Isco wins under-21 award

Last Updated: December 22, 2012 2:41pm

Isco: Has played a key role in Malaga's recent success

Malaga attacking midfielder Isco has been named Europe's best under-21 player of 2012.

The 20-year-old Spaniard beat AC Milan's Stephan El Shaarawy and Atletico Madrid's Thibaut Courtois to the prestigious Golden Boy award.

Isco was selected by a panel of 30 journalists from 20 European nations and becomes the tenth player to receive the prize.

Past winners include Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero, while Borussia Dortmund's Mario Götze collected the accolade last year.

"I'm overjoyed," Isco told Tuttosport. "It is a wonderful thing. I see the past winners and it almost makes me shiver, names of the highest prestige, like Messi.

"When I read that I was one of three candidates for the title, I thought it was a joke. When I knew that El Shaarawy and Courtois were the other candidates, I didn't expect to win.

"This Golden Boy will be an incentive for me to become a real star of international football, like those who have gone before me."

Isco won with 137 votes, 12 ahead of El Shaarawy and 21 in front of Courtois, who is on loan at Atletico from Chelsea.

He has played a key role in Malaga's recent rise and has been in fine form this season, scoring six goals and assisting another eight in his 25 appearances.

Isco joined Malaga in July 2011 after starting his career with Valencia.

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Ronaldo - I won't celebrate

By Lucas Brown.   Last Updated: December 21, 2012 6:19pm

Cristiano Ronaldo: Will not celebrate if he scores against United

Real Madrid ace Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed he misses Manchester United and has vowed not to celebrate if he scores against his old club in the UEFA Champions League.

The Portugal international will go up against the club he left in 2009 in the last 16 of the tournament in February after Real were pitted against United in Thursday's draw.

Ronaldo, who spent six seasons at Old Trafford and still keeps in contact with manager Sir Alex Ferguson, does not plan to celebrate should he find the back of the net against the side he considered "family".

"If I score against United I will not celebrate," he told AS. "I still speak to Ferguson. I miss him a lot, just like I do Manchester United.

"I felt really good there because it was like a family. I had six great years there and still speak to a lot of my former team-mates.

"I still speak to Ferguson. I miss him a lot, just like I do Manchester United."
Cristiano Ronaldo Quotes of the week

"Thanks to Manchester United I am enjoying my football with Real Madrid. Without them I could not have made it to be the player that I am now."

Real have twice knocked United out of the Champions League and the club's president, Florentino Perez, is relaxed over the draw.

He told Marca: "It's fine, Manchester is fine.

"We've been drawn against them twice and eliminated them twice."

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Malaga to fight suspension

Last Updated: December 21, 2012 6:13pm

Malaga: Will fight UEFA's decision

Malaga have vowed to appeal against the "disproportionate and unjustified" sanctions levied against the club by UEFA.

The Spanish outfit was suspended from UEFA club competitions for one season and fined £244,000 following a meeting of UEFA's Club Financial Control Body for breaching UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations.

Malaga, who are due to face Porto in the last 16 of the Champions League, also face being banned for a second campaign unless they settle their outstanding debts.

But a statement from the Primera Liga club said: "Malaga Club de Futbol wishes to communicate its total disagreement with today's UEFA decision.

"The measures taken against the club are absolutely disproportionate and unjustified given the club's situation. We consider that the club is being punished unfairly and used as an example to others.

"Given the total and absolute indignation and consternation on the part of the club, Malaga CF wishes to state that it will work energetically and without rest to achieve justice, using all available necessary means.

"Malaga CF wishes to add that it does not understand, and considers totally incomprehensible and abusive, that after having received this judgement it must now wait an unknown period of time to know the evidence upon which it was taken."

Five other clubs are facing a one-year exclusion unless they can settle their outstanding debts by 31 March; Croatia's Hadjuk Split and Osijek, Rapid Bucharest and Dynamo Bucharest of Romania and Serbian side Partizan Belgrade.

Another Serbian club, Vojvodina, and Ukrainian side Arsenal Kiev were handed fines while a case against Polish side Lech Poznan was dropped.

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Celtic hoping star pair stay

Last Updated: December 21, 2012 11:54am

Victor Wanyama: Has been linked with clubs around Europe after impressive form

Celtic are hopeful their glittering UEFA Champions League showdown with Juventus can convince Victor Wanyama and Gary Hooper to sign new contracts.

Wanyama still has three years on his current deal while Hooper is into the final 18 months of his terms at Parkhead.

Both players have been linked with moves to the Premier League and other clubs around Europe after impressing this season.

But Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell anticipates the meeting with Juventus in the last 16 of the Champions League in February and March will ensure the pair do not leave in January.

"From my point of view, a game with Juventus has got to be quite powerful," he said. "From their point of view? I couldn't comment.

"We'd love to see them at Celtic come the game in February. At the moment, we are still talking to them. These things can take time.

"Victor still has two-and-a-half years to go, so we are more relaxed on that than we are with Gary. But we are relaxed with both. We still have them for a period of time.

"We have gone to them and said, 'how's about it?'. We like to be ahead of the game. We didn't have to do it but we went to them and hopefully we can end up in a good place."

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Podolski relishes Bayern test

By Tim Oscroft.   Last Updated: December 21, 2012 11:58am

Lukas Podolski: German striker will be aiming to prove a point against his old club Bayern Munich

Lukas Podolski is confident that Arsenal can get the better of Bayern Munich when the two sides meet in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

The Gunners were handed the tough test of facing the 2012 runners-up when the draw was made in Nyon on Thursday.

Germany striker Podolski will be especially keen to put one over his old club, where he spent an unhappy three years before joining Cologne in 2009.

"They are a big club - they played in the final in 2010 and last year - but we have a chance to win," insisted the 27-year-old.

"They have a very good team with big players. Mario Gomez up front, Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philip Lahm and Manuel Neuer.

"But there are two matches, home and away, and we have a chance to win."

Podolski is equally confident that Arsenal can overturn their inconsistent domestic form and mount a challenge for the Premier League title.

"Man United are in front, we have 15 points to first place and it's tough but the season is long. When we fight, play our game and don't lose stupid points we can go from fourth to first place."

While Arsenal face up to the traditionally busy festive fixture programme, with the FA Cup to follow, Bayern will shortly go into the winter break afforded to German teams.

However Podolski's fellow countryman Per Mertesacker feels Arsenal can turn schedule to their advantage.

"It's a long period for us while all the German teams will have a winter break and a rest," said Mertesacker.

"They only conceded seven league goals in the first half of the season but we will see what happens in February.

"We hope we can get into a good rhythm to face them and be a strong squad. Maybe it's a good opportunity for us to face them in February because we will be in our rhythm

"We have a lot of potential and Bayern know they will face an Arsenal squad which will be strong in February."

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UEFA ban Malaga over debts

Last Updated: December 21, 2012 5:25pm

Malaga: Players are facing an exclusion from European club compeititions

Malaga have been banned from all UEFA club competitions for one season due to outstanding debts.

The Spanish outfit is one of nine clubs to have had sanctions levied against them following a meeting of UEFA's Club Financial Control Body.

Manuel Pellegrini's side will be prevented from entering the next European competition they qualify for and could face a further season's absence unless the club settles its debts.

Malaga, who are due to face Porto in the last 16 of this season's Champions League, have also been fined £244,000

A statement on the UEFA website read: "Malaga is excluded from participating in the next UEFA club competition for which it would otherwise qualify in the next four seasons (i.e. 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17).

"In addition, Malaga will be excluded from a subsequent UEFA competition for which it would otherwise qualify (in the next four seasons) if it does not prove, by 31 March 2013, that it has no overdue payables towards football clubs or towards employees and/or social/tax authorities."

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Rummenigge wary of Arsenal

Last Updated: December 20, 2012 2:32pm

Karl Heinz Rummenigge: The Bayern chairman is wary of the threat posed by Arsenal

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has spoken of the difficulty he believes his side will face in their Champions League second-round tie against Arsenal.

Last year's runners-up Bayern will face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium before the return leg at the Allianz Arena for a place in the last eight.

Rummenigge said of the draw that placed them with Arsenal: "I think we enter this match as the slight favourites, but we can be making the mistake of underestimating them.

"Arsenal have struggled at times in the league over the last few months, which a look upon the standings in the Premier League will tell you. But by no means will this be an easy game for us. I look forward to our game in London and back home in Munich."

Meanwhile, Bayern deputy-chairman Karl Hopfner told Sky Sports of his satisfaction with the draw: "Now we have the first match in the competition (against Arsenal) in the Allianz Arena and we are happy to play against Arsenal. It's a long way to Wembley."

Bayern last faced Arsenal in Europe in 2005, running out as 3-2 aggregate winners. The first leg at The Emirates will be played on 19 February, with the return match at Munich's Allianz Arena on 13 March.

Arsenal communications director Mark Gonnella said: "They knocked us out that time (2005) but such is the level at this stage of the competition that whether you start at home or away there's not much in it.

"If you look at the statistics over time it probably proves that.

"So we've got to go out and get a good result under our belt in the home game and then see what we can do in Germany."

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Butragueno predicts a thriller

Last Updated: December 20, 2012 4:58pm

Manchester United's Champions League clash with Real Madrid will be "thrilling," according to Emilio Butragueno.

And the former Real striker, now the club's director of institutional relations, says Real will be up against it.

"I think the fans will be very very happy with the tie, it's very attractive. It's going to be a thrilling experience for everybody," he told Sky Sports.

"Manchester United are a great team and a great organisation, one of the most prestigious in the world. So we are very happy. We have a very good relationship with them.

"We know it is going to be difficult, a very even tie. They are a very strong team with great leadership - Sir Alex Ferguson has been there for 25 years. He's a fantastic manager and he knows how to make the most out of his players.

"So we know it's going to be very, very difficult. But we are Real Madrid - we will do our best and rise to the occasion."

"I think the fans will be very very happy with the tie, it's very attractive. It's going to be a thrilling experience for everybody."
Emilio Butragueno Quotes of the week

Real's Cristiano Ronaldo will face his former team and Butragueno said: "It's going to be a special game for him. He's a great professional and he will do his best for Real Madrid. So yes, going back there, it will be very special for him.

"From the players' perspective, they will think 'I want to show what I'm made of'. It is going to be important for us to get our injured players back and I hope we will be at our best for the first leg. In football, you never know."

Manchester United club secretary John Alexander said the meeting of the two giants is the pick of the ties.

"It is the tie that everybody wanted to see, but nobody wanted to see - they wanted to save it for later in the competition," he said.

"Out of several stand-out ties, I think this is the one, with the traditions of the two clubs in this competition and their past history.

"If history has anything in our favour, our one victory against Real Madrid in this competition was in the year we won the final at Wembley."

United defender Rio Ferdinand tweeted: "Oh yes, Madrid!! What a great couple a games that'll be!! @Cristiano see u soon bro!!"

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Nedved expects a tough test

Last Updated: December 20, 2012 1:35pm

Pavel Nedved: Expecting a tough tie with Celtic

Former Juventus playmaker Pavel Nedved insists the Italian champions will not underestimate Celtic.

The two clubs were paired in the draw for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League in Nyon, with the ties taking place on 12 February and 6 March.

Nedved, who is now on the board at Juventus, played when the teams last met in the Champions League in 2001.

While the 40-year-old reckons Juventus are favourites to progress, he is expecting a tough test from Neil Lennon's men.

Nedved said: "It could have gone a lot worse, but we still need to face Celtic with great respect. They were the only team to beat Barcelona and have qualified for the next round with great credit.

"We're on a path of development, but many of our players are playing Champions League football for the first time in their careers and will need to be up to the challenge.

"We'll be stepping into a red-hot atmosphere and will encounter difficulties if we're fully up to speed. We need to match their intensity, hoping that our players have something extra on a technical level.

"Playing the return leg at home, in front of our public, certainly gives us a slight advantage. If we put in a Juventus style performance then we'll have a good chance of getting through to the next round."

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Sky Sports looks at the glamorous previous meetings between Man United and Real Madrid.

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Sky Sports looks at the standout showdown between Manchester United and Real Madrid.

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Ferguson relishes Jose battle

Last Updated: December 20, 2012 5:04pm

Sir Alex and Jose Mourinho: Pitted against each other in Europe

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says he cannot wait to take on Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid in their Champions League last 16 showdown.

Ferguson will renew his old rivalry with Mourinho, and Cristiano Ronaldo will return to Old Trafford to face his former team-mates.

"It's the tie of the round," Ferguson told United's official website. "It's a great opportunity for our fans to see Cristiano again and also for me to meet up with Jose again - I'll need to order some good wine!"

United defender Rio Ferdinand played in the 2003 match against Real, and he tweeted: "Oh yes, Madrid!! What a great couple a games that'll be!! @Cristiano see u soon bro!!"

Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno is also excited by the draw.

"I think the fans will be very very happy with the tie, it's very attractive. It's going to be a thrilling experience for everybody," he told Sky Sports.

"Manchester United are a great team and a great organisation, one of the most prestigious in the world. So we are very happy. We have a very good relationship with them.

"We know it is going to be difficult, a very even tie. They are a very strong team with great leadership - Sir Alex Ferguson has been there for 25 years. He's a fantastic manager and he knows how to make the most out of his players.

"So we know it's going to be very, very difficult. But we are Real Madrid - we will do our best and rise to the occasion."

Real's Ronaldo will face his former team and Butragueno said: "It's going to be a special game for him. He's a great professional and he will do his best for Real Madrid. So yes, going back there, it will be very special for him.

"From the players' perspective, they will think 'I want to show what I'm made of'. It is going to be important for us to get our injured players back and I hope we will be at our best for the first leg. In football, you never know."

Manchester United club secretary John Alexander said the meeting of the two European aristocrats is the pick of the ties.

"It is the tie that everybody wanted to see, but nobody wanted to see - they wanted to save it for later in the competition," he said.

"Out of several stand-out ties, I think this is the one, with the traditions of the two clubs in this competition and their past history.

"If history has anything in our favour, our one victory against Real Madrid in this competition was in the year we won the final at Wembley."

Sky Sports looks at the glamorous previous meetings between Man United and Real Madrid.

Celtic and Arsenal have to play a Champions League blinder in the transfer window, says Jeff Stelling.

Sky Sports looks at the standout showdown between Manchester United and Real Madrid.

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Brown: Juventus can be beaten

Last Updated: December 20, 2012 5:38pm

Scott Brown: Thinks Celtic can knock Juventus out

Captain Scott Brown believes Celtic are capable of upsetting Italian champions Juventus in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

Brown admits they will have a tough task to win in Turin but he is confident that Celtic can beat the Old Lady at home, where the Hoops have already beaten Barcelona this season.

"Juventus are a huge club and have done a lot on the European scene in the last few years as well," Brown told the club's website.

"Their home record is next to none - I think they've lost one game in a year-and-a-half so it's going to be hard for us, but exciting as well.

"We always believe. We have faith in ourselves and faith in individuals as well - that's the main thing. Along with the team spirit, everyone in the dressing room seems to have improved as well. It's been a good season so far and we need to continue this into the league."

The midfielder, who also played in the last 16 with the Hoops in 2008, added: "Some people don't ever make this and I'm lucky to have done it twice.

"The first time was great. We played Barcelona and were unlucky but this team is better than what we had before and hopefully we can kick on.

"We know it's going to be hard in the two games but teams are going to have to come to Celtic Park. We have played really well there and enjoyed every single moment of it and hopefully teams fear coming to Celtic Park now."

Brown says Juve midfielder Andrea Pirlo is the man Celtic have top stop.

"He's their main player week in week out. He's the one that makes them tick.

He's the one that threads the through balls and gets on the ball to start off

the moves.

"He's the one that we are going to really have to watch out for."

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Lennon: Juve tie is a beauty

Last Updated: December 20, 2012 12:19pm

Celtic manager Neil Lennon is excited about the "beauty" of their UEFA Champions League draw against Italian champions Juventus.

Celtic will face the Turin side in February after finishing second in their group behind Champions League favourites Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Juventus finished top of Group E, which also included Chelsea, and they beat the English side 3-0 in November.

Lennon told Sky Sports News: "In terms of glamour it's a beauty. Juventus are one of the great traditional European teams. In terms of qualification it's going to be very, very tough. They're current Italian champions and finished their group very strongly.

"We will take it as it comes, we're looking forward to the games now and I'm sure our supporters will be as well. We believe over two games that anything is possible. Juventus' team are littered with world class stars and they've been very consistent over the last 18 months and they've got a great winning mentality - but so have we."

"In terms of glamour it's a beauty. Juventus are one of the great traditional European teams."
Neil Lennon Quotes of the week

Celtic have a fantastic home record in the Champions League, having only lost two of 23 matches at Parkhead - both to Barcelona, who they defeated 2-1 at home this year.

Lennon is looking forward to welcoming the Italian champions to Glasgow, saying: "Juventus is just another huge game for us to enjoy and relish and anything can happen over the two games. We're in the competition, we want to go as far as we can and we believe we can do it.

"Celtic Park's a very special arena on a European night and I'm sure they'll raise the roof again to bring Juventus to Glasgow. In terms of the draw, it could have been kinder but it could have been worse."

The first leg in Turin will be played on either February 12/13 or 19/20, with the return match at Parkhead on March 5/6 or 12/13.

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Lawwell ready for Juventus

Last Updated: December 20, 2012 12:14pm

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has insisted there will be no inferiority complex from Neil Lennon's side when they tackle Juventus in the UEFA Champions League.

The Scottish side will face the Serie A leaders in the last 16 after Thursday's draw in Nyon having already upset the odds by emerging from a testing group featuring Barcelona, Benfica and Spartak Moscow.

Neil Lennon's men enjoyed an unforgettable victory over Barca at Parkhead having run the Spanish giants close in Camp Nou, with Lawwell admitting that they will need to emulate those displays if they are to overcome Juventus.

Lawwell told Sky Sports: "We believe we are one of the top European clubs in everything we do. Celtic should be at this level, not just for the revenue but in terms of the profile and exposure for the club.

"We believe we are one of the top European clubs in everything we do. Celtic should be at this level, not just for the revenue but in terms of the profile and exposure for the club."
Peter Lawwell Quotes of the week

"To get back in after two or three years has been magnificent. We go into this game with a degree of confidence. We will be ready. We have done magnificently well and I'm sure we will give a great account of ourselves.

"We have beaten the best both at home and away. It is a formidable task but we go into the game with great confidence and we will see what happens.

"We have shown we can do it, we have had some great results. It will need that level of performance, but who is to say we can't do that.

"We are delighted to be flying the flag for Scottish football, which has taken a bit of a battering recently."

Lawwell was quizzed on Celtic's transfer plans for January and admitted there could be some changes to Lennon's squad, although it is not their preferred time to do business.

He added: "Every transfer window we get to we aim to be stronger at the other end. January is not the best time to be doing it, but our intention will be to come out of the window stronger, and if that means finding some value in the market then that is what we will do."

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United to face Mourinho's men

Manchester United will face Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid in a mouth-watering Champions League last 16 showdown.

There is therefore no Battle of Britain, with Celtic facing Italian champions Juventus and Arsenal will take on last season's runners-up Bayern Munich.

United's clash with Real - which will see Cristiano Ronaldo face his former team - was the pick of the ties, and Sir Alex Ferguson's men have the advantage of playing away first.

Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 appearances for United, but it was another Ronaldo - the Brazilian striker - who took the honours when the clubs last faced each other in 2003.

He scored a hat-trick at Old Trafford as Real went through 6-5 on aggregate.

Cristiano Ronaldo's last match for United was in the Champions League final defeat by Barcelona, after which he moved to Madrid for a world record £80m transfer.

Arsenal and Celtic, who were group runners-up, will both play their second legs away.

Barcelona, the bookies' favourites, will take on seven-time winners AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund, who many pundits are tipping to win the competition this season, will face the improving Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk.

Turkish champions Galatasaray will face Schalke, Valencia face Zlatan Ibrahimovic's PSG and Porto take on unfancied Malaga.

Galatasaray v Schalke 04

Celtic v Juventus

Arsenal v Bayern Munich

Shakhtar Donetsk v Borussia Dortmund

AC Milan v Barcelona

Real Madrid v Man Utd

Valencia v PSG

FC Porto v Malaga

First legs to be played 12/13/19/20th February, 2013

Second legs to be played 5/6/12/13th March, 2013

View the original article here

Song would welcome reunion

Last Updated: December 19, 2012 4:57pm

Alex Song: Would welcome a return to Arsenal with Barcelona

Barcelona midfielder Alex Song would relish a return to Arsenal should the Catalan giants be pitted against his old club in the UEFA Champions League draw on Thursday.

The Spanish side are one of six teams Arsene Wenger's group runners-up could face, alongside Paris St Germain, Malaga, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and Bayern Munich.

Song swapped Emirates Stadium for Camp Nou when he joined the Arsenal exodus during the summer and expects only one outcome if they meet for a place in the quarter-finals.

"Of course I would like to play against Arsenal. For me to go back there, where I had seven magnificent years, would be something very special," said the 25-year-old.

"If we draw Arsenal I'd be happy to see the fans again and go back to the club, even though if we go there it will be to get the best result possible.

"Arsenal's a big club, but Barcelona's a level above because of the talent of the players there.

"That's no disrespect to Arsenal because they have talented players, but I think the Barcelona players are above them. I saw a lot of people come and a lot of people go at Arsenal."

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