Weekly Football News, November 4 2013
Eriksson 'couldn't refuse United approach'
Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed that he was powerless to refuse the approach of Manchester United after the Premier League champions targeted the Swede to become their new manager in 2002, when Sir Alex Ferguson first announced his intention to retire.
Ferguson finally retired this summer after 26 years in charge at Old Trafford, with David Moyes now having taken the manager's post, but the Scot first announced his intention to stand down in 2002 before reversing his decision.
"A contract was signed - I was United's new manager," said then England boss Eriksson in a new autobiography.
He added: "I knew it would be tricky. I had a contract with England until the 2006 World Cup and I would be severely criticised if I broke that contract.
"But this was an opportunity to manage Manchester United."
Eriksson ultimately led England to the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup before leaving the national team post and subsequently enjoying a brief spell in charge of United's rivals, Manchester City.
Atletico continue fine run
The strike partnership of Diego Costa and David Villa played a major role in keeping Atletico Madrid stay just a point behind leaders Barcelona in their 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.
Costa's 13th goal of an already prolific campaign - the Brazil-born striker who has declared his intention to play for Spain is level on goals with Cristiano Ronaldo, five ahead of Lionel Messi - finished off Bilbao after former Barca and Spain striker Villa had volleyed the opener.
Atletico have now won 11 of their 12 La Liga games this season and remain five points clear of city rivals Real, who held off bottom side Rayo Vallecano 3-2 over the weekend.
Guangzhou finish Chinese season in style
Marcello Lippi's Guangzhou Evergrande rounded off a near-perfect Chinese Super League season in some style by dispatching cellar dwellers Wuhan Zall 5-0.
Champions Guangzhou lost just once in their 30 CSL matches this season, and finished on 77 points, 18 clear of second-placed Shandong Luneng and a massive 33 points ahead of fourth-placed Guizhou Renhe.
Under 2006 World Cup winner Lippi and striker Elkeson, the league's leading scorer with 24 goals, the Reds have secured their third consecutive domestic title in China following huge cash investment from Evergrande, a real estate company, since 2010.
Lippi and his side are now aiming to add the AFC Champions League to their trophy haul. They drew the first leg of the final to FC Seoul 2-2.
Ravanelli sacked after just 12 matches
Fabrizio Ravanelli, the former Juve and Middlesbrough striker, has been sacked by French top flight club Ajaccio after just 12 league game in charge.
A 3-1 defeat at home to Valenciennes on Saturday marked a fourth successive league loss for Ajaccio, and heralded the end of the brief tenure of Ravanelli, who won 22 international caps for Italy and began his management career as the youth team coach at Juve.
"During my presidency I have never seen staff work so hard, not to mention the hours they put in. They took their task to heart," admitted club president Alain Orsoni.
"However, I was forced to make a decision in the interests of my position as club president.
"I'm not saying this is necessarily the right solution, only time will tell, but I had to do something."
Compiled by Marc Fox
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