..::Football III::..

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Guardiola: Gotze is good but Messi is the best ever

Pep Guardiola says Bayern Munich attacker Mario Gotze has still some way to go before comparisons can be drawn between him and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.

Gotze has caught the eye with impressive performances for Bayern this season following his €37 million switch to the Bavarians in the summer from Borussia Dortmund.

However, the 21-year-old's coach, Guardiola, is cautious of expecting too much from his young star and insists he is not at the same level as the four-time Ballon d'Or winner yet.

"There are no comparisons between him and Messi. Messi is the best player in history," the Spaniard told reporters.

"He is in his first year here, which is not easy, but he has done well, played well.

"He's only 21 and he can still improve. He is already one of the best players in Germany. I try to help him, but Messi is at another level."

Gotze has scored six goals in 17 league appearances for Bayern, while Messi has 14 goals in 18 Liga games for Barca this season.

 

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Diego Costa to savour 'special' Spain debut at the Vicente Calderon

Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa has admitted that the fact that the Vicente Calderon will be the venue for his Spain debut will make the occasion all the more "special" for him.

The 25-year-old forward has, of course, already been capped at international level by his native Brazil but is eligible to play for La Roja because he never featured for the Selecao in a competitive fixture.

Having now declared his intention to represent Spain, he is delighted that his first outing for his adopted nation, a friendly against Italy next week, will be at his club's home ground.

"I am very happy about the call from [coach Vicente] Del Bosque. It is very special for me that the game against Italy is at the Calderon," Costa told Spanish newspaper AS.

The striker isn not the Atletico player to be involved in Wednesday's fixture, as he will be joined in Del Bosque's squad by club team-mates Juanfran and Koke, both of whom are also looking forward to facing the Azzurri.

"I'm proud and happy to return to the national team, it is a good match to prepare for the World Cup," Rojiblancos right-back Juanfran enthused.

Midfielder Koke said: "It's a tremendous pride to be with the team. I am very happy to be playing at home against Italy and I hope that these calls are repeated in the future."

Spain's World Cup campaign kicks-off on June 13 against the Netherlands.

 

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Everton set to make call on Traore's future

Lacina Traore's Everton future will be decided next week following visits to specialists in both England and France.

The striker arrived at Goodison Park on loan from Monaco in the January transfer window and scored on his debut in a 3-1 FA Cup win over Swansea City earlier this month.However, the Ivorian suffered a hamstring injury in the warm-up before Saturday's 1-0 defeat against Chelsea, and both Monaco and Everton have agreed that Traore should visit experts in both countries as they seek a diagnosis.

If he requires surgery, his loan spell may be terminated, although if the injury is less serious he will remain at the Premier League club for the remainder of the campaign."We have been working closely with Monaco to ensure we get the best possible treatment on the injury," Everton boss Roberto Martinez told the club's official website.

"He will now see two specialists next week - one in London and one in Paris. Then we will make the final decision with the parent club."If Lacina will be fit by the end of the season, then we will see him in an Everton shirt again, and that is what we are aiming for."

Martinez's men host West Ham at 15:00CET on Saturday as they look for a fifth successive Premier League home win to keep their top-four hopes alive.

 

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Adriano: Real Madrid hold no fear for Barcelona


Adriano says that Barcelona are not in the least bit scared of resurgent Liga rivals Real Madrid.

The reigning Primera Division champions have come in for some heavy criticism after a 3-1 defeat at Real Sociedad last weekend that saw them fall three points behind los Blancos in the race for this season's title.

However, while Adriano has been impressed with Madrid's form of late, including their 6-1 demolition of Schalke in the Champions League during the week, he says that Barcelona remain firmly focused on their own form.

"Real hold no fear [for us],” the Brazilian told reporters on Friday.

"They scored six goals, which is not easy, although people may say Schalke are not at the same level as Madrid.

"We also played very well against [Manchester] City [in the Champions League] when people doubted us.

"So, we have to be united and carry on doing what we know, which is playing football, and hopefully things will continue to go well."

Meanwhile, the 29-year-old defender admitted that he already has one on this summer's World Cup in Brazil, although he was quick to point out that his primary objective is helping his club have a successful season.

"Of course I’m looking forward to it," Adriano enthused. "But the first thing I have to do is play well for Barcelona and then, of course, think about the World Cup with my country."

 

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De Rossi admits Garcia doubts: I had to look him up on the internet

Daniele De Rossi has revealed that he initially knew so little about Roma coach Rudi Garcia that he had to look the former Lille boss up on the internet.

Since the Frenchman's arrival in the Italian capital last summer, the Giallorossi have undergone a dramatic transformation and have mounted a surprise Scudetto challenge this season, currently trailing the two-time defending champions by nine points but with a game in hand.

De Rossi freely admits that even he has been taken aback by just how quickly Garcia has turned Roma around, particularly as he was left distinctly unimpressed by what he found when he 'googled' the 50-year-old's name last summer.

“When I heard that we had taken him on, I had some doubts,” the midfielder told So Foot. “It seemed that he had been chosen only because we were not able to get [Walter] Mazzarri or [Massimiliano] Allegri.

"I searched his name on the internet and the first thing that came up was a video in which he is playing 'El Porompompero' on the guitar. I thought, 'Who is this?'

"That day I was in the national room with [Italy team-mate] Andrea Pirlo. I called him and told him: 'Look who we got!'"

However, De Rossi is now in no doubt that Garcia can bring the glory days back to the Stadio Olimpico.

"Today we sincerely thank God that we took 'El Porompompero'," he enthused. "This can be a turning point in history of Rome. He can make us win again."

 

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Mourinho hits out at Premier League over Chelsea's fixture list

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has hit out at the Premier League fixture schedule and believes a lack of rest is making life "difficult" for his players.

The Blues are currently preparing to play their third game in the space of eight days, after returning from their midweek Champions League tie in Turkey to face Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.

"We all prefer to play game after game after game - but we all want to play game after game after game with equal conditions for every team,” said Mourinho.

"Every team in the same country has the same privilege to be a little bit protected in relation to European matches.

"It makes the players' job difficult - not my job. I don't play. I could play a match every day and it's not problem for me or the people who make the fixtures."

After Chelsea’s 1-1 draw against Galatasaray in the Champions League, Frank Lampard called on the Premier League to address the schedule when teams are returning from midweek fixtures in Europe.

"Frank Lampard has a right to speak. He's played an unbelievable number of seasons with this club,” Mourinho added.

"He's played more than 100 matches with the England side. He's not a man that normally speaks a lot. He's not the kind of player who is trying to show an opinion.

"When a player like him, and a man like him, express his feelings like that I think this country should listen

"It's not a problem for my legs, it's not a problem for legs of people who make this decision, it's the players' legs."

"I am nobody and my legs are fresh after the last match. I didn't sleep a lot but my legs are fresh. For players, it's different."

 

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Rosicky: Arsenal must match Stoke's aggression

Tomas Rosicky has called on his Arsenal team-mates to match Stoke City's physicality in Saturday's Premier League clash between the two sides.

The Gunners have only returned with all three points once in their last five Premier League visits to the Britannia Stadium, failing to win their past three encounters in Staffordshire.

Arsene Wenger's men sit just one point behind leaders Chelsea heading into Saturday's game and midfielder Rosicky wants Arsenal to be ready for Stoke's "aggressiveness" in order to keep their Premier League title bid on track.

"[I'm expecting] a typical game when you go to Stoke," he told the club's official website. "It's always very similar - they are a very physical side, very aggressive and it's a very tough place to go.

"All the away games are pretty similar so we need to be really well-prepared [for a] physical and aggressive style of play. We need to match them in those attributes and, if we do that, we can be successful.

"For me, (the crowd at the Britannia) doesn't matter at all. The atmosphere in the stadiums here in England is great anywhere you go, so that side doesn't bother me at all."What I'm thinking about is (what performance) we will produce on the pitch and if we will be as aggressive and strong as Stoke. If we do that, we can beat them."

The visit to Stoke is the Gunners' last Premier League game for over a fortnight as they face Everton in the last eight of the FA Cup and take on Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League clash before resuming domestic duty with the north London derby against Tottenham on 16 March.

 

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Fit-again Aguero could start Capital One Cup final

Sergio Aguero is in contention to start in Manchester City’s Capital One Cup final showdown with Sunderland.

The Argentina international, who has scored 26 goals in all competitions this season, has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since January 29.

Aguero resumed full training earlier this week, though, and his fitness will be assessed ahead of Sunday’s final at Wembley.

"It is something I must decide from Saturday and see the way he recovers from the work this week if he is 100 per cent fit after his injury to play the whole match," City boss Manuel Pellegrini told reporters.

"Of course it is very important for the team to have Sergio again with us because he is a very important player.”

However, Stevan Jovetic and Matija Nastasic have both been ruled out of the match against Gus Poyet’s side due to injuries.

Meanwhile, Pellegrini has warned his players not to underestimate Sunderland ahead of the fixture.

“I will be very happy if we [win the trophy] because it reflects all your work from the year,” said the Chilean.

“We have played a very good Capital One Cup because we won all the games, we scored 19 or 20 goals and conceded just one.

“Maybe we are the favourites but we cannot forget Sunderland eliminated Chelsea and Manchester United - big teams - so I am absolutely sure it will be a tough game.”

 

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Draxler & Reus left out of Germany squad for Chile game

Germany coach Joachim Low has opted to omit Julian Draxler and Marco Reus from his squad for Wednesday's international friendly against Chile, while the injured Thomas Muller also misses out.

Both Reus and Draxler recently returned to full match fitness after a spell on the sidelines due to injury and Low has opted not to take any risks with the duo.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger returns after missing Germany's previous game due to physical problems.

Furthermore, Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria), Pierre-Michel Lasogga (Hamburg) and Andre Hahn (Augsburg) could all make their debut for the Nationalelf after receiving a call-up for the first time.

Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund)

Defenders: Jerome Boateng, Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Kevin Grosskreutz, Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg), Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Andre Hahn (Augsburg), Mario Gotze, Toni Kroos, Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil, (Arsenal), Sidney Sam (Bayer Leverkusen)

Attackers: Pierre-Michel Lasogga (Hamburg), Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea)

 

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Madrid finally seeing the real Sergio Ramos - Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti has hailed Real Madrid's strength in defence in the past few months and believes Sergio Ramos' return to top form has played a major role in their run of good form.

The Spain international went through a difficult period in the closing months of 2013, but the Italian coach is pleased to see the 27-year-old back to his usual best again.

"The squad is very able in carrying out defensive work. And we’re seeing the real Sergio Ramos now, not the player from November or December," Ancelotti told Canal Plus.

"You can quickly fix any mistakes and we’ve done that, not just by changing our system but also because the players now understand how important it is to recover possession.

"Defensive and offensive balance is the most important thing in football. Defensive work doesn’t require creativity or skill."

Ancelotti then went on to discuss the development of Jese Rodriguez and lauded the promising Spanish attacker's progress this term.

"Jese is scoring goals and setting up his team-mates. We’re very lucky to have him here. He is a very focused player and he works hard.

"Could Jese go to the World Cup? Well, it was a big surprise when Paolo Rossi was called for Italy in 1982, so who knows..."

 

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Diego Costa gets Spain call-up for Italy clash

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has included Brazil-born striker Diego Costa in his squad for next week's international friendly against Italy.

The Atletico Madrid attacker previously represented the Selecao at international level, but can switch allegiances as he had yet to play for the Confederations Cup winners in an official game.

Del Bosque has also called up Bayern Munich defensive midfielder Thiago Alcantara for Wednesday's encounter, while his FCB team-mate Javi Martinez has also made the cut.

"This is the squad for the game against Italy and does not mean anything for the World Cup," Del Bosque stated at a press conference.

"Costa is in it because of what he has done with Atletico Madrid. Thiago has been doing very well at Bayern. He faces stiff competition in midfield there, but has become a starter.

Meanwhile, Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata and Juventus striker Fernando Llorente have both been left out, with Carles Puyol and David Villa being ignored by Del Bosque, too.

"We have a lot of respect for Llorente and really value him, like a lot of other players who didn't make it this time.

"We are not writing off Puyol. We do not have any doubts about him when he's fit and plays regularly."

Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Casillas (Real Madrid), Reina (Napoli), Valdes (Barcelona)

Defenders: Alba (Barcelona), Albiol (Napoli), Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Martinez (Bayern Munich), Ramos (Real Madrid)

Midfielders: Alonso (Real Madrid), Busquets, Fabregas, Iniesta, Xavi (All Barcelona), Cazorla (Arsenal), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Thiago (Bayern Munich)

Attackers: Costa (Atletico Madrid), Pedro (Barcelona) Navas, Negredo, Silva (All Manchester City)

 

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Spain sqaud 1ka patta!

VAMOS ESPANA​

 

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Taarabt: I want to become the Messi of Milan

Adel Taarabt has voiced his admiration for Lionel Messi and aims to become as important to AC Milan as the Argentine is to Barcelona.

The 24-year-old has impressed at the San Siro side since joining the club on loan from QPR, after an unsuccessful temporary spell at Fulham before the winter break, and he's keen to earn himself a permanent move to Clarence Seedorf's side.

"I am not surprised with my performances at Milan so far. I know what I can do and I feel like an important player at Milan," Taarabt told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I want to become the Messi of Milan. Players like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are an inspiration. I am not at their level yet, but it's my objective to get there.

"I still have to prove myself, but I believe in my own qualities.

"When Milan signed me, I told myself that I have to grab this opportunity with both hands. I have already thrown away four years and cannot afford to waste any more time.

"I have little time to convince Milan, but I want to take this chance."

Taarabt has a contract with QPR until June 2016, but Milan have an option to make the winger's stay at the club permanent at the end of the season for a set fee.

 

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Rodgers: Reina unlikely to return to Liverpool

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers does not anticipate an Anfield return for goalkeeper Pepe Reina when his loan deal at Napoli expires.

The Spain international has spent the 2013-14 campaign with the Serie A side after his parent club signed Belgian shot-stopper Simon Mignolet from Sunderland in the summer.

Reina recently declared that his future is uncertain amid rumours of a possible return to Spanish champions Barcelona, with whom he started his career, although he remains under contract at Anfield.

Rodgers, however, is convinced that the former Villarreal man will not ply his trade on Merseyside next season.

"He wrote a goodbye letter didn't he?" Rodgers told reporters.

"Obviously Pepe made it very clear when he went to Napoli that he was looking to move because he penned a great big letter saying he was going to work with the best manager that he'd worked with Rafael Benitez and thanked him for his time for Liverpool.

"So, for me, it probably sounded like he'd made his decision there."

Meanwhile, Rodgers has urged his entire team to take more defensive responsibility after witnessing them concede three goals in the dramatic 4-3 win over Swansea City last weekend - a result which means, of sides in the top half of the table, only Newcastle have conceded more.

"Defending is about everyone, it's not just the back four and the goalkeeper," he continued.

"We didn't defend well enough as a team last week. We didn't press the ball well enough at the top of the field.

"We didn't keep the ball well enough, we didn't make enough passes. It was more a collective issue than any individual. We need to defend better as a team.

"This is a team which is evolving and improving all the time. It was a huge task when I came here to improve our goal scoring and that's something we've done. As this team grows we will improve in other aspects."

 

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Osvaldo: Playing for Juventus is easy

Pablo Osvaldo says players such as Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente and Sebastian Giovinco makes things easy for him at Juventus in the wake of his side's 4-0 Europa League win over Trabzonspor in the round of 32.

The striker, who joined Juve on loan from Southampton during the January transfer window, netted once in the 2-0 home win last week and once more added his name to the scoresheet in Thursday's return in Istanbul as the Serie A champions again won by two goals.

"I find it easy to play with Tevez, Llorente and Giovinco," Osvaldo told the official Juventus website.

"They all have different qualities and I'm trying to get used to each of them.

"Giovinco and I did our fair share of defensive work Thusday night as well, that's what we needed most. Luckily I scored too."

The striker then went on to admit that he would rather have avoided Fiorentina in the round of 16, before urging his team-mates to turn their focus to this weekend's Serie A match against AC Milan now.

"I'd have happily done without Fiorentina, they're a top side," he added.

"Before thinking about anything else, however, we must first concentrate on AC Milan."

 

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Wenger: Arsenal will see a new Ozil now

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the rest afforded to Mesut Ozil will refresh the out-of-form midfielder and is convinced he can handle the pressures placed on him by the north London club.

The former Real Madrid man was absent for last weekend's 4-1 win over Sunderland having failed to get over the disappointment of missing a penalty against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, a match that saw him singled out and criticised.

Wenger, though, believes Ozil is reinvigorated by his short break and exclusion from the spotlight, and insists he does not put extra pressure on the club-record signing to live up to his significant price tag.

"I never tell Mesut: 'You have to win us the game,'" Wenger told reporters when asked about the pressure placed on the German.

"He shouldn't do that. It's down to the performance of the team. But maybe he feels that a bit in a different way than I do. I just want him to enjoy it and play well.

"It is difficult for him mentally to be confronted with that pressure every three days and in every single competition.

"But he will adapt. He had a difficult game [against Bayern] because he missed that penalty and it was on his mind. Sometimes, when you are under this kind of pressure, it's good to refresh."

Ozil has recorded just one Premier League assist in 2014 and failed to find the back of the net, struggling to live up to his early billing, but Wenger is convinced the 25-year-old has the quality to drag himself out of his current slump.

"I don't worry about Ozil," the French boss continued. "He has gone a little bit through a difficult time. It can happen to anybody.

"He looks all right. He loves to play. You give him a ball and he's happy. That's the most important thing. And he has the quality. You always have to be behind your players. The best way is to show him support."

 

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Barclays Premier League 2014.03.01 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2014.03.01 Fixtures

Everton Vs West Ham

Fulham Vs Chelsea

Hull City Vs Newcastle

Stoke City Vs Arsenal

Southampton Vs Liverpool

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La Liga 2014.03.01 Fixtures

La Liga 2014.03.01 Fixtures

Malaga Vs Real Valladoid

Levante Vs Osasuna

Getafe Vs Espanyol

Elche Vs Celta Vigo​

 

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Serie A 2014.03.01 Fixture

Serie A 2014.03.01 Fixture

Roma Vs Inter​

 

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Roma 0-0 Inter: Drab draw hits Giallorossi title hopes

Roma dropped points at home for only the third time in Serie A this season as Inter came away from Stadio Olimpico with a 0-0 draw.
Both sides had their chances throughout Saturday's match, with Roma looking particularly potent at times, but ultimately the two sets of defenders and goalkeepers came out on top.

Roma began the match at a ferocious pace as Gervinho and Adem Ljajic caused the Inter defence considerable problems, but the visitors kept the score level thanks to a combination of dogged defending and poor finishing.

Mattia Destro thought he had broken the deadlock in the 33rd minute only to be flagged offside, while Rodrigo Palacio had Inter's best chance of the first half when he headed over from eight yards.

Miralem Pjanic should have sealed three points for Roma in the final 20 minutes, but Samir Handanovic pulled off an impressive stop, leaving Rudi Garcia's men eight points behind leaders Juventus.

The home side were without their captain and talisman Francesco Totti due to injury, while former Lazio star Hernanes was only fit enough to take a place on the Inter bench.

Roma started with purpose and Gervinho almost gave them the lead in the sixth minute as he burst into the area and met Daniele De Rossi's lofted pass with a first-time volley on the swivel, but Handanovic made a save down to his left.

In the 10th minute, Ljajic created another good opening as he impressively burst away from Jonathan after an excellent turn and flashed the ball across the face of goal, a little too far ahead of Destro.

Inter gradually grew into the contest and Palacio went close 20 minutes in as he headed Ricky Alvarez's left-wing cross just over.

Destro did find the net for Roma just after the half-hour mark, but it was disallowed as the Italian was offside following Radja Nainggolan's initial flick-on.
Inter could have been awarded a penalty at the beginning of the second half as De Rossi appeared to punch Mauro Icardi in the face while defending a corner, but the referee failed to spot the incident.

With 23 minutes to go, Vasilis Torosidis got forward to great effect on the right, playing a low cross in towards Gervinho in the danger zone, but Rolando crucially came across to knock it behind.

Handanovic came to Inter's rescue in the 74th minute as substitute Pjanic raced on to Nainggolan's scooped pass and struck a half-volley towards the bottom-left corner, only to see the goalkeeper acrobatically palm it away and effectively secure a point.