SPAIN ISN'T JUST BARCA - CASILLAS

 

Iker Casillas - more to Spain than Barca.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas insists Spain's playing style was not inspired by the current great Barcelona side.

Many people have attributed the national team's success to the system used at Barca by coach Pep Guardiola, which has seen the Catalan club win a plethora of trophies in the last three seasons including three Primera Division titles and two Champions League crowns.

Seven Barcelona players started for Spain in the World Cup final win over Holland and all of the goals in South Africa were scored by members of Guardiola's squad - even though striker David Villa had yet to feature for the Catalans, having signed just before the tournament for Valencia.

Casillas, though, says Spain's style dates back to before the 2008 European Championship win, and claims Madrid were the dominant force back then.

"Anyone who has followed the national team a little will remember where our style of play comes from," he told Chilean newspaper El Mercurio in an interview.

"It doesn't come from 2010 or 2009, but from 2007 and 2008, and at that time Barcelona weren't the club dominating or creating hegemony in Spanish football; it was Real Madrid."

And Casillas remembers that only three Barcelona players featured in the Euro 2008 final against Germany.

"If we start to remember a little bit further back in time, only (Andres) Iniesta, Xavi and (Carles) Puyol were Barcelona players in the final of the European Championships against Germany," he said.

"That Spain is associated with Barcelona's play is a good thing because the team has achieved great success, but the national team is not just about Barcelona's success; it's about the success of the rest, too."

Santos confirm Neymar interest

By ESPNsoccernet staff


Santos president Luis Alfaro Ribeiro has revealed Real Madrid have enquired about the availability of Neymar, along with a host of other clubs.

GettyImagesNeymar will cost 45 million euros.

Neymar, 19, is one of the hottest properties of the summer transfer market, with Chelsea and Manchester City also linked with the player, but Ribeiro insists no negotiations can take place until after his side's Copa Libertadores final second leg against Penarol on Wednesday night.

Ribeiro admits the race for the teenager is hotting up and hinted that his sizeable release clause would have to be met before Santos would consider selling.

''It is not just Madrid; a lot of other clubs in Europe have been calling us,'' Ribeiro told a press conference. ''It is no surprise - it would be strange if they didn't want him.

''If they pay the buy-out clause of €45 million and the player wants to go, there is nothing we could do.''

Nevertheless, the Santos chief hopes his side can hang on to the 19-year-old - especially if they win the Copa Libertadores.

''The clubs can talk to Neymar after the Libertadores, but I am sure that if we win the title, the reasons for Neymar to stay will be even stronger,'' he said. ''I know mind-blowing offers will arrive, but the player will benefit more if he keeps developing here.''

Success for Santos on Wednesday - which would be their first in the competition since Pele inspired them to back-to-back glory in 1962 and '63 - would ensure a place in the Club World Championship in December, while Ribeiro also revealed ambitious plans for the club's centenary year.

''Next year we celebrate our centenary; we are hopeful of bringing Robinho and Diego back to the club, and of keeping Elano and Ganso, and Neymar could be the biggest star of that movie,'' he said. ''Santos will write a page in the history of world football that will change the lives of the footballers involved.''

Schmeichel 'shocked' by sale

Schmeichel: Shocked by Leeds' decision

Kasper Schmeichel has expressed his surprise and "great disappointment" after Leeds accepted an offer from Leicester for his services.

The Elland Road club on Monday announced they had reached an agreement with the Foxes for the 24-year-old, who has one year to run on his deal, with manager Simon Grayson suggesting contract negotiations had broken down.

But Schmeichel on Monday released a statement via Twitter saying: "At the end of the season Leeds United and I both made a commitment to honour the last year of my contract and try to win promotion with Leeds United.

"Therefore it is with great disappointment that I have learned that Leeds United have accepted an offer from Leicester.
"I want to put on record that I have never asked to leave the Leeds United, nor did I reject an offer for a new contract, since one was never put to me.
"I was enjoying being a Leeds United player and was looking forward to winning promotion this season with the club.

"I have spoken to the manager Simon Grayson and he has made it clear to me, that, in spite of having played well for him, this is something he believes is a good deal for Leeds United.

"I have been put in a very difficult situation and will spend some time considering my options for my future."

Schmeichel has spent only one season at Elland Road after arriving from Notts County last summer, making 40 appearances.
 
Grayson earlier said: "We feel this is the right deal for the club.

"We spoke to Kasper's agent at the end of the season about a contract extension and it was apparent that it was going to be difficult to agree a deal.

"Given the fact he has one year remaining on his contract we feel this is in the best interests of Leeds United."

Jones ready for Utd 'challenge'

Jones: Ready for United challenge

New England Under-21 captain Phil Jones has declared himself ready for the "massive challenge" of breaking into the Manchester United side.

Jones cannot wait to get started at Old Trafford and is confident he has not sacrificed first-team football by leaving Blackburn.

Jones, 19, last week completed his move to Sir Alex Ferguson's side for a fee reportedly in excess of £16.5million.

He will link up with his new team-mates, including international centre-back partner Chris Smalling, once he returns from holiday after England crashed out of the European Under-21 Championship on Sunday night.

Jone said: "I'm not sure when my first day is going to be. I have got to go home first, go on a few holidays and chill out for a little bit.

"Hopefully, I will get a call from the gaffer and I'm looking forward to that.

"Everyone knows they are one of the biggest clubs on the planet. It's a massive move for me and I just can't wait to get started. It's a massive challenge."

Jones will doubtless begin his Old Trafford career behind Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Smalling in the pecking order but he is unfazed by the prospect.

"Chris has shown that you can go in there and play games for United," Jones said of Smalling, who joined the Premier League champions a year ago.

"He has done extremely well.

"The gaffer has shown he is not afraid to put young faces in the team. When I get the chance I am confident I will take it."

The teenager is also unflustered about facing the famous Ferguson 'hairdryer', adding: "I'm ready for that."

Jones and Smalling's performances were one of few bright spots for England in Denmark during the past 10 days and the pair look set to be a long-term partnership for both club and country.

Jones said: "Chris is a fantastic player. I enjoy playing with him and we complement each other well.
"Hopefully, we can do that in the future."

Jones was handed the England Under-21 captaincy for the agonising defeat against Czech Republic after Michael Mancienne was dropped from the side.

Despite being one of the youngest members of the squad, he led by example and looked certain to extend his unbeaten record for his country to 13 games before a late collapse led to a 2-1 defeat.


"It is horrible," said an emotionally-drained Jones. "We are disappointed, distraught, gutted. It is hard to sum up how we are feeling in words.

"It won't put me off wanting to be captain in the future. To walk the lads out at the start of the game at the front of the queue is a massive honour."

Indeed, Jones is determined to make up for England's dismal displays in Denmark at the next tournament in two years' time.

"I can't wait, I'm looking forward to it," he said.
"Let's try and move on from this, learn and improve."
New United team-mate Smalling was able to appreciate the irony of conceding two last-gasp goals.
"It really killed our tournament and killed everybody's heads," he said.
"We have done it so many times this season at Aston Villa, Blackpool...
"Fair play to the Czech tactics. It was up to us to break them down, we didn't have the answers."
In truth, England's failure to qualify for the semi-finals was down more to their performances in the opening matches Group B games.
"We should have played like that in the other two games," he said. "We need to learn that we have to start off these tournaments like we did last night, not when everything's on the line.
"The first two games weren't good enough and we gave ourselves too much to do."

McLeish hoping to keep Downing

Downing and Young: Star men for Villa

New boss Alex McLeish is hoping he can convince England star Stewart Downing to stay at Aston Villa - but concedes Ashley Young is on his way.

McLeish was officially unveiled at Villa Park on Monday and walks into a job which will require some considerable fire-fighting.

The Scot knows he has work to do to win over a sceptical fanbase, while he must also address transfer issues regarding his first-team squad.

Adding to what he has already got will be a priority, but it is also imperative that he is able to keep his top stars out of the clutches of a Premier League rival.

It is precisely that situation he faces with Downing, as the England winger has shelved contract talks amid mounting reports that Liverpool are set to swoop for his services.
"No chance do we want Stewart Downing to go. We certainly don't want to lose Stewart," McLeish told talkSPORT. "He's a top player.

"I need to see what Stewart's thinking when he comes back because I know that he made some comments when he was away on England duty.

"I'll have a chat with one or two in the coming days and weeks before pre-season training starts and once I get them in for pre-season training proper then I'll get a better idea."

While there is still a chance that Downing could be talked into staying put, McLeish concedes that Young is destined to complete a big-money move to Manchester United.

"It's not confirmed yet but it does seem likely," he said. "In my humble opinion it will be very difficult [to keep hold of him]."