Citaat:
Santos midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso has spoken of his delight at Santos' hard-fought victory in Peru, against an unpredictable opponent.
Ganso, 22, was crucial to Santos win, turning in one of his best performances this season to deliver a message to his doubters.
"The game was complicated," said the much sought-after playmaker. "Not only was the pitch poor, but we did not know the rival team either.
"Still, we play the same way everywhere. We were compact and learned to use the ball well.
"After ten minutes, we let the shackles-off and got the victory. I am pleased to have helped the team."
With a win over the Peruvian side secured, Ganso's attention immediately turned immediately to Sunday's clássico with São Paulo.
"We gained an important victory here and now we must focus on the derby. We want to top the table (in the Paulista championship). Let us be strong for this derby."
Indien hij een tijd fit blijft zie ik hem in de zomer wel de overstap naar Europa maken. Uitstekende voetballer, maar helaas blessure gevoelig.
Man Utd target Dedé upset with Libertad racism
Citaat:
Vasco defender Dedé has expressed his disappointment after being racially abused by a section of Libertad's fans in Wednesday's 1-1 draw in the Copa Libertadores.
The 23-year-old, who has been linked with Manchester United and Liverpool, was a target of 'monkey' chants along with his Cruz de Malta team-mate, Renato Silva, at the Estádio Dr. Nicolás Leoz in Paraguay.
"It is not easy to listen to some jerks calling us monkeys," Dedé told Globoesporte. "I am sad that there are still people like this, but I will keep my head held high.
"I am proud about the colour of my skin and I am proud about being Brazilian. This is not the last time that this will happen, but that will not bring me down, quite the contrary.
"This gave us more motivation for the match and also for the rest of our lives. If the same thing happens in the home match against them, it will be a different story. We will be in our country and we will try to take some action."
Menezes snubs Kaká but includes Ronaldinho in Brazil's preliminary Olympic squad
Citaat:
Mano Menezes has named Brazil's preliminary 52-man squad for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Once again, Menezes has decided to leave out Kaká, but has surprisingly opted to stick by Ronaldinho, despite the 49-year-old coach publicly criticising the former World Player of the Year performance against Bosnia and Herzegovina in February.
Four English-based players make the list, including Manchester United's Rafael – alongside Chelsea's David Luiz and Tottenham duo, Sandro and Bruni Uvini.
Menezes will trim down his short list to a 35-man squad on the 8th June, before the final 18-man squad is announced on the 6th July.
Brazil's 52-man Olympics Squad:
Goalkeepers
Diego Alves (Valencia), Gabriel (Cruzeiro), Jefferson (Botafogo), Julio Cesar (Internazionale), Neto (Fiorentina), Rafael Cabral (Santos), Renan Ribeiro (Atlético Mineiro)
Defenders
Adriano (Barcelona), Alex Sandro (Porto), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Danilo (Porto), Fagner (Vasco), Gabriel Silva (Novara), Galhardo (Flamengo), Lucas Mendes (Coritiba), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Rafael (Manchester United), Bruno Uvini (Tottenham), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dedé (Vasco), Juan (Internazionale), Luisão (Benfica), Marquinhos (Corinthians), Romário (Internacional), Thiago Silva (Milan)
Midfielders
Allan (Vasco), Casemiro (São Paulo), Elias (Sporting), Fernandinho (Shaktar Donetsk), Fernando (Grêmio), Hernanes (Lazio), Rômulo (Vasco), Sandro (Tottenham), Bernard (Atlético Mineiro) Douglas Costa (Shaktar Donetsk), Elkeson (Botafogo), Paulo Henrique Ganso (Santos), Giuliano (Dnipro), Lucas (São Paulo), Oscar (Internacional), Philippe Coutinho (Espanyol), Ronaldinho Gaúcho (Flamengo)
Forwards
Alexandre Pato (Milan), André (Atlético Mineiro), Dudu (Dínamo de Kiev), Henrique, (Granada), Hulk (Porto), Jonas (Valencia), Leandro Damião (Internacional), Neymar (Santos), Wellington Nem (Fluminense), Willian José (São Paulo)