Madrid make bid for Valencia

The Latics are resigned to losing the Ecuador international and should recoup a fee of around £21m for the midfielder, with Manchester United also believed to be battling it out for his services.

Wigan boss Steve Bruce has openly admitted the 23-year-old will move on in the summer and Madrid have been long-term admirers after attempting to lure him to the Bernabeu last January.

Valencia's agent, Diego Herrera, revealed Real have now tabled an offer for the midfielder and that the Latics are awaiting other offers before allowing the player to leave.

"I believe Wigan will sell Antonio for the right offer and they will decide that once they receive that," Herrera told Skysports. "Real Madrid made an offer last week, but nobody from Wigan has told me of an offer from Manchester United.

"There are a number of interested clubs and I will speak with Wigan about it this week.

"Once the season is over I expect offers to be made and I will sit down with Antonio and decide what offer is in his best interests. We've not yet talked about which club he would prefer.

''Honestly I think it's really difficult that he remains at Wigan. I would anticipate that he leaves this summer.

''We have to see what will happen in the next few weeks. We're not in any rush.

Read more...

An Ode to French Flair

Whatever your opinion of the French Open—the most compelling major or most boring slog—there’s no argument about French players. They are almost without exception, and seemingly always have been, the most stylish and, as such, the most entertaining around. There must be something in the Evian.

Let’s start with the patron saint of Gallic flair, Francoise Durr. (Like Suzanne Lenglen and the Four Musketeers of Borotra, Brugnon, Cochet and Lacoste, “Frankie” was before my time, but I’ve seen the pictures.) Durr probably won too much to be considered prototypically French: a 1967 French Open victory among her 26 singles titles, along with 60 doubles titles, including five straight at Roland Garros. Underachievement brought on by maddeningly inconsistent play and fragile psyches are part of the deal with French tennis players. Durr’s fashion sense, in conjunction with Ted Tinling, heavily influenced Austin Powers. She wore knee-high tube socks before Serena Williams was a glimmer in her parents’ eyes.

But, mon dieu, her game had even more flair. Her index finger, as always, riding up the grip of her limp-wristed one-handed backhand like some demented weekend hacker, Durr, at age 34, beat Martina Navratilova 1 and 1 in the semifinals of the 1974 Colgate Inaugural! (Then she lost in the final to Chris Evert, whom she never defeated…seems appropriate somehow.)

In the ensuing years, the French have produced dozens of players with remarkable shot-making ability, free-flowing grace, effervescent personalities and skittish temperaments. My all-time favorite: Henri Leconte, the man with the golden left arm. Most people think of him as the inconsistent genius whom Mats Wilander drubbed in Leconte’s only major final, the 1988 French Open—you remember, Wilander missed one first serve in the entire match (so Swedish), while Leconte missed everything.

I prefer to remember the 1991 Davis Cup final in Lyon, where Leconte’s magnificent singles victory over Pete Sampras spurred the French to a huge upset. One shot is seared into my memory: an on-the-dead-run-ball’s-behind-him-buggy-whip-backhand-did-I-just-see-that?!?-no-freakin’-way-passing-shot. The man could hit any shot, no matter the degree of difficulty, just not three simple groundies in a row.

If the Buggy-Whip Backhand Pass was the greatest shot I’ve ever seen on television, it’s little surprise that another Frenchman hit the greatest shot I’ve ever seen live. Nor should that Frenchman’s name come as a shock: Fabrice “The Magician” Santoro, the petit double-handed pro who has thrilled crowds seemingly forever with his jester-meets-wizard game. That the shot took place on a U.S. Open practice court should only underscore its utter sublime ridiculousness.

Santoro looped a kick a serve out wide to the ad court. His practice partner—all I recall is that he was shirtless, which even in New York seemed a bit déclassé—had cheated over and ran around his backhand to unleash the mother of all monster forehands. It came back at Santoro’s shoelaces so fast that he was still in his service follow-through position: body facing 10 o’clock, right foot ahead of left foot, both pointing at 2 o’clock. The Magician had time only to spin his body 90 degrees counterclockwise and swing his wand, er, racquet as fast as he could, in what appeared to be self-defense. Needless to say, the ball went rocketing back crosscourt for a winner twice as fast as the return. The only things missing were a comely assistant and a puff of smoke.

No doubt you have your own French fave. Maybe it’s the impish Sebastian Grosjean, the little man with the big man’s game and the only player who looks right in a ball cap worn backwards. Maybe you were partial to the athletic Noah’s flying dreadlocks, or the balding-yet-dashing Forget’s indented Lacoste racquet. Even the less exciting personalities, like Mauresmo and Pioline, have always played with style. Indeed, for the French, style is substance.

Last year, the “New Musketeers” of Gasquet, Monfils, Simon and Tsonga simultaneously put four Frenchmen in the Top 20 for the first time since the computer rankings began in 1973. That’s nice, I suppose, but when it comes to Gallic tennis, I’ll take joie de vivre over victoire any day. So I care less about whether any of the four will win a major than that they continue to play with such estimable flash, from Gasquet’s gorgeous backhand (which, alas, we won’t see for some time) to Monfils’ elbows-and-knees-akimbo vibrancy.

Read more...

INIESTA LATE SHOW STUNS CHELSEA

Barcelona will play Manchester United in the Champions League final after Anders Iniesta's injury-time goal stunned Chelsea in a 1-1 draw.

The Blues looked to be cruising after Michael Essien's stunning early volley put them 1-0 ahead in their semi-final second leg, and when Eric Abidal saw red after 66 minutes, Guus Hiddink's side looked home and hosed and in line for a repeat of last season's final.

But with time ticking away, Iniesta struck a devastating shot - their first effort on target in the entire match - that beat Petr Cech and sent Barcelona through on the away goals rule to the Rome showpiece against holders United on Wednesday 27 May.

The Blues made a nervous start, with Jose Bosingwa having to hack the ball off the ball after a cross was deflected goalwards. But their nerves were soon settled in spectacular fashion as Essien fired in a first-time left-footed volley that crashed in off the underside of Victor Valdes' crossbar after just nine minutes.

Barca finally had an effort at goal when Dani Alves' 35-yard free-kick sailed wide of Petr Cech's goal. But the Blues were soon on the attack again with Didier Drogba's fierce free-kick touched away by Valdes' leg, while John Terry was just a yard off target with a towering header.

Drogba then saw penalty claims waved away by referee Tom Ovrebo after he went down under Abidal's clumsy challenge.

The Spaniards finished the half the stronger, but Chelsea defended resolutely as the interval arrived with no further incident.

But the Blues were soon on the attack after the break, with Nicolas Anelka slipping Drogba in on goal, but Valdes' outstretched boot saved his left-footed effort.

The Ivorian then saw penalty claims waved away once again, but Yaya Toure's challenge in the box appeared good. A rare Barca thrust saw Lionel Messi cut in from the right and unleash a powerful drive that flew high and wide.

But Barca's task was made far harder after 66 minutes when Abidal was harshly shown a straight red card after he clipped Anelka's heels as he burst towards goal.

Chelsea saw another penalty claim waved away when Gerard Pique appeared to handle in the area.

But with time ticking away, Iniesta's first-time shot - after Essien had fluffed a clearance - flew into the top corner to spark scenes of jubilation for Barca.

There was still time for Chelsea to see further penalty claims waved away and furious scenes at the final whistle could have further rammifications for the Blues.

Read more...

Alan Shearer Gets Tough and Drops Michael Owen

EPL: Alan Shearer, Newcastle United - Chelsea (PA)

Related Links

Newcastle United manager Alan Shearer has taken the tough decision to drop Michael Owen - his close friend and former team-mate - from the vital Premier League match away to Liverpool on Sunday.

The Magpies are deeply embroiled in a desperate relegation battle, and Shearer is running out of time and options to save his beloved but beleaguered club from the dreaded drop.

Shearer is trying to find the elusive combination of personnel and tactics to keep the Toon afloat against the odds - and the name of Owen is not on the teamsheet pinned up at the club’s training ground, The Times has revealed.

It's a bold decision that may surprise many as Shearer has often been Owen’s staunchest supporter. The pair played together for Newcastle and England.

But notwithstanding any late withdrawals because of injury, Shearer will field a five-man midfield at Anfield, and have Australian Mark Viduka playing as a lone striker, rather than ex-Liverpool star Owen, who will probably be on the bench as Newcastle search for precious points.

One of Shearer's first decisions on taking over from Chris Hughton last month was to bring back Owen, 29, who had been dropped. Shearer said then, “If Michael is fit, he will start.”

But in the four weeks since then, the Magpies, eighteenth in the table and three points adrift of safety, have not won a match. Nor has Owen scored. In fact he hasn't scored since January.

Fabio Capello, England's manager, is expected to be on Merseyside on Sunday to watch the game against Liverpool, and given that Owen's last game in a Three Lions shirt was as a second-half substitute against France more than a year ago, the striker will be doubly disappointed at missing out on a chance to impress the Italian tactician.

Owen’s contract runs out at the end of this season and his boyhood heroes, Everton, are reportedly keen - although Owen has been enthusiastic about Shearer’s management.

Asked about Owen, Shearer told journalists on Friday, "If I believe he can [lead Newcastle to an Anfield win], then that will be reflected in the team on Sunday.,” he said. “If I believe that he can’t, then that’s a decision I have to make.

“But I will go in on Sunday with the team I believe will be best suited for a particular game to get us a result.”

Shearer added, “I have been mad in my time and I do not want to give away any formations or selections, but I tend to agree that, yeah, it might be mad to go there with three up front.

"Workrate-wise with Michael, there is definitely no complaint whatsoever — he’s always in the top three or four players on the pitch. If I do decide to drop one of the three strikers it will be a tough choice. Michael is still banging them in during training, but I want him scoring in games.”

Read more...