A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Hiddink in denial
PSV Eindhoven coach Guus Hiddink has denied reaching an agreement with the Russian Football Association (RFU) to become their new national coach after this year's World Cup finals.
After yesterday's training session with the Dutch leaders Hiddink said he had never spoken to RFU vice-president Nikita Simonyan, who on Thursday told Dutch television NOS Sport that Hiddink had been named as Russia's new coach.
Simonyan backtracked yesterday, saying there had been a misunderstanding.
"It seems all a bit premature," Hiddink said. "We had some contacts but not only with the Russian association, also with other associations. I never spoke with that man (Simonyan) and don't know him. Put people before a camera and microphone and they will say these things, you can't prevent that."
Just deserts for Saha
Alex Ferguson feared Louis Saha would quit Manchester United in the summer if he had left the French striker out of his English League Cup final side.The United boss felt Saha's five goals earlier in the competition justified his place in the starting line-up to face Wigan even though it came at the expense of Ruud van Nistelrooy.
"There was a danger of losing him," admitted Ferguson. "If I didn't play Louis in the final after he had scored so many goals, he might say 'I can get a regular place somewhere else'."
"He deserved to play in the final and everything else is secondary."
Lowe under pressure
Rupert Lowe's position as Southampton chairman looks set to come under serious threat after Michael Wilde bought another half a million shares in the Championship club.
Wilde (53) now owns 13 per cent of parent company Southampton Leisure Holdings plc, enough to call an extraordinary general meeting, at which Lowe would face a shareholders' vote to remove him from his position at St Mary's.
Smertin going Loko
Lokomotiv Moscow are the club Alexei Smertin has talked to about a move back to Russia, according to Lokomotiv president Valeri Filatov.
The 30-year-old, currently on loan with Charlton from Chelsea, was in Moscow for Russia's friendly with Brazil on Wednesday.
"I've talked with Smertin and his agent but we haven't had talks with Charlton. Therefore, this is open to question," said Filatov.
No lovin' for Ronaldo
Ronaldo has been left out of the Real Madrid squad for today's derby with Atletico Madrid.
The 29-year-old Brazil striker, who scored in his country's midweek 1-0 win over Russia in Moscow, recently claimed Real fans have "never accepted" him and said: "I don't want to be where I'm not loved."
In brief . . .
Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has admitted he wants to sign on loan Chelsea midfielder Jiri Jarosik on a permanent basis in the summer . . . Teddy Sheringham (39) has signed a new one-year deal with West Ham . . . Joey Barton's contract talks with Manchester City have been put on hold until the summer . . . Robert Pires (33), who is out of contract this summer, has talked about his desire to play his part in helping Arsenal's next generation flourish at the new Emirates Stadium.
