..::Football III::..

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Cavani: I know nothing about Juventus interest

Edinson Cavani insists he knows nothing about a potential summer switch to Juventus, claiming he remains as committed as ever to Paris Saint-Germain.
The Uruguay international played a key role in the French side's domestic treble, netting 31 times in 53 appearances in all competitions for Laurent Blanc's side.

However, former Napoli forward Cavani is being heavily linked with a return to Italy to link up with Juventus, who are intent on strengthening their attack this summer.The 28-year-old, though, insists there has not been any contact with the Scudetto and Coppa Italia winners and says he is happy at Parc des Princes.

"Juventus this summer? I am a PSG player and I work to the maximum to do good things here," Cavani told Calciomercato."The transfer window is you talking on television, but me, I know nothing."

Cavani has also reportedly been targeted by Atletico Madrid, with speculation rife that the Rojiblancos are open to a trade involving France international Antoine Griezmann.

 

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Zamparini: Juventus will pay €32m for Dybala

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has revealed Juventus have agreed to pay €32 million for striker Paulo Dybala.

The 21-year-old Dybala was the breakout start of the Serie A season, netting 13 times in 34 appearances to attract the interest of Italy's biggest clubs, as well as Premier League heavyweights Arsenal and Manchester United.

Dybala confirmed on May 24 that he will move to Juve this summer and Zamparini has now shed further light on the deal, which he thinks is an excellent piece of business for everyone involved.

"It was a bargain for both parties," he told GR Parlamento. "I have balanced the books and Juve chief Giuseppe Marotta knows that in order to obtain certain results, he needs the best players in the world. He's operating with great intelligence."Dybala's the new Messi. Juve paid €32m plus bonuses for him and in Turin he will find players on the same level as him.

"I received offers from Inter, AC Milan and Juventus in Italy and another from abroad but the player has chosen the best team of the moment, one that will allow him even greater exposure."

Despite deciding to cash on in Dybala, whose contract was set to expire at the end of next season, Zamparini insists he has no intention of selling Franco Vazquez to AC Milan.

"I told their president Silvio Berlusconi that Vazquez is a fundamental player for us, one that we're going to build a team around," he added.

 

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Dybala Juventus join wei wage.​

 

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Morata: I'll shoot down Barcelona for Real Madrid!

Alvaro Morata claims he will try to shoot down Barcelona in Saturday's Champions League final not only for Juventus - but also Real Madrid.

The Spain international lifted the European trophy with the Blancos last May before joining Juve for €20 million during the summer transfer window.

Morata returned to haunt his former employers this season, however, netting the decisive goal in Juve's 3-2 aggregate victory over Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.Consequently, Morata would now like to make amends somewhat by firing Juve to victory over his old club's fiercest rivals.

"I'll try to beat Barcelona, because of what it means for Real Madrid fans as well," the attacker told Cadena SER."But it would not be special because of having scored against Barca, but because of the importance of a Champions League final.

"It's an opportunity to go down in history, and obviously scoring against Barcelona would not be as painful as it was scoring against Madrid."But I need to actually score before thinking about celebrations! Getting a goal in a Champions League final against Barcelona is no easy task.

"I played for Madrid for many years, I'm not going to say it's an extra motivation for me because you don't need extra motivation when you play a Champions League final, but facing Barca will always be special for me."

Morata is well aware Juve - who are on track for their first-ever treble - will have their work cut out containing a Barca side for whom Lionel Messi has been spectacular of late.

The Argentina international netted a sensational opening goal in Saturday's Copa del Rey final win over Athletic Bilbao, just a fortnight after clinching La Liga with a fine finish in a 1-0 victory at Atletico Madrid.

However, Morata pointed out that the four-time Ballon d'Or winner has been brilliantly supported by Luis Suarez and Neymar this term, with the three having combined for a record-breaking 120 goals during the 2014-15 campaign.

"It is very difficult to stop Messi but there is not just him at Barcelona," he added. "The other two, Suarez and Neymar, can always punish you."If you focus only on Messi, the other two are going to kill you. And then their defence... People talk a lot about their attack but their defence is also top class.

"They are a great team in general, they are among the best in the world - if not the best - but I'm sure they also have plenty of respect for us because they know we can be dangerous and haven't reached the final by accident.

"We are certainly not going to Berlin thinking we are inferior to Barcelona. We would not even go there if we thought we had no chance of winning."They have had a great season, they are incredible players and they are in spectacular form right now.

"However, I think we have one of the best defensive lines in Europe. We have had some great performances ourselves and have handled some top-level players.
"It will be a very difficult game but we are confident we have our possibilities."

 

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Hazard: Old arguments haven't weakened Mourinho relationship

Eden Hazard says that he has a good relationship with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, despite a series of arguments in 2013-14.

The Belgian winger picked up the Players' Player of the Year and Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year awards in a season that saw him lead the Blues to a Premier League and League Cup double.

And playing in his second season under Mourinho, the 24-year-old says past arguments haven't affected his bond with the iconic coach.

"I get on very well with Mourinho," he told RTL. "Last season we had two or three disagreements but with Mourinho everything is forgotten quickly."

Hazard contributed 14 goals and nine assists in 38 league games this season, leading to talk of Real Madrid showing interest in the playmaker, though Mourinho was quick to pour cold water on talk of an exit.

And Hazard says he has embraced Mourinho's challenge to become a key figure for Chelsea: "Yes I am aware [of my new status at Chelsea], perhaps [more so] off the field because I'm not somebody who talks a lot.

"But on the pitch I try to be the one everybody passes to, even if sometimes I don’t do the right thing.

"The biggest change is that the previous years I've always made great seasons, there is not a year when I was bad but there were games where I was a little unnoticed... When I have the ball, I try things, I do what I know, it means dribbling, provoking.

"I try, with my experience and the season I made in a big club like Chelsea, to bring what I know"

 

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Buffon: I had no idea how good Tevez was

Gianluigi Buffon claims he had no idea how "sensational" Carlos Tevez was before the Argentine joined Juventus.Tevez arrived in Turin from Manchester City in the summer of 2013, with the Bianconeri paying €14 million for the forward's services.

The deal was considered a gamble by some pundits, due to his tumultuous time at the Etihad Stadium.However, he has been a huge success in Italy, firing Juve to back-to-back Serie A titles and the final of this season's Champions League.

"Carlos is a player we didn't know and I didn't really know before," Buffon is quoted as saying by Uefa.

"But these last two years he has really been an unbelievable surprise because he integrated into the team right away and adapted immediately to our way of working and training."It is certainly different to English football and also different to the Argentine mentality.

"It was something he had to deal with, but he immediately began working hard to try to understand what was being demanded of him."Now he knows perfectly what he has to do to help the team and to help his team-mates.

"He understands at every moment of a match when he has to help out, when he has to make an extra run, when he perhaps needs to commit a foul, or when he has to keep the ball."He is a really hard worker and just a great man. I am very happy to play alongside him and to have met him."

Tevez, whose fine form this season secured him an international recall after three years in international exile, has scored 39 goals in 66 Serie A appearances for Juve.

 

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Pirlo: Manchester United need Pogba

Juventus' Andrea Pirlo believes Manchester United need Paul Pogba in their midfield and sais baffled as to why they let him leave in 2012.

Pogba left United for Turin when his contract expired three years ago, supposedly after growing frustrated with a lack of first-team opportunities, and has since blossomed into a key player for the Serie A and Coppa Italia champions.

Pirlo and Pogba will line up alongside each other in the Champions League final against Barcelona on Saturday and the Italian insists Old Trafford's loss is Juve's gain.

"If he carries on the way he is, then he will become the greatest midfield player in Europe - and at his age he could have that title for a long time," Pirlo told The Mirror.

"I don’t understand why Manchester United let him go. If you look at their midfield now they could really use a player like him. It might have been a personal issue for Alex Ferguson, because it is clearly nothing to do with ability.

"Pogba has never really talked about the situation but, whatever the reasons he left, it has been great news for Juventus."

The veteran midfielder also took time to praise former United midfielder Paul Scholes: "I have been so fortunate to have played with so many incredible players throughout my career, but if I could pick one that I never got the chance to play with, it would be Paul Scholes.

"One of the all-time greats. A genius on the field, but private - no circus around him off it. I have a lot of respect for him."

 

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Pogba: Playing with Messi would be a dream come true

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has admitted that he dreams of playing alongside Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.The Frenchman has long been linked with a move away from Turin, with both the Catalan giants and Real Madrid said to be very interested in him.

Pogba has now spoken of his admiration for Barca - his side's Champions League final opponents on Saturday - singling their Argentine star out for particular praise.

"Playing with Messi would be a dream come true," he is quoted as saying by AS.
"He's the best player in the world. I love watching Barcelona play, but I also love watching them lose. We know that we're not favourites but it's a final."We're going to give our all. We have nothing to lose and you never know what can happen."

Despite his admiration for Barcelona, Pogba emphasised that he had no immediate plans to leave the club in the summer."I never said that the final in Berlin would be my last game. People can believe what they want."

Barcelona and Juventus kick off in the German capital at 20:45CET on Saturday.

 

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Vidal: Barca are favourites but we can beat them

Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal has ackowledged that Barcelona are favourites for the upcoming Champions League final.

The Bianconeri, who beat the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid en route to the final, are looking to win Europe's top club competition for the first time in 19 years, while the Catalans have won it three times in the last nine seasons.

Vidal is looking forward to the "most important" match of his career and says his side have overcome the odds before this year and can do so again in Berlin on Saturday.

"You feel so many emotions when you see the game getting closer," he told the club's offical website."I think it’s a dream to be here, this close to the most important game of my life."Playing in the final of the Champions League is the ultimate.

"Everyone has always said they were favourites against us. And we have shown a different thing on the pitch, so hopefully we can win on Saturday and the favourites can lose."

 

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Cavani: Ibrahimovic is one of the best footballers in the world

Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani says team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the best players in the world - and acknowledges he has learned a lot from playing alongside him.

Cavani scored the winning goal in the Coupe de France final on Saturday against Auxerre, with Ibrahimovic leading the line in the 1-0 victory.

The former Barcelona, Inter and Juventus forward had missed two Ligue 1 games - including a title-sealing win against Montpellier - due to injury but returned to help tie up the domestic treble.

“To play and train alongside Ibrahimovic is very special because, for me, he is one of the best footballers in the world,” Cavani told Goal.

“Sharing a dressing room and a pitch with him is special. You learn a lot. It’s a different experience.”

Cavani hit eight goals in the six matches that saw PSG clinch the title after pulling eight points clear of Lyon, who had led Ligue 1 at the end of April.

And, on the back of his cup final heroics, Cavani will now head to Chile for the Copa America, where defending champions Uruguay are aiming to win their 16th title.

“The Copa America is another very important challenge,” he added. “It’s a competition that is very well regarded on our continent.

“That gives it a special taste. It’s a special goal for us, a special challenge that’s only a few weeks away.”

Incredibly, for a nation of just 3.4 million people, Uruguay have won the Copa once more than World Cup runners-up Argentina and will have double the number of titles of Brazil if they triumph again this summer.

Cavani, however, believes this success is in spite of a system which he thinks is falling short of the top European nations when it comes to player development.

“A lot of footballers have emerged from our country,” he explained. “To get to the top, you must put in a lot of hard work but you also need to be blessed with talent.

“It’s not every day that happens and I think the culture of our country doesn’t help young players achieve their goals of becoming professional players.

“I had to leave when I was 19 and I believe it was the right moment to move to Europe. My father always told me that you risk losing a few years in your development if you stay too long, because the training of players and the methods used are often more advanced in Europe.

“If you leave when you are older, you maybe miss out on that development. So I think the best age for Uruguayan players go to Europe is at 18 or 19.”

After signing for Palermo in January, 2007, Cavani initially competed for a first-team place with Fabrizio Miccoli and Amauri and was forced to play out of position.

But after 18 difficult months, the Salto-born striker became his club's first choice up front and earned a €17 million move to Napoli in 2010.

“I would say the most difficult moment in my career came when I arrived at Palermo,” said Cavani. “I had just started getting called up to the national team and - playing as a number nine – I had been top scorer the previous domestic season and for the Uruguay Under-20s.

“But the coach thought I would be a good wing-back, a player who could get up and down the flanks – and the same thing happened in the national team too! It was a sacrificial role. It was difficult because I had to do something I was not used to and that is hard.

“But things changed and now I look at it as a life experience. It took a lot of sacrifice to change things and I had to prove myself whenever I played in my true position.”

At centre forward, Cavani became one of the most feared goalscorers in Europe. In his three seasons at Napoli, he netted 33, 33 and 38 goals before PSG paid €64.5m for his services.

Back-to-back Ligue 1 titles followed - Cavani’s first league championships in Europe - as he scored over 50 goals in two seasons, but ‘El Matador’ does not know what his future holds.

“I like playing football wherever I can,” he said. “Football is my passion and who knows where I will play in the future – you cannot foresee that. As long as I am playing football, I am prepared to play wherever I have to.”

 

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Benteke unsure on future: My agent knows what I want

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke says he will leave his future in the hands of his agent amid interest from Liverpool and Chelsea.

The 24-year-old has attracted a lot of attention this year, with Chelsea ready to enter the running to sign him, while Liverpool are also keen on the striker who finished the season with nine goals in his last 10 games.

While Benteke admits he is not currently concentrating on his future at Villa, the Belgium international suggests that he would only join a club where he is guaranteed a regular place.

"It's about my agent, he knows what I want and I’ll let him do the job," Benteke told Sky Sports News.

"I don’t know, I don’t think about Aston Villa now, I did my season with Villa and now I am focused with the national team.

"It's important to play. If you want to be in first 11 you have to play in your club."

Tim Sherwood admitted Villa would be unable to prevent Benteke from leaving this summer due to a buyout clause - which is reportedly set at around €45 million.

“There’s a buy-out clause in his contract so it will be impossible for us to stop him if he wants to go. Someone’s got to meet that buy-out clause and if they don’t it won’t be considered because we don’t want to lose him,” said the Villa manager.

“I don’t know what the figure is but I believe it will be quite substantial. He’s made no indication that he wants to leave. I’ve not had a conversation with him.

“This is still a huge football club. It’s up to the individual to make that decision, I can’t make it for him. I want him to stay here.”

 

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Alba agrees new Barcelona deal

Jordi Alba has reached an agreement with Barcelona over a new contract that will keep him tied to the Camp Nou club until 2020.

The Spain left-back has been with the club since 2012 after a move worth €14 million from Valencia, where he had become one of the stars of La Liga.

His initial contract in Catalunya expired expired in 2017 but the club have moved to keep him for an extra three years with the new deal including a buyout clause worth €150m.

"FC Barcelona announces that it has reached an agreement with Jordi Alba for the renewal of his contract until June 30, 2020," a club statement reads."His new renewal clause will be worth €150m. The new contract will be signed in the coming days."

Since moving to Camp Nou, Alba has won two Liga titles and a Copa del Rey and could add a Champions League medal to his collection on Saturday when they meet Juventus.

 

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Lloris denies release clause in his Tottenham contract

Hugo Lloris has confirmed there is no release clause in his Tottenham contract amid reported interest from Manchester United.

Reports in France had claimed that the 28-year-old could be available for €20 million if Tottenham failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Lloris has revealed that he keeps in contact with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and suggests that he would be informed of any bids for him this summer.

"That's not true. There's no clause,” the France international told L’Equipe.

“I’ve always liked to talk directly to the Spurs board. It is important to know these guys, to feel the culture of the club and know how it functions.

"When you have the privilege of talking directly to the chairman, like I do with Daniel Levy, it makes things more simple.

“So I know what is said, it's a relationship of trust."

When asked about his potential value this summer, Lloris replied: "I wouldn't even look at that. Honestly, it's debate between clubs. Nobody has told me how much I am worth and I won't try to find out.

“But we are in a period when there is sometimes agitation for nothing, where figures circulate to test out the market. This is part of the system.”

In April, Paris-Saint-Germain were considering a €56 million offer for Lloris and the Tottenham goalkeeper admits he would not rule out a move to the French champions.

"I can't say no but my ideas are clear in my head; they are the same as when I was 16 or 17. Tomorrow, I don't know but today I don't think that way,” said Lloris.

“It's only my opinion, but I think that the media have been hard on Salvatore Sirigu. I don't know if it was to destabilise PSG at a particular moment of the season, but he's done good things in Paris and some people have forgotten that. Again, the club is progressing, the project is advancing, but for me, today, the question has not been asked."

 

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Lacazette: You don't reject Barca or Madrid

Lyon star Alexandre Lacazette insists that he has not come to a decision over his future yet, but admitted that he would find it hard to turn down Barcelona or Real Madrid.

The 24-year-old topped Ligue 1's scoring charts this term, netting 27 goals as OL finished second in Ligue 1 to seal a return to the Champions League.

The France international has since been linked with a variety of clubs but says he wants to relax and leave his agent to negotiate with interested parties."I've not made my decision," he told Le Parisien.

"I'm going to go on holiday and leave my agent to discuss it and occupy himself with that. I'm not going to be worried by it."As soon as I've decided, I want it to be carried out quickly.

"It's tough to say no to Barcelona and Real Madrid. But today, it's not a 50-50 case of whether I stay or go, I'm not thinking about it."I'll go to the France team and think. I can stay at Lyon and have a bad season as much as I can go and have an exceptional season.

"It all depends on my destination. If I go to a club with six centre-forwards, it's not the same as if I'm first choice."

 

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Juve don't play great football - Busquets

Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets says that Juventus have reached the Champions League final through sound organisation rather than good football.
The Bianconeri were unfancied in Europe at the start of the season and were struggling in the group stage before making it to the round of 16.

They have since overcome Borussia Dortmund, Monaco and Real Madrid, but Busquets remains less than impressed with their gameplan."Juventus have not reached the final by playing well or scoring a lot," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"But they deserve to be here, they're a compact team and very difficult to beat. Until December, they were in trouble in the group. Then over time they showed they were prepared to go all the way.

"It's always like that with Italian teams, they're competitive, they know what they want and they know how to get it.

"In a final, it's winning that counts, it's not the style of play that people remember. We know how difficult it is and it would be nice to win, which is what counts."
Busquets went on to hail coach Luis Enrique's effect on the team since taking over from Tata Martino last summer.

"Under Luis Enrique we’ve worked a lot, and we’ve improved defensively. The addition of Luis Suarez has helped us a lot, and with Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta we move well and keep it tight."Then we have a good defence and two great goalkeepers. In general, compared to a year ago the difference is physical, we’re much better in that respect and you can see it.

"The impact of Luis Enrique has been very positive. He has very clear ideas about football and we’ve absorbed them. We’ve had more variation and it’s helped us so much with Lionel Messi being on the wing.

"He’s even more devastating when he drifts into the centre, pulls people out of position and makes combinations. Then Suarez is there as a point of reference, which is good for us."

 

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Messi, Neymar & Suarez are divas, says Ballack

Former Germany captain Michael Ballack has revealed his admiration for Barcelona forwards Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, but feels their unwillingness to defend could be the undoing of their side in the Champions League final.

The South American attackers have fired the Catalans to the Liga title and the Copa del Rey and could complete the treble on Saturday when they face Juventus in Berlin.Ballack, however, feels that all three can be "divas" and need to do more at the back for the sake of helping the team.

"Of course they have weaknesses. Most obviously in terms of their defence: remember Bayern Munich scored three goals in the semi-final second leg, so they’re clearly vulnerable," he told The Guardian .

"Their biggest strength can also become a weakness. Those three forwards are all superstars. They are a little bit like divas sometimes when you see them: they don’t like to defend.

"So it will be interesting to see how Juventus can create unhappiness in their game. These kind of players like to have the ball, they want to play, they want to enjoy movements, to pass the ball around.

"If Juve make sure that can’t happen, as the game goes on they’ll become more and more frustrated and they can lose their discipline. That’s the key. That’s the time where Juventus must take over because an Italian team never loses discipline. Their players live for and thrive off this discipline.

"It’s an outstanding trio. I’ve never seen three players up front in the same team like that. Bayern Munich have Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Robert Lewandowski, who are amazing when they’re in good shape.

"Real Madrid have Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, even if Cristiano tends to dominate. But Barcelona’s are all absolute superstars. It says a lot that all three’s national teams rely on them as well: Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina."That tells you everything about their quality."

Ballack also predicted that Juventus will employ a restrictive gameplan to come away with a result in Berlin on Saturday. "I’m sure they won’t give them space. Juve will not play an open game but will know that there will be periods in the match, and opportunities, where they can attack themselves and play high up the pitch.

"They might initially think their best opportunities will come from set-pieces, particularly as I don’t see them being particularly strong on the counter-attack. But they can hurt Barcelona, even if their first task is to shut them out."

 

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Xavi: Champions League final my dream ending

Xavi is determined to end his Barcelona career on a high when his side take on Juventus in Saturday's Champions League final.

The former Spain midfielder will leave the club he has represented throughout his career at the season's end for Qatari side Al Sadd.Having already won the double this term, Xavi has one last shot at silverware in Berlin and says he could not have hoped for a better way to bow out.

"The minutes I play will be extraordinary ones," he told reporters."It's a Champions League final and my last game for the club. It's the ultimate dream. The important thing is to help the team.

"It is not the end of an era. I go, but this generation will continue with the squad we have. Barca will remain competitive.

"This team doesn't get tired of winning. We are obliged to win as Barcelona, we are a winning team. We like to win, to take control. We've had a fantastic generation in recent years."It's a final and they're all making us favourites but Juventus won't be easy. It'll be a tough final. We are training well this week and we'll see how they'll play.

"This season is very good but could be excellent, it's the same for Juventus. We've both arrived in good form but we want to make history."Xavi also voiced his hope that coach Luis Enrique will continue at the club after a successful first season at Camp Nou.

"I don't know if Luis Enrique will continue. I hope that he'll stay because he's shown what he can do. He's been a very good leader of the team.
"The first season at Barcelona isn't easy."

 

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Sissoko: Chelsea and Mourinho are interested in me

Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko has revealed Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is interested in his services.

Sissoko has previously been linked with Arsenal and admitted that moving to Arsene Wenger's side would be a dream.

But now the France international has acknowledged Mourinho's interest and admits he would be keen to work under the Chelsea boss, though he is no rush to play Champions League football.

"Is he following my progress? According to what I am hearing, yes," the 25-year-old told RMC.

"He is one of the best managers in the world. He has won so many titles. Any player would love to be coached by this man.

"For the moment, I am coached by other people. If one day I have the chance to work under his guidance, I would be very happy.

"For the moment, I am still at Newcastle and I feel good over there. There is no problem.

"After that, you can never be sure about what is going to happen. If I am to move, my future in the French national team will be part of my thinking. I will make the right choice.

"Champions League football? All players dream of playing in this competition.

"I hope to participate in it one day. I am patient. I am waiting for my time."

 

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Chelsea boss Mourinho lambasts 'unacceptable' Loftus-Cheek

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has slammed Ruben Loftus-Cheek's work-rate in Tuesday's friendly victory against Sydney, saying their relationship has "taken a step back".

Loftus-Cheek, who looked set to feature heavily for the Blues next season after being praised on several occasions by Mourinho towards the back end of the 2014-15 campaign, came off with an injury during the 1-0 friendly win at the ANZ Stadium.

But the Portuguese has launched a forthright assessment of the 19-year-old's display, and even suggested the knock was fabricated: "Ruben said he had a pain in his back but what I was feeling was that he only had the pain when Sydney had the ball.

"When Chelsea had the ball he was playing very well, but when Sydney had the ball I think he was more impressed by watching Matic and Mikel work, instead of him working.

"So, with Ruben, it's one step back in terms of my relationship with him. If he doesn't know what it is to play for me and Chelsea it's one step back.

"He has to learn that at 19 you have to run three times more than the others, you have to play to your limits and not play like a superstar with the ball at your feet because this is not Under-18s.

"The Under-18 competition is too easy for him. He's too good to play in the Under-18s but I don't accept that when he's playing in midfield with Mikel and Matic when we don't have the ball he doesn't press, doesn't have intensity and he’s waiting for everybody else to recover the ball.

"I don't accept that in the superstars so how can I accept that in a kid? He has to learn what it takes to play for us."

Mourinho also insisted Loftus-Cheek's effort was "unacceptable", and furthered the point by praising the commitment of the senior members of his squad.

"You could see some tired performances but performances where the senior players really tried to play football," he added.

"I'm happy with my senior players, it's been a very long season for them."

Loftus-Cheek, 19, made three Premier League appearances for the Blues last season, as well as a brief cameo in the Champions League against Sporting.

He made his first Premier League start against Liverpool in May, and followed that up with another start against West Brom at the Hawthorns a week later.

Mourinho may hope that his stinging criticism will push the youngster to improve, with Eden Hazard transforming from a liability in his manager's eyes to the Player of the Season after a similar outburst.

In 2014, he said of the Belgian: "Eden is not 100 percent ready to sacrifice himself for the team. I'm not happy about that."

 

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'Messi could score that goal anywhere' - Luis Enrique hits back at Chiellini

Luis Enrique feels Lionel Messi would be able to replicate his first goal in Saturday's Copa del Rey final against teams from any league in the world.The Argentina international evaded three Athletic Bilbao players before opening the scoring in stunning fashion during the 3-1 victory at Camp Nou.

Ahead of the Champions League final against Juventus this weekend, Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini suggested Messi would struggle to score such a goal in Serie A.

However, the Barca boss told reporters: "I think he can do it in any circumstances, in any league in the world."Messi is the best player in world, in history probably. Messi, since he [came to Barca] has adapted to a way of playing that benefits him.

"His team-mates are of the highest quality and he has been playing from early on with players who enjoy the game.

"They are not so physical but they play the ball, this is the idea we have here and I'm sure it has contributed to his success."He is the best in world but his environment is extremely beneficial for him."

Saturday's final in Berlin will also see Chiellini come up against Luis Suarez for the first time since the infamous biting incident at the World Cup last year.Luis Enrique played down any suggestions he would need to talk to Suarez about it, saying it is an incident which belongs firmly in the past.

The coach said: "We have spoken only about the final. Suarez's story belongs to the history of football - everyone is entitled to make mistakes." The former Celta Vigo boss admits he has been obsessing over the showpiece event and warns that Paul Pogba's return to fitness could prove vital for Juventus.
"It is the most important match and I have not stopped thinking about it," he said. "We have had a very good Champions League against the champions of England, France, Germany... we are convinced we will play a good game.

"We will try to have the ball but at some point we can use the space. We have to play well with the ball and without the ball. It is important to have different options.

"Football depends on the decisions of each coach. There will always be surprises by the coaches. Then there is the performance of the players and the ability to change things in the game.

"Pogba had an injury but has returned, he is a major player, one of the best.
"Everything worries me about Juve. I'm interested that Pirlo hasn't played that much. They have improved playing the ball out from the back, they have players who can hurt us. Alvaro Morata has given them more quality and goals this year."
Luis Enrique's future remains the subject of speculation but the former Spain international says he has not yet made a decision."My future does not depend on the final of the Champions League. It's not decided yet," he added.