..::Football III::..

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Manchester United delay Van Gaal announcement

Manchester United will delay announcing Louis van Gaal as their new manager until next week at the earliest.

The Premier League giants have agreed terms with the 62-year-old but are to postpone confirmation of his appointment to allow Van Gaal to prepare the Netherlands squad ahead of Saturday’s friendly with Ecuador without any distractions.

Van Gaal is still to determine the make-up of his backroom staff, but wants to work with interim boss Ryan Giggs, with Netherlands assistant Patrick Kluivert understood to have decided against moving to England.

Giggs has filled in as player-manager since the April sacking of David Moyes and Van Gaal sees the United legend as a useful asset, along with former goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who could return the club in a coaching capacity.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss is expected to oversee an overhaul of the United squad upon his arrival, with the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic already having left and Patrice Evra, who is a target for Juventus, unlikely to extend his Old Trafford career.

Van Gaal has already outlined his summer targets, with Luke Shaw - already the subject of a £27 million bid - joining the likes of Mat Hummels, Kevin Strootman and Edison Cavani on the Dutchman's wishlist.

 

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Falcao: I want Atletico to win the Champions League

Radamel Falcao hopes Atletico Madrid win the Champions League later this month - even if that means upsetting his friend Cristiano Ronaldo.

Falcao, who left Atletico after two seasons in Spain to join Monaco last summer, is sidelined after suffering a serious knee injury in January, but will be an interested spectator as the Rojiblancos meet Real Madrid in the European showpiece in Lisbon on May 24.

"The two teams are even and have the same chances of winning the final," the Colombian told Goal at a launch event for the new PUMA Tricks boot. "It will be a great game. There was already a derby last year in the Copa del Rey final and Atletico won.

"That shows that finals are different. I would like Atletico to win, of course. I have a great fondness for the club, for everything I experienced there, for my team-mates – and I will be supporting them.

"Cristiano knows what Atletico means to me. But I haven’t spoken about the final with him."

Despite his injury, Falcao was named in Colombia's provisional squad for the World Cup by coach Jose Pekerman and says he is hopeful of being fit in time to play a part in the competition next month.

"I feel really good," he said. "I’m progressing very quickly – and I’m really happy about that. In the next few weeks we’ll see what shape I’m in and we’ll make a definitive decision on whether it’s convenient or not for me to go to the World Cup.

"The World Cup is my engine and what keeps me going every day in my recovery. It has been one of my objectives this whole time.

"With the coach we have spoken about everything, but he has been very prudent as well in order to avoid putting me under pressure. He has said all along that the most important thing is the player’s health. Everything else comes after that.

"They are situations he knows how to control and he will make the decision when the moment arrives. It will all depend on how I am physically."

 

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Thiago ruled out of World Cup due to knee injury

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque will have to make do without the services of Thiago Alcantara at this summer's World Cup as the Bayern Munich midfielder has suffered a knee injury.

The 23-year-old recently resumed regular training action after a brief spell on the sidelines due to another knee problem and was expected to make his comeback in this weekend's DFB Pokal final against Borussia Dortmund.

However, reports emerged on Wednesday that Thiago had suffered another setback and Bayern have now confirmed that the former Barcelona man has ruptured a ligament, ruling him out of the finals in Brazil.

"This is a bitter blow for Thiago and we feel really sorry for him," Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stated.

"He's a young guy who has been working hard to be fit for the World Cup in the country where he was born and now all of a sudden that dream is over.

"We will look after him in the next few weeks and do everything within our power to make sure he is ready for the start of the new season."

Thiago was set to make his first appearance at a major tournament at this summer's World Cup after he was included in the 30-man provisional squad that Del Bosque announced earlier this week.

He was ruled out of both Euro 2012 and the 2012 Olympics due to injury, though he did play a starring role in the European Under-21 championship last year, where he scored a hat-trick in the final win over Italy.

 

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Get Well Soon Thiago!​

 

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Shaw stunned by England call-up for World Cup

Southampton star Luke Shaw says he was is still in disbelief after being named in England's squad for the World Cup.

The 18-year-old left-back has just one cap for England so far, and said he knew of Roy Hodgson's snub to Ashley Cole - which was revealed on Sunday - but insists he believed he would only be on the standby list until he saw the announcement of the 23 the following day.

"I seriously can't believe it still," Shaw told reporters.

"When I found out Ashley Cole wasn't going I had that thought it could be me going but I didn't want to over-think saying 'I am definitely going' because I didn't receive anything that night.

"I thought everyone was getting a phone call on Sunday night and I was speaking with Ads [Adam Lallana] and Lambo [Rickie Lambert] asking if they had got one and once it went past 10pm, none of us had had the call so we thought we were among the seven not going.

"When the squad came out the next afternoon me and my family sat there thinking 'I'm 18 and I'm going to a World Cup'."

Shaw said his hopes were raised throughout the season, with Hodgson present at several Southampton games, but he never took a World Cup spot for granted - and still hasn't yet.

"I am still shocked that I am actually going. You always had that thought in your head that you might be picked because Roy was watching a lot of our games, not just for me of course," he said.

"But I wasn't expecting it. I thought I might be in the 30-man squad so to represent my country at a World Cup when I am only 18 is the best feeling in the world and I want more of it.

"Time flies. A year ago I made my Under-21 debut and now I'm going to a World Cup. Things can happen so fast. I am going to pray I don't get injured so I can be on that plane to Brazil."

 

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Juventus set to make offer for Evra

Juventus are hoping to lure Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra to Turin this summer with the offer of a two-year contract.

The France international, who turns 33 on Thursday, is almost certain to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season with his current deal due to expire.

Italian champions Juventus are set for a busy transfer market as, having just clinched a third straight Scudetto, they are desperate to improve their squad ahead of a Champions League assault.

Uncertainty still surrounds the future of coach Antonio Conte, who has yet to commit to the club as he seeks assurances over big-name purchases this summer, but the signing of a new left-back is a priority regardless of who sits on the bench.

Juve plan to switch from a 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3 system and have earmarked Evra as a bargain signing.

The Frenchman began his professional career in Italy, first with Marsala and then with Monza, and is tempted by a move back to the country.

Serie A outfit Inter are also interested in signing Evra, having already captured team-mate Nemanja Vidic on a Bosman, but Juventus are now pushing ahead of their rivals in the queue.

Discussions have already taken place between Evra's Italian representative Federico Pastorello and Juventus directors,and Goal understands that the results of these talks were positive.

Evra is interested in the Juve project and would be prepared to take a cut to his current €110,000-a-week wages in order to move to Turin.

Evra joined Manchester United in 2006 and has enjoyed a highly-successful spell in England, winning five Premier League titles and a Champions League.

 

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Evra giyoth nam defence thawath weak wenawa so Evra wa thiyagatthoth thamai hoda.​

 

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lewa ge replcement eka Adrian Ramos neda? Hertha Ramos

Adrian Ramos nam end of the season BVB join wenawa bro habai Ciro Immobile ganath kiyanawa

 

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Suarez 'so happy' at Liverpool despite transfer rumours

Luis Suarez underlined his love for Liverpool amid speculation that Real Madrid and Barcelona will compete for his signature this summer.

The Uruguay striker played a key role in an impressive campaign for Brendan Rodgers' men as they were just pipped to the Premier League title by Manchester City, scoring 31 goals and picking up the PFA Player of the Year award in the process.

Suarez signed a new long-term deal in December, but despite reported interest from the Primera Liga giants, the 27-year-old revealed how delighted he was to secure his future at Anfield."I signed the contract because I love it here and I'm so happy here," he told Sky Sports News."If you're not happy here you don't sign any contract.

"Liverpool's team for me is one of the best in the world because nobody here in the dressing room thinks 'I am better than another,' and the people here inside Melwood work very well.

"I love it here and this mentality I like because maybe in some other dressing rooms I am bigger than you and another bigger, it's difficult for the team-mates to play together on the pitch in something like that."

Suarez dismissed reports earlier this week suggesting he would be making a big-money move to Spain for the 2014/15 season, saying: "You know what the press is like, how they speculate, and you try to not take any notice.

"I know what I want. My agent tells me what's there and what's not. It's more speculation than reality."

 

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Criticism of Guardiola ridiculous, says Hargreaves

Former Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves has branded criticism of coach Pep Guardiola's first season at the Allianz Arena "ridiculous".

The Bavarians won the Bundesliga in record time and can complete a domestic double on Saturday when they take on Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal final.

However, club legends such as Franz Beckenbauer and Lothar Matthaus have been critical of their style of play in the Champions League exit to Real Madrid, but Hargreaves believes that their words were unwarranted.

"Guardiola has done a remarkable job, I mean they won the league with two months to spare," he told Goal.

"Bayern Munich have been the best team in Germany by a mile for a long time and he’s come in and broken all the records, so he’s done a remarkable job. It’s a great group of players he inherited.

"They lost two games this season. I think to put a negative pitch on the end of the season would be ridiculous.

"They got beaten by a better side in the Champions League, you’ve got to say, but they won the league and are on course for a double. I’d consider that a pretty successful season.”

Bayern wrapped up the title in March after a five-month winning run in the Bundesliga but their form soon dipped and Hargreaves feels they paid the price for tasting success so early.

"It’s just because of [winning the title]. It’s just that. They wrapped up the league so early and took their foot off the gas. I don’t think they consciously did it.

"The league was done and dusted ahead of schedule and it just takes off that extra edge, that determination I think. They were a little bit complacent and that’s enough in football.

"They were punished at home by Dortmund in the league and they got punished by Real Madrid in the Champions League.”

Dortmund finished the Bundesliga in much stronger form but Hargreaves doesn't feel that Jurgen Klopp's side go into Saturday's Pokal final as favourites.

"Momentum is big in football – you saw that with Liverpool’s run. So, I think with Bayern, when they were on that run and wrapped up the league, at that point momentum faded a little bit.

"It’s a variable in the equation but I don’t think it’s everything. I mean, Bayern Munich are by far the best team in Germany. And with this game especially, it’s a one off and everyone looks forward to it.

"It’s a real special day for the whole club and Bayern will be up for it, so I’m not sure if Dortmund are favourites, but they’ve got a bit more momentum going into it.”

 

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Berbatov signs Monaco extension

Monaco striker Dimitar Berbatov will spend another season at Stade Louis II after signing a one-year contract extension.

The Bulgarian moved to the principality club in January on a short-term deal after leaving Fulham and scored six goals in his 11 Ligue 1 appearances.

And he has done enough to earn a new contract with the Ligue 1 runners-up and is looking forward to the challenge ahead.

"I feel at home here. It's going to be an interesting season," Berbatov told Monaco's official website.

Club vice-president Vadim Vasilyev is delighted to have secured the former Manchester United star's services for another year and believes the veteran showed what he was capable of this term.

"With Monaco, Dimitar showed all of his talent. He is a great player and we are very proud to have him for the next season."

Claudio Ranieri's side, who are assured of a second-placed finish in Ligue 1, round off their season by entertaining Bordeaux at 21:00CET on Saturday.

 

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Liga win would be for Tito - Adriano

Barcelona star Adriano has promised to dedicate the Liga title to Tito Vilanova if his side can overcome Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

The Catalans will retain their Primera Division crown if they beat Diego Simeone's side, who currently lead the table by three points.

Vilanova, who coached Barca to Liga glory last year, passed away in April after losing his battle with cancer and Adriano is eager to pay tribute to his former coach.

"We're going to give our all on the field to dedicate the title to Tito and his family," he is quoted as saying by Sport.

"We 100 per cent want to be champions. We want to have a great game and become champions. That's the only thing we're thinking about.

"We know how strong they are. They've had a great season and deserve to win the league, but we're only thinking about playing our game and enjoying our football.

"We're going to leave everything behind. It's been a long time since La Liga was decided on the final day and we're approaching it like a final."

Atletico and Barca kick off at Camp Nou at 18:00CET on Saturday.

 

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Juventus fans should fear Conte exit - Marotta

Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta has told fans to be worried that coach Antonio Conte could decide to leave the club this summer.

The former Siena boss has won three Serie A titles during his three seasons in Turin and went unbeaten throughout his first season at the club.

However, he hinted recently that he would be open to offers from other clubs and Marotta is concerned that the 44-year-old could move on this summer.

"I think it's the right way to recognise the scope of what Conte has achieved at Juventus," he told reporters.

"As we've said before, Conte is a very well-prepared coach that has had a big say in the results achieved by this club.

"I believe it wise for the fans to worry about him being lured away from Turin."

Conte sat next to Sir Alex Ferguson during the Europa League final on Wednesday and Marotta has joked that the legendary Manchester United manager was giving advice to the Italian.

"Yesterday was a big celebration for football, the final of a very important trophy, it's always a social occasion where you can meet icons of the sport like Alex Ferguson," he added.

"Maybe Conte can get some football wisdom or some advice about his future as a manager."

 

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Martino: This will be Barcelona's first title as terrestrials

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino believes it will be the Catalans' first trophy as "normal human beings" if they beat Atletico Madrid on Saturday to clinch the Liga title.

The Blaugrana are currently trailing leaders Atleti by three points, but a win at Camp Nou at the weekend will see them leapfrog the Vicente Calderon side on their superior head-to-head record and Martino feels Barca showed this season they are only human after impressing with some "extra-terrestrial performances" in the past few years.

"If we win the Primera Division title this season, it will be this team's first win as normal people, a hard-fought title," Martino stated at a press conference.

"The other titles were all won by a team of extra-terrestrials.

"I really want to win the title for the players. It has been a very difficult year for them with everything that has happened.

"Winning La Liga will not change much for me. I will decide what I want to do irrespective of trophies."

The Argentine then went on to reveal that Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Neymar are all match fit again, but added that it will be hard to pick the right starting XI to beat Atleti.

"Neymar, Pique and Alba have worked very hard to return. Now we will see whether they play or not.

"It will not be easy to choose the right starting line-up."

Saturday's match at Camp Nou is scheduled to kick off at 18:00CET.

 

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Guardiola drops Mandzukic for Pokal final

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Mario Mandzukic has been left out of his squad for the DFB-Pokal final with Borussia Dortmund.

The Croatian has played a key role for the Bavarians this season, scoring 26 goals in all competitions for the German champions.

However, he has clashed with the Catalan before - when he was excluded from the team in January - and has been dropped ahead of the Olympiastadion clash, allegedly over a disciplinary issue.

"He would have been able to play. But it is my decision and that's it," the Spaniard told reporters.

Additionally, Bastian Schweinsteiger has been ruled out as he is still nursing knee problems.

The coach said: "He was not able to train this week. Schweinsteiger is injured. I hope he can travel to the World Cup in Brazil. But I am no doctor."

Guardiola went on to say that he is eager to cap his first season in the Bundesliga with further success, having already won the European Super Cup, the Club World Cup and the Bundesliga.

"I'm very proud of what we've achieved so far this season. We're ready to take on Dortmund. I'm really looking forward to this final."

Bayern and Dortmund kick off in Berlin at 20:00CET on Saturday.

 

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Barcelona announce Messi agreement

Barcelona have announced that they have reached an agreement with Lionel Messi over a new and improved contract.

The Catalan club had been in talks with the Argentina international over a renewal for a number of weeks and the forward has now agreed to a new deal worth around €20 million net per season which will make him the highest-paid player in the world.

"FC Barcelona has reached an agreement to adjust the terms in the contract binding Leo Messi to the club as a professional first team player," a short statement said on Friday.

"The revised and updated contract will be signed over the next few days."

The new deal marks a happy ending to a difficult season for Messi, who has missed large chunks of the current campaign through injury and also faced a court case for tax evasion late last year.

The Argentine, who has hit 354 goals in 424 appearances since making his debut for Barca at the age of 17 in 2004, signed improved terms in February last year to earn around €12.5m annually but later saw that deal eclipsed by Cristiano Ronaldo's new contract at Real Madrid.

"It should give peace of mind to him and especially to the club, who can continue to count on the best player in the world," coach Gerardo Martino said on Friday."

Martino is set to leave the Catalan club this summer and will be replaced by Luis Enrique, who is keen to make Messi the cornerstone of his new sporting project at Camp Nou next season.

 

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Congratulations Messi​

 

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Wenger: My Arsenal future doesn't hinge on FA Cup result

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists the result of the FA Cup final will not decide whether he agrees a new contract with the club.

Wenger has stated his intention to stay at the club but has not yet put pen to paper on a new deal, with Saturday's Wembley clash with Hull the perfect chance to end the club's nine-year trophy drought.

The Gunners capitulated at times this season as their Premier League title challenge veered off track but, even if they are beaten by Steve Bruce's side this weekend, Wenger says it will not affect his desire to stay.

"The result of Saturday's FA Cup final will have no influence on my future at Arsenal," he wrote in a blog for Eurosport.

"When I've been part of a club for 18 years, it would be a bit ridiculous to base my decision on one single match, don’t you think?

"Will I be the manager next season? Yes, normally. It’s not completely finalised yet, but it should happen."

The last time Arsenal made it to the final of a cup competition was in 2011 when they were beaten by Birmingham City in the Capital One Cup final.

However, Wenger feels the spirit in the camp currently is something that can help them, adding the quality of sides they have beaten in their run to the final means they deserve to lift the Cup.

"I want the players to win for themselves, for the club, for all the effort they made this year. I think that this group has had an amazing spirit; they have shown great mental qualities during hard times," he added.

"We have won against many big teams to be in the final: Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton.

"So this group deserves to win this final, but they have to make the final step; it’s often the hardest, certainly the most important."

 

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World Cup in Qatar a mistake, admits Blatter

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has acknowledged that the decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar was a mistake.

Qatar beat the likes of USA, South Korea, Japan and Australia to the right to host the tournament, a decision that has been heavily criticised ever since it was confirmed December 2010.

Several high-profile names have voiced their concerns over the high temperatures in Qatar in summer, with a potential winter tournament long earmarked as a necessity to allow the tournament to go ahead, while allegations of bribery emerged within less than a year of Fifa's decision over the 2022 hosts.

Additionally, human rights group Amnesty International has called on Fifa to intervene following a number of reports concerning the treatment of workers in the Gulf nation.

Blatter had previously been adamant that Fifa's decision to grant Qatar the hosting rights was correct, but he has now confessed this is not the case.

"Of course it was a mistake [to award the World Cup to Qatar]," Blatter told RTS.

"But we all know that mistakes are made in life.

"Technical reports from Qatar stated that the temperature in summer is too high to play football. However, this didn't prevent the executive committee from awarding the World Cup to Qatar with a large majority."

 

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Neuer: Portugal clash crucial for Germany

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has targeted his side's first match at the World Cup against Portugal as pivotal as they bid to make a flying start to the tournament.
Joachim Low's side began the 2010 World Cup in stunning fashion with a 4-0 win over Australia, which set the tone for the rest of the competition as they finished third having dismantled England and Argentina in the knockout stages.

This time around Germany face Portugal, Ghana and the USA in Group G and Neuer is well aware of the need to be fast out of the blocks in a bid to avoid a
group stage struggle.

Neuer told Bayern's official website: "I think it's important to make a good start, hopefully with a win."It gives us power for the games to come. The first match is the first final, everything's on the line.

"Football is the main sport in our nation, so the expectations are high. We aim to fulfil those expectations."