EPL:-: Totheham 3 vs 1 Aston Villa| Match Report

The presence of Remi Garde at White Hart Lane did
nothing to inspire Aston Villa as they lost 3-1 to
Tottenham in the Premier League.

Remi Garde was given an idea as to the scale of the task facing
him at Aston Villa after witnessing his new side slump to a 3-1
Premier League defeat at Tottenham.

Garde was confirmed as Villa's new manager earlier on Monday
following the departure of Tim Sherwood, who parted company
with the club eight days ago after taking just four points from
the opening 10 league games of the season.

Former Lyon coach Garde was in the stands at White Hart Lane,
but saw Mousa Dembele give Tottenham the lead after just
three minutes with his second goal in as many games after
scoring in the 5-1 win at AFC Bournemouth last time out.

Dele Alli's low finish just before half-time looked to have
wrapped things up for Tottenham but a late show of spirit
enabled Villa to get back into the game.

Jordan Ayew's deflected 79th-minute strike halved the deficit
and gave the Midlands club hope of snatching a point, but that
was snuffed out in stoppage time as Harry Kane wrapped up the
victory for the home side.

Tottenham held firm to go fifth in the table, while Villa remain
rooted to the bottom ahead of Garde's first match in charge at
home against leaders Manchester City on Sunday.

Dembele immediately provided Garde with an indication
of Villa's problems as he outmuscled Ciaran Clark after
collecting the ball on the left-hand side and fired a low shot
under the legs of Brad Guzan at the near post.

Villa went close to responding when Scott Sinclair forced Hugo
Lloris into action with a curling effort before Kane - fresh from
scoring a hat-trick in the rout at Bournemouth - saw a deflected
strike tipped over by Guzan at the other end.

Danny Rose went close from the subsequent corner and Villa's
cause was dealt a further blow when Ashley Westwood was
forced off through injury after being caught by the elbow of
Dembele.

And the visitors were given a mountain to climb in first-half
injury time, Alli firing into the bottom-left corner after Joleon
Lescott headed a left-wing cross from Rose straight into his
path.

Tottenham appeared to be cruising to victory in a largely low-
key second half but, after Leandro Bacuna had struck the post,
Ayew set up a nervy finish when he pounced on some poor
defending from the hosts with a strike that deflected in off Jan
Vertonghen.

Fellow substitute Rudy Gestede headed wide before Ayew
jangled the home fans' nerves further by bending an effort
narrowly over.

However, Villa could not take advantage of their superiority in
the final minutes and were punished for not taking their chances
in stoppage time when Kane found the top-right corner as
Tottenham moved to within five points of City.

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Villa defender Richards suspended for Tottenham game

Micah Richards will not be available for Aston Villa at
Tottenham after being handed a one-match ban by the
Football Association.

Aston Villa defender Micah Richards will miss Monday's Premier
League game with Tottenham after being handed a one-match
ban by the Football Association (FA).

Richards was given the suspension and a £10,000 fine following
his admission of an improper conduct charge relating to an
altercation in the tunnel at the game against Swansea City on
October 24.

The former Manchester City player had previously clashed with
Swansea's Federico Fernandez on the pitch during the first half
of the match at Villa Park, with Fernandez seen pushing his
head towards his opponent.

Neither player received a misconduct charge for that incident,
however, Richards will now be unavailable as Villa aim to
impress new manager Remi Garde - who is expected to be
watching from the stands - against Tottenham. at White Hart
Lane.

Villa are bottom of the Premier League with just four points
from 10 games.

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Pellegrini: Playing for a draw at Sevilla would be a risk

Manchester City could seal qualification from
Champions League Group D with a win in Sevilla and
Manuel Pellegrini will not play for a draw.

Manuel Pellegrini suggested that he will not deviate from an
attacking approach as his Manchester City side chase a third
consecutive Champions League win at Sevilla.

City have come from behind to win each of their last two Group
D matches 2-1 in injury time against Borussia
Monchengladbach and the Liga side.

The patchy nature of both performances, during which the
Premier League leaders displayed familiar frailties without the
ball on the European stage, increased calls for City to take a
more pragmatic Champions League approach.

Midfielder Fernandinho and defender Vincent Kompany both
praised the defensive solidity on show during the recent 0-0
derby draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford but
Pellegrini refuted the idea of playing for a draw at the Estadio
Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, where victory combined with a win for
Juventus in Monchengladbach would see his team through to
the knockout stages with two games to spare.

"I think it's very important for the team to try to win because,
depending on what happens in the other game, we could be in
the next stage," he told a pre-match media conference
"It's a benefit to qualify as soon as you can – it's not easy to do
it two games before the end. If we do it, in the same way you
must qualify, you must fight to qualify in first place.

"This team is not prepared to try to draw – we won't start the
game and think it's a good point.

"If you start thinking a draw is a good result, you'll normally
lose."

City's last-16 defeats to Barcelona in each of the past two
seasons are their best returns at this level and Pellegrini
believes criticism of these performances have fired his team's
late heroics this term.

Currently injured striker Sergio Aguero head his nerve from the
penalty spot at the death against Gladbach, while club-record
signing Kevin De Bruyne was the hero when Sevilla travelled to
Manchester last time out.

"Maybe when you read so much criticism when you don't win,
when you win, especially when behind, fighting to the end with
so many players inured – of course that gives you trust on what
you can do as a team," Pellegrini added. "It demonstrates
character and spirit.

"As a team, we are in a very strong moment and I hope we can
improve further when we recover important players from injury."

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Verratti plays down 'irrelevant' Madrid interest

Marco Verratti says any previous interest from Real
Madrid is irrelevant as he prepares for Tuesday's trip to
the Santiago Bernabeu.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti always wanted to
remain at the Parc des Princes despite interest from this week's
Champions League opponents Real Madrid.

The sides meet at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday with
Verratti having been the subject of heavy speculation linking him
with a move to the Spanish capital during the close season.

Verratti - under contract at PSG until 2019 - was reportedly of
interest to Madrid, although the club stated in June that the
rumours were "completely untrue".

The 22-year-old told Canal Football Club: "It is an issue that is
irrelevant now.

"It's nice when big teams are interested in you but my priority
was always to stay at PSG.

"I am grateful to the club and I'm happy here. I don't see why I
would leave."

Having impressed in Ligue 1 since moving from Pescara in
2012, Verratti's future has been the subject of much discussion,
with Madrid's La Liga rivals Barcelona also previously credited
with an interest.

And, when pressed on his midfield idol, Verratti settled on Barca
man Andres Iniesta.

"There are many who are very good, but if I have to choose one
I would stay with Iniesta," he added.

"He dazzles me the way he plays, he can do everything. He
scores goals and nullifies opponents. He is magical. I love to
see him in action."

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Messi dependence is good for Barcelona - Andersson

Barcelona do rely on Lionel Messi but that should not
be thought of as a negative, according to former
defender Patrik Andersson.

Barcelona's reliance on Lionel Messi should not be considered a
bad thing, according to former centre-back Patrik Andersson.

The Liga champions have often been accused of so-called
'Messidependencia' in the past by detractors and they have
looked short of their best during the Argentina international's
recent absence due to a knee injury.

A defeat to Sevilla and stuttering performances against Bayer
Leverkusen and BATE in particular have led to more scrutiny of
the European champions' form without their star forward, but
Andersson believes they should simply be glad to have him as
part of their set-up.

"Barca are not the same without Messi, but I don't think
Messidepenencia is a bad thing, because it means you have
Messi in your team," the former Sweden international, who spent
three years as a player with Barca, told Mundo Deportivo.

"It would be worse if he wasn't there. It's a bit like [Zlatan]
Ibrahimovic with Sweden. They're decisive."

Luis Suarez has emerged as a crucial part of the Barca side in
Messi's absence, having scored the winner against Leverkusen
and all three goals in the 3-1 win over Eibar.

Andersson has enjoyed watching Suarez adapt to life at Camp
Nou but has nonetheless warned that Barca may find it difficult
to defend their treble this season.

"I love how Suarez has adapted to this Barca," the Swede
added. "I like Luis Enrique's team: it's direct. They can repeat
the treble, but it's difficult: when you win everything, what else
is there?

"It happened to Bayern Munich [in 2013-14]. The mental factor
is important. Winning takes a lot out 

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Mourinho is the man to fix Chelsea, says Mikel

Amid Chelsea's ongoing troubles, John Obi Mikel
maintains Jose Mourinho is the man to turn results
around at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel insists his team-mates are
behind embattled manager Jose Mourinho, stating the
Portuguese can improve fortunes for the Premier League
champions.

Mikel was part of the Chelsea side beaten 3-1 at home by
Liverpool on Saturday as their dismal title defence continued -
Mourinho having come under intense pressure after six defeats
in 11 league outings.

Four points from three Champions League games and a League
Cup exit at the hands of Stoke City have added to Mourinho's
difficult campaign, with reports suggesting an element of
unhappiness in the Chelsea dressing room.

But Mikel told reporters: "We are right behind the manager.
There's no doubt about it.

"In training we work very hard. If anyone can turn this around,
we definitely think [Mourinho is] the one. Last year we were
champions. We won two trophies. Jose knows this club more
than any other manager. He's the most successful manager in
the club's history.

"I definitely think that, if anything is wrong, if anything can be
fixed, he is the one."

As speculation regarding Mourinho's future continues to swirl,
former Chelsea bosses Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti are
said to be targets over a short-term return to the club.

However, Mikel maintains any desire to see an end to
Mourinho's second reign at Chelsea comes from outside the
dressing room.

"There's no one out there that is going to come in and fix what’s
going on," he added.

"If you tell the team that we are not giving 100 per cent then
there is the doubt, but we are giving 100 per cent, we are
playing for the manager, we are right behind him.

"He has come out a few times and said the players are not
giving 100 per cent and then you look at the next few games,
the players come out and play better.

"He is doing everything that needs to be done. It’s just that right
now things aren’t going well, so everyone [outside] wants him to
go. I don’t think it’s the right way to go.

"I think that inside that dressing room we definitely believe he is
the man to change things. He knows this club in and out. He
knows what’s wrong and it’s just a matter of time before results
start coming."

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Antonelli proud of 'near perfect' AC Milan

AC Milan ended Lazio's perfect home record on
Sunday and Luca Antonelli believes they were almost
perfect in their performance.

Luca Antonelli has described AC Milan's performance in the 3-1
victory over Lazio on Sunday as being close to perfection.
Andrea Bertolacci, Philippe Mexes and Carlos Bacca all got on
the scoresheet as Sinisa Mihajlovic's men ended the home
side's perfect record in Rome this season, despite Ricardo
Kishna's late consolation.

With Milan having now won three games in a row, Antonelli
believes their season is beginning to show signs of promise
after an inconsistent start which put head coach Mihajlovic
under severe pressure.

"We knew all about the strength of their wide men, who are
perhaps the best in Serie A," Antonelli said after the match. "We
did well to limit them. It was a big win at a tough ground and
tonight we ended their 100 per cent home record.

"Our season is changing and today was a near perfect match.

We have Atalanta up next and then we will have the international
break to keep on improving."

Mattia De Sciglio believes the confidence within the Milan squad
is beginning to build as they target consistent results instead of
more aesthetically pleasing football.

"I am very happy because we wanted to win more than
anything," said the Italy defender.

"We battled with heart like in the previous two matches. Ahead
of the match, we said it wasn't about playing beautiful football,
but rather getting the job done and that's what we did.

"Winning breeds confidence and brings a calmer and more
relaxed atmosphere in the group. We're growing closer as a
squad. Now, we have to give continuity to these results in order
to go into the international break in a relaxed manner. We
showed how much we wanted it."

Milan jumped above Lazio into sixth in Serie A after Sunday's
victory and are now just five points behind leaders Fiorentina.

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Arsenal cannot sit back against Bayern, warns Wenger

Arsenal need a result from their trip to Bayern Munich
but Arsene Wenger says it would be foolish to sit back
and simply defend.

Arsene Wenger would gladly accept a point from Arsenal's trip
to Bayern Munich on Wednesday but admits they cannot afford
to simply sit back and defend.

The Gunners kept their hopes of reaching the Champions
League knockout stages alive with a 2-0 victory over Pep
Guardiola's side on matchday three and have managed a draw
and a victory in their last two visits to the Allianz Arena.

Bayern drew a blank against Eintracht Frankfurt last Friday but
Wenger believes playing too defensively against the Bundesliga
leaders could prove fatal.

"I would sign today to take a point but to sit off Bayern," the
Arsenal manager said. "But with their offensive quality, that
would be difficult to maintain for 90 minutes.

"We have to relieve the pressure whenever we can and try to
score goals. That is the structure of our team, to attack.

"If you get our players only to defend then I do not think we will
be so efficient. We have to play every time we can."

Arsenal stretched their good recent run of form to five wins in
six matches with a 3-0 victory away to Swansea City on
Saturday and Wenger is confident his side is continuing to grow
in strength.

"It was impressive because if you look at our away results since
the start of the season, we have won at Crystal Palace and
Watford, at Newcastle and at Swansea," he added. "So it looks
like the team has stabilised and is growing as a unit. So let's
grow even more.

"We are certainly more stable defensively but that is from the
start of January. If you look at the points we have taken from
January 1, we have taken more points than anyone else."

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UCL:-: Kompany brands UEFA 'a joke' over Manchester City sanctions

Manchester City could be punished after fans booed
the Champions League anthem - something Vincent
Kompany believes is "a joke".

Vincent Kompany has branded potential UEFA sanctions against
Manchester City for fans booing the Champions League anthem
as "a joke".

Sections of the City support have heckled the pre-match music
in European games by way of a protest against Financial Fair
Play punishments levelled at the club in recent years.

UEFA confirmed an investigation into a potential breach of the
ethics code after the latest incident at the Etihad Stadium prior
to the 2-1 victory over Sevilla last month.

And club captain Kompany considers any measures taken
against the club to be unjust given the incidents of racial abuse
still prevalent in some matches.

A punishment handed down to CSKA Moscow for racist
behaviour prevented City fans from attending the sides' meeting
in Russia last season.

"It's a joke," said Kompany. "We have played many games in
Europe where there has been racial abuse and we have had to
put up with it.

"And there have been times when we have been sanctioned in
the same way as the team that was actually perpetrating those
chants.

"In Moscow we weren't allowed to have any support inside the
stadium – I don't see what our fans did wrong. I have
experienced it as well when I was a kid playing at Anderlecht,
certain games in Europe where you had a lot of racial abuse.

"So in that sense this is not justifiable – there is nothing holy
about the Champions League anthem. If something is
happening and fans are not happy about it, they are allowed to
show their discontent."

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La Liga Re-Cap:-: Gijon and Eibar pick up narrow wins

Sporting Gijon and Eibar picked up narrow wins at
opposite ends of La Liga's table as week 10 drew to a
close.

Eibar returned to La Liga's top six on Sunday courtesy of a 1-0
win over Rayo Vallecano, while Alen Halilovic's winner against
Malaga moved Sporting Gijon into mid-table.

Following their struggles last season, Eibar have started this
term impressively and moved back into the European places
courtesy of Diego Llorente's first-half own-goal.

Visitors Rayo have picked up just three points on the road this
term and Llorente's misfortune proved the difference at
the Estadio Municipal de Ipurua - Halilovic later settling the
contest between Gijon and Malaga.

Gijon were level on points with the visitors prior to Sunday's
clash but Barcelona loanee Halilovic's well-taken strike shortly
before the half-hour mark proved the only goal of the
game, strugglers Granada having been held 1-1 by 10-man
Espanyol.

Jean Babin had given the visitors the lead at the Power8
Stadium before Rober Correa's dismissal shortly after the hour
bolstered Granada's hopes of a second league win this season.

However, Felipe Caicedo levelled late in the day to keep Granada
in the relegation zone.

In Sunday's late kick off, Inaki Williams scored twice as Athletic
Bilbao ran out 3-1 winners at Real Betis.

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Ligue 1 Re-Cap:-: Monaco down Angers, Marseille continue recovery

Monaco closed on the Champions League places by
seeing off Angers, while Marseille made it consecutive
Ligue 1 wins on Sunday.

Monaco made it back-to-back Ligue 1 victories for the first time
this season with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over early season
surprise package Angers.

Angers, who won promotion to the top flight last season, were
second heading into the weekend but came unstuck at the
Stade Louis II.

The only goal of the game came in the 35th minute, when Mario
Pasalic tapped home at the back post following a well-worked
set-piece.

Monaco's win leaves them sixth, but just two points separate
them and second-placed Lyon.

Marseille beat Nantes 1-0 as they look to build a much-needed
run of form - Georges-Kevin N'Koudou scoring the winner in the
53rd minute.

Elsewhere, Nice were held 0-0 at home by lowly Lille.

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Serie A Re-Cap:-: Fiorentina return to the summit, AC Milan down Lazio

One week after being replaced at the top of Serie A by
Roma, Fiorentina returned to pole position with a
comprehensive win over Frosinone.

Fiorentina returned to the top of Serie A with a 4-1 victory over
Frosinone at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, while AC Milan beat
Lazio in a pulsating clash in Rome.

Paulo Sousa's Fiorentia were deposed at the summit by Roma
last weekend, but after Rudi Garcia's side lost to Inter on
Saturday, Fiorentina took full advantage by returning to the
summit on goal difference with a resounding win.

Following a series of efforts during the opening 20 minutes,
Fiorentina took the lead in the 24th minute when Ante Rebic's
curling cross looped over Frosinone goalkeeper Massimo
Zappino and in off the post.

Sousa's team then scored two goals in three minutes, with
Gonzalo Rodriguez firing home from Matias Fernandez's
delivery before Khouma Babacar converted a penalty following
Modibo Diakite's foul on the Chilean.

Mario Suarez pounced on a stray pass to score his first goal for
the club in the closing stages of the first half and, although they
dominated the second period too, Fiorentina were unable to add
to their tally - a late consolation from Alessandro Frara doing
little to spoil the party in Florence.

Napoli were unable to join Sousa's side and Inter on 24 points,
though, as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Genoa.

A series of saves from Mattia Perin frustrated Maurizio Sarri's
side, while Marek Hamsik passed up a glorious chance to
secure the win in the closing stages, leaving them outside the
Champions League places in fourth.

Sinisa Mihajlovic enjoyed a happy return to Stadio Olimpico with
his Milan side as they saw off Lazio 3-1.

Mihajlovic spent six years with Lazio as a player and won the
Serie A title during his time at the club, but he was celebrating
against his former employers as Roma old boys Andrea
Bertolacci and Philippe Mexes put Milan 2-0 in front.

Carlos Bacca added a third before Ricardo Kishna bagged a late
consolation for Lazio. Milan had fears for centre-back Alex after
he was knocked out cold in the second half, but reports stated
the defender later regained consciousness.

Hellas Verona remain without a top-flight win this season
following a 0-0 draw with fellow strugglers Carpi – who are now
bottom of the table following Bologna's 3-0 triumph over
Atalanta.

Emmanuele Giaccherini, Mattia Destro and Franco Brienza were
all on target as Roberto Donadoni's side ended a run of three
straight home defeats.

Sassuolo's meeting with Udinese ended goalless
despite Antonio Floro Flores hitting the post in the first half.

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United lack killer touch - Cabaye

Manchester United are not as dangerous as in previous
years, according to Crystal Palace midfielder Yohan
Cabaye.

Crystal Palace midfielder Yohan Cabaye has fired a shot at
Manchester United, claiming Louis van Gaal's men lack the
penetration and killer touch to hurt teams.

United played out a 0-0 draw after firing yet another blank at
Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.

Van Gaal and Co. have been criticised for their style of play,
namely by former midfielder Paul Scholes, who slammed the
Dutchman's negative approach following United's League Cup
exit to Middlesbrough.
And Cabaye followed suit, with the Frenchman claiming United
are not as dangerous as in previous seasons.

"I remember I played against Man United for Newcastle they
could score at every moment in a game," Cabaye said.

"Here they did not have the big chances to score. Wayne
Rooney had a free-kick in the first half and that was about it.

"Yes, they are a big club and yes, they can keep the ball –
passes, passes, passes – but if you work hard against them
and stay in a good shape they can't do anything to pass through
you or be adventurous."

Palace team-mate Scott Dann added: "That's the way they are
set up, they prefer to keep the ball for long periods. They want
to keep it away from you.

"But that means they don't create as many chances or threaten
you as much as they did in the past.

"The quality is still there, so you have to stay on your toes. And
rather than come at you like they used to do, they try to move
you from side to side and try to wear you down. But they didn't
have too many chances and we should have won."

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