Posts of 2015

Cruyff diagnosed with cancer - reports

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Johan Cruyff, one of soccer's greatest players and most influential coaches, has been diagnosed with lung cancer, according to reports. ||| Madrid - Johan Cruyff, one of soccer's greatest players and most influential coaches, has been diagnosed with lung cancer, according to reports in Spanish media on Thursday. Cruyff's foundation could not immediately confirm the reports of his illness but said they were planning to publish a news release later on Thursday. Cruyff had been diagnosed with the illness this week at a clinic in Barcelona and was having tests to determine the seriousness of his condition, according to the reports, which did not identify the source of the information. The 68-year-old, who won the Ballon d'Or three times, helped Ajax win three European Cups in a row in the early 1970s before joining Barcelona and leading the Catalan club to their first La Liga title in nearly 15 years in 1974. After stints at other clubs including Los Angeles Aztecs, Washington Diplomats...

Everton boss wary of Arsenal

Everton manager Roberto Martinez does not expect Arsenal to be hampered by a Champions League “hangover” when his side travel to the Emirates. ||| Everton manager Roberto Martinez does not expect Arsenal to be hampered by a Champions League “hangover” when his side travel to the Emirates in the Premier League on Saturday. Everton, humiliated 3-0 at home by Manchester United last weekend, face an Arsenal side that have won five of their last six league games and sit second in the table, two points adrift of leaders Manchester City. Martinez acknowledged that his side, who are ninth on 13 points, typically struggle against the London club, who beat German champions Bayern Munich in the Champions league on Tuesday. “I wouldn't say a team as experienced as Arsenal will suffer a hangover,” Martinez told reporters. “When you play two games in a week, you hope it will allow us to be fresh but I don't expect it to have a negative effect on Arsenal. “They have a big enough squad to find...

Schneiderlin lauds Martial’s maturity

Morgan Schneiderlin says Manchester United team-mate Anthony Martial showed impressive maturity to pick himself up from conceding a first-half penalty against CSKA Moscow. ||| Manchester United's teenage forward Anthony Martial showed impressive maturity to pick himself up from conceding a first-half penalty against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday before going on to score the equaliser, said Morgan Schneiderlin. United started the Champions League game well but fell behind on 15 minutes after Martial was correctly adjudged to have hand-balled in the penalty area. Roman Eremnko's spot-kick was palmed onto the post by David de Gea but Seydou Doumbia was on hand to put CSKA ahead. Martial, who joined United for a reported 36 million pounds ($55.70 million) on the final day of the transfer window and has scored five times in nine appearances, did not let the penalty decision get to him and equalised in the second half. “He didn't let his head down because that can happen to anyone,” said...

De Bruyne is ‘perfect’ signing

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini branded Kevin De Bruyne the "perfect" signing. ||| Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini branded Kevin De Bruyne the “perfect” signing after the Belgian forward's 91st-minute goal snatched a 2-1 Champions League victory over Sevilla. With Wednesday's Group D game at the Etihad Stadium poised at 1-1, Pellegrini rejigged his attack by moving De Bruyne up front and the change paid off when the 24-year-old fired home left-footed from Yaya Toure's pass. It was De Bruyne's first Champions League goal since his club-record £55 million ($84.8 million, 74.8 million euros) transfer from Wolfsburg and it had the effect of lifting City three points clear of Sevilla and to within a point of leaders Juventus at the group's halfway point. “We bought Kevin because we thought he was a very creative player and he has goals in him,” Pellegrini told his post-match press conference. “This team always tries to play attractive and offensive football and...

Lewandowski keen to end Cech duck

Robert Lewandowski is more determined than ever to get a goal when Bayern Munich face Arsenal in their return Champions League game. ||| London - Robert Lewandowski is more determined than ever to get a goal when Bayern Munich face Arsenal in their return Champions League game because he has never scored against their keeper Petr Cech. The 33-year-old Czech international, who denied Lewandowski with two outstanding saves in the second half of Arsenal's 2-0 win over Bayern in a pulsating Group F match on Tuesday, has thwarted Lewandowski on four occasions - three times in internationals and again at Arsenal. “I have never yet managed to score a goal against him,” Poland striker Lewandowski, who had scored 22 goals in his last 16 matches for club and country, told Reuters. “Not a single goal. And that is despite facing him when Poland have played the Czech Republic at international level as well. It is one of those quirks you get in football. “He is an absolutely excellent goalkeeper....

De Bruyne seals points for City

Kevin De Bruyne scored a minute into stoppage time to give Manchester City a 2-1 win over Sevilla in their Champions League Group D clash. ||| Manchester, England - Manchester City left it late to win a second successive Champions League game, with Kevin De Bruyne scoring a minute into stoppage time to give them a 2-1 win over Sevilla at the Etihad Stadium in Group D on Wednesday. Last month Sergio Aguero's penalty in the 90th minute gave them a 2-1 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach and the two wins, following a home defeat by Juventus in their opening game, have boosted their chances of reaching the last 16. De Bruyne's goal came even later than Aguero's with the Belgian's neatly-executed left-foot angled shot coming after 91 minutes to give City victory when it looked as though Sevilla were about to leave with a deserved point. De Bruyne has had a huge impact since arriving for 55 million pounds ($84.78 million) from VfL Wolfsburg at the end of August and he played a defining...

Martial goes from villain to hero

Anthony Martial went from villain to hero as his second-half equaliser earned Manchester United a deserved point in a 1-1 draw against CSKA Moscow. ||| Moscow - Anthony Martial went from villain to hero as his second-half equaliser earned Manchester United a deserved point in a 1-1 draw against CSKA Moscow in Champions League Group B on Wednesday. The French teenager conceded a first-half penalty but popped up with a fine header to keep United two points behind group leaders VfL Wolfsburg, level with CSKA and a point ahead of PSV Eindhoven. “In the first half we could not play in a higher tempo because it was too slow in my opinion and that's what I said at half time that we had to improve,” United manager Louis van Gaal told reporters. The visitors started well but fell behind after 15 minutes after Martial was correctly adjudged to have hand-balled in the penalty area. Roman Eremnko's spot-kick was brilliantly palmed on to the post by David de Gea, but the ball rebounded into...

Klate returns to haunt Pirates

A soft Daine Klate goal gave Wits a 1-0 midweek victory at Orlando Pirates and top place in the Absa Premiership table. ||| A soft Daine Klate goal gave Wits a 1-0 midweek victory at Orlando Pirates and top place in the Absa Premiership table. The former Pirates winger floated a free kick into the heart of the goalmouth after 14 minutes and Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Felipe Ovono failed to hold the ball, which crept into the net. Ovono, outstanding for his country when they hosted and finished fourth at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, earlier saved a penalty from Namibian Henrico Botes at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. Wits were reduced to 10 men during a dramatic opening half when a studs-up tackle by captain and centre-back Thulani Hlatshwayo led to a straight red card. Hlatshwayo got a tongue lashing from Wits assistant coach and 1996 Cup of Nations-winning goalkeeper Andre Arendse for a foul that led to Sifiso Myeni being stretchered off. But the club with the equal second...

Klopp slams FA over Rossiter

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp accused England's Football Association of treating Jordan Rossiter “like a horse”. ||| Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp accused England's Football Association of treating Jordan Rossiter “like a horse” on Wednesday after the midfielder returned from England Under-19 duty with a hamstring injury. “These young players are our future. If we handle them like horses, we get horses,” Klopp told a press conference ahead of his side's Europa League home game against Rubin Kazan on Thursday. “Rossiter is a special story. I never heard of an 18-year-old playing three games in five days. That is the problem why he is injured and I don't think he will be ready until the next international break. “I don't know who I have to talk to about this, but I will find a way because it is not OK. On my first day I didn't want to have a call with someone with the FA, but for sure this is not OK.” Rossiter is the latest member of Liverpool's squad to succumb to injury, complicating...

Pirates looking to outsmart ‘Clever Boys’

Eric Tinkler and Orlando Pirates get the opportunity to appease their hard-nosed fans when they host Bidvest Wits at Orlando Stadium. ||| Having finally got that winning feeling domestically by accounting for the University of Pretoria in the Telkom Knockout last Friday, Orlando Pirates get the opportunity to show that they’re not all about continental football. The Buccaneers, having had a great run that has seen them qualify for the Caf Confederation Cup final, have stuttered in the domestic league. A single win from five matches sees them positioned in the lower half of the 16-team table and, while pleased with their team’s showing on the continent, The Ghost would love to see that form transferred to the home front. Eric Tinkler and his team get the opportunity to appease their hard-nosed fans when they host Bidvest Wits at Orlando Stadium tonight. The clash is one of six matches taking place today, with a top-of-the-table encounter that sees Platinum Stars away to Mpumalanga...

United will settle for a draw in Moscow

Manchester United would settle for a point away to CSKA Moscow in their Champions League Group B clash, according to manager Louis van Gaal. ||| Moscow - Manchester United would settle for a point away to CSKA Moscow in their Champions League Group B clash on Wednesday, according to manager Louis van Gaal. United, back in Europe's top club competition after a year's absence have three points from their opening two games, recovering after losing their opener at PSV Eindhoven to beat German club Wolfsburg at Old Trafford. “I said before the away match against PSV Eindhoven, one point is good. Three points is better but one point is good,” Dutchman Van Gaal told a news conference. Considering United went on to lose to PSV, putting them immediately under pressure, Van Gaal will hope those words do not come back to bite him. The squad arrived late on Tuesday after leaving it until the last minute to fly to the Russian capital - scene of their 2008 triumph in the final against Chelsea. It...

Neuer admits to making a mistake

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer put his hand up for the mistake which sparked Bayern Munich's 2-0 defeat at Arsenal. ||| Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer put his hand up for the mistake which sparked Bayern Munich's 2-0 defeat at Arsenal which breathed life back into the Gunners' Champions League hopes. Olivier Giroud came off the bench to score Arsenal's opener on Tuesday after Neuer made a hash of dealing with a free-kick with 13 minutes left at the Emirates Stadium. There had been a slight suspicion of handball for the goal, but the Gunners' Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil then added the killer second with virtually the last kick. Despite being on the back foot for long periods, Arsene Wenger's side gratefully accepted Neuer's gift after consecutive Group F defeats had left them on the verge of elimination. “Unfortunately, I made an error so Arsenal took the lead,” admitted Neuer, “I don't care whether it was a handball by Giroud or not, I know I made the mistake. But life goes on. “We...

Sterling’s agent’s cheap shot at Rodgers

Raheem Sterling should still be a Liverpool player, according to his agent Aidy Ward. ||| Raheem Sterling should still be a Liverpool player and it would have been a ‘dream come true’ for him to work under Jurgen Klopp, according to his agent Aidy Ward. In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Ward revealed how the relationship between former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers and Sterling broke down before the winger’s £49million move to Manchester City last summer. Ward also accused Rodgers of ‘underhandedness’, adding: ‘I have no issue with anyone but Brendan Rodgers. He had a massive job with massive funds. How did he do? Good coach, but as a manager I didn’t like certain things about how he dealt with Raheem. ‘Fifty per cent of the players would probably tell you Brendan is not a good manager, but he is a good coach. ‘Raheem could have stayed, he should be at Liverpool. In December I said we’ll sign a contract if there is a buy-out clause, which are now common. They said...

Wenger chuffed after Bayern win

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was delighted that his team reproduced their recent outstanding Premier League form against German champions Bayern Munich. ||| London - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was delighted that his team reproduced their recent outstanding Premier League form to revive their faltering European fortunes with a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday. The London club have climbed to second behind Manchester City in the Premier League but were struggling in Champions League Group F after losing their opening two matches to Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos Piraeus. For long periods it looked as if they were either going to lose, or at best draw against Bayern, but a 77th-minute header from substitute Olivier Giroud and a stoppage-time second from Germany international Mesut Ozil gave them an unexpected but hugely important victory. “The team focus and the dynamic was there in the preparation and we have had that for a while now,” said Wenger. “I said that in the press...

Arrows add to SuperSport’s woes

Golden Arrows continued their impressive start to the season with an away win over SuperSport United at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. ||| Pretoria - Golden Arrows continued their impressive start to the season with a 2-1 away win over SuperSport United at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday night. Two first-half goals by Trevor Mathiane and Kuda Mahachi saw Arrows record their third win of the campaign. Kingston Nkhatha's second-half strike for the home side wasn't enough to save SuperSport from slumping to their fourth defeat of the season. The home team made a bright start to the match when they had two chances in the first minute of the clash. Winger Thuso Phala's shot was deflected wide, while defender Clayton Daniels's effort from the resulting corner missed the goal to the right. Arrows have been playing some top football after gaining promotion to the top flight at the end of last season. They play without fear, and when they get forward, they do so in numbers. Striker Mabhuti...

Chiefs held by gritty Cosmos

Jomo Cosmos and Kaizer Chiefs were forced to settle for a 0-0 scoreline in their Premiership match at Olen Park Stadium. ||| Potchefstroom - Jomo Cosmos and Kaizer Chiefs were forced to settle for a 0-0 scoreline in their Premiership match at Olen Park Stadium, in Potchefstroom, on Tuesday night. Ezenkosi were the first to attack their visitors when Mxolisi Macuphu saw his shot going wide of Reyaad Pieterse's goals in the opening three minutes. The Amakhosi intensified their probe for an opener as they received a setpiece in the ninth minute. Defender Tsepo Masilela was unfairly challenged, and Erick Mathoho's header went wide with the Cosmos' keeper beaten. Jomo Sono's men closed down Amakhosi and didn't allow them too much time on the ball and in the 30th minute, Charlton Mashumba hit the side of the net as the ball was deflected wide from a timely intervention by Pieterse. Nevertheless, Amakhosi were able to find the back of the net with less than three minutes remaining...

Klopp set for Anfield debut

Anfield's patrons will run the rule over Jurgen Klopp for the first time on Thursday when he supervises his maiden Liverpool home game against Rubin Kazan. ||| Anfield's patrons will run the rule over Jurgen Klopp for the first time on Thursday when he supervises his maiden Liverpool home game against Rubin Kazan in the Europa League. Having grown accustomed to the tactical tweaking and press conference grandstanding of Brendan Rodgers over the last three years, the denizens of Anfield Road are now adjusting to the methods of the gregarious German. Klopp has dazzled in his early media appearances, but last Saturday he unveiled his blueprint for on-pitch success with a high-pressing, hard-running team display in a 0-0 draw at Tottenham Hotspur. “I liked what I saw,” former Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports this week. “Very rarely do you see a manager stamp his authority on a team from day one, but that's what he did.” Liverpool's players ran a combined 116...

Jose slams ref after Kiev draw

Jose Mourinho accused the referee of being “weak and naive” for failing to award Chelsea a penalty in their 0-0 Champions League draw at Dynamo Kiev. ||| Kiev - Jose Mourinho accused the referee of being “weak and naive” for failing to award Chelsea a penalty in their 0-0 Champions League draw at Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday. Mourinho took aim at Slovenian Damir Skomina after he waved play on when Cesc Fabregas was tripped by Serhiy Rybalka in the first half of the Group G stalemate in Kiev. “The referee was weak and naive with the penalty,” he told BT Sport. “I cannot understand what the official behind the goal does because he doesn't make a clear decision too.” The comments appeared to be a thinly-veiled barb at Arsene Wenger and the English Football Association after the Arsenal manager used the exact same phrase to describe referee Mike Dean following Chelsea's 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge in September. Wenger escaped punishment for that outburst while Mourinho was last week fined...

Rakitic double sinks BATE

Two goals from Ivan Rakitic gave Barcelona a comfortable victory away to BATE Borisov and consolidated their position at the top of Champions League Group E. ||| Minsk, Belarus, - Two goals from Ivan Rakitic gave Barcelona a comfortable 2-0 victory away to BATE Borisov on Tuesday and consolidated their position at the top of Champions League Group E. Rakitic, who came on following an injury to Sergi Roberto after just 17 minutes, hit a sublime strike into the top corner having been set up by Neymar at the start of the second half. A livewire Neymar led Barca in the absence of the injured Lionel Messi but while they had plenty of possession they lacked a cutting edge in the first half. Neymar was again the provider after 64 minutes for Rakitic who sealed the win with a clinical finish past keeper Sergey Chernik. Barca laid siege to the BATE defence in the opening minutes, starting with a strike from Neymar from the left of the area saved by Chernik. Luis Suarez had a header tipped...

Arsenal stun Bayern with late goals

Arsenal have bounced back to defeat Bayern Munich in a frenetic Champions League clash. ||| London - Arsenal bounced back off the ropes to land two late sucker-punches and score an unlikely 2-0 win over Bayern Munich after the Germans had dominated an outstanding Champions League match on Tuesday. Olivier Giroud came off the bench after 74 minutes and headed the opener three minutes later while Mesut Ozil scored with virtually the last kick of the game against his World Cup-winning team mate Manuel Neuer to hand Arsenal a memorable victory. Their first win in Group F after two defeats rekindled their chances of reaching the last 16 and ended Bayern's run of 12 successive wins in all competitions. “It was important to reproduce our Premier League form tonight and we did that. We got the balance right between defence and attack,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters. But for long periods, it looked as if a goalless draw or a Bayern win would be the most likely outcome. Bayern...

Moscow holds fond memories for United

Man United return to the scene of their 2008 Champions League triumph looking for a second away win over CSKA Moscow. ||| Moscow - Manchester United return to the scene of their 2008 Champions League triumph looking for a second away win over CSKA Moscow in exactly six years on Wednesday. United, who won their third crown when they beat Chelsea on penalties at the Luzhniki Stadium in May 2008, returned to the Russian capital on Oct. 21, 2009 and beat CSKA 1-0 with a late goal by Antonio Valencia. The Red Devils will be looking to repeat that victory at a different venue, the Arena Khimki, as the Luzhniki is under reconstruction for the 2018 World Cup finals. United will travel to Moscow in good heart after an excellent 3-0 win away to Everton kept them third in the Premier League at the weekend. Manager Louis van Gaal was delighted with that return to form following a defeat by the same score away to Arsenal in the previous game. Morgan Schneiderlin, Ander Herrera and Wayne...

Spurs suffer Chadli blow

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nacer Chadli has been ruled out for six weeks after he sustained ankle ligament damage. ||| London - Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nacer Chadli has been ruled out for six weeks after he sustained ankle ligament damage during Saturday's goalless draw against Liverpool, the Premier League club said on their website (http://ift.tt/19tWWDu). The Belgium international was forced off the field after 11 minutes on Saturday having landed awkwardly inside the Tottenham penalty area. Chadli joined the growing ranks of Tottenham players on the treatment table, including recent signing Son Heung-min, midfielder Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb. The 26-year-old Chadli, who has scored one goal in 11 appearances this season, is set to miss the North London derby against Arsenal on November 8 and the clash with champions Chelsea on November 29. – Reuters from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1GR4t...

Banyana captain’s Rio joy

Banyana Banyana captain Janine Van Wyk described Banyana’s qualification for the Olympics as a great way to make up for the failure to qualify for the World Cup. ||| Banyana Banyana captain Janine Van Wyk described Banyana’s qualification for the Olympics as a great way to make up for the failure to qualify for the World Cup and the best way to see how the squad has progressed. Speaking after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat of Equatorial Guinea in Bata, Van Wyk, spoke of the disappointment of missing out on the global showpiece in Canada and the elation of making it to the Rio Games. “Oh yes it does (erase the pain of missing out on the World Cup),” Van Wyk told Safa Media. “This is the next big event that we could have qualified for and we have done it.” A goal just after the hour-mark by Jermaine Seoposenwe helped Banyana overcome an Equatorial Guinea outfit that they had previously played second fiddle to – Van Wyk and her teammates defying the odds to book a second successive Olym-pic...

Guardiola wary of Arsenal

Pep Guardiola has warned his Bayern Munich players to brace themselves for a ferocious test from an Arsenal side fighting for Champions League survival. ||| Pep Guardiola has warned his Bayern Munich players to brace themselves for a ferocious test from an Arsenal side fighting for Champions League survival. Arsene Wenger's side are in severe danger of failing to reach the knockout stages for the first time in 16 years after two dismal defeats. The Gunners were beaten at Dinamo Zagreb and then suffered the embarrassment of losing at home to Olympiakos, leaving them pointless at the bottom of Group F. Another loss when Bayern visit the Emirates Stadium would put Arsenal on the verge of a stunning exit and Bayern boss Guardiola expects the hosts to fight like wounded animals on Tuesday. “For them, they have an advantage because they have to win, when that happens with these kind of players, and the history of this club, they are going to make the best performance possible,” Guardiola...

Toure hurt by lack of recognition

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has expressed his disgust at those who are quick to criticise his performances. ||| Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has expressed his disgust at those who are quick to criticise his performances and admits to being hurt by what he feels is a lack of recognition. The Ivory Coast captain also claimed that winning trophies and earning a lot of money have not made him any happier as he feels sickened by “lots of bitter people who tried to dirty my name”. Last season, Toure scored 10 league goals, half his total from the previous campaign, as City failed to defend their title, finishing eight points behind champions Chelsea in second place. “I have just come out of a season with City where we finished second in the English league, which is the hardest in the world,” Toure told L'Equipe on Tuesday. Concerning the goal-scoring exploits which helped City win the league the previous season, Toure said: “I scored 26 goals, 20 in the Premier...

McClaren hoping to break Tyne-Wear ‘hoodoo’

The Magpies have crashed to five straight defeats in the Tyne-Wear derby and Steve McClaren says the Black Cats are favourites. ||| Steve McClaren believes Sunderland will be favourites in the derby but says it is time for Newcastle to break the hoodoo. The Magpies have crashed to five straight defeats in the Tyne-Wear derby and McClaren says the Black Cats are favourites to keep that run going when the two sides clash at the Stadium of Light this weekend. However, Newcastle can take plenty of heart from Sunday's 6-2 thrashing of Norwich and McClaren says it is crucial they take the feel-good factor into the game against Sam Allardyce's men. "Football is all about momentum and we have to take it forward," McClaren said. "It's a tough one next. Sunderland have won the last five derbies, they are the favourites and are at home. "It's a hoodoo and we have just got to break it. It will be a tough game. We have to prepare like we have every week. We had good focus last week and we...

Fines didn’t deter Mourinho - FA

The FA insist they had to issue Jose Mourinho with a suspended stadium ban because £101 000 in disciplinary fines since 2013 failed to improve his behaviour. ||| The FA insist they had to issue Jose Mourinho with a suspended stadium ban because £101 000 in disciplinary fines since 2013 failed to improve his behaviour. Chelsea’s Portuguese manager, who returned to Stamford Bridge two years ago, was fined £50,000 — in addition to the possible ban — for saying referee Robert Madley had been ‘afraid’ to award a penalty in a 3-1 defeat against Southampton. And the FA have published the written reasons for their decision. ‘It appears to us that increasing levels of fine are not on their own going to be a reliable deterrent for Mr Mourinho against improper comments to the media. ‘We have in mind particularly that the more than doubling of the January 2015 fine as compared with the May 2014 fine has not deterred him from this latest and more serious breach. ‘In our judgment the fair...

City hope to avoid more injuries

Manchester City will be almost as concerned to avoid further injuries as they are to take three Champions League points when Sevilla visit the Etihad Stadium. ||| London - Manchester City will be almost as concerned to avoid further injuries as they are to take three Champions League points when Sevilla visit the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. Four days later Premier League leaders City have a big local derby at third-placed Manchester United. Manuel Pellegrini's side are already without top scorer Sergio Aguero who hit six goals in two games, five of them in 20 minutes against Newcastle United, before suffering a hamstring problem playing for Argentina. Playmaker David Silva was also injured on international duty and will miss Wednesday's game against his fellow countrymen. Captain Vincent Kompany was not considered fit enough to play in Saturday's 5-1 win over lowly Bournemouth while midfielder Samir Nasri strained a hamstring injury in that game. “I prefer to play with Aguero...

No reason to fear Bayern - Wenger

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal have no reason to fear Bayern Munich in their make-or-break Champions League showdown. ||| Arsene Wenger says Arsenal have no reason to fear Bayern Munich in their make-or-break Champions League showdown because the German giants have weaknesses that can be exploited. Bayern will arrive at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night in imperious form, having just set a record for the best start to a domestic season with their ninth consecutive Bundesliga victory. Pep Guardiola's side have also dominated the European campaign, with a 100 per cent record from both Group F matches so far, netting eight times without reply. Arsenal have suffered successive defeats from their first two Champions League fixtures and will be in severe danger of failing to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in 16 years if they lose to Bayern. But Gunners boss Wenger, while willing to show his admiration for the 2013 European champions, has no doubts Arsenal can rattle...

Ronaldo, Messi headline Ballon d'Or shortlist

Real Madrid's blockbuster 'BBC' forward line and Barcelona's devastating 'MSN' trio are set to go head-to-head for the 2015 Ballon d'Or award. ||| Real Madrid's blockbuster 'BBC' forward line and Barcelona's devastating 'MSN' trio are set to go head-to-head for the 2015 Ballon d'Or award after all six were named on the 23-man shortlist by Fifa on Tuesday. Real's Cristiano Ronaldo, who set a club scoring record with his 324th goal on Saturday, will be going in search of his third consecutive World Player of the Year award. He faces competition from his team mates Karim Benzema of France and Welshman Gareth Bale who make up the Spanish side's 'BBC' frontline. Joining them are four-times winner Lionel Messi, the Argentine great, and his fellow South American strikers Neymar and Luis Suarez who form Barcelona's feared MSN frontline that fired a combined 122 goals last season. Barcelona, who won La Liga, the Champions League and domestic cup last year, have the most players on the...

Sterling targets more goals

After a hat-trick against Bournemouth, Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has set his sights on bigger targets. ||| After a hat-trick against Bournemouth, Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has set his sights on bigger targets, starting with Wednesday's Champions League encounter at home to Europa League holders Sevilla. Sterling inspired City to a 5-1 demolition of Bournemouth on Saturday in his best performance since joining from Liverpool in a deal that could be worth up to £49 million ($75.7 million, 66.7 million euros). With Wilfried Bony also scoring twice, Manuel Pellegrini's side barely missed the injured Sergio Aguero and David Silva, but ahead of successive games against Sevilla and Manchester United, Sterling knows that City's path is about to become a great deal steeper. “That was my best game so far for City. I had chances and I finished them, so I'm happy,” the England forward told the club website. “The movement up front and the passing from midfield...

Stoke penalty sinks Swansea

Swansea City's poor form continued in the Premier League as they went down 1-0 at home to Stoke City. ||| London - Swansea City's poor form continued in the Premier League as they went down 1-0 at home to Stoke City on Monday. Former Barcelona forward Bojan earned and converted a fourth-minute penalty which sealed a scrappy encounter and left Swansea without a league win since August. Bojan was bundled over by Swans skipper Ashley Williams and he got up to send Lukasz Fabianski the wrong way. Swansea hit the post through Jonjo Shelvey early in the second half but struggled to open up a resolute Stoke side who claimed their third successive league win to climb to 11th. Swansea drop to 14th. “Very disappointed with the result,” Swansea boss Garry Monk said. “Once they got the goal it was clear they would defend very deep and that made it very difficult to break them down. “We are in a period where we are not performing to those levels we had at the start of the season.” – Reuters from...

Ajax wary of Tuks

Ajax Cape Town will do well to tread lightly and banish any thoughts of complacency as they host the University of Pretoria. ||| Cape Town - Ajax Cape Town will do well to tread lightly and banish any thoughts of complacency as they prepare to host the University of Pretoria in a PSL fixture at Athlone Stadium on Wednesday (kick-off 7.30pm). Ajax may be on a good trot at the moment under coach Roger de Sa, but a trip into the past is a savage reminder of the parlous state the Cape club was once in. The year was 2012, the venue was the Cape Town Stadium, the opposition was the newly-promoted AmaTuks (the nickname of the University of Pretoria). The result: Ajax were soundly thrashed 5-1 and, of course, suitably embarrassed. The consequence was Dutch coach Maarten Stekelenburg being fired and it proved to be the start of a humbling, struggling period for the Urban Warriors. The warning has been posted - and even though Tuks haven’t been all that consistent of late and are currently...

Bayern confident of Guardiola stay

Bayern Munich are confident coach Pep Guardiola will stay on at the German champions past the end of his current contract. ||| Berlin - Bayern Munich are confident coach Pep Guardiola will stay on at the German champions past the end of his current contract next year despite reported interest from other major European clubs, CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said on Monday. Guardiola, who won more than a dozen titles in his four years at Barcelona, joined the Bavarians in July 2013, winning dominant back-to-back Bundesliga titles in his first two season in charge. Undefeated Bayern are already seven points clear at the top of the league after a record-breaking nine-match winning start as they chase an unprecedented fourth consecutive Bundesliga crown and the third under Guardiola. “I have said that in the second half of 2015 there will be a (contract) discussion and after that there will be clarity,” Rummenigge told reporters ahead of his departure for London where Bayern face Arsenal...

Wenger has ‘perfect preparation’ for Bayern

If Arsenal can be accused of underestimating their last two Champions League visitors, the same mistake will not be made against Bayern Munich. ||| If Arsenal can be accused of underestimating their last two Champions League visitors, the same mistake will not be made when last season's semi-finalists Bayern Munich step out at the Emirates tomorrow night. At last week's AGM supporters understandably expressed dismay at the defeats by unfancied Monaco last season and Olympiakos last month. A 3-1 loss in February to Arsène Wenger's compatriots and former club could not quite be retrieved in a classic heroic failure three weeks later, which brought elimination at the first knockout stage for a fifth successive year; and losing 3-2 to the Greeks left Arsenal without a point from this season's opening two group matches. That necessitates winning the third one, which is unfortunate, as Bayern have just established a new Bundesliga record by taking maximum points from their first nine...

Herrera relishing midfield competition

Manchester United's Ander Herrera welcomes the stiff competition for places in the side's midfield. ||| Manchester United's Ander Herrera welcomes the stiff competition for places in the side's midfield and is keen to learn from the more experienced players in the squad, such as vice-captain Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger. The Spaniard enjoyed a fine game in the 3-0 victory at Everton on Saturday, scoring the second and providing an assist as Manchester United returned to form in the Premier League after a limp defeat to Arsenal before the international break. The former Athletic Bilbao midfielder also believes the competition for first team places can only benefit the club. “You take advantage of that (the competition in the middle of the park). When you play with the best players you take advantage of that like we did,” Herrera told the club's website (www.manutd.com). “This is good for me, good for the club. When the club signs top players you are going to take...

Shaw recovery stuns United medics

Luke Shaw will return to Manchester United's training ground later this week to take the next step in his rehabilitation. ||| Luke Shaw will return to Manchester United's training ground later this week to take the next step in his rehabilitation. Old Trafford boss Louis van Gaal has revealed the left-back is already walking without the aid of his crutches following the broken leg he sustained playing against PSV Eindhoven last month. The Red Devils have been sending physios to Shaw's home on a daily to ensure he is maintaining his core fitness. And it's now understood the 20-year-old will begin work in the pool at United's Carrington training base in the next few days. United have a specially adapted pool which is fitted with an underwater treadmill, where cameras can monitor and help combat the levels of muscle wastage. Shaw is still expected to miss next summer's European Championships with England but the rate of his recovery so far has shocked even United's doctors. - Female...

No magic dust needed - Klopp

Jurgen Klopp was reflecting on his goalless debut as Liverpool manager, where his new charges ran hard but created little. ||| Jurgen Klopp was reflecting on his goalless debut as Liverpool manager, where his new charges ran hard but created little, and had to deny that he would be bestowing any of his own transformative magic on his new players. Expectation control is part of modern football management - Jose Mourinho was forced to clarify that he was not Harry Potter when he took over at Real Madrid in 2010 - but Klopp has a lot to do here. Judging by the number of flags and banners in his honour on Saturday - “Liverpool Uber Alles”, “Wir Glauben” (“We Believe”), “Jürgen's Reds” and the rest - he is a hero already. Liverpool pressed Tottenham hard at points but lacked the technical execution to create an open-play chance or score a goal. So would Klopp be performing football alchemy on these players? Not so fast. “Should I teach them the technical aspects? They know them,”...

Tough Kiev test for Chelsea

Chelsea’s fragile self-confidence will face a severe test at Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League. ||| Kiev - Chelsea enjoyed a somewhat fortuitous return to winning ways when they beat Aston Villa on Saturday but their fragile self-confidence will face a far more severe test at Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday. After their worst start to a domestic league season for 37 years, Jose Mourinho's men travel to Ukraine for their Group G qualifier having won one and lost one of their two games. Dynamo top the section with four points, the same as Porto, followed by Chelsea on three and Maccabi Tel Aviv on zero. A win against Kiev will not only help swing the initiative in the group Chelsea's way, but also prove they may be getting back on track after their below-par campaign so far. Their unexpectedly poor form this season has been down to a lack of goals, the underperforming midfield partnership of Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard, unusually bad defending and Mourinho's...

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