Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is certain to make changes having criticised his players after Saturday’s defeat at Bolton. Defensive midfielder Jay Spearing could return to the squad having missed the last two matches with a hamstring problem. Winger Stewart Downing could get a recall having been dropped to the bench at the weekend while Dalglish will have to assess striker Craig Bellamy’s ability to play twice in four days. The Reds…
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola refused to be dragged into the argument surrounding Mario Balotelli’s alleged stamp on Scott Parker. Guardiola said the controversy must be dealt with by the English authorities and Manchester City to deal with, and not his business. “It’s not our business – it’s the clubs business and the people. I know the rules all around the world are different,” he said. “So the rules in England…
Frank Lampard has pledged his future to Chelsea for the remainder of his contract after helping them to claim a 2-1 win over Manchester City on Monday night. Lampard’s late penalty secured the points for Andre Villas-Boas’ side, who had earlier fallen behind to Mario Balotelli’s second-minute strike before equalising through Raul Meireles. Lampard has been in and out of the Chelsea side this season, giving way to speculation about…
Mario Balotelli says he is not thinking about returning to Serie A as he believes Italian football is in decline. Balotelli, 21, has regularly been linked with a return to his homeland since leaving Inter Milan for Manchester City in the summer of 2010, and Roberto Mancini recently told Corriere dello Sera: “Sooner or later, Balotelli will go back to Italy.” However, Balotelli has said he is now adapting to…
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli insists he will let his form do the talking in Sunday’s top of the table clash against rivals Manchester United. After a run-in with the Aston Villa fans last weekend, the Italian is determined to keep his cool against a side he has had rows with before. During the FA Cup semi-final in March the hot-headed striker clashed with United captain Rio Ferdinand. But he…
Mario Balotelli’s turbulent Manchester City career has taken another unsteady turn with the striker ordered by Italian police to explain his links to the country’s Mafia. Balotelli, who has courted controversy since making a £24 million switch from Inter Milan last summer, has been called as a witness by prosecutors in Naples for an anti-Mafia investigation that is going to trial next week. The forward was given a guided tour…
Patrick Vieira has urged Mario Balotelli’s army of critics to cut him some slack. Balotelli has still not been a Manchester City player for 12 months but his list of misdemeanours already extends further than most players manage in an entire career. The Italian striker was lambasted by his own manager, Roberto Mancini, for showboating during a pre-season game in Los Angeles last month and Gary Neville branded his efforts…
Mario Balotelli has followed his team-mate Carlos Tevez in declaring that he does not like the city of Manchester, as well as admitting he sees his future back in Milan. The Manchester City striker, who signed from Internazionale and seemingly has an addiction to outspoken behaviour, spoke to Italian TV after scoring in his team’s 3-0 friendly victory over Inter in Dublin on Sunday. He was feted for his performance,…