Pellegrini says Manchester City have 'complete' squad

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini could be one of the least active Premier League managers in the January transfer window after declaring his title-chasing squad "complete" on Thursday.

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United fans are the best, says under-fire Van Gaal

LONDON (Reuters) - Much-travelled Louis van Gaal has coached some of the biggest clubs in world football but Manchester United's fans are the best he has come across, the Dutch veteran said on Thursday.

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Ranieri wants Leicester to build on fantastic half-season

(Reuters) - Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has backed his squad to build on their "fantastic half-season" ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash against relegation-threatened Bournemouth.

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Liverpool's Benteke can become even better, says Klopp

(Reuters) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has urged striker Christian Benteke to improve his performance further after the Belgian scored the winner in Wednesday's 1-0 Premier League win over Sunderland.

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Klopp ends year level with Van Gaal but happier

LONDON (Reuters) - Juergen Klopp refused to rule out Liverpool as Premier League title contenders on Wednesday after ending the year level on points with Manchester United and nine behind leaders Arsenal.

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Rejected Moyes implores United to give Van Gaal more time

(Reuters) - Rejected former boss David Moyes says Manchester United must not become a club that are continuously sacking managers and should give his under-fire successor Louis van Gaal time to build a successful side.

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Wenger rejects doubts about Arsenal's title credentials

(Reuters) - Manager Arsene Wenger has rejected doubts about Arsenal's title credentials, saying statistics back him up about the Premier League leaders on New Year's day.

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BAM to unveil new singles coach in January

PETALING JAYA: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will unveil the new men’s singles coach Indra Wijaya next month.

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Peng Soon all inspired after brush with Olympic champ

PETALING JAYA: Getting a chance to partner Olympic champion Lee Hyo-jung has only served to fire up Chan Peng Soon in his own Olympic bid.

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Suarez double as Barca set record in Betis win

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Luis Suarez struck twice and Lionel Messi scored on his 500th appearance for Barcelona who set a new Spanish record of goals in a calendar year with a 4-0 win over Real Betis that lifted them top of La Liga on Wednesday.

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Barca want even more in 2016, says Luis Enrique

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona coach Luis Enrique is still not satisfied despite winning five trophies in 2015 and is aiming to do even better next year.

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Chong Wei hoping for more players to qualify for Olympics

KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Lee Chong Wei has one wish for the New Year – to see more of his team-mates qualify for the Olympics.

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Liverpool's Klopp calls for consistency ahead of Sunderland game

(Reuters) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has called on his team to be more consistent ahead of Wednesday's Premier League game against lowly Sunderland.

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Villarreal's Suarez on Barca's radar, says Luis Enrique

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has been impressed by Villarreal winger Denis Suarez and could try to bring him back during the January transfer window.

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Rivals turn partners to help Muar in Purple League

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Wee Kiong and Tan Boon Heong are rivals in world badminton but that did not prevent them from helping Muar Badminton Club to an 11-6 victory in the Resorts World Genting Purple League.

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United unlucky not to beat Chelsea, says Rooney

(Reuters) - Manchester United were unlucky not to beat Chelsea despite dominating the game, skipper Wayne Rooney said following the goalless home draw against the struggling champions.

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Liverpool set to welcome Ibe for Sunderland game, says Klopp

(Reuters) - Midfielder Jordon Ibe is likely to return from illness for Liverpool's Premier League match against Sunderland on Wednesday but a recovering James Milner will have to wait another week for his comeback, manager Jurgen Klopp has said.

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I won't quit, says defiant Van Gaal after United draw

LONDON (Reuters) - Under-fire manager Louis van Gaal said he would not quit after Manchester United extended their run without a victory to eight games in all competitions with a 0-0 draw with champions Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday.

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Arsenal hail Cech after keeper sets clean sheet record

LONDON (Reuters) - After picking the ball out of his net several times in a 4-0 drubbing at Southampton two days earlier, Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech celebrated a record on Monday by keeping his 170th Premier League clean sheet.

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Hiddink pleased with striker-less Chelsea's point

LONDON (Reuters) - Interim manager Guus Hiddink was satisfied with Chelsea's 0-0 draw at Manchester United on Monday, especially as the Premier League champions played without a recognised striker.

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Serdang stay on course for Champions Challenge action

KUALA LUMPUR: Serdang Badminton Club stayed alive in their chase for a Champions Challenge spot in the Resorts World Genting Purple League.

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Garcia's FIFA corruption report must be published - Prince Ali

LONDON (Reuters) - FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali bin al-Hussein has called for Michael Garcia's report into allegations of corruption during bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to be published immediately, the BBC said on Sunday.

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Man City victory overshadowed by Kompany injury

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City crushed Sunderland 4-1 but their Premier League title aspirations suffered a major blow as skipper and defensive lynch-pin Vincent Kompany hobbled off with a calf injury.

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Liverpool reveal cracks in Leicester armoury

LONDON (Reuters) - Cracks finally appeared in Leicester City's armour as a 10-match unbeaten sequence that propelled them to the top of the Premier League ended in a 1-0 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday.

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Leicester get reality check, Van Gaal on the brink

LONDON (Reuters) - Leicester City were give a Premier League reality check when the unlikely leaders lost 1-0 at Liverpool on Saturday after Manchester United slumped to a third consecutive league defeat to pile more pressure on manager Louis van Gaal.

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Klopp a fan of Leicester's near-perfect style

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp is full of admiration for Leicester City's style of football which has propelled the Midlands club to the top of the Premier League.

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Chelsea players must break unlucky cycle - Hiddink

LONDON (Reuters) - Guus Hiddink has challenged his Chelsea players to break the negative cycle that has seen the champions lose touch with the top of the Premier League this season.

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Spurs aim for winning run during festive season - Vertonghen

(Reuters) - Jan Vertonghen hopes Tottenham Hotspur can follow up last weekend's 2-0 Premier League victory over Southampton with a string of wins during the packed festive period, as the team attempts to cement their place in the top four.

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International titles? Checked. National title? Checked. Chong Wei’s approval? Iskandar’s got it!

KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Lee Chong Wei has given Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin the seal of approval for a place in next year’s Thomas Cup team.

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Liverpool can kick on during festive period - Benteke

(Reuters) - Liverpool have enough quality and strength in depth in the squad to win games and pick up important points during a demanding festive schedule, striker Christian Benteke has said.

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United determined to put things right at Stoke, says Young

(Reuters) - As pressure mounts on Manchester United after an extended run of poor results, winger Ashley Young insists players are in high spirits and are determined to put things right with a win at Stoke City on Boxing day.

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Improving Yen Mei impresses in Purprle League match

KUALA LUMPUR: National women’s singles shuttler Ho Yen Mei is beginning to show steady improvements towards the end of the year.

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Mourinho has no formal offer from United, says agent Mendes

(Reuters) - Manchester United has made no official offer to Jose Mourinho to replace Louis van Gaal at the Premier League club, according to the Portuguese manager's agent Jorge Mendes.

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Stoke still wary of out-of-sorts Man Utd - Hughes

(Reuters) - Stoke City are refusing to take an out-of-sorts Manchester United for granted when the sides meet in the Premier League on Saturday, with the Red Devils more than capable of rediscovering their best form, manager Mark Hughes has said.

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Cech confident Arsenal can deal with injury crisis

(Reuters) - Arsenal are in the middle of an injury crisis with seven players currently on the sidelines but goalkeeper Petr Cech has said he was confident the club can pull through this period.

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Liverpool defender Skrtel out for six weeks

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel will be out for six weeks after suffering a hamstring and tendon injury, the Slovakian said on Tuesday.

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FIFA ethics committee unlikely to stop at Blatter, Platini

ZURICH (Reuters) - Largely anonymous, lacking police powers and with its independence sometimes questioned, FIFA's ethics committee has often struggled to be taken seriously in the fight against corruption in football's world body.

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Coutinho confident of ending Liverpool trophy wait in 2016

(Reuters) - Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho says he has a great chance of celebrating his third year at Liverpool in 2016 by landing his first major trophy with the club.

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Chelsea have quality to climb back up under Hiddink: Courtois

(Reuters) - Struggling Premier League champions Chelsea have the quality to climb back up the table under interim manager Guus Hiddink, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has said.

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Villa need at least 10 wins, says manager Garde

LONDON (Reuters) - Aston Villa, languishing at the bottom of the table, need at least 10 more wins if they are to avoid relegation from the Premier League for the first time, French manager Remi Garde said on Tuesday.

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Yong-dae makes smashing debut in Purple League

KUALA LUMPUR: Badminton doubles star Lee Yong-dae made a smashing debut in the Resorts World Genting Purple League.

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Porous City need Kompany return for title fight - Pellegrini

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini is praying for the return of injured captain Vincent Kompany to shore up his team's defence and keep them in the hunt for the Premier League title.

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Arsenal's Sanchez suffers slight injury setback

LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal could be without forward Alexis Sanchez for the busy Premier League Christmas programme after he aggravated a hamstring injury in training, manager Arsene Wenger said on Monday.

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Watford's Ighalo will not leave in January, says Flores

(Reuters) - Top scorer Odion Ighalo, whose goals have caught the attention of bigger Premier League clubs, will stay at Watford at least until the end of the season, manager Quique Sanchez Flores said.

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Platini slams FIFA ban as 'masquerade', vows to fight in court

LONDON (Reuters) - The head of European football, Michel Platini, vowed on Monday to go to court to fight a decision by the independent Ethics Committee of the world football body FIFA to ban him for eight years, calling it a "pure masquerade".

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Table-topping Leicester not getting carried away

(Reuters) - Surprise Premier League leaders Leicester City are not ready to delve in title talks and would prefer to keep doing their job on the on the pitch, captain Wes Morgan has said.

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Players must respond to Hiddink, says grateful Ivanovic

LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic welcomed interim manager Guus Hiddink back to the club on Monday but warned his team-mates that they bear the responsibility for results.

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Arsenal's defence not afraid of Barcelona trio, says Ozil

(Reuters) - Arsenal's defence do not fear Barcelona's prolific front three, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, and are keen to test themselves against the world's best players in the last 16 of the Champions League, midfielder Mesut Ozil said.

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Blatter and Platini banned by FIFA for eight years

ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA President Sepp Blatter and European football boss Michel Platini were both banned from football for eight years on Monday for ethics violations, leaving the global game leaderless as it fights a swirl of corruption cases.

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Honeymoon well and truly over for Klopp

LONDON (Reuters) - Last week Liverpool's extrovert manager Juergen Klopp was dancing down the touchline in front of jubilant fans after Divock Origi scored deep into added time to earn a 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion at Anfield.

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Premier League loses a Special One but now courts another

LONDON (Reuters) - And then there was one....

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Juventus go second with Carpi win

ROME (Reuters) - Inter Milan's lead at the top of Serie A was cut when they lost 2-1 at home to Lazio on Sunday while AS Roma beat Genoa 2-0 to record their first win in eight games and ease the pressure on under-fire coach Rudi Garcia.

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Malaysian pair win Mexico City Grand Prix title

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying nailed the Mexico City Grand Prix title in style after defeating South Korean pair Choi Sol-gyu-Eom Hye-won on Sunday.

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Bale hits four as Real crush nine-man Rayo 10-2

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid closed to within two points of La Liga pacesetters Barcelona and Atletico Madrid when Gareth Bale helped himself to his first four-goal haul in a 10-2 demolition of nine-man Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

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Not good enough, says Van Gaal, as pressure intensifies

LONDON (Reuters) - Bookmakers were busy slashing the odds on Louis van Gaal to be replaced in the Manchester United hotseat by Jose Mourinho on Saturday after a 2-1 home defeat to struggling Norwich City in the Premier League.

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Chelsea restore order after Mourinho axe, Leicester five clear

LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea began the post-Jose Mourinho era with a 3-1 win over Sunderland at Stamford Bridge to ease away from the Premier League's bottom three on Saturday while Leicester City moved five points clear at the top.

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You can call Iskandar a national champion now

KUALA LUMPUR: There is an asterisk to Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin’s name now.

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Messi, Neymar to start Club World Cup final

YOKOHAMA (Reuters) - Lionel Messi and Neymar were both named in Barcelona's starting line-up for the Club World Cup final against River Plate on Sunday.

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Villa survival hopes look bleak despite battling draw

(Reuters) - Aston Villa displayed some fight to earn a 1-1 draw in torrential rain at Newcastle United on Saturday but their Premier League survival hopes grow bleaker by the week.

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Ton-up Harry shoots Spurs into the top four

LONDON (Reuters) - Harry Kane may have had his thunder as England's brightest young strike hope stolen of late by Jamie Vardy but Tottenham Hotspur's own home-polished jewel sparkled once more on his 100th appearance for the club on Saturday.

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Only mixed doubles survive in Mexico

PETALING JAYA: Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong was brought down to earth at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

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Dutchman Hiddink returns to Chelsea as interim manager

LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea turned again to experienced Dutchman Guus Hiddink to guide them out of a crisis when they named him interim manager on Saturday for the rest of the season following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.

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Mueller winner gives Bayern huge lead at winter break

BERLIN (Reuters) - Champions Bayern Munich opened up an eight-point lead in the Bundesliga at the start of the German season's one-month winter break after beating Hanover 96 1-0 on Saturday amid mounting speculation over the future of coach Pep Guardiola.

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Messi, Neymar still doubtful for Club World Cup final

YOKOHAMA (Reuters) - Barcelona forwards Lionel Messi and Neymar are still doubtful for the Club World Cup final against River Plate, coach Luis Enrique told reporters on Saturday.

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BAM have their man for GM post, pending approval

KUALA LUMPUR: The Badminton Association of Malaysia have identified a suitable candidate to take over from outgoing general manager Kenny Goh.

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Yee Han pulls off upset win in National Grand Prix Finals

KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Chong Yee Han pulled off the biggest surprise at the National Grand Prix Finals by stunning Goh Soon Huat in the men’s singles semi-finals.

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Three Malaysian pairs make Mexico semis, not Zulfadli

KUALA LUMPUR: Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei can count their lucky stars they are still in the hunt for the women’s doubles crown at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

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No feud with Pulis says Liverpool manager Klopp

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp dismissed any suggestion of a feud with West Bromwich Albion's Tony Pulis after being the target of a sarcastic jibe from his opposite number on Friday.

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Newcastle's McClaren calls for patience ahead of Villa clash

LONDON (Reuters) - Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren has called for patience ahead of Saturday's Premier League match against fellow relegation candidates Aston Villa as they look to record a third successive victory for the first time this season.

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Stoke must stop Palace counter-attacks, says Hughes

LONDON (Reuters) - Stoke City must stop Crystal Palace from imposing their counter-attacking style of play in Saturday's Premier League game, manager Mark Hughes has said.

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Bielsa would be great acquisition for Swansea, says Pochettino

LONDON (Reuters) - Swansea City will be getting one of football's top managers if they appoint Marcelo Bielsa according to Tottenham Hotspur's Mauricio Pochettino, who played under his countryman in their native Argentina.

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Selangor: Oops! We'll take you back Cornthwaite

PETALING JAYA: Selangor have made a U-turn, deciding to re-sign Australian centreback Robert Cornthwaite for the M-League next season.

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Hiddink a perfect fit for Chelsea, says former assistant Wilkins

LONDON (Reuters) - Ray Wilkins, who worked as an assistant to Guus Hiddink in his previous spell in charge of Chelsea six years ago, believes the experienced Dutchman would be the perfect choice to return following Jose Mourinho's sacking.

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Mourinho not coming back for now, Real president says

MADRID (Reuters) - Sacked Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will not be making an immediate return to Real Madrid to replace Rafa Benitez, who remains the ideal man for the job, president Florentino Perez said on Friday.

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Holders Barca to meet city rivals Espanyol in King's Cup

MADRID (Reuters) - Holders Barcelona will continue their bid for a record-extending 28th Spanish King's Cup against local rivals Espanyol and Atletico Madrid will face Rayo Vallecano in another city derby following Friday's draw for the last 16.

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Ying Ying wants to end the year as national champion

KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Lee Ying Ying has two goals at the National Grand Prix Finals.

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Goh-Tan on the right lane for Rio Olympic spot

KUALA LUMPUR: Winning the US Grand Prix has put shuttlers Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong in the driving seat to qualify for next year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

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Mourinho sacked by Chelsea - BBC

LONDON (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho was sacked as manager of Premier League champions Chelsea on Thursday, according to BBC sources, following a dreadful run of results.

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Wenger gives Sanchez 'slight chance' for Man City clash

(Reuters) - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has given winger Alexis Sanchez a "slight chance" of being included in his squad for Monday's Premier League showdown at home to Manchester City.

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Penang receive RM19mil budget for Super League challenge

GEORGE TOWN: Penang have allocated a whopping RM19mil for their challenge in next season’s Super League.

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Villa to back Garde with funds in January window

LONDON (Reuters) - Remi Garde flew out to discuss Aston Villa's future with owner Randy Lerner this week and, with the club stuck to the foot of the table, a contingency plan for life in the second tier was probably high on the agenda.

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Chun Seang wants national title before he hangs his racquet

KUALA LUMPUR: Independent shuttler Tan Chun Seang believes he has about two to three good years left in his career.

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Thomas Cup teams among new inductees into OCM Hall of Fame

KUALA LUMPUR: Four Thomas Cup winning teams – 1952, 1955, 1967 and 1992 – have been inducted into the Olympic Council of Malaysia’s (OCM) Hall of Fame.

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SEA Games champs head for an early bath in Mexico GP

PETALING JAYA: It was a wasted trip to Mexico for SEA Games gold medallists Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho.

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Leicester's Mahrez rules out January move

(Reuters) - Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez, who has reportedly caught the attention of several clubs across Europe after his strong performances in the first half of the season, has ruled out a move away from the Foxes during the January transfer window.

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Aguero in line for Man City return at Arsenal

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City could have striker Sergio Aguero available for Monday's Premier League clash with Arsenal after the Argentine returned to full training following a heel injury.

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Platini will not attend FIFA ethics committee hearing

PARIS (Reuters) - Suspended European football chief Michel Platini will not attend Friday's FIFA ethics committee hearing in protest at what he condemns as political process designed to prevent him running to lead the world governing body, his lawyers said on Wednesday.

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Hernandez blames Van Gaal for leaving United

(Reuters) - Javier Hernandez left Manchester United because manager Louis van Gaal told him he had a "one percent chance" of playing as a striker if he stayed at the club, the Mexican has said.

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Iskandar: This is my best chance to be national champ

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin yearns to be a national champion.

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Vivian-Khe Wei desperate to secure Olympic ticket

PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei are desperate to secure their passage to next year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics as soon as possible.

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Key players will stay at Everton in January - Martinez

(Reuters) - Everton manager Roberto Martinez expects to retain all his key performers in the January transfer window and believes the value of English players will rise at the end of the season.

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Alonso goal sends Bayern into German Cup last eight

BERLIN (Reuters) - A lacklustre Bayern Munich needed a long-range goal from Spaniard Xabi Alonso to secure a 1-0 victory over Darmstadt 98 on Tuesday that put them into the quarter-finals of the German Cup.

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Valencia players given iPads by Neville to help in training

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Valencia coach Gary Neville is using modern technology to get his ideas across to the players and his assistant Miguel Angel Angulo says he is managing with the language barrier better than he expected.

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Blatter reasserts innocence ahead of FIFA ethics hearing

ZURICH (Reuters) - Suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter again proclaimed his innocence in a corruption scandal gripping the world football body as he prepares to testify this week before the group's ethics panel.

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Coach Shah to replace Zainal in Pahang hot seat

PETALING JAYA: Former international Ahmad Shaharuddin Rosdi has been promoted to become Pahang head coach for next season, replacing Zainal Abidin Hassan.

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My work was 'betrayed' by Chelsea players, says Mourinho

LONDON (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho has identified the problems at both ends of the pitch which led him to talk of "betrayal" after seeing his champions Chelsea slump to their ninth Premier League defeat of the season at Leicester City on Monday.

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Chong Wei accepts challenge to find successor

KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 4 Lee Chong Wei is ready to do his part in finding his replacement before calling it a day.

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Sacking Mourinho makes no sense, says Lampard

LONDON (Reuters) - Frank Lampard believes his crisis-racked former club Chelsea need an urgent shake-up to rescue their season, but does not think that should mean manager Jose Mourinho is sacked.

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Badminton legends do their bid to popularise the sport

KUALA LUMPUR: These three shuttlers are colourful and strong characters. They also happen to be role models who possess an amazing array of court craft and badminton skills.

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Wales will test England at Euros, warns Ramsey

(Reuters) - Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has warned England ahead of next year's European Championship finals in France that Wales have come a long way since the teams last faced each other four years ago.

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'Ashamed' Mourinho feels betrayed by Chelsea players

LEICESTER, England (Reuters) - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho watched his team suffer a 2-1 loss at table-topping Leicester City on Monday and then said he felt ashamed at their lowly Premier League position and betrayed by his players.

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Leicester return to summit as Chelsea woes continue

LEICESTER, England (Reuters) - Sublime goals from Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez sent Leicester City back to the Premier League summit after a deserved 2-1 win on Monday over lacklustre Chelsea whose march to the title last season seems a distant memory.

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Barcelona set to face Scolari's spoiling tactics

OSAKA (Reuters) - Barcelona are likely to face Luiz Felipe Scolari's full repertoire of spoiling tactics when they meet the Brazilian coach's Guangzhou Evergrande team in their Club World Cup semi-final on Thursday.

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Player selection will be fair, assures BAM’s Frost

KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no outside interference or favouritism in the selection of national shuttlers. This was the assurance given by BAM technical director Morten Frost at the start of selection trials on Monday.

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Change your mindset to produce world-class shuttlers, state coaches told

KUALA LUMPUR: Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) deputy president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria has thrown down the gauntlet to state coaches.

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BAM to hire another Indonesian singles coach

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are expected to hire another Indonesian to join the men’s singles coaching set-up, said Badminton Association of Malaysia deputy president Datuk Seri Norza Zakari on Monday.

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Valencia held at Eibar in Neville's La Liga debut

MADRID (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid turned up the heat on champions Barcelona when they fought back to secure a 2-1 win at home to Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Sunday as Real Madrid slipped off the pace with a 1-0 loss at Villarreal.

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Klopp salutes atmosphere as Liverpool celebrate draw

(Reuters) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has probably not celebrated too many draws with quite the fervour that he greeted Divock Origi's stoppage time leveller to grab a point at home to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

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Premier League see-saw typified by Newcastle win at Spurs

(Reuters) - The unpredictability of a barmy Premier League season was underlined by Tottenham Hotspur's 2-1 home defeat by struggling Newcastle United on Sunday, which left bewildered home manager Mauricio Pochettino scratching his head.

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Double joy for Japan in badminton Superseries Finals

KUALA LUMPUR: Kento Momota and Nozomi Okuhara made it a delightful rare double for Japan at the BWF World Superseries Finals.

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Pornpawee just too good for Jing Yi in Mumbai

KUALA LUMPUR: Youngster Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand continues to be a thorn in the side of Malaysia’s No. 1 women’s singles shuttler Tee Jing Yi.

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Mehmet not worried about rumours about his sacking

PETALING JAYA: The glory days are back for the Red Giants. And Selangor coach Mehmet Durakovic believes that the Malaysia Cup victory on Saturday is just the beginning.

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All not lost for Mohd Hafiz in coaching stint

KUALA LUMPUR: One door closes, another opens for former All-England champion Mohd Hafiz Hashim.

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V Shem-Wee Kiong finally got it right State side

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian men’s doubles pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong have finally hit the jackpot.

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United old boy King writes Cherries' fairytale

(Reuters) - Josh King never played for Manchester United's first team in five years at Old Trafford but the Norwegian international claimed an unexpected place in the club's lore by consigning them to a humbling defeat on Saturday.

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France to play Romania in Euro 2016 opener

PARIS (Reuters) - Spain will begin their bid for an unprecedented third successive European Championship title against Czech Republic while hosts France will open the 2016 tournament against Romania after the draw was made on Saturday.

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Barca let two-goal lead slip in Deportivo draw

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Leaders Barcelona threw a two-goal lead away as late strikes from Lucas Perez and Alex Bergantinos gave Deportivo La Coruna a 2-2 draw in La Liga on Saturday.

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Norwich fight back after Lukaku's hot streak continues

LONDON (Reuters) - Norwich City fought back to draw 1-1 with Everton after Romelu Lukaku scored on Saturday for the sixth successive Premier League match to give the visitors an early lead.

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Ahsan-Hendra down world No. 1 in Dubai

KUALA LUMPUR: Reigning world champions Mohd Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan are on track to end the year in style after checking into the men’s doubles final at the BWF World Superseries Finals.

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Yen Mei to cheer on Jing Yi in India International Challenge

KUALA LUMPUR: Over to you, Tee Jing Yi. Youngster Ho Yen Mei will be rooting for Jing Yi to win her second international title after going down fighting in the women's singles semi-finals of the India International Challenge in Mumbai.

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A mini reunion for Sidek brothers at wedding

KUALA LUMPUR: It is rare to see the famous badminton siblings – the Sidek brothers of Misbun, Razif, Jalani, Rahman and Razif – gathered together these days.

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Goh-Tan have a score to settle in US Grand Prix final

KUALA LUMPUR: One down. One to go. National men’s doubles shuttlers Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong gained sweet revenge over Taiwan’s Chen Hung-ling-Wang Chi-ling in the semi-finals of the US Grand Prix at the Orange County Badminton Club in California.

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CAS orders FIFA not to extend Platini's 90-day provisional suspension

PARIS (Reuters) - FIFA's Ethics Committee have subjected European football chief Michel Platini to a "sham procedure", the Frenchman's legal team said on Friday after he lost an appeal to have a provisional 90-day ban overturned.

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Yaya Toure named BBC African Footballer of the Year

(Reuters) - Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure has held off fierce competition from Algeria's Yacine Brahimi, the 2014 winner, and Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to pick up the BBC African Footballer of the Year for 2015.

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Real Madrid's bid to overturn Cup expulsion denied

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid's bid to get their King's Cup expulsion temporarily suspended, pending a final decision on an appeal, has been rejected by the Spanish government's Disciplinary Committee for Sports (TAD).

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Van Gaal has no doubts over United position

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal issued a defiant response to his critics on Friday and said he had no doubts that he was the right man to lead Manchester United despite their early Champions League exit.

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Police: Just go and enjoy football, not cause trouble

PETALING JAYA: Police will be out in force for Saturday’s Malaysia Cup final between Selangor and Kedah at the Shah Alam Stadium and fans need not fear for their safety.

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Swansea want to beat Man City for Monk, says Curtis

(Reuters) - Swansea City players are aiming to win Saturday's Premier League game against Manchester City for former manager Garry Monk because they feel responsible for his departure, caretaker manager Alan Curtis said on Friday.

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Honduras international Peralta shot dead

(Reuters) - Honduras midfielder Arnold Peralta was shot to death in the Honduran city of La Ceiba on Thursday, police said.

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With some quick thinking, Yen Mei through to semi-finals in Mumbai

KUALA LUMPUR: It’s a good thing that Malaysian shuttler Ho Yen Mei can think on her feet.

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Thanks to Saina, Marin in World Superseries Finals last four

KUALA LUMPUR: Reigning world champion Carolina Marin should buy Saina Nehwal of India a Christmas present for keeping her challenge alive in the US$1mil (RM4.2mil) BWF World Superseries Finals.

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Money down the drain, Peng Soon-Liu Ying left in vain

KUALA LUMPUR: About RM100,000 and some valuable Olympic ranking points have gone down the drain with the quarter-final exit of mixed doubles Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying in the US Grand Prix badminton tournament.

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Baddrol feeling the same vibes from 2007 and 2008 ahead of Malaysia Cup final

GEORGE TOWN: Kedah midfielder Baddrol Bakhtiar feels that the current Red Eagles team are as good as the squad who won the “double treble” in 2007 and 2008.

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Andik to show his love to Selangor by winning Malaysia Cup

PETALING JAYA: The Selangor fans love Indonesian Andik Vermansyah to bits. And the feeling is mutual.

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Barca look to retain lead ahead of Club World Cup

MADRID (Reuters) - Barcelona are likely to jet off to the Club World Cup with a narrow lead at the top of La Liga but the Spanish and European champions could find themselves playing catch up when they return from Japan.

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Selangor will continue rivalry with Singapore in AFC Cup

PETALING JAYA: Selangor and Singapore will continue their rivalry in the AFC Cup competition next season.

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Just win the US Grand Prix, Goh-Tan told

KUALA LUMPUR: Just win it. This basically is what Morten Frost expects from the country’s top men’s doubles pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong in the US Grand Prix at the Orange County Badminton Club in California.

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A day full of upsets at Dubai Superseries Finals

KUALA LUMPUR: There were upsets galore on the second day of the US$1mil (RM4.2mil) BWF World Superseries Finals in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

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Jin Wei relishing the rivalry with Bingjiao

KUALA LUMPUR: It won’t be too long before the decade-long rivalry between Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan of China comes to an end.

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Giroud treble inspires rampant Arsenal to reach last 16

ATHENS (Reuters) - Olivier Giroud grabbed a superb hat-trick as Arsenal crushed Olympiakos Piraeus 3-0 to book their spot in the Champions League's last 16 with a classy demolition job that ended the hopes of their Greek opponents on Wednesday.

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Soccer-Hernandez equaliser not enough for Leverkusen against Barca

(Reuters) - A Javier Hernandez strike gave Bayer Leverkusen a 1-1 draw against Group E winners Barcelona but it was not enough for them to reach the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday.

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Soccer-Mourinho's Chelsea hold nerve for crucial win over Porto

LONDON (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho's Chelsea turned from domestic whipping boys back to European stalwarts on Wednesday, beating his former club Porto 2-0 to top Champions League Group G.

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Monk sacked as Swansea City manager

LONDON (Reuters) - Garry Monk was sacked as Swansea City manager on Wednesday, the club said in a statement after a dreadful run which has seen the Welsh club plummet towards the Premier League relegation zone.

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FAM hires new foreign coach for ‘ghost’ team

PETALING JAYA: The Football Association of Malaysia FAM have done it again!

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Hong Kong mixed pair upset world No.1 in Superseries Finals

PETALING JAYA: Reginald Lee Chun Hei-Chau Hoi Wah delivered the biggest upset on the opening day of the US$1mil (RM4.2mil) BWF World Superseries Finals in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

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Problems mount for Van Gaal as Ferdinand labels United embarrassing

(Reuters) - Manchester United's lack of goals has been the bugbear of the Old Trafford faithful this year but after Tuesday's elimination from the Champions League it appears Louis van Gaal has got problems at both ends of the pitch.

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FAM appoints Bernhardt as national U-23 coach

PETALING JAYA: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have appointed German coach Frank Bernhardt as the new national Under-23 coach.

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California dreaming off to good start for Peng Soon-Liu Ying

KUALA LUMPUR: Mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying have travelled all the way to California in the United States in a bid to earn precious Olympic qualifying points.

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BAM calm as four more players quit

KUALA LUMPUR: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) are not worried despite losing four more players from their set-up.

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Chelsea players don't lack commitment, says Courtois

(Reuters) - Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has rejected the idea that his Chelsea team mates are lacking commitment ahead of Wednesday night's crunch Champions League match against Porto.

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Liverpool's Sturridge out for several weeks - reports

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool's injury-prone striker Daniel Sturridge faces several weeks on the sidelines because of a hamstring problem, according to British media reports on Tuesday.

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We can win anywhere, says fired-up Arsenal boss Wenger

LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal can win anywhere in Europe according to manager Arsene Wenger who issued a rallying call ahead of Wednesday's make-or-break Champions League decider against Olympiakos Piraeus.

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Van Gaal struggles to understand United's European exit

WOLFSBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Manchester United's 3-2 Champions League defeat at VfL Wolfsburg on Tuesday was difficult to understand, said manager Louis van Gaal after they crashed out in the group stage for the first time since 2011.

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Record-setting Ronaldo hits four as Real crush Malmo

MADRID (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo hit four goals and Karim Benzema netted a hat-trick as Real Madrid romped to a record-equalling 8-0 victory at home to Malmo in the final round of matches in Champions League Group A on Tuesday.

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Selangor coach Durakovic would rather play than shout

PETALING JAYA: Selangor coach Mehmet Durakovic would rather be in the thick of the action than merely shouting from the sidelines during Saturday’s Malaysia Cup final against Kedah.

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Misfiring Martial must be given time, says manager Van Gaal

(Reuters) - Manchester United striker Anthony Martial needs time to find his scoring touch again and will have enough opportunities to get back in form, manager Louis van Gaal has said.

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Wijnaldum urges Newcastle to keep faith with McClaren

(Reuters) - Newcastle United winger Georginio Wijnaldum has urged the club to keep faith with manager Steve McClaren in the wake of the team's impressive 2-0 win over Liverpool at the weekend.

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Klopp working on changing Liverpool mentality - Lovren

(Reuters) - Changing Liverpool's mentality is a key task for manager Juergen Klopp, centre back Dejan Lovren has said, while offering a glimpse into the German's training methods.

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West Ham's Lanzini ruled out for six weeks

(Reuters) - West Ham United's on-loan Argentine midfielder Manuel Lanzini has been ruled out for six weeks with a thigh injury he picked up in training ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Manchester United.

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Super Dan out of Superseries Finals in Dubai

KUALA LUMPUR: Five-time world champion Lin Dan of China has withdrawn from the US$1mil (RM4.2mil) BWF World Superseries Finals in Dubai due to injury.

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Liverpool's Klopp worries me, says Ferguson

(Reuters) - Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said he was worried about the impact manager Juergen Klopp was having at his old team's great rivals Liverpool.

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Absent Kedah chief coach ‘in touch’ with team

GEORGE TOWN: Chief coach Tan Cheng Hoe was very much involved in helping to steer Kedah into the Malaysia Cup final although he is not with the squad.

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Chelsea must regroup ahead of important week, says Courtois

(Reuters) - Chelsea must leave behind the disappointment of Saturday's humiliating 1-0 Premier League loss at home to promoted side Bournemouth and regroup ahead of an important week, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has said.

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Schneiderlin to miss United trip to Wolfsburg

LONDON (Reuters) - France midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin will miss Manchester United's final Champions League Group B game at VfL Wolfsburg on Tuesday.

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Purple League: Ampang Jaya remain upbeat despite injury woes

KUALA LUMPUR: Injuries to two of their star players and a loss to Kepong BC have failed to dampen Ampang Jaya BC’s mood in the Resorts World Genting Purple League.

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Liverpool beaten by lowly Newcastle

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool missed the chance to close in on the Premier League's top four when they suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to lowly Newcastle United at St James' Park on Sunday.

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Goal-shy United desperate for win at Wolfsburg

BERLIN (Reuters) - Manchester United will be looking for the goals that have been so hard to come by this season when they travel to VfL wolfsburg on Tuesday with their hopes of sealing qualification for the Champions League knockout stage still hanging in the balance.

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Abdul Latif brothers steer Cheras to victory in Purple League

KUALA LUMPUR: The Abdul Latif brothers Arif and Razif made it a great day for Cheras BC in the Resorts World Genting Purple League.

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Bingjiao bounces back to bag Indonesian Masters title

KUALA LUMPUR: China’s He Bingjiao just can’t stand losing.

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Real end turbulent week with victory over Getafe

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid ended a turbulent week off the pitch on a high on Saturday when Karim Benzema struck twice and Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale scored a goal apiece in a 4-1 victory over Getafe in La Liga.

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Gladbach's quick treble condemns Bayern to first league loss

BERLIN (Reuters) - In-form Borussia Moenchengladbach struck three times in 14 minutes in the second half to floor champions Bayern Munich 3-1 on Saturday and inflict their first Bundesliga defeat of the season.

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Blatter to make case to FIFA ethics body in coming weeks: paper

ZURICH (Reuters) - Suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter said in a Swiss newspaper interview published on Saturday that he expects to make his case to the ethics committee of soccer's governing body in the coming weeks.

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Selangor goalie wants Dickson stopped at all cost

PETALING JAYA: Selangor goalkeeper Norazlan Razali wants his team-mates to shackle Pahang’s Dickson Nwakaeme at all cost.

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No joy for Malaysian shuttlers in Bangladesh

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia suffered a triple blow on a disappointing final day at the Bangladesh International Challenge in Dhaka.

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All smiles for Boon Heong-Kien Keat as Olympic ticket within grasp

KUALA LUMPUR: Independent shuttlers Tan Boon Heong-Koo Kien Keat can afford a big smile nowadays.

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Real thrown out of Cup over ineligible player - Cadena Ser

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid have been thrown out of the King's Cup after they used an ineligible player in Wednesday's last 32, first leg match at third-tier Cadiz, Spanish radio station Cadena Ser reported on Friday.

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Precious confidence like a small flower, says Liverpool's Klopp

LONDON (Reuters) - Confidence is blooming at Liverpool under new manager Juergen Klopp but the German knows the precious commodity, "like a small flower", could be destroyed if his side allow complacency to slip in ahead of Sunday's visit to Newcastle United.

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Survival still the priority for Leicester, says Ranieri

(Reuters) - Leicester City sit second in the Premier League, trailing Manchester City only on goal difference, and have the league's leading scorer in Jamie Vardy but manager Claudio Ranieri says top flight survival remains their top priority.

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City's Hart to return at Stoke, Aguero doubtful

(Reuters) - Manchester City keeper Joe Hart could make his return from injury against Stoke City, but manager Manuel Pellegrini will still be without seven players when the Premier League leaders visit the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

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Coach Sathia doesn’t mind returning to Kelantan

PETALING JAYA: B. Sathianathan has no qualms about coaching Kelantan again.

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Hasselbaink appointed manager of QPR

LONDON (Reuters) - Former Dutch international Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has been named as new manager of Queens Park Rangers, the Championship (second tier) club announced on Friday.

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Wei Feng’s the hero for Kepong in Purple League

KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore SEA Games champion Chong Wei Feng was Kepong Badminton Club’s hero, clinching the winning point against Klang United in the Resorts World Genting Purple League.

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An unfortunate day for Malaysian shuttlers in Malang

KUALA LUMPUR: Malang lived up to its name for Malaysian shuttlers as all of them were wiped out from the Indonesian Masters.

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BAM’s Frost needs Chong Wei to play Thomas Cup qualifier

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will not let Lee Chong Wei skip the Asia Team Championships in Hyderabad, India, from Feb 15-21.

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Tottenham's Pochettino eyes striker addition in January

(Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino hopes to sign an out-and-out striker in the January transfer window to ease the burden on Harry Kane but the Argentine said maintaining team balance was more important than adding to the squad.

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United are different but not boring, says West Ham's Bilic

(Reuters) - Manchester United are different from the successful side under former boss Alex Ferguson but they are anything but boring, West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has said ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash against Louis van Gaal's men.

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Teck Zhi and Iskandar advance in Indonesia

KUALA LUMPUR: It was a day to savour for Malaysia’s singles shuttlers Soo Teck Zhi and Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin at the Indonesian Masters.

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Malaysia move up in FIFA world ranking… one spot

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is now ranked No. 170 in the world – up one rung after FIFA released its rankings list on Thursday.

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Let’s get the job done first, says Selangor goalie

GEORGE TOWN: Selangor goalkeeper Norazlan Razali refuses to accept full praise for keeping Selangor alive in the Malaysia Cup semi-finals against Pahang.

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Red-faced Real look to bounce back after cup fiasco

MADRID (Reuters) - Under-fire Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez must rally his players for the visit of Getafe with the possible elimination from the King’s Cup for fielding an ineligible player just the latest setback in a turbulent first season.

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FIFA delays decision on 40-team World Cup

ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA's executive committee approved a package of planned reforms on Thursday aimed at cleaning up soccer's scandal-plagued world governing body, proposing term limits for senior officials and increased representation for women.

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Well done Son for helping Puchong go second in Purple League

KUALA LUMPUR: South Korea’s Son Wan-ho gave Puchong United BC a huge lift at the Resorts World Genting Purple League.

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Here’s your chance to see Chong Wei and wife pair up

KUALA LUMPUR: Fancy watching Lee Chong Wei partnering his wife Wong Mew Choo in mixed doubles?

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Let the ‘kids’ play, says Chong Wei as he reveals 2016 plans

KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Chong Wei will only hang up his racquet after the 2017 SEA Games here. In the meantime he hopes BAM will expose the youngsters at next year's Thomas Cup qualifiers in February.

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Real face Cup disqualification for fielding ineligible player

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Real Madrid are set be thrown out of the Spanish King's Cup after playing banned Russian winger Denis Cheryshev in their last-32 win over Cadiz on Wednesday.

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Swiss authorities make more arrests in FIFA corruption scandal - NYT

ZURICH/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Law enforcement officials made more arrests on Thursday in the ongoing investigation of football's world governing body FIFA, at least some of them in a pre-dawn raid on a hotel in Zurich, Swiss authorities and the New York Times said.

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Liverpool hit Saints for six to reach League Cup semis

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool ran riot to reach the League Cup semi-finals with a 6-1 thrashing of Southampton on Wednesday in which Divock Origi grabbed a hat-trick and Daniel Sturridge scored twice as the Juergen Klopp juggernaut rolled on.

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Cahill signs new four-year Chelsea deal

LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea's England defender Gary Cahill has signed a new four-year contract that will keep him at the club until 2019, the Premier League champions said in a statement.

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Benzema insists he has done nothing wrong in sextape scandal

PARIS (Reuters) - France and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema insisted on Wednesday he has done nothing wrong after being put under investigation in France in connection with an alleged attempt to blackmail a fellow international with the use of a sex video.

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Pahang’s defence of Malaysia Cup hits a snag

GEORGE TOWN: Pahang’s quest for a third successive Malaysia Cup title hit a speed bump when they were held to a goalless draw at home in the Malaysia Cup semi-final, first leg.

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Gutsy doubles pair Mei Kuan-Pei Jing progress in Indonesia

PETALING JAYA: Women’s pair Chow Mei Kuan-Lai Pei Jing just keeps getting better.

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Southampton hurting after sale of key players - Koeman

(Reuters) - Sale of key players could hurt Southampton's chances of finishing in the European places this season, manager Ronald Koeman has said.

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Gary Neville appointed Valencia coach - La Liga club

(Reuters) - Former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville is the new boss of Valencia -- his first managerial post.

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Old guards steer PJ to emphatic win in Purple League

PETALING JAYA: Petaling Jaya Badminton Club tapped on the wealth of experience of former national shuttlers Mohd Hafiz Hashim and Koo Kien Keat to emphatically thrash the Kajang Badminton Club in the Resorts World Genting Purple League.

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Man City's Aguero and Hart could be fit for Stoke clash

(Reuters) - Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero and goalkeeper Joe Hart could return from injury in time for Saturday's Premier League game against Stoke City, manager Manuel Pellegrini has said.

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Man City, Stoke, Everton down underdogs to make Cup semis

LONDON (Reuters) - The plucky underdogs were brought down to earth as Manchester City, Everton and Stoke City reached the League Cup semi-finals on Tuesday, ending the hopes of second-tier sides who felled fancied opponents in the last round.

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Singapore police re-arrest alleged match-fixer Tan - report

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singaporean police have again arrested alleged match-fixer Dan Tan, almost a week after a court in the city state freed him from more than two years of detention, the state-owned Channel NewsAsia (CNA) reported on Tuesday.

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Klopp gives goalkeeper Mignolet vote of confidence

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool are happy with the form of Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and are not looking for a replacement, manager Juergen Klopp said on Tuesday.

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AFF propose to lower age for SEA Games football

PETALING JAYA: The Asean Football Federation will propose to the South-East Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) for the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games Under-23 football competition be made an Under-21 tournament.

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FAM suspend bungling refs in PKNS-Kedah match

PETALING JAYA: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) referees’ committee have taken four bumbling match officials to task.

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Chelsea submit plans for new 60,000-seat stadium

LONDON (Reuters) - Premier League champions Chelsea have submitted a planning application to re-develop their Stamford Bridge ground into a new 60,000-seater stadium, the club said on Tuesday.

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Korean doubles ace Yeon-seong gunning for more honours

KUALA LUMPUR: South Korean world No. 1 men’s doubles pair Yoo Yeon-seong-Lee Yong-dae have a chilling message for their rivals: “We can only get better!”

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Doubles pair Juan Shen-Kian Meng game to step up

PETALING JAYA: Low Juan Shen-Tan Kian Meng are relishing the challenge of stepping up to become an established men’s doubles pair in the national set-up.

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