Michael Owen appears to have dropped his broadest hint yet that a return to England, even his old club Liverpool, might not be out of the question after all - despite continually stating that he's happy in Madrid and wants to be a success with Real. When asked by SHOOT magazine 'would you return to Liverpool?' Owen replied: "I would have nothing against it if I had to move for one reason or another. I have no bitterness at all to Liverpool and they are still a club very close to my heart."
The England international, still a regular start for his country, has made no secret of the fact that he's not happy spending more time on the bench than he does on the pitch for the Spanish giants, and his goal-per-minute ratio would certainly support his argument. He said: "It's well documented I don't like sitting on the bench, That obviously wouldn't do my situation any good, so let's hope things improve."
Owen also admitted he misses some of the home comforts he'd invested in back in England, adding: I do miss certain things about not being in England - being around your family, your friends, being in your house. I had just had my house re-shaped and virtually the minute it was finished I was leaving. It is my dream house with two dogs, my horse and all the land that I want. I got it perfect for living in and then I had to uproot."
Never one to miss the chance of having as pop at his old Pompey paymaster, Saints boss Harry Redknapp reckons Portsmouth's executive director Velimir Zajec, whose appointment prompted the former manager's departure, will be 'history' by the end of the season - although he does tip his old club to beat the drop.
Zajec will revert to his initial role now Alan Perrin has arrived at Fratton Park, with David Pleat alongside him as a consultant, but Harry is quoted in today's Daily Mail as saying: "Zajec will soon be going back to where he came from and will probably end up scouting. I think in a month's time he will be history."
But Redknapp, now in charge at Pompey's bitter rivals Southampton, added: "Portsmouth have enough quality about them to stay up. They have a four-point cushion from the clubs below them and I think they will be okay. I haven't got any animosity towards Portsmouth - I enjoyed my time there, and now I'm enjoying my time here."
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has paid tribute to the determination and dedication of Finnish international Mikael Forssell who is back to fitness and back in the first team frame at Stamford Bridge after being sidelined since September. Mourinho, who gave the 24-year-old striker a place on the bench against Bayern, says: "His mentality is amazing. It's unbelievable, the way that he's recovered from a bad injury."
Forssell, who has spent much of the last two seasons on loan at Birmingham where he has been a rip-roaring success, also paid tribute to his boss after getting a brief Champions League run-out on Wednesday. "The manager has been very good towards me and he wouldn't have put me on the bench for this game if he hadn't thought I was ready for it," he said.
"I still have two years left on my contract but obviously I've been out for a season. All I want to do is get properly fit and then we'll see what happens after this season. Psychologically, I've had to work hard. Now it's great to be back and I'm just going to keep on working hard in training to get some minutes on the pitch."
West Brom striker Geoff Horsfield reckons the recent improvement in the Baggies' form, which has given the club a real chance of beating the drop, is all down to Bryan Robson and his assistmant manager Nigel Pearson. Horsfield says: "The gaffer and Nigel have come in and have been fantastic and now there is a confidence about us that comes with results.
"The gaffer hasn't spent a massive amount of money but he brought in Kevin Campbell plus Kieran Richardson on loan and they have adapted well and it's a brilliant squad to be in. His training is sharp and it's just the way he goes about things. He has a laugh with the players. He is very honest with the players but when the work has to be done, he expects it to be done.
"Bryan Robson has got that aura about him. Everyone has got respect for him and you can't not have respect for someone who has done everything in the game."
