Welcome To Dipo Liadi's blog: April 2015

30 April 2015

Paris Saint Germain Set To Land Paul Pogba For €80million

Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus have agreed an €80million fee for France international Paul Pogba .Goal understands PSG’s offer has been accepted by Juve, for whom the 22-year-old has emerged as a key player since leaving Manchester United in 2012.

But even though the Ligue 1 champions appear to have jumped the queue in the race to sign Pogba there remains no guarantee he will swap Turin for his native Paris. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi met with Pogba and his representatives in Monte Carlo earlier this week but a financial package for the player was not agreed.

Although Arsenal were spared the ignominy of seeing Chelsea formally clinch the Premier League title at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, they could have been forgiven for forming an impromptu guard of honour at full-time. The 0-0 result confirmed what everybody already knew: Chelsea will be champions.

Curiously, despite sitting joint-second in the table, Arsenal have never really been in the title race. Theirs has been a season of two halves, the first of which was verging upon shambolic.

Since the turn of the year, though, they have recovered sufficiently -- their 34 points won is the most in the Premier League in that time -- to elevate their league positioning without ever really threatening to catch the runaway leaders.

I Want To Be The President Of NFF - Austin JayJay Okocha

Former Super Eagles captain Austin Okocha says he has no plans of going into coaching but hopes to one day be the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

“No, not for the moment. I’m more interested in the executive positions. I prefer to be the one who appoints them and tells them what to do “ was Okocha’s response when he was asked if he will one day be a coach.

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has made a most shocking admission that he does not have a team as he begins his second stint in charge of Nigeria. Keshi, who led Nigeria to AFCON glory in 2013 after a 19-year wait, recently penned a fresh two-year contract to continue as the country’s coach.

However, the former Mali and Togo handler noted, “The team that helped us win the AFCON in 2013 is no longer in place.

Arsenal have what it takes to mount a Premier League title challenge next season, according to striker Olivier Giroud. Olivier Giroud believes Arsenal can go one step further and seriously contend for the Premier League title next season.

Arsenal - third in the table - have gone almost a decade without winning the title and that drought is set to continue, with champions-elect Chelsea two wins away from sealing the 2014-15 crown.
Arsene Wenger's men have showed signs of improvement this season, though, and Giroud is backing his team-mates to deliver a title to the London club's long-suffering fans next term.

Chelsea are within touching distance of their fourth Premier League title and owner Roman Abramovich is thrilled, says Jose Mourinho. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says owner Roman Abramovich is happy with the club's campaign as they look on course to claim the Premier League title.

Sunday's goalless draw with Arsenal saw Chelsea edge a step closer to the club's first title since 2010 after they also claimed the League Cup in March. Chelsea were the subject of 'boring' chants from Arsenal fans as they ground out a point at the Emirates Stadium with Abramovich having previously been keen to see attacking football following his takeover in 2003.

Javier Hernandez has shone for Real Madrid recently, scoring three goals in his last two games including the winner against Atletico Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti has acknowledged he should have looked to use Javier Hernandez earlier in the season with the Mexican back among the goals for Real Madrid.

The Manchester United loanee was used sparingly during the first few months of his spell at the Santiago Bernabeu before injuries to Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale offered him a starting berth against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

RECORD: Luis Enrique First 50 Matches Shows His Better Than Pep Guardiola

Not even Pep Guardiola managed a better win rate in his first 50 games as Barcelona manager. Luis Enrique has won over the Camp Nou faithful and has them chanting his name based on his unwavering and rational discourse and, more than anything, his results.

In a gesture which was almost unheard of until now, the Barça fans chanted the manager's name during the game against PSG. "Luis Enrique, Luis Enrique, Luis Enrique!" roared the Camp Nou for a few seconds when Barça went 2-0 up in and a place in the semi-finals was all but secure.

Pep Guardiola Will Face UEFA' Disciplinary Action

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is facing UEFA action following his side's Champions League victory over Porto on Tuesday. The German champions registered a 6-1 win to book their place in the semi-finals with a 7-4 aggregate result, but the Spanish coach could now be hit with a fine.

Proceedings are thought to centre on a T-shirt worn by Guardiola at his pre-match news conference - emblazoned with the slogan '#JusticiaParaTopo', or Justice for Topo.

Manchester City Have "Let Themselves Down" - Joe Hart

Manchester City have "let themselves down" this season and the squad have had "a lot of honest conversations" since the 4-2 defeat at Manchester United nine days ago, says England goalkeeper Joe Hart. The Premier League champions have had a disappointing campaign under manager Manuel Pellegrini and are down in fourth position, 12 points behind runaway leaders Chelsea with five matches left to play.

"We are not in the place where we wanted to be, we wanted to be really challenging for the title like we've done in previous years," Hart told the club website (www.mcfc.co.uk) on Tuesday.

Nobody Can Repeat Lionel Messi' Achievements - Luis Enrique

After Lionel Messi's 400th competitive goal, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique believes the record may never be matched. Barcelona coach Luis Enrique believes Lionel Messi's record of 400 competitive goals may never be matched.

The Argentina international hit the milestone with the second goal in a 2-0 Liga victory over Valencia at the weekend, reaching the quadruple century in his 471st appearance.

Rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid could not be separated in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final. Carlo Ancelotti is optimistic over Real Madrid's chances against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday despite injury concerns over Luka Modric and Gareth Bale.

The city rivals go into the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final level after a goalless first leg at Vicente Calderon last week. Modric (knee) and Bale (calf) look set to miss out on the Santiago Bernabeu clash as Real attempt to record a first win over Diego Simeone's side since last year's Champions League final.

16 April 2015

Am Not Leaving Chelsea - Oscar

Chelsea midfielder Oscar insists he has no interest in leaving the club this summer as he continues to adapt to a new role under Jose Mourinho.

Oscar has been a regular fixture in a Chelsea squad which remains on course to win the Premier League title this season, despite fierce competition for places at Stamford Bridge, which has seen both Juan Mata and Andre Schurrle leave the club over the last 18 months.

The Super Sand Eagles of Nigeria progressed to the semifinals of the 2015 Caf Beach Soccer Championship in Seychelles with a 7-6 win over Ivory Coast in their last group game on Thursday.
The win meant that the Nigerians managed a 100 percent run through the group stage of the tournament.

But the Nigerians were made to work for the win by the Ivorians as the game dragged into overtime after it was tied at 6-6 after three periods of intense play.

West Brom have an injury concern over Brown Ideye ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash at head coach Tony Pulis' former club Crystal Palace. The Nigeria striker suffered a knock in training, which may prevent him from taking his place in the starting line-up at Selhurst Park.

Pulis said: “Browny has got a little bit of a knock so we're not sure if he will be fit to start or not. We're hoping that he will be OK."

Wayne Rooney is taking inspiration from past Manchester United leaders but insists he must captain the team his "own way". The striker has led the charge as United have won six on the bounce in the Premier League to rise to third, with Daley Blind hailing his team talk before beating champions Manchester City.

Rooney says he has studied past United skippers and also former England captains John Terry and Steven Gerrard but is keen to make his own mark as he aims to improve both club and country.

Bayern Munich attacker Thomas Muller says that Porto did a good job of "parking the bus" in their shock 3-1 Champions League quarter-final first leg win over the Bavarians. Julen Lopetegui's side stormed into a 2-0 lead at the Dragao thanks to two early goals from Ricardo Quaresma and, though Thiago Alcantara pulled one back, Jackson Martinez rounded off the win after the break.

Muller lamented his side's slow start to the game but was less than impressed with what he saw as a negative approach from the hosts.

PSG 1 BARCELONA 3: Watch The Goals & Minute By Minute Highlights

14 April 2015

Constant Injury Problems Will Not Affect Moses' Stoke Future - Mark Hughes

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has declared that the consistent injury problems of Nigeria international winger Victor Moses,will have no influence whatsoever on whether he is signed on a permanent basis. Moses, currently on a season-long loan from Chelsea, has suffered from persistent injury problems this term, raising doubts about Stoke’s plans to seal a permanent deal for his services.

The winger limped out of Saturday's 1-1 Barclays English Premier League draw at West Ham just before half time with suspected hamstring trouble.

Coach Adamu Ejor’s men began their 2015 African Beach soccer championship campaign on a bright note as they caged the hosts in the opening game. Nigeria defeated Seychelles 10-1 in the opening game of the 2015 Caf Beach Soccer Championship played on Tuesday afternoon.

Brace from Emeka Ogbonna, Bartholomew Igbenegbu and Abu Azeez plus strikes from Victor Tale, Taiwo Adams and Emmanuel Ohwoferia were all the Super Sand Eagles needed to breeze aside the hosts in the 11-goal thriller played at the Roche Caiman Sports Complex, Roche Caiman.

Barcelona's progress out on the pitch couldn't be better. The team are having a great season this year, despite all the goings-on in the offices. The plotting, backstabbing, in-fighting and cold-shouldering is constant at the Catalan club. It seems that nobody is getting on with anybody at the Camp Nou. The most worrying fall-out is between Luis Enrique and the sports commission formed by Rexach,

Braida, Mestre and Bordas. The situation couldn't be more strained. Just two weeks ago, the Barça manager stood the commission up. A meeting had been set for all concerned, taking advantage of the FIFA break, after the game with Real Madrid. But Luis Enrique chose not to turn up.

Eric Cantona proved a controversial and outspoken figure during his playing career, and his latest claims about who is the world's greatest player will surprise many. The ongoing debate usually surrounds two men Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi.

But Cantona has shunned both of those names in favour of Paris Saint-Germain's Javier Pastore, whom the Frenchman says boasts unique talents.

Carlo Ancelotti knows that his future as Real Madrid boss hinges on getting past Atlético and continuing the club's quest to successfully defend their Champions League title. The Italian lifted Real Madrid's tenth European crown last May. However, in football, you are only as good as your last game and that achievement has already been assigned to the history books.

He has led 'Los Blancos' to a European Super Cup, a Club World Cup, a 22-game winning streak and the chance of winning yet another league title, his fourth in a fourth different country. However, these impressive achievements may not be enough to save the Real Madrid boss's job.

As an injury-hit first season at Manchester United nears its end, Luke Shaw says he would give himself a C. England defender Luke Shaw would grade himself a C- for his first season at Manchester United and says he is "one of the luckiest 19-year-olds to be alive".

Shaw's debut campaign at Old Trafford has been interrupted by persistent injury problems, making 13 Premier League appearances since joining from Southampton for a reported £28million.

QPR 0 CHELSEA 1: Watch The Goals & Highlights

MANCHESTER UNITED 4 MANCHESTER CITY 2: Watch The Goals & Highlights

Drogba Plans To Play On Next Season

At 37, Drogba is almost at the end of a storied career that has seen him win league titles in England and Turkey, the UEFA Champions League, the FA Cup on four occasions and three League Cups.
The former Ivory Coast international looks set to finish 2014-15 as a Premier League title winner for a fourth time. Chelsea are seven points clear with seven games remaining although he is used primarily as an impact substitute in what is his second spell at Stamford Bridge.

Drogba penned a one-year deal when he rejoined Chelsea in July and wants to play on into 2015-16.
When quizzed by the Daily Telegraph about whether he has reached a decision regarding his future, he replied: "I have made a decision, yes. And no, it's not my last season."

Despite a patchy penalty record, Lionel Messi will continue as Barcelona's first-choice spot-kick taker. Lionel Messi will continue as Barcelona's penalty taker, despite his patchy record from 12 yards. Argentina star Messi has missed four penalties for club and country this season, but he is determined to improve.

"Yes there is a lot of frustration that I have missed a lot of penalties, both for the club and for Argentina," Messi told Barca's official magazine. "I am the designated penalty taker, but when the goalkeepers study you they know your ideas more.

ATLETICO MADRID 1 VALENCIA 1: Watch The Goals & Highlights

CHELSEA BEWARE!!! See How 7 Teams Lost The Premier League Title After Taking High Point Margin

It's looking good for Chelsea at the top of the table but Greg Lea has some warnings from history...
Although he’d never admit it, Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday night went down well in Jose Mourinho’s household. The Eagles’ victory meant City stay nine points behind Chelsea. With the Blues seven clear of nearest rivals Arsenal, and a game in hand against struggling Leicester to come, Mourinho’s men now need just five wins from their last eight fixtures to confirm their first title in half a decade.

Chelsea should be wary, though. Just ask these sides, who all seemed to be home and hosed but ended up high and dry...

SAD! Another South African Footballer Richard Henyekane Dies In Drastic Car Accident

South African footballer Richard Henyekane has died at the age of 31 following a car accident.
South African footballer Richard Henyekane died early on Tuesday morning following a car crash, his club Free State Stars have confirmed.

The 31-year-old, who made nine appearances for his national team, was travelling with four passengers when he was involved in the incident and subsequently passed away in the early hours of the morning.

CELTA DE VIGO 0 BARCELONA 1: Watch All The Goals & Highlights

Bayern Munich Can Win Champions League Again - Franck Ribery

Bayern Munich have what it takes to win this year's UEFA Champions League, according to Franck Ribery. Franck Ribery says Bayern Munich have sufficient quality to win the UEFA Champions League again this year despite being troubled by injuries of late.

Ribery missed Saturday's win over Borussia Dortmund as he continued to recover from an ankle injury while Pep Guardiola also saw Bastian Schweinsteiger limp off in the second half. David Alaba is a long-term absentee and faces a race to play again this season, with Bayern set to play Porto next week in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

VIDEO: Watch Ronaldo's 5-Goal Haul Against Granada

NIGERIANS ABROAD: Anichebe, Utaka, Chrisantus Hits Target

Out of favour Super Eagles strikers, John Utaka and Victor Anichebe scored for their clubs on Saturday in the Turkish and English top flights. Victor Anichebe was a second half substitute in England at The Hawthorns when he came off the bench to score for West Brom but his team went down 4-1 at home to struggling Queens Park Rangers.

West Brom are now 14th on the English Premier League table with 33 points from 31 games after Saturday’s defeat. The former Everton forward scored in the 58th minute when he headed home Saido Berahino’s cross, just 12 minutes after he was introduced into the game in place of Stephane Sessegnon.

Cristiano Ronaldo Is A "Phenomenon" - Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema has described Cristiano Ronaldo as a "phenomenon" and lauded his five-goal frenzy as Real Madrid defeated Granada 9-1. The Blancos headed into Sunday's clash having lost three of their last four games - including their most recent match having been defeat at rivals Barcelona - but cast aside form fears by smashing the 19th-placed Liga side by eight goals.

Ronaldo was unquestionably the star of the show as he scored five times in one game for the first time in his glittering career and Benzema - who himself bagged a double at the Santiago Bernabeu - lauded his Portuguese team-mate.

Obafemi Martins Shoots Sounders To Victory

Nigeria’s Obafemi Martins got the only goal for Seattle Sounders in their 1-0 victory over Houston Dynamo at the CenturyLink Field on Saturday night.

Martins gathered a pass from teammate Clint Dempsey on the edge of the Dynamo box and charged into it. He churned around Jermaine Taylor with a 360-degree spin move, then finished inside the back post.

Cristiano Ronaldo ran riot against Granada, his five-star show taking him back above Leo Messi in the race to be crowned La Liga's top scorer this season, with 36 goals to the Argentine's 32. A quick-fire hat-trick converted in just eight first-half minutes was enough for Ronaldo to overhaul Messi and forge clear. The Portuguese ace added some further gloss to the scoreline and his own performance with a pair of headers after the break.

Ronaldo had never scored five goals in a single match for Real Madrid before, and of top of that first-time feat he has now reached two more milestones.

Messi Should Spend The Day At The Beach - Nolito

Celta striker Nolito says that his team needs to be "brave" and play "on equal terms" with Barcelona.
"The games have to be played. You never know what's going to happen. Celta aren't scared of any opposition, regardless of whether they are the best team in the world. We've got nothing to lose", he assured.

Nolito admitted that facing his former team will be "special, but there is no such thing as friends once you're on the pitch".

Southampton's challenge for European honours is not surprising, according to midfielder Dusan Tadic. Dusan Tadic said Southampton's success in the Premier League has not come as a surprise to the south-coast club.

Midfielder Tadic arrived at Southampton in mid-2014, after the club continued its rise through the English football system by finishing eighth in the top flight in 2013-14 with 15 wins.
In 2009-10, the club placed seventh in League One - meaning their achievement last season saw a climb of 43 spots in just four seasons.

Arsenal's Olivier Giroud and Arsene Wenger have been named the Premier League's player and manager of the month, respectively. The Gunners won all four of their top-flight games in March, seeing off Everton, QPR, West Ham and Newcastle, with Giroud scoring against each of them.

The France international notched five goals and an assist in total as he even outperformed Tottenham star Harry Kane, who was pipped at the post for what would have been a record third win in as many months.

Coach Stephen Keshi has offered apology to the country after failing to qualify the Super Eagles for the Equatorial Guinea Africa Cup of Nations staged earlier this year. The former Mali and Togo handler has been in the news of recent with speculations rife that he might be given a second chance of handling the country despite failing to reach the 2015 Afcon as well as having scores to settle with some top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation.

In a chat with journalists, his agent Emmanuel Ado described the relationship between the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and Stephen Keshi as of mutual respect and insists differences between them will be resolved amicably in the interest of the game.

Manchester City Can Still Win Premier League - Alan Pardew

Manchester City have what it takes to overhaul Chelsea and retain their Premier League title, according to Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew. The champions will find themselves nine points behind Chelsea if the leaders overcome Stoke City on Saturday, with Manuel Pellegrini's men not in action until Monday's trip to Selhurst Park.

But Pardew reckons the battle for the trophy is still very much on, particularly in light of the fact that City's two top-flight triumphs were only secured on the final day.

Nigeria Has So Many Enyeamas - Raymond King

Former Green Eagles’ goalkeeper, Raymond King has told Goal that he was more than delighted with the performance of Daniel Akpeyi in the international friendly match with South Africa. He added that Nigeria need not worry about who to replace Vincent Enyeama when he eventually quits the national team.

Enyeama earned his 100th cap for Nigeria against Uganda last week but he sustained a back injury in a training session before the trip to South Africa for another friendly on Sunday and Akpeyi was a late call up for the trip.

Eagles running back DeMarco Murray was really hoping to remain with the Cowboys this offseason. So much so, he asked quarterback Tony Romo to take a pay cut to remain with the team, Romo said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas on Tuesday, per the Dallas Morning News.

"DeMarco ended up asking me, 'Why don't you take a pay cut?' I said, 'I will. I would take a pay cut to go do this,'" Romo said. "I was like, 'They're going to restructure me.' That's the same thing in some ways, just for the salary cap purposes. He was like, 'OK, now we're back to being friends again.' I would take $5 million less if it meant getting him back.

National U-23 Eagles coach Samson Siasia has declared that beating Zambia in the return leg match of the 2015 All Africa Games in Lusaka on April 11 is a top priority for him as he urged his players to ensure they give their best in the away match.

Speaking ahead of the crucial encounter, the former Super Eagles coach who at the weekend invited five players from the victorious Flying Eagles squad to boost his team said he is doing everything possible to prepare the players for the task ahead. He said he has also made efforts to review the first leg match in a bid to know the Zambians better before the return leg match.

30 April 2015

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