..::Football IV::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Arsenal sign young Greek defender Mavropanos

Arsenal have completed the signing of centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos from PAS Giannina for a fee in the region of £1.8 million.The 20-year-old broke into the Super League side's first-team towards the end of the season before cementing his place in the starting XI this term, but has already attracted interest from Greek giants Olympiakos and the Premier League side.

Speaking after Wednesday's clash against Chelsea, however, Arsene Wenger confirmed Mavropanos was north London-bound, although fans may have to wait to see him in the first team.

"Yes [the signing is complete], but he's not ready to play," Wenger said of Mavropanos' impending arrival following Wednesday's 2-2 Premier League draw with Chelsea."He will go out on loan."

Giorgos Christovasilis, PAS Giannina president, said of the deal: "This is a historic day for PAS Giannina because a footballer of our team has managed to sign for a club as big as Arsenal."We are grateful to have seen a player graduate from our group. We wish both the footballer and Arsenal the best.

"Personally, I would like to thank the agent, Konstantinos Farra, who has been behind this effort all these months and he has helped significantly to have a good ending in his transfer to Arsenal. We wish this start to continue in the future both for our team and for the other teams in our country. I wish other footballers reach this level."

Goal understands the Gunners won the race for him in the January transfer window due their new chief scout Sven Mislintat having close links with the player's agent from his time at Borussia Dortmund.Mislintat, who identified and scouted the player, is expected to focus heavily on bringing the best young players to Arsenal, and Mavropanos' arrival could be the start of several sought after European talents signing for Arsene Wenger's side this season.

Mavropanos thus joins compatriots Panagiotis Retsos, Kostas Manolas and Sokratis Papastathopoulos in sealing a move to one of Europe's most prestigious clubs. Arsenal see the transfer as a prime investment for the future, in the hope that he will develop into a top Premier League defender in the coming years.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Inter rule out Mkhitaryan move as Spalletti prepares for frugal January


Luciano Spalletti insists he will not look to remedy Inter's current slump in form with big-money January signings such as out-of-favour Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Inter led the way in Serie A after a 16-game undefeated start to the season, but have slipped behind Napoli and Juventus after failing to win their past four top-flight games.

The run began with a 0-0 draw at Juve, the second-placed side they now trail by six points, with subsequent back-to-back losses to Udinese and Sassuolo contributing to the Nerazzurri being seven shy of league leaders Napoli.

Spalletti's former club Roma are just two points behind in fourth but the head coach will continue to respect Inter's obligations with regards to Financial Fair Play, given their expected return to UEFA competition next season.

As such, the 58-year-old maintains speculation linking Inter with the likes of Mkhitaryan, Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Javier Pastore or Bologna forward Simone Verdi will remain just that.

"To keep saying we need to have a big transfer campaign, after the club has made it clear there are certain parameters to be respected, seems to me the best way to get hurt," he told a news conference ahead of Friday's trip to Fiorentina — Inter's last before Serie A's mid-season break.

"You can say names — Mkhitaryan, Pastore, Verdi. But they'd cost €30 million and we don't have that."We need to go and play our game, show all of our quality again. We need to focus on individual quality and make it available to the team. It will be needed in a match such as this.

"The players need to know that I'm absolutely certain of their quality and I know that they have potential. Things have to be fixed on their own as they have been so far."In these times, we rediscover the strength of the group, the family."

While Spalletti was happy to give a glowing assessment of the quality at his disposal, he warned his players that this is no time to sulk and shed tears.
"We can't make excuses. First of all, we can't cry about things. Whoever does that won't reach their objectives," he said.

"We need to improve the quality of our play a bit, we've got what it takes and I can see that. We must do something better in this regard."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Klopp avoids 'creating stories' over Coutinho's proposed €150m Barcelona move


Jurgen Klopp spurned the opportunity to speak about Philippe Coutinho's future on Thursday for fear of "creating stories" around the Liverpool playmaker.

La Liga leaders Barcelona are readying an offer in excess of €150million for the Brazilian - as confirmed by Goal on Thursday - having failed with a number of bids in August.

Rumours linking Coutinho with the Catalan giants have refused to go away since then, although Coutinho has continued to play for Liverpool, scoring seven Premier League goals in 14 appearances this season and deputising as captain.




Leaked Nike promotional material - which was seemingly offering fans the chance to buy a Barca shirt with Coutinho's name on the back - further fanned the flames but speaking to the media ahead of Friday's FA Cup clash with Merseyside rivals Everton, Klopp was keeping his cards close to his chest.He said: "All the things I could say now will only create stories. I have nothing to say. That's how it is.

"It's a transfer window. That's all. I know it means I opened the door halfway because I mentioned it is a transfer window but I have nothing to say that would help me, the player or the club. That's all I'm interested in.

"Nothing to say about it. Eighty per cent of the cameras are here for this, it's a waste of time for them, but that's it."Coutinho will miss the Everton game due to injury, as will Liverpool's top goalscorer Mohamed Salah, although Klopp said neither player has "big injuries".

Klopp - yet to win a trophy in his two years at Anfield - is relishing the chance to bring silverware to the club. "We try every day to improve and be as successful as possible," the German said."We try to be more unpredictable, have a better goal threat and better defending. In this competition and the league there are only top teams around and we have to be ready every three days."You can dream of winning silverware every day. We know how desperate our supporters are and we are exactly as greedy as they all are. But we have to prove it on the pitch.

"I cannot win the FA Cup in a press conference so we have to be really good in the games. We have to be ready always. It doesn't help if you build a game up too much but pressure is a fact. You have to use the quality of the players and the squad to be successful at the end. I think we are in a good way but we have to prove it every day."We were capable of winning trophies in the first season I was here. In the second season too, but we didn't do too well in the cup competitions. We want to be as successful as possible so this is a big opportunity.

"To talk about winning something before the first round is disrespectful. We know it'll be a tough game and we will try everything to get into the next round."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mourinho rubbishes 'garbage' Man Utd exit claims and opens himself up to new deal

Jose Mourinho has described reports suggesting he will quit Manchester United at the end of the season as "garbage".United have won just one of their last five games in all competitions, prompting suggestions the Portuguese was growing disillusioned with life at Old Trafford and seeking a way out in June.However, speaking ahead of Friday's FA Cup third-round clash at home to Derby County, a forthright Mourinho insisted he was going nowhere.

Asked about the speculation, he said: "It depends what you want to know and what you want to speak about. If you want to speak about some news – I say garbage, I don't find better words to define the talk."If you want to ask me directly, which I suppose you want, if I see myself next season at Manchester United, I say, I see myself.

"As I told myself when I arrived, I'm going to leave when the club wants me to leave, because I have no intention to leave, my intention is to stay, to work, to improve and bring the club to where it belongs."I still have a contract, I am in the middle of my contract and my desire is to stay until the owners and the board is happy with my work.

"Speaking about my work and connecting it to the garbage news, the worst thing anyone can do is not to say I am a bad manager, underperforming, the worst thing someone can do is to put one inch of doubt in my professionalism, to my club, my job, my players."So yes, the garbage news affected me just on these aspects, because it's something I don't admit."

Mourinho has not completed a fourth season at any of his previous clubs – Benfica, Uniao de Leiria, Porto, Chelsea (in either spell), Inter or Real Madrid – with his struggles labelled 'third season syndrome'.

And, having joined United in May 2016, club insiders were reportedly concerned he was again considering walking away, with the side second in the Premier League but 15 points adrift of rivals Manchester City.

Mourinho, however, said: "If I'm going to sign a new one [contract] or not, of course depends on the club, but my commitment is total."I see myself here, it's just a question of the club, the board, the owners, [chief executive] Mr Woodward and [if] they are all happy with my contribution and they want me to stay beyond the end of this contract."

Mourinho has cut an increasingly morose figure in recent weeks, but he dismissed suggestions he had lost his passion for the job, adding: "Because I don't behave as a clown on the touchline it means I lost my passion?

"I prefer to behave the way I am doing it, much more mature, better for my team and myself."You don't have to behave like a crazy guy on the touchline to have that passion. That passion you see it every day."The way a person is dedicated to his work, not what you do in front of the cameras."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mourinho declares Lukaku fit to return


Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has declared Romelu Lukaku fit to face Derby County in the FA Cup on Friday.Lukaku left the pitch on a stretcher following a clash of heads with Wesley Hoedt in the 0-0 Premier League draw at home to Southampton on December 30.

The Belgium international sat out a 2-0 victory away to his former club Everton on Monday, but he could be in the starting line-up against Championship promotion hopefuls Derby in the third-round tie at Old Trafford.

"It was not a concussion; it was a precaution, a protection for him," Mourinho told MUTV."He wanted to play against Everton, but this time he is back."Lukaku has scored 10 goals in the Premier League this season.

 

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Derby are a Premier League team - Mourinho promises strong team for FA Cup challenge


Sergio Romero will start for Manchester United in the FA Cup against Derby County as Jose Mourinho seeks to avoid an upset against a team he considers to be of Premier League quality.United were beaten 2-1 by Championship side Bristol City in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup last month.

Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic both started that match at Ashton Gate but could not prevent the visitors from exiting the competition after Korey Smith struck a dramatic stoppage-time winner for Lee Johnson's men.

Mourinho is wary of suffering a similar fate against another of the teams chasing promotion from the second tier."The draw was not nice to us because we are going to play against a Premier League team," Mourinho told a news conference on Thursday ahead of the third-round tie at Old Trafford.

"If you look to the [Derby] players they are not Championship players, they are Premier League players. I think I played against the majority of them in the Premier League."So when you go to [Scott] Carson, Curtis Davies, [Joe] Ledley, [Matej] Vydra, [Tom] Huddlestone, I played against all of them."

Mourinho is adamant he picked a strong starting XI for the trip to Bristol and plans to do so again on Friday.

He said: "I'm going to do the same against Derby County; I'm going to play with a good team, then the result is out of your control but to go with a strong team with first-team players, first-choice players, for sure."The Portuguese boss confirmed Romero would take over from first-choice shot-stopper David de Gea between the posts.

"I'm going to play this match like a Premier League match and I'm going to play Romero because Romero is a top, top goalkeeper and he deserves to play and David deserves a rest," he said."Romero is going to be Argentina's goalkeeper in the World Cup in a few months, so for all that Romero means to us Romero plays and apart from that I am going to play with a team I consider a very strong team."

According to Mourinho, Romelu Lukaku is available after being cleared of concussion, while Marouane Fellaini has also recovered from a knee injury.
"Romelu is OK, Fellaini is back," the manager said.

"And Michael Carrick is back training, not in competition. [Antonio] Valencia will be back to the team next week, so not playing tomorrow, back with the team next week. The situation is improving for us."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Courtois: Chelsea selling Hazard would be like Barca or Real losing Messi or Ronaldo


Thibaut Courtois considers Eden Hazard to be “irreplaceable” at Chelsea, while claiming that he himself is “close” to penning a new contract.The Blues continue to see star turns on their books heavily linked with big-money moves to La Liga giants Real Madrid.

Hazard has been courted by the Spanish outfit for some time, with his father revealing that fresh terms in England have been shunned as they wait on an offer from Santiago Bernabeu.

Chelsea, though, have no desire to sell and Courtois admits losing the talented forward would be like Barcelona or Real agreeing to part with Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
He told the Evening Standard after seeing Hazard net from the penalty spot in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal: “Losing a player like Eden would be bad for us, the club.“Eden is irreplaceable. With the money he will raise, you can buy five players but none of them will be like Eden. It would be like Barcelona losing Lionel Messi or Real Madrid losing Cristiano Ronaldo.

“If you excel, there will always be teams interested in signing the biggest players. But that’s why if Chelsea have ambition to be the best club in the world, these kind of players have to stay.”While Hazard’s future continues to dominate the headlines, Courtois has also been linked with an imminent move to Madrid.

He is yet to extend a deal with Chelsea which is set to expire in 2019 - with Goal revealing that the Blues are prepared to make him the best-paid goalkeeper in world football - but the Belgium international believes both he and fellow countryman Hazard will remain in west London for some time yet.

Courtois added when pressed for an update on contract talks: “It has just turned the new year, so we will wait a few weeks and then sit around the table. I’m happy at Chelsea and a deal is close.
“Has it been a distraction? Not for me. I’m just calm and relaxed because I’m tied to Chelsea. Despite the rumours and everything, I am focused on Chelsea and I’m happy here. “Do Eden and I encourage each other to sign? Yes. He will say ‘if you sign, I will sign’ and I say the same to him!

“I think we are both happy at Chelsea, we both have a good part to play. We have been champions twice in the four seasons I have been here and can have our peak years together at Chelsea.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Everton agree Tosun deal as Allardyce hopes for derby debut


Everton manager Sam Allardyce has confirmed the club are negotiating personal terms with Cenk Tosun and could finalise the signing of the Besiktas striker before the FA Cup tie against local rivals Liverpool.The Toffees have been urgently seeking attacking reinforcements after struggling in the absence of Romelu Lukaku, who was sold to Manchester United in July.

A slow start to the campaign saw Ronald Koeman sacked in October, to be replaced by Allardyce after a month of struggle under caretaker David Unsworth.

Despite an initial upturn in form under the ex-England manager, Everton have scored just once in their last four matches, leaving supporters desperate for Tosun's arrival to be finalised.Questioned about the status of deal, Allardyce told a news conference: "I think it's personal terms is the final stage.

"After some long negotiation we've got to that stage now. So that might happen before the cup. Might even be getting [him] ready before the cup if we're lucky, but I think there's a medical to go through so that might be tight. Securing the player is the biggest concern."

Asked if Tosun could even feature on the bench at Anfield on Friday, Allardyce added: "Possibly. [It] depends on his overall fitness. We wouldn't want to risk damaging him, in terms of he hasn't trained for a few days. There's lots of mental energy you burn waiting for the move you want. That assessment will come from the medical or fitness staff."The former Crystal Palace manager also identified the qualities that convinced Everton to move for the 26-year-old. "Pedigree, really," he said.

"The pedigree that he has. What he has shown, the age he is. We've not got that many players in that elite block of age in our squad.

"Hopefully he will come to the club and show he is good value for money. If we get the transfer done and he is successful for us by scoring goals it will be an exceptionally good deal for us."We've searched high and low for a long time at the club before I arrived. This one was one we focused on as quickly as we can."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Chelsea in talks for £15m Barkley move after failed summer approach


Chelsea are confident they can secure a £15 million move for Everton midfielder Ross Barkley during the winter transfer window.The Blues have come back in for the 24-year-old after he chose to remain in Merseyside to continue his recovery from a serious hamstring injury, despite advanced talks on transfer deadline day in August.

Barkley has only six months remaining on his contract, which means a reduced price could be agreed between the clubs after Chelsea offered double the amount in the summer.

Tottenham are also interested in Barkley but look like outsiders to complete the deal at this stage with Chelsea making a strong approach, while Everton are resigned to losing their academy product, having been without him all season.

Barkley is close to making his return to the pitch, and he could be lining up in Chelsea's blue. Manager Antonio Conte has revealed that Chelsea are aiming to add more players for their undersized squad because the club are still competing on all four fronts.

"For sure, the club will try to do their best in the market to improve the squad from a numerical aspect," Conte said last week. "I'm a coach, I have to work with my players and my task is on the pitch. The transfer market is for the club and they must decide if they want to improve my squad."

He also added that no player will be sold or sent on loan until the Blues add a replacement. Goal revealed three weeks ago that Charly Musonda will decide on whether he wants a loan move later in the transfer window, and his former club Real Betis are just one team to have registered an interest.

It is often hard for the biggest clubs to secure their best targets in the January transfer window, but Chelsea also have a long-term interest in Juventus left-back Alex Sandro, who has still yet to renew his contract despite ongoing talks.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mohamed Salah named 2017 African Player of the Year

Egypt and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has been named 2017 CAF African Player of the Year.

Salah takes home the award for the first time ever, as he managed to defeat competition from fellow finalists Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the awards ceremony in Accra, Ghana.

The 25-year-old turned in a stunning campaign for Liverpool in 2017 as he scored 23 goals in 29 games after joining the English Premier League side from AS Roma.

On the international scene he helped Egypt to a second place finish at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, including goals against Ghana and Burkina Faso. His brace against Congo in October, which included a stoppage-time penalty in a 2-1 win, helped the Pharaohs qualify for their first FIFA World Cup since 1990 to round off a sensational year.

Aubameyang, meanwhile, scored an incredible 31 goals in 32 appearances in all competitions last term, but only managed to get his hands on the DFB-Pokal with Borussia Dortmund. The CAF Player of the Year award was initially pared down to a shortlist of 24. From there, Salah, Aubameyang and Mane were named the three finalists in December.

The winner of the award was selected by the current coaches and captain from every men’s national team in Africa.Salah's Liverpool team-mate Sane finished second in the voting, with Dortmund star Aubameyang coming in third.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Salah!

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[Wolverine GTR]

FA Cup Fixtures 2018.01.05

FA Cup Fixtures 2018.01.05

Liverpool Vs Everton

Manchester United Vs Derby County

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[Wolverine GTR]

Good Luck Manchester United!
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[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United Vs Derby County

Manchester United Starting Line-up

Romero
Lindelof
Smalling
Blind
Shaw
Herrera
Pogba
Mata
Lingard
Mkhitaryan
Rashford

&

Derby County Starting Line-up

Carson
Wisdom
Keogh
Pearce
Olsson
Thorne
Huddlestone
Weimann
Russell
Lawrence
Winnall
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[Wolverine GTR]

Good Luck Manchester United!
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Half Time

Manchester United 0 Vs 0 Derby County

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[Wolverine GTR]

Full Time

Manchester United 2 Vs 0 Derby County

Manchester United Goal(s)

J.Lingard 84'
R.Lukaku 90'


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[1118lakmalkumara]

Highlight dapanko balanna me thread eke

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester United!

Lingard!Lingard ge goal eka patta

& Lukaku returns with a goal

Rashford nam godak unlucky.2 times post ekeanyway Hoda match ekakHoda fight ekak dunna

Next Stoke CityGood Luck for the next match Manchester United!
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[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United 2 Derby County 0: Lingard, Lukaku late show sends Red Devils through

Jesse Lingard again came up with the goods and Romelu Lukaku was also on target as Manchester United left it late to seal a 2-0 FA Cup third-round win over Derby County.

England midfielder Lingard let fly from outside the area with six minutes remaining for his fifth goal in his past six outings to finally break the resistance of the spirited Rams.

It was a huge relief for a United side that appeared destined for a frustrating third-round replay having wasted a glut of chances, and Lukaku made sure of the win in the closing stages.Marcus Rashford was the guiltiest party in the first half with a poor point-blank header that he tamely nodded against the post.The England forward was unlucky to see another effort crash against the woodwork in the second half, while Paul Pogba was also profligate.

Lingard and Lukaku spared the home side's blushes, but questions will remain over United's ability to get over the line in games, with the 2-0 win over Everton last time out ending a run of four matches without a victory - including a shock 2-1 defeat to Bristol City in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.Pogba dominated the midfield in the early stages and he teed up Lingard to fire over the top from 10 yards in just the third minute.


Rashford wastefully blasted high from just inside the area after showing great feet to work his way into the box and, for all their dominance, it took United until the 21st minute to force Scott Carson into a save, the former England goalkeeper flying to his right to keep out Juan Mata's free-kick.

At the other end, Marcus Olsson's clever flicked header from Johnny Russell's left-wing cross forced Sergio Romero into his first action of the evening.Derby briefly took United out of their rhythm, but Rashford missed a gilt-edged chance when he nodded Henrikh Mkhitaryan's pin-point cross against the right post from just outside the six-yard box.

Carson was brilliantly equal to a long-range Pogba free-kick just before the break, and shortly after the restart Luke Shaw's head deflected Tom Huddlestone's fierce drive away from United's goal.Rashford thought he had finally broken the deadlock only for his effort across the face of goal from the right to cannon off the far post, while Lukaku – returning from a head injury sustained against Southampton last Saturday – also struck the woodwork, but was flagged offside in any event.

The barrage continued and Pogba wastefully side-footed wide with the goal gaping when following up Lingard's saved effort, before Derby finally yielded with six minutes to play.Lukaku played the ball into Lingard's path, and the attacking midfielder hit an unstoppable shot into the top-right corner.

Having set up the first, Lukaku got on the scoresheet himself by finishing off a quick counter-attack after a one-two with Anthony Martial to ensure United avoided a troublesome replay at the end of a hectic festive schedule.