Liverpool vs Besiktas: Liverpool stare into the abyss

LIVERPOOL (AFP) – Rafael Benitez insists it will not be the end of the world if Liverpool are effectively eliminated from the Champions League following Tuesday’s encounter with Besiktas.It is not clear however if the Reds boss has tried telling that to the Anfield legions who have become accustomed to the EasyJet ride to European success serving as low-cost consolation for the club’s failure to seriously challenge Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea in the domestic arena.

Unlikely champions in Istanbul in 2005, Liverpool were the beaten finalists last season: Benitez’s problem is that two final appearances in his first three years in charge amount to a lot to live up to.

A single point from the opening three matches however means Liverpool have everything to do and, should Porto beat Marseille on Tuesday, they will find themselves in a position where even victory in their remaining three matches in group A might not be enough to guarantee them a place in the knockout stages.

Victory on Tuesday night has become imperative and Benitez is all too aware that anything less would have implications that could see his three-year reign at the club engulfed by a cocktail of financial and fan frustration.

Liverpool’s new American owners were willing to indulge the Spaniard’s desires when it came to stumping up nearly 100 million dollars for new players in the off season.

But with the costs of a planned new 75,000-seat stadium and British inflation rates spiralling upwards in familiar fashion, Benitez is enough of a realist to recognise that failure in Europe will have uncomfortable repercussions.

“We know that to win is important to us as a club and that it is important to the financial situation,” he said.

“But if you lose it is not the end of history. Okay, if you qualify and win more games then the plan will be easier because you have more money, but this competition is not a priority for money.

“The Americans are being very supportive. After all, when you prepare a plan it is not for one year, you prepare for several years. When we discussed these plans we were not talking about money, we were talking about the plans for the future and they are very pleased with the ideas.”

Despite watching his side labour to a goalless draw at Blackburn on Saturday, Benitez is confident of reversing Besiktas’s 2-1 victory when the two sides met in Turkey last month — as he should be given Liverpool’s profligacy on the night.

“We know the Besiktas game is really important but if you approach the game under pressure you will make mistakes,” he said. “We need to win but we must play with confidence.

“If we qualify it will be much easier with money, but our long-term plan doesn’t depend on this competition.”

Liverpool’s home defeat by Marseille last month was, by his own admission, the worst European display of his time in charge. But he remains convinced the situation can be turned around.

Benitez admitted: “Am I surprised that we are in this situation? No, in this competition if you make one mistake you can be in trouble and that has happened.

“Because of our past achievements, if we go out now people would say it is the end of something. But if we lose it is not the end of the world, and if we do the right things against Besiktas and win then we have the confidence to go forward and win again – we will have momentum.

“I am not going to drive myself crazy by thinking about the permutations – you can’t do anything about the other teams until you play them. But it is a time to believe.

“If we create the chances we did against Blackburn we will beat them.”

Besiktas were judged somewhat fortunate to have beaten Liverpool two weeks ago and the Turks will travel to Merseyside without a trio of first-choice players.

Defender Gokhan Zan is ruled out after tearing ligaments in his right foot in the weekend defeat by Fenerbahce while Chilean midfielder Rodrigo Tello, (ankle) and Brazilian striker Marcio Nobre (hamstring) are also sidelined.

Arsenal: Gilberto denies rift with Wenger

Arsenal midfielder Gilberto has denied a rift with manager Arsene Wenger over his recent exclusion from the side.The Brazilian has struggled to regain his place, with Mathieu Flamini in outstanding form, and some reports claimed he had refused to play in Wednesday’s Carling Cup win at Sheffield United – although he did in fact take the field.

Gilberto said in the Observer: ‘It was strange, this thing that I had a fight with Arsene.

‘I never did that. We have a mutual respect for each other and although I’m not happy to be on the bench, and he and everyone knows that, I always respect his decision about what he thinks is best for the team.

‘I’m being very professional, so I don’t understand how these things come out when we don’t have any problem. I’m not the kind of person who would refuse to play.’

The 31-year-old’s contract expires in 18 months and he is aware of interest from several major clubs, including Juventus, but will not make a decision on his future until next summer.

‘We’ll see at the end of the season what’s going to happen,’ he said.

‘But now I just play football and don’t think about what comes from outside.’

Paris Masters: Nalbandian crushes Nadal

PARIS(AFP) – David Nalbandian of Argentina handed out a tennis lesson to world No.2 Rafael Nadal to win his second straight Masters Series title here on Sunday.The Argentinian won at a canter 6-4, 6-0 taking nine games in a row from 3-4 down in the first set against an increasingly disillusioned-looking Spaniard, who has been struggling with his fitness since the summer.

It was Nalbandian’s second straight win in one of the Masters Series tournaments having defeated world No.1 Roger Federer in the final of the Madrid Masters last month.

He also defeated Federer in Paris at the third round (last 16) stage, but unless someone withdraws through injury he will not be able to compete in the Masters Series finals in Shanghai later this month.

The win in Paris hoists him to ninth in the ATP Masters Series race, but only eight players qualify.

“I played magnificently all week and in Madrid and I am so happy,” said Nalbandian, who has hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks after what had been for him a disappointing season.

In Madrid, he defeated the top three players in the world – Federer, Nadal and Djokovic and in Paris he once again despatched the top two – Federer and Nadal.

The former world No.3 lost only one set in Paris – to Spain’s David Ferrer in the quarter-finals.

Nalbandian admitted these two Masters Series triumphs in a row represented a high point in his career.

“I was injured the first part of the year,” Nalbandian said. “So it wasn’t very easy for me to come back and play good tennis.”

For Nadal, it was the end to a 25-match winning streak in Paris taking in three French Open titles and his four wins here to get to the final.

But he was gracious in defeat: “I wasn’t playing my best, and David played unbelievably.

“He is playing at 100 per cent all the time at the moment and is in great form after his win in Madrid. I congratulate David on a great tournament.”

Nadal will be seeded two behind Federer in Shanghai which starts on November 12.

‘I went to the cricket match like any other spectator’ : deepika Padukone

She has the look and attitude – qualifications required for apun ka pictures ka heroine. So, you know she is the daughter of tennis champ Prakash Padukone, has moved from Bangalore to Bombay to become the numero uno model.. and then yuppy-dedo parachuted into the movies, nixing more projects than you and I have toes and fingers.
 
Why? Because she was selected by Farah Khan to debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan – a role that was once being tipped for Priyanka Chopra.

Jo bhi hai, the striking looking Miss D P has consumed solid news column space because of her proximity – that sounds better than ‘closeness’, doesn’t it? – with Nihar Pandya. He’s said to be her pehla pehla pyaar and is a showbiz aspirant himself..

Then there were rumours about clubbing with Ranbir Kapoor. And then a joint decision was taken to stay apart till their different debut films release, on November 9. Aah, there’s a worth-investigating story of judaai here.

Really, who could have played the fuming Emperor Akbar to this potential Prince and the Showgirl love story? Not Sanjay Leela Bhansali hopefully, no no can’t be.. he doesn’t talk or look like Prithviraj Kapoor, any which way. He’s made a Hum Dil De Chuke Sonam, hasn’t he?

Then our Deepika jale kahin dil was linked – how much itihaas I’m giving you guys – with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, then Yuvraj Singh..

Believe me, I know she’s not the sort who’ll give me spicy dum aloo answers to questions at this point of her life and career. But as many journos say, “Poochhne me kya vaanda hai.” Bole to..

News is that Nihar Pandya will be accompanying you to the Om Shanti Om premiere in London.
(Pause) I wouldn’t know about this. But he was present at one of the Om Shanti Om events.

He was with your father.
He was there because Shah Rukh and Farah had invited him.

Ranbir Kapoor’s Saawariya is releasing on the same day as Om Shanti Om. Will you wish him luck?
I wish the entire team of Saawariya all the best. I think we have worked hard and so have they. But for me, my film is the most important thing in my life.. I believe we have made a fantastic movie.

Buzz is that you have invited Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the trial of Om Shanti Om.. when it happens.
I really haven’t thought of that. I went to the cricket match like any other spectator to cheer the entire team. I was watching a cricket match ‘live’ in the stadium after a very long time. If the team has the time to attend the trial show, I’ll definitely invite all of them.

Are you friendly with the entire team? Or only selected cricketers like Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh?
Well, I’ve met all of them. I also congratulated them since they’re doing a fantastic job as a team.

Since the last couple of months, you’ve been in the news for professional as well as personal reasons.
I’m completely used to that now. The kind of profession it is. Whoever opts to be a celebrity is bound to be in the public eye. Anything we do will be written and talked about. I’m prepared for that.

So you won’t mind being spotted with another actor?
Whether it’s going out with friends or acting in a certain movie, I’ll lead my life the way I want to.

Are you anxious.. or cool.. with eight days left for your debut movie?
Is that a question? I’m quite nervous and.. excited.

Have you seen the film?
No, not yet.

Are your parents happy with your decision of joining movies?
Obviously they are.

Are you recognised in public now?
Yes.. now I am.