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Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta suffers serious-looking knee injury in 3-2 win against Valencia

2016-10-22T22:04:00.001+01:00

Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta has injured the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee. The 32-year-old star suffered the painful-looking injury during the first half of the Catalan side's 3-2 win against Valencia at the Mestalla.

Iniesta went down after a robust challenge from Enzo Perez and was seen calling for a stretcher immediately. After being attended to by medical staff for a number of minutes, Iniesta was taken from the pitch in tears and is now due to have further tests on his return to Barcelona.

"The first team player Andres Iniesta has injured the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee. When he arrives in Barcelona the player will have more tests to find out the exact extent of the injury," a statement from the club explained

Perez's challenge on the Barcelona captain went unpunished by referee Undiano Mallenco. It did, however, prompt a furious reaction from Barcelona coach Luis Enrique.

Iniesta's knee problem adds to Barcelona's mounting list of injuries. Defenders Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba both sustained problems in their one-sided win against Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday (19 October), while Arda Turan and Rafinha suffered problems in training before the game against Valencia.

Next, Barcelona take on Granada in La Liga on 29 October and then face Pep Guardiola's City side at the Etihad on 1 November. As yet, there is no indication as to when Iniesta will be available to play.

Mata may turn into Mourinho's 'Special Juan' after all

2016-10-21T14:04:00.000+01:00

When Jose Mourinho was appointed Manchester United manager in the close season, Spain playmaker Juan Mata could have been forgiven for being less than enthused.

Mourinho, the so-called 'Special One', dropped the double Chelsea Player of the Year during his time at Stamford Bridge before selling him to United in January 2014 for a then club record fee of 37 million pounds ($45.37 million).

Mata was adored by Chelsea fans but the Portuguese seemed to feel differently about him.

"We press very high up the pitch," Mourinho said at the time. "My attacking players have big distances to run between the initial pressure and the way they compact with the defensive players."

Most critics thought Mata would be swiftly shown the door when United's new manager took control but he is being given more responsibility by Mourinho this time and there have even been media reports of a new contract being offered.

The former Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Porto boss offered an explanation in September.

"First of all I didn't sell him," Mourinho told reporters. "My job is not to buy and sell, my job is to coach, to work on the pitch and to advise my board about transfer policy.

"Secondly it was Juan that asked to leave and when a player asks to leave I think always you have to think twice.

"The third point is that my idea for football with the squad and objectives we had at Chelsea is one thing, and the squad I have at Man United and the profile and what I try to do with this club is a completely different situation," said Mourinho.

"Juan at Chelsea in my project was one player and Juan in my project at Man United is another thing."

NUMBER 10 ROLE

Mata has made five league starts already under Mourinho this term, scoring two goals, and has finally occupied the preferred number 10 role that evaded him under previous managers David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.

Mourinho believes Mata has found his "natural habitat" at Old Trafford and the recent omission of club captain Wayne Rooney from the team has also helped the Spaniard's cause.

The former Chelsea and Valencia midfielder is a rare breed of footballer in the modern era.

Mata is working towards gaining a degree in business and marketing in a long distance learning arrangement with the University of Madrid and is a passionate photographer.

He is also a player who shows a genuine appreciation for his privileged position.

Take the video that emerged earlier this month, for example. Mata met a disabled fan and his father, holding up United's team bus in the process.

That is just one of many selfless gestures Mata has made during his career and he is involved in several charity projects in Britain and Spain.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who joined United from Borussia Dortmund for 26 million pounds ($31.88 million) in the close season, was expected to ease Mata out of the side but it is the Spaniard instead who has been given a chance by Mourinho to prove his worth.

($1 = 0.8156 pounds)

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)

Modric targets title after signing new Real deal

2016-10-19T22:00:00.000+01:00

Luka Modric's top priority is to win La Liga this season, the midfield maestro said on Wednesday after signing a new contract that will keep him at Real Madrid until 2020.

The Croatia international has claimed two Champions League titles, a King's Cup, UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup since joining from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 for a fee of 35 million euros (£31.17 million).

But the domestic league crown, which Real last won in 2012, has eluded him.

"I've won everything since I arrived apart from La Liga. You could say our priority is to win the league this year because four years without it is too long," Modric told a news conference.

His influence at the club has grown each year after initially being questioned over his price tag -- in December 2013 readers of Spanish newspaper Marca voted him the worst signing of the season.

The 31-year-old has won over the notoriously impatient Real supporters who gave him a rapturous reception after scoring during a stunning display in a 5-2 win over Osasuna last month.

"The criticism didn't hurt me. I knew I had come to the biggest club in the world, where the demands are huge -- I was prepared for that," said Modric.

"I didn't start well but I never doubted, I knew I would succeed sooner or later.

"Today is a special day. I promise I'll give everything and will work hard to match the club's demands. I hope to have many more successes here," added Modric.

"I hope this isn't my last contract renewal. My wish and desire is to end my career at Real."

Modric missed Tuesday's 5-1 Champions League win over Legia Warsaw with a knee injury sustained last month against Borussia Dortmund.

He is expected to be back next month although the player could not put a specific date on his return.

Cricket: India skipper Dhoni relying more on Kohli

2016-10-15T19:35:00.000+01:00

Indian one-day skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said Saturday he has started relying more on his younger teammate Virat Kohli, who is tipped to take over the captaincy in the shorter formats of the game.

Firebrand Kohli, 27, was named skipper of the Indian Test side after Dhoni quit the captaincy midway through the Australia tour in December 2014.

Since then, Kohli has led India to Test victories against Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, and more recently New Zealand, to propel the side to the number one ranking in the longest format of the game.

Dhoni, 35, however seems to be losing his Midas touch after leading India to victory in the 2011 World Cup final.

In fact, Dhoni's last significant ODI innings was an unbeaten 92 against South Africa in October 2015, leading to calls for Kohli to take over the mantle in the shorter formats as well.

"I have already started using him (Kohli) more. There is more interaction with him and that's evident if you watch the game," Dhoni told reporters in Dharamsala on the eve of the first ODI against New Zealand.

Dhoni said he often chats with Kohli on team strategy.

"If I am not on the same page, I will explain why I think this may not work. And let's say if I go with my decision and if it doesn't work then it gives me a fresh view..."

India, who blanked the Kiwis 3-0 in the Test series, will play five one-dayers before taking on England in a five-Test series in an exceptionally busy home season.

- Focus on fitness -

Dhoni, whose Bollywood biopic is enjoying a good run at the box office, said he was still trying to evolve as a player and was concentrating on his fitness.

"A lot of things have changed since I made my debut in 2004. The way cricket is played has changed. The kind of players that are coming in the Indian team are drastically different than what we were used to," the wicketkeeper-batsman said.

"You only evolve with time and that's what I am trying to do. I am sharing my experience with the youngsters and putting more emphasis on my fitness."

Kiwi batsman Luke Ronchi said his side were banking on their recent good form in the ODIs to come back strongly against the hosts.

"It's a completely different ball game now, completely different cricket, a cricket which we have been playing really well for a while now," he said at the pre-match press conference.

"We are a good ODI team and if we can continue playing the way we have been playing for a while now, it's going to make for an interesting series."

The Kiwis have been bolstered by the return of Tim Southee, whose 135 one-day wickets put him at the top of the chart of New Zealand's current players.

Corey Anderson, who has the highest strike of any New Zealand player in ODI history, is also back from an ankle injury.

Dhoni welcomes decision to rest senior bowlers for ODIs against Kiwis

2016-10-15T18:46:00.000+01:00

Dharamsala [Himachal Pradesh], Oct. 15 (ANI): India's limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday backed the national selectors' decision to rest some of the
senior players for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, saying it gives an opportunity to find new talents.

"If you see this team, we have to keep the rest of the season also in mind. We are playing 13 Tests in this season followed by IPL and Champions Trophy. There is very little break in the middle. I think it is a good decision to a rest a few players. At times, we have to keep a long time view. Its gives us an opportunity to see few new players and it will be good to see the bench strength. We will be playing eight ODI matches before the Champions Trophy. So, whatever we have we can see in these games where we are going," Dhoni said.

Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and seamer Mohammed Shami have been rested for the first three ODIs following their dominating performance in the recently-concluded successful Test series against New Zealand.

India have now decided to field a relatively inexperienced bowling attack which includes Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav. Dhoni admitted that he is looking forward to the performances of these two bowlers.

"If you see (Jasprit) Bumrah, he has done really well for us. He has become like the banker especially when it comes to death bowling. In the similar way, we will see what others have to offer. Umesh is getting a chance again to play at this level. He is someone, who has developed his bowling especially in limited overs cricket. It will be a good chance for him to express himself. Dhawal (Kulkarani) is someone, who has done consistently well in the domestic circuit," he said.

The wicketkeeper-batsman also hinted that he might bat up the order than his usual position in the upcoming ODI series.

"I may bat slightly bat up the order now. This team gives me that opportunity to bat at the position where I am looking to. Still it will be quite low, it's not like a number 4 but it will be relatively higher to the position where I used to bat in the last few years," Dhoni said.

Meanwhile, Dhoni also said that he has started using Test skipper Virat Kohli's advice more often on the field, keeping in mind the change in transition that is happening across different formats of the game.

"I have started using him more. There is more interaction. It's evident if you watch the game. Two individuals will conduct in different ways. The practical way is very important. A lot of time you can argue on the theory aspect, but practicality is what is during the game," he added.

India have recently completed a three-match Test series whitewash against New Zealand and they will look forward to replicate the same when they head into the five-match ODI series against the Kane Williamson-led side from Sunday in Dharamsala. (ANI)

Champion Buemi wins Formula E season-opener

2016-10-09T18:48:00.000+01:00

Reigning champion Sebastien Buemi won an incident-packed opening race of the Formula E season in Hong Kong on Sunday for the

Renault e.dams team.

The Swiss, who started fifth, made the most of an earlier than scheduled pitstop while the safety car was deployed to triumph in the first ePrix to be held in Hong Kong.

Brazilian Lucas Di Grassi, for Audi Abt, made up 17 places after starting from the back row of the grid to finish second while Germany's Nick Heidfeld was third for India's Mahindra team.

The podium was a repeat of last season's opener in Beijing.

Formula E, the world's first all-electric car racing series, is now starting its third season with several new venues, teams and drivers.

Newcomers Jaguar, returning to the global stage in open-wheel racing for the first time since pulling out of Formula One in 2004, had Britain's Adam Carroll finish 12th in the 45 lap race

Organisers said 30,000 spectators attended the event.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ken Ferris)

Cricket-Supreme Kohli, composed Rahane punish New Zealand

2016-10-09T18:42:00.001+01:00

Virat Kohli smashed his second test double century and Ajinkya Rahane made 188 as India flogged a jaded New Zealand attack before

declaring their first innings on 557 for five on day two of the third and final test on Sunday.

The duo featured in a marathon 365-run stand, India's highest fourth wicket partnership against any team, applying themselves on a pitch where the occasional ball kept low.

Martin Guptill (17) and Tom Latham (six) managed to see through the final nine overs to push New Zealand to 28 for no loss at stumps, still 529 runs behind on a fast-deteriorating track.

Rahane had not looked comfortable against the rising delivery on Saturday and the right-hander was predictably subjected to a barrage of short-pitched balls by Matt Henry after India resumed on 267-3.

One such delivery had the batsman in two minds whether to duck under a bouncer which smacked him in the helmet.

Rahane took a single off Trent Boult to bring up his century and looked more confident against the spinners, stepping out to hit three sixes, including two off Jeetan Patel's bowling.

Kohli took a single off Henry to bring up his second test double hundred before being hugged by partner Rahane, while rival skipper Kane Williamson came forward to shake his hand.

After enduring three sessions without success, New Zealand finally got a breakthrough when Patel struck in the first over after tea, trapping a tired Kohli lbw.

Kohli's career-best 211 included 20 boundaries, of which there were a couple of crisp down-the-ground drives.

Rahane had already bettered his previous high score of 147 and was looking good for his maiden double century when he edged Boult and BJ Watling took a diving catch behind the stumps to end his 381-ball stand.

Rahane's stellar knock included 18 boundaries and four sixes in the first test match to be staged at Indore's Holkar Stadium.

Rohit Sharma (51 not out) helped himself to his third fifty of the series before Kohli declared.

(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by John O'Brien and Toby Davis)

Golf - Hatton wins Dunhill Links title

2016-10-09T18:36:00.002+01:00

England's Tyrrell Hatton fired his second scintillating round of the weekend to win the

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews on Sunday -- his first European Tour title.

The 24-year-old had stormed into the lead with a majestic 62 at the Old Course on Saturday and followed that with a round of 66 to finish on 23-under for the week.

Compatriot Ross Fisher and South Africa's Richard Sterne finished four shots adrift.

Hatton, who pocketed $800,000, carded seven birdies to stay ahead of the chasers, his only blemish coming with a bogey at the 17th.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Reuters

Mueller grabs another double in easy Germany win

2016-10-08T22:18:00.000+01:00

Thomas Mueller scored twice for the second World Cup qualifier in a row to lead dominant Germany to a comprehensive 3-0 win over Czech Republic on Saturday.

Toni Kroos was also on target to leave the world champions with six points from two games in Group C, alongside Azerbaijan, and firmly on course for the finals in Russia in 2018.

The Czechs, who have one point, won 3-0 on their last visit to Germany in 2007 in the early days of coach Joachim Loew's long reign but never threatened a repeat.

The hosts needed only 13 minutes to break the deadlock when Mario Goetze burst down the left, his pass into the area was touched on by Mesut Ozil and Mueller scored with a shot which took a deflection off a defender.

Germany, who beat Norway by the same score in their opening qualifier last month, continued to carve open the Czech defense with neat interchanges between Mueller, Ozil, Julian Draxler and Goetze who was playing as a false number nine.

Draxler pinged a shot just wide after Goetze pulled the ball back to him, Mueller saw a low drive turned away by Czech goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik, then Goetze dinked the ball wide after a one-two with Mueller.

Kroos doubled Germany's lead four minutes after the restart when he got in front of his marker and placed a sidefooted shot past Vaclik after Joshua Kimmich rolled the ball across the edge of the area.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made his first save in the 63rd minute when he parried Borek Dockal's powerful effort and the home team struck again two minutes later, Mueller turning in Jonas Hector's low cross at the near post.

(Writing by Brian Homewood; Editing by Tony Jimenez)

Toronto pitcher Liriano struck in head, briefly hospitalized

2016-10-08T22:14:00.000+01:00

(The Sports Xchange) - Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Francisco Liriano exited Friday's American League Division

Series game against the Texas Rangers in the eighth inning after getting hit in back of the head or neck area by a line drive off the bat of Carlos Gomez.

"I couldn't tell you exactly where (he got hit)," Toronto manager John Gibbons said.

"So he's just going for some further tests. Any time you get a head injury, you got to get it looked at. So that's about the extent if it right now."

After the game, Liriano was wheeled into an ambulance on a stretcher with a brace around his neck.

The 32-year-old from the Dominican Republic was taken to a local hospital for tests, but later cleared to fly home with the team, according to the Blue Jays.

Roberto Osuna replaced Liriano and got the final four outs. The Blue Jays won the game, 5-3 to take a 2-0 ALDS lead on Texas.

(Editing by Andrew Both)

German goalkeeper arrested after conceding 43 goals in one game

2016-09-21T07:18:00.001+01:00

Sometimes, a performance on the field is so bad that it’s criminal. That may quite literally be the case for a goalkeeper in the lower leagues of Germany.

In a recent league game, SV Vonderort broke an undesirable record when it lost 43-0 to rival PSV Oberhausen.

According to German newspaper Express, SV Vonderort was down 35-0 at halftime – that must have been a fun team talk in the interval! – and at one point it was only able to field eight players. PSV Oberhausen was so embarrassed by its lead that it made the sporting gesture of removing three of its own players to even up the numbers

After conceding a goal nearly every two minutes, goalkeeper Marco Kwiotek may have wanted to completely forget about the performance.

However, five days later at a training session, two police cars arrived at Vonderort’s training ground in Bottrop (around 30 miles west of Dortmund). The 25-year-old keeper was escorted from the training field by armed officers and brought to the local police station for questioning.

The circumstances of the police inquiry are unclear and Kwiotek has since failed to answer his phone.

Club managing director Christian Schröer told Express that he hopes the shot stopper will be available for selection in Vonderort’s next game. Hopefully, he won’t have to reach into the net quite so often in that one.

Source : Yahoo

Rutgers beats Fairleigh Dickinson 72-64

2015-12-24T22:41:00.000+00:00

PISATAWAY, N.J. (AP) -- As Rutgers plays undersized and undermanned, Mike Williams was looking at the positives.

''I get more playing time,'' Williams said with a wry smile.

Corey Sanders scored a career-high 21 points, Williams scored 14 and Greg Lewis had his first career-double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds to lead Rutgers past Farleigh Dickinson 72-64 on Wednesday night.

Rutgers (5-7) trailed 35-28 after FDU (4-7) started the second half on a 6-1 run. Sanders ended it with a pair of free throws with 16:15 remaining.

The Scarlet Knights tied the score six times in the second half while taking the lead only twice.

''It was like a video game,'' Williams said. ''You score one time then the other person comes down and scores. But it's basketball. It's a game of runs. They are going to have their run, we going to have our run, and sometimes, it's going to be nonstop scoring back and forth.''

The second lead for Rutgers was for good at 56-55 when Williams hit a free throw with 5:02 remaining. Rutgers coasted from there, ending the game on a 17-9 run.

''Just like in the NBA ... good players took over,'' FDU head coach Greg Herenda said. ''Sanders ... we really didn't have an answer for him. He's going to be a terrific player here.''
Mike Holloway had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Stephan Jiggets had 15 points for Farleigh Dickinson.

For much of the game, Rutgers appeared in danger of losing seven of its last eight. The Scarlet Knights went down by as many as 12 after Early Potts Jr. made a layup assisted by Marques Towns with 6:42 left in the first half.
Sanders tied the game at 27 with 1:41 left in the period on a pair of free throws and Darin Anderson's layup put FDU back in front before the half.
''I think they were just executing and breaking us down. They were penetrating a lot and getting shots,'' Sanders said. ''We were turning the ball over and they were taking it and scoring on the other end, so we stopped that in the second half and we got up.''
The Scarlet Knights are down to eight scholarship players and have three big men hurt. Shaquille Doorson (foot) has been out all season, DeShawn Freeman (knee) was injured at the end of November while Ibrahima Diallo foot was hurt prior to the last game.
Rutgers has three forwards left, including 6-foot-6 Jonathan Laurent. Because of the attrition in the frontcourt, Laurent has been forced to play power forward and center. Laurent finished with 12 points and six rebounds off the bench.
''It's been a challenge, but people got to step up and everyone is stepping up into their role,'' Williams said. ''John's coming in having some good minutes. ... That's what it's all about. When one person goes down, someone has to step up.''
---
TIP-INS
Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights struggled taking care of the basketball, especially in the first half, when they committed 11 of their 17 turnovers.
Farleigh Dickinson: This was the final tune up for the Knights before opening up Northeast Conference play to start the New Year.
FREE THROW STRUGGLES
Farleigh Dickinson had trouble from the charity stripe, hitting just 35 percent (7 of 20).
FREEMAN TO BE RE-EVALUTATED
Jordan said Freeman's sore knee will be evaluated on next Wednesday. When Jordan announced the injury at the beginning of December, he said the junior college transfer would be reevaluated every two weeks. ''It's going to be two weeks and probably another two weeks and we want to make sure he is 100 percent.''
UP NEXT

Rutgers: hosts UMass Lowell on Monday night.

Farleigh Dickinson: hosts St. Francis Brooklyn on Jan. 2

For Davis and many more, their NBA Christmas debut awaits

2015-12-24T22:39:00.000+00:00

MIAMI (AP) -- Jrue Holiday grew up watching Christmas Day games, with his hometown Los Angeles Lakers almost being an annual fixture in the NBA's holiday lineup.

He's never gotten to play on the holiday.

That is, until now.

He's not alone. Several players will make their debut under the Christmas lights, including New Orleans star Anthony Davis - the reason why the Pelicans are on the Christmas schedule. Then there are some of the top rookies like Miami's Justise Winslow and the Lakers' D'Angelo Russell. And the wait may be over for veterans like the Clippers' Josh Smith, Miami's Gerald Green, the Lakers' duo of Roy Hibbert and Lou Williams, all set to play on Christmas for the first time.

''We got Christmas Day because of Anthony,'' Holiday said. ''I think everybody knows why. I'm not offended or anything by being passed over or whatever. But it's pretty cool to play on Christmas. Thank you, Anthony.''

As many as 46 players could make their Christmas debuts Friday, when the league's holiday slate has New Orleans at Miami, Chicago at Oklahoma City, Cleveland at Golden State in an NBA Finals rematch, San Antonio at Houston and then the Clippers and Lakers meeting in Los Angeles.

For some like Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, playing on Christmas is as much of a holiday tradition as presents. Bryant will be in his 16th Christmas game - his Lakers haven't had Dec. 25 off since 1998. Wade will play in his 11th Christmas matchup for the Heat, who are looking for their seventh consecutive win on the big day.
''I'm so damn happy about it,'' Bryant said, ''and so damn thankful for it.''
For others, like Cleveland's Richard Jefferson, this has been a long time coming: His only other Christmas spent on the court was 2002. But it's a relatively safe bet that the widest-eyed players Friday will be those first experiencing the day in which the NBA dominates the sports landscape.
''It's an honor,'' Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan said.
Donovan remembers plenty of details from his only other involvement with the Christmas NBA slate. He was with the New York Knicks in 1987, playing seven minutes and shooting 1-for-3 in a loss to Detroit. He left Madison Square Garden after the game, caught the train from Penn Station - under the arena - to Long Island to his aunt's home for the family Christmas gathering.
When his Thunder play host to the Bulls on Friday, Donovan will actually be the coach with the edge in Christmas experience: Fred Hoiberg, in his first season coaching Chicago, spent parts of 10 seasons in the league as a player but never got in a Dec. 25 game.
''I think playing on Christmas Day is always an exciting time,'' Donovan said.
Many of the league's biggest names are in this year's lineup: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul and LaMarcus Aldridge.
''It's a fun day,'' said Aldridge, who hasn't played on Christmas since 2010 and is in his first season with San Antonio. ''Everybody's at home waiting for the games. It's an honor to be on Christmas Day. I think everybody's looking forward to it, for sure.''

Few are probably looking forward to it more than Davis. The start to the season has been dreadful for New Orleans, but that won't matter to him on Friday. He remembers being outvoted when he wanted to watch cartoons on Christmas as a kid, with family members keeping the television on the NBA games instead.

Now he'll be the one trumping the cartoons.

''We know all the hype around the Christmas Day games,'' Davis said. ''It's kind of a big deal. ... Just love watching the games. The past couple of years you watch and I know we could be there. Now we're finally here and we've got to do whatever we've got to do to win.''

---

AP Basketball Writer Jon Krawczynski in Minneapolis and Associated Press Writer Bradley Handwerger in New Orleans contributed to this story.

Messi: Ronaldinho told me to take his No.10

2015-12-24T20:21:00.000+00:00

Lionel Messi has revealed Ronaldinho told him to take his No.10 shirt months before the Brazilian left Barcelona in 2008.

Ronaldinho joined Barcelona in 2003 and inherited the iconic number from Argentine midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme - who was sent on loan to Villareal for

two seasons.
The Brazilian star left after six years with the club, scoring almost 100 goals in just over 200 appearances.
And Messi revealed in an interview with Barca TV that Ronaldinho already promised him the No.10 shirt months before he announced he was leaving.
"Before leaving the club [Ronaldinho] was coming off a few months where he was thinking about things," Messi said.
"He had it in his mind that he was leaving and he told me to have his number.
"I took it without looking at what he had done with the shirt. If I did, I would not have taken it."
Messi has won 21 trophies with the No.10 on the back of his Barca jersey, and a total of 26 with the Spanish giants.
The Argentina international praised his former team-mate Ronaldinho and spoke about his early stages in the Barca dressing room.
"Everyone welcomed me into the dressing room, and [Ronaldinho] welcomed me in a spectacular way," he said.
"To go into that dressing room was not easy but he made it all so much easier. I was very comfortable by not only Ronnie's welcoming but everyone.
"Those who came up from the [Barca] B sat on the other side [to the main group]. The locker room did a 'U' and we sat in-front, and there came a moment that [Ronaldinho] told me to go to his side and that I no longer needed to be where I was anymore.
"There was a spot free and there was Deco and [Thiago] Motta right there, and he sat me right beside them. I must admit at the start it was hard.
"But he said no, that I was good where I was until I basically obliged to sit there."

Ronaldinho was just as complimentary of his former team-mate.

"He's a simple person, very chilled, and he sat by my side in the dressing room," he said. "We had the chance to start a good and honest friendship. He's a great man."

Neymar will become the best in the world - Eto'o

2015-12-24T20:17:00.000+00:00

Samuel Eto'o is in no doubt that Neymar will be the best player in the world once Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo are past their peak.

The trio make up the shortlist for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or, an accolade which the Argentine and the Portuguese have dominated for the past seven years.

Former Barcelona and Madrid forward Eto'o is confident if Neymar applies himself appropriately, he will be the sport's leading performer in the future.

"Neymar has a lot of potential. After the era of Messi and Cristiano, surely he will be number one," Eto'o, who played for Barca between 2004 and 2009, told ESPN Brasil.

"But he has to remember that it depends on him a lot. He must remember that he hast the talent and needs to train, train and train, because others do not have his talent.

"Neymar is only 24-years-old, I am 10 years older than him, but he is a leader in Brazil.

"I think, with all he has experienced, the pressure, he may be able to give advice to a 35-year-old who plays with him."

The Cameroonian was named head coach at Turkish side Antalyaspor earlier this month and believes he is already having a positive impact.

"Before, I slept some four hours a night. Now that I am a coach, I sleep for a maximum of three!" he added.

"But I'm a football lover, so I do everything with passion. I always give by best, and I think we managed to make our team play well.

"But it's not enough just to play well, we have to play well and win."

Liverpool's Klopp surprised by reaction to Kop salute

2015-12-24T20:13:00.000+00:00

London (AFP) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on Thursday expressed surprise over the mirth provoked by his decision to salute the club's fans following the recent 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion.

Liverpool snatched a point in the December 13 game at Anfield when Divock Origi scored a 96th-minute equaliser and afterwards Klopp and his players joined hands to salute the fans sitting on the Kop for their support.

The gesture sparked derision on social media, particularly from supporters of Liverpool's local rivals Everton, but Klopp said it was part of a strategy aimed at enhancing the connection between players and fans.

"It is really interesting for me as it is the first time in my life I have lived in a foreign country and I thought I knew a lot about England because I've been here a few times and I enjoyed it always," he said.

"We look similar, but it seems in some ways we are really different. It was a decision in the moment. I never planned it and thought, 'If we made a draw against West Brom, maybe we should.'

"I would like to be cooler, but I am pretty emotional. You can see it in my face sometimes.

"Sometimes I laugh more than I should, sometimes I look more angry than I should and sometimes no-one knows what my face should mean.
"I like to be close with the fans, but it is not a thing from one side. I cannot say, 'Come on, let's do this together.' We have to build it up. That is how it should be in football.
"For me it is always a common fight, always together."

Klopp was speaking ahead of his side's home game with leaders Leicester City on Saturday, when Liverpool will attempt to arrest a run of four games without victory in all competitions.

They will be without several senior players due to injury, with centre-back Martin Skrtel (hamstring) the latest victim, but goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and defender Dejan Lovren are due to return.

Chelsea hold talks with MLS side Montreal over Drogba

2015-12-24T20:11:00.000+00:00

(Reuters) - Struggling Premier League champions Chelsea have held talks with Montreal Impact over former Blues striker Didier Drogba, the Major League Soccer team has said.

British media reported earlier this month that Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich was keen to offer Drogba a position on the team's coaching staff.

"We are currently in contact with Didier Drogba and Chelsea FC," Montreal Impact said on its Twitter page on Wednesday. "We are doing everything we can to have him back with the Impact in 2016.

"We understand his (Drogba) attachment to his former club and his desire to help them. We are willing to accommodate him."

The Canadian team said they were working to get Drogba back for the next season but the situation was out of their control.

Drogba joined Montreal Impact in July after two stints with Chelsea, and spells in between at China's Shanghai Shenhua F.C. and in Turkey with Galatasaray.

The Ivorian was in the stands during Chelsea's 3-1 win over Sunderland last weekend, along with interim manager Guus Hiddink.

"I worked with him five or six years ago and I was delighted to have such a professional in the squad," Hiddink told British media on Wednesday.

"The official process (on Drogba) I do not know, but I spoke openly from the bottom of the heart that such impact players can be huge for the club," he added.

Chelsea are 15th after 17 games and face seventh-placed Watford on Saturday.

(Reporting by Nayan Das in Bengaluru; Editing by John O'Brien)

Titans fire Whisenhunt as head coach

2015-11-04T00:28:00.003+00:00

The Tennessee Titans have fired head coach Ken Whisenhunt less than two years after signing him to a five-year contract, the NFL team said on Tuesday.
The Titans lost 20-6 to the Houston Texans on Sunday, their sixth straight defeat.

"After thoughtful consideration, the decision has been made to relieve Ken Whisenhunt of his head coaching duties," Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement.
"We have expected more progress on the field, and I felt it was time to move in a different direction. I would like to thank Ken for his efforts with our team, as he worked very hard to try to move us forward."Mike Mularkey, an assistant coach under Whisenhunt, will take over as interim coach.
"I am sorry we weren’t able to get it done in our time here," Whisenhunt said in a statement. "Our players and staff were great to work with and I want to thank them for their dedication and hard work."
The Titans, 2-14 last season, were 3-20 overall under Whisenhunt, 53, a former NFL tight end who was also head coach of the Arizona Cardinals for six seasons.

Shakhtar routs Malmo 4-0 in Champions League

2015-11-04T00:25:00.000+00:00

LVIV, Ukraine (AP) — Shakhtar Donetsk ended its European goal drought to beat Malmo 4-0 and sustain its slim hopes of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages.

Shakhtar went into the game without having scored a goal in its three defeats so far in the group stage, but dominated from the start against the defensively-minded Swedish team.

Oleksandr Hladkiy had several good chances before he put the hosts ahead in the 29th minute, heading in the rebound from his own shot.

Darijo Srna made it 2-0 from the penalty spot three minutes after the break, before goals from Eduardo and Alex Teixeira finished off the rout.

Malmo finished the match with 10 men after defender Kari Arnason picked up his second booking.

Earlier, Malmo midfielder Oscar Lewicki was carried off on a stretcher wearing a neck brace after colliding with Shakhtar's Taras Stepanenko. Malmo said Lewicki had a concussion.

Shakhtar climbs above Malmo to third place in Group A after losing 1-0 in Sweden two weeks previously. Real Madrid beat Paris Saint-German 1-0 in Tuesday's other Group A game to advance to the knockout rounds.

Shakhtar must win its final two games against Real and PSG to qualify, and that will be even harder with key defenders Srna and Oleksandr Kucher having picked up yellow cards against Malmo that mean both will miss the next game against Real.

4TH LEAD Feyenoord fans clash with police, damage monument in Rome By Alberto Cagliano, dpa

2015-02-19T20:18:00.000+00:00

Rome (dpa) - Fans of Dutch side Feyenoord hurled smoke bombs at police in Rome's central Piazza di Spagna and damaged a baroque fountain ahead of Thursday's Europa League game against Roma.

Police reported that clashes with drunken Dutchmen had already taken place late Wednesday near the Campo de' Fiori square, with 23 arrests.

About 20 other fans were arrested Thursday as hundreds gathered in Piazza di Spagna and confronted police, hurling bottles and damaging parked vehicles and dustbins.

Three fans, about 10 policemen and one photographer were reportedly injured.

The Fontana della Barcaccia, or fountain of the old boat, was damaged and was littered with beer cans and bottles. The monument, which was crafted in 1629 by Pietro Bernini and his son Gian Lorenzo, had recently been restored.

"What is happening in these hours in Rome is shameful and intolerable," city hall quoted Rome mayor Ignazio Marino as saying.

"Our capital, so precious and delicate, cannot become the hostage of hooligans who came here to follow their team and are instead causing violence and disorder."

A first group of eight Feyenoord fans involved in the Campo de' Fiori riots were dealt with Thursday, pleading guilty to assaulting police. They were fined 45,000 euros (51,200 dollars) each and banned from the game. They were expected to wait for their flight at the Rome airport they are to depart from.

Six police were hurt in Wednesday's clashes.

Around 6,000 fans of the Rotterdam club arrived in the Italian capital for the away leg with Roma in the Europa League round of 32.

Muguruza wins Spanish struggle; Czech-mate for on-form Pliskova

2015-02-19T20:16:00.000+00:00

Dubai, UAE (dpa) - Garbine Muguruza won an all-Iberian battle over doubles partner Carla Suárez Navarro 6-7 (4-7) 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the Dubai Classic.

Muguruza will line up against on-form Czech Karolina Pliskova, a winner over compatriot and 11th seed Lucie Safarova 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1. It was the 16th win of the season against just four defeats for Pliskova.

Muguruza has the chance to take over the Spanish number one ranking spot from Suarez Navarro should she claim the title on Saturday at the Aviation Club.

The winner finished with ten aces to none for her opponent and broke seven times in a struggle lasting for more than two hours. The day's Czech clash also surpassed the two-hour mark.

Muruguza, ranked 24th and climbing, duplicated her quarter-final showing from Sydney last month.

The winner said there was also a psychological factor as she faced Suarez Navarro.

"When you play one of your best friends on court, you're like all the time thinking, come on, keep going. You know how the other one plays so much, so it's hard.

"I was sad because I lost the first set, but I said, 'If I want to win this match I cannot play bad the second set. My only chance is to win the second set and try to have chances to win the match.'

"In the second set I was able to give it all, and if I win, I will have options to win the match."

Muguruza beat Pliskova - a twin who has a tennis-playing sibling Kristyne also on the WTA - at the French Open two years ago, but has trouble remembering which of the pair she actually faced.

"I don't know if it was her sister before, but, well, she's playing great this year. I think she's the one that won more matches in 2015.

"I saw the match with Safarova, another tough match and playing from the same country, like my match. So I think it's going to be a tough match."

Pliskova, who came from a set and a break down, was pleased with her performance.

"It's always hard to play someone from Czech Republic. I already played (Czechs) two times in two weeks, so I don't really like those matches.

"Of course it's great win for me. She's a great player, and she's on the tour quite long and doing good results, even winning Australian Open doubles, so I have to say I'm very happy that I won today," said last weekend's Antwerp semi-finalist who lost to Suarez Navarro.

Bjoergen, Northug rewrite Nordic record books in worlds openers

2015-02-19T20:14:00.000+00:00

Falun, Sweden (dpa) - Norwegian stars Marit Bjoergen and Petter Northug rewrote the skiing record books by winning cross-country sprint races on the opening day of the Nordic world championships Thursday.

Bjoergen won the women's race from Stina Nilsson of hosts Sweden and Norwegian Olympic champion Maiken Caspersen Falla. Northug topped a dramatic men's event from Canada's Alex Harvey and Ola Vigen Hattestad, the Olympic champion from Norway.

Bjoergen, 34, won an unprecedented third straight sprint title and fourth overall.

She now has 13 golds at the worlds, one shy of Russian Yelena Vaelbe. And with 30 medals overall, Bjoergen is now the most successful ski sports athlete at worlds and Olympics, ahead of compatriot Bjoern Daehlie (29).

Northug, meanwhile, also broke a tie with Daehlie when he became the first man to win 10 gold medals at Nordic worlds.

Bjoergen hung on to a narrow lead on the home stretch over Nilsson in the classic style race to win over 1.4-kilometres in 3 minutes 26.63 seconds, .42 of a second ahead of Nilsson.

Falla finished third to keep Polish star Justyna Kowalczyk, who had looked strong in qualifying and the first knockout rounds, off the podium.

Bjoergen now has 13 golds, four silvers and three bronze at world championships. She won four golds and one silver at each of the last two editions - 2011 and 2013 - and can achieve the same in Falun.

Bjoergen's first world title also came in the sprint, in 2003, and she was more than happy to still have the speed and power in the discipline.

"It feels very good. I am 34 and still good in the sprint," she said. "It was really tough. I felt Stina behind me and had to push hard."

Nilsson said she was "very happy with silver" in front of 18,500 fans, among them Swedish King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia.

Northug, 29, won a dramatic men's race at the Lugnet ski centre, in which the top four were separated by a mere 0.38 seconds.

He clocked 3:02.35 for his first sprint world title after silvers at the last two editions, pipping the charging 2013 bronze medallist Harvey by a mere five hundredth.

The 2009 world champion Hattestad took bronze, .35 seconds off the pace, as defending champion Nikita Kriukov of Russia missed a medal in fourth by three hundredth.

The sometimes controversial Northug took a deep bow before the Swedish crowd and shed a few tears at the flower ceremony. He had a dispute with the national federation ahead of the season and was also convicted in a drunk driving incident last autumn.

Without going into details, he spoke of "an important season. I focussed to be in shape for Falun. We had the days marked in red.

"The gold means a lot. It feels good to have won all four [individual events at world championships]. It was a good start. I am in good shape and look forward to more races."

The Nordic world championships continue Friday with the women's normal hill ski-jumping and Nordic combined normal hill/10km event.

Italian teams held to draws in Europa League

2015-02-19T20:13:00.000+00:00

Madrid (dpa) - Italian teams Torino and Roma were held to disappointing home draws in the Europa League round of 32 first legs Thursday, by Athletic Bilbao and Feyenoord respectively.

Argentine striker Maxi Lopez twice gave Torino the lead against Bilbao, only for the Basques to get a 2-2 draw thanks to goals from Inaki Williams and Carlos Gurpegui.

Meanwhile in Rome, pre-match scuffles between Roma and Feyenoord fans soured the atmosphere in the Italian capital. Gervinho gave Roma the lead, only for Colin Kazim-Richards to make it 1-1 for the Dutchmen.

However, Italian pride was salvaged by Napoli, who enjoyed a 4-0 romp at Trabzonspor.

In other early matches, Everton won 4-1 at Young Boys and Wolfsburg beat Sporting Lisbon 2-0.

Later Thursday, holders Sevilla were to host Borussia Moenchengladbach, and Tottenham were to take on Fiorentina.

Germany's Frenzel keeps winning in Nordic combined

2015-01-23T15:12:00.000+00:00

Sapporo, Japan (dpa) - Title holder Eric Frenzel remained unstoppable in the Nordic combined skiing World Cup and extended his overall lead with a sixth season victory in Sapporo on Friday.

There was more joy for Germany when cross-country skier Steffi Boehler matched a career-best third-place finish, in a 10-kilometres freestyle race in Rybinsk, Russia, won by Norway's Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen. Swiss Dario Cologna topped the men's 15km.

Placed sixth after a large hill ski-jump of 122 metres, the German Frenzel crossed the finish line of the 10km cross-country pursuit in 27 minutes 23.1 seconds, a week after winning all three stages and the overall title at the Seefeld Triple.

Jan Schmid trailed by 5.0 seconds in second place and fellow Norwegian Haavard Klemetsen was third in snowy and windy conditions, 15.7 seconds off the pace.

"It wasn't easy. I am very satisfied, even more as I returned to Japan after eight years," Frenzel said in reference to the last major Nordic combined event in Japan, at the 2007 Nordic world championships also held in Sapporo.

The world and Olympic champion Frenzel holds a commanding World Cup lead with 721 after his 22nd career victory, far ahead of compatriot Fabian Riessle (476) and Japan's Akito Watabe (461).

The women's cross-country race in Russia saw the former sprint world champion Jacobsen victorious in 28:12.5 minutes, her fourth career win and first in almost seven years.

American Elizabeth Stephen was a career-best second 14.4 seconds behind the winner and Boehler matched her third-best finish from 2009 at the same venue, 36.4 seconds off the pace.

Not present for the races in Russia, less than a month ahead of the world championships in Falun, Sweden, are the top Norwegians around World Cup leader Marit Bjoergen, Therese Johaug and Heidi Weng.

The men's top three, holder Martin Johnsrud Sundy, fellow-Norwegian Petter Northug and Sweden's Calle Halfvarsson, did also not make the trip to Rybinsk where Cologna triumphed in their absence in 36:53.4 minutes for his 17th career win.

Russian Evgeniy Belov, who came third at the recent Tour de Ski, placed second, 16.3 seconds behind, and countryman Sergei Ustyugov was third with a decicit of 28.8 seconds.

Nordic skking World Cup events continue Saturday with another Nordic combined competition and large hill ski-jumping in Sapporo, while the cross-country skiers have sprint races.

Paris denies Austrians in Kitzbuehel super-g

2015-01-23T15:05:00.002+00:00

Kitzbuehel, Austria (dpa) - Italy's Dominik Paris denied the hosting Austrians when he pipped Olympic champion Matthias Mayer for victory in a World Cup super-g Friday.

Paris added the super-g top spot to his downhill win on the same treacherous Streif piste two years ago, clinching his fourth career victory and first in the discipline in 1 minute 9.99 seconds.

The 2014 downhill gold medallist Mayer missed his first Kitzbuehel success by a mere six hundredth in 1:10.05, and compatriot Georg Streitberger placed third in 1:10.33.

"I had a good feeling but I didn't expect to make it today," Paris said. "I like the mountain."

Swiss skier Marc Gisin crashed heavily at the Hausbergkante section and was taken to hospital with undisclosed injuries.

Pre-race favourite Kjetil Jansrud of Norway had to settle for seventh in the race but was also set to compete in the slalom run later Friday (1545 GMT) for a super-combined classification together with the super-g.

Frenchman Alexis Pinturault was considered favourite for the super-combined win, finishing 1.47 seconds behind Paris but 1.31 ahead of Austrian World Cup holder and leader Marcel Hirscher.

Croatia's Natko Zrncic-Dim is also a contender three hundredth behind Pinturault while American combined favourite Ted Ligety failed to complete the super-g.

The Kitzbuehel downhill, arguable the most prestigious and dangerous race on the calendar, is set for Saturday, and a slalom for Sunday.