..::Football IV::..

[Wolverine GTR]

De Gea confident Man Utd will have a 'great season'

David de Gea is optimistic about Manchester United's chances of challenging for silverware in 2016-17.

The club endured a disappointing 2015-16 campaign as they missed out on Champions League football, finishing fifth in the Premier League table under the management of Louis van Gaal.

De Gea is confident that he and his team-mates will improve this term, though, following the arrival of Jose Mourinho as manager and the signings of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly.

"We feel that [it could be a special campaign]," De Gea told the official United website."We feel really strong with the new manager and new players, they're really top players and I think this is going to be a great season."

United get their season underway in the Community Shield against Leicester City on Sunday and De Gea expects the reigning champions to pose a stern test."Of course, it's good to be fit as soon as possible because on Sunday we have an important game against Leicester," he added.

"They'll be tough opponents for sure, they have a strong team and we know how they play. They play really well; we'll need to be fit and play really good football to beat them."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Messi keen to discuss Argentina future with Bauza

Lionel Messi is keen to hold talks with new Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza over his future with the national team, Goal understands.The Barcelona star announced his retirement from international football following his country's defeat in the Copa America final by Chile in June.

The replacement of former boss Gerardo Martino by Bauza, however, has sparked speculation he could be convinced to reverse his decision ahead of the World Cup in 2018.

Bauza will travel to Barcelona next week and Goal has learned that Messi's desire to meet him has played as much of a part in that arrangement as Bauza's own hope that he can be persuaded to return.Sources close to Messi have told Goal that no decision has been taken on a comeback yet but that could change if his meeting with Bauza is positive.

"We have had no contact with Messi, or any of his family," Bauza told Fox Sports on Tuesday."The idea is that once I have met with the [interim Argentine Football Association president] Armando Perez, I will make a trip to have a chat [with Messi].

"It is not about convincing him of anything, just to chat about football."Those of us who were players know how frustrating it is to lose a final. I will let him know my way of working – not just him, but other senior players too.

"There is not much time. If Messi knows anything clearly, it is what he must do on the pitch, and what decisions he should take."Between the two of us we could see how he could help the national team, and if he can continue with all this commitment that I have seen from outside."

Messi has earned 113 caps for Argentina and scored 55 goals. He won an Olympic gold medal in 2008 but has lost three Copa America finals and one World Cup final.

 

[sri D]

me sunday match ekak tynawa neda man utd. lata?

 

[Wolverine GTR]

me sunday match ekak tynawa neda man utd. lata?

Ow bro Community Shield against Leicester City
​

 

[sri D]

Ow bro Community Shield against Leicester City
​

ela ela..
Olympic football wala update ekakut daamu..

 

[King GBN]

AC Milan Sold For $828 Million To Yonghong Li

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Bayern will not pay Lewandowski 'crazy' wages

Bayern Munich are ready to offer Robert Lewandowski a new and improved deal, but the Bundesliga champions will not be paying their star striker "crazy" wages.

The Poland international's existing contract runs until June 2019, but Bayern are keen to reward him for his fine performances since his transfer from Borussia Dortmund in 2014 amid interest from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Although talks are well under way, Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge suggested negotiations could be drawn out over wage demands."We have had a number of meetings with Lewandowski's agents. We are ready to renew his contract," Rummenigge told Bild.

"We will definitely not sell him. But we have always been willing to change a player's contract if the situation or his value changes."We will not be paying the kind of wages on offer at Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, though. We are paying some very good wages, but those clubs are paying crazy figures.

"You do not win more trophies [by paying such wages] anyway."Lewandowski, 27, netted 30 goals in 32 Bundesliga appearances last term as Bayern cruised to the domestic title.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester City draw Steaua in Champions League playoff

Manchester City have been paired with Steaua Bucharest during Friday’s Champions League play-off draw in Nyon.

The Premier League side made it to the semi-finals last term, where eventual winners Real Madrid proved to be too strong, and Pep Guardiola's men will now have to deal with the Romanian side if they are to join Leicester City, Arsenal and Tottenham in the group stages.Serie A outfit Roma will take on Porto, while Bundesliga representatives Borussia Monchengladbach face Young Boys.Villarreal will have to see off Monaco if they are to become the fifth LaLiga side in the group stages, with Ajax versus Rostov the fifth tie in the league route.

Celtic, meanwhile, meet Hapoel Be'er-Sheva in the champions route after seeing off Lincoln Red Imps and Astana in the previous two rounds.The first legs will be played on August 16 and 17, with the returns taking place a week later on August 23 and 24.

The 10 winners of the play-offs join the 22 automatic entrants in the group stage, with that draw scheduled for Thursday August 25 in Monaco.

Draw in full:
Ludogorets v Viktoria Plzen
Celtic v Hapoel Be'er-Sheva
FC Copenhagen v APOEL
Dundalk v Legia Warsaw
Dinamo Zagreb v Salzburg
Steaua Bucharest v Manchester City
Porto v Roma
Ajax v Rostov
Young Boys v Borussia Monchengladbach
Villarreal v Monaco

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Failure to sign Pogba will damage Man Utd mentality - Ferdinand

A failure to sign Paul Pogba could lead to an unhappy dressing room at Manchester United, Rio Ferdinand has warned.Goal understands Jose Mourinho's side are set to sign the midfielder form Juventus for €110 million, though a deal is yet to be completed.

United were thought to be keen on striking a deal before Sunday's Community Shield against Leicester City, but they are yet to make a breakthrough.And Ferdinand is concerned that United players who have been expecting to line up alongside Pogba could become disillusioned if the deal is not done.

"As a player in the changing room, you've been thinking for so long: 'He's coming, he's coming'," Ferdinand was quoted as saying by The Independent.

"If he doesn't sign it could have an adverse effect mentally on the players in the changing room. For a short period of time at least."It's important they sign him."

Some have suggested United are hugely overpaying for Pogba after seeing him leave on a free just four years ago, but Ferdinand feels the transfer fee will soon be forgotten if the France international leads them to glory.

"Of course it isn't good business but, listen, when Chelsea sold Nemanja Matic and bought him back for £20m-plus it was the same," Ferdinand added. "It's bigger than that but it's still a loss. That's the way it goes."When he comes it's just going to be down to the black and white: Will he perform? Will Manchester United win trophies? That's how you get judged.

"People were saying when I went there that £30m was too much but then we started to win and people now look back and think ‘you know what, it wasn't that expensive’. When you can say you've won six Premier League titles in 12 years, it's okay.

"If he goes there for £100m and in 10 years he wins five titles and earns £100m worth in shirts sales, you'll say 'well done, good business'."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Schneiderlin: I'll fight for my place at Manchester United

Morgan Schneiderlin is determined to fight for his place at Manchester United after an underwhelming first season at Old Trafford.

The France international, 26, joined United from Southampton ahead of the 2015-16 campaign, but failed to really live up to the high expectations, having scored just one goal in 29 Premier League games.He has vowed to keep giving his all, though, as he aims to win over new manager Jose Mourinho.

"I want to work hard. I don't want to go through that spell again. I want to work hard to be very good this season so, yes, now I just want to play and to enjoy it," Schneiderlin told the official club website.

"Every player wants to play but with competition you improve. With quality players, you improve every time so, yes, I'm going to give my best and after, I always say, it's the manager's choice which is the best pair he wants to play or the best midfield three he wants to put in.

"I'm going to fight for my place every day and will see what is going to be. But, of course, I want to play. Like I said, I'm hungrier after last season, it was not the season I expected and I want to prove myself. I want to eat football.

"I'm feeling good. I had a short break after the Euros. It was 15 days. I didn't lose too much fitness, which is quite good to start the season. I didn't play a lot in the Euros so I didn't lose a lot of energy, even if the training was intense. I feel great and I will improve as the weeks go on."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mourinho: Man Utd doing everything to sign Pogba before Premier League starts

Jose Mourinho insists Manchester United are "doing everything" to sign Paul Pogba from Juventus before their Premier League season starts.

The French midfielder has been the subject of this summer's most compelling transfer saga, but United are on the verge of completing a £112 million deal to bring the former Old Trafford youngster back to the club.

And speaking ahead of Sunday's FA Community Shield clash with Leicester City, Mourinho reiterated the club's desire to finalise a deal before United's opening Premier League fixture at Bournemouth on August 14.

"I don’t like to speak about players from other clubs. Other managers like to do that, they like to speak about my clubs, and about my players. Pogba is a Juventus player until officially he isn’t so we stay like this."The market closes on August 31 but my club is trying to do everything to close the market by the August 14," he told reporters.

After explaining that he has a desire to work with a first-team squad of 26 in the season ahead, Mourinho added that he has been very happy with the club's deals in the transfer market this summer.

"Our market was good. We made decisions, we decided to bring in four players, not 10. We decided to bring in four players who are Man United level and we think can improve the squad."We got a young central defender who needs time to be a top one but has a lot of potential. We bought a creative player, a player who we know the quality he has. We got a super striker, and we are going to get a very good midfield player so we try to give balance. So I am happy with my squad."

United head to Wembley for Sunday's Community Shield in the first competitive game since the Louis van Gaal era, and Mourinho added that it will take some time for his players to get out of habits they learned under the Dutchman.

"My teams are very different to Mr Van Gaal’s teams, that is correct. It is a difficult situation to change a dynamic. It would be easy for me to have 20 new players and to start from zero. For 2 years they had some principles of play which are not my principles, but players will always try to adapt. After two years there are some things in their brain which are automatic, but they are trying. The players are giving everything to try to adapt."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

England's Milner announces international retirement

Liverpool midfielder James Milner has retired from England duty, the Football Association (FA) has announced.

The 30-year-old, who made his debut in 2009, is eager to spend more time with his young family, new England head coach Sam Allardyce said.Milner explained that the decision was "common sense" after holding talks with Allardyce over his international future this week.

"I would like to thank Sam for taking the time to come and see me in person and have the conversation face-to-face, regarding my international future and role within the England set-up," Milner told the FA's official website."I think the decision we have reached is all about common sense. I wish Sam, the players, staff and supporters success in the future."

Allardyce feels Milner can be proud of the contribution he has made to England, having been part of the squad at two World Cups and two European Championships.

"James has had the chance to reflect on his international career in recent months and consider his next steps, particularly with a young family at home and having allowed himself little free time away from the professional game in the past 15 years," he said."After we had a lengthy conversation with him earlier this week, he has decided to take a step back from international duty; a decision I fully respect.

"James can be proud of his seven-year career as a senior England player and has never let his country down when called upon. His club career, already glittering, has many years ahead and we wish him well with Liverpool this season and beyond."Milner has, however, told Allardyce that he would be willing to return to international duty should a specific need arise.

"In what is the mark of a true professional, James is a proud Englishman and has acknowledged that he would be prepared to step up again if I ever needed him to play a specific role of importance within my team," Allardyce said.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mourinho promises to add 'very good midfielder' to United squad

Jose Mourinho says Manchester United will sign a "very good midfielder" before the transfer window closes but again refused to confirm it would be Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

United's pursuit of the France international, who left United for Juve four years ago, has dominated the summer market with reports suggesting a deal in the region of £100million is getting close to completion.

Mourinho has signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and has repeatedly stated his business would be done once he brought in a midfielder.He told reporters ahead of Sunday's Community Shield clash with Leicester City at Wembley: "We got a young central defender that needs time to be a top one [Bailly], but he has top potential and we believe a lot in him.

"We brought Micki [Mkhitaryan] here, we know the quality he has. We got a super striker [Ibrahimovic] and we are going to get a very good midfield player, so I am happy with the balance of my squad. I'm happy with the effort that the club has, and is still putting in for us."

Asked if that midfielder would be Pogba, he added: "We have 22 [players] and we are going to have 23. I don't like to speak about other clubs or players from other clubs. Other managers like to do that, they like to speak about my club and my players. I am very pragmatic on this.

"All that matters is what happens in my house and not in my neighbour's house.Paul Pogba is a Juventus player until he isn't, officially, so we stay like this. The market closes on August 31 but I think my club is trying to do everything to close our market before the 14th."One man not in Mourinho's plans is former Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger who has been banished to the reserves.

Mourinho said of the former Bayern Munich man: "I think it is what is happening in every club in the world which is the manager decides his squad and chooses a certain number of players to face the season and that's it.

"Normally I like to work with 20 players plus the three goalkeepers which is what I have done for 15 years."But at the same time we also have so many competitions and especially the Europa League is a competition that changes a lot. You can play 15 matches...you play on the Thursday...you have a big risk...travel a lot.

"Normally you are going to play the Premier League on the Sunday so I made the decision to be with 23 players plus three goalkeepers which I think is still a lot and I had to make my decisions."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

OFFICIAL: AC Milan complete Gomez signing

AC Milan have announced the signing of centre-back Gustavo Gomez from Argentine side Lanus.

The 23-year-old Paraguay international has signed a five-year deal at San Siro after a reported fee of €7million was agreed between the clubs.

"AC Milan have met a great professional with a great passion for football and wants to warmly welcome him," the club said in a statement. "The Paraguayan, defending champion in Argentina with Lanus, Gustavo Gomez has signed a contract with our club until June 30, 2021.
"Best of luck, Gustavo!"

Gomez, who featured for Paraguay at the Copa America Centenario in June, is Milan's third signing of the transfer window, following the arrivals of Leonel Vangioni and Gianluca Lapadula.

The news comes on the day that president Silvio Berlusconi's company Fininvest announced that a deal had been reached to sell Milan to a Chinese consortium for €740m.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

OFFICIAL: Swansea sign Llorente

Swansea City have signed Spanish striker Fernando Llorente from Sevilla for an undisclosed fee.The 31-year-old has signed a two-year contract at the Liberty Stadium after passing a medical and will wear the No.9 shirt.

Llorente, who joined Sevilla last summer after spells with Juventus and Athletic Club, is a European Championship and World Cup winner with his country.

He scored 29 goals in 53 games in 2011-12, the most prolific campaign of his career with Athletic, and led them to victory in the Europa League as well as the Copa del Rey final.

The Pamplona native won the European competition again last season with Sevilla but found first-team opportunities largely difficult to come by.Llorente could make his debut on Saturday when Swansea take on Rennes at the Liberty Stadium.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Tottenham 6-1 Inter: Kane and Lamela star as Mancini's men suffer misery

Harry Kane scored twice as Tottenham thrashed Inter 6-1 in Oslo to end their pre-season campaign in stunning style.

Spurs striker Kane's first goal – a controversial penalty – was levelled by Ivan Perisic, but a brilliant long-range effort from Erik Lamela had Mauricio Pochettino's men ahead at the break.

Dele Alli and Kane increased Spurs' advantage and the game was long over as a contest before substitute Vincent Janssen struck on 65 minutes and youngster Shayon Harrison put the icing on the cake late on.

Spurs had lost their two previous pre-season games, but can now take momentum into the new Premier League season, while Inter have only won once in seven matches as they prepare for the 2016-17 campaign.

After both teams named strong sides, with Ever Banega handed his Inter debut having signed from Sevilla, Tottenham were ahead after five minutes thanks to a controversial penalty.

Cristian Ansaldi appeared to win ball from Kyle Walker prior to making contact with the full-back, but a spot-kick was awarded and Kane stepped up to smash a confident penalty into the top corner, sending Samir Handanovic the wrong way.

Ryan Mason somehow failed to hit the target after being presented with a golden chance to double the lead following Christian Eriksen's square pass, while debutant Banega drilled an effort just wide before he set up Inter's 24th-minute equaliser.Banega's throughball found Perisic and he smashed in with a powerful left-footed shot that caught out goalkeeper Michel Vorm.

Spurs were back in front five minutes before the break when Alli and Kane combined to find Lamela 25 yards out and he curled a magnificent effort into the top corner.

After 51 minutes, Tottenham extended their lead. Alli played a neat one-two with Janssen and guided an impressive low finish into the far corner.It should have been four when Kane headed against the post from close-range after Kieran Trippier's cross, with Lamela unable to convert with an attempted flick on the rebound.

But Kane did get his second goal in the 57th minute, collecting Lamela's pass before driving into the box and drilling a shot past Handanovic.Spurs' dominance of the second half continued when Alli's weaving run allowed Janssen to comfortably slot home a first-time finish.

And a delighted Harrison made it six with 13 minutes to play – scoring a simple tap-in with his first touch after coming off the bench following great work from Janssen and Lamela.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Viking 0-8 Arsenal: Wenger's men run riot in easy friendly win

Seven second-half goals helped Arsenal to an 8-0 thrashing of Viking in Friday's friendly in Norway.

Santi Cazorla saw a penalty saved by goalkeeper Iven Austbo after just four minutes, but Arsene Wenger's side responded emphatically to record a third pre-season win in a row.

Joel Campbell opened the scoring on 33 minutes, but the Gunners had to wait until five minutes after the break to take control of proceedings, when Cazorla blasted home from distance.

Theo Walcott and Campbell both struck from close range before the hour mark before substitute Alex Iwobi got in on the act, burying Cazorla's pass before drilling a low effort in off the post with nine minutes to play.

Chuba Akpom rounded off the scoring in the 89th minute to seal Arsenal's win, and put Wenger's squad into fine spirits ahead of Sunday's friendly with Manchester City.

Cazorla's spot-kick was well saved by Austbo, but Arsenal's control on proceedings eventually told 12 minutes before half-time, when Campbell turned in Mohamed Elneny's header following a corner.

Cazorla made no mistake when picking his spot in the second half, as he raced into space 20 yards out before rifling a left-footed shot into the goalkeeper's bottom-left corner to make it 2-0.

With the floodgates swinging open, Walcott made it three, smashing home from close range after being teed up by Campbell, and the Costa Rica forward doubled his own tally just six minutes later when he fired a shot in off the crossbar after Iwobi sent him free into the area.

Iwobi got himself on the scoresheet on 71 minutes, as Viking surrendered possession in their own half to allow Cazorla to pick out the Nigerian, who finished coolly from close range.

The 20-year-old swept him his second and Arsenal's seventh as the Viking defence appeared to surrender completely, collecting Jeff Reine-Adelaide's pass before curling a low shot in off the far post from the left of the area.

Amund Wichne was introduced for the beleaguered Austbo for the closing minutes, but he was unable to prevent Akpom making it 8-0 to Arsenal, as he spilled a shot to allow the substitute a tap-in.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Falcao faces weeks out with thigh injury

Monaco have confirmed that Radamel Falcao faces weeks on the sidelines due to a thigh muscle injury.

The Colombia international was substituted during his side's 3-1 Champions League qualifying win over Fenerbahce on Wednesday, having earlier scored a penalty to help Monaco on their way to a 4-3 aggregate win.

Following tests on the problem, Monaco have announced that they expect to be without the 29-year-old for a number of weeks as he attempts to recuperate.

"Taken off due to injury just before half-time, Radamel Falcao will be absent for several weeks," the club announced via their official website."Falcao suffered a muscle injury in his left thigh that will require treatment, a period of rest and recovery over a number of weeks."

Falcao has struggled to maintain fitness ever since he suffered a cruciate ligament injury in January 2014 that ruled him out of the World Cup in Brazil.He managed just 14 Premier League starts during a loan spell with Manchester United in 2014-15, and he only started twice in all competitions with Chelsea last season, after sustaining a groin injury.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Wenger: Premier League will be more open than ever

Arsene Wenger is braced for another highly competitive Premier League title race, though he has urged his Arsenal players to ensure that they come out on top.The 2016-17 Premier League season gets underway next week, with surprise title holders Leicester City looking to stun the sporting world yet again.

Wenger's Arsenal played second-fiddle to Leicester last term, ultimately finishing as runners-up as their drought without a Premier League trophy extended to 12 years.

Arsenal's bid to top the table for the first time since 2004 will not get any easier, though, as Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Jurgen Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino and Claudio Ranieri also vie for supremacy in what Wenger insists will be a wide open title race.

"There are plenty of clubs with big ambition. At the moment there are many big managers and many big clubs," said the Frenchman, after Friday's 8-0 friendly rout of Viking.

"It raises the ambition and the hope everywhere, but only one will win it. We just have to make sure it is us."The competition will be very fierce, especially with Leicester winning it last year. Nobody expected that so some smaller clubs could hope to be in the fight for it too. They can say that the bigger clubs will drop points against each other, so it will be more open than ever but also more interesting.

"We've got a difficult start against Liverpool, then it's Leicester straight away, then to Watford. In the first three games we have to make sure that we are ready."Arsenal open their Premier League campaign at home to Liverpool on August 14, without key trio Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud.

 

[Alucard_SxE]

Manchester City draw Steaua in Champions League playoff


Draw in full:
Ludogorets v Viktoria Plzen
Celtic v Hapoel Be'er-Sheva
FC Copenhagen v APOEL
Dundalk v Legia Warsaw
Dinamo Zagreb v Salzburg
Steaua Bucharest v Manchester City
Porto v Roma
Ajax v Rostov
Young Boys v Borussia Monchengladbach
Villarreal v Monaco

Matches to watch

Koba vs Apoel - highly aggressive koba vs tricky apoel. Apoel are very strrong @ home where the waether & temperature are heavily to their advantage. Rosenborg match eke 90+ injury time goals 3k gahala dinne

Dinamo Zagreb vs Salzburg - RBS doesn't look very strong as they were before. But still should be a better team than the croatian champions. Unpredictable low scoring match ekak

Steaua vs City - Balamu moko wenne kiyala. Steaua are a corrupt team but they managed to get past the qualifications beating good opponents.

Porto vs Roma - Porto were very good in the qualifications. Roma was too. Godak close match ekak.

Ajax vs Rostov - Rostov will win this Their defence is superb. And set pieces uth patta. Ajax are an all out attack no defence team. Rostov will score easy goal here.

YB vs b.Mon - YB were very lucky to beat shaktar. Should be an easy win for B.Mon here. But not certain since they haven't started their season. Borndby beat Hertha in the Euro League tie two days ago.

Villareal vs Monaco - Falcao was on fire for Monaco Sadly now injured If villareal defend good then it'll be an easy win for them

Celtic match is not sure since I don't know about the isrealies that much.But celtic is a joke of a team They'll get decimated if they qualify to group stages