United make it four in a row

Manchester United recorded a fourth successive
Premier League win after a 2-1 win against Stoke
City at Old Trafford.
Things seemed to be going United's way when
Marouane Fellaini bagged his first Old Trafford
goal in a red shirt with a towering header at the
back post.
But Stoke hit back when Steven N'Zonzi rifled
home his stinging drive into the far corner for
his first Premier League goal of the season and
his first goal anywhere since March to make it
1-1 at the break.
There was some debate about who scored the
winning goal as Juan Mata's free-kick looked to
go straight through a crowd of players although
Marcos Rojo claimed that he got the all-
important touch.
David de Gea made a stunning save to deny
Mame Biram Diouf and then Ashley Young came
to United's rescue with a sensational goal line
clearance in the fourth minute of stoppage time
as the hosts held on to move to within a point of
third-placed Southampton.

BALLON D'OR

Stars from FC Bayern München, Real
Madrid C.F. & FC Barcelona make up the Ballon d'Or shortlist.

Real Madrid star C Ronaldo have so far been wonderful both in the league and In the Uefa championship.

F.c Barcelona star Leo Messi likewise has been at his best breaking quite some records both in the league and in the Uefa.

Manuel Neuer from Bayern munichen has so far this season been awesome from the just conclude world cup to the bundesliga to Uefa.

Can you rank the 3?

English premiere league

Fifteen goals in eight Premier League games
might not sound that exciting. But once
again it has been a day of pure drama in
the top-flight. Not only have the leaders
dropped two points with diego costa out of next match, Arsenal and Liverpool
have returned to winning ways with Gerrard on the headline, while
Manchester United made it three wins in a row at the expense of Di maria and possible rooney,Manchester city ten men victory against Southampton have them sit second on the table and six piont away from the leader chelsea and this is what the top half of  table's like as xmas break draw nearer.

Pos Club P GD Pts
1 Chelsea 13 19 33
2 Man City 13 14 27
3 Southampton 13 15 26
4 Man Utd 13 7 22
5 West Ham 13 5 21
6 Arsenal 13 6 20
7 Spurs 13 0 20
8 Swansea 13 3 19
9 Newcastle 13 -2 19
10 Everton 13 2 17

Blancos record-breaking 16th consecutive win for Real madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo made both goals at the
Rosaleda, setting the France forward up for a
tap-in before putting the Welshman clean
through on goal late on with a flick-on Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale got the goals
as Real Madrid made it a club-record 16 wins
in a row by defeating Malaga 2-1 on Saturday
night.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti had found his future
called into question after Los Blancos lost
consecutive Liga games to Real Sociedad and
Atletico Madrid in September.
But the European champions have been
irresistible since then, winning every game the
have played in all competitions and netting an
incredible 59 goals in the process.
Karim Benzema opened the scoring early on at
La Rosaleda after fine work by Cristiano
Ronaldo, before Gareth Bale grabbed the
crucial second late on with an excellent finish
after latching on to Ronaldo's flicked header.
Former Malaga playmaker Isco was then
harshly sent off for a second booking, before
Roque Santa Cruz ensured Real would face a
nervy last minute or so when he nodded home
in stoppage time.
However, Ancelotti's side held on for a
deserved three points that ensures they will
end the weekend top of La Liga.
The two sides contested a lively opening to the
game, with both goalkeepers forced into
important saves inside the first quarter of an
hour.
Ronaldo was the first to go close in the 12th
minute as the Portuguese star fired straight at
the outstanding Carlos Kameni from nine yard
after a clever pass from Bale.
Malaga caught Madrid on the counter almost
immediately after that chance, and their move
ended with Iker Casillas tipping a Santa Cruz
header on to the roof of the net.
The open nature of the match suited Real,
though, and they eventually went ahead in the
18th minute, as Ronaldo exploded past Robert
Rosales down the left and saw his cross
instinctively steered in by Benzema.
The shaky Casillas almost handed Malaga an
equaliser shortly after, but the Madrid
captain's blushes were spared by the post afte
he spilled Sergi Darder's long-range effort.
Bale should have doubled Real's lead in the
40th minute as he raced on to a Ronaldo
throughball, but he could only shoot straight
at the onrushing Kameni.
And the frailty of the visitors' advantage was
highlighted shortly before the break as Duda
struck the crossbar with an audacious 35-yard
free-kick.
Real looked threatening again at the start of
the second half, and Ronaldo almost doubled
their advantage in spectacular style in the 54t
minute, narrowly missing the target with an
acrobatic scissor-kick.
The Ballon d'Or holder - who has scored 20
Liga goals this term - should have made sure
of the points with 13 minutes to go but
Kameni produced a stunning save to palm
away his low drive after he had capitalised on
a mix-up between Marcos Angeleri and
Weligton.
Malaga almost made the most of that let-off a
Santa Cruz tested the unconvincing Casillas
from the edge of the area, but Bale raced on
to Ronaldo's flick-on and fired home in the
83rd minute to make the points safe.
A harsh second yellow for Isco, who was given
a rousing reception from the home fans as he
left the pitch, and Santa Cruz 's excellent
header made it a tense ending, but the Madri
juggernaut rolls on.

A expensive win for manchester united

Everything was going well at Old Trafford Till Di maria's injury.
The Argentine limped off with a thigh injury inside 15 minutes at Old Trafford, and was replaced with Ander Herrera after a chat with
the United physio which confiremd that di maria cant continue and might as well miss the next match.

It still continued very well as the Red Devils quickly went a goal up and two more after.before Wayne Rooney went down injured later in the
half, with the United physio again called into
action, but got back to his feet and continued till full time leaving a big question what will be the fate of united without Di maria and Rooney in the next match?

Chelsea 's first goalless match

Chelsea failed to score for the first time this
season as they were held to a goalless draw by
Sunderland on Saturday Night Football .
Both sides hit the woodwork in the first half as
Willian struck the post with a low shot and
Santiago Vergini saw an effort bounce off the
bar.
Sunderland continued to frustrate the Premier
League leaders after the break and held firm to
record their third draw in a row.
The stalemate sees Chelsea extend their
advantage at the top to seven points while
Sunderland move up to 13th.
The Black Cats were fully deserving of their
point too after an impressive defensive display
at the Stadium of Light.
While they invited pressure by sitting deep in
their own box at times, they always made life
difficult for Chelsea and presented them with
very few clear chances on goal.
The only time they were nearly caught out in the
first half was when Chelsea broke swiftly from a
free-kick and Willian struck a low shot against
the post from just outside the box.
Wilian was involved in another decent chance on
the half-hour mark after linking up with
Branislav Ivanovic on the right. The defender
continued his run into the box but saw his effort
deflected over the bar by Costel Pantilimon.
That, though, was to be Chelsea’s best opening
of the half as Sunderland continued to make it
difficult for the visitors and started to grow in
belief and confidence themselves.
Just moments after Ivanovic’s shot was saved,
the hosts spurned a great chance to take the
lead when Lee Cattermole's cross from the right
was deflected into the box and into the path of
Vergini, who hooked the ball over Thibaut
Courtouis but on to the bar.
The Black Cats continued to hold firm in the
second half and perhaps even had the better
chances to break the deadlock as Chelsea attacks
repeatedly broke down on the edge of the
Sunderland box.
Connor Wickham nearly caught Courtouis by
surprise with a snap shot before Adam Johnson
dragged an effort wide on his wrong foot when
he should have at least hit the target from
inside the area.
The visitors, who saw Diego Costa pick up a
booking that will keep him out of the midweek
match against Tottenham Hotspur, were largely
restricted to long-range shots, but none really
tested Pantilimon.
Jose Mourinho threw on Loic Remy and Didier
Drogba in a bid to force a late winner but
Sunderland were still able to snuff out all of
Chelsea’s attacks and hold on for a well deserved
draw.

Drogba's duels

Didier Drogba has had some memorably tough
tussles in his time.
A strong and powerful centre-forward who has
scored freely on the domestic, European and
international stages, the Ivorian has grown
accustomed to the physical attentions of some of the
world’s best defenders over the years.
He was recently asked who it was that had given him
the hardest games during his time at the top of the
game, and picked out two recently retired players he
had seen plenty of during Champions League ties in
his first spell at Stamford Bridge.
‘It’s difficult but I would say Jamie Carragher was the
most difficult one in terms of aggression, but he was
always fair,’ the 36-year-old said.
‘Then there was Carles Puyol, he was a strong
defender, tough, but always respectful, and a
gentleman really.’
Former Liverpool defender Carragher has not been
shy in praising the Chelsea man either. Recently
picking an all-time foreign Premier League XI, he
described Drogba as the ‘best big game player I can
remember’, adding: ‘Drogba did what all strikers
should do and that is score in the biggest games. He
scored three winners in the FA Cup final, got the
crucial goals in two League Cup finals and who
could forget what he did in Munich in the
Champions League final? At his best, he was
unplayable.’

Paul Pogba Reportedly Rejects Chance to Rejoin Manchester United

Paul Pogba has reportedly turned down the chance to rejoin Manchester United, according to the Mirror. Pogba reportedly has his heart set on a move to Real Madrid, with French legend Zinedine Zidane playing a big part in tempting the youngster to join Los Blancos. It is reported that the Red Devils have offered Pogba to come back and join the club, but he is holding out for a move to the Spanish giants. Pogba has been linked with a return to Old Trafford now that Sir Alex Ferguson has left the club. It has been well documented that Pogba felt Ferguson did not have faith in him and the Frenchman reiterated last season he was not interested in a move back to the Theatre of Dreams. Pogba has gone on to establish himself as one of the finest young midfield generals in the last 18 months. He has excelled at Juventus and has helped them to several trophies in the two years he has been there. It is now thought that Real Madrid are keen on recruiting the young midfielder as Carlo Ancelotti looks to strengthen the middle of the park. Last week Ancelotti admitted his interest in Pogba. "He is a very good player," Ancelotti told RMC Sport. "He has a very good future. He is at a big club and is doing a very good job. "He is a complete midfielder. Get him? Why not. This is one of the best young midfielders alongside [Marco] Verratti and Isco." Juventus would require a sum of over £49m for Pogba's services, something Los Blancos are willing to offer for the France international.

Wayne Rooney Admits Liverpool Defeat Was His Worst Ever Day in Football

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has described yesterday's defeat at home to Liverpool as "one of the worst days ever" in football, after speaking to MUTV after the game. The Red Devils were hoping to turn their disastrous season around with a win at home to their bitter rivals, but it was Liverpool who came away with all three points, following a convincing 3-0 win at Old Trafford yesterday afternoon. To make matters worse, the team from Merseyside are now 14 points ahead of David Moyes's side and have become serious title contenders, which, if they triumph, will equal United's count of 20 league titles. David Moyes's first season at Manchester United has been a complete failure, but yesterday's humiliation will have to go down as the biggest disappointment to date. The Red Devils were completely outplayed by their Premier League rivals and were lucky it only finished 3-0, with Steven Gerrard missing the opportunity for a hat trick of penalties and David de Gea producing a world class save to deny Luis Suarez a brace. Rooney, who recently signed a new long-term contract with United, has not hidden from the embarrassment of yesterday's defeat and described the result as a "nightmare". The England international knows that overcoming Olympiakos in the Champions League this week will be his side's only salvation.

The champions league ticket

The Champions league tickets are very popular and in high demand therefore often times become sold-out or the prices might go up sharply. At EasySportsTickets.com we offer a wide selection of all Champions league matches tickets (including of course the Hot Champion League Final tickets) at great prices. The UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Champions League is an annual continental club football competition for the top football clubs in Europe.It is one of the most known and prestigious tournaments in the world and the most notable Football club competition in Europe. Originally the Champions league was known as the purxta“European Champion Clubs' Cup” or “European Cup” but the UEFA Champions League should not be confused with the UEFA Europa League. The competition was initially a Tex Link Greek Languagestraight knockout competition open only to the champion club of each country. Nowadays the tournament was expanded, incorporating a round-robin group phase and more teams and now provide up to four teams each for the competition. The tournament consists of several stages. Currently it begins in mid-July with three knockout qualifying rounds and a play-off round. The 10 surviving teams join 22 seeded teams in the group stage, in which there are eight groups of four teams each. The eight group winners and eight runners-up enter the final knockout phase, which culminates with the final match in May. The winner of the UEFA Champions League qualifies for the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. Spanish clubs have accumulated the highest number of victories, with 13 wins. The title has been won by 22 different clubs, 12 of which have won the title more than once. Don’t miss out, book your Champions league tickets now and enjoy the exciting football experience.

ARSENAL: a big failure in champions league and disgrace to england

Eight knockout wins in 16 years - Arsenal are serial Champions League failures Since the rebranding of the European Cup in 1992, just six clubs have participated in the Champions League group stages more times than Arsenal; Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, AC Milan, Porto and Tuesday's opponents Bayern Munich. Given that the Gunners didn’t enter Europe’s premier club competition until 1998, this represents a significant achievement. Furthermore, only Man Utd and Real Madrid have registered more successive Champions League appearances than Arsenal’s 16 consecutive campaigns from 1998-99 to 2013-14. And with United failing to make it out of their pools in both 2005-06 and 2011-12, only Madrid better Arsenal’s 14 years of uninterrupted progression from the opening group phase. "[Our record] provides a massive satisfaction,” Arsene Wenger beamed last year. “If you look at how many teams have done that in Europe, you will find very few and that shows it is not easy." Wenger is, of course, right in that respect but it requires merely the briefest look at the record books to expose the grim truth that his various Arsenal sides have been among Europe's biggest underachievers of recent times. This is a message the Frenchman is less keen to broadcast, one that lays bare his shortcomings as a coach in Europe and proves that Arsenal’s Champions League history is one of failure, missed opportunities and naivety rather than something worthy of celebrating. Incredibly, Arsenal have won just eight knockout ties under Wenger. Three of these arrived en route to the 2006 final and a further two during their run to the semi-finals three seasons later. That aside, over a 14-year period – during which Arsenal were often handed kind group draws against moderate opposition due to a favourable seedings process - they have successfully negotiated their way through just three knockout rounds. Crisis-hit Celta Vigo, a side who had just sacked their manager and were well on their way to being relegated from La Liga, were defeated by Wenger's Invincibles, while a horribly ageing AC Milan outfit, who were enduring their worst domestic season in years and whose best player was a 40-year-old Paolo Maldini, were no match for a Cesc Fabregas-inspired Arsenal in 2008. In addition to being eliminated at the group stage on four occasions (two of these a second group stage), Arsenal have exited the Champions League five times in the last 16 and on four occasions in the quarter finals. Worryingly, Wenger's record shows he is not learning from his mistakes - his record is actually getting worse. Unless they can somehow conjure up a miracle and overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit at a seemingly unbeatable Bayern side that have not lost a Bundesliga match in 17 months, Arsenal are set to bow out at the last 16 juncture for a fourth straight season. Admittedly, during this time Arsenal have faced Bayern twice, Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona and a Zlatan Ibrahimovic-led Milan – but you can’t explain 16 years of disappointment by blaming bad luck, nor through Wenger's reluctance to use the transfer market as a tool to tweak and enhance his squad. Wenger needs to look at himself. Much has been said about the Frenchman failing to win a trophy of any kind for nearly nine years, but since the day he was appointed at Arsenal in 1996 his preoccupation with playing football “the right way” has not been conducive to succeeding in Europe. In continental and international knockout football, naivety and predictability are punished ruthlessly. The most successful coaches of the Champions League era – the Jose Mourinhos, Carlo Ancelottis, Sir Alex Fergusons and Jupp Heynckes’ of this world – have understood that a team needs to be tactically flexible and contain technical, physical and mental elements. Arsenal have lacked the last two qualities ever since Patrick Vieira, Sol Campbell and the last remnants of George Graham’s back four departed or retired the best part of a decade ago. Wenger has been stubbornly one-dimensional and has steadfastly refused to tweak his system – both before and during games - to counter the style of an adversary. His teams almost always play open, attacking, expansive football, making it very easy for top European coaches to outmanoeuvre the Frenchman. Only one season, in 2005-06, did Wenger abandon his principles. It’s no coincidence that, fielding a conservative 4-5-1 with Thierry Henry as the lone frontman, Arsenal made it all the way to the final. They defeated the Madrid Galacticos and a Juventus team that contained seven of the 2006 World Cup finalists on the way to a heart-breaking late defeat to Barcelona in Paris. Even that season, Wenger’s utopian hand was forced by a glut of injuries ahead of the historic last 16 win over Madrid at the Bernabeu. He had little choice but to be less adventurous and when the ploy worked, he stuck with it for the rest of the campaign. The following season Wenger reverted to type and Arsenal were eliminated by PSV in the last 16. Wenger once confessed: “I can’t imagine my life without winning the European Cup”. Sadly, his Champions League career is almost certain to end without him lifting the trophy. For no matter how many more years Arsenal proudly qualify for and progress through the group stages, you can always bet on them losing once the knockouts come along.

MOURINHO : arsenal and city can still progress in champions league

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists domestic rivals Manchester City and Arsenal are still very much in with a chance of progressing to the Champions League quarter-finals. Arsenal lost 2-0 in their last 16 tie at home to Champions League holders Bayern Munich while Manchester City lost by the same scoreline at home to Barcelona. Mourinho says both sides still have the opportunity to progress but feels Arsenal face a tougher task than City. He said: "Can't City win in Barcelona? Barcelona lost against Valladolid. And lost at home against Valencia. So, why can't they win? "Arsenal, at Bayern, can they win 2-0 and go to extra-time? Difficult. Probably the most difficult, but they can." Mourinho's side are seven points clear in the Premier League following their 4-0 victory over Tottenham on Saturday. Striker Fernando Torres was injured in the warm-up ahead of the game and the Portuguese insisted he is unsure how long Chelsea's record signing will be out for. "It's a muscular problem and muscular problems, even when they are small, are always a couple of weeks," he said. "I don't know if it's small or big. He has to go for scans, but for sure he's out. "It's one of the best decisions we made, to keep three strikers. When one is injured you need the other two." Torres' former club Liverpool were not in action this week after their game against Sunderland was postponed due to the Wearside club's FA Cup tie with Hull on Sunday. Mourinho believes Liverpool, who are seven points behind his side, are still very much in the race to win the Premier League. "When we speak about Champions League and the title race we have to speak about Liverpool," Mourinho said. "Since the beginning of the season they have one match every week. They rest, they prepare, they recover, they prepare, they play, they have day off. This is a big, big, big advantage."

Wigan beat manchester city again

Wigan Athletic have stunned Manchester City in the FA Cup for the second season running with a shock 2-1 quarter-final victory at a disbelieving Etihad Stadium on Sunday. City, newly crowned League Cup champions, were bidding to avenge their 1-0 defeat in last season's final, but instead it was the holders -- managed by former City striker Uwe Rosler -- who advanced to a last-four date with Arsenal. Jordi Gomez gave Wigan the lead with a 27th-minute penalty after Martin Demichelis fouled Marc Antoine-Fortune and James Perch made it 2-0 within seconds of kick-off in the second half. Samir Nasri pulled a goal back for City with 22 minutes remaining, but the Championship side -- relegated within days of last season's final -- withstood heavy pressure from the hosts to record another famous FA Cup win. The Etihad was buoyant after City's 3-1 win over Sunderland in last weekend's League Cup final, but the home fans were silenced in the 27th minute when Wigan took the lead. A neat turn took Fortune past Demichelis on the Wigan left and after the Argentine brought him down, Gomez sent goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon the wrong way from the penalty spot. City's frustration was evident, with Nasri booked for kicking the ball away, and Wigan extended their lead early in the second half when Perch stole in front of Gael Clichy to tuck in a low cross from James McArthur. City manager Manuel Pellegrini reacted by sending on James Milner, David Silva and Edin Dzeko, and the latter came within a whisker of equalising in the 64th minute with a header that hit the post. The hosts continued to push, though, and four minutes later Nasri dragged them back into the tie with a left-foot shot from outside the box that skidded into the bottom-right corner. City threw everything at Wigan in the closing stages, with Emmerson Boyce producing an extraordinary goal-line block to thwart Dzeko, but Wigan held on by the skin of their teeth. - Hull, Sheffield United advance Earlier, Hull City and giant-killers Sheffield United set up an unlikely semi-final showdown after coming through their respective quarter-final ties. Hull defeated Premier League rivals Sunderland 3-0 at the KC Stadium to reach the last four for the first time since 1930, while third-tier United overcame Charlton Athletic. Hull's Sone Aluko saw a first-half penalty saved by Sunderland goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, but three goals in nine minutes from Curtis Davies, David Meyler and Matty Fryatt in the second period gave the hosts victory. "I've just seen the draw and it's a great one," said Hull manager Steve Bruce, who twice won the trophy as a player with Manchester United. "Sheffield United have had a wonderful run and beaten every team put in front of them. "But you have got to be honest - you want to avoid the big boys and I'm sure Sheffield United will be thinking the same having drawn us." Sheffield United continued their remarkable journey in the FA Cup by upsetting second-tier Charlton 2-0 at Bramall Lane. Managed by Nigel Clough, son of legendary former Nottingham Forest manager Brian, the Blades became the first team from the third tier to reach the last four since Wycombe Wanderers in 2001. "I'm just delighted for everybody that we're going to Wembley, especially the players," Clough, whose late father never won the tournament, told BT Sport. "To win nine games on the spin, they deserve an immense amount of credit. We hope to play a lot more big games like this in the future." Having previously accounted for English Premiership sides Fulham and Aston Villa, as well as second-tier Forest, the Blades prevailed thanks to quick-fire goals from Ryan Flynn and John Brayford mid-way through the second half.

Orton to attend Wizard World Louisville Comic Con Sat., March 29

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton makes a triumphant return to Wizard World when he appears at the inaugural Louisville Comic Con on Saturday, March 29, at the Kentucky International Convention Center. The 12-time World Champion will meet fans, sign autographs and pose for photo-ops from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. “I greatly enjoyed my first Wizard World show last year, and I can’t wait to meet a whole new set of fans in Louisville, a real hotbed for WWE,” said Orton. Wizard World CEO John Macaluso added, “Randy has a great following, which fans experienced first-hand in St. Louis last year. He adds a great new dimension to our stellar guest list for our first event in Louisville.” Orton joins popular Wizard World celebrity guests Matt Smith, Michael Rooker, Summer Glau, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd and many others, in addition to a top-drawer collection of well-known artists and writers, plusa variety of activities, exhibitors and special attractions in the fourth event on Wizard World’s 16-show 2014 calendar.

Carles Puyol may end barcelona career this season

Carles Puyol i Saforcada is a Spanish footballer who plays for FC Barcelona. Mainly there central defender he can also play on either flank, especially as a right back.He served as a longtime team captain for his only club FC Barcelona after taking over from Luis Enrique in August 2004, going on to appear in almost 600 official games for the team and win 21 major titles, notably six La Liga and three UEFA Champions League championships. carles puyol has ever since the beginning of the season been showing some signs of leaving the club and has made it open his decision to end his final season in Barcelona with either the la liga trophy or the champions league. BRIEF ABOUT PUYOL CLUB CAREER HISTORY Born in La Pobla de Segur, Lleida, Catalonia, Puyol started playing football for his hometown club, as a goalkeeper. However, after injury problems with his shoulder, he switched to striker. He said that in his youth, "My parents were skeptical about me becoming a footballer and encouraged me to study."[3] In 1995, he joined FC Barcelona's youth system at La Masia, switching positions again, to play as a defensive midfielder; two years later, he started playing for the club's B-team, occupying the position of right back. In 1999 Louis van Gaal promoted Puyol to the first team, and he made his La Liga debut on 2 October in a 2–0 away win against Real Valladolid. After that, he successfully made another conversion, now to central defender. During the 2003 off-season, as Barcelona was immersed in a financial crisis, Manchester United showed interest in acquiring Puyol's services,[4] but no move ever materialized; two years later, the player extended his contract for a further five seasons.[5] Puyol was named club captain at the end of the 2003–04 season, after the retirement of Luis Enrique. He continued to be a defensive cornerstone for Barça, being awarded the "Best European right back" award by UEFA in 2002 (amongst other individual accolades), and helping the Catalans win two consecutive league titles. In 2005–06, he appeared in a total of 52 official games, including 12 in the season's UEFA Champions League, which ended in conquest against Arsenal, the club's second. Puyol in a 2007 La Liga match against Getafe On 16 September 2008, Puyol made his 400th appearance in all competitions for Barcelona's first team in a Champions League group stage match against Sporting Clube de Portugal.[6] In the league season, he dealt with injury problems, but still contributed to the team by appearing in 28 matches and helped to win another league title, his only goal coming in El Clásico at Real Madrid on 2 May 2009, which finished with a resounding 6–2 away win;[7] from 2008–10 combined, other than the two league titles, he was essential in conquering the 2009 UEFA Super Cup, the 2009 Champions League and the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup, appearing in nearly 100 official matches, and describing the club as "the team who every Catalan child wants to play for... I am living the dream playing football for Barça and it is my dream to retire playing here."[3] On 13 November 2010, Puyol made his 500th appearance in all competitions for Barcelona's first team in a La Liga game against Villarreal CF.[8] Puyol struggled again with injury in the 2010–11 season,[9][10][11] but still appeared in 28 official games for Barcelona, which again won the league and the Champions League. He played six minutes in the final of the latter competition, a 3–1 win against Manchester United. Since the defeat to Inter Milan in the 2009–10 Champions League semi-final, Puyol went on to play 56 official games for Barcelona without losing, a run that only ended on 11 January 2012 at CA Osasuna (2–3 loss).[12] Additionally, he scored two goals in the season's Copa del Rey, against Real Madrid (2–1 away win, 4–3 on aggregate) and Valencia CF (1–1 away, 3–1 aggregate).[13][14] On 2 October 2012, in the late stages of a Champions League group stage encounter at S.L. Benfica, his first game upon recovering from a knee ligament ailment contracted against Getafe CF, Puyol dislocated his elbow after landing awkwardly in a corner kick challenge, initially being sidelined for a further two months[15] but fully recovering in one. On 18 December Barcelona renewed his contract, extending it until 30 June 2016;[16] in June of the following year he again underwent surgery to his right knee, in what was his sixth operation as a professional,[17] which led to thoughts of early retirement.[18] On 2 March 2014, Puyol surpassed Migueli to go second in Barça's all-time league appearances table, behind only Xavi, and scored the third goal in a 4–1 home win against UD Almería.[19] Two days after, even though he still had two more years in his contract, he announced that he would leave Barcelona at the end of the season and declare the remainder of his link void.[20][21] He said, "After my last two major operations, I find it is taking me a lot of effort to reach the level required here, even more than myself and the surgeons thought necessary. That's the reason I have reached this decision"

HOT GAME 2014

TrueBall Tech: PES 2014 centers everything thing on the ball: how it moves and how players use it. First touch and sublime control is what set certain players apart from others. Motion Animation Stability System (M.A.S.S.): The new M.A.S.S. component simulate the bodily contact between multiple players within tailored animations that segue seamlessly into each other. Heart: Pro Evolution Soccer 2014's 'Heart' aims to recreate the effects of team support, both on an individual player basis and across the entire team. PES ID: Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 set a new bar for realism, with its inclusion of the Player ID system. For the first time, players could instantly recognize a player by their faithfully recreated running and play styles. Team Play: Via the new game's innovative Combination Play users can set up a variety of different tactics in key areas of the pitch using three or more players. Get on the pitch with new enhancements, like: - Improvements to Touch Controls - Simpler, friendlier way of choosing between Classic and Touch controls - Ergonomic and visual improvements, behind-the-scenes adjustments, and more! Thanks for playing FIFA 14. Get in there!

TOTTENHAM FC

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club /ˈtɒt(ə)nəm/,[2][3] commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English football club located in Tottenham, London, that plays in the Premier League. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane. Its newly developed training ground is in Bulls Cross on the northern borders of the London Borough of Enfield. Founded in 1882, Tottenham won the FA Cup for the first time in 1901, making it the only non-League club to do so since the formation of the Football League. Tottenham was the first club in the 20th century to achieve the League and FA Cup Double, winning both competitions in the 1960–61 season. After successfully defending the FA Cup in 1962, in 1963 it became the first British club to win a UEFA club competition – the European Cup Winners' Cup.[4] In 1967 it won the FA Cup for a third time in the 1960s. In the 1970s Tottenham won the League Cup on two occasions and was the inaugural winner of the UEFA Cup in 1972, becoming the first British club to win two different major European trophies. In the 1980s Spurs won several trophies: the FA Cup twice, FA Community Shield and the UEFA Cup in 1984. In the 1990s the club won the FA Cup and the League Cup. When it won the League Cup once more in 2008, it meant that it had won a major trophy in each of the last six decades – an achievement only matched by Manchester United. The club's Latin motto is Audere est Facere (lit: "To Dare Is to Do"), and its emblem is a cockerel standing upon a football. The club has a long-standing rivalry with near neighbours Arsenal, which is known as the North London derby.

EVERTON FC

Everton Football Club /ˈɛvərtən/ is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool. The club have competed in the top division for a record 110 seasons (missing only four seasons, all at level 2) and have won the League Championship nine times.[3] Formed in 1878, Everton were founding members of The Football League in 1888 and won their first league championship two seasons later. Following four league titles and two FA Cup wins, Everton experienced a lull in the immediate post World War Two period until a revival in the 1960s which saw the club win two league championships and an FA Cup. The mid-1980s represented their most recent period of success, with two League Championship successes, an FA Cup, and the 1985 European Cup Winners' Cup. The club's most recent major trophy was the 1995 FA Cup. The club's supporters are known as Evertonians. Everton have a rivalry with neighbours Liverpool and the two sides contest the Merseyside derby. The club have been based at Goodison Park since 1892. The club's home colours are royal blue shirts and white shorts. Everton player Dixie Dean scored a record 60 league goals in the 1927–28 season.

LIVERPOOL FC

Liverpool Football Club /ˈlɪvərpuːl/ is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool. Liverpool F.C. is one of the most successful clubs in England and has won more European trophies than any other English team with five European Cups, three UEFA Cups and three UEFA Super Cups. The club has also won eighteen League titles, seven FA Cups and a record eight League Cups. Liverpool was founded in 1892 and joined the Football League the following year. The club has played at Anfield since its formation. The most successful period in Liverpool's history was the 1970s and '80s when Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley led the club to eleven league titles and seven European trophies. The club's supporters have been involved in two major tragedies. The first was the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985 in which charging Liverpool fans caused a wall to collapse, killing 39 Juventus supporters and resulting in English clubs being banned from European competitions for five years. In the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, 96 Liverpool supporters lost their lives in a crush against perimeter fencing. Liverpool has long-standing rivalries with neighbours Everton and with Manchester United. The team changed from red shirts and white shorts to an all-red home strip in 1964. The club's anthem is "You'll Never Walk Alone".

Manu Tuilagi and Marland Yarde recalled by England

Manu Tuilagi and Marland Yarde have been recalled to the England squad for this Sunday's Six Nations clash with Wales at Twickenham. The centre made his comeback from a five-month lay-off with an chest muscle injury in Leicester's Aviva Premiership victory over Newcastle on Sunday. "They'd have to go some in the next couple of days, it's fair to say." Stuart Lancaster He proved his fitness with a typically powerful display and England coach Stuart Lancaster saw enough to decide to recall him for the crunch crash with Wales. London Irish winger Yarde has been out of action since late November with a hip injury and he adds to Lancaster's back-three options. Lancaster admits both players will have to produce something spectacular in training before the team is announced on Friday to play in the penultimate match of this year's campaign. "They'd have to go some in the next couple of days, it's fair to say," he said. "It's a big ask for Manu to come back having had such a long period out. "He hasn't had any time with us in camp whatsoever, so Tuesday will be the first training session he's done since the Wales game last year." England's 34-man squad will assemble at Pennyhill Park on Monday. Forwards: David Attwood (Bath), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester), Tom Johnson (Exeter), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), Matt Mullan (Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Ed Slater (Leicester), Henry Thomas (Sale), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), David Wilson (Bath), Tom Wood (Northampton), Tom Youngs (Leicester) Backs: Chris Ashton (Saracens), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Freddie Burns (Gloucester), Luther Burrell (Northampton), Danny Care (Harlequins), Lee Dickson (Northampton), Kyle Eastmond (Bath), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonny May (Gloucester), Jack Nowell (Exeter), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester), Anthony Watson (Bath), Marland Yarde (London), Ben Youngs (Leicester)

Pique: Don't believe the hype, Ronaldo is a good guy

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo's public image does not correspond with how the Real Madrid attacker is in real life. The Portugal international is often criticised for his perceived arrogance, yet Pique is adamant that the prolific forward is a friendly guy off the pitch. The pair were team-mates at Manchester United between 2004 and 2008 and the Spain international centre-back has nothing but good words for the Madrid star. "He may have been a bit too sincere when he said that people are jealous of him because he's handsome, rich and a great player," Pique was quoted as saying by Marca. "I know him very well and he is a friendly guy. His public image does not correspond with how he is in real life." Pique left United for Barcelona in the summer of 2008, with Ronaldo saying farewell to Old Trafford for Madrid one year later, yet the duo have maintained a good relationship ever since their time together at the Premier League champions - despite the rivalry between their current clubs.

Messi continues to carry Barcelona

As Esteban picked himself up off the Camp Nou turf after a brave but futile attempt to keep out a Lionel Messi free kick, the Almeria goalkeeper wearily puffed out his cheeks, as if to say, 'How on earth was I supposed to stop that?' The truth was that there was no stopping a set piece so sublime that it appeared to defy logic in the way in which it went from seemingly going at least three yards wide before curling dramatically and rapidly into the top left corner of Esteban's goal. It was another moment of genius from Barca's talisman. It was Messi at his inspirational best. The worrying thing from Barcelona's perspective, though, is that even against lowly Almeria, Tata Martino's men once again had to rely on their No.10 to lead them to victory. The Blaugrana never looked like losing to Francisco Rodriguez's eager but limited side - they enjoyed 75 per cent possession - yet they could easily have dropped two precious points. Indeed, after Messi had added to Alexis Sanchez's opener to put the home side two goals to the good, Almeria got themselves back into the game when an unmarked Angel Trujillo headed home a corner in the 27th minute and then nearly equalised through Aleix Vidal just after the hour. Barca, of course, ultimately ran out 4-1 winners but only thanks to late goals from veteran duo Carles Puyol and Xavi. And even then, Messi had been key in securing the three points, as it was the Argentine's header that led to his captain belatedly killing the game as contest. Of course, the bottom line from Barcelona's perspective is that they took advantage of Real Madrid's 2-2 derby draw with city rivals Atletico earlier in the day to close to within a point of La Liga-leading Blancos. However, the degree to which they relied on Messi to get them over the line against relegation-threatened opponents was concerning. Indeed, it merely served to underline Cesc Fabregas' claim in midweek that the Argentine is currently carrying Barcelona. The good news, obviously, is that Messi now appears to be approaching his very best form at the most important stage of the season. Sunday's goal means he has now scored in each of his last six games, bagging eight in total in that time, banishing all doubts over his fitness - or indeed his love of the game. The four-time Ballon d'Or winner has repeatedly stated that his goal is to peak at precisely the right time for both Barcelona and Argentina this year and he appears well on course to do just that. However, as Blaugrana team-mate Fabregas conceded: "If more is required of Messi, then three times more is required of the rest of us." And that was painfully obvious for long periods against Almeria, as Barca struggled badly to break down a side currently sitting 17th in the standings. Fabregas himself was strangely subdued, Alexis Sanchez and Neymar sparkled only sporadically, while Dani Alves had a desperately tough time whenever faced with Jonathan Zongo. Having been stung by the inevitable wave of criticism which followed last weekend's tame submission against Real Sociedad, Martino had promised a Blaugrana backlash against the Andalusians. "I know that their reaction will be faultless," the Argentine coach stated. However, what unfolded at Camp Nou on Sunday night was anything but perfect ... Messi's free kick aside, of course.

Cardiff fc

ABOUT CADIFF CITY Cardiff City Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Caerdydd) is a professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales that competes in the English football league system. The club is competing in the Premier League for the first time in the 2013–14 season. They play their home games at the Cardiff City Stadium, after moving from Ninian Park in 2009. The club was founded as Riverside A.F.C. in 1899 and is the only club from outside England to have won the FA Cup, which they won in 1927. The club won the Football League Championship title in the 2012–13 season and were promoted to the top flight for the first time in 51 years. This followed two lost national cup finals, the 2008 FA Cup Final against Portsmouth and the 2012 Football League Cup Final against Liverpool, the latter being settled by a penalty shootout. In 2012, Cardiff City was rebranded by the club's Malaysian owner, Vincent Tan. This included the change of the club's home colours and crest.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910. Manchester United have won more trophies than any other team in English football, including a record 20 League titles, a record 11 FA Cups,[3] four League Cups and a record 20 FA Community Shields. The club has also won three European Cups, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, one Intercontinental Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup. In 1998–99, the club won a continental treble of the Premier League, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League, an unprecedented feat for an English club. The 1958 Munich air disaster claimed the lives of eight players. In 1968, under the management of Matt Busby, Manchester United was the first English football club to win the European Cup. Alex Ferguson won 28 major honours, and 38 in total, from November 1986 to May 2013,[4][5] when he announced his retirement after 26 years at the club.[6] Fellow Scot David Moyes was appointed as his replacement on 9 May 2013.[7] Manchester United is the third-richest football club in the world for 2011–12 in terms of revenue, with an annual revenue of €395.9 million, and the second most valuable sports team in 2013, valued at $3.165 billion.[8] It is one of the most widely supported football teams in the world.[9][10][11][12] After being floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1991, the club was purchased by Malcolm Glazer in May 2005 in a deal valuing the club at almost £800 million.[13] In August 2012, Manchester United made an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange.

CHELSEA FC

Chelsea Football Club /ˈtʃɛlsiː/ is an English football club based in Fulham, London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Their home ground is the 41,837-seat[2] Stamford Bridge stadium, where they have played since their establishment. Chelsea had their first major success in 1955, when they won the league championship, and won various cup competitions during the 1960s, 1970s, 1990s and 2000s. The club has enjoyed its greatest period of success in the past two decades, winning 15 major trophies since 1997.[3] Domestically, Chelsea have won four league titles, seven FA Cups, four League Cups and four FA Community Shields, while in continental competitions they have won two UEFA Cup Winners' Cups, one UEFA Super Cup, one UEFA Europa League and one UEFA Champions League. Chelsea are the only London club to win the UEFA Champions League,[4] one of four clubs, and the only British club, to have won all three main UEFA club competitions, and also the first club to hold two major European titles simultaneously.[5][6] Chelsea's regular kit colours are royal blue shirts and shorts with white socks. The club's crest has been changed several times in attempts to re-brand the club and modernise its image. The current crest, featuring a ceremonial lion rampant regardant holding a staff, is a modification of the one introduced in the early 1950s.[7] The club has sustained the fifth highest average all-time attendance in English football.[8] Their average home gate for the 2012–13 season was 41,462, the sixth highest in the Premier League.[9] Since July 2003, Chelsea have been owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.[10] In April 2013 it was ranked by Forbes Magazine as the seventh most valuable football club in the world, at £588 million ($901 million), an increase of 18% from the previous year

ARSENAL

Arsenal Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Holloway, London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups. Arsenal holds the record for the longest uninterrupted period in the English top flight and would be placed first in an aggregated league of the entire 20th century. It is the second side to complete an English top flight season unbeaten (in the 2003–04 season) and the only one to do so across 38 matches. Arsenal was founded in 1886 in Woolwich and in 1893 became the first club from the south of England to join the Football League. In 1913, it moved north across the city to Arsenal Stadium in Highbury. In the 1930s the club won five League Championship titles and two FA Cups. After a lean period in the post-war years it won the League and FA Cup Double, in the 1970–71 season, and in the 1990s and first decade of the 21st century won two more Doubles and reached the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final. Arsenal has a long-standing rivalry with North London neighbours Tottenham Hotspur, with whom it contests the North London derby. Arsenal is the fourth most valuable association football club in the world as of 2013, valued at more than $1.3 billion.

MANCHESTER CITY

Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's (West Gorton), they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894. The club has played at the City of Manchester Stadium since 2003, having played at Maine Road from 1923. The club's most successful period was in the late 1960s and early 1970s when they won the League Championship, FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup under the management team of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison. After losing the 1981 FA Cup Final, the club went through a period of decline, culminating in relegation to the third tier of English football for the only time in their history in 1998. Having regained Premier League status, the club was purchased in 2008 by Abu Dhabi United Group and became one of the wealthiest in the world. In 2011, Manchester City qualified for the UEFA Champions League and won the FA Cup. In 2012, the club won the Premier League, their first league title for 44 years.

Premier League: Arsene Wenger says Arsenal won't bid again for Liverpool's Luis Suarez

The Londoners made a bid of £40m and one pound for the Uruguayan last August but that was rejected by Liverpool and he could line up against Wenger's side when the teams meet at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday. "You sometimes have regrets when players who played for you score goals or do well somewhere else," said Wenger. "He (Suarez) was never our player, it is a situation that didn't come off and that is it." Arsene Wenger "But he was never our player, it is a situation that didn't come off and that is it." Asked if Arsenal might revisit the deal again at a future date, Wenger added: "At the moment no, no." A positive result on Merseyside would further boost Arsenal's chances of winning the title for the first time since 2004 and Wenger believes they can go there in confident mood. Jack Wilshere looks set to return after missing the last two games with an ankle injury he picked up in the FA Cup win over Coventry, while Kieran Gibbs could also be involved. But Wenger is focused on a consistent run from now until the end of the season and insisted they deserve to be in the title hunt. Wenger ready for defining month "In the Premiership now, every point is vital. But we enjoy that and we have fought very hard until now to be in that position. So let's just enjoy it and give it our best," said Wenger. "I am convinced that, especially mentally, we are prepared and we have shown that throughout the season when we have had difficulties. "Physically we are prepared but it depends how many injuries you have as you need to rotate." Wenger is convinced Chelsea are still heavily involved in the title race, despite manager Jose Mourinho's protestations to the contrary. Their 1-0 win at Manchester City on Monday ended the perfect home run of Manuel Pellegrini's side and Wenger insists he was justified in insisting there are no unbeatable teams in the top-flight this season. "They are in there. You can move out (of the top positions) if you don't want but I think they are in there, of course," added Wenger. "I told you that one month ago and you didn't believe me. There is no invincible team because there are so many quality teams in the Premier League. "It is just how close you are to your best every time that decides the outcomes of the games."

Mourinho think Chelsea will win the league

The Blues' 1-0 win over Manchester City was their seventh top-flight win in their last nine games as they completed the league double over the title favourites Bet = Chelsea FcCHE 12.5$ Draw 55$ NEW 120$ Ladbrokes COMMENT By Peter Staunton at the Etihad "I am not saying we are better than them," he declared. "We beat them twice but they are the best team." Manchester City, he admitted, were the best side Chelsea had played this season, "no doubts about it." But when it came to putting his side into the title race after as convincing a 0-1 win away as you could possibly find - at a side who simply do not lose at home - Jose Mourinho preferred instead to list all the games Chelsea have failed to win this season. VIEW FROM THE ETIHAD STADIUM It will be hard to avoid the categorisation of this one as a 'Mourinho masterclass' because that is exactly what it was. Chelsea faced Manchester City eye-to-eye and came out on top. This was not 19th century, defensive football hoping for the best, this was precise counter-attacking and diligent work in defence. It was well-deserved and it blows the title race wide open. City were below par and could not, until late, make things difficult for Petr Cech. But they were made to be second-best by an excellent Chelsea who threatened time and again through the excellent Hazard and industrious Ramires. But that takes nothing away from the rest of the Chelsea boys. This was a statement win from Mourinho's side. Chelsea are "evolving" goes his now familiar refrain. Keep saying it Jose and you might start to believe it. The wry smile on his face as he delivered the message, however, suggests otherwise. "There are two big horses and a little horse," he said. "A horse that next season can race. "We can win it if they lose it." There is only so long the manager can file his team as a work in progress. If we are expected to believe that then Chelsea need to stop beating the title contenders orthey might just be mistaken for one themselves. There was a lingering perception that Chelsea would do to Manchester City as West Ham did to them last week; spoil the match and stop City playing. Half right. Chelsea spoiled nothing; they were brilliant in every department. But they did indeed knock the Pellegrini machine out of sync. Where West Ham owed scarcely-believable fortune for evading defeat at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea owed nothing of the sort. "A victory against a very good team is better than a victory against an ordinary team," Mourinho said satisfactorily. He extracted a measured, precise, disciplined performance out of his troops on Monday night. They stopped a goalscoring locomotive in its tracks like Superman with an outstretched hand. Rarely do players carry the message of their manager like these Chelsea players do in their deeds for Mourinho. Ramires, lurking on the counter, typifies Mourinho's approach and is becoming one of his more distinctive lieutenants. In Eden Hazard, Chelsea have their own Cristiano Ronaldo as Mourinho had at Real Madrid. "Ronaldo and Messi are Ronaldo and Messi," proffered Jose. "I keep saying he has to improve. He needs to have his feet on the ground." Get Adobe Flash player CHELSEA LATEST 2/1 Chelsea are 2/1 with Betway to win the Premier League Vital for a team who cedes possession like Chelsea did at City is a player who not only carries the ball and buys time for the other 10, but who can affect proceedings when sought. The dexterous Belgian toyed with City's back-four. He nullified Pablo Zabaleta's threat to counter-attack through his very existence. Those two players in particular, wide of the midfield duo, gave Manuel Pellegrini discomfort. He favours sending Zabaleta and Aleksandr Kolarov forward at every available opportunity. Although Ramires and Hazard did not always track them back, they were nonetheless ready to carry the ball forward into the unoccupied territory as soon as City surrendered it. City, instead, failed to consistently go behind Chelsea and hurt them with meaningful attacks. Only three times did they as much as hit the target. That is testament to Chelsea's bravery in quelling them. Nemanja Matic was the pick of the midfielders on show. "I knew that he was ready to come to the Premier League," said Mourinho. "That's why we did it now. We didn't want to lose him." John Terry and Gary Cahill were rock solid, keeping a ninth clean sheet in 17 league matches together this season and, with David Luiz and Matic, putting a lockdown on the offensive midfield area so often the playground of David Silva. City are still, probably, favourites for the title but this is not only an encouraging display for Chelsea - it is also one for Arsenal and anyone else who fancies themselves as champions elect. Manchester City are beatable - even at home after a run of 11 wins in 12. When they are described in superhuman terms, it serves only to highlight the flaws in the opposition around the Premier League. All too quick to make excuses and write off a visit to the Etihad. Mourinho, to his credit, gave City their dues in the build-up and said that Chelsea would try to win the match if they could. No mind-games there. "This is a good feeling," he said. "We played against the best team in this country." Chelsea had the confidence to face City head on and beat them convincingly. Mourinho's characteristic fervour remains undiminished. "We love the big games," he said. "When you love it, you feel extra motivated." Chelsea have blown the title race wide open. Let us know when you're ready to admit that much Jose.

Mourinho hits out at West Ham tactics

Chelsea were frustrated at Stamford Bridge as Sam Allardyce's side kept the hosts at bay with a string of last-ditch blocks, with Andy Carroll operating as a lone striker Bet = Manchester CityMNC 18.5$ Draw 36$ Chelsea FcCHE 45$ Ladbrokes Jose Mourinho has labelled West Ham's style of play "football from the 19th century" following Chelsea's goalless draw at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening. Chelsea threw everything at Sam Allardyce's side in the second half but failed to find a way past the Hammers, who were reliant on strong performances from goalkeeper Adrian, James Collins, James Tomkins and the midfield, who sat deep throughout the home sides' 39-shot onslaught. The stalemate has left Chelsea three points behind new Premier League leaders Manchester City, who secured a 5-1 victory over Tottenham at White Hart Lane. "This is not Premier League, this is not the best league in the world. This is football from the 19th century," Mourinho told reporters. "It's very difficult to play a football match when only one team wants to play. A football match is about two teams playing. "I told Big Sam, they need points. To come here the way they did, is that acceptable? Maybe it is, they need points." Mourinho insisted there was little more his side could do to break down West Ham, who came away from Stamford Bridge with a point for only the second time since September 2002. He joked: "The only thing I could bring more was Black & Decker - a Black & Decker to destroy the [West Ham] wall."

Royal Rumble 2014 predictions

Royal Rumble is rightfully held in high regard as one of WWE’s most thrilling pay-per-views of the year, and the 2014 edition is no exception. Featuring a WWE World Heavyweight Title showdown between longtime rivals Randy Orton and John Cena, Brock Lesnar’s first match since last August, Batista’s return after a nearly four-year absence and the incomparable Royal Rumble Match, and Sunday’s big event feels positively monumental. Watch Royal Rumble | See who's in the Royal Rumble Match But who will win and who will lose? Which Superstar will withstand the 30- Superstar over-the-top melee to main- event a WWE World Heavyweight Title Match at WrestleMania XXX? These were the debates happening on the WWE.com floor this week. Check out who we predict will come out on top this Sunday!

RAFEL NADAL DEFEATS FEDERE IN AUSTRALIA OPEN

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Rafael Nadal admitted the sight of Roger Federer on the other side of the net brings out the best in him. Top seed Nadal defeated his old rival 7-6 6-3 6-3 in their Australian Open semi-final to increase his lead in their career head- to-head to 23-10. And the Spaniard will now take on another Swiss, Stanislas Wawrinka, in Sunday's final with the chance to become the third man to win each Grand Slam event on two occasions. "I played a lot of times against him and a lot of times I played great against him," said Nadal. "So probably that's why I had this success against him. "I think I played probably my best match of the tournament. Great news that I played my best match in that semi-final against Roger. "He arrived to that match winning two great matches against (Jo-Wilfried) Tsonga and Andy (Murray) two days ago. I'm very happy the way I played tonight and very special moment try to have the chance to be in another final." On his game-plan in the semi-final, Nadal said: "Every time I go on court I know what I have to do, but I don't know if I will be able to do it or if he will give me the chance to play the way that I want to play. "What happened in the past probably will not help me. I take every match like a different history and every day is different. "Sure, the matches that I won against him in the past helps to make me feel confident in the way that I have to play, but that's doesn't mean that I will have the chance to do it again. "Even if we played each other 32 times before this one and I was able to win against him 22, I go on court knowing that I am playing against a player that is unbelievable." Nadal has not dropped a set to Wawrinka in their 12 previous meetings but still expects a tough final. "I saw him play against Novak (Djokovic) and I saw him play against (Tomas) Berdych," he said. "He's playing great. He's a good friend, great guy. So, happy for him that he's in the final. He deserves it. He's playing better and better every year. "He's serving unbelievable. He's hitting the ball very strong from the baseline. If I am not able to play my best, I think I will not have chances because he's coming to this match with a lot of victories and playing great."

Mata's move to Manchester United is unfair, claims Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Juan Mata's proposed move from Chelsea to Manchester United is unfair and feels the rules of the transfer window should be adapted. The Frenchman is annoyed that the two clubs involved in the transfer do not have to play each other again this season, but that United will still meet the Blues' title challengers - Liverpool, Manchester City and the Gunners - with Mata in their ranks. United have prepared a temporary helipad at Carrington as the Spaniard flies in to complete a £37 million club record transfer on Thursday , but Wenger believes the timing is wrong. "It opens again a little bit the opportunity of this transfer market because Chelsea had already played twice against Man United so they don't play again," he told reporters. "They could have sold him last week but it opens at least the opportunity [to question] the dates of this transfer window. "Some teams have already played twice against one opponent and some others not. I think if you want to respect the fairness for everybody exactly the same, that should not happen. "I just think you would want that everybody is on the same level. Chelsea do not make the rules but maybe the rules should be a bit more adapted to more fairness." Wenger, who sold Robin van Persie to Manchester United in 2012, is puzzled by the Mata move. "I am surprised because Juan Mata is a great player and Chelsea sell a great player to a direct opponent," he continued. Wenger also backed David Moyes to ride out United's rough patch, after the club were knocked out of the Capital One Cup semi-finals by Sunderland on Thursday. "You have to survive massive disappointments and keep your belief high in what you do because to win is easy for everybody," he added. "How to live with defeat, that is what managers are about, and David Moyes is strong enough. For me he deals with the situation very well. "They go through a difficult moment in their season but they can still come back. They are in a strong position in the Champions League and they just bought a great player, so Man United has still to be considered a threat."

Mata flies in to complete Manchester United move

Juan Mata will arrive at Manchester United 's Carrington training base by helicopter this morning to complete his move to the Premier League champions. The Red Devils agreed a £37 million fee with Chelsea for the World Cup and European Championship winner on Wednesday night. The move is set to be finalised after the completion of a medical, which will take place at the new £10m medical facility inside Carrington's grounds, with doctors already on site. There was a breakthrough in talks between the two clubs on Wednesday, with the London club giving the 25-year- old permission to miss first-team training in the morning. Mata is expected to make his debut for David Moyes’ side in their Premier League clash against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Cardiff City next Tuesday. Chelsea will move for Basel's Mohamed Salah, who had been linked with Liverpool, as a replacement for the 25- year-old playmaker. Details of the transfer emerged as United crashed out of the Capital One Cup to Sunderland on Wednesday evening. Moyes' men missed four of their five shoot-out penalties after forcing extra- time thanks to a last-gasp Chicharito goal, which was scored just seconds after Phil Bardsley looked to have settled the tie for the Black Cats.

Murray cruises through

Andy Murray dropped his first set of this year's Australian Open campaign before overcoming plucky qualifier Stephane Robert to reach the quarter-finals, where Roger Federer awaits. Murray had seemed set to continue his untroubled progress through the men's draw in Melbourne as he gave a tennis masterclass for the first hour of his last 16 clash. Robert, though, refused to let Murray have things his own way by winning the third set before eventually succumbing 6-1 6-2 6-7 (8-6) 6-2. Murray's sternest test awaits next against four-time Australian Open champion Federer, who looked in brilliant touch during his 6-3 7-5 6-4 fourth round victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga later on Monday. The victory took the Swiss only an hour and 52 minutes, while he chalked up 43 winners compared to 21 unforced errors. Murray had breezed through the opening matches in Melbourne, accounting for Feliciano Lopez, Vincent Millot and Go Soeda en route to the fourth round. And on paper it looked as if Robert, the world No 119, would be despatched with similar ease. Robert had already surpassed all his own expectations in reaching this stage having only earned his place in the main draw as a 'lucky loser' after Philipp Kohlschreiber pulled out with a hamstring injury. The Frenchman did start well but Murray appeared to have him worked out as he rattled through the first two sets. But just as in his matches against Soeda and Millot, Murray appeared to take his foot off the gas in the third. And sensing his chance Robert upped his game and was able to make life uncomfortable for Murray. The British No 1 looked to have broken his resistance in the seventh game to move clear however Robert hit back. Having missed a chance to level in the eighth game he finally denied Murray in the 10th - with the 26-year-old having missed two match points. Murray had two more match points in the tiebreak but Robert was able to cling on and clinch the set. Hopes of an upset lifted the Hisense Arena crowd, who cheered every Robert point - however Murray was able to move back through the gears. He broke Robert in the fourth game and despite the Frenchmen's best efforts he could find no way back into the match. Murray broke again in the eighth game to seal the win and book a quarter-final date with Federer. From the start against Tsonga the Swiss looked sharp, breaking serve in the second game and easily holding throughout the first set. All the pressure was coming from Federer and, although Tsonga held on until 5-5 in the second set, the 32-year-old was quick to take his chance when it came. Federer and Edberg have only been working together for a week but the Swede's influence already seemed apparent, with Federer coming to the net 41 times during the match and winning 34 of the points. The writing seemed on the wall for Tsonga when Federer broke again to lead 2-1, although the Frenchman at least fought back from 0-40 in the seventh game to keep it to one break. Tsonga had roared in frustration after Federer won the first three points and hit a ball out of Rod Laver Arena in his anger. It certainly worked in his favour, and in the next game he brought up his first break point of the match but netted a return. Federer hit his first double fault of the match on his first match point but took it on the second with a clinical forehand volley.

THE BEAST AND THE ANIMAL

The pit of danger reopens for business when Batista makes his long-awaited return. Also, Brock Lesnar faces Big Show one last time before their Royal Rumble confrontation. WWE.com previews a must-see episode of Raw! With less than a week to go until the Royal Rumble event, tension in the WWE locker room is at an all-time high. Brock Lesnar will be in the house. So will – finally – Batista. Daniel Bryan, seemingly king of the world at the end of last week’s Raw, has a bull’s-eye on his back for this one. And with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship hanging in the balance next Sunday, what will go down on tonight's Raw?

De Bruyne hits back at Mourinho

Kevin De Bruyne felt he had to leave Chelsea after becoming unhappy at Stamford Bridge under Jose Mourinho. The Belgian started both of the club's first two Premier League games of the season, against Hull City and Manchester United, but after coming off the bench against Fulham found his appearances restricted to cup competition. De Bruyne was persuaded to remain with the Blues during the summer, despite interest from high-profile European clubs, but has since made a January move to Wolfsburg. "In the summer he [Mourinho] convinced me to stay, although there was a nice bid from [Borussia] Dortmund on the table," De Bruyne told Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws. "I also talked to Atletico Madrid. It was a good option, but I wasn't sure I would be playing there. "I didn't leave Chelsea because I have to go to the World Cup - it could be over after three games -but just because I lost my joy." Mourinho publicly criticised De Bruyne for his performances in the Capital One Cup victory over Swindon, and the Belgian also denied claims of a lack of effort in training. "My pre-season was good, my first game too, but I still don't know why I lost my place after the game against Manchester United. "I've also never asked Mourinho. He has never told me: 'Kevin, you don't train well.' "It's a pity he told a press conference that I wasn't doing well on the training pitch. That's not me. I'm always a player who gives the full 100 per cent in training. Those remarks created a wrong image

LATEST JANUARY TRANSFER NEWS

16:00 Birmingham boss Lee Clark has urged teenage midfielder Reece Brown to shun any interest from the Premier League to stay at St Andrew's. Clark doesn't want Brown to follow the example of Foday Nabay, who left Birmingham for Fulham last year while aged just 15. 15:49 Fiorentina are closing in on the signing of AC Milan forward Alessandro Matri. The 26-year-old only rejoined Milan last summer from Juventus, but the Rossoneri have confirmed Matri will have a medical at Fiorentina tomorrow. Fiorentina are keen to bring in attacking reinforcements after losing Giuseppe Rossi to injury, while Mario Gomez is not yet fit after a knee injury. 15:45 The agent of Manchester United twins Fabio and Rafael has been quoted by calciomercato.it as saying it is 'very likely' that both players can leave in the summer. Fabio is out of contract at the end of the season, while Inter Milan and Napoli have been linked with right-back Rafael. The Brazilians' representative Cassiano Pereira expects both players to stay until the end of the season after Fabio was linked with a loan move to Cardiff City. Recent reports have also claimed that Manchester United manager David Moyes is considering a move for Everton defender Seamus Coleman as a possible replacement for Rafael. Kevin Doyle is now odds-on (5/6) to join Middlesbrough amid reports of a loan bid. Boro do not have much competition for his signature, with Celtic their biggest contenders at 8/1, while Leeds are big outsiders at 12/1. 15:34 Marcos Painter has been with Portsmouth since August and he will be staying at Fratton Park for a few more weeks yet. 15:32 Fresh from some of Coventry's transfer restrictions being lifted, the League One club have now signed Dan Seaborne on a permanent basis. 15:21 St Johnstone confirmed last night that Tam Scobbie and Brian Easton had followed Gary McDonald and Scott Brown in signing new contracts. Saints boss Tommy Wright has been talking about the deals and is happy to be retaining the duo. 15:15 Could Wolfsburg playmaker Diego be heading back to Brazil? Santos are interested in re-signing Diego a decade after he left the club. The player's Wolfsburg contract expires at the end of the season and he has previously been linked with Premier League club Southampton. 15:05 Former West Ham youngster Dominic Vose has earned a longer deal at Colchester United. 15:01 In order to sign John Guidetti, Stoke had to end one of their other Premier League loan deals and that has been achieved by signing Stephen Ireland permanently from Aston Villa. 14:55 Manchester City have now confirmed John Guidetti has joined Stoke on loan. 14:47 Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic has been linked with Liverpool and Manchester United of late, but he is not planning to move in January. Instead, the Croatia international insists he is happy at Sevilla and would be willing to extend his contract, which has 18 months left to run. 14:35 Here's more on Wes Thomas joining Rotherham from Bournemouth until the end of the season, with a view to a longer-term arrangement. Rotherham boss Steve Evans says there was competition for the striker. 14:20 We've taken a look through the regional papers to bring you some of the transfer lines doing the rounds: THE CHRONICLE: Papiss Cisse has 'no interest' in a move to Qatar, with Newcastle understood to have turned down a £9million bid last week. THE SENTINEL: Stoke are being linked with a move for Newcastle defender Steven Taylor. WIGAN POST: Uwe Rosler gets the impression Ben Watson would like to stay at Wigan but admits no agreement has been reached over a new deal. EVENING TIMES: Lee Wallace is capable of starring in the Barclays Premier League and Rangers face a fight to hold on to him during January, according to Gary Naysmith. 14:02 Sticking with Hull City, and a possible departure from the KC Stadium, as Steve Bruce warns Nottingham Forest to match Reading's offer for Jack Hobbs. Hobbs is on a season-long loan at Forest and has also been linked with a move to Bruce's former club Wigan Athletic. 13:46 Stuttgart midfielder Timo Werner is one of the rising stars in the Bundesliga and his club are hoping to finalise a new contract with the 17-year-old. Werner, whose current deal expires in 2015, has been tipped to make a push for inclusion in Germany's squad for the World Cup. 13:31 Huddersfield Town target Joe Lolley can easily make the step up to the Championship from the Conference, according to his Kidderminster team-mate Lee Fowler, who’s been speaking with Sky Sports News Radio. Lolley is tipped to sign for Huddersfield after playing for Kidderminster in their FA Cup third-round replay against Peterborough tonight. 13:19 Hull City owner Assem Allam has been talking to Sky Sports News about the club's bids for Everton striker Nikica Jelavic and West Brom's Shane Long. Allam confirmed Jelavic's arrival at the KC Stadium will be for a club record fee. 13:14 Benfica midfielder Nemanja Matic looks set to be Chelsea's first signing of the January transfer window, but will there be any further arrivals at Stamford Bridge this month? Here, Sky Sports takes a look at a few players who could be transfer targets for Jose Mourinho. 13:06 Grant Holt's agents confirm he has signed for Aston Villa. 12:56 A big boost for Coventry City, who have been granted clearance by the Football League to operate more freely within the transfer market. The Sky Blues will no longer have to work within the 'one in, one out' policy they have been adhering to under the terms of a transfer embargo. 12:52 Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that John Guidetti will leave on loan this month, but 'doesn't know if he has arranged with Stoke'. Former City boss Mark Hughes has confirmed his interest in taking Guidetti to the Britannia Stadium for the rest of the season. 12:51 Rotherham have brought in Bournemouth striker Wes Thomas for the rest of the season for an undisclosed fee. 12:46 Wolves have been in talks with Danny Batth over a new deal for sometime and the defender has now signed a contract to stay at Molineux until 2017.

Suarez races clear of Ronaldo in European Golden Shoe standings

The Uruguay international netted a double in his side's away win to move first in the goalscoring charts again Luis Suarez has returned to the top of the European Golden Shoe standings following his two goals in Liverpool's 5-3 win over Stoke City on Sunday afternoon. The Uruguay international has now netted 22 goals in the Premier League this term - two more than Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo in La Liga, who did not score in his side's 1-0 win over Espanyol. Atletico Madrid star Diego Costa, meanwhile, failed to find the net as well as his side were held to a scoreless draw by Barcelona. Fourth-placed Giuseppe Rossi remains unavailable due to injury, as is the case with Manchester City hitman Sergio Aguero.

Manchester City close in on 'Nigerian Neymar' Yahaya

Manchester City are poised to secure a deal for Nigeria under-17 star Musa Yahaya. Yahaya scored four times in seven matches at the U-17 World Cup held in the United Arab Emirates, with Nigeria beating Mexico 3-0 in the final to win the tournament. Dubbed the 'Nigerian Neymar', Yahaya had been tracked by Tottenham, as well as teams in Portugal and Spain, but City appear to have won the race for the 16-year-old and are in deep discussions with the player's agent, Babawo Mohammed. The attacking midfielder, who plays at the Mutunchi Academy in his homeland, would become the third member of the African nation's junior team to join City and is keen to link up with his international team-mates at the Etihad Stadium. Yahaya, who describes Andres Iniesta as his footballing hero and has admitted he wants to play for Real Madrid, has remained coy over his immediate future in recent months. "I am not going to talk on that one [where he wants to move], I have a manager in Babawo Mohammed. I have left that for him to handle. He knows me and knows what is good for me," he told MTNFootball in November. Striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who won the Golden Ball at the U-17 World Cup after picking up six goals and seven assists, signed a pre-contract agreement with Manuel Pellegrini's side on Friday and will join when he turns 18 in October. Chidi Nwakali, meanwhile, is also on the verge of signing for the club after arriving for talks last week, with City opening their state-of-the-art Etihad Campus training facility in August.

Laureus World Sports Awards of the year

SPORT: Athletics BORN: August 21, 1986 RESIDENCE: Jamaica Regarded by many as the greatest sprinter of all time, he is the first athlete to hold both 100 metres and 200 metres world records since electronic timing was introduced SPORT: Adventure BORN: April 20, 1969 RESIDENCE: Austria Austria’s Felix Baumgartner became the first skydiver to go faster than the speed of sound when he jumped out of a balloon from a height of 128,100 ft (24 miles / 39 km) above New Mexico. SPORT: Athletics BORN: 28 January, 1986 RESIDENCE: United Kingdom Jessica Ennis became the hope of the British nation and the talisman of the British athletics team at the London Olympics. SPORT: Swimming BORN: May 24, 1988 RESIDENCE: Brazil Four years earlier in Beijing, he had won four gold medals, four silver and a bronze, a feat which earned him the 2009 Laureus Disability Award. Still just 24, he will be one of the home favourites to win more gold medals when the 2016 Paralympic Games are held in Rio de Janeiro SPORT: Tennis BORN: May 15, 1987 RESIDENCE: United Kingdom In a spectacular second half of the year, Andy Murray, after years of trying, finally made his own personal breakthrough, winning the US Open, his first ever Grand Slam event, and also a gold and silver medal at the London Olympic Games. SPORT: Golf RESIDENCE: Europe The United States needed only 4½ points from 12 singles matches to win, but it was the Europeans who won eight matches and halved another to secure a historic 14½-13½ win SPORT: Athletics BORN: August 30, 1977 RESIDENCE: Domenican Republic Two weeks before his 35th birthday, Felix Sanchez amazingly won the 400 metres hurdles gold medal in London, repeating his achievement in Athens in 2004. RESIDENCE: United Kingdom Following the International Olympic Committee’s decision to award the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to London, Coe, who had headed the London campaign, became chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, charged with overseeing the staging of the Games. SPORT: Swimming BORN: June 30, 1985 RESIDENCE: United States In 2012 American swimmer Michael Phelps, became the most decorated Olympian of all time.

[BALLON D'OR] christiano & Nadine wins fifa best player

2013 proved to be another goal-drenched year for Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese star helped himself to 34 of them in the 2012/13 Liga season, a haul beaten only by Lionel Messi’s 45, and scored a hatful more in Europe and for his national team. Always on top form for Real Madrid and Portugal, the flying forward, who won the FIFA World Player award in 2008, is only gaining in stature with Los Merengues, and it came as no surprise when he extended his contract with the club to 2018 and said he was considering staying put for the rest of his career.

Nadine Angerer already knew how it felt to play a pivotal individual role in a major international triumph. Back in 2007 the keeper with nerves of steel was Germany’s undisputed hero in the Final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in China as she produced a scintillating display against Brazil and saved a Marta penalty. The Germans won 2–0 to seal a second straight Women’s World Cup success, not least due to Angerer conceding no goals at all in her country’s six matches at the finals.

[BALLON D'OR] Coach of the year

The 2012/13 season will live long in the memory of Jupp Heynckes. The 68-year- old has won countless trophies during a distinguished career as a player and coach, but he marked his place in the history books once and for all with Bayern Munich last term when he became the first ever coach to win the treble with a German men’s team. Under Heynckes’ guidance, Bayern romped to the Bundesliga title with six games to spare. This was soon followed by victory in the UEFA Champions League final in May, before they completed their historic treble by lifting the DFB Cup at the end of the season. Pep Guardiola has since succeeded Heynckes at Bayern.