Rodgers signs new contract at Liverpool
LONDON: Brendan Rodgers signed a new long-term contract as Liverpool manager on Monday, a reward for reviving the fortunes of one of England’s biggest clubs during his two years in charge at Anfield. The 41-year-old Northern Irishman has proved a perfect fit at Liverpool since taking over from Kenny Dalglish in the summer of 2012 and steered the team to an unexpected title challenge in the Premier League last season. The Reds came up short, finishing two points behind Manchester City in second place, but secured a return to the Champions League after a four-year absence and earned admiring glances for their vibrant, attacking style of play. It has prompted Liverpool’s American owners, Fenway Sports Group, to give Rodgers a fresh contract. “We’ll now move into the next phase,” Rodgers said. “We’re into the Champions League. Our dream and goal is to win the Premier League – that’s what we want to do. The objective for me was to try to get Liverpool established again as one of the leading clubs in European and domestic football and we’re on course for that. We’ll look to move forward again next season and over the coming seasons.” Exact details of the new contract were not disclosed. Rodgers, hired after Liverpool finished a lowly eighth in the 2011-12 season, has impressed in almost every facet of his job – on and away from the pitch. (AP)
Germany camp not a hospital, says Loew
ST MARTIN (Italy): Germany coach Joachim Loew on Monday dismissed reports his pre-World Cup camp resembled a hospital due to the number of injured players, including captain Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger, and said all would be fit “within days”. Lahm and keeper Manuel Neuer are recovering from injuries and have yet to start training, while playmaker Schweinsteiger and defender Marcel Schmelzer train alone at their northern Italy training camp. Holding midfielder Sami Khedira only recently returned to action after six months out injured. “(When you) see reports you would think that we are in a hospital here but that is not the case,” he told reporters in his first news conference since the team’s arrival in the Italian Alps for a 10-day camp last week. “The players are working very well and as it stands now I am very satisfied. Some are still injured and cannot fully train with the team but they are all training individually and I am very confident that it will work out.” Germany, drawn with Ghana, Portugal and the United States in Group G, are eager to end an 18-year title drought and Loew said all would be fit in time for the tournament starting in Brazil next month. “Philipp will start running tomorrow and then we have to see every day. We should not force it,” he said, adding that Neuer would continue receiving treatment for an injured shoulder. He said players like Lahm, Schweinsteiger and Neuer would not be affected too much if they missed a few days of training. “We assume that all of them will be fully fit within days,” said the 54-year-old, sipping an espresso. “That is what they are working on. According to our medical department these are all short-term injury and I see no problem.” (Reuters)
Baku gets Briatore’s vote of confidence
MONACO: Baku will be a big hit with Formula One when oil-rich Azerbaijan hosts a grand prix for the first time next year, according to Italian Flavio Briatore. The controversial and colourful former Benetton and Renault team boss, who has business interests in the Azeri capital and is close to Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, helped make the deal happen. “I have had a lot of friends there (in Baku) for many, many years and we hope it happens in 2015,” said Briatore, speaking to Reuters outside Ecclestone’s motorhome in the Monaco Grand Prix paddock at the weekend. “It’s very close to Europe, the city is amazing – it’s like a little Dubai. And more importantly, everything is new,” added Briatore, who left Formula One under a cloud in 2009 after a race-fixing scandal involving the previous year’s Singapore Grand Prix. “The heart of the town is renovated completely so you have the flavour of the old days and of the oil money. The hotels are amazing, the facilities for your guys is super. It’s very nice.” Ecclestone confirmed separately that an agreement had been signed for a street race in Baku next year. (Reuters)