Tuesday, 23 February 2016

Arsenal vs Barcelona starting line up.


Arsenal XI: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Ramsey, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud.
Subs: Ospina, Chambers, Gibbs, Flamini, Campbell, Walcott, Welbeck.

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta, Neymar, Suarez, Messi.
Subs: Bravo,Munir, Sergi Roberto, Adriano, Aleix Vidal, Vermaelen, Mathieu.


Kick off: 8:45pm.


Chelsea open talks with Willian over new £120,000 a week deal.


Chelsea are in talks with star midfielder Willian over a new four-year deal worth in the region of £120,000 a week.
The club are looking to tie down the Brazilian, who has been a standout performer this season, to a new deal amid concerns over the future of his team-mates.
With the Blues' place in next season's Champions League yet to be guaranteed, they are expecting offers in the summer for the likes of Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa.



Source:Dailymail.


Antonio Conte agrees 'deal in principle' to become next Chelsea manager.


Chelsea have agreed a 'deal in principle' for Italy boss Antonio Conte to become their new manager.
Conte's contract with Italy expires at the end of Euro 2016 and the 46-year-old wants to return to club management.
Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed on Tuesday a deal had been struck between Conte and Chelsea, and that Roman Abramovich will make the final call on whether he gets the job.
Conte will meet with the FIGC – the Italian football federation – in March to confirm that he wants to leave after this summer's tournament in France. 
He is also set to hold further talks with Chelsea in the same month ahead of Italy’s friendlies with Spain and Germany.
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri was another contender for the Chelsea job but is set to stay with the Italian champions as they prepare to offer him a new contract.


Source:Dailymail.

Sunday, 21 February 2016

FA Cup quarter-final draw.


Everton v Chelsea
Reading v Crystal Palace
Arsenal or Hull City v Watford
Shrewsbury or Manchester United v West Ham

Chelsea vs Manchester City starting line up.


Chelsea XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Baba Rahman, Fabregas, Mikel, Pedro, Willian, Hazard, Diego Costa.
Subs: Begovic, Miazga, Matic, Loftus-Cheek, Oscar, Traore, Remy.

Manchester City XI: Caballero, Zabaleta, Adarabioyo, Demichelis, Kolarov, Fernando, A.Garcia, M.Garcia, Celina, Iheanacho, Faupala.
Subs: Hart, Clichy, Humphreys, Kompany, Fernandinho, Barker, Sterling.



Kick off: 5:00pm.

Saturday, 20 February 2016

Chelsea send former boss Jose Mourinho replica trophies and thank you letter.


Chelsea have sent Jose Mourinho replica versions of the Premier League and Capital One Cup trophies he won last season in a bid to repair their relationship with their former manager.
Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea for the second time on December 17, with the club languishing 16th in the table and just one point away from the relegation zone.
The decision came just seven months after the Portuguese lifted his third Premier League title with the club and four months after he signed a new four-year contract worth £30million.
Blues chairman Bruce Buck sent Mourinho a letter this week, thanking him for his efforts during his second spell while making it clear that he would always be welcome back at Stamford Bridge.
The replica trophies - which were also sent to first-team squad members and backroom staff employed during the successful 2014-15 campaign - were delivered to the former Real Madrid manager's west London home, where he still lives with his family.
Midfielder Cesc Fabregas took to Snapchat on Friday to share a photo of his replica trophies with his fans, captioning the picture 'finally here'.


Source:DailyMail.

Arsenal vs Hull starting line up.


Arsenal XI: Ospina; Chambers, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Flamini, Elneny, Iwobi; Campbell, Welbeck, Walcott.
Subs: Macey, Bellerin, Monreal, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlin, Sanchez, Giroud.


Hull XI: Jakupovc, Davies, Bruce, Maguire, Tymon, Taylor, Meyler, Maloney, Elmohamady, Powell, Diomande.
Subs: Kuciak, Odubajo, Huddlestone, Hernández, Diamé, Aluko, Robertson.



Kick off: 1:45pm.

Wednesday, 17 February 2016

AS Roma vs Real Madrid starting line up.


Roma XI: Szczesny, Rudiger, Digne, Manolas, Nainggolan, Pjanic, Vainqueur, Florenzi, Perotti, Salah, El Shaarway.
Subs: De Sanctis, Maicon, De Rossi, Keita, Dzeko, Totti, Falque.

Real Madrid XI: Navas, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo, Carvajal, Kroos, James, Modric, Isco, Ronaldo, Benzema.
Subs: Casilla, Nacho, Danilo, Casemiro, Kovacic, Lucas Vazquez, Jese.


Kick off: 8:45pm.

Wanye Rooney unavailable for United's Europa League match.

Wayne Rooney has been left out of the Manchester United squad for Thursday night’s Europa League match against FC Midtjylland in Denmark.The England captain stayed behind as his team-mates made the trip."Wayne Rooney is a notable absentee from the flight and the manager is expected to confirm why his captain has not made the trip during his pre-match press conference "said a statement on United's website.


Source:Skysports.

Tuesday, 16 February 2016

PSG vs Chelsea starting line up.


PSG XI: Trapp, Marquinhos, Silva, Luiz, Maxwell, Verratti, Motta, Matuidi, Lucas, Di Maria, Ibrahimovic.
SubsSirigu, Van Der Wiel, Kurzawa, Rabiot, Stambouli, Pastore, Cavani.

Chelsea XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Baba Rahman; Fabregas, Mikel; Pedro, Willian, Hazard; Costa.
Subs: Begovic, Miazga, Loftus-Cheek, Oscar, Kenedy, Traore, Remy.


Kick off: 8:45pm.

Monday, 15 February 2016

Chelsea captain John Terry didn't travel with rest of the squad to Paris.


Chelsea have flown out for their Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain but captain John Terry has remained in the UK, despite taking part in training.
However, Terry hasn't travelled to France for the last-16 first leg due to what his club say is a minor problem with his hamstring and ligament.
Young defenders Matt Miazga and Jake Clarke-Salter have travelled, while Oscar has recovered from a slight calf problem and could start at the Parc des Prince son Tuesday night.
Young defenders Matt Miazga and Jake Clarke-Salter have travelled, while Oscar has recovered from a slight calf problem and could start at the Parc des Prince son Tuesday night.
Chelsea will be hoping to avenge their defeat by PSG last year, when a header from former defender David Luiz knocked them out of the competition.
With Terry not making it, they could revert to the backline that finished the thrashing of Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.


John Terry trains ahead of Champions League last-16 clash with PSG.



Chelsea look set to be handed a massive boost for their Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain as captain John Terry took part in training on Monday.
The 34-year-old defender, who could leave in the summer with the club still yet to offer him a new contract, came off in Saturday's 5-1 victory against Newcastle with a hamstring strain. 
Terry was a huge doubt for the last-16 first leg at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night but he has lined up alongside his team-mates for a training session at the Cobham facility.

Source: Dailymail.

Old Trafford's South Stand to be named after Sir Bobby Charlton.

Old Trafford's South Stand is to renamed after Manchester United and England legend Sir Bobby Charlton, who made his debut for the club 60 years ago.
The stand - the only part of the ground to contain some of the original 1910 infrastructure - will officially be re-named at the home game with Everton on 2 April.
Charlton joined United as an apprentice in 1953, making his debut three years later. He went on to play for the club 758 times, scoring a club-record 249 goals.
He is England's second-top scorer with 49, his record recently broken by Wayne Rooney.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward told the club's website: "Bobby is, quite simply, the most iconic figure in English football history. A player, a diplomat, a gentleman and a tireless worker for charity, he represents everything that is good about football and Manchester United.
"It has been a privilege to know him and humbling to work alongside him for the last 10 years. Renaming the South Stand, which contains both the Directors' Box and the old players' changing rooms, is a fitting tribute to all that Bobby has contributed to the club both as a player and a director."
Charlton said: "This is a great honour and I am very proud - for myself and my family - that the club has chosen to name the South Stand after me.
"Manchester United has been such an important part of my life and I have so many wonderful memories of this Theatre of Dreams. As a player, I remember the goals and the marvellous players I played with. As a director, I have seen some outstanding matches and players. It is a special place indeed.
"I would like to thank everyone connected with Manchester United. So many people work so hard to keep us at the top; their effort should never be forgotten. But most of all, I would like to thank Norma, my wonderful wife, and my family for the support and encouragement they have always provided. This is for them."


Source: Skysports.

Eden Hazard admits PSG would be hard to turn down.


Chelsea winger Eden Hazard has admitted it would be hard to turn down a move to Paris Saint-Germain if the opportunity arose.
The Belgium international has set his sights on winning the Champions League and would only move to a club he believes would enable him to fulfill that objective.
And in an interview with Le Parisien ahead of Chelsea's visit to PSG in the last-16 of the Champions League, Hazard said: 'It's hard to say no to PSG, as with all teams capable of winning the Champions League.
'Now, PSG are part of this category. And for me, winning the Champions League is the main objective. But for now, I do not dwell on it.'
On his future, the 25-year-old added: 'I do not know, because there is always uncertainty in football. If we stick to the contract, I'll still be at Chelsea next season.
'Even if things are complicated this season, I am at Chelsea. I'm in a good group that can win trophies every season.'
Asked if the presence of Zinedine Zidane as manager of Real Madrid would persuade him to move to the Bernabeu, Hazard said: 'Of course with Zidane, it makes you want it as he was my idol when he was a player
'I want to work with the best coaches in the world. But I do not know if Zidane is already part of this category, he has only led Real since early January.'


Source: Dailymail.

Sunday, 14 February 2016

Manchester City vs Tottenham starting line up.

Manchester City XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy, Fernando, Fernandinho, Silva, Toure, Sterling, Aguero.
Subs: Caballero, Kolarov, Demichelis, A.Garcia, M.Garcia, Celina, Iheanacho.


Tottenham XI: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose, Dembele, Dier, Eriksen, Alli, Son, Kane.
Subs: Vorm, Davies, Trippier, Carroll, Chadli, Lamela, Mason.



Kick off: 5:15pm.

Arsenal vs Leicester starting line up.


Arsenal XI: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlin, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud.

Subs: Ospina, Chambers, Welbeck, Flamini, Elneny, Campbell, Walcott.


Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez, Kanté, Drinkwater, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy.

Subs: Schwarzer, King, Gray, Ulloa, Dyer, Wasilewski, Chilwell.



Kick off: 1:00pm.

Saturday, 13 February 2016

Chelsea vs Newcastle starting line up.


Chelsea XI: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Fabregas, Matic, Pedro, Willian, Hazard, Diego Costa.
Subs: Begovic, Baba, Mikel, Traore, Kenedy, Remy, Loftus-Cheek.


Newcastle XI: Elliot, Janmaat, Taylor, Coloccini, Aarons, Shelvey, Tiote, Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Townsend, Mitrovic. 
Subs: Colback, Lascelles, Perez, Saivet, Darlow, Doumbia, Riviere.


Kick off: 6:30pm.

Sunderland beat Manchester United.

Sunderland boosted their survival hopes with a 2-1 victory over Manchester United on Saturday - their first Premier League win over the Red Devils at the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats raced into an early lead thanks to Wahbi Khazri's third-minute strike before Anthony Martial hauled United level with his 10th league goal of the season on 39 minutes.
The hosts created the better chances after the break and deservedly edged in front as Lamine Kone's powerful header forced David de Gea to turn the ball into his own net.
Sunderland saw out the victory with relative ease to move to within a point of rivals Newcastle and safety, while United remain fifth, six points adrift of fourth place.



Source: Skysports.

Norwich vs West Ham, Everton vs West Brom and other 4pm starting line up.


Norwich XI: Ruddy, Martin, Klose, Bassong, Brady, Howson, O'Neil, Redmond, Hoolahan, Naismith, Jerome.
Subs: Rudd, Mbokani, Bamford, Jarvis, Dorrans, Olsson, Pinto.

West Ham XI: Adrian, Byram, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Song, Noble, Obiang, Antonio, Payet, Valencia.
Subs: Randolph, Oxford, Moses, Browne, Carroll, Emenike, Parfitt-Williams.


Bournemouth XI: Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Surman, Stanislas, Gosling, Arter, Pugh, Afobe.
Subs: Iturbe, King, Federici, Distin, Grabban, Ritchie, O'Kane.

Stoke XI: Butland, Johnson, Wollscheid, Muniesa, Pieters, Whelan, Imbula, Diouf, Afellay, Shaqiri, Walters.
Subs: Ireland, Odemwingie, Joselu, Teixeira, Crouch, Krkic, Haugaard.



Everton XI: Robles, Coleman, Funes Mori, Jagielka, Oviedo, McCarthy, Barry, Lennon, Barkley, Cleverley, Lukaku.
Subs: Baines, Kone, Mirallas, Deulofeu, Osman, Pienaar, Howard.

West Brom XI: Foster, Dawson, Chester, Olsson, Evans, Sessegnon, Yacob, Fletcher, McClean, Rondon, Berahino.
Subs: Gardner, Anichebe, Brunt, Myhill, Pocognoli, Pritchard, Sandro.



Crystal Palace XI: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare, Mutch, Cabaye, Jedinak, Zaha, Wickham, Adebayor.
Subs: Speroni, Mariappa, Campbell, Lee, Chamakh, Kelly, Boateng.

Watford XI: Gomes, Nyom, Prodl, Cathcart, Ake, Capoue, Watson, Behrami, Amrabat, Ighalo, Deeney.
Subs: Mario Suarez, Paredes, Guedioura, Pantilimon, Anya, Abdi, Holebas.



Swansea XI: Fabianski, Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Britton, Cork, Ayew, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Paloschi.
Subs: Amat, Ki, Fer, Nordfeldt, Gomis, Naughton, Barrow.

Southampton XI: Forster, van Dijk, Fonte, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Clasie, Romeu, Targett, Steven Davis, Long, Pelle.
Subs: Cedric Soares, Yoshida, Mane, Tadic, Juanmi, Stekelenburg, Austin.





Kick off: 4:00pm.

Sunderland vs Manchester United starting line up.


Sunderland XI: Mannone, Yedlin, O’Shea, Kone, van Aanholt, Kirchhoff, Cattermole, M’Vila, Khazri, N’Doye, Defoe.
Subs: Brown, Rodwell, Borini, Matthews, Pickford, Toivonen, Honeyman.


Manchester United XI: De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Borthwick-Jackson, Schneiderlin, Carrick, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Rooney.
Subs: Romero, Love, Weir, Pereira, Herrera, Memphis, Keane.


Kick off: 1:45 pm.

Friday, 12 February 2016

Diego Costa to wear protective mask against Newcastle.


Diego Costa will wear a protective mask against Newcastle on Saturday after his nose was broken in training by a Chelsea academy player.
Although the collision was accidental, he will become the third Blues player to wear a mask this season after Cesar Azpilicueta and Nemanja Matic.
Chelsea interim coach Guus Hiddink said: 'Costa got his nose broken in training. It was one of the young academy players we had over.
'He was very unlucky. He will return today because he had a mask put on. We are a Zorro team: Azpi, Matic, now Diego. He will do some light training this afternoon with the mask.'


Source: DailyMail.

Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Welbeck close to returning for Arsenal.


Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger expects long-term injury duo Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla to be back in action within the next few weeks.
Cazorla hurt his knee during Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Norwich on November 29, and has been stepping up his rehabilitation since the turn of the year.
Midfielder Wilshere has yet to feature for the Gunners in the current campaign, having suffered a leg fracture in pre-season. He underwent surgery in September.
Wenger said: "They are back running, they are on a fitness programme now so it means it is not a question of months anymore, it is a question of weeks for them to be back."
And Wenger also suggested striker Danny Welbeck, who has not featured for Arsenal since April 2015, is close to making his comeback from a knee injury.
"He is doing well, it is a bit early for him maybe but he is now back to full power in training," Wenger said.
Asked if Welbeck could be involved in the FA Cup clash with Hull City on February 20, Wenger said: "It is a big possibility. Danny is very close. Fitness wise he is there, it's just competition he needs. Next week is a possibility."



Source: Skysports.

Thursday, 11 February 2016

Bojan signs new contract.


Stoke forward Bojan has committed his long term future to the club by signing a new four and a half year contract which runs until the summer of 2020.
The 25-year-old joined from Barcelona in the summer of 2014 and has established himself as a fan favourite and proven top flight performer, despite suffering a serious knee injury last season.
The Spanish international is delighted to be staying at the Britannia and told the club website: "Stoke City gave me the opportunity to play in the most competitive league in the world, the Premier League, and I have only words of gratitude for their trust and for the way they have treated me since the first day I arrived. 
"[Manager] Mark Hughes convinced me to come to Stoke, he has helped me and shown his trust in me from the beginning, he followed closely the recovery process from my injury, and there is no doubt I have signed an extension of my contract thanks to him."


Source: Skysports.

Laurent Blanc signs new contract with PSG.

Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc has extended his contract with the French champions until the end of the 2017/18 season.
The 50-year-old former France and Manchester United defender, who won the World Cup in 1998, joined PSG in June 2013, replacing Carlo Ancelotti.
He has led the club to back-to-back Ligue 1 titles and last season completed an unprecedented treble of league, League Cup and French Cup triumphs.
Blanc has so far won eight trophies with the Parisians and looks on course to add another title this season with PSG leading the table by 24 points from Monaco with 13 matches to play.



Source: Skysports.

Wednesday, 10 February 2016

Mourinho prepares to axe Juan Mata if he becomes Manchester United new manager.


Jose Mourinho will begin a ruthless purge of the Manchester United squad by selling £37million Juan Mata and £27m Marouane Fellaini if he is given the job.
The former Chelsea manager, who is in advanced talks to replace his friend Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, has told executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to sell the midfield pair.
Mourinho, who has never made any secret of his ambition to manage United, outlined his intentions for the squad during a meeting with Woodward.


Mata does not fit in with Mourinho’s ambitious plans at Old Trafford and he wants the Spain winger out of the door before he takes over at the club.
Fellaini is also on his way out of Old Trafford if United come to a financial agreement with Van Gaal at the end of the season and replace him with Mourinho.
The Belgium midfielder has failed to make a significant impact at United since his move to the club from Everton in 2013.
Mourinho will also be given a sizeable pot of money to make the necessary adjustments to the squad in order for them to compete with Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal next season if he gets the go ahead to take charge.

Source: Dailymail.

Jose Mourinho tells friends that his summer move to Manchester United is a 'done deal'.


Jose Mourinho has confided in close friends it is a ‘done deal’ that he will take over at Manchester United in the summer.
Mourinho has been out of work since he was sacked by Chelsea in December but it is widely known he would relish the chance to take over at United.
Now he has told associates that the move to Old Trafford is done and he is set to take over at the end of the season.
It will bring to an end Van Gaal’s troubled two-year reign.
The Dutchman will still have a year remaining on his United contract, but he has not impressed after being backed to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds in the transfer market yet failing to win any silverware.
It has seen him come under increasing pressure from fans. Van Gaal has been publicly riled in press conferences on several occasions when asked about his future at the club, but Mourinho is certain the job is his.
The move will reignite Mourinho’s bitter rivalry with Pep Guardiola, who will take over at Manchester City from Manuel Pellegrini in the summer.


Source: Dailymail.

Tuesday, 9 February 2016

Premier League launches new logo for next season.


The Premier League has launched a new logo which will be used from next season onwards.
The fresh new design includes a modern take on the lion icon – a symbol that is part of the competition’s heritage dating back to its launch in 1992. 
The crowned lion has been a prominent feature of the Premier League logo since its inception at the start of the 1992-93 season, representing the relationship between the league and the English Football Association - whose logo features three lions.
Premier League clubs agreed a new central sponsorship strategy last July which included a move away from a title sponsorship model.  
Instead of long-time backers Barclays, the Premier League will have a roster of secondary rights partners from next season onwards. 


Source: Dailymail.

Zouma out for six weeks.

Kurt Zouma has been ruled out for six months after scans revealed he suffered cruciate damage on Sunday.
The Chelsea defender was stretchered off after his right knee buckled on landing during the second half of a 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
And surgery has already been scheduled after the extent of the injury was discovered.
A club statement read: "Chelsea Football Club's medical team have diagnosed that Kurt Zouma sustained an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament during yesterday's Premier League game against Manchester United.
"Kurt will undergo surgery in the next 48 hours and is expected to be out for approximately six months."
Zouma, who has started every game since Guus Hiddink returned to Stamford Bridge, tweeted: "I will come back stronger. Thank you everyone for all the messages."


Source: Skysports.