Mancini - Ajax defeat was my fault

Roberto Mancini shouldered the blame after watching his Manchester City side slump to a 3-1 defeat to Ajax, insisting it was his fault that they lost.  City's Champions League campaign is in major trouble after defeat in Amsterdam left them with one point from three matches.  Goals from Siem de Jong, Nicklas Moisander and Christian Eriksen overturned Samir Nasri's opener.  Mancini, either through honesty or an attempt to protect his players, turned all the blame on himself, claiming he did not prepare properly for...

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Africa Cup of Nations Draw - Super Eagles to face champion's

 Group A - South Africa, Cape Verde, Morocco, Angola  Group B - Ghana, Mali, Niger, DR Congo  Group C - Zambia, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia  Group D - Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia, Algeria, Togo      more to follow......

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Premier League: Chelsea 1 Stoke 0

Chelsea maintained their place at the top of the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Stoke City at Stamford Bridge.  The visitors looked to have held on for a deserved point until the 85th minute, when Ashley Cole coolly finished from close range to notch his first top-flight strike for two years and keep the Blues on top of the pile.  Brazil starlet Oscar made his first Premier League start for the Blues after his stunning goal-scoring debut in the Champions League in midweek, while Petr Cech took the captain's...

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Manchester United enquired about our stars, claims Galatasaray vice-president

Galatasaray vice-president Ali Durust has claimed Manchester United enquired about the availability of goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and defender Semih Kaya in the aftermath of the club's 1-0 Champions League defeat at Old Trafford.  Sir Alex Ferguson's charges narrowly won their European opener thanks to an early Michael Carrick goal and despite keeping a clean sheet, the Scot has been rumoured to be searching for a centre-back, having been recently linked to Torino's Angelo Ogbonna.  However, after seeing the 21-year-old Kaya...

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Premier League preview: Manchester City v Arsenal

Lukas Podolski will hope he can continue his bright start with Arsenal when they travel to reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday.  The English Premier League clash pits one of the best attacking sides in the competition (Manchester City) against the best defensive outfit (Arsenal) but it is up the other end where the game could be decided.  Podolski, who has scored three goals in as many games, could be key for the visitors.  The 27-year-old German forward scored Arsenal's first league goal of the season in their...

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Di Matteo calm over Abramovich visit

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo says Roman Abramovich visited Blues training after his side's disappointing draw with Juventus.  Chelsea, who are preparing to face Stoke in the Premier League on Saturday, let a two goal lead slip against Juventus as they began their UEFA Champions League title defence with a 2-2 draw.  Owner Abramovich spoke to the players at the club's training ground at Cobham on Thursday but it is nothing new to the Italian coach.  "Yeah he (Abramovich) actually comes quite often to be honest,"...

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Mancini denies Balotelli bust-up

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has rebuffed reports he has had a falling out with striker Mario Balotelli.  The 21-year-old was omitted for the dramatic 3-2 Champions League defeat against Real Madrid at Bernabeu on Tuesday night, sparking rumours of another bust-up with the manager.  But Mancini denied those suggestions, claiming it was simply a case of rotation and that the Italy international will be fit to play against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.  "This story is totally false," Mancini told...

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Liverpool beat Arsenal to sign Real Madrid's Nuri Sahin on a season long loan

The Reds offered to pay a larger proportion of the 23-year-old's £115,000 a week wages, swinging the deal in their favour.  Sahin, who has 31 caps for Turkey, will undergo a medical ahead of the match against Manchester City on Sunday. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is now considering a number of other targets.  Sahin had been expected to join Arsenal, having privately expressed a preference for the north London club.But the deal stalled when Real and Arsenal could not agree a £14m option to buy the player at the end of the...

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Hail Cezar : Azpilicueta eager to help Chelsea to more trophies

Chelsea's latest signing Cesar Azpilicueta has expressed his desire to help the Blues bring in further silverware this season.  The Spaniard, who featured for his country at the London 2012 Olympics ths summer, completed a £6 million move from Ligue 1 outfit Marseille on Friday.  And he has already set his sights on helping the Stamford Bridge side build on their FA Cup and Champions League successes of last term.  "I am very happy to play for Chelsea. I want to play my part to the club's project and help them grow.  I'm...

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Emmanuel Adebayor completes £5m move to Tottenham

Emmanuel Adebayor has completed a £5m move to Tottenham Hotspur from Manchester City.  The Togo striker impressed during a loan spell with Spurs last season, scoring 17 Premier League goals. Adebayor will be among the top-earners at White Hart Lane, but City will subsidise the 28-year-old's wage, having paid him £175,000 per week.  The former Arsenal man revealed the news on Twitter: "Tottenham here I come! I'm hungry for goals. Get ready."  Adebayor had two years to run on his City contract, having been sent out...

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Official: Inter and AC Milan finalise Cassano-Pazzini swap deal

AC Milan have confirmed on their official website that they have completed the signing of Giampaolo Pazzini from Inter, while Antonio Cassano moves in the opposite direction as part of the deal.  Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has praised Antonio Cassano and feels the flamboyant attacker could make the difference for his team.  "Cassano is the sort of signing that can make a difference, but you don't go out of your way to look for that difference," Moratti told reporters.  "You try to do things that can be useful...

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Nigeria 1-1 Brazil: Falconets scrape a draw with Brazil

The Falconets earlier today in Saitama drew their second game 1-1 with Brazil in the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.  Francisca Ordega scored Nigeria’s goal late in the first half while the Brazilians equalised though Giovanna Oliveira in the second half to hold on for their second point in the group.  The Brazilians had the better of the match and were also better in the second half but the Nigerians held on to take their points haul to four in the group ahead of their last match against the Italians on Saturday.  The...

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Inter closing in on Man city star

Nigel de Jong is one step closer to leaving Manchester City for Inter as Roberto Mancini has given the Netherlands international the green light to move on.  The Nerazzurri already secured the services of Gaby Mudingayi from Bologna earlier this summer to add some steel to their midfield, but Andrea Stramaccioni is not impressed with the Belgian.  The Inter coach has therefore demanded the arrival of another holding midfielder, and the 2010 Champions League winners see De Jong as the perfect addition to their squad.  De...

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Man City close to €30m Jovetic swoop

The Premier League champions made a move for the Montenegro forward after missing out on Robin van Persie to rivals Manchester United after a long pursuit.  City have indicated to the Serie A club that they are willing to meet their €30 million (£23.6m) valuation of the 22-year-old forward.  Sources have us that negotiations between the clubs are progressing well and City are increasingly confident of capturing Jovetic before the end of the window.  The Premier League champions made their move at the end of last week...

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Fellaini stuns Man Utd

Robin van Persie's much-anticipated debut for Manchester United failed to prevent Everton delivering an early reality check in their bid to regain the Premier League title.  While defending champions and near-neighbours City achieved a come-from-behind win against Southampton yesterday the Red Devils were second best for most of the night at Goodison Park.  The thorn in their side was midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who was a constant threat and deservedly capped an impressive performance with the only goal early in the second...

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(Image) Alex Song Arrives at Barcelona to Complete Deal to Sign for Nou Camp Giants

Song to barca a done deal ...

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Rennes Confirm Yann M’Vila Is In Talks to Sign for Tottenham and Not Arsenal

Ligue 1 outfit Rennes have confirmed that midfielder Yann M’Vila is closing in on a move to Tottenham – despite interest from Spurs’ north London rivals Arsenal.  Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has long admired M’Vila and was understood to be close to signing the 22-year-old in June.  But the youngster’s poor disciplinary record – highligted when he clashed with French teammates at Euro 2012 – was thought to have put Wenger off a deal.  Alex Song’s imminent departure for Barcelona has led to speculation that Wenger is set...

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La Liga wrap: Barca on song as Real stumble

Tito Vilanova's Barcelona fired a warning shot to champions Real Madrid with an emphatic 5-1 win over Real Sociedad on Sunday.  Talismanic forward Lionel Messi kicked off a scintillating start to the Vilanova era at Camp Nou with a brace inside 20 minutes after Carlos Puyol had opened the scoring.  The win saw Barcelona immediately seize the initiative at the top of La Liga after Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw with Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu.  Puyol headed Barca in front on four minutes and Messi scored...

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Van Persie compatriot on verge of Manchester United move

Vitesse left-back Alexander Buttner has revealed he is on the verge of signing for Manchester United in a £3.9 million deal.  The 23-year-old, who was close to joining Southampton earlier this summer before a move fell through, has been identified by manager Sir Alex Ferguson as the man to compete with Patrice Evra on the left flank at Old Trafford.  United have also been targeting Leighton Baines this summer, however Everton’s reported £17m valuation of the England international has seemingly prevented Sir Alex from landing...

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Arsenal close to signing Song's replacement

Arsenal are close to completing the loan signing of Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin.  The 23-year-old, who has also been targeted by Liverpool this summer, is set to join on a season-long basis with a view to a permanent move.  His arrival should be confirmed early next week as Arsenal look to replace Alex Song, who is on the verge of a £15m transfer to Barcelona.  Turkey international Sahin made 11 appearances for Real last season. He joined the Spanish giants from Borussia Dortmund on a six-year contract in May...

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Real Madrid 1-1 Valencia: Below-par Blancos held at home in La liga Opener

Real Madrid were less than convincing as they begun the defence of their La Liga crown with a 1-1 draw against Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu.  Things began promisingly for the reigning champions as Gonzalo Higuain, who was picked ahead of Karim Benzema, put them ahead after just 10 minutes.  But they soon became guilty of sitting back and failing to make their ball retention count and shortly before the break Jonas resotred parity.  Los Blancos were unable to regain their advantage in the second half and thus had...

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Hazard not getting carried away after impressive Premier League debut for Chelsea

Chelsea's £32 million attacker, Eden Hazard, is refusing to get carried away following a dream debut for the Blues in their first Premier League match of the season, a 2-0 win at Wigan on Sunday.  The former Lille man laid on Branislav Ivanovic’s opening goal at the DW stadium, and then won a penalty which was converted by Frank Lampard.  He was substituted midway through the second half for fellow new signing Oscar and, despite impressing both Lampard and his manager, Roberto Di Matteo, the 21-year-old says that he still has...

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Manchester City 3-2 Southampton: Dzeko & Nasri earn champions thrilling comeback victory

Manchester City began their Premier League title defence in much the same way as they had claimed the championship months earlier by coming from behind to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory over Southampton at the Etihad Stadium.  The excellent Carlos Tevez gave City a first half lead, although Roberto Mancini had been dealt an early blow when Sergio Aguero left the game on a stretcher with a knee injury.  Southampton had been largely confined to their own half before they stunned the hosts by racing into a 2-1 lead in the second...

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