Pick of the week
Friday 30 October 2009
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Saluting Kostas Katsouranis, Javier Zanetti, SL Benfica and AD Alcorcón before settling down for Sunday roast with Arsène Wenger, uefa.com picks the choicest cuts from the week's European football stories.
Player: Kostas Katsouranis (Panathinaikos FC)
Djibril Cissé may have been billed as Panathinaikos's star summer signing but Kostas Katsouranis – who arrived from SL Benfica – has proved their main source of goals with six in seven games, not bad for a holding midfielder. He claimed both in the 2-1 defeat of PAOK FC on Sunday that kept Panathinaikos joint top of the Greek Super League, clinching the win with a powerful volley to complete a fine team move.
Team: SL Benfica
Benfica moved to the top of the Portuguese Liga with a 6-1 defeat of CD Nacional on Monday, their seventh victory in a row. That run has also included scorelines of 8-1, 4-0 and 5-0, not to mention last week's UEFA Europa League victory against Everton where the Eagles hit five without reply. "I know the supporters are thrilled, but it is important to keep our feet on the ground," said coach Jorge Jesus. "Spectacular wins only give us three points."
Goal: Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal FC)
Arsenal always showcase some of their brightest up-and-coming talent in the English League Cup and if Wednesday's home tie against Liverpool FC is anything to go by, fans of the north London club can look forward to a future of yet more easy-on-the-eye football. Bendtner may have scored the winner in a 2-1 victory, but it was truly a team goal with the young Gunners going the length of the pitch via slick one-touch play with almost all their outfield players involved, before the Danish international turned in the box and fired high into the net.
Quote: Alejandro Domínguez (FC Rubin Kazan)
"Latins are very different to Russians. Our lifestyle is completely different. For example, people here say whistling brings bad luck, so if they catch you whistling in a lift or in the supermarket, they ask you to stop. It was very weird for me, and hard to adjust to stop whistling."
Cup upset: AD Alcorcón 4-0 Real Madrid CF
"There's no reason or explanation for how the team performed, we hope our fans can forgive us," was Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini's reaction after Tuesday night's Copa del Rey round of 32 first-leg loss at third-tier side Alcorcón. The home side were 3-0 up at half-time in their debut encounter with top-flight opposition, whose ranks included Raúl González, Karim Benzema, Rafael van der Vaart and Lassana Diarra.
Hero worship: Karim Benzema (Ronaldo)
Since first coming to the world's attention with Olympique Lyonnais Benzema has named only one man as his idol – a predecessor of his at Madrid, former Brazil striker Ronaldo. This week the club brought the pair together at the Santiago Bernabéu, and the usually confident Benzema said: "I'm speechless," before bowing his head in silence. A visibly moved Benzema eventually added: "I've watched his games since I was 12 or 13. I've seen everything he has done on a pitch but I'm not to be compared with him. He is above everyone."
Goalkeeper: Vladimir Bushma (FC Torpedo Zhodino)
On Sunday Zhodino drew 0-0 at FC Dinamo Minsk, aided by a 31st-minute penalty save from Torpedo goalkeeper Vladimir Bushma. Not bad, considering that Sergei Kislyak was the fourth player in a row to fail to beat Bushma from the spot. Not to be outdone, goalkeeper Brad Guzan saved four penalties in Aston Villa FC's League Cup win over AFC Sunderland on Wednesday, one at the end of the second half and three more in a penalty shoot-out after a 0-0 draw.
Stalwart: Javier Zanetti (FC Internazionale Milano)
On Thursday Zanetti moved ahead of Giacinto Facchetti in second place in Inter's all-time appearances standings with 477 Serie A matches. The game against US Città di Palermo was the Argentinian's 140th top-flight fixture in a row, a run lasting fully three years. José Mourinho said the 36-year-old was "impossible to rest" while the workaholic Zanetti admitted: "I even trained before my wedding. My wife Paula was not so happy about that."
Music lover: Dick Advocaat (Belgium)
New Belgium coach Dick Advocaat, nicknamed the 'Little General' in reference to his mentor Rinus Michels, has always had a stern image, but on Dutch television programme Holland Sport, he revealed a softer side. "Music also inspires me," Advocaat explained. "Bee Gees, Kenny Rogers, Michael Bolton, Golden Earring* and Cliff Richard are great artists." A moment on his departure from FC Zenit St. Petersburg reduced him to tears. "They played Simply The Best** by Tina Turner," Advocaat said, adding that national anthems also move him, even if not performed by the Brothers Gibb or the former Harry Webb.
Gourmet: Arsène Wenger (Arsenal FC)
The Arsenal manager, who turned 60 last week, has revealed his recipe for making it in William Blake's green and pleasant land, the very Arcadia, this England – la cuisine anglaise. "My secret is adapting to the country I am in," he said. "Here I eat roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. There are people who visit different countries and don't adapt. It is a must."
*Dutch band in their 38th year
**Actually entitled The Best, pedantry fans
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