Posts of août 2015

De Gea transfer hits stumbling block

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Manchester United's Spain goalkeeper David De Gea was facing an uncertain future after his expected move to Real Madrid was apparently scuppered. ||| Madrid - Manchester United's Spain goalkeeper David De Gea was facing an uncertain future on Tuesday after his expected move to Real Madrid was apparently scuppered when the paperwork did not arrive at the Spanish league on time. As the clock ticked towards the midnight local time deadline on Monday, media reports said Real and United had reached a deal for De Gea to return to La Liga, with Real's Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas going the other way. However, when Spain's professional league (LaLiga) declared the transfer window shut there was still no official confirmation and reports later said that although De Gea had signed his new contract, the relevant documents had not arrived in time for him to be registered. Fifa rules state that players can only be registered during one of two annual transfer periods - the other is in January...

Hernandez makes Leverkusen switch

Bayer Leverkusen signed Mexico striker Javier Hernandez from Manchester United for a reported fee of £7.3 million. ||| Bayer Leverkusen signed Mexico striker Javier Hernandez from Manchester United for a reported fee of £7.3 million ($11 million, 9.9 million euros) on Monday. Hernandez, who spent last season on loan at Real Madrid, agreed a three-year contract with the Bundesliga club just in time to beat the deadline on the last day of the German transfer window. The 27-year-old was on the bench for United's 2-1 defeat at Swansea City on Sunday, but he hadn't started for the Premier League team for more than a year. He returned to United in the close-season after scoring nine goals during his spell with Real, including the winner in their Champions League quarter-final against rivals Atletico Madrid, but manager Louis van Gaal has allowed him to leave permanently this time. “I know two of the biggest leagues in Europe in the English Premier League and the Primera Division in...

Bafana to face Senegal in Mandela Chellenge

Senegal will be South Africa's opponents in the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge on September 8. ||| Senegal will be South Africa's opponents in the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge on September 8, the national football association announced Monday. The friendly match is scheduled for Orlando Stadium, a Soweto ground where 1995 African club champions Orlando Pirates play and the apartheid-era home of South African football. First staged in 1994, the year South Africa held its initial democratic elections, the Challenge commemorates the first black president of the republic and global political icon Mandela, who died in 2013 aged 95. South Africa and Senegal meet three days after playing away in the second round of 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Bafana Bafana (The Boys) face Mauritania in Nouakchott on Saturday a few hours after the Teranga Lions meet Namibia in Windhoek. Senegal are ranked fifth in Africa and 39th in the world and South Africa 17th in Africa and 72nd in...

Monaco striker set to join United

Monaco forward Anthony Martial is poised to join Manchester United after being allowed to leave the France training camp. ||| Paris - Monaco forward Anthony Martial is poised to join Manchester United after being allowed to leave the France training camp to sign his contract on deadline day, the French federation said on Monday. “He asked Didier Deschamps the authorisation to travel to England to sign a contract with Manchester United. Given the exceptional circumstances, the coach has granted that authorisation to the player,” the FFF said in a statement. British media reported that United have offered 36 million pounds ($55.49 million) for the 19-year-old, who scored nine goals in 35 Ligue 1 appearances last season. The uncapped Martial was called up by Deschamps for friendlies against Portugal in Lisbon and Serbia in Bordeaux. – Reuters from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1N45l...

Disjointed United left exposed

As expected the threat to Manchester City's Premier League hegemony emerged in Swansea, and it wasn't Manchester United. ||| As expected the threat to Manchester City's Premier League hegemony emerged in Swansea, and it wasn't Manchester United. An indifferent if unbeaten start to the season fed into a ramshackle display leaving Louis van Gaal seemingly no further forward than he was a year ago. Indeed he may be further adrift - short in goal, short up front, and his talisman captain in no sort of form. A half-functioning Wayne Rooney of old would have buried the chance that fell to him with two minutes to go. The 2015 vintage allowed Ashley Williams to recover when clean through on goal. It was not the first opportunity he squandered as the warm glow of that Bruges hat-trick dissipated in the frenzy of a Premier League afternoon. Swansea did not have to do that much to prosper. They were organised, had a plan and adapted quickly after falling behind. Even when Van Gaal resorted...

Komphela lauds Chiefs for adapting

Coach Steve Komphela says Kaizer Chiefs played more with their heads than with their feet in booking themselves a place in the MTN8 final. ||| The gospel according to Steve Komphela, is that Kaizer Chiefs played more with their heads than with their feet in booking themselves a place in the MTN8 final at the weekend. Amakhosi beat Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 in Saturday’s semi-final, second leg clash at the FNB Sta-dium. “Credit must go to the players for the way they managed the game,” Komphela said in the post match conference of a tie Chiefs won 2-1 on aggregate. “It was one of those games where you could not say we had total dominance. But we played more with our heads than with our feet and we’re happy to have made the final.” Congratulating Celtic for having “left everything on the field”, Komphela said their opposition made it a hard encounter for the defending champions. “One thing they threw at us was the different approach tactically. We had to read and adjust quickly,...

Bilic defends Liverpool’s Lovren

Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren has received alot of flak following the 3-0 defeat against West Ham at Anfield. ||| It was fortunate for Dejan Lovren, in the wake of a stunning 3-0 home defeat, that West Ham manager Slaven Bilic was on hand to give the case for the defence because, on the evidence of the previous 90 minutes, defending was the last thing on the Liverpool centre-half's mind. Only 24 hours before this calamity, Lovren's manager Brendan Rodgers had talked him up, claiming the Croat was about to shake off the malaise of a difficult debut season at Anfield and finally demonstrate why he was signed for £20million from Southampton last summer. The manager's optimism proved wildly misplaced as West Ham ended a 52-year wait for a victory at Anfield, a sequence that stretched back to the September day in 1963 when Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters were on the mark in a 2-1 win. The current Hammers line-up may not boast that pedigree but, with Lovren and his defensive partner...

Mourinho’s threat to stars

Jose Mourinho has promised to not think twice about wielding the axe after seeing Chelsea lose for a second time in four games. ||| Jose Mourinho holds Eden Hazard among those responsible for Chelsea’s stuttering start and promised to not think twice about wielding the axe following their shock home defeat. Hazard, who made the clean sweep of the Player of the Year awards last season, was accused of underperforming after Palace became only the second team to beat Mourinho’s Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Barclays Premier League. Mourinho, who last month described Hazard as better than Cristiano Ronaldo, criticised the 24-year-old winger, saying: ‘If you are the best in the league, I think it should be a good responsibility to have a similar season than in the previous season. ‘I don’t want to analyse individual performances. In general terms, it is difficult to have a consistent performance when some of the players are not performing at a good level. When you have six or...

Shelvey earns England recall

Jonjo Shelvey’s fine early season form has earned him a recall to Roy Hodgson’s squad for the qualifying games against San Marino and Switzerland. ||| Jonjo Shelvey can play his way into England’s Euro 2016 plans after earning a recall to Roy Hodgson’s squad for the qualifying games against San Marino and Switzerland. The Swansea midfielder, who played in the club’s stunning 2-1 victory over Manchester United yesterday, won his last cap against San Marino in 2012. Shelvey is in Hodgson’s 22-man squad because the increasingly influential figure of Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been ruled out through injury. Hodgson said: ‘On this occasion we are obviously missing some players from the June matches.However, this is compensated by the fact we have players who weren’t available over the summer.‘Jonjo Shelvey gets another chance as he has been very impressive since the start of the season, while Ryan Mason has been unlucky with us — he picked up an injury the last time he...

Monk lauds Swansea after United triumph

Swansea City maintained their unbeaten start with am impressive come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Manchester United. ||| London - Swansea City are becoming a force in the Premier League after maintaining their unbeaten start with am impressive come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Manchester United, manager Garry Monk said. Sunday's win was Swansea's third in a row against United and extended an excellent start to the season which began with an opening-day draw at champions Chelsea. “We're a good team,” Monk told Sky Sports. “We're a force in this league and when we're on it and playing our best football we can be unbelievable. “When we weren't playing our best we can do the other side and that's the key to being a good team.” The Welsh club were promoted to the Premier League in 2011 and consolidated their top-flight status under first Brendan Rodgers then Michael Laudrup. They won the 2013 League Cup, their first major silverware, but Laudrup was dismissed and replaced by inexperienced...

Dante in 3-year Wolfsburg deal

Bayern’s Dante is joining Wolfsburg on a 3-year contract, the German champions said on Sunday. ||| Berlin – Bayern Munich central defender Dante is joining Bundesliga rivals Wolfsburg on a 3-year contract after losing his starting spot, the German champions said on Sunday. The 31-year-old Brazil international had asked for a transfer after struggling to get any playing time at Bayern this season despite the absence of several other central defenders through injury or suspension. He was a member of the Brazil team that lost 7-1 to Germany in the World Cup semi-final in in 2014 and struggled for form in the 2014-15 Bundesliga season, spending much of the time on the bench. “Dante just wanted to have the chance to play regularly. We did not want to deny him this wish,” Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. The player, who joined Bayern in 2012 from Borussia Moenchengladbach and was a key part of their treble-winning season in 2013, will need to pass a medical at Wolfsburg...

Hunt warns of Urban Warriors raid

Gavin Hunt concedes his Wits side will have to be vigilant when they face Ajax on Sunday. ||| Johannesburg – Gavin Hunt concedes his Bidvest Wits side will have to be extra vigilant at the back if they are to come out on top in today’s MTN8 second leg semi-final clash against Ajax Cape Town at Bidvest Stadium (3pm). The Wits coach said he hadpaid special attention to his opponents during their first-leg 1-1 draw a fortnight ago. After that performance, Ajax went on to win two of their Absa Premiership fixtures, beating Maritzburg United (3-1) and Free State Stars (2-1), building up to today’s clash. Wits, on the other hand, bounced back from a humiliating 4-2 defeat against Mamelodi Sundowns, following their draw with Ajax, to beat the Team of Choice 2-0 on home turf. But Hunt goes into this match with the knowledge that Ajax are a side that can be beaten. They’ve done it before in their opening match of this season. The Urban Warriors were subjected to a 2-1 defeat a few weeks...

Hunt warns of Urban Warriors raid

Komphela’s patience pays off

Steve Komphela led the Chiefs to the MTN8 final on Saturday, his first since 2004. ||| Eleven years is a long time to wait for a cup final appearance, but Steve Komphela is the patient type. And while many a coach would have been frustrated, Komphela was content to bide his time as he guided some of the country’s unfancied sides to decent performances and finishes. Having long served his apprenticeship, he eventually earned South Africa’s plum coaching job this season, although scepticism abounded – naturally. Last night, he moved a step closer to silencing those who had felt he was not fit enough to lead the country’s most popular side when he led them to the MTN8 final, his first since 2004. Back then, Komphela guided lowly Manning Rangers to the Absa Cup final, where his team fell to Gavin Hunt’s Moroka Swallows. There is a possibility of the two coaches meeting again should Hunt lead Bidvest Wits to victory over Ajax Cape Town in today’s evenly-poised other semi-final. And...

Any Real need for De Gea?

Many will be left wondering if Real need David De Gea after Keylor Navas’s Saturday performance. ||| Madrid – Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas produced another excellent performance for Real Madrid in Saturday’s 5-0 La Liga win at home to Real Betis that may have left many fans of the world’s richest club wondering why they need David De Gea. According to reports in Spanish and British media, Real are poised to pay Manchester United 40 million euros ($44.71m) to buy Spain keeper De Gea, who has not played this season because of the transfer saga, before the latest transfer window closes on Monday. If the deal is confirmed, it will put Navas, who joined Real from Levante for a fee of 10 million euros after a sparkling performance at last year’s World Cup finals, in a difficult position. Known as the “Falcon of Costa Rica” for his agility, the 28-year-old was one of the star players in Brazil and his brilliant form helped the central American nation unexpectedly reach the last...

Arsenal scrape past ten-man Newcastle

Fabricio Coloccini's own goal gifted Arsenal a scrappy 1-0 win over ten-man Newcastle. ||| Arsenal clinched their second Premier League win of the season as Fabricio Coloccini's own goal gifted the Gunners a scrappy 1-0 success at 10-man Newcastle on Saturday. After Monday's goalless draw with Liverpool left them with one victory from their opening three matches, Arsene Wenger's spluttering side were already in danger of being cast adrift in the title race. Although they were below their best again, Arsenal got back on track at St James' Park with the help of hot-headed Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic's latest indiscretion. Referee Andre Marriner had infuriated Wenger when Arsenal were denied an early penalty after right-back Hector Bellerin appeared to have his heel trodden on by Florian Thauvin as he burst into the Newcastle area. But Marriner was back in Wenger's good books in the 16th minute when he sent off Mitrovic after the Serbia international needlessly stamped...

De Bruyne jets off to City

Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne jetted off to England with his club Wolfsburg poised to agree a German record transfer with Premier League giants Manchester City. ||| Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne jetted off to England on Saturday morning with his club Wolfsburg poised to agree a German record transfer with Premier League giants Manchester City. De Bruyne sat out Friday's 3-0 win over Schalke which put Wolfsburg top of the league with club bosses about to agree a reported fee of around £54m before Germany's transfer window closes at 1800 (1600 GMT) on Monday. German broadcaster Sport1 showed De Bruyne boarding a private jet at Braunschweig airport, near Wolfsburg, en route to Manchester shortly before 10am local time (0800). On Friday night, Wolfsburg director of sport Klaus Allofs said there were “only small details” left to finalise in the transfer. The deal will smash the Bundesliga transfer record of 41 million euros that Liverpool paid Hoffenheim for Brazil striker...

Khune ready for long-range rockets

Twice this season, Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has been beaten by long-range strikes from outside the penalty area. ||| Twice this season, Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has been beaten by long-range strikes from outside the penalty area – something unusual for a shot-stopper of his calibre. It all started with a thunderous shot from Bloemfontein Celtic striker Helder Pelembe in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final, with the teams playing to a 1-1 stalemate after Bernard Parker redeemed himself with the equaliser, having missed a penalty earlier. Then followed a beautifully taken shot by Puleng Tlolane, who equalised for Polokwane City to salvage a point against Chiefs during their midweek 1-all Absa Premiership clash. Heading to the second leg of the competition at the FNB Stadium today, Pelembe must be itching to launch another blistering shot to beat Khune. However, the Chiefs shot-stopper has been working tirelessly at training to avoid being beaten...

LVG wants more from United’s attack

Louis Van Gaal has warned Manchester United that they still have to prove themselves as an attacking force in the Premier League. ||| Louis Van Gaal has warned Manchester United that they still have to prove themselves as an attacking force in the Barclays Premier League despite their four-goal cruise in Bruges. The victory on Wednesday that booked United’s place in the Champions League group stage equalled their biggest win under Van Gaal, as Wayne Rooney returned to goalscoring form with a hat-trick. It followed a return of just two goals in the opening three Premier League games and Van Gaal knows they are unlikely to have as many chances at Swansea tomorrow in his 50th match in charge. ‘We played very well against Bruges in ball possession, much better than matches before, but it was because they had to attack so they gave more space. Swansea have a good team so it be very difficult to beat them.’ Van Gaal will certainly expect United to be more ruthless after Javier Hernandez...

Wenger not panicking

Arsene Wenger refuses to panic about Arsenal's spluttering start to the Premier League season. ||| Arsene Wenger refuses to panic about Arsenal's spluttering start even though the Gunners boss admits his side aren't firing on all cylinders. Wenger's men head to Newcastle on Saturday looking to win for just the second time in their first four Premier League matches. A goalless draw against Liverpool on Monday left the north Londoners already lagging five points behind leaders Manchester City after a worrying repeat of the slow opening that eventually doomed their title challenge last season. Wenger acknowledged his players aren't at their best yet, but he cautioned against writing them off too soon. “We have not had the ideal start and we are conscious of that but we want to play 60 games in the season,” Wenger said. “We have played three games now and we have lost one that we should not have lost, but we have to be conscious that the season is not decided yet. “Maybe we are...

LVG out to end Swansea jinx

Louis van Gaal lost his first competitive match as Manchester United manager against Swansea City on the first day of last season. ||| London - Louis van Gaal lost his first competitive match as Manchester United manager against Swansea City on the first day of last season and is expecting another difficult game from the Welsh side on Sunday. Swansea went on to complete the Premier League double over United and the Dutchman is determined to take revenge at the Liberty Stadium. “My first match was against Swansea and we lost, now I have my 50th and I hope we can show we have improved,” Van Gaal told reporters on Friday. “I don't want to lose again. It's the only club we could not beat or gain one point against, I hope we can improve and that we can show that we are better than last year. “It will be difficult but we are better prepared than this time last year.” Towering Belgian Marouane Fellaini is available to play his first Premier League game of the season after serving a...

Milestones for Mourinho

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho reaches two more milestones at the club in their Premier League game at home to Crystal Palace. ||| London - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho reaches two more milestones at the club in Saturday's Premier League game at home to London rivals Crystal Palace. It will be his 200th league match, of which he has lost only 20, and a 100th home league game with only one defeat - by lowly Sunderland in April. “I'm proud of the record but I don't think it has any influence in the future,” Mourinho told a news conference on Friday. “It's not normal, 99 matches in the most competitive league and a defeat could have happened in so many matches.” In his first spell at the club, between 2004-07, Mourinho won two league titles, adding a third on his return last season. Chelsea have made a stuttering start to the new campaign with a win, a draw and a 3-0 defeat by league leaders Manchester City, having conceded seven goals in three games and had two men sent off. The...

Spurs sign S Korean forward

Tottenham Hotspur have signed South Korea forward Son Heung-min from Germans Bayer Leverkusen. ||| Tottenham Hotspur have signed South Korea forward Son Heung-min from Germans Bayer Leverkusen, the English Premier League club announced Friday. Son has signed a five-year deal with the north London side for a reported transfer fee of £22 million ($34 million, 30 million euros), with the 23-year-old's move to White Hart Lane subject to a work permit and international clearance. Son scored 29 goals in 87 appearances for Leverkusen after joining from domestic rivals Hamburg in 2013 for 10 million euros. Leverkusen have already signed his replacement in Slovenia international Kevin Kampl from Borussia Dortmund. Born in Chuncheon, the capital of Gangwon Province, Son - nicknamed 'Sonny' -- joined Hamburg's youth set-up at the age of 16 and first played for South Korea in 2010. His move will give Tottenham an extra forward option, with rising star Harry Kane yet to score this season. Should...

Intruiging MTN8 semis

Kaizer Chiefs take on Bloemfontein Celtic and Bidvest Wits host Ajax Cape Town in their respective MTN8 second leg semi-finals. ||| Cape Town – It's crunch time this weekend as Kaizer Chiefs take on Bloemfontein Celtic and Bidvest Wits host Ajax Cape Town in the MTN8 second leg semi-finals. Both of the first legs ended in 1-1 stalemates, with Chiefs and Wits each getting the away goals. A stunner of a long range drive by Helder Pelembe put Celtic 1-0 up after 33 minutes in the first leg, but a goal on the hour mark by Bernard Parker made amends for his earlier penalty miss and arguably put AmaKhosi in the driving seat for the return game. A 0-0 draw would be enough to take AmaKhosi into the final, while a 1-1 scoreline would take the match into extra time and penalties. Celtic are still looking for their first victory over Chiefs in all competitions since 2009. Victory for the Soweto side on Saturday night would keep them on track for a 16th top eight title, while Phunya Sele...

Tough CL draw for Manchester City

Manchester City drew a difficult Champions League group for the fifth season in a row. Juventus, Sevilla and Borussia Mönchengladbach will make Group D yet another “group of death”. ||| Manchester City drew a difficult Champions League group for the fifth season in a row. Juventus, Sevilla and Borussia Mönchengladbach will make Group D yet another “group of death”, giving Manuel Pellegrini a difficult task as City try finally to make an impression on European competition. In their four previous seasons in the Champions League, City have twice failed to qualify and twice finished second behind Bayern Munich, before being knocked out in the last 16 by Barcelona. While City have avoided those two European giants this season, they have arguably drawn the most competitive group in the whole stage, on a par with their opponents from 2011-12 and 2012-13. Juventus, Italian champions for the fourth year in a row, and beaten finalists in this year's Champions League final, were City's...

Wenger hits back at pundits

Arsene Wenger has accused TV pundits of not doing enough research after Gary Neville’s stinging attack on the Arsenal manager. ||| Arsene Wenger has accused TV pundits of not doing enough research after Gary Neville’s stinging attack on the Arsenal manager. In his role as a Sky Sports pundit, the England coach branded Wenger ‘arrogant or naive’ during coverage of the Gunners’ goalless draw against Liverpool on Monday night. Wenger hit back yesterday, claiming experts are not doing the preparation to justify their assertions. ‘You know in football you have to accept that anybody can be right,’ said Wenger. ‘The only thing I want is that when people have opinions, it is documented and worked out before, especially when it is football specialists. ‘I accept you can be right and I can be wrong. But what you do not want is just an opinion that comes out just because you feel like that. I watch sometimes, the guy doesn’t talk about the game — he tells you his life and what he thinks...

Chelsea stonewalled by Everton

Everton insist the John Stones saga is over after formally rejecting the England defender’s request to join Chelsea. ||| Everton insist the John Stones saga is over after formally rejecting the England defender’s request to join Chelsea. Chairman Bill Kenwright issued a succinct three-paragraph statement last night to re-affirm the stance Everton have taken all summer — that Stones is not for sale. Stones submitted his request on Tuesday in the hope of forcing through a move to Stamford Bridge but Everton manager Roberto Martinez told him during a meeting at the club’s Finch Farm facility yesterday that the club would not grant his wish. As far as Martinez is concerned, it will be a case of business as usual and Stones will be selected for the squad that travels down to London for tomorrow’s clash with Tottenham. It is understood that Chelsea returned with what they regarded to be a fourth and final bid earlier this week — it was in the region of £38million — but with that being...

Sturridge returns to training

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge could be closing in on a return to action after training alongside the first team. ||| Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge could be closing in on a return to action after training alongside the first team for the first time since undergoing hip surgery in the United States in May. The 25-year-old scored five goals in just 18 appearances for the Merseyside club in an injury-hit campaign last season with his last appearance coming in a 1-0 FA Cup win at Blackburn Rovers on April 8. Sturridge went under the knife in New York to fix an issue believed to be behind the various muscle problems he suffered last term but looked to be moving well when he was put through his paces at Melwood on Thursday. Meanwhile, midfielder Lazar Markovic appears set to join Turkish side Fenerbachce on a season-long loan, according to British media reports, with the clubs said to have agreed terms for the 21-year-old. The Serbia international joined Liverpool from Benfica...

Champions League looks less predictable

The Champions League group stages took on a less predictable look after the draw, helped by Uefa's decision to tweak the seeding system. ||| Moncao - The Champions League group stages took on a less predictable look after Thursday's draw, helped by Uefa's decision to tweak the seeding system. Only Group A, where Paris St Germain and Real Madrid should steam through, and Group F, set to be dominated by Bayern Munich and Arsenal, appeared to be foregone conclusions after the hour-long ceremony in Monaco. Other sections looked far more difficult to call, particularly Group D where anything could happen between Juventus, Manchester City, Sevilla and Borussia Moenchengladbach. In past years Uefa have based their seeding system for the draw on club coefficients, a complex ranking based on results in European competition. This time European soccer's governing body brought in a change, the top seeds were the champions of the eight most successful nations in club competition. Real Madrid,...

English Premier League preview

Last season’s top two, Chelsea and Manchester City, are keen to reverse the most striking statistic of the new Premier League season this weekend – and they are not the only ones. ||| Steve Tongue LONDON: Last season’s top two, Chelsea and Manchester City, are keen to reverse the most striking statistic of the new Premier League season this weekend – and they are not the only ones. Of the 30 matches played in the opening three rounds, only six have resulted in home wins, with more than twice as many going the way of the visitors, while the other 11 have been drawn. Even at such an early stage of the campaign, leaders City are one of just three teams with a 100 per cent home record – Swansea City and Liverpool being the others – though each have played just one home match so far. Having beaten champions Chelsea 3-0 in their only game at the Etihad Stadium, City will be confident of seeing off Watford for their fourth successive win of the campaign, although Quique Flores’ promoted...

Messi voted best player in Europe

Uefa has voted Barcelona’s Lionel Messi the best player in Europe for 2014-2015. ||| Monaco - Lionel Messi was Thursday voted Uefa's best player in Europe for 2014-2015 with Germany's Celia Sasic winning the women's award. The Argentina star, who won the Champions League, Spain's La Liga and Spanish Cup with Barcelona, claimed the award for the second time ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez. “I am happy to win the award. I thank all my teammates because they deserve part of it. I depend a lot on the team like everyone else,” the 28-year-old said. Messi also won in 2010-2011 and succeeds Real Madrid rival Ronaldo who won last year. FFC Frankfurt's Sasic, 27, was voted the best women's player ahead of France's Amandine Henry and fellow German Dzsenifer Marozsan. Sasic, who retired last month, was the top scorer in the Champions League which Frankfurt won, the Bundesliga and at the Women's World Cup in Canada where she won the Golden Boot award. AFP from Soccer Soccer...

Defensive worry for Arsenal, Wenger

Arsene Wenger says central defensive pairing Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny remain doubtful against Newcastle. ||| Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says first-choice central defensive pairing Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny remain doubtful for the Gunners' trip to Newcastle on Saturday. Illness and a back injury prevented the pair from playing in Monday's 0-0 draw against Liverpool, with Calum Chambers and Gabriel Paulista filling in for the absent duo. Wenger will be hoping his regular starters can soon return after their replacements were unconvincing in the first half as goalkeeper Petr Cech made two stunning saves with Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho hitting the woodwork twice. “Mertesacker is still ill and we will know more about Koscielny after he has a test,” Wenger said in his Thursday news conference. “Koscielny will have a test today and we'll know more tomorrow,” he added. In Monday's game, Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey had an eighth-minute strike...

Busy period awaits Bafana

Bafana Bafana will play 8 games in a three-month period between September and November. ||| Cape Town – Bafana Bafana enter a hectic period in which they will play almost two matches a month until the end of the year with the busiest phase being in October where Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba's charges will play four games. In total, the South African Men's Senior National Team will play 8 games in a three-month period between September and November. After a somewhat long break, South Africa will head to Mauritania for a CAF Orange Africa Cup of Nations 2017 clash against the home side. That clash is scheduled for Saturday, 5 September. Three days later (Tuesday, 8 September) they will find themselves in Soweto for a date with a tough opponent (to be announced on Monday, 31 August) in the 2015 Nelson Mandela Challenge encounter. That match will played at Lafarge Orlando Stadium and will kick off at 19h00. A month later South Africa will be up against Costa Rica in Central America...

Balotelli blames Rodgers’ tactics

Maverick striker Mario Balotelli blamed his poor Liverpool stint on manager Brendan Rodgers' tactics. ||| Maverick striker Mario Balotelli blamed his poor Liverpool stint on manager Brendan Rodgers' tactics after completing his season-long loan move to AC Milan on Thursday. The controversial player failed to make an impact at Anfield last season, scoring only one goal in 16 Premier League appearances as the club finished sixth in the table. The 25-year-old Italian, who joined Liverpool last season for a reported fee of 16 million pounds ($24.78 million) from Milan, was also criticised for his poor work rate during his time in England. “I take my responsibilities, but the system chosen by Rodgers wasn't suited to my characteristics,” Balotelli said on Milan's official website. The Italy international said he cannot afford to waste anymore chances. “I feel like someone who has put the first part of his career to one side. Played and lived like a boy,” Balotelli said. “I haven't...

Is this Balotelli’s last chance?

Liverpool misfit Mario Balotelli claims he is ready to knuckle down at AC Milan as he bids to fulfil his dying father's wish. ||| Liverpool misfit Mario Balotelli claims he has left his childish ways behind and is ready to knuckle down at AC Milan as he bids to fulfil his dying father's wish of playing for Italy again. Balotelli's return to the Rossoneri on a one-season loan deal has been met with derision in Italy, with pundits and most fans opposed to the striker's return to the club he left only a year ago. Balotelli spectacularly underperformed at Anfield, instead embellishing his reputation as a “liability” – the view of former Reds legend Graeme Souness, among others. Against his own expectations, the 25-year-old has been given a second chance by Milan. But he knows it could be his last with a top club. Coach Sinisa Mihajlovic and Milan have instigated a special code of conduct for Balotelli, a player who in the past has riled fans and clubs with his off-field antics,...

Everton to reject Stones’ transfer request

Everton manager Roberto Martinez confirmed that defender John Stones had handed in a formal transfer request. ||| Everton manager Roberto Martinez confirmed that defender John Stones had handed in a formal transfer request and added the club would reject it on Thursday. Stones, who has four years left on his Everton contract, started during the 5-3 win at Barnsley in the second round of the League Cup on Wednesday, despite formally asking Martínez if he could leave the club. The 21-year-old is a target for Premier League champions Chelsea, who see him as a long-term replacement for the ageing John Terry. Chelsea, reportedly, have had three bids for the young England international rejected so far and could make a fourth before the transfer deadline expires on September 1. Martinez reiterated his stance that Stones would not be sold, saying after the Barnsley game that “... in football as in life, money can't buy everything.” “We have not rejected it (the transfer request) yet...

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