Rodgers keen to move on
The Reds were edged out on away goals by Zenit St Petersburg despite a stirring comeback in the second leg of their last-32 tie. Despite the result eliminating the club’s last hope of silverware this season and leaving them fighting to finish higher than their current Barclays Premier League position of seventh, Rodgers is not downbeat. Rodgers said: “Our season doesn’t finish, and never was going to finish, until the final whistle against QPR. We want to carry that through right until the last whistle at the end of the season.” He added: “This is a group that is growing all the time. You see the level of performance last night, to dominate a team of that ilk and control the game like we did was incredible really. For us, going forward, it is to continue with how we have been working since the turn of the year. “As the season has gone on we have got better and improved. You can see the players have the hunger and determination to do that. We will look to demonstrate that in the last 11 games.” Liverpool are not in action again until they travel to Wigan on March 2. Their remaining fixtures include home clashes with Tottenham, Chelsea and Everton but otherwise they face a host of teams currently in the bottom half. Presently seventh, their challenge is to claw back a nine-point gap to fourth-placed Tottenham. Rodgers said: “We need to do our best. We are out of the cup competitions and that is something we will look to put right going forward. We want to win trophies here, that is the idea. “For the remainder of the season it is to finish as high up the league as we can. When I came here in the summer that was the priority given to me. There has been some great growth in the group and that will continue. “We want to keep showing our quality of fight and spirit right the way through to the QPR game. Then we will reassess in the summer and we will be in a much better position come next season.” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists his side’s season is not over following their Europa League exit.
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Lambert said: “It’s been really complicated that injury. Richard has been over to the United States a couple of times to try and get it sorted. But there are little niggles that aren’t clearing up. “That’s a real frustrating thing for him. Is it career-threatening? No, nothing like that. You can’t say that. “Richard has been trying his utmost to get back fit. He’s been to the best people (specialists) on the other side of the world. “He feels good at some points, but not so good at other times. He can’t play through the pain barrier with that injury.” Dunne has barely tasted any action for the past 12 months. He suffered a shoulder injury last February and only returned for the final two games of the 2011-2012 campaign. Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert insists centre-back Richard Dunne’s long-term groin problem is not career-threatening. Dunne has been sidelined since suffering the setback while on Euro 2012 duty for Ireland and a trio of operations have failed to cure the problem. Lambert would welcome the availability of the former Manchester City player, whose contract runs out this summer, but the Scot says Dunne cannot play through the pain barrier. 
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Leinster rounded off the league phase of the RaboDirect Pro12 with a bonus point 37-19 win as the Ospreys relinquished their grip on the trophy. Sexton popped over two more penalties, either side of a Tom Isaacs try, before Cian Healy came off the bench to run in the province’s fourth touchdown late on. Having lost the last three league deciders, Leinster have unfinished business with the Pro12 play-offs and they will entertain third-placed Glasgow Warriors at the RDS next Saturday. Press Association
The Welsh region stunned the home support when they won a dramatic final at the RDS last May, but they were unable to repeat the feat on a rain-soaked night in Dublin. A brace of Andrew Conway tries catapulted Joe Schmidt’s men into a 14-0 lead, but Dan Biggar and Ben John replied as the Ospreys cut the gap to two points. Jonathan Sexton landed an injury-time penalty to give the hosts a 17-12 interval lead, and Conway’s hat-trick score further strengthened their hand. 
British and Irish Lions flanker Sean O’Brien could yet play for Leinster in Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 final after making rapid progress in his recovery from a knee injury. O’Brien was expected to be out for two weeks after incurring bone bruising in last weekend’s Amlin Challenge Cup final victory over Stade Francais. But Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree has revealed that the injury is not as bad as initially feared and that the 26-year-old Ireland back row could be in contention for selection against Ulster at the RDS. “Sean is getting a lot better and has improved quickly over the last 48 hours and with regards to Saturday, watch this space,” Rowntree said. Press Association
O’Brien will miss out on the Lions’ opening fixture against the Barbarians in Hong Kong on June 1 even if he does face Ulster, but it would make him available to face Western Force four days later. Rowntree was speaking at Tuesday’s open practice session at Carton House, the squad’s training camp outside Dublin, with some 200 supporters in attendance. “The lads get a buzz out of it and it puts a bit of pressure on them,” England’s forward coach said. “We got a couple wrong on our line-out throw because of the added pressure. It was great to see everyone there and the lads were good, staying behind to sign autographs.” Of the 37-man squad selected for the tour to Hong Kong and Australia, 15 are involved in matches this weekend with Leinster, Ulster, Leicester, Northampton and Toulon and have yet to join their counterparts. Rowntree, himself a two-time Lions tourist, envisages few issues integrating the incoming players when they arrive on Sunday. “Given the nature and class of those players, I’m sure they’ll pick up our systems and the way we do thing very quickly, that’s why we’re picking them,” he said. “The beauty of how we’re doing things is that it’s very simple. There’s a very simple shape to how we’re playing the game, our calling structure is very simple because of the understanding that we have limited time to get things right. “So the guys coming in will slip straight in and they’ll be battle hardened heading into Hong Kong.” 
Victor Wanyama will not be moving from Celtic to Southampton, according to the player’s agent. “The news of the fee being agreed may just be coming out now, but we see little sense in a fee being agreed if there is no reasonable prospect of the player’s terms being met. “To suggest we are talking with Southampton is totally false, their offer was way below Victor’s expectations. There is no chance of him signing the deal on offer and, in fact, both Celtic and Southampton were informed of this some time ago. “The player will not be forced into a corner to accept the Southampton deal, just because it is good for Celtic. Remember, he has been with the club for two years now – without a pay rise – and has given them wonderful service ever since he arrived. “Added to this is the fact that by Celtic refusing him permission to join Queens Park Rangers last summer, Victor lost more than £1million in potential salary earnings – yet he just kept his mouth shut and continued to be a model professional. Many other players may not have adopted this attitude, in the circumstances.” Wanyama, signed by Celtic from Belgian side Beerschot in 2011, will now take some time to decide on his future for next season. “We know there is interest from elsewhere and Victor is obviously open to those prospects – he is currently back in Kenya and hopes that Celtic will adopt a more reasonable approach and take into account the service that he has given the club so far and the rest of these issues,” the player’s agent added. “Nobody at Celtic can question his attitude and he is hopeful he can leave on good terms with the club. He loves the club and its fans, he’s played his heart out for the jersey, but he didn’t quite expect that it may end like this.” A Celtic official said: “These negotiations like any others, are carried out by Celtic in a proper, private and professional manner. Celtic carries out its business with integrity, we work to the highest standards and in the interests of the club, our supporters and indeed our players. We do not need to comment any further on this matter.” Combative Kenyan midfielder Wanyama, 21, looks set to leave the Scottish Premier League champions after Celtic accepted a fee from Southampton for the 21-year-old, believed to be in excess of £12million. However, Wanyama’s representative Ivan Modia maintains there are no longer any talks with Southampton, and the player is likely to look elsewhere. Barclays Premier League newcomers Cardiff are said to be monitoring Wanyama’s situation, while Arsenal have also been linked in the past. “We are not in talks with Southampton and have not been since their final offer of terms, which was more than two weeks ago,” Modia told Sky Sports. 
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Zabaleta said: “I think it was great for Costel. He is a man who works really hard in the week. He well deserved the place.” In the game’s wider context, Zabaleta felt the result and performance were the perfect response to the late slip at Chelsea. The 2-1 loss at Stamford Bridge, City’s third of the season in the Premier League, had raised questions over their title credentials and of manager Manuel Pellegrini. There was no doubting City’s determination to put that right as, back in the comfort of their own stadium after four successive away games, they swept the Canaries aside. John Ruddy, a potential rival to Hart for a spot in the England team, had an afternoon to forget but still made three good saves in the second half. Zabaleta said: “I think it was a great performance by the team. “We needed to respond well after the Chelsea defeat, that was hard for us. “I think the performance was great. Defending – it was important to keep the clean sheet, and we were on fire in attack. I think it was a great game. “It is another three points, that is good, and we look forward now to the Champions League game. “We feel very comfortable at home and our performances have been great since the start of the season. “Playing away we have dropped too many points but when we play at home we are a very strong side.” Samir Nasri had already hit the post when Aguero’s 16th-minute shot was blocked by Michael Turner and rebounded in off Johnson for the opener. Aguero teed up the second for Silva, Nastasic headed the third via a deflection from a corner and Negredo rounded off a fine team move before the break. Toure’s free-kick for the fifth was another fine effort, coming before Aguero volleyed in a poor clearance and Dzeko came off the bench to complete the scoring. Zabaleta felt it was good to see the goals spread around. The 28-year-old said: “Yes, especially for the strikers – Kun, Negredo, Dzeko. Yaya, another fantastic free-kick. “It was a great result – 7-0 at home is fantastic.” His replacement Costel Pantilimon had a quiet afternoon as City benefited from a Bradley Johnson own goal before David Silva, Nastasic, Alvaro Negredo, Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko all got on the scoresheet. Few doubt Hart’s quality but Zabaleta feels there is a warning in his deselection to all the team that optimum performance needs to be maintained. The Argentinian said: “Well, you know, that is football. The manager makes decisions. “We know in this team now the performance of everyone should be good week in, week out because we have two players in each position who can play. “Sometimes mistakes might cost the place but we are a big squad and we need to try to do well to keep the place in the team.” Pantilimon, 26, had waited 27 months to make his Premier League debut after joining the club in the summer of 2011 as replacement for Shay Given. He could not have asked for a quieter introduction as he was hardly called into action. He did make one good save from a long-range Anthony Pilkington strike late in the first half but City were already 4-0 ahead by then. Press Association Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta believes the axing of team-mate Joe Hart is a reminder of the high standards expected at the Etihad Stadium. The England goalkeeper paid the price for his costly last-minute mix-up with Matija Nastasic at Chelsea a week ago, the latest in a long line of errors, by losing his place on Saturday. Hart was left on the bench as City roared back to form in the Barclays Premier League by crushing Norwich 7-0 at home. 
Ward said: “It’s a little bit surreal sometimes, I suppose. You grow up watching him – he is obviously one of the greatest players to play for Ireland. “As a kid I was a Manchester United fan, so he had a big influence on your life as a child watching Manchester United, so it’s a bit surreal. “It’s good to work with him and obviously it’s a great duo that they have brought in on very high calibre, so it will be really enjoyable. “He seems just like any normal lad. Obviously, we don’t know them very well, they don’t us, so everyone is just getting to know each other.” It was much like the first day at school for the players as they attempted to impress Keane and manager Martin O’Neill in the first training session since the pair took over from Giovanni Trapattoni and Marco Tardelli. Ward said: “Obviously when a new manager comes into any team or any group of players you are involved in, it’s like a fresh start and everyone wants to impress. “There’s a great buzz around the place. Both in the camp and outside, there’s a lot of interest. “Everyone is here to enjoy it first and foremost. Everyone wants to be here and represent their country, but also wants to impress the new management team as well.” Stephen Ward enjoyed a “surreal” return to Ireland duty as he found himself on the same training pitch as boyhood hero Roy Keane. The 28-year-old Brighton defender grew up supporting Manchester United and watching Keane star for both club and country. But on Tuesday morning in Malahide, Ward was among the squad which was put through its paces by the Ireland’s new assistant manager, and he admitted it was a strange experience. Ward was one of the main beneficiaries of Trapattoni’s search for new talent as the Italian attempted to increase the pool of players from which he could select, and by the time Ireland headed for the Euro 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine, he was first-choice left-back. However, within months, he was not even in the squad and entrenched in an ultimately unsuccessful battle to prevent club Wolves from slipping into League One. But a summer loan move to Brighton has helped to revive an international career on which he refused to give up. Ward said: “It was tough. Not being in the squad is obviously tough, but I tried to never let it affect me. “We were having a tough enough time at club level trying to make sure that we stayed in the league, which unfortunately we couldn’t. “Obviously you are disappointed when the squad is announced and you are not in it, but I never let it get me too down. “I had a couple of weekends off to spend with my kids and my family which I hadn’t had for a few years, which was nice, but I was always very intent on working as hard as I could to get back in. “The previous manager had said that club level and being at Wolves had affected it, so it is nice to get back playing and enjoying my football and it has coincided, thankfully, with me getting back in the squad.” Press Association
“For me and everyone who has been at United he is the one we talk about because he has done it. “He proved to everyone what being dedicated gets you, having a chef to cook your food, dedicating your whole life to football and being the best player in the world. “It’s an example to everyone. I am not afraid of using Sir Alex or Cristiano as an example when I have to because to get the best out of your talent you need to be dedicated. “We all know that not everyone has got it. “It’s a desire and attitude from within, it’s what you’ve got in your heart and Cristiano’s always had it.” The win over Norwich gave Solskjaer his first Premier League victory as a manager and moved the Bluebirds off the foot off the table. The Canaries are just two points outside the drop zone and face Manchester City next. Their manager Chris Hughton has yet to hold talks with wantaway Wes Hoolahan, but expects the midfielder to be fully committed to the club now the transfer window has closed. The 31-year-old was not part of the Canaries squad in Wales after having a transfer request rejected amid interest from Aston Villa and also making derogatory comments about the Carrow Road club. A move did not materialise for the Republic of Ireland international, and his manager expects him to buckle down. “The transfer window ended Friday night and it is business as usual come Monday morning, and we will train and prepare for a real tough game next Saturday,” said Hughton. “Everyone knows there was a bid for him. He put in a transfer request. which we turned down. “Wes won’t be the first player at a club that has wanted to leave and it has not happened. The reality is he is a Norwich City player and the players will knuckle down, train and do all they can and want to be involved, and I expect Wes to be no different. “I have not spoken to him, we had communication before the last couple of days, but our concentration has been on the game. “It’s normal that I will speak with players and Wes is very much a Norwich player, the window is gone, he wanted to go but I am sure he will knuckle down and do the best job he can.” The 21-year-old winger made an instant impact on his Bluebirds debut in the 2-1 win over Norwich, just over 24 hours after completing a loan move from Manchester United. Zaha set up Craig Bellamy to cancel out Robert Snodgrass’ opener for the Canaries, before winning the corner that led to Kenwyne Jones’ winner. The England international has found his opportunities limited at United since joining from Crystal Palace, but Solskjaer has been very impressed by his skills and admits there are some aspects of his play that are similar to his former team-mate Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward showed raw potential in his early days at Old Trafford before developing into a global star, joining Real Madrid and winning the Ballon d’Or. “I don’t really want to compare Wilfried with Cristiano, but he has quick feet like Cristiano, he is brave like Cristiano and wants to go forward,” said Solskjaer. “But he is young. He has got to make a decision about how good does he want to be and how he loves this game. “Coming in here he just wants to play football and he’s been bright as a button these last few days.” And Solskjaer believes Ronaldo is the perfect example for Zaha to follow if he is to fulfil his potential. “Cristiano worked every single day,” he said. “I have never seen anyone work as hard as him. “Before training, after training, he was an exceptionally dedicated man. Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Wilfried Zaha has the talent to follow in Cristiano Ronaldo’s footsteps provided he is prepared to work hard at honing his game. Press Association
Newcastle officials have confirmed that Alan Pardew will remain the club’s manager. Press Association However, they also reiterated that the Premier League will remain the priority going forward with many unhappy at the Magpies’ failure to progress to the latter stages of the domestic cup competitions. Pardew, chief scout Graham Carr and managing director Lee Charnley are currently working on summer recruitment plans with owner Mike Ashley, and while club officials revealed money will be available after two transfer windows without a single permanent signing, they insisted that it was only be spent on the right players at the right price. 
Minutes of the latest fans’ forum meeting include the confirmation after the 52-year-old came under intense pressure from disgruntled supporters as a difficult Barclays Premier League season – or at least the second half of it – drew to a close. Answering questions submitted on behalf of fans, the board admitted the latter part of the campaign had been a disappointment despite Pardew and his players achieving the minimum requirement of a top-10 finish. 
Jezki has been rewarded for his excellent campaign by being named top two-mile hurdler in the 2013-14 Anglo-Irish classifications. Jessie Harrington’s ace beat My Tent Or Yours to Champion Hurdle glory before seeing off Hurricane Fly at the Punchestown Festival. Only 3lb separated the top four in at the head of the division, with Jezki on 169, 1lb ahead of My Tent Or Yours, with The New One on 167. Press Association
Silviniaco Conti has been named the highest-rated chaser. The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old earned a rating of 174 for his defeat of Cue Card (172) in the King George VI Chase at Kempton. H e was subsequently beaten in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham but bounced back to win at Aintree. Gary Moore’s Sire De Grugy filled the void left by Sprinter Sacre admirably and topped the two-mile chasers category on a mark of 172. while Captain Chris (169) came out best in the two-and-a-half-mile division following his victories at Kempton and Ascot in January and February. More Of That (169) topped the staying hurdlers division after remaining unbeaten at Cheltenham with his defeat of Annie Power. All three winners of the novice chase categories rate highly compared with previous years. Jonjo O’Neill’s Holywell (163) won at Cheltenham and Aintree to take the three-mile division, while stablemate Taquin Du Seuil (159) came out top over two and a half miles. Alan King’s Balder Succes (162) was the champion over the minimum distance. Willie Mullins’ Faugheen (161) pipped stablemate Vautour (158) to the title of champion novice hurdler. 