The Soccer Blog: Challenge

Showing posts with label Challenge. Show all posts

Friday, 11 February 2011

Ranieri expects Napoli challenge

Claudio Ranieiri is under no illusions about the threat Napoli pose to Roma ahead of their clash at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

Napoli are second on the Serie A table, just three points behind league leaders AC Milan and seven points ahead of Ranieri’s Roma.

But they lost their last match 2-0 at Chievo, leading former Chelsea and Juventus boss Ranieri to detect a potential weakness in Napoli when they are playing away from home.

“I’m expecting a very difficult match,” Ranieri said.

“Napoli have got to where they are in the table because they deserve being there, they are playing excellent in the league ? not as well away from home, but they know how to counterattack and use spaces that most others don’t.”

“We have a great team and they will manage (to) stop them.”

Roma lost 5-3 away to defending champions Inter Milan last time out, but Ranieri insists the reverse had little effect on the morale of his squad.

“Luckily, we don’t read too much into a result and manage to resist whatever gets thrown at us,” Ranieri said.

“We don’t win a match and think we have won the championship and when we lose a match, we pick ourselves up and move on.”

“We have the right balance and have already shown that. The team is in good shape, we are focused, we are determined and it will be a great match.”

Fri 11 February, 2011

Ranieri expects Napoli challenge

Claudio Ranieiri is under no illusions about the threat Napoli pose to Roma ahead of their clash at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

Napoli are second on the Serie A table, just three points behind league leaders AC Milan and seven points ahead of Ranieri’s Roma.

But they lost their last match 2-0 at Chievo, leading former Chelsea and Juventus boss Ranieri to detect a potential weakness in Napoli when they are playing away from home.

“I’m expecting a very difficult match,” Ranieri said.

“We have a great team and they will manage (to) stop them.”

Roma lost 5-3 away to defending champions Inter Milan last time out, but Ranieri insists the reverse had little effect on the morale of his squad.

“Luckily, we don’t read too much into a result and manage to resist whatever gets thrown at us,” Ranieri said.

“We don’t win a match and think we have won the championship and when we lose a match, we pick ourselves up and move on.”

“We have the right balance and have already shown that. The team is in good shape, we are focused, we are determined and it will be a great match.”

Fri 11 February, 2011

Monday, 17 January 2011

FA Cup preview: Stoke face Cardiff challenge

Tony Pulis returns to his home country when Stoke travel to Wales to face Cardiff for an FA Cup third-round replay on Tuesday.

Promotion-chasing Cardiff City drew 1-1 at Stoke 10 days ago and manager Dave Jones is keen to claim a Premier League scalp and enjoy a FA Cup run to rival 2008, when the Bluebirds were runners-up, losing 1-0 at Wembley to Portsmouth.

Stoke’s Tuncay Sanli equalised after Michael Chopra gave Cardiff an early lead and former Wales international John Hartson is quick to talk up City’s chances, though he is expecting a difficult match.

“Stoke will be tough opponents and Cardiff will have to defend stoutly,” Hartson said.

“In the original tie I felt Stoke were the better side, but Dave Jones’ men deserve a second chance and, especially with home advantage, who would bet against a Bluebirds win?”

Several current or former Welsh internationals will play in the game, with Craig Bellamy, Jason Koumas and Darcy Blake likely to line up for the hosts while Danny Collins and Ryan Shawcross – a Welsh youth international – should feature for Stoke.

Manchester City will host Leicester at the City of Manchester Stadium after the two sides drew 2-2 at the Walkers Stadium.

The match also presents an opportunity for respective managers Roberto Mancini and Sven-Goran Eriksson to link up again, with the pair having spent time together at Sampdoria and Lazio, during their playing and coaching careers.

The first leg was an entertaining affair, although it was only Joe Hart’s blunder that allowed Leicester skipper Andy King to score the equaliser and Mancini’s side should have enough about them to see off the Championship side.

Arsenal will make the trek up north to Elland Road as they face Championship high-flyers Leeds United in the sole replay on Wednesday.

The first leg was a thrilling 1-1 draw with Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas keeping his side alive in the tournament thanks to an injury-time penalty.

Leeds impressed at the Emirates Stadium with their willingness to attack Arsenal and will be hopeful that a sell-out Elland Road crowd of nearly 40,000 can spur them on to victory.

Simon Grayson’s side have form in the competition, having shocked arch-rivals Manchester United in the third round last year, before forcing Tottenham to a replay in the fourth round and if they can repeat their recent form, losing just one of their past 15, they are in with a fighting chance.

The other replay sees Wolves host Championship outfit Doncaster Rovers at Molineux on Tuesday after a 2-2 draw at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy will surely be tempted to rest players with his side in the middle of a relegation fight, but after an excellent performance almost produced a draw in a thrilling 4-3 loss to Manchester City on Saturday, McCarthy is most likely to make few changes to his side.

Mon 17 January, 2011