..::Football IV::..

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'Man Utd should be in for Alexis' - Neville supports links to want-away Arsenal forward


Manchester United should be interested in want-away Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez and any of “the best players in the world”, says Gary Neville.The Chilean failed to secure himself a move away from the Emirates Stadium over the summer, with the deadline passing without the Gunners cashing in on a player in the final year of his contract.

Manchester City had led the hunt for his services, with a £60 million offer on the table, but recent reports have suggested that Jose Mourinho is also mulling over an approach for the 28-year-old.Neville believes such a move would make sense, with a club of United’s stature and ambition needing to be in the market for the cream of the global crop.

The former Red Devils defender told Sky Sports News: “I’ve not seen the Alexis Sanchez news, so you have given me something I haven’t heard before, but, from that point of view, United, from a general perspective, should always be challenging for the best players in the world and bringing them in.“Sanchez has been distracted at Arsenal for the last six months.

“His career at Arsenal, I couldn’t say a bad word about him until two or three months before the end of last season.“I did feel he became distracted. Let’s see how he performs this season at Arsenal.“Ultimately he is still building up his fitness, he’s still not in the team.”

Sanchez was used from the start by Arsenal in their Carabao Cup victory over Doncaster on Wednesday.He has, however, been restricted to bench duty in the Premier League since seeing the summer transfer window close.

As a result of seeing limited game time, a man who netted 30 times for the club in all competitions last season has just one Europa League effort to his name this term.

 

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Time to move on from controversial chant, says Lukaku


Romelu Lukaku has thanked Manchester United's fans for making him feel welcome at Old Trafford but says it is time to move on from the controversial chant about him.The Belgium international has become an instant success at United since his £75 million move from Everton, scoring seven goals in as many games.

His lethal record in front of goal has endeared him to the club's fans, but a song about the striker has led to uproar.Fan footage emerged after last weekend's 4-0 win over Everton that showed small groups of supporters singing a song that contained racial stereotypes.

Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out urged United to address the issue, and on Wednesday the Premier League outfit released a statement saying action would be taken "against any offensive behaviour".

The chant has been condemned by numerous United fan groups, and Lukaku hopes the whole controversy can be consigned to history.

"Great backing since I joined #MUFC. Fans have meant well with their songs but let's move on together. #RespectEachOther," a statement from the striker read on United's Twitter account.
United return to action on Saturday when they take on Southampton at St. Mary's in Premier League action.

 

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Gundogan injury not serious as Man City breathe sigh of relief


Ilkay Gundogan suffered a knee sprain in Manchester City's win at West Brom on Wednesday night, Goal understands.Gundogan was forced out of the Carabao Cup win at the Hawthorns, his first start following a nine-month lay-off with a knee injury, prompting fears he had suffered another serious set-back.


The Germany international appeared to be in some distress while being treated on the pitch by City medics, though Blues boss Pep Guardiola insisted after the match that the injury was not serious.

Sources have told Goal that further tests at City's medical facilities on Thursday have indicated that the midfielder has suffered a mild sprain.The Germany international, 26, hopes to be back in training next week.The former Borussia Dortmund man damaged cruciate knee ligaments in December and only made his first appearance of the season as a substitute against Watford on Saturday.

It had been feared that the central midfielder could be set for another lengthy spell on the sidelines, as Claudio Yacob's challenge left him clutching both his knee and ankle.The sprained knee is not the same one which was damaged at the back end of last year, however.

And while he will miss games against Crystal Palace Shakthar Donetsk, as well as being doubtful for the Chelsea game next weekend, there is a sense of relief around the City training ground.

 

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Man Utd interest in Santos star Lima confirmed by agent, but they face Barcelona and Inter battle


Manchester United are among those considering a move to land Santos stars Lucas Lima when he becomes a free agent in January, claims the midfielder’s agent.The 27-year-old is approaching the end of his current contract and is attracting interest from leading clubs across Europe.

He was targeted by Crystal Palace and Fenerbahce over the summer, but United, Barcelona, Roma and Inter Milan have now joined the hunt.

Jose Mourinho was in the market for a create playmaker during the last transfer window – as the Red Devils were heavily linked with Inter’s Ivan Perisic – so he may be tempted to explore those options once again in the New Year.Lima’s representative, Luccas Badia, told Turkish newspaper Haberturk: “Inter, Roma and Barcelona are keeping close tabs on Lucas, Manchester United want him.

“I think we would be well suited to the Serie A but we will see.“His contract ends on December 31 and there are many clubs interested but I am not sure what Santos is trying to do.

“Crystal Palace made a €15m offer while Fenerbahce made a €20m bid but for some reason neither has been accepted.”Lima has been with Santos since 2014, having been snapped up from Internacional.

He has made close to 200 appearances for the club, netting 19 goals.Lima has also earned 14 caps for Brazil – having made his debut in 2015 – and has found the target on two occasions for his country.

Barca were reported to have agreed a four-year deal with him in June, with Neymar leading the calls for his signature, but no deal agreement was reached and his fellow Brazilian has since departed Camp Nou in a record-breaking €222 million switch to Paris Saint-Germain.

 

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Benzema wants to retire at Real Madrid


Karim Benzema plans to retire at Real Madrid and says the club have been "like a family" during tough times in his career.The striker has signed a new four-year contract that will keep him at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2021, by which time he will have spent 12 years in the Spanish capital.


Benzema says the European champions have looked after him during difficult runs of form and during personal problems off the pitch, which include his omission from the France squad since the start of a legal dispute involving Mathieu Valbuena, in which he denies any wrongdoing.

And the former Lyon man, who turns 30 in December, wants Madrid to be the last club he plays for."Madrid's been like a family for me throughout the most complicated moments of my career," he told a news conference following his contract renewal. "They supported me in sporting and non-sporting matters.

"I feel loved at Real Madrid. I like Real Madrid's football and of course I want to retire here. There's no other club like Real Madrid. This will be my last club."Benzema has only scored once this season but he insists he is used to criticism after playing at the highest level in Europe over the last 13 years.

"The criticism doesn't affect me," he said. "It's part of my life. It's what happens when you're at a high level. I've accepted it."If you're criticised, it's because more is expected of you and I will work hard to make that happen. That allows me to continue at a high level, at Real Madrid it's always like this."

A thigh injury kept Benzema out of Wednesday's shock 1-0 La Liga defeat at home to Real Betis, which has left Madrid seven points behind Barcelona after only five matches.However, he insists there is no sense of panic in the dressing room following a run of three consecutive home games without a win in the top flight.

"It's not been the best start but it can happen to all teams," he said. "I have faith, it's just the beginning of the season."We have seven points less [than Barca] but the important thing is that we are together. We are Real Madrid and we will fix things in the next game.

"There's no anxiety in the dressing room. It's normal to lose; the best response is to win the next game. We are a great team, we're united and we will work even harder. Defeats can happen. There are no alarm bells at the club. Now we need to forget the loss."

 

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Chelsea agree Diego Costa transfer with Atletico Madrid

Chelsea have announced that they have reached an agreement with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of controversial striker Diego Costa.The Brazil-born Spain international will complete the switch subject to a medical and agreeing personal terms for a fee thought to be around £58 million.

A source has told Goal that Atletico are hoping to stagged the payments by making the deal as an initial loan move from January with an obligation to buy in the summer transfer window.

A statement from Atletico Madrid reads: "Atlético Madrid and Chelsea have reached an initial agreement for the transfer of Diego Costa. The agreement is pending the formalisation of the contract between our club and the Spanish international forward."The English club has authorised Diego Costa to travel to Madrid in the coming days to undergo medical tests and settle his contract with our club."

The negotiating process has been arduous after Atletico's transfer ban complicated the arrangements between the clubs and Costa still won't be able to play for his old club again until January.Antonio Conte and Costa fell out over the summer after the Chelsea manager sent a text message to remind the 28-year-old that he was no longer needed at the club while he was away with his national team. The deal will end months of disputes between the player and the club, with all parties thought to be relieved to have resolved the situation.

Costa's Chelsea career ends with him having won two Premier League titles and the League Cup after he moving in 2014 for £32 million to the Premier League.

 

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The most hated player in England, Diego Costa leaves Chelsea as an anti-hero


Hey, Premier League, who is going to be your pantomime villain now?! Diego Costa is returning to Atletico Madrid, meaning English football needs a new Public Enemy No.1.

The striker's exit from Chelsea has somewhat damaged his reputation amongst the fans, but when the dust has settled, he should be remembered as the truly fantastic player who made huge contributions to two league titles.

Costa won't go down as a true Blues legend like Didier Drogba but he nonetheless made a massive impact at Stamford Bridge, with 58 goals in 120 games in all competitions.He could have been as good as the Ivorian but the Spain international was involved in dust-ups throughout his time in England - his most recent leading to his departure.

A training-ground dispute with Antonio Conte ultimately prompted the Blues boss to inform Costa that his services were no longer required via text message, an ignominious end for such a passionate servant of the club.

Costa undoubtedly always gave 100 per cent. He struggled to get to grips with the English language but he had no issue getting his vibrant personality across to the fans with his fiery performances on the pitch.

On the pitch, his commitment to the Chelsea cause was total, his intensity immense. He was willing to do whatever it took - even fight dirty - in order to win silverware for all three of the coaches he played under.

Premier League defenders feared Costa. He not only scored goals but also had the physique to bully defenders and the technique to link up to deadly effect with the likes of Eden Hazard, Pedro and Willian.

Despite struggling to adapt to English culture, he adapted easily to the English style of football. Indeed, he was an old-school No.9, a throwback to a bygone era.
Bobby Tambling - Chelsea's all-time top scorer for 47 years before Frank Lampard overtook his tally of 202 goals - is in no doubt that Costa would have also thrived in the more aggressive age in which he played.

"A player like Costa would be on every manager's wish-list," Tambling told Goal."He scores goals anywhere he goes."He's not a Luis Suarez [in terms of skill] or anything like that, but his desire is so great."He is a wonderful player. He would have been a good player in any era of football."

Costa also brought smiles to the Chelsea dressing room. He was the joker in the pack, a prankster none of his team-mates could afford to turn their back on.
He was good with the young fans but he had no interest in dealing with English journalists, whom he believed had it in for him.

Costa took the mantle on from Luis Suarez as the most hated player in England, after the former Liverpool player left to add some bite to Barcelona's attack in 2014.

Just like Liverpool fans, Chelsea supporters always defended their anti-hero, who they felt was unfairly treated by both the Football Association (FA) and the media.The hashtag #CostaCrimes emerged as violent conduct charges were handed out. Costa will sadly not play football for a further three months because of Atletico's inability to register players until January on account of their transfer ban, but the Rojiblancos know that he will prove worth the wait.

Indeed, Diego Simeone is Costa's friend and a manager who understands him, having chased his signature for over year. Chelsea's sixth title wouldn't have been achievable had they sold him last summer, or even in January when Tianjin Quanjian were willing to pay more than the £58 million Atletico shelled out.

Blues fans will miss his fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude but the purists will certainly not be sorry to see him go.

However, it is Premier League defenders who will be most delighted to see the back of him - and that is the biggest compliment one can pay to the inimitable Diego Costa.

 

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Juventus can't stop Dybala leaving, admits Marotta


Juventus will be powerless to stop Paulo Dybala leaving the club if he decides he wants to move, according to general manager Giuseppe Marotta.The Argentina international has started the season in exceptional form, scoring eight goals in five Serie A appearances, including a spectacular hat-trick in the 3-1 win at Sassuolo last weekend.

The 23-year-old has been linked with La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona this year and was touted as a replacement for Neymar at Camp Nou last month before Ousmane Dembele was signed from Borussia Dortmund.

Marotta has denied rumours Dybala has a release clause in his Juve contract that could be activated next year, but says the player still has the final word on his future."The player is the one who decides his fate and if he wants to leave, it'll be impossible to keep him," he told Mediaset Premium.

"[Release clauses] are essential in a player-club relationship in Spain, but only [Gonzalo] Higuain and [Miralem] Pjanic have had them in Italy. I'm opposed to giving them to our players."

Dybala's form has been in stark contrast to that of Higuain, who has not scored since the 3-0 win over Chievo on September 9. The €90 million man has been criticised for his performances in recent weeks but Marotta insists Juve have no concerns."We're really happy with Higuain," he said. "He's important to our style of play."

Marotta also admitted interest in rising Genoa star Pietro Pellegri, but denied Juve were considering the prospect of signing Federico Chiesa from Fiorentina.

"We've followed him for two years but the figures back then are a long way from today's," Marotta said of Pellegri."He has the talent but it takes time to become a champion, although the youth outlook in Italy is among the best."He added of Chiesa: "We're not interested but he's a great player."

 

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'Alexis not more important than other players' - Wenger denies punishing Sanchez


Arsene Wenger has rubbished the suggestion he is punishing Alexis Sanchez for the Chilean's desire to leave Arsenal by restricting his involvement in the Premier League.

Sanchez's sole start in the top flight this season came in the 4-0 thrashing at Liverpool in August, with Wenger having used him as a second-half substitute in the home win over Bournemouth and the 0-0 draw with Chelsea since.

However, Sanchez started the 3-1 Europa League win over Cologne – in which he scored his first goal of the season – and the 1-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

It has been speculated that Wenger is reluctant to play Sanchez in the league due to concerns he is not fully committed to Arsenal's cause, after he failed to secure a deadline-day transfer to Manchester City.

But Wenger insists his involvement has only been restricted by the abdominal injury he picked up after returning from holiday following Chile's Confederations Cup campaign.

Asked if he is concerned about Sanchez's focus, Wenger told a news conference on Thursday: "Not at all, that's going to very quick conclusions. "He's been out and injured and I thought he was a little bit short physically on Sunday [against Chelsea]. I played him last night to give him more competition.

"There's no disguised attitude on my side. I just try to get him back to full fitness. I just try to give him competition and get him back to his best. "He had a long holiday and came back not really fit and then he got injured. But last night, you could see he's coming back sharp and I left him on for 90 minutes so he could have a real go.

"All the players are important, he's not more than any other. I used a team at Chelsea that could be strong on the counter-attack and fight hard. Sanchez could have played if he had been fit."

Jack Wilshere made his first start for the Gunners since May 2016 in Wednesday's win at the Emirates Stadium and impressed in the home side's midfield.Wenger said afterwards he is ready to hand the England international a chance in the league but he is still not sure if he will stay at Arsenal beyond the end of the season, when his contract expires."I've said many times, it's down to whether he can remain fit," the Frenchman said.

"I think he's an Arsenal man and an Arsenal player. He'd certainly want to. I don't know, we haven't spoken about that. We said at the start of the season we have to see what kind of influence he can have throughout the season."

Wenger added he is happy with club-record signing Alexandre Lacazette's adaption to the team, despite him having scored only two goals this term."He's adapted to the team play, he connects well with the other players, he's disciplined and works hard for the team," he said. "I'm very pleased on a technical and tactical aspect.

"He still needs to adapt to the physical aspect of the Premier League, which maybe takes a little time."

 

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Man Utd post record £581m revenue


Manchester United have announced record revenues of £581.2 million for the 2016-17 financial year.

United won the EFL Cup and the Europa League during Jose Mourinho's first season in charge and investment in stars such as Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan saw staff costs rise by £31.3m to £263.5m – an increase of 13.5 per cent.

Nevertheless, United turned in a £39.2million pre-tax profit, with net debt reduced by £47.8m (18.3 per cent) to £213.1m.The figures came in above the guidance published by United in May, which projected yearly revenues in the region of £560m-£570m, while the revenue figure of £515.3m from the previous 12 months was comfortably outstripped.

United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said: "We concluded a successful 2016-17 season with a total of three trophies [including the Community Shield] and a return to Champions League football.

"The year saw us set record revenues of over £581m and achieve a record EBITDA [Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation] of £199.8m. We are pleased with the investment in our squad and look forward to an exciting season."

The impact of the Premier League's £5.1bn domestic broadcasting deal with Sky and BT has boosted incomes across England's top division and United'sbroadcasting revenue was up 38.2 per cent on the previous season's £140.4m to £194.1m.

Woodward added that the Old Trafford club's revenue projects for 2017-18 are estimated to fall between £575m and £585m.

 

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Bayern Munich 2 Wolfsburg 2: Ulreich howler sparks shock comeback

Bayern Munich were denied a return to the Bundesliga summit as Wolfsburg's stunning second-half comeback secured a 2-2 draw at the Allianz Arena. Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark from the penalty spot to register his seventh league goal of the campaign.

Arjen Robben's shot was then deflected in by Rafinha for a second as Carlo Ancelotti's side raced into a two-goal lead at the break.Replacing the injured Manuel Neuer, Sven Ulreich then made a mess of Maximilian Arnold's long-range free-kick to give the visitors a lifeline.

An improbable turnaround was completed seven minutes from time when Daniel Didavi headed home, with Mats Hummels missing a last-gasp chance to win it for the hosts.Bayern will need to pick themselves up quickly as they face a daunting trip to France on Wednesday for a Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.


The home side started in ominous fashion with Arturo Vidal and Jerome Boateng both seeing goal-bound efforts blocked inside the opening few minutes. Wolfsburg soon found their shape, though, and kept Bayern's formidable attack at bay with surprising ease in the opening half hour.

They even managed to carve out a half-chance of their own, but Arnold was unable to keep his left-footed strike from long distance on target.The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute – and in fortuitous circumstances – when Lewandowski went to ground easily as he attempted to turn Marcel Tisserand inside the area.

The referee was convinced he had been fouled and the prolific Poland international picked himself up to slot past Koen Casteels from the spot.There was also a huge slice of luck about Bayern's second, which arrived just before the break.Robben drove towards the area and the Dutchman's low strike was diverted past a helpless Casteels by the heel of Rafinha.

Early in the second half Robben came close to adding another, but his whipped shot from Franck Ribery's cutback fizzed just over the crossbar. Wolfsburg pulled a goal back 11 minutes after the interval and it was a moment that Ulreich will want to forget in a hurry.

The 29-year-old inexplicably chose to try to keep out Arnold's free-kick with just one hand, but it offered little resistance as the ball powered past him into the net.Robben then squandered a golden opportunity to score as he drilled wide with only Casteels to beat.

Ribery blazed over what was practically an open goal with a little over 10 minutes remaining and was made to pay soon after when Didavi met Paul Verhaegh's cross to plant a header in off the post to draw the visitors level.

There was still time for Hummels to head wide from a corner when he really ought to have scored, with Ancelotti's men deflated as the full-time whistle blew immediately after.

 

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'He is a happy guy' - Mourinho delighted with Martial's improved attitude


Jose Mourinho has seen a "great improvement" in Anthony Martial's "moods" and "body language" and is delighted with how Manchester United's French forward has started the new season.

When Martial arrived at United in 2015, he became an instant hit with his pace, driving runs and goals, scoring 11 times in his first Premier League campaign – including a brilliant debut effort against bitter rivals Liverpool.

But the France international was far less impressive last term, scoring just eight goals in all competitions as off-field matters reportedly took their toll.

This season Martial has made only one start in the league, but has proved impactful off the bench in United's other four games and also caught the eye in Wednesday's EFL Cup win over Burton Albion, netting his fourth effort of the campaign.His improvement and content demeanour has not gone unnoticed either, with Mourinho saluting his attitude.

"I see great improvement in the person, in the moods, the face and in the body language," Mourinho told reporters at his pre-match media conference ahead of Saturday's trip to Southampton.

"What I see? In a word; happiness. He is a happy guy, working extremely well.
"He starts matches trying to do well; he comes from the bench, even if for just 10 minutes like in the last match [in the Premier League against Everton], he tries to enjoy and to give something in these extra minutes.

"I'm very pleased with his attitude overall, and then it is easier to play well."

 

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Klopp: Salah better than anyone could have imagined


Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has exceeded early expectations at Anfield, manager Jurgen Klopp said.Salah, 25, joined Liverpool in a £38million move from Roma in June, arriving for a second stint in the Premier League.

Although his team have made a slow start to the campaign, the Egypt international has delivered with three goals and an assist in five league games, while he has also netted twice in the Champions League.

Klopp said landing Salah so early in the close-season was crucial to how well the former Chelsea attacker has settled."You should never take things like this for granted but I'm not surprised by how quickly he has adapted," he said.

"He had a whole pre-season, so it is not as if he has had to settle in in a minute, which is what people are now expecting of Ox [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain]."He has been working with us for many weeks, so it's no problem for him."

Despite Salah's fine start to life at Anfield, Liverpool have collected just eight points from their opening five games ahead of Saturday's trip to Leicester City.While Klopp was unwilling to label the signing a bargain, the German said Salah had impressed.

"What was it, £38m? I can never say a fee like this was cheap. But he's a very good player, one we were convinced about. That's why we did it," he said."You could see in the first game at Watford, it was quite difficult. It was really physical and maybe a few people had doubts and thought it would be difficult for him.

"But he played better than anyone could have imagined. He was at Chelsea, but he was a kid there. Now he's much more mature and everything is better."

 

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'He has to improve' - Mourinho sends warning to Shaw over his Man Utd place


Jose Mourinho has warned Luke Shaw he must put in the work to become Manchester United's first-choice left-back this season.The 22-year-old made his first appearance of 2017-18 as a second-half substitute against Burton Albion on Wednesday, having been sidelined with a foot injury since April.

United eased to a 4-1 win in the EFL Cup match, but Shaw was criticised for a lack of effort by former defender Phil Neville, who accused him of "coasting" through the game.

Mourinho insists it is unfair to expect too much from the former Southampton man, but has challenged him to battle for his place."He has to work. Just that," he told a news conference ahead of Saturday's Premier League meeting with Shaw's old side. "You saw the same as I see."Are you asking if he plays [on Saturday]? No, he isn't. He has to work. He has to improve.

“Look, he doesn't play for six months. I'm not expecting him to arrive on Wednesday and be man of the match or to be running up and down for 45 minutes. It's a process. He doesn't play for a long time."

Mourinho pointed to Arsenal and Chelsea's cautious use of Alexis Sanchez and Eden Hazard this season as supporting evidence of the value of his approach with Shaw.
"You have other players in the Premier League who are not starting matches and their managers just say they're not in the best conditions," he said. "We're speaking about some of the best players in the league. I heard last week the Chelsea manager [Antono Conte] saying that. The Arsenal manager [Arsene Wenger] said that.

"The players are not in their ideas, they're not in the best form after important injuries. Luke had surgery and a long time without playing. I cannot expect him to be back and strong, strong, strong in his work."

 

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Major players help teams grow - Simeone happy with selection headaches after Costa move


Diego Simeone is not worried about Diego Costa's arrival giving Atletico Madrid too many options in attack, as he believes "important teams grow because of major players".

Chelsea and Atletico reached an agreement for the transfer of Costa on Thursday, with the unsettled striker reportedly set to cost €60million, depending on bonuses.

The move will see the Spain international return to the club where he rose to prominence in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 campaigns, scoring 56 goals across the two seasons.

When Atletico are able to register Costa in January, he will add to Simeone's significant number of forwards, with Antoine Griezmann, Angel Correa, Kevin Gameiro and Luciano Vietto all in the squad to face Sevilla on Saturday, with Fernando Torres - missing this weekend - also fighting for a place.Simeone does not see competition as a problem, however, as he believes it will only help the team grow.

"I don't see it as something problematic," Simeone told reporters in his pre-match media conference ahead of Sevilla's visit. "On the contrary – important teams grow because of major players, and important players know that there is competition in the big teams."It is clear the club is growing and needs people who know how to compete while thinking about the club and the team."

Saturday's match could well see Kevin Gameiro face his former team again, as Simeone revealed that the France international's training intensity is improving by the day after suffering from a hernia in pre-season."He's getting better and better," Simeone said. "Yesterday was the best training he has done since he came back into the group.

"I'm guided by what I see in training. The guys who have the fewest minutes have to show me then that they're growing."And he's very important because he has speed, power and goals. Hopefully when the team needs him he will respond in the best way."

Sevilla have not lost any of their first five league games and have conceded just one goal, facts made all the more impressive by a number of underwhelming performances.And Simeone is particularly aware they have a number of quick players in attack who could pose Atletico real danger.

"On the face of it, Sevilla come with a very good record [this season]," Simeone added. "[Sevilla coach Eduardo] Berizzo is a coach who can adapt himself to injuries and bad news and is always competing very well."He is gradually showing what he wants to convey to the team, with collective work in recovery, different players in the middle like [Guido] Pizarro, [Steven] N'Zonzi and [Ever] Banega.

"Plus, they have speed in the guys who they have in attack, like [Joaquin] Correa, [Wissam] Ben Yedder, [Jesus] Navas and Nolito, if he returns. They have a very competitive team."

 

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Diego Costa: I have special affection for Chelsea but Atletico is my home


Diego Costa claimed he has a "special affection" for Chelsea after the striker completed a move to Atletico Madrid after a summer of uncertainty.

After being told by Blues boss Antonio Conte that he was no longer needed at the London club, the combative forward remained AWOL despite no transfer coming through before the end of the window.

However, after returning to Madrid, the 28-year-old made it clear that he was pleased to have his protracted transfer saga come to an end by returning to the club he left for England in 2014.

"I'm not going to be ungrateful to Chelsea, where I was also very happy, playing in a team that was great," the BBC quotes Costa as saying. "Atletico is my home."Costa is expected to have a medical with Atletico in the coming days but will not be able to play for the side until the new year, with the Spanish club's transfer ban ends.

Despite the delay in his playing career, the man who scored 20 league goals for Conte's side last season made it clear that he would not be harbouring any hard feelings toward his former employers.

"It's not the way I wanted to leave, ever," Costa said."I have special affection for the people at Chelsea. I'm not a person who is going to smear the image. They know the person I am."

 

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Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2017.09.23

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2017.09.23

West Ham Vs Tottenham

Burnley Vs Huddersfield

Everton Vs Bournemouth

Manchester City Vs Crystal Palace

Southampton Vs Manchester United

Stoke City Vs Chelsea

Swansea Vs Watford

Leicester City Vs Liverpool

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LA Liga Fixtures 2017.09.23

LA Liga Fixtures 2017.09.23

Atletico Madrid Vs Sevilla

Alaves Vs Real Madrid

Malaga Vs Athletic Bilbao

Girona Vs Barcelona​

 

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Serie A Fixtures 2017.09.23

Serie A Fixtures 2017.09.23

Roma Vs Udinese

Spal Vs Napoli

Juventus Vs Torino​

 

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Bundesliga Fixtures 2017.09.23

Bundesliga Fixtures 2017.09.23

Hoffenheim Vs Schalke

Mainz Vs Hertha Berlin

Leipzig Vs Frankfurt

Stuttgart Vs Augsburg

Werder Bremen Vs Freidburg

Dortmund Vs Monchengladbach​