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Thursday, 31 December 2015

Van Gaal: It has been a very good year for Manchester United

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal feels 2015 has been a positive year for the club despite their recent struggles.

Louis van Gaal feels 2015 has been a good year for Manchester United if you leave their disappointing form in December out of the equation.

United finished fourth in the table last term to return to the Champions League, while they sat first in the Premier League come November.

They have since gone on an eight-match winless streak in all competitions, but Van Gaal prefers to look at the overall positives of the past 12 months.

"We have fulfilled the wish and our aim in the first season that ended halfway through 2015," the Dutchman said at a news conference.

"After that we have managed to give balance to the team and that resulted in October and November in us being first in the Premier League.

"Then we crashed out of the Champions League and that was a big blow, and we are still in that period.

"But when you don't assess December, it has been a very good year."

United had to settle for a scoreless draw against Chelsea in their last outing despite dominating for the majority of the game and Van Gaal feels they have often been the better side this campaign.

"We've had many games like the one versus Chelsea," he added.

"The way we've played this season, we're more or less always the dominant team.

"The way we played against Chelsea, under that pressure and in the style we want to play, was fantastic."

Van Gaal has received his fair share of criticism in recent weeks, but he still had words of praise for the club's fans for the way they have supported the team.

"I have had bad periods at all my clubs and I have to say the best fans are here at Manchester United, because in such a difficult period they were applauding about the performance of the players and that's fantastic," the United boss concluded.

Barcelona's penalty against Real Betis on Wednesday was incorrectly awarded, the RFEF has confirmed.

Barcelona should not have been awarded the penalty which put them on their way to a 4-0 defeat of Real Betis on Wednesday, the Spanish Football Federation [RFEF] has announced.

With the game goalless after 28 minutes, Betis were more than holding their own against Luis Enrique's side, but their challenge became tougher when Barca were awarded a controversial spot-kick.

As a cross arrowed in towards Lionel Messi in the area, goalkeeper Adan punched it clear but was penalised by referee Inaki Bikandi for colliding with the Barca striker. Adan was also shown a yellow card for the alleged misdemeanour.

Even though Neymar hit the crossbar with the resulting penalty, Heiko Westermann turned the rebound into his own net under pressure from Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez.

Betis crumbled thereafter with Messi making it 2-0 before a Suarez brace ensured Barca went into 2016 on top of La Liga.

The RFEF's disciplinary committee met on Thursday to analyse the round 17 games and admitted referee Bikandi had blundered.

The disciplinary report stated Adan's "action and intention were limited to clearing the ball with his fists" and that it was "Messi who collided with the keeper" and who "fell to the ground as a consequence".

Adan's booking was also expunged from the records but the red card shown to Betis boss Pepe Mel for remarks he made to Bikandi will stand.

A fine Bruno free-kick saw Villarreal beat Valencia 1-0 and keep Gary Neville waiting for his first Liga victory.

A stunning free-kick from Bruno allowed Villarreal to see off a stubborn Valencia with a 1-0 win at El Madrigal on Thursday.

Marcelino's men controlled the majority of the opening hour but it took a special strike from the captain to break the deadlock in the 64th minute.

Valencia offered a disciplined display but rarely looked likely to threaten an equaliser, meaning Gary Neville's wait for a first Liga win as head coach goes on, while Villarreal are now back to within three points of third-placed Real Madrid.

Bruno whistled a free-kick narrowly wide of Jaume Domenech's right-hand post as the home side started proceedings in the ascendancy.

The lively Jonathan dos Santos, who had earlier tested Domenech low to his right, rasped a shot from distance narrowly over as Villarreal continued to press throughout the first half without success.

Marcelino's side picked up where they left off after the break, Denis Suarez fizzing a low shot just past the far post after cutting in from the left before Cedric Bakambu could only shoot straight at Domenech after a fine link-up with Roberto Soldado.

Andre Gomes' fine run brought the first save out of Alphonse Areola, before Dani Parejo forced the goalkeeper into a one-handed stop from distance as Valencia began to offer some attacking intent just prior to the hour mark.

But Villarreal took the lead shortly afterwards as Bruno, from an almost identical position to his first-half effort, curled a stunning free-kick into the top-left corner from 20 yards.

Valencia pushed forward in the closing stages, but they rarely managed to threaten Areola's goal as Villarreal saw out a well-deserved victory.

An ingenious finish, or a lucky shank? Charlie Adam lifts the lid on Xherdan Shaqiri's strike in Stoke City's win over Everton.

Xherdan Shaqiri's wondergoal against Everton was unintentional, according to Stoke City team-mate Charlie Adam.

Switzerland winger Shaqiri produced a memorable first-time half-volley lob over a stranded Tim Howard in Stoke's 4-3 win on Monday.

However, in the aftermath of the match fans and pundits alike were engaged in a debate as to whether Shaqiri was intending to shoot or cross into the area.

Shaqiri insisted that the goal was no fluke, but Adam says the 24-year-old told him differently in the changing room.

"No, no way he meant it, I asked him after the game and he said he was trying to cross it for Marko [Arnautovic] in the middle and it was lucky," Adam told talkSPORT.

"It looks a great finish but I'm delighted for him because over the last few weeks he's been playing well but just needing the goals and he got two there at the weekend.

"So that'll settle him down now and he'll look forward to the rest of the season and hopefully he'll get a few more and a few assists."

Despite the intense speculation over his future, Louis van Gaal has no issue working under pressure at Manchester United.

Louis van Gaal has no problem dealing with the pressure at Manchester United and praised the performance of his players under the spotlight against Chelsea.

Van Gaal has come under intense scrutiny on the back of a run of eight games without a win in all competitions.

A 0-0 draw with Chelsea, in which United largely dominated proceedings, ended a streak of four straight defeats going into Saturday's visit of Swansea City.

And Van Gaal said: "I'm always doing my work. You have to do what you have to do.

"There are members of my staff who are coming to me and saying 'boss, how can I help you more or in another way?' I say 'you are helping me by doing the things you have to do and as good as possible'. Then I am satisfied.

"I expect that also from my players, to do the same things. This is not my first club. It may be the last club as I have said but it is not the first club where I have had a bad period."

Asked if the pressure on him is easing, Van Gaal added: "I don't know because the pressure is also what you experience by yourself and also by the players because they have to perform in a certain time.

"They have to give everything and that's the most difficult aspect of players' function.

"In 90 minutes you have to show it and against the resistance of the opponent, under the pressure of the environment but also under the pressure that you put on yourself.

"You have to cope with that. The way we played under that pressure in the style we want to play [against Chelsea], that was fantastic."

Napoli will sign "a major player" in the January transfer window, president Aurelio De Laurentiis has vowed.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has vowed to deliver on his promise to sign "a major player" in the January transfer window.

Maurizio Sarri has taken his side to within a point of the Serie A summit and secured safe passage to the Europa League knockout rounds in an impressive opening few months at the helm.

De Laurentiis has already spoken of Napoli's desire to battle for major honours at home and abroad in the coming years, revealing that interest in Gonzalo Higuain and a bid from Juventus for Marek Hamsik were flatly rejected.

The 66-year-old expressed his satisfaction earlier this month that Napoli have operated within Financial Fair Play regulations but is determined to land the star signing he promised supporters in the new year.

"A major player will arrive because Napoli should only field champions," he told Radio Kiss Kiss.

Head coach Sarri received criticism from club legend Diego Maradona towards the start of the season, who claimed the former Empoli boss should consider himself fortunate to succeed Rafael Benitez.

Maradona backtracked on those remarks as a result of Napoli's form, however, and De Laurentiis insists he never had any concerns that the 56-year-old would fail to prove his critics wrong.

"I never had doubts about Sarri. The era of Benitez is the past, it's not even close. It's part of Napoli footballing history," he added.

Claudio Ranieri is eager to retain the services of key duo Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez in January.

Claudio Ranieri is hopeful he can keep Leicester City's star performers at the King Power Stadium in the upcoming transfer window after a stellar first half to the Premier League season.

Leicester sit joint-top of the Premier League - trailing Arsenal on goal difference - having gone into 2015 bottom of the table under Ranieri's predecessor Nigel Pearson.

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have been the stars of the show, boasting 28 league goals between them, while the likes of N'Golo Kante and Kasper Schmeichel have also impressed.

Ranieri refused to confirm reports of a new deal for Vardy but expressed hope for the upcoming window.

"My focus is on [Saturday's opponents] Bournemouth," he stated. "But I think nobody goes from Leicester [in January]. There's too much speculation. We want to fight, build with me - the chairman and fans.

"We can say 'start to win the title', but it's not our job. Our job is to win the next match.

"We made a fantastic half-season. It's unbelievable. We must continue building to fight at the top."

Vardy shook off an illness to feature in the goalless draw against Manchester City on Monday with Ranieri not hit by any fresh injuries ahead of the weekend clash with Eddie Howe's strugglers.

"I hope [Vardy is 100 per cent]. He had a fever but he's in full training now," the Italian added.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned pundits not to question his side's mentality in the Premier League title race.

Arsene Wenger says he has no concerns over Arsenal's mentality going into the second half of their Premier League title challenge.

Wenger's men sit top of the table at the midway stage - leading Leicester City on goal difference while enjoying a three-point gap to Manchester City in third amid an unpredictable top-flight campaign.

Arsenal have been top four times going into the new year but managed to close out their title challenge on just one of those occasions.

Wenger's 'Invincibles' overhauled Manchester United on their way to the title in 2004 and the Frenchman told reporters: "You question our mentality but I don't.

"We have to rise above that and show that we can deal with all that and I believe we have to be guided by playing better football and being a real team in every game and show that we can be competitive.

"I will remind you that only one team won the league without losing a game. That is Arsenal Football Club. It is not the date [New Year's Day] that is decided you win the league.

"It shows you that we have a good chance as the statistics show you that eight of the past 11 years the team who was top on New Year's Day won it."

This season's Premier League is one of the most open in years, with defending champions Chelsea languishing in 14th while surprise packages Leicester and Crystal Palace sit above the likes of United and Liverpool.

"Maybe when we were top these three times because the other teams did not play at full power and we did," Wenger added.

"But Man United had huge potential over the years and we played Liverpool at a time when they had Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano in the middle of the park.

"Look at what all these players have won since. They had fantastic teams.

"Manchester United had [Cristiano] Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs over the period and you see what these players have done. Fantastic teams and potential."

Claude Puel has revealed Hatem Ben Arfa has attracted the interest of Real Madrid with his fine performances for Nice.

Nice coach Claude Puel has claimed Real Madrid are keeping a close eye on the situation of Hatem Ben Arfa.

The 28-year-old joined Nice from Newcastle United in January 2015, but FIFA ruled he would not be allowed to play for the club because he had already appeared for Newcastle's Under-21 side and Hull City that season.

He has been in stunning form for Nice in 2015-16, though, his seven goals in 18 Ligue 1 appearances earning him a recall for France's national team.

His excellent performances have seemingly not gone unnoticed elsewhere and his coach at Nice has revealed Madrid are among those interested in signing him.

"I am not surprised to hear that big clubs such as Real Madrid are keeping tabs on him," Puel told Nice Matin.

"Hatem has become part of the club, just like Mathieu Bodmer when he joined us from PSG.

"I do not agree with those who say Hatem needs to be at a small club in order to deliver his best performances.

"I hope for him that he no longer plays for Nice next season.

"The high level he has been playing at is not just some isolated dazzling performances. He has been very consistent and has been working very hard."

Ronald Koeman is considering bringing a striker to Southampton during January amid injury concerns over Graziano Pelle and Jay Rodriguez.

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman may look to sign a striker during the January transfer window due to the ongoing absences of Graziano Pelle and Jay Rodriguez.

Pelle has missed Southampton's last two games with a knee injury while Rodriguez is unlikely to be available until late January at the earliest after undergoing foot surgery in November.

The latter missed the entirety of last season due to a serious knee problem, and both forwards will miss Saturday's trip to Norwich City along with full-back Cedric Soares (knock).

Koeman says a striker would be the only possible arrival in January despite Saints struggling for consistency this term.

"For the weekend, Cedric and Graziano will still be out," the Dutchman told his pre-match media conference on Thursday.

"And we don't have any other players back from injuries, it will be the same as we had in our last game against West Ham.

"[Rodriguez] will come back but maybe it takes two weeks more. I think it will be late January or the beginning of February when he is available to play.

"He will train earlier but he is still out of the team training sessions.

"I'm not a manager in panic because we are 12th in the table, I don't do business like this because we know our players and qualities.

"If there is something to do, it's about how recovered Pelle and Rodriguez are. These are two strikers, good players, and if we don't have them back maybe that's a question to sign a new striker.

"But not other positions in the team. We have good competition and I am pleased with the rest of the squad."

AFC Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has been hugely impressed with Leicester City's form in the Premier League this season.

Eddie Howe has paid tribute to Leicester City ahead of AFC Bournemouth's trip to the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

Claudio Ranieri's side sit second heading into 2016, behind leaders Arsenal on goal difference, after a remarkable first half of the season.

Howe said: "They have been outstanding, they really have.

"The attitude and commitment of their players in every game has been second to none.

"They work hard and have a number of match-winners in their squad, so it's full credit to them for what they have achieved so far this year."

Bournemouth's six-match unbeaten run came to an end at Arsenal on Monday and Howe, whose side sit 16th, three points above the relegation zone, says rest and recuperation have been the order of the day.

"We haven't trained since Arsenal," he added.

"Not the lads that played, anyway. With the fixture work load we really had to protect our players this week.

"The normal feeling is that you want to work all the time, but you have to be aware of the physical exhaustion those two games in three days had on our players.

"They were two really tough fixtures and the only way to ensure that we go into Leicester and perform is to recover properly."

Slaven Bilic says West Ham are unlikely to be busy in the transfer window as their injury crises begins to ease.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic does not expect to be especially active in the January transfer window as he prepares to welcome a host of key men back into his squad.

Bilic could have Dimitri Payet, Winston Reid, Victor Moses and Nikica Jelavic available for Saturday's visit of Liverpool in the Premier League after their respective injury absences in recent weeks.

Payet has been a notable absentee - having been one of West Ham's top performers prior to the ankle injury sustained in early November.

But Bilic says the easing of the injury situation at Upton Park reduces their need to strengthen in January.

"Payet is back and has been training with us for a couple of days. Depending on how he goes today he will be in the squad [for Saturday]," he told reporters.

"It is a great boost for us and he will be involved in the game. Jelavic is training today and Victor Moses and Winston Reid are back.

"There is a small chance that Moses and Reid will be in the squad but more likely for the FA Cup game against Wolves [on January 9].

"The situation with injuries looks very bright now. When we have a full squad we have a really good team and enough players.

"I don't think we are going to be very active in this transfer window unless something exceptional comes along. We are happy.

"If we are lucky [Diafra] Sakho will be back early February and we are happy with the squad. We did a good job during the summer."

Jurgen Klopp sought to play down the row with Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce following Liverpool's win at the Stadium of Light.

After Sam Allardyce labelled him a "soft German", Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says the Sunderland manager's comments are "not a problem".

Klopp took exception to a challenge from Jeremain Lens on Mamadou Sakho late in Liverpool's 1-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light - feeling the challenge warranted more than a yellow card.

Allardyce felt a caution was appropriate and called Klopp a "soft German" before accusing the Liverpool boss of swearing at his staff on the touchline.

However, Klopp told reporters on Thursday: "It is not a problem. A lot of people have said worse things about me.

"If you watch the incident again, it's not too wrong but Mama is still alive and everything is okay.

"I have no arguments with the Sunderland bench and I have nothing else to say."

Klopp's men face West Ham at Upton Park on Saturday - a club the German was approached by during the close-season following his departure from Borussia Dortmund.

"In the summer, I was not available," he continued. "I'm not sure I should say too much about this.

"I'm lucky I had a lot of interest, West Ham is a good club but it was the wrong time, like all the clubs who approached me.

"Everything is okay. The Hammers, maybe that is more my second name than soft."

Cristiano Ronaldo remains unperturbed by criticism and feels it is a by-product of his success with Real Madrid and Portugal.

Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted criticism does not affect him as he feels it is impossible to please everyone.

Ronaldo was whistled by part of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd after missing a penalty in Madrid's 3-1 win over Real Sociedad on Wednesday.

But the Portugal captain told El Mundo Deportivo: "We cannot live being obsessed with what other people think about us. It's impossible to live like that. Not even God managed to please the entire world.

"There are people out there who hate me and who say I'm arrogant, vain and whatever. That's all part of my success. I have a clear conscience. I sleep well. I feel good helping others, regardless of whether that's with big things or small things. I look at life differently ever since I became a father.

"I can deal with the pressure because of the difficult life I have had. The person I am now is the result of the time I spent without my family and because of the difficult times I went through. I was ironing my own clothes when I was 11 years old. My mental strength goes back to those days."

Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes stated earlier this week that the 30-year-old will stay be playing for Madrid in a decade, but the former Manchester United man is already looking forward to life after football.

"I want to live like a king when I retire," Ronaldo added.

"I will be able to enjoy things more after my career, when I have the time to do what I want."

Jurgen Klopp could welcome back Daniel Sturridge for Liverpool's visit to Upton Park this weekend.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says Daniel Sturridge could feature against West Ham on Saturday following his recent injury troubles although Jordan Henderson is set to miss out.

Sturridge has endured another injury-hit campaign with a hamstring problem picked up against Newcastle United at the start of the month keeping him out of action over recent weeks.

The England striker has made just six appearances in all competitions this term but could hand Klopp an injury boost ahead of Liverpool's trip to Upton Park.

However, captain Henderson suffered a recurrence of his persistent heel issue during Wednesday's win over former club Sunderland and is set to join James Milner (calf) and Divock Origi (hamstring) on the sidelines.

"Maybe Daniel Sturridge could [return] if we try," Klopp told reporters. "Joe Allen is ill and we have to wait. Milner no. Origi, too early.

"I don't really know [about Henderson]. It's not perfect otherwise we wouldn't have taken him off, but we had to.

"Now we have to wait. I cannot say exactly [what the injury is] at this moment. I hope it's not too serious.

"It was the heel and it could be something good for him but we have to see."

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has stressed he is unlikely to make any signings in the upcoming transfer window.

Manuel Pellegrini has made it clear Manchester City do not have any plans to add fresh faces to their squad in the January transfer window.

City have been linked with players such as Leroy Sane and Isco in recent weeks, while there has also been speculation they could bring in an extra defender to provide back-up for the injured Vincent Kompany.

However, Pellegrini feels there is no need to recruit new players at this point.

"There are no plans to bring in a replacement for Kompany," the City manager said at a news conference.

"I think the squad is complete. We are not really thinking of any particular player to bring in.

"Isco? I always have the same answer and that is that I do not talk about rumours."

City take on Watford on Saturday just one day after New Year's Day and Pellegrini has urged his players not to go overboard with their celebrations.

"I think all of the players must celebrate New Year's Eve," he added.

"I don't expect players in bed by midnight, but they can celebrate early and have a maximum of one o'clock."

Lionel Messi has every chance of regaining the Ballon d'Or in Zurich next month, according to Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta.

Andres Iniesta has backed Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi to start 2016 in the best possible way by lifting the Ballon d'Or trophy.

The Argentina star, who was awarded the UEFA Best Player award earlier this year, is the current favourite to secure his fifth global individual prize ahead of fellow nominees Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Given Messi's remarkable 2015, in which he inspired Barca to five major trophies and reached the Copa America final with Argentina, Iniesta is confident he has done enough to clinch the award in Zurich on January 11.

"He has a great chance of regaining the Ballon d'Or, for what he is as a player and for what he does," he told Barca TV.

Luis Enrique's side set a new record of 180 goals in a calendar year following Wednesday's 4-0 win over Real Betis but Iniesta insists striving for more titles is paramount for the European champions.

"It's something secondary in terms of importance," he said of the goal tally. "What mattered was to win. But they're figures that we've passed and we'll try to keep them there for a long time.

"It's really hard to win these titles. To win five out of six is something which doesn't happen often. Hopefully next year will be the same or better than this one.

"I'll take every title, I was able to lift the Club World Cup as captain and that was the icing on the cake.

"To finish the year in this way is a good feeling, and in three days we start again with a very special game [against Espanyol]."

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochetttino will try not to disrupt his high-flying squad in the January transfer window.

Mauricio Pochettino will only add to his Tottenham squad in January if he can attract players with the "right profile".

Spurs have been linked with reviving their interest in West Brom striker Saido Berahino - a player they tried to sign in the close-season - despite accusations of a lack of discipline at the Hawthorns.

But with Pochettino's men riding high in fourth in the Premier League, just four points off top spot, the Argentinian is adamant he will only strengthen with the right players.

He told a media conference ahead of Sunday's trip to Everton: "Myself and [chairman] Daniel [Levy] have a chat every day for five, 10 minutes.

"We know we are ready to take the best decision for the team and the future of the club. But that doesn't mean we need to bring players in or not.

"Today I am very happy with the squad we have. We have a strong squad and in the place we are after 19 games means we are in a very good way and our decisions were good.

"Only if we can help the team and improve the team will we maybe make some decisions.

"But for that it has to be right and be sure that if we bring some players in they have to be the right profile."

Spurs will be without Belgium midfielder Mousa Dembele for the trip to Goodison Park.

Pochettino added: "Mousa Dembele has a small injury but we hope he's back with us in a few weeks. He definitely misses Everton but we've no other injuries, everyone is okay."

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is optimistic about his side's chances of winning the Premier League title this season.

Manuel Pellegrini feels Manchester City are on the right track for Premier League success this campaign.

City sit third in the table halfway through the season, trailing leading duo Arsenal and Leicester City by three points.

However, Pellegrini sees reason for optimism and believes they can win the title with a good second half of the season.

"I feel we are in a good position," Pellegrini said at a news conference.

"Always the best position is to be top of the table, but I think that this is a special season in the Premier League.

"With the amount of points we have at this moment, it is not good to fight for the title in a normal season when you finish with a lot more points.

"However, we are three points behind the leaders and I hope we are going to complete strongly with a very good second half of the season."

City meet Watford on Saturday, but Pellegrini has warned Quique Sanchez Flores' men will not be pushovers following their fine recent performances, including a win over Liverpool and draw at Chelsea.

"Maybe at the beginning of the season it can be a surprise, the same as Leicester," he added.

"But when you play 19 games or so and we are still talking about Watford and Leicester, it is because they have important players in a good moment, who are giving a high performance with their managers doing a very good job."

Manchester City cannot afford to sign Leroy Sane, according to Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt.

Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt has rejected speculation linking Manchester City with Leroy Sane, claiming the Premier League club cannot afford to meet their valuation.

Reports in the British press have indicated City are keen to sign the 19-year-old attacking midfielder, who has five goals in 24 appearances this season.

Sane made his debut for Germany in the 2-0 defeat to France in November and Schalke are rumoured to want €40million for the teenager.

His agent Jurgen Milewski recently ruled out a move away from the Veltins Arena, saying Schalke is the best place for Sane to be.

And Heldt told Bild-Zeitung: "Despite the fact we don't want to sell Sane and he doesn't want to leave - even Man City can't come up with that much money."

Saido Berahino could be handed a starting role in West Brom's home game against Tony Pulis' former side Stoke City on Saturday.

West Brom manager Tony Pulis says Saido Berahino is not a "bad lad" but must focus on the team rather than individual matters.

Berahino was named among the substitutes for the eighth straight game for Monday's 1-0 defeat of Newcastle United, before which Pulis claimed the England Under-21 international was "lucky to be on the bench".

Reports have suggested the striker, the subject of four bids from Tottenham in the pre-season window, has had timekeeping issues but Pulis insists it is all part of the 22-year-old's development.

He told a news conference on Thursday: "It's got nothing to do with anybody apart from me and Saido.

"He's trained well this week, he's been in on time and he's done everything that everyone else has done.

"He just lapses, it's not because he's a bad lad or anything. It's just the way he is, it's just him growing up and recognising it's about the group, about the team, and the football club.

"That's all done and dusted, we've moved on from that."

Berahino impressed after replacing James Morrison with 20 minutes to go against Newcastle, Darren Fletcher heading home the only goal of the game eight minutes after his introduction.

And Pulis could hand him a starting role in Saturday's clash with his former club Stoke City.

The Welshman said: "The kid came on and did really well for 30 minutes and he's got a great chance of playing on Saturday."

Barcelona ended 2015 top of La Liga after Lionel Messi scored in the 4-0 win over Real Betis - his 500th outing for the Catalan giants.

Lionel Messi marked his 500th Barcelona appearance with his almost customary goal as Luis Enrique's side brushed aside Real Betis 4-0 to end the year top of La Liga.

The Argentine superstar won a controversial penalty just before the half-hour at Camp Nou when he was clattered into by Adan, although the Betis goalkeeper clearly punched the ball away before making contact with Messi.

With Messi receiving treatment, Neymar saw his spot-kick hit the crossbar, only for Heiko Westermann to divert the rebound in for an own goal under pressure from Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez.

Neymar then teed up Messi for a goal on his milestone appearance, before Suarez netted twice in the second half to secure Barca's position at the summit.

Atletico Madrid are level on points with Barca following their 2-0 win at Rayo Vallecano, which came courtesy of goals in the final three minutes from Angel Correa and Antoine Griezmann.

Their city rivals Real Madrid were less than convincing in a 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad at Santiago Bernabeu, Cristiano Ronaldo blazing a penalty over before converting a second spot-kick to give his side the lead.

The visitors pulled level thanks to Bruma's stunning effort seven minutes after half-time, but Ronaldo's excellent volley and Lucas Vazquez's fine touch and finish kept Madrid within two points of the leading duo.

Celta Vigo are five points behind Madrid in fourth after going down 1-0 at home to Athletic Bilbao - Raul Garcia's 71st-minute goal proving the difference.

At the wrong end of the table, bottom club Levante lost 1-0 at home to Malaga thanks to Duda's late winner while Las Palmas climbed out of the bottom three after a 4-1 thumping of Granada, who dropped into the relegation zone as a result.

Elsewhere, goals from Ciro Immobile and Ever Benega earned Sevilla a 2-0 home win over Espanyol, Eibar defeated struggling Sporting Gijon by the same scoreline thanks to Keko and Borja Baston, while the game between Getafe and Deportivo La Coruna ended goalless.

Barcelona ended 2015 top of La Liga after Lionel Messi scored in the 4-0 win over Real Betis - his 500th outing for the Catalan giants.

Lionel Messi marked his 500th Barcelona appearance with his almost customary goal as Luis Enrique's side brushed aside Real Betis 4-0 to end the year top of La Liga.

With Messi receiving treatment, Neymar saw his spot-kick hit the crossbar, only for Heiko Westermann to divert the rebound in for an own goal under pressure from Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez.

Neymar then teed up Messi for a goal on his milestone appearance, before Suarez netted twice in the second half to secure Barca's position at the summit.

Atletico Madrid are level on points with Barca following their 2-0 win at Rayo Vallecano, which came courtesy of goals in the final three minutes from Angel Correa and Antoine Griezmann.

Celta Vigo are five points behind Madrid in fourth after going down 1-0 at home to Athletic Bilbao - Raul Garcia's 71st-minute goal proving the difference.

Thursday, 31 December 2015

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Ronaldo: I cannot please everyone

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Pellegrini: City don't need any new players

Iniesta backs Messi to regain Ballon d'Or

Pochettino will only sign players with 'right profile'

Manchester City on title track, believes Pellegrini

Even Man City don't have enough money for Sane - Heldt

Berahino is not a bad lad - Pulis

La Liga Review: Messi nets on 500th Barca appearance

La Liga Review: Messi nets on 500th Barca appearance