Pastore: PSG cannot afford to underestimate Chelsea

 

Javier Pastore has urged Paris Saint-Germain to retain its focus after securing a 3-1 victory over Chelsea in the first-leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie.

	CHELSEA LATEST

The Ligue 1 champion is in pole position to book a ticket for the semifinals following the win at Parc des Princes, yet Pastore - who scored his side's third on Wednesday night - insists the club cannot afford to take next week's return lightly.

"It's an excellent result to win 3-1 against Chelsea in a really good match of football," Pastore told the official PSG website. "I am very happy to have scored that third goal, because it will be an important goal in the return leg.

"Chelsea is a great team with great players so we will have to stay focused there, because it is still a Champions League quarterfinal."

Meanwhile, that sentiment was echoed by Thiago Motta, with the midfielder expecting Chelsea to apply plenty of pressure on its own turf.

"It's an excellent result. We have played a huge match of football. In the first half, it was very difficult for us, and then in the second, we made life very difficult for them," he said.

"We have to play a very tricky return leg at Stamford Bridge now and resist the pressure from Chelsea to qualify for the semifinals."

Chelsea keeper Courtois close to Atletico Madrid loan renewal

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Chelsea keeper Courtois close to Atletico Madrid loan renewal

Thibaut Courtois is on the brink of agreeing to stay at Atletico Madrid for another season on loan.

Chelsea is close to finalizing a deal with the Spanish club for the Belgian goalkeeper to play at the Vicente Calderon for a fourth consecutive campaign.

Goal has learned that a meeting regarding Courtois' future took place earlier this week and the groundwork of a deal is now in place for him to extend his spell with Atletico.

Courtois is believed to be unwilling to link up permanently with his parent club for an entire campaign if he cannot be assured of first-team football.

Chelsea has been unable to provide that undertaking due to the continued fine form of established No.1 Petr Cech, who is still only 31 and contracted to the Europa League champion until 2016.

Courtois, 21, has not played a single match for the Blues since signing from Genk in the summer of 2011.

He is about to complete a third season-long loan at Atletico, where he has established himself as one of the highest rated keepers in the game.

Speaking after Atletico held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in their Champions League quarterfinal first-leg clash on Tuesday, Gerardo Martino admitted that Courtois looked like “one of the best goalkeepers in the world”, while Diego Simeone said the youngster’s career is on a continual upward curve.

"He has improved a lot in the two and half years that he has been with us," Atleti head coach Simeone said. "He needs to keep getting better but it is clear that he is destined for big things."

Speaking on Tuesday night to Spanish radio show El Larguero, Courtois said that he would soon publicly reveal his plans.

"Next week I will announce my decision," the Belgium international explained. "I am not going to say if I will stay or not. What I will say is that next week I will announce my decision."

Pellegrini: Aguero to return for Manchester City against Liverpool

Manuel Pellegrini says Sergio Aguero will return for Manchester City’s clash against Liverpool.

	MAN CITY LATEST

The Argentina international has not featured for City since its 2-1 defeat at home to Barcelona in the Champions League on March 12 because of a hamstring injury.

And while Aguero will miss Saturday’s fixture against Southampton at the Etihad Stadium, the forward, who has returned to full training, is set to face the Premier League leaders next week.

"Sergio is OK,” the City manager told reporters. “He worked just now with the squad but he just started on Thursday so he needs more work to be 100 percent fit but he doesn’t have any problems with his injury.

"He is not in the squad. For this week it is too soon for him to start playing because he just worked two days but next week against Liverpool he will not have any problems."

Ramsey in contention for Arsenal's trip to Everton

 

 

Ramsey in contention for Arsenal's trip to Everton

 

 

 

 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Aaron Ramsey is contention to play against Everton on Sunday.

	ARSENAL LATEST

The 23-year-old has not featured for the Gunners since Boxing Day because of a thigh injury but has returned to training ahead of the clash at Goodison Park, while left back Nacho Monreal may be available after recovering from a foot problem.

Abou Diaby has also resumed full training having been sidelined for more than a year after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

"Aaron [Ramsey] and Nacho Monreal are back in the squad, so that is good news. Hopefully they will be available for Sunday. [Abou] Diaby is back on the pitches, so that is good news," Wenger told the club's official website.

Wenger also ruled Laurent Koscielny out of the match against Everton but confirmed the defender is in contention for the club's FA Cup semifinal against Wigan Athletic at Wembley on April 12.

"He is still out," said Wenger. "The earliest [he will be back] is next week, the latest is the week after."

Meanwhile, Mesut Ozil will miss the FA Cup tie against Wigan but Wenger said the German is likely to return from his hamstring injury toward the end of the month.

Fourth-place Arsenal heads into Sunday's clash with Everton four points ahead its opponent, but Roberto Martinez's side has a game in hand over the Gunners.

Bayern bans British newspapers over 'insulting' Schweinsteiger headlines

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Bayern bans British newspapers over 'insulting' Schweinsteiger headlines

Bayern Munich has banned journalists from two British newspapers from attending next week's Champions League clash with Manchester United after deeming headlines about Bastian Schweinsteiger to be "insulting."

The Sun and The Daily Mirror published articles in the wake of the midfielder's red card in the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Tuesday, using the headlines "You dirty Schwein" and "You Schwein" as a pun on the German word for pig.

Bayern has since condemned the papers for what it perceives to be "disrespectful, discriminatory and a personal insult" and has confirmed the club will not allow reporters from either to be allowed into the Allianz Arena for the return leg next week.

In an official statement, Bayern claimed that the articles did not adhere to UEFA's "respect" principles in European competition, citing its recent sanction for an offensive banner in a 1-1 draw with Arsenal as further proof of its own commitment to the campaign.

"FC Bayern Munich will not accept that style of coverage and strongly condemns this," the statement reads. "UEFA calls for "RESPECT" in the Champions League — a big European-wide campaign. Every player wears this logo on their jersey during the game and every participant of the competition is obliged to adherence of "RESPECT."

"Because of a violation against this agreement by four spectators that showed disrespectful banners during the home match in the first leg of the round of the last 16 against Arsenal in Munich's Allianz Arena, Bayern was sanctioned with a 700-seat ban as well as a fine of 10,000 euros. This is accepted by us."

Schweinsteiger, who scored Die Roten's goal on the night at Old Trafford, was later sent off for a second yellow card following a late challenge on Wayne Rooney.

Injured Rooney a doubt for Bayern showdown

LONDON: Wayne Rooney is a major doubt for Manchester United's Champions League showdown against Bayern Munich after being ruled out of Saturday's clash at Newcastle with a toe injury.

Rooney sustained the bruised toe during the second half of United's 1-1 draw against holders Bayern in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

It was hoped Rooney would recover in time to lead the United attack at St James' Park, but boss David Moyes has revealed the injury is yet to respond to treatment and the England striker is now set to go for a scan to see if there is further damage.

"Wayne's got a badly bruised toe," Moyes told MUTV on Friday. "He picked it up in the game the other night.

"Whether we were going to play him or rest him, it doesn't matter. "He's got a terrible toe and not only will it be a problem for this game, it could be a problem for the Munich game as well on Wednesday. So we need to monitor it.

"We'll get him treatment all over the weekend and see if we can speed it up."

Rooney's absence against Bayern would be a massive blow to United's hopes of progressing to the semifinals as they are already without Dutch striker Robin van Persie, who has been hit by a knee problem.

With five goals in six games last month, Rooney has been in fine form of late, but now the likes of Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck may well have to step up to the plate in Munich.

Moyes has suffered bad luck with injuries throughout his first season in charge, but he refused to complain about this latest setback.

"It's football. You look at what Wayne has done for us in the last league games for instance," he said.

"Against Aston Villa he scored two goals. There was a couple at West Ham including that special goal."

Real Madrid to rest Ronaldo for Sociedad game, says Ancelotti

Madrid: Real Madrid will rest La Liga top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo for Saturday's match at Real Sociedad to give him time to recuperate and shake off a knee problem, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday.

Ronaldo, who has scored 28 goals in Spain's domestic league this season and is also the leading marksman in the Champions League, has been complaining of discomfort in his left knee in recent weeks and has played on while receiving treatment from Real's medical staff.

The Portugal captain limped off near the end of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final, first leg at home to Borussia Dortmund, which Real won 3-0, and Ancelotti said he would be back for Tuesday's return game in Germany.

Ronaldo has been complaining of discomfort in his left knee in recent weeks and has played on while receiving treatment from Real's medical staff.

"We will rest Cristiano tomorrow because he is a bit tired," Ancelotti told a news conference.

"We want to avoid taking any risks, we have a lot of important games coming up," added the Italian.

"For this game we prefer to leave him at home to work so he can be ready for the match on Tuesday.

"He will be fresher and he can recover better. I spoke with him and we decided it would be better to rest."

Anything other than a win for Real against sixth-placed Sociedad could severely dent their chances of winning the title. They are third with seven games left, two points behind champions Barcelona and three adrift of surprise leaders Atletico Madrid.

Barca, chasing a fifth title in six years, host bottom side Real Betis on Saturday and Atletico are at home to seventh-placed Villarreal.

Ancelotti said Real's Argentina winger Angel Di Maria was recovering well from the illness that kept him out of the Dortmund game and should be on the bench on Saturday.

Forward Jese, who needed surgery after rupturing the cruciate ligament in his right knee last month and will miss the rest of the season, was returning to consult with his surgeon in Germany on Friday as the knee had become inflamed and he had been suffering from fever, he added.

Jose Mourinho: We can buy big, but Fernando Torres still has future at Chelsea

Jose Mourinho: We can buy big, but Fernando Torres still has future at Chelsea

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‘Now is the moment to say the Champions League is not over, far from it,’ claimed Jose Mourinho

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Torres was overlooked for a striker-less starting line-up for Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain
Jose Mourinho has insisted Fernando Torres has a future at Chelsea – but the Blues manager  wants more from the much-maligned striker.
Torres, a British record £50m buy from Liverpool in January 2011, was overlooked for a striker-less starting line-up for Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain as Mourinho finally appeared to lose patience with the Spaniard, who has scored 44 goals in 164 appearances for the Blues, including nine in 33 games this season.
“Does he have a future? Yes, he has,” Mourinho said yesterday. “He is under contract, he’s a good professional. Obviously, we want him to score more goals; obviously, he wants to score more goals. When he’s on the pitch he tries to do his best. Obviously we want more. Obviously. He’s the first one that wants more, but he’s the kind of player I respect; he deserves to be respected.”
Nevertheless, Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa remains on the radar for Mourinho, who confirmed that he would be able to spend big this summer without having to sell any of his major names, even with the restrictions of Financial Fair Play. “We do what we can, we don’t do what we cannot,” he said. “We are not going to do it by selling the best players. We want to compete in the Champions League and we do that with stability, not with changing 10 or 12 players every season.”
Chelsea players show their disappointment at the defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday (Getty Images)
Asked whether he could spend between £30m and £50m on a world-class striker, Mourinho said: “I think Chelsea can do that on one player. Chelsea cannot do that with four or five players and invest £250m [but on one player] I think it is possible.”
The manager told players and fans who do not believe the Blues can progress past PSG on Tuesday they are not wanted at Stamford Bridge.
“Now is the moment to say that the Champions League is not over; it’s not over, far from it,” he said. “If a player doesn’t believe it’s not over, it’s better to stay at home. If a supporter thinks it’s not possible it’s better to stay at home and watch Dortmund v Real Madrid. It’s not over.”
Although Chelsea’s season is at risk of ending without a trophy, Mourinho was in no doubt they would finish strongly, with his team facing Stoke City in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night.
“In the Premier League, we have six matches to play and the moment we don’t want to give everything to win every match we are not good professionals. It’s not something I accept about me or my players,” he said.
Mourinho has a proud record in European Cup quarter-finals – seven attempts, seven wins – and even though that is under severe risk on Tuesday, he is relishing the prospect, even more than he would an easy game. “It is the kind of match that I want my players to enjoy,” he said. “I want my supporters to too. I will enjoy it. You have to enjoy the difficulty of the situation. If you win in Paris 4-0, you play to control the advantage, [you can] lose 3-0, 4-1 at home. You don’t enjoy it. Let’s enjoy the game.”

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ZION AKA DE GREAT

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Barca transfer ban! Catalan giants can't buy players until 2015 after FIFA embargo

• Barcelona's plans are thrown into chaos by transfer ban imposed by FIFA
• Catalan giants had planned £100m summer spending spree
• Signings of Alen Halilovic and Marc-Andre ter Stergen are now in doubt
• Ban has been imposed over illegal signing of Under 18 players
• Barcelona have confirmed they will appeal the decision
• Premier League clubs insist they all acted within FIFA guidelines

The Premier League’s top clubs claim they are clean after Barcelona were banned from two transfer windows for breaching rules relating to signing Under 18 players.
Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal insist they all acted within FIFA guidelines over the transfer of young players into English football.
Barcelona have been stopped from signing players in the next two transfer windows for breaching Article 19 of the FIFA statutes.
FIFA raided Barcelona’s La Masia academy over the signings of Dutch-Nigerian Under 14 Bobby Adekanye; three Korean Under 15s (Lee Seung Woo, Paik Seung-Ho and Jang Gyeolhee), France Under 16 Theo Chendri, and Cameroon Under 14 Patrice Sousia.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch Transfer ban? No problem as Barcelona's youth players dazzle

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Blow: Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas react after the draw against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday

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Grimace: Neymar goes to ground during the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Atletico

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Ouch: Playmaker Andres Iniesta (centre) and Co will be hurting over their transfer ban

The kids who Barca must not play

Lee Seung Woo - Korean, Cadete B (U15s)
Paik Seung-Ho -Korean, Cadete A (U16s)
Jang Gyeolhee - Korean, Cadete B (U15s)
Theo Chendri - French, Cadete A (U16s)
Patrice Sousia - Cameroon, Infantil A (U14s)
Bobby Adekanye - Dutch Nigerian (U14s)

Barcelona have also been fined 450,000 Swiss francs and the Spanish FA 500,000 Swiss francs after the breaching of regulations on player registration.
The Spanish champions were investigated after signing 10 minors and registering them to play in competitions between 2009 and 2013.
Barcelona’s administration has been scrutinised since they were forced to admit the total cost to sign Neymar from Santos will be £71.5million, not £47.3m, including payments to Neymar and his family.
Former president Sandro Rosell, blamed for breaching FIFA regulations in this latest controversy, was forced to resign.
Barcelona, winners of the Champions League three times in the last 10 years, are owned by their members and claim to be ‘more than a club’.
Premier League clubs attend regular FIFA workshops and all four Champions League teams claim confidence in their recruitment procedure for young players.

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Read all about it: Messi, pictured on the set of Pepsi's new ad, will have no new colleagues for a while

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Level pegging: Neymar's second-half goal helped Barca avoid a home defeat against Atletico

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Relief: Neymar celebrates his equaliser against Atletico which keeps Barca in with a shout of progress

 

More...

• Barca transfer ban! Catalan giants can't buy players until summer 2015 after FIFA slap down stunning embargo over rules breach
• From Valdes to Luiz, Deulofeu to Messi... How Barcelona's transfer ban will have a dramatic impact on their players, targets and trophy chances next season
• Chelsea target Costa limps out of Atletico's clash against Barca with thigh strain
• Sir Bobby and his translator: Mourinho takes on PSG having overcome the French champions once before... with Barcelona
• THE CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST: Neymar saves the day for Barca but Pique is set to miss four weeks with fractured hip
• All the latest Barcelona news, features and opinion

 

FIFA prevents cross-border moves for players under the age of 18 unless they meet one of three requirements under Article 19.
Young players can sign for a club in another country only if they can prove their move, such as their parents relocating, is completely unrelated to their football career.
Players can also move within other EU countries and the final exception is if the club is within 50km of their home.
After Chelsea successfully appealed against a two-year ban for a similar infringement after signing Gael Kakuta from Lens, Barcelona confirmed last night they would appeal against their transfer ban. A 14-point statement read: ‘The rule supposedly infringed exists to protect minors against sports clubs that incorporate them without guaranteeing their rights and education but those are the very things our youth academy stands for.’
The club also said all its players were legal residents of Spain and that none had played in official games since FIFA began investigating their cases and withdrew their registrations.
Chelsea defender David Luiz is a long-term target for club captain Carles Puyol who will retire at the end of the season but that move is now in jeopardy.

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The new Luka Modric? Barca's move for teenage Croatian playmaker Alen Halilovic (left) is now in doubt

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Barca bound? Borussia Moenchengladbach goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen

It's in the can! Messi, RVP, Wilshere and Co get in the carnival mood to film Pepsi's interactive World Cup advert

The soft drinks company has teamed up with Lionel Messi, Robin van Persie, Jack Wilshere, Sergio Aguero, Sergio Ramos and David Luiz for an interactive advert set around the streets of Rio de Janiero.
CLICK HERE to read more.

Barca president Josep  Bartomeu was set to  spend £100m in summer, but FIFA’s sanctions will also  put in doubt the transfers of  German keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and 17-year-old Croatian Alen Halilovic.
Everton’s hopes of keeping striker Gerard Deulofeu for another season may be dashed if Barcelona cannot recruit players next season.
FIFA’s statement relating to Barcelona’s conduct said: ‘The disciplinary committee emphasised the protection of minors in the context of international transfers is an important social and legal issue that concerns all stakeholders in football.
‘The committee highlighted that while international transfers might, in specific cases, be favourable to a young player’s sporting career, they are very likely to be contrary to the best interests of the player as a minor. Young football players are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse in a foreign country without the proper controls.
‘This particular fact makes the protection of minors in football by the sport’s governing bodies, especially by FIFA, even more important.’

Transfer ban? No problem as Barcelona's youth players dazzle

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Dilemma: Barca will have to work out a way of coping without goalkeeper Victor Valdes

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Problem: Valdes suffered a serious knee injury last week and is due to leave the club in the summer

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Deep pockets: Barca have made at least one big-money buy in recent summers, including Fabregas in 2011

FULL FIFA STATEMENT ON BARCELONA'S TRANSFER BAN

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the Real Federacion Espanola de Futbol (RFEF) and Spanish club FC Barcelona for breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18. 
The sanctions follow investigations initially conducted by FIFA Transfer Matching System GmbH (FIFA TMS) over the course of last year and subsequently by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee as part of disciplinary proceedings. The RFEF and FC Barcelona were found to have violated several provisions concerning the international transfer and first registration of non-Spanish minors with the club, as well as other relevant regulations with regard to the registration and participation of certain players in national competitions. The investigations concerned several minor players who were registered and participated in competitions with the club over various periods between 2009 and 2013.
Currently, the main provision relating to the protection of minors in the context of international transfers is art. 19 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (the 'Regulations'). According to art. 19, international transfers of players are only permitted if the player is over the age of 18. However, the same article stipulates that international transfers of minor players are permitted under three limited circumstances, and such exceptions may only be granted after evaluation by the sub-committee of the Players’ Status Committee. 
In this respect, the Disciplinary Committee emphasised that the protection of minors in the context of international transfers is an important social and legal issue that concerns all stakeholders in football. Above all, the committee highlighted that while international transfers might, in specific cases, be favourable to a young player’s sporting career, they are very likely to be contrary to the best interests of the player as a minor. On the basis of this analysis, the committee concluded that 'the interest in protecting the appropriate and healthy development of a minor as a whole must prevail over purely sporting interests.'
The Disciplinary Committee underlined that FIFA takes the protection of minors in football very seriously. The protection of minors is one of the key principles included in the agreement concluded between FIFA, UEFA and the European Commission in 2001. The Disciplinary Committee acknowledged that young football players are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse in a foreign country without the proper controls. This particular fact makes the protection of minors in football by the sport’s governing bodies, especially by FIFA, even more important.
With regard to the case in question, FC Barcelona has been found to be in breach of art. 19 of the Regulations in the case of ten minor players and to have committed several other concurrent infringements in the context of other players, including under Annexe 2 of the Regulations.
The Disciplinary Committee regarded the infringements as serious and decided to sanction the club with a transfer ban at both national and international level for two complete and consecutive transfer periods, together with a fine of CHF 450,000. Additionally, the club was granted a period of 90 days in which to regularise the situation of all minor players concerned.
With regard to the RFEF, the Disciplinary Committee determined that the association had also violated art. 19 of the Regulations and other provisions in the context of the transfer and first registration of certain minor players. In this respect, the RFEF was sanctioned with a fine of CHF 500,000 and granted a period of one year in which to regularise their regulatory framework and existing system concerning the international transfer of minors in football.
In addition, the RFEF and the club were issued with a reprimand in accordance with art. 14 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
The web-based Transfer Matching System (TMS) became mandatory for all international transfers of professional male players within the scope of eleven-a-side football in October 2010. As early as 2009, the use of TMS was obligatory in all applications for a first registration of a minor or an international transfer involving a minor in accordance with art. 19 of the Regulations.
FIFA TMS, founded as a FIFA subsidiary in 2007, established a compliance programme in 2010 to ensure that all international transfers of professional football players are conducted through TMS in accordance with the Regulations, and to control the integrity of club and association behaviour and data in TMS. Cases involving violations of the Regulations, in particular Annexes 2 and 3, are identified and investigated and, where applicable, are then forwarded to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee for evaluation and decision. FIFA TMS monitors transfer activity using internally-developed market intelligence, external sources and information received from the FIFA Players’ Status & Governance and Disciplinary & Governance departments.

 

More...

• Barca transfer ban! Catalan giants can't buy players until summer 2015 after FIFA slap down stunning embargo over rules breach
• From Valdes to Luiz, Deulofeu to Messi... How Barcelona's transfer ban will have a dramatic impact on their players, targets and trophy chances next season
• Chelsea target Costa limps out of Atletico's clash against Barca with thigh strain
• Sir Bobby and his translator: Mourinho takes on PSG having overcome the French champions once before... with Barcelona
• THE CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST: Neymar saves the day for Barca but Pique is set to miss four weeks with fractured hip
• All the latest Barcelona news, features and opinion

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2595664/Barcelona-banned-transfers-summer-2015.html#ixzz2xmDbVBCK
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

PSG concern for Ibrahimovic injury

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc said he was concerned after top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off injured in Wednesday's Champions League clash with Chelsea.

The Swede had to be substituted midway through the second half of PSG's 3-1 quarterfinal first-leg victory at the Parc des Princes after appearing to hurt his right thigh while playing a pass to Christophe Jallet in midfield.

"It's a muscular problem. He will see the doctor tomorrow (Thursday)," confirmed Blanc, who immediately decided to replace the striker with Brazilian winger Lucas.

"He wanted to continue but I thought honestly that it wasn't reasonable. I hope he comes back as soon as possible because we need him."

Ibrahimovic, who has scored a club record-breaking 40 goals in all competitions this season, including 10 in the Champions League, faces a race against time to be fit for the second leg at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday.

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Star-studded and sold out, this concert belatedly celebrated Onyeabor’s Nigerian funk

©Keith Sheriff

From left, Lijadu Sisters, Alexis Taylor, Ahmed Gallab and Ghostpoet celebrate William Onyeabor at the Barbican, London

Like a Nigerian funk version of Waiting for Godot, the main attraction didn’t turn up. William Onyeabor was present musically at the Barbican, but the man himself was several thousand miles away in south-eastern Nigeria, where he apparently devotes himself to business and evangelical Christianity.

It was left to a group of mainly UK and US-based musicians to play his songs – hypnotically sprawling Funkadelic-style jams originally released in Nigeria in the 1970s and 1980s before Onyeabor quit secular music. These recordings, obscure even in Nigeria, were rediscovered by Luaka Bop, the New York label set up by David Byrne, which recently released the compilation Atomic Bomb: Who Is William Onyeabor? .

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A sold-out concert hall testified to the recognition that Onyeabor is belatedly enjoying; not that he gives any indication of actually enjoying it. Misgivings grew with the arrival at the show’s start of an African preacher, a man in a blue suit who encouraged the metropolitan audience to shout out “Amen!” and “Give a clap of faith!”, which people did – at first weakly, then with patronising gusto and titters. As Onyeabor apparently sees Christianity as a bar to making music, the routine was ill-judged.
Then the backing band struck up, and the evening entered a more rewarding groove. The musical leader was Ahmed Gallab, leader of US worldbeat band Sinkane, joined on keyboards by ex-Beastie Boys collaborator Money Mark, who was tasked with recreating Onyeabor’s spacey Moog synthesiser solos. Joining them were two drummers and two Nigerian percussionists, a horn trio, guitarists and a succession of guest vocalists.
Nigerian duo the Lijadu Sisters, crossover Afrobeat stars in the 1970s, made their first London appearance in 30 years, singing a scrappy but entertaining version of their own song “Danger” as well as tracks by Onyeabor. Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke, whose parents are Nigerian, sang a sweetly lilting vocal to the ska-tinged “Heaven and Hell”. The half-Nigerian UK rapper Ghostpoet drawled over fast jittery funk in “Love Me Now” as images of Lagos street life appeared on a screen, the contrasts in the music echoing those between the city’s skyscrapers and shacks.
It didn’t always work. On 1978’s “Atomic Bomb”, Onyeabor’s biggest Nigerian hit, the chemistry between Hot Chip crooner Alexis Taylor and the Lijadu Sisters was more fizzle than flare. Damon Albarn showed how it should be done on “Fantastic Man”, leaping around, serenading the sisters and commandeering Money Mark’s keyboard.
It was a shameless attempt to steal the show – outdone, however, by a member of the audience, a woman whose dancing skills were rewarded with a call-up on stage, where she proceeded to perform a dazzling variety of moves, including a jaw-dropping pair of splits. I suspect the devout Onyeabor would not have approved. But her unofficial cameo was in the free and unique spirit of his African funk.

ZION THE GREAT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07NnMWJ6tJw