:*:*:*:*:FOOTBALL NEWS:*:*:*:*:*: (4TH OCT 2014) ******* Liverpool have confirmed that striker Daniel Sturridge has signed a new long-term deal. Manager Brendan Rodgers revealed on Thursday that Sturridge was close to agreeing a new contract at Anfield. And the 25-year-old, who has not featured for Liverpool since late August because of a thigh injury, has now committed his future to the Merseyside club. It feels great. Its a big, big day in my life to commit to this club and to give the club my best years, which are ahead of me, Sturridge told the clubs official website. I am thankful for the opportunity and that is the reason I committed my future. Everyone has been great with me, from the fans to the staff to the players, so it was an easy decision. Im happy with how everything is going. ******* Leonardo Bonucci believes Roma will provide Juventus with a sterner test than in previous years when they meet in Turin on Sunday. Juve host Roma in a mouth-watering Serie A clash between the two title favourites, both of whom have claimed maximum points from their first five league games. Roma were Juves closest challengers for the Serie A crown last season, going 17 league matches unbeaten before they suffered a 3-0 loss to Bonucci and his team-mates at the turn of the year, a game in which the Italy centre-back found the net for the hosts and Rudi Garcias side were reduced to nine men. The capital club will be out to avenge that setback this time around, although recent history is against them, with Juve having won their last four home games with Roma by three goals or more. Bonucci is not expecting the same scenario to play out this time around. We are stronger, weve demonstrated that on the pitch over the past three years, Bonucci told Gazzetta dello Sport. ******* Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has taunted Arsenal, saying their former captain Cesc Fabregas loves Chelsea already. Mourinhos league leaders face Arsene Wengers men at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with Fabregas facing his former club for the first time since leaving in August 2011. Fabregas has made a bright start to life at Chelsea, helping them to five wins in six Premier League matches and a three-point lead at the top of the table. Mourinho said the Spain international would always respect Arsenal, but believes Fabregas already loves rivals Chelsea. Fabregas will never lose his respect and connection with a club where he arrived as a kid and left as a top player, the Portuguese tactician said. Arsenal made him. I wouldnt be happy if he came here saying he didnt care about Arsenal and that he forgot all that and now its just about Chelsea. But I think he loves Chelsea already. Hes so happy: the way he plays, the way hes a member of the squad, the way he lives in this little blue village. It is like hes been here for a long time. If you ask him now if he regrets the move, Im sure hed say no. ******* Under-fire Newcastle manager Alan Pardew finally found an ally in one of his former midfielders Yohan Cabaye. Cabaye, 28, made 79 league appearances for the Tyneside club from 2011-14, defecting to Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain in January - and Newcastles fortunes spiralled downwards after his departure. The France international threw his support behind his old boss Pardew, who is in much need of a friend with his job on the line. The manager is in trouble now but he shouldnt get all the complaints because its not only about him, so I am sad for him and want to wish him all the best, Cabaye told The Guardian. When I was there and the second season wasnt good, the fact was that we were the players on the pitch. Cabaye said he was a fan of Pardew as he is a coach of his players, who are not playing for him this season with Newcastle languishing in 19th spot in the league with three points from six games. I like him because he gave me confidence to play, and to play as I did for two-and-a-half years, the Frenchman added. ****** Everton manager Roberto Martinez is happy to play veteran full-back Tony Hibbert against Premier League rivals Manchester United on Sunday. With first-choice right-back Seamus Coleman struggling to overcome a hamstring injury, Hibbert is in line to start his fourth consecutive match for Everton. Hibbert has been utilised against Swansea City, Liverpool and Krasnodar, but Evertons trip to Old Trafford is expected to provide the 33-year-old with his biggest test. However, Martinez is confident Hibbert will be able to cope with the likes of Robin van Persie, Radamel Falcao, Angel di Maria and Juan Mata. Id have no concerns about using him at Old Trafford, said Martinez. For him to be able to play the games he has against different types of opposition, tricky wingers with different ways of playing, he has done very well. Thats why its so important this season to have a strong squad. You need reliable characters like him. Martinez added: Its so important to have someone like Tony around the place. ****** A frustrated Brendan Rodgers admitted more pain could follow for a Liverpool team with no resemblance to the one of last season. The Northern Irishmans men have struggled this campaign as several new signings slowly settle in to a side that went close to winning the Premier League last season. Rodgers 14th-placed side host West Brom on Saturday having won just two of their opening six league outings. He said Liverpool looked unrecognisable to the team that finished two points adrift of champions Manchester City in 2013-14. I think the pain is for now. I think its unfortunate, Rodgers said. Its hard for the supporters and I understand that. It must be so difficult at the moment to see a team that for 18 months has been so fluent and dynamic. Now they probably look and see a team with maybe no resemblance to that in many ways. I understand that and there is no-one more frustrated than myself. With Luis Suarez departing for Barcelona, Liverpool brought in the likes of Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Lazar Markovic and Mario Balotelli. ****** Australia remain Tim Cahills number one priority despite reported concerns from the New York Red Bulls, who are eyeing the MLS play-offs. Cahill - Australias all-time leading goalscorer - has been called up by national team coach Ange Postecoglou for upcoming international friendlies against the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Those two fixtures will be played on October 10 and 14 respectively as Australia step up their preparations for the AFC Asian Cup in January. It means Cahill will miss New Yorks home match against rivals Toronto on October 11, while the 34-year-old is in doubt for the Columbus Crews arrival eight days later as the Red Bulls - fifth in the Eastern Conference - target the play-offs under Mike Petke. Cahill has already spent time away from New York on international duty this season, missing four MLS games as Australia prepared and competed at the World Cup in Brazil. However, 73-cap veteran Cahill made it clear where his priorities lie as he attempts to balance duties for both club and country. This year, it is difficult, Cahill told reporters on Friday. ****** Lionel Messi is set to face trial over alleged tax fraud, according to widespread reports. A Spanish judge threw out a prosecution recommendation to clear Messi, on the basis he was not directly involved in the alleged fraud - which has reportedly seen the authorities short over €4 million. The case is regarding the activities of Messis father Jorge Horacio Messi, who represents his son, and use of the Argentina captains image for financial benefit. While the four-time Ballon dOr winner claimed he was unaware of any wrongdoing, the judge said Messi still had a responsibility to be aware of his agents activity. In this type of crime, it is not necessary for someone to have complete knowledge of all the accounting and business operations nor the exact quantity, rather it is sufficient to be aware of the designs to commit fraud and consent to them, the judges statement read. The judge also denied Messis request to call lawyer Angel Juarez and Barcelonas marketing director Raul Sanllehi as witnesses. ****** Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi has urged patience with forward Stephan El Shaarawy. A mercurial talent, El Shaarawy has endured an injury-interrupted season so far. The 21-year-old Italy international has been restricted to two appearances and was an unused substitute in Milans last two outings, having started the 1-0 home defeat to Serie A champions Juventus last month. Ahead of Chievos visit to San Siro on Saturday, Inzaghi claims that the host of attacking reserves at his disposal feature among the reasons for El Shaarawys quiet period, but he insists the player remains a key part of his plans. When I arrived I thought about the 4-3-3 formation for him as it brings the best out of his qualities, Inzaghi explained. I respect him a lot and he had a great match versus Lazio. Then he had an injury. I made him play against Juventus as a sign of how much I rate him. We have seven players up front. Unfortunately it’s hard to leave three on the bench. I will try to send four out on the pitch. At Cesena I wanted to play El Shaarawy in the second half, but then we saw what happened. Hes doing well and the fitness that he had at the start of the season is back. It will be down to me to choose the best line up. ******* Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is confident his team are working their way towards their best form. The defending champions lead the way in the Bundesliga following four wins and two draws from their first six league games this term. Tuesday nights trip to CSKA Moscow also saw Bayern maintain their 100 per cent record in this seasons UEFA Champions League with a 1-0 triumph. But such are the lofty standards at the Allianz Arena that questions have been asked over Guardiola’s richly gifted squad not hitting top gear as a number of key figures, such as Bastian Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery, feel their way back to form and fitness. I am very satisfied with my team, the former Barcelona boss told a press conference ahead of Saturdays home game against Hannover. The result was important [versus CSKA Moscow]. At a club like Bayern you have to win every game. The way we perform on the pitch is getting better. So I am very satisfied with our training, everything is fine. We are just waiting for the injured players to return. Its the beginning of October. We fought, we played good games and we also played poorly, but we delivered when we had to. We are trying to improve our style of playing, to attack well. And when this happens there is nothing to moan about. ****** Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has backed plans for the club to play a number of lucrative midweek friendlies during the season. The matches have been mooted to plug the gap left by Uniteds failure to qualify for European competition, while their early elimination from the League Cup at the hands of MK Dons freed up yet more space on the calendar. Managing director Richard Arnold revealed earlier this week that the idea was still being looked into, but now Van Gaal has lent his own backing to the proposed fixtures. I fully agree, said Van Gaal. I spoke with [executive vice-chairman] Ed [Woodward] and Richard last week. I like to play midweek games against high-level opponents. United, who host Everton in the Premier League on Sunday, are reportedly set to lose more than £40million as a result of their non-involvement in the UEFA Champions League. ******* Real Madrid are sweating on the fitness of Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Sundays La Liga clash with Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Portugal international forward has been training alone in the build-up to the fixture as he struggles with an Achilles problem. Ronaldo suffered the injury in Wednesdays 2-1 victory at Ludogorets in the UEFA Champions League following a hefty challenge from Anicet Abel. The 29-year-old, who missed and scored a penalty in the fixture, was left fuming afterwards, likening the contest to a rugby match. Real will be desperate for Ronaldo to play and continue his sensational start to the season, which has seen him score 10 goals in just five league outings this season. With or without Ronaldo, Real will be confident of picking up all three points having beaten Bilbao in their last nine league encounters at the Bernabeu. Three out of the last five of those contests have finished 5-1 and Carlo Ancelottis men head into the contest on the back of a five-match winning run in all competitions. One area Ancelotti has been unhappy with, though, is Reals defending from free-kicks and corners after conceding from a set-piece against Ludogorets.
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 09:48:24 +0000
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