Thứ Tư, 25 tháng 2, 2009

Chelsea will show Ranieri respect

Chelsea will show ex-coach Claudio Ranieri a warm welcome when he returns with Juventus for Wednesday's Champions League last 16 first-leg match.

Current coach Guus Hiddink and midfield star Frank Lampard, signed by Ranieri in 2001, paid tribute to the Italian.

"He's a gentleman coach," said Hiddink. "He's very intelligent."

Lampard said: "Without Claudio Ranieri, I wouldn't be here now. I've the greatest respect for him as a great man as well as a great manager."

Ranieri spent four years at Stamford Bridge, guiding Chelsea to their first Champions League semi-final in May 2004 before he was sacked by owner Roman Abramovich weeks later.

He signed Lampard for £11m from West Ham while bringing William Gallas, Joe Cole, Wayne Bridge, Juan Sebastian Veron, Arjen Robben and Hernan Crespo to west London, as well as promoting John Terry to club captain.

Lampard acknowledges Ranieri legacy

"He helped me develop from a West Ham player who maybe hadn't seen the real world in footballing terms, and he opened my eyes to things," said the midfielder.

"He took Chelsea from a side that finished in the top six to one that finished in the top four.

"He should take credit for what he did in his time here. I'm looking forward to seeing him again very much.

"I don't think he's going to be thinking about proving points. He'll be thinking about getting through to the next round of the Champions League, like us."

Since leaving Chelsea, Ranieri coached Spanish club Valencia before returning to Italy, first with Parma before taking over at Juventus in June 2007.

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He crossed paths with Hiddink during his first spell in Spain with Valencia during the 1998 La Liga season, when the Dutchman was manager of Real Madrid.

And Hiddink has nothing but respect for Ranieri's methods.

"Modest is maybe not the word, but he knows how to cope with the press and the pressure in this particular job. I respect him very much," he said.

"He has several abilities. When he was working here, he made a team that was very competitive for the Premier League.

"Secondly, recently, he's very good at organising his team. His teams show themselves to have enormous tactical discipline. It's very difficult to play those teams that he is managing."

Looking back to his departure in 2004, Ranieri said: "I think even if we had won the Champions League I knew my days were numbered.

"New owners whether they are American, Arab or Russian are all convinced that if they spend they will win. But it's not true.

"A football team is built brick by brick, one area of the team at a time, developing the locker room. It's not just money that makes you win."

But the Italian said he still had great affection for the Stamford Bridge club and was delighted to return in the Champions League.

Ranieri is a 'gentleman coach' says Hiddink

"When the draw took place I got a good feeling," he said. "You don't forget four years, they were four beautiful years.

"But now I am focused on the game and that's what it's all about."

And responding to Lampard's glowing praise, Ranieri said: "All coaches aim to see young players and spot their potential and risk playing them and they are proud when they are successful.

"They are important at the beginning but after that the players do the job themselves."

Turkish plane crash in Amsterdam

A Turkish Airlines plane has crashed on landing at Amsterdam's Schiphol international airport, killing nine people and injuring 84, six critically.

The plane, carrying 128 passengers and seven crew, crashed short of the runway near the A9 highway. It broke into three pieces, but did not catch fire.

Three of those killed are crew members. Their bodies have been left in the cockpit while investigations continue.

Officials said it was unclear why the plane, en route from Istanbul, crashed.

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft came down at 1031 local time (0931 GMT), several hundred yards (metres) short of the runway. It had left Istanbul's Ataturk Airport at 0622 GMT.

SCHIPHOL ACCIDENTS
27 October 2005: A fire at the airport's detention centre killed 11 people and injured 15
4 April 1994: Three people were killed and 13 seriously injured when a KLM flight carrying 24 people crashed on landing
4 October 1992: An El Al Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed into an apartment block after takeoff, killing 43 people

Investigators are said to have found the data recorders from the plane.

Emergency services spokeswoman Ineke van der Zande told a news conference that six people were in a critical condition and 25 were severely wounded.

Another 24 passengers had suffered light injuries, she said, with the injuries of another 31 still to be determined.

She said 84 people altogether had been taken using 60 ambulances to 11 hospitals in the surrounding area.

Michel Bezuijen, mayor of the Haarlemmermeer municipality under which Schiphol airport falls, said the passenger list was being studied to establish the nationalities of those on board.

"As far as I know there are no more passengers in the plane," he said. "We cannot say anything about the cause at the moment. The priority... is providing help and care."

Earlier, Candan Karlitekin, head of Turkish Airlines' board of directors, told reporters in Turkey the plane had been properly maintained.

"We have checked the plane's documents and there is no problem concerning maintenance," he is quoted as saying by AP.

Turkish Transport Minister Binali Yildirim said it had been "a miracle" that there were not more casualties, AP reports.

"The fact that the plane landed on a soft surface and that there was no fire helped keep the number of fatalities low," he said.

One passenger aboard the plane, Kerem Uzel, told Turkish news channel NTV that the plane's landing had been announced when they were at an altitude of 600m (2,000ft).

"We suddenly descended a great distance as if the plane fell into turbulence. The plane's tail hit the ground... It slid from the side of the motorway into the field."

White sheets

Television footage from the scene showed rescue workers laying out white sheets on what appeared to be bodies.

Map

Relatives of passengers who were waiting at the airport have been taken to a sports hall at a nearby village.

Airport spokeswoman Mirjam Snoerwang said Turkish Airlines had organised a special flight to Schiphol, due to arrive at 1710 GMT, for family members of those on the plane which crashed.

Tomas Friedhoff, a student who was cycling past the scene, told BBC News he had seen the plane appearing to glide through the air, having lost all propulsion, before hitting the ground.

"The plane was nose up and the tail section was at a 45-degree angle. The tail section broke down first, which broke off," he said.

"And seconds after the crash people started exiting through the tail section...

"I saw dozens of people making it out very quickly, and as I was about to dial 911 the first sirens were noticeable, and within five minutes there were 10 or 15 ambulances."

Telecom worker Nikolai van der Smagt, who was driving past the airport moments after the crash, told BBC News he saw the plane lying in three pieces in a field just 60m from the A9 motorway.

He said: "The first people were just getting off the plane and they looked confused. There was a lot of dust, but no fire."

All flights were suspended, but the airport has since re-opened. The A9 motorway remains closed.

The last crash involving a Turkish Airlines plane was in 2003, when at least 65 people died in an accident in eastern Turkey.

Schiphol airport has six runways and one major passenger terminal. In 2007, it handled 47 million passengers, ranking fifth in Europe.

BBC

Thứ Ba, 24 tháng 2, 2009

Hudson pilot urges safety funding

The pilot of a plane that ditched into the Hudson River in New York has called on US airlines to invest more in recruiting and training pilots.

Capt Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger told Congress his pay had been cut by 40% in recent years, and the industry might not attract the "best and brightest".

"The single most important piece of safety equipment is an experienced, well-trained pilot," he said.

He was hailed as a hero after January's landing, which all on board survived.

At the hearing, an air traffic controller recalled the captain telling him he would land in the river, and thinking this was a "death sentence".

Controller Patrick Harten said it felt like hours before he heard of the plane's "heroic landing".

'Economic tsunami'

Earlier, Capt Sullenberger told the House aviation subcommittee that he was "deeply troubled" about the future of the airline industry.

He said pay cuts had placed "pilots and their families in an untenable financial situation", and that this was deterring potential recruits.

Companies should refocus on the recruitment and retention of well-trained pilots, and this should be "at least equal to their financial bottom lines", he said.

Capt Sullenberger said the airline industry had been facing severe economic challenges for the last eight years.

"We've been hit by an economic tsunami: September 11th, bankruptcies, fluctuating fuel prices, mergers, loss of pensions and revolving door management teams," he said.

He added that his decision to stay in the airline industry had come at "a great financial cost to me and my family", with his pay cut and pension downgraded.

Arsenal 1-0 Roma

A first-half penalty from Robin van Persie gave Arsenal a narrow lead going into the away leg of their Champions League last-16 clash against Roma.

Arsenal were the better team over the 90 minutes, taking a deserved lead when Van Persie was fouled by Philippe Mexes and then fired in low from the spot.

Fellow striker Nicklas Bendtner struck over from eight yards, while Emmanuel Eboue sent his shot inches wide.

Marco Motta went close for Roma but his 25-yarder was saved by Manuel Almunia.

Apart from that and a John Arne Riise shot that fizzed past the Arsenal upright, the team from Italy's capital did little to excite their band of supporters at the Emirates Stadium.

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Arsene Wenger's side dominated for large periods, created many chances and should have added a couple more to Van Persie's solitary effort. Nevertheless, it was a vast improvement on Arsenal displays of recent weeks.

The key to their success on the night came in the form of the trio in attack - Bendtner, Samir Nasri and Van Persie.

None of the three occupied the conventional positions up front which confused Roma's backline from the whistle.

Bendtner largely played on the left but that did not stop him from bulldozing into the area whenever he saw the defensive door left ajar.

His forays almost paid big dividends on a handful of occasions.

The lanky Dane's first effort suffered as a result of mis-control from Nasri's fine ball into the area, a good block inside the six-yard area then denied him a second bite before he smashed wildly over the bar from eight yards after the break.

One man who was more proficient in front of goal, when it mattered, was Van Persie.

The Dutchman's penalty strike came just before the interval, won when he was tripped by Mexes after being played into the area.

Van Persie's low, driven spot-kick gave Doni no hope in the Roma goal.

Arsenal had numerous chances to extend their lead in the second half.

Apart from Bendtner's wasted effort, Abou Diaby had a wonderful low strike tipped around the post by the agile Doni before Eboue flashed wide after pouncing on a mistake by Simone Loria.

Roma, who have only won one of their previous 15 games away to English sides, were a better proposition in the second half but provided little threat in attack, with Francesco Totti and Julio Baptista disappointing.

Wenger brought on Mexican left-sided forward Carlos Vela and Welsh youngster Aaron Ramsey in the hope that they could give his side a little bit more to play with at the Stadio Olimpico, but it remained at 1-0 with the promise of a nail-biting second leg.


Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue (Ramsey 82), Denilson, Diaby (Song Billong 62), Nasri, Van Persie, Bendtner (Vela 67).
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Djourou, Gibbs, Merida.

Booked: Toure, Nasri.

Goals: Van Persie 37 pen.

Roma: Doni, Motta, Mexes, Loria (Diamoutene 71), Riise, Perrotta, De Rossi, Brighi (Pizarro 56), Taddei, Julio Baptista (Vucinic 82), Totti.
Subs Not Used: Artur, Ribeiro, Tonetto, Montella.

Booked: Mexes, Brighi, De Rossi.

Att: 60,003

Ref: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark).

Inter Milan 0-0 Man Utd

Manchester United dominated for much of this lively Champions League last-16 clash but had to settle for a goalless draw with Inter Milan at the San Siro.

A Cristiano Ronaldo bullet header was well saved after four minutes and Ryan Giggs then missed when clean through.

Inter were much-improved in the second half as Zlatan Ibrahimovic burst to life, and after dummying for Adriano the Brazilian shot tamely wide.

A new-look United defence stood strong as Inter pushed for a late winner.

Old adversaries Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho started the week by trading friendly jibes, with the United boss disputing claims his side would play defensively, emphasising the importance of away goals.

With Nemanja Vidic suspended, and Gary Neville and Wes Brown injured, Ferguson's hopes of improving on a measly record of one win in 12 games against Mourinho rose slightly with Jonny Evans and John O'Shea declared fit an hour before kick-off.

But the Inter boss, without Patrick Vieira, Marco Materazzi and Walter Samuel, might have felt vindicated on hearing that his opponents were leaving Wayne Rooney on the bench with Dimitar Berbatov playing alone up front.

However, if either team was guilty of playing cagey football it was Mourinho's side, who were off the pace for much of the first half.

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With Giggs and Michael Carrick dominant in the middle in the opening exchanges it was the visitors who settled the quickest, with Ronaldo in the thick of the action.

The Portuguese winger had already gone close with a free-kick, and after four minutes his rocket header from a Giggs corner was brilliantly saved by the left arm of Julio Cesar.

While Inter's attackers were struggling to make friends with the ball, their defenders were faring little better and were lucky to get away with a Giggs through-ball to Berbatov, who failed to cross to the unmarked Ji-Sung Park.

A shockingly-timed Nelson Rivas tackle then allowed Giggs to squirm his way though again but the Welshman could only blast the ball at the over-worked keeper.

The home support became increasingly agitated as the sea of red piled forward, with Ronaldo just inches away from opening the scoring with yet another free-kick. He then headed just wide.

Ibrahimovic, misfiring until the 40th minute, pulled the ball back for Adriano but Edwin van der Sar sniffed out the danger. The Inter bench even got in on the action just before the interval as reserve keeper Francesco Toldo was booked for dissent.

The Inter manager was the first to change tactics, the Colombian Rivaz making way for Ivan Cordoba, and it seemed to rouse his team.

Esteban Cambiasso crossed from the left and, after an Ibrahimovic dummy, Adriano's shot flew high and wide.

The Brazilian was soon shouting for a penalty but his theatrics that followed a Rio Ferdinand hand on his shoulder did not fool the referee.

Esteban Cambiasso and Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney clashes with Esteban Cambiasso in the final few minutes

The Italians were much better and more composed in the second half with the menacing Cambiasso pushing the United defence regularly onto the back-foot.

Mario Balotelli and Julio Cruz were thrown on for Inter, but the Old Trafford side were not content to sit back with Ronaldo pulling back for Park, whose sliding legs just avoided the ball.

Giggs, once again on imperious form, went on a dazzling run, only to be thwarted by a lunging blocked tackle by Cordoba on the penalty spot and then Rooney, on as substitute with five minutes left, was denied by the legs of Cesar.

After Cordoba had brought Ronaldo down on the edge of the box in injury time and the Portugal star strolled up to take the free-kick, you sensed the headlines may be his.

But the ball flew safely within range of the impressive Cesar and so Old Trafford awaits for battle to recommence in a fortnight.

Although United cannot celebrate an away goal, they can take pride in increasing their unbeaten Champions League run to 20 matches and breaking the record they shared with Ajax and Bayern Munich.


Inter Milan: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Rivas (Cordoba 46), Chivu, Santon, Zanetti, Cambiasso, Muntari (Cruz 76), Stankovic, Ibrahimovic, Adriano (Balotelli 77).

Subs Not Used: Toldo, Maxwell, Figo, Burdisso.

Booked: Toldo, Chivu, Maicon, Cordoba.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Giggs, Park (Rooney 83), Berbatov, Ronaldo.

Subs Not Used: Foster, Nani, Scholes, Fabio Da Silva, Gibson, Tevez.

Booked: Fletcher, Rooney.

Att: 84,000

Ref: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain).


BBC Sport Player Rater men of the match: Inter Milan's Julio Ceasr on 7.86 (on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.