Football: Italian first language at Palace

The new player-coach at Crystal Palace yesterday gave his first press conference - entirely in Italian. However, reports that the Premiership strugglers are now a nursery club for Juventus were said to be greatly exaggerated.

Attilio Lombardo has taken over team affairs, with the manager, Steve Coppell, stepping aside to become director of football development. Lombardo will be assisted by his Italian speaking team-mate, the former Swedish international Tomas Brolin.