Tuesday 21 April 2015

TENNI; James Ward loses to Marsel Ilhan at Barcelona Open


James Ward
British number three James Ward could not build on his run through qualifying as he lost to Turkey's Marsel Ilhan in the first round of the Barcelona Open.
The Londoner, 28, had won two matches in qualifying on the clay but went down 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-1 against Ilhan, ranked 22 places higher at 84th in the world.
Russian 17-year-old Andrey Rublev, the junior world number one, upset 37th-ranked Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.
"I'm really happy to win against one of the best players on tour," said Rublev.
"It's amazing, I don't even know what to say - I'm just so happy. I tried not to think and just keep showing my best every point. I had nothing to lose."
Japanese top seed Kei Nishikori beat Russia's Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-3 6-4 in his opening match.
Spanish second seed Rafael Nadal, trying to win his ninth Barcelona title, will begin his campaign later in the week against compatriot Nicolas Almagro.

Chelsea and Villa dominate

Christian Benteke joins a host of Villa players in the team
Aston Villa's star trio dominate in our combined Team of the Week, while three Chelsea players are included after the victory over Man United.
Check out our latest Team of the Week and then let us know your top XI using the story comment facility at the bottom of the article.
TEAMtalk's Top Men (4-1-2-1-2): Myhill, Zabaleta, Terry, Morgan, Azpilicueta, Matic, Delph, Grealish, Hazard, Benteke, Kane.
Boaz Myhill
Continuing to deputise for the injured Ben Foster, Myhill produced an excellent performance which was key to West Brom's important 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday. The Baggies keeper enjoyed a fine afternoon pulling off a number of impressive saves to keep an in-form Palace attack at bay while hanging on for an important clean sheet.
Pablo Zabaleta
Few Manchester City players have come out of this season in much glory, and although the Argentine has been down on his usually impeccable standards, Zabaleta returned to form after a disastrous individual performance in the Manchester derby. Sunday's 2-0 win over West Ham, although could have been a stroll, required the 30-year-old to produce a solid defensive display.
Wes Morgan
Leicester's heroic captain could be vital to the Foxes if they are to pull off survival and remain in the Premier League. However, three successive wins have put Nigel Pearson's men within touching distance of Hull in 17th. Morgan was imperious in defence and held everyone together in the victory while assisting for Leonardo Ulloa's opener.
John Terry
Terry has a knack of standing up in the big games and Saturday was no different for the 34-year-old. The Blues skipper was at his commanding best against United and in particular Radamel Falcao. Terry's dominance over the Colombian was typified with his slide tackle on the halfway line that set up Chelsea's winner.
Cesar Azpilicueta
After picking up only 30 per cent possession in their match against Manchester United, those at the heart of the rearguard action were always likely to be singled out for praise. Chelsea's left-back showed just how crucial he has become since he joined the club in 2012, producing a fantastic defensive performance against a confident United.
Nemanja Matic
A solid performer throughout the season, Matic stepped up to the mark in another gritty Chelsea win. United's inability to break down the Blues defence was, in part, due to the big Serbian who looked back to his early season best alongside the equally impressive Kurt Zouma.
Jack Grealish
Despite the risk of adding to Tim Sherwood's increasing ego, the former Spurs boss has given another youngster the chance to impress and 19-year-old Grealish has taken his opportunity. Unmoved by the occasion, the Villa midfielder appeared to relish the stage, producing a classy and mature performance which caused Liverpool plenty of headaches.
Fabian Delph
With the semi-final result heralding the departure of one captain, Delph's display announced the arrival of another. The performance of the Bradford-born midfielder dragged Villa into May's final after he ran Liverpool ragged and scored the winning goal.
Eden Hazard
The Belgian produced the key piece of artistry to accompany Chelsea's overriding industry against United, as Hazard produced a moment of magic to move Jose Mourinho's men to within touching distance of the title. As well as grabbing the winner the 24-year-old was the main threat to United and a source of reprieve as the Blues spent most of the game on the back foot.
Christian Benteke
Benteke has rediscovered his goalscoring touch at the perfect time, and after steering Villa away from the immediate relegation threat, the forward was key to the team's win at Wembley. Leading the line with his devastating power and movement, the Reds backline had a torrid time marking the Belgian whose goal changed the momentum of the tie.
Harry Kane
Claiming his 30th goal of the season in all competitions, Kane returned to the scoresheet after a two-match drought with the third in Tottenham's 3-1 win at Newcastle. Becoming the first Spurs player to reach the 30-up club since Gary Lineker in 1992, the 21-year-old has joined some special names in reaching the achievement.

Okocha & Kanu influenced Arsenal's Alex Iwobi’s Nigeria switch

Alex Iwobi in Abuja
The young Arsenal midfielder has spoken of his decision to change his international allegiance to the Nigerian U23 side after previously playing for England at all youth levels
Arsenal midfielder Alex Iwobi has said that his famous uncle Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha and club legend Nwankwo Kanu made him switch allegiance to Nigeria.
The 18-year-old who was born in Lagos but moved to England as a child has played at many levels of the English national youth teams but has now decided to play for his parents’ country.
Iwobi turned up for his first training session at the U23 camp on Wednesday where coach Samson Siasia is building a new squad that will be the fulcrum of the future Super Eagles.
“Ordinarily I would have loved to play for England since I have played for all the under-aged teams up to the U- 19, but Austin Okocha, my mother’s relation, who I respect a lot for his exploits with the Super Eagles and most especially for his records with Bolton Football Club. And also the outstanding records of Kanu Nwankwo that I met and read about in England, influenced my decision to play for Nigeria,” Iwobi told media in Abuja.
“My dad too has told me a lot of things about the honour and pride that goes with playing for one’s father’s land.
“So I thought a lot about this and decided to play for Nigeria,” he said.
The youngster, who signed his first professional contract in May 2014, is highly revered by the Gunners who described him as an attacker who “can play on either wing and has the ability to unlock defences with his direct style and incisive passes.”

                                                            Alex Iwobi and his father Chuka
The player’s father Chuka Iwobi told media that club boss Arsene Wenger wanted his ward to play for England but he insisted on bringing him back home.
“His club manager preferred he played for England because of his talent, but his mother and I advised him to play for Nigeria and he agreed,” Chuka said.
“Alex has huge respect for Okocha since he has watched his video clips and read about his exploits while playing in England as well as in the Super Eagles.
“He is also aware of Kanu Nwankwo who played for Arsenal and also captained Nigeria so he agreed to play for Nigeria,” he said.
While Alex is expected to prove himself with the U23s, he would return to England on Sunday.
The midfielder joins Victor Anichebe, Victor Moses and Shola Ameobi in an increasing line of former England youth internationals that have opted to play for their parents.

Chelsea showing good value

Chelsea: Success in the Premier League on and off the pitch
Chelsea are one of the top Premier League teams in terms of performance compared with wages paid to players, figures show.
Jose Mourinho's team are 10 points clear at the top of the table but are only the third-highest payers with a wage bill of £192.7million behind Manchester United (£215.8m) and Manchester City (£205m).
Another top performing side are Southampton who are only ranked 16th in the top flight in terms of their wage bill (£55.2m) and yet they are having a stunning season and are currently seventh in the Premier League.
The biggest under-achievers are QPR whose salary bill was almost twice what the club earned in total last season.
A £75.3m wage bill - even from a season when they were in the Championship - makes them the eighth-highest payers yet they are struggling in 19th place and facing the drop to the second tier again.
The wages costs and profits or losses of all top-flight clubs for 2013/14 have been revealed via annual accounts posted at Companies House and overall there is a close correlation between total salary bill and league position, with the current top four in the Premier League also the four biggest payers.
The combined accounts of the 20 clubs shows over overall turnover rose to £3.07billion from £2.3bn in 2012/13 with wages increasing too but at a slower rate and totalling £1.84bn compared with £1.59bn.
The latest figure shows salaries account for 59.9 per cent of turnover compared with 71.7 per cent for the same 20 clubs a year before.
The increase in income is mainly down to the Premier League's lucrative TV deal that came into effect for the first time last season. The cash injection has led to six clubs who were in the red in 2012/13 now reporting a surplus.
Apart from those clubs who were promoted from the Championship last season, only Manchester City, Aston Villa and Sunderland ended the 2013/14 season having made a financial loss.
Premier League director of communications Dan Johnson said the clubs' decision in 2013 to introduce spending controls had also contributed to a positive financial outlook.
Johnson said: "There are two reasons for this. The first is increasing revenues and the second is the financial criteria the clubs have voted in two seasons ago which put financial sustainability at the heart of how they want to go forward."
The measures introduced by the clubs capped the amount they could use TV money to pay for player costs. It also put a long-term limit on a club's overall losses.

Falcao could stay at Man Utd

Radamel Falcao has struggled for goals at Man Utd
Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev claims Manchester United could still sign Radamel Falcao on a permanent deal in the summer.
Falcao joined United on a one-year loan deal in September but has failed to shine during his time at Old Trafford - scoring just four goals in 25 appearances this season.
The striker's indifferent form has led to suggestions that his future lies elsewhere but Vasilyev revealed on Tuesday that United have yet to make a decision on Falcao, for the moment at least.
"I saw Manchester United leaders last Sunday and they have not yet decided if they will exercise the option [to sign Falcao permanently]," Vasilyev told French daily newspaper Nice-Matin.
"It's not his best season but they retain the opportunity to talk at the end of the season. We are not in any further negotiations for the moment, even if big clubs are interested.
"The decision is in Manchester, then we will talk with the player to find out what he wants."
Monaco signed Falcao from Atletico Madrid in May 2013 and he went on to score nine goals in 17 Ligue 1 games during the first half of the 2013-14 campaign before suffering a season-ending knee injury in January 2014.
Falcao recovered in time to be included in Colombia's 30-man provisional World Cup squad but missed the tournament altogether when he was left out of Jose Pekerman's final 23-man squad.

Siasia to cap Alex Iwobi during U23’s Tunisia trip with Arsenal clearance

Siasia to cap Alex Iwobi during U23’s Tunisia trip with Arsenal clearance
U23 head coach Samson Siasia has confirmed that he would hand Arsenal midfielder Alex Iwobi his first Nigeria cap during the tour of Tunisia if the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are able to convince his club to allow him extend his stay with the team.
Siasia hinted that the youngster has shown enough quality and willingness to represent the country of his birth despite the preference of his coach at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger for him to represent England.
Iwobi's father Chuka hails from Onitsha in Anambra State and he with Austin Okocha were part of those that convinced Alex that he has a future with the Nigeria national teams than with the English side who are noted to use and dump most Africans that ditched their nations to play for them.
  Sportmasta can confirm that the NFF has already written to Arsenal with a view to allowing Iwobi extend his stay in the country beyond the Sunday notice given by the club


Arsenal Dybala bid confirmed

Paulo Dybala: Wanted by Arsenal
Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini claims that Arsenal have made a bid for 'new Messi' Paulo Dybala.
The 21-year-old Argentine has scored 13 goals this season to reportedly attract the attentions of Juventus, Roma, Chelsea and now Arsenal.
Zamparini is keen to drum up a bidding war for his asset, telling Canal Plus: "Dybala is not Sergio Aguero but the new (Lionel) Messi. He’s not an out-and-out striker, but operates in every area of the field, like Messi.
"Will he stay? No, because the player and his agent aspire to a big club, and they’re right to do so. I’ve already received at least four offers.
"Two were from Italian clubs, and two were from abroad, and they include Arsenal and Juventus."

Amaju Pinnick meets Akpom, Iwobi’s parents in London

Amaju Pinnick meets Akpom, Iwobi’s parents in London
The Nigeria Football president have met with the parents of the Arsenal youngsters towards convincing their wards to play for Nigeria
President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick has met with the parents of Arsenal Youngsters Chuba Akpom and Alex Iwobi towards allowing their ward switch international allegiance to the Nigeria despite previously playing for England at all youth levels.
18-year-old Iwobi, who was born in Lagos but moved to England as a child and has played at many levels of the English national youth teams and is currently with the country’s Olympic team while Akpom has not made his intentions known on whether he would represent the country or not.
Pinnick on his way to an official meeting with Fifa boss stopped over in England to watch Sunday’s FA Cup fifth round match between Arsenal and Middlesbrough played at the Emirates.
“I was able to see Kenneth Omeruo and Chuba Akpom at the match. I am meeting the parents of a number of these youngsters this time and have plans to meet all of them and also their parents in due course,” he said through his media aide Ademola Olajire.
“You see, some of them might have represented England at junior level, but they are willing to represent Nigeria at senior level, and that is what we are looking at.
“We are looking at strengthening our teams at all levels and these players are willing, once we can convince them that there is a new set-up in Nigeria football.”
The NFF boss would also visit Southampton’s centre back Joshua Debayo, Stevenage’s  Fejiri Okenabirhie, Chike Kandi of Brighton, Ola Daniel, Mayowa Balogun and Semi Ajayi.

Smalling commits to United

Chris Smalling: Signed up at United until 2019
Manchester United have confirmed defender Chris Smalling has signed a new contract that keeps him at the club until 2019.
The 25-year-old England star was reportedly the subject of interest from Arsenal in the January transfer window but following some assured displays at the heart of Louis van Gaal's defence, has committed his future to Old Trafford.
Van Gaal said: "Chris has improved and developed immensely during the short time that I have been at the club and has become an integral part of the first-team squad.
"He always conducts himself in a very professional manner and it is also pleasing that he has scored some important goals this season too. I am delighted he has signed a new contract.”
Smalling said: "I’m delighted to sign my new contract. I am so proud to play for such a great club. We have developed as a team over the course of the season under Louis van Gaal and we are now playing as a complete unit.
"This is a very exciting time to be at Manchester United, we are all determined to get back to where we belong and competing at the highest level."
Smalling has racked up 147 appearances, nine goals and two Premier League winners medals since joining the club from Fulham for an undisclosed fee in January 2010.

Don’t beg Jordan Ibe to play for Nigeria says;Henry Nwosu

Don’t beg Jordan Ibe to play for Nigeria
The ex-international believes the country is blessed with abundant talents rather than pleading with foreign-born players to represent the country
Former Nigeria midfielder, Henry Nwosu has counselled the Nigeria Football Federation not to beg players of Nigerian descent to represent the country.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick recently met with the parents of Arsenal Youngsters Chuba Akpom and Alex Iwobi towards allowing their ward switch international allegiance to the Nigeria despite previously playing for England at all youth levels.
According to Nwosu, Jordan Ibe is not better than Kelechi Iheanacho and  some home grown talents in the Flying Eagles and Dream Team V1 squad.
"If Jordon Ibe and the others don’t feel like playing for Nigeria, good luck to them. They won’t be the first to deny Nigeria,” Nwosu told Punch.
"At the end of the day, they will regret it. If we give it a push, try to get them to play for the Super Eagles, and they are still proving stubborn, we should let them go.
"We have abundant good players in this country. To play for your country is most important. Who said Ibe is better than Kelechi Iheanacho? I don’t think so. You can’t say, until both of them are put on opposing sides and their performances are measured," he concluded.
It will be recalled that Pinnick on his way to an official meeting with Fifa boss, stooped in England to visit Southampton’s centre back Joshua Debayo, Stevenage’s  Fejiri Okenabirhie, Chike Kandi of Brighton, Ola Daniel, Mayowa Balogun and Semi Ajayi.

Toure keen on Inter

Yaya Toure: Linked with move away from City
  • Yaya Toure has opened the door to a summer move from Manchester City, saying money will not be the motivating factor when he decides on his future.
  • Tottenham will try to offload as many as nine players this summer, who cost the club in total £90million.
  • Mauricio Pochettino aims to finalise Tottenham's summer transfer plans when he meets key staff shortly after the club's final game of the season against Everton.
  • Manchester United face competition for PSV Eindhoven forward Memphis Depay from Liverpool.
  • Manchester City could miss out on long-term target Kevin de Bruyne, with the German reportedly intent on staying in Germany.
  • Pep Guardiola will honour his contract at Bayern Munich, despite City's interest in the Catalan.
  • Liverpool are set to make a £18million bid to sign Juan Iturbe from Roma, with the Reds moving ahead Arsenal in the race to sign the Argentinian.
  • Raheem Sterling is reportedly ready to 'buy-out' the final year of his Liverpool contract in order to join Chelsea or Manchester City this summer.
  • Everton are keeping tabs on highly-rated Club Brugges frontman Obbi Oulare.
  • Jack Colback admits he is "embarrassed" to talk about Newcastle United's position with his friends and family - but has promised not to hide as the relegation battle intensifies.
  • Sunderland are among 17 teams keeping tabs on the talent in the upper echelons of the Belgian League.
  • Ron Vlaar reckons the turnaround at Villa under Tim Sherwood has been 'crazy'.
  • Kenny Jackett today warned Wolves to forget about hitting the beaches as he hinted some players could be playing for their futures.
  • Captain Darren Fletcher is confident Albion will improve next season - after claiming boss Tony Pulis will not settle for mediocrity.
  • Stoke chairman Peter Coates has firmly re-iterated the club's 100 per cent commitment to producing local talent via its Academy.
  • Mark Hughes is reportedly keen on signing Blackpool's teenage striker Dom Telford.
  • Swansea have appeared as the front-runners to sign Tigers target Maciej Rybus as the winger looks for a move to the Premier League.
  • Blackburn Rovers boss Gary Bowyer insists he will continue to be 'bold' by selecting two up top.
  • Sean Dyche says Ashley Barnes' suspension has offered one of his Burnley squad a golden opportunity to become a hero in the club's survival bid.
  • Garry Monk admits Swansea City must get their mindset right if they are add to the Tyneside gloom when they face Newcastle United this weekend.
  • Jose Mourinho believes he has found the right balance between youth and experience at Chelsea and intends to supplement his squad with up to four academy prospects next season.
  • Toumani Diagouraga has been delighted with his level of performances for Brentford this season.
  • Leeds legend Johnny Giles and cult hero Vinnie Jones have spoken of the latest events to blight their former club - and say they feel desperately for Whites' supporters at the club's sorry current plight.
  • Forest have been linked with both Jordan Rhodes, of Blackburn Rovers, and fellow striker Anthony Stokes, who is at Celtic.
  • Star striker Patrick Bamford looks set to win his fitness battle and feature in Boro's promotion fight at Fulham.
  • Sheffield Wednesday have today confirmed chief executive Paul Aldridge will leave the Championship club at the end of the 2015/16 season.
  • Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough has warned tonight's result between Rochdale and Leyton Orient, which could see his team qualify for the League One play-offs, must not change its approach against the Londoners this weekend.
  • Celtic midfielder Kris Commons has insisted that the Parkhead side will knuckle down to league businesses after their Hampden disappointment.
  • Shane Ferguson stepped up his bid to play a part in Rangers' promotion push as made his Light Blues bow against Celtic last night.

Victor Moses wins Stoke's goal of the month award

Victor Moses wins Stoke's goal of the month award he Nigerian' sublime against the Toffees has been voted Stoke City's March goal of the month after edging Mame Diouf's strike against Crystal Palace Victor Moses has won Stoke City's goal of the month for March,2015.

The Nigerian on-loan winger from Chelsea scored a sublime header against Everton as he backpedaled but managed to still generate enough power to beat Tim Howard in the Toffee`s goal to give the Potters the lead from 15-yards out.

Moses won with 72% of the vote, beating both Mame Diouf efforts against Crystal Palace (28%) and Everton (0%).

Stephen Keshi signs new Nigeria contract

Stephen Keshi has signed a new Nigeria contract
The Big Boss has finally put pen to paper to lead the Super Eagles for the next two years during a ceremony at the National Stadium in Abuja
Stephen Keshi has been re-appointed as Nigeria coach on a two-year contract after ten months of uncertainty over his future with the Super Eagles.
The 53-year-old signed the contract in Abuja on Tuesday following days of speculation over the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation to hand him the job.
Keshi’s previous contract ended after the World Cup in Brazil, where he took Nigeria to the second round as they lost to France in Brasilia.
He had been asked to work on a per-game basis during the country’s ill-fated qualifying campaign for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
That failure had threatened to derail his odds of keeping the job but pressure from the government ensured that he was the only candidate interviewed by the NFF, some of whose members threatened to resign if he was given the job.
Keshi, a former captain of the Super Eagles, led the team to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, 19 years after he last lifted it as a player.
His contract is expected to last till 2017 and would be determined by success or otherwise in the Afcon qualifiers and the tournament in Gabon.
He has also been kept on a tighter leash as he is expected to take decisions under the supervision of the Technical Committee of the NFF.
Meanwhile, Keshi’s third spell in charge will see a few changes in his backroom staff as former assistant coach Daniel Amokachi has been dropped.
His place will be taken up by former Kano Pillars coach Salisu Yusuf.

Keshi calls for support as he returns to Nigeria role

Stephen Keshi receives his new contract from Seyi Akinwunmi
The Super Eagles trainer has told everyone in the football community to assist him in achieving success in his second spell in charge
Coach Stephen Keshi has said that he needs the support of all Nigerians to tinker the Super Eagles to success in his second coming as the team’s handler.
The 53-year-old was unveiled in Abuja on Tuesday afternoon where he signed a new two-year contract with the Nigeria Football Federation after months of speculations.
“I want to thank God for this day. I want to thank God because there are so many reasons for this. I am one out of 170 million Nigerians and I have been given this opportunity again to serve my fatherland and I really thank God for that,” Keshi said.
“I also thank the NFF office which is my office, the president of the Federation, Mr [Amaju] Pinnick and the whole [Executive] Committee. I also want to thank Nigerians who think I have something to take Nigeria somewhere. But Keshi alone cannot do this job. It’s big, it’s huge. If you want to succeed it can’t be one man’s effort, it’s going to be a collective effort.
“I know I will get 150 percent support from my office, the NFF, and I want to think and I want to believe that this great media right in front of me here is going to [give support] 120 percent for Nigeria’s success. If we all come together as one, the sky is the limit for Nigeria.
“This is a new page in Nigerian football and we are going to do everything that we know to do for Nigeria to be up there.
“What happened in the past has happened. We won, we lost that is win some, lose some. This is the time that we all need to come together concentrate, fight as one nation. This is our own nation.
“We don’t have another nation. This country is too big, we are too important to let ourselves lose anything.
“So please, I am begging [journalists] that we should talk together, work together in sincerity for the whole game. No sentiment about it but let us make Nigeria, Nigerians and ourselves proud,” he said.
NFF vice president Seyi Akinwumi said the board was involved in proper deliberation before engaging Keshi.
“We have agreed to adopt international best practices in the appointment of a new coach. This will be adopted in inviting players to camp among other things.
“The new thinking of NFF is geared towards following proper means in running our football without any political interference.
“Those who allege that Keshi doesn’t have pedigree to lead Super Eagles must have short memory because he has led our team to win Nations Cup,” Akinwunmi said.
One of Keshi's immediate tasks would be how to navigate Nigeria's qualifiers for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations after the failure of 2015. The qualifiers begin in June.

Wednesday 15 April 2015

Relive Klopp's farewell press conference

Relive Klopp's farewell press conference
  • Borussia Dortmund have announced a press conference amid widespread reports that Jurgen Klopp is set to leave the club.

    We'll be bringing you live updates and the reaction on any announcement. Get involved by leaving your comments or on Twitter @goal_intl
  • 3 hours ago
    We're due to get underway in about ten minutes so send us your views whilst we're waiting. Is this the right time for Klopp to go?
  • 3 hours ago
    Confirmed - Jurgen Klopp will leave Borussia Dortmund this summer
  • 3 hours ago
    Klopp will leave the club on 30 June 2015
  • 3 hours ago
    That's it then. Klopp's seven season tenure will come to a close this summer. Is it any surprise? Is it the right move for all concerned? Where next and what will he bring to wherever he goes? Send us your thoughts.
  • 3 hours ago
    As a Bayern fan this is a great news!
  • 3 hours ago
    Dortmund needs Klopp for next season. The club is already in an unstable phase due to their performances this season and Klopp leaving would only add fuel to the fire of unstability.
  • 3 hours ago
    Arsenal! Please.
  • 3 hours ago
    Hopefully the core will remain and the new coach can rebuild the team around Reus, Hummels, Gündogan
  • 3 hours ago
    The Dortmund chief Hans-Joachim Watzke sounds disappointed to be losing his man...
  • 3 hours ago
    BVB boss Watzke starts:

    "We had some talks recently on the initiative of Jürgen and then made the joint decision that after seven years of incredible success will be over at the end of the season.

    We have a relationship that is built on trust and friendship. Therefore, it is naturally a difficult situation. Jürgen, will always have eternal gratitude from Borussia Dortmund."
  • 3 hours ago
    Goal Germany's Dortmund correspondent Stefan Doring joins us now, and there's plenty to chew over after the announcement that Jurgen Klopp will be leaving the club this summer.
  • 3 hours ago
    Stefan, this was largely to be expected wasn't it? A natural parting way for club and coach?
  • 3 hours ago
    Quotes coming in from the man himself...
  • 3 hours ago
    "I feel that the moment that I'm not the perfect coach for this extraordinary club would eventually come. In the last few days and weeks I was not sure that I'm the right person. Therefore, I felt it my duty to myself and Aki Watzke to leave my position."
  • 3 hours ago
    Klopp:

    I am sure that the decision is absolutely right. This team deserves to have the absolutely one hundred percent right coach.

    It's not that I am tired. I have no contact to another club, either in England or elsewhere. But I do not intend to put in a sabbatical year. I wanted to announce today so that everyone everyone at the club can plan and adjust."
  • 3 hours ago
    BVB manager Michael Zorc:

    "You have given me and the club a lot of energy. I think all BVB employees, especially of course our team should give you the goodbye that you have earned. "
  • 3 hours ago
    Klopp:

    "I believe that Borussia Dortmund needs a change. A major problem certainly is that as long as I'm here, we are always considering the successes of the past."
  • 2 hours ago
    Klopp insists it was the right time to go and that he won't be taking a break from football. Where will his next port of call be?
  • 2 hours ago
    Klopp still hasn't told his Dortmund players he is leaving!

    "It will take place right now," he says.
  • 2 hours ago
    Klopp:

    "Now we will bundle all our resources for the last games. Now it's really about this club having the opportunity and reaching its great potential. In my head it is the right moment to make a change."
  • 2 hours ago
    I would love to see him at Real next season.
  • 2 hours ago
    The bad thing for both parties is Klopp will have to re-integrate himself into a new team environment all over again unless he's gunning for a national team role. Dortmund will have to change tactics and gameplans as things will not be the same and Reus, Hummels, Gundogan are surely going to leave
  • 2 hours ago
    Klopp:

    "The club is greater than all of us, he will always be greater than all of us. I am grateful that I could be a part of it."
  • 2 hours ago
    Watzke:

    "There is no time schedule about Klopp's replacement. We will take our time."
  • 2 hours ago
    So Klopp is a free man in the summer and by the sound of it he will be looking for employment. Who needs Klopp and where will he be the best fit?
  • 2 hours ago
    What are the chances? The bookmakers have quickly installed Klopp as favourite to become the next Manchester City manager.
  • 2 hours ago

    Klopp: The club is always greater than all of us. I am grateful that I could be a part of it.

  • 2 hours ago

    Klopp: In my head it is the right moment to make a change. 

  • 2 hours ago

    Klopp: I do not intend to put in a sabbatical year. 

  • 2 hours ago
    Quite sad to see him go as I started following Dortmund because of Klopp. As a Arsenal fan as well, I can only hope they approach him since he would fit in quite well there.
  • 2 hours ago
    In summary Klopp felt he'd given all he could and wasn't the man to take the club forward. He also put himself in the shop window by stating he doesn't want to take a sabbatical year, meaning there will be plenty of interested parties this summer.
  • 2 hours ago
    Joining us now is Goal Germany's Dortmund correspondent Stefan Doring.

  • 2 hours ago
    Stefan, is this the right move at the right time for all concerned?
  • 2 hours ago
    Stefan Doring

    Yes because Dortmund
    has several tactical problem in the way they play football.
    It’s a problem for
    the coach and Klopp isn’t able to make it better.
     


  • 2 hours ago
    So Klopp has been the route of Dortmund's problems?
  • 2 hours ago
    Stefan Doring

    It’s been a very bad season and all goals will be missed. There will be no European football next season so it’s the perfect time to start a new campaign with a new coach. For Klopp it’s a good time to leave because of the success he had and the legacy he created.

  • 2 hours ago
    So where next for Jurgen Klopp?
  • 2 hours ago
    Stefan Doring
    I could imagine he will move to England as he has always said the Premier League interests him. We do not know what will happen with Pellegrini at Manchester City but it doesn't look good for him. With Klopp now available they are likely to be interested and that could make their mind up over Pellegrini.