La Liga:Mourinho: Wrong time for Portugal job

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has admitted it is unlikely he will take temporary charge of Portugal.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) have earmarked Mourinho as the man they want to lead the national team for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Denmark on October 8 and Iceland four days later while they go about appointing a full-time successor to Carlos Queiroz.

But in a press conference today, reported on www.marca.com, he said: "If it were not for Real Madrid I would do it for free.

"But if you ask me right now if I can go, I think not.

"I have a contract with Real Madrid.

"I do not say no, but in the natural way of things, I do not think this is the time."

Queiroz was sacked last week after being handed a six-month suspension for insulting anti-doping agents prior to the World Cup.

It has left Portugal in a difficult position, especially as they have taken just one point from their opening two Euro 2012 qualifiers with two more matches coming up next month.

The situation has left Mourinho, who only took charge at the Bernabeu at the end of last season, torn.

"Real Madrid have every right in the world to put an obstacle in the way," he said. "And if you put the slightest obstacle there, I can't go.

"To say no to Portugal is impossible because of my personal pride and my passion for Portugal, but at the moment I cannot say yes."

Mourinho was not a universally popular appointment with Madrid fans, who fear he will preside over a team playing unattractive football at the Bernabeu.

That was underlined as sections of fans jeered during Madrid's workmanlike 1-0 win over Osasuna at the weekend and those same supporters would almost certainly see it as a sign of disrespect should Mourinho split his time, even on a short-term basis, with Portugal.

Reports in Portugal yesterday claimed FPF president Gilberto Madail had travelled to Madrid to meet with Mourinho's agent, Jorge Mendes, in an attempt to broker a deal.

Former FPF president Joao Rodrigues has accompanied Madail on the trip, according to the reports, as he has good connections in Spain that could help secure Mourinho's short-term release.

Mourinho continued: "The FPF have not contacted Real and what the club knows is through me.

"Portugal wants me for those two games.

"They know I will not have any players to train, with the exception of three, during the international break, while if I went, I would be coaching three Real players in Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe and Carvalho.

"They thought that Real would not lose out with my absence and that is why they want me for the national team.

"If I was a free agent, I would go tomorrow but I'm at Real and I cannot say yes because my duty is with them, but neither can I say openly no because that would be impossible."

Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas believes former Inter Milan, Chelsea and Porto boss Mourinho has enough on his plate at the Bernabeu.

He said: "I think it would give him too much.

"I am sure he would like to coach Portugal but his head only thinks of Madrid.

"I don't think he will go. I have talked to him and his mind is set on Madrid."

Premier League:Fabregas demands error-free Arsenal

Cesc Fabregas has warned Arsenal cannot afford to make costly mistakes if the Gunners are to challenge for the title.

Arsene Wenger's side swept past Champions League new boys Braga 6-0 on Wednesday night, taking their goals tally to 16 in just three matches at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal head to Sunderland tomorrow, where they lost 1-0 last November, and are expected to face another stern test of their championship credentials.

While there is no doubt the Gunners are awesome in attack at their free-flowing best, question marks remain over consistency in defence.

With Thomas Vermaelen battling to recover from an Achilles problem which has seen him miss the last two matches, new recruits Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci are likely again to be partnered in central defence.

The Frenchmen performed well under the stresses of Bolton's physical approach last week, but were caught out when a weak back header from Koscielny allowed the visitors to set up an equaliser.

While Arsenal went on to win the match comfortably, Fabregas knows it could have proved a costly error.

"We made a mistake at the back towards the end of the first half and were punished - we cannot afford to do that at this level, and it shows there are still things to improve on," said the Gunners captain.

"In our defending as a team, we will need to get a little better to be at the top."

Fabregas is looking back to his best after the World Cup, having netted a brace in a virtuoso display against Braga.

The Spain international, though, maintains it is the overall team display which always takes precedent.

"After being disappointed with my performance at Blackburn, I felt better on Saturday against Bolton," the 23-year-old said.

"Physically in terms of how I played, I was happier - but I would rather focus on the team, because the performance overall was a good one."

Arsenal reported no fresh injury problems following Wednesday night's comfortable victory.

However, Wenger is conscious of the demands on his players, and so could shuffle things around, as he did for the last league game against Bolton, so winger Tomas Rosicky and England full-back Kieran Gibbs could be involved having been unused substitutes in midweek, while Mexican forward Carlos Vela made an impression with a late brace after coming off the bench.

"It is important for our season that we are capable of going from Champions League to the Premier League," the Gunners boss said.

"From Wednesday night to Saturday afternoon it is short, but we can rotate a little bit."

Sunderland's £13million striker Asamoah Gyan looks set to lead the attack for the home side after scoring on his debut in the 1-1 draw against Wigan.

Wenger admits he was impressed by the efforts of the Ghana frontman in South Africa this summer.

"I looked at him especially during the World Cup," the Arsenal manager said.

"He had spells at Rennes last year where he didn't play and some periods where he was absolutely outstanding.

"When I saw him at the World Cup I found him extremely interesting and a good player, but at the time we already had our strikers so I was not looking for him."

Wenger had landed his main target before the World Cup, and Marouane Chamakh has impressed with three goals already.

Given Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner are still sidelined, the Moroccan's quick transition has been most timely.

"I have settled in quickly and things couldn't have gone much better from that point of view," Chamakh said on www.fifa.com.

"I gave myself six months or maybe even a year to settle down here and I am ahead of schedule in that respect.

"I am delighted with how it is going, although training has been very tough for me.

"I don't think I have ever worked as hard as this physically, but here I am experiencing everything I had envisaged about Arsenal and the English league.

"The atmosphere in the stadiums, the open and attacking football and the standard of the team are just amazing.

"I am getting involved in the games and am scoring too.

"I just want to do my bit in each game and to help the team win."

"Ibrahimovic is a selfish player!"

Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has criticised AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic's 'selfish' playing style.

"If you see football in terms of individuals, or individual actions, Ibrahimovic belongs on that list," former Spain goalkeeper Zubizarreta told Barca TV.

"He is an extraordinary footballer but when I said the 'Ibra case' was a soccer issue it was because on the pitch you don't just play with the ball but also when you don't have the ball," he added.

"You have to give your team mates options and there is also a great deal of tactical work to do.

"And you have to be able to do both things very well: your own individual play but also your role within the team."

Ibrahimovic called Guardiola a "philosopher" and said that the coach is "the one who has the problem".

"When I enter a room Guardiola leaves, I don't know if he's scared of me or what. Speak to him, he's the one who has the problem. I don't know what it is," Ibrahimovic said before joining AC Milan this summer.

Zubizarreta added: "It is not the word, but how it was said. I think this is a reflection on his problems in life and in football. I do not think this of Pep, we are close friends."

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Premier League:Doubt over Hargreaves' future

Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves' long-term future is again unclear after he suffered another injury setback.

Hargreaves, who has been hampered by a series of knee problems, will miss the start of the season.

The midfielder made only one substitute appearance in the last campaign after missing 18 months of action through injury.

He did not have enough time to make England's World Cup squad but it was hoped he could join United on their summer tour.

They leave for their training camp in Chicago on Monday but instead Hargreaves is having further treatment.

It is a massive blow for the player especially as United's first match is in Canada, where he was born and raised, against Celtic in Toronto a week tonight.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson told MUTV: "The bad news is that Owen Hargreaves is back in America seeing a specialist.

"He will not be ready for the start of the season. I do not know when he will be back."

Former United striker Andy Ritchie added: "It is just one thing after another. You have got to fear for the boy's future. Let us hope it is not as bad as we all fear."

Ferguson also fears Rio Ferdinand will not be ready for the first game of the season against Newcastle.

The England defender suffered a knee injury in training ahead of the World Cup match with the United States and was unable to play in South Africa.

Ferguson said: "Rio will probably not make the start of the season. It will be close. It depends on his progress over the next few weeks."

While Ferguson is pleased with Michael Owen's progress following a hamstring injury the striker will skip the tour as he builds up his fitness.

Ferguson said: "Michael is doing great. He is working in the gym every day. I do not think he will be fit to go to America but he should be ready for the start of the season."

Antonio Valencia and Nani are expected to available for the Newcastle match, according to the Old Trafford boss, after suffering an ankle injury and broken collarbone respectively.

Meanwhile Anderson is on course to return in September following a knee injury.

Ferguson added: "Cruciates are cruciates. He is doing fine and working hard."

World Cup 2010:"Spain the best, Dutch not scared"

Holland coach Bert van Marwijk admits it will be a tall order for his side to beat Spain in the FIFA World Cup™ final on Sunday.

Holland are unbeaten in South Africa so far - having notched six victories out of six on their way to the final.

Spain, on the other hand, started with a shock loss to Switzerland but have gradually been improving since then. They were close to their fluent best in the semi-final against Germany and most predict the Euro 2008 champions to add the World Cup to their trophy cupboard.

Speaking at a press conferece, van Marwijk said: "Spain deserved to beat Germany in their semi-final. They dominated play and were the better side of the two."

"Spain are the best team in the world at the moment. They have been in impressive form in the past couple of years. I enjoy watching them play and I'm looking forward to meeting them in the final.

"It will be a challenge to try to beat them. We are not afraid of the Spaniards."

The reason of course is that Holland have star players of their own. Arjen Robben is rapidly improving, Wesley Sneijder has been on fire while Robin van Persie has been the unheralded hero.

Speaking of the Arsenal striker, Van Marwijk said: "I am convinced that Robin van Persie will up his game against Spain. He hasn't scored too many so far, but he has been very important for the team.

"He's sacrificing himself for the team and that's great."

Cruyff: Spain are the favourites

Holland legend Johan Cruyff believes Spain are favourites to win the World Cup final on Sunday.



The Dutch take on the European champions in Soccer City, as both nations look to clinch the trophy for the first time in their history.

Holland secured their safe passage following a 3-2 win over Uruguay, while the Spanish nicked a 1-0 victory over Germany thanks to a goal from Carlos Puyol.

The Oranje have previously played in two World Cup finals, and in 1974 it was Cruyff who was on the losing side.

He believes the same could happen to the current crop of Dutch players this weekend, and says Spain are a real force to be reckoned with.

"Spain's style is the style of Barcelona," Cruyff told El Periodico. "Now, Spain are favourites to win the World Cup.

"Last night (Wednesday), that same Germany team that dazzled us against Argentina played football as it knows best; a football that without a doubt would have been enough to beat any other team.

"But not Spain. If Spain goes for you, it kills you.

"There's no doubt that Germany knew what it was going to go through, just like Holland is probably thinking now.

"If you go up against a team that wants to keep the ball, you're going to suffer."