Real Madrid president Florentino Perez wants a Champions League winner as coach next season.
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Marca says Florentino, after seeing ten coaches come and go at Real in the last ten years, is tired of gambling on untried managers and will now only go for the best.

José Mourinho (Inter Milan), Rafael Benitez (Liverpool), Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea) and Fabio Capello (England) are all among the names on his shortlist.

For Manuel Pellegrini, the Chilean knows he is now a dead man walking.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola hinted at being disappointed with Zlatan Ibrahimovic after victory over Stuttgart.

Guardiola left the Swede on the bench and chose Thierry Henry to lead the line in the 4-0 Champions League win.

"We will not win anything this year without the best of Henry and the best of Ibra," said Guardiola. "Henry was selected because of his second-half in the Valencia game. To not play him would have been like punishing him.

"Henry left me with a very good feeling and I wanted to give him continuity."

UEFA president Michel Platini says he's a big fan of Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho.
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No great supporter of English football, Platini heaped praise on the Special One after Inter's stunning Champions League win at Chelsea.

"I have never heard any criticism of him by a player in the last decade. I like Jose and do not judge him only as a great communicator," said the former Juventus star.

Juventus are wrapping up a deal for Colombian superkid James Rodriguez.

The 18 year-old attacker is tied to Argentina's Banfield and is the target of a £4 million bid from Juve.

Juve chief scout Renzo Castagnini is in Buenos Aries this week and met with Banfield officials yesterday to discuss Rodriguez's situation. The player's agents also sat in on the meeting, says TMW.

Castagnini has told Juve's board that Rodriguez is destined for big things and he has been given the green light to push for an early agreement.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich held furious crisis talks with his players yesterday, it has been revealed.
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The Daily Mail says the billionaire, who sat stony-faced during the Champions League loss to Jose Mourinho?s Inter Milan on Tuesday, challenged the players during a two-hour meeting yesterday.

He asked them: "Are you good players or are you well-paid players?"

The Russian owner fears his side could be declining in much the same manner as AC Milan and accepts that further investment is needed.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is considering the future of manager Carlo Ancelotti, it has been revealed.

Abramovich is having doubts about the Italian after the way he was out-thought by Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho this week.

The Daily Mail says Abramovich is already understood to be considering the possibility of looking for his seventh manager since taking over in 2003 if the Italian fails to respond to a huge setback by not landing a third English championship.

Ancelotti admitted on Tuesday night that losing to his most prominent predecessor had put him in a precarious position.

"I?ve worked for a long time in this environment and I know exactly what the expectations are," he said.

"It?s normal that a manager is going to come under pressure if he loses a few matches."

Abramovich turned to Ancelotti because he had won the Champions League twice as AC Milan manager. He did not expect the Italian to fail to get beyond the last 16.

Liverpool winger Albert Riera doubts manager Rafa Benitez is suited to Real Madrid.

Riera questions whether Benitez could provide the exciting brand of play required at the Bernabeu.

Riera said: "At Madrid, they demand that you play beautiful football so I think it's difficult.

"We have never played beautiful football. Effective yes, but never have we played a brilliant style of football."

After this week's Champions League elimination, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has drawn up a star-studded summer shopping list.

The Daily Mail says the Russian owner fears his side could be declining in much the same manner as AC Milan and accepts that further investment is needed.

Fernando Torres will be a target if Liverpool miss the Champions League places, while there is also continued interest in players such as Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), David Villa (Valencia) and Marek Hamsik (Napoli).

Inter Milan?s Wesley Sneijder could also soon be on Chelsea?s wish-list, given how impressive the Dutchman was on Tuesday night.

Lionel Messi struck twice as Barcelona thumped Champions League opponents Stuttgart 4-0 at the Nou Camp.
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Messi struck a brilliant opener after just 12 minutes to put Barca on track, and then played a key role as Pedro Rodriguez made it 2-0 soon after as the Catalan giants built a 3-1 aggregate lead.

Messi, who was a constant menace, added a third on the hour mark to take his tally to eight goals in the last four games before Bojan Krkic completed the romp late on as Barca became Spain's only representative to make it into the last eight.

He was so decisive," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said of Messi. "Every great has a tendency to influence his team, like (Michael) Jordan with the Bulls. He's the best. We wouldn't trade him for anybody."

Barcelona legend Hristo Stoichkov enjoyed seeing Real Madrid dumped out of Europe last week.

The Bulgarian firebrand is a self-confessed 'anti-Madridista'.

Stoichkov said: "I was glad that Real Madrid were eliminated.

"Lyon was not the team of a few years ago, but when you think you'll win the game easily, that makes it all very difficult."

On the recent suspension of Barca coach Pep Guardiola, Stoichkov jumped to the defence of his former teammate.

"Someday soon they will arrest Pep for standing on an ant!"

Real Madrid signing Sergio Canales admits he could be playing for Barcelona.

Racing Santander midfielder Canales, 18, will join Real at the end of the season.

The youngster almost signed for Barca's youth team before agreeing to join Racing. He revealed: "It's true, but I'm very happy to be playing for Real Madrid, because this is what I have chosen. Madrid was always my first choice despite the offers received.

"The truth is that Madrid is now my team and I see all their players as being very good. In fact, I still cannot imagine myself there."

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho is not on the agenda of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

Mourinho has been linked with a move to Real following their Champions League elimination last week at the hands of Lyon.

However, TMW says Perez has already discussed replacing coach Manuel Pellegrini with friends and when Mourinho's name was mentioned, he replied: "He is not what we need."

Former Belgium international Pieter Collen is set to sign a new deal with the Brisbane Roar.

The 29-year old centre-back originally signed a short-term deal to replace departing Roar captain Craig Moore and despite the fact he is back in Holland where he is based, has agreed to come back to the club for at least next season.

?I had a positive meeting with Ange (Postecoglou) and I definitely want to come back - I had a good time here and there are good signs for the club," Collen said.

"I have to sort out a few things in Holland, but I'm very confident that I'll be at the Roar next season."

Collen had spent his entire career in Europe before coming to Brisbane and has played for a number of clubs including Gent, NEC Nijmegen, Feyenoord, NAC Breda and Beveren.

Out of contract Brisbane Roar youngster Isaka Cernak is unsure about his future at the club.

The 20-year old attacking midfielder has been invited to Roar?s pre-season training where he attempt to impress head coach Ange Postecoglou so he is offered a new contract to remain with the club.

Cernak made his debut in January last year and has since appeared almost 20 times for the A-League outfit but admits he is not certain where things lie at the moment.

?I?m in limbo for not but I had a good meeting with Ange ? I?m looking at all my options,? he said.

Australian national team assistant Graham Arnold is set to oversee his new team, Central Coast Mariners, in their first hit-out under his guidance.

The Mariners meet Adelaide United in a trial match at Hindmarsh Stadium today as the Reds prepare for next Wednesday?s Asian Champions League clash with Sanfrecce Hiroshima but it will be a good chance for Arnold to see his players in action first-hand.

?I wouldn?t say it?s my first game, it?s a training session," Arnold said. "It?s a good opportunity to have a look at some of the younger players, and to make my mind up on a few players for next season.

"The boys have been excellent since the season ended, I?ve trained them for another month to down-train them and their attitude has been fantastic, but I think they are looking forward to having a game of football instead of training.

?Aurelio (Vidmar) is a good friend of mine. He?s done a fantastic job down there in Adelaide and they?re doing well in the Champions League, but one of the problems for teams in the Champions League is keeping match fit out of season, but Aurelio knew that we trained on so he rang us for a game, so we will go down there and give them as good a game as we can.?

Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy admits he is keen to take on Barcelona in the Champions League, citing the Thierry Henry factor as a major drawcard to the clash.

The quarter-finals draw for the European competition will be made this week and although he is relishing a clash with the Catalan giants, he says he can wait until the final for that match-up.

"Of course, now the team to beat is Barcelona. Playing against Thierry would be great for the Arsenal fans and for us. Playing against a team like Barcelona is always a dream ? especially if we win,? Clichy said.

"So if I have to choose one team to beat in the final it would be Barcelona. For me, to win against the holders would be the dream final.

"I?d like to avoid an English team (in the next round). Not because they?re strong because at this stage of the competition whoever you play are really good.

"But because you want to play a French team, a Spanish team, an Italian team ? you want to taste this Champions League perfume.

"I?m French so I?d like to play a French team. I haven?t played a French team since I joined the team so it would be so good for me and the French boys."

Melbourne Victory striker Robbie Kruse said he is not too perturbed if opposing players continue to target him.
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The former Brisbane Roar man has resurrected his career in Melbourne but has endured some heavyset tactics from other teams, one instance which gave him what looked to be a season-ending injury against Sydney in the last game of the regular season.

But Kruse has returned to the pitch after a few weeks of rehabilitation and struck back in the best possible way by netting a brilliant goal in the major semi-final second leg against the Sky Blues a fortnight ago.

Now he is ready for whatever the opposition throw at him in Saturday night?s Grand Final.

?I'm obviously doing something right for the opposing players to keep targeting me. If they keep wanting to do it, that's fine by me. I keep getting through and I keep putting on a good show," he told Sportal.

"I came back against Sydney and the ankle felt right and thankfully I scored a goal and did my part for the team. "I think the importance of it was the thing. It was a good strike and luckily more importantly it helped the team host the final.

"Thankfully the staff down here have been perfect and they've been working on me 24/7 and really working me. Archie (Thompson) and I have been really working hard together in the gym. It was tough but thankfully I had that week off, and only missed one match.

?This week in training I felt the best I've felt in a long time, about a month or so,? he added. ?I really feel like I can do my part for the team and put on a good show and do myself and my family and the fans proud. I really think if me and Archie are paired together, we can cause some damage.?

The fact that both John Aloisi and captain Steve Corica are out of the Grand Final and defender Shannon Cole is in doubt hasn?t got Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka down as he believes it is just part and parcel of the game.

Saturday night?s rivals Melbourne Victory have had their fair share of injury woes in recent times and the Czech tactician understands that things like this are bound to occur purely because of the nature of the game.

"That's football, Melbourne had a problem before with injury, Thompson and Kruse, now they are fit and ready to play and we have a couple of injuries, a couple of problems," Lavicka said.

"But I trust the players. I trust the team unity of Sydney FC.

"We have a big game before us, but we have a clear intention and the desire to achieve success."

And Lavicka added that he believes young striker Chris Payne can fill the void left by the injured Aloisi in Saturday?s Grand Final.

The 19-year old scored twice in last weekend?s Preliminary Final coming as a first half substitute for Aloisi, albeit one goal was controversial, but Lavicka is confident he can do the job for the Sky Blues against the Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium.

"He seemed confident at the training game this morning and probably he's confident enough and strong enough to play on Saturday," Lavicka said.

Iraq international Ali Abbas has extended his stay with A-League club Newcastle Jets.

The 23-year old winger impressed in his 17 appearances for the Jets in 2009/10 and they have decided to sign him for a further year.

Abbas, who was resigned to the fact he was going home to Iraq, was clearly delighted with the new contract.

?I feel great,? he said. ?I?m happy because I can stay here for one more year, after that if I have another opportunity I would like to stay for a long time.

?First time, when I came here, I didn?t know anyone here but then I spent time here with the people. I like the supporters, the management, everyone at the Newcastle Jets, I like being close to them because it?s like I have another family here.?

Former Chelsea boss Ruud Gullit says his old club need to buy in the summer to close the gap on Europe's elite.
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Gullit, manager at Stamford Bridge between 1996 and 1998, believes Carlo Ancelotti's squad cannot win the trophy owner Roman Abramovich craves without a fresh injection of talent.

When asked if the current squad can be crowned European champions next season, Gullit said: "Not any more. This was their last chance. They need to add players to this team.

"Against Inter it was a difficult match for them, they couldn't outsmart them and they looked powerless. The worst thing to see was no creativity, no ideas, no-one to do something and change the game."

He added on Sky Sports: "They did everything, they started 4-3-3, then went 4-4-2, then put on (Salomon) Kalou and (Joe) Cole and they had nothing. They couldn't change the game. Their best player was the goalkeeper."

Iain Dowie is determined to not be a stop-gap at Hull City after being named new manager.

The 45-year-old has been unveiled as the successor to Phil Brown, who was relieved of his duties on Monday following last weekend's injury-time defeat by Arsenal.

The former QPR and Crystal Palace manager returns to the game for the first time since he assisted Alan Shearer at Newcastle in their ultimately unsuccessful fight against relegation last season.

Dowie has just nine games left to preserve Hull's top-flight status, starting with a visit to Portsmouth - who are all but relegated after being deducted nine points for going into administration - but he insists he is not just in it for the short haul.

He said: "I'd like to see my future here for the long term.

"It's about me producing results - that is the game we are in."

Chairman Adam Pearson acted to replace Brown after a dreadful run of form and he too hopes Dowie will remain beyond the current campaign.

Pearson said: "It's a short-term contract with options on both sides.

"But it's a very permanent move. I'm expecting Iain to make a difference here, I'm expecting him to keep us in the Premier League and I'm expecting to sit down with him and sort out a full-time contract on May 15."

The agent of Catania striker Jorge Martinez has confirmed the interest of Manchester City.

City are already known to be admirers of his talent, while his representative has revealed that another Premier League club is also in the running.

"Many Italian clubs have expressed an interest in Jorge, but the only negotiation at the moment is with Manchester City," Daniel Delgado told calciomercato.it.

"There is also another English team seriously interested.

"We're talking about a player who can play in four or five positions and I don't understand why more top Italian clubs have not taken note.

"We have all seen what he did to Inter, but I fear once again Italy is ignoring a great player.

"He would like to stay in Italy with a top team, but at the moment it is more likely he will go to England."

Pepe Reina is ready to put pen to paper on a new Liverpool contract.

Reina will sign a new contract within the next month as he believes he can fulfil his dream of winning the Premier League with the Merseysiders.

"It is really close and it (signing a new contract) is because they were good to me and I am grateful," said the Spain international.

"You will see something in a month or so. I am happy here and the club is happy with me so I have no problem at all.

"Talking to my family we believe there is no better place to be and that is why we will be here a bit longer, much longer."

Portsmouth's administrator Andrew Andronikou says manager Avram Grant is committed to the club.

Andronikou was speaking after the Premier League confirmed a nine-point deduction as a sanction for Portsmouth going into administration, action that should guarantee relegation.

He confirmed that manager Grant, who is on a month-to-month contract, would stay at least until the end of the season and possibly next season too.

"He rang me to say he is fully committed to the club and will stay at least until the end of the season. We are not ruling out him being here next season - he seems to have a feeling for the club," said Andronikou.

Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones has escaped serious injury.

The Black Cats were handed a major boost as scans revealed no lasting damage and Jones could even retain his place in the squad for Birmingham's visit to the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Bruce told the club's official website: "Kenwyne's had a scan and, thankfully, the damage isn't as bad as we first feared.

"It's too early to say whether he will make Saturday's game, but we will keep an eye on him, give him all the treatment we can and keep our fingers crossed."

Chelsea players admitted Jose Mourinho, their former manager, got his tactics right to send them out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage.

The Blues struggled to lay a glove on Inter Milan.

"The longer the game went on we had no answer to create something, we are really disappointed," said midfielder Michael Ballack on official website chelseafc.com.

"We have to be focused on the league now and that is also a big competition for us because we haven't won it for the last few years."

Rafa Benitez says Liverpool must be patient in their Europa League return-leg clash with Lille.

The Reds must overturn a 1-0 deficit to make progress.

"On Monday we could see the football the side can play and hopefully we can see that against Lille, although it will be difficult," said Benitez.

"Everyone wants to see attacking football and we try to approach every game in the same way and sometimes you can but sometimes you cannot.

"We knew we needed to push Portsmouth from the beginning because they are not having an easy time but that was a different game.

"We played good football and the fans were happy and it was good for confidence - but we must win [against Lille] because we lost the first leg.

"We have to make sure we do the right things: score, keep a clean sheet and do good football things."

Brian Horton is believed to have followed manager Phil Brown out of Hull City as Iain Dowie takes charge today.

Dowie will be assisted by former Bolton assistant Steve Wigley and former Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Tim Flowers.

Tigers chairman Adam Pearson told the Hull Daily Mail: "Iain is a very focused man, he's positive and passionate.

"He's aware of what we need to do to stay in this division and he is very confident it can be done.

"He's very organised, he knows the squad and the players and he's desperate to get into the challenge.

"We've been keen to get someone in who will be fully operational and he will start his preparations for the weekend immediately."

Pearson says Dowie has the qualities he was looking for given City's perilous position at the foot of the table.

"We've been looking for someone to add discipline, someone who has strength and someone who is up for the fight. Iain is all of those things.

"We need to tighten up our defence and we need to improve a poor run of results.

"It's been over a year since our last away win and we have to change that mentality. We've got nine games and 27 points to play for and Iain is up for that fight."

Arsenal fullback Armand Traore admits he dreams of joining Paris Saint Germain.

The young Frenchman is third-choice left-back at Arsenal behind Gael Clichy and Kieran Gibbs.

"PSG will always be PSG," he told Le Parisien. "They are a great club that made a whole generation of people dream during the years 1990-2000.

"And the Parc des Princes is a mythical stadium. Still today when I talk to other players, prestigious or not and of all nationalities, they talk to me about PSG, telling me that they dream about playing there one day.

"And moreover, for me, Paris represents a lot. It's the club of my dreams and I know that I will play there one day."

Rangers boss Walter Smith says he's not ready to retire.
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Smith's future may be out of his own hands with Rangers still up for sale amid debts of around £30million and London-based property tycoon Andrew Ellis assessing a bid.

But even though the former Scotland manager has refused to commit himself to carrying on if given the opportunity, he looks unlikely to retire of his own accord in the summer given his continued enjoyment of the job.

"People keep asking me if I will be leaving and the truth is that I don't know because no-one knows what is going to happen with the club," Smith told Clyde 1 in an interview to be broadcast on Tuesday night.

"A lot will depend on what is happening at the club and my own mindset. There is still a lot of football to be played and it's like everything else - if you finish on a successful spell everyone says 'well, you should leave on a high'. I am not of that mind.

"Whatever happens it will not be a case of going out on a high, it will be if the time is right."

Aberdeen boss Mark McGhee is unfazed over jeers coming from Pittodrie fans.

McGhee insists he will turn the tide and has no fears over his immediate employment in the north-east.

He said: "I've got to always look at my own performance and ask the players to do the same, as I do. Of course, I know that I have to be honest with myself, look to see where I can do better.

"But, as long as I can do that, look myself in the mirror, then I think I don't need to stay awake at night worrying about whether my job is under threat. The amount of criticism I've had in the last month has just absolutely steeled me to do everything I can to change it, to turn it around.

"What has disappointed me is that some people have had doubts that possibly I'm able to do that. I think I've proven wherever I've been to be successful and I don't see why I shouldn't be successful here.

"The fact I've not been successful in my first season I don't think is the end of it."

Hamilton Academicals defender Tony Stevenson has joined Irn-Bru Second Division leaders Alloa on an emergency loan until the end of the season.

The 21-year-old, who has not played for Accies since December 2008, returns to the club where he spent three-and-a-half months on loan four years ago.

He was also loaned to Clyde for the second half of last season.

Kenny Miller believes he's proved himself right deciding to return to Rangers.

The former Wolves striker is delighted with what he has achieved at Ibrox second time round.

Miller said: ?I always knew it would be tough when I returned. I didn?t think: ?Brilliant, I?ll go back and get stick for weeks!?

?It?s been a fantastic move for me. But I knew it would be when I had the opportunity to come back. I love coming into work every day. It?s a fantastic place to work.

?I didn?t think twice when I had the chance to return to Rangers. Walter always got the best out of me when we worked together with Scotland. Ally McCoist and Tommy Burns [the pair of them assistant to Smith with Scotland] were fantastic with me, too. To get the opportunity to come back here and work with Walter and Ally?s regime was great.?

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba insists he did not deserve his red card suffered in last night's Champions League elimination by Inter Milan.
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Drogba was shown a red card for a foul on Thiago Motta in the closing stages to complete a miserable night for Carlo Ancelotti's men.

He thinks the decision was harsh, but concedes it was not a significant incident as Chelsea's European dreams were shattered for another season.

"It is difficult to take because, yes I stepped on his calf, but I don't think I deserved this red card," said Drogba.

"But it is something that happened in the game. The most important thing is that we are out of the competition."

Didier Drogba is facing another lengthy ban after his dismissal in Chelsea's defeat to Inter Milan last night.

The Ivory Coast striker?s four-match ban for ranting at ref Tom Henning Ovrebo as Chelsea crashed out in the semi-finals to Barcelona 12 months ago also carried a two-match suspended penalty, which could be triggered by Uefa after his sending-off for violent conduct.

A straight red card in the Champions League carries an automatic two-game suspension so Drogba could begin next season?s competition with a four-match ban, just as he did during this campaign.

Chelsea considered selling Drogba after his antics in Moscow and those at Stamford Bridge last year, but are expected to stand by him this time around, not least because he signed a new three-year contract last summer.