Return of the Mac
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The Mirror
"Steve McClaren warns Manchester City ahead of UEFA Cup clash"
Steve McClaren has warned Manchester City his FC Twente side will be ready for them in the Blues' opener.
The former England boss admits his young team were caught cold by Arsenal in the Champions League qualifiers in August when they were beaten 6-0 on aggregate.
But the "Wally with the Brolly" saw his Dutch side knock out Rennes to reach the group phase and they play at City on November 6.
"We weren't ready for Arsenal and that showed the gap," said McClaren.
"We'll be better this time."
Schalke, Paris St Germain and Racing Santander complete Group A.
Daily Mail
"Mighty Milan are off to Pompey in the UEFA Cup"
Glen Johnson will be taking care of Ronaldinho, Hermann Hreidarsson will be asked to keep Kaka quiet and John Utaka will give Paolo Maldini the runaround down the right.
Incredible, but true, after Portsmouth were put on a level playing field with AC Milan when they
Although he has been drafted in as back up for Emile Heskey, walking a disciplinary tightrope following his caution in Croatia last month, Fabio Capello is a confirmed admirer.
Crouch has struck up a partnership with Defoe, the Premier League's leading goalscorer, and they have been rewarded with a return to the England squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus.
Redknapp gets the best out of this pairing, showering them with attention and telling them that they can be the best strikers in the world.
Crouch added: 'Harry is an honest fella. If you're crap, he will tell you. If you're playing well, he will tell you.
'It's nice to know that if you need to pull your finger out, he will let you know, but he will also tell you when you're playing well.
'I said when I went back to Portsmouth that Harry gets the best out of me and that's one of the reasons I went back there.
'I don't know how he does it, but he builds up players' confidence and tells them every day that they can be world-beaters. Eventually you start to believe it.'
FC Twente boss Steve McClaren is looking forward to the meetings with Manchester City and Schalke - now coached by his predecessor Fred Rutten.
'It's a fantastic draw for the fans, club and players,' said the former England coach. 'I've just come back to England to catch up on football here and the signings Manchester City have made are massive and they are expected to do very well.
'We've taken the club into an area they have never been in before and hopefully things can only get better.'
Struggling Tottenham have away trips to Udinese and NEC Nijmegen and will entertain Spartak Moscow and Dinamo Zagreb, Luka Modric's old club.
Spurs bought striker Roman Pavlyuchenko from Spartak in August but he is cup-tied. Aston Villa will face German league leaders Hamburg - coached by ex-Spurs boss Martin Jol - Dutch giants Ajax, Slavia Prague and MSK Zilina.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill admits he felt the Dutchman was harshly treated when axed by Tottenham and added: 'It is good to see Martin doing very well.'GROUP A: Schalke 04, Paris SG, MANCHESTER CITY, Racing Santander, FC Twente
City start off with a home match against FC Twente on November 6 before travelling to take on Schalke on November 26. PSG arrive at Eastlands on December 3 with a trip to Santander bringing the curtain down on the group for Hughes' side on December 18.
SWP pleased to be playing again |
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'WRIGHT-PHILLIPS SO GRATEFUL FOR HIS KICK UP THE BACKSIDE'
It seemed symptomatic of Shaun Wright-Phillips’ fortunes that, in finally escaping money-flushed Chelsea and the world of mind-boggling signings who had eclipsed him from the limelight, he should return to Manchester City just as they became the richest club on the planet.
“I had no idea what was going to happen,” he said. “I was watching Sky Sports News to see what was happening on the last day of the transfer window and then Robinho’s name flashed up. It was all a surprise to me.”
If his heart sank momentarily at the thought of a raft of expensive new arrivals following the Brazilian and pushing him on to the periphery yet again, then he fully intends to ride with the revolution at Eastlands – and with England, too, for that matter.
There have been occasions in the past when Wright-Phillips has faced the media scrum in the build-up to an international and, whether it be a sign of insecurity or not, has preferred the role of smart alec to discussing the one he performed on the pitch.
At times, it was the same here. Asked if he knew anything about Kazakhstan, England’s opponents on Saturday, the quickfire reply came back: “Just how to pronounce it. I needed a bit of help before.”
Yet behind the toothy grin and witty one-liners, Wright-Phillips acknowledges that it is time for his England career to get serious again, having served yet more time in the wilderness since scoring the winning goal in Fabio Capello’s first game in charge against Switzerland last February.
As the England coach considers his options ahead of Saturday’s World Cup qualifier at Wembley, a berth on the left of his midfield could be available for Wright-Phillips – one he would have to grab with both hands.
“I probably could play there,” he said. “I have played all across the middle for Manchester City, but I am here to train and what happens, happens.
“Being back feels very positive because being left out gave me a kick up the backside. It made me want to get back to being the player I used to be – exciting to watch and full of confidence, a positive player who helps the team. If I score or set something up then that makes me happy.
“Being out made me realise that I always have to improve and achieve more consistency in my performances.”
It is not too long ago that the searing pace, mazy dribbling and eye for goal for which Theo Walcott is currently being feted, were the same qualities Wright-Phillips looked set to showcase for England.
That he turns 27 later this month having won just 19 caps serves as a stark illustration of just how his career has veered off course.
Emile Heskey’s renaissance at this level can act as an inspiration, but the reality is that Wright-Phillips is running out of chances. “When I moved to City my first thought was just to play again and try to get back to being the player I had been,” said Wright-Phillips.
“Who knows whether I would have got a chance at Chelsea? Life would be easier if you knew things like that.
“I took a chance going to Chelsea, a chance that I thought would make me happy, and now I have to buckle down and keep working.
“I am going back a better player – a wiser player on and off the field.
“Giving in is not part of my nature. The mental side of things is stronger and I have become wiser on the pitch in terms of decisions and how to deal with situations that might come up.
“All the managers I have served under have helped me. They all gave me something different and I choose to believe that you can learn from everybody.”
Wright-Phillips regards his goalscoring debut against Ukraine at St James’ Park in August 2004 as his favourite England moment.
“That showed what I am capable of and the sort of player I could be,” he said.
England awaits evidence of just that.
The Sun
'City's £9.6m bid for Mbia'
MANCHESTER CITY plan a £9.6million swoop for Rennes midfield ace Stephane Mbia.
City boss Mark Hughes is a huge admirer of the Cameroon star, 22, for whom Everton had an £8m bid turned down in the summer.
An insider said: “City do want Mbia. A deal could happen in January.”
Daily Mirror
'CASSANO ON CITY HIT-LIST'
Mark Hughes is eyeing up Italian play-maker Antonio Cassano as Javier Garrido claims Manchester City will sign more worldclass stars in January.
Cassano is back in Italy with Sampdoria following an unhappy spell at Real Madrid and would jump at the change of being reunited with Robinho.
City boss Hughes considered bidding for Cassano before he joined Samp permanently from Real in the summer and the midfielder remains on his radar. He is also tracking Thierry Henry and Roque Santa Cruz and Garrido can't wait to see which top players will be arriving when the transfer window opens.
"With the new owners coming in and the kind of signings that they are able to attract, and will be able to attract in the future, like Robinho," said the Spanish defender, "Manchester City has undergone a tremendous change.
"The exciting thing is you just don't know who is going to sign for City. Everyone is really excited."
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