgery will be required.

"Robert Kubica’s general conditions are good," said a spokesman. "Kubica will remain in intensive care for two more days in order to undergo a complete check up and to avoid another ward change before the final operation.

"The clinical picture is so satisfying that it allows for programming of the final surgery for Wednesday."

I don’t regret my Liverpool reign, insists Roy Hodgson

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 10:34 AM PST

roy hodgson

Former Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson insists he has no regrets about his short reign at Anfield despite losing his job within six months.

The newly-appointed West Bromwich Albion manager, who was replaced by Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool in January, says he has moved on from his failed spell at Anfield.

“Of course it hurts,” replied the 63-year-old when asked about his dismissal from Liverpool. “Every time a club decides they don’t want you to continue doing the job they’ve employed you to do, of course it hurts. It would be foolish to say anything other than that.

“I knew when I took the job I was taking a bit of a risk because there was likely to be a change of ownership. Therefore I’m reasonably philosophical about it.

“It’s a great club, with some very good people there, the players were extremely good to work with, and I’m happy to see them now getting some good results. I don’t regret going there.”

Hodgson, who is now challenged with keeping 17th-placed West Brom in the Premier League, was also quick to defend his managerial record and a career which has spanned over 40 years.

“Do I still feel I’ve got something to prove? No I think my 36 years, for those who care to study it, speaks for itself,” said Hodgson. “I don’t think I’ve got anything to prove. I do feel I’ve got a very important job on my hands.

“A lot of people are depending on me to help the club retain its Premier League status. I feel that pressure and responsibility but I don’t feel I’ve got anything to prove.”

He added: “Jobs in this league are precious. Clubs which will allow you to work and do the job properly and give you the support you need, embrace your philosophies and follow what you’re attempting to do, are very important. I believe West Brom are that sort of club.”