..::Football III::..

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Man Utd should sign Cech if De Gea quits, says Scholes

Manchester United should sign Chelse's Petr Cech if David De Gea leaves to join Real Madrid, according to Red Devils legend Paul Scholes.

The Spanish side have identified De Gea - who will soon enter the final year of his current contract with United and has so far declined to sign an extension - as the ideal replacement for Iker Casillas and have issued the 24-year-old an ultimatum to persuade him to join this year.

Cech, meanwhile, is ready to leave Stamford Bridge after being displaced as Chelsea No.1 by Thibaut Courtois this season and his agent, Viktor Kolar, on Tuesday revealed that his client would be open to joining United or Arsenal.

Scholes sees Cech as the outstanding available candidate to replace De Gea should he depart and believes the 33-year-old could have a similar impact at Old Trafford as Dutch goalkeeping great Edwin van der Sar.

"If De Gea does go, United should sign Petr Cech," Scholes wrote in his column for the Independent.

"I remember the effect Edwin van der Sar had on the club when he arrived in 2005. United had struggled since Peter Schmeichel to find a really commanding goalkeeper. Fabien Barthez was the closest we got.

"Edwin came ready-made. He was a Champions League winner, he had four years’ Premier League experience with Fulham, and in the end our manager got six extremely successful years out of him.

"Edwin was almost 35 when he joined United. Cech has only just turned 33. He could potentially play another six years for United.

"There would be no concern about having to give him time to play his way into the position or the demands that the Premier League makes of a goalkeeper new to the country. United won’t want to lose De Gea but there is a solution in the offing."

 

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Liverpool cancel Sterling talks after agent outburst

Liverpool have cancelled a meeting with Raheem Sterling and his representative, Aidy Ward, after the agent's recent comments over his client's future at Anfield.

The 20-year-old has so far stalled on talks over an extension and was due to meet with club officials on Friday, where he was expected to firmly state his desire to leave this summer.

But Ward's public claims that there are no circumstances under which Sterling would remain on Merseyside, even if he were offered €1 million a week, have forced the Reds to cancel their proposed meeting.

The forward's agent made strongly worded comments about his disregard for the club's interests as he seeks to give his client Champions League football next season, adamant that "every Premier League club will make a bid".

Ward also rebuked those criticising Sterling for wanting to move on, calling Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher "a k***".

 

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Sterling argument 1ka saratama yanawa wage.​

 

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Hodgson worried about Sterling

England manager Roy Hodgson admits he is worried about Raheem Sterling as the acrimony surrounding his refusal to sign a new contract with Liverpool intensifies.

On Thursday Sterling's agent Aidy Ward was quoted as saying that his client would not agree to stay at Anfield even for "£900,000-a-week" and branded Jamie Carragher a "knob" for criticising the attacker.

Ward has since distanced himself from the comments but Liverpool responded by cancelling a scheduled meeting with Sterling's representatives on Friday, fuelling speculation that the coveted 20-year-old is destined to leave Merseyside this summer.

And as he prepares to select his England squad for matches against Republic of Ireland and Slovenia next month, Hodgson is keen to ensure that Sterling is not cast as a villain.

“I worry for all these young players, to be honest,” he told reporters. “They become stars very quickly and we should never forget we’re dealing with very young people.

"They burst on the scene at a young age, and at 19 they are bona fide internationals with tens of caps and coming up to 100 league games, but we cannot given them the experience of a Wayne Rooney or Steven Gerrard.

"Unfortunately we can’t put another seven or eight years’ experience of life on his shoulders.

“I hope that people don’t judge him too harshly, whatever he happens to do, because as a player and a character I find him spot-on.

"I trust him implicitly. I think he’s a very important player. And I really do sympathise with these players who have to live their lives under scrutiny – sometimes of their making, sometimes of other people’s making.”

 

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Madrid set to sack Ancelotti, Benitez favourite to take over

Real Madrid’s fixture against Getafe on Saturday will be Carlo Ancelotti’s last in charge of the team, as he is set to be sacked at the end of the season, with Napoli boss Rafael Benitez the favourite to replace him.

The future of the Italian coach, who has guided the Blancos to success in the Champions League, Club World Cup, Copa del Rey and Uefa Super Cup since taking over in summer 2013, has come under immense scrutiny in recent months.
Their Champions League semi-final exit at the hands of Juventus followed by their failure to win La Liga and an early exit in the Copa del Rey has brought the board to the conclusion that a change is needed.

While the club have not confirmed to Ancelotti that he will be relieved of his duties come the conclusion of the campaign, he has been informed that they are searching for “another kind of coach".

The former Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan boss is understood to appreciate that the club would feel justified to sack him after a campaign without a major title - other than the Club World Cup - and is quite happy with his time at the Bernabeu.
The 55-year-old has been heavily linked with a return to Milan in recent weeks, but it is not an option he is seriously considering at present and it is believed he could go on a sabbatical until a top job opens up for him.

Expected to leave Napoli at the end of the campaign, Benitez is currently top of the list of candidates to take the Italian's role. The Spaniard has a fan in Madrid general manager Jose Angel Sanchez and is a coach Florentino Perez has previously considered for the job.

Some figures at the capital club believe the hiring of Benitez is a done deal, but his representatives insisted there has been no contact from Madrid and he is not exploring his options until the Serie A season finishes on May 31. However, his agent Manuel Garcia-Quilon told Spanish TV channel Cuatro that the coach "will surely be interested in coaching Madrid".

 

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Xavi announces Barcelona exit

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Mourinho: I would manage another English club after Chelsea

Jose Mourinho has revealed he would like to continue managing in England when his time in charge of Chelsea is up.

The Portuguese will lift the Premier League trophy for the third time at Stamford Bridge on Sunday after his side take on Sunderland.

And while he insists he wants to stay at Chelsea for as long as possible, Mourinho adds that he wants to remain in English football even if owner Roman Abramovich decides to dismiss him for a second time.

"The day Mr Abramovich thinks I am not good enough for Chelsea, I want to work, and if possible in England too," Mourinho told the BBC's Football Focus.

"Until Mr Abramovich says so, I don't see myself going. Any club can come to me now and offer me a fantastic project, offer me twice my wages in the contract at Chelsea, but there's no chance I will go.

"I see myself coaching another club, yes, but I love Chelsea and I am in Mr Abramovich's hands and until then, I am staying here."

Mourinho was heavily linked with succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in the summer of 2013, only for the Scot to instead recommend countryman David Moyes for the job.

 

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Rodgers: I'm 150 per cent sure I'll stay at Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers insists he is “150 per cent” sure he will stay on as Liverpool manager despite a disappointing season at Anfield.

The Reds go into their final game of the campaign in fifth place, a slump from last season which saw them finish as runners-up, just two points behind Manchester City.Rodgers is due for talks with the club’s owners at the end of the season, but the 42-year-old has played down their significance and when asked if he was confident of his position at Anfield he told reporters: “Yes, 150 per cent.

“I’m constantly reviewing with the owners. There is probably a lot more made of that than what it actually is. There is nothing different. There have been a number of reviews.

“Throughout the season I’ve had great communication with the owners, I’ll speak with them at the end of the season like I did last year, like I did at the end of my first year, and like I’ve done intermittently throughout the season.

“It is very clear in terms of the model of how it works here. That doesn’t change. There are constant questions asked of me in terms of strategy and the model. You have to remember the owners have had great success in terms of working and how they want to work. Everyone here is aligned to that and have that belief in what they’ve brought to the club.

“For us it is really analysing this year in terms of all the plans, all the changes that took place last year, review that, how can we be better equipped to move forward and challenge. That will be the review.”

Rodgers also feels that this season will help him improve as a manager despite disappointments including an early Champions League exit and an FA Cup loss to Aston Villa.“I think you evolve as a manager,” he added. “Every year when you assess it and you review your own performance as a manager you hope the following year you can be better again.

“Certainly the experiences of this year will make me better. We have been clear with the identity of how we want to play since I’ve been here and obviously it hasn’t quite worked out this season as I would have liked.“But going forward I repeat I will be a better manager for the experiences and hopefully go on next year to be more consistent and we can win more games than we have.”

 

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Bojan recovery going smoothly, says Hughes

Mark Hughes has revealed Bojan Krkic is on course to return from injury for Stoke City at the start of next season.

After initially taking time to adapt following his close-season move to the Premier League, Bojan gradually blossomed prior to the turn of the year and put in a series of match-winning performances, only to then suffer a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee during an FA Cup tie at Rochdale in January.

The former Barcelona forward is expected to be at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday when Stoke end their campaign with a home game against Liverpool.

Ahead of that match, Hughes said: "He is progressing really well and we are hopeful, all being well, of having him available to us ready for the new season.

"We are hoping that he will be here on Sunday, giving his thanks to the fans for the support he has received from them.

"It's a case of what might have been maybe if we'd had him all year but other players have stepped up to fill in.

"We have had to put up with a number of setbacks this season and that is why we are more satisfied with what we have achieved this season in securing a second successive ninth place finish than 12 months ago."

Hughes eager to add more star quality to his squad in the summer to ensure his side progress next season.

"We can't hang our hat on getting players of Bojan's quality for that price again," the Stoke manager added.

"We know our boundaries but we are still looking for good talent to improve the top end of the squad. Our depth is good, if we are going to improve it's the first XI we will add to."

Steven Gerrard is set to make his final appearance in a Liverpool shirt against Stoke this weekend and Hughes added: "The crowd at the Britannia will give him a nice welcome, I'm sure.

"He has had a tremendous career, and for the stick he may get, I am sure everybody will appreciate what he has achieved in the game."

 

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Deschamps: Pogba and Evra will want to face Albania after Barcelona

Didier Deschamps had no hesitation in calling up Paul Pogba and Patrice Evra for France's friendlies next month, despite the duo's involvement in the Champions League final.

Pogba and Evra are part of Deschamps' squad to face Belgium and Albania next month, with the first match taking place a day after Juventus take on Barcelona in Berlin.

While the two Juve players will therefore only be available to face Albania, Deschamps still feels they will be valuable to the team when they do meet up with the rest of the squad.

"No, it wasn't a tough decision at all to pick Pogba and Evra, the decision was clear," he told reporters.

"It is true they will play the Champions League final the day before we play Belgium, but as I already said many times, I consider the French national team above all other things.

"They will come and join us with a great deal of pleasure and joy to be part of the second game against Albania."

Rennes forward Paul-Georges Ntep has a chance to earn his first cap after being called up."Ntep is a young player with a different profile, blessed with a lot of speed and strength," said Deschamps.

"His presence offers us a new solution and it is a reward for his great season with Stade Rennes. He still has a lot of room for improvement of course, but I appreciate his profile and his features are different from the others."It is an opportunity for him to discover and be part of this group. I can see him more closely during the training and hopefully in a game.

"The doors are always open to join the French national team. I don't have any deadlines or restrictions. It was the right opportunity to get him on board."

 

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Allegri: Juventus want to spoil Xavi's party

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri says his side are hoping to spoil iconic Barcelona midfielder Xavi's farewell when they meet in the Champions League final.

Both sides are in with a chance of completing a treble when they meet in Berlin in June 6, with Juve already having two trophies under their belt and Barca still to face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final before the European showpiece.
Xavi announced on Thursday that he will leave Camp Nou this summer to join Qatari side Al Sadd, meaning the final will be his last appearance in a 24-year period with the club.Allegri insists his side will be out to make the occasion a disappointing one for the Spain and Barca legend.

"It will be the last game for Xavi, an extraordinary player for Barcelona and the Spanish national team, but we hope to spoil the party," he told reporters.

Juve needed an extra-time goal from Alessandro Matri to beat Lazio in the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday and Allegri believes his side's struggles against a team currently 17 points behind them in Serie A proves the Bianconeri have a chance against the highly favoured Catalans.

"Barca have three great players in attack in Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez and they have Andres Iniesta dictating the pace in midfield," he said.
"Seeing the points difference in the league between us and Lazio, the Italian Cup final would have appeared to have been a foregone conclusion, but that is not how it went. It will be the same thing in Berlin."They are used to playing in finals, but we won't be at a disadvantage because of our inexperience and our positivity will be important.

"We will work on the mental and physical aspects to get into optimal condition for the game."Allegri took the time to praise Gianluigi Buffon, who he believes has already shown he is deserving of the Ballon d'Or.

"I am always pleased to talk about Buffon," he said. "He is an extraordinary player, a professional with values. Considering his career, whatever the outcome of this final, he deserves the Ballon d'Or."

The Serie A champions take on Napoli in their penultimate league game on Saturday and the 47-year-old says they must look for the three points to keep their momentum going before they take on Luis Enrique's men.

Allegri said: “It's an important game ahead of the Champions League final. In order to keep the team in good physical condition, we have to keep training and playing.
“Against Lazio, we played without Claudio Marchisio, Stefano Sturaro, Paul Pogba, and Alvaro Morata, so some players will be available to face Napoli.
"The game doesn't mean anything in terms of the league title, but we can keep our undefeated run of home games going."

 

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Tottenham grant Adebayor compassionate leave

Tottenham have allowed Emmanuel Adebayor to miss Sunday's final Premier League clash at Everton in order for the striker to return home and deal with family issues.

On Wednesday, Adebayor posted on his Facebook page that he had considered suicide over the personal issues he is currently struggling with, after publishing two earlier posts hitting out at some of his family members.

Mauricio Pochettino takes his Spurs side to Goodison Park hoping to leapfrog Liverpool and end the campaign in fifth place, but they will have to do so without Adebayor, whom the coach has given permission to go back to Togo.

"This is his private life and if it's true it is difficult for me to comment on," Pochettino said.

"It is difficult for him and for that we let him go to Togo and fix his problems with his family. I spoke with him early in this week.

"It was a difficult moment. It is hard for him. It is normal that he is sad."

On whether Adebayor would remain at White Hart Lane next season, Pochettino added: "This is a different problem.

"One problem is his private life, the other is the sports side and always we need to take a decision for the future of the club. But we won't make a decision on the player's future at this moment."

 

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Koeman: No mass Southampton exodus this year

Ronald Koeman is confident that Southampton will not have to cope with a raft of close-season departures this summer as they did last year.

Ahead of the Dutchman's first season in charge at St Mary's Stadium, the Saints saw the likes of Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren, Calum Chambers and Luke Shaw all leave for Premier League rivals.

Nevertheless, the team recovered well and managed to challenge for Europa League qualification.

Koeman expects a quieter transfer window this time around, despite the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin and Nathaniel Clyne being linked with moves away.

"I think it will be more stable than last year, that's for sure," he told reporters. "We had so many changes in the team and I don't think that will happen again."

Koeman praised captain Jose Fonte, who was named Southampton's player of the year by fans and team-mates, for taking the time to talk to Clyne and Schneiderlin in a bid to persuade them to sign new deals with the club.

He added: "That's Jose by himself rather than being asked by me.

"The award means a lot for Jose. He is the captain of the team. He would like everybody to stay because that means that we will have a good team for next season."

 

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Vidal won't ditch Juve for inferior Madrid - Marotta

Giuseppe Marotta says there is no way Arturo Vidal will leave Juventus this summer to join Real Madrid because the Spanish side are not as good as the Italian champions.

Juve beat Real Madrid 3-2 on aggregate in the Champions League semi-finals to set up a final clash with Barcelona in Berlin on June 6.After wrapping up a fourth consecutive Serie A title and winning the Coppa Italia, the Bianconeri will be looking to secure a treble when they take on Luis Enrique's men.

And Marotta does not believe any of his side's star players would leave Turin in order to join a Madrid side who failed to win any major silverware this term other than the Club World Cup.He told Tuttosport : "No, Vidal or any player will not go to Real Madrid, because Juventus is stronger."

Madrid have been heavily linked with the Chilean midfielder and star player Paul Pogba over the last year.

 

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Van Gaal: Man United won't do Bruce any favours

Louis van Gaal has reassured Newcastle that former Manchester United defender and Hull City boss Steve Bruce will not get any favours on Sunday to boost their chances of Premier League survival.

The Dutchman takes his side to the KC Stadium on with Hull needing a victory to give them any hope of staying up, with the Magpies their rivals to avoid the drop.

With United assured of a top-four place going into the final game, some suggested that they could take it easy against club favourite Bruce, who made 414 appearances for the Red Devils, but Van Gaal insists that they will be going all out to get the victory.

"I have said to the players, in spite of Bruce being a Manchester United guy, we have to do what everybody is expecting from us," he told the media.

"It's the same approach as ever. We need to defend our image as Manchester United and we are finishing in fourth position so we have to give our utmost best.

"We haven't won so many matches away, so it's very difficult to beat Premier League clubs away. We shall do our utmost best. We have to do it for the honesty of the league.

"I have to put my strongest team out because we have to give everything for all the other Premier League clubs and especially, of course, Newcastle.

"We have taken six points off Newcastle and we have to take six points off Hull City, I think."

 

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Welbeck could miss FA Cup final - Wenger

Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck's knee injury could rule him out of the FA Cup final and England's upcoming fixtures, according to manager Arsene Wenger.

The attacker has not featured since the goalless draw with Chelsea in late April and will play no part in the Gunners' final Premier League game of the season against West Brom on Sunday.

Wenger is unsure whether or not Welbeck will be fit for the FA Cup final on May 30 against Aston Villa or England's matches against Republic of Ireland on June 7 and Slovenia a week later.

"If he is not available for the FA Cup final then I can't see him being available for England," the Frenchman told reporters.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin) and Mathieu Debuchy (hamstring) are back in full training after injuries but will not be risked against Tony Pulis's side as they are not match fit.

Wenger, whose side were held to a goalless draw with Sunderland in midweek, vowed to make changes to his side for the clash against the Baggies with one eye on the Wembley showdown.

He said: "We have to focus on our next challenge. We have enough experience in our dressing room to focus on the next game

"I will certainly rest one or two players on Sunday but the most important thing is to win."

Arsenal only need a point at the Emirates Stadium to be guaranteed third place and automatic qualification for the Champions League group stage.

 

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Mancini: We can build a great Inter team

Roberto Mancini says he and Inter owner Erick Thohir want to build a great team for next season, but stresses they cannot afford to make mistakes in the transfer market..

Since his return to San Siro in November, Mancini, who won three league titles with Inter in his first spell at the club between 2004 and 2008, has struggled to guide the side to a consistent run of form.

Inter are still in with a chance of qualifying for next season's Europa League, as they sit four points behind the last European spot with two games to go.However, the coach says both he and the club's president want to take the team a step higher.

"Thohir wants to build a great side and that is great to hear from my perspective," Mancini told reporters. "The coming months will be important. We need quality reinforcements that can give the team what it’s missing right now.

"If we find players with the right characteristics, we’ll be able to improve the existing players in our squad as well. It won’t be easy, but we need to make transfers befitting of Inter, with our objectives clear in our minds.

"We’re on the right track and can’t afford to make any mistakes. It's not easy to find these people, sometimes you can find a player you think is useful, but it takes time and you have to make a few mistakes to find those players like that."While his side may be in danger of missing out on a European spot, the 50-year-old is happy with the progress they have made since he took over.

Mancini said: "We have improved, but we know that we still need to take a step forward. Playing at San Siro is not easy but we need to work on that type of situation because being the home side should be an asset that makes a real difference.

"We’ll keep moving forward – the future is very clear to us. We know what we need to do."The last Europa League spot is currently occupied by Genoa, whom the Nerazzurri face on Sunday.

"We have two games left to play, but unfortunately our chances of qualifying for Europe are not just down to us. We’ll try to get the result in Genoa and hope that the other teams slip up," Mancini added."It won’t be easy, but anything can happen and we’ll do everything possible to get the three points."

 

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Pogba can be the world's best, says Llorente

Fernando Llorente believes Juventus team-mate Paul Pogba has what it takes to become the best player in the world.

Pogba has been a revalation in Turin since his move from Manchester United in 2012 and has caught the attention of Europe's biggest clubs ahead of the summer transfer window.

And Llorente feels clubs are right to consider offering significant sums to try and lure the France international away from Italy.

"He has an incredible future ahead of him. He is a player that can become whatever he wants. In my opinion, he could become the best in the world," he told Marca.

Juve take on Barcelona in the Champions League final on June 6 as both clubs chase an historic treble this season.While he accepts the Spanish champions are favourites, Llorente has warned Barca not to expect an easy ride.

"We have the big final to play. It is proving to be a magnificent season. I hope we go into the game in the best condition possible," he continued.

"We know that it's going to be very, very difficult because we will face the most in-form team there is at the moment. Right now, I think that Barca are the best team in the world. They are several cuts above the rest.

"But in football, the best team doesn't always win. The final, as it's just the one game, gives us more of a chance than if there were over two legs.

"We must play the perfect game, not put a foot wrong. When you play against Barca, you can't give them an inch because they'll turn you inside out at any moment.

"Lionel Messi is the best in the world, no doubt about it, but Neymar and Luis Suarez alongside him are also of incredible quality."

 

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David Luiz: I'm not a virgin

Paris Saint-Germain defender David Luiz has dismissed suggestions he is a virgin and accused the media of a lack of respect.The Brazilian released an instagram post claiming he "would wait" until he was married to girlfriend Sara Madeira after being baptised earlier this week.

"People are saying things everywhere about whether I'm a virgin or not," the former Chelsea defender told BBC programme 'Football Focus'."I'm not a virgin. I've had more than one girlfriend in my life.

"Some people in the press don't respect people in life. I can put my head on my pillow and sleep great because I respect everyone."My religion, my baptism, I'm very happy."

David Luiz, who scored against Chelsea in the Champions League this season prior to his side's exit at the hands of Barcelona, says PSG are determined to challenge for the trophy next term."We are building things," he said.

"We are at a great level now. We have won three titles now in France. We are fighting in the Champions League because that is our ambition, also."We lost to Barcelona, one of the best clubs in the world who, for a long time, have had the same philosophy. We are improving, year by year.

"I want to win the Champions League next season. I will do everything to win that. Everyone in the club will do the same. The fans support us a lot, they want that just like us. So we are working together."

 

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Blanc warns PSG: Don't do a Chelsea

Laurent Blanc has warned his Paris Saint-Germain players that he expects to see them produce a top performance in their final Ligue 1 clash of the season - and not fall into the same trap as Chelsea.

PSG take on Reims at Parc des Princes on Saturday and will celebrate having successfully defended their title in front of their home fans.

While he is excited to finish a successful league season on home turf, Blanc insists he does not want his players to produce the same level of effort as the Premier League champions did earlier this week, when they slumped to a 3-0 defeat at West Brom."We're preparing for the last match in front of our fans, to celebrate the title. It's always a great joy to share with them," Blanc told a press conference.

"But what I've told my players is I hope they don't do as Chelsea did, who did not look like much in their last game."

Blanc's side head into the last round of games with an eight-point lead over Lyon, and the former defender feels Monaco put up a better fight in the title race last season."We haven't stolen these 80 points. Monaco were tougher to hold off than Lyon, because they finished second with 83 points last season," he said.

"I think, with a little more luck, we could have had a few more points and a little less suspense at the end of the championship."Blanc also revealed he will rest Zlatan Ibrahimovic ahead of the Coupe de France final against Auxerre.

"Barring a big shock, Zlatan will not be fit. He's much better, but we're choosing to be cautious because we have the Coupe de France final," he added.