Ancelotti: My future is not on the line in El Clasico

The Real Madrid coach says his players are confident going into the vital match against Barcelona but stresses there are other big games to play
Carlo Ancelotti insists he is not fearing the sack ahead of Real Madrid’s crucial Clasico against rivals Barcelona on Sunday.
The Italian’s position as coach at the Bernabeu has come under scrutiny after a poor run of form saw the European champions lose top spot to Barca in La Liga and unconvincingly edge past Schalke in the Champions League last 16 after losing the second leg 4-3.
Defeat to Luis Enrique’s men would leave Madrid four points adrift at the league’s summit with 10 matches left to play, but while admitting the Clasico was a vital game, Ancelotti does not think it will decide his future.

Retired referee Ishaku Musa Dodo slumps and dies while jogging

The retired Grade One match official slumped and died while jogging at the main-bowl of the Kwara Stadium in Ilorin on Monday

Ishaku Musa Dodo, a retired referee who was listed as a Grade One referee in 1999, slumped and died while jogging inside the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin on Monday

The death of the 44-year-old was confirmed  at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) where he was taken to.
His shocking death was listed as a result of heart failure.

His remains have been kept at the UITH mortuary in Ilorin awaiting his family's arrangement for burial

Lukaku Sets New Record

                       

• Everton come from behind to win
• Lukaku becomes club's record European scorer
• Second leg in Ukraine on 19 March

Romelu Lukaku's late penalty gave Everton a vital lead to take to Dynamo Kiev after the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.

A bad week for English clubs in Europe seemed to be getting worse when Oleg Gusev swept the Ukrainian side ahead.
The home side had started slowly but Lukaku's brilliant run teed Steven Naismith up to level before the break.
And the striker converted from the spot after Danilo Silva handled in the area to give the Blues a slender lead.
If they can hold it in Ukraine on 19 March, Everton will set up a first European quarter-final in 30 years, an achievement set against the backdrop of a woeful league campaign.
Manager Roberto Martinez has conceded his side - six points above the relegation zone - face the harsh reality of a scrap for league survival but European commitments continue to offer respite.
Lukaku - much maligned for his league form in recent weeks - became the club's record European goalscorer with seven goals when his penalty squirmed under 40-year-old goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy with eight minutes remaining.
The Belgian impressed throughout, completing 86% of his passes and the visitors - who have never won in England - were often stretched by his runs into channels.

Martinez will hope this hard-earned win can provide a platform for just a second league victory of 2015 against Newcastle at Goodison on Sunday, while more optimistic fans may have one eye on a Europa League final appearance in Warsaw on 27 May.
Everton have made light work of sides well positioned in their own domestic leagues in the competition, including German side Wolfsburg and Swiss team Young Boys, but it was not until Lukaku became heavily involved after half an hour that they started to trouble Ukraine's league leaders.
Gusev's near-post volley after he lost marker Ross Barkley saw Kiev notch a crucial away goal and only when the sides meet again will it become clear if Everton's slow start proves decisive over two legs.
It was not until Lukaku shot wide from 40 yards with Shovkovskiy out of his goal did Everton find any momentum and his presence quickly grew in significance.
The 21-year-old saw a powerful volley graze the crossbar and showed strength beyond his years to fend off several challenges before passing for Naismith to curl home from 12 yards.
Everton did not look back and missed chances in the second half as they attacked the Gwladys Street End through Gareth Barry's miscue from 12 yards and Lukaku's own blunder from a Naismith flick in the six-yard box.
And their pressure was rewarded late on when substitute Leon Osman crossed against the hand of Silva, to allow Lukaku to net the goal his performance deserved from the spot.

Koln hit with fine and stadium closure

After trouble at Borussia Monchengladbach and Duisburg, the club have been handed a €200,000 fine and stadium closures

Koln have been handed a €200,000 fine and a series of partial stadium closures following crowd trouble at matches against Borussia Monchengladbach and Duisburg.
Dozens of Koln fans donning white boiler suits emerged from a section of the ground housing away supporters at Monchengladbach last month after Granit Xhaka had netted a stoppage-time winner.
Flares were also hurled onto the playing surface before the offenders made their way from the pitch as police closed in.
In addition, a number of supporters forced their way into the stadium for a cup clash with Duisburg in October - an incident also taken into account as the German Football Association (DFB) settled on a punishment.
Of the €200,000, €120,000 will be invested in violence prevention measures, while Koln - who banned the Boyz fan group following the Monchengladbach incident - will have to close sections of their stadium closed for matches against Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke in April and May.
Koln have also been ordered to introduce a raft of new safety measures, including halving their allocation for their next trip to Monchengladbach, issuing personalised tickets, and banning large banners from away matches.

I’m tired of sheep making s**t up - Dani Alves

After being strongly associated with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, the Brazil international has launched a volley back at the press

Dani Alves has attacked the media over the persistent speculation regarding his Barcelona future.
The contract of the right-back, 31, expires in June and, as he is eligible for a Bosman move, he has been widely reported to have agreed a deal with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Brazil star, however, has hit out at these suggestions and says that when there is something concrete to report, he will be the first with the news.
"Do you really believe what they say? I’m a bit tired of listening to sheep making up s**t," he posted to his official Instagram account.
"I love this club for everything I have experienced and for what I still have ahead of me here but, if one day I have to leave, I will have the same balls that have got me where I am today to say it myself. I don’t need any sheep to speak for me."
Alves, whose agent indicated he is in "advanced discussions" with another major club earlier in March, signed for Barcelona from Sevilla in 2008 and has since accumulated over 200 Liga appearances for the Catalans.
He has enjoyed a trophy-laden spall at Camp Nou, which includes four Primera Division titles and two Champions League crowns.

I want a gentleman - Ronaldo's ex Irina

           The Russian model has lifted the lid on her relationship with the Ballon       d'Or winner, which ended in January 

 Cristiano Ronaldo is not the perfect man, according to ex-girlfriend Irina Shayk, who says the Real Madrid superstar made her feel "ugly and insecure".

Not so special: Mourinho solely to blame for Chelsea elimination

 The Portuguese manager faulted his players' concentration in defeat against PSG, but his overall strategy was poor on the night and hamstrung his side unnecessarily

There are so many intangibles in football, and not everything is down to the influence of the men on the touchline. It was former Argentina international Jorge Valdano who said that, no matter the level of control-freakishness involved, one coach’s brain cannot compete with the infinite possibilities of eleven men in the heat of a football game.
That has not stopped managers from trying though, seeking to minimise risk and maximise reward. Somewhat incongruously, those who prefer to manage this way, poring over every bit of minutiae, are referred to as modern managers, and exact a high price. None more so than Jose Mourinho.
The Chelsea boss is one of the finest managers of the last decade, boasting two Champions League crowns and league titles in every nation he’s managed in. In spite of his record, he divides opinion like no other. There is no right way to play football, and to argue the merits of aesthetics over pragmatism is a fool’s errand, but after the Blues’ elimination at the hands of PSG last night, it is clear that extreme pragmatism has its limits.

Matuidi: PSG ready for greatness

The France international says the capital club are ready to make history after knocking Chelsea out of the Champions League             

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Blaise Matuidi says his side’s victory over Chelsea has left them feeling like they can "do something great" in the Champions League this season.
The reigning French champions took the tie into extra time and earned a 2-2 draw with Jose Mourinho’s side at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, securing their route to quarter-finals on away goals with an aggregate score of 3-3.

David Luiz apologises for celebrating against Chelsea

The Brazil defender went against modern etiquette by celebrating wildly against his former club - but said sorry afterwards

Paris Saint-Germain defender David Luiz has apologised to Chelsea fans for celebrating the goal which contributed to the Blues' exit from the Champions League on Wednesday.

The Brazil centre-back netted the 86th-minute equaliser that sent the match to extra-time, before Thiago Silva cancelled out Eden Hazard's 96th-minute penalty to take the score to 3-3 on aggregate and send PSG through.