..::Football IV::..

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Chelsea are title favourites, says Conte

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte believes his side remain the team to beat ahead of the start of the 2017-18 Premier League season.The Blues claimed a second title in three years in Conte's first season in charge, finishing seven points clear of Tottenham after winning 30 of their 38 matches.

Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City in particular have invested heavily in their squads ahead of what promises to be a fiercely-contested title race next term.And although he has warned his players against becoming complacent, Conte feels they deserve to start the season as favourites.

"For sure; we won the Premier League title last season," he told a news conference. "This season will be tough. You know what has been happening in England. Chelsea won in 2014-15 and then Leicester City won the league. So we must be careful and not take any team lightly. "It is normal that every big team tries to reinforce their squad by bringing in quality players. That is what they have done. For sure, next season in Premier League will be a huge challenge for us."

Chelsea have brought in Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Antonio Rudiger and Willy Caballero during the transfer window at a reported combined cost of close to £130 million.Despite the significant outlay, Conte has warned that his new signings will need time to adapt to his methods in England's top flight.

"It is very important for players to understand my football and adapt," he said."Bakayoko needs some time to understand my football and this is the great difficulty for a coach. You need a bit of time to bring the player into your idea of football."It is the same for Morata. He is working very well and is putting himself into every session. I think it is very good but it is important for him to have some time to adapt to our system. But I can see the will power in the player to do so."

Conte faced criticism this week for accusing young players of being "impatient" while allowing a number of Chelsea youngsters to leave Stamford Bridge.

Dominic Solanke, Nathan Ake and Nathaniel Chalobah have all left on permanent deals, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tammy Abraham, Izzy Brown, Michael Hector, Tomas Kalas and Ola Aina are among a number to have completed loan moves.

Conte has defended his policy when it comes to youngsters trying to break into the first team and suggested that Chelsea is not the ideal place for them to do so.

"It is always difficult to speak about young players. There is always a great debate around this," he said. "I think every young player was good in this pre-season. But I have to take the right decision and see what is best for the club, players and young players when the season kicks off. "I don't think the landscape has changed. Young players had difficulty to break into first teams in the past, too.

"If a young player is good and strong and is ready to play, I will play them. I played my first game when I was just 16 in Italy. But I played with Lecce while avoiding relegation and not with Juventus while fighting for the title."

 

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Spalletti: No contact made for Manchester United target Perisic

Inter boss Luciano Spalletti claims there are no talks with any club for winger Ivan Perisic.The Croatia international has been heavily linked with Manchester United but there has been no concrete development on any potential deal.

Perisic has been involved in Inter's pre-season tour of China and Singapore despite the speculation over his future, with the 28-year-old producing a fine performance in his side's 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in the International Champions Cup.

Spalletti says there was interest at the beginning of the transfer window for Perisic but, as there has been no follow-up bid, he considers the matter to be closed."Until now, there hasn't been any important contact," he told a news conference. "There was something you already know about at the beginning of the window. There was no follow-up and so, for me, the topic is over.

"It's true what the journalists say: as time goes by, it becomes more and more difficult to replace him with another player. I will strongly oppose the sale of Perisic if an offer comes."

Inter's victory over Bayern came after a narrow 1-0 win over Lyon and Spalletti believes his players are beginning to play close to their true level."I said in the beginning that the team had qualities that had to be shown," he said. "That's what we have been working on in the last couple of days.

"It's clear that the team has underperformed in the past few months. It's clear that there is more quality than was shown last year. That's what we have been working towards."

Inter have had a relatively quiet transfer window while city rivals AC Milan have spent close to €190million on a complete overhaul of their playing squad.Spalletti, however, believes a challenge for the Serie A title could be beyond them as it will take time for the new players to adjust.

"Milan have certainly spent a lot," he said. "I think teams like Juventus, Roma and Napoli have a better chance as they haven't had many changes to their squad."[Vincenzo] Montella is a great coach and I'm sure he will do good job. The new players need to adjust and so it is difficult to say that whether they will compete for the Serie A title."

 

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Spalletti: No contact made for Manchester United target Perisic

Apo mekath Sneijder Inter inna kale thibba rumor 1ka wagema thamai​

 

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Chicharito admits turning down Spain and Italy offers for West Ham move

Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez turned down offers from Spain and Italy in order to move to West Ham, the striker admitted.The Mexico international spent the last two seasons with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, bagging 28 league goals for the German side.

However, Chicharito recently completed a €17.9 million switch to West Ham, returning the Premier League after a previous spell with Manchester United.There was plenty of interest in the 29-year-old striker, with rumours linking him to teams in Spain all the way to MLS.

And Chicharito confirmed some of those rumours Friday, saying in a media conference he had offers from teams outside the Premier League but chose England in large part due to his belief in the strength of the league.

"It was a little bit more simple than a lot of people think,” Chicharito said. “I'm in the best league in the world, back here they showed me a lot of confidence and trust.“The manager called me three years ago as well. Since then we stayed in contact and then when we saw this opportunity we both took it.

“And because West Ham is showing more ambitions than last season. They want to do it much better. They want to do similar to last two seasons when they qualified to Europe.”"I had other options. One in Spain, two in Italy. There were options.”

Chicharito also discussed Jose Mourinho, who praised recently praised the striker to media while also admitting he did not try to bring him back to Manchester United, and his return to Old Trafford for West Ham's first match of the Premier League season.

“I would say 'thank you',” Chicharito said of Mourinho. “It's always very glad that a trainer like Jose Mourinho that is one of the best in the world speaks very well about me. I had very good moments and a very good four years in my old club."I am going back to my old house in Old Trafford and it's going to very special.

“As well I have in mind I am defending other colours and I want to go there to try to help my team with the three points and start the season on the right foot and then we'll see.“Going back to Manchester, and hopefully we get a good result, it's going to be a very special moment."

 

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Borussia Dortmund 0 Espanyol 1: Late Piatti lob downs Bosz's men

Borussia Dortmund's underwhelming preparations for the new season continued with a 1-0 defeat against Espanyol on Friday.

Dortmund had the majority of the ball, but both teams struggled to create clear chances in a well-matched clash in Winterthur, with the Bundesliga side having only won two of their five pre-season friendlies under new coach Peter Bosz.

Pablo Piatti came up with the winning goal with 11 minutes to play, the substitute neatly lobbing Roman Burki after the Dortmund goalkeeper was caught well off his line.Dortmund have just one more friendly, against Atalanta on Tuesday, before getting their campaign under way with the DFL-Supercup against Bayern Munich on August 5.

Andre Schurrle was denied an early penalty when he went down under an untidy challenge from Espanyol captain Javi Lopez as Dortmund made a bright start.

Leo Baptistao shot over the angle under pressure from Lukasz Piszczek after 11 minutes before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fired wide from 10 yards when he should have scored.

At full-stretch, Mario Gotze could only touch a lofted throughball straight at goalkeeper Pau Lopez and, with Dortmund dominating possession, Gonzalo Castro drove a shot just over the crossbar after a powerful run.Sergio Garcia had a clear sight of goal four minutes before half-time, but the Espanyol striker picked out Roman Burki.

Mahmoud Dahoud was introduced for his Dortmund debut at the interval, but Espanyol had the first chance of the second half after Garcia created an opening only to shoot at Burki again.Despite the game being played at a good tempo for a friendly, the final pass lacked quality for both sides and chances were at a premium at either end.

Lopez saved a skimmed Schurrle shot after 68 minutes, but neither goalkeeper had been particularly stretched despite the raw speed of Ousmane Dembele causing problems for Espanyol.

But Burki's error of judgment, coming off his line for a ball he could not reach, cost Dortmund a draw as Piatti kept his nerve to lift the ball over the goalkeeper's head and in for the winner.

 

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'We want this noise to be cleared up' - Iniesta urges Neymar to speak out on PSG links

Andres Iniesta is ready for the Neymar transfer saga to come to an end and believes the onus is on the player himself to say whether he is staying or going.

The Barcelona midfielder, who referred to the reports linking his Brazilian team-mate to a blockbuster Paris Saint-Germain switch as "noise", claims that everybody involved would like the drama to end, but says the 25-year-old is the only one who can make that happen.

"We would all like this to be different," he said at a press conference ahead of Saturday's El Clasico in Miami. "But the only way is for Ney to speak out."We want him to stay with us, but we also want this noise to be cleared up, whether it is for the player himself or for the club. Restoring the peace would be to everyone's benefit."

While the midfielder would like for Neymar's situation to be cleared up soon, he was also adamant that no matter how much money came back to the club, it wouldn't be worth losing one of the best in the game.

"[Neymar] is one of the best players in the world and he is giving us so much," he said. "I hope he will be at Barca for a long time, it is my only wish."I cannot see how 200 or 300 million would benefit the team more than having him. I want the best in my team and he is one of the best."

Neymar was caught on camera tangling with Barcelona team-mate Nelson Semedo in a heated training ground bust-up, and the unsavoury scenes only served to highten speculation about the forward's proposed €222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Iniesta says that the altercation is just something that happens from time to time at training."It is a situation that forms part of training. It is not usual, but it does happen."Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez also chimed in on the transfer rumours, saying that everybody at Barcelona wants him to stick around.

"It will be a pity if he leaves Barcelona," the Uruguayan said. "If he leaves, it will not change our affection for him. We all want him to stay. He is one of the best three players in the world and we need to enjoy him".

 

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'This speculation doesn't interest me' - Ousmane Dembele confirms that he's happy with Dortmund

Ousmane Dembele has confirmed that he will stay with Borussia Dortmund.The 20-year-old striker was recently rumoured to favor a move to Spanish side Real Madrid, while the French youngster had also been linked with Barcelona through the summer window.

However, with rumours still swirling, the youngster has now moved to squash the speculation and confirm that he's happy with the Bundesliga side. "To be honest, this speculation doesn't interest me at all," he said. "I like being here in Dortmund and I decided to join Dortmund after my time at Rennes consciously."

Dembele is also pleased that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be staying with the club, saying that the Bundesliga's leading scorer from last season is like family to him. "I'm happy that he will continue playing for us," he continued. "He's like a brother to me."


Dortmund finished third in the Bundesliga last season, earning a place in the Champions League, and will open the season with the DFL Supercup Final against Bayern Munich on Aug. 5 before starting Bundesliga play on Aug. 19 away to Wolfburg.

 

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Door open for Mbappe at Real Madrid – Ramos

Monaco sensation Kylian Mbappe would be a welcome addition for Spanish and European champions Real Madrid, according to captain Sergio Ramos.

Mbappe is reportedly the subject of a €180 million bid from Madrid, while Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with the 18-year-old France international.And Ramos has talked up the teenager on the eve of Madrid's International Champions Cup clash against bitter rivals Barcelona in Miami on Saturday.

"It's not a decision for me but Mbappe is a great prospect, there are not young players around like him," Ramos said."We have an important year ahead of us and already have excellent players.

"But it's money which moves football and people can pay what they want. If he wants to come to Real Madrid the doors will be open."
Mbappe scored 26 goals in all competitions last season as Monaco dethroned PSG to win Ligue 1 and reached the Champions League semi-finals.

 

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Barca star Neymar confirms China tour after apparent U-turn

Barcelona forward Neymar will travel to China after the trip was initially thought to have been cancelled due to "transfer issues" as he continues to be linked with Paris Saint-Germain.

Travel company Ctrip had said that the fan event in Shanghai scheduled for July 31 had been called off amid growing speculation that Neymar is set to join Ligue 1 giants PSG in a world-record €222 million deal.

However, Neymar performed an apparent u-turn as he used Chinese social media platform Weibo to announce his imminent arrival following the International Champions Cup, where Barca are set to face Real Madrid in Saturday's Clasico.
"Greetings to the fans in China! I'm Neymar Jr, this is my official weibo account. I am going to be sharing my own personal experiences here with Chinese fans," Neymar wrote."I'm looking forward to your following and reposting! See you in Shanghai on Monday!"

Neymar's representatives also released a statement confirming the trip, though they claimed the 25-year-old Brazil international was never scheduled to be involved in an event with Ctrip.

"We inform that Neymar Jr.'s appointments in China at July 31st are still confirmed. He will be joining some FC Barcelona's sponsoring actions and will also be at Replay's event, which was already scheduled.

"We also communicate that the Chinese agency is selling tickets to fans, without the knowledge and approval of those who represent Neymar Jr., who would never do something like this. After this notification, the agency cancelled the meeting.

"We confirm, again, that there was never an agreement about a meeting with the fans, much less an authorization to sell tickets."Neymar Jr. never would participate in an event that sells tickets to fans."

 

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Zidane wants 'no changes' in Real Madrid squad amid Bale exit talk

Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane insists he does not want to see any more of his players sold during the transfer window.Speculation has emerged again this week concerning the future of Gareth Bale, who is reportedly a target for Manchester United.

Rumours in Spain and England have suggested that United could make a move to bring Bale back to the Premier League, with Madrid prepared to sell in order to fund a world-record bid of €180million for Monaco star Kylian Mbappe.

Zidane has admitted he cannot guarantee the futures of anyone in the Madrid squad, but he does not want anyone else to follow the likes of Alvaro Morata, James Rodriguez, Danilo and Pepe in leaving the Santiago Bernabeu."I'm relaxed and I'm delighted with the squad. We have the best, we won and we want to do the same again," he told a media conference.

"The squad is very good and I don't want changes. It's only Cristiano [Ronaldo] who isn't with us [on pre-season] but we know that it's going to be a difficult year. Everyone will want to win and that's more beautiful for us."

Ronaldo has been on an extended break since Portugal's Confederations Cup campaign and the 32-year-old will miss Sunday's International Champions Cup clash with Barcelona in Miami."It doesn't bother me that Cristiano isn't here for tomorrow," Zidane said. "He has to make the most of his holiday. The rest are ready."

Much of the pre-game talk has centered on the future of Barca star Neymar, who continues to be linked with a stunning €222m move to Paris Saint-Germain.

The Brazil international was also involved in a bust-up with team-mate Nelson Semedo on Friday, prompting him to storm out of training.Zidane, however, is not interested in the rumours and instead wants his players to show signs of improvement following the 4-1 defeat to Manchester City.

"We don't look outside much. He's a very good player and our opponents don't need to be told that," he said of Neymar."They've always been the biggest rivals for Madrid. It will be a great game. What interests us is playing the game well. We're annoyed about the City result and we want to do better.

"We'll try to be completely focused. Football is about details. If we play as we did the other day, we'll be very happy, but not with the result."We lost the ball and we're usually very focused in this regard. But it doesn't matter, we have to do just a bit of work and try to make sure these things don't happen."

 

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Ronaldinho urges Neymar to 'follow his heart' amid speculation over possible PSG switch

Former Barcelona star Ronaldinho has encouraged Neymar to "follow his heart" amid speculation over a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

The latest reports in France suggest the Brazil star could finalise a move to the Ligue 1 side as early as Monday of next week after agreeing terms over a world-record €222million transfer.

Barca players including captain Andres Iniesta, striker Luis Suarez and defender Gerard Pique have publicly urged Neymar to stay at Camp Nou, but the 25-year-old's future became further clouded in doubt following a training-ground bust-up with Nelson Semedo on Friday.

Ronaldinho left PSG to join Barca in 2003 and went on to win two La Liga titles and the Champions League, among a host of individual honours, during a superb five-year spell in Spain.And the 2002 World Cup-winner has advised his compatriot to follow his instincts when it comes to his own career.

"I can only tell him to follow his heart and be happy, to do things that his heart tells him," Ronaldinho told a media conference.Neymar is said to be interested in the move to PSG after growing unsettled in Catalonia and eager to escape the shadow of illustrious team-mate Lionel Messi.

Messi and Suarez are reported to have spoken directly to the player to persuade him to stay but Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu admitted this week that Neymar's future would be out of the club's hands if his buy-out clause was met.

 

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Chelsea 1 Inter 2: Jovetic stars before Kondogbia's bizarre own goal

Stevan Jovetic scored one and made another as Inter completed a perfect International Champions Cup campaign with a 2-1 win against Chelsea in Singapore, but the game will be remembered for a bizarre Geoffrey Kondogbia own goal.

Inter had already beaten Lyon and Bayern Munich without conceding a goal in the tournament and Luciano Spalletti's men made it three out of three in humid conditions on Saturday.

Jovetic gave Inter the lead in first-half injury-time, scoring on the rebound after Thibaut Courtois saved his initial effort from a controversial penalty.

The Montenegrin teed up Ivan Perisic to drill home Inter's second from a narrow angle, but Chelsea, who started club-record signing Alvaro Morata on the left of a front three, were given a lifeline when Kondogbia somehow lobbed goalkeeper Daniele Padelli with a wild back-pass from 45 yards.

Michy Batshuayi had a goal ruled out due to an incorrect offside decision, with Chelsea's pre-season tour ending after a pair of ICC defeats in Asia - the next challenge for Antonio Conte's men being Arsenal in the Community Shield on August 6.

Inter should have opened the scoring in the second minute but Antonio Candreva delayed his shot and Courtois saved the winger's deflected effort well.A deflected Willian effort narrowly cleared the crossbar after 27 minutes and, with Chelsea piling on the pressure, Padelli almost controlled a back-pass into his own net.

Inter were awarded a penalty shortly before the interval after Cesar Azpilicueta was adjudged to have fouled Jovetic, although the defender won the ball with his initial challenge.Jovetic took the spot-kick himself and, although Courtois saved a poor effort low to his left, the forward reacted first to tuck in the rebound.

The Montenegro international had the ball in the net again within a minute of the restart, turning home another rebound after Courtois denied Marcelo Brozovic, although the offside flag denied him.

Perisic then doubled Inter's lead in the 53rd minute, the reported Manchester United target firing across Courtois and into the bottom-right corner after being played in by Jovetic.

Substitute Joao Mario could have made it three on the hour when Perisic unselfishly teed him up, but Courtois saved with his legs before Kondogbia's memorable impact.

Under little pressure 10 yards inside his own half, the midfielder aimed a lofted pass towards his own goal that ballooned over the helpless Padelli and nestled in the top-left corner.

The offside flag wrongly denied Batshuayi an equaliser after he finished well with four minutes to play and Inter held on to record a third ICC victory in a row.

 

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Kondogbia scores a ridiculous own goal vs Chelsea

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Arsenal 5 Benfica 2: Walcott at the double in Emirates Cup win

Theo Walcott hit a brace as Arsenal demonstrated they can cope without Alexis Sanchez by beating Benfica 5-2 in an entertaining game in the Emirates Cup on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger's side are four-time champions and the current holders of the pre-season tournament, but they had to come from behind at a wet Emirates Stadium with Sanchez still absent following his Confederations Cup participation with Chile.Franco Cervi put Benfica ahead in the 11th minute, the Argentine's strike taking a crucial double deflection off Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker.

Persistence from Sead Kolasinac soon provided an equaliser for the hosts, however, the new signing robbing Pizzi and chipping a cross for Theo Walcott to volley home.

Walcott added another after the half-hour mark, slotting in from close range after Kolasinac and Francis Coquelin combined on the left side of the box, but Benfica levelled before the interval when Eduardo Salvio beat David Ospina with the aid of another deflection.

But Arsenal showed their superiority after the interval, Lisandro Lopez turned Walcott's cross into the back of his own net before Olivier Giroud got on the scoresheet and teed up Alex Iwobi for the best goal of the game to complete the scoring.

Julio Cesar made a point-blank save to deny Giroud in the fourth minute, but it was Benfica who scored the opening goal.The visitors crafted a fine attacking move and a big deflection off Mertesacker saw Ospina beaten by Cervi's low effort.

Walcott volleyed in the equaliser in the 24th minute, the winger on hand to finish off Kolasinac's cross after the left wing-back regained possession in the Benfica box.

And super Arsenal build-up play soon provided Walcott with a second, Kolasinac sending Coquelin clear to square a low cross for him to tap home.Ospina parried Pizzi's shot but the goalkeeper could do little about Benfica's equaliser as the goals continued to flow in the first period.

Arsenal gave the ball away in their own half and Benfica worked the opportunity well, Salvio's effort wrong-footing the Colombia international thanks to a nick off Rob Holding's.Another deflection saw Arsenal retake the lead seven minutes after the interval, Lopez diverting Walcott's delivery into his own goal with Giroud lurking behind him.

Walcott blazed a chance to seal his hat-trick over, but Giroud extended the lead in the 64th minute when he steered in a fine cross from right wing-back Reiss Nelson.

Kolasinac and Giroud set up Iwobi for a thumping finish and there was still time for Arsenal's record signing Alexandre Lacazette to make his home debut from the bench.


Arsenal take eight points from the game - as Emirates Cup rules award teams a point for every goal - and they will face Sevilla on Sunday in the tournament's final match, while Benfica take on Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

 

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Hertha Berlin 0 Liverpool 3: Coutinho captain amid Barca links and Mane returns in classy win

Philippe Coutinho captained Liverpool despite continued reports he is nearing a move to Barcelona and Sadio Mane made his return from injury as the Reds outclassed Hertha Berlin 3-0 on Saturday.

Reports in Spain have suggested that Brazil star Coutinho is on Barca's radar should his international team-mate Neymar complete a world-record move to Paris Saint-Germain.

However, the skilful playmaker travelled to Berlin to wear the captain's armband in a match that celebrated the 125th anniversaries of both clubs and was influential in Liverpool's third goal that completed a well-deserved win.Coutinho played a sublime ball to Mohamed Salah, who provided an equally exquisite finish for his third pre-season goal since joining from Roma.

Liverpool were already 2-0 up at half-time as close-season signing Dominic Solanke, whose inclusion was a late one due to hamstring tightness for Divock Origi, headed home before Georginio Wijnaldum stroked in the second.

In another boost for Jurgen Klopp, Mane – who set up Wijnaldum's goal – came through 45 minutes in his first outing since undergoing knee surgery in April, while Andrew Robertson made his debut after joining from Hull City in the second half.

Hertha threatened early with Mitchell Weiser scuffing wide after skinning Alberto Moreno, while Vladimir Darida stung Simon Mignolet's palms from distance.But Liverpool settled and had the lead in the 15th minute. Adam Lallana dinked a lovely ball into the area and Solanke peeled off his marker to loop his header over Hertha goalkeeper Rune Jarstein.

Mane showed great persistence to charge down two challenges before blazing a volley over and the Senegal winger had legitimate claims for a penalty turned down when tripped by Karim Rekik.

It was 2-0 seven minutes before the break, though. Solanke fed Mane in the box and he in turn laid off for Wijnaldum to coolly guide a 20-yard effort into the bottom-left corner.Robertson played a teasing ball across the face of goal from the left that Salah should have done better with against an unguarded net.

But the Egyptian made amends in fine fashion in the 61st minute. Coutinho weighted a wonderful ball into the path of Salah, who brilliantly dinked his effort over Jarstein.

Roberto Firmino almost added a fourth with a chipped attempt, while Daniel Sturridge had an effort palmed away as Liverpool coasted through the closing stages.

 

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Arsenal told they have made 'perfect signing' in free agent Kolasinac

Sead Kolasinac has been billed as “the perfect signing for Arsenal” by Timo Hildebrand and tipped to take the Premier League by storm.The versatile 24-year-old became the Gunners’ first signing of the summer as they acquired him as a free agent in June.

Arsene Wenger made his move after seeing the defender, who can also operate in midfield, approach the end of his contract at Schalke.He is considered to be a shrewd acquisition for the present and future, with former team-mate Hildebrand convinced that that the Bosnia international will go from strength to strength in England.

“He is so strong that nobody can stop him,” Hildebrand told Sky Sports.“He is really strong and also a fighter. He had those qualities even when he was a young player coming through the ranks at Schalke.

“He is a very good player and I think he is going to do well in the Premier League. He is the perfect signing for Arsenal.”Schalke’s former sporting director, Gerhard Zuber, agrees and sees Kolasinac cementing himself as a regular part of the Arsenal fold.

He said: “I know him very well.“Sead was one of the players that I knew from when we were at VfB Stuttgart.“We drafted him from the Under-17 team at VfB Stuttgart and took him to the Under-19 team at Schalke 04.

“I loved him because we always thought he had the spirit and all the skills required to be successful in the left-back position.”Kolasinac linked up with Schalke in 2011, made his Bundesliga debut in 2012 and made 123 appearances for the club before opting to take on a new challenge.He has been joined at Arsenal by Alexandre Lacazette this summer, with Wenger admitting that there could be further additions to come before the window slams shut at the end of August.

 

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Chelsea new boy Morata must improve condition ahead of new season - Conte

Alvaro Morata must improve his condition to be ready for the new Premier League season, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte believes.

Club-record signing Morata made his first start for Chelsea in a 2-1 International Champions Cup defeat to Inter in Singapore on Saturday, with Stevan Jovetic and Ivan Perisic on target for the Serie A side before Geoffrey Kondogbia's comical own goal.

The striker, who joined from Real Madrid for a reported £70million fee, started on the left of a front three with Michy Batshuayi playing down the middle, but the Spain international struggled to make an impression.And Conte accepted Morata has work to do on his fitness, with the Community Shield against Arsenal set to get Chelsea's campaign under way on August 6.

"Morata is just starting to train with us," Conte told reporters. "He has to improve his condition a lot to adapt quickly into our team."He is working well but it has been only five days. Today he tried to do his best but for sure he has to improve."

Chelsea's pre-season tour of Asia saw Conte's men defeated twice, the Premier League champions having previously lost 3-2 to Bayern Munich, and the Italian suggested a tight schedule affected results.But Conte understands the pressure he is working under, with Chelsea having sacked Jose Mourinho seven months after winning the title in 2015.

"I think that we played against two strong teams, Bayern and Inter, in a period that is an important period where we are working very hard," Conte said. "To play three games with the same players, they are tired, very tired, because we played three games with the same players.

"We know it will be difficult in the new season. Two years ago the team ended the league in 10th place and we want to try to avoid this. Two coaches [Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti] were sacked after they won the league so for sure I want to avoid it."We are working very hard and I hope to find the best solution in the future. We have a lot of young players and it is necessary to try to improve them."

Following the arrival of midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, Nemanja Matic has been linked with a move to Manchester United, but Conte would not be drawn on talk of a possible deal for the Serbia international."I do not know anything [about Matic]," Conte said. "You have to ask the club, I do not know anything about this."

 

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Monaco 1 Paris Saint-Germain 2: Dani Alves' dream debut secures Trophee des Champions

Dani Alves enjoyed a competitive debut to remember as Paris Saint-Germain struck a psychological blow in Ligue 1 by coming from behind to beat Monaco 2-1 and win the Trophee des Champions.

PSG's audacious pursuit of Barcelona superstar Neymar has been dominating the headlines in recent weeks, but it was Brazil team-mate Alves, signed on a free transfer from Juventus, that announced himself to the club's faithful in stunning fashion in Saturday's curtain raiser in Morocco.

The evergreen 34-year-old, playing in the unfamiliar position on the right of a front-three, blasted in a long-range free-kick shortly after the restart to cancel out Djibril Sidibe's expertly taken first-half opener.And Alves' brilliant cross was headed home by Adrien Rabiot just after the hour to secure PSG a fifth consecutive Trophee des Champions victory.

The result puts into focus the challenge Monaco, who saw late penalty claims for handball against Rabiot dismissed, face in defending their shock Ligue 1 title victory this season.

Leonardo Jardim's men swashbuckled their way to the championship last term, but have lost Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva and Tiemoue Bakayoko during the close-season, while the jewel in their attacking crown Kylian Mbappe is being heavily linked with a €180million move to Real Madrid.

PSG coach Unai Emery will be fully aware that the pressure is on this season to at a minimum regain the Ligue 1 title, but, with or without Neymar, they appear fully equipped to do just that.

Mbappe was impressive throughout for Monaco and the France forward had the ball in the back of the net in the fifth minute, but the goal was rightly ruled offside.

At the other end, Rabiot combined with Layvin Kurzawa before teeing up Alves, whose half-volley Danijel Subasic spilled before the Monaco goalkeeper recovered to deny Edinson Cavani.The lively nature of the match continued and Jemerson made a superb block to deny Cavani sweeping in Kurzawa's centre at the end of a lightning PSG break.

PSG began to stamp their authority on the match, but their failure to take advantage proved costly as Monaco opened the scoring with a fine breakaway goal on the half hour.

Monaco gained possession in PSG territory and debutant Youri Tielemans' exquisite throughball was collected by Sidibe, who provided an equally brilliant dink over Alphonse Areola.

Radamel Falcao had the opportunity to double the lead when he met Sidibe's teasing right-wing cross with a powerful header that cleared the crossbar.But PSG were level in stunning fashion in the 51st minute when Alves smashed in a 30-yard free-kick to the left of Subasic that barely span as it nestled in the goal.

Rabiot then muscled in front of Kamil Glik to head wide from an Alves centre, but the same combination proved more fruitful in the 63rd minute.Javier Pastore released Alves on the right of the box and he hung up a perfect cross for Rabiot to hammer his header past Subasic.

PSG were grateful to Areola for making a low save down to his right to keep out Guido Carrillo's powerful downward header, while Thiago Silva made a fine block from Thomas Lemar's follow-up.

Monaco had late claims for a penalty waved away when Rabiot seemingly controlled a Lemar cross with his arm, but Emery's men withstood a late surge to once again begin their season with silverware.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester City 3 Tottenham 0: Stones, Sterling and Diaz score in dominant ICC victory

Manchester City produced a dominant display in their 3-0 win over Tottenham at the International Champions Cup on Saturday.

Flying high after their 4-1 rout of Spanish and European champions Real Madrid, City were a class above in Nashville as John Stones, Raheem Sterling and Brahim Daz fired Pep Guardiola's men to a comprehensive victory.

Jones scored against Madrid last time out and the England international defender was at it again, breaking the deadlock with a glancing header in the 10th minute.
Tottenham struggled to contain City throughout at Nissan Stadium and Sterling sealed the win 18 minutes from the end after being put through on a one-v-one situation.

And youngster Diaz came off the bench and capped the scoring in the second minute of stoppage time as Kyle Walker enjoyed a winning reunion against former club Spurs following his lucrative move to the Etihad Stadium earlier this month.

It could have been more for City after substitute Sergio Aguero hit the post twice in the second half, while Gabriel Jesus sprayed a shot wide from directly in front on the stroke of half-time.

Both sides named strong XIs for the all-Premier League clash in Tennessee. Guardiola selected Ederson, Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi, Danilo, Stones, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Sterling, Jesus and Walker in City's line-up.

Beaten 3-2 by Roma on Tuesday, Tottenham included Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Christian Eriksen, Moussa Dembele, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Hugo Lloris in their starting side.

And Spurs had the first real chance of the match in the third minute, when Alli was released on goal but goalkeeper Ederson was quick off his line to smother the ball.City then slowly took control of proceedings, eventually opening the scoring through Stones seven minutes later.

After setting up three goals against Madrid, assist master De Bruyne was at it again, his teasing free-kick from the right finding its way to Stones, who stooped low to glance a header past Lloris.

Lloris was kept busy throughout the remainder of the first half as Jesus, De Bruyne and Danilo had sights on goal.Impressing on the right flank, Walker whipped in a delightful cross which almost picked out an outstretched Jesus in the penalty area.

Jesus was then guilty of wasting a guilt-edged opportunity as City somehow managed to only take a one-goal lead into half-time after some unselfish play from De Bruyne.Spurs were dispossessed and caught out of position as De Bruyne took the ball and squared a pass to Jesus, who miraculously spayed his shot well wide from directly in front of goal.

City continued to control proceedings in the second half, with Aguero almost making it 2-0 just past the hour-mark but Michel Worm saved well before the Argentina international struck the post a minute later.Tottenham survived again as Aguero hit the woodwork – a certain goal at his mercy after cutting through Spurs' defence with ease.

City did get a deserved second goal as Sterling sprung the offside trap and finished past Worm with 18 minutes remaining.Kane and Eriksen were kept quiet, though the latter managed to register a shot on goal but it was from long range, summing up Tottenham's performance, while Vincent Janssen was denied late.

City substitute Diaz added to his stunner against Madrid with a 92nd-minute goal following a goalmouth scramble, making it 3-0 which provided an accurate reflection of the one-sided display.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 3: Neymar and Messi lead Valverde's men to ICC title

Barcelona claimed the International Champions Cup after prevailing 3-2 in a thrilling Clasico encounter against bitter rivals Real Madrid.

The United States edition of the pre-season tournament went to Barca thanks to Lionel Messi, Ivan Rakitic and Gerard Pique in Miami on Saturday amid the growing uncertainty over Neymar's future at Camp Nou.

It was far from a friendly clash at Hard Rock Stadium as Barca and LaLiga-Champions League titleholders Madrid went head-to-head on American soil, the former storming out the blocks.

Goals from Rakitic and Messi put Barca 2-0 up inside seven minutes but Mateo Kovacic reduced the deficit shortly after and Marco Asensio equalised nine minutes before half-time.Gerard Pique restored Barca's lead in the 50th minute as Barca beat Manchester City to the ICC trophy, while Madrid ended the tournament without a victory.

Sergio Ramos took to the field for the first time during pre-season as Zinedine Zidane named his strongest XI minus the absent Cristiano Ronaldo and Toni Kroos, with Gareth Bale, Marcelo, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric headlining the side.Barca also fielded a strong line-up, Ernesto Valverde including Paris Saint-Germain target Neymar, Messi, Luis Suarez, Iniesta and Pique.

There was an early scare as Neymar hobbled off the field in the second minute with an apparent ankle injury but he made his way back onto the pitch as Barca broke the deadlock.Messi dribbled into the box, cut past Modric and curled the ball past Keylor Navas, albeit with some help from a deflection.

It got better for Barca four minutes later when Rakitic drilled a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.Neymar used the outside of his boot to flick the ball to Suarez, who dummied it through to Rakitic and the Croatian finished powerfully to leave Madrid stunned.

Out of sorts early, Madrid managed to halt Barcelona's momentum against the run of play after Kovacic arrowed a fierce shot past Jasper Cillessen in the 15th minute.Neymar almost got in on the action following Suarez's run out wide but the Brazil international's shot went just wide of the post after his dizzying control to beat Raphael Varane.

Madrid continued to live dangerously as Messi weaved his way into the penalty area, however Navas was quick to deny the Argentine star.But Madrid capitalised on the counter-attack to draw level in the 36th minute after Asensio played the ball to Kovacic and received it back before finishing coolly inside the near post.

Barca reclaimed the lead five minutes into the second half as Neymar and team-mate Pique linked up.After a winning the free-kick, Neymar whipped in a teasing delivery and an unmarked Pique lost his opponent before volleying into the net.

It should have been a fourth for Barca in the 55th minute after Neymar rounded Navas but he fired wide following some fancy work from Messi, while Suarez was denied by the Costa Rican moments later and Samuel Umtiti had his shot cleared off the line.At the other end, Isco drove forward and tried to find the bottom corner but Cillessen used his outstretched arm to keep Barca ahead.

The wave of second-half substitutions caused a lull in the match but Isco almost brought the game back to life when he forced Cillessen into another fine save.