Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
After guiding Arsenal to an UEFA Champions League spot for the 17th consecutive season, Arsene Wenger is ready to commit to the club.
Following Arsenal’s 1-0 victory against West Bromwich Albion, Wenger told reporters that, despite not having signed a new contract, they’ll see him again next season, hinting that he’s likely to put his John Hancock on a new deal.
“You will see me again,” Wenger said. “It was of course important to be in the Champions League,” he said. “It’s not linked with my commitment, it’s linked with the fact that I feel I am useful.
“If I had moments of doubt they would have been a few years ago when I had to say ‘no’ to many offers. I committed to this club under a lot of pressure. My word is my word and I’m from an ancestral period where you don’t need a pen to commit.”
Arsenal face Norwich City in the final English Premier League game of the season before facing Hull City in the FA Cup final on May 17.
ANCELOTTI BLAMES FATIGUE FOR DRAW
Real Madrid surprised fans across the world with their 2-2 draw against Valencia, losing control of their destiny in the race to become La Liga champions.
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti claimed that his side paid the price for having played a difficult game against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, and that they now face three must-win games to close out the league schedule.
“The problem has been above all physical as Atlético de Madrid and Chelsea have had the same problem,” Ancelotti said following the match. “When you play a Champions League semi-final, it’s normal that on the following Sunday you can’t play with the same intensity. We have paid for the previous game.
“We have lost an opportunity, but it wasn’t so great. Now a draw is fine for Atlético in the last game if we win our last two games but we need to be very focused.”
SUAREZ WINS FWA PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Luis Suarez bagged his second individual piece of silverware on Monday after being named the Football Writer’s Association Player of the Year.
The 27-year-old Uruguayan beat out teammate Steven Gerrard and Manchester City’s Yaya Toure for this season’s honors. Suarez leads the Premier League with 30 goals in 31 league matches.
Suarez received 52 percent of the votes, which came from more than 300 journalists in the FWA. Suarez was already named Player of the Year by the Professional Footballers’ Association.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA RELEASE PROVISIONAL WORLD CUP SQUAD
Bosnia and Herzegovina became the first nation participating in the World Cup to release their provisional squad.
Though head coach Safet Susic had the option of picking up to 30 players, he only listed 24 players to his squad. The squad is lead by Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, Bayer Leverkusen defender Emir Spahic, AS Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic, and Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko.
Interestingly enough, Susic has only listed three forwards on his squad – Vedad Ibisevic, Edin Visca, and Dzeko – while listing 11 midfielders.
QUICK KICKS
Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge won’t stop Thomas Müller from leaving the club if the German international demands a transfer this summer. (REPORT)
Italian National Team Cesare Prandelli says his World Cup preparations are ahead of schedule after having a chance for his prospective players to undergo fitness tests a few weeks ago. (REPORT)
Netherlands National Team boss Louis Van Gaal has called up a 20-man squad of Netherlands-based players for a preliminary training camp before welcoming all his foreigners into the team. (REPORT)
Former Real Madrid boss Bernd Schuster is linked with the Eintracht Frankfurt job, with current coach . (REPORT)
Manchester United target Ander Herrera has poured cold water on the hot rumors that Man United would attempt to sign him this summer, saying he’d prefer to remain with Athletic Bilbao. (REPORT)
Juventus have entered the sweepstakes to try and sign Fiorentina full back Juan Cuadrado. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these reports? Do you see Wenger signing a new deal as soon as the season finishes? Do you believe Real Madrid are suffering from fatigue? Agree with Suarez receiving the Player of the Year award?
Share your thoughts below.