What's trending: Messi 'not human,' Caballero start
Here are the latest stories from Tuesday.
BARCELONA: Barcelona defender Gerard Pique heaped praise on Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo but insists that Lionel Messi is in a league of his own.
– Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu insists Barcelona will not speak to anyone about selling Neymar after the Brazilian’s agent, Wagner Ribeiro, talked up the potential of a move to PSG. Bartomeu said: “If anyone comes now to negotiate for Neymar, we will not authorise it. He will continue at Barca.”
– Barcelona right-back Aleix Vidal suffered an injury to his right adductor muscle and is expected to be out for the Blaugrana’s Champions League quarterfinal first-leg tie against Atletico Madrid, the team announced on Monday.
– Diego Simeone says Barcelona’s Clasico defeat won’t affect them against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League this week and warned his side to be ready for a long day.
– Jorge Messi, the father of Barcelona star Lionel Messi, has denied the family’s involvement in tax evasion projects as alleged by a coalition of media outlets that is investigating offshore financial dealings by the rich and famous.
PSG: Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani has dismissed reports that he does not get on with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and says he will decide his future at the end of the season.
– PSG have the edge over Man City: Champions League Tale of the Tape by Nick Ames.
MAN CITY: Willy Caballero’s incredible turnaround at Manchester City could be completed with a start in the Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
– Manchester City returned to the FA Youth Cup final after holding 10-man Arsenal to a 2-2 draw at the Emirates on Monday to secure a 4-3 aggregate win.
– City will not increase season ticket prices for next season when Pep Guardiola takes charge of the club.
BAYERN MUNICH: Pep Guardiola has talked up Benfica’s defence ahead of Tuesday’s first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals at the Allianz Arena: He said: “I don’t feel like a favourite after I watched Benfica. It will be evenly balanced, they have impressed me. Benfica defend very aggressively. Their back four are perhaps the best in Europe. They allow hardly any chances.”
– Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer considers his team’s chance against Benfica good as their stellar strikers make them the stronger team.
CHELSEA: Antonio Conte has been appointed as Chelsea manager on a three-year contract. “I am very excited about the prospect of working at Chelsea Football Club. I am proud to be the coach of the national team of my country and only a role as attractive as manager of Chelsea could follow that,” Conte told Chelsea’s official website.
– Conte would be wise to keep John Terry at Chelsea when he takes over at Stamford Bridge this summer, according to Blues legend Ray Wilkins.
UNITED STATES: U.S. men’s national team players Alejandro Bedoya and Jozy Altidore made jokes at the expense of Abby Wambach following the former U.S. women’s star’s DUI arrest on Sunday.
LEICESTER: Leicester City midfielder Marc Albrighton says the Foxes’ “massive transformation” will mean nothing if they don’t with the Premier League this season.
– Police opened an investigation into Twitter trolls who posted “vile” comments about Jaime Vardy’s infant daughter.
FIFA: Michel Platini has denied any wrongdoing stemming from the Panama Papers, saying Switzerland officials have all his information.
– FIFA has launched an investigation into links between disgraced former FIFA vice president Eugenio Figueredo and a member of its own Ethics Committee, Juan Pedro Damiani.
– South American football’s governing body could be forced to leave its headquarters near Asuncion, Paraguay, due to a $10 million lawsuit relating to the land upon which it stands.
MAN UNITED: Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken about how he wanted Manuel Neuer to be the long-term No. 1 following Edwin van der Sar’s retirement, but is glad he was persuaded to sign David De Gea instead by goalkeeping coach Eric Steele.
– Ander Herrera says Manchester United will be counting on Wayne Rooney possibly as soon as Sunday’s match against Tottenham and suggested his return will benefit the entire forward line.
– Phil Jones, Ashley Young and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson all returned to action by playing for Manchester United’s under-21 side in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea U21s at Old Trafford on Monday night.
LIVERPOOL: Roma forward Mohamed Salah has revealed he was close to joining Liverpool before Jose Mourinho instead convinced him to move to Chelsea in 2013. Salah told Egyptian television channel MBC: “I was waiting to go to Liverpool because I really liked them. I was really desperate to join them, but then I received a phone call directly from Mourinho and that changed everything.
SWANSEA: Swansea manager Francesco Guidolin admitted that he will be keen to replacing outgoing coach Antonio Conte as the Italy national team boss.
MLS: The number of red cards handed out through the first five weeks of the MLS season is up slightly over previous seasons, hitting the second-highest rate in the past 15 years.
BRAZIL: Sao Paulo police have banned away fans from attending city derbies until the end of the year after a bystander was shot dead on Sunday as Palmeiras and Corinthians fans battled ahead of their state championship game.
BEST TWEET
Alexandre Pato reveals how the duck theme is spreading at Chelsea pic.twitter.com/MvbFQCWHRi
– 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) April 5, 2016
BEST STAT
Most chances created in the Champions League since 2014/15:
Neymar (49)
Koke (46)
Lionel Messi (43)
Isco (40) pic.twitter.com/JtdTJcSqxt– Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 5, 2016
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