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Pirates facing uphill task

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The Buccaneers go into their semifinal, first leg Caf Confederation Cup clash against champions Al Ahly with the odds heavily stacked against them.

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No Oupa Manyisa. No Happy Jele. No Siyabonga Sangweni.

And goalkeeper Felipe Ovono is still without a reserve.

On the face of it, darkness has descended upon Orlando Pirates and the man carrying the matches has dropped it in the tunnel.

The Buccaneers go into their semifinal, first leg Caf Confederation Cup clash against champions Al Ahly with just about all the odds heavily stacked against them.

As if the unavailability of those three key players was not bad enough, there is also the small matter of Bucs not having won a match in a month.

It wouldn’t all be so bad were the opposition some ordinary outfit with no pedigree. But standing in the Buccaneers’ way to their maiden final appearance in the continent’s second tier club competition is Africa’s foremost club – the Red Devils of Cairo, winners of nine Champions Cup/ League titles and defending champions of this very cup.

Relegated to the Confederation Cup once again, Ahly have just one more chance to win silverware in a year that saw them play second fiddle to bitter rivals Zamalek in their domestic league. The White Knights won the championship and on Tuesday beat Ahly 2-0 to complete the double by capturing the Egypt Cup.

To say Ahly are hurt will be understating the case a wee bit. And Pirates can expect a backlash from a team eager to get even with a Zamalek side who are also in the Confederation Cup semi-final. They play Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel in the other semi.

Pirates coach Eric Tinkler has said he believes Zamalek are a much stronger side than Ahly following his team’s two defeats to the Egyptian champions in the group stage. Granted Zamalek’s double success in Egypt vindicates his statement. But he will have to prove this is the case by leading Pirates to victory early this evening (6pm) at Orlando Stadium.

How he does that without his talismanic captain and joint-leading scorer in the competition, Manyisa remains to be seen. The player nicknamed “Ace” suffered an ankle fracture that is likely to keep him out of action for a long time during the Absa Premiership clash with Polokwane City on Wednesday.

Tinkler has a big squad not to worry about a replacement for Manyisa, the likes of Thandani Ntshumayelo and Issa Sarr experienced enough and capable of dictating play for the Buccaneers. Young Menzi Masuku replaced Manyisa in Polokwane and could be used once again with Lehlohonolo Masalesa also coming into the reckoning.

In defence, the suspension of rightback Happy Jele and central defender Siyabonga Sangweni means Ayanda Gcaba could get a run alongside Rooi Mahamutsa in the heart of defence with Thabo Matlaba and Patrick Phungwayo used as fullbacks.

Yet Tinkler might be wary of going this route after Zamalek exploited the two fullbacks’ penchant for overlapping in their 4-1 hammering of the Buccaneers in the final group match.

Irrespective of the tactics Tinkler employs, the bottom line is that Pirates need to beat Al Ahly and do so without conceding a goal if they are to give themselves a fighting chance for next week’s second leg in Suez.

How they do that without three key players remains to be seen. - Saturday Star

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Rodgers doesn’t fear the sack

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers claims his strong relationship with the club's American owners means he doesn't fear the sack.

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Beleaguered Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers claims his strong relationship with the club's American owners means he doesn't fear the sack.

Rodgers has come under fire from Liverpool's usually loyal fans after a woeful run of form which has left his side languishing in 13th place in the Premier League ahead of Aston Villa's visit to Anfield on Saturday.

The Reds have gone four league games without a win, a dispiriting sequence that included heavy defeats against Manchester United and West Ham, and on Wednesday they suffered the indignity of being taken to a penalty shoot-out by fourth tier minnows Carlisle.

Although they eventually won that League Cup tie, the lacklustre display did little to ease the growing scrutiny on Rodgers, with Liverpool forced to deny reports they had approached former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, while ex-Borussia Dortmund chief Jurgen Klopp has also been linked with the job.

But Rodgers hopes his bond with Boston-based owners Fenway Sports Group, who hailed him as the ideal man to lead their Liverpool project when they hired him in 2012, will buy him time to improve results.

“I hope to be here for a long time. I have regular contact with the owners and the relationship has always been strong,” Rodgers said.

“I walked in here three years ago as a 39-year-old manager at one of the greatest football clubs in the world and I'm a better manager now for that.

“Whatever happens here, I'll always have a huge respect for the owners here and the people that work here.”

Rodgers' plight is mirrored on Tyneside, where Steve McClaren is already losing the support of the locals just eight games into his reign.

The former England manager, hired from Derby in the close-season, has watched his side slump to second bottom of the table after failing to win any of their first six matches.

Then to make matters worse, Newcastle suffered their fourth successive defeat in all competitions as they crashed out of the League Cup against an under-strength Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.

With Chelsea arriving at St James' on Saturday, the chorus of disapproval could yet grow in volume, but McClaren is adamant a victory over Jose Mourinho's men would dramatically improve the febrile atmosphere threatening to engulf the club.

“Do we fear it? Do we say we don't want to play in that? We have got to. We have got to get people ready for Saturday, ready to fight, and one result turns it around,” McClaren said.

“You have got to say and you have got to believe - which I do - that could be Saturday.”

McClaren's cause will be helped by the absence of Chelsea striker Diego Costa, who is serving a suspension following his retrospective punishment for tangling with Laurent Koscielny in the win over Arsenal last weekend.

And after taking just seven points from their opening six games, Chelsea can ill-afford to let Newcastle get back on track.

Elsewhere on Saturday, leaders Manchester City travel to Tottenham looking to extend their impressive recent record of three wins from their last four visits to White Hart Lane.

Consecutive defeats against Juventus and West Ham had pierced City's confidence, but they got back on track by crushing Sunderland in the League Cup.

“It was important to win. Maybe we didn't deserve to lose the two games that we lost, but we did, so it was important not to continue in that way,” City boss Manuel Pellegrini said.

Second placed Manchester United, two points behind their local rivals, host Sunderland with boss Louis van Gaal trying to play down expectations surrounding Anthony Martial after the young French striker scored his fourth goal in as many matches.

Martial's strike against Ipswich in United's League Cup stroll maintained his blistering start since his move from Monaco.

But van Gaal said: “He is a player who is very modest and he knows he can score because of his fellow players.

“We are happy with him but still we have to keep our feet on the ground.”

Leicester face a stern test of the league's last unbeaten record when they face Arsenal at the King Power Stadium.

Fixtures:

Saturday

Leicester v Arsenal, Liverpool v Aston Villa, Manchester United v Sunderland, Newcastle v Chelsea, Southampton v Swansea, Stoke v Bournemouth, Tottenham v Manchester City, West Ham v Norwich

Sunday

Watford v Crystal Palace

Monday

West Brom v Everton – AFP

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Shaw out for six months - LVG

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw is expected to be sidelined for at least six months after breaking his right leg in two places, manager Louis van Gaal said.

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London - Manchester United defender Luke Shaw is expected to be sidelined for at least six months after breaking his right leg in two places, manager Louis van Gaal said on Friday.

Left back Shaw, 20, suffered the injury in United's Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven on September 15 and was flown home four days later after two operations.

The England international was carried off on a stretcher after he broke his tibia and fibula following a challenge by PSV defender Hector Moreno in the 15th minute of the match.

“He will be out at least six months. You can't predict the development of the rehabilitation,” Van Gaal was quoted as saying by the BBC.

“There's always more - and then he has to get fit.”

Shaw, who will use electro muscle stimulation to retain strength in his leg, will hope there is enough time for him to take part in England's Euro 2016 campaign, starting in June.

“It is not easy and Luke knows he has a long way to go but the most important thing is he is mentally very strong,” added Van Gaal.

United's Dutch manager told MUTV: “I spoke to him (Shaw) last night. He was very positive. It's amazing for me. There are very good signals. We have already started the rehabilitation.

“He shall be visited at home for the first electro muscle stimulants, so I think it's very good.” – Reuters

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Judge freezes Neymar’s assets

A Brazilian judge has accused Barcelona striker Neymar of tax evasion and frozen 188.8 million reais ($47.6 million) of his assets.

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SO Paulo - A Brazilian judge has accused Barcelona striker Neymar of tax evasion and frozen 188.8 million reais ($47.6 million) of his assets, authorities said on Friday.

Neymar is accused of not paying 63.3 million reais in taxes between 2011 and 2013. The judge froze three times that amount for security reasons and to cover potential interest and fines, according to a judicial order explaining the seizure.

The action covers property and vehicles and is a preventive measure to stop the player selling assets before the case is settled. He will still have access to bank accounts and other liquid assets.

Judge Carlos Muta accused the 23-year-old of “omitting sources of income from abroad”. Barcelona Football Club was cited as the source of unreported money.

The frozen assets were in the name of the Brazil player and three companies in which he and his father are the principal owners. Neymar's total assets were given as 244.2 million reais.

Neymar joined the Spanish club in June 2013 after a successful career at Santos but his transfer has been a source of controversy.

Then Barcelona president Sandro Rosell said Neymar cost 57.1 million euros($63.92 million) but the deal was shrouded in secrecy.

His successor Josep Maria Bartomeu eventually admitted the total cost came to 86.2 million euros once additional payments to the player and his family had been included.

Rosell resigned in January 2014 after a judge decided to investigate and call him to testify in the case.

A Brazilian investment firm which bought an interest in Neymar has taken legal action against the player, his father and Barcelona in a bid to secure a bigger slice of the transfer fee. – Reuters

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Mourinho taunts Wenger, again!

Jose Mourinho's long-running feud with Arsenal's Arsene Wenger continued when he said there was one exception in English football to the rules applying to every other manager.

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London - Jose Mourinho's long-running feud with Arsenal's Arsene Wenger continued on Friday when the Chelsea boss said there was one exception in English football to the rules applying to every other manager.

“I think in this country only one manager is not under pressure,” Mourinho told a news conference ahead of Saturday's Premier League game at Newcastle United.

“Steve (McClaren) is under pressure, I am under pressure, Brendan (Rodgers) is under pressure, (Manuel) Pellegrini is under pressure,” he added of the men in charge at Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester City respectively.

“We cannot lose matches, we cannot be below expectations. There is one that for some reason is outside that list. Good for him.

“He can speak about the referees before the game, can speak about the referees after the game, can push people in the technical area (as he did at Chelsea last season), can cry in the morning, can cry in the afternoon, nothing happens,” said Mourinho.

“Can be not achieved, keep the job, still the king. It's a privilege.”

Declining to name Wenger, who has been Arsenal manager for 19 years and has not won the league since 2004, he replied “you know” after being asked who he was referring to.

Mourinho avoided further reference to the controversial 2-0 win last weekend over Arsenal who had centre half Gabriel's ban rescinded after he was sent off.

“If I answer I'm going to be suspended,” said the Portuguese. “I don't want to touch that because I want to sit on the bench.”

Mourinho has not won any of his five league visits to Newcastle although he has enjoyed two League Cup victories there.

A win this time would be his 200th in two spells in charge, making him only the second Chelsea manager to reach that landmark.

Champions Chelsea are 15th in the table while Newcastle are second from bottom. – Reuters

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Blatter criminal probe: Twitter reacts

Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Sepp Blatter. Here's how Twitter reacted to the news...

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Zurich - Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Sepp Blatter, the head of world soccer body Fifa, on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and misappropriation, the Swiss attorney general's office said on Friday.

It said Blatter was interrogated after a meeting of Fifa's executive committee in Zurich, and authorities carried out a search at Fifa headquarters on Friday.

The Swiss Attorney General said UEFA president Michel Platini, who is widely tipped to succeed Blatter, is also implicated in the probe.

Platini was also questioned as a witness over what Swiss authorities termed a “disloyal payment” of 2 million Swiss francs he received from the 70-year-old world football supremo in February 2011.

But Blatter’s lawyer said a review of the evidence will show that the Fifa boss was not responsible for any mismanagement.

“Mr Blatter is co-operating and we are confident that when the Swiss authorities have a chance to review the documents and the evidence they will see that the contract was properly prepared and negotiated by the appropriate staff members of Fifa,” said a statement by Richard Cullen, a defence lawyer based in Virginia.

“Certainly no mismanagement occurred.”

Cullen was referring to a deal with the Caribbean Football Union that Swiss prosecutors said was “unfavourable to Fifa” and which is central to their case against the head of world football's governing body.

AFP, Reuters and ANA

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Arsenal waiting on FA’s Gabriel decision

The fall-out from feisty derbies against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur continued to dominate the build-up to Arsenal's important weekend game away to Leicester City.

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London - The fall-out from feisty derbies against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur continued to dominate the build-up to Arsenal's important weekend game away to Leicester City, with manager Arsene Wenger not knowing whether defender Gabriel can play.

The Brazilian defender, sent off last Saturday for retaliating against Chelsea's Diego Costa, had his dismissal rescinded but Costa, who appeared to have escaped with a yellow card, was subsequently banned for three matches.

That did not pacify Wenger, who said that it repaired only “five per cent” of the damage his team suffered by losing Gabriel before half-time.

And Arsenal still have to wait for the FA's verdict, expected later on Friday, on whether Gabriel is fined or suspended for failing to leave the pitch quickly enough.

“I'm hopeful but I will accept the judgment,” Wenger told a news conference. “If there's no punishment, we are a bit lucky but if there's punishment we will have to take it.

“Ideally, we want the right decision to be taken during the game. We should have played with 11 against 10 but instead we played with 10 against 11.”

Gabriel, he added, had been “completely focused” in training while awaiting the FA decision.

After their 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal won a League Cup tie 2-1 away to their greatest rivals, Spurs.

They will be without injured midfielder Francis Coquelin for Saturday's trip to Leicester, the only unbeaten team in the league.

Claudio Ranieri's side lie one place and two points above them in fourth position.

“It shows we have a strong squad,” Wenger said of the win against Spurs. “We showed how to fight on Wednesday night. The game was about commitment and mental resources which we showed.

“I have great confidence in these players.”

That includes Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez, last season's leading scorer, who is without a goal so far in the new campaign.

“It takes time to settle and come back to your best,” Wenger said. “I'm not worried about Alexis Sanchez and I'm confident he will score.” – Reuters

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Rodgers admits he’s under pressure

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has cut an increasingly isolated figure in recent weeks after a string of disappointing results.

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Brendan Rodgers has admitted that his job is on the line, but has pledged to keep working towards improving Liverpool's results whether he stays on as manager for “one day more, one month, another year, or whatever”.

The under-fire Northern Irishman has cut an increasingly isolated figure in recent weeks after a string of disappointing results has left his team 13th in the Premier League table and looking like a side short on both creativity and cohesion.

Liverpool needed a penalty shootout to get past fourth-tier side Carlisle United in the League Cup in midweek, sparking fan protests and rumours that Rodgers was on his way out, with the owners seeking to replace him with the likes of Carlo Ancelotti or Jurgen Klopp.

“I think when you're a manager of a club of this size, there's always going to be speculation around your job and, of course, if you're not winning games that will intensify,” Rodgers told reporters ahead of Saturday's home league game against Aston Villa.

“There's probably been over 10 managers linked with the job over the three years I've been here, so you take that as part and parcel of the game.

“I don't think the pressure goes away unless you are winning games and getting the performance level.

Rodgers, who signed a new four-year contract in 2014, insisted that his relationship with the club's owners, Fenway Sports Group, was still strong and appealed to the fans to keep faith with his team.

“I have regular contact with the owners and that relationship has always been strong,” he said.

“And in all fairness, whatever happens here, whether I'm here for one day more, one month, another year, or whatever, I'll always have huge respect for the people here, the owners and Ian Ayre.”

“I'd ask the fans to keep faith with the team. To stay with the team who are working tirelessly every day,” he added.

“I hope to be a manager for 20 years. I know it won't be 20 years at Liverpool but while I am here I want to fight for the club and the players.

“One win and we're back up in and around the top four. It's still very early on.” – Reuters

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Nxumalo’s health now a major worry

There is increasing trepidation around the condition of Ajax Cape Town striker Prince Nxumalo.

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There is increasing trepidation around the condition of Ajax Cape Town striker Prince Nxumalo.

Ajax host Kaizer Chiefs in a PSL fixture at the Cape Town Stadium tomorrow night (kick-off 8.15pm) and Nxumalo, who was called up to the Bafana Bafana squad earlier this week, will definitely play no part.

The 25-year-old is expected to be spend the next few days in hospital undergoing a series of tests in a bid to find a solution to his medical problems.

On Wednesday night, Ajax conceded a late, injury-time goal to lose 3-2 to Mamelodi Sundowns in Atteridgeville. Nxumalo was named in the starting team, but, as early as the warm-up, his teammates and coaches could see he wasn’t well. He wasn’t responding to anything, and was completely out of it. It was reportedly something to do with an epileptic fit he suffered last month. The player was immediately taken to hospital, but discharged later.

Yesterday morning, though, before Ajax’s departure back to the Mother City, Nxumalo suffered yet another seizure and had to be quickly rushed back to hospital.

Last month, the night before the MTN8 semi-final against Wits, Nxumalo’s epileptic fits first surfaced. He spent a few days in intensive care. When discharged, he was given medication to treat the seizures and subsequently given the go-ahead to commence training. Such had been his work at training over the last two weeks, and based on medical advice, Ajax coach Roger de Sa deemed the player ready to start against Sundowns on Wednesday.

But with the problem recurring, it’s become a very serious issue, hence the battery of tests the striker now has to undergo.

It also means that Nxumalo will certainly be withdrawn from the Bafana Bafana squad scheduled to play away friendlies against Costa Rica and Honduras next month.

Assistant-coach Ian Taylor acknowledged that Ajax were poor in the defeat to Sundowns, but pointed out that the situation with Nxumalo had a profound effect on the players.

“We never played well, we weren’t at our best,” said Taylor. “So I don’t want to use Prince as an excuse, but it was tough on them, especially as it happened during the warm-up. They were affected, there’s no doubt about it … that’s why we started so slowly and only got back into it later in the match.

“And then, to crown it all, at half-time we had Abbubaker Mobara vomiting and complaining of headaches … we then had to substitute him as we couldn’t take the risk of dehydration.”

But Ajax will have to quickly put the Sundowns loss behind them. And, while they will have Nxumalo’s condition on their minds, they cannot allow it to affect them as they prepare to face Chiefs tomorrow.

The Cape side defeated the Soweto club in the MTN8 final in Port Elizabeth last week, but it will be a different set of circumstances this time.

“We will, obviously, have to assess the squad before we make the final team selection,” said Taylor. “We’ll have to look at the niggles and strains, and see who’s fresh …

“But we know we can expect a revved up Chiefs. They’ll be wound by the Cup final defeat and they also only managed a 1-1 draw with Tuks on Wednesday. They’ll be motivated, for sure. But we’ll have to try to do things a little differently. They’ll be prepared for the game plan we used in the Cup final, so we’ll have to tweak things a touch, so as not to be too predictable. They’ll be ready for us, so we’ll have to throw something new at them.

“Most importantly, though, we have to get back to winning ways. The defeat on Wednesday was disappointing. We were looking good for a draw, which we would have been happy with, and then Sundowns scored the late goal. But we’ve always done well at home and a packed Cape Town Stadium is perhaps just the right stage for the squad to redeem itself.”

On a positive note for Ajax ahead of the clash with Chiefs, teenage central defender Rivaldo Coetzee returns from suspension – and that’s a major boost to their chances of victory.

FIXTURES

Today: Chippa United v Polokwane City

Tomorrow: SuperSport United v Platinum Stars; Free State Stars v Wits; Ajax Cape Town v Kaizer Chiefs (Cape Town Stadium, 8.15pm)

Sunday: University of Pretoria v Bloemfontein Celtic; Jomo Cosmos v Mamelodi Sundowns; Black Aces v Maritzburg Utd - The Star

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Three crucial games for Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers' next three games in charge of Liverpool will be critical to the future of the manager.

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Brendan Rodgers' next three games in charge of Liverpool against Aston Villa and Everton in the Premier League, and Sion of Switzerland in the Europa League, will be critical to the future of the manager who has the backing of Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, for now.

Rodgers, 42, was at the training ground yesterday and is preparing for the Villa game tomorrow. He is due to give his Friday press conference as usual this morning at Melwood. There was dismay at the club that they required a penalty shoot-out to eliminate League Two Carlisle United in the Capital One Cup at Anfield on Wednesday night, although it was acknowledged that the side were ultimately resilient enough to avoid being embarrassed.

As things stand, Rodgers has the backing of the American owners FSG. In the past they have moved quickly to remove managers Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish, as opposed to leaving them in position while they approached other candidates. While the end of the season might be an obvious parting of the ways for club and manager, Rodgers will need a turnaround in results to last that long.

The club have denied there has been any approach, direct or otherwise, for Carlo Ancelotti. Nevertheless, he would be one of the obvious candidates if Rodgers was unable to recover his position. Ancelotti, 56, has recently undergone surgery on a long-term back problem and spends much of his time in Canada with new wife Mariann Barrena McClay. It is unclear how willing he is to return to frontline management in the near future.

Jürgen Klopp, 48, the former Borussia Dortmund manager, is on sabbatical having left the club in the summer. The indications from the German are that he would be prepared to take over at Liverpool at the earliest opportunity in spite of his original pledge to take some time off from the game.

Rodgers faces Villa without the injured Christian Benteke who is also expected to miss the derby against Everton on 4 October. Roberto Firmino hurt his back against Carlisle and had a scan yesterday, which is not expected to be serious. Diego Lovren has suspected ankle ligaments damage. Rodgers is already without his captain Jordan Henderson, who is recovering from a heel problem.

The mood of the fans will, as ever, play a part in deciding Rodgers' future with there being no appetite at the club for seeing a deeply unpopular manager at odds with the fans for a long period of the season. While it would be fair to say that the match-going fans are divided over Rodgers there is none of the mass outright hostility to him that would force the club's hand.

While Benteke's problem will keep him out until the international break at least, there is some cause for hope in the form of Danny Ings. He is a contender to start against Villa at Anfield tomorrow, which would be his second league start of the season.

After the narrow win over Carlisle, goalkeeper Adam Bogdan admitted the players were aware of the growing discontent among Liverpool fans but insisted they were doing all they could to turn the situation around.

The Hungary international was in the small minority - goalscorer Danny Ings was the other - to come out of the cup victory with any credit.

Making his debut, Bogdan saved three penalties in the shoot-out when the match finished 1-1 after extra time, but the fact he was put in that position only highlighted the shortcomings of Liverpool - booed on three occasions - who failed to breach the leakiest defence in League Two more than once despite taking 47 shots in the tie.

“I tried to think of my performance and the things I needed to do to make the saves,” said Bogdan. “Of course, you're not deaf or blind, you see and hear things, but you can only afford to concentrate on your own job.

“It's frustrating when you have so many chances and don't score but I think the fans could see that we kept trying.

“I understand the frustration [of fans]. We want to win and we're trying everything possible to win and to win in style. We all know the Villa game is massive. The final touch is missing for us at the moment but it will come. I really hope it comes on Saturday.”

Liverpool’s poor run:

After opening the season with two 1-0 victories, Liverpool have struggled for form and have gone six games without a win in 90 minutes:

9 Aug Stoke (a) Won 0-1

17 Aug B'mouth (h) Won 1-0

24 Aug Arsenal (a) Drew 0-0

29 Aug West Ham (h) Lost 0-3

12 Sep Man Utd (a) Lost 3-1

17 Sep Bordeaux (a) Drew 1-1

20 Sep Norwich (h) Drew 1-1

23 Sep Carlisle (h) Drew 1-1(aet, won on penalties) – The Independent

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Costa sending wrong message - Pele

The behaviour of Chelsea's Diego Costa against Arsenal was bad for football's image and sent the wrong message to children, Pele has said.

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London - The behaviour of Chelsea's Diego Costa against Arsenal last weekend was bad for football's image and sent the wrong message to children, Pele has said on the eve of an art exhibition in London to celebrate his 75th birthday.

Widely regarded as the greatest footballer ever to have played the game, the Brazilian was scathing about his fellow countryman, who received a three-match ban from a disciplinary commission this week after the referee failed to spot him catching Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny in the face.

“It is not a good message for children,” Pele told the Daily Telegraph. “He didn't get a red card but was charged. It was dirty.

“It is not good for football. But it was one mistake.”

Pele said that, like Costa, who now plays for Spain, he would have come to Europe instead of staying with Santos in Sao Paulo for most of his career because “these days it is not the player, it is the agent who decides”.

He added that he would have been happy to play for Barcelona or Arsenal.

He turns 75 on October 23 but the exhibition, featuring work by world-famous artists like Andy Warhol, opens at London's Halcyon Gallery on Saturday. – Reuters

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Pirates up against it ...

Orlando Pirates will have to tread very carefully against an Al Ahly side that will arrive at the Orlando Stadium tomorrow night wounded and therefore very dangerous.

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Orlando Pirates will have to tread very carefully against an Al Ahly side that will arrive at the Orlando Stadium tomorrow night wounded and therefore very dangerous.

Eager to make good use of home ground advantage to set themselves up for a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup final, the Buccaneers have been talking about the importance of registering a win without conceding a goal in this first leg match.

Of course Eric Tinkler and his team also have that desire to knock the Red Devils out so they avenge the 2013 CAF Champions League final defeat the Egyptian giants inflicted on them.

Yet if the 1995 African champions have double motivation going into the fifth meeting with the nine-time continental kings, the same can be said of their visitors.

The Confederation Cup title holders are a side in pain, Ahly coming into the match with their status as Egypt’s foremost side ripped away from them by Zamalek.

Just on Tuesday, Ahly lost the Egypt Cup final 2-0 to the White Knights. That defeat was the proverbial case of Zamalek adding salt to Ahly’s wounds – the latter having also dethroned the former as league champions in the north African country.

That Zamalek are also in the Confederation Cup semi-final is sure to spur Ahly on to wanting to beat Pirates. Nothing will please the Red Devils more than the opportunity to put one over their arch-rivals in the final of the continent’s second tier cup.

And so it will be a fired-up outfit Pirates welcome to Orlando tomorrow, the challenge being on Tinkler’s team to muster a result they have failed to achieve in a month.

Pirates have not won a match since August 22 when they beat AC Leopards to book their place in the semi-final. But anything less than victory tomorrow will render their dream of adding a second continental title to the club’s cabinet near impossible, Ahly always hard to beat in their own backyard.

Pirates’ quest for success will be made all the more harder by the unavailability of their talismanic captain Oupa Manyisa who sustained a fractured ankle in a league match this week. Along with striker Kermit Erasmus, Manyisa is Pirates’ leading scorer in the competition with four goals.

While filling the gap that would be left by the player fondly referred to as ‘Ace’ – a nickname reserved only for special talents – will not be easy, Tinkler cannot be said to be lacking in depth. And whoever he picks to use in the heart of his midfield should be good enough to give Pirates the attacking impetus necessary if they are to trouble Ahly.

Perhaps the Bucs coach’s main worry will be how to get his team confident in the final third – Pirates having been particularly poor in their finishing lately.

Though Tinkler expressed confidence in his team’s defensive displays, he knows they will have to be extra solid to keep the clean sheet they desperately need to give themselves a chance to get to the final.

For in Ahly they will be up against a wounded side eager for a victory that will ease the pain of a rare domestic humiliation by their bitter adversaries.

In the other semi-final Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) play Zama-lek (Egypt) in Sousse. - The Star

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Neymar confirms United talks

Barcelona striker Neymar confirmed he had talks with Premier League side Manchester United but no offer was made.

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Barcelona - Barcelona striker Neymar had talks with Premier League side Manchester United but no offer was made, the player confirmed on Friday.

The Brazilian hitman, part of Barca's devastating attacking trio that hit 122 goals last season as the club won the treble, was linked to a move to United who needed a striker and went on to sign Anthony Martial.

“There were talks but nothing came of them,” Neymar told ESPN Brazil. “There were rumours but I never received an offer.”

The 23-year-old added his aim is to stay at the Catalan club.

“I hope we have a dream season. I want to have consistency with my work along with my colleagues and continue to win titles,” he said.

Barca aim to bounce back from their 4-1 La Liga defeat by Celta Vigo on Wednesday when they entertain Las Palmas on Saturday.

They are in fifth place in the table, level with Atletico Madrid, on 12 points from five games, a point behind Real Madrid, Celta and Villarreal who are in a three-way tie for the top spot. – Reuters

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Pestered Pitso says Downs need goals

Embattled coaches need divine intervention.This is according to one beleaguered Pitso Mosimane, the Mamelodi Sundowns coach.

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Embattled coaches need divine intervention.

This is according to one beleaguered Pitso Mosimane, the Mamelodi Sundowns coach, who escaped the wrath of disgruntled supporters on Wednesday night.

A section of Sundowns fans chanted and called for Mosimane’s head despite Sundowns beating Ajax Cape Town by 3-2 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. Some did not just hurl insults but they also threw bottles as Mosimane, surrounded by players, security personnel and police, made his way to the change -rooms.

After the scare, Mosimane said he and fellow coaches should just hold on despite their challenges. He consoled fellow strugglers in Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler, Kaizer Chiefs’ Steve Komphela and Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba.

“It’s very difficult for us as coaches. I want to say to Steve Komphela, hang in there. It’s tough for us as local coaches. Bra Shakes must hang in there, Tinkler must hang in there. Life is difficult for us coaches but you know God is there, and we can overcome,” said Mosimane.

So far this season Mosimane has won two matches, drawn two and lost two in the Absa Premiership. He also saw his side crash out of the MTN8 after a loss to Bloemfontein Celtic. The status quo has led to a faction of the supporters calling for his head, something that startled Ajax coach Roger De Sa.

“It’s ridiculous,” was De Sa’s reaction after hearing the chants. “It puts a very bitter taste in my mouth. I mean I didn’t see Pitso make one bad pass.”

Mosimane did not want to dwell much on those calling for his head.

“I don’t react. I react to fans on the other side that we went to. They were signing, clapping and calling my name on the other side. This side, I don’t react. I will leave it to God. What can I do? I found it like this by the way,”said the former Bafana Bafana coach.

Before him, Henri Michel, Hristo Stoichkov and Johan Neeskens and others were relieved of their duties due to supporters’ power and protests. With Mosimane’s record not that bad, the demand to have him sacked may be farfetched as he has won two trophies – the Absa Premiership title and the Nedbank Cup.

“Four months ago we won a cup. I am the longest serving coach here – two and a half years,” said the former Downs player. “A coach can’t fight the supporters. He has to concentrate on the game and players. My boys scored three against a team that won the Top Gight and are second on the log. The last time we were here, the team that is sitting on top of the log, we scored four goals here. That’s my focus. Goals.”

Despite the protests, Mosimane is confident Sundowns can do well in the league this season. He has his sights on the Absa Premiership title and has no plans to vacate the club’s hottest seat.

“We are now five points from the top of the log. We came back from 13 points, 11 points.

“My team’s a good one and I think we can win our next matches against Cosmos, Polokwane, Celtic. We can actually win the league,” says the man known as Jingles.

Mosimane will come up against his mentor Jomo Sono when Sundowns take on Cosmos at Olen Park in Potchefstroom this Sunday. - The Star

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Tough United task awaits Sunderland

The contrast in form between Manchester United and Sunderland could hardly be greater as the two clubs prepare to meet at Old Trafford.

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The contrast in form between Manchester United and Sunderland could hardly be greater as the two clubs prepare to meet at Old Trafford on Saturday.

United have won their last two Premier League games - scoring six goals in the process - and with just one league defeat this season have climbed up to second place in the table, two points behind local rivals Manchester City.

Louis van Gaal's side also goes into the game on the back of a comfortable 3-0 win over Ipswich Town in the League Cup to move smoothly into the last 16.

In the same competition, Sunderland were beaten 4-1 at home to Manchester City on Tuesday night and the North East club - whose only win at Old Trafford since 1968 helped them secure a remarkable escape from relegation at the end of the 2013/14 season - are bottom of the Premier League.

Head coach Dick Advocaat is under increasing pressure with Sunderland yet to win a league game this season, although he is unlikely to receive any sympathy on the pitch from fellow Dutchman van Gaal.

Advocaat is no stranger to van Gaal and the two have met nine times as manager of opposing sides, with five draws, three wins for Advocaat and just one win for the United boss.

United have made massive strides in the space of 12 months following a difficult start to life at Old Trafford for the former Netherlands coach.

The impact of striker Anthony Martial - a £36m ($55 million, 49 million euros) signing from Monaco in August who has scored four goals on his first four appearances - has epitomised United's progress, although van Gaal insists no-one should get carried away.

“It is not so difficult because he is a player who is very modest,” said van Gaal of the 19-year-old Frenchman.

“He knows that he can score and he can score because of his fellow players.

“With his speed and composure, he can score. We are happy but still we have to keep our feet on the ground.”

After starting on the bench against Ipswich, Martial is likely to return to the side to face Sunderland, along with right-back Matteo Darmian and midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin.

Winger Memphis Depay may also return but defenders Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Paddy McNair are missing through injury.

Advocaat will make several changes to the side which was out-classed by City as Sunderland try and climb off the bottom of the table.

Goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon will return in place of Vito Mannone, while Younes Kaboul is available after suspension and is likely to replace Sebastian Coates in central defence.

Midfielder Lee Cattermole is pushing for a first start in four games, while defender Billy Jones returns at right-back after being rested in midweek. While left-back Patrick van Aanholt's place is under threat after the Dutchman's unconvincing start to the season.

Advocaat is also considering whether to switch England midfielder Jack Rodwell to centre back in a bid to strengthen a back line that has conceded 20 goals in eight games this season.

Advocaat said: “I have one or two options. I have thought about moving Rodwell into defence, because he is good in the air and has got two good feet. He is what I am looking for in terms of being able to find his team-mates with a pass.” – AFP

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