Ibra revels in trophy-winning exploits – but did he take a dig at Arsenal?

Holders Japan will begin their Asian Cup defence in 2015 with a fixture against the winners of the AFC Challenge Cup.

The draw for the competition, which runs from January 9 in Australia next year, took place in Sydney on Wednesday as four-time winners Japan were also grouped with Jordan and Iraq.

Alberto Zaccheroni s men find out who will complete Group D when the AFC Challenge Cup finishes on May 30.

The entrants in that competition are Laos, Turkmenistan, Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Palestine, Myanmar, Afghanistan and the hosts Maldives.

Asian Cup hosts and 2011 finalists Australia face Kuwait in their competition s opening game at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, with South Korea and Oman also going into Group A.

Three-time winners Saudi Arabia get th…

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has played down speculation suggesting he is not happy at the Etihad Stadium,  understands.

Toure, who joined City from Barcelona in a deal worth £24 million in July 2010, was linked with a move away from Manchester in the summer following reports that he felt under-appreciated at the club.

It s a pity City pay big money, but do not understand that human relations mean more than anything, said his agent, Dmitri Seluk.

Despite the aforementioned reports, the Côte d Ivoire international, 30, has for the most part been very impressive for City this season, tallying seven goals and one assist in 16 appearances across all competitions.

With that said, former City striker Rodney Marsh remains concerned regar…

Pep Guardiola has hailed Kevin De Bruyne s selfless contribution to Manchester City s season.

Belgium international De Bruyne set up goals for Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero in Saturday s 3-0 Premier League win at Southampton, taking his assist tally to 13 in the top flight

De Bruyne played on the right-hand side of City s attack at St Mary s but has spent much of the season as one of two advanced central midfielders alongside David Silva.

The 25-year-old has also played in deeper midfield positions, including on the left of a diamond, and was City s most advanced attacker when Guardiola opted to pack central areas for the Champions League trip to Barcelona.

The manager reported none of this has drawn any complaint from the club s record signing, whose goa…

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of free agent Willian following his departure from Premier League rivals Chelsea.

The Brazilian winger, who turned 32 last Sunday, has signed a three-year deal with Mikel Arteta s side.

He announced his departure from Chelsea last week after seven years at Stamford Bridge following the expiration of his contract.

Willian missed the recent FA Cup final against Arsenal, with Blues head coach Frank Lampard citing an injury sustained in training ahead of the match as the cause of his absence.

Reports have indicated Chelsea were willing to offer Willian a two-year contract but that he was holding out for one more season, which Arsenal have offered.

The 2019-20 campaign was Willian s most productive at Stamford Bridge …

Jamie Vardy has not discussed with his Leicester City team-mates the possibility of representing England again, team-mate Ben Chilwell has said.

The 32-year-old effectively retired from international duty in August 2018 to focus solely on club football with Leicester.

He leads the Premier League scoring charts with 11 goals this season and England boss Gareth Southgate has left the door open for a return to the international scene.

However, Chilwell, who is part of the Three Lions squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers with Montenegro and Kosovo, is unsure if Vardy is interested in a recall.

Vardy is his own person, as everyone knows, he said at Tuesday s news conference. 

BIG WIN 

— Jamie Vardy (@vardy7)

Obviously we have a l…

Ivory Coast international defender Siaka Tiene signed for French giants Paris Saint Germain from Ligue 1 rivals Valenciennes on Tuesday for a million euros, according to the selling club.

The 28-year-old capped over 50 times and a member of the side that lost on penalties to Egypt in the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations final had been at Valenciennes since 2008 having arrived from St Etienne.

PSG for their part loaned out young midfield prospect Younousse Sankhare on a season long loan to Ligue 2 side Dijon with the option of buying him outright.

The 20-year-old has fallen out of favour this season having played 22 matches in the last campaign scoring once.

…

Having gone 2-0 down to Belgium in the first half due to goals from Yannick Carrasco and Romelu Lukaku, France bounced back after the break to win the UEFA Nations League semifinal, courtesy of Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe from the spot and Theo Hernandez.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba was thrilled with the game, and expressed plenty of respect for the defeated team.

It was a beautiful comeback, beautiful game and a beautiful victory.

Paul Pogba gave a passionate post-match interview after France pulled off a comeback from two goals down to beat Belgium to reach the UEFA Nations League final

— Football Daily (@footballdaily)

…

VfL Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs has confirmed the club s interest in signing Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku this summer.

Lukaku, 21, tallied 15 goals and six assists in 33 English Premier League appearances while on loan at Everton last term and has already hinted he may leave Stamford Bridge when the transfer window re-opens on 1 July.

You know Chelsea, every year they buy a new top striker, Lukaku said, per . I remember coming into the dressing room last year and seeing Samuel Eto o and Demba Ba and going, Woah! What s happening here?

But no problem. Many clubs are interested in me. At this stage, I have to look to myself. I have to play a good World Cup. That s very interesting for all the players looking for a transfer. And I must b…

Coaches with contrasting fortunes in the UEFA Champions League meet again on Tuesday as Chelsea and Galatasaray seek a quarter-final place.

Jose Mourinho s Chelsea took an early lead during the first leg of the last-16 tie in Istanbul through Fernando Torres.

Mourinho is a two-time winner of European football s major prize, with Porto and Inter in 2004 and 2010 respectively, and is looking to become the first manager to lift the trophy with three different clubs.

However, a shrewd tactical change by Galatasaray coach Roberto Mancini brought his side back into the contest and Aurelien Chedjou found the net from close range to earn a deserved 1-1 draw.

Mancini s successful reshuffle marked a rare moment of Champions League inspiration for the Italian, a winner of m…

Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini believes his lack of popularity is because he is linked with David Moyes failed tenure as manager.

Fellaini was Moyes first major signing when he took over from Alex Ferguson in 2013 but has retained a key role under Louis van Gaal.

The Belgium international is often the subject of ire from the United faithful, and at times has been booed when being substituted off or on the pitch.

Fellaini said he struggles to understand why he is always associated with United s worst performances but tries not to let it bother him.

My family care more than me, Fellaini told the Telegraph.

I am a professional, so I have to deal with it. I try not to listen. Sometimes it is difficult, but that is football and playin…