Messi with a hamstring injury and will be out of play for three weeks

The Argentina international has been sidelined with a hamstring injury but the Catalans are hopeful that he will return in time for their meeting with Real Madrid on October 26 Barcelona have confirmed that Lionel Messi will be out of action for between two and three weeks due to a thigh injury.

The 26-year-old Rosario native opened the scoring in the 21st minute of Saturday's Liga meeting with Almeria but hobbled from the field just moments later. "Leo Messi has a minor hamstring injury in his right leg," read a statement on the Catalan club's official website. "This was confirmed this morning in the Medical Services Sports City.

"The Argentine should be out for approximately two-to-three weeks, forcing him to miss two games that Barcelona has this week: on Tuesday, against Glasgow Celtic, and on Saturday, at Camp Nou, against Valladolid." Messi, who was severely hampered by a hamstring injury during the final stages of last season, should therefore be in line to make his return to action against Osasuna on October 19.

www.topspotafrica.com 

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Ronaldo: We didn't deserve to win Madrid derby

Cristiano Ronaldo admitted that Real Madrid could have no complaints after their 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night. Diego Costa's 11th-minute strike proved to be the difference between the sides, thus handing the Rojiblancos their first Liga win over their city rivals since 1999. 

Speaking after the game, Ronaldo refused to make any excuses for the loss but called for a sense of perspective, despite the fact that Madrid now trail leaders Barcelona and Atleti by five points. "We did not  play well; we did not deserve to win," the 28-year-old forward was quoted by Sport.es. "Atletico scored an early goal and won the game well. It wasn't comfortable for us because we had to play against them with all their players behind the ball. So it was difficult to score.

"We should not dramatise this. We should keep our heads up, fight and keep working because we have a lot to win this year." Los Colchoneros have made an excellent start to the season, with matchwinner Costa their star performer, having scored eight goals in the opening seven league fixtures to help his side maintain a 100 per cent record.

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Iniesta: I am not at war with Barcelona

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has spoken out about the uncertainty surrounding his future, insisting that negotiations for a new contract are going according to plan. The club are keen to offer him a renewal on his terms, but reports suggested that the 29-year-old was reluctant to sign a new deal, with his current contract expiring in 2015, and Paris Saint-Germain said to be monitoring the situation.

However, Iniesta has rubbished such claims by restating his desire to end his playing career at Barca, explaining that a new agreement was in the interest of all parties. “There is nothing strange or any war going on between Barca and Iniesta. The club wants me here and I want to stay here,” he said at a press conference.

Iniesta also rejected any suggestion that the delay in negotiations was because of financial considerations, instead asserting his desire to better himself as a footballer during the seasons ahead at Camp Nou. “This has nothing to do with money or whether I am the second, third, fourth or fifth best paid player,” he continued. “What motivates me is knowing that I have some good years ahead in which I can keep improving and growing as a player.”

“The most important thing is that we are all getting to play a role and feel useful,” he said. “Nobody likes being dropped, but it happens to us all.

“You have to take things as they come. The coach has to make his decisions and the first thing on his mind is the decision which benefits the team.”

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AC Milan paying for each mistake, says Allegri

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has rued his side's profligacy in front of goal in the opening weeks of the 2013-14 campaign and feels they have been punished for all of their early mistakes. The San Siro side sit 12th in the Serie A table with five points from as many games and have already conceded 10 goals so far, much to the frustration of Allegri.

"A single point from our last two games means that we have to work more. At the moment it seems as if we're paying for every small mistake," Allegri said at a press conference. "We have got to improve in defence, but also in attack, seeing as we only convert about 30 per cent of our scoring opportunities.

"I can't criticise the team in terms of gameplay. Both against Napoli and versus Bologna we had a lot of chances. The important thing is to keep on getting into the opponent's penalty area as we're doing. "We have to be more careful in defence and work hard." Milan will be looking to return to winning ways on Saturday when they host Sampdoria.       

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Tottenham can challenge for the title, says Holtby

Lewis Holtby is relishing facing Chelsea this weekend as Tottenham aim to establish themselves as Premier League title challengers. Andre Villas-Boas' men sit in second place behind north London rivals Arsenal and have started the season in impressive form, recording eight wins out of nine in all competitions.

And Holtby says Spurs are looking forward to Saturday's fixture against Jose Mourinho's side, with the club eager to prove their title credentials to the rest of the league and themselves. "Absolutely, especially for ourselves," the 23-year-old told reporters. "It is very important to win a big game like that to stay up top and give us the confidence we need for the rest of the season.

Arsenal through after shootout drama

Carlo Ancelotti has voiced his discontent with Real Madrid's showing in their narrow 2-1 win over Elche in La Liga on Wednesday evening. A controversial stoppage-time penalty dispatched by Cristiano Ronaldo saw Madrid eventually bag the full three points, but Ancelotti warned his side that if they played at the same level on Saturday they will have no chance of beating cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid.

West Brom 1-1 Arsenal ( Gunners progress to face Chelsea)

After s 20-year-old German starlet, Thomas Eisfeld gave the away side the lead in the second half, latching onto a perfectly weighted through-ball from Nicklas Bendtner, before the Baggies responded through Saido Berahino.

But with the scores still level after extra-time, the match went to a penalty shoot-out. Serge Gnabry was the first player to miss, giving West Brom the advantage, but Craig Dawson and Morgan Amalfitano both failed to beat Lukasz Fabianski as Monreal converted the final penalty to win the tie.
Steve Clarke made eight changes to the side that beat Sunderland 3-0 on Saturday, with only Youssouf Mulumbu, Scott Sinclair and Stephane Sessegnon retaining their places.

Arsenal too took the opportunity to rest key personnel, with Per Mertesacker and Serge Gnabry the only survivors from the 3-1 win over Stoke City, while Bendtner made his first start for the club in two years.
West Brom had the first chance in the 25th minute when Dawson's looping header from Graham Dorrans' corner required Fabianski to tip over the crossbar. Arsene Wenger's side were then lucky not to have 18-year-old debutant Isaac Hayden sent off. The midfielder’s sliding tackle on Mulumbu was late and robust but referee Robert Madley deemed it only a yellow card.
Bendtner could have wrapped it up in the 97th minute when Serge Gnabry sent him racing clear, but the Dane took too long to get his shot away and allowed Dawson to recover and make a last-ditch tackle.
And with just four minutes remaining, substitute Amalfitano thought he had won it for West Brom but saw his drilled effort cannon back off the bar. Markus Rosenburg went close moments later, before Sinclair sliced a volley well wide from close range.

That meant the match headed to penalties where, after two successful spot-kicks for the hosts and one for the away side, Gnabry saw his effort saved.
But Dawson and Amalfitano both fired wide for the home side, leaving Monreal the chance to win the tie, and the Spaniard made no mistake as he fired high into the roof of the net to set up a fourth round clash with Chelsea.

Suarez is victim of 'jealous' rivals, claims Uruguay chief

Luis Suarez has fallen victim to "jealous" rivals while playing for Liverpool and Uruguay, according to the president of his country's Football Association, Sebastian Bauza. Suarez has gained something of a reputation since moving to Anfield in 2010, having been banned for eight matches for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra later that year, and then for 10 matches for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic back in April.

But Bauza, who is in regular contact with Suarez, believe the striker's opponents have colluded to put pressure on referees and create an inaccurate perception. "Besides, there’s a lot of jealousy, and they say the same about Neymar. But on the pitch, it can’t be ignored that the great stars of world football get kicked a lot, trying to prevent them from having an impact. "In English football, Liverpool’s rivals are jealous because they don’t have a player of Suarez’s class, as he’s one of the best strikers in the world." Suarez, whose 10-match club ban did not prevent him from playing for his national team, was once more at the centre of controversy earlier in September when he was accused of diving twice in a World Cup qualifier against Peru.

But Bauza blasted: "In Peru they said Suarez is a diver, but they also tried to make a war of the match beforehand, so the media published a photo of the Peruvian player [Juan Manuel] Vargas holding a revolver and pointing it at a celeste [Uruguay’s light blue] shirt, with a title 'kill or die'. Football is a game and not a war. However in Lima they didn’t understand it that way."

The Liverpool striker was keen to leave Anfield for a Champions League club this summer, but has remained on Merseyside after his suitors failed to meet the Reds' asking price. Arsenal's bid of £40 million plus £1, which they wrongly believed would trigger a release clause in the Uruguayan's contract, was swiftly rejected, and Bauza maintains that Suarez would not have been sold to another Premier League side under any circumstances.

Though Suarez, who scored 30 goals last season and was voted third-best player in the Premier League, has flourished despite these perceived injustices, the same cannot be said for his fellow Uruguayan Sebastian Coates. The defender, 22, has failed to secure a regular place in the Liverpool team since joining in 2011 and is currently out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

"He found it hard to adapt," Bauza continued. "He should have played for a lesser European club, to get regular games and then go to Liverpool. Like Suarez did when he first played for Ajax in Netherlands and then moved to English football."

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Odemwingie scores debut goal in Cardiff City defeat

Peter Odemwingie made his full debut for Cardiff City and scored his first goal for the club but ended up on the losing side in a five-goal thriller in Tuesday’s League Cup game against West Ham United at Upton Park.

The Hammers raced to a two-goal lead via Ravel Morrison and Matty Jarvis seven minutes into the game before the Bluebirds got one back through Craig Noone’s stunning strike just before half time.

Odemwingie then scored his first goal for his new club with 15 minutes left to play but the visitors were left reeling when Ricardo Vaz Te headed a late goal to send his side into the fourth round. Cardiff coach Malky Mackay spoke about the former West Brom forward’s performance: Malky: "I thought Odemwingie was excellent tonight. He always looked a danger and a threat."

The player later tweeted: “Happy to score my first goal for Cardiff City. Hope many more to come in the league which is our main objective.”

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Balotelli banned for Juventus showdown

The 23-year-old confronted the officials following Milan's 2-1 loss to Napoli on Sunday and has been suspended for three matches for his actions. AC Milan will be without the services of Mario Balotelli for their trip to Juventus in October after the 23-year-old was handed a three-match ban for his red card against Napoli on Sunday.

The Italy international angrily confronted the referee following the Rossoneri's 2-1 loss to the Partenopei, picking up a second yellow card for dissent in the process. And he has now been handed a three-game ban by the Italian football authorities, ruling him out of the showdown with the Bianconeri, as well as the clashes against Bologna and Sampdoria.

"The ban was given for misconduct against an opponent and protests against the match officials as well as addressing the referee with insulting and intimidating expressions," the judge in charge explained the decision.
Balotelli had an eventful game on Sunday, missing the first penalty of his professional career, but making partial amends with a spectacular consolation goal late on.

Iwuanyanwu: given marriage a second shot.

Two years after loosing his wife of 40 years, Eudora, to cancer, 72 year old billionaire businessman and chairman of Champion newspaper, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has given marriage a second shot. Chief Iwuanyanwu married 26 year old Frances Chinonyerem Enwerem (pictured above with him), the daughter of one of his late wife's close friends, on Saturday September 14th (traditional wedding) and this past Saturday September 21st (white wedding) in Owerri, Imo State. The new bride, who doesn't have the blessings of the Chief's children (mostly because of the age gap) is said to be expecting her first child with the extremely rich businessman cum politician. Chief Iwuanyanwu has his hands in various businesses cutting across over 20 sectors of the economy. He is the founder of the Iwuanyanwu Football club now known as the Heartland FC.

Nigerian medfielder John Mikel Obi scored his first Premier League

Nigerian midfielder John Mikel Obi scored his first Premier League goal today as his club Chelsea beat Fulham 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. His first goal in 7 years and 185 premier league games. Fantastic!

His hight alone is intimidating

The Nigeria international scored his second goal in a week to help his side to a first home victory in Ukraine

Super Eagles winger Babatunde Michael scored his second in as many matches on Friday but people might know that this guy is dengerous too, his Hight alone is intimidating. Michael who represented Nigeria at the last Fifa Confederations Cup scored the lone goal and match winner for Volyn against Illichivets at the Avanhard Luts'k stadium.
After scoring last Sunday away to Arsenal Kyiv, the 20-year-old Nigerian scored his second goal of the season in the 13th minute of the encounter when he tapped in a cross from the edge of the box to hand his side their first home win of the season.
The former Kryvbas winger who has not been part of the Eagles setup since the Confederations Cup told Goal that he hopes to continue his rich vein of goal scoring form to earn a recall to the national team, but all this while i have been thinking that keshi know when to source for him.
“I wish to keep scoring for my team so I could get back into the Eagles again. We have a critical game against Ethiopia which I believe we will win to qualify for the World Cup,” he concluded.
Volyn are currently placed tenth on the Ukrainian log with 12 points.

We are the Super Eagles of Nigeria

The Super Eagles remain unchanged from the squad that defeated Malawi in Calabar in their last Group F game,  Nigeria have named a list of 23 players ahead of their first leg 2014 FIFA World Cup final elimination fixture against Ethiopia.

The African champions take on the Antelopes inside the National Stadium, Addis Ababa on Saturday, 12th October. Both teams will clash in the return match at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Saturday, 16th November.
Stephen Keshi has made his best selection, some sport annalist are of the opinion that this is the Nigerian best Squard called three goalkeepers, seven defenders, seven midfielders and six strikers as the Eagles aim for a win in Addis Ababa to make the second leg in Calabar a much easier session.

The Nigeria Football Federation is making arrangements to have the full squad train for four days in Abuja before the departure to Addis Ababa on the eve of the game.

THE FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille FC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Braga, Portugal); Francis Benjamin (Heartland FC, Nigeria); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC, Turkey); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); James Okwuosa (Chippa United, South Africa)

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); John Ogu (Academica de Coimbra, Portugal); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain); Victor Moses (Liverpool FC, England); Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Nnamdi Oduamadi (AC Milan, Italy)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine); Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United, England); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Obinna Nsofor (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); Uche Nwofor (SC Heerenveen, Netherlands)
             

Roma confirm new Totti deal

The Giallorossi legend has penned a new deal that should see him end his career with his hometown club, while revealing he is open to a return to the international fold with Italy

Roma have confirmed that Francesco Totti has signed a two-year contract extension that will see him remain at Stadio Olimpico until 2016.

The 36-year-old's current deal had been due to expire at the end of the current season but after lengthy discussions with the capital club the Giallorossi legend revealed his delight at extending his stay with his hometown club on Friday.

"I have another two years of responsibilities and I'm sure we'll achieve some great things together," Totti told reporters at a press conference.

"I'd like to thank the president for this new contract. Everyone wanted it to happen, me and the club."

Totti retired from international duty after winning the World Cup with Italy in 2006 but his form last season - which saw him score 12 goals in 36 Serie A appearances - prompted speculation he could return to the Azzurri fold.

And though he insists his primary focus remains improving on last season's sixth place finish with Roma, the Italian admits he would consider a recall if Cesare Prandelli comes calling.

He added: "Going to the World Cup? My jersey is the Roma jersey but obviously I remain open to the possibility. We'll see."

Club president James Pallotta was sat beside Totti at the announcement of his new deal and said his committment to the club was a sign of progress.

"I'm honoured that Francesco Totti is staying here and I'd like to toast to a great future for Roma and Francesco," said Pallotta.

"There's never been any doubt in our minds that Totti would stay. He's Roma's leader and he'll be here forever.

"I'm pleased with what we've achieved in the last few months. We're a work in progress and we're forging ahead."

Totti made his Roma debut back in 1992 and has gone on to win Serie A, the Supercoppa Italiana twice and the Coppa Italia three times in his 21 years with the club.

Messi hat-trick seals convincing win for Barcelona against Ajax

Lionel Messi once more took centre stage as his hat-trick helped Barcelona to a 4-0 victory over Ajax in the Champions League. The Argentinian scored in both halves of the Group H fixture at Camp Nou to give the Blaugrana victory in their opening European encounter. It marked an emotional Champions League debut for coach Gerardo Martino, with the win coming just a few days after the death of his father. 

 After a bright opening, Messi broke the deadlock with fierce free-kick in the 22nd minute. His second came 10 minutes after half-time with a cool finish from inside the area, before Gerard Pique put gloss on the scoreline with a header from Neymar’s cross and Messi completed his treble when he feigned his shot before guiding an effort into the corner. Kolbeinn Sigthorsson could have grabbed a consolation, but he saw his 77th-minute penalty saved by Victor Valdes. Martino included Messi and Neymar in Barcelona’s starting XI, with the latter making his Champions League debut. 

 The Dutch side had Siem de Jong available, following his recovery from a collapsed lung. Barcelona dominated possession in the opening exchanges and they took the lead when Messi once again displayed his brilliance with a stunning free kick, 22 minutes in. After being felled by Lerin Duarte on the right, he picked himself up to hit a thunderous strike, with the ball going in off the the post as Kenneth Vermeer failed to keep it out at full stretch. Ajax nearly stole an equaliser on the half-hour mark when Bojan curled a cross deep towards the far post and a diving header from Ricardo van Rhijn forced a smart reaction save from Valdes. The visitors could have had a penalty when Sigthorsson went to ground under a challenge from Pique. The loose ball was met by Duarte, but he placed his first-time effort straight at Valdes. After surviving those scares, Messi effectively ended the game as a contest in the 55th minute. He controlled a Sergio Busquets pass on the right side of the box before feinting inside Stefano Denswil and firing his effort past Vermeer. Barcelona continued to press and Neymar and Dani Alves both had efforts blocked. And the pressure told in the 69th minute when Neymar delivered an in-swinging cross from the left that was met by the head of Pique to make it 3-0. Messi then completed his hat-trick with 15 minutes remaining. 

Warri Wolves captain Azubuike Egwueke: Enyimba will fall on Sunday

The Seasiders captain is optimistic that they will carry the day by beating the People's Elephant in the final of the Federation Cup in Lagos Warri Wolves captain, Azubuike Egwueke has boasted that Enyimba will fall when they meet in the final of the Federation Cup on Sunday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

This is the Seasiders' first final in any national cup competition, while the Aba Millionaires are playing their third final in five years. Egwueke who is in the Super Eagles team that has qualified for the final game of the World Cup qualifiers said that Enyimba cannot withstand the firepower that will hit them on Sunday.

"Enyimba are just living on their past glory. They are just a club in the Premier League. They will fall on Sunday because we are destined to take this trophy back to Delta State," Egwueke said. "We are not afraid of the Aba side. They were good when they reigned [as league champions] but this is our time to take over from them. No doubt they have done well this season.

"Four of their players will not be in action because they are cup tied and only Ike ThankGod will be missing from our team. "We have proven that Warri Wolves should be respected. All I want for our supporters is to urge them to come to the stadium on Sunday and see the way Wolves will win the trophy in style," Egwueke said. The women finals between Rivers Angels and Nasarawa Amazons will start by 1 pm before the game between Enyimba and Warri Wolves.

The winners of the trophy will take home N2million.

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Cristiano Ronaldo will earn 50% more than Bale

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to sign a new five-year contract with Real Madrid before the end of this month, Goal can reveal. Having sealed the world-record signing of Gareth Bale earlier in September, Madrid have now switched their attentions to tying up the Portuguese on a new, long-term deal. Madrid have offered Ronaldo an increased wage of €15 million per annum after tax, with the agreement set to run until 2018, in a total package worth a record €155m over five years. As a total package, it is the most lucrative contract in football history and the game's largest annual wage following Samuel Eto'o's departure from Anzhi Makhachkala. By comparison, Bale will pocket €10m per annum after tax while Lionel Messi earns €13m per annum, plus bonuses, over five years. The Portuguese's current contract concludes in 2015, but Madrid are confident their star player will sign by the end of September. Ronaldo has told friends that talks are going well and Madrid hope to announce a new deal prior to the Assembly with club socios on September 22. President Florentino Perez has consistently insisted the Portuguese will stay at the Santiago Bernabeu. "He is the best player in the world and we want to make him the world's highest-paid player," the construction magnate said earlier this summer. Like Mourinho, Cristiano considered a return to the Premier League (with Manchester United), but the departure of his compatriot, the added support of Perez and the good feeling with new coach Carlo Ancelotti have helped him rediscover his happiness in Madrid. "He [Ancelotti] is a great coach, a great man, and I am happy to work with him," the 28-year-old said last month. Madrid signed Ronaldo from United in a world-record €94 million transfer in 2009, following Florentino's return to the presidency. He currently earns around €10m annually after tax. When Ronaldo arrived, however, the so-called 'Beckham Law', which allowed foreigners who had lived in Spain for less than 10 years and who earned above €120,000 per annum to pay a lower tax rate of around 23 per cent and not the usual 45%, was still in force. David Beckham was one of the first to take advantage of the legislation after his move from Manchester in 2003. However, the Spanish government has since scrapped that initiative and a new deal would see Ronaldo required to pay 52% of his salary to the taxman. Madrid will therefore be faced with an annual outlay close to €31m in order to pay the Portuguese the net €15m.

Bale should follow Ronaldo example, says Zidane

Zinedine Zidane says Cristiano Ronaldo is an example to follow for Gareth Bale when it comes to dealing with the immense pressure at Real Madrid following his world-record €100 million transfer from Tottenham this summer. The Portugal international was previously the most expensive transfer following his €94m move from Manchester United to Madrid in 2009.

And, Zidane, who moved to Madrid for around €75m in 2001, knows what the weight of expectation at the club feels like and suggests that Bale looks no further than Ronaldo, who he believes has dealt extremely well with the extra pressure his immense price tag brought with it. "The pressure [on Bale] is huge, of course, but we have the best example in Cristiano Ronaldo. He is the most expensive player in football history and he has spectacularly overcome enormous pressure.

"His stats, his performances ... Everything he gives to Real Madrid on and off the pitch is genuinely spectacular. Real Madrid do not consider his price but rather everything he brings to the club." The 24-year-old Bale could make his official Madrid debut away against Villarreal on Saturday.

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Ribery best in Europe, says Messi

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has conceded that Bayern Munich ace Franck Ribery deserved to win Uefa's Best Player in Europe award. The Argentine and Cristiano Ronaldo were pipped to the award at a Uefa ceremony in Monaco in August and the 26-year-old says Ribery's treble success with Bayern Munich meant the right man walked away with the prize.

"It was an honour to be in this race again, among the best three players in Europe," he told Uefa. "There are so many great players in the world and it is a real pleasure to be in the competition, but he [Ribery] deserved to win the trophy." The Blaugrana were humbled 7-0 on aggregate by the German giants en route to the Champions League crown last season.

And while Messi admits that the defeat left a "bitter taste" in his mouth, he believes the team must not dwell on the past if they are to bounce back from last year's disappointment in Europe. "We always want to achieve more. Winning the league was very important because of what it signified – winning it back after Real Madrid had won it last year," he added. The Catalans resume their Liga campaign following the international break by welcoming Sevilla to Camp Nou on Saturday.

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Ozil lacked strength to fight for a place, claims Zidane

Real Madrid assistant coach Zinedine Zidane has suggested that Mesut Ozil left the club because he lacked the "strength and will" to fight for his place in the team. The Germany international was unveiled at Arsenal on Thursday, following his €47 million move on deadline day.

The Spanish giants boosted their attacking options over the summer with the high-profile acquisitions of Isco and Gareth Bale respectively, and Zidane has claimed that the Gunners new-boy lacked the stomach to compete for his selection in the starting line-up. "Ozil decided to leave," he told the club's official channel. "He is a good player who has given us so much so we wish him well.

"There are players who have responded with strength and will to fight for a place, but not everyone reacted the same. The Blancos travel to newly-promoted Villarreal in the Primera Liga on Saturday where €100 million recruit Bale could be handed his debut.

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Ferguson reveals secrets of success

Legendary former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed the methods and mentality that saw him win 28 major trophies in 26 years in charge. The Scot permitted professors from Harvard Business School to observe and study his methods during his final season at Old Trafford as part of a case study, upon which he has since expanded to students in visits to the institution after his retirement. In a wide-ranging interview published in full in the Harvard Business Review, Sir Alex explained that his first move upon joining the Red Devils was to establish his famed focus on youth.

from the moment I got to Manchester United, I thought of only one thing: building a football club. I wanted to build right from the bottom," he began.

"I knew that a focus on youth would fit the club's history and my earlier coaching experience told me that winning with young players could be done and that I was good at working with them. So I had the confidence and conviction that, if United was going to mean anything again, rebuilding the youth structure was crucial. You could say it was brave but fortune favours the brave.

"At some clubs, you need only to lose three games in a row and you're fired. In today's football world, with a new breed of directors and owners, I am not sure any club would have the patience to wait for a manager to build a team over a four-year period "Winning a game is only a short-term gain - you can lose the next game. Building a club brings stability and consistency.

"One of the things I've done well over the years is manage change. I believe that you control change by accepting it. That also means having confidence in the people you hire. The minute staff members are employed, you have to trust that they are doing their jobs. If you micromanage and tell people what to do, there is no point in hiring them.

"The most important thing is to not stagnate. I said to David Gill a few years ago: 'The only way we can keep players at Manchester United is if we have the best training ground in Europe.' That is when we kickstarted the medical centre. We can't sit still.

"Most people with my kind of track record don't look to change but I always felt I couldn't afford not to change. We had to be successful - there was no other option for me - and I would explore any means of improving. I continued to work hard. I treated every success as my first. My job was to give us the best possible chance of winning. That is what drove me."

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Balotelli must be more professional, says Rosicky

The midfielder feels the AC Milan star has plenty of potential and says he will improve even further if he changes his behaviour, Tomas Rosicky believes there is much more to come from Mario Balotelli - but only once he has "calmed down" on the pitch. The two players go head-to-head on Tuesday in World Cup qualification Group B as the Czech Republic take on Italy and the Arsenal midfielder hopes the Balotelli will begin to mature and fulfill his potential.

"I know Balotelli pretty well. Mario has a lot of potential. However, he will be even better if he calms down a bit on a professional level," Rosicky told Tuttosport. "Of course, his age plays a role in his behaviour, but he has already shown that he's a very interesting player at City and Milan. "Italy are very strong tactically and they have two superb strikers.

Balotelli made the headlines for all the wrong reasons in the previous encounter between the two nations after he was dismissed in the second half after receiving two yellow cards within the space of four minutes. Czech Republic currently sit third in Group B with nine points from seven games, trailing leaders Italy by eight points and second-placed Bulgaria by one point.       

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Barcelona would not pay €100m for Bale

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell says he would never have allowed the club to pay the €100 million fee which Real Madrid spent on Gareth Bale. The Wales international secured his protracted move to Santiago Bernabeu shortly before the end of the summer transfer window, though the sum involved has attracted significant criticism, with Barca coach Gerardo Martino claiming it showed "a lack of respect for the world we live in."

While Rosell admits the timing of Martino's comments was ill-advised, he has voiced his own disdain for the world-record fee, claiming that his own club could never match such sums on a single player. "I wouldn’t have paid €100 million [for Bale]," he told TV3. "Barcelona cannot allow for that. If we pay €100m, people would go crazy. Madrid is a private institution and if their socios allow it, then I have nothing to say.

"We need to tell Tata that he can’t always say what he thinks, but he was speaking from the heart." Rosell was quick to praise Madrid for their decision to allow Kaka to return to AC Milan on a free transfer, however, stating that the departure of the likes of the Brazilian and David Villa from Camp Nou are useful in freeing up the wage bill.

"Madrid selling Kaka to Milan for nothing was a good move. That’s one huge salary off the books at least. Just like selling Villa was a good move for us," Rosell said. The 49-year-old also revealed he has been in touch with Tito Vilanova, who is continuing to battle cancer following his relapse earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Barcelona were handed a boost after Sergio Busquets returned to training on Monday. The midfielder, who injured his thigh in the 3-2 Liga win over Valencia, has stepped up his recovery after being forced to withdraw from the Spain squad for the matches against Finland and Chile.

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Blatter: Summer World Cup in Qatar is a mistake

The Fifa president concedes he knew it would be problematic to host the event in the summer and will meet with governing body's board next month to argue for a winter tournament. Fifa president Sepp Blatter has admitted it may have been a mistake to give Qatar the World Cup in 2022, knowing full well that the tournament being played in the summer would cause serious problems.

The Arab nation was awarded the World Cup in 2010 but there have been significant concerns raised about players and supporters' safety holding the event in summer months where temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius. Blatter, in February 2011, insisted the World Cup in 2022 would be held in the summer, but has had a change of heart and will next month make a proposal to Fifa's Executive Committee to alter the dates of the event to the winter.
"After many discussions, deliberations and critical review of the entire matter, I came to the conclusion that playing the World Cup in the heat of Qatar's summer was simply not a responsible thing to do - despite the fact that I know full well that Qatar has the means to develop the best cooling technology.
 
When it was suggested to him that he already knew it would be impossible to host the World Cup in the summer in Qatar, Blatter told insideworldfootball: "That may well be so, and it may well be that we made a mistake at the time.

"That is why I went public and suggested that the Fifa ExCo should review the period when the event shall be staged and see what consequences it would have to play in winter."

Key figures in the Premier League and Bundesliga chief Christian Seifert, as well as other European leagues, have raised concerns over the club calendar in Europe, which would face upheaval for three to four years should the change go ahead.

Nevertheless, Blatter will go to Fifa's board in early October to propose the event be changed to the winter.
"Once the Executive Committee of Fifa has agreed to that, we can take the next step which will include a close look at the international calendar and establish what consequences the change would have. And we would naturally need to speak to and consult with all interested parties and stakeholders."

Blatter had said in July that he is confident the move will be accepted: "The executive committee will certainly follow my proposal. Then we will have dealt with it for good."

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Madrid fought until the death for Neymar - Rosell

Barcelona club president Sandro Rosell has revealed that rivals Real Madrid tried to convince Neymar to move to Santiago Bernabeu this summer right until the eleventh hour. The Brazilian forward sealed a €57 million switch to Camp Nou after making it clear he favoured a move to the Liga champions, but that did not prevent los Blancos from attempting to disrupt negotiations even when the contract was being signed, according to Rosell.
"When we reached an initial agreement with Neymar's father, the player had already passed a medical with Madrid, so we joked we would not bother with our own check-up," he told television station TV3. "When we were signing the contract, Madrid were sending emails to Santos."

The Blaugrana president was also quashed the notion of their being any possibility of Real Madrid club captain Iker Casillas replacing the out-going Victor Valdes, despite the Spain No.1 having failed to regain his first-team place from Diego Lopez. "Casillas will not sign because he is an icon of Real Madrid and I could not see him with the club badge on his chest, the same way I wouldn’t like to see Xavi in a Real jersey," said Rosell.

Finally, the 49-year-old revealed that tensions have dropped between La Liga's top two since Jose Mourinho's departure for Chelsea, but hinted he would miss the Portuguese's presence in Spain. "Since then the tension has dropped, but his press conferences were entertaining," he added. "In the European Super Cup I was siding with Bayern Munich. Pep Guardiola is the best coach in history."

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