World Soccer News
World Soccer News for the week of October 24
Lehmann "humiliated" by Wenger
Arsenal's goalkeeper Jens Lehmann said he felt humiliated by being left out of the team in the past weeks and warned the coach Arsene Wenger that his patience had limits. The veteran goalkeeper has not played after committing a blunder against Blackburn on August 19th.
"I have taken all of this as a humiliation," said Lehmann to pay tv Premiere. "But I believe no player should be humiliated for a long time".
The beneficiary of Lehmann's situation has been the Spaniard Manuel Almunia, the first choice keeper ever since, with Lukasz Fabianski of Poland on the bench.
Sill, Lehmann has maintained his number one spot in the German squad, although the coach Joachim Löw has commented that the keeper should soon be back in action with his club if he wanted to keep his place in the national team.
"I am convinced I'll play soon. Almunia has not shown he can win games yet. I cannot recall him or Fabianski having won titles," added Lehmann, Oliver Kahn's successor at last year's World Cup in Germany.
Nagoya offers Stojkovic the coaching job
The recently resigned Red Star chairman, Dragan Stojkovic, could take over as coach at his old club, Nagoya Grampus8, where he played for eight seasons in the J-League.
"We have offered Stojkovic a coaching spot and we are expecting his reply. We see him exclusively as a coach, while we have not considered him as a possible director," said Nagoya's chairman Yoshihiro Fukunishi.
The former international and president of the Serb FA has accepted a role in Nagoya, but has not confirmed which position he will hold.
Recently he was quoted as saying by a German newspaper that he had quit Red Star because of "mafiosi" involved in the Serb soccer. Subsequently, Stojkovic denied ever using that exact phrase.
Sao Paulo close to Brazilian title
By beating Cruzeiro 1-0 with a goal from Jorge Wagner at their Morumbi Stadium, Sao Paulo have come extremely close to their second consecutive Brazilian league title. The triple world champions have a 13 points advantage over Palmeiras, while Cruzeiro have slipped to third, a further point adrift with only six rounds to go. Sao Paulo's coach Muricy Ramalho still warns his players and coach about relaxing.
"We must not suffer the fate of McLaren and Hamilton, overtaken by Ferrari and Kimi Räikkönen in the last race," said the wise coach.
Rogério Ceni in Guinness Book of Records
Sao Paulo's goalkeeper Rogério Ceni has found himself in the new edition of the Guinness Book of Records for 2008 as the top scoring goalkeeper in history, succeeding the Paraguayan José Luis Chilavert.
Curiously, the book prints ten month old statistical data, according to which Ceni scored just 66 goals. Although that figure also warrants Ceni the record, in the meantime the 34-year old goalkeeper has scored another ten goals.
"At least this guarantees my spot in next year's edition of Guinness," said Ceni, who scored 45 goals from free kicks and 31 from the penalty spot.
Drogba silences rumours over leaving Chelsea
Chelsea's forward Didier Drogba has denied the veracity of rumours which say he may be close to joining Juventus.
"If you are not happy somewhere, you cannot give a hundred percent. But, I am giving my one hundred percent because I'm feeling well here. I adore the fans. I believe they have shown me their respect and this is very important," the Ivorian told BBC Radio.
Drogba confirmed he was in permanent contact with his former boss, José Mourinho, and explained why he missed him.
"He was the one who brought me to England, the best league in the world. He was always behind me protecting me. (...) But, I am a Chelsea player and I'll stand by my current coach as well as by my teammates and the club."
The big African joined Chelsea from Marseille in 2004 on Mourinho's insistence.
Robinho: party, music and sex
Brazilian international Robinho is said to have organized a glamourous party in Rio de Janeiro to celebrate his masterful display against Ecuador during the World Cup 2010 qualifiers. According to the O Globo daily, Robinho, Ronaldinho and a couple of their teammates had a good time in a leading Rio disco after the 5-0 drubbing of Ecuador. Robinho supposedly covered all the expenses, including drink, music, women and 40 condoms which he shared among the guests.
Later Real's player claimed he was just an innocent participant, not the party organizer.
"It was a friend's party of which I was merely a reserved guest. I remind everyone I am soon to be married with my girlfriend, who is five months pregnant," said Robinho who was late in his return to Madrid and hence sidelined for the Espanyol game which Real duly lost 2-1 in Barcelona.
Alex Aguinaga says farewell with "tears from heaven"
One of the greatest players in Ecuador's history, Alex Dario Aguinaga, ended his playing career in an exhibition game in the country's capital Quito.
Throughout the match it was raining, which the local reporters described as "heavenly sorrow" over this popular midfielder's departure. Aguinaga featured for Ecuador in eight South American Championships and the first World Cup this country ever played in Japan and Korea 2002.
Aged 39, Aguinaga will join the board of directors of Necaxa of Mexico City, where he spent most of his career.