Toothless Spurs defeated by Leeds

Toothless Tottenham bowed out of the FA Cup at the fourth-round stage as they were beaten 2-1 at npower Championship side Leeds.

With Jermain Defoe reportedly injured and Emmanuel Adebayor on international duty, manager Andre Villas-Boas went into the Elland Road clash without a recognised striker and it showed as Spurs, Clint Dempsey's consolation strike aside, repeatedly failed in front of goal.

Leeds actually had striking problems of their own ahead of the game - leading scorer Luciano Becchio was not involved as a move away from Elland Road looms - but they gave no suggestion of it as Luke Varney and then Ross McCormack found the target to send Spurs packing.

McCormack's effort was a stunning 50th-minute strike that gave Neil Warnock's side some breathing space. Varney's 15th-minute opener had earlier set the tone, with Leeds sharper in the final third.

With no out-ball up front, Villas-Boas relied heavily on wing pair Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon but the duo rarely got any change out of full-backs Sam Byram and Aidy White and, when chances did come to Dempsey, he was largely unable to take them.

With 19-goal Becchio watching at home as his agent and the club disagree over a contract offer, it was surprising to see Leeds so sprightly in attack, even if they did have to weather an early Tottenham storm during which Dempsey dragged wide and Gylfi Sigurdsson headed at Jamie Ashdown.

Dempsey also put a header over but after that Leeds settled and went ahead through Varney, a player who has been a target for the boo boys this season for his anaemic record in front of goal.

This was just his second of the campaign but he took it with the confidence of a man who had more, opening his body to beat Brad Friedel after he got clear on Michael Brown's hopeful punt forward, with El-Hadji Diouf's faux flick confusing the visiting defenders.

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Bologna, Roma play out six-goal thriller

Bologna and Roma shared six goals between them at the Stadio Dall'Ara, living up to the pre-match expectations in an entertaining 3-3 draw.

It was not a game that either home coach Stefano Pioli or his Roma counterpart Zdenek Zeman will have taken particular pleasure in watching given the defensive shortcomings, but the fans certainly got their money's worth from a contest with numerous twists and turns.

Alessandro Florenzi gave Roma the lead in the ninth minute, but Alberto Gilardino levelled in the 17th minute.

Daniel Osvaldo put Roma back in front within a minute only for Manolo Gabbiadini to re-establish parity before the break.

Cristian Pasquato put Bologna ahead for the first time in the game in the 54th minute but Panagiotis Tachtsidis scored the final goal in the 74th minute before Bologna hit the woodwork twice.

Frederik Sorensen missed a good early chance for Bologna, and it was a prelude for what was to come.

Roma took the lead with their first attack in the ninth minute when Francesco Totti set up Florenzi, who managed to thread the ball past a defender and Federico Agliardi into the far corner.

Bologna responded in the 17th minute when Gabbiadini's shot was parried by Goicoechea and Gilardino followed up to poke the loose ball in.

The home side barely had time to celebrate when they found themselves behind once again. Miralem Pjanic's cross picked out the unmarked Osvaldo, who headed Roma back in front from close range.

Bologna levelled again in the 26th minute, with Gabbiadini cutting in from the right and threading his shot through the legs of Nicolas Burdisso and inside Goicoechea's near post.

Gilardino volleyed into the side-netting as chances continued to arrive at both ends of the field, with Michael Bradley flashing a volley across goal and wide of the far post.

It was a familiar story to the second half with Bologna regaining the upper hand just 10 minutes in through Pasquato, who scored his first goal in Serie A after Goicoechea and Burdisso both got in each other's way again.

Five goals were not enough, though, and the next one went Roma's way with Tachtsidis finding room for a free-header to bring the Giallorossi back on terms.

There was even more drama with Agliardi making an instinctive save to prevent Osvaldo from giving Roma the lead in the 83rd minute.

Despite Roma's late pressure, Bologna went closest to snatching a winner with Diamanti hitting the woodwork twice.

In the 87th minute his shot cannoned back off the inside of the far post, while deep into stoppage time he sent a direct free-kick on to the crossbar.

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Hernandez: United want to win the treble

Javier Hernandez wants to party like it's 1999 - and emulate Manchester United's treble heroes.

Hernandez put the gloss on United's 4-1 win over Fulham on Saturday, scoring twice to take his tally for the campaign to 14.

More importantly, it sealed a place in the FA Cup fifth round, and kept his side in with a chance of repeating the greatest season in Red Devils' history.

"We want to win all three. We want to win the treble," said Hernandez.

"It is in our minds. We need to think game by game, get the points in the league and get though in both cup competitions."

Hernandez has now exceeded last season's goalscoring total, although typically, the Mexican is not interested in personal accolades, not even that long-awaited hat-trick, having once again fallen marginally short.

"I am always looking for the famous hat-trick," he said.

"But the most important thing for me right now is to win the treble.

"Next we have two games in the league. After that there is the international break, we play another league game and then Real Madrid, so the calendar is busy and we are looking forward to it."

United's campaign is progressing reasonably smoothly towards Wednesday's Old Trafford encounter with Southampton.

A couple of dropped points at Tottenham and an irritating Aaron Hughes consolation apart, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has little to bother him just now.

That Hernandez and Wayne Rooney both carved their names on the scoresheet on a day when Robin van Persie remained on the bench throughout underlines the strength at Ferguson's disposal.

The Old Trafford chief will be aware that there could be few more accommodating opponents than Fulham, who surrendered in meek fashion and failed to put under-fire David de Gea under any significant pressure after Ferguson kept faith with him, which pleased former United goalkeeping coach Tony Coton.

"The criticism of De Gea has not just been over the top this week, it has been all season," Coton told MUTV.

"Whenever a goal goes in they seem to point the finger at David.

"I hoped he would play, just to shut the rumours up that he had been dropped."

And Coton believes United should stick with De Gea because he does not see any worthwhile alternatives that could realistically be attracted to the club.

"Over the years we looked at a lot," he said.

"We looked at Buffon but there was no way we could get him. He just didn't want to come out of Italy.

"We tried to get Edwin van der Sar a lot earlier than we did but it didn't happen.

"It is not a matter of 'it is Manchester United, we must be able to get them'. There are certain situations when you can't."

De Gea went about his business confidently on Saturday, although with Ryan Giggs pulling the strings in midfield, United's goal rarely came under threat.

Giggs' early penalty, 20 years after he scored his first FA Cup goal, was suitable reward for his endeavours, whilst midfield partner Anderson can also look back on the game with pleasure.

The Brazilian has spent far too long on the sidelines during his Red Devils career but the precise through ball to set Rooney up for his 10th goal of the campaign was a further reminder of his capabilities.

"I am still not 100%," said Anderson, who was making only his second appearance since spending six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring strain.

"Maybe I need one or two more games, then I think I'll be okay.

"It's important for me to not have any more injuries because every time I think things are fine I end up having to stay out for a month and train hard to get back again.

"Now we are just taking it slowly and trying to ensure there are no problems."

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Fergie: Jones offers more than Terry

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes that Phil Jones has more to offer as a player than John Terry did at the same age.

The former Blackburn defender was a significant obstacle for the visiting Fulham attackers as United ran out easy 4-1 winners at Old Trafford in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday. 

It meant that the watching Rio Ferdinand, benched for the game, could enjoy a rare day off as his deputy stole the show for the night. 

The 20-year-old has steadily improved since signing for the Red Devils in 2011 and has even impressed as a right-back and as a midfielder in previous matches. After the Fulham rout, Ferguson was quick to praise the defender for his improvement as a player and indicated his belief that his young charge has demonstrated a wider array of skills than Terry did as a youngster. 

"Jones has got more in his locker than John [Terry]. Terry has got the ­experience and has become a fantastic central figure at Chelsea," Ferguson told reporters. "But as a young player, John [Terry] would be the first to admit he didn't have the pace of Phil Jones."

"Phil is a ­versatile boy, he can play anywhere.

"He's quick, two-footed, reads games well and is competitive. He's doing very well."

With regards to Ferdinand, the Scotsman does not think that the veteran defender will feature for England in the near future after being snubbed by national coach Roy Hodgson for the Euros. Nevertheless, Ferguson retains his confidence in the 34-year-old and feels Ferdinand would have no problem signing a one-year extension to his expiring contract. 

“He’s had a great season but Roy Hogdson didn’t pick him for the Euros so I don’t see it happening.

"I don't think there is any reason why not [United shouldn't give one-year contracts]. We give players one-year contracts. There is nothing wrong with that.

"I don't think players with the reputation and ability of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand should worry about a one-year contract.

"It's not to say we doubt them in terms of longevity. When players get to their 30s you never know how they will cope with getting older. Some do, some don't."

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Real sweep aside Getafe in easy win

Real Madrid set aside their off-field distractions to sweep aside 4-0 Getafe in a one-sided La Liga encounter on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo took centre stage for Jose Mourinho's side as he fired in a second-half hat-trick to take his tally in the league this season to 21 from as many games.

Sergio Ramos opened the scoring for the hosts after 54 minutes to set Madrid on their way to a victory that closes the gap on leaders Barcelona to 12 points ahead of their match against Osasuna later on Sunday.

Sunday's display will go some way to improving the mood in the Madrid camp, after a week spent denying allegations of a rift between Mourinho and a group of key players at the Bernabeu.

Mourinho at least was unable to court further controversy on Sunday after club captain Iker Casillas, who has been dropped by the coach in some recent games, was ruled out with a broken hand that is likely to see him sidelined for up to three months.

Antonio Adan was therefore able to take his place in goal without any disgruntlement from Madrid's fans ringing in his ears, although in truth Mourinho could have played between the sticks himself, such was Madrid's dominance.

The hosts failed to make a breakthrough in the opening 45 minutes, however, although Ronaldo twice forced Miguel Moya to make decent saves, while Mesut Ozil also drew a good stop from the Getafe goalkeeper.

The opening goal arrived nine minutes into the second half, although there was more than a little bit of good fortune in the build-up.

After Angel Di Maria hung up a corner from the right, Moya appeared to be impeded by Ricardo Carvalho as they challenged for the ball, but referee Jose Luis Gonzalez allowed play to continue, leaving Ramos free to bundle the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

Gonzalo Higuain headed over as Madrid hunted a second, which Ronaldo supplied in the 62nd minute.

A swift counter-attack led to Ozil releasing Ronaldo on the left side of the Getafe box, and the Portuguese showed all his class as he cut inside and tucked a low finish beyond Moya.

Three minutes later it was 3-0 as Di Maria sent a cross to the back post and Ronaldo had a simple task to head home.

The points were rubber-stamped with 18 minutes remaining after Luka Modric was bundled over in the area to allow Ronaldo to step up and complete his treble with a low finish from 12 yards.

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FA Cup Fourth Round Sunday LIVE!

Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are all in action in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday. Follow us as we cover the action LIVE on ESPNSTAR.com!

Chelsea will go into their clash against League One outfit Brentford as heavy favorites, but interim manager Rafael Benitez knows full well the dangers of underestimating lower league oppositions.

The Spaniard, during his his six years in charge at Liverpool, suffered ignominious exits from this competition at the hands of Burnley, Barnsley and Reading.

And Benitez has declared that he will not make the same mistake as before with the Blues.

"We will try to win and avoid this situation but we know the cup is always dangerous and that anything can happen," Benitez said.

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Terry decides against ban appeal

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Chelsea defender John Terry has decided not to appeal against a four-match ban and fine of £220,000 for racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.

Terry had until 6pm on Thursday evening to contest the sanction issued by an independent Football Association regulatory commission.
However, in a statement released via his representatives Elite Management, Terry said: "After careful consideration, I have decided not to appeal against the FA judgment.
"I want to take this opportunity to apologise to everyone for the language I used in the game against Queens Park Rangers last October.
"Although I'm disappointed with the FA judgment, I accept that the language I used, regardless of the context, is not acceptable on the football field or indeed in any walk of life."
"As I stated in the criminal case, with the benefit of hindsight my language was clearly not an appropriate reaction to the situation for someone in my position.
"My response was below the level expected by Chelsea Football Club, and by me, and it will not happen again.
"Looking forward, I will continue to do my part in assisting the club to remove all types of discriminatory behaviour from football.
"I am extremely grateful for the consistent support of Chelsea FC, the fans and my family."
Terry was found guilty by the independent FA commission of calling Ferdinand a "f****** black c***" during a Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and QPR on October 23.
He has always maintained that he was merely repeating an accusation levelled at him by Ferdinand, but the commission found that his words were used as an insult.
The commission described Terry's version of events at Loftus Road as "improbable, implausible and contrived" in their written reasons for issuing the ban.
The three-man panel also questioned why Terry's team-mate Ashley Cole had changed his statement to give more support to Terry's story, sparking a furious response from the Chelsea and England defender who described the FA as a "bunch of t***s" in a tweet sent on October 5.
Cole has since issued a full apology for that and has admitted a misconduct charge.
The commission said in its written reasons: "The commission is quite satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that there is no credible basis for Mr Terry's defence that his use of the words 'f****** black c***' were directed at Mr Ferdinand by way of forceful rejection and/or inquiry.
"Instead, we are quite satisfied, and find on the balance of probabilities, that the offending words were said by way of insult.
"Accordingly, the commission finds that there is 'clear and convincing' evidence.''
The commission said that character references from a number of people, including black players, made it clear that Terry was not racially prejudiced.
"It is accepted by everyone involved in the criminal and disciplinary proceedings that Mr Terry is not a racist,'' added the commission.
Terry had been cleared in Westminster Magistrates Court in July of a racially-aggravated public order offence, partly helped by the testimony of Cole.
However, the commission found that there were discrepancies in Cole's initial statement to FA interviewers of what he heard Ferdinand say to Terry compared to later statements.
Cole did not mention the word 'black' in the initial interview with the FA on October 28. On November 3, Chelsea club secretary David Barnard asked the FA for the specific word 'black' to be inserted into Cole's witness statement, suggesting that Cole may have heard Ferdinand use the term.
The commission saw an email exchange between the FA and Barnard and said that should be regarded as "cogent new evidence".

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Ferguson: Terry got off lightly

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Sir Alex Ferguson thinks John Terry might consider himself to have got off lightly after being hit with a four-match ban by the FA.

And Ferguson declared it was "time to move on" from a saga that has dragged on for almost a year since the Blues skipper was first accused of abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.
Ferguson, who saw United full-back Patrice Evra and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez end their own racism feud in Sunday's game between the sides, said of Terry: "There is a danger of it resurrecting itself because it has been going on so long.
"But the fact he got a four-game ban, he may consider that is quite lenient considering Luis Suarez got eight.
"It is time to move on and so should the game."
On Friday, Terry was still awaiting the full written judgment of the independent Football Association panel over his guilty verdict, which also saw him fined £222,000.
The 31-year-old, who admitted saying "f***** black c***" during an altercation with Ferdinand but only to deny using the insult in the first place, had already been cleared in court of a similar offence and may lodge an appeal.
West Brom boss Steve Clarke, who was at coach at Chelsea for several years and helped nurture Terry, said: "I know John Terry. He is not a racist but he has been found guilty of making racist comments, which is probably slightly different.
"He was also found not guilty in a court of law. It's a really complex issue and, without seeing the full report, it is really difficult to comment on.
"Has he been a plonker? I wouldn't like to say that because that is you putting words in my mouth. John Terry is not a plonker.
"When I worked with John, I found him to be a really good guy. I couldn't see any sign of racism in him and I can only call it as I see it from my relationship with John Terry."
He added: "I think it's good there has been a decision. It has dragged on far too long.
"The one thing I would say about the whole episode is there were two high-profile episodes which happened last season and they are still dragging on and on.
"Hopefully now they are both resolved. I don't know whether John will appeal or not.
"I would like to think we can all move on quickly from it and, in a year's time, we are not talking about racism in the game, which will mean everyone has learnt a lesson."
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew called for the FA to make the penalties for racism even more "severe".
He said: "I am not party to all the information, but the games, the fine - you do want to see consistency in that area.
"That's something that I think needs to be looked at, and I hope the FA do that going forward because if it does happen again, it should be a severe fine if somebody is guilty."
Pardew said of Terry's punishment: "I think perhaps there needs to be some sort of explanation from the FA as to why - that would make sense."
He added: "You can't just wash it away or bury your head in the sand about it. You have got to deal with it.
"Show Racism the Red Card and those groups need to stay on their toes and make sure we eradicate it."
Fulham manager Martin Jol was pleased to see the FA taking action over racism.
"It happened a couple of times and I think in England you should make a decision on that sort of thing like Suarez and John Terry," he said.
"It was the end of it with the FA. They coped with it and this is what they should do."
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini did not think racism was a problem limited to English football.
The Italian said: "I think this problem could also be all over the world not only here or in Italy or Spain.
"But I don't know this situation - I've just read about it in the newspaper."
Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert refused to be drawn, saying: "To be honest, I don't like to get involved with things like that.
"I don't know enough about it."

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Spain take 2-0 lead over USA in Gijon

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Spain took a giant step towards the Davis Cup final by opening up a 2-0 lead against the United States on day one of their tie in Gijon.

David Ferrer gave them a winning start against Sam Querrey and Nicolas Almagro battled to a five-set win against John Isner.
The Spanish are now overwhelming favourites to set up a final against either Argentina or the Czech Republic, who are locked at 1-1 in their semi-final after wins for Juan Martin Del Potro and Tomas Berdych.
Querrey took the opening set against all expectations against the US Open semi-finalist.
Ferrer is among the world's very best on clay and the world number five soon began to show his pedigree, cutting down on the error count which had been uncharacteristically high early on.
Once the 30-year-old levelled the contest, it seemed inevitable Querrey would bow to Ferrer in four sets. Despite having as many as nine break points in the fourth set, Querrey failed to convert.
In three minutes over three hours, Ferrer finished up a 4-6 6-2 6-2 6-4 winner over a man still battling back to where he wants to be in the world rankings after an injury-ruined 2011 season.
One-time world number 17 Querrey is knocking on the door of the top 20 again but a lack of clay-court expertise was his undoing.
Ferrer told Davis Cup Radio: "Sam is a very great player, it was a very close match but my performance was good.
"In the first set he was more aggressive than me, the second I broke in the first game and it was more easy."
Almagro had to battle for four hours and 16 minutes before finally seeing off Isner 6-4 4-6 6-4 3-6 7-5.
Almagro, leading by two sets to one, had six break points against the Isner serve early in the fourth set but could not capitalise.
And they went to a decider when Isner broke Almagro in the eighth game and held easily.
Isner saved three break points in the 10th game but could not hold out next time around, when a volley into the net handed Almagro a fourth match point which he took when Isner sent a forehand long.
Last year Spain saw off the United States in a quarter-final staged on hard courts in Houston and the reigning champions are hot favourites again to win the tie - even without talisman Rafael Nadal.
That is even more the case when you consider their 37-0 record in ties in which they have led 2-0, while the USA are 1-37 from 2-0 down.
In the other tie, Del Potro put Argentina 1-0 ahead against the Czech Republic with a convincing win over Radek Stepanek, the 2009 US Open champion prevailing 6-4 6-4 6-2.
Del Potro let two break points slip away in the seventh game but broke through on his next opportunity and closed the set out.
Stepanek broke early in the second but Del Potro levelled and broke for a second time, before breaking twice more to win the third set.
Del Potro, who has been suffering with a wrist injury, said: "It's difficult to play when you have some pain (wrist) but here in my country with a fantastic crowd, it's amazing for me and I really enjoyed it.
"I'm very passionate for all my competitions. I'm trying to play well and give a good show for the crowd - I have all my family, my parents and my friends close, it's great to show my tennis to them.
"I played really well, took my chances to break his serve. Sometimes with this crowd it gets easier than we expect but it's still a difficult match for Argentina."
Tomas Berdych levelled the tie at 1-1 after a thrilling match against Juan Monaco.
The Argentinian looked set to romp to victory when he led 1-6 6-4 6-1 4-1, but Berdych won nine straight games for a 4-0 lead in the deciding set.
Back came Monaco, winning four of the next five to get back on serve, but he was broken in the next game as Berdych sealed a 6-1 4-6 1-6 6-4 6-4 triumph.

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Mourinho not worried about Ronaldo

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Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho insists his main concern regarding Cristiano Ronaldo is what the Portugal international does on the pitch.

Ronaldo has been at the centre of intense gossip about his future after revealing following Madrid's home win over Granada earlier this month that he did not celebrate his two goals in the match because he was "sad" for professional reasons, but without elaborating.
The Spanish media were quick to suggest the 27-year-old, who has scored 150 goals in 149 matches for Real since his world-record £80million move from Manchester United, was eager to leave the Bernabeu, while his desire for a new improved contract was also mooted as a possible reason for Ronaldo's discontent.
The Portugal star has twice taken to Facebook to deny the contract suggestion but that has only led to more talk about what has caused his misery.
Asked about the situation at Friday's pre-match press conference for Saturday's league trip to Sevilla, Mourinho said: "I'm a football coach and at this moment the only thing I'm concerned about is that my team still haven't played well.
"If Cristiano's sad and he plays like he plays, then that's perfect for me.
"Cristiano works at 100%, plays at 100%. At times he does better and other times worse. He cannot be the match-winner in every game but he's always a team player, who in every training session and in terms of discipline is exemplary.
"I don't have to worry about things that for me are supplementary and not fundamental."
Mourinho also urged the media and public to judge Ronaldo on his performances and not speculate on other issues.
"I think you (media) have had 15 days to speculate because there hasn't been any football or special international matches.
"Now Cristiano needs peace and tranquility to play football, which is what he knows and likes most.
"You, the Bernabeu and the public, we must evaluate his performances on the pitch and nothing more.
"If tomorrow [Saturday] in the 75th or 80th minute he has played a horrible match, or he's tired, then he'll be taken off and someone else will come on, that's how it is."
Madrid travel to Sevilla lying 11th in the standings after a sluggish start to the defence of their title, which has seen them held at home by Valencia, lose at Getafe before finally claming their first win with that triumph over Granada.

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Fabregas ready to take down Getafe wall

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Cesc Fabregas is confident Barcelona can continue their perfect start to the season but expects an out-and-out defensive performance by Getafe in their La Liga clash.

Barca have won their three opening league games to sit top of La Liga at this early stage of the season and have already opened up a five-point gap over rivals Real Madrid.
The trip to Getafe marks Barca's return to the domestic league following the international break, but Fabregas is not concerned about their opponents' playing style - which traditionally does not suit his side.
"It's a difficult place to go," Fabregas told the club's official website.
"They close down well with a 10-man defence and then counter-attack. They play their own game.
"Now they've got some good players, they've made some good signings. It's a small stadium with lots of pressure from the fans.
"It'll be difficult but we're confident we can keep this run going."
Striker Alexis Sanchez (thigh) and central midfielder Andres Iniesta (hamstring) both miss out for Barcelona after they picked up injuries while on international duty. Coach Tito Vilanova will also serve the second game of his two-match touchline ban.
However, despite this, Fabregas believes Barcelona are not far off reaching their full potential.
"We had a good pre-season and we've already played five competitive matches," Fabregas said.
"We've gradually got into shape and the truth is that the team is looking good. We have two days to prepare the match together and next week the Champions League starts. "That helps you get going. Shortly, we'll be at 100%."
Getafe have no new injury worries ahead of the match and coach Luis Garcia has been preparing his side for a change in tactics against tomorrow's [Saturday] opposition.
Garcia told www.marca.com: "Although we like to have the ball, it will be Barcelona.
"We must try not to lose possession at any time. We must try to push them as high as possible, and try to make the play direct, closing down any balls that they do pass out."

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Di Matteo: Terry can cope with hecklers

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Roberto Di Matteo has no concerns about John Terry's mental or physical wellbeing ahead of Chelsea's clash with QPR.

Saturday sees Terry face the latest trial by fire of his controversial career when he returns to Loftus Road for the first time since being acquitted of racially abusing Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.
Blues captain Terry, who is still contesting a Football Association charge over the same matter, is expected to be snubbed by Ferdinand - and possibly other QPR players - during the pre-match handshake.
On top of that, he is likely to be taunted mercilessly by Rangers supporters, something which happened on his last visit there in January.
Manager Di Matteo said: "As a human being there are certain aspects of life that will faze you.
"But, if you look at his career, he's always got on with it. He's a confident player.
"I played with some great players in my career. There were certain players who were very, very confident."
Indeed, former Italy star Di Matteo compared Terry's mental strength with that of some of the best players he had ever played with - "Paolo Maldini, [Angelo] Peruzzi, [Pierluigi] Casiraghi, [Alessandro] Costacurta, [Alessandro] Del Piero, all players who have spent 15 to 20 years at the highest level, domestic and international football."
He added: "To be able to survive for so many years at the top level in football, at club and international level, you need to be mentally strong.
"That goes for all the players who have had that kind of career, not just JT."
Terry's desperation to play on Saturday has been compared to that ahead of January's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Loftus Road, which saw him aggravate a knee injury, sidelining him for several weeks.
There is a sense of deja vu about the Barclays Premier League clash, with Terry coming into the game having only just shaken off an ankle problem.
Di Matteo said: "To be honest, an injury can happen to anybody in the game.
"My assessment is on the fact that if the medical department tells me a player is fine, he's available to be selected. You never know what happens in the game.
"I don't think there are any concerns that he aggravates anything."
It seems certain Terry will start on Saturday but Di Matteo refused to confirm that, claiming he would consider every aspect of Saturday's clash - including the handshake - before finalising his team.
He said: "I always consider everything. The internal and external environments, and also the fitness of the team and what's the best team to play against QPR."

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Top 10 Signings - Summer of 2012

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This summer transfer window has once again seen plenty of players move across Europe and millions of dollars exchanging hands as clubs use this opportunity to strengthen their teams.
Some new signings have made us sit up and take notice, while other signings have had us slump back into our seats scratching our heads but for better or worse, these clubs are stuck with the players on their books till January when the transfer madness start all over again.
Here are my picks on the top 10 transfer signings which I believe will make the biggest positive impact on their clubs.
Eden Hazard: LOSC Lille to Chelsea

Speculated transfer fee: €40million
Quite possibly the most exciting young talent in the world of football now, Eden Hazard's brilliance at Lille made him a long time target of top clubs like Arsenal, Real Madrid and Manchester United and it was only a matter of time before the Belgian would move to an elite club.
Although he had previously made his preference for a move to Arsenal or Manchester United known, Chelsea's success in the Champions League swung Hazard's decision in the Blues' favour.
What he brings to the team
Blessed with extremely quick feet, excellent technical ability and with bags of pace to burn, Hazard's capture is a real coup for Roman Abramovich's outfit and already the 21-year-old has justified the high price paid for him with some sterling displays for his new club in the Premier League.
Santi Cazorla: Malaga to Arsenal

Speculated transfer fee: €16million
It was rumoured that Cazorla was close to securing a move to Arsenal from Villarreal in 2011 before the oil-funded Malaga swooped in and brought the Spain international to Andalusia for a reported fee of €21million.
Malaga, with Cazorla pulling the strings in midfield, thrived in La Liga and finished fourth last season but have since run into financial difficulties, forcing them to sell their most valuable asset when Arsenal came knocking at the door.
What he brings to the team
For a bargain fee of €16million, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has bought himself a gifted playmaker who has the ability to create something out of nothing. The 27-year-old is also one of those rare players who are comfortable using either foot to strike the ball, making him extremely versatile and hard to tackle. He seems to have seamlessly slotted into Arsenal's midfield and has been the main creative outlet for the Gunners so far.
Joe Allen: Swansea City to Liverpool

Speculated transfer fee: €15million
Last season, Swansea thrilled fans and neutrals alike with their sleek passing and attacking style of play under manager Brendan Rodgers. One of the integral cogs to the well-oiled Swansea machine was Joe Allen, who kept the Swans ticking with his metronomic passing and excellent ball retention.
When manager Brendan Rodgers made the move from the Swans to Liverpool, it was only natural that Allen was someone the new Reds manager wanted to bring along with him. Although Rodgers had a gentlemen's agreement not to sign any Swansea players to Liverpool, the Swans could not resist an offer of €15million for a player who had cost them nothing, having risen through the ranks of their academy.
What he brings to the team
The 22-year-old is no stranger to Rodgers' style of possession football and is one of the few Liverpool players who are versatile enough to effectively play the ball on the ground or in the air. Sitting deep, he has the ability to pick out passes from afar and serves as the link between defence and attack for the Reds.
Robin Van Persie: Arsenal to Man Utd

Speculated transfer fee: €24million
Arsenal had Robin van Persie to thank for firing them into the Champions League after the Dutch striker scored an amazing 30 goals for the club in the Premier League last season. Having joined the Gunners from Feyenoord in 2004, Van Persie spent a vast majority of his Arsenal career on the treatment table but was still regarded as one of the club's most important players.
With one year left on his contract last summer, Van Persie declared he would not be signing a new deal and Wenger was forced to cash in on Van Persie or risk losing him on a free transfer the next summer. Along came league rivals Manchester United and although Wenger was loathe to sell the 29-year-old to another Premier League club, the lack of concrete interest from foreign clubs meant that the Frenchman had no choice but to let Van Persie join up with his old adversary Sir Alex Ferguson.
What he brings to the team
Van Persie's quality is apparent for all to see. Deadly in front of goal, the Dutch international also has the vision to create goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates and coupled with his never-say-die attitude, he is the perfect addition to give Ferguson that extra quality upfront.
Alex Song: Arsenal to Barcelona

Estimated transfer fee: £15million
Along with Van Persie, Song was one of the standout players for Arsenal last season and garnered the highest amount of assists (12) for the Gunners that campaign. Having joined Wenger's side from Bastia in 2006, it took some time before the Cameroonian finally found his feet in the Premier League and became one of the world's best midfielders.
Wenger may have invested a lot of time and effort to mould Song into the player he is now but reports of the 24-year-old's poor attitude on the training ground made it easy for the long-serving Arsenal manager to dispense with Song once Barcelona made their interest known.
What he brings to the team
Although Song has been often touted as a defensive midfielder, a closer look at his statistics and playing style suggests he operates more as a deep lying playmaker. Physically strong and imposing, Song can easily outmuscle opponents off the ball and is also capable of shielding the ball extremely well. Despite his ungainly style, the former Bastia player is comfortable with the ball and has the vision and composure to effectively utilise possession.
Luka Modric: Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid

Estimated transfer fee: £33million
Luka Modric established himself quickly in the heart of Tottenham's midfield when he first joined the club in 2008 and the Croatian soon became a crowd favourite at White Hart Lane with his dazzling displays in midfield.
The 26-year-old was soon attracting attention from top clubs around the world, especially from cross town rivals Chelsea. However, despite the promise of silverware and Champions League football from interested suitors, Modric stayed on at the Lilywhites till last summer, when Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy finally sanctioned a move for the highly-rated playmaker to La Liga champions Real Madrid.
What he brings to the team
Possessing a bagful of tricks and full of energy, the former Dinamo Zagreb player has the ability to control the game and is capable of turning the game on its head with a moment of magic. A consummate professional on and off the pitch, Modric will definitely thrive when playing with a group of other top class players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
Jordi Alba: Valencia to Barcelona

Estimated transfer fee: €14 million
Alba started out his footballing career as a left winger at Barcelona but was unable to make an impression and was released by the Catalan club in 2005. He eventually moved to Valencia and was soon converted into a wing-back where he really flourished and was soon a regular starter for Los Che under then manager Unai Emery.
The 23-year-old was in stellar form for Valencia last season and ultimately earned himself a call-up to the Spain national squad for the 2012 European Championships. He was one of the standout performers in the international tournament, earning himself a spot in the UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament in the process, and made a high-profile return to his boyhood club during the summer.
What he brings to the team
Having had experience playing on the wings, Alba offers a devastating outlet of attack down the flanks and is seen as a natural replacement for the unfortunate Eric Abidal. His defensive work is also severely understated and not many players can get the better of him in one-on-one situations. Attacking wise, Alba is no stranger to the tiki-taka style of play Barcelona is used to playing and his pin-point crosses will surely reap a few goals for his side.
Sebastian Giovinco: Parma to Juventus

Estimated transfer fee: €11 million
Sebastian Giovinco is a product of the Juventus youth academy and his excellent performances soon earned him a promotion to the first team, but despite impressing in his sporadic appearances for the Bianconeri, he never really managed to break into the squad and he was loaned to Parma in 2010, before the Crociati decided to make the move permanent in 2011.
It was last season at Parma where Giovinco really shined; the 25-year-old earned the plaudits for his numerous match-winning displays and ended the season leading the Crociati's scoring (15) and assists (11) chart, leading Parma to eight in the Serie A. The Italy international was the subject intense transfer speculation last summer, with English champions Manchester City especially interested, but Giovinco eventually opted to make the move back to Serie A champions Juventus.
What he brings to the team
Due to his diminutive stature, Giovinco has a very low centre of gravity and coupled with his blistering pace and excellent close control of the ball is capable of weaving through defences with ease. Capable of playing on either flanks or through the middle, he is also an accomplished set-piece taker and plays with the maturity and experience of a much older player.
Antonio Cassano: AC Milan to Inter Milan

Estimated transfer fee: Player swap with Giampaolo Pazzini
One of the infamous bad boys of Italian football, Antonio Cassano's immense talent was evident from a young age but a series of disciplinary issues almost ruined his career and for a while, it seemed the Italy international's full potential would never be fulfilled.
Despite his bad boy reputation, AC Milan took a gamble on the volatile Italy international but he never really managed to break into the first team and was often overlooked in favour of strikers Zlatan Ibrahmovic.
His time at AC Milan was also hampered by health issues. Cassano made just 16 league appearances for the club last season after being side-lined for six months following minor heart surgery back in October.
Having grown disillusioned with Milan by their sales of star players Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to Paris Saint-Germain during the summer, Cassano requested for a transfer and made the move to the Rossoneri's arch-rivals Inter Milan.
What he brings to the team
Cassano, who operates primarily as a second striker, is known for his intelligent movement off-the-ball and effectively stretches opposition defences by running into the channels at opportune times. The 30-year-old also possesses a fair amount of flair and brings along with him a wealth of experience and cunning, which will prove useful in unlocking watertight defences.
Javier Martinez: Athletic Bilbao to Bayern Munich

Estimated transfer fee: €40 million
Martinez signed for Bilbao from Osasuna in 2006 and almost immediately became a regular in the side despite then being only 17-years-old. His effective and dominant presence in the middle of the park made him an integral part of the club and he went on to make 251 appearances for Bilbao.
Despite an imposing €40 million buy-out clause in his contract, Bayern Munich had saw enough of Martinez to decide to meet the clause and bring the Spain international to the Allianz Arena;  in the process, the 24-year-old became the most expensive player in the history of the Bundesliga.
What he brings to the team
At 1.90 metres tall, Martinez cuts an imposing figure on the pitch and he uses his physical superiority to great advantage. With tons of energy and stamina, he can go from box-to-box with ease and is often the conduit for his side's counter-attacks. Tenacious in the tackle and tactically aware, he also offers sufficient protection for his backline and is technically proficient to recycle possession effectively after winning it.

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Carrick: RVP will make United better

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Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick is convinced Robin van Persie will bring the best out of the club.

The £24million Dutchman has already had an impact at Old Trafford, scoring on his home debut against Fulham before firing home the hat-trick that allowed his new club to register a comeback at Southampton on Sunday.
That victory allowed United to keep tabs on early pace-setters Chelsea and Carrick is convinced there is far more to come, especially now they have Van Persie's class to rely on.
"World-class players have got a presence," said Carrick.
"When the ball came to Robin for his first goal on Sunday, I was so confident it was going to be a goal.
"To have someone like that in your team is satisfying because you know if you supply him with the right ammunition, more often than not, he will put it away."
Van Persie collected the Golden Boot last season with his 30 Premier League goals for Arsenal.
And with four already for United this season, the 29-year-old is already well ahead of schedule.
It was the middle of October before he reached that figure last term, although from that point Van Persie did find the net an incredible 20 times in 17 games, emphasising the high standards he has set for himself.
Question marks have been raised over the impact Wayne Rooney is likely to have, especially as Shinji Kagawa has made such an impressive start to his own United career.
The options for manager Sir Alex Ferguson are huge, which Carrick believes will only be of benefit as the season progresses.
"If Robin carries on like this I will enjoy it very much," said the United midfielder.
"To get off the mark with pretty much his first touch was special, then his hat-trick was much needed because we were in a tough position.
"It's a better start than he could have hoped for.
"We have got some firepower at the club now and whoever the manager calls upon, we will look dangerous."

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Puyol returns to training

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Barcelona central defender Carles Puyol wore a protective mask in training on Wednesday as he continued his recovery from a fractured cheekbone.

The 34-year-old, who missed Spain's successful defence of the European Championship title with a knee injury in the summer, suffered the cheekbone setback in a clash with Osasuna forward Roland Lamah during Barcelona's 2-1 win on August 26.
The Barcelona captain, who will be absent from Spain's World Cup qualifier away to Georgia on Tuesday, will be allowed to wear the mask against Getafe in Barcelona's next La Liga match on September 15.
Barcelona carried a photograph on the club website of Puyol wearing the mask during a training session he took part in for the club's B team.

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Henriquez completes Man United move

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Manchester United have completed the signing of Angelo Henriquez and the Chile Under-23 striker has now joined from Universidad de Chile for an undisclosed fee.

The 18-year-old underwent a medical with the Red Devils last month and was granted a work permit.
"Angelo has made a tremendous impact on the game in his short career so far," manager Sir Alex Ferguson told manutd.com.
"His pace is a great asset and he reads the game really well for someone of such a young age.
"We have a proud record of developing young talent and Angelo fits the profile of a United player - skilful, attacking and someone who plays the game with real flair."
The player admits he is honoured to be moving to Old Trafford.
"I am thrilled to be joining the biggest club in the world. Manchester United is a great team and has a great manager," he said.
"To be able to be part of that is a huge honour and I can't wait to get started.
"I hope I can be part of many successful years with United."

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Enrique seeks to emulate Carragher

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Liverpool left-back Jose Enrique has revealed he hopes to enjoy the same longevity at Anfield that veteran Jamie Carragher has.

Enrique joined the Reds from Newcastle at the start of last season and immediately established himself as their first-choice left-back, making 43 appearances in all competition in his debut campaign at Anfield.
On the other hand, Carragher is currently at the other end of his Liverpool career and played just 26 games as he fell behind centre-back duo Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel in the pecking order, although he is still regarded as a legend of the club having made over 700 appearances across 17 seasons.
And having witnessed the adulation Carragher receives from the Anfield faithful, Enrique is hoping he will one day get to enjoy the same sort of reception.
"I want to play here for as many years as I can and play as many games," he said on the club's official website. "I hope to be like Carra but that would be really difficult.
"I want to stay here because it's an amazing club and a big club and every player dreams of being here. I also want to win as many titles as I can. I've played in English football for five years and it's amazing to play here.
"But I'm still learning. At teams like Liverpool you learn quickly; in one year here I have learned a lot and with his manager [Brendan Rodgers] I have learned plenty too."
Enrique also revealed his role as full-back has been changed since Rodgers took over from Dalglish earlier on in the summer, and has told Reds fans to expect to see him get forward much more frequently.
"The manager wants me to make more assists and score more goals and play more like a forward," he added.
"He has told Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly to do the same, and Stewart Downing in the left-back role. He wants us all to play like wing-backs. I really like to play like this."
Liverpool haven't enjoyed the best starts to the season and are currently 17th in the Barclays Premier League following a draw and two losses in their opening three games.

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Ronaldo unhappy at Real Madrid

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Cristiano Ronaldo's future with Real Madrid has been thrown into doubt after the Portugal international revealed he is unhappy with the club.

Ronaldo bagged a brace in Real's 3-0 win over Granada which included his 150th goal for the club but refused to celebrate the achievement. Later after the match, he cited "a professional issue" as the reason for his behaviour.
"I'm sad because of a professional issue and the club know why," he told reporters.
"That's why I didn't celebrate the goals, because I'm not happy. The people [at the club] know why."
He added: "It's nothing to do with Andres Iniesta [winning UEFA's Best Player in Europe award]. I won't talk about this any more and I will concentrate on Portugal for now. There are more important things [than this]."
"The people at the club know about this. I cannot say any more."

Real fans will be looking on anxiously for Ronaldo to resolve this latest issue with the club. The Portuguese has been in ruthless form since joining Madrid with an incredible 150 goals in just 149 appearances for Los Merengues.
He also played a vital role for manager Jose Mourinho last season as Real were crowned La Liga champions.

Regarding his injury, the 27-year-old said: "Let's see if I recover in a couple of days because I want to play in these important games for the national team."
Ronaldo's goals against Granada helped Madrid pick up their first win of the season after they started the defence of their La Liga title with a home draw to Valencia and an away defeat to Getafe.
Ronaldo said on his club's website after reaching 150 goals for Madrid: "I'm very happy for this goalscoring run but the most important thing is the team. We got a victory and for us the league starts today."
Ronaldo's latest comments will almost certainly trigger frenzied speculation on his future at the club by the media.

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Rodgers admits to Carroll mistake

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted he would never have let Andy Carroll join West Ham had he known the Merseysiders would not get a replacement.

Rodgers released Carroll on Thursday night thinking Clint Dempsey would arrived from Fulham before the transfer window closed on Friday.
However, Liverpool failed to match Fulham's demands for the United States international and after trying to increase the bid by adding players into the mix, Dempsey instead opted to join Tottenham.
It has left Liverpool chronically short of strikers.
Rodgers did not have an orthodox forward on the bench for Sunday afternoon's 2-0 home defeat by Arsenal and is now left to consider moves for the likes of Michael Owen, who is out of contract, and Didier Drogba, whose contract situation at Shanghai Shenhua could allow him to sign for another club.
"No," said Rodgers when asked whether he would have let Carroll leave, then "very" when quizzed about how confident he was of getting in a replacement.
And for the likes of Owen and Drogba?
"I can't say no. Any player I believe can improve the squad, I will look at," he said.
"We have a very small group. We had 19 training yesterday [Saturday]. It is something that would have to be discussed."
Sunday's result condemned Liverpool to their worst start to a season since 1962-63.
It was hardly the best way to mark Bill Shankly's 99th birthday, although Rodgers tried to put on a brave face.
"I am not here to cry," he said.
"Whatever has happened, I wouldn't change it for the world.
"I am very proud to manage this club. I have made it my life.
"I felt we needed reinforcements. That is the reality. But it is gone now. The window is shut.
"We have to concentrate on the players who are already here."

Rodgers spoke with the Liverpool hierarchy about what went wrong, but he is refusing to pin any blame on owner John Henry.
"There is no doubt the finances here had to be changed," he said. "That was the reality.
"We have lost nine players and brought in three. From a business side the club has done well.
"What we have to do in the future is look after the football side.
"Hopefully in the next window - and the ones after - we can transition a group that allows us to compete.
"But it is a learning process for the owners as well. They invested £100million into the club and then changed one of the most iconic figures at the club.
"They made a big commitment to have me here for the longer term and have been very up front with me.
"There are one or two things we need to iron out. If we do that it will help us in the next window and the ones after. But they have not misled me."
With Fabio Borini and Daniel Agger failing to take decent chances, Liverpool were ripe for a counter-attack.
The sucker punch duly arrived when Santi Cazorla led a break that ended with Lukas Podolski driving home the Gunners' first goal of the season.
Liverpool briefly threatened a reply after half-time, but ran out of ideas and the excellent Cazorla profited from Pepe Reina's mistake to wrap up victory.
"Everybody understood quickly Cazorla would not need six months to settle," said Gunners boss Wenger.
"Lukas Podolski is deadly when he gets a chance. I am pleased for them."
Wenger also confirmed he was hopeful Jack Wilshere would be fit to make a comeback within a month after over a year out with an ankle injury.
"Jack is looking very good in training. We will give him a month. Then he should start to play," he said.

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Ferguson pleased with RVP contribution

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will let Robin van Persie off the hook for his penalty miss after his hat-trick helped the Red Devils beat Southampton.

The Holland international looked set to get his first taste of the famous hairdryer treatment after wasting an opportunity to draw level with a cheeky penalty attempt that was saved by Kelvin Davis.
However, Van Persie's late double salvo turned the game on its head and earned United a 3-2 victory, much to Ferguson's - and the former Arsenal striker's - relief.
"I was surprised because every time I have seen him take a penalty he rattles it in the corners," the United boss said of Van Persie, who reached 100 Premier League goals today [Sunday].
"He made up for it, though. He had six attempts on goal and was a real threat.
"His first goal was absolutely magnificent - the control and then to bury it away. It was a really, really good goal.
"His header was excellent too, but he has been a terrific player for us.
"I just thought we started the game so well and went a goal down when we were controlling the game. That puts you on the back foot a bit.
"We got an equaliser at the right time and that gave us time to organise ourselves and make sure we controlled the second half.
"It didn't go that way and I thought Southampton for the first 20 minutes were very good."
Southampton had looked on course for a famous victory on Sunday after twice going ahead.
Rickie Lambert headed the hosts in front after 16 minutes and they responded well to Van Persie's leveller as Morgan Schneiderlin put them in front once again in the second half.
However, it was not to be for Southampton and, while Van Persie will take the headlines, Ferguson was quick to highlight the 61st-minute introduction of Paul Scholes as the game-changing moment.
"We didn't start playing until Paul Scholes came on the pitch, to be honest with you," he said. "I thought he changed the game right around.
"We worked all week on the strength of Southampton with their back post crosses and they scored two goals from it.
"We have got to give them credit for that, they are good at it. In that period when they scored the second we were well out of it.
"Paul Scholes came on and brought composure, a consistency of passing and made the difference."

While Ferguson's side collected three points, the Scot knows such a performance is not good enough moving forward as they were poor at the back despite the return of Rio Ferdinand alongside Nemanja Vidic.
The once-formidable partnership looked shaky in their first game together since a 2-1 Champions League defeat to Basle last December and Ferguson knows they need to improve.
"I think it is an important issue, there's no question [about it]," he said.
"I think throughout the years we've had two centre-backs playing regularly that impacts on the whole team, right from Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister, to Jaap Stam and Ronny Johnsen.
"Last season when we had Jonny Evans and Rio Ferdinand for a long period our performance was at its best."
While Ferguson struck a relieved figure at the end of his 1,000th league game at the United helm, counterpart Nigel Adkins was left to rue what might have been.
Just like at Manchester City two weeks ago, his side gave up a 2-1 advantage to lose 3-2 and, while frustrated, the Saints boss was keen to highlight the positives.
"For a newly-promoted club we have scored two goals in open play against a Man Utd side packed full of experience," Adkins said.
"Lambert had an exceptional game, Jason Puncheon had a superb game as did Adam Lallana.
"I thought they had worked very hard and we made the substitutions to bring more energy into the side.
"You get punished at the highest level. [Nathaniel] Clyne slips and Van Persie puts the ball into the net.
"In the second half, we were buzzing. But they kept possession of the ball. It's two corners we have conceded from."

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