Manchester United hand Mata No. 8 shirt

Juan Mata has been handed Manchester United's No. 8 shirt following his £37.1m transfer from Chelsea.
The Spain international, who became the most expensive player in the Red Devils' history after finalising his move on Saturday, is now set to make his United debut on Tuesday night against Cardiff City.
Mata was expected to take the iconic No. 7 shirt - worn by the likes of George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo - but the playmaker has instead been handed the shirt previously occupied by Anderson.
Anderson joined Fiorentina earlier this month on an initial loan deal, but the Brazilian midfielder is expected to sign for the Serie A outfit on a permanent contract this summer.
Wayne Rooney also previously wore Manchester United's No. 8 shirt, before switching to No. 10 in 2007.
Mata spent two-and-a-half seasons at Chelsea, winning the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup.

Chelsea’s Michael Essien completes AC Milan move

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has finalised his switch to AC Milan.
Despite reports in the Italian media that the Ghana international had failed a medical over the weekend, he has now completed his move.
Essien, who had been at Stamford Bridge since 2005, has signed a deal that will tie him to the Italian giants until June 2015.
He said: “Just signed my contract to join one of the best clubs in the world. I’m very happy and looking forward to winning with the team.”
Blues boss Jose Mourinho told the club’s official website: “We would have been happy had he stayed because he is fantastic player for the team.”
The 31-year-old will be officially unveiled as a Milan player on Tuesday.

Chelsea and Man utd ready for transfer shootout

Chelsea and Manchester United are ready to battle for the signature of Southampton left back Luke Shaw this week, according to the Daily Mirror.
Normal service appears to have been resumed between the Premier League giants, following Chelsea’s shock decision to sell Juan Mata to the champions last week.
They are now set to enter a £25million-plus bidding war for the 18-year-old full back, before the transfer window slams shut on Friday.
Chelsea were put on red alert late last week, after news emerged suggesting Manchester United were planning a £22million move for Shaw.
Jose Mourinho was planning to wait until the summer to try and lure the youngster to Stamford Bridge as the long-term successor to Ashley Cole.
Chelsea considered themselves the favourites for his signature, with reports suggesting the Surrey-born defender is a massive Blues supporter.
And after completing the signing of Mohamed Salah from under the noses of Liverpool, Chelsea are now set to try and beat United to the signature of Shaw.
Ashley Cole’s future remains up in the air, especially after the defender hinted at a possible exit from Stamford Bridge in response to a fan on Twitter who congratulated him on his FA Cup performance against Stoke.

New England 16 Denver 26: Manning outshines Brady to book Super Bowl place

Peyton Manning outshined his future Hall of Fame rival Tom Brady, firing two touchdown passes, as the Denver Broncos rolled to a 26-16 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday to secure their first trip to the Super Bowl in 15 years.
The Broncos will learn who they will face at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium on Feb. 2 later on Sunday when the San Francisco 49ers take on the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC championship.
The AFC title game had been hyped as Manning verses Brady 15, a legacy showdown between two of the greatest quarterbacks to ever grace the American gridiron.

But on a perfect day for football in the Mile High city Manning proved he could carry his record-smashing regular season form into the playoffs tossing for 400 yards, including touchdowns to Jacob Tamme and Demaryius Thomas.
The victory allowed Manning to level his playoff record against Brady at 2-2 but the New England quarterback continues to hold a decisive 10-5 edge in their all-time head to head meetings.
The first (Broncos) and third (Patriots) highest scoring offences during the NFL regular season combined for just 16 points in a tight opening half.
But after punting their first possession, Manning had the Denver's high-octane offense humming, scoring points the next six times they had the ball.

Both teams were slow out of the blocks, a 27-yard field goal from Denver's Matt Prater accounting for all the first quarter scoring.
But Manning had the Broncos on the move in the second engineering a time chomping 93-yard, 15 play drive capped by a one-yard strike to Tamme that ate up nearly half the quarter.
On New England's next possession it was Brady's turn to show what he could do, taking the Patriots down to the Denver 30 where the drive stalled and New England settled for a 47-yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal.
Backed up on their own 10, Manning went to the air, completing six straight passes to move Denver down to the New England 17 before Prater booted another short field goal to restore the Broncos' 10-point lead going into the intermission.

Arsenal up the ante in bid to sign Gourcuff as Wenger eyes alternative to Draxler

Arsene Wenger is keen to tie up a deal for France attacking midfielder Yoann Gourcuff this week.
The Arsenal boss is a long term admirer of the 27-year-old star, who has scored three goals in 13 league appearances this season.
Lyon have been hit by financial problems in recent years and despite the club president stating no-one is for sale, the Gunners enquired about their asking price at the start of January.

Gourcuff is an alternative to Schalke's German star Julian Draxler who would cost considerably more, and is still injured for the next few weeks.
Meanwhile Wenger and the Arsenal board are due to meet this week to discuss Draxler but Gourcuff could be an easier deal to get over the line before the transfer window closes on Friday.
Gourcuff's career has been full of ups and downs, from being a precocious teenager at Rennes to a flop at Milan through to resurrecting his career at Bordeaux and Lyon.
He has 31 caps for France since his debut in 2008, scoring four goals.


source:daily mail

Major upset in Melbourne as Wawrinka sinks injured Nadal to win first Grand Slam title at Aussie Open

We are used to seeing a Swiss in the winner’s circle but not this one, and rarely after the incredible drama that saw Stanislas Wawrinka elevated to the status of Grand Slam champion.

Wawrinka followed his great friend Roger Federer into that exclusive club  by claiming an extraordinary Australian Open final against a stricken Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 in two hours and 21 minutes.

The Swiss had to overcome a complete scrambling of his mind before seeing off Nadal, who required extensive treatment on a lower back injury before recovering somewhat and making life extremely difficult in the fourth set.

Confused by the condition of his opponent, Wawrinka looked like a nervous wreck in the third set, but regained his composure to see off the Spaniard and win his first Major at 28. He becomes the first new men’s winner of a Grand Slam since Andy Murray at the 2012 U.S Open, and the first non ‘Big Four’ champion since Juan Martin Del Potro in 2009.

As for Nadal, he will have to wait some more before equalling Pete Sampras, watching in the crowd,  in winning fourteen of the sport’s biggest prizes.

The world number one appeared to jar his back towards the end of the first set and then quickly deteriorate at the start of the second as Wawrinka jumped to an early break.

He then went off for a three minute treatment break at 1-2, and looked shocked when boos greeted his return. While he  was off the Swiss furiously argued with umpire Carlos Ramos about the reasons for his absence, although the official did not need to give a reason and may not havBut with the Spaniard barely able to move in the second, and having more running repairs on court at 4-1 down, Wawrinka was able to carry himself to a two set lead, doubtless unaware that nobody had lost a final here from two sets down since Roy Emerson took the title in 1965.

Nadal was still in discomfort in the third, but as is seen so often, the brouhaha at the other end of the court had the effect of unsettling the fit player, and the Swiss – completely in uncharted territory – stopped running his opponent about and began to spray the ball all over the place.

Painkillers seemed to be kicking in after the usual 20-25 gap it takes for them to show the benefit and gradually the Nadal rituals returned and his service speed started to go off as he was practically gifted the third set.

Wawrinka, who became the first player ever to beat Novak Djokovic and Nadal to win a Slam, said: 'I’m really sorry for Rafa, he’s a great guy and an amazing champion. Last year I had a crazy match against Novak (Djokovic) and lost and I was crying a lot after that. But a lot has happened in the last year. I still don’t know if I’m dreaming or not, we will find out tomorrow.'

Wawrinka also paid tribute to his coach, former Swedish player Magnus Norman. Although less visible than Stefan Edberg in his arrangement with Federer, Norman is fast acquiring the reputation as the world’s best.

Nadal had to fight back tears as he stood on the podium and addressed the crowd. 

'Stan really deserved it, I’m very happy for you,' he said. 'I’m sorry it finished like this. I tried hard. It’s been a very emotional two weeks, one of the most emotional two weeks of my career. 

'Last year was very tough when I didn’t even have the chance to be playing here.'

sou

rce:Daily Mail

Mourinho confirms Mata has had Medical at United

Jose Mourinho has admitted Chelsea were powerless to stand in Juan Mata's way when the opportunity to move to Manchester United arose.

The Spaniard has undergone a medical at Old Trafford and will be ready for selection when David Moyes' side face Cardiff City on Tuesday. 

Mata is primed to move to the Reds for £37million, and judging by Mourinho's mood the split between the club and player was amicable. 

'Juan travelled and had a medical at United. Things are going in a good direction so sooner rather than later things will be finalised,' Mourinho said.

'I still think he could be important for us - he is a fantastic player. Despite not playing a lot with us, especially in the last period, he could (have been) important. 

'Nobody here is jumping because Juan is leaving. After that, it’s the way you look at things. Would Chelsea supporters be happy if we stop a fantastic person they all like a lot from going and say you can only go if you go to Russia or China or France or Portugal? I don’t know if Chelsea supporters would be happy because we are an open club. We don’t have an old-fashioned way to look at things.

'But Juan had a fantastic opportunity. Another big club wants him in a country where he loves to be. We had an offer which was the right offer a player of his quality.

'The player deserves respect and to be happy - to play where he wants.

To say you cannot go to United because they refused to sell us Wayne Rooney isn't fair to Juan. They decide not to sell, their decision.'

Chelsea are due to make over £10million profit on Mata, who they signed from Valencia three years ago.

The club are clearly mindful of that in light of financial rules, with Mourinho adding: 'It allows us to bring in another player, because we need one, and still have a fantastic profit. The two deals with Juan and Kevin De Bryune we put ourselves in a good Financial Fair Play position.

'I asked him "are you really happy to go?" and he said yes. We could feel mixed emotions. We are happy that he is going to a fantastic situation but are upset too. I think it was the same for him. 

'If he goes, he was fantastic for Chelsea and Chelsea was fantastic for him. 

'He tried to give everything but it got to a point where the team were winning games consecutively and he wasn't playing.'