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Diego Costa returns for Chelsea's PSG Champions League tie

Jose Mourinho will bring Diego Costa back into his Chelsea starting line-up for Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first-leg trip to Paris St-Germain.

Costa is available after serving a three-game ban for standing on Liverpool's Emre Can on 27 January.

"Yes, I start him," said Mourinho. "But it's not good for a player to be three matches without starting a game. So he's not in the best of condition."

 

Chelsea a different team from last PSG game - Mourinho

Costa has scored 17 goals in 19 Premier League games this season.

Chelsea defeated PSG at the quarter-final stage of last year's competition, since when David Luiz has left Stamford Bridge for the French champions in a £50m transfer.

Chelsea lost the first leg at Parc de Princes and needed a late goal from Demba Ba in the second to take them through.

Mourinho says he feels it is his team who have changed more since that tie.

"Paris is a great team - basically the same team as last season, with David Luiz," he said.

"When you have stability you can always improve.

"Chelsea is a different team. We have some different players and we have changed the profile of our game a little bit."

 

Wayne Rooney: Simon Grayson says Man Utd striker did not dive

Wayne Rooney did not dive to win a penalty in Manchester United's 3-1 FA Cup win at Preston, according to North End manager Simon Grayson.

Rooney went down in the box to win the penalty after Preston goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann challenged him, appearing to make little or no contact.

Grayson said: "I am not saying it wasn't a penalty. I'm saying there was no contact.

"It wasn't a dive. He's gone to get out of the way and take evasive action."

The England striker converted from the penalty spot for United's third goal in the fifth round tie - his first strike in nine games - as United came from behind to set up a quarter-final match at home to Arsenal.

Former Republic of Ireland midfielder and BBC pundit Kevin Kilbane did accuse Rooney of a dive but England boss Roy Hodgson agreed with Grayson's view of the incident.

Hodgson said: "If you are a referee in the run of play without replays I don't think any of us would have said it is not a penalty.

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Wayne Rooney 'dive' debated

"The goalkeeper has gone with both feet. Wayne has touched it past him."

Hodgson also confirmed Wayne Rooney will continue to feature as a striker for the national side, while again saying Tottenham's in-form striker Harry Kane will be named in his squad for next month's double-header with Lithuania and Italy.

The 29-year-old has been used in midfield by Manchester United for fixtures in both league and cup this season.

Hodgson said: "At the moment I'd like to think that Wayne's been a real key figure for us as a centre forward."

"He's scored the bulk of our goals, he's the captain of our team, so it would take a lot before I start to think along those lines.

"Otherwise we'll be giving an awful lot of responsibility to a 19 or 20-year-old to replace a 100-cap man. He is our top goalscorer, in fact two or three goals away from breaking Bobby Charlton's goalscoring record."

Rooney has scored six goals in his last six games for England, taking his tally to 46, just three behind United and England great Charlton.

Rooney said in 2013 that he considered his future at United after being played in midfield by then manager Sir Alex Ferguson

 

FA Cup: Holders Arsenal to face Manchester United in last eight

FA Cup holders Arsenal will travel to Manchester United in the quarter-finals on 7 or 8 March.

United confirmed their place in the last eight after coming from behind to win 3-1 at Preston North End.

The quarter-final tie at Old Trafford will be broadcast live on BBC One.

Arsenal draw is "tie of the round"

Liverpool host Blackburn, League One survivors Bradford City face Reading while West Midlands rivals Aston Villa and West Brom will meet at Villa Park.

Marouane Fellaini, who scored Manchester United's second goal against Preston, is relishing the quarter-final tie against the Gunners. "It will be a good game, a great game. Against Arsenal is always a great game," the Belgian told BBC Sport.

Arsenal and United met in the 2004-05 FA Cup final in Cardiff with the north London side winning 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw.

Liverpool's last-eight draw will give Steven Gerrard hope of reaching Wembley in his final season at the Reds, although they will have to overcome a Blackburn side who have knocked out Premier League opposition in Swansea and Stoke already this season.

League One side Bradford are into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1976, and will be confident of progressing further against Reading after beating Premier League sides Chelsea and Sunderland in the previous rounds.

Bradford chairman Mark Lawn told Sky Sports News: "Ninety minutes from Wembley, both sides will realise, and they will both be going for it. I think we'll sell out here again, hopefully it will be bouncing and we'll push through."

The quarter-final draw was made by England boss Roy Hodgson and Brian Finney, son of Preston legend Tom Finney, at Deepdale on Monday before the Preston-Manchester United game.

FA Cup quarter-final draw
Aston Villa v West Brom
Bradford City v Reading
Liverpool v Blackburn
Manchester United v Arsenal
Ties to be played on the weekend of 7-8 March

Manchester United are the joint-most successful side in FA Cup history with 11 victories

Bradford City beat Sunderland to secure their place in the quarter-final

Liverpool, who beat Crystal Palace in the previous round, have won 15 of their last 16 quarter-final ties

Tim Sherwood, appointed Aston Villa boss on Saturday, watched his new side beat Leicester in the fifth round on Sunday

Bradford's incredible FA Cup run continued as Sunderland became their latest Premier League scalp

Jon Stead continued his run of scoring in every round to help put the Bantams into the quarter-finals.

Phil Parkinson's side showed their victory over Chelsea was no fluke, going in front through John O'Shea's third-minute own goal.

Stead doubled the lead for the League One promotion-chasers with a close-range finish in the 61st minute.

In front of their biggest home crowd for more than 50 years, 24,021 people watched Bradford enjoy a perfect start as O'Shea failed to deal with a deep Filipe Morais free-kick swung in from the right.

The ball reached Billy Clarke and the midfielder's misdirected shot from inside the area struck Sunderland skipper O'Shea's right leg to beat keeper Vito Mannone at his near post.

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Bradford 1 (O'Shea og 3') Sunderland 0

Much of the pre-match talk centred on the condition of Bradford's pitch, which was further cut up during the warm-ups.

Sunderland initially failed to adapt to the heavy conditions, and were pushed back as the hosts went in search of a second goal.

Stead failed to head in James Meredith's inviting cross at the near post as Gus Poyet's Sunderland side endured a torrid opening.

Sunderland finally began to assert themselves and Steven Fletcher had penalty claims turned down when the forward went to ground under Rory McArdle's clumsy challenge.

It took a good low save from Ben Williams to keep out a powerful deflected drive from full-back Patrick van Aanholt as Sunderland began to press.

At the other end Billy Clarke forced Mannone into action after finding a way past three Sunderland defenders to shoot from 18 yards.

Poyet introduced Connor Wickham at half-time, and Sunderland continued to push forward, with Ricardo Alvarez initially more of an influence after the re-start.

It took a fine intervention from defender Meredith to prevent Adam Johnson from lobbing the equaliser into an unguarded net.

Sunderland looked the more likely at that stage to score, but it was Bradford who claimed the contest's crucial second goal.

It came from Stead, who claimed a measure of revenge after becoming a figure of ridicule for supporters at the Stadium of Light during a two-year spell on Wearside where he found the net just twice.

Johnson's attempted clearance was headed back into the Sunderland area by James Hanson and 31-year-old Stead, on loan from Huddersfield, found a way past Wes Brown to shoot beneath Mannone from 12 yards.

Wickham saw a late header saved by Williams as the Sunderland fight-back failed to materialise in the remaining half an hour.

Many fans among the 4,000-strong away support then turned on head coach Poyet.

Although it was the Bradford fans who were serenading the Uruguayan with chants of 'you're getting sacked in the morning'.

Bradford boss Phil Parkinson told BBC Sport: "I am obviously delighted with the way we played. We did the right things in the right areas of the pitch. Defensively we were outstanding. I was pleased when Jon Stead put that second goal in, it gave us a bit of breathing space and we saw the game out professionally.

"There is always a danger because the expectancy might have been we would win this one after beating Chelsea but we have kept that underdog spirit. It was a good, old-fashioned cup tie, a really good advert for the FA Cup.

"The pitch was not as bad as it was two or three weeks ago, we played some good stuff at times, so did Sunderland.

"After today we would like another game at home. It is incredible for all the players to experience that sell-out atmosphere. We had all three sides singing and behind the team and it raises the lads to the next level."

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet told BBC Sport: "It was a proper old-style cup tie. Two teams committed. It would be a mistake, or a deflected shot that would be the difference from the two teams, or a decision from the referee.

"Credit to Bradford, they know how to play these games. It is not humiliating, it is what the cup brings into the equation. If the top teams always beat the smaller teams, then the cup would not exist."

Bradford take the lead through O'Shea's own goal

O'Shea cuts a dejected figure after his own goal

Sunderland's run of six consecutive wins at Valley Parade came to an end

Jon Stead celebrates sealing Bradford's FA Cup progress

Bradford return to League One action with Wednesday's trip to Leyton Orient

 

Olivier Giroud scores twice as Arsenal ease past Middlesbrough

FA Cup holders Arsenal produced an assured display to reach the quarter-finals and end Middlesbrough's impressive run in the competition.

Santi Cazorla split the away side's defence with a through ball for Kieran Gibbs, who squared for Olivier Giroud to steer home the opener.

Giroud added a second with a delightful volley at Boro's near post after slack defending from a corner.

Spanish striker Kike headed against the post late on but Boro created little.

Arsenal, who ended a nine-year trophy drought by winning the FA Cup last season, move into the draw for the last eight as one of five Premier League teams, with League One Preston hosting Manchester United on Monday evening.

All eleven of Arsenal's players touched the ball before Giroud's opener

Championship Middlesbrough went into the game on the back of six consecutive wins - their best run for 20 years - and 5,280 Boro fans travelled to north London.

New Gunners signing Gabriel Paulista made his debut at centre-back but had little to do as the home side dominated. Albert Adomah's shot, Middlesbrough's first on target, was comfortably saved by Wojciech Szczesny in the 39th minute.

Boro recalled goalkeeper Tomas Mejias, who excelled in the previous round as the Teesside club produced one of the shocks of the season to defeat Premier League champions Manchester City 2-0 at Etihad Stadium, but they could not keep Arsenal at bay.

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Arsenal 1 (Giroud 27') Middlesbrough 0

Cazorla and Gibbs combined for the opener, setting up Giroud whose first-time strike with his left foot went under Meijas.

Just two minutes later Giroud doubled his tally with a beautifully controlled volley at the near post after defender George Friend allowed the Frenchman to escape at Alexis Sanchez's corner.

Middlesbrough managed to shore up their defence in the second half but they remained toothless in attack. Kike's injury-time header was the only time they threatened to score.

And they would have been more heavily beaten had it not been for Mejias, who produced the finest of several good saves when he fell low to his left to tip Sanchez's header round the post.

Boro's focus will now return to their bid for promotion from the Championship, where they can return to the top of the table with a draw at Birmingham on Wednesday.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "We started well, with a good pace and we controlled the game with our movement and technical quality. We had good team focus overall, we maybe lost our cohesion a little bit at 2-0 but I am happy. Overall we were serious and focused over the whole game.

"Olivier Giroud was very sharp. He has improved a lot compared to the player he was when he arrived here. He is mobile, technically good, and he works with great focus in training. He has become a top player.

"Gabriel Paulista made a great recovery tackle in the box. He wants to defend, he has good urgency levels and a good physique and technical qualities. He is short language-wise but the intelligent players compensate with vision. They look at what their partners are doing, and he did that well."

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka: "It is difficult to play against Arsenal and if you concede goals at set pieces, and if you make mistakes, it is more difficult.

"The way I like to play is to fight but in the first half we did not play in the way I like. We did not fight in the same way as we did against Manchester City and Liverpool. Now we have to think about Birmingham. The league is our objective now."

Santi Cazorla opened Middlesbrough up for Arsenal's first goal

Giroud took his goal tally for the season into double figures

Olvier Giroud's second goal was finished well but Boro's defending was slack

Arsenal centre-back Gabriel was signed from Spanish club Villarreal for £11.2m in January

Boro goalkeeper Mejias produced several good saves despite being beaten twice

Juan Carlos Garcia: Wigan Athletic defender has leukaemia

Wigan Athletic have confirmed that Honduras full-back Juan Carlos Garcia has been diagnosed with leukaemia.

The 26-year-old returned to the Latics last week from his loan spell at Spanish side Tenerife with what the club called "a blood disorder".

Garcia joined Wigan in July 2013 on a free transfer but his only appearance came in the League Cup last season.

"I went in to see Juan Carlos and he was incredibly upbeat and his spirits were strong," said boss Malky Mackay.

What is leukaemia?
Leukaemia is cancer of the white blood cells. Symptoms include pale skin, tiredness, breathlessness and susceptibility to infection.
On average 2,500 adults are diagnosed with acute leukaemia in the UK each year, according to Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research

"He's going to fight this and make sure he gets through this for the sake of his wife and kids. Everybody at the club is wishing him all the best as I'm sure that all our fans are.

"It's something that is obviously a real blow for Juan Carlos' family and everybody connected with the football club. We're going to make sure that he gets the best care possible."

 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool are hoping to complete the signing of Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic, 24, his team-mate and fellow midfielder Radja Nainggolan, 26, and Lazio forward Keita Balde Diao, 19, for a combined fee of more than £75m. (Daily Express) 

Former Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra, 29, hopes West Ham will revive their interest in signing him in the summer, after Fifa blocked a move in January. (Daily Mirror) 

Ings once went on loan to Dorchester Town

Burnley striker Danny Ings, 22, has flown to Spain to open talks with Real Sociedad over a proposed summer move. (Daily Mail) 

And the Spanish side, managed by David Moyes, are set to quadruple Ings's current wages and pay him £60,000 a week. (Daily Star) 

Atletico Madrid have agreed a deal to sign Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla, 30, in the summer. (Spanish radio station Cadena Cope) 

The Spanish club are also hoping to take Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata, 26, back to La Liga. (The Sun - Subscription required)  

Arsenal could make a bid for Palermo striker Paulo Dybala after the Italian club said they are ready to sell the 21-year-old Argentine at the end of the season. (fichajes.net - in Spanish) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Former Chelsea defender David Luiz, 27, was offered a new contract by Jose Mourinho but decided to join Paris St-Germain in the summer because his "cycle had finished" at the Stamford Bridge club. (Daily Mail) 

Luiz, who will face his former club at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League first knockout stage, was so determined to play in the 2012 Champions League final that he pleaded with Chelsea's medical staff to pretend he was fit even if he failed a pre-match fitness test. (Daily Telegraph) 

England manager Roy Hodgson wants to see former Manchester United defender Gary Neville replace him when he leaves his role. (Daily Star) 

The back page of Monday's Daily Star

Everton defender Phil Jagielka, 32, says the Toffees, five points clear of the relegation zone, would have swapped their healthy progress in the Europa League for a decent run in the Premier League. (Liverpool Echo) 

Arsene Wenger says France striker Olivier Giroud, 28, who scored both goals in the Gunners 2-0 FA Cup win over Middlesbrough, is a transformed player. (Daily Telegraph) 

Paris St-Germain defender Thiago Silva, 30, says Chelsea striker Diego Costa, 26, does not scare them ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League meeting. (Daily Mirror) 

West Brom striker Brown Ideye, 26, has thanked his "mentor" and fellow Nigerian Kanu after the two-goal FA Cup hero against West Ham on Saturday revealed the former Arsenal star has been in touch offering him support. (Daily Mail) 

Monday's Daily Express back page

The first online order for a Preston shirt after beating Sheffield United in an FA Cup fourth round replay was from Los Angeles requesting "Beckham and "4" be printed on the back. The League One club, who host Manchester United in the sixth round on Monday, was where former Manchester United star David Beckham had a loan spell in 1995.

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet admits he could "pay the price" after being on the end of a fans' backlash following a 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Bradford City on Sunday. (Sun - subscription required) 

Blackburn FA Cup hero Josh King was still in shock after his hat-trick against Stoke on Saturday that the 23-year-old striker almost forgot to take home the match ball. (Sun - subscription required) 

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has been criticised by Liverpool supporters after making a comment on Twitter about their celebrations following the FA Cup win. (Daily Mail) 

 

 

 

 

Celta Vigo deservedly beat Atletico Madrid to leave the Spanish champions seven points adrift of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

Atletico - who beat Real 4-0 last week - never looked comfortable and trailed to Nolito's controversial penalty after he was felled by Mario Suarez.

A Celta handball moments before the foul angered Atletico, who hit the post through Antoine Griezmann in response.

Fabian Orellana added to Atletico's misery, driving in low from 12 yards.

Atletico are yet to host second-placed Barcelona, who they trail by six points, but the deficit to Real now looks a daunting one as the local rivals do not meet again.

So impressive after defeat at the Nou Camp on 11 January, Diego Simeone's side met Celta off the back of four successive league wins, culminating in the most comprehensive derby triumph since 2003.

But Los Rojiblancos were underwhelming throughout and had just 25% of possession in the opening period at Balaidos against a Celta side with one win in 11 league games before kick-off.

Nolito scored against Atletico in the reverse league fixture in September 2014 and completed nine dribbles on Sunday, more than any other game in his La Liga career

Simeone responded to the goalless first half by introducing midfielder Cani for Fernando Torres at the break, but seconds after Augusto Fernandez clearly handballed in midfield, Celta took full advantage when Nolito turned Suarez, forcing a foul.

The striker side-footed his eighth goal of the season coolly into the bottom right-hand corner from the spot and almost created a second for Joaquin Larrivey, who somehow failed to turn home from six yards.

Griezmann swivelled to shoot and force a smart save onto the post from Sergio Alvarez as Atletico faced defeat.

And when Orellana - impressive throughout - found space at the end of a neat Celta move, he took his time to drill across goal into the bottom corner, lifting his side to ninth in La Liga.

Elsewhere in La Liga on Sunday, Valencia moved fourth as Alvaro Negredo's penalty helped them beat Getafe 1-0 and Villarreal stayed sixth despite a 2-0 defeat at Rayo Vallecano.

Atletico's Diego Godin wore a protective face mask after fracturing his nose in last week's Madrid derby

Fabian Orellana raced away to celebrate his side's second goal which arrived after a slick passing move

Celta Vigo had not beaten Atletico Madrid since 2007 before Sunday's success

Man Utd: Louis van Gaal confirms he wants to buy a midfield player

Manchester United are in the market for a new midfielder this summer, says manager Louis van Gaal.

The Old Trafford boss has been criticised for playing striker Wayne Rooney in a deeper position and when asked if his priority was to sign a new midfielder he said: "Of course."

Van Gaal was speaking ahead of Monday's FA Cup fifth-round tie against Preston North End at Deepdale (19:45 GMT).

"I am looking for balance and I need balance in midfield," he added.

"When I play with [Adnan] Januzaj and [Angel] Di Maria in the midfield positions, then you need a certain balance for that kind of creative player.

"So, when you have these creative players, and also [Radamel] Falcao and [Robin] van Persie are creative players, then you have four creative players and you have to look for balance in your team."

Van Gaal says Rooney, 29, who has not scored in nine games, has no problem with playing in midfield but admits his captain will be well aware of public opinion on his role.

"He is happy," said Van Gaal. "Otherwise, he should come to me and say: 'I am not happy', but he never does.

All-time Premier League top scorers
Alan Shearer (Blackburn, Newcastle)	260
Andy Cole (Newcastle, Man Utd, Blackburn, Fulham, Man City, Portsmouth)	187
Wayne Rooney (Everton, Man Utd)	181
Frank Lampard (West Ham, Chelsea, Man City)	176
Thierry Henry (Arsenal)	175

"He is always friendly to me and wants to perform what I want.

"That is what I see, but, when the whole world is writing that he has to be in the striker's position, he shall be thinking ' hey' as he is human."

Rooney began the season up front and had scored eight goals in 14 games, moving to third in United's list of all-time scorers, before being switched to midfield.

His last goals came in United's 3-1 win over Newcastle on Boxing Day, when he played as a striker.

Rooney's longest run without a goal for the club came between December 2005 and February '06 when he went 12 games without scoring.

Monday's game at Preston is live on BBC One, the BBC Sport website and BBC Radio 5 live.

Tim Sherwood: Aston Villa boss says job offer was a 'no brainer'

Tim Sherwood admits it was a "no brainer" when asked to replace Paul Lambert as Aston Villa manager.

Sherwood, 46, was appointed on Saturday and watched from the stands as Villa beat Leicester 2-1 in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday at Villa Park.

"When I got the call it was a no brainer. I said 'yes, I'll take the job' then negotiate afterwards.

"When I came here as a player I found it a difficult place to get a result. I want to turn it into a fortress."

One of Sherwood's first tasks is to help Christian Benteke to recapture his form of the last two seasons.

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FA Cup: Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester highlights

The Belgium striker has scored only three goals in 19 Villa appearances this term after netting 34 in 62 games in the previous two seasons.

He was left out of the side for both the home defeat by Chelsea and Tuesday's loss away to Hull City - Lambert's last game in charge.

"Benteke is a handful," added Sherwood, who was in charge of Spurs from December 2013 until the end of the season.

"All the best clubs in the world were after him. A goal will breed confidence and the rest will follow. But it is not a one-man team. He needs to be helped by the rest of the team."

Sherwood was the clear frontrunner to take over at Queens Park Rangers following the resignation of Harry Redknapp, but negotiations came to a halt last week.

His new club have won only two home league games all season and their last league win was a 2-1 success against Leicester City on 7 December.

Sherwood added: "They are a giant club with a lot of history and it's a great honour to be asked to be manager.

"I've come from one big club to another big club. It is a fantastic opportunity for me. I will give 100% to keep Villa in the Premier League and then try to move it on in the future.

"Everyone is surprised to see where they are. But they are not here for no reason.

"I've got a way of playing. It has been a success with the Spurs development side and in the first team. I know how to galvanise and get the best out of players and that is what I intend to do with this squad."

Aston Villa encouraged supporters to 'welcome Tim' on their Twitter account

Hello everyone,i am a very active punter & i make predictions every week which i bet on...now am sure you all know that no one is perfect & football can be cruel sometimes,ive been in a position where a single game made me loose a lot of money & also where unexpected longshots made me a lot too.but then i realized that football betting is all about brilliance,precision & patience.for example october last year was very hard for me & i was loosing constantly but then i kept on holding on to my guts & then i made over 300k on a longshot i didn't expect with just 1000 naira,so what am saying in essence is 2014 as a whole was a wonderful year for me & i made over #750k but then i realized that my joy would have been tripled if other punters across the nation was a part of the year i had,so i decided to bring it on here so that i could share my insights with all of you & hopefully we would have a lot of fun & victories this year.Do forget that there would be times when we loose & times we win,but the most important thing is that our losses & victories are shared & that we make the most out of them! Feel free to share & post your predictions or winnings,Thank You!