..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Messi reaching his peak, says Mata

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata says Barcelona star Lionel Messi is playing his best football of the season and tipped the Catalans to challenge for the treble.

Barca still trail leaders Real Madrid by one point in La Liga following Carlo Ancelotti's side's 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna, but Mata feels Messi can inspire the club in the run-in to the season.

"Real Madrid won a very important game after a complicated week. In those cases, a victory is the best remedy and also helps to recover some energy with a view to the decisive weeks of the season," Mata wrote on his official personal website.

"Barca enjoyed [themselves even] more though, once again displaying an extraordinary offensive power. Messi seems to be reaching his peak of the season right now.

"And if we add up the contribution from some other fantastic players, they are potential candidates to win every single competition."Mata then went on to have his say on the battle for third spot and expects a tight affair between Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla.

"Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid were defeated away from home by a good Celta de Vigo. Valencia won and so did Sevilla; I think the race for the Champions League spots is going to be very interesting."

Irrespective of their loss, Atletico remain third in La Liga with 50 points from 23 games, with Valencia in fourth ahead of fifth-placed Sevilla.

 

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Iniesta: My sole desire is for Messi to stay at Barcelona

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta says it is imperative Lionel Messi stays at Camp Nou if the club are continue to challenge for domestic and European honours.

The Argentina star - who marked his 300th Liga appearance with a hat-trick in Sunday's 5-0 win over Levante - revealed in an interview at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in January that he was unsure where he would play his football next season.

A disagreement with coach Luis Enrique added further fuel to rumours the 27-year-old could leave Camp Nou, with Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Chelsea reportedly keeping a close eye on the 27-year-old's situation.However, Iniesta remains hopeful that Messi will stay put and help Barcelona to more silverware in the future.

"I hope and wish that Leo can be with Barca for a long time, because he has been, is and will be fundamental to us competing for honours. That's my sole desire," Iniesta told the official Fifa website.

While their latest win extended Barca's winning streak to 11 matches in all competitions, the last few months have been somewhat tumultuous for the Catalan giants.

With a court case ongoing with regards to alleged tax fraud surrounding the signing of Neymar and the club subject to a transfer ban until 2016 for broken rules in relation to the signing of youth players, Iniesta acknowledged it has been difficult to stay focused."Look, there's no denying that when there's so much talk on the outside and when it’s not about football or your play, it can affect things.

"You try, or at least should try, to ignore all of that because a lot of it isn't true. The sheer number of reports can annoy you. That said, we know we're at a club where a lot is asked of you, where everything is magnified tenfold.

"There are so many opinions and a lot of things can come from that. When things aren't going exactly to plan, then we have to deal with those kind of situations.
"The only way we can change that and make the public more settled is by playing well and winning.

"That way they forget a bit about all the stuff on the outside and focus instead on what their players are doing on the pitch."Barcelona currently sit second in La Liga, trailing leaders Real Madrid by one point.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United will buy a midfielder, declares Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal has confirmed that Manchester United are in the market for a midfielder this summer.

The Dutchman has had to rotate his squad heavily this season, largely on account of a formidable injury list, with the likes of Michael Carrick and Daley Blind sidelined for considerable spells.

And it has led to calls for the Red Devils to invest in a top-class midfielder, something which Van Gaal insists is vital as he continues to finely tune his side.

When asked if he would look to sign someone in the engine room, the United boss told reporters: "Of course, of course.

"I am looking for balance and I need balance in midfield. When I play with [Adnan] Januzaj and [Angel] Di Maria in the midfield positions, then you need a certain balance for that kind of creative player.

"So, when you have these creative players - and also [Radamel] Falcao and [Robin] van Persie are creative players - then you have four creative players and you have to look for balance in your team."

The 63-year-old former Netherlands coach also stated that Wayne Rooney is happy with his role in midfield.

"He is happy," Van Gaal declared. "Otherwise, he should come to me and say: 'I am not happy', but he never does. He is always friendly to me and wants to perform what I want.

"That is what I see but, when the whole world is writing that he has to be in the striker's position, he shall be thinking 'hey' as he is human."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United will buy a midfielder, declares Van Gaal

Mehema kiya kiya idala anthimata Strootman wa ganna hadai da danne nahaStrootman gannawa kiyanne thanikarama moda wadak

Anith 1ka thamai MID player kenek witharak aran mona karannadahoda Defendersla 2nnek wath one & Young Striker kenek​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ada Preston match 1kath lesi wena 1kak naha
​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Preston Vs Manchester United

Preston Starting Line-up

Thorsten Stuckmann
Scott Laird
Tom Clarke
Bailey Wright
Paul Huntington
Chris Humphrey
Neil Kilkenny
Paul Gallagher
Joe Garner
John Welsh
Kevin Davies

Manchester United Starting Line-up

David De Gea
Luke Shaw
Marcos Rojo
Chris Smalling
Antonio Valencia
Ángel Di María
Daley Blind
Ander Herrera
Marouane Fellaini
Radamel Falcao
Wayne Rooney
​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ada Rooney th striker kenek widiyata play karanawa wage

Hoda chance 1kak thiyenne Falcao ta wada pennannameh wage chances miss karagatthoth nam aparade

Good Luck Manchester United!
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Half Time

Preston 0 Vs 0 Manchester United

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[Wolverine GTR]

Adath hari naha play karapu widiya 1st half 1keDi Maria witharai deyak karanna try karanne.

Falcao th set chances use karanne naha hariyata
​

 

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Full Time

Preston 1 Vs 3 Manchester United

Preston Goal(s)

Scott Laird 47'

&

Manchester United Goal(s)

Ander Herrera 65'
Marouane Fellaini 72'
Wayne Rooney 88'(PEN)
​

 

[Nisal1991]

රොවියගෙ පරණ බෝලේ

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester United!

Hoda Comeback 1kak

& Its Manchester United Vs Arsenal Quarter Final Showdown

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

 

[Nisal1991]

අයි නෝ නතින්ග් එබවුට් ෆුට් බෝල්. aneeeey...

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Preston 1-3 Manchester United: Red Devils rally to set up Arsenal clash

Manchester United set up an FA Cup quarter-final tie with Arsenal after overcoming Preston North End at Deepdale.

Scott Laird opened the scoring as the home side briefly threatened an upset, but strikes from Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and Wayne Rooney spared United's blushes and sent the Red Devils through to the last eight.

Rooney had not netted in nine games ahead of Monday's fifth-round tie, but ended his scoring drought with a late penalty after being moved back into an attacking role by Louis van Gaal.

That goal wrapped up the victory for United, who at one stage looked like they might be the latest giantkilling victims in this season's FA Cup. Simon Grayson, who masterminded Leeds United's victory at Old Trafford in the same competition in 2010, must have been dreaming of another shock against the 11-time winners.

Van Gaal's side showed character to come back, though, as Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini marked their recalls to the starting line-up with goals and Rooney struck from the spot after being upended by Preston goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann.

United will now face Arsenal in a mouth-watering last-eight tie at the Emirates Stadium next month as they attempt to win the FA Cup for the first time in 11 years and give Van Gaal a trophy in his first season at Old Trafford.

Preston gave a good account of themselves on Monday night, but were unable to pull off what would have been a stunning win against their Lancashire rivals. The club's attentions will not turn back to their League One promotion push.

United were not allowed to settle with the tie played at a frantic pace, although Angel di Maria came closest to breaking the deadlock with a free-kick 13 minutes in.

The Premier League side lacked quality in the final third in a poor first half, but Rooney looked poised to put them in front when Radamel Falcao laid the ball into his path just before the break until Bailey Wright intervened with a fine challenge.
While the first 45 produced very little entertainment, it took just two second-half minutes for the game to spark into life when Laird put Preston in front.

The full-back burst into the penalty area to get on the end of a nicely-weighted Paul Gallagher pass and his left-foot strike deflected off Antonio Valencia and went under David de Gea, who should have done better.Some outstanding defending from Paul Huntington denied Fellaini an equaliser, but United were level when Herrera marked his return to the side with a goal after 65 minutes.

The Spanish midfielder got the ball stuck under his feet after receiving a pass from substitute Ashley Young in the penalty area, but his left-foot strike crept in off the far post.

Preston felt the goal should have been ruled out as Rooney was stood in an offside position, but the referee allowed it to stand, deeming that the England captain was not interfering with play.

United were on the front foot at that stafe and Fellaini put them front 18 minutes from time after Valencia picked him out with a cross to the far post. The Belgium midfielder fired home a rebound from close range after his initial header was saved by Stuckmann.

Stuckmann then brought down Rooney two minutes from time and the striker sent the keeper the wrong way to ensure United progressed.

 

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Bayern always aim to win the Champions League - Bernat

Bayern Munich defender Juan Bernat says he believes his side have what it takes to win the Champions League this year.The Bundesliga leaders take on Shakhtar in the second round of the competition and are seen as one of the tournament favourites as they look to win a second European title in three years.

And the 21-year-old, who joined in summer from Valencia, says the Bavarian club are confident of reaching their goal.

"Bayern are always a team that aspires to lift that trophy, and of course we believe in it," he told Uefa's official website. "For sure, it won't be easy because there are some very strong teams involved.

"It will be difficult, but we believe in ourselves and we'll do everything to reach the final, especially since it is played in Germany, in Berlin. We want to win the title, but it's not time to think about that now."

Fellow Bayern defender Medhi Benatia admitted that the team have stumbled a bit since the turn of the year, having started 2015 with a 4-1 defeat and a 1-1 draw before going on to record 2-0 and 8-0 wins over Stuttgart and Hamburg in the league, and the former Roma player believes they have to keep working to improve."We have experienced a few more difficulties since coming back from the winter break. I don't think we are perfect yet, just as Pep Guardiola said.

"There's always room for hard work. We have a great coach and so many champions in our side, but that isn't everything. Maybe one day, we can achieve perfection.

"Here at Bayern you have to win every Saturday and you have to win every Champions League match, because that's the target.

"It doesn't matter who the opposition is – we have to be focused, ready to play aggressively and give our opponents a tough game."

 

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Sacchi: Too many blacks in Italian youth teams

Former AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi has said that youth teams in Italy have too many black players.The 68-year-old former Italy boss attended the Viareggio Tournament this month, the most prestigious youth tournament in Italy, which was won by Inter.

Sacchi, although insisting he is not racist, feels that an increase in black and foreign players is a bad thing for football in the country.

"Italian football is now without dignity or pride because it has too many foreigners playing in the youth teams," he is quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport. "In our youth sides there are too many black players.

"I'm certainly not racist, which my history as a coach proves, starting with Frank Rijkaard, but watching the Viareggio Tournament, I would say that there are too many black players.

"Italy has no dignity, no pride. You cannot have teams made up of 15 foreigners."
Sacchi, who also coached Parma and Atletico Madrid and was Director of Football at Real Madrid, later attempted to clarify that he is not racist but that his comments were misunderstood."I have been misinterpreted. Imagine if was racist. I only said that I saw at a game with a team that fielded four black guys.

"My story is clear, I always coached teams with different colours and I bought many, both in Milan and at Real Madrid. I just wanted to point out that we are losing pride and our national identity."

 

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David Luiz wary of 'amazing' Diego Costa

David Luiz has warned his Paris Saint-Germain team-mates to be cautious when they come up against Diego Costa in Tuesday's Champions League clash.

The Chelsea striker will start in the clash at the Parc des Princes as he returns from a three game ban for stamping on Emre Can during the recent win over Liverpool.
And the Brazil defender feels his side must be wary of the attacking threat of the striker who has scored 17 goals in 19 Premier League games."He's a good striker and he has started scoring goals with confidence," he told reporters. "He is an amazing player."

The centre-back also stressed the importance of his side getting a good result on home turf, but admits it will not be easy as Chelsea have improved this season.

"We need to be strong, to have an amazing first leg because we need to decide it there.

"They understand the philosophy of Mourinho more, and it's easier for him to pass on the message in the second year."They have added two or three players with amazing quality, like Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa. They are stronger this year.

"There won't be a gap in quality in this game. You have two amazing teams, good players and two amazing coaches. We need to prove how far we have come on the pitch."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Man United gave nothing away - Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal has hailed the spirit of his Manchester United team after they came from a goal down to beat Preston 3-1 in the FA Cup fifth round.

The Premier League side, who will host Arsenal in the quarter-finals, went behind to Scott Laird’s deflected strike early in the second half, but Van Gaal turned to his bench to alter the shape of his side and kick-start their comeback.

The former Netherlands boss admits his side were given a tough test on Monday, but was delighted with their response to going a goal down as strikes from Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and Wayne Rooney secured their passage.

When asked about his side’s second-half display, Van Gaal told BBC Sport afterwards: "In the first half I was also reasonably satisfied because we didn’t give anything away.

"It's always difficult in such games, especially with the long balls and the fights between the central defenders and Kevin Davies, it's always difficult, but we didn't give anything away - they had one chance I believe in the first half."

He continued: "In the second half, the goal was a little bit unlucky. But after that we showed again a team spirit which was unbelievable, we changed the shape and that was the solution I think.

"We also scored fantastic goals, a little bit lucky also, but good. Especially the second goal, Antonio Valencia's ball for Fellaini. We have trained for that a lot so I was very happy for Valencia."

The withdrawal of Radamel Falcao saw Fellaini, initially lining up in midfield, move into a more advanced role, yielding the goal which saw United take the lead, but Van Gaal admits he struggles to fit the Belgain in his side.

"We can always beat the pressure with him and he scores goals," the Dutch coach added. "But I played him now for the first time in the position that he wants, but I don't always have a position for him and that's my problem."

 

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Robben: We might underestimate Shakhtar

Arjen Robben is worried that Bayern Munich will underestimate Tuesday's Champions League opponents Shakhtar.

The Bundesliga champions and current leaders take on Mircea Lucescu's side in Ukraine on Tuesday in the second round of the continent's premier competition.
And Robben insists his side must be wary of the threat posed by their opponents' counter attacks.

"I have a feeling that some people might underestimate Shakhtar," he told reporters. "But this is a very, very good team. They are very dangerous, have some very fast Brazilians and are very dangerous on the counter attack."We need to show our power in this game."

The clash will be played in Lviv, over 600 miles from their own Donbass Arena, because of ongoing troubles in Ukraine, and Robben says it is impossible to ignore it.

"We're football players, but we are only human," he said. "Of course it's not great what's happening there."You can't just go there and ignore it all."Thomas Muller echoed his team-mate's thoughts on the "surreal situation" in the country.

"You know there is this terrible war out there, but you don't really realise it because you don't really know such a situation," said the 25-year-old."It's hard to grasp to be playing against a team that is based in a crisis area. It's a surreal situation."