..::Football IV::..

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Mourinho: Lukaku chose not to start FA Cup final


Jose Mourinho claimed he had no chance to select Romelu Lukaku for the FA Cup final as the Manchester United striker said he was unfit to start.Lukaku missed United's last three Premier League matches of the season with an ankle injury sustained against Arsenal at the end of April.

The striker was named on the bench as the Red Devils lost Saturday's FA Cup final 1-0 to his former club Chelsea, a first-half Eden Hazard penalty the difference between the sides.

The result means Manchester United will finish the season trophyless, and also snapped Mourinho's perfect record in English Cup finals.And Mourinho, who named Marcus Rashford as his starting striker in Lukaku's absence and gave the Belgium international 20 minutes off the bench, said it was not his choice.

"It's not difficult, it was his decision, it was his decision," Mourinho said at a post-match news conference. "I knew the opponent I was going to play against and I knew they have a compact low block with lots of physicality where they try to close everything.

"I knew that without a target man it would be difficult for us. I know at least [it would have helped having Marouane] Fellaini coming from the second line, attacking their defence with his physicality."I knew that would be difficult, but I wouldn't expect that the game was exactly like it was because I think it was a bit too much.

"When a player tells you he's not ready to play, not ready to start, then the question is, 'How many minutes you think you can [play]?' But how can I convince a player who is not ready? It's nonsense."

 

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'Real Madrid can buy Neymar' - Salihamidzic warns Bayern won't be doing 'crazy' transfers


Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic says Real Madrid should buy Neymar quietly as the Bundesliga side have no desire to compete for such "crazy" transfers.Neymar's €222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona last summer was followed almost immediately by reports that Madrid remain determined to sign the star they have had eyes on since his Santos days.

The prospect of the Spanish club continuing Europe's trend of breaking world-record transfer fees to land the attacker does not worry those at Bayern, however, as Salihamidzic believes they can remain competitive with the top teams without spending big money.

"I am against doing such crazy things, I do not think we have to push into that dimension," he told Suddeutsche Zeitung.

"Real should buy Neymar quietly, we have to be different, we have to plan for the long-term more than some of these clubs. They can be influenced at short notice by a World Cup or European Championship and then pay a lot for a player, we should know in advance what we are doing, we have to be faster."

The former Bayern and Juventus player went on to admit that the German giants may have to splash out a large sum on some occasions."It could happen that a player will leave us for a lot of money and then we will have to reinvest with a lot of money in the team. That would be an exception, though."The Bavarian outfit are looking to add to this season's Bundesliga title success with the DFB-Pokal when they face Eintracht Frankfurt in the final on Saturday.

 

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Klopp: Salah needs 15 years to be measured beside Ronaldo


Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said it will take Mohamed Salah 15 years to match Real Madrid superstar and five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.Salah has enjoyed an unbelievable maiden campaign at Anfield following his arrival from Roma – the Egyptian sensation scoring a record 32 Premier League goals and 44 in all competitions.

The 25-year-old's exploits have seen him scoop the Golden Boot, PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year ahead of Liverpool's Champions League showdown with two-time reigning holders Madrid in Kiev May 26, which could decide the Ballon d'Or winner.

However, Klopp insisted Salah has a long way to go if he wants to match Ronaldo's achievements that includes four Champions League titles, two La Liga crowns and three Premier League trophies among others."Mo had a fantastic season, but Cristiano has played 15 seasons like this," Klopp said. "He has scored something like 47,000 goals – crazy numbers."Why should we compare? At the time of Pele nobody compared Pele to other players and asked, 'Is he as good as him?' Now we have Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, who have dominated football for a few years.

"Messi and Ronaldo are, in the final moment, very often in the right position to score a goal – and that's the most difficult thing to do in the world."That's why they are where they are. The Ballon d’Or is always between them. It’s deserved. When they stop playing football we’ll miss them, 100 per cent. I don't have to make these kind of stories about Salah and Ronaldo.

"It's not about having the better individual. Usually, it's about playing the better football – and, for that, you need all the other players as well." Ronaldo and Madrid closed out their La Liga campaign on Saturday by surrendering a two-goal lead and falling to a 2-2 draw against Villarreal .

Despite the draw, Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane said the two-time reigning Champions League holders are ready for their European showdown .

 

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Zidane: Madrid ready for 'most special game of the season' against Liverpool


Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane said the two-time reigning Champions League holders are ready for their European showdown with Liverpool despite Saturday's draw at Villarreal, while he praised Gareth Bale following his goal-scoring performance.

Madrid closed out their La Liga season with a 2-2 draw against hosts Villarreal on matchday 38 – Zidane's men squandering a two-goal lead.Goals from Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo put Madrid in control as they tried to pip city rivals Atletico Madrid to second position in the Spanish top flight.




But the visitors were pegged back after substitute Samu Castillejo rounded debutant and Zidane's son Luca with five minutes remaining as Villarreal salvaged a point.Zidane, though, was relatively upbeat post-match as he looked ahead to the Kiev showpiece on May 26.

"I haven't got my starting XI for the Champions League final in my head," Zidane told reporters. "We're ready. Also we haven't picked up any injuries tonight, which was important. "We're ready for this last match and Kiev final, which is the most special game of the season."

Zidane added: "La Liga is now over. We have the Champions League to play and we're thrilled to be in the final. It shouldn't be a case of choosing. We want to win everything we can, but this year it wasn't possible to win La Liga and we are going all out for Champions League glory.

"I'm not happy with our La Liga campaign. It has been a difficult season, especially at the beginning. We were able to make things better. We know that is the case and that's that."We did other good things this year: the trophies we won at the start of the season, the Club World Cup and now we have the final still to come."

Bale continued his lethal form in front of goal on Saturday – the often out-of-favour Wales forward scoring in his fourth successive league match.Linked with a move away at the end of the season, Bale made it five goals in four games and Zidane said: "At no point has [Gareth] Bale thrown the towel in. He's training well and the only thing that's changed is that he's now scoring goals, as he has done in the last few games.

"I'm pleased with his performance and what he brings to the team. Nothing has change. The only difference is that he's been scoring of late."

 

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LA Liga Fixtures 2018.05.20

LA Liga Fixtures 2018.05.20




Valencia Vs Deportivo


Athletic Bilbao Vs Espanyol


Atletico Madrid Vs Eibar


Barcelona Vs Real Sociedad
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Serie A Fixtures 2018.05.20

Serie A Fixtures 2018.05.20




Genoa Vs Torino


AC Milan Vs Fiorentina


Cagliari Vs Atalanta


Chievo Vs Benevento


Napoli Vs Crotone


Spal Vs Sampdoria


Udinese Vs Bologna


Lazio Vs Inter


Sassuolo Vs Roma
​

 

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Young admits Man Utd must come back stronger after trophyless campaign


Ashley Young admits Manchester United will need to return stronger in 2018-19 if they are to right the wrongs of a trophyless campaign and challenge “on all fronts”.

Jose Mourinho has been quick to talk up the success of his side in 2017-18, with a runner-up finish in the Premier League not to be sniffed at given how dominant title-winning Manchester City have been.The Red Devils also made their way through to the FA Cup final, only to come up short against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium.

It has been a campaign of frustration and near misses for those at Old Trafford, with disappointing exits also endured in Champions League and Carabao Cup competition, but Young is looking for everyone connected with the club to come out fighting next term following a summer of reflection and rebuilding.

The England international told MUTV: "I think we have to come back stronger: stronger in the league, stronger in the FA Cup, stronger in the League Cup, stronger in the Champions League. We want to be fighting on all fronts."We have the summer now to look forward and come back and prepare in pre-season. We wanted to win things, win titles, but it wasn’t meant to be.

"We finished second with the points we did; in a different season we would have won the league, but it wasn’t meant to be and today is a disappointing one. It will take a while to settle in and we now have the summer to prepare for next season."United’s season end on a low note at Wembley on Saturday, with a first-half penalty from Eden Hazard – following a clumsy challenge from Phil Jones – edging them out in the FA Cup final.

Young said of that contest: "It’s disappointing starting the game like we did and coming away with nothing. You can see how the players reacted after the game; we didn’t feel like we should have lost the game today."We didn’t have clear-cut chances, but on a different day there were chances we could have taken and we could have gone on and won the game.

"In the second half they were on the back foot, it was all us, but we couldn’t get the goal and we are disappointed with that."While domestic endeavours have now come to a close for those at Old Trafford, many members of Mourinho’s squad are about to switch their focus to international matters at World Cup 2018.

Young forms part of that group, with the 32-year-old back in favour with England after reinventing himself in a left-back berth.He added on the challenges to come in Russia this summer: "There is excitement that is to come, but right now I am disappointed and it's going to be hard to shake off."

 

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Selling Hazard might be Chelsea's best option, says Clarke


Eden Hazard may have to be sold by Chelsea in order to free up for funds for summer additions, says Steve Clarke.The Blues continue to be bankrolled by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, but elaborate spending sprees have dried up in recent windows.With more attention being paid to balancing the books, sales are now required in order to counter purchases.

Hazard is the most saleable asset currently at the club, and continues to be linked with the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, with it possible that he could be sacrificed on the back of failure to secure Champions League football.
Former Blues player and assistant manager Clarke fears that approach may have to be taken, telling BBC Radio 5 Live: "You can always look to replace players."They come and go, they always move on. The club is the most important thing.

"They have to rebuild that squad a little bit. It wasn't good enough to be in the top four. They have got a lot of work to do over the summer."To help fund other transfers for the club this summer, maybe they do have to sell Hazard."

Hazard has already admitted that his future will be shaped by the ambition shown by Chelsea this summer, with exciting additions required in order for him to stay put.He said ahead of a match-winning performance against Manchester United in the FA Cup final: "I'm waiting for new players next season."I want good players, because I want to win the Premier League next season."

Thibaut Courtois – another of those to be generating plenty of transfer talk – echoed those sentiments after helping to secure major silverware at Wembley.
He told BT Sport: “I love this club but we need to see how the club is going forward.

“We want to win trophies, but we want to play for the title, too. We need to see how Man City and United are spending. If Chelsea want to be on top, we need to show it.”

 

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Boateng can't rule out Bayern exit as he considers another foreign adventure


Jerome Boateng is unable to commit his future to Bayern Munich, with the defender at a stage of his career where another foreign adventure would be appealing.

The 29-year-old is tied to a contract with the Bundesliga champions until 2021, but may not see that agreement out.Having previously spent time outside of his native Germany at Manchester City, the World Cup winner is weighing up his options once again.

He maintains that he is happy and settled at the Allianz Arena, with there no intention on his part to push for a move, but he is ruling nothing out as he leaves himself open to enticing offers.Boateng told Sky Deutschland: “Foreign countries are always interesting. You do not get many chances.“Everyone has to decide for himself whether he want to gain an experience like that again.

“I'm at a different age now than I was at Manchester City and at the point of thinking about it again.“Of course it's very difficult to move away from Bayern. That would not be a decision against Bayern, I've been feeling very well in Munich for years.”

While Boateng may be hinting at a future away from Bayern, club legend Lothar Matthaus doubts that a deal will be done.He considers a proven centre-half to be too important to the Munich cause for them to let him leave, while few clubs can rival the project on offer in Bavaria.

The former Germany captain said: “Bayern would lose stability in their defence as Jerome is one of the best centre-backs in the world. He has shown that many times – not only at Bayern, but also in the national team.

“It would have to be something really big [to lure him elsewhere].”Boateng has previously admitted to having “achieved everything at Bayern”, with career questions set to be asked over the summer.

He does, however, have World Cup commitments to come first, with Joachim Low having selected him for a defence of that crown despite untimely injuries having ruined his end to the domestic season.

 

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'If Bale goes, Real will want Hazard' - Hoddle fears for Chelsea future of 'absolutely crucial' star


Eden Hazard is “absolutely crucial” to Chelsea, says Glenn Hoddle, but Real Madrid are likely to come knocking if Gareth Bale departs the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Belgium international has long been linked with a move to the Liga giants, with his profile and ability considered to fit the ‘Galactico’ mould.Chelsea have been able to fend off any interest and keep the 27-year-old under contract, but no extension has been put in place this season as Hazard has remained elusive on his future plans.

He further underlined his value to the cause with a match-winning performance in an FA Cup final victory over Manchester United, and Hoddle believes it is imperative he stays put.

The former Blues player and manager wrote in a column for the Daily Mail: “If keeping [Antonio] Conte may be beneficial to Chelsea, keeping Eden Hazard is absolutely crucial. He's the most important person in the Chelsea dressing room going forward and the Cup final proved that.“Hazard was excellent, even though I've seen him play better, he was able to get away from Ander Herrera and we saw the consequences when Phil Jones brought him down for the vital penalty.

“The biggest European clubs would have been watching. I know Barcelona look likely to sign Antoine Griezmann but you could see Hazard fitting in at Real Madrid. He isn't Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo but for me he's among the top five players in the world, he has that X-factor that causes danger every time he's on the ball.“If Gareth Bale leaves Madrid, you could see them wanting Hazard, and it's vitally important Chelsea don't allow that to happen and make the kind of signings that will want him to say. It's even bigger than keeping Conte.

“The problem for Chelsea is that their current squad is not good enough to compete in the Champions League and Premier League. Manchester City can do it, Chelsea can't, and that's why you've had these seasons where the Premier League form is poor if they are in Europe.”

Hoddle added, with Conte’s future continuing to be called into question despite countering a frustrating fifth place finish in the Premier League with more major silverware: “As a former Chelsea manager, I am very interested to see what Roman Abramovich and the club do next. It's OK to let managers leave if they have been unsuccessful, but you can't call Conte that.“Maybe Chelsea think the pattern of changing managers without impacting on trophies will carry on. It's a big call.

“Whoever the next manager is, there has to be a reshuffle in the squad. First of all, Hazard can't be expected to provide the 'Wow' moments all on his own. And secondly, if recruitment is poor, he is going to wonder why he wants to stay at a club without Champions League football again.

“And on Saturday's form, there will be no shortage of takers for the Belgian star.
“Ideally, Conte and Hazard might be at The Bridge next season. But Hazard has to be.”

 

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Fernando Torres captains Atletico Madrid in farewell match


Fernando Torres will captain Atletico Madrid on his final appearance for the club.
Atleti wrap up their LaLiga campaign at home to Eibar on Sunday, with Diego Simeone's men not yet sure of second spot, ahead of rivals Real Madrid.

Torres has yet to confirm his next move but has been linked with a switch to the Chinese Super League or MLS for the latter years of his career, while a reunion with former boss Rafael Benitez at Newcastle United has also been mooted.

The 34-year-old came off the bench as Atleti beat Marseille 3-0 in Lyon in Wednesday's Europa League final to win his first major trophy across two spells at the club. With Torres starting in attack alongside fellow former Chelsea forward Diego Costa, Europa League hero Antoine Griezmann has a place on the bench.

Atletico will wear shirts featuring a special patch to mark Torres' last game for the club.Torres came through the ranks at Atletico, making his first-team debut at the tender age of 17 back in 2001 during the season the club spent in the second division.

El Nino went on to make over 400 appearances for the Colchoneros in his two spells, the second of which began in 2015 after stints at Liverpool, Chelsea and AC Milan.

 

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My motivation is intact - Ranieri open to offers following Nantes exit


Claudio Ranieri has reaffirmed his intention to carry on coaching after his spell at Ligue 1 club Nantes came to an end.Ranieri took over at Nantes in June 2017, guiding them to a ninth-placed finish this term, but announced on Thursday that he would be leaving the club by mutual consent.The former Leicester City boss had previously talked up as a possible candidate to take over as Italy coach, although Roberto Mancini has now taken that role.

And Ranieri, whose parting gift to Nantes was a 1-0 victory over Strasbourg on the final day of the Ligue 1 season, is eager to continue his 32-year managerial career if the right opportunity comes along."Nantes has been a positive spell, I have known fantastic supporters who deserve a lot," the 66-year-old told L'Equipe.

"Now, let's have a vacation by the sea! I have nothing planned for next year. I am free and I want to coach.
"In any case, I have passion, my motivation is intact. I have to rest and see if there is a good project."

 

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Man Utd target Willian fuels rift talk by hiding Conte in FA Cup photo


Willian has taken an apparent dig at Antonio Conte on social media in the wake of Chelsea's FA Cup triumph over Manchester United.

Brazil winger Willian has been one of the Blues' most consistent performers this season, but has found himself out in the cold in recent weeks following a reported rift between himself and boss Conte, who is reportedly set to leave Stamford Bridge in the close-season.Willian has started just once for Chelsea since the FA Cup semi-final win over Southampton on April 22, a match in which he stormed down the tunnel after being substituted, and did not come on until the 89th minute in the 1-0 victory over United.

And the playmaker seemingly took a sly swipe at his head coach, posting a picture of the Chelsea squad's FA Cup celebrations on Instagram, but using several trophy emojis to obscure Conte.The pair have endured a fraught relationship during Conte's two seasons at Stamford Bridge.

The Brazil international - who was voted as the club's Player of the Season for 2015-16 just months before Conte's arrival - first struggled for playing time under the Italian manager before establishing himself as a key part of the side that lifted the Premier League in 2016-17. But despite being named Chelsea's Players' Players of the Season this term, he started just 20 league games as the Londoners failed to qualify for the Champions League next term.

When asked recently by ESPN Brasil about his relationship with Conte, Willian replied: "Oh boy, do you really want me to tell you?!"Let’s save it for another interview."

The rumoured rift comes amid reports that Willian could swap Chelsea for the team that lost out to the Blues in Saturday's final, a move that would reunite him with the man who brought him to west London back in 2013, Jose Mourinho.

 

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'Alexis Sanchez can't get any worse' - Misfiring Man Utd forward slammed by Scholes


Alexis Sanchez “can’t get any worse” for Manchester United, says Paul Scholes, with the Chilean having struggled to make an impact following a January arrival from Arsenal.

The Red Devils were considered to have pulled off quite a coup when landing the 29-year-old forward, especially as arch-rivals Manchester City had also been in the mix.A lucrative package was pieced together to sign the South American, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan also offloaded as part of a swap deal for a player running down his contract in north London.

Big things were expected of Sanchez at Old Trafford but, following another disappointing display in an FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea, he has faced more criticism than praise so far.

Former United midfielder Scholes is among those to have questioned a proven performer on a regular basis, with the ex-England international telling BT Sport after a forgettable outing at Wembley: “His performances, well they have to improve. They can’t get any worse to be honest with you.

“I think the first few games of next season are vital to him, he needs to get fans believing again and believing they are going to get close to City. They need a big player.“Do they [have big players]? Paul Pogba does not win you games on his own. [Eden] Hazard does. Alexis Sanchez doesn’t, he’s shown that since January, they thought he could, but what we’ve seen.

“They need two magical players. I think they’ve got really good players, they haven’t got a Hazard, [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Lionel] Messi, and I know many teams haven’t, but the difference between the two today was the quality in Hazard, we saw that in big games.“United don’t have that.”

In his 18 outings for United to date, Sanchez has managed just three goals.
He had registered 30 across all competitions for Arsenal last season, while hitting 80 in just 165 appearances for the Gunners.Jose Mourinho will be demanding a return to that level in 2018-19, with the Red Devils having invested considerable faith in his talent.

The arrival of Sanchez has shunted others out of favour at Old Trafford, with it up to him to prove that he is deserving of a regular starting berth ahead of the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial – who have both seen their respective futures called into question over recent weeks.

 

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Hamann: Salah could win Ballon d'Or, but he's no Ronaldo


Mohamed Salah has been told he can be Liverpool’s answer to Steven Gerrard in the Champions League final, while putting himself in Ballon d’Or contention, but Dietmar Hamann says the Egyptian is still operating in the shadow of Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

A man with 44 goals to his name this season is readying himself for one final outing in what has been a remarkable debut campaign at Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp’s side due to face Zinedine Zidane’s reigning European champions in Kiev on May 26.

That contest will see two of world football’s brightest stars go head-to-head, with the fixture already being billed as Salah versus Ronaldo as two leading contenders for the title of best player on the planet prepare to lock horns in continental competition.

Hamann is looking forward to seeing two men performing at the peak of their powers showcase their talent, with the German, despite his strong ties to Liverpool, expecting a Portuguese phenomenon to show once again why he is considered to be one of the greatest of all time.

The 2005 Champions League winner told the Daily Mirror: “Everything Salah touches this season turns to goals – but in a game like this I would have to go with the old man [Ronaldo] because he’s done it so many times before.“Salah has had an incredible season – and the hope at Anfield is that he’s got even better years ahead of him. But while the future belongs to Salah, the here and now still belongs to Ronaldo, a player with a proven track record.“This is, however, an opportunity for Salah to really make his mark at the highest level.

“It doesn’t get any bigger than a Champions League final against Real Madrid, who are probably the most iconic club in the world.“If Liverpool win then I think that Salah would become favourite to land the Ballon d’Or.

“But if you are asking me who I would rather have in my team at this moment in time then I would have to go for Ronaldo.”Liverpool will be looking to Salah for inspiration against a side going in search of a hat-trick of Champions League crowns, with Hamann of the opinion that the 25-year-old could emulate the performance of Reds legend Gerrard from an iconic meeting with AC Milan.

He added: “If you want to win big trophies then you need your big players to step up when it matters. Liverpool have got other big talents like Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino – but Mo Salah is THE man.

“In that respect, he can inspire Liverpool against Madrid like Steven Gerrard did when we played Milan.“If you are a goal or two behind – or three, like we were in Istanbul – you see someone like Gerrard alongside you and you know you’re still in the game.

“You know that you’ve got a team-mate with a special talent, someone who can create a goal out of nothing, or produce a bit of brilliance to get you back in the game.“It’s hard to describe what kind of belief having those game-changing players in your team gives you.

“If you’ve got a goal-scorer of Mo Salah’s class in your side you know you’re never out of the game. It’s like having a talisman. Steven Gerrard was one – and Mo Salah can be one.”

 

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Matic wants Man Utd to back Mourinho with 'more good players'


Nemanja Matic has urged Manchester United to back manager Jose Mourinho in the transfer market by stating "a few more good players" are required for a Premier League title push.

After being the closest challengers to Pep Guardiola's record-breaking Manchester City in the league, United were runners-up again as they lost the FA Cup final 1-0 to Chelsea on Saturday.

Eden Hazard converted a 22nd-minute penalty after he was sent to ground by a hapless Phil Jones tackle, with Thibaut Courtois impressing in the second half as the Red Devils were kept at bay.

Despite finishing the season without a trophy, Matic is confident United can compete for honours next term with some high-quality additions."I think with a few more good players in the squad we can fight for the title, of course, and I'm sure we will do it," said the Serbia international.

On United's performance against his former club at Wembley, Matic added: "I don't know what we did wrong but we had one mistake when we conceded the goal, but I think that we played good football for 90 minutes."I think that we deserved more but this is football, one mistake and sometimes you can lose the game and this is what has happened to us.

"I'm not disappointed, we tried, obviously we tried but we played against a very good squad, the defence is very organised, it's not easy to create the chances. We had some that we didn't use. To win the game you have to score goals but as I said I think we deserve more."Matic revealed Mourinho did not talk to the players following their loss, but he was confident the manager had a similar view on the display.

He said: "We didn't speak with him but I think he saw the game in the same way, he saw that we played good football, especially the second half we controlled the ball all the time so he must be happy with how we played, how we organised in the game but of course, when you lose the game, we are not happy."

Ander Herrera was pleased with United's progress in 2017-18 and wants to help ensure they keep putting themselves in position to bring more silverware to the club.
"I think we are going to it [the Premier League title] the right way. In this season we cannot take credit out from what Manchester City have done because they deserve the title and they have been almost perfect this season," said Herrera.

"So I think we have to keep going to this way. I think we are doing things right. Try to be back playing finals - I've been here already four seasons and I've played a lot of finals which is very good, so this club is about trophies."But first of all to win trophies you have to play in finals and I think we are doing that."

 

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'Nobody is bigger than the club' - PSG president fuels Neymar transfer speculation


Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has fuelled speculation of a summer transfer for Neymar by stating that "nothing and nobody is bigger than the club".

Neymar has only spent one season with French champions PSG but the former Barcelona forward is already being linked with a move away, most notably to the Blaugrana's Clasico rivals Real Madrid.Manchester United are also said to have an interest Neymar, who completed a world-record €222 million (£194m/$262m) transfer to Paris in August last year.

Outgoing PSG head coach Unai Emery insisted the 26-year-old would remain at the Ligue 1 powerhouse next season , while Al-Khelaifi said he was "2000 per cent" sure the Brazil international would stay in 2018-19.

However, Al-Khelaifi revealed he would not stand in the way if a player wanted to leave the Parc des Princes."Nothing and nobody is bigger than the club, not the coach nor the players," Al-Khelaifi told L'Equipe."The club is and always will be first, it is bigger. If someone does not accept that and is not happy, then they leave.

"Each and every person must give their best and do their best for PSG… Since we have been here [Qatari ownership], we have won 19 trophies. That's enormous.But we are still criticised a lot. But those are things that happen to all these clubs.

"If today I was to tell you that we are going to leave, what would your opinion be?"
Neymar scored 28 goals in 30 matches for PSG before suffering a season-ending foot injury in February.

The 26-year-old netted 19 goals and tallied 13 assists in 20 Ligue 1 appearances as he was named the Player of the Year at the UNFP awards.

 

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Iniesta the perfect poster boy for a new generation of talents at Barca


Andres Iniesta's time at Barcelona is about to end. The news that all of the club's fans did not want to hear became reality in late April as the player confirmed his departure in a tearful press conference.

The start of a long and painful goodbye had come in the final of the Copa del Rey, when the midfielder signed off with a goal and a vintage display, before leaving the pitch to an ovation from fans of both Barca and Sevilla.

On the way off, he had embraced several of his team-mates and he then sat on the bench for a few minutes, emotion etched on his face as tears flowed down his cheeks. And shortly afterwards, he returned to lift the trophy following a comprehensive 5-0 win.

After the game, he refused to confirm his departure, but said he would speak soon, and with the whole squad given most of the week off, the following Friday was the time to announce his decision to the world.

Flanked by family, friends, the Barca board and most of his team-mates (Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, the latter due to a passport issue, were notable absentees), he revealed his reasons for walking away this summer."I don't want to fool myself or fool anybody," he said. "I'm 34 years old (actually he was still 33 at the time) and I know that everything would be more difficult. It's a rule of life. Other challenges come and I will try to be as happy as I have been here."

Clearly, it was a difficult decision. "It is a really hard day for me," he said of his imminent exit and move (probably to play in China or Japan, although it is still unconfirmed). "Because I have been here my whole life. Saying goodbye to what has been my home and my life is really complicated. But I understand that what comes next is even more complicated and difficult."I could never forgive myself for making an uncomfortable situation at a club that has given me everything. That would not be fair on me and it would not be fair on the club."

Iniesta had signed a "lifetime" contract at Barca in October, but he had doubts back then and has chosen to leave on a high, still performing at the top level and with a domestic double set to be sealed this weekend as the Catalans close in on La Liga.

The player broke down several times as he annpunced his decision to leave and especially as he thanked his parents and his sister, also present, remembering how he had arrived a shy kid 22 years ago, and his wife and "three treasures", who were also in the room to watch his farewell press conference.

There was also a message for the club. "Succeeding here was ingrained in my head," he said. "It was a bit tough at first but it didn't matter. The club should be aware of the value of the youth system. They are working well."

"Andres eats at a different table," Guardiola once said early on in his tenure as Barca boss. "He's an example. I always says he's an example for the youth players.They should look at him: he doesn't wear ear rings, he doesn't dye his hair."He plays 20 minutes and he doesn't complain. Wherever you play him, he doesn't complain. And he always plays well, and he always trains well. And when he is injured, he is in a bad mood because he wants to come back and help the team. For Barca to have a player like him is priceless."

It has been and as Andres prepares to bow out on Sunday, nothing will be quite the same again. But Guardiola is right: just as Pep himself was back in the day, Iniesta is the perfect poster boy for a new generation of talents at La Masia. He can only hope the club gives them a chance.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

No more excuses, Mourinho needs to prove himself worthy of Man Utd in 2018-19


It has been a 2017-18 campaign in which Manchester United have undoubtedly progressed under Jose Mourinho.

Their second place finish in the Premier League says much about their increased durability, and as they look to make that next step and truly compete for a league title again they head into the new season in far better shape than they were 12 months ago.

Yet Saturday’s FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea was just the latest reminder that all is not well at Old Trafford, and if Mourinho doesn’t hit the ground running in 2018-19 then sympathy among the United fan base will be in very short supply.

Most fans have been accepting of Mourinho’s need to do things his way despite the obvious drawbacks. The football is far from easy on the eye, and the cup final defeat was just another example of a game in which supremely talented players were either stymied due to tactics, given almost no time to impress because of selection, or, worse still, not called upon at all.

Without the returning Romelu Lukaku among their starters, United had no direction in attack. But rather than change his plan tactically to play to Marcus Rashford’s attributes, Mourinho simply threw his hands in the air afterwards and cursed Lukaku’s refusal to put his body on the line for longer than the final 20 minutes.

He told reporters afterwards: “When a player tells you he is not ready to play, when a player tells you that he’s not ready to start the game, then the question is‘How many minutes do you think you can play?’ But how can I convince a player who tells me that he’s not ready to play. That’s nonsense.”

It is far from the first time he has decried the lack of commitment of a player who would not commit to playing through an injury, and from the look of Lukaku’s movement when he did enter in the 73rd minute the Belgian was barely mobile enough to have made an appearance at all.The perception of disharmony this type of behaviour presents does nothing to help him in his task to buy credit with United fans.

The vast majority of those who had made the trip to Wembley on Saturday headed for the exits within seconds of the final whistle, so distressed were they with their team’s inability to put together anything resembling a fight in the first half. By the time the United players went up for their medals you could practically count the number of Reds watching on.

While it’s normal for supporters to be downbeat about a cup final loss, the biggest frustration for United fans right now is that their team are not playing to their potential and that is due in large part to the decisions made by their manager.

Mourinho blasted Chelsea’s long-ball football afterwards, insisting: “They only played long balls for Giroud to flick and then Hazard to get second balls in individual actions, but when you play against a team so predictable it’s quite easy to adapt to it.” That assessment failed to address the fact that he had in part allowed the west Londoners to play exactly that way by handing them the initiative with his negative approach to the opening stages.It’s the same old story. Jose never accepts responsibility and was looking in every other direction for a potential fall guy. He was attempting to pick fights with the media, moaning at Antonio Conte’s tactics and even blaming his striker for being injured.

But if he chooses to adapt the same approach next season then the United fans will not stick with him unless he delivers in a big way. They need to push all the way in the title race, and arguably win it, for him to keep justifying his tactics and his attitude. There can be no more days like Saturday, no more nights like Sevilla.

Mourinho’s insistence on doing everything his own way with complete disregard for the consequences and firing broadsides left, right and centre when it all goes wrong is not in keeping with the United way. He may have been given the backing of the board to keep doing what he's doing, with executive vice-chair Ed Woodward admitting last week that results matter little to the club's commercial entity, but as soon as he loses the fans he will need to go a long way to win them back and make his continued position at the club tenable.

While it should be appreciated that he has moved the club in the right direction, now is the time for him deliver on the greatest stages. United need actions now, because all the words are becoming predictable, tedious and damaging.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barcelona 1 Real Sociedad 0: Coutinho stunner lights up Iniesta's farewell

Andres Iniesta's illustrious Barcelona career came to an end with a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad at a Camp Nou in celebratory mood.

The 34-year-old had announced in April that he would leave the Catalan giants at the end of the season – just two days before Ernesto Valverde's side beat Deportivo La Coruna to confirm a 25th LaLiga title.

Played out against that backdrop it was hardly surprising that, at times, it felt more like a testimonial match rather than the final league game of the season.Iniesta demonstrated his abundant repertoire in a dominant first-half display, finding his team-mates with an array of precise and inventive passes, something he has done with distinction since his debut in the 2002-03 campaign.

While the World Cup winner was not involved in the game's solitary goal, he will have surely looked on admiringly as Philippe Coutinho whipped in a fine finish from outside the area after 57 minutes.The curtain eventually came down on Iniesta’s time with Barca in the 81st minute, the midfielder leaving the field to a rapturous reception and handing over the captain’s armband to Lionel Messi in a symbolic gesture.


In a bright, open start it was the visitors who carved out the first clear sight of goal though, Willian Jose heading straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen from Adnan Januzaj's clipped cross.

The Belgian winger then tested Barca's goalkeeper himself soon after with a whipped effort from outside the penalty area before Iniesta came close to a fairytale goal – his low strike flashing past Miguel Angel Moya's right-hand post and into the side netting.A rejuvenated Ousmane Dembele then delivered two fine crosses in quick succession that should have resulted in an opener. First, an unmarked Ivan Rakitic failed to locate the target with a header from 10 yards and then Luis Suarez scuffed a shot wide from the Frenchman's low ball into the box.

Sociedad were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men moments before the interval when Raul Navas hacked down a marauding Dembele, referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero opting to give the defender just a yellow card.Barca started the second period with a spring in their step and were rewarded with a goal of the highest calibre from Coutinho.

The Brazilian – who netted a hat-trick in last weekend’s remarkable 5-4 defeat to Levante, a result that ended Barca's unbeaten record in the league this term – cut in from the left and unleashed a trademark curled finish from 25 yards that crashed in off Moya's left-hand post.Messi almost set up a second within minutes of his introduction, only for fellow substitute Denis Suarez to shoot too close to Moya, while the Argentine forward failed to direct a header beyond the Sociedad goalkeeper from Luis Suarez's cross.

Iniesta’s long goodbye finally came to an end nine minutes from time when he was replaced by Paco Alcacer, while there was also time for Sociedad to pay tribute to their own legendary midfielder in Xabi Prieto, the 34-year-old coming on for the final few minutes ahead of his impending retirement.