Club World Cup champions Corinthians deliver Benitez knockout blow

 

Just when it appeared Rafa Benitez might be on the verge of receiving some goodwill from Chelsea fans, Corinthians spoil the party.

The Blues romped into the Club World Cup final with a convincing 3-1 victory over Monterrey.

But Benitez and his charges came unstuck against the Brazilian outfit, who won the competition by knocking out the Stamford Bridge side with a single Paolo Guerrero goal.

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Rooney and Van Persie have the Premier League at their mercy

 

Manchester United maintained their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 victory over Sunderland on Saturday, and once again, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie were on hand to fire their team to victory.

The Dutchman grabbed his 12th league goal of the season to open the scoring at Old Trafford, and strike partner Rooney was not far behind with his seventh of the campaign.

Now having disposed of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and arch-rivals Manchester City already this year, the gigantic partnership of Rooney and Van Persie has the Premier League scurrying for cover...
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Wenger & Bould display united front as press hounds demand answers

 

Arsene Wenger's long reign at Arsenal hit what was arguably its lowest point on Tuesday when the Gunners were knocked out of the Capital One Cup by League Two side Bradford City.

The defeat led to renewed questions regarding the relationship between Wenger and his new assistant, Steve Bould. Reports claimed a rift between the duo, with Bould's separate defensive training sessions supposedly having been stopped.

Wenger, though, denied the accusations when he faced the press in the wake of Arsenal's elimination and insists that he and Bould are part of a "united staff".
 

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Chelsea prepare for 'football party' at Club World Cup against Corinthians

 

The boos from Chelsea fans aimed at Rafa Benitez may not have been completely silenced by the Stamford Bridge club's convincing win over Monterrey on Thursday.

But on the pitch at least, the mood was visibly lifted as Juan Mata opened the scoring, while Fernando Torres was also on target and David Luiz dominated the midfield.

And Mata summed up the atmosphere best after the game as he looked ahead to the Club World Cup final clash with Corinthians.

"We have confidence about winning but we know Corinthians are one of the best teams in South America," he said.

"It will be a football party and hopefully we will win."
 

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David Luiz shows Gary Neville how to play the game

 

David Luiz was once described by Gary Neville as looking like a Playstation character controlled by a 10-year-old.

But the Brazilian looked far from the liability he has been labelled to be in the Club World Cup victory over Monterrey, patrolling the Chelsea midfield for over an hour before being replaced by Frank Lampard.

And, prior to the game, the 25-year-old made it clear he was able to take criticism on the chin and move on.

“When you experience difficult moments, I know I’m strong enough to change things and move on," Luiz said.

“I know my personality and what it’s taken to get me here at Chelsea. It’s just another moment to be strong.”

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Wenger on thin ice after Arsenal defeat to Bradford

 

Ahead of Arsenal's trip to Bradford City in the Capital One Cup, the oft-derided tournament was starting look like the Gunners' best chance of ending their long wait for a trophy.

Indeed on paper, Arsene Wenger's side looked to have the pick of the ties having being drawn to face the League Two side in the quarter-finals of the competition.

The Frenchman even picked a strong team for the match, yet that did not matter to Bradford. The League Two side almost won the game in 90 minutes, before Thomas Vermaelen popped up with a late equaliser to take the game to extra-time

However, Bradford were not to be denied and took the Gunners all the way to penalties before beating them in the shoot-out to dump them out of the competition and leave under-pressure Wenger on thin ice at Arsenal. 

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Bonucci, Sergio Busquets' horrible student

 

Juventus striker, on loan from Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner mocked his teammate Leonardo Bonucci, after the later tried to playfully dive, in order to get a penalty.

Danish international on his own account on Twitter joked "who fired on Bonucci? Haha :)"

It seems that Bonucci was a failure to learn scuba diving ...
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Balotelli made to work for Manchester City stay

 

Mario Balotelli frustrated many in Manchester City's derby defeat against arch rivals Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

The Italian striker has just the rest of December to prove himself to chiefs at the Etihad Stadium, with AC Milan waiting in the wings to swoop for him if he cannot impress.

Roberto Mancini has regularly stood by his compatriot, but is he now facing a losing battle to help the 22-year-old become one of the game's most feared strikers?
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Invisible man Samir Nasri's hole in the wall costs Manchester City the derby

 

Manchester City's unbeaten start to the Premier League season came crashing to an end with a 3-2 home defeat at the hands of arch rivals Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

The champions looked to have hauled themselves back into the game at 2-2, having initially trailed following Wayne Rooney's first-half double, before Robin van Persie's free-kick took a killer deflection off Samir Nasri in the City wall and slipped beyond the reach of Joe Hart into the back of the net.

Manager Roberto Mancini was far from happy, stating: "We made a mistake and only put three players there. Actually we had only had two-and-a-half players there."
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Sir Alex, Mancini & Platt star in Mancbeth

 

By George Ankers

ACT I, SCENE I. A mysterious heath.

Thunder and lightning. A sofa. A familiar theme tune. Enter three witches.

ALAN, THE FIRST WITCH: When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning or in rain?

GARY, THE SECOND WITCH: It'll be next Saturday at 22.35GMT, Alan, same as usual. You're contractually obliged.

ALAN, THE THIRD WITCH: A drum, a drum! Mancbini doth come. He's come right up to us and he'll be happy with that.

Enter Roberto Mancbini and his loyal friend, Plattquo.

MANCBINI: So foul and fair a day I have not seen. Not since Lady Macbalo set off a firework in the dressing room, anyway...

PLATTQUO: Yes, boss. (GASPS.) What are these, so wither'd and so bland in their attire, that speak not like inhabitants o' the television and yet are on't?

MANCBINI: Speak, if you can: What are you?

SECOND WITCH: Hail, Mancbini! Hail to thee, Thane of Premis!

FIRST WITCH: Hail. Pace. Power. Commitment.

THIRD WITCH: Hail, Mancbini, thou shalt be king in Manchester hereafter! I can't see anyone beating you on this form.

PLATTQUO: Of what do you speak, ladies?

SECOND WITCH: Mancbini, thou hast glory'd thyself in bloody battle. Brave Mancbini, for well thee deserveth the name, thou hast led thy men to victory of six to one at thy enemy's castle.

THIRD WITCH: Thou couldst say that the key was how you scored more goals then they did.

SECOND WITCH: Yet now Ferguson, King of Manchester, bringeth his host to thy gates. Forsooth, the hour of thy crowning is come.

MANCBINI: No, no ... Ferguson, he is the King. The fates favour them.

FIRST WITCH: The King relieth too greatly on his young sons and retainers. Thou shalt not be victorious with babes.

MANCBINI: No. For us it is too difficult, I think.

THIRD WITCH: Etihad Castle is a hard place to go and get a result. I can't look past you.

MANCBINI: We have no chance.

PLATTQUO: Ladies, thine efforts are for naught. I hath cajol'd the boss for hours. He is stubborn.

SECOND WITCH: Brave Mancbini, witness our spell and be convinced.

The CAULDRON comes alight.

SECOND WITCH: Double, double, toil and trouble.

FIRST WITCH: Pace, power, leadership and commitment.

THIRD WITCH: Er ... suppose you've some kind of small amphibian. It's like a lizard, I guess, but ... not. I haven't really looked it up, to be honest. And there's this sort of circular ball in its face that it uses to see things...

The CAULDRON bubbles furiously, billowing smoke into the night sky.

SECOND WITCH: What dost thou see, brave Mancbini?

MANCBINI: Mine own visage in the smoke! Wherefore dost thou show me this?

FIRST WITCH: Look on.

MANCBINI: On mine head ... the crown of Manchester's King! It is taken from Ferguson to me! How canst this be? They art above us in the statisticians' reckonings.

SECOND WITCH: Forsooth, he shall not linger much longer over his domain.

MANCBINI: I must needs kill the King?

SECOND WITCH: Ay! Speaketh not in terms so literal. Don't go giving Lady Macbalo any ideas.

FIRST WITCH: Thy midfield is miles ahead, that's all.

The Witches vanish. MANISH, THE FOURTH WITCH tries to jump out from behind a tree with a Tupperware cauldron and CLARIDGE, THE BLACK CAT perched on his shoulder but MANCBINI and PLATTQUO exeunt with haste.

MANCBINI: King of Manchester! This I like...
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