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Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano says winning the Europa League would help salvage the club’s season.

The Andalusian club have not enjoyed a successful season and lie eighth in La Liga, a whopping 31 points behind table-toppers Barcelona.

More concerning for manager Gregorio Manzano is that Sevilla – who finished fourth last campaign – are 14 points away from a Champions League spot.

But the season can be saved according to Brazil striker Fabiano, if Sevilla can succeed in Europe.

“Sevilla aren’t having the season that we all expected, and it is difficult,” Luis Fabiano said.

“But people need to overcome the pressure, and realise that the only thing left is the Europa League.”

“We have to give everything in the Europa League. We’ve won it twice and it is a good competition, and Porto will be a tough opponent. We have to stick together, because winning the Europa League would salvage our season.”

Sevilla host Porto on Thursday in the first leg of their round of 32 tie and Manzano is grateful his side are at home first.

“It is better to play the first leg here in Sevilla. I think that it may help us to get a good result, and demand that Porto have to make a big effort in the second leg,” Manzano said.

The Sevilla boss is also wary of the threat Porto pose, with Andre Villas-Boas’ side sitting 11 points clear at the top of Liga Sagres after a hugely successful campaign so far.

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“I’m sure that everyone is backing Porto. We are talking about one of the best teams that we could have drawn,” he said.

“But I also think that they will see us as an opponent who, despite not being in the best of form in the league, are capable of being competitive. When we have found that spark, especially at home in front of our fans, then games like tomorrow’s are in our favour.”

“We want to take a good result to Porto.”

Everton boss David Moyes will not pay over the odds for players who star at the World Cup finals.

Moyes is out in South Africa scouting players while working as a media pundit but is wary of spending big on players who make a major impact on the world stage.

"I don't think you tend to come away from the World Cup and buy because in the past a lot of people have bought from the World Cup and it's not quite worked," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"Also it's expensive when you come back if someone has had a really good World Cup, their clubs you are taking them from are asking even more money."

Meanwhile, Moyes has vowed to keep hold of his star players despite recent transfer speculation.

South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar has been linked with a move to Arsenal, while England Under-21 international Jack Rodwell continues to be mentioned as a Manchester United target.

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"Everyone wants something don't they?" continued Moyes."We've got a lot of good players at Everton just now, who could play at the top level. They really could.

"I've seen nearly all of my players out here. I want to see that my boys are doing well and enjoying their football for their countries."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Former Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has stated that the London club are not as strong now as when he played for them, and that the team lack mental strength.

Andre Villas Boas’ men have struggled with inconsistency of late, are 12 points behind league leaders Manchester City and face a struggle to progress to the Champions League knockout stages.

Ballack faced his former employers for Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday night in a 2-1 victory for the Bundesliga outfit, and felt that their lack of confidence was evident.

“We knew before the game they were in a difficult moment. But it’s only when you play against a team on the pitch that you see what is really happening and get a clearer picture,” he told Mirror Football.

“We could feel it on the pitch every minute – especially at the beginning of the match – that they were not as strong as they normally are.

“Even when they were 1-0 up, we could sense that – that they didn’t have the strength mentally that they normally have,” he stated.

The German midfielder has admitted that the senior players must guide the Stamford Bridge club through this tricky period, and feels they must work hard to achieve their ambitions.

“I don’t know what is going on in the dressing room. When I was there, I was one of the strong characters, but I think there are enough big players, experienced players, still in the dressing room. It wasn’t just me.

“They have to do it now. You can’t just look at the young players and criticise them. This has to come from the older, experienced players – especially now.

“I played four years for Chelsea and I know how quickly it can go. I had a few managers in that short time!

“So I know it is always difficult for the coach. I know he [Villas-Boas] is young and has ambitions and is a good guy. He had success at his last team.

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“At the moment, it is not that easy for them. But that is not just about the coach, it is about the players too. They have to get out of this situation.

“You have to get back to your roots, to square one. But with the ambitions they have of course it is harder and they are not matching them,” the veteran concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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Sir Alex Ferguson praised his Manchester United team after they secured a 19th English Premier League title with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn.United had to come from behind at Ewood Park after an error from reserve goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak led to Brett Emerton’s opening goal in the 20th minute.

They looked to be heading for a costly shock defeat before Mexico international Javier Hernandez won a penalty after going down under a challenge from Rovers’ goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

Wayne Rooney lashed home the spot-kick to make it 1-1 with 17 minutes remaining and United saw out the closing exchanges to capture their fourth title in five seasons.

“It was a fantastic performance by the lads and the supporters and for everybody connected with the club, it’s a great day today,” Ferguson told Sky Sports.

“It wasn’t an easy game. We went 1-0 down having given them a bad goal but we kept on and we don’t give in. It looked like it was not going to be our day. We’ve always had it difficult here.”

“It is a local derby and they are fighting for their lives, looking for that point, but we kept going and that’s a good quality.”

Rooney admitted nerves threatened to get the better of him as referee Phil Dowd delayed in awarding the penalty while consulting with an assistant.

“I was terrified, the ref took a long time to give it,” Rooney said.

“I had to compose myself. I’d been practising all week.”

“After the year I’ve had, with the ups and downs, this is for the fans and the team,” he added, referring to a high-profile contract dispute and revelations of marital infidelity.

Rooney also managed a dig at Liverpool after United passed their record of 18 English league titles.

“For me personally, being an Everton fan, to win a 19th title is special,” he said.

A 0-0 draw away to Blackburn cost United dear last season as Chelsea captured the league title by one point.

They could only manage a draw again on Saturday, but this time it was enough, with centreback Rio Ferdinand satisfied by the team’s performance.

“We missed out last year by a point and it was here we pretty much lost the league so it was nice to come back here and get it done,” Ferdinand said.

“We gave away a soft goal but we persevered and got our rewards.”

“It’s a better league this year. Teams have been beating each other from the bottom to the top which makes it more exciting for the fans.”

Gabriel Agbonlahor scored a late leveller to give Aston Villa a share of the spoils at Goodison Park denying Everton a first home win in the process.

The Villa striker nodded home Marc Albrighton’s cross to give the away side a very good away point and keep up their unbeaten start to the season. The hosts had twice taken the lead during the course of the game but were pegged back both times by a Villa side who are certainly a more resilient outfit under new boss Alex Mcleish.

Everton started the game brightly and deserved their lead when Leon Osmon volleyed home from Tim Cahill’s cutback 12 yards. Jack Rodwell and Marouane Fellaini also went close with long range strikes as the the hosts dominated the first 45 minutes.  They took that advantage into the second half only for Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov to level proceedings in the 63rd minute with a stunning 30-yard strike that gave Tim Howard no chance in the Toffee’s goal.

Leighton Baines restored the lead six minutes later converting from the penalty spot after Phil Jagielka was felled by Fabian Delph in the penalty area allowing the England full back to make it 2-1.

They couldn’t hold on though as substitute Albrighton sent over a teasing cross from the left and Agbonlahor duly supplied the magic touch heading in at the back post with seven minutes left on the clock.

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Remember you can catch all the action from today’s action here courtesy of ESPN Goals.

Once-upon-a-time, in a galaxy far, far away, Tottenham Hotspur were apparently a pretty good football team. As a result, the club has acquired some rather high-profile supporters over the years. Legend has it that the likes of Bob Marley, Shania Twain, Emma ‘Baby Spice’ Bunton and Bryan Adams are all Tottenham Hotspur fans. However, without photographic evidence, or a quote coming straight from the horses-mouth, those guys are not going to make it onto the list. However, the following ten celebrities are all on record as pledging their allegiance to the club. Here are ten of Tottenham’s most famous supporters.

Click on Peter Cook below to see Tottenham’s TOP 10 Celebrity Fans

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Well there you have it. Ten of the more famous Spurs supporters you are likely to hear of. If you happen to have hard evidence that there are even more famous people missing from the list, feel obliged to leave a comment. However, I think it’s fair to say that as celebrity fans go, Tottenham are well represented…

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England international Ashley Cole could miss Chelsea's Champions League clash at Spartak Moscow on Tuesday because of an ongoing ankle problem.

Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti is considering whether to risk playing Cole on Spartak's plastic pitch.

Former Arsenal star Cole often does not train for two days after a game in an attempt to manage his fitness and Anceotti admitted:"He needs more days to recover.

"For a year, he has had a little problem with his ankle. After the game you maybe have to give him two days of recovery instead of one.

"I played for ten years with a problem with my knee. To play a lot of games in a season is a lot of stress for your body.

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"It is the same for (Michael) Essien. After training, we will take a decision. If he is comfortable on this pitch, he'll play. If he is not comfortable, he will not."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Paraguayan club Libertad are top of Copa Libertadores Group One following a 4-1 thrashing of Universidad San Martin on Tuesday.It was Peruvian visitors San Martin who went in front five minutes into the match at Estadio Dr. Nicolas Leoz.Striker German Alemmano – on loan from Argentine club Rosario Central – made the most of Aldo Corzo’s good work to open the scoring. But hosts Libertad were level less than 10 minutes later though Rodrigo Rojas, who fired his shot through a crowd of players to beat Ricardo Farro in the San Martin goal. And Libertad were in front on 18 minutes courtesy of forward Angel Orue, who was set up by Ignacio Canuto.It was 3-1 shortly before the half-hour mark when Manuel Maciel benefited from a big deflection to finish off a good move. Libertad strolled toward victory in the second half and made it 4-0 just five minutes after the break when Victor Ayala hit home with a bullet header.Central midfielder Omar Pouso got the fifth and final goal to complete the rout six minutes from time. The win lifts Libertad above San Martin and puts them a point clear at the top of Group One. In Group Six, Mexican club Jaguares came from behind to secure a 2-1 win at home to Emelec.Ecuadorian visitors Emelec took the lead through striker Cristian Menendez in the 24th minute at Estadio Victor Manuel Reyna. Defender Francisco Torres equalised from the penalty spot two minutes before half-time after Carlos Quinonez fouled Jorge Daniel Hernandez inside the box.Antonio Salazar had replaced Julio Daniel Frias Adame for Jaguares early in the first half and it was the substitute who struck the winning goal for the hosts in the 66th minute.Jaguares are now top of Group Six, two points ahead of Internacional and Emelec.

The director of football role is one that is much maligned by both managers and supporters within this country.

Whilst hugely successful on the continent, the English game has never adjusted to a set-up and system which in fact goes a long way to ensure stability in the club’s development and transfer policy. The English attitude is that a football manager should be responsible for every aspect of the running of the club; it is a short sighted view in my opinion.

Tottenham are the classic example of where this set-up has proven to work and pay dividends. Being a Spurs fan and watching the club go through a high turnover of managers and subsequently players, we were continually wasting millions of pounds, year on year, and little development was happening on the pitch, as well as off it. It was a complete vicious circle that the likes of Sugar and Levy were facing and one that in time would have left to financial woe in the future. A change of set-up was desperately required to turn this tide and the appointment of Frank Arnesen in 2004 was arguably the turning point in Tottenham’s recent history. Arnesen was the trouble shooter that Tottenham desperately needed and in his short spell at the football club he changed every aspect of it.

A club that was renowned for spending big money on experienced, and in some cases over the hill players, was now buying some of the finest young English talent in the game. The philosophy was simply – to buy young players cheaply that could provide 5 or 6 years service, before selling them on at profit safe in the knowledge that a young replacement was already waiting in the wings. The role of the director of football is to ensure that there is a conveyor belt of excellent players at the coach’s disposal was maintained. It was Arnesen that brought the likes of Huddlestone, Dawson, and Lennon to the football club, for a combined fee of around £4.5m – one can only imagine how much they would be worth now. Unfortunately Comolli failed to build on the foundations laid by Arnesen in pretty much every aspect and I often wonder whether Tottenham would have made it to the Champions League sooner, had Arnesen and Jol remained at the helm. The success of this set-up is solely based on the relationship between the director of football and head coach, something that Comolli was never to have with either Jol or Ramos. Despite the poor relationship’s the transfer policy was maintained and although there were expensive flops, the sales of the likes of Carrick, Berbatov and Keane, ensured that the club’s finances remained balanced.

While Tottenham no longer operate with a director of football, they have a chairman who has learned the valuable lessons and philosophies that Arnesen initially brought to the football club. Harry Redknapp may have the freedom to run the playing side of the club; however it is Levy that oversees the purchasing of players and will only spend big money on those players that have a potential sell on value. It is no shock to me that NESV have decided to address the reckless spending at Liverpool and look to introduce their own director of football to the club and while Damien Comolli certainly wouldn’t have been my choice, given what went on at Tottenham, the set-up is ideal for any football club seeking stability on and off the pitch. Arnesen got Tottenham on the straight and narrow in such a short space of time and it is no coincidence that his time started the general ascendency that the club has enjoyed in the years since.

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West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has again warned Tottenham Hotspur off making a renewed offer for England midfielder Scott Parker.

The 29-year-old has already been the subject of one approach from Spurs, but Sullivan is in no mood to sell.

He told the Daily Mail:"I have told Spurs again that he's not available and not to bother us any further, or we'll report them to the Premier League.

"I made a promise that I would not sell Scott and I will not, for any amount of money, break that promise to the West Ham supporters."

Meanwhile, the agent of Hammers midfielder Valon Behrami has admitted that his client would welcome a move to a big club before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month.

Alessandro Beltrami told tuttomercatoweb:"There would be the will to play at a club of a high level and participate in European competitions.

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"We'll see if this will be possible in the next few days in the market.

"However, it doesn't depend on us – if any club is interested in Behrami they must speak with West Ham."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email