Soccer Digest

Allegri and AC Milan aim to go five points clear of Inter

MASSIMILIANO Allegri has never experienced a match as important as tomorrow’s derby with Inter Milan, the AC Milan coach said yesterday. Allegri’s league leaders go into Saturday’s game holding a two-point advantage over their city rivals with eight matches left to play this season.

"It's the most important game of my career," he told Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport.

“It would have been nice to still have a 10-point lead but it’s also nice to be in a position to experience a derby like this one. If we win we will go five points clear.”

The previously unheralded Allegri took over as coach of Milan in June. Largely unknown outside Italy, he cultivated an attractive brand of attacking football to lead unfashionable Sassuolo to promotion to Serie B in 2008 before moving on to top-flight side Cagliari.

Champions Inter are in second place, one point ahead of Napoli and four in front of Udinese. Milan have taken just one point from their last two games

Champions League boost for Spurs

THE importance of Tottenham qualifying for next year’s Champions League was underlined yesterday by financial results that showed the club’s revenue increased 49 per cent during the six months that followed their qualification for this season’s competition. Spurs’ interim results from June 30th to December 31st, 2010 showed the club’s first ever qualification for the competition in its present guise saw their revenue increase to €90 million compared to the €60 million they recorded at the same stage last year.

In total, the club posted a profit of €4.7 million compared to the €6.9 million loss they made during the same period in 2009.

Spurs’ operating costs rose from €54.9 million to €69.5 million for the last six months of 2010 – an increase of 25 per cent, with some of that money going on new signings and contract renewals. Other good news is Champions League qualification has seen merchandise sales increase by 22 per cent.

Liverpool happy with finances

LIVERPOOL’S managing director insists the club does not need European football to break even financially – while their shirt sponsors say the Champions League is not important because most of their target audience in Asia is asleep when the matches are played.

Ian Ayre, promoted to be Liverpool’s managing director this month, admitted that failure to reach the Champions League or Europa League will hit the club in the pocket but that their commercial success meant they could cope with missing out.

Liverpool would have to finish fifth in the Premier League to guarantee European football and Ayre said: “Our revenues and the way we govern our business is absolutely geared to be able to survive and continue to prosper without European football but that’s not to say we don’t want it.”

Anelka not planning France return

CHELSEA striker Nicolas Anelka does not miss international football and insists he has no plans to come out of retirement for Euro 2012 once he completes his 18-match ban. Anelka was given the hefty sentence last August for his role in the controversial mutiny against France head coach Raymond Domenech at the World Cup. Patrice Evra and Franck Ribery have served bans for their part in the protest against Domenech’s reign and are back playing for Les Bleus. Anelka’s ban is due to come to an end just before Euro 2012 and France are on course to qualify for the tournament after picking up 12 points to top Group D after five games. “I don’t miss it, I am glad to be out of it (international football),” Anelka told Chelsea’s website.

Jovanovic may leave Liverpool

OUT-OF-FAVOUR Liverpool winger Milan Jovanovic admits there is a chance he could depart Anfield and return to his native Serbia. The 29-year-old, who arrived on Merseyside last summer on a free transfer from Belgian club Standard Liege, has struggled to make an impact for the Reds this season, starting just five Premier League matches. Reports in Serbia suggest he could return home in the summer to link up with Red Star Belgrade.

Bruce angry over claims

SUNDERLAND manager Steve Bruce has angrily denied claims he is a racist after defender Marcos Angeleri accused him of overlooking him because he is not English.

The 27-year-old Argentinian was due back on Wearside yesterday from international duty, during which he made his comments. Angeleri told a South American radio station: “The boss doesn’t talk to me, he doesn’t even say hello to me when he sees me. I think he doesn’t like me because I’m not English.”

However, Bruce hit back yesterday and pointed to the fact he has 11 overseas players from nine different countries among his first-team squad of 25 as evidence to refute the charge.

Bruce, who said he is considering legal action, told the Sunderland Echo: "I'm deeply upset. In today's world, there is nothing more damaging than someone suggesting you are a racist. Of all things that have been thrown at me over the years, that is the charge that hurts the most."