..::Football III::..

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Russian clubs banned from signing Turkish players

Russian clubs have been banned from signing Turkish players during the January transfer window as a result of the current political tensions between the two nations.

A Russian warplane was shot down by Turkish forces over the Syrian border on November 24, leaving one pilot dead, while another was rescued in a Special Forces operation.

Consequently, Russia have implemented economic sanctions against Turkey, which also includes transactions between football clubs in the two countries.

Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko told the R-Sport news agency: "If anyone wants [to sign a Turkish player] during the break, there will not be such a possibility."

However, he also added that Turkish players plying their trade in Russia would not be forced to return to their homeland

He added: "Everyone who has an existing contract will carry on working.

"They won't be here in the future but at the moment they have contracts and these will not be looked into."

 

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Morata will become a key player for Juventus - Allegri

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri praised Alvaro Morata and backed the forward to become a key player for his side.

The Spain international came off the bench to set up Simone Zaza's late sealer in a 3-0 win at Palermo in the Serie A on Sunday.

Despite much talk surrounding Morata's future and a potential return to Real Madrid, Allegri said the 23-year-old could become a Juve star.

"In contrast to last season, when he was behind Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente in the pecking order, Alvaro is one of our first-choice strikers this year," Allegri told his post-match news conference.

"His assist for Simone Zaza’s strike was a sign of what he is capable of and he’ll become a key player for Juventus."

Morata's square pass for Zaza set up the 93rd-minute goal, after Mario Mandzukic and Stefano Sturaro had also struck in the second half.

The win was Juve's fourth straight in the league and lifted them into fifth in the table after a slow start to the campaign, and Allegri is pleased with the progress his team have made.

"The boys played very well, particularly in terms of all the energy they put into the performance," Allegri added.

"We might have taken the lead in the first half, but then we scored those three great goals after the break.

"We prepared for this match on Friday and the players are quick learners, which is very important.

"The team has made some notable steps forward of late. We've stepped up physically, we’re using the ball much better and we’re more compact."

 

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De Bruyne excited by Silva link-up

Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has spoken of his excitement at linking up with David Silva after the Spain international made his return from injury on Saturday.

The pair have played alongside each other just three times since the Belgian moved to the Etihad in a £54 million deal in the summer as a result of Silva's absence.

However, the former Valencia man came off the bench in the second half of the 3-1 win over Southampton, which saw De Bruyne score once and set up the other two goals.

But despite both players operating in similar positions, the 24-year-old is confident they can develop a fruitful understanding.

He said: "We haven't played that much together, and that’s been really difficult for both of us, but he’s such a great player that it’s easy to play together with him.

“Everybody has his own style, and I think we play almost at the same position, but we’re very different players, so it’s better to have different players who play together than to have all the same.

“I’m more direct than him, he can keep the ball a little bit more than me, so with the two together that’s an advantage and we can switch different things."

 

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Klopp delighted with Sturridge, Henderson returns

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is thrilled to have Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson back and available ahead of a busy run of fixtures.

The duo made their returns from injury off the bench in Liverpool's hard-fought 1-0 win over Swansea City in the Premier League on Sunday.

Henderson (foot) and Sturridge (knee) have endured long spells on the sideline, but are back ahead of Liverpool's run of four matches in 12 days.

Klopp said the return to fitness of the duo was great news for his team.

"It was good news for the big Liverpool family," the German said.

"They are two very important players for us and they’re back in the race. They did well for their situation and from where they’ve come from after a long break with difficult injuries.

"Now they are back and that’s really good for us."

Liverpool had to battle for their win over Swansea, with James Milner's 62nd-minute penalty the winner.

Klopp was delighted to come away with three points and said his side's ability to claim different types of wins was crucial.

"Football is not a sport where you can only play one way," he said.

"The two games against [Manchester] City and Chelsea are not to be compared, and because of the opponent and the way they play we cannot always play like this. Parts of our game against Man City should always be in our game, but there is a big difference.

"Tonight, we are deserved winners and there’s no doubt about it – that’s the only thing we should care about.

"Development is taking all of your performances and working on it. At the end of a period of time, we can be at our best much more often. At this moment, we have to fight in really difficult circumstances – that’s what the boys did.

"Everyone who is with us can be proud because it was a difficult game, a deserved win, 23 points – very good."

 

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Bellerin: Arsenal can cope without Sanchez

Spanish full-back Hector Bellerin insisted Arsenal have the depth to cope with the loss of injured forward Alexis Sanchez.

A hamstring injury forced Sanchez from the field in Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Norwich City in the Premier League on Sunday.

Sanchez hobbled off after an hour, while team-mate Laurent Koscielny took a knock in the first half.

Bellerin, however, believes there is no need for Arsenal to worry about the absence of the injured duo.

"I have said it before, there is great depth in the team," he told Arsenal Player.

"There are a lot of young players in the team waiting to come through, and we have a lot of quality training with us every day.

"They are ready to step up so obviously every single player on the bench can do the same job as every single player in the starting XI.

"We don't need to worry about [the injuries to Alexis and Koscielny]. The only thing we need to do is go out onto the pitch with the right mentality, it does not matter who we play."

 

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Victor Valdes' wife lashes out at Manchester United over charity dinner snub

Victor Valdes's miserable time at Manchester United has hit a new low after the Spanish goalkeeper was the only player not to be invited to a Unicef gala dinner, prompting a furious response from his spouse.

All of United's biggest stars turned out for the event, which raised £230,000 for charity, with the likes of manager Louis van Gaal, captain Wayne Rooney and young striker Anthony Martial in attendance.

But there was one notable exception, with Valdes missing from the event's red carpet. And his wife, Yolanda Cardona, has reacted angrily on Instagram.

Posting a picture of United's Spanish speaking players - Juan Mata, Marcos Rojo, Sergio Romero, David de Gea and Ander Herrera - and their partners all sitting around a table, she hit out at the failure to invite the World Cup-winning goalkeeper.

"Do not invite to my husband @vicvaldes1 to be part of the #united4unicef, it's the last thing you don't expect from one of the biggest clubs as @manchesterunited. 'A Charity event is always a Charity event'."

Valdes famously fell out with Van Gaal at the end of last season for refusing to play in a reserve match, according to his manager, though the Spaniard - who has not even been assigned a squad number - has always denied it.

 

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Victor Valdes' wife lashes out at Manchester United over charity dinner snub

Meh okkotama mula LVGValdes ta Manchester United epakarawalama danawane​

 

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I wouldn't swap Lukaku for Vardy - Martinez

Jamie Vardy is breaking Premier League records as he tops the goalscoring charts but Everton manager Roberto Martinez is happy with Romelu Lukaku.

Vardy is the toast of the Premier League after scoring in an 11th consecutive game in Leicester's 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United on Saturday.

The 28-year-old England international's feat eclipsed Ruud van Nistelrooy's record of 10 as he took his league tally to 14 goals this season.

Martinez, however, insists he would not swap Lukaku - who is second in the Premier League scoring charts - for Vardy.

"I think it has always been the case that Rom, with the potential he has, is perfect for us. He is a striker who can do it all," Martinez said of Lukaku, who scored in Everton's thrilling 3-3 draw with AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.

"He has the old-fashioned traits - he can have his back to play, the strength, the power. But he can also run with the ball and is a clinical finisher. You can see from his scoring record what he is. That is why we made a huge investment in him."

Martinez added: "With Rom what you get is a reliable footballer who always presents an incredible threat.

"But he is still only 22 so he cannot really be compared to anyone. There are not many players who at his age have achieved what he has achieved."

 

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'Crazy' Munich could convince Guardiola to stay at Bayern

Pep Guardiola admits that the appeal of living in Germany could yet convince him to stay at Bayern Munich.

The former Barcelona coach's future is the subject of increasing speculation, with reports last week suggesting he has reached an agreement in principle to take over at Manchester City next season.

Guardiola has also been linked with Manchester United and even a return to La Liga with Real Madrid should he decline to extend his current deal with Bayern, which expires at the end of the campaign.

However, the 44-year-old says that he and his family are very happy in Munich, which could play a significant part in any decision on his future.

"The town is crazy. I love it. I am very satisfied, my family too," he was quoted as saying by Bild at a fan club event.

When asked if he could extend his stay as a result, he added: "Yes, it would be a big reason.

"We will speak after the Hannover clash [on December 12] and come to the right decision for me and the club."

 

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Mourinho insists Costa should feel 'privileged'

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes Diego Costa should feel “privileged” not to have been dropped sooner.

The striker was an unused substitute in Sunday’s goalless draw against Tottenham and threw his bib in frustration towards Mourinho after warming up on the touchline during the match.

Costa has scored just four times in 20 appearances this season and Mourinho believes the Spain international should consider himself lucky that he was one of the last first-team regulars who was benched after the club’s poor start to the campaign.

“Diego is very privileged because he was the last one to be on the bench,” Mourinho said.

“Everyone else has been left out: the captain, John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, the vice-captain of England, Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, Pedro, Eden Hazard, the player of the season and Oscar. Everyone was on the bench and Diego was privileged because I kept him in the team for all these matches.

“Physically he is fine. No problems. He is working well every day. His mood is positive. He’s always a positive guy in the team. I was not expecting to have a player on the bench jumping and singing because he is not playing, unless you’re a kid who has a chance to go on the bench – Ruben [Loftus-Cheek], Kenedy feel being on the bench is one more step in their development.

“But for a top player, they’re not happy. His behaviour was normal. He was ready to play when he went to warm up. When I decided not to play him, he went [back to the bench]. And probably he is having something to eat now while waiting for us on the bus.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Klopp proud of 'perfect' Liverpool win

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was proud of his players' battling qualities after they earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over Swansea City in the Premier League on Sunday.

James Milner's penalty settled a closely contested affair at Anfield as Liverpool struggled to hit the heights of their 4-1 demolition of Manchester City last weekend.

Perhaps fatigued by their Europa League win over Bordeaux in midweek, Klopp's men laboured in the final third at times, but saw Milner earn the points prior to the long-awaited returns of captain Jordan Henderson and striker Daniel Sturridge.

The pair came off the bench after injury troubles in recent weeks and Klopp was delighted to see his side battle to a third straight win in all competitions.

"It was difficult and we had to change in the second half a little bit what we had planned," he told Sky Sports.

"It was difficult, with the wind, the opponent, but the result was perfect.

"We did well, we can do better, but if you want results in a row you have to fight for them. I don't know many teams who win 3-0, or 4-0 every week so we have to fight for it. Perfect.

"We need [defensive] stability, everyone can see our offensive skills when we can play with space. We can create chances, play better passes but for a few players it's really hard because they have to play a lot.

"It's not okay if you want perfection, some things don't work but you have to fight. That's what the boys did, so I'm really proud tonight."

The result moved Liverpool up to sixth, six points behind joint leaders Manchester City and Leicester City.

 

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Smalling: Clubs should look at more non-league players like Vardy

Manchester United's Chris Smalling has urged clubs to pay more attention to non-league footballers in the wake of Jamie Vardy's incredible rise to Premier League fame.

Leicester striker Vardy made history at the weekend by becoming the first player to score in 11 consecutive PL matches and Smalling believes more should be done to uncover lower-league players with potential.

“I think clubs should look more at non-league players, especially given how much people are costing to bring in,” Smalling told Man Utd's official website.

“If you can find some sort of hidden gems in the local sides or non-league sides, it’s a no-brainer to give those guys a chance.

“With Jamie's success I think you will see clubs have a little bit more of a wider look in the non-league region.

Having come through the part-time ranks himself, Smalling believes the regularity of first-team action at football's lower levels is a big factor in lesser known players eventually making the grade.

“I played more games than I trained [at Maidstone United]. It was a case of playing twice a week and maybe having a training session twice a week.”

“You play games early on and there is a high pressure because at that stage there is a lot riding on it.”

 

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Mata: Manchester United have six finals in December

Juan Mata says Manchester United must look at their next six matches as "finals" after a "bittersweet" run of results in November.

United lost none of their five games and conceded just two goals, but back-to-back draws against PSV and Leicester City have proven to be potentially damaging results in both the Premier League and Champions League.

Louis van Gaal's side missed the chance to overtake Manchester City at the top of the table with that 1-1 stalemate at the King Power Stadium and must beat Wolfsburg away from home to guarantee their place in the knockout rounds in Europe after being held by the Dutch champions.

"November was an important month in our calendar and it leaves a bittersweet taste: in the last 30 days we haven't been defeated, but the last two draws haven't been good for us," Mata wrote in his latest blog. "Especially the one on Wednesday against PSV, because we knew it was a game that we had to win.

"Winning in Wolfsburg is almost the only valid result for us if we want to get through. It's not an easy task but we are confident that we can make it to the next stage. The Champions League is a very important competition for us and we want to remain in it.

"That game in Germany will be one of the six 'finals' we are facing in a busy December. The next game – therefore the most important one right now – is on Saturday against West Ham. They have had a good start this season and have won more games away than at home. However, as I said, we don't like draws and we want to go back to the victories."

Mata praised Leicester striker Jamie Vardy after his goal against United saw him become the first player to score in 11 consecutive Premier League matches, but the Spain international admits any further draws could prove costly to his side's title hopes.

"Things are very tight in the top side of the table. It's not easy to defeat the teams who are up there, as we could see in Leicester last Saturday," he added. "We believed we could win, but at the end we only got one point, despite it we took the initiative most of the time.

"Congratulations to Jamie Vardy for breaking the record of such a great player as Ruud van Nistelrooy. Scoring in 11 consecutive games deserves a lot of credit. Sadly his goal made us drop two points, otherwise we would be leading the table now.

"There's still a long way to go, but if we want to fight for the Premier League title we have to win these kind of games..."

 

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Mata: Manchester United have six finals in December

December godak wadagath month 1kakSpecially Wolfsburg match 1ka.​

 

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Klopp's force is in full swing at Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp’s transition from holiday mode to the pressured cauldron of Liverpool has been as sleek as his side’s counters from defence to attack at Manchester City.

The 48-year-old arrived on Merseyside preaching patience, but little has been needed over his first 10 games in charge with only one major blemish. Crystal Palace, or the club’s “black cat” as Dejan Lovren described, are the only side to scratch Klopp’s record, which consists of six wins, three draws and that defeat.

The Reds have netted 15 times under the German, limiting the opposition to seven. His predecessor, Brendan Rodgers, had more one match at the helm this season, but only managed three victories - all by a single goal.

Those were accompanied by six stalemates and the two hammerings at the hands of Manchester United and Old Trafford. His Liverpool conceded two more than they scored, with just 11 goals in as many games.

Under Klopp, heavy beatings look as likely as the trainer turning up sans spectacles, clean shaven with his hair slicked back. His charges are better organised, harder to topple, more compact and confidence is growing after months of it rolling in the gutter.

The Merseysiders are six points off top in the Premier League, having already travelled to the Britannia Stadium, Emirates, Old Trafford, Goodison Park, White Hart Lane, Stamford Bridge and the Etihad.

Only Leicester, Manchester United and Tottenham have been in better form over the last six league fixtures, the latter two only by a solitary point. They have matched City and Arsenal over this period and while Klopp has largely laughed away talk of a run at the top four or the title, if Liverpool continue their trajectory, the word ‘challenge’ will follow as relentlessly as they do in the counter-press.
The two-time Bundesliga winner has watched his side win six out of the last seven encounters. He is closing in on almost two months in charge, yet he has not had the luxury of fielding his strongest XI yet.

Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge, two crucial elements of Liverpool’s core, got their first minutes under the manager on Sunday. Philippe Coutinho has shrugged off his minor hamstring problem and Mamadou Sakho is expected to return by the turn of the year.

Despite being bulldozed by injuries with 12 setbacks alone in Klopp’s tenure, and while not being fully in stride yet, Liverpool find themselves well within striking distance. Klopp may not want to invite additional pressure by admitting his team are a threat, but rival managers will be shifting uncomfortably in their dugouts at the progress made under the man from Black Forest.

Of course, the Anfield outfit have much to improve if they are to move from entering the conversation to dominating it, one of which is translating their away brilliance at home. There are still deficiencies in both profiting from and preventing disaster from set-pieces. Chance conversion can be bettered, too.

But with key personnel back and a platform of positive results to build on, you’d bank on the second half of Liverpool’s season being more full throttle than the first.
They are within reach of where they’d like to be in the top-flight, sit at the summit of their Europa League group and tackle the Capital One Cup quarter-final against Southampton on Wednesday.

In Reading the Game, Klopp says “trophies and medals, they get put away somewhere in the clubhouse and you forget when exactly it was and who won which trophy when.” Not at Liverpool.

If the German was to clinch a piece of silverware in his first season, it will live on in banners and song, sweep the terraces and take its place on The Champions Wall in Melwood’s reception area.

Klopp originally wanted to become a doctor and while that did not materialise, he has certainly remedied Liverpool’s ills in his first 10 games.

The “helper syndrome” he thinks he has is working on Merseyside where the question is no longer what sort of impact the manager will have on the club, but how soon it will be until he’s air punching after securing his first prize in the job.

 

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Under Klopp's management Liverpool progress 1ka patta​

 

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Vardy reveals painful road to Premier League record

Jamie Vardy has revealed that he has been playing through the pain barrier to seal his record Premier League scoring run.

The Leicester City striker scored for the 11th consecutive match in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Manchester United, surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy's previous record of 10 during the Premier League era.

Schooled in non-League football during spells with Stocksbridge Park Steels, Halifax Town and Fleetwood Town, England international Vardy says he has come to recognise persistent niggles as a consequence of his all-action style of play and is unworried by the pain he suffers.

"I think it's common knowledge now that I'm getting an injury every week," said Vardy, who was denied the opportunity to bring his prolific form to the international stage earlier this month by a hip problem.

"But I never want to not play. I want to play as many games as I can and help the team out.

"It's the way I play and, if I have to play through it sometimes, that's what I'll do.

"I took a little knock on the top of my foot [against United], but I've had it iced and I'm sure it will be fine by next week."

Vardy will seek to continue his record-breaking streak when Claudio Ranieri's side – who sit joint top of the table – travel to Swansea City on Saturday.

 

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'Manchester United would win the Premier League with Bale and Ronaldo'

Gary Neville believes that Manchester United would win the Premier League title “easily” if they signed Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Louis van Gaal’s men are currently third in the table following Saturday's 1-1 draw with Leicester City, but have been routinely criticised for their style of play under the Dutchman.

United have scored just 20 goals in 14 games this season – the lowest of the top five teams in the division – but routinely dominate possession and Neville insists that his former club need at least one marquee attacking player if they are to win their first title since 2013.

“If you put two more players into Manchester United’s team, say a Gareth Bale or a Cristiano Ronaldo into that team, that team could win the league easily,” he told listeners of his own podcast.

“But they need that match-winner, that Neymar, that Luis Suarez, the one that is going to light up a game and score one or two goals to take it away, then all of a sudden they would look like a Barcelona, because they’re dominating possession, making teams look foolish.”

United have been linked with a number of world-class players in recent months, with reports suggesting that they may attempt to sign either Ronaldo or Bale this summer.

 

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'Manchester United would win the Premier League with Bale and Ronaldo'

Bale one nahaRonaldo gatthanam hodatoma athi​

 

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Fifa name World Coach of the Year contenders

Luis Enrique leads the contenders for this year's World Coach of the Year award, with Fifa having released the three-man shortlist ahead of the big reveal in Zurich in January.

The Barcelona manager lead the Catalan club to a famous treble in his first season in charge, winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League in spectacular fashion.

With Barca's deadly 'MSN' attack up front, the Spanish coach oversaw 42 wins in his first 50 matches in charge of the club - a new record, beating previous holder Helenio Herrera's 40 wins (as well as the 37 won by Pep Guardiola in his first half century in charge).

Luis Enrique will be looking to get one over his old Barca team-mate, Guardiola, who is also nominated following a stellar campaign with Bayern Munich, having previously won the award in 2011.

Jorge Sampaoli rounds off the three-man shortlist thanks to his exploits in charge of Chile, having guided La Roja to Copa America glory on home turf and taken them to an all-time high of third in the Fifa world rankings.

Despite winning the Premier League and Capital One Cup, Jose Mourinho does not make the shortlist, while current holder Joachim Low has not been given the chance to defend his crown.

The shortlist for Women's World Coach of the Year was also announced, with World Cup-winning USA boss Jill Ellis leading the charge along with England coach Mark Sampson and Japan's Norio Sasaki.