Smith signs new four-year Aston Villa contract

UEFA has confirmed referee Szymon Marciniak will remain in charge of next week’s Champions League final after investigating his alleged links with a far-right movement.

Marciniak was under review after speaking at a recent event organised by Polish far-right leader Slawomir Mentzen and his role as match official for Manchester City’s clash with Inter Milan in Istanbul on June 10 was in doubt.

But UEFA is satisfied that Marciniak had been “gravely misled and completely unaware of the true nature and affiliations of the event in question” and will keep the 42-year-old Pole as referee.

UEFA said: “Following Mr. Marciniak’s statement, UEFA acknowledges his profound apologies and clarification.

“UEFA also reached out to “NEVERAGAIN,” an NGO a…

Former Chelsea midfielder Deco believes Jose Mourinho is capable of taking Manchester United back to the Premier League summit.

United 21-time league and three-time European champions have struggled to recapture past glories since the retirement of Alex Ferguson in 2013, with David Moyes and Louis van Gaal failing to win major trophies at Old Trafford.

Van Gaal s men are struggling this season, fifth in the Premier League and six points adrift of the fourth and final Champions League qualification spit.

But with Mourinho unemployed following his departure from Chelsea in December, Deco who won a Champions League title under the Portuguese manager at Porto said United should do whatever it takes to install him as manager.

Manchester United have to get bac…

Hernanes insists that he joined Inter to achieve his ambitions and that the switch from Lazio was not motivated by money.

The Brazil midfielder left Lazio for San Siro on the final day of the January transfer window in a move that has angered fans of the capital club.

Lazio president Claudio Lotito claims to have received death threats from supporters in the wake of the sale.

But Hernanes has stressed that it was his decision to leave and revealed that he signed for Inter in order to win trophies.

I want to clarify that no-one forced me to say anything, he told GoldTV. I chose to go away and it was not a question of money.

After a fantastic three and a half years, where I was always treated with dignity by Lotito and (sporting director Igli) Tare, I realise…

Sam Allardyce has admitted he may be powerless to keep hold Wilfried Zaha should a big money bid come in for the winger this summer, .

Tottenham Hotspur have been monitoring the twenty-four year old for some time while Manchester City are also interested in securing his services.

His current deal with the Eagles runs until 2020 and is worth around £35,000 per week though a new contract is being drawn up that would see him earn around treble that, in line with the club’s top earners.

Spurs had a £12m bid for the former Manchester United man rejected last summer but are likely to reignite their interest once the transfer window reopens.

Since returning to Selhurst Park in the summer of 2014, Zaha has racked up one hundred and eight appearances in …

Sunderland are keen to recoup the £6m fee they shelled out for Emanuele Giaccherini, .

The Italy international is currently on a season-long loan at Bologna, where he has impressed with six goals in twenty-one Serie A appearances.

He moved to Wearside in the summer of 2013, but has largely underwhelmed during his time in Enlgand notching up just five goals in forty-three outings in all competitions.

The thirty year old is likely to be moved on in the summer, and the Black Cats are not willing to sell for less than what the paid Juventus to secure his services almost three years ago.

Manager Sam Allardyce is already making plans for rebuiling ahead of next season, though it remains unclear what division the North East side will be playing in.

<…

Everton manager Marco Silva has urged his side to embrace the challenge of taking on Premier League leaders Liverpool in Wednesday s Merseyside derby.

The 234th edition of one of English football s most famous fixtures takes place with the city s two clubs experiencing sharply contrasting fortunes.

Liverpool are undefeated and eight points clear of nearest challengers Leicester City in the Premier League.

Leicester ensured the gap did not increase last weekend thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Everton, who are fourth bottom and two points above the relegation zone.

Nevertheless, Silva wants his players to grasp the opportunity presented to them this midweek and pursue the club s first win at Anfield since 1999.

There are many, ma…

Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan said playing old side Galatasaray in a pre-season friendly was an emotional experience.

Turan, 27, moved to Spain from his homeland Turkey in 2011, having appeared 127 times in the Super Lig for powerhouses Gala.

His departure to La Liga earned Galatasaray €12million, and Turan said the 0-0 draw in Izmir was an emotional contest.

It has been a very happy day for me day because Galatasaray is my home. It was a very special match despite being a friendly because there was a spectacular atmosphere, Turan said.

The friendly was organised as a fundraiser for the families of the 301 people who died in the Soma mine disaster in May.

Turan, a Turkey international with 72 caps, said the meaning was not lost on the f…

Cristian Brocchi is proud of Lazio s achievements this season, but believes it is too soon for the club to mount a title challenge.

Brocchi, 34, has played an important part in Lazio s impressive form in the first half of the campaign.

After topping the table earlier in the season, they are three points behind league leaders AC Milan with 15 games played.

Their latest success was a 3-1 win over defending champions Inter Milan last Friday.

A former AC player, defensive midfielder Brocchi made the journey south to link up with Lazio in 2008.

After two indifferent seasons resulting in mid-table finishes, he has witnessed an improvement in attitude from the current squad, but maintains they are still some way off a legitimate tilt at Serie A glory. …

Unai Emery Football as an obsession / Image via marca.com

It was a glorious night for Sevilla fans on Wednesday as their beloved club won their in an unprecedented achievement that will be forever written in golden letters in football history books.

Liverpool’s hopes of repeating the Istanbul scenario were extinguished by inspired Rojiblancos, who came back from the dead to be crowned kings of Europa League.

Their 3-1 triumph is just another confirmation of a thorough and dedicated work Sevilla players have been investing for months, years even and, even more importantly, hard and committed work from managerial staff lead by Unai Emery.

Sevilla boss is coming oming from a football family which played a big part in football being embedded in his DNA.

Manuel Pellegrini has suggested that more key player at Manchester City may sign contract extensions in the near future.

In recent weeks, Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Sergio Aguero have all signed new terms at the club as City look to instil long-term instability at the Etihad Stadium.

City begin their Premier League title defence at Newcastle United on Sunday, and in a press conference on Friday, Pellegrini hinted that other players may soon be tied to new deals.

I think it is very important for the club to retain the best players, he said.

I think it is also important for the club that they want to stay here because they are working very well and this is a club that has a lot of ambition for the future.

They understand that, and maybe you…