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Carrick: Top four not out of sight for United
Michael Carrick does not believe a top-four finish in the Premier League is beyond Manchester United despite a 1-0 loss at West Brom on Sunday.
Louis van Gaal's side had Juan Mata sent off in the first half following a pair of yellow cards, the first for blocking a free-kick without retreating the requisite 10 yards and the second for a wild challenge on Darren Fletcher.
Defeat leaves United three points adrift of local rivals Manchester City in the final Champions League qualifying berth, but Manuel Pellegrini's side have played a game fewer.
Carrick is confident that a place in the top four remains a possibility, but acknowledged his team must avoid dropping more points."[The top four] is not out of sight. We just need to get back to winning ways, that's it," the midfielder told Sky Sports.
"It's easy to say, but we've got to bounce back. We've got big games coming up and we've got to be ready for them."After four successive wins in all competitions, the 34-year-old was frustrated by United's change in fortunes at The Hawthorns, citing Mata's dismissal as pivotal.
"We wanted to carry on the form we've shown of late," added Carrick. "It's very disappointing. It's a tough game coming here anyway, but losing a man makes it more difficult. In the second half they had one chance and scored.
"[The red card] changed the game because you put one less man in the attacking areas, which affected us on the break especially. I thought we were comfortable for most of the second half, but that was the difference in the end.
"It is what it is. I have seen the second one [booking], I didn't get a good look at it, but it was a setback for us. You'll have to ask him [if he's let the team down]."
Michael Carrick does not believe a top-four finish in the Premier League is beyond Manchester United despite a 1-0 loss at West Brom on Sunday.
Louis van Gaal's side had Juan Mata sent off in the first half following a pair of yellow cards, the first for blocking a free-kick without retreating the requisite 10 yards and the second for a wild challenge on Darren Fletcher.
Defeat leaves United three points adrift of local rivals Manchester City in the final Champions League qualifying berth, but Manuel Pellegrini's side have played a game fewer.
Carrick is confident that a place in the top four remains a possibility, but acknowledged his team must avoid dropping more points."[The top four] is not out of sight. We just need to get back to winning ways, that's it," the midfielder told Sky Sports.
"It's easy to say, but we've got to bounce back. We've got big games coming up and we've got to be ready for them."After four successive wins in all competitions, the 34-year-old was frustrated by United's change in fortunes at The Hawthorns, citing Mata's dismissal as pivotal.
"We wanted to carry on the form we've shown of late," added Carrick. "It's very disappointing. It's a tough game coming here anyway, but losing a man makes it more difficult. In the second half they had one chance and scored.
"[The red card] changed the game because you put one less man in the attacking areas, which affected us on the break especially. I thought we were comfortable for most of the second half, but that was the difference in the end.
"It is what it is. I have seen the second one [booking], I didn't get a good look at it, but it was a setback for us. You'll have to ask him [if he's let the team down]."
Atletico hero Torres refuses to give up title hopes
Fernando Torres insists Atletico Madrid will not give up their title hopes after their 3-1 victory away to Valencia on Sunday.
Denis Cheryshev looked to have earned a point for Gary Neville's side after Antoine Griezmann's opener, but substitutes Torres and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco struck in the closing stages to seal the win.
Diego Simeone's side are back to within eight points of leaders Barcelona, who won 4-0 at Eibar, and Torres refused to abandon hope of hauling in the champions over the final 10 games.
"The first half was maybe more of a contest, they had their chances and so did we," he told Movistar. "But in the second half we got better, we found the spaces and we were able to get a very important victory on a pitch which is always difficult."We always maintain our intensity - it's one of the keys to this team. Barcelona are far away and we don't want to look at them, but anything can happen in football."
Torres' future at the Vicente Calderon beyond this season remains in doubt but he denied there has been any change in his situation, despite having scored three goals in his last five Liga games."The end of the season gets closer with every passing day, and the situation is the same," he said.
Fernando Torres insists Atletico Madrid will not give up their title hopes after their 3-1 victory away to Valencia on Sunday.
Denis Cheryshev looked to have earned a point for Gary Neville's side after Antoine Griezmann's opener, but substitutes Torres and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco struck in the closing stages to seal the win.
Diego Simeone's side are back to within eight points of leaders Barcelona, who won 4-0 at Eibar, and Torres refused to abandon hope of hauling in the champions over the final 10 games.
"The first half was maybe more of a contest, they had their chances and so did we," he told Movistar. "But in the second half we got better, we found the spaces and we were able to get a very important victory on a pitch which is always difficult."We always maintain our intensity - it's one of the keys to this team. Barcelona are far away and we don't want to look at them, but anything can happen in football."
Torres' future at the Vicente Calderon beyond this season remains in doubt but he denied there has been any change in his situation, despite having scored three goals in his last five Liga games."The end of the season gets closer with every passing day, and the situation is the same," he said.
Man Utd must hire Mourinho to battle Guardiola at City - Lampard
Frank Lampard has urged Manchester United to hire Jose Mourinho ahead of next season, insisting club and coach would work well together.
United have struggled to challenge for titles since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as manager in 2013, with Sunday's 1-0 defeat to West Brom leaving Louis van Gaal's side sixth in the Premier League.
The club are expected to replace the Dutchman at the end of the season, with Mourinho being heavily linked to succeed him at Old Trafford.And while the Portuguese's spell in charge of Chelsea ended when he was sacked with the Blues lurking dangerously close to the relegation zone, Lampard is confident his former boss would lift United back to the top of the Premier League.
"If I’m in charge at United and I see Pep Guardiola going to Manchester City, Jose would be top of my list," he is quoted as saying by The Mirror.
"Jose will get the best out of the players there. He will recruit top players."They are not happy with where they are at. It’s a good option for both United and Jose. It's a good fit."
United take on Liverpool in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday before an FA Cup quarter-final tie with West Ham United on Sunday.
Frank Lampard has urged Manchester United to hire Jose Mourinho ahead of next season, insisting club and coach would work well together.
United have struggled to challenge for titles since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as manager in 2013, with Sunday's 1-0 defeat to West Brom leaving Louis van Gaal's side sixth in the Premier League.
The club are expected to replace the Dutchman at the end of the season, with Mourinho being heavily linked to succeed him at Old Trafford.And while the Portuguese's spell in charge of Chelsea ended when he was sacked with the Blues lurking dangerously close to the relegation zone, Lampard is confident his former boss would lift United back to the top of the Premier League.
"If I’m in charge at United and I see Pep Guardiola going to Manchester City, Jose would be top of my list," he is quoted as saying by The Mirror.
"Jose will get the best out of the players there. He will recruit top players."They are not happy with where they are at. It’s a good option for both United and Jose. It's a good fit."
United take on Liverpool in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday before an FA Cup quarter-final tie with West Ham United on Sunday.
Guardiola branded 'unethical' over Manchester City move
Former Tottenham and Argentina midfielder Osvaldo Ardiles claims Pep Guardiola “lacks ethics” over his agreement with Manchester City.
The 45-year-old has publicly announced his decision to quit Bayern Munich at the end of the season in order to take over from Manuel Pellegrini at City.
But Ardiles insists the former Barcelona boss should have waited until Pellegrini had left the club before agreeing terms with City.
"Guardiola is unethical,” Ardiles told Radio 10’s ‘De caño vale doble’ show.
“He makes deals with other clubs while there's still another coach working. I personally didn't like the way he made the arrangements.
“He had done the same thing when he started coaching the Bayern Munich.
“For me, he lacks ethics and I'm surprised that he approaches things like that. He is the best coach in the world and he can choose any team, he doesn't need to do something that way.”
Ardiles, who helped guide Argentina to victory in the 1978 World Cup, also praised Mauricio Pochettino as Tottenham remain in the Premier League title race with nine games to go.
"Pochettino has done an extraordinary job,” he said.
“Tottenham ain't easy, I played there for 10 years and I also became coach.
“He made them think differently, Tottenham was a soft team and now they have another vibe. People are really fond of Mauricio.”
Former Tottenham and Argentina midfielder Osvaldo Ardiles claims Pep Guardiola “lacks ethics” over his agreement with Manchester City.
The 45-year-old has publicly announced his decision to quit Bayern Munich at the end of the season in order to take over from Manuel Pellegrini at City.
But Ardiles insists the former Barcelona boss should have waited until Pellegrini had left the club before agreeing terms with City.
"Guardiola is unethical,” Ardiles told Radio 10’s ‘De caño vale doble’ show.
“He makes deals with other clubs while there's still another coach working. I personally didn't like the way he made the arrangements.
“He had done the same thing when he started coaching the Bayern Munich.
“For me, he lacks ethics and I'm surprised that he approaches things like that. He is the best coach in the world and he can choose any team, he doesn't need to do something that way.”
Ardiles, who helped guide Argentina to victory in the 1978 World Cup, also praised Mauricio Pochettino as Tottenham remain in the Premier League title race with nine games to go.
"Pochettino has done an extraordinary job,” he said.
“Tottenham ain't easy, I played there for 10 years and I also became coach.
“He made them think differently, Tottenham was a soft team and now they have another vibe. People are really fond of Mauricio.”
Wenger: Arsenal still in Premier League title race
Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal still have a chance of winning the Premier League title, despite falling eight points behind leaders Leicester City.
The Gunners clawed a goal back to earn a 2-2 draw away at Tottenham on Saturday, while Leicester defeated Watford thanks to Riyad Mahrez's 15th goal of the season to move five points clear at the top.
But the Arsenal boss is not giving up hope of ending a 12-year wait for the title, pointing to his side's record against the table-toppers as proof that they can come out on top.
"The championship is far from over," Wenger said ahead of the FA Cup replay with Hull City.
"We have beaten twice Leicester. People have to look at the other teams. We will not give up in the championship. We will fight until the end."
Next up for Wenger and Arsenal is their FA Cup fifth-round replay against Championship side Hull as the Gunners begin a run of four games in 11 days, which includes a trip to Barcelona in the Champions League.
“I will have to make [changes]," Wenger said. "I'm not concerned by replacing one player for another. I have to rotate a bit and keep the balance in the team.
He added: "We lose [suspended Francis] Coquelin of course. Everybody else looks medically available.
"I have to see how everyone has recovered. We should have the same squad from Tottenham, plus Iwobi."
Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal still have a chance of winning the Premier League title, despite falling eight points behind leaders Leicester City.
The Gunners clawed a goal back to earn a 2-2 draw away at Tottenham on Saturday, while Leicester defeated Watford thanks to Riyad Mahrez's 15th goal of the season to move five points clear at the top.
But the Arsenal boss is not giving up hope of ending a 12-year wait for the title, pointing to his side's record against the table-toppers as proof that they can come out on top.
"The championship is far from over," Wenger said ahead of the FA Cup replay with Hull City.
"We have beaten twice Leicester. People have to look at the other teams. We will not give up in the championship. We will fight until the end."
Next up for Wenger and Arsenal is their FA Cup fifth-round replay against Championship side Hull as the Gunners begin a run of four games in 11 days, which includes a trip to Barcelona in the Champions League.
“I will have to make [changes]," Wenger said. "I'm not concerned by replacing one player for another. I have to rotate a bit and keep the balance in the team.
He added: "We lose [suspended Francis] Coquelin of course. Everybody else looks medically available.
"I have to see how everyone has recovered. We should have the same squad from Tottenham, plus Iwobi."
Mata speaks out after first career red card in Manchester United's defeat
Juan Mata admits his the first red card of his career has left a bad taste with Manchester United fans following their defeat to West Brom on Sunday.
The Spaniard was sent off after just 26 minutes for two yellow cards, leaving United to play with 10 men for over an hour.
Salomon Rondon’s second-half secured victory for West Brom to put another dent in United’s fading hopes of securing a top-four finish, and in his weekly blog, Mata admits he takes full responsibility for his action.
After almost 500 games as a professional player, this Sunday I was sent off for the first time in my career.
As you can imagine, it’s not easy for me to write these lines. The truth is this is a new and strange situation for me, not easy to assimilate, but we learn from everything.
I know that, in football, we see things like these every week, but obviously what hurts more is that my team-mates had to fight with ten men for a long time. I have the feeling that both decisions were rigorous; that, in many occasions, we see more serious fouls that are not penalised in such a way, but at the same time I could have avoided them and I take responsibility.
It also leaves me with a bad taste for the supporters who travelled to the stadium, and for those who were watching the game from home, but I must carry on as always and from now on I’m already focused on the next game, the derby against Liverpool in the Europa League.
In this sport there’s no time for celebrations or moaning, and after last Wednesday’s joy for the win and the goal against Watford, now I have to go through a more bitter experience.
That’s the way it is. What matters is to move forward and to always learn from each situation. And so I will.
The team was in a good shape. I hope this blot won’t make us forget that we were on the right track, and that we have to keep believing in ourselves to achieve the goals that are still in our minds from now until the end of the season.
That’s it for today. I take responsibility in the good and the bad moments, as I’ve always done and I will always do. Thank you very much for your support.
Juan
PS: I’d like to give my condolences to the family and friends of Gaspar Rosety, who sadly passed away this weekend. He was a journalist who made many football fans vibrate with his voice, and he always had words of affection for me. RIP.
Juventus set to extend Allegri contract
Juventus are working to extend the contract of head coach Massimiliano Allegri, Goal understands.
The 48-year-old guided the Bianconeri to a fourth consecutive Serie A title and a Champions League final in his first season in charge, having replaced Antonio Conte at the helm of the club.
After a rough start to the current campaign, Juve are on course to pick up another league crown at the end of the season, sitting three points clear of Napoli at the top of the table.
Allegri had been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, as it had been reported that he had agreed a contract with the Premier League side, though he has always dismissed speculation linking him with a move away from Juventus Stadium, insisting that he is happy where he is.
And as Allegri has little over a year left on his current deal, the Turin giants are ready to extend it to 2019 and are willing to increase his salary from around €3.5 million per year to €4.5m, which will be worth even more with bonuses.
Juve director Giuseppe Marotta has remained confident of keeping hold of him and believes tying up the contract is "a formality".
Juventus are working to extend the contract of head coach Massimiliano Allegri, Goal understands.
The 48-year-old guided the Bianconeri to a fourth consecutive Serie A title and a Champions League final in his first season in charge, having replaced Antonio Conte at the helm of the club.
After a rough start to the current campaign, Juve are on course to pick up another league crown at the end of the season, sitting three points clear of Napoli at the top of the table.
Allegri had been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, as it had been reported that he had agreed a contract with the Premier League side, though he has always dismissed speculation linking him with a move away from Juventus Stadium, insisting that he is happy where he is.
And as Allegri has little over a year left on his current deal, the Turin giants are ready to extend it to 2019 and are willing to increase his salary from around €3.5 million per year to €4.5m, which will be worth even more with bonuses.
Juve director Giuseppe Marotta has remained confident of keeping hold of him and believes tying up the contract is "a formality".
'Odegaard can be a world star... but maybe not at Real Madrid'
The former mental coach of Martin Odegaard believes the 17-year-old Norwegian can be a global star - but says his former protégé may need to leave Real Madrid to fulfil his potential.
Odegaard moved to Madrid amid much fanfare in January of 2015 from Stromsgodset and his debut as a substitute in Real's last league game of the 2014-15 season against Getafe - a 7-3 win in which he replaced Cristiano Ronaldo after 58 minutes - remains his only outing for the senior side.
In the meantime, things have not gone exactly to plan in Real's youth team Castilla either, with only one goal for the youngster so far and striker Borja Mayoral recently promoted to the senior set-up ahead of the Norwegian.
Nevertheless, the player's former mental coach Klaus Pettersen told Goal: "I believe we will see his greatness again and I believe that he can be a world star."
"He has the mind to carry such a great blessing. Whether it will be in Madrid I am not sure, but I believe that we will see him on the biggest stages with the biggest players. If he can lift the Ballon d'Or, it's not easy to say, but right now he is a good candidate in a longer perspective."
Pettersen, who worked with Odegaard during the forward's time at Stromsgodset, claims the youngster is mature beyond his years.
"I would say Martin is very mature for his age," he said. "You can see it in the interviews he gives and the strongest indicator is the way he behaves. He is the person who says hello to everyone, has great respect to every person from the cleaning lady to the sports director and manager.
"He is not particularly concerned with vanity, when others are speaking about their new mobile phones, and using a lot of time to think about their style; he is simply himself most of the time. He doesn't have to be anyone else than himself. That is how confident he is in himself in a natural way. On the pitch he has an extreme internal motivation for developing himself. He has trained a lot, more then anyone, and he has trained with the highest quality possible.
"He has a mindset of development, but he also has passion for the results that he produces and the team. His ability to handle setbacks is great. Where other players need a whole week or a new match to improve their self-esteem, he has an ability to recover mentally very quickly. The defeats are out of his head after a couple of hours because he knows that a low mindset will hinder his development. He is not easily distracted by fame and other outside forces. He is simply driven by the game itself."
Pettersen says Odegaard grew up in a religious family and reveals that the help of his father, a former footballer himself, has been vital in his development.
"He grew up in a Christian home and the faith in God is strong and present in the family," he said. "These values he has inherited from his family. They are a part of his personality and as I see it is also a big part why he can be so focused. It is a focus on positive values and co-operation with others.
"He also shows this in the interviews he is giving, even when he is not playing he is able to show joy and happiness for other players and the team. His mind is not easily tempted. I believe his father is and has been a very important person for him. Both with his view of life, and his advice and also acting like a politician for Martin and helping him on the way to make the right choices. He has also trained him and helped him integrate details into his game. Martin's father has been the perfect gardener."
The forward's former mental coach adds that the player is strong, but believes he faces his toughest challenge yet at Real Madrid.
"He is mentally strong, and the reason why I say that is because he is humble and ready to learn, but he still has the strength to stay strong when it's needed and the going gets tough," he said.
"I believe this is his toughest battle so far. This is the first time he has faced setbacks for real. I believe he has the right mindset, he has shown this before when he has had minor setbacks. We should also take into consideration what the big plan of Real Madrid will be. If they have a longer plan he still has a very good training area in Madrid, and if he is able to stay clear in his mind he will grow extremely well playing with these players.
"I believe the father also is there to supervise his development and his state of mind. They will monitor and have good dialogue. I believe it's smart of him to have his father with him. It will be a good help in a world which is a bit different from Norway."
Despite his difficulties so far, Pettersen says there is no hurry because, at 17, Odegaard still has plenty of time on his side to make big at the Bernabeu.
"We have to see that even if he starts playing for Real Madrid in two years he is still ahead of almost all other players," he said. "It's not easy to outplay those players in the first team, so his way to the starting XI doesn't look close at the moment, but things can change quickly and you never know when a chance may arise."
The former mental coach of Martin Odegaard believes the 17-year-old Norwegian can be a global star - but says his former protégé may need to leave Real Madrid to fulfil his potential.
Odegaard moved to Madrid amid much fanfare in January of 2015 from Stromsgodset and his debut as a substitute in Real's last league game of the 2014-15 season against Getafe - a 7-3 win in which he replaced Cristiano Ronaldo after 58 minutes - remains his only outing for the senior side.
In the meantime, things have not gone exactly to plan in Real's youth team Castilla either, with only one goal for the youngster so far and striker Borja Mayoral recently promoted to the senior set-up ahead of the Norwegian.
Nevertheless, the player's former mental coach Klaus Pettersen told Goal: "I believe we will see his greatness again and I believe that he can be a world star."
"He has the mind to carry such a great blessing. Whether it will be in Madrid I am not sure, but I believe that we will see him on the biggest stages with the biggest players. If he can lift the Ballon d'Or, it's not easy to say, but right now he is a good candidate in a longer perspective."
Pettersen, who worked with Odegaard during the forward's time at Stromsgodset, claims the youngster is mature beyond his years.
"I would say Martin is very mature for his age," he said. "You can see it in the interviews he gives and the strongest indicator is the way he behaves. He is the person who says hello to everyone, has great respect to every person from the cleaning lady to the sports director and manager.
"He is not particularly concerned with vanity, when others are speaking about their new mobile phones, and using a lot of time to think about their style; he is simply himself most of the time. He doesn't have to be anyone else than himself. That is how confident he is in himself in a natural way. On the pitch he has an extreme internal motivation for developing himself. He has trained a lot, more then anyone, and he has trained with the highest quality possible.
"He has a mindset of development, but he also has passion for the results that he produces and the team. His ability to handle setbacks is great. Where other players need a whole week or a new match to improve their self-esteem, he has an ability to recover mentally very quickly. The defeats are out of his head after a couple of hours because he knows that a low mindset will hinder his development. He is not easily distracted by fame and other outside forces. He is simply driven by the game itself."
Pettersen says Odegaard grew up in a religious family and reveals that the help of his father, a former footballer himself, has been vital in his development.
"He grew up in a Christian home and the faith in God is strong and present in the family," he said. "These values he has inherited from his family. They are a part of his personality and as I see it is also a big part why he can be so focused. It is a focus on positive values and co-operation with others.
"He also shows this in the interviews he is giving, even when he is not playing he is able to show joy and happiness for other players and the team. His mind is not easily tempted. I believe his father is and has been a very important person for him. Both with his view of life, and his advice and also acting like a politician for Martin and helping him on the way to make the right choices. He has also trained him and helped him integrate details into his game. Martin's father has been the perfect gardener."
The forward's former mental coach adds that the player is strong, but believes he faces his toughest challenge yet at Real Madrid.
"He is mentally strong, and the reason why I say that is because he is humble and ready to learn, but he still has the strength to stay strong when it's needed and the going gets tough," he said.
"I believe this is his toughest battle so far. This is the first time he has faced setbacks for real. I believe he has the right mindset, he has shown this before when he has had minor setbacks. We should also take into consideration what the big plan of Real Madrid will be. If they have a longer plan he still has a very good training area in Madrid, and if he is able to stay clear in his mind he will grow extremely well playing with these players.
"I believe the father also is there to supervise his development and his state of mind. They will monitor and have good dialogue. I believe it's smart of him to have his father with him. It will be a good help in a world which is a bit different from Norway."
Despite his difficulties so far, Pettersen says there is no hurry because, at 17, Odegaard still has plenty of time on his side to make big at the Bernabeu.
"We have to see that even if he starts playing for Real Madrid in two years he is still ahead of almost all other players," he said. "It's not easy to outplay those players in the first team, so his way to the starting XI doesn't look close at the moment, but things can change quickly and you never know when a chance may arise."
'Real Madrid will give Zidane another chance next year'
Real Madrid will persist with Zinedine Zidane next season even if he fails to win titles this term, believes former Spain international Luis Garcia.
After the sacking of Rafa Benitez - under whom Garcia played at Liverpool - Zidane was promoted to the top job at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Madrid remain well behind Barcelona in La Liga's title race.
While Garcia can understand why Benitez was removed from his post despite his intimate knowledge of the club, he feels that Zidane should - and will - be given more time than his predecessor.
"It's difficult to analyse from outside; you don't know what happened inside the dressing-room," the 37-year-old told Omnisport of Benitez's struggles.
"When he first arrived, they thought he was the right man because he knew the club. He was there for many years before and he knew how Real Madrid worked - and he'd been waiting for that chance for many years. But at the end it's all about results.
"With Zidane, things started very well, like it normally happens in teams who change the manager, but right now [there's] still a lot of work to do.
"I think a manager always needs six-to-eight months to tell 'what kind of player I want for my team' so I think, even if this season the league doesn't go well, if the Champions League doesn't go well, they will give him another chance next year."
Real Madrid will persist with Zinedine Zidane next season even if he fails to win titles this term, believes former Spain international Luis Garcia.
After the sacking of Rafa Benitez - under whom Garcia played at Liverpool - Zidane was promoted to the top job at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Madrid remain well behind Barcelona in La Liga's title race.
While Garcia can understand why Benitez was removed from his post despite his intimate knowledge of the club, he feels that Zidane should - and will - be given more time than his predecessor.
"It's difficult to analyse from outside; you don't know what happened inside the dressing-room," the 37-year-old told Omnisport of Benitez's struggles.
"When he first arrived, they thought he was the right man because he knew the club. He was there for many years before and he knew how Real Madrid worked - and he'd been waiting for that chance for many years. But at the end it's all about results.
"With Zidane, things started very well, like it normally happens in teams who change the manager, but right now [there's] still a lot of work to do.
"I think a manager always needs six-to-eight months to tell 'what kind of player I want for my team' so I think, even if this season the league doesn't go well, if the Champions League doesn't go well, they will give him another chance next year."
Man killed by friend during Ronaldo vs Messi argument
A Nigerian man was killed by his friend in Mumbai following an argument over who is the better player out of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
According to police, Obinna Michael Durumchukwa, 34, was celebrating his birthday with his friend Nwabu Chukwuma, 22, when the pair got into a row over the Barcelona and Real Madrid stars.
According to police inspector Kiran Kabadi, Durumchukwa threw a glass at Chukwuma which missed and hit the wall. Chukwuma then picked up a shard of the glass and slit his friend’s throat.
Chukwuma has been arrested and charged for murder.
Verratti: Diego Costa uses warfare to win - it's good to have him in your team
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti believes Chelsea are lucky to have a fiery character like Diego Costa in their team, insisting it is good to have someone who "uses warfare to win".
The Blues striker is famous for his physical style of play and his tendency to aggravate opponents and is one of the most frequently booked players in the Premier League this term.
And Verratti admits he has an admiration for Costa's desire to win at all costs and believes he is a completely different personality off the field to the one displayed on it.
“I prefer entertaining football, but having a personality like Costa in your team is always good," he told The Guardian. "He uses warfare to win the games, but I know him, he’s a good guy who transforms when he comes on the pitch.
“I watch a lot of football. If I was to pick a player that I identify with in this Chelsea team it would be Cesc Fabregas. He makes you see what the game is about, he breathes football and you can tell by his way of playing how much he loves it. He was already a great player when I just got started, so I’ve watched him a lot. He’s an example who I’ve tried to learn from.”
The midfielder will come up against the Chelsea duo when PSG travel to Stamford Bridge looking to maintain their lead over Guus Hiddink's men from the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
And Verratti was pleased with his side's display but hopes to see an even more dominant performance from the Ligue 1 leaders on Wednesday.
"We confirmed we are a good team [in the first leg], but there are things we could have done better,” the Italy international added.
"We could have put Chelsea in more trouble. We have to go to London and play our football, if we do anything else we’ll be in trouble.
“We need to keep the possession of the ball, attack and go for an early goal. These are the games that we wait for all season. Being eliminated in the Champions League would be a bit of a disaster.
"We will have to show more personality than in the first leg, because we’re playing at Stamford Bridge, which is always different from playing at home. But we need to play the same kind of football."
The 23-year-old joined the Parisian side from Pescara in 2012 and is delighted to have learned from some esteemed figures in the game, having worked with Claude Makelele, David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in France.“I was very young when I first got to Paris and Claude Makelele looked after me and gave me lots of advice.
“I had the pleasure of getting to know David Beckham, an icon of football and beyond that. He’s a great person, but I had no idea he was such a shy guy. Sometimes when you speak to him he blushes.
“It’s very strange, he’s famous around the world but in private he is very shy. We used to mix English, Italian and Spanish to communicate. He is polite and has good values, that’s why everybody respects him. He’s a great person and a terrific player."
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti believes Chelsea are lucky to have a fiery character like Diego Costa in their team, insisting it is good to have someone who "uses warfare to win".
The Blues striker is famous for his physical style of play and his tendency to aggravate opponents and is one of the most frequently booked players in the Premier League this term.
And Verratti admits he has an admiration for Costa's desire to win at all costs and believes he is a completely different personality off the field to the one displayed on it.
“I prefer entertaining football, but having a personality like Costa in your team is always good," he told The Guardian. "He uses warfare to win the games, but I know him, he’s a good guy who transforms when he comes on the pitch.
“I watch a lot of football. If I was to pick a player that I identify with in this Chelsea team it would be Cesc Fabregas. He makes you see what the game is about, he breathes football and you can tell by his way of playing how much he loves it. He was already a great player when I just got started, so I’ve watched him a lot. He’s an example who I’ve tried to learn from.”
The midfielder will come up against the Chelsea duo when PSG travel to Stamford Bridge looking to maintain their lead over Guus Hiddink's men from the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
And Verratti was pleased with his side's display but hopes to see an even more dominant performance from the Ligue 1 leaders on Wednesday.
"We confirmed we are a good team [in the first leg], but there are things we could have done better,” the Italy international added.
"We could have put Chelsea in more trouble. We have to go to London and play our football, if we do anything else we’ll be in trouble.
“We need to keep the possession of the ball, attack and go for an early goal. These are the games that we wait for all season. Being eliminated in the Champions League would be a bit of a disaster.
"We will have to show more personality than in the first leg, because we’re playing at Stamford Bridge, which is always different from playing at home. But we need to play the same kind of football."
The 23-year-old joined the Parisian side from Pescara in 2012 and is delighted to have learned from some esteemed figures in the game, having worked with Claude Makelele, David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in France.“I was very young when I first got to Paris and Claude Makelele looked after me and gave me lots of advice.
“I had the pleasure of getting to know David Beckham, an icon of football and beyond that. He’s a great person, but I had no idea he was such a shy guy. Sometimes when you speak to him he blushes.
“It’s very strange, he’s famous around the world but in private he is very shy. We used to mix English, Italian and Spanish to communicate. He is polite and has good values, that’s why everybody respects him. He’s a great person and a terrific player."
Allegri: I'll be at Juventus next season
Massimiliano Allegri has vowed to stay at Juventus for at least another year despite reports linking him with a move away from Turin.
The former AC Milan boss has been linked with Chelsea and Real Madrid, though he last week denied having contact with any other club.
Speaking after he was awarded the Panchina d'Oro for being voted Serie A's best coach for 2014-15, he told Sky Sport Italia: "Next year, I will still be the coach of Juventus because I have another year on my contract. There's never been anything [with other clubs]."I'm fine here and there are no problems. Now we're thinking of a fifth Scudetto in a row and the Coppa Italia. We work to improve every year."
Allegri picked up the prize, which is voted for by coaching staff from within Italy's top flight, after guiding Juve to the domestic double and the Champions League final last season.
But the 48-year-old denied that winning Europe's top prize has become an "obsession" for the Old Lady as they prepare for next week's last-16 second leg with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena."Bayern are one of the favourites for the Champions League. I don't count the fact that they haven't won their last couple of matches," he said.
"The Champions League is a dream, but not an obsession."Juve came from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 first-leg draw against the German champions.
Massimiliano Allegri has vowed to stay at Juventus for at least another year despite reports linking him with a move away from Turin.
The former AC Milan boss has been linked with Chelsea and Real Madrid, though he last week denied having contact with any other club.
Speaking after he was awarded the Panchina d'Oro for being voted Serie A's best coach for 2014-15, he told Sky Sport Italia: "Next year, I will still be the coach of Juventus because I have another year on my contract. There's never been anything [with other clubs]."I'm fine here and there are no problems. Now we're thinking of a fifth Scudetto in a row and the Coppa Italia. We work to improve every year."
Allegri picked up the prize, which is voted for by coaching staff from within Italy's top flight, after guiding Juve to the domestic double and the Champions League final last season.
But the 48-year-old denied that winning Europe's top prize has become an "obsession" for the Old Lady as they prepare for next week's last-16 second leg with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena."Bayern are one of the favourites for the Champions League. I don't count the fact that they haven't won their last couple of matches," he said.
"The Champions League is a dream, but not an obsession."Juve came from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 first-leg draw against the German champions.
'Martial told me Manchester United move was his childhood dream'
Monaco’s vice-president Vadim Vasilyev has revealed that Anthony Martial told him a move to Manchester United was his childhood dream.
The 20-year-old joined Old Trafford last summer in a deal that will eventually be worth £57.6 million after add-ons.
But the Ligue 1 club’s chief admits he was initially reluctant to approve the forward’s switch to the Premier League.
"If I was hesitant to sell Martial? Yes, because I imagined that the 2015-16 season would be his,” Vasilyev said in an interview with JDD.
"That's why we had extended his contract in July. Other transfers were more or less expected, not that one.
"There was the money, but also the fact that Anthony had said, 'Mr. Vasilyev this is my childhood dream'.
"If we kill this dream, you can also lose the boy for several months. He sent me his first autographed jersey and thanked me for giving him this chance."
Monaco’s vice-president Vadim Vasilyev has revealed that Anthony Martial told him a move to Manchester United was his childhood dream.
The 20-year-old joined Old Trafford last summer in a deal that will eventually be worth £57.6 million after add-ons.
But the Ligue 1 club’s chief admits he was initially reluctant to approve the forward’s switch to the Premier League.
"If I was hesitant to sell Martial? Yes, because I imagined that the 2015-16 season would be his,” Vasilyev said in an interview with JDD.
"That's why we had extended his contract in July. Other transfers were more or less expected, not that one.
"There was the money, but also the fact that Anthony had said, 'Mr. Vasilyev this is my childhood dream'.
"If we kill this dream, you can also lose the boy for several months. He sent me his first autographed jersey and thanked me for giving him this chance."
Saha sees signs of former team-mate Ronaldo in Martial
Louis Saha believes fellow Frenchman Anthony Martial has all the characteristics required to go on and emulate Cristiano Ronaldo's achievements at Manchester United.
Martial arrived at Old Trafford from Monaco for a reported fee of £36million in 2015 and, despite such a hefty price tag for a teenager, has settled in well to life in the Premier League.The France international has scored 10 goals in his debut campaign in England, even though he has often been stationed out wide by manager Louis van Gaal.
Saha sees signs that Martial can have a similar impact to his former team-mate Ronaldo, who was signed at the age of 18 by former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson."I hope Martial can emulate what Ronaldo did at United," Saha told the International Business Times.
"Ronaldo came when he was 18 and had this little issue where he was not passing the ball. He had to learn and that took him time.
"When he clicked in his head, with the help of the manager, he became an amazing player and I hope that Martial will go in the same path. Martial has got the ability, strength, he is skillful and he is hungry to learn."Ronaldo's spell at Manchester United saw him win three Premier League titles. He was also part of the team that defeated Chelsea on penalties to lift the Champions League in 2008.
The Portuguese managed 118 goals in 292 appearances before leaving in 2009 for Real Madrid, where he has gone on to become the Spanish club's all-time leading scorer."The difference when you compare any player to Ronaldo is that he was obsessed about his game," Saha added.
"You know he doesn't sleep without thinking about football and that quality is really hard to see in other players right now."
Louis Saha believes fellow Frenchman Anthony Martial has all the characteristics required to go on and emulate Cristiano Ronaldo's achievements at Manchester United.
Martial arrived at Old Trafford from Monaco for a reported fee of £36million in 2015 and, despite such a hefty price tag for a teenager, has settled in well to life in the Premier League.The France international has scored 10 goals in his debut campaign in England, even though he has often been stationed out wide by manager Louis van Gaal.
Saha sees signs that Martial can have a similar impact to his former team-mate Ronaldo, who was signed at the age of 18 by former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson."I hope Martial can emulate what Ronaldo did at United," Saha told the International Business Times.
"Ronaldo came when he was 18 and had this little issue where he was not passing the ball. He had to learn and that took him time.
"When he clicked in his head, with the help of the manager, he became an amazing player and I hope that Martial will go in the same path. Martial has got the ability, strength, he is skillful and he is hungry to learn."Ronaldo's spell at Manchester United saw him win three Premier League titles. He was also part of the team that defeated Chelsea on penalties to lift the Champions League in 2008.
The Portuguese managed 118 goals in 292 appearances before leaving in 2009 for Real Madrid, where he has gone on to become the Spanish club's all-time leading scorer."The difference when you compare any player to Ronaldo is that he was obsessed about his game," Saha added.
"You know he doesn't sleep without thinking about football and that quality is really hard to see in other players right now."
Januzaj pushes for first-team recall with U21s double
Adnan Januzaj boosted his chances of earning a first-team recall after netting twice for Manchester United's Under-21s on Monday evening.
The Belgium winger put in an impressive performance as Warren Joyce's young charges downed Oldham Athletic 4-0 in the Manchester Senior Cup.
Januzaj was made available for the game after Louis van Gaal left him out of the United squad which lost 1-0 to West Brom at The Hawthorns on Sunday.
The 21-year-old spent the first half of the campaign on loan with Borussia Dortmund, but his temporary spell was cut short after making just three starts for the Germans.
However, Januzaj has also struggled to get first-team minutes under his belt since returning to United, making just two substitute appearances against Southampton and Arsenal.
Januzaj has done himself no harm in his bid to force his way into the senior squad by finding the net twice for the Under-21s, though, with Andreas Pereira and Regan Poole also on the scoresheet against Oldham.
The United youth academy graduate will not be able to feature for United in their Europa League last 16 first-leg tie with Liverpool on Thursday as he is cup-tied.
Januzaj has appeared in the competition for Dortmund already this season but his goals for the Under-21s could earn him a place in the United squad for their upcoming FA Cup quarter-final clash with West Ham.
Adnan Januzaj boosted his chances of earning a first-team recall after netting twice for Manchester United's Under-21s on Monday evening.
The Belgium winger put in an impressive performance as Warren Joyce's young charges downed Oldham Athletic 4-0 in the Manchester Senior Cup.
Januzaj was made available for the game after Louis van Gaal left him out of the United squad which lost 1-0 to West Brom at The Hawthorns on Sunday.
The 21-year-old spent the first half of the campaign on loan with Borussia Dortmund, but his temporary spell was cut short after making just three starts for the Germans.
However, Januzaj has also struggled to get first-team minutes under his belt since returning to United, making just two substitute appearances against Southampton and Arsenal.
Januzaj has done himself no harm in his bid to force his way into the senior squad by finding the net twice for the Under-21s, though, with Andreas Pereira and Regan Poole also on the scoresheet against Oldham.
The United youth academy graduate will not be able to feature for United in their Europa League last 16 first-leg tie with Liverpool on Thursday as he is cup-tied.
Januzaj has appeared in the competition for Dortmund already this season but his goals for the Under-21s could earn him a place in the United squad for their upcoming FA Cup quarter-final clash with West Ham.
Coquelin: No contact with Deschamps over France call-up
Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin says he has yet to receive any contact from Didier Deschamps over a possible call-up to the France squad.
The 24-year-old was sent off in his side's 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Saturday but has otherwise enjoyed a solid season at the heart of the Gunners' midfield.
Coquelin was part of the France Under-19s side which won the European Championship in 2010, but he has yet to earn a place within the senior setup.
But while he admits it would be a privilege to be part of Euro 2016 on home soil in June and July this year, Coquelin insists his primary focus is on performing well at club level.
"I'm the kind of person who’s really focused on the club first," he told Arsenal Weekly. "It's how you play at the club that will decide whether you get to go to the national team."If I perform well, if it has to come it will come. I'm not really thinking about that too much at the moment because I've got a lot to accomplish here. But if it comes I'll be happy.
"I haven't been on the phone to him. I think he gives a pre-list of 30, 40 players and picks a squad from there. We haven't had contact there but when it comes I hope I'm on top of the game and show I'll deserve it."
Coquelin, who issued an apology after his red card at Tottenham, will sit out Tuesday's FA Cup replay against Hull City due to suspension.
Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin says he has yet to receive any contact from Didier Deschamps over a possible call-up to the France squad.
The 24-year-old was sent off in his side's 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Saturday but has otherwise enjoyed a solid season at the heart of the Gunners' midfield.
Coquelin was part of the France Under-19s side which won the European Championship in 2010, but he has yet to earn a place within the senior setup.
But while he admits it would be a privilege to be part of Euro 2016 on home soil in June and July this year, Coquelin insists his primary focus is on performing well at club level.
"I'm the kind of person who’s really focused on the club first," he told Arsenal Weekly. "It's how you play at the club that will decide whether you get to go to the national team."If I perform well, if it has to come it will come. I'm not really thinking about that too much at the moment because I've got a lot to accomplish here. But if it comes I'll be happy.
"I haven't been on the phone to him. I think he gives a pre-list of 30, 40 players and picks a squad from there. We haven't had contact there but when it comes I hope I'm on top of the game and show I'll deserve it."
Coquelin, who issued an apology after his red card at Tottenham, will sit out Tuesday's FA Cup replay against Hull City due to suspension.
Ancelotti on Real Madrid injuries: Something is badly wrong
Former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has slammed his old club's miserable injury record, stating that the situation suggests that players are not being taken care of at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Los Blancos have been plagued by fitness problems over the course of the season, with Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Marcelo among those who have made repeated trips to the doctor's office.
And according to Ancelotti, the plague of problems is a sign of more serious issues within the club.
"The facts show that something is being done extremely badly," the Italian alleged to Sina Sports.
"Since the start of the season there have been 22 muscular injuries at Madrid. Make your own conclusions, but in a club like Madrid that situation does not seem normal."
Ancelotti, who delivered the coveted Decima Champions League trophy in 2014 before being relieved of his duties the following season, nevertheless stated his faith that rookie coach Zinedine Zidane would solve the injury crisis.
"Of course Madrid need self-criticism, to analyse their mistakes and fix them. I am sure Zidane and the players are doing so," he said of his former assistant in the Spanish capital, while praising Atletico's Diego Simeone.
"They can work it out together. Those who think Atletico and Barcelona are not on the same level are wrong.
"In these three years Simeone has built one of the best teams in Europe.
Cristiano Ronaldo has found himself in the spotlight in the past few weeks, but Ancelotti backed the Portuguese star after his controversial comments following a derby defeat.
"He was talking about his team-mates' physical problems. In fact, there have been too many injuries for Madrid players, it also happened in my last season."
Former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has slammed his old club's miserable injury record, stating that the situation suggests that players are not being taken care of at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Los Blancos have been plagued by fitness problems over the course of the season, with Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Marcelo among those who have made repeated trips to the doctor's office.
And according to Ancelotti, the plague of problems is a sign of more serious issues within the club.
"The facts show that something is being done extremely badly," the Italian alleged to Sina Sports.
"Since the start of the season there have been 22 muscular injuries at Madrid. Make your own conclusions, but in a club like Madrid that situation does not seem normal."
Ancelotti, who delivered the coveted Decima Champions League trophy in 2014 before being relieved of his duties the following season, nevertheless stated his faith that rookie coach Zinedine Zidane would solve the injury crisis.
"Of course Madrid need self-criticism, to analyse their mistakes and fix them. I am sure Zidane and the players are doing so," he said of his former assistant in the Spanish capital, while praising Atletico's Diego Simeone.
"They can work it out together. Those who think Atletico and Barcelona are not on the same level are wrong.
"In these three years Simeone has built one of the best teams in Europe.
Cristiano Ronaldo has found himself in the spotlight in the past few weeks, but Ancelotti backed the Portuguese star after his controversial comments following a derby defeat.
"He was talking about his team-mates' physical problems. In fact, there have been too many injuries for Madrid players, it also happened in my last season."
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