..::Football III::..

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Yaya Toure convinced me to join Manchester City, admits Bony

Wilfried Bony has revealed that Yaya Toure played a large part in convincing him to join Manchester City.

The 26-year-old striker sealed a £28 million (€39m) move to the Etihad Stadium from Swansea City in January as the Premier League champions looked to bolster their attacking options ahead of their title battle with Chelsea, and last-16 tie with Barcelona in the Champions League.

Bony completed his switch to City during Ivory Coast’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign and the striker admits that talking to Yaya Toure, and his brother Kolo, paved the way for his transfer.

“I spoke a lot with Kolo and Yaya a lot because it was a massive move for me,” Bony told City’s official website.

“Kolo told me great things about his time at City, but mainly it was Yaya who was always talking to me and encouraging me to work hard and improve my game.

“More than anyone, Yaya told me that City was one of the greatest clubs in the world and said that if I had the opportunity to come here that I should take it with both hands – so I did.”

Bony scored the most Premier League goals of any player in 2014 but while Ivorian has not found the net in four appearances since joining City, he believes it is only a matter of time before that changes.

“When I first came to England there was big pressure because I was coming from Holland to the Premier League,” Bony said.

“At Swansea, I didn’t score in the first few games so there was more pressure again, but it’s just something you have to live with by improving and doing things better.

“This is a great move for me but I need to work hard, take my chances when they come along and it will get easier as I get to know my team-mates better and get a better understanding.

“I’ve only been here for two weeks so I’m just settling in, getting to know everyone better and they are getting to know me and what my strengths are, too.”

 

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Wenger: Arsenal will attack Manchester United

Arsene Wenger has no intention of telling his Arsenal team to defend deep in Monday's FA Cup quarter-final tie at Manchester United.

The Gunners have climbed to third in the Premier League after a run of seven victories in their past eight matches.

That run included a fine 2-0 success at champions Manchester City in January, a match in which Arsenal drew plaudits for a strong defensive showing and a masterclass in counterattacking football.

But while some pundits believe similar tactics could put holders Arsenal into the semi-finals, Wenger wants his team to play on the front foot at Old Trafford.

"At Manchester City, we scored the first goal, then we were on a defensive foot because they had to come out, and that [who scores first on Monday] is not predictable," he told reporters.

"But what is for sure is both teams will go for it, so that means we will have to attack well and defend well.

"You have to analyse it. You also have to look at ways of possession - is it in your own half or is it in the opponents' half? If it is in your half, it can be a bit illusionary possession.

"I still think possession is an important part of the game - you cannot go into a game and say you do not want the ball.

"Sometimes you do not have the ball because your opponent is better, sometimes you are leading 1-0 or 2-0 and your team is focused on defending the advantage.

"But overall I still think it is very important that the sport rewards people and teams who take initiative."

 

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Kane should play in Under-21 Euros, says Pearce

Stuart Pearce believes Tottenham striker Harry Kane would benefit from representing England at this year's Under-21 European Championship.

Kane boasts 26 goals for Spurs this term, having scored twice at QPR on Saturday, and is expected to be named in Roy Hodgson's senior England squad for matches against Lithuania and Italy at the end of March.Pearce feels a call-up would be fully deserved, but insists the striker should still be utilised at Under-21 level at the end of the domestic campaign.

The former England Under-21 coach told BBC Radio 5 live's 'Sportsweek' programme: "The message coming out of his mouth at the moment is suggesting that he wants to go to the Under-21 tournament.

"Personally, and I've championed this all along, I think the key to the senior squad being successful is to make sure we win trophies at the younger age group.

"The only way you do that is you take your strongest possible squad to the Under-21 and the Under-19 tournaments."

Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino believes a break from football would do Kane more good, and plans to discuss the situation with the Football Association.Yet Pearce added: "If you want to put a good argument against it - Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - they don't rest these players. They play every game.

"I never ever hear either of the players suggesting that they want to miss an Olympics or a World Cup, or even playing in the younger age groups when they were coming through at the same age as Harry Kane."

 

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FA Cup Quarter-Final Fixture 2015.03.09

FA Cup Quarter-Final Fixture 2015.03.09

Manchester United Vs Arsenal

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Ada hoda fight 1kak yai Manchester United Vs Arsenal!

Good Luck Manchester United​

 

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La Liga Fixture 2015.03.09

La Liga Fixture 2015.03.09

Cordoba Vs Getafe​

 

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Serie A Fixtures 2015.03.09

Serie A Fixtures 2015.03.09

Lazio Vs Fiorentina

Juventus Vs Sassuolo​

 

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Manchester United Vs Arsenal

Manchester United Starting Line-up

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

&

Arsenal Starting Line-up

Wojciech Szczesny
Per Mertesacker
Laurent Koscielny
Nacho Monreal
Hector Bellerin
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Santi Cazorla
Francis Coquelin
Mesut Özil
Alexis Sánchez
Danny Welbeck
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Half Time

Manchester United 1 Vs 1 Arsenal

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Hoda fight 1kak yanawa match 1ke

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Rooney ge goal 1ka patta

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Full Time

Manchester United 1 Vs 2 Arsenal

Manchester United Goal(s)

Rooney 29'

&

Arsenal Goal(s)

Monreal 24'
Welbeck 61'
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Valencia ge error 1ka thamai & Di Maria illan kawa onama welaweHamadamath wage adath De Gea nisa goals 2ka 3nakma beruna

Anyway Good Luck for the Semi-Finals Arsenal!​

 

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Juventus 1-0 Sassuolo: Pogba piledriver propels champions 11 points clear

Paul Pogba lashed home a superb 82nd-minute half-volley as Juventus made an instant return to winning ways on home soil with a 1-0 victory over Sassuolo that sent the Serie A champions 11 points clear at the top of the table.

A combination of a couple of fine Andrea Consigli saves and some wayward finishing looked set to frustrate Massimiliano Allegri's men on Monday until Pogba made the decisive breakthrough.

Simone Pepe surged forward and passed for Pogba to take the ball in his stride and unleash a fine strike from the edge of the penalty area that gave Consigli no chance as it nestled in the bottom corner.

Pogba's seventh league goal of the season – having opened his Serie A account for 2014-15 in the 1-1 draw at Sassuolo back in October – enabled Juve to bounce back from Thursday's Coppa Italia defeat at the hands of Fiorentina, the club's first home loss since April 2013.

Sassuolo started without fear and looked particularly dangerous on the break, although they were given a 13th-minute scare when a short-corner routine allowed Claudio Marchisio a sight of goal from just inside the penalty area and his angled drive skewed off target.

Neat footwork from Alvaro Morata on the left wing saw him steal a yard on his marker and his deflected centre fell kindly for Roberto Pereyra to find Carlos Tevez, who created space with his first touch and hit a rising effort that sailed over.

Domenico Berardi, co-owned by the two clubs, ballooned over at the opposite end before Juve continued to crank up the intensity as the match approached the half-hour mark - Giorgio Chiellini timing his jump to perfection to meet a Tevez corner but failing to keep his thumping header down.

Tevez was next to try his luck again, forcing Consigli to punch away a rasping drive, before crudely hacking down Simone Zaza to a concede a free-kick 25 yards out that Nicola Sansone curled straight into the arms of the grateful Marco Storari, deputising for the ill Gianluigi Buffon.

Morata cut in from the left and fired across goal two minutes before half-time and the hosts picked up where they left off after the restart.Consigli had to be at full stretch to tip Pogba's powerful low strike around the post after Patrice Evra's cross was only cleared as far as the midfielder just outside the box.

Stephan Lichtsteiner's cross just prior to the hour mark was cleverly chested by Morata to Tevez, but the striker's shot was always curling just away from goal.

Leonardo Bonucci's dipping volley from fully 35 yards forced Consigli to scramble it behind and Fernando Llorente spun and shot wide from close range as Juve's pressure continued to mount before Pogba strode forward to settle it late on.

 

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Manchester United 1-2 Arsenal: Welbeck sends Wenger to Wembley as Di Maria sees red

Arsenal's Danny Welbeck scored the winning goal against former club Manchester United on his return to Old Trafford to send the Gunners through to the FA Cup semi-finals.

Welbeck intercepted Antonio Valencia's underhit backpass and rounded David de Gea just after the hour mark to give the Gunners a lead that they did not relinquish.

Nacho Monreal had given the visitors a first-half lead but United hit back almost instantly, Wayne Rooney nodding in an Angel Di Maria cross.

Di Maria was later sent off after receiving two yellow cards in as many minutes, the first for diving and the second for pushing referee Michael Oliver in the back, to compound another disappointing night for Louis Van Gaal's men.

Welbeck was chosen ahead of Olivier Giroud in the Arsenal XI, while Luke Shaw came into the home side's defence with Marcos Rojo shifting into the centre to cover for the absent Jonny Evans, suspended for six matches for spitting at Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse last week.

Arsenal started brightly with Alexis Sanchez probing, but United were the ones who looked most likely to break the deadlock - Marouane Fellaini's hesitance in the penalty area ending one promising situation after 14 minutes.

Arsenal withstood that pressure, though, and eventually went ahead in the 25th minute, an unmarked Monreal slotting home from close range following some neat footwork by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the edge of the box.
But that lead lasted just four minutes, as Rooney got his head to a delightful Di Maria cross from the right for his 14th career goal against Arsenal.

Welbeck had appeals for a penalty turned down when he felt he was held back by Rojo as he ran into the box, while Wojciech Szczesny had to be alert to keep out a low Di Maria strike at the other end.

Van Gaal saw the need to make two half-time changes, bringing Michael Carrick and Phil Jones on for Ander Herrera and Shaw, before injury forced Oxlade-Chamberlain off to be replaced by Aaron Ramsey, the England international pulling up after challenging Rojo for the ball.

Lacking the rhythm of the opening 45 minutes, goalscoring opportunities were at a premium at the beginning of the second half, with Di Maria dragging an effort wide on the hour.

However, a Valencia slip-up at the other end cost United dear, as Welbeck pounced to punish the Ecuadorian full-back with a composed finish.

There was no time for sentiment, though, as the striker celebrated a goal against his boyhood club with passion.

Hector Bellerin could count himself lucky to stay on the pitch when he risked earning a second yellow card with a clumsy challenge on Ashley Young, and Arsene Wenger soon took evasive action by replacing the full-back with Calum Chambers.

Chris Smalling lifted over from close range with United's best chance to pull level, and the home side's frustrations were clear when Welbeck left the field to heckles from some sections of the ground.

De Gea got down brilliantly to keep out Santi Cazorla soon after, but United's chances looked over when Di Maria was dismissed in bizarre circumstances.

Booked for diving, the Argentine pushed referee Oliver to earn a second yellow and his marching orders.

Substitute Adnan Januzaj then went down in the box under the challenge of Monreal with three minutes left on the clock, but he was rightly booked for simulation as Arsenal held on for the win.

 

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Dan ithin karanna thiyana 1kama de thamai EPL top 4 secure karaganna 1ka.​

 

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Di Maria "not so smart", says Van Gaal

Louis Van Gaal has criticised Angel Di Maria, calling the Argentine "not so smart" as he was sent off in Manchester United's FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Arsenal.

Di Maria was booked for diving as he went down easily under an Aaron Ramsey challenge, and was then shown a second yellow card just seconds later for appearing to push referee Michael Oliver.

And United boss Van Gaal believes that the 27-year-old should have handled the situation better.

"We have to see every decision of the referee in the circumstances," the Dutchman stated. "I want to see on videotape how he has decided and in what way.

"But I know and Angel Di Maria knows that he doesn’t have to touch the referee. That is not so smart of him.

"Emotion is not so easy in such a match but I mentioned it also before the match. I know a red card is easy to give in this kind of match.

"I cannot give comment on whether it was a fair red card and I think you know why.

"He knows he doesn’t have to touch the referee. Every player knows that".

Van Gaal was also unhappy with his side's performance, which leaves them with just Champions League qualification to fight for in the remaining two months of the season.

"It’s very disappointing when you don’t lose from your opponent, you have lost from yourself," he stated. "That’s very disappointing and that’s also why the players are very disappointed. You know that it could be different.

"Of course, a match will be decided by goals. This match has been decided by goals and when you see the second goal, it was nothing.

"We gave it away but the man who did that was the best man on my team. That’s also for him so disappointing. He didn’t do it on purpose, it happens.

"I think always a negative result and this is a big blow for us. We have to recover, we are sportsman. But I cannot say that the motivation of my team was bad. It’s always good and today again we showed fighting spirit.

When asked about Danny Welbeck - who got the winning goal to send Arsenal through to the semi-finals and dump his former club out of the competition - the United boss said: "It happens in football. It was a surprise Wenger put him in the line-up in that position. He was very motivated but I think we gave that goal away."

Van Gaal also defended Radamel Falcao, who remained on the bench despite the Red Devils chasing an equaliser for the final half-hour.

"Falcao has scored four goals and three or four assists. That’s his contribution and he has also stimulated the other players.

"[Selling Welbeck and signing Falcao has not worked out?] You are very happy to say that now. I can’t change facts, so you can continue".

 

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Di Maria meeta wada wagakeemen play karanna wei.Mokada Di Maria gana loku wishawasayak thiyalane gatthe & Januzaj unath meetawada careful wenna wei​

 

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Di Matteo: Impossible to shut down BBC completely

Roberto Di Matteo says Schalke have no chance of completely shutting down Real Madrid's 'BBC' forward line but nonetheless believes that the German outfit can make things interesting by netting first in Tuesday's Champions League clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.The Bundesliga side have arrived in the Spanish capital trailing 2-0 on aggregate after their last-16 first-leg clash in Gelsenkirchen three weeks ago.

However, Schalke will take heart from the fact that Madrid have failed to win in their last two Liga outings, drawing 1-1 at home to Villarreal before being beaten 1-0 in Bilbao at the weekend.

Madrid's famed front three of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo are now coming under scrutiny but Di Matteo is refusing to read too much into reports of the BBC's demise."Three weeks ago I was asked about the crisis at Madrid – but I don't think there is a crisis," the Schalke boss told reporters on Monday.

"Real Madrid are a very strong side and it's very difficult to play at their level – we will try our best. "We need to be well organised. I hope the media are right and their forwards are having a tough time – but it's impossible to stop them altogether.

"Athletic are a good team at home and they didn't allow Madrid to play in the style they are used to. Tomorrow will be different.

"But it would be a sensational experience for us to win. If we start scoring, it could get interesting."We will try to start the match with a strong line-up of players who are in good shape."

However, Di Matteo also admitted that on Tuesday night he will be pitting his wits against one of the finest tacticians in the game today."Carlo Ancelotti is one of the best coaches in the world, very successful," he added.

"I met him when I played for the Italian national team and he was the assistant coach.""He has worked for very prestigious clubs and won many trophies."