..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Mourinho tight-lipped on Chelsea's pursuit of Stones

Jose Mourinho refused to be drawn on whether Chelsea will return with a fresh bid for Everton centre-back John Stones.

The Blues returned with a £28 million bid for the 21-year-old this week after an initial £20m approach had been rejected out of hand, but were again rebuffed by the Toffees.

The nature of Chelsea’s move for Stones has caused some friction between the two clubs, as well as Mourinho and Roberto Martinez, with the Portuguese eager to sign one of his key targets this summer.

Mourinho's public confirmation of the bid irked Everton manager Roberto Martinez, with speculation rife that Chelsea will attempt another move, but the manager was tight-lipped on the ongoing pursuit on Friday.

"I don't speak about transfers now," the Chelsea boss said ahead of Sunday's Community Shield against Arsenal at Wembley.

"Especially now that the competition starts. It starts for us and Arsenal now and starts for everyone else next week."

Mourinho also re-iterated that Chelsea are in the hunt for a left-back to replace Filipe Luis, who returned to Atletico Madrid earlier this week, but is coy on whether Bayer Leverkusen's Abdul Baba Rahman is a target.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Official: Lambert signs for West Brom

West Brom have completed the signing of Rickie Lambert from Liverpool on a two-year deal.

The striker only moved to Anfield from Southampton last summer, his boyhood club, but struggled with limited first-team exposure and scored just two Premier League goals.

Lambert tasted Premier League football for the first time with Southampton in 2012-13, scoring 13 times and earning a call-up to the senior England squad, before an improved return of 15 goals the following campaign.

The 33-year-old underwent a medical earlier on Friday and has now completed a £3 million move.

"Rickie is a good, strong, solid player who is a great character, good in the dressing room and good on the pitch," manager Tony Pulis told the club's official website. "We are very pleased to have him on board.

"He's a player of great pedigree and we look forward to integrating him into our squad."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Baba wants 'dream' Chelsea move

Baba Rahman is hopeful Augsburg accept Chelsea's £17.5 million (€25m) offer, according to his agent, as it would be his dream move.

The left-back has been linked with a Premier League move for months and rumours that the Blues were interested in signing him this summer increased in intensity following Filipe Luis' return to Atletico Madrid.

Despite Augsburg chief Jonas Hoffman claiming that the Bundesliga club do not need the money that selling Baba would bring, reports surfaced on Friday that he had been subject to a bid from the Premier League champions.

The Ghanaian defender's agent, Sascha Empacher, confirmed the deal existed and is lobbying for Baba being given the opportunity to sign a deal with Jose Mourinho's men.

"Chelsea made an attractive offer," he told Kicker, denying any contract with Chelsea had been agreed upon. "It is Baba's dream to play for a top club. He would like to take this opportunity.”Baba would provide competition at left-back with Cesar Azpilicueta, who started the majority of matches for Chelsea in 2014-15.

In his first campaign at Augsburg, Baba featured in all but three games (when he was absent for the Africa Cup of Nations) for the German side.German news agency SID are reporting that Philipp Max has been lined up as Baba's €4m replacement.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Torres: I have no Atletico trophy envy

Fernando Torres insists there is no trophy envy with his Atletico Madrid team-mates, with whom he wants to win more silverware this season.

The striker returned to his boyhood club in January, with Diego Simeone's side having conquered La Liga, won the Copa del Rey and triumphed in the Europa League in recent seasons.

Atletico relinquished their Liga crown to Barcelona last season, in addition to quarter-final exits in the Champions League and Copa del Rey, but Torres has his sights set on winning titles in 2015-16 with the club he skippered in his youth.

"If you have envy it is bad," Torres - who unlike many of his Atletico colleagues has a Champions League winner medal - told reporters on Friday."I admire Raul Garcia, Gabi and Koke as I did with Kiko, Milinko Pantic and Jose Luis Caminero and the double team of 1995-96.

"My team-mates have marked the path for this club. This is the real Atletico and I can only admire them. Of course I want to win titles here, it is what I have always wanted and I will fight for it.

"I want to give back to the fans for all they have given me and if you includes titles, so much the better. My team-mates know how to do it from within and we just have to follow that."Torres will compete with Jackson Martinez up front this term, with Simeone having also brought in the likes of Luciano Vietto and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco.

"Competition has always been hard and that's what makes you win titles," Torres added. "This will have to be an ambitious season so we can improve what happened last year.

"It is difficult to play just half of the year, as I did last season. We all want to play but in the end the coach will decide."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Shaw hungry for Manchester United success: I want a couple of trophies this season

Luke Shaw believes Manchester United can win "a couple" of trophies this season, having embarked on a major recruitment drive this summer.

The left-back, who joined the club from Southampton in 2014, endured a mixed debut campaign, making 16 Premier League appearances as the club recorded a fourth-placed finish.

And Shaw believes Louis van Gaal’s men are capable of improving their league position and challenging for major honours this time around, having recruited Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian and Sergio Romero this summer.

"As a team, we do talk about challenging for honours, but not too much because it is the start of the season," he told the club’s official website.

"But with the signings that we have made and the signings that could still be coming in, I think the squad is going to be very strong and positive, and I think we can win a couple of trophies this season."

Chris Smalling has echoed Shaw’s sentiments, meanwhile, and believes that the club’s new additions will help inspire the Red Devils to success this term.

"I feel the fans can expect to see a team that shows a lot more consistency and, especially with our additions, I think we will see a big goal threat in a successful season. Everyone is very confident of building on last season," he added.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Van Gaal reveals Man Utd formation: I'll play 4-3-3

Louis van Gaal has revealed Manchester United will be deployed in a 4-3-3 formation during the upcoming season following pre-season experimentation.

The manager tinkered with the shape of his starting XI throughout his debut season at the Old Trafford helm as United overcame a poor start to qualify for the Champions League following a one-year absence.

United have returned from their pre-season tour of the US, winning 1-0 over Club America before beating Barcelona 3-1 and losing 2-0 to Paris Saint-Germain, and Van Gaal has decided on his tactical plans.

"More or less 4-3-3," he told the club's official website. "We played that already last season, in the second half of the season, and I have said that is the system I want to use.

"We played in our shape [on tour] and played how we have to play. That's also where I have been very satisfied."

He added: "That the midfielder is [sometimes] in front of the striker is not bad because I think you do need variation in your attack," said Van Gaal, in a press conference following the final tour match against PSG.

"I like that and I ask for that, especially from Memphis. It can also be [Michael] Carrick or [Bastian] Schweinsteiger or [Morgan] Schneiderlin once in a while but mostly Memphis [Depay]. It depends on our opponents."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Van Gaal reveals Man Utd formation: I'll play 4-3-3

Mamath asama formation 1kakhabai oka play karanna kalin fill karaganna one gaps thiyanawa​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Monster Messi will get sick of Argentina abuse, warns Ginobili

Argentine basketball icon Manu Ginobili has urged his compatriots to stop slating Lionel Messi, claiming the Barcelona ace will eventually get sick of the criticism and quit playing for the national team.With Messi as their captain, the Albiceleste have reached the final of their last two tournaments - the 2014 World Cup and this year's Copa America.

However, they failed to lift the trophy on either occasion, losing 1-0 to Germany after extra-time in Rio just over 12 months ago, before then being beaten on penalties by tournament hosts Chile in Santiago earlier this month.

Those devastating defeats have prompted some Argentine pundits to question Messi's value to the national team and there have already been reports that the distraught forward has asked to be excused from his country's next fixture, a friendly against Mexico on September 8.

Ginobili, a four-time NBA champion, is stunned by the Barca star's treatment by certain sections of the process and now fears that Messi could soon walk away from international football for good."Messi is a monster: he has led us to the final of the last two tournaments," the renowned shooting guard told Radio Metro.

"It's really crazy to criticise the crown jewel of Argentine sport."One day, he's going to get sick of it and everyone will be left crying in the corner because he'll tell them to go to hell."

Messi, who left his native Rosario at 13 to move to Barcelona, inspired the Catalan club to a treble triumph last season and is the favourite to win this year's Ballon d'Or.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

De Rossi: Roma were too cocky last season

Daniele De Rossi says that Roma paid the price for being "too cocky" in last season's Champions League and is hoping that the lessons learned will help them progress this term.

The Giallorossi kicked off their European campaign with a 5-1 rout of CSKA Moscow and an arguably even more impressive 1-1 draw at the home of then Premier League titleholders Manchester City.

However, Rudi Garcia's men were then humiliated 7-1 in front of their own fans by Bayern Munich, and never really recovered as they bowed out of the competition at the group stage.

Roma's mental fragility was also exposed during the second half of the Serie A season as they went from challenging Juventus for the title to battling it out with Lazio for third place, but De Rossi insists they are now stronger from the experience.

"I attended the press conference before the Bayern Munich match and I was optimistic," the midfielder told Sky Sport on Friday.

"After that game, we all agreed that we had played too open in the match at the Olimpico. We were too cocky and we said we'd play differently in the reverse fixture.

"That experience can help us going forward and perhaps this season we'll be able to cause problems for teams of that level."

De Rossi accepts Juventus - despite losing some key players this summer, including Carlos Tevez, Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo - will once again start the Serie A season as favourites but believes Serie A will be more competitive in 2015-16.

"Juventus seemed weaker last season in terms of their squad and for many - myself not included - the coach," he said, alluding to the departure of former Bianconeri boss Antonio Conte.

"Then, they enjoyed a better season than in previous years, winning a fourth straight Scudetto and making the Champions League final. When a team achieves results like these, they rightly start as favourites.

"Similarly, a side that finishes runners-up two seasons in a row are naturally considered the chief challengers.

"The two Milan clubs, AC and Inter, have strengthened a great deal and Lazio will also be a threat again.

"As for Napoli, I'm a fan of coach Maurizio Sarri. He's joined from a small club but he's never done a bad job throughout his career and has never betrayed his philosophy.

"At Empoli last season he made life difficult for much stronger teams.

"Let's see how he does this season with players who, on paper, are better than the ones he coached last year."

Roma have been relatively quiet this summer, though Mohamed Salah is expected to join the capital club on loan from Chelsea imminently, while Iago Falque - so impressive at Genoa last season - has also been acquired.

"The team is pretty much the same as last year's," De Rossi added. "The club is signing players to fill a specific need.

"When you finish second two seasons in a row, it shows you don't need to make wholesale changes and the fact we haven't changed too much is a positive.

"We have a strong side, our key players have stayed at the club and this will also help us to push on, as we already know each other and therefore have a greater understanding."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Galliani: Mihajlovic reminds me of Capello

Adriano Galliani believes AC Milan's future is bright under Fabio Capello-like head coach Sinisa Mihajlovic.

The Rossoneri finished 10th in Serie A season, with their failure to qualify for European competition resulting in the dismissal of Filippo Inzaghi after just one year at the helm.

Mihajlovic was promptly hired to fill the void, after leading Sampdoria to a sixth-placed finish, and Galliani believes he is similar to the Italian coaching icon who won four Scudetti and one Champions League title at San Siro.

"To me, Sinisa seems really similar to Capello," the Rossoneri vice-president told reporters on Friday. "But then, it's clear that every coach has his own story.

"But from what we've seen in pre-season in China, we can have great hope for the future. We've seen a great Milan up until now. We're all happy."

Mihaljovic has enjoyed an encouraging start to his tenure - Milan beat city rivals Inter 1-0 in a friendly on Saturday before then drawing 0-0 with Real Madrid on Thursday, only to lose 10-9 on penalties.

"The most important thing is not having conceded a goal in both matches," Galliani added. "This has not happened for a long time. Therefore, we can already be satisfied."

Milan kick off their 2015-16 campaign with a tricky trip to the Stadio Artemio Franchi on August 23 to take on Fiorentina.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mourinho mocks Wenger's winless record against him: Pulis is harder to beat!

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has taken another swipe at Arsene Wenger, taunting the Frenchman's winless run against him and implying that he has a greater rivalry with Tony Pulis.

Arsenal manager Wenger has failed to beat Mourinho in 13 previous meetings, and will face off against his arch-nemesis once again on Sunday in the Community Shield.

But ahead of the clash at Wembley, Mourinho has again mocked the Frenchman’s record, citing Pulis as his most dangerous rival and insisting that he would have found a solution to end Arsenal's winless streak by now.

"I think I lost twice against Tony Pulis," said Mourinho. "I lost against Crystal Palace and against West Brom. One game each."

On the subject of the Gunners' poor form against Chelsea, Mourinho expanded: "I think I would ask myself why. I would to try to answer but not because of a mental block but because I would want to try to find solutions to help my team to do it.

"This yes, try to find different way, try to find the reasons why it goes all the time against my team, but just that.

"I don't think about what happened before, I just think about the game. So, for me, six, seven, eight or nine matches without losing makes no difference and I don't think affects this game.

"And the next one for me there is no relation between one game and what happened before."

Despite his repeated digs at Wenger, Mourinho insists that the Gunners are title challengers this season, and says that the Community Shield is more than just a friendly.

"I always think Arsenal are title challengers. They have a very good squad, so in this second period in England, immediately when I arrived two years ago, I look at them as a very good squad, with very good players,” he stated.

"So I think it's more of the same. They are a top squad. I think they are still the same. Which means strong. A very good team.

"But it's not a friendly. It's not the same to win in the Summer Cup in Canada or in Singapore or wherever, it's not the same as to win the Community Shield. But I don't think it has a relation to the rest of the season."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ferguson praises former sparring partner Rooney for braving Everton return

Duncan Ferguson has heaped praise on Wayne Rooney for agreeing to play for Everton again, and has revealed that a right hook from the Manchester United striker ended their brief sparring sessions.

The 29-year-old Red Devils skipper has agreed to don the blue shirt for the first time since 2004 in Ferguson’s testimonial match against Villarreal on Sunday.

Rooney left the Toffees under a cloud, having handed in a transfer request in a bid to force through a move to Old Trafford, but Ferguson maintains that the forward will receive a positive reception.

“It was a long time ago and, as far as I’m concerned, he is one of us and I’m sure he’ll get a good reception,” he said.

“I did consider one or two others but Wayne is still playing and I wanted him back for that personal touch.

“I asked Wayne and he was delighted. We probably drifted away from each other over the last few years because you move on and that happens. But I wanted him to play in this game and I am chuffed to bits that he accepted.

“I played with Wayne when he made his debut at Wrexham and scored twice. We hit it off on the pitch from the start – he did what I told him to do but about three weeks later he was telling me what to do!”

Ferguson has also revealed that he and Rooney used to spar together, before a fierce punch from the young striker put an end to their boxing sessions.

“I am always in the gym and I remember us putting on the boxing gloves one day and having a spar. We were in the gym lifting weights. It was an off-the-cuff thing and I have to say he was a handy fighter,” he added.

“I remember getting punched right in the forehead by him. He was wearing the right glove and I was the one hiding away. We only did it once – I never wanted to do it again. He was handy.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Brazil confirms Fred failed a doping test

Fred tested positive on a doping test during the Copa America, Brazil's football association (CBF) has confirmed.

The Shakhtar Donetsk star, 22, had banned substance hydrochlorothiazide in his bloodstream, which can act as a masking agent to hide illegal drugs from testers.

The CBF said in a statement on Friday that it had provided a list of medications and their usages to organisers two months before the start of the Copa America.

Hydrochlorothiazide was not part of the list, nor was it available to the CBF, the confederation said, but it stressed Fred had its support.

Fred started two games for Brazil as they reached the quarter-finals in Chile before being knocked out by Paraguay.

Uefa is currently investigating Shakhtar Donetsk's decision to field Fred in Tuesday's Champions League third-round qualification first leg following a complaint from Fenerbahce, with whom they drew 0-0.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Zouma: I'll play anywhere for Chelsea

Defender Kurt Zouma insists he is happy to play in any position for Chelsea as the club seek to retain their Premier League title in the upcoming season.

The French centre-back was deployed at left-back in Chelsea’s 2-2 friendly draw with Barcelona earlier this week, replacing Cesar Azpilicueta, while he deputised in midfield several times last season.

The Blues were eventually able to defeat Barca on penalties even with Zouma playing out of position and, despite his unfamiliarity with the role, the youngster says he is ready to fill in wherever he is needed in order to aid the club's title defence.

"It is a new position for me," Zouma told The Sun. "I played there only one time when I was at Vaulx-En-Velin, but I have to help the team.

"The boss put me at left-back and it was not a problem.

"I just wanted to play and enjoy the game. The most important thing was that we win and I could help the team."

Zouma also says that he intends to remain at Stamford Bridge for the foreseeable future, having made 26 appearances in all competitions in 2014-15.

"I learn a lot and I hope I will be at Chelsea for a long time," he added.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United Unveil New Adidas Kit For 2015/16 Season

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United 2015/16 Home Kit 1ka Godak Lassanai!

Kalekata passe dakapu hodama Manchester United Home Kit 1kakAdidas lage designing gana ahanna deyak naha patta

Mamanam balagena hitiye kawadada Nike walin Adidas walata maru wenne kiyala

Thank you Addidas

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Pedro will move to the Premier League'

The president of Pedro’s first club claims he has been told that the Barcelona forward will move to the Premier League this summer.

The 27-year-old has been tipped to join Manchester United as Angel Di Maria closes in on his move to Paris Saint-Germain, although Chelsea and Liverpool have also been linked.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu admitted earlier this week that the club have received no offers for Pedro but Jaime Lorenzo, president of CD San Isidro, claims the player’s mother has confirmed to him that her son will be leaving Camp Nou.

“The other day, Pedro’s mother told us he was leaving for England,” Lorenzo told El Larguero.

“I think it would be a good challenge for him and he will have more playing time.

“We will send him a gift! If the agreement is €30 million (£21m) at least €450,000 (£316,350) belongs to us, even though these contracts have some specific clauses."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

AC Milan boss Mihajlovic targets top-three finish

Sinisa Mihajlovic believes his AC Milan team will be capable of a top-three finish in Serie A this season with the addition of one or two new players.

After last term's 10th-placed finish in the Italian top flight under Filippo Inzaghi, the Rossoneri are looking to bounce back and have added significantly to the squad this summer, with Carlos Bacca, Luiz Adriano and Andrea Bertolacci all coming in.

Mihajlovic is happy with how things are shaping up at the San Siro outfit so far and believes they will improve on last season's finish by a big margin.

"The signs are positive because we are working well," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "We started from scratch by changing a lot of players and the playing system.

"We are putting the pieces in the right places both in terms of the concepts of the game and with the players' behaviour. We have taken the perfect road perfect and we will be ready when we start playing the games that count.

"Getting into the top three is the target. With the team we have, if we can get one or two players in then we can make that leap."

The former Sampdoria boss insists he does not feel any extra pressure this season, despite the high expectations.

"I feel more empowered and more capable of getting the best out of myself," said the head coach. "I'm not afraid to take risks and face big challenges: I live to face and overcome them.

"In each situation the players need to know what to do. I never get angry for conceding a goal, but I get angry a lot if they do not do what we have planned.

"When they take the field, 80 per cent of the time they already know what to do, the remaining 20% ​​is about adapting to the opponent. In times of difficulty we must not lose our heads, but follow our principles. We have to be organised and know what we want."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Sirigu could leave PSG - Blanc

Paris Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc has admitted that goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu's future at the club is uncertain.

The arrival of German shot stopper Kevin Trapp at Parc des Princes means the 28-year-old's position as the No.1 goalkeeper is in doubt.

Sirigu has subsequently been linked with a move away from Ligue 1 and while Blanc insists he remains important to the French club, he does not know what the future holds for the Italian.

“Salvatore has a contract with us," the head coach told reporters. “The situation is not simple for him, but he is one of our three goalkeepers.

“His situation could change, but everything might stay the same as it is now.”

Sirigu, who joined PSG from Palermo in 2011, is contracted to the club until 2018.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Cahill wary of Chelsea's big-spending title rivals

Gary Cahill expects the battle for the Premier League title to be far more challenging this season after Chelsea's rivals spent big in an attempt to dethrone the club.

Jose Mourinho's side won the title at a canter last term, finishing eight points ahead of previous champions Manchester City, with the latter reacting by signing Raheem Sterling for £49 million and Fabian Delph.

Manchester United have brought in the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin while Arsenal are predicted to be among the contenders after luring Petr Cech from Chelsea.
"I think if you look at last season we were strong as it was," Cahill told reporters, "We have strengthened. I don't know what else is going to happen from now until the end of the window.

"I'm unsure. You've seen last season that collectively as a group we were strong. There's a lot of young players here and we're okay. Other teams have gone out and spent money and it will be very tough.

"It is tough every single year and with them strengthening it makes it even harder. We need to go about our business and get in the best possible condition to start the season and try and do what we did last year.

"We're the team that everybody wants to beat. We had that feeling as well when Man City were the champions and we were playing against them. There is that added bit where people want to beat you.

"Even just being at a club like Chelsea people want to beat you anyway. I'm sure the other lads at the top will feel the same way. Everyone wants to go out and win against you, so it's going to be tough.

"There's no way of dressing over it, it's going to be hard, the Premier League is always hard. It's long. You have to be consistent for a long period of time so it's difficult but we're looking forward to it."

Chelsea face Arsenal in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday before starting their title defence against Swansea City next Saturday.