Progress in Europe is in our own hands- Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho, fresh from the final training session before our final group game in this season’s Champions League, emphasised the tight race for a place in the next stage of the competition and described work undertaken with his players to improve results.
Progress in Europe is in our own hands and our manager was speaking to the media at his conference to preview the visit of Porto to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
‘It is another Champions League game but one with the difference that I play against a team from my country, a team I worked with for a few years, and one with the difference that this is the group phase but because of the results so far, it is transformed to be a knockout phase,’ Mourinho said.
‘That is because normally Dynamo win their game [tomorrow against Maccabi Tel Aviv] so from Porto and Chelsea, one team will go to the Europa League.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Girlfriend Gets Criticized For Topless #Bringbackourgirls Photos

Cristiano Ronaldo's girlfriend, Irina Shayk, has been getting a lot of criticism lately regarding the pictures she posted in support of the #Bringbackourgirls campaign.

Irina Shayk and Cristiano Ronaldo

 

The 28-year-old Russian model decided to join the trending online protest which calls for the return of schoolgirls abducted in Nigeria over 3 weeks ago, by posting a topless picture of herself holding up a #Bringbackourgirls sign; this move however, has not gone down well for a lot of people, as Irina is getting blasted online for the pictures.

France World Cup 2014 squad: Samir Nasri and Gaël Clichy left out

Samir Nasri's omission from France's World Cup squad was explained as a necessary evil by Didier Deschamps. Photograph: Scott Heavey/Getty Images

Samir Nasri, who was instrumental in helping Manchester City to win the Premier League title, was left out of France's World Cup squad when Didier Deschamps announced a 23-man list plus seven stand-by players.
Nasri's omission prompted a furious Twitter rant against the manager and the country by his girlfriend.
Nasri, who has a reputation of being a troublemaker and was disappointing in France's play-off first leg against Ukraine last year, was a notable absentee along with the defender Eric Abidal. Abidal has been used sparingly by Claudio Ranieri at Monaco during the second part of the season. French radio RMC reported that the 34-year-old is retiring from international football.

2014 Premier League Final Day

Premier League: Man City and Liverpool set for title finale

A dramatic Premier League season comes to a conclusion on Sunday, with Manchester City favourites to pip Liverpool and win the title.

Manuel Pellegrini's City side will be champions if they draw or win their home game against West Ham.
Liverpool - in the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster - can clinch their first league title since 1990 by beating Newcastle if City lose.
At the bottom, Norwich will be relegated even if they beat Arsenal.

Staying the distance

Number of days spent on top of the Premier League table this season:
Arsenal: 128
Chelsea: 64
Liverpool: 59
Manchester City: 14
Manchester United: 2
Source: Opta

The Canaries can finish level on points with West Brom if they beat the Gunners and Albion lose at home to Stoke, but Neil Adams's side would require a 17-goal swing in goal difference to prevent a return to the Championship.

For Liverpool, it looks set to be a disappointing end to an otherwise brilliant season. Brendan Rodgers's side finished in seventh place last season, 28 points behind champions Manchester United, but they were favourites to win the title as recently as two weeks ago.
A run of 11 straight wins had put the Reds on top, but after a slip from captain Steven Gerrard, Chelsea won 2-0 at Anfield to put City back in control.
Liverpool then further fell behind on Monday evening when they threw away a 3-0 lead at Crystal Palace, eventually drawing 3-3.
They are now relying on West Ham winning at Manchester City but Rodgers is delighted with his team's progress.
He told the Liverpool Echo:  "We certainly don't feel here as if we've thrown it away. We knew it was always going to be tough. The final hurdles are always difficult to get over.
"In the Chelsea game we made a mistake - a slip - and that can happen to anyone. We just couldn't find a way to get the goal and that happens.
"If we win on Sunday and don't win the league but finish second that means we've finished second to the richest and most expensive team in world sport.

"We will have taken them right to the wire. That will be a sign of the remarkable progress we have made this season."
City have only been top of the table for 14 days all season but are a point away from a second title in three years, and a first for Pellegrini, who won the League Cup earlier in his debut season.
He said: "I expect to win. We are thinking not of winning one point but just winning the match, and the best way to do it is to play the way we always do."
While City could end the season back on top, it has been a turbulent year for rivals Manchester United , who will end the campaign no higher than sixth - their worst finish since finishing sixth in 1991.
David Moyes was chosen to replace Sir Alex Ferguson a year ago but the former Everton man lasted just 10 months before he was sacked in April.
United have failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1995 but can book a place in next season's Europa League if they beat Southampton on Sunday and Tottenham lose at home to Aston Villa.

Lawro's prediction

Mark Lawrenson Football analyst

"Liverpool's title bid has come off the rails in the last couple of matches but they have still had an outstanding campaign because, back in August, nobody saw them coming so close to winning it.
"People say they only have one way to play but Brendan Rodgers has not got enough players to do anything different and change the way he plays."

• Read Lawro's full predictions and score

Interim player-manager Ryan Giggs could make his final appearance for the club and needs a goal to keep his record of scoring in every Premier League season intact.

At the bottom of the table, already relegated Cardiff and Fulham both end their seasons at home.
Cardiff's 12-month stay in the top flight concludes with the visit of third-placed Chelsea, while Fulham host Palace - who have survived a season in the Premier League for the first time.
Sunderland became only the second Premier League team to be bottom at Christmas and avoid relegation after beating West Brom in midweek, and they end their season at home to Swansea.

How can I follow the action?

You can follow the twists and turns of the final day across the BBC.
The day's live text commentary kicks off on the BBC Sport website from 11:00 BST and will bring you all the team news, build-up and quotes from the people who matter before kick-off, before every goal and key incident from all 10 games.

Manuel Pellegrini 'expects to win' against West Ham on final day

BBC Radio 5 live are on air from midday and have full live commentary of Manchester City's clash with West Ham from 15:00 BST, before Sports Report wraps up the reaction from all the games.
The day's TV starts with MOTD2 Extra at 12:15 on BBC Two, before Final Score keeps you up to speed with all the action from 15:15 on BBC One.
You can then see all of the goals, drama, celebration and tears in the final domestic Match of the Day of the season on BBC One at 22:25. All programmes are also available to watch on the BBC Sport website and app for mobile, tablet and connected TV.

Best Tittle Challenge Ever; Crystal Palace 3-3 Liverpool

Liverpool's Luis Suárez fires narrowly wide early on to leave Crystal Palace's goalkeeper, Julian Speroni, sprawling. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images

At the final whistle Steven Gerrard was on his haunches. All around him there were Liverpool players in a state of shock, some falling to the turf, others just wandering aimlessly. Luis Suárez's shirt had been pulled over his face, trying to hide the tears, and Gerrard was pushing away the television cameras while trying to keep in his own emotions. They were a broken lot.

Chelsea edge closer to final with stalemate at Atlético Madrid

Chelsea's goalkeeper, Petr Cech, leaves the field after suffering an injury to his shoulder in the 18th minute in Madrid. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

There is no point in dressing it up as something it was not. At this rarefied level it was unusual to see such a lack of vibrant football, or so many occasions when passes were misplaced and two sides played with so little penetration. The setting was wonderful, in one of Madrid's great venues, with the Almudena cathedral as the backdrop. The din was as good as it gets in Spain. It is just a shame the two sides produced such a stodgy game for the size of the occasion.

David Moyes facing the sack as Manchester United's manager

A face in the crowd at Goodison Park signals that the end is nigh for David Moyes. Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

David Moyes will be sacked as Manchester United's manager with the owners, the Glazer family, and Ed Woodward, the vice-president, in discussions over when to end the Scot's reign.
United's 2-0 defeat at Everton on Sunday was the latest evidence to the executive that Moyes is the wrong man to lead the club and it is now only a matter of time before the decision is taken. Should he go before the end of the season, which appears likely, United may put Ryan Giggs in temporary charge. The 40-year-old, who is player-coach, would command the instant respect of the squad and would consider taking up the role, even if only temporary.