RUMOUR

Unconfirmed, I must stress, UNCONFIRMED! Rumours are circulating that Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney both miss today's game.

Bayern to wrap up early title

Should Dortmund drop points against Stuttgart on Saturday, the Bavarians could become the first team to seal the Bundesliga in March. With the prospect of wrapping up the Bundesliga, Bayern are unlikely to rest any players ahead of the Champions League tie with Juventus in midweek. Indeed, the only projected absence is long-term injury victim Holger Badstuber. Mario Gomez should be fit to feature despite missing both of Germany's recent games with Kazakhstan. On the other hand, Hamburg will be without a host of players for the trip to Bavaria, with Marcell Jansen and Maxi Beister are both suspended for the match. Michael Mancienne is back in light training following a lengthy injury, Ivo Ilicevic and Lam Zhi Gin are both out with abdominal and knee injuries respectively. DID YOU KNOW? Bayern Munich sealed their 2000-01 Bundesliga title with a victory over Hamburg on the last day of the season, pipping Schalke by one point. Should the Bavarians clinch the league crown on Saturday, it would be the first time a team has done so after just 27 matches. Only Gerd Muller has a better minutes-per-goal ratio than Mario Gomez (114) in the Bundesliga. The last time Hamburg finished ahead of Bayern in the Bundesliga was in the 1983-84 season. Goalkeeper Rene Adler (pictured, right) has never kept a clean sheet against Bayern and never ended up on the winning side. HSV have won just seven points, scoring only six goals in the seven matches that Rafael van der Vaart has missed this season.

Mancini accepts Manchester United league victory

Roberto Mancini is hoping that his Manchester City side continue to pick up the points as they look to finish their Premier League campaign in second place, having accepted that Manchester United are too far ahead to be caught up. Last year's champions are 15 points behind their city rivals with only nine games remaining, with are only four and five points, respectively, separating them from of Chelsea and Tottenham. Mancini's side are still yet to face United and Spurs, both away from the Etihad Stadium, which could cause a late twist in the race for the top four. The Italian told reporters of the potential threat: "I'm sure Chelsea and Tottenham want to take the second position and we must do our best for this reason. "We want to stay there, we want to finish in second position. "When you are in football anything can happen if you don't play well and if you don't work hard. Now, I don't think this can happen but we should pay attention. "It is also important for them to get second position because if we finish runners-up and win the FA Cup it would still have been a good season when you consider all the problems we have had."

EMENIKE TO LEAD EAGLES ATTACK

In an effort to ensure that the Super Eagles improve before the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Harambee Stars of Kenya in June, coach Stephen Keshi has hinted that Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike could make his return against Mexico. The Super Eagles are billed to play Mexico in a friendly on May 31 in Houston, United States of America and the former Togo coach is looking forward to inviting the AFCON highest goal scorer for the encounter. Emenike who was not considered for last Saturday’s encounter at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar due to injury was greatly missed in the game that ended in a 1-1 draw. “We definitely have to improve before the return leg match in Nairobi and the best of our players will be called for the game,” Keshi said during an exclusive chat. Speaking on Emenike’s return to the team after his injury layoff and following the striker's widely reported criticism of his national coach's insensitivity to his injury situation, Keshi states: “If Emenike is fit, why not? We will call him for the next match with Mexico. He is a Nigerian and we need all the players that can do the job for the country." “We have a friendly game against Mexico and that will help us to bring all the players together and use it to prepare for the next competitive match as well." Emenike is presently down due to injury but the striker is expected to be back to full fitness before May 31 when Nigeria will confront Mexico. Keshi however assured that he would make a statement on the player’s return to the team next week.

Messi comments on Abidal

The prolific attacker has hailed the Frenchman's hard work as he continues his recovery from a liver transplant. Lionel Messi has voiced his admiration for Barcelona team-mate Eric Abidal following the latter's ongoing fight against health problems. The Frenchman was diagnosed with a tumour in his liver in March 2011, yet featured for the full 90 minutes in Barca's 3-1 Champions League final win over Manchester United hardly two months later. Abidal was dealt another blow in March 2012, though, when it was announced that he needed to undergo a liver transplant, and the defender has since been working on his recovery. "Everything Eric has done and everything he has fought for is admirable. No-one truly knows how hard he has worked to be able to train with the team again," Messi told reporters. "It was very difficult when we found out [he had cancer] but his strength has united the whole team. How much he can contribute to the team is irrelevant, the important thing is that he is here with us.

Abida To face Celta

The 33-year-old has been included in the Blaugrana party to travel to Vigo on Saturday. The 33-year-old, who has not played a competitive game for the side since February 2012, could be in line to feature for the Blaugrana on Saturday following a busy international break for the majority of his team-mates. Abidal, who underwent a liver transplant in April of last year, recently returned to action with the reserve side in a friendly match against Ligue 2 side Istres.

Coach Tired Of Osaze

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke has hit out at the behaviour of want-away Nigerian striker Osaze Odemwingie. Odemwingie used Twitter during the international break to again criticise the club. The Nigerian forward vented his anger at a lack of recent playing time, and threatened to buy himself out of the last year of his contract to leave the Hawthorns. An angry Clarke responded by telling reporters: "I haven't got anything to say to him. If he's got something to say to me he should come and say it to my face. "He has to come to me. He's the one that has the grievance, not me. I am absolutely bored with the whole episode. "I'm not interested in what he said. The club will deal with it. "I don't read Twitter. I understand there were some more comments and I told (technical director) Richard (Garlick) and the club to deal with it in the way they see fit. Richard has been off ill. He hasn't been in. "I'm just disappointed that I have to spend so much time talking about one player when I have such a fantastic squad of players who have made such a fantastic contribution this season. "I am fed up of talking about one player." Clarke confirmed Odemwingie will be in the squad for Saturday's trip to West Ham and has very few fitness concerns for the Upton Park clash. "We've been lucky," he said. "By and large everybody is back from the international break is in good shape. "The only one who will struggle at the weekend is James Morrison. He didn't go away on international duty and is very, very doubtful for the game."

Ferdinand won't be bothered by criticism says Ferguson

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is confident that Rio Ferdinand will not be affected by verbal abuse from fans. The defender was the subject of derogatory chants from England fans during the international break for turning down a call-up to face San Marino and Montenegro, which allegedly took on a racist undertone. Ferdinand cited an inability to deviate from a pre-planned fitness regime but, despite outlining his intention to represent his country again in the future, was targeted by unimpressed supporters along with his brother, Anton. "I don't think it will bother him," Sir Alex told reporters. "If there is criticism out there for him, then it shouldn't bother him. "To be honest with you, I think it will blow over quite quickly. "That's modern society, I'm afraid. We see a lot of that, supporters' reaction to many things, and I don't think we can change that. It's modern society. "People are always ready to vent their spleen against whoever displeases them at any particular moment."

Balotelli is shutting Up His Critics

The in-form AC Milan striker slotted home a penalty before notching again just before the break.Mario Balotelli scored both goals as Italy moved three points clear at the top of World Cup qualifying Group B with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Malta.The forward opened the scoring from the spot just seven minutes in after AC Milan team-mate Stephan El Shaarawy had been sent tumbling in the area. Balotelli slotting home from the spot in characteristically cool fashion, after Luke Dimech had clumsily upended El Shaarawy just inside the area. Italy’s Milanese front line very nearly combined for a second goal just moments later, El Shaarawy whipping a shot just wide after being put into space by the most sumptuous back-heeled lay-off from Balotelli. However, the hosts were rocked by the concession of a second goal right on the stroke of half-time that underlined the clear gulf in class in terms of finishing. Leonardo Bonucci played a sublime ball over the top that Mattia De Sciglio killed wonderfully well before laying the ball off for the supporting Balotelli, who calmly placed the ball past Justin Haber and into the far right corner.

Welcome to Olusegun's Blog

Welcome to Olusegun's blog.

I am olusegun Ade-Oginni a.k.a Blackman.For latest gist and news follow me on twitter @callmeshegs. kindly check my newly opened blog. shegsblackie.blogspot.com.