Hazard: Mourinho hasn't changed me - he's improved me

The Belgian attacker believes that his Portuguese boss has helped him to become more professional and effective on the pitch, revealing that they enjoy a "special relationship"
Eden Hazard insists that Jose Mourinho has not changed his game fundamentally since returning to Chelsea but says that the Portuguese has made him a better player.

Relations between the two men have not always appeared rosy - Hazard voiced his frustration at Mourinho's counterattacking setup in the wake of last season's Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid, prompting his Portuguese boss to respond by highlighting the Belgian's lack of defensive effort.

However, this season Hazard has been at his imperious best as Chelsea have surged to a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with just 12 matches to play and, earlier in February, he signed a new contract that is due to keep him at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2020.

Mourinho has also repeatedly spoken of his affection for Hazard and, in an interview with The Independent, the 24-year-old winger was keen to pay tribute to the positive influence that his coach has had on his performances.

"It's true we do have a special relationship," the Belgian remarked. "What is good about him as a coach is that he lets us play. He lets me play.

"He is not always on at me and I really appreciate that. If it isn't good he says so, if it is good he says so. He is always direct.

"But I don't think he has changed me. He has taught me to become more professional and to be better on the pitch.

"I don't think I have changed my mentality. You can't change that. I am who I am. He has always taught me to get the best out of myself."

The Kardashians nearly quit reality TV but then E! offered them a $100m

Los Angeles - The Kardashians threatened to quit E! before landing a $100m deal.
The Keeping Up with the Kardashians stars recently signed a new four-year contract with the channel for the eye-watering sum but it's now been reported they threatened to leave the network before securing the deal.
Claiming the Kardashian's matriarch Kris Jenner was lead negotiator for her family, a source shared: "This has been in the works for almost a year. Kris is a fierce negotiator ... She was playing major hardball and threatening to leave."
The 59-year-old star and her daughters - Kim Kardashian West, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner - have been starring in the E! show since 2007 and network bosses were keen to keep them bringing in viewers.
The source added to the New York Post newspaper's PageSix: "E! needs them."
Meanwhile, 34-year-old Kim - who has 20-month-old daughter North with husband Kanye West - on Thursday night took to her Instagram account to post a racy picture of herself wearing skimpy lingerie to celebrate hitting 27 million followers on the social media site.
She wrote: "27 mil!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!! I love you all!!!!! (sic)."

Stoke keen to keep Moses

Stoke manager Mark Hughes has admitted he is eager to keep Victor Moses at the club. The winger is on a season-long loan from Chelsea but the Potters are hopeful of agreeing another deal.

Beauty and the beast: Suarez shows Barcelona how to win ugly

The Uruguayan did the dirty work as Luis Enrique's side succeeded in adverse conditions to secure three vitals points at Granada on Saturday
Beauty and the beast. Barcelona faced another tough test against a defensive rival on a difficult pitch and at a kick-off time they notoriously dislike, but came through thanks largely to the efforts of one man. Luis Suarez showed the Catalans the way forward - and also the way to win ugly.

Ivan Rakitic played perhaps his best game in Barca colours behind the forwards and it was the Croatian midfielder who gave Luis Enrique's side the lead, but only after Suarez had forced Cala into a calamitous defensive error which left the former Sevilla man with the goal at his mercy.

The fluent football from Tuesday's 2-1 win at Manchester City was missing, but as at the Etihad, Suarez proved the difference between the two teams, this time poking home a second goal and later selflessly setting up Lionel Messi for a third after Granada had pulled the scores back to 2-1 from the penalty spot.

It wasn't pretty, but it was efficient. Barca had toiled in Andalucia already in 2014-15, claiming a fortunate 2-1 win at Almeria and drawing at Malaga, who also beat the Blaugrana at Camp Nou last weekend.

So this was a tough test of their title credentials, particularly as the Catalans were back in action at 16:00 CET, a kick-off time they seem to struggle with, and on a particularly poor pitch at Granada.

"I have to congratulate the players from both teams for trying to string more than three passes together and achieving it at times," an ironic Luis Enrique said after the game.But in the absence of the side's usual pretty passing, Suarez happily did the dirty work. Aided by the excellent work-rate and vision of Rakitic (who also participated in all three goals), the Uruguayan demonstrated once again that he is unpreturbed by adverse conditions. Unlike some of his team-mates, he is a man for all terrains.

And as time goes by, the much-maligned striker continues to improve his statistics. After playing a pivotal part in the first, the striker scored his 10th goal of the current campaign and added his 13th assist too. Not bad in 24 matches and that record will now surely get better and better in the weeks and months ahead.

More importantly than that, the 28-year-old was signed from Liverpool for afternoons like this one. Barca have so often been ruffled in previous seasons when the conditions are against them. But Suarez adds a more direct dimension to the Blaugrana forward line and he is happy to make the runs and put in the effort to help his team when situations seemingly suit the opposition.

"I know you will value him more for the goal," the Barca boss told reporters after the game. "But ever since he started playing for us he has been at a very high level. He brings a lot of things to this team and his work is still very special."

Indeed it is. Thanks to the striker's superb contribution on Saturday, Barca move provisionally to within a point of Liga leaders Real Madrid at the top of the table and, more significantly, Suarez showed the Catalans can win ugly too when needed. Beauty and the beast.
 

Boko Haram

Boko Haram is a terrorist organization with its roots in northeastern Nigeria, linked to insurgency stemming from north Cameroon and Niger Republic. "Boko Haram" is a Hausa name which translates roughly as "Western education is forbidden," while the real Arabic name translates as "The Congregation of the People of Tradition for Proselytism and Jihad". The sect was founded in 2002 by the late Mohammed Yusuf who was captured and executed by Nigerian security forces in 2009. Until the government clamped down on the sect’s activities in 2009, the operations conducted by the sect were more or less peaceful. Since Abubakar Shekau, a former deputy to Yusuf’s era, violent attacks have escalated in terms of both frequency and intensity. The sect seeks to establish a "pure" Islamic state ruled by sharia, putting a stop to what it deems Westernization. It proposes that interaction with the Western world is forbidden, and also supports opposition to the Muslim establishment and the government of Nigeria. The group is known for attacking Christians, Muslim clerics and government targets, as well as for bombing churches, mosques, schools and police stations. The group is also notorious for kidnappings. Violence linked to the Boko Haram insurgency has resulted in an estimated 10,000 deaths between 2002 and 2013. On November 13, 2013 the United States government designated the group a terrorist organization. On 22 May 2014, the United Nations Security Council added Boko Haram to its list of designated al-Qaeda entities, bringing "funding, travel and weapons sanctions" against the terrorist group. On 22 May 2014 Boko Haram was officially declared a terrorist group affiliated to Al-Qaeda and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb by the United Nations Security Council. International sanctions including asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo were imposed against the Islamist extremist group. It was reported in August 2013 that Shekau had been shot and deposed by members of his sect, but he survived. He has taken responsibility for the April 2014 kidnapping of over 200 school girls. On 6 May 2014, eight more girls were kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram gunmen. Funding sources for Boko Haram are not certain, but is believed to be partially funded by bank robberies and by other Islamist groups.

meet-worlds-1st-married-gay-threesome

Meet the world’s first married gay threesome who have tied the knot in the world’s first three-way same-sex marriage in Uthai Thani Province, Thailand.

Bell, Art and Joke pictured together after tying the knot in the world’s first three-way same-sex marriage

Three gay men  Joke, 29, Bell, 21 and Art, 26, have become internet sensation after they got married on Valentine’s Day this year and now are thought to be the world’s only wedded male threesome. The ceremony included the traditional exchange of vows and rings, all three declared their love for each other and agreed to share their home and responsibilities.

This Will Shock You! READ What PDP Is Accusing Tinubu and osibanjo of masterminding o

  

Tinubu Wants To Be President And Osinbajo Is AWARE;PDP

As the election 2015 draws closer, so many revelations have been reported with the most recent having to do with the former Governor of Lagos state, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Apparently! Presidential Campaign Organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is plotting to become the President of Nigeria through what it called the back door.
It said the plot by the former governor, was to take over as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the event that the APC candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), wins the March 28, presidential election.
Director of Media and Publicity of the PDPPCO, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, made this allegation at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, February 27.

 

 

Kanye West breaks down in tears during radio interview

Los Angeles - Kanye West broke down in tears during a radio interview.The 37-year-old rapper - who has 18-month-old daughter North with wife Kim Kardashian West - was speaking about his fashion teacher Louise Wilson, who was a professor of fashion design at Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design in London and who died last year, when he started sobbing on BBC Radio 1.
In an interview with Zane Lowe, he said: "I went to Louise Wilson's memorial. The greatest fashion instructor of all time. And I'm talking about of all-timers, if we're talking about Paul McCartney, then we have to talk about Louise Wilson.
"Louise Wilson was the baddest professor of all time, of any fashion school, ever. Notorious, for not letting people stop at a seven or an eight, pushing people to a 12."
After praising the instructor's persistence when it came to inspiring her students, the Bound 2 rapper recalled the pair's last meeting before her death in May 2014 when she advised him on raising his daughter, which caused him to start sobbing and the interview to be halted.
He explained: "Last time I saw her we had dinner at Hakkasan which is my favourite restaurant in London and I think she knew that she was going to pass, and she just wanted to give me some words of advice.
"She was asking me about my daughter and about my wife, and she said so many students, they don't give it their all, and the problem is as soon as they do anything halfway good when they're two years old, three years old, their parents clap. And she just looked at me and said, 'Kanye, don't clap'.
"I didn't know we were going to lose her. And she told me, she said, thank you for the times when we came to performances, and this really meant a lot to me.''
However, the performer later returned and explained he was "OK" following the emotional moment.
He added: "'That's never happened to me in an interview before. I'm OK."

Two injured in Irene plane crash

Johannesburg - Two people have been injured after a light aircraft crashed near Nellmapius Road in Irene, south of Pretoria, paramedics say.
"Two people were injured and they were taken to hospital," said Netcare 911 spokesperson Santi Steinmann.
One of the injured was in a critical condition.

Girl unable to walk after rape

Malalane - A rape ordeal left an 11-year-old girl in so much pain she could barely walk, the Boschfontein Regional Court, in Mpumalanga, heard on Monday.
The accused, Joseph Rinyawo, of KaMhlushwa township near Malalane pleaded not guilty to rape, a Sapa correspondent reported.
A witness, Jabu Thumbathi, 28, of KaMhlushwa, testified that she was the first to notice something wrong with the girl.
"I noticed something was not right when she came to bring me food at my place. She not walking properly," said Thumbathi.
She phoned the girl's aunt to inform her.
"I then asked her late aunt Thembekile Nyoni to get out of my room so that I can talk with the child in private as she didn't want to disclose the information in front of her," she testified.
"When her aunt arrived she told me that she only noticed that the child didn't eat properly and she liked to sleep a lot," she said.
She said the victim later told them what had happened.
Rinyawo testified that he did not rape the child but only watched a movie with the girl in her aunt's bedroom.
"Worship, this child is lying. Her late aunt asked me to look after her at her house when she went to consult a sangoma at about 19:00 on that day.
"She returned home around midnight and they found me and the child still watching movies," he said.
Prosecutor Thulani Msibi told the court Rinyawo chased the girl, caught and raped her.
Rinyawo was arrested on 18 November 2013.
Magistrate Edgar Moletsane postponed the case to Wednesday for judgment.

Adesua etomi celebrate her birth day

Budding Nollywood actress Adesua Etomi celebrated her birthday yesterday at club 57 in Ikoyi Lagos.
The star-studded birthday party was graced by celebrities like Lilian Esoro, Kelechi Udegbe, Ini Dima Okojie, Tope Tedela, Osas Ighodaro, Kiki Omeli, Gbenro Ajibade, and many others.

Helen Paul Tatafo Mocks Stella Damasus At Comedy Show “Is She Not Tired Of Changing Her Name”

Over the weekend, popular comedienne Helen Paul aka Tatafo queried Stella Damasus during a comedy show that held at Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Badagry Lagos.
The Jara Presenter was one of the comic stars present at the event tagged Comedy Goes To Church.
As soon as Helen mounted the staged, the mother of two started with the story of her life, she then diverted by mocking Stella Damasus.
‘Stella Damasus, or Nzeribe, is she not even tired of changing surname? Today she’s Aboderin, tomorrow Ademinokun, only God knows the surname she would answer tomorrow. Well, the good thing is, she hasn’t changed her name ‘Stella’, so we can simply call her Stella easily,” she said.
Before she left Nigeria for the United States with her colleague’s husband, Stella Damasus was a serial dater.
She dated more than three men after her husband’s death. None of her relationships worked out.
Stella Damasus is currently staying with Doris Simeon’s ex-husband, Daniel Ademinokan.

Woman gives birth to baby without arms in Ogun, husband runs

A woman identified as Mrs Taiwo Sheriffdeen gave birth to a baby boy without arms in Ifo LGA of Ogun state on Tuesday February 24th. According to a report by Punch, the woman gave birth to the baby, her first child, at Majotal Hospital, a private hospital in the Ilogbo area of Ado/Odo-Ota Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking on the birth of her deformed baby, the mother said her husband, Mudashiru Sheriffdeen, ran away after he was told that their child was deformed at birth (the baby pictured above).
“This is my first child and I do not know why I gave birth to this kind of a baby. Immediately my husband was informed that his son had deformity, he ran away and had not come to see me. He is a commercial bus driver, and we had been married now for almost two years before God decided to answer our prayers.
When I was pregnant, we took every steps that the doctor directed us to take, but we did not know why we came about this calamity” she said.

Embarrassing and pathetic: Arsenal fail on the biggest stage yet again

By Greg Stobart at Emirates Stadium

A banner held aloft among the away support here before kick-off proclaimed thanks to Arsene Wenger for everything he had done for Monaco.

They didn’t know that, 21 years after leaving the club, he had one final gift for the Ligue 1 club.

Arsenal’s dreadful 3-1 home defeat on Wednesday leaves them staring at a Champions League last-16 exit for the fifth season in a row.

When Yanick Ferreira-Carrasco fired in Monaco’s third with virtually the last kick of the game, the whole visiting bench ran on to the pitch to celebrate, pumping their fists towards the sky, Jose Mourinho-style. The 3,000 colour co-ordinated travelling fans could barely believe it as they lit flares and made this pocket of north London their own.

They knew that it was the goal that leaves Arsenal requiring a miracle to progress to the quarter-finals, needing to score at least three times in the return leg next month.

There has been no shame in Arsenal's recent eliminations by some of the best teams on the continent in Bayern Munich, Barcelona and AC Milan. At the same stage last season, Arsenal also lost 3-1 at home against against a Bayern side trying to defend their trophy.

But this year they didn't even wait for a top side as they were embarrassed by the same scoreline against what was essentially a Monaco B team missing five of their best players through injury.

A team that scored just four goals in their group campaign but could easily have reached double figures for the competition with the chances they had tonight.



The matchday programme featured a cardboard cutout of Wenger and judging by the boos at full-time, some of the 60,000 supporters here feel ready to cut him out of the club.

This was the perfect example of why Wenger will never be able to take Arsenal back to the top level.

Only six times in Champions League and European Cup history has a team gone through after losing the first leg at home and the chances of Arsenal making it seven fall somewhere between slim and none.

They got exactly what they deserved against a Monaco team that came with a gameplan and executed it almost perfectly.

Unforgivably, the Arsenal players appeared to be sucked in by the pre-match talk that this would be an easy tie, they expected to cruise through a Champions League knock-out game as though it was Middlesbrough at home in the FA Cup.

The Gunners started brightly enough, but quickly ran out of ideas before producing an abject performance riddled with individual errors.

If there was a touch of misfortune in the deflected strike from Geoffrey Kondogbia for Monaco’s 38th minute opener, the second goal for the visitors was all of Arsenal’s own making.

Eight minutes into the second half of a two-legged tie, Per Mertesacker charged as far away from Anthony Martial as possible, allowing the winger to race through and tee up former Tottenham man Dimitar Berbatov to score.

It was suicidal defending, as Wenger put it, as bad as anything you will see all season - at any level, let alone Europe’s premier competition.

At the other end, Arsenal struggled to create chances and when they did, Olivier Giroud somehow managed to miss an open goal from six yards to audible gasps from the stunned crowd.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s curler from 25 yards appeared to give Wenger’s men home in added time, before the substitute himself lost possession in the build-up to Ferreira-Carrasco's goal, which could well be the knock-out blow.

It was horror a show. Arsenal were at their very worst as they looked like being stung on the counter-attack every time Monaco got the ball.

And it was a miserable night for Wenger against the club where he first made his name as a manager.

He had no tactical response to the visitors’ set up and no way of prompting his team to play with the energy and commitment that was so badly missing.

It ensured the Wenger will receive an even warmer welcome when he returns to Stade Louis II on March 17

Doro Endorsement! Don Jazzy & Tiwa Savage Nab New Deal with Konga

Mavins are definitely having a good year so far.

With so many endorsements already under their belt, two of the record label’s artists – Tiwa Savage & Don Jazzy – have landed a new deal with retail store Konga.

Don Jazzy shared a picture of himself signing the papers to seal the deal on Instagram and he captioned it ‘And as we sign the contract my brother #Godwin. Myself and the DoroDiva @Officialtiwasage are the new ambassadors for KONGA.#SMD cc @ShopKonga’.

U.S-based Liberian Pastor's Wife Fined for Praying too Loudly OutdoorsU.S-based Liberian Pastor's Wife Fined for Praying too Loudly Outdoors

The wife of a Liberian pastor who is based in the U.S, has been fined for praying too loudly outdoors.

According to Valley News, the woman named Martha Nagbe has been fined $150 for “unecessary noise”  and appeared in court on two occasions regarding over the matter.

Despite the fines and court appearances, Martha, who lives in North Dakota with her husband, insists that she will never give up sharing her faith.

“I can’t stop…I’m trusting God…In the United States it’s one nation under God,” she said.

Police authorities have advised her stop praying loudly downtown and in area neighborhoods.

“I mean, we all need prayers and great she’s out there praying for all of us, but it’s just the volume of her voice,” said Police Chief Jeanette Persons.

Police further emphasized that the issue is not about race, religion, or freedom of speech.

Neighbours have repeatedly complained about the issue, and some say she has woken them up from their sleep on numerous occasions, as she would stand outside their houses shouting prayers.

However, Martha’s husband, Pastor Juwle, believes his wife is being harassed.

“For them to antagonize her, to make her look like a bad person, sometimes makes me angry. Somebody should give her the respect that she deserves,” he said.

Martha insists that she will keep on praying loudly.

Arsenal join Tottenham in race for Godfred Donsah

Arsenal have joined Tottenham in the race to sign Cagliari midfielder Godfred Donsah. Spurs scouted the teenager earlier this season while Manchester City are also monitoring his progress.

Man City will fight until the end against Barcelona, vows Aguero

The Spanish side ran out 2-1 winners against Manuel Pellegrini's men at the Etihad Stadium but the Argentine scored in the second half, and is hopeful of winning at the Camp NouSergio Aguero has vowed that Manchester City will fight until the end against Barcelona after losing the first-leg of their Champions League last-16 tie 2-1 on Tuesday.

A Luis Suarez double gave Barca a 2-0 half-time lead at the Etihad Stadium, but Aguero reduced the deficit in the second half with a calm finish after a clever flick-on from David Silva.

Lionel Messi could have put the tie to bed in injury time when his side were awarded a penalty, but Joe Hart saved his effort.

Aguero insists that the tie is "unfinished", with City set to travel to the Camp Nou for the return leg on March 18.

"It's not the result we wanted but the tie is still unfinished," he wrote on Twitter. "And as usual we'll fight 'til the end. C'mon, City!"

City return to action against Liverpool this weekend, while Barca face Granada in La Liga.

Crazy but stylish Jim iyke outfit to Toronto

redesigning of DON JAZZY pics with it meaning

The super music producer posted these two photos on instagram and asked his fans to come up with creative memes using the pics. The result is hilarious. See them after the cut...

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redesigning of DON JAZZY pics with it meaning

The super music producer posted these two photos on instagram and asked his fans to come up with creative memes using the pics. The result is hilarious. See them after the cut...

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Oppostion party;PDP Guber candidate Jimi Agbaje replies Gov. Fashola

   

Jimi Agbaje posted this on his Facebook page this morning. It's a response to Governor Fashola's comments that Agbaje's company only paid his taxes after he was publicly called out. Read below...

    The Honourable Governor B.R. Fashola (SAN) has lied again and I think it's time to address his repeated blunder.

    With regards to my taxes, there is no truth in this latest piece of misinformation that the Honourable Governor has been peddling. Following the repudiation of his initial allegations about Jaykay Pharmaceuticals unpaid taxes, he has lied again, giving the impression that my company has gone to pay money supposedly owed to the government.

JAYKAY PHARMACEUTICALS has not paid a kobo since the day the Honourable Governor launched his initial attack. We stick to the facts contained in its initial publication, which encapsulated the company's reaction to the Governor’s initial falsehood. To now insinuate that I have gone behind the curtains to pay N500,000 is clearly political silly season, for lack of a better phrase, and quite frankly, beneath your person.

It's understandable that we've both had our differences in course of this election season, but when the Honorable Governor goes about launching unbridled, flat-out-false attacks at me about something as important as taxes, you leave me no choice but to call you out, Sir.

When I got into this race, I decided to make it about the issues. My opponents, not so much. They talked about me being inexperienced and at some point they said I was too old to govern and we responded with BOLD IDEAS intended to put Lagos on a new trajectory - one that is NOT based on the Jagaban's tax-and-spend economics but on a framework that would radically push us to new economic frontiers for some of the most under-developed regions of the state like Epe and Ikorodu. They ridiculed our ideas around government-enabled free wifi hotspots across the city - an idea targeted at widening the reach of a world of knowledge that the Internet offers to our young and aspiring populace - especially in areas of low penetration. They called it bold ignorance and out of touch with reality yet they quickly went on to implement wifi Internet-enabled buses a couple of weeks after. As much as we're glad that our BOLD IDEAS inspire you as much as they do us, one must begin to question the seriousness of the opposition in Lagos to make this election about the issues.

How ever you cut or dissect our success as a state over the last 16-years, the fact is that Lagos in the Economic intelligence Unit (EIU) is still ranked 137th out of 140 cities listed in the liveability index. This means that if you take 140 cities worldwide where people consider good to live in, Lagos is the fourth worst place to live in. Apart from this, a World Bank survey shows that of the 36 states in Nigeria, Lagos is still the worst state in terms of the ease of securing Building Permits. It is still on record too that the party the Honourable Governor represents has delivered less than 5,000 housing units till date. It is still on record that more students in Lagos fail WAEC than those who pass. Even when we consider corruption, we are aware that Honourable Governor Fashola is yet to challenge anyone for corruption at the state level. Or is he saying Lagos is 100 percent corruption-free? Yet he goes about castigating the Federal Government. He should walk his talk and lead by example – expose and prosecute high-ranking corrupt officials in his government and the state civil service. The corruption in the Lekki Toll Plaza will be made public in due cause.

Clearly, we still have a lot of work to do as a State but the Honourable Governor Babatunde Fashola has set out to exploit the commanding heights he occupies in the seat of government to bully us. And quite frankly, we shall stand up to bullies.

I think what Lagosians should begin to ask is what is driving the Honourable Governor Fashola’s violent outbursts? What has he got to hide? Other than lay the facts bare to enable the public form an informed opinion.

I refuse to be baited into his self-declared verbal warfare. My politics and campaign will be issues-based and no roforofo badmouthing from anyone, no matter how highly placed, will steer me away from development-based politicking.

There are more pressing issues, more important conversations to have and more problems to solve. And the people of Lagos are wondering if their leaders get it. The teachers, the students, the blacksmiths, the bankers, the taxi-man, the small-business owners, they all hope that their leaders understand that the outcome of this election and the future of this state is bigger than any one personality or party. Whatever we do or commit to doing determines whether they have food to put on their tables; whether they can own homes, pay salaries or that their children can go to schools of their choice. They deserve better. The people definitely deserve better.

Rooney: We should have beaten Swansea

The Red Devils' defeat by the Swans on Saturday made it five defeats in the Premier League this season, leaving the captain confused and frustrated not to have won

 Wayne Rooney was unable to make sense of Manchester United's 2-1 defeat to Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

Ander Herrera's third Premier League goal gave Louis van Gaal's men the lead in south Wales just before the half-hour mark but Swansea quickly drew level through Ki Sung-yueng.

The visitors piled on the pressure in the second half but lacked a clinical touch in and around the box and they paid the price as Jonjo Shelvey's 73rd-minute shot deflected off Bafetimbi Gomis and in to secure three points for the Swans.

Skipper Rooney was left frustrated at seeing his side lose a game he felt they should have won easily, putting their place in the top four in jeopardy.

"Of course, it is hard to take," he told MUTV. "Certainly, in the second half, I thought we dominated up until they scored and I thought we got a great goal to go 1-0 up.

"In the second half they were struggling to get out but then they hit us with a sucker punch, a shot from 30 yards and a deflected goal. These things happen but it was a disappointing day for us.

"As I said before, I thought we dominated but maybe didn't test the keeper enough up until they scored; that's disappointing given the play we had.

"It was one-way traffic and it felt like that on the pitch, it felt like a matter of time. We were putting them under pressure but they did defend the box well, putting bodies in front of the ball but this is a blow for us, coming away from today with no points having played like that."

United will look to make amends for their fifth reverse of the campaign when Sunderland visit Old Trafford, although they could start that match outside the top four if Southampton beat Liverpool on Sunday.

Arsenal - Monaco Preview: No sentiment for Wenger ahead of Champions League clash

The Frenchman comes up against his former club in the last-16 tie but had admitted he was taken aback when the two teams were drawn against each other
 Arsene Wenger suffered "an emotional shock" when Arsenal drew Monaco in the last 16 of the Champions League but there will be no room for sentiment when the two sides meet at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

Wenger spent seven years in charge of the Ligue 1 club after taking over in 1987, and Monaco were crowned French champions in his first season at the helm.

Wenger also won the Coupe de France during his successful spell in Monaco before moving on to Japanese club Nagoya Grampus Eight.

The 65-year-old was then appointed by Arsenal in 1996 and is still going strong at the London club, who have being crowned champions of England three times and won the FA Cup five times during his tenure.

Wenger will come up against injury-hit Monaco for the first time since leaving the club in the first leg on Wednesday and the Arsenal boss admitted he was taken aback when the draw was made.

"To be honest it was a surprise, because I always expect the most prestigious team to come out against us - that has happened the last five or six years," he told Uefa's official website.

"It's also one of those strange coincidences in life, because between them these two clubs account for 25 years of my life. That's very unusual, to meet in the Champions League. It was a little bit of an emotional shock."

Arsenal have failed to reached the quarter-finals in each of the last four seasons - losing to Bayern Munich in each of the last two campaigns after Milan and Barcelona also beat them in the round of 16.

Wenger's men moved up to third in the Premier League courtesy of Saturday's 2-1 derby win at Crystal Palace and head into this tie on the back of three consecutive victories.

Monaco should also have a spring in their step after securing a 1-0 derby victory at Nice on Friday despite playing with 10 men for 45 minutes following Aymen Abdennour's dismissal.

That victory - which moved Leonardo Jardim's men up to fourth in Ligue 1 - came at a cost, though, as full-back Layvin Kurzawa suffered a thigh injury and is a doubt for the clash with Arsenal.

Jardim also has concerns over Ricardo Carvalho (calf) and Andrea Raggi (knee), while midfielders Tiemoue Bakayoko (thigh) and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco (knock) also face a race against time to be fit.

Striker Lacina Traore (fractured tibia) is definitely out and captain Jeremy Toulalan misses out due to suspension.

Arsenal, who will have to keep former Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov quiet, have concerns over midfielders Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin) and Aaron Ramsey (hamstring).

Manchester United manager Van Gaal rules by fear, claims Koeman

The Southampton boss feels his compatriot's combative style may cause friction with his players and claims he piles pressure on his squad
 Ronald Koeman believes Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal rules by fear.

United's grip on a top-four finish in the Premier League loosened on Saturday after they crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Swansea City.

Koeman, who worked as Van Gaal's assistant at Barcelona between 1998-2000 before the pair fell out at Ajax, believes the 63-year-old's demanding approach puts too much pressure on players.



"There is a big difference between him and me as managers. I was his assistant at Barcelona after the World Cup in 1998. I learned a lot of things from him.

"But the way he handles his players is totally different from the way I work. I don't put as much pressure on the shoulder of players.

"When you have Van Gaal in charge, it is a fact that there is fear in his team. The players have a fear for mister Van Gaal. That is not always good."

"When you bring Van Gaal in the house, you bring in quality," said the Southampton manager. "But you also bring in someone who thinks he knows everything. And that will cause clashes.

Nasri: Sometimes I am a jerk

The midfielder has previously faced public criticism over his attitude and has already retired from international football after falling out with Didier Deschamps
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has admitted that sometimes he is "a jerk".

Nasri has been publicly criticised for his attitude by Roberto Mancini during the Italian's reign at City, while after France’s quarter-final exit in Euro 2012, the midfielder was involved in a foul-mouthed argument with a journalist.

The 27-year-old was given a three-game ban by the French Football Federation for the incident, while Nasri opted to retire from international football last year after falling out with Didier Deschamps.

"From time to time, I'm a jerk," Nasri said in an interview with L’Equipe 21.

"Sometimes it is better to buckle but it is something I can't do.

"I managed when I was younger and sometimes I went home with a knot in my stomach. Afterwards, you go off, but not with the right person.

"I’d therefore prefer to say everything I think, even if it means I'm not liked, even if it means I sound arrogant and a little prick. At least the folk I do like don't have to suffer."

Messi is from another galaxy, but Suarez and Neymar don't scare us - Nasri

The midfielder is adamant his team-mates have the same level of quality as Tuesday's opponents, but acknowledged the threat posed by Barcelona's talisman
samir Nasri says Barcelona star Lionel Messi is "from another galaxy" but insists in Sergio Aguero Manchester City have a player at the same level as Neymar and Luis Suarez.

City face Luis Enrique's side at the Etihad Stadium in the first leg of their round of 16 Champions League tie on Tuesday looking to avenge last season's defeat that saw the Premier League side crash out at the same stage 4-1 on aggregate.

Barca have an embarrassment of riches in attack but were beaten by Malaga at Camp Nou on Saturday and Nasri is adamant that only Messi is a level above City's own array of talent.

He told reporters: "Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo play in their own galaxy. But the rest, Suarez and Neymar, they are the same level as Sergio [Aguero]. We are not going to be scared."

Speaking about their defeat to the Catalans last season, he continued: "I think it was too much of a big game for us. We gave Barca too much respect last year. This year is different. We know what we're capable of.

"We want to beat Barcelona because we want to go as far as possible in the competition. Not because of revenge. We are better physically than last year, everything will be different this year. We respect them as a club but we are not going to be scared."

Nasri admitted it was time City made more of a splash in Europe's elite club competition given the lavish investment from their Middle Eastern owners.

He added: "We have had a lot of success in the Premier League in the last few years, and the fans are very passionate about the competition. In the Champions league we need to create our history - to build this special relationship with the fans

Dortmund won't look like a relegation-threatened side against Juventus - Klopp

The BVB boss believes his side have turned a corner and are more than capable of reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League

Borussia Dortmund won't look anything like a relegation-threatened side when they travel to Italy to face Juventus on Tuesday, according to the Germany club's coach, Jurgen Klopp.
BVB arrive Italy on the back of three successive Bundesliga wins, but a terrible start to the campaign means last season's runners-up are well off the pace in 12th place.
They will need to be on top of their game in Turin as they face Juve in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie, with the Bianconeri nine points clear at the top of Serie A.
Klopp, however, is convinced of the quality within his side and is expecting them to rise to the occasion, just as they did in winning Group D to reach the knockout stages of the competition as a seeded side.
"We had many problems in the first part of the season," the former Mainz coach said at the pre-match press conference. "But we knew that we could play much, much better if we get time to work on it. And now that has happened.
"You will not think on Tuesday that we are fighting against relegation.
"Juventus have a very experienced team, which brings much quality on the pitch. I think it will be tough for both teams and both have a chance to get through."
The most famous meeting between the sides came back in 1997 when Dortmund beat Juventus 3-1 in the Champions League final, courtesy of two goals from Karl-Heinz Riedle and a Lars Ricken strike.
However, when asked about one of the club's greatest nights, Klopp said it would have little significance for his current squad.
"No, we haven't talked about it yet," he added. "The evening back then was a very important moment in the history of the club. But I don't think that may players would be even more motivated if we show something from then.
"Today Juventus are not as far away from us as they were in 1997. Anyway it does not mean that we'll have an easy way through."