Bank of France boss says deficit targets realistic

June 13 (Reuters) – Bank of France Chairman and European Central Bank governing council member Christian Noyer on Sunday said France’s target of bringing its budget deficit to 3 percent of GDP by 2013 was realistic.

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“I am totally confident in the fact that it is possible to get there,” Noyer said in an interview on France 5 television and RFI radio.

Noyer’s comments come after French Prime Minister Francois Fillon on Saturday pledged to lower the country’s budget deficit to the EU target of 3 percent by 2013 from its current level of 8 percent. (Reporting by Astrid Wendlandt)

Rooney’s musical pillow to help him ‘dream’ of firing England to WC glory

London, June 4(ANI): England striker Wayne Rooney has been provided with a pillow that plays his favourite songs after he complained of struggling to sleep without background noise.

The special Sound Asleep Pillows costs 20 pounds and contains tiny speakers, which can be rigged up to a radio or iPod, allowing the user to drift off while listening to their favourite tunes.

“We sent Wayne one after hearing about his problem. A lot of our customers tell us it really helps, As massive football fans at Sound Asleep, we’ll do absolutely anything we can to get him a good night’s sleep,” The Daily Star quoted Jamie Moryoussef, Sound Asleep Pillows boss, as saying.

“After Wayne was snapped getting on the plane with the pillow under his arm, we’re now expecting a huge increase in demand and we are very happy with the unexpected side-effect,” he added. (ANI)

Mourinho’s passage to Real far from secured – Moratti

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho’s dream move to Real Madrid is far from a done deal, Inter president Massimo Moratti said on Tuesday.

Moratti said his club’s relationship with Mourinho was all but over following dinner between the pair on Monday but the Champions League and treble winners are not giving up the Portuguese easily.

Reports have said Inter want around 16 million euros ($19.55 million) in compensation from Real if they move for Mourinho given his deal finishes in 2012.

“No, what do you mean it’s done, it’s the opposite. We haven’t even started,” Moratti told reporters before being asked if Wednesday would be the decisive day.

“No, it will take a bit of time.”

Some Inter fans are upset with Mourinho for the timing of his comments wishing to leave amidst their stunning treble success and feel he has stolen the limelight from the team.

The club president had been quoted in the media as saying he had been “taken for a ride” by Mourinho but Moratti firmly denied saying any such thing.

“He achieved all the objectives he had to achieve. The annoying part will be now, the pain of finding someone new,” he said, adding there was no particular name in the frame.

Fulham’s ex-Inter boss Roy Hodgson, Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez and former Inter assistant coach Sinisa Mihajlovic, who surprisingly quit Catania on Monday, have all been linked with the Serie A champions.

(Writing by Mark Meadows; Editing by Ed Osmond; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Wanted: Beer taster for ‘world’s best job’

London, May 20 (ANI): The good-old position of the ale taster is being resurrected by a London market, which calls it the “best job in the world”.

The holder of the voluntary post will have to sample beers from London pubs to “test for quality”.

The job has been reintroduced by Spitalfields Market, which was set up in 1683.

Wellington Market Company, which manages the market, is inviting applications for the post.

“Although the attraction of the role may seem obvious at first, the 21st century version would incorporate many more responsibilities than the original,” the Telegraph quoted company boss Malcolm Ball, as saying.

He added: “Our ale taster would become an ambassador for food and drink in the area.”

According to Ball, the winning candidate would have to have a “sound knowledge of local, regional, national and international beers”, and that “he or she must be passionate about the subject”.

“It must be stated that although the role is voluntary, it obviously carries benefits,” he added. (ANI)

Freak training ground mishap is Capello’s biggest World Cup fear

London, May 21 (ANI): England boss Fabio Capello has admitted that his biggest fear over the next two weeks is a freak training ground accident claiming a victim of one of his key players.

According to The Mirror, the Italian coach had a scare last week when John Terry initially feared he had broken his right foot preparing for the FA Cup final, while Matthew Upson sustained a nasty-looking gash above his eye in a collision with Jermain Defoe on Wednesday.

Fortunately, neither injury was serious, but Capello is aware he is a hostage to fortune between now and the end of the tournament.

“For me, the World Cup is a really big challenge. I think England are one of the best teams in the world and we can win against anyone. My approach to the World Cup is relaxed now. I have to study the other countries we will be playing against and hope that everything we are preparing will be ready for the tournament,” Capello was quoted, as saying.

He added: “As England manager, I can do a lot of in-depth preparation. But then, we could get an injury to an important player, and everything I have prepared is for nothing! (ANI)

Aston Villa rejects Man City’s 25-mn pound bid for Milner

London, May 20 (ANI): Aston Villa has rejected Manchester City 25 million pound bid for James Milner, and now plans to negotiate a new long-term deal with the England midfield ace.

The Sun reports that Villa boss Martin O’Neill would still struggle to hold on to the player.

The deal was worth an initial 20 million pounds with a further five million pounds of add-ons for success and appearances.

Both Villa owner Randy Lerner and manager O’Neill have been adamant that Milner, 24, is not for sale.

In a statement Villa said: “We have received an offer from Manchester City and this has been firmly rejected. We plan to sit down with James and his representative after the World Cup to agree a new, long-term deal.”

Milner learned of City’s move on Wednesday at England’s training camp in Austria, the paper said.

Mancini has up to 150 million pounds to spend this summer as he tries to build a side for a Premier League title push next season, it adds. (ANI)

I don’t know if Mourinho is the right man to coach Real: Benitez

London, May 20 (ANI): Taking a dig at old rival Jose Mourinho, Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has claimed he does not know if Inter Milan coach is the right man for Real Madrid.

Mourinho looks certain to replace Manuel Pellegrini as coach of Real Madrid after leading Inter Milan into Saturday’s Champions League final.

The Liverpool boss thinks Real Madrid could be committing a blunder if they think the Portuguese coach is the man to turn them into European kings again, The Sun reports.

“I know Mourinho has dreamed a lot of coaching Real Madrid, but I do not know if he is the right person to train Madrid,” The Sun quoted Benitez, as saying.

“Pellegrini has done a great job and deserves great respect because he’s still coach and it’s not pleasant to hear talk about who’s going to replace you,” he said.

Mourinho has admitted: “My only options are Madrid or Inter. To get me to leave this club after two years of incredible work, only Real Madrid could achieve that.

“If I go, I will move with a clear conscience having changed the club.” (ANI)

Oz politician ‘sick of being sexualised’ by female NSW Premier

Melbourne, May 20 (ANI): Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly Adrian Piccoli is enraged over New South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally’s remarks about his hair and suits.

The politician said he is sick of being “sexualised” and was fed-up with Keneally”s comments about his suits and his lack of hair across the floor of the NSW Parliamentary Bear Pit.

Things came to a head when Piccoli asked Speaker Richard Torbay to intervene after the latest taunt.

“I take great offence at constantly being sexualised by the Premier. If it”s not my suits, it”s my hair,” News.com.au quoted Mr Piccoli as saying.

Piccoli later called out that he was “happily married” and Keneally could be heard to retort, “Oh, you wish”.

Former sex discrimination commissioner Pru Goward, who is now a Liberal MP, said the Premier”s behaviour would be considered unacceptable other workplaces.

“This is a particular job, it is not an average job. Most Australians in their workplaces are not allowed to do this sort of thing,” she said.

“What happens in Parliament is privileged but the truth is in any other workplace if a boss or a peer in public ridiculed somebody along those lines, not just once but frequently – she does it every week – it wouldn”t be accepted behaviour, people just would not get away with it.”

“We”ve been very conscious not to refer to anything about her dress,” Piccoli said.

“Nobody makes reference to the way she dresses. I referred to her hair once after she referred to mine.”

Speaker Richard Torbay told Mr Piccoli in his three years controlling the Bear Pit of State Parliament it was “the worst point of order” he had ever heard. (ANI)

Ancelotti’s ‘two long conversations’ help Cole get selected in Capello’s squad

London, May 19 (ANI): Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has urged Fabio Capello to select midfielder Joe Cole, despite starting in only 11 games for the club this season.

Cole has already been selected in the final 23 who will go to South Africa and is considered to be named in Capello’s final squad on June 1.

“Fabio has always been keen on Cole but he needed to know he wasn’t taking a risk picking him. He had two long conversations with Ancelotti who convinced him Cole is in great shape physically and mentally,” The Sun quoted a senior England source, as saying.

“The plan now is to monitor him in training and he will also get game-time against Mexico and Japan. As long as he performs he will be on the plane to South Africa,” the source added.

Cole, who has not played for the Three Lions for 18 months because of injury, is due to arrive at England’s pre-tournament training camp in Austria today.

Along with Chelsea teammates Frank Lampard, John Terry and Ashley Cole, plus Portsmouth keeper David James, Cole has been given extra two days to recover from Saturday’s FA Cup final.

Cole joked: “I’m looking forward to seeing the boys again, I just hope they still remember me.” (ANI)

FIFA to probe Triesman”s comments

London, May 18 (ANI): FIFA bosses will investigate the FA”s handling of Lord Triesman over his reported comments on the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.

“FIFA officials are demanding a report on Triesman”s comments and want to know whether FA could have acted quicker,” reports The Sun.

Triesman quit as FA chairman and leader of England”s 2018 World Cup bid on Sunday after he was recorded accusing rival bidders Spain and Russia of planning to bribe references at next month”s tournament in South Africa.

“We have not received any apologies,” said Alexei Sorokin, the head of Russia”s 2018 bid

English officials, however, claim to have faxed a full apology to Moscow and Spain.

“We can only suppose two things – either the English had some technical mistake or they were in too much of a hurry when they informed the media they had already apologised,” said Russian FA Director General Sorokin.

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke has asked the governing body”s ethics committee to cross check the claims put forward by Triesman.

Meanwhile, Spanish FA boss Jorge Perez Arias has tagged the idea of his country bribing references as absurd.

Geoff Thompson, will now chair England”s 2018 World Cup bid team.
(ANI)

‘Special One’ Mourinho verbally agrees to move to Real Madrid

London, May 18 (ANI): Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho is all set to join Spanish giant Real Madrid and has already submitted his players wish list.

According to Spanish media reports, Mourinho has reached a verbal agreement with Real Madrid to become their next manager.

The Special One’s representative, Jorge Mendes, has had talks with Real Madrid to thrash out a deal for Mourinho, where he also outlined the manager’s transfer targets, The Mirror reports.

The list includes Benfica’s in demand trio of Angel Di Maria, David Luiz, and left wingback Fabio Coentrao.

The former Chelsea boss will be in Madrid on Friday to prepare for Inter Milan’s Champions League final clash with Bayern Munich. (ANI)

Sir Alex thinking about retiring

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has uttered the retirement word again, and said he had been thinking about when and how he would leave Old Trafford.

The Manchester United boss, 68, is considering the best way to bow out.

“It’s always in the back of your mind. Your health does come into it. My dad retired and the next week he was diagnosed with cancer.

“The other thing that’s important is the expectation of Man United. If we hit a bad spell, it wouldn’t be time to go,” The Sun quoted Ferguson, as saying.

Earlier, Ferguson had said that he had no intentions of retiring at the end of next season, and insisted on carrying on with his work.

“I’ve no intention of retiring. The only thing that determines my staying here is my health. Unfortunately for you lot, I’m in rude health,” Ferguson said.

“You can be left to suffer me. You’ll be gone before I’m gone, don’t worry,” he added.

Media reports had suggested that Ferguson may not be far off retirement.

Several names have also been linked with the post, including Everton manager David Moyes and former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho

Spain is best team on planet, says Scholes

London, May 16 (ANI): Manchester United footballer Paul Scholes has backed Spain as the World Cup favourites to lift the trophy.

Scholes has hailed Spain as the best team on the planet.

Scholes, who turned down the chance to go to South Africa this summer with England, said: “They play the best football in the world. They have the best players and Xavi is absolutely brilliant.”

England boss Fabio Capello’s general manager asked Scholes to end his international exile, The Daily Express reports.

But the midfielder, who won his 66th and last England cap at Euro 2004, asked for time to think about his decision, then said he preferred to stay at home with his family.

On his enduring fitness, Scholes said: “I’m not one for yoga. You just look after yourself as well as you can. Try to stay as fit as you can and make yourself available each week.” (ANI)

Ancelotti backs Chelsea to win Treble next year

London, May 16 (ANI): After winning Double, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has set his sights on a Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup Treble next year.

Ancelotti said that he can fulfill owner Roman Abramovich’s ambition of winning Champion League without adding players to his squad.

“We wanted to win the Champions League this year. It didn’t happen but we will try next season. This team has the quality to win the Champions League without change. We have to be happy with these trophies. It’s right to have a celebration because we had a fantastic season,” News of the World quoted Ancelotti, as saying.

“For me it’s right to have a holiday but I want to think about next season. We know Chelsea have never won the Champions League and it’s one of our aims for next season. And we want to win the Premier League and the FA Cup again.

“We will start next season having won the Double. I think that will put more attention on us, but this is normal. We are proud to have this attention,” Ancelotti said.

Skipper John Terry celebrated the unique achievement in the club’s history and put Ancelotti on the same level as ‘Special One’ Jose Mourinho.

“Jose is always going to be a massive part of this football club. But other managers have come here in the last three or four years and not really lived up to expectations.

“Now Carlo has come in and in his first season he has achieved something that no other manager or group of players have ever managed at Chelsea. So Jose will never be forgotten – but nor will Carlo and this group of players,” Terry said. (ANI)

Ferguson thinking about retiring from Man U

London, May 15 (ANI): Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has uttered the retirement word again, and said he is thinking about when and how he will leave Old Trafford.

The Manchester United boss, 68, is considering the best way to bow out.

“It’s always in the back of your mind. Your health does come into it. My dad retired and the next week he was diagnosed with cancer.

“The other thing that’s important is the expectation of Man United. If we hit a bad spell, it wouldn’t be time to go,” The Sun quoted Ferguson, as saying.

Earlier, Ferguson had said that he had no intentions of retiring at the end of next season, and insisted on carrying on with his work.

“I’ve no intention of retiring. The only thing that determines my staying here is my health. Unfortunately for you lot, I’m in rude health,” Ferguson said.

“You can be left to suffer me. You’ll be gone before I’m gone, don’t worry,” he added.

Media reports had suggested that Ferguson may not be far off retirement.

Several names have also been linked with the post, including Everton manager David Moyes and former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. (ANI)

Inter Milan contacts Benitez for coaching role

London, May 15 (ANI): Italian giants Inter Milan has reportedly established contacts with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez for a possible coaching role after finally accepting that they may lose Jose Mourinho.

Inter Milan hopes to cash in on the uncertainty over Benitez’s position as Liverpool manager.

Benitez, who has also been courted by Juventus, plans to hold more talks over his future at Anfield amid growing speculation they will part company following the Kop’s worst season since 1999, The Sun reports.

Inter previously rubbished reports they have approached Benitez or anyone else.

But the paper reports that Milan had preparatory talks with the Spaniard.

AC Milan yesterday sacked coach Leonardo after crashing out of the Champions League last 16 and finishing third in Serie A this season. (ANI)

Ancelotti wants Torres to play for Chelsea

London, May 14 (ANI): Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has admitted for the first time that he would like to see Liverpool striker Fernando Torres playing for them.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is willing to give 50 million pounds needed for Torres and Blues striker Didier Drogba is also keen to link up with the Spanish ace.

Ancelotti said: “It’s not only Drogba – I would like to play with Torres. He’s a very good player. But this is not an issue for now. He is a Liverpool player and is a good striker but we have two fantastic strikers and this is not for this moment.”

Ancelotti is on the brink of winning a second trophy in his maiden season, The Sun reports.

He praised the work of Portsmouth manager Avram Grant, while admitting that Chelsea’s victory at Fratton Park two months ago was the turning point of their season.

“That game was an important game for us because it was a difficult moment. At the time they didn’t have much motivation but, on Saturday, they have a lot of motivation in the final,” Ancelotti said.

“Avram is a very good coach. He was here in Chelsea for one year and did a very good job. And also this year, Portsmouth have had a difficult year but he did well to take them to the final and get his players to go out with strong, strong motivation,” he added. (ANI)

Berbatov fears new striker at Man U

London, May 14 (ANI): Manchester United out of form striker Dimitar Berbatov fears that his career will come under more pressure if the club buys a new striker.

Bulgarian Berbatov, who quit international football on Thursday, has been a flop since his 30.75 million pounds move from Spurs two seasons ago.

Boss Alex Ferguson is already looking to sign either Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka or Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema for the next campaign, The Sun reports.

“I’m sure United will buy a new striker – but I am there and that’s important. I will try to fulfil my contract because where would I go after United? I have reached the top with them. I do not know about interest from other clubs and I have had no meetings,” Berbatov said.

“In my two years, things could have been better but they could have been worse, too. I have had my moments. I have won the title and the Carling Cup but people had great expectations for the money it cost to sign me. We do not know what will happen in the third year,” said Berbatov, who has two years left on his deal. (ANI)

Fabregas will love to join Barcelona

London, May 14 (ANI): Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas will love to join Barcelona and will decide on his future this weekend after having crunch talks with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

“I’d love to join Barcelona. If I ever leave Arsenal it will be to play for Barcelona. I would like to go, whether they want me or not is another matter,” reports from Spain quoted Fabregas, as saying.

“I am 23 years old and I have a long career in front of me. I’ve never hidden the fact that playing for Barcelona is a dream that I would like to fulfil,” he said.

Fabregas, recovering from a broken leg, wants the matter resolved quickly so he can concentrate on helping Spain in the World Cup, The Sun reports.

“I would like to know my future before the World Cup because to play with other things in my head will not benefit anyone,” he said.

Fabregas’ move will come as a huge shock to Arsenal fans who were desperately hoping their best player would stay at the club.

According to Spanish sources, he is also concerned about Wenger’s long-term intentions.

The Arsenal boss only has a year left on his own contract – and has not yet agreed to carry on after that.(ANI)

Capello warns England players not to seek transfers during World Cup

London, Mar 13 (ANI): England manager Fabio Capello has warned his players not to arrange transfers during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Capello warned that if any of his squad members is caught negotiating moves to other clubs it will distract England’s attempts to win the tournament.

Ironically, Capello was criticised for taking part in a commercial venture during the competition, The Sun reports.

It would have caused problems, as it involved the England boss rating his own players for financial gain. But that was given up under pressure from the Football Association.

He said: “I hope the players do not change their team or have negotiations. It disturbs the players all the time.”

David James, Joe Cole, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Matthew Upson and Emile Heskey are players who could be on the move this summer. (ANI)