Monday, August 1, 2016

Gameiro: Griezmann and I will score lots of goals

France international Kevin Gameiro says he expects to score plenty of goals with new team-mate and compatriot Antoine Griezmann after joining Atletico Madrid. The former Sevilla star is the latest addition to Diego Simeone’s squad and arrives at his new club having scored 30 goals in all competitions last season.

And Gameiro fully expects the goals to keep flowing alongside Griezmann as he hopes to help Atletico to a LaLiga title and a maiden Champions League trophy.

“[Griezmann] is a great French player like myself and I am sure we will make a lot of goals together,” he told reporters. “Though has not called me yet, he is on vacation,” he joked.

Gameiro said he was delighted to join Atletico, despite reported interest from Barcelona, saying that the mentality and style of Simeone suited him better.

“I am very happy to be here and to play in a big club like Atletico,” he said. “I talked to [Simeone] on the phone and he told me he loved me and that we will have a great season.

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Milner willing to cover at full-back

Liverpool vice-captain James Milner is ready to step up as a full-back for the club this season, although he said he preferred playing elsewhere. Jurgen Klopp has been unable to sign a full-back in the off-season, and allowed Brad Smith to leave for Bournemouth.

The German may opt against signing cover for Alberto Moreno, with the versatile Milner open to playing there if needed. However, Milner said his preference was midfield, and the 30-year-old enjoyed a decent Premier League campaign last season with five goals and 11 assists.

“He’s obviously looked at his squad and what players he has,” the England international said. “He’s asked if I was willing to cover the full-back positions, basically, if there was a point in the season where there were injuries or like at Man United last season in the Europa League when I played left-back.

“We had a conversation about it and I told him it’s not my favourite position and not one I particularly like playing, but he’s the manager and if he wants me to play there, I’ll play there. The team comes first, always has, always will.”

Milner has returned for Liverpool after England’s poor Euro 2016 campaign, during which he featured for just three minutes.

With Sam Allardyce having replaced Roy Hodgson, the 61-time international said he may have to consider his England future.

“I’ll have to speak to Sam about it. At my age, travelling around and not featuring, is that a good thing for myself and the side?” Milner said.

“For a young player coming in and travelling and gaining experience and going to tournaments is massive.

“I am fortunate enough to have been to four tournaments so for me to have done has not really helped me at all.

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NYC star Lampard revels in historic hat-trick

Frank Lampard could not hide his delight after becoming the first New York City player to score a hat-trick in MLS.

Lampard etched his name into the history books after scoring three goals in New York City’s 5-1 rout of Colorado Rapids on Saturday. It has been a long and hard road for Lampard in New York, battling fitness and injury concerns, while attempting to win over fans in the Big Apple.

But the 38-year-old former England international seems to have finally gained the approval of fans after improving his tally to eight goals in eight games. Follow Major League Soccer ✔ @MLS

First hat trick in @NYCFC history ✅ Lampard finishes it off from the spot to make it three on the day. 5:32 AM - 31 Jul 2016 244 244 Retweets 341 341 likes

“Really happy, I didn’t realise that [record of becoming the first New York City player to score a hat-trick],” Lampard said. “I know is very short history but it’s a great accolade for me as a person.

“I’m very happy and when I’m playing well, feeling good, obviously I can score goals, I’ve managed to do since I’ve been fit.

“To the three goals, personally I feel great but for the team more importantly, twice now in recent weeks we lost a game and come straight back the next week and won. And that’s what team who wants to stay on top of the table must do.” Follow

Major League Soccer ✔ @MLS Lampard again! What a run to increase the lead to four. #NYCvCOL

5:28 AM - 31 Jul 2016 112 112 Retweets 244 244 likes Of captaining the team in the absence of regular skipper David Villa, Lampard added: “I mean I’m pleased. Listen David’s our captain and does a very good job, not just on the pitch where he scores a lot of goals and leads us from the front but off the pitch.

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Rashford wants to learn from Ibrahimovic

Marcus Rashford says he has plenty to learn after seeing new Manchester United team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic up close and personal for the first time.

The United academy graduate shot to prominence under Louis van Gaal last season when he scored twice on debut in the Europa League before netting a double on his Premier League debut against Arsenal as well as scoring a match-winner against cross-town rivals Manchester City, even earning a spot in England’s Euro 2016 squad.

But the teenager says he is looking forward to taking his game to another level alongside Ibrahimovic. The Swede started his first game in United colours on Saturday in a friendly against Galatasaray, scoring his first goal within four minutes with an acrobatic bicycle kick.

Rashford did not play with Ibrahimovic, replacing him at half-time, but said it was still great watching the striker. “It’s amazing. There’s a possibility that we can all learn from him while he’s here so we all need to take the chance,” Rashford told MUTV after the 5-2 win.

“It’s a massive help, just being with him day in, day out. It’s helping me just seeing what he’s like overall. Not just on the pitch, off the pitch as well.

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Conte: Chelsea will struggle again if there´s no improvement

Chelsea risk enduring another “bad season” if they do not improve defensively, head coach Antonio Conte has warned.

Conte was not particularly happy after watching Chelsea lose 3-2 to European champions Real Madrid in Saturday’s International Champions Cup match in Michigan.

Chelsea struggled early against Madrid, trailing 3-0 at half-time before Eden Hazard’s late b 00000539 race reduced the deficit in front of 105,000 supporters.

While acknowledging the tiresome travel across the United States, Conte called on his players to improve their work without the ball as a unit if Chelsea want to return to the Premier League summit, having finished 10th last season.

“After this game, it’s clear we have to always work together, without the ball and with the ball,” Conte told reporters as he reinforced his message.

“If we think we don’t have to work without the ball, it is not possible for us. We risk repeating a bad season. “Today I think we weren’t a team in defensive situations. We were better with the ball but bad without it.”

Conte added: “My aim now is to become a team. Inside and outside of the pitch “It is important to reach our target at the end of the season.

“I know with my experience as a player and a manger, that if you want to reach the target and fight for the title, you must be a team, on and off the pitch.

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Balotelli unwanted by Besiktas coach

Besiktas coach Senol Gunes has no interest in signing Mario Balotelli despite reports linking the Liverpool forward with a move. The Turkish giants surprisingly emerged as a potential home for the 25-year-old, who has been deemed surplus to requirements at Anfield.

Besiktas chairman Fikret Orman said he wanted Balotelli and that the 33-time Italy international was keen to join.

However, Gunes shut down those suggestions, saying he had no desire to bring the former AC Milan and Manchester City forward to the club. “There were also rumours about Aleksandar Kolarov but he wasn’t in my plans,” he said on Saturday.

“Balotelli isn’t in my plans either. I don’t have a favourable view of Mario Balotelli. I have never expressed a positive insight on him.”

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Lucescu: Witsel wants to leave

Axel Witsel could be on his way to Juventus after Zenit coach Mircea Lucescu said the Belgium international had asked to leave the club.

The midfielder has been linked with the Italian giants, after a potential move to Everton reportedly fell through earlier this month. Speaking after the Russian Premier League opener against Lokomotiv Moscow, Lucescu admitted that Witsel was keen to leave.

Witsel did not start the game, which ended as a 0-0 draw, entering the fray after 59 minutes in what could prove his last appearance for the club. “Axel asked to leave,” Lucescu was quoted as saying by GazzaMercato.

“I at one point had to add that I needed his experience, but I repeat, Witsel wants to leave.”

Now, the imposing midfielder looks set to become the latest addition to an already impressive squad at Juventus.

Paul Pogba might be headed for the exit in Turin, but Massimiliano Allegri has already added Miralem Pjanic to his midfield stocks, while Witsel would further improve Juventus’ options.

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Mancini: Icardi is Inter´s captain

Inter coach Roberto Mancini does not know what the future holds but knows Napoli target Mauro Icardi is the team’s captain. Icardi has been linked with a move to Serie A rivals Napoli as a replacement for Gonzalo Higuain, though Inter are holding out for in excess of €60million.

Despite the uncertainty, Icardi came off the bench and scored a late consolation goal in Inter’s 4-1 loss to Bayern Munich in the International Champions Cup on Saturday.

When asked about Icardi post-match in Charlotte, Manini told reporters: “Mauro is our captain. “I don’t know what can happen in the future, but he is the captain.”

Inter were far inferior against the German champions in the United States as Julian Green scored a first-half hat-trick.

Frank Ribery was also on target for Bayern, while Icardi pulled a goal back in the 90th minute. “You shouldn’t play three games in six days when the players are in pre-season. It was the sort of game where everything went wrong for us – we failed to impose ourselves,” Mancini said.

“Obviously we’re missing too many players. The positive thing is that the guys here have put miles on the clock.

“The matches are great here, but there’s a risk of creating problems for your preparation.

“It was very difficult to play three games in six days with pretty much the same 11 players. I’m feeling calm because I’m doing my job on the pitch. We’ve spoken with the club: we met and talked things through. When we get back to Appiano Gentile, we’ll see if there’s any news. I don’t know what will happen.

“Ever Banega and Marcelo Brozovic will be key because they are strong players with quality. Let’s see if we get anyone else in.

“Coaching and building an increasingly stronger team motivates me. Every club works hard to improve.”

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Green: Scoring goals is my job

Bayern Munich youngster and United States international Julian Green was only too happy to leave a good impression on coach Carlo Ancelotti after scoring a hat-trick against Inter in the German giants’ latest pre-season friendly.

Green is impressing everyone on Munich’s tour of his homeland and while he was delighted with his hat-trick in a 4-1 win, he says scoring goals is just his job. “I’m a striker,” he said.

“That’s my job. To score goals is always good for me, but that’s soccer. One day it’s not so good. The other day, it’s better. I can play on the left wing or the right wing or in front. It doesn’t matter to me.” Green said it was only natural that he would improve given the calibre of players he trains and plays with, including World Cup winners Xabi Alonso and Thomas Muller.

“I’m really proud and happy to have these guys around me,” said Green. “I’m very happy to play with them. I can learn a lot from them. I work hard every day. That’s the only thing I can do. The only thing on my mind is to work hard.”

The USA international’s work ethic has not gone unnoticed with Ancelotti, either. “He did very well. He scored three goals. He was great in the box. It was a really good performance. The team built good offensive play and Julian was ready to finish,” Ancelotti said.

“He trained with us. He will have the opportunity to start and to play. He can play, and he is ready to play. He’s improving. He’s working well during the training sessions.”

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