..::Football IV::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Inter have lost confidence, laments Spalletti after derby defeat


Luciano Spalletti said Inter are low on confidence after his out-of-form side slumped to a 1-0 loss to rivals AC Milan in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.Inter succumbed to a Patrick Cutrone strike in the 105th minute as Milan triumphed after extra time at San Siro on Wednesday.

After an unbeaten start to the season, Inter have gone off the boil with just one win in five matches in all competitions amid three consecutive defeats.

"We've lost a bit of confidence, we do things with less conviction in our quality," Spalletti told Rai Sport."When chances come along and you don't take them, that's just a fact. We must give the right importance that they deserve. Then when you concede something, you let in a goal.

"On a psychological level, we must turn a corner, realise that we ought to do more. The players are involved, then when you can't even convince them using facts that the situation is like this, you must find a way to make them understand.

"In physical terms, they are fine, the quality is there, but if you expect someone to resolve your problems, then it all becomes difficult. We must resolve things ourselves, as if you wait for someone to do it for you, then you're in trouble.

"I think this side has the potential to beat any opponent, but must realise its capabilities and use them every time. In some moments we are not complete and don't give the best individual performances, so if a few of those are lacking, it becomes difficult for the whole team."

Out of the Coppa Italia and third in Serie A — five points adrift of leaders Napoli — Antonio Candreva said: "We are missing a bit of good luck. The last two defeats were painful, as we got the second half wrong against Udinese [3-1] and didn't make the most of our chances at Sassuolo [1-0].

"We must focus on Lazio now, as that is a fundamental game for our season.
"Morale is low at the moment, as we wanted to go all the way in the Coppa. From tomorrow, we must get back on track and unite as a group."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

AC Milan 1 Inter 0 (after extra time): Cutrone the hero in Coppa Italia quarter-final

Teenager Patrick Cutrone struck an extra-time winner for a 1-0 victory that sent AC Milan into the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia at the expense of their city rivals Inter.Gennaro Gattuso had compared the derby to a World Cup final in the build-up to Wednesday's match at San Siro and his side delivered despite sitting eight places below Inter in Serie A and having lost three of their last five in all comeptitions.

Milan's preparations were disturbed by having to make a late change in goal as Marco Storari was injured in the warm-up, so Antonio Donnarumma deputised for younger brother Gianluigi, who was ruled out with a groin problem.




And Donnarumma was spared scoring an unfortunate own goal on his Milan debut when a video assistant referee (VAR) referral saw Inter have a potential opener ruled out for offside after 24 minutes.Joao Mario and Giacomo Bonaventura missed great second-half chances to win the tie, while Suso clipped the crossbar with just 12 minutes of normal time to play.

Inter had won the last derby 3-2 after Mauro Icardi's hat-trick, but Milan got the decisive goal in the 104th minute when substitute Cutrone brilliantly turned in a gorgeous Suso pass to set up a meeting with Lazio in the final four.


Suso, who scored in the last meeting between the sides, hit a free-kick into the wall in a low-tempo start to the match. Samir Handanovic had to make a fine save in the 18th minute, the goalkeeper tipping over a Bonaventura header that was dipping under the crossbar.

Inter appeared to have scored with their first meaningful attack, Ivan Perisic's effort deflecting in off Donnarumma, but a VAR referral saw the goal ruled out as Andrea Ranocchia was offside.

Handanovic denied Suso after Franck Kessie freed the midfielder with a backheel, before an isolated Icardi flicked an improvised header wide at the other end.

Milan had a penalty claim rejected early in the second half when Nikola Kalinic – whose injury 15 minutes from the end of regulation time resulted in Cutrone's introduction – appeared to be pushed in the back by Joao Cancelo.

Donnarumma had looked nervous but he made a terrific block to keep out Joao Mario's close-range strike in the 58th minute, then Bonaventura nodded wide with the goal gaping after Handanovic pushed a Suso cross directly to him.

Suso thought he had won it for Milan in the 78th minute but his curling effort bounced on top of the crossbar after a deflection, with Perisic then lashing over for Inter.

Donnarumma spilled a speculative Perisic effort with four minutes of the initial 90 to go, but he reacted well to prevent Antonio Candreva from turning in the loose ball.
And, shortly before the interval in extra-time, Milan finally broke the deadlock.Cutrone, the 19-year-old academy product, timed his run perfectly to meet Suso's pinpoint pass and beat Handanovic with a first-time finish.

Despite heavy Inter pressure, Milan held on to boost Gattuso's position in front of watching president Li Yonghong and finally bring something to cheer for the Rossoneri faithful.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Newcastle United 0 Manchester City 1: Sterling sends leaders 15 points clear

Manchester City made it 18 wins in a row in the Premier League with a 1-0 procession against Newcastle United on Wednesday.

Raheem Sterling's 13th league goal of the season secured the result for Pep Guardiola's side and sent them 15 points clear of Manchester United at the top.
The only negative for the visitors was the loss of captain Vincent Kompany to injury early in the first half, the centre-back going off with a suspected calf problem.




The slender scoreline belied what was one of City's most comfortable victories of an astounding campaign, with Newcastle offering almost no resistance despite having lost their previous four league matches at home.

Rafa Benitez made five changes to the side that beat West Ham last time out, with his line-up including Rolando Aarons – who had not started in the league all season – and Paul Dummett, making his first appearance in the top flight since the opening day loss to Tottenham.

Sergio Aguero twice hit the post before Sterling at last made City's dominance count in the 31st minute, but despite their total control of the game from then on they could not add to the scoreline.

Newcastle barely threatened in the closing stages, meaning they remain just a point outside the relegation zone in 15th, while City tightened their grip on the title and are one victory short of matching Bayern Munich's record for Europe's top divisions of 19 wins in succession.


Jonjo Shelvey tried a shot straight from kick-off, before the whole Newcastle side dropped into their defensive third to stem the expected early tide of City attacks.
Aguero could have scored after only six minutes, turning Fernandinho's cross onto the outside of the right-hand post, and the fact Guardiola introduced Gabriel Jesus for the injured Kompany 11 minutes in highlighted the lack of ambition from the home side.

Despite the defensive blow for City, Newcastle continued to draw every player back towards their penalty area in a bid to frustrate the visitors, but Rob Elliot had to make a brilliant reaction save to keep out an Aguero header before the Argentine rattled the woodwork again with a strike from the edge of the area.

The resistance did not last much longer. Kevin De Bruyne sent a sublime pass over the top of the home defence and into the path of Sterling, who prodded the ball in off the left-hand post past the helpless Elliot.

The goal temporarily sparked Newcastle into life and it took a timely header off the line from Nicolas Otamendi to keep out Aarons' chip, but Sterling would have added a second goal prior to the break were it not for another good Elliot save.

Indeed, City enjoyed 83.4 per cent possession in the first half and their monopoly of the ball continued after the break, with Sterling fashioning an opening before bending a shot just wide, while De Bruyne made a mess of a one-on-one. The Belgian then blasted a low shot off the post from 25 yards and Aguero turned in the rebound, only for the offside flag to deny him a goal.

Substitute Dwight Gayle was booked for a dive when he threatened to race clear on Ederson's goal and sent an 89th-minute header wide as Newcastle made late attempts to equalise, but they could not stop City taking another step towards a title triumph that is beginning to look like a foregone conclusion.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Liverpool beat Manchester City to the record £75m Virgil van Dijk signing

Liverpool have broken the world record for a defender by ousting Manchester City to wrap up the signing of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in a £75 million deal.

The centre-back, who has remained Jurgen Klopp’s priority target since the summer and opted to move to Anfield back then as well, will officially join Liverpool on January 1.

Negotiations speedily progressed between the sides after a long process of the Reds repairing the relationship with their counterparts following a tapping-up saga in June that drew a public apology and the Saints refusing to sanction his sale.

With the Netherlands international underperforming at St. Mary's and seemingly going through the motions this season, Mauricio Pellegrino admitted that the club's hardline stance may have not been the wisest action.

"We tried to do the best for the team," he said this week. "The board decided to try to keep our best player at the club. This situation is a big learning curve for everybody and now we decide what is the best for the club."Van Dijk sat out Southampton's last three matches and a fast resolution suited all parties.

He underwent a medical with Liverpool on Wednesday and beyond becoming the most expensive rearguard purchase in history, also represents their biggest outlay on a player.Pep Guardiola had been confident of adding the 26-year-old to his high-flying squad when the winter window opened, but he rejected City’s pursuit for a second occasion.

Van Dijk is set to earn £180,000 a week on Merseyside and will wear the No.4 shirt, which he "cannot wait to pull on for the first time."

Klopp's loyalty to the player - he refused to settle on an alternative option in the summer - as well as his long-term vision was enough to convince the Dutch ace that Anfield was still the optimum choice.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

£75mGana nam tharamak wadi.

Ath Liverpool lage weakness eka thibbe godak welawata defending wala so Van Dijk hoda investment ekak wei​

 

[charitha chandi]

honda LB,RB double ona city ta gahanna one num..!

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Crystal Palace 2 Arsenal 3: Rapid Sanchez double seals win for record-equalling Wenger

Alexis Sanchez stole the show with a pair of excellent quickfire goals as Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 3-2 at Selhurst Park in Arsene Wenger's record-equalling 810th Premier League match in charge of the club.

For much of the game, Arsenal produced some of the fine football we have grown accustomed to since Wenger's arrival in 1996, and Sanchez produced two moments of real quality in less than four second-half minutes to clinch all three points as the Gunners boss moved level with Alex Ferguson in terms of Premier League fixtures managed.

Although Palace went into the match without a defeat in their previous eight top-flight outings, Arsenal were well in charge for the majority of the first half and were fully deserving of the opening goal through Shkodran Mustafi in the 25th minute.



The visitors failed to make the most of their chances while they were on top, though, and Palace punished them early in the second period – Andros Townsend with the finish after excellent play from Wilfried Zaha.

But that seemed to be the scare Arsenal needed to jolt them back into life, as Sanchez - who will enter the final six months of his contract on January 1 - took over to leave Palace wondering what had hit them.The Eagles showed desire to get back in the match and pulled one back in the 89th minute through James Tomkins, but they were unable to stop Arsenal cruising to victory and going level with fifth-placed rivals Tottenham on 37 points.

Arsenal looked focused and in control during the early exchanges and produced some neat football which led to chances.Jack Wilshere, Sanchez and Granit Xhaka had efforts blocked by Palace's robust defending, but their resistance was ended just after the midway point in the opening period.


Alexandre Lacazette forced Julian Speroni into a save from a tight angle on the right side of the area and Mustafi coolly slotted in the rebound.Mesut Ozil nearly added a speedy second, latching onto Sanchez's pass and seeing his flicked effort saved by Speroni.

Palace showed no sign of getting to grips with Arsenal, but they managed to avoid falling further behind before the break – Ozil tried to square to Sanchez when through on goal, only to get it all wrong.But the hosts were quick out of the blocks in the second half and levelled in the 49th minute.

Zaha beat Calum Chambers with ease and cut a pass back towards the penalty spot, where Townsend arrived to send an emphatic strike into the bottom-left corner.Arsenal looked unrecognisable to the team that dominated the first period, but a moment of brilliance from Sanchez restored their lead.

Ozil clipped a lofted pass into the left side of the area, which Wilshere nodded down to Lacazette, and the Frenchman teed up Sanchez for a rasping drive into the bottom-left corner.

The Chilean extended Arsenal's lead in the 66th minute, racing on to a sumptuous pass over the Palace defence from Wilshere - who also has just over six months left on his contract - before calmly nudging the ball beyond the stranded Speroni. Palace piled pressure on towards the end, with Zaha heading a glorious chance wide and substitute Bakary Sako shooting well over from just inside the area.

Tomkins showed them how it was done, heading Townsend's corner in late on to force a nervy finish for the Gunners, who held on to inflict a first defeat on Palace since Tottenham beat them on November 5.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mkhitaryan's sister fuels Man Utd exit talk with deleted tweet


Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s sister has fuelled transfer talk suggesting that the midfielder could leave Manchester United for Borussia Dortmund.The Armenia international departed the Bundesliga giants in 2016 when the Red Devils put a big-money deal in place to take him to England.

Mkhitaryan has endured a testing time at Old Trafford, with Jose Mourinho displaying an initial reluctance to utilise his talent.

The 28-year-old did eventually make the breakthrough to become a key figure in EFL Cup and Europa League successes, while opening the 2017-18 campaign in impressive style, but has slipped back down the pecking order of late.

Dwindling game time with United has not prevented Mkhitaryan from being named Armenia’s footballer of the year once again, but it has sparked transfer talk – with a return to Dortmund being mooted.

Acknowledging the support of his fellow countrymen after landing another prestigious personal award, the comment section of Mkhitaryan’s social media post was soon flooded by Dortmund supporters.Those eager to see him back at the Westfalendstadion posted "thousands of yellow hearts" to a former fan favourite.

Mkhitaryan’s sister, Monika, was quick to acknowledge the tribute, with it suggested that she was opening the door to a possible reunion.Her tweet has since been deleted, further fanning the flames regarding a possible switch during the January transfer window.

It now remains to be seen whether Dortmund will make a move – seeking either a loan deal or permanent transfer – with the club’s chief executive, Hans-Joachim Watzke, having previously claimed that it would take a “great deal of imagination” to put an agreement in place.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mkhi wa sell kaloth nam padui​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Forget about Van Dijk's price!' - Klopp's message for Liverpool fans after £75m splurge


Jurgen Klopp has asked Liverpool fans to "forget" about the stunning £75 million fee that Liverpool have paid for centre-back Virgil van Dijk as he believes the qualities he brings make him worth every penny.

Klopp persuaded the Liverpool board to pay a world record fee for a defender for Van Dijk - the move confirmed on Wednesday - with the 26-year-old's switch from Southampton to be made official when the transfer window opens on January 1.

Eyebrows have been raised at the financial commitment made by Liverpool for a player who has struggled to find his best form following a long-term injury lay-off caused by a foot problem, but Klopp has no doubt the former Celtic defender will turn out to be a shrewd addition.




He told Sky Sports : "I can imagine that people will think 'wow, what a number', but for me it's not really interesting. We don't make the prices, the market makes the prices.

"The first thing that all Liverpool supporters should forget quite soon is the price.We only talk about the player and what he can bring in. The quality, the mentality, the character, all that stuff, and that's why we're really pleased with it."

Klopp was unconcerned by Van Dijk's recent struggles at St Mary's and insisted he would not be rushed into a Liverpool defence that has failed to convince this season.

The German added: "It's probably not been the best half season [for Van Dijk] at Southampton, he was a long time injured and we all know what happened last summer [Liverpool apologising after Southampton claimed they made an illegal approach for the player].

"He's a tall player and they always need longer [to recover from injury] so he needs to get rhythm. But we have quality in that position so there's no need to rush him."He needs to adapt to our style of play, it's a different game but we are 100 per cent sure he will do it."

With RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita also due to join Liverpool in July, it appears Klopp is assembling a squad to challenge for the Premier League title next season and he is confident the club is on an upward trajectory.
"We feel that for the last two years we have made steps in the right direction and that's what the owners and supporters are asking for," he said."Each new player we bring in is another step. We think we've done well in the transfer market but we also believe in improving the team on the training pitch."

Van Dijk won't be registered for fourth-placed Liverpool's New Year's Day trip to Burnley so his debut may come when Everton visit Anfield for a Merseyside derby in the FA Cup on January 5.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Griezmann's release clause is €200m' - Atletico warn Barcelona & Man Utd they face pricey transfer fight


Manchester United and Barcelona have been warned they could need to splash up to €200 million to buy Antoine Griezmann this summer.

Atletico reported Barcelona to FIFA last week over their alleged transfer pursuit of the France star after Camp Nou director Guillermo Amor said it was possible Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu "had a meeting with Griezmann's family".
The 26-year-old forward was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United before the start of this season but opted to stay with Atletico.




Head coach Diego Simeone recently stoked speculation by saying he would not stand in Griezmann's way should he desire a new challenge, but Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin has sounded a more combative tone.

"Atletico doesn't want to sell Griezmann either now or in the summer," he told Mega. "For us he is a very important player, who has grown a lot and we have grown up with him."Our intention is to keep growing all together. Last summer we made an effort beyond the possibilities of the club and we'll do it again next summer.

"Griezmann departure isn't in our hands, but until summer is impossible to leave us."Atletico will be able to pair Diego Costa with Griezmann in attack in the new year, when their FIFA player registration ban is lifted.

Gil Marin conceded putting together that all-star forward line has been no easy task, making him keen to renegotiate Griezmann's contract, which runs until 2022 and contains a release clause of €200m until July next year when it will become €100m.

"It's been hard for us to get Griezmann and Diego Costa together and I think it's going to be very good for Atletico," Gil Marin added."Until July 1, Griezmann's release clause is €200m."

Atletico lie second in La Liga but defeat to Espanyol in the final game before the mid-season break means they are now nine points behind Barca at the summit.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Coutinho backed to take Barcelona by storm by Camp Nou legend Rivaldo


Philippe Coutinho “will succeed” at Barcelona if a proposed move from Liverpool is finally pushed through, says Rivaldo.The Brazilian playmaker has seen transfer talk which was first sparked over the summer rumble on through to the January window.A big-money move is still being mooted, with Barca keen to add further creative qualities to their star-studded ranks.

Former Camp Nou favourite Rivaldo is in no doubt that a fellow countryman can follow in his illustrious footsteps in Catalunya, with Coutinho a perfect fit for the La Liga giants.

The World Cup winner told Mundo Deportivo: “I do not know if the signing will be made or not because there is a lot of money involved, but I am convinced that if he comes to Barca, he will succeed because it is easy to succeed here with the quality he has. “His football will be embraced by the fans of Barca.”While Coutinho could soon be heading to Camp Nou, one Brazilian midfielder is already shining after completing a high-profile switch.

Paulinho has been a revelation in Spain since returning to Europe from Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande, with Rivaldo impressed at how quickly the 29-year-old has settled to silence his critics.He added: “Paulinho is doing a great job. “He is an important player in both Barcelona and the national team.

“He was questioned a lot by the fans and by the press, but he is playing impressive, doing very well in his work and scoring many goals.”Paulinho has six goals for Barcelona in 22 appearances.

Coutinho, meanwhile, has found the target 12 times for Liverpool while providing a further eight assists – with those efforts continuing to catch the eye of those at Camp Nou.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Van Dijk sale is good business' - Pellegrino planning to spend Liverpool's £75m


Mauricio Pellegrino believes Virgil van Dijk's departure represents good business for Southampton and he is already eyeing "two or three" additions with the money raised by the defender's sale.

Netherlands centre-back Van Dijk will join Liverpool for £75 million, a record fee for a defender, when the January transfer window opens.The deal has been met with doubt by many pundits for a player who has struggled to hit top form since returning from a foot injury, but Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp stated is convinced the signing will prove a shrewd one for the Reds.

And Saints boss Pellegrino is equally confident his side will be stronger collectively once the money has been reinvested.
"You have to analyse in a positive way to reinvest this money in our squad to try to be stronger," he said. "At Southampton it is impossible to bring in players for £80million or £50million.

"But maybe for us it can mean a couple of good players. Maybe we can change one player for two or three players with this money."We are talking about the couple of targets that we've got. I would like to bring in a couple of players minimum and we have to work for this."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Sevilla to appoint former AC Milan coach Montella


Sevilla have chosen Vincenzo Montella to succeed Eduardo Berizzo as head coach after reaching a "principle agreement" on a one-and-a-half-year deal with the Italian.

Montella has been out of a job for just over a month after he was sacked by AC Milan on November 27, with the Serie A giants enduring an underwhelming start to the season despite spending a reported €196 million in the transfer market.The former Italy international left Milan seventh in Serie A, though they have slipped even further down the table to 11th since Gennaro Gattuso took over.

Although Sevilla have not won any of their last four games in all competitions, Montella joins them in a strong position, with Berizzo getting sacked despite the club sitting fifth in La Liga and having booked passage to the knockout phase of the Champions League, where they will meet Manchester United.

The dismissal of Berizzo – who had only recently returned from prostate cancer surgery – came about due to a string of poor performances and unsatisfactory results, while he is also reported to have had a strained relationship with members of the first-team squad.

Montella is still technically on gardening leave and contracted to Milan, but providing his severance negotiations with the Serie A giants go to plan, the 43-year-old will sign his contract on Friday and take charge of first-team operations a day later.

The move will see Montella link up with striker Luis Muriel – who became Sevilla's record signing in pre-season – once again, having worked together at Sampdoria.
Montella's first match in charge will be in the Copa del Rey at Cadiz on January 3, before making his La Liga bow three days later at home to bitter local rivals Real Betis.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Van Dijk fee 'not nice', says Klopp


Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp labelled the £75 million spent to buy Virgil van Dijk as "not nice", but said his club was simply adapting to the market.Van Dijk, 26, is set to join Liverpool from Southampton in January after the Premier League clubs agreed to a record fee for a defender.

Klopp, who questioned Manchester United for paying £89m for Paul Pogba last year, said his club had little choice in a market where Paris Saint-Germain bought Neymar from Barcelona for a world-record £198m.

"A fee of £75m at this moment is very good for Southampton. They want to improve their squad as well," the German told UK newspapers.

"Do you think when they go to a club – if the player is not a free agent – those clubs will be accepting £5m for a replacement? That is how it is."It's not nice, but that's the market, that's the world. We have to adapt."

Van Dijk signed a new deal with Southampton in May 2016, extending his contract until 2022.Klopp said that played a part in the price, one he said fans should try to immediately ignore.

"Virgil has a long contract at Southampton. That is how it is. It started a few years ago. If you do not want to do it, do not do it," he said."We had an opportunity to do it and that is why he will be a Liverpool player. Do I like it? No, because it puts more pressure on everything.

"That is why I said as a Liverpool community we have to ignore it immediately. He is a player for us, he can improve and he needs to adapt."There are so many things he still needs to work on. He developed a lot in the last few years, made big steps, so it is a good thing."

Liverpool, fourth in the Premier League, host Leicester City on Saturday.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Klopp: No need to sell Coutinho to balance Liverpool books


Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool do not need to sell Philippe Coutinho to recoup the cash spent on their £75 million swoop for Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk.

The Reds' move to make Netherlands international Van Dijk the most expensive defender of all time was confirmed on Wednesday, drawing a line under one of the transfer sagas that dominated the close season at Anfield.

The other was Barcelona's ultimately fruitless pursuit of Brazil playmaker Coutinho, who has resumed his pivotal role at Liverpool and been in sublime form while notching seven goals in December

As such, reports of Barca's interest have persisted but Klopp is adamant his move to secure Van Dijk will not affect the future of a player for whom the La Liga leaders reportedly had a £115m bid turned down in August."No, nobody told me that [I would have to sell Coutinho]," he told reporters."We have good players and we don't have to sell anybody because of that. So fair play to our owners that they are ambitious."

Klopp has handed the captain's armband to Coutinho during Jordan Henderson's recent injury absence – a situation far removed from the former Inter player's transfer request when Barcelona's pursuit reached a crescendo back in August."The only thing I will say and the only thing I am interested in is how is Phil playing at the moment," Klopp said. "I was really happy about the last few performances and about his impact.

"He showed his character in the games and in the training sessions. That was spot on. It was really good. That is what I am interested in because all the rest I can't, and don't, want to talk about it because if I open the door then you [the media] run all the way through."If there is something to say you will know. In my business it makes absolute no sense to talk about things that 'could' 'maybe'' happen because all it does is create stories which 90 per cent of the time are not true. Why should we do that?"

Klopp also credited Van Dijk's "100 per cent" desire to join Liverpool as a key factor in a blockbusting transfer that will be officially completed on January 1, following reported interest from Premier League leaders Manchester City in the 26-year-old.

"He wanted to come here 100 per cent and that is a very important thing," he added."Because imagine in this moment you are a football guy and a few clubs are looking for someone, and they don't hesitate or are not shy with money as well."That was not his intention. He wanted to join us and nobody else. That's another really good thing."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mourinho outlines Man Utd transfer plans as he targets 'two or three' summer buys


Jose Mourinho has hinted that Manchester United will attempt to sign two midfield players in the summer, as they look to replace Michael Carrick.Carrick, 36, has played just once this season, after being struck down by a heart scare following United's 4-1 win over Burton Albion in the EFL Cup.

Mourinho believes Carrick is a "phenomenal player", but has outlined his intentions to potentially refresh his midfield with two new additions - one to replace the former England international, and one to further bolster his squad.

Overall, Mourinho is hoping up to three new faces arrive at Old Trafford this summer.

"I think, next season, we are going to get two or three more players," Mourinho told United's official website. "We are going to lose also two or three. If you can try to anticipate, you can more or less see that it's normal that this is going to happen. It's not going to happen - a dramatic change and a dramatic improvement - but in time, step by step, with some balance, we have to do it.

"If, next summer, we are going to sign a midfield player, it's to replace Michael Carrick and Michael is a phenomenal player that, this season, he couldn't give us anything at all.

"He's in the end of his career so if, next summer, we buy a midfield player, it's not to improve our squad - it's to replace Michael Carrick. So, to improve our squad in the midfield, we would need to buy two."

United spent over £140 million in the summer to sign the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Victor Lindelof, but Mourinho insists that he has yet to truly strengthen, merely replacing those who were unable to contribute.

"I have the backing of the club and the first backing of the club I had was a three-year contract where everybody knows the job was not easy," he added. "And we all know that we invest a lot, so when you invest as much as we did, it wouldn't be very fair for me to say the club didn't support, the club didn't want to help. It would be very unfair, which is not me.

"The club invested a lot of money. The problem is not the money we invest, the problem is the money the others invest and it is the problem that others with better squads, with better stability, with more options, they keep investing and that's the only problem because, for example, we bought a striker in the summer - a very good striker [Romelu Lukaku] - but that good striker was to replace Zlatan [Ibrahimovic].

"It was not to be him and Zlatan in the best of their form from day one. We signed [Victor] Lindelof. We didn't have Marcos Rojo [at the start of the season]. We had problems, so when we are signing players in the last two years, it's to replace people."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mourinho outlines Man Utd transfer plans as he targets 'two or three' summer buys

Summer eka gana hithanna kalin Winter eka gana balamuTeam eke strength eka madi​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Conte hopes Chelsea's 'great ambition' will keep Hazard away from Real Madrid


Chelsea manager Antonio Conte hopes that the club's "great ambition" will be enough to convince Eden Hazard to snub Real Madrid.

Hazard's father, Thierry, told Belgian outlet Le Soir on Friday that his son had rejected a contract offer from the Blues to keep his options open, and although Goal understands no formal offer has been made, the club plans to attempt to renew the 26-year-old's deal in 2018.

Despite the apparent interest from Madrid, Chelsea will resist any approaches for Hazard in January, with the forward still having two-and-a-half years remaining on his current contract.

And while Conte has admitted he has no power over keeping Hazard, with the club's board of directors taking a leading role in negotiations, the Italian has made it clear that he wants to see his best players remain at the club.

“If you are in a great club and you have trust in the club and the ambition of the club, I think it's right to stay," Conte said. “I must be honest, I didn't read the comments from his father today. But the father spoke in the newspaper? OK.

"I think, in the world, everyone has to respect the opinion of everyone else. In this case, I have to respect the opinion. I repeat, I didn't read this. But I think we are talking about a really good guy. "It's normal, I repeat, if you think that you stay in a great club with great ambition, it's right to stay. Otherwise, everyone has to give a different opinion.

“Now, I think this is not the right moment, and also I think this question is not for me but for the club. Not for me. These are private conversations that the player, the agent of the player must have with the club.”

Meanwhile, on the pitch, Hazard hasn't scored in his last seven games and Conte thinks that adding more goals to his game would help him improve as a player.
“He could score more. If you see the stats, you understand that he can score more goals. That is an aspect he can improve,” Conte said, “When you are a striker, or a No.10, your speciality must be to score.

"I think in this aspect he has a lot of space for improvement. But don't forget he's younger than [Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo]."Chelsea had previously targeted Virgil van Dijk but he has since come to a £75 million agreement to move from Southampton to Liverpool in the January transfer window.

Conte isn't worried about Van Dijk's decision to move to Southampton or the record-breaking price tag for a defender, as his own side aim to bring in some fresh faces in the winter market.

“It doesn't change. For us, I repeat, it's very important to look at ourselves and then try to find the right way to improve," he said. "On one hand, the way to improve this team is to work. On the other hand, there is the club and the transfer market.

"But I can only speak about my hand. I see now only one way to improve my team — to continue to work with this mentality, this desire, this will. Because, I repeat, I can tell I have fantastic players with me.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Chelsea announce record turnover and £15.3m profit


Chelsea have announced that the club made a record turnover for the year ending in June 2017, as well as a profit of £15.3 million.The Premier League champions recorded turnover of £361.3m - up 9.8 per cent from £329.1m in the previous year - despite not taking part in the Champions League last season.

The club said the Premier League's latest contracts with TV broadcasters, as well as revenues rising thanks to Chelsea claiming the title, explained the record turnover.

"It is very pleasing we matched significant achievement on the pitch in 2016-17 with a successful year commercially," chairman Bruce Buck said."Our business has continued to grow long-term and to be able to post record turnover figures despite not playing Champions League football during that period highlights this strength.

"Our fans played a major part, by supporting the team towards lifting the Premier League trophy, coming to our matches in large numbers, and our ever-increasing global fanbase has helped important commercial partnerships to be formed. We thank our supporters, partners and staff for a successful 2016-17."

Chelsea's revenues are expected to rise again for the 2017-18 financial year due to the club's return to the Champions League, plus a major new commercial partnership with Nike.

However, Chelsea's ultimate parent company, Fordstam Limited, reported a consolidated loss of £14.2m for the 2016-17 year.A club statement said this was "largely due to new stadium planning costs and losses at non-football ancillary businesses".