Samuel Eto'o Signs For Everton...

Everton have signed striker Samuel Eto'o on a two-year-deal after he was released by Chelsea last season. 

The 33-year-old Cameroon international was also sought for by AC Milan, West Ham and Liverpool - before the Anfield club landed Mario Balotelli.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez believes Eto'o still has a point to prove in the English league as he is still hungry for success, despite winning three Champions Leagues, four titles and seven cups.

Mourinho Wants Torres At Chelsea

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has claimed he would like to see striker Fernando Torres remain at Stamford Bridge this season.

The 30-year-old Spaniard was left out of the Blues' two Premier League matches - as Mourinho prefers returning legend Drogba, 36, to the former Liverpool man.

Torres is currently sought for by top Serie A clubs - AC Milan, AS Roma and Inter Milan - but the self acclaimed 'Happy One' wants to retain the services of his unsettled striker.

Chelsea Boss hails 'Bargain Buy' Costa

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believes newly signed striker Diego Costa will prove a bargain buy, following his impressive display in the preseason clash, and his clinical double in the 2-0 friendly win over Real Sociedad.

The Blues splashed a staggering £32 million to lure the 25-year-old talisman Atletico Madrid and the Portuguese manager is convinced that the scrupulous attacker will justify his hefty price-tag by the end of the season.

Mourinho said: "Diego is a team player, he works a lot, he is not just about goals. He is about defensive work, his mentality, his ambition.

"This is why we didn't buy a striker in the last transfer window - we were waiting for him.

"He looks very adapted to his team-mates and the style of play.

"I won't say he is adapted to the Premier League yet because it is a very difficult job to be a striker in this country, but hopefully he does well.

Referee Howard Webb Retires...

 

According to a Premier League announcement on Wednesday, English professional referee, Howard Melton Webb has retired as a match referee, following his appointment as the technical director of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited..

Webb will now be responsible for overseeing the technical direction and standards that govern the on-field performance of match officials.

Speaking in an interview released on the Premier League’s website, the former police officer expressed his excitement and said he is looking forward to the challenge.

"I am very excited to start this new chapter in my career after a wonderfully rewarding 25 years on the pitch," Webb told the Premier League website.

Chelsea Open Talks With Drogba Over Sensational Return

 

Chelsea Football Club have reportedly opened discussions with Didier drogba about bringing their former talisman back to Stamford Bridge, Daily Mail reports.

Jose Mourinho, who signed Drogba from Marseille during his first spell at Chelsea in 2004, wants to resign the  36-year-old Ivorian as a player coach - making his one of the strikers and giving him coaching responsibilities to develop his role at the club. 

The Portuguese manager needs an extra forward to support newly signed Diego Costa and the struggling Fernando Torres - who is keen to stay at Stamford Bridge despite interest from Inter Milan.

I am happy at Liverpool, says Suarez

After a rather disappointing season for Liverpool, striker Luis Suárez claims he is loving life at Anfield and has no thoughts of leaving this summer.

The Uruguay striker has enjoyed a superb season, scoring 31 goals and winning the Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers' player of the year awards.

Now transfer speculation has started again but Suárez, who earlier this week denied a clause allowing him to move to one of Europe's biggest clubs had been inserted into a contract signed in December, has been quick to distance himself from the rumours.

United To Announce Louis van Gaal As Manager Next Week

Manchester United is set to  announce the appointment of Louis van Gaal as theclub's new manager next week.

The Dutchman reportedly agreed to succeed David Moyes as permanent boss at Old Trafford last month and will assume control when his job as Netherlands coach ends after the upcoming World Cup in Brazil.

With interim player coach Ryan Giggs in charge, United have opted to wait until afterthe club's last Premier League fixture - away to Southampton on Sunday - to make the appointment official.

MIND GAMES: Mourinho and Simeone Exchange Good Remarks

Ahead of the Champion's League match against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, has praised the attacking prowess of Diego Simeone's men.

Atletico are comfortably sat at the top of the Spanish League table -  needing just two wins to lift the trophy, they've also shown a good spirit in Europe by eliminating both AC Milan and Barcelona; hence, the 51-year-old Portuguese boss is not quick to writing them off.

"They are a good side. They are not a counterattacking side. They are a good side. They defend well. They score goals. They win matches! They are in the semi-finals of the Champions League and need two victories to be Spanish champions.

"Atlético were my direct rivals for three seasons but I always felt a relationship of respect with the club. I have respect for what they are doing because to be in a Champions League semi-final is not for every club, and to have the possibility of winning the league against Barcelona and
Real Madrid is something that deserves my respect."

Mourinho also demanded the best form from his players - who cruised past Liverpool with 2-0 in the Barclay's League last weekend.

"It is a knockout game, a game of details, a game where maybe one goal is the difference. It is a game where everybody needs to be at the top level. For the 90 minutes the players are more important
than the manager, I trust them a lot and that helps me to be calm," the Special One added.

"Against Paris we were in a position where we had nothing to lose and no one really expecting us to turn the result around. At
the moment, it is a 'clean' result, it is 0-0 and the chances are equal. We are at home but a score draw is good for them and not for us; you cannot say who has the advantage."

On the other hand, visiting manager, Simeone, had this to say:

"The confidence is always there, especially in a semi-final of the Champions League. That's already a massive statement. My players are excited and keen. We know
we'll have to work hard tomorrow in a very difficult game, and we'll have to put in an enormous effort to get a positive result.

"I'm not focusing on where we are at the moment. I just want us to keep moving forward, not on what we've achieved. I usually let you guys talk about the progress we've undertaken in the last three years of success, but I'm not comparing Atlético Madrid with Chelsea, a team who won the Champions League two years ago. In the end the best team will win. With our hard work and our enthusiasm, we can do well and maybe et a positive result.

"I'm a football man. I respect different ways of setting out your team. It's about what's the best way for a specific game or a specific opposition. To defend well is not easy, so I congratulate teams who do that well. To attack well isn't easy, either. So you have to congratulate managers
who get their sides doing that. Football evolves. There is no 'best way'. It depends on the manager spending time with his players, talking different set-ups and tactics, different approaches and styles.

"But, in the end, it's important the team, the club, the institution wins, regardless of how it is achieved. There is no 'one
way' to play football. If we all played the same way, it would be very boring. You can play ten at the back or ten up front. What matters is the result."

The emergent winner faces Real Madrid in the UEFA Final in Lisbon on May 24.

Puyol: We'd die for Coach Martino

Barcelona's Carles Puyol has publicly defended his manager Gerardo 'Tata' Martino - following the Catalans' poor campaign.

Following a change of manager and philosophy, Barca have seen their name criticised on most media stories, due to the player's poor run of form and less competitive spirit this season.

The coach has been heavily criticised for the downfall of his side, but Puyol, who will leave Camp Nou in the summer, has risen to defend his boss.

Champions League: What To Expect In The Semi Finals

With the success of the UEFA Champions League draw which took place at Nyon, Switzerland, a wonderful set of matches is set to come.

Former Madrid star Luis Figo was in the house to carry out what he was paid to do. Here is the fixture list following the draw:

Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich

Both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will be playing the first leg as the home team, at the Bernabeu and the Vicente Calderon respectively.

Barcelona legend slams Chelsea boss

Former Barcelona star Johan Cruyff has hit out at Chelsea's Jose Mourinho for his attitude towards his own players.

Mourinho, 51, tends to be overly critical of his side - as he  repeatedly stated that his side cannot be considered among the Premier League title challengers this season, despite sitting second in the table.

The Portuguese manager, following the defeat at Paris last week and typically before that, have lambasted the performances of his strikers and branded his side's defense as 'ridiculous' - an act of his that causes dressing room division, just like in Real Madrid.

'Fernando Torres has no future at Chelsea'

Former Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins believes that under par performer Fernando Torres has no future at Stamford Bridge, Daily Mirror reports.

Torres, 30, has failed to live up to expectation since making a move to the Bridge from Liverpool - where he was highly successful and netted 65 Premier League goals in approximately three seasons.

Wilkins believes the £50million star will either be sold or loaned out when the transfer window reopens, as it is widely anticipated that Jose Mourinho will end the Spaniard's Blues nightmare this summer.

Mourinho: We are not in title race

Following a 1-0 defeat suffered at the home of Aston Villa on Saturday, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has insisted that the Blues are not worthy contenders of the Premier League title.

A Fabian Delph's late goal was enough to secure a 3-points for Paul Lamberts - leaving Chelsea just six points above real challengers Manchester City; who are yet to play two outstanding matches. Continue...

Mascherano Insists FC Barcelona is not Dead yet

According to a recent report FC Barcelona club website, Javier Mascherano, the Argentinean has insisted that FC Barcelona is not dead yet following the defeat in Valladolid last weekend. Reports has it that despite their slip ups in the league, Javier Mascherano reckons it’s far too early to write the team off, insisting: “we’re not dead”, and reminding reporters that the team are still very much in the hunt for the League, Cup and Champions League titles. Continue...

Nasri: Wenger is a magician

Ex - Arsenal playmaker Samir Nasri has defended his former manager Arsene Wenger by stating that it is quite unfair for anyone to criticize the French boss for the lack of trophy, according to ESPN.

The Gunners' coach was recently described by Jose Mourinho as a 'specialist in failure' - for having not won any trophy with the Emirate club for approximately 8 years now.

However, Nasri, who joined Manchester City from Arsenal in 2011, has insisted that Wenger is a 'magician' who worked wonders in the North London club on a limited budget.

Jose Mourinho hits out at Madrid players

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has claimed that Real Madrid players were addicted to the mirror - as they cared more about their public appearance than about winning trophies.

The 51-year-old coach controversially left Santiago Bernabeu last Summer; and shortly after his departure, lots of criticisms were heaped on the Portuguese boss - prominent among his critics were Andres Iniesta, Hernandez Xavi, Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo. Continue...