..::Football III::..

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Blackett agrees new Manchester United deal

Manchester United have handed a new contract to defender Tyler Blackett, which sees the 20-year-old commit to Old Trafford until at least June 2017.

The academy product made his debut for United against Swansea City on the opening day of the 2014-15 Premier League season and has gone on to make 10 appearances in all for the club.

He has been rewarded for his progress with a fresh two-and-a-half-year deal, with an option to extend his stay for a further 12 months.

"I'm thrilled to have signed my new contract. I have supported United all my life and have been here since I was eight years old. To come through the academy and make my debut this season was a dream come true," Blackett told the club's official website.

"I want to keep improving within the first-team squad with the help of the manager, coaches and the players around me."

Louis van Gaal added: "I am delighted that Tyler has signed a new contract. He is another young player that has risen through the academy system to break into the first-team squad this season.

"Tyler has great potential and I believe he is at the right club to continue his development and progression to become a great defender."

 

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Chelsea issue cup final warning to fans

Chelsea have issued a warning to supporters about their conduct ahead of Sunday's League Cup final with London rivals Tottenham at Wembley.

The Premier League leaders have been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons in recent weeks after footage emerged of a group of Chelsea supporters pushing a black man off a Paris Metro train before their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.

Fans of the club are also alleged to have indulged in racist chanting at London St Pancras station after the game in Paris last Tuesday.

Anti-Semitic abuse has previously been an issue in games involving Tottenham, who have historical links to London's Jewish population.

The topic was raised again after a group of men thought to be West Ham fans were filmed singing offensive songs on an Underground train prior to last weekend's 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane, and Chelsea are keen to avoid similar occurrences this weekend.

A statement on the club's official website read: "After consultation between the Metropolitan Police and both clubs, we would like to remind supporters of their responsibilities on the day.

"For a small minority, this game has historically brought a deeply unpleasant and unwanted level of anti-Semitic abuse, which has no place in football or anywhere in society. As such, we urge everyone to keep their support positive.

"Opposition supporters using terms as a form of identity is no excuse for abusive chanting or behaviour. The club asks that all supporters realise such actions cause huge offence to those around them.

"If we receive evidence that supporters have engaged in anti-Semitic or any other form of discriminatory chanting or behaviour, we will take the strongest possible action, including supporting criminal prosecution.

"Recent events in Paris have seen Chelsea fans united in their contempt for a mindless few. Chelsea is proud of the diversity within our club and our vision embraces equality regardless of race, gender, sexuality, disability or religion.

"We all share the common cause of supporting our team."

 

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Busquets agrees new Barcelona deal

Barcelona have announced that midfielder Sergio Busquets has agreed a new four-and-a-half-year deal with the club.

The Spain international has committed himself to the Blaugrana until 2019 with the option of a further 12-month extension.

Busquets, whose previous deal still had three years to run, will sign his new contract at 13:00CET at the club's offices at Camp Nou on Friday.Busquets has spent his entire professional career at Barca, having come through the club's famed youth academy before breaking into the senior squad in September 2008 under former boss Pep Guardiola.

The 26-year-old defensive midfielder quickly established himself as a first-team regular and played an integral role in an unprecedented era of success for the Catalans that featured two Champions League triumphs, in 2009 and 2011.
Busquets also starred in Spain's World Cup triumph in South Africa in 2010 and their subsequent success at Euro 2012.

 

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Martinez elated with Everton win

Roberto Martinez was left satisfied after Everton beat Young Boys to advance to the last-16 of the Europa League on Thursday.

A Romelu Lukaku double inspired Everton to a 3-1 second-leg victory at Goodison Park before Kevin Mirallas sealed a 7-2 aggregate success against the Swiss club.

Everton are the only Premier League team remaining in the competition after Liverpool and Tottenham bowed out on Thursday, which pleases Martinez.

"It was an interesting game to see how we could cope with playing in a second leg," he explained. "We had such a good lead and sometimes that can affect the way you want to perform.

"We knew Young Boys had a fantastic result against FC Basel in their domestic league and I admire their team because they are an attacking side who want to get on the ball.

"We made it an open game. I was very satisfied with the way we scored three goals and created a number of good opportunities.

"To be the last British team left in the Europa League is a very satisfying achievement and we have been very, very pleased with the way we have played both games in this particular tie."

 

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Rodgers: I feel sorry for Lovren

Brendan Rodgers admitted that he felt sorry for Dejan Lovren after he missed the decisive penalty which saw Liverpool crash out of the Europa League to Besiktas.

Having led 1-0 from the first leg, Liverpool were pegged back thanks to Tolgay Arslan's second-half strike on Thursday at the Ataturk Stadium.

After a goalless 30 minutes of extra time, the last-32 tie went to penalties and Lovren was the villain as he skied his spot-kick to end Liverpool's European campaign for another season.

"We're disappointed to go out in the manner that we did. We created opportunities in the first half to make it really difficult for them," Rodgers told reporters.

"I feel sorry for Dejan because he had played really well in the game, but someone has to miss, and unfortunately it was us.

"Dejan was happy to take a pen - you see the five penalty takers were all confident. The four before had experience before in a penalty competition this season, and they were confident. It's a shame it ended that way.

"Over the course of the game, we defended very well and limited them to very few chances but the one mistake we made, we got punished for, where we just got too deep and they scored.

"It's no excuse. There were a lot of young players getting great experience with other players who are creative. We played with two strikers, so it was an attacking line-up."

 

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Emery: Sevilla proved Europa League ambition

Sevilla coach Unai Emery insists his side’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach proved their appetite to win the Europa League.

The Sanish side arrived in Germany on Thursday with a 1-0 lead from the first-leg and were twice pegged back before Vitolo rounded off a 4-2 aggregate victory.
And Emery says he can imagine no better way to progress to the last-16.“The game was very demanding,” Emery said.

"We managed to play the tie. We had to make the counterattack our weapon and we have done exactly that. It is an important and high-level competition."Gladbach are a good side. And we have shown that this competition excites us."The player played with real pride. The fans and the team have to stay as one and keep enjoying this together.”

Emery hopes the reigning Europa League champions can show the same desire in the league, where they have struggled to find consistency of late."This victory must provide us the belief we must show again on Sunday against Atletico Madrid," added Emery.

"After losing 4-3 to Real Sociedad last weekend, I still believed in the team and had confidence in them. Now I still have that, but on Sunday now we must move on and find the consistency we require."

 

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Salah as good Cuadrado – Montella

Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella says his club can be delighted with the deal that took Juan Cuadrado to Chelsea, insisting his side have found a gem in Mohamed Salah.

The Egypt international arrived in Florence on loan as part of the €33 million deal that took Colombia international Cuadrado to London in the winter break.

And after Salah scored his side’s second goal in a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur that secured Fiorentina’s passage into the last-16 of the Europa League, Montella struggled to split the two flying wingers."Salah is a player that, even if he takes some breaks, is devastating over 40 or 50 yards,” Montella said.

“Who did better out of the Cuadrado exchange? Fiorentina earned a lot of money and, on the pitch, they are similar players.”Fiorentina will now turn their attention to closing the six-point gap on Napoli and Champions League qualification, starting with a trip to Inter this weekend.

Montella added: “We are satisfied, great credit is due to the players and to all the fans. There's little time to enjoy it, though, as on Sunday we have a very important match.

“Inter are certainly going through a really good spell in which they have rediscovered their confidence and self-esteem.”

 

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Mancini: Inter back on course

Roberto Mancini is confident his Inter side are back on the right track after they booked their place in the Europa League last-16 with a 1-0 victory over Celtic.

Mancini returned to the San Siro in November for his second spell in the dugout and got off to a poor start, managing just four wins in his first 14 matches in charge.
But after three consecutive Serie A victories and Thursday’s triumph over the Scottish champions, he is sure his team are now heading in the right direction, although he did warn them that they are making too many mistakes.

"We did very well tonight and deserved to win,” he said.“We’re growing but we’re not perfect yet – we’re still making errors but we’re definitely on the right track."

Colombia international Fredy Guarin thumped home a 25-yard winner just two minutes from time to give Inter a 4-3 aggregate victory after a 3-3 draw in Glasgow last week.

“Guarin is always looking to do something like that,” added Mancini.“Sometimes he tries to force it too much, but he’s naturally gifted at striking the ball. He’s showing his true talent.”

 

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Bayern Munich 4-1 Koln: League leaders stroll to victory

Bayern Munich picked up a comfortable 4-1 victory over Koln at the Allianz Arena on Friday.

Pep Guardiola's side had thumped Hamburg 8-0 and thrashed Paderborn 6-0 in their last two league outings, and it looked as though Koln were on course for a similarly heavy defeat on Friday when Bayern went two up inside 10 minutes.

Bastian Schweinsteiger headed in from a corner in the third minute before Franck Ribery struck a fine individual effort, and Koln fans could have been forgiven for fearing the worst.However, the side with the second best away record in the league - behind only Bayern - rallied and halved the deficit through Anthony Ujah's header in first-half stoppage time.

Ujah had a golden chance to equalise shortly before the hour, but Manuel Neuer produced a fine save to preserve Bayern's lead, and the hosts pulled two goals clear again with Arjen Robben's header midway through the second period.

As the visitors pressed to get back into the game, they left themselves open at the back and Robert Lewandowski added a fourth with 15 minutes remaining to cap yet another dominant performance from the German champions.

Bayern applied early pressure and were in front inside three minutes as Schweinsteiger - back in the side as one of two changes - rose unchallenged to power in Robben's left-wing corner.

And Bayern did not have to wait long to make it two, as Ribery cut in from the left hand side and arrowed a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner from the edge of the box.

Another rout appeared to be on the cards but, on the stroke of half-time, Koln pulled one back as Ujah leapt to head home Matthias Lehmann's right-wing cross.
The home side began the second half as they had the first, and Thomas Muller was wasteful in heading Rafinha's cross off target in the 55th minute.

Against the run of play, the away team almost found an equaliser three minutes later when Slawomir Reszko broke free down the left and squared for Ujah, whose cushioned effort was superbly kept out by Neuer.The Bayern goalkeeper had to be alert again from the resulting corner, diving to his right to parry substitute Marcel Risse's well-struck shot.

Bayern seemed stunned into action by those near misses, and restored their two-goal advantage in the 67th minute as Robben headed Ribery's chipped ball back across goal and just inside the far post.The hosts then netted a fourth on the break as Robben crossed for Lewandowski, who was able to chest the ball in from practically on the line.

Robben and Mario Gotze both went close to making the final margin of victory more convincing, but in the end it mattered little as Bayern were able to celebrate the 115th anniversary of their formation in style.

 

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Guardiola: Bayern lost control against Koln

Pep Guardiola has criticised his team for "losing control" in their 4-1 Bundesliga win over Koln on Friday.

The league leaders were 2-0 up after 10 minutes thanks to goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery before Anthony Ujah pulled one back for the visitors in first-half injury time.

Koln came close to equalising as they forced Manuel Neuer into making some crucial saves before Arjen Robben and Robert Lewandowski scored to kill the game off.Guardiola was happy to see his side pick up the three points against a difficult opponent, but felt his side should have been more dominant throughout the encounter.

"I’m happy," he told reporters after the game. "We’ve beaten the second best away team in the league and scored four goals, which is very, very difficult against these opponents.

"We started well, but we lost control after a while. Once Arjen had made it 3-1 it was a completely different game again. We recovered our dominance."But we won today because Manuel Neuer made two outstanding saves."

 

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Robben: World-class Neuer key to win over Koln

Arjen Robben has hailed Manuel Neuer as the determining factor in Bayern Munich's 4-1 win over Koln on Friday.Goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery gave Bayern an early two goal lead but Anthony Ujah halving the deficit on the stroke of half time.

The visitors came close to pulling level, but for some excellent saves from the goalkeeper before the Bavarian side regained control and stretched their lead through Robben and Robert Lewandowski.

And Robben has heaped praise upon the Germany No.1, insisting that without him, they would not have picked up the three points.

"It was a bit weird today," he said after the game. "We started so well but then in the last 10 minutes of the first half we became a bit slower."I must say that Manuel Neuer gave us the win. He made some world class saves."Sporting director Matthias Sammer was not happy with the team's display, but also singled out Neuer as the star of the show.

"We wobbled a bit and that should not happen to us," he said. "It's unnecessary. Manuel Neuer was very good, so was Ribery. But we cannot rely on individual quality forever."In their own stadium, Koln could have made it 2-2 and that should not happen to us."

 

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Luis Enrique: There is an English campaign against Suarez

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has accused the English media of launching a campaign against Luis Suarez, after claims that the striker attempted to bite Martin Demichelis in midweek.

Suarez returned to England for the first time since leaving Liverpool in July, scoring twice in a 2-1 win over Manchester City in the first-leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.Despite his goalscoring exploits, many media outlets in the UK instead focused on images that they claimed appeared to show Suarez biting the hand of Demichelis, after the City centre-back put his hand up to the Uruguayan's chest.

The Uruguay international, who has been banned three times in his career for biting opponents, said the reports were untrue, putting it down to a media agenda against him - a stance supported by Luis Enrique.

"Unfortunately, it's something normal in some parts of the world to have these sort of campaigns against somebody," the coach said."Suarez already knows he will always be watched, even he has said many times that he made a mistake.

"We have seen this kind of campaigns against players, president, supporters."
Barca welcome City to Camp Nou for the second leg of their Champions League tie on Wednesday, March 18.

 

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'My dream is to coach Italy,' admits Madrid boss Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti has spoken of his desire to coach the Italy national team, targeting a World Cup win with the Azzurri.

The 55-year-old has won a whole host of domestic and world titles during his time in charge of Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
However, the current Real boss says he retains a long-held ambition to take charge of his country.

"My dream is to coach the Italian national team," Ancelotti said at a conference at a university. "And I hope in the future to realise it, because I'd like to win a World Cup with Italy."

Ancelotti's Madrid side are the reigning European and world champions and currently sit top of La Liga with a four-point lead over Barcelona.

 

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Barcelona are the club of my life, says Busquets

Sergio Busquets has described Barcelona as the club of his life after signing a new contract at Camp Nou on Friday.

The 26-year-old, who made his debut in 2008, has put pen to paper on a new deal until 2019, with the option of a further year.And the Spain international believes he can challenge for every trophy going with the current squad after committing his future to his boyhood side."I'm happy, this is the club of my life," he told the club's official website.

"I'm 26 and I have plenty of my future left at Barca. I hope injuries are good to me and that with my work and with the team we can continue the dynamic we've had in recent years.

"I have the example of Xavi, [Carles] Puyol and Andres [Iniesta]. The important thing is to be well and enjoy things - that's essential for me.

"I'm happy with the confidence of the club and the staff, I hope to respond with hard work and sacrifice. I'm in the right place and with the right people to fight for every title."

Busquets has made 30 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring once.

 

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I could have joined Chelsea, admits Douglas Costa

Shakhtar Donetsk forward Douglas Costa has confirmed that Chelsea were in contact over a possible January transfer.

The Brazil international was a target for Jose Mourinho's men over the winter, though the Ukrainian side wanted over €30 million for his signature and the Premier League leaders eventually signed Juan Cuadrado from Fiorentina instead.

Costa had indicated that a move to Stamford Bridge would be a "dream" come true for him but remains thankful for their interest despite the deal not coming together.

"Yes, I had a contact [with Chelsea] and the chance to work with a coach like Jose Mourinho always motivates a player," he told Goal. "I am very grateful for the kindness he showed with me.

"He is a very smart coach and who won [titles] wherever he has gone."

The ongoing crisis in Ukraine forced Shakhtar to relocate their home matches to Lviv, with their Donbass Arena having been damaged during the conflict in the east of the country.

Costa admits it was a challenging situation for the players but has thanked Shakhtar for doing their utmost to maintain order and stability within the camp.

"It was hard at the beginning, and we were all very scared. But, once again, Shakhtar were exceptional, keeping all the players calm in an apprehensive climate," he added.

"Of course, we wanted to play at home for our fans, where we are very strong. But we're evolving with every passing game.

 

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Bartomeu should face trial over Neymar signing, prosecutors say

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is set to face a legal trial for fiscal fraud in the controversial deal to sign Neymar from Santos in the summer of 2013 after prosecutors urged a Spanish judge to press charges on Friday.

Bartomeu has claimed that previous president Sandro Rosell. who resigned over the transfer in January last year, was solely responsible for the terms of the deal.

However, prosecutors insist the current chief - who was in court over the controversial move earlier in February - is also accountable for fraud in the Brazilian's signing and Judge Ruz has been instructed to bring Bartomeu to trial to answer charges of fraud in the transfer.

Barca paid Santos just over €17 million in the summer of 2013, but claimed the official fee was €57.1 m and later revealed - after Rosell's resignation - that the total operation had in fact cost €86.2m, which included a €40m payment to the players' parents, while the overall amount could yet rise to over €100m with unpaid taxes.

Prosecutor Perals has written to Judge Ruz stating that Bartomeu "undoubtedly took part in acts with apparent signs of criminality", arguing that the payments involved had to be "authorised by the president of the club, with his signature".

The payment in question is for €5m paid by Barca in January last year, after Rosell had quit as president.

Perals believes Barca neglected to pay tax of €1.9m to tax authorities and Bartomeu is now expected to return to court later in 2015.

 

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Mourinho: I trust referee Taylor for League Cup final

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists that he has no concerns about refereeing ahead of the League Cup final against Tottenham.

The Portuguese hit out at referee Martin Atkinson after his side's 1-1 Premier League draw with Burnley, having seen midfielder Nemanja Matic sent off for his reaction to a coming-together with Ashley Barnes.

Matic responded furiously when caught by Barnes' studs in the second half, with Mourinho, and Chelsea as a club, subsequently highlighting four instances in which they believed that Atkinson made the wrong decision.

Anthony Taylor will take charge of Sunday's final at Wembley, however, and the Blues boss has no fears over his performance.

"I don't believe that anyone involved in this game doesn't want to make his best," Mourinho told the press.

"I believe all three teams [Chelsea, Tottenham and the officials] will go with the same ambition to do very well and hopefully, even the players that like to complicate things, even they will try to make the final a big final."

Matic had his suspension reduced from three to two matches by the Football Association but, asked for his opinion on the move, Mourinho replied: "If I give you my views, it is bad for me.

"If I speak again about the Matic situation, I promise you I will be in big trouble."

 

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Terry: Chelsea must prove strength in depth without Matic

Chelsea captain John Terry says that his side must prove their strength in depth in the absence of suspended midfielder Nemanja Matic against Tottenham in the League Cup final on Sunday.

Matic was sent off for his reaction to a coming-together with Ashley Barnes as the Blues drew 1-1 at home with Burnley in their last Premier League match.

The Serbian responded furiously when caught by Barnes's studs in the second half, with manager Jose Mourinho, and Chelsea as a club, subsequently highlighting four instances in which they believed that referee Martin Atkinson made the wrong decision.

Matic had his ban reduced from three to two matches but he will still miss the Wembley final, while John Obi Mikel has also been confirmed as unavailable by his manager.

"He's a big miss," Terry, who captained Chelsea when they lost the 2008 League Cup final to Tottenham, told reporters of Matic. "He's been a huge part of our success so far this season.

"We've got a squad that's hopefully capable of dealing with it so we have to do that."

 

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Lucas Moura out for at least four weeks

Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain have been dealt a blow with the news that winger Lucas Moura will be out for at least four weeks with an adductor injury.
The Brazilian picked up the problem in the 2-2 draw with Caen two weeks ago and has not featured since.

Lucas has been a key component of the PSG side this season, with seven goals in 24 league outings.

But Thursday's announcement will see him miss all of March, including a Ligue 1 meeting with Monaco and a Coupe de France quarter-final against the same opponents.

Lucas is also set to miss the second leg of PSG's Champions League last-16 tie with Chelsea, which is finely poised at 1-1 after the first leg in Paris.

 

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AC Milan boss Inzaghi denies bust-up with Cerci

AC Milan head coach has denied claims of a bust-up with forward Alessio Cerci.
Reports suggested the Italy international had been furious at only being given just over four minutes of action in the 2-0 victory over Cesena last Sunday.

"Things have come out that aren't true," Inzaghi told a press conference."Things that need to be resolved are resolved in the dressing room. If that had happened, Cerci wouldn't be in the squad.

"After the game, Alessio was disappointed he'd only played a few minutes. I explained to him that [Riccardo] Montolivo had asked to be taken off, and [Andrea] Poli was tired.

"I couldn't have made the change sooner. He asked for an explanation, I gave him one, and he accepted it."I wanted him at Milan, and there's no problem. When he came on his attitude was positive. He's played a lot since he came here."

Inzaghi also remains confident Cerci can play alongside Jeremy Menez - whom he replaced against Genoa - but hinted that further attacking options are needed to accommodate a system using them both.

"I think he and Menez can play well together, but we still don't have the physical conditions to back an attack in that way," he said.

"Choosing between Cerci and Menez is difficult. If one of them doesn't play from the beginning, he has to prove to me that he should be starting the next game."
Inzaghi went on to defend the form of Mattia Destro, however, after he struggled to make an impact against Cesena.

"I don't see any problems. I tell him to play freely and be in the box for crosses. I'm happy with what he's doing and what [Giampaolo] Pazzini is doing," Inzaghi said."We expect a lot from him but it's not easy to score a goal every game. He played a normal game against Cesena, then I put Pazzini on. But Destro didn't have a bad game."

The former Italy striker added he is desperate to help Parma escape their financial peril after club captain Alessandro Lucarelli confirmed they would not play their scheduled game against Genoa."It saddens me greatly. Milan and I are ready to do anything to help the situation. I know tomorrow we'll have a 15 minute delay before kick-off," he said.

"Everyone has an interest in making sure Parma can sort this out. We're all ready to save the glorious club they are, and the people who are there."