Lewandowski will be at Dortmund next season No Matter what, claims Klopp

Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp has stated that Robert Lewandowski will still be at Signal Iduna Park next season....


The Poland international's agent has claimed that his client, who has just over a year left on his current contract with die Schwarzgelben, will be joining Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich this summer.

However, Klopp insists that he knows nothing of Lewandowski's alleged move to the Allianz Arena and claims that he has been left baffled by the comments made by the striker's representative, Maik Barthel.

"My understanding is that Robert will still be here next year," the Dortmund coach told reporters at a press conference on Thursday.

"The fact is that we are going very well this season. Why should we care about next year? Nobody knows what will happen next year.

"I cannot understand why an agent is speaking about a player that is under contract. I have many strange thoughts about all of this."

Meanwhile, Klopp revealed that Lewandowski's international and club colleague, Lukasz Piszczek, is a doubt for the second leg of Dortmund's Champions League semi-final tie with Real Madrid.

"He's definitely out of the game against [Fortuna] Dusseldorf this weekend," the coach explained. "And it's even going to be tight for the return fixture against Madrid on Tuesday."

Dortmund hammered los Blancos 4-1 in Wednesday night's first leg at Signal Iduna Park, with Lewandowski scoring all of the home side's goals and Cristiano Ronaldo grabbing Jose Mourinho's side's solitary away strike.

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Vilanova: Even Spirits Can depend on Messi

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova believes that any team in the world would depend on Lionel Messi.

The Argentine has been absent through injury recently but returned to the starting line-up for the clash with Bayern Munich as the Blaugrana slumped to a 4-0 defeat, with the Argentine not looking 100 per cent fit...


"It's quite normal for us to notice when Messi is absent, who wouldn't?" he told reporters.

"[Depending on Messi] is nothing new and it's normal since he's the best in the world. We hope to be dependent on him for many years."

Vilanova went on to reject the notion that there has been a power shift in football towards Germany and vowed that his side would give their all to turn around the tie with Bayern on Wednesday.

"I don't think it's the end of an era for Barca. If we didn't have a great team, we wouldn't be close to winning the league and in the Champions League semi-finals," he continued.

"We're Barca, we are playing at home and we have an obligation to our fans to try to turn the tie around. I accept the criticism we received after the Bayern game but we're not going to throw the towel in yet."

Vilanova went on to say that his relationship with Pep Guardiola is not as it once was and thanked Jordi Roura for his services to the team while he was receiving cancer treatment in New York City.

"Pep and I have been close friends since we were kids, but of course things cool down a bit when you are far apart," he continued.

"I'm grateful to Jordi for everything he has done. It wasn't an easy situation for him, but he did great."

Barca can mathematically win La Liga this weekend but Vilanova says he does not care when the title is wrapped up.

"I don't care where or when we would win the league, I just want to win it, against the best Madrid in history."

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I won't replace Mourinho at Real Madrid, says Villas-Boas

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas insists he will not succeed Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid...


 With the 50-year-old reportedly set to leave the Spanish capital at the end of the season, Villas-Boas has been among those linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu. But the Portuguese boss, who has yet to spend more than a single season at any one club, has reaffirmed his desire to stay at White Hart Lane.

 "At the moment, I am very, very focused on trying to get another year at one club. The same club," Villas-Boas told reporters. "I have a contract. I was given an opportunity and was extremely grateful.

 "The speculation about Real Madrid comes from the coach having speculation all over the world about his exit - Real Madrid are looking for a coach and the coach there is under a contract." Villas-Boas, who is attempting to guide Tottenham to a place in next season's Champions League, admits he is flattered to be linked with the role at Real Madrid but maintains he is concentrating on his task at White Hart Lane.

 "The fact he made it public that he is looking for an exit has ended up with a lot of speculation," said Villas-Boas. "For me, it is always an honour, but I am completely focused.

 "When everybody signs a contract, you are expected to do it until the end. The contract can end with you sometimes still at the club. "But sometimes things have to happen. It has happened to me - both situations."

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Torres Will Remain at Stamford Bridge, with Falcao in Line to Join the the Blues.

Radamel Falcao has been heavily linked with Chelsea FC but Fernando Torres insists he will stay, regardless of the recent speculations.Radamel Falcao has been heavily linked with Chelsea FC but Fernando Torres insists he will stay, regardless of the recent speculations....

Jose Mourinho is yet to return to Stamford Bridge, but he seems to be the man behind the rumours linking the Atletico Madrid striker with a move to the Premier League. According to the Sun, it is believed Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge has a condition, that Roman Abrahamovich must free up enough cash for the ‘Special One’ to secure Falcao who has a big buyout clause in his Atletico contract.
In contrast, Torres is determined to finish the remaining three years of his contract at Stamford Bridge.

Fernando Torres and Teammates.

“When you play for Chelsea you’re always hoping big names come, and the big names are always related to Chelsea,” Torres said.
Torres has scored seven goals in Europe this season, his last Premier League goal was in the 8-0 drubbing of Aston Villa on December 23 and is embracing Falcao’s move without fear for the competition the deal is likely to bring into Chelsea’s attack.
“You cannot stop that, especially when the summer comes, and every top player is welcome at Chelsea. Since I came we have only signed top players, so it would not be a surprise if we signed Falcao,” the 29- year- old Spaniard added.
Despite insisting he will welcome the arrival of Falcao, Torres has been linked with Serie A side Fiorentina according to the Daily Mail; with Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic expected to join either Arsenal or Manchester City in the summer. The club will be hoping to secure Fernando Torres as a replacement. The club’s chief scout, Eduardo Macia, was partly responsible for Torres’ move from Atletico to Liverpool in 2007.

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“The Traditions Of English Football Will Be Respected” – Wenger

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, has confirmed that his players will form a guard of honour for former skipper Robin van Persie and his Manchester United team mates, before their Premier League clash on Sunday...

United secured their 20th title, thanks to Van Persie’s hat-trick against Aston Villa on Monday and the Gunners will be expected to clap the champions onto the Emirates pitch.
Wenger also called for the fans to respect the Dutch striker, who left Arsenal last summer in a £22m deal.
“I want the traditions of English football to be respected,” Wenger replied, when asked if his players would form a guard of honour.
“We respect Robin van Persie like every other player who has left and comes back. I want the player to be respected.

“He is a massive talent with world-class technique and huge experience with the national team and in the Champions League. I had no doubt he’d adapt.
“I think Arsenal had a positive impact on the life and career of Robin van Persie.
“You always miss a big player but now we are stabilised. We are on a very strong run. We have a good level of confidence and a great desire.
“What we know is that we will need a great performance to beat Manchester United. That’s what we will focus on.”

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Sir Alex Ferguson Named Richest Manager In British Football – See List Of Top 10

Sir Alex Ferguson has come out on top of another table —  as British football’s wealthiest manager – with his former midfielder Roy Keane in second place....


In the week his Manchester United team regained the Barclays Premier League crown, Ferguson has been named the richest boss in the country with a fortune of £34million.
The 71-year-old, who earns in the region of £7m a year at Old Trafford and owns a string of racehorses, is ahead of his former Old Trafford captain Keane and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
They are each worth £29m according to the fourth annual Sunday Times Sport Rich List, which accounts for sportsmen in Britain and Ireland.

As a player Keane, the former Sunderland and Ipswich manager, broke through the £100,000-a-week salary mark, while
Arsenal boss Wenger continues to be handsomely paid during his long reign at the Emirates.
England manager Roy Hodgson, on a £3m-a-year deal with the FA, squeaks into the top 10 on £12m but is behind predecessor Sven Goran Eriksson, who has accumulated £16m.
Manchester City chief Roberto Mancini and Ireland supremo Giovanni Trapattoni lie in joint-fourth on the list with fortunes of £21m.
Chelsea’s interim manager Rafa Benitez also makes the list, with £12m, despite not being on it last year.

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