Manchester United new-boy Fellaini eyeing Champions League debut

The Belgian, a £27.5 million deadline-day signing from Everton, made his bow at Old Trafford on Saturday from the bench but is hoping to start against Bayer Leverkusen

Manchester United new-boy Marouane Fellaini is eyeing up a Champions League start when Bayer Leverkusen visit Old Trafford on Tuesday evening.

The Belgian midfielder, who joined the club in a £27.5 million deal from Everton on transfer deadline day, made his debut in a 30-minute cameo for the Red Devils in their 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The 25-year-old was delighted to feature for United but wants to dive headfirst into his first outing in Europe's biggest continental competition.

"I was happy with my first 30 minutes [against Palace]," the Belgian told reporters. "I've tried to do my job – winning duels, clearing balls, playing clean.

"I hope to start in the Champions League. It will be my first experience in that competition and I'm looking forward to it but the coach decides.

"It's important we make a good start. It was a nice first experience with the fans. They all supported me. I felt confidence. It was a great feeling to come in. Everybody cheered. There were fans with wigs in the stands, which is always nice.

"I want to give everything for this club, for the team-mates and the fans. In all things you feel this is one of the biggest clubs in the world." 

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Liverpool boss Rodgers enthused by defensive selection dilemma

Defender Mamadou Sakho may have to wait for his Reds debut after Martin Skrtel's fine performance against Manchester United and the manager welcomes competition for places

Defender Mamadou Sakho may have to wait for his Liverpool debut as manager Brendan Rodgers welcomes competition for places.

The Reds are looking to make it four wins in four Premier League games this season after Martin Skrtel came in from the cold to put in a fine performance in their 1-0 win over Manchester United before the international break.

The Slovakian could line up alongside Daniel Agger away to Swansea City on Monday and Rodgers says that it is "a nice problem to have" with his deadline-day signing from Paris Saint-Germain likely to start on the bench.

"I'd rather this than have a lack of talent to choose from. It just keeps everyone on their toes," the Liverpool boss told the media.


"I want to protect the present and the future of the club. Centre-halves are so hard to find now. You look at some teams, they've still got ageing centre-halves because it's very difficult to get a really good one.

"Sakho is 23. He's an experienced player with full international caps [for France and] looks an absolute monster in training. He's one who's ready for now. That's what we want.

"It's not so much a problem [finding a place for Sakho]. If you're winning games, it's very simple.

"The system is king. We will never be reliant on one player. The whole make-up of this is about the team. We can take one out, put one in and still be strong."

Rodgers would happily settle for another 1-0 win - the scoreline by which Liverpool have won every league game this season - when they take on Michael Laudrup's talented team.

"I think that's a part of the growth of the team," he argued. "You look at the win against Stoke. We were outstanding in our football but we had to dig in.

"It's never easy at 1-0, no matter how dominant you are. These are characteristics we're working on every day." 

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Mourinho: Chelsea are not unbeatable like in 2004

The double Champions League-winning manager feels that his Blues side must convert more of their chances and will struggle to match the success of his first season at the club

Jose Mourinho warns that success with Chelsea will not come as quickly following his return to the Premier League as it did on his arrival in 2004.

Despite several chances, the Blues were beaten 1-0 away at Everton on Saturday after failing to cancel out Steven Naismith's goal just before half-time, the Portuguese's side having dropped five points from their first four games.

Mourinho dropped just seven points from his opening 13 league matches and lost just one all season upon his first appointment but insists that circumstances are different now.

"No, it is not 2004 all over again. Then we lost against Manchester City in October – our only defeat - but that is not the point. We are not unbeatable. This is a different team," he told reporters.

But the double Champions League-winning manager maintains that he will not accept poor results, arguing that his team will improve if they convert their chances.

"We are not a club who will accept in a cool way that things will come. We're going to chase it," he remarked. "I came here to work – I don't say peacefully because I am the first one that does not like to work peacefully – but to work with time, to develop the players and play the best they and we can.

"We have to be effective, be adult and not naive. That is what we have to work on. We have to transform the beautiful football we played into goals.

"The beginning of the season was hard. Away against Manchester United, away in the Super Cup against Bayern, and away against Everton but Saturday was the story of a team with 21 shots that couldn't score a goal. That is the beauty of football." 

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Giroud confident of fitness for Marseille clash

The France international twisted his ankle against Sunderland but expects to return for Wednesday's Champions League tie and is hopeful of being England's top goalscorer

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is confident that he will be ready to take on Marseille despite twisting his ankle against Sunderland.

The France international netted after just 11 minutes at the Stadium of Light and also assisted Aaron Ramsey's second goal in the 3-1 win but was withdrawn late on to throw his participation in Wednesday's Champions League tie into doubt.

"It is not bad. I twisted my ankle but, fortunately, it is nothing major," Giroud told the press.

"Marseille? Yes, I am OK, I will be fine."

The Gunners star had already scored three times in his opening three club games of the season before the visit to the Black Cats saw club-record signing Mesut Ozil added to the team and feels that he is in with a chance of winning the Premier League's Golden Boot.

"With this team I can score many goals," he enthused. "Can I finish the league's top scorer? I must have a chance." 

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Bayern must not underestimate CSKA, insists Boateng

The defender has insisted that the Russian powerhouse cannot be taken lightly as they have some talented individuals

Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has warned his team-mates not to underestimate CSKA Moscow ahead of this week's Champions League encounter.

The Germany international has admitted that he does not know much about the Russian champions as of yet, but he has stressed that Tuesday's game cannot be taken lightly.

"They have a couple of really talented players, so we can't underestimate them. We have to be careful," Boateng told the club's official website.

"We don't often get to see CSKA’s games, so it's hard to say what we can expect. We’ll be taking a look at a lot of video material, and I’ll personally check out their strikers online.

"What I do know is that they're very tricky opponents."

The match at the Allianz Arena is scheduled to kick off at 20:45CET. 

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Ligue 1: Falcao sends Monaco top

The principality giants kept up their title tilt with a 1-0 victory over Lorient as Olympique Lyonnais stumbled and Nice beat Lille 2-0

Monaco maintained their unbeaten start and moved back to the top of Ligue 1 as they edged past Lorient 1-0 through a Radamel Falcao penalty.
The Colombian netted his fourth goal in five games from 12 yards, beating Fabien Audard after being felled by the Lorient goalkeeper.
The Brittany club did have chances to get back into the game, Sadio Diallo seeing an effort ruled out for offside midway through the first half.
However, the hosts always looked to be in control and will look to maintain their momentum when they face champions Paris Saint-Germain in a mouth-watering clash at the Parc des Princes next Sunday.
Meanwhile, Olympique Lyonnais' winless run stretched to three matches as they were held to a goalless draw by Stade Rennais at the Stade de Gerland.
Remi Garde's men headed into the game on the back of disappointing defeats to Reims and Evian, but were boosted by the return of striker Bafetimbi Gomis, who reportedly came close to joining Newcastle United in the transfer window.
However, the France international could not inspire the hosts to victory, however, as Rennes held on to make it just one defeat in five games for Philippe Montanier's men.
Nice won their second game in as many seasons at Lille's Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Claude Puel's men easing to a 2-0 victory.
Puel's side won by the same scoreline last season and had little difficulty in seeing off the 2010-11 champions once again, Argentinian striker Dario Cvitanich scoring a double.
Cvitanich scored 22 goals for Nice last term and it was his clinical finishing that proved to be the difference this time around.
The 29-year-old gave the visitors the lead after 20 minutes, latching on to a neat flick from Christian Bruls to hammer a shot past Victor Enyeama, before combining with the same player just before the break for his second.

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Moyes sets 30-goal target for Rooney

The Manchester United manager insists that the England international can form a partnership with Robin van Persie and says that he will not play the 27-year-old in midfield

Manchester United manager David Moyes has set Wayne Rooney a target of scoring 30 goals this season.

Following a pre-season which was disrupted by injury and transfer speculation, the 27-year-old forward netted his first strike of the campaign with a curling free kick against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Rooney scored 16 times in all competitions for United last season and Moyes believes that the England international is capable of building an understanding with Robin van Persie.

"I will try to do that [get Rooney to 30 goals]," Moyes told reporters.

"I think Wayne's aim will be to do that as well. Hopefully we can make that happen.

"The hope is that we get a partnership where folk are saying, 'My goodness we are having to play against Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney'.

"Everybody is looking to see if those two form a partnership that can score lots of goals. I have to say I have also got Chicharito and Danny Welbeck. Danny has made a great start to the season."

Rooney's reduced tally last term was partly down to being played in midfield on occasions, a move which Moyes is reluctant to replicate this year.

"I can only see Wayne playing up top and playing as a forward for us," said the Scot.

"He has scored a lot of goals. It was down last year. But to be successful you need to have people who can score you 20 goals.

"I am hoping with Robin and Wayne you have two there who you would say they have it in them to do that. It was also good for us that Robin scored. A good start." 

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Abidal: Alves offered me his liver

The left-back shed light on just how close his relationship is with the Brazilian, while also admitting that Pep Guardiola tried to take him to Bayern Munich

Eric Abidal has revealed that good friend and ex-Barcelona team-mate Dani Alves offered to give him his liver prior to his transplant.

It is widely known that the pair built up a special friendship during their time at Camp Nou and the Brazilian has ditched his usual shirt number to don Abidal’s old number 22 this season, as a mark of loyalty to his close companion.

But the Frenchman brought to light just how deep their friendship is when he disclosed the touching gesture made by Alves during his treatment.

“My relationship with Dani goes much further than him taking my old No.22 shirt,” Abidal told Catalunya Radio.

“When I had to undergo surgery, he offered to donate his liver.

“Of course, it’s completely out of the question because he is a professional footballer. Our relationship goes much deeper than friendship.”

The Monaco captain also brought to light attempts by Pep Guardiola to take him to Germany and join him at Bayern Munich, only for the European champions obstructed any move based on medical grounds.

“Guardiola wanted me to join him at Bayern, I won’t deny that,” confessed the 34-year-old.

“What happened is that it’s not really up to him. It’s a complicated matter and more so because of my health issues.

“Bayern’s directors and medical staff didn’t want to take that risk which I fully understand. But I understood the gesture perfectly.”

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Soldado praises Eriksen's swift adaptation at Tottenham

The Spanish striker has labelled the Denmark international as a "brilliant player" and says the midfielder will be a big influence in Spurs' attack this season

Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado has praised Christian Eriksen's swift adaptation to the Premier League.

The Denmark international, who was signed from Ajax for €14 million in the summer transfer window, assisted Gylfi Sigurdsson's opening goal against Norwich City and made an impressive contribution on his debut in Tottenham's 2-0 victory at White Hart Lane.

Soldado believes the 21-year-old will become a significant part of Andre Villas-Boas' attacking set-up and says the midfielder will enhance the ability of his team-mates.

"He is a brilliant player. It's incredible that he has got up to this level already in his first game in English football," Soldado said.

"It's great for him, for the team. He is a player who is capable of improving all of us.

"He is a player that makes everything look easy and that's good for us. Today [Saturday] he made the difference, he's a player that can support us in everything we do. He can offer us a lot of passes to everyone who plays in attack for Spurs." 

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