Oscar opens door on Premier League return with former club Chelsea

Brazilian midfielder Oscar has admitted that he would like to return to the Premier League in a few years’ time – preferably with former club Chelsea.


The 26-year-old left the Blues for Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG in January for a reported fee of £60m.

Speaking to premierleaguebrasil.com, Oscar hopes to make an England comeback someday with the Blues being his favourable destination, he said: “Yes, I would go back. I’m still young, I’m 26 years old. Who knows, in two or three years to return to the Premier League. I will be very happy. And preferably to Chelsea, who opened the doors for me to return.”

Oscar was hugely loved by the Blues fans during his time at Stamford Bridge, but he admits that Antonio Conte’s change to the 3-4-3 formation paved the way for his exit. Despite this, the midfielder holds the Italian coach in high regard and backs the 48-year-old to guide the Blues to a second consecutive Premier League title.

He added: “I think United, City and Chelsea will fight to the end. City and United are there for the game they are playing and the goals they are scoring, but Chelsea are a very strong team. Conte sets up a team to play as a team, which is very good. It’s very difficult to score goals against Conte’s teams, so I think Chelsea will come and fight until the end.”

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Rio Ferdinand: Jose Mourinho has reinstalled title-winning confidence at Manchester United

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand was full of praise for manager Jose Mourinho following the Red Devils’ third straight victory in the Premier League.


United dominated the game from the off against Leicester City, and they eventually won the match by a 2-0 scoreline thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini.

United previously won the English crown under Sir Alex Ferguson back in the 2012/13 season, and Ferdinand believes that Mourinho has reinstalled the title-winning confidence after guiding the club to an unbeaten start to the new campaign. The Red Devils have scored 10 goals in their opening three games of the season whilst keeping clean sheets, and they are deemed as strong favourites to pursue the title alongside cross-city rivals, who clinched a late winner over Burnley earlier on Saturday.

Speaking in the BTSportstudio, the former United centre-back said: “That comes with trophies, success. I was fortunate enough to be walking around the tunnel and in the changing rooms earlier, talking to a few of the old faces who have been here for many years. I can sense there is a difference, there’s a confidence in the place, there’s a camaraderie in the place. That’s created by this man, Jose Mourinho. He’s done that and he’s actually brought in players (that do that). Winning trophies and him getting this team and gelling this team together.”

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Barcelona president denies Neymar to PSG rumours

Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu has assured that Neymar would not be leaving for Paris Saint-Germain during this summer’s transfer window.


The Brazil international has been strongly linked with a move to Parc des Princes in recent days after manager Unai Emery admitted that the club are looking at world-class players to add to their squad.

Neymar currently has a staggering release clause of £179m on his Barcelona contract, and this has not diminished speculation over his future with Paris Saint-Germain desperate to make significant progress in Europe next season. The former French champions have made it a habit of exiting in the quarter-final stage of the Champions League, and Emery has been tasked with the job of pushing the club further in the quest for European glory.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Bartomeu insisted that it is highly unlikely that Paris Saint-Germain will pursue a deal for Neymar as it would put them behind in the Financial Fair Play requirements, he said: “He is not on the market. He has a contract for the coming four years and, of course, we count on him. He’s part of our team. He’s part of this trident. These clauses are impossible to activate, if you want to comply with the financial fair play. If someone doesn’t want to comply, then, of course, it can be activated.”

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Mesut Ozil reveals his desire to remain at the Emirates Stadium

Arsenal has received a huge bomb of positive news after Mesut Ozil revealed his desire to continue wearing the jersey of the English Premier League club at least for another season.


The contract that the German midfielder has with Arsenal extends until December of 2018 but reports were emerging suggesting that a move away from the Emirates Stadium was a realistic outcome but Ozil has shut those rumors down as he unveiled his intention to stay with the ¨The Gunners¨

“It is definitely my preference to stay. It is such a great club and I have always said that I feel very good at Arsenal. Once everyone is back in London, we will sit down and discuss about the future. For now, the most important thing is our pre-season and getting through the tour, training and getting fitness. When I’m back in London, we will sit down and discuss.”

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MKHIKI’S GOAL, A PERFECT END TO DEBUT SEASON

 In leading 1-0 in the first half in the Europa league final match against Dutch giants Ajax, the general feeling in the air was how United needed at least a goal to make their sojourn to the title safer.


Given Ajax’s use of the ball and United’s decision to let go of the possession, focusing on cutting the callow squad open with counterattacks, a second goal was going to be crucial for such tactic to work and at the same time keep them safe from any form of surprises something they have all too well undergone this season and almost lost out to Celta Vigo in the semi final except for John Guidetti’s incompetence.

Three minutes into the second half, United won a corner kick, Rashford crossed and the ball landed on Chris Smalling’s head onto Mkhitaryan who smartly flicked the ball with a semi overhead kick over the head of Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana into the resting wall of the net.

The Red Devils were two nil up and that was when the trophy was won. That goal made it the sixth the Armenian has scored away from Old Trafford in the course of United’s Europa League campaign adding to the list of crucial goals he scored in the EPL games and the domestic cup.

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Cesc Fabregas game Impresses many Ex-Footballer

Cesc Fabregas is earning a lot of accolades from the ex-Footballers for the beauty of a show that he put on at the Merseyside the other day in the very little time that he spent on the field.


Conte went into the game with two playmakers and Fabregas was not one of them as has been the case so often this season. The Spaniard was amongst the benchers and didn’t get a look in for the first 81 minutes of the game.

But when he eventually got a look in after that, he absolutely ruled the field and made sure that everybody’s eyes remained on him till the end as he helped the Blues stretch their lead to three-nil with one of the gorgeous crosses one can ever hope to see.

Phil Neville, the former member of the England national squad, reckons what makes Fabregas a fantastic playmaker is his imagination. He foresees players getting into certain positions and plans his passes accordingly. He also seems to have a 360 degree vision as he is always aware of who is around him and at what distance.

Read moreCesc Fabregas game Impresses many Ex-Footballer

CARDIFF FORCE BARNSLEY TO A DRAW

Barnsley had defeated their visitors 4-3 at Cardiff City stadium in the first leg of the clash earlier in the season but they could not replicate such on home soil as Cardiff forced them to a barren draw in the English Championship.


The scrappy game at Oakwell saw Barnsley threaten more as they enjoyed 58 percent of the ball possession. The result leaves Barnsley ahead of Cardiff as they have a point more. Cardiff is in 14th place in the Championship standings with 52 points. The Bluebirds are yet to win an away game since Valentine’s Day. In their last seven games, they have seen just one win.

From the start of the duel, Barnsley showed more prospects. Adam Hammillhad his attempt deflected and the resulting corner caused Cardiff an early scare.

Cardiff had another scare when Allan McGregor collided with Marley Watkins but the on-loan goalkeeper was able to continue. His opposite at the other end was barely disturbed as Cardiff struggled to make clear attempts at goal. Kenneth Zohore came close but sent his effort from 25 yards out over the bar.

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KLINSMANN PROUD OF US ACHIEVEMENTS

German coach Jurgen Klinsmann has revealed that he remains very proud of his achievements in American soccer.


The German coach spoke at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in Los Angeles recently despite agreeing to it before he was sacked from his job as manager of the men’s senior team.

Klinsmann supervised the losses in the first two World Cup qualifiers hence his sack but insists that he is happy to have developed American football.

“The results will tell in the future if it helped Bruce [current US team coach] to achieve the goals that are set. But I think whenever you have the chance to put your stamp on a programme, you do it with everything you have, and that’s what I tried to do,” he said.

He claimed that he and his team “achieved a lot within the system of US soccer, connecting a lot of dots – even though there are so many out there that are disconnected.”

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MAN UNITED SET TO END THE YEAR WELL

Manchester United admittedly has not been as impressive but they have a reason to cheer up as the year ends.


Of recent, Jose Mourinho’s men have started playing attacking football that is interesting to watch. Watching game at Old Trafford is a delight after a few bumps on the way.

With expensive additions like former Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria flopping at Old Trafford and ex La Liga and Ligue 1 star Radamel Falcao not getting the goals, additions by the Portuguese manager have been decent. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been getting the goals, Paul Pogba has been decent, Armenian forward Henrikl Mkhitaryan seem to be finding his rhythm and Eric Baily has been trying for the team.

Marounane Felliani was the top choice over veteran Michael Carrick but Carrick seem to combine well now with Pogba. Ander Herrara has been impressive thus far. The Spain international started the first game but had to wait six games before getting called into action again. His display have been satisfying by many standards under Mourinho.

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