Grant upbeat despite loss

West Ham boss Avram Grant was in bullish mood when asked about his side’s survival hopes after Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Bolton.

A brace from Daniel Sturridge and another from Chung-Yong Lee were enough to leave West Ham third from the bottom and a point away from safety on the English Premier League table, but Grant played up his side’s hopes of staying in the top flight next season.

“I believe that we will stay in the league,” the Israeli said. “I believe because it?s not what you saw in the first half today.”

“That?s not something that you see every day in our team that was something exceptional.”

“We will show that we can play, we will show also that we can recover and respond to a situation like this, this season and we need to do it in the next six games.”

Grant also paid tribute to Bolton, who he said could play carefree football with their Premier League status not in jeopardy.

“Bolton are not in the relegation zone and they?re not at the top, so they play with freedom and they were trying to play football with a lot of good players and they had nothing to lose,” Grant said.

“We wanted to play different but it was one of those days where everything is going against us.”

“I think even if it?s not looking like it on the pitch sometimes, there is a lot of commitment, they showed it.”

Bolton boss Owen Coyle hailed what he referred to as one of the biggest wins of the season, and said he was looking forward to a productive week on the training pitch ahead of next Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final showdown with Stoke at Wembley.

“It was a great team performance,” Coyle said. “It was obviously important that we got the three points that we were after, but the performance was also exceptionally pleasing.”

“There was also some terrific individual performances and we were backed by an unbelievable crowd all afternoon who were fantastic from start to finish.”

“Every time Daniel Sturridge picked up the ball he lit up the place and Chung-Yong Lee on the right was brilliant all afternoon.”

“But our strength will always be a group and what we bring to the game as a collective unit. We played some slick football and scored some wonderful goals and all in all I thought it was a real free-flowing football game.”

“We now go away ready for a week’s training ahead of what we know will be an exceptionally tough game against a very good Stoke City side.”

Sat 9 April, 2011

Grant upbeat despite loss

West Ham boss Avram Grant was in bullish mood when asked about his side’s survival hopes after Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Bolton.

A brace from Daniel Sturridge and another from Chung-Yong Lee were enough to leave West Ham third from the bottom and a point away from safety on the English Premier League table, but Grant played up his side’s hopes of staying in the top flight next season.

“I believe that we will stay in the league,” the Israeli said. “I believe because it?s not what you saw in the first half today.”

“That?s not something that you see every day in our team that was something exceptional.”

“We will show that we can play, we will show also that we can recover and respond to a situation like this, this season and we need to do it in the next six games.”

Grant also paid tribute to Bolton, who he said could play carefree football with their Premier League status not in jeopardy.

“Bolton are not in the relegation zone and they?re not at the top, so they play with freedom and they were trying to play football with a lot of good players and they had nothing to lose,” Grant said.

“We wanted to play different but it was one of those days where everything is going against us.”

“I think even if it?s not looking like it on the pitch sometimes, there is a lot of commitment, they showed it.”

Bolton boss Owen Coyle hailed what he referred to as one of the biggest wins of the season, and said he was looking forward to a productive week on the training pitch ahead of next Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final showdown with Stoke at Wembley.

“It was a great team performance,” Coyle said. “It was obviously important that we got the three points that we were after, but the performance was also exceptionally pleasing.”

“There was also some terrific individual performances and we were backed by an unbelievable crowd all afternoon who were fantastic from start to finish.”

“Every time Daniel Sturridge picked up the ball he lit up the place and Chung-Yong Lee on the right was brilliant all afternoon.”

“But our strength will always be a group and what we bring to the game as a collective unit. We played some slick football and scored some wonderful goals and all in all I thought it was a real free-flowing football game.”

“We now go away ready for a week’s training ahead of what we know will be an exceptionally tough game against a very good Stoke City side.”

Sat 9 April, 2011

Cannavaro still upbeat despite stalemate

Napoli skipper Paolo Cannavaro believes his side can still have a successful season despite an unexpected draw against Brescia on Sunday.

The Naples club kept their eighth successive clean sheet at the Stadio San Paolo in the Serie A but were unable to find the back of the net and were forced to share the spoils with the strugglers, who sit 19th in the league.

The 0-0 result leaves Napoli in third and eight points behind table-toppers AC Milan, but Cannavaro says his side need to stay relaxed.

“In the first half we played as the coach wanted us to play, then we got nervous because we couldn’t score,” Cannavaro said, before admitting his side were perhaps lucky to come away with a point.

“At the end we risked a lot and there was too much movement and action from Brescia. We were a bit lucky but their actions came from our mistakes, because we were playing very high up the pitch.”

“We need to stay calm and keep believing we can still do great things.”

Cannavaro admitted the side missed suspended striker Ezequiel Lavezzi, and that he is looking forward to the Argentine returning to action.

“Well, El Pojo (Ezequiel Lavezzi) is a very important player, we know it, but we have also won matches without him and we cannot depend on a single player,” he said.

“Of course in a match like the one we played today he could have been useful and could have scored a goal. Luckily enough, he will be back on Sunday.”

Lavezzi’s return will come at Parma on Sunday, with Napoli needing a victory to keep ahead of fourth-placed Lazio.

Mon 7 March, 2011

Cannavaro still upbeat despite stalemate

Napoli skipper Paolo Cannavaro believes his side can still have a successful season despite an unexpected draw against Brescia on Sunday.

The Naples club kept their eighth successive clean sheet at the Stadio San Paolo in the Serie A but were unable to find the back of the net and were forced to share the spoils with the strugglers, who sit 19th in the league.

The 0-0 result leaves Napoli in third and eight points behind table-toppers AC Milan, but Cannavaro says his side need to stay relaxed.

“In the first half we played as the coach wanted us to play, then we got nervous because we couldn’t score,” Cannavaro said, before admitting his side were perhaps lucky to come away with a point.

“At the end we risked a lot and there was too much movement and action from Brescia. We were a bit lucky but their actions came from our mistakes, because we were playing very high up the pitch.”

“We need to stay calm and keep believing we can still do great things.”

Cannavaro admitted the side missed suspended striker Ezequiel Lavezzi, and that he is looking forward to the Argentine returning to action.

“Well, El Pojo (Ezequiel Lavezzi) is a very important player, we know it, but we have also won matches without him and we cannot depend on a single player,” he said.

“Of course in a match like the one we played today he could have been useful and could have scored a goal. Luckily enough, he will be back on Sunday.”

Lavezzi’s return will come at Parma on Sunday, with Napoli needing a victory to keep ahead of fourth-placed Lazio.

Mon 7 March, 2011

Ancelotti staying upbeat

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has insisted his side will finish in the English Premier League’s top four and clinch a Champions League spot.

The reigning Premier League champions have slumped to fifth place in the league table, but Ancelotti is confident they can re-launch their title bid at Wolves on Wednesday.

“It is important to end up in a Champions League position, but we have the skills and ability to stay in the top four without a problem. I’m not worried at all,” he said.

After just one win in their last eight league games, Ancelotti’s men are now six points adrift of leaders Manchester United.

But the Chelsea manager is adamant his side still has enough time left to retain the title, and is eyeing the trip to Molineux as a good opportunity to turn the Blues’ fortunes around.

“I think we have enough time to come back and fight for the title. It’s not easy closing the gap, but we will try. We are improving and the team is close to moving on. We have to keep going but I have confidence that the team will improve,” he said.

“We will win.”

Ancelotti has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the match, and is tight-lipped on buying any new players in the January transfer market.

The Italian also brushed aside speculation linking the club with a move for David Beckham.

He said: “I think that he is a fantastic professional player but we are not interested. We already have good players in this position.”

The Blues have only scored nine goals in their last nine league games, but Ancelotti is hopeful his strikers will return to form at the right time, starting at Molineux.

“Didier (Drogba) has started to score, Malouda scored against Bolton and I think their bad moment is behind them. I am also hopeful that Anelka will start to score,” he said.

The Chelsea manager also rubbished reports linking striker Daniel Sturridge with a loan move away from Stamford Bridge

Ancelotti said: “He has not asked me to go on loan. If he did ask me, I would say ‘no way’.”

Tue 4 January, 2011

Ancelotti staying upbeat

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has insisted his side will finish in the English Premier League’s top four and clinch a Champions League spot.

The reigning Premier League champions have slumped to fifth place in the league table, but Ancelotti is confident they can re-launch their title bid at Wolves on Wednesday.

“It is important to end up in a Champions League position, but we have the skills and ability to stay in the top four without a problem. I’m not worried at all,” he said.

After just one win in their last eight league games, Ancelotti’s men are now six points adrift of leaders Manchester United.

But the Chelsea manager is adamant his side still has enough time left to retain the title, and is eyeing the trip to Molineux as a good opportunity to turn the Blues’ fortunes around.

“I think we have enough time to come back and fight for the title. It’s not easy closing the gap, but we will try. We are improving and the team is close to moving on. We have to keep going but I have confidence that the team will improve,” he said.

“We will win.”

Ancelotti has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the match, and is tight-lipped on buying any new players in the January transfer market.

The Italian also brushed aside speculation linking the club with a move for David Beckham.

He said: “I think that he is a fantastic professional player but we are not interested. We already have good players in this position.”

The Blues have only scored nine goals in their last nine league games, but Ancelotti is hopeful his strikers will return to form at the right time, starting at Molineux.

“Didier (Drogba) has started to score, Malouda scored against Bolton and I think their bad moment is behind them. I am also hopeful that Anelka will start to score,” he said.

The Chelsea manager also rubbished reports linking striker Daniel Sturridge with a loan move away from Stamford Bridge

Ancelotti said: “He has not asked me to go on loan. If he did ask me, I would say ‘no way’.”

Tue 4 January, 2011

Anelka upbeat on Chelsea title chances

Nicolas Anelka is backing Chelsea to remain in the English Premier League title race despite their recent form slump.

Chelsea beat Bolton 1-0 on Wednesday to record their first win in seven league matches – the team’s worst run of form since Roman Abramovich took over the club in 2003.

Despite their poor results, Chelsea remain just four points off league leaders Manchester United, a measure of an unpredictable season that Anelka believes is far from decided.

“It’s not a surprise for me the way this season has gone,” the Frenchman said.

“We did very well at the beginning and we’ve had a little difficulty recently, but there are still a lot of games left and it’s going to be a very tough season.”

“That’s the way the league is now – when you have more big teams, you have more big games, so it’s going to be very tight all the way through.”

“If you drop points one day, it doesn’t mean you will still be behind 15 games later anymore because anything can happen each week.”

“We’ve dropped points, but sometimes it’s like that – football is not always beautiful. You have to be strong in your head to pass these hard times.”

“It’s better when things are easier, of course. But life is not always easy, so we have to stay strong and see what happens. It doesn’t affect the way we approach matches because we always want to win.”

Fri 31 December, 2010

Anelka upbeat on Chelsea title chances

Nicolas Anelka is backing Chelsea to remain in the English Premier League title race despite their recent form slump.

Chelsea beat Bolton 1-0 on Wednesday to record their first win in seven league matches – the team’s worst run of form since Roman Abramovich took over the club in 2003.

Despite their poor results, Chelsea remain just four points off league leaders Manchester United, a measure of an unpredictable season that Anelka believes is far from decided.

“It’s not a surprise for me the way this season has gone,” the Frenchman said.

“We did very well at the beginning and we’ve had a little difficulty recently, but there are still a lot of games left and it’s going to be a very tough season.”

“That’s the way the league is now – when you have more big teams, you have more big games, so it’s going to be very tight all the way through.”

“If you drop points one day, it doesn’t mean you will still be behind 15 games later anymore because anything can happen each week.”

“We’ve dropped points, but sometimes it’s like that – football is not always beautiful. You have to be strong in your head to pass these hard times.”

“It’s better when things are easier, of course. But life is not always easy, so we have to stay strong and see what happens. It doesn’t affect the way we approach matches because we always want to win.”

Fri 31 December, 2010

Comment on Guardiola upbeat about Copa draw by Justus

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