..::Football III::..

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Ozil: Arsenal vs Chelsea will be something special

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil is hoping Sunday's clash with Chelsea will be "something special" despite the one-sided nature of this season's Premier League title race.

The Blues are 10 points clear of Arsene Wenger's side at the top of the division with six games left to play.

But Ozil maintains that there is a particular glamour to any fixture between the country's top two sides even if Arsenal's chances of winning the title are now only "theoretical".

"We are in a great shape and want to extend our run with a victory on Sunday," he told SID.

"Even if we only have a theoretical chance of winning the Premier League, the meeting of the two teams with the most points of the league is something special."

Arsenal enter the clash at the Emirates Stadium on an eight-game winning run and have been the Premier League's form team in 2015, taking 33 points from 13 matches.

Chelsea have collected 30 points in that period, however, and have not suffered defeat in the league since their last visit to north London - a 5-3 loss to Tottenham on January 1.

 

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Real Madrid must be at their best against 'legendary' Juventus - Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid must recapture their very best form if they are to beat the "legendary" Juventus in the Champions League semi-finals.The holders have been drawn against the champions of Italy in a repeat of the 2003 last-four encounter, in which Juve triumphed 4-3 on aggregate.

Ancelotti believes his players will need to repeat the standards they hit in the last round against city rivals Atletico if they are to overcome a side he coached between 1999 and 2001.

"Juventus are a club that have a legendary history and are returning to a semi-final after 12 years," Ancelotti told Real Madrid TV. "They are having a very good season and have practically won the Italian league. That means they can focus more on the Champions League.

"We are confident that we can follow our dream, which is to reach another final after last year. We need Real Madrid to be at their best to win, we need the same side that played against Atletico, with the same enthusiasm and hope. We have a lot of confidence."

Ancelotti has urged the crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu to get fully behind the team as they aim to secure a final spot against either Barcelona or Bayern Munich.
"The fans helped us a lot last year in the semi-finals against Bayern, with a fantastic atmosphere. They also helped in these quarter-finals, the atmosphere was amazing at the Bernabeu and they had the same enthusiasm as us.

"Everything went well and I hope things continue that way in the semi-finals."

 

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Mourinho: Wenger is not my rival

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has insisted he does not see Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger as a rival.

The two managers have a history of sharing jibes, but the Portuguese insists that he sees no need to compete with the Gunners boss as he prepares his side to face their London rivals this weekend.

"For me, he's not my rival," he told reporters. "I don't feel that. He's a manager of a big club in a city where I work and live with the same objectives.

"Because of that, there is always a bit of rivalry, but I don't see Wenger as any different to the Atletico manager when I was with Real [Madrid]."

Mourinho has gone 12 games unbeaten against Wenger, but he insists that he is "not proud" of his record against the Frenchman.

"For me an achievement is to win tomorrow," he added.

"It's not the other 12 matches that we played before against Arsenal. I don't look to this. I don't look to numbers. I don't look to what I did against this manager or that club."

Chelsea can take a massive step towards the Premier League title with a win this weekend, and can move 13 points clear of the Gunners with a victory.

 

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Inter owner Thohir: We like Toure... but we won't sell Icardi

Erick Thohir has talked up the prospect of Inter signing unsettled Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini was in charge of City when they signed Toure, who has been heavily linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium following a season in which his form has been called into question.

Paris Saint-Germain and Inter have both been mooted as potential destinations for the Cote d'Ivoire captain, with Mancini having repeatedly stressed he would welcome a reunion in Serie A.And Inter president Thohir told Corriere della Sera: "We like him and we're sure that Mancini would know how to make the most of his talents.

"He has a contract with City, but in the market you never know what can happen."
Striker Mauro Icardi has been linked with a move to Chelsea as his contract negotiations at the Giuseppe Meazza continue to stall, but Thohir is adamant they will not sell one of their prized assets."We won't sell Icardi, he's one of our most important players," he added.

"Often money can cause problems, but not for him as he has his head firmly on his shoulders. We are working towards an agreement for a contract renewal, it's important that he stays with us."

 

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Luis Enrique: Guardiola's style and success make him the best

Pep Guardiola's trophy wins - and the style with which he achieved them - make him the best coach in the world, according to Luis Enrique.

Guardiola is set to return to Camp Nou for the first time since stepping down as Barcelona boss in 2012 after his Bayern Munich side were drawn against the Liga leaders in the Champions League semi-finals.

Luis Enrique feels it will be a special occassion to face his old team-mate but is determined to win both legs and secure a place in the final.

"Guardiola is the best because he has won so many titles, because of the way he did it, and because he’s adapted to another country with a very difficult language and he's implanted his ideas," he told a press conference."We have played 10 matches in the Champions League and won nine. We will be out to win both at home and away. Our approach is clear."

Luis Enrique insists, however, that the only game which matters is Saturday's Catalan derby against Espanyol, with Barca aiming to maintain their lead at the top of the table.

"There is only one game and it's the one this Saturday. It's a derby, with everything that it means for the fans. It's a key day for us," said the former Celta Vigo boss.

"Espanyol are defending well. They defend as a unit and we will have to have a good day to get past them. I worry about their transition and Sergio Garcia, who we know well and is their most talented player. It's a great match-up."We will be very intense because this match requires it."

Title rivals Real Madrid face a trip to Celta on Sunday having now closed the gap to Barca to two points, but Luis Enrique says he expects more points to be dropped before the season is out.The Camp Nou coach added: "This is the final stretch and the team's mood is key. I see them in a very positive dynamic.

"I think the top teams will drop some points and hopefully it won't be us. On ability alone we can win, but it is going to be very difficult."

 

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Chelsea will offer the titles Fabregas craved at Arsenal, boasts Mourinho

Cesc Fabregas decided to sign for Chelsea because "good projects end with titles", Jose Mourinho has claimed.

The Spain midfielder will return to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday for the first time since he left Arsenal for Barcelona in 2011.

The Gunners had the option to re-sign Fabregas last summer but a deal never materialised and he joined their Premier League rivals instead.

"I know why he chose Chelsea," Mourinho told reporters. "I don't know why he didn't choose Arsenal. I can only speak about what we promised him.

"I can't talk about the decision for him leaving Arsenal or what stopped him going back.

"I don't know if it was the manager's or his decision. I just promised him we'd build a team very adapted to his style of play, that he was going to be an important player in our project ... and that, normally, good projects end with titles. He was looking for that. That's all I can say."

Mourinho insists that he is not concerned that Fabregas's performance might be affected if he receives a negative reception from the home crowd when the top two face off.

"I don't know [what reception he will get]," the Portuguese added. "To be fair, I don't know - and, to be fair, I'm not worried with that.

"Frank Lampard played at Stamford Bridge [for Manchester City] without any kind of problem and with a good reception. I don't see a reason for Fabregas not to have the same at the Emirates but, if he has some bad reactions, I think he's one of the players who is more than ready.

"He played in Barcelona with an Arsenal shirt. Why can't he play at the Emirates with a Chelsea shirt? No problem."

 

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Van Gaal on Depay: I cannot buy all the players I have coached already

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has refused to be drawn on speculation that the Red Devils are close to agreeing a deal for PSV star Memphis Depay.

The Netherlands international has long been linked with a move to Old Trafford, having been handed his national debut by Van Gaal, and PSV recently confirmed that they had spoken to United about the winger.

Although the veteran Dutch coach is a fan of Depay, who leads the Eredivisie scoring charts with 20 goals this season, he has no desire to reveal his transfer plans in public.

"I don't discuss it with the media," Van Gaal told reporters. "You know my answer. I have a lot of relationships with players. I cannot buy all the players I have coached already."

Meanwhile, another player Van Gaal has worked with prior to joining United, Robin van Persie, stepped up his return from injury for the Under-21s, though will not be assured of a place in the first team when he reaches full fitness.

"Yes, he has to train very hard, play in the second team," the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss continued.

"He has to show his qualities again. Then I have to compare him with the positions he can play, with the players that play in that position - it is always the same."

On the injury front, Michael Carrick, Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones will all miss Sunday's trip to Everton, while Rafael is out for the season with a broken rib.

Daley Blind is back in contention, however, and Van Gaal stated a knock picked up by Adnan Januzaj while playing for the Under-21s was "not so heavy".

 

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Van Gaal on Depay: I cannot buy all the players I have coached already

Mulu Holland team 1kama ganna kiwwe nahaneDepay witharai one Holland team 1ken​

 

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Adam Johnson can play against Stoke if he wants to - Advocaat

Sunderland winger Adam Johnson will make the final decision on whether he travels for Saturday's Premier League match against Stoke City after he was charged with three counts of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.

The England international was not suspended by the club after the charges were made against him on Thursday, with the 27-year-old facing an additional count of grooming.

Manager Dick Advocaat says that the player will be able to make his own call on whether he will join the squad at the Britannia Stadium.

"The club made a statement about it and I stand behind that," Advocaat told the press. "Let's see what the future will bring.

"He still has to come in [to the training ground] but, in principle, if he feels okay, he will be a member of the squad."

Sunderland's statement read: "The club recognises that the formal legal process must take its course and, whilst our position remains unchanged, we will keep the matter under review.

"The club will not be making any further comment."

Johnson is due before Peterlee Magistrates' Court on May 20.

 

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Thohir wants to build 'great Inter side' - Mancini

Inter boss Roberto Mancini insists president Erick Thohir remains dedicated to building a "great" team at San Siro despite their struggles this season.

Mancini's men sit 10th in Serie A with seven games left and are seven points adrift of sixth, which would be good enough for a place in the Europa League should Coppa Italia finalists Juventus and Lazio qualify for the Champions League, with those sides currently occupying the top two spots.

Thohir has already confirmed his side's interest in signing Yaya Toure from Manchester City, while making it clear they do not intend to sell striker Mauro Icardi.

And Mancini is confident in Thohir's ability to improve the squad in the transfer window, telling a press conference prior to Saturday's clash with Roma: "President Thohir is determined to build a great Inter side.

"That's very important. He's always very clear, sometimes deals go through and sometimes they don't."Focusing on the visit of Rudi Garcia's side, Mancini added: "Roma have had a much better season than us, although they have also had some tough spells.

"We've improved a lot, but not got the results we wanted. Matches between Inter and Roma in the last 10 years have always been important.

"We want to build consistency after our performances against Verona and in the derby. It will be a tough match against the Giallorossi as they have to fight for second and third spot.

"It [European qualification] is not down to us, there are a lot of teams ahead of us. Whilst there are still points on the table, you have to keep the faith that you can get there. Let's start by winning this match, then we will see."

 

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Manchester City are Chelsea's equals, argues Pellegrini

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is not surprised that his side are in a battle to hold on to a place in the Premier League top four, arguing that there are "five or six teams" in the division's elite.

With Chelsea on the verge of usurping their top-flight crown, City sit in fourth place after their challenge to retain the title fell away, now seven points clear of Liverpool having played one more game.

But Pellegrini does not expect things to get any easier any time soon for his side, telling reporters: "We have five or six teams with the same power and money. Every year it will be a fight to win the title."

Aston Villa are City's next opponents and Pellegrini confirmed that midfielder David Silva is fit for the match after avoiding a fractured cheekbone.

The Spaniard was taken off on a stretcher during Sunday's 2-0 win against West Ham after being caught in the face by an elbow from Cheikhou Kouyate but returned to training on Tuesday.

"David worked the whole week with no problems," the manager explained. "We have injuries to [Gael] Clichy, [Stevan] Jovetic and [Samir] Nasri but [James] Milner also worked without any problems."

Pellegrini has also been boosted by the return of Wilfried Bony following knee and ankle problems but there is no sign of captain Vincent Kompany recovering from a thigh injury in the near future.

Pellegrini added: "It's important to see how Vincent will improve in the next week. I think he'll be missing for at least two weeks more - I think, then, after two games, if he continues to work well, he can be fit.

"Nasri has a muscle injury from the last game. In the last minute, he started playing and he sustained a muscle injury. We hope it's a small problem."

The Chilean refuted suggestions that Villa's progression to the FA Cup final will have an impact on the game, saying: "I don't think that Aston Villa will not be concentrated. One thing is the final of the FA Cup, the other thing is battling against relegation. For this reason, it will be a very tough game.

"[I expect them to play] similar to the way they played against Liverpool. They are a team that tries to play as an offensive team. We are used to playing eight or nine players defending."

 

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Lukaku will be one of the world's best, says Roberto Martinez

With 11 goals in all competitions in 2015, Romelu Lukaku's recent showings have earned the plaudits of Everton manager Roberto Martinez.

The Belgium international scored seven times in the first half of 2014-15 as he struggled to replicate the form shown in the previous campaign.

But since the turn of the year, Lukaku has shown why Everton forked out a club-record €36 million to prise him away from Chelsea and has formed a productive partnership with Arouna Kone.

"Romelu is 21 and we've all been through that type of season," Martinez told reporters of the Belgian. "He has a real critical view about himself but I think that's what will make him one of the best strikers in world football.

"Romelu's form since January has been really strong. It's not a straightforward season - there was a hangover from the World Cup - but what's important in football is how you react.

"When you see out-and-out No.9s playing together it's something new and some back fours find it difficult. We've got that option and it's been pleasing to see that chemistry that Romelu and Arouna have on the pitch."

Martinez was also questioned on the future of Kevin Mirallas, whose contract expires at the end of next season.

"We don't know what's going to happen in the future," the Toffees boss conceded. "He's got two years left.

"He brings real desire to score goals. All I want is for Kevin to enjoy his football and carry on performing well. It doesn't matter if you have one year left or six years left, what's more important is being happy. I don't see that as an issue to solve now at this present time."

 

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Tevez: There's nothing in the Boca rumours

Carlos Tevez has distanced himself from reports linking him with a return to Boca Juniors in the near future.

The 31-year-old has been the key man for Juventus as they close in on a fourth consecutive Serie A title but uncertainty over his future has been growing, with whispers suggesting he could be ready to head back to Argentina either at the end of this season or next.

But Tevez, whose team were drawn against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals on Friday, insists all the talk is down to media speculation.“There’s nothing with Boca Juniors," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "The media are talking too much lately.

“I’d rather enjoy my time at Juventus and stay concentrated on our objectives.Now we need to battle until the end because we haven’t won anything yet.

“We’re delighted to be in the Champions League semi-finals, but there are still a lot of games to go and we have to be focused until the end."

 

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I want 'new Messi' Dybala to sign for Napoli - Zamparini

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has described Paulo Dybala as the "new Lionel Messi" and said that he hopes his club's star man can complete a move to Napoli this summer.

The 21-year-old attacker has impressed in Serie A this season, with 13 goals in 30 games, attracting interest from the likes of Arsenal and Juventus.

The Argentine says he wants to stay in Italy, with Juve said to be the favourites to sign him. However, Zamparini says he would love to sell him to Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis - a friend of his.

"It’s true, Napoli have come in for Dybala,” Zamparini told Radio Crc.
“De Laurentiis spoke to me personally. They want to improve their team, even if they don't get a place in the Champions League.

“He called me. I’ll meet him soon, but we have a mutual respect and a good friendship.“Our relationship is special, and I hope he can take Dybala, because he’s the new Lionel Messi.”

Dybala, meanwhile, said that he is very ambitious and admitted he feels he must be careful when it comes to deciding where to move to.“I’d love to experience playing in another country, but I would like to stay in Italy” he told Sky.

“I have many goals I want to achieve in the future. I have my whole career ahead of me and I have to make the right choice.”

 

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Giggs will be next Man United manager - Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal has revealed he expects assistant manager Ryan Giggs to succeed him as Manchester United manager.

Giggs holds the record for most United appearances of all time, having played 963 games during a 23-year career at Old Trafford and won 22 major trophies at the club under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson.

The 41-year-old joined David Moyes' backroom team in the summer of 2013 and was named interim manager when the Scot was sacked last April, winning two of his four games in charge.

Van Gaal, who appointed Giggs as his assistant last summer, rates the Welshman highly and believes he will get another chance at the top job when the time comes for him to leave Old Trafford.

"I expect that he will be the next manager after I am gone," Van Gaal told MUTV when asked about Giggs.

"Now I have the responsibility. He has tasks that he has to perform like the players. What he has to do, for me, he does it very well."

Van Gaal's current contract as United boss expires in the summer of 2017 and he has already intimated that this will be his last job.

 

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Barclays Premier League 2015.04.25 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2015.04.25 Fixtures

Southampton Vs Tottenham

Burnley Vs Leicester

Crystal Palace Vs Hull City

Newcastle Vs Swansea

QPR Vs West Ham

Stoke City Vs Sunderland

WBA Vs Liverpool

Manchester City Vs Aston Villa

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La Liga 2015.04.25 Fixtures

La Liga 2015.04.25 Fixtures

Espanyol Vs Barcelona

Atletico Madrid Vs Elche

Getafe Vs Levante

Real Sociedad Vs Villareal​

 

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Serie A 2015.04.25 Fixtures

Serie A 2015.04.25 Fixtures

Udinese Vs AC Milan

Inter Vs Roma​

 

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Ozil: Arsenal vs Chelsea will be something special

 

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Champions League draw: Barcelona versus Bayern Munich, Real Madrid against Juventus

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