Wed 1st Oct 2014 – Champions League Fixtures

FC Basel v Liverpool 19:45

Arsenal v Galatasaray 19:45

Atl Madrid v Juventus 19:45

Malmö FF v Olympiakos 19:45

Ludo Razgd v Real Madrid 19:45

Zenit St P v Monaco 17:00

Bayer Levkn v Benfica 19:45

Anderlecht v Bor Dortmd 19:45

30th October 2014 Champions League and Results

CSKA 0 - 1 Bayern Mun FT

Man City 1 - 1 Roma FT

Apoel Nic 1 - 1 Ajax FT

Paris St G 3 - 2 Barcelona FT

Schalke 1 - 1 NK Maribor FT

Sporting 0 - 1 Chelsea FT

BATE Bor 2 - 1 Ath Bilbao FT

Shakt Donsk 2 - 2 FC Porto FT

Amaju Pinnick wins NFF election

Amaju Pinnick, Delta FC chairman, has won the NFF election held Tuesday afternoon in Warri after two rounds of voting.
The 43-year-old Pinnick, who is is Delta State Sports Commission chairman, Delta FA boss and Warri Wolves chairman, secured 32 votes from the 44 available in a second round of voting.
Rivals Dominic Iorfa received eight votes and Taiwo Ogunjobi received four.
Reacting to the result of the election, ex-Eagles player Iorfa said he was a better candidate for the NFF President position, but sad that “money won the election.”
in the meantime, other candidates have congratulated Pinnick on his victory.

PSG's Ibrahimovic out of Barca tie

Paris St-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is unfit to play against former club Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Sweden captain, 32, has missed the French champions' last two Ligue 1 matches with a heel injury.

"Several tests conducted on the injured left heel of Zlatan Ibrahimovic is negative," said a PSG statement.

PSG drew their Group F opener against Ajax, while Barcelona edged to a 1-0 win against Apoel Nicosia.

The French team are unbeaten in nine matches across all competitions this season, but six of those results have been draws.

In contrast, Barcelona have been in clinical form as they lead the early Spanish league table.

The Catalan club, who thrashed Granada 6-0 on Saturday, have dropped just one point in their six La Liga games, scoring 17 goals and conceding none.

Brazil forward Neymar and Argentina captain Lionel Messi scored five goals between them against Granada as the pair illustrated their growing understanding on the pitch.

Neymar scored a hat-trick, while Messi's double saw him pass 400 career goals for club and country.

"My first year was a case of adaptation but I now feel better and able to perform at a higher level," said Neymar, who arrived at Barcelona from Santos in June 2013.

"We are combining more as a pair and I am very happy with the goals I am getting at the moment, which is down to the work of the team."

Barca boss Luis Enrique, who took over from Tata Martino in the summer, sits in the opposite dugout to ex-Nou Camp team-mate Laurent Blanc.

The pair played 33 games together in Barca colours during the 1996-97 season, helping the club win the European Cup Winners' Cup, Copa Del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.

Meanwhile, Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta could make his 100th Champions League appearance for the Catalans in Paris.

Guardiola unhappy with empty CSKA stadium

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola says he is not happy that his team will play Champions League opponents CSKA Moscow behind closed doors.

The Russian champions were punished by governing body Uefa after racist chanting by their fans last season.

"I've never experienced it and I hope it's the last time," said Guardiola of playing in a virtually empty stadium.

"We will have to adapt to the situation, but it's a little strange all the same."

CSKA were sanctioned after the behaviour of their fans during group stage matches against Manchester City and Czech club Viktoria Plzen last season.

"Football is a question of atmosphere and emotion," said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"But there will only be a handful of officials and journalists. I feel sorry for the fans, some of whom haven't missed a single Bayern away match in 25 years."

CSKA also expect further punishment from Uefa after their supporters caused violence before their 5-1 Group E defeat at Roma on 17 September.

Ashley Cole: Pressure on Man City for Champions League game

Roma defender Ashley Cole says Manchester City will be under pressure when the two sides meet in the Champions League on Tuesday.

City lost their first match of the group stages to Bayern Munich earlier this month.

"There's a lot of pressure on City," Cole said. "They have big players and are hungry to win the Champions League.

"We are probably the underdogs but we will give it everything and will give them a tough game."

Roma are bidding to build on an impressive 5-1 victory over CSKA Moscow in their opening game, and Cole says a win would give them a fighting chance of beating City to qualification.

"If we win it will make it more difficult for them to catch up and will probably make us top of the group and put us in good stead for qualifying," said the 33-year-old.

The former Chelsea defender said he was surprised to come up against ex-clubmate Frank Lampard so soon after they both left Stamford Bridge over the summer.

"It will be great to play against people like Joe Hart and Lamps," he said. "I never expected to play against him.

"If I am selected and Lamps is selected it would be nice.

"Everyone knows what Lampard brings to any team - he's a great experienced player who scores goals."

2014 AWC: Veteran trio included in Nigeria's squad

Perpetua Nkwocha, Stella Mbachu and Precious Dede have been included in the Nigeria squad for the 2014 African Women Championship (AWC) in Namibia.

Mbachu, 36, will be making her ninth AWC appearance, while four-time African Footballer of the year, Nkwocha (pictured), 38, will be making her eighth.

Super Falcons coach Edwin Okon also named 11 players from local side Rivers Angels and six foreign-based stars in his 21-woman squad.

The team also contains a familiar face in Asisat Oshoala, who was top scorer and Most Valuable Player at the Fifa Under-20 Women's World Cup in Canada in August.

Nigeria's Super Falcons will be seeking redemption in Windhoek after they finished fourth in the last edition, their worst finish in the history of African Women Championship.

The most successful team in the competition, with six titles, Nigeria last won the trophy in 2010, when they beat Equatorial Guinea 4-2.

The Super Falcons are expected to comfortable qualify from Group A, which includes hosts Namibia, debutants Zambia and Ivory Coast.

The championship is scheduled for 11-25 October 2014 in two stadiums in Windhoek.

It will also serve as qualification for the Fifa Women's World Cup to be held in Canada from 6 June to 5 July, 2015.

Nigeria is the only African team to have played in all Fifa Women's World Cup tournaments since 1991.

Nigeria squad:

Goalkeepers: Precious Dede (Ibom Queens), Ibubeleye White (Rivers Angels), Christy Ohieriaku (Oshogbo Queens)

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Houston Dash, United States), Josephine Chukwunonye, Onome Ebi (FK Minsk, Belarus), Ngozi Ebere , Ugochi Njoku and Gloria Ofoegbu (all Rivers Angels)

Midfielders: Evelyn Nwabuokn, Onyinyechi Ohadugha, Gloria Iroka, Cecilia Nku (all Rivers Angels), Ayinde Halimat, Ngozi Okobi (both Delta Queens)

Strikers: Desire Oparanozie (En Avent Guingamp, France), Perpetua Nkwocha (Sunnanå SK, Sweden), Esther Sunday (FK Minsk, Belarus), Asisat Oshoala, Stella Mbachu (both Rivers Angels), Francisca Ordega (Pitea IFF, Sweden)

Lionel Messi: What will Barcelona playmaker achieve next?

  

 

Lionel Messi has been named the best footballer on the planet four times, won an Olympic gold medal, five La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues.

Oh... and he's netted 401 career goals. All before his 28th birthday.

He has been described as a "genius" by Argentine legend Diego Maradona, a "phenomenon" by deadly Dutch striker Marco van Basten while Manchester United's Radamel Falcao once asked: "Is Messi a real player or a PlayStation character?"

As the South American superstar prepares to play in the Champions League for Barcelona against Paris St-Germain today., We ask what is next for Lionel Messi to achieve?

Manchester United considering midweek friendlies abroad

Manchester United are thinking about playing midweek friendlies abroad, says one of the club's directors.

With no Champions League football this season, United's managing director Richard Arnold says lucrative fixtures overseas are something the club will "continue to look at".

The club's early Capital One Cup exit has reduced the number of midweek games they will play still further.

And they are set to play only three more midweek Premier League fixtures.

More than 100,000 fans watched United's 3-1 win over Real Madrid in Michigan this summer, during the side's pre-season tour of the United States.

And Arnold believes manager Louis van Gaal would be receptive to similar fixtures during the Premier League campaign.

"We have a fantastic partnership in terms of our work off the pitch and I'm very appreciative of the support we have had from him," Arnold said.

"For many years of our [pre-season] international tours, there is a plan to ensure we get that team building that goes together with getting the team all together in one place.

"That's something that's being looked at with regards to the future."

Meanwhile, United striker Robin van Persie says Van Gaal is installing a Dutch mentality on the squad's meetings.

"It's very demanding in a good way as you have to be focused every single day of the sessions or the meeting," Van Persie says.

"You have to give your own input, which is what the staff likes. That's a bit of the Dutch thing."

Alan Pardew: Newcastle boss expects talks with Mike Ashley

                                       Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and manager Alan Pardew

 Newcastle manager Alan Pardew expects to have "serious conversations" with owner Mike Ashley after Monday's 1-0 defeat at Stoke.

Ashley was at the Britannia Stadium to see Peter Crouch's goal leave United second bottom of the Premier League.

"We'll have some serious conversations because he doesn't want to lose and neither to do I," said Pardew.

 "I'll probably speak tomorrow or the next day because this team needs to win games. I have to turn it around."

Newcastle are yet to win in the league this season, taking three points from their six games and lying above bottom club Burnley only on goals scored.

In a run stretching back to last season, the Magpies have won only five of their 25 league games in 2014.

"I'm here to lead the team," added Pardew, who replaced Chris Hughton as Newcastle boss in December 2010. "I've never really been in this situation before, but I'm a football manager. That's what I do and will continue to do."

Pardew faced hostility from Newcastle fans during the 2-2 home draw with Hull 10 days ago, with Ashley's lawyers then claiming that quotes stating Pardew would be sacked  if United were beaten by the Potters were only a joke.

 The former Reading, West Ham and Southampton boss again faced anger from the travelling fans at the Britannia Stadium on Monday as Newcastle failed to add to their tally of five league goals this season.

Signs reading 'Sack Pardew' were held up by a number of supporters during the game.

"This is a tough job," said Pardew, who signed an eight-year contract extension in 2012. "The fans are giving their honest opinion of what they believe.

"I looked at them at the end and clapped them to show I respect their views.

"I'm not going to hide from it. I know there is a big question mark about me being at this club and the only way I can answer it is to do the job to the best of my ability and try to come up with the answers."

Pardew took Newcastle to 12th in his first season and fifth the following year. In September 2012 he signed the deal until 2020, but the club ended the campaign 16th.

They managed to finish 10th last season despite the club's poor form in 2014. In March, Pardew was handed a seven-match ban for a headbutt on Hull midfielder David Meyler.

Asamoah Gyan denies 'ritual sacrifice' of Ghana rapper Castro

Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan says claims that he killed his friend and Ghanaian rapper Castro as part of a ritual sacrifice are "wild and absurd".

Afrobeats artist Castro, whose real name is Theophilus Tagoe, went missing, along with friend Janet Bandu, in July.

They disappeared while using jet skis on holiday with former Sunderland striker Gyan's family in the Ghanaian coastal town of Ada.

Allegations in Ghana's media suggested the disappearance was suspicious.

Castro and Bandu were last seen heading towards the ocean on a jet ski and were presumed drowned.

No bodies were recovered and rumours continued to circulate this month when Gyan's brother, Baffour Gyan, was alleged to have been part of a gang which attacked a journalist who had asked the player about the rumours. The assault charges on Baffour Gyan have now been dropped.

The speculation prompted 28-year-old Gyan, who joined United Arab Emirates side Al-Ain in 2011, to hold a press conference.

His lawyer Kissi Agyabeng said the family had been "dismayed" and had remained silent until now as they did not want to interfere with police investigations.

The statement read: "What sells in the media, and what indeed sold and is still selling in the media in Ghana are wild allegations and rumours directed especially at Asamoah Gyan - ranging from the absurd - of the imputation of criminality to him in the sense that he either murdered Castro or had him kidnapped - and ending with the ludicrous - that he sacrificed him spiritually to enhance his career.

"We have been silent while these wild allegations and rumours have been peddled in the media.

"We have been silent not because we are concealing anything or that we do not feel the need to fully state what, from our reckoning, had happened in Ada. We have been silent because we did not want to interfere with police investigations and recently the leveling of assault charges against Baffour Gyan and Samuel Anim Addo, sealed our mouths further.

"Now, we can come out openly because the police have stated their position and the assault charges against Baffour Gyan and Samuel Anim Addo have been dropped and they have been discharged. We will revisit this matter.

"In our painful silence, we have been totally dismayed by the fact that the platform was provided for the peddling of these wild and ludicrous allegations and rumours against us.

"Those to whom the platform was provided offered no evidence whatsoever to back their statements. And indeed, the allegation of spiritual sacrifice can by no stretch of the imagination be propped up."

Torpedo Moscow: Partial fan ban over racism at Christopher Samba

Russia's Torpedo Moscow must close a section of their stadium for their next match following racist abuse aimed at Dynamo Moscow's Christopher Samba.

On Tuesday it was revealed that ex-Blackburn captain Samba, 30, asked not to play in the second half of Monday's Moscow derby because of the chants.

Russian Football Union (RFU) ruled on Thursday Torpedo must shut the 'fan's sector' for their next league match.

However, all other parts of the Saturn Stadium will remain open.

The 'fans' sector' is the part of the arena where the most active fans of the home team sit. There are no restrictions in place to prevent those supporters from buying tickets to sit elsewhere in the stadium.

Away fans will not be affected.

After the RFU's ruling, head of the disciplinary committee Artur Grigoryants said: "There was a note in the delegate's report that throughout the first half there were chants directed at FC Dynamo player Christopher Samba.

"The delegate has confirmed it once again at the meeting. The referee of the match has also informed the committee that Samba told him about chanting during the first corner kick.

"Samba has also sent a letter to the disciplinary committee where he confirmed the chanting and that he appealed to the referee during the game."

On Tuesday, Dynamo vice-president Gennady Soloviev revealed: "Samba felt offended with Torpedo fans and didn't want to go on the pitch for the second half... that's why he was replaced."

Dynamo won the game 3-1 and manager Stanislav Cherchesov said afterwards that Samba had been substituted because of a calf injury.

The defender spent six years at Blackburn, making 185 appearances between 2006 and 2012. The Congo international left for Anzhi Makhachkala but returned to England in January 2013 to play 10 games in a loan spell with QPR.

It is the second racist incident involving Samba after a fan in Moscow threw a banana at him in March 2012 while the defender was playing for Makhachkala. Samba picked up the banana and threw it back into the stands.

Russia, which will host the 2018 World Cup, has had several instances of racism in the sport in recent years.

Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos was racially abused twice in Russia while also playing for Anzhi. Both incidents happened in 2011 - in St Petersburg and Samara, which are World Cup host cities.

St Petersburg is also among the cities that have been selected to host Euro 2020 matches, including a quarter-final.

In October 2013 Russian champions CSKA Moscow were punished by European governing body Uefa with the partial closure of their stadium in a Champions League match, following racist chanting directed at Manchester City's Yaya Toure.

Russian president Vladimir Putin said at a handover ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, before the World Cup final in July, that he hoped the World Cup would help Russia in its fight against racism.

"Fifa President Sepp Blatter puts a lot of personal effort into addressing social issues, and we hope that the preparations for the World Cup in Russia will also contribute to tasks such as fighting drugs, racism and other challenges we face today," Putin said.

By Rafael Saakov BBC Russian Service

Clinton N'Jie extends Lyon contract and scores his first goal

Cameroon international Clinton N'Jie signed a contract extension with French Ligue 1 side Lyon and then scored his first goal for the club.

The 21-year-old was on target for the seven-time champions in their 4-0 win against visiting Lorient.

Earlier in the day N'Jie had agreed a deal to remain at Lyon until 2019.

"I'm happy. Now we have to continue working. I want to score, to play and I hope we can qualify for Europe next season," he told Lyon's website:

"I'm proud of myself. I want to also thank everyone who helped me get this far. This extension shows that the team has confidence in me."

N'Jie has made a superb start to his international career with the Indomitable Lions.

He scored on his debut on 6 September in a 2-0 win away to Democratic Republic of Congo and four days later he grabbed a brace to help Cameroon beat Ivory Coast 4-1.

Peter Odemwingie: Return from injury a 'new beginning'

Stoke striker Peter Odemwingie says he hopes to return "stronger than ever" after undergoing successful knee surgery on Tuesday.

The Nigeria international, 33, suffered the injury in Stoke's 1-0 win at Manchester City at the end of August.

"I'm happy the operation was successful, it's like a new beginning," Odemwingie told BBC Sport.

"I want to come back stronger than ever and hopefully pick up from where I stopped in August."

The former West Brom forward scored five goals in 15 Premier League appearances for Stoke last season after joining from Cardiff in January and settling well at the Britannia Stadium.

While the injury meant he was left out of Stoke's 25-man Premier League squad - named after the win at Etihad Stadium - and will not be able to play until January at the earliest, Odemwingie is in positive spirits and concentrating on his long-term future.

"I know it's going to be a long road back to kicking a football again but I am mentally prepared for that. You can't keep a good man down," he said.

"It took couple of weeks to get the surgery done because I had to wait for the knee to settle down.

"Now that it's done I believe it will give me a new lease of life for the rest of my professional career."

By Oluwashina Okeleji BBC Sport, Lagos

Sat 27 Sep 2014 - Premier League weekend fixtures

 

Liverpool v Everton 12:45

Chelsea v Aston Villa 15:00

Crystal Palace v Leicester 15:00

Hull v Man City 15:00

Man Utd v West Ham 15:00

Southampton v QPR 15:00

Sunderland v Swansea 15:00

Arsenal v Tottenham 17:30

Sun 28 Sep 2014 - Premier League

West Brom v Burnley 16:00

Mon 29 Sep 2014 - Premier League

Stoke v Newcastle 20:00

Sat 4 Oct 2014 - Premier League

Hull v Crystal Palace 15:00

Leicester v Burnley 15:00

Champions League: Setif and Vita out to beat hoodoo

Champions League semi-finalists Entente Setif and Vita Club will want to rewrite history this weekend in their second-leg ties.

Algerians Setif hold a 2-1 lead over Congolese TP Mazembe and Congo's AS Vita Club are ahead of Tunisians CS Sfaxien by the same scoreline.

But none of the seven previous teams who built a 2-1 semi-final, first-leg advantage in the 49-year premier African club competition have gone on to reach the final.

Ivorians Asec Mimosas, Togolese Lome 1, Senegal's Diaraf and Jeanne d'Arc, Cameroonians Canon Yaounde, Sudanese El-Hilal and Egyptians Al Ahly have all failed down the years.

Asec were the first club to discover a 2-1 lead is insufficient, crashing 4-1 away to Canon in the return match of a 1971 semi-final.

And Ahly were the most recent failures, but came closest to bucking the trend, losing 1-0 at Tunisians Esperance and exiting on the away-goal rule.

Lome, Diaraf, Canon and Hilal suffered one-goal overall defeats and Asec and Jeanne d'Arc suffered two-goal losses.

Setif are lucky to even be in front having fallen behind just after half-time when conceding an own goal before a Sofiane Younes header and an Abdelmalik Ziaya thunderbolt rescued the 'Black Eagles'.

The Algerians make the long journey south to mining city Lubumbashi in the heart of central Africa boasting the only unbeaten Champions League record among the four survivors.

Leading scorer El-Hedi Belameiri has played a pivotal role with six goals, making him the joint leading scorer in the competition.

But four-time African champions Mazembe can also brag as they have won all five home matches, scoring nine goals and conceding only one.

What the Congolese lack, though, is a consistent scorer with three-goal Tanzanian Mbwana Samata the lone attacker to make a significant impression.

Another key figure for Mazembe could be Robert Kidiaba, the pony-tailed 38-year-old goalkeeper who uses his bottom to bounce around the goalmouth whenever the 'Ravens' score.

He regularly defies his advancing years with breathtaking saves, but is also prone to commit howlers, like a fumbling first-leg attempt to prevent Younes levelling.

Sfaxien , alone among the semi-finalists in never having been African champions, were in trouble when Firmin Ndombe Mubele and Luvumbu Nzinga scored for Vita.

But the Tunisians clawed back one goal through Ali Maaloul and Imed Louati and Mohamed Ali Moncer wasted late chances to equalise.

They have an almost perfect home record with wins over Ethiopians Dedebit, Guineans Horoya, Libyans Al-Ahly Benghazi and Esperance before Setif forced a draw.

After qualifying defeats at Nigerians Kano Pillars and South Africa's Kaizer Chefs, Vita have grown increasingly assertive on the road and beat five-time African champions Zamalek in Egypt.

Should Mazembe and Sfaxien qualify for the final, it will be a repeat of the 2013 decider in the second-tier Confederation Cup which the Tunisians won dramatically.

The late winner was snatched by Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, who scored in the first four Champions League games this season and has since gone 709 minutes without adding to his tally.

Confederation Cup 2014: Ahly target historic final place

Al Ahly are on the brink of becoming the first Egyptian club to reach the Confederation Cup final.

The Cairo 'Red Devils' have home advantage and a 1-0 lead over Cameroonians Coton Sport going into the second leg of their semi-final this weekend.

A goal by diminutive midfielder Walid Soliman (pictured) put Ahly in a powerful position against opponents they have constantly had the edge over.

Ahly defeated Coton 4-2 on aggregate in the 2008 Champions League final and on penalties last year in a semi-final of the same competition.

While Egypt are the dominant African club force with 31 titles - including a record 18 won by Ahly - the furthest they have gone in the Confederation Cup is the semi-finals.

Unfashionable Cairo outfit ENPPI reached the last four in 2009 before losing 6-4 overall to eventual title winners Malians Stade Malien.

Ahly, demoted to the second-tier Confederation Cup after losing a Champions League final-round qualifier, have made steady rather than spectacular progress to the semi-finals.

A win and a defeat against Zambians Nkana, a win and a draw against Ivorians Sewe Sport and two draws with Tunisians Etoile Sahel earned top spot in Group B.

Lack of goals has been the chief headache for Spanish coach Juan Carlos Garrido with only eight in nine games and no marksman managing more than two.

Some comfort for Coton is an unbeaten away Cup record this season with a win at Ivorians Asec Mimosas and draws with Angolans Petro Atletico, Congolese AC Leopards and Malians Real Bamako.

They also boast a consistent scorer in five-goal Niger star Daouda Kamilou, a survivor of the losing 2008 final team.

The other second leg is harder to call after first-time semi-finalists Sewe Sport established a slender 1-0 home lead over 2012 Confederation Cup winners AC Leopards.

Christian Kouame scored after a goalmouth scramble 12 minutes into the second half at the palm tree-lined Stade Robert Champroux in Abidjan.

It is a slight advantage, but Sewe have won two and drawn one of four away games en route to the semi-finals and conceded just two goals in 360 minutes.

Behind a solid defence Sewe have Sylvain Gbohouo, one of the three Ivory Coast goalkeepers at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Leopards have been erratic lately, hammering four goals past Coton and past ASEC and then firing a blank against Sewe.

The biggest Congolese threats are likely to be teenager Kader Bidimbou and Cesaire Gandze, who have bagged 11 Confederation Cup goals between them.

Whichever sides advance to the final will have a long wait with the first leg scheduled only for the last weekend in November due to fixture congestion.

Yaya Toure needs Manchester City's help says Pellegrini

Yaya Toure is not at his best and needs the support of his club, according to Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini.

The midfielder came in for criticism following a lacklustre showing in City's 1-0 defeat at Bayern Munich.

Ahead of Sunday's Premier League visit of Chelsea, Pellegrini acknowledged Toure, 31, can improve and pointed to issues in the player's personal life.

"We must support him because he is a very important player," he said.

Toure endured a difficult summer in which his brother passed away and he became embroiled in a bizarre row over a birthday cake.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes was among those to question his work-rate following the Champions League loss on Wednesday.

Pellegrini called for empathy. "Maybe he had a lot of personal problems with his brother," he said.

"There are a lot of human things and maybe that is why he is not in his best performance at the moment. I think as a team, as a coach, as a club we must support him because he is a very important player, he makes a difference and I'm sure he will return to his best. But he is always being criticised."

Frank Lampard could face his old club for the first time in the 4pm kick-off but Pellegrini believes it will not present any problems for the former England midfielder.

"I don't think it is a difficult situation for him," he said. "I think Frank didn't continue in Chelsea because Chelsea didn't want him, not because he wanted to come here to Manchester City."

The Chilean, who celebrated his 61st birthday this week, also dismissed claims of a rivalry between himself and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who replaced him at Real Madrid in 2010.

"It's nothing important," he said. "Every time you ask me the same question when we play against Mourinho. I don't have any problem with him. This profession, we manage in different ways and nothing more."

By Mike Keegan BBC Sport

Cristiano Ronaldo: Man Utd move possible, says Van Gaal

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal would like to sign Cristiano Ronaldo but does not expect Real Madrid to sell.

The 29-year-old has been linked with a return to Old Trafford, having left in 2009 for a then-world record £80m fee.

Asked about re-signing the Portugal international forward, Van Gaal said: "It is possible.

"Players like Ronaldo give a lot of extra to a team, but I don't think Real Madrid shall sell him."

Ronaldo, the world footballer of the year, helped Real Madrid become champions of Europe for the 10th time last May.

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon claimed Ronaldo was "fed up" at the club's decision to sell a number of their top players, including Angel Di Maria's £59.7m departure to United.

The forward won eight major trophies in six years at Old Trafford under then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Asked whether he could bring Ronaldo back to United, Van Gaal said: "Yes, but it's always a discussion in the papers, and I don't think the media shall buy Ronaldo."

Ronaldo hinted last month he would be interested in returning to Old Trafford, telling MUTV: "I love Manchester and you never know in football.

"Of course I'm happy at Real Madrid; it's my home, it's my club, but United treated me unbelievably, so you never know.

"I am still in contact with some people there because I had a good relationship with everybody - it was like my second family."

Mathieu Debuchy out for at least six weeks - Arsene Wenger

Arsenal's Mathieu Debuchy will be out for at least six weeks with an ankle injury, manager Arsene Wenger has said.

The French defender, who was carried off on a stretcher against Manchester City on Saturday, could be missing for three months if surgery is required.

Wenger said: "He has an exploration of his ankle on Friday night. They go in and look how the ligament is damaged."

Calum Chambers, 19, is expected to replace the 28-year-old for Saturday's Premier League visit to Aston Villa.

Debuchy, who joined the Gunners from Newcastle in July, had played in all seven of Arsenal's fixtures so far this season prior to his injury - including the Community Shield victory against Manchester City.

Young defender Hector Bellerin, 19, stepped in at right-back for Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

Chambers, who signed in a £16m deal from Southampton in July, was on the bench for the game in Germany after struggling with tonsillitis, but will be fit to start at Villa Park.

Man City v Chelsea: Didier Drogba relishes Frank Lampard reunion

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba says he is eager to be reunited with his former "partner-in-crime" Frank Lampard when the Blues take on Manchester City on Sunday.

Drogba and Lampard were team-mates at Chelsea from 2004 to 2012, winning three Premier League titles together.

"I will be happy to see him," Drogba said. "I think he still belongs to us."

"He is a Chelsea player, for what he did. For me, he is part of the history of the club," he added.

Chelsea's record goalscorer Lampard, 36, left Stamford Bridge in the summer after 13 seasons. He signed for New York City FC before he was loaned to Manchester City in a six-month deal.

Meanwhile, Drogba, 36, rejoined the Blues on a one-year deal after leaving Turkish side Galatasaray.

The Ivorian says Lampard is guaranteed to receive a warm reception if he plays in Sunday's game at the Etihad Stadium.

"The supporters know what he gave for the club," Drogba said. "So I know, for sure, the reaction will be good."

League leaders Chelsea currently have a five-point advantage over Manchester City, for whom Lampard made his first appearance of the season in last weekend's draw with Arsenal.

Thursday 18th Sept UEFA Europa League Fixtures & Results

Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 - 1 Villarreal FT

Rio Ave 0 - 3 Dynamo Kiev FT

Steaua Bucharest 6 - 0 Aalborg BK FT

Fiorentina 3 - 0 Guingamp FT

PAOK Salonika 6 - 1 Dinamo Minsk FT

Legia Warsaw 1 - 0 KSC Lokeren FT

Metalist Kharkiv 1 - 2 Trabzonspor FT

Club Brugge 0 - 0 Torino FT

FC Copenhgn 2 - 0 HJK Helsinki FT

Besiktas 1 - 1 Asteras Tripolis FT

Partizan Belgrade 0 - 0 Tottenham FT

Dinamo Zagreb 5 - 1 Astra Giurgiu FT

FC Red Bull Salzburg 2 - 2 Celtic Result FT

Panathinaikos 1 - 2 Dinamo Moscow FT

PSV 1 - 0 Estoril Praia FT

FK Qarabag 0 - 0 St Etienne FT

Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 0 - 1 Inter Milan FT

Sevilla 2 - 0 Feyenoord FT

Standard Liege 2 - 0 HNK Rijeka FT

Everton 4 - 1 VfL Wolfsburg Result FT

Lille 1 - 1 FK Krasnodar FT

BSC Young Boys 5 - 0 Slovan Bratislava FT

Napoli 3 - 1 Sparta Prague FT

BREAKING NEWS Struggling Fulham sack boss Magath

                                                                    Felix Magath

Fulham have sacked boss Felix Magath following their poor start to the season and appointed Kit Symons as caretaker manager.

Thursday 18th Sept UEFA Europa League Fixtures

Apollon Limassol v FC Zürich

Borussia Mönchengladbach v Villarreal

Rio Ave v Dynamo Kiev

Steaua Bucharest v Aalborg BK

Fiorentina v Guingamp

PAOK Salonika v Dinamo Minsk

Legia Warsaw v KSC Lokeren

Metalist Kharkiv v Trabzonspor

Club Brugge v Torino

FC Copenhgn v HJK Helsinki

Besiktas v Asteras Tripolis

Partizan Belgrade v Tottenham

Dinamo Zagreb v Astra Giurgiu

FC Red Bull Salzburg v Celtic

Panathinaikos v Dinamo Moscow

PSV v Estoril Praia

FK Qarabag 0 - 0 St Etienne

Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk v Inter Milan

Sevilla v Feyenoord

Standard Liege v HNK Rijeka

Everton v VfL Wolfsburg

Lille v FK Krasnodar

BSC Young Boys v Slovan Bratislava

Napoli v Sparta Prague

Rwanda international Dady Birori hit with two-year suspension

Rwanda international Dady Birori has been banned from football for two years by the Confederation of African Football for holding two registrations with different details.

As well as a Rwandan passport, Birori also has a DR Congo passport under the name of Etekiama Agiti Tady, with different dates of birth on each.

Birori plays for AS Vita Club using his DR Congo passport and the name Tady.

His suspension is a huge blow for the player and his club, who have a two-legged Champions League semi-final against CS Sfaxien later this month.

In August Caf suspended Birori until further notice and disqualified Rwanda from the 2015 Africa Cup Nations qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player.

That initial ruling followed a protest made by the Congo Brazzaville Football Federation after Birori featured in the first leg of the second round qualifier between the nations last month in Pointe-Noir.

Rwanda had beaten Congo on penalties over two legs to reach the group phase but it instead the beaten side progressed to Group A of qualifying for the next year's finals in Morocco.

Congo have since gone on to win their opening two matches - including a 3-2 victory away to defending champions Nigeria - and are top of the table.

Although Rwanda had maintained that to their knowledge that the player had one identity, they lost an appeal against their disqualification.

Caf ruled that "the Rwandan federation was aware of this double identity but proceeded to feature the player for the national team while he held a different identity with the club".

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer parts company with Cardiff City

Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has stepped down after less than nine months in charge.

The announcement was made after Solskjaer, 41, held talks with chairman Mehmet Dalman.

The Bluebirds are 17th in the Championship after three losses in seven games, including Tuesday's 1-0 home defeat by Middlesbrough and a 4-2 capitulation against Norwich.

Veteran defender Danny Gabbidon and Scott Young are in temporary charge.

Solskjaer succeeded Malky Mackay on 2 January, 2014.

In a statement Dalman said: "Due to a difference in philosophy of approach to the game, we have decided to part company amicably."

Owner Vincent Tan said: "Ole was hired by Cardiff City on our understanding and belief that he would help us fight relegation from the Barclays Premier League.

"Unfortunately that did not happen. After the club was relegated many people advised me to let him go, but I decided to keep Ole on for the Championship season.

"Regrettably our recent results do not justify Ole's continued role as manager at Cardiff.

"Ole has therefore decided to step down and I have accepted this.

"During my short association with Ole, I have found him to be an honest and hardworking professional, but unfortunately the football results were not in his favour."
Solskjaer said: "I want to thank Vincent for giving me the opportunity to manage Cardiff City FC.

"He has my full respect and I really wish him all the best in his pursuit of making this football club successful.

"However, our difference in philosophy on how to manage the club made me decide to step aside and allow the club to move forward in the direction Vincent wants."

Before the announcement was made, BBC Scotland reported that Dundee boss Paul Hartley had rejected the possibility of succeeding Solskjaer.

The former Manchester United striker failed to save City from Premier League relegation.

After the latest defeat, the Norwegian said he accepted the blame for the club's poor run of form.

"I'm responsible and I should get better results than what we've had in the first seven games," said Solskjaer.

His team were booed off the pitch at half time and at the end of the game against Middlesbrough.

However, former Bluebirds captain Jason Perry told BBC Radio Wales that the board and owner Vincent Tan had to take some responsibility.

"It was the wrong appointment for Cardiff and the wrong club for Solskjaer," said Perry ahead of the Norwegian's departure.

He feels Solskjaer's attacking style did not follow on from Mackay's defensive policy.

Perry also said Solskjaer had changed his team too often and failed to establish a playing style.

"Do we know how Cardiff City play? No," he added.

"I think only four players played against Blackburn that played against Middlesbrough. He [Solskjaer] picked a different back four yet again.

"If you're manager or a coach you have a central strategy and you work on that.

"But he's still [been] trying to find his first 11 and you can't do it, it doesn't work.

"The table tells you that, the results tell you that and unfortunately Cardiff thought he was the right man for the job and I want to know why."

wed 17 Sept Champions League Fixtures & Results

Bayern Mun 1 - 0 Man City FT

Roma 5 - 1 CSKA Moscow FT

Ajax 1 - 1 Paris St G FT

Barcelona 1 - 0 Apoel Nic FT

Chelsea 1 - 1 FC Schalke 04 FT

NK Maribor 1 - 1 Sporting FT

Ath Bilbao 0 - 0 Shakt Donsk FT

FC Porto 6 - 0 BATE Bor FT

Sierra Leone sack Northern Irish coach Johnny McKinstry

Northern Irishman Johnny McKinstry has been sacked as coach of Sierra Leone, six months after he was given the job on a permanent basis.

His dismissal comes after defeats at the hands of Ivory Coast and DR Congo in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers earlier this month.

The results leave them bottom of Group D of the Nations Cup qualifiers without a single point so far.

Acting director of sports at the Sierra Leone sports ministry Saidu Mansaray told BBC Sport that McKinstry has been fired because of the poor results.

He added the decision was taken jointly by the ministry and the country's football association.

The 29-year-old was first appointed as caretaker coach of Leone Stars in April last year during the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, following the resignation of Swede Lars Olof Mattson.

McKinstry has expressed his sadness over the sacking.

"I'm very disappointed because we were moving in the right direction," he told BBC Sport.

"We were developing a team over the last 17 months and the future was bright."

"Poor preparation is the significant factor why we lost to both Ivory Coast and DR Congo. We had no time to prepare mainly due to long periods of travelling.

"I'm sure if had I continued as coach of the team we would have improved."

Sierra Leone's preparations for their opening Nations Cup qualifiers were hit by the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the country.

First the Confederation of African Football ruled they were not allowed to host their home qualifiers.

After being turned down by Ghana they were eventually forced to play their "home" tie against DR Congo in the Congolese city of Lubumbashi.

Ivory Coast's government only gave the go-ahead for Sierra Leone to play in Abidjan four days before their qualifier was due to be played.

After the 2-1 loss in Abidjan the Leone Stars then endured a trip of almost 48 hours to get to Lubumbashi for their second tie, which they lost 2-0.

McKinstry will continue to manage the Craig Bellamy Football academy on the outskirts of Freetown.

Local media are tipping Ghana-born former Sierra Leone international Atto Mensah, who is currently based in the Netherlands, to be named as his replacement.

By Mohamed Fajah Barrie BBC Sport, Freetown

Arsenal: Arsene Wenger urges patience over Danny Welbeck

Manager Arsene Wenger says Arsenal "have to be patient" with new signing Danny Welbeck after his miss proved costly in the 2-0 Champions League defeat at Borussia Dortmund.

The 23-year-old England forward, a £16m arrival from Manchester United this month, shot wide when clean through with the Group D game goalless.

Dortmund scored either side of half-time to secure victory.

"Danny will improve - we don't have to make a problem of that," said Wenger.

"He had a very lively first half. He had two or three good chances but couldn't finish them. There was one obvious one. We have to be patient with him."

Welbeck scored both goals as England beat Switzerland 2-0 in a Euro 2016 qualifier on 8 September.

After Welbeck's miss at Signal Iduna Park, Ciro Immobile gave the home side the lead with a low shot, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finished another fine breakaway.

Aubameyang also hit the crossbar in a game that saw Dortmund have 22 shots to Arsenal's four.

Defeat in their opening game leaves the Gunners - competing in the Champions League for the 17th successive season - bottom of the group after Galatasaray and Anderlecht drew 1-1.

"It's very difficult to go into any individual assessment of any player because as a team we were not at the requested level," said Wenger.

The Frenchman said midfielder Jack Wilshere "turned an ankle" late on, although the 22-year-old finished the game.

"It's difficult to say how bad it is," Wenger added. "But because of his history I'm a bit cautious."

Arsenal face Galatasaray at Emirates Stadium in their next Champions League game on 1 October.

But he has not found the net at club level since scoring for United in a 3-0 Premier League win at West Brom on 8 March.

Caf bans fans from Setif's match against TP Mazembe

Entente Setif have been ordered by the Confederation of African Football to play their Champions League tie against TP Mazemebe behind closed doors.

The Algerians' semi-final, first-leg match against the DR Congo club is to be hosted on 20 September in Setif.

Caf has banned supporters because of "repeated incidents of unsporting behaviour by fans of ES Setif".

The governing body referred to "various reports of match officials especially during the group phase".

Pep Guardiola: Man Utd cannot afford Bayern Munich players

Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola says Manchester United can not afford to lure players away from the Allianz Arena.

The Premier League club spent more than £150m on summer signings after failing to qualify for the Champions League, including a British record £59.7m on Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid.

But Guardiola said none of his stars would be moving to Old Trafford.

"They don't have enough money, I am sorry," said the 43-year-old Spaniard.

Guardiola, speaking before the Bundesliga champions' opening Champions League match against Manchester City on Wednesday, added: "I saw they (United) spent a lot of money. It is part of the game.

"It just basically depends on the player. When the player wants to move - they are going to move.

"Manchester wants these kind of players and they decided to stay here and we are so happy for that."

Guardiola, who was part of new Old Trafford boss Louis van Gaal's Barcelona team before going on to coach the La Liga team himself, added that United's failure to qualify for the tournament showed "why football is magnificent".

"Every week you have to show you are ready," he said. "A bad 45 minutes and you're out."

Marco van Basten steps down as AZ Alkmaar coach due to stress

Marco van Basten has stepped down as AZ Alkmaar coach because of stress but will stay on as assistant coach.

The 49-year-old former Netherlands player and manager took charge of the Dutch side in the summer.

However, he had been on sick leave since 28 August and decided on Tuesday he could no longer continue as head coach, with his former assistant Alex Pastoor taking over.

"The stress I experienced was more than I would have liked," said Van Basten.

The former Ajax and AC Milan striker retired as a player in 1995 and was coach of the Ajax reserve team before becoming Netherlands boss in 2004.

He led the Dutch to the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup and the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 before leaving to take charge of Ajax.

Van Basten also managed Heerenveen for two years before becoming AZ Alkmaar coach, but the 1992 world player of the year said heart palpitations brought on by stress had convinced him to step down.

"It (the palpitations) has happened to me several times over the last years. I thought I could overcome it and that things would get better," added Van Basten.

"I worked hard at recovery and followed the necessary courses of treatment. I wanted to keep going but they kept coming back. There were two solutions: to do something else or to change the way I currently work.

"That is why I asked AZ to change my responsibility to better suit me and so that I can continue."

wed 17 Sept Champions League Fixtures

Bayern Mun v Man City 19:45

Chelsea v FC Schalke 04 19:45

Roma v CSKA Moscow 19:45

Ajax v Paris St G 19:45

Barcelona v Apoel Nic 19:45

NK Maribor v Sporting 19:45

Ath Bilbao v Shakt Donsk 19:45

FC Porto v BATE Bor 19:45

Tuesday, 16 Sept Champions League Fixtures & Results

Juventus 2 - 0 Malmö FF FT

Olympiakos 3 - 2 Atl Madrid FT

Liverpool 2 - 1 Ludo Razgd FT

Real Madrid 5 - 1 FC Basel FT

Benfica 0 - 2 Zenit St P FT

Monaco 1 - 0 Bayer Levkn FT

Bor Dortmd 2 - 0 Arsenal FT

Galatasaray 1 - 1 Anderlecht FT

Ivory Coast striker Gervinho extends contract at Roma

Ivory Coast striker Gervinho will remain at Italian Serie A side Roma until 2018 after signing a contract extension with the club.

The 27-year-old joined in 2013 from Arsenal and has scored nine times in 33 league appearances.

The club said: "Roma announces that Yao Gervais Kouassi (Gervinho) has extended his contract by one year."

Roma finished runners-up to Juventus last season to secure a place in the group stages of the Champions League.

Gervinho scored his opening goal of the league season last week in a 2-0 win over Fiorentina.

He is expected to start for Rudi Garcia's side when they host CSKA Moscow in their Group E opener at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.

Eden Hazard: Chelsea forward to sign new contract 'within month'

 

Chelsea forward Eden Hazard could sign a new contract within a month and develop into "one of the greatest players of his generation", according to manager Jose Mourinho.

The 23-year-old Belgium international, who joined from Lille in 2012, has three years left on his current deal.

"It's a question of time - one more month - but we will end up with a new contract," Mourinho said.

"He wants to stay and commit for many years."

The Portuguese described Hazard as a "fantastic" player who is keen to develop - potentially into one of the "greats".

"We think he can and we are very proud that he thinks Chelsea is the perfect environment for him to have that evolution," Mourinho said.

"We have big hopes that he will go from a top player to reach higher levels."

He was criticised by Mourinho for a lack of defensive awareness after Chelsea were knocked out of last season's Champions League by Atletico Madrid.

However, speaking ahead of Wednesday's Champions's League Group G match against Schalke at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho said Hazard had since worked hard to develop his game.

Tuesday, 16 Sept Champions League Fixtures

Juventus v Malmö FF 19:45

Olympiakos v Atl Madrid 19:45

Liverpool v Ludo Razgd 19:45

Real Madrid v FC Basel 19:45

Benfica v Zenit St P 19:45

Monaco v Bayer Levkn 19:45

Bor Dortmd v Arsenal 19:45

Galatasaray v Anderlecht 19:45

In-form Martins hopes for recall to Nigeria national team

Nigeria international and In-form Seattle Sounders striker Obafemi Martins hopes his form in Major League Soccer (MLS) will earn him a Nigeria recall.

Obafemi Martins aka Obagoal – over the weekend, scored in Sounders's 3-2 home victory over Real Salt Lake on Friday night for his 13th goal of the season, and also boasts an impressive nine assists.

"I said at the start of the season if I was doing well for Seattle and scoring goals, I'd have a chance with Nigeria," he told BBC Sport.

"But firstly, I want to play regularly here and try to help Seattle Sounders win a trophy."

However With the Super Eagles struggling for goals and results in their 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, he hopes to earn a place in the squad for October’s double header against Sudan with qualification for the 2015 African Cup of Nations.

"It's the coach's decision to invite players but if I can get a recall to the national team, I'll be honoured," he added.

"I just need to continue my form here in the United States, give my all to this club and let other things happen naturally.

"I love my country and I always want Nigeria to do well with me in the squad or not.

"If I get another chance, great, and if not, I can only wish my country all the best."

Obafemi Martins aka Obagoal has played 39 games for Nigeria scoring 18 goals.