I WANT TO WIN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - TOURE

Yaya Toure has revealed his burning desire to win the Champions League for Manchester City’s fans.

Toure came in for criticism earlier this week for his performance in the 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich, with several pundits claiming that he did not play well enough to justify his selection.

The Ivory Coast international, however, believes the club’s fans will always stick by him, leading to his wish to win Europe’s elite club competition to repay their faith.

SHOCKING LOSS FOR DORTMUND

Jurgen Klopp's winning run against former club Mainz came to an end as Borussia Dortmund slumped to a 2-0 defeat at the Coface Arena.

The visitors dominated Saturday's opening hour, before Jairo created the opener for Okazaki, the Japan striker scoring a sixth goal in seven games this season, in what was his 100th Bundesliga appearance.

Then, after Loris Karius had saved a Ciro Immobile penalty, Jairo was again the architect as Matthias Ginter put through his own net to make sure of the points, which lifted Mainz to second in the table.

Klopp, a Mainz legend as both player and coach, could only look on as his side spurned several presentable chances - striker Adrian Ramos particularly guilty - in a week in which they had demonstrated strong credentials in the Champions League with a comprehensive win over Arsenal.

Mainz are yet to taste defeat in the league this season, but a second loss of the season for Dortmund presents Klopp with a major issue as they look to assert domestic dominance.

The hosts fielded Jonas Hofmann against his parent club and although Dortmund welcomed Lukasz Piszczek back into their starting XI, but their mounting injury problems saw Klopp start 20-year-old Ginter in defence and Milos Jojc in midfield, while he also replaced Immobile with Ramos as the spearhead of the attack.

And it was the latter who spurned the game's first meaningful opportunity after 13 minutes, the Colombia striker nodding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's right-wing cross wide from seven yards.

Shinji Kagawa's lost control at the vital moment after some spellbinding footwork and Mainz's own Shinji then threatened, Okazaki pouncing on a loose ball and stabbing the ball goalwards, only for Roman Weidenfeller to make a fine save low to his right.

Ramos' woes went on shortly before half-time as he slammed Piszczek inviting low cross from the right onto the post.

The Colombian was again denied as Dortmund began the second half on the front foot, Junior Diaz's outstreched leg saved Mainz after good work from Kevin Grosskreutz, with the Costa Rican hacking a deflected Aubameyang strike off the line from the resulting corner.

Against the run of play, Mainz took the lead. Substitute Jairo did well to keep the move alive down the right and cross for Ozakazi, who escaped Ginter’s attention and slotted home.

Yet minutes later hero almost turned villain. Immobile, on for Ramos, unleashed a shot inside a crowded area, which hit a sliding Okazaki on the arm and prompted referee Gunter Perl to award a penalty.

The Italy striker stepped up himself, but his firm strike was superbly kept out by the diving Karius.

It got worse for Dortmund in the 73rd minute. 

Jairo’s pace got him clear of the defence and he cut the ball across the penalty area towards Hofmann.Ginter slid in to intercept the ball, but could only manage to divert it into the back of his own net.

BAYERN UNHAPPY WITH DRAW - LAHM

The 30-year-old is adamant that his side should try to win every game after they were unable to break down a resolute Hamburg team

Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm says that his side never play for a draw after they came away from a clash with Hamburg with just a point to their name.
The Bavarians were expected to cruise past their rivals at the Imtech Arena but failed to break down the resolute hosts, who battled their way to a 0-0 stalemate.
Lahm is angry with how his team performed, particularly before the break, but is already looking forward to Tuesday's game against Paderborn.
"We cannot be happy with a draw," he told the club's official website.
"In the second half, we had the chances to win the game but we didn't do enough, especially in the first half. We're looking forward to Tuesday."
Coach Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, was quick to blame his side's slack showing on their midweek Champions League exploits against Manchester City.
"It wasn't easy to come into the game after the Champions League game against Man City," he explained.
"In the second half, it was a but better but unfortunately we did not take our chances. We need to continue to work now, it will be tough until December."

UEFA CONFIRMS SAN SIRO AS UCL FINAL VENUE

Milan's San Siro stadium is to host the 2016 Champions League final, European football's governing body Uefa said on Thursday.

San Siro will be staging the final for the fourth time, the previous occasion being in 2001 when Bayern Munich beat Valencia on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

It also staged the 1965 final between Inter Milan and Benfica and the 1970 final between Feyenoord and Celtic.

The 2016 Europa League final will be held at the St Jakob-Park in Basel, Uefa added.

CISSE RESCUES NEWCASTLE

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was spared a damaging defeat as substitute Papiss Cisse pulled his side back from two down to draw 2-2 with Hull City in the Premier League.

With widespread fan demonstrations against the Magpies manager before the game, the atmosphere at St James's Park was not boosted by Nikica Jelavic's opening the scoring just after half-time.

Mohamed Diame made it two on 68 minutes with an excellent left-footed effort and, despite substitute Papiss Cisse's reply only five minutes later, Newcastle were unable to summon sufficient resistance.

Pardew was greeted by huge boos when he emerged from the dugout on the kick-off and Newcastle looked to be in for a difficult afternoon on the pitch as an unchanged Hull made a brighter start to the opening minutes. 
The protest planned for the fifth minute did not materialise as expected as the home crowd seemingly opted to support the team rather than voice their disapproval at the manager.

And Newcastle appeared to respond to that encouragement, Remy Cabella and Jack Colback bringing Allan McGregor into action before the whole stadium rose to pay tribute to Jonas Gutierrez – the midfielder revealed to be suffering from testicular cancer earlier this week - by applauding after the 18th minute.

Newcastle will have been disappointed not to have made more of their first-half dominance and they were made to pay for not doing so when Jelavic netted his third goal of the campaign in spectacular style. The Croatia international met an Ahmed Elmohamady cross with a magnificent acrobatic effort that left goalkeeper Tim Krul with no chance.

Cabella was twice denied by McGregor as Newcastle sought a quick response and Stephen Quinn wasted a gilt-edged chance from close range to extend Hull's advantage after winning a free kick from Cheikh Tiote.

Diame atoned for Quinn's profligacy in the 68th minute with a vicious strike into the top corner about which Krul could do nothing, securing his second goal in as many outings for the Tigers.

That goal predictably saw the supporters return to venting their fury at Pardew but Newcastle were offered a glimmer hope by substitute Cisse's low shot under McGregor at the near post following good work from Tiote.

Newcastle poured forward and secured a share of the spoils with just three minutes to go, Cisse slamming Yoan Gouffran's knock-down home from inside the six-yard box.

The Senegal striker's goal could save Pardew's skin for now, the 53-year-old punching the air with obvious delight at Cisse's late intervention, although sporadic protests against the manager's reign continued after the final whistle.

WENGER APPRECIATES WELBECK

The Gunners boss pays tribute to his €19 million striker after his first goal for the club in a tremendous three-minute blitz and insists that Alexis Sanchez was merely rested

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailled the impact of Danny Welbeck as he scored his first goal for the club in their convincing 3-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.

The 23-year-old assisted Mesut Ozil for the first goal with a through-ball and that favour was repaid moments later when the German crossed from the left wing to allow Welbeck to prod home for his first Arsenal goal.

An own goal from Aly Cissokho to round out a three-minute flurry ensured victory but the Gunners boss reserved praise for Welbeck as he helped secure victory - and a response which he felt was "needed" after defeat to Borussia Dortmund in midweek.

"It's the response we needed after Tuesday," Wenger told the media after the game. "Aston Villa started quite well and had one or two dangerous situations but, after that, we were in control. 

"We scored three goals in three minutes and then, in the second half, it was a possession game because they didn't come out too much but, overall, it's a convincing win. 

"We had Welbeck to score and that, of course, is important. He scored a similar goal to the one he scored in Switzerland [for England], a cross from the left and he pushed it in because the timing of the run is very good. 

"I think he had a very good performance today because he kept the ball well, had good retention, which is important, and good overall game for a central striker."

Ahead of kick-off there was confusion over the selection of Alexis Sanchez, thought to have been named in the starting line-up only to be dropped to the bench in favour of Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain. 

However, Wenger insists that he had made the decision in order to rest the Chilean, admitting it is difficult to field players all of the time given the strength in depth available to him in that position.

"Sanchez was rested today. He was available," the Frenchman confirmed. "I have many offensive players and you work always find the right balance and it's not always easy. 

"I gave Sanchez a rest as he has played many games. We have plenty of experienced players who are not playing at the moment but who are top quality. It's always a very sensitive point [to leave a player out]. 

"You never know really how people respond to that. His best position is in the middle but I have 10 other players in my squad who want to play in the middle."

GOAL.COM

MADRID TRASH DEPORTIVO

Cristiano Ronaldo struck a hat-trick as Real Madrid produced a stunning 8-2 demolition of Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga.

Carlo Ancelotti's side were at their devastating attacking best at the Riazor, with a Gareth Bale double, James Rodriguez's first Liga goal and a late brace from Javier Hernandez supplementing Ronaldo's treble. 

Defeats to Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid had put Ancelotti under some pressure, but after a morale-boosting 5-1 Champions League win over Basel on Wednesday, Real never looked like falling to a third straight domestic reverse this weekend.

They went in three to the good at half-time courtesy of two goals from Ronaldo that sandwiched Rodriguez's superb strike. 

Deportivo were given a way back into the contest right after the break as Haris Medunjanin confidently converted a penalty following handball by Sergio Ramos, but Bale restored the three-goal cushion with 24 minutes to go.

Bale doubled his tally in the 74th minute and Ronaldo completed his hat-trick soon after, before on-loan Manchester United striker Hernandez came off the bench to add further gloss to the scoreline after Toche had grabbed a consolation for the hosts. 

Deportivo coach Victor Fernandez was wary about reading too much into Real's poor Liga form before Saturday's meeting, but it took the away side 29 minutes to go in front. 

Alvaro Arbeloa fired an inviting cross in from the right and, although the delivery forced Ronaldo away from goal, the Portuguese sent a fine looping header over German Lux.

GOAL.COM

SHOCKING LOSS FOR LIVERPOOL

Liverpool went down 3-1 to West Ham at Upton Park to make it three defeats from four Premier Leaguematches.

Winston Reid and Diafra Sakho capitalised on some poor defending to give the hosts a surprise lead just seven minutes in to Saturday's game at Upton Park.

And, although Raheem Sterling provided hope for the visitors with a 26th-minute screamer, West Ham defended admirably to secure all three points, with substitute Morgan Amalfitano making the game safe late on.

The Frenchman guided the ball into the far corner with two minutes left to score his first goal since joining West Ham from Marseille in the summer.






The result marked the Londoners' first home Premier League win of the campaign, while Liverpool's early title ambitions were once again exposed following their defeat at home to Aston Villa on their last Premier League outing.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce made just one change from the side that drew 2-2 with Hull, handing a full debut to former Barcelona midfielder Alex Song in the centre of midfield.
 
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, meanwhile, made three alterations from the midweek Uefa Champions League win over Ludogorets, with Martin Skrtel, Lucas Leiva and Fabio Borini all coming in.
 
Rodgers once again named three close-season signings in the shape of Alberto Moreno, Dejan Lovren and Javier Manquillo at the back, but that trio could not prevent the visitors from making a shambolic start in defence.
 
With just two minutes gone, a West Ham set-piece caused chaos in the area and allowed James Tomkins to nod the ball back into the middle, where Reid was on hand unmarked to bundle home.

It went from bad to worse for Liverpool a few moments later, as Sakho's chipped cross-cum-shot from the right found the far corner of the net, with goalkeeper Simon Mignolet flailing.
 
Rodgers had clearly seen enough and soon withdrew Manquillo for Mamadou Sakho in order to switch to a 3-5-2 formation more suited to negating West Ham's threat in the air.
 
But it was at the other end of the pitch where Liverpool were given brief hope of a turnaround.
 
Mario Balotelli produced a fine piece of control in the box after 26 minutes before his shot was blocked, butSterling was on hand to smash home the rebound from the edge of the area.
 
West Ham continued to threaten despite that goal and soon caused more disarray in the Liverpool defence that led to Lovren and Sakho clashing heads in the air.
 
The Croatian appeared to come off worse but he managed to continue after a spell of treatment.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Liverpool made a further change after hanging on until the break as Adam Lallana replaced the ineffective Lucas.

And the £25 million man's introduction almost paid immediate dividends as he set up Sterling for a shot from the edge of the box, but it trickled wide.

Lallana proved to be a catalyst for an improvement in Liverpool's previously ragged attacking play, although West Ham remained a real threat on the counter-attack.

The England international set up Borini to drive a shot just wide before, at the other end, the hosts broke at pace and Sakho chipped onto the roof of the net.

Rodgers threw on Rickie Lambert 15 minutes from time in an attempt to find an equaliser, but West Ham killed the game off when Amalfitano toe-poked home at the end of a flowing move.

The defeat leaves Liverpool 10th in the Premier League table, six points behind leaders Chelsea having played a game more. West Ham also leapfrogged the Reds into eighth, with seven points.


GOAL.COM

LAMPARD......NEXT CHELSEA BOSS - MOURINHO

Jose Mourinho has hinted that Frank Lampard could be his successor as Chelsea manager, despite the player's loan move to Manchester City.

The 36-year-old left Stamford Bridge at the end of last season as the club's all-time top scorer and with two Premier League winners' medals - but soon went to the Etihad Stadium after joining New York City FC.
Mourinho has dimissed suggested the former England international tarnished his legacy at Chelsea with the move, instead revealing that Lampard has an open invitation to "do what he wants" when the time suits.

"I still believe that what this club proposed to him, which is to be back when he wants and to do what he wants - these were the words from Mr Abramovich - I think it's not in any danger," Mourinho told reporters.

"It's just a period of his career. We thought he was going to play for New York. He decided to play for City. It was just an option, and he had that right to do that.

"His place in Chelsea's history is untouchable. I think, in the future, nothing has been lost. He can be back one day, I think so. If he wants to be a manager, he could succeed me."

Chelsea face Premier League champions City on Sunday off the back of four wins from their opening four games, and after playing down his side's title chances last season Mourinho is more confident for this term.

"I think [Manchester City[ are the same team as last season, no?" he said. "We improved. We improved our squad and our team. I'm not saying we have problems - we have big space to improve.

"I want to make everything better. Everything. I'm not happy with what we have. We must improve in everything. We are in the beginning of our second season. We are far from being the perfect team.

"Are we better than last season? We believe so. Do we have more potential than before? I believe so. But we still have lots of work to do."


GOAL.COM

I CAN COME BACK TO TOTTENHAM - BALE

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale says he still has a great affinity for former club Tottenham and has hinted that he could return to north London in the future.

The Wales international sealed a world record move to the Spanish capital last summer and has already won the Champions League, Copa del Rey and Uefa Super Cup during his time with Los Blancos.

Although Bale’s decision to force a move to Madrid angered many Spurs fans, the 25-year-old hopes they understand his decision to leave and he admits he would welcome a return to a club where he spent six happy years.

“I’ll never forget the great European nights at White Hart Lane. They were amazing,” Bale told BT Sport.

“Tottenham will always have a place in my heart. I hope the fans still love me even though I’ve moved on.

“I love Spurs fans; you never know, I could come back one day.”

He added: “I hope they understand that obviously Real Madrid is a massive, massive club and that they respect my decision.

“From the moment Madrid put the offer in it was difficult. [Tottenham] was somewhere I felt so comfortable and so happy.”

Bale scored 15 goals for Madrid last season, notably netting in both the Copa del Rey and Champions League finals against Barcelona and Atletico respectively.



GOAL.COM

I CAN HELP HAZARD BE AN ALL TIME GREAT - DROGBA

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is relishing the prospect of mentoring Eden Hazard and helping his team-mate to become an all-time great.

As revealed by Goal and subsequently confirmed by Jose Mourinho, the Belgium international is, despite not always seeing eye-to-eye with his manager, set to sign a new long-term contract.

Mourinho believes that Hazard is capable of becoming "one of the greats of his generation" and Drogba, who returned to Stamford Bridge this summer, is confident that he can play a leading role in helping the former Lille star to realise his true potential by giving him guidance both on and off the pitch. 





Asked by reporters if he now has an important off-field role, Drogba said: "Yes, I think so. Even if the team is young, you can see we have quite a lot of qualities and experience in the game as well.

"Yes, I'm here to help but I'm also here to show, if I can say that, to show them the spirit. 

"Even if I don't have any doubt about their desire to win, I'm here to help and I will give what I can.

"I'm preparing myself to give something extra to the team and achieve what we want to achieve."

Wenger Backs Ozil return

Arsene Wenger has defended club-record signing Mesut Ozil and insists that Arsenal fans should support the struggling German playmaker.

Ozil was criticised in the wake of the Gunners' 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday night, with the former Real Madrid man yet to register a goal or assist this season.

But Wenger believes that it would be unfair to scapegoat the midfielder and is confident that he and the entire Arsenal squad will begin to improve and hit peak form in later months after a gruelling World Cup.

"Fans need to be patient. You want your best players in every game but you have to be united and go through hard periods," said the Frenchman to the media ahead of Saturday's trip to Aston Villa.

"Why should Ozil be a scapegoat? For what? We lost one game since the beginning of April. We had very difficult games against teams like Besiktas.








"Everybody judges players on one game but football is played with many ups and downs.

"The criticism is unfair because it's post-World Cup. It takes a few months for them to get back to their best."

Wenger also confirmed that Calum Chambers and Mathieu Flamini are fit for the trip to Villa Park, while Jack Wilshere has shaken off a knock picked up against Dortmund, though Mathieu Debuchy's injury status has yet to be fully determined.

"We'll know about Debuchy tonight after his examination whether he'll need surgery," revealed Wenger. "If he doesn't need surgery, it'll be six weeks. If he does need surgery, it will be three months."




goal.com

English football loses its superstars. Or so it seems, anyway, amid the talent drain to Spain. Yet on Sunday, two goal machines meet, beginning a duel for Premier League glory, the Golden Boot and perhaps even the unofficial title of the world's best centre forward.

Luis Suarez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robert Lewandowski and the Manchester United pair of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao are contenders but two of the prime candidates are Diego Costa and Sergio Aguero. The Chelsea target man has made statistically the best start to a Premier League career, with seven goals in four games. The Manchester City poacher has the lowest minutes-per-goal ratio of anyone in the division's history who has struck 30 times or more: he goes just 114 minutes between strikes on average.

The predators leading the line at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday are strikers with similarities and not just because both endured a World Cup to forget and were used as substitutes in the Champions League on Wednesday.

While other elite players quit England for Spain, this pair made the opposite journey. Indeed, they proved prolific for the same club, Atletico Madrid. The Estadio Vicente Calderon is a place where goalscorers flourished - Falcao, Diego Forlan and Fernando Torres all enhanced their reputations as Atleti players – and it is also ideal scouting ground for English clubs.

The rivalry in the Spanish capital makes it very hard for Real Madrid to sign directly from their neighbours so, if Barcelona do not buy their prize assets, the opportunity is there for the Premier League clubs. Chelsea seized it this summer, just as City did three years earlier.

Even if Atletico's British brand of football, their willingness to play 4-4-2 and go direct, their hustling, bustling style and hugely energetic, ultra-committed approach offered signs that Costa would succeed in England, his first four fixtures have still been remarkable.

He has been an injury doubt for the last two league matches. In that time, he scored twice against Everton and a hat-trick against a Swansea City defence previously only breached once. The doubters wondered if he would be a one-season wonder, if his magnificent 36-goal campaign for Atletico would be an outlier and he would never prove as potent again. They are being answered. Chelsea are being transformed.

Eden Hazard was the Blues' leading scorer in the league last season with 14 goals. With only a 10th of the season gone, Costa is already half way to equalling that tally. Sunday represents his toughest test to date, against the outstanding defender in England, Vincent Kompany, but it is hard to imagine a man who scored a winner in a Madrid derby at the Santiago Bernabeu last season being cowed.

source goal.com

Grinni hits back at Toure critics

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has hit back at criticism of Yaya Toure by insisting that his side’s performances are not solely influenced by the midfielder.

The 31-year-old was subdued during City’s 1-0 defeat at Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday, while former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes believes Toure’s lack of defensive contribution has become a “major problem” for the Premier League champions .

"It is not fair for me to criticise what Yaya did in the last game. That is my way of thinking,” said Pellegrini.

"Normally, when we win or lose, it is because all the team played well or badly. Everyone knows which are the best performances of the players and we are trying to reach that level of performance for all of them as a team.

"I don’t agree that Yaya has all the responsibility about the game we played. Yaya always has commitment with the team, the squad and with his team-mates. He does not have a problem."

Pellegrini also confirmed that Frank Lampard is in contention to face Chelsea on Sunday.

"Frank is part of our squad and tomorrow I will give the squad list for the game," said the Chilean.

"I am sure he will be involved in that. Frank didn't continue at Chelsea because Chelsea didn't want him.

"He couldn't continue playing for the team he played for all his life, but he has a right to carry on playing football and we are happy to have him."