..::Football III::..

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Inter will be Juve's main title rivals - Marotta

Juventus CEO Giuseppe Marotta has highlighted Inter as the Scudetto holders' main rivals to top Serie A in 2015-16.

Roberto Mancini's men finished a whopping 32 points behind Massimiliano Allegri's Italian champions last season and the last time they topped the table was when Jose Mourinho guided them to the treble in 2010.

However, that has not deterred the Turin club chief from tipping the Nerazzurri - ahead of the likes of Roma, Lazio, AC Milan, Napoli and Fiorentina - to return to the top of Serie A in this campaign.

"I would say our big rivals are Inter - I'm impressed with them," he told reporters. "Considering their investments, they absolutely should be considered a real competitor for the Scudetto."The Bianconeri, who have won four consecutive Italian titles, are scheduled to kick off their season at home to Udinese on August 23.

Rumoured targets Mario Gotze and Julian Draxler are not set to play a part in that fixture after Marotta confirmed Juve failed in their attempts at signing the Bayern Munich and Schalke stars.

"We are looking for a midfielder," he added. "He doesn't necessarily have to be unique, but his profile must be of the right calibre to play with Juventus."We probed for Gotze and Draxler, but we never got to the real negotiations."

Prior to the start of the new league campaign, Juventus face Lazio in the Supercoppa Italiana on Saturday, with kick-off at 13:00BST.

 

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Blanc: PSG need Di Maria for Champions League success

Laurent Blanc says Paris Saint-Germain need the likes of Angel Di Maria if they are to thrive in the Champions League this season.

Les Parisiens kicked off their Ligue 1 campaign with a 1-0 win at Lille - despite being a man down for most of the match - thanks to Lucas Moura's second-half strike.

Blanc hopes Di Maria, who watched his new team-mates from the Stade Pierre-Mauroy stands on Friday, can bring more quality to a team which started 2015-16 with a battling away performance.

"We mastered the game and this is reassuring, but we must to be careful because we cannot always win with 10 men," he told beIN Sports. "Our goal is to shine in Ligue 1, but also in Europe.

"I am a lucky coach because I already have very good players and now we have Di Maria. We really wanted Angel and now he's here, though it was a complicated deal which required patience.

"He wanted to join us and I'm glad to see this club can recruit players of his quality. I hope he will bring quality that raises the level of the team; he is needed in European matches."

Adrien Rabiot's red card 29 minutes into the match could have proven costly for PSG and Blanc blames the midfielder's inexperience for blundering his way to two bookings in the space of a few minutes."Rabiot's first yellow card is a little bit harsh," the head coach continued in the post-match press conference. "He take the ball first but he is young and he made a mistake.

"After the first yellow, he shouldn’t have made the tackle which got him the second one. It was hard for the team after that."

With PSG getting an eight-day gap before next playing – against newly promoted Gazelec Ajaccio – Blanc revelled in the chance to work on his players' fitness before European matches and cup clashes begin.

"We had many opportunities when we had both 11 men and 10 men on the pitch," he added. "It’s a good sign for the next games. We are playing more and more as a team, we had shorter passes and distributed the ball in the easiest and fastest way.

"Physically, we need to improve. Next week will be very important for this aspect of our game. We will organise double training sessions for the whole week as we play again next Sunday.

"There were no injuries so it’s a perfect evening for us. I wanted to give [half-time substitute] Thiago Motta some minutes today, even before Rabiot's red card. He came on for Pastore as he isn't fit to play 70 minutes yet."

 

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Di Maria puts pressure on my PSG place - Pastore

Javier Pastore says the arrival of Angel Di Maria has piled the pressure on his place in Paris Saint-Germain’s starting XI.

The French champions began the defence of their Ligue 1 title with a 1-0 win at Lille on Friday in a match that proved to be far from straightforward.

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic injured and new recruit Di Maria watching from the stands, Laurent Blanc's men lost Adrien Rabiot to a senseless second yellow card inside the opening half-hour.

However, an impressive goal from Lucas Moura in the 57th minute secured a valuable three points for PSG and their first opening day win since 2010.

Pastore is hoping the result will be a sign of things to come and thinks the arrival of Di Maria from Manchester United has given everyone associated with the club a big boost.

"It is the first time since I joined PSG that we won the first game of the season," he told Canal Plus. "We got the three points and we have to keep doing it this way.

"With Di Maria here it will be hard to be in the starting XI but it is good news for the club. He is a fantastic player and I think he can bring many things to the team.

"We hope that he will give us those little things we missed in the years before to help us move past the quarter-final of the Champions League."

Pastore only featured for the first 45 minutes of the match due to him lacking in fitness following his Copa America efforts with Argentina earlier this summer.

 

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I need to regain Liverpool fans' trust - Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits that he needs to "regain the trust" of supporters as he begins his fourth season in charge at Anfied.

The Reds qualified for the Europa League with a sixth-place finish last season but ended the campaign in disappointing fashion with a humiliating 6-1 defeat by Stoke City.

Liverpool have the chance to make amends for that final-day thrashing when they return to the Britannia Stadium on Saturday for their Premier League opener and Rodgers says that he wants to repay the faith shown in him.

"I never take for granted the support I have had here," the Northern Irishman told reporters. "I also understand the disappointment of last year. I'm sure, after a game like Stoke, there was huge disappointment.

"Of course I have always been the one to take responsibility and rightly so. The anger goes towards the manager and I accept that.

"Yes, I need to regain their trust again. It has been an incredible journey since I came in here and it is an absolute privilege to manage this club and have the supporters behind us but, of course, you have to do well to earn that support and I know I need to earn that again."

Rodgers's job security came under threat at the end of last season following a string of poor results which saw Liverpool collect just eight points from a possible 27 but the 42-year-old remains confident in his ability.

"You never take your position for granted. You certainly can never be complacent," he added. "The owners have given me great trust since I have been in here and, in the main, I have had a great response from the players.

"I have confidence in how I work. It certainly didn't take away from my beliefs in my work but it sharpened that I needed to refocus and look at how we could take the club forward.

"I'm as driven now – if not more – as the first day I came in here. We want to put a disappointing season behind us."

 

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Manchester United the 'victims' in De Gea transfer saga - Van Gaal

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal believes that his team are the "victims" in Real Madrid's pursuit of David de Gea, accusing the Spanish giants of trying to underpay for his goalkeeper.

The Spain international, who arrived at Old Trafford from Atletico Madrid in 2011 for a fee of £17.8m, has made it clear that he wants to move to the Santiago Bernabeu following months of negotiation.

However, despite the transfer distraction forcing the Dutch boss to drop his number one for the Premier League opener against Tottenham, Van Gaal insists that Los Blancos will have to meet his valuation if they are to sign De Gea.

"Manchester United always have to pay," he told the press. "We have to pay for all the players a certain amount, and what have Real Madrid offered?

"We are asking money and they have to pay the money. In the last few years Manchester United has paid a lot of money and we never received a lot of money for our players.

"I am the victim, the fellow players are the victims, the club is the victim and that is why the transfer period has to change," the former Barcelona coach continued.

"He is the best goalkeeper we have had the last three years and in two years he was nominated by the fans as the best player at the club. Do you think the trainer-coach wants him to leave? I don't think so."

It remains unclear who will replace the 24-year-old in goal for the first Premier League game of the season, after Van Gaal revealed that the speculation had disturbed his No.1's concentration.

"We have seen in our training sessions and matches he is not the David de Gea of last year," he added. "He tries, he does his upmost best, but it is a difficult situation. He cannot manage this situation. A human being is more than just a player and he cannot manage so he will not play and you will have to wait to see who does.

"We have to play our first match and this is the most important match so I want players who can focus only on the match. He is not capable of doing that."

 

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Barclays Premier League Opening Day Fixtures 2015.08.08

Barclays Premier League Opening Day Fixtures 2015.08.08

Manchester United Vs Tottenham

Bornemouth Vs Aston Villa

Everton Vs Watford

Leicester City Vs Sunderland

Norwich City Vs Crystal Palace

Chelsea Vs Swansea

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Thawath aluth season 1kak

Meh sare EPL title 1kata hoda fight 1kak demu

Good Luck Manchester United!

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Lille 0-1 PSG: Lucas Moura rifles 10-man Parisiens to win

Ligue 1 me parath PSG latama thama

 

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Manchester United the 'victims' in De Gea transfer saga - Van Gaal

De Gea transfer wei wage

 

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Mourinho: Chelsea don't need to buy 10 players to be better

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is unmoved by the club’s lack of activity in the transfer market in comparison to their Premier League rivals, insisting they do not need to spend to improve their squad.

The Blues have replaced departing duo Petr Cech and Didier Drogba with Asmir Begovic and Radamel Falcao, although the pair are the only main signings made by the Premier League champions this summer.

Chelsea's rivals have added more names ahead of the season opener on Saturday, including a summer high of £49 million Manchester City paid for Raheem Sterling, yet Mourinho feels his side do not need adding to.

"It's dangerous," he told reporters when asked about the lack of arrivals at Stamford Bridge.

"I think that saying, is right, the saying that: 'If you stand still, you get worse'. It's right, but the same people can move forward.

"You don’t need to buy 10 players to be a better team. You can be a better team with one or two new players and be a better team, with the same people."

 

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David Luiz overjoyed with Di Maria reunion

Paris Saint-Germain defender David Luiz is delighted to have been reunited with Angel di Maria and believes the attacker will only make his team better.The Ligue 1 champions completed the signing of Di Maria from Manchester United on Thursday in a deal believed to be worth €63million.

He missed PSG's 1-0 win over Lille to start their league campaign on Friday, but could be fit for the August 16 clash against Gazelec Ajaccio.

Luiz and Di Maria played together at Benfica, and the former is thrilled to be alongside the 27-year-old once more.

"He is a huge player, great player, great person," the Brazil international said."I'm very happy to play with him again. I think he can bring many positive things for us."PSG started their Ligue 1 season with a win thanks to a Lucas Moura goal and despite playing over an hour with 10 men after Adrien Rabiot saw red.

Luiz said PSG's approach in the second half was ideal."Great match, great spirit. We played well. I think our plan for the second half was perfect," he said.

"We closed the gaps, they didn't play in between the lines, and then play counter-attack or possession with the ball with the quality of our players, so I'm happy."
Luiz added: "It's a win for the club, not just 10 guys.

"I think the support of the players from the bench, they help you. At half-time everyone was believing that we could win. It's for the group, not just 10 guys."

 

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Lacazette signs new Lyon deal

Olympique Lyonnais have announced striker Alexandre Lacazette has signed a new deal running until 2019.

The 24-year-old, who hit 27 Ligue 1 goals last term to finish as France’s top marksman, had been heavily linked with a move to some of Europe’s biggest clubs this summer.

But club president Jean-Michel Aulas revealed on Saturday that the France international is set to stay put after agreeing a new contract with OL.

“People can stop talking about me,” Lacazette told a press conference as the club unveiled Brazilian defender Rafael from Manchester United.“Now I hope we will talk about me only because I am scoring goals and winning games with Lyon.

“The team is growing, there is the Champions League, there is [a new stadium] and therefore there is no reason to leave."

Lacazette also spoke of his new team-mate.“We were all very happy with the arrival of Rafael. This is a modern team, fast and technical.”

A host of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and Arsenal, had been tipped to bring the France international to England, and the hierarchy of the club have expressed their happiness at his decision to extend his stay at Stade de Gerland.

Aulas said: "I'm very happy that Alexandre has extended his stay with Lyon by an additional year."

"It's great news for the club," added former coach Bernard Lacombe, now in an advisory role with the club."It means Alex can relax. I am very happy."

 

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Aguero eyes repeat Manchester City success with new shirt number

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero hopes his new No. 10 shirt proves as lucky as his previous number.

The reigning Golden Boot winner is moving away from the 16 shirt he has worn since joining the club in 2011, taking up the number left vacant by previous occupant, Edin Dzeko, who joined Roma on Friday.

Aguero won the Premier League twice, the League Cup once and the Community Shield while wearing his former number and the 27-year-old hopes his fortunes will continue while wearing No. 10.

He told CityTV: "16 was a beautiful number. With it I have won two Premier Leagues and one of them was crazy. I have been very happy with this number because I had really good moments with it.

"I wish to score a lot of goals [wearing the new shirt number] because if not the fans would want me to come back to number 16."

The Argentina international admits he is pleased to be handed the shirt number as it is special to him.

He said: "When I arrived at City the number 10 shirt was already taken by Edin, and obviously because Edin was here before me and for respect I had to choose another number.

"I always like the number 10 and at the club where I started, since I was a kid, I wore the number 10 until I played in the First Division in Argentina. I wore the number when I played for Atletico as well.

"It was only here that I changed my number. Now that Edin has gone to Roma the number was free and I asked if I could take it and I was told that obviously I can."

Fans who bought a shirt with Aguero's name and previous number he was set to wear in 2015-16 will get a chance to cash in, either by getting theirs signed or trading it in for his new No. 10.

 

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Jackson Martinez makes Atletico debut

Jackson Martinez made a low-key debut for Atletico Madrid on Saturday, playing 45 minutes in a goalless friendly draw against Guadalajara.

The Colombia striker's first appearance since making a €35million move from Porto in June has been delayed following his participation in the Copa America and a subsequent period of rest.But he looked sharp during his brief outing in a game that is part of a three-team tournament also featuring Leganes.

Raul Garcia wasted two excellent chances for Diego Simeone's team, while another new signing, defender Stefan Savic, had a late effort ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Atletico send another squad to Alicante later on Saturday for a 90-minute game against fellow La Liga side Real Sociedad.

 

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Van Gaal explains De Gea drop decision

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has explained his decision to drop David de Gea for the Premier League season opener against Tottenham, saying "it is better for him and better for us".

The Spaniard's future at Old Trafford remains uncertain with the Spaniard continually linked with a move to Real Madrid and Van Gaal has already suggested that the goalkepeer wants to leave Old Trafford.

De Gea has just one season left on his United contract, but the club have so far resisted overtures from Real to buy the 24-year-old despite being resigned to losing their first-choice goalkeeper.

"We decided together - David and the staff - to take the decision not to play because a goalkeeper is more concentration and focus," Van Gaal told BT Sport.

"He maybe gets only four or five times that he has to save an attack, and of course a lot of building up play, but it's more focus and concentration.

With Van Gaal publicly questioning Victor Valdes's commitment at United earlier in the summer, the manager has opted to hand summer arrival Sergio Romero his debut with youngster Sam Johnstone on the bench.

Van Gaal continued: "In spite of the fact that David de Gea wants to play, we think that it is better for him, but also for us because with Romero it's a short time [since he joined].

"So for me it's not normal that he is playing but I think in circumstances as this, [it is] the best decision - and it is a very difficult decision because I think Sam Johnstone did very well [during pre-season].

"But I think with his experience, [Romero] having played already at this level, this is the best decision."

 

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Sherwood denies warning Benteke off Liverpool move

Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood denies ever telling former striker Christian Benteke not to join Liverpool .

Benteke, 24, hit out at Sherwood on Thursday, saying his former boss had told him not to join Liverpool because they "do not cross the ball".

Yet Sherwood says he had never made such a suggestion to Benteke, who joined Brendan Rodgers' team in a deal worth £32.5million, insisting he would never disrespect the Anfield club.

"I can't remember ever saying that, he must have dreamt that one," he is quoted as saying by The Mirror .

"I would try anything to make him stay but I don't remember ever saying he shouldn’t go and play for Liverpool. I wouldn't be that disrespectful to that football club."

The Belgium international scored 42 Premier League goals in 88 appearances for Villa after joining the club in August 2012, with his goals helping the club secure their top-flight safety last season.

Benteke scored 11 goals in 10 league games late last season after an injury-laden run of form under former boss Paul Lambert, but Sherwood says he had never tried to take credit for his form.

"I took no credit, people gave me credit, I didn't take it, I didn't ask for it," he said.

 

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Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham: Walker own goal gets Van Gaal off to a winning start

An own goal from Kyle Walker ensured Manchester United opened the Premier League season with a 1-0 victory over Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The right-back stabbed into the back of his own net midway through the first half after a new-look United side had made a shaky start.

David de Gea watched on as Sergio Romero made his United debut, with Louis van Gaal stating that the Spain goalkeeper is not in the right frame of mind amid ongoing speculation over a move to Real Madrid.

New signing Romero produced an assured display - making a couple of fine, late saves - as Tottenham were unable to build on an encouraging start in which Christian Eriksen came close to opening the scoring.

Van Gaal must have seen plenty of room for improvement as he aims to turn United into title contenders, but will be happy with three points after losing at home to Swansea City on the opening day last year.

Romero, Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay made their Premier League debuts for United, while Bastian Schweinsteiger was among the substitutes.

Michel Vorm started in goal for Tottenham, with Hugo Lloris on the bench, and Ben Davies got the nod at left-back in the absence of Danny Rose (thigh). Toby Alderweireld was the only new recruit in the starting XI.

Romero could have been picking the ball out of the back of the net just four minutes into his United bow, when Harry Kane and Eriksen linked up brilliantly to open up the home side's defence. Kane picked out Eriksen's run into the penalty area with a clever chip and the Denmark midfielder headed in front of him before lifting a deft lob over Romero, but onto the roof of the net.

Romero was forced to race out once again soon after and save an effort from Walker when the right-back surged forward as Tottenham made an impressive start.

Walker had the ball in the back of the net 22 minutes in but it was at the wrong end to gift United an undeserved lead out of the blue.

Ashley Young passed to an unmarked Wayne Rooney in the area, and as the United captain prepared to shoot, Walker nipped in but could only poke the ball beyond Vorm.

Germany captain Schweinsteiger was given a tremendous ovation when he replaced Michael Carrick on the hour-mark following an uneventful start to the second half.

Young, who this week signed a new contract, came close to doubling United's lead when the ball arrived at the winger's feet at the back post but Vorm got down to smother his shot.

The agile Romero twice kept out shots from Eriksen in the closing stages and also palmed away a Kane header as Tottenham applied late pressure, but were unable to salvage a point.

 

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Congratulations Manchester United!​

1st win 1ka godak watinawa​

But attacking nam madi.Thawa godak improve wenna one & thawa striker kenek ge aduwa godak danenawa​

 

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Juventus 2-0 Lazio: Mandzukic & Dybala claim Supercoppa Italiana glory

Summer signings Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala were both on target as Juventus claimed their first trophy of the new season courtesy of 2-0 win over Lazio in the Supercoppa Italiana.

The Old Lady's new-look strikeforce offered Massimiliano Allegri a glimpse of what he can expect in the post-Carlos Tevez era by finding the net in quick succession midway through the second half of a drab curtain-raiser to the Italian season.

Mandzukic - who was named in Allegri's starting XI - broke the deadlock in the 68th minute with a towering header from Stephan Lichtsteiner's cross, shortly before substitute Dybala lashed Paul Pogba's lay-off into the roof of Federico Marchetti's net from 10 yards.

Ex-Atletico Madrid forward Mandzukic had missed the game's only other genuine chance straight after half-time when Marchetti easily saved his weak shot.

But the Croatian made amends with a superb opener, and Dybala sealed Juve's win four minutes later to give the Serie A champions a boost before they go in search of a fifth-straight Scudetto.

Gianluigi Buffon and Marchetti were able to watch a pedestrian first half unfold without being troubled as both teams laboured in the Chinese heat and humidity.

Lichtsteiner was first to have an attempt on goal on the half-hour mark, the Juve wing-back cutting in from the right before firing a speculative left-footed shot over Marchetti's bar from 25 yards.

Former Lazio man Lichtsteiner was involved again shortly before half-time, when his tug of Felipe Anderson's shirt near the technical areas led to a frank exchange of views with Lazio boss Stefano Pioli, but that was as exciting as the opening 45 minutes got for the Shanghai Stadium crowd.

The first three minutes of the second half contained more goalmouth action than the whole of the first, as first Mandzukic was denied by Marchetti after being put through one-on-one by Pogba, before Juve's new number 10 flashed a superb half-volley just wide.

Allegri introduced another new forward, Dybala, on the hour mark in an attempt to invigorate his attack, and the breakthrough arrived eight minutes later courtesy of Mandzukic's trademark header.

Dybala got in on the act himself four minutes later, displaying the kind of finishing prowess that persuaded Juve to recruit him from Palermo when he unerringly fired Pogba's pass beyond Marchetti to secure yet more silverware for last season's double-winners.

 

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Van Gaal: We won't let De Gea go easily

Louis van Gaal has warned Real Madrid that Manchester United will not let David de Gea go easily this summer.

De Gea was dropped by Van Gaal for United's 1-0 victory against Tottenham on the opening day of the season, with the Dutchman indicating that the Spain international was not mentally prepared to play.

Sergio Romero was handed his debut instead as De Gea watched from the stands alongside Victor Valdes and Anders Lindegaard but his manager says that a deal for the goalkeeper is yet to be agreed with the Spanish giants.

"I cannot say [when De Gea's future will be settled] because I'm not the most important part – that is the player and the club that wants to buy him," Van Gaal told BT Sport.

"He is our best player for three years chosen by the fans and we cannot let him go easily – we have to spend a lot of money for the players we want to buy."

Van Gaal was pleased with the performances of new signings Romero, Memphis Depay and Matteo Darmian but is eyeing improvement from his summer recruits after a tentative victory at Old Trafford.

He added: "I told Memphis he doesn't have to play with too much eagerness and passion and that also counts for the whole team.

"I liked Darmian because he played a good match in possession and when the opponent had the ball. Sergio Romero kept a clean sheet and he did make some saves but he was not building up possession but that's logical. He has only been here one week and it's a process."