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Monday, March 2, 2015

Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Porto: Jose Mourinho's 21 trophies

Jose Mourinho lifts the Capital One Cup

After Jose Mourinho lifted his 21st trophy as a manager at Wembley, we take a look back at all his previous successes…

From Porto to Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid – wherever Mourinho has managed he has won silverware.

He has tasted success in the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, as well as the Champions League and UEFA Cup.

He also has a remarkable record in finals of played 12, won 10 - but was quick to declare his hunger for more after lifting the Capital One Cup by beating Spurs on Sunday.

"It's difficult for me to live without titles," he said. "I need to feed myself with titles. This is important for me.”

With the chance to add more to his collection this season, we review Mourinho’s already impressive haul of 21 trophies as a manager.

Porto - six trophies

Nuno Valente hugs Jose Mourinho after Champions League success with Porto

Primeira Liga (2003, 2004); Portuguese Cup (2003); UEFA Cup (2003); Champions League (2004); Portuguese Super Cup (2003)

It was at Porto that Mourinho made a name for himself, following up UEFA Cup success in 2003 by winning the Champions League the next season.

He also won the Primeira Liga twice, the Portuguese Cup and the Portuguese Super Cup.

Chelsea - seven trophies

Chelsea celebrate winning the Premier League in 2005

Premier League (2005, 2006); FA Cup (2007); League Cup (2005, 2007,2015); Community Shield (2005)

It didn’t take Mourinho long to turn Chelsea into winners as he lifted the League Cup in his first season and also ended a 50-year wait for a top-flight domestic title by sealing Premier League success.

He would go on to win four more trophies in his first spell with the Blues before adding another on Sunday - his first of his second stint in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Inter Milan - five trophies

Jose Mourinho celebrates winning the Champions League with Inter Milan

Serie A (2009, 2010); Italian Cup (2010); Champions League (2010); Italian Super Cup (2008)

Mourinho won Serie A in successive years with Inter Milan but his biggest success was leading the San Siro side to victory in the 2010 Champions League.

Inter had not lifted the European Cup for more than 40 years but beat defending champions Barcelona in the semi-finals and then Bayern Munich in the final to end their drought.

Real Madrid - three trophies

Real Madrid players lift Jose Mourinho into the air after winning the Copa del Rey

Primera Division (2012); Copa del Rey (2011); Spanish Super Cup (2012)

While Mourinho could not end Real Madrid’s wait for La Decima, he did end Barcelona’s stranglehold on La Liga by winning the title in 2012.

Madrid broke a number of records in their title-winning season as they became the first team to notch up 100 points, scoring the most goals (121) and had a record number of away wins (16) and overall wins (32).

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Top Ten Favourites To Win The 2014/15 EPl Player Of The Season

The english premier league 2014/15 season has captivated football fans the world over with thrilling matches and theeeclusive.com team has picked top ten favourites to win the 2014/15 EPL player of the season.

1. CESC FABREGAS

The spaniard joined his former team’s cross town rivals Chelsea from his childhood club FC Barcelona at the beginning of the season and it did not take him too long to make his mark on the English league again. He looks set to break French legend Thierry Henry’s long standing assist record as he is now 5 assists off the mark. Arsenal coach might be ruing passing the chance to resign his former captain as his brilliant performances have made him the favourite to win the player of the season award.

2. ALEXIS

Despite communication challenges former Barcelona man Alexis did not take too long to adapt to the demands of the English league. The Chilean forward has built on his 2014 World Cup perfomances in Brazil and has been a revelation for Arsenal this season scoring 13 league goals and making the most assists in the injury plagued London side. Arsenal’ s short passing game is similar FC Barcelona’s tiki-taka and its one of the reasons he has adapted quickly. Arsenal’s overeliance on Sanchez is one of the reasons he makes the shortlist.

3. DIEGO COSTA

The 26 year old forward was not expected to flourish at Chelsea because of a disastrous World Cup with Spain but the Brazilian born Sparniad has surprised many as he is now the League’s leading goalscorer with 17 goals. Costa has adapted to the brute physicality of the English game and is a nightmare for defenders but he has however failed to avoid controversy with him recently being suspended for stamping on Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel.

4. NEMANJA MATIC

The Serbian midfielder was resigned by Jose Mourinho from Portuguese giants SL Benfica during the 2013/14 season mid-season transfer window and he did not take long to relegate established midfielders like Ramires and John Obi Mikel to the bench. He has proven to be the backbone of the Chelsea midfield by providing defensive cover for the more adventurous trio of Fabregas, Oscar and Willian. The lanky midfielder has scored a few important goals too and could surprise many people by winning the award.

5. DAVID DE GEA

The only goalkeeper to make the list and the third Spaniard on the list, Manchester United’s David De Gea has been on scintillating form and has won the hearts of many fans across the globe with his superb perfomances. The young goalkeeper has saved coach Louis van Gaal’s side on several occasions most notably against a resurgent Everton side at Old Trafford where he saved Leighton Baines spot kick(Baines’s first ever penalty miss) and made a nearly impposible last minute save from Phil Jagielka’s scorcher to help the Red Devils win the match. De Gea has attracted the interest of Spanish giants Real Madrid and it would be no surprise if he wins the coveted award.

6. Yaya Toure

When the Ivorian left to represent his country at the 2015 Afcon finals his club Manchester City were level on points with Chelsea and still in the FA Cup. Many people thought the citizens were not going to miss him due to the prescence of the likes of David Silva and Samir Nasri but in his absence Man City struggled for form and failed to win a single match in four games. Toure has proven to be the man that makes Manuel Pellegrini’s side tick and is once again among the favorites to win the player of the year award.

7. HARRY KANE

The young English forward is having a fantastic season and is the reason why Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor sits on the bench during match days. The 21 year old has found the net 13 times already including a brace against his boyhood club Arsenal a few weeks ago and is expected to be named in Roy Hodgson’s England squad next month. One moment that Spurs fans wont forget is when he scored a brace and then playing as a goal keeper when Hugo Lloris was red carded during a Europa League match.

8. SERIO AGUERO

The Argentine striker has endeared himself to Manchester City fans with his goalscoring prowess despite being disadvantaged by his height. The diminutive forward has had an injury ravaged season but is among the English premier league top goalscorers which proves how dangerous he is. Aguero was recently linked to FC Barcelona but the Argentine has stated that he will only leave City after winning the Champions League. Despite being injury prone Aguero can win the award and who can forget how he inspired City when they won the League back in 2012.

9. EDEN HARZAD

Chelsea’s number 10 is once again one of the favourites to take home the player of the year award. The Belgian winger has displayed amazing perfomances in the barclays premier league being a constant menace to defenders for most of the season as they are often forced to commit fouls as a result of Harzad’s trickery, close ball control when dribbling and blistering pace. He recently extended his contractat Chelsea and revealed that he nearly joined French money spinners Paris Saint Germain.

10. CRISTIAN ERIKSEN

The former Ajax Amsterdam man has hit a rich vein of form of late scoring important goals for Spurs which proves he really deserves a shot at winning the coveted player of the season award. The danish playmaker is in his second season with coach Mauricio Pocchetino’s side.

La Liga round-up: Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid held

Cristiano Ronaldo scoresfrom the spot against Villarreal

Real Madrid missed the chance to move four points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Villarreal on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo's early second-half penalty looked to have put Madrid on course for a fourth consecutive win, but Gerard Moreno's thunderous equaliser 26 minutes from time earned the visitors a deserved point.

Champions Atletico Madrid failed to gain any ground on the leaders as they battled to a 0-0 draw at Sevilla.

Fourth-placed Valencia are now just a point adrift of Atletico after they were comfortable 2-0 winners over David Moyes' Real Sociedad thanks to a double from Pablo Piatti.

Villarreal were without a host of first-team regulars as coach Marcelino continues to prioritise progress in the Copa del Rey and Europa League.

However, the visitors started the brighter and should have been in front on 12 minutes when Iker Casillas made a fine save from Moreno and then Dani Carvajal headed Moi Gomez's follow-up effort off the line.

The European champions began to bombard the Villarreal defence with crosses as the half developed and Gareth Bale came close to an opener when his header from Toni Kroos' corner flashed wide.

Raphael Varane went even closer with a header that also just missed the target before Ronaldo saw his first effort on goal well saved by Sergio Asenjo three minutes into the second half.

But there was nothing the goalkeeper could do to prevent the World Player of the Year opening the scoring from the spot after he had been pulled down inside the area by Eric Bailly.

Ronaldo should have doubled his tally moments later when he latched onto a wonderful through ball by Bale, but Asenjo rushed from his goal-line to make a brave block.

The roles were reversed two minutes later as Ronaldo teed up Bale, but the Welshman's off night in front of goal continued as he blasted well over.

That miss was to prove costly when Villarreal levelled thanks to a wonderful low finish by Moreno.

Ronaldo had the chance to restore Madrid's lead four minutes later as he showed Bailly a clean pair of heels, but was once again Asenjo was on hand to deny him.

And the former Atletico Madrid stopper made his best save of the night seconds later to turn Ronaldo's powerful header over.

Asenjo nearly undid all of his good work when he flapped at Marcelo's cross six minutes from the end, but was grateful to see Jese Rodriguez slot the rebound wide.

Casillas then had to make a great save of his own to prevent Luciano Vietto heading home a winner for Villarreal before Ronaldo nodded over one last chance in a frantic finale.

Earlier, Sevilla and Atletico seemed to suffer a hangover from their European encounters in midweek at the Sanchez Pizjuan in a tense game short on clear-cut chances.

Sevilla had the better of the first period as Vicente Iborra struck the post and Miguel Angel Moya in the Atletico goal made a couple of smart stops.

However, the introduction of Koke and Fernando Torres from the bench gave the visitors a boost after the break.

Torres had the best chance to win the game when he broke clear seven minutes from time, but the former Liverpool and Chelsea striker saw his shot slide across goal and beyond the far post.

Chelsea beat Tottenham 2-0 to secure Capital One Cup success

A goal in each half was enough to see Chelsea secure the first major trophy of the season after beating Tottenham 2-0 in the Capital One Cup final at Wembley.

Blues captain John Terry gave his side a first-half lead when Willian's free-kick dropped loose inside the box and he fired home via a deflection.

Spurs pushed hard to find a way back in late on but Chelsea closed out the match to gain revenge for the 2008 final defeat to their London rivals and clinch a first trophy for manager Jose Mourinho since his return to Stamford Bridge.Tottenham had already hit the crossbar through Christian Eriksen, but Chelsea doubled their lead just after the break when Diego Costa's shot was turned in by the leg of Kyle Walker.

With Nemanja Matic suspended, Mourinho made a surprising team selection that included Gary Cahill – one of four changes – alongside John Terry in defence, with Kurt Zouma moving into midfield.

However, it appeared to put the Blues out of sorts in the opening half and Tottenham looked capable of breaking the deadlock.

Spurs, complete with seven changes to the side knocked out of the Europa League by Fiorentina on Thursday, had their best chance after 10 minutes when Harry Kane's trickery won a free-kick in a dangerous area and Eriksen rattled the woodwork from the set piece.

A mistake by Chadli, giving away a needless free-kick on the right-hand side, allowed Willian to swing in a dangerous set-piece that dropped for Terry to poke home beyond Hugo Lloris.Both Nacer Chadli and Ryan Mason should have done better with wayward attempts off-target, and Eriksen also forced Petr Cech to save at a tight angle, but Terry – the seasoned finalist – put his side ahead on 45 minutes.

Chelsea stepped up their intensity in the second half and threatened early after the break when Cesc Fabregas forced Lloris to parry with a skillful bicycle kick inside the box.

And it was Fabregas who set up his side's second, his incisive pass finding the run of Costa, and the Spaniard's effort beat Lloris inside his near post after a deflection off Walker.

Chelsea looked impenetrable at the back, with Terry especially looking back to his brilliant best.

Spurs threatened through Kane and substitutes Mousa Dembele and Erik Lamela late on, but it was not enough to prevent Mourinho becoming the most successful foreign manager in Capital One Cup history – clinching his third League Cup and his seventh piece of silverware in England.Eden Hazard almost made it three with a superb curler from the edge of the box but, with Lloris beaten, the ball flew just past the post.

Player ratings

Chelsea: Cech 7; Cahill 7, Terry 9, Zouma 7 Ivanovic 7; Ramires 6, Fabregas 8, Azpilicueta 6; Willian 6, Hazard 7; Costa 8

Subs used: Oscar 6, Cuadrado 6, Drogba 6

Tottenham: Lloris 7; Walker 6, Dier 6, Vertonghen 6, Rose 6; Mason 6, Bentaleb 6; Townsend 5, Eriksen 6, Chadli 5; Kane 6

Subs used: Dembele 6, Soldado 5, Lamela 6

Man of the Match: John Terry

Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini must learn to adapt, says Niall Quinn

Manuel Pellegrini's tactics against Barcelona and Liverpool have damaged his reputation as a manager, says Niall Quinn.

The Manchester City boss opted to play two up front in each game - and lost both the Champions League last-16 first leg and the Premier League contest by 2-1 scorelines.

Quinn argued that deploying both Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero in attack left Man City outnumbered in midfield and Pellegrini - who defended the tactic in his post-match interview at Anfield on Sunday - must learn to adapt.

"The way they set themselves up has not done them any favours," Quinn told Sky Sports.

"He has not adapted to the changing fortunes of his team, the age profile of his team and their ability to go and win this title again.

"He was an excellent choice as manager, he put all the fires out, he brought harmony to these great players and they looked a team. But he has to adapt and change as the needs change.

"That's what Brendan Rodgers has done so successfully. Rodgers has trumped him today with his system and way of playing that Pellegrini’s 4-4-2 looked old and stale.

"His reputation is damaged and it’s damaged more by him defending it in the interview. He has got to learn to adapt and play one up front."

Approach

City had thumped Newcastle 5-0 in their previous Premier League match but Graeme Souness says it is against the top domestic and European teams that Pellegrini must alter his approach.

And the Sky Sports pundit criticised the City manager for not adapting, despite the team experiencing similar problems last season.

"It's interesting he still defends his take on his team, where even in the big games he's going with two strikers," said Souness.

"If you look at the last two years, when people were questioning why they weren't doing well in Europe, well, when they go to Europe they're generally playing at a different level in the Champions League to teams they're playing most weeks in the Premier League.

"They're getting found out by playing with two strikers against the best teams in Europe - and the same when they play the better teams in the Premier League. They got found out on Sunday, they got over run in there.

"It's alright playing two strikers when you’re dominating the ball and you're on the front foot all the time. But if that's not happening, then you need to be a different team.

"Neither Aguero nor Dzeko want to drop off and make another man in midfield so the midfield four, when they weren’t on the front foot, were vulnerable to Liverpool’s smart passing in midfield.

"That's not changed. That was last year, when we pointed fingers at him for going with two strikers in the bigger games."

Arsenal overcome Everton thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Tomas Rosicky

Rosicky: Celebrates his goal

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Arsenal returned to third place in the Premier League after goals from Olivier Giroud and Tomas Rosicky secured a 2-0 home win over Everton on Sunday.

Giroud turned in a volley from Mesut Ozil’s corner in the 39th minute of the Emirates Stadium encounter before Rosicky made sure of the points with a late deflected effort.

Romelu Lukaku and Aaron Lennon went closest for Everton, who have now won just one of their last 11 league matches, but both were denied by good saves from David Ospina.

While the result continues Everton’s poor run of form, it is the ideal response from Arsenal following their disappointing Champions League defeat to Monaco in midweek.

The Brazilian grew in confidence as the game progressed but looked nervy at times in the first half and was nearly caught out in the 17th minute when he hesitated on the ball.Per Mertesacker paid the price for that performance as he was replaced by Gabriel Paulista, who made his first Premier League start.

Lukaku took advantage to nick it away from him, but, fortunately for Gabriel, his keeper was more decisive and did well to clear his lines.

It took Arsenal until the half-hour mark to create their first chance as Alexis Sanchez clipped in a cross from the left to Giroud, who got ahead of Phil Jagielka but headed wide.

Gabriel then made a superbly-timed sliding tackle to halt Lukaku as he charged into the box.

The goal appeared to give Arsenal a lift and Santi Cazorla forced Tim Howard to tip a shot over the bar as the half drew to a close.The deadlock was broken not long afterwards as Ozil whipped in a corner from the right and Giroud swept a volley into the far corner.

But Everton made a positive start to the second half and Gareth Barry sent an acrobatic volley over the bar.

Giroud saw a close-range effort blocked by Jagielka at the other end before Cazorla fired over the bar after a clever one-two with Giroud.

Ospina then produced a fantastic reflex save to turn over Lukaku's near-post drive and got down well to save Aaron Lennon's low shot from Seamus Coleman's cut back.

There was a lengthy stoppage after a clash of heads between Giroud and team-mate Francis Coquelin left the midfielder with blood pouring from his nose.

Coquelin eventually had to be taken off late in the game but Arsenal wrapped up the win when Rosicky's shot deflected off Jagielka and flew past Howard.

Player ratings

Arsenal: Ospina (7), Bellerin (6), Gabriel (6), Gibbs (6), Koscielny (5), Cazorla (6), Coquelin (6), Oxlade-Chamberlain (6), Ozil (6), Sanchez (6), Giroud (7).

Subs: Chambers (5), Rosicky (7), Welbeck (5).

Everton: Howard (5), Coleman (6), Stones (5), Jagielka (5), Garbutt (5), Barry (6), Besic (5), McCarthy (6), Barkley (5), Mirallas (5), Lukaku (5).

Subs: Gibson (5), Lennon (6), Naismith (5).

Man of the match: David Ospina.

Liverpool 2-1 Man City: Philippe Coutinho the hero as Reds march on

Philippe Coutinho fired home an unstoppable winning goal.

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Philippe Coutinho netted a sumptuous winner for Liverpool as they beat Manchester City 2-1 to continue their top-four surge.

Brendan Rodgers' side are top of the Premier League form table since the turn of the year after taking 20 points from a possible 24 and are now level on points in the outright table with fourth-placed Arsenal, who face Everton on Sunday.

Jordan Henderson had given Liverpool a first-half lead with an equally brilliant strike on 11 minutes before Edin Dzeko rounded off a fantastic team move to equalise 14 minutes later.After netting a scintillating opening goal last week against Southampton, Coutinho was at it again at Anfield on Sunday, curling home a majestic effort from 20 yards with 15 minutes left to play.

Despite both sides' European exertions in midweek, the pace of the game was frenetic throughout and Adam Lallana had two goals disallowed for the hosts while Sergio Aguero hit the post for City, who remain five points behind Chelsea in the title race.

Both teams made fast starts but it was Liverpool who crafted the better early chances, with Lallana heavily involved.

The England international drew a save from Joe Hart with a low toe-poked shot after eight minutes and then had a goal disallowed for offside 60 seconds later after brilliantly controlling Raheem Sterling's pass and finishing from a tight angle.

After Vincent Kompany had lost a 50-50 with Coutinho, the Brazilian fed Henderson, who picked out Joe Hart's top left-hand corner with a superb strike.City did not heed the warning though, because the net was rippling again in the 11th minute - and this time, the goal stood.

City responded well and could have levelled two minutes later when Aguero capitalised on a mix-up in the Liverpool defence, but his hooked left-foot shot cannoned back off the post.

The chance lifted City and they deservedly equalised with a fine team goal after 25 minutes.

David Silva fed Aguero in the right channel, and the Argentina striker brilliantly slipped in Dzeko, who beat Simon Mignolet with a low right-foot shot.

Lallana had another goal disallowed on 54 minutes when Martin Skrtel was in an offside position when nodding down a free-kick to Lallana, who finished from close range.

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, who was on co-commentary duty, described the way City were playing as "embarrassing" as they repeatedly were cut open in midfield by a relentless Liverpool attacking unit.

It was an effort very similar to Henderson's as Sterling fed Coutinho on the left corner of the box, and he then cut inside and swept a brilliant right-foot shot into the far corner.Coutinho was the spearhead and it was he that conjured up the match-winning moment on 75 minutes.

City stepped up their intensity after the goal as Liverpool tired slightly and with the clock ticking down, Silva shot agonisingly wide from inside the area after Yaya Toure had bulldozed his way through the Liverpool midfield and defence.

But an equaliser would have been harsh on Liverpool, who restricted City to just one shot on target throughout the game - the fewest they have had in any Premier League game this season.

Liverpool march on, with Burnley next up at Anfield on Wednesday night, when Manuel Pellegrini's City host Leicester at the Etihad.

Player Ratings

Liverpool: Mignolet (7), Can (7), Skrtel (7), Lovren (6), Henderson (8), Allen (7), Moreno (6), Markovic (6), Lallana (7), Coutinho (8), Sterling (7).

Subs: Sturridge, Toure.

Man City: Hart (6), Zabaleta (6), Mangala (5), Kompany (6), Kolarov (6), Fernandinho (5), Yaya Toure (6), Silva (7), Nasri (6), Dzeko (6), Aguero (6)

Subs: Lampard, Bony, Milner.

Man of the Match: Philippe Coutinho.