soccer

Michel Platini: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Michel Platini Seeks  A Wintry 2022 World Cup

What he said (via BBC):

“If we play in winter, [it is] not a problem to organise it.”

UEFA Chief, Michel Platini, has the interests of soccer spectators at heart.

The 2022 World Cup awarded to Qatar will have temperatures of about 50 degrees Celsius if the tournament begins—as planned—in June.

Qatari officials have sought to alleviate reservations with promises of air-conditioned stadiums and cloud-seeding.

Platini would rather consider a workaround where the European season is modified to continue until June so that the World Cup is scheduled for winter when temperatures are cooler.

Speaking to Al Jazeera English, Platini said:

How can people go to Qatar in 50 degrees in June? If the people can’t come to enjoy it it’s not good. The people they come for three weeks or two weeks in 60 degrees and never go outside the hotel. So when is the best moment? It’s not a problem for players because they can be acclimatised and in hotels.

Platini, revealing  that he voted for Qatar, added:

I think it’s nice to go to another part of the world, with people who have never hosted the World Cup.I think it was a good decision but now we have to adapt to when and where the best moment is to play this World Cup in Qatar.

What Platini really meant:

“Why play Weather God when we can adapt our schedules to it? It’s surely more practical.”

What Platini definitely didn’t:

“I’m dreaming of a Snowy White World Cup.”

Diego Maradona: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Diego Maradona Has Unwelcome Medical Advice For Pele

What he said:

"It seems Pele took the wrong medication."

Diego Maradona takes issue with Pele’s remarks that Brazilian teenager, Neymar, is as good as Maradona or Lionel Messi.

In an interview with ‘Programa do Jô‘ on Globo, Pele said (via SambaFoot):

They talk about Maradona and Messi, but we have Neymar – he is a great talent to have.

Santos is a factory of stars, creating several players without spending anything. It is a lucky team.

Pele advised the Santos forward to become smarter and stronger on the pitch.

It’s not about fighting back, it is about learning to defend himself.

He is very skilled, he is the best player on the team, so of course will be marked. He has to learn to defend himself.

Maradona, reacting to Pele’s comments, said (via Times Of India):

Instead of taking his night pill, he took the morning pill. He got confused and didn’t know what he was talking about … I suggest next time he take the right pills before making any suggestions and that he should change his doctor.

What he really meant:

“If I’m not the greatest footballer ever, it must be Messi. Anything else is heresy.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I know exactly what to do about ‘foot-in-the-mouth’ syndrome. It’s my bete noire. ”

James Milner: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

James Milner Dare Not Be Yorked

What he said:

“I’d love to still play — but you can’t risk a yorker on the toe!”

Manchester City’s James Milner would love to play cricket again but dare not risk a broken toe.

The electric midfielder was a useful bat for Horsforth in the Airedale and Wharfedale League in Leeds.

Milner said:

I got a couple of hundreds for Horsforth, I’ve got a lot of friends there and I’d love to still play — but you can’t risk a yorker on the toe!

The most important thing for me now in summer is rest but I hope I’ll be able to go back to cricket again once I’ve finished playing football.

What he really meant:

“I’m a footballer—I put foot to ball.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“What’s a shattered toe or two? I could always be keeper.”

Baichung Bhutia: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Baichung Bhutia Takes Time Off To Pen His Sporting Views

What he said:

“I’d have been tending to my little children and new club instead of writing this.”

Baichung Bhutia comes out in support of the proposed National Sports Federation bill seeking restricted tenures for administrative heads.

Bhutia’s views were published by the Hindustan Times, the second article in a continuing eight-part series dissembling the issues tackled by the Sports Bill.

Bhutia wrote:

Fifa, despite allegations of corruption, is run more efficiently than sport in India. That means you can’t compare us and them where them also includes the IOC and its tradition of long-serving presidents. The truth is, 64 years after Independence, sport in India is not on the right track. And proof of that lies in the underwhelming international performance of a nation of over 1 billion people.
My point, therefore, is this: the current system of administration has failed and that means there’s something definitely wrong with it. There’s no point saying Brazil’s football isn’t run properly — well, they still win five World Cups and are expected to win one every time it comes along. If we won as many gold as China in Olympics — and they started participating regularly only in 1984 — or even 20 less than them, I’d have been tending to my little children and new club instead of writing this.

The Ajay Maken (India’s sports minister) sponsored bill has been opposed by both the Board For Cricket Control in India (BCCI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Bhutia added:

Why not restrict federation presidents to a maximum of 12-year terms and secretaries to eight? If you haven’t been able to make a difference in that time, chances are you never will.

And if you have been a game-changer, I am sure you will be asked to stay and contribute in some capacity even after your term’s over. Making tenures time-bound is also one way of increasing transparency and accountability because you can’t manipulate votes.

What he really meant:

“I care.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’m the retiring type, in every aspect.”

Giovanni Trapattoni: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t

Giovanni Trapattoni Plays Santa Claus, Cat in His Sack

What he said:

"The cat is in the sack, but the sack is not closed. The cat is in it, but it’s open – and it’s a wild cat."

Giovanni Trapattoni milks an overused metaphor for all its worth.

The Republic Of Ireland manager warned his players not to get too cocky following their 4-0 victory over Estonia in Tallinn.

Ireland take on Estonia at home for the second leg of the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Trapattoni said:

In my opinion, we deserved to win. Maybe we were helped after the first goal by the sending-off – at 11 v 10, we had more opportunities to score goals.

But we have to have respect for our opponents for what they have achieved in this qualification campaign.

At this moment, we are near qualifying at 4-0. But I repeat the same sentence: don’t jump the gun.

I have been many times at the edge of a cliff. I know these situations. I have been to many big tournaments and matches like this are what I call top level matches.

But it’s not necessarily important to achieve one objective, we have to focus on what comes next.

This is my law. I never look back, I always look forward.

What he really meant:

“To steal another metaphor: it’s not over until it’s over. Can you hear the fat lady sing?”

What he definitely didn’t:

“The Estonians are coming over with our tie (cat) gift-wrapped—in a sack.”

Giovanni Trapattoni: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Giovanni Trapattoni Doesn’t Count Cats Until They’re In The Sack

What he said:

“Be careful of the cat. Don’t say you have the cat in the sack when you don’t have the cat in the sack.”

Republic Of Ireland manager, Giovanni Trapattoni, warns his players not to take their up-coming game against Estonia lightly.

Ireland will take on their East European opponents in a two-legged playoff, first in Tallinn and then at home at the Aviva stadium.

What he really meant:

“In other words, don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched. I wish I had remembered this saying earlier.”

What he definitely didn’t say (but implied):

“I’d rather have a sacksful of goals.”

Sepp Blatter: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Sepp Blatter Intends to Shake The Apple Tree, Long and Hard

What he said:

"It takes time to shake the tree until all bad apples have fallen to the ground.”

FIFA chief, Sepp Blatter, promises to clean up soccer’s governing body in an open letter addressed to the readers of “Inside World Football”.

Blatter recently ordered the reopening of the ISL case where it is alleged that FIFA and Olympic officials accepted kickbacks on marketing contracts.

The FIFA boss was re-elected President unopposed when Bin Hammam was provisionally suspended by FIFA’s ethics committee in June this year.

This is Blatter’s fourth consecutive term at the helm of international football.

Blatter wrote:

It would be disingenuous of me not to acknowledge reality, and the fact that we have been fighting an uphill struggle to calm nerves, initiate urgently needed reforms and at the same time adhere to a sense of reason during the stormiest of times.
FIFA’s last 100 days were among the most difficult in it’s over 100-year history.

Blatter added:

“It takes time to shake the tree until all bad apples have fallen to the ground. Even if some of them refuse to fall at first.”

Blatter concluded, saying:

In brief: I have initiated relevant and powerful change without "ifs" and "whens".
FIFA remains committed to walking the walk and won’t get stuck in solely talking the talk. By December, this will become clear for all to see. Until then, I invite everybody to bear with us so that we can clean house and come back to the public with facts that allow FIFA to enter a new decade of doing business. And never again revert to doing "business as usual".

What he really meant:

“It seems some bad apples are coated with super-glue. We’ll have to shake very hard and long.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Am I not the apple of your eye? The largest and the tastiest.”

Diego Maradona: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Diego Maradona Recommends Comedy To Unsettled Fans

What he said:

“If you are scared then don’t come and watch. You can stay at home and watch a comedy on DVD. Football is passion and entertainment.”

Diego Maradona is as expressive with his words as he is with a football.

The Argentinean genius responds to criticism that the results he has achieved so far with his new employer—Al Wasl—are unsettling the team’s supporters.

Al Wasl is part of the 12-team UAE professional league.

Maradona signed a two-year contract with the Dubai team in May.

The league is just four years old and Al Wasl are yet to win a title.

Al Wasl were handed a 5-0 drubbing by Dubai Club in one of its warm-up games.

The club’s owners gave Maradona a vote of confidence in a public statement, “The season is long and this is just one match.We have full faith in our head coach who is working hard to develop a strong team that will be true contenders for the league title.”   

The club is more than satisfied with the the recruitment of the stocky No. 10 and its effect on the club’s international profile.

Club chairman Marwan bin Bayat spoke to Reuters:

There’s no doubt that ever since the appointment of Diego Maradona as head coach the name of Al Wasl has exploded on the worldwide radar.     
In four months our followers on Twitter grew from 50 to 1600 and we have received over 30000 visitors to our website which is a 300% increase.   

Maradona said:

If someone does not like me or has anything against me, it doesn’t really matter to me. I am with Al Wasl, I have a contract here and I will complete my contract to the last day. I will give my best at all times. After the 5-0 defeat, some people might think otherwise, but I don’t care about what they think. Al Wasl have probably one per cent the budget of Arsenal and they lost 8-2 the other day [to Manchester United].

What he really meant:

“You can either watch comedy on DVD or watch me  on the side-lines. Oh, I forget, one man’s comedy is another’s tragedy. Yes, I stick with my recommendation, ‘Stay home and watch comedy instead. I have the fans’ interests at heart’.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’m the next Danny De Vito. Why isn’t Hollywood coming calling yet? Do I have lose that mop of hair?”

Blackburn Rovers Gorge On Venky’s Chicken

Cristiano Ronaldo: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Cristiano Ronaldo Has It All

What he said:

"I think that because I am rich, handsome and a great player people are envious of me. I don’t have any other explanation."

Cristiano Ronaldo is a narcissist. The Portuguese striker reacts to being booed by Dinamo fans at Zagreb. Real Madrid triumphed 1-0.

What he really meant:

“Don’t Messi with me.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Modesty’s my middle name.”