Chelsea boss Mourinho: Pardew a great man

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is a big fan of Newcastle United counterpart Alan Pardew.

Pardew is facing a lengthy ban after his clash with Hull City midfielder David Meyler last week.

Mourinho, whose side host Tottenham in the Premier League, said: “I spoke with Alan a couple of hours after the incident and he knows he made a mistake and he knows he has to pay for the mistake with some punishment.

“The biggest punishment is you to recognise yourself that you made a mistake.

“Alan will have the economical punishment, the suspension from the dugout, plus the self-blame of the mistake he made. I think he has a big punishment with all of these things together.

“I prefer to stay with a good friend and with a great guy, than to stay with a mistake.”

 

Rodgers insists Suso can still have Liverpool future

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insists Suso could still have a future at Anfield.

Sevilla are being linked with Suso, who is currently on-loan at Almeria.

Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo: ﾡﾰThe likes of young Suso has had a terrific loan in Spain playing regular first team football.

ﾡﾰHe will come back and come into the squad in the summer and then we will assess where he’s at.ﾡﾱ

 

Real Madrid boss Ancelotti dubs Jese "phenomenon"

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has dubbed Jese Rodriguez as a “phenomenon”.

Ancelotti made the comment when discussing PSG midfielder Marco Verratti.

ﾡﾰItﾡﾯs hard to get into the Italy midfielder because itﾡﾯs so crowded. But Verratti definitely has the personality to do well.

ﾡﾰThis period now will serve as an experience to him in the future.

ﾡﾰAt Real Madrid I have a phenomenon like Jese, but heﾡﾯs sometimes had to settle for a place on the bench.ﾡﾱ

 

Toronto FC signing Defoe won't rule out Tottenham loan return

Toronto FC signing Jermain Defoe says he could still pop up in the Premier League in the future.

Defoe revealed that he would consider a return to Tottenham in the future, on loan, during the MLS off-season.

He told Sky Sports: “It’s already been mentioned at Tottenham. Yeah. I think a lot of boys do that, Clint Dempsey went back to Fulham, so you never know. Coming back to Tottenham, scoring a few goals would be nice.”

 

Antonio Adan inks new Real Betis deal

Real Betis goalkeeper Antonio Adan has signed a new deal.

The 26-year-old signed for Betis on a short-term deal in January after he was released by Cagliari.

On Friday the goalkeeper committed his future to Betis for three years.

 

Bolton boss Freedman: Holden has future here so long as I'm involved

Bolton Wanderers boss Dougie Freedman says Stuart Holden still has a future at the Reebok.

The injury-ravaged midfielder has seen his latest comeback bid rocked by another knee complaint.

Freedman told the Bolton News: “As long as I’m at this football club – and I’ll speak for Phil Gartside and Eddie Davies too – Stu will be a part of it.

“With everyone’s best intention, Stu will be a part of this club as a player, on the pitch, playing. There are many different ideas we’ve got with other things, but right now I’m backing him because he wants to carry on playing.

“You come across people at football clubs that are here for money, for the location because it’s just around the corner, or they are coming to the end of their career or they are using us as a stepping stone.

“But people like Stuart are the complete opposite, he doesn’t talk about his contract, he wants to know how the younger players are doing and why we’re doing different stuff in training.

“I want him here for many, many years to come.”

 

Zidane says Real Madrid can win Treble

Real Madrid assistant coach Zinedine Zidane feels they can win the Treble this season.

Real are alive in the Copa del Rey, Champions League and La Liga.

“Of course you should discuss the possibility of winning the treble,” Zizou told El Confidencial.

“When you play at Real Madrid you know what the objectives are. We are in three competitions and we are there.

“We must go on, knowing that it is very difficult because there are very good teams. If you remain focused and working well, we can achieve important things.”

 

Sunderland boss Poyet: Scocco ready for Hull

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet is ready to hand Ignaccio Scocco a start against Hull City in their FA Cup quarterfinal.

Scocco is a confirmed starter for the Black Cats boss in the FA Cup sixth round clash in East Yorkshire.

ﾡﾰHeﾡﾯs better, much better. Heﾡﾯs playing on Sunday as well,ﾡﾱ he said.

ﾡﾰHe does things around the box that we donﾡﾯt have at the moment. He can have a shot or score a goal from nothing and thatﾡﾯs something weﾡﾯve been missing ﾨC especially when weﾡﾯve been in control and weﾡﾯve had that half a chance or half an opportunity with that shot.”

 

Barcelona coach Martino: Puyol irreplaceable

Barcelona coach Tata Martino says skipper Carles Puyol’s departure will be impossible to fill.

Martino heaped praise on “irreplaceable” Puyol following the centre-back’s decision to leave the Catalan giants.

Martino said: “I think he’s a footballer who is irreplaceable. I’m probably not the best-placed person to comment on this, because I’ve only worked with him for seven or eight months, but that’s enough to say what I said.

“He’s the type of player that a club has only once every so often. Life goes on at Barcelona, and the club will look for a replacement, but he’ll always be in everyone’s heads because he leaves an indelible mark.”

 

Doncaster boss Dickov wants to keep Villa striker Bowery

Doncaster Rovers boss Paul Dickov wants to extend the loan of Aston Villa striker Jordan Bowery.

Dickov is keen to extend Boweryﾡﾯs loan even though first choice striker Billy Sharp is available again after suspension.

ﾡﾰJordan is available this weekend and then weﾡﾯll be having conversations on that next week,ﾡﾱ said Dickov.

ﾡﾰHeﾡﾯs done well since heﾡﾯs been in, heﾡﾯs still finding his feet and we know that the more games he gets and the more time he spends with us the better, but thatﾡﾯs something weﾡﾯll discuss next week.ﾡﾱ