..::Football III::..

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Gotze future not up for discussion, says Guardiola

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has rejected suggestions that Germany star Mario Gotze could be on his way out of the club.

Gotze was criticised by Franz Beckenbauer for his form for the club, with the former Borussia Dortmund star struggling to hit the heights of his early career at the Allianz Arena.
However, Guardiola has underlined his defence of the midfielder's performances and insists he is not headed for the exit door.

Guardiola said: "He helped us a lot. He's a young player with a lot of talent. It is my decision that he hasn't played much in recent games. I am very happy with his attitude. There is no discussion as to whether he stays or not."

Bayern have won only two of their last six games in all competitions, prompting criticism of a weak finish to the season after wrapping up the Bundesliga title.

But as he prepares for a difficult trip to relegation-threatened Freiburg this weekend, Guardiola rebuffed suggestions of a disappointing campaign, saying: "Many big teams have not won any titles.

"We have been outstanding this season. If you lose in the semi-finals [of the Champions League] against Barcelona, you have not done much wrong."
He added: "We have to learn from it.
"There is always tomorrow, and we have new opportunities and a new chance in the Champions League next year."

Despite Freiburg sitting 14 places below Bayern in the Bundesliga table, Guardiola insisted his players will not be taking the game lightly.

"We are always serious," he said. "We will rotate a bit, but we want to win the game."

Second-choice goalkeeper Pepe Reina is suspended for the trip to Freiburg and young understudy Ivan Lucic could feature amongst the substitutes, while winger Franck Ribery is unlikely to recover from an ankle injury in time to feature again this season.

 

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I'd love Gerrard to return to Liverpool in future, says Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers has revealed he has already spoken with Steven Gerrard about returning to Liverpool in the future.

Gerrard will play his final home game for Liverpool against Crystal Palace on Saturday before moving to MLS side LA Galaxy at the end of the season.

The Liverpool captain, who has played for his boyhood club for 17 years, has already indicated his desire to return to Merseyside as a coach and Rodgers was adamant that that was a very real possibility.

"Steven leaving here isn't permanent," Rodgers told reporters. "He's somebody I'd love to have working with me when he has finished playing.

"That opportunity for him to come back will be there for as long as I'm here.

"I'll miss him. [He] played 42 games in my first season, 39 last season and 38 so far this season. That shows his value and importance.

"I asked a lot of my staff to describe Steven in one word. I'd use the word 'Liverpool'. He's very much about looking after his people.

"What Steven has given to this city, politicians haven't given to this city. He's a wonderful symbol for the people.

"He's irreplaceable but we have to keep moving forward as a club and as a team."

Asked about a potential loan return for Gerrard, Rodgers added: "It's not something we have spoken about. Our focus has been on finishing the season strong."

Gerrard has started just 23 Premier League games this season, but Rodgers wryly revealed: "There's a fairly good chance Steven will play [against Palace]."

 

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Koke: I am staying at Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke has committed his short-term future to the club, insisting he is certain he will be playing at the Vicente Calderon next season.

The Spain international has been the subject of speculation linking him with a summer move to Chelsea, who took Diego Costa and Filipe Luis from the reigning Spanish champions.

But Koke says he won't be following the same route to London and says the Brazilian full-back would be welcome to return after struggling to nail down a starting spot at Stamford Bridge.

"Yes, I will play here," the 23-year-old midfielder told AS when asked if were 100 per cent certain of his future.

"Filipe Luis is more than a team-mate, he is a friend, so he would be welcome here," he added, responding to reports the Brazil international could be on his way back to the Spanish capital.Atleti have been unable to defend their Liga crown this season and were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Champions League by city rivals Real Madrid.

They sit third in the Liga table, four points clear of fourth-placed Valencia and on course for automatic qualification to the Champions League group stages again.
And Koke says Diego Simeone's side are on course for what should be considered a successful season."I'd give out season a nine out of ten if we finish third," he said.

"We got to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. And if we finish third we will have achieved our goals. And we will finish third."

 

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Van Nistelrooy: Chicharito is the model professional

Ruud van Nistelrooy has revealed that he believes Real Madrid striker Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez to be the model professional.

Since leaving his native Mexico for Europe in 2010, Guadalajara protege Chicharito has found regular first-team football difficult to come by, first with Manchester United and now at Madrid.

However, he has nonetheless maintained not only an impressive strike rate, but also a remarkable sense of professionalism.

The 26-year-old has always been content to bide his time and wait for an opportunity to prove his predatory instincts, as he did most recently during Karim Benzema's injury-enforced absence from the Madrid starting line-up.

Chicharito scored four goals in four games at one point during the Frenchman's spell on the sidelines, including a dramatic late winner that saw Real through to the semi-finals of the Champions League at the expense of city rivals Atletico.

Consequently, Van Nistelrooy, who played for both United and Madrid during his stellar career, believes that Chicharito deserves to be held in the highest esteem for the way in which he conducts himself on and off the field.

"I respect him a lot, both as a player and as a person," the iconic Dutch striker told Goal at Heineken's #ChampiontheMatch event in Mexico City, which takes a look at football fans' rituals on Champions League match days.

"He is an example of how to live a professional football life.

"I've heard from several people how hard he works and just how dedicated he is. When someone does that, then, for me, they are No.1."

Chicharito is currently on loan to Madrid from United but the Spanish side retain the right to make the transfer permanent at the end of the 2014-15 campaign.

 

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We already have De Gea's replacement lined up, says Van Gaal

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has revealed that he has already identified a successor for Real Madrid target David de Gea.

The Spain international goalkeeper is set to enter the final year of his contract at Old Trafford after a stellar season between the posts, earning a shortlisting for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.

Van Gaal is keen to ensure that De Gea sticks around, having earlier confirmed that the club have offered him "a lot of money" to extend his stay, but is ready to act if he needs to replace his star man.

"We want him to sign but he has to want to stay here at Manchester United," the Dutchman told reporters. "I don't know why he has not made the decision.

"We know who already shall be the next goalkeeper. We have a list of goalkeepers who can replace him because we have to be organised also, not only for that position but every position.

"We want him to stay so hopefully he shall sign."

 

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We already have De Gea's replacement lined up, says Van Gaal

De Gea wa sell karannada hadanneDe Gea wa katawath replace karanna baha

Karanna thiyenne De Gea ge replacements dan hoyana 1ka newei kohomahari De Gea wa thiyaganna try karana 1kai.De Gea thamai ape Hero​

 

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'Bale still among the world's top five players'

Gareth Bale is still among the best five players in world football despite his recent dip in form, according to former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.

Real Madrid forward Bale joined the club in a world-record €100 million move from Spurs in 2013, and garnered instant acclaim for a superb first season, which saw him score crucial goals in both the Copa del Rey and Champions League finals.

His dream move to Spain has threatened to turn sour in recent months, however, with the Santiago Bernabeu crowd taking to whistling the 25-year-old following a series of below-par performances.

Bale again struggled as Real were knocked out of the Champions League by Juventus on Wednesday, but Redknapp, who oversaw Bale's transition from diminutive left-back to fearsome winger at White Hart Lane, insists that his former charge is a "fantastic talent".

Indeed, with Manchester United interested in the Wales international, Redknapp, speaking exclusively to Goal, believes Bale would be the star in any Premier League team.

"He had a fantastic season last year for Real Madrid and some of the goals he scored, I've never seen anything like it, they were incredible. He's a fantastic player. For me, he is in the top five players in the world still," he said.

"Everybody would love him. Manchester United would love him, I'm sure. He'd walk into any team in England, there's not a team in England he wouldn't walk into and be the star player.

"He's a fantastic player. If he was in England, for me, he'd be the best player in the Premier League. He was, he still would be, if he came back, I still think he would be the best player in the league again. He's a fantastic talent."

Speculation remains rife over Bale's future but Goal understands that the Welshman is determined to make a success of his move to the Spanish capital .

Redknapp has sympathy for his current plight, but is sure that Bale – described as a "great lad" – can win over his doubters.

"I'd like to see him stay there," he replied when asked if Bale should seek an exit.

"Last year he had a great first season at Real Madrid, this year it's been more difficult for him but I'd like to see him fight his way through it and show everybody what he can do because he's an amazing player.

"He's got everything, he's got absolutely everything, he's got pace, he's got strength, he can dribble, he can shoot, he can head it. There's nothing he can't do, he's a good boy.

"As soon as you have a bit of a bad time people want to jump on your case, he's a great talent in my opinion."

Bale joined Spurs in 2007 and struggled to nail down a place in the starting XI after suffering injuries, while he also went 24 appearances for the club without being on the winning side.

Redknapp, though, brought an end to that run when he fielded Bale as an 84th minute substitute in a 5-0 win over Burnley in 2009, and subsequently made him his No.1 left-back ahead of Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

Bale wasted no time in repaying Redknapp's faith and became a key part of the starting XI as the club surged into the Champions League, and he caught the attention of the world with a brilliant hat-trick against Inter at the San Siro in 2010.

Redknapp insists he never doubted Bale's ability and says he tipped him for stardom before taking the reins at White Hart Lane.

"I had no doubts," he added. "Someone said I was going to loan him out to Nottingham Forest or somebody; absolute nonsense. Never, ever were we going to loan him out at Tottenham.

"I watched him play before I went to Tottenham, to be fair, one day at Fulham, and I thought he was fantastic that day, he played left-back. He could have been the best left-back in the world or the best left winger in the world, in my opinion.

"Even when I was there, we played at Benfica one day, and he played left-back and it was the best performance I'd seen in years, I’d never seen anything like it. Incredible. He plays left wing, he can play right wing, he can play off the middle, where he plays for Wales, they play him up front, he’s got everything.

"He's an amazing talent and he's a great player. It's a shame he's not English, it's a shame he's not playing for England, I wish he was English. The Welsh don't but he could make the difference to the England team, that's for sure!"

 

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Bale ta spend karapu ganata ayege performance tikak madi unata danata Bale ge record 1ka hodai​

 

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Manchester United win Under-21 Premier League title

Manchester United won the Under-21 Premier League on Friday as challengers Chelsea lost to West Ham 1-0.

Josh Cullen scored in stoppage time to lift the Hammers, but even a draw would not have been enough for Chelsea to prevent United from claiming the title.

United thrashed Man City 4-0 on Tuesday to move six points clear of Chelsea and to the brink of the title, but Chelsea's defeat means another Manchester derby in United's final game of the season will not impact the trophy race.

 

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Congratulations Manchester United U21!​

 

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Barclays Premier League 2015.05.16 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2015.05.16 Fixtures

Southampton Vs Aston Villa

Burnley Vs Stoke City

QPR Vs Newcastle United

Sunderland Vs Leicester City

Tottenham Vs Hull City

West Ham Vs Everton

Liverpool Vs Crystal Palace

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Ada Gerrard last Liverpool home match 1ka​

 

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Serie A 2015.05.16 Fixtures

Serie A 2015.05.16 Fixtures

Inter Vs Juventus

Sampdoria Vs Lazio​

 

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Depay: I admire Ronaldo but I won't copy him

Memphis Depay says he admires Cristiano Ronaldo’s free-kick taking ability, but insists that he will not copy the Real Madrid superstar when he joins Manchester United.

United have agreed a deal with PSV to acquire Depay – who has been likened to Ronaldo and is widely regarded as a free-kick specialist – this summer.

The Netherlands international subsequently outlined his desire to emulate the Portuguese at Old Trafford but insists he will bring his own unique style.

“Let’s be honest, doesn’t everyone look at Ronaldo’s free-kicks? I’ve looked at a lot of his technique but I do it in my own way. I have my own style and try not to do the same,” he told De Telegraaf.

“In my business it’s about winning. To win you have to score, if I can do that frequently, my job is done.”

When asked about his free-kicks, Depay added: “By taking many free-kicks I increase my chances to score and help my team.”

Having clinched his signing Louis van Gaal compared Depay to Lionel Messi – labelling him a “goalscoring winger” – but the 21-year-old admits that he cares little about where he is deployed on the pitch.

“It does not matter to me,” he added. “I can play from the left, the right or attack through the middle.

“[PSV manager] Phillip Cocu gave me freedom. That worked best.

 

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'Bale has been made a scapegoat'

Former Chelsea assistant coach Ray Wilkins has slammed critics of Gareth Bale and accused them of making him a "scapegoat" for Real Madrid's recent problems.
The winger has suffered an alarming dip in form since the turn of the year and looked bereft of confidence during both legs of the Champions League semi-final defeat to Juventus.

Bale has been defended by Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti and Wilkins believes his performances have not been as bad as has been made out.

"I feel a bit sorry for Gareth," he told BBC Sport. "I think he's been made a bit of a scapegoat.

"Last year he had an exceptional first season and it was always going to be extremely difficult to keep that standard up this year."He may have slipped slightly below it on several occasions but these things do happen.

"It's a tall order when you play in foreign countries because the fans like the foreign players to be the difference between winning or losing."Manchester United have subsequently been linked with a summer move for Bale, but WIlkins hopes he sticks it out in Spain and proves the doubters wrong.

He continued: "I think over the whole period it's worked out well for Gareth.
"I sincerely hope he has no reservations about staying because I'd like to see him stay there and prove a lot of people wrong.

"United will always be in for big players, but I just don't see Gareth joining."

 

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I have nothing to announce - Gundogan

Ilkay Gundogan says he has "nothing to announce" regarding his Borussia Dortmund future following yet more speculation regarding his next move.

The Germany international was reportedly in Barcelona last week, prompting rumours he was in Catalunya to discuss a summer transfer to the Champions League finalists.

Gundogan has just a year remaining on his contract at Signal Iduna Park and has already announced that he will not extend his current deal."I have nothing to announce," he told Bild on Saturday.

The future of the 24-year-old will be top of new boss Thomas Tuchel's list of priorities when he succeeds the outgoing Jurgen Klopp at the end of the campaign.

Gundogan has previously been linked with Manchester United and reports last month even claimed he had already agreed to join the Premier League side.

However, the player later denied those suggestions and even said he could remain at Dortmund until 2016 before departing on a free transfer.

 

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Real Madrid make Van Persie enquiry

Real Madrid have made an enquiry regarding the availability of Robin van Persie this summer, Goal has learned.

The Spanish giants, knocked out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage this week by Juventus, have been talking with Manchester United about the future of Javier Hernandez, the Mexican forward who has been on loan at the Santiago Bernabeu this campaign.

United are keen to offload Hernandez on a permanent basis for a fee, though it is looking increasingly unlikely that he will remain with Madrid into next season.

That has prompted the Spanish club to consider their options as they look to strengthen their forward options alongside Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo - and Van Persie’s name has come up in discussions.

The Dutchman has made a total of 25 appearances for United this term, scoring 10 goals. But despite lofty expectations upon Louis van Gaal’s takeover at Old Trafford last summer, he has failed to establish himself as his countryman’s key striker.

He will also be a free agent in the summer of 2016 with just one year left on his current deal, though as that amounts to nearly €16.5m, Madri and United may need to come to an agreement to settle Van Persie’s outstanding earnings if any move comes to fruition.

It is thought United would be willing to make a significant contribution to his final year’s wages by way of a pay-off to smooth his exit from the club, while Real are attracted by the idea of taking a quality striker who could provide formidable striking cover or even challenge Benzema for a starting position, form and fitness depending.

United are increasingly unlikely to retain Radamel Falcao’s services next season after a disappointing debut Premier League season and have already identified Harry Kane as a key summer target to replace the misfiring Colombia international, though Tottenham insist he is not for sale.

 

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Barcelona can kill you - Simeoneax

Diego Simeone admits Barcelona could kill his Atletico Madrid side if they don't show 100 per cent commitment in Sunday's clash at the Vicente Calderon.

The Catalans reached the final of the Champions League after beating Bayern Munich 5-3 on aggregate on Tuesday and will win La Liga with victory over Atletico.

He told reporters: "If you go tight they'll kill you. If you wait they will kill you. You have to go for every ball as if it's your last. You can't think too much about the threat they have."

The Argentine also spoke about the respective efforts of Fernando Torres and Mario Mandzukic this season and revealed which one will play against Luis Enrique's side.

"The evaluation has to be done at the end of the season. Mandzukic has 20 goals and Fernando has scored three in the league and three in the cup since he arrived.
"They are very competitive. We need them both. Against Barca Torres will play, he often has the answer in big games."

The 45-year-old then praised the balance Barcelona now possess in their side by listing the multiple threats they boast in their squad.

"This year they have two great goalkeepers. [Javier] Mascherano is huge, [Ivan] Rakitic, Luis Suarez, who is incredible at scoring and shutting down the defence.
"A few of the players have played there for a decade or more and then they have Messi and Neymar who are extraordinary."

 

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Bale has had a good season - Ancelotti

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti insists Gareth Bale has had a good season despite his recent dip in form.

The winger has been booed by his own supporters after suffering a crisis of confidence, particularly during the two legs of the club's Champions League semi-final defeat to Juventus.

Bale's future has subsequently been brought into question, but Ancelotti offered an evaluation of his contribution over the whole campaign rather than just the last few weeks.

"Gareth Bale had a good performance this season," he said at a press conference.
"It is difficult to assess a season from a player who had little problems, but has become more accustomed to playing with the team. He surprised most in the first year which was key. This season he has had problems, but the same ones the team has had."

Ancelotti also praised Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez for making a swift adaptation to life at Madrid following summer moves from Bayern Munich and Monaco respectively.

"The squad is very competitive. New players have come in and offered a very high level of performance - Kroos and James. "In the winter we brought in Lucas Silva, but he is also a player for the future and he has endured a normal template of adaptation."

The former Milan boss also praised Castilla coach Zinedine Zidane for producing a reserve side with talent ready to challenge for a place in the first team."Zidane has done his job. We are well stocked with promising players in the Castilla."

 

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Mane scores fastest ever Premier League hat-trick

Southampton striker Sadio Mane has scored the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history, netting three times in two minutes and 56 seconds.

The treble, which put Saints 3-0 up inside 17 minutes against Aston Villa on Saturday, overtook the previous record of four minutes and 33 seconds, set by Robbie Fowler against Arsenal in 1994.

Mane opened his account in the 13th minute, as he skipped past challenges from Ron Vlaar and Alan Hutton before tapping home the rebound from his initial shot, which was saved by Shay Given, while he again capitalised on a parry from the goalkeeper to add his second, following Shane Long's effort.

The winger then completed his hat-trick in the 16th minute, as he latched onto Long's excellent cross to fire home.

As well as scoring the fastest Premier League hat-trick, he has also set the record for the earliest instance of a hat-trick in the top-flight - 16 minutes - breaking Dwight Yorke's record of 22 minutes, also against Arsenal, in 2001.