I've been honored to have this interview with Armfootball.com, which is an Armenian sports website, and here is a link to the interview which is in Armenian:
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Monday, December 24, 2012
Benitez's little helpers give Chelsea a Magic Eight
After three consecutive draws at Stamford Bridge, Rafa Benitez got his first Premier League win at home since taking charge at Chelsea as his side gave Aston Villa a pre-Christmas stuffing on Sunday.
Fernando Torres, David Luiz, Branislav Ivanovic, Frank Lampard, Ramires, Oscar and Eden Hazard all got on the scoresheet in the rout to give Chelsea fans a sprinkling of festive joy following their Club World Cup final defeat earlier this month.
Benitez's side are now 11 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United with a game in hand, and will be looking to close the gap over the busy Christmas schedule.
Bad Santa Mourinho leaves Casillas out in the cold
In just the latest in a long list of controversies, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho chose to drop Iker Casillas from his side to face Malaga on Saturday.
The pair have a notoriously frosty relationship, and the Portuguese boss' plan spectacularly back-fired, with los Blancos going down to a 3-2 defeat in Andalusia to leave his side a whopping 16 points behind Barcelona in La Liga.
Mourinho has been heavily linked with a departure from the Bernabeu at the end of the season, and may have sealed his own fate with his latest headline-grabbing mishap.
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Saturday, December 22, 2012
Ronaldo gets dream date with Sir Alex Ferguson as Real Madrid draw Manchester United
The draw for the last 16 of the Champions League has been made and thrown up some cracking ties, not least the pairing of Real Madrid and Manchester United.
Not only will the tie see Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho clash once again, it will also mean a return to Old Trafford for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese, who left the Theatre of Dreams in 2009 for a mere £80 million, has already revealed how much he enjoyed his time in Manchester working with Sir Alex and now Ronaldo will get the chance to meet up with his former boss once again.
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Not only will the tie see Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho clash once again, it will also mean a return to Old Trafford for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese, who left the Theatre of Dreams in 2009 for a mere £80 million, has already revealed how much he enjoyed his time in Manchester working with Sir Alex and now Ronaldo will get the chance to meet up with his former boss once again.
Walcott left out of Arsenal's future five
Arsenal made a show of announcing new contracts for five of their brightest young talents on Wednesday - but the one who everyone was waiting for was not among them.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson all put pen to paper on bumper five-year deals at Emirates Stadium, as Goal.com had exclusively revealed on Monday.
But Theo Walcott, whose current agreement is set to expire in the summer, has long been at loggerheads with the club over an extension, with his desire to play as a centre-forward proving a serious obstacle.
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Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Christmas comes early for Sneijder & Santa
Christmas has come early in Wesley Sneijder's household as the midfielder has been sent on a premature festive break by Inter.
A short statement from Inter on Tuesday confirmed the following: "It was the last training session of 2012 at the Angelo Moratti centre for Philippe Coutinho and Wesley Sneijder today.
"The two players, at the behest of the club and head coach Andrea Stramaccioni, will rejoin their families for Christmas from tomorrow."
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Club World Cup champions Corinthians deliver Benitez knockout blow
Just when it appeared Rafa Benitez might be on the verge of receiving some goodwill from Chelsea fans, Corinthians spoil the party.
The Blues romped into the Club World Cup final with a convincing 3-1 victory over Monterrey.
But Benitez and his charges came unstuck against the Brazilian outfit, who won the competition by knocking out the Stamford Bridge side with a single Paolo Guerrero goal.
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Monday, December 17, 2012
Rooney and Van Persie have the Premier League at their mercy
Manchester United maintained their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 victory over Sunderland on Saturday, and once again, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie were on hand to fire their team to victory.
The Dutchman grabbed his 12th league goal of the season to open the scoring at Old Trafford, and strike partner Rooney was not far behind with his seventh of the campaign.
Now having disposed of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and arch-rivals Manchester City already this year, the gigantic partnership of Rooney and Van Persie has the Premier League scurrying for cover...
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Saturday, December 15, 2012
Wenger & Bould display united front as press hounds demand answers
Arsene Wenger's long reign at Arsenal hit what was arguably its lowest point on Tuesday when the Gunners were knocked out of the Capital One Cup by League Two side Bradford City.
The defeat led to renewed questions regarding the relationship between Wenger and his new assistant, Steve Bould. Reports claimed a rift between the duo, with Bould's separate defensive training sessions supposedly having been stopped.
Wenger, though, denied the accusations when he faced the press in the wake of Arsenal's elimination and insists that he and Bould are part of a "united staff".
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The defeat led to renewed questions regarding the relationship between Wenger and his new assistant, Steve Bould. Reports claimed a rift between the duo, with Bould's separate defensive training sessions supposedly having been stopped.
Wenger, though, denied the accusations when he faced the press in the wake of Arsenal's elimination and insists that he and Bould are part of a "united staff".
Friday, December 14, 2012
Chelsea prepare for 'football party' at Club World Cup against Corinthians
The boos from Chelsea fans aimed at Rafa Benitez may not have been completely silenced by the Stamford Bridge club's convincing win over Monterrey on Thursday.
But on the pitch at least, the mood was visibly lifted as Juan Mata opened the scoring, while Fernando Torres was also on target and David Luiz dominated the midfield.
And Mata summed up the atmosphere best after the game as he looked ahead to the Club World Cup final clash with Corinthians.
"We have confidence about winning but we know Corinthians are one of the best teams in South America," he said.
"It will be a football party and hopefully we will win."
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But on the pitch at least, the mood was visibly lifted as Juan Mata opened the scoring, while Fernando Torres was also on target and David Luiz dominated the midfield.
And Mata summed up the atmosphere best after the game as he looked ahead to the Club World Cup final clash with Corinthians.
"We have confidence about winning but we know Corinthians are one of the best teams in South America," he said.
"It will be a football party and hopefully we will win."
David Luiz shows Gary Neville how to play the game
David Luiz was once described by Gary Neville as looking like a Playstation character controlled by a 10-year-old.
But the Brazilian looked far from the liability he has been labelled to be in the Club World Cup victory over Monterrey, patrolling the Chelsea midfield for over an hour before being replaced by Frank Lampard.
And, prior to the game, the 25-year-old made it clear he was able to take criticism on the chin and move on.
“When you experience difficult moments, I know I’m strong enough to change things and move on," Luiz said.
“I know my personality and what it’s taken to get me here at Chelsea. It’s just another moment to be strong.”
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But the Brazilian looked far from the liability he has been labelled to be in the Club World Cup victory over Monterrey, patrolling the Chelsea midfield for over an hour before being replaced by Frank Lampard.
And, prior to the game, the 25-year-old made it clear he was able to take criticism on the chin and move on.
“When you experience difficult moments, I know I’m strong enough to change things and move on," Luiz said.
“I know my personality and what it’s taken to get me here at Chelsea. It’s just another moment to be strong.”
Wenger on thin ice after Arsenal defeat to Bradford
Ahead of Arsenal's trip to Bradford City in the Capital One Cup, the oft-derided tournament was starting look like the Gunners' best chance of ending their long wait for a trophy.
Indeed on paper, Arsene Wenger's side looked to have the pick of the ties having being drawn to face the League Two side in the quarter-finals of the competition.
The Frenchman even picked a strong team for the match, yet that did not matter to Bradford. The League Two side almost won the game in 90 minutes, before Thomas Vermaelen popped up with a late equaliser to take the game to extra-time
However, Bradford were not to be denied and took the Gunners all the way to penalties before beating them in the shoot-out to dump them out of the competition and leave under-pressure Wenger on thin ice at Arsenal.
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Indeed on paper, Arsene Wenger's side looked to have the pick of the ties having being drawn to face the League Two side in the quarter-finals of the competition.
The Frenchman even picked a strong team for the match, yet that did not matter to Bradford. The League Two side almost won the game in 90 minutes, before Thomas Vermaelen popped up with a late equaliser to take the game to extra-time
However, Bradford were not to be denied and took the Gunners all the way to penalties before beating them in the shoot-out to dump them out of the competition and leave under-pressure Wenger on thin ice at Arsenal.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Bonucci, Sergio Busquets' horrible student
Juventus striker, on loan from Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner mocked his teammate Leonardo Bonucci, after the later tried to playfully dive, in order to get a penalty.
It seems that Bonucci was a failure to learn scuba diving ...
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Balotelli made to work for Manchester City stay
Mario Balotelli frustrated many in Manchester City's derby defeat against arch rivals Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
The Italian striker has just the rest of December to prove himself to chiefs at the Etihad Stadium, with AC Milan waiting in the wings to swoop for him if he cannot impress.
Roberto Mancini has regularly stood by his compatriot, but is he now facing a losing battle to help the 22-year-old become one of the game's most feared strikers?
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Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Invisible man Samir Nasri's hole in the wall costs Manchester City the derby
Manchester City's unbeaten start to the Premier League season came crashing to an end with a 3-2 home defeat at the hands of arch rivals Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
The champions looked to have hauled themselves back into the game at 2-2, having initially trailed following Wayne Rooney's first-half double, before Robin van Persie's free-kick took a killer deflection off Samir Nasri in the City wall and slipped beyond the reach of Joe Hart into the back of the net.
Manager Roberto Mancini was far from happy, stating: "We made a mistake and only put three players there. Actually we had only had two-and-a-half players there."
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Sunday, December 9, 2012
Sir Alex, Mancini & Platt star in Mancbeth
By George Ankers
ACT I, SCENE I. A mysterious heath.
Thunder and lightning. A sofa. A familiar theme tune. Enter three witches.
ALAN, THE FIRST WITCH: When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning or in rain?
GARY, THE SECOND WITCH: It'll be next Saturday at 22.35GMT, Alan, same as usual. You're contractually obliged.
ALAN, THE THIRD WITCH: A drum, a drum! Mancbini doth come. He's come right up to us and he'll be happy with that.
Enter Roberto Mancbini and his loyal friend, Plattquo.
MANCBINI: So foul and fair a day I have not seen. Not since Lady Macbalo set off a firework in the dressing room, anyway...
PLATTQUO: Yes, boss. (GASPS.) What are these, so wither'd and so bland in their attire, that speak not like inhabitants o' the television and yet are on't?
MANCBINI: Speak, if you can: What are you?
SECOND WITCH: Hail, Mancbini! Hail to thee, Thane of Premis!
FIRST WITCH: Hail. Pace. Power. Commitment.
THIRD WITCH: Hail, Mancbini, thou shalt be king in Manchester hereafter! I can't see anyone beating you on this form.
PLATTQUO: Of what do you speak, ladies?
SECOND WITCH: Mancbini, thou hast glory'd thyself in bloody battle. Brave Mancbini, for well thee deserveth the name, thou hast led thy men to victory of six to one at thy enemy's castle.
THIRD WITCH: Thou couldst say that the key was how you scored more goals then they did.
SECOND WITCH: Yet now Ferguson, King of Manchester, bringeth his host to thy gates. Forsooth, the hour of thy crowning is come.
MANCBINI: No, no ... Ferguson, he is the King. The fates favour them.
FIRST WITCH: The King relieth too greatly on his young sons and retainers. Thou shalt not be victorious with babes.
MANCBINI: No. For us it is too difficult, I think.
THIRD WITCH: Etihad Castle is a hard place to go and get a result. I can't look past you.
MANCBINI: We have no chance.
PLATTQUO: Ladies, thine efforts are for naught. I hath cajol'd the boss for hours. He is stubborn.
SECOND WITCH: Brave Mancbini, witness our spell and be convinced.
The CAULDRON comes alight.
SECOND WITCH: Double, double, toil and trouble.
FIRST WITCH: Pace, power, leadership and commitment.
THIRD WITCH: Er ... suppose you've some kind of small amphibian. It's like a lizard, I guess, but ... not. I haven't really looked it up, to be honest. And there's this sort of circular ball in its face that it uses to see things...
The CAULDRON bubbles furiously, billowing smoke into the night sky.
SECOND WITCH: What dost thou see, brave Mancbini?
MANCBINI: Mine own visage in the smoke! Wherefore dost thou show me this?
FIRST WITCH: Look on.
MANCBINI: On mine head ... the crown of Manchester's King! It is taken from Ferguson to me! How canst this be? They art above us in the statisticians' reckonings.
SECOND WITCH: Forsooth, he shall not linger much longer over his domain.
MANCBINI: I must needs kill the King?
SECOND WITCH: Ay! Speaketh not in terms so literal. Don't go giving Lady Macbalo any ideas.
FIRST WITCH: Thy midfield is miles ahead, that's all.
The Witches vanish. MANISH, THE FOURTH WITCH tries to jump out from behind a tree with a Tupperware cauldron and CLARIDGE, THE BLACK CAT perched on his shoulder but MANCBINI and PLATTQUO exeunt with haste.
MANCBINI: King of Manchester! This I like...
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Friday, December 7, 2012
Drogba brings the bling as Chelsea embark on Europa outing
Chelsea's Champions League defence may have already ended, but for those who succeeded in the competition last season, there are still some benefits to be reaped from their victory over Bayern Munich.
Club legend Didier Drogba, who left Stamford Bridge last summer for Shanghai Shenhua, made sure his team-mates would never forget that night in Munich back in May by bestowing specially made rings upon all those involved in the triumph.
However, for Rafa Benitez, it is just a stark reminder of the club's failings in this year's tournament, and the Europa League campaign that awaits...
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Club legend Didier Drogba, who left Stamford Bridge last summer for Shanghai Shenhua, made sure his team-mates would never forget that night in Munich back in May by bestowing specially made rings upon all those involved in the triumph.
However, for Rafa Benitez, it is just a stark reminder of the club's failings in this year's tournament, and the Europa League campaign that awaits...
'Worth the Mona Lisa' - Raiola paints pretty Balotelli picture
He may have yet to reach his potential at Manchester City, but Mario Balotelli continues to be linked with Europe's top sides, with Milan firming up their interest in the 22-year-old.
Rossoneri boss Massimiliano Allegri hinted at a January move for the striker on Tuesday, hailing the Italy international's "extraordinary physical and technical qualities".
However, the player's agent, Mino Raiola, has reiterated that Balotelli will not be leaving the Etihad Stadium, before insisting his client would cost "as much as the Mona Lisa"...
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Rossoneri boss Massimiliano Allegri hinted at a January move for the striker on Tuesday, hailing the Italy international's "extraordinary physical and technical qualities".
However, the player's agent, Mino Raiola, has reiterated that Balotelli will not be leaving the Etihad Stadium, before insisting his client would cost "as much as the Mona Lisa"...
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Manchester City's European hopes go up in smoke again
Having already crashed out of the Champions League, Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund capped another dismal campaign for Manchester City in Europe.
The loss at Signal Iduna Park resulted in Roberto Mancini's side finishing bottom of Group D, and in turn saw them miss out on the consolation prize of Europa League football.
Now, with only domestic matters to concern them for the remainder of the season, the Premier League champions can forget about a continental adventure for another year...
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