..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Xavi: Puyol taught me a life lesson

Xavi has hailed Barcelona team-mate Carles Puyol as an example to follow as the 36-year-old prepares to call time on his Camp Nou career.

Barcelona held a farewell ceremony for the iconic defender on Thursday, who will leave the club this summer after making over 500 official appearances for between 1999 and 2014.

Xavi spoke on behalf of the squad to thank Puyol for his remarkable achievements at the club at paid particular tribute to his decision to let Eric Abidal - who had recently recovered from a battle with liver cancer at the time - lift the Champions League trophy in 2011.

"We have a lot to thank you for: sacrifice, bravery, generosity. You're the most professional player I've ever shared a dressing room with," Xavi said.

"I'll never forget the final at Wembley when I told you that you should lift the cup, even though you'd only played for a few minutes, and you turned round and said to me: 'No, Xavi, Abidal has to lift the cup.'

"You gave me a life lesson. You've always been there for everyone, for the injured, for those who played less, giving them encouragement and advice.

"I'm so proud to have shared my career with you, and I would love to share a project with you here at the club in the future. You are Barcelona, and the club needs you."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester City fined €60m by Uefa for breaching FFP regulations

Manchester City have been fined €60 million by Uefa and will see their squad reduced to 21 players for next season’s Champions League for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations.

City, who have accepted the sanctions from Uefa, have also agreed to "significantly limit spending in the transfer market for seasons 2014/2015 and 2015/2016" and will limit their net spend in this summer's window to €60m.

City insist the spending limit on new players "will have no material impact on the club’s planned transfer activity".

Despite posting figures outside the financial regulations, City maintain their wage bill will remain the same next season but claim there will be a “natural decline” after that period.

The club's €60m fine will be withheld from the Champions League revenue generated from this season and next term but €40m will be returned to City if they comply with the financial measures set by Uefa.

City revealed in a statement that they are now break even and will be profitable next season.

Uefa confirms that if the club meet their break-even target, the 21-man squad restriction will be lifted for the 2015/16 campaign.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

FA Cup Final Fixture 2014.05.17

FA Cup Final Fixture 2014.05.17

Arsenal Vs Hull City

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

La Liga 2014.05.17 Fixtures

La Liga 2014.05.17 Fixtures

Real Madrid Vs Espanyol

Barcelona Vs Atletico Madrid

Velancia Vs Celta Vigo​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barcelona Vs Atletico Madrid pattama gemak yaiTitle decider 1kak neh

Good Luck for both sides

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Serie A 2014.05.17 Fixture

Serie A 2014.05.17 Fixture

Udinese Vs Sampdoria​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

German DFB Pokal Final Fixture 2014.05.17

German DFB Pokal Final Fixture 2014.05.17

Dortmund Vs Bayern

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

BVB Vs Bayern match 1keth hoda fight 1kak yai

LEWI ge last BVB match 1ka​

 

[unicornx]

Manchester City fined €60m by Uefa for breaching FFP regulations

Manchester City have been fined €60 million by Uefa and will see their squad reduced to 21 players for next season’s Champions League for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations.

City, who have accepted the sanctions from Uefa, have also agreed to "significantly limit spending in the transfer market for seasons 2014/2015 and 2015/2016" and will limit their net spend in this summer's window to €60m.

City insist the spending limit on new players "will have no material impact on the club’s planned transfer activity".

Despite posting figures outside the financial regulations, City maintain their wage bill will remain the same next season but claim there will be a “natural decline” after that period.

The club's €60m fine will be withheld from the Champions League revenue generated from this season and next term but €40m will be returned to City if they comply with the financial measures set by Uefa.

City revealed in a statement that they are now break even and will be profitable next season.

Uefa confirms that if the club meet their break-even target, the 21-man squad restriction will be lifted for the 2015/16 campaign.

 

[Michael]

Breaking: Manchester City fined €60million and Champions League squad reduced to max 21 players for breaches of Uefa FFP regs

Whaaaaa

Munta fine gahanawa ho gala LOL

 

[Michael]

Manchester City fined €60m by Uefa for breaching FFP regulations

Manchester City have been fined €60 million by Uefa and will see their squad reduced to 21 players for next season’s Champions League for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations.

City, who have accepted the sanctions from Uefa, have also agreed to "significantly limit spending in the transfer market for seasons 2014/2015 and 2015/2016" and will limit their net spend in this summer's window to €60m.

City insist the spending limit on new players "will have no material impact on the club’s planned transfer activity".

Despite posting figures outside the financial regulations, City maintain their wage bill will remain the same next season but claim there will be a “natural decline” after that period.

The club's €60m fine will be withheld from the Champions League revenue generated from this season and next term but €40m will be returned to City if they comply with the financial measures set by Uefa.

City revealed in a statement that they are now break even and will be profitable next season.

Uefa confirms that if the club meet their break-even target, the 21-man squad restriction will be lifted for the 2015/16 campaign.

 

[unicornx]

Breaking: Manchester City fined €60million and Champions League squad reduced to max 21 players for breaches of Uefa FFP regs

Whaaaaa

Munta fine gahanawa ho gala LOL

unta ridenna fine ekak denna itin 21 neme 12 tama karannone..balapanko squad eke depth eka

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Uefa: FFP fines will be distributed to clubs

UEFA has confirmed that any money raised from Financial Fair Play fines, such as those received by Manchester City, will be distributed to clubs rather than kept by the organisation.

The first round of punishments were handed out on Friday to clubs that have breached the regulations, with City and Paris Saint-Germain the most high-profile teams to be sanctioned.

Both clubs were fined €60 million and their UEFA Champions League squad will be reduced to 21 players for next season.

Super Lig trio Galatasaray, Bursaspor and Trabzonspor were also penalised as well as Zenit, of the Russian Premier League, Rubin Kazan, Anzhi and Levski Sofia.

Responding to questions from the media as to where the money generated from the fines will go, Pedro Pinto, UEFA's chief of press and official spokesperson, revealed it will be redistributed to clubs.

"In reply to media queries regarding financial contributions of clubs relating to Financial Fair Play-UEFA will not keep any of the money," he stated via his Twitter account.

"UEFA will distribute money from financial contributions by making solidarity payments to other European clubs. Formula for redistribution of funds will be decided by UEFA and its Executive Committee in due course."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Kroos stand-off down to money - Hargreaves

Money is the underlying issue in the current contract stand-off between Bayern Munich and Toni Kroos, according to Owen Hargreaves.

The Germany international announced in February that talks over a new deal had broken down and has since been repeatedly linked with a move to Manchester United.

Hargreaves, who left Bayern for Old Trafford in 2007, believes that the 24-year-old would not quit Bavaria for sporting reasons, though.

"Not many players leave Bayern Munich. I only wanted to leave because I'd spent 10 years there, so for me, it wasn't a money thing, I just wanted a new challenge," he told Goal.

"I represented England and I wanted to play in that league. With Kroos, it's different. He's been at Bayern Munich for a long time since he went there at a young age from Hansa Rostock.

"But this is more of a money issue than anything. I think the bigger question is: 'would he suit the Premier League? Is he going to suit a team who play 4-4-2 with two strikers up top?'

"He'd have a lot of responsibility with tracking back and that's not one of his greatest strengths, so he'd suit maybe an Arsenal or Real Madrid or Barcelona. I think he's probably in the best place for himself right now.

"The grass isn't always greener. He could easily go somewhere else but he's got everything he needs at Bayern. If he wants a change of scenery and to learn a new language, he can.

"They've got a ready-made replacement in Thiago [Alcantara] right now."

Bayern are aiming to secure a domestic double when they meet Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal final on Saturday evening.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Rodgers backs Gerrard to bounce back from title woe

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is confident Steven Gerrard has the mental resolve to put his Premier League title heartache behind him.

Gerrard came within touching distance of winning the English championship for the first time in 2013-14 with the club he has made over 600 appearances for.

Rodgers' men were in the driving seat until a 2-0 defeat against Chelsea last month – a game in which Gerrard's slip gifted Demba Ba the opening goal at Anfield – handed the initiative back to Manchester City, who were crowned champions last Sunday.

The Liverpool captain's mistake has resulted in taunts from rival fans but Rodgers is not worried the 33-year-old will dwell for too long on his moment of misfortune.

"I've no concerns whatsoever about Steven," Rodgers told reporters. "I think Steven will go away and when he reflects on what has been personally a brilliant season of football, he has been very unfairly pointed out in terms of his slip.

"It could have happened in the third game, it could have happened in the fourth game, but it certainly wasn't anywhere near the defining moment of our season. That wasn't what cost us the league.

"He is a very conscientious boy and he loves Liverpool. He is very hard on himself and he's his own worst critic but he comes away recognising that he has been involved in a real title run-in and next season he will be better for it."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arsenal poised to end nine years of hurt

Amid a poisonous backdrop of anti-Glazer resentment, a dejected Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane stood on the Millennium Stadium pitch unable to compute the injustice that had just played out before them.

Arsenal had stolen the FA Cup from under the noses of their great rivals, confirming their position as the side best placed to derail a Chelsea juggernaut which had just broken up the Premier League’s established order and condemned United to a rare trophyless season in the process.

Rather than a catalyst for further success, however, the 2005 final instead marked the end game for Arsenal’s 'Invincibles' and the beginning of the club’s nearly years. Back then Arsene Wenger, an innovative, prolific winner, was far removed from the tortured, conflicted soul he has become during this period of inertia that must, for his sake, end with victory against Hull City on Saturday.

Previous meetings with United that season had come to define Arsenal’s Premier League title defence. The Gunners arrived at Old Trafford in October in swashbuckling form having dropped two points from the first nine games of the season, so confident of bringing up a half century of unbeaten games that commemorative t-shirts had already been printed.

The ensuing 2-0 defeat, marred by controversy and flying pizza, rocked the team to such a degree that by the time Ferguson’s side visited Highbury for the return fixture in February Arsenal’s title hopes were over even before Keane and Patrick Vieira squared up to one another in their infamous tunnel bust-up which preceded United’s comprehensive 4-2 victory.

Despite Arsenal’s failure to beat their old foes in any of their previous seven encounters it was United who headed for the Welsh capital with the bigger question marks hanging over them. Their own league campaign had fizzled out tamely, finishing third, six points behind Arsenal and 18 adrift of Chelsea, the newly-crowned champions who were afforded guard of honour at Old Trafford in the penultimate game of the season.

Dissatisfaction at matters on the pitch was nothing, however, compared to the reaction that greeted news of Malcolm Glazer upping his stake in the club to 75 per cent as he closed in on a £790 million takeover.

United fans were encouraged to wear black armbands in protest at the American’s plans and although the final passed off largely without incident, the riots which accompanied Glazer’s first visit to Old Trafford several weeks later gave a true indication at the level or resentment, suspicion and uncertainty that had suddenly engulfed one of English football’s most stable institutions.

By contrast, Arsene Wenger had only the doubt surrounding Thierry Henry’s fitness as cause for concern ahead of his fourth FA Cup final in five seasons. The Frenchman ultimately missed out with a groin injury he picked up during a spellbinding cameo in a 7-0 demolition of Everton and his absence triggered one of the most bizarre team selections in his manager’s reign.

Arsenal, the sultans of style who had outscored their opponents by a massive 29 goals during the league campaign, were sent out agitate, irritate and spoil their way to silverware. Dennis Bergkamp, still a class act but devoid of pace, was selected as a lone forward and hardly got a kick.

It was ugly, out of character and not particularly successful with Manchester United’s domination total. Ferguson’s side hit the woodwork twice, Rio Ferdinand had a goal disallowed for off-side, Jens Lehmann made several telling saves and Ruud van Nistelrooy failed to score from point blank range when even the merest of touches would’ve produced a goal.

Arsenal’s goal threat was non-existent and it took until the second half of extra-time and Robin van Persie’s speculative free-kick before Roy Carroll was called into action.

United fans could’ve been forgiven for fearing the worst as the contest went to a penalty shootout and with ironic chants of “USA, USA” ringing in his ears Paul Scholes sacrificed accuracy for power and struck his spot kick too close to Lehmann.
Six successful conversions later and Patrick Vieira, with his last act as an Arsenal player, blasted the ball just beyond Carroll’s despairing right hand and sealed the most unlikely - and in truth undeserved - victories in FA Cup final history.

Nine years bad luck, much of Arsenal’s own making, has followed as opportunities to put to an end the most mentioned trophy drought in English football have been passed up, spurned in embarrassing and often chaotic fashion.

Much of that will be forgotten should the form book be upheld at Wembley and Arsenal sweep aside Hull with the minimum of fuss, as they have done twice already this season. It would be folly to suggest an FA Cup triumph will usher in a new glorious period in the club’s history, especially as familiar failings saw their title challenge flounder shortly after the turn of the year.

All teams need to start somewhere though and if the class of 2014 were to adopt one habit their illustrious predecessors specialised in above any other it should be the art of winning by any means possible. As Vieira & Co. proved on a rain-sodden afternoon in Cardiff nine years ago, it really is all that matters.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

FA Cup final 1ka Arsenal dinnoth hodai​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Falcao still hoping for World Cup place

Monaco striker Radamel Falcao is still holding out hope for representing Colombia in this summer's World Cup.

The former Atletico Madrid striker has been sidelined since February with an anterior cruciate ligament injury and was initially expected to miss the tournament.

However, he has been working hard on his fitness and was named in Jose Pekerman's preliminary squad but accepts that he will not go if he does not recover sufficiently.

"To get to 100 per cent football-wise will be impossible, because I lack hours of competitive football," he is quoted as saying by Marca.

"In order to resume, if I am feeling good, I will go. If I see that I am not sure, and I'm not going to contribute anything, I will be sensible and I will not go.

"I'm getting better every week. My knee has evolved well and I'm happy about that. My knee is fine.

"I work in a simple manner every day. I am getting used to coordination with the ball."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Koke: This has been a dream season

Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke is desperate to cap a "dream" season with success in La Liga against Barcelona on Saturday.

Diego Simeone's men travel to Camp Nou knowing that a draw would see them claim the Primera Division crown for the first time since 1996.

They also have the Champions League final against Real Madrid next week and Koke is delighted with how his side have performed this season, lavishing praise on the Argentine coach.

"The match against Barca will be very special and we have to go out and give everything to win because it's a final," he is quoted as saying by Marca.

"This is a dream season: playing the last game against Barcelona is spectacular. It's a dream to play for your boyhood team and fight for La Liga and the Champions League.

"You always dream of winning the Primera Division and the Champions Leauge. But the most important thing is that we take it day by day.

"That's our philosophy, we've been developing it for years since Simeone became coach. He arrived with a winning mentality. I think that's what we needed.

"He has done many great things and the fans love him very much."

Koke has been the subject of praise for his performances this season but the Spain international is not letting anything go to his head.

"The only thing in my head is Saturday's game. We should remain with our feet on the ground because the truth is that we have done many great things and have to keep working. We've got to live in the moment."

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

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Klopp: You have to beat Bayern to win the Pokal

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp believes that anyone hoping to win the DFB-Pokal must beat Bayern Munich at some point.

BVB are looking to claim their second German cup under the tutelage of the former Mainz boss, having beaten the Bavarians 5-2 to triumph in Berlin two years ago.

They face another final against their arch rivals on Saturday and Klopp is looking forward to the chance to add to his medal collection.

"There are just two ways to win the DFB-Pokal," he told reporters.

"Either you are beating Bayern on the way or you are meeting them in the final. That anyone else is beating them for you is very rare.

"Because of that it is just logic that this is our opponent. It is a great team. For me it is the biggest final you could play in, because it is much closer to reach than the Champions League final.

"We are really happy to be here, because this was our goal since the very first day of the season. Not just to be here, of course, also to win the game. This is our goal. And I am happy that the team made it happen."

Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich kick off at the Olympiastadion at 20:00CET.