Thursday, 23 April 2015

Qatar launch stunning Al Rayyan stadium design for World Cup 2022... with air conditioning provided to keep players cool

Qatar's Supreme Committee unveil new 40,000-seat stadium for World CupThe Al Rayyan Stadium is fifth 2022 venue and will be completed in 2019

Stadium features 'cooling technology' for fans and players comfort

Qatar launch stunning Al Rayyan stadium design for World Cup 2022... with air conditioning

Qatar have unveiled the design for their fifth World Cup stadium, a 40,000-seater ground built in 'the gateway to the desert' and featuring air conditioning for the comfort of players and fans.

The Al Rayyan Stadium is inspired by sand dunes and its design has been produced by UK-based architecture firms Ramboll and Pattern.

Fans in the stands will sit in a comfortable 24-28 degrees Celsius, while paths and walkways leading to the stadium will also be cooled.

Al Rayyan will hold matches up to the quarter-final stage of the 2022 tournament and after the World Cup its capacity will be almost halved to 21,000 seats, with the removable upper tier sent to developing nations.

The new stadium, set to be completed in the early months of 2019, now has a more traditional look than the previously-mooted design which featured a huge screen referred to as a 'digital skin'.

Sitting on the site of a now-deconstructed ground, Al Rayyan's facade includes seven patterns representing different aspects of Qatari culture which designers say 'blend together to tell the story of a nation'.

A mosque, aquatics centre, athletics track, cricket pitch, tennis courts and a hockey pitch are being built nearby, along with a new medical centre and the already-planned Mall of Qatar.

A mosque, aquatics centre, athletics track, cricket pitch, tennis courts and hockey pitch are being built nearby

Real Madrid better WITHOUT Gareth Bale as Champions League holders boast 100 per cent win record without him in starting XI

Gareth Bale has not started eight of Real Madrid's matches this season
In the games he has missed, Real boast a 100 per cent win record
Real have scored 25 goals and conceded just one without the Welshman
In the 42 matches that Bale has started, Real's win record is 69 per cent

Real Madrid's Champions League victory over city rivals Atletico on Wednesday night marked the eighth match Gareth Bale has not started this season... and Real have won every single one.

The Welshman has received some criticism from sections of the Bernabeu support despite a bright start in Madrid, and these remarkable stats will do nothing to help his popularity at the club.

The £86million man has missed out on just eight starts in Real Madrid's 50 matches this term, but his team-mates have picked up a 100 per cent win record when he has been away, scoring 25 and conceding just one goal.

Gareth Bale has not started eight of Real Madrid's matches this season, through injury and omission

His latest injury, suffered against Malaga, meant he missed Wednesday night's Champions League game

Bale's time on the sidelines has coincided with huge matches against Barcelona, two Champions League ties with Liverpool (in which he entered the fray as a 62nd-minute substitute at the Bernabeu), and Wednesday night's European quarter-final against Atletico... but it seems the rest of the Real squad are just fine without him.

In the first half of the season, Bale suffered a buttock muscle injury while on international duty with Wales, and he missed La Liga matches against Levante (5-0 win), Barcelona (3-1 win), Granada (4-0 win) and a 3-0 Champions League victory against Liverpool.

He was in contention for the return leg against Liverpool at the Bernabeu, but did not start the match, instead coming on as a second-half substitute. Real were 1-0 up when he came on, and the score remained the same until the final whistle.

In December, Madrid were already leading 4-1 against third-tier side Cornella in their Copa del Rey tie heading into the second leg, and Carlo Ancelotti opted to rest some of his biggest names.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, Sergio Ramos and Bale were all among the stars watching on from the sidelines as Los Blancos recorded a comfortable 5-0 win. That's six games without Bale in the starting line-up, and six wins for Real.

Moving into 2015, Bale played a major role in the team's start to the year, scoring 12 goals between his return to the side against Celta Vigo and his omission against Eibar on April 11.

Ancelotti stated in the build-up to the match that he had decided to rest the Welshman, while the team went on to win 3-0 against their struggling opposition.

Bale again returned the side for two matches, a goalless draw against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and a win against Malaga in La Liga, but suffered a calf injury in the early stages of the latter domestic clash.

Instead of taking to the field in the crucial European match on Wednesday night, Bale was resigned to watching the match from home, where he tweeted his support of the team.

Javier Hernandez's late goal ensured another victory for Ancelotti's men, taking their Bale-less record to eight wins, no draws and no losses.

With the Welshman, Real have a 69 per cent win record, far from disastrous, recording 29 wins, four draws and nine losses.

But the stats without him will surely give ammunition to those unhappy with their £86million man.

Arsenal fans should give Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas a good welcome... I wish he had never left us, says Arsene Wenger

Arsenal face Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon
Cesc Fabregas makes his first return to his former club in the clash
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants fans to respect ex-players
The Gunners had the chance to re-sign Fabregas but he went to Chelsea
Wenger refuses to say if he regrets that but admits he wishes he never left

Arsene Wenger has called on Arsenal supporters to give Cesc Fabregas the reception he deserves when he makes his return to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The midfielder excelled at Arsenal but has not been back since he left for Barcelona in 2011.

The fact he moved to Chelsea on his summer return to English football has no doubt been a sore point, but Wenger said: 'I want every player to be respected, and Cesc Fabregas, when he comes to the Emirates on Sunday, should be respected like he deserves.'

Cesc Fabregas returns to Arsenal on Sunday and Arsene Wenger hopes fans will give him a good reception

Wenger wants 'respect' for the club's former players and counts Fabregas as a man who deserves that

Gunners fans offer their good luck to Fabregas in 2011, but the reception is likely to be more frosty this time

Asked if he regretted not signing Fabregas in the summer when he had the option to, Wenger added: 'The regret I have is that he wanted to leave here.

'This club and myself had a very positive influence on Cesc’s life, so I would be a bit uncomfortable to have to justify today why he is not here. I believe I would rather it was the other way around.'

Fabregas set up Diego Costa's goal in Chelsea's 2-0 win in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge in December and was booed by the away end whenever he was in possession of the ball.

Arsene Wenger: I regret that Cesc Fabregas wanted to leave

The midfielder set up Diego Costa to seal a 2-0 victory for Chelsea against Arsenal earlier this season

Fabregas, 27, has been integral to the Blues' Barclays Premier League title challenge this season after joining from Barcelona last summer.

He has managed three goals and 16 assists in the Premier League since his return to the English top flight.

Wenger is expected to be without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mikel Arteta on Sunday, while Per Mertesacker is '50-50' for the game having missed training for much of this week.

Fabregas gets ahead of his now-team-mate Branislav Ivanovic to score against Chelsea for Arsenal in 2010

Arsenal can beat Chelsea, says Arsene Wenger... despite his awful record against rival Jose Mourinho

Arsenal face table-topping Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday
Cesc Fabregas returns to the Emirates with Chelsea for the first time
Arsene Wenger says his record against Jose Mourinho will have no impact
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mikel Arteta are set to miss out on the game
Per Mertesacker is '50-50' for the game having not trained at all

Arsene Wenger insists his woeful record against Jose Mourinho will have no bearing on Arsenal's top-of-the-table clash with Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Wenger has failed to win in 12 games against Mourinho across the Portuguese coach's two spells at Stamford Bridge, drawing five and losing seven of their clashes.

But the Arsenal manager says the past shared between the two managers on the touchline in Sunday's 4pm kick-off will be irrelevant as the Barclays Premier League's top two sides face off.

Arsene Wenger has drawn five and lost seven of his 12 clashes with Jose Mourinho ahead of facing Chelsea

Wenger and Mourinho rowed on the touchline in October's 2-0 win for Chelsea in the reverse fixture

'I think we have not always lost in 12 attempts. We have been close,' Wenger said. 'Having said that, the result on Sunday will just be down to the performance on the day. We are on a good run and we have an opportunity at home to beat them and we want to take it.

'We have a good run of form and good belief and solidarity. We have passed many tests recently when we were questioned. We have another test on Sunday that we want to pass.

'Chelsea's strengths are they have been very efficient on counter attacks and set-pieces as well. We have to nullify their strengths.'

Asked about his frosty relationship with Mourinho, Wenger said: 'I do not want to talk about that. What is interesting for people is when the game starts at 4pm we have a great game. It is not about the relationship between the managers.'

Arsenal are 10 points behind Chelsea but come into the game on the back of excellent form.

Wenger said: 'Look, mathematically it will be possible, yes, but Chelsea has their future and the championship in their hands. We can get closer and we have an opportunity to do that at home and want to take it.'

Wenger added: 'They have been very consistent until now. They have fewer losses than any team. The Premier League rewards consistency. On that front they gave been defensively very strong and consistent.'

Sunday's game marks the return of former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who will be wearing Chelsea blue at the Emirates for the first time. Fabregas left for Barcelona in 2011.

Arsenal supporters are expected to give their former hero a hot reception after he joined their fierce rivals, but Wenger has asked for some respect for one of their best players of the last decade.

'I want every player to be respected, and Cesc Fabregas when he comes to the Emirates on Sunday to be respected like he deserves,' he said.

Asked if he regretted not signing Fabregas in the summer when he had the option to, Wenger added: 'The regret I have is that he wanted to leave here.

Wenger is without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mikel Arteta on Sunday, while Per Mertesacker is rated as '50-50' by his manager having not trained at all this week.

Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Real Madrid - who will win the Champions League? Our reporters have their say...

Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Real Madrid make up last four
Real Madrid are looking to retain their title and win for the 11th time
Barcelona have won three Champions Leagues since 2006
Bayern Munich are five-time winners and last won at Wembley in 2013
Juventus' two European Cup wins came in 1985 and 1996

The semi-final line-up for the Champions League has been confirmed and, although there may be no English involvement, four European giants are just three games from being crowned champions of the continent in Berlin on

June 6.

With Real Madrid and Juventus winning on Wednesday to join Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the last four, this season's competition is one of the toughest to call in recent memory.

Barcelona:

Momentum is key at this point in the season and Barcelona are in overdrive. Their early-season woes are a distant memory and Luis Enrique is finally getting his point across. Lionel Messi remains phenomenal and a certain Luis Suarez is hitting top gear just at the right time.

Bayern Munich:

They overcame their blip (the rip in the seam of Pep's trousers) to power their way beyond Porto in the second leg of the quarter-final and remind everyone just how good they are. They have much to prove after last season's disappointment but they are a phenomenal team. I expect them to draw Barcelona in the semi-final.

Real Madrid:

They might be depleted by injuries but experience and pedigree count in this competition and, as we saw against Atletico Madrid, you can never count against the 10-time winners. Or, indeed, a certain Ronaldo.

Juventus:

Carlos Tevez, Paul Pogba and Gianluigi Buffon - experience, goals and know-how. Tevez isn't Messi (or Cristiano Ronaldo), Pogba isn't Thomas Muller and Buffon isn't Manuel Neuer: Yes, they are ugly bugs on a catwalk of super powers, but they CAN win this. After all, Denmark and Greece both won the Euros.

Wednesday, 22 April 2015

Mayweather vs Pacquiao: Big fight contract row rumbles on

Book Mayweather vs Pacquiao on skysports.com/maypac

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will finally share a ring in just over week but an actual contract to stage the richest bout in history at the MGM Grand still has not been signed.

A row between the rival promoters has resulted in no tickets being printed for the showdown between the world’s TWO

best pound-for-pound fighters on May 2.

Tickets for closed-circuit viewing at the MGM Hotels have also yet to go on sale.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is refusing to sign a draft of the contract he received last week because he claims it was not what he agreed a couple months ago.

"We agreed that we would all be signatories on the final contract and then they sent us a draft of the agreement and it excluded us," Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, told ESPN.

Top Rank will not have any control of any decisions during the fight, including in-arena production, video content and music if they are not signatories to the contract.

"They don't want us to have any say," Arum said. "So whether they came up with the deal between Mayweather and MGM before or after our agreement, they've committed fraud either way. That's what we're enmeshed in."

Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, disagreed with Arum's interpretation of the original deal.

"The bottom line is that Bob isn't willing to live with the agreement signed a couple of months ago, which doesn't allow him to be in control," Ellerbe said.

"The only conspiracy, in my opinion, exists with him trying to conspire with his lawyers to change the terms of the agreement. I assure you that nothing underhanded is going on and the reference to this back-alley stuff is ridiculous."

Tuesday, 21 April 2015

Iker Casillas or David de Gea? Real Madrid goalkeeper under pressure

As Real Madrid continue to be linked with a summer move for Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, the pressure builds on club captain Iker Casillas ahead of the latest Madrid derby…

David de Gea called Iker Casillas “the best keeper in the world” in 2011. The respect was mutual. “He will soon be fighting for my place,” said Casillas at the time. “He's a great keeper. We have to take care of him because he is the future. He will pension us all off.” Four years on and it seems the Real Madrid and Spain No.1 was more right than he knew.

The reports of Real’s interest in bringing De Gea back to the Spanish capital simply won’t go away. Spanish journalist Josep Pedrerol even told TV channel La Sexta that a summer move had been agreed for the Manchester United goalkeeper whose contract has a little over a year left to run. “David de Gea is clear,” said Pedrerol. “He wants to be the Real Madrid goalkeeper.”

It’s just the latest issue that Casillas has had to deal with in what’s been a turbulent few years for the 33-year-old. The midweek Madrid derby against Atletico puts him back in the spotlight after being booed by the Bernabeu crowd on his previous Champions League appearance in the stadium against Schalke. It’s become a familiar phenomenon for the erstwhile ‘Saint Iker’.

When Jose Mourinho first dropped Casillas in December 2012 it was initially seen as Jose Mourinho playing politics, but when Diego Lopez established himself for an extended period of time the water was muddied. “He had nothing against Iker,” Lopez told Canal+ recently. “I wasn't his nanny boy. If my form dropped, so would I be.”

Crisis of confidence

The experience could have spurred Casillas on but instead the doubts about his waning form have remained, mushrooming into a full-blown crisis of confidence. The player even admitted in a FIFA interviewed that he “cried, suffered, felt bad and had nights where I slept little, if at all” during his absence from the starting line-up.

Carlo Ancelotti retained Lopez as his La Liga goalkeeper last season and, while Casillas did get the glory of La Decima, his performances were not wholly convincing. Indeed, he was fortunate to escape the blame in the Lisbon final when at fault for Diego Godin’s opener – a goal only cancelled out in the dying moments of normal time – and followed up with a dismal World Cup showing.

Iker Casillas is the only goalkeeper remaining in this year’s Champions League who has made an error leading to a goal in the competition this season.

According to Opta, Casillas is the only goalkeeper remaining in this year’s Champions League who has made an error leading to a goal. The comparison with De Gea is not favourable. In fact, Casillas has made more errors leading to shots in the last two Champions League seasons (20 games in total) than De Gea has made in his last 89 Premier League appearances dating back to 2012.

Reactive goalkeeper

It’s not all damning for Casillas. He actually boasts a superior save percentage to De Gea inside the box in those same competitions. “Casillas is at the moment and what he has perhaps always been: a very good reactive goalkeeper but not so good proactively,” Guillem Balague told Sky Sports earlier this season. It’s De Gea who has worked hard to turn himself into the more commanding keeper.

Casillas is at the moment and what he has perhaps always been: a very good reactive goalkeeper but not so good proactively.

Iker Casillas and David de Gea have been sharing goalkeeping duties for Spain

It all makes Casillas’s position in the Real Madrid goalmouth increasingly precarious. “There are no reasons to leave Real Madrid,” he told Marca in December. “I still want to win many titles with this jersey.” But with United boss Louis van Gaal refusing to rule out De Gea’s departure – “in football, everything is possible” – Casillas’s hopes could yet prove forlorn.

With Lopez having departed for Milan, Casillas is now battling against Keylor Navas, the man who beat Thibaut Courtois to last season’s La Liga goalkeeper of the year award. While Casillas recently went six weeks without a win, Navas played in the only victory that interspersed that sequence and following it up with another against Eibar earlier this month, keeping clean sheets on both occasions.

If that challenge is winnable, the threat of De Gea has the air of inevitability first forecast by Casillas all those years ago. Perhaps the template comes from the national team. Casillas’s misjudgement of a free-kick against Slovakia in October contributed to Spain’s first qualifying defeat in eight years and saw him dropped in favour of De ea – a move backed by 86 per cent of voters in a Marca poll.

Carlo Ancelotti should play Pepe in central midfield against Atletico Madrid, says Revista panel

The Madrid manager has some tactical decisions to make ahead of the game after both Gareth Bale and Luka Modric limped out of their 3-1 win against Malaga on Saturday.

To add to Ancelotti's worries, Karim Benzema is also a major doubt for Wednesday's match that is locked at 0-0 after the first-leg.

Javier Hernandez is expected to replace Benzema up front but the central midfield position alongside Toni Kroos is up for grabs with Asier Illarramendi and Sami Khedira, who have been used sparingly by Ancelotti this season, the obvious like-for-like replacements for Modric.

However, Balague thinks that Ancelotti will bring defender Pepe into midfield for the game to give more licence for Kroos, James and Isco to push forward.

“Pepe played in central midfield against Barcelona in 2011 and they managed to draw the game when Jose Mourinho was playing three strong midfielders," he toldRevista de la Liga.

"Carlo Ancelotti would like to play Sami Khedira but he has his mind on next season and not at Real Madrid. He doesn’t like Asier Illarramendi.

"What is the biggest danger provided from Atletico Madrid? Set-pieces. If you play Raphael Varane, who was brilliant last week, Sergio Ramos and Pepe, who sometimes plays in that position for Portugal, you have a solution.

“It would allow Kroos to play in his natural position and you finally have the chance to play a defensive midfielder with a defensive mentality – something that Kroos doesn’t have. You also have the ability to attack with James on the right, Isco on the left and Chicarito and Ronaldo up front.”

Graham Hunter was in agreement with Balague regarding the thought process behind playing Pepe, pointing to a previous example of when Ancelotti decided to play a defensive-minded player in midfield in an important game.

He added: “The last time Real Madrid dominated Atletico was last season in the cup when Pepe, OK, played as a defender. But he came forward, scored goals and mixed in the midfield. Ancelotti also started Ramos in midfield last season in El Clasico – it’s within his repertoire.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's best quotes on Barcelona ahead of PSG visit

When former Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic made a goal-scoring return to the Nou Camp earlier this season he was asked whether he still had friends at his old club. “Yes, 90,000 and 22 on the field,” he said.

The PSG ace scored 21 goals in 41 games for Barcelona during the 2009/10 season before moving back to Italy with AC Milan but, since his departure, the Swede has had plenty to say about his short stay in Catalonia.

Ahead of PSG’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg trip to Spain on Tuesday, here is a selection of his best quotes on Barcelona…

“I had a dream to come to Barcelona. But afterwards I am thinking that maybe you should keep your dreams, instead of making it come true,”that was Ibrahimovic’s view, when asked about Gareth Bale’s big-money move to Real Madrid.

“It started well but then [Lionel] Messi started to talk. He wanted to play in the middle, not on the wing, so the system changed from 4-3-3 to 4-5-1. I was sacrificed and no longer had the freedom on the pitch I need to succeed.” Ibrahimovic pinpoints the moment his Barcelona career turned, in his autobiography ‘I am Zlatan’.

Barcelona's formation wasn't to Ibrahimovic's liking...

“You bought a Ferrari, but you drive it like a Fiat.” Pep Guardiola’s man management of the striker didn’t go down well with Ibrahimovic. But it wouldn’t be the only time he had strong words for the Barca boss…

“I yelled: 'You haven't got any b****!' and worse than that I added: 'You can go to hell!' I completely lost it, and you might have expected Guardiola to say a few words in response, but he's a spineless coward. He just [...] left, never to mention it again, not a word.” Ibrahimovic recalls a heated exchange with Guardiola after Barcelona’s exit in the Champions League to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan in 2010.

“I'd already got the impression that Barcelona was a little like being back at Ajax, it was like being back at school. None of the lads acted like superstars, which was strange. Messi, Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta, the whole gang – they were like schoolboys. The best footballers in the world stood there with their heads bowed, and I didn't understand any of it. It was ridiculous.

“Everyone did as they were told. I didn't fit in, not at all. I thought, just enjoy the opportunity, don't confirm their prejudices. So I started to adapt and blend in. I became way too nice. I said what I thought people wanted me to say. It was completely messed up. I drove the club's Audi and stood there and nodded my head. I hardly even yelled at my team-mates any more. I was boring. Zlatan was no longer Zlatan.” Ibrahimovic revealed in his autobiography that he struggled to fit into the Barcelona culture…

…And wasn’t afraid to rebel: “When I realised I would be on the bench for a game against Almeria, I remembered that line: ‘Here in Barcelona we don’t turn up to training sessions in Porsches or Ferraris.’ What kind of nonsense was that, anyway? I’ll take whatever car I want, at least if I can wind up idiots. I jumped in my Enzo [Ferrari], put my foot down on the gas and parked up right in front of the door to the training facility.”

However, when asked to recall his time with Barcelona he said: “About Camp Nou, it's fantastic. I had one year there, a great experience, a fantastic year. I learned a lot – outside the pitch, inside the pitch – and for me it is an amazing club and I have only positive things to say.”

Jordan Henderson set to sign five-year Liverpool contract

Jordan Henderson: Touted by some as the natural heir to Steven Gerrard for Liverpool and England

Jordan Henderson is close to signing a new five-year contract with Liverpool, according to Sky sources.

After a difficult first season following his £20m transfer from Sunderland in 2011, the England midfielder has become a key player for the Reds and has captained the team in the absence of Steven Gerrard this season

Gerrard is set to depart for Major League Soccer this summer and Henderson has been tipped to take the armband on a permanent basis after being appointed vice-captain by Brendan Rodgers last summer.

The 24-year-old has established himself in Roy Hodgson's England team during his time at Anfield and has 20 international caps to his name including two starts at the 2014 World Cup.

Henderson, who has played in 30 of Liverpool's 31 Premier League games this season, has one year left on his current contract but the new deal will see him stay at the club beyond 2020.

The former Sunderland midfielder has remained tightlipped over reports about his future while Raheem Sterling's situation has attracted numerous headlines.

Liverpool are looking to tie-up the futures of several key players with Phillipe Coutinho signing a new deal to 2020 in February and Daniel Sturridge pledging his future to the club until 2019 with a new contract in October.

Pep Guardiola under pressure as Bayern Munich prepare for Porto

Bayern Munich must turn around a 3-1 deficit in their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Porto. The pressure will be on in front of their own fans and that means more scrutiny on Pep Guardiola after a difficult week…

Tuesday’s game will see Pep Guardiola bring up 100 games in charge of Bayern Munich. The celebrated coach has seldom found himself under such scrutiny. With Bayern needing to haul back a two-goal deficit from the first leg against Porto, the pressure is on and the intensity has only been exacerbated by the untimely departure of long-time club doctor Hans Muller-Wohlfahrt.

The 72-year-old, an iconic figure in sports medicine, released a statement on Thursday claiming that the “relationship of trust has been damaged” and withdrawing the services of his medical team. Reports suggesting Guardiola had blamed them for the defeat to Porto, given the club’s injury situation, amounted to a public relations nightmare despite his attempts to play down the situation since.

Jurgen Klopp is perfect for Arsenal but the club should give Arsene Wenger two more years, says former legend Nigel Winterburn

Jurgen Klopp will leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season

Arsene Wenger's contract at Arsenal has two more years to run until 2017

Jurgen Klopp has put a number of clubs on alert after deciding to leave Dortmund at the end of the season

Jurgen Klopp would be perfect for Arsenal but the club should keep faith with Arsene Wenger, according to Gunners legend Nigel Winterburn.

Klopp is on the radar of a number of top clubs after announcing that he will leave Dortmund at the end of the season.

The 47-year-old has long been linked with taking over from Wenger, but the Frenchman has two years left on his contract.

'If Arsene Wenger decides to step down or move upstairs, then obviously he’s a manager with the credentials, the way his teams play, I think a lot of people would think it’s a perfect fit,'

'I would like Arsene Wenger to see out the next two years, and see where we are then, but obviously, with Klopp leaving Dortmund, it sort of puts the conundrum in because he’s been linked with Arsenal before, particularly when Arsenal were struggling.

'This year we've just had, in terms of the spending power and the players coming in, and the next two, where we'll see the vision of where Arsenal are going to go and where they'll be after that.'

Wenger was coming under severe pressure, so I understand where it’s coming from but I would be surprised if there was a change this summer.

Liverpool set for summer overhaul with TEN Kop stars on the way out of Anfield... but at least Jordan Henderson is staying

Liverpool face a major rebuilding job this summer following a mass exit from Anfield.

Manager Brendan Rodgers, who has suffered another trophyless season after the shock FA Cup semi-final defeat by Aston Villa, could see up to 10 of his stars leave.

Captain Steven Gerrard has already agreed to join MLS side LA Galaxy, while defender Glen Johnson is out of contract and set to go on a free transfer. Kolo Toure is also out of contract and considering whether to accept the offer of a new deal.

Raheem Sterling is embroiled in a contract stand-off with Manchester City certain to make an offer and Juventus the latest big European club linked with him.

Defender Martin Skrtel’s future is also unclear as he is yet to agree a new contract with Wolfsburg planning a move for him.

Right-back Javi Manquillo is set to return to Spain after failing to make an impact while Mario Balotelli’s £16million switch from AC Milan has been a disaster. Liverpool will listen to offers for him, although getting rid of a man on £90,000 per week will be easier said than done.

Balotelli’s fellow strikers Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert could also depart.

Finally, Liverpool are looking for a goalkeeper to replace or put pressure on Simon Mignolet, meaning Brad Jones is the tenth name who would be surplus to requirements.

There was one good piece of news for Liverpool fans on Monday night when Jordan Henderson agreed a new £100,000-a-week deal until 2020.

Henderson, 24, is the third player in the squad to agree a contract extension, following Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho.

Monday, 20 April 2015

Amir Khan is hoping to fight Manny Pacquiao in Abu Dhabi later this year, whether he beats Floyd Mayweather or not next month.

Khan has turned his attention to a clash with the Filipino great after becoming frustrated in his efforts for a Vegas fight with Mayweather, a meeting he has been hankering for over the last two years. Amir Khan and Manny Pacquiao met up at Fitzroy Lodge earlier this year

Amir Khan and Manny Pacquiao met up at Fitzroy Lodge earlier this year

The Bolton welterweight takes on Chris Algieri in Brooklyn on May 29 and, providing he comes through that fight, his next outing could be against a man he once enjoyed sparring with.

Khan said: "I want this fight. I would love to box Manny. We’ve been looking at an event in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is only a short drive away. It’s a dream of mine to fight in that part of the world."

One possible stumbling block could be the potential for a Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch, but 'PacMan' would prefer a later date for his second fight of the year and Mayweather's six-fight Showtime deal expires in Spetember.

Khan prefers to fight later in the year as well, with any September outings ruled out because his strict observance of Ramadan would end in a rushed preparation.

'Assault'

He suspects Pacquiao will be beaten in Las Vegas on May 2, a fight he will watch from ringside, and defeat would make a 2015 meeting between the two more likely.

"I actually think that once Mayweather gets through Manny’s assault in the first few rounds it will become an easy win for him," Khan said.

"Manny has speed and power but Floyd has the defensive skill to avoid him and the brain and accuracy to keep picking him off as he comes in.

"The longer it goes the harder it will get for Manny and if he is to win he will have to keep up the pace through every minute of every round.

"I’ll just watch it with a professional eye. And there is a chance that if Floyd’s legs really are slowing down that Manny will catch up with him - and he can punch.

"I’ve wasted the best part of a couple of years waiting for Floyd because I would love to be the man who beat the man considered the best pound-for-pound in the world. Now I have to make the most of every day because soon it may be too late.

"Floyd and Manny are getting closer to retirement and if I don’t fight one of them soon it may never happen."

'IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE TROPHY'

Mathieu Debuchy spoke to the media after Arsenal's FA Cup semi-final victory against Reading on Saturday. This is what he had to say:

on how he feels…

I’m so happy because it’s so important to be back on the pitch. It was a good team performance. It was hard for me after my second surgery this year but now it’s behind me and I’m so happy to play for Arsenal.

on how difficult it’s been…

It’s been difficult for me. Two surgeries in the same season is difficult but now I’m okay and I want to play a lot. I want to help the team and I am focused on the end of the season.

on whether he is 100 per cent…

No. I need to work hard again but I hope to be ready and 100 per cent soon.

on whether he knew he would return before the end of the season…

I need to play some games. I hope to play for the rest of the season. I need to try again, again and again.

on the injury sustained against Stoke…

It’s football. I know Marco Arnautovic and it’s just football. I’m okay.

on whether he had any low moments…

It was hard. It was three months after three months. I am strong in my head now and I’m happy to do my best now.

on whether he thought the season was finished…

I always knew I would come back.

on playing in the FA Cup final…

It was so important to reach the final. We did and now we are focused on the final. We want to win the final like last year. It’s important for us to keep the trophy and for the club.

on Jack Wilshere…

We spoke together. It’s hard for him as well to have surgery for four months. It’s hard for him but he’s a good player and he’s strong as well.

on Hector Bellerin…

Hector played very well. He’s a very good player and I’m so happy for him. It’s so important that we have two or three players in each position.

Is Rodgers the right man to carry on spending? Here's our verdict on the 22 players who have cost £216m in three years at Liverpool

After spending more than £200million since taking charge at Liverpool in June 2012, there is only so long the owners and fans will keep patient in their desire for dividends. Twitching times can develop when the top clubs go through barren spells - and Rodgers' is beginning to enter such a period. During Rodgers' time in charge, Manchester United and Chelsea had spent more than their Merseyside rivals - so too have City by a fraction - but each of those have brought home something. United and City have won two trophies - including the Premier League title - while Chelsea have one and are sure to add the league title to that soon.

Another trophy slipped through Brendan Rodgers’ grip when they lost to Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday.

That elusive first piece of silverware is proving hard to attain and an itch is developing which is in dire need of being scratched.

After spending more than £200million since taking charge at Liverpool in June 2012, there is only so long the owners and fans will keep patient in their desire for dividends.

Twitching times can develop when the top clubs go through barren spells - and Rodgers’ is beginning to enter such a period.

During Rodgers’ time in charge, Manchester United and Chelsea had spent more than their Merseyside rivals - so too have City by a fraction - but each of those have brought home something. United and City have won two trophies - including the Premier League title - while Chelsea have one and are sure to add the league title to that soon.

Arsene Wenger has spent £183m, comparatively little, but MANAGED to win two trophies over the past two seasons. That is less than rivals Tottenham, who have spent just under £200m and, like Liverpool, have won nothing.

While the country’s best teams are filling their trophy cabinets, Rodgers’ remains bare.

The Red half of Merseyside expect success and landed the League Cup under Kenny Dalglish just before Rodgers took to the helm.

Analysis by Sportsmail indicates that he has signed 22 players during his tenure, but only seven of those can be considered a success at this current time.

His top signings have been Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Simon Mignolet, but the poor transfers outweigh the successful ones.

Rogers has gone for top young talent, ranging from 18 to 21 when he signs them. There is still time for some of those players - the likes of Joao Teixeira and Divock Origi - to prove their worth. But there will be only so much time.

Many of his big-money failures came last summer, when he tried to spend the money accrued from selling Luis Suarez to Barcelona for £75m. Adam Lallana, Lazar Markovic, Dejan Lovren and Mario Balotelli have all disappointed this term.

Like the younger potentials, each of those could still make their mark, but the question is if it does not come together next season - and they remain trophyless again - will Rogers still be in charge to reap any of the rewards?