We want Sagna, confirms Inter president

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Mar 25, 2014

Rodgers is a huge fan of the 29-year-old, who he describes as “one of the best full-backs in the world”.

Johnson will have just one year left on his current contract once the season has finished, and Rodgers does not want to risk losing the former Chelsea, West Ham and Portsmouth defender.

“It’s important for me with how we play that the full-backs can get up, join in and make runs in behind. We are seeing now the player we all know Liverpool had – which is one of the best full-backs in the world,” Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.

“We want to keep Glen here, there is no question about that, especially now he’s in this form. He’s 29 and we feel that he has still got good years ahead of him.

“No contracts will be looked at until the summer but his will be a priority for us, especially if he continues in the form that he’s in.

“The beauty of this is we want to keep Glen and Glen loves it here. We just need to find a solution which is good for both.

“If we can do that then the club will have a very good player for years to come.

“We have other players like young Jon Flanagan who only has one year left, while Jordan Henderson only has two years left. They have been great and we want to look at those contracts.

“That’s something that will be for the summer. The players can do themselves no harm by continuing to play in the form they are in. The club will then take a close look at it.”

Written by Steve Milne

Marriner NOT SUSPENDED after sending off Gibbs instead of Oxlade-Chamberlain

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Mar 25, 2014

Andre Marriner hasn’t been suspended for his embarrassing gaffe at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The official will take charge of Newcastle’s trip to Southampton this coming Saturday, although many believed he might have suffered a brief demotion to the Football League.

The official made the biggest blunder in recent memory when he sent off Kieran Gibbs after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain handled the ball in the Arsenal area as Arsene Wenger’s side capitulated at Chelsea.

Marriner’s mistake didn’t have much bearing on the end result, but he felt compelled to apologise afterwards and told friends of his devastation at the mistake.

Marriner’s closest friends say he has been deeply affected by the incident during Chelsea’s 6-0 win and is still struggling to come to terms with how he could have made such an error.

He found out that the Premier League handed him a game on Monday afternoon.

This incident is unlikely to go away in a hurry for Marriner though, and it remains to be seen what reception he will get at St Mary’s on Saturday.

The ghastly mistake came about after Oxlade-Chamberlain had thrown himself at a shot from Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, using his hand to divert a ball he believed was heading for the corner of the net.

The referee then inexplicably sent off Gibbs in a fit of confusion, brandishing the red card amid protests from Arsenal’s players, including Oxlade-Chamberlain, who told the referee he was the offender.

After the match, the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd, the referees’ body, issued a statement saying: ‘Andre is an experienced referee and is obviously disappointed that an error of mistaken identity was made.

‘Incidents of mistaken identity are very rare and are often the result of a number of different technical factors.’

Written by Steve Milne

Fernandinho mocks United ahead of derby thriller

By

mattjb93

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Mar 25, 2014

Fernandinho has turned up the heat ahead of Tuesday’s Manchester derby by admitting that he couldn’t believe how poor the champions were when they played each other back in September.

The 28-year-old has been one of Manchester City’s bright sparks this season forming a lethal midfield partnership with the impressive Yaya Toure, and the former Shaktar Donetsk midfielder, who cost City a whopping £30m, claimed he has been surprised the way United have crumbled under Moyes.

‘United are a club with history, with very good players and they were the champions. So I was surprised at how badly they played, how easily we won.’

The last time these two giants of football collided Moyes cut a forlorn figure on the Etihad touch line as he watched his Red Devils captiulate in a 4-1 defeat. Since then the signs of Moyes and United’s demise have been evident to see ever since.

Written by Matthew Birt

Manchester United v Manchester City Match preview.

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Ben Reardon

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Mar 25, 2014

United and City meet in yet another Manchester derby, which is certain to be a real spicy affair once again.

City, gunning for the League title, will be hoping to take advantage of United’s unusual situation, with Moyes’ men seemingly out of the current title race this season.

However, United are somewhat in form at the moment, after two impressive victories against Olympiakos and West Ham United, which has, for now at least, relieved the pressure on the under-fire David Moyes.

A brace from Rooney helped United on their way to a 2-0 win away at the Hammers, which was a morale boosting win, following a tough few weeks at the club.

Rooney, who has recently signed a new £300,000 a week deal at Old Trafford will look to spearhead a United attack, who will be without the injured Robin Van Persie, with the Dutch international out for a month or so with an unfortunate knee injury he sustained in the win over Olympiakos.

The striker has returned to form in recent weeks, with the support of recent signing Juan Mata, and fellow England striker Danny Welbeck.

Manager David Moyes stated before the big fixture.

“We want to try and perform better in the bigger games than what we have done,” Moyes said. “It will be important for us to show the level of what we have got.

“We will do everything we can to win. We go out to win every game, not just the derby game. Obviously it means a lot more to the supporters and the city if you win a derby game.”

United currently sit 7th in the Premier League, nine points off fourth place Arsenal, and five of current Europa League place holders Tottenham Hotspur.

Team news wise for United, Moyes has yet to confirm the fitness of centre backs Jonny Evans, and Rio Ferdinand.

Nemanja Vidic will also be missing as he is suspended, following a sending off in the defeat to Liverpool.

Other than that, Moyes pretty much has a whole squad to pick from for the crunch derby.

However, United will be hoping to get back to winning ways at home, as the Red Devils haven’t won in two Premier League games at Old Trafford.

Focusing on City, and Pellegrini will be hoping his players will be able to contine their current run of form, following a superb 5-0 win at home to relegation favourites Fulham.

The Citizens are unbeaten in eight away matches, winning six of them in a positive first campaign for Manuel Pellegrini.

City can boast a squad full of talent, with Sergio Aguero leading the way with 26 goals, as the free scoring City will look to put another nail in United’s coffin, with a win at Old Trafford.

Yaya Toure continued his fine season with a brilliant hat-trick in the Fulham win, taking his season tally to 20, from a midfield position.

Pellegrini has also confirmed that Sergio Aguero ( knee) and Matija Nastasic are both out of the fixture.

Vincent Kompany will also return to the squad for the game, having served his ban following his Red card against Hully City.

The City boss was rather coy in his conference.

“I don’t think we are favourites in any game,” he said.

“We are in a good moment but we are playing against a big team in their own stadium, so I don’t think we are the favourites.

“Of course we always expect to go and win every game but, I repeat, just because Manchester United have had a difficult season it does not mean we are going to win. We have to go there and play a very good game.”

The Blues head into the game with a superb record against United, having won the last two games at Old Trafford (2-1 and 6-1), and the Sky Blues also won the recent fixture at the Etihad in September, hammering Moyes’ men 4-1.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Arsene Wenger set to drop trio for Swansea City game

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Mar 25, 2014

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to drop trio Wojciech Szczesny, Olivier Giroud and Mikel Arteta for tonight’s match against Swansea City as he looks for a response after their 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Chelsea.

The Gunners fell out of the title-race after their mauling at Stamford Bridge, and it appears Wenger is fed up with a few of his first-team players, and it looks like three of them are now facing the axe due to their poor performances.

Szczesny is expected to be replaced by Lukasz Fabianski as Wenger is not happy with his number-one’s recent attitude, including him taking a selfie after the North London Derby victory.

The Polish shot-stopper saw six go past him on Saturday, and he is now going to be replaced for his fellow countryman, who is set to depart in the Summer once his contract expires.

As for Arteta, he will probably be replaced by either Mathieu Flamini or loan-signing Kim Kallstrom, while Giroud looks set to be replaced by youngster Yaya Sanogo.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

United ‘have already agreed to sign two world class players’

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Mar 25, 2014

United boss David Moyes is expected to have a busy summer, as he looks to overhaul an under-achieving Red Devils squad.

But according to the Guardian, that work is already well under way, with two leading players said to have accepted moves to Old Trafford.

The pair, who are both unknown, are thought to be overseas stars who have been tracked by United scouts for months.

Moyes has made no secret of his ambitious transfer plans, with the midfield and defence both in need of strengthening.

The former Everton boss will also have to find a new captain in his squad, having agreed to let Nemanja Vidic leave for Inter Milan.

United are expected to announce the arrival of the two new players at the end of the season.

Written by Steve Milne

Yann M’Vila eyeing England after being told you can leave Rubin Kazan

By

stebriscoe93

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Mar 25, 2014

M’Vila has found himself on the periphery since Rinat Bilyaletdinov took over as Rubin Kazan boss in January.

The Frenchman has been replaced in the first-team by 21-year-old Paul Mogilevets, and with Bilyaletdinov apparently dedicated to bringing in even more Russian players in during the summer, M’Vila has been told he can move on.

Reports in Russia suggest that M’Vila – who is currently back in France receiving treatment on an injury – is keen to try his hand in the Premier League.

Arsenal, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur are all strongly linked with a move for the holding-midfielder and could make formal bids for him once this season ends.

He has also been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool after seen in a picture with a Reds shirt during the Merseyside derby with Everton earlier this campaign.

Written by Steven Briscoe

Moyes is preparing for life without United veterans Fletcher and Evra

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Mar 25, 2014

United are hoping to keep veteran left back Evra for another season but understand that the Frenchman and his family are keen to move back to mainland Europe.

The 32-year-old is likely to move to Italy, following in the footsteps of team-mate Nemanja Vidic, who has agreed to join Inter Milan in the summer.

Meanwhile, United are not desperate to sell Scotland stalwart Fletcher – who only recently returned to the game after a chronic bowel condition – but he has fallen down the pecking order at the club.

Moyes considers Fletcher among the group of players who he would sell if the price was right.

And the Scot plans a massive overhaul at United over the summer, and hopes it will go some way to addressing the power balance in Manchester.

United play host to ‘noisy neighbours’ Manchester City on Tuesday night, and are hoping to atone for the 4-1 hammering they received at the Etihad earlier this season.

City have spent lavishly since being taken over by the Abu Dhabi consortium led by Sheik Mansour in 2008, but Moyes was keen to stress United having financial clout too.

‘This club has got a spending power too,’ said Moyes on Monday night.

‘City have got that. But I’ve not been told at any time that we don’t have that and I do think that the club will compete [with City].’

Written by Steve Milne

Bacary Sagna could be off to City after snubbing Inter

By

stebriscoe93

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Mar 25, 2014

The right back would be joining Arsenal team-mates and France international colleagues Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy at the Etihad.

Sagna, 31, has become increasingly frustrated at only being offered a two-year on his current wages of £60,000 a week by Arsenal. His contract expires at the end of the season.

Inter have offered Sagna £90,000 a week with the option of a third year, but Starsport understand he is leaning towards staying in the Premier League.

Inter also look certain to miss out on the Champions League – they are fifth in Serie A, 11 points behind Napoli – and Sagna wants to carry on playing in Europe’s leading premier competition.

Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Monaco, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray are among the clubs monitoring Sagna’s situation.

Written by Steven Briscoe.

I want to repay the fans, says Kallstrom

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Mar 25, 2014

Arsenal midfielder Kim Kallstrom is desperate to feature in tonight’s game against Swansea City so that he can repay the fans after a shock move in January.

The Swedish international completed a loan-move to the Emirates Stadium on Transfer Deadline Day, and just a day later, it was revealed that he will be out for six weeks due to a back injury which he had sustained prior to finalising his move.

Kallstrom, who has yet to feature for The Gunners, hurt his back playing beach football, and despite telling the club’s medical team about the injury, Arsene Wenger was keen to wrap up the deal anyway.

Fully-fit again, the midfielder wants to show Arsenal fans what he can do and is keen to repay the fans for their support.

“It (deadline day) was bewildering. It went very quickly.

“Then Arsenal took care of me, it’s been great care and rehabilitation. It has gone very well.

“It was surprising (when Arsenal came in). It was nothing I had expected. Of course I was surprised. I’ve made a solid career. They needed that type of player.

“This an incredible club. It’s very much supporting control and so it is of course the biggest club I have played for.

“We’ve had some bad luck, but you can not do anything about it. I did not expect my injury to be as serious.

“But it’s tough when you have so many players on the sidelines. It wears on everyone because they have to play all of the time, too.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Samuel Eto’o hits out at Pep Guardiola

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Mar 25, 2014

The Chelsea striker played under Guardiola at Barcelona during the 2008-09 season but says the Spaniard barely spoke to him, using other players to communicate.

Eto’o told BeIN Sports: ‘I first of all reminded Guardiola that he’d never been a great player. He was a good player, that’s true. I told him. As a coach, he had proven nothing. He came in and didn’t even know the story of the dressing room.’

He said that the manager told him he should move to Uzbekistan and also stripped him of the No 9 shirt, which he considered ‘a total lack of respect’.

Although Guardiola and Eto’o were at odds with each other, the forward still scored 30 times in his final season in Catalonia

During the season Guardiola only spoke to Eto’o on a handful of occasions.

Eto’o said: ‘Guardiola has never had the courage to say things in front of me. He passed by the players. Xavi told me they wanted me to stay but I had to talk to Pep. I say “never, if you do not respect me, I do not respect you”.

‘He shook hands with me when I was at Inter and I played against Barca, but this was just for the cameras and TV. Behind the scenes before the match, he did not greet me.’

Eto’o named three occasions when Guardiola spoke to him that season.

One was when he wanted Eto’o to speak to Yaya Toure, who didn’t want to talk to Guardiola either.

Another was to tell him how to perform as a striker. Eto’o explained: ‘Pep told me how to move like a striker. I told him: “You’re not normal!” The true story is that Pep didn’t respect the things in football.’

The striker found far happier times under Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan the following season, and has linked up with the Portuguese boss again this term at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho infamously had a running battle with Guardiola when he became Real Madrid manager in 2010.

Earlier this season the striker was not impressed with Mourinho when the Chelsea coach joked about his age.

But Eto’o says he has no problem with Mourinho.

He explained: ‘He becomes someone else in the build-up to matches. Like any human being, he sometimes loses his reason. He proved it sometimes, like when he did it with me, but he takes all the pressure on himself.’

Written by Steve Milne

David Moyes drops Rooney captaincy hint

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Mar 25, 2014

Manchester United manager David Moyes has dropped a major hint that striker Wayne Rooney could become the club’s new captain next season once current-leader Nemanja Vidic leaves the club.

The Serbian centre-back is joining Italian side Inter Milan in the Summer on a free transfer after his contract expires, and Moyes is now on the look-out for a new captain, and with vice-captain Patrice Evra set to leave as well, the Scot could give the armband over to Rooney.

The English striker recently signed a new deal worth around £300k-a-week, and he is now set to be offered the captains armband after Moyes dropped a subtle hint about the 28-year-old.

‘Wayne led the team well,’ said Moyes.

‘He has a real appetite back again and I thought he took responsibility for the team a little bit on Saturday as well, and saw it as part of his job.’

Rooney was the captain at the weekend during the side’s 2-0 victory against West Ham United at Upton Park, and Moyes believes he showed all the right credentials to be a successful skipper for the club.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Real Madrid preparing £25m bid for keeper Hart

By

stebriscoe93

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Mar 25, 2014

The La Liga giants are weighing up a shock move for the City keeper.

Hart, 26 has been added to Real’s wanted list as they plan to shake their goalkeeping department.

Real and Spain icon Iker Casillas has fallen down the pecking order at the Bernabeu and knows his long term future is in doubt.

Casillas who has been relegated to the role of back-up keeper, could even be offered to City as part of exchange deal involving Hart.Current No. 1 Diego Lopez has not convinced current boss Carlo Ancelotti he is the long-term successor to Casillas and is also a target of Italian giants AC Milan.

Hart also shares the same representatives as Gareth Bale, who joined Real Madrid for a world record £85m last summer.

Although he was axed by City boss Manuel Pellegrini following a series of costly blunders, he has bounced back to regain his best form and his place as City’s first choice.

But he also admitted earlier this week that he has still not got over his treatment.

Hart also accepts he can no longer take his place in the team for granted and expects to miss out on some big games in the future.

His comments have made Real believe they have a genuine chance of luring him to Madrid this summer if the price is right.

Pellegrini is reluctant to lose Hart, but would consider cashing in on him if he can line-up a big name replacement such as Barcelona’s Victor Valdes.

Hart, whose current contract expires in 2016, laid bare his frustrations when he was axed for the first time over the weekend.

He said ” I wanted to play, but I wasn’t playing so I had to work hard and wait for my chance again. ”

” It’s tough to say because that’s probably one of the reasons I’ve not spoke about it. ”

” I don’t feel it’s a case of that side of things being really solved. I’m still training hard – as I would be whether I was in or out of the team – and I’m always working hard to improve my game. ”

” I don’t want it to seem that everything is fine or that it was part of my life that I will forget because I’m still living it and I’m trying to live in the moment more recently. ”

” The past is the past and we don’t know what lies ahead in the future – so it’s better to live day by day.

” We are going to get some wonderful opportunities at this club – some that I will be playing in, some that I won’t – and I’m just trying to look at things best I can. ”

Chelsea defeat was an accident, says Wenger

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Mar 25, 2014