Costa still scoring for fun despite barely training with Chelsea team, admits Mourinho

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed top
striker Diego Costa is barely training with his
Blues team-mates, yet continues to increase his
Premier League goal tally.
The £32million summer signing netted his eighth
of the season in Saturday’s victory over Aston
Villa at Stamford Bridge, with Brazilian duo Oscar
and Willain also firing home to secure a 3-0 win.
That is despite Costa having a hamstring injury
which limits his involvement in training to, what
Mourinho admits as, "almost nothing".
"He cannot be on top of his game, but even so
scoring a goal is good for his confidence," said
the Portuguese boss.
"He's doing almost nothing in training. He's just
resting and recovering from the tight muscle he
has. Every time he accumulates fatigue.
"But I don't care about Diego's goals. For me it's
important that the team score enough goals to
win
"I know a striker scoring goals is always nice for
him and for his confidence, especially for a player
like him who is not training as he should,
because we are protecting him in certain
situations."
Mourinho believes Costa will only be fully fit if he
is given leave from the Spain squad for next
month's matches with Slovakia and Luxembourg,
with the manager fearing a hamstring tear if his
call is ignored.
"If he doesn't go to the national team and if he
stays here 15 days just on treatment, he has the
perfect chance to be top for Chelsea and top for
the national team," he added.
"If he doesn't have this period, will be always,
plays one game, the other is in trouble, the
muscle is tight, the muscle is danger to rupture."
Chelsea sailed to victory over Paul Lambert's
men, with the result never looking in doubt after
Oscar's seventh minute opener.
"We kept control of the game all the time. Even
when the result was 1-0,” said Mourinho of the
manner of his side’s performance.
"The second and the third goals obviously killed
everything. Overall it was a very good
performance."

Read More

Barcelona 6-0 Granada:

The Argentine broke through the 400-goal barrier for club and country, while Ivan
Rakitic was also on target in a brilliant Blaugrana performance
Neymar and Lionel Messi ran riot as Barcelona maintained their perfect start to the
season with a stunning 6-0 demolition of Granada at Camp Nou on Saturday
evening.
The Brazilian scored a hat-trick but the night belonged to Messi, who netted his
400th and 401st career goals.

Read More

Atletico Madrid 4-0 Sevilla

Diego Simeone's men remain two points behind Real Madrid after Koke, Raul Garcia,
Raul Jimenez and Saul Niguez netted in the victory
Atletico Madrid recorded a hugely impressive 4-0 victory over Sevilla on Saturday to
leapfrog their opponents in the Liga table.
The champions took an early lead through Koke's deflected long-range effort
and Saul headed home from a typically brilliant set-piece move three minutes before
half-time.

Read More

Atalanta 0-3 Juventus: Tevez shines as champions win again

The Bianconeri kept their 100 per cent record intact to keep the pressure on Roma,
with the two teams having won all five of their games
Carlos Tevez's two goals helped maintain Juventus' unblemished start to life under
new coach Massimiliano Allegri in a 3-0 win at Atalanta on Saturday.
The reigning champions made it five wins from five in Serie A this season as a
double from Tevez and a first Juve goal for substitute Alvaro Morata made the points
safe

Read More

Sunderland 0-0 Swansea

The hosts are still searching for their first
Premier League win of the season following another
stalemate despite the Swans being reduced to 10
men late on

Read More

Man Utd 2-1 West Ham

Despite two early goals for the hosts, Louis
van Gaal's side were visibly affected by injuries, while
captain Wayne Rooney saw straight red on his 10-
year Red Devils anniversary

Read More

Hull 2-4 Manchester City

An awful performance from Mangala in the first
half almost gifted the hosts with a point, but the Sky
Blues fought back to pick up a well deserved and
much needed win

Read More

Southampton 2-1 QPR

Graziano Pelle's sensational overhead kick
enables the Saints to build on their best start to a
top-flight season for 26 years with another deserved
three points

Read More

Liverpool were better than Everton'

The Reds Boss feels his side deserved to win
the first Merseyside derby of the season, especially
after seeing a spot-kick appeal turned down within
the opening 10 minutes

Read More

Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham: Match Report

The 21-year-old hammered the ball past Hugo
Lloris on 74 minutes to earn a deserved draw for the
Gunners, who lost both Mikel Arteta and Aaron
Ramsey to injury

Read More

Allardyce: We gifted Man Utd the win

The Hammers boss saw his side fall to a 2-1
defeat at Old Trafford on Saturday and took aim at his
players' sloppiness in possession and quality in front
of goal

Read More

Mourinho: Spain should rest Costa

The Chelsea boss admitted his in-form striker
is doing "almost nothing" in training but believes he
can fully recover if given a break from international
duty

Read More

Mourinho surprised by Costa's Chelsea goal rush as the striker hardly trains

The Spanish international has scored 8
goals in the Premier League this season,
including one of the Blues' 3 in their win
over Aston Villa on Saturday.
Mourinho, chasing his third Premier League title and Chelsea's first since 2010, is
refusing to get ahead of himself and believes his side's rivals will not be too
concerned by the Blues' position at the summit.
He said: "We go match after match. The next one for the Premier League is
Arsenal (next Sunday).

Read More

Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United transfer would cost £200MILLION in fee and wages

But Reds' massive financial clout means they could afford Old Trafford old boy Chelsea, Manchester City and PSG have all deemed too expensive

Manchester United face a £600m bill to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United will have to fork out a staggering £200million to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back home.

And that has seen the rest of Europe’s top clubs decide the Real Madrid star – who turns 30 in February – is too expensive to consider.

Real president Florentino Perez looks likely to cash in on World Player of the Year Ronaldo next summer.

And United have been left with a clear run to re-sign their former No.7 after their major rivals collectively balked at the fee and wages sought by Real and Ronaldo’s representatives.

Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are all out of the running to sign Ronaldo, leaving the way clear for United to move for him if they decide the astronomical figures stack up.

Ronaldo is currently on £380,000 a week and would command the same salary should he leave Real, who in turn will accept a minimum fee of £60m for their prized asset.

With image-rights payments, loyalty bonuses paid out over the full length of his contract and other incentives, he could pocket a further £60m.

Real paid the Old Trafford giants a then-world record fee of £80m for Ronaldo in 2009.

Getty

Happy days: Ronaldo celebrates winning the the 2008-09 Premier League title

With the Portuguese forward commanding a four-year deal, a yearly wage of £19.76m over that period - on top of the required transfer fee - would set United back a whopping £139.04m.

But United’s huge commercial wealth, epitomised by their world-record £750m, 10-year kit deal with Adidas, means they do have the financial clout to afford such a mega deal.

Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, made it clear in the summer of 2013 that his client felt unloved at Real and was willing to move, with United tempted by the prospect of a reunion.

But the star’s posturing – which was seen largely as a ploy by Mendes to earn him a lucrative new deal - eventually forced Real to hand the player a five-year contract which runs to 2018.

Although United had no chance of signing Ronaldo in 2013 with David Moyes in charge, the landscape has since changed, with the appointment of Louis van Gaal as manager.

With United having lavished £150m on stellar names this summer, including his former Real team-mate Angel Di Maria, the prospect of a return is more appealing to Ronaldo.

Former Real president Ramon Calderon last week claimed the 29-year-old had become disillusioned with the reigning European champions, in particular with their revolving door transfer policy.

Ronaldo was said to have been dismayed by the decisions to sell Di Maria and Xabi Alonso, with Calderon suggesting the world’s best player would be ready to leave Madrid next summer.

Van Gaal confirmed his interest in Ronaldo last week, but said he felt Real would be unwilling to sell a player who this week bagged his 25th hat-trick since moving to Spain to give him 264 goals in 254 games for them.

Yet the Bernabeu giants have debts of around £400m and, despite Ronaldo’s standing, Perez knows next summer will be their last chance to cash in on him for a sizeable fee.

United must now decide whether the exorbitant outlay it would take to bring their prodigal son back home is worth it, or whether the potential deal is does not make financial sense - with no resale value for a Ronaldo in his mid-30s.

Meanwhile, Van Gaal has admitted the United job has become the biggest challenge he has faced in football.

The Dutchman has nine players injured and one suspended ahead of Saturday’s visit of West Ham. That comes on the back of United’s crushing 5-3 defeat at newly-promoted Leicester last Sunday, which consigned them to their worst start in Premier League history.

Against that backdrop - his three centre-backs Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are all out injured - Van Gaal admitted the United job was proving to be his toughest test.

Asked it it was his biggest challenge, Van Gaal said: “At this moment maybe, but you have to see in one year, not one week, when we have nine injuries and one suspension.

“This is a club in transition and you don’t know in advance what the difficult moments are, you have to see. We should have had a win when we were 3-1 ahead at Leicester after 60 minutes. We would have been two points off second position in the table.

comment on this post

Read More

Sepp Blatter announces FIFA are set to ban third-party ownership of players in EVERY league

A working group is to be set up to implement the ban – but it remains unclear how quickly changes will come into effect

Sepp Blatter has announced that FIFA will ban third-party ownership (TPO) of players as soon as possible.

Players across the world are part-owned by investment companies who are looking to make profits off the sales of footballers.

Following a meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, on Friday afternoon, Blatter said a working group would be set up to implement the ban which would come into effect following "a transitional period".

"We took a firm decision that TPO should be banned but it cannot be banned immediately there will be a transitional period," the FIFA chief told a news conference following a meeting of the executive committee.

His announcement followed pressure from European soccer’s governing body UEFA, which had said it would ban it unilaterally if FIFA did not act.

As it stands, third party ownership is banned in the Premier League but is a common occurrence across Europe and South America.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/sepp-blatter-announces-fifa-set-4328808#ixzz3ERXHyflX
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook
comment on this post

Read More

Leeds owner Massimo Cellino sacks consultant Graham Bean over rearranged fixture row

Bean scheduled Wednesday's clash with Reading without consulting the controversial Italian and he has now faced the consequences

Massimo Cellino has sacked Graham Bean from Leeds because of a row over a fixture change.

Bean, the FA's former compliance officer, had been working at Leeds as a consultant to Cellino's new regime at Elland Road for the last four months and was axed yesterday by the club's Italian owner.

Cellino was angry with Bean for rearranging Wednesday's home clash with Reading without consulting him.

Bean agreed to Reading's request, made in July, to put the game back by 24 hours because the Royals are playing Wolves on Sunday.

Cellino was abroad at the time and told Bean in a letter that failing to consult with him was a "serious breach of your contract".

Bean confirmed that he had left the club and told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "I've enjoyed my time working with the staff at Leeds United. As far as working with Mr Cellino is concerned, I'd prefer not to comment.

"I wish the team every success for the season."

Cellino planned to make a formal complaint to the Football League before learning that the Reading match had moved with Bean's consent.

Commenting on Bean's depature, the Italian said: "He was an external consultant, this is a private matter and I don't want to speak about it publicly."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/leeds-owner-massimo-cellino-sacks-4328783#ixzz3ERWLpmo1
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook
comment on this post

Read More

Liverpool plotting £31m Gonzalo Higuain move: Transfer news from Friday's papers

Higuain could be a blockbuster winter window target for the Reds

Well that's in then. Andy Burton's five phones are away and Jim White cryogenically frozen once more - the transfer window is firmly shut.

For a change transfer deadline day wasn't a complete anti-climax as two big deals went right down to - and even past - the deadline with Radamel Falcao joining Manchester United on a year-long loan from Monaco and Danny Welbeck sealing a shock last-minute switch to Arsenal.

Click here to see a full list of all the moves from deadline day itself, plus you can see every single club-by-club Premier League transfer from the whole of the summer transfer window right here.

Now, though, thoughts are already turning to January...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-plotting-31m-gonzalo-higuain-4325850#ixzz3ERV43gnV
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook
comment on this post

Read More

Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini unveils new SQUARE afro to raise money for charity

Marouane Fellaini has unveiled his new hairstyle - and it's even crazier than before,

The Manchester United midfielder is currently sidelined with an ankle problem but announced earlier this week that he was on his way back.

And after today's training session Fellaini tweeted a cryptic message that he was off for a trim and a completely new style.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-uniteds-marouane-fellaini-unveils-4324985#ixzz3ERTchjiF
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook
comment on this post

Read More

Merseyside derby quiz: How much do you know about Liverpool vs Everton clashes from yesteryear?

Head to head: The two old foes will do battle again on Saturday lunchtime

It's the first Merseyside derby of the season tomorrow, so we thought it high-time to give your grey matter a workout in our MirrorFootball Friday quiz.

How's your knowledge on all things Stanley Park?

We've dipped into the history books to find 15 fiendishly difficult teasers on the biggest matches, the best players and the most bizarre incidents from one of the biggest derby matches in the world.

Don't forget to let us know your scores on Twitter @MirrorFootball, where the star prize for the best showing will be... our everlasting respect.

Good luck, folks - you'll need it.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/merseyside-derby-quiz-how-much-4316610#ixzz3ERRqRbC0
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook
comment on this post

Read More

Luis Suarez scores twice for Barcelona B team while first team record NO shots on target

The Uruguayan will return to action for the first team in the El Clasico match with Real Madrid on the 25th October but has been preparing by scoring for reserves

Barcelona will be keen for Luis Suarez to return to first team action after they failed to record a shot on target against Malaga last night.

The Catalan giants fielded a front line of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Pedro, but still were unable to threaten the goal, dropping points for the first time under Luis Enrique.

Controversial Uruguayan Suarez made his return to the field with Barca's B team, along with Thomas Vermaelen, in a specially arranged friendly against an Indonesian under-19 XI.

He scored twice as they ran away with a comfortable 6-0 victory and proving his fitness ahead of his big Barca debut.

Shamed striker Suarez was banned for four months for biting Giorgio Chiellini at this summer's World Cup. He will return to the first team at Barcelona in the El Clasico match with Real Madrid on the 25th October.

Less of a worry for Barca is their defensive form, as they have not conceded a goal in their opening five games this season. Vermaelen, who also scored in the friendly, will likely have to wait longer for his chance.

Check out Suarez's return to playing football during Barcelona B's friendly match in the gallery above.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/luis-suarez-scores-twice-barcelona-4320577#ixzz3EN5m6Pd8
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook

comment on this post

Read More

Lionel Messi and Barcelona superstars fined £300 if they arrive one MINUTE late to games

Luis Enrique wants to ensure his players are not late

Barcelona's superstars better make sure that their punctuality is in line under new boss Luis Enrique, who has threatened to fine his players even if they are one MINUTE late.

Strict enforcer Enrique has put the focus on arriving on time for his world class quota of players, threatening a £300 fine if they show up late on a matchday. That fine will subsequently double every game that they arrive a second later than they are supposed to.

Fines also apply for other club events, with a £150 penalty being paid for lateness at training, meetings or appointments - again doubled every time there's an infraction.

Lionel Messi is on a monumental £292,000-a-week wage but Enrique believes that any penalty should do the trick to getting his side to turn up on time.

Punctuality did not help his goalscorers find then net in Wednesday night's 0-0 bore-draw with Malaga, however, in which the Catalan side failed to hit a single shot on target during the match.

With just over five minutes to go in the game, Messi was shoved in the throat by Malaga's Weligton Oliveira, an incident which only warranted a yellow card in the eyes of the referee.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/lionel-messi-barcelona-superstars-fined-4321063#ixzz3EN3xU7XB
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook
comment on this post

Read More

Mario Balotelli new crazy sport hairstyle in Liverpool training ahead of Merseyside derby

The Reds welcome local rivals Everton to Anfield in Saturday's early kick-off and will look to their fiery Italian striker to get them out of their slump in form

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mario-balotelli-sports-crazy-new-4324176#ixzz3EMmQmoLn
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook
comment on this post

Read More

Ronaldo closing in on more records:ANALYSIS: The Portuguese hit his 24th hat-trick for the Spanish side on Saturday and is already in pursuit of several long-standing marks in 2014-15

 Cristiano Ronaldo is back on track. Following a summer blighted by fitness issues and a break in September to recover from tendonosis problems dating back to last season, the Portuguese is now back to doing what he does best - scoring goals galore.

His hat-trick in the 8-2 win at Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday was his 24th for Real Madrid and saw him surpass the figure of Blancos legend Ferenc Puskas (23). Only one player now lies ahead of Ronaldo for trebles in the famous white shirt and that's Alfredo Di Stefano on 28.

That mark looks well within reach, but even closer is the all-time record for hat-tricks in La Liga, currently shared by Di Stefano and legendary Athletic Club striker Telmo Zarra (both on 22). Barcelona's Lionel Messi, incidentally, has 19.

In the Champions League, Ronaldo registered a record 17 strikes as Madrd claimed La Decima in 2013-14, surpassing the mark of 14 previously shared by Messi and Jose Altafini (in the European Cup era). His goal against FC Basel last week means he now has 68 in Europe's premier club competition, just three fewer than the tournament's all-time top scorer, Raul.

comment on this post

Read More

Liverpool, Inter & Monaco to face FFP investigation:Uefa have announced that seven clubs have been asked to give reasons for their overspending in the financial years ending 2012 and 2013

All four have returned to European competition this season after missing out in 2013-14, but have fallen foul of Uefa's FFP laws which demand that clubs lose no more than €45 million over the three-year period of 2011-14.

The European governing body has announced that the seven clubs – which also include Besiktas, Sporting Lisbon and FC Krasnodar – have submitted financial reports for the periods ending 2012 and 2013 which show break-even deficits.

The Uefa Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) has now asked the clubs involved to submit evidence to support their case against punishment, which could be as serious as expulsion from European competition.

A Uefa statement confirmed: “These clubs will need to submit additional monitoring information during October and November upon the deadlines set by the CFCB, subsequent to which an additional communication will be made and conservatory measures may be imposed.”

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain were hit with heavy fines and a reduction of players in their Champions League squads for season 2014-15 as a result of previous breaches under the FFP guidelines, having failed to convince the CFCB that their overspends were circumstancial.

Uefa has also announced that five further clubs – Bursaspor, CFR Cluj, Astra Giurgiu, Buducnost Podgorica and Ekranas – will have prize money temporarily withheld while they are investigated for overdue payments to either employees or external parties.

It total, the organisation will continue to monitor 115 cases over which they have concerns regarding finances.

comment on this post

Read More

Video: Watch Yaya Toure manhandle Hazard!

The Ivory Coast midfielder set about the Chelsea star during the half-time interval at the Etihad Stadiumwatch-yaya-toure-manhandle-hazard
comment on this post

Read More

Arsenal target Rabiot to be sold in January

Arsenal have been boosted by the news that Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrian Rabiot is to be sold in January unless he agrees a new contract with the Ligue 1 champions.

Source: Daily Mirror

comment on this post

Read More

'Messi called me a son of a wh*re' - Weligton

The Argentine allegedly hurled verbal abuse at the Malaga defender and, after they squared up, the Barcelona attacker was shoved to the floor via his throat
comment on this post

Read More

Vermaelen declared fit:The Belgian international has recovered from a hamstring injury sustained at the World Cup

The Belgian international has recovered from a hamstring injury sustained at the World Cup and has joined up with Luis Enrique's first-team squad.

 Thomas Vermaelen has been declared fit to make his Barcelona debut after recovering from a hamstring injury.

The Belgian international, who joined Barca from Arsenal in a €19 million deal in August, was injured during this summer's World Cup in Brazil.

The 28-year-old pulled up during the first-half of their Group H match with Russia and had to be substituted.

He returned to action on Wednesday to play 63 minutes for Barcelona B, scoring the opening goal in a 6-0 win against an Indonesia Under-19 XI.

Barcelona confirmed on Thursday that Vermaelen has now joined up with Luis Enrique's first team and is ready for selection if required.

The Liga leaders, who were held to a 0-0 draw at Malaga on Wednesday, host Granada on Saturday.

comment on this post

Read More

Rodgers Reject Sterling-Real Madrid links

The 19-year-old has attracted admirers across Europe over the past 18 months but his manager insists he has no concerns about potentially losing his starlet
Liverpool have endured a difficult start to the season as they continue to adjust to life without Luis Suarezand Rodgers admits it will take time for his team to regain its attacking rhythm.
"When you lose a core of players it becomes a bit broken," he continued. "That's how our game has been.
comment on this post

Read More

Manchester City 7-0 Sheffield Wednesday

The short-term signing from New York City made it three goals in two appearances
for the club, while Edin Dzeko also bagged a brace in the demolition of the
Championship side
Edin Dzeko and Frank Lampard both bagged a brace as Manchester City thrashed
Sheffield Wednesday 7-0 in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday.
The Championship side, who have only conceded four times in the league this
season, more than held their own in the first half on Wednesday and might have led
through Gary Madine before Eliaquim Mangala struck the post for the hosts.

Read More

Carlo Ancelotti:Cristiano Ronald is unique

 Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has taken the time to praise Cristiano Ronald in the wake of his sublime performance in the 5-1 win over Elche at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday evening.

The Portugal international netted four times to take his tally to 10 goals in four La Liga encounters this season and Ancelotti feels the prolific attacker has a unique gift.
"Cristiano doesn't like playing with his back to goal, he wants to look for spaces on the wing to be facing goal," the Madrid coach said at a press conference.
"The movements he makes are very quick and that's why they come as a surprise. He is always in just the right position because he has a unique gift for movement.  
"He needed a period of time in which to work; he has done that with the discipline and professionalism that he has. He's in very good physical shape, he's motivated and he's scoring a lot of goals."
Ancelotti then went on to say the public will have to wait and see which goalkeeper he intends to start against Villarreal on Saturday.

comment on this post

Read More