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.