Blue Jose’s Falcao bid

JOSE MOURINHO wants to take £53million Atletico Madrid superstar Radamel Falcao with him to Chelsea this summer. As exclusively revealed in SunSport, the Real Madrid boss is desperate to return to his old job at Stamford Bridge.

And now we can reveal Mourinho has chosen Colombian ace Falcao to join his second coming.

Falcao has a £53m buy-out clause and the Blues will take advantage of the ‘non-aggression pact’ that exists between Atletico and Real Madrid to swoop for the hitman.

Mourinho is a huge admirer of Falcao and, if he thrashes out a deal with Blues owner Roman Abramovich, he will be given the cash to make Chelsea champions again.

The Special One’s return to the Bridge has gone through many twists.

But the two sides are reaching common ground on his wages and transfer targets.

Agent Jorge Mendes represents both Falcao and Mourinho — and that should smooth out a deal, provided the Special One’s return is confirmed at the end of the season.

Pep factor: What can Guardiola possibly add to Bayern if Heynckes wins the Champions League?

The 67-year-old could exit the Allianz Arena with a treble of major honours and leave his successor to take the reins under a very different set of circumstanc


COMMENTBy Jonathan Wilson
There is a theory, rooted in Sir Alex Ferguson’s announcement in 2001 that he would retire the following summer, that if players know a coach is leaving, their levels of discipline and focus wane. Certainly that seemed to happen at Manchester United in that 2001-02 season. It may even hold true in the majority of cases. 
And yet there are counter-examples: England’s two best performances in major tournaments since 1966 – in 1990 and 1996 - both came when the players knew their coach was going straight afterwards. Chelsea have twice reached Champions League finals, winning one, with a caretaker boss. Jose Mourinho has lifted the Champions League on two occasions with teams he was fairly evidently about to depart (and could do so again this season). Yet the example of Jupp Heynckes at Bayern Munich this season remains extraordinary.

Bayern Munich have already won the Bundesliga in record-breaking fashion. They are 20 points clear of Borussia Dortmund and average almost three goals a game. They will face Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal final. And they have reached the semi-final of the Champions League, playing thrilling football and administering lessons to Arsenal (in the first leg) and Juventus (in both legs) along the way. And yet Heynckes will not be at the club next season, ruthlessly removed for the supposed greater potential of Pep Guardiola.

"If Bayern win the treble then it's hard see what Guardiola can add"

If Bayern were to win the Champions League in May, Heynckes would become only the fourth man to lift the tournament with two different clubs. The first time, when in 1998 he ended Real Madrid’s 32-year wait for a seventh European title, he lasted four more days before being removed because of poor domestic performances. That seemed a preposterously harsh decision but at least there was a rationale. This time, it is hard to imagine what he could possibly have done better. His greatest fault, it seems, is being 67 in an era in which Guardiola was without a club.

That perhaps is not entirely fair on the Bavarians, who acted swiftly and decisively when it became apparent that Guardiola was available and interested. What he achieved at Barcelona was remarkable. In lifting 14 titles in four years, he implemented a style of football that even Arrigo Sacchi was forced to acknowledge was so tactically innovative, it marked the first new phase in the game’s development since his AC Milan won a second successive European Cup in 1990. 
Heynckes' contract was due to run out in the summer and last season was marked by narrow failure - runners-up in the league, runners-up in the cup and runners-up in the Champions League. Any club would have wondered whether their coach was lacking the steel to drive his side over the line.
There was no reason to believe that Bayern would be able to use those disappointments as motivation this season, something for which Heynckes must take credit even if he is not solely responsible. But what has been notable about this campaign, more than anything, has been the relentless perfectionism. 
When they beat Hamburg 9-2, their director of football Matthias Sammer complained that they had let in two goals from corners. No weakness has been allowed to pass uncorrected. The signings – Mario Mandzukic, Xherdan Shaqiri and Javi Martinez - have strengthened the squad in key areas, not only relieving the pressure on the core of the squad but giving Heynckes options. That Bayern have been able to step up their pressing game this season is down to two factors. Firstly the squad size enables them to rotate more, but also Heynckes can leave out anybody who doesn’t perform their defensive function. 

Having grown up as a player at Borussia Monchengladbach, one of the bastions of the German school of 'total football' in the seventies, Heynckes has proved the ideal choice to develop the style left by Louis van Gaal, even if the version he played never pressed with anything like the ferocity of the Dutch model.
                    Swept aside | Heynckes' Bayern taught Juventus a footballing lesson

Perhaps FCB hoped he would drift gently into retirement, but he has made it clear that he intends on prolonging his career further - and that makes Guardiola’s position extremely awkward. 
If Bayern win the treble, it is hard to see what he can add. It will be the second time he has replaced somebody who succeeded Van Gaal, a coach who he says did more to influence his approach than anybody else he played for. But when he took over the reins from Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona (via Radomir Antic’s caretaker stint) he was taking on a side in decline and his first task was to clear out a handful of egos he felt were holding the club back. 
Bayern, though, are demonstrably on the up. Having faced accusations all through his time at Camp Nou that anybody could manage players that good within the Barcelona system, Guardiola faces being dogged by allegations that he is simply shepherding Heynckes’ team. 
That may be unfair, but sustaining somebody else’s side at the top is a different challenge to the one Guardiola must have thought he was signing up for, restoring a giant to former glories.

Heynckes, meanwhile, must wonder just what he has to do to keep a job.es than first thought

The Dossier: Robben & Ribery waiting in the wings to punish Barcelona

Jordi Alba and Dani Alves will leave space which the widemen must exploit when Bayern Munich face the Blaugrana at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday
TACTICAL ANALYSISBy Fabio Porta
Bayern Munich's moment is on Tuesday. After near misses in two of the last three seasons in the Champions League, it is imperative that the Bavarians assert themselves as Europe's best club - and there will be no better way to do so than against the team who hold the crown they hope to usurp - Barcelona. 

While the match-up of two teams running away with their respective domestic leagues will throw up many key battles across the field, the place where they could have the most joy is down either wing.
An injury to Toni Kroos in the first leg against Juventus saw the old axis of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben - or Robbery- reunited down both flanks for the Bavarians and, tactically speaking, the young playmaker's hamstring problem could not have been more timely for his side.

HOW THE TEAMS COULD LINE UP

Alba and Alves will leave holes for Robben and Ribery to exploit with the help of Lahm and Alaba

Simply speaking, Barcelona have been vulnerable in the wing-back positions since the solidity provided by Eric Abidal was curtailed by the Frenchman's battle with cancer. Now Dani Alves and Jordi Alba are to be found on either side of theBlaugrana back line, and while both are accomplished players, both are more likely to be in the opposition half than defending.

The Brazilian's value to the Barca team is indisputable. His forays into the final third add a degree of unpredictability to the attack, while his presence also provides the outlet for the midfield as they look to hit their opponents down the lines.
However, with Abidal taking up his place in the defence, Barca were able to switch to a three-man back line with relative ease and help stave off any threat of a counterattack. Alba, who joined in the summer from Valencia, offers no such protection.
The result is obvious. The Catalans look susceptible on the break frequently and it is not surprising since both defenders position themselves far too far forward.
Bayern's quality on the wings gives them the opportunity to hit Barca where it hurts. Gaps will open up that Robben and Ribery will most certainly be able to exploit. And while two attack-minded wingers may leave them short-handed out wide, Philipp Lahm's 65 per cent ratio of tackle completion dwarves that of Alves and Alba, who average at around 50% each.
And, in truth, Bayern's best chance of success relies on a wide game. While Alba and Alves are happy to push forward on the wings, Barca's play is centred through the middle and, with the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Lionel Messi in the Catalans' ranks, they have the quality to win any game there.

The understated member of Tito Vilanova's midfield three is, of course, Sergio Busquets, and his role will be more vital than ever for his side. With Bayern boasting four in-form attackers, with the wingers joined by Thomas Muller and Mario Gomez, the Spain midfielder's calming presence will most certainly be needed.
If Barca play a counterattacking game, Ribery and Robben's direct running will be complemented by the pace and delivery that both Lahm and David Alaba possess, which will come to the fore thanks to Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez's willingness to drop back and cover them.


Wingmen | Bayern's wide players must exploit any opportunity that comes their way
Opportunities will arrive for the Bavarians, and Jordi Roura's admission that his side might give Eric Abidal his second start since a liver transplant last year at the Allianz Arena was a telling one - they want a secure foundation from which to attack.
Of course, much depends on how the match itself pans out. Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery will only receive service if the side can manipulate possession, and though Alaba and Lahm have enjoyed great seasons, the likes of Iniesta, David Villa and Pedro certainly have enough ability to disturb them.

Bayern face a tough task in halting the Blaugrana attack, but they have a genuine opportunity to exploit Barcelona's weaknesses on the flanks. Even if the visitors dominate possession, opportunities will come down the wings which they must exploit or face another season of unfulfillment.

Gotze's Bayern switch inevitable, says Hitzfeld

The former coach of the Bavarians winners says his old club should have signed Borussia Dortmund's star player last summer and that Pep Guardiola will make him a better player

By Steve Norman
Ottmar Hitzfeld has revealed that he thought that Mario Gotze's switch to Bayern Munich was an inevitability.

It was announced on Tuesday that the Borussia Dortmund star is set to join die Roten in the summer for €37.5 million and the current Switzerland coach revealed his frustration that the switch did not happen sooner.

"I was irritated that Bayern did not sign him last year or the year before that, when you could see that Gotze is one of the biggest talents in German football. Bayern has made a lot of money and I think they acquired Gotze for a reasonable price,” he told the Bundesliga’s official website.

"Of course the news did surprise me. But the fact that Gotze would join Bayern one day, that was no secret, I guess. It is a logical consequence in his development."

The former Bayern coach, who won five Bundesliga titles and a Champions League trophy with the club, added that he does not think that Gotze will reach Lionel Messi’s level but Pep Guardiola will help him improve regardless.

"When he plays in an even stronger team, his strengths might even be more obvious. Can he can match Messi at some point? I don't think so. Messi sets the standards.

"He is not only very good at assisting but he scores an incredible amount of goals, too. To be as good as Messi he needs some more years of education. But, with Pep Guardiola, he will move in the right direction."

Hitzfeld is worried about the effect the move could have on one of his national team members, Xherdan Shaqiri, and thinks some players will have to leave the club this summer to accommodate incoming transfers.

"Guardiola is a coach who pays attention to players who are technically strong," he added. "He likes these players and he gives them a chance in his system.

"That is why I hope Xherdan Shaqiri will have his breakthrough at Bayern. It will be more difficult now though now that Gotze is coming.

"This might hint of some players to be sold in the summer. To have too many very strong players can lead to frustration, especially if the success is missing."

Ozil congratulates Gotze on Bayern move

The Real Madrid midfielder admitted he is pleased for his fellow countryman after his transfer was confirmed while he wants the Blancos to finally reach the Champions League finalReal Madrid midfielder Mesut Ozil has congratulated his international team-mate Mario Gotze on his move to Bayern Munich from Borussia Dortmund.

Ozil, who himself has been linked with the Bundesliga giants in the past, will line up against Gotze when the two sides play in their Champions League semi-final and he admitted he had no idea the transfer was going ahead.

"Of course I did not know," he told reporters on Tuesday. "But I am happy for him because he is a good friend and a great footballer."

The Blancos have not apppeared in European football's showpiece event since they triumphed in the competition in 2002 and Ozil hopes the team can break their recent bad luck this campaign.

"I have been with Real Madrid for three years now and it is the third time we are in the semi-finals," he added. "Now we finally want to reach the final."

The Germany international has netted four times in his last three matches, including twice against Betis on Saturday, and he is hoping he can continue his good form against Jurgen Klopp's side.

He added: "I am happy that I am scoring at the moment. The team effort is important, but I am happy that I am scoring more lately."

By Tom Maston

Messi is the cherry on top the cake at Barcelona, says Deco

The former Portugal and Barcelona midfielder says Cristiano Ronaldo and the Blaugrana's Argentine star are beyond comparison and talks about Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho

Arsenal striker Giroud banned for three matches

The Frenchman will miss the visit of newly crowned champions Manchester United, before games against QPR and Wigan after an appeal against his recent red card was rejected

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has been banned for three matches after an Independent Regulatory Commission rejected his appeal following a red card against Fulham.

Giroud was dismissed for serious foul play during Saturday's narrow 1-0 win and will now miss the visit of newly crowned champions Manchester United on Sunday, along with the trip to QPR and Wigan's arrival on May 14.

ARSENAL LATEST
6/1	Arsenal are 6/1 with Paddy Power to win both halves v Manchester United

The French striker caught the ankle of Fulham's Stanislav Manolev when stretching for the ball and referee Andre Marriner, who had already sent off Steve Sidwell earlier in the game, branished another red card.

The news leaves the Gunners without a recognised centre-forward until the away game against Newcastle on May 19, with Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski and Gervinho all switching between playing out wide and a central focus.

Arsenal currently lie third in the Premier League table as they bid to qualify for the Champions League for the 16th successive season, but both Chelsea and Tottenham move above the Gunners if they win their game in hand.

source from goal.com

Mourinho reveals Madrid team to face Dortmund

The Blancos boss is hopeful Angel Di Maria will be able to play, despite the birth of his daughter and spoke of his respect for Jurgen Klopp

Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho has revealed the starting XI to face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semi-final clash on Wednesday.

Blancos captain Iker Casillas will remain out of the first team despite being fit to play following his recover from a hand injury but the Portuguese Bernabeu boss insists there is no bad blood between him and the Spain goalkeeper.

"You want to know who will be right-back, left-back and centre-back?" he asked reporters at a pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

"The line-up will be Diego Lopez, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Pepe, Fabio Coentrao, Sami Khedira, Xabi Alonso, Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain.

"This will be the team to play. Hopefully Di Maria, who today had a new daughter, can play. He is obviously in a difficult emotional situation.

"My relationship with Casillas is professional and one of an educational relationships between people who are educated."

Mourinho insists that, although Madrid are considered favourites to make the Champions League final at Jurgen Klopp's side's expense, BVB are just as likely to win the Wembley showcase on May 25.

"I'm in the semi-finals for the sixth time. The thing is that everyone expects it from me.

"The four teams that are here, perhaps Juventus and Manchester United, are the best teams in Europe but we all have a chance. It's difficult to predict who will make it so there is 25 per cent chance for Borussia and for us to win this competition."

Tuesday's major news story has been Mario Gotze transfer to Bayern Munich in the summer but Mourinho declined to give his opinion on the move.

He said: "I don't know Gotze or the mentality of BVB fans so I don't really want to comment on this. I have no idea if the transfer will have positive or negative consequences on our matches."

Finally, the former Chelsea coach took time to congratulate his old Sir Alex Ferguson on United's latest title triumph following their 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Monday.

"What Ferguson did this season is what he has done all his life: winning," he added.

"Sometimes it's not consecutively, because that would be impossible, but his career has been that - to win. I want to congratulate him but it is not a surprise to me or to United fans that Ferguson is champion again."

source from goal.com

Lopez

Ramos

Pepe

Varane

Coentrao

Khedira

Alonso

Di Maria

Ozil

Ronaldo

Higuain

Sir Alex Ferguson hails Van Persie's 'goal of the century' against Aston Villa

The Dutchman is now on 24 Premier league strikes for the season after his 32-minute hat-trick against Paul Lambert's side at Old Trafford lead Manchester United to their 20th title
Sir Alex Ferguson has hailed Robin van Persie's volley against Aston Villa as "the goal of the century" as the striker's hat-trick fired Manchester United to their 20th league title.

After opening the scoring in the second minute with a close-range strike, Van Persie received a raking pass from Wayne Rooney before firing first time past Brad Guzan. The 29-year-old completed his hat-trick with another finish inside the box 12 minutes before half time.

"It was goal of the century for me," Sir Alex told reporters.

"It was marvellous. The technique with his head down, over the ball and just perfect timing. It was a magnificent strike. He scored exactly the same goal against Arsenal. He is in his mature years and winning the league tonight meant a lot to him.

"He's been unbelievable. I think that he has to take a lot of the credit. I think his goals tell you that, his performance levels told you that. But I'm sure Robin would be saying what a great bunch of players he's had with him."

Van Persie is now one goal clear of Liverpool's Luis Suarez in the race for the Premier League's Golden Boot, while Sir Alex has compared the striker's impact to Eric Cantona's time at Old Trafford.

"When you identify a great player coming to the end of his contract, you go for him no matter who," he added.

"In terms of impact he has made as big an impact as any player I can imagine. [Eric] Cantona was an incredible impact player, I've had some great strikers, maybe 10 great strikers.

"We had an expectation of him. He was sensational last year, but Arsene [Wenger] said he was better than I'd think after I'd done the deal, and he was right. He has never disappointed us.

"He has been unbelievable, his early form was fantastic. He had a dry spell, as most strikers do, but he has come back from that and he was unbelievable tonight."

Messi: Bayern even stronger than last year

The Argentine is aware of the Bundesliga champions' strength and is relishing the prospect of a potential final against Real Madrid

Lionel Messi has stressed that Barcelona must be on top of their game against Bayern Munich if they are to reach the Champions League final at Wembley.

The Argentine attacker feels Bayern have been in impressive form so far in the 2012-13 campaign and believes they are even better than last year, when they lost the final to Chelsea on penalties.

"Any opponent in these semi-finals was going to be tough, but Bayern this year are very, very good. They have been playing at a very high level and scoring a lot of goals," Messi told The Times of India.

"After what happened at the end of 2012, when they lost the final at their own ground to Chelsea, I think they have even more desire to go for the title this time. And Bayern are stronger this year than last in my opinion."

The prolific attacker then went on to discuss a potential final against Real Madrid and admitted that a Clasico at Wembley would be something special.

"Right now, we do not speak of the final but only about Bayern," he said.

"And if we get to the final we do not care who we play as long as we are there again.

"But it is indisputable that a final at Wembley against Real Madrid would be a special game for many things and many people. If it is Real in the final it will be a great show, that’s for sure."

It is unsure as of yet whether Messi will be fit enough to start in Tuesday evening's first leg at the Allianz Arena. The match is scheduled to kick off at 20:45CET.

It is important that Messi faces Bayern, says Roura

The 45-year-old believes that while the Liga leaders can perform without their star man, the Argentine's return to fitness would hand them a huge boost

Barcelona assistant Jordi Roura says it is "important" that Lionel Messi is available againstBayern Munich.

The Argentina international has been struggling with a thigh injury, suffered in the club's quarter-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain, in recent weeks and the 45-year-old admits he may not feature against the Bundesliga champions.

"There’s no doubt that a player of Leo’s quality has an effect on the way on the way you attack," the 45-year-old told a press conference.

"If, unfortunately, he can’t play we have won important games without him. But there is no doubt that it is important for Leo to play against Bayern.

"I can’t say for sure how Messi’s going to be tomorrow. We’ll see how he feels today in training, we’ll listen to the doctors and then we’ll decide. If he’s good then we can count on him."

The Blaugrana saw off AC Milan in the last 16 and PSG in the quarter-finals to set up Tuesday's last four clash with the Bavarians and Roura is expecting a close encounter very different to their recent victories in the competition.

"Every game, every victory is different. This will be a very tight semi-final. It will be won with the small things, the details. We will look to play another extraordinary game like we did at home against Milan," he continued, referring to Barca's second-leg 4-0 win after the 0-2 loss from the first leg.

"We’re really looking forward to it. It’s a game everybody wants to watch. We’re very happy and we’ll do everything we can to get through.

"It's going to be a party, without a doubt, we are going to play with a high intensity, and the team that is able to impose their system and style will have many advantages.

"We'll try to impose our features to control the game. But we know the potential of Bayern."

Moratti: Stramaccioni will be coach next season

The Italian's future at the club has been the subject of much speculation following a poor run of results, but the Nerazzurri chief has offered him his full supportInter president Massimo Morrati has confirmed that Andrea Stramaccioni will stay on as coach next season.

The Italian coach's future was thought to be in question with the Nerazzurri slipping to seventh spot before Sunday's 1-0 win over Parma, with that victory lifting them into fifth spot.

“The project will start again with Stramaccioni,” Moratti told Sky Sport Italia.

“You always ask me whether he’ll stay and I always tell you yes.

“It is not easy to plan for the future if your computer has a virus, when you have had as many players injured as we have, but we are thinking about next season and doing that well.”

The 67-year-old publicly supported both Alberto Zaccheroni and Roberto Mancini before they parted company with the club, but Moratti insists his backing of Stramaccioni is genuine.

“Zaccheroni and Mancini were different situations. Roberto decided to leave and then what happened, happened," he explained.

“We needed to look for a new coach even if Mancini had done really well and we therefore went to Jose Mourinho. But it was Mancini who broke away.”

Stramaccioni took charge of Inter at the start of the campaign having originally been appointed caretaker boss in March of last season, following the departure of Claudio Ranieri.

Liverpool willing to offload Suarez abroad if they receive £40m-plus offer

The Merseysiders do not want to sell their prize asset to a domestic rival but are ready to listen to marquee bids from overseas in the forthcoming transfer window

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent 

Liverpool are willing to offload Luis Suarez abroad if they receive a marquee offer this summer,Goal.com understands.

The Merseysiders' public position on Monday is that the controversial striker will not be sold in the forthcoming transfer window following his bite on Branislav Ivanovic.

But, privately, the club's American owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), were prepared to consider bids for Suarez even before his latest outrageous misdemeanour.

SHOULD LIVERPOOL SELL SUAREZ?

POLL: Has the controversial forward hit a PR tipping point for the exasperated Reds?

Sources have said that the Uruguayan would have to push for a move but it could happen if there is a "huge amount of money" on the table from a potential buyer.

Liverpool are believed to be firmly opposed to selling Suarez to a domestic rival but would consider offers from abroad. The expectation is that £40-million-plus bids would bring FSG to the negotiating table.

"If it makes sense to sell Suarez, they will sell him," a source close to the situation told Goal.com. "They don't want to sell him in England and they wouldn't sell him without getting a huge amount of money but it is a definite possibility."

Only a handful of clubs in the world would be able to afford a £40m-plus fee, combined with the type of salary that the 26-year-old Player-of-the-Year nominee could command on the open market.

Suarez has been most consistently linked to Juventus, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain but the Italian giants could not afford him and the Bundesliga champions have prioritised the capture of Robert Lewandowski from Borussia Dortmund.

SUAREZ FALLOUT ALL OF GOAL.COM'S TOP CONTENT

SUAREZ FINED BY LIVERPOOL

LIVERPOOL FACE FRESH SUAREZ DILEMMA

NEVIN: SUAREZ LETS DOWN FELLOW PROS

POLICE: IVANOVIC TO TAKE NO ACTION

PFA OFFERS ANGER MANAGEMENT COUNSELING

MTW: SUAREZ THE CARTOON SUPERVILLAIN

Liverpool's stance, which is unrelated to the events of Sunday, is principally a consequence of the club's financial situation, which will be squeezed by a fourth consecutive campaign without Champions League revenue next season.

The Reds' most recent set of accounts revealed a £41m loss for the year ending July 2012, which followed a £49m deficit in 2011. The club's £169m 2011-12 turnover pales in comparison with the likes of Manchester United (£320m), Arsenal (£245m), Chelsea (£261m) and Manchester City (£231m) despite the Merseysiders securing some impressive commercial deals in recent years.

The sale of Suarez, comfortably the club's biggest football asset, would stem Liverpool's losses and provide greater leeway for Brendan Rodgers and the recruitment team in the transfer market.

Much will depend on the attitude of the forward, who has been roundly condemned by the entire football community for sinking his teeth into Ivanovic's arm during his side's 2-2 draw against Chelsea.

The Uruguayan opened the door to offers with comments in his homeland in March that he would welcome the chance to join a club who could offer Champions League football.

"I am very happy at Liverpool but you never know in football," said Suarez. "A player's ambition is always there, the ambition of wanting to play in elite teams is always there. I'm in a world-class team, an elite team like Liverpool.

LIVERPOOL LATEST
20/1	Luis Suarez is 20/1 with BetVictor to join Juventus by September 1

"If another team comes around with more prospects of competing in international club competition games, which is willing to have me, they are welcome. We would talk to the club. We would see if I want to go, if I don't want to go."

Rodgers admitted in the immediate aftermath of Sunday's clash that "no player is irreplaceable".

Liverpool revealed on Monday that Suarez has been fined for biting Ivanovic and that he asked for the figure to go to the Hillsborough Family Support Group.

Asked if the events of the last 24 hours will have no bearing on Suarez's future, managing director Ian Ayre replied: "Not at all. It affects his future in the sense that we have to work with him on his discipline but Luis is a very important player to the club. He's a very popular player with his team-mates.

"As we keep saying, he signed a new four-year contract last summer and we'd all love to see him here throughout that contract.

"He's a fantastic player, top scorer and everything we'd want in a striker, so there's no change there. This is more about getting him back on the right track and it's largely down to Brendan now to work with him on that side of his character.

"Brendan has spoken to him and I've spoken to him and Brendan will be working with him further on his discipline. You can see when you speak to him how sorry he is about it and he's certainly shown quite a lot of contrition to us."

I don't need to speak to Guardiola, says Heynckes

The 67-year-old is in confident mood ahead of his side's Champions League semi-final and dismissed the need to seek advice from his future successor

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes has insisted he knows Barcelona "very well" ahead of Tuesday's Champions League semi-final and says he will not be speaking to former Blaugranaboss Pep Guardiola.

The former Camp Nou chief will take charge at the Bavarian club next season after a one-year sabbatical, and though some initially thought Heynckes may tap into the Spaniard's wealth of knowledge on the Liga leaders, the 67-year-old believes he has all the knowledge he needs.

"I have respect for Josep Guardiola and we have a very good relationship. I don't need any information from him, though, because I know Spanish football and Barcelona very well," he told a press conference.

"Barcelona have dominated European football over the past few years. They have a philosophy which is unique to them."

Heynckes led Real Madrid to the European trophy in 1998, and he believes that today's football is more focused on teamwork.

"The team is more important than the individual but there are always players that make the difference. Barca have Messi, for example, but their collective play is what makes them so good.

Accordingly, the 67-year-old pointed out that working as a collective is also what makes die Rotenexceptionally strong this term.

He added: "If I were to sum up the strength of Bayern this season in one word, I would say 'teamwork'.

"We play the most modern football in the club's history. There are so many different things we can do to prepare but spontaneity and intuition are very important in football."

"Being fit and strong is one thing but we bring together physical prowess with quality football. We are not just a physical side. We work together as a team, we play the most modern football of all time."

La Liga star Lionel Messi has struggled with injury recently, which emerged doubts on wether he will appear, but the Bayern trainer expects the Argentine to join the action on Tuesday.

"As far as I know Messi has been training normally and will start the game. I know that he has had some muscular problems, but I don't know if it's any more serious than that."

Due to a yellow lock conceded in the quarter-finals against Juventus, first-choice attacker Mario Mandzukic is ruled out for Tuesday, but Heynckes remained tight-lipped on wether Mario Gomez or Claudio Pizarro will replace the Croatian.

"It's a great thing to have two players of such class in my team. One of them is the top foreign scorer in the Bundesliga, the other has been the best German player and last year he scored 12 goals.

"I'm lucky to have both, I'll speak to them and then make the decision."

Bayern lock horns with the Catalan giants on April 23 at the Allianz Arena.

Madrid will renew Ronaldo's contract, says Perez

The Real Madrid president has vowed to pay the Portuguese whatever it takes to make him stay at the club beyond 2015, when his current deal expires

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is adamant that the club will be able to renew Cristiano Ronaldo's contract at the club.

The Portuguese forward's current deal expires in 2015 but the champions' hopes for an extension were dealt a blow when he admitted that he was unhappy at the club in September.

The 28-year-old has since been linked with a return to Manchester United, whom he left in 2009 to join the Spanish capital club, but Perez remains confident of keeping his star man at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"Keep calm, we are going to renew with Cristiano Ronaldo. The club are going to pay him," he told Blancos fans at a meeting.

Jose Mourinho's side face Borussia Dortmund in a European semi-final first leg in midweek and have a Copa del Rey final with Atletico Madrid approaching and Perez says he is happy with the way things are going.

"Real Madrid are having a great month with the Champions League and the Copa del Rey final," he continued.

"Being the president of this club is difficult but so is being the coach. We must learn to live with it. We can discuss it between us, but we have to stay together.

"Criticism helps us."

Cesc Fabregas' late goal against Levante ensured that Madrid remain 13 points behind Barcelona with six games to go - an unrealistic mountain to climb if they are to retain their Primera Division crown.

Source from goal.com

Lampard is running out of time to hit Chelsea record... and with team in desperate need of a goal should Rafa have brought him on at Wembley against City?

Frank Lampard will go down as one of Chelsea's greatest ever players and perhaps even the greatest. Of that there is no doubt.

But what is in question is whether he will be able to end his time at Chelsea as the club's record goalscorer.

Bobby Tambling holds the honour, with 202 goals for the club between 1959 and 1970.

Should Lampard have come on against Man City? Scroll down for debate

Countdown: The egg-timer is running out of the sand in Frank Lampard's record hunt

Running out of time: Frank Lampard (right) only has a maximum of 10 games to score the three goals needed

Lampard is on 200, hitting that milestone with a header against West Ham on March 17.

The 34-year-old has nine, potentially 10, games to score the three goals which will cement his place in the history books.

But in reality, how many of those games will be play?

Rafa Benitez has no first choice central-midfield pairing, with Ramires, John Mikel Obi and Lampard frequently rotated.

Ever the consummate professional, Lampard will acknowledge that qualification for next season's Champions League is more important than a personal achievement.

But he is such a driven character, one who has pushed himself so far, that he will need the record to be completely satisfied with what he has accomplished.

Rotation: Ramires (left) and John Mikel Obi (right) started ahead of Lampard on Sunday against Man City

He has been hindered in this quest not only by rotation - he has started eight of the last 14 Chelsea games - but also by his position.

Lampard has been deployed in a deeper role for most of the season, to accomodate creative forces Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar.

Against Rubin Kazan he played in his old position, as part of a side that looked more 4-3-3 than 4-2-3-1.

Nathan Ake and Ramires played in front of the defence, akin to how Claude Makelele and Michael Essien used to, and Lampard performed better than in other games of late.

Different roles: Lampard has generally been deployed in a deep-lying midfield position this season

The England midfielder is likely to start on Wednesday night against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

That is one of two games he will consider prime targets for goal opportunities in the run-in.

The other comes on April 17, at home against a Swansea side that have little to play for.

Chelsea's remaining fixtures are the double-header Europa League semi-final tie with Basle and a potential final, Liverpool, Manchester United and Aston Villa away, Spurs and Everton at home.

How many of them Lampard will feature in is up to Benitez.

Decisions: Rafa Benitez has no first choice midfield partnership

SHOULD RAFA HAVE BROUGHT LAMPARD ON AGAINST MANCHESTER CITY?

LEE CLAYTON says YES

There are 200 reasons why Frank Lampard should have come off the bench against Manchester City.

The main one came in the closing stages when the ball arrived in the penalty area and Ramires, the energetic but hardly prolific midfielder, arrived in a crowded area.

It was a free header as he made up the extra man and yet he seemed unsure whether to thunder a header towards goal or knock it down for a team-mate.

All action: Ramires has plenty of energy but nowhere near the goal threat of Lampard

He did neither. Instead he headed the ball into the arms of the Manchester City reserve goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.

Given the same opportunity, in the same circumstances, you can't imagine 'Super Frank' failing to, at least, force Pantilimon into a reflex save.

Because that's what he does. He works goalkeepers, he scores goals. All 200 of them.

I don't argue that he should have been put on to help a sentimental record attempt so he can finish his Chelsea career in a blaze of glory and publicity.

Recognition: Fans were cheering Lampard as he warmed up, but Benitez was unmoved by the cries

He should have been on at half-time in a reshuffle for the hopeless John Mikel Obi to try and force back the Manchester City tide. Chelsea were too passive for too long.

They are out of the FA Cup, while the second highest scorer in their history jogs along the touchline, doing his stretches, hoping to catch the eye of his manager. He didn't catch his eye, he didn't get the chance, he won't finish his Chelsea career in the FA Cup final.

That would have been some way to break Bobby Tambling's 202-goal club record.

Can he do it? For Lampard to break Bobby Tambling's (right) record in the cup final would have been fitting

RIK SHARMA says NO

When Chelsea have needed a goal, at any point during the last decade, Frank Lampard has been the man to call upon.

It seems counter-intuitive not to turn to the man with 200 strikes under his belt when you desperately need a goal to save the game.

But if I were Rafa Benitez, once Chelsea had scored I wouldn't have brought him on.

Lampard still has plenty to offer the club, including goals, but his introduction would have sucked all the momentum out of Chelsea's comeback.

Momentum: If Chelsea had brought Lampard on it would have taken valuable time to adjust to the change

When Lampard plays, he tends to be central to the action and against a tiring City side, it would have been folly to remove Juan Mata, Oscar or Eden Hazard.

Demba Ba was looking dangerous and Fernando Torres had just entered the fray.

That leaves Ramires and, with the greatest respect to Frank, these days he is no match for the Brazilian in terms of stamina and the ability to play box-to-box.

If Benitez had brought Lampard on earlier, Chelsea could have recalibrated the way they were playing and gone from there.

But once Chelsea took control of the game, it was too late to introduce Lampard because it would have sent them a few steps back while they found their balance.

Tricky: Removing a creative, attacking player would have been a dubious call as Chelsea began to dominate

Man City's midfield had dissolved away and their whole side looked exhausted.

Benitez should have brought on Victor Moses to stretch the opposing defence, perhaps in place of right back Cesar Azpilicueta.

The Spaniard had several opportunities to cross but was inaccurate, and Moses could have made inroads down the right flank.

Lampard is a player you can trust to control a game, to take it by the scruff of the neck. In his club career he has made 33 appearances from the bench, scoring only twice. He has never been an impact substitute.

A real knees up!

A real knees up! Di Canio, Mourinho and Drogba... we give you our sliding scale of jubilant celebrations from down the years

Paolo Di Canio's impassioned knee-sliding celebration after Adam Johnson scored the second goal in Sunderland's 3-0 win at Newcastle on Sunday got us thinking... where have we seen that before? There is no celebration quite like it for pure emotion. In honour of Di Canio and Co, we've collated some of the best for you to enjoy...

Arsenal ramp up Williams move as Wenger battles with Liverpool for £12m Swansea defender

Arsenal have moved ahead of Liverpool in the race to sign Ashley Williams after holding talks with the Swansea defender's representatives. Arsene Wenger is desperate to strengthen at the back this summer and Sportsmail revealed last month that Williams is the Arsenal manager's top target.

Don't sell me, Fergie! Rooney wants new deal to stay at United despite claims his move to mega-rich PSG is a 'done deal'

Wayne Rooney wants to open talks about a new Manchester United contract this summer after telling friends he has no desire to leave Old Trafford for Paris St Germain.
The United striker is baffled by suggestions from a former PSG advisor in France yesterday that a deal with the wealthy Paris club was already in place.

Instead, it is understood that the 27-year-old wants to sit down with United at the end of this season and discuss an extension to a contract that will by then have two years to run.

Enlarge Will he stay or will he go: Wayne Rooney wants to stay at Old Trafford but is reported to be a target for PSG

Negotiations with the soon-to-be-crowned Barclays Premier League champions are likely to be lengthy and complicated.

Rooney will no doubt wish to remain on the same wage that he agreed when signing a deal worth in excess of £200,000-a-week in October 2010 while United will initially offer the England star a lower basic with a greater proportion of performance-related pay.

Nevertheless, with both sides keen to agree a new deal it would seem that Rooney’s future will only lie away from United in the unlikely event of United and his advisors simply not reaching a compromise.

Heading for the exit? Rooney has been a Manchester United player since leaving Everton in 2004

Rooney has had an up-and-down season at Old Trafford but has been in great form recently and is a lot happier with his situation that he was earlier in the campaign.

United did not wish to comment on the issue but it is understood that they are not concerned about claims in France by former PSG advisor Michel Moulin that a deal for Rooney is 'done'.

Title winning strikers: Robin van Persie and Rooney look certain to have helped Manchesster United regain the Premier League title

Moulin - who worked for PSG briefly in 2008 - said on French TV: “I announce to you from trusted sources: Rooney to PSG is done.

'He will be at PSG next season.'

Keen to stay: Rooney wants to remain at Manchester United

In France, Moulin is is considered to be trying to garner publicity for his media outlet Le Sport 10.
PSG’s Qatari owners do have a genuine interest in Rooney but do not think United would sell him, particularly to a Champions League rival.

Rooney has been linked with the French club constantly in recent weeks, with players Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva urging him to join them in Paris.