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• Clubs Learn Champions Leauge Opposition

  przez Steven
  Celtic face a difficult task in the Champions League after the draw for the group stage paired them with holders AC Milan, Benfica and Shakhtar Donetsk.
  Rangers also face a tough task, against Barcelona, Lyon and Stuttgart.
  
  Chelsea have been drawn with Valencia, whom they defeated at the quarter-final stage of last season's competition.
  
  Liverpool take on Porto, Marseille and Besiktas, while Manchester United face a rematch with Roma and Arsenal play four teams they have not met before.
  
  Arsenal were drawn in Group H along with Steau Bucharest, Slavia Prague and either Sevilla or AEK Athens.
  
  The qualifying tie between Sevilla and AEK Athens was supposed to be concluded on Tuesday but was postponed following the death of Spanish international Antonio Puerta from a heart attack.
  
  Gunners managing director Keith Edelman said: "I think it is the first time we have had a draw in which we have never played any of the teams we have been drawn against."
  
  Manchester United, drawn in Group F, played Roma in a quarter-final tie last season, thrashing the Italian side 7-1 in the second-leg at Old Trafford to complete an aggregate 8-3 victory.
  
  However, the tie was marred by violence during the first match in Rome.
  
  "We need to do our homework but I am not concerned at all," said United chief executive David Gill.
  
  "We need to make sure that the match is remembered for what happens on the pitch, not off it.
  
  "We must make sure that our fans travel in comfort and safety. It is a new season and we are looking forward to it."
  
  Celtic have also been drawn against opposition they met in last season's competition, the Scottish club running eventual champion's Milan close as they battled for a place in the quarter-finals.
  
  The tie was goalless after the first leg at Celtic Park, before Gordon Strachan's team lost 1-0 in extra-time in the second leg at the San Siro.
  
  Celtic chairman Brian Quinn said: "It is a tough group, we have played them all recently and we know their quality.
  
  "But we qualified last year from a very tough group so I am not down-hearted at all."
  
  Scottish rivals Rangers, however, face an extremely tough task against Spanish giants Barca, French champions Lyon and Stuttgart, who won the German title last season for the first time in 15 years.
  
  It's an extremely tough draw for us but there is a great element of glamour about it," said manager Walter Smith.
  
  "There is a great standard of teams and it is clearly going to be very hard for us. We have some huge games to look forward to."
  
  Chelsea defeated Valencia to reach last season's semi-final, with Michael Essien scoring in the last minute of the second-leg in Spain to secure a 3-2 aggregate victory.
  
  Jose Mourinho's team also face Schalke and Rosenborg in Group B.
  
  "Overall I think there are no easy groups but got to be satisfied with that," said Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon.
  
  "We have been to the semi-finals two times in the last four years. It is the elusive competition for us and there is a big determination. There is a huge expectation at Chelsea to move to the next stage."
  
  Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry was pleased with his team's draw, which includes a trip to Turkey to play Besiktas.
  
  "We are happy enough," said Parry. "We have happy memories of Istanbul.
  
  "We have proved we are capable of beating anyone on our day and we have a better squad this season."
  
  
  
  
  
  0 odpowiedzi 116 tygodni

• Yakubu for Everton?

  przez Steven
  Everton hope to complete an £11.25m deal for Yakubu on Wednesday as they attempt to overturn a decision to refuse the striker a work permit.
  The 24-year-old was initially refused a work permit because he has failed to play 75% of Nigeria's games in the last two years.
  
  But Everton officials will tell a hearing in Sheffield this was because he opted out of international football.
  
  The Middlesbrough star has already agreed terms and passed a medical.
  
  The Toffees agreed the club record fee with Boro to sign Yakubu last week.
  
  Yakubu is second only to Thierry Henry in the Premier League goals over the last four years.
  
  Portsmouth were also said to be interested in re-signing Yakubu, who they bought from Maccabi Haifa in 2003, before selling him to Boro two years later.
  
  He clocked up 29 goals in 65 Premier League games at the Riverside.
  
  Yakubu featured in Boro's opening two Premier League games of the season but missed the next two games against Fulham and Newcastle.
  0 odpowiedzi 117 tygodni

• Transfer Gossip

  przez Steven
  Heya,
  
  If you have any football transfer gossip post it in here, this includes from England, Scotland, Spain and USA.
  
  Thanks
  
  0 odpowiedzi 117 tygodni

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