Wenger admits: Crocked Ozil heard his knee crack

The midfielder has been ruled out for up to three months with a collateral ligament tear, with the Arsenal manager admitting he opted against substituting him against Chelsea

Arsene Wenger has revealed Mesut Ozil "felt a crack" in his knee against Chelsea but played on for Arsenal nonetheless.

The midfielder played the full 90 minutes of the 2-0 defeat but Germany doctors ruled him out for up to three months with a collateral ligament tear in his left knee three days later.

Wenger says he is "shocked" by the extent of the injury, admitting the length of the lay-off is "difficult to take" due to it seemingly being caused without contact with another player.

"He had a little problem just before he went out at half-time. He had a little pain with his knee, he felt a crack," he told beIN Sports.

"I said to our physio to keep an eye on him and if there was anything wrong with him, tell me because when you’re 1-0 down, you want to keep your offensive players on the pitch.

"I am deeply shocked. He wasn’t involved in a collision with anybody. It was just after making a pass with the outside of his foot that he injured his leg.

"It's very hard to believe that you can damage your ligament with just making a simple pass and it’s very difficult to take that he will be out for a while."

Ozil's injury is the 10th suffered by a first-team member, prompting criticism of Wenger's training techniques, but the Arsenal manager insists such troubles are "accidental".

He added: "I am not a great believer in coincidences but this time it really is coincidence. You cannot say our injuries are preparation mistakes. The big injuries we have are really accidental.

"Scientifically we are quite good. We have been hit hard after seven games. I would never have thought we would have had so many bad injuries."

LaLaga Here I Come As Suarez: Barcelona Clasico debut is fate

The attacker is eagerly anticipating the match against Madrid and is in awe of team-mates Lionel Messi, Neymar, Xavi and Andres Iniesta

Luis Suarez believes it's fate that he could make his Barcelona debut in the Liga match against arch-rivals Real Madrid on October 25.

The Uruguay international will be available for selection again when his four-month ban expires on October 24 and he thinks it's no coincidence that he could take on Madrid on his maiden appearance for the Catalans.

"You know, I’m the kind of person who believes that things happen for a reason, and out of all 19 teams in the league, it’s precisely against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu that I’ll make my comeback. There must be a reason," Suarez told Barca Magazine.

"I imagine what it’ll be like to pull on the shirt, to be with the rest of the team in the dressing room before the match, getting kitted up to play, and as chance would have it, in such a stadium. It’s a huge coincidence but I’m looking forward to the experience.

"It hasn’t sunk in yet. I don’t believe it’s true yet. I did play 15 minutes in the 6-0 Gamper win over Leon, but to be honest, it felt like I was a guest player. I didn’t really feel like a Barca player. I’d only just arrived in time for the Gamper and I was still a bit nervous."

Attackers such as David Villa and Thierry Henry struggled at Camp Nou as they had to settle for a position on the wing rather than their preferred No.9 position, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic also failed to make an impact at Barcelona.

Nevertheless, Suarez does not fear that he will encounter similar problems and is ready to play wherever head coach Luis Enrique needs him.

"Some people see me as a centre-forward and others as a forward, but even if I play at centre forward I never stay there all the time. I’m always moving around and don’t like to be still.

"When we have the ball, I like to move all around the attack. I don’t just want to be in the area. But you have to listen to what the coach wants and asks for and try to help the team however you can.

"What a striker likes best is to score goals and doing that depends on their quality, their confidence, their instinct at the right time, opportunism. But a striker is also a team member and in my case I also like making nice moves and providing passes for my colleagues to score.

"Although some people might not believe it, there are strikers who prefer to set up a goal for a team-mate if they are better positioned. In the teams I’ve played for, I’ve always tried to help not only with goals but also with assists."

The Uruguay star also had his say on the quality of his team-mates and admitted that he is thoroughly impressed by what Lionel Messi, Neymar, Xavi and Andres Iniesta are capable of.

"The quality of the players here is incredible. It’s admirable. You watch the games and see how good the players are and training with them confirms what you’ve seen in those matches.

"To see the passes that players like Leo, Neymar, Xavi and Iniesta make! They’re all top quality players and when you think it’d be impossible for them to make a pass, you are stunned to see that they do.

"Sharing training and day-to-day life with those people is spectacular."

Zubizarreta Thinks Messi deserves Real Madrid tribute, If He Scores

The Barcelona director is eager to see the Argentina star break La Liga's goal record in the Clasico and says Luis Suarez has been boosted by psychological help

Barcelona director Andoni Zubizarreta believes Lionel Messi would deserve recognition from the Real Madrid crowd if he breaks La Liga's goal record in the Clasico.

Messi is just two goals short of equalling Telmo Zarra's record of 251 goals in Spain's top flight and could potentially surpass the tally should he score against Madrid on October 25.

The LFP have suggested Messi could be honoured at the Santiago Bernabeu should he break the record by scoring in the Clasico at the end of the month, and Zubizarreta - who watched the Madrid fans give a standing ovation to Ronaldinho during Barcelona's 3-0 win in 2005 - feels it would be fully deserved.

"It's something more to do with sports like American football and basketball, it sounds odd in football. But he deserves recognition. I'll settle for a goal against Eibar and Madrid and that we win," he told AS.

"We've seen the Bernabeu applaud Barca players in the past, and vice-versa."

Messi missed a penalty in Argentina's Superclasico defeat to Brazil at the weekend but Zubizarreta believes it will simply spur him on to even greater form.

"I don't think penalty misses affect him. He scored two at the Bernabeu last year. He'd prefer to score to help the team, but I know that Beijing pitch from pre-season and it's not good," he said. "It will spur him on to do better.

"Players evolve and Leo isn't just a goalscorer. He understands the game, he is involved in more phases of play. Goals will always be there but that won't be all.

"Leo plays more inside and Neymar goes into space and that can unsettle teams, but also there are others like Pedro and Munir El Haddadi.

"Our rivals will analyse us and we're always changing - the top teams always do. Last year was difficult for them both with injuries. Now there is more consistency."

Luis Suarez is in line to make his competitive debut for Barca on October 25 and Zubizarreta is confident he would be ready to play following his sessions with a psychologist during his ban for biting.

"Hopefully Luis Enrique has everyone at his disposal for the Bernabeu," he added. "Until now, without him, the season has been going well. Knowing the player, he'll be at the Bernabeu before we ask him.

"The coach will choose those who he thinks will win. I remember after sanctions in the past that he made his comeback against [Manchester] United [for Liverpool].

"He's calm. He's become aware and we try to do things normally. We don't want to make a big story about this [psychological help].

"Playing with Uruguay will do him good and he is relaxed."

Is It True That 'Ronaldo & Messi need each other' ?

The legendary Dane clams that the Real Madrid and Barcelona attackers keep pushing one another to new heights

Former Real Madrid and Barcelona star Michael Laudrup believes that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo need one another to keep improving.

The two stars have enjoyed a fascinating rivalry over the past decade, winning every Ballon d'Or between them since 2008 and regularly surpassing 50 goals apiece in all competitions each season.

Laudrup, who spent five years at Camp Nou before moving to the Santiago Bernabeu in 1994 believes that both will be remembered as some of the finest players ever to play the game when they eventually retire.

"I think they need each other," he told EFE.

"If one scores a hat-trick, the other tries to beat that. They are two of the best, not just of this era - in 30 years we'll be talking about them and the debate will be whether Messi, Cristiano, Maradona or Pele is the greatest of all time."

When asked which of them he would rather have in his team, the Dane replied: "Both would have to be in it, as they've clearly been the best two over the past four or five years."

Laudrup also said that James Rodriguez must become accustomed to the pressure of representing Real Madrid before he becomes a weapon for Carlo Ancelotti's side.

"He's a great footballer. He's got to get used to playing for such a big side, with all the pressure that comes with that," he added.

Real Madrid and Barcelona lock horns for the first time this season at the Santiago Bernabeu on October 25.

Ronaldo has no words to describe him, says Santos

The 29-year-old delighted the new Portugal boss by heading home a late header in the dramatic victory over Denmark on Tuesday

Portugal coach Fernando Santos said he had no words to describe Cristiano Ronaldo after the Real Madrid star scored a late winner against Denmark.

The Seleccao appeared to be heading for a draw in Copenhagen when the 29-year-old headed home in the final minute of added time to give his side a much-needed victory.

"Cristiano is Cristiano. He is a winner, and there are no adjectives to describe him," the former Greece boss told reporters.

"We knew that Denmark were very strong. I think they saw the match against France and changed from their normal tactics, from a 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 trying to control the match.

"Thank God, we managed to win and I hope it's the first of many victories. I believe we definitely deserved it - we were very good in the first half and hit the post.

"The team were always seeking victory, then Cristiano took a cross from [Ricardo] Quaresma. He had other chances, but the ball wouldn't go in."

Portugal currently sit third in Group I of the Euro 2016 qualifiers, behind the Danes and surprise leaders Albania.

Serbian FA blames 'aggressive' Albanians for 'scandalous' abandonment

Uefa has confirmed it has opened disciplinary action against both sides but the home team in Tuesday's suspended Euro 2016 qualifier believe they will be absolved from blame

The Serbian Football Association has blamed the “aggressive” Albania team and provocation from visiting fans for the "scandalous" abandonment of Tuesday's Euro 2016 qualifier.

Flares were thrown on to the pitch by home fans in Belgrade before visiting supporters flew a drone on to the pitch carrying a pro-Albanian flag which stoked the heavy political tensions already clouding the clash.

The game went from being stopped momentarily to complete chaos when Stefan Mitrovic ripped the banner down from the drone, causing Albanian players to react angrily.

The scuffle quickly escalated into a full-scale brawl and Albania's team had to flee to safety inside the stadium as home fans stormed the field, leaving referee Martin Atkinson no choice but to suspend the game.

Despite the scores being level at 0-0 when the match was called off just before half-time , Serbia's FA suggests their team were en route to a home win and that Albania's team, players and FA prevented that outcome with their actions.

"The Football Association of Serbia expresses regret that the match between Serbia and Albania did not finish in a sports manner, as a very important event of two countries' best teams should have," it said in a statement on Wednesday.

"In an atmosphere that has not been seen for a long time in Serbia, with support of fans acting like one, Serbian national team players, playing a good game, were heading towards an important victory on their way to France 2016.

"Unfortunately, a provocation from the opponents was started by entering a flag of non-existing so-called "Great Albania" that as such offends feelings of Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Greece citizens with help of a drone that came from outside of the stadium.

"That was continued by inappropriate scenes on the pitch, so the match was not finished in the usual way and therefore our national team players lost chance to show who had better quality in a fair, sportsmanlike and chivalrous contest.

"At one point, Serbian player Stefan Mitrovic caught the flag and started to fold it as calmly as possible, in order to give it to the fourth official and for the match to be continued.

"Absolutely all of the Serbian players and officials on the bench were in their seats, calm and without any attempt to show force or rage because of the incident.

"However, Albanian players acted very aggressively and physically attacked Mitrovic."

Uefa confirmed on Wednesday that it had begun disciplinary proceedings against Serbia for "for the setting off/throwing of fireworks and missiles, crowd disturbance, field invasion by supporters, insufficient organisation and use of a laser pointer".

Albania are under similar scrutiny from the European football governing body and could potentially face action for "refusing to play and the display on an illicit banner" in Tuesday's match.

Serbia's FA, however, is refusing to entertain the notion that the cause of the fallout can be placed on its doorstep and branded the actions from Albania "scandalous" and expects the disciplinary actions against them to be dropped.

"We declare under full responsibility that the match referee and the match delegate made a decision for the match to be continued.

"FA of Serbia and our representatives accepted that but unfortunately the people from the Albanian Football Association and their national team did not.

"We welcomed our guests from the Albanian FA in the best possible way. Because of that, we are truly worried by the fact that, after decision of the match officials (delegate and referee) for the match to be continued, they did not do anything for that to happen.

"It is scandalous that the other party, with their "job well done" attitude, is ridiculing not only the FA of Serbia and the Serbian people but also, we dare to say, Uefa.

"The Albanian FA simply took Uefa rules in their own hands interpreting them as they preferred. According to that, we estimate that they are directly guilty for the match abandonment and we expect that Uefa disciplinary bodies will register the match with 3-0 result, in favour of Serbia."

Albania's FA is yet to release a statement following their decision not to return to the field of play after their players were pelted with projectiles as they fled following the brawl.

Cote d’Ivoire 3-4 DR Congo: Elephants stumble in topsy turvy tussle

The Leopards took revenge in Abidjan on Wednesday with a 4-3 victory in response to a 2-1 loss in Kinshasa last weekend

Cote d’Ivoire were shockingly beaten 4-3 at home in Abidjan by DR Congo in 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group stage on Wednesday.

The Leopards went into the break with a 3-1 lead but the home side returned stronger to level the scoreline at 3-3 before conceding a last-minute goal that stunned the fans.

Buoyed by a 2-1 win over the Congolese in the reverse fixture, the Elephants began with strong ambitions to get the job done and conserve second spot in Group D, after Cameroon edged Sierra Leone 2-0 in Yaounde earlier on to keep stranglehold on the group.

After balanced quarter-hour exchanges, DR Congo began exploiting the potholes in the Ivorian defence and tested their post with a couple of long-range strikes as Yaya Toure and company focused their attention up field.

French-born midfielder Neeskens Keban handed the Leopards a dream start in the 21st minute after topping off his side’s pacy and vigilant counterattacks with a fine finish into the Ivorian net.

Four minutes later, Yaya Toure answered for Cote d’Ivoire after claiming a loose ball in the midfield and dropping deep to the edge of the box before unleashing his effort past DR Congo goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba.

Inspired by the equaliser, the Ivorians poured forth in search of a second goal while leaving gaps behind, as inexperienced centre-back Frank Kessi struggled to contain the intermittent counters from the Leopards.

Congo scored two goals in quick succession before the 40thminute, each coming through blunders in the Ivorian backline.

Junior Kabananga was set up to the right edge of the Ivorian box, completely unmarked. He adjusted his foot and powered home his finish past Copa Barry to make it 2-1 for DR Congo. A minute later, Jeremy Bokila made it 3-1 with a superb volley after overwhelming Serge Aurier near the box.

Issues seemed to have compounded for Cote d’Ivoire after Kessi picked a straight red card for blocking a goalbound Congolese player upon their return from the break. However, the Elephants quickly seized the game and pushed the visitors on to the defensive.

Their efforts finally yielded fruit when Salomon Kalou was thrown into the fray by a desperate Herve Renard - the former Chelsea winger hit a double within three minutes (69th and 72nd) to level and revive spirits for his side.

With one man down and pegging it at 3-3, Cote d’Ivoire maintained a continuous flow of traffic towards the Leopards’ post in a bid to scramble the winner.

Yaya Toure, after being served to the right by Gervinho, chipped his effort blindly towards Kidiaba, who sprawled to deflect it for a corner.

The Ivorians multiplied efforts across the final quarter of the meeting, but were stabbed in the back when Bokila scored his double, and fourth goal for DR Congo, in the 89th minute.

It ended 4-3 for the Congolese, who are now on six points with Cote d’Ivoire in Group D, still led by Cameroon on 10.

Van Persie delighted for comeback-hero Afellay

EXCLUSIVE: The Netherlands captain was thrilled at the winger's performance on his return to the side, while Nigel de Jong has warned of the threat posed by Iceland

Robin van Persie was delighted with the match-winning contribution of Ibrahim Afellay on Friday as the winger made his return to Netherlands action.

Kazakhstan took a shock lead against Oranje in the Euro 2016 qualifier before Afellay set up Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to level matters just past the hour mark.

The Olympiakos winger then capped his first international game for two years with a goal of his own before Van Persie's late penalty, and the Manchester United striker was thrilled with the 28-year-old's efforts.

"It was a double liberation - not only for the team, but for him. It was beautiful," he told Goal after the match.

"I know how hard he's had it. I've been in touch with him in Barcelona, I know where he's coming from. If he scores the winning goal, I'm very happy for him.

"He's come a long way and is now back at the top."

Baurzhan Dzholchiev was sent off for a reckless challenge on Afellay in the second half and Van Persie admits he is concerned his team-mate could miss the clash with Iceland as a result.

"I was shocked for a moment. I hope he makes it to Iceland," he added.

Midfielder Nigel de Jong, meanwhile, praised coach Guus Hiddink's decision to replace him with Huntelaar as Netherlands sought a route back into the match and warned of the threat posed by Monday's opponents.

"We didn't play badly," he told Goal. "We just played against a wall.

"The coach does what's best for the team. Everyone knows his position, Huntelaar too. If he comes into the side, he does as well as possible, and that's how it turned out tonight.

"Iceland are better than the others in our group. We need to be at 100 per cent to win there."

Giggs: Van Gaal embraced Man Utd's philosophy

Tylet Blackett and Paddy McNair have been handed debuts in recent weeks and the club's assistant manager, himself a youth product, is delighted at the manager's trust in them

Ryan Giggs believes Louis van Gaal has embraced "the philosophy of Manchester United" by nurturing youngsters like Tyler Blackett.

The new United manager has handed 20-year-old Blackett and fellow defender Paddy McNair – who turned 19 in April – their Premier League debuts this season.Van Gaal has praised the manner in which Manchester-born Blackett and McNair have made the step up and Giggs, himself a product of the club's youth system, is excited to see the duo flourish.

"That's the philosophy of Manchester United, you always bring young exciting footballers through and the fans demand it and the club demands it," Giggs told reporters.

"Yeah, you spend money on world-class stars, but you also have young players coming through. Right from the Busby Babes right from before that, right up until now, you give youth a chance.

"That's what Manchester United have always done and will continue to do."

Under Van Gaal, who succeeded David Moyes, a new-look United have flattered to deceive in this season, producing just one convincing performance in the 4-0 thrashing of QPR last month.

However, United mustered successive wins for the first time prior to the international break and face leaders Chelsea, champions Manchester City and Arsenal before the end of November.

He said: "Obviously, we've made a lot of investments this season. I think the new boys are starting to settle in and it's exciting.

"We're fourth in the table and we'll look to build from that. We've got a tough few weeks coming up with West Brom [next Monday], and then a real test with Chelsea and City.

"That'll sort of be a test to see where we're at, but we're looking forward to the challenge."

Keshi earned stay of execution with Nigeria win - Dosu

The ex-international claims the Super Eagles' victory against the Falcons of Jediane will help ease the pressure on the national team and their coach

Former Nigeria goalkeeper Joseph Dosu believes that his nation's 3-1 win against Sudan on Wednesday has saved Stephen Keshi from being fired.

Going into the game against Mohamed Abdalla's side, the former Mali and Togo coach had faced barrage of criticisms following his side’s poor streak in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying series where they were able to manage a point in three games.

Dosu, who won Olympic gold with Nigeria 18 years ago, thinks the win has potentially saved Keshi's job but was worried by the Super Eagles' lack of composure compared to the unfancied visitors.

"I must confess that the Sudanese were more coordinated than the Super Eagles," he told Goal. "They held on to the ball, passed the ball without stress and they were able to move freely from the defence to the middle down to the attack.

"For now, I think it will bring the tension down because everybody will relax a bit and see how other games go but I think its good for Keshi, he won, because if the game had ended in a draw or defeat that could have been the end as Eagles’ coach.

"As it stands now, the tension would go down though whether he continues or not remains the question but I can assure you that he will be given the benefit of doubt to be in charge and it is good his team won today."

Nigeria are the reigning Afcon champions but they might need to win their last two matches to have any chance of reaching the finals next year - but Dosu is simply relieved that Keshi's men avoided the nightmare of dropping more points.

"We wanted the victory badly, but then we’re still behind Congo and South Africa," he added. "With this, we hope to beat Congo away then return home and defeat South Africa.

"Let’s see how it goes but the most important thing now is to win our remaining two games to stand a chance of qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, but the most important thing is this victory."

South Africa's 0-0 draw with Congo has fortuitously left both African nations within Nigeria's sights in Group A.

Benzema: It's a pleasure to hear praise from Ronaldo

The Portugal star referred to the Frenchman as "the best striker in La Liga" - something which gives confidence to Real Madrid's No.9

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema admits it is a pleasure to hear Cristiano Ronaldo describe him as La Liga's best striker.

The Portugal star hailed his team-mate as the best in his position in Spain's top flight after his two goals in the 5-0 rout of Athletic Bilbao.

Ronaldo himself scored his third Liga hat-trick in four games against Ernesto Valverde's side and Benzema says he is delighted to hear such praise from a player he believes is currently the best on the planet.

"It's a pleasure to hear it from him, because right now he's the best player in the world and he knows a little about this. I really appreciate it," the France international told Marca.

Benzema added that the understanding of the so-called 'BBC' partnership between himself, Ronaldo and Gareth Bale is continuing to develop as his side's form begins to reach that which saw them win the Champions League last season.

"We understand each other very well, we complement each other and always try to help each other out. Everyone has their way of playing, but we always look for the good of the team," he added.


"Last year was a big year. I think that, this year, we needed to find a little rhthym, but bit by bit we're getting closer to our goals."

Montpellier face hefty stadium repair bill as flood wreaks havoc

The Stade de la Mossons' press room, gym and changing rooms - along with the pitch - have been devastated by flash flooding following severe rain in the south of France

Montpellier could be forced to temporarily relocate from Stade de la Mossons after flash flooding caused huge damage to the pitch and club offices.

The south of France has been hit hard by torrential rain in the last week, with the city of Montpellier subjected to 50 per cent of its average annual rainfall during the latest downpour.

The club's home has subsequently been substantially damaged by flash-flooding as up to three metres of water built up on the pitch.

While the playing surface itself has been transformed into a mud bath, the club's press room has also been largely destroyed thanks to the flooding, while the gym and dressing rooms have taken significant damage.

The club revealed the extent of the destruction through a series of images posted on their official Twitter account.

#inondations La #Mosson dévastée par plus de 3m d'eau cette nuit. État catastrophique #Montpellier pic.twitter.com/sDVbptgq0s
— MHSC (@MontpellierHSC) October 7, 2014

Pour vous donner une idée de la hauteur de l'eau cette nuit à la #Mosson.. #inondations #montpellier pic.twitter.com/i0TXIe9V1w
— MHSC (@MontpellierHSC) October 7, 2014

Ce qu'il reste de la salle de presse à la #Mosson.. #inondations #montpellier pic.twitter.com/2jTVkoVgeY
— MHSC (@MontpellierHSC) October 7, 2014

La zone vestiaire dans un triste état ..#Mosson #Inondations #Montpellier pic.twitter.com/LPdBssK0Zo
— MHSC (@MontpellierHSC) October 7, 2014

Club chairman Laurent Nicollin, son of owner Louis, confirmed on Tuesday that they may be forced to find another venue for the Ligue 1 clash with Olympique Lyonnais on October 19.

Shaqiri: I must accept Bayern will not sell me

The Switzerland star has vowed to "give everything" for the Bundesliga champions after the club made it clear they would consider selling him

Xherdan Shaqiri says he must accept that Bayern Munich will not sell him and has vowed to give his utmost on the pitch for Pep Guardiola.

The Switzerland international was subject of a bid from Liverpool during the summer, while Juventus and Roma were also credited with an interest, after he had struggled to secure regular first-team football at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern went public with their desire to keep the 22-year-old, although new reports have emerged this week suggesting that Spanish champions Atletico Madrid will make an €18 million bid for his services.

Shaqiri, however, accepts that Bayern have made their stance clear over his future and is determined to "give everything" for the club this term.

"I've still got a contract until 2016 and the club have already told me I won't be going anywhere so I've just got to accept that," he told Sport1. "For as long as I am here, I will give everything I've got.

"I try to do my best in training and when the coach rewards me with appearances, like against Hannover, then that's even better. I'm always delighted when I can start games, and I show that too, like I did this time. I think everybody could see how hungry I am to play football."


Shaqiri set up Robert Lewandowski's second goal with a stunning long-range pass in Bayern's 4-0 win over Hannover at the weekend.

You treat me like cattle' - Schneiderlin reveals extent of Southampton fallout after being refused summer move

The midfielder was the subject of intense interest from Tottenham during the transfer window and he admits that he hit out at the club following their refusal to sell

Morgan Schneiderlin claims that he told Southampton he was being "treated like cattle" after he was refused a summer move to Tottenham.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino launched a public pursuit of the France midfielder after taking over at White Hart Lane as he looked to bolster his squad ahead of the 2014-15 season.

Spurs' overtures were met with swift rebuttals, however, causing Schneiderlin to tweet his disgust after a meeting with the Saints hierarchy where he was told in no uncertain terms that he would not be allowed to follow the likes of Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Luke Shaw out of the exit door.

"Was the meeting with Southampton officials on July 29 tense? Yes," Schneiderlin told France Football. "In the months building up to it, there was interest from clubs – three clubs and Tottenham were among them.

"Since February/March, my agents and I had talked with Southampton about a possible departure. The club always told me they would sell for the right price.

"My agents and I went to that meeting on July 29 in a peaceful state of mind, with exciting propositions. To me, with my six years at Southampton and everything I had given to the club, everything should have been sorted that day.

"I told them I signed for a project that was supposed to keep the best elements in order to go higher. Before that meeting, Lallana, [Dejan] Lovren, Lambert, Luke Shaw and [Calum] Chambers all left. I said to myself: 'This is not the same situation, this is not possible. What are they doing?' At that moment, Southampton hadn't signed anyone.

"Chambers signed for Arsenal the day before our meeting and the club saw the fans getting mad. They thought: 'If Morgan leaves, the stadium will be burnt'. So they told us: 'Morgan is not for sale, we won't listen to anything. That is the decision and there is nothing more to say'."

Schneiderlin admits he was "angry" following Saints' refusal to let him leave, and he says he hit out at those in the meeting, by defending his interests.

"It was a real shock to me," he added. "Of course I was angry. I thought: 'I just played in the World Cup after two good seasons in the Premier League. I never say anything, but I can't stay in a team that plays for survival. I need to reach a new level'. So I told them: 'You don't respect me and you don't respect your words, you treat me like cattle'. They defended their interests and I defended mine."

Schneiderlin refused to play in a pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen, but was subsequently told by the club chairman to think things through over a weekend, a time when Schneiderlin says he was advised to go on strike by friends.

"After I refused to play the friendly against Leverkusen on August 9, the chairman came to speak to me and let me have the weekend to think about things," he explained.

"I talked to a lot of people. Some told me to go on strike, that the club will finally give up. My agents never said that, they just told me to make a decision.

"I felt that the officials wouldn't let me leave, that they would rather leave me on the sidelines for six months. So I resumed training because I really needed to play football again."

Schneiderlin says he eventually decided to stay at the club following their clash with Liverpool, and has now set his sights on qualifying for the Champions League with Southampton.

"I played against Liverpool at Anfield and all the Southampton fans applauded me and chanted my name. It was so heart-warming. I knew then I would spend the whole season at Southampton," he said.


"Maybe now we will achieve something amazing here. Champions League qualification would be fantastic. I hope to play in the Champions League one day, of course. I want to play every three days. But why not play in the Champions League with Southampton?"

FIGC chief Tavecchio banned for six months by Uefa

Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Carlo Tavecchio has been banned from holding a position as a Uefa official for six months following the racism storm earlier this year.


Oct 7, 2014 16:08:38
The 71-year-old has also been ordered to hold an event to raise awareness of racism in Italy as a result of his controversial comments earlier this year

Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Carlo Tavecchio has been banned from holding a position as a Uefa official for six months following the racism storm earlier this year.

Fabregas: Hazard is Chelsea's Messi

The Spain international also says he had "three options in England" but felt that the Blues were the best club for him after deciding to leave Barcelona in the summer

Cesc Fabregas believes Chelsea team-mate Eden Hazard can have the same impact on the Blues as Lionel Messi has at Barcelona.

Fabregas played alongside four-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi for three years before making a close-season move to Stamford Bridge where, alongside Hazard, he has helped Chelsea to the top of the Premier League.

While the ex-Arsenal captain has been consistently impressive since returning to the English top flight, Hazard too has been in fine form - winning and scoring the penalty that helped lead Chelsea to victory against Fabregas' former club on Sunday.

And Fabregas feels the performances of Hazard will be key to Chelsea's success this term.

"He is the link between midfield and attack for us; he is our Messi because he makes the difference," the Spaniard told radio station Cope.

"We have a young team but we are very positive about the future."

Much of the discussion prior to Chelsea's 2-0 win over Arsenal had centred on Fabregas coming up against a club he spent eight years at before returning to Barca.

After Arsenal passed up their first option to re-sign him, Chelsea made their move, but Fabregas revealed there was a third party interested in him.

"I've always played in clubs where I wanted to play. At the end of last season, I saw Chelsea as the best option," he continued.

"I always thought about a return to England and I talked to Mourinho and realised this was the best option.

"It was arranged through my agent. There was no call with Mourinho, just a face-to-face meeting. Jose showed great respect and convinced me quickly.


"We were honest, we put aside any history and I made my decision after talking with him. Overall I had three options in England."

Griezmann: I'm not good enough to be Ribery's successor

The Atletico Madrid ace says he does not feel under any pressure to be his country's new wing wizard - despite the obvious comparisons between himself and the Bayern Munich man

Antoine Griezmann has dismissed the perception that he is Franck Ribery's obvious successor, arguing that he is not on the same level as his fellow Frenchman.

With Ribery having announced his retirement from international football, many pundits feel that Atletico Madrid ace Griezmann has the ability to fill the void left in the Bleus squad - just as he attempted to do at Brazil 2014 this summer.

However, Griezmann does not want to be considered the heir to Ribery's throne as the king of French football and insists that he does not feel under any pressure to emulate the Bayern Munich star's achievements with the national team.

"I’m not the successor to Ribery," the Atletico Madrid ace told L'Equipe. "I’m not on his level.

"I don’t feel pressure to be, either from the press or on the pitch."

Griezmann admitted that he receives a lot of advice and guidance from France team-mate Karim Benzema but knows full well that by the time Euro 2016 comes around - at which point he will be 25 - he will need to be capable of looking after himself.

“You can say I need Benzema to protect me at the moment but we’ll see about that in 2016," he declared.

"There will no longer be 'Antoine the protege', only 'Antoine Griezmann'.”


Griezmann scored 20 times in all competitions for Real Sociedad last season, with his fine form not only earning him a place in France's World Cup squad but also a move to Atletico.

Brazil to meet Austria in Vienna

The CBF have confirmed that the Selecao will travel to central Europe for the final Gillette Brasil Global Tour date of 2014

The CBF have confirmed that Brazil will meet Austria in Vienna in October.

The match will be the Selecao’s final Gillette Brasil Global Tour date of 2014 and will take place at the Ernst Happel Stadium on November 18, six days after the clash with Turkey in Istanbul.

The fixture will be the sixth since Dunga succeeded former coach Luiz Felipe Scolari following Brazil’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Germany in July.

Dunga kicked off his campaign back in charge of the national team with 1-0 victories over both Colombia and Ecuador in USA last month.

This week the players arrived in Beijing, where they will meet Argentina in the Gillette Superclasico de las Americas on Saturday before heading to Singapore for a date with Japan three days later.

Brazil vs Austria
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna, Austria
Kick-Off Time: 19:00 Local

Wilshere: I am finally back to my best for Arsenal

The England international has drawn criticism for not living up to his potential, but is confident he is now proving doubters wrong after a string of impressive performances

Jack Wilshere is confident he is back to his best for Arsenal after finally recovering from his long injury lay-off.

The England international was sidelined for 17 months after suffering a number of ankle and knee problems, making his comeback two years ago this month.

Wilshere has come under criticism for not living up to his potential after breaking onto the scene as a 17-year-old, but is delighted after a string of impressive displays.

"I feel good and I'm always looking to improve, no matter what," Wilshere told the club's official website.

"For a player of my age, I've missed a lot of football so I'm just trying to play as much as I can, train as much as I can and I've always said that when I get fully fit you'll see the best of me.

"I said at the start of the season that it was going to take some time to get back to my best. Ever since my first injury, it's always taken a run of games - probably between five and 10 - to get back to my best.

"Some players are different, some players come back and are at their best straight away. But some need a run of games and I'm one of those players."

The 2-0 loss to Chelsea on Sunday leaves Arsenal with just 11 points from their opening seven games - their second-poorest start to a Premier League season - and Wilshere urged his team-mates to prove their worth.


"We've played well but at this level, against the top three in this league, when you're on top you need to make the opportunities count and if you don't then you're going to get punished," he said.

Mazzarri deserves another chance, insists Inter president Thohir

The Indonesian says that he still has the utmost faith in the former Napoli boss - even though the Nerazzurri have lost their last two Serie A games

Inter president Erick Thohir has given Walter Mazzarri a vote of confidence, revealing that he feels that the under-fire coach "deserves another chance" to prove that he is the right man to take the club forward.

The 53-year-old took charge of the Nerazzurri last summer and led the San Siro side back into Europe courtesy of a fifth-placed finish in Serie A.

However, Inter have made a stuttering start to the current campaign and currently sit 10th in the standings following back-to-back defeats, to Cagliari and Fiorentina.

Thohir, though, still feels that the former Napoli boss deserves time to turn things around and feels that the international break will help in that regard.

"We have to evaluate the situation well but Mazzarri has our trust and is doing his best," the Indonesian told VIVABola. "I think that he deserves another chance.

"Serie A is a competitive league, so the break is needed to make assessments and find solutions.

"The players must also do some introspective work in order to prepare for the next game."

Thohir also revealed that the club are currently in the process of identifying transfer targets for January, admitting that he is keen to give Mazzarri more options in the final third.

"We're working out what we will need," he explained. "At the moment I cannot say which type of player will come and in what area of the field.

"But maybe we need a creative midfielder like Kovacic or Hernanes, and a strong forward who can play on the shoulder of the last defender.

"We'll see."


Mazzarri led Napoli to a Coppa Italia triumph, in 2012, and a runners-up finish in Serie A the following season before succeeding Andrea Stramaccioni as Inter boss in May of last year.

Is Real Madrid, Juventus & Bayern Munich The Best In Europe

The interesting statistics Europe’s five biggest leagues have to offer in 2014-15

Real Madrid and Juventus are Europe’s biggest shooters so far this term - both averaging over 14 shots per game - with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich occupying third spot in the Huawei Team Ranking.

Carlo Ancelotti's side take aim 14.71 times per match on average, resulting in an impressive 25 goals from 103 shots in seven games.

The Serie A champions, meanwhile, follow in second place with 14.33 shots per game, which has helped them to six wins in as many games, netting 13 goals in the process.

Bayern have dominated Bundesliga in the opening weeks of the 2014-15 campaign and their superiority on the pitch has seen them test opposing goalkeepers 13.86 times on average, with 15 successful attempts.

Serie A outfits Lazio and Napoli sit joint fourth with 13.67 shots per game, the former scoring 11 goals so far this season, with the latter seeing a return of just eight goals from 82 attempts.

Sixth-placed Barcelona and number seven Inter are both not afraid to go for goal either as they average at least 13 shots per game, too. The Catalans have had 92 shots from seven games (13.14 per match), while Inter have tried their luck on 78 occasions in six encounters (13.00).

Fiorentina (12.67) sit eighth, with Olympique de Marseille (ninth, 12.44) and Wolfsburg (12.43) completing the top 10.

Meanwhile, Deportivo La Coruna have taken the fewest shots out of all clubs in Europe’s top five leagues in 2014-15.

The Primera Division outfit average just 5.14 shots per game so far this term, with only Stade de Reims (5.67), Aston Villa (5.71) and Bastia (5.89) showing a similar reluctance to shoot.

After Along wait Schalke's firing of Keller saved Di Matteo

The Bundesliga outfit have parted company with the 43-year-old after just two wins in 10 games in all competitions and turned to the former Chelsea boss

Schalke have confirmed the dismissal of Jens Keller as coach and the appointment of Roberto Di Matteo as his successor with immediate effect.

Keller's position had come under intense scrutiny after a poor start to the 2014-15 season in which they fell at the first hurdle in the DFB-Pokal, to Dynamo Dresden, but a Champions League draw away to Chelsea lifted spirits in Gelsenkirchen and back-to-back wins over Werder Bremen and rivals Borussia Dortmund eased the pressure on the 43-year-old.

However, after a disappointing draw at home to Maribor last week and defeat at Hoffenheim on Saturday, Keller met with sporting director Horst Heldt on Monday and was relieved of his duties.

Schalke then announced the following morning that Di Matteo, who led Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2012, had been installed as the club's new coach.

"Schalke have parted company with Jens Keller," read a brief statement on the club's official Twitter feed. "Roberto Di Matteo takes over."

Keller initially joined Schalke as the club's Under-17 coach but took charge of the senior squad in December 2012, succeeding Huub Stevens at the helm.

He was given a contract until the end of the season but signed a two-year extension in the summer of 2013.

However, Keller has now paid the price for a run of just two wins from 10 games in all competitions at the start of the current campaign.

Consequently, Schalke have now turned to Di Matteo, who has been without a full-time job since being sacked by Chelsea in November 2012.

The Italian led the Blues to Champions League glory in his then capacity as caretaker coach the season before, with the Premier League outfit overcoming Barcelona in the semi-finals before beating Bayern Munich on penalties in the decider at the Allianz Arena.


However, after being given the job on a permanent basis before the start of the 2012-13 season, he was fired after Chelsea's defence of their European crown was effectively ended by a 3-0 loss to Juventus in Turin.

Ferguson wanted Keane not Beckham, to wear Manchester United No. 7

The club's former captain says he told his manager to give the shirt to the ex-England captain despite the Scot's insistence that he take it on following Eric Cantona's departure

Roy Keane has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson wanted him to wear the No.7 shirt at Manchester United and not David Beckham.

The iconic jersey became available at Old Trafford in 1997 when then club captain Eric Cantona left the Red Devils after announcing his retirement from football.

Beckham subsequently took over the shirt, but Keane says Ferguson did not want the midfielder to have it.

"The captaincy is important, but squad numbers can have an importance. At United, '7' was the iconic number," he wrote in his new autobiography, The Second Half.

"When Eric Cantona left there was a debate about who was going to be the next captain. I was quite relaxed about it.

"But there was his number, too - '7'. Bryan Robson had had it before Cantona and, of course, it went back to Georgie Best.

"The manager pulled me into his office and said that he wanted me to wear the '7'. I said, 'No, I'm not that bothered.' And he said, 'I know Becks will f****** want it and I don't want him to have it.'

"I'd had '16' since I'd signed for the club. I was comfortable with '16'. I think it might have kept me on my toes, being outside the '1' to '11'. I didn't think that I was a number '7'.

"I said, 'Give it to Becks.' Becks got it, and it suited him - and Cantona. [Cristiano] Ronaldo had it after Becks."

Ronaldo: Of course I read the United banner

The United Reel fan group flew the banner which read "Come home Ronaldo" over El Madrigal stadium last week amid reports the Ballon d'Or winner is unsettled at the Bernabeu.

Cristiano Ronaldo admitted he saw the banner a Manchester United fans' group flew over Real Madrid's recent game at Villarreal - but said he was happy in La Liga.

The United Reel fans' group flew the banner which read "Come home Ronaldo" over E Madrigal stadium last week amid reports the Ballon d'Or winner is unsettled at the Bernabeu.

But Ronaldo told Italian paper Gazetta dello Sport when asked about the stunt: "How could I not see that plane? It flew past 10 times."

He added: "I always said that I have a family to Manchester but I'm good in Madrid. I'm glad of the affection that United fans have for me, it means that I have left good memories."


Portuguese ace Ronaldo, 29, has made another stunning start to his 2014/15 campaign, scoring 14 goals in 10 appearances., including 10 goals in five league appearances.

United agree personal terms with Falcao ahead of £43.5m move

Manchester United are moving closer to a permanent deal for Colombian striker Falcao.

Manchester United are moving closer to a £43.5m permanent deal for Colombian striker Falcao.

The Reds secured the 28-year-old on a season's loan from Monaco on transfer deadline day.

But the player has hinted he would like an extended stay at Old Trafford and the club are working to that end.

The Reds have agreed a £250,000 per week salary, plus add ons and a fee of £43.5m if they decided to take him.

The club are keen to avoid a repeat of the Carlos Tevez situation, when personal terms wrangles ended up in him joining Manchester City.

Champions League Team of the Week: Wizard Welbeck joined by timeless Totti

PSG heroes Marquinhos and Blaise Matuidi also make the cut, along with Borussia Dortmund's two-goal star and Chelsea matchwinner Nemanja Matic

There were more big wins, major shocks and standout performances in the second week of this season's Champions League, and the finest players of matchday two are rewarded with a spot in our team of the week.

Iker Casillas looked something like his old self for Real Madrid against Ludogorets on Wednesday as he pulled off some invaluable stops to keep his side level before Karim Benzema sealed all three points.

First in our back three is Basel's Fabian Schar. The Switzerland international has likewise endured some rocky moments this season but was superb against Mario Balotelli and Liverpool as the Swiss champions secured another famous English scalp. Next to him is Marquinhos, who capped a fine showing for Paris Saint-Germain with a quite brilliant block to deny Jordi Alba and ensure victory over Barcelona. Yegor Filipenko completes the defence following his exemplary performance in BATE's surprise win over Athletic Bilbao.

Heung-Min Son lines up on the wing after the Korean gave Benfica a torrid time in their 3-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, while inside, Blaise Matuidi and Nemanja Matic both earn places after indomitable displays - and well-taken goals - at the heart of midfield for PSG and Chelsea respectively. Arda Turan takes his place on the other flank: the Turkey international gave Juventus all sorts of problems in their trip to the Vicente Calderon before scoring the only goal of the game to give Atletico Madrid the win.


In our No.10 slot, it has to be Francesco Totti. The 38-year-old became the competition's oldest goalscorer with his sublime finish in the 1-1 draw against Manchester City and was generally sublime on the ball at the Etihad as he laid to rest some of the ghosts of his previous trips to England. Ahead of him, Adrian Ramos just gets the nod ahead of the likes of Jackson Martinez and Markus Rosenberg thanks to the link-up play with Ciro Immobile and the outstanding quality of his two goals. Lastly, it can be none other than Danny Welbeck, who put Galatasaray to the sword on Wednesday, bagging his first senior hat-trick in Arsenal's 4-1 rout.

Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Benfica: Son shines as hosts stroll to victory

Stefan Kiessling, Hakan Calhanoglu and Son Hueng-min fired home for the German side as they beat the Portuguese giants in a crucial encounter

Son Heung-min's star performance inspired Bayer Leverkusen to a comfortable 3-1 win over Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday.

A confident first-half performance saw the hosts hit a post through Lars Bender before taking the lead after 34 minutes when the Korean's shot was spilled into the path of Stefan Kiessling, who finished from close range.

An accomplished performance from Son was rewarded just before half-time when he was picked out by Karim Bellarabi to lash home.

Hakan Calhanoglu was next to be denied by the woodwork after the interval, but quickly made amends from the penalty spot just a minute after Eduardo Salvio had pulled one back for the visitors.

The result leaves Leverkusen one point behind Zenit and Monaco in Group G, while Benfica's chances of progressing to the last 16 now hang in the balance, without a point from two games.

After a blistering start to their campaign, a recent goal drought had seen Leverkusen find the net just twice in their last four games coming into this contest, but boss Roger Schmidt will have been pleased by the way his team performed at the BayArena.

Benfica goalkeeper Julio Cesar, playing his first Champions League game since March 2012 saw his goal under siege early on as Bellarabi fired a 25-yard drive wide and Son brought a save out of the Brazilian in the first five minutes.

The veteran keeper was beaten just before the 15-minute mark, but Bender's effort came back of the post. 

However, the hosts did break the deadlock with 25 minutes on the clock when a sweeping attacking move saw Cesar parry Son's initial shot straight to Kiessling, who gladly tucked away the rebound with a simple finish.

Son managed to get on the scoresheet himself nine minutes later after some terrific work from Bender allowed Bellarabi to find space down the right-hand side, before picking out the Korean, who smashed a curling effort into the net

The near-total dominance of the home side was briefly disrupted on 40 minutes, when Enzo Perez fired over, but they were lucky not to fall further behind on the stroke of half-time as the impressive Son curled his shot wide.

Calhanoglu missed a golden opportunity to add a third shortly after the break, but inexplicably poked his effort against the post from two yards out.

And the hosts were soon punished for their wastefulness inside 62 minutes when Salvio was allowed to turn and fire home inside the area to reduce the arrears against the run of play.

However, Leverkusen restored their two-goal cushion just 60 seconds later, when Jardel brought Kiessling down in the box, allowing Calhanoglu to make up for his earlier miss by stroking home the resulting penalty and cap off Leverkusen's first win over the Portuguese outfit.

Anderlecht 0-3 Borussia Dortmund: Immobile and Ramos keep Klopp's men on top

The Signal Iduna Park forwards' goals ensured that the 2012-13 finalists maintain their 100 per cent record in Europe this season

Borussia Dortmund forward pair Ciro Immobile and Adrian Ramos fired the club to a 3-0 victory over Anderlecht in Wednesday's Champions League clash.
Borussia Dortmund forward pair Ciro Immobile and Adrian Ramos fired the club to a 3-0 victory over Anderlecht in Wednesday's Champions League clash.

Jurgen Klopp's side have seized just one point from their last three outings in the Bundesliga and went into Wednesday's fixture on the back of a painful defeat to arch-rivals Schalke.
However, Immoblie fired them into a third-minute lead following a handsome throughball from Shinji Kagawa.

A double from substitute Ramos then put the victory beyond doubt, a predator's goal preceding a fine individual effort.

Immobile's strike represented his second in as many Champions League appearances for Dortmund and the club's second-fastest goal in the competition after Andreas Moller's effort against Juventus in 1995.

Dortmund have a maximum haul of six points in Group D, with Arsenal second on three points ahead of Anderlecht and Galatasaray on one apiece.

Belgian champions Anderlecht, who are now winless in 10 Champions League games, welcomed back goalkeeper Silvio Proto from suspension and influential playmaker Dennis Praet following a calf strain, while Sebastian Kehl's return eased Dortmund's injury problems.

Klopp nevertheless elected to drop Mats Hummels, who is short of match fitness, and start Immobile instead of Ramos at his spearhead.

It took the Italy international little time to vindicate that decision. Kagawa's masterful clipped pass sent Immobile through on goal, and the latter stabbed the ball into the bottom corner with customary composure.

Anderlecht's Aleksandar Mitrovic then had a goal ruled out for offside, before Aubameyang immediately spurned a gilt-edged chance to double Dortmund's lead. Kagawa employed exquisite footwork to free Kevin Grosskreutz down the left and, with goalkeeper Proto drawn to him, the Germany international cut the ball across the box for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who somehow fired wide despite half of the net being unguarded.

Steven Defour's piledriver forced Roman Weidenfeller into a smart save as Anderlecht began to get into the game.
Grosskreutz bravely poked the ball into the net after 26 minutes, under the challenge of Proto, but his supplier Aubameyang had drifted offside and the goal was disallowed.

Proto kept out a Marcel Schmelzer effort thereafter, and Anderlecht will have been relieved to reach half-time with only a one-goal deficit.
The second half continued as the first had ended, with Dortmund taking the game to their hosts and Proto being called upon to save a fierce Immobile drive and an Aubameyang attempt.

From a rare Anderlecht attack, Chancel Mbemba did produce a fine shot that flew inches over the bar, but that merely offered brief respite from relentless Dortmund pressure.

Ramos came off the bench in the 65th minute and soon put the result beyond doubt. Lukasz Piszczek curled a magnificent, low cross around the back of the Anderlecht defence in the 69th minute and the Colombian got ahead of his man to poke it home.


Ramos completed the win by spinning his marker and producing another fine finish with 11 minutes to go.