..::Football III::..

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Hiddink confirms ANOTHER Falcao injury

Guus Hiddink has confirmed Radamel Falcao is set for another spell in the treatment room, with the Premier League flop not expected to feature again for Chelsea until February.Falcao moved to Stamford Bridge on loan from Monaco in the summer after completing a similar injury-plagued spell at Manchester United.

However, the move has failed to take off for both club and player with the striker only making one start in the league, netting once before picking up a thigh injury in November.

Falcao was due to return imminently but suffered another setback when he was injured in a training game against Cobham, with Hiddink confirming the 29-year-old is set for another lay-off.

"It’s the inside of his thigh and it’s the same now as it was before,” Hiddink told reporters. “He’s having treatment at the moment but he cannot appear on the pitch.

"He was out and our medical staff tried to build him up but he had the setback, which is not a positive signal. We hope within 10 days he might be fit again, but not to play."

Given the situation on the injury front, with Eden Hazard the only other reliable forward option available, the Dutchman is unprepared to let bit-part player Loic Remy leave for Aston Villa on loan in January.

“First of all, it’s important, in the situation Chelsea are in, that we have the most powerful squad possible," the manager, who replaced Jose Mourinho at the helm, stated in direct response to Villa coach Remi Garde's public overtures for the player."“He’s our player and you have to respect where the players are. If you are interested, talk first to the people with whom they are contracted.

"You cannot go into details [at a press conference] but the player has signed a contract here and must be fit for us first. He’s having a difficult time regarding his injuries. He has to prove first of all that he’s a good Chelsea player.”

 

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Dortmund reject €30 million bid for Gundogan

Juventus have had a €30 million bid for Ilkay Gundogan rejected by Borussia Dortmund, Goal understands.

The 25-year-old is the Serie A champions’ priority transfer target and they are keen to strengthen in the January transfer window.

But Dortmund have no intention of allowing the midfielder to leave halfway through the season as they look to regain their place in the Champions League under Thomas Tuchel.

Dortmund are also planning to extend Gundogan’s contract, which expires in 2017, but the Germany international will decide his future at the end of the campaign.

Should Gundogan refuse to sign a new contract, Dortmund will be open to a potential sale with Juventus currently leading the chase. Barcelona, Arsenal Manchester United have also been linked with the midfielder.

Juventus did sign a midfielder in the summer window, but Hernanes, who arrived from Inter at the end of August, has started just five games in Serie A this term. Without Gundogan, Massimiliano Allegri will continue to play Claudio Marchisio in the role vacated by Andrea Pirlo, but the Italian champions view Gundogan as a better successor for the position.

 

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Ranieri hopeful on Vardy and Mahrez futures

Claudio Ranieri is hopeful he can keep Leicester City's star performers at the King Power Stadium in the upcoming transfer window after a stellar first half to the Premier League season.

The Foxes sit joint-top of the Premier League - trailing Arsenal on goal difference - having gone into 2015 bottom of the table under Ranieri's predecessor Nigel Pearson.

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have been the stars of the show, boasting 28 league goals between them, while the likes of N'Golo Kante and Kasper Schmeichel have also impressed.Ranieri refused to confirm reports of a new deal for Vardy but expressed hope for the upcoming window.

"My focus is on [Saturday's opponents] Bournemouth," he stated. "But I think nobody goes from Leicester [in January]. There's too much speculation. We want to fight, build with me - the chairman and fans."We can say 'start to win the title', but it's not our job. Our job is to win the next match. We made a fantastic half-season. It's unbelievable. We must continue building to fight at the top."

Vardy shook off an illness to feature in the goalless draw against Manchester City on Monday with Ranieri not hit by any fresh injuries ahead of the weekend clash with Eddie Howe's strugglers."I hope [Vardy is 100 per cent]. He had a fever but he's in full training now," the Italian added.

 

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Man Utd set to offer Lazio £35m for Felipe Anderson

Manchester United are ready to trigger Felipe Anderson’s £35 million buy-out clause and make the Lazio star their first major signing of the January transfer window, Goal can confirm.

United first identified the Brazil international as a target during the early weeks of Louis van Gaal’s tenure but a disastrous run of eight games without a win has prompted Old Trafford chiefs to revisit their interest in the 22-year-old in a bid to revive their season.

Van Gaal and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward oversaw a summer spend of close to £100 million but are ready to break the bank again in order to add some attacking impetus to a team that has struggled in front of goal.

Fresh negotiations over a deal for Anderson began 10 days ago around the time Woodward, who is driving the deal for the former Santos playmaker, gave his backing to the beleaguered Van Gaal.

United are prepared to meet the buy-out clause and will pay £25 million up front for a player who only made his senior Brazil debut back in June.

Despite Anderson's lack of international pedigree, United are confident the size of the fee and his two-and-a-half years experience of European football with Lazio will see a work permit secured without fuss.
Van Gaal, who recently confirmed he would not be resigning despite increasing speculation around his future, identified a lack of speed and imagination as a key problem in his side earlier in the season.

Summer signings Memphis Depay and Anthony Martial have impressed only sporadically, while Van Gaal is still struggling to get the best out Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney.

The English transfer window opens on January 2, the same day United host Swansea City and the club are confident of concluding a deal for Anderson in the early part of next week.

 

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Playmaker kenek ganna 1kanam hodaihabai Striker kenek ganna 1ka thamai okkotama wada wadagath welawe hatiyata​

 

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Ronaldo: I am made to be the best

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has suggested he is criticised because people are jealous of his success, but that he does not let it affect him as he feels it is impossible to please everyone.

Ronaldo was whistled by part of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd after missing a penalty in Madrid's 3-1 win over Real Sociedad on Wednesday, even if he recovered to net twice and inspire the victory.

Los Blancos' all-time top scorer has similarly fallen under blame as the club lag behind rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in La Liga, with critics questioning his inconsistency in front of goal this term.

But the Portugal captain has insisted he in unfazed by all the talk, stating he is merely focused on doing his job well.

"There are people out there who hate me and who say I'm arrogant, vain and whatever. That's all part of my success. I am made to be the best," Ronaldo told Mundo Deportivo.

"We cannot live being obsessed with what other people think about us. It's impossible to live like that. Not even God managed to please the entire world.

"I have a clear conscience. I sleep well. I feel good helping others, regardless of whether that's with big things or small things. I look at life differently ever since I became a father.

"I can deal with the pressure because of the difficult life I have had. The person I am now is the result of the time I spent without my family and because of the difficult times I went through.

"I was ironing my own clothes when I was 11 years old. My mental strength goes back to those days."If this is what I am, if everything I've achieved in football has been for this, I couldn't possibly ask for anything else. If you offer me an improvement, I'd accept it, but change is very complicated."

Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes stated earlier this week that the 30-year-old will stay be playing for Madrid in a decade, but the former Manchester United man is already looking forward to life after football.

"I want to live like a king when I retire," Ronaldo added."I will be able to enjoy things more after my career, when I have the time to do what I want."

 

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Pjanic: Leaving Roma for Real Madrid is 'impossible'

Miralem Pjanic has called a move to Real Madrid "impossible", stating he was fully focused on doing well with Roma.

A number of reports recently have suggested the 25-year-old is close to joining the Santiago Bernabeu side, claiming Rafael Benitez is eager to boost his midfield options with the free-kick specialist.

However, Pjanic has insisted he is not thinking about a transfer at this stage of the season, ruling out a move in the January transfer window at least."Real Madrid interest? I am focused on Roma at the moment," the Bosnia-Herzegovina midfielder told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We are still fighting for the Scudetto and have the Champions League round of 16 coming up. That's why leaving Roma is impossible right now."His agent Michael Becker, meanwhile, was quick to stress there had not been contact with any interested clubs.

"These rumours surprise me. I don't know where they are coming from," Becker added."Neither Miralem, nor his father or Roma have been in touch with Real Madrid, Barcelona or any other European club."

Pjanic joined Roma from Lyon in August 2011 and has since developed into a key figure at the Serie A outfit.He has a contract with the Stadio Olimpico side until June 2018.

 

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Pellegrini: Man City don't need a replacement for Kompany

Manuel Pellegrini has made it clear Manchester City do not have any plans to bring in a replacement for the injured Vincent Kompany or any other signings in the January transfer window.

City have been linked with cover in defence while their captain recovers from a niggling calf injury, while stars such as Leroy Sane and Isco have reportedly caught the eye of City as candidates to reinforce their Premier League title bid.

However, Pellegrini feels there is no need to recruit new players at this point, categorically ruling out any addtions in the new year period."There are no plans to bring in a replacement for Kompany," the City manager told reporters at a press conference.

"I think the squad is complete. We are not really thinking of any particular player to bring in."Isco? I always have the same answer and that is that I do not talk about rumours."City take on Watford on Saturday just one day after New Year's Day, and Pellegrini has urged his players not to go overboard with their celebrations.

"I think all of the players must celebrate New Year's Eve," he added."I don't expect players in bed by midnight, but they can celebrate early and have a maximum of one o'clock."

 

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Real Madrid interested in Ben Arfa, claims Puel

Nice coach Claude Puel has claimed Real Madrid are keeping a close eye on the situation of Hatem Ben Arfa.

The 28-year-old joined Nice from Newcastle United in January 2015, but FIFA ruled he would not be allowed to play for the club because he had already appeared for Newcastle's Under-21 side and Hull City that season.

He has been in stunning form for Nice in 2015-16, though, his seven goals in 18 Ligue 1 appearances earning him a recall for France's national team.

His excellent performances have seemingly not gone unnoticed elsewhere and his coach at Nice has revealed Madrid are among those interested in signing him.

"I am not surprised to hear that big clubs such as Real Madrid are keeping tabs on him," Puel told Nice Matin. "Hatem has become part of the club, just like Mathieu Bodmer when he joined us from PSG.

"I do not agree with those who say Hatem needs to be at a small club in order to deliver his best performances. I hope for him that he no longer plays for Nice next season.

"The high level he has been playing at is not just some isolated dazzling performances. He has been very consistent and has been working very hard."

 

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Iniesta backs Messi to regain Ballon d'Or

Andres Iniesta has backed Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi to start 2016 in the best possible way by lifting the Ballon d'Or trophy.

The Argentina star, who was awarded the Uefa Best Player award earlier this year, is the current favourite to secure his fifth global individual prize ahead of fellow nominees Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Given Messi's remarkable 2015, in which he inspired Barca to five major trophies and reached the Copa America final with Argentina, Iniesta is confident he has done enough to clinch the award in Zurich on January 11."He has a great chance of regaining the Ballon d'Or, for what he is as a player and for what he does," he told Barca TV .

Luis Enrique's side set a new record of 180 goals in a calendar year following Wednesday's 4-0 win over Real Betis but Iniesta insists striving for more titles is paramount for the European champions.

"It's something secondary in terms of importance," he said of the goal tally. "What mattered was to win. But they're figures that we've passed and we'll try to keep them there for a long time."It's really hard to win these titles. To win five out of six is something which doesn't happen often. Hopefully next year will be the same or better than this one.

"I'll take every title, I was able to lift the Club World Cup as captain and that was the icing on the cake."To finish the year in this way is a good feeling, and in three days we start again with a very special game [against Espanyol]."

 

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Van Gaal: It's been a very good year for Manchester United...apart from December!

Louis van Gaal feels 2015 has been a good year for Manchester United if you leave their disappointing form in December out of the equation.United finished fourth in the table last term to return to the Champions League, while they sat first in the Premier League come November.

They have since gone on an eight-match winless streak in all competitions, but Van Gaal prefers to look at the overall positives of the past 12 months."We have fulfilled the wish and our aim in the first season that ended halfway through 2015," the Dutchman said at a news conference.

"After that we have managed to give balance to the team and that resulted in October and November in us being first in the Premier League."Then we crashed out of the Champions League and that was a big blow, and we are still in that period."But when you don't assess December, it has been a very good year."

United had to settle for a scoreless draw against Chelsea in their last outing despite dominating for the majority of the game and Van Gaal feels they have often been the better side this campaign."We've had many games like the one versus Chelsea," he added.

"The way we've played this season, we're more or less always the dominant team.
"The way we played against Chelsea, under that pressure and in the style we want to play, was fantastic."Van Gaal has received his fair share of criticism in recent weeks, but he still had words of praise for the club's fans for the way they have supported the team.

"I have had bad periods at all my clubs and I have to say the best fans are here at Manchester United, because in such a difficult period they were applauding about the performance of the players and that's fantastic," the United boss concluded.

 

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Cech: I want to stop Messi again

Lionel Messi is yet to find a way past Petr Cech in eight games and the Arsenal man has admitted he is keen to extend his fine record against the Barcelona star.

The pair met on numerous times during the goalkeeper's time with Chelsea, with the Czech Republic man coming out on top in their individual battle on each occasion.

They will face one another again when Arsenal and Barcelona clash in the last-16 of the Champions League in February and Cech is well aware of his impressive statistics against the four-time Ballon d'Or winner.

"It's great, not many people can say they've played eight games or how many minutes against Messi and he hasn't found a way to get past me.

"But if he scores and we progress to the next round then it's not really important. What's important is for us to make sure that we give ourselves a chance to progress to the next round."

Cech, 33, recently recorded his 170th Premier League clean sheet during his side's victory over Bournemouth - the highest tally of any keeper in the division's history.

 

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Pochettino will only sign players for Tottenham with 'right profile'

Mauricio Pochettino will only add to his Tottenham squad in January if he can attract players with the "right profile".

Spurs have been linked with reviving their interest in West Brom striker Saido Berahino - a player they tried to sign in the close-season - despite accusations of a lack of discipline at the Hawthorns.

But with Pochettino's men riding high in fourth in the Premier League, just four points off top spot, the Argentinian is adamant he will only strengthen with the right players.He told a media conference ahead of Sunday's trip to Everton: "Myself and [chairman] Daniel [Levy] have a chat every day for five, 10 minutes.

"We know we are ready to take the best decision for the team and the future of the club. But that doesn't mean we need to bring players in or not.

"Today I am very happy with the squad we have. We have a strong squad and in the place we are after 19 games means we are in a very good way and our decisions were good."Only if we can help the team and improve the team will we maybe make some decisions.

"But for that it has to be right and be sure that if we bring some players in they have to be the right profile."Spurs will be without Belgium midfielder Mousa Dembele for the trip to Goodison Park.

Pochettino added: "Mousa Dembele has a small injury but we hope he's back with us in a few weeks. He definitely misses Everton but we've no other injuries, everyone is okay."

 

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Man City still on title track in 'special' season, says Pellegrini

Manuel Pellegrini feels Manchester City are on the right track for Premier League success this campaign even if their points total is lower than that of previous seasons.

City sit third in the table halfway through the season, trailing leaders Arsenal and Leicester City by three points despite roaring top of the table after their first five games, but Pellegrini sees reason for optimism.

The Chilean, who led the Ethihad Stadium side to the title in the 2013-14 campaign, believes they can win they can repeat the feat with a good second half of the season."I feel we are in a good position," Pellegrini told reporters at a press conference.

"Always the best position is to be top of the table, but I think that this is a special season in the Premier League.

"With the amount of points we have at this moment, it is not good to fight for the title in a normal season when you finish with a lot more points. "However, we are three points behind the leaders and I hope we are going to complete strongly with a very good second half of the season."

City meet Watford on Saturday, but Pellegrini has warned Quique Sanchez Flores' men will not be pushovers following their fine recent performances, including a win over Liverpool and draw at Chelsea."Maybe at the beginning of the season it can be a surprise, the same as Leicester," he added.

"But when you play 19 games or so and we are still talking about Watford and Leicester, it is because they have important players in a good moment, who are giving a high performance with their managers doing a very good job."

 

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Van Gaal: Manchester United job could be my last

Louis van Gaal has suggested the Manchester United job could be his last, but denied that the pressure he is experiencing at Old Trafford is the reason he may leave management behind.

Van Gaal has come under intense scrutiny on the back of a run of eight games without a win in all competitions, with the Red Devils dropping down to sixth place.

A 0-0 draw with Chelsea in which United largely dominated proceedings ended a streak of four straight defeats going into Saturday's visit of Swansea City, however.
And Van Gaal revealed he is seeing signs the team are on the right track again and brushed aside talk of the pressure he is facing, though he hinted again the United position could be the last one he will hold."I'm always doing my work. You have to do what you have to do," the 64-year-old told reporters.

"There are members of my staff who are coming to me and saying 'boss, how can I help you more or in another way?' I say 'you are helping me by doing the things you have to do and as well as possible'. Then I am satisfied.

"I expect that also from my players, to do the same things. This is not my first club. It may be the last club as I have said, but it is not the first club where I have had a bad period."Asked if the pressure on him is easing, Van Gaal added: "I don't know because the pressure is also what you experience by yourself and also by the players because they have to perform in a certain time.

"They have to give everything and that's the most difficult aspect of players' function."In 90 minutes you have to show it and against the resistance of the opponent, under the pressure of the environment but also under the pressure that you put on yourself.

"You have to cope with that. The way we played under that pressure in the style we want to play [against Chelsea], that was fantastic."

 

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-Happy New Year 2016-

Football thread 1ke hamotamath Suba nawa wasarak wewa!

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Ada English Transfer window 1ka start wenawa​

 

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Van Gaal: Man Utd fans the best I've seen

Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United supporters are the best he has seen during his time in management.

The Dutchman took over at at Old Trafford ahead of the 2014-15 season but, having sealed their place in the Champions League in his first season, has seen his side struggle in the new campaign.

United were knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage in December, while they are sixth in the Premier League at the halfway point and are currently on a run of six league games without a win.

Despite frustrations from sections of the Old Trafford support over United's apparent lack of attacking intent, Van Gaal praised the United faithful for how they have got behind the team despite a woeful recent run."I have had problems with other clubs that I managed, but I have to say the best fans are the Manchester United ones," he said.

"In a difficult situation they continue to applaud the footballers and that is simply fantastic."United will be looking to end their winless run when they host Swansea City on Saturday.

 

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Van Gaal: Man Utd fans the best I've seen

Team 1ka kochchara down unath fans la team 1kath ekka innawa hama welawewa
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Arsenal boss Wenger 'optimistic' over Wilshere fitness

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger remains optimistic over Jack Wilshere's long-term future despite the midfielder's injury battles.

The 23-year-old is yet to feature this season after suffering a fractured fibula in August.

Wenger expects the England international to be back in time to play at Euro 2016 but hopes Wilshere's tough run with injuries is almost over.

"I am optimistic," the Frenchman told reporters. "If you look at the number of games he has played in recent years, it is not many.

"I hope that, at some stage, it will stop because he is young - and I hope I am right."

Wilshere is contracted at Arsenal until mid-2018 but his injury worries raise questions over his value. Wenger, though, is keen to persevere with the midfielder, who rose through the ranks at the club.

"I want Jack to stay here," he continued. "He is a special case because he is a special talent and he comes out of the club - and he is an England international.

"I hope his injuries will stop at some stage."

Without Wilshere, Arsenal top the Premier League table ahead of hosting Newcastle on Saturday.