Soccer

Songkhla United ( 1 – 1 ) Chonburi , THA on The 25th of May, 2013 at five past two Podcast:

The Old Trafford legend does not expect the England international to leave the club this summer and feels that new manager David Moyes has a good chance of a winning first season Former Manchester United captain Bryan Robson does not believe that star striker Wayne Rooney will leave the club in the summer. As exclusively revealed by Goal, the England forward is “hell bent” on an exit from Old Trafford after the appointment of David Moyes, with Paris Saint-Germain interested as well as Arsenal and Chelsea. But Robson told the Times of India: “I’m not convinced he will go. If I were in David Moyes’s shoes, one of the first things I’d be doing is sitting Wayne down and telling him what an important player he can be for United for the next four or five years. “I would tell Wayne what my plans were for the future of United and how he fits in with those plans. I would be doing all I could to make sure Wayne stays at United. “David knows Wayne well from when he was a youngster and I think he will be able to talk to him as well as anyone and sort things out.” The former United skipper feels that Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement was good news for his rivals but is positive that Moyes will continue to bring silverware to Old Trafford. “I’m sure Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea will all be absolutely delighted,” Robson added. “Everybody will be looking and thinking is there a little chink there, maybe it will go backwards for United while the new manager settles in – but I don’t think it will happen. “The new manager, Moyes, won’t have to change much because it’s all in place already. Sir Alex has built it all up over the years. It’s all there — and if you’re going to start working with the best players in the country, you’ve got a great chance of winning something.”

Traeff ( 1 – 2 ) Baerum , Norway on The 25th of May, 2013 at two Podcast:

E pluribus unum. It’s not only the inspiration behind a totally cool country, it’s also Nike’s design process ethos. Many designs were crafted and considered before being culled down to the one chosen to be England’s new 150th anniversary kit. Nike’s meticulous selection system ensures that players and fans alike only put the finest shirt on their backs. Here now is an exclusive look at Nike’s rejected designs. First up, a stark, all-white affair. It shines with England’s fresh hopes for its heroes in their run-up to the 2014 World Cup. After pitiful performances in their past few tournaments, the shirt symbolizes a fresh new start. But consultant Nigel Tufnel summed up why the design was ultimately rejected, “It’s like, how much more white could this be? And the answer is none. None more white.” Nike’s team, duly emboldened, then controversially looked to England’s fiercest rival for inspiration. “We saw this shirt as less of a capitulation,” said Nike artist Tyler Capistrano of the look redolent of West Germany’s mightiest squads, “and more symbolic of a warrior wearing the pelt of his vanquished foe.” But Nike brass prodded the design team towards more au courant fashion. So with everything 1990s back in style again, the designers dreamed up this fresh-to-def look. “The ball forcefully flying through the air with fury symbolizes the Route One football that made England famous,” explains Nike designer Taylor Ventura while sipping from a kale-and-hemp-seed smoothie, “and replacing the three lions with three stars symbolizes a future that shines bright. Plus, dude, italicizing the word ‘England’ totally shows a forward energy that doesn’t look back. Cuz the past is for losers.” Nike encouraged its designers to take the energy concept and really run with it. “What symbolizes energy better than our swoosh?” asks designer Brody Hermosa rhetorically, “so in one concept we really emphasized the swoosh, uh, well, swooshing across the chest. In another we replaced the stodgy and staid three lions with three swooshes, which we think, like, better represents today’s fresh and energetic cool Britannia. But then I was like, ‘yo, what’s better than three swooshes?’ Lots more swooshes!! Having St. George’s Cross comprised of swooshes really updates that symbol and, like, really infuses it with fresh energy. Which is, like, totally awesome.” Finally, Nike produced a bold new shirt that focuses on one of the three lions enjoying an ice-cold Budweiser. “Perhaps he’s toasting an England World Cup victory,” theorizes branding specialist Dylan Redondo, “or maybe he’s about to share a round with some friends which symbolizes how Budweiser and soccer, er, excuse me, fútbol, really bring the world together. Either way, this particular design must await a more enlightened future where FIFA allows jersey, er, excuse me, shirt sponsorship for international games. We feel, like, really confident that when Sepp Blatter reviews our proposal he’ll, like, totally be on board.” Rejected Concepts for England’s New Home Shirt [PHOTOS] is a post from EPL Talk - Independent voice of EPL soccer fans since 2005.

Originally published on SB Nation One day in the future, Jose Mourinho will have stepped away from the coaching stage and faded into history as one of the greatest men to ever prowl a touchline. If he walked away today on the verge of Real Madrid’s Champions League semifinal first leg against Borussia Dortmund, he would still be a boss that has won two Champions Leagues and a pile of various other pieces of silverware that would make Smaug jealous. Mourinho won’t be going anywhere yet, but there’s a very real chance that his time with Los Merengues will come to an end when the current season concludes. If that happens he will immediately become the most sought after manager on the market and the type of hire that could change the fortunes of any team that brings him on board. Spanish newspapers have made seemingly ridiculous claims that Florentino Pérez held an informal poll of the Madrid players with up to 15 members of the squad wanting Mourinho out. Last week Mourinho reportedly admitted he didn’t expect to be in charge of Madrid next season to the president of CD Canillas — Mourinho’s son plays on the club’s youth team — a story that was picked up on by major outlets despite the fact that Mourinho confiding in Manuel Álvarez sounds patently absurd. What is clear amongst the ocean of reports, theories and assumptions is that Mourinho has likely rubbed some people the wrong way within the Madrid structure. This is no surprise, that’s Mourinho’s pattern and a big part of why he’s been such a mobile manager moving between Porto, Chelsea, Internazionale and Madrid over the past ten years. The Special One typically lasts three or four seasons at a job before picking up and moving on to the next challenge. The motivations behind those moves are not purely down to Mourinho’s wanderlust but they’re also not purely down to internal strife caused by his unique and likely caustic style. The truth is somewhere in the middle, fueled by the ambition of a man that is not cut from the type of cloth that a Sir Alex Ferguson came from. Some coaches want to remain in a comfortable situation where they can have consistent success, some have the itch to change and never really settle in any job. Mourinho’s genius is built upon his style and his willingness to ruffle feathers in the name of winning and getting the most out of his time at a club. I think it’s a little crazy honestly that any owner or president would ever get upset with him because they should understand what they’re getting into with Mourinho. He’s an enigma wrapped in bacon — because bacon is awesome, like Mou — and anyone that hires him should know what they’re getting. The fact that these powerful men of soccer apparently believe that they can somehow be the person who reigns in the stallion and control Mourinho — if that is what they’re thinking — is some insanely comical, I can’t help but laugh writing the idea down. Then again there is never a shortage of arrogance and fanciful thinking in the power structures of the beautiful game. So perhaps Mourinho has worn out his welcome in Madrid, perhaps a majority of players have tired of his style and are demanding a change. That would be their prerogative, a short sided one from my outside perspective, but none the less their right to feel how they will about working with and playing for Mourinho. Madrid ousted a talented manager in Manuel Pellegrini to bring in Mourinho back in 2010. They’ve reaped the rewards in the form of a league title and several other cups. There’s every reason to believe that by the end of May, Mourinho will have brought Madrid their 10th European title. There’s also every reason to believe that would be his final act in charge of the club. If he leaves, where Mourinho surfaces will be one of the biggest stories of the summer. Team across the glo

Suduva Marijampole ( 0 – 1 ) FK Ekranas , Lithuania on The 25th of May, 2013 at ten to two Podcast:

The Barcelona assistant doubts the Portuguese’s departure will weaken the Blancos and revealed that Tito Vilanova has once more returned from his cancer treatment in New York Barcelona’s second-in-command Jordi Roura does not believe Jose Mourinho’s departure will weaken arch-rivals Real Madrid. The Portuguese has long been rumoured to be leaving the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season and it was finally confirmed this week, though the Blaugrana assistant was reluctant to read too much into the exit. Roura said: “It’s not up to me to comment on [Mourinho leaving]. Madrid will always be a difficult opponent.” Roura also revealed that Tito Vilanova has returned from further cancer treatment in New York and reported that the head coach is looking healthy. He added: “Tito has arrived back from New York very cheerful. He looks happy – the tests went well and he looks good.” Barca face city rivals Espanyol in their penultimate Liga game of the season and Roura said it is up to their opposition if they want to give a guard of honour, while revealing Carles Puyol will be rested though Dani Alves could feature. “[Espanyol] are free to do what they want. We can’t say anything, Espanyol can decide,” he continued. “Alves trained well, we’ll see tomorrow if he can play. We will focus on Puyol returning next season as we want him to be back totally recovered.” Barca kick-off against their local rivals at 20:00CET on Sunday as they pursue the 100-point mark – something they have never reached before and require two wins out of two to achieve.

The Real Madrid target says he remains adamant on departing but, acknowledging his current contract, wants to come to an amicable agreement with his employers Real Madrid target Carlo Ancelotti has insisted he still has his heart set on leaving his position as Paris Saint-Germain coach in the summer. The owner and Leonardo, the club’s sporting director, have said this week they are keen to hold on to the Italian, who helped guide les Parisiens to the Ligue 1 title for the first time in 19 years this season. Ahead of PSG’s last game of the campaign, at Lorient, Ancelotti reiterated his desire to leave Parc des Princes but admitted that, with a year still to run on his current deal, it complicates the situation. “I have not changed my mind [regarding wanting to leave],” he told reporters on Saturday at a press conference. “It will be discussed in the coming days and we will try to find the right solution for myself and the club. “There was not much said ahead of preparing for the final match of the campaign against Lorient – the atmosphere is still positive, so we’ll see. “We must take time to decide because it is a difficult choice. We have not spoken this week so I can’t tell you anything. I have not spoken of it with Real Madrid – this is between me and PSG. Real Madrid are a possibility though. “Lorient will be my last game? Not necessarily, I’m not sure. I still have a year [left on my] contract and, if we do not find a solution, I will respect it. “A contract may be broken but both parties must agree. I will not say why I want to leave, it’s personal.” PSG’s climax to their triumphant season kicks off at 21:00CET on Sunday.

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund give their final press conferences ahead of their Champions League showdown at Wembley.

Corona 2010 Brasov ( 3 – 3 ) FC Arges Pitesti , Romania on The 25th of May, 2013 at five past one Podcast: