..::Football II::..

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Walcott hails Arsenal's 'big family' but refuses to budge on contract talk

Arsenal striker Theo Walcott remained coy on his future when quizzed following Monday evening's 5-2 win over Reading.

The England striker scored the fifth goal as the Gunners thumped the Royals and at the heart of the visitors' attack. The 23-year-old's contract talks with the club are reportedly stalling over his desire to play centrally but he insisted he expects a resolution soon.

"Talks are ongoing and it's going to be a slow process,” he told Sky Sports. “Like I've said before in recent weeks this takes a long time, but I'm sure something will happen soon."

The Gunners have been widely criticized this week after being knocked out of the Capital One Cup by League Two Bradford City, but Walcott says the squad will stick together.

“We're a big family, we know our qualities, we know it hasn't been good enough in recent weeks, but hopefully we showed people the true Arsenal,” he continued.

"They were some disappointing goals we conceded but going forward we looked very strong and now we've got a busy Christmas schedule."

Walcott’s teammate Jack Wilshere was thoroughly impressed with the striker’s performance, and is hopeful his compatriot will be able to remain at the Emirates Stadium.

“That's between Theo and his representatives and the boss, but hopefully we can sign him up here,” Wilshere said.

"He showed tonight he can play up front and hopefully we can sign him up and he can play up front in the future."

The 20-year-old was also pleased to see Arsenal get back to form with a much-needed win after their disappointing Capital One Cup exit.

“It's been a tough week,” he added. “It was a disappointing result in the week and we knew we had to come here and be strong against a strong Reading team.

“I think we saw the old Arsenal tonight. We played some of our old stuff tonight and we need to continue that going forward."

 

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Tello extends Barcelona deal until 2016

Barcelona forward Cristian Tello has extended his deal with the Blaugrana, the club stated on its official website.

The new contract, which was agreed to last week but only signed on Monday, ties the player to the team until 2016 and includes a 10 million euro release clause.


"I’m very proud and I’m very happy, I’ve dreamed about this since I was a child," Tello said. "I want to return the confidence to those who have confidence in me."

Tello made his first-team debut for Barcelona on Nov. 8, 2011, in a Copa del Rey match against Hospitalet, scoring twice in a 9-0 rout. The 21-year-old La Masia academy product has so far made 23 appearances for the Catalans, scoring five goals in the process.

 

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Fellaini given three-match ban for Shawcross headbutt

Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini has been given a three-match ban for headbutting Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross.

The Belgian clashed with the England international on many occasions during the 1-1 draw between the sides on Saturday, and the FA has confirmed that the midfielder has been charged with violent conduct.

Referee Mark Halsey confirmed that he had not seen the incident in the 59th minute, when Fellaini headbutted his opponent, but stated that he saw other incidents where the midfielder appeared to elbow Shawcross in the 71st minute before pushing him in the face in the 91st minute and deemed neither to be violent conduct.

The player had until Tuesday evening to respond, but both Everton and Fellaini have already accepted the charge, and he will now miss the away game at West Ham and the home matches against Wigan and Chelsea, ruling him out until the fixture against Newcastle on New Year's Day.

"I apologize completely to Ryan Shawcross, my teammates and to our fans at the game," Fellaini said. "There was a lot of pushing and pulling going on inside the Stoke penalty area and I didn't feel I was getting any protection from the officials. Nevertheless I know I shouldn't have done what I did.

"I have also apologized to the manager and the staff. I have no excuses, I was disappointed with the way I was being treated and I lost my temper, which was unprofessional of me."

 

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Liverpool defender Johnson ready to ‘put things right’ against Fulham

Liverpool defender Glen Johnson feels his team need to "put things right" for their 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday by bouncing back against Fulham.

"Any game you lose is disappointing," Johnson told the Liverpool Echo. "It was a great opportunity to pick up three more points and we missed out. We have to put this behind us. It's gone now and there's nothing we can do about it.

"We have a lot of games coming up and we have to look to put things right next weekend."

Paul Lambert's young team held firm for the majority of the game, with the Reds unable to either pass their way around or penetrate the resilient Villans' backline, which again prevailed in a 3-5-2 formation.

Brendan Rodgers' side have now picked up just 12 points from a possible 27 at home this season, carrying on its poor form from last season in which it dropped 30 points in its 19 games at Anfield.

Johnson admits that the club's failure to accumulate victories at Anfield could be the difference between Champions League and Europa League football next season, and says they need to put the defeat behind them quickly.

The marauding right back, whose shot was turned in by Steven Gerrard for a consolation goal, also felt that Liverpool was unlucky to fall behind as they had dominated possession.

"Early on we had so much of the ball and dominated the game. They went in front completely against the run of play," he explained.

He added, "You can say we needed to pass the ball that bit quicker, but sometimes it's difficult to play too quick because you have so much room.

"When you're in loads of room then you are supposed to move into that space. When the opposition are so compact around the edge of the box then your little passes have to be perfect.

"When you have a day like we did when your passing isn't perfect, that makes it very difficult to break them down."

On Saturday, Liverpool welcomes a Fulham side with the second-worst away defense in the league but also know that they themselves will need to be alert at the back as no team outside the top five have scored more goals away from home than the Cottagers this season, with 13.

 

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Jones hails return of Manchester United captain Vidic

Manchester United defender Phil Jones feels the return of team-mate and club captain Nemanja Vidic from his three-month injury has boosted their competitive defensive unit heading into a congested Christmas fixture list in the Premier League.

Vidic has been out for some time for the Old Trafford club, having sat out the majority of last season with a knee injury before suffering another against Galatasaray in September. Jones is happy to see their leader back at the helm and ready to steady them through a busy Christmas schedule.

"It's a fantastic boost for us to have Nemanja back," Jones told reporters. "He's a fantastic player, a great captain and it's important he's back for the busy festive period.

He added, "I enjoy the competition for places, it's great to have a number of players battling for the same position. It keeps people on their toes and keeps us fighting for the shirt."

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson feels it may take time for Vidic to return to his best but knows his presence alone is just as important to a defense that has conceded more goals the both title rivals Manchester City and Chelsea so far this season.

"It will take him a bit of time but that is a start," Sir Alex stated. "He is a warrior and he is our captain. He always battles for you and sticks his head on that ball in the penalty area. That is what he is great at."

United travels to Swansea before hosting Newcastle on Boxing Day, but from then on the fixture list looks rather more straight-forward as it only faces Tottenham from last season's top six.

 

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Mata rues missed chances after Club World Cup defeat

Chelsea star Juan Mata has rued the missed chances that cost the Blues the Club World Cup title after they were beaten 1-0 by Corinthians in Yokohama on Sunday.

Paolo Guerrero scored the only goal of the game with just over 20 minutes to play to consign Rafael Benitez's side to defeat.

Chelsea had overcome Monterrey in the semifinals to face the Copa Libertadores holders and Mata has admitted that he felt optimistic about their chances during the match.

"It couldn't be done," Mata wrote on his Grada 360 blog. "The dream of becoming the club world champions vanished with the final whistle.

He added, "I had a feeling that we were close to clinching the trophy; that we created enough chances to, at least, score; that, although our performance was not brilliant, we were competitive until the very end.

"In fact, it was their goalkeeper, Cassio, who was awarded man of the match thanks to those saves I'm talking about. We knew that Corinthians was a great team: a very physical and competitive side."

Chelsea will now return to England to attempt to revive its fading challenge for the Premier League title.

The European champions raced into top spot in the early weeks of the new campaign but a disappointing run of form led to the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo and a drop to third place.

"It's a tough moment, especially for the Chelsea fans that came to Japan and those who were supporting us from home," Mata continued. "Thank you so much to all of you for your unconditional support.

"I hope we can enjoy good moments and lift more trophies for the club and for you very soon. We're still playing to win four trophies and we will give everything we have to success in each of them."

 

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Ramos: Real Madrid was unlucky against Espanyol

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos believes that luck abandoned his side during the 2-2 Liga draw against Espanyol on Sunday.

Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Fabio Coentrao looked to have given los Blancos a vital win, but a late Juan Albin goal snatched a point for the visiting team.

However, experienced center back Ramos is adamant the team was just unfortunate to not secure three points after dominating most of the match.

"The draw today was not a matter of attitude, from the first minute we were looking for the victory," the 26-year-old told reporters. "Now it is easy to draw conclusions, and in football the result counts. Physically we're fine and the problem today was not a lack of attitude, and the coach may think the same.

"We've had luck in other games, but not today."

 

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Gomez: Winning titles is all that matters to Bayern

Bayern Munich forward Mario Gomez has stressed that winning titles is the only thing that matters to him and his teammates this season.


The Bavarians suffered agony last season, narrowly missing out on both domestic trophies along with the Champions League, and the 27-year-old says the squad is determined to put it right in the current campaign.

"Of course, last season was a big disappointment," he told Kicker. "As with every one of us, I have the desire this year to be champions."

Gomez went on to add that his own personal scoring record in Europe last season counts for nothing, as his team was not able to get its hands on the trophy.

"Before me, only Ruud van Nistelrooy and Lionel Messi managed 12 goals in a Champions League season. But all this does not replace a championship and a trophy. So, the only thing that counts for me this season is becoming champions. "

Injury and the form of Mario Mandzukic have left Gomez playing more of a bit-part role this season at the Allianz Arena, but the Germany international revealed he understands he will have to spend his share of time on the bench due to the strength in depth of Jupp Heynckes' side.

"Our squad is so strong," the 27-year-old added. "Only Barcelona are still ahead of us.

"I can live with the fact that I won't play every game between now and the end of the season. We have three top strikers who have all the right to play. I'm one of those three forwards."

 

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Balotelli takes Manchester City to tribunal over wages fine

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli will face his club at a Premier League tribunal on Wednesday after appealing their decision to fine him two weeks' wages for his poor disciplinary record in the 2011-12 season.

City initially took the action in April after the Italy international was dismissed in the 1-0 defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Balotelli chose to appeal the punishment but the penalty was upheld by a panel made up of City board members. A fine of two weeks' wages is the maximum a club is able to hand out.

Now, the 22-year-old will face a Premier League panel. Reports indicate he will be joined by his Italian lawyer and a representative from the Professional Footballers' Association, while City will be represented by their legal team.

"We try to avoid situations like this wherever possible, but the player and club have not been able to resolve this situation," PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor told the BBC.

Balotelli was sent off three times last season - once retrospectively - and received an additional nine yellow cards, missing a total of 11 matches due to suspension.

After being substituted in the 3-2 defeat against Manchester United, Balotelli was left out of Roberto Mancini's matchday squad for the game against Newcastle United on Saturday.

Mancini admitted that he had omitted the forward purely due to his poor form and urged him to improve his training levels in order to return to the starting XI.

"At this moment, Mario is not in good form and for this reason he is at home," the manager said. "It is only for this reason. To get back into the team he needs to work in training and when he plays, he needs to play well."

 

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Eriksen: I hope I will finish the season with Ajax

Christian Eriksen has insisted that he is in no hurry to leave Ajax, despite frequent rumors linking him with a move away from the Dutch champion.


Speculation continues to mount surrounding the player's future with Europe's big clubs ready to land his signature, and as revealed by Goal.com earlier this month, has emerged as one of Tottenham's primary targets.

However, the 20-year-old has now dismissed any suggestion that he could leave Ajax soon, and is intent on continuing his development with his current employers.

"I've read about it, but they are just rumors," he told Goal.com. "It also depends on what Ajax want. I hope, and I think, I will finish the season with Ajax. Someday, I will take the step [abroad], but I do not know when.

"It depends, of course, on how I feel at that particular time and which clubs come along."

Sunday's 4-2 win over Willem II saw Ajax move a mere point behind joint Eredivisie leaders PSV and Twente.

 

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Real Madrid must evolve after latest Liga setback

La Liga is all but over. Jose Mourinho admitted as much after seeing his side held at home by lowly Espanyol. Later on Sunday, Barcelona's thrashing of Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou ensured the Catalans opened up a nine-point lead at the top of the Primera Division and moved 13 clear of Real. "Barcelona are superior," noted Diego Simeone. And he added: "La Liga is boring".

That's hardly Barca's fault. The Catalans have been brilliant in the league this term, winning 15 of their 16 games and ceding their only points in an entertaining 2-2 draw at home to Madrid which could have been won by either side.

Jose Mourinho's men were excellent that night in early October at Camp Nou, but problems persist for the champion. In fact, things are worse with each passing week for the Portuguese. On Saturday, he was handed a vote of confidence from president Florentino Perez, but just a day later his name was not announced as he emerged on the pitch at Santiago Bernabeu and as he departed some two hours later, it was amid a chorus of jeers.

Just a few months ago, Mourinho's Madrid sealed the best league season in the club's history as the team racked up a record 100 points to claim the championship in some style. But that will seem a distant dream now for madridistas. On Sunday the fans were forced to endure a new nightmare as Espanyol equalized right at the end to claim a point.

And it had been coming.

Madrid, missing Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain through injury, missed chances in the first half but went in at the break on level terms after Cristiano Ronaldo - who had earlier erred - improvised impressively to finish from Sami Khedira's cross moments before the interval.

Psychologically, it was the perfect way to end what had been a largely disappointing first half for the home team and when Fabio Coentrao made it 2-1 shortly after the interval, that appeared to be that.

But Madrid seldom seemed sure of itself and struggled to carve out opportunities against a well-organized Espanyol side which posed plenty of danger on the break. Sergio Garcia had got between Sergio Ramos and Pepe to race clear and rifle home the opener, and the former Spain striker was afforded several more chances in the first 45 minutes.

Madrid, meanwhile, does not seem to know what to do much of the time when the team is forced to take the initiative against a side defending deeply. This is nothing new and Mourinho's men have already suffered this term at the hands of lesser lights such as Getafe, Betis and Celta Vigo. When forced onto the front foot, the champion cannot seem to open up teams as much or as ably as it should and would like. Or as Barcelona does.

Madrid simply does not have the players for a Barca-style passing and possession game, but with creative gems such as Mesut Ozil, Luka Modric, Kaka and Angel Di Maria at the team's disposal, as well as Ronaldo and many more, it shouldn't be such a struggle.

In 2011-12, Madrid consistently overpowered teams with individual brilliance as Ronaldo, Benzema and Higuain all shined at key times, netting a bundle of goals between them, while the other forwards all played their part as well. This term, however, Cristiano has been at his breathtaking best only intermittently, while the two strikers have lacked both form and fitness. Di Maria has been nothing short of a disaster and Kaka has hardly been involved.

Without those magic moments from their individuals and lacking a clear gameplan other than the counterattacking football which can prove so devastating yet needs the opponents to come out and play higher up the pitch, Madrid looks a little lost this time around.

Later on Sunday, the club was given a glimpse of exactly what it was missing as Barca, with the best individual of them all - Lionel Messi - and a defined footballing philosophy, ended Madrid's title hopes and, seemingly, those of Atletico as well with a 4-1 win over Simeone's side at Camp Nou.

No team now looks likely to catch the Catalans in La Liga, but in order to overcome defensive rivals both at home and in Europe for the remainder of this season and beyond, the capital club must add more to its game in the coming weeks and months. It's time for Mourinho's Madrid to evolve.

 

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Benteke's potential is 'frightening,' says Villa boss Lambert

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke has the potential to be "one of the best" according to manager Paul Lambert.

The former Genk man initially struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League after moving to Villa Park in a deadline-day switch back in August. The Belgium international has made great strides recently, though, and was instrumental in the club's 3-1 win over Liverpool, scoring twice and providing the assist for Villa's second goal.

Lambert has been quick to praise the impact Benteke has had on his improving side, and believes the 22-year-old can only get better.

"I don't want too much pressure on him, but he has the potential to be one of the best," Lambert told BBC West Midlands. "The potential for someone as young as that is frightening. He can be anything he wants."

Lambert believes Benteke's assist for Andreas Wiemann's goal was the most impressive aspect of his performance against Liverpool, and he was delighted with the caliber of the strikes netted by his side at Anfield.

"That was a world-class goal. The whole move, the backheel and Andi's finish was fantastic," Lambert said. "The goals were outstanding, worthy of winning any game, especially the second."

 

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Messi deserves the Ballon d'Or, says Ibrahimovic

Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says that Lionel Messi deserves to win the Ballon d'Or, the World Player of the Year award that will be doled out next month.

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are thought to be the front-runners for the coveted award, for which Andres Iniesta is also a finalist, but Ibrahimovic believes that the Argentina international is the clear favorite. Should Messi win, it would be his fourth award in a row.

"Messi is the best player in the world, he deserves the Ballon d'Or," Ibrahimovic told BeIn Sport. "I know he's won it several times, but it is deserved. He plays like he's on PlayStation, it's unbelievable. People who say otherwise either don't know anything about football or are just talking nonsense."

Ibrahimovic also heaped praise upon former Real Madrid midfielder Zinedine Zidane, and says that he aims to have the same positive impact on his team as the legendary French playmaker used to.

"When Zidane stepped onto the pitch, the 10 other guys just got suddenly better. It is that simple," Ibrahimovic said. "It was magic. He was a unique player. He was more than good, he came from another planet. His teammates became like him when he was on the pitch. A player that makes the difference is a player that makes the others better.

"I don't know if we will see others like him. That's my mentality. Make the others better. Because if they are better, I too will be better."

 

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Inter 2-0 Verona: Cassano and Guarin ease Nerazzurri into Coppa Italia quarterfinals

Inter Milan progressed to the last eight of the Coppa Italia after overcoming Verona 2-0 in their round of 16 encounter at San Siro on Tuesday.

Neither team cound find a breakthrough in the first half, but the introduction of Fredy Guarin during the halftime interval changed the course of the match, as the Colombian set up Antonio Cassano for the opener in the 50th minute, before adding the second with a deflected 20-yard effort.

Inter had numerous chances to further extend their lead but was forced to play out the last 10 minutes nervously after goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi was injured with all three substitutes already used, forcing Rodrigo Palacio to mind the net.

The incident came too late for Verona, as it could not take advantage of the misfortune of the Nerazzurri, who now await their opponents in the quarterfinals.

Both sides started the match positively, though it was Inter who fashioned the first chance 13 minutes in. Palacio found himself in a good shooting position on the edge of the box, but elected to square to McDonald Mariga, who could not find the target.

Verona quickly went on the attack, and Juan Jesus was forced to make a timely intervention to snuff out a dangerous cross by Paulo Grossi, who then dinked just wide after collecting the loose ball. The Siena loanee was proving to be a real handful for the Inter defense, and he was at the center of things once again as he released Daniele Cacia for a shot on the turn that brushed off the outside of the post.Cassano then went close with a free kick that was bent the wrong side of the post, before Armin Bacinovic responded in kind for Verona with a set piece that flew just off target.

The best opening of the first half fell Inter’s way just before the interval, as a sublime one-two between Palacio and Ricky Alvarez saw the latter denied from point-blank range by the alert Rafael in the visitors’ goal.

Andrea Stramaccioni threw on Guarin for Mariga to start the second half, and within 10 minutes of his introduction, the midfielder turned the match on its head.
The Colombian won the ball in the Verona half and wasted little time to slip in Cassano, who sprinted clear of the last defender, rounded Rafael, and slotted home to open the scoring.

Guarin was not finished, as four minutes later, he doubled Inter’s advantage when he converted from the edge of the box via a deflection after a neat link-up with Cassano on a set piece.

Verona should have made it 2-1 with 20 minutes left. Alessandro Carrozza’s delivery found Valeri Bojinov inside the area. His first touch took Matias Silvestre out of the equation, but with the goal at his mercy from six yards out, the substitute whacked the ball into orbit. Bojinov would then play the role of provider, flicking for Cacia, whose half volley forced an acrobatic save from Castellazzi, who was forced to hand the gloves to Palacio after injuring himself in the landing.

The Argentine proved to be a more than able deputy between the posts, making an impressive save on Carrozza in stoppage time to preserve the clean sheet for Inter and seal the club's progression.

 

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Augsburg 0-2 Bayern Munich: Ribery red mars Pokal progression after all-Bavarian battle

A goal in each half from Mario Gomez and Xerdan Shaqiri were sufficient for Bayern Munich to down Augsburg 2-0 in the SGL Arena, taking Die Roten into the quarterfinals of the DFB Pokal and keeping alive their hopes of a domestic double.

It was not all plain sailing for Jupp Heynckes' men, however, who had to play almost the entire second half with 10 men following a straight red card for Franck Ribery.

Playing for a place in the last-eight of Germany's domestic cup competition, Bayern started brightly and soon settled into its customary rhythm, spraying the ball around with confidence and looking for the gaps to appear in the home defense.

It was Augsburg, however, which threatened first to open the scoring. An excellent passing move found the feet of Ja-Cheol Koo, who hit towards goal from outside the area. A wicked deflection off the heels of Dante threatened to catch out Manuel Neuer, but the goalkeeper responded with a magnificent save to turn the shot onto the post.

As the half progressed, Die Roten began to look more assured around the Augsburg area. Bastian Schweinsteiger went close with a well-hit effort that whistled past the post of Alex Manninger, while Xherdan Shaqiri also worried the goalkeeper with another shot from distance.

And 26 minutes into proceedings, the visitors found an opening to force themselves into the lead.

Shaqiri played a fluid one-two with Toni Kroos, and opened up the game for Ribery, who had found space on the left. The France international feinted to take on his marker, but opted to send in a low cross that was turned in expertly by Mario Gomez to send the Bundesliga leader 1-0 up.

But Augsburg was not discouraged, and it took another wonderful stop by Neuer to prevent Mulders leveling the encounter after breaking clean through.

The half ended with a flourish, as Bayern looked to press home its advantage. A long-range bomb from Anatoliy Tymoschuk came crashing down off the crossbar, appearing to have crossed the line. There was no whistle, though, and from the resulting rebound Manninger pulled off an inspired reaction stop to deny Schweinsteiger before the midfielder hit his follow-up once more against the woodwork.

Barely a minute after the restart, the game suddenly descended into chaos. Ribery and Koo clashed strongly after the France international took offense at his rival's tackling, and the scuffle peaked with the Bayern man throwing a fist. The South Korean earned just a yellow for his part in the melee, but Ribery was not so fortunate as he saw a straight red card that reduced Bayern to 10 men.

The next few minutes saw rising temperatures on the field, and Tymoshcuk, David Alaba and Dante were all booked for a handful of of uncompromising tackles.

With Bayern rattled and looking for vengeance, the home team took the chance to exploit the numerical advantage. A goal following Werner's free kick was correctly ruled out for offside, before the Augsburg attack was left indignant when a handball from Dante in the area was deemed accidental.

The away team, meanwhile, began to try to take the rhythm out of the game, keeping possession and spoiling Augsburg's attempts to break forward. That is not to say, however, that the league leader did not have chances. Schweinsteiger was again left ruing his luck when he was played in against Manninger, only for Ragnar Klavan to intervene with a perfect last-ditch tackle.

Substitute Mario Mandzukic also squandered a golden chance to kill the game off in the dying minutes, but it mattered not as Shaqiri ended the match with a smart close-range finish to assure passage into the next round.

 

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Sao Paulo announces the signing of former Juventus defender Lucio

Lucio has agreed to a two-year deal with Brazilian top-flight power Sao Paulo, a day after Juventus terminated the contract of the veteran defender.

The 34-year-old will be presented to the clubs' fans on Wednesday at Morumbi Stadium, as the former Brazil international looks to get a new chapter of his career underway.

"A player with this quality and profile will certainly further qualify our squad to compete in the major international competitions we will have next season," Sao Paulo vice president Joao Paulo de Jesus Lopes told the club's official website.

Much is expected of the former Inter defender, who comes with an international reputation and a resume of winning silverware with him. The former Brazil captain not only has a World Cup title to his name, but he also picked up 15 trophies in his 12-year stint in Europe, where he featured for Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Inter and Juventus.

"Lucio is an old dream for Sao Paulo. We came very close to signing him in July, but in the end it wasn't possible," explained club director of football Adalberto Baptista. "Hopefully this time everything has gone well and he gets to add a lot of quality, experience and leadership to our squad."

 

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Roma not willing to sell De Rossi

Roma has revealed that it has no plans to sell midfielder Daniele De Rossi in the January transfer window, despite rumors that he could be leaving Stadio Olimpico.

The Italy international has been out of favor with coach Zdenek Zeman due to the 65-year-old's use of a 4-3-3 formation, but president James Pallotta denied there was any plan to let him leave the the Giallorossi.

"We have no intention of selling him. We’re not in touch with any other clubs, and we have not received any offers. It’s all speculation," Palotta told reporters at a press conference.

Director general Franco Baldini echoed the sentiments of Pallotta and revealed he was laughing at the number of rumors surrounding the player that had appeared in the press.

"The president enjoyed himself this morning by reading about how many clubs we had sold De Rossi to. As I’ve always said, there is no intention of selling him," Baldini said.

The pair also confirmed the arrival of Italo Zanzi as the club's new CEO, and Pallotta admitted that failure to qualify for the Champions League would be a major disappointment.

"The principle objective is to create a good side from now and for the next 10 years and one of the biggest brands in the world," Palotta added. "This year’s target is to qualify for the Champions League and we’ll be disappointed if that doesn't happen."

Palotta added that the club is looking to move away from its iconic stadium and build a new ground that will be up and running "within the next five years".

 

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Dembele: I’m a totally different player to Modric

Tottenham midfielder Moussa Dembele has insisted he is a "totally different player" to Luka Modric, his predecessor in the club's midfield.


Dembele arrived at White Hart Lane in a 15 million euro move from Fulham over the summer following Modric's departure to Real Madrid, leading to comparisons between the pair.

However, while the Belgium international has revealed he is an admirer of Modric, he feels they both have differing styles of play.

"Before I came to Tottenham, I was a big fan of Luka Modric," he told the Daily Mirror. "For me, he was one of the best in England but I am a totally different player. He had different qualities and I have different qualities as well so I don't feel I have to do exactly what he did, I do my own game.

"I try my best to be as important as he was and that would be a great achievement."

Spurs moved into fourth place with a win over Swansea at the weekend and Dembele is keen for them to stay there and seal Champions League qualification.

"I want to win that game and then the next and we will see where we are but of course you want to be at the top of the table," he added. "We want to be there for the Champions League. That's very important for us, because we feel we have the quality to do this. But every game is a battle."

 

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Sneijder sent on early Christmas break

Inter has sent Wesley Sneijder on his Christmas break early as speculation heightens about the future of the Netherlands international.

The 28-year-old has refused to sign a new deal at San Siro and has been left out of the playing squad on numerous occasions by coach Andrea Stramaccioni, as apparent punishment for not committing his future to the club.

The Nerazzurri have two matches to play before the start of their two-week winter break, but Sneijder, along with Philippe Coutinho, has been sent home and will not feature for the club again in 2012.

"It was the last training session of 2012 at the Angelo Moratti center for Philippe Coutinho and Wesley Sneijder today," read a statement on the club's website.

"The two players, at the behest of the club and head coach Andrea Stramaccioni, will rejoin their families for Christmas from tomorrow."

The former Real Madrid man has been linked with a number of clubs across Europe after declining the offer of a pay cut at the Serie A club.

 

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Sniejder man January wala mona karaida danne naha