REAL MADRID 2-0 VALENCIA
Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid put their disappointing league performances behind them as they cruised past Valencia in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-final. Karim Benzema scored just before the break as Real gained control of the match. An own goal from Andres Guardado in the 74th minute put the game beyond doubt.Mourinho saw Barcelona move 19 points clear at the top of La Liga after Real recorded a disappointing draw at Osasuna at the weekend.With Barcelona cemented at the summit of the league, Real are focusing on the Copa del Rey and the Champions League as an alternative source of silverware this season. Cristiano Ronaldo was back from suspension but, uncharacteristically, did not get on the scoresheet. After a well-worked team move left Benzema to roll home from just inside the 18-yard box, the result rarely looked in doubt. Just 15 minutes from the end, Guardado turned in a dangerous Fabio Coentrao cross into his own net to double Real's lead. Ronaldo might have increased the deficit late in the game, if it weren't for some heroics from Vicente Guaita as the match drew to a close.
Real Chelsea Fans want me to win says Rafa Benitez
Rafa Benitez has taken a sly dig at the Chelsea fans who are making his life hell, insisting that the club’s real supporters want him to succeed.Large sections of Blues supporters have been vocal in their objection to the club’s decision to sack manager Roberto Di Matteo and replace him with Benitez.And criticism of the Spaniard hit at an all-time high last week as Chelsea slumped to a Carling Cup semi-final first-leg defeat against Swansea.There is likely to be a similar reaction if they drop more points at home against Barclays Premier League strugglers Southampton on Wednesday.But Benitez said: ‘All the fans, everyone around, want to win. Some of them maybe will show more or less passion. But every proper fan will want their team to win.‘It’s not the case that whatever I do I will be criticised, not if I carry on playing games and doing well. The main thing is to concentrate on doing things well. I am professional and doing my best, spending a lot of time here. If we continue winning games, we can do well.‘Anyone who’s a fan of a club wants their team to win. They’ll enjoy us carrying on winning and doing well. That’s my feeling.‘You have a word in English: manager. The manager has to manage. The manager has to consider everything, and afterwards he has to decide.‘I talk with my staff, the players, and I have all the feedback and information. Then I make a decision. I consider everything before making a decision.’Chelsea have struggled at Stamford Bridge under Benitez, winning just one of his five domestic matches at the west London stadium, the 8-0 humiliation of Aston Villa on December 23.However, the manager insists the uncomfortable atmosphere at home is not a contributing factor.‘The main thing is the attitude of the other teams. In the last two games (against QPR and Swansea), they were very, very deep.‘If you see the chances we had, we had to create chances but not with too much space. It’s because teams are playing with too many players behind the ball.‘It’s something that happens to a top side at home. We have to be more clinical in these games.’Meanwhile, Southampton manager Nigel Adkins has admitted there was no contact made with Jay Rodriguez when the player won the penalty that beat Aston Villa at the weekend, but he still claims the striker is not a diver and that the Saints do not advocate simulation.Adkins, 47, said: ‘He’s not a diver. We don’t advocate diving here whatsoever. We could have had eight penalties this season, we don’t surround the referee, we allow the referees to make the decisions.’
Remy deal is done, reveals Harry and M'Vila is on his way to QPR
QPR manager Harry Redknapp expects Marseille striker Loic Remy to complete his £8million move to Loftus Road on Wednesday after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms. Redknapp, who was speaking after his side's 1-0 FA Cup third-round replay win at West Brom, is also confident of sealing a £7m deal for Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila in the next couple of days. The pair are expected to go straight into the Rangers squad for the weekend Barclays Premier League clash with WestHam.Redknapp said:'Remy had a medical today and the personal stuff is all sorted. 'I watched him so many times when I was at Tottenham. The fee then was around about £20m. He's a good buy for us. 'It's all done, all sorted. I didn't think we'd get him. I went to see him at Marseille last week and he wasn't keen but the chairman Tony Fernandes worked ever so hard. He wouldn't give up and the boy decided to come.'He's quick, a French international, his movement is excellent and he has the potential to be a real star in the Premier League. 'Newcastle United wanted him and Graham Carr (chief scout) doesn't make too many mistakes. Graham's got good judgement.'As regards M'Vila, Redknapp said: 'I also liked M'Vila when I was at Tottenham. He's 22, played against England a couple of years ago for France, and was fantastic. 'They (Rennes) turned down £28m from an English club for him a year ago. Spurs offered £15m for him in August. The deal looks okay. 'M'Vila's had a few off-the-field problems. If he behaves himself, and plays as we know he can, he'll do well.'M'Vila is currently banned from international duty until June 30, 2014 after he and four team-mates broke a curfew to visit a Parisian nightclub just days before a key game with the Under-21 side, against Norway in the European Championship play-offs in October. Redknapp is also still hopeful of signing Tottenham midfielder Jake Livermore on loan and has not ruled out renewing his interest in West Brom duo Jonas Olsson and Peter Odemwingie. Neither of the duo started Albion's 1-0 defeat at the hands of QPR in an FA Cup third round replay at the Hawthorns this evening. A second-half goal from Jay Bothroyd secured Rangers a home tie with MK Dons in the fourth round.
Celtic 2 Steaua Bucharest 1
Celtic geared up for the resumption of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League season with a friendly win over Steaua Bucharest in Marbella. The Hoops trailed at half-time to Stefan Nikolic's strike but goals early in the second period from Georgios Samaras and Mohamed Bangura earned victory for a team overseen by assistant manager Johan Mjallby.Bangura had an early effort blocked after chesting down Adam Matthews' excellent cross, moments after a mix-up between Thomas Rogne and goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska almost let in Steaua for an opener.The Romanian side took the lead in the 13th minute, though, when Adrian Popa set up Montenegro forward Nikolic to finish powerfully past Zaluska from the edge of the penalty area. Rogne blocked Alexandru Chipciu's goalbound shot and Popa hammered in a fierce shot which crashed off the crossbar and out of the ground. Rusescu went close early in the second half but within minutes, Celtic were 2-1 up.One substitute, Samaras, equalised before another, Kris Commons, provided the cross for Bangura to superbly head the Scots in front. Zaluska saved sharply to prevent Iasmin Latovlevici's deflected cross flashing inside the near post and also denied Adi Rocha, while Nouioui Lassad missed a good chance for Celtic after Charlie Mulgrew's free-kick was fumbled.
Strachan ends 40-year wait to be Scotland boss
Gordon Strachan believes he is the right man at the right time to transform the flagging fortunes of Scotland’s national team.The former Celtic boss was confirmed as successor to Craig Levein at a news conference. And he immediately vowed to reverse a situation where the Tartan Army have become more famous than the players.A member of the Scotland Hall of Fame, 55-year-old Strachan earned 50 caps, played in two World Cups, won titles as a player and manager and led Celtic to the last 16 of the Champions League.And now he plans to channel his 40 years of experience at the coalface to make a success of a job which eluded him in 2004. Strachan, who will still live in England and is contracted until the end of the 2016 European Championship qualifying campaign, plans to appoint a Scottish assistant and a younger coach on a part-time basis.‘I am very, very proud and my family are proud I’ve become Scotland manager,’ he said. ‘It’s a great day for me and it’s been 40 years in the making.‘I’m being positive. I know fine well this is a good job because my entire family are really excited by it.‘This job might not have any value to someone at 42 just coming into the game as a manager.‘But, for me, it’s right. I could have done other things in the last two-and-a-half years, but it would just have been for the money.‘However, once I was offered this job, the more I thought about it, the more I wanted it.’Strachan was unsuccessfully interviewed by the SFA in 2004 but recovered from the setback to lead Celtic to three- in-a-row before an ill-fated spell in charge of Middlesbrough ended in 2010.He refuses to rule out a future return to club management, but said the Scots job is ideal for his current needs: ‘When is the perfect time to come in? I really don’t know. I just feel it’s the right time for me. We just want to get better.‘The fans are more famous than the team at the moment and we have to try to get up there and together be as famous as them.’Strachan will take control for the forthcoming friendly against Estonia and has known for two weeks that he was the SFA’s choice after months of speculation.The popular choice of supporters and media, he admitted it had been a struggle to keep his news secret, with even close family members kept in the dark.‘The phone has been going like the clappers for the last two weeks and I couldn’t pick it up,’ he said.‘Even my brothers and sisters didn’t know. Just my wife and Garry Pendrey, who was my assistant.‘My son Gavin knew after the second week.’Denying that he was ever concerned by the delay in making an appointment, he insisted: ‘In the football world you kind of know what’s going on and I knew they had not started speaking to people.‘It would have worried me if they hadn’t asked me, that’s for sure.’Strachan will name a squad in two weeks’ time for the Estonia game in Aberdeen, concentrating for now on appointing a backroom team.Gary McAllister has been mentioned, with others such as Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley tipped for the younger coach role.‘My assistant will be Scottish they’ll all have to be Scots,’ he added. ‘I will be working closely with Under 21 coach Billy Stark especially, but I’m hoping to bring in someone who is maybe a bit younger.‘He would join me and the other assistant and make a three plus Billy, and Mark (Wotte) will add his experience.’
BPL Teams On alert as Pep Reveals Premier League Dream
Pep Guardiola has fuelled the intrigue surrounding his future by stressing his desire to work in England.Guardiola sent a message of congratulations to the Football Association as they prepared to launch their 150th anniversary celebrations in London on Wednesday. And just like Jose Mourinho, who sent a similar message 24 hours earlier, he outlined his ambitions to coach in England, comments sure to alert the biggest clubs in the country.'As a player, I couldn't realise my dream to play there,' said Guardiola.'But I hope in the future I have a challenge to be a coach or a manager there and feel the experience of all the coaches and players that have been there. 'It is unique, to play in that league. I want to feel the supporters, the environment, the media and the style of the players.'I am still young, just 41, so I hope in the future I could train there and enjoy that. I have always found English football very fascinating. The support of the home team is amazing.'In Italy, Latin people will support you when you are playing and when you lose, they kill you. In England, I'm always surprised people always support everything and that is nice. That's why I hope to have the challenge to train there.' Guardiola has been coveted by the biggest clubs in the world since stepping down as Barcelona coach last year after creating one of the best teams of all time. He has spent much of his time in New York, improving his English, and Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal have all been linked with a move for his services.His plan is to return to work this summer and speculation this week linked him with Bayern Munich, but the Catalan told the FA of his special bond with England and Wembley. He added: 'I had the opportunity to play two finals at Wembley and that's why my relationship with England is pretty close.I played there twice, once as a player when I was 19 and it was my first Champions League as a player, as Barcelona finally won the Champions League. It was a huge honour to play at the old Wembley.'When I was manager of Barcelona, for our second Champions League in three years, it was a real pleasure to play in the new Wembley. 'Congratulations on this huge anniversary, because 150 years is a lot of years. 'Also because they created the rules of football and have a responsibility for the game. They have been important in the development of our beautiful, beautiful game.'
TRANSFER NEWS AND UPDATES (INS AND OUTS):
Arsenal
OUT - Marouane Chamakh to West Ham on loan.
OUT – Johan Djourou to Hannover 96 on loan
Chelsea
OUT- Daniel Sturridge to Liverpool for £12 million.
IN – Demba Ba from Newcastle United for an undisclosed fee.
IN: Wallace from Fluminensefor an undisclosed fee. (Summer)
Fulham
OUT - Stephen Kelly to Reading for an undisclosed fee.
Liverpool
IN – Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea for £12 million.
OUT – Joe Cole to West Ham United on a free transfer.
OUT – Adam Morgan to Rotherham on loan.
Manchester United
OUT- Bebe to Rio Ave on loan.
OUT – Joshua King to Blackburn Rovers for £1 million.
OUT- Angelo Henriquez to Wigan on loan.
OUT- Robbie Brady to Hull City for £2 million.
Newcastle United
IN – Mathieu Debuchy from Lille for £5 million.
OUT – Demba Ba to Chelsea for an undisclosed fee.
Queens Park Rangers
IN – Tal Ben Haim, a free agent.
IN – Jake Livermore from Tottenham on loan.
OUT – Michael Harriman to Wycombe on loan
Reading FC
IN – Stephen Kelly from Fulham for an undisclosed fee.
IN – Hope Akpan to Crawley for an undisclosed fee.
IN – Daniel Carrico from Sporting Lisbon for £600,000.
OUT – Dominic Samuel to Colchester on loan.
Stoke City
OUT- Danny Higginbothams to Sheffield United on a free transfer.
Sunderland AFC
IN – Kader Mangane from Al Hilal on loan.
IN – Alfred N’Diaye from Bursaspor for an undisclosed fee.
OUT – Dong – Won Ji to Augsburg on loan.
OUT – David Meyler to Hull for an undisclosed fee.
Swansea City
IN – Roland Lamah from Osasuna on loan.
Tottenham Hotspur
IN - Ezekiel Fryers from Standard Liege £3 million.
IN – Lewis Holtby from Schalke on a free transfer. (Summer)
OUT- Carlo Cudicini to LA Galaxy on a free transfer.
OUT – Jake Livermore to Queens Park Rangers on loan.
West Bromwich Albion
OUT – Chris Wood to Leicester City for £2 million.
West Ham United
IN – Wellington Paulista from Cruzeiro on loan.
IN - Sean Maguire from Waterford United.
IN – Joe Cole from Liverpool on a free transfer
IN - Marouane Chamakh from Arsenal on loan.
Wigan Athletic
IN - Roger Espinoza from Sporting Kansas City on a free transfer.
IN – Angelo Henriquez from Manchester United on loan.
—————————————————————————————————————————–
Other Leagues
Giuseppe Rossi from Villareal to Fiorentina for an undisclosed fee.
Alexandre Pato from AC Milan to Corinthians for £12.2 million.
Lucio from Juventus to Sao Paulo on a free transfer.
Rafael Marquez from New York Red Bulls to Leon on a free transfer.
Jan Kirchhoff from Mainz to Bayern Munich on a free transfer. (Summer)
Shakhtar Donetsk signs Brazilian midfielder Taison for €20m.
ACF Fiorentina have confirmed that Francesco Della has been transferred to AC Siena.
Former Liverpool left back, Dossena, has joined Palermo from Napoli on a six month loan deal.