Chelsea '10 times better than Galatasaray' - Drogba

London: Didier Drogba has said former club Chelsea are "10 times better" than his current side, Galatasaray, ahead of the teams` Champions League meeting in Istanbul on Wednesday.

"Are Chelsea better than Galatasaray? Yes, they are 10 times better," the Galatasaray striker, now 35, told the BBC on the eve of the last 16 clash.

"If I play it is to win. It will be tough but Juve were better than us, so anything can happen. If there`s a one percent chance of us winning. I`ll believe it."

Drogba spent eight years at Chelsea, scoring 157 goals in 342 games and won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and also scored the winning penalty against Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final -- his final kick in a Blues shirt.

"It will be difficult," he said of playing against London club Chelsea.

"You don`t stay eight years in a place you don`t like, especially in football -- it is very emotional. I love Chelsea but I play for Galatasaray now and I will give everything for them.

"When you`re happy at a club, you want to stay forever," said Drogba who joined Chelsea from Marseille for £24 million ($40m, 29m euros) in July 2004.

"But sometimes you can`t do everything you want to do. I am proud of what I achieved."

Asked about the possibility of working again with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, the Ivory Coast forward said: "They say in French `avec des si. Rome ne s`est pas construite en un jour` (there are lots of ifs. Rome wasn`t built in a day). It is only if and if and if. We are not there yet."

And he insisted he was happy working under current boss Roberto Mancini, the former Manchester City manager.

"They`re very different, two different personalities but with the same mentality. They want to win, they want to win trophies. They are winners."

But he said he was still friendly with Mourinho.

"There is a lot of respect. When there is somebody that important, who looks at you like a friend, you forget that he is `The Special One` and you are the striker. "It is a man-to-man relationship, a friendship.

"These kind of moments are special, because they are very important, very precious. He was the one who helped me to make my decision to come to play for Chelsea.

"He was always fair with me. When I deserved to play, I played. When I didn`t, I didn`t. That is why I respected him so much."

And Drogba said that when Mourinho, now in his second spell as Chelsea manager, left Stamford Bridge in 2007 he too considered quitting the west London club.

"Yes I did. When you are young and emotional you react straight away and later you end up realising it was not the right thing.

"Maybe I`d have dealt with it differently today, but I was affected because the man who believed in me was leaving. It was normal."

Ronaldo raring to go after La Liga ban: Ancelotti

Madrid: Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is itching to get back into action in Wednesday`s Champions League last 16, first leg at Schalke 04 after serving a three-match La Liga ban, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Tuesday.

The Portugal international was sanctioned after being dismissed for violent conduct in the 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao on February 2 and has not played since he netted two penalties against Atletico Madrid in the King`s Cup on February 11.

Real are the leading scorers in Europe`s elite club competition with 20 goals, Ronaldo scoring a group-stage record nine, and Ancelotti said he would be back in the starting lineup for the match in Gelsenkirchen in a three-pronged forward line with Wales winger Gareth Bale and France striker Karim Benzema.

"He (Ronaldo) is motivated because he really wants to play," Ancelotti told a news conference.

"He was not happy about being sidelined," added the Italian, who is attempting to lead Real to a 10th European title in his first season in charge.

"He has prepared well during this period and his physical and psychological condition are optimal."

Real have been in fine form in recent weeks and took over at the top of La Liga at the weekend after champions Barcelona and Atletico suffered surprise defeats.

However, they have a surprisingly poor record playing away against German opposition, winning just once in 25 visits and losing 18.

Wednesday`s game is their first meeting with Schalke, who have former Real striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in their ranks.

"It is going to be a very intense game," Ancelotti said.

"The other team is going to try everything to win and they have a lot of quality and are well organised. To win here we will have to be at our best."

Greek misery for United as Olympiakos win 2-0

Athens: Olympiakos Piraeus made it fifth time lucky on Tuesday, sweeping past an abject Manchester United team 2-0 in their Champions League last-16 first leg at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.

Alejandro Dominguez opened the scoring with a clever first-half flick and Arsenal loanee Joel Campbell added a sublime second goal to leave United facing a huge task to overturn the deficit in the return match at Old Trafford next month.

"That`s the worst we`ve played in Europe. We didn`t deserve to get anything," United manager David Moyes was quoted as saying by the BBC. "I`m surprised, I didn`t see that level of performance coming.

"I take responsibility, we have to play better. The players are hurting."

Defeat represented another body blow in an inauspicious season for the English Premier League title winners.

The Champions League is United`s last chance of a trophy and they looked sluggish and disjointed against an inexperienced Olympiakos side who are bidding to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time in their history.

It was the first time the Greeks had beaten United in five attempts.

Moyes opted to start with two wingers, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young, but neither made an impact in a first half in which Olympiakos displayed real energy and hunger.

After a cautious opening from both sides amid ear-splitting noise from an enthusiastic home crowd, the first chance fell to Olympiakos with Dominquez bursting through the middle on a solo run only to be denied by a last-ditch tackle from Nemanja Vidic.

Midfielder Tom Cleverley registered United`s only effort of note in the first half with a 17th-minute half-volley that sailed high over the bar.

PERIPHERAL FIGURES

Strike pair Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie were peripheral figures for the visitors as pot shots on goal from Giannis Maniatis and Hernan Perez lifted the home supporters.

Olympiakos, wearing red and white jerseys, red shorts and socks, broke the deadlock seven minutes before halftime with a clever piece of improvisation from Argentine forward Dominguez.

Patrice Evra`s half-hearted clearance from a corner landed at the feet of Maniatis 25 metres out and his tame, low shot was expertly diverted past keeper David De Gea by Dominguez`s flick.

United, the European champions in 1968, 1999 and 2008, were punished again for poor defending 10 minutes into the second half.

Campbell, who is likely to feature for Costa Rica against Group D rivals England at the World Cup in Brazil in June, did the damage.

He picked up possession 25 metres out, jinked past midfielder Michael Carrick and sent a curling left-foot shot around defender Rio Ferdinand and into the bottom corner of the net.

Moyes sent on Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa for Valencia and Cleverley but it was more a change in attitude than personnel that was required from United.

Dutch striker Van Persie summed up his team`s night with five minutes to go. He received the ball 12 metres out and turned inside a defender before blazing a right-foot shot way over the bar.

"We had good possession in the first half and were controlling the game without really penetrating and causing them any problems," said Carrick. "But at the same time they weren`t causing us any problems and the goals came from nothing.

"We didn`t start the second half very well, we were a bit sloppy really, and they scored the second goal which put us on the back foot."

Moyes sees red after limp United show in Athens

Athens: Manchester United`s dwindling hopes of lifting a trophy this season are dangling by a thread after they produced an abject display to lose 2-0 at Olympiakos Piraeus in a Champions League last-16 first leg on Tuesday.

Alejandro Dominguez opened the scoring with a clever first-half flick and Arsenal loanee Joel Campbell added a sublime second goal to leave United facing a huge task to overturn the deficit in the return match at Old Trafford on March 19.

"That`s the worst we`ve played in Europe. We didn`t deserve to get anything," manager David Moyes told reporters. "I`m surprised, I didn`t see that level of performance coming.

"I take responsibility, we have to play better. The players are hurting."

Defeat at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium represented yet another body blow in an inauspicious campaign for last season`s English Premier League title winners.

United are out of the FA Cup and the League Cup and trail Premier League leaders Chelsea by 15 points with 11 games left to play.

Moyes`s men looked sluggish and disjointed against an inexperienced Olympiakos side who are bidding to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time in their history.

It was the first time the Greeks had beaten United in five attempts.

"To beat a great side like United, the way we did, is something very special and I can`t hide the joy and pride I feel for my players," said Olympiakos coach Michel.

"We picked the best moment to show Greek football is alive and kicking," added the former Spain and Real Madrid striker.

Moyes opted to start with two wingers, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young, but neither made an impact in a first half in which runaway the Greek league leaders displayed real energy and hunger.

ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD

After a cautious opening from both sides amid ear-splitting noise from an enthusiastic home crowd, the first chance fell to Olympiakos as Dominguez burst through the middle on a solo run only to be denied by a last-ditch tackle from Nemanja Vidic.

Midfielder Tom Cleverley registered United`s only effort of note in the first half with a 17th-minute half-volley that sailed high over the bar.

Strike pair Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie were peripheral figures for the visitors as pot shots on goal from Giannis Maniatis and Hernan Perez lifted the home supporters.

Olympiakos, wearing bright red and white jerseys, red shorts and socks, broke the deadlock seven minutes before halftime with a smart piece of improvisation from Argentine forward Dominguez.

Patrice Evra`s half-hearted clearance from a corner landed at the feet of Maniatis 25 metres out and his tame, low shot was expertly diverted past keeper David De Gea by Dominguez`s flick.

United, the European champions in 1968, 1999 and 2008, were punished again for poor defending 10 minutes into the second half.

Campbell, who is likely to feature for Costa Rica against Group D rivals England at the World Cup in Brazil in June, did the damage.

He picked up possession 25 metres out, jinked past midfielder Michael Carrick and sent a curling left-foot shot round defender Rio Ferdinand and into the bottom corner of the net.

Moyes sent on Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa for Valencia and Cleverley but it was more a change in attitude than personnel that was required from United.

Dutch striker Van Persie summed up his team`s night with five minutes to go. He received the ball 12 metres out and turned inside a defender before blazing a right-foot shot way over the bar.

"It is a great moment for us and we will enjoy it but we must look ahead to the second leg. Whoever thinks 2-0 is enough to qualify is mistaken," said Michel.

"We expect a different United at Old Trafford. We have huge respect for them so we have to keep working if we want to write another piece of history."

United's dip in quality exposed by Olympiakos, says Keane

London: Manchester United were exposed as mediocre on the European stage with manager David Moyes shocked at the evidence on display in a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Olympiakos Piraeus in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The defeat in the first leg of their last 16, first leg tie had former United captain Roy Keane, now a television pundit, highlighting the quality of the Greek side and saying Moyes needed half a dozen top signings to rebuild his team.

"Criticise United all you want but Olympiakos were good. They were on the front foot and technically better than United tonight," Keane, who helped United win the European Cup in 1999, said on ITV.

"There is a lack of confidence and there are some players who just don`t have the quality. We`ve been brainwashed that the Premier League is the best in the world - nonsense," he added.

"It`s the best brand in the world but they have fallen behind, United more than most. They need six or seven players to rebuild the club."

Moyes was stunned by the worst performance of a poor season in a competition which remains their only hope of a trophy.

They need to turn the tie around at Old Trafford on March 19 because they have only the slimmest chance of returning to the Champions League next season via their Premier league position.

They are 11 points behind fourth-placed arch-rivals Liverpool who occupy the final Champions league qualifying place with 11 matches remaining this season.

WORST PERFORMANCE

"That`s the worst we`ve played in Europe, we didn`t deserve to get anything. I`m surprised, I didn`t see that level of performance coming," said Moyes days after an encouraging 2-0 win at Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

"I take responsibility, it`s my team and we have to play better. There is a second game and we will do all we can to turn it around," added Moyes, who has struggled with the team he inherited from the great Alex Ferguson nine months ago.

"There is undoubtedly talent at Manchester United but we didn`t show it tonight," he said. "They have a very good home record so it wasn`t unexpected."

Olympiakos are runaway leaders in the Greek league having won all 13 of their home games this season, but United beat them in their four previous meetings when the Old Trafford club were a force to be reckoned with in Europe.

United have not reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the last two seasons, having won their third title in 2008 and also reached the 2009 and 2011 finals under Ferguson.

They were undone on Tuesday by goals from two Latin American players, Argentine midfielder Alejandro Dominguez and Costa Rica striker Joel Campbell, neither of whom has been able to hold down a place in bigger teams.

Dominguez was back home two seasons ago on loan from Valencia helping River Plate recover from relegation but was discarded once they regained their top flight status and arrived in Greece via Madrid minnows Rayo Vallecano.

The 21-year-old Campbell, on loan from Arsenal, will relish the prospect of knocking out United as he prepares to face England in the group stage at the World Cup in Brazil in June.

Ten-man Celtic suffer first league defeat of the season

London: Ten-man Celtic suffered their first Scottish Premier League defeat of the season on Tuesday when a 2-1 reverse at Aberdeen ended the title holders` 29-match unbeaten league run.

Once Celtic`s Virgil van Dijk was sent off for a last-man challenge on Peter Pawlett after 12 minutes, the visitors faced an uphill task to hold on to their unblemished league record, which included three games from last season.

Aberdeen`s Jonathan Hayes opened the scoring after 41 minutes to bring an end to Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster`s Scottish record for the longest time without conceding a league goal at 1,256 minutes since they beat Aberdeen 3-1 on November 23.

Adam Rooney`s diving header put the hosts 2-0 in front just before the break and although Celtic substitute James Forrest pulled a goal back after 62 minutes the home side held on to record a famous victory over the Scottish champions.

Celtic still have a 21-point advantage over second-placed Aberdeen, who have 51 points from 27 games, but manager Neil Lennon was incensed with referee Craig Thomson`s performance.

"I think we`ve been done by the ref," Lennon was quoted as saying by the BBC. "I don`t think it`s a sending off.

"Then there was a clear handball in the second half that everyone could see, even the referee saw. It`s ridiculous."

Aberdeen also knocked holders Celtic out of the Scottish Cup with a 2-1 away win on February 8. Derek McInnes`s side had not won at Celtic Park since a Cup quarter-final win in 2008.

Galatasaray will not beat Chelsea, says Mancini

London: Galatasaray do not have a chance of beating Chelsea in the last 16 of the Champions League, manager Roberto Mancini said on Tuesday.

Mancini, who comes up against the Premier League leaders in the Round of 16 first-leg at the Turk Telekom Arena in Istanbul on Wednesday, does not fancy his side`s prospects.

"We don`t have a lot of chance, even at home," the Italian, who has been in charge of the Turkish club since September, told the London Evening Standard.

"Chelsea are better, one of the best teams in Europe.

"But for Galatasaray to just play Chelsea is an important moment and we need to do a good job."

Mancini will go head-to-head with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, the man who replaced him as Inter Milan coach in 2008 and who subsequently guided the Italian club to the Champions League title in 2010.

Despite Mourinho steering Inter to the title for the first time since 1965, Mancini does not believe the Portuguese boasts the better record of the two managers.

"Mourinho won the Champions League because he took a good team," the former Italy striker said.

"He took a team that, like Manchester City, I had built.

"To win a Champions League you should be lucky. Champions League is a difficult competition but a strange one.

"Strange because you can win your group in October, November, December and, after maybe February (in the knockout stages), everything can change."

The 49-year-old Mancini, who won the Premier League in 2012 with Manchester City but was dismissed by the English club last year after failing to win a trophy, said he was surprised to lose his job.

"I changed (football) history in Manchester," Mancini said.

"I changed Manchester City history on the pitch.

"I know very well in football not every job can finish well, even when you win.

"But I always had a very good relationship with the chairman. I didn`t understand why this happened."

Humiliated, clueless United come back to face the music

London: Manchester United returned to England on Wednesday to be greeted by the type of headlines not associated with the club since they were relegated from the old First Division almost 40 years ago.

Their woeful display in a 2-0 defeat by Olympiakos Piraeus in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie has left them on the brink of elimination from the only competition they can still win this season.

The Daily Mail back page screamed: "Humiliated!" while The Daily Telegraph described them as "Clueless, Aimless and Hopeless". The Guardian front page said they had a "mountain to climb" while the Daily Mirror described them as "Greek Clods".

"Manchester United`s disastrous season was lying in ruins last night after they were humiliated in Athens" said The Sun.

Manager David Moyes and his players were roundly criticised not just for the defeat but for the manner in which they lost.

Henry Winter of the Telegraph said: "This was a horrible, aimless, passionless performance from Manchester United.

"This was a display riddled with errors from the players and the manager, David Moyes.

"United were too cautious in design, clueless in possession and too generous with space, seemingly inviting Olympiakos to score. Beware Greeks exploiting gifts."

BBC pundit Robbie Savage, who began his career at United, questioned their team spirit and desire, describing the performance as "pathetic".

He said: "The defeat in Greece was a new low for David Moyes`s team.

"Yes, the Greek champions are doing well domestically - they are 20 points clear at the top of their league and have not lost any of their 26 games - but Manchester United should not be losing 2-0 there.

"Some players let the shirt down - no question. The performance was desperately poor.

"We saw United players losing the ball without making a recovery run. They were giving the ball away constantly and not dynamic. In terms of a European performance it was pathetic.

"Were United lacking leadership, fight, team spirit? I`d say they lacked all three."

POOR DISPLAYS

United had their setbacks during Alex Ferguson`s 27 years in charge but the negatives have far outweighed the positives since David Moyes took over from his fellow Scot this season.

Although this was their first Champions League defeat this season, the performance was typical of the poor displays that have left them 15 points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea and likely to finish in their lowest position since 1991 when they were sixth.

The only United player to escape the opprobrium was Serbia defender Nemanja Vidic, who is leaving at the end of the season and may not be the only one heading out of Old Trafford.

Moyes, appointed with Ferguson`s full backing last year, is unlikely to go but he has had a season to forget.

So far he has seen United lose at Old Trafford to West Bromwich Albion for the first time since 1978, Newcastle United (1972) and Everton (1992) and at home to Swansea City for the first time ever.

At the start of the year they lost three games in a row for the first time since 2001 - against Tottenham Hotspur, Swansea and Sunderland - and followed that with their first defeat by Stoke City since 1984.

Tuesday`s reverse was their first defeat by a Greek side and, although they could overturn the deficit in the second leg on March 19, it is doubtful they would advance much further.

SOUL SEARCHING

Moyes and his team have plenty of soul searching to do after this low.

"That`s the worst we`ve played in Europe. We didn`t deserve to get anything," Moyes said.

"I`m surprised, I didn`t see that level of performance coming. I take responsibility, we have to play better. The players are hurting."

United have regressed significantly since winning the Premier League nine months ago.

The team that won that title were a long way short in quality from many of the 13 that won the league under Ferguson but were still good enough to finish 11 points clear of Manchester City.

But it wasn`t just Ferguson`s "genius" that secured the crown last year.

They benefitted from the signing of Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, whose goals helped tip the balance back in their favour after they lost out to City on goal difference the previous season.

City failed to progress under Roberto Mancini, who was sacked at the end of the campaign, while Arsenal did not find an adequate replacement for their Dutch striker.

Chelsea began last season well and were top until the end of October but faltered after Roberto Di Matteo was sacked and the unpopular Rafa Benitez took over, while Brendan Rodgers was still finding his feet at Liverpool.

Spurs, apart from Gareth Bale who has since left for Real Madrid in a world record transfer deal, lacked the quality to sustain their challenge.

This season City have invested wisely and played exciting attacking football under Chilean Manuel Pellegrini, Jose Mourinho has returned to Chelsea, Arsenal look rejuvenated and Rodgers` Liverpool have improved significantly.

Spurs and Everton are also ahead of United in the table.

Moyes probably needs to totally overhaul the squad, and his tactics, and return to the tried and trusted 4-4-2 formation with a diamond-shaped midfield which traditionally worked for them rather than a 4-2-3-1 that was so badly exposed in Greece.

Olympiakos bask in glory of ''epic display''

Athens: The Greek media lavished praise on Olympiakos Piraeus on Wednesday after the Athens side made history with a first-ever victory over Manchester United in the Champions League as David Moyes`s troubled first season in charge continues to unravel.

United`s dwindling hopes of winning silverware this season are dangling by a thread after they produced a turgid display against the Greek champions, who eased to a 2-0 victory in their last-16 first leg encounter on Tuesday.

For Olympiakos, unbeaten in the domestic league and full of confidence under the guidance of Spanish coach Miguel, the victory was celebrated as a history-making breakthrough against the Premier League giants after four previous failures.

"United who? Legends of Europe, Olympiakos!" declared popular tabloid SportDay in its headline, adding: "The real Red Devils made United look like also-rans with an epic display."

Alejandro Dominguez opened the scoring with a clever first-half flick and Arsenal loanee Joel Campbell added a sublime second half goal to leave United facing a huge task to overturn the deficit in the return match at Old Trafford on March 19.

"Legends of Dreams," said another prominent sports daily Goal News, adding: "Olympiakos leave the whole of Europe speechless with the greatest win of their history."

One of the standout performers on the night was Campbell, who is likely to feature for Costa Rica against Group D rivals England at the World Cup in Brazil in June.

The 21-year-old picked up the ball well outside the penalty area, before jinking past holding midfielder Michael Carrick and sending a curling left-foot shot around defender Rio Ferdinand and into the bottom corner of the net.

"I dedicated the goal to my father, who was in the crowd. When I scored, I ran towards where he was sitting and shouted out that I loved him... it was a special moment," he told reporters.

"We got exactly what we deserved out of the game and we can look forward to the return leg. It will be vital for us to get a goal over there. If we manage to score then the tie will be over."

India has potential to host tremendous World Cup: FIFA

New Delhi: Satisfied with the current infrastructure in place, a FIFA team, which is here to inspect stadia, on Wednesday said India has the potential to host a "tremendous Under-17 World Cup" in 2017, but asked the AIFF to be proactive in its planning and execution.

"All the potential is there to make it a tremendous World Cup and leave a tremendous legacy for youth football in India," said Inaki Alvarez, Deputy Director and Head of Event Management Competitions Division, FIFA. The All India Football Federation, though, surprisingly barred the media from interacting with the FIFA team after the inspection at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, one of the eight venues shortlisted by the AIFF to host the event.

But before he got down to work, Alvarez had quite a few encouraging words to say as far as India`s ability to host the mega-event was concerned. "It`s been a week and we have visited five cities. So far the experience has been very good, very positive... All infrastructure is there, organisation well done. I can say that we are heading in a very good directions," Alvarez said.

Asked what about his main areas of focus, he said, "There are number of aspects... Infrastructure, stadium itself, dressing rooms, pitch, TV facilities and various other facilities. "It`s a long process, it`s not about today, tomorrow. It will take several months if not years, we are going to analyse each stadiums and infrastructure," he added.

The Spaniard said India has enough time on hand to get tournament ready. "There is enough time, there is no emergency, but you should keep the urgency of what needs to be done. The time you have is good enough to complete everything in good manner, it`s good if you set up a project plan to complete everything in time.

Asked if FIFA has a deadline in mind, Alvarez said, "There are deadlines and this is what I meant when I said it`s a long process, there are going to be normal delays but all that has been taken into account. "We have met government officials, both at national and state levels, and it has been quite positive." Indian football`s Technical Director, Rob Baan, had recently spoken about the importance of organising a pre-World Cup event one year before the main tournament, and when Alvarez was asked about that, he said, "We can get the infrastructure ready one year in advance with good planning and execution. We are pretty comfortable with where we are right now and this is the proper way to do it."
The FIFA team was accompanied by AIFF officials.

The team had visited the venues in Pune and the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai last Saturday followed by Goa. They had also visited facilities in Bengaluru and Kochi before arriving in the Capital. Guwahati and Kolkata are the other two cities that the FIFA team will be visiting. The two-member team will submit its report, following which six venues will be finalised to host the six groups of four teams each.

Australia dump Neill for soccer World Cup warmup

MELBOURNE: Australia coach Ange Postecoglou has omitted long-serving captain Lucas Neill and a clutch of seasoned players from a 23-man squad for a World Cup warmup against Ecuador, underlining his intent to inject some new blood into the team.

Under former coach Holger Osieck and 35-year-old skipper Neill, Australia booked their ticket to the Brazil finals after a stuttering last phase of Asian qualifying but were heavily criticised for their stodgy play.

With German Osieck sacked in October following back-to-back 6-0 friendly defeats to Brazil and France, his replacement Postecoglou has been tasked with rejuvenating a demoralised team in time for the June 12-July 13 finals.

The 48-year-old coach signalled his intentions by bringing four uncapped players into the squad for the March 5 friendly at The Den in London, while snubbing 96-cap defender Neill, along with veteran midfielder Mark Bresciano and forward Brett Holman.

"The squad to face Ecuador represents the first steps in what I believe is the building of the next golden generation for Australian football acknowledging there is a need to balance experimentation and experience to achieve this," Postecoglou said in a statement on Wednesday.

"This squad reflects that direction... both in the short term and the long term."

Postecoglou also omitted 34-year-old defender Sasa Ognenovski but has not completely broken from the past, with forward Tim Cahill, also 34, retained and experienced defender Luke Wilkshire recalled for the team`s last international before a provisional 30-man World Cup squad is named in May.

Cahill and Wilkshire are joined by fellow World Cup alumni, including midfielders Mile Jedinak and Mark Milligan, and Switzerland-based forward Dario Vidosic.

CAHILL FAVOURED

Postecoglou, who won his only game in charge with a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica in a Sydney friendly in November, will not unveil a new captain until the Ecuador match but New York Red Bulls striker Cahill is favoured to take the armband.

At the helm since 2006, Neill led Australia to victory over Costa Rica but has been without a club since parting ways with Japanese side Omiya Ardija in November.

He signed a short-term deal with second-tier English Championship side Watford this week in a bid to stake his claim for Brazil.

His omission could spell the end of a distinguished international career that has included World Cup appearances at the 2006 finals in Germany and in South Africa four years later.

Postecoglou said he needed to make "hard decisions" before Brazil but denied the door was shut for former Millwall, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United defender Neill.

"Good form, regular football will not be overlooked," he said.

Postecoglou has named a pair of uncapped defenders in Scotland-based 20-year-old Curtis Good and Aston Villa`s Chris Herd. Germany-based forward Ben Halloran and Swindon Town midfielder Massimo Luongo will also push for their maiden caps.

Australia squad: Oliver Bozanic, Tim Cahill, Jason Davidson, Ivan Franjic, Curtis Good, Ben Halloran, Chris Herd, James Holland, Mile Jedinak, Brad Jones, Mitchell Langerak, Matthew Leckie, Massimo Luongo, Ryan McGowan, Matthew McKay, Mark Milligan, Tommy Oar, Tommy Rogic, Matt Ryan, Adam Sarota, Matthew Spiranovic, Dario Vidosic, Luke Wilkshire

Arsene Wenger backs Tomas Rosicky to stay at Arsenal

London: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is "absolutely adamant" midfielder Tomas Rosicky will stay with the Gunners when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The Czech replaced club record signing Mesut Ozil, suffering from a thigh injury, last weekend and scored title-chasing Arsenal`s third goal ina 4-1 Premier League win over Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium.

Rosicky, 34, joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in 2006, but has seen his time with the north London club hampered by a string of injuries.

However, Wenger said Monday: "Tomas Rosicky will stay. We have an agreement with him and it will come out soon.

"I am absolutely adamant he has to stay at the club," the Frenchman added.

"He always makes things happen, not with individual dribbling but with individual acceleration of his passing and of his runs.

"When he arrived here he was less a tactical player and more the `Mozart from Prague` and he was purely a creative, offensive player.

"Today he is a real organiser on the pitch as well. I like to have him in the team because he gives a real structure to our team."

Santos fan killed in post-match violence - club

Sao Paulo: A fan of Brazilian side Santos has died after he was beaten up leaving a league match in Sao Paulo, which will host the opening match of the World Cup, his club said.

The 34-year-old fan was attacked by some 15 fans, who beat him with metal bars at a bus stop following a match between Pele`s former side Santos and Sao Paulo.

Media reported another supporter, aged just 15, was in a serious condition after being attacked at a metro station.

The club said it abhorred "acts of violence which, sadly, result in victims, one of them fatal" in this instance.

Santos said football required a "culture of peace ... As an essential condition for the development of football worldwide."

Globo television said the victim, Marcio Barreto de Toledo, had been with two other Santos fans who managed to flee as he was set upon.

"I think they only stopped hitting him when they got tired of doing so, not because somebody showed up," Globo quoted the victim`s wife, Samanta Ferreira dos Santos, as saying.

The couple had a five-month-old baby.

Toledo died in the early hours yesterday after being admitted to hospital after Sunday`s goalless draw.

Globo said no arrests had been made by last evening in connection with the killing.
Brazil, which will host the World Cup between June 12 and July 13, has been beset by repeated incidences of violence at matches in recent months.

Fans of Corinthians burst into the club`s training centre last month and tried to strangle Peruvian striker Paolo Guerrero and threatened to break the legs of former striker Alexandre Pato, who promptly left the club in a loan deal with Sao Paulo.

In December, images were beamed around the globe after fans of Vasco de Gama and Atletico Paranaense clashed violently, leaving one fan needing to be airlifted to hospital from the pitch. Brazil and world football`s governing body FIFA insist nothing will be left to chance regarding fan security at the 12 World Cup venues. Last week, authorities and FIFA revealed a total of 170,000 security personnel, including 20,000 private security professionals, would be deployed in a tightly integrated security matrix. And President Dilma Rousseff said last week that troops would be mobilised "if necessary" to ensure fan security at the event.

Bayern's Mueller suffers pulled hamstring

Munich: Bayern Munich forward Thomas Mueller suffered a pulled hamstring during the 4-0 win at Hanover 96 on Sunday, the Bundesliga leaders said in a statement on Monday.

"Mueller has been ordered to rest for the next five days before resuming light training," Bayern said.

The 24-year-old, who scored twice against Hanover, will miss Saturday`s home match against Schalke 04.

The injury could also mean that Mueller misses Germany`s first match of the year, a friendly at home to Chile on March 5.

Zidane's son to try out for France Under-19s

Paris: Zinedine Zidane`s son Enzo has won the chance to be selected for the French Under-19 squad, a potential first step along the path of his father, who rose to international fame winning the World Cup with his country in 1998.

The Real Madrid youth midfielder, who will be 19 on March 24, will take part in trials and medical tests early next month, a list of players on the French Football Federation website showed on Monday.

The elder Zidane, 41, and now Carlo Ancelotti`s assistant coach at Real, is widely seen as one of the world`s footballing greats and in 2004 was named Europe`s best player of the past 50 years by a UEFA poll.

Hull City and Charlton advance to FA Cup quarter-finals

London: Goals from Curtis Davies and Robert Koren earned Hull City a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 replay win at home to Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday.

Charlton Athletic lifted some more of their gloom as the relegation-threatened second-tier side won 2-1 at fellow Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday to end hopes of a Sheffield derby in the last eight.

Davies scored Hull`s opening goal with a looping header from Koren`s corner in the 14th minute as the Premier League team dictated play.

Koren then added a second in the 36th minute when his free kick - via a deflection from Keith Andrews - beat Peter Brezovan in the visiting goal.

Second tier Brighton managed to halve the deficit in the 68th minute through top scorer Leonardo Ulloa, who also scored in the 1-1 draw in the initial tie last Monday, but they struggled to carve out any more meaningful opportunities.

Hull host boss Steve Bruce`s former side Sunderland in the quarter-finals while Charlton face a trip to third tier Sheffield United with the ties to be played March 8-9.

Arsenal host Everton and Manchester City welcome holders Wigan Athletic in a repeat of last season`s final in the other matches.

Charlton, who sit in the Championship relegation zone, beat promotion chasing Queens Park Rangers on Saturday and the momentum that result provided continued on Monday as they dominated the early proceedings at Hillsborough.

Callum Herriott opened the scoring for the visitors in the 22nd minute when his swerving strike nestled in the top corner.

Leon Best equalised for Wednesday in the 57th minute, converting from close range, but Simon Church restored Charlton`s advantage when he nodded home Johnnie Jackson`s free kick eight minutes later.

Wednesday had chances to force a replay, with the initial tie postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, but Londoners Charlton held on.

Chelsea 'legend' Drogba offers no favours in Turkey

Istanbul: Galatasaray`s Didier Drogba will be full of emotions when he strides out to face former club Chelsea on Wednesday but Jose Mourinho knows the striker will be as clinical as ever on the field.

The Champions League last-16 first-leg clash in Istanbul is the first time the Ivorian has been on the pitch with the Blues since scoring the winning penalty when Chelsea lifted the trophy in May 2012.

The 35-year-old, who media reports say could return to the London club as striker coach, is Chelsea`s record European scorer with 34 goals in 69 games.

Including the spot kick in the Munich shootout and his header late in normal time, he has also bagged nine goals in nine domestic and European finals. His sizeable contribution to the club`s recent history is apparent from the number of posters of him still dotted around Stamford Bridge.

"It`s a strange feeling but, as we know him so well, we know that for him no friends during the game," Chelsea boss Mourinho, who managed Drogba during his first spell at the club, told reporters.

"Before the game, big friends and big respect for a legend. After the game, the same. But, during the game, we have a job to do. He has his nature, he wants to score, he wants to win. I think it is a tie to go until the end.

"He deserves a reception here even better than mine, because he deserves much more than me. For Didier, double or three times better and bigger than I had."

Drogba moved to Chelsea in 2004, Mourinho`s first season, and stayed after the Portuguese departed in 2007.

He left the club a few days after their Champions League triumph, saying he had achieved everything he wanted with Chelsea, before spending a few months playing in China and then moving on to Turkey.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Mourinho, who rejoined Chelsea in the close season, has already experienced playing against Drogba in the Champions League.

He was at Inter Milan four years ago when they took on Drogba and Chelsea and also held the reins at Real Madrid last year when the Spanish giants met Galatasaray.

Both times Mourinho was on the winning side.

Galatasaray manager Roberto Mancini, who is no stranger to Premier League side Chelsea after coaching Manchester City for four seasons before joining the Istanbul club last September, was not too optimistic about his side`s fate.

"I know Chelsea very well. For us it will be a very difficult game because Chelsea are used to playing these important games but we want to play a good game if it`s possible," the Italian said.

"They have improved a lot in the last two months. We went through in a difficult group with Real Madrid and Juventus and I think it was a miracle. Now we are here and I don`t know if we can do another miracle but we want to try. In football never say never."

As well as Drogba, Galatasaray will rely on Mourinho`s ex-Inter playmaker Wesley Sneijder as well as Selcuk Inan, whose penalty gave them 1-0 victory over Istanbul rivals Besiktas on Saturday.

Mourinho is hoping Brazil defender David Luiz and Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel, who missed the 1-0 win over Everton on Saturday with minor injuries, will be fit for Wednesday.

Oscar is carrying a knock while January signings Mohamed Salah and Nemanja Matic are cup-tied.

FIFA delegation inspects Kochi stadium

Kochi: A three-member FIFA delegation headed by Deputy Director of competitions, Inaki Alvarez, today visited the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, which has been shortlisted by the All India Football Federation to host the U-17 World Cup in 2017, for preliminary inspection.

The two other members of the delegation were Vijay Parthasarthy, FIFA`s competitions manager and Shaji Prabhakaran, FIFA South and Central Asia Development officer.

Later speaking to reporters, Alvarez said the place has history and tradition of football.

"What we have seen so far is very encouraging. It is good to see that there is commitment and passion for football," he said.

The delegation had met Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here last night. Chandy assured them of all assistance.

India has eight proposed venues from which six would be selected.

The delegation has already visited Mumbai, Pune, Goa and Bangalore, and would be visiting New Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati.

Rooney yearns for more Champions League glory

London: Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has admitted that he will not be satisfied if he finishes his career without lifting the Champions League trophy again.

Rooney, who signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract earlier this week, tasted glory in the competition with United in 2008, before finishing on the losing side in the final against Barcelona in 2009 and 2011.

United have not looked like potential European champions this season, falling 15 points off the pace in the Premier League and crashing out of both domestic cup competitions, but Rooney says that their objectives remain the same.

"You always want to win it," he said on Monday, on the eve of the first leg of United`s last 16 tie away to Greek champions Olympiakos in Piraeus.

"To win one is never enough, especially at this club. You need to keep trying to get into finals.

"The feeling you get when you actually win the trophy is incredible, so there`s no way you want to stop at one. You want to win every year.

"Obviously that`s impossible, but if we can go to the final, it`d be great for us. It`s an opportunity to win another trophy, so hopefully we can do that."

Barcelona and defending champions Bayern Munich have already produced shows of strength in the tournament with 2-0 first-leg wins over Manchester City and Arsenal in their respective last 16 ties.

However, rather than being daunted by the sight of United`s domestic rivals coming unstuck, Rooney says it has only whetted his appetite for the competition.

"They`ve been brilliant (games) to watch," he told a press conference.

"You see Barcelona against Manchester City. Barcelona were incredible and keep the ball really well.

"Then you watch Bayern Munich and it`s almost the perfect performance at Arsenal. I know both teams (City and Arsenal) were down to 10 men, but the way they keep the ball and open teams up is great to watch.

"We have to try to do that, try and keep the ball, be patient and break teams down. A lot of the teams we`re playing are sitting back with all the team, so it`s down to us to move the ball quickly and break them down."

United centre-backs Phil Jones and Jonny Evans have not travelled to Greece due to injury and record signing Juan Mata is cup-tied, but manager David Moyes has an otherwise strong squad to select from.

United will start as favourites against a team who last reached the quarter-finals in 1999, but with Olympiakos having pipped Benfica to a place in the knockout phase, Moyes says that they must be respected.

"Olympiakos have done very well against Paris Saint-Germain in the games I`ve watched, and Benfica," he said.

"They came through in a difficult group, they`ve got a great home record here, so we know it`s a difficult night. They`ve a big support. It`s a tough game."

With United 11 points adrift of Liverpool in the race for a top-four place in the league, they may need to win the Champions League to qualify for next season`s competition, but Rooney believes that the Olympiakos tie can act as a springboard to a successful run-in.

"As a group of players we have to take responsibility for our league position," said the 28-year-old England striker.

"We know we`re better than that and we haven`t performed as well as we know we can do. We know that and as a team it hurts when you know you can do better.

"It`s important that we finish the season strongly and take that momentum into next year, but more importantly we try and get into that fourth spot and try and do well in the Champions League. It`s important to us all."

England boss Hodgson ponders penalty help

London: Roy Hodgson is thinking of using a sports psychologist in order to help England overcome their perennial penalty shoot-out problems.

England`s spot-kick loss to Italy at the 2012 European Championships -- with Hodgson then their manager -- was their sixth in seven shoot-outs at major tournaments.

And the thought of going out the same way at this year`s World Cup in Brazil is something England boss Hodgson is keen to do all he can to prevent.

And that could mean turning to the services of a sports psychologist although Hodgson, who later this week names his squad to play Denmark in a Wembley friendly, made clear this would be under certain conditions only.

"We are considering the possibility of inviting someone with us but it would have to be someone accepted by the group," Hodgson told Sky Sports` Footballers` Football Show on Monday.

"I`m not sure shipping someone in to give the players a lecture will work. It will have to be somebody who gets to know them.

"I think there`s a possibility that we should just be encouraging players to know their penalty, to practise their penalty.

"We might have one or two very confident penalty-takers, but there are others who are a bit less confident and it`s a matter of how we get to them.

"We need to know that when they go up they are as well prepared as they can be.

"It will be about their character, their confidence and their ability to block out the next morning`s headlines.

"If a psychologist can find a way to block that out then we`d be very, very happy."

Someone who will speak to the squad before the World Cup is British cycling boss Dave Brailsford, the man behind a slew of Olympic gold medals and the Tour de France triumphs of Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome.

"Dave Brailsford will come and speak to us, which we are looking forward to," Hodgson said.

"He will basically talk us about his experience and how he has found it preparing a team of the British cyclists` quality to win gold medals and to give the players a bit of a feel maybe as well that this is a fantastic occasion.

"One forgets sometimes how important these tournaments are and what big occasions they are, you don`t get that many shots at it and you have a lot of time to regret if you don`t give it your best shot.

"I bet the world is full of players who reflect back on tournaments they have had and have said `I wish had done a bit more, I wish I had concentrated a bit more, I wish I had known then what I know now`.

"Maybe Brailsford can put a few thoughts in their head."

Last March, Brailsford suggested England needed to "silence their chimp" if they were to enjoy shoot-out success.

"In sport people talk about the zone, switch off the frontal lobe, emotional engagement," Brailsford said then. "Switch off the chimp. Penalty kicks are a great example (of how) silencing the chimp would be beneficial."