LIPPI TONGUE-TIED BY LANGUAGE BARRIER

Former Italy boss Marcello Lippi admits the chances of him coaching in England are slim because of the language barrier.
The former Juventus coach has been out of management since leading Italy to World Cup glory last summer, but is now keen to return to club football.
Lippi was linked with the likes of Juve, Real Madrid and Chelsea over the summer, but insists he is no rush.
And despite his love of Premier League football, he is aware his lack of English will make it difficult for him to take charge of a club there.
"I am not thinking of any club at the moment," said Lippi. "I've only just realised the fact that I want to return to work.
"I love the Premier League but I don't speak English and considering the way I see and experience football this is a big handicap, because a coach above all guides players and my primary concept is the group."

DEL PIERO LOOKS FOR PERFECT END

There will be no guessing as to whom Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero will dedicate a goal should he score on Saturday at Napoli.
Del Piero became a father on Sunday evening when his wife gave birth to a baby boy, Tobias - capping an unforgettable week for Juve's all-time goalscorer.
Del Piero signed a two-year contract extension with the Turin giants before scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Genoa last Sunday, keeping Claudio Ranieri's side in touch with Serie A leaders Internazionale.
The only setback of the encounter was that the former Chelsea manager was sent off for the first time in his career after protesting too strongly to the referee.
"It's the first time for me but in any case the important thing was the victory," said Ranieri, who will have to watch this weekend's encounter from the San Paolo stands as he serves a touchline ban.
"We also won without conceding a goal."
Juve are second in the standings after eight games - three points behind Inter, who take on Palermo at La Favorita - and Ranieri fears that a defeat on Saturday would rule them out of the title race.
"We are trying to make sure that Inter don't escape," said Ranieri. "If they do, we will never be able to catch them and the season would lose its appeal, hence, be must try to stop this from happening."
Napoli will be out to show the same character which frustrated Roma in the 4-4 draw at the Stadio Olimpico.
After back-to-back slips against Inter and Genoa, coach Edoardo Reja was delighted to see his side fight back from behind three times before eventually claiming a point.
"Every single time Roma struck we hit back," admitted Reja. "We showed a lot of character."
The result lifted Napoli to eighth in the standings, six points behind Saturday's opponents, and ex-Juventus midfielder Manuele Blasi has warned his former employers to expect a battle.
Blasi, who joined from Fiorentina this summer, said: "We are not a weak nor a strong side. We are simply a team that can play against anyone."
Blasi is looking forward to the encounter against his ex-club and claims to have no animosity towards the Turin giants.
"I have not bitterness but rather good memories," he said of his two seasons at Juve. "But now, in my mind there's only Napoli. Our fans are exceptional."
Reja will choose from a fully fit squad, while Juve travel south without suspended midfielder Pavel Nedved.
The good news for Ranieri is that striker Vincenzo Iaquinta has recovered from a chest infection and will be available for selection.

Germany's Borowski out of Euro 2008 qualifiers

BERLIN (AFP) - Germany midfielder Tim Borowski will miss Euro 2008 qualifying matches against Republic of Ireland and the Czech Republic, the German football federation said Tuesday. The Bremen player, who missed the friendly against England on August 22, has back pain, the federation said. Germany will also be without injured playmaker Michael Ballack and striker Miroslav Klose for the Ireland match on October 13 and the Czech match on October 17.

Sparta Prague's Kladrubsky gets call up to Czech squad

PRAGUE (AFP) - Czech manager Karel Bruckner on Thursday called up Sparta Prague defender Jiri Kladrubsky into the squad for the Euro-2008 qualifier against Germany in Munich on October 17.The 21-year-old Letna defender will figurs in the senior team for the first time.Kladrubsky has played for the under-21 team, notably in June's European championships.The Czechs, who face a series of changes to the established team due to suspensions and injuries, are placed second in Group D, two points behind Germany. The team will play a warmup match against Czech first division team Teplice on Thursday evening.

Chelsea in turmoil as Mourinho quits

Jose Mourinho's three-year reign at Chelsea came to an abrupt end on Thursday as the Portuguese manager's fraught relationship with the club's Russian owner, Roman Abramovich, finally reached breaking pointAn announcement that will send shockwaves through English and European football came in the early hours of Thursday morning with Chelsea claiming that Mourinho had left "by mutual consent......

Joy for Juventus as Milan lose ground

A last-gasp winner from David Trezeguet earned Juventus victory in the Turin derby and moved them up to second in Serie A on a day when AC Milan were again frustrated.
Late dramaFrance striker Trezeguet struck in the 90th minute against Torino FC at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino to lift the 'visitors' on to 13 points, just a point behind leaders FC Internazionale Milano, who won 4-1 against AS Roma on Saturday. ACF Fiorentina and Roma drop to third and fourth respectively and, while Juve go from strength to strength, European champions Milan continue to falter.
Kaká penaltyThe Rossoneri had taken just six points from their first five games before the visit of Calcio Catania to San Siro and the draw leaves them seven points adrift of Inter. Jorge Martínez's header put Catania in front on 25 minutes and the visitors managed to hold out until half-time. Milan were level three minutes after the interval though when Kaká stepped up to score from the penalty spot after a Mark Edusei handball.
Samp successSecond-half goals from Paolo Sammarco and Antonio Cassano, who both came on as substitutes, added to veteran forward Claudio Bellucci's early effort, gave UC Sampdoria a 3-0 home victory against Atalanta BC. Less spectacular but equally important was the 1-0 victory against struggling AC Siena that saw Cagliari Calcio move up to mid-table, thanks to Pasquale Foggia’s seventh-minute penalty. Udinese Calcio leapfrog Atalanta after Cristian Zapata's 90th-minute winner gave them a 2-1 success against Parma FC.
First victoryEmpoli FC also left it late to beat visiting US Città di Palermo 3-1 and earn their first victory of the season. The home side trailed at the break after Cavani's goal on 39 minutes but two 21-year-old strikers, Nicola Pozzi and Sebastian Giovinco, turned the tide in Empoli’s favour before Ighli Vannucchi wrapped things up with a late penalty to lift Empoli out of the relegation zone. Elsewhere, SSC Napoli surprisingly went down 2-1 at home to Genoa FC after a last-gasp winner from Giuseppe Sculli. Reggina Calcio's game with S.S. Lazio finished 1-1.

Lemonis lauds 'supreme team effort'

"A supreme team effort" was Olympiacos CFP coach Panagiotis Lemonis's take on the 3-1 win at Werder Bremen which ended a run of 31 away games without success in the UEFA Champions League. While the Greek side now top Group C ahead of their double-header against Real Madrid CF, Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf admitted "it doesn't look good" for his point-less team.
Thomas Schaaf, Bremen coachIn the second half, when we still had the lead, we missed out on scoring a second or even a third goal. Then we starting playing deeper instead of attacking, didn't make the challenges in midfield and gave Olympiacos room to play their game. It doesn't look good for us now, we have no points after the opening two matches. It will be very difficult for us. We simply cannot afford results and performances like today in the Champions League.
Panagiotis Lemonis, Olympiacos coachOur win today at Werder Bremen was a supreme team effort. In the first half we did not concentrate or act quickly enough when in possession, but in the second we did much better and put in a great performance. We were effective as a team and my team has written history today thanks to a very strong performance in the second half. We need to repeat this level of performance against Real Madrid when we meet them next.

Drogba winner vanquishes Valencia

Chelsea FC put their recent problems behind them with a resounding UEFA Champions League victory by the same scoreline with which they removed Valencia CF from last season's quarter-finals.
Terry spiritIn Avram Grant's first European match at the helm, Chelsea came from behind to claim their first win in this term's competition, their spirit epitomised by John Terry who played with a face mask following surgery on a fractured cheekbone. David Villa gave the Spanish side an early advantage but goals from Joe Cole and Didier Drogba gave a real boost to the new Stamford Bridge regime.
Chelsea unnervedThere was an immediate scare for Chelsea when Joaquín got away down the right and flashed the ball all the way across the area. From a tight angle David Silva shot wide. That was followed by a simple kick out for Petr Čech which he sliced horribly; Chelsea were clearly unnerved in this noisy, steamy atmosphere and Valencia were in the mood to inflict punishment.
Neat finishThey did not have long to wait, though there was an element of fortune about the goal which originated from a dynamic Villa surge in the ninth minute. Possession was lost but as Chelsea tried to clear their lines, Paulo Ferreira smashed the ball into Michael Essien. In a flash Villa was on to the rebound, his brain working far quicker than those wearing blue, and he tucked a neat shot past the goalkeeper.
Čech gratefulChelsea poured forward in numbers when the chance presented itself and Drogba had a low drive deflected wide. Far more penetrative was a smart break at the other end with which Fernando Morientes cleverly took out two defenders. It left Joaquín with a clear run on goal and Čech was grateful to grasp the shot between his legs. In the next instant Chelsea carved out an equaliser. Drogba was involved and when Florent Malouda took up the running down the left he squared a lovely ball to the far post where Cole side-footed in, despite Emiliano Moretti almost doing the job for him.
No reflectionIt was a cracker of a match and there could have been more goals before the break. Drogba lifted a powerful shot just a fraction too high while Villa was almost as close when Ricardo Carvalho cleared the ball straight to him. Valencia knew that the interval scoreline did not reflect the problems they had caused the Chelsea defence and they resumed on the offensive, Moretti directing a header the wrong side of the post.
Thing of beautyThen Chelsea almost paid the price for again failing to deal with the bustling presence of Morientes, Villa profiting to find the net only to be ruled offside. However, the visitors' second goal in the 71st minute was a thing of beauty. Joe Cole picked up possession deep in his own half, made strides and then struck a wonderful pass with the outside of his boot. Valencia were stretched and Raúl Albiol could not keep pace with Drogba who finished with aplomb. In a late rally, Villa and Carlos Marchena both missed opportunities, as did Rubén Baraja who snatched at a shot with the final kick of the game.