Luis Enrique: If PSG scored four, Barcelona can score six

Luis Enrique: If PSG scored four, Barcelona can score six

Barcelona's hot scoring form of late has Luis Enrique confident that his side can not only knock out Paris Saint-Germain from the Champions League on Wednesday night, that they can do so with goals to spare.

Recent routs over Celta Vigo and Sporting Gigon have boosted the Catalans' morale and their optimism is high going into the return leg of the last-16 tie, despite their 4-0 deficit.

"We are in the middle of the tie, we have nothing to lose and a lot to win - if they scored four, we can score six, " the Asturian told the press on Tuesday afternoon. "We arrive in good form and we have o be confident.

"Without a doubt, we have to be patient as the result of the first leg was very clear, but we are only halfway through.

"We have to do a lot of things throughout the game and assert our dominance in attack and defence because PSG are difficult team and will make thing hard for us."

With Unai Emery naming a large travelling party of players to travel from the French capital, the Barcelona boss was similarly keen to keep his cards close to his chest regarding team selection.

"Any of the 20 players I have at my disposal could play together, " he said.

"We can play with many systems and I do not want to give any hints to Emery.

"Everyone has to be professional and know that sport puts you in situations of all kinds. If this team has not needed a comeback like this so far,  it's because we've been generally very good in our first legs."

A boisterous Camp Nou will greet the two sides on Wednesday night and Luis Enrique is hoping for constant backing from the home fans, even if the tie goes to penalties.

"Every football game needs good emotional management, but this one even more," said the coach. " The players should be calm but not the fans.

"The Camp Nou must be a pressure cooker from 20 minutes before kick off, we need the supporters to be hyper alert and hyper exited.

"Marc-Andre [ter Stegen] does not need to hear about [penalties], he knows that all he has  to do is stop them from scoring. Our players will know in themselves if they are more or less prepared to take a spot-kick."

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OFFICIAL: Evra leaves Juventus for Marseille

Patrice Evra

The veteran ex-Manchester United defender has left Turin for his home nation after a two-and-a-half-year spell with the Serie A champions.

Marseille have completed the signing of Patrice Evra from Juventus, the Ligue 1 club have confirmed.

The 35-year-old has agreed an 18-month contract at the Stade Velodrome, with Marseille not disclosing the fee.

Evra had been linked with former club Manchester united as well as Valencia and Crystal Palace in recent weeks, but has opted to return to the French top flight.

The left-back started his professional career at Italian minnows Marsala after coming through the racks at Paris Saint-Germain and also had spells with Monza, Nice, Monaco and United before eventually joining Juventus in 2014.

He won two Serie A titles with the Turin giants, but had set his sights on a move elsewhere after losing his starting berth this campaign.

Marsielle have already secured the services of Morgan Sanson from Montpellier this month and remain hopeful of luring Dimitri Payet back from West Ham.

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Liverpool confident of reaching Philippe Coutinho contract extension in next 48 hours 

Phillippe Coutinho is close to agreeing a new five-year deal with Liverpool

LIVERPOOL are confident they have reached agreement on a five-year deal to keep Phillippe coutinho on Merseyside and away from the clutches of Barcelona.

The Brazil international is ready to put pen to paper on a contact which will make him the Reds' highest earner.

His current deal runs until 2020 but the new contract, which club officials hope will be wrapped up in the next 48 hours, will keep him at the club until 2022.

Despite the interest his improved performances have attracted around Europe and particularly from the Catalan giants, there is set to be no buyout clause inserted in the contract.

Both Liverpool and the players' representatives are understood to believe it would do little stop a move going ahead if the player wanted to leave in the future.

However agreement on his new contract - which is believed to have nearly doubled his £75,000 a week wages - confirms the Brazil forward is happy at the club and on Merseyside which he has said "feels like home".

And that he continues to believe that the Premier League is well suited to showcase his considerable talents.

Coutinho, 24, has proved a massive hit at Anfield since signing from Inter Milan for £8.5million in January, 2013 and has blossomed under Jurgen Klopp.

Since his move he has scored 34 goals in 163 appearances and Coutinho has six this season despite missing six weeks with ankle ligament damage from November to January.

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Man Utd. and Chelsea are ready to break the bank for Bale

Both clubs will pay 200m euros
 

Gareth Bale

Although Garth Bale has previously expressed his desire to remain at Real Madrid, both Manchester United and Chelsea are thought to be preparing 200 million euro bids to bring the Welshman back to the Premier League.

Aside from that hefty outlay, the former Tottenham wide-man would also command a salary in the region go 400,00 euros per week.

Various outlets in the English media are reporting on a potential deal, which would overtake Paul Pogba's world-record move to Manchester United as the most expensive in football history were it to be concluded.

Chinese clubs can't be ruled out either, however the likelihood of Bale opting for anything other than a move back to England if Real were to accept and bid for his services, is low.

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Why Kroos is so indispensable for Zidane?

Toni Kroos in Real Madrid

Real Madrid have effectively been based around expensive, world-famous football players. Under such "galacticos" policy, Kroos is not the one emerging as star on the pitch. nor the one better than others at the same position. However, he is the most important one for Zidane.

The 27-year-old became the highest-paid German footballer in October, 2016. This new contract which is extended until June 2022 gives him 20m euros per year. What's worth mentioning is that Kroos is the unquestioned starter for both Germany National Team and Real Madrid.

In fact, a peaceful life is what Kroos wants to live, so it came as something of a surprise that such unassuming player can achieve a lot on both the economic and sporting level. However, he does have some quality.

First of all, the midfielder has aptitude for sport. His father Roland works as youth coach for Hansa Rostock. His mother, Birgit, is Est German badminton champion. And his younger brother Felix now plays for Union Berlin.

It's said that Kroos was once a high-profile teen football player with fancy footwork. His way of touching a ball was impressive.

Secondly, Kroos has a lot of good qualities - He is a pace setter with wisdom on the pitch and great skill. He could find a combination of passes in a Gegenpressing situation. He is brimming with confidence and sustained performance in each game.

Finally, toni is a resilient player. He couldn't speak a word of Spanish when he got there. However, only 2 and a half years, he not only became integral to Los Blancos, but also clinched the title of Champions League with his club.

Kroos is also brilliant for some coaches and some media.

He spent a loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen between January, 2009 and June, 2010. And he met Jupp Heynckes there.

The German coach like Kroos so much that Robben became a replacement for Kroos following the latter and Heynckes' re-union at Bayern Munich.

Later, Josep Guardiola replaced Heynckes. And Pep also considered Kroos as a key man for his tactical reform.

According to Marti Peranau , a Spanish journalist, Pep regards Kroos as the playmaker.

Last summer, when Guardiola took charge of Manchester City, he even pressed for ringing the German midfielder to the Premier League.

Karel Jarolim, the Czech Republic suffered a 0-3 defeat to Germany. And the Real Madrid midfielder, who scored a goal, impressed Jarolim.

He said that Toni Kroos played as if his head was a GPS transmitter.

Actually, the media pay close attention to him.

2014 FIFA World Cup is one of the landmarks of his career. Especially in the semi-final where Germany trashed the hosts Brazil 7-1, Kroos was superb.

The 27-year-old fired in his two goals just 69 seconds apart. which is the fastest in World Cup history.

Since then, he has been at the centre of the German media's attention.

With these qualities, Toni Kroos is indeed indispensable.

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Man United boss Jose Mourinho: Wayne Rooney could leave for China

JOSE MOURINHO says he won't stop Wayne Rooney going to China.

Manchester United's record-breaking striker is being lined up for a mega-money move to the Far East.

But after watching the 31-year-old become United's greatest ever goalscorer to rescue a point at Stoke, boss Mourinho says it's up to Rooney what he does next.

" The future belongs to him and wwhat he wants in his career," said Mourhinho.

" The way he wants to end it, the way he wants to enjoy the last part of it, that belongs to him.

" I don't know about China - it's up to him. I don't like to be critical of player who decide to go to China.

" It's their life and their career. The money is huge, the experience can also be interesting.

" I know some of my colleagues think they are more important than they are and think they can interfere in the lives of other people, but I'm  not that sort of guy.

"Everybody is responsible for their own life, I'm not critical with anyone. To be honest, in Wayne's case, I have no idea, because he has never mentioned it to me."

Rooney has made just eight league starts this season and was a substitute again on Saturday before coming on the score his 25th goal for the club.

He still has another two seasons left on his contract.

But despite his lack of starts, Mourinho says the England captain still has a part to play at Old Trafford if he chooses to stay.

" I think he has more to give us, " said Mourinho.

Man United striker Wayne Rooney could be allowed to move to China

" But, I repeat, you reach a certain level in a career when it is up to him.

" Wayne owns his career. It is a decision for him and his family but of course, yes, I see him with an important contribution for us."

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson believes Rooney should give it a go in the Chinese Super League.

" He has to make that decision together with his family and agent and so on, but why not?" said Eriksson, who has been coaching in China since 2013.

" I'm sure Rooney could play in any team here."

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Chelsea granted planning permission for Stamford Bridge redevelopment

Stamford Bridge redevelopment

The Blues' project is set to cost upwards of £500 million and will see them temporarily move home over the course of a three-year construction period

Chelsea have been granted planning permission to increase the capacity of Stamford Bridge to 60,000 by Hammersmith & Fulham council at a hearing on Wednedsday evening.

The meeting could be regarded as a historic day for the club as it is intended to mark the final decision in the planning process, but the Mayor of London will have a period to endorse or rebound the plans.

Rather than move site, the Blues will expand Stamford Bridge over the course of a three-year schedule that will see the team temporarily uprooted to a new stadium- with Wembley, home of the England national team, their preferred location.

Building within the grounds of Stamford Bridge would be demolished to allow the expansion of the stadium, while Chelsea have also proposed decking platforms over the District Line and Southern Mainline, which run close by the ground. Additionally, they will construct a club shop, museum and restaurant and cafe facilities.

Planners have recommended the proposals as they will allow the club to remain an iconic brand based within the Hammersmith and Fulham borough. Indeed, with dedicated tickets set to local residents, it is believed that the new ground would allow a younger generation of supporters to enjoy the team, whose average season ticket holder is aged 55.

Chelsea had previously looked at moving to Earls Court or Battersea Power Station, but both options were rejected. " Both were ruled out on policy grounds as the inclusion of a football ground was found not to be consistent with housing regeneration objectives identified for those areas, " planning documents state.

It is expected that any redevelopment will cost around £500 million and could be by the 2012-22 season, with the Blues hoping to secure the use of another stadium for the beginning of the 20185-19 campaign.

Chelsea have already begun discussions over a temporary new home as they expected to win the council vote today and the new stadium with be around 18,400 seats bigger -  increasing from the current capacity of 41,629.

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Ronaldo crowned FIFA's Best Player in the World

The Real Madrid superstar enjoyed a staggering 2016 and has now been awarded the title of the best player in the world, beating Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann

Ronaldo crowned FIFA's Best Player in the World

 Cristiano Ronaldo has been crowned the world's best player at FIFA's annual awards gala in Zurich.

Martial two goals away from costing Man Utd €10m more

The Real Madrid superstar enjoyed a fantastic 2016, and has now beaten his perennial rival Lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann to the prize.

" It's a great feeling, as I mentioned many times last year was a dream year, no doubt about that, " the striker said at the ceremony shortly before receiving the prize.

"Real Madrid win the Champion League and the national team won the Euros for the first time in history.

Unbelievable season. I'm so proud and happy.

"I have to say thank you to my team-mates of Real Madrid, and team-mates of Portugal and the coaches. It was an amazing year." 

Ronaldo scored a total of 59 goals for both club and country throughout the 12 months, as his career reached new heights.

The Real Madrid superstar enjoyed a staggering 2016 and has now been awarded the title of the best player in the world, beating Lionel Messi and Antoine Grizmann

Cristiano Ronaldo has been crowned the world's best player at FIFA's annual awards gala in Zurich.

Martial two goals away from costing Man Utd €10m more

The Real Madrid superstar enjoyed a fantastic 2016, and has now beaten his perennial rival lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid's Antoine Grizmann to the prize.

"It's a great feeling, as I mentioned many times last year was a dream year, no doubt about that," the striker said at the ceremony shortly before receiving the prize.

" Real Madrid win the Champions League and the national team won the Euros for the first time in history.

Unbelievable season. I'm so proud and happy.

"I have to say thank you to my team-mates of Real Madrid, and team-mates of Portugal and the coaches. It was an amazing year." 

Ronaldo scored a total of 59 goals for both club and country throughout the 12 months, as his career reached new heights.

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Manchester United transfer news: Jose Mourinho eyes a £169M double summer swoop for two Atletico Madrid stars

Yannick Carrasco and Antoine Griezmann

Manchester United are interested in signing Atletico Madrid winger Yannick Carrasco, as well as Antoine Griezmann according to the Daily Star.

Earlier this month, the Daily Star reported that United had opened talks to sign Griezmann, with his buyout clause standing at £84 million. The tabloid now cite IK Diario in reporting that Jose Mourinho is eyeing a second Atletico player in Carrasco, who would likely cost £85 million.

As per the source, a deal 19 goals between them for Atletico this season, and thus would undoubtedly had a considerable amount of fire-power to the United attack.

United have demonstrated their extraordinary financial power on multiple occasions in the past few years, but the signing of Paul Pogba in the summer for a world-record fee was huge statement, Mourinho's side could certainly afford to bankroll a £169 million swoop for the two of them if they desired.

 

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