..::Football III::..

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Wenger confirms Ramsey out for four weeks

Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey will play again this season but confirmed he is set to miss up to four weeks of action after picking up an injury against Hull City.

Ramsey was withdrawn with a muscular injury shortly after coming on as a second-half substitute in Tuesday's 4-0 win over the Championship side in the FA Cup.

Early reports speculated that the Wales international could face close to two months on the sidelines, placing his chances of returning to full fitness before Euro 2016 in doubt.

But while Wenger admits the injury is more severe than he initially feared, he hopes to see the 25-year-old back by the middle of April."No, I don't think he's out for the season," he told the media on Friday. "The clinical signs are quite positive.

"As a start I would say four weeks. It's a bit worse than I thought at the time. I thought it would be just a precaution and he would be available for Sunday."

 

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Fellaini: Man Utd did not respect Van Gaal's gameplan

Marouane Fellaini has revealed that Manchester United did not respect Louis Van Gaal’s gameplan in their 2-0 Europa League defeat against Liverpool.

The Belgium international made the admission after the game before suggesting that United upped their performance levels in the second half.Fellaini told Uefa.com: “I think in the first half, we didn’t respect the gameplan of the manager, so it was difficult for us.

"The second-half we did well, we did better, had more possession, tried to create chances but tonight we didn’t do enough to score a goal."

Daniel Sturridge opened the scoring for Liverpool from the penalty spot, before Roberto Firmino doubled the Reds’ lead in the second half.

A string of excellent saves from United goalkeeper David De Gea kept the deficit to two ahead of the second-leg at Old Trafford next week, and Fellaini believes the Spain international has given the Red Devils hope ahead of the return-leg.

“Everyone knows the quality of David – he kept us in the game a few times," added Fellaini.

"He did well tonight. Now we have a second chance at Old Trafford and it is possible [to come back]. We can score goals – We did it before, so I think it will a great to see the next game.”

 

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Manchester United condemn offensive chants at Anfield

Manchester United have condemned supporters that sang offensive chants in Thursday's Europa League defeat at Liverpool.

Songs referencing the stadium disasters at Hillsborough and Heysel in the 1980s could be heard during the last-16 first leg at Anfield, in which United were beaten 2-0.

Those responsible have been met with widespread criticism and United have vowed to prevent a recurrence by holding talks with supporter groups.

"It has always been the position of Manchester United that chants of this nature, which refer to historical tragedies, have no place in the game and do not reflect the values the club holds," a United spokesperson said."We are in discussion with our fans' groups to seek their support in preventing this type of behaviour in the future."

The second leg takes place at Old Trafford on Thursday.

 

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Mancini: If I were PSG, I wouldn't let Ibrahimovic leave

Inter coach Roberto Mancini believes Paris Saint-Germain would be making a mistake to allow Zlatan Ibrahimovic to leave the club this summer.

The Sweden striker's contract expires at the end of the season and he has been linked with a number of clubs in the Premier League and Serie A, including a return to Mancini's Inter.

The Italian, who coached Ibrahimovic during his first spell with the Nerazzurri, would not rule out an approach for the 34-year-old but expects PSG to attempt to extend his deal.

"Even at his age, he still makes a great difference - we have just seen it [against Chelsea]," Mancini told reporters.

"If I were Paris Saint-Germain, I would clearly not let him go."

He added: "Do we want to sign him? It depends on what the president intends to do next season, but it's hard to pick a player who plays for PSG."

 

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Hazard's father right over injury claim, says Hiddink

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink admits there is some truth in claims from Eden Hazard's father that the forward's dip in form is because he is being asked to play through injury.

The Belgium international lit up the top flight last season and was named PFA Player of the Year after spearheading Chelsea's march to the Premier League title.

However, Hazard has fallen well short of top form this term, as have Chelsea, who are 10th in the league and out of the Champions League after a last-16 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.Hazard's father, Thierry, suggested that a groin injury was the reason for his drop in standard – something that Hiddink agreed with.

"I think his father has made a fair judgement," Hiddink said ahead of Chelsea's FA Cup quarter-final against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday. "He is not absent of injury.

"It's an injury with which you can play, but if you are not fully, fully fit that also has an influence on your freshness. The worries have been there, it's true.

"Every now and then I see that he is capable of doing beautiful things and very efficient things. His father was very humble and made a very good comment about this."I have my concerns about him as well. Whether he should play when he's not top, top fit, or 60 minutes here or there."

Hazard was booed from sections of the crowd in Wednesday's 2-1 loss at home to PSG, which consigned Chelsea to a 4-2 aggregate defeat.

Some fans became irked by the forward swapping shirts with Angel Di Maria at half-time, but when asked if he had spoken to Hazard about the reaction, Hiddink responded: "Not yet, but I don't want to overvalue that."

 

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Man Utd wonderkid set for debut

Matthew Olosunde is set to make his debut for Manchester United on Friday, having been named in the Under-18 squad to face Brighton and Hove Albion.

The defender, who can play at centre-back and right-back, has been granted international clearance for his move to Old Trafford, after agreeing to move to the club from Duke University.

Olosunde had previously played for New York Red Bulls but left the club in order to pursue his academic interests, though he is now poised to begin his Old Trafford career.

“Matthew is a fantastic player who is comfortable playing in the back or in midfield. He has wicked pace and has incredible defensive recovery speed," Duke head coach John Kerr is quoted as saying by Go Dukes after securing his signature earlier this year.

Louis van Gaal has given debuts to a number of young stars this season, so Olosunde will surely hope that a first-team bow beckons soon.

 

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Juventus 1-0 Sassuolo: Dybala nets winner to extend Juve's lead

Juventus set a new Serie A clean sheet record and moved six points clear of Napoli at the top of Serie A with a 1-0 home victory over Sassuolo on Friday.

Paulo Dybala scored his 14th league goal of the season with a brilliant curling strike in the first half and that goal proved decisive in Turin.

Juve have now kept 10 consecutive league clean sheets – a new record – and extend their advantage over closest Scudetto rivals Napoli, who are now under pressure ahead of their game at Palermo on Sunday.

The latest victory means morale will be high as Massimiliano Allegri's men prepare to travel to play Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie – which is evenly poised at 2-2 - on Wednesday.

Sassuolo came into the game on the back of three straight victories and without being beaten in five, but remain seventh in the table after struggling to beat Gianluigi Buffon, who will surpass Sebastiano Rossi's Serie A record run without conceding if he is unbeaten after four minutes of Juve's derby clash with Torino next weekend.
Juventus almost made a dream start inside a minute. Mario Mandzukic's flick found strike partner Dybala and he unleashed a stunning 25-yard volley that was tipped over by away goalkeeper Andrea Consigli.

Juve rested the likes of Patrice Evra and Paul Pogba as part of four changes, but they were making the early running and forced Consigli into another save from Alex Sandro's header.

The visitors, who also made four switches with key attacker Domenico Berardi ruled out, twice came close themselves in the opening exchanges but Matteo Politano and Alfred Duncan both missed the target from decent positions.

Sami Khedira squandered a good chance to put the hosts in front, prodding a first-time effort over from close range after Dybala had kept a neat move alive and squared from the right.The breakthrough was coming and it arrived through the influential Dybala on 36 minutes.

Juan Cuadrado embarked on an excellent run down the right-hand side before drifting infield and picking out Dybala, who took one touch before picking his spot from the edge of the box with a curling left-footed shot that found the far corner, giving Consigli no chance.The second half began quietly, with neither side registering an attempt on target until Buffon did well to push away a Nicola Sansone long-range strike with 15 minutes remaining, while Consigli saved from Kwadwo Asamoah at the other end.

The champions, who brought on Pogba and Alvaro Morata late on, saw the France midfielder come close, but he was denied by Consigli after striking Cuadrado's cut-back towards goal.

Juve briefly had their clean sheet record threatened by another powerful Sansone strike, but the ever-reliable Buffon got down sharply as the hosts put in a solid performance ahead of the crunch trip to Munich.

 

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Only results missing from Man Utd's style - Van Gaal


Louis van Gaal has firmly defended the style of play he is trying to implement at Manchester United, saying only results are missing at this point.

The Red Devils slumped to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of fellow Premier League outfit Liverpool in the Europa League round of 16 first leg on Thursday, prompting many to once again call for the Dutchman's head.

The source of ire is due to the perceived defensiveness of the line-ups Van Gaal has fielded, with speculation over the 64-year-old's job security in the Old Trafford dugout having intensified since December.However, the manager is adamant only positive results are missing at the moment and lashed out at the negativity surrounding the club.

"Yes, I think it [the style] is working because we have to work with circumstances and when you don’t have too many players and have to play in three competitions it is very difficult to play,” Van Gaal told reporters.

“I think it is working. The style is working yes, but not giving the best results. It’s not good enough when you think you have to be the champions, with the Europa League or FA Cup."

"When you analyse what we have done this season and the other season I cannot change your [the critics’] mind. You are very negative. You think all season we have played like that [against Liverpool]?“We are still in three competitions and we can fight a lot. It is a very difficult situation for everybody but we still have the chance and have to believe in that. I see a lot of your colleagues [in the media] are not believing in that.

"Many of my colleagues are not in three competitions anymore.”Turning his attention to his future, Van Gaal added: "I don’t want to discuss that with you because you are not part of the people who determine [my future].

"It is of course giving much more pressure but after defeat to Midtjylland you sacked me already and then we stood up and we were in the next round. It can be the same against Liverpool."Maybe we can score three goals."

 

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Wenger: Giroud will 'boom' again

Arsene Wenger expects Olivier Giroud to 'boom' into form and recapture his goalscoring run for Arsenal in the Premier League title chase.

Giroud netted a brace against Hull City in the FA Cup on Tuesday night, taking his tally for the season to 22 goals in all competitions, as his side advanced to the quarter-finals of the competition.

Despite his impressive return, it was just the Frenchman's first goal in 12 games for the Gunners and his manager now wants to see his centre forward enter another purple patch.

"Look, it is a weight on the shoulders when the players don't score,” Wenger told the club's official website. “So the fact that they score will of course take that weight off.

"Overall, I am pleased that [Giroud and Walcott] scored. But it is a bit cyclic always, especially for Giroud. Giroud has cycles so it was a weight off his shoulders.

"You know this season for example, he has had games where he has gone boom, boom, boom, boom, boom and after he had a little spell where he didn't score.Now I hope he has a repetition of his former spell and starts to score again.

"Between what he says and what is real, even I don't really know what is going in there. You know that if you don't score and you are a striker, somewhere you are not happy.”

 

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Agent & Marquinhos' brother hold Barcelona talks

An agent and the brother of Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos met with Barcelona last week as talks over the Brazilian's potential transfer pick up pace.

Barcelona plan to strengthen their defence this summer and Marquinhos is their primary target, with the Catalans willing to pay up to €50 million (£39m) to bring him to Camp Nou.

The intermediary Giuliano Bertolucci and Luan Aoas, Marquinhos' brother, met with Barca representatives and set out the 21-year-old's salary demands of €4.5m (£3.5m) a year plus a €3m (£2.3m) signing-on fee.

PSG do not want to sell Marquinhos and have twice refused to engage in talks with their European rivals, while the player and his girlfriend are happy and settled in Paris.

There is a feeling at the club, however, that the former Roma starlet will consider a move if he continues to play second fiddle to Thiago Silva and David Luiz.

Barcelona would like to add a second defender in addition to Marquinhos, who is also wanted by Real Madrid and Chelsea.

Their shortlist includes Alessio Romagnoli of AC Milan, Valencia's Aymen Abdennour, Aymeric Laporte of Athletic Bilbao and Shakhtar Donetsk centre-back Yaroslav Rakitskiy.

 

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Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2016.03.12

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2016.03.12

Norwich City Vs Manchester City

Bournemouth Vs Swansea

Stoke City Vs Southampton

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FA Cup Fixture 2016.03.12

FA Cup Fixture 2016.03.12

Everton Vs Chelsea​

 

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LA Liga Fixtures 2016.03.12

LA Liga Fixtures 2016.03.12

Barcelona Vs Getafe

Celta Vigo Vs Real Sociedad

Atletico Madrid Vs Deportivo

Rayo Vallecano Vs Eibar​

 

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Serie A Fixtures 2016.03.12

Serie A Fixtures 2016.03.12

Empoli Vs Sampdoria

Inter Vs Bologna​

 

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Benzema will never be a great scorer – Deschamps

France boss Didier Deschamps has said that he does not think Karim Benzema will ever be a truly prolific scorer – but has praised the Real Madrid forward.

Benzema is currently frozen out of the national team due to a sex tape scandal involving team-mate Mathieu Valbuena, yet his judicial review was lifted on Friday, which is considered a crucial first step for him to return to the squad ahead of Euro 2016.

While Deschamps wants the 28-year-old available for the competition, he has warned the public not to expect too much of the striker.

“He will never be a great goal scorer, even if that’s expected of him,” the France coach told L’Equipe. “He brings more to the construction of the play.

“You aren’t an attacker at Real Madrid for five years, under Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Rafa Benitez or Zinedine Zidane otherwise.

“Every nation wants a striker like that.

“When I hear that he had a bad World Cup because of the match against Germany...”

The coach explained Benzema’s role at club level is judged less on goals by the coaches because of the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo.

“In Madrid, the responsibility of scoring is on another player,” he said. “In the France team, everyone is on him when he doesn’t get a goal.

“He participates a great deal in the play. We are seeking link up, someone to be complementary to the others. We will always expect goals, because Karim Benzema’s at Real Madrid. It’s not like that.”

Meanwhile, Deschamps believes the forward needs to show better body language on the field.

“He is not a fighter. He gives the impression of being less involved than others,” he said. “I often speak to him. He depends on the other players, too.”

Benzema has scored 27 times for France, having been capped on 81 occasions.

 

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‘Chelsea? I can’t spell it’ – Deschamps on Blues rumours

France coach Didier Deschamps has dismissed suggestions that he could move to Chelsea after Euro 2016.

Italy boss Antonio Conte leads the chase to become Jose Mourinho’s permanent replacement at Stamford Bridge this summer, while former Blues player Deschamps' name has also been linked with the Premier League champions, whose poor league position means they will lose their crown at the end of the season.

Noel Le Graet, president of the French FA, said he did not know if Deschamps could even spell ‘Chelsea’ and when L’Equipe put this to Deschamps, he responded: “He made a joke. So I will, too.

“I might not know how to spell Chelsea, but I know how to find it.”

Deschamps led France to the quarter-finals at World Cup 2014, in which they were beaten by Germany, and the former Juventus midfielder is now preparing the national side for Euro 2016, which they will host in June and July.

He played for Chelsea during the 1999-2000 season, making 47 appearances and scoring one goal.

 

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Ibrahimovic out of West Ham's league - Bilic

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has laughed off suggestions the Premier League club could sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Ibrahimovic's contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires at the end of the season, and his agent Mino Raiola said earlier this week that he has decided where he will play next term.

West Ham are one of a number of Engish clubs to be linked with the former Barcelona, Inter and Milan star, but Bilic does not feel a move for the 34-year-old is realistic.

"We are moving to a new stadium and we are doing well, but Ibrahimovic is out of our league, ­unfortunately," the Croatian coach told reporters.

"If he leaves Paris, I don't know where he is going to go, but I can't see him coming to West Ham."Ibrahimovic has scored 31 goals in all competitions for PSG this season, and was key to their Champions League victory over Chelsea in midweek.

And Bilic went on to praise the striker's enduring quality."He's 34 only on paper. He's still the leading scorer in France, so he’s very consistent," he added.

"I was at the game at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday and he was playing like he was 21."

 

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Chelsea transfer flop claims he wasn't given a chance by Mourinho

Juan Cuadrado believes he was not given enough of a chance to impress during his time at Chelsea.

The Colombia international joined Chelsea in a £23.3 million deal from Fiorentina in February 2015 but made only 15 first-team appearances before joining Juventus on loan the following August.

"When I got there, the squad was already really tight and solid,” Cuadrado said of his move to Stamford Bridge.

"I don't think I was given enough opportunity to show what I can do, but that's football.

“I’m happy to be back being a protagonist with Juventus."

 

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'Martial should really be Manchester United's third-choice striker'

Paul Scholes believes Anthony Martial should be considered a second or third-choice striker at Manchester United.

The 20-year-old joined Old Trafford from Monaco last summer in a deal worth up to £60 million and has scored 10 goals in 36 appearances.

But the former United midfielder believes that in Sir Alex Ferguson’s era, such a young player would have been eased into the first team.

“Martial is a young player who will become a top centre forward,” Scholes told the Daily Mail.

“But, as a 20-year-old, he is a second or third choice.”

Scholes was speaking after United’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Europa League on Thursday which has dented the club’s chances of securing a place in next season’s Champions League.

And the 11-time Premier League winner admits United struggled to contain Liverpool’s lively midfield.

“Liverpool were brilliant,” he said.

“Liverpool were 10 times better than United. So much quality. Philippe Coutinho took Varela all over the place. They all ended up out of position. Memphis is nearly playing as a left back!

“United had no control in the middle of the park. If Michael [Carrick] is there, you still might not get control because Liverpool are good. But if you try it, at least you have the chance to get into position.

“Now even if Memphis does get into positions, he has been poor. In games against the top teams, his quality has been really poor.”

 

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'Martial should really be Manchester United's third-choice striker'

For now 2nd or 3rd​