Tito defends Messi call

Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova insisted he was right to play Lionel Messi at the weekend after the Argentine sat out the 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich.

The World Player of the Year has been struggling with a hamstring injury, but he was passed fit to feature in Barca's 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

However, Messi watched from the bench as Bayern cruised into the Champions League final with a 7-0 aggregate victory, and Vilanova admitted the Argentine was left out because he feared he would aggravate the injury.

"Leo played in Bilbao on Saturday because he felt better," said Vilanova. "He imprinted a change on the team but at the end of the game he felt some strange sensations.

"He trained this week, but he didn't feel right. He is an explosive player and there was a risk he could tear his hamstring, so he couldn't help the team in these conditions."

Vilanova also denied suggestions that his team were becoming too reliant on Messi, insisting Barca had performed well without their record-breaking talisman.

"All these years when we have played without Leo we have won games by small margins, but this year in the league we have won games 5-0 and 3-0 without him on the pitch," he added.

"When you have a player that is so good, it is normal that you notice it. If Bayern had been without Franck Ribery or Arjen Robben they would not be at this level."

Vilanova also dismissed speculation of widespread changes to the Barcelona squad at the end of the season, and blamed the crushing defeat on a lengthy injury list.

"All squads are reinforced every season. I said the other day that we didn't need to change much, but rather recuperate the players we do have," he said.



"Bayern have arrived at this point with all their players and we have many out. Despite the great squad that we have you cannot win all the titles either. You can't win everything and the first leg has weighed heavily on this game."


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Robben: Our time now

Arjen Robben helped Bayern Munich reach the UEFA Champions League final and declared: "It is time to win it now."

The Bundesliga champions cruised to a 3-0 success in their semi-final second leg at Camp Nou to complete an astonishing 7-0 aggregate triumph.

Robben and Thomas Muller were both on target with Gerard Pique putting through his own net on a miserable night for the Catalan giants, who left Lionel Messi on the bench throughout the contest.

Bayern, who have suffered final heartache at the hands of Chelsea and Inter Milan in recent years, will now take on domestic rivals Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on May 25.

Robben told Sky Sports: "Now we are in the final, it is the third time in the last four years, but it is time to win it now.

"It is going to be a big one. Dortmund have proved over the last two or three years that they are a very good side. It is going to be a game which is decided on small details.

"I think we have to stay calm. We are playing some great football, we have to enjoy this moment."

Bayern were superior to Barcelona in every department over both legs, with Robben pointing to their impressive team ethic and work-rate as one of the key reasons for their success.

He added: "The most important thing of all is we play as a team. Defensively we are very well organised, everyone is doing their job, also the four players up front work hard backwards.

"If you want to achieve something, if you want to win competitions and games at such a high level you have to defend as a team.

"If you perform like this, playing against a team who have dominated Europe over the last five years, if you win 4-0 and 3-0 away, it is amazing.

"Especially against a team like Barcelona you cannot give them any space to play. They didn't really have any good chances."


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Papers Talk - 2 May 2013

• Robert Lewandowski is ready to snub Manchester United and join Bayern Munich instead.


• England are ready to ask Andy Carroll to revive their World Cup hopes.


• Jose Mourinho won't even demand a pay rise to return to Chelsea.


• Rafa Benitez is refusing to endorse Jose Mourinho as his Chelsea successor.


• Manchester City are planning a summer move for Shakhtar Donetsk star Fernandinho.


• Lazio and Bologna are keen on Wigan striker Franco Di Santo.


• Junior Hoilett has cast doubt on his future at relegated QPR.


• Stoke hope to land Norwich midfielder Anthony Pilkington in a £4million deal.


• Lewis McGugan is set to be offered a double-your-money deal to join Cardiff's Premier League dream.


• Tony Fernandes has pointed the finger at Neil Warnock after QPR's relegation.


• Dean Saunders plans a clear-out if Wolves are relegated to League One.


• Birmingham winger Chris Burke is a target for Derby.


• Newcastle midfielder Brad Inman is wanted by Crewe following his loan stint.

• Jose Mourinho has been told he must accept working under Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo if he wants to return to Stamford Bridge.


• Rafa Benitez has been linked with a move to PSG to complete a merry-go-round of Chelsea managers with Mourinho heading to Chelsea and Carlo Ancelotti leaving Paris for Real Madrid.


• Aston Villa aim to secure star duo Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann on new contracts by the end of the month.


• Tony Fernandes has turned his anger on Neil Warnock in the wake of QPR's relegation, fuming: "You started the rot at my club."


• Roberto Mancini has identified £20million Shakhtar Donetsk ace Fernandinho as he begins his summer overhaul at Manchester City.


• West Brom face a battle to keep hold of Jonas Olsson, who has a £3.5million release clause.


• Cardiff want £7million Kenwyne Jones as their first Premier League signing.


• Crystal Palace are in talks with Real Madrid striker Javier Acuna, who is also a target for Middlesbrough.

• Roman Abramovich has shown Chelsea manager-in-waiting Jose Mourinho who's the boss by refusing to axe technical director Michael Emenalo ahead of the Special One's return.


• Jose Mourinho has a £200million shopping list including the likes of Falcao, Hulk, Andre Schurrle, Sami Khedira and Fabio Coentrao ahead of his return to Chelsea.


• Andy Carroll is in line for an England recall.


• Roberto Mancini will have to stump up £50million if he wants to sign Brazilian star Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk.


• Aston Villa are adamant that not even a £30million bid will convince them to part with Christian Benteke.


• Tony Pulis believes Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic is worth more than Manchester United's £19million man David De Gea.


• Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes will hang up his boots for good this summer.


• Tony Fernandes blames Neil Warnock and Mark Hughes for QPR's relegation.

• Chelsea must pay £12million to free Jose Mourinho from Madrid.


• Andy Carroll is in line for an England recall against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil.


• Manchester City could make Fernandinho their first signing of the summer.


• Newcastle are keen on Wigan midfielder James McCarthy.


• Zenit St Petersburg want Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov.


• Tottenham are hopeful of finally landing long-term target Leandro Damiao.


• Birmingham's Chris Burke is a target for Derby.


• Crystal Palace have joined the chase for Real Madrid striker Javier Acuna but need promotion to land the Paraguayan.

• Rafa Benitez last night warned Jose Mourinho to keep his nose out of Chelsea's affairs.


• Manchester City are ready to begin a summer overhaul of their squad with a move for Shakhtar Donetsk's Fernandinho.


• Tony Pulis believes Asmir Begovic should have made the PFA team of the year ahead of David De Gea.


• Aston Villa are determined to hold on to Christian Benteke this summer even if record-breaking bids of as much as £30million are on the table.


• Fulham will offer keeper Neil Etheridge a new deal then look to loan him out next season.

• Newcastle United have not made provisions for relegation in all of the contracts they gave to the players who arrived at St James' Park in January.


• Chelsea could land Jose Mourinho on the cheap this summer and get the former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso into the bargain if the Real Madrid coach goes back to Stamford Bridge.

• Jose Mourinho has instructed his advisors to negotiate with Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain before he makes a final decision on his future.


• Manchester City are preparing an early signal of their intent in the transfer market this summer with the club closing in on a deal for Fernandinho.

• Jose Mourinho's eagerness to return to Chelsea this summer would not be deflected even if the European Cup holders fail to qualify for next season's Champions League.

• Jose Mourinho's chances of returning to Chelsea as manager have increased after the Real Madrid coach lowered his demands.


• Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has revealed how his attempts to rehabilitate himself will be a family affair after his wife warned him to become "a happier person".

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Deco seeks to prove innocence

Deco intends to appeal after failing a drugs test in Brazil.



The former Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder tested positive for the banned diuretic furosemide following Fluminense's victory over Boavista on March 30.



Felleger Ahaz, a spokesman for Deco, stated the midfielder's primary concern will be to prove his innocence as investigations into the failed test continue and insisted a faulty vitamin supplement is behind the positive result.



"The first concern for Deco is defending his image and not with any punishment for suspension," Ahaz told O Globo.



"He has for a long time taken a vitamin supplement and certainly there has been some contamination."



Fluminense released a short statement declaring they would not be commenting on the ex-Portugal midfielder's situation until results of a 'B' sample become available on Friday.



In the meantime Deco has been left out of the squad for the club's Copa Libertadores fixture against Emelec.



Deco spent four seasons at Barcelona where he won two La Liga titles and a UEFA Champions League medal before moving to Chelsea in 2008 where he was part of the 2010 Premier League winning side, also winning two FA Cups.

Pilkington linked with rivals switch

Norwich winger Anthony Pilkington is reportedly a summer transfer target for Premier League rivals Stoke City.



The Potters were linked with Pilkington prior to his switch from Huddersfield to Carrow Road and Stoke boss Tony Pulis has reportedly retained an interest in the winger.



Reports in Ireland suggest Pulis is considering a summer move for the 24-year-old due to concerns over Matthew Etherington's long-term fitness.



Norwich are keen to keep hold of Pilkington, who has made 30 appearances in all competitions this season, but could be tempted into a sale if they can secure a significant profit on the £2million they paid Huddersfield for his services in 2011.

Trezeguet thought about retiring

David Trezeguet has admitted that he has thought about retiring, however, the former France international has his eyes set on the Argentine Primera Division opening tournament, starting in July.



The River Plate striker, 35, has notched up three goals from 16 appearances for his club this season, but has undergone surgery on his left knee recently.



"I thought about retiring", the FIFA World Cup winner with France in 1998, told Fox Sports.



"But my goal is to play again in the next tournament.”



“I was hanging on with this pain for so long that I opted for the operation. There was no complication, and we now expect the recovery will be long.



“Now I want to come back and be 100%."



The third-highest goalscorer for France has a contract with the Argentine side until December 2015.

The top stories from papers and websites - 01 May 2013

• Zinedine Zidane has warned Spurs that even a £60m price tag will not prevent Real Madrid bidding for frontman Gareth Bale in the summer.


• Jose Mourinho crashed out of the Champions League last night but will be given a £100m transfer kitty to rebuild Chelsea this summer.


• QPR striker Djibril Cisse, goalkeeper Julio Cesar and striker Loic Remy are all plotting their moves away from the club following their relegation to the Championship.


• Spanish side Malaga could approach Wigan manager Roberto Martinez if Manuel Pellegrini moves to Manchester City or Chelsea this summer.


• Sunderland could move for non-league Carshalton star James Ashton - although Norwich have already offered him a trial.

• Paris Saint-Germain have given up hope of luring Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger to the French capital this summer.


• Meanwhile, Newcastle's French winger Hatem Ben Arfa has riled suffering Toon fans by wearing a PSG kit in a local gym - just two days after Saturday's 6-0 thumping at the hands of Liverpool.


• QPR have slapped a £15m price tag on Adel Taarabt in a bid to keep their biggest star at the club.


• Chelsea are closing in on Partizan Belgrade striker Lazar Markovic, 19, with Liverpool and Inter Milan also interested.


• Liverpool and Inter could also battle it out for Barcelona defender Martin Montoya, 22.


• Swansea are set to battle it out with Reading and QPR for Granada central defender Inigo Lopez.


• Everton are on red alert after Serbian midfielder Adem Ljajic's contract talks with Fiorentina broke down.


• Reading want to sell Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, 29, following their relegation to the Championship.

• Defender Branislav Ivanovic has urged Jose Mourinho to come back to Chelsea and make them champions again.


• Snooker ace Ronnie O'Sullivan has told Liverpool striker Luis Suarez: 'My mind guru will save your career like he did mine'.


• Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has dismissed claims manager Arsene Wenger will be leaving the club this summer.


• Julio Cesar and Loic Remy are set to lead a QPR exodus following their relegation from the Premier League.


• West Ham will sign Shakhtar Donetsk's Romanian defender Razvan Rat, 31, on a free transfer in the summer.


• Ipswich are in talks to sign Notts County midfielder Alan Judge, 24, who will be a free agent at the end of the season.

• Wayne Rooney wants assurances over his role from manager Sir Alex Ferguson before signing a new deal at Manchester United.


• Real Madrid director of football Zinedine Zidane believes Tottenham could command a fee of £60m for forward Gareth Bale, 23, this summer.


• Juventus are stepping up their interest in Liverpool striker Luis Suarez after his 10-match ban.


• Manchester City are considering a deal for Toluca defender Diego Novaretti, 27, who is available on a free transfer.


• Aston Villa will offer Christian Benteke a double-your-money new contract in a bid to keep him out of the clutches of Arsenal and Tottenham.


• Manchester City are close to sealing a £23million deal for Shakhtar Donetsk star Fernandinho.


• Reading defender Alex Pearce is set to be reunited with former boss Brendan Rodgers by signing for Liverpool.

• Sir Alex Ferguson admits Manchester United will struggle to match neighbours City and Chelsea in the transfer market this summer.


• Manchester City are plotting a £32m move for Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus, but have seen an opening bid for Roma midfielder Erik Lamela rejected.


• Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham are ready to fight it out for QPR goalkeeper Julio Cesar.

• Frank Lampard's Chelsea career looks set to extend beyond next month and into another season as there is a willingness from the club to offer him a one-year extension, once the new manager is in place this summer.

• Aston Villa will resist any bids for Belgium international striker Christian Benteke and will instead offer the 22-year-old a new contract.


• Manchester United have spent the last four months planning their summer signings, with midfielders Anderson and Nani set to be sold and 38-year-old Paul Scholes likely to retire.


• Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has identified Reading defender Alex Pearce as the man to replace the retiring Jamie Carragher.


• Stoke have told Wilson Palacios he can leave on a free. He has two years left on his contract but the Potters want to trim his £26,000 a week salary from their wage bill.

• Zenit St Petersburg want to sign striker Dimitar Berbatov, 32, who is halfway through a two-year contract at Fulham.

• Liverpool will battle it out with Inter Milan for Barcelona defender Martin Montoya.