..::Football IV::..

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Solskjaer has 'big decision' to make on Pogba's future, says Ferdinand


Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a "big decision" to make on Paul Pogba's future, according to Rio Ferdinand.Pogba failed to make much of an impact on Tuesday, as United went crashing out of the Champions League with a 3-0 defeat at Barcelona.

The France international was often linked with a move away from Old Trafford earlier in the season, as he publicly feuded with manager Jose Mourinho.

But Pogba has been revitalised under Solskjaer, temporarily slowing down rumours that he could be set for a transfer. With Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus among the clubs reportedly interested, however, Ferdinand said that Pogba could still depart this summer.

"I think there’s a big decision in the summer. I think it’s up to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer," the former Man Utd defender said on BT Sport. "There’s been things in the media mooted that he might want to leave or he’s fancying a trip abroad but I think you build the team around a player of this calibre.

"He’s got 16 goals this season, albeit six of them penalties - but the output in terms of goals has shown a marked improvement since Ole’s come in. So that’s a thing I’m sure he’ll take into account.""To shift blame on him from a game like today, I think no one’s come out of this with any flying colours.

"It’s going to be over the time that Ole’s been here and Ole will have to judge: ‘Do I build the team around him and the ability that he’s got and the attributes that he has?’ or if Paul wants to leave."I would keep him here because Man United, they need stars, they need players who can turn games and he can do that."

That decision will have to wait, however. The Old Trafford side will have to turn their focus quickly back to the Premier League. The club are looking to climb back into the top four, but face two tough tests in the coming week, with Everton on Sunday and Manchester City next Wednesday.

 

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'We did a good job' - Allegri reels off his Juventus achievements as he defends himself after Ajax humbling


Massimiliano Allegri has pointed out the trophies he's won in charge of Juventus as he defended his record following the Champions League exit at the hands of Ajax.Juve were dumped out at the quarter-final stage by the Eredivisie side despite going into the second leg in a commanding position.

Having secured a 1-1 draw from the first leg in Amsterdam, Allegri's side appeared to be in control of the tie as Cristiano Ronaldo put them 1-0 ahead on Tuesday night.

But goals from Donny van de Beek and Matthijs de Ligt ensured Ajax would pull off an impressive comeback and book their place in the semi-finals of the competition.

Allegri was not too despondent at full-time, however, insisting that it has been a "good" season with Juve closing in on the Serie A title and having already won the Supercoppa Italiana against AC Milan.

The 51-year-old also reeled off his list of achievements with Juve since taking the job in 2014, including two Champions League final appearances and four Serie A titles in a row, which will become five on Saturday should they earn at least a draw against Fiorentina.

Confirming that he has no plans to leave after the loss to Ajax, Allegri told reporters: "If I were not motivated, I would have already told the president that I'm leaving next year. It's not like that, like it was not like that in the previous years.

"Also because I think in the last five years we did a good job - many players improved, we have many young players in the team, and in any case to win the league is not easy, to play two Champions League finals is not easy, to win four Italian Cups is not easy, to win two [Italian] Super Cups out of three is not easy."This year we won two competitions out of four, which is good, it's 50%. Now we have to reset everything and concentrate on Saturday to bring the Scudetto home."

Juve had the chance to win the Serie A title in their last league match although they were beaten 2-1 by 13th-placed SPAL despite Moise Kean scoring the opener.

Despite that loss, just their second of the campaign in the league - and with both having been suffered without Ronaldo in the squad - Juve are still 17 points clear of second-placed Napoli and will win the title on Saturday with a draw or better against la Viola.

Should they lose for the third game in a row they will also be crowned champions if Napoli fail to secure maximum points against Atalanta on Monday.

 

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There's nothing to announce – De Ligt dismisses Barca talk


Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt said "there is nothing to announce" following speculation linking him with reigning La Liga champions Barcelona.De Ligt – who is certain to leave Ajax at the end of the season according to head coach Erik ten Hag – is one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe, where Barca are among the clubs reportedly interested.

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu refused to rule out a move for the 19-year-old Netherlands international in an interview during the week.

After scoring the winning goal as Ajax shocked Juventus 2-1 on Tuesday to reach the Champions League semi-finals 3-2 on aggregate, De Ligt was tight-lipped on his future.Asked when he would announce his transfer to Barca, De Ligt replied: "Announce? There is nothing to announce."

When the reporter pushed him further, a smiling De Ligt said: "We're in the semi-finals of the Champions League and we're first in the league. That's enough to play for."

The teenage centre-back's midfield team-mate and international compatriot Frenkie de Jong, 21, has already agreed a move to Barcelona at the end of the season, and De Ligt is widely expected to follow in his footsteps.The Eredivisie side have proven their worth against a clutch of top teams in Europe so far, playing some scintillating football along the way.

They recorded two entertaining draws with Bayern Munich in the group stages and knocked reigning champions Real Madrid out in the last 16 before their recent triumph in Italy.De Ligt and Ajax will face either Tottenham or Premier League holders Manchester City in the semi-finals of the competition as they bid to reach the final in Madrid, where a meeting with Barcelona is distinctly possible.

The Catalan giants eased past Manchester United 3-0 at home to record a 4-0 aggregate victory and earn themselves a spot in the last four, where they will face either Porto or Liverpool. The Reds hold a 2-0 advantage from the first leg and are widely expected to advance.

 

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Nantes 3 Paris Saint-Germain 2: Tuchel's title wait continues in untidy defeat

Paris Saint-Germain blew a third chance to claim the Ligue 1 title as they slumped to a morale-sapping 3-2 loss at Nantes on Wednesday.

Thomas Tuchel watched from the stands as a patchwork side ravaged by injury failed to protect Dani Alves' stunning opener and fell to a second straight defeat, having been thrashed 5-1 at second-placed Lille at the weekend.

There was perhaps more embarrassment in conceding three times to a relegation-threatened team they had beaten in each of their past 14 top-flight meetings.


Diego Carlos did the bulk of the damage for Nantes with two goals either side of Majeed Waris' tap-in in the 44th minute.And, though substitute Metehan Guclu grabbed a late consolation for PSG, their eventual celebrations of a sixth title in seven seasons look certain to be muted.

PSG needed a lift after their crushing loss to Lille and appeared to have it when wing-back Alves lashed a sweet 30-yard strike over Maxime Dupe in the 19th minute.

That joy disappeared barely three minutes later as Diego Carlos nodded in Valentin Rongier's corner, and Nantes compounded the away side's misery shortly before the break.Kalifa Coulibaly dispossessed Thilo Kehrer and squared for Samuel Moutoussamy, whose side-footed effort was turned in by striker Waris.

The second half brought little defensive improvement for PSG as another Nantes corner evaded several players at the near post and squirmed in off Diego Carlos' standing foot.A fourth should have followed after Gianluigi Buffon wandered well outside his area but Coulibaly, gifted the ball by Leandro Paredes, shot over an open goal.

Guclu pulled one back via Colin Dagba's cut-back, but the match will be remembered for PSG stumbling into another hurdle in their awkward attempt to cross the finish line.

 

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Porto 1 Liverpool 4 (1-6 agg): Reds run riot to set up Barcelona semi-final

Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah scored for the second game running as Liverpool cruised to a 4-1 victory over Porto, sealing a 6-1 aggregate win that sets up a tantalising Champions League semi-final clash with Barcelona.

Leading by two from the quarter-final first leg, the Reds' romp began when Mane struck after 26 minutes of Wednesday's return match at Estadio do Dragao, VAR ruling the Senegal international onside after Salah played him in.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will have been delighted with the way his back four performed as the hosts tried in vain to turn the tie on its head, Sergio Conceicao's men creating early chances but thereafter finding their attacking waves crashing harmlessly against Liverpool's defensive rocks, with Virgil van Dijk imperious.


Eder Militao eventually found a way through, but only after Salah had effectively ended the contest by slotting home Liverpool's second following Trent Alexander-Arnold's superb cross-field pass with 25 minutes remaining.Substitute Roberto Firmino and Van Dijk added gloss to the win with goals in the last 13 minutes.

Porto will be sick of the sight of Liverpool, who knocked them out in the round of 16 last season, and in current form the Reds look capable of winning wherever they play – even Camp Nou.

The hosts missed several good chances before a simple passing move saw Salah play a chipped ball into the six-yard box, where Mane slid in to score a goal that was initially ruled out for offside before a VAR consultation overturned the decision.

After the break, Liverpool put the tie all but out of Porto's reach when Alexander-Arnold split their defence with a low, diagonal pass to Salah, who guided the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net with ease.Mane rounded Iker Casillas moments later but blazed wide of the target with the goal gaping, and Militao then rose unchallenged to head Alex Telles' out-swinging corner past Alisson.

But Jordan Henderson and Firmino had come off the bench and the pair combined for Liverpool's third, the England midfielder crossing from the right to find his team-mate unmarked in the box before Casillas was beaten with a downward header from close range.

With six minutes left, Van Dijk popped up with a simple header at the far post after Mane flicked on James Milner's corner.

 

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Manchester City 4 Tottenham 3 (4-4 agg): VAR denies Sterling as Spurs win classic tie on away goals

Raheem Sterling was denied by VAR in injury time as Manchester City's quadruple hopes came to an end in the most dramatic of circumstances against Tottenham in a classic Champions League quarter-final tie.

The England international thought he had a hat-trick at the death at the Etihad Stadium, but a review showed Sergio Aguero was offside in the build-up as Tottenham progressed via the away goals rule despite losing 4-3 on the night.

Spurs had already been assisted by VAR when Fernando Llorente bundled in from close range 17 minutes from time, which made it 4-4 on aggregate and ultimately booked a semi-final date with Ajax.


A chaotic first half had City 3-2 up at the break. Son Heung-min's brace cancelled out the opener from Sterling, but the forward restored City's lead after Bernardo Silva's fortunate equaliser.

Aguero's brilliant strike then seemingly put City into the semis before VAR deemed Llorente's apparent handball to be accidental and Pep Guardiola's men saw wild celebrations for Sterling's last-gasp effort curtailed in sensational scenes.

 

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'Style is given by the players' - Simeone defends Atletico's defensive approach


Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone does not believe a manager can be successful with one style of play.The Argentine has brought a defined style to Atletico, with the club routinely among the toughest to break down since he took charge in 2011.

Despite that, the 48-year-old has hit back at critics who claim his clubs don’t attack enough, saying that the style of his side is a function of the players in the squad.

"You've always heard me say this, the criticism is part of this profession, the opinion too,” he told Goal. “What I'm trying to say is that within the styles, first, there's something clear: the style is given by the players on the roster.“I do not have a style to go to a smaller team and practice my supposed style, I have to adapt to the club that hires me, empower those players and as an employee, make the club grow.

“That is to be a good coach for me. He who brings a style to a club that can't carry it out, he is not a good manager, because he is attacking the club that hires him.”With Simeone in charge, Atletico have won both La Liga and the Copa del Rey along with two Europa League crowns while finishing as runners-up in the Champions League on two occasions.And the manager questions why his club’s style of play draws more criticism than other styles despite bringing consistent results for the club.

"There are those who discredit a style or a way of playing and those who accept all the different styles,” he said.“What hurts and does not meet the conditions for this ruthless criticism in football, are those that discredit a way of playing.

“I do not hear people speak ill of a super-possession team, of association football, of people who come out to play in a different way, of a style of touch. Of those teams, nobody makes a ruthless criticism.

“Now, I've always listened to those who like the style of possession disparaging other styles and coaches that defend another idea. My question is why? Why?”

"You've always heard me say this, the criticism is part of this profession, the opinion too,” he told Goal. “What I'm trying to say is that within the styles, first, there's something clear: the style is given by the players on the roster.

“I do not have a style to go to a smaller team and practice my supposed style, I have to adapt to the club that hires me, empower those players and as an employee, make the club grow.“That is to be a good coach for me. He who brings a style to a club that can't carry it out, he is not a good manager, because he is attacking the club that hires him.”

With Simeone in charge, Atletico have won both La Liga and the Copa del Rey along with two Europa League crowns while finishing as runners-up in the Champions League on two occasions.

And the manager questions why his club’s style of play draws more criticism than other styles despite bringing consistent results for the club."There are those who discredit a style or a way of playing and those who accept all the different styles,” he said.

“What hurts and does not meet the conditions for this ruthless criticism in football, are those that discredit a way of playing. “I do not hear people speak ill of a super-possession team, of association football, of people who come out to play in a different way, of a style of touch. Of those teams, nobody makes a ruthless criticism.

“Now, I've always listened to those who like the style of possession disparaging other styles and coaches that defend another idea. My question is why? Why?”

"He's an animal, Diego Costa is an animal!” Simeone said excitedly when asked about his volatile star. “He made us suffer in a game against Barcelona when we needed his characteristics, sure, he is a player that we needed for that game, but I am not one of the coaches that generates negative sensations from an episode. “I value everything and with Costa there is more positive than negative."

 

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Man Utd need six signings, with Young highlighting one area in need of improvement - Parker

Manchester United need six signings this summer, claims Paul Parker, with an upgrade on Ashley Young in the full-back berths just one of several areas needing to be addressed.

Opinion regarding what the Red Devils require during the next transfer window remains divided.The general consensus is, however, that a number of changes need to be made at Old Trafford.

Parker has added his voice to those calling for another refresh, with the former United defender calling for reinforcements from front to back.

He has told Eurosport: “I think you have to look at buying maybe three defenders, two midfield players and even a centre-forward.“You would fit Marcus Rashford into that front line, but [Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer needs more.”

United are expected to seek more firepower when given the opportunity to bolster their ranks.They are also being urged to plug leaks at the back.

Parker believes defensive signings are imperative, with the Red Devils being forced to place too much trust in ageing performers such as versatile 33-year-old Young.“United haven’t had a decent right-back since Gary Neville retired, and I’ve always said that the club have got a problem when they’re putting old wingers at full-back,” added a man who once filled that role at Old Trafford.“It just doesn’t fill a gap. It doesn’t show the intention of what you want to achieve.

“Ashley Young can’t help the fact that he’s playing there. Somewhere down the line it was always going to come out in the wash that he’s not good enough for that position - and it’s come out at the worst possible time when United were playing very poorly.“It’s easy to pick on that individual because everyone knows his weaknesses.

“United have got two right-backs there – one in Matteo Darmian and one in Diogo Dalot – they should trust in them to play in those positions and say, ‘right, you’ve come as a right-back, go and prove you’re a right-back’.“When I’ve seen Dalot play at right-back for United he hasn’t looked assured, but he might need time to play in that position.”

Time is a commodity that United are considered to be short on, with the calls for immediate investment intended to help fire the club back into contention for major honours in 2019-20.

 

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Real Madrid have €500m to spend in the summer – Capello


Fabio Capello has revealed that Real Madrid have a staggering €500 million (£430m/$560m) to spend in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The retired tactician managed Los Blancos twice, in the 1996-97 and 2006-07 seasons, winning La Liga on both occasions.The Italian now works as a pundit and divulged that he had been reliably informed of Real Madrid's hefty transfer budget to work with this summer.

Fabio Capello has revealed that Real Madrid have a staggering €500 million (£430m/$560m) to spend in the upcoming summer transfer window.The retired tactician managed Los Blancos twice, in the 1996-97 and 2006-07 seasons, winning La Liga on both occasions.

The Italian now works as a pundit and divulged that he had been reliably informed of Real Madrid's hefty transfer budget to work with this summer.

Chelsea winger Eden Hazard has long been a target and the club finally look set to land him in this window, while links with Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba have also emerged.The pair would likely fetch over £100m each, but if Capello's reports on the size of the club's transfer kitty are to be believed, this should be no obstacle.

This may be due, in part, to the club being yet to reinvest the money received for the likes of Ronaldo and even Alvaro Morata, with the futures of Gareth Bale and James - on loan at Bayern Munich - also as yet undecided. Selling even one would be a considerable boost to Los Blancos' already significant funds.

 

[sandamalt]

Barca VS Liverpool Cant' wait. Messiwa Anfield wla control karana widiyen hungak welawata match eka decide wei

 

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Napoli 0 Arsenal 1 (0-3 agg): Lacazette stunner sees Gunners coast through

Alexandre Lacazette fired Arsenal to an accomplished 1-0 win at Napoli as Unai Emery's men cruised into the Europa League semi-finals 3-0 on aggregate.

The Premier League side began confidently in defence of their first-leg advantage and did not allow a couple of close defensive shaves and a hamstring injury to Aaron Ramsey to throw them off course.Lacazette's wonderful 36th-minute free-kick proved the difference on the night, leaving Carlo Ancelotti's hosts with a mountain to climb.

Arkadiusz Milik's wayward finishing did little to help their cause and Emery can look forward to a semi-final showdown with his former club Valencia. It was Napoli who threatened first when Lacazette was dispossessed by Kalidou Koulibaly, who charged forward on the break in the 17th minute and collected Fabian Ruiz's pass to find Jose Callejon.

Petr Cech denied the ex-Real Madrid forward before Milik fluffed his lines from a close-range header – misses Napoli would regret shortly after the abrupt conclusion to what might prove Ramsey's last Arsenal appearance. Nikola Maksimovic fouled Lacazette 25 yards from goal and the France striker dispatched a sweet strike beyond a motionless Alex Meret in the Napoli goal.

Meret partially atoned for his passivity by making a brilliant save from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after Ramsey's replacement Henrikh Mkhitaryan laid on a glorious 48th-minute chance.

Lorenzo Insigne appeared to be offside when he charged in behind the Arsenal defence to test Cech – the Italy international's last act before being substituted on his 300th Napoli appearance. Left-back Faouzi Ghoulam and Callejon both fired wide as the home team tried in vain to build an ambitious final charge.

Milik's woeful attempt to slide home at the back post with 15 minutes to play summed up his efforts, with Nacho Monreal's carelessly booted clearance straight at Cech arguably the closest Napoli came to a goal.

 

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Chelsea 4 Slavia Prague 3 (5-3 agg): Sarri's men reach semis despite alarming second half

Chelsea beat Slavia Prague 4-3 in a thrilling encounter to book their place in the Europa League semi-finals despite an alarmingly complacent second-half performance at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

Petr Sevcik scored a fine brace just after the break to make Chelsea nervous, but luckily for Maurizio Sarri, his team's stunning four-goal first-half performance ultimately gave Slavia too much to do and the Blues progressed 5-3 on aggregate.
Chelsea appeared to be in complete control of the tie by the ninth minute, as Pedro's brilliant opener was followed by Simon Deli's comical own goal, before Olivier Giroud and the Spanish forward later added further gloss to the scoreline either side of Tomas Soucek's header.


Sevcik breathed life into the tie with two long-range strikes early in the second half, but Slavia still needed another couple of goals and Chelsea did enough to see out an entertaining contest and set up a last-four meeting with Eintracht Frankfurt.

A purposeful start saw Chelsea stylishly take the lead just five minutes in, as Pedro played consecutive one-twos with Cesar Azpilicueta and Giroud before cleverly clipping over Ondrej Kolar.It was 2-0 soon after, with fortune smiling on Chelsea. Pedro inexplicably hit the post from two yards, though it ricocheted back off Deli's face and into the net.

The excellent Giroud got in on the act with 17 minutes played, tapping in from Pedro's squared pass, only for Slavia to pull one back via a thumping Soucek header a few moments later.Back came Chelsea, however, Pedro restoring their three-goal cushion just before the half-hour mark with a scuffed close-range finish into the bottom-right corner after Giroud's pass.

Sevcik gave Slavia a little hope six minutes after the break, with his 25-yard left-footed strike going just inside the right-hand post.And he produced an even better effort shortly after, this time a right-footed attempt from similar distance flying into the top-left corner.

Chelsea looked to absorb pressure in the latter stages and Kepa Arrizabalaga was booked for time-wasting, a damning indictment of the drop-off in their performance, but they managed to hang on.

 

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Valencia 2 Villarreal 0 (5-1 agg): Lato and Parejo set up Arsenal semi-final clash

Valencia set up a Europa League semi-final against Arsenal as they made light work of Villarreal by winning 2-0 on Thursday to seal a 5-1 aggregate victory.

Holding a comfortable 3-1 advantage from the first leg, Toni Lato got things started for Valencia following a bright start, volleying home from close range after superb work from the impressive Goncalo Guedes.

Valencia continued to dominate at a wet Mestalla and Dani Parejo, who had a penalty saved in the first leg, dashed Villarreal's slim comeback hopes when his deflected free-kick found the net early in the second half.


Los Che will now face Arsenal and their former boss Unai Emery at Emirates Stadium on May 2 before welcoming the Gunners back to Spain a week later as they bid to reach their first major European final since 2004.With Marcelino having acknowledged that the first-leg result flattered his side, Valenica were sharp out of the blocks this time around, and were rewarded when Lato deftly helped Guedes' exquisite chipped pass past Andres Fernandez in the 13th minute.

Valencia should have been out of sight a minute later, but Kevin Gameiro failed to direct his lob on target.Fernandez looked to have made a terrible error when he rushed 35 yards out to try and meet a loose ball, but fortunately for Villarreal their goalkeeper was in the right place to stop Gameiro's snapshot.

There was nothing Fernandez could do to prevent Valencia doubling their tally nine minutes after the restart, however, Parejo's free-kick looping in wickedly off a deflection from Ramiro Funes Mori.

Alfonso Pedraza went close to snatching a consolation for Villarreal, but Neto was on hand to keep Valencia's clean sheet intact as Los Che progressed in style.

 

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Arsenal favourites for Europa League - Marcelino


Valencia coach Marcelino insists the pressure will be on Arsenal when his side take on the Gunners in the Europa League semi-finals.Toni Lato and Dani Parejo were on target for Los Che as they saw off Villarreal 2-0 on Thursday to secure a comfortable 5-1 aggregate success in the last eight.Marcelino had been less than impressed by his side's showing in the first leg, but was rewarded by a dominant display at Mestalla.

A last-four meeting against Arsenal – led by three-time Europa League winner and former Valencia boss Unai Emery – is their reward, and Marcelino insists the Premier League side must be considered as the favourites.

"Arsenal fight to get into the Champions League, with a coach who knows us perfectly, they are one of the favourites," Marcelino told a news conference."But anything can happen in the semi-finals. At the same time, [the final in] Baku is a long way away."

Valencia endured a difficult start to the campaign, but Marcelino's side sit just three points off the top four in LaLiga, with a Copa del Rey final against Barcelona to come.

"We are proud of the performances of the squad, we are in a semi-final and in a final, and we are one win away from fourth," Marcelino added."Winning in Seville [against Real Betis on Sunday] would put us in a very good situation."

 

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Conte eyes fresh 'project' as he nears coaching return


Antonio Conte has confirmed that he will return to coaching in June as he aims to find a "project" that proves convincing.The Italian manager has been out of work since leaving Chelsea this past summer as he was replaced by fellow Italian Maurizio Sarri.

The 49-year-old coach won the 2016-17 Premier League title with the Blues while also claiming the 2017-18 FA Cup during his two-year stint at Stamford Bridge.

Out of action for nearly a year, Conte says he is close to deciding on his next project, as he hinted at his next job on an Italian talk show.On Italian talk show ‘E poi c’e Cattelan’, Conte chose the badge of the club he will manage in June and inserted it into a closed envelope that will be opened at a later date.However, Conte also claimed uncertainty over his next destination, while adding he will need to be convinced to sign on with a new club.

“I still don’t know where I will go,” Conte said in an episode that will be aired on Thursday evening.“But certainly I’ll choose a team who has a project that convinces me.”Conte has been linked with the likes of Juventus, Inter, Roma and AC Milan in recent months, having found plenty of prior success in Italian football.

The manager won three Serie A titles as manager of Juventus, having also won five league crowns, a Coppa Italia, a UEFA Cup and a Champions League title as a player with the club.Conte also managed the Italian national team from 2014-16, as he guided the side to a quarter-final elimination at the hands of Germany at Euro 2016.

While his future was the big talking point, Conte also referenced Jose Mourinho during his interview on the show, discussing the Portuguese manager's three-fingered message to Chelsea supporters during his time as Manchester United boss.

"He won the treble and three championships with Chelsea , so he has the opportunity to make that gesture, but it takes respect, towards the public, but also towards him," Conte said."He has won so much and in that gesture there is all of Mourinho."

Chelsea held on to eliminate Slavia Praha from the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday as the Blues head towards the semi-final round of the competition.

 

[ltty head]

Barca VS Liverpool Cant' wait. Messiwa Anfield wla control karana widiyen hungak welawata match eka decide wei

yes same here

 

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West Ham 2 Leicester City 2: Last-gasp Barnes strike grabs dramatic draw



Substitute Harvey Barnes scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser as Leicester City claimed a 2-2 draw away to West Ham on Saturday.

Barnes' first Premier League goal came two minutes into added time, just after it looked like a late strike from West Ham's Lucas Perez, who had also come off the bench, had given the hosts victory.

A frantic finish to the contest came after a relatively quiet opening hour, in which Michail Antonio headed in his fifth top-flight goal of the season as the hosts attempted to bounce back from a three-match losing streak.

The drama began when in-form Jamie Vardy scored his ninth goal in 10 Leicester games to equalise after the break, Barnes ultimately having the last word after Perez had struck eight minutes from time, though the West Ham striker also had what would have been a clinching third goal harshly ruled out for offside.The reverse fixture in October also ended in a draw, and West Ham have now only won one of their past 10 meetings with the Foxes.

In an uneventful start to the match, Leicester's James Maddison had two efforts saved by Lukasz Fabianski, while Antonio was denied by Kasper Schmeichel.It was a quality move that led to the breakthrough after 37 minutes, though, as Mark Noble linked up well with Robert Snodgrass before the captain's out-swinging cross from the left was powerfully headed in by Antonio from eight yards.

Leicester equalised in the 67th minute, as Vardy reacted quicker than Fabian Balbuena and diverted Ben Chilwell's left-wing cross past Fabianski with a first-time finish.

Balbuena made a key block from Maddison, who then fired wide from a decent opening as Leicester sought to complete the comeback.But it was West Ham who appeared to grab victory when a side-footed effort from Pedro Obiang bounced off the post, with Perez reacting sharply to convert the rebound.

Leicester, however, fought back again and - moments after Perez had been denied a second by an offside flag - Youri Tielemans' throughball sent Barnes through, with the 21-year-old coolly placing his finish beyond Fabianski into the far corner.

 

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Juventus 2 Fiorentina 1: Bianconeri bounce back to seal Scudetto

Juventus swapped Champions League heartbreak for Serie A joy as they sealed the title with a 2-1 win over Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday.Bundled out of Europe by Ajax in midweek, Massimiliano Allegri's men completed a domestic formality thanks to Alex Sandro's first-half header and a German Pezzella own goal eight minutes after the interval.

One point stood between Juve and an eighth-successive Scudetto and they were made to work for all three following Nikola Milenkovic's surprise sixth-minute opener.


Juventus swapped Champions League heartbreak for Serie A joy as they sealed the title with a 2-1 win over Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday.Bundled out of Europe by Ajax in midweek, Massimiliano Allegri's men completed a domestic formality thanks to Alex Sandro's first-half header and a German Pezzella own goal eight minutes after the interval.

One point stood between Juve and an eighth-successive Scudetto and they were made to work for all three following Nikola Milenkovic's surprise sixth-minute opener.


Juventus swapped Champions League heartbreak for Serie A joy as they sealed the title with a 2-1 win over Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday.Bundled out of Europe by Ajax in midweek, Massimiliano Allegri's men completed a domestic formality thanks to Alex Sandro's first-half header and a German Pezzella own goal eight minutes after the interval.One point stood between Juve and an eighth-successive Scudetto and they were made to work for all three following Nikola Milenkovic's surprise sixth-minute opener.

The tension was released soon after the interval. Cristiano Ronaldo found space to the right of goal and defender Pezzella turned the attacker's pass into his own net.
Juve were suddenly emboldened by belief and Pjanic, Ronaldo and Juan Cuadrado all saw shots blocked in quick succession.Their Portuguese superstar ultimately went unrewarded in his attempts to score his 600th club goal, but that can be put on hold as the Bianconeri uncork the champagne.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Juventus take eighth straight Serie A crown with Fiorentina win

Juventus confirmed their domestic supremacy in Italy by sealing a record eighth consecutive Scudetto win after Saturday's 2-1 victory over Fiorentina.

The Turin giants suffered disappointment in Europe in midweek, losing to Ajax to crash out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage. But in Italy at least Massimiliano Allegri's men remain on top of the pile.

Alex Sandro hit in the first half to cancel out Nikola Milenkovic's early strike for Fiorentina, bringing the scoreline to 1-1. After the break Juve then took the lead, German Pezzella turning a Cristiano Ronaldo cross past his own keeper to complete the comeback for the hosts.

Juve needed just a draw to wrap up the title with five games to spare and celebrations started at the final whistle, with Napoli's clash against Atalanta on Monday now irrelevant to the Scudetto chase.It also marks a first Serie A for Ronaldo, who has contributed 19 goals to the Juve cause in the league so far this season in his maiden campaign since joining from Real Madrid in 2018.

The team's glittering run of success dates back to the 2011-12 season when, under the stewardship of Antonio Conte, they lifted their first silverware since the breaking of the Calciopoli scandal in 2006 with that year's Scudetto.Conte went on to win the next two titles before leaving in the summer of 2014 to take the Italy job. His replacement Allegri has continued Juve's dominance with four Scudetti in as many seasons since taking over from the ex-Chelsea boss.

This latest victory marks Juventus' 35th Serie A title, just short of double the number achieved by nearest rivals Milan, who have prevailed on 18 occasions.

The Turin side have additionally finished top on two further occasions, in 2004-5 and 2005-6, only to see those wins overturned due to Calciopoli, with the former revoked and the latter awarded to second-placed Inter.

European success, however, continues to elude Allegri's charges. The last Champions League victory for Juventus came all the way back in 1995-6, despite making the final on five separate occasions since then.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Juventus!​