..::Football III::..

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Van Gaal axes De Gea: Real Madrid target not in the right frame of mind

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has confirmed that goalkeeper David de Gea will not face Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The goalkeeper has been long linked to a move to Real Madrid and the speculation surrounding his future has only intensified as the summer transfer window has worn on.

Van Gaal has already suggested that the De Gea wants to leave Old Trafford, and the coach has now admitted the goalkeeper is not in the right frame of mind heading into the new campaign and will miss his side's Premier League opener against Mauricio Pochettino's men.

"De Gea shall not play, so I don't have any concerns," he told reporters.

"You know that we have problems with De Gea. The Dutch journalists can confirm that I think a human being is more than only a player and he cannot manage that."

The development will add further fuel to the rumours surrounding the Spain international as the transfer saga continues, while it is expected that new signing Sergio Romero will play in goal against Spurs.

While the Dutchman says his side have no injury worries approaching their first league game, he has revealed that new signing Bastian Schweinsteiger and defender Marcos Rojo are not fit enough to feature on Saturday.

"Schweinsteiger also came at the last moment so I don't think he's fit enough. We have to build his fitness.

"It is not possible for Rojo to be match fit either as he was the last player to come back from holiday."

Despite the key absences, Van Gaal feels the Red Devils are in much better shape this year.

"I think that we are far better now than last year when we started, so I have a lot of confidence.

"When we play in the same style and at the same level as the last six months of last season, then we can make a good year."

 

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PSG mistake 1ka nisa wenna athi heta match 1kata damme natthe...anemanda​

 

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Hamsik criticises Benitez

Marek Hamsik has criticised Rafael Benitez's playing style and insists new Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri is better than the current Real Madrid boss.

Benitez spent two years at the Stadio San Paolo, winning the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana before joining Madrid this summer as Carlo Ancelotti's successor.And Hamsik has admitted that he did not enjoy the way he had to play under the Spanish coach.

"With the new coach, I have a good relationship," he told Sport. "We often talk about tactics. He is really very picky in that way."Compared to the style of football we played under Benitez, he has changed something.

"Why did I find it difficult with Benitez? Last year I played nearly always with my back to the goal, with [Walter] Mazzarri that was not the case."

 

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Pepe injury blow for Real Madrid

Real Madrid are sweating on the fitness of influential defender Pepe ahead of the start of the new Liga season.

The Portugal international was forced off just 16 minutes into Wednesday's Audi Cup loss to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena and is now a major doubt for Los Blancos' trip to Sporting Gijon on August 23.

"A medical examination on the player in the Universitario Sanitas La Moraleja hospital has shown that he has a muscle injury in his right leg," read a statement released on Madrid's official website on Friday. "His progress will be closely monitored."

Madrid face Valerenga in a friendly on Sunday before travelling to Asturia the following weekend to take on Sporting Gijon.

Coach Rafael Benitez has several other injury concerns at the moment, with both Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema having been left out of the squad for the Audi Cup.

Ronaldo is suffering with a minor back complaint, while fellow forward Benzema has a thigh problem.

Record signing Gareth Bale sat out Madrid's meeting with Bayern in Bavaria but Benitez insisted afterwards that the winger had merely been rested as a precautionary measure.

 

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Manchester United drawn against Club Brugge in Champions League play-offs

Manchester United have been drawn against Club Brugge in the Champions League play-offs.

United's fourth-place finish in Louis van Gaal's debut season leaves them facing a two-legged clash with the Belgian outfit, with the winners progressing to the group stage of the competition. The first leg will be at Old Trafford on August 18, with the return fixture taking place at the Jan Breydel Stadium on August 26.

Brugge qualified for the play-off round by beating Panathinaikos 4-2 on aggregate after going down to a 2-1 first-leg defeat.

Elsewhere, there will be notable ties between Lazio and Bayer Leverkusen, and Valencia and Monaco, while Scottish champions Celtic face Swedish counterparts Malmo.

First-leg matches will be played on August 18/19 with the resturn games on August 25/26.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester United!

Club Brugge set wechcha 1ka hodai

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[Wolverine GTR]

De Gea axed, Di Maria gone but Champions League draw offers welcome relief for Van Gaal & Man Utd

As preparation for a new season goes, Manchester United's has been turbulent. A host of new signings midway through the summer gave reason for optimism, only for rebellious players to then take the headlines as the big kick-off draws ever closer.

Angel Di Maria's transfer to Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday and Louis van Gaal's announcement on Friday morning that David de Gea is not in the right frame of mind to play against Tottenham in Saturday's Premier League opener threatened to throw a the spanner in the works of a campaign United must start well.

But the Champions League play-off draw threw them some respite. Rather than a tough clash against a Lazio, a Monaco or a CSKA Moscow, United were given a two-legged tie against Club Brugge. The sigh of relief at Old Trafford could hardly have been greater.

It is nearly 40 years since the Belgians' heyday when they found their way to two European finals, losing the 1976 Uefa Cup to Liverpool before tasting a repeat dose from the Merseysiders in the European Cup final two years later. Nowadays they are a far less daunting proposition, having not made it to the Champions League group stage since 2005-06.

This was exactly the kind of news United needed. The loss of Di Maria has been expected for some time, but the decision to bench De Gea for Saturday's game means that further developments should follow in the episode which will surely see him end up at Real Madrid sooner or later. It is the latest twist in a saga that will eventually see the club's back-to-back Player of the Year award winner leave Old Trafford. The only question now must be ‘when?' rather than ‘if?'

The news earlier on Friday that Ashley Young, a close contender for the top individual gong last season, has signed a new three-year deal with an option for a further 12 months was never going to be enough to cure the various headaches. What Van Gaal really needed was a gift of a European tie.

Now that United have been handed exactly that, the Dutchman needs to ensure they make the most of it. He has 180 minutes of Premier League football against Spurs and Aston Villa in which to prepare his troops for what many will regard as a free pass into the money-spinning Champions League group stage.

It is hard to envisage United playing Europa League football between September and December given the task ahead of them, but further discontent around Carrington cannot help their cause. One can only hope they produce a typically robust Old Trafford European performance in the first leg and make the return in Belgium little more than a formality. It is just the sort of pick-me-up the club needs after a testing start to August.

Friday was very much a mixed morning, but United's prospects look better at the end of it. Champions League qualification brings with it big money, huge appeal, and returns the club to the top table.

Between now and September 2 players may come, and players may go but United – barring a catastrophe – will return to the Champions League.

 

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Depay handed Manchester United No.7 shirt

Memphis Depay has been handed Manchester United's iconic No. 7 shirt following the departure of Angel Di Maria to Paris Saint-Germain, the club confirmed on Friday.

The Dutchman, who arrived from PSV in a deal worth around £22.3 million this summer, takes on the number previously worn by club legends including Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Bastian Schweinsteiger will wear the same number 31 he used at Bayern Munich, with Marouane Fellaini taking on the No.27 shirt to allow the Germany captain his favoured shirt.

Meanwhile, fellow new additions Morgan Schneiderlin and Matteo Darmian will wear No.28 and No.36 respectively, the same shirts they were handed during United's pre-season tour of the USA.

There are notable changes elsewhere, with Luke Shaw taking up his preferred number 23 shirt, which he wore both as a Southampton player and at the 2014 World Cup with England. Meanwhile, striker James Wilson has swapped number 49 for 19.

David de Gea retains the No.1 shirt, despite his manager revealing on Friday that he will not start Saturday's clash with Tottenham at Old Trafford, with Sergio Romero - his possible replacement - being handed the No.20 shirt.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Depay!

Our newest NO 7!

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[rcccc]

 

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Brendan Rodgers explains decision to make James Milner vice-captain

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has explained his decision to appoint James Milner as the club's vice-captain.

The summer addition will provide back-up to Jordan Henderson, who was given the armband last month following the departure of Steven Gerrard to LA Galaxy.

Milner has impressed during pre-season, earning the admiration of both his team-mates and the Reds boss.

Rodgers told reporters: “He is someone I admired from the outside for a long time. He’s played at this level since he was 16 years of age and has played for some fantastic clubs.

“He went to Man City and did a great job and when the possibility he was going to be available, obviously you’re surprised but then you’re hoping you can get him to come to your club because he’s the type of player who gives everything.

“His actual football talent has probably gone under the radar because he’s played around some outstanding talents, but this is a guy who works tirelessly at his game.

"He’s in here at 7.45am in the morning making sure he’s prepared for his training, getting all of his food supplements and getting everything correct before training – he’s in two-and-a-half hours before he trains and then does his work, gives his maximum. He prepares himself like an elite player should.

“He’s also got big character and a big mentality, and I felt we needed that in the team to the extent where he will be the vice-captain this year.

“Jordan has been appointed the captain, but he’ll be a great ally for him because he leads by example. James is a wonderful, wonderful footballer and a big personality in the dressing room as well.

“His commitment, his qualities, how dynamic he is on the training field and how demanding he is of other players. That in terms of the captaincy and vice-captaincy can work really well for us.”

Liverpool lost 6-1 against Stoke on the final day of the 2014-15 campaign, a result Rodgers is keen to avenge on Sunday.

“We will certainly be better than where we were last year,” Rodgers added.“That was a one off game. It was incredible how we were lacking in every aspect of football. A score like that should never happen, sometimes it does, but it was more the way it happened.

“I stood there and it wasn’t comfortable. The reaction over the course of the summer has been terrific. It gives us real motivation. I feel we couldn’t have had a better fixture. It is the perfect fixture to go away to Stoke.”

 

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Juventus unable to reach agreement with Sevilla for Llorente

Juventus have been frustrated in their attempts to agree a deal with Sevilla for the departure of striker Fernando Llorente.

The Spain international joined the Bianconeri on a free transfer from Athletic Bilbao in 2013 and still has two years to run on his contract with the Old Lady.

However, although Llorente formed a formidable partnership with Carlos Tevez during his first season in Turin, he lost his place in the starting line-up to Alvaro Morata last term.

Although Tevez has departed for Boca Junions, Llorente has fallen further down the pecking order this summer, following the arrivals of Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Simone Zaza.

Consequently, Juve want to cash in on the 30-year-old attacker before the close of the transfer window on August 31.

The Bianconeri have set the asking price at €15 million but would be willing to accept €12m for a player that they are keen to remove from their wage bill, given he is currently earning €4.5m after tax.

Sevilla are interested in bringing Llorente back to Spain but the problem is the fee, with the Rojiblancos reluctant to pay more than €7m for the forward.

The Liga outfit would also require the target man to reduce his wage demands to around €3m per annum in order to make the deal happen.

As a result, the proposed transfer has reached an impasse, with Juve now hoping that other interested parties step forward for Llorente, who has already rejected advances from German and Turkish clubs.

 

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Mirallas signs new Everton deal

Everton forward Kevin Mirallas has agreed a new three-year deal at the club, ending speculation regarding a move away from Goodison Park.The Belgian international has been linked with Premier League rivals West Ham and Tottenham in recent months but is now under contract on Merseyside until 2018.

Mirallas' renewal comes a day after James McCarthy signed a new five-year deal, and the attacker has expressed his delight, ahead of the Toffees' Premier League opener against Watford on Saturday.

"I'm very happy to sign," he told the club's official website."I've signed at Everton to win a trophy. I'm at a good team and I can continue my performances here.

"Now I am very happy because I can concentrate on my team and our future, starting with the Premier League tomorrow."

 

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Lahm: Gotze a key player for Bayern

Philipp Lahm says that he is baffled by the uncertainty surrounding Mario Gotze's future at Bayern Munich, claiming that attacker is an integral member of Pep Guardiola's squad.

The Bavarians paid Borussia Dortmund €37 million for the Germany international two years ago but he has not always been a regular starter at the Allianz Arena.

Gotze hinted at a breakdown in his relationship with Guardiola earler this week and although he subsequently clarified his comments, his agent has admitted that a move away from Bayern remains a possibility.

The 23-year-old has been repeatedly linked with Serie A champions Juventus but Lahm says that he can see no reason why Bayern would let his fellow World Cup winner leave.

"I do not understand the rumours," the versatile attacker told tz.

"He is an outstanding footballer and totally integrated with us."

Gotze started on the bench as Bayern kicked off their 2015-16 campaign with a loss to Wolfsburg in the DFL-Supercup last week.

 

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Van Gaal: Manchester United need two players... including a goalkeeper

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admits he may have to add two players to his squad before the end of the transfer window, including a goalkeeper.

The Dutchman confirmed on Friday that David de Gea - who is reportedly a target for Real Madrid - will not feature in Saturday's Premier League opener against Tottenham at Old Trafford.

And Van Gaal, who has already added five players to the United side this summer, says the current situation could see him in the market for a goalkeeper.

“I think Manchester United have to always be a challenger or champion," he told the club's official TV channel.

“Of course we have problems still with the goalkeeper, so we need maybe two more players.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Van Gaal: Manchester United need two players... including a goalkeeper

2 players?LVG ta pissueda?

Hariyatama gatthoth playersla 4k one.

Di Maria Replacement+CB+Striker+De Gea yanawanam replacement 1ka

D.Forlan kiyala thibba wage apita hoda goal scorer kenek ganne nathuwa gemak denna amarui​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Strong start key to Arsenal's title ambitions, says Arsene Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says that his side must hit the ground running if they are to realise their Premier League ambitions this term.

Petr Cech is Wenger's only close-season recruit so far but impressive warm-up displays, including a Community Shield victory over Chelsea, have added weight to the argument that the Gunners can mount a serious title challenge this time around.

Despite the absences of Alexis Sanchez and Jack Wilshere for the opening-day match against West Ham, Wenger was bullish over his side's prospects when he spoke to the media on Friday.

"I'm ready for a fight and motivated to start well," he said. "One of our targets is to start strong and we had good preparation, so that should give us confidence.

"Last season after 12 games we were 15 points behind Chelsea and in the next 26 we took 58 points and Chelsea 55, so that means we missed our start of the season last year.

"Let's [try] to start strong this season. I believe we have the needed ingredients but we have a tricky start - two derbies and Liverpool in the first three games.

"Our target is very high, we want to fight for the Premier League.

"That's our ambition - to win the Premier League. But we have to sustain that with performance and fighting spirit in every game."

In contrast, Slaven Bilic's first Premier League game as a manager comes at the end of a difficult week in which West Ham's shortlived Europa League campaign was ended.

Bilic's new side were beaten 2-1 by Astra in Romania in midweek, crashing out 4-3 on aggregate.

 

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Karanka signals intent with new Middlesbrough contract

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka has signed a new four-year contract at the Riverside Stadium.

The 41-year-old former Spain international caught the eye of several Premier League clubs this summer after leading Boro to the Championship play-off final last term.

However, Karanka has turned down the option of a move to a top-flight club and is intent on achieving promotion with the Teesiders this time around.

“It was, and is a pleasure to sign this new contract,” he told Middlesbrough's offical website. “When you are in the place where you want to be and you feel that the people like you, and the club is the best club for me.

“I always said I couldn’t be in a better place than I am here so it was easy for me.
“I was speaking with the chairman and it took us 30 seconds. He knows me and I know him, and I know that I am in the right place with the right people at the right moment.”Chairman Steve Gibson admits the deal will give the club a huge boost ahead of the new campaign.

“This is massive statement of the commitment Aitor has to this club,” he told Gazzette Live.“For me this is probably the most important signing we will make all summer.

“We know that there has been interest in Aitor over the past year or so from clubs both here and abroad and rightly so because he is a very, very good manager."

 

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Lille 0-1 PSG: Lucas Moura rifles 10-man Parisiens to win

Ten-man Paris Saint-Germain began their Ligue 1 title defence with a battling 1-0 victory over Lille at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Friday.With the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic and new recruit Angel Di Maria watching from the stands, Laurent Blanc's men looked to be up against it when they lost Adrien Rabiot to a senseless red card with only 28 minutes on the clock.

However, the visitors dug deep and pinched the points courtesy of a superbly-constructed goal from Lucas Moura just short of the hour mark.

The result marked the first time since 2010 that PSG have started their league campaign with a win and although they rarely resembled the side that swept all before them en route to an historic domestic treble last season, Blanc will certainly have been heartened by his side's resolve.

New Lille boss Herve Renard, meanwhile, is sure to have been disappointed by his charges' failure to exploit the numerical advantage that they enjoyed for more than two-thirds of the game.

A fractious first half contained far more in the way of niggling fouls than goalmouth incident, with half-chances to Javier Pastore and Sehrou Guirassy as close as either side came to breaking the deadlock.

PSG began the brighter, with Blaise Matuidi particularly influential, but the hosts gradually forced their way into the contest as the half wore on and continued to look the more likely after Rabiot's recklessness provided them with a huge boost.
Moments after picking up a yellow card for a foul on Florent Balmont, the France Under-21 international midfielder tugged Sebastien Corchia to the ground to earn his marching orders.

To their credit, however, PSG retained their defensive shape well and hit Lille with a classic sucker-punch on 57 minutes.Matuidi and Edinson Cavani were the architects, exchanging passes to create the space for Lucas and the Brazilian international stylishly rounded the goalkeeper before sliding the ball into an empty net.

Having fallen behind, Renard's side swiftly seemed to run out of ideas in attack and, with substitute Thiago Motta impressing in midfield, PSG rarely looked troubled.And there was more woe for the home team late on as Djibril Sidibe was taken from the field on a stretcher.

Lille's tough start to the campaign continues next Friday with a trip to Monaco, while PSG will be strongly backed to beat Gazelec Ajaccio at Parc de Princes next Sunday.

 

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Mourinho signs new Chelsea contract

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has committed his future to the Premier League champions by putting pen to paper on a new four-year contract.

Mourinho won his third Premier League title with Chelsea last season as well as lifting the League Cup - the first trophies since making his return for a second spell at Stamford Bridge.

The former Porto boss spent three years in west London early in the Roman Abramovich era before enjoying trophy-laden spells at Inter and Real Madrid.

Rumours had suggested the 52-year-old would agree a new contract following a successful season with the club and, having restored Chelsea to become the dominant force in English football, Mourinho's new deal until 2019 was announced on the eve of the new Premier League season.

"If the club is happy, I am happy," said Mourinho."I think this is a normal thing for me to sign a new contract. It is important we have this continuity and I hope we can enjoy more success in the future - for the fans, the players and the club."

Mourinho's initial exit from Stamford Bridge came about due to a disagreement with wealthy owner Abramovich, although relations appear to have improved in recent years.

Speaking shortly after wrapping up the Premier League title last term, Mourinho stated he would "stay as long as Mr Abramovich wants me".