..::Football II::..

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Manchester United-bound Zaha hopes to fire Crystal Palace into Premier League

The forward, who will move to Old Trafford in the summer, scored twice against Brighton to send the Eagles to Wembley to face Watford in the Championship playoff final on May 27. Wilfred Zaha is hoping to fire Crystal Palace into the Premier League before departing for Manchester United, after scoring two goals against Brighton to send his side into the Championship playoff final.

The 20-year-old forward, who was named in the Championship team of the year at the PFA awards, justified his 15 million pound price tag with a double at the Amex Stadium to seal the game for the Eagles against their bitter rivals.

Palace now faces Gianfranco Zola’s Watford at Wembley on May 27, and Zaha says it would be the perfect way to sign off at the club where he has played over the course of a decade.

"I can't explain it, I'm just glad we're going to Wembley," Zaha told Sky Sports. "I've got no words to express how I feel right now.

"It means the world to me. I've played for Palace for 10 years so doing this for Palace is just perfect for when I leave."
Palace’s Argentine goalkeeper Julian Speroni added his gratitude to Zaha.

"He’s unbelievable," Speroni said. "I had the pleasure of enjoying him - his career - here at Palace and I wish him all the best for the future."

 

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Payne: Ben Haim may not join Toronto FC

TFC's president and general manager said that a snag has hit the previously announced loan deal for QPR defender Tal Ben Haim.Tal Ben Haim may not be a Toronto FC player after all.

TFC president and general manager Kevin Payne revealed to reporters on Monday that the Israeli international might not join the struggling MLS club, despite the team having announced a loan deal last week.

“He’s loaned to us, but we promised him he would try to negotiate a longer-term deal,” Payne said.

Ben Haim last played for English Premier League side Queens Park Rangers, with that club agreeing to loan the defender to Toronto after it had officially been relegated to the Championship earlier this month. He is under contract with QPR through the end of June, after which point he would be free to join a team of his choosing.

According to Payne, Ben Haim wants a longer contract with TFC in place before heading to Canada.

“He’s got offers outside of our league that are lucrative," Payne said. "He obviously doesn’t want to jeopardize those for a two-month loan with us. What we’ve said to him is that we’re fine with the idea that he’s not going to play for us unless we get a deal negotiated.”

 

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Wenger confirms Wilshere to undergo ankle surgery

The Arsenal boss has revealed that the England midfielder will go under the knife for minor surgery in the forthcoming days but is expected to recover in time for preseason.Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed Jack Wilshere is to undergo "very minor" surgery on his ankle in the forthcoming days.

After his highly anticipated return to first-team action this season following 16 months on the sidelines, the England midfielder has seen his progress in a Gunners shirt halted since March, with the same troublesome ankle injury plaguing him once again. The Gunners had even resorted to to a space-age rehabilitation program in an attempt to get Wilshere fit for the tail-end of the season.

The 21-year-old playmaker has struggled to fully recover, though, and he has been used sparingly by the Gunners since suffering a recurrence of the injury back in March, featuring from the start in just two games in the past three months.

Wenger has attempted to allay any fears over the latest scheduled operation, though, revealing that the surgery is minor and the club is expecting him to recover in time to join his teammates for preseason training.
"Jack will have small, mild surgery," Wenger told the club's official website. "It is a very small, small, small one. It is to remove a small pin. It will not be a problem.

"He will need very minor surgery, but we manage that as far as we can until the end of the season. At the moment, we use him only in games when I feel he is really needed.

"He won't be available for England in the forthcoming friendlies, but he will be back for preseason. Of course he is disappointed to miss the England game in Brazil, but he will go next year [to the World Cup finals]!"

 

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Casillas-Mourinho conflict obvious, says Granero

The former Real Madrid midfielder can see no other reason than a dispute behind his former teammate's continued absence from the starting XI.Esteban Granero is convinced that a conflict between goalkeepr Iker Casillas and Jose Mourinho is keeping the Spain international on the substitutes bench at Real Madrid.

Diego Lopez has been the No. 1 choice between the posts at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu since joining the club from Sevilla in the January transfer window. Although Mourinho has remained insistent that his preference for Lopez is purely a footballing decision, there remains a suspicion that there may be more to the tale than meets the eye.

“It’s hard to judge from the outside,” Granero told AS. “Obviously there is a conflict. I know Iker very well and he is the best goalkeeper in the world. He is the captain of the team and has lifted the World Cup and the European Championship twice.

“He is a symbol of Real Madrid. He has spent 20 years at the club and to me has always been an example.”

The QPR midfielder did reserve praise for Lopez, however, and admitted his performances in recent months have warranted a first-team spot.

“I am not the coach who evaluates the status of each player. You can say Diego Lopez has done nothing to not deserve this spot. I have seen him train like crazy in his life. He is very professional.

“But Casillas is Casillas, and he is the undisputed starter. The coach is smart enough and professional enough to choose on form.”

 

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Ferdinand: I would like to be part of Man Utd's future

The 34-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season, but the defender insists he wants to continue the club's winning mentality after Sir Alex Ferguson retires.Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has indicated he would sign a contract extension with the club.

The 34-year-old's current deal with the Premier League champion expires at the end of the campaign. Sir Alex Ferguson said earlier this month that the center back, who scored the game-winning goal in Ferguson's last match at Old Trafford on Sunday, has had his "best season at the club" and hinted a new contract will be offered.

"Manchester United has a bright future," Ferdinand told MUTV. "The manager has left the club in great health, and we are looking forward. We have a great number of good young players who are eager to win things and be successful and work hard.

"That is what the manager has instilled in these players. The work ethic has to continue if we are going to be successful. I would like to be part of that."

Ferdinand admits he was surprised at Ferguson's decision to end his 26-year reign at Old Trafford at the end of the season but insists the club must continue the Scot's mentality under new boss David Moyes.

"There have been a couple of emotional moments," Ferdinand said. "The manager's announcement was like a bolt out of the blue. No one was expecting it. It disappointed a lot of us but I understand the manager's reasons.

"He has had a great stint and an unbelievably successful period. He instilled great qualities in the club, and we must carry that on."

 

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Belletti: Neymar is broken easily

The former Barcelona right back has questioned the toughness of the Brazilian after another disappointing showing against Corinthians.Juliano Belletti has accused Neymar of being “broken easily” following an anonymous display in Santos' 2-1 defeat at the hands of Corinthians.

The young Brazilian striker failed to make an impact in the first leg of the State Championship final, with the former Barcelona and Chelsea fullback adding to his growing list of critics.

“Normally he does not play well against Tite, who have a game plan much like in Europe. With two lines of four he is well marked, there is always cover behind the player marking Neymar, this just neutralizes him,” Belletti told SporTV.

“Neymar is broken very easily when he realizes that the game is not for him.

“He has hardly appeared in the game [against Corinthians], he is not feeling confident enough to take on the responsibility that he assumed, and assumed well. This is lacking right now for Santos.”

Belletti did give Neymar the benefit of the doubt, placing some of the blame on the rest of the team.

“He does not have a player that divides that responsibility with him," Belletti said. "Previously you had Ganso, who shared some responsibility of this marking.”

 

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Roma fined after racist Balotelli chants

The Italian club's fans aimed prejudiced chants at the AC Milan star during Sunday's encounter at San Siro and Serie A has fined the capital outfit.
Roma has been fined 50,000 euros by the Italian authorities after its fans racially abused Mario Balotelli during Sunday's clash with AC Milan.

The referee had to stop the game just after the start of the second half after a chorus of abusive chants were aimed at the Italy striker.

“A fine of 50,000 euros with a warning for Roma, whose supporters continuously addressed racially discriminatory chants to players of the opposing team, prompting the referee to suspend the game for two minutes in order to make them desist from such reprehensible behavior," a statement from Serie A read.

Roma, meanwhile, has warned its fans of their future conduct after the incident, insisting that the behavior had no place in football.

"Roma condemn any form of racial abuse," read a club statement on their official website. "This type of behavior from any football supporters, including ours, is completely unacceptable. We are committed to facing this issue head-on to rid our sport of this problem and promote respect for all."

The match at San Siro eventually finished 0-0, with Sulley Muntari and Francesco Totti both receiving red cards.

 

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David Luiz: Lampard deserves recor

The Brazil defender admitted he would be happy if his teammate were to sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge after breaking the club's scoring record.BIRMINGHAM, Eng -- David Luiz has paid tribute to Frank Lampard after the midfielder broke Bobby Tambling's Chelsea goalscoring record against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Lampard struck twice to seal Champions League football for the Blues and take his tally to 203 goals for the club, equaling and surpassing Tambling's mark in the process.

And Luiz, who was brought on at the base of the midfield following Ramires' red card, which allowed Lampard to move further forward and get his goals, admitted he is delighted for the England midfieder.

"I am so happy for him because he deserves that, he is a fantastic player, a fantastic professional and a very good person, every day he wants to work more and score more and he has often showed that, so I am so happy for him," he told reporters.

"I have played with many many fantastic players in my life but here at Chelsea he is the hero and he has a fantastic story, and he is a fantastic player and a fantastic man."

Lampard's Chelsea future has been up in the air all season, and with club hierarchy reluctant to offer him an extension to his current deal he looks set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

But Luiz admits he would be happy for the 34-year-old to stay for at least another year.

"Frank needs to decide the best thing for his heart, and the club needs to decide the best thing for both [parties]," he explained. "I am happy when I have the opportunity to play together with players like Frank Lampard. If he is at Chelsea next year I'll be happy."

Looking ahead to the Europa League final against Benfica on Wednesday, Luiz believes having sewn up a top-four Premier League finish means they can focus all their energy on beating his former club.

"Now we have the opportunity to play Champions League next year," he continued. "We are in the top four now, if we win one more game it will be the top three.

"If we had lost this game [against Aston Villa] it would mean there would be more pressure, but now we can think about the final and think about the plans and what we need to do because it will be a great game.

"Whenever you are in the final you need to be confident, because you have done a great job in the past [to get there]. I have a big opportunity to win a European title, I want that and my teammates want that, so let's do it."

 

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Eriksen: I would like to play for Dortmund

The Dane says he likes the style of football Jurgen Klopp's side play and has been impressed with the growth of the Bundesliga in recent yearsChristian Eriksen has admitted that he would like to join Borussia Dortmund from Ajax this summer.

With the Germans set to lose Mario Gotze to Bayern Munich this summer, they are in the market for a new playmaker and coach Frank de Boer admitted that BVB counterpart Jurgen Klopp asked him about the Dane.

"Dortmund are a club where I would like to play," he told reporters after the 2-0 win over Groningen on Sunday. "I think I would be a good fit there with the football there. Dortmund play nice, attacking football. The Bundesliga has never really been my preferred choice and a few years ago I would not even have considered it, but now I do.

"The competition is getting stronger and it is no coincidence the two Champions League finalists are German clubs. I know there has been contact between the two clubs, and both Ajax and Dortmund have already talked to my agent.

"I will consider all the clubs and quietly make a decision. I want clarity when preparing for the new season, that's the best thing - for everyone."

Eriksen's current contract at the Amsterdam ArenA expires in 2014.

 

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Lahm: Bayern targeting treble glory

The Bavarians' skipper is brimming with ambition and has his sights set on both a European title and the German cup to add to the club's league triumph.
Philipp Lahm has insisted that Bayern Munich has no intention of resting on its laurels after lifting the Bundesliga shield at the weekend and has now set its sights on emerging victorious in the Champions League and DFB-Pokal as well.

The Bavarians have impressed with a string of impressive performances throughout the 2012-13 campaign and Lahm has demanded two more top-notch displays from his teammates in the final three games of Jupp Heynckes' reign.

"It's going to be hard work, all the way. So far this season we've put in that work, a lot of it, and now we want to reap the rewards," Lahm told Bundesliga.com. "Next up, it's the Champions League final and we're going to have to turn in another top-notch performance to win it.

"After that, there's the DFB-Pokal final, another occasion we'll need to rise to. It's not so easy, but we'll be giving it our absolute all. We've come very close in the past - obviously, we want to get our hands on the thing now."

Bayern locks horns with Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on May 25 for European glory before facing Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal final on June 1.

 

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Benitez hoping for Premier League stay after Chelsea

The Spaniard has revealed that he is hopeful of a third managerial stint in England when his short-term deal at Stamford Bridge reaches its conclusion at the end of the season.Chelsea interim manager Rafa Benitez says he is hoping to continue to manage in the Premier League next season.

Benitez's short-term deal at Chelsea expires in the summer, when it is widely expected that he will be replaced by Jose Mourinho.

Despite his turbulent time at Stamford Bridge, with the Chelsea fans particularly vehement with their disapproval at his arrival, the Spaniard has guided the Blues to the Europa League final and qualified for next season's Champions League.

And the 53-year-old says the search for a Premier League job next season has already begun.

"It is started already, the agents are working," the former Liverpool manager told reporters. "My job is to concentrate on the games, my agent is talking around.

"The Premier League is a fantastic league, my family still live in England so it would be easier but if not I will go abroad. I have no problem with Spanish, Italian, French [leagues]. I was on holiday for nearly two years [before Chelsea]. I want another job. The priority is still England but if you cannot find a club maybe you have to go abroad.

"When I was not working, some people said 'he cannot get a job' but I had a lot of offers. But you are looking for a top side or a for a proper project to build something. There are two options for the future - to get a project, two or three years to build a team like at Liverpool.

"Or maybe a top side with money where you can buy some players and maybe be challenging for trophies from the beginning. I'm sure we will have offers. We already have some clubs asking, but it depends on the level or the project."

 

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Chiellini: Conte the architect of Juventus success

The Italy international has nothing but praise for his coach and has stressed that the Bianconeri deserve their domestic success.Giorgio Chiellini has hailed Antonio Conte's role in Juventus' Serie A success this season as he feels the head coach is the brain behind the club's Scudetto win.

The Turin giants comfortably beat second-placed Napoli to the title to make it two consecutive Scudetti and Chiellini hopes that Juventus can continue to challenge for silverware with Conte at the helm.

"We’re in the thick of our cycle and Conte’s the main architect. We want to develop together and continue following his lead," Chiellini was quoted as saying on the official Juventus website.

The defender then went on to voice his opinion that Juve fully deserve its Serie A title as it never lost sight of its goal.

"The reason why we’ve sealed this Scudetto title so early is because we’ve never given up over the course of the campaign," Chiellini said.

"We never lost sight of our objective. The defeat against Inter [in November] was a slip-up that brought us back down to earth and after a sticky patch in January we set off again. We deserve this title."

Juventus takes on Sampdoria on May 19 in its final game of the 2012-13 campaign.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

City axe Mancini a year after title glory

Manchester City have sacked Roberto Mancini 12 months after he guided the club to their first league title in 44 years.

Having failed to mastermind the retention of City's Premier League title this season, losing out to rivals Manchester United, Mancini was under pressure to deliver silverware in the form of the FA Cup.However, a shock 1-0 defeat to Wigan in Saturday's final immediately led to renewed speculation that the Italian was on his last legs at Eastlands. And so it proved to be, with Mancini axed by City after three-and-a-half years in the Eastlands hotseat. Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini is currently the favourite to be named his successor.

A statement on the club's official website read: "It is with regret that Manchester City Football Club announces that Roberto Mancini has been relieved of his duties as Manchester City Manager.

"This has been a difficult decision for the owner, Chairman and Board to make and it is the outcome of a planned end of season review process that has been brought forward in light of recent speculation and out of respect for Roberto and his extensive contributions to the Football Club.

"Despite everyone's best efforts, the Club has failed to achieve any of its stated targets this year, with the exception of qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League. This, combined with an identified need to develop a holistic approach to all aspects of football at the Club, has meant that the decision has been taken to find a new manager for the 2013/14 season and beyond.

"Assistant Manager Brian Kidd will take interim responsibility for the remaining two games of the season and the post-season tour to the United States."

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak added: "Roberto's record speaks for itself and he has the respect and gratitude of Sheikh Mansour, myself and the Board for all of his hard work and commitment over the last three and a half years. "He has clearly also secured the love and respect of our fans. He has done as he promised and delivered silverware and success, breaking the Club's 35-year trophy drought and securing the title in 2012.

"I would like to personally and publicly thank him for his dedication to the progress that he has overseen and for his support and continued friendship."Mancini arrived in Manchester in December 2009, with City's Abu Dhabi owners choosing the former Inter Milan boss to replace Mark Hughes.

It proved an inspired choice as Mancini led City to FA Cup glory in his first full season in charge, the club's first piece of major silverware since the 1976 League Cup. He went one better the following year, ending a 45-year wait for the English league title in dramatic style - the last kick of the season from Sergio Aguero securing the trophy on goal difference, most satisfyingly at the expense of United.

After achieving domestic success, European domination was on the mind of City's wealthy Abu Dhabi owners but Mancini failed two years in a row to guide City through the Champions League group stage.

The former Lazio and Italy striker's struggles on the continental stage left him needing to impress again on the home front. City, though, were unable to rein in neighbours United in the Premier League and the FA Cup final upset proved the last straw for the club's hierarchy.

 

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Barclays Premier League 2013.05.14 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2013.05.14 Fixtures

Arsenal Vs Wigan

Reading Vs Manchester City

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Barclays Premier League 2013.05.14 Fixtures

Arsenal Vs Wigan

Reading Vs Manchester City

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Arsenal 4-1 Wigan: Podolski double relegates Latics and lifts Gunners up to fourth

FA Cup winner Wigan Athletic was relegated from the Premier League after losing 4-1 to a rampant Arsenal at the Emirates in a game where only three points would save the Latics' top-flight status.



The Gunners, too, were desperate for a win to keep alive their ambition of finishing in the top four, and Lukas Podolski capitalized on some woeful defending to hand the home side an early lead, while a Shaun Maloney free kick – won in questionable circumstances – drew the visitors level before the break.Roberto Martinez's side threatened to put the dampeners on Arsenal's final home game of the season, but clinical second-half strikes from Theo Walcott, Podolski and Aaron Ramsey ensured the Gunners both regained control of the final Champions League qualification spot going into the last game of the season and terminated Wigan's eight-year stay in the top flight.

Neither Arsenal nor Wigan came into the high-stakes encounter with fresh injury concerns, and Arsene Wenger’s decision to replace Nacho Monreal with Kieran Gibbs at left back was the only change from the starting lineups that last featured for both.

That, though, was an issue. The emotional nature of the Latics’ remarkable turn at Wembley on Saturday offered a draining contrast to their hosts’ 10 days of inaction since beating QPR, particularly considering that, while Wigan was enjoying the greatest moment in its history, notable Premier League strugglers conspired against them with crucial wins.Consequently Arsenal imposed itself early and was met with flimsy resistance, taking the lead just after the 10-minute mark. Alarm bells should have been ringing when a free Santi Cazorla hit the deck to send a controlled header skidding wide of the upright, and moments later a totally unmarked Podolski stooped to nod home a bouncing corner delivered by the Spaniard.

More questionable defending from a corner saw Koscielny poke narrowly wide before Walcott saw an effort ruled out for offside as Wenger’s side threatened to render Wigan’s end-of-half ascendancy somewhat impotent. Moments before the interval, though, Maloney struck a lethal free kick from edge of the area that Wojciech Szczesny’s hand couldn’t prevent from nestling into the bottom corner.
Wigan started the second half in a much more confident manner, testing Szczesny right away as the Polish goalkeeper stood firm to thwart Arouna Kone’s close-range attempt, while James McCarthy was half a yard offside when he tucked home. Arsenal countered immediately, and Joel Robles denied Cazorla as the the home side's freshness became telling.

Robles was kept busy as he blocked Podolski's header and Walcott's near-post drive, though there was little he could do to prevent Walcott prodding home Cazorla's pinpoint cross from the right flank to re-establish the Gunners' lead.

Any hopes of Wigan pulling itself back into the game and saving its Premier League status were put to the sword shortly after as Podolski grabbed his second, capitalizing on some static defending to race onto Cazorla's header and dink over the advancing Robles, before Ramsey once again breached the Latics defense to gleefully rifle home Arsenal's fourth inside the near post.

With the job done, Arsenal played out the remainder of the game in the knowledge that, having leapfrogged North London rival Tottenham, a top-four Premier League finish is now in its own hands when it meets Newcastle on Sunday.

 

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Reading 0-2 Manchester City: Aguero & Dzeko get life without Mancini off to winning start

City begins the post-Mancini era with an easy win over relegated Reading, whose goalkeeper Alex McCarthy's fine display stopped what could have been a blowout.

Sergio Aguero’s first-half strike and Edin Dzeko’s late goal were enough to give Manchester City a 2-0 win over Reading and guarantee second place in the Premier League in the club's first game since manager Roberto Mancini was fired.

The Argentine striker scored his 17th of the season just before halftime following one of several breathtaking passing moves, and the Bosnian fired home after a great David Silva pass to account for the scoring. If not for a superb goalkeeping display from Alex McCarthy in the Reading goal, the hosts could have demolished their already-relegated opposition.

James Milner carved out a terrific chance after just three minutes, skipping past the midfield to lay a crisp pass to Aguero on the right hand side of the box, the Argentina drawing a solid double save from McCarthy. Seconds later McCarthy was called into action again, this time having to save from Silva.

The onslaught continued, and Carlos Tevez set up Milner inside the box, with the England international’s shot getting palmed away by McCarthy before Aguero’s strike on the rebound was blocked. The hosts were able to break into the City half after a while, and Hal Robson-Kanu had Joe Hart at full stretch with a great shot from long range.

Tevez should have put City in front after half an hour, but the Argentine mishit his shot from Yaya Toure’s dinked ball over the top. Aguero finally put City into a deserved lead after 40 minutes, though, poking home from 10 yards after a tremendous series of one-touch passing from a short corner by Milner and Silva.

It was almost two for City and Aguero a minute later, but once again, McCarthy pulled off a great save to deny the striker.

Reading should have been level after five minutes into the second half, but Pavel Pogrebnyak headed right at Hart from close range from a tasty right-wing cross.

City broke immediately and Tevez glided into the box, perhaps taking a touch too many before his eventual shot was sent over for a corner. McCarthy was the hero for Reading yet again soon after, tipping Yaya Toure’s rising strike over the bar before Micah Richards’ bicycle kick bounced wide of the post.

McCarthy had to make further saves from Gael Clichy and Toure in the final minutes, capping off a phenomenal display of shot-stopping before eventually being beaten for a second time, with substitute Dzeko firing past him after picking up a ball from Silva.