CHINA/FILE: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: New Shanghai coach Sergio Batista says he wants Nicolas Anelka to stay and aims to recruit Didier Drogba

Record ID: 593338

  • Title: CHINA/FILE: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: New Shanghai coach Sergio Batista says he wants Nicolas Anelka to stay and aims to recruit Didier Drogba
  • Date: 31st May 2012
  • Summary: SHANGHAI, CHINA (MAY 30, 2012) (REUTERS) ***FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** NEWS CONFERENCE BY SHANGHAI SHENHUA FOOTBALL CLUB TO UNVEIL NEW ARGENTINE HEAD COACH SERGIO BATISTA BATISTA (LEFT) SHAKING HANDS AND HOLDING SHANGHAI SHENHUA JERSEY WITH CLUB DIRECTOR ZHOU JUN (RIGHT) BATISTA JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE BATISTA SEATED WITH TRANSLATOR (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish with Mandarin translation) SHANGHAI SHENHUA'S NEW HEAD COACH, SERGIO BATISTA, SAYING: "First of all, I have a good relationship with Anelka. We have had good communication during the past few days. So we have been talking, and as a player, Anelka plays a very important role." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish with Mandarin translation) SHANGHAI SHENHUA'S NEW HEAD COACH, SERGIO BATISTA, SAYING: "Due to his experience, he can bring a level of experience to help his team. Also, he has been very welcoming of my arrival, so overall we have a good relationship." SHANGHAI SHENHUA CLUB OFFICIALS LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish with Mandarin translation) SHANGHAI SHENHUA'S NEW HEAD COACH, SERGIO BATISTA, SAYING: "My initial thought is to bring Drogba to the club. He is a very good player and we will welcome him here. As for myself, I very much hope that Drogba can join us." PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PHOTOS OF BATISTA ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish with Mandarin translation) SHANGHAI SHENHUA'S NEW HEAD COACH, SERGIO BATISTA, SAYING: "This project is a challenge for me so I will do my best to win the league. But it is also a gamble. I believe if we do our best, we can do it." PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish with Mandarin translation) SHANGHAI SHENHUA'S NEW HEAD COACH, SERGIO BATISTA, SAYING: "Perhaps for now there is a big gap in points between us and the first place in the league. There is indeed some level of difficulty, but it is not impossible. I believe through our hard work, we can be at the top." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 15th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA8906M9IHABNAD6NWQUV8HSWUX
  • Story Text: New Shanghai Shenhua coach Sergio Batista said on Wednesday (May 30) any possible rift with Nicolas Anelka has been healed.
    Player-coach Nicolas Anelka said there would be a problem if the Chinese club replaced him with the former Argentina boss, complaining he had only head the news through local media and not from the club's management.
    The Frenchman, who was famously kicked out of the 2010 World Cup for comments directed at then coach Raymond Domenech, was unhappy at the prospect of Batista taking over, which would mean him reverting to a playing-only role.
    But Batista, unveiled at a news conference in the Chinese city, told the media: "I have a good relationship with Anelka. We have had good communication during the past few days. So we have been talking, and as a player, Anelka plays a very important role.
    "He can bring a level of experience to help his team. Also, he has been very welcoming of my arrival, so overall we have a good relationship."
    Much was expected of Anelka when he signed a two-year deal worth a reported $300,000 a week with Shanghai in December.
    The much-travelled former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Fenerbahce striker has scored few goals this season and took on coaching responsibilities last month when his compatriot, former France international Jean Tigana, was sacked after four months in charge. But results have not improved under Anelka's guidance.
    Batista identified Didier Drogba as his first transfer target. The 34-year-old Ivory Coast striker, who scored the winning penalty for Chelsea in the Champions league final against Bayern Munich, announced recently he would be leaving the London club after eight years.
    "My initial thought is to bring Drogba to the club. He is a very good player and we will welcome him here. As for myself, I very much hope that Drogba can join us," said Batista.
    The Argentine acknowledged the club were poorly placed at ninth in the in the 16-team league, 12 points behind leaders Guangzhou, but added: "There is indeed some level of difficulty, but it is not impossible. I believe through our hard work, we can be at the top."
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