Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas said he wanted to take the final penalty against Portugal to send his side through to Sunday s Euro 2012 final.
A goalless 120 minutes against the Portuguese in the last-four clash was followed by a tense shoot-out, and Bruno Alves miss allowed the former Arsenal captain to stroke home the winning spot-kick.
And the 25-year-old stated that he always felt the tie would be decided on penalties, and that he replicated the technique he used when scoring against Italy in the Euro 2008 quarter-final shoot-out.
The truth is that this (method) has worked a lot, and I had a feeling that (Wednesday) evening s game would go to penalties, he told a press conference.
I was given the second penalty, but I asked to be fifth. I wanted li…
Ralf Rangnick has confirmed Bayern Munich have been in contact over their soon-to-be vacant coaching position.
Bayern are on the lookout for a new coach, with Thomas Tuchel set to depart at the end of the season.
The Bundesliga giants wanted to appoint Xabi Alonso, but the 42-year-old snubbed their advances, and those of Liverpool, to stay at Bayer Leverkusen.
Bayern s search has now seemingly led them to Rangnick, the former Manchester United interim boss who is now coach of Austria s national team.
Rangnick, though, is paying full attention to Austria s upcoming Euro 2024 campaign.
There has been contact from the side of Bayern Munich and I have informed the Austrian Football Association, Rangnick said in an interview with 90 Minuten.
…
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says owner Roman Abramovich is happy with the club s campaign as they look on course to claim the Premier League title.
Sunday s goalless draw with Arsenal saw Chelsea edge a step closer to the club s first title since 2010 after they also claimed the League Cup in March.
Chelsea were the subject of boring chants from Arsenal fans as they ground out a point at the Emirates Stadium with Abramovich having previously been keen to see attacking football following his takeover in 2003.
Mourinho stated the Russian businessman was delighted with the season and further defended suggestions his side were boring.
He [Abramovich] is very happy, Mourinho explained.
I saw him hugging the players in the dressing room after the …
Emmanuel Adebayor has completed a five-million pound transfer from Premier League champions Manchester City to Tottenham.
North London club Tottenham have been seeking to bring last season s loan signing to White Hart Lane on a permanent deal since July.
But Adebayor s high wage demands along with a dispute with City over a transfer fee put the deal in jeopardy.
However, Tottenham announced on Tuesday that the club had signed the 2008 African Player of the Year on a permanent deal.
A Spurs statement read: We are delighted to announce that we have completed the transfer of Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City.
The 28 year-old Togolese striker also expressed his satisfaction at sealing a permanent move.
I am pleased to be signing for S…
The Football Association (FA) has announced it is still behind Michel Platini s candidacy for the FIFA presidency, but admit events of recent days still need to be fully examined .
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) recently opened proceedings against current FIFA president Sepp Blatter on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and misappropriation.
As part of the investigation, Swiss authorities have spoken to Platini over a £1.3million payment he received from Blatter in 2011 for work the former carried out between 1999 and 2002.
The UEFA president released a statement on Wednesday confirming he had cooperated fully after being asked to provide information.
The Frenchman is set to stand to become FIFA president at th…
Mitch Langerak revealed Borussia Dortmund were caught off guard by Jurgen Klopp s decision to relinquish his role as coach at the end of the 2014-15 Bundesliga season.
Klopp since replaced by Thomas Tuchel ended his seven-year association with Dortmund following last month s DFB Pokal defeat to Wolfsburg, despite having a contract that ran until 2018.
The German boss, who announced his decision to walk away from Signal Iduna Park in April, left the club with iconic status after winning the Bundesliga twice and the DFB Pokal in 2012, as well as reaching the 2013 UEFA Champions League final.
Dortmund s 2014-15 campaign was not as successful for the 48-year-old, whose team remarkably flirted with relegation at the mid-season break before rallying to finish in the UE…
Jose Mourinho s determination to win at all costs has drawn comparison with legendary manager Alex Ferguson from former Manchester United captain Gary Neville.
Ferguson enjoyed a trophy-laden career at Old Trafford, overseeing 38 titles in 27 years including 13 Premier League crowns and two Champions Leagues before his retirement in 2013.
Former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter boss Mourinho was seen by some as the obvious heir to Ferguson s throne at the Theatre of Dreams , but the club turned to David Moyes instead.
Mourinho was eventually appointed in May, following the sacking of Moyes successor Louis van Gaal, and Neville sees similarities between the Portuguese tactician and Ferguson.
Winning, success and single-mindedness to do whatever it…
Arsenal have been strongly linked with a move for Real Madrid winger Jese Rogriguez, .
Arsene Wenger could be set to make a move for the twenty-two year old, who has struggled to hold down a regular first team spot under Rafael Benitez, who took charge of the La Liga giants in the summer.
Rodriguez has spent the entirety of his short career so far at the Bernabeu, racking up sixty-five appearances for their first team in all competitions since making his debut in the 2011/12 campaign, scoring fourteen goals.
Internationally, he has been capped at every level for Spain from U16s to U21s, scoring two goals in five outings for the latter.
Arsenal could be set to make an offer for the Las Palmas born flyer in when the transfer window reopens in January w…
Former Chelsea and Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba plans to retire at the end of Phoenix Rising s 2018 United Soccer League season.
Drogba, now player-owner of USL side Rising, has enjoyed an illustrious career in football.
The striker, who turned 40 on Sunday, started out in France, impressing with Le Mans, Guingamp and then Marseille, whom he helped to the 2003-04 UEFA Cup final, before losing 2-0 to Rafa Benitez s Valencia.
His performances across Ligue 1 and the European competitions persuaded Chelsea to sign him and he became one of the most iconic players in the club s history.
How about another goal? Only the king can turn a 1 on 3 into magic.
— Phoenix Rising FC (@PHXRisingFC)
In his nine seasons at Stamford Bridge including …
Arsenal are eyeing a summer move for Chelsea midfielder Kenedy, according to the Metro.
The Brazilian is currently impressing on loan at Newcastle United and could be set for a big money move in the close season with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain also interested.
He has struggled to produce his best form under Antonio Conte, and was sent home from a preseason tour of China after making derogatory comments on social media.
Since signing from Fluminese in the summer of 2015 the twenty-three year old has made twenty-seven appearances for his parent club, scoring three goals.
He spent the tail end of last season on loan at Watford but played just once for the Hornets while he secured a temporary move to Newcastle in January and has so far scored …