Bournemouth v Manchester United

New Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has kept Wayne Rooney as his captain for the 2016-17 season

TEAM NEWS

Manchester United's world-record signing Paul Pogba is suspended for Sunday's game against Bournemouth.

The ban was incurred by Pogba picking up two bookings in last season's Coppa Italia while at Juventus.
Chris Smalling is also banned but new signings Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly will play.
Bournemouth winger Junior Stanislas is out with a hernia problem but £15m club record signing Jordon Ibe is among the likely debutants.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Jonathan Pearce: ""Roll up! Roll up! The Greatest Show on Earth is here for an end-of-the-pier summertime special!
"World-famous ringmaster Jose! Dramatics guaranteed.
"Zlatan the Great starts his trek for a seventh successive debut season title across five countries.
"Jose must make do without the world's most expensive player and says his players are 'undercooked'. Bournemouth's Callum Wilson, fit and almost like a new signing, can certainly feast on any raw spots in the United defence.
"The Cherries have strengthened sensibly but must beware second-season syndrome. Don't gauge their season on this one though!"

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe on the new season: "I am expecting it to be harder (than last season).
"I think the quality of the league has gone up when you look at the quality of managers that have come in, the players that have been attracted to the league and the money that has been spent.
"I think we have improved but I think everybody else will have at the same time so the challenge is going to be tougher - and we need to make sure we respond."
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho: "We feel that we are candidates to win the title. Many more think the same way as us but they are afraid to say it. They prefer to play a defensive game in words.
"I think Manchester United has to say we want to win the title. At the end of the season if we are not champions because someone is better than us then great, that's football."

Manchester City drawn against Real Madrid in Champions League semi-final

Manchester City have been drawn to play Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Manchester City have avoided a meeting with future boss Pep Guardiola after being drawn to play Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

City, who overcame Paris Saint-Germain courtesy of their 1-0 second-leg win at the Etihad, will play the first leg at home before travelling to the Bernabeu to bid for a place in the final.
The other semi-final sees Atletico Madrid host Bayern Munich in the first leg ahead of the return leg in Germany.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his second goal of a hat-trick against Wolfsburg

The draw means City, who are currently fourth in the Premier League, could face Guardiola's Bayern in the final ahead of the Spaniard's move to Manchester in the summer.
Their first job is to find a way past Real, who had a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick to thank for battling back from a 2-0 first-leg defeat to Wolfsburg for a 3-2 aggregate win. Zinedine Zidane's side are yet to face a former winner of Europe's top club competition.

What to expect when Manchester City play Real Madrid in the Champions League

Atletico are in the last four after a brilliant defensive performance against Barcelona helped them to a 2-0 second-leg win for a 3-2 aggregate success, while Bayern survived a scare against Benfica with a 3-2 win over the two legs.
Their clash is a rematch of the 1974 final, which the German club won 4-0 in a replay to take the first of its five European titles.

Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain is happy that they've been drawn against Real Madrid in the Champions League

The draw also keeps open the chance of a Madrid derby in the final as a repeat the 2014 title match. Atletico led 1-0 two years ago in stoppage time before Real Madrid leveled and went on to win 4-1 in extra time.
The first legs are to be played April 26/27, with the return legs May 3/4.

Ryan Giggs Reportedly Set to Beat Jose Mourinho to Manchester United Job

The Glazer family, who own Manchester United, are reportedly putting measures in place ahead of Ryan Giggs’ appointment as the club’s next manager, with Jose Mourinho poised to miss out on the post.

That’s according to Adriano Boin of Marca, who stated that if Louis van Gaal leaves his post this summer, they “are keen to replace him with a figure that won't overshadow the club,” and as such, they will turn to the Dutchman’s current assistant manager instead of the controversial Portuguese coach.
“As a result, the Glazer family have already taken steps towards promoting Giggs from his current post as assistant manager, leaving Mourinho's future in doubt,” continues Boin, noting the options for Mourinho are now likely to be limited to Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Ian Walton/Getty Images

Needless to say, Alex Shaw of ESPN FC doesn’t think that ignoring Mourinho would be the best decision, especially when considering the other options:
Given the Portuguese is unattached, the Red Devils have a brilliant opportunity to get one of the world’s most revered managers easily.
However, according to Mark Ogden of the Independent, the club remain “undecided” over whether to keep Van Gaal, and the former Chelsea boss has grown “restless.” If Boin’s report is to be believed, then it seems the club have decided to take a different route and procedures are already being put in place.

GLYN KIRK/Getty Images

Van Gaal's future remains unclear at United.

Greg Johnson of Squawka Football thinks that Giggs should be involved heavily at Old Trafford, although not necessarily as manager:
Granted, there’d be some obvious virtues to the Welshman taking over. He’s a man who is immersed in the club’s traditions, after all, having won a staggering 13 Premier League titles before hanging up his boots. 
With that in mind, the Old Trafford crowd would also surely be treated to much more entertaining football under Giggs, having been involved in teams that attacked with pace and purpose during his playing days. With Van Gaal in charge, the style has been stagnant at times this season, and the supporters have been left disillusioned.
Additionally, Giggs would command a hefty amount of respect, as he was a sensational player. OptaJoe illustrated just how good here:
He’d face an enormous job, though. United are no longer the alphas of the Premier League, having gradually fallen back into the chasing pack since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Van Gaal has assembled a squad that contains quality players, although it still needs some significant reshaping in the offseason.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Mourinho has a lot more experience at the elite level compared to Giggs.

Who will be United's manager for the 2016-17 season?

Mourinho Giggs Van Gaal Submit Vote vote to see results

Mourinho has experience in this kind of position, having taken Chelsea from top-four contenders to champions within a couple of seasons in his second spell with the club. There are worries about the 53-year-old’s willingness to give youth a chance, something that is key at United, although it’d be bewildering if he decided not to use the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
Still, Mourinho comes with inevitable baggage and the likely prospect that after an initial uplift things will turn sour. United, if there’s truth to the aforementioned story, seem content to do without the hassle.

Eden Hazard denies Chelsea and Real Madrid have agreed summer deal

ESPN FC's Brian McBride rates the latest rumour surrounding Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic and Roma's Radja Nainggolan.

Eden Hazard has dismissed reports that Real Madrid have agreed a deal to sign him from Chelsea this summer and insisted that he is happy at Stamford Bridge.
During an appearance on Spanish TV show "Chiringuito de Jugones" on Monday, journalist Eduardo Inda claimed that Madrid and Chelsea have settled on a fee of around £32 million for Hazard, who has been a shadow of the player who claimed the PFA Player of the Year award in 2015.
Hazard, currently sidelined with a lingering hip injury, has failed to score in 26 Premier League appearances this season and incurred the wrath of Chelsea fans with an interview published by Le Parisien on the eve of a crucial Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain in which he refused to rule out a possible summer move to the French giants or Madrid.

Injuries have slowed Chelsea's Eden Hazard all year, with the Belgian having failed to score in 26 Premier League appearances.

ZInedine Zidane is an avowed admirer of Hazard, who has four years left to run on a new long-term contract signed in February last year, but the Belgian is adamant that the speculation of recent days linking him with a move to the Spanish capital is false and his focus remains solely on Chelsea.
"I don't know who's saying that, but it's not true," Hazard told Belgium's Antenne Centre TV when asked about the report.
"At the moment, I'm at Chelsea. First, I have to finish the season and I still have a contract for four years. I'm there, and I'm currently feeling good over there. I want to be on the pitch as soon as possible. With Chelsea."
Hazard has not featured for Chelsea since last month's Champions League exit to PSG at Stamford Bridge, and was omitted from Marc Wilmots' Belgium squad for a subsequent pre-Euro 2016 friendly against Portugal.
The 25-year-old is back in training at Cobham and believed to be nearing a first-team return.

Chelsea Transfer News: Eden Hazard Comments on Real Madrid Deal Rumours

Eden Hazard has denied recent rumours suggesting he has already agreed to join Real Madrid from Chelsea in the summer.

While the Belgian playmaker did not close the door on a potential departure from Stamford Bridge, he said that no agreement had been reached with Real, per the Mirror's Adrian Kajumba: “Have I signed for Real? No, that’s not true, I do not know who said that. For now, I am at Chelsea. I have a season to finish, and my contract ends in four years. For now, I’m here, and I am, and I want to get back on the field with Chelsea."
Spanish outlet Ok Diario (via Marc Williams in the Daily Star) recently said Los Blancos had reached a deal to sign Hazard for £32 million, with the 25-year-old reportedly having agreed personal terms.  
He has long been viewed as a key target for Real, especially since Zinedine Zidane's appointment as manager back in January, per Bleacher Report's Dean Jones and Sam Tighe:

Hazard's poor form this season—he has yet to score a Premier League goal in 2015-16, per WhoScored.com—has led many to speculate that he is not happy at Stamford Bridge and wants to move away, per ESPN's David Amoyal.
His latest comments will not completely reassure Blues fans that he is set to stay for the long term—the repetition of "for now" hardly inspires confidence—but it seems he has not yet committed to leaving west London.

Kerstin Joensson/Associated Press

And incoming manager Antonio Conte is likely to want to keep Hazard at the club given his past brilliance.
Only a year ago Hazard was voted PFA Player of the Year after his superlative form in 2014-15 helped Chelsea to win the Premier League title.
While he has dropped off dramatically in form this season, there is certainly a possibility that he could rediscover his magic under Conte's new regime.

Should Chelsea sell Hazard in the summer?

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Even if Chelsea do sell Hazard, they are likely to demand significantly more than the £32 million quoted by Ok Diario.
Neil Fissler in the Express reported suitors Real and Paris Saint-Germain are no longer prepared to pay the £80 million previously quoted to sign Hazard, but they are still happy to do business at "nearer to £60 million."
A single poor season does not make Hazard a bad player, and he could still have a big part to play in the near future as Chelsea look to return to title contention next season.

How Spanish newspapers reacted to Barcelona's defeat by Atletico Madrid

The reaction to Atletico Madrid's Champions League quarter final win over Barcelona was a mix of joy and shock

The reaction to Atletico Madrid's Champions League quarter-final win over Barcelona was a mix of joy and shock.

Two goals from Antoine Griezmann gave Atletico a 3-2 aggregate win, knocking the current champions out of the competition following a dismal three weeks for Luis Enrique's side.
Barcelona in meltdown? Atletico to go all the way? Or was it all the referee's fault? Here's how the Spanish press reacted to a famous night in the Calderon...

Europa League - Today

LiverpoolvDortmund

• Dortmund7/5
• Liverpool19/10
• Draw13/5

LiverpoolvDortmund

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Score and Dortmund to Win in 90 Mins11/4

Atletico Madrid players celebrate after scoring the first goal

SPORT
'Lost'
The daily sport newspaper reacts with an image resembling TV series 'Lost', with Barcelona's star players looking dejected following the defeat in Madrid.
'A melted Barca crash against Atletico and the referee - Now they must lift themselves up to save the double.'
Sport also reference the last-minute decision to give Barcelona a free-kick rather than a penalty after Gabi's handball, which on the replays looked to be in the area.

Atletico knock out Barcelona

Antonie Griezmann's brace helped eliminate Europe's defending champions.

MARCA
'Atleti! Cholo's side are in the semi-finals after taking down a plummeting Barca. A perfect match with a boiling Calderon.'
Marca focus more on Atletico's success and less on the referee's decision-making, with a simple image of Diego Simeone's men celebrating in front of the passionate home support.
"What belief. What emotion," the paper added. "Atletico Madrid have made history by knocking out the European champions."

Antoine Griezmann scored two goals to send Atletico through

AS
'In love with Atleti! Griezmann's double puts Atletico in the semi-finals.
'Rizzolo did not see a penalty by Gabi in the 91st minute and should have sent off Luis Suarez and Iniesta.'
AS also refer to Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli's performance, but with a more balanced take on events...

Europe's toughest team?

Atletico Madrid were too strong for Barcelona. Maybe they're too strong for everyone…

MUNDO DEPORTIVO
'Campe-off! Atleti take down the defending champions and put themselves in the semis.'
Mundo Deportivo use a play on words for the Spanish translation 'Champion' after the current Champions League holders were sent packing.
However, the last-minute contentious refereeing decision can't be ignored again as a graphic shows Gabi was clearly in the box when Andres Iniesta's effort hit him on the arm.
Inside, the Catalan publication wrote: "Barcelona did nothing in those final minutes to show they were aspiring to win another treble.
'Not a good night for Barca fans' hearts, as their team were on the brink and fighting an uphill battle for most of the game."

Barcelona's Lionel Messi stands dejected after Atletico's second goal

EL MUNDO
Spanish daily El Mundo turned the spotlight on Barca boss Enrique.
"They have a coach without a plan B and are lacking the magic of a messiah," read poetic but damning analysis inside. "The poor embraced faith to scatter the rich, Barca, who collapsed at the Calderon."

Luis Enrique took full responsibility for Barcelona's Champions League defeat

EL PAIS
Heavyweight daily and Madrid publication El Pais hailed Simeone - and claimed Enrique side had "regressed".
"Atletico indisputable, Barca depressed," the paper wrote. "This is Atletico's moment. Somehow, El Cholo (Simeone) has become to Atletico what Johan Cruyff was to Barcelona.
"Barca's football has regressed over the last few weeks. Barca would have never imagined dropping out of the European Cup until being beaten by (Real) Madrid in El Clasico."

Eden Hazard: 2015 PFA Player of the Year winners' rapid decline analysed

Twelve months on from his PFA Player of the Year win, we look at how Eden Hazard's form in 2015/16 has taken him completely out of the running for the prize this time around...

The PFA Player of the Year nominees have been announced but picking a winner won't be easy. Dimitri Payet, Harry Kane, Mesut Ozil and Leicester City trio Jamie Vardy, N'Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez have all had impressive seasons.
However, 12 months ago, the best player in the Premier League wasn't up for debate.

Europa League - Today

LiverpoolvDortmund

• Dortmund7/5
• Liverpool19/10
• Draw13/5

LiverpoolvDortmund

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Score and Dortmund to Win in 90 Mins11/4

Chelsea's Eden Hazard was the standout star in the Blues' march to the title and rightfully won the player of the year prize. With 14 goals and nine assists helping his cause, the Belgium international secured the highest statistical rating from WhoScored.com by a distance (7.96).
Fast forward 12 months, though, and the 25-year old could scarcely be further out of the running to retain his crown.

A season disrupted by injuries, a lack of fitness and a remarkable drop-off in form - as well as a number of ill-advised comments about his future - have seen Hazard come in for criticism rather than raise this term.
Having started every single league game for the Blues last season a little burnout was perhaps to be expected, but, restricted to just 21 Premier League starts in this campaign, his figures are down across the board.
Hazard has failed to find the net in either the league or Champions League from 34 appearances across the two competitions. He racked up 11 assists in the Premier League and Champions League last season but managed just four this time around.

Eden Hazard has managed just four assists this season

Hazard's chance creation stats are still commendable, dropping slightly from 2.6 per game last season to 2.2 this campaign, but his dribbling and shooting figures have halved. A tally of just 26 shots this season is just a third of his total from the previous campaign, though still enough to rank sixth of all players that have failed to find the net this season.
He still ranks among the top 10 in the league in terms of successful dribbles per game (2.5), but for a player whose pace and power with the ball at his feet is his greatest strength, we've witnessed it so sparingly compared to last season - and Chelsea have suffered as a result.
Hazard's defensive contribution this term also leaves plenty to be desired.

I sent [Mourinho] the message to say I was sorry he had gone and ... well ... just that I was sorry. I felt a little bit guilty because I'd been player of the year. I'd been one of the most decisive players, and this year I'd performed less well.

Hazard told the Guardian he apologised to sacked Mourinho

Hazard made just one tackle across seven league appearances in the first two months of the season. For a side that were so clearly lacking protection in the full-back positions, that simply wasn't enough and eventually saw him dropped by former boss Jose Mourinho - a man Hazard would later feel the need to apologise to, following the Portuguese's sacking.
In fact, Hazard has failed to directly dispossess an opponent in 15 of his 26 league appearances. That's a remarkable statistic for a player who won possession more times in the final third last season than any other player (33).
His diminished desire to harry opponents high up the pitch has been hugely detrimental to Chelsea's chances of catching their opposition out of position.

Hazard has failed to score in either the Premier League or Champions League this season

Hazard's statistical rating this season has dropped to a lowly 6.86, placing him between Eliaquim Mangala and Connor Wickham in 141st in WhoScored.com's Premier League player rankings.
For whoever picks up the PFA prize in 2016, Hazard's decline should serve as a warning that, despite the praise, they cannot afford to let their standards drop next season.