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Weekly News 25 4 11
Weekly Soccer News, April 25, 2011
Wenger holds up his hands
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has pleaded with supporters not to blame the team after seeing his side slip to a 2-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers on Sunday.
With Arsenal's chances of edging past Manchester United or Chelsea in the English Premier League title race virtually over, Wenger admitted that he was to blame and that his players had shown an "outstanding attitude" all season.
After watching Tamir Cohen score a last minute winner for Bolton at the Reebok Stadium, he said: "It is all very frustrating to get just two points from the last nine available, but that has been the story of our season.
"I feel the players have had an outstanding attitude for the whole season but they are not to blame. If anybody is to blame it is me. I pick the team, I choose the players and for me they have had an outstanding attitude all season."
Schalke lose; United win
Surprise UEFA Champions League semi-finalists Schalke's hopes of a morale-boosting win ahead of their last four duel with EPL league leaders Manchester United were dashed in a 1-0 home defeat to Kaiserslautern.
The loss leaves Ralf Rangnick's side languishing in mid-table, 11 points above the relegation zone and 17 points shy of the Champions League places in 10th.
Meanwhile, a late goal from Javier Hernandez saw United retain their six-point lead at the top of the EPL table over Chelsea with five matches remaining.
However, Rangnick maintained that he would field a stronger side for Tuesday's semi-final. He is expected to restore midfielders Jose Jurado, Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Alexander Baumjohann to the starting line-up.
Higuain back among the goals for Real
Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain struck a hat-trick against Valencia to confirm his return from a five-month injury absence following back surgery.
Higuain ended his personal "suffering" with a dazzling performance as Real ran riot in the Mestalla, going 4-0 up at half-time before finally winning a nine-goal thriller 6-3.
"I'm very happy and I'm going to enjoy this," he said afterwards. "After all the suffering and so much time without playing, I'm pleased."
The victory also kept alive Real's slim hopes of catching Barca, who they face the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals this Wednesday, at the top of the Spanish Primera Division.
Al Hilal almost there
Al Hilal need just one more point from the remaining three rounds to secure their 13th Saudi league title after edging past city rivals Al Nasr 1-0 on Sunday.
Midfielder Abdulaziz Al Dawsari scored the game's only goal before half-time to leave the AFC Champions League participants on course for a league and cup double this season.
A week ago, AL Hilal thrashed Al Wehda 5-0 to clinch the Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Cup.
Houghton and India part company
India are searching for a new national team coach after Englishman Bob Houghton resigned stating personal reasons.
Houghton, who also managed China and Uzbekistan in the AFC region, confirmed his status as India's most successful coach by guiding the minnows to an unexpected place in January's Asian Cup, their first appearance in the confederation's premier tournament for 27 years.
His departure was tainted by allegations of racism towards officials in India's recent friendly match against Yemen.
However, All India Football Federation director Tathagat Mukherjee denied that those allegations – which have since been dropped – played any role in the parting of the ways.
Compiled by Marc Fox
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