..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Casillas: Buffon is a role model for me

Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas has revealed that he has always viewed Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon as something of a role model.

The two iconic shot-stoppers will go head to head on Tuesday night in the first leg of a Champions League semi-final, which has unsurprisingly sparked a debate over who is the better No.1.Casillas, 33, has admitted that he has always looked up to Buffon, who is four years the Spaniard's senior.

"Gigi is a reference point for me. Anyone of my generation who dreamt of becoming a goalkeeper had the target of emulating him," the World Cup winner told Gazzetta dello Sport.

Casillas also confessed his admiration for the 35-year-old Andrea Pirlo, another veteran who remains an integral part of the Italian champions' midfield.

"Andrea is fantastic for everything that he knows how to do with the ball," the Spain international stated. "It's a pleasure for all of us who love football to be able to watch him."

Juve have been compared to Real's opponents in the quarter-finals, Atletico, whom the Blancos defeated 1-0 on aggregate. While Casillas is expecting two tight encounters against the Italian titleholders, he feels that Massimiliano Allegri's men will take the game to the reigning European champions."I don't think Juve are like Atletico," he added. "They are trying to impose their football on Europe this year, just as they have done in Italy.

"I'm expecting two games with few goals but of high tension until the final minute.
"Also, while they're missing [Paul] Pogba, we're missing [Luka] Modric and [Karim] Benzema, so there's balance also in terms of the absentees."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Javi Martinez warns Barcelona: We have the best coach in the world

Javi Martinez says that Bayern Munich can beat Barcelona even without a host of first-team regulars because in Pep Guardiola they have "the best coach in the world".

The Bavarians travel to Catalunya on Wednesday to take on the Blaugrana, who are on a six-game winning streak in all competitions, netting 14 goals in their last two outings alone.

Bayern, by contrast, are feeling the absences of a number of key players through injury, with the Bavarians having been beaten on penalties in the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal last week before slumping to a 2-0 Bundesliga loss at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

Javi Martinez freely admits that Barcelona are an even stronger side than the Real Madrid outfit that defeated Bayern 5-0 on aggregate on their way to winning last season's Champions League.

Even though the German champions will arrive at Camp Nou without the likes of Arjen Robben, the fit-again Spain international believes that Guardiola can still mastermind a victory over his former club.

"Our run of injuries has been incredible," the versatile midfielder told Marca."We've had them all year, but a lot, too many, have come all at once at a decisive juncture in which we've got everything at stake.

"But these sorts of situations are when it's important to have a squad like Bayern's.
"It showed [in the quarter-final against] Porto when, despite all the absentees, we put out a line-up capable of challenging and beating anybody.

"This Barca side press more than Madrid, are more focused, are stronger at the back and have that extra killer instinct in Luis Suarez, who is a fantastic player and gives them a lot.

"But we want to keep making history, which we've been doing for the last two years. We're all hungry for more. "It's true we're missing some players and have problems, but we're Bayern and we've got the best coach in the world."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Benzema blow for Madrid ahead of Juventus clash

Karim Benzema will miss Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final first leg with Juventus after failing to recover in time from a knee problem.

The France international has not featured for the reigning European champions since the goalless draw in the last round with city rivals Atletico.

Benzema returned to training on Sunday to raise hopes that he could feature against Juventus, but Madrid have now announced that he is not part of Carlo Ancelotti's 20-man squad for Tuesday's trip to Turin.The absence of the former Lyon striker means that Javier Hernandez is likely to start up front again.

The Mexico international scored the winner in the quarter-final clash with Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu, while he has also been involved in four goals in his last three Liga outings.

There was some good news for Real, though, with Gareth Bale having been included in the travelling party after suffering no reaction to his recent calf injury following a substitute appearance against Sevilla at the weekend.However, Germany international Sami Khedira has been left out of the squad.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Lewandowski looking good for Barcelona clash, says Boateng

Jerome Boateng is confident that Robert Lewandowski will be available for the first leg of Bayern Munich's Champions League semi-final tie with Barcelona on Wednesday.

The Poland international picked up a concussion, fractured jaw and broken nose in his side's DFB Pokal semi-final defeat against Borussia Dortmund last week and it seemed unlikely that he would feature at Camp Nou.

However, the 26-year-old resumed regular training on Monday wearing a mask and Boateng is hopeful that the striker will make the trip to Catalunya.

"Lewandowski made a very good impression," the centre-half said at a press conference. "We hope Robert will put in a great performance on Wednesday.
"He is very brave and hopeful he can get used to the mask before Wednesday's game."You can adjust your game a bit and change the way you move, approach the ball and control it when wearing a mask."

Meanwhile, Boateng admitted that whether Lewandowski is fit or not, he and his fellow defenders will need as much help as possible from those in front of them in order to try to contain Barcelona's prolific front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

"We have an exceptional storm coming toward us," he added. "We want to prevent them from getting their wheels in motion."It's not just the defence, we have to defend with the whole team against Barcelona."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Pogba has not requested a transfer, says Marotta

Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta has insisted that Paul Pogba has not requested a transfer this summer, but has admitted there is plenty of interest in the France international.

Paris Saint-Germain have already reached an initial agreement with Juve over a transfer fee of €80m, while Barcelona have also held talks with the Serie A champions over a potential deal.

Nevertheless, Marotta is adamant that Juventus will only sell on their conditions and he remains hopeful the 22-year-old will decide to stay put."Pogba has not demanded a transfer," Marotta told Rai.

"He is the best young player in the world and it is only normal that some of Europe's biggest clubs want to sign him."But Juventus are a big club as well and we are not a selling club.

"Juventus have sold very few outstanding players over the years and at the moment there are no conditions for us to put Pogba out there on the transfer market."

Marotta also had his say on the situation of Carlos Tevez amid ongoing reports that the striker is set to leave Juventus for Boca Juniors at the end of the season.
"Carlos is homesick and misses Argentina," Marotta explained."But he has a contract with Juventus until June 2016. There are no conditions to terminate his contract before that date."

Juventus claimed their fourth successive Serie A title at the weekend and Marotta is adamant they have now won the Scudetto 33 times, stressing that the titles they lost due to the Calciopoli scandal remain a stain they will not accept.

"Calciopoli remains an open wound for Juventus," he added."We have won 33 Serie A titles..."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Wenger: Arsenal don’t need big changes this summer

Arsene Wenger does not believe that Arsenal need big changes this summer as his players have proved this season that the Gunners have a strong squad.

The north Londoners take on Hull City on Monday having lost just once in their last 13 games, a run that has seen them surge into third place in the Premier League and secure an FA Cup final spot.

Summer signing Alexis Sanchez has been key to Arsenal's form this season, top-scoring with 22 goals so far, while Mesut Ozil's return from injury has also given the Gunners a boost.

Indeed, when asked by reporters how his side's recent form had changed his plans with regards summer transfer activity, Wenger replied: "Massive changes.

"Massive because I believe that some players who were questioned, like Mesut Ozil, have made big improvements in the second part of the season and becomes slowly the leader you want him to be in guiding our game.

"We are not in need of absolute change. We have a strong squad. We have some strong young players behind.

"We have a big squad now - Lukas Podolski, Joel Campbell, Yaya Sanogo [all on loan] will come back. If you add that to the number of players [we already have]."

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Petr Cech in recent weeks but Wenger insists that he is happy with the goalkeeping options currently at his disposal.

"I believe in the keepers I have. I believe that Wojciech Szczesny is a very good goalkeeper and David Ospina has come in and done a fantastic job," he enthused.

"You look at the numbers in the Premier League and you look at who is top of all the goalkeepers, and you will see it's Ospina."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Hazard's penalty decision was tight - but correct, says Mark Halsey

Eden Hazard received plenty of stick from the Crystal Palace fans at Stamford Bridge after the Belgian's penalty led to Chelsea's Premier League title victory but Kevin Friend got the decision spot on.

At full speed, it looked a penalty and the slow-motion replay only confirmed how difficult the decision was for the referee in real time.

Despite there being minimal contact with James McArthur, the way Hazard went to ground would have made up the referee's mind; it made it look that bit more convincing. If I were in Friend's position, I would have given the penalty as well.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Benatia: No respect for Messi-Suarez-Neymar

Bayern Munich defender Medhi Benatia says all respect will go out of the window when he faces Barcelona's attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

The Catalans' forward line has already netted over 100 goals in all competitions in 2014-15 and Barcelona will be hopeful they can add to their tally when they meet Bayern in the Champions League semi-finals.

Nevertheless, Benatia has made it clear that he will not be overawed by Barcelona's attacking prowess ahead of Wednesday's first leg.

"I have met Suarez before with Udinese in the Europa League, when he still played for Liverpool. I have never faced Messi and Neymar before, but there's a first time for everything," Benatia told Kicker."On a personal level, I respect them. But I will not show them any respect during the 90 minutes on the pitch.

"We will do everything within our power to make it to the final of the Champions League."Wednesday's first leg will be a great game. We are capable of getting a good result at Camp Nou and should believe in ourselves."

Bayern and Barcelona last met in the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2012-13, when the Bavarians recorded a 7-0 win on aggregate.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Van Gaal: Manchester United's lack of goals is a concern

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has bemoaned his team's lack of firepower after their grip on a top-four spot loosened again.

United have lost three straight Premier League matches, including a 1-0 defeat by West Brom on Saturday, to leave them just four points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool.

Van Gaal's men are without a goal in those three games, leading to worries that they may have to battle late in the season for a Champions League qualifying spot that looked relatively secure.

Wayne Rooney, on 12, is United's leading goalscorer in the league but has played periods in midfield, while Robin van Persie (10) and Radamel Falcao (four) have struggled.

"I miss a striker that scores and every striker - if it's Van Persie or Falcao or Wayne Rooney - who scores the goal, I'm very happy and the team is very happy," Van Gaal told the press.

"[The lack of goals] is a concern now because it's not a coincidence and, in spite of the way we have played against Chelsea, Everton and now against West Brom, we have created a lot of chances and still we don't score.

"So you can say, as manager, we were not unlucky in every match. It's also that you have to finish these chances.

"We have lost three times in a row so it's also in the hands of my players. [The top four] is less secure."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United finishing nam anthimai thamai​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Dortmund rule out Gotze-Gundogan swap deal

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has ruled out a player exchange deal involving Ilkay Gundogan and Bayern Munich forward Mario Gotze.

Gundogan recently announced that he will not sign a new contract with BVB - with his existing deal expiring in June 2016 - and is widely expected to leave the club this summer.

Gotze, meanwhile, joined Bayern from Dortmund ahead of the 2013-14 campaign, but has so far been unable to live up to the high expectations at the Allianz Arena on a consistent basis.

Zorc, however, feels a return to BVB is very much unlikely for Gotze and says there have still been no offers for Gundogan."A player-exchange deal involving Gundogan and Gotze? Mario is a Bayern player. I can really not imagine him returning to Dortmund," Zorc told Sky90.

The Dortmund chief then went on to admit that he would rather not sell Gundogan to Bayern, but stressed that a potential transfer would not reignite the war between both Bundesliga rivals.

"It would not result in another war if Bayern try to sign Gundogan."Of course, we would prefer it if he did not join a Bundesliga rival, even if Bayern have not really been our rivals in a sporting sense this campaign.

"There are no offers for now, though."Gundogan, 24, has made 20 Bundesliga appearances so far this campaign, scoring three goals in the process.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Van Persie stripped of penalty-taking duties after West Brom miss

Louis van Gaal has confirmed that Robin van Persie has been stripped of his penalty-taking duties after missing from the spot during Manchester United's defeat by West Brom on Saturday.

The Dutchman saw his spot-kick saved by Boaz Myhill at Old Trafford as United fell to their third consecutive Premier League loss, with Chris Brunt's heavily deflected free kick proving decisive.

And Van Gaal has now revealed that he will soon appoint a new penalty taker, though Wayne Rooney will not succeed Van Persie, having also missed from the spot in recent weeks.

"No. He is now at the end of the road," the United manager replied when asked if Van Persie would continue taking penalties.

"It's always like that. Wayne has missed also so, when you miss, you are at the bottom again.

"Wayne has already missed - twice, I believe - so we have penalties and we miss them."

Van Persie has scored 10 goals in 26 Premier League appearances thus far this season.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals 1st Leg Fixture 2015.05.05

UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals 1st Leg Fixture 2015.05.05

Juventus Vs Real Madrid

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[Wolverine GTR]

 

[MR.BILLA]

UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals 1st Leg Fixture 2015.05.05

Juventus Vs Real Madrid

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Supiri

 

[rcccc]

Hull City 1-3 Arsenal: Alexis and Ramsey tame sorry Tigers

A first-half brace from Alexis Sanchez helped Arsenal roar to a convincing 3-1 victory over Premier League strugglers Hull City.

The Chilean opened the scoring with a free-kick that flicked off the head of Michael Dawson, before Aaron Ramsey doubled the Gunners' lead with another deflected strike.

Sanchez made it three in first-half injury time, rounding Steve Harper and rolling the ball into an empty net for his 16th goal of the campaign.

Stephen Quinn clawed one back for the Tigers with a header in the 56th minute, but Arsene Wenger's side held out to secure all three points.

The win was Arsenal's ninth in ten games and moves them level on points with Manchester City in second place, while Hull drop to 17th, just a single place and point above the drop zone with three games remaining.
Hull will require greater luck in their remaining fixtures after Sone Aluko wasted a good opening early on and Arsenal were rewarded for their own positive start 28 minutes in when Sanchez's free-kick struck the head of Dawson, wrong-footing Harper on its way into the net.

Things went from bad to worse for the home side five minutes later, with another deflected strike putting them further behind.

Santi Cazorla spotted Ramsey's forward run and the Wales midfielder controlled the Spaniard's fine pass instantly before turning and letting fly with a shot from inside the penalty area which hit Robbie Brady before looping into the far corner of the net. Hull were struggling to cope with Sanchez's movement and Harper did well to deny him when Cazorla split open the Tigers' defence with a sublime pass.

Bruce's side failed to learn their lesson as Sanchez struck again in first-half stoppage time, beating the goalkeeper with his first touch and finishing with his second after Ramsey turned provider with an incisive pass.

Hull pulled a goal back out of the blue 11 minutes into the second half, with Quinn the unlikely scorer, timing his run to perfection to head home Ahmed Elmohamady's cross from close range.

Arsenal felt referee Lee Mason should have awarded a free-kick for a David Meyler challenge on Laurent Koscielny in the build-up to the goal, and they almost conceded again as Paul McShane headed just over the crossbar.

Sanchez spurned two good openings for his hat-trick but his double was enough, though Nikica Jelavic's return from two months out may provide a crumb of comfort for Hull ahead of the weekend's visit of Burnley.

Sanchez Ramsey th right wing wala elatama play karanawa

 

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Juventus Vs Real Madrid

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[panchaz]

UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals 1st Leg Fixture 2015.05.05

Juventus Vs Real Madrid

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Hala Madrid y nada más

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United target Clyne: I'm happy to stay at Southampton

Nathaniel Clyne insists he is happy to stay at Southampton despite interest from Manchester United.

Goal understands the Red Devils have made Clyne one of their primary summer transfer targets, with the Old Trafford outfit willing to offer Javier Hernandez in part-exchange for the £25 million-rated (€34m) full-back.

But Clyne, whose agent is in talks with Southampton over a new contract, could still remain at St Mary's this summer.

"I’m enjoying my football for Southampton, playing week-in, week-out and it’s an up-and-coming club, so, yeah, I’m happy playing for Southampton and happy to stay at Southampton as well," he told the Southern Daily Echo.

Clyne's current contract runs until the end of next season, though Koeman revealed last week that the player had just 10 days to decide whether he would commit to a new deal with the Saints.

The former Crystal Palace man explained that talks are ongoing as he focuses on helping the club finish the season on a positive note.

He added: "My agent is negotiating, so I’ll just leave it with my agent and I’m just going to concentrate on playing my football."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Coloccini apologises to Newcastle fans

Fabricio Coloccini has apologised to Newcastle United's supporters and asked for their backing as the crisis-hit club look to survive in the Premier League.

Eight defeats in a row have left Newcastle two points above the relegation zone with four games remaining, piling pressure onto head coach John Carver.

Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Leicester City saw Newcastle reduced to nine men following the dismissals of Daryl Janmaat and Mike Williamson, the latter accused of deliberately earning a red card by his boss in a post-match interview.

Urgent talks were held following that loss with Carver receiving the backing of the board to lead the side until the end of the season, and Coloccini has called on everyone at St James' Park to pull together to help revive their fortunes.

"On behalf of the squad we would like to apologise for the moment we are going through," he said in an open letter published on the club's official website. "Needless to say this is not anything intentional.

"This is something that has happened for many reasons and right now there is no time to look back and correct those mistakes.

"We are in a delicate situation, one that we have been through before, and it is one of the most uncomfortable situations in the world of football.

"The players and staff have come together in order to leave all past problems aside and to focus 100 per cent on the three 'cup finals' that we have left.

"I would like to make a call to all fans today to also leave aside all differences, all different opinions, anything that divides us as people who love this club.

"On Saturday, please come to St. James' Park, create a great atmosphere, support the team more than ever, because at the end of the day what matters the most here is Newcastle United Football Club.

"Today we need you more than ever. In these three games we need to be together, we need to be united."

Newcastle's problems have not just been confined to the playing squad, with owner Mike Ashley being the subject of protests and boycotts from the club's supporters.