Mourinho remains interested in Wayne Rooney.

Jose Mourinho claimed on Friday that Manchester United are ready to sell Wayne Rooney in the summer.

The Chelsea manager cranked up the heat ahead of Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash against United by

 suggesting Old Trafford chiefs will look to offload Rooney to an overseas club at the end of the season.

Rooney is expected to miss Sunday's game with a groin injury but United are considering risking him and he could travel with the team.

Mourinho remains interested in the England striker, having failed in a bid to land him last summer, but he said: ‘United were clear in the way they approached the Rooney situation.

‘They don’t swap. They don’t sell. I don’t see that changing, they were very clear about that.

‘Will it be the same this summer? I think maybe this summer they will try to sell to a non-direct rival. But they were very clear, not to a domestic direct rival.’

Mourinho will return for Rooney at the end of the season but his barbs at United are not likely to help his attempts to land the forward.

The Chelsea boss said earlier this week he had inside information about the mood at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese told London’s Evening Standard newspaper: ‘My feeling, which is based on years of communicating with Sir Alex and some inside information, is Man United are not happy, but they are calm.’

David Moyes, whose side trail third-placed Chelsea by nine points, yesterday said Mourinho had apologised to him for those comments.

‘I have seen it and I have had an apology from the Chelsea media department and from Jose.’

Moyes refused to be drawn about the possible departure of Rooney but said he would not talk about players at rival clubs.

‘I wouldn’t do it but everybody has their own style,’ said Moyes. ‘I can’t tell you what Jose’s motivation is but only time will give you the answer about Wayne.’

Rooney has 18 months left on his contract, meaning United may be forced to sell him this summer to ensure they do not lose him for nothing at the end of next season.

But Moyes, who revealed Rooney has returned to light training at the club’s Carrington HQ following a warm-weather break in Egypt,  re-iterated the club will try to extend the striker’s deal.

He said: ‘The club will deal with that. They will do all the things they need to do, no question.’

Mourinho yesterdayThe pair have a close relationship off the pitch and Mourinho admitted he was nervous when Ferguson trusted him with his secret.

‘I knew a couple of weeks before the announcement because my friend (Ferguson) was nice to me and trusted me completely,’ said the Chelsea boss.

‘He told me something really important before the press. He said I was one of his best friends in football so he wanted me to know before I read about it. 

‘I was afraid because I was sure someone might leak and the boss might think it had come from me. But it would never have.

‘It was the same way he knew from me I was coming back to Chelsea.

Arsène Wenger is ready to sign a new contract.

Arsène Wenger has given the strongest indication yet that he is ready to sign a new contract with Arsenal and feels people are finally starting to believe in the club again as they challenge for major honours.

The Arsenal manager’s future has been called into question following his failure to put pen to paper on a new deal. Wenger is out of contract at the end of the season and there have been suggestions that this could be his final year in English football.Following eight barren years without a trophy, Wenger stated last summer that heWhen asked if that meant he had already made his decision on a new contract, Wenger replied: “You can take of that sentence the way you want it.”

The fact Arsenal are top of the Premier League and have shown they are ready to challenge the big teams once again has given Wenger the desire to prolong his 18-year stay in north London.

Wenger added: “What I said (at the start of the season) is I can deliver the quality, because people were questioning that. I said: 'OK, I can listen to that and I want to make sure I can deliver.’ My commitment has never been a problem.

“We have gone from a club who looked like they didn’t have the ambition to be capable to fight. What has changed, with bringing players in like Özil and not losing our players, is that suddenly people believe again and that we can fight.

“We are in a strong position that people, the fans, want you to be capable to compete and fight for the top.”

Arsenal will be looking to maintain their position as league leaders with another victory against Fulham on Saturday at Emirates Stadium. Wenger is enjoying the challenge of fighting for the title once again, but is adamant the pressure was much more intense last season when he was trying to help his side secure a top-four finish.

“It was much more difficult last year than this year. When you are fifth or sixth and you have to convince everybody you will make it to be in the top four, that you have to push and not make any mistake because you know that from now until the end of the season with ten games to go you cannot drop one point.

“It is like bringing a boat into a port with no room for going an inch right or left or the whole boat explodes. When you are in our position today it is natural motivation, natural incitement to go. It is easier psychologically.” wanted to see his team delivering on the pitch and showing him that they had the quality to challenge for success.

With the north London club mounting their strongest challenge to win the Premier League title since 2008 after smashing their transfer record to sign Mesut Özil last summer, Wenger has a new-found appetite and is determined to bring more success back to Emirates Stadium.

Wenger said: “There is always a point where you have to decide, of course. There is a point where you have to decide and there is a point where you have to make your decision public."

Crystal Palace v Stoke City:Pulis hosts his former club Stoke City

Tony Pulis faces Stoke City on Saturday for the first time since his departure last year. It promises to be an emotional afternoon for the baseball-capped Crystal Palace manager.

He has famously never been relegated as a manager but survival this season would eclipse any of his achievements in the Potteries – and how he would dearly love to beat the side he took from the doldrums to dizzy heights in seven years.

In 2006 Stoke were in the Championship, their players forced to train in portable buildings on fields scattered with dog mess, but Pulis – reappointed by lifelong fan and owner Peter Coates – dragged the club up by their dirty bootlaces before embarking on an odyssey few could have predicted.

The decision to bring the Welshman back for a second spell was controversial at the time. “I thought he was the man who could get us promoted on a sensible budget and he did it in two years, which was probably better than I expected,” said Coates.

“You have to learn quickly when you get into the Premier League and we had to hit the ground running. I don’t think any of us could have imagined what was to follow.”

What followed was a stirring segment in Stoke’s history and their progress is now a blueprint for many clubs aiming to sustain themselves among the elite.

After delivering promotion Pulis had five years at the top table, an FA Cup final and a sojourn into the Europa League where they reached the last 32, creating an art form out of putting noses out of joint.

Pulis had £8 million signings on the bench, years after targets had ridiculed the prospect of moving to the Britannia Stadium. His dedication was never more evident than in September 2010 when, hours after the death of his mother Jean, he returned to the dugout in the second half to inspire his team to victory over Aston Villa.

Perhaps inevitably, however, the journey had to end and in May he departed, following months of uncertainty over his future.

The reasons for his exit remain a mystery, but the poor results in 2013 are not believed to be significant. The perceived lack of entertainment is the general feeling while his demands to prevent complacency alienated influential members of the board behind the scenes.

“I took them as far as the club wanted me to take them, and that was fine,” said Pulis. “I can sit back and look at what we achieved. There are too many great moments which stand out there. The great thing about leaving a football club you have been at for so long is that it was very amicable.”

Pulis is uncertain of the reception he will receive from Stoke’s travelling fans, but many plan to wear baseball caps as a tribute.

Coates, who was 76 this week, insisted Pulis's achievements will never be forgotten. “We had some good times, brought in some tremendous players and obviously went far in Europe. We left on good terms and remain friends.

“He’s a great appointment for Palace and he will use every trick in the book to keep them in the league. We had seven great years with Tony and we now hope to have seven great years with Mark Hughes.”

Like Pulis, the appointment of Hughes polarised opinions, largely due to that excruciating spell with Queens Park Rangers, but there have been tangible signs of progress over the past three months.

Hughes’s teams, when they have succeeded, have proved uncompromising but not short of flair and Stoke aim to steadily evolve, rather than throw away the principles that served them so well.

There is a focus on more possession and passing this season and Stoke are certainly less direct.

Pulis always used to scoff at criticism over his approach yet Palace observers have insisted they are playing more attractive football under him than they did under predecessor Ian Holloway.

Kevin Phillips was at Palace when Pulis was appointed.

“To be brutally honest Tony came in at a time when there wasn’t an awful lot wrong and it was an easy transition,” he said. “He’s very disciplined and made it very clear what he wanted from the team early on. He’s made Palace defensively tight and invites teams to attack. They soak up pressure and then hit teams on the counter-attack, using pace and width.”

Pulis’s mission would be enhanced by new signings but so far the transfer window has proven a slog. He is working with one of the smallest budgets in the league and has seen countless approaches for players collapse due to Palace’s wage structure.

Steve Parish, the chairman, has taken a short break in the Caribbean so Pulis is expected to do the majority of his business in the last week.

“Palace is a very good club and it’s remarkable to think we are now in the Premier League,” he said. “Two and a half years ago the club nearly went out of business but now we’re getting Manchester United and Arsenal at Selhurst Park.

“There is still a lot of work to be done, with the squad, the academy and the structure, to get it up to standard. When you look at the football club and where it is, survival here would be as big an achievement as anything I have done during my career.”

City are the best team in the Premier League

Manchester City are what football is meant to look like these days, and their manager Manuel Pellegrini is blasting his way to a lot of trophies.

None of the current Premier League title contenders is a patch on City at the moment as they chase their 100th goal of the season against Cardiff City on Saturday.

I would expect City to win more than one trophy this term. Definitely. I picked Chelsea for the title at the start of the season and I can hardly jump ship now. If Chelsea do end up as champions it will be a triumph of tactics because City are certainly playing the best football. They are blitzing teams. By the time they play Barcelona in the Champions League they may even be slight favourites. Only Bayern Munich would be shorter odds in a one-off game.

Alvaro Negredo was in my fantasy team at the start of the season, which raised the odd eyebrow. I feel vindicated now. Sergio Agüero is their No 1 striker but I am a huge fan of Negredo. City bought the best of the available Spanish strikers. Negredo is a real finisher. He strikes the ball hard and strikes it true. He can score with both feet and his head. He is almost an English type of striker. He can take a bang, he use

At the start of the season I did not assume Pellegrini would play with two strikers. His formation is basically 4-4-2, which goes against the favoured system in today’s game. There is a willingness on City’s part to go toe-to-toe with everyone. The message is: we will score more goals than you. And they have so many different avenues to go down, not least from right-back, where Pablo Zabaleta, who has so much energy, is superb

Everywhere you look, you see goals, you see a threat. Set-pieces, through the centre-backs, are another example. One note of caution was sounded by Bayern Munich in the Champions League group stage, at the Etihad, where Bayern flooded the midfield and controlled the ball for much of the game.

In Europe, City could come unstuck if they leave the central midfield area exposed. They did against Bayern at home and paid the price.

But City are far and away the best team in the Premier League, in my eyes, though the best team are not always champions in May. In domestic competitions, league and cups, City can feel confident playing the way they do. Against the very best, in Europe, they might have to change the make-up of the team. But why change it now, when they are on the verge of 100 goals, and when no team can cope with them?

Against Barcelona, in the round of 16, they may not have to sacrifice a striker so much as use one in a different position. For example one could drop back in to the left. After the Bayern Munich experience at home I would expect Pellegrini to use a little more caution and show a little more respect to the biggest opponents. In those games the intricacies can tip a game either way. In general, though, he has it spot on.

Agüero’s name was barely mentioned at the Ballon d’Or but he is in the highest rank of strikers. Six of the world’s best forwards can be found in three high-class partnerships at City, Manchester United and Liverpool.

Agüero is everything you would want him to be: strong, quick committed, prolific. The only thing he lacks is height, yet he still scores with his head. Already we have seen that he is back to his best after a spell out with injury.

With such an abundance of strikers, you have to look elsewhere for vulnerabilities – in areas where the back-up is not quite so strong. If Vincent Kompany or Yaya Touré were injured I would feel more anxious for City. They are the two players you would dread losing, which is not to understate the importance of Agüero.

City’s two centre-halves sit back while the full-backs bomb on. The other day Didi Hamann provoked a reaction by saying Touré is not always mindful of his defensive responsibilities. The adverse response to those comments surprised me because I also see him as an attacking midfielder.

Every time I have seen him he has been at his best going forward. He has so much ability it is hard for him to stay deep and dictate play from there.

His talents carry him forward. When play is building up you see him ghosting towards the box, not looking back to see what he is leaving behind.

He is an attack-minded player, which sums up City’s team. Although they play two in the central midfield area, at least one of them tends to be attack-minded. Add the full-backs bombing forward and you have quite a potent mix.

Pellegrini has raised the confidence of these players to an impressive level so that everything is flowing for them. Just about every City player is performing to the peak of his ability. If you can establish that in the dressing room you have a happy group and the results will follow.

There is no need to be a world-class tactician. You just let good players do their stuff. There is no tactical innovation with Pellegrini. He just has everyone in their best positions, playing with freedom, and they are repaying him with goals.

All the good things going on behind the scenes will encourage these players to feel that this is their time, their era.

They are responding well to the demands being placed on them, after United took the title back off them last May.

The atmosphere around the club is vital. Pellegrini has put a smile on everyone’s face and you never hear anything about cliques or conflicts. People underestimate just how important a happy atmosphere is at a football club.

Joe Hart’s loss of form, for example, was handled well by Pellegrini. He knew what he was doing. It was a bigger issue to everyone in England than it was to him. We were all panicking about our goalkeeping situation but to Pellegrini it was a problem that could be resolved by taking Joe out of the line of fire, to let him breathe.

His calm demeanour inspires confidence. You assume he is doing the right thing. He is self-assured, just like City, with their avalanche of goals.

 

• 
  

 

 

January transfer window, top players and targets

Fabio Coentrao move to Old Trafford on loan

Man United have reportedly agreed terms with Real Madrid on a deal that would see wing-back Fabio Coentrao move to Old Trafford on an initial loan spell according to the Daily Express.

Boss David Moyes attempted to sign the 25 year old last summer but a deadline day deal faltered though it seems the Premier League side have been more successful in their approach for the Portuguese international this time around.

The former Benfica man has started just four La Liga fixtures this season and will apparently move to Man United on a six month deal which could lead to a permanent move in the summer, with veteran French international Patrice Evra expected to leave the club at the end of the season when his current contract comes to a close.

Carlo Ancelotti clearly sees Brazilian Marcelo as his first choice left-back now and as such can afford to allow Coentrao move to Man United.

Coentrao will hope to secure some much needed first team football ahead of the 2014 World Cup finals.

Manchester United target Ilkay Gundogan

Manchester United target Ilkay Gundogan has warned that he will not be rushed into a decision over his future at Borussia Dortmund.

Gundogan, 23, will be out of contract next year and Dortmund are desperate to tie him to a new deal after seeing Mario Goetze and Robert Lewandowski defect to rivals Bayern Munich. United are also tracking their £40million-‘It’s still really open,’ he told Sport Bild. ‘Dortmund are my first point of contact. I will make a considered decision soon but I am keeping my options open at this point.

David Moyes faces competition from Real Madrid for Gundogan, who is valued at £25m, but the midfielder has not played since August because of a back problem and insists that he will take his time before deciding on his next move.

‘I will get back to my best. I believe that this period has made me better and I’ll come back stronger. But it’s difficult to predict when I will play again.’

Meanwhile, Lewandowski claims that five Barclays Premier League clubs were among the 12 teams chasing his signature before he decided to join Munich at the end of the season.

Nemanja Matic returned to Stamford Bridge from Benfica for £21million,

Chelsea have confirmed that Nemanja Matic has returned to Stamford Bridge from Benfica for £21million, with the Serbia international signing a five-and-a-half-year deal.

The 25-year-old, who will wear the No 21 shirt, originally departed Chelsea as part of the deal which saw David Luiz move to west London from Benfica three years ago but is now back with the Blues.

Matic struggled to make an impact during his first spell at the club, spending a season on loan at Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem before heading to Portugal.

Rooney set to miss Chelsea clash

Wayne Rooney is unlikely to be fit for Manchester United’s trip to Chelsea on Sunday, with the England striker only rated as 50-50 for the Capital One Cup semi-final against Sunderland three days later.

The United players were given Wednesday off but Rooney is expected back into Carrington on Thursday following his warm-weather break in Egypt.

He has been doing some fitness work with United’s head of human performance Richard Hawkins – who accompanied him on a similar trip to Portland in 2010 – as well as spending time with his wife Coleen and their young family.

Although it is understood to have gone well, United are reluctant to risk Rooney at Stamford Bridge despite the importance of the game and continued absence of his strike partner Robin van Persie.

David Moyes has been trying to manage the problem by playing Rooney in only three of the last eight matches, but the United boss admitted that has failed to cure the problem.

‘We look as if we could bring him in but then he may have to drop out again, so we just want to nip it in the bud,’ said Moyes last week.

‘He also needs a bit of strengthening work in that area, so he will continue working (in Egypt) because I want to keep him in good shape. We’ve sent somebody with him and hopefully we can get him back and ready to go again.’

Hawkins has been reporting back to United’s medical staff who will assess Rooney’s progress on Thursday.

Moyes may yet be tempted to take a gamble on him at Chelsea but the indications are that Rooney faces a race to be fit for the Sunderland game on Wednesday when United try to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg.

Hull completed the record signing of the Croatian striker Jelavic from Everton.

Nikica Jelavic insists he has a 'great opportunity' at Hull after the club completed the record signing of the Croatian striker from Everton.

The Tigers announced the signing of the 28-year-old on a three-and-a-half-year deal and it is expected manager Steve Bruce will hand him his debut in Saturday's Barclays Premier League match at Norwich.

The club said the fee was undisclosed, but it is understood to be £6.5million rising to £7.5million if they stay in the Premier League.

Jelavic said: 'As soon as the manager called me I realised straight away that he was really interested in signing me and that it is a great opportunity for me to come here.

'It is a good club, and we have a good squad. We talked a little bit, but it didn't take long to realise that it was right for me.

'It's a newly-promoted club, but I can see straight away that there is a lot of ambition here within the club and I hope that we can build on the great start to the season and become a really strong Premier League team over the coming years.'

Jelavic played for Hajduk Split and Rapid Vienna before moving to Rangers, where he scored 36 goals in 54 games.

He then moved to Everton where he hit 21 goals in two years but saw his form tail off last season and has struggled to secure a starting place this term.

Crystal Palace, West Ham and QPR were also keen on his services, but the forward has now pledged his future to the KC Stadium outfit.

 

Cristiano Ronaldo crowned the best player in the world

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed the Fifa Ballon d'Or, beating off competition fromBarcelona's Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery to secure the award for a second time.

Although the 28-year-old Portuguese failed to claim a major trophy at club level, he has been crowned the world's outstanding footballer over the course of the last 12 months.

Messi had won each of the last four editions of the award, including all three since it was endorsed by Fifa, while Ribery played a pivotal part in a historic treble-winning season for the Bavarians, but Ronaldo's tally of 69 goals in 59 games for club and country in 2013 proved decisive.

Ronaldo previously won the award in 2008 as a Manchester United player, but has since finished runner-up to Messi on three occasions (in 2009, 2011 and 2012).

But as Messi missed much of 2013 through injury, Ronaldo took advantage as he helped Real reach the final of the Copa del Rey and the last four of the Champions League before signing a new deal with the capital club and enjoying his best-ever season start under new coach Carlo Ancelotti in the latter months of the year, as well as single-handedly firing Portugal to the World Cup with all four goals in his side's play-off victory against Portugal over two legs in November.

And the 28-year-old, who opened a museum in December in his native Madeira to display his personal collection of trophies, now has another Ballon d'Or to exhibit alongside his 2008 award.

The 28-year-old has won the prestigious award for the second time in his career after being crowned the best player in the world in Zurich on Monday evening

Cristiano Ronaldo voted the world's best player for 2013

Cristiano Ronaldo was overcome with emotion after being voted the world's best player for 2013 on Monday, ending his great rival Lionel Messi's dominance of the award.

Although he failed to win any major titles with Real Madrid last season, Ronaldo was rewarded for his immense goal-scoring prowess as he swept aside Messi, winner for the last four years, and Frenchman Franck Ribery.

"Thank you to everyone, my teammates, the national team and my family, to everyone here," the Portugal and Real Madrid forward said, choking with emotion after accepting the trophy.

"I can't speak," added Ronaldo, runner-up for three of the last four years, before breaking down.

Jupp Heynckes, now retired, was named coach of the year for the first time after leading Bayern Munich to an unprecedented Bundesliga, Cup and Champions League treble, a fitting end to a 48-year career as player and coach.

The Afghanistan Football Federation and fiery Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic were among other award winners.

Afghanistan was given the Fair Play award after staging its first home game for 10 years, a friendly against Pakistan.

Ibrahimovic won the Ferenc Puskas award for the best goal of the year, although his stunning overhead kick from near the touchline in a friendly against England was scored in 2012 and missed the deadline for last year's ceremony.

Cristiano Ronaldo voted the world's best player for 2013

Cristiano Ronaldo was overcome with emotion after being voted the world's best player for 2013 on Monday, ending his great rival Lionel Messi's dominance of the award.

Although he failed to win any major titles with Real Madrid last season, Ronaldo was rewarded for his immense goal-scoring prowess as he swept aside Messi, winner for the last four years, and Frenchman Franck Ribery.

"Thank you to everyone, my teammates, the national team and my family, to everyone here," the Portugal and Real Madrid forward said, choking with emotion after accepting the trophy.

"I can't speak," added Ronaldo, runner-up for three of the last four years, before breaking down.

Jupp Heynckes, now retired, was named coach of the year for the first time after leading Bayern Munich to an unprecedented Bundesliga, Cup and Champions League treble, a fitting end to a 48-year career as player and coach.

The Afghanistan Football Federation and fiery Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic were among other award winners.

Afghanistan was given the Fair Play award after staging its first home game for 10 years, a friendly against Pakistan.

Ibrahimovic won the Ferenc Puskas award for the best goal of the year, although his stunning overhead kick from near the touchline in a friendly against England was scored in 2012 and missed the deadline for last year's ceremony.

Cristiano Ronaldo voted the world's best player for 2013

Cristiano Ronaldo was overcome with emotion after being voted the world's best player for 2013 on Monday, ending his great rival Lionel Messi's dominance of the award.

Although he failed to win any major titles with Real Madrid last season, Ronaldo was rewarded for his immense goal-scoring prowess as he swept aside Messi, winner for the last four years, and Frenchman Franck Ribery.

"Thank you to everyone, my teammates, the national team and my family, to everyone here," the Portugal and Real Madrid forward said, choking with emotion after accepting the trophy.

"I can't speak," added Ronaldo, runner-up for three of the last four years, before breaking down.

Jupp Heynckes, now retired, was named coach of the year for the first time after leading Bayern Munich to an unprecedented Bundesliga, Cup and Champions League treble, a fitting end to a 48-year career as player and coach.

The Afghanistan Football Federation and fiery Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic were among other award winners.

Afghanistan was given the Fair Play award after staging its first home game for 10 years, a friendly against Pakistan.

Ibrahimovic won the Ferenc Puskas award for the best goal of the year, although his stunning overhead kick from near the touchline in a friendly against England was scored in 2012 and missed the deadline for last year's ceremony.

Cristiano Ronaldo voted the world's best player for 2013

Cristiano Ronaldo was overcome with emotion after being voted the world's best player for 2013 on Monday, ending his great rival Lionel Messi's dominance of the award.

Although he failed to win any major titles with Real Madrid last season, Ronaldo was rewarded for his immense goal-scoring prowess as he swept aside Messi, winner for the last four years, and Frenchman Franck Ribery.

"Thank you to everyone, my teammates, the national team and my family, to everyone here," the Portugal and Real Madrid forward said, choking with emotion after accepting the trophy.

"I can't speak," added Ronaldo, runner-up for three of the last four years, before breaking down.

Jupp Heynckes, now retired, was named coach of the year for the first time after leading Bayern Munich to an unprecedented Bundesliga, Cup and Champions League treble, a fitting end to a 48-year career as player and coach.

The Afghanistan Football Federation and fiery Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic were among other award winners.

Afghanistan was given the Fair Play award after staging its first home game for 10 years, a friendly against Pakistan.

Ibrahimovic won the Ferenc Puskas award for the best goal of the year, although his stunning overhead kick from near the touchline in a friendly against England was scored in 2012 and missed the deadline for last year's ceremony.

Cristiano Ronaldo voted the world's best player for 2013

Cristiano Ronaldo was overcome with emotion after being voted the world's best player for 2013 on Monday, ending his great rival Lionel Messi's dominance of the award.

Although he failed to win any major titles with Real Madrid last season, Ronaldo was rewarded for his immense goal-scoring prowess as he swept aside Messi, winner for the last four years, and Frenchman Franck Ribery.

"Thank you to everyone, my teammates, the national team and my family, to everyone here," the Portugal and Real Madrid forward said, choking with emotion after accepting the trophy.

"I can't speak," added Ronaldo, runner-up for three of the last four years, before breaking down.

Jupp Heynckes, now retired, was named coach of the year for the first time after leading Bayern Munich to an unprecedented Bundesliga, Cup and Champions League treble, a fitting end to a 48-year career as player and coach.

The Afghanistan Football Federation and fiery Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic were among other award winners.

Afghanistan was given the Fair Play award after staging its first home game for 10 years, a friendly against Pakistan.

Ibrahimovic won the Ferenc Puskas award for the best goal of the year, although his stunning overhead kick from near the touchline in a friendly against England was scored in 2012 and missed the deadline for last year's ceremony.

Pardew apologised for his foul-mouthed abuse of Manuel Pellegrini

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has apologised for his foul-mouthed abuse of opposite number Manuel Pellegrini as Manchester City went top of the Barclays Premier League in an ill-tempered clash at St James' Park.

Pardew was clearly caught shouting at Pellegrini towards the end of the first half as he and unhappy Newcastle supporters turned on referee Mike Jones and his officials after they disallowed a Cheick Tiote screamer.

Jones' assistant Stephen Child ruled Newcastle striker Yoan Gouffran had iThe unfortunate referee had to endure more than 10 minutes of angry jeering from a packed St James' and lost control of the game and players.

And when Pardew joined the protestations, and kicked a ball away from Pablo Zabaleta before a City throw-in, Pellegrini aimed some criticism at the Newcastle boss, who responded by calling the 60-year-old Chilean manager a '******* old ****'.

The incident was clearly picked up by TV cameras and was all over social media websites throughout the second half.

Afterwards, both managers attempted to play it down and a very contrite Pardew, 52, looked shocked his words had been seen and heard.nterfered with the vision of City keeper Joe Hart, and his ability to dive for Tiote's left foot strike as it flew into the top corner.Pardew said: 'I hear that what I said has been picked up and I apologise for my comments. It was a heat of the moment thing, words that we always have as managers, to a degree. I've apologised to him and I'm fortunate that he's accepted that.

'I have said I have apologised for that particular word. You know, we always tease each other and have words. What he said to me is going to remain private, but it didn't merit my response, to be honest.

'I was frustrated today. And I think most Newcastle fans were, but I did not complain at every decision.'' 

Pellegrini added: 'It is nothing important. I don't know what he said.

'I'm not surprised. It is impossible to complain at every referee decision during the match. I know they are playing at home and they have advantage but it is impossible. That is why I had a problem with Alan but it is nothing important.' 

Pellegrini clearly could not understand the fuss surrounding Newcastle's disallowed goal. 'It was a valid decision,' said the City boss. 'The player was clearly offside.' 

But Pardew was still fuming afterwards and went to see referee Jones to seek some clarification over his controversial decision which denied Tiote his first goal in three years.

The Newcastle boss said: 'It was a great moment for this football club to get a goal like that so if you're going to chalk it off you've got to make sure you've got the point right.

'My point was did he think Gouffran was interfering with Joe Hart and he said that "he was in the six yard box". I get that, the guy was recovering from an offside position but he didn't want anything to do with the play. He was not interfering with Joe Hart's vision.

'In fact it goes on the inside of him, it was City players impeding Joe's vision, not Gouffran. It's a real technical matter he's talking about here. And to chalk off a goal of that quality takes some doing. It set the tone for the rest of the game.

City were also unhappy with referee Jones for failing to send off Newcastle defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa for a late and wild tackle on Sami Nasri who left St James' with his left knee in a brace. 

He will have scans today but could be struggling to be fit for the World Cup Finals.

Pellegrini added: 'His injury is very serious. It was a very unfair kick. It was a red card. I don't understand why he was not sent off.'

Pardew apologised for his foul-mouthed abuse of Manuel Pellegrini

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has apologised for his foul-mouthed abuse of opposite number Manuel Pellegrini as Manchester City went top of the Barclays Premier League in an ill-tempered clash at St James' Park.

Pardew was clearly caught shouting at Pellegrini towards the end of the first half as he and unhappy Newcastle supporters turned on referee Mike Jones and his officials after they disallowed a Cheick Tiote screamer.

Jones' assistant Stephen Child ruled Newcastle striker Yoan Gouffran had iThe unfortunate referee had to endure more than 10 minutes of angry jeering from a packed St James' and lost control of the game and players.

And when Pardew joined the protestations, and kicked a ball away from Pablo Zabaleta before a City throw-in, Pellegrini aimed some criticism at the Newcastle boss, who responded by calling the 60-year-old Chilean manager a '******* old ****'.

The incident was clearly picked up by TV cameras and was all over social media websites throughout the second half.

Afterwards, both managers attempted to play it down and a very contrite Pardew, 52, looked shocked his words had been seen and heard.nterfered with the vision of City keeper Joe Hart, and his ability to dive for Tiote's left foot strike as it flew into the top corner.Pardew said: 'I hear that what I said has been picked up and I apologise for my comments. It was a heat of the moment thing, words that we always have as managers, to a degree. I've apologised to him and I'm fortunate that he's accepted that.

'I have said I have apologised for that particular word. You know, we always tease each other and have words. What he said to me is going to remain private, but it didn't merit my response, to be honest.

'I was frustrated today. And I think most Newcastle fans were, but I did not complain at every decision.'' 

Pellegrini added: 'It is nothing important. I don't know what he said.

'I'm not surprised. It is impossible to complain at every referee decision during the match. I know they are playing at home and they have advantage but it is impossible. That is why I had a problem with Alan but it is nothing important.' 

Pellegrini clearly could not understand the fuss surrounding Newcastle's disallowed goal. 'It was a valid decision,' said the City boss. 'The player was clearly offside.' 

But Pardew was still fuming afterwards and went to see referee Jones to seek some clarification over his controversial decision which denied Tiote his first goal in three years.

The Newcastle boss said: 'It was a great moment for this football club to get a goal like that so if you're going to chalk it off you've got to make sure you've got the point right.

'My point was did he think Gouffran was interfering with Joe Hart and he said that "he was in the six yard box". I get that, the guy was recovering from an offside position but he didn't want anything to do with the play. He was not interfering with Joe Hart's vision.

'In fact it goes on the inside of him, it was City players impeding Joe's vision, not Gouffran. It's a real technical matter he's talking about here. And to chalk off a goal of that quality takes some doing. It set the tone for the rest of the game.

City were also unhappy with referee Jones for failing to send off Newcastle defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa for a late and wild tackle on Sami Nasri who left St James' with his left knee in a brace. 

He will have scans today but could be struggling to be fit for the World Cup Finals.

Pellegrini added: 'His injury is very serious. It was a very unfair kick. It was a red card. I don't understand why he was not sent off.'

Pardew apologised for his foul-mouthed abuse of Manuel Pellegrini

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has apologised for his foul-mouthed abuse of opposite number Manuel Pellegrini as Manchester City went top of the Barclays Premier League in an ill-tempered clash at St James' Park.

Pardew was clearly caught shouting at Pellegrini towards the end of the first half as he and unhappy Newcastle supporters turned on referee Mike Jones and his officials after they disallowed a Cheick Tiote screamer.

Jones' assistant Stephen Child ruled Newcastle striker Yoan Gouffran had iThe unfortunate referee had to endure more than 10 minutes of angry jeering from a packed St James' and lost control of the game and players.

And when Pardew joined the protestations, and kicked a ball away from Pablo Zabaleta before a City throw-in, Pellegrini aimed some criticism at the Newcastle boss, who responded by calling the 60-year-old Chilean manager a '******* old ****'.

The incident was clearly picked up by TV cameras and was all over social media websites throughout the second half.

Afterwards, both managers attempted to play it down and a very contrite Pardew, 52, looked shocked his words had been seen and heard.nterfered with the vision of City keeper Joe Hart, and his ability to dive for Tiote's left foot strike as it flew into the top corner.Pardew said: 'I hear that what I said has been picked up and I apologise for my comments. It was a heat of the moment thing, words that we always have as managers, to a degree. I've apologised to him and I'm fortunate that he's accepted that.

'I have said I have apologised for that particular word. You know, we always tease each other and have words. What he said to me is going to remain private, but it didn't merit my response, to be honest.

'I was frustrated today. And I think most Newcastle fans were, but I did not complain at every decision.'' 

Pellegrini added: 'It is nothing important. I don't know what he said.

'I'm not surprised. It is impossible to complain at every referee decision during the match. I know they are playing at home and they have advantage but it is impossible. That is why I had a problem with Alan but it is nothing important.' 

Pellegrini clearly could not understand the fuss surrounding Newcastle's disallowed goal. 'It was a valid decision,' said the City boss. 'The player was clearly offside.' 

But Pardew was still fuming afterwards and went to see referee Jones to seek some clarification over his controversial decision which denied Tiote his first goal in three years.

The Newcastle boss said: 'It was a great moment for this football club to get a goal like that so if you're going to chalk it off you've got to make sure you've got the point right.

'My point was did he think Gouffran was interfering with Joe Hart and he said that "he was in the six yard box". I get that, the guy was recovering from an offside position but he didn't want anything to do with the play. He was not interfering with Joe Hart's vision.

'In fact it goes on the inside of him, it was City players impeding Joe's vision, not Gouffran. It's a real technical matter he's talking about here. And to chalk off a goal of that quality takes some doing. It set the tone for the rest of the game.

City were also unhappy with referee Jones for failing to send off Newcastle defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa for a late and wild tackle on Sami Nasri who left St James' with his left knee in a brace. 

He will have scans today but could be struggling to be fit for the World Cup Finals.

Pellegrini added: 'His injury is very serious. It was a very unfair kick. It was a red card. I don't understand why he was not sent off.'

Pardew apologised for his foul-mouthed abuse of Manuel Pellegrini

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has apologised for his foul-mouthed abuse of opposite number Manuel Pellegrini as Manchester City went top of the Barclays Premier League in an ill-tempered clash at St James' Park.

Pardew was clearly caught shouting at Pellegrini towards the end of the first half as he and unhappy Newcastle supporters turned on referee Mike Jones and his officials after they disallowed a Cheick Tiote screamer.

Jones' assistant Stephen Child ruled Newcastle striker Yoan Gouffran had iThe unfortunate referee had to endure more than 10 minutes of angry jeering from a packed St James' and lost control of the game and players.

And when Pardew joined the protestations, and kicked a ball away from Pablo Zabaleta before a City throw-in, Pellegrini aimed some criticism at the Newcastle boss, who responded by calling the 60-year-old Chilean manager a '******* old ****'.

The incident was clearly picked up by TV cameras and was all over social media websites throughout the second half.

Afterwards, both managers attempted to play it down and a very contrite Pardew, 52, looked shocked his words had been seen and heard.nterfered with the vision of City keeper Joe Hart, and his ability to dive for Tiote's left foot strike as it flew into the top corner.Pardew said: 'I hear that what I said has been picked up and I apologise for my comments. It was a heat of the moment thing, words that we always have as managers, to a degree. I've apologised to him and I'm fortunate that he's accepted that.

'I have said I have apologised for that particular word. You know, we always tease each other and have words. What he said to me is going to remain private, but it didn't merit my response, to be honest.

'I was frustrated today. And I think most Newcastle fans were, but I did not complain at every decision.'' 

Pellegrini added: 'It is nothing important. I don't know what he said.

'I'm not surprised. It is impossible to complain at every referee decision during the match. I know they are playing at home and they have advantage but it is impossible. That is why I had a problem with Alan but it is nothing important.' 

Pellegrini clearly could not understand the fuss surrounding Newcastle's disallowed goal. 'It was a valid decision,' said the City boss. 'The player was clearly offside.' 

But Pardew was still fuming afterwards and went to see referee Jones to seek some clarification over his controversial decision which denied Tiote his first goal in three years.

The Newcastle boss said: 'It was a great moment for this football club to get a goal like that so if you're going to chalk it off you've got to make sure you've got the point right.

'My point was did he think Gouffran was interfering with Joe Hart and he said that "he was in the six yard box". I get that, the guy was recovering from an offside position but he didn't want anything to do with the play. He was not interfering with Joe Hart's vision.

'In fact it goes on the inside of him, it was City players impeding Joe's vision, not Gouffran. It's a real technical matter he's talking about here. And to chalk off a goal of that quality takes some doing. It set the tone for the rest of the game.

City were also unhappy with referee Jones for failing to send off Newcastle defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa for a late and wild tackle on Sami Nasri who left St James' with his left knee in a brace. 

He will have scans today but could be struggling to be fit for the World Cup Finals.

Pellegrini added: 'His injury is very serious. It was a very unfair kick. It was a red card. I don't understand why he was not sent off.'