..::Football IV::..

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Paris Saint-Germain 0-0 Toulouse: Emery's men held to disappointing draw

Paris Saint-Germain missed the chance to move to within one point of leaders Monaco in the Ligue 1 table as they had to settle for a 0-0 draw with Toulouse at the Parc des Princes.

Monaco's 1-1 draw with Bastia on Friday handed PSG the chance to narrow the gap with their title rivals, but they failed to make the most of the opportunity as they were unable to break down the Toulouse defence.

Unai Emery's men were high on confidence heading into Sunday's encounter after their 4-0 Champions League mauling of Barcelona on Tuesday, with Angel Di Maria in particular in fine form against the Catalans.

The Argentina international was unavailable due to injury, though, while Marco Verratti was only fit enough to come off the bench at half-time after suffering a minor knock versus Barcelona.

The absence of Di Maria and Verratti was noticeable as the Parisians lacked creativity against a well-organised Toulouse and the visitors eventually held on for a hard-earned draw.

This weekend's results leave PSG in second spot, level on points with third-placed Nice, but three points behind Monaco.

The reigning champions got their first chance in the 14th minute after an intricate team move involving Adrien Rabiot and Lucas Moura, the duo playing a double one-two down the right before the Brazil international forced Toulouse goalkeeper Alban Lafont into a strong save with a low shot from inside the area.

Edinson Cavani was next to threaten for the home side following more good work from Lucas, the Ligue 1 top scorer blasting a shot inches wide of the top corner from the edge of the box after being set up by the former Sao Paulo man.

PSG felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the closing stages of the first half when Christopher Jullien seemingly handled the ball inside his own area, but referee Mikael Lesage waved play on.

Emery brought on Verratti at half-time and the Italy international immediately showed his class with a fine throughball for Cavani, the Uruguay international blasting a shot against the near post from a narrow angle after seeing his initial cross blocked by Lafont.

Verratti caused Toulouse all kinds of problems early in the second half and he next created chances for both Julian Draxler and Thiago Motta, with the Germany international aiming a shot straight at Lafont, before the holding midfielder volleyed wide.

The Parisians continued to push for the opener and Marquinhos thought he had broken the deadlock at last when he beat Lafont after Lucas' corner, only to see team-mate Presnel Kimpembe block his header on the goal line.

Pascal Dupraz was sent to the stands for dissent with 15 minutes left on the clock, but the Toulouse coach's dismissal had no effect on the result as it ended all square.

 

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Chelsea draw Man Utd in FA Cup quarter-finals while Lincoln could face Arsenal

Chelsea have been drawn at home to Jose Mourinho's Manchester United in the quarter-final stage of the FA Cup.

The Portuguese will return to Stamford Bridge for the second time since leaving the west London club as he looks to replicate Louis van Gaal's success with the Red Devils last season.

Elsewhere, non-league Lincoln City were handed a potential trip to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal, should Arsene Wenger's side put out Sutton United on Monday evening.

Should Sutton beat the Premier League club, however, it would guarantee a non-league club in the semi-final stage of the competition.Tottenham will host London rivals Millwall, having beaten Fulham on Sunday thanks to a Harry Kane hat-trick, while Middlesbrough will welcome either Huddersfield or Manchester City.


Pep Guardiola's team could only draw with David Wagner's Championship side on Saturday, despite the Terriers fielding a weakened XI as they continue their bid to reach the Premier League.

 

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Loku fight 1kak denna wenawa Chelsea match 1ke

Good Luck Manchester United!​

 

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I don't know if Messi celebrated our winner, admits Luis Enrique

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique claims he did not see whether Lionel Messi celebrated or not after the Argentine attacker hit the winner in a 2-1 victory over Leganes on Sunday.

Messi opened the scoring early in the game and later hit the winner in the 90th minute from the penalty spot after Unai Lopez had levelled for the promoted side.

However, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner was almost motionless after his goal sealed the three points for the Blaugrana in a difficult week which had seen the Catalans lose 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.“I didn’t see whether he celebrated or not," Luis Enrique said after the game when asked about Messi's reaction. "And I’m not the person who has to answer that.”

It was another disappointing display from the champions against a side without a win since November in La Liga, but Luis Enrique said his team were better than they had played in Paris on Tuesday."Compared to the PSG game, I think we were better in everything," he said. "We were much better. It's obvious that we are not as fluid in terms of goalscoring chances, but we were better than we were in Paris - even if some people don't see it."

And the Asturian added that he has no complaints about his side's attitude."In terms of effort, teamwork, the distance the players covered, the intensity, their attitude was impeccable in Paris," he said. "I haven't seen a better attitude in the previous seasons.

"Clearly things aren't going for us and we are trying to change that."

 

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Sutton United 0-2 Arsenal: Perez and Walcott end non-league side's dreams

Arsenal ended Sutton United's remarkable FA Cup run to book a place in the last eight, but the 2-0 scoreline will have done little to protect under-fire manager Arsene Wenger from further criticism.

The pressure on the long-serving French boss intensified after Wednesday's 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League and anything but a convincing win over non-league opponents was unlikely to aid his cause.

In the end a goal in each half proved sufficient to keep alive hopes of a third FA Cup crown in four years, with Lucas Perez's fortuitous effort and Theo Walcott's 100th goal for the Gunners getting the job done.

Gander Green Land had been the scene of Sutton's fourth-round triumph over Championship high-flyers Leeds United and the National League strugglers – who have not won since defeating Garry Monk's side – performed admirably against top-flight opponents on Monday.

However, a major shock was never really on the cards as Arsenal's quality ultimately told, even if it was not the dominant display Wenger will have hoped for after their Allianz Arena debacle.Roarie Deacon came closest to netting a dream goal for Paul Doswell's men, striking the crossbar just after Walcott's landmark goal.

Arsenal will now face Sutton's fellow National League side Lincoln City in the quarter-finals, while Doswell's charges return to the reality of a relegation battle with Saturday's trip to Torquay United.

Wenger's men struggled to create any chances of note early on, but their first attempt on target in the 27th minute saw them break the deadlock.

Perez cut inside from the right after a pass from Granit Xhaka, before sending in a low cross-cum-shot toward the far post that eluded the Sutton goalkeeper, with Walcott’s step-over seemingly putting off Worner.

The away side unsurprisingly dominated possession as they went in search of a second goal against dogged opposition and Alex Iwobi should perhaps have made it two when presented with a gilt-edged chance from 10 yards out, only to see his placed shot deflected out for a corner.

Some poor play from David Ospina allowed Adam May a huge chance to draw things level in the dying minutes of the first half, but the Portsmouth loanee failed to get his shot on target as Arsenal escaped.

The visitors continued enjoy long spells of possession after the break and it was Walcott who doubled their lead in the 55th minute. Nacho Monreal sent in a fine low cross from the left and the England international coolly slotted home from close range after Iwobi failed to connect with it.Sutton refused to throw in the towel, though, and Maxime Biamou and Jamie Collins were unfortunate not to pull one back, the former aiming straight at Ospina, while the latter saw his header go just over the crossbar.

Deacon was next to threaten for the minnows when he tried his luck from 25 yards out, only to see his stunning attempt come back off the bar before the ball was cleared into safety.


Arsenal even introduced Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to further highlight the huge gulf in available resources between the two clubs and it is they who moved a step closer to Wembley, ending a historic run for Sutton, who certainly did not disgrace themselves on the big stage.

 

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Monaco system perfect for 'killer' Falcao, says Guardiola

Pep Guardiola believes Monaco's free-flowing attacking style is the key ingredient in Radamel Falcao's late career resurgence ahead of his Manchester City side tackling the Ligue 1 leaders in the Champions League.

Leonardo Jardim's side will head to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday having topped a group featuring Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham, and buoyed by an astonishing 76 goals in 26 top-flight matches domestically.

Former Atletico Madrid striker Falcao is responsible for 16 of those in 20 games – the type of return the 31-year-old got nowhere near in England as loan stints at Manchester United and Chelsea flopped amid a search for full fitness following serious knee injuries.

"At Atletico Madrid he did an amazing job before his injuries. Always you need time for the tough injuries he had," Guardiola said at a news conference to preview the last-16 clash.

"The system, the way Monaco play now is perfect for him. They attack inside and cross a lot."Players like him need that. He is a good professional, a nice guy and I am happy he is back at his level scoring goals."

City have kept four clean sheets in their past five matches but Guardiola knows Falcao and his partners-in-crime Thomas Lemar, Bernardo Silva, Valere Germain and teenage protege Kylian Mbappe are likely to throw the defensive vulnerabilities that have plagued his side this season back under the microscope.

"A team that attacks with Lemar, Bernardo Silva and Falcao… they attack with a lot of people, which is why you cannot control the counter attack. They are so, so strong in that area," he added."As a spectator, it is so nice to see them, I'm really impressed by how good they are. The full-backs play like wingers; the wingers play like attacking midfielder; the two strikers are fighters.

"In the box, Falcao and Germain are killers. Both holding midfielders – Fabinho and [Tiemoue] Bakayoko are intelligent and physically strong. They are a complete team."

Guardiola's backline will be without captain Vincent Kompany once more, although left-back Gael Clichy has recovered from a back injury.

The ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss urged his players to grasp a "beautiful" occasion, acknowledging City's vast riches cannot buy the familiarity and ease with major European nights that were second nature to his previous employers.

He added: "To be here is not easy. The people can think, okay, because it's Manchester City, English football and the most media and advertising in the world [in the Premier League] you have to be. But no, we are lucky guys."Always I played this competition with that sense. Even in Barcelona, even in Bayern Munich where they have more experience and play to win the competition. Always I said, 'wow, I am lucky'.

"At this club, the recent history is quite good but for a long time Manchester City were not in the Champions League."That is why we are satisfied to be here and I would like to convince the players to enjoy this moment, because it is beautiful.

"All of Europe will watching us, to analyse us, to kill us if we don't win, to say how good we are if we win. That is a huge experience. It is beautiful to live it."

 

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Iniesta sees Verratti as his successor - Matuidi

Andres Iniesta sees Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti as his ideal replacement at Barcelona, according to Blaise Matuidi.

Verratti put in a sublime performance in PSG's 4-0 Champions League win over Barcelona at the Parc des Princes last week and Matuidi has claimed Iniesta was thoroughly impressed with the Italy international during the game.

"When Verratti was down on the ground with an injury, I told Iniesta that Marco was his successor and he replied that he thought the same," Matuidi told France Bleu."Iniesta is an extraordinary player. He is getting a bit older now, but the things he does are amazing.

"He is just coming back from an injury and he will return to top form for the return.
"We are fortunate to have his successor with us. That is the message I gave Iniesta when we spoke."

Verratti, 24, joined PSG from Pescara in 2012 and has since developed into a key figure for the Ligue 1 champions.He has a contract with the Parisians until June 2021.

 

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Fabinho leaves door open on possible Premier League move

Monaco star Fabinho has left the door open on a potential move to the Premier League, admitting that he could "maybe one day" play in England.

The 23-year-old Brazil international has been linked with a number of clubs in England, including Manchester United and Arsenal, as well as La Liga giants Barcelona.

However, while conceding the allure of England's top tier, the defender stressed that he is currently content playing for the Ligue 1 challengers.

"I know my name was linked with more than one English club but I am happy at Monaco at the moment," Fabinho told reporters ahead of his side's Champions League clash with Manchester City.

"I have a contract until 2021, but the Premier league is a league that interests me and maybe one day I will come and play here."Fabinho's father Joao revealed earlier this month that his son had been in talks with Man United, Man City, Arsenal and Barcelona.

In an interview with French television show J+1, he said: "We like Manchester United and Mourinho’s work, but we have a soft spot for Manchester City."
Fabinho will face off against one potential future employer on Tuesday when Monaco take on Pep Guardiola's faltering Man City at the Etihad.

 

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Dortmund could renew Tuchel deal

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke says the Bundesliga side could still renew their manager's contract ahead of next season


Thomas Tuchel could be offered a contract extension at Borussia Dortmund despite the club's underwhelming Bundesliga form, according to chief executive officer Hans-Joachim Watzke.Dortmund are third in the table, but sit 13 points adrift of leaders Bayern Munich and eight shy of second-placed RB Leipzig.

Defeat to Benfica in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie came amid reports Tuchel's Signal Iduna Park future was under threat, with his deal set to expire next year.But Watzke insists there remains a very real chance the 43-year-old coach will be offered fresh terms.

"Of course a new contract is an option," Watzke told Bild."Let's be honest here, we are not too far away from our pre-season objectives in any of the competitions we take part in.

"It is not like everything has gone wrong for us."Tuchel replaced Jurgen Klopp in 2015 and guided them to second place in the Bundesliga and a DFB-Pokal final in his first season at the helm.

 

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Jardim praises 'great striker' Falcao

Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim hailed Radamel Falcao, talking up the "great striker" and his importance to the Ligue 1 leaders.After failed stints at Manchester United and Chelsea, Falcao has rediscovered his goal scoring form this season.

The Colombia international has scored 22 goals in all competitions and shapes as being a major threat to Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie between the clubs on Tuesday.Jardim is thrilled with how Falcao has returned to form, saying Monaco's hard work had paid off.

"I knew Falcao before he came to England because he was playing in Porto, in Portugal," he told a news conference. "He's still a great striker, a great goal scorer. It's easy to work with him.

"This year we paid attention to the specific work because the last two years he did not play much. But now, he is in good shape. We are happy with him. He is an important player for the club and also for the team."Falcao scored just five Premier League goals in total while on loan at United and Chelsea, but has four in his past four games ahead of Monaco's trip to the Etihad Stadium.

Monaco are top of the Ligue 1 table by three points, having scored 76 league goals in 26 games.

 

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UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg Fixtures 2017.02.21

UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg Fixtures 2017.02.21

Leverkusen Vs Atletico Madrid

Manchester City Vs Monaco

​

 

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Zidane: Barcelona are not in crisis

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane insists rivals Barcelona are not in crisis after a Champions League thrashing by PSG was followed by an unconvincing win over struggling Leganes.

The Catalan giants' hopes of winning the European Cup look over after being beaten 4-0 in the first leg by Unai Emery's men while they struggled to respond at the weekend needing a late penalty to win 2-1.

However, Zidane has played down talk Barca are struggling, despite huge pressure on Luis Enrique's side following their recent poor form."Barcelona in crisis? No, I do not think so," Zidane said in a press conference.The Madrid boss also took time to address the futures of Isco, Pepe and James Rodriguez, praising all three.

"I understand if Isco is thinking about his future,” Zidane said. “But Isco knows that I count with him, and I like him."Pepe is an important player, and he always gives his best when he is playing. I will count with him until the end of the season. After that, I don't know what could happen with his contract.
"I'm happy with James. For what he is doing on the pitch, but also for what he is saying that he wants to stay in Madrid."Real Madrid take on Valencia on Wednesday and can move four points clear at the top with victory at Mestalla.

 

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Rooney & Shaw left out of Manchester United squad to face St Etienne

Manchester United have left Wayne Rooney and Luke Shaw out of their squad that will travel to France to face Saint-Etienne in the second leg of the Europa League round of 32 clash.

Rooney missed the first leg and Sunday's win over Blackburn Rovers with a muscle problem but returned to training ahead of Wednesday's clash.

However, the skipper will play no part and has been left at home, along with Luke Shaw who has once again failed to make the squad.

Also missing are midfielder Ander Herrera, who is suspended and defenders Phil Jones who is still struggling with injury and Matteo Darmian.

United go into the game confident of progressing after a 3-0 first leg win thanks to a hat-trick from striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Jose Mourinho is expected to rotate his squad with the commanding lead his side take into the game and also with one eye on Sunday's EFL Cup final against Southampton at Wembley.


Man Utd squad: De Gea, O'Hara, Romero; Bailly, Blind, Fosu-Mensah, Rojo, Smalling, Valencia, Young; Carrick, Fellaini, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Pogba, Lingard, Schweinsteiger; Ibrahimovic, Martial, Rashford.

 

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Leicester can't afford to live in the past, warns Sampaoli

Many of the players remain the same, but the Leicester City team that takes to the field at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Wednesday should be treated as a very different side from last year's surprise Premier League winners, according to Sevilla's bullish coach Jorge Sampaoli.

The Foxes earned a place in the Champions League by defying the odds to claim the title in 2015-16, before progressing to the knockout stages of Europe's elite club competition at the first attempt.

Their defence of the domestic crown is verging on the disastrous, though, with Leicester sitting 17th, one point clear of the relegation zone, prompting speculation over the future of manager Claudio Ranieri, just nine months after earning pride of place in the club's folklore.

The strugglers from the East Midlands will receive no quarter in Andalusia this week, when a Sevilla side pushing favourites Real Madrid and Barcelona all the way in LaLiga will expect to earn a commanding aggregate lead in the round-of-16 tie.

"Today we are not talking about the team that won the league so brilliantly, we're talking about one that is not doing well and is fighting relegation. You have to talk about the present," Sampaoli told a news conference on Tuesday.

Quizzed on Ranieri's position, the former Chile boss replied: "Common sense says someone who had so much success with so few resources can lift the team again, although that is for the people in charge of Leicester to decide. "But the present is more important than the past, even with an achievement as incredible as theirs.


"I think Leicester are not having a good time in the league, they have a lot of doubts when last year they had so much belief."

 

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Scholes tells Man Utd: Give Carrick a new deal!

Paul Scholes says he wouldn’t hesitate offering Michael Carrick a new one-year contract at Manchester United if he was the man in charge at the club.

Carrick was given a one-year deal by United last summer in one of Jose Mourinho’s first decisions upon taking over from Louis van Gaal at Ol Trafford.

However, the 35-year-old midfielder has been used sparingly this term, prompting some to question whether Mourinho will keep him at the club beyond June.

“He’s definitely worth another year, Michael," Scholes told Goal. "He’s not a player who burns himself out in games, he’s more of a controlled player, he’s a fit lad but he always knows where to be on a football pitch.

“He’s always in the right place, he plays his position brilliantly and when he came into the team from October onwards there were something like 16, 17 or 18 games maybe where they didn’t lose.

"He had a big influence on people like Paul Pogba, he got the best out of him and Herrera. He’s just tailed off a little bit over the last couple of weeks but I still think he’s got a part to play.”

Carrick returned to the United side for Sunday’s 2-1 FA Cup fifth-round victory over Blackburn Rovers and could be in the frame again for Wednesday’s Europa League second-leg visit to Saint-Etienne.And Scholes adds that Carrick’s ability to control games makes a huge difference to any side.

“It was a big help for me when I was playing,” he said. “I can only talk from experience from what you know and I knew playing with Michael that I had somebody next to me who was reliable. He was always in the right place.

“If you wandered off somewhere it didn’t matter because Michael would be there behind you backing you up. It was just about being really comfortable with who’s playing next to you and whenever I played with Michael I always felt comfortable."

Asked if the task of finding a long-term replacement for Carrick is Mourinho’s biggest headache, Scholes was categorical.“Yes. There are players out there capable of doing it but that’s up to him in who he sees in that role.”

United take a 3-0 lead to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard for Wednesday’s clash with Les Verts before returning to the UK to face Southampton on Sunday in the EFL Cup final at Wembley.

 

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Puyol backs Barcelona for Champions League miracle

Carles Puyol believes Barcelona can make Champions League history and beat Paris Saint-Germain for a quarter-final spot, despite a 4-0 first-leg hammering.

Angel Di Maria scored twice last week, with Julian Draxler and Edinson Cavani capping a magnificent performance from Unai Emery's men as Lionel Messi and Co fell well short at the Parc des Princes.No side has ever overturned a four-goal deficit from the first leg in a Champions League tie, putting Barca's task in sharp context.

A frosty reception welcomed the team back to Camp Nou as they edged out struggling Leganes 2-1 on Sunday, but three-time Champions League winning Barca captain Puyol believes all is not lost in Europe this season."This is a time for the team to be united," Puyol told reporters.

"By sticking together, they can get through this situation. We know that the result in Paris hurt, but if there is any team that can turn something like this around, then that team is Barca.

"It is a difficult result, but not impossible. This team has done a lot in recent years and they deserve every confidence in the world."I am with them to the death, not just because they are friends of mine but because at Barca we are all in the same boat."We cannot afford to have doubts. We have to fight to the end."

 

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I would never force out Manchester United 'legend' Rooney - Mourinho

Jose Mourinho insists he would never force legend Wayne Rooney out of Manchester United as the club captain continues his recovery from injury.

Rooney will again be absent for United's Europa League clash with Saint-Etienne on Wednesday through injury, but his involvement has been limited since Mourinho arrived at Old Trafford at the end of May.

While the England international, who has been linked with a move to China, has started just eight Premier League games this term, the United manager is adamant that it would be Rooney's choice if he were to leave."You'll have to ask him [Rooney if he will stay next season]," he told a pre-match news conference on Tuesday.

"I can't guarantee that I am here next week, how can I guarantee that a player is here next season? If Wayne does leave, it is not because I want him to leave, that is all I can guarantee."I will never try and push a legend of this club to another destiny."

Rooney has already missed two games with a knock, and while Mourinho is encouraged by his progress - the player having returned to training on Tuesday - he is focused on other players who can help his side on Wednesday.

"[Rooney] is injured, I cannot do miracles at that level," the United boss said. "We have made great improvements in the last year with the medical department and getting the players back into competition.

"That is a clear improvement in the medical department from recent years, it is easy to see with data in that area. But Rooney is injured, he [has been] injured for two or three weeks.

"When you don't have a player, you have others. The team is in a good moment. In the past few months we've lost only one game and it was one we could lose as it was a two-legged match."United lead 3-0 after the first leg, in which Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a hat-trick, and will look to progress before turning their attentions to Sunday's EFL Cup final against Southampton.

"I want to win tomorrow and then, at 9pm tomorrow, I am focused on the final on Sunday," Mourinho added.

 

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Martial: I love Manchester United and I want to stay

Anthony Martial has dismissed talk he could leave Manchester United, insisting he loves the club and wants to stay "for as long as possible".

The France international has been a peripheral figure under Jose Mourinho this season, starting just 10 Premier League matches, despite establishing himself as a star in his first campaign at Old Trafford.

But Martial is adamant he is going nowhere, saying he wants to repay the United fans for their backing."I love this club, I love Manchester United, I love the Manchester United fans," he told a pre-match news conference ahead of Wednesday's Europa League clash with Saint-Etienne.

"They give me a lot of joy and I really enjoy having them backing me. I try to be as good as possible to make them happy, to satisfy them."What I want is to stay at this club for as long as possible."

And Martial has added that his disappointing form this term has been due to a lack of match action."[The form] is just because last year I played a lot, I had the possibility to play back-to-back games," he said. "Now I enjoy playing and we have to wait."Like Martial, Mourinho is also happy at United, and played down rumours of a return to Real Madrid, where he managed between 2010 and 2013.

The manager, too, spoke of his love for United and insisted he will not leave unless the club are not happy with him.

"I have a contract for two more years with Manchester United," he said. "Unless Manchester United wants me to leave, I won't leave. "I love to work for this club. To leave, it must be that my board tells me that it is time to leave."

 

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Antoine Griezmann becomes Atletico Madrid's all-time leading scorer in Europe

Antoine Griezmann has become Atletico Madrid's all-time leading scorer in Europe.

The French attacker scored to make it 2-0 against Bayer Leverkusen in Tuesday's Champions League round-of-16 first leg, his 13th goal for Atletico in European competition.

The strike means the 25-year-old surpassed the tally of Atletico legend Luis Aragones, who scored 12 times in Europe for the Rojiblancos.

At such a young age, Griezmann could make his record untouchable in future seasons – but he won't get that chance if a rumoured move to Manchester United materialises in the near future.​

 

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Bayer Leverkusen 2-4 Atletico Madrid: Simeone's men in the driving seat after gripping first leg

Atletico Madrid are in pole position for a Champions League quarter-final berth after recording a 4-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their last-16 tie at the BayArena.

Leverkusen were gunning for revenge after their European elimination at the hands of Atleti in 2014-15, and they had every reason to be confident following an eight-game unbeaten run in the Champions League, with only Real Madrid on a longer streak.

However, the visitors made an electric start, Saul Niguez and Antoine Griezmann putting them two goals up at half-time, before Karim Bellarabi pulled one back early in the second half.

Stefan Savic's own-goal after a Kevin Gameiro penalty prompted a late onslaught from Leverkusen, but Atleti were always dangerous on the break and Fernando Torres' late header restored their two-goal cushion.

A heavy home defeat leaves Leverkusen's chances of progression hanging by a thread in an underwhelming season that has seen head coach Roger Schmidt fight off reports that he could be sacked.

Diego Simeone's side have also struggled to replicate their best form this term, and their new-found defensive frailties were on display again, but a scintillating attacking display bodes well for the weekend's clash with Barcelona.Atletico immediately pinned Leverkusen back in their half from the off and came close to opening the scoring twice in rapid succession after just 12 minutes.

Griezmann first called goalkeeper Bernd Leno into action with a low show from a narrow angle, before Wendell hit his own crossbar moments later with a clumsy clearance after Filipe Luis' cross from the left.

There was no such escape for the hosts five minutes later, however, as Saul handed Atletico the lead with a stunning strike, cutting inside onto his favoured left foot and curling a beautiful shot into the top corner past the helpless Leno.

Things went from bad to worse for Leverkusen as Aleksandar Dragovic inadvertently sent Gameiro on his way with a poor clearance on the halfway line and the Frenchman raced clear before setting up Griezmann for a composed finish inside the box.

Griezmann should have made it three following more good work from Gameiro after yet another rapid counter-attack, but Leno pulled off a sharp save to deny him.

Leverkusen seemed emboldened by that life and Bellarabi gave them hope when he pounced on Benjamin Henrichs's low cross from the right and beat goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya with a clever finish in the far corner.

Gameiro rattled the crossbar soon after as Leverkusen's vulnerability on the break was laid bare and the France striker had his goal in the 58th minute - slamming home from the penalty spot after he was hauled to the floor by Dragovic.

Again Schmidt's side were back in the contest when Moya could only palm a cross into Savic's shins and the ball bobbled home, but Leverkusen's desperation to level the tie would ultimately cost them.


Torres dealt Leverkusen a hammer blow with five minutes left on the clock, heading smartly across Leno and in from a sublime Sime Vrsaljko cross to give last season's runners-up control of this tie.