Lukaku apologizes to police, pays fine after escaping jail term

Manchester United striker, Romelu Lukaku, has said he “deeply regrets” his behaviour and has reimbursed police for repeated callouts over loud partying in Beverly Hills, the player’s lawyer has said.

Lukaku was arrested after police responded to five noise complaints in as many days, at the home where he was staying in the summer.

His lawyer, Robert Humphreys, entered a no contest plea in court in Los Angeles on Monday and paid $450 (£336) to reimburse police for their time.

“Mr Lukaku deeply regrets any inconvenience he caused the city of Beverly Hills.

“And he’s pleased by this settlement to make amends for his past conduct and pleased to have the matter behind him,” Humphreys said after the hearing.

The incident happened shortly before the Belgium international moved to United in a £75million deal.

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Mourinho ready to allow Manchester United players leave

Manchester United boss, Jose Mourinho, has made it clear that he is willing to sanction a move away from the club, for any player who is unhappy and wants to leave.

One year ago, United sold Morgan Schneiderlin to Everton and Memphis Depay to Lyon for a combined £37million, after both fell out of favour during Mourinho’s first season at Old Trafford.

Mourinho refused to rule out bringing new signings in January, but is open to allowing players leave.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is among those struggling to get into Mourinho’s team after failing to even make the bench in seven of the last eight games.

Luke Shaw, Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind are also on the fringes of the squad, while Marouane Fellaini has only six months left on his contract.

“I think for the right price. That’s my approach as a manager.

“I think every player has a price. If a player is not happy, if a player brings with him the request with the number that we consider a good number for us – like with Memphis and Morgan – I would never say no,” Mourinho told a news conference on Friday.

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Wenger refuses to give up on Premier League title

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is refusing to concede defeat in the Premier League title race even though his team are now 15 points adrift of Manchester City in top spot.

Mauricio Pochettino has ruled Tottenham out of contention but Wenger is refusing to throw in the towel despite Saturday’s painful 3-1 loss to Manchester United.

The Gunners, who last won the trophy in 2003-04 and have three more points than rivals Spurs, are lagging in fifth spot after five defeats in their first 15 games.

“I am not Pochettino, I am Arsene Wenger,” the Frenchman said. “I am here to fight as long as I can. As long as mathematically it’s possible, you have to fight. You cannot give any other message out.”

Wenger believes the performance in the loss to United, who capitalised on two defensive howlers, has revived belief within his squad.

“I believe from the game, it has to make us angry and even more determined,” added Wenger, whose side dominated possession and produced a succession of chances but were thwarted by United goalkeeper David De Gea.

“If I am a player, and I think with what we produced, we have a huge potential, and we lose the game. We cannot accept that.

“That’s what you want, the players have produced a quality performance.

“What makes you angry is that you produce that performance and in the end you have nothing to show for it. That’s very difficult to accept.”

Wenger welcomed the positive reaction of the Emirates Stadium crowd to Arsenal’s performance.

“The crowd sees as well that the team produced what is expected from them. The crowd was outstanding. And the team was outstanding. But we were not efficient. I cannot deny that. They have scored three, we have scored one.”

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Europa League: Wenger speaks ahead of Arsenal clash with Cologne

Arsenal coach, Arsene Wenger has said that he plans to feature a strong side in their UEFA Europa league (UEL) away match against Cologne on Thursday.

Arsenal, who are on 10 points have already advanced into the last-32 of the UEL competition.

The Gunners need a win against the German club to top Group H.

Wenger is expected to again give his young players a chance to impress, with the likes of 17-year-old Reiss Nelson, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock all expected to feature in the squad.

“You will see a very experienced team tomorrow and see that every player has a big experience in the Premier League,” Wenger said during Wednesday’s pre-match press conference.

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Aguero seals Argentina win in Moscow

Argentina’s Sergio Aguero (L) and Russia’s defender Fedor Kudryashov vie for the ball during an international friendly football match between Russia and Argentina at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow 

A late goal from Sergio Aguero unlocked a stubborn Russian defence as Argentina showed their intent ahead of next year’s World Cup with a 1-0 win over the tournament hosts here Saturday.

The goal by the Manchester City forward set the South Americans on their way to a well-deserved win at Moscow’s renovated 81,000-capacity Luzhniki stadium which will host next year’s final.

Argentina, orchestrated by Lionel Messi, seized the initiative early on but their first meaningful chance came in the 21st minute when Angel Di Maria received Messi’s pass in the area but Russian ‘keeper Igor Akinfeev parried his low shot for a corner.

Three minutes later Aguero forced Akinfeev into a diving save to deny his attempt from just outside the box.

Akinfeev was the hero of the first half as he produced another impressive save after Aguero’s powerful shot from just nine yards out.

After the interval Argentina continued to dominate posession and kept Russia’s defence under constant pressure but failed to find the net before the 86th minute.

Aguero broke the deadlock when he headed in a rebound from his own blocked shot after a sharp break down the right wing and low cross from Cristian Pavon.

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Neymar breaks down in tears as coach speaks on ‘problems’ at PSG [VIDEO]

 Brazil forward, Neymar has denied reports that he had problems with his team mates at his club, Paris St Germain, PSG.

The superstar was in tears on Friday as his national team coach Tite spoke to the media on the matter.

He later excused himself from the press conference.

After Brazil beat Japan 3-1 in a friendly, Neymar refuted suggestions that he regretted moving to the French club.

“I don’t like whispers and stories. So, it’s better that you hear it from the horse’s mouth,” he told reporters after game in Lille.

“I don’t have any problems at PSG, the only thing that bothers me is the pressure from the media.

“I‘m a guy who likes to win, I like winning titles and that’s why I came to PSG.

“I‘m very happy, I‘m motivated. They are inventing stories which aren’t true, I don’t have any problems with (forward) Edinson Cavani or with my coach (Unai Emery).

“I came to help and to be happy, I didn’t come to upset anyone or cause trouble,” he added.

Tite backed Neymar and denied suggestions that he also had a troubled relationship with the player.

“I keep hearing that Tite has problems with Neymar and I am tired of hearing that… we are tired of it,” he said.

“I know that if he did have problems, then he would have the decency and the good character to talk about them in the dressing room.

“I can talk about Neymar’s temperament, his good nature and his big heart.”

Link –

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Manchester City Will Be ‘Hard To Stop’ – Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger accepted leaders Manchester City would be “hard to stop” in their quest for the Premier League title especially if they continued to get the rub of the green from referees.

The Gunners manager accused City forward Raheem Sterling of diving after he won a penalty in his team’s 3-1 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday.

Veteran French boss Wenger was furious with the performance of referee Michael Oliver who awarded the spot kick and a dubious goal, which the Arsenal manager claimed was offside.

“I believe it was no penalty,” said Wenger. “We know that Raheem Sterling dives well, he does that very well.

“And the third goal was offside. I am very upset because at 2-1 we were in the game. The third goal was the killer and it is by coincidence that mistakes always go for the home team, as we know.

“It is unfortunate that the game finished the way it finished. I am disappointed. You can accept if it City win in a normal way, they are a good side but this is unacceptable,” added Wenger after a match that left his side 12 points behind the table-toppers.

“Last season we lost two offside goals and it has happened again. City will be hard to stop.”

‘Never say never’

City have 10 wins and a draw from their opening 11 league games this season, prompting speculation they could emulate Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ Arsenal team that were through the whole of the 2003/04 campaign without losing a Premier League fixture.

“Look, can anyone stop them?” asked Wenger rhetorically. “It will be difficult this season with the way they have started, the way they are on a run, they quality they have.

“They will be difficult to stop but you never say never. If, on top of that, they have decisions like that at home, they will be unstoppable.”

Wenger had grounds for complaint when Laurent Koscielny was judged to have brought down Sterling for Sergio Aguero to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot and television replays suggested he was especially hard done by as David Silva appeared offside before setting up Gabriel Jesus for City’s third goal in the 74th minute.

“I felt it was an intense game of quality for both sides,” said Wenger. “Man City are on a high but I felt we had plenty of dangerous situations and chances.

“Overall, once again, the referee made the decision again, with a penalty and an offside goal. We are used to it when we come here. I feel they (referees) don’t work enough, because it happens every season. It is unacceptable,” he insisted.

Kevin De Bruyne gave City the lead while, trailing 2-0, Arsenal were briefly given hope when substitute Alexandre Lacazette pulled a goal back.

City manager Pep Guardiola was understandably delighted to have beaten a title rival so emphatically.

After winning just two games against the top six clubs last season, City have already won all three in the current campaign, hammering Liverpool and outplaying champions Chelsea and, now, Arsenal.

“All know is everybody can beat us, that is a principle in all sports,” said Guardiola. “It doesn’t matter what happens in the past. You can win the Champions League and lose the day after.

“Last season we were only able to win twice against the big teams, at Old Trafford against United and here against Arsenal. This season in November, we already won three times, one more.”

The Spaniard added: “We spoke about that. If you want to win the Premier League, you have to win, especially at home, against Liverpool, United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea. It is so hard to win away.”

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Chelsea Manager Conte Hopeful Over Morata Injury

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte expressed optimism about the extent of the injury that curtailed striker Alvaro Morata’s involvement in Saturday’s 1-0 loss at home to Manchester City.

Morata was substituted in the 35th minute of the game at Stamford Bridge and appeared to gesture to his left hamstring as he left the pitch.

Conte hopes Morata’s early exit spared him from a more serious injury, although he said the 24-year-old was unlikely to be able to join up with the Spain squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Israel.

“It’s a muscular problem. I don’t think it’s a serious problem,” Conte told his post-match press conference.

“Because it stopped before becoming a serious injury. He said to me: ‘Coach, I prefer to stop myself otherwise I risk a bad injury.’

“The doctor in the next days has to check the situation. I don’t think he’s available for the national team.”

Morata has scored seven goals in eight games for Chelsea since signing from Real Madrid during the close season.

Kevin De Bruyne’s second-half goal earned City a 1-0 win that took them back to the top of the table, above Manchester United on goal difference, and left Chelsea six points off the pace in fourth place.

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Barcelona Could Join Premier League If Catalonia Gains Independence

Catalan sports minister insists Barca, Espanyol and Girona will have to decide where they want to play after La Liga chief maintains they cannot be part of Spain’s top flight if the region goes it alone.

Barcelona could end up plying their trade in the English Premier League if Catalonia wins independence, according to the region’s sports minister.

The claim was made after La Liga president Javier Tebas insisted that Catalan clubs would not be allowed to play in Spain’s top flight should the region vote to go it alone.

Sunday’s referendum has been declared illegal by the Spanish government and ballot boxes have been seized with prime minister Mariano insisting the referendum “won’t happen”.

There is strong support for independence among Catalonia’s 7.5m population – including from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola – but parties loyal to Spain are boycotting the vote.

Among the many uncertainties is what will happen to the region’s football clubs, including Barca, if Catalonia becomes a new country.
Gerard Figueras, Catalonia’s minister of sport, said;

“In the case of independence, Catalan teams in La Liga – Barcelona, Espanyol and Girona – will have to decide where they want to play: in the Spanish league or a neighbouring country: Italy, France or the Premier League.

“Now in Spain there teams from other countries who play in national leagues: clubs from Andorra in football and basketball. Monaco plays in France, in England Welsh clubs. I don’t think that UEFA has anything against seeing another club play in a different league from their country.”

Spain have insisted Barcelona will not be allowed to play in La Liga if the illegal vote goes through.

La Liga president Javier Tebas said;

“In sport, it isn’t a la carte and things must be clearly stated. It isn’t easy to have an agreement and study Spanish legislation but if they (Catalan clubs) do get that, then they will not be able to play in Spain’s La Liga, but I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

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Can City cope without Aguero and Mendy?

News of two injuries -- Sergio Aguero's reported broken rib
 after he was involved in a car accident in the Netherlands on Thursday night; Benjamin Mendy's cruciate knee ligament diagnosis -- has rocked Manchester City ahead of unquestionably their sternest test of the season so far: Saturday's trip to Chelsea.

And it had all been going so well. City's swashbuckling style has, thus far, swept all before them (bar the 1-1 draw with Everton, of course).

In their last two Premier League games at home, Pep Guardiola's team scored 10 goals against Liverpool and Crystal Palace, taking just 180 minutes to match the miserable total amassed over 1,710 minutes 10 years ago. From their six games in the league, they've scored 21 times and conceded only twice.

And it's a team effort. Aguero already sits joint-top of the Premier League goal charts with six, but Raheem Sterling is just behind him with five and Gabriel Jesus has four. No Premier League player has more assists so far this season than David Silva, who has made six, but Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne also make the top 10 with three assists apiece.

Even potential title rivals have been blown away. Though the 5-0 win at home to Liverpool was impressive in the way City dismantled Jurgen Klopp's team in the second half, the first half dismissal of Sadio Mane denied Liverpool the chance to truly test City's chin.

Defending champions Chelsea were always going to be a different proposition. Antonio Conte's team defeated City twice in the league last season, with the victory at the Etihad coming as a result of a tactical masterclass by the Chelsea manager. The champions have the personnel and the game plan to beat, or certainly stifle, City again.

Guardiola's team are stronger than last season but how City overcome the loss of two key players will be crucial -- not only to this weekend's game but also their prospects of winning the title.

Aguero' s first-team spot has been in doubt in recent months, with Guardiola making it clear the Argentine had a fight on his hands but the player's form this season, and blossoming partnership with Gabriel Jesus, means that his absence will be keenly felt -- especially given the fact that City have no backup beyond the Brazilian to call upon.

Mendy, a summer signing from Monaco, had given City power and balance down the left, complementing the qualities of fellow newcomer Kyle Walker on the right. Upgrading the full-backs was a priority for Guardiola this summer and he did it well, but City have no direct replacement for the Frenchman; this Saturday will be a big challenge, especially against the likes of Eden Hazard and Pedro Rodriguez.

Equally, Chelsea must overcome the absence of the suspended David Luiz in defence, but Wednesday's Champions League win against Atletico Madrid in Spain highlighted the champions' growing confidence. They have bounced back from the opening-day defeat against Burnley in some style and centre-forward Alvaro Morata is showing the same kind of scoring prowess as Aguero at City.

But as City prepare to travel to Chelsea as league leaders this weekend, the landscape for the club could not be more different than it was a decade ago.

Then, it was a very different story. The club set a Premier League record, one that is unlikely ever to be broken but is the kind of milestone they would be happy to erase from the history books.

During the 2006-07 season, City scored just 10 league goals at home in the entire campaign. Just 10 goals in 19 games: they only scored 19 on their travels that year, so it was not merely a bout of severe homesickness that prevented Stuart Pearce's players from sticking the ball in the back of the net.

Centre-forward Georgios Samaras scored just four league goals -- a return that earned the Greek striker the sardonic nickname "Tragedy" -- and midfielder Joey Barton topped the scoring charts with six.

Remembering the depths previously plunged often helps bring perspective to the here and now. City were exciting to watch in Guardiola's first campaign in charge last year and scored plenty of goals, too, but they were never quite as devastating as they have been so far this term.

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5 reasons Carlo Ancelotti was sacked: Tactics trouble and player power rule at Bayern

Carlo Ancelotti was sacked as Bayern Munich manager on Thursday following a 3-0 humbling at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

While some have thought the decision was hasty, here's five reasons why Bayern have acted ...

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1. Tactical mishaps

It was billed as a battle between PSG's new money and Bayern's more traditional, hard-earned values -- a high-profile opportunity for the Bundesliga champions to demonstrate their more conservative transfer policy could take on PSG's lavish approach to taking on the European elite.

Ancelotti came up with a plan against Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe based on shoring up central areas. Disastrously, this cunning plan went out of the window after only 85 seconds when Neymar waltzed through the porous Bayern defence, laying the opener on a plate for Dani Alves. Ancelotti provoked his own dismissal with a peculiar team selection, pairing the cumbersome duo Javi Martinez and Niklas Sule in central defence. His most accomplished defender Mats Hummels was relegated to the bench alongside Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery and his most athletic defender Jerome Boateng watched the game from the stands.

Bayern pulled the plug after such an embarrassingly high-profile defeat in Paris, with Ancelotti the scapegoat.

2. Lost dressing room

A reporter asked Robben after the crushing defeat if the players were still behind the manager. It is the sort of question asked after a dip in form and murmurings of dressing room unrest. The Netherlands skipper declined to answer. That was a clear signal the Italian's days were numbered. On Thursday, President Uli Hoeness confirmed to radio station FFH that five players had turned against Ancelotti. "An enemy in your own ranks is a dangerous thing," he said. Bayern had to act swiftly.

There is little doubt that Ribery, Bayern's longest serving player, was in those five. Bayern couldn't fire five misfiring players so ultimately the manager has to pay the price for losing the dressing room. Robben, Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski all had public run-ins with Ancelotti.

Once ex-Bayern right-back Willy Sagnol was brought in over Ancelotti's head as his assistant, there's a case for saying he was on borrowed time.

Michael Ballack's foresight proved spot on when he said his former boss at Chelsea might regret agreeing to Sagnol. All was not well between him and the board, with Ancelotti saying he would have preferred Xabi Alonso or Philipp Lahm alongside him on the bench. Sagnol is now the interim boss.

3. Bayern go backwards

There is no doubt Ancelotti had overseen a regression in the quality of performance since taking over from Pep Guardiola. Admittedly, Bayern fans have been massively spoilt in recent seasons, winning the Bundesliga five years on the trot, but the board had no confidence he could turn it around. Modern football, ladies and gentlemen.

Last year's Bundesliga title win papered over the cracks; it was remarkably unspectacular in what is becoming a weak league judging by German clubs' results in Europe. Bayern were a little unfortunate to go out to Real Madrid in the Champions League last eight, but they were also defeated by Thomas Tuchel's Borussia Dortmund in the DFB Cup semifinal when they were also deprived of the injured Manuel Neuer.

"Intensity" is undoubtedly Ancelotti's favourite word, gleaned from his news conferences over the last season and a bit. But under his tutelage, Bayern have gone stale, lacking intensity and looking distinctly average on occasion. This season, they also have to contend without the retired legends of the game, Alonso and Lahm, and will miss the world's best keeper and new captain Neuer for a large chunk too. In what is their worst start to a domestic season since 2010, Sven Ulreich, a hapless backup goalkeeper with floppy wrists, has not helped Ancelotti's cause.

4. Disillusioned?

Weeks before his sacking, the rumour mill started to churn with stories of interest from the Chinese Super League. An ESPN FC source suggested a move to England was on the cards should the Italian's time at Bayern end prematurely. In what proved his final, ill-fated weeks at the club, you never had the feeling he would be too bothered or upset if he was no longer tasked with coaching Bayern.

He would be quite content to return to his fishing in Canada for a few months, before turning up in China or in England in a few months' time, working at a club that will not ban him from enjoying a cigarette in peace

5. A different direction sought

The outspoken Hoeness has often said he dreams of a team of German internationals, and with this in mind Bayern added Die Mannschaft talent in Sule, Sebastian Rudy and Serge Gnabry (loaned to Hoffenheim) to their squad over the summer.

There's a yearning at the club for someone closer to home, especially among the press pack, some of whom have had enough of the translators in tow with Guardiola and Ancelotti in recent seasons.

For all their faults, the German champions have only lost one league game this season: to Hoffenheim, coached by a highly rated 30-year-old who "dreams of coaching Bayern". Enter a certain Julian Nagelsmann. A Bavarian no less. What can go wrong?

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Cristiano Ronaldo fixes wedding date

Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez plan to tie the knots after the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The Real Madrid superstar has given his fiancee a £232,000 five-carat diamond ring.

And Portuguese daily, Correio de Manha, claims the pair will officially get married next year.

Georgina, 23, is pregnant with Ronaldo’s baby. And her new dance teachers have accidentally revealed the sex of the couple’s unborn child .

The salsa pair confirmed suspicions Cristiano and his partner were expecting a girl in an Instagram gaffe.

Georgina posted a video of her enjoying her first class in a loose top which hid her baby bump and said: “Dancing makes your heart happy. Thanks to my teachers Basi and Deisy for giving me my first salsa lessons. I’m happy.”

Their reply, removed from social media after it was spotted by eagle-eyed fans, was: “A pleasure giving you salsa lessons.”

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Things we learned in the Premier League

The Manchester clubs kept control of the title race, Alvaro Morata scored his first Chelsea hat-trick and Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho began to redeem himself for angling to join Barcelona.

Here are five things we learned in the Premier League this weekend:

Aguero remains a central figure for Man City
The writing appeared to be on the wall for Sergio Aguero at Manchester City last season when Gabriel Jesus’s arrival in January saw him lose his place in the side.

But an injury to Jesus brought Aguero back into the team and his performances convinced manager Pep Guardiola to begin this season with both players in his starting XI.

When Guardiola switched to a one-striker configuration against Crystal Palace, it was Jesus who made way and he was not missed as Aguero struck in a 5-0 rout that left City top of the table.

The Argentina striker has now scored 176 goals for City and needs just two more to surpass Eric Brook as the club’s all-time leading scorer.

Morata showed Chelsea can thrive without Costa
When Antonio Conte signed Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid in the close season, some critics suggested the Spain striker would not be an adequate replacement for Diego Costa given the unique physical demands of the Premier League.

Whereas Costa is all snarling aggression and muscular power, Morata relies more on movement and subtle technique to outwit defenders.

But the 24-year-old has made a quick transition to the English game and bagged his first Chelsea hat-trick in Saturday’s 4-0 rout of Stoke City to take his tally for the club to six goals.

In the week that Chelsea finally agreed a deal to allow Costa to return to Atletico Madrid, Morata showed the champions can move on with minimum fuss.

Coutinho has started his redemption tour
Less than a month ago, Philippe Coutinho was in danger of becoming Public Enemy Number One at Anfield as the Liverpool playmaker tried to force through a move to Barcelona.

When Liverpool refused to sell him, he was left in a potentially awkward situation.

But manager Jurgen Klopp has handled the situation deftly, treating Coutinho respectfully without giving in to his demands.

Back in the starting line-up at Leicester City, Coutinho showed his class by teeing up Mohamed Salah for Liverpool’s opener before curling in a sublime free-kick that set his side up for a 3-2 win.

More performances like this and his transfer saga will soon be a distant memory.

Lukaku has given Man United a new dimension
By the admission of manager Jose Mourinho, Manchester United were not at their fluid best in their 1-0 win at Southampton.

It was the sort of game United would not have won last season, when their league-high 15 draws contributed to a disappointing sixth-place finish.

But new striker Romelu Lukaku gives them greater cutting edge and his 20th-minute goal settled the game, the Belgium striker finishing at the second attempt after Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster parried his header.

United have made their best start to a season since 2011-12 and Lukaku is only the second player (after Louis Saha) to have scored six goals in his first six games for the club in the Premier League era.

Spurs must iron out Aurier’s rough edges
Serge Aurier’s full Premier League debut for Tottenham Hotspur showcased the best and worst of the controversial Ivory Coast international.

He got forward well and helped to tee up Christian Eriksen for what proved to be the decisive goal in a 3-2 success at London rivals West Ham United.

But the Paris Saint-Germain old boy was frequently caught out of position and was sent off with 20 minutes remaining after being shown a second yellow card for needlessly scything down Andy Carroll.

Tottenham led 3-1 at that stage and had it not been for Aurier, they would have seen the game out much more comfortably.

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WAFU 2017: Super Eagles coach vows to defeat Ghana in final

Head coach of the home-based Super Eagles, Salisu Yusuf, has said his teams know what it needs to do, to beat Ghana in the final of the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) cup final on Sunday.

Salisu, whose team dealt a 2-0 blow to the host nation, Ghana in the final group stage game on Monday, said: “We know what they will be up to and what they will be ready to give to take the trophy.,

“We are more than ready to confront them and give them more than they expect.

“The Super Eagles have become used to winning, from winning the CHAN ticket to conquering Sierra Leone and even Ghana here to reach the final, and we cannot stop now.

“We want that winning mentality to remain all the way to the CHAN finals early next year.”

Nigeria defeated 10-man Benin 1-0 on Thursday to qualify for this year’s WAFU Cup final.

The final match, which will see two teams with seven African titles between them lock horns, will start at 7pm Nigeria time.

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Neymar apologizes to Cavani, PSG team-mates over penalty fight

World-record signing, Neymar, has said sorry to Edinson Cavani and his Paris Saint-Germain team-mates, after he argued with the striker over a penalty last weekend.

Neymar and Cavani clashed over who should take a late penalty during Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Lyon at the Parc des Princes.

Cavani missed from 12 yards and L’Equipe reported that the pair had to be separated by team-mates in the changing room after the match.

The French paper now claims the Brazilian has apologised to the PSG squad following the incident.

Manager Unai Emery revealed on Thursday, that both Neymar and Cavani would be trusted to take penalties. But he refused to reveal who was his preferred choice.

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League Cup is a waste of energy, says Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has called the League Cup “a waste of energy” as the Manchester City manager joined old rival Jose Mourinho in questioning the worth of the competition.

The League Cup was created in 1960 to take advantage of the fact that floodlights had increased the possibility for midweek football.

However, the tournament has always been seen as secondary to the FA Cup in England, and its importance has gradually diminished over the last two decades as the top sides started to rest their key players until the latter stages.

In an attempt to keep the bigger clubs interested, the Football League has allowed English teams playing in European competition to be exempt until the third round since 1996, while replays were scrapped in 1997.

Yet Manchester United manager Mourinho suggested on Wednesday that English clubs in the Champions League and Europa League should be allowed to opt out of the tournament.

Guardiola has supported those comments as City bid to navigate a frantic run of games.

The City manager made eight changes for Wednesday’s 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion in the League Cup third round, allowing him to keep players fresh before Saturday’s Premier League home game against Crystal Palace.

City host Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday before travelling to Chelsea for a league game the following Saturday.

Mourinho guided United to win the competition last season, but Guardiola does not believe it was worth the effort.

The Spaniard has suggested that it was victory in the Europa League, rather than the domestic cup, that made Mourinho’s first season at Old Trafford a success.

– Not much credit –
“We have a lot of games. If you have to play in a competition you have to play in it,” Guardiola said on Friday.

“It’s good for the players you don’t use a lot. It’s a prize where, when you win, it’s OK, but after that the people don’t give too much credit.

“I think the prize is good when you win another one. But you waste a lot of energy.

“You can imagine going against a Tony Pulis team (West Brom) and playing 90 minutes in those conditions, then you spend three or four hours on the bus.

“Then three days later, it’s Crystal Palace, three days later, Shakhtar Donetsk, three or four days later, Stamford Bridge.

“So for the managers, there’s a lot of wasted energy. But we knew that before, so it’s not a complaint in those terms. If we have to play, we have to play.”

City and United go into the weekend joint-top of the Premier League, each with 13 points from five matches and an identical goals record.

Guardiola’s team are on a run of five successive wins, and have defeated Liverpool 5-0 and Watford 6-0 in recent weeks.

That has made them favourites to beat Palace, who are bottom of the Premier League without a point or a goal.

But their new manager Roy Hodgson guided them to a midweek League Cup win over Huddersfield Town, and Guardiola has warned his players to be wary.

“The team are not pulled by strings. One little detail down and everything is down. You have to be careful,” he said.

“They have to go to sleep tonight and know that tomorrow, we can lose that game. If that happens, we will be closer to actually winning.”

Former England manager Hodgson, at 70, is the oldest man ever to be appointed to take charge of a Premier League club.

Guardiola, at 46, admires the new Palace boss for his long career, but insists that he has no intention of still being a coach in his seventies.

“Definitely not. I promise you. I love golf. But I admire him,” he said.

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