Gerrard credits Benitez for Liverpool win

Steven Gerrard has revealed Rafael Benitez was right criticise the Liverpool team before their victory over Bolton.

Before the game at the Reebok, Liverpool were on a disastrous streak after losing two games out of three.

Benitez was critical of the team and he also blasted his captain for his below-par display but Gerrard managed to respond to his manager's words by leading Liverpool to a 3-2 win over ten-man Bolton.

Liverpool have to dig deep by twice coming back to beat the Trotters on Saturday.
The Reds had needed a positive response to Monday's disastrous 3-1 humbling by Aston Villa. Click to read more...

Guardiola cools talk of Robinho swoop

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola insisted on Sunday that Manchester City's Brazilian winger Robinho was not on the European champions' shopping list.

There had been reports in Spain that treble winners Barcelona were preparing a 40-million-euro move for Robinho, but Guardiola said that it was highly unlikely that either the Brazilian or any other player would be recruited for the new season.

"He (Robinho) will not come. He was Manchester City's star signing last season and it would not make sense for them to part with him now," Guardiola was quoted by Spanish news agency EFE. Click to read more...

Capello keeps Owen in World Cup exile

Michael Owen's chances of playing in the World Cup finals suffered another blow on Sunday when coach Fabio Capello snubbed the striker for next month's qualifier with Croatia.

The 29-year-old Manchester United player, who scored his first competitive goal for the English champions in last week's Premier League defeat of Wigan, is his country's fourth-highest goalscorer.

But Capello was not convinced enough by the striker's form to include him the squad which faces Slovenia in a friendly at Wembley on Saturday or the Group Six qualifier with Croatia on September 9 where victory would guarantee England's place in the finals in South Africa.

Capello has instead decided to keep faith with Tottenham star Jermain Defoe, who has been in fine form this season. Click to read more...

Hughes impressed by revitalised Adebayor

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes believes Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor is flourishing again because he is happy to have found a club that appreciates him.

Adebayor wasn't missed by many at Arsenal when City paid 25 million pounds to sign him during the close-season after an acrimonious final 12 months in north London.

Arsenal fans were angered by Adebayor's constant flirtations with the likes of AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea, while several Gunners players hinted that the dressing room was a happier place without the forward.

But Adebayor has made a superb start to life with City and Sunday's bullet header at Portsmouth, which clinched a 1-0 win, took his tally to three goals in three games for his new team. Click to read more...

Moyes hopes to seal Heitinga swoop

Everton manager David Moyes hopes to sign Johnny Heitinga before the transfer window closes on Tuesday after agreeing a fee with Atletico Madrid for the Dutch defender.

Moyes is believed to have offered five million pounds (5.6 million euros) for the Holland international, but the deal is still some way from completion.

Speaking after Sunday's dramatic 2-1 victory over Wigan at Goodison Park, Moyes said: "We have not as yet agreed personal terms. I hope we will be able to do that soon, but we have not as yet concluded that part of the move."

Moyes unveiled two new signings in the Wigan match, with French defender Sylvain Distin and Russia winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov both making their debuts.

Wigan led early in the second half through Paul Scharner before a Louis Saha header and Leighton Baines' stoppage-time penalty, after Emmerson Boyce fouled Brazilian striker Jo, gave the Toffees their first league win of the season. Click to read more...

Wenger infuriated by United's "anti-football"

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claims Manchester United tried to kick Arsenal out of their stride by playing "anti-football" in Saturday's 2-1 victory over the Gunners.

Wenger was infuriated by the way United set out to disrupt Arsenal's smooth passing game by flying into tackles with aggressive intent.

Although Arsenal collected six bookings and United were only shown three yellow cards, Wenger hinted that the champions' approach was a stark contrast to his own purist principles.

The French coach seemed to be particularly angered by United midfielder Darren Fletcher's challenges, but stopped short of accusing the Scot by name. Click to read more...

Barca kings of Europe again

European champions Barcelona have clinched the UEFA Super Cup after a 1-0 win in extra-time over Shakhtar Donetsk in Monaco.

Barcelona's megabucks signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic failed to impress for the Catalan side.

Ibrahimovic, who moved from Inter Milan for £40million plus Samuel Eto'o, was completely overshadowed by Lionel Messi, who created the only goal for Pedro Rodriguez in the 115th minute. Click to read more...

New era begins with intriguing ties

The draw for the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in Monaco has produced a number of fascinating ties with Panathinaikos FC paired with Galatasaray SK in Group F and former European Champion Clubs' Cup winners Hamburger SV up against Celtic FC in Group C.

Shakhtar challenge

Meanwhile, the last winners of the UEFA Cup, FC Shakhtar Donetsk, will continue their bid to become the first team to be crowned champions of that competition's successor against Club Brugge KV, FK Partizan and Toulouse FC.

Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar have been placed in Group J, one of 12 pools of four in the rejuvenated competition. The side Shakhtar beat in Istanbul in May, Werder Bremen, will take on FK Austria Wien, Athletic Club Bilbao and CD Nacional in Group L. Click to read more...

Pedro pounces to add to Barça glory

A 115th-minute goal from substitute Pedro Rodríguez finally ended the resistance of FC Shakhtar Donetsk and gave FC Barcelona a third UEFA Super Cup triumph in Monaco.

Dramatic victorySpain's first treble winners last season, Barcelona had started the new campaign as they ended the old by collecting silverware thanks to last weekend's Spanish Super Cup victory, but Josep Guardiola's team struggled to unpick a well-drilled Shakhtar defence despite enjoying the vast majority of the possession.

Shakhtar, bidding to become the 23rd side to lift the UEFA Super Cup and the first Ukrainian winners since FC Dynamo Kyiv's 1975 triumph, held out to take the game into 30 additional minutes and looked to have earned a penalty shoot-out.

Pedro had other ideas, however, exchanging passes with the tireless Lionel Messi to finally beat Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov with a low shot and add yet another trophy to Barça's ever-expanding collection. Click to read more...

Real fans wait for stars to take Spanish League stage

Real Madrid fans are tingling with excitement at the prospect of seeing Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and company strut their stuff as their new-look 'Galactico' team host Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday in the curtain-raiser to the 2009/10 Spanish league season.

It has been an unforgettable summer with Real splashing around 250 million euros to build a star-studded team and there are likely to be a number of debutants against Depor with Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema, Raul Albiol all expected to start.

French striker Benzema has been firing in the goals in pre-season while Ronaldo has been installed as chief free-kick taker as he was at Manchester United. Click to read more...

Villarreal face Lazio, Everton take on Benfica in Europa League

The clash between Spanish side Villarreal and Italian giants Lazio will be one of the highlights of the Europa League group stage after the draw made here on Friday.

Spanish clubs taking on Italians was a theme of the Champions League draw on Thursday night and it continued Friday with Villarreal meeting Lazio in a Group G which also includes Bulgaria's Levski Sofia and Austrian outfit Salzburg.

Another Spanish side Valencia were drawn in Group B with France's Lille, Czech champions Slavia Prague and Italian side Genoa.

Valencia have come back from the brink of bankruptcy last season and are among the favourites in a competition they won three times - 1962, 1963 and 2004. Click to read more...

Robben signs with Bayern

Bayern Munich announced on Friday they have completed the signing of Real Madrid winger Arjen Robben for an undisclosed fee.

The 25-year-old Robben, one of several Dutch players being sold by the Spanish giants, signed a four-year deal with the Bundesliga club which has so far failed to make an impact in the league and currently lie 14th.

Robben trained with Bayern on Friday afternoon and could face Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday. Click to read more...

Messi lights up SuperCup gloom

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi lit up the European Super Cup on Friday as Champions League winners Barcelona defeated UEFA Cup holders Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 after extra-time to claim the trophy.

Messi had the best opportunities in a disappointing match played on a cut-up, cabbage-patch of a pitch at the Stade Louis II and it was fitting that he played the pivotal role in the night's only goal.

With five minutes of extra-time left, and with a penalty shootout beckoning, Messi played a delightful one-two, between a line of defenders, with Pedro Rodriguez before the 22-year-old substitute slotted the ball past Andriy Pyatov in the Ukrainians' goal.

It was Barcelona's third SuperCup and already their second piece of silverware of the season having captured the Spanish Super Cup. Click to read more...

United and Arsenal ready to resume rivalry

Arsenal visit Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Saturday for a fixture which is likely to revive memories of some of the English game's most bitter battles.

After a decade of fighting tooth and nail for the top prizes, images of Roy Keane's tunnel row with Patrick Vieira, Martin Keown's gleeful celebration of a Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty miss and the juicy tales of "pizza-gate" following a United win over the Gunners are etched in the memory.

The rivalry between the two clubs has been less fierce in recent years as Arsenal faded from the picture.

But the meeting between the teams in the Champions League semi-finals last season - a tie easily won by United - and Arsenal's impressive start to the current campaign gives this weekend's game a more combustable look. Click to read more...

Wenger: Bring on the Devils!

Arsene Wenger feels Arsenal will head to Man United full of confidence after sweeping past Celtic in the Champions League.

A somewhat controversial penalty from Eduardo set the Gunners, who were missing injured captain Cesc Fabregas - a doubt for the trip to Old Trafford - on their way just before the half hour.

Emmanuel Eboue made sure there would be no comeback for Tony Mowbray's side with a neat finish before substitute Andrey Arshavin slotted in a third as Arsenal completed a 5-1 aggregate win following a fine volley from Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati in stoppage-time. Click to read more...

Brown ready to gun for Arsenal

Wes Brown could earn a recall for Manchester United's key Premier League encounter with resurgent Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Brown's pre-season preparations were hampered by a thigh injury and although the England international was introduced as a substitute in the opening-day win at Birmingham, he subsequently struggled during the shock defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor four days later.

The 29-year-old was left out completely by Sir Alex Ferguson for Saturday's win at Wigan but came through an hour of last night's reserve-team triumph over Bolton, which could put him in line for an appearance against Arsene Wenger's men. Click to read more...

UEFA pondering Eduardo action

Arsenal striker Eduardo could be charged with diving by UEFA today following the incident in which he won a penalty against Celtic.

European football's governing body chose to examine tapes of the moment the Croatia international appeared to throw himself to the ground in the penalty area during Wednesday's Champions League play-off clash at the Emirates Stadium.

UEFA disciplinary officials will decide today whether to act, and Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith has already called for Eduardo to be punished retrospectively. Click to read more...

Fabregas '50-50' to face United

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is '50-50' to face Manchester United on Saturday, according to Arsene Wenger.

The Spaniard missed the midweek meeting with Celtic after aggravating a longstanding hamstring complaint last weekend against Portsmouth.

His hopes of featuring this weekend in the clash with Manchester United appear to have improved substantially in the past few days with Wenger providing a relatively-upbeat injury bulletin on his skipper after training on Thursday. Click to read more...

United and Arsenal ready to resume rivalry

Arsenal visit Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Saturday for a fixture which is likely to revive memories of some of the English game's most bitter battles.

After a decade of fighting tooth and nail for the top prizes, images of Roy Keane's tunnel row with Patrick Vieira, Martin Keown's gleeful celebration of a Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty miss and the juicy tales of "pizza-gate" following a United win over the Gunners are etched in the memory.

The rivalry between the two clubs has been less fierce in recent years as Arsenal faded from the picture.

But the meeting between the teams in the Champions League semi-finals last season - a tie easily won by United - and Arsenal's impressive start to the current campaign gives this weekend's game a more combustable look.

Outsiders and pundits have queued up to tell Gunners boss Arsene Wenger that the best years are behind his team - his best team being the unbeaten 'Invincibles' side of 2003-2004 - but the Frenchman himself begs to differ as he is again backing his side to win the Premier League. Click to read more...

West Ham sign Italian striker Diamanti

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola solved his striking problems by signing Italian forward Alessandro Diamanti from Livorno on Friday.

The 26-year-old, who joins the Hammers for an undisclosed fee, has signed a five-year contract with the Premier League club.

Diamanti told West Ham's website: "I am very happy to be at West Ham United and to get the chance to play for Gianfranco Zola."

Zola has been keen to land a striker to partner Carlton Cole while Dean Ashton struggles to return from injury.

England forward Cole is West Ham's only fit senior striker at present.
The Hammers had been strongly linked with a move for Diamanti after failing to land Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh and Lazio's Goran Pandev. Click to read more...

Fergie expects resurgent Arsenal to challenge for title

Sir Alex Ferguson insists Arsenal will be one of Manchester United's main rivals for honours this season as the great rivals prepare to resume battle at Old Trafford on Saturday.

United delivered a crushing blow to Arsenal in last season's Champions League semi-final, cruising through 4-1 on aggregate after beating Arsene Wenger's men 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

Ferguson admits that was United's best performance of the season but despite the fact Arsenal have sold Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure to Manchester City during the close-season, the Scot remains convinced the north London club look stronger this year.

He doesn't believe the result of Saturday's game will decide the title, but fully expects Arsenal to be in the mix when the honours are given out in May.

Ferguson has also hailed Wenger's ability to regenerate teams at the Emirates and believes he is one of the best manager's in the world at knowing when the time is right to sell players. Click to read more...

Japan icon Nakamura ready to take on Spain

Barcelona may have signed Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the summer but neighbours Espanyol pulled off a transfer coup of their own with the capture of Japanese star Shunsuke Nakamura from Celtic on a free transfer.

It has been hailed as the most exciting Espanyol signing since 1964 when Argentine great Alfredo di Stefano arrived at the club at the tail-end of a glittering career with Real Madrid.

An estimated 7,000 fans and 300 journalists turned up for the presentation of Japan icon Nakamura who has become a leading Japanese football export after playing in Italy, Scotland and now Spain.

"My first intention when my Celtic contract was up was to return to Japan," Nakamura said in local Barcelona newspaper 'Sport'. Click to read more...

Kaka, the Brazilian's brains of the new Real Madrid

After three years without a real playmaker, Real Madrid can now count on the services of Brazilian star Kaka, who has already proved he is a match for the last great player to take the role - Zinedine Zidane.

The 2007 World Footballer of the Year will not have to shoulder all the responsibility of leading the midfield this season, as Real chairman Florentino Perez -- never one to do anything by halves -- has also signed Cristiano Ronaldo and Xabi Alonso.

But the 27-year-old, signed from AC Milan in June for 65 million euros, already seems to be the ideal successor to the French legend Zidane.

"Kaka is an ace. If he has achieved anything at all throughout his career it has been to give a touch of brilliance to all the teams he has played for," Real coach Manuel Pellegrini said on the eve of the Spanish league season. Click to read more...

Barcelona clash with Inter, United tackle Wolfsburg

European champions Barcelona drew Inter Milan, moneybags Real Madrid pulled AC Milan while Manchester United will take on German surprise package Wolfsburg after the Champions League group stage draw was made here on Thursday.

This season sees nine former champions go into action in the 32-team format split into eight groups of four while the quartets of teams from England and Spain will battle for an historic 13th triumph, both countries having polished off a round dozen to date.

Group A pits four-time champions Bayern Munich against two-time holders Juventus, French champions Bordeaux and Maccabi Haifa of Israel.

In Group B, Manchester United, European champions in 1968, 1999 and 2007 and beaten finalists last year, will go up against German champions Wolfsburg, Turkey's Besiktas and CSKA Moscow. Click to read more...

Fates send Kaká back to Milan

Group C rivals AC Milan and Real Madrid CF know each other only too well having already met eleven times in UEFA club competition, with older Merengues fans having good reason to remember their 1958 meeting with fondness.

Final meetingMadrid beat Milan 3-2 in the 1958 European Champion Club's Cup final after extra time at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Francisco Gento scoring the decisive goal after the sides finished the 90 minutes level at 2-2. In addition to that meeting, the clubs have played ten other games in European competition, but neither side have secured an away victory; Milan have won all five of their home games, while Madrid have won four of the meetings at the Santiago Bernabéu, drawing the other 1-1.

There is also a more contemporary link: Kaká swapped clubs this summer. With Olympique de Marseille's 1993 triumph added, the Group C contenders have won 17 European Champion Clubs' Cup titles between them – a daunting prospect for group-stage debutants FC Zürich. Click to read more...

Club Football Awards nominees named

UEFA has announced the nominees for the UEFA Club Football Awards to be presented during the UEFA Champions League group stage draw at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on Thursday 27 August from 17.45CET.

Votes castThe voting procedure gives the coaches of the 16 teams that reached the knockout phase of the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League the possibility to cast their votes for each position as well as to nominate the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year 2009 of their choice.

Based on the voting results, the list of nominees is as follows: Click to read more...

Messi recognised as Europe's finest

Lionel Messi, a key figure in FC Barcelona's march to UEFA Champions League glory last season, has more to celebrate after collecting the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year prize at the UEFA Club Football Awards in Monaco.

The Argentinian international was also selected as Best Forward while team-mate Xavi Hernández took the Best Midfielder trophy.

Manchester United FC's Edwin van der Sar was nominated Best Goalkeeper and Chelsea FC captain John Terry completed the honours list as he received his third Best Defender gong from Paolo Maldini. Click to read more...

Murray to add to feel-good factor

Andy Murray has been backed to follow in the footsteps of cricket's Ashes heroes when he plays at the US Open.

With the action at Flushing Meadows starting next week, Murray heads to New York second in the world rankings and with a chance to add to the feelgood factor Andrew Strauss' men created, according to his former coach Mark Petchey.

England's footballers could also edge closer to the World Cup when they play against Croatia next month. Click to read more...

Roddick ready for home win

Andy Roddick is very confident that he can do well at the US Open in front of his home crowd.

Roddick coming off worst in an epic 30-game final set in this year's Wimbledon final, there were many willing to bet they had witnessed a re-birth of a precocious tennis talent.

Roddick's blistering junior career had marked him out as a star of the future long before grand slam finals were on the agenda and the young American did nothing to disappoint as he cut a swathe right to the top.

The big-serving Nebraskan duly obliged with a US Open title in 2003 most were convinced would prove the first of many. But six years on, Roddick still finds himself searching for that second breakthrough win. Click to read more...

Berba: United feared in Europe

Dimitar Berbatov insists the rest of Europe will be fearing Manchester United in the Champions League this season.

The draw for the group stages will take place later today in Monaco.

United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal are all guaranteed positions among the eight top seeds - meaning they will avoid current European champions Barcelona but could face Cristiano Ronaldo and his fellow galacticos at Real Madrid, who are one of the eight second-ranked clubs. Click to read more...

BPL Heroes and Zeroes 03

London clubs, Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal are flying high while Liverpool and Everton are sinking in the Premier League.
By Eugene YS Han
HEROES

LONDON DERBY KINGS- TOTTENHAM

Forget about Manchester City, Tottenham are the team, outside the top four, to watch this season.

The victory at London rivals West Ham maintained their 100% record and it represented their best start to a top-flight campaign since 1960. Back then, Spurs won their first 11 league games and they went on to claim the Double.

Although Spurs are a couple of players short of being treated as serious contenders, manager Harry Redknapp is confident his squad will try their best to finish as high as possible.

Said Redknapp: "I'm not saying we'll finish in the top four, but we have good quality and we'll give it a go." Click to read more...

Rio puts Maldini to the sword

Rio Ferdinand cannot see any way he can emulate Paolo Maldini by extending his career beyond his 40th birthday.

Maldini finally called time on his stellar career in the summer at the tender age of 41.

While Manchester United defender Ferdinand acknowledges the Italian legend's immense talent, he does not think the sheer pace of top-flight football in England makes it possible for anyone to match Maldini in the Premier League.

"You could not play to 41 in the Premier League," he told MUTV. Click to read more...

Fergie has faith in his warriors

Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed he was never worried about Man United's progress in the wake of the defeat at Burnley.

United responded in the perfect manner this weekend, blitzing Wigan with a five-goal second-half performance that shot them up the Barclays Premier League table, behind early pace-setters Tottenham.

It puts them in good heart for a key confrontation with Arsenal on Saturday, and with Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen both among the goalscorers, most of the pressure that had been building up outside Old Trafford has now been relieved. Click to read more...

Rio: Owen will come good

Rio Ferdinand believes Michael Owen's first goal for Manchester United will kick-start a scoring spree.

Owen has not been happy at the assessment of his first few United appearances.

Although he was top scorer on the club's Far East tour, Owen had not scored in six matches prior to Saturday's visit to Wigan and some critics were already claiming Sir Alex Ferguson had made a mistake bringing the 29-year-old to Old Trafford.

Owen rounded on his accusers at the weekend and has now been backed by Ferdinand, who was at the DW Stadium to watch the Red Devils romp to a 5-0 win. Click to read more...

'Hungry' Arsenal ready to deliver

If Arsenal FC's eye-catching displays so far this season had not provided enough of a hint, midfielder Aaron Ramsey underlined that the Gunners' squad are "hungrier than ever" to claim silverware as he reflected on their UEFA Champions League play-off victory over Celtic FC.

Lessons learned:

Beaten semi-finalists last term, Arsenal produced an impressively fluent display to dispatch Celtic 3-1 in north London on Wednesday night – securing their group-stage berth as 5-1 aggregate winners.

It was their fourth win in succession, maintaining a flying start by a team chasing a first trophy since 2005. "There were a few lessons we learned from last season, we had a good pre-season and the squad is stronger now, physically and mentally," said Ramsey.

"A lot of the players haven't actually won anything for a certain amount of time and this season everyone is hungrier than ever." Click to read more...

Group-stage rivals ready for draw

The lineup for the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League group stage has been completed with the final five qualifiers earning their places on Wednesday night.

New faces:

This week's ten play-off winners join the 22 automatic entrants in Thursday's group-stage draw, which will take place from 17.45CET at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco and can be followed live by video and audio on uefa.com. VfL Wolfsburg, FC Rubin Kazan, AZ Alkmaar, R. Standard de Liège, AFC Unirea Urziceni, Debreceni VSC, APOEL FC and FC Zürich will all be making their debuts in a competition which sees 18 nations represented in the group stage this year. Click to read more...

Fiorentina oust Sporting on away goals

Fiorentina squeezed into the Champions League group stages on the away goals rule following a 1-1 draw against Sporting Lisbon in Florence on Wednesday.

The first leg in the Portuguese capital last week ended in a 2-2 draw meaning La Viola have qualified for the group stages for the second year in a row.

Sporting had to either win the match or force a high-scoring draw and they came out of the traps fired up.

Yannick Djalo should have given the visitors the lead early on but with only goalkeeper Sebastien Frey to beat he scuffed his shot from 12 yards horribly wide. Click to read more...

Eduardo's deception helps Arsenal beat Celtic

Arsenal moved into the Champions League group stages in controversial fashion as Eduardo's dive helped secure a 3-1 victory over Celtic in Wednesday's play-off second leg.

Arsene Wenger's team went through 5-1 on aggregate after outclassing the Scots for the second time in the tie, but they needed a moment of deception from Eduardo to end Celtic's hopes.

The Croatia striker won and converted a first half penalty when he exaggerated his fall as Celtic keeper Artur Boruc came out to make a save.

In truth, Arsenal were always in control and second half goals from Emmanuel Eboue and Andrey Arshavin rubbed salt into Celtic's wounds as the Premier League team comfortably secured their place in Thursday's group stage draw. Click to read more...

Barcelona to up offer for Shakhtar's Chygrynskiy

Barcelona are set to offer Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk 25 million euros for their central defender Dmitro Chygrynskiy, according to reports Wednesday.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has kept a close eye on the 22-year-old Ukrainian as he bids to reinforce his squad before the transfer deadline on August 31.

"He knows how to play football, and we need to sign him," Guardiola told Catalan television channel TV3 earlier this week.

Shakhtar are currently unwilling to sell but Catalan sports daily Mundo Deportivo claimed Wednesday Barcelona have "pulled out all the stops" in a bid to sign Chygrynskiy. Click to read more...

Reid to quit Thailand for Stoke number two role

Peter Reid has confirmed he will be leaving his current job as coach of Thailand to take up an offer to serve as assistant to Stoke manager Tony Pulis.

Reid still has three years left on his contract with the Thai FA but he told BBC Radio Stoke that he had reached an agreement with his current employers which would allow him to leave his post.

"Once everything was sorted out with the Thai FA, which was important because I did have three years left on a deal there and I didn't want to upset anyone there, I was delighted to say yes and be part of it," Reid said on Wednesday. Click to read more...

Portugal name newboy Liedson to salvage World Cup dream

Brazilian striker Liedson, who recently became a Portuguese citizen, was on Wednesday named in the Portugal squad for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Denmark and Hungary.

Coach Carlos Queiroz has turned to the 31-year-old Sporting Lisbon player with his team struggling to make up ground in the qualifying race for the 2010 finals in South Africa.

Portugal, World Cup semi-finalists in 2006, are currently in third place in Group One with nine points. They are four behind Hungary and seven behind leaders Denmark.

Liedson has played at Sporting since 2003 and is the third Brazilian to play for Portugal following Deco and Pepe. Click to read more...

Inter Milan reach deal to sign Real's Sneijder

Inter Milan have reached a deal to sign Dutch international midfielder Wesley Sneijder from Real Madrid for five years for around 16 million euros, Spanish radio reported Wednesday.

The 25-year-old, who had reportedly been refusing to budge from the Spanish giants, will earn four million euros (5.7 million dollars) per year under the deal compared to around 3.5 million euros at Real, radio Onda Cero added.

Italian paper La Gazzetta dello Sport likewise reported Sneijder was on his way to the San Siro following an afternoon of meetings with the Real hierarchy. Click to read more...

Wenger vows to attack United

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger plans to go on the attack as his team bid for revenge in Saturday's Premier League showdown at Manchester United.

Wenger believes Arsenal were too timid as they slumped to a 4-1 aggregate defeat against United in the Champions League semi-finals last season.

But the Gunners have made a flying start to the new campaign and travel to Old Trafford on the back of four successive wins after securing their place in the Champions League group stages with a 3-1 win over Celtic on Wednesday.

That play-off second leg victory followed hot on the heels of crushing Premier League victories over Everton and Portsmouth and Wenger is convinced Arsenal are in the right frame of mind to make amends for that lacklustre European exit against United.

Wenger was encouraged by the way his young team set the tempo during a goalless draw at Old Trafford in the league late last season and will send them out to do the same again on Saturday. Click to read more...

Redknapp vows to keep Pavlyuchenko at Tottenham

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp insists Roman Pavlyuchenko will not be heading home to Russia despite the 27-year-old striker being linked with a 10 million pound move to Spartak Moscow.

Redknapp admitted that the player, who scored in the 5-1 League Cup second win at Doncaster on Wednesday, is desperate to cement his place in Russia's World Cup squad and needs to be playing regular first team football.

"His people came down the training ground, they wanted to have a meeting with me to talk about him," Redknapp said. "He doesn't want to go and they don't want him to go. He's very happy.

"His only concern was missing out on the World Cup as he needs to play for Russia but it wasn't a case of him wanting to leave. He's got no issues with the club, he's very happy in London, happy at the club. I don't think anything's going to happen." Click to original source...

Penders' Rumours: Henry set for Liverpool?

OK transfer lovers, it's ya weekend bonanza of making up news, gossip and more news.

Hot off the press today:

Walcott, Young, VDV, Henry and lots of made up stuff!Young pacey Theo Walcott won't be playing this afternoon against Portsmouth because of a back problem. I know that Arsene Wenger loves him a lot but I still cannot rule out a move to Manchester City. I just think it makes lots of sense, especially if VDV gets a move to the Emirates.

That move has to happen very soon. It just has to. Am still also hoping that Chamakh gets his move from Bordeaux. Can't bare a season of more speculation surrounding the Moroccan. Click to read more...

Everton close in on new signings

Everton are looking to sign Portsmouth's Sylvain Distin and Valencia's Ever Banega as David Moyes splash the cash.

Everton manager Moyes is also chasing Portsmouth defender Sylvain Distin, who has handed in a transfer request at Fratton Park.

Aston Villa are the Toffee's main rivals to sign Distin and according to Sky Sports News, the Villians have launched an official bid.

Russia winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is already set to join Everton before they head out to Czech Republic for Thursday's Europa League play-off second leg. Click to read more...

Penders' Rumours: Anderson to Spurs

ESPNSTAR.com's transfer guru Andy Penders brings you the rumoured ins-and-outs as the transfer window draws to a close!

Wow. Making the headlines today is Luca Modric distancing himself from a move to Manchester United!
I feel quite chuffed about that piece of news because we spoke about it yesterday.

See, there is some substance in this transfer bloggy thing.

Although to quote the Sporting Life: If you want to get Luka Modric's full take on that bonkers link with Manchester United, here you go. Hahahaha. Too funny. Click to read more...

Lescott completes City move

Joleon Lescott has finally completed his move to from Everton to Manchester City.

The 27-year-old defender signed a five-year deal with the Eastlands outfit tonight.

Lescott completed his medical and agreed personal terms yesterday after City had a bid, reportedly worth £22million, accepted by Everton on Sunday but there was a brief delay to the England star's transfer going through as a minor wrangle was resolved.

Confirmation of the transfer takes Mark Hughes' summer spending beyond £120million. Click to read more...

Atletico Madrid emerge in Champions League qualifying

Atletico Madrid will seek to take a temporary, yet lucrative step, out of the huge shadow cast by neighbours Real on Tuesday by completing a qualifying round win over Greek side Panathinaikos to take their place in the Champions League group stage.

The prospect of missing out and having to skulk around the fringes of the continental game in the Europa League, successor of the UEFA Cup, is unthinkable to Atletico, given their need to glean some bragging rights in Spain's football-mad capital.

With Real having spent some than 250 million dollars pre-season on Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso there is a need for the "rojiblancos" to show they can make a decent fist of maintaining their own profile. Click to read more...

Hooliganism mars Hammers fightback

West Ham survived a League Cup scare at the hands of London neighbours Millwall on Tuesday in a second round clash that was overshadowed by serious crowd trouble before and during the match.

Playing a quality of football that belied their current status in the third tier of English football, Millwall got within three minutes of knocking their Premier League hosts out of the competition after being given a first-half lead by Neil Harris.

But an 87th-minute equaliser from Junior Stanislas sent the tie into extra-time and a second goal from Stanislas, from the penalty spot, and a Zavon Hines strike wrapped things up for the Hammers. Click to read more...

Fabregas ruled out of Celtic clash

Cesc Fabregas has been ruled out of Arsenal's Champions League clash against Celtic midweek with a hamstring injury, the Premier League club confirmed on Tuesday.

The Gunners captain could, however, return for Saturday's Premier League trip to Manchester United.

Both Abou Diaby and Aaron Ramsey are in contention Wednesday as the Gunners look to defend a 2-0 lead, with manager Arsene Wenger set to rotate his side.

Czech winger Tomas Rosicky has returned to training following a hamstring problem and could be match fit by the weekend.

However, England forward Theo Walcott (back), reserve goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (knee), France winger Samir Nasri (broken leg) and defender Johan Djourou (knee) all continue their rehabilitation.

Everton sign Bilyaletdinov from Lokomotiv

English Premier League side Everton have signed Lokomotiv Moscow skipper Diniyar Bilyaletdinov on a five-year deal, both clubs announced on their official websites Tuesday.

The 24-year-old midifelder, who has played for Lokomotiv since 2004, signed a deal with the Liverpool side late Monday in the German city of Hamburg, where he had undergone a medical examination.

No financial details of the deal were disclosed.

Bilyaletdinov won the Russian league title with Lokomotiv in 2004. He played in all Russia's matches at Euro 2008 where they reached the semi-finals. Click to read more...

Sneijder Inter signing imminent: press

Wesley Sneijder is on the verge of joining Inter Milan, according to Italian press reports on Tuesday.

The Dutch attacking midfielder is surplus to requirements at Real Madrid following the big-money signings of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka and has been linked with a move to the Italian champions for several weeks.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho is known to be in the market for an attacking midfielder who can play at the head of his midfield diamond formation and now seems to have got his man. Click to read more...