Maicon next up on Anzhi wishlist

Reports coming from Italy have named Inter Milan and Brazil full-back Maicon as a possible transfer target for ambitious Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala.

Anzhi, who are looking to establish themselves as the next superpower in the Russian Premier Liga, have already raided Inter earlier this summer, capturing Cameroonian ace Samuel Eto'o for a reported fee of €28million.

And with doubts over Maicon's long-term future at the Giuseppe Meazza, Itasportpress believe Anzhi are seriously considering making an offer for the full back when the transfer 
window opens again in January.

Maicon has been linked with a move to Real Madrid over the last few campaigns, but the move never happened, with Inter holding firm on their asking price.

And with Maicon now in his 30s, Inter could be convinced to cash in on him before his value decreases in the years to come.

Anzhi already have a handful of Brazilians in their squad, including Roberto Carlos, Joao Carlos, Jucilei and Diego Tardelli, which effectively ensure that Maicon will have no trouble fitting in at the club.

Itasportpress also believes that Inter will be willing to part with Maicon for a fee of €15million.

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‘The Special one’ won't coach in Germany

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho said he'd "love" to work in Germany one day but admits his lack of ability to speak German would most likely stop this from happening.

The 48-year-old has already coached teams in Portugal (Porto), England (Chelsea), Italy (Inter Milan) and is currently employed by Spanish football giant Real Madrid.

Mourinho has won silverware throughout his travels and he admits he is not the type of coach who likes to stay tied down to one place for too long.

"I'm not the kind of coach who stays at the same club in the same country for life," Mourinho told Sport Bild.

"It's something that makes me better, the fact that I'm in my fourth different country. And working in countries like Italy, Spain and England makes you better and better.

He added: "I'd love [to work in Germany] but to be fair, it's very important in my skills as a coach to know the language."

"To communicate with the players, to be with the press in a very comfortable way because the media are a very important part of our job and I'd think I wouldn't be at the top of my potential working in Germany, so it's out of my mind.

"But because of the quality of the game and of many things I understand in German football, yes I would like it."

The 'Special One' is no stranger to German players having coached former German captain Michael Ballack at Chelsea and now Mesut Ozil in his current role at Real Madrid.

Mourinho recently hailed Ozil's Turkish-German background by declaring that the play-maker has benefitted from learning to play football the German way, as well as having natural Turkish flair in his game.

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Shawcross: We can upset United

Stoke city skipper Ryan Shawcross believes that his side has a chance of beating the in-form United when both sides clash on Saturday.

Stoke suffered their first defeat of the campaign in the 4-0 beating at Sunderland last weekend nine games into the season which began in July due to Europa League qualification.

Having progressed through the League Cup at the expense of Tottenham on Wednesday, the Potters will be hoping to resume their triumphant run against Premier League holders Manchester United when they visit the Britannia Stadium this Saturday.

Shawcross, a former Manchester United youth player, is optimistic about bouncing back from last weekend's heavy loss and getting a result against his former club.

He told the club's official match day magazine: "It was probably a bit of a reality check for us to be honest, especially having been on a nine-game unbeaten run to start the new season.

"Good runs have to come to an end, but it was disappointing for it to end in that fashion at Sunderland. The result and the performance were disappointing, but we move on now and we set our sights on another unbeaten run like the one we have just had.

"It will be hard to start that off against Manchester United because they are a top team, but everyone is beatable, and we know if we have the fans right behind us and we perform in a way we know we can, then we do have a chance."

The 23-year-old has impressed in his performances since joining the club in 2007 on loan before gaining captaincy in 2010 and several clubs, including Tottenham and Liverpool, were rumoured to be interested in a bid for him.

Shawcross, however, insists that his future lies with is current club.

"I've always said that I wanted to play in Europe and Stoke City have given me that opportunity, so my future is undoubtedly here at the Britannia Stadium," said Shawcross.

"I really do love it here, the fans are great to me and the manager [Tony Pulis] is absolutely top class.

"He is probably the biggest factor in wanting to be here because I really enjoy working underneath him because he keeps making me a better player and has shown unbelievable faith in me.

"With the group of lads we have here too, I don't think anyone would want to leave. It's a great set-up with a very good team who are all striving to bring success to the football club."

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Roberto Martinez: United better than Barca

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is resolute Manchester United are better than  European Champions Barcelona in many ways.

The Barclays Premier League champions were outplayed by the La Liga Champs in the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley back in May which led many experts in the media to declare the Catalans as the 'football team of the decade'.

However, Martinez reckons United are the better team but are just missing a one-off result against Barca to prove it.

"In many ways they [Manchester United[ are better than Barcelona - that's just down to the mentality, the belief and they way they approach games," Martinez told talkSPORT.

"What Barca have is the way they play the game, they are very unique, you won't see another team in world football that will rely on 900 passes to win the game.

"The pattern of [Barca's] play is impossible to compare.

"But United have a blend and mentality in the squad that is the best in world football. It's just a matter of beating a team like Barca in a one-off game and see who can be European champions, as I believe they are on a different level than anyone else."

The signs are there that United are edging closer to achieving a result against Gladiola’s side. United recently beat Barcelona 2-1 in a pre-season friendly and are currently enjoying their best ever start to a league campaign under Legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson with five straight wins.

Since United's 3-1 Wembley defeat to Barca in the Champions League finals, Ferguson has reinforced his squad with the signings of Phil Jones, Ashley Young and David de Gea.

Last Sunday's 3-1 defeat of Chelsea also armored the view that the current crop of United players - including an in-form striker Wayne Rooney - are ready to challenge for the European Cup once again.

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German Bundesliga Week end Fixtures

BUNDESLIGA WEEK  5  FIXTURES

Friday 23 Sep 2011

VfB Stuttgart  VS  Hamburg SV

Saturday 24 Sep 2011

Mainz  VS  Borussia Dortmund

Augsburg  VS  Hannover 96

Borussia M’gladbach  VS  Nurnberg

Schalke 04  VS  SC Freiburg

Wolfsburg  VS  FC Kaiserslautern

Bayern Munich  VS  Bayer Leverkusen

Sunday  25 Sep 2011

Cologne  VS  TSG Hoffenheim

Werder Bremen  VS  Hertha Berlin

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