Footbal News

According to Benjamin Disraeli: "We make our own fortunes and we call them fate." It is something that players at either ends of their careers, Darren O'Dea and Filippo Inzaghi, may reflect on with a smile; that Eskişehirspor's Emre Toraman will rue. Rio Ferdinand's destiny, meanwhile, appears to be comedy – it just keeps calling him back. uefa.com brings you the standout stories of the last seven days.

Player: Darren O'Dea (Celtic FC)
If the movie Sliding Doors taught us anything, it is that the sun always shines in London. There was a sub-plot, something about how a split-second decision can have far-reaching consequences, and it is this that O'Dea was reflecting on last Sunday after scoring the opening goal in the Scottish League Cup final. "Life can be weird," O'Dea said after Celtic's 2-0 extra-time win against Rangers FC. "I was close to leaving in January. It didn't work out, thank God." The 22-year-old capped a fine week when, on Saint Patrick's Day, he was called up to the Republic of Ireland squad.

Team: Liverpool FC
It has been a memorable fortnight for the Reds, following up a 4-0 victory at home to Real Madrid CF by scoring four more last weekend, this time at Old Trafford. Goals from Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Fábio Aurélio and Andrea Dossena condemned Manchester United FC (our previous team of the week) to a 4-1 defeat, their heaviest home league loss in over 17 years. How do you top that? By your manager signing a new five-year deal, that is how, Rafael Benítez admitting he "could not say no" after committing until 2014.

Goal: Giuseppe Mascara (Calcio Catania)
As Roy Sullivan, the park ranger hit seven times during his surprisingly long life, would have confirmed, lightning does indeed strike twice. Two weeks ago Mascara claimed our goal of the week with a sensational volley from the centre circle against US Città di Palermo. By comparison he was almost goal-poaching on Sunday at Udinese Calcio, teeing himself up after a poor clearance and firing in a half-volley; from a mere 40 metres.

Quote: Carlo Ancelotti (AC Milan)
"We wanted to prepare something special for his 300th goal, but didn't have enough time."
The Rossoneri coach breaks the news that Filippo Inzaghi would have to wait for his celebratory cake after moving on to 300 goals in professional football last weekend with a double in Milan's 5-1 win at AC Siena, the side he scored No1 against while at SC Leffe 16 years ago. However, having struck a hat-trick against Atalanta BC seven days earlier, Ancelotti admitted Inzaghi had reached the milestone too quickly.

Number: 1
An absorbing week of UEFA Cup action saw two last-16 ties go to extra time and one to penalties, while three teams progressed having been heading out at one point on Thursday: FC Shakhtar Donetsk, Hamburger SV and FC Dynamo Kyiv. Not one of the eight ties was decided by more than one goal.

Squirm: Team England
Football and comedy are not renowned bedfellows; anybody who witnessed Rio Ferdinand's World Cup Wind-Ups in 2006 will attest to that. So credit the Manchester United FC man for his persistence as he and several England team-mates volunteered to receive a mock team talk from professionally rotund actor James Corden in aid of the charity, Comic Relief. Ferdinand got a speaking role, Michael Carrick put on a James Stewart-inspired turn of facial expressions while John Terry … poor John Terry. See it here.

Kit manager: Gabriele (AC Reggiana)
Everybody knows somebody who can 'feel it in their waters', somebody with a sixth sense for impending doom. Fortunately for AC Reggiana, that somebody is their kit man, Gabriele. In a moment of foresight, Gabriele told the players to take their boots with them when the team bus parked up at their hotel for the evening, ahead of Sunday's Serie C1 meeting with Hellas-Verona FC. The next day the coach, and all its contents, was gone, stolen during the night. After a desperate scramble they managed to get replacement shirts to the Stadio Bentegodi though it was not enough to avoid a 2-1 defeat.

Sense of misdirection: Emre Toraman (Eskişehirspor)
Emre is not renowned for his attacking prowess; in four seasons he has mustered just one league goal in Turkey. Viewers tuning in to watch last weekend's Süper Lig highlights were therefore in for a rare treat after the defensive midfielder registered twice in Eskişehirspor's meeting with Bursaspor. On 15 minutes he broke the deadlock, rising imperiously to head into the far corner, and before half-time it was 2-0 as Emre rounded off a swift counterattack with a calm, side-footed finish. Sadly, of course, both were at the wrong end, and Eskişehirspor lost 2-1.

Hot streak: Jaime Alfonso Ruiz (KVC Westerlo)
The fortunes of Westerlo and Ruiz have been inextricably linked this season. The Colombian striker has scored in eight games and De Kempeneers have won them all. So when they claimed only their third victory in 12 league outings last Saturday, Ruiz scoring both goals in a 2-1 victory at AFC Tubize, the question arose: what happened during the barren winter? "I went through hell," explained Ruiz. "My concentration suffered, I could not go outside … It was because of the freezing cold. When I returned after spending the winter break in my homeland it was -15C. I have not touched the snow once; my fingers would hurt too much."

Altruism: Nadyr Nabijev (PFK Turan Tovuz)
Footballers playing for free seems all the rage, but while FK Bodø/Glimt's Runar Berg and Joseba Etxeberria of Athletic Club Bilbao are both in the twilight of their careers, Nabijev, at 28, is at his peak. Yet the captain of Azeri strugglers Turan has decided to throw in his lot as the side attempts to stave off relegation by attracting players from overseas. "He could play elsewhere and earn good money," said coach Rasim Aliev, "but he is with us."

And finally…
Sheffield United FC mascot Captain Blade has decided to do his bit in the fight against obesity by revealing plans to lose 20kg. He may have his work cut out, for not only is he fictitious, but the English club's faithful are renowned for their fondness for a particularly unhealthy dish, and their favourite matchday chant is even an ode to it: The Greasy Chip Butty Song (to the tune of Annie's Song). "I don't think United fans will be too pleased to hear I'm off the chip butties," Captain Blade said. "Maybe we can alter the chant to a salad sandwich instead."