..::Football IV::..

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Fellaini: I am not a dirty player and have never injured anyone

Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini is adamant he is not a dirty player and has stressed he has never injured a player.

The Belgium international has made the headlines for the wrong reasons on more than one occasion in 2015-16, escaping punishment after seemingly elbowing Emre Can and Roberto Firmino in the Europa League tie with Liverpool, before eventually receiving a three-game ban for the same offence toward Robert Huth in the Premier League match versus with Leicester City.

Fellaini is available to return for United for this Saturday's FA Cup final with Crystal Palace having netted in the quarter-final replay with West Ham and the semi-final victory over Everton.

And Fellaini has made it clear he never has the intention to hurt an opponent, putting his actions down to his impulsive character. "Everyone has their opinion. If I had to listen to all the opinions about me, my head would explode," Fellaini told the Daily Mirror.

"So I just focus on my job, the manager, my team-mates, the club."I know when I do bad and good. I'm not a dirty player. People can think whatever they want. I never injured a player. Never.

"I just react. Maybe sometimes I am impulsive, I say that. It's my character. But when someone pulls your hair, it's normal to react. For this situation I don't deserve to be punished. Huth grabbed my hair, he made pain on my neck, so I just react."

 

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Spain squad 'not perfect', admits Del Bosque

Spain head coach Vicente del Bosque admits his squad is not perfect as the defending champions prepare to defend their title at Euro 2016.

Under Luis Aragones, Spain ended their 44-year wait for a major international trophy by seeing off Germany 1-0 in the Euro 2008 final.Del Bosque subsequently took over and guided the team to World Cup glory in 2010 before a successful defence of their European Championship title with a 4-0 demolition of Italy two years later.

A dismal World Cup 2014 saw them eliminated in the group stages in Brazil, but Del Bosque is optimistic a new-look squad can triumph at the upcoming finals in France.

"The list is not perfect, we are sure that there are players who deserve to be here by their great season, but I leave it clear that I have no sympathy when choosing," he told reporters."I am fully confident that we have the best group. Now we must prepare in the best way.

"There are 11 or 12 that were not in Brazil, which speaks well of the renewal we are having and what we want is to adapt."We have no obligation to be champion, but we dream that we could.

 

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Blind: Manchester United must seize FA Cup opportunity

Daley Blind says Manchester United will do everything they can to beat Crystal Palace in Saturday's FA Cup final as they look to end the season on a high.

United last won the FA Cup in 2004 and Blind is adamant they cannot afford to miss out on an opportunity to add more silverware to their trophy cabinet after another largely underwhelming campaign under Louis van Gaal.

"If you play for a club like United, you want to play at the highest level, challenge for trophies and win trophies," Blind told United's official website."It's something we can win and we will fight for it. It's close to our hands and now we have to grab it.

"You see how happy we were and how we celebrated with the fans after the goal from Anthony [Martial] against Everton in the semi-final."It was an amazing feeling to have a moment like that with the crowd that I never had before with the fans so close. It was very special. There are no words needed, the pictures say it all.

"You can never underestimate a team in a final, especially an FA Cup final, anything can happen. So we have to make sure we are on top form and at our best and prepare well to win the game."

 

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Barcelona win appeal over Copa del Rey flag ban

Barcelona have successfully appealed a decision imposed by the Spanish government to ban Catalan flags from Sunday's Copa del Rey final in Madrid.

The Liga champions had accused the delegate of the Community of Madrid of violating their right to freedom of speech after it was decided that the Estelades would not be allowed to be shown.

Judge Jesus Torres Martinez upheld Barca's complaint following a hearing on Thursday, meaning that supporters will be free to display the flags within Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon stadium.

Liga president Javier Tebas had defended the original decision, saying the flags represented "the destruction of Spain" and had no place at a showpiece event named in honour of the royal family.Estelades have become viewed as an important symbol for pro-Catalan independence campaigners in recent decades.

The news comes after Catalan civil groups had organised the distribution of 10,000 Scotland flags as an alternative form of protest at the final.

"We've chosen this symbol because it highlights the different treatment that Catalonia receives from Spain, compared with the UK government’s treatment of Scotland – a key difference is the freedom to fly the flags that identify us – and because Catalonia, like Scotland, wants to decide its future democratically," a statement issued via the Catalan Assembly read.Barca face Europa League winners Sevilla looking to secure a second domestic double in a row.

 

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Suarez: Messi and Neymar tease me over skills!

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez admits he is the subject of teasing from Lionel Messi and Neymar when his team-mates pull out the tricks on the training ground.Suarez will chase the 60th goal of a remarkable season when Barca look to add the Copa del Rey to their Liga title against Europa League-winners Sevilla on Sunday.

Victory would mean back-to-back domestic doubles in the two seasons that the fabled "MSN" forward line have operated in tandem.

But as the most recent arrival of the group and a more direct operator than the playmaking Argentine and Brazilian, Uruguay's Suarez claims he often finds himself as the butt of jokes.

"They try to wind me up by telling me just to take two touches, no more," he told beIN Sports. "And if at all possible, just one touch and make sure it’s in the area."It doesn't bother me because I already know that. I know my limits. That's why it doesn't offend me, it makes me laugh.

"When Messi and Neymar start with the tricks on the training ground I usually leave so as not to get in the way."

 

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Ibrahimovic farewell no distraction in Coupe de France final - Marquinhos

Marquinhos has dismissed suggestions the imminent departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be a distraction for Paris Saint-Germain in Saturday's Coupe de France final against Marseille.

The Sweden international will play his last game for PSG at the weekend, but Marquinhos is adamant they will be focusing solely on winning yet another title after their Ligue 1, Coupe de la Ligue and Trophee des Champions successes this season."We have not prepared anything special for Zlatan. We have already given him his farewell in our previous game. We have to focus on winning the cup," Marquinhos told a news conference.

"We did not fulfil our objective in the Champions League, so that makes this game even more important. We have prepared well for this match. We know that it is one of the most important games of the season."You never get used to winning titles. No team had ever won all four domestic trophies in one season until we did it last season. We all have the right mindset to keep on winning.

"A final is a game in itself. We should not think about the difference in points in Ligue 1."

 

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OFFICIAL: Brendan Rodgers appointed Celtic manager

Brendan Rodgers has been appointed Celtic's new manager.

The 43-year-old has been out of work since he was sacked by Liverpool in October and has signed a 12-month rolling contract with the Scottish champions.

Rodgers said: "I am absolutely delighted to be named Celtic manager. This is genuinely a huge honour for me. I have followed Celtic all my life and to be given this fantastic opportunity and to be part of such a truly great football club is a dream come true.

"I will give my new role everything I have and do all I can to bring our supporters exciting, entertaining and winning football.

"The club has been in magnificent shape in recent years and has collected silverware regularly during this time. My objective now, of course, is to continue this work, to keep us at the top and again make our mark in Europe.

"I know what a magnificent support Celtic enjoys and I can promise our fans one thing - that I will be doing everything I can to give you a team that you can be proud of and a team that delivers.

"I can't wait to be in Paradise with our team and our fans as we all get to work."

It was announced back in April that Deila would leave his role at the end of the season, despite guiding the club to a fifth successive Scottish Premiership crown.

Celtic chairman Ian Bankier added: "We are delighted to welcome Brendan to Celtic as the club's new manager.

"As expected, there was huge interest in the position of Celtic manager but we believe we have chosen the outstanding candidate to take the club forward.

"Brendan is a man with a tremendous pedigree in football management, he is someone who knows all about Celtic and someone who has a real passion for Celtic. He is also a manager who we believe has the talent, the drive and the determination to bring continued success to the club.

"We are sure Brendan will receive a fantastic welcome from our supporters and we now look forward with real excitement towards next season as we tackle the many challenges ahead domestically and in Europe."

The Glasgow club's chief executive Peter Lawwell continued: "Brendan is a highly-sought after manager and we are pleased that we have been able to bring such a high calibre individual to Celtic.

"He has a huge and genuine affection for the Club. I know Brendan feels privileged to be named Celtic manager and I know he will give us everything he has to be successful at Celtic. Above all, he will bring huge experience, knowledge and ability to the role.
"We wanted to bring one of the biggest and best names to the Club to match our own aspirations and those of our supporters - we believe, in appointing Brendan, that we have done this.

"We have appointed a special manager and we are sure he can bring some special times to Celtic."

After posts with Watford, Reading and Swansea City, Rodgers was appointed as manager at Liverpool in June 2012, and he almost delivered the club's first league title since 1990 in 2013-14, only to just fall short of Manchester City.

However, Rodgers paid the price for Liverpool's indifferent form at the start of 2015-16, and was replaced by Jurgen Klopp.

 

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Liverpool and Sevilla hit with UEFA charges

UEFA has charged both Liverpool and Sevilla after crowd trouble marred the Europa League final on Wednesday.Scuffles broke out between supporters prior to the match in Basle, which the Spanish side won 3-1 to make it three successive Europa League titles.

Liverpool have been charged with crowd disturbances and setting off fireworks, while Sevilla have also had disciplinary proceedings opened for crowd disturbances as well as the throwing of objects.

UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will handle the case on July 21, after the conclusion of Euro 2016.

The announcement continues a poor disciplinary record for Liverpool in this year's Europa League.The Premier League side were charged by UEFA with offences committed by their supporters in the quarter-final win over Borussia Dortmund after Reds fans set off fireworks in both legs.

Liverpool were also hit with five charges – including for illicit chants from supporters - after their last-16 tie with Manchester United, while defender Mamadou Sakho was suspended for failing a doping test after the second leg.UEFA are yet to announce final verdicts for any of those charges against Liverpool.

 

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Allegri expecting fierce Milan test in Coppa final

Massimiliano Allegri is not expecting an easy ride when Juventus take on his former club AC Milan in the Coppa Italia final on Saturday.

Juve enjoyed another dominant Serie A campaign, recovering from a poor start and romping to their fifth successive Scudetto, finishing nine points clear of Napoli.
Milan, meanwhile, endured another inconsistent season, sacking Sinisa Mihajlovic in April before Cristian Brocchi guided them to seventh.

That league placing means Milan's hopes of qualifying for the Europa League rest solely on defeating Juve, and Allegri is anticipating a well-contested encounter.

"Anything can happen in a one-off game. It's Milan's last chance to play in the Europa League next season," Allegri said in Friday's pre-match media conference.
"We'll see a reaction from Milan tomorrow following their last Serie A game. It will be an evenly-matched affair."Our previous games with Milan have always been close. Finals are never easy matches either."

Allegri confirmed that Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala are likely to continue their partnership up front, while Neto will start in goal, as he has done throughout this year's competition.

"Tomorrow's result won't change anything as far as next season's aims are concerned. We want to challenge on every front," Allegri said."Tomorrow is our final game of the season. It's our duty to try and win it. Winning would enable us to achieve an extraordinary feat, so that will provide us with added motivation."

Juve won the double of league and cup under Allegri last season, and defender Giorgio Chiellini has his sights firmly set on repeating the feat at the Stadio Olimpico."Comparisons with the past? They don't interest me. We're writing history day after day," he said.

"We've trained intensely over the past two weeks and now we need to show it on the pitch."This Coppa Italia is very important to us. Achieving a double domestic double would represent a historic achievement."

 

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Ibrahimovic has hardly trained all week, reveals Blanc

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has struggled to train all week due to a calf problem ahead of his final match for Paris Saint-Germain against rivals Marseille in Saturday's Coupe de France final.

Head coach Laurent Blanc revealed his striker has worked separately from the rest of the squad in the build-up to the match at Stade de France, although he will still play in the showpiece event.

Ibrahimovic, 34, has enjoyed an astonishing season, scoring 48 times in all competitions to put PSG within one match of winning back-to-back domestic trebles.

But the Sweden international – PSG's record goalscorer – will leave after the match against Marseille having announced he will not renew his contract, which expires at the end of the season.Blanc said: "Zlatan has not been training much this week because he has been feeling pain in his calf. He has done a lot of his work inside.

"But he has got the mental fortitude to be able to play. For a game like this, he can do it on motivation and spirit alone. He has huge mental strength."He and the other players will give everything they have to win. They have a winner's mentality, which is exactly what you need to win finals."

Ibrahimovic is looking to add a second Coupe de France medal to the four Ligue 1 crowns and three Coupe de la Ligues he has won since signing from AC Milan in 2012.

 

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Memphis reacts furiously as Van Gaal drops winger from FA Cup final squad

Memphis Depay is furious after being told he will play no part in Manchester United's FA Cup showdown against Crystal Palace, Goal has learned.

The winger, who has failed to live up to his billing since a £26 million move from PSV last summer, was informed on Thursday that he has not been included in Louis van Gaal's selection for the Wembley clash.

And he did not even travel with the rest of his team-mates as they made their way to London by train on Friday, instead leaving Carrington in his car.Sources close to the player have indicated his mood has soured since being told the news in a face-to-face meeting with Van Gaal.

Memphis has started just two of United's last 10 games - against Norwich City and Aston Villa - and is fighting for his Old Trafford future little over a year after his much-heralded arrival from the Eredivisie.The omission brings his disappointing debut season to a premature end.

He has only shown his ability on a handful of occasions, most notably in the Champions League play-off against Club Brugge in August and against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League.The 22-year-old has also fallen down the pecking order for his national team, who failed to qualify for the expanded 24-team Euro 2016, and his attitude has been criticised by a number of prominent figures in his homeland.

But it is understood that he remained at Carrington to wish his team-mates good luck as they headed off to Stockport rail station on Friday afternoon.United moved early to beat off competition from Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain to sign Memphis in May of last year.

He scored 22 goals in 30 league games as PSV romped to the title by 17 points but has found the net just twice in the Premier League this season.

 

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Mehema gihin summer 1ke Depay tath wade set karaida danne naha​

 

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Gaitan set to leave Benfica after emotional Taca da Liga final

Nicolas Gaitan has confirmed he is on the brink of leaving Benfica after helping the club to win a domestic double.

Benfica were crowned Portuguese champions last week and added the Taca da Liga to their trophy cabinet on Friday with a 6-2 victory over Maritimo in the final.
Gaitan, 28, scored his side's fourth goal before waving goodbye to supporters as he was substituted in the closing stages of the final, before he was seen in tears on the bench.

The attacking midfielder's contract with the club runs until 2019 and contains a release clause worth €45 million, but Atletico Madrid are reportedly close to sealing a €25m deal to sign him, while Manchester United are regularly cited as admirers.

"I don't want to say where, but I'm very close to leaving – I think this was my last game," Gaitan told TVI after the match."Crying is a normal feeling when you win with this club. I have been at this club for many years and there a lot of emotions.

"I admit that I did not want to come to Benfica - I wanted to stay in Argentina, but they have treated me very well here. It's always good to end the season like this. Last season we won and this year we did again."It was very difficult to play well after becoming champions on Sunday and this team showed it lives up to expectations."

Gaitan joined Benfica from Boca Juniors for €8.4m back in May 2010 and has been a regular throughout his six seasons in Portugal.As well as winning the League Cup on Friday, he was also named in Argentina's final squad for the upcoming Copa America.

 

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Ancelotti praises Ronaldo professionalism: He chose ice baths over Irina!

Carlo Ancelotti has praised Cristiano Ronaldo's professionalism, using a curious example to demonstrate the Real Madrid star's dedication to his football.

The Portugal international spent two years under Ancelotti's wing at the Santiago Bernabeu, and lifted the Champions League together in May 2014 before the coach was removed from his post 12 months later.

And Ancelotti was struck with his charge's attitude to training - although Ronaldo might not be too happy with the anecdote chosen during a chat with the Financial Times.

The newspaper reveals that the star would stay at the Real Madrid training base until 3 am taking an ice bath: "Even though he had [model and former partner] Irina Shayk waiting for him at home," Ancelotti laughed.

"He does not care about money, he just wants to be the first."

Girlfriend-ignoring forwards aside, Ancelotti added that not all players shared Ronaldo's fanatical attention to detail.

The Italian, who will be taking the reins at Bayern Munich when Pep Guardiola steps down to leave for Manchester City, admitted that some flexibility is essential for the job of coaching - as is cracking the whip when necessary.

"There are things where you can be elastic, and things where you must be strong," he explains.

"If the players say, 'coach, we have a tough week, can we stay in bed one more hour?' that is OK. But when I have a meeting before the game, you must be on time.

"At Chelsea, we had a meeting at 10.30 am and [Didier] Drogba was not there. I don't know if it was traffic or what. He came at 11. He didn't play."

 

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My first final with Manchester United - Marouane Fellaini


Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini is looking forward to a ‘special’ day when his side meet Crystal Palace at Wembley for the FA Cup final on Saturday, with the midfielder desperate to win his first trophy in England.The Belgium international is playing his first final with the Red Devils and is hoping he comes out on the right side of a 50/50 result at one of the game’s most iconic venues.

“Playing in front of 90,000 supporters, half Man Utd, half Crystal Palace, will make for a good atmosphere,” he said, talking to Goal as part of the New Balance Furon 2.0 and new Visaro colourway boot launch.

“It will be an exciting game. Wembley, all the history of the stadium, it will be special. It’s a final. You can win, you can lose, I hope this season I will win with Man Utd.”

This year Fellaini will line up at the showpiece in London among the favourites, which will be a refreshing change for the midfielder who saw his Everton side defeated by Chelsea in 2009.“After a few seconds it was 1-0 to us, but Chelsea won 2-1. We lost, but it was a good experience,” he says.

“We can win this final. We have to go there ready and be focused on winning the game. Crystal Palace are there, they have a good FA Cup and can win as well.”
And the 28-year-old is hoping some of his experienced colleagues will help lead Louis Van Gaal’s side to glory.

Fellaini added: “Players like Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick have a lot of experience and have won a lot of trophies so I think they will know the good things to say and I think it’s important to have players like that in the team.”

 

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My first final with Manchester United - Marouane Fellaini

Ada pissu kelinne nathuwa play kaloth hodai​

 

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Kane ready to put rivalry aside for England

Harry Kane insists he has put his club rivalry with Jamie Vardy to the side to focus on England's Euro 2016 campaign.

Tottenham striker Kane won the Premier League golden boot with 25 goals this season, but his team fell short in the race for the league title as Vardy and Leicester City raced clear to claim a historic sporting triumph.Kane and Vardy traded barbs on their respective social media channels during the run-in, with Kane posting a photo of stalking lions after Leicester dropped points against West Ham United, opening the door for a Tottenham comeback.

But after Tottenham dropped a two-goal lead at Chelsea to draw 2-2, handing the league title to Leicester, Vardy responded with a picture of a scene from the Lion King where Mufasa is falling into an oncoming stampede.

Kane insisted the posts were simply "banter" between the two international team-mates."I just congratulated him and Danny Drinkwater on winning the Premier League when we met up, but there's nothing been said about the lions yet," Kane said.

"It was just a bit of banter between fellow professionals – I gave him a bit on Instagram, so if you're happy to dish it out, you've got to take it, haven't you?"Winning the golden boot is nice, and it's something I'm very proud of, but he won the Premier League, so there's not a lot I can say!

"But it's all about the Three Lions now, we're all concentrating on England.
"Jamie has had a fantastic season and scored a lot of goals, so if the manager puts us together it will be very exciting."Kane added that he was looking forward to welcoming 19-year-old Manchester United sensation Marcus Rashford into the squad after he was a shock inclusion in Roy Hodgson's preliminary team for the Euros.

"It will be good to meet him after the [FA] Cup final and see what he's like as a person and as a player," Kane added."Do I view him as a threat? If you're playing for England, you are going to have competition for your place. No-one is secure or a definite starter, so from now until the Euros everyone is trying to cement his place.

"But full credit to Marcus – he's young, he's shown no fear on the big stage and he's just expressed himself. He's not been fazed by playing in the Premier League and hopefully he can take that on to the international stage.

"We're looking forward to meeting him and seeing his ability first-hand. He's shown, at the back end of the season, that he can score goals and he's a real talent."

 

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Rakitic: I hope Modric plays well... as long as Madrid lose

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic wished his compatriot Luka Modric all the best for Real Madrid's Champions League final against Atletico Madrid, but still hopes he is on the losing side.

Last season's European champions Barcelona will be watching the showdown from home this time around, as their two closest rivals in La Liga battle it out for European supremacy.A win for Madrid would be their 11th triumph in the competition, while Atletico are chasing a maiden Champions League crown.

And Rakitic, who previously courted controversy with his comments that he had hoped Madrid would win, said he hoped that Croatia team-mate and friend Modric played well - so long as los Blancos lost."I have to be honest, I won't see it - I'll be with my family," Rakitic said when asked for his thoughts on the final.

"I always wish him the best as a team-mate and friend. I hope he scores five goals in every game but that he doesn't win!"Rakitic also had words of encouragement for Alen Halilovic after a promising season on loan with Sporting Gijon - which he said should bode well for the youngster's career with Barcelona.

"I hope it keeps going well for him. He's had a great year at Sporting and if his team-mates have given him such recognition, I think that's great," the 28-year-old continued.

"He's obviously been doing well there but he's pretty young, he has to keep going. Everyone in Croatia can be pretty happy with what he's doing."

 

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FA Cup Final 2016.05.21

FA Cup Final 2016.05.21

Crystal Palace Vs Manchester United

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Good Luck Manchester United!

Godak kalekata passe Manchester United FA Cup final 1kaka innekohomahari win karanna one ada final 1ka

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