Dos Santos slams ´unconvincing´ Spurs

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez says his squad is not big enough to cope with their heavy fixture schedule.

The Champions League holders travel to Japan for their Club World Cup semi-final on December 13 naming a strong squad including the likes of Juan Mata and Fernando Torres.

Chelsea have used just 20 different outfield players during their 22 outings so far this season including the now departed Raul Meireles and Benitez has confirmed that targets for the January transfer window have already been discussed.

You analyse the players who have played every game; there aren t many players here, Benitez told reporters.

They d been playing fewer players. I m not here to criticise, but that s the reality. They d played so many games, two a week and …

Western Sydney Wanderers striker Mark Bridge has been ruled out of their A-League grand final against the Brisbane Roar.

In a blow for Tony Popovic s men, Bridge s ankle injury sustained in their 2-0 semi-final win over the Central Coast Mariners proved too much for the former Sydney FC man to overcome ahead of the Sunday showpiece.

In the only change for the Parramatta-based club, Bridge comes out of the squad for Jason Trifiro.

The Roar are unchanged after their fortunate 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory.

Dimi Petratros was in doubt for Mike Mulvey s men, however the 21-year-old overcame his ankle injury picked up in their semi-final victory to make the squad.

Brisbane are hunting their third championship, after sewing up the premiership by finishing 10 poi…

The agent of Lazio midfielder Hernanes insists he will not leave the Serie A club at the end of the season.

The Brazil international has been linked with a move away from Lazio in the past few months, but his agent Joseph Lee said his client wants to see out his contract at the Stadio Olimpico side.

Hernanes and his family are feeling very well in Rome and have no desire to leave Italy. He has a contract until 2015 and wants to honour it. He will stay at Lazio, Lee told Corriere dello Sport.

The interest of other clubs? Nobody has opened negotiations with me. Many called me and were interested but it was just to talk.

I met with Lazio president (Claudio) Lotito in February. He told me that he does not want to sell Hernanes.

The 26-year-old ha…

Cesare Prandelli has hit back at Zenit s Domenico Criscito after he expressed displeasure at being left out of Italy s FIFA World Cup squad.

Defender Criscito was not included in Italy coach Prandelli s 30-man provisional squad for next month s World Cup, despite featuring for his country as recently as March s friendly with Spain.

The 27-year-old was quick to voice his anger at Prandelli s decision, revealing that the omission hurt more than when he was not selected for UEFA Euro 2012 amid allegations of match-fixing.

But Prandelli has been left bemused by Criscito s reaction to missing out on a call-up, claiming the left-back cannot expect himself to be a definite pick.

He told Gazetta dello Sport: This was a technical choice and, with all due respect, I have n…

Ruben Vinagre is relishing the chance to work under football legend Frank Lampard and coach Ashley Cole at Everton after completing a season-long loan move from Sporting CP.

The 23-year-old, who previously spent two full seasons in the Premier League with Wolves, becomes Everton s second signing of the window following the arrival of James Tarkowski.

Vinagre only joined Sporting on a permanent basis earlier this month, but the loan agreement between the Portuguese club and Everton is reported to contain an option for the Toffees to purchase the defender outright next year.

He can operate as a left-back or left wing-back and will provide competition for Vitalii Mykolenko this coming campaign, with Niels Nkounkou another option in that position for Lampard.