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Pirates primed for derby delight

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With a busy off-season schedule, Pirates coach Eric Tinkler said that he has not had much time to think about the Carling Black Label Cup.

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With the busy busy off-season schedule that Orlando Pirates have had to go through this month, Pirates coach Eric Tinkler said that he has not had much time to think about tomorrow’s Carling Black Label Cup.

“To be entirely honest with you, up until now I haven’t really thought about (Kaizer) Chiefs, because I’ve been so focused on the Caf Confed,” Tinkler said yesterday.

Tinkler’s side has endured a packed but productive off-season schedule with their involvement in the CAF Confederations Cup. There most recent match was a hard-fought 1-0 win away at CS Sfaxien.

While the consistent games against tough opposition may be seen as an edge against relatively less match-ready Kaizer Chiefs, Tinkler said that player fatigue from the matches and the travelling was a huge concern.

“You’re kind of skating on thin ice at this stage, knowing that a lot of these players haven’t had an off-season,” he said. “It’s vitally important that we get to know the players’ bodies a lot better and get an understanding of how far we can push them.”

For that reason training at the Buccaneers has been light this week:

“I’ve been resting the guys as much as possible so that we ensure we can put on a good spectacle,” said Tinkler.

“Because that’s what people come to expect at the FNB. They want to see a good spectacle. A game that is full of goal-scoring opportunities.”

The previous four Carling Cups have not been high-scoring affairs. Three had to go to penalties, with two remaining goalless by the end of extra-time.

Tinkler said that this was because of the hype and the pressure that players are exposed to. - The Star

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New Arsenal deals for Walcott, Cazorla

Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla have both agreed contract extensions with Arsenal, the club announced.

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England forward Theo Walcott and Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla have both agreed contract extensions with Arsenal, the Premier League club announced on Friday.

Walcott, 26, announced on Twitter that he had signed a four-year contract, but the length of Cazorla's deal was not disclosed.

“We're delighted to have extended the contracts of Santi and Theo,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told the club's website. “Both are top quality players who are hugely important and influential to our squad.

“As well as their huge contributions on the pitch, they both have a great deal of experience and are very popular off the pitch.

“We're very pleased with them both signing contract extensions, as it provides our squad with further stability of quality.”

Walcott tweeted a picture of himself wearing Arsenal's home kit and standing beside the Emirates Stadium pitch, accompanied by the caption: “This is my home! Happy to have signed a new 4 year deal.”

Neither Walcott nor Arsenal revealed financial details of his contract, but British press reports estimated that it is worth around £140 000 ($218,000, 199,000 euros) a week, putting him on a par with the club's top earners.

Walcott missed the early part of last season due to a knee injury sustained in January 2014, making his first appearance in November and his first start in January.

But he finished the campaign strongly, netting a hat-trick against West Bromwich Albion on the Premier League season's final day and scoring the opening goal in Arsenal's 4-0 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup final.

Having signed from Southampton aged 16 in 2006, Walcott is Arsenal's longest-serving current player and has made over 300 appearances for the club, scoring 76 goals.

Playing in a deep-lying midfield role, Cazorla, 30, enjoyed a fine 2014-15 season and was Arsenal's most-used player with 53 appearances.

The Spain international signed from Malaga in 2012 and has made 148 appearances for Wenger's side, scoring 27 goals. – AFP

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LVG’s to-do list

Despite a decent pre-sason tour, Manchester United have crucial issues to sort ahead of the new Premier League season.

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Manchester United’s summer of reconstruction seemed to be going rather well as they made a cluster of new signings just before heading on tour to America.

But two and a half weeks on, and with eight days to United’s opening league game against Spurs, boss Louis van Gaal has some issues . . .

Distracted goalkeeper

United have been playing hardball with David de Gea over his desire to move to Real Madrid and at the moment it would appear to have backfired.

With the season upon us, United should have either sold and replaced him or persuaded him to sign a new contract.

Instead, they find themselves with a distracted player who is short of match practice after beginning this tour with a mystery back ‘injury’ and two back-ups in Victor Valdes and Sergio Romero who, for different reasons, are in no position to play, either.

United’s insistence that they will not accept a cash deal from Madrid for De Gea now looks rather foolish in the wake of the Spanish club’s refusal to do a swap involving central defender Sergio Ramos.

Defensive dilemma

The word from United is that they are no longer in the market for a central defender.

Only time will tell if Louis van Gaal agrees with that but, at the moment, he would appear to be heading towards the Tottenham game with a rather unconvincing looking pairing of Daley Blind and one of Phil Jones or Chris Smalling. Blind is a handy utility player and did well last season at left back and in the centre of midfield but a Premier League central defender he surely is not.

Essentially, he is filling in while the left-footed Marcos Rojo gains match fitness after missing this tour with passport problems. That in itself was a shambolic episode.Rojo has already been fined for not keeping his paperwork up to date but footballers are notoriously disorganised and the fact a Premier League football club was not aware of one of their player’s visa issues is embarrassing.

Di Maria problem

It finally appears as though United’s record signing Angel di Maria is about to join Paris Saint- Germain and United have struck a decent deal by recouping £44m of the £60m spent on him a year ago.

Di Maria’s failure to board a plane to join his team-mates last weekend, however, was allowed to become an issue that overshadowed the final leg of this tour.

For reasons known only to themselves, Van Gaal and executive vice chairman Ed Woodward refused to discuss Di Maria’s absence. The United manager declared, rather peculiarly, after Wednesday’s game against PSG that he didn’t know where the South American was.

The chances are that wasn’t true and United were keeping quiet so as not to antagonise Di Maria’s agent Jorge Mendes, who also looks after De Gea.

Whatever the case, the whole episode left United looking unable to control their own players and that is never good.

Striker light

Is it possible to win the Premier League with only one true goal-scorer in your squad? It seems that United are about to find out. This time last year, Van Gaal was packing his squad with traditional centre forwards, adding Radamel Falcao to a squad that already contained Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.

With Falcao and Van Persie jettisoned, it seems peculiar that Van Gaal isn’t seeking to replace them with at least one world-class striker. United have bought one offensive player in Memphis Depay, although he is young and unaccustomed to the Premier League, and are still expecting to replace Di Maria with Pedro from Barcelona.

Rooney, meanwhile, remains United’s talisman and their most important player. But asking him to score 25 goals this season seems an awful lot for a player who hasn’t actually done that for some time now.

When you consider that Chelsea and Manchester City will head in to the season with players like Diego Costa and Sergio Aguero leading the line, then United’s options begin to look a little thin.

Reasons to be cheerful

All is not lost, of course. United still have a month to add to their squad and they certainly have the money to do something special in the transfer market.

Equally, Van Gaal would appear to have made some astute additions already.

The United manager believes Depay is one of the best young players in Europe and the Dutchman has certainly looked rather special on this tour of America.

Depay appears technically excellent and intelligent enough to play in different positions.

Already he looks to be forming some kind of understanding with Rooney.

The effectiveness of Bastian Schweinsteiger will depend on the German’s ability to stay fit, but the signing of Italian full back Matteo Darmian and midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin appears to have brought United quality in key positions.

The unheralded Darmian looks perfect for the Premier League in build, temperament and efficiency. He can play at left back as well, if necessary.

If only he could play in goal. – Daily Mail

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Nothing friendly about Soweto derby

Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler says a derby match against Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs is always fiercely contested.

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Johannesburg – Despite the match being akin to a pre-season friendly with fan-chosen starting line-ups, Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler, speaking ahead of the Carling Black Label Cup clash against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Saturday, says a derby match is always fiercely contested.

“A game between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is never a friendly. It’s the derby. Nobody likes losing it,” said Tinkler.

“We’re going out there to win it because that’s what the fans want, that’s what the fans demand. I’ve tried to instil a winning mentality here with the (Pirates) players, irrespective of whether we are playing a competitive match or a friendly. We always play to win, and that won’t be any different on Saturday.”

While most teams enjoyed a well-deserved rest from competitive football in the off-season, Pirates kept hard at work as they have continued on their way through Caf Confederation Cup Group assignments.

As a result, Pirates are match-fit and may be close to exhaustion from their unrelenting run of matches. Tinkler said the lead-up to the derby match would be about giving his players as much rest as possible to ensure they are fresh for the weekend.

“The last two days I’ve been resting the guys as much as possible so that we can put on a good spectacle. That’s what people expect at FNB stadium in a game that is full of goal-scoring opportunities and entertainment. We want to provide that, and the only way we can is if our players get enough rest.”

It will be the fifth staging of the pre-season Cup match, and Pirates have won the event three times while Chiefs have tasted victory just once. Tinkler said the fans would look forward to a pulsating, high-scoring affair.

“People want to come and watch a good, entertaining game of football. When we refer to entertainment, we refer to goals. People want to see goals scored and we want to provide that. We try to do that in all the derbies, but a lot of hype and pressure is put onto players on derby day. There is slightly too much pressure placed on the players when it comes to derbies and players need to be given more freedom and ability to express themselves.” - ANA

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Humbled Khune to rejoin Chiefs

Matshelane Mamabolo says Itumeleng Khune's return to Kaize Chiefs proves power has shifted from the players back to club bosses.

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The return of Itumeleng Khune to Kaizer Chiefs spells a death-knell for ‘player power’ and puts the club bosses back in control of the game.

In an era where players demand – and often get – exorbitant salaries, the fact that a player of Khune’s calibre has failed to find a club will send a clear indication to the players that the clubs will not be held to ransom.

Chiefs yesterday reported, on their website, that the country’s No1 goalkeeper will once again be turning out for them.

“The club has reached an agreement in principle with goalkeeper Itumelng Khune and he will be joining us,” read the www.kaizerchiefs.com statement “Some internal procedures still need to take place though and then the deal will be 100percent finalised.”

Khune’s return to Chiefs will no doubt be humbling to a player who seemingly expected to have clubs fighting over his signature when he decided not to renew his contract unless his demands were met.

Yet with Chiefs making it clear during the off-season that they were not going to pander to the whims of the goalkeeper they had groomed from an early age, or any player for that matter, the battle lines between players and clubs were drawn.

Back then, a clearly incensed Kaizer Motaung – the Chiefs owner and chairman – had accused Khune of trying to dictate to them, saying the goalkeeper had been ill-advised.

“We cannot be held to ransom by anyone. It does not take one or two players to make a team, it takes a helluva lot of players to make a team. So therefore we cannot be held to ransom. That is a message that is very clear to everybody irrespective of who the players are,” Motaung had said when announcing the departure of Khune, Tefu Mashamaite and Mandla Masango from the club.

With their international stature, the trio would ordinarily have had the rest of the Premiership – and possibly international clubs – chasing after their signatures.

But you knew that was not going to happen when even Mamelodi Sundowns – the club that revolutionised player salaries by paying telephone number-type wages – said through their coach Pitso Mosimane that they couldn’t afford them.

“I believe Khune is the No1 goalkeeper in the country. But it’s not easy to sign the player, you know. If you want to sign a player, you must also afford him,” Mosimane said “Not to say they are not good. But for the number of minutes you play and the amount of money you earn, I cannot justify, as a coach, to say I can keep this player.”

And Chiefs were adamant on their stance that Khune, and the other players, will need to humble themselves if they were to return to Naturena.

Said team manager Bobby Motaung during the pre-season: “They have been playing hardball and making ridiculous demands. In life you must humble yourself. They have attempted to meet with us, but we are in pre-season. We are moving on as an organisation; we have a team that needs to be prepared. If they come here, they must have an understanding of what they want. They are free, they don’t have contracts, so if there are clubs out there, why don’t they sign them?”

While Khune had seemingly priced himself out of the market, Masango was reported to have turned down Black Aces.

The latter, according to yesterday’s statement by Chiefs, is still in negotiations with the club.

“Mandla Masango’s talks with the club are still ongoing and we will update you.”

Khune’s tweet ahead of his meeting with Chiefs yesterday was very telling. The goalkeeper said to his followers: “By walking into the boardroom like this (smileyface) please wish me luck good people. I hope all goes well, God is great.”

If the country’s No1 goalkeeper needs luck in negotiations, what hope is there for the rest? The power has clearly shifted to the club bosses. - The Star

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Mario barred from Reds first-team

Mario Balotelli has been told he has no future with Liverpool and the striker is training away from the first-team squad.

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Mario Balotelli has been told he has no future with Liverpool and the striker is training away from the first-team squad along with Fabio Borini and Jose Enrique, whom the club are also looking to offload this summer.

Balotelli, 24, was not on the pre-season tour to Thailand, Australia and Malaysia, and neither has he been included in the squads for the friendly games against HJK Helsinki in Finland tomorrow or Swindon Town on Sunday.

The club want £10m for a player who cost them £16m to sign last summer and they anticipate that any deal will probably go to the final day of the transfer window on 1 September.

Rarely in the past has Brendan Rodgers asked members of the senior squad to train separately - Luis Suarez did so after his demand to leave the club in the summer of 2013 - but the Liverpool manager has told Balotelli that he does not want him around the first team.

It is telling that, although Rickie Lambert's departure to West Bromwich Albion is imminent, the Englishman is still part of the first-team group in training.

Lambert's deal is in the final stages with the negotiations now over the structure of the £3m payment from West Bromwich. There has been interest from Norwich City and Leicester City in Lambert but West Bromwich have always been the key contenders for his signature.

The future for Balotelli is less certain. Liverpool's asking price is far too high for Bologna, who have expressed an interest, and the likelihood is that a solution will be found by the player's agent Mino Raiola, who has moved him before. There has been no official approach to Liverpool over Borini from West Ham. Enrique's future is also uncertain, with no major interest in him yet.

The Helsinki game is Rodgers' main focus and he has named a strong squad. The likelihood is that Christian Benteke, the £32.5m signing from Aston Villa, will make his debut against Swindon on Sunday. That will possibly be Roberto Firmino's debut too - he is also not travelling to Helsinki. – The Independent

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Gunners out to make statement of intent

Arsenal finished third in the Premier League last season, 12 points behinds champions Chelsea.

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London - Old rivalries will be renewed when Arsenal play Chelsea in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday, with the Gunners hoping to prove they are the real deal and finally a match for the Premier League champions ahead of the new season.

Arsenal won the FA Cup for the second successive year in May but finished third in the Premier League last season, 12 points behind winners Chelsea.

Having signed Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, who won four Premier League titles and the Champions League during 11 years at Stamford Bridge, the Gunners should now possess the solidity at the back to complement their free-flowing attack.

While Cech will go from Chelsea friend to foe in the traditional season-opening match between the Premier League champions and FA Cup winners, the loveless relationship between the two managers gives the fixture added spice.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger appeared to push Jose Mourinho during a touchline spat last season, while the Chelsea boss described the Frenchman as “a specialist in failure” in 2014.

Mourinho, however, expects the Gunners to challenge for the title this season after assembling a squad that contains the likes of 42 million pounds ($65.54 million) playmaker Mesut Ozil and 35 million pounds forward Alexis Sanchez.

“If you add up the amounts clubs have spent in the last three or four years, I think maybe you will find a surprise,” Mourinho told reporters.

“It's a fantastic squad with good players, fantastic goalkeeper, they are more than ready to be title contenders.”

Chelsea, who beat Arsenal 2-1 in the last Community Shield meeting between the two sides in 2005, have injury concerns over striker Diego Costa and defender Gary Cahill.

Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 in last year's Community Shield but the north Londoners will be without forwards Sanchez and Danny Welbeck for the trip to Wembley.

Wenger's winless run against Mourinho stands at 13 games but the Gunners have enjoyed a strong pre-season, scoring 14 goals and conceding once as they won the Asia Trophy and Emirates Cup.

“We know we will be better and we work very hard to better,” Wenger told reporters.

“Let's not forget that Chelsea won the Premier League with a comfortable distance last year.

“There was still a gap between them and the others but the desire is to improve and to move up there to fight for the championship. Let's start well and try to give our best.” – Reuters

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Flamini thanks Chelsea for ‘good favour’

Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini has stoked the fires ahead of the Gunners' Community Shield meeting with Chelsea.

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Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini has stoked the fires ahead of the Gunners' Community Shield meeting with Chelsea on Sunday by saying the champions have done them a “good favour” by selling Petr Cech.

The Czech goalkeeper ended an 11-year stint at Stamford Bridge after moving across London to the Emirates Stadium last month for a fee of £10million (14.2m euros; $15.6 million dollars).

“I was surprised by (Chelsea boss Jose) Mourinho because he really doesn't do that,” Flamini told British media on Thursday.

“He (Mourinho) is a competitor and usually doesn't like to sell any players to his rivals, but it's a good favour for us and now we have to take advantage.

“It's a top signing. That's why we have been lucky on this one,” added the French midfielder.

The 33-year-old Cech was allowed to move from west to north London – despite Mourinho's reluctance to let him go – after losing his place in the Chelsea side to Belgian international Thibaut Courtois.

And Cech, who made nearly 500 appearances for Chelsea, will face the surreal task of playing against them for the first time in his career when his new club meets his old one on Sunday at Wembley.

Arsenal, who finished third in the Premier League last season, 12 points behind champions Chelsea, face an early test of their title credentials for the upcoming season, but 31-year-old Flamini believes the acquisition of Cech could prove crucial.

“It's very important. Not only for his quality but also for his character,” added Flamini.

“When you play at the top level, the leaders on the pitch make the difference.

“Not only when things go well but especially when things go bad. So, for us, Petr Cech is a top signing.

“He is someone with character, someone with a winning mentality.”

Cech is Arsenal's only major signing so far this summer, but having spent big money on the likes of Danny Welbeck, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez in recent seasons, Arsene Wenger's side -- who won the FA Cup last season for the second consecutive campaign – are once again considered as potential challengers for the Premier League title.

Arsenal downed Manchester City 3-0 in last season's Community Shield. – AFP

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Shabba promises to lead by example

Kaizer Chiefs captain Siphiwe Tshabalala says having the job doesn’t necessarily give him a start in the team.

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Newly appointed Kaizer Chiefs captain, Siphiwe Tshabalala, says having the job doesn’t necessarily give him a start in the team – but he knows he should lead by example, and this will make him work extra hard to earn a place.

“There are no guarantees, me leading the team doesn’t mean I’ll be a favourite to play. I need to lead by example, I need to work very hard and I need to be disciplined. And I’ve been doing that, being a good example,” said Tshabalala. “For me it is a challenge; if I was working hard, now I will have to work harder. I will definitely achieve that with the help of my teammates.”

Tshabalala was announced as captain on the club’s website on Tuesday, and he will be leading the team with a committee of other six players – Lorenzo Gordinho, Morgan Gould, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siboniso Gaxa, Tsepo Masilela and Willard Katsande.

The 30-year old winger takes over the armband from Tefu Mashamaite, who became Itu-meleng Khune’s successor after the goalkeeper was injured last season. However, both players have since been released by Chiefs.

“Both Itu (Khune) and Masha (Mashamaite) did very well. They led the team to the success we currently have. But now it is a new challenge for me this season. Obviously, new beginnings, new goals and we will work very hard. I have support from my teammates and we have a committee of good leaders, who will help make my job easier.

“We have a committee that consists of seven players. In a sense we are all captains as we are the ones who’ll look after the players’ interests and talk to management. We are the link between the players and management,” Tshabalala explained.

Shabba, as Tshabalala is affectionately known, is one of the most experienced players in the Amakhosi team. Since arriving from Free State Stars in 2007, he has earned 286 caps and scored 41 goals.

After winning the MTN 8 and the Championship title last season, the winger reckons they will have to work extra hard in the new season to make sure they retain their trophies.

“Obviously having done well last season, there is a lot expected from us. And we accept that; we are very determined to do well and improve where we didn’t do well last season. So this season is going to be huge in that we want to defend our two trophies and compete for anything else on offer.

“All the teams will be coming for us; we will be the hunted. We are ready and respect each and every opponent. Each and every game is important to us. We won’t single out any team and say this is the best team to play against. All the teams have quality and made things difficult for us last season, so this season will be the same.”

Tshabalala will lead Chiefs for the first time when they face arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in the Carling Black Label Cup at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

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De Gea saga not helping United

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal conceded that uncertainty surrounding David De Gea was “not favorable”.

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Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal conceded that uncertainty surrounding David De Gea was “not favorable” as the Premier League giants ended their US tour Wednesday with a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

De Gea, who is reportedly Real Madrid's top summer transfer target, gave a shaky goalkeeping display as the French champions exposed United's defense with soft first-half goals by Blaise Matuidi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Van Gaal is hopeful United will retain the services of De Gea this season but acknowledged the rumors swirling around the star goalkeeper were not helpful to either the play or the club.

“We have a situation that is not favorable for David De Gea, but neither for us and neither for the club (Real Madrid) that maybe he wants to go (to),” said van Gaal after United's defeat at Soldier Field.

The veteran Dutch coach was reluctant to be too critical of the Spaniard's performance however.

“Poor I cannot say, but he made a mistake. That's not poor,” van Gaal said.

“Everybody can make mistakes but when a goalkeeper makes a mistake it is mostly a goal and that's the difference.”

Despite the loss van Gaal said he was pleased with United's performance as they build towards their season-opening clash with Tottenham on August 8.

“I'm really satisfied about the performance. You lose, maybe that's also good, because last year we have won everything (in the USA) and then we lost the first match against Swansea,” van Gaal said.

“Maybe now the sequence is a bit different but I'm not superstitious. I think in the first half we have created more chances than PSG and they have created only chances with personal errors and you cannot fight against personal errors.

“When you're playing against top level, and PSG are top level, then they can score out of these kinds of errors and they can finish the game. A top team can do that. Chelsea can do that, PSG can do that.”

United had been aiming to maintain their 100 percent record after registering wins over Club America, San Jose Earthquakes and European champions Barcelona in their three previous tour games

However, van Gaal's men were undone by two goals from PSG which highlighted the defensive frailty of the squad, even after the arrival of several high-profile signings.

United began promisingly, stroking the ball around comfortably and probing for openings against the Parisian defenders.

The Red Devils got the ball in the net after 22 minutes when Juan Mata prodded home Daley Blind's exquisite through ball, only for it to be ruled offside.

But three minutes later, PSG struck at the other end when a long ball forward caused havoc in United's defensive unit.

French international Matuidi raced forward and got between Luke Shaw and Phil Jones to toe-poke home past the onrushing De Gea to make it 1-0.

PSG doubled their lead nine minutes later with a well-worked goal that came all too easily for the French champions.

Ibrahimovic picked up the ball in midfield and released Maxwell down the left flank.

The Brazilian fullback advanced and then calmly picked out Ibrahimovic with the return pass for the Swedish star to slot past De Gea.

The build-up to the match had been dominated by speculation surrounding United's unsettled Argentine star Angel Di Maria, who is expected to complete a move to PSG imminently.

PSG coach Laurent Blanc suggested afterwards the saga may be nearing an end.

“Wait and see,” Blanc said. “Two big clubs are negotiating, the negotiations are difficult but I truly think we are close to a conclusion.” – AFP

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PSG beat United in Chicago

Paris Saint-Germain beat Manchester United 2-0 in their International Champions Cup clash in Chicago.

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Blaise Matuidi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored first half goals as Paris Saint-Germain beat Manchester United 2-0 on Wednesday in their International Champions Cup clash in Chicago.

The game between the two sides was shrouded in a bubbling controversy with Manchester United without Argentine winger Angel Di Maria, who is reportedly seeking a move away from the English Premier League side with PSG a likely destination.

The victory for the French team moved them to the top of the invitational 10-team competition along with New York Red Bulls on 10 points.

PSG, who had lost their last game to Chelsea, created the early opportunities at Soldier Field, as Ibrahimovic zipped a great scoring chance over the crossbar within the first few minutes.

United, who defeated Barcelona on Saturday, however thought they had opened the scoring when midfielder Juan Mata had the ball in the back of the net but it was ruled out for offside.

PSG struck in the 25th minute, where Matuidi made a run into the box and sent a shot past goalkeeper David De Gea.

Ibrahimovic doubled the lead in the 34th minute when the Swedish forward took a cross from Maxwell and finished from close range. – Reuters

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Mourinho hits back at Benitez

Jose Mourinho has launched a stinging attack on Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez after the Spaniard's wife teased the Chelsea boss.

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London - Jose Mourinho has launched a stinging attack on Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez after the Spaniard's wife teased the Chelsea boss by saying her husband was always having to tidy up messes left by the Portuguese.

Montserrat Seara triggered the attack after Spanish newspaper La Region published her light-hearted remark following Benitez's appointment at the Bernabeu last month, the third time he has joined a club previously managed by his rival.

Mourinho was clearly not amused and speaking to reporters after Chelsea beat European champions Barcelona on penalties in a Washington friendly, he delivered a withering straight-faced response.

“The lady is a bit confused,” he said after the match that ended in a 2-2 draw. “I am not laughing...

“Her husband went to Chelsea to replace Roberto Di Matteo and he went to Real Madrid and replaced Carlo Ancelotti.

“The only club where her husband replaced me was at Inter Milan where, in six months, he destroyed the best team in Europe at the time.

“For her also to think about me, and to speak about me, I think she needs to occupy her time.

“And if she takes care of her husband's diet, she will have less time to speak about me.”

Benitez was hired by Inter Milan in 2010 after Mourinho had led an aging team to a European and domestic treble before leaving for Real Madrid. The Spaniard was dismissed after six months, with the club down in seventh place in Serie A.

The Spaniard also managed Chelsea on an interim basis, succeeding Roberto Di Matteo in 2012, five years after Mourinho's first spell ended, when the Italian was sacked six months after winning the Champions League.

His spouse's comments appear to have rekindled a bitter feud between the two men that dates back to his time in charge at Liverpool, when he clashed with Mourinho several times between 2005 and 2007.

Defending Premier League champions Chelsea begin their domestic campaign on Sunday when they meet last season's FA Cup winners Arsenal in the Community Shield at Wembley.

However, they may go into that match without England defender Gary Cahill, who suffered a suspected broken nose when he scored Chelsea's second goal, and Spain striker Diego Costa, withdrawn due to a slight hamstring strain. – Reuters

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Tshabalala named Amakhosi skipper

Kaizer Chiefs appointed Siphiwe Tshabalala as their captain for the 2015/2016 Absa Premiership season.

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Kaizer Chiefs yesterday offered the strongest hint yet that they are ready to move on without their out-of-contract senior players who are still to find new clubs when they appointed Siphiwe Tshabalala their captain for the 2015/2016 Absa Premiership season.

Tshabalala, an Amakhosi veteran, takes over the armband from central defender Tefu Mashamaite who did not renew his contract in the hope of a move overseas. But after failing to secure a deal in the American Major League Soccer with New York City as well as in Cyprus, there is a possibility of Mashamaite returning to the local league.

If he does come back to South Africa and Chiefs, the central defender, who was last season’s star at both the league and club awards, will have to return to being just a normal player.

Ditto for Itumeleng Khune, the goalkeeper who previously captained Amakhosi before Mashamaite was elevated. Like the defender from Limpopo, Khune has not renewed his contract at Chiefs but with no clubs able to match his salary demands there is a chance he might be back at Naturena.

In appointing the player popularly known as Shabba as their skipper, Amakhosi have shown just how much they value loyalty – Tshabalala has been at the club since 2007 when he joined from Free State Stars.

A popular player with the fans, the player best known for scoring the 2010 World Cup’s opening goal expressed delight at his appointment.

“It is a great honour to be chosen to lead such a great club,” he said on the club’s website. “I am happy to form a part of the illustrious names that captained Chiefs in the past and I will do my best with the support of my colleagues.”

According to kaizerchiefs.com, coach Steve Komphela has no doubt the club has appointed the right leader in the 30-year-old left-footed midfielder.

“It is an honour that comes with a great responsibility for Shabba. He is capable. I think he will deliver as expected. Shabba has immense leadership qualities and more so, he works with a captain’s committee that will support him in his duties.”

The committee Komphela was referring to include senior players Tsepo Masilela, Morgan Gould, Pa Gaxa, Willard Katsande, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and (the not-so-experienced) Lorenzo Gordino.

Tshabalala couldn’t have asked for a better time to take over as the club’s official captain, his first match as Amakhosi’s leader being Saturday’s Soweto derby against rivals Orlando Pirates in the Carling Black Label Cup at the FNB Stadium.

He has been around for too long though to be fazed by the challenge and is actually looking forward to leading Chiefs to further glory.

“I will have to do extra weight- lifting and gain muscles to lift trophies for our supporters and the club,” Tshabalala quipped. - The Star

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Wenger, Jose rivalry starts again

Arsene Wenger has hit back at Jose Mourinho's comments about Arsenal's spending, signalling the start of another season of their rivalry.

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Arsene Wenger has hit back at Jose Mourinho's comments about Arsenal's spending, signalling the start of another season of their timeless rivalry. Whether it is psychological warfare or petty sniping is a matter for debate, but the two meet in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday and the build-up has already begun.

Mourinho opened festivities this week when he said that, despite Arsenal's frugal reputation, any examination of their spending would produce “surprising” results. Wenger spent £42m on Mesut Özil in 2013 and £35m on Alexis Sanchez last year.

The accusation of “buying success” is one which Wenger has traditionally directed at other clubs and so the Arsenal manager was especially keen to defend himself against it yesterday. The club, he said, had improved players far more than simply buying them. “I believe that one day, if you make real statistics of the players we have developed here, and you compare them to all the other clubs, you would be surprised.”

He added: “We do not listen too much to what people think or say. We spend when we think we have to spend and just try to make the right decisions. When you have the money available, we spend it. When we don't have it, we don't spend the money we haven't got.”

Wenger's use of the phrase “you will find a surprise” echoed Mourinho's comments on Monday which included the observation that: “If you add up the amounts clubs have spent in the last three or four years I think maybe you will find a surprise. If you put Özil plus Alexis Sanchez, plus [Calum] Chambers, plus [Mathieu] Debuchy, you will find a surprise.”

Wenger also noted that Mourinho was now accusing him of being the opposite of the traditional voice of frugality regularly begged to spend more money by Arsenal supporters, often in rather blunt terms. “You must not listen too much to what people say because, sometimes in the same week, I get two different reproaches: one is that I don't spend too much and another is I spend too much,” he said.

“If you want to create success - which we want desperately - [the way] is to focus on what happens inside. Just try to do as well as we can and believe in the football we want to play and play it as well as we can and let other people talk.”

Sunday will be Petr Cech's semi-competitive Arsenal debut following his move from Chelsea and Wenger is confident that his new goalkeeper will improve the team.

“He can improve the level of communication at the back and bring his experience to the defence - and a calmness as well, in some heated situations, into our team. On both fronts, his communication, his individual class and, I think, his calmness will be vital. It's important you are calm.” – The Independent

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Sherwood continues Villa revamp

Jose Angel Crespo has become Aston Villa's seventh close-season signing after sealing a move from relegated La Liga side Cordoba.

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London - Jose Angel Crespo has become Aston Villa's seventh close-season signing after sealing a move from relegated La Liga side Cordoba, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old defender has signed a three-year deal to join Villa, who finished one place above the relegation zone last season following manager Tim Sherwood's appointment in February.

Villa's other new faces include Scott Sinclair and Micah Richards from Manchester City, Idrissa Gueye from Lille and Jordan Ayew from Lorient.

“Jose is a player who has been on our radar for some time and we're really pleased to secure his signature,” Sherwood told Aston Villa's website (www.avfc.co.uk).

“He is an experienced player who has played in La Liga and Serie A - two of the strongest leagues in the world - and from speaking to him, I know he can't wait to play for Aston Villa.”

Crespo, who has been capped by Spain at under-21 level, previously played for Sevilla and Racing Santander in Spain and Padova, Bologna and Verona in Italy. – Reuters

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