..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Otamendi flies in to complete Manchester City move

Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi has arrived in England to complete his move to Manchester City.

As reported by Goal on Sunday, the Premier League club are closing in on a £25 million deal for the Argentina international centre-back, and Otamendi has now joined agent Jorge Mendes in Manchester for talks.

The move will not, however, include Eliaquim Mangala heading in the opposite direction, with City having abandoned plans to offload the Frenchman, who gave arguably his strongest performance for the club in Sunday's 3-0 win over Chelsea.

Goal understands that talented forward Marcos Lopes, 19, could now be heading to Valencia as part of the deal for Otamendi, who had previously been a top target for rivals Manchester United in the summer transfer window.

Former Porto defender Otamendi was one of the standout performers in La Liga last season as Valencia achieved a top-four finish, conceding less goals than Real Madrid, while he also helped Argentina reach the Copa America final.

Despite their positive 2014-15 campaign, Los Che, who still owe City for the signing of Alvaro Negredo, remain in a position of financial vulnerability and are under pressure to sell to ensure they meet Financial Fair Play obligations.

Otamendi will become City's fifth signing of the summer, while Manuel Pellegrini's side now look unlikely to land Wolfsburg winger Kevin De Bruyne.

The Belgium international, who was the subject of a £45m bid from City, insisted on Monday that he will be playing for the Bundesliga club this season, effectively ruling out a switch to the Etihad Stadium.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

LVG wade kagatthaapita onama karana defender kenek meh miss wenne​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

De Bruyne in Man City snub: I'm staying at Wolfsburg

Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed his intention to stay at Wolfsburg this season, ignoring overtures from Manchester City.

The Belgium international won the Bundesliga's award for best player of 2014-15 as Wolfsburg achieved a surprise second-place finish behind Bayern Munich.

De Bruyne's standout attacking performances saw him linked with a return to the Premier League, which he left when Chelsea sent him packing to the Volkswagen Arena in January 2014.

Man City had been rumoured to be preparing a bid in excess of £45 million for the 24-year-old and Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking had hinted that keeping hold of him would be hard.

But De Bruyne has shut down talk of him leaving the DFB-Pokal holders this summer and pledged to remain in the Bundesliga for at least another campaign.

"I will definitely play for Wolfsburg this season," he told reporters at a Sport Bild award event on Monday.

De Bruyne bagged 16 goals and 28 assists in 51 appearances last season for Wolfsburg, who kicked off their 2015-16 Bundesliga campaign with a 2-1 win over Eintract Frankfurt on Sunday.

 

[Banks PLK]

Otamendi to CITY deal 1ka ON.​

SAW PICTURES OF HIM AT MANCHESTER

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Pioli: Biglia will start for Lazio against Bayer Leverkusen

Lazio boss Stefano Pioli says that Lucas Biglia will lead the club in Tuesday's Champions League showdown with Bayer Leverkusen.

Biglia succeeded Stefano Mauri as club captain earlier this summer but the reported Manchester United target cast some doubt on his future by admitting ahead of the Supercoppa Italiana that he did not know if he would still be at the Stadio Olimpico come the end of the transfer window.

However, Pioli dismissed concerns that the Argentina international's head might be elsewhere on the eve of their first-leg clash with Bayer.

"He will definitely play," the Biancocelesti boss told reporters on Monday.

"He's happy to be Lazio captain and totally available for selection."

Lazio have performed dismally in pre-season, losing three successive friendlies before being outclassed by Juventus in the Supercoppa.

However, while conceding that Bayer represent a formidable test, Pioli is confident that Tuesday's clash will bring the best out of Lazio.

"I honestly believe that what has happened up until now has little value," he added. "We must try to show our worth on the field.

"We must play with spirit and pride. We're facing a team similar to us in terms of characteristics and mentality.

"They're a very competitive side, who played in the Champions League last year.

"We know that tomorrow is only the first half but we want to take an advantage with us to Germany.

"Bayer are a solid team, one to fear and to respect.

"But I have faith in my boys. We're ready to try to reach our objective by overcoming this obstacle."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Pressure is all on Manchester United ahead of Champions League play-off, admits Van Gaal

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says his side's Uefa Champions League play-off clashes with Club Brugge will be the most important matches he has faced since taking charge at Old Trafford.The Red Devils travel to Belgium for the first leg on Tuesday as Van Gaal seeks to seal a return to the group stage of Europe's premier club competition.

Under the Dutchman's predecessor, David Moyes, United missed out on qualification for the tournament, but Van Gaal secured a play-off tie courtesy of a fourth-place finish last term.

Asked whether the two games against Brugge were the most important of his United tenure to date, Van Gaal told reporters: "Of course, I have explained that the players want the Champions League and the board want it but especially the fans."So the pressure is high. We have to show our quality against a good team - you cannot say there's no pressure, it's not an easy game.

"There is a lot of pressure because our aim and goal is to reach the Champions League. Because of the draw, it is much more difficult. We have drawn Brugge, they can defend very well and can attack also.

"It shall be a difficult match and the pressure is high. The fans and the board want to participate in the Champions League but we have to beat Brugge."United have made a positive start to their Premier League campaign, claiming 1-0 wins over Tottenham and Aston Villa.

Amid suggestions his side are struggling to click going forward, Van Gaal added: "It's always a concern because a coach wants a perfect game always.
"In all other teams, they are not at moment at the highest level. It cannot be [the case] either.

"We have a long way to go but we have made a better start than last year. Also, two clean sheets, that says a lot about our structure and balance."I have confidence that we are developing ourselves better and I expect that also from my players."

 

[Banks PLK]

Pellegrini hails 'unbelievable' Aguero after Chelsea display

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini praised striker Sergio Aguero following his side's 3-0 win over Chelsea, claiming the Argentinian could have scored "three or four" in the first half.

Following repeated attempts to get past the impressive Asmir Begovic, the former Atletico Madrid forward finally opened his account after half and hour before Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho netted two late goals to add gloss to a convincing victory.

Pellegrini's side have moved to the top of the Premier League table and five points clear of champions Chelsea with the win and the boss was delighted with his striker's performance.

"The first 45 minutes from Aguero were unbelievable," the 61-year-old coach said."It was just the three important saves from Begovic didn't allow him to score three or four goals.

"[The result] was very satisfying because it's not easy to beat the champions.Chelsea are the best team. They won the title last season and I think that the first 45 minutes we played deserved at least three goals.

"We played really well without conceding any chances for Chelsea to score and we created at least four clear chances.

"It was just Begovic had a great performance and we couldn't score more goals."Second half we had maybe some restrictions by the yellow cards, but in our worst moments Chelsea didn't have chances and finally we scored the two other goals that we deserved in the first half."

However, Pellegrini is reluctant to claim the result sends a warning signal to any other would-be champions and played down the importance of the early-season victory."We are not sending a message to anybody, we are just playing the way we always try to," he added.

"We have only played two games this season, but in both games we scored three goals and I think we have more concentration in defending, so that's why we also have clean sheets in the two games."[But] nothing is significant until the end of the season."

Brilliant game aguero is slowly reaching his peak level
love this guy such a beast
he keeps attacking from the start.
injury free aguero can do much better

 

[Banks PLK]

No EPL player has scored more goals than Sergio Aguero since he joined the Premier League

 

[Wolverine GTR]

No EPL player has scored more goals than Sergio Aguero since he joined the Premier League

Aguero ge performance patta

​

 

[rcccc]

No EPL player has scored more goals than Sergio Aguero since he joined the Premier League

Aguero patta.injury free hityoth M City lata loku chance 1k thyenawa me para Epl win karanna.

 

[rcccc]

LVG wade kagatthaapita onama karana defender kenek meh miss wenne​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth: Reds fortunate after controversial Benteke winner

A controversial Christian Benteke goal got Liverpool off to a winning start at home as they triumphed 1-0 over Bournemouth at Anfield on Monday.

The Belgian opened his account for the Merseyside outfit when he latched onto the end of a Jordan Henderson cross after 26 minutes, sealing Liverpool's second Premier League win in as many matches.

However, starting from an offside position, Philippe Coutinho had made an unsuccessful bid to connect with the ball before it reached Benteke, which appeared to influence the decision-making of Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc.Under new rules introduced for the 2015-16 season, Coutinho should have been flagged for offside, but the goal was allowed to stand.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, who saw a Tommy Elphick effort disallowed after five minutes, will be encouraged by how his team responded in the second half, though.

After Matt Ritchie had found a post with a powerful drive, Eunan O'Kane also went close, but the home side held on to join Leicester City and the two Manchester clubs as the Premier League's only sides to have taken maximum points from their opening two fixtures.

Liverpool were unchanged from their opening-weekend victory at Stoke City, but it was Bournemouth – who brought Max Gradel and O'Kane in for Marc Pugh and Dan Gosling – who looked to have taken the lead after five minutes.

Elphick rose above Dejan Lovren to head home from a corner, but the Bournemouth captain was deemed to have impeded the Croatian defender in climbing for the ball, prompting referee Craig Pawson to award Liverpool a free-kick.

Bournemouth felt hard done by but did not look overawed by the occasion on their first Premier League away fixture, and Liverpool – despite dominating possession – were struggling to carve out any clear-cut opportunities.

That was until Benteke met Henderson's left-wing delivery to score at the far post, although Coutinho could count himself lucky not to have thwarted the move with his own attempt to convert.

Benteke's goal came after a spell of Liverpool pressure and the hosts continued to threaten, with Henderson fizzing a wonderful first-time effort agonisingly over moments later.

After a quiet start, Liverpool had found their stride, and Coutinho should have done better when he guided the ball well wide of the left-hand post from 12 yards two minutes from the interval.James Milner failed to get a clean connection on a Jordon Ibe cross early in the second half, sending the ball trickling wide, and – after Liverpool captain Henderson had left the field to be replaced by Emre Can – Bournemouth started to look capable of finding an equaliser.Ritchie rifled a fierce strike against the outside of the right-hand upright, before O'Kane found the side-netting from a tight angle.

However, Liverpool weathered that storm to hold out for the full three points, just failing to add further gloss on the victory as Benteke hit the crossbar from close range in stoppage time.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

AC Milan 2-0 Perugia: Honda and Luiz Adriano win cup clash for Rossoneri

Goals from Keisuke Honda and Luiz Adriano ensured Sinisa Mihajlovic got off to a winning start as AC Milan head coach on Monday, securing a 2-0 Coppa Italia success over Perugia.

After a miserable 2014-15 that saw Milan finish 10th in Serie A and Filippo Inzaghi fired, Mihajlovic's new-look side fizzed with energy at San Siro on their first competitive outing of the season.

Honda was at the heart of everything positive coming from the hosts as he netted the first and created the second for new signing Luiz Adriano inside 30 minutes.

More flowing football followed in the second half as Milan pushed for a third, but they were unable to breach the Perugia defence again - even after Davide Lanzafame had been sent off just after the hour.

Despite the lack of a third goal, Milan's attacking play throughout Monday's tie will have pleased their new boss, and he will now plot the downfall of Crotone in round four as they look to reach the last 16.

Mihajlovic named a strong starting line-up at San Siro with all four close-season signings handed competitive debuts, but it was Honda who made a quick impact on the contest.

The Japan international – who had seen an early shot saved – broke the deadlock after 10 minutes as he poked the ball past Antonio Rosati after benefitting from Luiz Adriano's dummy to convert Giacomo Bonaventura's low cross.

Despite some promising positions for Perugia, a second Milan goal seemed inevitable and it arrived just before the half-hour as Luiz Adriano fired low past Rosati, the Brazilian clinical in front of goal after superb interplay between Carlos Bacca and Honda.

Milan thought they had added a third before the break as Bacca fired into the Perugia net from 18 yards, but the Colombian was denied his first Milan goal by the assistant's flag.

Rosati was quickly involved in the action at the start of the second half as Milan started brightly, Mattia De Sciglio cutting in from the right only to see his powerful effort pushed away.

Lanzafame went close to halving the deficit with a mazy dribble into the Milan penalty area, but soon after his shot flew wide the forward earned a second yellow card for a foul on Andrea Bertolacci.

With a man advantage, Milan tightened their grip on the tie with some impressive build-up play, but Bertolacci and Luca Antonelli were both denied as they looked to add a third goal.

Substitute Jeremy Menez displayed the attacking options Mihajlovic has at his disposal this season with a late cameo, but he was unable to cap his return from a back injury with a goal as the hosts settled for a two-goal winning margin.

Milan's Serie A rivals Chievo did not fare so well, though, as Andrea Bovo's 121st-minute strike earned newly promoted Serie B outfit Salernitana a 1-0 win in Verona.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barcelona 1-1 Athletic Bilbao (1-5 agg): Catalans cannot overturn first leg thrashing in Supercopa

Barcelona failed in their attempts to overturn a four-goal deficit in the Supercopa de Espana against Athletic Bilbao, drawing 1-1 at Camp Nou on Monday.

A sensational 4-0 first-leg thrashing - inspired by Aritz Aduriz's hat-trick - at San Mames set up Athletic's triumph, and Ernesto Valverde's men showed a resolute side to their game in the face of intense pressure, before Aduriz again stole the spotlight with a late equaliser on the night.

A tempestuous game saw both sides reduced to 10 men. Gerard Pique was dismissed for lambasting an assistant referee, while Athletic substitute Kike Sola saw red just five minutes after coming off the bench.

Barca knew that their already dwindling hopes were to worsen the longer they went without scoring and luck certainly did not seem to be on their side early on, as Pique struck the crossbar from just six yards.

The hosts did eventually find a way through just before the break as Lionel Messi rounded off a trademark Barca move, but Pique's red card saw their hopes go up in smoke.

And Athletic were celebrating again with 16 minutes to go, Aduriz converting at the second attempt to give the Basques their first title since winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey and Supercopa 31 years ago.

Fully aware of the huge task that lay ahead of them, Barca were quick out of the blocks and went agonisingly close to drawing first blood with just six minutes gone, but it proved to be a case of right place, wrong man, with Pique guiding Pedro's low cross on to the crossbar from close range.

Barca's intensity and aggressive approach was a sign of things to come as Luis Enrique's men unsurprisingly monopolised possession, but in their way stood a sturdy and rigid Athletic defence, boosted by the return of Aymeric Laporte.

Having held firm, Athletic should have further increased their aggregate advantage seven minutes before the break.

Eraso pounced on a wayward Pedro pass, jinked past Javier Mascherano and then charged into the area, only to slam his effort into the side-netting when one-on-one with Claudio Bravo.

And Barca capitalised on that let-off soon after, as Luis Suarez chested down Ivan Rakitic's cross and Messi coolly swept home.

Athletic began the second half well and went close with 55 minutes played, but Aduriz drilled straight at Bravo from 12 yards.

But the away side were given reason to cheer just a minute later, as Pique confronted the referee's assistant for seemingly failing to spot an offside and the Spain defender swiftly received his marching orders.

Rakitic spurned a glorious opportunity just after, skewing wide from just a few yards out as Athletic began to sense that luck was on their side.

And the visitors put the trophy beyond Barca's reach in the 74th minute, as Aduriz calmly slotted in the rebound after Bravo saved his initial effort.

Sola's late dismissal did little to dampen Athletic's mood - it is their first trophy since 1984 - though the party atmosphere was not shared by many in the Camp Nou stands as Barca's chances off securing a sextuple of titles was swiftly put paid to.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

De Bruyne agent denies Manchester City snub: I'm furious!

Kevin De Bruyne’s agent is "furious" after the attacker was lured into telling reporters he would "definitely play for Wolfsburg this season".

Goal understands Manchester City have tabled a £45 million bid for the Belgium international as Manuel Pellegrini’s men look to finally seal the midfielder who they have tracked all summer.

However, De Bruyne appeared to dismiss any chance of a move to the Etihad Stadium by insisting he would be staying at the Volkswagen Arena at a Sport Bild award event on Monday.

The 24-year-old's agent, Patrick De Koster, responded to his remarks by insisting De Bruyne was put in "an awkward position" by being told to repeat after the presenter when his grasp on German is not the best.

"I am furious by what has happened tonight. Kevin wanted to show respect by attending this event," he told Sky Sports.

"No decision has been made on Kevin's future in this transfer window. We have yet to find out if Wolfsburg has reached any agreement with a club.

"Kevin remains a Wolfsburg player, and is focused on his job at the club. He also remains happy at Wolfsburg."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Rodgers hails ‘outstanding’ Benteke after Liverpool win

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has hailed new signing Christian Benteke after his first goal for the club secured a 1-0 win over Bournemouth at Anfield on Monday.

The striker tapped in a Jordan Henderson cross in the 26th minute although there was more than a hint of controversy about the goal with Philippe Coutinho appearing to be offside.

However, Rodgers was full of praise for the Belgium international and says Benteke showed why the Reds spent £32.5 million to bring him to Anfield."I thought he was a real handful tonight. I think you've seen all facets of his game," Rodgers told reporters.

"His hold-up play is outstanding and he's got a wonderful touch for a big guy."He can help the ball on into areas, he can take the ball in, control the game, switch the game, his touch was good and you could see him linking and combining.

"There was one moment when the ball came into the box, which was one of the reasons we looked to bring him in, and as the cross came into the box because of his strength and power he tried to make the contact with it but it dropped and made a chance for Coutinho to shoot.

"In my time here that's never really happened. The ball's come in and then maybe been cleared out."But because of his physicality and his contact, he keeps the ball alive in the dangerous area of the field and that will really help.

"Once the players get used to seeing that and working with that, that will offer us more opportunities to score goals."

There was further controversy in the game with Bournemouth having had an early Tommy Elphick goal ruled out and Rodgers admitted he was relieved to see Benteke’s strike given.

"I haven't seen either of them again. I think we obviously had a good period of pressure leading up to the goal," he added."The most important thing is that it was given.

"Of course, the offside ruling has changed again, so it adds complication for people."At our managers' meeting it was said that the advantage was looking to be with the team attacking.

"Thankfully the goal counted and we're happy to get the win."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Iniesta: Pique red card made sextuple impossible

Andres Iniesta believes Gerard Pique's red card was the point at which Barcelona realised their sextuple dream was over as they lost the Supercopa de Espana to Athletic Bilbao.

Luis Enrique's men went into Monday's match knowing they needed to turnaround a 4-0 deficit from Friday's first leg at San Mames, when an Aritz Aduriz hat-trick left their hopes of a fifth trophy in 2015 looking unlikely.

Iniesta had proclaimed before the match that Barca had every confidence they could complete a shock comeback at Camp Nou and Lionel Messi's first-half goal kept the European champions' dream alive.

However, the odds were stacked against the hosts when Pique was sent off for dissent in the 56th minute and Aduriz scored his fourth goal of the two-legged Supercopa to secure a 1-1 draw on the night and a 5-1 win on aggregate.

"It was over two games, so it was difficult to come back but not impossible," Iniesta told reporters after the match. "We tried everything but the expulsion of Pique made everything even more complicated.

"These refereeing decisions happen. We don't know what was said. Today we were infinitely better but it wasn't just one match."

The Barca midfielder, 31, does not think the clash between the Liga winners and Copa del Rey finalists casts a shadow over 2015-16 for a side which swept all before them in the latter half of last season.

"I am convinced this will be a great campaign," he added. "We must not get things confused - we'll go for the Club World Cup, our fifth title of the year, but for now we'll focus on La Liga which restarts for us on Sunday."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

UEFA Champions League Play-Offs 1st League Fixtures 2015.08.18

UEFA Champions League Play-Offs 1st League Fixtures 2015.08.18

Astana Vs APOEL

Manchester United Vs Club Brugge

Sporting Vs CSKA

Lazio Vs Leverkusen

BATE Vs Partizan

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Good Luck Manchester United!

Kohomahari Qualify wemu UEFA Champions League Group Stages walata

​

 

[Banks PLK]

Aguero patta.injury free hityoth M City lata loku chance 1k thyenawa me para Epl win karanna.

yes bro true.
aguero is following a new diet program
which will help him to stay injury free.
no more pasta or meat for him lol