..::Football IV::..

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UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2018.11.28

UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2018.11.28

Atletico Madrid Vs Monaco

Lokomotiv Moscow Vs Galatasaray

Dortmund Vs Club Brugge

Porto Vs Schalke

Napoli Vs Crvena

PSV Vs Barcelona

PSG Vs Liverpool

Tottenham Vs Inter

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Napoli 3 Red Star Belgrade 1: Ancelotti's men top as Mertens grabs brace


Napoli put one foot in the knockout stage of the Champions League by beating Red Star Belgrade 3-1 to go top of a tightly balanced Group C with one game left to play.

Marek Hamsik's first goal of the season put Carlo Ancelotti's free-flowing side on their way after 11 minutes, and Dries Mertens bagged a brace either side of half-time to put the game beyond Red Star.

El Fardou Ben pulled one back but Vladan Milojevic's men can no longer progress in the competition after taking just four points from their five games, while Napoli need just a point in their final game against Liverpool to make certain of their progression.


That point will not come easy at Anfield but Ancelotti will be confident after seeing the Partenopei extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches in all competitions with a fluent display of passing football and clinical finishing.
Napoli's attack found its rhythm quickly and Mertens went close with an audacious behind-the-leg shot before Hamsik connected with Nikola Maksimovic's flick-on at a corner to score with a side-footed volley from point-blank range.

Veljko Simic should have done better when Marko Marin put him through after 22 minutes but David Ospina made a simple low save and the Red Star winger was made to rue his missed opportunity when Mertens beat Milan Borjan at his near post, guiding Fabian Ruiz's deflected cross home with the outside of his right boot.

The second half was seven minutes old when Hamsik's chipped ball forward found Mertens, who controlled it immaculately before curling the ball towards goal with so much power that it went through Borjan's hands and into the top left corner of the net.

Ben's consolation strike was all about Marin, who twisted and turned his way through Napoli's defence to tee up a simple low finish for the Comorian striker, before Napoli weathered a late spell of possession for the visitors as all three points stayed at the San Paolo.

 

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Borussia Dortmund 0 Club Brugge 0: Favre's men through but lose ground on Atletico

Borussia Dortmund have secured their progression to the Champions League knockout phase with a 0-0 draw at home to Club Brugge, but the stalemate sees them fall behind Atletico Madrid in the battle for top spot in Group A.

Atletico eased to a 2-0 win over Monaco earlier on Wednesday to move three points clear of Lucien Favre's men and Dortmund failed to respond, slumping to a draw despite dominating and creating some presentable chances.Christian Pulisic and Marco Reus were particularly culpable, as they both spurned fine opportunities in the first half – the latter not even hitting the target when one-on-one.

Brugge were no more of a threat in the second period, yet defensively they looked at ease for most of the match, holding on to a commendable point which hands the initiative to Atletico.

Pulisic should have put Dortmund ahead after just 11 minutes when he found space in the penalty area, but he shot straight at Ethan Horvath in goal.Opportunities were otherwise infrequent, but the hosts did go close again just after the half-hour mark – Axel Witsel feeding Reus through on goal, only for the Germany star to miss the target when one-on-one with Horvath.

The match followed a similar pattern after the break and Brugge's Brandon Mechele made a vital intervention early on, blocking a low Reus cross which Pulisic looked destined to convert.Another low Reus delivery threatened soon after the hour, but this time it flew straight across the goal face, with no Dortmund player able to turn it in.

Favre introduced Jadon Sancho from the bench towards the end and he did well to tee up Paco Alcacer on the edge of the box with four minutes to go, but the Spaniard's strike flew harmlessly over, consigning Dortmund to a draw.

 

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Paris Saint-Germain 2 Liverpool 1: Record-breaking Neymar leaves Reds on the brink

Neymar scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 home win for Paris Saint-Germain that leaves Liverpool on the brink of an early Champions League exit.PSG led early in Wednesday's crunch Group C clash when Juan Bernat capitalised on poor defending and the hosts doubled their advantage through a record-breaking Neymar goal.

His close-range finish on the rebound was Neymar's 31st Champions League goal, moving him clear of Kaka as the most prolific Brazilian in the competition's history.


James Milner scored a penalty on his 150th Liverpool appearance but Jurgen Klopp's side could not find a crucial equaliser at the Parc des Princes and they must now beat pool leaders Napoli at Anfield on matchday six to have any chance of progression.
Angel Di Maria forced an early save from Alisson and the goalkeeper was soon in action again, Neymar firing straight at his fellow Brazil international.Alisson was beaten in the 13th minute, though, Bernat rifling into the bottom-left corner after seizing on a loose clearance from Virgil van Dijk.

Mohamed Salah fired wide before Marco Verratti was perhaps fortunate only to be booked for a high tackle on Joe Gomez.PSG made it 2-0 as Neymar tucked in the rebound when Edinson Cavani's poor finish was saved by Alisson after a rapid attack, but Liverpool got one back from the spot before the break.

Sadio Mane went to ground under Di Maria's challenge, referee Szymon Marciniak initially giving a corner before changing his mind, and Milner sent Gianluigi Buffon the wrong way.

Marquinhos had a third for PSG rightly ruled out for offside shortly after the restart and Roberto Firmino wasted a good headed chance for the visitors.Klopp threw on attacking substitutes Daniel Sturridge and Xherdan Shaqiri in search of a leveller, but PSG held on to gain revenge for September's dramatic 3-2 loss at Anfield.

 

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PSV 1 Barcelona 2: Messi's genius wraps up top spot in Group B

Lionel Messi's twin moments of inspiration helped Barcelona overcame a shaky hour to win 2-1 at PSV and sew up top spot in Group B.Comfortable 4-0 victors in the reverse encounter, Ernesto Valverde's men enjoyed no such dominance in Eindhoven as they came under heavy scrutiny for long periods.The visitors had the woodwork to thank for denying PSV a lead on three occasions, before captain Messi took charge in the second half.

He broke the deadlock with a sublime piece of penalty area composure and then delivered the set-piece from which Gerard Pique ensured a late Luke de Jong header would be nothing more than a consolation.

PSV's bright start could well have come with early reward through Gaston Pereiro.
The winger forced Marc-Andre ter Stegen into a flying save from a free-kick, stroked a shot on to the right post and then, from De Jong's knock-down, spooned over from close range.

Arturo Vidal was twice denied by goal-line blocks before Barca survived another fright, Denzel Dumfries hitting the upright following De Jong's header against the crossbar.

Ter Stegen remained under scrutiny after the interval and yet, in the 61st minute, Barca were ahead. Ousmane Dembele slipped a pass into Messi's path and the star man did the rest, weaving around multiple markers before rifling past an unsuspecting Jeroen Zoet.

And it was the skipper who also created what proved the winner 20 minutes from time as he deceived PSV's wall by whipping a free-kick onto Pique's boot for an instinctive first-time finish.

There was time left for Netherlands striker De Jong to nod home Angelino's cross in the 82nd minute, but Barca held on to three points despite squandering a clean sheet.

 

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Tottenham 1 Inter 0: Eriksen keeps Spurs' last-16 hopes alive

Christian Eriksen scored the only goal at Wembley as Tottenham edged past Inter 1-0 to keep their Champions League last-16 hopes alive.

The Italians had looked like leaving London with the point they needed to secure their place in the knockout stages and dump Spurs out, but substitute Eriksen lashed home with 10 minutes remaining to move Mauricio Pochettino's side level on points with them.

Tottenham now travel to Group B leaders Barcelona – who have already qualified for the knockout stages – in two weeks' time knowing that a win would see them join Ernesto Valverde's side in the next round.


Spurs – who hit the crossbar through Harry Winks in the first half – had looked set for disappointment until Eriksen finished a fine team move involving Moussa Sissoko and Dele Alli to keep them firmly in the hunt for second place.
Harry Kane was denied by Samir Handanovic at his near post, while Alli fizzed over the crossbar from 20 yards as Tottenham started brightly.

Erik Lamela flashed wide from distance shortly before the halfway mark in the first half, while Lucas Moura fired straight at Handanovic after a swashbuckling run from Sissoko.Pochettino's dominant side came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock seven minutes before the interval, but Winks' curling effort from 25 yards crashed back off the crossbar.

Inter started to come out of their shell in the second period with Milan Skriniar prodding wide at the back post and Ivan Perisic denied by Hugo Lloris.The visitors' backline looked set to hold firm, but Eriksen – who scored in September's 2-1 defeat to Luciano Spalletti's side at San Siro – had other ideas.

The Denmark international showed superb composure to thump past Handanovic from eight yards after being teed up by Alli to keep his side's Champions League adventure alive for at least another fortnight.

 

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Atletico Madrid 2 Monaco 0: Penalty misery for Falcao as hosts cruise into last 16

Atletico Madrid eased into the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over beleaguered Monaco, who saw Radamel Falcao miss a late penalty against his former club.

Diego Simeone's men were able to control proceedings against an injury-hit visiting side who lined up with four teenagers, taking the lead inside two minutes as Koke's strike found the net via a deflection off 17-year-old centre-back Benoit Badiashile.

Antoine Griezmann soon added a second goal and Atletico remained comfortable thereafter as they moved to 12 points from five games, a total Borussia Dortmund can match with victory over Club Brugge later on Wednesday.


Monaco, who finally claimed a first win since August 11 on Saturday, did have the chance to set up a nervy finish, only for Falcao to fire wide from the penalty spot after Stefan Savic had handled to pick up a second yellow card.

The Ligue 1 side now face a second successive early exit from European competition, their winless run in the Champions League having stretched to 13 games.Badiashile and Giulian Biancone made their competition debuts as part of an inexperienced Monaco XI, but the former endured a nightmare start.

Koke was given far too much time and space to run towards goal and the midfielder’s shot from 20 yards deflected off the luckless Badiashile to leave goalkeeper Diego Benaglio helpless.

Former Monaco forward Thomas Lemar hit the post with a curling free-kick before Griezmann made it 2-0 on 24 minutes, the France international prodding home from close range with the outside of his boot after Angel Correa had left Jemerson on his backside.

Monaco finally had a clear-cut chance of their own on the hour mark when substitute Falcao, afforded a predictably warm reception following his previous heroics for Atleti, turned Savic superbly only to shoot straight at Jan Oblak.

Savic was fortunate to only be yellow-carded for elbowing Andrea Raggi in the chest, but the Montenegro defender did see red in the 82nd minute when he handled Youri Tielemans' goalbound effort.

Falcao fluffed his lines from the spot, though, shooting wide of Oblak's left-hand post to cap another dismal evening for Monaco.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

David Villa vows not to retire after leaving New York City FC


David Villa was the first player signed by New York City FC when the club began play four seasons ago, but his award-winning run with the team has come to an end.

Villa announced his departure from NYCFC on Wednesday, turning down an opportunity to stay with the team, while making it clear he plans on continuing to play.

"I think it's been four very good years," Villa said of his time with NYCFC. "I think it was an experience totally different than any before it, starting a team from zero, being the first player.

"I think if we look at what the team was when we began, and look at what it is today, obviously the change is significant and I feel like I played my part in that growth."The Spanish World Cup winner scored 80 goals in 124 MLS appearances for NYCFC, including his MLS MVP season in 2016, when he finished with 23 goals.

He topped that total a year later, notching 24 goals in all competitions and earning a recall to the Spanish national team in the process."David has been an incredible ambassador and captain to this club since the moment we signed him," NYCFC sporting director Claudio Reyna said.

"His professionalism and leadership helped us through the challenges that a new team faces when they come into the league. He’s represented New York City FC tremendously both on and off the pitch and has been a real leader for this football club."

According to Villa, NYCFC wanted to bring him back, but he ultimately decided that the time was right to move on and pursue new opportunities."I feel a sensation that an era has ended, I've done everything I can do here, and now I have to look for new challenge

"I'm going to try and keep playing. During these last months I've had an internal dialogue with my body and my heart and I believe I can play, at least one more year, at the optimal level I like to play. If not, I wouldn't feel it and I'd go home, but I've decided to keep playing."

The 36-year-old forward is coming off a season marred by injuries, which limited him to 23 matches. He still notched 14 goals and five assists, and also scored a goal in the playoffs, helping NYCFC beat the Philadelphia Union.

 

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Wenger admits he misses coaching amid Bayern Munich links


Arsene Wenger says he misses coaching amid links with the Bayern Munich role.The Frenchman seemed set to retire from management at the end of last season, as he left Arsenal after 22 years in charge.

However, reports from around Europe claim that he is interested in the possibility of succeeding the beleaguered Niko Kovac at Bayern, with the Bavarian giants currently nine points off the pace in the Bundesliga.

And, speaking at Etoiles du sport, an annual meeting between young French sports stars and veterans of the game, he says you can "lose a lot of energy" being outside of football.“I did not come here to talk about my future, but I still have dreams,” said Wenger in Tignes. “It’s not over.

“There are different ways to train. I can coach young people, but I still have the physical strength, I still want to do it, because I have acquired a lot of experience, so not sharing what we have learned with others makes life a bit less interesting.

“I miss the pitch, of course. What I miss is what’s around it. Over the last 20 years, the time you spend on communication has become much more important.The staffing has become huge and a lot of energy is used up in what is not really your passion, but we are always ready to pay the price to be able to play for this hour-and-a-half on the pitch.”

Two trusted lieutenants of his time in charge at Arsenal - Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira - are attempting to make their own way in coaching, with Monaco and Nice respectively, and Wenger believes they will both thrive in the dugout.

"They are two men who have had a full life and passed through the barrier today," he added."It's a pleasure. They are people who will pass on what they have learned in their careers and they will influence the lives of the players who are with them.

"At least I did not disgust them with the job. That's not bad."Meanwhile, Wenger is not surprised by Paris Saint-Germain's domination of Ligue 1, where Henry and Vieira are managing, given their excessive transfer spending.

"A championship more easily reflects the real value of the teams. Modern life means that there is more concentration of players in a small number of units."We see it on an economic level and on a football level. The best players are grouped today in five or six clubs. The unpredictable side has a disappeared a little in modern football."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Lukaku on his Man Utd future: It depends how long they want me to be here!


Romelu Lukaku intends to remain at Manchester United for as long as Jose Mourinho's side want to keep him.The Belgium international striker is currently out of favour at Old Trafford, starting on the bench for the games against Everton and Manchester City, as well as the 1-0 win over Young Boys on Tuesday night.

Indeed, the former Chelsea forward has revealed the 10-minute conversation he had with Mourinho where he was told he was being dropped from the starting XI, insisting he was "angry" at the decision.

Lukaku is without a goal for United since September, when he found the net in the 2-1 win over Watford to make it four goals in five games at the start of the season.Despite his recent struggles, the 25-year-old is not seeking an exit from Old Trafford and claims that he'll stick around until he's told he's no longer needed.

He told Bleacher Report: "Obviously you sign here to win as many trophies as you can. How long I'm going to be here depends on how long they want me here, you know."I will always give my best to this club because they gave me the opportunity to play and compete in the best league, so I'm always grateful for that."

Asked about his relationship with team-mate Paul Pogba and the potential difficulties of playing in a competitive environment with someone who is also a good friend, Lukaku added: "It's like taking and giving, I'd say."Sometimes it's better that you compete throughout the week against each other to play well at the weekend together.

"Because then I know I have a warrior who is going to give everything to the team and hopefully he knows what he can have from me, and then we just go out there and ball."

Lukaku was also asked about why he appears to be a lot happier playing for Belgium and whether it is as simple as Roberto Martinez's side winning more games at the moment.He said: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Winning is the vibe, man, it's the vibe over there. It's different."

United sealed qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League with their narrow win over Young Boys on Tuesday and now face a trip to Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday.

 

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'Hell yeah I'm angry!' - Lukaku lifts lid on 10-minute chat with Mourinho when he was told he'd been dropped


Romelu Lukaku has revealed exactly what happened when he was dropped by Jose Mourinho, with the Manchester United striker left "angry" by the Portuguese's decision.

The Belgium international was benched for clashes with Everton and Manchester City, playing a total of 58 minutes across the two games, while he was also a substitute against Young Boys in the Champions League on Tuesday.Lukaku eventually came on in every game, with United underperforming, though he failed to score.

He has hit the net just four times in all competitions this season, and he has revealed that his conversation with Mourinho has led to him reassessing his own goals as he bids to fire United back into contention in the Premier League.

Asked how he felt when he was dropped, he told Bleacher Report: "I was like, oh wow, sh*t happened, but I really had a conversation with the coach about it and I said 'listen, it's been a long year and also with the World Cup, I felt a bit tired'. He saw it. He made his decision."He said I didn't look happy. That I was angry. And I said 'yeah, hell yeah I'm angry. Like, do you think I should smile?'

"And then we had that little chat and then after that chat we just moved on. It was like 10 minutes, and from then on like you know it opened something in myself, like a new fire to go and get what's mine."

Nevertheless, Lukaku has become a trusted Mourinho lieutenant at Old Trafford, having played over 50 games in all competitions last season, scoring 27 goals.And he insists that he would do anything for the ex-Chelsea and Inter manager to ensure that he is successful.

"One of them, yeah," he said, when asked if he was Mourinho's favourite player. "Because I would go through a brick wall for him and he knows that."He's the type of coach where he would be honest with you and tell you how it is, and if you cannot deal with that, I mean, that's a big problem.

"I mean working under him when I'm 24 is totally different to working under him when I was 19. 20. When I was 19, 20, he was hard on me, man, oh sh*t. The guy was tough - I was doing everything so well but he was still tough."But now, 24, I understand him. I understand him now. I became better, I improved as a player."

Asked why Mourinho was like that with him, Lukaku added: "Because he wanted me to be better. You know, a guy like him, he doesn't want to compete to be number two or something. He wants to be number one."

United have struggled so far this season and lie seventh in the Premier League, 14 points behind leaders Manchester City and seven behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
They are next in action this weekend, against Southampton.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'They made us look like butchers!' - Klopp blasts PSG and 'unprepared' referee


Jurgen Klopp blasted referee Szymon Marciniak after Liverpool's Champions League hopes were left hanging by a thread following defeat to Paris St Germain.

The Reds lost 2-1 in the French capital and must beat Napoli at Anfield - either 1-0 or by two clear goals - in their final Group C game to qualify for the knockout stages.His team were outplayed for swathes of the contest, but an angry Klopp's main focus in his post-match interviews was on the performance of the official.

The Pole issued six yellow cards to Liverpool and two to PSG - one of which, for Marco Veratti's foul on Joe Gomez, the Liverpool boss was adamant should have been a red.

And the German was further angered by the referee's apparent uncertainty about awarding the penalty from which Liverpool scored through James Milner, with the assistant referee influencing the decision.Klopp ranted to Viasport Fotball: "I think we won the fair play competition three times in a row in England and today we [were made to] look like butchers!"We have six, seven, eight yellow cards and we were close to a red card.

"Yes, there were one or two holding things which were yellow cards, but all the others - it's unbelieveable."We got a penalty - the ref didn't want to give it but I don't know how that's possible."The ref needs to be prepared for a game like this and he looked not prepared.

"But they scored two and we only [got] one so it's our fault."He continued on the same theme in his press conference, adding: "That was a red for me, clearly from Veratti. I saw it very well and for sure it was not the same colour card as the 500 we got tonight."

Asked if the official had been infuenced by apparent play-acting by PSG star Neymar, Klopp snapped: "It's not for me to talk about Neymar."And he added to his interviewer: "Ask the ref. You can. Try."Despite his anger, Klopp says his side remain confident of reaching the knockout stages ahead of a do or die test against Napoli.

"Napoli is unbelievabley strong and we have to win by two goals which is not an easy job but we'll have Anfield at out backs and we still believe," he said."We are dispoointed, for sure but we'll have to be spot on."Liverpool return to action on Sunday when they host Everton in the season's first Merseyside Derby.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Man Utd given Perisic hope as Inter star reiterates his Premier League dream


Inter winger Ivan Perisic has handed Manchester United a boost in their long-term pursuit of him by suggesting that playing in the Premier League is a dream of his.The Croatian was identified by Jose Mourinho as the ideal player to liven up United's attack over the summer, but the Red Devils fell short with their bid for the player after a protracted transfer saga.

The 29-year-old has personally reignited rumours of his departure from Inter, however, by admitting to holding ambitions of playing in England before the end of his career.

Speaking in a press conference before Inter’s crucial Champions League clash with Tottenham at Wembley on Wednesday night, Perisic said: "I have always said that [playing in the Premier League] is my dream."In football everything is possible, we will see in the future. Now, I'm focusing on Inter.”

The attacker was an instrumental figure in Croatia’s run to a first ever World Cup final in Russia over the summer, scoring the goal that forced extra time against England in the semi-finals, before finding the back of the net with a fine strike in the final itself to briefly level proceedings and give his country hope against France.Perisic has two goals and two assists in Serie A so far this season, but has yet to be involved in any goals in the Champions League.

Inter go into Wednesday night’s match knowing that a draw would be enough to ensure their qualification to the knockout stages at the first time of asking after a six-year absence from the competition.

Perisic is insistent, however, that his side are not willing to risk slipping up by settling for a share of the points.He said: “We know how to play just to win. We know that they are strong and if we play to take only one point we will lose.”

Spurs lie three points behind Inter in the group after a disappointing campaign and know that they must win to keep their faint hopes of progression alive. Confidence will be high amongst Mauricio Pochettino’s squad after winning their previous five matches in all competitions.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mourinho confident on De Gea deal as Man Utd goalkeeper 'wants to stay'


Jose Mourinho remains confident that David de Gea will sign a new contract at Manchester United as the Spanish goalkeeper “wants to stay”.The Red Devils are in danger of seeing a key performer head towards the end of his current deal.De Gea’s terms are due to expire in the summer of 2019, but there is a 12-month option in that agreement which will be triggered if required.

United are hoping that clause will not need to be activated, with a long-term extension considered to be a top priority.

Mourinho is optimistic when it comes to talks, with the Portuguese telling reporters after seeing De Gea produce more crucial stops in a 1-0 victory over Young Boys: “He's a world class player.“He's the best goalkeeper in the world and if our ambitions are to be a big club, to be a winning club, you need the best goalkeeper in the world and you need also some other players the best in the world.

“We have the best goalkeeper in the world and I know he wants to stay, I know his agent is happy to do what the player wants and I also know the board want him to stay and they are working on that.

“So hopefully sooner or later they reach a conclusion.”De Gea has enjoyed a record-breaking spell at Old Trafford.He initially struggled to settle in England after arriving from Atletico Madrid in 20

Premier League, League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League successes have been taken in with the Red Devils, while no player in United’s illustrious history can claim to have bettered his haul of four Player of the Year awards.His value to the cause cannot be overstated, with a reliable last line of defence having bailed the Red Devils out on countless occasions.

De Gea was the man for the big occasion once again against Young Boys, with a late effort from Marouane Fellaini carrying Mourinho’s side through to the last 16 of the Champions League.

 

[ThisaraMalintha]

Mourinho confident on De Gea deal as Man Utd goalkeeper 'wants to stay'


Jose Mourinho remains confident that David de Gea will sign a new contract at Manchester United as the Spanish goalkeeper “wants to stay”.The Red Devils are in danger of seeing a key performer head towards the end of his current deal.De Gea’s terms are due to expire in the summer of 2019, but there is a 12-month option in that agreement which will be triggered if required.

United are hoping that clause will not need to be activated, with a long-term extension considered to be a top priority.

Mourinho is optimistic when it comes to talks, with the Portuguese telling reporters after seeing De Gea produce more crucial stops in a 1-0 victory over Young Boys: “He's a world class player.“He's the best goalkeeper in the world and if our ambitions are to be a big club, to be a winning club, you need the best goalkeeper in the world and you need also some other players the best in the world.

“We have the best goalkeeper in the world and I know he wants to stay, I know his agent is happy to do what the player wants and I also know the board want him to stay and they are working on that.

“So hopefully sooner or later they reach a conclusion.”De Gea has enjoyed a record-breaking spell at Old Trafford.He initially struggled to settle in England after arriving from Atletico Madrid in 20

Premier League, League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League successes have been taken in with the Red Devils, while no player in United’s illustrious history can claim to have bettered his haul of four Player of the Year awards.His value to the cause cannot be overstated, with a reliable last line of defence having bailed the Red Devils out on countless occasions.

De Gea was the man for the big occasion once again against Young Boys, with a late effort from Marouane Fellaini carrying Mourinho’s side through to the last 16 of the Champions League.

 

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Chelsea 4 PAOK 0: Giroud doubles up as Blues top Group L

Olivier Giroud's first-half double set up a comfortable 4-0 home win over 10-man PAOK in which Callum Hudson-Odoi opened his Chelsea account, Maurizio Sarri's side topping Group L after extending their run of wins to five matches.

BATE's 2-0 home defeat of Vidi earlier in the day ensured Chelsea could not be caught in top spot, with Sarri making 10 changes from a crushing 3-1 loss at Tottenham that ended their unbeaten start to the Premier League season last time out.

Yevhen Khacheridi's early red card gave Chelsea's young guns plenty of chances to fire but it was Giroud's well-taken brace before the break that put the Blues on track for victory.And 18-year-old Hudson-Odoi hit his first Chelsea goal with a fine finish before substitute Alvaro Morata headed a late fourth, with Group L's bottom side PAOK now unable to qualify.


Khacheridi's dismissal in the seventh minute left PAOK in deep trouble, the centre-back tripping Giroud as the France striker ran on to a loose pass from Leo Matos.
Hudson-Odoi was proving lively and another Chelsea youngster, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, forced a superb fingertip save from Alexandros Paschalakis with a fizzing 25-yard drive.

Chelsea's opener arrived in the 27th minute, a long ball over the top from Cesc Fabregas beautifully controlled by Pedro, who held the ball up to wait for support and laid it off for Giroud to pass a first-time finish across Alexandros Paschalakis.

Hudson-Odoi, making his first Europa League start, then hit the crossbar with a 20-yard curler but Giroud's controlled volley from another lovely lofted Fabregas pass doubled Chelsea's advantage and recorded his fourth goal in three games for club and country.Teenager Hudson-Odoi scored the goal his vivacious performance deserved on the hour-mark, cutting in off the left flank to rifle a right-footed drive inside Paschalakis' near post, with Fabregas collecting another assist.

Andreas Christensen's substitution due to injury was a sour note for Chelsea, who were able to rest Giroud and Pedro in the closing stages with Group L's top spot in the bag.

And with 12 minutes to go Giroud's replacement Morata nodded in Hudson-Odoi's right-wing cross to complete the scoring.

 

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AC Milan 5 Dudelange 2: Crisis averted with second-half goal glut

AC Milan avoided humiliation as they came from behind to beat unheralded Dudelange 5-2 and stay well within reach of the Europa League knockout rounds.

Gennaro Gattuso was set to have serious questions asked of his tenure until own goals from Stelvio and Tom Schnell either side of Hakan Calhanoglu's measured finish in the 70th minute rescued a second-half deficit.

Fabio Borini came off the bench to a polish to a scoreline that was highly unflattering when Dominik Stolz and David Turpel struck in the space of 10 minutes to give Dudelange the lead following Patrick Cutrone's opener.


Though undoubtedly far from happy with their performance, the Rossoneri can comfort themselves with knowing they only need a point away to Olympiacos on the final matchday to join Real Betis in advancing from Group F.The hosts began with admirable intent and it was no surprise to see Cutrone squirm a 21st-minute shot through Landry Bonnefoi following Gonzalo Higuain's clever backheel.

But the early goal only seemed to lull Milan into a slumber that was punished six minutes before the break, Schnell making a nuisance of himself from a corner and midfielder Stolz emphatically dispatching the loose ball.Gattuso must have been ready to explode when, four minutes after the interval, Cristian Zapata misread a deflection and left Turpel to unerringly pick out the bottom-left corner.

Then came the much-needed response. Cutrone restored parity thanks to a heavy touch off Stelvio in the 66th minute before Calhanoglu stroked home from 20 yards moments later to complete the quickfire turnaround.

The relief was palpable when skipper Schnell headed into his own net at the near post as Borini was left to finalise a result that keeps Milan one point off leaders Betis.

 

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Vorskla 0 Arsenal 3: Gunners through as group winners after cruise in Kiev

Arsenal will go into the Europa League knockout phase as Group E winners thanks to a comfortable 3-0 triumph over Vorskla with a much-changed team in Kiev on Thursday.

The switching of the fixture from Poltava due to security concerns made it a logistical nightmare, but Arsenal produced a professional display, their makeshift starting XI of youngsters and fringe players cruising to victory in sub-zero temperatures.

Arsenal were 3-0 up by half-time, with 18-year-old Emile Smith Rowe getting his third of the season, before Aaron Ramsey added a penalty and Joe Willock got off the mark for the club.


Unai Emery's men were less incisive after the interval and were unfortunate to have a second Smith Rowe goal chalked off, but the result never looked in doubt and they ease into the next round as group winners, ahead of Sporting CP, with a game to spare.

Although Vorskla threatened a couple of times early on, Arsenal quickly established some control in the middle and got the opener in the 10th minute – Smith Rowe left with an easy finish after the ball broke kindly for him in the box.
The visitors doubled their advantage just before the half-hour mark, as Ramsey tucked home a penalty having been clumsily tripped by Igor Perduta.

And they were three to the good by half-time – Willock nonchalantly finding the bottom-right corner from 20 yards at the end of a rapid breakaway.Arsenal thought they had made it 4-0 just after the hour, but Smith Rowe's close-range tap-in from a Stephan Lichtsteiner cross was disallowed for offside.

Willock was denied a second of the day late on when released into the box by Bukayo Saka, with Bogdan Shust rushing out to make a good save, though it mattered little in the end.

 

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'Man Utd fans want to see good football' – Fellaini frustrated by fan criticism


Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini believes that the fans have a right to voice their frustrations as the team continues to struggle for consistency.Jose Mourinho's men booked their place in the last-16 of the Champions League on Tuesday night with a 1-0 against Young Boys at Old Trafford, thanks to a last-minute Fellaini strike.

However, the performance left much to be desired as United were once again toothless in attack, while also generally lacking in intensity, continuing a running theme over the last few months.

The Red Devils are currently seventh in the Premier League, seven points off a top-four spot and 15 behind leaders Manchester City, having drawn their last home outing 0-0 against Crystal Palace.Fellaini admits that he sympathises with the club's supporters, who are entitled to expect more from the team and he hopes that their latest win can be a catalyst for change.

When asked how he feels playing in front of the disillusioned home faithful at the moment, the Belgian responded: “Of course it’s frustrating, but that’s football.They come, they pay for their tickets and they want to see good football.“But today the spirit was good, and we have to look forward with a lot of hunger.

Criticism is part of football, but we have to work. We are a team, we are together and we give everything. Together we have to move forward and take the points.“I think the team is confident now and we have to stay positive - play positive football, like we did today.

“We played positive football from the first minute and wanted to score. I think everyone can see that. We gave everything to score the goal and I think we have to continue that way.

“We had a lot of chances - we played forward. I think we have to keep this spirit and look forward. We play positive, score goals and show supporters how we want to make them happy.”Next up for United is an away trip to Saint Mary's on Saturday to take on Southampton, who currently sit in the relegation zone with just one win to their name this term.

A win for Mourinho's side will see them leapfrog Everton into sixth place for at least a day, ahead of the Merseyside Derby on Sunday.

 

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'Man Utd fear factor has gone' - Mourinho's side not the Red Devils of old, says Targett


Manchester United’s “fear factor has definitely gone”, says Southampton defender Matt Targett, with Jose Mourinho’s side considered to be less of a threat than the Red Devils of old.During the Premier League era, 13 titles have headed to Old Trafford.Sir Alex Ferguson landed all of those crowns and there has been a humbling process of rebuilding since his departure in 2013.

Mourinho is the latest to take on that challenge, but he is struggling to replicate successes of the past and currently has his side sat seventh in the English top-flight table.

He will be hoping to become upwardly mobile when visiting Southampton on Saturday, but Targett says the Saints are confident of piling more pressure on the Portuguese coach.

“The fear factor has definitely gone,” he said ahead of a clash with United at St Mary’s Stadium.“You can see how United have played recently. They have still got unbelievable talent but defensively I think they have problems.

“It is a big game. They are struggling. It is not like the old Manchester United. We can get at them and hopefully we can start turning things around.“Any home game, you have to be positive. We haven’t done that enough this season.“It will be a good chance to start on Saturday. It would do us the world of good and get the fans back on our side.”

Targett is right to suggest that United have struggled at the back this season, with 21 goals conceded in just 13 games.That is the worst record of those in the top half and 16 more than title hopefuls Manchester City and Liverpool have shipped.

Mourinho’s side have kept just five clean sheets across all competitions, with only two of those secured in the Premier League.