..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Mourinho fumes at Chelsea medical staff

Jose Mourinho was less than impressed with his medical team for treating an Eden Hazard knock late in Saturday's 2-2 draw against Swansea City.

The Premier League champions were already at a numerical disadvantage after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was sent off for bringing down Bafetimbi Gomis, with the striker slotting away the resulting penalty to level the scores.

Chelsea were momentarily down to just nine men in the closing stages when the club's medical staff rushed to treat winger Hazard, who went down with a knock, meaning the Belgian had to leave the field.

And Mourinho, who reacted furiously at the time, felt their decision could have cost Chelsea the match in the final moments.

"I wasn't happy with my medical staff because even if you are a medical doctor or secretary on the bench, you have to understand the game," Mourinho said.

"If you go to the pitch to assist a player, then you must be sure that a player has a serious problem.

"I was sure that Eden didn't have a serious problem. He had a knock and was very tired.

"My medical department left me with eight fit outfield players in a counter attack after a set piece and we were worried we didn't have enough players left."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Atletico Madrid 2-0 Real Sociedad: Griezmann on target against Moyes' men

Atletico Madrid continued their La Liga preparations with a comfortable 2-0 friendly win over Real Sociedad in Alicante.

Diego Simeone's men took a first-half lead in utterly bizarre fashion when, after two failed headed clearances from Sociedad's defence, Markel Bergara nodded into his own net.

Atletico also sent a squad to face Guadalajara earlier on Saturday, where Jackson Martinez made his first appearance since joining for €35 million from Porto.Fellow forwards Fernando Torres and Antoine Griezmann were left to press their claims in Alicante and the former Liverpool man was agonisingly close to doubling the lead with a powerful header midway through the second half.

Griezmann - a former Sociedad crowd favourite - did get on the scoresheet after 76 minutes, crowning an incisive one-touch move by steering home a near-post volley with his left foot.

David Moyes' Sociedad were off the pace throughout and almost suffered a heavier loss when Griezmann rattled the crossbar with two minutes to play.Atleti begin their Liga campaign at home to newly promoted Las Palmas in two weeks' time, while Sociedad travel to Deportivo.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Monk: Swansea pushed Chelsea for 90 minutes

Garry Monk backed his Swansea City side to go "from strength to strength" after holding champions Chelsea to a 2-2 draw on the opening day of the Premier League season.

Swansea came from behind to secure a point at Stamford Bridge courtesy of an Andre Ayew strike on his Premier League debut and a Bafetimbi Gomis penalty after Oscar's free-kick and a Federico Fernandez own goal had twice put Chelsea in front.

The visitors had chances to secure a first top-flight win over Chelsea following Thibaut Courtois' red card for upending Gomis, who tucked away the resulting spot-kick 10 minutes after the break.

Monk felt his side could have secured another famous opening-day victory after winning at Manchester United 12 months ago, but was content with the manner in which his players took the game to the champions.

Asked if he was disappointed not to claim all three points, he told Sky Sports: "If I'm going to be picky, then of course.

"Last year we were good against Chelsea for 45 minutes, but today it was for 90 minutes.

"The message to the players in pre-season, of course we also worked on defensive tactics, was that we want attacking players to express themselves.

"That's what we've telling them in pre-season - to play the way we have."

The Swansea boss was in no doubt referee Michael Oliver was right to give Courtois his marching orders for denying Gomis a goalscoring opportunity.

"For sure [it was a penalty]," Monk said. "I've just seen the replay and in my eyes for sure it's an opportunity on goal. Bafe would have got a shot on goal, the keeper comes out and wipes him out."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Bielsa resigns as Marseille boss

Marcelo Bielsa has resigned as head coach as Marseille in the aftermath of their 1-0 defeat to Caen in Saturday's season opener.

The Argentine had been linked with an exit from the French club for months after a tumultuous first season in charge of Marseille - after remaining in the title race for most of the season, they slumped to a fourth-place finish.

Marseille's woes continued in the first tie of 2015-16, as Andy Delort's goal consigned the club to defeat at the Stade Velodrome, and Bielsa confirmed after the game that he had already chosen to resign due to disagreements over his new contract.

"I thank the fans who have always been behind me during games and every day," he said. "I have finished my work here, I will return to my country. I put everything I have into this team.

"I'm not leaving here to go somewhere else. I gave my resignation to the president through a letter that I gave him before coming to talk to the press.

"I do not regret having done what I did and I refused several proposals to stay at Marseille. I adapted to changes at the club. But, after three months of discussions, I could not accept that there were continual changes in the terms of my contract."

The 60-year-old - who has been linked with the vacant role as Mexico head coach - also touched on the game itself, insisting he did not expect his side to fall to Caen.

"I am sad and frustrated because I did not expect this defeat," he added. "There is no excuse for this. In the first half we had problems, but the second period was satisfactory and we could have won."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barclays Premier League 2015.08.08 Opening Day in Pictures​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barclays Premier League 2015.08.09 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2015.08.09 Fixtures

Arsenal Vs West Ham

Newcastle Vs Southampton

Stoke City Vs Liverpool

​

 

[King GBN]

 

[Banks PLK]

ARSENAL

 

[EnIgma001]

ARSENAL

0-2

 

[Banks PLK]

0-2

haha before the season start all over social media
"hit like if you think arsenal will win "

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Neymar struck down by mumps illness

Neymar will miss Barcelona's Uefa Super Cup and Supercopa de Espana games after being diagnosed with mumps.

Barca are due to take on Sevilla in the Super Cup in Tbilisi on Tuesday, before two legs of the domestic Supercopa against Athletic Bilbao on August 14 and 17.
But they will have to do so without the Brazil forward, who has come down with the viral infection.

A club statement read: "The first team medical staff at FC Barcelona has announced on Sunday that Neymar will be out for two weeks after being diagnosed with parotitis (mumps), despite the fact that he had previously been vaccinated against the disease."

Barca will hope Neymar returns when they kick off their La Liga season with a third meeting against Athletic in the space of nine days on August 23.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Cillessen's price is rising' - De Boer warns United

Manchester United have been warned they will have to spend big if they are to sign Ajax goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen, with the Dutch club's coach Frank de Boer claiming his price is rising by the week.

United keeper David de Gea appears set to join Real Madrid before the end of the summer transfer window after he was left out of their opening day victory over Tottenham on Saturday.

Cillessen - who played under Van Gaal for Holland at World Cup 2014 - has reportedly emerged as the number one choice to fill the void at Old Trafford.But Ajax will not part ways with the 26-year-old without a fight, having missed out on replacement keepers Maarten Stekelenburg and Wojciech Szczesny, who joined Southampton and Roma, respectively, on loan.

"Man United will have to pay huge price for Cillessen," De Boer is quoted as saying in the Mirror.

"Let it be clear that we are going to take a really strong attitude and we will fight against him leaving at this stage."Why? Because we have seen all our three alternatives go out of sight and it gets harder and harder to find a decent replacement.

"To make it clear, Jasper is getting more expensive by the week, although there are certain figures that we can't turn down."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Cillessen's price is rising' - De Boer warns United

Cillessen oneth naha

Cillessen gannawata wada hodai Romero gen play karana 1ka.​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Baines injury a disaster - Martinez

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has described Leighton Baines' latest ankle injury as a "disaster".

The left-back had surgery on his left ankle in May but was set to make his return in the Toffees' season-opener against Watford until the problem resurfaced during a training session on Friday.

"We don't know how long he will be out for but it has been a real disaster," Martinez told reporters.

"We were preparing for the Watford game and in training, he blocks the ball and it hits him in exactly the same place where he had surgery, with the unfortunate result that he's going to be out for a while."

Speaking to EvertonTV, the Spaniard added: "It was devastating, because he had worked so hard and looked stronger than ever.

"I don't think I had seen him looking as powerful and refreshed in the last two seasons. Then there was this big knock.

"We still have to find out how long it will be, but it is not going to be just two or three weeks - I think it is going to be a little bit longer than that."

Martinez hailed the impact of Arouna Kone in the first game of the season at Goodison Park after the striker teed up Ross Barkley for a first equaliser against Watford before making it 2-2 himself late on.

It was only Kone's second league goal for Everton since he arrived from Wigan at the start of the 2013-14 season, with the Ivory Coast international having struggled with a knee injury for much of his time on Merseyside.

"Arouna Kone arrived at Everton and I don't know if a black cat crossed his path at Finch Farm, but everything went against him," Martinez said. "He had a really poor injury and it was really difficult for him.

"He was never able to get the momentum or luck and nobody got to see the best of Arouna. But he took responsibility in the worst possible moment of the game today.

"When he came on the pitch, you could see he had to win the crowd over and I was delighted for him. He came up with a quality finish - that's one of his strengths, running into the box and finding that corner.

"I feel it can be a turning point and I hope everyone at Everton can see what he can bring to the team."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Filipe Luis: I want to retire at Atletico Madrid

Filipe Luis says he wants to stay at Atletico Madrid for the rest of his career as he embarks on his second spell with the club.

The left-back departed the Vicente Calderon for Chelsea last summer but failed to make his mark on the first team at Stamford Bridge as the Blues won the Premier League.

Filipe subsequently returned to Atletico last month and revealed he hopes it is the last move of his career.

"I hope I can retire at Atletico Madrid," said the 30-year-old after featuring in the 2-0 friendly victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday.Antoine Griezmann scored against his former club to add to a Markel Bergara own goal and Filipe said his adaptation to life back in the side has been a swift one after rekindling his partnership down the left with Koke.

"The year we won the league Koke always played for me," the Brazil international explained. "I know every move and I know how he plays."The most important is the defensive work Koke does, which makes me my job easier."

On being reunited with Atletico boss Diego Simeone, he added: "We have spent many years together and he will not need to tell me many things."I know his ideas because we started together at Atletico."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Man City launch £45m De Bruyne bid

Manchester City have tabled a £45 million offer for Wolfsburg winger Kevin De Bruyne, Goal understands.

The offer comprises of £40m up front, with £5m of guaranteed add-ons, as Manuel Pellegrini's side look to finally seal a deal for the Belgian international, whom they have tracked for the majority of the summer.

Goal understands City are keen to push through the deal in the coming days and have thus arranged for a flight to England to be on stand-by for the former Chelsea star, who was named Bundesliga player of the year for last season.

Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs insisted on August 1 that De Bruyne was "99.9%" certain to stay put but conceded that the club would listen to the offer should City make their move.

And Pellegrini's side now look likely to get their man, with Goal reporting on Wednesday that De Bruyne's camp met with the German club to express the player's desire to leave for the Etihad Stadium.

De Bruyne, who has excelled with Wolfsburg following his £18m move from Chelsea in 2014, started and scored for Dieter Hecking's side in Saturday's German Cup clash against Stuttgarter Kickers.

That could be his final appearance in a Wolfsburg shirt, however, with City desperate to get the deal over the line as they look to add to the summer arrivals of Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph, Enes Unal, and Patrick Roberts.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

De Bruyne gattha kiyanne CITY line-up 1ka patta​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Newcastle 2-2 Southampton: McClaren's men hold Saints in entertaining clash

Southampton substitute Shane Long headed a late equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw and prevent Steve McClaren from starting his Newcastle United tenure with a Premier League victory on Sunday.

In McClaren's first competitive fixture at the helm, Newcastle came from behind to lead at St James' Park after Graziano Pelle had opened the scoring midway through the first half.

Papiss Cisse's close-range finish ensured the two sides went into the break level, before debutant Georginio Wijnaldum - a close-season arrival from Dutch champions PSV - capped his impressive bow with an equally fine header at the start of the second period.

But Southampton, led by Ronald Koeman's brother Erwin as the manager recovers from Achilles surgery, showed their battling qualities and levelled with 11 minutes remaining when Long headed in Dusan Tadic's cross.

It was an impressive response from the visitors, who started with eight of the XI in action just three days previously against Vitesse in the UEFA Europa League.

For Newcastle, it was an encouraging start to life under McClaren, having narrowly avoided relegation at the end of last season.

The home side fielded two debutants in Chancel Mbemba and Wijnaldum, and the latter almost made a dream start in the seventh minute when his goalbound effort thudded into the chest of Steven Davis.

At the opposite end, Cedric Soares went close to marking his Premier League bow with a goal but the full-back's thumping volley was superbly denied by Tim Krul.

The hosts thought they should have had a penalty midway through the half when Fabricio Coloccini's shot struck the arm of Maya Yoshida, but referee Craig Pawson was unmoved.

And any feelings of injustice were exacerbated when Pelle rose impressively to meet Cedric's cross and plant a header beyond Krul low to the goalkeeper's right.

Davis was in the right place again to clear Coloccini's effort off the line but Newcastle were level shortly before half-time when Massadio Haidara's cross looped up off Sadio Mane and over Maarten Stekelenburg to Cisse, who chested the ball in from a yard out.

A remarkable start to the second half saw Newcastle survive a major scare before going ahead for the first time. Yoshida ought to have put the visitors back in front, but he could only direct his free header from six yards straight at the legs of Krul - with Newcastle breaking clear from the resulting corner.

Gabriel Obertan did well to reach Cisse's pass down the right, and whipped in a superb cross that Wijnaldum glanced into the far corner with a neat header.

But Newcastle were denied three points when Tadic found space on the right and delivered a ball for Long to nod the game's third headed goal into the top-left corner.

Things almost got worse for McClaren, as Mane saw an effort brilliantly blocked by Jack Colback before the winger sent another shot narrowly wide but both sides ultimately settled for a point.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham: Cech mistakes cost Gunners in shock defeat

Petr Cech endured a miserable Premier League debut for Arsenal as West Ham ended an eight-year wait for a win over their London rivals with a surprise 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.

Cech was billed as the player who could make the difference for Arsene Wenger's side as they attempt to be crowned champions for the first time in 12 years this season, but the former Chelsea goalkeeper was culpable for both West Ham goals on Sunday.

The Czech Republic international flapped at a Dimitri Payet free-kick to allow Cheikhou Kouyate to head home just before half-time and reacted slowly to a long-range Mauro Zarate strike after the break that doubled West Ham's lead.

There was no way back for the home side in their first top-flight game of the season, as West Ham claimed their first victory over Arsenal in 16 attempts stretching back to 2007.

While Cech was left red-faced, Slaven Bilic celebrated an unexpected three points in his first Premier League game in charge, just three days after he was criticised for fielding a weakened side as West Ham crashed out of the Europa League with a defeat against Astra.

Mathieu Debuchy made his first Premier League start since January in the absence of Hector Bellerin (thigh), while Alexis Sanchez was named among the substitutes as he builds up his fitness after inspiring Chile to Copa America glory.

West Ham midfielder Reece Oxford became the second-youngster player after Jose Baxter to start a Premier League game at the age of 16, with new signings Payet and Angelo Ogbonna also making their top-flight debuts.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsenal's match-winner against Chelsea in the Community Shield last weekend, let fly with a rasping volley that flashed over the crossbar 10 minutes in.

Oxlade-Chamberlain then surged down the right at full tilt and delivered a cross beyond the far post into the path of Santi Cazorla, but his cushioned volley landed on the roof of the net.

Arsenal were in the ascendancy as Aaron Ramsey's strike from just outside the penalty area looped up and struck the crossbar after deflecting off Aaron Cresswell just after the half-hour mark.
It was West Ham who were in front three minutes before half-time, though, as the usually commanding Cech had a moment to forget.

The former Chelsea goalkeeper came out to try and punch clear a Payet free-kick from the right, but Kouyate beat him to it and hit the back of an empty Arsenal net with a towering header.

Olivier Giroud spun and fired into the side-netting and then forced an impressive stop from Adrian as Arsenal strived for an equaliser at the start of the second half.

But the home side's task became even greater 12 minutes after the break, when Zarate turned sharply and unleashed a long-range strike that beat Cech at his near post.

Wenger sent on Sanchez after 67 minutes and teenager Oxford was given a great ovation by the travelling fans when he was replaced by Kevin Nolan 12 minutes from time.

Cazorla's long-range drive was kept out by Adrian and Giroud shot high and wide as Arsenal looked short of ideas and in need of additional firepower, with the Hammers holding on to claim all three points.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Chemnitzer 0-2 Borussia Dortmund: Aubameyang & Mkhitaryan see BVB through

Borussia Dortmund kicked off their domestic campaign with a relatively straightforward 2-0 victory at Chemnitzer in the DFB-Pokal first round.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring in the 25th minute but, with less than a week to go until Dortmund's first Bundesliga fixture against Borussia Monchengladbach, Thomas Tuchel's side resisted the urge to overexert themselves in search of more goals.

That said, the visitors were in control for the most part and rarely looked in danger of surrendering their slender advantage.

Marco Reus and Ilkay Gundogan both came close to doubling Dortmund's lead either side of the break, while third-tier Chemnitzer briefly threatened an equaliser late on.

But Henrikh Mkhitaryan produced a neat finish in the 82nd minute to make absolutely sure of Dortmund's progression.

Roman Burki and Gonzalo Castro both made their first domestic outings in a strong Dortmund starting XI, but Chemnitzer started confidently and created the better early chances.

However, the hosts demonstrated a lack of quality in the final third that would come to cost them on numerous occasions - an unmarked Reagy Ofosu blasting over early on when the ball fell kindly to him at the edge of the box from a corner.

Dortmund were having to be patient as they looked to work their way into what was often a crowded Chemnitzer penalty area, but Aubameyang took his chance well when it came.

Mkhitaryan sent a teasing cross in from the left, with the Gabon international on hand to cushion a header into the back of the net.

Tim Danneberg should have done better when he found himself one-on-one with Burki soon after - his attempt to curl the ball around the advancing goalkeeper bouncing harmlessly wide of the right-hand post - before Mkhitaryan forced Kevin Kunz into a save at the other end and Reus rattled the left-hand upright with a long-range strike.

Kunz then showed great reactions to keep out a powerful Reus header five minutes from the break and was left breathing a sigh of relief when the Germany forward subsequently scooped over from a promising position.

Aubameyang lifted a tame free-kick over the wall and into the arms of Kunz early in the second half, before Gundogan forced the keeper into diving save.

But Dortmund were not firing on all cylinders, choosing instead to preserve energy for their league curtain-raiser next Saturday.

That approach looked set to haunt them when Anton Fink unleashed a powerful low drive 16 minutes from time, but Burki got down brilliantly to push behind for a corner, before Frank Loning sent a free-kick trickling wide of the left-hand post.

Mkhitaryan then wrapped up the win for Dortmund by coolly curling an effort around Kunz, before Gundogan hit the crossbar in injury time.