Premier League » News » Football: Holloway leaves Palace ‘by mutual consent’

Football: Holloway leaves Palace ‘by mutual consent’Mateusz Klich (r.) in actie tijdens PEC Zwolle – ADO Den Haag. (20-10-2013)

Manager Ian Holloway parted company with Crystal Palace on Wednesday, his exit coming less than 48 hours after a 4-1 home defeat to Fulham left the Premier League club second from bottom.

Holloway was leaving “by mutual consent’, according to the struggling Premier League side, Monday’s crushing loss having left Palace with a meagre harvest of three points from eight league matches this season and speculation rife over Holloway’s future.

They are languishing second from bottom with only one-point Sunderland, who sacked Paolo di Canio last month, below them.

Palace co-chairman Steve Parish announced the news at a hastily-arranged press conference in central London, insisting that 50-year-old Holloway left “with his head held very high”.

Parish said: “Ian’s contract at Crystal Palace has come to an end by mutual consent

“Ian felt that a new approach might help keep us in the division.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of working with Ian. He leaves our club with his head held very high.

“I’d like to put the record straight. We’ve never fallen out. We’ve worked together brilliantly. We feel we need to move on to progress.”

Holloway said: “I have pride in the job we’ve both done. It wasn’t easy. If Steve’s last manager (Dougie Freedman, who left for Bolton) wasn’t headhunted I wouldn’t have been here.

“We need to shut up shop in this division. At the minute we’ve got a whole new group there.

“Part of my talking with Steve was about am I the one with the energy left?

“I have to hold my hand up and say we didn’t keep the spirit that got us up. We changed too much too quickly.”

Prior to Palace Holloway had managerial spells with Blackpool, Leicester and Queens Park Rangers.

Possible names in the frame to replace him at Selhurst Park are former Stoke boss Tony Pulis, former Rangers and Scotland boss Alex McLeish, Roberto di Matteo, who guided Chelsea to the 2012 Champion s League title, veteran Neil Warnock or Wales coach Chris Coleman.

Champions League » News » Football: Aguero stars as City come from behind to win in Moscow

Football: Aguero stars as City come from behind to win in MoscowMilan muss vorerst ohne Robinho (r.) auskommen

Manchester City got their Champions League bid back on track on Wednesday, coming from behind to beat CSKA Moscow 2-1 in testing conditions in the Russian capital.

CSKA took a 32nd-minute lead courtesy of former Manchester United winger Zoran Tosic, but Sergio Aguero quickly equalised and then put the Premier League club in front before the interval at the Arena Khimki.

Aguero, who scored twice in the 3-1 weekend win at West Ham United, picked up where he left off to give Manuel Pellegrini’s side a second victory in Group D that leaves them well-placed, along with Bayern Munich, to progress to the competition’s knockout stages.

That, of course, is something City have never managed to do before despite their huge outlay on players in recent seasons, but their attacking quality shone through here on a poor pitch in cold conditions and in an unsavoury atmosphere.

Torrential rains last month seriously damaged pitches in the Moscow region to the extent that Leonid Slutski’s side had to play their last home group game against Viktoria Pilsen hundreds of kilometres away in St Petersburg.

The pitch at their temporary Khimki Arena home was passed fit for the visit of City, but it was far from ideal, while British television claimed that the visitors’ Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure was subjected to monkey chants from spectators within the stadium.

That could lead to further problems for CSKA, who have not won, or even scored a goal, in any of their last five games in the Russian Premier League and now face an uphill battle to qualify for the last 16 after this result.

City boss Pellegrini brought Jesus Navas in for Samir Nasri, while Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov came back into the defence. However, that defence was again missing Vincent Kompany and their soft centre was exposed when the hosts took the lead just after the half-hour mark.

A long ball downfield was headed on by Keisuke Honda to Tosic, and the Serbian winger, who had an unsuccessful spell with Manchester United earlier in his career, lobbed the outrushing Joe Hart to open the scoring.

City, wearing all white, had created the best chances before that, with Toure squandering a glorious chance from a third-minute David Silva corner, but they responded to falling behind brilliantly, drawing level barely two minutes later.

Sergei Ignashevich failed to clear a low Silva cross from the left, and Aguero took full advantage, allowing himself a touch before prodding past the exposed Igor Akinfeev.

The game became more and more open after that, and the visitors struck again to take the lead three minutes before the break, Aguero getting in front of Kirill Nababkin this time to head home a delightful cross from fellow forward Alvaro Negredo.

Akinfeev saved well from a Silva free-kick right on the half-time whistle, while Negredo had an effort disallowed for handball just after the restart.

After that, CSKA pressed forward in search of an equaliser and were unlucky on more than one occasion late on, notably when a stunning strike on the half-volley from substitute Ahmed Musa was harshly ruled out by the Romanian referee for a high boot by Pontus Wernbloom on Toure in the build-up.

Hart, who has come in for widespread criticism for his form in the opening weeks of the season, then produced a stunning save from Honda in the third minute of injury time as City held on.

Champions League » News » Football: Toure calls for action after racist chanting

Football: Toure calls for action after racist chantingMilan muss vorerst ohne Robinho (r.) auskommen

Manchester City’s Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure has called for European football’s governing body UEFA to take action following alleged racist chanting in his team’s Champions League game against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday.

British reporters inside the Khimki Arena in Moscow claimed that monkey chants could be heard emanating from home sections of the stadium during City’s 2-1 Group D victory.

They claimed that Toure was the target of the chants, and the former Barcelona player later revealed that he had heard the taunts and had mentioned them to the referee.

“Of course (I was aware). It is quite disappointing,” Toure told British Sky television at the end of the game.

“It is unbelievable and very, very sad. We want to stop that and UEFA have to be strong, maybe close the stadium.

“It is always sad when you hear something like that and we need to do something.”

City manager Manuel Pellegrini added: “It is a pity that these things happen and I hope that the right measures (are taken).”

Champions League » News » Football: Bale remains on Real bench for Juve clash

Football: Bale remains on Real bench for Juve clashMilan muss vorerst ohne Robinho (r.) auskommen

Gareth Bale will have to wait for his full Champions League debut with Real Madrid as he was once again named amongst Carlo Ancelotti’s substitutes for their home game on Wednesday against Juventus at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Welshman came on for the final 13 minutes of Saturday’s 2-0 win over Malaga on his return from a thigh strain and won a penalty in stoppage time.

However, his lack of match practice and the fine form of Angel di Maria means Bale must wait to make his home European debut.

Spanish international Isco is also somewhat surprisingly omitted from the starting line up as Ancelotti makes four changes in all from the side that started against Malaga.

In come Iker Casillas, Alvaro Arbeloa, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema with Diego Lopez, Dani Carvajal, Isco and Alvaro Morata dropping out.

Fernando Llorente starts for Juventus on his return to Spain to partner Carlos Tevez in attack as the Italian champions go in search of their first win in Group B.

Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal is also fit enough to start after starting Sunday’s 4-2 defeat at Fiorentina on the bench.

Champions League » News » Football: Aguero stars as City come from behind to win in Moscow

Football: Aguero stars as City come from behind to win in MoscowMilan muss vorerst ohne Robinho (r.) auskommen

Manchester City got their Champions League bid back on track on Wednesday, coming from behind to beat CSKA Moscow 2-1 in testing conditions in the Russian capital.

CSKA took a 32nd-minute lead courtesy of former Manchester United winger Zoran Tosic, but Sergio Aguero quickly equalised and then put the Premier League club in front before the interval at the Arena Khimki.

Aguero, who scored twice in the 3-1 weekend win at West Ham United, picked up where he left off to give Manuel Pellegrini’s side a second victory in Group D that leaves them well-placed, along with Bayern Munich, to progress to the competition’s knockout stages.

“It is an important win,” Pellegrini told UK Sky television after the game.

“Now we have to play the next two games at home. I told the players that we had to make sure we didn’t lose this one. We are not in the next round yet but this was an important step.”

Reaching the last 16, of course, is something City have never managed to do before despite their huge outlay on players in recent seasons, but their attacking quality shone through here on a poor pitch in cold conditions and in an unsavoury atmosphere.

Torrential rains last month seriously damaged pitches in the Moscow region to the extent that Leonid Slutski’s side had to play their last home group game against Viktoria Pilsen hundreds of kilometres away in St Petersburg.

The pitch at their temporary Khimki Arena home was passed fit for the visit of City, but it was far from ideal, while British television claimed that the visitors’ Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure was subjected to monkey chants from spectators within the stadium.

That could lead to further problems for CSKA, who have not won, or even scored a goal, in any of their last five games in the Russian Premier League and now face an uphill battle to qualify for the last 16 after this result.

City boss Pellegrini brought Jesus Navas in for Samir Nasri, while Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov came back into the defence. However, that defence was again missing Vincent Kompany and their soft centre was exposed when the hosts took the lead just after the half-hour mark.

A long ball downfield was headed on by Keisuke Honda to Tosic, and the Serbian winger, who had an unsuccessful spell with Manchester United earlier in his career, lobbed the outrushing Joe Hart to open the scoring.

City, wearing all white, had created the best chances before that, with Toure squandering a glorious chance from a third-minute David Silva corner, but they responded to falling behind brilliantly, drawing level barely two minutes later.

Sergei Ignashevich failed to clear a low Silva cross from the left, and Aguero took full advantage, allowing himself a touch before prodding past the exposed Igor Akinfeev.

The game became more and more open after that, and the visitors struck again to take the lead three minutes before the break, Aguero getting in front of Kirill Nababkin this time to head home a delightful cross from fellow forward Alvaro Negredo.

Akinfeev saved well from a Silva free-kick right on the half-time whistle, while Negredo had an effort disallowed for handball just after the restart.

After that, CSKA pressed forward in search of an equaliser and were unlucky on more than one occasion late on, notably when a stunning strike on the half-volley from substitute Ahmed Musa was harshly ruled out by the Romanian referee for a high boot by Pontus Wernbloom on Toure in the build-up.

Hart, who has come in for widespread criticism for his form in the opening weeks of the season, then produced a stunning save from Honda in the third minute of injury time as City held on.

Champions League » News » Football: Toure calls for action after racist chanting

Football: Toure calls for action after racist chantingMilan muss vorerst ohne Robinho (r.) auskommen

Manchester City’s Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure has called for European football’s governing body UEFA to take action following alleged racist chanting in his team’s Champions League game against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday.

British reporters inside the Khimki Arena in Moscow claimed that monkey chants could be heard emanating from home sections of the stadium during City’s 2-1 Group D victory.

They claimed that Toure was the target of the chants, and the former Barcelona player later revealed that he had heard the taunts and had mentioned them to the referee.

“Of course (I was aware). It is quite disappointing,” Toure told British Sky television at the end of the game.

“It is unbelievable and very, very sad. We want to stop that and UEFA have to be strong, maybe close the stadium.

“It is always sad when you hear something like that and we need to do something.”

City manager Manuel Pellegrini added: “It is a pity that these things happen and I hope that the right measures (are taken).”

The Premier League club’s Belgian defender Vincent Kompany, who was not playing in the game, directed a tweet toward UEFA and toward the Russian government, saying: “Racist chants again in Moscow today.. We’ve all said enough. @UEFAcom, @GovernmentRF, CSKA, all eyes are on you now..”

Kompany, 27, was born in Brussels but his father was a Congolese immigrant.

Football » News » RugbyU: Play-offs to decide final two Champions Cup places

RugbyU: Play-offs to decide final two Champions Cup placesWurde von den Bossen zum Rapport bestellt: Crystal-Palace-Coach Ian Holloway

The final two spots in next season’s proposed new Rugby Champions Cup will be decided by play-offs, one of the main supporters of the competition told AFP on Wednesday.

Bruce Craig, chairman of historic English club Bath and also a vice-president of the England’s Premiership Rugby, said they would take place in May and round off the 20 sides slated to take part in the inaugural tournament, the brainchild of the English and French clubs which now has the support of the Welsh provinces.

The Irish provinces, Scottish clubs and Italians have yet to agree leaving the organisers of the present competition European Rugby Cup (ERC) with a slim hope they might yet prevail.

They met in Dublin on Wednesday with the ERC but the French and English clubs boycotted the talks.

Craig was adamant that the rival tournament would go ahead hence his announcement of the play-offs.

“It is for certain there will be play-offs for one or two places in May,” said Craig.

At present the proposed make up of the teams taking part in the breakaway tournament is six from the English Premiership, six from the French Top 14 and six from the Celtic League.

“The play-offs could be made up of the teams that finish seventh or eighth in their respective championships,” said Craig.

“The play-offs would be interesting matches, with something at stake, involving teams who normally by that stage of the season have nothing to play for.”

The bodies that run the English and French clubs (PRL and LNR respectively) announced in September their determination to go ahead with the new competition throwing the European Cup to the wind after 19 years of existence.

Their main bone of contention with the present organisers was the distribution of money and also the method of qualification.

English and French clubs have long complained that Celtic League teams have an unfair advantage in European competition as most of them are guaranteed entry, whereas Premiership and Top 14 teams have to fight hard just to qualify.

Only the top six in England and France are guaranteed a place in the European Cup, whereas at least 10 Celtic League sides — including both Scottish, both Italians and a minimum of three each from Wales and Ireland — have a free pass into the competition.

So far the French Rugby Federation (FFR) have warned their clubs against participation while England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) has kept its powder dry in the hope a compromise agreement might emerge.

Last month Craig said Celtic League clubs faced “financial oblivion” if they don’t join the Rugby Champions Cup.

He estimated some Celtic League sides receive up to £3 million ($5million, 3.56 million euros), for competing in the existing European Cup.

By contrast, Craig said English clubs received some £800,000 annually for their European Cup participation.

However, despite Craig’s announcement about the play-offs on Wednesday, there were also signs the French are not unified as the president of present European champions Toulon Mourad Boudjellal revealed he had no intention of playing in the rival competition.

“I’ll represent France (in existing European competitions) on my own if necessary. And we’ll take TV rights on our own, too,” the comic book magnate told AFP.

Champions League » News » Football: European Champions League results

Football: European Champions League resultsWurde von den Bossen zum Rapport bestellt: Crystal-Palace-Coach Ian Holloway

European Champions League results on Wednesday:

Group A

At Leverkusen, Germany

Bayer Leverkusen (GER) 4 (Kiessling 22, 72, Rolfes 50-pen, Sam 57) Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 0

At Manchester, England

Manchester United (ENG) 1 (Martinez 2-o.g.) Real Sociedad (ESP) 0

Group B

At Madrid

Real Madrid (ESP) 2 (Ronaldo 4, 28-pen) Juventus (ITA) 1 (Llorente 22)

At Istanbul

Galatasaray (TUR) 3 (Felipe Melo 9, Sneijder 38, Drogba 45+1) FC Copenhagen (DEN) 1 (Claudemir 88)

Group C

At Lisbon

Benfica (POR) 1 (Cardozo 83) Olympiakos (GRE) 1 (Dominguez 29)

At Brussels

Anderlecht (BEL) 0 PSG (FRA) 5 (Ibrahimovic 17, 22, 36, 62, Cavani 52)

Group D

At Moscow

CSKA Moscow (RUS) 1 (Tosic 32) Manchester City (ENG) 2 (Aguero 34, 42)

At Munich, Germany

Bayern Munich (GER) 5 (Ribery 25-pen, 61, Alaba 37, Schweinsteiger 64, Goetze 90+1) Viktoria Plzen (CZE) 0

Europa League » News » Football: Champions League tables

Football: Champions League tablesDie Dinge nehmen ihren Lauf…

Champions League tables after Wednesday’s Group A-D matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Group A

Manchester United 3 2 1 0 6 3 7

Bayer Leverkusen 3 2 0 1 8 5 6

Shakhtar Donetsk 3 1 1 1 3 5 4

Real Sociedad 3 0 0 3 1 5 0

Group B

Real Madrid 3 3 0 0 12 2 9

Galatasaray 3 1 1 1 6 9 4

Juventus 3 0 2 1 4 5 2

FC Copenhagen 3 0 1 2 2 8 1

Group C

PSG 3 3 0 0 12 1 9

Olympiakos 3 1 1 1 5 5 4

Benfica 3 1 1 1 3 4 4

Anderlecht 3 0 0 3 0 10 0

Group D

Bayern Munich 3 3 0 0 11 1 9

Manchester City 3 2 0 1 6 4 6

CSKA Moscow 3 1 0 2 4 7 3

Viktoria Plzen 3 0 0 3 2 11 0

Champions League » News » Football: Brilliant Ibrahimovic tears apart Anderlecht

Football: Brilliant Ibrahimovic tears apart AnderlechtCristiano Ronaldo (l) traf doppelt gegen Schlusslicht Rayo Vallecano.

A sensational performance by Zlatan Ibrahimovic helped Paris Saint-Germain continue their perfect start in Champions League Group C with a 5-0 win at Anderlecht on Wednesday.

Sweden star Ibrahimovic scored a hat-trick in the space of 19 first-half minutes at the Stade Constant Vanden Stock in Brussels, one of the quickest triples in the competition’s history.

He netted another in the 62nd minute, after Edinson Cavani had also found the target after the break, as PSG made it three convincing wins from three group games to close in on a last-16 berth.

Ibrahimovic now has nine goals from his last four games in all competitions, while club record summer buy Cavani has eight since joining from Napoli, and their quality was too much for Belgian champions Anderlecht, who remain without a point in the section and are staring at an early exit.

In contrast, the French club are beginning to look like genuine contenders to win the tournament for the first time, although they will face far stiffer tests than this in the months ahead.

Visiting coach Laurent Blanc named his strongest possible side, with the only notable absentee being captain Thiago Silva, who is still not fit again after a thigh problem.

The hosts young line-up included the 16-year-old Youri Tielemans in midfield, but they did not appear overawed in the early stages, seeking to take the game to PSG.

Salvatore Sirigu in the away goal had to turn a well-struck Matias Suarez shot around the post in the eighth minute, before Ibrahimovic managed to miss the target with just ‘keeper Thomas Kaminski to beat at the other end.

That was a sign of what was to come, and the Swede – who appears to be on a mission to win the Champions League for the first time in his career – got the breakthrough after 17 minutes, easily tapping in a low Gregory Van der Wiel cross from the right at the back post.

The duo combined again to make it 2-0 five minutes later, the Dutch full-back’s low ball being back-heeled into the net in typical Ibrahimovic fashion at the near post.

It went from the sublime to the ridiculous as he completed his hat-trick, pouncing on a loose ball 30 yards out to hammer a ferocious first-time volley past a helpless Kaminski in goal.

Many home fans rose to their feet to applaud that effort, and it was already game over, but Anderlecht did not help themselves as they conceded again seven minutes after the restart.

Teenage Congolese defender Chancel Mbemba slipped, allowing Blaise Matuidi to square for Cavani to make it 4-0, before Ibrahimovic drove in his team’s fifth – and his 37th in the Champions League in 98 appearances – off a post just after the hour mark.

He might even have scored another but, with Kaminski off his line in the 76th minute, an attempted chip landed on the roof of the net, and he saw another shot saved towards the end.