..::Football III::..

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Everyone at Liverpool is under pressure - Dudek

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek says that "everyone is under pressure" at the club this season.

The Reds' horrendous season went from bad to worse on Sunday as Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Robin van Persie ran riot at Old Trafford in a 3-0 win for Manchester United.

The defeat increased the pressure on manager Brendan Rodgers, with last season's runners-up languishing in 11th place after claiming just two wins in their past eight league matches.

Dudek, who played a leading role as Liverpool won the Champions League in 2004-05, warns that Rodgers and his players must unite to get their season back on track.

"I think everyone is under pressure at the club," he told the press after Liverpool were drawn against Besiktas in the Europa League round of 32. "They had a good season last year and, because of this, there is high expectation this season.

"I think they missed Luis Suarez and, because of that, they're all under pressure - the boss, the players - but they need to stick together, working hard, especially now before Christmas, and try to sort things out very quickly.

"Liverpool, when they fight all together, they get results. When they have lack of fighters on the pitch they are struggling to get results; they need everyone on board and fight to the end."

Liverpool were busy during the off-season, recruiting no fewer than eight players. Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Lazar Markovic, Alberto Moreno, Mario Balotelli, Emre Can, Rickie Lambert and Divock Origi (loaned back to Lille) were all signed as Rodgers attempted to challenge for honours in both the Premier League and the Champions League.

But the new arrivals have failed to make an impact and Dudek fears that they be may fighting for their Liverpool careers, noting: "With the new signings, you never know what's going to happen.

"You think they're good because they had a very good spell at their previous club and you hope they'll play as well for Liverpool but they needed time, sometimes they love to play, some will never play.

"Liverpool is a special club with a special coach as well, with very high expectations and some of the players need more time but I don't know if they will have that time because Liverpool needs results straight away."

 

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Conte: I'm not quitting Italy

Italy boss Antonio Conte has rejected rumours he is set to step down just four months after succeeding Cesare Prandelli as Azzurri coach.

The 45-year-old took the Azzurri reins in August, having guided Juventus to three successive Serie A titles.In six games under Conte, Italy have won five and drawn one and currently sit joint top of Euro 2016 qualifying Group H alongside Croatia.

Despite that strong start, rumours have been rife that Conte will quit, but the man himself has moved to quash such talk."I took on a job with people that enthusiastically wanted me and with the Italy fans," he said."This job gives me such a responsibility that although the speculation is part of football, I rule out that eventuality [resigning]."

Conte was speaking following a meeting between himself and the coaches of Serie A clubs, in a bid to build an understanding between those at national and domestic level."I hope this meeting will be institutionalised and that we have it at least once a year," Conte said.

"I know what coaches think just as I know what players think, having been a player myself."This meeting allows me to create a continuous rapport with coaches and players and, as a consequence, to get some feedback from the clubs.

"Those coaches that were absent [Roma's Rudi Garcia, Inter's Roberto Mancini, Napoli's Rafa Benitez, Cagliari's Zdenek Zeman and Empoli's Fabrizio Sarri] had already notified they would not be available to attend the meeting.

"There has been an agreement for the national team to have a three-day get-together in February, although the clubs will have the final decision."

 

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Barca couldn't have played any better, says Luis Enrique

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique claimed it would be hard to imagine a better performance than his side's 8-1 triumph over Huesca.

The Catalans romped into the Copa del Rey's round of 16 at Camp Nou on Tuesday, thumping their third-tier opposition to complete a 12-1 aggregate victory.
Despite resting the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique, Xavi and Ivan Rakitic, Barcelona had no trouble against Huesca and their coach was full of praise for their performance.

"Considering there was very little incentive heading into the game I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of fans who came to support us and the players were all very good - individually and collectively," Luis Enrique told the club's official website.

"They are not easy games to play and this has been a booster for everyone.

"We weren't too worried about a shock and I think we played incredibly well in defence. In my opinion, the opponent are at a much higher level quality-wise than the Segunda B division.

"However, it is difficult to imagine us doing a better job than we did in this match, with our mentality, our attitude and our defensive structure."Barca have one final competitive game in 2014: a home tie against Cordoba in La Liga on Saturday.

 

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Koeman slams 'disrespectful' Sheffield United after League Cup exit

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman slammed Sheffield United's coaching staff after his side's 1-0 defeat to the League One outfit, accusing them of showing a lack of respect.

Koeman's side travelled to Bramall Lane looking to secure a place in the League Cup semi-finals, but suffered a fifth successive defeat in all competitions.

Marc McNulty netted the game's only goal in the 63rd minute, pouncing on an abysmal mistake from Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

United assistant Chris Morgan was sent to the stands almost immediately after the goal as Koeman found himself in a verbal battle with the hosts' backroom team. And in response to what Koeman felt was disrespectful behaviour, the former Barcelona defender refused to shake the hand of opposing manager Nigel Clough at full-time.

He explained: "I shake hands with people who have respect for me as a coach, who have respect for the fourth referee [official].

"I think the behaviour of the bench of Sheffield United, I never saw that. That was the reason why I didn't shake hands."

To make matters worse for Koeman, Southampton will be without suspended trio Morgan Schneiderlin, Victor Wanyama and Florin Gardos - who was sent off in the latter stages of the clash - as they look to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat when they host Everton on Saturday.

"It's difficult," acknowledged Koeman. "In my opinion that's one of the problems in the last few weeks – we have to change every time the team and with injuries with suspensions and, okay, suspensions is part of football and injuries is a part of football, but we have not a lot of midfielders available.

"We had to make choices. Schneiderlin played finally 90 minutes. Normally he wasn't allowed to play 90 minutes but we had to change and that was the problem and we knew that before the season.

"If we get these kind of problems in injuries and suspensions then it's difficult."

 

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Ronaldo saving goals for Club World Cup final - Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti says that Cristiano Ronaldo is "saving a goal" for the Club World Cup final after he failed to score in Real Madrid's 4-0 hammering of Cruz Azul on Tuesday.

The Portuguese forward was excellent in the semi-final clash but Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Isco were the four players who instead adorned the scoresheet.

Most memorably, Ronaldo tested the Mexican opposition goalkeeper with an audacious, half-volleyed rabona, and Ancelotti was full of praise for his Ballon d'Or holder.

"Ronaldo played very well, he provided assists," the Italian coach is quoted as saying by AS. "He's always very effective, even when he doesn't score. He is surely saving a goal for the final.

Ancelotti also praised club captain Iker Casillas after the veteran goalkeeper saved a Cruz Azul spot kick with score at 2-0 shortly before half-time.

"Casillas' penalty save was key," he added. "The game seemed to be over at 2-0 and they could have opened the tie up. He dived very well.

"It's never easy but the team played well and won. Now we'll see who we'll get in the final."

Casillas himself accepted that his save was potentially the turning point in the match, though he also pinpointed Bale's goal - the third of the match for Madrid - as a catalyst in their stroll to the final in Marrakech.

"Once again, the team were great," the shot-stopper said. "We put in a great performance collectively.

"Although it may have seemed easy with the 4-0 scoreline the truth is, at the beginning and the end of the first half, Cruz Azul had some attacks.

"If they had scored the penalty, it would have been 2-1. Then the third goal at the start of the second half calmed us down."

Madrid's 4-0 triumph sets up a final on Saturday with either Auckland City or San Lorenzo, with their Club World Cup semi-final to be played on Wednesday.

 

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PSV 4-3 Feyenoord: De Jong hat-trick wins thriller for Eredivisie leaders

Luuk de Jong's treble and a last-gasp winner from Memphis Depay sunk Feyenoord 4-3 and consolidated PSV's Eredivisie leadership.

PSV were behind twice and looked to have missed out on victory from a pulsating match when Colin Kazim-Richards struck an 89th-minute equaliser.

However, Depay - the 20-year-old Netherlands international - snatched Phillip Cocu's side an eighth win in nine league outings to restore their four-point lead over second-placed Ajax.

PSV had kept six successive home clean sheets in the league, but it took Feyenoord just 13 minutes to snap that run.

Elvis Manu raced behind the defence, rounded goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet, and though he under hit his attempt on goal, Jeffrey Bruma slipped as he was rushing in to clear and it rolled over the line.

De Jong then equalised nine minutes later following a delightful team move, only for Jordy Clasie to burst through the midfield and set up Karim El Ahmadi, who bent it home with the outside of his boot three minutes before half-time.

De Jong's quick-fire double just after the hour swung the game in PSV's favour – and left the man who spent the first part of 2014 on loan at Newcastle United with seven goals in his past five Eredivisie appearances.

Kazim-Richards silenced the home fans, but only momentarily as Depay struck the winner in the final moments.

The result ensured PSV ended a run of three consecutive losses to Feyenoord, who dropped 12 points off the pace.

 

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Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Wolfsburg: Naldo snatches point in enthralling clash

Wolfsburg snatched a point from their trip to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday after Naldo scored the final goal in a thrilling 2-2 draw.

The Brazilian defender punished struggling Dortmund for poor marking when he rose unchallenged to head home an inswinging corner with a towering header.

Ciro Immobile's stunning strike had looked to have given Jurgen Klopp's side victory at Signal Iduna Park, but they were unable to see Wednesday's game out.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put the hosts in front with his first goal in six games in all competitions. But the lively Kevin De Bruyne levelled in an entertaining clash.

A share of the spoils ensured Dortmund sign off from home action for 2014 remaining in the bottom three, while second-placed Wolfsburg are 11 points behind runaway leaders Bayern Munich.

Klopp next takes his side to basement club Werder Bremen on Saturday likely needing a win to ensure Dortmund do not spend the festive period rooted in the drop zone.

The hosts were given an early warning when De Bruyne was denied by goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak after exchanging passes with Vieirinha and the Belgium midfielder fired the rebound off target.

And the former Chelsea man was made to pay for that miss when the home side took the lead just eight minutes in.

Wolfsburg were caught out when Mats Hummels surged forward before finding Immobile on the left and Aubameyang slid in to finish at the back post after the Italian had picked him out.

Dortmund looked vulnerable at the back, but it was a soft goal that pegged them back after 29 minutes when Langerak should have done better with a dipping free kick from De Bruyne which the Australian misjudged.

Immobile had a golden opportunity to restore Dortmund's advantage when Sebastian Kehl, passed fit after recovering from a rib injury, fed him with a lovely ball over the top, but Diego Benaglio surged off his line to keep out the Italy international's volley.

Wolfsburg then came close just three minutes into the second half when Ivan Perisic was unselfish as he laid the ball off for the unmarked Vieirinha in the area, but Langerak narrowed the angle and made a fine save.

Dortmund continued to cause problems for the Wolfsburg defence and it took a fine save from Benaglio to keep out a strike from Immobile which looked destined for the back of the net, with Hummels' goalbound effort from the resulting corner blocked.

Wolfsburg lost Vieirinha to what appeared to be an ankle injury before Immobile came close once again when Aubameyang headed the ball down to him and he surged forward before unleashing a rasping drive which was just off target.

Immobile finally found a way through when he surged forward and beat Benaglio with a fine finish from around 20 yards out 14 minutes from time.

But there was a final twist as Naldo was left unmarked by Kehl and headed home a Ricardo Rodriguez corner to deny the hosts and keep them in the drop zone.

 

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Bournemouth 1-3 Liverpool: Respite for Rodgers as Reds progress

Raheem Sterling rediscovered his scoring touch as under-fire Liverpool beat Bournemouth 3-1 in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old had not scored for club or country since September, but his brace at the Goldsands Stadium ended a run of 21 matches without a goal.

His double came either side of Lazar Markovic's first goal for Liverpool, which was aided by Bournemouth defender Tommy Elphick's confusion.

With Philippe Coutinho jinking into the area, Elphick thought he had heard a whistle and appealed for offside, and the Brazilian's shot was saved by Artur Boruc before Markovic converted the rebound.

Former Everton man Dan Gosling did pull one back for the Championship leaders - his fifth goal in as many appearances in this year's competition - and the midfielder went close to a sixth when he struck the woodwork soon afterwards.

Despite coming under pressure in the second half, Liverpool will be boosted by the victory and their goalscoring exploits after being criticised for wasting a host of chances in Sunday's 3-0 defeat at Manchester United.

Possibly with Saturday's league trip to Blackpool in mind, Eddie Howe made six changes to his Bournemouth side while the visitors made three alterations from their loss at Old Trafford as Kolo Toure, Lucas Leiva and Markovic all returned.

Bournemouth's top scorer Callum Wilson had a golden chance in the fourth minute, but the 12-goal striker fired wide from close range after beating Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren inside the area.

Adam Lallana brought a flying save out of Boruc a minute later and after a period of sustained possession Liverpool took the lead in the 20th minute.

Markovic lofted a ball to the far post for Jordan Henderson, who nodded back across goal for a stooping Sterling to head in from five yards.

Seven minutes later the impressive Markovic doubled the visitors' advantage, calmly slotting in Coutinho's rebound following Elphick's confusion.

Bournemouth created a glorious opportunity to pull one back immediately but Yann Kermorgant blazed over the crossbar after being picked out by Simon Francis eight yards out.

Sterling grabbed his second six minutes into the second period when he turned Elphick inside out and converted a low finish into the bottom left-hand corner.

Just as it appeared Liverpool would cruise to victory, Gosling pulled one back in the 57th minute, firing in low after Matt Ritchie broke free down the right.

The hosts were buoyed by that strike and came close to a second when substitute Ryan Fraser headed narrowly wide of the upright.

Sterling scuffed a chance to seal his hat-trick wide after Lallana's neat set-up, with Gosling seeing a left-footed effort strike the post and Ritchie dragging a subsequent effort wide as Bournemouth threatened a grandstand finish.

The 2012 League Cup winners managed to weather the brief storm though, and comfortably confirmed their semi-final berth to provide a much-needed boost for manager Brendan Rodgers ahead of a Premier League clash with Arsenal on Sunday.

 

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Tottenham 4-0 Newcastle: Spurs march into League Cup semi-finals

Tottenham booked their place in the League Cup semi-finals with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Newcastle United on Wednesday.

Mauricio Pochettino's men, whose last appearance in the last four was during the 2008-09 season, took the lead after 18 minutes at White Hart Lane – Nabil Bentaleb breaking the deadlock with his first senior goal for the club.

Newcastle were largely restricted to speculative shots from distance, and any hopes of a bright start to the second half were dashed when Nacer Chadli doubled the advantage less than a minute after the interval.

Harry Kane's third after 65 minutes had the home fans dreaming of a Wembley final, and Roberto Soldado's fourth goal five minutes later only served to compound the visitors' misery.

The result sees Tottenham atone for a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle in the Premier League in October, and replicates the 4-0 scoreline they achieved on their last visit to St James' Park.

Pochettino elected to make six changes from Sunday's 2-1 Premier League victory over Swansea City – Michel Vorm among the players to come in – and Alan Pardew, who made four alterations, will have been envious of Tottenham's strength in depth between the posts, as he stuck with Jak Alnwick in the absence of injured duo Tim Krul and Rob Elliot.

It was Tottenham who applied the early pressure and, although Moussa Sissoko tested Vorm with a long-range strike, the hosts soon exposed Newcastle's goalkeeping frailties.

Alnwick failed to collect a corner whipped in from the left, pushing the ball over his head and into the path of Bentaleb, who showed great reactions to prod home an 18th-minute opener.

Kane, who opened the scoring in the win over Swansea at the weekend, picked up a loose pass in midfield after 35 minutes, but his eventual effort whistled wide of the left-hand post when he pulled the trigger from 20 yards.

Kane went down in the box under the challenge of Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini shortly before the interval but referee Andre Marriner opted against pointing to the spot.

Marriner was equally unconvinced when Ayoze Perez was challenged by Danny Rose at the other end.

Pardew had his players out early doing extra warm-ups before the start of the second half, but it failed to have the desired effect as Chadli drifted in from the left wing to fire a low effort beyond Alnwick from 20 yards within a minute of the restart.

Newcastle should have reduced the deficit soon after when Perez's ball across the six-yard box evaded both Remy Cabella and Emmanuel Riviere, but Tottenham continued to push for a third.

Alnwick had to be alert to keep out a low drive from Vlad Chiriches on the hour mark, before Paul Dummett sent the ball just over his own crossbar and a Jan Vertonghen header was cleared off the line by Sissoko.

The third goal finally arrived in the 65th minute when Kane latched onto an Andros Townsend through ball to fire beyond Alnwick, and substitute Soldado completed the rout when he reacted quickest to an Alnwick parry to find the net within a minute of coming on.

Alnwick caused concern when he received treatment for a shoulder problem shortly after conceding the fourth, but was on hand to keep out Soldado when the Spaniard attempted to add to his tally from close range.

Spurs are now just one step from the final in March, while Pardew, who twice saw 17-year-old Adam Armstrong go close to snatching a consolation goal late on, will be keen to erase this result from his players' minds ahead of this weekend's derby clash with Sunderland.

 

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Ajaccio 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain: Cavani leads comeback after shock Cavalli goal

Edinson Cavani helped Paris Saint-Germain to victory in the Coupe de la Ligue on Wednesday as they came from behind to beat Ajaccio 3-1.

The French champions came from a goal down to defeat Olivier Pantaloni's side at Stade Francois Coty, with Serge Aurier and Jean-Christophe Bahebeck securing victory late in the second half.

Ajaccio were rewarded after withstanding growing pressure from the visitors as they were given a penalty just before the half-hour mark, which was duly tucked away by Johan Cavalli.

Cavani restored parity for Laurent Blanc's side early in the second period, who were without the rested Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the clash and had lost their previous two fixtures.

The game grew frantic as both teams searched for a decisive second, but it was the Parisian giants who edged it as they grabbed two goals in the space of five minutes.

Substitute Bahebeck whipped in an inch-perfect corner to the head of Aurier with 10 minutes remaining, before the winger got on the scoresheet himself to put the result beyond all doubt and send the holders into the last four.

Despite a bright start from the hosts, PSG - who had previously won just five of their 13 away games in all competitions - soon began to assert themselves, and could have gone ahead in the 15th minute, but Clement Chantome could not convert Adrien Rabiot's delicate delivery.

However, it was Ajaccio who took the lead in the 27th minute when captain Cavalli fired in from the penalty spot after Aurier had felled Mouaad Madri just inside the box.

Although PSG pressed for an immediate leveller, Ajaccio were a threat on the break, with the impressive Madri a consistent thorn in the Parisians' side.

PSG did manage to create an opening just prior to the interval as David Luiz connected with Ezequiel Lavezzi's free kick at the near post, though the Brazilian's header sailed narrowly over.

PSG's pressure continued into the second half as Lavezzi drifted a set-piece towards the head of Aurier, but the full-back somehow failed to connect and the ball looped off the woodwork before falling into the grateful arms of Anthony Scribe.

But the visitors were deservedly level when Lucas Moura played in Cavani in the 55th minute, and the Uruguayan slotted coolly into the left-hand corner for his 13th of the campaign.

Ajaccio defender Cedric Kante was in impressive form to prevent Cavani scoring a second with just over 15 minutes remaining, while Madri went close for the hosts with an ambitious long-range strike that curled just wide.

It was PSG who snatched the lead in the 80th minute, however, when Aurier made amends for his earlier mishap to head in at the near post from Bahebeck's whipped corner.

The home side again pushed on in hope of forcing extra time, but they were undone again just four minutes later when Lucas broke down the left and crossed to Bahebeck, who slid in to tap home at the back post.

 

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I want to be like Guardiola - Xavi

Xavi has revealed he one day hopes to follow in the footsteps of Pep Guardiola and make the transition from Barcelona midfielder to club coach.

The 34-year-old replaced the now Bayern Munich boss in the Barca engine room when he made the break through at Camp Nou back in the late nineties.

With his playing career coming to an end, Xavi has now turned his thoughts to what he might do once he has hung up his boots for good, and thoughts of management are already at the forefront of his mind.

Asked whether one day the club may be referred to as 'Xavi's Barca' in the same manner as Guardiola he answered: "Hopefully. I want to remain in this house in whatever capacity that is.

"I have little football left, it is clear. I can feel it in my body, I find it harder to recover, I meter out my effort, I don’t have the spark to play every three days. I can feel it.”

The former Spain international, who retired from international football following la Roja's disastrous World Cup campaign over the summer, then tipped three current team-mates to replace him once his career is over.

He added: "If you look at Barça, there are those who can make a career for 10 years: [Sergio] Busquets, Sergi Samper, [Andres] Iniesta, Rafinha.

"It would be difficult for Thiago [Alcantara] to make a comeback. It is always difficult returning after you have left the club. But there is an extraordinary level and if you look at the Spanish national team, the quality has grown to an incredible level."

Xavi also explained how Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas called him during Jose Mourinho's tenure in charge of the club, when relations between Barca and their Bernabeu rivals were at an all-time low.

"We let everything come out. We both felt we were giving a very bad image and it was causing embarrassment. We agreed to talk to our team-mates and try to calm things down. It was a very weak image for world football, there are children watching across the globe."

He came close to leaving the club for new MLS franchise New York City in the summer but said the intervention of new Barca coach Luis Enrique convinced him to stay.

"I was very close to leaving for America. Luis convinced me to stay, though. He told me if I was deserving of a place in the team, I would play. He was honest with him, as he's always been."

Xavi has made 17 appearances for the club in all competitions so far this season, in what is his 17th season as a professional at Camp Nou.

 

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Germany doesn't understand Guardiola - Sammer

Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer has lamented that the finer points of Pep Guardiola's coaching ability are lost on much of Germany's football followers.

The Bavarians are runaway leaders in the Bundesliga this season - they have dropped just six points in 16 games en route to a 12-point lead domestically - and comfortably reached the last 16 of the Champions League with two games spare in the group stage.

However, Bayern have not been spared from criticism and their detractors - including former Bayern players Dietmar Hamann and Lothar Matthaus - have questioned the necessity of Guardiola's tactical tinkering, suggesting it is holding the team back.

Following Tuesday's 2-0 win over Freiburg, Sammer leapt to the defence of the former Barcelona boss' way of working.

"The fact that not everyone thinks everything we do is great doesn't affect our thinking," the Bayern chief told Sport Bild. "It it not yet understood in Germany how Pep thinks.

"The system does not change to shoot the team in the foot. This idea is apparently new to German football. Bayern are happy and grateful that we have a coach like Guardiola who proves himself again and again. He is hugely influencing German football with his thinking.

"As former professionals, [Hamann and Matthaus] should ask themselves why and how does someone like Guardiola makes a footballing choice. In the end I guess they can be happy they have something to discuss...

"I'm not trying to be disrespectful, I only wish they were able to understand."

Sammer then went on to humorously compare his job at the Allianz Arena to that of the lead female character in Hollywood film The Blind Side - in that he tries to find undiscovered strengths in Bayern players.

"Let me try to explain my role this way," he began. "There is this wonderful movie, The Blind Side, which is based on a true story.

"Sandra Bullock adopts a boy into her family, a boy who's considered a problem child. Among his weaknesses she recognises a truly great quality: the boy has a strong protective instinct. He himself is not aware of it, but she encourages him.

"So the coach of the American football team becomes aware of him - and this quality then makes him a top-class player.

"If you like, I am like Sandra Bullock's character! For me it is important that the players' qualities are revealed - like in The Blind Side - where previously a player might not have recognised their strength.

"The coach already prepares the team for matches and organises the tactics, but cannot take care of everything at the club."

 

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Van Gaal surprised by Dutch Coach of the Year award

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admitted he was surprised at being awarded the Dutch Coach of the Year award on Tuesday evening because his Netherlands side "didn't win anything in Brazil".

The 63-year-old guided Oranje to a third-placed finish in the World Cup in the summer and saw his achievements recognised at a gala in Amsterdam.

However, during his acceptance speech he confessed that the prize puzzled him, having seen his side lose their semi-final against Argentina on penalties.

"I'm standing here with mixed feelings," he said. "We ended in third place, while there are many Olympic champions and world champions here tonight. Maybe I've won this award because of the media."

Such was Van Gaal's ambivalence towards the award, he suggested that he was unsure if he should even attend the awards.

"I wasn't sure if I should turn up here tonight because footballers usually never win these kind of awards," he added. "But, in the end, I thought that you should always go if you are nominated and now I'm standing here as the winner."

Netherlands were crowned Team of the Year at the awards, while Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben won the Sportsman of the Year prize.

 

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Congratulations LVG!​

 

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Muller: Bayern aren't like women's ballet

Thomas Muller has joked that playing for Bayern Munich is not quite like performing women's ballet after he picked up a black eye in their 2-0 home triumph over Freiburg on Tuesday.

A two-goal deficit seemed kind on the visitors to the Allianz Arena as the Bavarians averaged more than one shot every three minutes in the midweek Bundesliga clash.

Arjen Robben opened the scoring in the first half, heading in his 100th goal as a Bayern player, before Muller doubled the lead shortly after half-time to send Pep Guardiola's men 12 points clear of second-place Wolfsburg on Tuesday.

Muller took a blow to the face en route to the victory and he jested afterwards that being a Bayern forward has its differences to dancing on stage in a tutu.

"Playing for Bayern is nothing like women's ballet," he told reporters. "Without wanting to be disrepectful to women's ballet, of course!

"I'd say it's worth getting a black eye to score a goal for Bayern. When we go to bed, we'll be 12 points ahead in the Bundesliga and that was our aim. We've done our duty and now we'll try to take the final step of 2014 against Mainz."

Freiburg goalkeeper Roman Burki, whom Pep Guardiola lauded for his heroics between the sticks on Tuesday, was in awe of the performance that the reigning German champions put in and suggested that stopping them winning was impossible.

"Bayern were just too strong," he said. "We tried everything, but the dominance that they bring to the pitch is simply incredible. We had no chance."

 

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'Reus should choose Real Madrid, not Barcelona'

Marco Reus should choose to join "global" Real Madrid over "insular" Barcelona, according to former Santiago Bernabeu defender Christoph Metzelder.

The highly-rated German forward has a contract until 2017 at Signal Iduna Park but it is widely reported that a contract clause will permit him to leave at the end of the season for a paltry €25 million, whereas his value is arguably double that.

Although Bayern Munich are the frontrunners for his signature - having bought Dortmund stars Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski in consecutive summers - Real Madrid and Barcelona have also been linked with the 25-year-old.

Should Reus choose to leave the Bundesliga for La Liga, Metzelder has advised his German compatriot to head to the European champions rather than Luis Enrique's men.

"If Reus had to choose between Real and Barcelona, Real would be the easier alternative," the ex-defender, who played for the Blancos from 2007 to 2010, told Bild.

"Madrid are more global than Barcelona. Barcelona means Catalunya, they're more insular and prefer their own youth.

"Sure, there is not much space in Real Madrid's attack according to many. But I know that they Real Madrid would push somebody out to accommodate a player like Marco Reus. Just like Angel Di Maria had to leave for Toni Kroos.

"Everyone talks about how enrooted in Ruhr that Marco Reus is, but that is no reason to not play in Spain."

Ankle ligament damage has restricted Reus to just seven Bundesliga appearances in 2014-15 and he will not return for the club until at least January.

Jurgen Klopp's men could desperately do with his return as injuries have conspired to leave Dortmund level on points with the bottom-placed club in the Bundesliga ahead of Wednesday's clash with Wolfsburg.

 

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Reus wa gannath loku fight 1kak yai wage​

 

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Jones: Injuries are behind me

Manchester United defender Phil Jones is confident that his injuries have been the result of bad luck rather than an underlying problem with his body.

Jones made his return to the Red Devils' lineup in Sunday's 3-0 victory over Liverpool - just his fifth match for the club this term.

The 22-year-old hurt his hamstring while away with England at the start of September, which saw him miss four Premier League games, and, after returning against West Brom, he got shin splints and missed seven straight matches.

Jones has also missed large chunks of the past two seasons with knee and ankle injuries but insists that it is no cause for greater concern.

He told the club's official website: "I started the pre-season and played every single game and took part in every single training session then, on international duty, I pulled my hamstring and I've never had a muscle injury in my life so it was disappointing.

"When I was coming back I then had shin splints. Unfortunately that's just the way it has been."

Jones promised to do whatever it takes to keep fit for the rest of the Premier League season, adding: "I have been doing a lot in the gym and hopefully that will stand me in good stead for the rest of the season.

"I've been doing strength work, yoga, Pilates and loads of other stuff. I will do anything I can to improve myself and hopefully I can look after myself in games too, to make sure I stay fit.

"That's my aim right now - to stay fit and stay focused, and get a run of games under my belt."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ronaldo is behaving better - Villas Boas

Andre Villas-Boas has backed Cristiano Ronaldo to win the 2014 Ballon d'Or after improving his attitude and changing his body language on the field.

The 29-year-old is the favourite to win the trophy for a third time in January on the back of another sensational year for Real Madrid during which he lifted the Champions League and Copa del Rey.

But Ronaldo has often been criticised for his child-like tantrums in response to refereeing decisions that haven't gone his way and when team-mates have failed to find him on the pitch.

Villas-Boas, however, has noted a marked improvement in his compatriot's behaviour and praised his growing maturity after being asked whether he thought the Madrid forward would be crowned the world's best player.

The Zenit St Petersburg boss told TVI and Maisfutebol: "He even changed his body language on the field and that supports him further still, both as a player and as a sports personality.

"In the last two years, I have seen in Cristiano Ronaldo a change of attitude and an incredible dedication to his profession, an impressive will to win, even if his value has been questioned due to the quality of his closest rival (Messi)."

The Portugal captain has scored a remarkable 34 goals in just 26 appearances this season and could add another piece of silverware to his trophy cabinet as Madrid contest the Club World Cup.

Carlo Ancelotti's side beat Cruz Azul 4-0 on Tuesday night, securing their place in the final of the competition, where they will face either ES Setif or Western Sydney Wanderers.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mourinho rules out January signings at Chelsea

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has ruled out making any January additions to his squad.

Mourinho was active in the close-season as he lured Diego Costa, Filipe Luis, Loic Remy and Cesc Fabregas to Stamford Bridge, while veteran striker Didier Drogba also made a return to the club.

Bolstered by the arrival of that particular quintet, Chelsea have set the pace at the top of the Premier League, reached the League Cup semi-finals and will face Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League.

However, Mourinho is not anticipating any activity in the transfer window next month regarding incomings or outgoings.

"We have a short squad but we've got good players, some younger, some older, but the squad is very, very good," Mourinho told talkSPORT.

"Our project is to start and finish the season with the same group of players, so there will be nobody to leave and nobody to come in either."