Chelsea and Diego Costa yet to agree terms on new contract - Sky sources

Chelsea are in advanced talks with Diego Costa, but are yet to agree a new contract, according to Sky sources.

Media reports on Tuesday suggested that a deal had been struck to keep the Spain international at Stamford Bridge, but Sky sources understand that they are premature.

Costa - who has two full seasons left on his current contract - has scored 

15 Premier League goals this season to help propel Chelsea into an eight-point lead at the top of the table.

But he was heavily linked with a move away from west London in the January transfer window, with Chinese club Tianjin Quanjian appearing to be a potential destination.

The 28-year-old was pictured training on his own after falling out with boss Antonio Conte.

But the pair patched up their differences and he was restored to the first team. Conte said last month that he expected Costa to stay with Chelsea for a long time.

Costa has been a huge hit at Chelsea since his £32m move from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2014.

Exclusive: Tense meeting between Barcelona players and staff as errors discussed

The heavyweights did not stop talking and discussing the disaster at Parc des Princes. It is usually the coaches who speak loudest in these meetings but the players are also allowed to express their opinions.

 

After matches Luis Ernique usually calls a meeting with his players to analyse the game in question, look for errors and possible things to improve in the coming games. This Wednesday was no exception and he met up with the staff first to analyse what happened against PSG.
However this meeting was different from the others. And not because of the time it took, which was a longer than usual 25 minutes, but for the content, which laid bare the tension there is in the dressing room.
The heavyweights did not stop talking and discussing the disaster at Parc des Princes. It is usually the coaches who speak loudest in these meetings but the players are also allowed to express their opinions.
This meeting was especially tense. The way they came out of it made it clear that it was also cathartic. Long faces, few words and seriousness were the common denominator for the group in training, who want to get rid of the Paris game from their hard disk. 

Bayern Munich 5-1 Arsenal: New low but same old story for Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger’s team came up short again in their Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich and Arsenal fans will feel like they have seen it all before, writes Adam Bate.

Beforehand, Arsene Wenger had called it "psychologically a different problem" for Arsenal to be playing the away leg first. Afterwards, it looked like his side had shown those all too familiar frailties having capitulated to a 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich. Same old Arsenal.


It was even the same scoreline as their previous visit to the Allianz Arena in last season's group stage, but if that brought back unpleasant memories for the travelling support, it's the overarching theme that will leave the wider Arsenal support so downcast in defeat.
Out in the first knockout stage for a seventh season in a row? Eliminated by Bayern for the third time in that period? It seems inevitable. If there is to be a difference it is likely to be the scale of the beating. They have already conceded more than in the previous ties.
But it's the minutiae of the detail of this defeat that will have had an eerie familiarity for those Arsenal fans already veering between anxiety and apathy. Certainly, it seemed as if Francis Coquelin was the only man in Munich unable to see Arjen Robben's goal coming.
The Dutchman's jink onto his favoured left foot might be easier to spot than stop but Coquelin did neither, darting in the wrong direction for reasons unclear. It was indicative of Arsenal's early passivity, seemingly unable or unwilling to do anything to challenge Bayern.
After the infuriating start came the equally frustrating glimpse of hope. Arsenal got into the game - Alexis Sanchez's one-man press finally sparking something in his team-mates. First he helped win a free-kick and then a corner from which a penalty was conceded.
Even that was a mini-drama with Sanchez scoring at the third attempt. Mesut Ozil might have given the Gunners an unlikely half-time lead too had Manuel Neuer not saved with his feet after Sanchez had again put the Bayern defence under pressure to force a mistake.
But it was in the second half that the gulf between the two teams was truly highlighted. In particular, one crazy 10-minute spell in which Bayern scored three goals - the magnificent Thiago netting two of them - to kill the tie. Arsenal appeared helpless to prevent it all.
Could they have stopped it?
And yet, while Wenger could point to misfortune in having lost Laurent Koscielny to injury with the scores level, the feeling persists that - as brilliant as Bayern are - much of what was witnessed was eminently preventable if Arsenal had been playing with more purpose.
The fifth goal, scored by substitute Thomas Muller after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain surrendered the ball on the edge of his own area, capped a nightmare night. It was the error of a team who have long since lost belief. Even Wenger admitted it was a collapse.
Quality is a factor. Bayern had the better players. But they also had a better plan. Wenger made a small tweak to the team in opting for the more defensively capable Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alex Iwobi on the flanks but was that really enough to make a difference?
Coquelin and Granit Xhaka were still left to deal with a three-man midfield and were passed around with ease. Arsenal finished with under 26 per cent of possession. Only FC Rostov and Dinamo Zagreb have had less of the ball in a Champions League match this season.
Such a situation requires a diligent defence and a team set up to play on the counter-attack. Even with Ozil at his most diffident, Arsenal had their moments when they suggested they could do the latter, but any hope of the former disappeared down the tunnel with Koscielny.
All of which left Sanchez bereft, as so often it seems, the last man to give up hope. The Chilean made a compelling case for player-cam as he gesticulated at opponents, the referee, but mostly the others in Arsenal yellow - urging them to join him in haring around.
What happens next?
Whether he, Ozil and their manager are to join the rest in extending their stay at the Emirates Stadium is the big question now. It has been suggested that Ozil, in particular, is keen to for Wenger to confirm he is staying before committing his future to the club.
But while Wenger has unwittingly become the embodiment of the status quo, a one-time perennial winner who continues to deliver top-four finishes but no longer the big trophies that fans demand, Sanchez's visible anger more accurately expresses the fans' frustration.
There is an appetite for more appetite. A desire to see something new from this Arsenal. Instead, under the increasingly beleaguered Wenger they seem only capable of dishing up more of the same disappointments. A different problem? In truth, it's anything but.

Liverpool Hope University appoints an Everton FC professor

Liverpool Hope University have created a new job many Blues fans will envy - a professor specialising in Everton FC.
Professor Ian Vandewalle, the university’s pro vice-chancellor, has taken up the new role as part of its five-year partnership with the club.
The new Everton Chair in Social Responsibility will lead university experts in carrying out research to help the club analyse and improve its community work.

Researchers from subjects as varied as health sciences, business, social work and education will all contribute to the research.
Professor Vandewalle will oversee the work, which will provide detailed evidence of the impact Everton in the Community has across the city.
It is hoped the findings will be shared with other football clubs and cities, to help promote best practice in clubs’ social responsibilities.
The professor started his career as a health sciences lecturer before moving into business and development, establishing Hope’s Business School in 2000.
Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale MBE, a director at Everton and executive chair of Everton in the Community, has also been made an honorary visiting professor at Liverpool Hope.
Both professors will kick off their work with a series of free lectures open to the public in late spring.
Professor Vandewalle said: “We know that football has a fantastic potential for social good, and Everton already has an outstanding reputation for its relationship with its fans and the wider community.
“Its Community Hub is a fine example of that, and we are excited by the Club’s drive to do even more. We want to explore new avenues and create a proven model for how football clubs can make even more of a positive impact on the world around them.”
Professor Barrett-Baxendale said: “Professor Vandewalle is just the right appointment to help drive the partnership forward. He is a respected academic and the research conducted by his team will provide Everton in the Community with the ability to quantify the social impact the charity makes in our community.
“Having a dedicated research facility led by Professor Vandewalle will help to benchmark, test ideas and help us take new initiatives forward. The outcomes provided from this partnership will ensure we can optimize the life-changing and life-saving work delivered by the charity.”

Yanga out to hit CAF ground running

MA I N L A N D c h a m p i - ons Young Africans will be targeting to hit the ground running when they face Comoros champions Ngaya de Mde in their CAF Champions League preliminary round tie today in Moroni.

Yanga jetted off yesterday morning to Moroni in time for the first leg clash at the Stade de Moroni. A total of 20 players and eight members of the technical bench plus two officials left ahead of the match.

The club’s General Secretary, Charles Boniface Mkwasa, told journalists on Friday that seven players have not been included in the list of 30-strong contingent to Moroni due to various reasons. Zimbabwean striker Donald Ngoma and defender Vincent Bossou have not been included in the trip to Comoro.

He said Zimbabwean striker, Ngoma and Malimi Busungu will not travel with the team because they are sick, while defender Vincent Andrew is serving three yellow cards suspension picked last year during the CAF Confederation Cup campaign. Togolese central defender, Bossou, holding midfielder, Pat Ngonyani and goalkeeper Beno Kakolanya will also not make the trip and will wait for the return leg encounter.

In Ngoma’s absence, Yanga Head Coach George Lwandamina will look to fellow country-mate youngster Obrey Chirwa who will partner Burundian striker Amissi Tambwe to find the back of the net against the islanders.

In central defence, skipper Nadir Haroub is expected to be restored to partner Kelvin Yondani, while Juma Abdul and Haji Mwinyi will complete the back four to protect goalkeeper Deogratius Munishi. Zimbabwean Thaban Kamusoko and gifted Rwandese Haruna Niyonzima will take control of the midfield.

The Jangwani Street side will target to better their last season performance, where they were eliminated in the second round by Egyptian side Al Ahly 3-2 on aggregate before dropping to the CAF Confederation Cup where they fell short in the group stages finishing fourth in Group B.

Lwandamina’s side will be eyeing nothing but a clear victory against the dark horse to put themselves in a comfortable zone in the return leg match at home. Yanga are scheduled to face their opponents in the return leg match at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam two weeks later.

Niyonzima said, “We learnt a lot from last year’s edition of the Champions League. Now we know that it is important for us to start well especially because we are playing away first.”

“We do not know much about the team but we shall be looking to get the best result which is a win and if that does not happen, at least we should get a draw so that we do not have a lot of pressure in the return leg” he said. Yanga were expected to attend light training session yesterday evening at the venue where the match will be played.

Last year, Yanga defeated Cercle de Joachim from Mauritius 3-0 on aggregate in the preliminary round and will be hoping to avoid a shocker in Sunday’s match. Should Yanga progress to the next round, they will face the aggregate winner of another preliminary tie between Rwanda’s APR and Zanaco of Zambia in the first round match in March, this year.

The overall winner of the twolegged match will proceed into the tournament’s group stage.

Manchester United's £85m Thomas Muller transfer bid rejected, says Bayern Munich official

Bayern Munich turned down an offer of more than €100m (£85m) from Manchester United for Thomas Muller last summer, according to the German club's executive vice-chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen.

The offer for the Germany international came when Jose Mourinho took the reins at Old Trafford after replacing Louis van Gaal.
Mourinho brought Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba to United for a combined total of more than £145m before the 2016-17 season.
However, Dreesen - who deals with Bayern's finances - revealed to Bild that Mourinho failed with a bid to bring World Cup winner Muller over to England.
When asked if an offer of more than €100m came from United, Dreesen replied: "There really was such a thing.
"Then came a fax from England. For us, however, a sale of Thomas Muller was never discussed.
"If a player fits us, we would be stupid to give him a short-term prospect of a record profit and to weaken him."
Muller has endured an indifferent season in Germany, scoring four goals in all competitions - including just once in 17 Bundesliga games.
It appears Mourinho's attentions have been turned to Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann, who has been heavily linked with a move to United.
However, Griezmann's latest comments cast doubts over whether the Frenchman would be willing to move to the Premier League, citing the "bad weather" as a factor.

Manchester United can qualify for Champions League, says Wes Brown

Wes Brown is backing his former club Manchester United to finish in the top four and says the fear factor is returning under José Mourinho.
The 37-year-old defender could face United in Sunday’s FA Cup tie at Ewood Park, though he expects to start on the Blackburn Rovers bench. Of United, he said: “Any team they put out will be a strong one and if they make changes all the players out there will be wanting to show what they can do. I don’t think they will take their foot off the gas but that means there is less pressure on us. We can go out and enjoy it.”
Brown secured two FA Cup winners’ medals with United, though he did not take part in the final in 1999, the year of the treble. “That was my first full season,” he said. “It was a good starting point but looking back I suppose I was able to take the club’s high standards for granted. Winning is everything when you are at a club like that, and most seasons we were coming first or second. That was what the gaffer [Sir Alex Ferguson] set up – he gave us mental strength and a winning mentality. If you keep winning and everyone’s playing well and there’s a good team spirit it just carries on and on.
“I always thought it would be difficult when Sir Alex left, because he’d been there so long and you couldn’t imagine the place without him. It was always going to be hard for people to come in and change stuff.”
David Moyes and Louis van Gaal found that to be true, even though they may have started with the intention of changing as little as possible, but Brown believes Mourinho was right to make a fresh start.

“His big signings have been brilliant and I am sure he would like to bring in a few more but what they set out for at the start of the season was to make the Champions League and they have a great chance of finishing in the top four now,” he said. “You can see everyone is starting to fit in, to feel what everybody else is doing. It has taken a while but now they are on a good run opponents are starting to fear them again. They are not an easy team to beat whereas before they were getting pushed over a little bit.”
Despite United going 16 matches unbeaten in the Premier League they remain stuck in sixth place, albeit only two points behind Arsenal in fourth, which indicates the strength of the top six this season.
“It’s going to be tight,” Brown said. “At this stage it’s about who has the bottle. United have shown they are willing to fight because after the points they dropped at the start of the season I didn’t think they could get to where they are now. It’s hard for anyone when you keep changing managers – I know that from Sunderland – but the foundations are still there at United and I think Mourinho knows what the club is all about. I definitely think they can go higher.”

Wayne Rooney could leave Manchester United for Chinese Super League transfer this month

Manchester United could be ready to allow Wayne Rooney a surprise transfer to the Chinese Super League before the end of this month, according to reports.
The England international’s future has been in some doubt for much of this season, though many expected that he would see out the rest of the campaign at Old Trafford after failing to move in January.
However, the transfer window in China remains open until 28 February, meaning clubs are still weighing up the possibility of moving for Rooney in the next few days, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Jose Mourinho has not found space for Rooney in most games this season, with the goals drying up for the 31-year-old and a move into midfield not going as planned.

Rooney could earn a staggering £32million a year if he were to move to the Far East, with clubs such as Beijing Guoan and Guangzhou Evergrande reportedly his main admirers.
It remains to be seen, however, if United would consider letting their captain go at a time when they themselves would not be able to sign a replacement straight away.

Old boy Dybala stars as Juventus go 10 points clear

TURIN - Juventus went 10 points clear at the top of Serie A on Friday with a 4-1 win over struggling Palermo in a perfectly-timed boost ahead of their Champions League trip to Porto next week.
Former Palermo star Paulo Dybala played a pivotal role as the Argentina international pushed his former employers closer to the drop by scoring twice, creating another and also seeing a free-kick come back off the woodwork.

"We ended the first half at 2-0 despite not playing well," said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.

"It's one game less to winning the Scudetto and I congratulate the players for the way they approached the game."

Palermo started the day eight points from safety and they were under the cosh almost from the start on Friday.

Dybala, who moved to Turin after three seasons at Palermo in 2015, was just centimetres from the opener after only five minutes when he clipped the post with a left-footed free-kick.

But the Sicilians' resistance didn't last as Claudio Marchisio put Juventus ahead in the 13th minute, finding the net after goalkeeper Josip Posavec could only parry Gonzalo Higuain's close-range shot.

At the other end, veteran 'keeper Gianluigi Buffon got down low to keep out Palermo's top scorer Ilija Nestorovski's attempt from a tight angle.

It was a brief scare for the champions who went into the break 2-0 ahead when Dybala curled in a picture-perfect free-kick, this time to the left of Posavec's despairing dive and into the top corner.

Higuain added a third and his 19th league goal of the season in the 63rd minute, latching onto Dybala's delicately-weighted pass between two defenders.

Higuain repaid the favour to his international teammate one minute from time with a cheeky backheel allowing Dybala to slot the ball home.

Palermo scored an injury-time consolation through an Ivaylo Chochev header but Juventus will go to Porto for Wednesday's Champions League last 16, first-leg clash on a fresh wave of confidence.

However, Porto were in equally ruthless mood on Friday with a 4-0 win over bottom club Tondela taking them two points clear in Portugal. - Nampa-AFP

PSG express 'shock' over reported doubts about Thiago Silva's injury

Paris Saint-Germain have expressed their "shock" at doubts in the French media over how genuine captain Thiago Silva's latest injury really is.
The French giants thrashed Barcelona 4-0 in their Champions League round-of-16 first-leg clash on Tuesday without the Brazil international, who was ruled out of the match with a left calf problem.
Following the famous victory over the Spaniards, L'Equipe cast doubt on the severity of Silva's latest injury -- suffered during the 2-1 home win over Lille -- and quoted an unnamed source as saying the skipper was "frozen with fear" ahead of the Barca encounter.
PSG have responded to L'Equipe's claims through a statement exclusive to Globoesporte and explained that his current injury is genuine.
"Thiago Silva was injured after the Ligue 1 clash with Lille," the statement from the French champions read. "The diagnosis was heavy bruising on his left calf -- he did not play against Bordeaux the week before the Champions League match at home to Barcelona.
"Thiago Silva is our captain, the man of great games, who is always there through the difficult times and is appreciated by the staff and his teammates. Everyone at the club is shocked by the doubts some have expressed about his motivation.


Thiago Silva is still trying to heal the left calf injury that forced him to miss out against Barcelona on Tuesday. He is likely to miss the next match against Toulouse and is not expected back until the Marseille clash at the end of February. 
"Because of the risk of a relapse, the medical and technical staff preferred to avoid risking jeopardising their end to the season."
To finish their explanation, PSG pointed to the example of Silva returning early from his holiday after an unsuccessful 2014 World Cup campaign on home soil to help the team. The 32-year-old central defender was injured as a result and missed two months of the 2014-15 season.
"In August of 2014, after a World Cup on home soil, the former Selecao captain chose to make a faster than expected return to Paris and ended up injuring his right thigh. He was consequently out of action for two months," the statement said.
With Silva expected back for the trip to face bitter rivals Marseille next weekend, the South American should be fit for the return leg against Barcelona as well.

Professional Women's Soccer League Finally Arrives in Colombia

This is a major feat for female soccer players in Latin America, who often have less opportunities to play the beloved sport than their male counterparts.

In a long-sought-after accomplishment for women’s soccer in Latin America, female Colombian soccer players no longer have to look outside their home country for year-round professional opportunities. On Saturday, the South American nation kicked off their first female professional soccer league, an important milestone for gender equality within the sport. 
Colombia’s women’s national soccer team, known as Las Superpoderosas or the Powerpuff Girls, will now be able to carry out their dream of playing in a national championship, opening up more options for professional development in their home country than infrequent international tournaments. 
“The national championship will help raise the standard of the national team,” Colombian soccer player Yoreli Rincon told FIFA.com. “We used to train every six months or every year even, and now we’ll be training twice a day every day, and playing every eight days. We’re all going to become better players and the national team will keep getting better too, because there are a lot more girls out there who want to have that opportunity and who’ll see that they’re going to get noticed now.”
The new league will have 18 teams broken up until three sub-group,s who will compete against each other until May. In June, the league will crown its first national champion.
Female soccer players from the U.S. and Latin America have in recent years called out gender discrimination without the sport and unfair disparities between the opportunities available to men and women who play soccer professionally.
Colombia has long had a women's national team, Las Cafeteras, which has qualified for two FIFA Women's World Cups, in Germany 2011 and Canada 2015, and is currently in 22nd place in FIFA's rankings.

Brazil, Argentina and Chile already have professional women's leagues. Colombia's women's national league shows a developing trend and growing interest in the sport for women.
Some well known professional Colombian women soccer players who play for teams abroad include, Nicole Regnier, who plays for Rayo Vallecano in Spain; defender Natalia Gaitan, who plays in Valencia, Spain; and Melissa Ortiz, who plays for the Boston Breakers.
The first Women's World Cup was held in 1991, when the United States was crowned world champion. Countries across Europe, including England, Spain, Germany, Sweden and others, have for years had professional women's leagues.

Atlanta United aims for playoffs in MLS expansion season

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. 

Gerardo "Tata" Martino isn't backing down from the high expectations that go with being the MLS expansion Atlanta United coach.

As the former coach of the Argentina and Paraguay national teams, Martino knows more than a little about trying to satisfy a demanding fan base. Atlanta's soccer-starved fans have bought more than 27,000 season tickets.

Six MLS expansion teams have failed to make the postseason since Seattle lost in the first round of the playoffs in its 2009 inaugural season.

"I can't comment on the other teams, but we're excited to try to be the second team to make the playoffs," Martino said Thursday through an interpreter.

Atlanta has been called the league's "Seattle of the South" due to the strong ticket sales. Seattle led the MLS with its average attendance of 42,636 last season while winning the MLS Cup.

More than 40,000 tickets have been sold for Atlanta's March 5 opening game against the New York Red Bulls at Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium. Atlanta could rank near the top of this season's attendance leaders.

"It's great that the reception has been what it has been," Martino said. "I hope the team can meet the expectations of the city."

Atlanta's roster includes a mix of young players from South America and veterans with MLS experience, including defender Michael Parkhurst, who served as the Columbus captain the last three years.

Parkhurst, 33, says this isn't a normal expansion team. The four-time MLS All-Star said he had "no apprehension" about joining the expansion team, even though history shows it has been difficult for new teams to win immediately.

"I think you know what you're getting involved with the predecessors of other expansion teams and their success early on, but that being said I don't think Atlanta United is like any other expansion team," Parkhurst said. "The way that they've set themselves up on and off the field is just a lot different than their predecessors. I think the expectations for us on the field are different as well."

Parkhurst credited the team's technical director, Carlos Bocanegra, a former captain of the U.S. national team, for Atlanta's "very organized" front office.

"I think Atlanta has really set us up to have success, and that's the most important thing," Parkhurst said.

Atlanta actually has a championship in its pro soccer history. The Atlanta Chiefs won the 1968 North American Soccer League championship. That NASL title was the city's biggest pro sports championship until the Braves won the 1995 World Series.

Atlanta's new MLS franchise is still setting its foundation. A new training facility in suburban Marietta is not complete, so the team has juggled its practice sites. This week's work has been held at the NFL Atlanta Falcons' practice facility.

The team's new stadium also is not yet complete, making it necessary to make temporary use of the Georgia Tech facility.

Arthur Blank, owner of the NFL Atlanta Falcons, also owns Atlanta United and the teams will share the $1.5 billion Mercedes Benz Stadium. Atlanta United's debut in the new stadium is scheduled for July 30 against Orlando City.

Martino says there have been "all positive thoughts so far" as brings his fast-paced, attacking style to the MLS.

"He's been great for us," Parkhurst said. "He's really been open with his communication. He's made it clear he wants it to be physical, he wants it to be intense on the field. But off the field he's very approachable. He's working on his English and we're all working on our Spanish and we're making it work."

Minnesota United unveils its new MLS kits

Once the smoke cleared on the stage Friday night, Minnesota United fans got their first glimpse of new Finnish midfielder Rasmus Schuller. But the Loons’ supporters were more interested in his fashion.
Schuller and eight of his teammates were models of United’s gray and blue primary kit, white secondary jersey and one of the goalie get-ups they will don when the Major League Soccer expansion franchise debuts in its inaugural regular season in two weeks. All feature logos of Target, the club’s primary corporate sponsor.
“At first you couldn’t see anything because there was so much smoke, but after a while you could hear the fans and see everybody that came out,” Schuller said. “It was real great.”
Schuller could hear hoots and hollers from the estimated crowd of 1,000 who attended the event at the Machine Shop in Minneapolis.
Diehard supporter Adam Wegner of North St. Paul couldn’t wait to see the jerseys and got in the roped-off line at 5:10 p.m. for an event that started 7. When the doors opened at 6, the line was around the block. Members of local hip-hop group Doomtree kept beat all night.
“Something you don’t get to experience every day,” said Wegner, who will be a season-ticket holder when the Loons make their home debut March 12 at TCF Bank Stadium. “I’m excited for the season to start.”

The United front office has been sprinting toward their March 3 opener at Portland ever since — and in some capacities before — Minnesota was named as an expansion club in August.
“We’ve had the shortest ramp-up period in the history of Major League Soccer expansion teams,” United president Nick Rogers said. “From the day we signed our deal in August, the kickoff was roughly seven months. No one has ever done it that quickly.”
The quick clip at which United has operated also curtailed design options for their first jerseys. MLS-licensed producer adidas has a year-plus design process for MLS clubs, meaning custom looks like a black Loons wing spread across the front of a gray shirt — the design United had for years in the North American Soccer League — was out of the question in a short window. So were the opportunities for a third alternate option or unique touches. For instance, Orlando City’s kits have the coordinates of their new stadium, while Sporting Kansas City has a quote from hometown player Matt Besler.
But United has already begun work on 2018 versions that will have details the club desires. “I think all options are on the table,” Rogers said.
United first home match in the new duds could be in front of a crowd of about 35,000, based on current ticket sales trends. The club is hoping to reach its goal of 11,842 season tickets, which would correspond to one sale for every lake in Minnesota. A season-ticket base approaching 12,000 would be believed to put Minnesota in the top half of MLS clubs.
Meanwhile, fellow MLS expansion franchise Atlanta United has outpaced Minnesota but has had a roughly two-year head start to build its base. Atlanta is approaching 30,000 season tickets and has sold more than 40,000 tickets for its home opener March 5 at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium, club president Darren Eales told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday.
Major League Soccer’s average attendance in 2016 was 21,692, which was its third straight record-breaking mark. The University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium has a capacity of 50,805, a benchmark United dreams of.
But those sales figures and fashion choices will be in the rearview mirror when United faces Atlanta on the pitch March 12. “We are expecting a very large and boisterous crowd,” Rogers said.

Nigeria Coach Confirms Ghana Friendly

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has revealed that his side will play a friendly match against Ghana in England next month ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The Super Eagles have already secured a friendly with Senegal slated for March 23 and will lock horns with the Black Stars two days later ahead of Nigeria’s clash with South Africa in the 2019 Afcon qualifiers on August 12.

“Senegal, who are one of the strongest countries in Africa, will play us in March and also we are to play Ghana who were fourth at the last Nations Cup in Gabon," Rohr told Nigeria FA media.

“Senegal will help us play against Cameroon, but the game against Ghana will shape us up for the cracker against South Africa. We will use the two games to see some new players in some key positions. We don’t play these games for results. That is not to necessarily win but to see our team and the new players who will be invited,” he added.


Ghana will also use the friendly to prepare for the Afcon qualifier against Ethiopia as well as the World Cup qualifying double header against Congo.

With Avram Grant set to leave end of the month, reports suggest assistant Maxwell Konadu could step in as a caretaker until a new coach is appointed.  

Leicester City invite Stafford Rangers striker Josh Gordon for trial at the club

• Leicester have been struggling for goals in the Premier League this season 
• Foxes have invited non-League Stafford Rangers striker Josh Gordon for a trial 
• The 22-year-old began his career with Stoke and was at Nantwich previously
• Leicester were dumped out of the FA Cup by League One Millwall on Saturday 

Leicester City have invited Stafford Rangers striker Josh Gordon for a trial at the club.

The 22-year-old, who has also been watched by Derby County among others this season, is due to train with the Premier League champions next week.

Gordon only joined Stafford from Nantwich Town in October and has scored ten goals in the Northern Premier Division. He began his career with Stoke City and has since had stints at Alloa and Peterborough United.

The relegation-threatened champions could do with some added firepower in their squad, as Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez continue to struggle in front of goal.

The Foxes sit just one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League, and have lost their last five league matches.

Their cup form took a turn for the worse on Saturday too, as they were dumped out of the FA Cup late on by League One Millwall. 

Cristiano Ronaldo pokes fun at ex-Real Madrid teammate - then instantly regrets it when he spots a TV camera

The Real Madrid star's face says it all when he notices the camera and realises everything has been recorded

Cristiano Ronaldo is known for being a bit of a character.
He's often poking fun at his teammates on the training ground and apparently at his former teammates too, as the above video shows.
The clip captures the Real Madrid star in the tunnel ahead of their recent La Liga game with Espanyol, which they won 2-0.
He spots former Los Blancos shot-stopper Diego Lopez - who now stands between the sticks for the Calatan side - and goes to say hello.

Now it's not clear exactly what the Portuguese says, but according to a number of reports from Spain, the forward decides to crack a little joke... at Lopez's hairline.
"Wow, Diego, you've had like 3600 hairs put in," is what he apparently says to the keeper, before giggling with him and pulling him in for a hug.

But it's the cameraman who has the last laugh.
Pleased with his joke, CR7 goes to smirk and then spots the lens glaring at him.
His reaction is brilliant and he appears to instantly regret what he has just said as he holds his face in his hands.
Oh, Ronnie!

Real Madrid's Keylor Navas does not deserve criticism - Kiko Casilla

Real Madrid goalkeeper Kiko Casilla has defended his teammate Keylor Navas, after surprisingly being given a start in the 2-0 win over Espanyol.
Casilla has so far only been used in cup games, but as Navas has kept just one clean sheet in his last five appearances, boss Zinedine Zidane opted for a change.
"Keylor Navas does not deserve the criticism he has received," Casilla told Marca. "Goalkeepers are at the front of everything and if we thought about everything that was written and said, we couldn't live.

"I know my responsibility and the cup games were where I was going to play but when you are involved you feel happy and active.
"You always expect to play but when you have been on the bench for so long and you are told it is your time then you feel a mixture of surprise and joy, it was a special match for me."

Real Madrid make Toni Kroos transfer decision amid Man Utd interest

MANCHESTER UNITED are ready to launch another move for Toni Kroos.

Former Red Devils boss David Moyes attempted to sign the Germany international from Bayern Munich in 2013 but Real Madrid won the race.
Old Trafford chiefs have earmarked a summer swoop for Kroos, 27, as Jose Mourinho continues to reshape his squad.
But their Bernabeu counterparts are unwilling to sell, according to the Independent

Despite that stance, United are prepared to test their resolve.
Kroos could replace Michael Carrick who is out of contract at the end of the season.
World Cup winner Kroos is under contract until 2022 after signing a new contract last October.

Kroos has made 129 appearances for Real Madrid and helped Los Blancos to last season's Champions League title.
United legend Paul Scholes believes the 27-year-old is the perfect midfield partner for Paul Pogba.
"I really like Toni Kroos," Scholes said.

"When I came to the end of my career, I watched him closely and tried to play like Kroos.
"I was a rather forward-looking midfielder, but Toni is the best in the world, and Kroos would be perfect next to Pogba and Ander Herrera at United."
United are ready to back Mourinho in the transfer market with a kitty worth £1bn over five years

Molangoane: Kaizer Chiefs have enough depth to win the league

Chiefs didn't make major signings during the January transfer window, but according to Molangoane, they still have enough depth to win the league

Joseph Molangoane strongly believes that Kaizer Chiefs have enough depth to win this season's PSL title.
Amakhosi, who sit atop the PSL standings with 33 points from 18 league matches, have been criticised for not signing enough quality players this season.
However, Molangoane, who joined the club toward the end of last year as a free agent, feels the current generation is good enough to be crowned champions.
He warned that they will have to take each game as it comes to avoid complacency.
“I think we have the depth to win the league, but it is a marathon that we have to run by treating every game as it comes. I still think we have the depth to win the league,” Molangoane told reporters.
The 28-year-old former Orlando Pirates player added that he's happy with the progress he has made since joining the club, although he feels there's still room for improvement.
Chiefs have been playing with flair and they look sharper in the final since the arrival of Molangoane. 

“I think I can still do better. I have to score more goals. It is nice when you get into a team that is winning. The team was struggling a little bit when I came in, but they were not losing. Getting points is better than coming into a team that is losing,” said the speedy attacker.
Tight, as he's affectionately known, feels he needs to work more on scoring goals for the club.
“I think that's one thing I have to work on; scoring more goals,” Molangoane said

Kaizer Chiefs defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele reluctant to take the individual plaudits

  Kaizer Chiefs defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele has played down his Man of the Match accolade following his side's win over Highlands Park at Moses Mabhida stadium yesterday.

Mphahlele, who joined from Mamelodi Sundowns prior to this season, has been among the key players who have stepped up a gear as Chiefs recorded a string of wins that hav them back in the title chase.
The former junior international captain flicked on the ball from the corner kick of Siphiwe Tshabalala which fell kindly to Lorenzo Gordinho to nod home in the 40th minutes for the only goal of the game.
Mphahlele was also involved in the second goal in last week's 2-1 victory over Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala stadium after he broke free on right side and squared for 'Shabba' who tapped home to ensure that for Steve Komphela's side went away with another three points.
The 27-year-old said individual accolades are not something he's obsessed about as the team getting maximum points is his main priority.
READ: We have enough depth to take the league - Molangoane
"For me it is all about the team efforts and I think we played well as a team and the award doesn't mean anything to me and it goes out to my teammates for supporting me throughout the game," he said.
"And for me, I don't [take it as though it was my only efforts] and yes I appreciate getting Man of the Match but it's all about the team.
"As long as the team does well everybody does well, so that is the most important thing for me."
Mphahlele will miss his defensive partner and goal scorer Gordinho when they return to Durban's Moses Mabhida stadium next week against Ajax Cape Town but Erick Mathoho will be back from suspension.