Champions League 2014:'We are not Underdogs'-Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs: Manchester United and Bayern Munich tie

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"We are not underdogs", says Ryan Giggs. 

And ahead of the quarter-final first leg, the 40-year-old insists United believe they can win the competition.
"Of course it is possible," the midfielder said. "You need to play well, to get that little bit of luck."

Giggs acknowledged facing Bundesliga champions Bayern will be "tough", but added: "We're confident."

The Welshman, who made his 961st appearance for the Red Devils in their 3-0 victory over Olympiakos on 19 March to seal their last-eight place, added: "We are Manchester United, and at Old Trafford we have had so many great nights."

Giggs also used the news conference to reject any talk of a rift between him and manager David Moyes.
"The relationship is good," he said. "Of course as a player you want to play all the time... but you are not sulking, you just have to be ready to play your best for the team.

"There is no problem with the manager, I don't know where that came from."

Bayern, who won a historic Treble last season, sealed this year's Bundesliga title last week, with seven games remaining.

United, meanwhile, are seventh in the Premier League, 10 points adrift of fourth place and Champions League qualification.

Manager David Moyes has several selection concerns ahead of Tuesday's game, most notably in defence, where midfielder Michael Carrick filled in at centre-back during the 4-1 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.

Left-back Patrice Evra is suspended while likely replacement Alexander Buttner is a doubt with a hamstring injury, as is right-back Rafael.

Central defenders Rio Ferdinand, Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling, the latter of whom has also played at right-back this season, have only recently recovered from injuries.

Striker Robin van Persie remains sidelined and January signing Juan Mata is cup-tied having played in the competition for Chelsea earlier this season.

"We have defensive issues undoubtedly, we will have to make one or two changes," said Moyes. "We know that on our day we're as good a side as any but we have to show it more often.

"We are really looking forward to this game, because we have done it many time".

Liverpool On Top of The Table

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Lisince losing to Chelsea on 29 December, Liverpool are unbeaten and have taken 35 out of a possible 39 points, which has elevated them to top spot with six games to go and answered their critics in stunning style.

Liverpool climbed back to the top of the Premier League table as they comfortably dispatched Tottenham 4-0 at Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers' side eighth successive Premier League win was barely in doubt as they dominated proceedings from start to finish.

They were gifted the lead just two-minutes in when Glen Johnson fired a cross into the six-yard box and Younes Kaboul could only back-heel the ball past Hugo Lloris into his own goal.

Kaboul endured something of a nightmare first-half which culminated in Luis Suarez latching onto his miscontrol just before the break and finishing with a crisp left-footed strike past Lloris.

Indeed had it not been for Lloris' brilliance on the stroke of half-time to deny Suarez with header, it could and should have been 3-0.

A blocked Christian Eriksen effort and a Roberto Soldado shot aside, Spurs showed very little in Liverpool's last third and it was the same story after the break.

Jordan Henderson should have scored early in the second period as he blasted over after good work from Raheem Sterling but the Kopites did not have long to wait for a third.

Fed by Jon Flanagan, Philippe Coutinho carried the ball to the edge of the Spurs box before clinically firing into the bottom corner.

The fourth duly arrived with 15-minutes remaining, with Henderson getting his name on the score-sheet after his in-swinging free-kick went through a crowd and straight in, completing a resounding and thoroughly deserved win which takes Liverpool two points clear of Chelsea and four of third placed Manchester City.

It is the first time since Christmas that they have been at the summit, and the last four teams who occupied that position on December 25 went on to win the title and the prospect of a first title for 24 years is now closer than a speck on the horizon it has been for a couple of decades.

If you ask me can Liverpool win the title? Yes, Liverpool can win the title, and it makes it a bit easier when there at the top of the table..

Arsenal and City Preview

Today's game which will host in the emirates, is the game to watch. Recently, Wenger have raised his white flag for the race of league title.

The Citizens meanwhile, is set to continue their winning record in the league after the lost to Barca in the Champions League.

Arsenal fans are worried, and little wonder. Injuries have hit and the team's confidence is fragile while they encounter a City side fresh from their humbling of Manchester United and who remain as most people's title favourites.

Arsène Wenger has them down as the side to beat.

Arsenal's manager might have to temper his natural instinct to get on to the front foot – City bite. 

The visitors still have to go to Liverpool but they see this as a key staging post. 

WC2014:79 days to go - Brazil denied Victory

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The 1950 FIFA World Cup was the fourth FIFA World Cup and the first for some time with the cancellations of the 1942 and 1946 World Cups. FIFA were desperate to get the competition going again against a backdrop of disinterest and certainly an unwillingness to spend money on a sporting event after World War 2.

England notably decided to rejoin FIFA and compete at this tournament after a self-imposed 17 year exile and went into the tournament as hot favourites after impressive results against other European teams. Many teams did withdraw from the tournament including Scotland despite being eligible.

The World Cup went ahead with 13 teams (despite 16 teams being in the draw). The deciding match was played between the hosts Brazil and Uruguay at the Estádio do Maracanã. 199,954 fans watched the match (Some estimate the attendance was even higher) that became known as the ‘Maracanazo’. Brazil were hot favourites and would win the World Cup even if they drew their final match after thrashing Sweden and Spain 7-1 and 6-1.

Uruguay however beat Brazil on the 79th minute with a goal from Alcide Ghiggia that beat Barbossa, it was a stunning defeat for Brazil and Uruguay lifted the trophy for their second and last time.-Source

Highest Paid Footballer-Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi will become the world's highest paid footballer according to Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

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The four-time World Player of the Year has a contract with the Catalan giants until 2018, but Bartomeu said talks were on-going with the player's father and principal agent Jorge Horacio Messi over a deal that would surpass the five-year contract Cristiano Ronaldo signed with Real Madrid in September last year.

"We are in the midst of the season, so it is not the moment to be negotiating with him, but it is the moment to talk to the agents and with his father and that is what we are doing," Bartomeu said in an exclusive interview with AFP sports.

"We will talk with them about how we see the player. He is our star and he has a contract until 2018 because we want him to participate in our future, but there is the will within the club that he becomes the best paid player in the world.

"He is the number one and, as we have said various times, he also deserves to be the best paid player in the world."

Messi had been plagued by muscular injuries early in the season, but has recently returned to top-form as he has scored a hat-trick in consecutive games, most recently, in Sunday's thrilling 4-3 win away to Real Madrid.

After scoring the winner with his third goal of the night seven minutes from time at the Bernabeu, Messi kissed the Barca badge on his shirt several times in an uncharacteristic show of exuberance.

And contrary to some rumours linking him with a move to free-spending Paris Saint-Germain or Manchester City, Bartomeu is convinced that Messi is determined to remain at Barca for many years to come.

"Here there is no doubt. Leo Messi arrived here as a 13-year-old and is now 26, soon to be 27. You see how he plays, he is a decisive player and has led all the success Barca has had over the past few years. That is why he has a contract until 2018 and there are no disagreements.

"There is only an enormous desire, both from the player and the club to reach an agreement. We will get there and we will get there calmly.

"We are sure we will reach a deal with Messi, we are convinced because it is his wish too. He said so just a few days ago. We will have Leo Messi at Barcelona for many years to come."

Bartomeu also stressed that it is the board's wish that manager Gerardo Martino sees out his contract until 2015 at the very least.

Martino has endured an up and down first season in charge of Barca, but the Spanish champions are still fighting for titles on three fronts.

"We are very happy with him, he is a person that is giving all the right signals, messages and acting in a manner that fits in perfectly with what we want FC Barcelona to be. He knows we are happy with him and the decision on whether to continue will be his.

"He has a contract until 2015, but at the moment there are so many important games that are left to play that is what he is concentrating on."