..::Football III::..

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Klopp: Liverpool are not on Pato path

Jurgen Klopp has dismissed reports suggesting Liverpool have struck an agreement to sign Alexandre Pato from Corinthians.

The Brazilian striker is desperate to play in Europe again and has been linked with a number of top clubs as he seeks out his next destination. He was linked with the Reds in November, and as Goal revealed, the Merseysiders had no interest in the former AC Milan forward.

Liverpool only have one fit striker in Christian Benteke, with Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi currently sidelined, while Danny Ings has been ruled out for the season, and rumours have resurfaced regarding the 26-year-old and a possible move to Anfield.

However, Klopp again rubbished the links to Pato at Melwood on Monday.

“I could say the truth about this and it’s ‘no,’" Klopp said. "Because I don’t like to answer all the questions about this [transfer talk], I would like to say we don’t talk about things like this until we sign a contract.

“But you don’t have to follow the Pato path any longer, that is only private advice.”

 

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Injured Schweinsteiger ruled out of Newcastle clash

Louis van Gaal has confirmed Manchester United will have to make do without the services of Bastian Schweinsteiger when they take on Newcastle United on Tuesday.

The Germany international picked up a knee injury in the 1-0 FA Cup win over Sheffield United at the weekend and has consequently been ruled out of the trip to St James' Park.

"Bastian is injured, that we know," van Gaal told MUTV on Monday. "We have seen that because he could not move."In spite of playing more or less with 10-and-a-half men, we beat Sheffield United and we were very happy with that."

Following the trip to St James' Park, United then take on Liverpool on Sunday and Van Gaal hinted he may rotate his squad in order to allow players sufficient rest.

"We have to recover. Yesterday we recovered but we have to see if the players are still overloaded or not," he added. "Until this moment, the players have not arrived so we have to wait and see.

"After I know all the data, I can line up. That is why it is always difficult in a period when we have to play a lot of matches. You have to wait to see how the players are recovering of the load in the match."Van Gaal has also made it clear Adnan Januzaj will not feature in Monday's Under-21 clash with Reading.

The Belgium international prematurely returned to Old Trafford after his loan spell with Borussia Dortmund was cut short and was expected to play for the U-21 team in order to gain match fitness.However, Van Gaal feels the 20-year-old is not fit enough to play yet and will not take any risks with the attacking midfielder.

"We have reconsidered and we think we have to build him up for the game and not risk too much by putting him in a game at once," Van Gaal said.

 

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Lloyd named Women's Player of the Year as Ellis scoops Coach award

World Cup-winning USA captain Carli Lloyd and coach Jill Ellis have been named Women's Player of the Year and Coach of the Year at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Zurich.

The 33-year-old inspired the USWNT to a 5-2 thrashing of Japan in the Women's World Cup final last year, thanks to a 13-minute hat-trick, the team's third title.

Lloyd scored 10 international goals during the calendar year as she earned the Golden Ball in Canada and finished second to Ballon d'Or rival Celia Sasic to the Golden Boot, but triumphed on Monday.

"This has been a dream of mine ever since I started my journey with the national team," an emotional Lloyd said. "Celia and Aya [Miyama, fellow nominees] are phenomenal footballers and just as deserving of this award.

"I want to thank everyone who voted for me and everyone at US Soccer for their support. I want to thank Jill and the coaching staff.

"I honestly wouldn't be standing up here without my incredible team-mates and we all know that it took 23 players to win the World Cup last summer, so thank you to them.

"To James, we started this journey 13 years ago and you told me I could become the best player in the world... it's just took me until now to realise I could."

Ellis took charge of the USA national team in 2014 on a full-time basis in 2014, after two previous interim spells, and led the squad to their third Women's World Cup win in Canada last year.

Carli Lloyd scored a 13-minute hat-trick as Japan were beaten 5-2 in the final, adding their winners' medal to those won at the Algarve Cup earlier in 2015, where they beat France in the showpiece.

"Wow, a true honour," Ellis said. "First let me congratulate all the nominees here this evening. It's such a thrill to be part of such an amazing football family.

"To Mark [Sampson, England coach] and Norio [Sasaki, Japan coach], thanks for making it hard and thank you for continuing to elevate the game and leaders in women's football.

"This certainly represents a whole lot of people so, certainly, to my players, our captions, the staff back in the US right now, it's my sincere gratitude for your commitment and your effort and belief in this team.I really, truly believe this is a team award.

"To my friends and family, my dad was my first coach so it's great to have him in the crowd tonight."

 

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Lionel Messi wins 2015 Ballon d'Or

Lionel Messi has won the 2015 Fifa Ballon d'Or ahead of Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona team-mate Neymar, claiming the prestigious award at Monday's ceremony in Zurich.

Messi received 41.33 per cent of the votes, with Ronaldo (27.76%) in second place and Neymar (7.86%) third.

It is the Argentina international's fifth World Player of the Year title - more than any other player in history - and thwarts Ronaldo's quest to tie his haul of gongs, with the Madrid star having picked up the award in each of the last two seasons.

"It's a very special moment for me, to be back here on this stage winning another Ballon d'Or after being in the audience watching Cristiano win for two years,"

Messi said upon receiving his award."It's incredible that it's my fifth, it's much more than anything I dreamed of as a kid."I want to thank all those who voted for me first of all. I also want to thank obviously my team-mates, as I always say without them none of this would ever have been possible.

"And lastly I want to thank football for everything it has brought me - both the bad and the good - because it has made me grow and learn always."

The Ballon d'Or award caps yet another remarkable year for Messi, who secured five trophies and a famous treble with Barcelona in a dominant 2015, ending the Catalan club's four-year wait for another Champions League victory - his fourth title in Europe's premier club competition.

Messi scored a remarkable 52 goals for club and country across the calendar year - five less than Ronaldo - as well as contributing 26 assists in 61 appearances, scoring or assisting every 0.78 games.

The 27-year-old first won the Ballon d'Or in 2009, before it merged with Fifa's World Player of the Year award, and won it every year afterwards until 2012 when his stranglehold on the award was finally broken by Ronaldo.

 

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Congratulations Messi!

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Luis Enrique wins 2015 Coach of the Year

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has been named as the 2015 Fifa World Coach of the Year at Monday's Ballon d'Or gala in Zurich, seeing off competition from Josep Guardiola and Jorge Sampaoli.

The 45-year-old led Barca to the treble - the second in their history - in his first season in charge and followed up that success by guiding his side to Uefa Super Cup glory prior to winning the Club World Cup in December.

A two-legged defeat to Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup was the only available trophy that Enrique missed out on in a remarkable 2015 for both manager and club.

Spearheaded by an attack of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, Enrique's side ended the previous campaign having chalked up a remarkable 50 wins. Enrique was not present in Switzerland to collect the award, although he didn't reveal why he'd decided not to make the trip with the Catalan club's travelling party, which featured Messi, Dani Alves, Andres Iniesta and Neymar.

"No, I will not be at the Ballon d'Or," was his prompt reply when asked if he would attend after Barcelona beat Granada on Saturday.

The Barca boss saw off competition from Bayern boss Guardiola, who claimed the Bundesliga title with the Bavarians, while Chile coach Sampaoli helped his side win their first ever Copa America.

 

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Congratulations Luis Enrique!

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Unknown Brazilian stuns Messi for Puskas award

Wendell Lira scored a major upset by beating out Lionel Messi to the 2015 Fifa Puskas Award.

The virtually unknown Brazilian was rewarded for his scissor kick for Goianesia ahead of the Argentine, who had been nominated for his solo strike in the Copa del Rey final against Athletic.

Lira, currently playing for Vila Nova, previously admitted it was a "f***ing shock" even to be nominated.

"I was at my mother's house and it was impossible for the telephone to stop ringing, and the Whatsapp messages kept coming," he told Goal.

"Then I went to see what was happening and there were lots of messages congratulating me. I though it was a prank but they sent me the links and then I believed it. I was shocked."

On making the three-man shortlist, he added: "Oh, it was another f***ing shock. I was leaving my house at around 12pm and a guy blocked my way. I thought I was f***ed, that he would assault me."

 

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Guardiola giving nothing away on Premier League suitors

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is in no rush to reveal his next club and says he will not make any announcements until he has put pen to paper.

The Bundesliga champions announced last month that Guardiola will leave at the end of this season and the club have already named Carlo Ancelotti as his successor.

Guardiola has confirmed he wants to coach in the Premier League, with Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all being linked with the 44-year-old.

City are believed to be leading the race to secure Guardiola's services, but the former Barcelona man has refused to give any indication of where his next destination will be.

"I will reveal my new club once I have actually signed a contract," he said at a news conference during Bayern's training camp in Qatar.

"I have not talked with the players about my imminent move to England. We are only talking about football. But they all already know anyway."

Guardiola has already won numerous trophies throughout his coaching career, including La Liga, the Bundesliga and the Champions League, but said he cares more about playing style than silverware.

"I would rather be remembered for the football my teams play than for the trophies I won."In the end, titles are nothing but numbers and numbers are boring.

"When we win 4-0 or 5-0 and the fans go home happy, that's the greatest gift for me."Bayern have won two Bundesliga titles under Guardiola, but have yet to taste Champions League success with the Spaniard at the helm.

Guardiola, though, is not worried about his lack of European trophies at the Allianz Arena."The Bundesliga is the most special title for me. You can play terrible in the Champions League, but then do well for six games and win the title.

"I don't think we are ready to win the Champions League yet. We still need to make steps forward. We have to learn how to stay focused for the full 90 minutes."

 

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Real Madrid EQUAL treble-winners Barca in FIFPro World XI

Real Madrid sprung a surprise at the Ballon d'Or ceremony with no less than four players making the FIFPro World XI - the same number as treble winners Barcelona.

The Spanish club finished 2015 empty-handed, after ending the Liga season runners-up to the Blaugrana and going out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage.

But that did not stop a quartet of Blancos stars making the cut among the best 11 players in the world over the last 12 months.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric and Marcelo were included in the team, which appeared together in Zurich with the exception of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who did not attend the ceremony.

Barcelona, meanwhile, contribute Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, Neymar, Andres Iniesta and Dani Alves to the side, meaning eight of the 10 outfield players come from the two Spanish giants.

Juventus' sole representative is Paul Pogba, while Paris Saint-Germain's Thiago Silva enters at centre-back.

FIFPro World XI 2015: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Neymar (Barcelona).

 

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Pattama squad 1ka

Congratulations for all!

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FA Cup Fourth Round Draw: Arsenal face Burnley, Man Utd draw Derby

Holders Arsenal have been drawn against Burnley in the FA Cup fourth round while Manchester United will travel to Pride Park to take on Derby County.

Guus Hiddink's Chelsea will face either Northampton Town or MK Dons while Liverpool will take on West Ham provided they beat Exeter City at Anfield in their third round replay.

Giant-killers Oxford United, who beat Swansea 3-2 on Sunday, are rewarded with a home tie against either Newport County or Blackburn Rovers while Eastleigh will take on Leeds United, if they can see off Bolton in their replay.

There is an all Premier League clash at Selhurst Park where Crystal Palace will face Stoke and potentially at Villa Park with Manchester City the visitors if Aston Villa can see off Wycombe.

 

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Good Luck Manchester United!​

 

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Messi: Special to lift Ballon d'Or again after seeing Ronaldo win twice

Lionel Messi voiced his delight with his Fifa Ballon d'Or win after beating Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona team-mate Neymar to the prestigious individual award.

The prolific attacker guided Barcelona to the treble in 2014-15, before adding the Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup to his trophy cabinet in the first half of this season, while also reaching the final of the Copa America with Argentina in July.
Messi has now won the Ballon d'Or five times - twice more than last year's winner Ronaldo - and he felt honoured to be voted the best in the world once more after coming in second in 2013 and 2014.

"It's a very special moment for me to be back here on the stage, winning again after being in the audience to see Ronaldo win for the last two years," the 28-year-old stated upon receiving his award."It's incredible that it's my fifth. It's much more than I ever dreamed of as a kid.

"I want to thank all of my team-mates and those who voted for me. This would not have been possible without the team.

"And I want to thank football in general for everything it has given me during my life, both the good things and the bad things."Meanwhile, Messi missed out on the Puskas Award as Brazilian attacker Wendell Lira took home that trophy.

 

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'Chaos!' - Ballon d'Or hosts mock ceremony in mic gaffe

Fifa's Ballon d'Or ceremony was described as "chaos" by its own hosts, James Nesbitt and Kate Abdo, in a microphone gaffe as the closing credits rolled on Monday.

The two Brits were overheard by listeners to Fifa's online video stream criticising script changes and organisation following Lionel Messi's presentation as the Ballon d'Or 2015 winner.

"Why did they change that? I don't understand why the changed the script?" co-presenter Abdo was heard saying to Northern Irish actor Nesbitt after the ceremony on Monday.

"Where are the winners?" Nesbitt responded, presumably referring to his sign off at the end of the ceremony, when he only referred to Messi and not the players and coaches who had won other awards.

"Have you seen they just tried to stop [Cristiano] Ronaldo? Chaos. It's chaos," Abdo added, although both were off camera so it was unclear where the Real Madrid player was trying to go.

Abdo and Nesbitt were not the only people to be baffled by the organisation in Zurich.

Several journalists were denied entry into the auditorium, despite having full accreditation, because some tickets were issued only 30 minutes before the start and existing venue staff were unable to direct reporters to the correct entrance.

Goal correspondent Ignasi Oliva said: "They handled it like a VIP party - they were only concerned with those guests, and ignored the rest."

Messi won his fifth Ballon d'Or award on the night, breaking Ronaldo's two-year winning streak and seeing off fresh competition from Barcelona team-mate Neymar.

Other key awards went to Barca's Luis Enrique (coach of the year), USA's Jill Ellis (women's coach of the year) and Carli Lloyd (women's player of the year), while little-known Brazilian journeyman Wendell Lira picked up the Puskas award for goal of the year, scored while playing for Goianesia.

 

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Messi picked Suarez, Ronaldo chose Benzema - who each captain voted for in Ballon d'Or

Lionel Messi voted for Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez to win the 2015 Ballon d'Or and Cristiano Ronaldo picked Karim Benzema to claim the award - but both players failed to name each other in their top three.

Messi was announced as the winner of the award for the fifth time at a ceremony in Zurich on Monday night, beating second-placed Ronaldo and Neymar to the prize.

But, as captains of their respective nations, both players were invited to vote for the winner and picked players who did not land a spot in the top three.

Barcelona stars Suarez, Neymar and Andres Iniesta made up Messi's top three, while Ronaldo voted for Benzema, James Rodriguez and Gareth Bale.

Messi and Ronaldo were not the only notable stars to vote for a player to win who missed out on the top three entirely.

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and Manchester United midfielder and Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger both voted for Manuel Neuer to claim the award.

Wales captain Ashley Williams voted for international team-mate Gareth Bale as his winner, with Messi second and Robert Lewandowski third.

England star Wayne Rooney voted for Messi to win the Ballon d'Or, with former Manchester United team-mate Ronaldo in third and Bayern's Thomas Muller in second place.

Former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, now of Arsenal, picked Blues star Eden Hazard as his third choice, behind Messi and Lewandowski.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Hugo Lloris's top threes, meanwhile, reflected how the overall voting transpired, with Messi winning, Ronaldo finishing second and Neymar third.

 

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Klopp: I need a new plan to beat Arsenal

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists he will have to devise a new plan to beat Arsenal despite playing them with regularity while in charge of Borussia Dortmund.

The Bundesliga club beat Arsenal to top spot in the Champions League group stages during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, although Arsene Wenger's side got the better of them in the 2011-12 competition.

Klopp, though, insists that his past duels against Arsenal will count for little in Wednesday's encounter at Anfield and the German heaped praise on the work Arsene Wenger has done during his reign in north London."We should not talk too much about my experiences of playing against Arsenal," he said at his pre-match media conference.

"We will find a current plan for this game. One thing is always the same [with Arsenal], they are a good football playing team."Arsenal, together with City, are the two best teams in the Premier League.

"My respect for him [Wenger] grows day by day. It is really intensive to work in the Premier League and he has done a brilliant job.

"The Stoke game was a good sign of what my team is capable of. We have to show it."Klopp also revealed that Kolo Toure would be fit to face the league leaders, while fellow centre-back Mamadou Sakho (knee) is hoping to return.

Jordon Ibe (hamstring) and Jordan Henderson (foot) are also back in the squad as eighth-placed Liverpool's injury crisis begins to ease.

 

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Ronaldo votes for Ancelotti as coach of the year


Cristiano Ronaldo voted for former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti in the Fifa Coach of the Year award, despite the Italian being out of work for most of 2015.
Ancelotti was sacked by Madrid in May after the 2014-15 season, but will take over at Bayern Munich when Pep Guardiola departs at the end of the current campaign.

Ronaldo was vocal of his affection for the Italian and that was evident once more when the results of the voting for the coach award were revealed following the ceremony in Zurich on Monday.

The Portuguese voted for another former Madrid boss Jose Mourinho in second after he led Chelsea to the Premier League title, while Guardiola earned Ronaldo's final vote.

There was no nomination for Barcelona's Luis Enrique - the eventual winner of the award - despite him leading the Catalan giants to the domestic double of La Liga and Copa del Rey as well as the Champions League crown.

Lionel Messi, who claimed his fifth Ballon d'Or ahead of Ronaldo, voted for Luis Enrique, followed by Jorge Sampaoli, the Argentine who guided Chile to the Copa America title, and Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone.Surprisingly, Luis Enrique did not receive Argentina boss and former Barca coach Gerardo Martino's vote, with it instead going to Simeone, Sampaoli and Guardiola respectively.

England boss Roy Hodgson plumped for Guardiola, Ancelotti and Sampaoli with his captain Wayne Rooney voting for Mourinho, Guardiola and Sampaoli.

 

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Muller: England offers a lot but Bayern is not a club you simply leave

Thomas Muller believes his contract renewal was a "statement" by both him and Bayern Munich, although he concedes the Premier League "offers a lot at the moment".

The Germany international penned a new deal in December which ties him to the Bundesliga champions until 2021, a move which should ward off interest from English clubs in the 26-year-old, at least in the short-term.

"The renewal was a statement by me and the club that we feel comfortable with each other and have huge ambitions. It is also a small sign that Bayern is not a club you simply leave," he told a news conference in Doha, where Bayern are holding a mid-season training camp ahead of coach Pep Guardiola's final five months in charge.

Guardiola has outlined his desire to work in England, although his destination remains uncertain with Manchester City favourites ahead of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Muller can understand the Spaniard's decision, although he was also keen to play up Bayern's appeal, adding: "The environment [at Bayern], the infrastructure, the history and the culture in recent years are incentives that not every club, or every city, has to offer."Of course England offers a lot at the moment, but Bayern does not have to hide."

Muller has scored 25 goals for club and country this season but is not resting on his laurels.

"Of course I am not satisfied with my own performances and goals, I make no secret of that," he said."We want to play a good second half of the season and challenge for titles. Then we will see what's left.

"I want to help the team. I try to be a player who is there for the team, even off the pitch. You always have to find the right mix of being serious and relaxed. And you have to be there when it.

 

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Conte and Buffon boycott Ballon d'Or in protest at goalkeeper snub

Antonio Conte and Gianluigi Buffon abstained from voting in the 2015 Ballon d'Or award, apparently in protest at the Juventus star's exclusion from the shortlist.

The absence of Buffon, who helped his side win the Serie A and Coppa Italia double and reach the Champions League final, was one of the big talking points when the original 50-man list was released.

And when the details of each national team captain and coach's vote was released after Lionel Messi was crowned as the winner of the award, it was noted that the pair had declined to use their vote.

Reports from Sky claim that the boycott was deliberate and was the duo's way of criticising Fifa's snub to the veteran goalkeeper.

The measure was apparently on the orders of the Italian FA, incensed that their captain was overlooked.

Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Paolo Condo did cast his ballot for the prize, choosing Messi, Neymar and Robert Lewandowski.

Curiously, Buffon was one of three goalkeeping captains who failed to have their say in the competition.

Iker Casillas, according to COPE, was unable to vote after the Spanish Football Federation failed to send the Porto man the necessary documentation in time to participate.

Chile's Claudio Bravo also abstained, although the reasons for the Barcelona shot-stopper's absence remain unknown.