Will It Work?? See What Chelsea Are Planning To Give Hazard To Make Him Stay

New Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri has promised to make forward, Eden Hazard the new captain of the club in an effort to keep him at Stamford Bridge.

Real Madrid have seen Hazard as a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu after the Portuguese superstar moved to Juventus.

The Blues are demanding as much as £200m for Hazard even though the Belgian who only has two years left on his contract had rejected a new deal.

Sarri had earlier said that he will meet the player face to face when he returns to the club from his World Cup holiday.

But Sun, UK, is reporting that Sarri is desperate to work with Hazard next season and has vowed to make him the captain in an effort to keep him.

The Blues are likely to need a new captain next season with Gary Cahill’s place at the club under threat should they land £44m-rated Juve defender, Daniele Rugani.

Sarri is mulling over other potential captain options, such as Cesc Fabregas and Cesar Azpilicueta, but will give Hazard the role to act as the extra motivation he needs to reject a move to Real Madrid.

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It’s HAPPENING! Chelsea & Juventus Set To Agree Fee For This Highly Rated Striker (Photo)

Chelsea and Juventus are set to hold talks on Saturday in Nice as the Blues target moves for a number of the Serie A champions’ players.

Goal understands Chelsea CEO Marina Granovskaia will meet with Juve sporting director Fabio Paratici while Maurizio Sarri’s side prepare to face Inter in the International Champions Cup.

Sarri has targeted moves for a number of Juventus players due to his familiarity with Serie A, having already secured the arrival of Jorginho from Napoli.

A second bid of £45 million ($59m) was lodged for centre-back Daniele Rugani earlier in the week, and Chelsea are hopeful that these talks will allow a breakthrough to be made in their pursuit of the Italy international.

The Blues have already seen a £36m ($47m) bid rejected by the Bianconeri for Rugani but he remains Sarri’s primary defensive target with less than two weeks of the transfer window left to run in England.

Should Rugani prove unattainable, Chelsea will turn their attentions to his team-mate Mattia Caldara.

The 24-year-old is yet to make an appearance for Massimiliano Allegri’s side, having signed for Juve in January 2017 before being loaned back to Atalanta for 18 months in a bid to gain further experience.

Caldara has been linked with a move away already this summer, with AC Milan reportedly keen to bring him to San Siro in a deal that would potentially see Leonardo Bonucci move in the opposite direction.

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Why Antonio Conte Turned Down Opportunity To Replace Zidane At Real Madrid

Real Madrid contacted Antonio Conte to become their new head coach, but he told them he intends to respect his contract with Chelsea, according to Sky Sport Italia.

The current European champions were keen on bringing the former Italy boss to the Santiago Bernabeu, and spoke to him about taking over from Zinedine Zidane, who resigned from the job days after winning a third successive Champions League title.

However, Conte turned them down for a number of reasons.

First, is that he intends to respect his contract with Chelsea.

Also, if Blues owner, Roman Abramovich is to fire him, they will need to give him €10m as pay-off.

Thirdly, Conte is said to be concerned about the work ethics of the Real Madrid squad and their focus on star names, as those would not suit his style.

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BREAKING! English Premier League Clubs To Have Winter Breaks In February

Premier League clubs will have a winter break in February from the 2019-20 season.

The break will be staggered across two weeks, with five matches on the first weekend and five the following weekend.

The FA Cup fifth round will be moved to midweek to accommodate the break, with replays being scrapped at that stage.

The Football Association described it as “a significant moment for English football” that “will greatly benefit club and country”.

“It’s no secret that we have a very congested fixture calendar and over recent years we have been working with the whole game to find a solution,” said FA chief executive Martin Glenn.

“As we head into summer international tournaments in the future we are sure that this mid-season break will prove to be a valuable addition for our players.”

All three divisions of the English Football League (EFL) will remain unchanged, with a full programme of fixtures taking place on each of the weekends where there is a break.

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Tottenham is ready for Juventus - H.M Son

Tottenham Hotspur have nothing to fear ahead of Wednesday's Champions League game against Juventus and possess plenty of firepower to progress to the quarterfinals, midfielder Son Heung-min said.

Tottenham clawed their way back from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw with the Italian champions in Turin in the first leg of the last-16 tie.

"We play at home but we are not scared," Son said. "We need to play our game, be confident and play forward like we play at Wembley. That's the most important thing.

"We are hungry. We are not finished... it's a Champions League game against a difficult opponent... I hope it's a great atmosphere and I think we have a great opportunity," the South Korean added.

Son scored twice as Spurs outclassed Huddersfield Town 2-0 in the Premier League on Saturday to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 17 games.

Tottenham, who are preparing to move to a new stadium next season, have taken time to settle in at their temporary home but are favourites to reach the last eight.

"You can see how well Tottenham play. We deserve to play in the Champions League to the quarter-final or even more. We are good enough," Son said.

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‘Could not have imagined title runaway’ - Pep

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he never imagined his team would run away with the Premier League title as they are doing this season.

City are 18 points clear of second-placed Liverpool after beating Chelsea 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday and need just four wins from their final nine games to be sure of the title.

Asked whether he felt such a season of dominance could be possible, Guardiola said: "Before? No way. No way, no. Who could believe it? I think if you ask the players, the players (couldn't believe it) neither," he said.

"In terms of not just the results but the way we played, today was another demonstration. We showed the same desire as at Stamford Bridge. That is what pleases me the most.

"To have the distance, 25 to Chelsea, 33 to Arsenal. Tottenham, Liverpool and United, they have had good results and kept a good pace. We are so far so good... I think it is a consequence of the way we play. The way we play today is a bit similar to what we have done (this season)," he said.

With nine games remaining, City who are on 78 points, have a chance to become the first team to break the 100-points barrier in the history of the English top flight.

Guardiola said, though, that his focus was not on records but on securing silverware.

"We are not going to play for the records. Records are always a consequence of what you have done but they are not the main thing.

"What really matters is to be champions. I never spoke with the players about the records. Next week at Stoke we are going to try and play like we play all season. After, at the end, we will see," he said.

Guardiola has had a tense relationship at times with Argentine striker Sergio Aguero but he said the forward was playing the best football since the Spaniard took over at the club last season.

"Since we were together here with Sergio, the last month and a half, two months, is the best Sergio I have seen. He doesn’t lose one ball, he makes a movement in behind, he is the first man to help. Okay, he didn’t score – he will score in the future. It is no problem, he did really well."

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Manchester City fined after behaviour inFA Cup

Manchester City have been fined £50 000 for their players' behaviour in the stormy FA Cup defeat against third tier Wigan.

Several of Pep Guardiola's stars surrounded referee Anthony Taylor following the controversial dismissal of City defender Fabian Delph in the first half of the Premier League leaders' shock 1-0 loss.

"Manchester City have been fined £50 000 after admitting a charge of failing to ensure that their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion," a Football Association statement said on Friday.

"The incident took place in their Emirates FA Cup tie against Wigan Athletic last month."

Following Delph's dismissal, City manager Guardiola and Wigan boss Paul Cook argued on the touchline.

At the end of the fifth round match – won by Wigan thanks to a Will Grigg goal – Latics fans invaded the pitch, while City supporters were involved in unrest, with some damage caused to advertising boards.

City striker Sergio Aguero was confronted by one fan on the pitch in an incident which was investigated by the FA, who decided to take no action against the player.

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Wayne Rooney reveals why he chose Everton

Wayne Rooney says he chose the "pressure" of returning to boyhood club Everton over a massive payday in China when he left Manchester United.

The former England captain was linked with a move to the Far East in the final months of his career at Old Trafford but eventually decided on an emotional homecoming 13 years after leaving Goodison Park.

Rooney, 32, told the BBC's Football Focus programme he decided against seeing out his career "earning a lot of money" overseas.

"That's not me, I need those goals, I need that pressure. That desire to play would have been lost if I'd chosen that other option," he said.

"I knew that coming back to Everton was more pressure -- that's what I wanted.

"I wanted to prove myself again to the Everton fans and to try to help this club move forward and win silverware. I think it was the perfect fit for me and hopefully in the next two or three years we can do that."

Last month manager Sam Allardyce suggested he could not play Rooney and £45 million summer signing Gylfi Sigurdsson in the same side.

That led to Rooney spending a couple of matches on the bench but the past two games he has started, in a deeper role, resulted in the club's only two wins in the past 10 fixtures and it now seems Allardyce is open to the options he can offer.

"The one thing which stays is my attitude to playing, my attitude to win, but of course you change and adapt your game and that's what I feel I've done over the last few years," Rooney said.

"Two years ago, I thought my best position to play was midfield, and that's starting to happen now."

Rooney played 559 times for United, becoming their all-time leading goalscorer with 253 goals, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League.

He said he has followed the example of former United team-mate Ryan Giggs, who retired from playing at 40.

"I've learnt that you can manage yourself in training, like Ryan did," he said. "He was there in every session but he managed it. You know when to run, when to make a 50-yard sprint and when not to. It's just having that awareness about yourself."

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Man United host Chelsea in a battle to be best

Manchester City's 16-point lead atop the Premier League means the most intriguing battle looks to be who will finish as runners-up with Manchester United aiming to keep their grip on second place when they host Chelsea on Sunday.

Antonio Conte's west London side have bounced back from two successive defeats to comfortably beat West Bromwich Albion in the league and secure an impressive 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the Champions League last 16, first leg on Tuesday.

United, meanwhile, were held to a goalless draw against Sevilla in Spain on Wednesday.

Jose Mourinho's side, who suffered defeat by Newcastle United in their previous league outing, could be third by the time they welcome his former club to Old Trafford on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, only two points behind United, take on West Ham United on Saturday at Anfield having not lost at home in the league so far this season.

Chelsea can ill afford a poor result with the threat of finishing outside the Champions League qualifying places a real possibility for any of the sides immediately behind City.

Tottenham Hotspur, in fifth place and trailing Chelsea by a solitary point, travel to Crystal Palace earlier on Sunday.

In a week that signals the 10-game countdown to the end of the season, jockeying for position intensifies significantly.

BASEMENT SCRAMBLE

That can also be seen at the other end of the table where a margin of five points separates 10th from the relegation places.

Bottom side West Bromwich Albion face Huddersfield Town at the Hawthorns on Saturday looking to snap a run of three successive defeats.

It is the first of two games that British media has said West Brom manager Alan Pardew has to save his job.

The weekend kicks off with Stoke City visiting fellow Midlands club Leicester City with both sides winless in three.

Third-bottom Southampton could climb out of the relegation zone with a victory at Burnley, whose own run without a win stretches back 12 games to the middle of December.

Sean Dyche's side have only picked up two points in the league so far this year, dampening their early-season surge.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Brighton & Hove Albion face fellow strugglers Swansea City while the late kickoff is a mid-table tussle between Watford and Everton at Vicarage Road.

Arsenal and Manchester City skip league action this weekend due to their League Cup final clash at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. They next play in the league on Thursday, March 1 when they, coincidentally, face each other at the Emirates.

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Klopp welcomes player selection woes

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is relishing the chance to select his best players for every match as the club boast a fully-fit squad ahead of crucial fixtures in the Premier League and Champions League.

Defender Nathaniel Clyne's return to training, along with that of Adam Lallana, Dominic Solanke, Danny Ings and Ragnar Klavan, means all 25 players who travelled to Liverpool's training camp in Spain have no injury concerns.

"We made our rotation in the winter, in November and December, to be now 100 per cent fit," Klopp told the club's website. (www.liverpoolfc.com)

"Now we are 100 per cent fit, the best players will play all the time.

"We need all of these players and hopefully we have them all available and then we will make a decision, but it's not that I think now we will rotate before or after. We go for everything."

Liverpool are on course to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Champions League after a 5-0 win over FC Porto in the first leg of their last-16 tie and defender Dejan Lovren believes the club can win the tournament.

"Of course (we can win it)," Lovren is quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo. "Yes, if we are right and we do our job like we did and everyone defends well - each centimetre of the pitch is covered – then we have a great chance.

"Don't forget about Liverpool. We have so much quality so we can beat everyone if we are on our top level – as simple as that."

The Merseyside club have proved their doubters wrong by flourishing in the Champions League and Lovren is enjoying the club's underdog status as he urged his teammates to get the job done in the second leg against Porto.

"It is good when they don't talk about us," Lovren added. "Maybe they would consider them to be the favourites – even better. We are the underdogs I would say.

"It is something from deep inside that will explode but we need to be calm and finish the second game at home and let's see what happens later."

Liverpool are third in the league, still in a tightly-contested race to finish in the top four with 11 games remaining. Klopp's side next host West Ham United on February 24.

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Chelsea target top-four finish - Hazard

Chelsea must strive to finish in the Premier League's top four and secure Champions League football for next season, playmaker Eden Hazard has said as the London outfit got back to winning ways with a 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

The champions have failed to replicate last season's dominance, winning just three of their last 11 matches across all competitions to sit fourth in the league, 19 points behind leaders Manchester City, and eliminated from the League Cup.

Hazard scored a brace to lead Chelsea to a much-needed win over West Brom after consecutive league defeats by Bournemouth and Watford, and the Belgian is keen for the club to maintain their momentum throughout the rest of the campaign. "It was a good response to the two losses... We have great players and we need to finish in the top four at the end of the season, that's our target," Hazard told the club's website. (www.chelseafc.com)

"We have 11 games to play between now and then and we have to give everything to achieve that."
The Champions League and FA Cup are Chelsea's only chances of winning a trophy this season as their gap to City appears to be insurmountable.

Hazard, 27, called for his teammates to be united as Chelsea push towards achieving consistent results with the hopes of winning at least one trophy this season. "We are all together," Hazard said. "We have to work and win games. When you play for Chelsea you have to put this in your mind and give everything on the pitch.

"We need to be in the top four, for the Champions League next season, and it would be good if we can take the FA Cup. We are also in the Champions League, it's not easy to win the Champions League but we will go for everything.

"We have three months to play until the end of the season and we have to give everything to reach our targets... the target has to be to win trophies."
Chelsea host Hull City in the FA Cup on Friday before the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie against Barcelona on Tuesday.

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Spurs learned to fight back - Christian Eriksen

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has instilled a fighting spirit within the side that helps them overcome deficits rather than capitulate, playmaker Christian Eriksen has said. Tottenham went 2-0 down against Juventus in the opening nine minutes of their Champions League round of 16 tie on Tuesday but rallied to earn a 2-2 draw and put themselves in a strong position ahead of the return leg at Wembley.
Eriksen, 26, believes that the comeback was evidence of Tottenham's development under the Argentine boss.

"The club is completely different – from what it was when I came to what it is now," Eriksen told British media. "That's up to the manager and up to the players, with the quality we have in the squad.
"We are building on every season compared to when I arrived here... The games against the top teams, when we were 2-0 down after nine minutes, we'd lose 6-0. That's the thing we've changed with the manager coming in and with the players we have.

"Everyone has grown up and they are not going to lie down if they are 2-0 down. We don't care where we are or what time it is or which stadium we play in or which we team we play, we always try to dominate..."
Spurs' progress over recent years and their Champions League showing this season have put the spotlight on Pochettino, who has garnered interest from rivals clubs.

Eriksen is, however, confident that the manager will stay with the north London outfit.
"The players are happy with him, the club is very happy with him," the Denmark international added. "I think that's what he showed when he signed his new long-term deal (in May 2016).

"Of course, there will be interest from other clubs because he's doing really well but hopefully he'll stay."
Tottenham travel to Rochdale in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

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'Man City squad is the most expensive in history'

Premier League leaders Manchester City have the most expensive squad in history, according to a report published on Monday by the Swiss-based CIES Football Observatory.

The research values Pep Guardiola's squad at 878 million euros ($1.08 billion), with Paris Saint-Germain second on 805 million euros, after a January transfer window in which City acquired centre-back Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao for 65 million euros.

Neymar's world-record signing from Barcelona accounts for more than a quarter of the PSG total but Kylian Mbappe is only on loan, despite an anticipated transfer fee of up to 180m euros to be paid to Monaco at the end of the season.

That leaves Guardiola managing the costliest-ever collection of talent.

"When you want to compete at the highest level, you need to spend," Guardiola said last month.

"Some clubs spend £300, £400 million on two players. We spend it on six players."

Two other teams have spent more than 700m euros building their squads -- Manchester United (747m euros) and Barcelona (725m euros).

The rest of the top 10 is made up of Real Madrid in sixth, Juventus in eighth and four Premier League teams - Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton.

The researchers calculated that the average Premier League squad cost "a record high" of 291m euros, more than double La Liga's average of 131m euros.

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Chelsea back into EPL top four

Two goals from Belgian wizard Eden Hazard and another by Victor Moses earned Chelsea a 3-0 home win over struggling West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Monday, easing pressure on coach Antonio Conte following two defeats for the champions.

The lively Hazard twisted his way goalwards in the 25th minute before playing a neat one-two with new signing Olivier Giroud who held off defenders to place the ball for the Belgium international to smack it past goalkeeper Ben Foster.

Moses added Chelsea's second after sprinting down the wing and laying the ball off to Cesc Fabregas, whose flick was deflected back into the Nigerian's path.

Hazard's second goal wrapped up the points as Chelsea moved back into the top four. In the 71st minute, he received a pass from substitute Alvaro Morata, and jinked past defender Jonny Evans to lift the ball into the net.

Chelsea have 53 points from 27 games, one point ahead of London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and a point behind third-placed Liverpool in the race for Champions League qualifying spots.

A beaming Conte, whose side had lost their previous two Premier League games at home to Bournemouth and at Watford, hurried round the pitch after the whistle, shaking hands.

ENERGISED PLAYERS

The Italian, who won the title in his first season in charge, has had a strained relationship with the club hierarchy since last summer after disagreements over buying players and British media suggested he would leave at the end of the season.

But his players, so lacklustre against Watford, looked energised after a week's rest. France international Giroud, who joined last month from Arsenal, provided a target man and combined well with Hazard and Fabregas.

He left the pitch to applause in the 70th minute, his head swathed in bandages after he was kicked in a goalmouth melee in the first half.

"He is a great target man," Hazard told Sky Sports. "Maybe one of the best in England. So we can pass the ball and go around him. He is a good point of reference. We have plenty though as we have him, Alvaro and I can play striker also."

It was a miserable night for Alan Pardew’s West Brom side, who have won once in their last 25 Premier League games. Despite a lively start they managed one shot on target.

The disappointment was compounded with the loss of Daniel Sturridge barely three minutes into the game. The striker, on loan from Liverpool, limped off to be replaced by Jay Rodriguez.

The visitors also failed to convert good chances that fell to Jonny Evans, Salomon Rondon and Rodriguez.

Chelsea are still competing on three fronts. They face Hull City in the FA Cup fifth ruond on Friday before meeting Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League on February 20.

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Guardiola hails Aguero after four-goal show

Pep Guardiola hailed Sergio Aguero as an "authentic legend" of Manchester City after his four second-half goals continued the club's emphatic march towards the Premier League title with a 5-1 thrashing of Leicester.

Raheem Sterling had given City an early lead on Saturday but Leicester went into the break on level terms thanks to Jamie Vardy's equaliser.

However, Aguero took centre stage with a finishing masterclass to take his tally in City's last seven home games to 14 goals as Guardiola's side moved 16 points clear.

"An authentic legend of this club," said Guardiola of his prolific Argentine striker.

"In the second half he scored four goals. Sergio is like this, he has a special talent in the box. He's clinical... especially the third one and fourth one are amazing."

Aguero now has 28 goals in all competitions this season -– eight more than Sterling.

“So we try to create a lot of chances to score the goals he does, and he always does. Congratulations to him because it's not easy to score four goals," added Guardiola.

“When one player is able to score four goals, he deserves all the credit and the nice words. He fights, he plays really good and he scored. We needed it.“

Guardiola believes the win was “one of the best” performances his players have produced since he took over at City but urged them not to let their intensity drop.

“My advice for the players is not to think how many games are left, just to look to the next one,” he said.

“Every time we dropped points this season, the next game we won, which is so, so important. Keeping that consistency is so important for us. If we are able to win the title it will be something special for us."

Leicester manager Claude Puel brought Riyad Mahrez off the bench in the second half as the winger made his first appearance since a self-imposed exile following the collapse of a deadline day transfer to City.

And Puel claimed both he and the Algeria international will not focus their efforts on the rest of the season without any issues.

“I said before my last press conference it was important for him to come back quick,” Puel said.

“He maintained a good level and it was important he was back in the squad. We have lost time and now it is important to look forward. The transfer window is finished.

“Since the beginning of the transfer window we took a decision with the club, to protect the squad. Riyad came back, and he is an important player.

“Now it is about time to move on together and of course we are stronger with him. It is important to move together with good solidarity and understanding together."

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Wenger fears Arsenal's top four chances are in peril

Arsene Wenger conceded Arsenal's hopes of ending their Champions League exile are in severe danger after Harry Kane condemned them to a damaging 1-0 defeat against bitter rivals Tottenham.

Kane's second half header at Wembley on Saturday left Wenger's sixth placed side languishing six points adrift of the Premier League's top four.

Worryingly for Wenger, that gap could grow even bigger on Sunday when fourth placed Liverpool play their game in hand at Southampton.

Failing to qualify for next season's Champions League via a top four finish would be another hammer blow for beleaguered Arsenal boss Wenger, whose team had to settle for a berth in the far less attractive Europa League this term.

Wenger acknowledged that depressing fate is staring Arsenal in the face again following Kane's latest act of vengeance against the club that rejected him as a youngster.

"It's a game we couldn't afford to lose, it makes it much more difficult," Wenger said.

"We have to fight, there was more at stake than just the derby, that's why it's so disappointing.

"It's very disappointing because the priority is to be in the Champions League via the top four.

"I'm not a big fan of the Europa League winner getting into the Champions League. It's not right, but if it is an opportunity we have to take it."

It was a frustrating afternoon for Wenger, whose side were out-played for long periods as new signings Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan failed to shine in their first taste of the north London derby.

Arsenal's wretched away record against teams in the top five – they haven't won their last 16 of those fixtures – left Wenger cursing a lack of cutting edge and a defence that wilted when Kane rose to head home from Christian Eriksen's cross.

WENGER WOES

"We missed chances on the counter attack that are not acceptable at this level. Then at the start of the second half we should have lost the game by more," he said.

"At the top level you have to be mentally strong enough to take the chances.

"We can only look at ourselves at the goal, but I don't think we lack hunger in defence.

"We were caught by a super striker, he is one of the best in the world. he scores against everyone.

"The away record is very poor. we don't score enough goals away from home."

In contrast to Wenger's woes, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was searching for fresh ways to praise Kane.

The England star's 32nd club goal of the season means he has now scored seven times in seven leagues games against Arsenal.

Not for the first time, Pochettino made it clear Kane deserves to be ranked among the world's best strikers.

"Of course Harry is one of the best in the world. I have repeated that for the last few years," he said.

"Sometimes you believe that he is my player and I try to boost him. I'm telling you and I tell again, in my experience in football, he is one of the best.

"He deserves to be one of the best. It's so good to have him in our side. Harry every game he has the same energy."

In the first north London derby at Wembley for 25 years, Tottenham extended their recent mastery over Arsenal, who have won only once in the last eight league meetings with their hated neighbours.

Tottenham are unbeaten in their last nine league matches and remain in a good position to qualify for the Champions League.

Damaging Arsenal's hopes was an added bonus and Pochettino added: "If you analyse the game, we created many chances.

"My players were fantastic, they deserve the full credit, now keep going.

"We are doing a fantastic job. It's important for the belief of the team and confidence."

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Mourinho cries over Sanchez treatment

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes he may have to "cry a little bit more" to safeguard his players, in a thinly veiled jibe at rivals Manchester City.

Mourinho was unhappy at the rough treatment dished out to Alexis Sanchez on his Old Trafford debut last weekend as United saw off Huddersfield Town 2-0.

City boss Guardiola has repeatedly called for more protection for his players following a slew of dangerous challenges. The most serious challenge, by Cardiff's Joe Bennett on Leroy Sane, has sidelined the German for six weeks with ankle ligament damage.

Indeed, City have written to the body in charge of professional referees to raise their concerns and call for retrospective action when referees don't dish out red cards when warranted.

“Maybe his manager needs to cry a little bit more," said Mourinho on the punishment taken by Sanchez.

“I always liked English football. I try to feel English football has some cultural thing with tradition and there are some qualities I really like in the game but maybe I have to cry a little bit and protect my players.

"Really you can see the way Alexis was 'welcomed' by the opponent! You are right he is a tough boy, a pure guy who can cope with that. He coped at Yeovil too with some bad tackles like against Huddersfield."

Read Also: Harry Kane hits back at Virgil van Dijk for saying he dived to win penalty

However, Mourinho insisted the more talented players on show at United or City should not get special treatment.

“I don't like the word 'protect' the players because it looks like they have to protect only the top players but everybody on the pitch is the same.

"The referee cannot only look at the players and say 'this guy is a talented one I have to protect him,' no he has to do it equally. They know the rules and if the card has to come then I am sure the refs will be in control of it."

'GIVE ME AN AWARD'

Despite his protests in press conferences, Mourinho has cut a much more placid figure on the touchline this season and believes his good behaviour should be rewarded with a new prize.

"I am not going from the bad one to the perfect one, no way. But I try and I make an effort and I'm happy with the way things are going," said Mourinho.

"I am fully committed to win the award this season for the best behaved manager on the touchline," said Mourinho.

"There are so many awards: performance of the week, manager of the month, they should give the guy that behaves better on the touchline, and they should give the vote to the fourth official, and I am pretty sure I would win! I am serious."

Sanchez's arrival continued Mourinho's overhaul of the United squad since taking charge 18 months ago, and he has no intention of losing goalkeeper David de Gea despite persistent interest from Real Madrid.

"Do you think a club that is trying to attract the best players is the club that is open to sell the best players? It makes no sense," he added.

"If you want to go to that level you have to attract the best players like we did with Alexis, (Nemanja) Matic and (Paul) Pogba and so on and don’t let our best players to go."

Read Also: ‘Isco exit rumours all lies’ - Zidane

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Van Dijk accepts spotlight on Saints return

Virgil Van Dijk insists criticism of his start to life as the world's most expensive defender will not affect his preparations for a frosty reception on his return to Southampton with Liverpool on Sunday.

The Dutch international moved to Anfield for £75 million (85m euros, $104m) in January, but has been on the winning side in just one of his four outings for Liverpool since.

Van Dijk got off to a dream start as he scored the winner to edge a Merseyside derby against Everton on debut.

However, hopes he would provide an instant fix to the holes in Jurgen Klopp's defence were shattered in back-to-back shock defeats to Swansea and West Brom.

"I know because I made such a big step right now, for a lot of money, everything is going to be analysed," said Van Dijk.

"No one is going to look at the good things that you do. Everybody is going to watch the bad things and that is how it is. But I will discuss it with the people who want to make me better, who can make me better, that is the manager and the players around me."

Yet, there were signs of why Liverpool waited to get their man in January after an initial move for Van Dijk stalled last summer in last weekend's 2-2 draw with top-four rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Van Dijk largely kept the Premier League's top scorer Harry Kane quiet until a frantic finale in which Spurs were awarded two controversial penalties - the second of which for a foul by Van Dijk on Erik Lamela in virtually the last action of the game.

"No one will talk about my performance in general. We defended very well, had two penalties against us with a lot of question marks around them, but no one is going to talk about that," added Van Dijk.

"But I know that as a team we did very well against one of the best strikers in Europe."

NO SYMPATHY

Both teams are in need of the points at different ends of the table. Third-placed Liverpool can gain more ground in the race for a Champions League place, while Southampton are still precariously positioned just two points above the relegation zone despite a first league win since November last week at West Brom.

However, Van Dijk insists he will have no sympathy for his former employers on Sunday.

"I made the decision, I have enjoyed every bit of it and I am very grateful for everything that they did for me. I have moved on, they have moved on.

"I know they are struggling and we need to win. I am going there with only one mindset and that is to win.

"Obviously it will be nice to see the players I have played with and the friends I have there but, for me, it is going to be about one thing only and that is to win the game."

Liverpool return to the European stage on Wednesday when they travel to Porto for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie, but Klopp, who has rotated his side more than any other manager in the Premier League this season, struck down suggestions his team selection would be affected by preparations for the trip to Portugal.

"I have a few experiences with European football and I never thought about the European game the week after," said the German.

"The main focus is always the next game, in this case Southampton. You cannot and we will not think about the Champions League game."

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Allardyce can get me firing again - Walcott

Everton striker Theo Walcott said manager Sam Allardyce was the key factor in his decision to sign for the Merseyside club from Arsenal last month and believes the former England boss can extract the best out of him.

Walcott, 28, hit the ground running at Everton and provided the assist for fellow forward Oumar Niasse's leveller in the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion. He then scored both goals in the 2-1 win over Leicester City.

"Sam was one of the main reasons why I came to the club. I wanted a manager like that who could get the best out of me," Walcott told the club's website (www.evertonfc.com).

Walcott, who started six league games for Arsenal this season apart from playing five Europa League matches and four more in domestic cup competitions, said he could not turn down the opportunity to work with Allardyce.

"I had that short stint with Sam with England and to see it now every day, the way the intensity of training is and how demanding it is has been great. I like to go into training every day and try to be better than the day before."

Everton are 10th in the league with 31 points and go into Saturday's home Premier League clash against Crystal Palace on the back of a 5-1 thumping by Arsenal but Walcott said Allardyce was working hard to turn things around.

"Results will change. We need to make sure we are ready and focused for the weekend because we need to start getting some more points in order to be more comfortable," he said.

"There have been a few recent results like getting the draw against West Brom and then beating Leicester where we have seen improved performances but I have come here to push Everton on."

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Harry Kane hits back at Virgil van Dijk for saying he dived to win penalty

Safe to say Virgil van Dijk pulled no punches when he gave his take on Harry Kane and Eric Lamela's theatrics following Sunday's 2-2 draw between Liverpool andTottenham.

Kane and Lamela both went to ground easily in the 87th and 94th minute respectively to win penalties, though Kane only managed to score the second.

It was Van Dijk's challenge that Lamela went down under, yet the Dutchman was angrier with Kane's actions minutes earlier.

On the second penalty, he said: "I think first of all it was offside and secondly he just put his body in front of me.

"I see him coming in the end and I try and hold my leg in, he just pulled his body in front of the ball and he goes down.

"The ref said play on and I was very disappointed that the linesman said otherwise. It is a decision the ref already made and the ref is closer than the linesman (who overruled). Unlucky I think.

And on Kane: "I don't think that is a penalty and the same with the first one. That is also clearly not a penalty. I think it is a dive.

"You see him (Kane) diving clearly and no one is talking about that. But I think it is a dive. 

"There is a lot of discussion about whether it is offside, yes or no, but I think it was offside as well. I thought it was a given you could just see him making that dive."

Van Dijk's frustration was clear for all to see and every Liverpool fan agreed with him that Kane dived when Loris Karius dove at his feet. Check it out below.

Replays showed there was very minimal contact, but Kane has already responded to Van Dijk's accusations by saying he had every right to go to ground.

"Yeah. He (Karius) has dived," said Kanevwhen asked if there was contact. "He has got in the way and I'm a player, I'm not going to jump out of the way because it's football.

"I've definitely felt contact and I've gone down. Lamela's one I thought the linesman showed amazing character to give that.

"A lot happened for the first one about the linesman so to give that penalty was massive and it was a penalty."

Very brave from Kane. While he's right in saying he shouldn't have to jump out of the way, the fact remains Karius barely touched him. It's certainly a tough one.

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