Francis Ford Coppola relishes new start in Italian-infused Argentina

Francis Ford Coppola relishes new start in Italian-infused Argentina

Mar 10, 2008

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — In the trendy heart of Argentina's Italian community, Francis Ford Coppola says he has been set free.

Free at last to make movies - one a year, he hopes - with full financial and artistic control, taking advantage of Argentina's relatively low production costs and the creative inspiration he finds on the streets of its capital.

"After a while I realized that I was getting further and further away from what my original intentions had been," the 68-year-old filmmaker said in an interview with The Associated Press. "So at this age I decided, 'Well, why don't I make the kinds of films I wanted to do when I was 18? I'll just do it later in life.' "

The five-time Oscar winner, best known for "The Godfather" trilogy about the Corleone Mafia family, is preparing to shoot a film about a much different, but equally dysfunctional, Italian-immigrant clan.

"Tetro," for which Coppola wrote an original screenplay, follows two sons of a great but monstrously self-absorbed orchestra conductor in contemporary Argentina.

Much of the film will be shot in La Boca, a neighbourhood marked by the legacy of poor Italian immigrants who arrived by the shiploads in the early 20th century. Researching his tale, Coppola discovered many parallels between Buenos Aires and the New York he grew up in.

"Italian families emigrated to Argentina and the United States, and very often brothers in the same family would go two different directions," Coppola explains, relaxing in the courtyard of his new home and studio, which comes complete with the steel barbecue grill no self-respecting Argentine would do without.

Coppola, who splits his time now between the San Francisco Bay area and Argentina, says he felt immediately at home in this most-European of South American capitals.

He has been photographed walking alone among the shops and markets in chic neighbourhoods, a black beret pulled down over his greying hair.

"Buenos Aires is a big city like New York; it's full of life and it gave me a chance to put these characters in a slightly exotic setting where I would be free to work and pursue this more personal type of filmmaking."

Coppola has even discovered Argentina's biggest craze: attending soccer matches of the world-famous Boca Juniors team.

His stay hasn't all been pleasant - his studio was burglarized in September by thieves who stole computers and even his backup data system. Coppola made an unsuccessful public appeal for their return, but said his script for "Tetro" was never stolen, contrary to local press reports.

"They never stole the original script," he says. "They took the computers and the backup, but they only took photographs, only for the last year-and-a-half."

After a decade devoted to paying off creditors by focusing on less personal films, Coppola says he finally has the financial freedom to pursue his own projects with proceeds from his other businesses - including his California vineyard, an organic pasta business, and three luxury resorts in Belize and Guatemala.

And he continues to cast well known actors from outside the studio system.

Vincent Gallo of "Buffalo 66" and "The Brown Bunny" is the lead character in "Tetro," backed by Spanish actress Maribel Verdu of "Pan's Labyrinth" and Oscar winner Javier Bardem of "No Country For Old Men."

Newcomer Alden Ehrenreich, 18, will play a young man searching for the estranged older brother Tetro - a "tragic poet figure" who broke all family ties and moved in amid the Bohemian theatre, dance and artistic community of Buenos Aires.

Coppola said he is not unlike millions of tourists who rediscovered budget Argentina after the 2002 economic crisis.

"People are coming here, not unlike myself, because the dollar is less compromised than even in Europe or Brazil," he said.

Coppola has made fortunes on gambles like "Apocalypse Now," and lost them on commercial flops like "One from the Heart." Now he says he can finance his own movies, like "Tetro," for under $15 million.

He has even gained a decent command of Spanish, breaking into basic sentences with a clear voice.

"I feel people who come to the U.S. should definitely speak English, but I love the idea of the United States becoming a bilingual country," he explains.

At the same time, he says U.S. English speakers could benefit from learning more about Latin America's rich literary traditions.

With his 2007 film "Youth Without Youth," Coppola returned to directing after a hiatus of several years. He calls "Tetro" the "second film of my new career, so I'm just learning."

His focus now is on making beautiful, enduring films.

"I'm not really trying to make a lot of money off the movie business," Coppola said. "I want personally for people to say, 'God, that was beautiful!' "

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Soccer players going to Europe

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Soccer players going to Europe — Brighton's Swain, Hartland's Minor to gain international experience

By Dan Strawser
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

Two Livingston County soccer players are going to do their best to represent the United States during a trip to Europe this week.

Andrew Swain, a senior at Brighton High School, and Zack Minor, a junior at Hartland, are traveling to Germany, Italy and Austria as part of Soccer International.


Franco Pertot has been coaching high school soccer in Michigan for three decades and has been taking both boys and girls teams to Europe for the last 25 years.

"It's a great experience," Pertot said. "It's great to see places, different cultures. They play a different style (of soccer) over there. That's what I think they'll learn."

Pertot approached Swain and Minor after watching them play in Brighton's 2-1 overtime win against the Eagles in district competition last season.

"We went to parent meetings and learned more about it and more about (Pertot)," said Randy Swain, Andrew's mother.

The players have to pay to make the trip, which Pertot said helps cover travel and arrangements he makes to set up games with other youth teams in Europe. He added that the trip is open not only to the soccer players, but their families as well.

"Our oldest daughter, Amanda, (20), is studying in Italy, so we're going to connect with her and then meet up with Andrew and the rest of his team later in the week in Italy," Randy said.

Andrew went to Italy for his sister's graduation trip and is looking forward to returning there.

"This is the last thing I'm doing for soccer," Andrew said. "It's a great way to finish my career I guess you could say. I'm looking forward to playing teams from other countries. I think it will be fun to play against people and show them what America is about."

Swain and Minor are familiar with some of the other team members, as well.

"I know a couple of them," Minor said. "Jeremy Flora (Milford's goalie), he's on my club team, the Livonia Meteors. I've played with a couple of the kids. There's kids from Flint, Clarkston, all over."

Swain will be attending the University of Michigan and doesn't have plans to play soccer other than possibly in a recreation league, but Minor will be back with the Eagles next season.

"I think it's great for him to get out and play at that level," Hartland coach Andrew Kartsounes said. "To add travel into that is an even bigger plus. Soccer is the world's biggest sport. To see it in a place with rabid fans and where it is the biggest sport will just be great.

"It can only be a positive for him. He'll bring that back to our team in the fall. It will be his senior year, so it should be a very exciting year for him."

Pertot said the team will be engaging in various activities, including sightseeing, on a daily basis. In the past he's taken them horseback riding and rafting, among other things.

Swain and Minor said they were particularly looking forward to watching a professional European soccer match.

The pair will get to watch Inter Milan against Juventis on Saturday in an Italian Series A contest.

"It's going to be memorable for them," Randy said. "... They'll be meeting new people, playing a game they love in another country, plus getting some culture, too, not just sports."

Contact Daily Press & Argus sports reporter Dan Strawser at (517) 552-2860 or by e-mail at dstrawser@gannett.com.
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Soccer players going to Europe

ADVERTISEMENT

Soccer players going to Europe — Brighton's Swain, Hartland's Minor to gain international experience

By Dan Strawser
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

Two Livingston County soccer players are going to do their best to represent the United States during a trip to Europe this week.

Andrew Swain, a senior at Brighton High School, and Zack Minor, a junior at Hartland, are traveling to Germany, Italy and Austria as part of Soccer International.


Franco Pertot has been coaching high school soccer in Michigan for three decades and has been taking both boys and girls teams to Europe for the last 25 years.

"It's a great experience," Pertot said. "It's great to see places, different cultures. They play a different style (of soccer) over there. That's what I think they'll learn."

Pertot approached Swain and Minor after watching them play in Brighton's 2-1 overtime win against the Eagles in district competition last season.

"We went to parent meetings and learned more about it and more about (Pertot)," said Randy Swain, Andrew's mother.

The players have to pay to make the trip, which Pertot said helps cover travel and arrangements he makes to set up games with other youth teams in Europe. He added that the trip is open not only to the soccer players, but their families as well.

"Our oldest daughter, Amanda, (20), is studying in Italy, so we're going to connect with her and then meet up with Andrew and the rest of his team later in the week in Italy," Randy said.

Andrew went to Italy for his sister's graduation trip and is looking forward to returning there.

"This is the last thing I'm doing for soccer," Andrew said. "It's a great way to finish my career I guess you could say. I'm looking forward to playing teams from other countries. I think it will be fun to play against people and show them what America is about."

Swain and Minor are familiar with some of the other team members, as well.

"I know a couple of them," Minor said. "Jeremy Flora (Milford's goalie), he's on my club team, the Livonia Meteors. I've played with a couple of the kids. There's kids from Flint, Clarkston, all over."

Swain will be attending the University of Michigan and doesn't have plans to play soccer other than possibly in a recreation league, but Minor will be back with the Eagles next season.

"I think it's great for him to get out and play at that level," Hartland coach Andrew Kartsounes said. "To add travel into that is an even bigger plus. Soccer is the world's biggest sport. To see it in a place with rabid fans and where it is the biggest sport will just be great.

"It can only be a positive for him. He'll bring that back to our team in the fall. It will be his senior year, so it should be a very exciting year for him."

Pertot said the team will be engaging in various activities, including sightseeing, on a daily basis. In the past he's taken them horseback riding and rafting, among other things.

Swain and Minor said they were particularly looking forward to watching a professional European soccer match.

The pair will get to watch Inter Milan against Juventis on Saturday in an Italian Series A contest.

"It's going to be memorable for them," Randy said. "... They'll be meeting new people, playing a game they love in another country, plus getting some culture, too, not just sports."

Contact Daily Press & Argus sports reporter Dan Strawser at (517) 552-2860 or by e-mail at dstrawser@gannett.com.
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Beckham's world tour

Beckham's world tour is a gratifying experience
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One of the soccer star's stops was as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in one of the most impoverished parts of Africa.
By Grahame L. Jones, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
March 26, 2008
The white sport utility vehicle moved down a tarred road in Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone, when a group of men and youths, about seven or eight in all, ran up alongside the vehicle and started slapping at the roof and windows, trying to attract attention.

Inside, David Beckham smiled. Even here, in one of Africa's most benighted and impoverished countries, a land still reeling from a 10-year civil war that left 50,000 dead, the Galaxy and England soccer star could not go unrecognized.

The next stop
The next stop
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A little farther down the road, Beckham asked the driver to stop.

Another group of men, a ragtag bunch wearing a rainbow of colors and costumes, were playing a soccer game on a dusty patch of roadside scrubland. Many of the players were bare-chested. Some were barefoot. The goals were makeshift. But the game was still soccer and , wanted to join in.

For a while he did and a crowd gathered. Could one of the world's most recognizable athletes really be here, playing a pickup game with their friends and relatives? He was. Before leaving, Beckham stripped off his black UNICEF T-shirt and gave it to one of the players.

Since November, the Beckham world tour has taken him from Los Angeles to Vancouver, Sydney, Wellington, London, Freetown, Sao Paulo, Honolulu, Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Dallas, New York and now Paris.

Today, Beckham is in Paris, where he is expected to play for England and earn his 100th cap in its friendly international match against France. On Thursday he will fly back to Los Angeles, and on Friday he and the rest of the Galaxy will fly to Denver for Saturday's Major League Soccer season opener against the Colorado Rapids.

Cynics would argue that Beckham's off-season tour is how it is with celebrities. They make a short trip into the Third World, put on a quick show of humanity for the cameras and then head home to Beverly Hills or wherever.

But Beckham said he felt genuine concern, particularly in Sierra Leone, when he gazed down at the tiny and half-starved infant cradled in his tattooed arms at a local malnutrition center, when he played with a toddler being weighed in a sling-like contraption and when he was shown around a malaria treatment center.

It was only a few days that Beckham spent in Sierra Leone as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in January, but it left its mark.

"That was one of the most rewarding trips I've ever done in my life," Beckham said in an interview last week. "It was a lot more satisfying than anything else. Obviously, there's a lot of devastation, but there's a lot of good work that is happening. I came away not happy but satisfied with everything that I'd seen that was going on.

"It was hard to see the malnutrition center and different children along the way and different families along the way, but it was great to see the great work that UNICEF is doing."

Beckham has made such journeys before, and they offer the ultimate contrast to other, more glamorous and glitzy trips he has taken during the MLS off-season.

And travel he has.

In the last five months, Beckham visited almost every continent. He has been to North America, to Europe, to Africa, to South America, to Australia, to Asia. He somehow managed to miss Antarctica.

"There's still time," he joked. "I was cold enough in New York last night, so I'm not sure I want to go to there."

The "last night" came last week when he was in New York at a swank black-tie affair with Pele. Sharp contrast to Sierra Leone, where most have to get by on a dollar a day and disease and hunger cause one out of four children to die before their fifth birthday.

It has been a frenetic five months for Beckham, part of it helping the Galaxy go global by playing exhibitions, part of it furthering the Beckham brand, and part of it humanitarian.

The soccer side of things drew mixed reviews. The Galaxy played in front of more than 80,000 in Sydney but only 10,000 in Shanghai. Australia was also where, in a sponsor-driven event, Beckham had the chance to compare his kicking game to that of some rugby league and Australian Rules football stars.

"I quite enjoyed that," he said. "To be able to kick one soccer ball, one rugby ball, one Australian Rules football right next to the Opera House and looking out at the Sydney Harbor Bridge. I got some great pictures from that."

In Brazil, Beckham helped launch a sports-themed luxury resort that will include his third academy, the David Beckham World of Sport, with a 10,000-seat stadium and eight soccer fields in the coastal resort of Natal, one of the cities that hopes to stage World Cup matches in 2014.

Does Brazil, a five-time world champion, really need help with soccer?

"One of the questions to me was, 'Aren't you a bit arrogant coming out to Brazil and trying to teach Brazilians football?' " Beckham said. "Of course, my answer was, 'I'm not here to teach the Brazilian kids football, because I don't need to. I'm here to give them a safe place and a safe environment to enjoy playing soccer.' I think they appreciated that."

Beckham had been to Asia many times before, as a player with Manchester United, with Real Madrid and with England's national team. The response this time, with the Galaxy, was much the same, although perhaps on a smaller scale.

"We had a lot of people come to see the games. We got what we wanted out of the tour, which was to work hard and to get some games and some good training sessions. We had fun as well," Beckham said. "Visiting different countries, that's one of the great things about being a soccer player, because you are taken to different places where you probably wouldn't visit.

"As much as you miss your family and you miss your friends while you're on tour, it's a great time to get bonded together. Being together for three weeks, we bonded really well."

Beckham, who turns 33 in May, looks and feels totally different than he did in 2007, when injuries cut short his debut season with the Galaxy and he played in only five MLS games. Tanned, fully fit and as motivated as ever, he is ready for 2008.

"I've played 90 minutes in most [exhibition] games," he said. "I'm a lot healthier than I was when I first arrived here. Preseason seems to have gone on forever. I can't wait to actually get it started and get that first game underway."

grahame.jones@latimes.com

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Arsenal,Champions League

Arsenal, to face Liverpool in ,,
Last Updated: Friday, March 14, 2008 | 10:41 AM ET Comments0Recommend11
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Arsenal and Liverpool will meet in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, after the English rivals were selected to play each other during Friday's draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland

Spanish outfit Barcelona, tournament winners in 1992 and 2006, will face Germany's Schalke, and London club Chelsea takes on Turkish side Fenerbahce.

Steven Gerrard and, take on English rivals Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals.Steven Gerrard and Liverpool take on English rivals Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals.
(Clive Mason/Getty Images)

The other quarter-final pits reigning English champions Manchester United against Italian outfit AS Roma in a rematch from last season's quarter-finals. The two clubs also met twice in the first round of this year's competition.

"I think it's challenging, interesting as well. It's a good opportunity to be consistent against Liverpool because it's three very important games for us," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, referring to his team's match against Liverpool in the Premier League between the two Champions League contests.

"It's amazing but not surprising because I have seen that many times."

UEFA also made the provisional semifinal draw Friday. The winner of Arsenal and Liverpool meets Fenerbahce or Chelsea, and Schalke or Barcelona faces Roma or Manchester United, which means at least one English team will reach the final four.

Although Arsenal and Liverpool are big rivals in the English league, the quarter-final will be their first-ever meeting in European competition.

This year also marks the first time that four teams from the same country have reached the quarter-finals.

The first legs of the quarter-finals will take place April 1-2 with the second legs taking place April 8-9. The semifinals will take place April 22-23 and April 29-30.

The final is slated for May 21 in Moscow.


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Mancini plays

down Champions League clash

Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini has moved to take some of the importance out of tomorrow night's Champions League clash with Liverpool, claiming there would be 'no drama' if his side were to be knocked out.


arrive at the San Siro with a two-goal lead from the first leg at Anfield and are firm favourites to complete the job on Tuesday.


And Mancini is preparing for the worst while reiterating that defeat would not compromise the work done so far by his side who lead by six points with 11 matches to play.

'I don't think that a whole season can rest on one single game,' he said. 'It will be a difficult evening, but we do have a chance of doing it.

'Whatever the result, our season will continued and it does not end tomorrow.'

The Nerazzurri celebrated their 100th anniversary yesterday, but there were no gifts given to Mancini from the club's treatment room.

Only Cristian Chivu has recovered to join the remainder of the squad which defeated Reggina 2-0 on Saturday, while Marco Materazzi will be suspended for the game after his red card from the first leg.

Mancini has yet to come to terms with first-half dismissal in Liverpool, a decision which he believes contributed to making the situation tomorrow so delicate.

Mancini said: 'Each game has its own story and so we will have to see how this one goes.

'It is not going to be easy because we had to play there for 60 minutes with 10 men and this put us in danger.

'They were lucky in the first half in that we had one man less, but then they are a strong team and I don't think it is any coincidence that they become an even bigger team for the big matches.'

That is precisely what Inter have done throughout the current Serie A campaign, beating Roma, AC Milan and Fiorentina on their way to opening up their lead at the top of Serie A.

With tough fixtures against Juventus, Milan and Fiorentina still to come, Mancini is not expecting an easy ride on the domestic front, which perhaps explains his ease at accepting his side may no longer be in the Champions League.

'This season is not going to be like the last one and it will be decided at the end,' he said. 'Clubs with a history of 100 years like Inter, who have played thousands of games in Europe cannot think of it as a drama if we go out early.

'We have a difficult season - a very difficult season.'

But even in adversity, Mancini expects his side to give it one last shot and attempt to make history in a competition which can be full of surprises.

'I am not at all pessimistic and I believe that chances do exist,' he said.

'There have been lots of evenings in the Champions League or UEFA Cup when big leads have been overturned.

'Inter has got to play a perfect game without giving Liverpool much room. We have got to give our maximum and of course we risk going out - when two big clubs like this play, then of course there is a risk, but anything is possible.'




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Mancini plays down Champions League clash

coach Roberto Mancini has moved to take some of the importance out of tomorrow night's clash with Liverpool, claiming there would be 'no drama' if his side were to be knocked out.


Liverpool arrive at the San Siro with a two-goal lead from the first leg at Anfield and are firm favourites to complete the job on Tuesday.


And Mancini is preparing for the worst while reiterating that defeat would not compromise the work done so far by his side who lead Serie A by six points with 11 matches to play.

'I don't think that a whole season can rest on one single game,' he said. 'It will be a difficult evening, but we do have a chance of doing it.

'Whatever the result, our season will continued and it does not end tomorrow.'

The Nerazzurri celebrated their 100th anniversary yesterday, but there were no gifts given to Mancini from the club's treatment room.

Only Cristian Chivu has recovered to join the remainder of the squad which defeated Reggina 2-0 on Saturday, whilewill be suspended for the game after his red card from the first leg.

Mancini has yet to come to terms with Materazzi's first-half dismissal in Liverpool, a decision which he believes contributed to making the situation tomorrow so delicate.

Mancini said: 'Each game has its own story and so we will have to see how this one goes.

'It is not going to be easy because we had to play there for 60 minutes with 10 men and this put us in danger.

'They were lucky in the first half in that we had one man less, but then they are a strong team and I don't think it is any coincidence that they become an even bigger team for the big matches.'

That is precisely what Inter have done throughout the current Serie A campaign, beating Roma, AC Milan and Fiorentina on their way to opening up their lead at the top of Serie A.

With tough fixtures against Juventus, Milan and Fiorentina still to come, Mancini is not expecting an easy ride on the domestic front, which perhaps explains his ease at accepting his side may no longer be in the Champions League.

'This season is not going to be like the last one and it will be decided at the end,' he said. 'Clubs with a history of 100 years like Inter, who have played thousands of games in Europe cannot think of it as a drama if we go out early.

'We have a difficult season - a very difficult season.'

But even in adversity, Mancini expects his side to give it one last shot and attempt to make history in a competition which can be full of surprises.

'I am not at all pessimistic and I believe that chances do exist,' he said.

'There have been lots of evenings in the Champions League or UEFA Cup when big leads have been overturned.

'Inter has got to play a perfect game without giving Liverpool much room. We have got to give our maximum and of course we risk going out - when two big clubs like this play, then of course there is a risk, but anything is possible.'




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Maldini

Updated: March 6, 2008
may postpone retirement for a season

March 6 (Reuters) - Paolo Maldini may reconsider his decision to retire at the end of the season, the AC Milan captain said on Thursday.


'I'm being pushed to play another year. Three months ago I was very unfit but now I am better,' the 39-year-old defender told Sky television. 'I like this sport, I like training.'


Milan's elimination by Arsenal in Tuesday's last 16 tie had looked like Maldini's last
The one-club man, one of Milan's few good players on Tuesday, had been desperate to play in a record ninth European Cup final and pick up a sixth winners' medal.

Club president Silvio Berlusconi and chief executive Adriano Galliani want him to play another season and Maldini, who started his Milan career in 1985, is tempted.

'(They) are pushing me to continue for another year. We will see,' he said.




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Maldini

Updated: March 6, 2008
may postpone retirement for a season

March 6 (Reuters) - Paolo Maldini may reconsider his decision to retire at the end of the season, the AC Milan captain said on Thursday.


'I'm being pushed to play another year. Three months ago I was very unfit but now I am better,' the 39-year-old defender told Sky television. 'I like this sport, I like training.'


Milan's elimination by Arsenal in Tuesday's last 16 tie had looked like Maldini's last European match.

The one-club man, one of Milan's few good players on Tuesday, had been desperate to play in a record ninth European Cup final and pick up a sixth winners' medal.

Club president Silvio Berlusconi and chief executive Adriano Galliani want him to play another season and Maldini, who started his Milan career in 1985, is tempted.

'(They) are pushing me to continue for another year. We will see,' he said.




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Anelka blames players

, not Grant, for defeat

LONDON, March 10 (Reuters) - said the players should take the blame for Saturday's FA Cup humiliation at Barnsley rather than manager Avram Grant.


The Israeli coach has admitted he is under the microscope again at Stamford Bridge after the 1-0 quarter-final loss in Yorkshire followed soon after the League Cup final defeat by Tottenham Hotspur.


'We knew it was going to be difficult because (Barnsley) played with their lives and everyone in the dressing room was determined to win this game. Sometimes in football, things go wrong and you have to accept it,' Anelka, signed by Grant in January, said on Monday.

'Barnsley played well and sometimes these results happen. The tactics were right. Chelsea is a big club and we should be better than this.

'The criticism must be about the players because we didn't play well and we have to accept the fact. We know the media will be after the manager but you know as players when you played well and we didn't.'

Grant looked stunned after the defeat to the Championship (second division) side, Chelsea's first against lower league opposition since 1999.

'When I am responsible for the team and when my team loses at Barnsley, there will be many negative things said about it,' Grant was quoted as saying in Monday's Guardian.

'The team that played at Barnsley, even though we had a lot injuries, was good enough to win.'




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Anelka blames players

, not Grant, for defeat

LONDON, March 10 (Reuters) - Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka said the players should take the blame for Saturday's FA Cup humiliation at Barnsley rather than manager Avram Grant.


The Israeli coach has admitted he is under the microscope again at Stamford Bridge after the 1-0 quarter-final loss in Yorkshire followed soon after the League Cup final defeat by Tottenham Hotspur.


'We knew it was going to be difficult because (Barnsley) played with their lives and everyone in the dressing room was determined to win this game. Sometimes in football, things go wrong and you have to accept it,' Anelka, signed by Grant in January, said on Monday.

'Barnsley played well and sometimes these results happen. The tactics were right. Chelsea is a big club and we should be better than this.

'The criticism must be about the players because we didn't play well and we have to accept the fact. We know the media will be after the manager but you know as players when you played well and we didn't.'

Grant looked stunned after the defeat to the Championship (second division) side, Chelsea's first against lower league opposition since 1999.

'When I am responsible for the team and when my team loses at Barnsley, there will be many negative things said about it,' Grant was quoted as saying in Monday's Guardian.

'The team that played at Barnsley, even though we had a lot injuries, was good enough to win.'




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