Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has dismissed the importance of taking a four-point lead over Real Madrid in the La Liga title race.
Real dropped two points with a 1-1 draw at bottom side Almeria on Sunday and Barca took full advantage of their slip up, dispatching Malaga 4-1 at the Camp Nou.
But Guardiola, well aware that a similar stumble could come at any time for Barca, does not intend to let his players lower their intensity.
They (Real) dropped points today, but that could happen to us too, Guardiola said.
We could drop points at any ground; it could happen against Racing (Santander) next week or against Hercules.
There is a long, long way to go and four points is nothing because Madrid are a very strong team.
We still have to …
According to some reports this morning Arsenal are trying to convince former-keeper Jens Lehmann to return to the club on a short-term basis.
The 41 year-old retired last summer after a stint in the Bundesliga with Stuttgart.
Unbelievable
When I read this I couldn’t believe my eyes. The former-Germany keeper was past his best when he left Arsenal in 2008 so to bring him back in his forties is just ridiculous.
He is definitely set to spend the next six weeks with the Gunners working towards some of his coaching badges though.
I am in London and so far have heard nothing of such plans, but you never know, the veteran keeper told Bild am Sonntag. However Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is keen to utilise the keeper while he is available.
Clow…
Niko Kovac said he wants a 90-minute performance from Croatia after they edged past Malta 2-0 in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier.
Croatia were made to work against minnows Malta, despite having a numerical advantage after Steve Borg was sent off in the 31st minute of their Group H encounter in Zagreb on Tuesday.
The hosts failed to make any inroads during the first half and it was not until the 46th minute that the deadlock was broken by birthday boy Luka Modric.
Andrej Kramaric earning just his second cap sealed the points nine minutes from time in the Croatian capital.
While Kovac was satisfied with the win, the 42-year-old said he is hoping to see his side reduce their errors.
We met our target. We have three important points to start off qu…
Nottingham Forest have appointed former England boss Steve McClaren as their new manager, just a day after sacking Billy Davies.
McClaren returns to coach in his native England for the first time since leaving the England post in December 2007, having since managed Dutch club FC Twente and Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg.
The 50-year-old former Manchester United assistant tasted success at Twente by leading them to the Eredivisie title in 2009/10, but lasted just 21 games at Wolfsburg before he was sacked in February.
McClaren had been linked with the vacant Aston Villa post until owner Randy Lerner decided against his appointment, having been warned about a supporter backlash.
Forest who made the semi-finals of the Championship playoffs and fell to eventual…