Raul´s Euro goal record not essential- Messi

Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi has insisted he is not thinking about breaking Raul's UEFA Champions League goals record.

The Argentinian talisman produced another match-winning performance on Wednesday, scoring a hat-trick as Gerardo Martino's side eased to a 4-0 win over Ajax at Camp Nou.

Messi's treble - the 24th of his Barcelona career - took his tally to 62 in the Champions League, leaving him just nine shy of Real Madrid legend Raul's haul of 71.

However, the 26-year-old is quick to stress that he is only focused on securing more silverware and not the pursuit of individual records.

"The idea of overtaking Raul at the top of the all-time Champions League scoring charts is a fine challenge, but it is not essential," he said.

"We, as a team, have other more important objectives. For example, to get as far as we are capable of in this competition. To try to win it again.

"Whether the right number of goals come for me this season or not is not so important.

"Obviously I am pleased that (his hat-trick) makes it 62 Champions League goals but above that is the result and how our team played."

Blanc estatic over PSG performance

Blanc's men went top of the table provisionally ahead of the weekend's fixtures with 11 points from five games, after Blaise Matuidi and Lucas Moura scored for the French champions.

Blanc's side defied the rules of preparation for a professional match, in their 2-0 win at Bordeaux on Friday.

Eight of Blanc's starting 11 at the Stade Jacques Chaban-Delmas had been on international duty of some sort just days earlier.

But his star-studded side came together to earn a valuable three points for their title defence, and
Blanc could only joke that his coaching methods were rendered almost pointless after his side played their best football off a poor preparation.

"I think there was a paradox in the preparation for this game," he told BeIn Sport.

"We were not at all prepared for it.

"We try to think of every detail and, ironically, this was our best game since the beginning of the season.

"Players returned yesterday at 6:15pm, nothing was prepared and you see the result? The coach is useless."

Lucas' first goal for PSG in the league came after 1019 minutes on the pitch for the Brazilian, and the winger was thrilled to finally break his duck.

Best business done by Tottenham, says Villas-Boas

Andre Villas-Boas has boasted that Tottenham did the best business during the transfer window, despite Mesut Ozil's move to Arsenal.

"We are happy with what we have done in the transfer window, extremely happy.
"Arsenal did a great last-minute coup with Ozil but they will be as competitive as they were before."
However, the Portuguese was quick to stress that Arsenal paid a hefty price to take the 24-year-old to the Emirates Stadium.

"He is a wonderful, gifted footballer and in the end Arsenal paid heavily for a player of that dimension," Villas-Boas added.

"It's a €50million transfer for a number 10 that nobody has any doubt over his ability. They have lots of players for that position also but they have become even stronger with Ozil."

Despite the loss of last season's talisman Bale, Villas-Boas is confident that his side have the ability to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

"This is a squad with great potential which has the ability to achieve our objectives that we couldn't last season," he explained.
"What we have improved on from last season is the individual quality we have on board and all the players are striving with big motivation to achieve it (Champions League football)."

 Spurs recruited heavily in the window, bringing in seven senior players including Spain international striker Roberto Soldado from Valencia and Argentine winger Erik Lamela from Roma.

London rivals Arsenal moved to sign Germany international Ozil from Real Madrid on deadline day in a deal believed to be worth £42.5million.

Ozil's capture has been billed as one of the best signings of the transfer window, but Villas-Boas, who saw Gareth Bale leave for Real Madrid in a world-record move, believes it is Tottenham whose recruitment drive is most deserving of praise.

"All of us have done good business in the transfer window, but Manchester City and us maybe a little bit more than Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool," Villas-Boas said.

Ozil rejects claims of being unprofessional at Madrid

Ozil has rejected claims that he was sold for unprofessional behaviour.
However, the Germany international is refusing to be embroiled in a war of words with his former employers, but has cited a lack of "respect and trust" afforded to him as the prime reason behind his exit.

Speaking at his unveiling at Arsenal, the 24-year-old said: "I don’t want to say anything bad about Madrid because I had three wonderful years there.  We achieved trophies and I had a great time there, but the people who know me know how professional I am.

"I played 159 games - you can’t play that many games if you’re not professional.

"I did not get the respect and the trust in Madrid. It was a bit difficult and when I talked to [Arsenal coach] Arsene Wenger on the phone he was full of respect for me."

The former Werder Bremen starlet looked ahead to his career with the Gunners and is hopeful that playing in England will help him to make further strides forward.

"I’m in the strongest league in the world and I have to improve myself here. I’m at the right club."read more atOzil rejects claims of being unprofessional at Madrid

Trapattoni leaves Republic of Ireland

Manager Giovanni Trapattoni has left the Republic of Ireland by mutual consent following the defeat by Austria in a World Cup qualifier.

The pair had been contracted until the end of May next year.

The pair had been contracted until the end of May next year.

The 1-0 defeat in Austria left Ireland with only a mathematical possibility of overhauling Sweden to snatch second place in Group C.

Mexico risk missing World Cup A Shame?

I am so worried about Mexico not being in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.The crisis is so bad that the Mexican football federation is considering whether to name the national team's third manager in just four days hmm.

Mexico is wrestling with the humiliating prospect of missing football's World Cup finals for the first time in a quarter of a century with only two qualifiers left to reverse its fortunes. And the media has shown little love for the players after "El Tri" lost 2-0 to their bitter rivals the United States in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday.Most of the headlines in sports pages said the team now needs a "miracle" to book their tickets to next year's World Cup in Brazil.

The loss to the United States, coming off the back of an embarrassing defeat to Honduras at home last Friday, put Mexico in fifth place in the six-team CONCACAF regional group and fighting for a 2014 spot in Brazil.

With only the top three qualifying for the finals in Brazil, and the fourth-placed team advancing to a play-off against New Zealand, Mexico will be out unless they fight back in the final two qualifiers.

The United States lead the six-team group by a point from Costa Rica, with both nations already having qualified for the finals.
At the moment, the third spot belongs to Honduras, who have 11 points. Panama are fourth with eight points, level with Mexico but ahead thanks to a better goal difference.

Mexico have only won one of their eight qualifiers to date, drawing five, and scoring a miserly four goals.
They now face a win-or-bust game against Panama at the Azteca on October 11 before a final showdown in Costa Rica on October 15.
Mexico last missed a World Cup finals in 1990 when the federation was banned from international competitions after using over-aged players in an under-20 championship.

Congratulations to Serena Williams as she beats Victoria Azarenka for fifth U.S. Open title

A nice one as one of my favourite top-seeded Serena Williams won her 17th Grand Slam title WOW

and her fifth U.S. Open on Sunday with a 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-1 victory over second-seeded Victoria Azarenka on Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd was fully on the side of Williams, which hasn't always been the case.
At one point in the first set, Williams mouthed to her box, "I can't play in this wind." due to the fact that swirling wind was a factor in the match and seemed to particularly bother Williams, who at times had to fight to keep her dress from flying up and her ball toss in line.

It was on Sunday, every winner she hit was greeted with loud applause while Azarenka heard only an occasional clap.

 A Williams victory appeared inevitable when she charged to a 4-1, two-break lead in the second set. Williams needed only to hold serve twice and she would be champion. But that wasn't as easy as it appeared.

Azarenka broke back to 4-2 and held to 4-3. Williams, with the help of a 119-mph ace, held at love for 5-3 and Azarenka held for 5-4.

On her first chance to serve out the match, Williams quickly fell behind and faced two break points at 15-40. The first was saved by a Williams forehand winner, but Azarenka won it on the second when Williams hit a backhand long, and the set was tied, 5-5.

Azarenka gave the break back immediately with a backhand into the net, giving Williams another chance to serve for the championship. But Williams dumped a backhand into the net at 30-30 and double-faulted on break point, allowing Azarenka to break for 6-6 and forcing the tiebreaker.

Azarenka won the tiebreak on her third set point, when another Williams backhand found the net.
The two would play one final set for the championship.

Again Williams got the first break, in the fourth game, on an Azarenka double fault to give the American a 3-1 lead. And Williams again took a 4-1 lead, holding with back-to-back aces, the first clocked at 126 mph, the second on a second serve.

This time, instead of faltering in the sixth game, Williams broke again when Azarenka put a forehand into the net. Now up 5-1, Williams served for the match yet again. She held firm, and the championship was hers.

Germany coach opens up on the sale of Mesut Ozil to Arsenal

So many questioned the sale of Mesut ozil to Arsenal who had 31assists for Real Madrid in last two seasons the most any player in La Liga had.The transfer has sparked up comments from soccer fans around the globe.Recently Germany coach Joachim Loew has added his voice to the chorus of bewilderment prompted by Real Madrid's decision to sell his playmaker Mesut Ozil to Arsenal.It was found out yesterday that the playmaker was furious at the Spanish club for agreeing to the sale.

 Loew  at a news conference on Wednesday previewing Friday's 2014 World Cup qualifier against Austria in Munich said that they heard that some players where in Madrid are sad due to the sale of Ozil.He also said that  it was very difficult to believe that they would lose such a fantastic player, that Real would gave up on and sold a player who had set up so many goals for them in recent seasons, but that's the way business is.

Ozil opened up on Tuesday he decided to leave Real after three seasons in the Spanish capital because he realised he did not have the backing of coach Carlo Ancelotti. 

Loew added that Arsenal is a good side with a top Manager, Ozil's transfer would benefit the German side.   

QUESTIONS ABOUT BALE

Just really pondering about this,

  Is Gareth Bale worth £85.3m? or was he overpriced?
 
Can he reach up to the feat Cristiano Ronaldo reached

Will he be duly welcomed in Madrid?

Can he evenhandedly win titles for Real Madrid?

Does his style of play fit the Madrid style of play?

Can he adapt quickly to silence his critics? 
  
 Will there be rift between him and Ronaldo? 

 

More questions coming up for Gareth Bale if you have any put yours down

GARETH FRANK BALE-SHOCKER

Can't imagine this

With the world record signing that rocked the football world for £85.3m fee,Real Madrid assistant coach Paul Clement says Gareth Bale would not be on the starting line up.
    Am really upset with this latest development because am an ardent Bale follower and i would like to see my man starting up,and playing up to his prize, because he has already promised  the fans to help them win titles so he has to be allowed to show what he got.