Atletico Madrid playmaker Arda Turan has been declared fit to face Chelsea in tomorrow’s Champions League semi-final, first leg, the La Liga leaders said yesterday.
The Turkey international has not featured since picking up a groin injury in the quarter-final, first leg against Barcelona on April 1.
A key figure in Atletico’s success this season, Arda trained with his team-mates at the Calderon stadium yesterday and coach Diego Simeone had the entire squad at his disposal, Atletico said on their website.
Swansea still not safe, says Monk
Manager Garry Monk feels Swansea City still have work to do before they can feel safe from Premier League relegation despite a 2-1 win against Newcastle United on Saturday that lifted them six points clear of the drop zone.
“It was a relief to get the three points,” interim manager Monk, who took over the reins after Michael Laudrup was fired in February, told reporters after the match.
“Whether it’s enough I don’t know. But I don’t really look at it like that. I just look at it as we’ve got three more games to go and nine points to play for and we want those nine points.”
Hangeland not giving up hope
Brede Hangeland, the sole survivor of Fulham’s great escape six years ago, is confident Felix Magath’s side can pull off a similarly epic escape this term.
Only three matches remain following Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Tottenham and, while they sit 19th heading into next weekend’s match with Hull, captain Hangeland is confident they can beat the drop.
“I think all three games remaining now we look at those and think, ‘yeah, we should probably get something from all of them if we play well’,” the 32-year-old Norwegian said. “That is the task we have to set ourselves.
“It (the great escape) can definitely happen again. Before Saturday, we had two wins on the spin and we know it is possible.”
Pellegrini backs Mel to prosper
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has backed his West Brom counterpart Pepe Mel to be a success in English football.
The pair know each other well, with both men having begun their Premier League careers this season after lengthy stints working in Spain.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s clash between City and strugglers West Brom at the Etihad Stadium, the Chilean said of Mel: “I think he is a very good manager.
“He is a manager that wants his teams to play attractive football – he always tries to make it so that his team will play with a lot of possession of the ball and make a very offensive game.”
Two-goal Cavani wins cup for PSG
Paris St Germain collected their first trophy of the season when Edinson Cavani’s double secured a 2-1 victory against Lyon in the French League Cup final on Saturday night.
Uruguay striker Cavani netted twice in the first half, including a controversial pena-lty, to hand PSG their fourth League Cup title.
Alexandre Lacazette reduced the arrears in the second half but Remi Garde’s team could not find an equaliser.
“Cavani is a striker and he will always be a striker,” Blanc said when asked about the Uruguayan’s role as a central striker rather than a wide forward in the absence of the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“We are having a very good season but we need titles to validate it.”
Allardyce has sympathy for fans
Sam Allardyce has sympathy with the West Ham fans who booed the team off after their 1-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday but insists it was difficult for the Hammers to break down their resilient opponents.
Large sections of the home support at Upton Park jeered each of Allardyce’s three substitutions in the second half before a chorus of boos greeted the full-time whistle.
“I always have sympathy with the fans’ frustrations,” Allardyce said after watching his side suffer their third successive defeat.
“I’m as frustrated as they are and I don’t want to see my team lose a game of football, particularly at home.”
Napoli monitoring City’s Richards
Manchester City right-back Micah Richards is attracting interest from Napoli coach Rafa Benitez, according to reports.
The 25-year-old has not seen much first-team action under City boss Manuel Pellegrini this season and seems set to leave the club this summer.
The Serie A high-flyers are looking to reinforce their defence in the close season and Richards, who has also recently been linked with Liverpool and West Ham, could be a target.
Manchester City are likely to demand a fee of around €11m to sanction Richards’s departure, according to Tuttosport.