Jose set for Fergie reunion

Jose Mourinho will renew his rivalry with Sir Alex Ferguson when Internazionale take on Manchester United in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Mourinho guided his then FC Porto side to victory against United in 2004 before the Portuguese team went on to win the Champions League and he enjoyed many classic encounters with Ferguson's side as manager of Chelsea.

Elsewhere, Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri returns to Stamford Bridge after Chelsea were drawn against the Turin-based side.

Ranieri spent four years in charge of Chelsea before being replaced by Mourinho, since when he endured difficult spells at Valencia and Parma before taking charge of Juve last year.

Liverpool play Real Madrid in a repeat of the 1981 European Cup Final in Paris, which was decided by Alan Kennedy's goal, while inconsistent Arsenal face an AS Roma side that is currently tenth in the Serie A table.

Elsewhere, Barcelona will start as favourites to progress against Lyon while Atletico Madrid take on Iberian rivals FC Porto.

Sporting Lisbon, who finished as runners-up to Barcelona in Group C, take on a Bayern Munich side that had the best record in the group stages, while outsiders Panathinaikos have been drawn against the 2006 semi-finalists Villarreal.

The full draw is:
Chelsea v Juventus
Villarreal v Panathinaikos
Sporting Lisbon v Bayern Munich
Atletico Madrid v FC Porto
Lyon v Barcelona
Real Madrid v Liverpool
Arsenal v AS Roma
Internazionale v Manchester United

Source:
http://www.football.co.uk
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Tevez Unhappy With Fergie Comments

Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez has risked the wrath of Sir Alex Ferguson by reacting to the manager's comments regarding his contract situation.

On Sunday Tevez, 24, revealed his disappointment at speculation that he had rejected a new offer from the Premier League champions, and on Monday he reiterated his desire for his future to be sorted.

"I didn't like him (Ferguson) saying I didn't like the offer I was made because neither my agent nor me were given one," the Argentina international, whose deal runs out in the summer, told Radio del Plata.

"I don't know anything on my future. United know what they must pay if they want me to stay.

"I want to stay but the club have not made any offer. I've been waiting for them for a year and a half."

The ongoing saga has prompted reports that Tevez, who joined United from West Ham in 2007, is a target of Real Madrid, and the forward added: "If I have to quit the club, I want to quit on good terms."

"Now all clubs are on an equal footing. If a club comes to me and offers me a five-year deal, I will accept it for peace of mind.

"I will sign my last contract, and then I figure that I'll go back to Boca (Juniors.) That could be in four or five years."

"I want everybody to know no offer has been made. I don't like that they are playing with our fans, who show their love to me in each match."

Source:
http://www.football365.com

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Football News

1 Premier League
- Ferguson defends Glazer over Man United debt
- Arsenal romp past Blackburn
- Hiddink: Tension is back
- Fulham Hope To Extend Hangeland's Stay
- Michael Essien Back For Chelsea Today
- Keane For Spurs Is Nonsensical Move...
- Scolari Keeps Thoughts to Himself
- Ronaldo Returns to Training
- Rio Ferdinand writes off Arsenal title hopes
- Silva exited by Milan Challenge
- Premier league: Ronaldo sees future at United
- Carlos Alberto backs England to shine
- Ferguson praise for ref justice
- Joe Cole out for season
- Shearer queries Man City strategy
- Veron urges Tevez to stay
2 Serie A
- Inzaghi wary of Chelsea threat
- Mourinho's Inter first up for Barcelona
- Samuel Eto'o and Diego Milito score in Inter's win over Parma
- Juventus sets Diego date
- Kaka nostalgic for AC Milan
- Seedorf explains Gattuso chaos
- Zambrotta: 'AC Milan must have faith'
3 La Liga
- Champs Barcelona, Real Madrid set to maintain top spots
- Real 'have signed' big name
- La Liga - Milito may play this season
- Boluda sets date for Real presidential election
- Valencia to host two America's Cup pre-regattas
- Atletico Madrid Unleash Late Hell To Sink Barcelona
- Hammers loan Julien Faubert to Real
- Raul equals Madrid record
- Real Madrid Make Offer for Inter's Mancini
- Barca aim to retain pair
4 Bundesliga
- Kahn: Schalke Came Too Eearly
- Bayern, Wolfsburg pressure Hertha
- Klinsmann satisfied as Bayern close gap
- Schalke sack Rutten
- Enke Out to Prove He's No 1
- Unhappy Allianz in Munich
- Brazilian stars stay put at Fenerbahçe
- Bayern boost for Klinsmann

5 Others
- Japan-England World Cup Warm-Up Mooted
- PSSI beats Persib in Asia Cup tryout
- Lionel Messi Available For Upcoming Argentina Matches
- Maradona: ‘I Won’t Resign’
- Osaka crush Adelaide's hopes in AFC final 1st leg
- Chung to step down as head of SKorean soccer
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Alonso unhurt in Kenyan plane incident

Fernando Alonso has emerged unhurt from an incident on Sunday aboard a private plane in Kenya, according to reports

Citing the information of the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, the website of Spain's sports publication Diario AS said a wing was damaged when the plane, also carrying the Renault driver's wife Raquel and members of her family, took off early on Sunday evening

Alonso, 27, was attempting to return to Spain after visiting northern Kenya where his team boss, Flavio Briatore, owns the luxury resort Lion In The Sun

A Renault spokesperson confirmed the incident that occurred at the Malindi airport, insisting that no-one was hurt

AS said the plane's right wing struck a building, causing the pilot to momentarily lose control. It is said that a female pilot was in a state of minor shock

The party, including Raquel's sister and her partner, subsequently organised to return to Spain on another private flight

Source:
http://www.onestopstrategy.com
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Mexican interest in Honda Racing F1?

There are reports that Carlos Slim, the 68-year-old Mexican telecommunications billionaire, may be interested in buying the Honda Racing F1 team, as a means of growing his business in Latin America. Slim is the owner of Telmex and has a record of supporting Mexican racers. Although his $60bn fortune is based in Mexico, Slim's biggest business is in Brazil where he owns Embratel, which is growing twice as fast as his Mexican business. He will understand the value of F1 sponsorships as he is a member of the board of Philip Morris International, which owns Ferrari sponsor Marlboro. He is also a major supporter of Bruno Senna, who had been tipped as a possible Honda driver before the Japanese announced that the team was being axed.

Slim has made a name as a man who buys cheap companies, builds them up and sells them. But there has to be a decent business model for him to be interested. Honda F1 might fit the bill, but he knows that it will require hefty investment in the next few years before it begins to create value. However if this can be used to improve his sales in Brazil there is logic in the move.

It is perhaps worth mentioning that in recent months former GP2 owner Adrian Campos (who sold out his team to Alejandro Agag not long ago) embarked on running a Mexican A1 GP team amid rumours that he will also be overseeing a promotional scheme for Mexican drivers, funded by Slim. Campos has always had F1 ambitions as a team owner, hoping that one day he could be the man running the first serious Spanish F1 team.

Source:
http://www.grandprix.com

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Michael Schumacher and Honda

One intriguing rumour to surface over the Christmas period is the suggestion that Honda Racing F1's Ross Brawn may have been talking seriously to Michael Schumacher about working together to save the Brackley team. Schumacher has plenty of private money but it is unrealistic to believe that anyone will spend their own cash to pay the running costs of an F1 team. However, the Schumacher name does have a great deal of clout in the commercial world and it is possible, although rather unlikely in the current financial climate, that his involvement in a team could bring in the kind of money needed to run Honda for the next couple of years. This would give the team the opportunity to show an improvement in performance and allow the global economy to rebound and would perhaps end up being a sound investment for him.

The big question therefore is whether sponsors will join the party. The Honda team is an impressive operation and it should be getting better in 2009. The package being developed will have to be slightly modified because Honda will not be supplying engines and so commercial arrangements will be necessary with another manufacturer. The obvious choice is Ferrari, but we believe that there are other options available, largely because of capacity that will become available as a result the F1 testing ban that will begin in March.

Our spies at Brackley tell us that there has been a lot of interest in the team with perhaps as many as 25 different enquiries. Probably five or six of these are considered to be serious. We do not believe that any of them are automobile manufacturers as the world's car markets are in such a mess that no company can even consider such a step, despite the fact that a great asset that is available at a fraction of its actual cost.

The details of who is involved in these five or six bids is not clear but we hear that some of them are big organisations which see F1 as a good investment to support their business development. A great deal of effort is thus going on at the moment to finalise a deal by the end of January, when engine contracts will need to be organised in order for the team to be ready to run in Australia.

Source:
http://www.grandprix.com

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John Hopkins still waiting on Kawasaki

American John Hopkins is still waiting for official confirmation that Kawasaki will plunge the MotoGP world championship into crisis by withdrawing its factory team from the 2009 season.

Kawasaki has signalled its intention to quit with immediate effect with team personnel all told on December 29 that the team would fold.

Hopkins though is still waiting on clarification of Kawasaki’s plans; with the Japanese factory as yet to release any official statement concerning its future plans.

In a message posted on his personal website to fans on New Year’s Eve, Hopkins said: “As you all know, everything is up in the air and people want answers.

"Everything from here is now in my manager’s hands. I have read nearly all articles posted and I find it absolutely crazy how people are stating that I have announced this or said that when in fact I have avoided phone-calls from the media until time permits.

"There will be an official press release very soon, where we can confirm or deny all rumours. I will let you all now as soon as I get the go ahead. I just wanted to say thank you for all your support through this year and now.”

An official statement is expected from Kawasaki next Monday.

Hopkins’ manager Bob Moore has so far refused to comment on the situation.

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