..::Football III::..

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Bayern Munich star rules out joining Guardiola at Manchester City

Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago insists he has no plans to join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

Guardiola brought the 24-year-old to Bayern Munich from Barcelona for €25 million in 2013, and the incoming City manager has been linked with signing the midfielder once again this summer.

But when asked if he would consider joining Guardiola in the Premier League, Thiago told Globo Esporte: “No, at the moment no.

“I’m fine here, I extended my contract a few months ago and I feel very good here. The idea is to stay for many years.”

 

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Neymar cleared to represent Brazil at Olympics

Barcelona star Neymar will lead Brazil as one of the Selecao's three over-23 players at the 2016 Olympic Games.

National team coach Dunga has long coveted his skipper for the tournament, which will be played for the first time on Brazilian soil in Rio de Janeiro.

And sources close to Neymar have confirmed to Goal that the forward will be released by Barcelona to take part in the Games, the only major title the nation have never lifted.

Last week Dunga and Brazil coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi met in Spain with directors and coaches of the Catalan side, in order to negotiate Neymar's availability in August.

Neymar has long held that his wish is to fly the flag for the Selecao in Rio, and Barcelona have agreed to let their star play in the Olympics.

Brazil's thoughts will now turn to the Copa America centenary tournament in June, with the captain obliged to play in the United States under Fifa regulations unless Dunga declines to select him.

 

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Wenger: I built up Arsenal with no money or help

Arsene Wenger claims Arsenal have moved forward under his guidance without any help or money.

Pressure has intensified on the Arsenal boss following Sunday’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Watford, while the Gunners look set to exit the Champions League on Wednesday evening unless they can overturn a 2-0 first-leg defeat against Barcelona at Camp Nou.

And amid calls for his resignation at the end of the season, Wenger launched a staunch defence of his 20-year reign: “I have no doubt about my motivation.

“I built this club with hard work and without any external resources. If you compare the club when I arrived and how it is today, it is moved forward – and without any help from anybody.

“There was no money from anyone. Now I am even more motivated than the first day I arrived. And I feel even more pressure and responsibility to keep this club moving forward.”

 

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Manchester City 0-0 Dynamo Kyiv (3-1 agg): Pellegrini's men progress to last eight

Manchester City reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time after a goalless draw with Dynamo Kyiv, but were left to count the cost of injuries to captain Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi.

Having won the first leg 3-1 in Kiev, City were overwhelming favourites to progress and completed the job at the Etihad Stadium in a low-key return encounter.

However, manager Manuel Pellegrini now has serious concerns in defence ahead of Sunday's derby clash with Manchester United, particularly over skipper Kompany.The Belgium defender was substituted early on in Tuesday's contest after seemingly suffering a recurrence of the calf injury that has blighted his season.

Otamendi also limped off in the first half and there are question marks over his availability to face United in a match City surely have to win to keep their slim Premier League title hopes alive, with the gap to leaders Leicester City currently standing at 12 points.

Kompany was injured dealing with an innocuous ball in behind and he slumped to the ground before limping off, clearly frustrated, to be replaced by Eliaquim Mangala in the seventh minute.

City's defensive woes continued midway through the half when Otamendi was hurt making a tough tackle on Vitaliy Buyalskiy and, although he attempted to play on, Martin Demichelis eventually took his place.

The match itself was appropriately limp, with City seemingly happy to control possession, although Joe Hart was on hand to make a simple save after Lukasz Teodorczyk found space on the right of the area.Hart was alert again to punch Oleh Gusev's flicked header clear from Denys Garmash's cross, with Teodorczyk ready to pounce.

City had few sights of goal and Sergio Aguero flashed wide from 25 yards with their only first-half chance of note.

There was little change to the slow tempo in the second period, but Garmash's inadvertent backpass put Kiev goalkeeper Olexandr Shovkovskiy under pressure with Yaya Toure charging in.

Aguero and Toure were then involved in the best move of the night, the former receiving a clever one-two in the area and dragging wide of the left-hand post.
Toure was instrumental again when he played a clever pass into the path of Jesus Navas, who drilled against the left post.City safely saw out the closing stages, but they did have to survive a couple of scares.

Kiev had appeals for a penalty turned away when Andriy Yarmolenko went to ground under a challenge from Fernando, with Hart making a fine stop from Buyalskiy in the same move, before the England No.1 denied Olexandr Yakovenko late on.

 

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Atletico Madrid 0-0 PSV: (agg: 0-0, pens 8-7): Spaniards prevail on penalties

Atletico Madrid needed penalties to see off PSV and book their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a goalless stalemate at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday, with Luciano Narsingh's unfortunate miss from 12 yards the difference.

Jeroen Zoet and Jan Oblak came close to stopping a spot-kick on more than one occasion in a thrilling shoot-out, but Narsingh's attempt against the crossbar eventually paved the way for Atletico to triumph 8-7.

Diego Simeone's men had to settle for a 0-0 draw in Eindhoven in the first leg as goalkeeper Zoet shone for the Eredivisie side and the 25-year-old was once more in superb form in the return.Antoine Griezmann seemed set to give Atletico an early lead after some good work from Koke, only for Zoet to deny him from point-blank range.

There were few chances of note in the Spanish capital after that until Jurgen Locadia hit the upright for PSV. Fernando Torres also struck the post late on in normal time when Zoet steered his effort on to the woodwork.

Lucas Hernandez and Griezmann spurned opportunities in extra time, meaning penalties were eventually needed. Both teams remained calm from 12 yards until Narsingh hit the woodwork before Juanfran decided the tie.Zoet put in a man-of-the-match performance in the first leg in Eindhoven and the PSV goalkeeper again showed his class early on, keeping out Antoine Griezmann's shot from close range after the Frenchman had been set up by Koke.

The latter was also at the heart of Atletico's next chance, with Diego Godin heading over from 10 yards out after beating his marker to the midfielder's dangerous corner.

PSV first threatened after 28 minutes when Marco van Ginkel sent in a dangerous cross from the right, but goalkeeper Oblak got to it before Locadia could tap home at the far post.

Yannick Ferreira Carrasco then saw his shot go inches over the crossbar when he tried his luck with an ambitious long-range strike after cutting inside from the left five minutes before the interval. Atletico came close to breaking the deadlock early in the second half as Jose Gimenez headed just wide after another corner from Koke.

PSV nearly silenced the home crowd in the 58th minute, with Oblak only just managing to push Locadia's fine shot from the corner of the box against the upright before Godin blocked Luuk de Jong's header from the rebound.

Filipe Luis looked dangerous shortly after with a powerful shot that seemed destined for the top corner, but Zoet once more showcased his quality with a sublime save.

Atletico continued to push for a late winner and Zoet was again called into action when Griezmann fired a low shot straight into his arms after cutting inside from the right, before the PSV goalkeeper needed help from the post to keep Torres' 86th-minute shot out as the game went to extra time.Lucas Hernandez got a fine chance to gift Atletico the lead after Koke's corner, yet the substitute failed to get his header on target.

Zoet once more proved to be too much of an obstacle when Griezmann got an opportunity to test him from 10 yards out after some great work from Saul Niguez in the 104th minute.Andres Guardado nearly surprised Oblak with a curled shot from the edge of the box, but his attempt went just wide as the tie went to penalties.

Van Ginkel, Griezmann, Guardado, Gabi, Davy Propper, Koke, Jeffrey Bruma, Saul, Hector Moreno, Torres, Maxime Lestienne, Jimenez, Santiago Arias and Filipe Luis all scored from the spot before Narsingh hit the crossbar. Juanfran then stepped up to decide the tie and duly converted from the spot to send Atletico through.

 

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Barcelona were happy with getting Arsenal in Champions League draw, says Alves

Dani Alves claims Barcelona were happy to have drawn Arsenal in the Champions League as he believes the Spanish champions could have faced a team with more “experience and character”.

The Champions League holders are on course to reach the quarter-finals on Wednesday evening after Lionel Messi struck twice in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.

And Barcelona’s right-back concedes they could have been paired against a stronger team following the group stage.

"When the draw was made, we knew it could have been tougher for us,” said Alves.

“That is no reflection on the quality of Arsenal. The quality of the way they play the game and the quality of some of their players is there for all to see.

"It is a reflection on their experience, character, and mental strengths.

“There are teams in Europe that don't have the quality that Arsenal have, but you would rather avoid them and play Arsenal - because you know that those teams have experience and character."

 

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Ribery opens door to France comeback for Euro 2016

Bayern Munich attacker Franck Ribery is open to a France return for Euro 2016, but only after talks with coach Didier Deschamps.Ribery, 32, retired from international football after the 2014 World Cup, which he missed due to a back injury.

Returning for a home European Championship remains an option for Ribery after making a comeback in mid-February from an injury to his thigh."I read that coach Didier Deschamps wants to take the best ones to the Euros. Full stop," Ribery, capped 81 times for his country, told Kicker.

"I am playing again at Bayern and found my level 100 per cent, but before you can even think about playing for the national team again, there must be a conversation with Deschamps."That would be the requirement."

Ribery's last international for France, who have been drawn with Romania, Albania and Switzerland in Group A, was in 2014.

 

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Arsenal urged to sign Yaya Toure from Manchester City this summer

Yaya Toure would be a good signing for Arsenal, according to former Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce.

Several reports have suggested that Pep Guardiola will sell the 32-year-old after he takes the reins at City this summer, while the Ivorian’s agent claimed in February that he expects the midfielder to leave.

And Pearce, who managed City for two years, believes Toure is exactly the type of signing Arsene Wenger needs at Arsenal.

“On his day Yaya Toure is outstanding,” Pearce told talkSPORT.

“Arsenal need an old head within the team.

“Petr Cech has proved a fantastic success this year at Arsenal, and to have a player like Toure at the centre of midfield, as that holding type of player, I think he’d give one or two of the youngsters a bit of a lift.

“I think he’d be a good signing for them.”

 

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Practicing penalties a waste - Simeone

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone insists his team spend no time practicing penalties after they stepped up in a shoot-out to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

Juanfran struck the decisive spot-kick as Atletico claimed an 8-7 win on penalties over PSV after their last-16 tie finished locked at 0-0 following a goalless draw at the Vicente Calderon.

Simeone said Atletico wasted no time on penalties in training after they finished with a perfect eight from eight on Tuesday."We don't practice penalties because it makes no sense," he said.

"[Assistant] German Burgos chose the players for the shoot-out last year against Bayer Leverkusen and he did it again tonight. We have to congratulate him.
"It was tough last year and it was tough tonight because it's not easy in these situations. It was like a chess game."

Luciano Narsingh's failure to convert from the spot proved decisive for PSV as they bowed out of the competition.Simeone was predictably thrilled with his team's progress to the last eight.

"I'm delighted to get into the quarter-finals. Behind Juanfran's winning penalty is a lot of hard work from a lot of people and it's a great thrill for us to be in the quarters," he said."We will continue competing and we won't underestimate what it means to get to the last eight."

 

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Ramsey hopes Arsenal can produce Champions League miracle

Aaron Ramsey insists Arsenal are still capable of producing a Champions League miracle by overcoming a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Barcelona.

The midfielder will miss the return game on Wednesday with a thigh injury, rendering Arsenal's task even harder as they aim to avoid an exit at the last-16 stage for a sixth consecutive season.

Arsenal eventually succumbed to two Lionel Messi goals three weeks ago, having matched the holders for the opening 70 minutes and Ramsey insists his team-mates will take encouragement from the number of opportunities they created in north London.
"It's going to be a tough, tough ask but obviously we have to go there and believe we can cause an upset. We created chances to score in the first leg at home," Ramsey told Goal at a New Balance event.

"We're going there hoping to do the same and take opportunities this time. If we get an early goal they might get a bit uneasy with the situation. Hopefully we can do that and cause an upset."

When pushed on a final aggregate score, Ramsey added with a smile: "3-2."

No side has ever managed to retain the Champions League but Luis Enrique's side are strong favourites to defend the title they won last June after defeating Juventus 3-1 in Berlin.

The runaway Liga leaders have won 18 of their last 19 matches in all competitions and have scored a staggering 15 goals in their last three games.

Barcelona's forward line of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar has been hailed as the greatest attacking trident of all-time and Ramsey agrees last season’s treble winners are up there with the very best in history.

He added: "They won everything last year. They're definitely one of the best teams that have played the game. They have so much quality up top, in the middle and at the back. They're just an all-round great team."

 

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I didn't like playing in Ligue 1, says ex-PSG forward Lavezzi AFP Next Previous

Ezequiel Lavezzi says he found it difficult to motivate himself while playing for Paris Saint-Germain due to other teams being unable to land a glove on the capital club.

A 9-0 thrashing of Troyes on Sunday meant PSG won their fourth Ligue 1 title in row with eight games to spare, sitting a whopping 25 points above second-placed Monaco.

Lavezzi left Parc des Princes for Hebei China Fortune in February and has revealed he found playing in the French top flight tedious due to a lack of competition.

"I did not like the Ligue 1," the Argentinian told L'Equipe. "I do not find it motivating. That is the truth. "PSG are so strong compared to the other teams. I do not really take pleasure in matches."Italy is different, you have eight big matches in a season but in France it is two."

Lavezzi also blamed the one-sided nature of Ligue 1 for his drop-off in performance levels after joining PSG from Napoli in 2012.

He added: "Time passed, I lost my motivation and I lost my place. When you're at PSG, you always have to be moving forward and maybe I was not always."Except in the Champions League, where I was still motivated."

 

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Van Gaal & Woodward begin planning for third season at Man Utd

Louis van Gaal and Ed Woodward have started planning for Manchester United's summer 2016 transfer assault, despite rumours that the Dutchman is facing the sack following a troubled second season as manager at Old Trafford.

Van Gaal has spent much of the 2015-16 campaign staving off various claims relating to his United future, with widespread reports having linked former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho with the 64-year-old's job.

However, Goal understands that executive vice-chairman Woodward has opened talks with Van Gaal over targets for the summer transfer window, underlining the club's previously-stated plan to stick with the former Ajax and Barcelona coach until his scheduled retirement in 2017.

United go into Thursday's Europa League round of 16 second-leg match against Liverpool with a 2-0 deficit to overturn, while their indifferent form in the Premier League has left them in sixth place with nine games to play. Added to their group-stage exit from the Champions League, there has been significant fuel for the constant speculation over a potential change of guard.

But Woodward's decision to entrust Van Gaal with transfer plans ahead of the 2016-17 season lends weight to United's insistence that there will be no panic changes at Old Trafford, as revealed by Goal last month. As such, Ryan Giggs remains the Dutchman's most likely successor at the end of the three-year contract Van Gaal signed in 2014, as per the club's succession plan.

Mourinho, who has been touted as a leading candidate to take over at Old Trafford at regular intervals since his dismissal from Chelsea in December 2015, admitted recently that he is unlikely to find a new job until the summer, despite his earlier claim through his management company that he was seeking an immediate return.

"I was lucky enough to have good options since I left Chelsea in December," he told BT Sport. "Yes I was lucky enough to have not just options but good options but I made a decision to wait calm in my corner, not disturbing, just waiting, reading a few lies, listen to a few lies."The reality is that I want to work and normally July, mid-July, new pre-season starts and somewhere I want to be there."

After facing Liverpool on Thursday, United head to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday for the season's second derby with neighbours Manchester City, with the two games set to be pivotal in the final reckoning on the Red Devils' currently underwhelming campaign.

 

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Otamendi confident of Manchester derby return

Manchester City centre-back Nicolas Otamendi is in contention to feature in Sunday's Manchester derby, despite limping out of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev.

Vincent Kompany had already departed the scene with a recurrence of his calf issues by the time Otamendi was forced off at the Etihad Stadium, where City went on to draw 0-0 and seal progression to the quarter-finals.

The Argentina centre-back attempted to stay on but finally admitted defeat after playing two long balls, which only seemed to exacerbate the issue.

But he insists the problem is not serious and, furthermore, Goal understands City are confident he will be fully fit within two to three days, clearing him for Sunday's clash.

"It was something similar to a dead leg," he told reporters. "I will have tests [on Wednesday], but as the knock was so strong, it stopped me from continuing and I preferred to go off.

"I’ll go for tests, but obviously I hope it’s not anything. We hope everything will go well and hope I can be there against United."

City laboured for much of the clash against the Ukrainian side, only mustering a goalless draw, but made it through to the last eight for the first time in the club's history courtesy of a 3-1 first-leg win.

And despite watching from the sidelines, Otamendi went home in a positive mood.

"I am happy because we have achieved our objective, which was to qualify for the next round, so really happy have to have progressed, really happy."

 

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United duo hand Van Gaal fitness boost

Ashley Young and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson have handed Manchester United a timely fitness boost after returning to training on Wednesday.

Young has not featured since United's Premier League win over Liverpool in January with a groin injury, while Borthwick-Jackson has been sidelined with a knock.

The 19-year-old defender - who has impressed since breaking into the first team at Old Trafford earlier this season - has been unavailable for Louis van Gaal since the 3-0 FA Cup win over Shrewsbury Town on February 22.

It remains to be seen if the duo will be risked for Thursday's Europa League second-leg clash against Liverpool, with both in line for a return when Van Gaal's men visit Manchester City in the Premier League for the derby on Sunday.

 

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UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg Fixtures 2016.03.16

UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg Fixtures 2016.03.16

AGG
(2-0)

Barcelona Vs Arsenal

AGG
(2-2)

Bayern Vs Juventus

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Pattama matches 2kak ada thiyenne

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Fosu-Mensah a real athlete - Carrick

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has offered promising youngster Timothy Fosu-Mensah words of encouragement following his recent first-team debut and feels the Dutchman is already "a real athlete" despite his tender age.

The 18-year-old made his debut in the 3-2 win over Arsenal, while also featuring against Watford and West Brom and Carrick is impressed by his sudden rise to prominence."It is a real rise for Timmy," Carrick told United Review.

"First of all, he came on at left-back in the Arsenal game and that is not a position he is accustomed to playing. He stepped up in tough circumstances and I thought he did terrifically."He is a real athlete, he is quick, he is strong and he's good on the ball.

"The Watford game was another tough one to come into, to play at centre-back against their front two [Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo], who are a real handful and are really dangerous. I thought he came through that well."Those performances and the experience of being involved will stand him in good stead."

Fosu-Mensah is one of a number of teenagers to have made the step up at United this term, with Marcus Rashford and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson also impressing, and Carrick has urged the trio to remain patient."The world is at your feet when you are starting your career and everything is ahead of them. Hopefully they can all go on to have good careers," he added.

"They just have to be patient, I think. You have obviously got to enjoy it and work hard and do all the right things, but you have to be patient because there are going to be ups and downs from week to week, and from season to season.

"When you get your chance, you have got to do your best and then be ready for when it comes again. It might not be the week after, it might be a month down the line, so it is just about being patient and keeping your feet on the ground."

 

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Man Utd cannot 'go crazy' against Liverpool, warns Herrera


Ander Herrera has warned his Manchester United team-mates they cannot afford to "go crazy" as they chase a two-goal deficit in the second leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie with Liverpool at Old Trafford.

United face a tough task to turn things around after their 2-0 defeat at Anfield last week, but Herrera has warned they cannot simply adopt a gung-ho approach if they are to reach the quarter-finals."We cannot go crazy," he told reporters. "We have a half of 45 minutes, then another half of 45 minutes.

"Since I've been here, we've played five times against them and we've won four. I think we have a good example of how we have to play."We should have played much better at Anfield but when you have a game like that you have to think about the next challenge. We learnt a lot from that game. Thursday night will be completely different.

"We have good examples of the way we have to play. We feel stronger when we play at home. We always have the desire to win. They are in very good form, but we want to win. I don't agree that we did not fight in the first leg. We always fight and want to win.

"I think we are ready. We have another chance on Thursday. We won't think about the past. Thursday will be completely different, Old Trafford is different. I think we are ready."

 

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Mourinho: Messi makes winning easier

Jose Mourinho has no doubt winning matches is easier with Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi in a team, but insists a team's mentality takes precedence over any individual player.Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi has won a staggering 26 trophies during his senior career with Barca, including four Champions League titles.

The Catalan giants are on course to reach the quarter-finals of the Europe's premier club competition for the ninth straight season, heading into their last-16 second leg against Arsenal at Camp Nou on Wednesday with a 2-0 aggregate advantage.

Mourinho believes Messi, who scored both goals in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, will likely prove the difference maker as Barca look to become the first side to successfully defend the Champions League trophy.

"First of all it's about individual players. Just to give you an example, Messi won the Champions League with three different managers," he said in an interview with BT Sport.

"I think it's easier to win with him, than against him. I am a football manager. I know that sometimes people think that the individual is more important than the team. "But when I feel that it is time for me to take a permanent holiday - I still think that the team is more important than anything.

"But the obvious reality is that there are some players who can make a difference."
Mourinho has been without a club since he left Chelsea in December and hopes to return to work ahead of next season."Yes I was lucky enough to have good options since I left Chelsea in December – not just options but good options," the Portuguese added.

"But I made a decision to wait calmly. The reality is that I want to work. July, mid-July, new pre-season starts and somewhere, I want to be there."

 

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No FA action against Diego Costa over gesture

Chelsea striker Diego Costa will face no further action from the Football Association in relation to the gesture he made towards Everton supporters during his side's 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Goodison Park last Saturday.

Costa was eventually sent off for a second booking towards the end of a bad-tempered display, with television cameras catching the former Atletico Madrid forward apparently aiming a rude gesture at the home fans at half-time.

On Monday, the FA asked the Spain international to "provide his observations" and are satisfied by his version of events in this instance.

An FA statement read: "Having considered the evidence and Diego Costa’s observations in relation to a gesture the Chelsea forward made towards Everton supporters at half-time of Saturday’s FA Cup Sixth Round tie, the FA is satisfied no further action is required."A charge of improper conduct relating to Costa's behaviour after his red card was issued by referee Michael Oliver remains.

Costa was embroiled in a running battle with Gareth Barry throughout the match – the former England midfielder getting himself sent off for a foul on Cesc Fabregas shortly after his adversary's 84th-minute departure.His final confrontation with Barry initially prompted suspicions that Costa bit his opponent but both parties have denied such an act took place.

The FA statement added: "The player [Costa] has until 6pm on Thursday 17 March 2016 to respond to his misconduct charge in relation to the same game."