Ancelotti to Xabi Alonso: You owe me the Champions League

The new Real Madrid boss has not forgotten about the remarkable 2005 Champions League final where Liverpool beat AC Milan, while the midfielder has defended Jose Mourinho

New Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has jokingly told Xabi Alonso that he 'owes' him a European Cup following the 2005 Champions League final.
Ancelotti was head coach of the AC Milan side that gave away a three-goal lead against Alonso's Liverpool in the showpiece in Istanbul eight years ago, and the Italian coach has not forgotten about the events at the Ataturk Stadium.

"The first thing Ancelotti said to me after his arrival was that I owe him a European Cup," Alonso revealed in an interview with El Mundo.

The midfielder then went on to defend Jose Mourinho against recent criticism and stressed that the Portuguese coach always respects his players as long as they give their all.

Alonso added: "Mourinho always respects the players who work hard for the team. My father used to be a coach, so I grew up in an environment where there was a lot of respect for figures like him. It is very difficult to control 25 players."

Alonso also had his say on former Madrid greats such as Fernando Redondo and Fernando Hierro and stated that he learned a lot from both.

"Hierro taught me a lot about what it means to be captain. Redondo as well from everything I hear about him and his period here," he said.

"These are players who won European Cups and knew they could compete once they'd made it to the quarter-finals."

Madrid are currently preparing for their Liga opener against Betis on Sunday.

Arsenal will be active in the transfer market, says Wenger

So he says.........

The Gunners have signed just one player so far, but the Frenchman says the north London club will be moving to buy players before deadline day passes

Arsene Wenger has indicated Arsenal will be aiming to sign players before the end of the transfer window.

The Gunners are yet to sign a marquee player, despite pursuing Gonzalo Higuain, who left Real Madrid for Napoli, and continuing to monitor the situation of Liverpool forward Luis Suarez.

Yaya Sanogo, who joined the club from Auxerre, is Wenger's only summer signing thus far, but the Frenchman is hopeful of making more additions before the deadline passes.

"We are active," Wenger told the club's official website. "We are in a situation like Manchester United, like Chelsea, where everybody expects signings and at the moment not a lot has happened.

"There are 18 days to go, so that is a long time in the transfer market and we will be active.

"I cannot certify what the number [of new signings will be] but we will be active until the end, that is for sure."

Arsenal kick off their Premier League campaign with a clash with Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on August 17. 

The red bolded comment above screams of lack of planning, like he does not have a plan

Anzhi exodus begins as star trio joins Dinamo

The capital club have taken advantage of the summer sale in Dagestan by signing Igor Denisov, Yuri Zhirkov and Aleksandr Kokorin, with the players set to be presented on Friday

Dinamo Moscow have wasted little time in capitalising on the clearout at Anzhi Makhachkala by snapping up Igor Denisov, Yuri Zhirkov and Aleksandr Kokorin.

The capital outfit did not disclose any details, either in terms of the size of the transfer fees or the length of the contracts involved, but vice president Gennady Solovyov did confirm that the Russia trio would be presented to the media on Friday.

"You will be able to see Kokorin, Denisov and Zhirkov at the Dinamo training ground as early as (Friday)," Solovyov told Izvestia daily. "The new players will be presented there."

Although midfielder Oleg Shatov's move to Zenit was announced on Wednesday, Denisov, Zhirkov and Kokorin are the first high-profile players to leave Anzhi following last week's announcement by club owner Suleiman Kerimov of the implementation of immediate and severe cost-cutting measures.

The billionaire had pumped €200 million into his hometown club since taking charge in January 2011 but is now overseeing one of the biggest firesales in football history.

Indeed, speculation remains rife that football's highest-paid player, three-time Champions League winner Samuel Eto'o, and Brazil international Willian will also be sold before the close of the transfer market

Wolfsburg confirm Bayern Munich's Gustavo capture

 Another lost cause for Wenger.....................

The holding midfielder has opted against a move to Arsenal and will continue his career at the 2008-09 Bundesliga champions

 Wolfsburg have announced they have secured the services of Luiz Gustavo from Bayern Munich for an undisclosed fee, beating Arsenal to the signature of the Brazil international.

The 26-year-old has signed a five-year deal with the 2008-09 Bundesliga champions and will be officially presented later on Friday.

Gustavo was keen to leave Bayern after he was deemed surplus to requirements by head coach Pep Guardiola following the arrival of Thiago Alcantara from Barcelona earlier this transfer window.

He had also caught the attention of Arsenal and the Premier League giants had a €20 million offer accepted for Gustavo, however, the midfielder has decided to stay in the Bundesliga.

Gustavo had joined Bayern from Hoffenheim in January 2011, making over 60 Bundesliga appearances for the Allianz Arena side, where he also won the treble in 2012-13.

The Brazilian midfielder joins compatriots Naldo, Diego and Felipe Lopes at Wolfsburg.

My comment: At least Wenger did try to get him, i guess the appeal of not winning trophies for several years encouraged Gustavo's move to Wolfsburg

South Africa 0-2 Nigeria: Supersub Uche Nwafor doubles up

Two second-half goals were enough to hand the Super Eagles a win against Bafana in the Nelson Mandela Challenge at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday 

 

Two second-half goals from Uche Nwafor gave Nigeria a 2-0 victory over South Africa in the Nelson Mandela Challenge.

South Africa took time to settle and struggled with possession early in the game. However, Nigeria failed to take advantage of that, because they kept possession in their own half and were often given no space in front of the Bafana goal.

Nnamdi Oduamadi came close and nearly gave Nigeria the opener in the 11th minute after the Bafana defence allowed the Super Eagles to play the ball behind them, but Itumeleng Khune was quick to react.

Tokelo Rantie and Bernard Parker combined well in the 16th minute, but Rantie was tightly marked as Bafana could only settle for a corner.

Bafana launched another attack a few minutes later, but Thuso Phala’s cross could not find Reneilwe Letsholonyane as Nigeria recovered in time to clear their lines.

The home side came close in the 24th minute, but Parker’s low from inside the Nigeria box was too strong for Siphiwe Tshabalala.

Sunday Mba should have done better in the 25th minute after some exciting combination with Ogenyi Onazi only for Khune to save his weak effort.

John Ogu nearly put Nigeria in front with a cheeky chip a minute later, but hit the cross bar and went over with Khune well beaten.

Super Eagles keeper Austine Ejide made a comfortable save from Rantie shortly afterwards.

Khune had to make a difficult save to deny Victor Obinna in the 33rd minute, as Nigeria looked to break the deadlock before half time.

Khune again denied the Super Eagles the opening goal with a fine save in the 42nd minute, after well taken shot by Ogu from outside the Bafana penalty area.

Rantie had a chance to put Bafana in the lead a few seconds later, but his shot hit the wrong side of the net.

Letsholonyane was then wasteful from Parker’s low cross with the dreadlocked midfielder taking too many touches inside the Nigeria box.

Bafana had a brighter second half start and won a free-kick on the left hand side of the Nigerian box in the 46th minute after a foul on Parker, and the Chiefs hitman dusted himself up to whip in a beautiful cross that was punched away by Ejide.

Nigeria then took the lead through substitute Uche Nwafor with a cheeky finish in the 48th minute after the Bafana defence was caught napping.

South Africa tried hard to get the equalizer, but they often lacked composure as they blasted most of their chances over the bar.

Uche Nwafor broke South Africa’s hearts with an easy tap-in in the 67th minute after a skilful display from the Nigerians split the Bafana defence to eventually beat the helpless Khune.

Substitute Lerato Chabangu saw his long-range shot sail over the bar as he looked to catch Ejide off-guard for Bafana’s first goal against Nigeria in nine years.

The home side won a free-kick outside the Nigeria box in the 77th minute, but Parker’s effort was too strong as it sailed over the bar.

Bafana pressed forward in the dying minutes of the game and won a free-kick on the edge of the Nigerian box, but Tshabalala’s attempt was deflected for a corner.

Ahmed Musa came close in the 90th minute with a brilliantly played cross which nearly beat Khune, but it flashed across the face of goal.

Abidal: 'I hope to go to Brazil!'

After a surprise call-up to Les Bleus for Tuesday's friendly match against Belgium, AS Monaco captain Eric Abidal has set his sights on representing his country at the World Cup in Brazil next summer.

Abidal's selection by coach Didier Deschamps surprised many observers in France. A member of 2010 World Cup squad that infamously went on strike at Knysna, refusing to train ahead of the final group match against South Africa, Abidal then overcame a life-threatening tumour thanks to a liver transplant while playing at Barcelona.
Prove the doubters wrong
He joined Monaco this summer and is ready to prove the doubters wrong.
"I know a lot of people think I've been recalled too quickly, that I'm not ready, but I am," he said at Clairefontaine on Monday. "I am delighted to be here and I want to give it everything out on the pitch. Les Bleus are so important to me.
"I know everything depends on the coming season with Monaco and how I play. But if I have a good season, I will be in the team, all the way to Brazil, I hope."
Abidal reiterated that, despite his illness, he now lives 'a normal life', even though he still has regular 'check-ups and blood analysis'.

France squad to play Belgium in Brussels on 14 August
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Mickaël Landreau (Bastia)
Defenders: Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle United/ENG), Eric Abidal (Monaco), Eliaquim Mangala (FC Porto/POR), Adil Rami (Valencia/ESP), Gaël Clichy (Manchester City/ENG), Patrice Evra (Manchester United/ENG), Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny (both Arsenal/ENG)
Midfielders: Josuha Guilavogui (Saint-Etienne), Geoffrey Kondogbia (Sevilla/ESP), Rio Mavuba (Lille), Etienne Capoue (Toulouse), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United/ENG), Clément Grenier (Lyon)
Forwards: Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich/GER), Mathieu Valbuena, Dimitri Payet (both Marseille), Samir Nasri (Manchester City/ENG), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/ESP), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal/ENG)

Real Madrid braced for Man City Pepe bid

The Premier League club are keen to add an experienced defender to their ranks in light of Matija Nastasic's injury but face a fight to land Real Madrid's Portuguese international

City made a tentative enquiry for Pepe last month but were unwilling to meet the Spanish giants' €35m valuation of the 30-year-old but are hopeful of finding a resolution, particularly with Madrid keen to secure funds in order to finance their attempts to broker a deal to bring Gareth Bale to the Bernabeu.

Matija Nastasic’s ankle injury, which he picked up during the club’s pre-season tour of Hong Kong, will keep the Serbia international out of action for the first six weeks of the season and has accentuated City’s need for a new defender.

Having been eliminated during the group stages of the Champions League in each of the last two seasons, Pellegrini had identified the need for an experienced centre-half before Nastasic was stretchered off against Sunderland in the final of the Barclays Asia Trophy a week ago.

The Spanish giants are unlikely to let the man they signed from Porto for €27m six years ago leave without a fight, especially considering Raphael Varane, the player who took Pepe's place in Jose Mourinho's starting XI last season, is still nursing his way back from knee surgery.

Moreover, the player himself insisted earlier this week he was determined to battle for his place in the plans of new Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.

He said: “I have signed a contract with Madrid, my future is an issue for the president," he said. “I just train hard and try to give my best for the team. I am ready to fight for my place.”

City have already spent close to £100m on reinforcements this summer in the shape of former Sevilla duo Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas as well as Brazil international midfielder Fernandinho and Montenegro forward Stevan Jovetic. They begin their Premier League campaign against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Monday.

Nasri: I did not kill anyone

The Manchester City man is happy to be given a second chance with the national team and has stressed he has learned from his mistakes

Samir Nasri has apologised for his previous misdemeanours with France but says "he didn't kill anyone" and should be given an opportunity to redeem his actions.
The Manchester City midfielder was handed a three-game ban by the French football federation following his outburst toward a journalist at Euro 2012 and had not been called up by Didier Deschamps ever since.

However, Nasri is now ready to make his comeback in the friendly against Belgium and he is keen to prove that he has matured.

"I want to start by apologising again. I did not show a professional attitude at Euro 2012," the 26-year-old said at a press conference.

"I should have dealt with the situation differently. It's up to me to make sure that this does not happen again.

"I am focused on the present and the future now. I did not kill anyone. Worse things happened in 2010. I have been given a second chance.

"I had not been called up for a year and feared I might not get a second chance. You do not always realise that it is a big occasion when you get called up for the national team. I watched all of France's games and it hurt that I wasn't there."

Wednesday's game against Belgium is scheduled to kick off at 21:00CET.

Togo docked points in WC qualifying

Days after Ethiopia were docked points for fielding an ineligible player in a World Cup qualifier, Fifa have confirmed that Togo have suffered a similar fate.

Ethiopia lost three points from Group A of qualifying, handing Bafana Bafana a chance to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Fifa announced today that the Togolese Football Federation (TFF) has been sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player in the World Cup preliminary match between Togo and Cameroon played on June 9, which Togo won 2-0.

“The match is declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of Cameroon, with the TFF also receiving a fine of CHF6,000 (about R60,000) after the Fifa Disciplinary Committee considered the TFF liable for having breached art. 55 par. 1 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code and art. 8 of the World Cup Brazil Regulations,” the statement from Fifa reads.
“The sanction relates to the Togolese player Jacques Alexys Romao failing to serve the automatic one-match suspension imposed on him following two cautions received in two different matches (art. 17 par. 3 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code).”

Fifa appoints Bassey to preside over Tunis war

Nigeria official Paul Bassey, has been appointed by world football-governing body, Fifa, as Match Commissioner for the potentially-explosive 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifying match between Tunisia and Cape Verde in Tunis on September 7.

Until a couple of weeks ago, the match was set to be a non-issue, but after Fifa penalised Equatorial Guinea for fielding an ineligible player in their qualifying matches against Cape Verde.
The Portuguese island off the west coast of Africa gained three valuable points and moved into a position in which they are mathematically capable of overtaking Tunisia and earn the pool's ticket into the 10-team final elimination round.
With seven points to Tunisia's nine, the Blue Sharks will depose the Carthage Eagles and jump into the pot for the Draw that takes place in Cairo on September 16, if they win at the November 7 Stadium, Rades, outside Tunis.
Cape Verde made a sensational debut at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, reaching the tournament quarter finals at the expense of Angola, and had naivety to blame for their defeat to Ghana's Black Stars.
The centre referee for the game is Gambian Bakary Papa Gassama, to be assisted by Eritrean Angesom Ogbamariam (Assistant Referee 1), Rwandan Felicien Kabanda (Assistant Referee 2) and another Gambian, Maudo Jallow as 4th Official.
Egyptian Essam Siam will serve as the Referee Assessor for the Group B match

Igesund: Size doesn't count

Gordon Igesund says “size does not count” with Bafana Bafana’s style of play, ahead of the Nelson Mandela Challenge against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

The match is set for Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday, kick-off 8.15pm.

20 of the 23-man squad arrived in Durban today.
Sweden-based striker Tokelo Rantie and Genk defender Anele Ngconga will only join the team on Tuesday morning.
SuperSport United captain Bevan Fransman will not play against the Super Eagles, he was excused by Igesund owing to his wife going into labour.
He will join the team on Thursday ahead of the clash against Burkina Faso.
“It’s going to be a great test for us. I want to go out there and beat Nigeria. I think we are capable of doing that,” Igesund says.

“I think we need to send a message to the rest of the world. We are progressing.”

Igesund says he was not worried about the physical threat posed by Stephen Keshi’s team.
“The type of football we play it does not matter how big you are. It’s about agility and how you move you the ball. Yes, Nigeria are big and strong, but it won’t be noticed in the game.”
Igesund adds he feels he is lucky to have the core of his squad intact ahead of the game.
“Most of the players that I have in the squad have been here before. They still have the form, they are playing well and they know our philosophy,” he says.
Updated squad
Goalkeepers:
Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs)
Wayne Sandilands (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Defenders:
Mulomowandau Mathoho (Kaizer Chiefs)
Tshepo Gumede (Platinum Stars)
Thabo Nthethe (Bloemfontein Celtic)
Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk, Belgium)*
Bevan Fransman (SuperSport United)*
Tsepo Masilela (Kaizer Chiefs)
Marc van Heerden (AmaZulu)
Buhle Mkhwanazi (University of Pretoria)
Thulani Hlatshwayo (Ajax Cape Town)
Midfielders:
Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Dean Furman (Doncaster Rovers, Championship, England)*
Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs)
David Mathebula (SuperSport United)
Bongani Zungu (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Thuso Phala (SuperSport United)
Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs)
Lerato Chabangu (Moroka Swallows)
Strikers:
Bernard Parker (Kaizer Chiefs)
Tokelo Rantie (Malmo FF, Sweden)
Legogang Manyama (Ajax Cape Town)
Luyolo Nomandela (Free State Stars)
*Fransman will not feature against Nigeria, while the overseas-based players will be released after the first match.

Igesund: We can beat Nigeria

Gordon Igesund reckons Bafana Bafana can beat Nigeria, but believes one goal will separate the sides.

Igesund held his first training session on Monday at People’s Park in Durban, with all but three of the 24-man squad taking part.
Bafana take on the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the Nelson Mandela Challenge on Wednesday, kick-off at 8.15pm.

Defender Bevan Fransman has been released from Wednesday’s match, as his wife went into labour yesterday, and will join the squad on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s match against Africa Cup of Nations runners up Burkina Faso.
Belgium-based duo Anele Ngcongca and Tokelo Rantie are expected today but England-based midfielder Dean Furman met up with his teammates in Johannesburg on Monday morning.
AmaZulu left-back Marc van Heerden, who replaced the injured Innocent Mdledle, has also arrived in camp.
Both Bafana and the Eagles arrived in Durban on Monday and were welcomed by a group of dancers and schoolchildren wanting to catch a glimpse of their heroes

“This game is important to us and it will be nice to go out there and beat Nigeria, and I believe we are capable of doing that. We need to send out a strong message to the rest of the continent that we are progressing,” Igesund says.
“Nigeria is without doubt a quality team, but we also have lot of quality and it will not be an easy game for both teams. In my view only one goal will separate the two teams.”

Women's Football:Big guns quietened, challengers surge

Modest form for competition front-runners is a recurring theme in this week’s women’s club review. Not a single play-off contender managed to be in the winner’s circle in USA, while there was a rare defeat for Swedish champions Tyreso as their rivals LdB Malmo roared back into contention. Perennial Danish queens Brondby were denied on the opening weekend of the season, while there is a new leader in England as Arsenal continue to do the chasing.

USA: And then there were four...
The maiden season of USA’s National Women’s Soccer League is set for a thrilling climax, with the top four play-off participants determined last Wednesday. Western New York Flash, Portland Thorns FC and Sky Blue FC are confirmed alongside front-runners FC Kansas City in the semi-final line-up. However, the teams that will boast home ground advantage are no closer to being finalised following the weekend’s penultimate round. Kansas saw their ten-game streak ended by a lone strike from Boston Breakers striker Sydney Leroux, with the victors having parted company from coach Lisa Cole a week earlier. Western New York and Portland remain level on points in second after they played out a scoreless draw, as Canada goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc excelled for the latter. Sky Blue though were unable to take advantage as they shared a six-goal thriller against Chicago Red Stars, despite a high-quality double from midfielder Monica Ocampo who famously scored with a long-range strike for Mexico at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup™. Top three: FC Kansas City (38 points), Western New York Flash, Portland Thorns, Sky Blue FC (all 35)

Sweden: Malmo halt Tyreso’s run
All eyes were on the top of the table clash as second-placed LdB Malmo gained a measure of revenge for a final-day title-deciding defeat last season with a dramatic 3-2 win at leaders Tyreso. Star Switzerland forward Ramona Bachmann was the goalscoring heroine for the visitors bagging a double, including the winner six minutes from full time. Malmo’s crucial win, combined with a 4-0 midweek victory over Sunnana, has lifted the seven-time champions equal on points with their rivals, though trailing on goal difference. Kopparbergs/Goteborg FC remain on the tail of the leading duo thanks to a 1-0 win at Mallbackens IF and remain four points off the pace just past the halfway mark of the campaign.
Top three: Tyreso (30 points), Malmo (30), Kopparbergs/Goteborg FC (26)

England: Reds go top as Gunners fire
Liverpool skipper Gemma Bonner hit a stunning late strike to clinch a dramatic victory in a seven-goal thriller over Bristol Academy, as the Reds leapfrogged their opponents into top spot on goal difference. Arsenal continued their fine recent form with a convincing 5-0 victory over Everton who were aided by a double from Danielle Carter. The reigning champions are in the unfamiliar position of third, but have two matches in hand on the majority of their rivals.
Top three: Liverpool, Bristol Academy (both 18 points), Arsenal (13)

Denmark: Brondby stumble in opener
There was a surprise to open Denmark’s new season as Brondby – champions in nine of the past 11 seasons – were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Skovbakken. And the reigning champions needed an injury-time equaliser from Emma Madsen just to claim a share of the spoils. Brondby’s key rivals Fortuna Hjorring have made a perfect start with two wins from as many matches, though they were made to work overtime before subduing OB Odense with Nadia Nadim’s lone strike the difference.
Top three: Fortuna Hjorring (6 points), Kolding, Skjold (both 3)

De Bruyne: Time to establish myself

In the De Bruyne household, discretion is a prized family value. It is a character trait that fits in well with their home village of Drongen, which features a medieval monastery.
It was in this suburb of Ghent, located in East Flanders, in a bedroom plastered with posters of his sporting idols, that Chelsea attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne first aspired to become a football star. 16 years after dribbling his way onto KVV Drongen’s youth team, the Belgian international is on course to achieve that childhood dream.
Now one of the first names on the teamsheet of Les Diables Rouges, the quiet 22-year-old has already managed to persuade Jose Mourinho of his potential. Following a convincing one-season loan spell with Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, De Bruyne is looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead in 2013 with confidence and modesty.
The attack-minded Belgian has four months to win over the Stamford Bridge faithful and propel his country to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. While this two-pronged mission appears substantial on paper, the former Genk player does not seem unduly concerned. “I’ve always approached things in a very relaxed manner – I’m not the kind of person who gets stressed,” he told FIFA.com.
“My personality has gradually developed throughout my life. I left my parents’ home to join Genk’s youth academy when I was very young, and living on my own really helped me to become mentally strong. There were difficult times, because there was a lot of pressure put on my shoulders quite early on, but it never unsettled me,” continued the Blues’ midfield man.
De Bruyne is hopeful of establishing himself in the London heavyweights’ first team, after enjoying a successful loan period in Germany. “I know that the squad is packed with quality and that competition for places is intense, but I also know that I can do it,” he said.
“I’m a very confident person. During pre-season training, I was able to show what I could bring to the team – that was important. My versatility should play in my favour, and the fact that Jose Mourinho has been speaking to me regularly has made things a bit easier. I’ve improved since last season; my time at Werder Bremen was really beneficial.”
Palpable progression
Called up for the first time to the Belgian senior set-up by Georges Leekens in 2010, the ex-youth and U-21 international has already notched three goals since the beginning of the qualifying campaign for Brazil 2014, the most recent of which came against Serbia in June’s 2-1 win in Brussels.

Highly regarded by current national coach Marc Wilmots, who has accorded him the same status usually reserved for veterans, De Bruyne is reaping the benefits of previous achievements. Saddled with a reputation of ‘future star’ from the age of 17, the time appears ripe for him – two years after inspiring Genk to the Belgian Pro League title – to take his career onto a new level.
“I could already feel that I was making huge progress in my last season with Genk, especially from a physical point of view. I’d ended the play-offs in really good form,” recalled the gifted playmaker.
“Following that, I had the best season of my career in Bremen, where I remained injury-free. I played the whole year, which helped me to get my bearings and feel more comfortable. The Bundesliga was just the right league for me at that point, and I had a great time at Werder. I earned the respect of the football community and became better known internationally. Now it’s time to build on that and establish myself at Chelsea.”
Belgian brothers
De Bruyne suffered an injury during the club’s tour of Asia at the end of July, but his initial fears eventually proved unfounded. “I just remember scoring a goal, tripping and falling to the ground. I felt a pain in my ankle and I couldn’t move my knee,” he said.
Rushed back to London, the star of the 2011 Belgian Super Cup quickly recovered and returned to training, joining his team-mates in the USA for a series of warm-up games. Now anxious for the 2013-14 English Premier League campaign to get under way, he is also likely to be involved in his nation’s friendly encounter with France on 14 August.
Just like at Chelsea, he will be ably supported by Belgian team-mates Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku. “Aside from being colleagues, we’re also good friends,” he explained, stressing how fortunate he is to rub shoulders with two of his countrymen on a daily basis.

“It’s been so important for me to have them here. They’ve given me tactical advice, explained the culture of the club and really helped me to settle in.”

De Bruyne has done exceptionally well to get to where he is with club and country. The only problem is that, if he continues his rapid rise, he will doubtless have to forego his family’s traditional inclination to keep a low profile, because true talent rarely goes unnoticed.

Arsenal close in on €20m move for Bayern Munich midfielder Luiz Gustavo

The Gunners will talk to the Brazilian, who is surplus to requirements under Pep Guardiola at the Allianz Arena, in the coming days after having an offer accepted over the weekend

 Arsenal have had a €20 million bid accepted by Bayern Munich for midfielder Luiz Gustavo, Goal can reveal.

The Brazil international is expected to become the Gunners' club record signing and Arsene Wenger's first senior capture of the summer.

Arsenal will step up negotiations with Gustavo's representatives in the coming days as they attempt to thrash out personal terms.

The 26-year-old is on international duty this week and Arsenal would need to be given the permission of the Brazil national team to hold direct talks with the player if they are to force through a quick deal.

Wenger made his move for Gustavo at the end of last week after Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had admitted that they were willing to listen to offers for him.

Gustavo fell behind Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez in the German club's central midfield pecking order last season and told Bayern he wanted to quit in search of regular football.

Reports in Germany have suggested that new Bayern boss Pep Guardiola has no plans to utilise Gustavo this season.

The Brazilian had been close to joining Wolfsburg but he is believed to be keen to move to a Champions League outfit as he targets a regular starting position ahead of the World Cup in his homeland next year.

Goal revealed in February that Arsenal had identified Gustavo as a key midfield target in the summer.

Arsenal made an enquiry for Gustavo in the January window but stopped short of making a bid after learning that Bayern were unwilling to sell him in mid-season.

The north Londoners have been keen to sign a battle-hardened midfield anchorman since selling Alex Song to Barcelona 12 months ago.

Arsenal pulled out of a move for West Ham powerhouse Mohamed Diame in January after failing to be convinced he was better than the options they already had in central midfield, most notably Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Abou Diaby.

However, Gustavo's combination of authority and versatility has impressed Wenger and his scouts. The Brazilian is capable of slotting in at centre-back and left-back as well as his favoured deep midfield role.

The Brazilian, whose Bayern contract runs until 2015, was an intermittent starter for the European champions last season, although he was out for a month at the end of the season

Culled from Goal.com

Seems like a good option to me, especially as Arsenal has an inexperienced defense line. Hopefully Wenger will seal this transfer and move for a top striker as well

Low backs 'indispensable' Podolski to shine for Germany

The Mannschaft boss says the Arsenal attacker can still play a vital role in the team despite the added competition from team-mates and dissenting voices from critics

Germany coach Joachim Low says Arsenal's Lukas Podolski remains one of the most important players for the national side.

With Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus and Chelsea's Andre Schurrle competing for the left attacking position, critics have questioned whether the Gunners forward is still the best option for the starting XI.

One of them was Germany's general manager Oliver Bierhoff, who stated in May that Podolski "had a year of stagnation" in the national team, however, Low says the forward can still play a crucial role for his country.

Speaking ahead of Germany's friendly with Paraguay in preparation for their World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Faroe Islands in September, Low told Kicker: "Podolski is still a very important player, because he strengthens the team with his abilities.

"With his dynamic style and his important goals, he has repeatedly showed his unpredictability can be a decisive factor in matches.
"Therefore, despite the competition from other players, Lukas is indispensable in his position at the moment."

With 110 appearances for Germany, Podolski is ranked third in the list of most-capped players for the country, trailing Lothar Matthaus and Miroslav Klose, who earned 150 and 127 caps during their careers.

But at just 28 years old, and his coach's backing, Podolski could well make a few more appearances for Germany.

Gotze: I understand Dortmund fans' frustration

The attacking midfielder accepts the BVB faithful's anger over his transfer, but has urged the supporters to also look at it from his point of view

Mario Gotze has admitted that he understands the anger of Borussia Dortmund fans following his €37 million summer move to Bayern Munich.

The Germany international's decision to leave BVB for one of their biggest rivals caused uproar among Dortmund supporters, yet the 21-year-old feels people should also look at it from his perspective.

"I can definitely understand their frustration. I played for Dortmund for quite a while and then joined Bayern. A lot of fans simply don't like that. I can understand their feelings," the attacking midfielder told ZDF.

"One should also look at it from my side, though. I want to keep on developing as a player. People should look at it from that angle, too.

"It was a combination of things that convinced me to join Bayern. There were a lot of reasons for me. The coach, the club and I wanted to try something new."

Gotze made his Bayern debut in the 4-1 friendly win over Gyor on Sunday, netting twice during his 30 minutes on the pitch.

Dani Alves: I would love David Luiz to join Barcelona

The Brazil international would welcome his compatriot with open arms if he were to arrive at Camp Nou, but understands the difficulty in attaining his signature

Dani Alves feels Chelsea defender David Luiz would be a good addition for Barcelona, but thinks the Catalans face a tough task in luring the Brazil international away from his current club.

The Camp Nou side are keen to add some fresh blood to their defence this summer and tabled a €25 million offer for the 26-year-old Luiz earlier this month, while their advances for Liverpool's Daniel Agger have also been spurned.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has since stressed that Barca have little chance of getting their man, but Alves would welcome his compatriot with open arms if the transfer were to take place.

"I would be happy if David Luiz would come to Barcelona. I always want the best for my friends and advise them to join Barca if they get the chance," Alves told El Mundo Deportivo.

"He's not just a friend, but he has a lot of quality, too.

"The problem is not whether he would like to come here, but that you have to take him away from Mourinho and that will not be easy.

"Letting David Luiz join Barca will not be an option for him and even less so as it would make us stronger. It will be incredibly difficult, nearly impossible."

Luiz has a contract with Chelsea until June 2017.

Moyes: I'll handle Van Persie with care

New Manchester United manager David Moyes hinted that Robin van Persie will be used more sparingly this season after the Dutchman's brace put paid to Wigan Athletic in the Community Shield.
Van Persie scored in each half at Wembley on Sunday to earn United a 2-0 win in the annual season curtain-raiser, as the English champions secured their fifth Community Shield success in seven years.
The former Arsenal striker broke the deadlock with a fine sixth-minute header from Patrice Evra's cross before doubling his tally shortly before the hour with a deflected shot.
It sets him up for a tilt at matching or exceeding his haul of 30 goals from his debut United campaign, but Moyes does not want the team to become too dependent on a player who turned 30 last Tuesday.
"It was a great header; 16 yards on the angle into the corner. He might not be renowned for that type of goal, but it was a brilliantly guided header from a long way out," Moyes said of Van Persie's opener.
"I've been really impressed with Robin because he's been easy to work with. He's taken on everything. He's been really receptive, he's been helpful.
"We tried to manage him at the right times by playing him for some minutes and not (for others).
"He's so important, we have to look after him and we will do at the right times. It just showed you today, he came up with the goods again with his goals."

Moyes added: "We have to be aware how often we can use him and I'll try and make sure I do that to the best of my ability.
"We've got other centre forwards. Wayne (Rooney) wasn't fit, Chicharito (Javier Hernandez) has an injury, so we're just a little bit short at the moment."
Moyes also paid tribute to 20-year-old new signing Wilfried Zaha, who produced an enterprising display on his competitive debut before being withdrawn in the 61st minute after sustaining a knock.
"He's done well in the pre-season games and we thought it was right that he got the opportunity today," said Moyes.
"He's going to develop. There will be bits where he's up and down, but it was a great opportunity for him today to get on the pitch and be a part of Manchester United.
"We're looking forward to working with him and improving him."
Moyes also revealed that right-back Rafael, who was replaced by Chris Smalling after only 16 minutes, had sustained "a little bit of a hamstring injury", but did not provide further details.
Coyle hails Moyes' appointment
United's victory gave Moyes the first silverware of his Old Trafford career and his opposite number, Wigan's Owen Coyle, predicted that the former Everton coach would prove a fitting successor to Alex Ferguson.
"I've no doubts David Moyes will be very successful. I'm a bit biased because he's a pal of mine, but there's no doubt he will take Manchester United from strength to strength," Coyle said of his fellow Scot.
"He's replaced the best manager we've ever seen in club football, but he was the right person for the job, no doubt about it.
"It's great for up and coming British managers to see a club like Manchester United going with David Moyes, because he has earned that right."
Wigan's shock success over Manchester City in last season's FA Cup final gave them a berth in the UEFA Europa League, but with promotion from the Championship the ultimate ambition, Coyle admits he will have to juggle his priorities.
"For Wigan it is an opportunity to play against very good sides," he said.
"It is getting the balance right. Any game we enter we want to win, so we'll do our best when that competition comes about."

OM hit the ground running in Guingamp

Dimitri Payet scored a debut double on either side of an André-Pierre Gignac strike to hand Marseille a 3-1 win in Guingamp on Sunday. A great start for OM and a cold welcome for Guingamp on their return to Ligue 1.


Marseille may have mixed results during their pre-season preparations, but on Sunday night Elie Baup's men did something they managed only four times in all competitions last season - scoring three goals - as they cruised to a 3-1 opening-day win in Guingamp.
What's more, they did it in the space of the first 16 minutes as Guingamp - possibly suffering a case of stage fright on their return to the top flight after a nine-year absence - watched on.


After just two minutes, OM's top scorer last season André-Pierre Gignac had already found the back of the net, tapping home after André Ayew's shot had been parried into his path (2'). Then star signing Dimitri Payet, on debut after his summer move from Lille, also made the most of Ayew's good work by beating Mamadou Samassa for his maiden OM strike just two minutes later (4').
A stunned Stade du Roudourou fell silent as their joy at returning to the big time was tempered by the prospect of a hiding, but things got worse for Jocelyn Gourvennec's men as Payet once again made the most of some static defending to turn home France teammate Mathieu Valbuena's blocked shot from close range (16').

However, in the second half, Guingamp regrouped and rediscovered the kind of play that saw them beat Rennes to the Coupe de France in 2009. Much more solid at the back, the Brittany side began to push forward and cause OM problems, notably through midfielder Younousse Sankharé and last season's Ligue 2 top scorer Mustapha Yatabaré.
Yatabaré had a chance to get his side into the match when Guingamp were awarded a penalty for Souleymane Diawara's irregular tackle on Steeven Langil, but he couldn't find a way past an imperious Steve Mandanda, who guessed correctly and turned the spot-kick aside (52').

The Mali international did end up redeeming himself, racing onto the ball and slamming home from close range after a grave error from Nicolas Nkoulou in the area (74'), but it was far from enough to get the promoted side back within reach of a result.
Nonetheless, Gourvennec will have some positives to take the from the match - notably his side's finding the resources to bounce back after such a catastrophic start - as his side travel to Saint-Etienne next weekend, while OM boss Baup will be hoping for more of the same when his side host Evian in Week 2.

Eredivisie Wrap: Ajax lose thriller, Twente hammer Feyenoord

There were goals galore in Netherlands' top flight this weekend, as Groningen continued their fine start to the season, while RKC edged a six-goal thriller against Vitesse

Ajax slipped to their first defeat of the season as a late goal from Viktor Elm gave AZ a 3-2 win on Sunday.
Elm volleyed home with 16 minutes remaining to give the hosts their first points of the Eredivisie campaign in an entertaining encounter at the AFAS Stadion.
Defending champions Ajax, who finished the match with 10 men, went ahead after 21 minutes from a Christian Eriksen free-kick, but Roy Beerens levelled from close range just a minute before the interval.
Ajax reassumed control 14 minutes into the second half, Siem de Jong heading Bojan Krkic's right-wing cross into the bottom corner.

But the game turned seven minutes later as Aron Johannsson equalised from the spot after Ajax right-back Ricardo van Rhijn had been dismissed for bringing down Nick Viergever.

Frank de Boer's men attempted to cling on for a point, but their hopes were ended as Elm met substitute Maarten Martens cross to seal victory for AZ.
Feyenoord are still awaiting their first win after they had two players dismissed in a 4-1 home defeat to Twente.
Graziano Pelle powered home Jordy Clasie's corner after 29 minutes to give Feyenoord the advantage at De Kuip, but Kyle Ebecilio tied things up for Twente eight minutes later.
Ronald Koeman's men did not lose at home last season, but they fell behind after 58 minutes, debutant Jordy van Deelen shown the red card for felling Shadrach Eghan, allowing Dusan Tadic to convert from 12 yards.
Feyenoord were reduced to nine soon after, captain Stefan de Vrij shown a second yellow card for a foul on Luc Castaignos.
Twente duly took advantage as Tadic netted his second penalty after Joris Mathijsen tripped Dico Koppers, before Castaignos rounded things off with a cool finish 11 minutes from time.
Groningen maintained their 100 per cent record with a comfortable 2-0 win over Utrecht at Euroborg.
Nick van der Velden put the hosts in front from the spot after just two minutes, 16-year-old striker Richairo Zivkovic netting his second goal for the club to clinch the win midway through the second half.
Elsewhere, RKC won a six-goal thriller as they beat Vitesse 4-2 at the Mandemakers Stadion.
Kelvin Leerdam put the visitors in front as he turned in Theo Janssen's corner after three minutes, but Robert Braber and Romeo Castelen turned things around for RKC.
Valeri Kazaishvili made it 2-2 nine minutes into the second period.
Captain Sander Duits ensured success though for RKC, scoring from the spot after Jan-Arie van der Heijden fouled Castelen after 74 minutes, before curling home an excellent free-kick to clinch the match.

Wigan 0-2 Manchester United: Van Persie double seals first trophy for Moyes

Robin van Persie scored twice as Manchester United beat Wigan 2-0 to win the Community Shield in David Moyes's first official game as the club's new manager.

Van Persie opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a brilliant header into the bottom corner before sealing the victory in the second half with a deflected strike.

United were far from convincing against the FA Cup holders - now playing in the Championship - but Moyes will be relieved to have successfully won the trophy after leading his side out at Wembley for the first time.

Sir Alex Ferguson either won or shared the Community Shield nine times and it would have been a welcome relief for Moyes to focus on matters on the pitch following an unsettling summer of transfer speculation.

The Scot raised a few eyebrows before kick-off as he said that Wayne Rooney will feature for England against Scotland on Wednesday but suggested that the wantaway striker will not play when United start their title defence against Swansea City.

However, while the spectre of Rooney has dominated United's pre-season, the new manager knows that he can rely on Van Persie as the leader of his attack this season, with the Dutchman selected to lead the attack as winger Wilfried Zaha was handed his debut.

The first official goal of the Moyes era arrived via Van Persie after just six minutes when last season's Premier League top scorer rose high just inside the penalty area to meet Patrice Evra's cross and plant a fantastic header into the bottom corner.

United, though, lacked vibrancy in possession and it was clear why Moyes has made signing a central midfielder his top priority this summer as they failed to create clear chances in the first half.

Indeed, Wigan would have been the happier of the two sides at the break as the Championship side defended stoutly and threatened on occasions on the break, with Grant Holt poking a volley just wide of the post.

There was little change in the pattern of the game after the restart until van Persie scored his second goal of the game in the 59th minute.

The United star worked the ball on to his left foot after collecting Danny Welbeck's pass before firing towards goal from the edge of the penalty area. The ball appeared to be heading straight at Wigan goalkeeper Scott Carson before it struck the boot of James Perch and flew into the corner of the net.

Moyes's men were content to keep possession and see the game out after doubling their advantage in hot conditions under the north London sun before Nemanja Vidic lifted the trophy.

Aubameyang savours 'dream' Dortmund debut

The 24-year-old joined BVB from Saint-Etienne this summer and marked his first game for the club with three goals

Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang labelled his hat-trick scoring debut a "dream" after firing his new club to a 4-0 opening day victory over Augsburg.

The 24-year-old moved to Signal Iduna Park for a reported €13 million from Saint-Etienne earlier this summer and despite noting the greater quality of the Bundesliga, wasted little time in making an impression at his new club on Saturday.

''It is like a dream for me, an unbelievable feeling. I feel right in Dortmund,” he told Bild.

“The Bundesliga is much more intensive than the Ligue 1. Here you have much more tempo and I have to work in the defence, but it is okay.

"When we can continue our good work then we will have a great season. The first goal was something special for me and I wanted to celebrate it in a special way.''

Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp then revealed his belief that Aubameyang can become even more dangerous in the months ahead, while defender Neven Subotic hailed the Gabon international's flawless first outing.

''He can do much more. He can hurt the opponents more,” Klopp said.

Subotic added: "It was a great example how you can have a perfect first game."

Dortmund next tackle Eintracht Braunschweig at home on October 19.

Cocu looks forward to measuring up to Milan

UEFA.com rounds up the reaction to the draw, hearing from the likes of Benedikt Höwedes, Emre Belözoğlu, Phillip Cocu and Viktor Fayzulin on the ties facing their sides.

Champions route
GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) v FK Austria Wien (AUT)
"We have to respect Austria Wien because they have won over 50 domestic trophies. I don't want to make them angry, but I am sure the outcome of this tie depends only on us, on our form and performance. It's not the most comfortable thing when our opponents' coach is Croatian, that means he knows Dinamo Zagreb very well, but it won't be crucial for the result. I played against Nenad Bjelica. He was an excellent player and I am glad we will meet again."
Krunoslav Jurčić, Dinamo coach

"Dinamo are not the same kind of opponents as FH Hafnarfjördur; they won't sit back and defend. They are an attacking side. Dinamo Zagreb are unrivalled in their league. They are a well-organised club and have without doubt the best squad in the former Yugoslavia. They get young players relatively cheaply and sell them for millions later on."
Nenad Bjelica, Austria Wien coach

PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) v FC Basel 1893 (SUI)
"Basel are a very strong team, but we have a chance. Games such as these help the experience and development of our team. I hope we will do well. We will do what we are capable of."
Stoicho Stoev, Ludogorets coach

"I'll have to take a look at what they can do. We'll do the best we can in the tie and we can be happy that the first leg is at home. Our new signing Ivan Ivanov will surely be able to tell me something about one or two of their players."
Murat Yakin, Basel coach

FC Viktoria Plzeň (CZE) v NK Maribor (SVN)
"We wanted to be drawn against Austira [Wien] or Maribor so our fans could travel to support us in the away game – this wish was granted. We know Maribor eliminated a strong team in APOEL and we will start gathering information. We start at home but this will not be the decisive factor. That will be our form and our performances in both matches."
Pavel Vrba, Plzeň coach
 "Plzeň will be favourites, but we are not without our own chances of progress. It is good that the first leg is away. If we can get a good result before the return match in our stadium we will be close to our dream of qualifying for the Champions League group stage."
Ante Čačić, Maribor coach


FC Shakhter Karagandy (KAZ) v Celtic FC (SCO)
"Of all the clubs we could have drawn at this stage, Celtic are the most dangerous. They defeated Barcelona recently, while we have already achieved our initial goal by getting to this stage. It will be easier for us psychologically, we will be more relaxed, because their fans will not forgive [them] if Celtic fail to get past Shakhter. We will do our best to make it happen."
Viktor Kumykov, Shakhter coach

 "The draw is a bit of an unknown for us. It could have been kinder, but it could have been tougher as well. It will be impossible for me to go and watch them, but hopefully we will have some representation over there. We are burnt in terms of numbers [with Kelvin Wilson rejoining Nottingham Forest FC] and hope to add to the squad over the next couple of days. I am not envisaging anyone else leaving. It's about strengthening the squad now. We are working very hard and it's ongoing."
Neil Lennon, Celtic manager

FC Steaua Bucureşti (ROU) v Legia Warszawa (POL)
"Legia are a very strong team and play in a good league. I'm sure we will have two very difficult matches, but we will be focused. We have to impose our game and achieve the only target which is in our minds: playing in the UEFA Champions League group stage."
Laurenţiu Reghecampf, Steaua coach

 "There are no weak teams at this level and I must admit I wanted to avoid Steaua. They played really well against Chelsea in the Europa League last season and they have huge potential – most of their players are around 22 or 23, are young, ambitious and hungry for success. But it is good for us that we play in Bucharest first. Then we will have the advantage of our amazing fans. I can already imagine that if we got to the group stage, playing at our stadium, the atmosphere would be magic."
Jan Urban, Legia coach

League route
Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) v Real Sociedad de Fútbol (ESP)
"It's a tough draw because we will face the team that finished fourth in the Liga and the second leg is away. You should not expect an easy draw considering the quality of the opposition, but it's possible for us to advance. I feared we would draw Fenerbahce or PSV. It will be a balanced tie, 50-50. We have good memories of Real Sociedad from 2003/04."
Jean-Michel Aulas, Lyon president

"This will be an attractive and even tie and one that will be decided by the smallest of details. We are happy with the draw, even though we know it will not be easy. Lyon are a well-rounded side. Perhaps they don't have the quality of some of the other teams, but they are compact and well-armed."
Jagoba Arrasate, Real Sociedad coach

FC Schalke 04 (GER) v FC Metalist Kharkiv (UKR)
"All the teams in the draw were big names, so we knew from the start we'd be up against a strong opponent. I am not an expert on football in Ukraine, but Shakhtar Donetsk have proved that clubs from this league are capable of great performances."
Benedikt Höwedes, Schalke defender

"FC Schalke 04 are one of the strongest clubs in Germany who compete on the European stage on a regular basis. It will be very interesting to play them. They have made a lot of changes to their team, so we will need to learn more about them."
Myron Markevich, Metalist coach

FC Paços de Ferreira (POR) v FC Zenit St Petersburg (RUS)
"In terms of logistics and travel this is the worst draw we could have got. Zenit are the team I did not want, but that's life. We are going to face a great team with a huge budget. Now we will try our best and not feel defeated beforehand. We will try to do our best for the club and for Portugal."
Carlos Barbosa, Paços de Ferreira president

"We got one of the weakest teams. It is a lucky draw for Zenit, but I do not want to make any promises about making it to the UEFA Champions League group stage."
Viktor Fayzulin, Zenit midfielder

PSV Eindhoven (NED) v AC Milan (ITA)
"It will be a difficult task for sure, but also a nice challenge which will allow us to see how we measure up to them. They have a lot of qualities. It is guaranteed that Milan always have top-level players. They might be busy reducing the age of their squad, but it is still of a high level."
Phillip Cocu, PSV coach

"We have great respect for PSV, but other teams should be worried when they are drawn against Milan and not vice versa. We are fully motivated and are eager to win this tie."
Marco Amelia, Milan goalkeeper

Fenerbahçe SK (TUR) v Arsenal FC (ENG)
"Arsenal are one of the exponents of total football. We want to play in the Champions League. It's not an easy draw. They are one of the most famous teams in the world. Furthermore, they are a young team. If we can compete well, I believe we have a chance against them. We want to gain an advantage by getting a good result in the first match with the support of our fans."
Emre Belözoğlu, Fenerbahçe captain

"We're pleased. We played in Istanbul in season 2008/09 and we scored five goals and triumphed in the tie overall. There's a large Turkish support in London and we know we're going to sell out the [home] game and we know it will be a sell-out in Istanbul. So we're pleased and looking forward to two good games."
David Miles, Arsenal club secretary

Ferdinand frustrated by testimonial defeat to Sevilla

The 34-year-old has called on Manchester United to bounce back in Sunday's Community Shield clash with Wigan and praised the performance of youngster Adnan Januzaj

Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United's 3-1 loss to Sevilla in his testimonial match will mean little if they beat Wigan Athletic in the Community Shield on Sunday.

United held a testimonial for Ferdinand at Old Trafford on Friday but could not give the veteran defender a victory as the Liga club stunned the hosts to win by two goals.

But with a match against the FA Cup winners to look forward to, Ferdinand claims minds will be refocused quickly.

"We wanted to win [on Friday] and we are not happy to lose," Ferdinand told reporters.

"But on Sunday we will make sure we go down there to win. Not many players get to play 10 years at one club and I will be proud when I have finished but before that I have got things to win."

The result against Sevilla was another blow for new United boss David Moyes, who has seen the reigning Premier League champions lose twice and draw two more games in their six pre-season fixtures under his watch.

But Ferdinand believes Moyes has done a good job bringing through some of United's younger brigade, including Jesse Lingard and Adnan Januzaj - who was a standout performer versus Sevilla - and has backed the Scottish manager to succeed at Old Trafford.

"Adnan was our best player tonight," Ferdinand said.

"That is fantastic for the manager. We have a new manager in place and everyone needs to get behind him."

Dethroned Montpellier hold champions

Paris Saint-Germain began the defence of their Ligue 1 title with a 1-1 draw against the team who they replaced as champions tonight.

PSG claimed the title from Montpellier last season to become French champions for the first time in 19 years but, despite a big spending summer, they could not claim victory in their opener at the Stade de la Mosson.

Remy Cabella had given the home side the lead after just ten minutes but a second-half goal from Maxwell and the dismissal of Abdelhamid El Kaoutari ensured Laurent Blanc's men did not head back to the capital empty handed.

PSG had the first chance after seven minutes as Lucas Moura free-kick found Ezequiel Lavezzi but his header was blocked by La Paillade goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren. And three minutes later Montpellier had the lead, Zlatan Ibrahimovic lost the ball in midfield and Emmanuel Herrera played an incisive pass to Cabella who broke into the box and fired low past Salvatore Sirigu.

Some good work from Christophe Jallet and Lucas nearly had the champions level but when the former found space he could only fire over the bar. Lucas was having a lot of influence in the game and just before the half-hour mark he released Ibrahimovic and the Sweden international brought an impressive save from Jourdren with his long range effort.

Two minutes into the second half and Ibrahimovic had another chance as he fired a free-kick wide of the post but it was Maxwell who was to grab the equaliser. Javier Pastore's cross found Ibrahimovic at the back post and the tall striker's header across goal was tapped in by the Brazilian.

El Kaoutari was then given his marching orders as he received a second booking for a challenge on Pastore. Victor Montano had a chance to grab a winner for Montpellier with ten minutes as he was set up by Cabella but his deft lob drifted over the bar.

'13' tributes for birthday boy Zagallo

Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo, the old wolf of Brazilian football, turns 82 on Friday. The former player and coach occupies an eminent position in the game, having won four FIFA World Cup™ titles in various capacities. As a player he helped Brazil conquer the world at Sweden 1958 and Chile 1962, and as a coach he steered A Seleção to glory at Mexico 1970. He then won a fourth world crown at USA 1994 as a technical coordinator and right-hand man to head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.

A superstitious person, Zagallo is very much attached to the number 13 and has never been shy at linking it to his achievements. For that reason and in homage to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil ambassador as he chalks up another birthday, FIFA.com asked 13 of Brazil’s football greats for their tributes to the Old Wolf.

Pelé
Played with Zagallo at Sweden 1958 and Chile 1962 and under him at Mexico 1970

“Zagallo’s like a brother to me. I’ll never forget when we arrived in Sweden for the 1958 World Cup. At 17 I was the youngest member of the team, and Zagallo, along with Zito and Gilmar, took me under his wing.”

Amarildo
Played with Zagallo at Chile 1962

“I hold Zagallo in very high regard. All I can say to him is that I am very proud to have played with him during my heyday and to have been his friend ever since. I went to Botafogo one day for a trial and when he saw me he said to the coach Joao Saldanha: ‘I know that kid and you can sign him’. That made him an even bigger hero in my eyes and I was so happy at what he said that I did well in training, scored a goal and got myself signed up.”

Bebeto
A member of the Brazil side at USA 1994

“Zagallo is a role model. With him, it’s like I’ve been given a second father and I have so much love for him. He asked for my shirt in 1994 and I just can’t understand why. He invited me to his house some time later and he’d framed the shirt and put it above his bed. Can you imagine that? There’s a guy who’s won the lot as a player and coach, and he’s got my jersey framed in his house.”

Cafu
A member of the Brazil side at USA 1994

“Zagallo is a master and I love him very much. I have a lot of affection and respect for him. I remember the team-talk before the Netherlands match, when he started talking about the centre-half [Jaap] Stam. ‘Listen,’ he said. “The Dutch have got Stam and you’ve got to stop him. He’s very strong and he’s got a lot of raça (Portuguese for “class”). He’s a racist!’. When he said that we all looked at each other and tried not to laugh because we could see he’d made a mistake. Zagallo realised what he’d said, paused for a few seconds, and started to laugh, saying: ‘I had you there, didn’t I?’. Everyone just burst out laughing.”

Carlos Alberto Torres
Played under Zagallo at Mexico 1970

“We should never forget just how good a coach Zagallo was. He was very intelligent and expressed himself really well. The fans didn’t believe in the team when it left for Mexico in 1970 and he was one of the few people to get behind us. When we got to the World Cup we had this amazing run of form and won the title. I have to say though, it was all down to the work that Zagallo did.”

Evaristo de Macedo
Former Brazil, Real Madrid and Barcelona player and a team-mate of Zagallo’s at Flamengo

“It’s a pleasure to talk about Zagallo. We’ve had a very close relationship ever since we were kids at Flamengo. We were young back then and I’ve got this great story, but I can’t tell it because we were naughty and we had a good time (laughs). We played on the same side of the pitch, on the left, and we had a really good understanding. He’s a very close friend. All I can say is that I wish him a happy birthday with his family and friends, and I hope he has a long life and remains with us for many more years.”

Gerson
Played under Zagallo at Mexico 1970

“I can’t praise Zagallo enough. His story is bound up with that of the national team. I’d even go as far as to say that there’s no one as well qualified as he is to be with the national team, and there never will be. He started coaching after he retired as a player and when Joao Saldanha left Botafogo to coach A Seleção, I told the club president we should sign Zagallo. He came in and we won the championship with him, and then we became world champions with him for Brazil.”

Jairzinho
Played under Zagallo at Mexico 1970

“Zagallo is such an important person in my life that there isn’t one single story that sums up what he means to me. There are so many stories from our time at Botafogo and the national side, though none of them can express my respect for the person he has always been. He’s achieved things because of his ability and intelligence and he’ll always have my respect. I wish Zagallo the very best.”

Junior Baiano
Played under Zagallo in the Brazil side that finished runners-up at France 1998

“Zagallo is Brazilian football, and when you talk about the national team, you talk about him. I followed a lot of the advice he gave me. He can be serious and focused but he can be funny and down-to-earth too. There was this one time when I was playing for Flamengo and we had a game against Parana. I’d been called up for Brazil and had to report for duty the next day. I got sent off in the game, though, and came in for criticism in the press. When I turned up at the national team camp, Zagallo took me to one side and said: ‘Baiano, I saw the game. You went for the ball but you need to control yourself. If you get sent off, the press are going to go for us. But if I don’t pick you for the World Cup, then who am I going to take? So next time make sure you don’t go in so hard!’. That’s Zagallo for you. I was happy after that little chat. I could see he liked me a lot.”

Carlos Alberto Parreira
Brazil’s fitness coach at Mexico 1970 and head coach at USA 1994

“Zagallo was a visionary and I’ll tell you why. In 1971 he was the head coach at Fluminense and I was the fitness coach. At the time Botafogo were known Sele-Fogo because they had all these stars who played for the national team. They were five points ahead of us in the league with three games remaining. This was when there only two points for a win. People will tell you that Barcelona reinvented the game by playing without a centre-forward, but Zagallo was doing that in 1971. We had a centre-forward called Flavio, who was on the bench at the time, and we were asked to play him because the league was as good as over and Flavio would fetch a good price if Fluminense decided to sell him. When he heard that, Zagallo blew up and said the championship wasn’t over and that we’d fight to the end. And that’s what we did! Botafogo lost two games in a row and we won ours, which meant we went into the last game of the season, against Botafogo, just a point behind. We won with a goal from Lula and took the title. I wish Zagallo every happiness and I hope he stays with us for a long time. I’m sure he’ll see another Brazilian triumph at the next World Cup. It’ll be an honour for us to have him as a fan. He’s a fan who knows how to win. He’s won the lot as both a player and a coach.”

Ricardo Rocha
A member of the Brazil side at USA 1994

“I’ve got affection and respect for Zagallo. He’s the leading representative of the Brazilian national team, and he’s a great friend too. I’ve always had a lot of fun with him, but there is one special story that sticks in my mind. I got injured at the World Cup in the USA and he could see I was concerned. He came over to speak to me and said something like: ‘Relax, we need you. You’re going to be with us till the end.” He gave me a lot of confidence and that gave me the strength to see things through. I’m eternally grateful to him for that.”

Roberto Rivellino
Played under Zagallo at Mexico 1970

“I have a lot of admiration and respect for Zagallo as a person and a professional, and he was also a very important figure in my career as a three-time world champion and Brazil’s second-most capped player of all time. There’s one special moment we shared that I’ll never forget, one that showed his tactical appreciation and the belief he had in my talent. It was when he picked me for a friendly against Austria at the Maracana. It was our last game before the 1970 World Cup, and I was one of the best players on the park that day and scored a fine goal too. I went on to wear the yellow of Brazil for nearly 11 years. Thanks Zagallo for believing in me.”

Tostao
Played under Zagallo at Mexico 1970

“Zagallo was a great coach and one of the game’s innovators at the time, at Mexico 1970. He worked a lot on tactics in training, which other coaches didn’t do so much. He was a very energetic and passionate person too. I can still remember him urging the team on at half-time in the semi-final against Uruguay. It was a really tough match and Brazil hadn’t been at their best in the first half, but we won and made it to the Final.” 

Culled from FIFA.COM

Guardiola begins Bundesliga with win

Pep Guardiola began his reign as Bayern Munich coach in the Bundesliga with a 3-1 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach as the new German league season kicked-off today.Ex-Barcelona boss Guardiola took charge of the UEFA Champions League winners eight weeks ago after predecessor Jupp Heynckes had steered Bayern to the treble of European, league and cup titles last season.
It was a brighter start in the German league for the Spaniard at Bayern than at Barcelona in La Liga, where the 42-year-old lost his first game 1-0 to CD Numancia in the 2008/09 season before going on to win 14 titles in four years.
"We're pleased to have won the first game," said Guardiola. "We need results in the first three or four games, because some players are not yet one hundred percent fit. We could have controlled the game better in the first 15 minutes of the second half, but that'll come."
Having broken or equalled 25 records in winning last season's Bundesliga title by 25 points, defending champions Bayern earned their first three points of the new season at home with Arjen Robben and Mario Mandzukic scoring early on.
Left-back David Alaba then converted a second-half penalty after 'Gladbach defender Alvaro Dominguez gave away two penalties - both for handball - in as many minutes. "Both penalty decisions were correct by the referee, I would have given them, as well," said Guardiola.
The only blot on Bayern's copybook was a Dante own-goal which left Gladbach 2-1 down at the break. "It is important to win your first game, so that was a good start," said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm. "After we conceded the goal, the opposition got a little momentum, but we're happy that after our 45 days of preparation the season has started again."

Robben, who scored the winner in May's UEFA Champions League final, latched on to a pass from Franck Ribery, just as he did at Wembley, and lobbed goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen on 12 minutes for a 1-0 lead. The hosts doubled their lead four minutes later when Mandzukic, playing as the lone striker, got on the end of Robben's free-kick and stabbed the ball home from close range.
Bayern could have finished the first half with at least four goals as Ter Stegen palmed a Toni Kroos shot onto the crossbar while only a fine tackle from Austria defender Martin Stranzl denied Robben with the goal at his mercy. The visitors pulled a goal back when Bayern's Brazil defender Dante went to clear the danger from a 'Gladbach attack, but turned the ball into his own net on 41 minutes.

Kroos hit the woodwork again with an hour gone before 'Gladbach's Spain defender Dominguez gave away two handball penalties in as many minutes during a bizarre passage of play. With Bayern pressing, Dominguez palmed the ball down to concede the first, but Thomas Mueller had his penalty deflected away by Ter Stegen.

The ball went straight from Ter Stegen's glove to Robben on the edge of the area and when Dominguez went into challenge, the ball again deflected off his hand and referee Tobias Welz pointed to the penalty spot before booking the incredulous Dominguez. Second-time around, left-back Alaba drilled home his spot kick to make sure of the three points to leave Guardiola delighted.

"We ran and attacked a lot, we're happy we won, because it was a difficult game," said France winger Ribery. "We had a lot of fun

Two more Colombians land in Portugal

Two Colombian strikers made a massive impact in Portuguese football in recent years, Falcao and Jackson Martínez, scoring goals galore for FC Porto. Fredy Montero aims to emulate his compatriots after signing for Sporting earlier this week. Porto, meanwhile, continue their Colombian connection, wrapping up the acquisition of the highly rated Juan Quintero.

“I’m very happy and proud to have signed for Sporting, one of Portugal’s big clubs,” said the 25 year-old Montero. “I can promise lots of hard work and determination to help the team win games.”

 

Montero has four full Colombia caps to his name. He comes initially on a one-season loan from MLS side Seattle Sounders, with an option to make the deal permanent with a four-year contract at the end of the campaign.

 

Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho is in little doubt that the marksman will provide a plentiful supply of goals for Sporting over several seasons. “Fredy Montero will give us lots of joy. He’ll stay for five years. He’s a great player and we are very happy to have him.”

 

Montero will wear the number 17 shirt. “It’s the number I’ve worn in the last five or six years and with which I’ve scored lots of goals. I’m very fond of this number,” he explained.

 

Porto splash out for Quintero

Champions FC Porto have again turned to a market that has served them so well in recent years. As well as Falcao and Jackson, fellow Colombians Fredy Guarín and James Rodríguez were big hits at the Estádio do Dragão, while young left-back Quiñones looks a promising prospect for the future.

 

Juan Quintero is the latest player from the South American country to sign for the Dragons. Porto paid €5 million for 50% ownership of the 20 year-old, who boosted his chances of a big-money move after a brilliant showing at the recent Under-20 World Cup. Quintero’s release clause is a cool €40 million, and he has signed a four-year contract.

“This is a big step in my life, and a huge opportunity. I hope to live up to expectations,” said the player, after joining his new team-mates on their current pre-season tour of South America, in Bogota. “I’ve come to a great club and I’m going to play in the Champions League. I’m at a club that has full belief in Colombian players. At the moment it is the ideal club for me.”

 

The Portuguese Liga’s penchant for South Americans has also been in evidence at Benfica, who confirmed the signing of Argentine attacking midfielder Luis Fariña on a 5-year contract. “I know that Benfica is the club with the most paying members in the world and this means a lot to me. It’s not just any player who gets to sign for Benfica. I’m very proud to wear the team shirt,” said the 22 year-old.

 

Pizzi heading to the Luz

Ex Braga, Atletico Madrid and Deportivo La Coruña player Pizzi is also reportedly on the cusp of signing for Benfica. The Portugal winger was heavily linked with a move to Sporting in recent weeks, but it now appears he will be running out for the red half of Lisbon in 2013/14. The transfer is yet to be made official.

 

Bruma, Cardozo and Martínez fuel the rumour mill

As ever at this time of year rumours are spreading like wildfire all over the written press and the internet. In normal circumstances Sporting, Benfica and FC Porto fans would be looking forward to the new season in the expectation that Bruma, Oscar Cardozo and Jackson Martínez would be firing in the goals for their respective clubs.

 

However, Bruma’s ugly contract wrangling shows little sign of being resolved any time soon, while Cardozo appears to have played his last game for Benfica. The Paraguayan striker has paid a heavy price for his show of indiscipline at the end of the Portuguese Cup final when he pushed and remonstrated with coach Jorge Jesus following the 2-1 defeat to Vitória Guimarães. A transfer to Fenerbahçe has been widely expected to happen, although the Turkish club are trying to lower Benfica’s €15 million asking price.

 

Meanwhile, last season’s top scorer in the Liga, Jackson Martínez is reportedly a top target of Italian club Napoli. Some media outlets go as far as to say agreement has been reached between the club and the player, but a curt message by Martínez on Facebook suggests otherwise: “These are lies just to sell. I want to stay at FC Porto,” said the prolific marksman.