Zac Lee Rigg: The United States might need Landon Donovan more than the LA Galaxy

CARSON, Calif. – Bruce Arena's answers to questions about Landon Donovan's sabbatical have grown increasingly testy as the U.S. international's return approaches.

The politically dexterity Arena displayed upon the announcement of the extended break for the forward eroded quickly. It's now clear that Arena opposed the idea, probably strongly. And really, what sane MLS coach would welcome losing his captain?

Thus far, though, the absence hasn't hurt the Galaxy. Los Angeles hasn't lost yet in 2013, earning seven points from three games in Major League Soccer and advancing past Costa Rica side Herediano in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals. The Galaxy have scored four goals in two separate games.

The latest result, a 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, came without Omar Gonzalez or Robbie Keane, the team's other Designated Player, because of international duty.

"I think it speaks testament to the guys on this team and the depth on this team because we're obviously without Landon, without Robbie, without Omar, and didn't miss a beat," Todd Dunivant, captain for the day, said.

The goals have come from Mike Magee. He leads MLS, with four, including a penalty against Colorado. In the absence of Donovan and Keane, two teenagers staked their claims for increased minutes. Jack McBean and Jose Villarreal started against the Rapids, cranking off a total of 13 shots between them.

Obviously, finishing is an issue, but confidence is not.

"They're fearless," Dunivant said.

Donovan will link up with his club on Tuesday when the Galaxy visit the White House. He's "going to take some time" before he's ready to play a match, according to Arena. Given the results thus far, Arena can – begrudgingly, perhaps – afford Donovan time to recover game sharpness. Last year, when the Galaxy lost five of their opening 10 games before visiting the White House, Arena may not have found similar amounts of patience.

"It's good that these young players are at the point that we can count on them as well," Arena said.

The coach who may most fret Donovan's extended decompression time? Jurgen Klinsmann.

As the Galaxy press palms with Barack Obama, the U.S. national team will play a World Cup qualifier in Estadio Azteca. The last time that venue hosted the United States, Landon Donovan sweated through a half with swine flu on the way to a 1-0 friendly victory, the first U.S. win on Mexican soil in the history of ever.

Donovan is the all-time leading scorer for the United States, but he's shown up only intermittently during Klinsmann's tenure. Largely without the 31-year-old, the United States scraped through the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, only securing progression on the last matchday.

In the Hexagonal, the Yanks capitulated in the sweltering heat against Honduras, conceding twice late to lose 2-1. Though a 1-0 win over Costa Rica in several inches of snow on Friday put qualifying back on track, Klinsmann's offense has ground through the gears in ways that suggest a short lifespan for the clutch.

The latest pictures of the U.S. team involved a snow-fro on Jermaine Jones and flakes sticking in the eyelashes of his teammates. The last snaps of Donovan showed him playing – barefoot and topless – in a pickup game in Cambodia.

The next World Cup qualifiers aren't until June. But of the two coaches looking at those pictures and wishing they could pull a jersey on Donovan's sinewy torso, Klinsmann's predicament may be the more demanding.

Suarez hints at Liverpool exit

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has given his broadest hint yet that he is considering his future at Anfield, in comments that will send shockwaves through the Merseyside club.

Suarez, who is currently preparing for Uruguay's World Cup qualifier with Paraguay on Friday, has suggested he will consider moving to a club with "more prospects" if the right offer comes his way in the near future.

The striker who is currently leading the Premier League scoring charts with 22 goals has been linked with moves to Barcelona and Bayern Munich, as the prospect of another season without Champions League action at Liverpool encouraging the 26-year-old to consider his options.

"I am very happy at Liverpool, but you never know in football," he is quoted in the Liverpool Echo. "A player's ambition is always there, the ambition of wanting to play in elite teams is always there.

"I'm in a world-class team, an elite team like Liverpool. We have to realise we have a new manager who is imposing a philosophy and a way of playing that the players are adapting to as best we can. We hope that it will bear fruit next year.

"If another team comes around with more prospects of competing in international club competition games, which is willing to have me, they are welcome. We would talk to the club, we would see if I want to go, if I don't want to go."

Suarez went on to claim his fiery temperament, which has often got him into trouble in the Premier League, is part of what has made him into one of the most potent marksmen in European football.

"If I didn't have the character that I have today on the pitch, I don't think that I would have become the player that I am today," he added.

"I have a very strange way of playing football. I'm my own severest critic and I realise when I make mistakes. There are times that I get yellow cards that can influence a game. I have improved and I have to continue improving.

"You can lose some things, but you can never lose the slyness, the passion that you have had since you were a kid playing in the street."

Yaya Toure agent threatens City exit

Yaya Toure's agent insists the midfielder will leave Manchester City if he is not offered a new deal by the end of this week.

Toure has reportedly been locked in negotiations for the past six months with the club, and wants the issue settled during the international break.

Agent Dimitri Seluk confirmed the 29-year-old's ultimatum, claiming Toure is interested in departing last season’s Premier League champions.

"If he signs a contract in the next three or four days, okay. If not, we will not wait any longer and will start negotiations with different clubs," Seluk is quoted as saying in The Sun.

"Today is Tuesday, so it means by Saturday. We will say 'Thank you. Okay, Yaya will leave in May.'

"I do not feel he will stay at City. This is not about money. He wants to leave because of many reasons. He is one of the best players at Manchester City but does not feel the respect of the staff. Only Roberto Mancini respects Yaya."

It is claimed Toure currently earns £220,000 a week, but the former Barcelona man is not seeking a pay rise, according to Seluk.

Currently away with the Cote d'Ivoire to play in a World Cup qualifier against Gambia on Saturday, Toure is demanding the "small details" of his new contract be ironed out.

Seluk added: "It’s all strange. It’s not normal to have negotiations for six months about a contract. They have been talking about small details all this time.

 "Maybe if the owner speaks to Yaya, maybe he doesn’t know the details."

Mourinho hints he would like Inter return

Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho has hinted that he would like to return to Inter.

The Portuguese has been linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu this year, with Paris Saint-Germain and several Premier League teams rumored to be interested in his services.

However, the former Chelsea boss has reignited talk of him revisiting Serie A and San Siro in the future and he revealed the superb times he had at the Nerazzurri.

"I spent two fantastic years in Italy, at Inter," he said in a message for the Coordown (coordinator of people with Down Syndrome) charity.

"I do not know if I will go back someday, but if I do it will be with great pleasure and excitement."

Mourinho won the Champions League for the second time in his last season at Inter, completing the treble after beating Roma in the Coppa Italia and topping Serie A.

The coach failed to lift the European trophy while at Stamford Bridge after joining from Porto glory, but he is targeting his third Champions League success in his third season at Madrid.

The Blancos face Galatasaray in the quarterfinals having edged past Manchester United with a controversial 2-1 win at Old Trafford after a 1-1 draw on home turf.

Chelsea 3-1 Steaua Bucharest (agg 3-2): Terry and Torres guide Blues through to last eight

A late goal from Fernando Torres ensured that Chelsea went through to the quarterfinals of the Europa League as the Spaniard added to earlier strikes from Juan Mata and John Terry to give his side a 3-2 aggregate win against Steaua Bucharest.


A right-footed strike from Mata canceled out the away side's 1-0 lead from the first leg, before Vlad Chiriches leveled proceedings from a corner just prior to the halftime interval.

A storming second-half header from Terry was followed by a smart finish from Torres and, even though the latter missed a late penalty in an attempt to extend the lead, it proved unimportant as Steaua could not force a late goal, leaving Chelsea free to proceed to the next round.

Rafa Benitez made four changes from the side that overturned a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against Manchester United, with John Terry, John Obi Mikel, Eden Hazard and Torres coming in to replace Gary Cahill, Frank Lampard, Victor Moses and the cup-tied Demba Ba.

Steaua Bucharest, meanwhile, named the exact same team that managed a surprise 1-0 win over the Blues in the first leg.

After a fairly tepid opening, the first chance fell the away side's way with 10 minutes gone as a mix-up between Mikel and Terry allowed Raul Rusescu in on goal. The goalscorer from the first leg was unable to capitalize on his one-on-one though as Petr Cech made an excellent save, tipping the Romanian's effort wide.

Chelsea managed to open the scoring with just over a half-hour gone as, in spite of a fairly frustrating opening, it went ahead on the night courtesy of a Juan Mata goal. The diminutive Spaniard picked up the ball on the halfway line, advancing well before playing a lovely one-two with the driving Ramires. Mata let the return pass run onto his right before striking with his weaker foot as the ball squirmed past Tatarusanu to open proceedings on the night.

Following the opener, Chelsea began to run riot as Torres went close at the near post, striking wide after receiving the ball from Mata, before Hazard, clearly enjoying himself, played a lovely one-two with Mata before striking the ball goalwards, forcing another adept save from Tatarusanu.

Despite this increasing level of dominance, Steaua shocked the home side by pegging it just prior to the halftime whistle. Torres, back in his own area for a corner, failed to clear the set-piece at the near post and Cech could only parry Cristian Tanase's ensuing shot from close range. The rebound fell Vlad Chiriches' way and he made no mistake in his finish, firing into the roof of the net to make it 1-1 at the interval.

Chelsea soon reclaimed the lead after the break as Terry put the English club level on aggregrate, albeit still behind due to Steaua's away goal. After Hazard was felled cynically by Rapa on the left wing, Mata whipped in a dangerous ball and the centre-back converted the cross with aplomb, heading powerfully home to make it 2-1.

The home side continued to test the away side and eventually capitalized, with Torres finally breaking his duck to extend Chelsea's lead. After the typically lively Mata placed a ball into the path of Hazard, the continually impressive Belgian dummied the ball, letting it run into the striker's feet. Torres took the ball onto his left with one step, before striking it into the far corner smartly.

Torres had a golden chance to truly end the game as, after Hazard was taken down in the penalty area, he took on the responsibility of the spot kick. He got the penalty wrong though, firing against the crossbar, though, thankfully for the Spaniard, it did not have a bearing on Chelsea's progress as Steaua proved unable to get a late goal.

Messi leads Barca over Milan 4-0 and into QF

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- Hailed as perhaps soccer's greatest team ever, Barcelona faced a challenge no club had overcome: advancing in the Champions League after a 2-0 first-leg loss on the road.

Lionel Messi & Co. came through in spectacular fashion with another record-setting night.
Messi started the revival with a pair of first-half goals, and Barcelona overwhelmed AC Milan 4-0 Tuesday to reach its sixth straight Champions League quarterfinal with a 4-2 aggregate win.

''It had been a long time since we had pulled off a historic comeback,'' Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez said. ''We pressed them very well and played an exceptional match.''

Messi scored in the fifth and 40th minutes, and David Villa and Jordi Alba added second-half goals.

''We went out gunning from the start, and scoring early helped us,'' Villa said. ''We have believed in the comeback ever since we lost in Milan, and belief combined with hard work is how you achieve things.''

Before a screaming crowd of 94,944 at Camp Nou, Europe's largest stadium, Messi scored his first goal to goalkeeper Christian Abbiati's right with curling left-footed shot into the upper corner from 17 yards between two defenders. The goal moved Messi past Ruud van Nistelrooy into sole possession of second on the Champions League career list with 57, trailing only Raul Gonzalez's 71.

Messi then scored his second goal to Abbiati's left with a low 19-yard shot after Andres Iniesta stole the ball from Massimo Ambrosini.

''For anyone who doubted Messi, today Messi gave a lesson on how to play football,'' said Barcelona assistant coach Jordi Roura, in charge while coach Tito Vilanova undergoes treatment in New York for a saliva gland tumor. ''He is extraordinary, and surrounded by great players, he is capable of doing what he does.''

Villa put Barcelona ahead in the series in the 55th minute with a 14-yard shot after Cristian Zapata's weak clearance was intercepted by Javier Mascherano, and Kevin Constant missed a sliding tackle on Xavi's through pass to the forward.

Alba sealed the win in the second minute of stoppage time when he raced the length of the field on a counterattack after Messi stole the ball and passed to Alexis Sanchez on the break.

''Milan only needed a goal, but we knew how to handle the game very well,'' Alba said. ''This is a very important win for us. A lot was at stake.''

AC Milan, a seven-time champion, won the first leg at San Siro on Feb. 20 and nearly got a valuable away goal in the 38th minute, but 18-year-old forward M'baye Niang hit a post with an open shot after a sloppy headed backpass by Mascherano. If Niang had tied the game 1-1, Barcelona would have needed at least three more goals at that point to advance because away goals are a tiebreaker.

''Barcelona is still the best team in the world. Moving on was a true feat,'' Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said. ''The first leg didn't change these two teams, and whoever thought so was wrong. We played worse than in the first leg, but that is to Barcelona's credit.''

Messi, the four-time FIFA Player of the Year, got his 18th multigoal game of the season and increased his season goals total to 53.

Led by the 25-year-old Messi, Barcelona is seeking its fourth Champions League title in eight years and is closing in on its sixth Spanish league championship in nine seasons. Barcelona is 16-0-4 at home in the Champions League since a loss to Ruben Kazan in October 2009.

Milan lost by four goals for the first time since a 4-0 Champions League defeat at Manchester United in March 2010.

In the night's other match, Galatasaray won 3-2 at Schalke to advance on 4-3 aggregate and reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2001.

After Roman Neustaedter put Schalke ahead in the 17th minute, Galatasaray took a 2-1 lead when Hamit Altintop scored against his former team in the 37th and Burak Yilmaz got a goal in the 42nd. Michel Bastos scored for the hosts in the 63rd, leaving the Turkish team ahead on away goals, and Umut Bulut ended any doubt when he scored for Galatasaray in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Real Madrid, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain also are in Friday's quarterfinal draw. In the final second-round matches Wednesday, Arsenal tries to overturn a 3-1 deficit at Bayern Munich and Porto goes to Malaga with a 1-0 lead.

If Arsenal is eliminated, England won't have a team in the last eight for the first time since the 1995-96 season.

MARCH 12: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TIPS

IT’S a big night for Barcelona and Lionel Messi but I can’t see any way back for the Spanish superstars.

They trail AC Milan 2-0 going into tonight’s Champions League second-leg tie and overturning that is a tall order.


I saw Milesey quoting Opta stats yesterday showing that 10 out of 12 sides with a 2-0 first-leg lead at this stage have qualified.

Bookies rate Messi’s men just 1-3 (Coral) to win on the night and to qualify you’ll get 5-4  – but on that stat I want bigger.

Barcelona are branded the best in the world but have lost three of their last five – two to Real Madrid – and maybe their invincibility tag has slipped a little.

Clawing back such a deficit is a big ask and although you can’t write off a side boasting talents such as Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi I’m on Milan to qualify.

Barca have to be wary about being picked off on the break as they push forward and the tie could be settled on away goals. A 3-1 Milan reverse is possible.

The trio of recent defeats suggest stand-in boss Jordi Ruari doesn’t seem to have a Plan B and if Milan maintain the defensive discipline shown in the first leg they should go through.

Tonight’s other tie stands level after Schalke earned a decent 1-1 draw away to Galatasaray.

Since then the Turks’ league form has faded and Schalke are 2-5 to qualify.

The Germans were on a poor run heading to Istanbul but have won three in a row in the Bundesliga since the first leg including a 2-1 home victory against Borussia Dortmund at the weekend.

Galatasaray have won just once in their three games and I fancy Schalke to edge it on the night.

Recommendations

Milan/Schalke to qualify

7 March 2013 Champion League Preview

CELTIC are talking up a good game ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash in Turin.

Manager Neil Lennon and his players refuse to concede defeat – and why they should – but this tie was finished in Glasgow as Juventus racked up a 3-0 lead.

I can’t see the Italians busting a gut in the second leg but Antonio Conte will want to put out a side that wins in front of their own fans.

Celtic will push forward with nothing to lose and best bet could be both teams to score. It was 3-2 Juve when the sides last met in Turin and the Hoops have scored in all five of their away ties – and in eight of their last nine overall.

Georgios Samaras has been something of a Euro expert – with goals in every away game if you give him the one in the Nou Camp – so he might be the better bet to score.

Juve’s main man will be Mirko Vucinic who netted in the first leg.

The other tie at least is alive with PSG taking on Valencia after edging the away leg 2-1. PSG had been in decent form until a shock loss at Reims at the weekend and David Beckham could be back in after being rested.

Top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic is suspended and the Swedis superstar will be a huge miss. PSG have conceded just seven goals at home in the French league so could keep it tight and settle for the draw that takes them through.

I had a think about backing Valencia until checking PSG’s home record which is impressive. They’ve won 15 and drawn seven of their last 22 European ties and were last beaten in 2006.

They have won eight and drawn one of their last nine at Parc des Princes and won their last five Champions League games there this season. The French have proved they’re not a one-man team and will look to former Napoli star Ezequeil Lavezzi for a goal.

Valencia have won six of their last eight away but just three of their last 10 games in all competions. They were held at home to Levante at the weekend but star striker Roberto Soldado hit his second goal in three games and it was a goal-of-the-season contender.

Soldado,  will have to be at his best to give Valencia a chance but I can see PSG holding on.

Recommendations

Both teams to score Juve-Celtic

PSG-Valencia draw

Soldado to score

Sevilla beats Celta Vigo 4-1 in Spanish league

MADRID, March 4 (Reuters) - Resurgent Sevilla boosted their chances of returning to Europe next season when captain Alvaro Negredo netted his first La Liga hat-trick in a 4-1 victory at home to struggling Celta Vigo on Monday.

The Andalusian side, UEFA Cup winners in 2006 and 2007, failed to qualify for continental competition last term for the first time in almost a decade, dealing the cash-strapped club a significant financial blow.
They started this season poorly but since the sacking of coach Michel in January replacement Unai Emery has revived their fortunes.

Monday's success lifted them to 10th on 35 points with 12 matches left, six below a Europa Leagueberth and eight behind Malaga who occupy the fourth Champions League spot.
"It's my first hat-trick in the league, the Cup and every other competition," a smiling Negredo said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster Marca TV.

"We have to be strong here at home and away too and it was important to win and keep climbing up the table," added the 27-year-old, who was given a rousing ovation by the home fans when he was substituted with just over five minutes left.

"This is the dynamic that we have to keep up now, we played very well tonight."

Negredo fired Sevilla ahead in the 12th minute at a rain-soaked Sanchez Pizjuan stadium when he was perfectly placed to slot home after Celta goalkeeper Javi Varas had palmed away a Jesus Navas cross-shot.

The pacy Navas was a constant threat down the right and another centre from the Spain international in the 29th minute ricocheted out to Negredo just inside the area and he blasted the ball into the net.
Celta, who are 18th on 23 points, fought back strongly towards the end of the first half and a defensive error gifted them a goal five minutes before the break, Augusto Fernandez firing home after smart work from Iago Aspas.

Varas should have coped better with a swerving effort from Sevilla midfielder Gary Medel in the 66th minute but could only palm the ball into the net before Negredo pounced on another loose ball to complete his hat-trick two minutes later.

Sevilla have now won four and drawn one of their seven league games since Emery took over, with the two defeats coming at leaders Barcelona and champions Real Madrid. (Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

PREMIER LEAGUE BETTING LATEST

GARETH BALE to leave White Hart Lane during the close season after once again starring in Tottenham’s 2-1 victory over rivals Arsenal.

Bale’s opening goal against means the Welshman has scored a total of seven times in his last five league games and 16 for the season – and luckily loads of us have been backing him.

The result means Spurs are two points adrift of second-placed Manchester City and two points above Chelsea. It’s 11-8 for Tottenham to finish the season above the Blues and 8-1for Manchester United to win the league with Spurs second and City in third.

It would take a bid in the region of £50million to tempt Spurs to sell and Coral spokesman Tim Reynolds said: “Bale is unstoppable at present so it wouldn’t be surprising to see a number of top European clubs try to lure the 23-year-old away from White Hart Lane in the close season. Whether Bale would leave Spurs is the question, especially if they qualify for the Champions League next season.”

The defeat for Arsenal sees the pressure increase on Arsene Wenger with the Gunners now five points adrift of a lucrative top-four finish. It’s 2-1 for Arsene Wenger not to be at the club at the start of next season and 6-5 the Gunners qualify for the Champions League.

FA Cup triumph would be 'massive' for Chelsea

Chelsea attacker Victor Moses has suggested that winning the FA Cup for a second consecutive year would mark a successful ending to an otherwise disappointing season for the club.

The Blues are 19 points short of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League and have endured disappointing exits from both the Champions League and Capital One Cup this season. After scoring in a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough Wednesday, which sealed the Blues' place in the FA Cup quarterfinals, Moses underlined the importance of lifting the trophy.

"[The FA Cup] will be important for us, we've already lost a few competitions this season, so this one would be massive for the club," Moses told the club's official website.

The 21-year-old went on to praise his teammates for their performance during a potentially tricky away tie at the Riverside Stadium.

"It was a great win for us," Moses said. "Right from the start we wanted to get the game out of the way.

"They were a good side, they had a few chances as well, but we managed to capitalise on the ones we had and win the game. In the first half both sides had chances. We had our own but weren't able to take them and we knew in the second half that if the chances came we'd have to take them.

"It wasn't an easy game and we're delighted to come away with the victory.

"It was great work from Hazard and Oscar [to set-up Moses' goal]. They're both great players as we all know, it was a nice one-two to slip me in and it just needed a little touch from me to put the ball in the back of the net.

The West London outfit will meet Manchester United in the quarterfinals and resumes its challenge for a top-four finish against West Brom at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

"We've got an important game coming up on Saturday," Moses said. "We're looking forward to it but it's not going to be an easy game, so we need to make sure we get three points."