Bayern Munich’s honorary president Franz Beckenbauer is delighted to see Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben back in action together, and he feels the rest of the team is also benefiting.
The pair took to the field together for the first time this season in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Hoffenheim and have been the talk of the Bundesliga since then.
“There is no element of jealousy since the other players are actually benefiting from them,” he said.
“It was the same with me and Gerd Muller. Gerd scored all of the goals, but we ensured he was able to.
“The whole team is playing well. Thanks to Robben and Ribery, somebody like Muller or Schweinsteiger also thrives.”
Voeller sticks up for Ballack
Bayer Leverkusen director of sport Rudi Voeller insists Michael Ballack remains a vital part of their squad, even though the Germany captain was dropped for the weekend win at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Leverkusen cruised to a 3-0 victory with Ballack watching the entire 90 minutes from the bench.
Afterwards, coach Jupp Heynckes stressed no player is guaranteed a place in the first XI but Voeller believes Ballack is still a key player for the club.
“It will work out with Ballack, I am convinced,” he told Bild.
“For the big ambitions that we have, a good, fit Michael Ballack is just what we need.”
Davies signs new Bolton deal
Mark Davies yesterday signed a new deal with Bolton tying him to the Premier League side until 2015.
The midfielder, who joined Bolton from Wolves in January 2009, has emerged as a key player under manager Owen Coyle this season, making 25 appearances and scoring once.
The 22-year-old is delighted to have been rewarded with a new four-and-a-half-year deal.
He said: “The club has been good to me since I moved here two years ago and I’m settled in the area. The manager believes in me and I feel like I’m part of his plans.”
Crawley fan arrested over Munich taunt
A Crawley fan has been arrested by police and banned for life by the club after taunting Manchester United over the Munich air disaster in the video for their FA Cup song.
Crawley officials reported him to police after a United fan noticed the 19-year-old making aircraft gestures in the video, which had been posted on YouTube ahead of the fifth-round clash between the sides.
A statement from Sussex Police read: “The man from Crawley was arrested under the Public Order Act on suspicion of causing harassment, alarm or distress and has been bailed until February 25.
“As part of his bail conditions the man is not allowed to travel to Manchester for the Crawley Town match against Manchester United on Saturday.”
Park injury blow for Man. United
Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-Sung was yesterday ruled out for four weeks after suffering a hamstring injury on Friday.
United manager Alex Ferguson told the club’s website: “We got a blow on Saturday morning with the news that Park Ji-sung did his hamstring on Friday afternoon in training.
“It was very unfortunate because it was his last kick of the ball in training as well.
“We were really looking forward to having him back after being away for a month at the Asian Cup. He’ll be out for up to a month, which is a blow to us.”
Sensi holds Roma crisis talks
Qualification for next season’s Champions League is crucial for Roma, club president Rosella Sensi has told the players.
Roma’s 2-0 defeat to Napoli last Saturday left them eighth in the Serie A table, five points adrift of the final Champions League spot.
Sensi visited Roma’s training ground in Trigoria on Monday together with Bruno Conti for talks about the team’s slump in form which has put Claudio Ranieri’s job on the line.
Roma are expected to end the current financial year with a loss of around €30 million, something Sensi mentioned during the meeting.
Champions League qualification is fundamental to Roma, especially considering the conditions set out by the club’s prospective new American owners.
Beckham libel lawsuit dismissed
David Beckham’s 25 million-dollar libel and slander lawsuit against In Touch magazine was dismissed on Monday by a US District Court judge.
A story in the celebrity-orientated magazine alleged that the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder cheated on wife Victoria, a former Spice Girl, with a prostitute.
Judge Manuel Real ruled that Beckham is a public figure and allegations of infidelity would be of public interest and that there was no evidence the story was published with malice.
The Galaxy said in a filing with the court that Beckham was visiting his father in London during one of the times he was alleged to have been in an illicit visit with Irma Nici.
Richard Kendall, a lawyer for Beckham, said the ruling will be appealed.