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On Friday, the English press writes about mutual interest between "Chelsea" and "Juventus", "Arsenal" striker search at Real Madrid club, negative impact of "Man Utd" saving policy on players and staff, upcoming FA conversation with Martin O`Neill, and "Hearts" problems with SFA, as well as other failures, scandals, and unsuccessful deals in English football leagues.
"Chelsea" wants to acquire Swedish Zlatan Ibrahimović, who plays for "Juventus". ("Daily Express")
Some "Man Utd" players and staff were disappointed to have to pay for League Cup final tickets, as the team is trying to reduce expenses. ("The Guardian")
In the summer, "Chelsea", "Tottenham", "Arsenal" and "Newcastle" may try to attract Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres, but the Spanish star wants to stay loyal to his club. ("The Guardian")
Gary Breen of Sunderland has lost the captain's armband and may leave the team in the summer. ("Daily Star")
Jason Roberts is ready to sign a four-year contract with "Wigan". ("Daily Star")
"Birmingham" and "West Brom", facing relegation from the Premier League, requested that "West Ham" put up a strong lineup against "Portsmouth" on Saturday. The Hammers will have to play three matches in six days. ("Daily Express")
AC Milan continues to show interest in "Chelsea" player Hernan Crespo, but does not intend to let Andriy Shevchenko move to Stamford Bridge. ("The Sun")
Nolberto Solano decided to help the Peru national team and may face troubles at Newcastle. ("The Sun")
Former Leeds and Middlesbrough striker Noel Whelan successfully overcame addiction in a clinic and moved to Livingston. ("Daily Mail")
Tottenham intends to acquire Mallorca striker Juan Fernando Arango and Juventus defender Jonathan Zebina. ("Daily Mirror")
Man Utd has started negotiations with Warsaw's Legia team to acquire goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. ("Daily Mirror")
In the summer, Arsenal will again try to sign striker Julio Baptista for £10 million - this time from Real Madrid. ("Daily Star")
Crystal Palace striker Andy Johnson mentioned being flattered by Everton's interest in him but would like to stay at Selhurst Park. ("Daily Express")
On Monday, the SFA committee plans to consider Hearts coach Graham Rix. ("Daily Record")
A tour of the England national team mansion (BBC correspondent James Pearce's report) The England national team's apartments at the Schloss Hotel in Buhlerhohe captivate with their charm. The five-star hotel is located in the town of Baden - in a mountainous area on the edge of the Black Forest, offering a unique landscape view. It is almost as impressive as the list of former guests, not forgetting such well-known and influential political figures as Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, and Kofi Annan. In these quarters, Boris Becker and Oliver Kahn exchanged golden rings with their partners, although neither of their marriages were successful. The England national team hopes for better luck. Indeed, the location is well isolated, so the Football Association can easily ensure the players' safety. No drastic measures will be needed to catch the footballers. The hotel already has a pool and a gym, and the conference hall will be turned into a relaxation room. Press representatives had the opportunity to spend a whole day with Sven-Goran Eriksson. We tried the indoor pool and I really don't think the players will be thrilled with this activity - the Jacuzzi was a few degrees too cold, although the coach assured us that 34°C is the optimal temperature. I asked what would happen if David Beckham asked to warm up the water, and the coach cut me off, saying that D.Beckham will come up with something. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. On the other hand, if I had to quibble about something, I would say that the scrambled eggs served in the morning were lukewarm. However, the players won't care, as they can enjoy the stunning landscape while eating. On a clear day, even the Alps are visible in the distance. Moreover, the FA plans to bring their own chef. And if that happens, he will replace one of Germany's most famous chefs, which will be a real coup for German cuisine. The Schloss Hotel has 90 rooms and 16 luxury apartments. Obviously, there are more than 16 players in the team, so one question arises - "Who will be left out?". Sven calmly explains that he hopes to get the best room - I guess David Beckham will also stay in a luxury suite - but competition will arise among the other players. Another issue - at least for one England national team member - is the length of the beds. The FA ordered 60 king-size beds, which are two meters long, or they are a few centimeters too short for Peter Crouch. "All beds are two meters wide, so the tallest players can lie down diagonally," added the staff. It seems that these troubles do not bother Sven at all, who was relaxed and confident during the tour. Since Sven-Goran Eriksson announced his departure from the national team coach position after the World Cup, he exudes calmness. It can be assumed that he is very satisfied with the chosen hotel, especially with the fact that the training ground is just a 15-minute drive away. The training pitch is also located in a picturesque setting. However, the pitch was still covered with snow, so its condition looked miserable. It is worth mentioning that the ball will have to be chased uphill. In the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan, the England national team secured their training camp with a massive fence so no one would sneak a peek. This time people can climb up the hill and watch the training sessions, although the barriers are still in place. Unfortunately, this does not bother Sven at all, even though opponents can watch the England national team training easier than the other countries. Footballers' wives and girlfriends will stay at a hotel in Baden next to a huge casino, which is a 20-minute drive from the luxury hotel. I asked Sven if he would allow the players to see their partners - he replied: "I think some of them would like to, but I don't think it's a good idea." The Swede wants players to relax in the "Schloss" environment but not forget why they came.
