..::Football IV::..

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'Aubameyang is leaving Borussia Dortmund this summer'

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is in the process of leaving Borussia Dortmund, according to Gabon coach Jorge Costa.

The 26-year-old has been in sublime form for Dortmund this season, scoring 39 goals in 46 appearances.

Goal understands that Manchester United have been keeping a close eye on the striker but have been told that a £70 million bid is required in order to take him to Old Trafford this summer.

Real Madrid, who are in negotiations with Robert Lewandowski’s agent, are also keen on a move for Aubameyang and are ready to rival United.

Aubameyang was expected to feature for Gabon’s upcoming games against Mauritania and Ivory Coast, but it is now claimed that the striker has asked to be excused as he is in the middle of a transfer.

“Aubameyang has asked not to be selected [for the national team] because he is changing clubs,” Costa told RFI.

 

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Simeone's soldiers beaten again but Atletico will never stop fighting for Champions League glory

Diego Simeone fights. That's what he does. He knows no other way. "My parents raised me to play football like a soldier," he explained many years ago. Now he coaches like a general. He inspires 100 per cent loyalty and dedication from every single member of his squad. As he says, "Either you follow me or you don't... It's hard for me to interact with players who don't give themselves completely. The weak don't interest me."

As a result, Simeone has surrounded himself with strong characters; players with "balls so big" that, after a Champions League win over Chelsea in 2014, he felt obliged to thank their mothers for giving birth to them. It is why two years after suffering an agonising loss to Real Madrid in the final of the Champions League that they battled their way back into the biggest game in club football. And it is also why when everything seemed to be going against them in Saturday's tournament decider in Milan, they still managed to force extra-time and then penalties.

Atletico were punished for a slow start at San Siro, conceding a set-piece goal to Sergio Ramos (again!) after just 15 minutes. They dominated both territory and possession for the remainder of regulation time but for a long time, it looked like it would not be their night. Sergio Ramos appeared to have been marginally offside when he got the slightest of touches on Gareth Bale's flick-on, while the same defender twice appeared to get away with handballs in the penalty area.

Then there was Antoine Griezmann's penalty. Last weekend, the French forward missed a spot-kick in a practice match between Simeone's chosen 11 for the Champions League final and a team made up of reserves asked to replicate Real's 4-3-3 formation and playing style. On that occasion, the game finished scoreless; at the Giuseppe Meazza, Griezmann's profligacy appeared to have far greater consequences.

However, Simeone never stopped believing. He called Griezmann over to the touchline, ordered him to get his head back in the game before setting about rallying the fans. During his school days, Simeone served as the conductor in his music class. At regular intervals throughout the second half, he could be scene orchestrating the Atleti fans, rousing them into voicing their support.

The Rojiblancos were playing a dangerous, unfamiliar game at this point. They were having to force the proceedings; attack a side containing two forwards worth more than their entire squad. As a result, they were twice caught on the break. Luckily, a combination of good goalkeeping and last-ditch defending kept Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale at bay.

Just moments after their second let-off, Atletico equalised. Simeone is so often praised for his passion and defensive organisation, but the goal was a perfect demonstration of his tactical prowess. The Argentine had made the bold decision to replace Augusto Fernandez during the break and replace him with the attack-minded Yannick Carrasco. It was an offensive gamble and one that ultimately paid off with 10 minutes remaining, with the Belgium winger firing home a terrific cross from Juanfran to force extra-time.
Carrasco only went from strength to strength - he attempted more dribbles than any other player on the pitch despite his belated entry - but Atleti could not force a winner.

Given the way in which Lady Luck had turned her back on them across 120 pulsating minutes, it was perhaps unsurprising that Atleti came up short in the penalty shootout, meaning that for the second time in three years, they had been lost to their city rivals in agonising fashion. The defeat will hurt Atleti. The tears that flowed on the pitch and in the stands were wholly understandable. But they have been here before and they will recover. Their general will see to that.

"We see ourselves reflected in society, in people who have to fight to keep going," Simeone once said. "As soon as we stop fighting, we have no chance." And as long as he remains at the Vicente Calderon, Atleti will never stop striving to realise their Champions League dream.

 

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Ronaldo: Real Madrid's superior experience made the difference in Champions League final

Cristiano Ronaldo believes Real Madrid's superior experience in big matches proved decisive in their Champions League final victory over Atletico Madrid.

After a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes, Zinedine Zidane's men won 5-3 on penalties in Milan, with Ronaldo scoring the decisive spot-kick after Juanfran had hit the post.

The Portugal international hailed Real's composure and felt their greater familiarity with huge occasions compared to Atletico made the difference when it mattered.

"The penalties are always a lottery," Ronaldo told BT Sport."You never know what is going to happen, but we showed that our team had more experience.

"We scored all the penalties, so it was unbelievable. It is a fantastic night."Ronaldo acknowledged that both sides were struggling for energy in an extra-time period that saw few clear chances.He added: "It is difficult, it is the end of the season and people are not fit anymore so we all have to rest now and prepare to do a great Euros."

Ronaldo is now a three-time Champions League winner having won the competition once with Manchester United and twice with Madrid.The 31-year-old also finished as the Champions League's top goalscorer for the fourth season in a row.

 

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Perez hails Zidane after dramatic Champions League win

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez hailed coach Zinedine Zidane in the wake of their penalty shoot-out victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final.

Zidane replaced Rafael Benitez at the Santiago Bernabeu helm midway through the season and the former France international led his team to European glory within five months on Saturday.Sergio Ramos gifted Madrid a first-half lead, before Yannick Carrasco levelled the scoring after the break to send the game into extra time.

Penalties eventually decided the match at San Siro, with Cristiano Ronaldo firing his team to their 11th European Cup success after Juanfran missed from the spot.

And afterwards Perez was full of praise for Zidane, who became the seventh man to win Europe's elite club competition as a player and as a manager ."I feel very proud to be president of Real Madrid right now," Perez told reporters.

"Zidane has been very important for Real Madrid. He told me the same thing he told me back in 2001: 'I got it, president.' The players will go to Cibeles tonight to celebrate."Every season is difficult. We fought right until the final whistle. The Champions League is in Madrid's DNA. It is the most important competition for us."

On Ronaldo he added: "The whole world knows that I want Cristiano to stay at Madrid for the rest of his life. He is one of the pillars of this club."Atletico were beaten in the European Cup final for the third time in their history, but Perez had words of encouragement for Real's fierce rivals.

"Atletico Madrid have shown over the past few years that they are at a very high level," he added."Someday they will win the Champions.

 

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Simeone rues Atletico Madrid “failure” in Champions League final

Diego Simeone described Atletico Madrid's defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final as a "failure".

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the decisive penalty as Madrid clinched a 5-3 shoot-out victory in Milan on Saturday after the match finished 1-1 after extra time.It marked the second time in three years that Real have overcome Atletico in the final as they secured an 11th Champions League crown.

Simeone was upset in the aftermath, saying: "Nobody remembers the ones who finish second."To lose two finals is a failure. We must now go home and tend to our wounds."Simeone added: "I don't know which defeat hurts the most. What really hurts me is to see the hurt of the people who've paid to come here.

"I feel a bit responsible that I wasn't able to give them what they wanted. That's what really hurts. It puts a lot of years on you."Sergio Ramos' opener was cancelled out by Yannick Carrasco, after Antoine Griezmann struck the crossbar with a penalty for Atletico early in the second half.

Juanfran crucially also hit the woodwork in the shoot-out and that miss proved even more costly for Atletico."Firstly, congratulations to Real Madrid – once again they were superior to us, this time at penalties," Simeone said.

"We started the game badly, then we got ourselves organised from the 20th minute. In the second half we could have equalised very quickly but our intention was clear."

 

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Simeone considering Atletico Madrid future

Diego Simeone admits he is considering his future at Atletico Madrid following their defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

The Colchoneros produced a superb second-half display to claw themselves back into the affair and take it to extra time, but they were ultimately beaten 5-3 on penalties after Juanfran struck the post in the shootout.

Simeone has defied expectations to lead Atletico to two Champions League finals in three seasons but admits seeing them fall short on both occasions to Real after “giving everything” is difficult to take.

“It’s a moment for me to think about things," Simeone said.

"When you give everything and it’s not enough it’s hard.

“These have been three wonderful years but I am not happy tonight. I do not know which hurts more, this final or the last one.

“I just feel for the people who have come to watch us.”

 

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Ferdinand: Ravel Morrison is the best kid I saw at Manchester United - even Pogba idolised him

Rio Ferdinand has revealed that Paul Pogba looked up to Ravel Morrison when the former was at the Manchester United academy.

Morrison was tipped to become a star for United but ended up leaving Old Trafford for West Ham at the age of 18. Pogba meanwhile was not so highly rated and left for Juventus, where he has since become one of the best young players in the world.

And Ferdinand believes midfielder Morrison, who is expected to leave Lazio this summer, is the best young talent he’s seen in football - although does not have the mentality to match.

“Mentality, for me, outweighs talent,” Ferdinand told Copa90.

“Look at Ravel Morrison, this guy was the best young kid I’ve ever seen in my life. Better than Joe Cole when he was a kid, he was doing circus tricks on a football pitch.

“Ravel Morrison - I’ve never seen a guy look so comfortable on a football pitch. But you can’t just have one element without the other, you’ve got to have everything.

“I’d love to see him have a chance again to come back and show everyone his talent. The kid was just different.

“Pogba, [Adnan] Januzaj, [Jesse] Lingard, they used to look up to this boy. That’s what I’m saying, people don’t realise how good he was. Them boys used to look up to him like ‘woah, Ravel Morrison’.”

 

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Sir Alex Ferguson PRAISES Arsene Wenger for sticking to his principles

Sir Alex Ferguson has praised Arsene Wenger’s reign at Arsenal and says he admires his former rival for not bending to his critics.

Wenger has received plenty of criticism after the Gunners failed to mount a stronger challenge for the Premier League title under his stewardship this season.

It is often perceived that Wenger is holding Arsenal back through his preference to avoid spending heavily in transfer windows to instead focus on promoting the club's youngsters.

However Ferguson’s insists his long-time adversary should be applauded for sticking to his football philosophy.

“He’s been fantastic,” the former Manchester United manager wrote in the Champions League 2016 final programme.

“Now he gets a lot of criticism, but I admire that you’re not going to bend to the will of the critics. He stays with what he believes in. And I think people who do that are outstanding coaches.

“When you talk about consistency, Arsene’s never changed the way that his side has played.

“I think he inherited a team when he first came to Arsenal with Steve Bould and Martin Keown and Tony Adams – fantastic warriors – but his team evolved when they started getting players like Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Emmanuel Petit, Sylvain Wiltord. There was a change in the culture of the team.

“They became a magnificent team and the particular experience that Arsene got with that team, he has never changed in the type of player he wants or the sort of play he wants. It’s always about penetration from runners off the ball, good passes into angles for the strikers.”

 

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UEFA Champions League Final in Pictures 2016.05.28

UEFA Champions League Final in Pictures 2016.05.28

Real Madrid Vs Atletico Madrid

 

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Sahenna baya wela hitiye We ruled the game up until Kroos was subbed.
Atleti sahenna hodata play kara ita passe. Specially Carrasco & Juanfran from the wing. Kind of feel sorry for them

For me the worst performance in our team other than the subbed players was Ronaldo. He wasn't fit at all. Support runs karema ne risks gaththe ne. godakma fitness adu hindai 1 goal up hinda wenna athi. Habai ithin lassanata welawa balala final penalty ekama gahuwa
2 UCL's in 3 years!!!
Next season eke double ekakatawath yanna one.

Best performers in our team for me was Bale, Ramos, Casamiro, Kroos & Modric. Benzema, Marcelo, Carvajal uth patta.

In A really Great mood now.

Congratz Real!!!
Hala Madrid!!!

 

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Supiri match eka

.. anthime ronaldo ma thama real madrid champion ...

 

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James wants Real Madrid stay despite Champions League final snub

James Rodriguez has insisted he wants to stay at Real Madrid, despite spending the entirety of the Champions League final win over Atletico Madrid on the bench.

The Colombia international has lost his starting berth this season and has been heavily linked with a move away from the European champions in recent weeks.

James was dealt another blow on Saturday as he missed out on a spot in the starting XI once more, with Zinedine Zidane opting to field Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in a three-man midfield at San Siro.

The Madrid coach then decided to bring on Isco for Kroos after the break, while Lucas Vazquez got the nod ahead of James to replace Karim Benzema.Nevertheless, the 24-year-old still sees his future at the Santiago Bernabeu irrespective of this weekend's Champions League snub.

"Everybody put in a great performance," James told reporters. "It has been a strange season. But you learn from it when bad things happen."You never know what will happen in football, but my intention is to stay at Madrid.

"I want to stay at this club for many more years. I am happy at Madrid. This is the ideal club for me and I want to stay put."James has a contract with Madrid until June.

 

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Benzema wants Madrid stay after Champions League win

Champions League winner Karim Benzema hopes to remain at Real Madrid for "many years" amid rumours of a possible departure.

Benzema earned his second Champions League medal with Madrid after the Spanish capital club overcame Atletico Madrid 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at the end of extra time in Milan on Saturday.

The 28-year-old France international has emerged a possible target for Manchester United since former Madrid boss Jose Mourinho was appointed on Friday, but Benzema has no plans to leave the Santiago Bernabeu.

"I am happy here and I hope to be here for many years," Benzema said."I thank the people in Madrid for being there for me and my family. Thanks to everybody because they are part of my life and we are going to be used to winning titles."

Benzema added: "I am very proud of the team and I am glad because it is a very important title for everybody and I have to thank to the supporters, the club's president [Florentino Perez], the coach [Zinedine Zidane], the players and today we are in Madrid's history."

Not called up for Euro 2016 in France, Benzema ended the season with 28 goals in all competitions for Madrid.

 

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Koke: I think Simeone will stay at Atletico

Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke believes Diego Simeone will continue at the capital club next season, despite the coach weighing up his future.

Simeone admitted he is considering his future at Atletico following Saturday's 5-3 penalty shoot-out defeat to city rivals Real Madrid in the Champions League final at San Siro.

The 46-year-old Argentine coach has been linked with Inter, having openly talked up a return to his former club.When told that Simeone might be considering his future, Koke said: "That I don't know, I just found out from you.

"Whatever he does, we will respect his decision. But I think he'll be here in the club with us."The Champions League final defeat in Milan was Atletico's second to Madrid in three seasons.

Atletico recovered from a slow start to earn a 1-1 draw after extra time, as Yannick Carrasco's second-half effort cancelled out Sergio Ramos' 15th-minute opener.

It call came down to spot-kicks and Atletico blinked first, with Juanfran hitting the post, which allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to step up and convert the winner."Today the first 20 minutes we've done wrong, it is the truth. But after we played good football, we attacked, we tried but didn't succeed," Koke said.

"We always said that the goal was to be third and pass the group stage of the Champions League. I think it's a season to be proud of what we've done. We are hurt of course, when you get to a final you want to win."I apologise to all fans of Atletico, who had all the enthusiasm in the world. Now we must continue to work and fight for next year."

On Juanfran's unsuccessful penalty, Koke added: "We must encourage him. He has not had the fortune to score the penalty, but assisted the equaliser, then there is nothing to reproach."

 

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Koeman: United don't deserve FA Cup trophy after sacking Van Gaal

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has slammed Manchester United for their treatment of former boss Louis van Gaal.

Koeman said United do not deserve their FA Cup trophy after sacking fellow Dutchman Van Gaal in favour of Jose Mourinho last week.

Van Gaal was shown the door in the aftermath of United's 2-1 extra-time win over Crystal Palace on May 21, with Mourinho eventually appointed on Friday after the club's failure to finish in the top four in the Premier League.

But Koeman believes United lacked class in their handling of Van Gaal, amid reports they were working behind the scenes to secure Mourinho while the former Netherlands coach was still in charge.

"I have watched the process around Louis and Jose Mourinho from a distance," Koeman said in quotes attributed to the Mirror. "For months we were all reading that Mourinho was busy with Manchester United.

"If Louis was not told about getting the sack until after the FA Cup final, then Manchester United as a club don't deserve a medal for the way they treated him."If you know a little bit about the business at the highest level in football, then you know that these kind of deals are not done overnight.

"But Louis has been put under tremendous pressure for months. This is why I admire the way he kept his dignity."Of course, he had a number of run-ins with the media and there were moments when I thought 'Louis, you could have dealt with that in another way.' But Louis is Louis.

"But looking at the incredible pressure all around him, I think he did a great job winning a big trophy like the FA Cup."

 

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Xhaka proud to complete 'dream' Arsenal move

Switzerland star Granit Xhaka is delighted to have completed a "dream" transfer to Arsenal from Borussia Monchengladbach.

The 23-year-old secured a move to Emirates Stadium this week in a deal worth up to £33.1 million after an impressive four-year spell in the Bundesliga.

The midfielder, compared to Andrea Pirlo by former Arsenal defender Johan Djourou, is relieved to have sealed the move prior to Euro 2016 and is relishing the prospect of his first appearance under Arsene Wenger.

"I feel good, now I'm happy to be a Gunner," Xhaka told Sky Sports News after Switzerland's 2-1 friendly defeat to Belgium on Saturday."It's been a big week for me, but now it's official and I'm very happy. Arsenal is a big club. I've seen the pitch, it's unbelievable. It was a dream for me and I'm happy now."

Xhaka, captain for much of the season under Andre Schubert, made 36 appearances for Gladbach in all competitions this season.

 

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Mourinho will bring trophies to Man Utd, says McNair

Paddy McNair is confident Jose Mourinho will bring trophies to Manchester United following his appointment as manager.

The former Chelsea boss was officially announced as Louis van Gaal's replacement at Old Trafford on Friday, signing a three-year deal with the option of an additional season.

McNair, 21, is impressed by Mourinho's track record and feels United are now in a strong position to add to the 2016 FA Cup, which is the only major trophy they have won since Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013."He is a world class manager, he has won trophies in a lot of countries," McNair said to Sky Sports.

"He has worked with the best players and with the best teams in the world. I feel like he can bring trophies to Manchester United."McNair is in the Northern Ireland squad for Euro 2016, giving him the ideal opportunity to impress Mourinho on the big stage after only starting three Premier League games in his second season with the United first-team in 2015-16."I have not heard anything from him yet," he said.

"Every time I go on the pitch there is someone new watching you for the first time probably so I'm just trying to impress everyone."

 

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Messi on the mend, say Argentina

Lionel Messi is making progress in his recovery from a back injury, according to Argentina team doctor Daniel Martinez.The Barcelona star had to be substituted during the 1-0 friendly win over Honduras after a collision left him with heavy discomfort in both his back and ribs.

Argentina boss Gerard Martino said it was a "nasty" impact and Messi was sent for further medical tests to ascertain the extent of the damage.While the 28-year-old's chances of facing Chile in Argentina's Copa America opener on June 6 remain in doubt, Martinez is encouraged by the forward's recovery so far.

"Messi is better, he has less pain. His recovery is day-to-day, there are various treatments for this type of hit," he told La Nacion."When you have less discomfort in the region, you can have massages that can help to alleviate the pain."

 

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Martial revealed as Manchester United's fastest player of the 2015-16 season

Anthony Martial was Manchester United’s fastest player in the 2015-16 Premier League season, according to statistics.

Figures published by Opta show that the France international registered a sprint time of 35.25 kilometres per hour during the Red Devils’ 3-3 draw with Newcastle in January.

Luke Shaw appeared twice on the list, logging a time of 34.66 kilometres per hour against Swansea, and 34.59 in United’s Old Trafford clash with Tottenham.

Marcus Rashford sneaked into second place, though, with his 34.83 km/h dash against Crystal Palace last month, while Chris Smalling rounds off the top five with 34.47 km/h against West Brom away.

 

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Congratzzzzzz Martial​