August 25th 2008
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Schuster hails Madrid comeback
Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster was amazed after his team's comeback against Valencia in the Spanish Supercopa on Sunday night.
A jubilant Schuster admitted in his 30 years in professional football he had never before experienced anything like his side's stunning victory.
Already trailing 3-2 from the first leg, Madrid looked in deep trouble at half-time of the return meeting at the Bernabeu as they trailed 1-0 and had also seen summer signing Rafael van der Vaart sent off.
The reigning Spanish champions were then plunged further into the mire in the 68th minute when striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was also dismissed, seemingly destrying any hope the Dutchman's 50th-minute penalty equaliser had given his side.
However, from looking on the brink of defeat, the nine men of Madrid produced a fairytale final 13 minutes, scoring three times through Sergio Ramos and substitutes Ruben de la Red and Gonzalo Higuain to earn a 4-2 victory on the night - Fernando Morientes netted a late goal for Valencia - and a 6-5 aggregate triumph.
"The truth is this very rarely happens. I've never lived such an experience before, neither as a player nor as a coach," said the 48-year-old Schuster, who made his playing debut three decades ago.
"It was very surprising. I relied on the opinion that there are teams who sometimes find it harder to play with a man more.
"With less players, the team unites more and sacrifices more, also the concentration levels improve. Our opponent didn't know how to play with their advantage and we showed we knew how to take advantage of it very well."
Despite Valencia's dramatic implosion, Schuster still had words of praise for Los Che and their new coach, the 36-year-old Unai Emery.
"We had to change the match, but I guess that a defeat like that has to hurt. But he (Emery) is a young coach with a lot of talent, and I think they've shown they are going to be useful team this year," Schuster added.
Looking ahead to the coming week and the possibility of new signings coming in, Schuster admitted it would be tough to improve on what they already have.
"This team has a base that we like and was hard to get, but we are going to be alert until the last day (of the transfer window) for any interesting signing. However, it is not going to be easy given the quality of the squad," he said.
MOYES: I`M LETTING PLAYERS DOWN
Everton boss David Moyes admitted he was "letting his players down" through his failure to bring in any new signings during the summer transfer window.
But Moyes insisted he was still ready to put pen to paper on a new contract despite his frustration at not being able to bolster a squad that had finished fifth in the Premier League for the past two seasons.
A patched-up Everton side - including 16-year-old full debutant Jose Baxter - gained a 2-1 success at West Brom thanks to second half goals from Leon Osman and Ayegbeni Yakubu.
But Moyes is aware the Toffees have to make significant new additions to have any chance of moving onto the next level and challenging the top four.
Moyes said: "We're trying all routes. There might be some buys and there might be some loans but I said that six weeks ago and nothing has so far happened.
"It is the last days of the sales and there is not much left.
"I hope to try and get maybe a couple of players in but, for the quality I need us to get to continue forward, I don't know if you can get someone with a few days to go.
"I need to add mainly midfield and forward players to the squad. Our defenders today were the reason we got a result.
"I feel as if I've let the players down. I've got a real good relationship with the players and they know how I work.
"I got people like Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta, Joleon Lescott, Phil Jagielka, Leon Osman, Tony Hibbert, Phil Neville all to build and have a group together on the understanding I'm going to progress Everton and make them better.
"At the moment, at this summer I'm not progressing Everton so I feel as if I'm letting them down.
"My ambition is to develop Everton. Every year I've been here I feel I developed. This is the first summer where I don't feel I've made any progress.
"My ambition is that I want to challenge the top managers in the league.
"We've not had massive amounts of money but we've got to the stage now where we require a greater deal if we are going to challenge the Liverpools, Chelseas, Arsenals, Manchester Uniteds.
"That is not withstanding the fact of trying to stay ahead of the Aston Villas and the Tottenhams who are flushed with it (money)."
Moyes is adamant he is still committed to signing a new deal - he has 12 months left of his current contract - despite his current frustrations.
He said: "I'm still positive that I'll have a new contract to deal with shortly. I want to get this week out of the way before the transfer window closes.
"There is that much going on now, I couldn't put that into the middle of this week on the agenda, that's for sure.
"The situation is just the same. I am fine. I'll have a contract. There is a contract there. I've spoken to the chairman (Bill Kenwright). When we get around to doing it, it is available to do."
Scolari's jigsaw nearly complete
Luiz Felipe Scolari is ready to put the finishing touches to his Chelsea squad tinkering this week, with Kaka and Robinho in his sights.
There have been reports of a renewed move for Real Madrid's wantaway forward Robinho and suggestions that a world-record deal to bring Kaka to Stamford Bridge next season will be struck, while Andriy Shevchenko has agreed to join AC Milan.
A move for Shaun Wright-Phillips could also be on the cards before the end of the summer transfer window, with Manchester City, Arsenal and Everton all linked to him, and Scolari has some important decisions to make in what is likely to be a frenzied few days.
One of the club's recent acquisitions, Scolari's former Portugal protege Deco, has already started to make an impact on the Premier League - scoring his second goal in as many matches against Wigan on Sunday.
And with his second victory successfully negotiated - albeit in less handsome fashion than the opening-day rout of Portsmouth - Scolari is ready for the task.
Speaking after the 1-0 win he said: "Tomorrow when I am back at the club I will discuss these things.
"It is important (to be focused) before a game. Last week we only talked about Wigan but tomorrow I will talk about players.
"Tomorrow when I come into the club I will discuss this or that, who comes, who goes.
"First we finished the game. Now we get back to London and I start a new week."
Two men who are sure to remain key figures under Scolari regardless of any further additions to the squad are match-winner Deco and England midfielder Frank Lampard.
But while Scolari was pleased to see his midfield duo's goal tally reach three in two games when the former Barcelona playmaker lashed home a third-minute free-kick, he insists that results are more important than personal milestones.
"If Deco is scoring goals or if Lampard is scoring goals is not important, what is important is if Chelsea win," he said. "Chelsea is more important than us. They are friends and if one scores the other players are happy.
"I read that Lampard, in the last two or three seasons, has scored 20 goals every year. This season maybe 25, but maybe 15 or 10. Maybe even five. It is not important if Chelsea win."
Bednar: Baggies need two strikers
Roman Bednar admits there is a wide gulf between the Championship and the Premier League - and wants West Brom to play with two strikers.
West Brom suffered their second defeat of the season as they lost 2-1 at home to Everton on Saturday.
Bednar scored a late penalty but was disappointed with the result and has now urged his team-mates to bounce back.
"It was a beautiful feeling (to score) but it did not win us the points," the Czech Republic striker told Denik Sport. "I would definitely be happier if we had won or if my goal had meant a point for us.
"When we played like this in the second division, it was mostly us who scored, kept the ball and passed it around, and we did not lose games like this.
"Now, against Everton we played well, also kept the ball and it did not seem that they might harm us. But then two chances came and two goals from them."
The Baggies lost 1-0 to Arsenal in their opening match and Bednar realises the pressure will soon build if things do not improve.
"So far nothing has been intense but we know we have to make some points in the next games," he explained. "I think we did not play bad in the first games, however, we did not win any points.
"The first game with Arsenal, okay, that does not count, but we are sorry for the defeat by Everton."
Bednar has started both games on the substitutes' bench and hopes to feature more heavily from now on.
He said: "The coach has been relying on a one-striker formation. But maybe he will be willing to know that we have lost two games with that tactic.
"We will see, I will keep on doing my best, work hard and try to score some more goals."
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