SOCCER SHORTS:REAL Madrid coach Jose Mourinho insists he is "not bothered" by some of his own fans whistling and booing him in Sunday night's win against Athletic Bilbao.
The Portuguese boss has attracted negative headlines recently after he was alleged to have made critical remarks about captain Iker Casillas and defender Sergio Ramos in private.
He was again in the spotlight during Sunday night’s match, when some Madrid fans chanted his name and others responded by booing and whistling at the Bernabeu.
However, the coach shrugged off the incident. “It’s not a problem. It’s the first time it’s ever happened to me. There’s a first time for practically everything. (Zinedine) Zidane was whistled at here. Ronaldo has been whistled at here. Cristiano (Ronaldo), who is the latest Golden Boot winner, has also been whistled at. Why can’t I?” he said. “Zidane responded with his football, the same as Ronaldo and Cristiano. I work hard to be able to respond like they did some day.”
Guardiola is expected to stay
BARCELONA vice-president Javier Faus expects coach Pep Guardiola to decide his future “in a couple of weeks”. The Barca boss’s future is almost constantly the subject of speculation and while his current deal expires this summer, the former club captain is expected to remain at the Camp Nou .
Faus said: “We want Pep to stay here for many years. We will know his decision in a couple of weeks, we hope his response will be positive.”
McCarthy remains defiant
WOLVES manager Mick McCarthy remains defiant amid mounting speculation he is on the verge of being sacked. Bookmakers now make the former Republic of Ireland international manager as odds-on favourite to be the next Premier League boss to leave his job.
McCarthy said: “The biggest reason as to how I cope is that I don’t listen to the backdrop of what fans are saying. I do not go around in a glass cabinet – I am fully aware of what is going on. If you listen to it, you would go off your head anyway. I just make sure I get on with it with Terry Connor [assistant manager], Pat Mountain [goalkeeping coach] and Steve Weaver [development coach] and we try to find a result.
“It is a results business but performances have been very good. We have played very well in recent weeks and I cannot question the performances at all. I would not have done anything differently against Chelsea and Tottenham and I could not have done anything to make us any better.”
Aubameyang on the mark for hosts
PIERRE-EMERICK Aubameyang played a starring role as co-hosts Gabon got their Africa Cup of Nations Group C campaign off to a winning start yesterday with a comfortable 2-0 victory over tournament debutants Niger in Libreville.
Aubameyang was a major threat to the Niger defence and he opened the scoring in the 30th minute before then playing a key part in the build-up to Gabons second goal on the stroke of half-time, scored by Stephane N’Guema.
Later other Group C opponents Tunisia defeated highly-fancied Morocco 2-1 despite spending much of the game on the back foot.
Saber Khelifa got the slightest of touches to a free kick from Khaled Korbi to open the scoring in the first half and Tunisia made it 2-0 when substitute Youssef Msakni finished off a counter-attack in the 77th minute. Captain Houcine Kharjah pulled one back for Morocco in the 86th minute before the same player missed from close range in stoppage time.
Pepe cleared over Messi incident
THE Spanish soccer federation will take no action against Real Madrid defender Pepe for his alleged stamp on Barcelona forward Lionel Messi’s hand in Wednesday’s Copa Del Rey quarter-final first leg.
The federation announced the decision after a meeting yesterday, meaning the Portuguese international is free to play in tomorrow’s return leg at the Camp Nou. Pepe (28) left out for Sunday’s 4-1 La Liga victory at home to Athletic Bilbao, denied intentionally treading on Messi’s hand while the World Player of the Year was sitting on the floor although he was widely condemned in local media.
The Pepe incident, caught from several different angles by television cameras, was apparently missed by officials and the referee did not mention it in his match report.
Galway supporters’ group call meeting
THE Galway United Supporters’ Trust will hold an open meeting at 8pm this evening at the Claddagh Hall, Claddagh, to discuss the options facing the group after its recent talks with Salthill Devon and Mervue United.
Both sets of negotiations as well as the group’s own independent application for a licence to field a team in the first division will be discussed and the group is appealing for all supporters to attend.
In brief . . .
QPRhave failed in their attempt to sign Brazilian striker Henrique after he was denied a work permit. The Brazil under-20 international looked set for a move to Loftus Road in the wake of Mark Hughes' appointment as the clubs new manager.
Although QPR had reached agreement with Sao Paulo over a deal a work permit hearing was held yesterday when it was determined Henrique did not satisfy the required criteria.
EVERTONhave agreed a deal with Spartak Moscow for winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, the Russian club have announced. The 26-year-old Russia international will now undergo a medical ahead of a potential move back to his homeland. Bilyaletdinov has failed to make a big impression since his €10 million move to Goodison Park from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2009.
ADELTaarabt has decided he wants to stay at QPR now Mark Hughes has replaced Neil Warnock as manager. Playmaker Taarabt admitted he was resigned to leaving while Warnock was still in charge but is now looking forward to reviving his Rangers career.
SOUTHAMPTONmissed the chance to move back to the top of the Championship after suffering a second successive home defeat last night. Goals from David Nugent and Matt Mills securing all three points for Leicester City.
