Neil Lennon believes the clean sheet Celtic kept in their 1-0 win over Elfsborg at Parkhead on Wednesday night could be key to getting past the Swedish side in the second leg of their Champions League third qualifier
It was not a vintage performance from the Hoops who huffed and puffed for long spells against the organised and at times robust Swedish champions before a second-half header from Kris Commons gave them the advantage for the trip to Boras next week.
The Celtic boss said: "I am delighted with the performance and the result. They made it difficult for us to break them down but it was not frustrating, it was understandable.
"We weren't at our best but that was always going to be the case, there is still a bit of rust there. We still have a lot to do in the tie but we are confident.
"The crucial thing is clean sheet. That is important. If we score over there Elfsborg have got to have three.
"The tie is probably in the balance but we are confident that we can go there and get a result.
"The Astroturf might change things with the way I pick my team. But I was pleased with result. I would have taken 1-0 before the game."
Much of the attention was on Mo Bangura, who, as expected, took his place in the Elfsborg side against his parent club who had tried and failed to prevent the 24-year-old striker, on loan to the Swedes for one year, from playing in either of the ties.
Bangura was jeered each time he touched the ball but kept the Celtic defence occupied without causing material damage.
Lennon said: "I thought he did well, considering it was a thankless task. I thought Efe Ambrose and Kelvin Wilson played him very well."
Kris Commons' second-half header gave Celtic a 1-0 first-leg advantage over Swedish side Elfsborg in their Champions League third qualifier at Parkhead.
It was not a vintage performance from the Hoops who huffed and puffed for long spells against the organised and at times robust Swedish champions.
Both sides hit woodwork in an open and even first 45 minutes.
In the 20th minute Celtic wide-man James Forrest struck the crossbar with a volley which first bounced off the ground, following a whipped-in cross from Commons.
However, the visitors grew in confidence as the game went on and skipper Anders Svensson rattled the Celtic bar from 25 yards in the 31st minute, before heading over from a Stefan Ishizaki corner moments later.
Celtic had more of the play and possession in the second-half and got the breakthrough when Emilio Izaguirre planted a cross on to the head of the former Derby player who planted it past keeper Kevin Stuhr-Ellegaard.
Much of the attention was on Mo Bangura, who, as expected, took his place in the Elfsborg side against his parent club who had tried and failed to prevent the 24-year-old striker, on loan to the Swedes for one year, from playing in either of the ties.
Bangura was jeered each time he touched the ball but kept the Celtic defence occupied without causing material damage, although after getting stick from the home fans until he was substituted late in the game, he will be determined to do better next week.
After away victories at HJK Helsinki and Helsingborgs in last season's qualifiers, Celtic will travel to Sweden next week for the second-leg with added confidence although manager Neil Lennon will be looking for some improvement.
The players who travelled to Poland returned to training this Wednesday afternoon, while the players who didn't travel participated in their second session of the day
Training session (afternoon) 31/07/2013
All available first team players were present for this afternoon’s training session at the Ciutat Esportiva. This was only the second session – the first was on Monday afternoon – that saw nearly the entirety of the first team train under the guidance of Tata Martino. The only Barça B player to participate in this afternoon’s session was Bagnack.
Tello recovers
Cristian Tello missed this afternoon’s session as he’s recovering from a hamstring injury he sustained in yesterday’s match against Lechia Gdansk. The injury will prevent the forward from making an appearance against Santos on Friday.
The team will return to training on Thursday at 8.30, Neymar will hold a press conference after the session.
Manchester City beat AC Milan 5-3 in an explosive pre-season friendly in Munich in which all eight goals were scored in the first half.
City stormed into a 5-0 lead before conceding three times in the final eight minutes before the break, but the closest either side came to adding to the score in the second half was an Alvaro Negredo shot that struck the Milan crossbar 11 minutes from time.
The first half of this Audi Cup clash had been breathless, David Silva slotting home City's opener after just three minutes before two goals in four minutes from Micah Richards and Aleksandar Kolarov had them 3-0 up midway through the half.
City, fielding a stronger side than Milan and further on in their preparations, added a fourth in the 32nd minute when Edin Dzeko got the first of his brace, the second duly rattled in four minutes later when he scored a fine volley on the turn.
But just in case they thought it was all too easy, Milan then scored three in six minutes. Stephan El Shaaraway broke clear to get the first in the 37th minute and then stayed alert to score a second two minutes later when City stopped, waiting for a whistle that never came.
Andrea Petagna suggested a comeback was on when he made it 5-3 in the 42nd minute, but that would prove to be the final score.
Tests confirm that the player picked up a thigh injury during the match in Poland on Tuesday
The forward was subbed off for Joan Román on 22 minutes
Another look at the Lechia Gdansk- FCB friendly
Lechia Gdansk - FC Barcelona (2-2)
Cristian Tello will not feature in the Joan Gamper Trophy. Tests confirm that the player sustained a hamstring injury in yesterday’s match against Lechia Gdansk, which means he will not be available for selection against Santos on Friday. His recovery will mark his availability for upcoming matches, according to the Club’s Medical Services.
Discomfort and substitution
It’s worth noting that Tello noticed discomfort in his left hamstring on the 22nd minute of the match between FC Barcelona and Lechia Gdansk (2-2). He was subbed off for Joan Román, who played the rest of the match.
Last season Tello made 34 appearances for Barça, in which he scored 8 goals. He has featured in a total of 54 matches with the first team.
Calum Chambers has become the latest academy graduate to commit his future to Southampton, penning a new four-year deal at St Mary's.
James Ward-Prowse, Lloyd Isgrove, Jordan Turnbull and Jack Stephens have all signed new contracts during the past 12 months.
Highly-rated left-back Luke Shaw has also recently agreed a new deal and 18-year-old Chambers has now followed suit.
With the club since the age of seven, the England Under-19s international become an impressive right-back after starting in midfield.
Chambers has been heavily involved during pre-season and is now targeting a regular first-team berth.
"It's fantastic - it's like my dream, really," he told the club's official website, www.saintsfc.co.uk.
"I've been at the club since I was so young, so this is a great feeling. I've been here since I was seven and I've been treated really well so it means the world.
"The club has a great set-up and it's going through a really good time at the moment. There are going to be big things from Southampton in the future.
"I've always wanted to play for the first team at this club, and this is another step towards that."
Tottenham are closing in on the signing of Valencia striker Roberto Soldado, Press Association Sport understands.
The north London club's need for attacking reinforcements is well documented, as is their desire to bring in the 28-year-old Spain international.
Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas recently confirmed an interest in Soldado, and a deal is believed to be edging ever closer.
Valencia president Amadeo Salvo last week warned Tottenham that they will have to meet the 30million euros (£26million) buy-out clause if they are to prise him away from the Mestalla.
Salvo said at the time that the Primera Division club never had any intention of selling Soldado, but now appears resigned to losing him.
"The agreement with Tottenham is total," Salvo is quoted as saying at a restaurant in La Patacona by lasprovincias.es.
"A problem has arisen with the (player's) agents," he added. "(If it is resolved) he will go."
Soldado joined Valencia from Getafe three years ago and scored 24 goals in La Liga last season.
Gareth Bale has left Tottenham's training ground for the day after telling Andre Villas-Boas he wants to join Real Madrid.
Spurs are yet to comment on the world record bid of more than £85m lodged by Real several days ago and have not wavered publicly on their stance that the player is not for sale.
In the meantime, Bale spent around five hours at the club's north London training centre on Tuesday and underwent treatment on a muscle injury, departing shortly after 2pm.
And, according to Sky sources, the 24-year-old took the opportunity while there to reiterate his desire to leave for Spain.
Villas-Boas said at the weekend he was hopeful of having Bale fit for a friendly against Monaco this Saturday, but the concern now for Tottenham supporters is whether last season's double Player of the Year will be around for the start of the new season.
One former Spurs player, Jamie Redknapp, told Sky Sports' Football Season Preview show he believes it is now inevitable Bale will leave for Madrid, saying the club "always sells at the right price."
And Real's charm offensive continued on Tuesday when Sergio Ramos joined club captain Iker Casillas and director Zinedine Zidane in talking up a move.
Real's offer is understood to be for cash despite reports suggesting former Spurs midfielder Luka Modric, now at the Bernabeu, might form part of any deal.
Watching from the sidelines are Bale's former club Southampton, who are in line to pocket 2.5% of any transfer fee.
But that pales in comparison to the 15% sell-on they are believed to have agreed at the time of his 2007 move to White Hart Lane.
Southampton waived that clause at a time when they were in financial difficulty, instead receiving around £1.5m and goalkeeper Tommy Forecast, and now stand to earn just £2m as opposed to £13m if Real sign Bale.
Aston Villa's new left-back Antonio Luna believes he will settle into "complicated" English football quickly having moved from Spain.
The 22-year-old signed from Sevilla in June, spent pre-season getting up to speed in his new surroundings and is now eager to experience competitive action.
"Football here in England is very quick, very rapid. It's a complicated league," Luna, one of six summer signings by manager Paul Lambert, told avfc.co.uk.
"For my own view, regarding my skills, it's great that this league is fast.
"I still need to adapt to things, of course, and feel I am all the time, but I believe it's good for me as I feel I have the characteristics to play here.
"I think I have good athletic abilities - I am quick as a player and that is important in a division like the Barclays Premier League.
"It's one of the best leagues in the world and I can't wait for the season to begin.
"It is close now and I am really excited about that. I can't wait because it's a new experience for me."
Norwich winger Robert Snodgrass missed Tuesday night's friendly at Brighton due to a 'family issue', according to manager Chris Hughton.
The 25-year-old Scotland international has become an important player for the Canaries since joining from Leeds last year.
Such performances have seen Snodgrass linked with a summer move to West Ham but Hughton insists such speculation was not behind him missing the 1-1 draw with Brighton.
"It's very simple and I can set the record straight," he told BBC Radio Norfolk. "It's a family issue.
"He will be with us hopefully on Wednesday and certainly on Friday. It's very much a personal issue."
Stoke manager Mark Hughes expects to be without Brek Shea for 'a number of weeks' after the United States winger was injured during the 2-0 friendly win over Philadelphia Union.
Shea impressed during his first appearance under Hughes, setting up the opener for Michael Kightly before adding the second himself.
But his involvement was ended early by a challenge from Matt Kassel, with the club initially fearing the 23-year-old has suffered damage to the medial ligament in his left knee.
Shea will undergo a scan on the injury, but Hughes is expecting a lengthy lay-off.
The Welshman told Stoke City Player: "He will go for a scan tomorrow, but we know that we will definitely be without him for a number of weeks. It looks fairly serious but fingers crossed it isn't any more serious than we already know it is."
Hughes was also critical of Kassel's challenge.
He said: "I really have no idea what the lad was thinking about going in for the challenge like that.
"Maybe he was trying to make a name for himself - I have no idea. But whatever he was thinking it was totally wrong."
Ireland have appointed John Plumtree as their new forwards coach, with the Kiwi starting work in September.
Plumtree has been Natal Sharks head coach since 2008 and has won the Currie Cup twice with the South African side.
The 48-year-old previously coached Welsh club Swansea and Wellington Lions in New Zealand.
"Having watched a number of recent Test matches there are some really positive challenges in front of us," said Plumtree on Wednesday.
"I'm conscious of the responsibility we have and will be working hard to play my part in driving the team forward."
Plumtree coached Swansea to Welsh League success in 1998 and followed that up with Welsh Cup and Welsh-Scottish League triumphs.
He guided Wellington Lions to three play-off finals before moving to Natal Sharks, and was named South African Coach of the Year in 2012.
"It's great to have John joining us as part of the Irish coaching team," said Ireland coach Joe Schmidt.
"His proven success and broad experience across a number of competitions, along with his ability to provide quality direction, will add real value to the team."
The midfielder has said Vilanova's farewell was “one of the worst pieces of news in my career", but is pleased with the way things seem to going with Martino
Xavi Hernández has had a lot of changes to face up to since returning from his holiday, and spoke about them at his Wednesday lunchtime press conference. He described Tito Vilanova’s resignation as “one of the worst pieces of news of my career. It was very sad.”
Since Monday, Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino has been in charge of the first team. “Things have changed and now we need to adapt to the new coach” he observed. “He’s a serious person, hard-working and has a dynamic approach, with some tactical changes … But we are as eager as ever, and we’ll try to adapt to him as he will to us”.
Promising start
Despite the difficult circumstances, Xavi doesn’t sense any change in the famous Barça mentality. “The team is working hard, and we’re keen to continue making history” he said. “The mood is a good one. Tata Martino is able to get his winning spirit across.”
Still on the new coach, he added “he’s a humble, hard-working person, and he can adapt to anyone. He likes to check that we agree on everything.” As for what he believes the Argentinian’s priority should be, the midfielder suggested that “we need get back the intensity we started to lose unknowingly towards the end of last season.”
Neymar to make difference
Another change is the presence of a new world superstar in the squad. Xavi was asked to say a few words about Neymar, and responded that “he’s the kind of player who’s destined to make a difference. He can score and can upset the balance of games … He has to be himself, to show character and to do for us what he did in Brazil and for his national team.”
Meanwhile, Thiago Alcántara has departed. Xavi wishes his former team-mate luck at Bayern. "We’ll soon see whether he made a mistake or not. He’s an extraordinarily talented player who’ll do well wherever he goes. We’ve lost one of our future stars” he said, before going in to comment on the rumours about Cesc’s future at Barça: “He seems relaxed enough to me” said Xavi. “He’s working with the team and looks motivated, so there’s nothing else to be said on the matter.”
The mood is a good one. Tata Martino is able to get his winning spirit across
Neymar must show character and to do for us what he did in Brazil and for his national team
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says Luis Suarez understands the club's policy of rejecting bids for the striker.
Arsenal have had two offers turned down, including one of £40million plus £1 which they believed would trigger a sale clause.
With the summer transfer window closing at the end of August, the future of the Uruguayan remains uncertain with another month for the Gunners to consider increasing their bid or even for Real Madrid, reported to be interested, to make a move.
"The harmony in the group is very good. The spirit is strong. Right across the club there is a one club mentality" Brendan Rodgers
But Liverpool are digging their heels in, despite Suarez wanting to speak to Arsenal, with the 26-year-old fully involved in preparations for the new Premier League season that gets going on August 17.
"It's a story that can keep running but for me there is no new news," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.
"Luis is happy. He totally understands the club's point of view. He's in a difficult position in terms of not being able to play because of his suspension - he will sit out the first six games and he will miss playing football.
"But he's working hard and remains part of the group. He hasn't been moping about. It's obviously difficult when you come back after a break but he has settled in and has been working well.
"He needs to get up to speed and we will continue to work to get all the players ready for the first game of the season."
Suarez, who joined Liverpool from Ajax in January 2011, is banned for the first six games of the campaign but made his first appearance for Liverpool since biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic's arm last season in last week's 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory in Australia.
He has also been on Confederations Cup duty for Uruguay and Rodgers has insisted his group of players have not been affected by the transfer speculation surrounding one of their star players.
"It could have unsettled them but it hasn't," Rodgers added. "It says a lot about their professionalism: the environment that we're creating is that the star will always be the team.
"We want to have top players here but if for whatever reason we don't, we will always know we can rely on the team and each other.
"The harmony in the group is very good. The spirit is strong. Right across the club there is a one club mentality. If we can keep it that way we can have a great season."
Tottenham's Gareth Bale reported for training on Wednesday morning as speculation continues to mount on his future.
Spurs are remaining quiet on the world record bid of £86million that Sky Sports understands Real Madrid have made for the Welsh 24-year-old.
Although he was back at the training ground, a muscle injury, that forced him out the 6-0 pre-season friendly win against South China in Hong Kong on Saturday, will mean his physical activities may be restricted.
He is also unlikely to be involved in the weekend friendly against Monaco with the Premier League campaign kicking off on August 17.
Tottenham fans will be more concerned with the winger's availabilty for the new season and whether their star player, who scored 26 goals and was named PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year, will be heading to the Bernabeu.
It has been reported that Bale is keen on talking to Real representatives, while the Spanish club's director of football Zinedine Zidane believes the player should be given the opportunity to begin discussions.
Jamie Redknapp - a guest on Tuesday night's Football Season Preview show on Sky Sports - says the new offer made by the La Liga giants makes sense for Spurs and the player.
"Real Madrid are the biggest club in the world how can he turn it down?" said Redknapp. "I also believe Tottenham are a selling club, their history would suggest that. You go back to Michael Carrick, Modric Berbatov they do tend to sell.
"They always sell at the right price and I think there will be a conversation between Daniel Levy and Joe Lewis and I can only see one outcome - and that is he will be a Real Madrid player."
However, Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle feels it would be a mistake for Bale to make the move.
"It's a difficult one but if you're talking about the lad himself, I would definitely, if I was advising him, I would say he's not quite ready to go abroad," Hoddle told talkSPORT.
"I think he's had a sensational year, for him to pick the reins up in that form would be nigh-on impossible straight away. I don't feel he's quite ready off the pitch to make that move."
Former England and Totteham boss Hoddle warns Bale off Real
Former England and Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle feels it would be a mistake for Gareth Bale to join Real Madrid this summer, believing the Wales ace might not yet be ready to move abroad.
Madrid are reportedly willing to break the £80million world-record fee they paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 to take Bale to the Bernabeu.
Bale is said to be keen to speak to Madrid, although Spurs have insisted the 24-year-old, who signed a new four-year contract at White Hart Lane in June 2012, is not for sale.
Hoddle concedes there's a "price on everyone's head in football" but he feels Bale would be best served staying with Tottenham for now and building on his remarkable 2012/13 campaign which saw him named player of the year by the Professional Footballers' Association and the Football Writers' Association.
Hoddle told talkSPORT: "It's a difficult one but if you're talking about the lad himself, I would definitely, if I was advising him, I would say he's not quite ready to go abroad.
"I think he's had a sensational year, for him to pick the reins up in that form would be nigh-on impossible straight away. I don't feel he's quite ready off the pitch to make that move."
Hoddle, who knows what it is like to leave Spurs and move abroad after swapping the north London side for Monaco in 1987, added: "It's one thing setting a standard, it's keeping the standard which is the hardest thing, the consistency.
"My word how consistent he's been, he's been nine out of 10 every game, some of the goals he's scored have been sensational.
"That's what people want to see in football, they pay good money and a lot of money nowadays to go and Real Madrid's fans will be purring at the thought of having possibly him and Ronaldo in the same team. They can go back and challenge the world again.
"When you go abroad the first four, five, six months could be difficult for him to regain that form and if his family are not with him 100 per cent all those things come into it.
There were plenty of incidents in the Lechia Gdansk v FC Barcelona match on Tuesday night, including two goals for each side and Neymar making his debut.
Professional Footballers Association chief executive Gordon Taylor wants modern football to show money is not its sole driving force, as he fears the game is in danger of "losing its soul".
Three days out from the start of the new season but after a summer of more international disappointment - England's three teams at international tournaments all flopped - Taylor has raised concerns that football may have its priorities wrong.
Taylor was speaking after visiting former player Gary Parkinson, who is recovering from a stroke, and he claimed the ex-Middlesbrough man's plight had made him think about what is important in football.
"He had a bad stroke, I saw the way his family had looked after him and the way football responded," Taylor told talkSPORT.
"It is about that. I was making the point that I don't want people thinking it's all about money, where money is the only gauge of success.
"I think the game is in danger of losing its soul because I think about youngsters playing football, having the facilities, aspiring to be like heroes and we're not working hard enough on that."
With England's Under-20 and Under-21 sides returning home from their respective tournaments with little to shout about, several questions have again been asked as to why the Three Lions continue to fail on the big stage.
Taylor did not blame the players and cited a need for a change in approach at club level in order to achieve in the future.
"There is so much demand for instant success, instant teams, and from that point of view no great stability. Without that, how are you going to develop players?" he added.
"It's the patience you need to put a youngster in, take him out, put him in for a bit longer. You can't expect youngsters at 17, 18, 19 to stay there, they will burn out."
The ten first team players that didn't travel to Poland, plus Pinto and Oier, trained this morning under Tata Martino
There were twelve first team players at Wednesday morning’s training session. These were the ten available players that didn’t go on the trip to Poland, namely Valdés, Alves, Alba, Piqué, Mascherano, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc and Pedro, and also the goalkeepers Pinto and Oier, who played a half each of the 2-2 draw on Tuesday night in Gdansk.
The session at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper was overseen by Tata Martino. Barça have another training session this evening, at which the same set of players will be joined by the ones who featured in the third game of the preseason.
The Brazilian made his debut in the FC Barcelona strip in the match that saw Barça draw two-all away to Lechia Gdansk
Sergi Roberto, who scored Barça's first goal, said: "I have to keep working so that the manager continues to have confidence in me"
Lechia Gdansk - FC Barcelona (2-2)
Neymar's FC Barcelona debut
Neymar Junior played his first minutes as an FC Barcelona player this Tuesday. The Brazilian was subbed in for Alexis on the 78th minute in the match that saw Tata Martino’s men draw two-all against Lechia Gdansk. When asked about Barça’s new manager, Neymar said, “I had the chance to speak with him, he told me that he has confidence in me,” and he added that he needs some time to reach top physical condition. Neymar started training on Monday with the rest of the internationals who participated in the Confederations Cup.
In Gdansk it wasn’t possible to see him play alongside Messi, but Neymar didn’t miss the chance to talk about his Argentinian team-mate: “Messi is my idol, I’m very pleased that I get the chance to play with him.” Finally, the Brazilian talked about the upcoming Joan Gamper Trophy, which is scheduled for this Friday against Santos: “It will be a bit strange, but now I defend Barça’s colours and I’ll give it my all.”
Sergi Roberto is eager to improve
Sergi Roberto was one of the most active players against Lechia Gdansk. The midfielder scored Barça’s first goal and he put in a great performance. After the match he declared: “I have to keep on helping the team so that the manager continues to have confidence in me.” When asked specifically about Martino, Sergi Roberto explained: “We’ve only been able to speak with him for one day, but he gave us a good first impression.”
Manchester United group managing director Richard Arnold believes the manner of this summer's handover of power at Old Trafford underlines the Red Devils' inherent stability.
Not only has Sir Alex Ferguson left his position after 26 years, chief executive David Gill has stood aside as well 11 years after succeeding Peter Kenyon.
Yet there was no power vacuum. For Arnold and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward have divided up Gill's responsibilities between them.
And a day after Ferguson's exit was confirmed, which itself came on the morning following the first rumours of an impending departure, David Moyes was installed as his fellow Scot's successor.
"To go through the succession we have been through represents a big change," Arnold told Press Association Sport. "The way the transition was achieved characterises how well the club has been run by David and Sir Alex."
Shirt sponsors Aon, experts in risk management, were asked for their input into what, in Ferguson's case at any rate, was one of the riskiest decisions United have had to make for a quarter of a century.
In the end, it was decided to go with the Scot's own belief Moyes was best suited to the role.
"The man widely accredited as having the best judgement in football had a long period of time to think about the inheritance he was passing on," said Arnold.
"He wanted to make sure the squad was in the right shape and the timing was done from a position of strength. That is exactly where the club is.
"When you look at the preparation that went into that and the position Sir Alex put himself in to make that transition, as an example of how to prepare, even down to how we managed the communication around it, it was an exemplary job."
