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Posts Tagged ‘paolo-bandini’

• Six youths broke into stadium and dug holes in pitch
• Match expected to go ahead as scheduled after repair work

Uefa delegates will inspect the pitch at Napoli’s San Paolo stadium today after it was vandalised on Sunday. The Serie A side host Liverpool in the Europa League on Thursday.

A group of six youths broke into the stadium late in the afternoon before damaging both goals and digging as many as 50 small holes in the pitch.

Groundstaff have been working to repair the pitch since Monday morning, however, and Gazzetta dello Sport reports that it will be ready for Thursday’s game and that Liverpool are expected to train on the pitch tomorrow evening.

One of the vandals has been caught and identified, but as he is a minor was returned to his parents without charge. Police believe that the group were simply acting out without any greater motive, but others have suggested they may have been encouraged by groups of Napoli supporters unhappy with the club’s decision to raise ticket prices for the match.

“In my opinion this was not a simple act of vandalism,” said the Naples councillor responsible for sport, Alfred Ponticelli. “I don’t believe it was a coincidence that [Napoli] are playing Liverpool on Thursday,”

Europa LeagueNapoliLiverpoolPaolo Bandiniguardian.co.uk

• Gerrard says Hodgson’s appointment was ‘worth the wait’
• Captain has been linked with a move away from Liverpool

Steven Gerrard has praised Liverpool’s appointment of Roy Hodgson as their new manager, saying the club had appointed the “right man”.

“The club have made a good appointment in Roy Hodgson,” the captain told the Liverpool website. “[The former manager] Rafa [Benítez] left a few weeks ago and I know the club were determined to take their time and get the right man for the job.

“Roy is hugely experienced and I believe he is the right man for Liverpool. I think it’s been worth the wait and I’m sure he’s just keen now to get on with it and start to quickly put in place his plans for the new season.”

Gerrard’s future will be one of Hodgson’s most pressing concerns over the next few days, with the captain – along with other key players such as the midfielder Javier Mascherano and the striker Fernando Torres – having been linked with a move away from the club.

Roy HodgsonSteven GerrardLiverpoolPaolo Bandiniguardian.co.uk

The little big man is back! Yes, James Richardson returns to lead the Football Weekly team – that’s Messrs Ashdown, Ronay, and Duarte to you – in its latest battle with mediocrity (aka 6-0-6).

This week, having shown Manchester United a thing or two about free-flowing football, we’re asking whether Everton have the best midfield in the Premier League? Plus, after Manchester City and Liverpool played out the dullest game of the season, we assess the chances of Aston Villa or Tottenham Hotspur clinching that final Champions League spot.

Speaking of which, Chelsea travel to Internazionale this week for a special date with the Special One in Europe’s premier club competition. How will John Terry, Didier Drogba, and co fare against their former boss, José Mourinho? Paolo Bandini pops in to share his thoughts.

Finally, Sid Lowe tells us why Cristiano Ronaldo may or may not be, to quote the NME, a godlike genius (and if he is, what would Richard Dawkins have to say about it?)

Have a listen and post your feedback on the blog below. For more, we’re also on iTunes, Facebook, and Twitter, and if you enjoy this type of thing, get your daily dose of fooball with our tea-time email, The Fiver.

Apologies for all the coughing …

James RichardsonSid LoweBen GreenFernando DuarteJohn AshdownBarney RonayPaolo Bandini