..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Young ruled out with shoulder injury

Manchester United winger Ashley Young is set for an extended spell on the sidelines with a shoulder injury, manager David Moyes has confirmed.

The England international was hurt in a collision with Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in United's 2-1 loss at Old Trafford, an incident which left Moyes bemoaning Howard Webb's failure to award a penal

Moyes was unable to put a timescale on Young's return but the 28-year-old will certainly miss Sunday's FA Cup third-round encounter with Swansea City, while Robin van Persie is still unavailable following a thigh injury.

"We've got a few injuries and one is [from] the challenge the keeper made on Ashley Young, which is going to keep him out for a time," Moyes told reporters.

"It's a shoulder injury and we're not sure exactly how long he's going to be out yet. We've got some other injuries as well that we'll just need to look at and see how they are over the next few days.

"Robin's coming on but we'll let you know when he's ready."

Moyes once again reiterated his belief that Young should have had a penalty, but ruled out suggestions video technology should be used to help referee's spot contentious decisions.

He added: "I don't think we're going down the route of video technology, simulation should be one their [referees] allowed to view.

"I wouldn't want videos to come into the game. Goal-line technology is a good situation, it seems to be working well when it's had to work.

"We trust the referees to make the right decisions, like all humans they make wrong ones sometimes. I thought it was the wrong decision against Tottenham, it should have been a penalty."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Young tikak hodata play karagena enakotama injury 1kak

Getwell soon Young!

 

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Santos: Drogba wage too high

Santos president Odilio Rodrigues has revealed the club held talks with Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba before backing out of a potential move because of the player's salary demands.

The former Chelsea striker joined the Istanbul club from Shanghai Shenhua in January last year but has been linked with a move away from Turkey after entering the last six months of his contract.

Reports in Brazil claim Santos offered Drogba a short-term, two-month deal, only for the player to turn down that proposition, with Rodgrigues admitting the move was out of the financial reach of his club.

“Talks happened, but the money is very high,” he told reporters.

“It is a dream of the fans, but Santos has no condition to hire. We would love to [sign Drogba], but there is no possibility.”

The 35-year-old's 18-month deal at the Turk Telekom Arena expires in June, with Drogba reportedly earning €10 million over the course of that contract.

 

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'No, no, no' - Mourinho denies Higuain bid

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has dismissed speculation linking the club with a failed bid for Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain.

The Portuguese had reportedly been considering a January move for the Argentine, who has netted 13 goals for the Naples outfit this season and bagged 48 league goals in three years under Mourinho's stewardship at Real Madrid.

But the Chelsea manager has rubbished the claims and insists the west London club never approached Napoli over a deal, nor are they likely to in the future with the Partenopei unwilling to sell their top scorer.

Asked whether there was any truth in a bid for Higuain, Mourinho told reporters: "No." Has there been any bid? "No." Will there be a bid: "No."

The 50-year-old then added: "Napoli want to win the Scudetto, they want to win the Europa League. I don't believe they're interested in selling Higuain. [He is] a player I know we cannot get."

During the Blues' 3-0 win over Southampton on Wednesday, Juan Mata showed his frustration at being substituted, with Mourinho later implying that he would not stand in the Spaniard's way should he ask to leave Stamford Bridge.

But the former Inter manager believes the playmaker remains committed to the club and is keen to retain his services despite suggesting he could depart in January.

"[Mata trained] in a fantastic way," Mourinho added. "I think he is focused on [when I said] 'I don't want him to leave'."

 

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Three-goal Messi wows 12,000 fans in training return

Lionel Messi signalled his return from a hamstring injury by wowing a crowd of over 12,000 spectators at an open training session held at Barcelona's Minie Estadi on Friday.

The Argentina international has been absent for over two months but marked the occasion with a hat-trick and an assist as his side, which included Neymar and also saw the return of goalkeeper Victor Valdes, lost 5-4 in the inter-squad friendly arranged by coach Gerardo Martino.

Back to his old tricks | Messi beats a defender while Xavi looks on

Two first half goals from the four-time World Player of the Year saw his side reach the interval level at 2-2, before the 26-year-old completed his hat-trick to make it 3-2. After falling 4-3 behind, Messi then turned provider as Andres Iniesta restored parity once more.

Cesc Fabregas would have the last say by netting the decsive ninth goal for the team wearing bibs, but there is no doubt that Messi's homecoming was the main attraction.

On target | The talisman fires in one of three goals in front of 12,000 fans

Even without their star man, Barcelona sit top of La Liga having dropped just five points all season as they prepare for this weekend's match with 14th placed Elche.

However, they only lead Atletico Madrid on goal difference and fans will be delighted at the news of Messi's return as the forward aims to be back for the showdown clash on January 11th.

 

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Mandzukic not interested in Juventus, says agent

Mario Mandzukic's agent has insisted that the Bayern Munich striker is not interested in a move to Juventus this month.

A number of recent reports suggested that the Serie A champions are considering making a move for the Croatia international, but Ivan Cvjetkovic has made it clear that a transfer is not an option for his client at the moment.

"Juventus? Mandzukic is fully focused on Bayern Munich. He has a contract for two more years after this season and he's feeling very good in Munich," the striker's agent told Tuttosport.

"Pep Guardiola really values Mario a lot and has shown just that in the first half of the season.

"Mandzukic wants to stay at Bayern and defend the Champions League title."

The 27-year-old has been an integral part of Bayern's first team this season, scoring 10 goals in 16 Bundesliga appearances as of the winter break.

 

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Lewandowski not a guaranteed starter at Bayern, warns Elber

Former Bayern Munich striker Giovane Elber has warned Robert Lewandowski that he is not guaranteed a starting berth if he opts to leave Borussia Dortmund for the reigning Bundesliga champions.

The Poland international is widely expected to depart BVB for Bayern on a free transfer once his current deal expires at the end of the season, yet Elber has stressed that the 25-year-old could face a tough task to break into the starting XI at the Bavarians.

"A good player always fits in at Bayern, but the question remains how he will play. Bayern already have Mario Mandzukic, who also scores regularly. It remains to be seen where Lewandowski will fit in," Elber told TZ.

"It's always a risk for a striker to join Bayern. It's quite difficult when Pep Guardiola plays without a traditional No.9.

"Then again, Mandzukic also had a difficult start and then started scoring again for Bayern and got his best form back.

"The same thing can happen with Lewandowski."

The Pole has netted 11 goals in 17 Bundesliga appearances so far this term.

 

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Mignolet calls for Liverpool focus ahead of Oldham tie

Simon Mignolet knows Liverpool require a "professional" performance to avoid back-to-back FA Cup upsets against Oldham Athletic.

The seven-time winners were unceremoniously dumped out of the competition in the fourth round at Boundary Park last January, losing 3-2 to the League One side.

And goalkeeper Mignolet, who joined from Sunderland in June, has called for focus as the Reds look to secure a safe passage into the draw for round four.

"For them it is already a cup final," Mignolet told the Liverpool Echo.

"It is already a big game for them to look forward to and they will come here and try to show everyone what they can do at a ground like Anfield. We have to make sure we are professional and do a job."

The Belgium international added: "We want to win any game. That doesn't make any difference whether it is the FA Cup, Capital One Cup or any other games - we try to step on and prepare ourselves and make sure we get out of the game what we can get out of it.

"I would always watch the FA Cup finals growing up in Belgium. It is a very important competition. It is a big opportunity as you can play at Wembley but that is far ahead of us.

"The next game is the most important one and before you get to that stage you have to win a lot of games and against Oldham it won't be an easy game."

 

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I will fight for PSG future - Menez

Jeremy Menez has vowed to stay and fight for his place at Paris Saint-Germain, despite being linked with a move away this month.

The full-back, whose deal at Parc des Princes expires at the end of this season, has started just five of his side's 19 Ligue 1 fixtures so far this term and is reportedly a transfer target for Juventus.However, after putting in an energetic performance as a substitute in PSG's 1-0 friendly defeat to Real Madrid in Qatar on Thursday, Menez suggested he could see out his contract in the French capital.

"I feel good. It's great to be able to play those sorts of games," he is quoted as saying in L'Equipe. "Each time I've been given some playing time, I try to give my all.

"I'm going to try to win myself a place in the team, and work hard to achieve that.
"There may have been some difficult moments, but I say to myself that they will pass. Personally, I have never said that I want to leave."

Menez - capped 24 times by France - joined PSG from Roma in August 2011 and has made 72 league appearances for the club.

 

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Richards, Jovetic and Demichelis near Man City return

Manuel Pellegrini expects to welcome Manchester City trio Stevan Jovetic, Martin Demichelis and Micah Richards back from injury next week.

Striker Jovetic has not featured since October due to a calf injury and then illness, but Pellegrini expects the former Fiorentina man to be back in contention to face Newcastle United a week on Sunday.

Defenders Richards and Demichelis are also closing in on a return after being sidelined with hamstring injuries, but they will not feature against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

City boss Pellegrini is unsure how long leading scorer Sergio Aguero will remain on the sidelines as he recovers from a calf injury.

The Chilean said: "I don't think he [Jovetic] will be back against Blackburn but by next week he will be fit, also Martin Demichelis and Micah Richards, then we will see how many days Sergio Aguero must be out."Out-of-favour striker John Guidetti continues to be linked with a transfer away from the Etihad Stadium and Pellegrini will not stand in the Swede's way if the opportunity to move on arises this month.

He said: "We will see now we are in January. John was not at Swansea because he had a little problem in his knee but we will see in the transfer window if he goes – maybe it's a chance for him to start playing."We have four very important strikers, and John must play after being out for a long time with an injury to his knee."

In-form City have won their last seven games and have not been beaten since the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland almost two months ago.

 

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Arsenal not interested in Berbatov - Wenger


Arsene Wenger denied Arsenal have made a move for Fulham’s Dimitar Berbatov in an effort to solve the club’s striker crisis.

Injuries to Olivier Giroud, Nicklas Bendtner and Yaya Sanogo have left the Premier League leaders without a fully fit senior striker ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup third round tie against north London rivals Tottenham.

Former Manchester United and Tottenham star Berbatov had reportedly been one of the names Wenger had been considered capable of providing cover, but Wenger poured cold water on the idea of the Bulgarian moving to the Emirates Stadium this month.

He said: "[Berbatov] is not a name we have considered at the moment. We have not contacted anybody.

"We are just considering our options. I must confess they are quite restricted."

Despite the Gunners’ busy schedule of late and Wenger’s track record of having rested his key men for domestic cup competitions, the Frenchman insists he will pick his strongest possible line-up for the visit of Spurs who look rejuvenated under the management of Tim Sherwood.

"We want to win the next game, that is vital for us and I would only rest players who could get injured," added Wenger, who could welcome back Mesut Ozil should he pass a fitness test due to take place on Friday.

"In this case I consider this game a top level Premier League game, I have to treat it like that. The FA Cup is an opportunity we want to take, we can give absolutely everything in this game.

"I had the luck to win four FA Cups and I'm keen for us to win it again."

 

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Pogba: I dreamt of playing for Barca or Arsenal

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has revealed that he used to dream of playing for Barcelona or Arsenal, but added that he's happy with life at his current club.

The France international joined the Bianconeri from Manchester United in the summer of 2012 and has since developed into a key player at the Serie A champions.

He has been heavily linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, with the French side confirming earlier this week that they want to sign Pogba at the end of the season, but he's happy to stay under Antonio Conte's tutelage for now.

"I am feeling very well at Juventus, although I cannot deny that I used to dream about playing for Arsenal or Barcelona when I was a child," the 20-year-old told La Repubblica.

"For me, Juventus were all about Zinedine Zidane, David Trezeguet and Pavel Nedved. They had talent, class, discipline and were united as a team."

Pogba then went on to reflect on his decision to leave Manchester United for Juve and revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson advised him not to join the Turin giants due to the racism in Italy.

"I am very grateful to Ferguson. He believed in me, even though I did not play a lot. He told me not to go to Italy. He warned me against racism and thought I wouldn't feel right here.

"As for racism, no country is immune against it. There's racism in England as well. Just look at what happened with John Terry and Luis Suarez."

 

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Casillas a father for the first time

Real Madrid have confirmed that club captain Iker Casillas has become a father for the first time.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper's girlfriend, Sara Carbonero, gave birth to a baby boy, Martin, at the Ruber International Clinic in the Spanish capital on Friday.

The sports journalist was forced to undergo a caesarean section but Casillas was delighted to confirm later in the day that both mother and child were doing well.

"I want to share with you all the most important moment of my life: the birth of my son," he wrote on his own official website.

"After many long months of waiting, Martín is now here. He weighs 3,850 kg and he and his mother are both doing fine and are now resting.

"I'm incredibly happy that this moment has finally arrived and that everything has gone well. Without doubt 2014 has begun on the right foot."

Casillas and Carbonero have been dating since 2009, though they only went public with their relationship before the following summer's World Cup in South Africa.

Carbonero famously interviewed her partner after Spain's final triumph over Netherlands, which ended with the Roja captain planting a celebratory kiss on her lips.

 

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Congratulations Casillas!​

 

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Manchester United send delegation to negotiate for Koke

Manchester United have sent a delegation to Madrid in an effort to thrash out a deal for Atletico star Koke, Goal can reveal.

Manager David Moyes was in the Spanish capital last month to run the rule over the player during the Champions League group stage clash against Porto.

"The club have been monitoring his progress for a number of months and scouts have watched him a handful of times," a source told Goal.

Having identified the 21-year-old as a player capable of adding much needed creativity to his side, Moyes, keen to play a far greater role in United’s transfer dealings this winter, has dispatched three of the club's transfer brokers to Spain with a view to securing the latest gem off the Spanish production line.

Having tried and failed to sign three high-profile targets in the summer - Ander Herrera, Cesc Fabregas and Thiago Alacantara - the Premier League champions are especially keen to avoid a repeat, but coaxing Koke from Vicente Calderon will prove no easy task.
Koke, who only in September expressed his delight at having committed his future to the club until 2018, harbours doubts about leaving a club so well placed in La Liga and the Champions League for one fighting to qualify for the same competition next year.

"I am happy to give more years to Atletico," Koke said back in September. "I am at the team of my life and I cannot ask for more.

"I want to continue working to try bring new success and better achievements than last year. I am very happy."

United, meanwhile, are unwilling to pay a large transfer fee, mindful of the fact they have already been quoted €30 million for long-term target Leighton Baines.

The Old Trafford club have also expressed an interest in Inter's Colombian midfielder Fredy Guarin, but the player is understood to prefer a move to Chelsea.

 

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FA Cup Fixtures 2014.01.04

FA Cup Fixtures 2014.01.04

Blackburn Vs Manchester City
Bournemouth Vs Burton Albion
Aston Villa Vs Sheffield
Barnsley Vs Coventry City
Bolton Vs Blackpool
Brighton Vs Reading
Bristol Vs Watford
Doncaster Vs Stevenage
Everton Vs QPR
Grimsby Vs Huddersfield
Ipswich Vs Preston
Kidderminster Vs Peterborough
Macclesfield Vs Sheffield Wednesday
Middlesborough Vs Hull
Newcastle Vs Cardiff City
Norwich Vs Fulham
Rochdale Vs Leeds
Southampton Vs Burnley
Southend Vs Millwall
Stoke City Vs Leicester
WBA Vs Crystal Palace
Wigan Vs Milton
Yeovil Vs Leyton
Arsenal Vs Tottenham​

 

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La Liga 2014.01.04 Fixtures

La Liga 2014.01.04 Fixtures

Malaga Vs Atletico Madrid
Real Valladoid Vs Real Betis
Valancia Vs Levante
Almeria Vs Granada​

 

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Arsenal not interested in Berbatov - Wenger

Berbatov nam kohomath aran wadak nae

 

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FA Cup Fixtures 2014.01.04


Arsenal Vs Tottenham​

 

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Arsenal 2-0 Tottenham: Cazorla & Rosicky condemn Spurs to derby defeat

Goals from Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky gave Arsenal a convincing 2-0 win over north London rivals Tottenham at the Emirates to send Tim Sherwood's side crashing out of the FA Cup in the third round clash on Saturday.

Spain midfielder Cazorla opened the scoring with a fine left-footed strike in the first half to double his goal tally for the season.

Tottenham have been resurgent under new boss Tim Sherwood, but they were second best on Saturday and Rosicky took advantage of an error from Danny Rose to give Arsenal breathing space in the second half.

The visitors were unable to recreate the performance that saw them beat Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford on New Year's Day as their four-game unbeaten run came to an end.

The Premier League leaders have not won a major trophy since 2005, but victory over their neighbours ensures that they are still in contention for honours on three fronts.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger made four changes to the side that beat Cardiff City, with Lukasz Fabianski, Thomas Vermaelen, Rosicky and Serge Gnabry coming in.

Sherwood, who played in the last FA Cup tie between the two sides at the semi-final stage in 2001, gave a first start to teenage midfielder Nabil Bentaleb as fellow Frenchman Etienne Capoue dropped to the bench.

Denmark international Christian Eriksen had a great chance to open the scoring after only eight minutes, but Fabianski denied him at the near post after the midfielder had raced into the penalty area.

A sell-out crowd generated a lively atmosphere and Theo Walcott, playing as a striker, almost raised the decibels further when his long-range strike was tipped wide by Hugo Lloris 11 minutes in.

Walcott was a constant threat and two minutes later his measured left-footed effort deflected just wide, then Gnabry shot just over the crossbar a few moments later as the game burst into life.

England international Walcott had his first clear-cut chance when he went one-on-one with Lloris after 24 minutes, but the France goalkeeper saved with his feet.

Arsenal looked the more likely to take the lead and they were in front 31 minutes in, when Gnabry picked out Cazorla with an incisive pass and he fired home first time with his left foot from inside the penalty area.

Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor turned sharply in the penalty area early in the second half but lost his footing as he was about to shoot, much to the delight of the home supporters.

Gnabry was a thorn in the side of the Tottenham defenders and the tricky winger picked out Walcott with a clever pass, but the former Southampton man found the side-netting from a tight angle after going around Lloris.

Arsenal were gifted a second goal after 61 minutes though, when Rose was robbed by Rosicky on the halfway line and the Czech Republic midfielder raced clear and beat the advancing Lloris with a composed finish.

Tottenham looked disjointed at the back and Walcott came close to adding a third goal, but he curled a right-footed effort just wide and was then carried off on a stretcher - not looking in too much discomfort after suffering an injury eight minutes from time.

Lloris produced a fine save to deny substitute Mesut Ozil a third goal after 89 minutes, but Arsenal comfortably progressed to the fourth round.