Dani Carvajal reveals frustration

Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal has admitted his frustration following Sunday's 1-1 draw at home to Villarreal.

Victory for Los Blancos would have moved them four points clear at the top of La Liga, but the Yellow Submarine earned a hard-fought point at the Bernabeu.

"We leave here feeling like we've dropped two points. Our aim at home was to come away with all three points. We were up against a great rival, we lacked shooting accuracy and it is a shame we were not able to win," Inside Spanish Football quotes Carvajal as saying.

"The coach told us during the half-time break that we had to up our tempo and take fewer touches on the ball. But games don't always play out the way you'd like."

Real Madrid sit two points clear of second-place Barcelona with 13 games of the season remaining.

Read More »

Sergio Busquets pleased with form

Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has laughed off suggestions that he is currently struggling to produce his best form.

It has been claimed in some quarters that the Spaniard's midfield place is now under threat for the first time in his career, but Busquets believes that he is in good form.

"I think I'm a very consistent player and I try to do the best I can every game. Commitment and attitude is something I never lack," Busquets, who has recently signed a new long-term deal with the Catalan outfit, told reporters at a press conference.

"I don't feel threatened by any of my teammates because I didn't start against Granada, because it's good for the team and it's the manager who decides. I sure that we all want the best for the team."

In Saturday's 3-1 win at Granada, Busquets was left on the bench, with Javier Mascherano reverting from centre-back to midfield.

Read More »

Toni Kroos comfortable in withdrawn role

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos believes that he is thriving in a more defensive role with the Spanish outfit.

The German international was very much a goal-scoring midfielder during the early stages of his career, but has netted just once in 39 games for Real Madrid this season.

Kroos, however, has insisted that his role with Los Blancos is more withdrawn.

"We tend to play with three central midfielders and, at the moment, I have the more defensive role and have done since the beginning of the season. I very much enjoy playing there," Kroos told FIFA.com.

"Of course the coach sets out certain demands for playing in that position but those coincide with my own interpretation of how to play there so, in that regard, I'm delighted with how things are going.

"Over the years I've been moving further back, bit by bit, and that's fine by me. In Madrid it's important that we have the right balance. Normally we have a lot of very attack-minded players on the pitch so, for me, it's almost of secondary importance to get forward."

Kroos netted 23 times during his time at Bayern Munich.

Read More »

Barcelona's Carles Rexach: 'Angel di Maria was too ugly for Real Madrid'

Barcelona sporting director Carles Rexach has criticised Angel di Maria's appearance by claiming that the Argentine was "too ugly" for Real Madrid.

The 27-year-old left the Bernabeu for Manchester United last summer in a British record £59.7m deal.

Rexach has suggested that the transfer was not purely down to football reasons as he believes that Di Maria did not appeal commercially to Real president Florentino Perez.

"Perez looks at the world market and wants a team of Galacticos for everyone to admire," Rexach told Regio7. "Vicente Del Bosque and Di Maria are too ugly for Real Madrid."

Di Maria has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford in recent games, and was substituted at half time during United's 2-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday.

Read More »

John Terry targets more trophies after League Cup win

Chelsea captain John Terry has expressed his desire to add more trophies to their cabinet this season after they won the League Cup yesterday.

Terry and Diego Costa both scored as the Blues beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at Wembley, and Terry wants to recapture the momentum it gave them 10 years ago, when they won their first trophy under Mourinho.

Terry told chelseafc.com: "It meant an awful lot to us in 2004-05 in Jose's first year here and it could be the start of something very good. Now we have to kick on with the league to focus on next but it's a great day and a great win.

"I'm delighted with my goal and delighted with the team's performance and lifting the trophy but you have to build on that. You have to set the foundations and we have done that, this is the first one and hopefully we can kick on."

Chelsea sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, while they play Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie later this month.

Read More »

Radamel Falcao's agent set to hold talks with Manchester United

Manchester United are set to hold talks over the future of striker Radamel Falcao this week, according to reports.

The 29-year-old joined the Red Devils on a season-long loan from Monaco last summer, but he has struggled to make a positive impact and has scored just four goals so far.

The Mirror claims that Falcao's agent Jorge Mendes is due to hold top-level talks with United chief executive Ed Woodward this week, as manager Louis van Gaal weighs up whether to sign Falcao on a permanent deal.

United have a pre-agreed deal worth around £43m for the Colombian.

Read More »

Roberto Martinez admits to Premier League struggle

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has admitted that his players are not enjoying the Premier League season.

The Merseyside club lost 2-0 to Arsenal yesterday, making it just one win in their last 11 league games.

Martinez told Sky Sports News: "It has been more of a chore than enjoying our football.

"I have not seen that enjoyment in our team in the league with points at stake. I do see that enjoyment in the Europa League, but I feel the group is becoming stronger."

Everton sit 14th in the Premier League table, with Stoke City next up on Wednesday.

Read More »

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet criticises recent performances of referees

Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet has suggested that referees are not performing to the required standard across the board.

The Black Cats' 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday included a controversial decision by match official Roger East.

The referee awarded a penalty to United after John O'Shea brought down Radamel Falcao, but rather than the Irishman being given a red card, East sent off Wes Brown.

"The problem we have lately in football, and I'm not just talking about us, is after the game we're talking about a bad decision," the Shields Gazette quotes Poyet as saying. "Something always happens.

"If he gives the penalty, which apparently was a penalty - I just saw one quick moment and John is sent off - then perhaps we would not be talking about anything apart from the game afterwards."

Sunderland are just three points above the relegation zone in the Premier League table.

Read More »

Arsene Wenger impressed with Francis Coquelin

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has praised Francis Coquelin after the midfielder wanted to stay on the pitch despite a broken nose against Everton yesterday.

The Frenchman was left bloodied after a second blow to his nose, and it is possible that he will need surgery to correct the damage.

Wenger told reporters: "He wanted to stay on. He didn't play here for a long time and now that he plays, of course, he doesn't want to come off the pitch. If he needs surgery, I don't know. He was bleeding and he was hit on it a second time again - I had to take him off."

Goals from Olivier Giroud and Tomas Rosicky helped the Gunners to win 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

Read More »

John Terry rules out England return

Chelsea captain John Terry has insisted that he is not thinking about making an England comeback, despite his good form for his club.

The 34-year-old quit international football in September 2012 after he was punished by the FA for using racially motivated language towards Anton Ferdinand the year before.

Terry's impressive performance in Sunday's League Cup final victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Sunday has led to suggestions from some observers that the centre-back should return to Three Lions duty.

However, when asked about the possibility of playing for England again, Terry told the Daily Mail: "No, is the simple answer. I don't want to go into it right now.

"Being back at Wembley, the atmosphere, the stadium, it's one of the best I have played in, but it's never crossed my mind. I have drawn a line under it and the England squad can move on now.

"They started playing the national anthem before the game and I was going then. I was ready before the game, I have missed it, playing in these big stadiums, and in these competitions. I'm delighted to get back to Wembley."

Terry won 78 caps for England during a nine-year international career.

Read More »

Joe Allen praises "so good" Philippe Coutinho

Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen has heaped praise on Philippe Coutinho, describing him as a player who is "full of talent".

Coutinho scored the winner for Liverpool in yesterday's 2-1 win at home to Manchester City, and Allen believes that teams are struggling to play against him.

He told the Liverpool Echo: "He's so good. With his performances recently, Philippe has taken things to the next level. The Brazilian team is obviously full of talent but he has to be really pushing for that.

"Working with him day in day out, he shows his quality every time he trains and plays and he scored a superb winner to get us the three points.

"He's so unpredictable and that's such a good skill to have. He has the ability to turn both ways. He's skilful and very versatile. He can play in different positions and teams are struggling to deal with him."

Coutinho has scored five goals in 38 appearances so far this season.

Read More »

Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe suffers knee ligament injury

Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe is unlikely to feature again until April after suffering a knee ligament injury last week.

The 19-year-old incurred the damage during the Reds' Europa League exit to Besiktas on Thursday and had to sit out yesterday's 2-1 win over Manchester City in the Premier League.

The extent of the injury has since been revealed and the teenager is expected to miss up to four weeks of action.

Ibe had been enjoying a strong run in the team under Brendan Rodgers after being recalled from a loan spell with Derby County in the Championship.

Read More »

Real Madrid VS Villarreal Preview

Real Madrid host Villarreal on Sunday evening looking to consolidate their four-point gap at the top of the La Liga table. Los Blancos benefited from Barcelona's slip-up against Malaga last weekend, with the result effectively wiping out Real's 4-0 hammering by rivals Atletico Madrid. Coach Carlo Ancelotti will have Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale available for selection, despite the duo missing training for precautionary reasons earlier this week, while Luka Modric could be involved after his recovery from a hamstring injury. However, the quartet of Fabio Coentrao, Sami Khedira, Sergio Ramos and James Rodriguez will all miss out at the weekend. Villarreal have impressed for much of the campaign, but two league defeats in four games have kept the Yellow Submarine below Sevilla in the standings. It has been a missed opportunity for the club to strengthen their challenge for a Champions League spot, but after three successive wins in all competitions, including two in the Europa League, coach Marcelino Garcia Toral will be optimistic that the club remain on track. Mario Gaspar, Bruno Soriano, Adrian Marin and Bojan Jokic are all expected to miss the game at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid: Form in La Liga: WWWLWW Form in all competitions: WWLWWW
Possible starting lineup: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Silva, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo

Villarreal: Form in La Liga: WWLWLW Form in all competitions: WLLWWW
 Possible starting lineup: Sergio Asenjo, Rukavina, Chechu Dorado, Jaume Costa, Bailly, J. dos Santos, Sergio Marcos, Moi Gomez, G. dos Santos, Campbell, Gerard Moreno

Read More »

Arsenal VS Everton Preview

Arsenal host Everton still smarting from Champions League humiliation against Monaco – but it is the visitors who seem more prone to a European hangover – despite convincing progress against Young Boys. Roberto Martínez’s side have won just twice from seven Premier League games after Thursday night Europa League action –and that was against relegation-threatened Burnley and QPR.

Kick-off Sunday 2.05pm

Venue Emirates Stadium

Last season Arsenal 1 Everton 1

Live BT Sport 1

Referee A Marriner

This season G11, Y42, R0, 3.82 cards per game

Odds H 4-7 A 6-1 D 17-5

 Arsenal v Everton: probable starters in bold, contenders in light.

Arsenal

Subs from Martínez, Szczesny, Gibbs, Chambers, Ox-Chamberlain, Welbeck, Akpom, Mertesacker, Rosicky, Gnabry

Doubtful None

Injured Flamini (hamstring, 14 Mar), Ramsey (hamstring, 14 Mar), Wilshere (ankle, 14 Mar), Arteta (calf/ankle, Apr), Debuchy (shoulder, Apr), Diaby (calf, unknown)

Suspended None

Form WWWLWW

Discipline Y58 R2

Leading scorer Sánchez 12

Everton

Subs from Griffiths, Robles, Barkley, Distin, Lennon, Browning, Garbutt, Koné, Alcaraz, Osman, Lundstram

Doubtful None

Injured Atsu (illness, 4 Mar), McGeady (knee, 4 Mar), Pienaar (knee, 7 Mar), Hibbert (knee, 22 Mar), Oviedo (hamstring, 22 Mar)

Suspended Barry (last of two)

Form DDWDLD

Discipline Y52 R2

Leading scorer Lukaku 7

Read More »

League Cup Final: Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur Preview

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will hand a start to Ramires for the League Cup final with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

With Nemanja Matic serving a two-match ban and John Obi Mikel still sidelined, the Brazilian will be included as the Blues eye silverware for the first time this season.

Mourinho must also decide between Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois, while Kurt Zouma could get the nod to partner John Terry in defence.

Chelsea haven't suffered defeat since their shock 4-2 loss to Bradford City, but Mourinho will be keen to improve on the three wins and three draws recorded since that game.

The Blues will be eyeing revenge after they suffered a 5-3 defeat to their London rivals at White Hart Lane on New Year's Day.

Spurs head into the match having failed to win in their last four outings, and head coach Mauricio Pochettino will be eager to restore a bit of belief at the club.

Their exit to Fiorentina in the Europa League followed a last-gasp point at home to West Ham United, a result that has left the team in seventh place in the Premier League table.

Pochettino will recall striker Harry Kane while Michel Vorm should be selected in goal, but the Argentine has selection dilemmas in the centre of defence and on the left flank.

Eric Dier and Fazio are in contention to partner Jan Vertonghen, while Pochettino must decide between Andros Townsend and Christian Eriksen further forward.

Spurs last won the League Cup when defeating Chelsea 2-1 in the final in 2008 thanks to goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Jonathan Woodgate.

Kick Off Time - 16:00HRS

Venue Wembley Stadium

Referee A Taylor

Odds Chelsea 7-10 Tottenham 5-1

 Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur: probable starters in bold, contenders in light.

Chelsea

Subs from Blackman, Cech, Aké, Christensen, Zouma, Filipe Luís, Cuadrado, Loftus-Cheek, Brown, Rémy, Drogba

Doubtful None

Injured Mikel (knee, 4 Mar)

Suspended Matic (first of two)

Form DDWWDW

Discipline Y61 R3

Leading scorer Costa 17

Tottenham Hotspur

Subs from Friedel, Vorm, Yedlin, Fazio, Kaboul, Davies, Stambouli, Capoue, Dembélé, Paulinho, Lamela, Chiriches, Adebayor, Soldado

Doubtful None

Injured None

Suspended None

Form LDDLWW

Discipline Y70 R3

Leading scorer Kane 24

Read More »