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Cesc Fabregas discusses the importance of rivals dropping points

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Cesc fabregas has claimed that Chelsea’s 4-2 win over Swansea was even more valuable after Manchester City and Arsenal dropped points in the early kickoff.

“Obviously we wanted three points as usual, but the more we take advantage of our rivals the better,” he said.

“We know it doesn’t mean much because there is still a long way to go but we knew [before the game] Manchester City and Arsenal had dropped points so it was very important.

“What I want is to win titles, that’s what’s most important for me, it doesn’t matter who scores, who assists, who defends. The most important thing is that we are a team.”

Chelsea stayed top of the Premier League by beating Swansea at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal and City both failed to put the pressure on the Blues, managing just a 2-2 draw at the Emirates earlier in the day.

 

 

By Ben Kelly

Follow me on Twitter for more articles! @benkelly_10

https://twitter.com/benkelly_10

 

 

Manchester United set to swoop for Ronaldo

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Manchester United remain favourites to sign Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo, reports the Daily Express. 

Ronaldo, aged 29 has also been a target for both Chelsea, and French side PSG for a prolonged period of time now. 

The Portuguese winger has hinted at a return to United recently, however recent rumours suggest that the Red Devils remain in the lead for his signature.

The news comes following reports in France that PSG can’t match any bid due to strict Financial Fair Play regulations.

French sports  journalist Sylvie de Macedo stated:

“This rumour from Cristiano Ronaldo returns every year.

“To our knowledge, the PSG has not taken any steps to recruit him. How could he with the constraints of financial fair play?”

Ronaldo spent six successful years at Manchester United, before leaving for a then record £80 million fee to Madrid in the summer of 2009. 

by Ben Reardon 

@BenReardon1

 

Mourinho shows praise to Benfica youngster

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Jose Mourinho believes that midfielder Talisca could be playing for a top English club if he was able to get a work permit.

The Portuguese coach is known to be a keen admirer of Talisca, who plays for Brazil U20s and thinks he could be in the Premier League instead of the Portuguese league if he had all the necessary documents.

Mourinho told TVI24: “I think Benfica hired well. They say Talisca is unknown, but he is only so unknown because he’s only not playing in England because he doesn’t have a work permit. If he had one, he would be here!

“There were many English teams, great teams and important, that wanted him. Moreover, there were those who wanted to sign him, even though he could not play for now.


“They wanted to sign him, put him in a minor league [on loan] and hope that eventually he came to be selected [for Brazil’s national team], and would consequently then get the work permit.”


Talisca scored a hat-trick during Benfica’s weekend win over Setubal and now has five overall for the capital side.



By Phil Wellbrook

Hazard closing in on new Chelsea deal

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Eden Hazard is close to agreeing a new long term deal at Chelsea, reports Goal.com. 

The winger is said to be close to agreeing terms at Chelsea, in a deal which will make him Chelsea’s best paid player. 

23 year old Hazard, who signed from French Ligue 1 side Lille in 2012, has become a standout figure at Stamford Bridge following a series of eye catching performances. 

Those performances saw him linked to Paris Saint Germain during the summer, however after months of contract negotiations, looks set to pen a deal until the summer of 2019. 

by Ben Reardon 

@BenReardon1

Drogba determined for Chelsea success

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Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has revealed that he is comitted to bringing a second Champions League trophy to Stamford Bridge this year. 

The Cote d’Ivoire striker scored the infamous equaliser against German giants Bayern Munich that eventually led to Chelsea’s penalty shoot-out victory in 2012. 

And now the powerhouse has vowed to claim a second trophy after his two year absence from the club. 

Drogba said: “Now we have a Champions League title at this club I think expectation is a bit higher because everybody wants us to do it again – so lets go for it.”

“During the first few weeks I was here, of course you look back and think ‘it was like this and that before’ but I came back because I wanted to make history again. That’s what I said the first time I was here and nothing has changed.

“We are happy at the moment with the way we are playing and the way the team is responding. We have started well but it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”

“But finishing first doesn’t mean anything now in the Champions League because you can still draw one of the big teams if you finish top. All It means is that you receive the second leg at home in the next round.” 

By Ollie Brown

Nathaniel Chalobah confident of making it at Chelsea

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Chelsea midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah has insisted that he feels he has every chance of making it at Chelsea, depsite already having a squad full of world class players.

Tje 19 year-old midfielder is currently on loan with Premier League new boys Burnley, after signing him this summer for the length of the season.

And despite his young age, he has already proven himself as a player with huge potential having impressed in previous loan spells at Watford and Middlesborough.

Chalobah believes that as long he is still a Chelsea player, then he’ll have a chance of making it at Stamfrod Bridge.

”I’m a Chelsea player and I’m always going to have that belief I can play for Chelsea, that’s not going to change.”

“At the end of the day, there are world class players there at the minute and I’m still really young.”

Despite Chalobah having yet to make a senior Chelsea appearance, he does have 19 England u’21 caps to his name having been picked as a regular for Gareth Southgate’s side since he was just 17.

And the midfielder his quick to express his willingness to work hard this season as he looks to improve further.

“Playing in the Championship taught me a lot and Sean Dyche (Burnley manager) has given me the opportunity now to step up and test myself in the Premier League, so I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.”

Written by Matthew Derrig

Ronaldo open to United move

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Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo is seeking a move back to Manchester United.  

In a recent interview with TalkSport, Calderon has revealed that Ronaldo has increased in frustration with current president Florentino Perez’s current policy at the club and is ready to finally make a move back to England. 

Various reports have suggested that a move to Manchester United or Chelsea once the window re-opens in January, but it appears as if United will be the only club that Ronaldo would be interested in if he leaves the Spanish giants.

Calderon told talkSPORT: “My impression is he is fed up with the policy of the current president.

“When he came [to Real Madrid] with [Arjen] Robben he thought he would be a good colleague for him in the team [but then he was sold]. 

“Two years ago it was [Gonzalo] Higuain sold and he didn’t like that. Last year he thought it was a mistake to let [Mesut] Ozil leave and the last straw was selling Xabi Alonso and Angel di Maria this summer.”

And Calderon believes a return to United could well be on the cards given Ronaldo’s affection for the club.

He added: “When I signed him in 2008, I remember he said he was grateful to Manchester United.

“He had a marvellous time there, he likes everything. It is a really great club.” 

By Ollie Brown

Diego Costa knows goals will dry-up

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Chelsea striker Diego Costa has warned fans that his impressive goalscoring record will eventually come to an end.

The Spaniard, who joined from Atletico Madrid over the Summer, has netted seven times already for his new club in just four Premier League games, including a brace at Goodison Park, and a hat-trick against Swansea City at Stamford Bridge.

Costa, who cost the club £32million, has quickly moved to thank his team-mates for their assists for his goals, but he has also admitted that the impressive run will soon come to an end.

“I try to play in the best manner, and hopefully things will continue like this, but there will be a moment when I cannot score. That is football,” said Costa.

“Every striker has their way of playing and their strengths and a different team behind them. That is very important.

“If you do not have the team behind you, then you can’t do things on your own. It all depends on the team.

“I am adapting very well, although it’s not just me. The key is the group that we have. It is like a family. The squad and all the people around the team are united in our cause.” 

Costa’s impressive goalscoring record and his blossoming partnership with Cesc Fabregas has given The Blues a perfect start, winning four from four and cementing top-spot in the Premier League.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Sir Alex: ‘We failed Kagawa’

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Manchester United legend, Sir Alex Ferguson, has admitted that the club failed midfielder, Shinji Kagawa.

The Japanese international has returned to his former-club, Borussia Dortmund, after failing to make an impact at Old Trafford after his £17million move in 2012, and he has already scored and set-up a goal on his second debut for the club.

Dortmund signed Kagawa for just £6m in the Summer, and manager, Jurgen Klopp, has revealed a conversation he had with Ferguson regarding the 25-year-old midfielder.

Kagawa only played 38 games for United and according to Klopp, Ferguson told him that he has to take some of the blame for how things went for the midfielder in England.

‘Shame we [United] didn’t manage this well so that it worked out for him [Kagawa]. We were satisfied in the first year,’ Ferguson told the German manager.

‘In the second year you usually make the next step but he didn’t manage to do it.’

‘We should have made it work.’

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Pedro willing to listen to Arsenal and Liverpool offers

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Premier League duo Arsenal and Liverpool have been put on red alert after reports broke out suggesting that FC Barcelona winger, Pedro, could be on his way out in January.

The Spaniard has reportedly grown frustrated with life at the Nou Camp due to the arrival of Luis Suarez leaving him down the pecking order behind the Uruguayan as well as behind Neymar and Lionel Messi.

Barca already sold Alexis Sanchez to Arsenal due to their growing numbers, and Pedro could be the next winger on his way out, with a potential move in January on the cards.

The 27-year-old is yet to complete a full 90-minutes for Barca this season, and according to reports in Spain, he is ready to listen to offers for his services in the New Year.

Pedro has been a target of Arsene Wenger before, and it’s believed the winger would be keen on a switch to the Emirates Stadium, linking up with former-team-mate, Alexis Sanchez, but Brendan Rodgers is also showing serious interest in the winger and may make a formal approach in January.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Nicklas Bendtner blasts Arsenal for blocking transfer

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Former-Arsenal striker, Nicklas Bendtner, has hit out at Arsene Wenger claiming that he ‘wasted’ a year of his career by refusing to sell him to Juventus last Summer.

The Danish international was well out of favour at the Emirates Stadium after spending two seasons out on loan to Sunderland and then Juve, but after returning to North London, Wenger told him to stay at the club for another year due to the club not having a lot of options in the attacking department.

However, since leaving and joining German side, Wolfsburg, on a permanent deal, Bendtner has let out his real thoughts on Wenger, and has accused him for wasting a year of his career by blocking a move to the Serie A champions.

Despite rarely featuring for Juve during his loan spell due to injury, Bendtner has revealed that a permanent move was on the cards until Wenger stepped in and blocked it.

He told Bild: “I played regularly for Juventus until I got injured. At Arsenal I barely played. My last year was wasted there.

“I was loaned to Juve. It went well there. I played regularly, and I was fit. Then I got injured, had to miss the next six months.

“We were champions, I wanted to stay. But Arsenal took me back. I wasted a year there. That annoys me the most.”

Bendtner has now moved to Wolfsburg, and he has admitted that he misses London, but he states he is happy to be at the club.

“Wolfsburg is obviously different. But it’s not bad here. And if I want a larger city, one is by train in an hour in Berlin. There I have many friends.

“I miss my son. If I have a day off, I will always try to travel to London to spend time with him. London is my city, I lived there since I was 16. Of course, I also miss my friends. But the VfL ??is my new beginning. The important thing now is football. Life comes afterwards. 

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Emre Can leaves Melwood on Crutches!

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Newly signed Emre Can is set to be out for up six weeks, Forcing Rodgers to make some unwanted changes.

The Reds boss is already without Daniel Sturridge due to a thigh injury and rested young Raheem Sterling during Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday.

And Can has added to Rodgers’ worries, with the £10million summer signing joining Sturridge on the sidelines.

The German midfielder used his crutches leaving Liverpool’s training ground before getting into a white car and driving off.

Can is believed to have rolled his ankle during Germany Under-21s 8-0 win over Romania.

Can provided three assists in an impressive performance for Horst Hrubesch’s side in the UEFA Under 21 Championship.

But he picked up an injury after the Germans had already used all of their substitutions and so he was forced to play on.

Written by Steve Milne

AS Roma to make £2m bid for Glen Johnson

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Italian side AS Roma are ready to make a £2million offer for Liverpool’s right-back, Glen Johnson.

The England international has been heavily criticised by many Reds fans so far this season, and after the arrival of Javier Manquillo from Atletico Madrid, Johnson’s place in the first-team is in jeopardy and he could be on his way out of Anfield.

As well as Manquillo providing competition, Liverpool youngster Jon Flanagan is also favoured by Brendan Rodgers and that could see Johnson’s days in Merseyside numbered.

The 30-year-old, who has suffered from injuries recently, has sparked up interest from a trio of teams, with Roma, Real Madrid and Queens Park Rangers all interested in signing the right-back, however, according to reports, Roma are in pole position and could land the Englishman for as little as £2m.

Johnson’s currentl deal at Anfield expires in 12-months time, meaning he can talk to clubs overseas in January, and with no contract talks in the pipeline, the ex-Chelsea man could be on his way out of England.

However, according to reports, a potential stumbling block could be Johnson’s wage demands, which are around £100k-a-week, but due to Liverpool not prepared to renew his contract, the 30-year-old may have to accept a reduced contract offer.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Bayern Munich preparing £32m bid for Mesut Ozil

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German champions, Bayern Munich, are set to make a £32million offer for Arsenal star, Mesut Ozil, once the transfer window re-opens in January.

The German World Cup winner has not impressed since making his mega-move from Real Madrid last Summer, in a deal worth £42m, and his form has stuttered already this season, with some fans saying he should be dropped and even sold.

Ozil has recently been playing out of position down the left-wing rather than in a number-10 role, but numerous Arsenal fans are still disgraced by his current effort and level of performances.

The criticism of Ozil has made clubs around Europe ponder a bid for him in the New Year, and it appears Munich are ready to end the 25-year-old’s North London misery.

Pep Guardiola faces losing Mario Goetze after the midfielder admitted his desire to play abroad, whilst Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery are now in their 30s and the former-Barcelona boss is ready to bring in some new faces and the younger generation.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Louis Van Gaal sends title warning

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After beating Queens Park Rangers 4-0 at Old Trafford, Manchester United are now ready to challenge for the title THIS season, according to their manager, Louis Van Gaal.

The Dutchman picked up his first competitive win as the United boss, after drawing two and losing one, and after the game, he stated his desire to win the Premier League this season.

Goals from Angel Di Maria, Ander Herrera, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata gave The Red Devils their first win of the season, and when asked about his expectations for the campaign ahead, Van Gaal had this to say after the game:

“I want to win the Premier League title,” he said.

“If it is not this year, then the second or third year. I want to give a championship to the fans.”

If United are to win the league this season, they will have to catch up with Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho, who are already seven points ahead of the Manchester side.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles