..::Football IV::..

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Mata: I'd take a pay cut for football to become less of a business

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata admitted he would gladly take a pay cut if it meant football became less of a business. Appearing on Spanish news show Salvados, Mata was quizzed about all aspects of his football career - not just what happens on the pitch.

The Spain international said he could empathise with fans who are against modern football as money-hungry owners and officials continue to plague the world game.

"I can understand what [the fans] are referencing. In the business of football, it seems the owners are more important than the supporters," the 27-year-old said.

"It is nothing like the football of old, where there was not such a media involvement, or people with so many vested interests.

"I don't enjoy the business side of football. I love the game, I love training and competing. "I'd happily take a pay cut if there was less business involvement in the sport.

"At this level we're very well paid and sometimes you get to thinking that there really isn't much of a difference between x and x+3."Mata admitted he earns an "obscene" amount of money compared to the real world and revealed it concerns him about just how protected he is.

"My first professional contract was at Real Madrid Castilla. I was 18-years-old and I think I earned something like 90,000 euros a year," he said.

"Football is very well remunerated at this level. It's like we live in a bubble. With respect to the rest of society, we earn a ridiculous amount. It's unfathomable. "With respect to the world of football, I earn a normal wage. But compared to 99.9 per cent of Spain and the rest of the world, I earn an obscene amount.

"I live in [a bubble]. Real life is the one my friends live. They've had to look for work, sign on to the dole and emigrate. That's normal life now. My life as a footballer is not normal.

"It scares me sometimes to think about just how protected I am. The smallest problem and someone will come and fix it for me. That's one of the aspects in which we don’t live a normal life."

 

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Ranieri plays down Totti rumours

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri played down talks of an ambitious swoop for out-of-contract Roma forward Francesco Totti this summer.

Totti, 39, has been at Roma since 1989 but has only started two Serie A games this season as his playing career winds to an end. However, with Leicester qualified for the Champions League in 2016-17, speculation arose that Ranieri could bring in Totti for his experience.

The Italian forward has made over 90 appearances in European club competitions over a 20-year span, but Ranieri insists talk of a move for Totti has no substance.

"Could Totti come to Leicester? It's just speculation," Ranieri said after Leicester defeated Swansea City 4-0 in the Premier League on Sunday. "Totti is Roma and Roma are Totti. And Totti is, and will, continue to be very useful to Roma."

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said on Sunday he wants to keep Totti - who turns 40 in September - at the Serie A outfit next season.

 

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Rooney hoping to emulate Scholes in Man Utd midfield

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has set his sights on becoming the club's next Paul Scholes in his new midfield role.

Rooney has regularly been deployed in central midfield during his career and again played the role in United's 2-1 FA Cup semi-final win over Everton on Saturday, alongside Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini.

Rooney also played behind the strikers in United's 2-0 victory against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Wednesday, and the England captain says he is now ready to make the transition into midfield, having previously been reluctant to do so under Sir Alex Ferguson, as Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford flourish up front.

"I've known for a few years. I have played there a few times throughout my career and I can play that position," Rooney told reporters.

"I have played and watched Paul Scholes play that role for years and I always knew that one day that is where I would play, so I have tried to learn and watch what he did."It is still early days, but hopefully, if I keep playing there, I can develop and get better.

"We have got a lot of pace in the team now and I think I can read the game quite well - whether to go forward or stay deeper and leave the space for the other lads.
"Obviously it is down to the manager, and for the team more importantly it is the right thing to do at this moment in time."

 

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Van Gaal: I've done the best I can with this squad

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal insists he has done the best job possible with the squad at his disposal, stressing that he has been working with players who do not possess the qualities he requires.United sit fifth in the Premier League table with four games to go, and qualified for the FA Cup final at the weekend, as they defeated Everton 2-1 at Wembley.

Nevertheless Van Gaal has come under intense scrutiny this term due to a number of below-par performances, and the Dutchman has now blamed the club's woes on a lack of "quick, creative players"."I have said everything before. I've said that, also in the transfer period," Van Gaal told reporters.

"That's a tricky remark of me because I have to manage players whose quality is not always what I want.

"But still we are here, still we are fighting for the fourth place, also we are in the final of the FA Cup. "We have played in three competitions, I think we are the team who have played the most matches in this season. We've done it with a small group with 14 injuries.

"When everybody was fit, I tell it again, I have said it before. We were first in the league at that time. Then when we had 14 injuries, or the double injuries on the full-back positions, I could not solve that problem."

United face title-chasing Leicester City, West Ham and Bournemouth in the final three games of the season ahead of their FA Cup final clash with Crystal Palace.

 

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Van Gaal: I've done the best I can with this squad

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Wolfsburg terminate Bendtner contract

Nicklas Bendtner has had his contract terminated by Wolfsburg.

The striker has not played for club or country since February 6 and was banned from first-team training in March after a string of disciplinary problems, including oversleeping and being late.

Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs branded the former Arsenal striker a "menace" to the club and he has now seen his three-year contract terminated less than two years after joining on a free transfer.A statement read: "Striker Nicklas Bendtner is no longer a VfL Wolfsburg player.The contract with the 28-year-old Dane, which had been valid until June 2017, has been terminated with immediate effect.

"Bendtner had not trained with the team for quite some time and was recently exempted from participation."

Bendtner moved to the Bundesliga following a frustrating spell with Arsenal, despite his well publicised opinions of his own ability and worth to the Premier League giants, leaving after 32 goals in 136 games.

The 28-year-old was 50 minutes late for training earlier in the season and was also fined for posting a photo on Instagram of himself driving a Mercedes, rival car manufacturers to club owners Volkswagen.Bendtner, who has not scored a competitive goal since October, is now a free agent.

"Both Nicklas and ourselves had high hopes of his engagement at VfL Wolfsburg, but after two years, we have had to ascertain that the expectations were neither fulfilled for him nor for us and a continued cooperation made no sense for either side," Klaus Allofs said.

"For that reason, the mutual decision to end our association prematurely is thus the best solution for all parties. We wish Nicklas all the very best for his future career."

 

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'Wenger thought Arsenal would win Premier League title'

Sam Allardyce feels Arsenal have wasted the perfect opportunity to end their Premier League title drought.

Sunday's drab 0-0 draw with relegation-threatened Sunderland officially ended Arsene Wenger's side's faint chances of claiming a first league crown in 12 years, leaving Tottenham as the only remaining challenger to Leicester City.

With Chelsea mounting the worst ever defence of a Premier League title and Manchester United and Manchester City struggling with consistency for the majority of the season, Arsenal have failed to capitalise as their local rivals and the surprise leaders battle it out.

"Oh yes, I'm sure Arsene thought it was going to be his year as well," Allardyce told reporters. "On the basis of what Manchester United were doing, and Chelsea, the window opened. Unfortunately for them, they haven't quite taken that opportunity and that window.

"But they are still in the top four again, they are still going to qualify for Europe and of course, I would just like to be fourth from bottom."

Tottenham host West Brom on Monday evening looking to cut Leicester City's lead at the top to five points ahead of the final three games of the season.

 

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Roma 1-0 Napoli: Late Nainggolan strike hands Serie A crown to Juventus

Radja Nainggolan's late strike secured a 1-0 victory for Roma over Napoli to hand Juventus their fifth consecutive Serie A title on Monday.

Napoli went into the match knowing nothing but a victory would keep them in the title race after Juve's dramatic 2-1 win over Fiorentina on Sunday, but Nainggolan's fine low finish in the closing minutes brought an end to their lingering hopes.

Maurizio Sarri's side enjoyed the better chances in blustery conditions in the capital, with Wojciech Szczesny saving superbly to deny the returning Gonzalo Higuain in the first half and Marek Hamsik missing a glorious late opening, but they could not find a breakthrough against Luciano Spalletti's improving side.

The result means Juve hold an unassailable 12-point lead at the top with three games to go, while Napoli are just two clear of Roma, who require one more win to be mathematically certain of a Champions League place.

Mohamed Salah whipped a shot just past Pepe Reina's top left-hand corner after the Napoli goalkeeper became stranded off his line, as Roma set about attacking the visitors from the off.

Roma's early rhythm was disrupted when Kostas Manolas had to go off after appearing to hurt his eye in a clash with Higuain, and Dries Mertens forced a good save from Szczesny with a drive from 20 yards.

Jose Callejon had the ball in the net but saw his effort ruled out for a narrow offside, before Szczesny denied Higuain just before the half-hour mark, racing off his line to make the block after the Napoli striker expertly turned into space.

Napoli began to assume greater control of the ball in the second half but Mertens failed to hit the target after being set up by Higuain's good run just outside the area.
The match remained end-to-end as both sides chased a crucial winner, but Hamsik, who had endured a quiet game, spurned the best chance to break the deadlock with seven minutes to play as he failed to connect properly with the ball with the goal gaping after Szczesny had fumbled a cross.

With Napoli beginning to tire, Roma began to look more and more threatening on the break, and Nainggolan finally broke the deadlock with a superb strike from the edge of the area which flew into Reina's bottom left-hand corner, after Salah had teed him up.

One final attack was not enough for the visitors as their dreams of a first title since 1990 came to an end, while Roma celebrated an almost certain return to the Champions League.

 

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Juventus crowned Serie A champions after Napoli slip up

Juventus have claimed their fifth successive Serie A title after closest rivals Napoli fell to a 1-0 defeat to Roma on Monday afternoon, ending their slim hopes of catching the Turin outfit.

After an early season blip which saw them pick up just one point from their opening three games, Max Allegri's side have been in stunning form, unbeaten in their last 25 league matches and drawing only one of those against Bologna.

That run has seen them rocket to the top of the table and they remain 12 points clear of Napoli after the Partenopei failed to close the gap, meaning, with three games to spare, Juve are champions again.

Napoli were undone by an 89th-minute winner from Radja Nainggolan as Roma won an entertaining clash at Stadio Olimpico, meaning Juventus' 2-1 victory over Fiorentina on Sunday was enough to secure the title.

Juventus currently have 85 points and are on course to eclipse their points tally from last season, while summer signing Paulo Dybala leads their scoring charts with 16 goals - ranking him second in Serie A behind Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain (30).

Veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon also played a key role in Juventus' success, keeping 20 clean sheets in 34 games and setting a new mark of 973 minutes without conceding along the way.

Juventus meet Carpi, Verona and Sampdoria in their remaining three Serie A games, before they take on AC Milan in the Coppa Italia final on May 21 as they chase the domestic double.

 

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Congratulations Juventus!

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Verona 2-1 AC Milan: Incredible comeback gives hosts lifeline

Bottom-placed Verona escaped relegation with a 2-1 comeback victory at home to AC Milan, thanks to a late free-kick from Luca Siligardi which secured a vital win.

The bottom club came into Monday's clash at Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi knowing anything other than a victory would see their three-year stay in the division come to an end.

And it looked as though they would fall short in their quest, with the scores level at 1-1 after former Milan striker Giampaolo Pazzini had cancelled out Jeremy Menez's first league goal of the campaign.

But, in the ffith minute of stoppage time, Verona were awarded a free-kick 20 yards from goal and Siligardi stepped up to rifle a stunning effort over the wall and in off the underside of the crossbar.

It was just Verona's fourth victory of the season, and took them to within seven points of safety with three games remaining, although their stay of execution will only prove a brief one if 17th-placed Carpi defeat Empoli later on Monday.

For sixth-placed Milan, it was a significant blow to their quest for European qualification, and a first defeat for head coach Cristian Brocchi following four points from his first two games after replacing Sinisa Mihajlovic earlier this month.

Pazzini was the first to threaten and ought to have opened the scoring in the eighth minute when he shot straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma after the visitors failed to deal with a long ball.And Verona were left to rue that miss as Menez opened the scoring in the 21st minute.

Pierluigi Gollini was unable to hold Keisuke Honda's low 25-yard drive and Menez was quickest to react, following up to slot in the rebound from close range.Menez went close to doubling his tally eight minutes later, but on this occasion Gollini was quick to race from his line and smother the Frenchman's effort.

Pazzini shot too close to Donnarumma for a second time after Cristian Zapata's dalliance in possession afforded him a chance, prior to Carlos Bacca seeing a goal correctly ruled out for offside.

Bacca should have found the net just before the hour mark but the Colombian attempted a rabona finish on the run when it was much simpler to score with a straightforward effort.

As the game opened up, Pazzini and Honda saw goalbound efforts blocked at either end, before Eros Pisano's excellent intervention denied Menez a second in the 68th minute.

The importance of that sliding block was underlined four minutes later as Verona were awarded a penalty.Substitute Juanito met a left-wing corner with a powerful header, which struck Alessio Romagnoli on the arm after he had been wrestling with Pisano.

Donnarumma guessed right from the spot, but Pazzini's kick had too much accuracy and suddenly Verona smelled blood, Pazzini bringing two fine saves out of the goalkeeper in quick succession.

The 17-year-old excelled three more times, saving from Romulo twice and once from Pisano, but there was nothing he could do right at the death as Siligardi thundered his set-piece past the motionless keeper.

 

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Tottenham 1-1 West Brom: Dawson scores at both ends to frustrate Spurs' title dreams

Craig Dawson made up for a calamitous own goal by earning West Bromwich Albion a 1-1 draw away to Tottenham, putting a serious dent in the hosts' hopes of catching Leicester at the Premier League summit.

For the second week in succession, Spurs were playing more than 24 hours after Leicester, this time having seen their rivals thump Swansea City 4-0 on Sunday.

Needing a win to close back to within five points of the Foxes, Spurs took the lead when Dawson diverted Christian Eriksen's dangerous free-kick through the legs of Boaz Myhill from close range in the first half.

The hosts had already struck the woodwork twice before that opener, and did so for a third time in the second period through Erik Lamela as the Spurs faithful grew increasingly edgy.And those nerves soon turned to despair as Dawson recovered from his own goal by heading home Craig Gardner's corner 17 minutes from time.

The draw means Leicester can now seal the most remarkable of Premier League crowns by winning at the home of 13-time champions Manchester United on Sunday while Spurs, not in action until they visit Chelsea on Monday, will have to hope for a favour from Louis van Gaal's men.

Myhill was in for Ben Foster as one of four West Brom changes and the goalkeeper was forced into two excellent saves inside the opening seven minutes.

First, he got down to his right to touch Eriksen's free-kick behind and then, following great link-up play between Dele Alli and Harry Kane, a fine save onto the inside of the post denied the latter what looked a certain goal.

Another Eriksen free-kick clipped the top of the crossbar and Kane's low 20-yard drive was parried by Myhill as Spurs dominated the opening 20 minutes.

And their pressure paid off in the 33rd minute as Eriksen swung in a devilish set-piece from the right and, under severe pressure from Jan Vertonghen, Dawson could only bundle the ball into his own net as he attempted to stoop and head away.

The visitors showed more of an attacking threat in the early stages of the second period, although it was Spurs who went closest to a second goal just before the hour.

Eriksen broke free down the left and cut the ball back for Lamela, whose first-time effort struck the base of the right-hand post.

Perhaps buoyed by their good fortune, West Brom carved out their first real chance five minutes later as Salomon Rondon leapt highest to meet Gardner's cross but planted his header wide.

The Venezuelan then saw a rasping effort tipped over by Hugo Lloris and, from the resulting corner, Dawson beat the Spurs keeper to the ball and nodded in from six yards.

There was further cause for concern for Spurs - and England - as Eric Dier was forced off with an injury picked up in attempting to challenge Dawson for the goal, and Stephane Sessegnon fired into the side netting with four minutes to go as West Brom threatened a shock win.

An increasingly desperate Tottenham pushed for the winner, but they were left frustrated as Leicester edged ever closer to a stunning triumph.

 

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Zidane: Benzema and Ronaldo '100% fit' for Man City clash

Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema are both fit to play against Manchester City on Tuesday, according to Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.

Ronaldo had pulled up at the end of Wednesday's Liga victory over Villarreal, while the French striker came off at the weekend against Rayo Vallecano.

But the coach insisted that both would be fine to feature in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.

"I think they are going to be 100 per cent," Zidane told reporters. "They are fine today.

"They’re players who look after themselves. My idea is that they are both going to be fit to play.

Benzema is expected to lead the Madrid attack despite the short recovery time between the Rayo game and the clash at the Etihad Stadium.

"[Monday] afternoon's training session will be key," he admitted. "But he should make it for tomorrow's game."

 

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Allegri hails 'amazing' Scudetto success

Massimiliano Allegri described Juventus' Serie A title win as "amazing" following their recovery from a dismal start to the 2015-16 campaign.

Juve's fifth straight Scudetto was confirmed on Monday, after second-placed Napoli went down 1-0 at Roma to leave them 12 points behind the leaders with only three games remaining.

And Juve's title triumph is all the more remarkable given their dreadful opening to the season, which saw them in mid-table at the end of October with just 12 points from 10 games.

Since then, however, Juve have been on a scarcely believable run, dropping just two points from their next 25 matches to storm to the Scudetto, leaving Allegri elated."It's amazing. We'll still honour the league, and above all prepare for the Coppa Italia final [versus AC Milan on May 21]," he told Sky.

"Winning 24 out of 25 games is unique, though maybe another team will do better in the space of six years - maybe it'll be Juventus again."At Christmas the goal was to be six points off the top, and in March it was to be second. I have to say we did even better than predicted.

"To have Napoli behind after the extraordinary season they've had … They're close to 82 points, and usually if you get 82 points you get the Scudetto."

Even after losing their first two games of the season - the second 2-1 at Roma - Allegri was convinced his players would prove their quality come the end of the campaign.

"The bad start? After the Roma defeat I came away from the Olimpico calm, I knew we would have a great season," he said."Three or four months later, at the return game with Sassuolo we reviewed the game itself, and there was so much negativity at the time.

"We lost a strange game, and it was said that Juventus played badly. It's normal that we were missing something, but it wasn't as bad as everyone saw it."The merit for this Scudetto goes to everyone. If we reviewed everything that was said and written back then we'd laugh."

 

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Mahrez: PSG? I don't want to return to France

Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez has distanced himself from returning to his homeland in the near future, stating he doesn't “dream” about a move back to France and is happy in England.

Mahrez, 25, was recently named PFA Player of the Year after his magnificent efforts have helped inspire Leicester's charge towards their first ever Premier League title this term.

The Algeria international moved to the Foxes from French outfit Le Havre in 2014 for as little as £400,000 and his remarkable rise to prominence is emblematic of Leicester's growth.

And Mahrez hopes to continue thriving in England for years to come after admitting he doesn't have any desire to ply his trade back in France in the short term.

“I'm not saying it's impossible,” said Mahrez when asked about whether a move back to France would interest him. “But I really didn't like it [playing in France]. I don't want to return to France. France doesn't tempt me at all, I like England.”

Mahrez, who was brought up in the Parisian suburb of Sarcelles, was linked with both Marseille and local club Paris Saint-Germain while he was with Le Havre.

PSG have since grown into an emerging force in European football but Mahrez insists he specifically isn't keen on turning out for Laurent Blanc's side.

Mahrez added: "PSG has become a very big club. They have strong players and the club is currently building a big project. I loved Marseille when I was a boy. Even today, Paris doesn't make me dream too. this is my town, but I don't see myself returning.”

 

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Dortmund open to Hummels exit

Borussia Dortmund are open to a Mats Hummels exit but only if the price is right, according to chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke.Hummels, 27, has been heavily linked with a move away from the Bundesliga giants, including to rivals Bayern Munich and numerous Premier League clubs.

He has also admitted that he is considering his future, as Bayern and Manchester City pay close attention to his next moves.

Watzke said it would be wrong for Dortmund to deny the centre-back a move, but added there would be no hesitation if clubs are unwilling to meet their asking price.

"To forbid Hummels to leave would be small-minded," he said in the AUDI-Star-Talk on Monday.

"We have to accept that someone playing for Dortmund for eight years and getting [close to] 28 starts to think about his situation."If the club isn't ready to pay a lot of money, he has a contract in Dortmund. And I am sure that he has no problem with continuing playing for Dortmund."

Hummels has impressed during another consistent campaign and is under contract until mid-2017 in Dortmund.

 

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Dortmund leave door open for Gotze return

Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke believes the club's supporters would give Mario Gotze a second chance if he returned to Signal Iduna Park.

Gotze, 23, controversially joined Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in July 2013 for a transfer fee of €37million.However, the World Cup winner has been linked with a return to his former club after only 12 Bundesliga appearances this season.

Watzke said Dortmund will have to talk to the fans, who unfurled a banner earlier this month telling Gotze to "p**s off", over any potential transfer. "If he's on the market, it's clear if we discuss about him," he said at the AUDI-Star-Talk.

"The door is always open for every player who comes from Dortmund. If he returns we have to talk with the fans and he has to explain how he left for Bayern.
"But I don't think that they won't give him a second chance."

 

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Martial has proved worth to United, says Smalling

Chris Smalling said Anthony Martial has made Old Trafford his own after taking Manchester United by storm in his debut season.

United were criticised for spending in excess of £36million for Martial in September, but the 20-year-old has repaid the faith, scoring an injury-time winner to send the club into the FA Cup final on Saturday.

Martial has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season, eight of those coming in the Premier League.And United team-mate Smalling said the France international has proved his worth to the team.

"No one is going to have a harder circumstance coming to Old Trafford with the pressure he had and he is performing brilliantly," said Smalling.

"A lot of players come with potential but it's how they perform on that stage and luckily enough for us he's taken to it like it's like it's nothing.

"Not many players come in with that amount of pressure and he was relatively unknown to the majority of us so to see him turn up week after week, he's our main attacking threat and he's been brilliant all season."Nothing seems to faze him and you can see that when he gets the ball, he's got the beating of anyone no matter who he's playing against.

"More often than not he gets the beating of them and that's great for us because you just want to feed players like that who are constantly that high on confidence all season.

"You can tell in training sessions, his pace, his ability to take on people, after a few training sessions you have to try to suss him out."

 

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UEFA Champions League Semi-Final 1st Leg Fixture 2016.04.26

UEFA Champions League Semi-Final 1st Leg Fixture 2016.04.26

Manchester City Vs Real Madrid

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