Wednesday, May 10, 2017

CONTE GIVEN FULL BACKING

Antonio Conte Chelsea Premier League
Chelsea's board are prepared to offer Antonio Conte a new, improved contract deal and will back the Italian boss completely in the transfer market, the Mirror  reports.
The Blues are keen to see off interest from Inter, who are prepared to offer the manager a £10m-per-year deal, and will sanction bids for Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku and Virgil van Dijk.

Pogba shows off Man Utd's 2017-18 away kit inspired by 1992 team

The midfielder modeled the club's new jersey based on one that "defined football shirt design for an era" when they won the European Cup Winners' Cup
















Manchester United have revealed their away kit for the 2017-18 campaign.
Declaring it "inspired by 92", the new Red Devils jersey is based on the one the team wore on their journey to the European Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Super Cup and League Cup.
Darker than the original, the new jersey has a similar pattern on it to the 25-year-old one that Sir Alex Ferguson's successful team wore and is vastly different from their current solid blue away shirt.
"Manchester United fans of all ages will recognise the bold graphic pattern from the 1990-92 away jersey that defined football shirt design for an era," the club said via their website. "Connecting the past to the future, the new kit pays homage to the historic design, celebrating the rich history of the club.
"The graphic design of the original kit has been reimagined on a black backdrop with white hues, with the classic adidas three stripes, club badge and adidas logo all in white. A crew-neck collar gives the kit a modern makeover, making it a jersey that’s as much at home on the streets as it is on the pitch.
"The kit features all the technological innovations of adidas’ jersey technology used by the world’s leading clubs, including breathable fabrics and mesh engineering."
Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and David De Gea showed off the new version which Jose Mourinho's side will sport as they look to challenge for the Premier League title next season. 
The jersey is made by Adidas and is already available to order, but costs £89.95 (€119.95) for the authentic version, though a replica is available for £54.95 (€69.95)

Paul Pogba transfer: FIFA confirms investigation into Man Utd signing

The world football governing body has confirmed reports that it has launched a probe into the midfielder's world-record move from Juventus last year
Paul Pogba transfer: FIFA confirms investigation into Man Utd signing
FIFA has confirmed that it is investigating Paul Pogba's record-breaking transfer to Manchester United last summer.
The news was broken by Football Leaks, AFP and other European news outlets claiming that Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, was at the centre of the €105 million transfer probe.
Documents purportedly relating to the France international's move showed that Raiola stood to benefit to the tune of £41m off the deal.
A FIFA spokesperson told Omnisport: "We can confirm that FIFA TMS [Transfer Matching System] has been requesting information on this matter. 
"We have no further comment at this stage."
The deal that took Pogba back to United from Turin saw him become the world's most expensive player, breaking the previous record of £86m set by Gareth Bale's move from Tottenham to Real Madrid.
Raiola also represents a host of other high-profile players, including Pogba's United team-mates Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, as well as the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Mario Balotelli.
Man Utd and Juventus are yet to comment on the allegations, which surfaced at the start of the Champions League semi-final between the Italian giants and Monaco on Tuesday.

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Juventus 2 Monaco 1 (4-1 agg): Alves leads serene charge into Champions League final

Juventus secured simple passage to their second Champions League final in three years as a 2-1 win over Monaco secured a 4-1 aggregate win.

Juventus full-back Dani Alves celebrates goal against Monaco

Dani Alves orchestrated another brilliant Juventus performance in this season's Champions League as a 2-1 win over Monaco on home turf secured a 4-1 aggregate triumph and a place in the final.
Juventus' half-decade dominance of Serie A is yet to translate into success on the continental stage, but the Bianconeri have never looked better placed to win a third European crown than Massimiliano Allegri's current crop do.
Along with Sami Khedira and Mario Mandzukic, Alves is one of just three players in this squad to have won the big trophy and the Brazilian followed up two assists at Stade Louis II with another star turn, helping Mandzukic to the nerve-settling opener before blasting in before the break to allow 45 minutes of joyous celebrating and frantic seeking of hostelries in Cardiff.
Kylian Mbappe's zip and zeal was rewarded with a second-half goal that rounds off a stunning debut season for the 18-year-old.
Though Monaco's brilliant babes will not share a European crown before they are sold off to the highest bidder, they are tantalisingly close to the Ligue 1 crown, and surely the likes of Bernardo Silva, Thomas Lemar and Mbappe will have greater tales to tell in this competition over the next decade.
But those prodigies and their wise old figurehead Radamel Falcao barely laid a glove on Juve over two legs and the determined, drilled - and occasionally dastardly - trio of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini will relish a showpiece battles of 'BBC' line-ups, with Real Madrid - of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano - 3-0 up on neighbours Atletico in the other semi-final.
The Juve defence is still to be breached from open play in this season's competition and, having played the underdog to Barcelona two years ago, Allegri's stronger, slicker side may well head to the Welsh capital as favourites this time around.
Defiance rumbled down from the stands pre-match as the home fans bellowed 'CHAMPIONS' amid the pre-match anthem and a 'Time for Cardiff' banner greeted the players out of the tunnel and a nervy opening was ridden out in typically stubborn fashion.
Gianluigi Buffon stretched out a tweaked back in the warm-up and flapped at an early cross before Mbappe beat him to a high ball and struck a post amid the raising of an offside flag and there were further signs of danger for Juve when Khedira twanged a hamstring and had to be replaced by Claudio Marchisio.
But as the storm passed, Juventus thundered back into the contest, Kamil Glik and Danijel Subasic desperately denying Gonzalo Higuain and Mandzukic before the Croatian striker finally found a way through.
As in the first leg, Alves found the key to unlock Monaco, his pin-perfect cross finding Mandzukic, who lashed high into the net after Subasic brilliantly denied his initial header.
Juve smelled blood and Higuain was denied a goal by the assistant's flag before Chiellini celebrated a geometrically thrilling goalline clearance as if he had scored - soon the stadium would do so again.
Subasic denied Paulo Dybala one-on-one but was left flailing when he punched the resulting corner onto Alves' right boot and the three-time Champions League winner returned with interest, smashing a laser-guided volley into the net.
Buffon was beginning to look unbeatable as he sprawled to deny Mbappe one-on-one but the teenager would have his goal soon after as he turned in from inches after Joao Moutinho got to the byline from a short corner.
Higuain was left enraged after collecting some war wounds from former Torino defender Glik as the visitors grew tetchy in the closing stages, but the Argentine will recover for another assault on a major final where he will look to improve on a desperate record with Argentina.
Poorer omens follow in Juve last beating Monaco at this stage of the Champions League before losing to Real Madrid in the 1998 final, but Allegri's vintage are made of the stern stuff required to turn history on its head.

Vidal claims rules are different for Messi after ban appeal win

The Chilean says it is "good" for Argentina to have the Barca star available, but lamented his ability to have a ban overturned
Vidal claims rules are different for Messi after ban appeal win
Lionel Messi having an international ban overturned by FIFA is evidence of an imbalanced playing field in football, says Chile star Arturo Vidal.
Messi was handed a four-match ban after abusing a match official during the 1-0 victory over Chile in March, ruling him out of the 2-0 loss at Bolivia and their next three 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
However, the Barcelona star is free to play in the remainder of Argentina's campaign after the sanction was wiped out on appeal.
Argentina are currently fifth in the CONMEBOL standings, a position that would send them into an inter-continental play-off against a side from Oceania.
Chile sit a point and a place above La Albiceleste and Vidal was less than impressed to see their rivals regain their captain and talisman.
"That's a difficult issue," Vidal is quoted as saying by AND Radio. "I wish all the rules were the same for everybody. 
"It's good for Argentina, for Messi and for football. It's always nice to watch Messi playing for the national team because he always gives everything, so good for him, but I wish all the rules were the same everybody."
Chile's frustrations may be exacerbated, having seen their midfielder Gary Medel handed the same ban as Messi for a similar offence and only having one game struck off on>

MAN UTD EYE REUS

Marco Reus Borussia Dortmund Koln
Jose Mourinho wants to bring Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus to Manchester United, according to  Don Balon .

The United boss wants the Germany international to replace Wayne Rooney, who is set to leave Old Trafford for China this summer.
The Red Devils are likely to face competition for Reus from Atletico Madrid, with Diego Simeone unhappy with the performances of Yannick Carrasco this season.

Atletico starlet Theo Hernandez completes Real Madrid medical

The 19-year-old defender, currently on loan at Alaves, had been coveted by Barcelona but will finally sign terms with the Merengue
Atletico starlet Theo Hernandez completes Real Madrid medical
Atletico Madrid starlet Theo Hernandez is on the verge of joining city rivals Real Madrid after completing a medical with the Liga giants.
Hernandez had also attracted interest from Barcelona but is set to play at the Santiago Bernabeu next season after Madrid won the battle for the talented youngster. 
The Sanitas La Moraleja Hospital was the site for Hernandez's medical, as he completed the formalities required prior to making the switch official. 
Theo, brother of Atletico starter Lucas Hernandez, has won rave reviews this season at the Basques, and previously stated his desire to stay in La Liga as rumours over a transfer grew.