Mesut Ozil puts Arsenal ahead of his future and Arsene Wenger's

OZIL

Mesut Ozil says Arsenal's "desperate" fight for a top-four finish takes precedence over his future - and even Arsene Wenger's.

This week's Monday Night Football defeat at Crystal Palace left Arsenal seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester City and was accompanied by significant numbers of supporters calling on Wenger to end his 21-year reign in the summer.

The manager will be out of contract while Ozil's deal, like team-mate Alexis Sanchez's, has little more than a year to run.

The German has repeatedly talked up Wenger's role in bringing him to north London and has previously suggested his future is tied to the manager's.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Monday's trip to Middlesbrough - live on Sky - he said: "I think at the moment it would be wrong to really think about that, to go ahead and look at that.

"At the moment the team we're having a more difficult spell and at this stage I'm not important and no other player is important. What's important is the club.

"We've got aims that we want to meet this season. There's still lots for us to play for. We want to qualify desperately for the Champions League for next season as well.

"So we'll talk in the summer and we'll clear things then but for the moment, all that's important is Arsenal and not me and not any other player - it's just the club.

"What we need to do is fight, to do what we can. It's not just about the boss or the fans - it's about the whole club and playing for the whole club."

Ozil repeated his belief that Wenger, Arsenal's longest-serving and most decorated manager, "deserves respect for what he has achieved here".

But he said: "As players, you can't pick your coach. You can't decide who manages the club."

We are under pressure to deliver - Wenger

WENGER

Arsene Wenger has called on Arsenal to play with freedom against Middlesbrough on Monday Night Football, admitting his side is under pressure to deliver results.

Wenger said it has been a difficult week following Arsenal's capitulation at Crystal Palace on Monday, but had "nothing" to add about his own immediate future.

"Bad moments are part of our job," Wenger said, reflecting on Arsenal's fourth consecutive Premier League away defeat. "You focus to prepare and make sure you respond.

"To play with restriction and the handbrake doesn't help. We are under pressure to deliver and the best way to do that is to play with freedom and accept the risk.

"We were beaten (by Crystal Palace). You have to face reality and respond. You can win, lose or draw but what we want to do is play with commitment and belief."

Calls for Wenger's departure from sections of Arsenal supporters returned during and after the 3-0 defeat at Selhurst Park but when asked on whether there had been any developments on his future, the Frenchman replied: "Nothing.

"I believe my relationship (with Stan Kroenke, Arsenal owner) has always been the same, it has not changed.

"I don't know. What happens above in the board is not down to me. I focus on what is important for me is the performance of the team and what the fans are interested in is the performance of the team."

Arsenal are seven points off the top four with eight games remaining and Wenger has called for one final push.

He said: "We might get there, we might not get there but the only thing to get there is to believe we can do it. That's what we have to focus on; it is not the fear to fail it is the desire to make it and that's the only chance we have to do it.

"It's a big challenge, of course.

"In football you have to accept that you can win, lose or draw but you have to make sure you perform in the next game and give absolutely everything."

Jose Mourinho slams Man Utd's 'sloppy' attack in Anderlecht draw

JOSE MOURINHO

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho criticised his team's attacking players for failing to take their chances during their 1-1 Europa League draw

Jose Mourinho was disappointed with Manchester United's "sloppy" attack after the 1-1 draw in Anderlecht on Thursday night.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan's opener was cancelled out by Leander Dendoncker's late header in the Europa League quarter-final first leg, despite Mourinho's side dominating the game.

Mourinho criticised his side's attack, and said if he was a United defender, he would be "upset" with the players up the pitch.

"The result is positive. To play at home with an advantage, starting the game with an advantage is good, it is a good result in any case.

"But I think the result should be much better, and we can only blame ourselves, because we had an easy game to play in the second half, and we didn't play in attack with that instinct.

"We lost the ball easily too many times, we stopped our counter attacks because of sloppy decisions, sloppy touches on the ball, and then we gave them opportunities to have some counter attacks.

"Luckily our defenders were very much in the game. If I was a Man Utd defender I would be very upset with the attacking players, because they had to kill the game and they didn't."

Paul Pogba missed a clear-cut chance just before Anderlecht's equaliser, striking against the goalkeeper from 12 yards after being set up by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

But Mourinho was more upset by his side's lack of instinct in the final third, rather than any major chances that fell to the attacking players.

"I would say it was a strong performance by the team from a defensive point of view. I think Mkhitaryan, Rashford, they did defensively what we asked them to do.

"We were very solid defensively, and that is not just about defenders, it's about the team.

"But it's not just about the chances we missed, because we didn't miss many. It's about the half chances, because the space is there, the time is there, but the end decision is not.

"The decisions were wrong, and probably the only one where everything was correct, the timing the decisions, was Paul's shot. It was a good save by the goalkeeper, but this is what happened to us all season, we have chances but don't score goals."

Chelsea legend Didier Drogba reveals he had an offer from a Premier League club before agreeing to join Phoenix Rising as a player-owner

DROGBA

Didier Drogba turned down an offer from a Premier League side before deciding to join United Soccer League outfit Phoenix Rising as player-owner. 

The former Chelsea striker had been without a club since leaving Major League Soccer Canadian side Montreal Impact in 2016.

But the Ivorian has now signed for Phoenix - where he will also become part of the ownership structure with the USL club, who are hoping to join the MLS as an expansion franchise in the future.

Drogba told BBC's Premier League Show: 'I'm moving to Phoenix in Arizona to the USL team.

'It's a good transition because I want to carry on playing but I'm almost 40... and it's important for me to prepare for after my career and Phoenix offered me that.

'I could have carried on playing. I had offers from England, from a Premier League side, the Championship, Middle East, China, India but it was only as a player.

'To own a team and be a player at the same time is unusual.' 

Drogba will join up with one of his former Chelsea team-mates on the roster in Phoenix - winger Shaun Wright-Phillips who moved to the Arizona club from New York Red Bulls earlier this year.

Another former team-mate of Drogba's, Romelu Lukaku has been capturing the headlines recently due to his form at Everton.

The forward has netted 23 Premier League goals so far this campaign, which caused Belgium manager Roberto Martinez to state that Lukaku could become the world's best striker.

And when asked for his opinion on Martinez comments, Drogba agreed: 'Well when you look at the statistics, his age and the way he's progressing I think he could be right.'

Lukaku left Chelsea on a permanent deal to move to Everton in 2014 but there have been rumours that he could make a return to Stamford Bridge.

Everton boss Ronald Koeman recently quipped that he will wait on a call from Drogba to find out if Lukaku would remain at Goodison Park - after reports the two former team-mates were in contact.

But Drogba laughed off any suggestions that he has a say over Lukaku's future, joking: 'If that was the case he would be in Chelsea already a long time ago. 

'I know that he loves Chelsea, this club needs people who feel something for the club and he does and more than that he wants to prove that he can make it.

'I would be happy to see him again in the Chelsea shirt but I don't decide for him, nobody decides for him. He already knows what he wants to do.' 

Paulo Dybala signs new £110,000-per-week contract with Juventus until 2022

PAULO DYBALA

Paulo Dybala has signed a £5.9million-a-year contract extension at Juventus until 2022.

Dybala, who joined the Serie A champions in 2015, had been linked with a move to England or Spain but has committed his future to the Turin club.

It was thought Dybala could have become the first £100million player in the summer, with Barcelona leading the clubs chasing the forward as a future replacement for Lionel Messi, but any transfer now looks almost impossible. While there is no release clause in the contract, Juventus are unlikely to consider any bids under £85million. 

Dybala told the club website: 'I'm very happy and proud to be at this club. It’s difficult to imagine that so many positive things could happen all at once. This is a week full of special emotions for me.

'I'm extremely happy with what I have managed to achieve, and what I'm going to with this team, this club and these fans.

'I'm grateful for these compliments, but I think it's still early days. I've a lot to achieve still. I want to keep working hard playing as well as I can and lifting trophies with this club.

'I believe this contract renewal comes at the right time - a time in which we are playing well and I hope to keep entertaining on the field, showing what I can do and winning many titles over the coming years. Onwards and upwards, forza Juve.'

The 23-year-old won three trophies in his first full season at the club - the league title, the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup, while scoring 23 goals in all competitions.

The deal was announced on the club website, with a statement lauding the Argentina international as 'nothing short of spectacular', and have rewarded him with a deal worth around £113,000-per-week.

It said: 'If last season's stellar showing represented a breakthrough at the very highest level, those to come in the next few years wearing the black and white stripes will be the ones that propel him into the stratosphere of the world game.

PAULO DYBALA: CV 

Age: 23

Position: Striker

Clubs: Instituto, Palermo, Juventus

Career club games: 186

Goals: 64

Assists: 33 

Honours: 2015/16 Serie A, 2015/16 Coppa Italia; 2015 Italian Super Cup

Nationality: Argentina

International apps: 6; Goals: 0

'Now operating in a slightly deeper role, the Argentine is coming of age in a Juventus jersey and his performances since the turn of the year have been nothing short of spectacular.

'Clearly, the moments of brilliance that have characterised his stay in Turin so far are in inexhaustible supply.'

He joined Juventus in the summer of 2015 for £23million from Palermo, whose president described Dybala as 'the next Sergio Aguero.' 

Dybala has scored 39 goals and created 17 assists in 82 games for Juve - since the summer of 2015, only Leonardo Bonucci and Gianluigi Buffon have made more appearances for the club.

After Dybala's star-making performance against Barcelona, where he scored twice in a 3-0 Champions League quarter final first leg victory, the striker had said he was close to a new contract with Juventus.

He said: 'Since I was a little kid I dreamed of moments like this. Now it has come true. It was the perfect game, a great performance from the team. 

'The future? I'm very happy at Juventus and I'm close to signing a new deal.'

Dybala has a close bond with the Juventus support, celebrating his second goal against Barca with the fans, who gave him a thunderous ovation when he was substituted.

He was also lauded in the Italian press, some referring to him as the 'new Messi' - although he is yet to unseat the five time Ballon D'Or winner in the Argentina team, with Dybala making only six appearances so far, without scoring. 

AC Milan finally sold to Chinese investors in £627.5m deal to end over eight months of uncertainty for club as outgoing owner Silvio Berlusconi pays tribute to fans

MILAN AND CHINESE INVESTOR

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has finally completed his troubled, protracted sale of AC Milan to a Chinese-led consortium and thanked the fans after ending his 31-year stint as owner.

Berlusconi said he left the club with 'pain and emotion' but said he needed to sell in order for the club to compete at the highest level.

Milan enjoyed their most successful years under Berlusconi after he took over in February 1986, including winning eight league titles and five European Cups and Champions Leagues.

WHO IS BEHIND THE AC MILAN TAKEOVER? 

The tortuously long winded deal began last summer. It was thought a consortium fronted by Chinese businessman Yonghong Li would buy the club, but their pursuit failed.

Instead, the club has been taken over by Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux - previously known as Sino-Europe Sports, with promises of returning AC Milan to their former greatness.

Since winning the Scudetto in 2011, Milan have slipped into mid-table, finishing eighth, 10th and seventh in the last three seasons.

Previous owner Silvio Berlusconi, who was in charge for over 30 years, had limited his monetary input as he looked to sell. Now he has done so, a newly moneyed Milan - and similarly rich rivals Inter - could next season finally challenge Juventus' monopoly.

In a statement on the club website he said: 'I leave today, after more than 30 years, ownership and Chairman of AC Milan. 

'I do so with pain and emotion, but with the knowledge that the modern game, to compete at the highest European and world levels, needs investment and resources that a single family is no longer able to support.

'I will never forget the emotions that Milan has been able to give and give to all of us. I will never forget all the people thanks to whom I had the privilege of presiding over the club that has won so much.'

Berlusconi said it  would be impossible to name all the individual players and coaches he wished to thank, but instead offered them all 'a big group hug'.

He said:  'But above all, my thanks from the bottom of my heart goes out to our fans. To the millions of fans who filled stadiums around the world to shout Forza Milan, for many others, many more still, that being physically far, there have been close with sympathy and enthusiasm. 

'Without them, our winning Milan would not exist and could not exist. With them, we won everything he could win. I have in my mind and heart a thousand times when the testimonies of affection of our supporters have been extraordinary and moving.'

The deal, said to be worth £627.5million, was finalised on Thursday and tightens China's grip on the game in Italy.

The deal, the biggest Chinese investment in a European club, follows retail giant Suning Commerce Group's purchase of Milan's rival Inter last year. A Chinese firm also owns the media rights to Serie A.

In a statement published on the AC Milan website, Berlusconi's family holding Fininvest said it had sold its entire 99.93 percent stake in the club to Luxembourg-based Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux.

The deal had been provisionally agreed on August 5, but persistent problems meant that the takeover was not completed officially for another eight months.

The new owners have also agreed to take on Milan's debts, which the statement said are worth around £186.5million. The statement also confirmed the new board positions will be confirmed on Friday.

Milan are currently sixth in Serie A, 10 points off the Champions League qualification places with seven games to play.

The 18-time Scudetto winners and seven time European champions have fallen on comparatively hard times in recent seasons as Berlusconi limited his investment in the team - they have not qualified for European football in the last three seasons and last won the league in 2011. 

Cristiano Ronaldo admits he never imagined he'd score 100 goals in Europe after being honoured by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez

RONALDO AND PREZ

Cristiano Ronaldo admits he never imagined he would become the first player to score 100 European goals when he first started out, but says he is thrilled and honoured to have achieved the feat.

Ronaldo reached the milestone after netting twice to lead Real Madrid, who trained on Thursday, to a 2-1 comeback victory over Bayern Munich in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg.

The Portugal forward was presented with a commemorative shirt by Real president Florentino Perez on Thursday to mark the accomplishment, and the 32-year-old said: 'It's a great honour to reach 100 goals in Europe. Yesterday was a special day, with a very important win.

'I'm very happy. I want to thank Real Madrid for the opportunity to build a wonderful career at this club, and to my team-mates as well.

'Many thanks to the club, my team-mates and the fans.'

Ronaldo opened his account in Europe while at Manchester United, scoring in a 3-0 win over Debrecen in August 2005.

That was Ronaldo's only goal in his first 32 European games for Sporting Lisbon and United, but he has now reached three figures from only 143 matches - all but three of which have come in the Champions League proper.

Ronaldo added: 'When I started scoring goals in the Champions League, I never imagined I'd beat this record. For me it's an honour to reach such a difficult figure. I'm absolutely thrilled, really happy.'

The striker's brace at the Allianz Arena helped his side recover from going behind to Arturo Vidal's opener, with Vidal also wasting a chance to double the hosts' lead when he missed a penalty.

Ronaldo levelled in the 47th minute and then, after Bayern saw Javi Martinez sent off just after the hour, the Portuguese superstar netted a 77th-minute winner.

That result has put reigning champions Madrid in pole position to reach the semi-finals, but Ronaldo has warned that there is still work to be done.

He said on his club's website: 'We've got a slight advantage and I hope the fans can get behind us and help us, because it's going to be a tough battle. Hopefully Real Madrid win and we get through to the semi-finals.

'We know April will be a difficult, decisive month, and the team looks good. The coach (Zinedine Zidane) has managed things well, with good squad rotation, and we're ready for the final stage of the season.'

Madrid defender Sergio Ramos added: 'We've taken a big step in the tie, but there's still the return leg to come against great opposition, who have shown that they're one of the favourites to win the competition.'

Bayern forward Thomas Muller admitted the Germans were pleased in the end to only come away with a 2-1 loss.

'At the end we are happy that it remained 2-1,' he said on the club website.

'So we still have every chance in Madrid. We have enough self belief, we have the quality and passion to win in Madrid.'