Barcelona were the only team to help Chapecoense after crash, says president

The Catalans extended a helping hand to the struggling side after their tragic accident, and the pair will contest the Gamper Trophy in August

Chapecoense's president has revealed that Barcelona were the only team in Europe to give financial aid following the tragic plane crash in November 2016. 

The club's first team was gutted when a charter aircraft carrying them to the Copa Sudamericana final went down just outside Medellin, claiming 75 lives. 

And while after the accident many teams pledged to help, president Plinio David de Nes affirmed that the Catalans were one of the few sides who followed through. 

"Only Barcelona were on our side from the very first moment," the chief told Fox Sports ahead of Thursday's Copa Libertadores clash at home to Lanus. 

"They offered us funds and in the month of August we have been invited to play the Gamper Trophy, with the proceeds shared with Chapecoense."

Nevertheless, De Nes thanked all those clubs who offered their support "in one way or another" after one of the worst accidents in football history. 

"Roma also offered to play a game against us, but we have a very packed calendar," he explained. 

"We have almost three games a week."

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What happens if Leicester City win the Champions League & Man Utd win the Europa League?

A fourth-placed finish in the Premier League could yet mean a club misses out on qualifying for Europe's premier club competition next season

The race for a place in the Premier League's top four looks set to be the most exciting for some time, with up to six sides fighting it out to finish in the three places behind champions-elect Chelsea.

But there could yet be a final twist in the tail for one of those sides even if they do secure fourth-place in the top-flight.

The winners of both the Champions League and Europa League are guaranteed participation in next season's Champions League while no country is allowed more than five participants in the competition.

That means, if both Leicester City and Manchester United go on to lift European silverware and finish outside the top four, then only the top three in the Premier League will qualify for Europe's premier club competition.

Leicester will almost certainly finish outside the top four given their domestic struggles this season, and though they are huge outsiders to go on and win the Champions League, their recent upturn in form means they will likely be a match for anyone.

United, meanwhile, sit sixth in the Premier League table despite a 17-match unbeaten run, with fixture congestion meaning they remain outsiders for a top-four finish. They are, however, heavy favourites to go on and win the Europa League.

And so while both remain in European competition, the likes of Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal may need to start thinking about ending up in the top three, rather than just settling for a fourth-place finish.

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Paper Talk

• Bayern Munich could make a surprise move to end Granit Xhaka's disappointing spell at Arsenal.
• Toby Alderweireld is close to sealing a new contract with Tottenham - with the deal also dropping his £25m release clause.
• Arsenal and Chelsea are ready to battle it out for Wolves' £20m-rated winger Helder Costa.
• West Ham have triggered an option to keep Adrian at the club.
• Kyle Lafferty is set to quit Norwich this summer when his contract expires with the Championship club.

• West Ham are planning to sell Andy Carroll in the summer - and replace him with Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge.
• Jose Mourinho has no strikers available for Monday's FA Cup clash at Chelsea.

• Tottenham striker Harry Kane is facing a battle to play again this season.
• Chelsea are hopeful of completing deals for wonderkids Billy Gilmour and Daishawn Redan.
• Jack Wilshere is not thinking about his Arsenal future and is only focusing on keeping Bournemouth in the Premier League.
• Pep Guardiola believes Yaya Toure will have his pick of the big clubs this summer.
• Manchester City are on red alert after Joshua Kimmich expressed frustration with his role at Bayern Munich.
• Norwich want to interview Gary Rowett for vacant manager's position - but Alan Pardew also hopes to be considered.
• Derby will target Gary Rowett to replace sacked Steve McClaren at the floundering Championship club.

• Mesut Ozil has handed Arsenal a timely boost by suggesting he could still remain in north London even if Arsene Wenger decides to end his two-decade reign this summer.
• Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has assured the club's supporters that he doesn't have to balance the books in the next transfer window and that he plans to strengthen at Anfield.

• Antonio Conte has hinted John Terry has played his last game for the club at 36.

• Lincoln City's managerial team Danny and Nicky Cowley revealed Arsene Wenger gave them 90 minutes of his time following their side's FA Cup defeat to the Gunners, while the Imps players swept out the away dressing room at the Emirates before going home.

• Liverpool target Naby Keita was rushed to hospital on Saturday after collapsing on the pitch during his club RB Leipzig's 1-0 defeat to Wolfsburg

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'Winning, success and single-mindedness' - Neville likens Mourinho to Ferguson

The former Red Devils defender has compared the Portuguese with his former boss because he is willing to do whatever it takes to win

Jose Mourinho's determination to win at all costs has drawn comparison with legendary manager Alex Ferguson from former Manchester United captain Gary Neville.

Ferguson enjoyed a trophy-laden career at Old Trafford, overseeing 38 titles in 27 years - including 13 Premier League crowns and two Champions Leagues - before his retirement in 2013.

Former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter boss Mourinho was seen by some as the obvious heir to Ferguson's throne at the 'Theatre of Dreams', but the club turned to David Moyes instead.

Mourinho was eventually appointed in May, following the sacking of Moyes' successor Louis van Gaal, and Neville sees similarities between the Portuguese tactician and Ferguson.

"Winning, success and single-mindedness to do whatever it takes to win - that is the biggest similarity between Mourinho and Ferguson," Neville told Omnisport.

Since taking the job in Manchester, Mourinho has steadily improved United and adhered to the long-standing traditions of attacking football at Old Trafford.

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly brought to the club, United have won the Community Shield and EFL Cup and are in contention to lift the Europa League and retain the FA Cup, but they are struggling to break into the Premier League's top four.

United - on a 17-match unbeaten run in the league following their frustrating draw at home to Bournemouth last time out - are six points adrift of the Champions League spots with two games in hand on fourth-placed Liverpool.

Neville, who won eight Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns after coming through the youth ranks at United, believes the club are on the right track with Mourinho at the helm.

"There are still questions to answer but they're better in terms of style of play, and the profile of player is better," the 42-year-old former England international added. "They've won a trophy again which is a positive.

"I think what needs to happen is obviously Mourinho needs more than one or two transfer windows to correct things.

"Over the last two or three years, there's been a quite a lot of players signed for the club who probably don't fit the profile that Mourinho wants or maybe United want.

"But with three or four more buys this summer, there is potential for the club to strengthen. What I would say is with the signings of Pogba, Ibrahimovic, Mkhitaryan and Bailly, United are in a far better situation than they were 12 months ago.

"I was hearing things that United won't attract the big players anymore, or the best players in the world, but that has obviously happened. So they are in a far better position as a club. I just think the issue is they aren't able to break into the top four at the moment.

"I was more worried 12 months ago where the club were going in terms of signings and the style of play. Now I'm a lot happier with the direction they're going."

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Guardiola: Yaya can play at whatever club he wants

The midfielder's contract at the Etihad expires at the end of the season and the Catalan believes he will have his pick of European clubs this summer

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes Yaya Toure will have his pick from a number of big clubs when his contract expires in the summer.

The midfielder's £220,000-per-week deal in Manchester is set to run out at the end of the season. No renewal talks have been set until then, but there are reports that a number of heavyweight clubs are interested in him. 

And while Guardiola hasn't written off the Ivorian remaining at the Etihad past his summer expiry, he believes Toure still has enough about him to warrant interest from the very top clubs. 

“He can play for big, big clubs," the City boss is quoted as saying by the Mirror.

“He can play wherever he wants. He has a big personality and this season, he is helping me by playing top, top football.

“He will play football until he decides because he loves playing. He enjoys playing and loves playing games.

“When that happens, he will decide. The focus now needs to be on winning games and competitions.

We will talk about everything else at the end of the season.”

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Petition for Barcelona's win over PSG to be replayed passes 200,000 mark

A fan has cited referee Deniz Aytekin's performance in the encounter as a good enough reason to have the remarkable comeback wiped from the record

A petition calling for Barcelona's 6-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League to be replayed has received the support of over 200,000 signatures.

Barca appeared to be on their way out of the competition after they lost 4-0 to the Ligue 1 side in the first-leg of their second round tie. However, Luis Enrique's men became the first team to overcome a first-leg deficit of that magnitude when they demolished PSG at Camp Nou.

Referee Deniz Aytekin was heavily criticised for his performance in the game, giving the home side two penalties, 

While PSG fans felt aggrieved at some of his decisions, one man, Luis Melendo Olmedo, wants the thriller at Camp Nou to be repeated.

The request was set up on Change.org, which allows people to post various petitions on issues such as women's rights, immigration, war and discrimination.

According to Olmedo, the thrilling encounter must be revisited because of "incidents that seriously damaged PSG as a result of the German referee Deniz Aytekin, who gave Barcelona an advantage with his refereeing decisions".

On Sunday, Barcelona were beaten 2-1 by Deportivo in a surprise loss that saw them surrender top spot in la Liga to rivals Real Madrid.

The Blancos - who host Barca on April 23 in the second Clasico of 2016-17 - are two points clear of Lionel Messi and Co. with a game in hand.

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Leicester confirm Ranieri's replacement is Shakespeare

The former assistant manager has been handed the reins of the Foxes until the end of the season, following the dismissal of Claudio Ranieri

Leicester City have confirmed that Craig Shakespeare will remain manager of the club for the remainder of 2016-17.

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Claudio Ranieri was sacked on February 23 as Leicester languished near the bottom of the Premier League table, just nine months after their euphoric and unexpected title win.

Shakespeare had served as Ranieri's assistant manager during their Premier League winning season, having previously held the same position under predecessor Nigel Pearson.

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BREAKING: #lcfc is pleased to confirm Craig Shakespeare as its First Team Manager for the rest of the 2016/17 season. More follows…

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Following Ranieri's departure, Shakespeare was initially handed the reins at the King Power Stadium on a temporary basis, guiding the Foxes to a 3-1 win over Liverpool in his first game in charge.

 The former Grimsby Town and West Bromwich Albion midfielder then followed that up with another 3-1 win, defeating Hull City.

Leicester vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha confirmed the news, praising Shakespeare's leadership of the club since taking temporary charge. 

“Craig’s skills as a coach and the high regard in which he is held by everyone the club were well known to us. We always knew the team would be in good hands when we asked him to take charge a fortnight ago," Srivaddhanaprabha told the club's official website.

“He has initiated the type of positive response that we hoped change would bring, showing great leadership qualities and composure under considerable pressure to produce two very important results. We have asked him to continue to lead the team this season and we are very happy that he has accepted.” 

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