..::Football III::..

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Tottenham deny De Boer approach

Tottenham have issued a statement denying that they have made contact with other clubs regarding the appointment of a new manager.

Spurs are set to axe current head coach Tim Sherwood at the end of the season and Ajax boss Frank de Boer has claimed that the Eredivisie champions had been contacted by Spurs over the soon-to-be-vacant post.

The 43-year-old, who has led the Amsterdammers to four successive league titles, said on Tuesday that he would "listen to [Spurs'] offer" before reiterating his desire to evaluate his options this summer.

But the White Hart Lane outfit have distanced themselves from the Dutch coach's comments and insist that they have made no moves to find a replacement for Sherwood.

A statement on the club's official website read: "Reports that we have made approaches to other clubs regarding coaching staff are wholly inaccurate. We have NOT contacted any club regarding coaching appointments."

Sherwood took over from Andre Villas-Boas in December and has overseen the best points-per-game ratio of any Tottenham manager in the Premier League era.

But that record will not save him from the chop, with Tottenham poised to approach Southampton's Mauricio Pochettino after missing out on Louis van Gaal to Manchester United.

De Boer, meanwhile, also appears open to joining the north Londoners, labelling the club a "sleeping giant" - though his overtures have prompted a curt statement from Tottenham.

 

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Inter keen to sign Hamsik, confirms Thohir

Inter president Erick Thohir has admitted that he would like to bring in Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik in the summer transfer window.

The Giuseppe Meazza side are keen to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2014-15 campaign and have been linked with a host of players, including Fernando Torres, Edin Dzeko and Alvaro Morata.

Hamsik is also believed to be a target for the Nerazzurri and Thohir has now acknowledged that he is keen to lure the Slovakia international away from his current club."We will have a good transfer campaign and we will sign two great players," Thohir told reporters.

"I would like Hamsik at Inter, but I also like some of the other names that have been mentioned in the press. They could all add something to Inter."I will not confirm anything until a deal is completed. The objective is to build a balanced team that is able to compete and can do well."

Hamsik, 26, has a contract with Napoli until the summer of 2018. He has netted six goals in 26 Serie A appearances for Rafa Benitez's men this season.

 

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Chelsea 1-3 Atletico Madrid (Agg 1-3): Mourinho's men outclassed in semi-final defeat

Chelsea crashed out of the Champions League after a humbling 3-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening, with Diego Simeone's side setting up a mouth-watering final against city rivals Real Madrid in Lisbon on May 24.

The visitors came from behind to reach their first final in Europe's premier club competition for 40 years and keep alive their hopes of a Champions League and La Liga double.

A cagey first leg of the semi-final tie last week finished goalless, but former Atletico captain Fernando Torres put Chelsea in front on Wednesday - and was emotional as his team-mates celebrated - against his boyhood club, only for Adrian Lopez to equalise just before half-time.

Atletico took that momentum into the second half and Diego Costa - a reported Chelsea target - put them in front from the penalty spot with his 36th goal of the season after substitute Samuel Eto'o brought him down in his first involvement in the game.

And Arda Turan sealed Atletico's progress into what will be a first final - to be held on May 24 at Estadio da Luz - in the competition between two sides from the same city and ensure Jose Mourinho misses out on a showdown with his former club.The Portuguese's wait to become the first manager to win the famous trophy for three different clubs goes on, and he will have to hope his side win the Premier League to avoid a trophyless first season back in London.

Mourinho was able to name fit-again captain John Terry (ankle) and Eden Hazard (calf) in his starting line-up, while former Chelsea midfielder Tiago replaced the suspended Gabi and also skippered the Atletico side.

Koke's cross-shot almost caught Mark Schwarzer out in the early exchanges, though Chelsea replied through David Luiz's audacious overhead kick, which flew narrowly wide.

The breakthrough finally came nine minutes before half-time as Willian displayed fine close control on the right before Cesar Azpilicueta cut the ball back for the onrushing Torres and his right-foot strike found the net via a slight deflection.
Torres refused to celebrate out of respect for his former club, but Atletico were euphoric a minute before half-time when Adrian capitalised on some hesitant defending to equalise with a scuffed right-foot effort from Juanfran’s cross.

The Spanish side had the bit between their teeth early in the second half and Terry was relieved to see Schwarzer thwart Turan with a fine reflex save following some poor defending from the centre-back.

Terry was next to go close at the other end, but Thibaut Courtois' razor-sharp reflexes denied his parent club.

Mourinho replaced Ashley Cole with Eto'o nine minutes before the break - and he must have been ruing that decision soon after when the Cameroon striker upended Costa and referee Nicola Rizzoli awarded a penalty.

Costa was booked for time wasting as he struggled to get the ball to stay on the spot, but held his nerve to fire the ball into the roof of the net as Schwarzer dived the wrong way.

There was no let-up in the action and Luiz got on the end of Willian's inviting free-kick with a powerful header which struck the crossbar - Courtois somehow diverting the rebound over.But any hopes of a Chelsea fightback were ended by Turan, who calmly tucked the ball into an empty net when the ball came back nicely for him after Schwarzer had tipped his powerful header against the bar 18 minutes from time.

Both Atletico and Real could enter the final as Spanish champions. Simeone's side will be seeking a first top European crown, with their local rivals out to clinch La Decima.

 

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UEFA Europa League Semi-Finals 2nd Leg Fixtures 2014.05.01

UEFA Europa League Semi-Finals 2nd Leg Fixtures 2014.05.01

{AGG}
{0-2}

Valencia Vs Sevilla

{AGG}
{1-2}

Juventus Vs Benfica

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Los Blancos vs Roji blancos

 

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Van Persie hopeful of Manchester United return against Sunderland

Manchester United forward Robin van Persie could be included on the bench against Sunderland on Saturday.

The Netherlands international has not featured since scoring a hat-trick against Olympiakos in the Champions League quarter-finals on March 19, having been stretchered off late in that game with a knee injury.

He returned to training with the Red Devils on Friday and has been performing well at Carrington since then, leaving him optimistic of an appearance against Gus Poyet's men.

Van Persie had initially been expected to miss the rest of the season, with his participation in the summer's World Cup in doubt, but his quick return will be a major boost to both United and the Netherlands.

His national coach, Louis van Gaal, is soon to be announced as the next Red Devils manager, a development which has boosted the striker, as the pair share an agent, Kees Vos, and a good working relationship.

 

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Roberto Martinez: We're not out to do Liverpool a favour

Everton boss Roberto Martinez has rejected suggestions that his side would either deliberately help or hinder Liverpool's title bid when they face the Reds' title rivals Manchester City on Saturday.

Recent reports have suggested that many Toffees supporters would be happy to lose against Manuel Pellegrini's men if it meant that their Merseyside rivals failed in their quest to win a first league title in 24 years.

But Martinez has dismissed the idea that his players would be influenced to do anything over than try and beat City – especially as they still have a slim chance of qualifying for the Champions League themselves.

"The relationship between the two clubs in the city, over many, many years, has had incredible chapters and this would be another fascinating chapter," said the Spaniard at his pre-match press conference.

"But I don't think there is any doubt about the integrity of our football club towards the league and towards the competition. We are a football club that wants to win every single game we go in to and we are looking at ourselves. They are precious points for us so we can't really afford not to give everything we've got for every point we've got left at this period.

"But helping other teams? That's not the way we do our work. We're just focusing on trying to win for ourselves and have real high standards in every game that we go into and represent our football club.

"We would never contemplate giving anything other than our best. We're not coming out to do any one a favour. We have our own pride."

The former Wigan boss also revealed that he is optimistic over Phil Jagielka's chances of being included in the matchday squad for Saturday's game, while Sylvain Distin could also be ready to return.

 

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Ancelotti: Champions League final will be tight

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says Atletico Madrid deservedly beat Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals and is anticipating a closely-fought encounter against their city rivals in the final at the end of the month.

Madrid secured their spot in the final with a 5-0 aggregate victory over holders Bayern Munich, while La Liga leaders Atleti duly followed suit by defeating Chelsea 3-1 over two legs and Ancelotti expects a tight encounter on May 24.
"Everyone in Madrid is happy and there are no favourites for the final," he told Sky Italia.

"Atletico deserve to be there, they were simply better [than Chelsea]."Anyone who has been to a final knows there are no favourites. It will be a close game."

Ancelotti also insisted that he is relishing the prospect of a derby encounter, and is looking forward to the challenge of ending Madrid's long wait for Champions League success.

"I'm excited. I live in a world where you get to enjoy these positive moments. It's a great success getting to the Champions League final with Madrid after 12 years.
"I feel good. It's important because it allows you to see things in the right way. I don't have personal ambitions. I'm working at a club that's perhaps the biggest in the world."

 

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I never doubted Atletico, insists Cerezo

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has insisted that he never had any doubts that his side would reach the Champions League final at the expense of Chelsea.

Diego Simeone's men fell 1-0 behind after 36 minutes of play when Fernando Torres found the net against his former team, but Adrian, Diego Costa and Arda Turan eventually helped Atleti to a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge after drawing the first leg 0-0.

"It's been 40 years since this last happened and on May 24 we're going to be there, ready and raring to go," Cerezo was quoted as saying by Marca."I did not worry when Chelsea scored the first goal, because I was certain we were going to go through.

"I knew we were going to turn it around and that we would qualify."Atletico resume La Liga action on Sunday when they take on Levante as they continue their quest for their first domestic title since 1995-96.

They currently hold a four-point lead over second-placed Barcelona with three games to go, while arch-rivals Real Madrid sit third on six points with a game in hand.

 

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Mourinho laments 'so many problems' for Chelsea

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho lamented his side's injuries and tiredness after their loss to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

The Blues suffered a come-from-behind 3-1 loss at Stamford Bridge, which saw them bow out of the Champions League semi-finals by the same score on aggregate.

Mourinho praised his players for trying their best to be fit for the match but feels that there were too many problems for Chelsea to overcome.

"I said [on Tuesday] my players were ready and they wanted to be ready because they wanted to play, they wanted to help, because they know the situation where we were so close to the final but at the same time with so many problems," he told reporters after the game.

"So every one of my players tried the maximum and [Samuel] Eto'o was here almost without a training session. Oscar was on the bench and he was injured.

"We had so many problems but the players gave everything and I am happy with them. They can go home sad but with a clean face.

"They did their work, they lost the game but they lost against a very good team."

 

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Hazard: Chelsea are not made to play football

Eden Hazard admitted Chelsea are "not made to play football" following Wednesday's exit from the Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid.

Jose Mourinho's men took the lead through Fernando Torres but goals from Adrian Lopez, Diego Costa and Arda Turan saw the Rojiblancos set up an all-Madrid final in Lisbon next month.

And after the match, Hazard suggested that chasing the game with Diego Simeone's men defending in numbers was never going to suit his side.

"I don't know what we lacked," the winger told beIN Sport. "After scoring, we had the game in our hands. Maybe they wanted it more than we did... It was an intense game. Beautiful to watch with opportunities.

"I'm sad but logic has been respected bacause they deserveed to qualify.

"Chelea is not made to play football. We're good on the counter, a little bit like Real against Bayern.

"We did it well tonight since we scored. But their goal hurt us before the break. We failed to make the difference in the second half.

"Often, I'm asked to do it all by myself and it's not easy. It was a complicated game. It will be a lesson for us regarding next year."

The comment is likely to raise further questions about the Belgian's long-term future at Stamford Bridge, with reigning Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain avowed admirers of his talents.

Hazard stoked the fire of speculation by donning a PSG shirt for an interview with Canal+ after Chelsea's 3-1 defeat to Laurent Blanc's men at the Parc des Princes earlier this month.

The 23-year-old also admitted in an episode of French documentary series Interieur Sport that he would have to consider a move to the French capital if his wife insisted on it.

 

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Real Madrid have the best squad in Europe - Filipe Luis

Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis believes Real Madrid are the strongest team his side could have expected to meet in the Champions League final.

Adrian Lopez, Diego Costa and Arda Turan were all on target as the Rojiblancos responded to Fernando Torres' opener in sensational style to beat Chelsea 3-1 on Wednesday and seal their spot in next month's tournament decider in Lisbon.
They will now meet city rivals Madrid, who despatched Bayern Munich 5-0 on aggregate in the other semi-final, and Luis says Carlo Ancelotti's side represent the sternest test possible - but insists that Diego Simeone's side will relish the challenge.

"The team has been learning how to stand up to challenges throughout the season," he was quoted as saying by Uefa.com. "Our fans here helped us all the way. You could also see how united we all were out on the field."We are still left with so many important games to go and we want to win them all. I think that we are facing the best team we could have done in Real Madrid. They have the best squad in Europe."

The final will take place at the Estadio da Luz on May 24.

 

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Barcelona will listen to offers for Fabregas

Barcelona will listen to offers for Cesc Fabregas this summer, Goal understands.
The Barca academy graduate is at a crossroads in his career and enters the final two years of his contract with the Catalan club in July.Fabregas was jeered by home supporters during Barcelona’s recent 2-1 home victory over Athletic Bilbao and has become a scapegoat for fans during some troubled times for the club on and off the pitch.

Goal has learned the Spanish giants are now open to the possibility of selling the versatile midfielder, who turns 27 on Sunday, at the end of the season.The player himself is also said to be ready to consider the possibility of being lured from the club he returned to in 2011 after controversially leaving for Arsenal as a 16-year-old.

And there is a growing possibility the Spain international could return to the Premier League, where he made his name during eight highly-successful years with the Londoners.The Gunners will explore the possibility of re-signing Fabregas, while he is also on the radar of Manchester United, who are looking to overhaul their midfield this summer.

Both Premier League clubs have been given informal indications that Fabregas could be available, although the player’s lengthy association with Barcelona and the politics involved with him leaving make a move extremely delicate.

United tabled two bids for Fabregas last summer, when former manager David Moyes made no attempt to hide the club’s attempt to prise him from Camp Nou.
Arsenal also explored utilising the first-option clause inserted in Fabregas’ Barca contract, with Arsene Wenger understood to have talked on the phone “quite a bit” with his former skipper about returning to the club where he blossomed into one of Europe’s outstanding young midfielders.

Arsenal have a fixed price on Fabregas' buy-back clause, believed to be €29 million (£23.8m), and, should another club make a concrete offer for the midfielder, Barca would be obliged to inform the Londoners, who would then be given first refusal.Only Sergio Busquets (43) has started more than Fabregas’ 42 matches this season and his tally of 14 assists is the best at the club, while he has also weighed in with 13 goals.

However, Fabregas has often found himself on the bench for the marquee matches during the last three seasons or substituted when he starts the key games.
Even though Xavi is 34 and Andres Iniesta turns 30 next month, Barca are ready to consider the possibility of Fabregas leaving as they step up plans to add more pace to their midfield.

Barcelona were eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the Champions League, lost the Copa del Rey final to Real Madrid and currently sit second in La Liga, four points behind leaders Atletico with three matches remaining.

 

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Fab wa ganna hoda chance 1kak ayeth awith wageFab EPL enawanam matanam hithenne Arsenal or Manchester United thamai​

 

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Juventus 0-0 Benfica (Agg 1-2): Ten-man Eagles hold out to reach second successive final

Benfica reached their second Europa League final in two years after a 0-0 draw away to Juventus in the second leg secured a 2-1 aggregate win.

The Italian champions needed just a goal to book their place in the final on home turf but were frustrated by a resolute Benfica defence, with Enzo Perez's red card for two bookings not enough to change their fortunes.

Dani Osvaldo had the ball in the net in the final 10 minutes but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside as Jorge Jesus' men, beaten finalists against Chelsea last year, were able to shut out Juve to book their place in the final, which will be held at the same venue on May 14.

Maxi Pereira was needed to shrug Paul Pogba off the ball inside the area after seven minutes, prior to Jan Oblak tipping a strike from Pirlo over the crossbar.
Oblak had returned to Benfica's team in place of Artur and the goalkeeper was given a scare by Vidal soon after. The Chilean, who shook off a knee injury to make Juventus' starting line-up, came close to opening the scoring, only for his lobbed effort to nestle on the roof of the net.The visitors looked lively on the break but failed to test Gianluigi Buffon, while Tevez volleyed over at the other end before the half-hour mark.

Vidal then threatened with two headers, the second of which was cleared off the line by Luisao as Benfica retained their slender advantage heading into the interval.
Rodrigo fired over the first effort of the second half for the visitors before Pirlo's free kick forced Oblak into another smart save.

What could have been the turning point came 67 minutes in when Perez was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Vidal, yet Benfica held firm.
Stephan Lichtsteiner's control let him down when he evaded the Benfica backline and Osvaldo looked to have scored, only for the strike to be ruled out for offside following Pogba's cut-back, before tempers flared on the touchlines.Unused Juve substitute Vucinic and Lazar Markovic, who had just been taken off by Benfica, were both sent off following a scuffle in the dugout.

Markovic and Perez are therefore set to miss the final against Sevilla, while Eduardo Salvio will also be suspended after picking up a harsh late booking for handball.

Benfica also lost defender Ezequiel Garay late on after he was caught in the head accidentally by a falling Pogba's boot, but the Portuguese champions held firm to seal their third cup final of the season and a shot at redemption after last year's disappointment in Amsterdam.

 

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Juventus semi-final kala nehmama hithuwe Juventus la meh season 1ke Europa League Champions la wei kiyala

 

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Valencia 3-1 Sevilla (Agg 3-3): Mbia stoppage-time strike stuns Mestalla

Sevilla scored in the fourth minute of stoppage-time to cancel Valencia's comeback and reach the Europa League final in the most dramatic fashion on Thursday with a 3-3 away goal victory on aggregate.Unai Emery's men headed into the Mestalla tie with a 2-0 advantage, but a Sofiane Feghouli strike from close-range quickly put los Che in the driving seat.

Bernat's inch-perfect cross was met by Jonas' head not long afterwards in the first half and the attacker's effort ricocheted in off Rojiblancos goalkeeper Beto's back to level the aggregate scoreline. The visitors clung on until the 70th minute, when Jeremy Mathieu sent the home fans delirious by knocking the hosts into the lead.
However, Juan Antonio Pizzi's men were punished for taking their foot off the gas as Sevilla threw every man forwardand Stephane Mbia, who scored in the 2-0 first-leg win, rose highest at the near post to finish past goalkeeper Diego Alves after Coke's long throw was flicked on by Federico Fazio.Sevilla will have been well aware of Valencia's never-say-die attitude after los Che overturned a 3-0 deficit to emerge as 5-3 victors in their quarter-final tie with Basel.

The hosts were without the suspended Paco Alcacer - scorer of a hat-trick in his side's sensational win against Basel last month - but Valencia still started brightly, with Jonas prodding an effort at Beto in the first two minutes.

Carlos Bacca scored the second in last week's first leg and he had a great chance to open the scoring this time around, only to skew wide of the target in the eighth minute.

It was the home side who would take the early lead, though, as Feghouli exchanged passes with Eduardo Vargas before showing great composure to cut inside Fazio and drive home via a slight deflection.

The Algeria international continued to wreak havoc, forcing Beto into a save after battling his way through the visiting defence, and Valencia were level in the tie in the 26th minute.

Bernat whipped in a sublime cross from the left for Jonas to meet with his head, and his powerful effort was tipped onto the woodwork by Beto. The ball then rebounded onto the goalline before eventually crossing the line off the keeper's back to send the Mestalla crowd wild.Jose Antonio Reyes should have restored Sevilla's aggregate advantage nine minutes before the break, but his sliding effort from close range was superbly saved by goalkeeper Alves after Bacca's backheel across the face of goal.

Chances dried up in the second half, with extra-time looking an increasingly likely prospect, but Mathieu had other ideas with 20 minutes remaining - the centre-back reacted quickest when the ball fell loose from a corner, with his smart finish firing Valencia in front.Sevilla applied some late pressure, knowing that just a single goal would prove enough, but chances were at a minimum.

That was until Mbia's telling impact, though, as Sevilla reached the final of Europe's secondary club competition for the first time since 2007, when they lifted the trophy.

 

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Congratzzzzzzz for Sevilla & Benfica

UEFA Europa League Final 1ke Iberian War 1kak thiyenne

Sevilla Vs Benfica

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Valencia exit an injustice, says Pizzi

Valencia were not dealt justice in Thursday's Europa League semi-final exit at the hands of Sevilla, according to coach Juan Antonio Pizzi.

Los Che were 3-1 winners at Mestalla but cruelly bowed out of the competition following Stephane Mbia's 94th-minute goal that saw La Liga rivals Sevilla progress on away goals after the semi-final tie finished 3-3 on aggregate.Despite missing out on their first European final since winning the equivalent Uefa
Cup in 2004, Pizzi had no complaints with the efforts from his players.

"We've given everything we had and there's absolutely no reproach for anything my team has done," the Valencia boss told reporters post-game."We did what we needed to do and more. We deserved to reach the final. Something like this happening won't be the first time and it won't be the last. This is football.

"I'm not going to take anything away from Sevilla, but I think we did enough to deserve being in the final."Justice doesn't always participate in football. But we can rest assured that we're on a road that will bring good things."

Sevilla will face Benfica - who held off Juventus in their last-four clash - in the final of the Europa League on May 14, while Valencia will hope to bounce back when they visit Champions League finalists Real Madrid on Sunday in La Liga.

 

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Valencia lagen pattama comeback 1kak thibbeAth stoppage time away goal 1ka nisa out