Vidic happy at Man Utd

Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic insisted Tuesday that he is not seeking a move from Manchester United.

Vidic, who made his first start of the season in Saturday's 5-0 win over Wigan after recovering from injury, was responding to speculation that he is looking for a move.

"I've never said anything about Barcelona or Real Madrid or AC Milan - or any club," he said. "I never speak about my future so I don't know why someone else does. I showed at Wigan on the pitch how happy I am at this club. Click to read more...

Ronaldo needs time to adapt to Real, says Pellegrini

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini says Cristiano Ronaldo needs more time to adapt to his new club after the Portuguese winger failed to impress during his side's trouncing of Rosenborg on Monday in the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy.

"Cristiano Ronaldo needs a little time to adapt to his new team's style. Every player on the squad is working hard to be fit and play well," he said in comments published Tuesday on the Real Madrid website.

"Cristiano has experienced a change in style and now lives in a different country. He needs a little more time unlike those who already know La Liga." Click to read more...

Lisandro hat-trick underlines Lyon's C1 credentials

A first-half hat-trick from new Argentinian signing Lisandro crushed Anderlecht's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League group stages as Lyon showed their last 32 credentials in a 3-1 win in Belgium.

Thanks to their 5-1 victory over the Belgian side at the Gerland stadium last week, giving them an 8-2 aggregate result, Lyon were the most convincing team of the five who qualified for the group stage on Tuesday.

Elsewhere Maccabi Haifa joined the lucrative stages of Europe's premier club competition with a 3-0 win over FC Salzburg which gave the Israelis a 5-1 victory over the Austrians. Click to read more...

Dementieva ousts Serena in Montreal

Elena Dementieva stunned red-hot favourite Serena Williams to set up a Rogers Cup final with fellow underdog Maria Sharapova.

Russian Dementieva, seeded fourth for the event, was pitted against Williams who has been on fine form this week and was expected to lift the trophy following the early departures of top seed Dinara Safina and sister Venus.

Sharapova, meanwhile, continued to show glimpses of her best tennis as she despatched Alisa Kleybanova 6-2 4-6 6-4. Click to read more...

Federer overpowers Djokovic

Roger Federer claimed his third Cincinnati Masters title with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Novak Djokovic in the final.

Federer, who beat defending champion Andy Murray 6-2 7-6 (10/8) in the semi-finals, confirmed his status as heavy favourite for the US Open with an outstanding performance.

It was his 16th Masters Series title - his first as a father - and apart from Djokovic's fightback early in the second set he was never troubled.

The world number one and defending Wimbledon, French and US Open champion took his total career prize money to US dollars 50million with today's triumph. Click to read more...

Liverpool 1-3 Aston Villa

Liverpool slumped to their second Premier League defeat in nine days to put their title credentials firmly on the line.

Aston Villa produced a defiant, organised display and deserved their first win at Anfield since 2001.

The result also ended Liverpool's 31-match unbeaten home league record stretching back to December 2007, when Manchester United were the last winners at Anfield. Click to read more...

Hong Kong tycoon makes Birmingham buyout bid

Hong Kong tycoon Carson Yeung said Monday he has offered 57.13 million pounds (94.7 million US) to buy English Premier League team Birmingham City, promising money to buy new players.

Yeung, whose Hong Kong-listed Grandtop International has a 29.9 percent stake in the club, said the firm would raise 785 million Hong Kong dollars (100.6 million US) through an open offer of shares for the acquisition.

The businessman's latest attempt to seize control of the newly promoted side came after his first bid in 2007 failed to materialise.

But he said he was only waiting for the right moment for the takeover.
"The club was relegated (in the (2007/08) season. I bought it this year because it bounced back.

It's as simple as that," he told a press conference in Hong Kong. Click to read more...

Croatia name full-strength squad for England clash

Coach Slaven Bilic named a full-strength Croatia squad on Monday for upcoming World Cup 2010 qualifiers against Belarus and England early next month.

Croatia face Belarus at home on September 5 before travelling to London for a showdown with England four days later.

Bilic's 24-man squad features several players from the English Premier League including the in-form Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric and Brazil-born Arsenal striker Eduardo Da Silva.

The only player missing is defender Robert Kovac due to an injury.

The Dinamo Zagreb veteran was not expected to make the starting line-up for the two qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Click to read more...

City snap up Sylvinho on one-year deal

Big-spending Manchester City have signed veteran Brazilian defender Sylvinho on a one-year deal, the club announced Monday.

Sylvinho, 35, was a free agent after leaving Barcelona at the end of last season and has previously played in the English Premier League for Arsenal, for whom he made 55 appearances between 1999 and 2001.

City boss Mark Hughes has signed the experienced defender essentially as cover for England left back Wayne Bridge.

Sylvinho won the Champions League twice and three La Liga titles with Barcelona as well as picking up six caps for Brazil in a career which has also included spells at Celta Vigo and Corinthians. Click to read more...

Liverpool's Benitez defends squad after Villa loss

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has jumped to the defence of his players and his system despite losing two of his opening three matches of the season.

The Reds were beaten 2-1 at Tottenham on the opening day of the campaign and were defeated 3-1 by Aston Villa at Anfield on Monday night.

Benitez lost key midfielder Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid in the summer and has only managed to bring in Glen Johnson, Alberto Aquilani, who is out injured for at least six weeks, and back-up defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos. Click to read more...

Fabregas doubtful for Celtic clash

Arsene Wenger is facing an anxious wait before discovering the extent of Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas' latest injury setback.

Fabregas limped out of Arsenal's 4-1 defeat of Portsmouth on Saturday at half-time, leading to fears that the Spain international could be set for an extended layoff.

Tests have subsequently revealed that the Gunners star had a hamstring problem which saw him being withdrawn as a precaution. Click to read more...

Benayoun ready to play his part

Yossi Benayoun has won his Liverpool place back and he intends to hang onto it.

The Israeli midfielder struggled to get regular starts last term until the back end of the season, when his form played a major part in Liverpool's unbeaten 11-match run to the end of the campaign that almost took the title.

Boss Rafael Benitez opted to start this term with Ryan Babel on the left instead of Benayoun, and that decision has clearly inspired the 29-year-old. Click to read more...

Murray crashes out against Federer

Andy Murray crashed out of the Cincinnati Masters after being given a tennis master class by rival Roger Federer.

Federer won 6-2 7-6 (10/8) to set-up a final against Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic.

Murray failed to get his game together in a first set which lasted just 30 minutes and while he provided stiffer resistance in the second set, failing to take two set points, Federer was in excellent form.

The Scot had come from behind in four of his six victories over Federer but was unable to unsettle the Swiss ace this time. Click to read more...

Federer overpowers Djokovic

Roger Federer claimed his third Cincinnati Masters title with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Novak Djokovic in the final.

Federer, who beat defending champion Andy Murray 6-2 7-6 (10/8) in the semi-finals, confirmed his status as heavy favourite for the US Open with an outstanding performance.

It was his 16th Masters Series title - his first as a father - and apart from Djokovic's fightback early in the second set he was never troubled. Click to read more...

Rafa anticipates tough season

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez does not expect the big four to have things all their own way this season.

Benitez, who could give a debut to new Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos against Aston Villa on Monday at Anfield, anticipates plenty of teams taking points off the Reds, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

He said: "This will be a different sort of title race. Already we have lost, and so have Manchester United. Click to read more...