..::Football IV::..

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I hope menace Fellaini never plays in the Premier League again - Carragher

Jamie Carragher has called Marouane Fellaini a "menace" and hopes he never makes another Premier League appearance after the Manchester United midfielder's latest ban.

Fellaini was handed a three-match ban after an altercation with Leicester City defender Robert Huth, who also suffered the same punishment, keeping both players out for the rest of the 2015-16 league campaign.

Television replays showed Huth appearing to pull Fellaini's hair before the Belgium international struck him with an elbow in Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Leicester last Sunday.

And Carragher believes Fellaini deserved a much greater punishment, with the midfielder eligible for selection in United's FA Cup final clash against Crystal Palace.

"How did they get the same bans? One man deliberately swings an elbow, knowing full well the damage that can be caused. The other grabs a clump of hair. Both, somehow, end up with three-match suspensions," Carragher wrote in a column for The Daily Mail.

"The more I look at the punishments that Marouane Fellaini and Robert Huth received, the less I can understand the Football Association's decision. Huth, a giant in Leicester's fairytale campaign, misses his side's big celebration for an incident you associate with a school playground."Yet Fellaini could end up playing in the FA Cup final. Can pulling someone's hair cause the same damage as a flailing elbow? No. Not in a million years.

"It can't be right that he will be available for Manchester United's big day against Crystal Palace on May 21. My personal hope is that we would never see him playing in the Premier League again.Carragher added: "He is a repeat offender and it has gone beyond the point now where people can attempt to defend him by saying he is a tall lad who is using his arms for leverage.

"When he first arrived in the Premier League, as Everton's record £15 million
signing in 2008, he was booked five times in his first two months. The assumption, initially, was to put it down to exuberance, awkwardness and immaturity. But here we are, eight years on, and he hasn't changed.

"The figures are damning. He has been booked 61 times in all competitions since coming to England and picked up a further three red cards. He has served 18 matches in bans, including three for a head butt on Stoke's Ryan Shawcross when he was at Everton that enraged David Moyes."He is a menace in the worst possible sense. I don't use that term lightly but he is not a Manchester United player in any shape or form.

"I was never convinced he would fit in at Old Trafford when he left Goodison Park and have never been given reason to change my mind. Yes, he's a good player with some qualities but he is absolutely not United standard."

 

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Wenger: Guardiola deal made Pellegrini powerless

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Manchester City's mid-season announcement of Pep Guardiola's appointment hurt Manuel Pellegrini's chances of success with the club this term.

City were in second place and three points behind eventual Premier League winners Leicester City when it was announced on February 1 that Guardiola would replace Pellegrini at the helm of the first-team after the end of the season.

Heading into the final two weeks of the campaign, they are now 13 points behind Leicester and in danger of finishing outside of the Champions League places, with Manchester United sitting four points behind them and with a game in hand.

And Wenger feels the announcement that Pellegrini would be out of a job in the summer stripped the Chilean of all power, leading to their downfall in the English top flight and their Champions League semi-final elimination.

"They invested huge amount of money for years and years and years. It looks like this plan has been coming," said Wenger, whose Arsenal will face City in the Premier League on Sunday."Once they took [sporting director] Txiki Begiristain [who worked with Guardiola at Barcelona] you could see what was coming. He has always known that in the back of his mind I think.

"It is difficult because you have less power when the players know you are moving out."Wenger's men tragel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday looking for three points against Pellegrini's men as they try to secure third place in the league, thus ensuring they book a place in the Champions League group stage.

"We want to be directly in the Champions League next year, everyone fights to be in there," the Frenchman added."When you do it, everyone says it’s normal. When you look at the teams who are not in, then you realise how big it is.

"No one wants to be in the Europa League until the semi-final maybe. You want to be in the Champions League."

 

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Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2016.05.07

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2016.05.07

Norwich City Vs Manchester United

Aston Villa Vs Newcastle

Bournemouth Vs WBA

Crystal Palace Vs Stoke City

Sunderland Vs Chelsea

West Ham Vs Swansea

Liecester City Vs Everton

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Serie A Fixtures 2016.05.07

Serie A Fixtures 2016.05.07

Inter Vs Empoli

Bologna Vs AC Milan​

 

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Middlesbrough promoted to Premier League

Middlesbrough secured promotion to the Premier League on Saturday, as they drew 1-1 with 10-man Brighton and Hove Albion at the Riverside Stadium.

Aitor Karanka's men knew that a point would guarantee a second-placed finish, and automatic promotion, but they looked set to take all three when Christian Stuani opened the scoring in the 19th minute.

Dale Stephens hit back to give Brighton - who themselves needed to win to overtake Boro - hope of pipping their opponents to the post, as he headed in from a deep free-kick.

However, Stephens was then sent off for a high tackle on Gaston Ramirez, which left the Uruguayan with a horrific gash on his leg, and required both a stretcher and oxygen.

Middlesbrough have been playing Championship football since their relegation in 2009, and will take part in a Premier League that has been significantly enriched by the 2016-17 television deal, which stands at a staggering £5.136 billion.

Karanka raised eyebrows when he left Jordan Rhodes and Stewart Downing out of the starting line-up, but it was the two men who replaced them who combined to give Boro the lead after 19 minutes.

Ramirez's free-kick was headed back across goal by David Nugent, allowing Stuani to tap home from point-blank range.

Stuani and Ramirez both came close to a second as Boro continued to dominate the first half, but Brighton made them pay for their profligacy just after the break when Stephens turned a looping header beyond Dimitrios Konstantopoulos to equalise.

Stephens was then involved in a heated spat with Ramirez and was sent off shortly afterwards after catching the Uruguayan on the shin with a raised boot - a challenge which resulted in a tearful Ramirez being carried from the pitch on a stretcher.

Nerves became frayed around the Riverside as Brighton pushed forward for a lifeline during eight minutes of injury time, but Hughton's side must now settle for a place in the play-offs against Sheffield Wednesday.

 

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Pogba and Dybala have no reason to leave Juventus - Allegri

Massimiliano Allegri believes Paul Pogba and Paulo Dybala have no reason to leave Juventus as he feels the Serie A champions are on par with Europe's big guns.

Pogba and Dybala are recognised as two of the best young players in their respective positions and have therefore been linked with moves elsewhere in recent months,

But Allegri is confident Juventus can hold on to their star players, stating he believes the Bianconeri are on the same level as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich."I don't see why players should leave us," Allegri said.

"Juventus are now at the same level as the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich. Our own plans on the transfer market? The club has always assembled competitive and winning sides.

"The solid spine of our experienced group, combined with our talented youngsters, enables us to enjoy success. Our first aim for 2016-17, other than enjoying a strong Champions League, is sealing what would be a legendary sixth straight title."

Juventus take on Verona on Sunday and Allegri has stressed they cannot afford to lose focus ahead of the Coppa Italia final against AC Milan in two weeks, even if he aims to rest a number of first-team regulars.

"We must focus on signing off our Serie A campaign on a high and also try to win the Coppa Italia. We cannot allow for a drop in tension. We must keep working," he added.

 

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Norwich 0-1 Manchester United: Mata keeps Red Devils' top-four hopes alive

Juan Mata scored the only goal of the game to keep Manchester United's Champions League aspirations alive and edge Norwich closer to relegation from the Premier League.

The Red Devils are now just a point behind fourth-placed Manchester City, who face Arsenal on Sunday, thanks to Mata's solitary strike at Carrow Road.

Sebastien Bassong crucially misjudged a long ball forward and allowed Wayne Rooney to get in behind the Norwich defence, before setting up Mata for the all important winner.

Norwich stay in 19th and must now hope both Newcastle and Sunderland, who face Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively later in the day, drop points this weekend in their faltering bid to avoid an instant return to the Championship.

United started Saturday four points adrift of rivals City in the race for the top four and - with Louis van Gaal having decided to leave out forward Marcus Rashford and defender Daley Blind - were dealt a blow in the warm-up.Anthony Martial, the hero of United's FA Cup semi-final win over Everton, suffered an injury prior to kick off and was replaced by Ander Herrera.

With United missing their most dangerous attacking threats, it was Norwich who enjoyed the better of the early going and went close to taking the lead inside four minutes.

Cameron Jerome met Nathan Redmond's well-placed cross from the left but was unable to get any direction on his header, with David De Gea reacting well to keep the ball out with his legs.

United were dealt a further blow in the 12th minute when Matteo Darmian collided with Ivo Pinto. The former Torino defender received lengthy treatment and was replaced by Cameron Borthwick-Jackson before being carried to the tunnel on a stretcher.

Chances proved few and far between in a low-key first half, although Chris Smalling perhaps should have done better in the 29th minute, heading narrowly over from Mata's corner.The visitors were the slightly superior side after the restart but both teams continued to struggle to sustain much in the way of pressure.

Herrera fired into the side-netting from Mata's clever lofted pass and Smalling was unable to get on the end of a flick on from Marcos Rojo as United laboured in search of an opener.

Norwich had thrown on Dieumerci Mbokani as they looked to break the deadlock but Mata finally did so 18 minutes from time, although the goal owed much to Bassong's costly error.

Rooney showed no hesitation in pouncing on Bassong's failure to clear a long ball, surging down the right and smartly holding the ball up for the onrushing Mata, who netted his fifth career goal against Norwich with a simple finish.

Morgan Schneiderlin shot wide late on but his profligacy was not punished as United held on with little difficulty.

 

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Congratulations Manchester United!

& Darmian injuredGet well soon Darmian​

 

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Ingolstadt 1-2 Bayern Munich: Lewandowski fires Bavarians to title

Bayern Munich were crowned Bundesliga champions for a fourth season in a row after they beat Ingolstadt 2-1 at the Audi Sportpark on Saturday.

The Bavarians put their midweek Champions League misery behind them as they secured their 27th league win this season, though Borussia Dortmund's surprise 1-0 loss to Frankfurt meant Bayern only needed a point to get their hands on the title.

Marvin Matip fouled Franck Ribery inside the Ingolstadt penalty area and Robert Lewandowski made no mistake from the spot to get Bayern up and running after 15 minutes.

Lewandowski got his name on the scoresheet again soon after but Bayern's lead was halved when Moritz Hartmann was brought down by Xabi Alonso, before converting a penalty of his own three minutes before the interval.

However an impressive performance from Ingolstadt failed to result in an equaliser as Bayern were able to hold on for all three points.

Bayern were made to wait for the title after being held to a 1-1 draw by Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend and came out the traps fast against Ingolstadt.

Bayern needed just 15 minutes to open the scoring through Lewandowski. Matip brought down Ribery inside the Ingolstadt area, leaving referee Florian Meyer little choice but to point to the spot, and the Poland international coolly slotted home for his 40th goal of the season in all competitions.

Douglas Costa should have made it two halfway through the first half after being sent clean through by Lewandowski, but the Brazilian hesitated too long in front of goalkeeper Ramazan Ozcan, allowing Benjamin Hubner to rush back and make a last-ditch tackle.

Ingolstadt caused Bayern plenty of problems on the break, though, and Hartmann should have levelled the scores after a good combination with Dario Lezcano, only to see his shot from 10 yards go inches wide.

The hosts were made to pay for Hartmann’s miss in the 32nd minute and it was Lewandowski who again found the net. Alonso picked the striker out with a sublime ball in behind the Ingolstadt defence and he beat Ozcan with a calm finish into the far corner.

Lewandowski could have had a first-half hat-trick after beating the offside trap and rounding Ozcan, but Hubner once more came to the rescue for the hosts with a goal-line block. Ingolstadt never gave up and Hartmann deservedly pulled one back in the 42nd minute, converting a penalty after he was fouled by Alonso.

David Alaba and Costa fired wide from dangerous positions early in the second half as Bayern looked to finish the game off, while Thomas Muller was denied by Ozcan after a brilliant throughball from Thiago Alcantara.

Ingolstadt, though, continued to charge forward in search of an equaliser whenever possible and Hartmann was unfortunate not to net his second goal of the afternoon when he fired just wide in the 70th minute.

But Bayern held on to their narrow lead to lift their first major trophy of 2015-16, in what will be Pep Guardiola's final campaign in charge of the club.

 

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Bayern Munich crowned Bundesliga champions

Bayern Munich have been crowned Bundesliga champions again after they beat Ingolstadt 2-1 on Saturday.

Two goals from Robert Lewandowski gave them three points over their hosts, ensuring die Roten earned a 25th league crown - their fourth in a row - at Audi Sportpark. Even if they had slipped, they would have claimed the title as Borussia Dortmund failed to win at Eintracht Frankfurt.

The title triumph has been a long time coming, with Pep Guardiola's men sitting top of the German top-flight all season, but the confirmation of their victory has finally come with one game to spare.

A win over Borussia Monchengladbach would have seen Bayern crowned last week, but a 1-1 draw against Andre Schubert's men, combined with rivals Borussia Dortmund's 5-1 result against Wolfsburg, postponed celebrations a week.

The Munich side have won 27 league games this season, losing just two, but they will still fall short of matching the Bundesliga points record they set in 2012-13 season, even if they win their final game against Hannover.

Guardiola has now won three consecutive league titles during his time at Bayern and can complete the domestic double this season, with his side set to face Bundesliga runners-up Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal final.

 

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Congratulations Bayern!​

 

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Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 Borussia Dortmund: Aigner secures shock win for struggling hosts

Eintracht Frankfurt took a major step toward Bundesliga survival by recording a 1-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund, who will finish the season as runners-up after Bayern Munich were crowned champions on Saturday.

Dortmund needed to win and hope Bayern suffered a shock loss at Ingolstadt to keep their title challenge alive, but Pep Guardiola's team sealed their fourth championship in succession with a 2-1 triumph.

And even if the Bavarian giants had slipped up, BVB could not do what was required of them, with Stefan Aigner's early header consigning the visitors to a narrow defeat at a raucous Commerzbank-Arena.

It was a crucial result for the home team, who move one point clear of the relegation play-off places courtesy of Werder Bremen's 0-0 draw at Koln and Stuttgart's loss at Mainz.

Dortmund are at least guaranteed second place – granting automatic Champions League qualification – and have a DFB-Pokal final against Bayern in Berlin to look forward to on May 21.Frankfurt, meanwhile, travel to Bremen's Weserstadion next weekend in a huge clash between two teams still struggling against the threat of relegation.

The hosts were expected by many to struggle against a Dortmund side who have been rampant of late, but they instead converted sustained early pressure into a deserved 15th-minute lead. Makoto Hasebe's cross from a short corner was met by the head of Aigner, who steered the ball into the bottom-right corner of Roman Burki's net.

The goal vindicated the decision of Frankfurt coach Niko Kovac to start Aigner, who came off the bench to net the winner in a vital 2-1 derby victory over Darmstadt last weekend.

Thomas Tuchel's men looked unstoppable as they mauled Wolfsburg 5-1 in their previous outing, but were without Julian Weigl after he became the first Dortmund player of the Bundesliga season to incur a suspension; yellow card accumulation consigning the midfielder to the sidelines.

Ilkay Gundogan was also unavailable after suffering a knee injury playing basketball, a problem that has ruled him out of Germany's Euro 2016 campaign.

And the diminished visitors could only carve out two half-chances in the opening 30 minutes. Both fell to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored twice last time out after being introduced as a second-half sub.

The Gabon international had an opportunity to level the scores barely a minute after the opening goal when a Marco Reus throughball split the Frankfurt defence, but the striker tripped at the vital moment. He then fired over the crossbar in the 25th minute from a cutback supplied by Reus.

Despite their struggles to create openings, Dortmund should have gone in level at the break, but Mats Hummels' header from a Nuri Sahin free-kick was incorrectly ruled out for offside in first-half stoppage time.

That was as close as the away team came to forcing an equaliser in a frustrating second half for BVB, which saw Christian Pulisic fire high over the target when presented with a rare sight of goal.Henrikh Mkhitaryan tested Lukas Hradecky in the 72nd minute, but found the Frankfurt goalkeeper once again equal to the task.

A desperate David Abraham block then denied the Armenia international with eight minutes to go as the determined hosts held out to secure a result that could yet preserve their top-flight status.

 

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Mata shows class by celebrating with young disabled Manchester United fan

In case you didn’t know it already, it’s now official - Juan Mata is the nicest guy in football.

The Spaniard scored the winner to sink Norwich City on Saturday and keep Manchester United’s hopes of qualifing for the Champions League alive.

But his best gesture came after the game as he greeted a young disabled United fan and posed for photos with the boy before heading back to the changing room.

 

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West Ham 1-4 Swansea City: Hosts' European hopes in jeopardy with defeat

Swansea City halted West Ham’s 10-match unbeaten run with a 4-1 Premier League victory in the penultimate fixture at Upton Park, all-but ending any hope of a top-four finish for Slaven Bilic's men.

A win would have pulled West Ham within two points of fourth-placed Manchester City with two matches left to play and one behind Manchester United, who beat Norwich City earlier on Saturday and visit the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday.

However, first-half goals from Wayne Routledge and Andre Ayew, along with a 51st-minute volley from Ki Sung-yueng left the Hammers stunned, and the home side could only muster a Stephen Kingsley own goal in response before Bafetimbi Gomis struck Swansea's fourth in injury time.

Only the top six are currently guaranteed a place in next season’s Europa League and, with Southampton and Liverpool – who have a game in hand – two and four points behind respectively, West Ham’s priority will now be to fend off the challenge of the chasing pack.

For Swansea, the result represents a first win at West Ham since 1956 and lifts them to within two points of the top half of the table after a difficult season.

West Ham started brightly and Dimitri Payet tested Lukasz Fabianski with an early curling effort that was tipped behind by the Polish goalkeeper, who made another save to deny Winston Reid from the resulting corner.

Swansea, sporting six changes from the side that secured Premier League safety with a 3-1 win over Liverpool last weekend, offered little going forward as West Ham continued to have the upper hand, and Payet had Fabianski scrambling again with two free-kicks that narrowly missed the target.

However, it was the visitors who eventually took the lead against the run of play after 25 minutes.Ki spread the ball to Kyle Naughton in acres of space on the right wing and the full-back squared for Routledge to tap home.

Swansea continued to find space down the right and Routledge sent in an inviting cross for Ki, who failed to find a way past Darren Randolph – in for the injured Adrian.

It was on the left wing that Swansea's second was crafted, though, as Kingsley surged down the flank before finding Ayew with a superb cross, leaving the Ghana international with a simple finish.

Andy Carroll fired across the face of goal from a cross on the stroke of half-time, with Manuel Lanzini lifting over from close range before referee Michael Oliver blew his whistle, but Swansea stretched their lead further early in the second period.Modou Barrow created space on the left and teed up Ki to place a volley beyond Randolph and put the result beyond doubt.

Michail Antonio fired straight at Fabianski and Carroll fizzed an effort just wide of the target as West Ham looked to conjure some form of response, and Diafra Sakho came off the bench to force the ball over the line after two reaction saves from the Swansea goalkeeper, although Kingsley was credited with making the final touch.

Gomis' deflected strike then bounced off the top of the crossbar before he rounded off the scoring with the home defence outnumbered in the closing stages.

 

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Sunderland 3-2 Chelsea: Defoe & Co. stun Blues as Terry sent off

Fabio Borini and Jermain Defoe scored in quick succession as Sunderland came from behind to boost their Premier League survival hopes by beating 10-man Chelsea 3-2 at the Stadium of Light.

With Norwich City losing to Manchester United earlier on Saturday and Newcastle United held by Aston Villa, Sunderland secured an important three points to move out of the relegation zone.

Sam Allardyce's side started positively but found themselves behind when Diego Costa curled a composed finish beyond Vito Mannone.

A sensational volley from Wahbi Khazri brought Sunderland level, but Nemanja Matic quickly hit back to ensure Chelsea went into the break with an advantage.

Mannone produced a pair of great saves from Costa before two former Chelsea players combined to restore parity, Borini picking out the bottom corner from Patrick van Aanholt's cutback.

Three minutes later Defoe sparked delirium when he put Sunderland ahead, and they held on for a huge win with Chelsea's miserable afternoon completed by the injury-time dismissal of captain John Terry.

Victory over Everton on Wednesday will see Allardyce's team retain their Premier League status and relegate Norwich and Newcastle.

Sunderland, unchanged for the sixth straight Premier League match, were roared on by the home faithful as they immediately deployed a high press that led to Gary Cahill being shown a yellow card inside the first minute for bringing down Defoe.

Eden Hazard was restored to the line-up in place of Pedro following his galvanising display in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Monday, and his pass from the left found Cahill, whose attempted cutback deflected off DeAndre Yedlin and fell kindly for Costa to bend it inside the far post with 14 minutes on the clock.

Yedlin had a tame header kept out by the returning Thibaut Courtois, but the Belgian could do nothing when Khazri showed brilliant technique to slam a sublime 20-yard volley into the top corner in the 41st minute.

However, they were unable to hold out until half-time as Cesc Fabregas' looping ball forward was nodded into the path of Matic by Cesar Azpilicueta, and the Serbian slotted a cool finish beneath Vito Mannone.

Mannone fared better against Costa four minutes into the second half when he blocked the Spain international's strike after a perfectly weighted pass from Hazard.

Lamine Kone was replaced by John O'Shea in the 55th minute due to an injury sustained in the first half, and he quickly came under pressure when Costa forced Mannone into another save after the hour mark.

However, two goals in the space of three minutes turned the match on its head.

With 67 minutes on the clock, Van Aanholt picked out Borini with a brilliant cutback, and he drilled an effort into the bottom-left corner, with Courtois perhaps unsighted and wrongfooted by a deflection off Terry.

Sunderland then led for the first time when Defoe produced a great first touch before rifling the ball beyond Courtois, the striker booked for removing his shirt while celebrating in sheer jubilation.

Mannone palmed Willian's free-kick over the top in the 74th minute and Chelsea's woe was compounded by Terry being shown a second yellow card in stoppage-time after colliding with Khazri, the Blues losing a league match at the Stadium of Light for the first time since October 2000.

 

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Inter 2-1 Empoli: Perisic seals fourth spot for Mancini's men

Inter sealed fourth spot in Serie A as they eased to a 2-1 victory over Empoli in their final home game of the season at San Siro.

Roberto Mancini's side came into Saturday's clash knowing that a victory would be enough to extend the gap between themselves and Fiorentina to seven points with two games remaining.First-half efforts from Mauro Icardi and Ivan Perisic – either side of Manuel Pucciarelli's equaliser – handed Inter the advantage heading into the interval and they saw out the victory following a tepid second period.

An early lead was no more than Inter deserved after a fast start to proceedings, and they duly got the breakthrough when their captain Icardi thumped home from the edge of the area.

Empoli had claimed just three wins in 2016 heading into this game, but they hauled themselves level when Pucciarelli converted from close-range, only for Perisic to restore Inter's advantage three minutes later.

Marco Giampaolo's side did have the better of proceedings in the second half, though they failed to truly trouble Samir Handanovic as the hosts eased to a straightforward success.With their hopes of Champions League qualification ended by the defeat to Lazio last week, Inter were intent on securing fourth at the expense of Fiorentina.

Inter started brightly and, after Danilo D'Ambrosio had gone close with a driven cross-cum-shot, they found themselves ahead 12 minutes in – Icardi firing in with a fantastic first-time finish after he had been picked out by Perisic.

Mancini's side were very nearly the architects of their own downfall shortly before the half-hour mark, as a mistake from Felipe Melo allowed Riccardo Saponara to steal in and set up Pucciarelli, but the Empoli forward could not apply the finish.However, Pucciarelli atoned for his miss 10 minutes later, slotting in coolly to level proceedings after latching onto Massimo Maccarone's cross.

Parity was short-lived, though, with Inter quickly regaining the advantage when Stevan Jovetic's strike was parried back into the path of Perisic, who tucked home into an empty net.

Inter continued to press after the restart, and almost had a third when Yuto Nagatomo's drilled cross took a wicked deflection off Mario Rui but, fortunately for the Empoli defender, Alberto Pelagotti reacted swiftly to make the save.

Empoli did show promise going forward, however, and were unfortunate not to be level once more when Marcel Buchel's long-range effort inched just over the crossbar.

Icardi's afternoon was brought to a premature end soon after, with the Inter skipper having to make way for Jonathan Biabiany after he picked up a nasty knock in a collision in Empoli's penalty area.Inter sat back as the game wore on, unwilling to commit too many players forward so as not to allow the visitors the opportunity to counter.

They were almost undone when Andrea Costa connected with a corner deep into stoppage time, but he could only stab narrowly wide as Mancini's side held firm to claim the points.

 

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John Terry set to miss Chelsea farewell with two-game ban

John Terry may have played his final game for Chelsea after being sent off against Sunderland on Saturday.

Last season’s Premier League champions slipped to a 3-2 defeat at the Stadium of Light, while Terry was dismissed late on for a foul on Wahbi Khazri.

And now the 35-year-old, whose contract expires this summer, faces the prospect of a two-game suspension, which will see him miss the final match of the season against Leicester City at Stamford Bridge.

Usually, Terry’s second yellow card would result in a one-game ban but the suspension has been doubled as he was sent off against West Brom last August.

Terry as not yet revealed his future, although reports have claimed that incoming Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is keen to keep the centre-back at Stamford Bridge for another year.

 

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Rooney wasn't happy with striker role, claims Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal has revealed that Wayne Rooney didn’t want to play as a striker against Norwich City.

The Manchester United captain was originally set to play in midfield for the clash at Carrow Road but due to Anthony Martial’s injury during the warm-up, he started the match in attack.

Rooney provided the assist for Juan Mata’s winner, which has put United just a point behind Manchester City in fourth place.

"I don't think he was very happy with me that I decided to put him in the striker's position,” Van Gaal said after the victory.

“But Januzaj had played 45 minutes yesterday so I couldn't put him in the starting lineup today. But Rooney did very well to assist Juan Mata. He would have played No.10.”

 

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Leicester City 3-1 Everton: Ranieri's champions stroll to victory

Jamie Vardy scored twice as Leicester City celebrated their Premier League title triumph with a comprehensive 3-1 win over Everton on Saturday.

Tottenham's 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Monday ensured Claudio Ranieri's side would be crowned champions, and they ended a week of partying across the city with another exemplary performance in front of a jubilant crowd at the King Power Stadium.

Having been serenaded before kick-off by opera star Andrea Bocelli, who sang Nessun Dorma and Por Ti Volare while sporting a personalised Leicester shirt, the home fans were sent into raptures when Vardy - back from suspension - opened the scoring after just five minutes from Andy King's cross.

And King, who has been with the club throughout their rise through the divisions, capped a memorable day when he swept in the second after good work by Riyad Mahrez.

Everton enjoyed plenty of possession but could only muster two half-chances for Romelu Lukaku before Leicester bagged their third, with Vardy firing home from the penalty spot after being fouled by Matthew Pennington.

Vardy missed a second penalty but the mood inside a sodden King Power could not be dampened - even by Kevin Mirallas' late consolation - as Ranieri's team were crowned with three more points and the Premier League trophy in their final home match of an unforgettable season.

The noise inside the King Power hit deafening levels as Everton gave the champions a guard of honour on their entrance from the tunnel, and the home fans were on their feet again soon after as Vardy marked his return in style.

King, starting in place of the suspended Danny Drinkwater, curled a cross in from the right and Vardy raced in behind the static John Stones to divert the ball beyond Joel Robles and into the far corner.

Leicester were comfortably in control against an Everton side without a win in their last four away games and could have doubled their lead when King headed into Joel's hands from close range after a fine Mahrez cross, before Christian Fuchs just failed to connect with Marc Albrighton's pass on the edge of the area.

Everton struggled to fashion any clear sights of goal despite bossing possession and they found themselves 2-0 down before the break. Mahrez skipped into the area and Leighton Baines' challenge only diverted the ball into the path of King, who swept the ball low past Joel.

Oumar Niasse - who barely had a sight of the ball in the first half - saw an attempted chip headed away by Kasper Schmeichel just outside the Leicester area, before the Danish goalkeeper made a good low stop to deny Lukaku's close-range back-heel.

But Leicester did not have to wait long for their third. Youngster Pennington - perhaps fortunate to escape a red card for bringing down Mahrez in the first half - clumsily tripped Vardy in the area, and the England striker drilled in low from the spot for his 24th league goal of the season.Vardy then spurned the chance for a hat-trick by wildly blazing a second spot-kick over the bar after Wes Morgan was felled by Darron Gibson.

And the visitors grabbed a consolation through substitute Mirallas, who turned past the challenge of Marcin Wasilewski before slotting beneath Schmeichel, but the goal did nothing to spoil Leicester's party.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Leicester and Vardy throw the ultimate champions' party

They may have won the title on Monday night, but Leicester saved the best for Saturday evening. Never has English football seen scenes like those on show at the King Power Stadium, and it may never again. For those who were there, they can say they played some part in the footballing party to end all parties.

Wes Morgan lifting the trophy on the same field he has marshalled his troops to the most unlikely of league triumphs is a moment that will go down in English football history. On a day of deafening noise, it raised the loudest cheer the King Power Stadium has seen this season even before the fireworks show that followed. Even if this team fails to repeat this success the players, staff and supporters have most certainly earned their day in the sun.

Though only around 30,000 supporters had managed to get their hands on tickets for the clash with Everton, there was a feeling that the whole city had descended on the home of the Premier League champions to join in the celebrations.

Hundreds had dyed their hair blue, while a variety of t-shirts plastered with the word ‘Champions’ adorned those queuing up for their free bottle of beer. It was hard not to feel sorry for those who were forced into making cardboard signs to beg for any spare tickets to this most historic of occasions.

Stories of how fans celebrated Eden Hazard’s dramatic equaliser for Chelsea were told as 100-person long queues waited to receive the free alcohol laid on by chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. Sporadic chanting routinely turned into a full-scale sing-song on the streets surrounding Filbert Way. Not one local was willing to allow themselves to miss out on such a remarkable occasion.

Once inside, the sight on Andrea Bocelli singing ‘Nessun Dorma’ alongside manager Claudio Ranieri in the centre circle prior to kick-off was the most spine-tingling moment in a season where a week has rarely gone by in which Leicester have failed to spark scenes that make hairs stand on end. Greeted by supporters as if he had scored the goal to seal the title himself, the Italian opera star delivered a performance on par with anything the team in blue have produced this term.

He was not alone in being cheered to the rafters, however. World snooker champion Mark Selby was serenaded with a rendition of ‘Championes’ during half-time, while Ranieri delighted supporters with a backheel flick on the touchline as the ball floated out of play in the opening seconds. Even when bright sunshine turned to heavy rain, the claps of thunder were greeted with an ‘Ole!’. Nothing was going to halt this celebration – not even the adverse weather.

After all the celebrations of the week, the match against the Toffees came as something of an afterthought, but if we have come to learn anything from Jamie Vardy’s remarkable rise it is that the man loves a party. His goal after just five minutes confirmed he was not about to miss out on this one. The biggest shock was that the decibel level could top the height it had reached prior to kick-off.

From there Everton put in the kind of performance that most of the visiting supporters have become accustomed to in the final weeks of the season. Andy King was left free on the edge of the box to make it 2-0 before Vardy made no mistake from the penalty spot after the break. He did blaze a second spot-kick over the bar minutes later, but very few cared. The moment they had waited for since Monday for was about to arrive.

The trophy was aloft. The dream was a reality. Leicester were champions, and anyone who witnessed their crowning glory will likely cherish their afternoon for as long as they live.