Calisto extends spell as Vietnam coach

(GSM) Werder Bremen general manager has dismissed speculation that striker Mesut Özil will leave the club in the next transfer window.

The 21-year-old, who was watched by representatives from Barcelona during Werder s recent Europa League game against Valencia, has expressed his desire to play the Catalan club.

But the Germany international has committed his immediate future to Bremen with Alloffs not overly concerned as scouts watched the club s star forward.

Well, if looking at a player would automatically see them move on, we would not have any more players in our first-team squad, he told newspaper Kreiszeitung Syke.

Mesut Ozil is a player of Werder Bremen and he has a contract until June 2011.

We would like to sign new terms with him and…

Ronald Koeman believes Southampton will have their work cut out as they take on a Stoke City side providing the Dutchman with a renewed challenge at St Mary s Stadium.

The Saints, who won away at Sunderland in their last outing, will look to extend their six-game unbeaten run on Saturday against a team they have beaten just once in the Premier League.

And Koeman believes Stoke s transformation under Mark Hughes makes them a tougher prospect than previously.

He said: It s always hard to beat Stoke. We had that experience last year. We played against them three times and every game was difficult.

But it s the same for them. It s also difficult to beat Southampton. 

It will be a good game, because they have signed some good, technical players. May…

Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino has been banned for 18 months for flouting Football Association rules on agent regulations in Ross McCormack s transfer to Fulham in July 2014.

The controversial Italian has also been fined £250,000, as have the club, and will not be allowed to act as a director or shadow director of Leeds United or any other football club or company whose activities include ownership of a football club.

Cellino must also complete an FA education programme by April 2017.

The FA s statement added that Cellino and Leeds have already indicated they will contest the FA s decision.

Authorised agent Derek Day has been fined £75,000 and banned for 18 months, although 11 of those are suspended for two years, in relation to the same transfer.<…

Karim Benzema insisted Real Madrid are not overly dependent on his goals as Carlo Ancelotti s men prepare to face Inter in Wednesday s Champions League clash.

Madrid open their campaign with a trip to San Siro, having won just one of their previous eight away games against Inter in European competition.

Benzema, who is set to feature in his 17th consecutive Champions League, needs just one goal to overtake Raul and become the all-time fourth highest scorer in the competition.

However, the forward deflected questions as to whether his side are too reliant on his output and chose to focus on the team dynamic of Los Blancos.

Real Madrid are a very strong team, Benzema said at Tuesday s pre-match news conference. What I need to do is try to help my team with…

Karim Benzema is feeling very good and is ready to play a part in Real Madrid s next match after returning to training on Wednesday.

The France striker missed Madrid s last three matches prior to the international break with a knee injury and played no part in his country s two Nations League games.

However, Benzema has recovered from the injury sustained against Celtic on September 6 and is in contention to start Sunday s LaLiga clash against Osasuna.

I m pleased to be back with the team, he told the club s official website. It s been some time [away] and I ve had time to do a pre-season.

I m feeling very good, comfortable. I m looking forward to the game on Sunday.

I ve been doing a lot of fitness work. I ve not touched the ball but I traine…

German striker Miroslav Klose has agreed to extend his deal at Stadio Olimpico, reports Il Tempo.

The veteran forward will be out of contract in the summer and he was heavily linked with a move to the MLS at the end of the season.

However, it appears he has changed his mind and decided to remain at Stadio Olimpico after all. Il Tempo reports he has agreed to take a pay cut while signing a one-year contract extension.

Miroslav Klose will be 36 by the time the new season starts, but the Biancocelesti, nevertheless, believe he still has a lot to offer.

The Germany international arrived at Lazio on a free transfer from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2011 and has since bagged 32 goals in 73 Serie A outings.

His side face Catania away on Sunday afterno…

Manchester United will host bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford in Round 3 of the Capital One Cup on Wednesday, September 25.

United and Liverpool are coming off agonizing defeats to Manchester City and Southampton, respectively, with both clubs desperate to redeem themselves in midweek.

Speaking ahead of Sunday s Manchester derby, Wayne Rooney told reporters: “City have had their success recently, but I would probably say that United and Liverpool is still the biggest game.

“They’re all big games, but obviously United and Liverpool has been a massive game over the years. I’d say it’s still the biggest game.”

After a 4-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium, Rooney and co. must bounce back in a big way against the Merseysiders on Wednes…

Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho appeared to share a frosty exchange at Manchester United training on Wednesday to further fuel talk of a rift between the pair.

Following Tuesday s penalty shoot-out loss to Championship side Derby County in the EFL Cup a match the rested Pogba watched from the stands  Mourinho confirmed he had stripped him of United s vice-captaincy.

The former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss denied there has been any fall out with Pogba but footage of the 25-year-old s welcome to the AON Training Complex pitches the day after made for intriguing viewing.

In a clip aired by Sky Sports News, Pogba is shown jogging on to the field and shaking hands with first-team coach Michael Carrick, Mourinho and another member of staff, at which point the manager ap…

Romelu Lukaku described Alexis Sanchez as one of the hardest-working players he has seen after watching him score the winning goal for Manchester United against Newcastle United on Saturday.

The home side battled from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Old Trafford and alleviate some of the pressure on manager Jose Mourinho.

Sanchez has struggled for form since joining from Arsenal in January but came off the bench to head home in the 90th minute and end his side s four-game winless run.

And Lukaku was full of praise for his team-mate s determination after he netted for the first time this season.

I would have wanted to have been in his shoes, but the guy is working really hard, Lukaku told MUTV.

I think he s one of the most hard-working professionals I hav…

Atletico Madrid s unbeaten start to their LaLiga title defence came to an end as Victor Laguardia s early goal proved decisive in a 1-0 win for struggling Deportivo Alaves.

Alaves headed into Saturday s early game having lost all five LaLiga matches in 2021-22, yet they overcame the champions to claim a first top-flight win over Atleti since 2003.

Laguardia was the crucial figure. His fourth-minute header gave Alaves the lead, and the 31-year-old also made a vital clearance off the line in the second half.

Mamadou Loum and Tomas Pina squandered golden chances to make sure of the points for Alaves, but Diego Simeone s team could not make their fortune count as they tasted defeat in LaLiga for the first time since April.

Javier Calleja made five changes f…