Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta says that he never steps on the pitch with the intention of humiliating his opponents.
The Spain international, who lost out to team-mate Lionel Messi in Monday s Ballon d Or ceremony, has been heralded for his dribbling, but some critics claim that he only plays in that way to show off.
The 28-year-old has responded by saying that he has nothing but respect for his peers and would not dream of making a fool of them on the field.
I would not want it to look like that. I do nothing to humiliate anyone, especially a fellow. After all, they are playing on the other team, but they deserve my respect, he said.
I play because I like the game, each time choosing the option that I feel that gives me the best chance. If it go…
Steven Taylor is hoping Newcastle can show improvement in the Premier League this season, starting against Manchester City on Monday.
Alan Pardew s side travel to the Etihad Stadium for the final match of the first round of games in the 2013-14 Premier League calendar, and Taylor thinks they can cause an upset.
History is not on Newcastle s side, as they have not beaten last season s runners-up since 2005 and lost both their meetings last season.
Newcastle followed up an impressive 2011-12 campaign with a disappointing 16th-place finish last time around, but Taylor believes they are better prepared for the coming season.
The big games are what we look forward to, the 27-year-old told the club s official website. We ve got Manchester City first game and hopefully …
Manchester City star Leroy Sane has been left out of Germany s squad for the World Cup.
The winger is the most surprising name to have been cut from the provisional squad by head coach Joachim Low.
Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno, centre-back Jonathan Tah and Freiburg striker Nils Petersen are the other players to be omitted from the final group heading to Russia.
It was a very close decision between him and Julian Brandt, which was made in favour of Brandt, Low told a news conference.
0 In 12 games for Germany, Leroy provided just one assist (zero goals). Dropped.
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz)
The disappointment among the four was there for all to see.
The decisions I and my coaches had to make were not easy. We analyse…
Sergio Aguero has reaffirmed his intention to stay at Manchester City, while declaring his relationship with manager Pep Guardiola to be really good .
Aguero hit 21 Premier League goals, the most by a City player during the 2017-18 campaign, as Guardiola s men romped to the title by a huge 19-point margin from rivals Manchester United.
But Aguero has endured spells out of the side during Guardiola s two years in charge, with the Catalan appearing to prefer Brazil international Gabriel Jesus as the figurehead of his attack.
The Argentina striker is preparing for the World Cup but shrugged off speculation he could leave City for Real Madrid or former side Atletico Madrid during the transfer window.
It is really good, we were very clear when we saw each ot…
Putting in another professional European display on Tuesday night, Real Madrid booked their Champions League semi-final ticket as they claimed a second-leg 2-0 victory against Chelsea.
Firmly sat in pole position as they secured another 2-0 win when they welcomed the Blues to Madrid last week, Carlo Ancelotti’s men look set for what should be a heavyweight semi-final showdown against Manchester City.
Eventually breezing their way to the final four as Brazilian international Rodrygo bagged a second-half brace, Los Blancos also piled more pressure onto a Chelsea side who find themselves at the heart of a public nightmare.
Once again showing a string of attacking issues and watching their Champions League adventure come to an end thanks to a 4-0 aggregate drummin…
Pep Guardiola has criticised candidates in the Barcelona presidential race for talking too much about Manchester City defender Eric Garcia.
Spain international Garcia has long been linked with a return to his boyhood club since failing to agree an extension to his contract at the Etihad Stadium last year.
The 20-year-old centre-back s terms expire at the end of this season, when signing him on a free transfer might be the most prudent course of action for a financially embattled Barca.
One of the candidates, Toni Freixa, said this is the likely conclusion to the saga, although Victor Font this week claimed Garcia would go unpaid for the rest of the season in order to force through a move.
Acting Barca president Carles Tusquets does not have the authority …
Internacional forward Diego Forlan has expressed his delight with life in Brazil, confident his move away from Europe was the right one.
The 33-year-old had his contract terminated by Inter Milan in July allowing him to sign a three-year deal with the Campeonato Brasileiro outfit a choice he believes has since been vindicated.
It was not a difficult decision, the former Manchester United and Atletico Madrid striker told BBC Sport.
I try not to have any regrets. Brazil is a very nice country, they play very good football and pay good money it s not so different from Europe.
It s a really happy time for me. Not only because of the football but I m in a relationship with my girlfriend. I m close to Uruguay so it s easy for her and for me. Of course, I m …
Lille keen on Remy Cabella
French daily that Lille are weighing up a summer move for Montpellier hotshot Remy Cabella.
Les Dogues look set to stay without star midfielder Dimitry Payet in the summer, with the Frenchman on the radar of several top European clubs.
They are, therefore, looking to sign a replacement, and Montpellier star Remy Cabella appears to be at the top of their hit-list.
Cabella, 23, has exploded onto the biggest stage this season, scoring 7 goals and producing 6 assists in 27 Ligue 1 appearances.
Lille, however, face a real battle to lure the talented footballer to Grand Stade Lille Metropole, with Montpellier not willing to listen to offers for Cabella.
“Cabella remains! We cannot afford to lose both Cabella and Be…
Neymar believes Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho has the quality to play for Barcelona.
Reports in Spain on Monday suggested Barca were eyeing a potential move for Coutinho, who has become one of Liverpool s most prized assets since joining from Inter in January 2013.
The 23-year-old has been one of his team s more impressive performers in a disappointing start to the Premier League season, and Barca man Neymar feels his fellow Brazilian has all the attributes to follow Luis Suarez in swapping Anfield for Camp Nou.
There s a lot of Brazilian players that could be playing for Barcelona, explained Neymar.
One of them is Philippe Coutinho. He s a great player and he has Barcelona s style.
Neymar has formed part of a lethal attacking line along…
Olivier Giroud has taken his game to another level since arriving at Arsenal, according to Arsene Wenger.
Arsene Wenger believes Olivier Giroud has made big improvements since arriving at Arsenal after the striker s double knocked Middlesbrough out of the FA Cup on Sunday.
The France international initially struggled to make an impact after joining the club from Montpellier in June 2012, but Wenger kept faith with the 28-year-old.
Giroud suffered a setback when he broke his left tibia against Everton in August, but he has hit the goal trail since returning and took his tally for the season to 10 by scoring twice in as many minutes in a 2-0 fifth-round win over Boro.
The frontman rounded off a lovely move to open the scoring and some quick thinking th…