..::Football II::..

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Messi: Casillas is one of the best goalkeepers in the world

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has voiced his admiration for Real Madrid skipper Iker Casillas, and admitted that he is surprised to have scored so many goals against him.



The Argentine is widely said to be in direct competition with the Spain goalkeeper for this year's Ballon d'Or after the 31-year-old led both club and country to success.

"I have had a lot of luck being able to score a lot of goals in Clasicos, which are always great games," he told reporters. "I am pleased because Iker is one of the best in the world. He is a great keeper. Sometimes, when games are about to start, I just tell myself to score goals."

Barcelona and Real Madrid drew 2-2 in their most recent clash, although the Catalan outfit tops La Liga with 19 points, which is eight more than the capital club.

 

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Xabi Alonso: Mourinho has already made history

Xabi Alonso has praised Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, and feels the Portuguese has already etched his name in the history books with his previous achievements.

Barcelona midfielder Xavi stated at the weekend that Mourinho will not go down in the history books due to his preferred style of play, but Alonso clearly disagrees with his fellow Spain international.

"Mourinho has already made history, and he's continuing to do so. His track record speaks for itself. Not many coaches have achieved what he has done," Alonso told Cadena Cope. "If he were to leave Madrid, his absence will be felt. It will be difficult to replace him."

The midfielder then went on to stress that he's enjoying life at his current club, and is eager to win silverware this season.

"I feel important at Madrid. I am feeling very well at Madrid. I have reached a certain point of maturity and I'm in no hurry to make decisions about my future," he said. "We all know what it would mean for Madrid to win the tenth European Cup. However, it can be all over in the Champions League after one bad game.

"La Liga is very important for us as well. We are not giving up on anything just yet."

Madrid will have to make do without the services of Marcelo for several months due to injury, and Alonso has admitted the Brazil international's absence is a blow for the club.

"This is bad news for us and we're affected by it a lot. Marcelo is a vital player for us," Alonso said.

 

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Alex Song: Wenger was like a father to me

Barcelona midfielder Alex Song has paid tribute to former manager Arsene Wenger, claiming the Frenchman was “like a father” to him during his seven-year spell with Arsenal.


The Cameroon international moved to north London as a 17-year-old, and initially found it hard to adapt to life in the capital after leaving his family in France. Song claims that Wenger made the transition to a new country and culture easy, allowing him to focus on his progression as a footballer.


“I am who I am thanks to him [Wenger],” he told Barca Magazine. “When I came to England, he was a big help to me. I was very young, just 17, not 25 like I am now. Wenger was like a father to me.

“It was very hard for me at first because I had left my family behind in France, and so he treated me like a son. I have a great relationship with Wenger. I want to thank him for believing in me. I want to give him back everything he gave me I’m sure he's happy to see where I am now and the kind of player I have become. He always said ‘do you remember your first touches of the ball when you came to Arsenal? They’re not the same as they are now’. And I’d answer: ‘You’re right. They’re certainly not the same as they are now’”.

Song claims that he is settling into life in Spain well, but also offers his thanks to teammate Cesc Fabregas for helping him adjust.

“I have known him [Fabregas] for a long time and I slept at his house for the first few nights I was here," he said. "He’s a good friend. He tries to help me in training, in every game, on and off the field.”

 

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Ancelotti hints at January swoop for De Rossi

PSG manager Carlo Ancelotti has declared his interest in signing Roma star Daniele De Rossi despite suggestions the Italy international has problems with his attitude.

Roma manager Zdenek Zeman dropped De Rossi in their recent match against Atalanta and Ancelotti feels the spending power of the Ligue 1 club could be enough to lure the Italian midfielder to France.

"I think De Rossi and is a great player, I was surprised by the fact that he did not play, but I think it was only a temporary decision," Ancelotti told Radio Monte Carlo.

He added, "He's a great midfielder, it is normal to be approached by PSG as we are one of the few clubs that can spend big money in the market, but the market is closed. At least he can talk [to PSG] in January."

Ancelotti brushed off suggestions that De Rossi has problems with his attitude and said he thinks the Roma midfielder is a good professional.

"Poor commitment? He is a very good professional," Ancelotti stated.

 

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Cazorla: I try to copy Barcelona's Iniesta

Santi Cazorla has said fellow Spain international Andres Iniesta has all of the necessary attributes needed to be the ultimate player and dreams of one day being able to reach the Barcelona midfielder's level.

Cazorla is playing in his first season in the Premier League and has been impressive so far assisting and scoring twice in his first seven games for Arsenal.

But the 27-year-old, who moved from Malaga in the summer, believes fellow Liga star Iniesta is the one everyone should be trying to emulate.

"Iniesta is the standard against which I measure myself. Playing by his side is something else. He's a total footballer in every sense," Cazorla told Marca.

"I try to copy the things he does, but it's very difficult. The problem is that when he does them he makes them look easy, but then you try it and you get all tangled up. Andres is a role model on and off the pitch."

Cazorla also spoke about how the transition from La Rosaleda to the Gunners has been made easier because both teams have similar playing styles.

"I've adapted to my new team really well. The change hasn't been as drastic as you might think. The football is quicker and more intense, but I wasn't shocked by that," Carzola explained.

"Plus I've joined a team, Arsenal, whose playing style is very similar to the one at Malaga."

 

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Chelsea boss Di Matteo defends 'unsung hero' Mikel

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has labelled midfielder John Obi Mikel an "unsung hero" at Stamford Bridge.

The Nigeria international has come under scrutiny at times this season but the Italian boss is insistent in his belief that he performs a vital role for the team.

Mikel has played all seven Premier League games for the Blues this season and Di Matteo has cited his consistency as an important factor in the club's ascent to the top of the table.

"Over the years he has been almost ever-present," Di Matteo told Chelsea's official website. "He was very important at the back end of last season and this campaign he has started in good form.

"We all make mistakes in games and I don't think he gets the credit for the work he does for the team."

Having performed many of the same jobs in central midfield himself during his playing days, Di Matteo is mystified as to why the value of Mikel is not more apparent and appreciated.

"I don't know why Mikel is underrated by the media or the fans," he explained. "He is very rated by us in the group and it's a position where you're a bit of an unsung hero.

"You do the dirty work which is not recognized all the time because the goalscorers and more creative players get the recognition. But he is very important for our team."

 

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De Ceglie: Home advantage gives Juventus edge over Napoli

Juventus wing back Paolo De Ceglie is eagerly anticipating the upcoming Serie A game at home against Napoli, and is confident the reigning champions can bag the full three points with the support of their fans.

"Both sides have strengthened and Saturday’s game will be of a very high level. We’re aware of our potential and we just have to express it on the pitch," De Ceglie told Sky Sport Italia.

De Ceglie believes both sides have improved compared to last season, and expects an entertaining encounter on Saturday as Juventus aims to build on last term's success.

"We’ll be playing at Juventus Stadium and our fans will support us and give us that little bit extra," he said.

"We want to follow up our Scudetto achievement from last year. But we also have a great desire to show what we can do in the Champions League. It’s an important season and we want to do well."

 

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Iniesta: The perfect player would be a mixture of Falcao, Puyol, Xavi, Messi, Busquets and Cristiano Ronaldo

Andres Iniesta believes that Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao, Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo, and a number of Barcelona players would together form the perfect football player.

The Spain international has hailed Falcao's aerial prowess and Ronaldo's goalscoring instincts, while he relies on his Barca teammates for a number for other characteristics.

"The perfect player? Falcao's ability in the air, [Carles] Puyol's personality, Xavi's right foot, [Lionel] Messi's talent and left foot, [Sergio] Busquets' tactical awareness and Cristiano's eye for goal," Iniesta stated to Marca en zona.

The attacking midfielder then went on to praise Messi, stating that he's never seen a player like the Argentine, before adding that the 25-year-old is still improving.

"I've played alongside Leo Messi for a long time and in all honesty I've never seen another player like him. Every day, every game, every year, he just gets better. He's very young, with a long career ahead of him," he said.

"In that respect, you feel privileged to be in the same team as him, to try and win titles together."

Iniesta is currently away on international duty with Spain.

 

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Ibrahimovic is childish and a dirty player, says Faroe Islands captain

Faroe Islands captain Frodi Benjaminsen has hit out at Sweden star Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the aftermath of Friday's World Cup qualifier.

Benjaminsen was involved in a brawl with the Paris Saint-Germain striker when both sides were on their way to the dressing rooms at halftime, and the defender was not impressed with the flamboyant attacker's behavior in Sweden's hard-fought 2-1 win.

"He elbowed me shortly before the interval, and when I asked him for an explanation on our way to the dressing room at halftime, he attempted to grab me. There was no fight, though," Benjaminsen told Expressen.

"Ibrahimovic is an arrogant player. He was belittling our team, and bragging all the time about where he plays and how much he earns. His behavior was very childish. He is a very dirty player as well. I simply don't like him."

Ibrahimovic is currently preparing for Sweden's World Cup qualifier against Germany on Tuesday evening.

 

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Hulk: Zenit will become one of the biggest teams in Europe

Hulk is confident that Zenit St Petersburg has what it takes to compete with the top teams in Europe in the not too distant future.

The Brazil international has revealed that he got a number of offers during the summer transfer window, but only Zenit did enough to convince him of its immense potential to make him want to leave Porto.

"I’m certain that, in the future, Zenit will be one of the biggest teams in Europe," Hulk was quoted as saying on the official FIFA website. "Before I signed for Zenit, I’d spoken to [coach Luciano] Spalletti. He sold the club to me very well, telling me about the great structure that was in place and their project of building a great side. And that’s just what I found when I came here: a great structure and an ambitious project. "

"During the whole transfer window there were a lot of rumors about me interesting a number of big clubs, but neither Porto nor I were keen on the offers that came in."

Hulk has made six official appearances for Zenit since his summer move, scoring twice in the process.

 

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Liverpool owner FSG reaffirms commitment to redeveloping Anfield

Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group has reaffirmed its commitment to redeveloping the club's Anfield home.

The Reds' lengthy battle with the Liverpool city council over the necessary demolition of nearby housing appears to have reached an amicable conclusion, though specific announcements regarding an increase in capacity will not be made until a later date.

Managing director Ian Ayre revealed Liverpool has been working closely with the council in order to reach a solution which will help regenerate the entire Anfield area.

"I know a proposition of staying at Anfield has been looked at before, but fundamentally the difference is that for the first time ever all of the relevant parties are coming together for a common initiative and that common initiative is not for the needs of the football club but actually the needs of the community," Ayre told the club's official website,

"The regeneration of Anfield is something that many residents and many people throughout the city have talked about and we all recognize the football club is an employer, a business, and a resident, to some extent, in this area."

Ayre, who remained keen to insist that an Anfield stay is as yet not a certainty, also claimed that staying put was a more economically viable option than building a new stadium.

"If you build a new stadium, for example, one of the big challenges is that, depending on the capacity, you build 15,000 or 16,000 new seats - you don't get 60,000 new seats in a new stadium, you only get the difference," he explained.

"That makes it very difficult to make it viable because the cost of building such a big new stadium doesn't work economically, particularly in this market, so one of the things we had to look at was the balance between that solution and a staying at Anfield type solution, and the work we've done on that showed us that as long as we could find the right solution to stay at Anfield and get through the barriers and hurdles that we needed, we would have to find the best long-term solution for the club that had sustainability and worked economically."

The Anfield Road and Main Stand areas of the historic ground are believed to have been marked out for refurbishment, in order to bring the stadium’s capacity up to around 60,000 - in line with Liverpool's rivals at the top end of the Premier League.

As explained by fan site The Anfield Wrap on Saturday, the Merseyside outfit hopes to begin the restoration work in 2014.

The announcement brings an end links with a vacant plot of land on nearby Stanley Park, where the Reds had previously planned to build a new stadium for which plans have been written off at the cost of 35 million pounds.

Principal owner John W. Henry had repeatedly spoken of his desire to refurbish Anfield following FSG’s takeover - two years ago to the day - citing concern over the escalating cost of a new build for the relatively small reward of just 15,000 extra seats.

 

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Jordi Alba: Barcelona players fall because they get kicked

Jordi Alba has insisted that Barcelona players do not simulate fouls and only go to ground when inflicted with physical force.

Real Madrid defender Pepe heavily criticized the Blaugrana, and Andres Iniesta in particular, in the wake of last week's 2-2 Clasico draw for their theatrical behavior, but the left back dismissed the notion that his colleagues fall down too easily.

"We don't dive. If we fall over it's because we've been kicked," Jordi Alba said in an interview with Movistar.

The Spain international then went on to praise clubmates Lionel Messi, who he sees as the finest footballer in the world, and David Villa.

"[Jose] Mourinho will have his opinion, but right now Leo is the best in the world and maybe ever. Cristiano [Ronaldo] is a good player, but Messi sets the bar," the former Valencia ace added.

"David Villa is in a great state of mind. He'll continue to be important for the team."

Alba also had his say on Barca's performances in La Liga so far this term, and admitted that he is surprised with his side's comfortable lead over Real Madrid in the standings.

"Nobody at Barcelona thought it possible to have an eight point lead over Real Madrid after only playing seven league games," he concluded.

Barcelona resumes league action on Saturday, when it takes on Deportivo La Coruna.

 

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Redknapp: Bale in the same class as Ronaldo and Messi

"World-class" Gareth Bale is in the same league as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, according to his former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp.


The Wales winger has been linked with transfers away from White Hart Lane the last two summers, with Barcelona and Real Madrid frequently mentioned as potential suitors.

The north London club have so far held onto the 23-year-old, despite being edged out of this season's Champions League by Chelsea's trophy-winning exploits, but Redknapp thinks that Bale could play for any team on the planet, such is his talent.

"He's an amazing, amazing talent and he's after the Ronaldos and Messis of this world and he's getting better and better," he told BBC Sport. "He's almost unplayable when he's on his game. He is a genuine world-class player.

"There is nobody he couldn't play for. He’d improve any team."

Bale was instrumental in helping Wales beat Scotland 2-1 on Friday night - its first win under boss Chris Coleman - scoring two goals late in the game on home turf to turn Craig Levein's men over.

"With 10 minutes to go, you're looking for somebody who can just do something special and Gareth can do something special," Redknapp said. "He can do everything and could play anywhere. He's the full package.

He added, "He can head it, he can dribble, he can shoot, he's got a great physique, he's an amazing athlete, he can score with both feet - there are no weaknesses in his game. He is already at the top but any team in the world would love to have Gareth Bale playing for them."

 

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Torres: Liverpool still a big part of my life

Fernando Torres has lost none of his affection for former club Liverpool, despite his move Premier League rivals Chelsea meaning that he is no longer the icon that he once was at Anfield.

The striker spoke of his love for the team and the area in the wake of recent and ongoing revelations regarding the Hillsborough tragedy and its subsequent cover-up, an ordeal that has greatly affected the city of Liverpool over the past 23 years.

"When I heard about Hillsborough I got excited, as I have known a lot of people who lived that, who cried with that ... somehow, I made it mine," Torres told El Pais.

Speaking about football matters, Torres reiterated his appreciation for the time that he spent at Liverpool, singling out the club's fans and former manager Rafa Benitez for specific praise. The striker also hinted that the "truth" surrounding the circumstances of his departure is still not a matter of public knowledge.

"I owe very much to Liverpool, their fans, Benitez ... Liverpool is a big part of my life. I know I'm not well-considered now but I'm sure that will change in the future," Torres said.

He added, "Finally, I decided to leave because it was a step in my career. It was not the best way of leaving but it was not the way they sold it. Someday people will know the truth."

Torres' performances since leaving for the Blues have attracted plenty of criticism but the Spaniard also discussed how he has learned to pay little attention to his detractors.

"The scars hurt in the beginning," he revealed. "but then you learn you're not alone on this. Social networks show you how people follow and support you. But yes, there is a moment you tend to protect yourself.

He added, "I learned the critics couldn't hurt me, I just had to know how to take advantage of them. You're the only one who can say: 'You're getting wrong; you have to react'.

"I'm not the same who left Madrid some years ago but I still keep the values I learned there. I've been lucky as I started very young. One can think he knows everything but you don't."

 

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Buffon ruled out of Italy clash with Denmark

Italy will have to make do without the services of Gianluigi Buffon against Denmark after the goalkeeper failed to pass fitness tests ahead of the match.


The Juventus glovesman featured for the full 90 minutes in Friday's 3-1 away win over Armenia, but an abductor injury had kept him out of training since then.

Buffon was initially hopeful that he would shake off the knock in time to start against the Danes, but Italy's medical team has now made the decision that he is not fit enough to participate at San Siro.

The 34-year-old's absence means that Napoli shot stopper Morgan De Sanctis will now get the chance to prove his worth between the sticks.

Italy currently sits top Group B with seven points from three games, while Denmark is the pool's fifth-placed side with two points from as many matches.

 

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Hodgson warns Ashley Cole competition for his spot is 'as great as it has be

Roy Hodgson has warned Ashley Cole that the competition for his spot as at England’s first-choice left back is "as great as it’s ever been".

The 65-year-old made sure to stress the ability of the Three Lions’ emerging full backs, emphasizing that the younger generation are not far off the standard being set by the more senior squad members.

"There are some very good young players coming on to the scene and the experienced players will find it harder and harder to fight off the challenge of these younger players," Hodgson told reporters.

He added, "The interesting thing is there are more and more young players coming through - Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton at Spurs, [Ryan] Bertrand at Chelsea, Adam Smith at Spurs, [Kieran] Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson at Arsenal, Martin Kelly at Liverpool.

"We’re not going to be hide-bound to one or two players. We’ll have very good alternatives.

The England manager pointed that competition will be good for Cole, who was long regarded as the only top international left back that the Three Lions have.

"We’re lucky that, alongside Ashley - who was regarded as the only left-back in England for many years - we have Leighton, who will always push him and some interesting younger left-backs, such as Kieran Gibbs and Ryan Bertrand," he said.

"I would think the competition is as great as it’s ever been, even though Leighton has been around for a long time."

Cole has been at the center of controversy recently, having taken to Twitter on October 5 to criticize the Football Association (FA) in the wake of its release of the report detailing the long-running case between Anton Ferdinand and John Terry.

Cole’s reaction invited speculation about his own international future, but with the player having since apologized for his actions, Hodgson claims the episode has been resolved and on-pitch matters are his only interest.

"We had the incident and the situation, and that was dealt with very clearly and quickly, and to the FA’s satisfaction," he explained.

"The chairman made his views very clear. I’ve been allowed to concentrate on football and to work with AC on the field. That is all."

 

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Andre Santos is a transfer target for Galatasaray, reveals CEO

Galatasaray chief executive Lutfi Aribogan has disclosed an interest in signing Arsenal left-back Andre Santos.

The defender has failed to fully establish himself in the Premier League, and seen his appearances once again limited so far this season by injury and the good early form of Kieran Gibbs.

Santos has also lost his place in the Brazil set up under Mano Menezes, not featuring since the Copa America in 2011, and could be in search of regular first team action in anticipation of World Cup 2014, which will be held in his home country.

"Andre Santos is one of the names [we have] on our list," Aribogan told the Turkish sports newspaper Fanatik.

Galatasaray is familiar with Santos from his stint with Super Lig rivals Fenerbahce, where he spent two seasons prior to signing for Arsenal, and it seems that a return to Turkey could perhaps be on the cards for the Brazilian.

However, Aribogan did admit that any possible transfer is, at the moment, a long way off, adding: "We currently have no contact with his club and the player himself."

 

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Juventus turns down chance to sign Rossi

Juventus has told Giuseppe Rossi's agent, Federico Pastorello, that it is not interested in signing the Villarreal striker, Goal.com can reveal.

The 25-year-old is eager to leave El Madrigal for a return to Serie A in the January transfer window and his representative had offered him to clubs such as AC Milan, Inter and Napoli, as well as the champions.

However, the Bianconeri have no plans to make an approach for Rossi anytime soon as they have doubts about his physical condition and style of play.

Juventus was close to signing Rossi in the summer of 2011 but the move eventually never materialized due to financial reasons.

Yet, even though Juventus has since continued to monitor the attacker's situation in Spain, a transfer is not an option at this point.

Rossi is currently recovering from a knee injury that has kept him out of action so far this season, but he is hopeful of making a return in February.

The Parma youth product has a contract with Villarreal until the summer of 2016, but the Yellow Submarine are ready to cash in on the forward if a good-enough offer comes in.

 

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Wenger: AC Milan should stick with Allegri

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says AC Milan must keep its faith in Massimiliano Allegri despite the club's disappointing start to the season.

"It is clear for all to see that things are not going well at Milan. However, it is crucial that they retain their faith in Allegri," Wenger told Eurosport.

The Rossoneri have taken only seven points from as many games and sit 11th in the Serie A table at present, but while the 45-year-old has received his fair share of criticism for the side's poor results, the Frenchman believes a change would be wrong.

"It is only normal that he needs time to rebuild the team after the departure of players like Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic," Wenger said.

"The two Milan teams appear to be less strong than we've come to get used to in recent years, but that's down to the economic crisis."

Milan resumes league action on Saturday, when it travels to Lazio.

 

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AC Milan admits N'Koulou interest

AC Milan sporting director Ariedo Braida has revealed that the Serie A giant is monitoring the progress of Olympique de Marseille defender Nicolas N'Koulou.

The 22-year-old is one of the most highly-rated youngsters in Ligue 1, and has previously been linked with the likes of Barcelona and Manchester United.

Rossoneri chief Braida has now confirmed they have been tracking the Cameroon defender for some time, but have ruled out making any imminent approaches for the player as they currently have sufficient cover in his position.

“He is a player who we have been monitoring since he was with Monaco,” he told La Provence.

“At the minute, we already have six players in his role and therefore he is not at the top of our list. It’s also not that easy to sign players because of asking prices."

Braida conceded a move for the player in the winter transfer window is unlikely to be forthcoming, but stressed that the club would continue to monitor his progress.

“It would be difficult to sign him during the January transfer window, but we’ll continue to watch him to understand whether he could do a good job for us in the future,” he added.