Messi Recovery going on well - Luis Enrique

The Argentina captain is recovering well from injury
according to his club manager but his Spanish boss
will not put a date on his return to the Blaugrana
starting line up

Luis Enrique says Lionel Messi's recovery is proceeding as
expected but offered no update on when the
Barcelona forward is expected to return to action.

It was hoped the Argentina captain, who has been sidelined
with a knee injury since the end of September, will be fit to
face Real Madrid on November 21.

Reports in Spain over the weekend suggested Messi has
suffered a setback in his recovery and would miss the
Clasico against Real Madrid.

However, Luis Enrique appears to be unconcerned over the
progress of his star's rehabilitation.

"I have no news. He's recovering quite normally for a player
with that kind of inury," the head coach said on Tuesday.

"Every player has a different recovery process to go through
but as far as I'm aware he is progressing well, as any player
would."

Luis Enrique was then asked whether he felt Neymar had
embraced his role as a leader of the team in Messi's
absence, to which he responded: "This is a question I've not
been asked yet!

"When we have Messi we have certain resources we like to
exploit, but I always ask the players to do what they can
without relying on others."

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Blind Defends United Style of play

United have drawn their last four matches in all
competitions but their dynamic Dutchman believes
playing for a point is not always a bad approach
against certain opponents

Daley Blind has defended Manchester United's recent
results, insisting there are times when the team must play
for a draw.

Louis van Gaal's side have been held to 0-0 stalemates in
their last three matches in all competitions and also drew
the last time they scored a goal, in the away game with
CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.

Ahead of the visit of the Russian Premier League leaders on
Tuesday, Blind has denied that taking only one point from
the game at the Arena Khimki last month should be
considered a bad result for United.

"If you think it is going to be difficult to get all three points,
you can be happy in an away game with one," he told MUTV .

"The main thing is that you don't go away with zero points.

"Sometimes you have to make sure that, in an away game,
you get the draw. Read the game and see if it's possible to
win or not and, if not, you play for the draw.

"They are a really organised team, they are really compact
and they have some speed up front and on the counter-
attack. I think we defended quite well over there. We didn't
create a lot of chances for ourselves but we were dangerous
enough."

Blind is confident United remain in a strong position to
progress to the knockout stages despite sitting second after
three games, level on points with CSKA.

"It's a tough group. Wolfsburg are also a great team and we
had some difficulties against PSV but we still have two
home games to go so we have it in our own hands," he
added.

"You have a points target in your mind but I'm not really
thinking about that. You just have to try to win your games
and get as many points as possible, to win the group. I'm a
player who lives game by game and doesn't look too far
forward."

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Chelsea players must take blame for poor run - Terry

The former England defender insists that the players
must take collective responsibility for the club's
current malaise, while the Portuguese says the
dressing room remains united

Chelsea captain John Terry has refuted claims the club's
current malaise is down to manager Jose Mourinho and
instead believes the players must take the blame.

The Blues have won just three of their opening 11 games of
the Premier League season and currently sit in 15th place in
the Premier League, 14 points behind leaders Manchester
City.

Mourinho has come under intense pressure in recent weeks
as a result of their slump, with Liverpool the latest side to
inflict defeat upon the club, but Terry insists it is the players
who must take control of the situation.

"The players and me personally can say we have not been
good enough," he told reporters. "It is not the manager's
responsibility. The players are 100% behind the manager.
We are together.

"In all aspects he is by far the best manager I have worked
with. I'm sure we will turn this around."

Mourinho also spoke to the media on Tuesday ahead of
Chelsea's Champions League clash with Dynamo Kyiv, and
also rubbished suggestions of a dressing room rift.

"Look I think it’s a very sad accusation because you are
accusing a player or more than one player, I do not know
what you report. You are accusing them of dishonesty," he
said.

"If I accuse you to be dishonest – a dishonest journalist – I
think you would be very upset and probably you would take
legal action, so I think it’s a question for the player’s not for
me."

The Portuguese also insists that his players are continuing
to give their all as they aim to recover from their current
predicament.

"Yes. Giving their best every minute of every training
sessions. Giving solidarity in between all of us. Fantastic
personal relationship. Very good professional relationship.

"Training always in the limits of the quality and the effort.

And always with a strong desire of their next match which is
what we are trying to do tomorrow. "

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Vermaelen not scared of injuries

The Belgium defender is ready to make his first
European appearance for Barca and he is not
preoccupied by the thought of suffering another
injury setback

Thomas Vermaelen insists he is not afraid of succumbing to
another injury as he prepares for his Champions League
debut with Barcelona.

The Belgium international made his belated first competitive
appearance for the club on the final day of the previous Liga
season after battling a thigh injury throughout his first
campaign at the Catalan giants.

Vermaelen, who arrived at Camp Nou in August 2014,
suffered another setback at the beginning of 2015-16 but the
former Arsenal captain says he is fired up for his first
appearance in the tournament with the European
champions.

"It'll be something very special, I'm looking forward to it," he
said.

"I understand people might question how I feel. When I'm on
the pitch I don't feel that I'm scared of getting injured again.

"The small setback was disappointing but I feel good."

Barcelona have struggled for defensive consistency so far
this season but Vermaelen feels the whole team must
accept responsibility.

"Defending is about a team, the shape of the team. It's an
important part of the game," he said.

"I agree there are a lot of players who can play [at centre-
back]. But we know there are a lot of games and we need
all our players, all the squad.

"I think we all want to play the same, we want to fit into the
role as well as we can with the qualities we have. We all
want to play with the ball, as Barcelona does.

"I know we haven't done that as well as last season in a few
games. The team is working on the training pitch."

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I Still have years left at Chelsea - Mourinho

The former Real Madrid boss believes he will see
out his contract - which ends in 2019 - despite
coming under increasing scrutiny at Stamford
Bridge

Jose Mourinho believes he has years left at Chelsea despite
the Premier League champions' poor recent form.
The Blues have struggled to defend their title in 2015-16 and
have lost six of their opening 11 games in the league so far
this season.

Liverpool recorded their first victory under Jurgen Klopp at
Stamford Bridge on Saturday, running out 3-1 winners
despite falling behind to Ramires's opening goal, further
increasing the pressure on Mourinho.

However, the Portuguese is remaining defiant amid a flurry
of reports suggesting he is on the verge of losing his job,
having signed a new deal in the summer.

When asked how long he had left at the club, he told
reporters: "Four years. In this case three years and seven
months or something like that."

Mourinho also insists that he will keep working to bring
Chelsea out of their current slump, though he believes he
struggles to learn from others such is the level he has
reached as a manager.

"To do what I did all my life, which is to study," he replied
when asked about how he planned to improve.

"In my case it is difficult to study from others when you
reach my level it is difficult to learn from others. You have to
learn from yourself, your own experiences, your own day by
day analysing your work like we do.

"That’s why I have a staff of assistants to discuss every day
of our job."

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"In My Head; Am The Best in The world"- Ronaldo

The Portugal international insists he is not bothered
by his rival's achievements in 2015 and says his
mentality has allowed him to become one of the
world's greats

Cristiano Ronaldo believes that he is the best player in the
world ahead of Lionel Messi.

The Real Madrid forward has been battling for top spot with
the Barcelona star and has won the Ballon d’Or ahead of the
Argentine for the past two years.

Messi heads into this year’s ceremony having won the treble
with Barcelona, but when asked about his rival’s
achievements, Ronaldo told El Pais : ”It doesn’t bother me.

“If you look back over my past eight years, I’ve always been
at the peak; and that is difficult. Name me someone else
who has done it? After that, being No.1 or No.2 is a matter
of small details, such as if you win trophies or not.

“Perhaps for you, Messi is the best; in my head, I am the
best – and everyone should think that about ourselves. That
is why I have been able to achieve so much in my career.

“It was hard for me to watch Messi picking up several
Ballon d’Ors. I’d be thinking, ‘Why should I go to the 

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Chelsea Lack leaders - Lampard

The New York City FC player knows Stamford
Bridge - and the Special One himself - inside out,
and used the example of Eden Hazard to bemoan a
lack of direction on the pitch

Former Chelsea favourite Frank Lampard has questioned
the side's mental approach to games, stating there are few
leaders in Jose Mourinho's team.

Saturday's 3-1 home defeat to Liverpool piled further
pressure on the Portuguese manager, with the Blues
languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League.

And Lampard, who spent over a decade at Stamford Bridge,
believes a lack of direction on the field is central to their bad
form.

"That must be a personality thing. I don’t think I’m being
overly critical man by man. I know the boys, they are all
good lads who want to do the right thing but some people
are leaders, some people are vocal in the dressing room,
some people probably show a bit more presence at certain
moments on the pitch," the New York City FC player told Sky
Sports.

"We all know Chelsea have had that spine for quite a few
years but now, you’re looking around now [at the team] and
think, are they?

Lampard held up the example of Belgian forward Eden
Hazard as someone who is great with the ball but cannot be
classified as a leader.

"Hazard is probably one of the best players in the world,
proven last year as the best player in the Premier League
quite comfortably but he’s not going to be a big vocal man,
he’s a man who can get on the ball and make things happen
going forward.

"You’ve got to look through the team now and hope it
changes quickly. It’s not a good sign. It’s not even the
manager for me, it’s the players on the pitch who have to
react when they are going down in games."

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Lewa Fires warning to Arsenal

The Poland international has smashed 22 goals in
his 15 games for Die Roten so far in 2015-16, but
he drew a blank last time against the Gunners and
is keen to find the net

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has fired a
warning at Arsenal ahead of their trip to the Allianz Arena on
Wednesday after successive games without a goal.

Lewandowski started the season in irresistible form, netting
22 goals in 15 games in all competitions for club and
country, but he has found the net just once in his past five
appearances.

The Poland international is determined to make up for
missed opportunities and help the club bounce back from
their 2-0 reverse in their last Champions League meeting.

"I've gone two games without a goal now, obviously I want
to score again. I will give everything for that," Lewandowski
told a news conference.

"We desperately need points. We have to show who is the
better team.

"We have to stay concentrated and focused, then we have a
very good chance to beat Arsenal.

"We have to get the points. We’re playing at home and will
give our all."

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New York City sack coach Jason Kreis

Despite having the likes of David Villa, Andrea Pirlo
and Frank Lampard in a talent-heavy squad, the
franchise failed to make an impact in the Eastern
Conference

New York City have sacked coach Jason Kreis after their
star-studded squad failed to make the MLS play-offs.

Kreis' side finished eighth in the Eastern Conference, 12
points outside the play-off spots despite having David Villa
for all of the campaign and the likes of Frank Lampard and
Andrea Pirlo for parts of it.

The club said the decision came after a review of a
"disappointing campaign", having set the target of making
the play-offs in their maiden season.

In a statement, New York City president Tom Glick said: "The
decision to part company with Jason and his team after two
years of working together has not been taken lightly and this
is a difficult announcement for all involved.

"We thank Jason for his passion, his efforts and for his
contribution to the historic inaugural season of New York
City FC.

"Many memories of this first season will be indelibly etched
in the minds of all involved with the club and Jason and his
team have played a huge part in that.

"We wish him all the very best in what will undoubtedly be a
continued successful career in soccer management."

Assistant coaches Miles Joseph and CJ Brown have also
departed.

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Gerrard plans to Retire 2016

The former Reds star wants to 'go out on a high'
and has revealed he has been surprised by a
number of aspects of life in MLS since leaving
Anfield

Steven Gerrard has revealed he is considering retiring from
football at the end of the 2016 season following the LA
Galaxy's play-off elimination.

The Liverpool great, 35, joined the Galaxy in July 2015 on an
18-month Designated Player contract, scoring two goals and
providing three assists in 14 league appearances in his first
season in MLS.

Galaxy were knocked out of the MLS Cup by the Seattle
Sounders following a 3-2 defeat at CenturyLink Field on
Wednesday and Gerrard is determined to make amends next
year after missing out on another domestic title.

"It could be my last season as a footballer. I certainly don’t
want to feel like I’m feeling right now come next year,"
Gerrard told Galaxy's official website.

"I’d love to go out on a high. It’s a long season and I only
came here for the last four months, but I’ll certainly be better
for the experience next year."

Reflecting on his first season in United States, Gerrard
admitted he was caught out by a number of different league
aspects.

"Going on the road, playing on turf, playing at altitude,
playing in humidity, those are the hurdles that I’ve had to
face over the last three months that I wasn’t aware of. Every
away game has a different challenge," said Gerrard.

"At home, we’ve got no problems because we’re very strong
and we play well. We’ll always win more than we lose.

"For us to move forward next year and finish in the top two
spots - and avoid games like [Seattle] - we’ve got to be
better defensively and stop conceding on set-pieces and
crosses."

Defensive errors ultimately cost LA, but Gerrard remains
confident in his coach.

"I know [Galaxy coach Bruce Arena] quite well now and I’m
sure that’s where he’ll be analysing over the winter. [We
have] to stop this team from conceding goals, we know
that," he said.

"I’ve been in this game long enough to know that if you’re
going to be successful that you can’t keep conceding goals.
It’s too difficult to win football matches if you concede two
or three every game. We know that’s where he’ll be
analysing over the winter."

The former England captain – who won 114 caps in an
international career spanning 14 years – hopes to challenge
for top honours in 2016.
"Knowing this club and looking at it from the outside, I know
that we’ll try to improve in certain areas," Gerrard added.

"We’ll improve the squad, and we’ll hopefully have a [team]
that’s ready to compete again next year."

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NPFL WEEK 36 RE-CAP:-: FC TARABA, BAYELSA UNITED RELEGATED

Following their defeats on Sunday, both teams have
been demoted from the Nigeria topflight

WIKKI TOURISTS 2-0 DOLPHINS
Mubarak Umar's double in the 62nd and 87th minutes
handed the Bauchi side a crucial three point in the race for
continental ticket against Dolphins on Sunday.
Before the match, Wikki were fourth on the log but they
leapfrogged Giwa FC to third with 60 points from 36
matches to occupy the final continental slot.
Dolphins are 17th on the log with 41 points from 36 games.

HEARTLAND 3-2 GIWA FC
The Naze Millionaires put a plug to the Jos Elephant's quest
to qualify for the continent after they beat them 3-2 at the
Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.
Bright Ejike put the home team ahead after nine minutes but
Ocheme Edoh's double in the 14th and 67th minutes for
Giwa turned the game around.
Naze Millionaires' skipper, Chinedu Efugh's header in the
74th minute drew them level before Emeka Ogbugh's
fantastic goal in the 78th minute sealed maximum points.
Heartland are sixth on the log with 53 points from 36
matches while Giwa are fourth on the table with 60 points
from 36 encounters.

3SC 2-1 FC IFEANYIUBAH
The Oluyole Warriors were brilliant at home against the
Anambra Warriors whom they beat 2-1 at the Lekan Salami
Stadium, Ibadan on Sunday.
Ajani Ibrahim put 3SC ahead in the 27th minute while Cletus
Itodo scored the second goal in the 48th minute. FC
IfeanyiUbah reduced the deficit in the 74th minute through
Meshack Chukwubuikem.
3SC are ninth on the log with 52 points from 36 games while
FC IfeanyiUbah are 11th on the log with 47 points from 35
matches.

NASARAWA UNITED 2-2 SHARKS (ABANDONED)
Before the 60th minute when a penalty kick was awarded to
the home team, everything was fine at the Lafia Stadium
between the Solid Miners and the Blue Angels.
Seun Sogbeso opened the scoreline from the spot in the
second minute and Ugo Leonard increased the tally in the
28th minute. Sharks launched a comeback in the 35th
minute when they were awarded
a penalty kick through Afeez Aremu who got the equaliser
for the side in the 57th minute.
The Blue Angels however marched out of the pitch after the
hosts were awarded a penalty kick in the 60th minute.
Pending LMC verdict, Nasarawa United are on 53 points
from 34 matches to be placed seventh on the log while
Sharks are 16th on the table with 42 points from 35
matches.

KWARA UNITED 1-0 FC TARABA
The Harmony Warriors piped the Jalingo Boys to relegate
them from the topflight in a game decided at the Kwara
State Stadium, Ilorin.
Kwara United scored the lone goal through John Chukwudi
in the 25th minute and the win has lifted them to 39 points
from 36 games although they are still 18th on the log.
FC Taraba are down and out as they have confirmed their
exit from the elite division by virtue of the loss. They are last
on the log with 33 points from 35 matches.

ABIA WARRIORS 0-1 ENYIMBA
Enyimba are virtually home and dry with the league title this
season with only a draw from the last two matches the only
hindrance between them and the record seventh league
crown.
They made the job easier after they beat Abia Warriors 1-0
at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Sunday evening in the
presence of the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.
Mfon Udoh scored the crucial goal in the 70th minute after
club's skipper, Chinedu Udoji had earlier lost a spot kick in
the 22nd minute.
The People's Elephant sit atop the log with 68 points from
36 games while Abia Warriors are 10th on the table with 50
points from 36 games.

WARRI WOLVES 4-0 BAYELSA UNITED
The Seasiders pummeled the Restoration Boys 4-0 at the
Warri Township Stadium on Sunday to seal Bayelsa United
place among the four clubs to be demoted at the end of the
season.
Gbolahan Salami got the curtain raiser in the ninth minute
from the spot before Oghenkaro Etebo extended the lead
through his two goals in the 28th and 52nd minutes.
There was still time for Joseph Osadaiye to nail Bayelsa
United's coffin with the fourth goal in the 81st minute.
Warri Wolves took their place back in second position with
62 points from 36 matches while Bayelsa United are 19th
on the log with 34 points from 36 matches.

SUNSHINE STARS 0-1 LOBI STARS (INCONCLUSIVE)
The Akure Gunners were a shadow of themselves at home
on Sunday after they burgled a match they supposed to win
convincingly against the Pride of Benue before the match
was abandoned because of crowd violence in the 81st
minute.
Lobi shot ahead in the opening 20 minutes of the encounter
through Abdulrahman Bashir and they frustrated Sunshine's
plan to level proceedings and get the winning goal.
Lobi are 15th on the log with 43 points from 35 matches but
they will race clear of relegation worries if the LMC rules the
tie in their favour while the Akure Gunners have seen their
continental ticket dashed as they are presently nine points
off the spot with 53 points from 34 games. They are fifth on
the log.

ENUGU RANGERS 2-2 AKWA UNITED
The Flying Antelopes are ending the season the same way
they started it-disappointedly. They were held at home by
the Promise Keepers on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe
Stadium, Enugu.
Twice, Rangers took the lead through Chinedu Udeagha and
Justice Chinedu in the seventh and 51st minutes but Akwa
United resilience was superb after they came back with
goals of theirs through Aniekpeno Udoh and magnificent free
kick converted by Namso Edo. Udoh's goal came a minute
after Rangers' opener.
Though safe from relegation, Rangers are 12th on the log
with 46 points from 36 matches but, they have
underachieved once again. Akwa United on their part are
not completely out of the drop zone. They are 14th on the
log with 44 points from 36 games.

EL KANEMI WARRIORS 1-0 KANO PILLARS
The Borno Army bounced back from the recent
inconsistency to beat Sai Masu Gida by a lone goal at the
Karkanda Stadium in Katsina.
Ibrahim Mustapha's (not Wikki Tourists' skipper) 33rd
minute penalty kick proved to be the difference between the
two sides.
It was the first time El Kanemi would be beating Pillars in
three seasons and the win has almost guaranteed them
another stay in the premier league next season.
El Kanemi are 13th on the log with 46 points from 35 games
while Pillars are eighth on the table with 52 points from 36
games.

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360 Official:-: Rafinha pens new Barca Deal

The midfielder has reached an agreement to extend
his stay at Camp Nou despite sustaining a cruciate
ligament rupture, with his deal to contain a €75
million release clause

Barcelona have announced that Rafinha Alcantara has
agreed to sign a new deal for the club that runs until 2020,
with a release clause of €75 million.

Rafinha made three appearances for Barcelona at the start
of the La Liga season, featuring against Athletic Bilbao,
Malaga and Atletico Madrid, but has been sidelined since the
club's Champions League clash with Roma in September.

The midfielder - the younger brother of Bayern Munich star
Thiago - sustained a cruciate ligament rupture in the 1-1
draw and remains out of action.

Nevertheless, Rafinha - who made his full debut for Brazil
prior to his injury - is set to pen a new deal with the club as
he looks to force his way into Luis Enrique's plans at Camp
Nou.

Rafinha has made 45 appearances in total for the Catalan
club, scoring three goals, having originally played over 80
games for Barca B

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Memphis Doesn't help the team - Blind

The Dutch coach has followed Louis van Gaal's
lead and left out the Manchester United winger, who
has struggled in his first three months in England
since joining from PSV

Netherlands coach Danny Blind has left Memphis Depay out
of his latest national team squad, insisting the Manchester
United winger doesn't do enough for the team.

Memphis, along with former United striker Robin van Persie,
has been omitted from Blind's 26-man squad for the friendly
fixtures against Wales and Germany in November, with the
Dutch having failed to qualify for the Euro 2016 finals.

And although Memphis was expected to miss out on the
forthcoming international friendlies due to injury, Blind has
suggested that his lack of work for the team means he does
not warrant a place in the squad.

"I think Depay fits in the profile of Dutch football in terms of
quality," Blind told reporters. "However, top level football
demands a player to contribute to the team. That is
something Memphis isn't always doing.

"I gave Memphis a call, and told him he wouldn't be on the
list. I said: 'if you are a big name, expect criticism when
things aren't going for you'."

Memphis was left out of the United squad entirely for the
draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday and hasn't started for
the Red Devils in the league since being withdrawn at half-
time in the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal at the beginning of October.

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