Showing posts with label Manchester City F.C.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manchester City F.C.. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Injuries mar Man City's history night
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom -- Injuries to center-backs Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi overshadowed proceedings as Manchester City reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time after drawing 0-0 with Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday.
Leading 3-1 from last month's away leg, Manuel Pellegrini's side completed the job in forgettable fashion, with Jesus Navas's shot against the post for City the nearest either side came to breaking the deadlock.
But first-half injuries to captain Kompany and Otamendi cast a pall over the evening at a hushed Etihad Stadium, leaving City vulnerable in defence ahead of Sunday's derby with Manchester United in the Premier League.
"It is a very important achievement for the club. This is a club that is growing and continuing to develop as a big club," said Pellegrini.
"Vincent unfortunately has another muscular injury in his calf, which he has had before. We'll know tomorrow (Wednesday) or after tomorrow how serious it is. Usually with muscular injuries, minimum a month.
"Otamendi has an important kick and can hopefully recover in the next couple of days."
While progress in the Champions League represents a historic achievement for Pellegrini, who will hand over to Pep Guardiola at the season's end, the injuries could have a costly impact on City's attempt to resurrect their domestic title challenge.
The League Cup winners have fallen 12 points below leaders Leicester City, although they retain a game in hand, and face challenges from both United and in-form West Ham United for their top-four place.
Pellegrini welcomed Yaya Toure back from the heel problem that had caused him to miss Saturday's frustrating 0-0 draw at Norwich City, but within seven minutes he was counting the cost of another injury.
After misjudging a bounce on the City right, Kompany slipped as he tried to recover the situation and immediately realised that he had done himself damage, passing the ball out of play and signalling to the bench before limping off with a look of disgust etched on his face.
The Belgium international, who has suffered 14 calf injuries since 2008, was soon joined in the home changing room by Otamendi, who came off second-best in a collision with Vitaliy Buyalskiy.
- Aguero miscues -
The Argentine attempted to play on, before admitting defeat, leaving City with reserve centre-backs Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis in the heart of their defence.
It was not a combination that will have inspired great confidence among the home support and there were early nerves as Mangala's missed kick from Demichelis's pass almost let Lukasz Teodorczyk in on goal.
With the atmosphere affected by the double injury blow, City struggled to get going and when Navas managed to pick Sergio Aguero out with a right-wing cut-back, the Argentine miscued.
Visiting goalkeeper Olexandr Shovkovskiy was not tested until early in the second half, when he showed a neat touch to control the ball on his thigh after a defender had inadvertently prodded it towards his own goal.
City began to show signs of life, Toure curling a free-kick over the bar and Aguero dragging a shot wide, before Navas collected a pass from Toure and drilled a low shot against the left-hand upright.
Moments later, City goalkeeper Joe Hart made his first save of the night, comfortably fielding an effort from Andriy Yarmolenko after the Ukraine winger robbed Gael Clichy.
Toure continued to drive the home team forward and he threatened to make the breakthrough from Navas's cut-back, only for Shovkovskiy to save.
There were two late scares in the hosts' box when first Buyalskiy and then substitute Olexandr Yakovenko took aim, but Hart blocked alertly on both occasions, giving City a clean sheet for only the second time in their 18 Champions League home games.
"We had chances to score and Manchester had chances to score," said Dynamo coach Sergiy Rebrov.
"The guys showed they deserved to be in the Champions League. This game was a good experience."
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
Thursday, February 25, 2016
FOOTBALL: PSV frustrate Atletico, Man City close on last eight
Ten-man PSV hold on to frustrate Atletico
Reuters
PSV Eindhoven played for more than 20 minutes with 10 men but held on for a goalless draw at home to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday.
The Spanish club have earned a well-founded reputation for iron-clad defence this season but it was the Dutch champions who had to produce a stout rearguard action to avoid being beaten and leave the tie balanced ahead of the return leg on March 15.
PSV, making their first appearance in the knockout phase of the competition since 2007, were forced to play the closing stages deep in their own half after 20-year-old striker Gaston Pereiro was sent off for a second booking in the 68th minute.
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Man City close on last eight after 3-1 win at Dynamo
Reuters
Manchester City moved within touching distance of a first appearance in the Champions League quarter-finals after a dynamic first-half display at Dynamo Kiev helped them secure a 3-1 last-16 first-leg win on Wednesday.
City were irrepressible in the opening 45 minutes, slicing through their opponents almost at will and taking a 2-0 lead with goals from Sergio Aguero and David Silva.
The hosts, however, improved dramatically after the restart and Vitaliy Buyalskiy's deflected effort reduced the arrears to fire up the home crowd and spur on the Dynamo players.
The English side, who reverted to a full-strength team after resting a host of players in a humiliating 5-1 FA Cup defeat by Chelsea, began with real intent, dominating possession and pressing their opponents into near submission in a classy first-half display.
The hosts, returning from their winter break, looked very much a side who had not played an official match in two and a half months.
The English side, who reverted to a full-strength team after resting a host of players in a humiliating 5-1 FA Cup defeat by Chelsea, began with real intent, dominating possession and pressing their opponents into near submission in a classy first-half display.
The hosts, returning from their winter break, looked very much a side who had not played an official match in two and a half months.
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Passion play as Van Gaal tells United to be 'horny'
Agence France-Presse
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal reduced a press conference to chuckles on Wednesday when he told his players to be "horny" when they face FC Midtjylland in the Europa League.
United trail the Danish champions 2-1 from the first leg of their last-32 tie and when he set out what he expected from his team in Thursday's game at Old Trafford, the Dutchman provided a bizarre response.
"Desire and hunger. A lot of times I use the word horny to my players," said 64-year-old Van Gaal.
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Sturridge keen for long-term stay with Liverpool
Reuters
Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge has pledged his future to the club despite manager Juergen Klopp having publicly criticised the striker's attitude towards his injury problems.
The England international has spent a lot of time on the sidelines with hip, knee, foot and hamstring injuries since making the switch to Anfield from Chelsea in 2013.
His injuries meant Sturridge made his first Premier League start under Klopp in the 6-0 win over Aston Villa earlier this month and only his sixth league appearance of the campaign.
"I am looking forward to the future at Liverpool. I am happy here," Sturridge told reporters ahead of Thursday's Europa League last 32 clash at home to Bundesliga side FC Augsburg.
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Boateng turns back on German clubs
Agence France-Presse
Berlin-born Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng says he will never play for a German club again after his turbulent two years at Schalke 04.
The 28-year-old has a contract with AC Milan until the end of the season after being told he had no future at Schalke following a disagreement with club captain Benedikt Hoewedes.
"I have closed the door on Germany," the central midfielder told SID, an AFP subsidiary. "I am not sad about it, just disappointed that everything went so haywire in Schalke in the second year."
Boateng has played for Hertha Berlin, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth and Genoa in his career.
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Slick City hungry for success, says Kompany
Reuters
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany said they played like a team "hungry for success" as they put a poor recent run behind them to move to the verge of the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-1 win at Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday.
City had lost their previous three matches, denting their Premier League hopes with back-to-back defeats by Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur and exiting the FA Cup with a humiliating 5-1 loss at Chelsea.
They put in a barn-storming first-half display in Ukraine, however, and held off a Kiev fightback after the break to edge closer to a maiden appearance in the last eight of the Champions League.
"The performance was good, with a lot of high pressing, 3-1 is a good result and we are happy with it," Kompany told BT Sport.
"We are going into the second leg with a fairly good chance to go through, which has not been the case before. We looked like a team that was hungry for success tonight."
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
Monday, February 8, 2016
SOCCER: Leicester stun City, Barca stay top
LONDON - Unheralded Leicester City remained on course for their first
top-flight title with a shock victory at Manchester City while
Barcelona won to stay ahead of the pack and Bayern Munich drew but are
still eight points clear.
ENGLAND
Surprise package Leicester City extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points with a stunning 3-1 victory at Manchester City, who dropped two places to fourth.
Foxes defender Robert Huth scored twice and league-leading scorer Jamie Vardy rounded off a great day for the Midlands club by signing a new four-year contract.
Tottenham Hotspur went into second place for the first time this term by beating visiting Watford 1-0 and local rivals Arsenal stayed level on points with them by winning 2-0 at Bournemouth.
Manchester United were denied a victory at Chelsea when Diego Costa scored in added time to earn a 1-1 draw. That left United six points behind neighbours City.
SPAIN
Barcelona won 2-0 at Levante, equalling a club record 28 matches unbeaten, to regain a three-point lead at the top of La Liga after Atletico Madrid joined them for less than 24 hours.
Atletico won 3-1 at Eibar with substitute Fernando Torres scoring his 100th goal for the club with an added-time strike.
Real Madrid remained four points off the pace with a laboured 2-1 win at Granada, Luka Modric's brilliant first goal of the season securing victory five minutes from time.
Valencia lost 1-0 at Real Betis, going a 12th league match without winning and ninth under coach Gary Neville.
GERMANY
Lacklustre Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich struggled to a 0-0 draw at Bayer Leverkusen but maintained an eight-point advantage over Borussia Dortmund, who where also held to a goalless draw at third-placed Hertha Berlin.
The Bavarians looked distracted as the club deals with the fallout from coach Pep Guardiola's decision to join Manchester City next season while also struggling with injuries to central defenders.
Schalke 04 jumped into fourth spot, two points behind Hertha, after crushing out-of-form VfL Wolfsburg 3-0 with goals from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Johannes Geis and substitute Alessandro Schoepf.
The Wolves, last season's runners-up who are still competing in the Champions League, have dropped to eighth after failing to win in their last seven matches.
ITALY
Napoli stayed top of Serie A by beating 10-man visitors Carpi 1-0 for a club-record eighth consecutive league win, while Juventus defeated Frosinone 2-0 to extend their own record winning streak to 14 matches.
Inter Milan recovered to salvage a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw at bottom club Hellas Verona while AS Roma downed visiting Sampdoria 2-1 and 10-man Fiorentina were held 1-1 at Bologna.
After 24 matches, Napoli are top on 56 points with Juve two points behind in second. Fiore are in third on 46 points, Inter have 45 in fourth and Roma are fifth on 44.
FRANCE
PSG continued their march towards the French title when Angel Di Maria's second-half goal gave them a 2-1 win at bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the first goal and set up Argentina forward Di Maria for the second to put PSG on 69 points from 25 games.
They lead second-placed AS Monaco, who beat Nice 1-0, by 24 points. Nice are third on 39 points, level with St Etienne after Les Verts thrashed Girondins de Bordeaux 4-1 away.
NETHERLANDS
PSV Eindhoven won 2-0 at Utrecht to stay a point ahead of Ajax Amsterdam as the Dutch championship turned into a two-horse race.
PSV's Colombian defender Santiago Arias and new signing Marco van Ginkel scored in the first 20 minutes to take their team to 53 points.
Ajax put Feyenoord all but out of contention for the title with a 2-1 home win that left their opponents in fourth place, 17 points off the pace. Heracles Almelo are up to third after a 2-0 win over PEC Zwolle but are still 15 points behind PSV.
(Editing by Ken Ferris)
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
ENGLAND
Surprise package Leicester City extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points with a stunning 3-1 victory at Manchester City, who dropped two places to fourth.
Foxes defender Robert Huth scored twice and league-leading scorer Jamie Vardy rounded off a great day for the Midlands club by signing a new four-year contract.
Tottenham Hotspur went into second place for the first time this term by beating visiting Watford 1-0 and local rivals Arsenal stayed level on points with them by winning 2-0 at Bournemouth.
Manchester United were denied a victory at Chelsea when Diego Costa scored in added time to earn a 1-1 draw. That left United six points behind neighbours City.
SPAIN
Barcelona won 2-0 at Levante, equalling a club record 28 matches unbeaten, to regain a three-point lead at the top of La Liga after Atletico Madrid joined them for less than 24 hours.
Atletico won 3-1 at Eibar with substitute Fernando Torres scoring his 100th goal for the club with an added-time strike.
Real Madrid remained four points off the pace with a laboured 2-1 win at Granada, Luka Modric's brilliant first goal of the season securing victory five minutes from time.
Valencia lost 1-0 at Real Betis, going a 12th league match without winning and ninth under coach Gary Neville.
GERMANY
Lacklustre Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich struggled to a 0-0 draw at Bayer Leverkusen but maintained an eight-point advantage over Borussia Dortmund, who where also held to a goalless draw at third-placed Hertha Berlin.
The Bavarians looked distracted as the club deals with the fallout from coach Pep Guardiola's decision to join Manchester City next season while also struggling with injuries to central defenders.
Schalke 04 jumped into fourth spot, two points behind Hertha, after crushing out-of-form VfL Wolfsburg 3-0 with goals from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Johannes Geis and substitute Alessandro Schoepf.
The Wolves, last season's runners-up who are still competing in the Champions League, have dropped to eighth after failing to win in their last seven matches.
ITALY
Napoli stayed top of Serie A by beating 10-man visitors Carpi 1-0 for a club-record eighth consecutive league win, while Juventus defeated Frosinone 2-0 to extend their own record winning streak to 14 matches.
Inter Milan recovered to salvage a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw at bottom club Hellas Verona while AS Roma downed visiting Sampdoria 2-1 and 10-man Fiorentina were held 1-1 at Bologna.
After 24 matches, Napoli are top on 56 points with Juve two points behind in second. Fiore are in third on 46 points, Inter have 45 in fourth and Roma are fifth on 44.
FRANCE
PSG continued their march towards the French title when Angel Di Maria's second-half goal gave them a 2-1 win at bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the first goal and set up Argentina forward Di Maria for the second to put PSG on 69 points from 25 games.
They lead second-placed AS Monaco, who beat Nice 1-0, by 24 points. Nice are third on 39 points, level with St Etienne after Les Verts thrashed Girondins de Bordeaux 4-1 away.
NETHERLANDS
PSV Eindhoven won 2-0 at Utrecht to stay a point ahead of Ajax Amsterdam as the Dutch championship turned into a two-horse race.
PSV's Colombian defender Santiago Arias and new signing Marco van Ginkel scored in the first 20 minutes to take their team to 53 points.
Ajax put Feyenoord all but out of contention for the title with a 2-1 home win that left their opponents in fourth place, 17 points off the pace. Heracles Almelo are up to third after a 2-0 win over PEC Zwolle but are still 15 points behind PSV.
(Editing by Ken Ferris)
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
Saturday, February 6, 2016
PREMIER LEAGUE: Leicester rock Man City to race clear, Spurs second
LONDON - Leicester City's unlikely assault on a first Premier League title gathered momentum with a ruthless 3-1 demolition of Manchester City helping them storm five points clear at the top on Saturday.
Defender Robert Huth scored twice and Algerian magician Riyad Mahrez fired his 14th league goal of the season as Leicester sent a clear message of intent to those who still doubt they have the quality to become champions.
Bookmakers have now made Claudio Ranieri's men, 5,000-1 outsiders at the start of the campaign, favorites to go all the way.
Tottenham Hotspur moved above Manchester City into second place, Kieran Trippier scoring in a 1-0 win over Watford at White Hart Lane.
Leicester have 53 points from 25 games. Spurs are on 48, one ahead of Manchester City. Fourth-placed Arsenal, who visit Bournemouth on Sunday, have 45.
Elsewhere, Newcastle United clawed their way out of the relegation zone after Aleksandar Mitrovic netted in a 1-0 home victory over West Bromwich Albion.
Norwich City dropped into the bottom three after a 2-0 defeat at basement club Aston Villa while Sunderland, in 19th place, scored twice in the final eight minutes to draw 2-2 at Liverpool.
Ranieri's Leicester face Arsenal at the Emirates next weekend and the Italian said all the pressure was now on the league's big guns in this most unpredictable of seasons.
"We have to try in this crazy league but there are some big teams who have to win," he told reporters.
"The spirit is fantastic but I've said this from my first moment here in Leicester."
TOO HOT TO HANDLE
Leicester's energy and attacking verve proved too hot for City to handle at the Etihad Stadium, the hosts perhaps still digesting the news that Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola would be replacing Manuel Pellegrini as manager next season.
Poor marking allowed Huth to convert Mahrez's free kick after three minutes to rock the home team who struggled to respond in rain-lashed Manchester.
Mahrez then showed why he, along with team mate Jamie Vardy, should be a leading contender for Player of the Year honours when he doubled Leicester's lead following a swift break, taking N'Golo Kante's pass to advance and fire the ball past Joe Hart.
Huth's header from a corner on the hour made it 3-0, ensuring Sergio Aguero's late reply proved of no consequence.
Pellegrini made no excuses for Manchester City's chastening defeat.
"A lot of things went wrong. We played against a very good team," the Chilean said. "It's fair to give them the merit they have."
Like Leicester fans, followers of Spurs will dare to dream that their side can finally land a first top-flight title since 1961.
Full back Trippier, set up by substitute Dele Alli, scored his first goal for the club after 64 minutes to extend Spurs' winning run to six games in all competitions.
"We need to be calm. We are in a very good position in the league but the philosophy from the beginning of the season has been to go step by step," said manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Sunderland staged the comeback of the day at Anfield where thousands of Liverpool fans walked out in the 77th minute in protest against rising ticket prices, the timing symbolic with the club intending to charge a top price of 77 pounds ($111.65)next season.
Liverpool, with goals from Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana, were 2-0 up when many of the home fans left and they at least missed their side's capitulation as efforts by Adam Johnson and Jermain Defoe, a minute from time, earned Sunderland a point.
Anfield boss Juergen Klopp missed the game after suffering suspected appendicitis.
Everton struck three times in the first half on the way to a comfortable 3-0 victory at Stoke City while Southampton beat West Ham United 1-0 despite having Victor Wanyama sent off in the 54th minute.
($1 = 0.6897 pounds) (Editing by Tony Jimenez)
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
Sunday, January 3, 2016
FOOTBALL: Arsenal go clear at top, relief at last for United
Arsenal go clear at top, relief at last for United
Toby Davis, Reuters
Arsenal and Manchester City showed they have the stomach for a title fight on Saturday with the Premier League leaders sinking Newcastle United 1-0 and Manuel Pellegrini's men launching a late comeback to beat Watford 2-1.
There was celebration at last for Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal as his team ended a dismal six-game league streak without a win by defeating Swansea City 2-1.
Arsenal's victory was scrappy and nervy but Laurent Koscielny's 72nd-minute winner was enough to move them two points clear at the summit after Leicester City's surprise push faltered with a goalless draw at home to 10-man Bournemouth.
Manchester City underlined their credentials as Arsenal's main challengers and although they looked forlorn for much of the game at Vicarage Road, they showed their mettle in the closing stages.
Trailing 1-0 to Aleksandar Kolarov's own goal, Yaya Toure volleyed home superbly in the 82nd minute and Sergio Aguero headed the winner moments later to wrap up a precious win that kept them three points behind the pacesetters.
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Toby Davis, Reuters
Arsenal and Manchester City showed they have the stomach for a title fight on Saturday with the Premier League leaders sinking Newcastle United 1-0 and Manuel Pellegrini's men launching a late comeback to beat Watford 2-1.
There was celebration at last for Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal as his team ended a dismal six-game league streak without a win by defeating Swansea City 2-1.
Arsenal's victory was scrappy and nervy but Laurent Koscielny's 72nd-minute winner was enough to move them two points clear at the summit after Leicester City's surprise push faltered with a goalless draw at home to 10-man Bournemouth.
Manchester City underlined their credentials as Arsenal's main challengers and although they looked forlorn for much of the game at Vicarage Road, they showed their mettle in the closing stages.
Trailing 1-0 to Aleksandar Kolarov's own goal, Yaya Toure volleyed home superbly in the 82nd minute and Sergio Aguero headed the winner moments later to wrap up a precious win that kept them three points behind the pacesetters.
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Substitute's Partey piece sends Atletico top
Tim Hanlon, Reuters
Substitute Thomas Partey scored his first La Liga goal as Atletico Madrid beat bottom club Levante 1-0 to go top of the table on Saturday while Barcelona were held to a 0-0 draw at Espanyol.
Hosts Atletico lacked a finishing touch in front of goal until Partey struck nine minutes from the end with a shot that squirmed away from keeper Diego Marino.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both hit the woodwork as Barcelona drew with Espanyol.
Barca set a Spanish record of 180 goals in all competitions in 2015 but their normally prolific attack drew a blank against their local rivals who were strong in the challenge, especially in the first half, and succeeded in disrupting their play.
Elsewhere, Charles and Raul Albentosa gave mid-table Malaga a 2-0 victory over fifth-placed Celta Vigo.
Tim Hanlon, Reuters
Substitute Thomas Partey scored his first La Liga goal as Atletico Madrid beat bottom club Levante 1-0 to go top of the table on Saturday while Barcelona were held to a 0-0 draw at Espanyol.
Hosts Atletico lacked a finishing touch in front of goal until Partey struck nine minutes from the end with a shot that squirmed away from keeper Diego Marino.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both hit the woodwork as Barcelona drew with Espanyol.
Barca set a Spanish record of 180 goals in all competitions in 2015 but their normally prolific attack drew a blank against their local rivals who were strong in the challenge, especially in the first half, and succeeded in disrupting their play.
Elsewhere, Charles and Raul Albentosa gave mid-table Malaga a 2-0 victory over fifth-placed Celta Vigo.
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Benitez supports 'serious kid' Rodriguez
Kieran CANNING, Agence France-Presse
Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez has backed star playmaker James Rodriguez after the Colombian was followed to the club's training ground by police accused of speeding at up to 200 kilometres an hour.
Madrid sports daily AS published photos and a video of an unmarked police car following the top scorer at the 2014 World Cup to the entrance of the club's Valdebebas training ground on Friday.
However, Benitez hinted Rodriguez will be involved when Madrid travel to Valencia in a crucial La Liga clash on Sunday.
"Evidently, we are talking about a private matter. James is a good kid, he is serious, he has given us his explanations about what happened and there is no more to say," Benitez said on Saturday.
"I repeat he is a serious kid and what we have to do is wait and see."
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Benitez supports 'serious kid' Rodriguez
Kieran CANNING, Agence France-Presse
Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez has backed star playmaker James Rodriguez after the Colombian was followed to the club's training ground by police accused of speeding at up to 200 kilometres an hour.
Madrid sports daily AS published photos and a video of an unmarked police car following the top scorer at the 2014 World Cup to the entrance of the club's Valdebebas training ground on Friday.
However, Benitez hinted Rodriguez will be involved when Madrid travel to Valencia in a crucial La Liga clash on Sunday.
"Evidently, we are talking about a private matter. James is a good kid, he is serious, he has given us his explanations about what happened and there is no more to say," Benitez said on Saturday.
"I repeat he is a serious kid and what we have to do is wait and see."
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Pogba says Man Utd was holiday compared to Juve
Agence France-Presse
French star Paul Pogba says his time at Manchester United was like being on holiday in comparison to the work he has to do at Juventus.
Pogba, who has helped Juve win three consecutive league titles since controversially quitting United in 2012, made the remark in a wide-ranging interview with Turin daily La Stampa in which he also tips Argentinian team-mate Paulo Dybala as a future winner of the Ballon d'Or.
"People need to know that nothing at Juve is easy," Pogba said. "There is a different culture of work compared to elsewhere. I was at Manchester: it seemed like being on holiday.
"Here we work so much. All these titles, we didn't steal them. It was by working right to the end."
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Gerrard eyes Liverpool coaching return in 2016
Agence France-Presse
Liverpool great Steven Gerrard could return to the club in a coaching capacity as early as this year, he revealed in a British newspaper interview published on Saturday.
Gerrard, 35, left Liverpool for the Los Angeles Galaxy last year, but he has been training on Merseyside during the Major League Soccer close season and is now eyeing a role on Jurgen Klopp's coaching staff.
"I'm not 100 percent sure, but I think it will probably be my last year as a player," the former Liverpool and England captain told the Daily Telegraph.
"I am basically available from November, December 2016. Everyone in the football world will know I am available and hopefully I will be 75 percent into my coaching badges."
Agence France-Presse
French star Paul Pogba says his time at Manchester United was like being on holiday in comparison to the work he has to do at Juventus.
Pogba, who has helped Juve win three consecutive league titles since controversially quitting United in 2012, made the remark in a wide-ranging interview with Turin daily La Stampa in which he also tips Argentinian team-mate Paulo Dybala as a future winner of the Ballon d'Or.
"People need to know that nothing at Juve is easy," Pogba said. "There is a different culture of work compared to elsewhere. I was at Manchester: it seemed like being on holiday.
"Here we work so much. All these titles, we didn't steal them. It was by working right to the end."
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Gerrard eyes Liverpool coaching return in 2016
Agence France-Presse
Liverpool great Steven Gerrard could return to the club in a coaching capacity as early as this year, he revealed in a British newspaper interview published on Saturday.
Gerrard, 35, left Liverpool for the Los Angeles Galaxy last year, but he has been training on Merseyside during the Major League Soccer close season and is now eyeing a role on Jurgen Klopp's coaching staff.
"I'm not 100 percent sure, but I think it will probably be my last year as a player," the former Liverpool and England captain told the Daily Telegraph.
"I am basically available from November, December 2016. Everyone in the football world will know I am available and hopefully I will be 75 percent into my coaching badges."
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
Monday, December 28, 2015
FOOTBALL: Improved United draw with Chelsea, Arsenal go top
Improved United draw with Chelsea, Arsenal go top
Justin Palmer, Reuters
Manchester United's winless run continued but they gave under-fire coach Louis van Gaal crumbs of cheer with a committed display in an entertaining 0-0 draw with Chelsea while Arsenal went top of the table on Monday.
Arsenal beat Bournemouth 2-0 with goals from Gabriel and Mesut Ozil to move on to 39 points from 19 Premier League games, one ahead of Leicester City who are at home to Manchester City, in fourth, on Tuesday.
Champions Chelsea, who were minus the suspended Diego Costa and played without a recognised striker, are 14th with 20 points.
Tottenham Hotspur rose to third after Son Heung-Min netted a late goal in a 2-1 victory at 10-man Watford.
Spurs went ahead through Erik Lamela at Vicarage Road. In-form Odion Ighalo levelled with his 14th league goal of the season before South Korean Son flicked the ball past former Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes in the final minute.
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I won't quit, says defiant Van Gaal after United draw
Reuters
Under-fire manager Louis van Gaal said he would not quit after Manchester United extended their run without a victory to eight games in all competitions with a 0-0 draw with champions Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday.
Sixth-placed United produced an improved display at Old Trafford, having limped to a 2-0 defeat at Stoke City on Saturday, enjoying two-thirds of the possession without being able to break down Chelsea's defence.
Asked about the constant media speculation over his job, Van Gaal told BT Sport: "I cannot have any influence on that. I can only work with my players and you have seen my players are fighting for me and they have given a good performance.
"Even after this result, the fans were applauding so I cannot say I am very much concerned but in this football world you never know.
"I have full confidence in the board and in my players. When the players can give such a performance under this pressure, then it is not any reason to resign for me. Maybe the media wants that but I shall not do that," added Van Gaal.
Hiddink pleased with striker-less Chelsea's point
Reuters
Interim manager Guus Hiddink was satisfied with Chelsea's 0-0 draw at Manchester United on Monday, especially as the Premier League champions played without a recognised striker.
Diego Costa was suspended after being booked in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Watford while fellow attackers Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao were sidelined by injury, forcing winger Eden Hazard to occupy the unfamiliar position of centre forward.
"Tactically it was okay, defensively we were well organised," Hiddink told reporters at Old Trafford.
"We didn't have full power to hurt United ... we have some problems in the striker position due to suspension and injuries so we had to think how to solve that problem.
"Hazard has done it before and he is capable of doing it because he's a very versatile player," added Hiddink who took over from the sacked Jose Mourinho earlier this month.
"I'm pleased because we had some good opportunities in the second half."
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Real Madrid's expulsion from King's Cup confirmed
Reuters
Real Madrid's expulsion from the King's Cup for fielding an ineligible player was upheld on Monday by the Spanish government's Disciplinary Committee for Sports (TAD) following an appeal by the 10-times European champions.
Real included Denis Cheryshev in their starting lineup in a last-32, first-leg game at third-tier Cadiz in early December when he should have been serving a one-match ban. The Russia forward opened the scoring in a 3-1 victory.
The TAD, which had already turned down attempts by Real Madrid to get their expulsion temporarily suspended, said in a written ruling it had rejected the appeal and that the decision was final.
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Hired, fired in same day - Barcelona sack 'insulting' player
Agence France-Presse
Diehard Real Madrid fan Sergi Guardiola's decision to write offensive tweets aimed at Barcelona came back to haunt him Monday when he was hired and fired by the Spanish giants on the same day.
The 24-year-old striker penned a deal with Barca's B team but was sacked just a few hours later when angry fans of the Catalan club made officials aware of Guardiola's Twitter tirade from 2013, www.lequipe.fr reported.
"FC Barcelona has decided to terminate the contract signed with Sergi Guardiola, after finding that he had published offensive tweets about the club and Catalonia," said a Barcelona statement.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
Premier League 2015-16: The Davids' time to shine
No matter how your favorite Premier League team is faring at the moment, you have to admit that the current season is interesting and loaded with drama.
The two great stories are traditional powers floundering with the underachieving clubs turning out great results and the managers of top sides losing their jobs or seem to be on the verge of getting axed. Regarding the latter, that’s nothing unusual because of the pressure to win and their big wages.
Following the Boxing Day results, the results confirmed the nature of this most improbable season. Unlikely Leicester City atop the league with 38 points, two ahead of second place Arsenal (shocking 4-0 losers to Southampton and missing a huge chance to leap into first spot) despite its December 26 loss to inconsistent Liverpool, 1-nil.
Manchester City is third, while Tottenham is fourth. Manchester United, the gold standard for Premier League squads, is in sixth spot after absorbing a fourth straight loss, this one a 2-nil loss to Stoke City.
Where is Chelsea and Liverpool in the standings? The latter is at eighth place having just arrested a shocking skid after being bloodied in the nose by Watford, held to a 2-2 draw by West Brom and a loss to Newcastle, 2-0.
West Brom is at 13th, while Newcastle is in the relegation zone at 18th. Another Premier League fixture, Aston Villa, is dead last in the 20-team league with only eight points accrued from 20 fixtures. They look to be relegated should their free fall continue.
Chelsea is at 15th spot and hovering above the relegation zone and 20 points adrift of first place in the standings.
Watford, one of those less popular clubs is at seventh having drawn Chelsea and surviving a late penalty kick awarded to the Blues that they flubbed. The week before, they dealt Liverpool a crushing, 3-nil shellacking. Last November, they also defeated Aston Villa, 3-2.
Stoke City, currently at 11th, dealt the two Manchester squads identical 2-0 defeats in the space of three weeks.
West Brom’s best results this season were its 2-1 win over Arsenal and its draw against Liverpool.
Bournemouth, newly promoted to the Premier League for the first time in their 69-year history, fashioned some huge wins over Chelsea (1-0) and Manchester United (2-1) and a 3-3 draw against Everton. They are currently at 14th spot.
Taking at look at four clubs — Leicester, Stoke, Watford and Bournemouth — they averaged L46.5 million in wages -- half the amount paid by the top five big spending English clubs (Man City, Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool). Despite West Ham being a small club, they technically aren’t because they are one of the five London-based Premier League sides and have been in the Premier League for some time. The aforementioned four sides have been either in the top flight a few years ago or newly-promoted.
Further to the funds available, the money the small clubs have on hand for the transfer window averages a paltry L12.7 million.
The success of the small clubs (and we haven’t even mentioned the upsets of Norwich City) has been due to several factors — smart football minds running the show, strong defensive midfielders and back fours, and underrated but incredible attacking threats.
Smart football minds
Stoke has had two very good managers. Tony Pulis for several years before the even more shrewd Mark Hughes took over last season and rebuilt his reputation after a disastrous spell with Queens Park Rangers.
Leicester brought Italian Claudio Ranieri who had the smarts to keep some of the previous coaching staff’s assistants for some continuity.
Bournemouth’s journey is even more incredible as twice in their history have they come back from bankruptcy to be promoted. The Cherries, as they are known, have received some money (a paltry L25 million in the last three years) from their new Russian owner Max Demin and some of these investments such as in their sports science and video support that is vastly underrated. Both have helped their players perform much better. The front office has managed the influx of money by bringing in smart and sound players, some of who have come in as free transfers. One such is Polish goalkeeper Art Boruc. Midfielder Matt Ritchie from Swindon Town and South African Tokelo Rantie from small Italian side Malmo.
Strong defense
The top two goalkeepers in the Premier League at the moment are Stoke’s Jack Butland and Watford’s Heurelho Gomes.
Leicester features a strong back four and a compact midfield. Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores builds his game behind a strong back four that likes to hit on counter attacks.
Both have eight clean sheets yet Butland has 73 saves to Gomes’ 52.
New names for attacking threats
Leicester has the duo of Jamie Vardy (league-leading 15 goals) and Riyad Mahrez (tied at second with two others with 13 goals). Stoke has the trio of Marko Arnautovic, Bojan Krkic, and Xherdan Shaqiri. Watford has Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney.
Bournemouth plays a pass-and-go offense yet will need an even bigger scoring stud upfront as they have only 22 goals against 32 conceded. Callum Wilson has only five goals; a poor ratio of a goal per 108 minutes played.
Following Leicester’s 1-nil loss to Liverpool, their second of the season and their first shut out, there’s talk that they have lost steam and will fall by the wayside. Wherever they finish, the same goes to the small clubs, they will have given this season a memorable flavor.
Oh, hey… all of a sudden that Leicester City shop in the heart of Bangkok (just outside the Siam Paragon mall along Rama I Road) is getting swamped with new fans. That’s pretty good too, right?
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
FOOTBALL: Chelsea players back Mourinho, Real and City advance
All behind Mourinho: Chelsea captain Terry
Ian WINROW, Agence France-Presse
John Terry insists the players must shoulder the blame for Chelsea’s disastrous start to the campaign and is adamant the dressing room is fully behind under-fire manager Jose Mourinho.
The Chelsea captain believes the responsibility for ending the club’s dismal start to the season lies with the players.
And he dismissed claims some players were no longer willing to fight for Mourinho as ridiculous, including weekend reports one unnamed player had said he would rather lose a game than win for the manager.
Terry, who will lead the side into the Champions League group game with Dinamo Kiev, said: “We've not played well enough, and we take that on the shoulders. We know where we are in the league and the Champions League group, and we know what we need to do to get out of it. That relies on us, as players, not the manager.
“It's going to take a dressing room that stays together, sticks together. What we've seen in the last two or three days, ridiculous stories about what's happening within the club and the dressing room.
“I can assure you the players are 100 percent behind the manager. We are together. Anyone who has been at the last three or four games can see the way we're playing is turning. Together is the most important thing: that we stay together in that dressing room."
Man City ease past Sevilla, into last 16
Kieran CANNING, Agence France-Presse
Manchester City secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with two games to spare with a hugely impressive 3-1 win at Sevilla on Tuesday.
Early goals from Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho put the visitors in command.
Benoit Tremoulinas pulled a goal back for Sevilla, but Wilfried Bony restored City's two-goal cushion before half-time.
Borussia Moenchengladbach's 1-1 draw with Juventus in the other game in the group means City cannot now be caught by the Germans, or Sevilla due to their superior head-to-head record.
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Unlikely hero Nacho takes Madrid into last 16
Agence France-Presse
First-half substitute Nacho was the unlikely hero with the only goal of the game as Real Madrid beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 on Tuesday to seal their place in the Champions League last 16.
The defender had only been on the field for two minutes as an emergency left-back in place of the injured Marcelo when he took advantage of a defensive mix-up in the 35th minute to slot past stranded PSG goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and score the only goal of the game at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The result allowed Rafael Benitez's side to become one of the first teams to guarantee their place in the knockout rounds as they maintained their unbeaten record this season and inflicted a first defeat on PSG since Barcelona eliminated the French champions from this competition in April.
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Rooney ends Man Utd goal drought to down CSKA
Tom WILLIAMS, Agence France-Presse
Wayne Rooney ended Manchester United's goal drought with a 79th-minute winner as his side overcame CSKA Moscow 1-0 on Tuesday to close on the Champions League knockout phase.
United were on course to record a fourth consecutive goalless draw for the first time in their history as their scoreless run ticked into its 404th minute when under-fire skipper Rooney met Jesse Lingard's cushioned pass with a thumping header in front of the Stretford End.
Moments earlier, Chris Smalling had produced a goal-line clearance to thwart Seydou Doumbia and the two decisive moments contributed to a much-needed win that sent Louis van Gaal's side to the top of Group B with two games to play.
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Ex-Brazil soccer chief pleads not guilty in U.S. after extradition
Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi and Nate Raymond, Reuters
Former Brazilian soccer chief Jose Maria Marin pleaded not guilty to bribery charges in a U.S. court after being extradited on Tuesday from Switzerland in the corruption case that shook world soccer's governing body FIFA.
Marin, 83, who headed Brazil's preparations to host the 2014 World Cup while president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, had bail set at $15 million and a judge ordered him placed under house arrest.
He entered his plea through an interpreter before U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie in Brooklyn, New York hours after arriving on a flight from Zurich, where police arrested him in May. Marin had agreed last week to the extradition.
Marin was among seven officials from global soccer body FIFA who were arrested after being indicted on U.S. charges, an affair that has scandalized the administration of the world's most popular sport and upset powerful commercial sponsors.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
Monday, October 26, 2015
FOOTBALL: City and United draw, Liverpool held
Man City top after bore draw, Klopp still awaits win
Steve Tongue, Reuters
Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League after a 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Sunday but the much-hyped meeting proved far less eventful than the day's other derby.
Man City have 22 points from 10 games, the same as Arsenal, while United are in fourth place with 20 points.
United manager Louis van Gaal claimed his team had "controlled the game" at Old Trafford but it was only in the last few minutes of a dismal game that they looked like scoring.
Jesse Lingard hit the bar from a clever chip by Anthony Martial and Chris Smalling forced Joe Hart into his one significant save.
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Suarez treble gives Barca comeback win over Eibar
Reuters
Barcelona needed Luis Suarez to be at his clinical best with a hat-trick in a 3-1 comeback win at home to modest Eibar on Sunday which put the champions level on 21 points with arch-rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.
Atletico Madrid, the only other team apart from Spain's Big Two to win the league in more than a decade, stayed firmly in the hunt when Yannick Carrasco scored the pick of the goals in a 2-1 victory at home to Valencia.
Real, who host Barca in the first of the season's two La Liga 'Clasicos' on Nov. 21, lead on goal difference with nine matches played after they secured a nervy 3-1 win at 10-man Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Atletico, the 2014 champions, are third on 19 points, one ahead of fourth-placed Celta, who are a point clear of Villarreal in fifth after they drew 0-0 at promoted Las Palmas on Sunday.
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Klopp denied first win, says Liverpool lack belief
Reuters
Juergen Klopp said his Liverpool side lacked self-belief after they were held 1-1 at home by Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday, leaving the German coach still without a win from his three games in charge.
Christian Benteke's majestic 77th-minute header looked like giving Liverpool the win, but Sadio Mane equalised for the visitors to frustrate the Anfield crowd.
Klopp's arrival, following the sacking of Brendan Rodgers, was greeted with great expectation but three consecutive draws have served as a reality check.
"There was still 10 minutes to go when Southampton equalised," Klopp told reporters. "We didn't give up physically, it's not that we stopped our game physically, but we didn't believe any more that we could turn the game around."
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Olympiakos equal club record with eighth win in a row
Graham Wood, Reuters
Spanish defender Alberto Botia was twice on target as Olympiakos Piraeus equalled a 39-year-old club record by chalking up their eighth league win in a row with a 2-1 success at Atromitos on Sunday.
Marco Silva's Greek league leaders have been in unstoppable form since the start of the season, and their 100 percent record was maintained courtesy of Botia's double.
After heading home a 59th-minute corner, Botia escaped the hosts' defenders again four minutes later to head a second.
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PSG march past St Etienne, Marseille end winless streak
Reuters
Paris St Germain extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1 after a routine 4-1 win over St Etienne on Sunday, while Marseille ended a seven-game winless streak with a 2-1 triumph at Lille.
Monaco won 1-0 away at Reims and Olympique Lyonnais overcame Toulouse 3-0 at home on Friday.
With second-placed Angers only managing a 0-0 home draw against Guingamp on Saturday, reigning champions PSG went seven points clear at the top of the table.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
Monday, April 27, 2015
Impossible for Chelsea to lose title now, says Wenger
LONDON - Arsenal may still have a mathematical chance of winning the Premier League but their manager Arsene Wenger conceded it was now "impossible" for Chelsea not to finish as champions following the London rivals' 0-0 stalemate on Sunday.
The result at the Emirates Stadium leaves Chelsea, who have five games remaining, top on 77 points, 10 clear of champions Manchester City, who have four games left, and Arsenal, who also have five to play.
If Chelsea win at Leicester City on Wednesday, the only team that can still theoretically catch the leaders are Arsenal, but Wenger admitted he did not think that would happen.
Asked if Chelsea were going to finish as champions, he told reporters: "Yes we know that, it is impossible for them to lose it now.
"They are not champions yet, but they will be. You get what you deserve. They started strong and that made the difference in the first part of the season compared to us, they played very well."
Sunday's result ended Arsenal's run of nine successive home league wins and also their run of nine successive wins in all competitions and left Wenger still without a win against Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in 13 meetings over the last decade.
Arsenal's season can still end on a high, though, if they retain the FA Cup against Aston Villa and Wenger was upbeat about their performances in the second half of the season and their immediate future prospects.
"I think we have closed the gap (on Chelsea) since the start of the season," he said.
"Now we want to finish the season well. You look at the other results and every game is difficult. We go to Hull next and before we play the Cup final we want to secure our place in the top four, that's not done yet.
"After that the top three, then the top two and that's all to do now."
But he downplayed his long winless run against Mourinho and the fact that Arsenal have not beaten Chelsea for eight matches since they won 5-3 at Stamford Bridge in October 2011. They have not scored against them in their last five games either.
"It's about our club and our team and not about me. What you want is to win the game, the rest is good for media talk. What is interesting is what happens on the football pitch," said Wenger.
(Reporting by Mike Collett; Editing by Ian Chadband)
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
Monday, March 2, 2015
Brilliant Coutinho lifts Liverpool to victory over City
LONDON - Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho produced a moment of Brazilian magic to dent Manchester City's Premier League title aspirations in a 2-1 home win on Sunday as Arsenal moved up to third with a 2-0 victory against Everton.
Coutinho found the corner with a stunning curling effort to extend Liverpool's unbeaten run to 11 league games after Henderson's excellent first-half strike had been cancelled out by City's Edin Dzeko.
It was a serious blow to City manager Manuel Pellegrini and his second-placed team's hopes of retaining their title as they missed the chance to close the five-point gap on leaders Chelsea, who play Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup final later on Sunday.
Arsenal got over Wednesday's 3-1 home defeat by AS Monaco in the Champions League when France striker Olivier Giroud, who missed a glut of chances in that loss, swept in a corner after 39 minutes in a tight game against Everton at the Emirates Stadium.
Substitute Tomas Rosicky added a late second with a long- range strike to make sure of the win for the north London side.
Victory meant Arsene Wenger's team leapfrogged Manchester United in the table and moved to 51 points, four behind second-placed City. Liverpool nudged ahead of Southampton into fifth, a further three points adrift.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had expressed concerns over the fitness of his team ahead of City's visit after they had just two days to recover from a penalty shootout loss at Besiktas in a Europa League last-32 tie on Thursday.
Yet they showed no ill-effects from that match when Henderson, who passed a late fitness test, bent an excellent effort from 20 metres into the top corner to give the hosts the lead after 11 minutes, shortly after Adam Lallana had a goal ruled out for offside.
BRILLIANT GOAL
City equalised when Dzeko slotted the ball past Simon Mignolet after Sergio Aguero and David Silva had combined well to create the chance.
Lallana saw another goal chalked off nine minutes after the interval when he was again flagged for offside after he tapped in Martin Skrtel's headed knockdown from close range.
As both teams appeared to be tiring after an open and attacking match, Brazil's Coutinho found the breakthrough with a brilliant goal, curling the ball beyond a despairing dive from Joe Hart with 15 minutes remaining.
"I have to take my hat off to the players," Rodgers told Sky Sports. "To get back at half four in the early hours of Friday morning -- by the time they got to bed it was six, and they had to sleep all of Friday.
"We then did some light work yesterday, but to come out and play like they did -- they were relentless."
For City, who last week had gained two points on Chelsea as the leaders drew, it was another step backwards and a further disappointment after Tuesday's 2-1 Champions League home defeat against Barcelona.
Arsenal had to contend with their own misery in Europe but they set about 14th-placed Everton in the mood to atone for their mistakes.
Many had questioned Giroud's finishing after a dismal display against Monaco but the Frenchman had no problems putting 14th-placed Everton to the sword.
The visitors, who at times looked jaded after their 3-1 home win against Young Boys in the Europa League on Thursday, threatened occasionally through Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku but Rosicky's goal quelled their hopes of a late equaliser.
"You could see we suffered on Wednesday night against Monaco and that was still in our mind but we were patient, that got us a good chance and we got a good win today," Wenger told the BBC.
(Reporting by Sam Holden, editing by Ed Osmond and Toby Davis)
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
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