..::Football III::..

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Pellegrini: I have two No.1 goalkeepers in Caballero and Hart

Manuel Pellegrini is relishing the prospect of Joe Hart and Willy Caballero battling to be Manchester City No.1 this season.

Caballero was reunited with Pellegrini in July - the 32-year-old goalkeeper previously played under the Chilean at Malaga - as City prepare to launch their Premier League title defence.

Hart was dropped last season following a string of high-profile mistakes, allowing Romanian Costel Pantilimon a run in the first-team, and will now face competition from the new Argentine arrival.

"I have two number one goalkeepers," Pellegrini said ahead of Sunday's Community Shield clash with Arsenal.

"I am sure Willy will be very important for us but I also think we have the best goalkeeper in England in Joe Hart.

"Top teams need two players for each position because we have to play so many games during the year."

 

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Inzaghi: Diego Lopez an important signing for AC Milan

AC Milan coach Pippo Inzaghi has hailed the imminent arrival of Diego Lopez at San Siro.

The goalkeeper has been deemed surplus to requirements at Real Madrid following the signing of Keylor Navas from Levante and is now poised to join the Rossoneri, having agreed personal terms with the Serie A side.

Lopez will undergo a medical in Milan on Monday before putting pen to paper on a four-year contract and Inzaghi is looking forward to working with the 32-year-old shot-stopper.

"The arrival of Diego Lopez is very important," the Rossoneri boss told reporters. "He's an experienced goalkeeper. He is going to improve our team."

Milan are also hoping to sign Adel Taarabt on a permanent basis, with the QPR-owned attacking having spent the second half of last season on loan at San Siro.

However, Inzaghi refused to be drawn on whether an agreement is close, saying nothing other than: "Will Taarabt be my gift for Ferragosto (an Italian holiday on August 15)? Let's see."

Although it appears as if the former Milan striker's squad looks set to be strengthened before the start of the Serie A season at the end of the month, Inzaghi is remaining grounded.

"I'm very happy," he stated. "Milan are doing things better. I want to do well together with the team.

"But only the field will tell us how well we can do. We must work hard and be ready for August 31."

Milan, who finished eighth in Serie A last season, kick off their campaign against Lazio at the Giuseppe Meazza.

 

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Liverpool star Can relishing Champions League campaign

New Liverpool signing Emre Can has tipped the club to shine in the Uefa Champions League this season.

The five-time winners have not featured in the tournament since the 2009-10 season, when they fell at the group stage.

Since then, Liverpool's continental involvement has been restricted to three runs to the knockout rounds of the Europa League, but a second-placed finish in the Premier League last term earned them a return to the biggest competition in club football.

And Can, who made seven appearances in the competition for Bayer Leverkusen last season, says confidence is high among his team-mates ahead of their European adventure."I am really confident about us going into the Champions League this season," the midfielder told the Liverpool Echo.

"The whole team, the whole club and the city is looking forward to getting back in the Champions League because Liverpool haven't played there for a few years.
"I had the pleasure of playing in the Champions League last year with my old club and it's a special thing to play in the Champions League."

Can arrived on Merseyside from Leverkusen in June and is one of six new arrivals at Anfield this summer.

 

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Vermaelen passes medical ahead of €19m move to Barcelona

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has passed his medical ahead of a proposed €19 million move to Barcelona.

The centre-back agreed to join the Catalan club late last week, after rejecting the overtures of Manchester United in favour of a summer switch to Camp Nou.

The Belgium international flew to Barcelona on Saturday morning for his medical ahead of the transfer, which will cost the Catalans an initial €15m and an additional €4m in extras.

The 28-year-old has been blighted by injuries over the last few seasons and was given a thorough, two-part examination by the Blaugrana at the Hospital de Barcelona and later at the Clinica de la Creu Blanca.

However, Vermaelen came through the tests without any problems and is set to become the second centre-back to join the Catalan club this summer, after Jeremy Mathieu arrived from Valencia in a €20m deal last month.

The defender, who becomes the third former Arsenal captain to join Barca in seven years (after Thierry Henry in 2007 and Cesc Fabregas in 2011), could be unveiled at Camp Nou on Sunday.

 

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Burnley 3-1 Verona: Jutkiewicz on target in Clarets win

Lukas Jutkiewicz's prolific pre-season continued as Burnley wrapped up their friendly schedule with a 3-1 victory over Verona.

With just over a week to go before Burnley host Chelsea at Turf Moor in their Premier League opener, Sean Dyche's men came from behind after the visitors took the lead courtesy of a Lazaros Christodoulopoulos header.

But pre-season signings Matt Taylor and Jutkiewicz were both on target to change the complexion of the game, with the latter making it six goals in as many appearances since joining from Middlesbrough.

Substitute Ross Wallace produced a moment of magic to add a third with a 25-yard free-kick eight minutes from time and seal a home win that will boost confidence at the Lancashire club.

Verona, who finished a credible 10th on their Serie A return in 2013-14, created a flurry of early chances, with Rafael Marquez's shot deflected wide before a Luca Toni effort also missed the target from the resulting corner.

Jutkiewicz directed a 20th-minute header over before Danny Ings curled a shot just wide from the edge of the penalty area as Burnley grew in stature.

The game burst into life with two goals within the opening two minutes of the second half.

Christodoulopoulos first headed home Toni's lofted pass before the hosts responded immediately, Kieran Trippier, Ings and Taylor combining for the former Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers midfielder to net from 10 yards.

And Burnley's comeback was complete when Jutkiewicz continued his purple patch in front of goal after 61 minutes.

Ben Mee delivered an exquisite left-wing cross and Jutkiewicz met it with an unstoppable header before being withdrawn, presumably as a precautionary measure to keep him fresh for the upcoming season opener with Chelsea.

Ings created and spurned a couple of chances before Wallace curled home a stunning late set-piece to make it 3-1 after Dean Marney had been bundled over by Artur Ionita.

 

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Swansea City 0-3 Villarreal: Monk's men embarassed by Liga outfit

Swansea City's pre-season programme came to a worrying conclusion as they were beaten 3-0 at home by Villarreal .

With just seven days until the start of the Premier League season, the hosts, missing Wayne Routledge and Nathan Dyer out wide, rarely threatened and looked vulnerable at the back throughout.

After falling behind to an Ikechukwu Uche goal in the opening stages, Swansea fell further behind thanks to a sublime Bruno Soriano free-kick and a bizarre Denis Cheryshev effort after the break.The match got off to a disappointing start for the home side as Uche capped a flowing Villarreal move by finding a way past goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

Manu Trigueros drilled narrowly wide of the target as the Spanish side looked to extend their lead, before the Liberty Stadium outfit showed some signs of settling.
Jonjo Shelvey's cross from the right in the 14th minute found the head of Wilfried Bony, but the Ivorian was unable to get enough power on his effort which was comfortably collected by Sergio Asenjo.

Bony once again fell short with a header in the 25th minute - Villarreal clearing off the line after Bafetimbi Gomis had nodded the ball on from a Jefferson Montero cross.And it was the visitors who struck the next blow when Soriano curled a delightful free-kick around the Swansea wall and beyond the reach of Fabianski from some 20 yards.

Swansea's defence - depleted due to the departure of Chico Flores, whose move to Lekhwiya was announced by the Qatari club during the first half - regularly looked susceptible.And that weakness was exposed just before the hour mark when Swansea conceded a bizarre third.

After saving Cheryshev's initial strike, Fabianski touched his rebound onto the bar - the ball bouncing twice on the frame of the goal before falling kindly to the Russian who headed home.

Swansea get their Premier League campaign underway at Manchester United on August 16, while Villarreal face one more friendly against Real Zaragoza next weekend.

 

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Tottenham 2-1 Schalke: Soldado header seals Spurs win

Mauricio Pochettino enjoyed a winning introduction to White Hart Lane as Tottenham rounded off their pre-season with a 2-1 win over Schalke.

Having taken in trips to the United States and Finland during pre-season, Spurs were in good form back on home soil with Eric Dier and Ben Davies also making their home bows.

The hosts enjoyed the lion's share of the first half's chances, Aaron Lennon and Lewis Holtby going close before Emmanuel Adebayor put them ahead just before the half-hour.

Roberto Soldado doubled Tottenham's advantage in unorthodox fashion after the break, the attacking successes undoubtedly pleasing Pochettino ahead of Spurs' Premier League opener against West Ham next week.

Neither side threatened in a cagey opening quarter of an hour, but the hosts eventually took control, though Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann was on hand to smother Lennon's dangerous run and somehow denied Holtby from 12 yards as his defenders appealed in vain for offside.

The Premier League outfit eventually found the breakthrough as Erik Lamela, Lennon and Holtby combined fluently on the edge of the box before the latter picked out Adebayor at the far post - the striker taking a touch onto his left foot before rifling high into the net.

The goal shook Schalke into life and Roman Neustadter wasted a free header, missing the target, before former Spurs midfielder Boateng found space in the area, only for Danny Rose to nip in and deny him.

Lamela, Rose, Adebayor and Lennon were withdrawn by Pochettino at the break, with Soldado among the replacements.

The Spaniard had a gilt-edged chance to double Spurs' lead eight minutes into the half, but lifted his effort over from Holtby's centre.

Fellow substitute Harry Kane saw a good penalty shout waved away, while Andros Townsend could only scuff wide when released one-on-one.

However, Soldado got on the scoresheet in the 66th minute, reacting sharply to loop a header over Fahrmann after the keeper had palmed Townsend's fierce drive into the air.

Christian Clemens gave Max Meyer a clear sight of goal soon after, but the teenage playmaker could not test Hugo Lloris, who was also able to watch Christian Fuchs' fierce long-ranger sail wide.

The Frenchman was eventually beaten with 10 minutes to go, Boateng finishing well from Dennis Aogo's cut-back, but it was not enough to spoil Pochettino's welcome party, with a late miss from another replacement, Cristian Ceballos, proving an irrelevance.

 

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Chico Flores departs Swansea for Lekhwiya

Chico Flores has left Swansea City to link up again with former manager Michael Laudrup at Lekhwiya.

Laudrup was appointed as the new coach of the Qatari champions last month, having been sacked by the Welsh outfit in February.

And he will now be joined at the club by Chico, who released an open letter to Swansea's fans on Saturday as news of his move was confirmed.

"I write this letter with grief, gratitude and joy, for I will be facing a new personal and sporting challenge," wrote the 27-year-old.

"I have experienced so much these two seasons that, by far, exceeded my expectations. That is why today I am sad to leave a club that has been like a family since the beginning and allowed me to enjoy and experience football in a very special and intense way.

"I was so honoured to be part of a roster with not only great players but people that have become great friends.

"And having the chance to contribute to the winning of the Capital One Cup and to bear the name of Swansea throughout Europe in the Europa League, is so historic and will remain as a memory in us all.

"I leave Wales with a lot of friends."

Chico's time at Swansea, following a move from Genoa in July 2012, was not without controversy, with the Spaniard involved in a number of on-field flashpoints.

He added: "A very important thing I wanted to say is that if, at any time, I disrespected any opponent, coach, referee or rival fans I apologise. Football is a sport that we live with the pulsations very high and sometimes we may make mistakes, but the important thing is to learn from them.

"I go to another country and another league. Here in Europe I enjoyed three of the best leagues in the world ... and I have experienced so much. Hence, the new challenge I face will be given the same enthusiasm as what I came with to Swansea two years ago.

"I hope this is not a forever goodbye. I will support you all from afar; I will always be a Swan."

 

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QPR 0-1 PAOK: Hill own goal decides friendly

Clint Hill's second-half own goal consigned QPR to a 1-0 defeat to PAOK in their final game before the Premier League season gets underway.

Harry Redknapp's newly promoted side begin their campaign against Hull City on August 16, and rounded off preparations for their return to the top flight in disappointing fashion on Saturday.QPR bossed the vast majority of the first half at Loftus Road, but it was a different story after the break as their Greek opponents took charge.

And veteran defender Hill was the man who gave the visitors the win when he turned Facundo Pereyra's cross past Robert Green after 67 minutes.QPR began the game brightly, with debutant Jordon Mutch, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Charlie Austin linking up well.

Mutch had the hosts' first real effort on goal after five minutes, turning a PAOK defender before firing wide.Wright-Phillips was clearly in the mood, wreaking havoc down QPR's right wing, and he drilled wide just after the half-hour mark before feeding Austin in the area, only for the former Burnley man to be crowded out.

PAOK turned the tide after the interval, though, and QPR first needed Green and then the woodwork to keep Stefanos Athanasiadis from putting the visitors ahead early in the second half. But PAOK did not have to wait long to go in front, as Hill inadvertently diverted Pereyra's centre past his own keeper.

Karl Henry and Austin went closest to equalising for Redknapp's men, but PAOK held firm.

 

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West Ham 3-2 Sampdoria: Teenager Burke's late show seals Irons win

Reece Burke scored a late winner as West Ham's pre-season campaign drew to a close with a 3-2 victory over Sampdoria at Upton Park.

The 17-year-old tapped home in the 90th minute on Saturday after good work from Elliot Lee to ensure Sam Allardyce's men recorded their second close-season success.

West Ham twice came from behind before substitute Burke's late heroics, Mark Noble and Mohamed Diame cancelling out goals from Stefano Okaka and Eder.

The home side had the best of the opening stages and Nolan forced a good save from Sampdoria goalkeeper Angelo da Costa in the third minute.

Nolan pounced on a poor clearance and produced an acrobatic overhead kick that Da Costa did well to keep out.

But it was the Serie A side who broke the deadlock in the 16th minute when Eder played in former Fulham loanee Okaka, who did well to hold off defender James Collins and slot past Adrian.

The Premier League side hit back from the penalty spot right on the stroke of half-time after Lorenzo De Silvestri tripped Dan Potts, with Noble making no mistake from 12 yards.

Sampdoria retook the lead on the hour mark when Brazilian Eder excellently created space between West Ham defenders Collins and James Tomkins and stroked the ball into the net.

But West Ham equalised again in the 77th minute when Diame ran past two Sampdoria defenders and finished confidently past Da Costa.

Allardyce's side could have taken the lead two minutes later when Stewart Downing's header from a Ricardo Vaz Te cross rebounded off the bar, but it was Burke's late finish that secured the win for West Ham.

 

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Aston Villa 0-0 Parma: Vlaar returns to action in stalemate

Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar made his return to club action as Paul Lambert's men were held to a 0-0 draw by Parma.

The Netherlands international has been strongly linked with a move away from Villa Park after starring in his country's run to the World Cup semi-finals.

But he helped the Premier League club to a clean sheet as they rounded off their preparations for the new season, which gets underway next week.

Serie A side Parma provided Villa with a stern test, and both teams created their fair share of chances to win the game, particularly in the first half.

Parma generally looked the more dangerous before the break and they went close early on when Jonathan Biabiany found space in the penalty area, only to skew his shot wide.

Andreas Weimann almost put Villa ahead with 11 minutes on the clock, but the Austrian saw his stinging drive well-saved by Antonio Mirante.

Brad Guzan was then forced into a save from the lively Biabiany, before Raffaele Palladino hit a shot into the side-netting shortly after.

Lambert introduced Vlaar at half-time, and that change seemed to stabilise Villa's defence and give them more confidence going forward.

New signing Kieran Richardson nearly netted in style as he struck a 30-yard volley just over the crossbar after an hour, while Gabriel Agbonlahor missed the target from close range late on to ensure the match finished goalless.

 

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Everton striker Lukaku could miss Premier League kick-off

Everton manager Roberto Martinez says Romelu Lukaku's World Cup exertions could rule him out of the club's Premier League opener.The Belgium international joined Everton from Chelsea in a club-record €35 million deal in July after a successful loan spell on Merseyside last season.However, Martinez is wary of risking the 21-year-old against Leicester City next Saturday following his World Cup exertions in Brazil.

"When you have players coming back from the World Cup you have to decide if you want the players straight away or do you give them a bit of time to refresh and be ready to play for 10 months?" the Everton boss told reporters.

"It will only be Kevin Mirallas and Rom who might not start the season. For Romelu, it will depend on how he adapts to work from now until August 16.
"There is a degree of risk if you put them into a situation so early. They've been training really well and are accumulating a lot of work."

Martinez is willing to dip into the transfer market again following the arrivals of Lukaku, Muhamed Besic and Gareth Barry, but stressed that Everton's remaining business will depend on the fitness of Arouna Kone and Bryan Oviedo - both of whom are recovering from long-term injuries."Towards the end of last season I said we needed six more players, but it wasn't six new players, it was six players," Martinez added.

"We have added Barry, Lukaku and Besic and we also have Tony Hibbert who re-signed."We still need one or two, depending on how quickly Arouna Kone and Bryan Oviedo recover from their injuries."

 

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SC Paderborn 3-1 Everton: Toffees complete winless pre-season

Everton's poor pre-season form continued as they ended their Premier League preparations winless courtesy of a 3-1 defeat to Paderborn.

Roberto Martinez's side, who were without Romelu Lukaku, struggled to produce any consistent attacking threat in Germany and were subjected to a third defeat in five warm-up games as Paderborn punished some poor second-half defending.

Everton took the lead early in the game through young striker Chris Long, but things went downhill from there as the Premier League side crumbled to a second successive 3-1 defeat, having lost by the same scoreline to Celta Vigo on Wednesday.

Long's strike came after just 12 minutes as the 19-year-old received a pass from Leighton Baines, spun away from his marker and lashed the ball into the top corner.

Everton would have hoped to build on that good start but were only ahead for a minute as Paderborn equalised from the penalty spot.

Moritz Stoppelkamp made no mistake from 12 yards after Tim Howard was adjudged to have felled striker Stefan Kutschke on the edge of the area.

After going in level at the break, Everton went close to taking the lead again through a Baines free-kick.

Yet substitute Marvin Ducksch duly put Paderborn ahead for the first time in the 68th minute, albeit with a touch of fortune.

Marc Vucinovic created an opening for a shot on the edge of the penalty area but skewed his effort onto the head of Duksch, who converted via the crossbar at the back post.

With 15 minutes to go the game was over as Howard parried Mahir Saglik's effort into the path of Daniel Bruckner, allowing the latter to convert from 10 yards.

Martinez will now aim to lift his troops ahead of Everton's opening Premier League fixture at newly promoted Leicester City on August 16.

 

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Martinez: Everton must be stronger against European sides

Roberto Martinez believes Everton will have to get stronger if they are to compete in Europe this season.

The Premier League side's 3-1 loss to Bundesliga new boys Paderborn means they ended their pre-season fixtures without a win.

However, Martinez believes the trip to Germany will prove a positive experience ahead of the Toffees' participation in the Europa League this term.

"We wanted to have a trial of what we will experience when we go away in Europe and it was exactly that," the Spaniard told Everton's official website.

"The game served its purpose and we know exactly what to expect now. We need to be strong and not give soft goals away."

Martinez went on to say he is eagerly anticipating the start of the new Premier League season, with his team travelling to newly promoted Leicester City on August 16.

"It's going to be a really good week now getting ready for Leicester, which is another challenge again," he added.

"We're looking forward to it and getting back to playing league football."

 

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Official: Barcelona sign Vermaelen from Arsenal

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has completed a €19 million move to Barcelona, the Catalan club confirmed on Saturday.

The centre-back agreed to join Luis Enrique's side late last week after rejecting the overtures of Manchester United in favour of a summer switch to Camp Nou. The Belgium international flew in to Barcelona on Saturday morning for his medical ahead of the transfer, which will cost the Catalans an initial €15m and an additional €4m in extras.

"FC Barcelona and Arsenal FC have reached an agreement for the transfer of the Belgian player, who will sign for the next five seasons," the club revealed on their website.

Arsenal also confirmed the deal on their official site, releasing a statement which read: "Thomas Vermaelen has agreed to join Barcelona in a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee.

"Vermaelen passed his medical in Barcelona on Saturday. His transfer is subject to the completion of the normal regulatory process. Everyone at Arsenal would like to thank Thomas for his contribution during his time at the club and wish him well for the future."

The 28-year-old has been blighted by injuries over the last few seasons and was given a thorough, two-part examination by Barca at the Hospital de Barcelona and later at the Clinica de la Creu Blanca on Saturday morning.

However, the former Ajax player came through the tests without any problems and is the second centre-back to join the Catalan club this summer, after Jeremy Mathieu arrived from Valencia in a €20m deal last month.

The defender, who becomes the third Arsenal captain to join Barca in seven years (after Thierry Henry in 2007 and Cesc Fabregas in 2011), will be unveiled at Camp Nou on Sunday.

 

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Congratulations & Good Luck Vermaelen!​

 

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Official: Barcelona sign Vermaelen from Arsenal

Congratz Vermaelen..

 

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SC Paderborn 3-1 Everton: Toffees complete winless pre-season

Everton's poor pre-season form continued as they ended their Premier League preparations winless courtesy of a 3-1 defeat to Paderborn.

Roberto Martinez's side, who were without Romelu Lukaku, struggled to produce any consistent attacking threat in Germany and were subjected to a third defeat in five warm-up games as Paderborn punished some poor second-half defending.

Everton took the lead early in the game through young striker Chris Long, but things went downhill from there as the Premier League side crumbled to a second successive 3-1 defeat, having lost by the same scoreline to Celta Vigo on Wednesday.

Long's strike came after just 12 minutes as the 19-year-old received a pass from Leighton Baines, spun away from his marker and lashed the ball into the top corner.

Everton would have hoped to build on that good start but were only ahead for a minute as Paderborn equalised from the penalty spot.

Moritz Stoppelkamp made no mistake from 12 yards after Tim Howard was adjudged to have felled striker Stefan Kutschke on the edge of the area.

After going in level at the break, Everton went close to taking the lead again through a Baines free-kick.

Yet substitute Marvin Ducksch duly put Paderborn ahead for the first time in the 68th minute, albeit with a touch of fortune.

Marc Vucinovic created an opening for a shot on the edge of the penalty area but skewed his effort onto the head of Duksch, who converted via the crossbar at the back post.

With 15 minutes to go the game was over as Howard parried Mahir Saglik's effort into the path of Daniel Bruckner, allowing the latter to convert from 10 yards.

Martinez will now aim to lift his troops ahead of Everton's opening Premier League fixture at newly promoted Leicester City on August 16.

Everton Lost

 

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Inzaghi: Diego Lopez an important signing for AC Milan

AC Milan coach Pippo Inzaghi has hailed the imminent arrival of Diego Lopez at San Siro.

The goalkeeper has been deemed surplus to requirements at Real Madrid following the signing of Keylor Navas from Levante and is now poised to join the Rossoneri, having agreed personal terms with the Serie A side.

Lopez will undergo a medical in Milan on Monday before putting pen to paper on a four-year contract and Inzaghi is looking forward to working with the 32-year-old shot-stopper.

"The arrival of Diego Lopez is very important," the Rossoneri boss told reporters. "He's an experienced goalkeeper. He is going to improve our team."

Milan are also hoping to sign Adel Taarabt on a permanent basis, with the QPR-owned attacking having spent the second half of last season on loan at San Siro.

However, Inzaghi refused to be drawn on whether an agreement is close, saying nothing other than: "Will Taarabt be my gift for Ferragosto (an Italian holiday on August 15)? Let's see."

Although it appears as if the former Milan striker's squad looks set to be strengthened before the start of the Serie A season at the end of the month, Inzaghi is remaining grounded.

"I'm very happy," he stated. "Milan are doing things better. I want to do well together with the team.

"But only the field will tell us how well we can do. We must work hard and be ready for August 31."

Milan, who finished eighth in Serie A last season, kick off their campaign against Lazio at the Giuseppe Meazza.

 

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Ancelotti: Real can retain Champions League title

Carlo Ancelotti believes the confidence generated by Real Madrid's Champions League win can propel them to retaining the title this season.

No team has ever defended the Champions League since the competition was revamped in the early 1990s, with AC Milan the last club to win back-to-back European Cups in 1989 and 1990.

In what could turn out to be a quirky twist of fate, Ancelotti was part of that Milan side and is now aiming to create history in charge of Real, who defeated city rivals Atletico Madrid 4-1 in the Lisbon showpiece in May. "No team has defended the title in history," Ancelotti told the club's official website."We know it will be very difficult.

"Our starting point resides in the fact that the team is more confident in itself. It is more confident now thanks to recent success."I think that gives us something extra for this season's Champions League."

Real's 2014-15 campaign gets under way with a Super Cup showdown against Europa League holders Sevilla in Cardiff on Tuesday. It has been a busy close-season at Sevilla, with captain Ivan Rakitic leaving for Barcelona and a raft of new signings arriving.On Sevilla, Ancelotti added: "The team had a good season.

"It won the Europa League with a group of players who worked well as a team and they deserved to win the title."Sevilla has changed a bit this year.

"In some ways it is an unknown side at the moment because they have lost some important players and others have arrived. We'll see what happens."