Reasons why Barca determined to keep Pep Guardiola

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell says he will do everything in his power to persuade Pep Guardiola to extend his stay.Guardiola, despite having achieved outstanding success since taking charge of the first-team in 2008, has always declined the opportunity to sign a long-term deal and instead renewed his contract year on year.

He has said that he does not intend to remain at Barca for an extended period, and there has been much talk that he could take charge of a club in Italy or Qatar, where he concluded his playing days.In an interview with Sport on Friday, Guardiola said: "Listen, every day I think that tomorrow I am leaving. When you manage something, you have to always think that tomorrow you could go."I work better if I think I have the freedom to decide my future. Being tied to a contract for a long time makes me anxious and that can make you lose your passion."

Dempsey nets winner

Clint Dempsey netted his 23rd career goal for the United States against Honduras to give them their first win under new coach Jurgen Klinsmann. On a wet night in Miami, the U.S. had plenty of chances, but Dempsey's 36th minute goal was only one of the game and, in fact, goalkeeper Tim Howard was called into action on more than one occasion to ensure that the home side left with a clean sheet. Youngster Brek Shea provided the assist for Dempsey, as he slid the ball across the box for the Fulham midfielder to coolly slot home with his left foot, but in the second half he missed an open goal as he slipped while only a few yards out. Dempsey also had a late headed goal ruled out for pushing, but it did not prove costly as Honduras were unable to mount a final challenge.

Nigeria and Egypt fail to qualify for African Nations Cup

Samson Siasia's men have failed to qualify along with some other big hitters

Nigeria have failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations for the first time since 1986 after a last-minute goal from Guinea saw them draw their final qualifier 2-2.Against the run of play, Ismael Bangoura gave Guinea the lead in the second half but Victor Obinna levelled. Nigeria then went ahead as substitute Ike Uche scored, but Ibrahim Diallo struck with seconds remaining to knock out the Super Eagles who join African giants Cameroon and Egypt in failing to make it to the tournament hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

"We want to apologise to all Nigerians. We have not qualified for the Nations Cup and we take responsibility as a team," coach Samson Siasia said. "We did our best, we dominated the game, we created chances, but we failed to take our chances and we gave up a last minute goal. We understand the frustration of the fans because they love their team so much. But sometimes, football can be cruel."

UEFA fines barcelona 110.000 euros

According to both Mundo Deportivo and Sport, UEFA has fined FC Barcelona 110,000 euros for two infractions that took place at the stadium in Mónaco during the European Super Cup.Part of the sanction concerns the incidents perpetuated by a group of azulgrana fans in Mónaco, who among other things were responsible for the presence of flares in the stands of the Louis II Stadium during the match.The second infraction was the delay caused by Barça’s late arrival on the pitch to start the second half. Barça will now have ten days to appeal the UEFA’s decision.

FC Barcelona officials signs deal with automaker AUDI

FC Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has been a busy man extending deals and signing new ones. The Catalan club renewed its sponsorship agreement with the German auto company Audi until 2014. An official sponsor of the club since 2006, Audi apart from being a “premium partner” will now also be the club’s official car, “anywhere in the world“, as reported by the club’s official site. While the amount agreed wasn’t disclosed, we hope that it was worth the buck because the German company now enjoys innumerable benefits of the increasingly-popular Barca brand. “The new sponsorship deal allows Audi to expand their rights of association and the use of the Barça image for promotion at national and international level,

A Wolf in Africa

Big media presence for Tuesday’s Champions League semi

The game against Madrid on Tuesday is going to be covered by a record number of media representatives, with nearly a thousand photographers, commentators, cameramen and technical staff accredited for the clash.A total of 965 professionals, representing 190 different media outlets from 33 countries will attend the game. 224 countries are showing the game live.

Barcelona and Real Madrid Love Affair

Two fans provide a rare demonstration of good will between Real Madrid and Barca in a week of animosity. The millions of fans who tuned in to last week's first leg at the Bernabeu expecting fireworks of the football variety from two teams teeming with attacking talent were left bitterly disappointed by an encounter that was explosive for all the wrong reasons. From both sides' unpalatable histrionics to Jose Mourinho's unsavoury accusations, those who had been promised a footballing feast prior to kick-off were still feeling famished after 90 fiery minutes.

Guardiola: “attack, but with common sense”

Pep Guardiola has called on his team to show Catalan common sense in tomorrow’s game, which he predicts will be: “a terribly hard game”.Guardiola gave a clear message to his players and the fans ahead of Tuesday’s game: “we’ll have to attack, but with common sense. Just like the people do where we come from. Tomorrow we can show what we are as a team. We have to dominate like we did at the Bernabeu. We have to be prepared, because it will be terribly hard, from the footballing point of view and emotionally too. We have to move the ball quickly, make it fly. I know that the 100,000 fans at the ground will help us”.

Owen praise for Hernandez

Manchester United striker Michael Owen says Javier Hernandez's emergence at Old Trafford has put him in the shade and claims the Mexican is a better version of his current self.With his two-year contract due to expire in the summer, it is now anticipated Owen will be leaving the club this summer and one of the reasons for that will be Hernandez's stellar form since his arrival at Old Trafford as a virtual unknown from Mexican club side Chivas.There are plenty who make a direct comparison between the 22-year-old's rapid movement and Owen and while the former England striker is not convinced it is true of his early days, Owen accepts there are obvious similarities.

Abidal, Iniesta fit for Barcelona

Barcelona defender Eric Abidal, who had surgery on a liver tumour in March, was given the all-clear on Monday and included in the squad for Tuesday's Champions League match against Real Madrid.Barca coach Pep Guardiola said Abidal would probably not play in the semi-final second leg at the Nou Camp, but his return is still good news for the La Liga leaders, who have lost defenders Adriano, Maxwell and Gabriel Milito to injury.

Play of the Game: CR lost in Barca's triangle

Referee mistakes against Barca (Under Guardiola era)

Getafe confirm Dubai deal

Getafe president Angel Torres has confirmed the sale of the La Liga club to the Royal Emirates Group for a fee of up to 90 million euros.The Dubai-based Royal Emirates Group announced they had completed the takeover last Thursday, before Torres reportedly said the next day that a deal had not been finalised.After four days of limbo, Torres has now confirmed that the sale will go through, bringing with it a much-needed increase in the club’s budget to approximately 65 million euros.

Reina: I'm happy at Liverpool

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has declared his intention to stay at Anfield next season, claiming the club is ready to compete for trophies once more.Reina's future has been the subject of speculation and he appeared to be dissatisfied by Liverpool's struggles earlier this season. But the club have regained their status as a Premier League force since Kenny Dalglish took over from Roy Hodgson in January following the takeover by Fenway Sports Group.Although European qualification might be out of Liverpool's reach for next season, Reina is pleased with the way the club is heading and vowed to be a part of what he believes could be a successful new era.Reina, 28, told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope: "I am happy, calm and comfortable here. I am looking towards the future which I reckon will bring a lot of happiness and hopefully the new project with the new American owners will be a convincing one. Obviously [Rafael] Benítez brought me here but that doesn't mean that I'm unhappy with Dalglish, quite the opposite. I think he's the ideal man for Liverpool at this moment.