METRO NAIJA

Monday, 2 November 2015

Tevez thrilled with Boca league success

After Boca Juniors clinched the league title, Carlos
Tevez said it would lead to bigger and better things for
the club.

An emotional Carlos Tevez revelled in Boca Juniors' Argentine
Primera Division success on Sunday.

A first-half header from Fabian Monzon saw Boca to a 1-0 win
over Tigre in Buenos Aires for their first league crown since the
2011 Apertura.

Tevez scored five goals in 12 league games after returning to
his boyhood club from Juventus in June.

The 31-year-old was delighted to bring the title back to Boca.
"These guys needed this championship. From now on it's going
to be a new Boca," Tevez said.

"I've left many sides a champion, but this feeling is
unexplainable."

Boca are six points clear at the top with a game remaining in
the league campaign.

Pressure is mounting on David Moyes as Real
Sociedad hover two points above the drop zone but he
has the support of Carlos Vela and Co.

Real Sociedad striker Carlos Vela stressed embattled coach
David Moyes has not lost the dressing room, despite the club's
woeful La Liga campaign.

Sociedad hover two points above the relegation zone in 16th
position following Saturday's 3-2 loss at home to high-flying
Celta Vigo.

The San Sebastian club have managed to win just two of their
10 La Liga matches this season as pressure mounts on Moyes.

Vela, however, is adamant the former Manchester United
manager still has the support of the players.

"I've never gone against any manager, nor have I talked badly
about any coach, I've always thrown myself at any challenge
handed to me and tried to understand and learn," Vela said in
quotes published by AS.

"I hope things turn around because when he's calm it means the
team is doing well.

"Nobody thought that we'd be in this position and it's natural
that people are asking questions, but between us, the players,
there's no problem, he hasn't lost the dressing room or anything
like that, and we're all trying move the club upwards, and we
can only do that if we're together."

Vela, who has only scored twice in the league this season,
added: "There's no anxiety in the squad, but we're conscious
that we're not in the zone where we want to be, we're focussing
on how to get out of this run and on working hard, that's all we
talk about in the team."

Jurgen Klopp sees no reason to make multiple signings
at Liverpool, willing to give his players an opportunity.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists he will give his squad a
chance before he considers new signings.

The German has been linked with moves for several players
since he took over at Anfield in October, including with
numerous from his former club Borussia Dortmund.

But Klopp, who guided his team to a 3-1 win at Chelsea on
Saturday, said he would gauge where his squad was at before
thinking about bringing in new players.

"I can't believe that England is so impatient. It is much more
difficult," he said.

"I have been here three weeks. Everyone tells me, 'You want to
buy this player, this player, this player'.

"But development is to work with the players you have. It's like
if you have a problem with your wife, you don't want to change
every day."

Klopp's men rose to eighth in the table after their victory at
Stamford Bridge, where Philippe Coutinho returned to form with
a brace.

The Brazilian's form had been questioned but Klopp said the 23-
year-old's response was strong.

"I love this player. Who can't love Phil Coutinho?" he said.

"I don't expect all day perfection. I expect you to work to get
better every day.

"That is how we make the next steps. I'm not interested in what
happened before.

"I've spoken to Phil, but my job is to help him, not to say what
he is not doing good.

"He knows the last three games were not perfect, but he needs
the games. He needs the experience in games to feel what is
good and what is wrong. This is the perfect example. The start
was not good, but we came back."

Wilfried Bony has only managed five goals in 24
appearances for Manchester City after drawing a blank
in Saturday's win over Norwich City.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has told fans to lay
off Wilfried Bony and trust in the misfiring striker after he was
targeted by boo boys at the Etihad Stadium.

Bony - standing in for the injured Sergio Aguero - wasted a
number of chances during City's late 2-1 Premier League victory
over Norwich City on Saturday.

The Ivory Coast international's struggles did not go unnoticed
by City fans, who booed the former Swansea City frontman in
Manchester.

Pellegrini has called on the club's supporters to keep faith in
Bony, despite his return of five goals in 24 appearances.
"Maybe he needs to score, because he is missing some
chances," said Pellegrini.

"The way he plays and the striker he is, he normally doesn't
miss them.

"But I think he needs trust. He's playing after many months of
not being able to work normally, for different reasons.

"Now I have placed a lot of trust in him, he must demonstrate
why he's here."

Montreal Impact, Seattle Sounders and New York Red
Bulls drew first blood in the conference semis, while
Vancouver Whitecaps were held.

Johan Venegas broke a second-half deadlock as Montreal
Impact rallied to beat Columbus Crew 2-1 in the first leg of the
MLS conference semi-finals on Sunday.

Venegas dispossessed Crew defender Michael Parkhurst and
ran through on goal before curling the ball beyond Steve Clark
with 13 minutes remaining in the Eastern Conference semi at
Stade Saputo in Montreal.

Scores were level at half-time in the play-off clash after Impact
midfielder Patrice Bernier cancelled out Federico Higuain's 33rd-
minute opener within four minutes.

Didier Drogba was unable to add to his 12 goals this season,
despite finding the back of the net in the first half.

The former Chelsea striker's 15th-minute goal was ruled out for
handball just as he turned away to celebrate.

Drogba and Co. will travel to Columbus for the return leg next
Sunday.

Seattle Sounders were also 2-1 winners on home soil courtesy
of a stunning late free-kick from Clint Dempsey.

The United States international struck three minutes from time
to see the Sounders past visitors Dallas in the Western
Conference.

Fabian Castillo put Dallas ahead inside 18 minutes after being
played in behind Seattle's defence by team-mate Mauro Diaz.

The Sounders were back on level terms in the 67th minute,
when Andreas Ivanschitz fired the ball across Dallas goalkeeper
Jesse Gonzalez from outside the box.

And Dempsey completed the comeback in the closing stages,
with a curled set-piece beyond Gonzalez.

New York Red Bulls netted a priceless away goal in their 1-0 win
at DC United.

Dax McCarty's 72nd-minute goal was enough to see off DC in
the American capital.

Sacha Kljestan whipped in a deep free-kick and picked out
McCarty, who headed past Bill Hamid.

Meanwhile, Portland Timbers were held to a goalless draw at
home to Vancouver Whitecaps.

Bale back in Madrid training

Real Madrid have been boosted by the return to
training of Gareth Bale following a calf problem.

Gareth Bale has returned to training with Real Madrid, having
not featured since the 3-0 win over Levante in mid-October.

The Wales international has struggled with calf problems this
term and played just 45 minutes on his return from international
duty before being taken off in the victory over Levante at the
Santiago Bernabeu.

Following a recurrence of the calf injury that ruled him out for a
number of weeks prior to Wales' Euro 2016 qualification, Bale
returned to training on Sunday.

The forward is unlikely to play any part in Tuesday's Champions
League visit of Paris Saint-Germain while Dani Carvajal is also
set to miss out despite taking part in training after an ankle
problem.

Rafael Benitez will hope Karim Benzema can push for a return
soon however - the striker having "continued with specific
training exercises" on Sunday.

Arouna Kone scored a hat-trick and earned a new
contract in Everton's 6-2 win over Sunderland, much to
the delight of Roberto Martinez.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez has hailed Arouna Kone for his
"complete" performance against Sunderland - one which has
earned him a new contract.

The Ivory Coast international netted a hat-trick in a thrilling 6-2
victory over Sam Allardyce's side at Goodison Park as the home
side bounced back from defeats to Arsenal and Manchester
United.

Kone's deal was due to expire at the end of the season but he
has now activated a clause which triggers an extension.

And his manager was thrilled with what he considers his most
complete performance in an Everton shirt to date.

"Arouna has always had self-belief," he said after the match.
"It's been as difficult as you are going to get - a new player
coming to a new club, then having a career-threatening injury.

"From that point he was catching up but his attitude and focus
never changed. He never chose to blame anyone or anything -
all he wanted was an opportunity.

"Against Watford, in difficult circumstances, it was a real turning
point for his individual role. From that point on he has been very
impressive throughout the season and today was the most
impressive complete 90 minutes. Scoring a hat-trick and his
overall contribution was strong."

Everton surrendered a two-goal lead before two goals from
Kone, one from Romelu Lukaku and an own goal from
Sebastian Coates handed them an emphatic victory.

Martinez was delighted with the attacking display produced by
his side but remains concerned by their defensive lapses.

"I thought our attacking play was exceptional. More than
anything, the understanding of how to break down a defensive
system," he said.

"Sunderland came here with a clear idea of being very difficult
to break down and then try to hit us on the counter - and I
thought the way we coped with that was very impressive.

"Then, you get into the little moments that you need to be
psychologically very strong like when we conceded the
equaliser. It was a real test of our understanding and character
and we responded in a fantastic manner.

"Of course, we want to and we need to improve defensively. At
times, we looked a little bit stretched and a bit reactive and
that's where we need to work. But when you have that attacking
power and quality in possession it makes it a very exciting win
looking forward."

Sunderland conceded six in their defeat to Everton and
manager Sam Allardyce admits their defending has
him worried.

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce admits his side's defensive
frailties are becoming a real concern after their defeat to
Everton.

The visitors found themselves two goals down at Goodison Park
on Saturday but clawed their way back to 2-2 thanks to Jermain
Defoe and Steven Fletcher.

However, three goals in seven second-half minutes left
Sunderland facing a mountain to climb before Arouna Kone
scored his third of the match in the closing stages to seal a 6-2
victory.

And Allardyce accepts that problems at the back could prove
fatal to his side's hopes of avoiding relegation from the Premier
League this season.

"The defensive frailties were just too much in the side today and
we allowed Everton to win the game comfortably in the end," he
said afterwards.

"If we don’t sort those out, and we are going to give it away like
we did when we got to 2-2 today, it will be a long haul over the
next few months or so.

"We'll have to have a look into it. We've not played too bad in
the first half.

"We got back to 2-2 but we just made it so easy for Everton to
score three in seven minutes.

"From an attacking point of view we've got at Everton's back
players and produced an awful lot of shots at their goal, but out
of possession to let them score six from eight shots on target
shows the frailties we've got."

Sunderland remain second from bottom in the table after 11
games and could be overtaken by Aston Villa should they
beat Tottenham on Monday.

Southampton's 2-0 south-coast derby victory over AFC
Bournemouth did not fully satisfy goalscorers Graziano
Pelle and Steven Davis.

Southampton goalscorers Graziano Pelle and Steven Davis
conceded there was room for improvement after the 2-0 Premier
League win over AFC Bournemouth.

Pelle headed home Dusan Tadic's 36th-minute cross five
minutes after Davis had volleyed in to crown a superb team
move.

Bournemouth conceded five goals in each of their previous two
league defeats against Manchester City and Tottenham and
another thrashing appeared to be on the cards.

But Eddie Howe's team made most of the running after half-
time, with Southampton losing Victor Wanyama to a second
yellow card as their opponents struggled to turn possession into
clear-cut chances.

"Second half was completely another game," Italy striker Pelle
told Sky Sports.

“We were good, to keep strong as a defensive line, we worked
hard because they were trying to reduce the gap.

"We have to improve in some parts when we are winning 2-0 -
we need to keep going.

"Maybe up front we need to be stronger to keep the ball."

Northern Ireland midfielder Davis felt he and his team-mates
could have been sharper in possession after the interval.

"We were very happy with how we played first half and knew
they were going to come back at us," he said.

"Credit to the way they came out in the second half but we've
got to look at it ourselves as well.

"We've got to do better in possession. There's things we can
improve on but I'm delighted to get the three points and keep a
clean sheet.”

Pelle embarked upon a Haka-style goal celebration with
Southampton's sports therapist Graeme Staddon, whose New
Zealand compatriots claimed Rugby World Cup glory against
Australia on Saturday.

"Our physio is from New Zealand and it was a good day for
him," Pelle explained.

"It's just a reward to him because he was feeling a bit lonely in
this country.

"I said 'okay, I'm going to come to you'. I'm still Italian but he is
my friend and he deserves it.

"He was believing in me too that I would score. It was nice for
him."

Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra says
English clubs are tactically inferior to their European
rivals.

Patrice Evra says English clubs struggle in Europe due to a lack
of tactical sophistication and claims he was not worried when
Juventus faced Manchester City in the Champions League.

The French full-back spent eight years in England with
Manchester United, winning the Champions League and
reaching the final twice.

He left Old Trafford for Juve in July 2014, winning Serie A in his
first season and appearing in another European final, losing the
tournament's decider to personal nemeses Barcelona for the
third time in his career.

After strong continental showings between 2005 and 2011,
Premier League clubs have struggled to make an impact in
recent years.

And Evra has told the Sunday Times he believes English teams
are not preparing thoroughly enough to be successful in the
Champions League.

"I'm a little bit worried about English football," he said.

"Why? In Europe, being fast, being strong, playing only with your
quality, you are going to struggle against teams that prepare.

That is where England has to work, it is about tactics. But it is
not easy, because the players won't accept it.

"When Juventus played Manchester City … I was not worried,"
he added, referring to a clash the Italian side won 2-1 at the
Eithad Stadium in September.

The 34-year-old also claimed he was surprised to discover how
strategic the approach to winning is in Italy, something he feels
could have been of benefit to United even as they collected an
extraordinary haul of silverware under former manager Alex
Ferguson.

"I learnt a lot about a way to be more professional - even if I was
already a massive professional in Manchester," he said.

"I was sometimes thinking, 'You win a lot of trophies for
Manchester but you could have done much more if you had
known the Italian way to play.'

"The Premier League is like two boxers fighting. The one who is
least strong gets tired, he goes down. Here it is like a chess
game and you have to understand every move before you play
with your quality, your strength, your skill. That's the
difference."

First-half goals from Steven Davis and Graziano Pelle
gave Southampton a 2-0 win over Bournemouth despite
Victor Wanyama's late red card.

Southampton eased to a 2-0 derby win over AFC Bournemouth,
extending their south-coast neighbours' winless Premier League
run to five matches.

Ronald Koeman's team move up to seventh in the table thanks
largely to a dominant first-half performance, where the
Bournemouth defence was creaking heavily before two goals in
the space of five minutes from Steven Davis and Graziano Pelle.
Pelle celebrated his 36th-minute header by engaging in a Haka-
style celebration with Southampton's sports therapist Graeme
Staddon, whose New Zealand compatriots claimed Rugby World
Cup glory against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.

Unfortunately for Southampton, they were unable to produce the
type of on-field dominance synonymous with the All Blacks after
the break, when Bournemouth made most of the running but
lacked badly for cutting edge.

The hosts played the final 12 minutes with 10 men after Victor
Wanyama collected a second booking but there would be no
way though for Eddie Howe's men, who sit a point and a place
above the relegation zone.

A Southampton side unchanged from last weekend's draw at
Liverpool asked plenty of early questions of a Bournemouth
backline that leaked 10 goals over their previous two Premier
League matches and Sadio Mane saw his 12th-minute strike
deflected behind by veteran centre-back Sylvain Distin.

Mane, who scored the equaliser and was later sent off at
Anfield, then latched on to Pelle's knockdown and drilled a shot
into the turf that grazed the top of the netting.

The breakthrough arrived in the 31st minute from a sweeping
Southampton attack – Pelle's deft flick falling perfectly into
Ryan Bertrand's path for a first-time cross that Davis converted
on the volley.

The Italy striker got himself on the scoresheet five minutes later,
powering home a header after Dusan Tadic bamboozled right-
back Adam Smith with some clever footwork to deliver the
cross.

Howe introduced attacking duo Josh King and Junior Stanislas
in place of Glenn Murray and Marc Pugh at half-time and he was
rewarded with a brighter start by his side in the second period.
But despite penning Southampton into their own half,
Bournemouth were unable to test home goalkeeper Maarten
Stekelenburg.
Harry Arter added a strong presence to the Bournemouth
midfield on his Premier League debut, but his low cross, after
being released by Matt Ritchie's delightful backheel, flashed
through a crowded penalty area to underline the visitors' lack of
clinical work in the attacking third.

Wanyama's foolhardy decision to go to ground on Arter's
replacement Lee Tomlin gave Bournemouth fresh
encouragement but Dan Gosling headed over from an 81st
minute corner.

And Southampton were able to celebrate a clean sheet for the
first time in five unbeaten Premier League outings after
Stekelenburg stood firm to thwart Tomlin as the clock ticked
down.

Hannover came from behind to defeat Hamburg, while
Stuttgart got the better of Darmstadt to move out of
the bottom three.

Hamburg took an early lead against Hannover at the Imtech
Arena but ended up on the receiving end of a 2-1 defeat.

A fantastic run down the right win from Nicolai Muller opened
up the Hannover defence and Michael Gregoritsch added a
simple finish to his cross with just six minutes played.

Hamburg remained on top and were denied a second as Ron-
Robert Zieler saved from Dennis Diekmeier, before Marcelo Diaz
struck the post with a free-kick in the 27th minute.

Hannover were handed a lifeline in the 59th minute when Emir
Spahic brought down Uffe Bech inside the box – Hiroshi
Kiyotake converting from the spot to restore parity.

The turnaround was completed eight minutes later as Salif Sane
headed Kiyotake's cross into the back of the net, lifting Michael
Frontzeck's men from the bottom three and up to 14th position.

Stuttgart also picked up a crucial victory over Darmstadt at the
Mercedes Benz Arena to lift them out of the bottom three.

Darmstadt thought they had been awarded a penalty in the 10th
minute when Przemyslaw Tyton brought down Sandro
Wagner, but after initially awarding the spot-kick, referee Robert
Hartmann spotted a flag raised for offside against the striker.

Martin Harnik took a knock in the first half and was replaced by
Alexandru Maxim moments after Marcel Heller forced Tyton into
a save in the 31st minute.

Timo Werner rattled the crossbar in the 68th minute but
Stuttgart were handed the lead one minute later when Gyorgy
Garics headed Christian Gentner's cross into the back of his
own net.

Darmstadt continued to be the better team but their push for an
equaliser left them exposed and Werner wrapped up the win for
the hosts after rounding Christian Mathenia, moving them up to
15th place and Werder Bremen into the relegation play-off
position.

As speculation continues of a return to Europe,
Alexandre Pato says he will not remain with loan club
Sao Paulo.

On-loan Sao Paulo striker Alexandre Pato does not envisage
staying at the Estadio Cicero Pompeu de Toledo as rumours of
a move away from parent club Corinthians intensify.

The Brazil international sees his loan doal with Sao Paulo expire
in January, having left financially troubled Corinthians
temporarily in February.

The 26-year-old looks set to leave Corinthians permanently in
the near future but they have yet to find a buyer - Pato
reportedly among the club's highest earners.

Amid links with Barcelona and a host of other top European
sides, Pato opened the door for a move away from Brazil -
stating he would not return to Sao Paulo in 2016.

"I will not stay in Sao Paulo next year. I watched an interview
with [interim Sao Paulo president] Leco and he said it is very
difficult to sign me," Pato told reporters after Saturday's 3-0 win
over Sport Recife.

"I want to help Sao Paulo in this final stretch, these five very
important games, because I want to put the team into the
Copa Libertadores.

"I see no problem. I'm a professional and I have to always do
my job. I want to devote my best to them and go on vacation
with a feeling of accomplishment."

Monday, 2 November 2015

Tevez thrilled with Boca league success

Vela: Moyes hasn't lost Sociedad dressing room

Klopp happy to give players chances

Pellegrini urges City fans to back misfiring Bony

MLS Re-Cap:-: Impact, Sounders earn first-leg wins

Sunday, 1 November 2015

Bale back in Madrid training

Martinez hails Kone as Everton striker earns new contract

Allardyce left worried by Sunderland's defensive woes

Pelle and Davis want to improve after derby win

'I'm worried about English football' - Evra

EPL:-: Southampton 2 vs 0 AFC Bournemouth| Match Report

Bundesliga Re-Cap:-: Hannover, Stuttgart secure vital wins

Pato rules out Sao Paulo stay amid European rumours