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John Mikel Obi became the 21st player to make 350 appearances for Chelsea in the Blues’ 2-2 draw against Watford in Saturday’s English Premier League fixture. The Nigerian was a 46th minute substitute for Cesc Fabregas as Guus Hiddink’s team failed to subdue the Hornets at the Stamford Bridge. Also, the feat makes him become the club’s third-highest overseas appearance maker since his move from Lyn Oslo in 2006. “Personally it is going to be great for me if I can achieve that number,’ Mikel told Chelsea website before the game against Quique Sanchez Flores’ team. “I also want to push on and see how many more appearances I can get. For me it has been a great time here, I still enjoy it and ever since I walked into this football club I knew this was the place for me. “I am so happy and so proud of the amount of games I have played for this club and at the same time using these games to win trophies and medals. This is the most important thing. “For the past 10 years we ...

The former Barcelona midfielder insists he respects the 52-year-old's style - but claims winning at all costs is not the same mentality he adopts Xavi  admits he doesn’t not agree with  Jose Mourinho’s  style of football and suggests that the former  Chelsea  manager is not true to his philosophy. Mourinho has won multiple league titles in England, Spain, Italy and Portugal, while he has also guided Porto and Inter to success in the Champions League. The former Barcelona midfielder insists he respects the 52-year-old’s approach to football but would not use the same methods if he were a manager. "He always wanted to win at any price and that shows in the way he goes about things,” Xavi told  Record .  “I respect that philosophy but winning at any cost means you can't stay true to a playing style.  “For me, the means don't always justify the ends.  “I have a lot of respect for him, he has achieved great things, but I see football in a ...

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal said he could "quit by myself" after Stoke City beat his side 2-0 to condemn them to a fourth straight defeat. The Dutchman, under pressure after seven games without a victory, was asked at his post-match news conference whether he feared he would be sacked. Van Gaal, 64, said that was something he would discuss with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and not the media. "It is not always the club that has to fire or sack me," he said. "Sometimes I do that by myself, but I am the one who wants to speak first with the board of Manchester United and my members of staff and my players, not with you." United's miserable run has seen them knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage and slip out of the top four in the Premier League. Van Gaal, who succeeded David Moyes in the summer of 2014, said the club had backed him "all the time" but added: "We have lost so there is a new si...

David De Gea has revealed he is scratching his head as to why Louis van Gaal allowed Javier Hernandez to leave Manchester United in the summer, as per the  Daily Star  (via ESPN Deportes). Hernandez never featured heavily in Van Gaal’s plans after the Dutchman firstly allowed him to join Real Madrid on loan last season, before sanctioning a permanent move to Bayer Leverkusen in August.  Mexico international was an instant hit with United supporters upon his arrival in 2010, winning the club’s Player of the Year award after scoring 20 goals in his first season. Hernandez has since hit the ground running in German football with Leverkusen, scoring 10 goals in 14 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit. And De Gea has now questioned Van Gaal’s motives when deciding to allow such a prolific United goalscorer in Hernandez to leave the club for pastures new. “I don’t know,” De Gea told ESPN Deportes. “These are decisions for the coach. ...

Olivier Giroud  admits  Arsene Wenger’s  decision to bench him at the beginning of the season was a wake-up call. The 29-year-old started Arsenal’s first three games of the campaign but then struggled to cement his place in the side ahead of Theo Walcott. Giroud was booed off in France’s 2-1 win over Serbia in September and the striker believes Wenger’s call to drop him from the side was a positive one. "He chose to put me on the bench when I came back from Bordeaux [after France’s win over Serbia]. Maybe he thought I needed to be less under pressure," Giroud told  Le   Parisien . "We spoke about it. He told me he trusted me, like he did Theo Walcott, but that we were two different players. It was also a tactical choice. "I understood the coach's tactical choice, but after four games, I needed to turn things around. "I told myself, 'I can't let this last'. It wasn't good for me, for the national team or for the Euros. I didn't want ...

Thierry Henry could be the man to replace  Arsene Wenger  when he finally leaves his role as Arsenal  manager, according to Robert Pires. During his 19 years at the helm, the Frenchman has guided the club to nine major honours, including the Premier League title in 2003-04 when a team including Henry and Pires went the entire league season unbeaten. Henry is now taking his coaching badges, and Pires sees no reason why his former club and international team-mate could not succeed Wenger at the Emirates. "Can I see Thierry Henry taking over Arsene Wenger? Yes, why not?" the Grassroot Soccer ambassador told  Omnisport  . "He is working on his badges. He is involved with the U19 team at Arsenal academy. He is preparing himself step by step. He wants to get his badges. "Question is: would Arsenal want Thierry Henry? It depends on the board, the chairman. I can see Thierry Henry, as well as Patrick Vieira. It's up to the club to prepare well for the ...

Angel Di Maria  believes he left  Real Madrid  at the right time despite struggling since his exit from the Santiago Bernabeu. Di Maria left Madrid for Manchester United in a £59.7million move in August 2014 - just three months after winning the Champions League - but experienced an unsuccessful season at Old Trafford The Argentina winger scored four goals in 32 appearances before switching to Paris Saint-Germain in August. His form for the Ligue 1 champions has not been overly impressive, yet Di Maria - in spite of PSG's 1-0 Champions League loss at the Bernabeu earlier this month - is adamant leaving Madrid was the correct decision. "After winning the Champions League, my mind was set on staying at Real Madrid for many more years, but these things happen in football," Di Maria said in an interview with  beIN Sports. "Since I left Real Madrid haven't won anything. In any case, I think that I left at the right time and the right way." Asked a...

The former Germany international feels that paying the striker €15 million per season would be too much compared to what the average fan of the Bavarian side makes Former  Germany  international Jorg Heinrich feels  Bayern Munich  would be wrong to offer  Thomas Muller  an annual salary of €15 million, insisting it would alienate their fans. Recent reports suggest Bayern are ready to offer the 26-year-old a significant pay rise in order to convince him to snub interest from abroad, with Manchester United allegedly keeping a close eye on his situation at the Allianz Arena. Nevertheless, Heinrich - now coach of fourth-tier side Luckenwalde - feels it would be a bad idea to pay Muller €15m per year before taxes. "Muller could be earning €15m per year at Bayern in the future," Heinrich wrote in his column for  TZ . "But what does this effectively mean? First of all, a lot of tax deductions! His new payslip will be a massacre. He will ma...

Nigeria national team coach Sunday Oliseh has defended his choice of inviting Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi to the Super Eagles ahead Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Swaziland. Many had felt the 19-year-old does not deserve a place in the country’s senior national team having failed to tie down a regular place in Alex Wenger’s squad. Reacting to this during a media parley before the team’s departure to Lobamba, the former Super Eagles captain insists the forward is vital to the team and thus deserves his call up. “I don’t regret extending invitation to the young man Alex Iwobi because he is good player who I know will be vital in this team like the rest of the players invited,” said Oliseh. “Unless anybody here can tell me that any player playing in the first team of Arsenal is not good enough to be in this team.” Iwobi made his international debut in Nigeria’s 2-0 defeat to Congo in an international friendly played in Belgium and will be hoping for his first international go...

Nigeria national team coach Sunday Oliseh has defended his choice of inviting Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi to the Super Eagles ahead Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Swaziland. Many had felt the 19-year-old does not deserve a place in the country’s senior national team having failed to tie down a regular place in Alex Wenger’s squad. Reacting to this during a media parley before the team’s departure to Lobamba, the former Super Eagles captain insists the forward is vital to the team and thus deserves his call up. “I don’t regret extending invitation to the young man Alex Iwobi because he is good player who I know will be vital in this team like the rest of the players invited,” said Oliseh. “Unless anybody here can tell me that any player playing in the first team of Arsenal is not good enough to be in this team.” Iwobi made his international debut in Nigeria’s 2-0 defeat to Congo in an international friendly played in Belgium and will be hoping for his first international go...

Brazil captain Neymar expected to greet a good friend in the centre circle of el Monumental on Thursday when the Selecao meet Argentina in the highlight of South America’s World Cup qualifying campaign. But a knee injury means his Barcelona colleague Lionel Messi will have to sit this one out. Coach Dunga, midfielder Lucas Lima and goalkeeper Cassio have all played down Messi’s absence when talking to the media this week, insisting their old rival still poses a significant threat, but from Messi’s shadow it’s hoped the returning Neymar (back from a four-match suspension) will emerge once more.  Neymar has certainly made a habit of doing exactly that of late. Since Messi was struck down by a knee injury in September, the Brazil captain has stepped up to lead Barcelona’s attack and is arguably in the best form of his career. And now many Brazilian commentators are calling on him to do the same for his country. Ther...

The coach says he will give some fringe players the chance to impress as he tries to finalise his best XI ahead of the European Championships in France Joachim Low will experiment with his Germany side in Friday’s international friendly with France after acknowledging the world champions' qualification for the European Championship was complicated. Germany were not able to secure a place in next year's tournament until the final round of qualifying matches after edging out Republic of Ireland and Poland in Group D. Low has identified the next few games as a chance to tinker with personnel and formations to try to get Germany back to the level that saw them triumph at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. "We had a few difficulties in qualifying and we will try a few things in preparation for next summer's tournament," he told reporters. "We know the situation, for some positions we still have to try some things out. The full-backs have to gain experience for ex...

Nigeria international Obafemi Martins has declared that he is back to the Super Eagles with quest to score goals for the country beginning from the World Cup qualifiers against Swaziland on Friday. The Seattle Sounders’ forward returned to the senior national team after calling it quit last year after falling out with former coach Stephen Keshi. Obagoal as he is popularly called by admirers expressed delight with the atmosphere in camp, lauding the mix of young talents and experience in the Super Eagles. “I am glad I am back. It’s the national team. I am just here to score goals and help the team win games,” Martins told media. “The spirit in camp is good. We have talented young players. We have a new captain. Almost everything is new to me in the camp," he continued. "But I am going to do my best for the team to ensure we win because this is a World Cup qualifier and not a friendly. The only thing I am here for is to support them and help them win games,...

Nigeria stirker Odion Ighalo has stated that the Super Eagles are battle ready to face Swaziland in Friday's 2018 World Cup qualifier in Lobamba. Sihlangu Semnikati   are currently ranked 135th in the world, while the Super Eagles occupy the 52nd position. The 26-year-old forward, who has been in brilliant form for Watford with seven goals to his name in twelve games, is confident of the Super Eagles chances on Friday. “There are no small countries in football and so I will prepare to play against Swaziland as I would against Arsenal,” Ighalo told  Africanfootball.com  . “I will give 101 per cent whenever I play for my country.” Ighalo has scored two goals in five matches for the Super Eagles.

Manchester United  midfielder  Juan Mata  has received a warning from team-mate  Wayne Rooney  ahead of  Spain 's friendly against  England  on Friday: "We will beat you". With both holders Spain and Roy Hodgson's side having qualified for next year's European Championship in France, the two teams begin their preparations for the finals in Alicante and Mata says England are taking the game very seriously - even if Rooney is set to start on the bench. Speaking to  Goal  at Spain's training base in Madrid, the midfielder said: "I have had some contact with my team-mates, especially on WhatsApp. Wayne Rooney was telling me that they were going to beat us and that they are ready to play against Spain. "They were watching some videos about us, about how we play, who could play, and I think they are very keen on playing the game and beating us. So obviously we have to be ready for that." Mata, who has played his club football in England for...

Victor Valdes '  Manchester United  nightmare has reached a new nadir, with  Louis van Gaal  threatening to fine the Spanish goalkeeper if he arrives at the club's Carrington training base before the first team have left. Valdes has not played for the club since falling out with the manager in the summer, with the Dutchman forcing the 33-year-old to train with apprentices after claiming he had refused to play in the Under-21 side during the closing stages of the 2014-15 season. But while Valdes has diligently continued to work as asked by Van Gaal there has been no olive branch offered, and he has now been warned to stay away from the Aon Training Complex when the first-team squad is still on site. A breach of this new directive will result in Valdes receiving a fine. Such a move means he is now excluded from any interaction with his former first-team colleagues on the club's premises. The 2010 World Cup winner has been the subject of much transfer speculation sin...

Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery is hopeful he can soon make his comeback from injury after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The former France international picked up an ankle injury in his side's 7-0 Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk in March and has not played since. Ribery has now resumed individual training and is slowly edging closer to his long-awaited return. "I am already doing much better. I am obviously not 100 per cent just yet, but I am working hard each day," the 32-year-old told the official Bayern website. "The past few months have been the most difficult time of my career. "I am making steps forward and hope I can continue like this. I do not know yet when I can resume squad training, but I hope soon, as soon as possible. "Morale is good right now, I am very satisfied with how things are going." Holger Badstuber, another long-term injury absentee, made his comeback in the 4-0 win over Stuttgart on Saturday and Ribery...

The 51-year-old is a retired attorney who hails from Plateau State, with vast experience on the political scene but without experience in sports management With the announcement of the ministerial portfolios on Wednesday morning by President Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalong has been sworn-in as the Minister of Sports and Youth Development. Barrister Dalong was born on the 26th of September 1964 in the town of Sabon Gida within Langtang South Local Government Area, Plateau State. His father is a retired Director of Health of the Taraba State Civil Service. Dalong had his primary school education at LGEA Primary School Sabon Gida from 1971 to 1977. Dalong joined the Nigerian Prisons Service in the early eighties as against the usual tradition of joining the military where he rose from the rank of a Prison Assistant and rose to the rank of Assistant Inspector of Prisons. He enrolled to study Law at the Law Faculty of the University of Jos in 1991, spending a whole nine years befor...