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• Transfer window guide
• Bolton Wanderers admit their debt adds up to £163.8m
• Rio Ferdinand still has a role at Manchester United, says David Moyes
• Premier League prepares itself for a spot of window shopping
• Arsène Wenger confident Arsenal are ready to stay the pace this time
• Tim Sherwood and Tottenham expect stern test from Manchester United
• Manchester City know they are title favourites, says José Mourinho
• Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini demands even more in title battle
• Brendan Rodgers confident Anfield advantage can move Liverpool onwards
• Bolton Wanderers clinging on thanks to owner Eddie Davies's generosity | Jamie Jackson
• Chelsea announce £49.4m loss but claim financial outlook still bright
• Massimiliano Allegri preparing for axe as Milan coach after woeful run
• Essien 'could leave Chelsea'
• Cardiff still hopeful of Solskjaer
• Arsène Wenger on the January transfer window and injury worries - video
• Wayne Rooney an injury doubt for Manchester United's game with Spurs
• Tom Jenkins's best sports photos of 2013 - in pictures
• Nicolas Anelka's quenelle gesture is an insult | Charlie Eccleshare
• Charlie Adam will not be punished for injuring Tottenham's Paulinho
• Football transfer rumours: Ravel Morrison to leave West Ham?
• Arsenal lose Giroud, Ramsey, Özil and Gibbs to injury
• Drop costs Bolton debts of £163.8m
• The 20 top transfer window targets
• Beautiful Games: State of the Zine
• 2013: the year of sport in 30 objects

Transfer window guide Posted: 31 Dec 2013 03:00 PM PST • Check out our gallery of the top January targets • Marvel at the size of the fees being discussed Nemanja Matic, Benfica Age 25 Fee £20m-£22m Possible suitors Manchester United, Chelsea Once on Chelsea's books, the lanky, elegant left-footed Serb has matured into an intelligent defensive midfielder who brings calm and order to his side. A return to Stamford Bridge is reportedly possible Fredy Guarín, Internazionale Age 27 Fee £12m-£14m Possible suitor Chelsea Temperamental, hard-shooting Colombian heavily linked with Chelsea. Not quite finding his place in Walter Mazzarri's midfield schemes, he is probably better suited to the hustle and bustle of the Premier League Ivan Rakitic, Sevilla Age 25 Fee £14m-£16m Possible suitor Manchester United Swiss-born Croat enjoying a magnificent season with Sevilla. The technically gifted playmaker, worthy of a place in most Champions League level sides, is the perfect remedy for a top team short on creating chances Mohamed Salah, Basel Age 21 Fee £10m-£12m Possible suitor Liverpool A direct, fast and unpredictable winger who can operate on both sides. The Egyptian, currently being watched by many European clubs, has arguably impressed more in the Champions League than domestically this season Jackson Martínez, Porto Age 27 Fee £25m-£30m Possible suitor Chelsea Fast, physically strong and deadly in the box, the high-scoring Colombian centre-forward has the prerequisites to convert dominance into goals. Given the strong connection between the two clubs, possibly a January option for Chelsea Fabian Schär, Basel Age 22 Fee £14m-£16m Possible suitors Chelsea, Tottenham Calm, comfortable on the ball and with an impressive positional sense, the young Swiss centre-back is attracting interest from scores of European giants and looks ready for the next step in his so far meteoric career Yohan Cabaye, Newcastle Age 27 Fee £16m-£20m Possible suitors Manchester United, Arsenal With goalscoring central midfielders a rare commodity, Newcastle might face renewed interest for the influential Frenchman in January. He is 28 this month; the time might be ripe to sell reluctantly Fernando Reges, Porto Age 26 Fee £10m-£12m Possible suitors Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton Disciplined, strong in the tackle and with a great work ethic, the ball-winning defensive midfielder is soon out of contract and the sought-after newly naturalised Portuguese (Brazilian born) apparently favours the Premier League Michy Batshuayi, Std Liège Age 20 Fee £7m Possible suitors Arsenal, Tottenham, Everton The top scorer of the Belgian league has been heavily monitored by Premier League clubs this autumn. In addition to potentially making an instant impact, the robust Belgium Under-21 international also represents future resale value Pedro Obiang, Sampdoria Age 21 Fee £8m-£12m Possible suitors Opportunity for a mid/upper table team Highly rated, young, dynamic and tactically disciplined central midfielder who finds himself at a club that may need to sell a valued asset in January Adam Lallana, Southampton Age 25 Fee £16m-£18m Possible suitors Manchester United Though Southampton are unlikely to listen to offers for their England midfielder, currently in scintillating form, it may not stop other top teams looking to add extra spark and creativity in the final third from trying Ander Herrera, Athletic Bilbao Age 24 Fee £20m-£24m Possible suitors Manchester United, Arsenal Subject of a last-minute bid from Manchester United in the summer transfer window. Injuries and a recent drop in form may see a more favourable January price for the central midfielder Eliaquim Mangala, Porto Age 22 Fee £24m-£26m Possible suitors Manchester City, Chelsea Man-mountain of a centre-back, long since chased by practically all the European top clubs despite having only one French cap to his name Gonzalo Higuaín, Napoli Age 26 Fee £40m-£45m Possible suitor Chelsea Despite joining Napoli only this summer – for a record £32m – the prolific striker is already linked with Chelsea. Though a January move seems implausible, Roman Abramovich can be persuasive Nicolas N'Koulou, Marseille Age 23 Fee £10m-£12m Possible suitors Teams with Champions League aspirations Pacey Cameroonian defender constantly linked with Premier League clubs. Marseille's £15m valuation was considered excessive but, with them out of Europe and the title race, it could be time for a move Maxime Gonalons, Lyon Age 24 Fee £12m-£14m Possible suitors Quality squad option for title contenders Deep-lying midfielder able to build as well as break up. The France international might become available for a cut-price fee as Lyon are struggling to make ends meet Luis Muriel, Udinese Age 22 Fee £16m-£20m Possible suitors Title challengers in need of an impact sub Ultra pacey Colombian striker built like a bull, one of the hottest properties of the summer market and with huge potential. Inconsistent recent form should see the price reach more realistic levels Daniel Agger, Liverpool Age 29 Fee £10m-£12m Possible suitors Top teams at home and abroad Currently second choice to Sakho, it would be surprising if offers are not received for Agger in January; he is left-footed, experienced, can play the ball and is eligible to play Champions League Edin Dzeko, Manchester City Age 27 Fee £18m-£20m Possible suitor Tottenham Despite his playing an important role at Manchester City, is the Bosnian forward really content as understudy to Negredo? Highly regarded at many clubs, though City might not sell to a direct rival Xherdan Shaqiri, B Munich Age 22 Fee loan Possible suitors Top eight side in need of more up front The left-footed Swiss winger with a thunderous shot has seen limited opportunities under Pep Guardiola and a loan move might suit him to gain more playing time before the World Cup Transfer window theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Bolton Wanderers admit their debt adds up to £163.8m Posted: 31 Dec 2013 02:59 PM PST • Eye-watering loss of £50.7m in the 12 months to June • It underlines difficulty of relegation to the Championship Bolton Wanderers have admitted their debts have grown to a staggering £163.8m, with £50.7m haemorrhaging during the 12 months to June 2013. It raises fears that the club may follow Leeds United and Portsmouth into financial crisis. Only Chelsea – who announced a yearly loss of £49.4m to take them back into the red after making a small profit the previous year – Manchester United and Fulham have a greater debt than Bolton, yet the north-west club is the only one of these outside the Premier League. The eye-watering loss in a single year means Wanderers have the unwanted distinction of becoming the fifth club to have lost more than £50m over 12 months. Yet as Manchester City, who have done it four times, Chelsea (seven), Liverpool and Aston Villa (once each) all boast far greater financing and revenue streams than Bolton, their ability to soak up such astronomical losses will be questioned. In a statement Phil Gartside, Bolton's chairman, said: "This year's results show the difficulties faced in the football business when a club has enjoyed a sustained and successful period in the Premier League – in our case 11 years – then suffers relegation to the Football League Championship. The ever-widening gap between the two leagues makes the transition extremely difficult, even with the benefit of parachute payments." The club's perilous finances underline the dangers of overspending and dropping out of the Premier League as Wanderers did in May 2012. Concerns are heightened by their being dependent on a single benefactor, the owner Eddie Davies. Sources at Bolton say Davies, who took over Wanderers for £2.5m in 2003, has no plans to walk away and that there is a five-year plan to ensure finances will return to a less fraught condition, which does not depend on rejoining the Premier League. Yet as £151.3m of the debt is owed to Davies through his company, Moonlight Investment Ltd, the future of Wanderers is within his compass. Gartside conceded the club's future hinges on Davies' continuing goodwill while admitting that financial fair play rules mean he can no longer support the club as before. "It should go without saying that Eddie Davies continues to provide a humbling level of support to the club," Gartside said. "However, [owners'] financial support is no longer possible in this league without severe penalty. We are responding to a changing environment … by development of the wider Burnden Leisure business interests. This year we secured sole ownership of the hotel, expanded our education business and applied for planning permission to increase our non-football operations. "We will continue to invest, both in the long and short term, where the returns can be justified. However, financial fair play rules require an alternative funding structure and Bolton Wanderers is very much moving towards a self-sustainable future." Bolton's relegation took place the year before the new Premier League television deal, worth a record £3bn over three seasons. Davies's decision to charge interest on loans to the club will be questioned. Although he ended the policy in July, Mohamed Al Fayed, for example, never charged interest on loans that left Fulham £193m in debt. Fayed sold Fulham to Shahid Khan last summer. Bolton Wanderers Championship Jamie Jackson theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Rio Ferdinand still has a role at Manchester United, says David Moyes Posted: 31 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST • Defender has not made squad for five matches • Moyes says there is 'competition for places' David Moyes insists that Rio Ferdinand remains a key player in his plans as Manchester United manager despite not selecting the defender in the match-day squads for the past five games. The 35-year-old started United's 1-0 defeat of Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on 10 December but has been left out since and, while Moyes said Ferdinand has had problems with a calf, it is understood that these are minor. "He's had a few injuries, a few niggles in his calf, but overall Rio's very much a part of it," the manager said before Wednesday's Wednesday teatime home game against Tottenham Hotspur. "The form of the team and the form of some of the young players has meant I've not needed to look to change it around too much." In the absence of the veteran, whose long-term future at United remains in doubt as he is yet to be offered a fresh one-year deal, Moyes has selected Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans as his central defensive pairing. This has meant Nemanja Vidic, the captain, has also sat out games, though he did start United's 1-0 win at Norwich City at the weekend. Moyes said he is not afraid to leave any player out. "That's part of the job and, if you play for this club, you always know there's going to be competition for places. I think if you manage this club there are always going to be big decisions to make. "I think the players here all play their part. Rio and Vida have been two of the best centre-halves, certainly in this Premier League generation. "For the last 10 years they have been terrific, so overall they are still very much a part of it. We'll continue to use them. There have always got to be other people to come in. This club has always got to have a line of people who are ready to come in and take their places and push them, and I think even for the young players, the challenge is to push the old players and take over. That's the way it works." With the champions eight points behind Arsenal, Moyes admits he has a rebuilding job to do though this will not occur in the January transfer window. "I think [if] Sir Alex [Ferguson] was still here, he would have said they would have needed to be a rebuilding job, but it's a continual rebuilding job going on here all the time. We're always looking to the academy first and foremost, asking whether we can bring young players through from there, who are the next ones possibly coming up to the first team? That's the first thing we look for. After that, we'll go out and look and see if we've not got a position covered, then we'll try to find someone out there better than what we've got or to push what we've got it." Asked whether he would be relaxed not to sign any players in January, Moyes said: "I don't know if I'd use the word 'relaxed'. I would say that I'd like to do something and I will try to do something. We'll try and we'll try to get close to doing things if they're possible." Robin van Persie is not yet available due to a thigh injury and Moyes said Wayne Rooney is a doubt because of an adductor strain. "We'll need to wait and see. He didn't train, so we'll assess it tomorrow and see how he is." Moyes also denied that Van Persie was proving susceptible to injury. "He's not proved vulnerable to me, I think he's been fine. People do get injuries. If you look at other clubs in the country, they've got important players injured, so it's no different. But he's important to us and, if we can get him back, great. And when we do get him back we're looking forward to trying to keep him fit and healthy and ready to play. Wayne's not trained today so we'll have to wait and see tomorrow." Rio Ferdinand David Moyes Manchester United Jamie Jackson theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Premier League prepares itself for a spot of window shopping Posted: 31 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST January's is traditionally a difficult market but several top-flight clubs desperately need to cover their deficiencies 1st Arsenal 42pts Arsène Wenger is unlikely to go wild in the January transfer window but he could do with another option in attack. Real Madrid's Álvaro Morata is someone who keeps being linked with a move to Arsenal but Wenger may prefer someone more experienced than the 21-year-old when it comes to competing in a title race. Wenger said on Tuesday: "Look, we are certainly on alert, and if something special turns up we will not turn it down, but we are not desperate because we have a big depth in our squad. Our midfield, for example, at West Ham and at Newcastle, was completely different. We changed three players and we still managed to have a very strong team." Likelihood of making any signings in January: 3/10 2nd Manchester City 41pts The one position Manuel Pellegrini is monitoring is centre-back, where Vincent Kompany's continuing fragility remains a concern. On his return at West Bromwich in December from the latest injury – a thigh problem – the captain admitted there are no guarantees he can remain fit. If Kompany wilts again between now and the last week of the January window, Pellegrini may move. The Chilean has also said that neither Edin Dzeko nor Jack Rodwell will be able to leave, indicating that he may not bring anyone in. Likelihood of signings: 4/10 3rd Chelsea 40pts José Mourinho has claimed he will not be adding an elite striker to his ranks, preferring to wait until the summer before revamping his forward line, yet he does still expect to add new personnel to the squad. The young Burkina Faso forward Bertrand Traoré will finally complete his free-transfer arrival, complete with work permit. There is interest in Saint-Etienne's young centre-back Kurt Zouma, who would cost around £13m, while negotiations have taken place with Internazionale over the Colombia midfielder Fredy Guarín. The Italians will seek around £15m for his signature. Kevin de Bruyne is expected to move to the Bundesliga, either to Bayer Leverkusen or Wolfsburg, on a long‑term loan deal. Likelihood of signings: 9/10 4th Everton 37pts A lot of Everton's energy will be spent retaining the services of Leighton Baines despite vehement denials of his availability from Roberto Martínez, but the manager will have some money to spend with Landon Donovan (on loan from LA Galaxy) and Aiden McGeady, who has fallen out of favour at Spartak Moscow, options. Everton have also been linked with a move for Heerenveen's Icelandic forward Alfred Finnbogason. John Heitinga is likely to leave, which may mean Martínez will need to find extra cover in central defence, and Nikica Jelavic could be on his way, too. Likelihood of signings: 5/10 5th Liverpool 36pts Brendan Rodgers has remained rather coy on the matter of arrivals in January but he has admitted that he would like to bring in one or two quality signings. Liverpool have done well in January in recent seasons, Luis Suárez and Philippe Coutinho both arriving midway through seasons. Barcelona's 22-year‑old Cristian Tello has been mentioned as an option but it appears that Basel's winger Mohamed Salah is close to joining the club. The 21-year-old Egypt forward scored in both games against Chelsea in the Champions League this season and, with 17 international goals in 27 appearances, his presence would be a valuable addition to the squad. They have also been linked with Udinese's midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu and are reported to be ready to bid around £7m for the Ghanaian. Likelihood of signings: 8/10 6th Manchester Utd 34pts David Moyes wants a central midfielder and a left-back – but whether he will secure either is another matter. Filling the full-back position with Leighton Baines is unlikely as Everton will not sell, and Southampton feel the same way about Luke Shaw. Moyes retains an interest in Athletic Bilbao's Ander Herrera and Galatasaray's Wesley Sneijder while Juan Mata (Chelsea), Ilkay Gündogan (Borussia Dortmund) and Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid) are other options, but all three would be difficult to prise from their current clubs. Likelihood of signings: 6/10 7th Tottenham 34pts Considering the vast amount Spurs spent on seven players in the summer (although Real Madrid did pay them £86m for Gareth Bale), they are unlikely to make any major signings or, indeed, any at all. Tim Sherwood has had time to assess his squad and said after the impressive 3-0 victory against Stoke City: "We don't need any players in [during January]. We've got enough. We've got a few injuries, but that's the last thing we need – more players." Likelihood of signings: 0/10 8th Newcastle United 33pts With players of the calibre of Hatem Ben Arfa, Steven Taylor, Mapou Yanga‑Mbiwa and Papiss Cissé regularly on the substitutes' bench, Alan Pardew does not need to sign anyone, but he would probably say yes to recruiting an extra striker. There have been suggestions that Ben Arfa and/or Yohan Cabaye would be leaving in January but that also seems unlikely, with Pardew saying of the former: "First he has got to get in front of [Yoan] Gouffran and [Moussa] Sissoko and that is not going to be easy because they have been brilliant. But I have no worries about Hatem. I think he's in great shape." Likelihood of signings: 2/10 9th Southampton 27pts It is difficult to see Mauricio Pochettino spending huge amounts of money in January because a) the team are doing very well and b) he spent quite heavily in the summer, bringing in the defender Dejan Lovren, the midfielder Victor Wanyama and the striker Dani Osvaldo. Pochettino's main aim will be to keep hold of his talented players, such as the 18-year-old left-back Luke Shaw. "We're not really concerned with the transfer window," Pochettino said recently. "We're really happy with the young players that are part of this team. They are partaking in training sessions with the older players and that gives us a very important equilibrium, a balance in the team, so we're not really looking at the transfer window." Likelihood of signings: 1/10 10th Hull City 23pts Steve Bruce's side have had an exceptional season so far (apart from the furore about the possible name change, of course) but he may still look to bring in a forward to add more goals to the team. Bruce would love to sign West Bromwich Albion's Shane Long in January but that may not be happening now as there is such uncertainty surrounding Nicolas Anelka's future. Another option that the club are said to be keen on is Georgios Samaras from Celtic. Bruce has denied making a move for Valenciennes' Ivory Coast defender Benjamin Angoua, saying: "I've no real aspiration to bring in a defender, I'm looking at the other end of the pitch – but so is half the world. You are only as good as your strikers, that's the way it is." Likelihood of signings: 5/10 11th Swansea City 21pts Following their recent defeat by Chelsea, Michael Laudrup was quick to point out the true extent of Swansea's injuries, which include long-term absentees Michu, Michel Vorm and Nathan Dyer, before reiterating his desire to sign another goalscorer in the January transfer window. Wilfried Bony is a good player but has yet to start scoring regularly while Tom Ince, whose Blackpool contract expires this summer, is the marquee signing that the chairman, Huw Jenkins, seems keen on. Likelihood of any signings: 6/10 12th Stoke City 21pts Mark Hughes has admitted he is in the market for a striker, which is hardly surprising considering the fact that Charlie Adam is the team's leading scorer in the league with four goals, and he may make another offer for Hannover's Mame Biram Diouf. Stoke made inquiries about the former Manchester United striker in the summer but the bid fell through at the last minute. Hughes is also looking to see whether he could convince the former Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne, now at Hamburg, to make a return to the Premier League. Likelihood of signings: 8/10 13th Aston Villa 20pts Paul Lambert is looking for experience as he hopes to add some knowhow to his young squad. The Scot will consider loan or permanent signings but is aware of the potential pitfalls of the January window. "It's a challenge to go and find players but with top-end ones the salaries are a bit high. I had one today and I nearly fell off my chair – I put the phone down on that one," he said recently. "That's what you are working with, that's the nature of the game, it's too much." Villa's central defence has been all over the place recently but, with Ron Vlaar likely to be back from injury soon, Lambert may prefer not to look for a centre-back. Likelihood of signings: 5/10 14th Norwich City 19pts Norwich City are thinking of new recruits and Chris Hughton expects he will be "busy with phone calls and watching plenty of DVDs". That said, he remains steadfast in his refusal to buy recklessly. No names as of yet. His side have struggled for goals but, considering he recruited Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Johan Elmander in the summer, he may look at other areas of the squad to strengthen. Hughton has also denied that some of his players will leave, saying of the potential departures of Wes Hoolahan and Anthony Pilkington: "I don't know anything about those reports. The talk normally around this time is of players coming in and that generally is all we are interested in." Likelihood of signings: 3/10 15th West Bromwich A 18pts Potential transfers have taken a back seat at West Bromwich as the club continue their frustrating pursuit of a managerial successor to Steve Clarke. However if Hull are able to sign Shane Long, the Baggies may be forced to invest in the squad with or without a new No1 in place. The caretaker manager, Keith Downing, has admitted they are interested in signing the former Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou, moreover. "We've stated an interest, we've had some negotiations and we're hopeful he'll come to West Brom," he said. "We are still working to get players of his ilk to come to the club. We are short in terms of numbers. There is an importance now to get the two or three, maybe four, players in." Likelihood of any signings: 9/10 17th Crystal Palace 16pts Tony Pulis hopes to add up to five players to his squad, having consistently stated the side he inherited from Ian Holloway requires "reinforcements" if they are to survive in the top flight. Palace signed 16 players in the summer, so juggling the 25-man squad for the second half of the season will become an issue, particularly with the forward Glenn Murray nearing a return from his knee injury. A striker is on the shopping list – Peter Crouch of the manager's former club Stoke is inevitably on the radar, as are Lyon's Bafétimbi Gomis and West Ham's Modibo Maïga – while the former Fulham midfielder Mahamadou Diarra, a free agent, or Celtic's Joe Ledley could strengthen central midfield. Pulis would also like a centre-half and a left-back and there is interest in a goalkeeper, notably Wayne Hennessey of Wolves. Incorporating those would necessitate outgoings from the current squad. Likelihood of signings: 10/10 18th Fulham 16pts Fulham are in desperate need of new players, something the devastating 6-0 defeat at Hull City illustrated with painful clarity. The problem is that René Meulensteen is unlikely to have a lot of money to spend as the owner, Shahid Khan, continues to look into what is going wrong with the club he only bought last summer. Fulham have already made moves, however, with the arrivals of the technical director Alan Curbishley, Ray Wilkins as assistant head coach and the attacking midfielder Clint Dempsey on a two-month loan from Seattle Sounders. In addition, Meulensteen is looking into deals to bring the Roma midfielder Michael Bradley and West Ham's Ravel Morrison to the club. Likelihood of signings: 10/10 19th West Ham United 15pts Signings seem a certainty at West Ham as Sam Allardyce missed his media briefing on Monday to talk about the 3-3 draw against West Bromwich as he was on transfer business, with the first among those signings purported to be Everton's defender John Heitinga. West Ham certainly need a centre-back as Allardyce has at times this season played four full-backs in defence. There have also been reports that the Hammers will try to bring in the Roma pair Marco Borriello and Nicolás Burdisso. A lot will depend on whether Andy Carroll makes a successful return to first-team action before the end of the transfer window. Likelihood of signings: 9/10 20th Sunderland 14pts The club have already announced that the former Bolton Wanderers player Marcos Alonso is joining on loan from Fiorentina, which should help with the troublesome left-back position. Ideally Gus Poyet would also like to bolster midfield and attack. Expect more loan arrivals, and the manager has expressed an interest in signing Aston Villa's Charles N'Zogbia. "The problem with putting a number on [how many] players [we bring in] is that I would like maybe three or four but it's always so unpredictable," Poyet said recently. "The reality is, it's almost pointless saying so at the outset because things can change so much. Initially, though, three or four is the idea." Likelihood of signings : 10/10 Transfer window Premier League theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Arsène Wenger confident Arsenal are ready to stay the pace this time Posted: 31 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST • Gunners hope to take 2013 form into next year • Arsenal squad are 'hungry and ready for it' Arsène Wenger is not immune to the consensus. "Everyone expects us to fail," the Arsenal manager said, with a smile. The calendar year of 2013 offered compelling evidence as to why the club could yet win the Premier League title for the first time since 2004 but there remains a nagging doubt. It seems as though everybody feels it and Arsenal's achievements over the first half of the season, least of all entering the New Year on top of the table, have not managed to convince the pundits that they will do anything other than implode at some point over the next four and a bit months. The sentiment will not keep Wenger awake at night; he suggested that it might take some of the pressure off his club. But he did challenge it, before the New Year's Day visit of Cardiff City, because he believes there are many reasons why Arsenal's story can be different this time. In 2008, the previous occasion they topped the league on the morning of New Year's Day, the club would run aground after a traumatic day at Birmingham City in late February, when Eduardo da Silva suffered a terrible leg break, the team conceded a late equaliser and William Gallas threw his infamous strop. But Wenger feels his current squad is tougher mentally, blessed with greater quality in depth and ready to take the momentum of 2013 into the decisive months of the season. No Premier League team could better Arsenal's return of 82 points from 38 games during the calendar year and their excellent away form was a particular source of encouragement. "It's not a trophy but it shows the consistency and the trend for the team," Wenger said. "It means we are going upwards and we want to transfer that into 2014, to be concrete and to have a great race in the Premier League title. We have been consistent and that makes the belief stronger. These players have a classy attitude, they are hungry, they want it and are ready to go for it. "This squad is more experienced. In 2008, we lost it at Birmingham, especially, where we were a bit unlucky and self-destructive as well. But, overall, we are better equipped on the mental front." Wenger admitted that the team had endured a blip with the league draws against Everton and Chelsea, bookending the defeats at Napoli in the Champions League and Manchester City, but the subsequent wins at West Ham United and Newcastle United showed the ability and character. Wenger also noted how he had changed three midfielders from Upton Park to St James' Park and still looked strong while he took further heart from the positive manner in which his team had finished the last two seasons. "We lost big players during the summers, we had to rebuild and we found our run after Christmas," Wenger said. "What we suffered from, which was the most important, was we looked a team with less ambition than the others. We were in a position where we sold our good players; we accepted to be behind the teams who invested a lot of money. That has changed and that has strengthened, as well, the belief." Wenger's injury worries increased after the Newcastle game, with Kieran Gibbs and Olivier Giroud succumbing to calf and ankle problems. The manager also reported that Jack Wilshere (ankle), Theo Walcott (shoulder) and Tomas Rosicky (calf), along with Thomas Vermaelen and Nacho Monreal (both illness), are doubts for Cardiff but all five have been named in the squad. Giroud's injury is not serious, although he is unlikely to be back for Saturday's FA Cup tie at home to Tottenham Hotspur, meaning that Lukas Podolski stands to enjoy an opportunity at centre-forward. Wenger said that he was "on alert" for a new striker in January. "Maybe we are a bit shorter up front with specialised people ... we have only two because [Yaya] Sanogo is not ready yet," Wenger said. "If that special opportunity turns up, we will not turn it down but everywhere else, we are in no need at all [to buy]." Wenger said he would "push very hard" to ensure that Bacary Sagna signed a new contract and he added that the club and defender were "not far" from an agreement. But he could offer no guarantees, with Sagna, whose current deal expires in the summer, now free to sign a pre-contract at an overseas club. "We cannot stop him from doing that," Wenger said. "For me, that is not a problem because when you are a professional football player, you do your best until the last day, of where you are. I don't question Sagna's commitment until the last day of his contract." Arsenal David Hytner theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Tim Sherwood and Tottenham expect stern test from Manchester United Posted: 31 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST The top job at Spurs is proving an all-consuming task for the new manager and he now visits Old Trafford Tim Sherwood seized the moment. Now he is starting to realise what that means. "It's a complete lifestyle change," says the 44-year-old as he prepares for his biggest test since his sudden jump from the Tottenham Hotspur background to centre stage. Manchester United at Old Trafford may or may not be as daunting a fixture as it once was but Wednesday's game certainly represents a stiffer challenge than anything else Tottenham's new head coach has faced in his embryonic managerial career. When Spurs embarked on a lavish revamp of their squad in the summer they hardly envisaged entrusting it to a complete novice but that is what Sherwood persuaded them to do after the club dismissed André Villas-Boas two weeks ago. His promotion from technical director was initially intended as a stopgap while Spurs sought someone more experienced but he insisted he deserved the gig longer term and his boldness was rewarded just before Christmas when he was given an 18-month contract. He has the power he craved – and all the responsibilities that go with it. "There are so many added pressures," he says. "The game, the job and the club are on my mind all the time. I expected that after learning from the managers I have worked with. It is their life and they live it completely. I try to go home and switch off but it's extremely difficult. I don't sleep and, when you do, you wake up after two hours thinking about [Emmanuel] Adebayor. That can't be right. But it's better it's me waking up thinking about him than my missus." Joking aside, he says it is a boon that his wife is no fan of the game that might otherwise consume him. "My missus has no interest in football whatsoever and that helps when I go home. I have been with her for 20-odd years and she watched me play eight times. The reason she is with me is because I told her I'd won the World Cup. But seriously it suits me. She's a great support to me and our family and it's a normal life, which is cool. I am happy with that." It is not only Sherwood's life that has changed. There has also been a clear shift in Tottenham's playing style since he took over. His promise during his campaign to take the full-time job was that he would restore Spurs' adventurous spirit and get the best out of what is a richly talented group of players. His most obvious alteration has been to play with two strikers rather than one, in the process recalling Adebayor from the internal exile that had been imposed on him by Villas-Boas. He has also put less emphasis than his predecessor on inverted wingers and Aaron Lennon has revelled again down the right. Equally the tempo and directness that Sherwood advocates has pleased supporters, while players such as Christian Eriksen have lauded the new freedom and enterprise. Yet Sherwood still has much to do to prove his appointment shrewd. His four matches so far have brought handsome victories over Stoke City and Southampton, a frustrating home draw with West Bromwich Albion and a Capital One Cup defeat by West Ham. The trip to Old Trafford is likely to be tougher than all of those assignments. Sherwood's style is closer to Harry Redknapp's than that of Villas-Boas but it was under the Portuguese manager that Tottenham won at Old Trafford last season for the first time in 23 years. Some supporters fear Sherwood's up-and-at-'em approach will be shown up as simplistic. However, he is convinced his team can be savvy as well as exciting. That is despite a lengthy injury list that now includes the influential midfielder Paulinho, who will miss the next month after his ankle was damaged on Sunday in a tackle by Stoke's Charlie Adam. "We've got good players here with experience as well and it's just about them recognising when to put their foot on the ball and kill the game to give us a bit of breathing space," he says. "I think we can go to Old Trafford and have attacking threats on the field. You have to be a little bit more cautious, obviously. The last thing you want to do there is concede early because then you are chasing the game and they have players who are world-class and can pick you off. But we've got good players as well. We've just got to go to play and enjoy it. Old Trafford is a great arena to play in and we have to try to impose ourselves on them." Tottenham Hotspur Manchester United Paul Doyle theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Manchester City know they are title favourites, says José Mourinho Posted: 31 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST • Chelsea manager turns up heat on Manuel Pellegrini's side • Arsène Wenger insists City are not 'completely unbeatable' José Mourinho has sought to pile the pressure on to Manchester City, presenting them as the red-hot Premier League title favourites for 2014, and the Chelsea manager has insisted he is not playing mind games. Arsène Wenger, though, gave short shrift to his rival and made it plain that Mourinho's views should not be taken at face value. Wenger enters the new year with Arsenal on top of the table and the belief that City ought to be no better fancied than his club, Chelsea or the defending champions Manchester United. Mourinho takes Chelsea to Southampton on New Year's Day, sitting third in the league, one point behind City and two behind Arsenal. He has previously said that City should be well clear already, such is the strength in their ranks, and he bristled at the suggestion that his comments about City were an attempt to unsettle them. "You think I am? You think I'm capable of that?" Mourinho said, with a straight face, as his audience nodded and laughed. "See the [City] squad, see the players, the number of goals, the strikers. [Edin] Dzeko is the third striker of Man City. Dzeko! [Stevan] Jovetic the fourth. Do you think I'm putting pressure. Pfff. "I don't think Man City should feel pressure. I think they know how good they are and I think they know they are the favourites. I don't think they feel any pressure." Wenger, whose Arsenal team face a New Year's Day visit from Cardiff City, raised his eyebrows at Mourinho's words. "Do you believe him?" he asked. "Man City are favourites not more than Chelsea, for me, or Man United. They have the squad, yes. They have a squad of names who can pretend to win it. But at the end of the day, it is down to what we do on the pitch. "Are Man City, at the moment, completely unbeatable? Not for me. They have lost a number of games away from home. They have played one more game at home, than away. We have played one more game away, than at home. So it is open." Arsenal were last on top of the table at New Year in 2007-08, only to fade after a morale-sapping 2-2 draw at Birmingham City in late February. This season is fiendishly tight at the halfway stage, with nine points separating the top eight clubs. "It is very difficult to say who are the main challengers," Wenger said. "Two weeks ago, you would have all said it is Liverpool and then, two defeats later, they are six points adrift. It is very difficult to predict. Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea … I forget a few … you can count Everton, even Man United. You cannot rule them out. What is for sure is that after the Christmas period, after the New Year's Day games, we will have a better idea and then go from there." City visit Swansea City in the early kick-off, with Manuel Pellegrini keen to establish his club as the leading force in the domestic game. "We must try, at least," he said. "But it's very difficult to be dominant over here. Chelsea are a very strong team … Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham are a strong team. So are Liverpool. So it's difficult." Mourinho sought to highlight the progress Chelsea have made compared to this time last year, when they trailed the then leaders, United, by 11 points, albeit having played one game fewer. But he continues to stick to the line about his club being in transition and, as such, title outsiders. "We are OK," Mourinho said. "Last year, in this moment, we were 11 points behind the leader, so game over. In this moment we are two points behind, so game on. Let's keep going. "We have to protect the top four, because this season the top four will be a big achievement for everyone. And if we can protect the top four, let's see what we can do and let's see if Man City kills everybody or if they keep being close to all of us. "The six clubs that I considered in pre-season are still there and, of course, Everton and Newcastle are also pushing for the top four. I think Tottenham and Man United are ready to attack the top four. "The difference between the top four and being champion … it looks like it's not a big difference. So I think the first objective for everyone is to attack the top four and try to be stable in the top four." José Mourinho Chelsea Manchester City Arsenal Arsène Wenger David Hytner theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini demands even more in title battle Posted: 31 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST • 'It's very important for all the players always to be improving' • City's injured striker Sergio Agüero will not be rushed back Manuel Pellegrini wants Manchester City to be even better during the second half of the season as he aims to make the club the dominant force in English football. The manager also insisted that Sergio Agüero would not be rushed back from injury. City travel to Swansea City for the early kick-off on New Year's Day with Pellegrini demanding more from his side though he accepts this is difficult given the form so far that has them trailing Arsenal by only a point. "We will continue to learn," said the Chilean. "It's very important for all the players always to be improving. It must be better, the second half, than the first. But then the first half was already very good so I don't know. It is normal to improve though." This is Pellegrini's first season in English football and the Chilean cannot quite believe how quickly it has passed. "The time has gone fast. Six months is a lot of time but it has felt very short for me. I'm learning each day but after six months I am very settled in England, I am very happy, I am at a very good club. I work with the team. I always feel that the first months are the most difficult in a new job. So to be in the position we are in now is a very good start for us." Asked when Agüero was likely to return from the calf injury suffered against Arsenal on 14 December, Pellegrini said: "It's difficult to know when. It depends on his recovery and how he improves. I still can't say when." The Argentina striker, whose 19 goals in 20 games make him the campaign's standout performer alongside Luis Suárez, will not be rushed back despite his importance to the side. "We will try to make him have a full recovery before he is back. It's very important." Pellegrini is hopeful that once Stevan Jovetic recovers from a hamstring problem he can finally be available regularly. The Montenegro forward is enduring an injury-cursed start to his City career since his summer arrival for £22m. Pellegrini is puzzled why Jovetic has had such bad luck. "It is difficult to know," he said. "I hope this will be the last one and he can start playing. He is an important player." The manager does not think Jovetic's problem is psychological. "I can't say that, no. I always believe that a player cannot do it unless he feels he can do it," Pellegrini said. "I will support the players. I believe in the players and I believe in Jovetic. He has had very bad luck for the first half of the year and I hope the second half will be very good for him. He is trying to do everything." Manchester City Manuel Pellegrini Sergio Agüero Swansea City Jamie Jackson theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Brendan Rodgers confident Anfield advantage can move Liverpool onwards Posted: 31 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST • Manager believes Liverpool can make most of home form • Clash with Hull a chance to continue winning run at Anfield Brendan Rodgers is confident the "Anfield factor" can propel his Liverpool side back into the Champions League places, starting with Wednesday's match against Hull City. Successive defeats at Manchester City and Chelsea have left Liverpool in fifth position after they led the Premier League on Christmas Day, but they have won their past six matches at home and Rodgers believes this offers an excellent opportunity to move up the table. "We have got all these teams to play at home. All the teams, apart from Manchester United, are all to come to Anfield. We are very strong at home," said the manager, who hopes to add to his squad during the January transfer window. "And if we can reinforce the group in these next four weeks then it sets us up." Liverpool have lost only once at home this season – to Southampton – and Rodgers is confident that given this "Anfield factor" the side's destiny remains in their control. "That's what gives me the great confidence," he said. "How we've been at Anfield over the course of this year means we have a big part to play in our own destiny and that is all you can ever hope for. You look at the other teams, like Manchester City, they have played a lot of their games at home and so have got to travel. "They have had their difficulties on their travels. So for us the second half of the season at Anfield will be massive. We love playing there. We enjoy playing there. We feel comfortable there to go and get a result against anyone and we aim, along with our supporters, to make it a real difficult place to get a result." Rodgers added: "I think it's a combination of the confidence of the players and an aggressive style of play. And also improvements to the team. It's been very pleasing. I said before we have had lots of compliments about the creativity of the team but what has been important for me has been the consistency. It is something we have to keep focused on, and going into every game like it is a cup final. "We're at the halfway point and we've arrived in great condition. If you had said we would be six points off the lead at halfway then I would've taken that at the start. We have got it all to play for. When you look at the two teams we have just played there is a huge difference in terms of squads. But we're not going to sit back and cry about it. "If we win the game against Hull it is nine points out of 15 and if you consider that with Tottenham, City and Chelsea away it's actually a decent return. If we get three points against Hull then we leave the period with a decent return. Whatever squad we have we will go into the game positive to get a result." While Steven Gerrard, the captain, may return to face Hull after a hamstring injury, Rodgers is without Daniel Sturridge, Joe Allen, José Enrique, Jon Flanagan, Mamadou Sakho and Sebastián Coates for varying lengths of time. Rodgers played down concerns over the impact of injuries on his squad, however. "I've always worked with what I've got and maximise what we have available so I don't want to get too down or focus to much on it. We will have some returning players fairly soon and January could be a great springboard for us like it was last year. So that's what is in my thoughts." Rodgers did admit that good fortune may be needed if a Champions League place is to be achieved. "If we have a bit of luck – and up until five weeks ago we had all the players fit and available – we have an incredible chance to compete for that. But when we hit a few injuries that can affect us." Liverpool Brendan Rodgers Hull City Jamie Jackson theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Bolton Wanderers clinging on thanks to owner Eddie Davies's generosity | Jamie Jackson Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:41 PM PST A disastrous financial situation has placed the very future of one of the Football League's founder clubs in jeopardy The most damning statistic that contributed to the scarcely believable £163.8m debt Bolton Wanderers revealed on Tuesday is the £50.7m loss they posted in the year to June 2013 alone. This followed a fall in turnover from £58.5m to £28.5m as the effect of relegation from the Premier League the previous season was felt. As Phil Gartside, the chairman, said: "Looking forward we have to recognise we are no longer a Premier League club in the Championship but a Championship club with ambitions to play in the Premier League." Perhaps a more encouraging note for supporters and anyone who wants clubs run on a robust footing would have been sounded if Gartside had made clear that the mistakes in overspending will be learned from and not repeated. Gartside and Eddie Davies, the owner who is owed nearly all of the £163.8m, must shoulder the responsibility for the position the club find itself in. The wage bill now stands at £32.7m, its lowest level since 2007 when Bolton were still firmly a Premier League club, so the question must be asked why, over the following five years, this and other overheads continued to rise despite the greater monies received from operating in the world's richest league. Bolton last made a profit in 2006. Since then year-on-year losses have risen steadily to the current amount. This means that the £50.7m black hole suffered in 2012-13 has been seven years in the making – time enough, surely, for Gartside and Davies to have warning to arrest this. In 2007 a £2m loss was returned, the following year it was £8m and by 2010 it had jumped to an alarming £35m – this last figure all but tripling the previous year's £13m. In the haemorrhaging of £50.7m over 12 months Wanderers become a member of the club no one wants to join by being the fifth to lose £50m-plus in a year. Manchester City, who have done it four times, Chelsea (seven), Liverpool and Aston Villa (once each) are all entities with far greater finances and revenue streams than Bolton who, even before relegation two seasons ago from the Premier League, struggled with attendances that could be lower than several Championship clubs and even one in League One. To place the £163.8m owed in further perspective, only Chelsea, Manchester United and Fulham have more debt from the most recent available figures. As Gartside confirmed, the fact that Bolton can shoulder such crippling losses to remain a going concern is solely down to the benevolence of Davies. Gartside said: "This year's results show the difficulties faced in the football business when a club has enjoyed a sustained and successful period in the Premier League, in our case 11 years, then suffers relegation back to the Football League Championship. The ever-widening gap between the two leagues makes the transition extremely difficult, even with the benefits of parachute payments from the Premier League." Regarding Davies, who paid £2.25m in 2003 to increase his shareholding from 29.7% to 94.5% to take over Bolton, Gartside offered thanks that the club remains solvent while stating that due to financial fair play rules in the Championship, alternative incomes have to be found. "It should go without saying that Eddie Davies continues to provide a humbling level of support to the club," Gartside said. "However, the financial support given by owners is no longer possible in this league without severe penalty. We are responding to a changing environment by improvement and development of the wider Burnden Leisure business interests. This year we secured sole ownership of the hotel [at the Reebok Stadium], expanded our education business and applied for planning permission to increase our non-football operations to improve revenues over the medium to long term. "We will continue to invest, both in the long and short term, where the returns can be justified. However, financial fair play rules require an alternative funding structure and Bolton Wanderers is very much moving towards a self-sustainable future." The numbers that illustrate how Bolton find themselves so dependent on Davies to avoid entering administration ahead of potential extinction are alarming. Despite season ticket prices being frozen last season, attendances at the Reebok Stadium fell 24%, while sponsorship dropped from what was a relatively minuscule £4.3m to an almost insignificant £1.4m, a 68% decrease. All of this occurred despite the club reducing staff and general administration costs. In a statement Bolton said: "Total staff costs for the year were £37.4m, down from £55.3m, as a result of a number of players leaving the club as well as the evoking of relegation clauses in a number of players' contracts and making significant changes in overheads. General administration costs reduced by 10% to £14.1m from £15.7m." Davies, sources at the club claim, has no plans to walk away in the near future meaning the owner's ongoing commitment should be secured. There is also an insistence that a five-year plan is in place to address the debt. Yet Davies could hardly pull out of the club when £151.3m of debt is owed to him via his Moonlight Investments Ltd vehicle. What seems clear is that the £163.8m owed by Bolton places the future of a founding member of the Football League in real jeopardy and this amount should surely not increase further. Bolton Wanderers Championship Business Jamie Jackson theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Chelsea announce £49.4m loss but claim financial outlook still bright Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:33 PM PST • Loss in year to June 2013 follows small profit in 2011-12 • Club confident over financial fair play compliance Chelsea have insisted they remain on track to comply with Uefa's financial fair play rules, despite plunging to an annual loss of £49.4m according to their latest financial results. The figures show that, for all the club's long-stated ambition to operate at break-even following a decade in which they have been subsidised by Roman Abramovich to the tune of more than £1bn, they remain loss-making. Last year Chelsea posted a first profit of the Abramovich era and claimed it marked a milestone in their journey towards self-sustainability, though it later emerged that the profit of £1.4m owed much to a one-off £18.4m share windfall. For the 12 months ending June 2013, however, the results show a return to heavy loss‑making ways. The £49.4m loss, partly due to new signings and a turbulent season during which the then Champions League holders went out of the competition at the group stage, is closer to the £67.7m loss of two years ago than last season's paper profit. But the club argued that a 19% rise in annual commercial income to £79.6m and a record turnover figure of £255.8m showed they were moving in the right direction. Nor do the figures include a recently signed £300m, 10-year kit deal with Adidas. "For Chelsea FC to achieve a record level of turnover despite our first group-stage elimination from the Champions League shows we have structured our business and are growing in the correct way for long-term stability," said the chief executive, Ron Gourlay. "Our philosophy is we build upon success on the pitch and although in these financial results we haven't repeated the sizeable profits made the previous year from player transfers, we believe the age profile of the existing squad means we will benefit from that investment for many years to come. "A successful team builds awareness around the world and our increased commercial revenues in 2012-13 and new or extended partnership deals demonstrate we are working hard to capitalise on that." Despite winning the Europa League under their interim manager, Rafael Benítez, Chelsea's early exit from the Champions League severely hit revenues. The full impact of signings during the period from July 2012 to June 2013 on the club's wage bill will not be apparent until the full accounts are lodged at Companies House next month. Like some other clubs Chelsea attempt to control the way their results are presented by initially releasing only a limited summary. Uefa's first monitoring period for its financial fair play break-even rules covers the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons and will be calculated next year. The new rules, designed to cool European football's overheated finances, have proved controversial because some argue they will lock in the established order and others that deals such as Paris Saint-Germain's with the Qatar Tourism Authority make a mockery of them. Chelsea are confident that, despite tumbling into the red again, they will comply with the acceptable €45m (currently £37.5m) "deviation" permitted during the first two-year accounting period once allowable expenditure on youth development, infrastructure and charitable giving is excluded from the total. The chairman, Bruce Buck, said: "From the very beginning of the current ownership of Chelsea Football Club, a long-term objective was financial sustainability, and the subsequent implementation of financial fair play by Uefa and by the Premier League has brought that to the top of the agenda for football clubs. "We are pleased therefore that we will meet the stipulations set down by Uefa in their first assessment period, and by our own analysis we are progressing from a commercial viewpoint as well as continuing to add trophies to our collection, which we never lose sight of as our most important goal." The level of acceptable losses, which must be covered by a club's owner, then falls to €45m over three years for the next monitoring period and then €30m over the following three years. Chelsea Business Finances Owen Gibson theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Massimiliano Allegri preparing for axe as Milan coach after woeful run Posted: 31 Dec 2013 11:56 AM PST • Club's disastrous league form points to the exit • Hopes for one last run in Champions League The beleaguered Massimiliano Allegri has spent his "last Christmas" as Milan coach, he said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday. Allegri, in his fourth season at the club, has survived a dreadful four months against a backdrop of political manoeuvring at the club, and admitted he had no thoughts of continuing next season. "This is certainly my last Christmas at Milan but I have eaten panettone here once again and to be honest I had no doubt that I would," he said, referring to the constant speculation about his future since early this season. "I don't know who will be the next coach and it's not really my problem," he added. Milan reached the Christmas break in 13th place in Serie A with only 19 points from 17 games and a mere four wins to their credit. They are 17 points adrift of Napoli who are in third place, which earns a place in the Champions League play-off round. They also performed erratically in the Champions League, winning only two group games, but managed to qualify for the last 16 and ironically are Italy's only survivors in the competition. "Realistically I don't know how far we can go in Europe but we have a good chance of getting to the quarter-finals," said Allegri whose side face Atlético Madrid in the last 16. "A lot can change between now and February." In another interview with Sky Sports Italia, Allegri admitted: "The last four months in the championship have been disastrous. "For the new year we must try and reach third place. It's a huge gap but we have to do all we can to get as many points as possible, even knowing that it will be difficult." Milan Serie A European club football theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Essien 'could leave Chelsea' Posted: 31 Dec 2013 08:27 AM PST • 31-year-old has been linked with return to France • Midfielder has only played three league games this term Michael Essien could leave Chelsea in the transfer window, according to his agent. The Ghana midfielder spent last season on loan with José Mourinho at Real Madrid, but has managed just three Premier League appearances this term. Essien joined Chelsea from Lyon in 2005, moving on to claim two Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League. The 31-year-old has been omitted from Chelsea's Champions League squad so far this season. His agent Fabian Piveteau believes that could help pave the way for a move to another big European club during the January window. "He could leave Chelsea this winter," Piveteau told French radio station RMC. "Several major European clubs playing in the Champions League were informed and the situation should settle down within the next 10 days. "You should know that Michael was not on the list of players who can play in the Champions League with Chelsea, so he is free to play in the competition with another club." Piveteau rejected a return to Essien's first club Bastia out of hand, admitting that the 52-cap midfielder will only seek to move to a club of similar standing. He said: "In Ligue 1 he could play only at Paris Saint-Germain or Lyon, but Bastia, FC Sochaux, for them to support the salary of a Chelsea player, it is already impossible." Chelsea Transfer window theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Cardiff still hopeful of Solskjaer Posted: 31 Dec 2013 06:59 AM PST • Norwegian yet to reject Cardiff's approach • City head to Arsenal under David Kerslake's control Cardiff City still hope to appoint Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their manager, despite reports the former Manchester United forward has turned down the Welsh club. Solskjaer, in charge of the Norwegian club Molde, was instantly installed as favourite to take over when Malky Mackay was sacked on Friday following a series of disputes with the owner Vincent Tan. Cardiff's chairman, Mehmet Dalman, has stated he has one candidate in mind and refused to deny he had held discussions with Solskjaer, saying: " I might have and I might not have." There have been suggestions Solksjaer has turned down Dalman's overtures, but it is understood that Solskjaer has yet to reject the chance to take over, and that Dalman hopes the promise of funds to spend in January and assurances regarding the working structure will convince the 40-year-old Norwegian to make the move. With Dalman's hunt ongoing, Mackay's assistant David Kerslake and the first-team coach Joe McBride remain in charge for the daunting New Year's Day trip to leaders Arsenal. Kerslake insists he knows nothing about the hunt for a new manager, but has called on the fans to get behind the next No1, whoever he is. "The new manager will have to have a big personality," he said. "They are big boots that Malky has left. But I am sure the owner and the board of directors will select correctly. It is certainly going to take them into a new direction and the supporters need to get on board and support whatever they do." Taking a side to the Emirates in the Premier League should rank as one of the biggest days in Kerslake's career, but he admits it will feel slightly surreal as he considers Cardiff to still be Mackay's side. He said: "I don't feel it is my side. I am going there and doing the job the club have asked me to do. Of course it is the Premier League, a great stadium and something I am looking forward to." Cardiff will at least avoid coming up against Aaron Ramsey. The Wales midfielder scored twice in a 3-0 Arsenal win when the sides met in Wales but has been ruled out with a thigh problem. Not that Kerslake expects it to have an adverse effect on the Gunners. "They could field three teams with world-class individuals so I don't think that will be any challenge to their manager," he said. "But we have gone up against top sides before and got a result and we will take a game plan and we will stick to it and we will be OK." Cardiff City theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Arsène Wenger on the January transfer window and injury worries - video Posted: 31 Dec 2013 06:51 AM PST Arsène Wenger says Arsenal will be on alert for new signings during the January transfer window as he admits facing injury worries ahead of tomorrow's game against Cardiff City

Wayne Rooney an injury doubt for Manchester United's game with Spurs Posted: 31 Dec 2013 06:38 AM PST • Striker missed training on Tuesday with groin problem • Robin van Persie still out with thigh injury Manchester United could be without his leading strikers Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney for their Premier League encounter with Tottenham at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Moyes confirmed Van Persie "is not quite ready" after missing five games with a thigh injury. Meanwhile Rooney, who missed Saturday's 1-0 win at Norwich with a groin problem, did not train on Tuesday and will be assessed before the game. "Robin is not quite ready, we don't think," said Moyes. "He is not too far away. With Wayne we need to wait and see. He has not trained today so we will need to assess it tomorrow." It means United will be relying on in-form Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernández as their strikers when they look to extend their present winning run to seven matches. The severity of the injuries may bring an added focus to Moyes's work in the transfer market in January, even though the Scot accepts it is not the greatest time to do business. "We would always look to try and add players," said Moyes. "But I am not sure January is a brilliant month to do business. We will be out there looking as I am sure everyone else will be." Wayne Rooney Manchester United David Moyes Transfer window theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Tom Jenkins's best sports photos of 2013 - in pictures Posted: 31 Dec 2013 05:00 AM PST Our photographer looks back at his favourite images from the past 12 months and recalls in detail how each one was created Tom Jenkins

Nicolas Anelka's quenelle gesture is an insult | Charlie Eccleshare Posted: 31 Dec 2013 04:14 AM PST At a time when antisemitism in football is resurfacing, such a gesture is insensitive and ill-advised The decision by the West Bromwich Albion striker Nicolas Anelka to celebrate scoring a goal by performing a quenelle – a gesture that seen by many as an antisemitic reverse Nazi salute – has reopened the debate around antisemitism in football. Anelka's gesture has been widely condemned, but has also frustratingly, and inevitably, provided the gesture and antisemitism with a great deal of publicity. Anelka's gesture was insensitive, insulting and ill-advised. He can protest that the celebration was "just a special dedication to my comedian friend Dieudonné" (Dieudonné M'bala M'bala, a comedian who claims the gesture is anti-establishment rather than antisemitic but has been fined on several occasions for inciting racial hatred and hate speech) but gestures like this must be condemned, especially at a time when the simmering antisemitism in football has come to the boil in recent years, as demonstrated by the gas chamber hissing noises made by some fans to their Tottenham counterparts. Anelka could be hit with a ban – justifiably, as it needs to be made clear to footballers that using their profile to promote messages that may incite hatred and racism is unacceptable. Perhaps Anelka should use the additional free time his ban will afford him to attend the Jewish Museum's Four Four Jew exhibition, which opened in London in October and explores the role of the Jewish community in English football. The exhibition resonated for me as it profiles my grandfather Arnold Seigel, who was among the first of the few professional Jewish footballers in this country. Seigel was a talented outside-left and had trials for Arsenal (a former club of Anelka's) and West Ham before the second world war broke out – a strong man of 6'2, he belied the contemporary stereotype that Jewish boys were small and non-athletic. Returning from military duty, where he had represented numerous army teams, he played for Leyton Orient in the 1946-47 season but decided to quit the game, as he had a wedding to save up for and believed that there was little financial future in football. Four Four Jew outlines the importance of football to recent Jewish immigrants and explains that my grandfather was one of many young Jewish boys who joined the burgeoning Jewish Lads groups. The Jewish community set up the groups at the start of the 20th century to help recent Jewish immigrants assimilate into English society by playing national sports, like football and cricket. Anelka might be able to identify with the assimilating effect of football for recent immigrants – his parents had migrated from Martinique to France, a team he would play for on 69 occasions, only five years before his birth in 1979. And just as racial tensions remain in Anelka's native France, it would have disappointed Seigel deeply to know that almost 100 years after he started playing, Jewish footballers and supporters are still targeted because of their religion, and that a player would celebrate a goal with a gesture linked to antisemitism. But football also remains a force for good. Arsene Wenger, Arsenal's manager, said as much at the exhibition opening, arguing that "the values that are important in the game today are the same (as always). It is a respect for others. It is learning to lose. It is learning to cope with pressure." As Seigel became ill with dementia in his later years, and was less communicative and more forgetful, the beautiful game was something that stayed with him. There were two questions he would never fail to ask: the first was "are you playing much football at the moment?"; the second, naturally, was "what position are you playing?". Today my grandfather would hope, as we all do, that football's simple pleasures can continue to be enjoyed but without antisemitism, racism and homophobia. Anelka and his fellow players must do all they can to ensure that positive stories, and not ones like these, dominate the back pages. Nicolas Anelka Judaism Religion Race issues Charlie Eccleshare theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Charlie Adam will not be punished for injuring Tottenham's Paulinho Posted: 31 Dec 2013 04:13 AM PST • Brazilian out for at least four weeks with ligament damage • FA rules out retrospective punishment for Stoke City's Adam Charlie Adam will face no retrospective punishment from the Football Association for the over-the-ball challenge on Paulinho that has put the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder out for at least four weeks with ankle ligament damage. The Stoke City midfielder caught Paulinho shortly after coming on as a second-half substitute in his team's 3-0 defeat at White Hart Lane on Sunday. Tottenham were particularly vexed as it was not the first time that Adam had hurt one of their players, although immediately after the game the head coach Tim Sherwood said that as a midfield player Paulinho should expect some rough treatment. "He was struggling at half-time, and he took just a little knock on top of that but that's what happens in the middle of the park, you're going to get kicked," he said. The FA referred the incident to their three-man disciplinary panel, as they feared that the referee, Kevin Friend, had not benefited from a clear look at it. He took no action at the time. The panel, however, did not feel that the challenge merited a red card and so there will be no further action against Adam. Two seasons ago, when Adam was playing for Blackpool, he effectively ended Gareth Bale's season with a studs-up challenge on the winger's ankle. Then just four months later, having moved to Liverpool, Adam was branded a "coward" by Bale for another ligament rake during a pre-season game in Baltimore. Tottenham Hotspur Stoke City David Hytner theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Football transfer rumours: Ravel Morrison to leave West Ham? Posted: 31 Dec 2013 03:28 AM PST Today's tell-all is having some rugby league champagne at 4pm • The top 20 January transfer targets – in pictures So here we are then, at the end of another year, all of us, except Nicolas Anelka, very much wiser than we were this time 12 months ago. The Mill isn't claiming to be about ready to wipe that smirk off Jeremy Paxman's face on University Challenge but, even if we do say so ourselves, we have gained a vast amount of knowledge and understanding since 2012. "Why," you may ask, "the hell," you may add for emphasis, "is that not apparent in this cursed column?" you may conclude while spittle bursts forth from your mouth like bottles of piddle from a rock festival crowd. Because, dear reader, no one likes a smart arse. Consider that today's lesson. Bear all that in mind as you read today's salvo of snippets and hearsay, which starts with an outlandish notion that West Ham are said to be considering selling Ravel Morrison back to Manchester United, who should see if they can't persuade Juventus to give them back Paul Pogba while they're at it. Fulham's René Meulensteen, a former Manchester United coach, would also like to renew acquaintanes with Morrison. Arsenal will actually nab a tip-top striker this January as opposed to just tip-tap around him suggestively. No stranger to this column, Atlético Madrid's Diego Costa is the lucky man on whom the Gunners' sights are set but if Arsène Wenger is to close the deal he is going to have to outbid the likes of Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund. The auction starts at £35m. It is unlikely to rise in increments of one pound. Consider that last summer's lesson, Arsène. Arsenal are also still hoping to prise Álvaro Morata from Real Madrid despite the Spaniards being reluctant to relinquish the 20-year-old striker. West Ham are like Arsenal and Chelsea only in the sense that they are a London club in need of another striker or two. But they are in even more urgent need of a centre-back, which is why Sam Allardyce is about to swoop for Everton's Johnny Heitinga. Now now let us pause to try to picture Sam Allardyce swooping. For anything. Manchester City are like West Ham only in the sense that they are in need of a new centre-back too. They are contemplating a distinctly unWest Ham-like £45m bid for Villarreal's Mateo Musacchio. Meanwhile, David Moyes has been giving the Croatia international midfielder Ivan Rakitic the glad eye, but Paris Saint-Germain will see Moyes' eye and raise it by whatever the Rakitic fancies. It would seem that there are some thrilling names in Brendan Rodgers's transfer envelope – including Basel's Mohamed Salah and Barcelona's Cristian Tello. But are there really? Tony Pulis is set to take route one to the Britannia and relieve Stoke of Peter Crouch and Matthew Etherington. And Steve McClaren's transformation of Derby County is to continue apace as he tries to lure Chelsea's youngster Patrick Bamford to Pride Park. The tyro rammed – rammed! – in 16 goals in 28 matches while on loan at MK Dons. Paul Doyle theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Arsenal lose Giroud, Ramsey, Özil and Gibbs to injury Posted: 31 Dec 2013 03:16 AM PST • Key players missing for Cardiff City encounter • Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky also doubtful The Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger admits he is facing a potential injury crisis ahead of the New Year's Day encounter against Cardiff City, which striker Olivier Giroud will definitely miss because of an ankle problem. Midfielders Tomas Rosicky (calf) and Jack Wilshere (ankle) both face fitness tests later on Tuesday, as does England forward Theo Walcott, who picked up a shoulder problem in the 1-0 win at Newcastle. The full-back Kieran Gibbs definitely misses out because of a calf strain, while fellow defenders Nacho Monreal and Thomas Vermaelen have both been laid low by illness. The midfielder Aaron Ramsey is expected to be unavailable for around three weeks with the thigh problem suffered in the win at West Ham on Boxing Day, while the German playmaker Mesut Özil is also sidelined, with the club awaiting results of a visit to a shoulder specialist. "You need a good memory because we have plenty of problems," said Wenger, whose side head into 2014 top of the table by a point from Manchester City. Ramsey and Özil are out. Ramsey (for) three weeks and Özil has seen a specialist last night, I haven't got a report yet. "We lost Gibbs at Newcastle with a calf strain. We have as well Monreal and Vermaelen, who are not sure to be ready because they come just back from illness, then we have uncertainty about Rosicky, Wilshere and Walcott. "We lost Giroud with an ankle problem at Newcastle, so this morning will be more a medical check to see who will be available for tomorrow's game." Wenger, though, moved to allay any worries that Giroud's injury could be a long-term concern. "Olivier is a strong structure and he recovers quite quickly," said Wenger of the France striker, whose second-half header secured victory at Newcastle to end his mini-goal drought. "He thinks he will be all right for Saturday, but the medical people think he will be a bit short. He is quite optimistic about it." Wenger must decide whether to start Lukas Podolski, who scored on his return from a four-month injury lay-off at Upton Park, or Nicklas Bendtner in attack against the Bluebirds. "I have to see how I can balance the team because I have to consider as well who else is out and how can I get a balanced team out there," he said. Wenger will measure up Arsenal's options ahead of the transfer window opening again on New Year's Day. "We are like many clubs, we are certainly on alert if something special turns up we will not turn it down, but we are not as well desperate because we have a big depth in our squad," the Frenchman said. "We have shown that because our midfield for example at West Ham and at Newcastle was completely different – we changed three players and we still managed to have a very strong team." The France international Giroud admits he would "rather not see a new striker come in" next month. Wenger, though, maintains Arsenal are not looking to replace their 11-goal forward, rather offer him support. "Would you expect anything different from a striker?" said Wenger when asked what he thought of Giroud's comments to French TV. "I believe we have to give him credit for one thing, that physically he has coped with it until now in a remarkable way and with a fantastic combative attitude. I don't know if we will do something or not (in January), but it is not to replace Olivier Giroud – we have a great confidence in Olivier Giroud." Arsenal Olivier Giroud Mesut Ozil Arsène Wenger Theo Walcott Cardiff City theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Drop costs Bolton debts of £163.8m Posted: 31 Dec 2013 02:51 AM PST • £50.7m loss blamed on drop to Championship in 2012 • Attendances and advertising revenues also hit hard Bolton Wanderers have admitted their debts have grown to a staggering £163.8m, with £50.7m haemorrhaging during the 12 months to June 2013. It raises fears that the club may follow Leeds United and Portsmouth into financial crisis. Only Chelsea – who announced a yearly loss of £49.4m to take them back into the red after making a small profit the previous year – Manchester United and Fulham have a greater debt than Bolton, yet the north-west club is the only one of these outside the Premier League. The eye-watering loss in a single year means Wanderers have the unwanted distinction of becoming the fifth club to have lost more than £50m over 12 months. Yet as Manchester City, who have done it four times, Chelsea (seven), Liverpool and Aston Villa (once each) all boast far greater financing and revenue streams than Bolton, their ability to soak up such astronomical losses will be questioned. In a statement Phil Gartside, Bolton's chairman, said: "This year's results show the difficulties faced in the football business when a club has enjoyed a sustained and successful period in the Premier League – in our case 11 years – then suffers relegation to the Football League Championship. The ever-widening gap between the two leagues makes the transition extremely difficult, even with the benefit of parachute payments." The club's perilous finances underline the dangers of overspending and dropping out of the Premier League as Wanderers did in May 2012. Concerns are heightened by their being dependent on a single benefactor, the owner Eddie Davies. Sources at Bolton say Davies, who took over Wanderers for £2.5m in 2003, has no plans to walk away and that there is a five-year plan to ensure finances will return to a less fraught condition, which does not depend on rejoining the Premier League. Yet as £151.3m of the debt is owed to Davies through his company, Moonlight Investment Ltd, the future of Wanderers is within his compass. Gartside conceded the club's future hinges on Davies' continuing goodwill while admitting that financial fair play rules mean he can no longer support the club as before. "It should go without saying that Eddie Davies continues to provide a humbling level of support to the club," Gartside said. "However, [owners'] financial support is no longer possible in this league without severe penalty. We are responding to a changing environment … by development of the wider Burnden Leisure business interests. This year we secured sole ownership of the hotel, expanded our education business and applied for planning permission to increase our non-football operations. "We will continue to invest, both in the long and short term, where the returns can be justified. However, financial fair play rules require an alternative funding structure and Bolton Wanderers is very much moving towards a self-sustainable future." Bolton's relegation took place the year before the new Premier League television deal, worth a record £3bn over three seasons. Davies's decision to charge interest on loans to the club will be questioned. Although he ended the policy in July, Mohamed Al Fayed, for example, never charged interest on loans that left Fulham £193m in debt. Fayed sold Fulham to Shahid Khan last summer. Bolton Wanderers Finances Business Jamie Jackson theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

The 20 top transfer window targets Posted: 31 Dec 2013 02:22 AM PST As the transfer window swings open once again, Tor-Kristian Karlsen rounds up the best buys and likely targets in the January transfer window Tor-Kristian Karlsen

Beautiful Games: State of the Zine Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:59 AM PST Fanzines - those eccentric, no-holds-barred publications which spoke our minds are far from dead, as State of the Zine shows Jonny Weeks

2013: the year of sport in 30 objects Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:44 AM PST From the Zlatan burger to Sharapova's Sugapovas via an on-air tumble from the stepladder of Sky Sports News stalwart Nick Collins, we review the sporting year via the medium of … stuff A homework essay Mickey Arthur's time as Australia coach was summed up by the infamous "homework-gate" fiasco in March as the team endured a miserable tour of India that saw them lose the Test series 4-0. During the debacle, four senior players, including then vice-captain Shane Watson, were dropped after they failed to submit work on areas in which they thought Australia could improve after a terrible start to the tour. It signalled the beginning of the end for Arthur's time with Australia; he was sacked only 16 days before the start of the Ashes in England. A whiteboard "Quietly seething." That was how stuff.co.nz described the All Blacks head coach, Steve Hansen, after motivational messages in his side's hotel team room were spotted and revealed by a Telegraph reporter ahead of their match against England in November. The messages gave away little to England, who lost, but were nonetheless a bit of an embarrassment for New Zealand. Everyone else might think you're the best team in the world, but it's a bit rich for you to say you are "the most dominant team in the history of the world" and write it on a wall. Still, they did go on to become the first team in the professional era to go through a calendar year unbeaten, so maybe they were right. Whyteleafe's kit When Whyteleafe arrived for their Southern Counties East League fixture against Canterbury City they were told their away kit was far too similar to that of the home team. Manager John Fowler was forced to dash around the town of Margate to find a new kit, knowing that the referee refused to delay the match beyond half-past three. Despite making it back in time the game was still called off, much to Fowler's displeasure. 199kg of rose petals The scene was set at Eden Gardens to celebrate Sachin Tendulkar's 199th and penultimate Test before retirement. The Cricket Association of Bengal had laid on an elaborate ceremony that included dropping 199kg worth of rose petals on day five. They'd even managed to move everything forward by one day after it looked like India would secure victory early. How annoyed they must have been then when the home side actually defeated West Indies on the third day, not the fourth, and let alone the fifth. This laid waste to many of the Association's plans and, in particular, the huge consignment of rose petals. A tube of hair gel Cristiano Ronaldo was furious after Sepp Blatter expressed a preference for Lionel Messi and mocked the Portuguese for having "more expenses for the hairdresser" than the Barcelona star. Blatter swiftly apologised on Twitter but not before Ronaldo could post a reply to the video on his Facebook page. He commented: "This video shows clearly the respect and consideration that Fifa has for me, for my club and my country." An empty stage The stage was set but showtime was delayed as Real Madrid fans were forced to wait for a sighting of their new star signing Gareth Bale for almost a week after the podium was erected in anticipation of his arrival. In Real's defence, an agreement with Tottenham caused this slightly awkward delay. At Tottenham's insistence, Madrid agreed to let Spurs complete all their transfer business before the Bale deal was made official. When Bale finally arrived he declared that he would have "come here for a penny", before adding in Spanish: "It is a dream for me to play at Real Madrid, thank you. Thank you for this great welcome. Up Madrid!" A step-ladder While reporting on an injury to Michael Carrick outside Wembley, Sky Sports News reporter Nick Collins took a tumble of his own on live television. It's not exactly clear what caused the fall but judging by the sound of the incident, Collins appears to have been standing on a step-ladder. Back in the studio, Jim White just about managed to hold it together as his colleague picked himself up off the floor, uninjured it seemed. A green jacket It was all smiles in Augusta as the famous golf club welcomed its first two female members after 80 years; former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore. The pair were presented with their green jackets ahead of the tournament in April. Rice celebrated by playing a round with Phil Mickelson, who said she was more interested in talking about the course while he wanted to talk about politics. The Super Bowl floodlights An abnormality, a cursed stadium and Beyoncé. These were just three possibilities mooted as the cause of the second-half Super Bowl blackout. After the star had performed her spectacular half-time show, around half the stadium was plunged into darkness following a floodlight power cut 90 seconds into the second half between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens. Fans believed that the curse from a near-by cemetery was responsible for the problems at the Superdome in New Orleans which took 30 minutes to resolve. A statement issued from the energy suppliers blamed the system detecting an "abnormality" and then shutting off the power. The Ravens went on to win 34-31. Rainbow nails Swedish high jumper Emma Green Tregaro showed her opposition to Russia's new anti-gay law at the world championships in Moscow by painting her nails in the colours of pride for the gay and lesbian community. The laws didn't ban participation in gay marches but said that wearing a rainbow flag could be seen as propagandising and those found guilty could face fines. Russia has come under pressure from both the Olympic Committee and Fifa in recent months with the country hosting events organised by both organisations. 'Le Zlatan' (The Zlatan Burger) Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been a hit with the fans since his move to Paris, so much so that this year a restaurant in the French capital named a monstrous burger after the PSG forward. "Le Zlatan", as the burger is known, costs €29.90 and weighs around 600g, combining mince beef with onions, bacon and three types of cheese. Jean-Philippe Grandin, the manager of Doddy's cafe, said he wanted to create "an exceptional burger, which really stands out from the crowd, in the image of Ibrahimovic". A pair of Lederhosen According to manufacturer Adidas, Bayern Munich's away kit this season has been modelled on Lederhosen, the brown leather shorts typically worn by Bavarians. The brown shorts are intended to go with the white collared top to look like the traditional Bavarian outfit. To complete the outfit, Adidas even produced a special brown jacket and hat which you can buy in the Bayern club shop. Energy gel Chris Froome needed a little help towards the end of stage 18 of the Tour de France up Alpe d'Huez after an attack of hypoglycaemia. It is against the rules to take food from team cars in the last 20km of races but Froome's team-mate Richie Porte dropped back to the team car and acquired an energy gel for the race leader. Froome was docked 20 seconds for the illegal feeding but in the long run it mattered little as the Team Sky rider won the Tour by more than four minutes. Set of Nike golf clubs Rory McIlroy endured a torried year, only securing his first win at the beginning of December. Unfortunately for the former world No1, his slump coincided with his switch to Nike equipment. Plenty of people were quick to blame this change for McIlroy's form but the player insisted his travails were the result of a "timing issue" with his own play. After securing his first victory he spoke about his optimism for 2014 using his Nike clubs. It can only get better. A whip After several days of "will it be today", Tony McCoy finally reached his target of 4,000 jump racing wins with a win at Towcester when Mountain Tunes won the Weatherbys Novice Hurdle. Back in third and struggling in the home straight, McCoy galvanised his mount to catch Kris Spin in the closing stages. The jockey had always wanted to reach the milestone in the colours of his employer JP McManus and was clearly delighted. "It was just amazing, it couldn't have worked out any better. To do it for [trainer] Jonjo [O'Neill] and the McManuses is brilliant as they've been so good to me." A Zapata-style moustache Evoking memories of Merv Hughes and David Boon, Mitchell Johnson's facial hair seemed to leave the England batting order quaking in their boots in the return Ashes. The Australian left-arm seamer's handlebar moustache, initially grown for the Movember charity campaign, inspired the return of his thunderously aggressive and hostile 90mph bowling. With 23 wickets in the first three Ashes Tests at an average of 15, Johnson insisted that his 'tache is going nowhere in 2014. A Leeds nightbus Danny Cipriani got more than he bargained for on a pub crawl in Leeds back in April. The Sale Sharks fly-half was struck by a bus during a team night out, leaving him with bruising and concussion. In the aftermath, Cipriani tweeted: "Thank you for all the well wishes. My ribs are a bit sore. Feel like I've been hit by a bus." The 16-venue pub crawl that Cipriani and his team-mates were supposedly on is known as the "Otley Run". Silicone tape Silicone tape hit the headlines after the third Ashes Test of the summer when Australian broadcaster Channel Nine indicated the ICC was investigating if some of England's bastmen had applied the tape to their bats to fool the Hot Spot technology. Kevin Pietersen was implicated after he was given out caught-behind in his second innings at Old Trafford, despite Hot Spot indicating that the ball had not made contact with the bat. However, the ICC denied it was investigating, Channel Nine insisted that the inventor of the technology Warren Brennan had advised the ICC of his concerns and that it was not accusing anyone of cheating. It would all have ended there, had Specsavers not seen the "funny" side and run an advert implying Pietersen might have tampered with his bat. They paid out damages in October. A tennis racquet During a year in which Roger Federer failed to reach the final of a grandslam tournament for the first time since his maiden Wimbledon triumph a decade ago, the 17-time major winner experimented in racquet sizes over the summer. The Swiss attempted to modernise his equipment with a new 98-inch racquet head before the US Open, which saw him defeated by world No114 Federico Delbonis and No55 Daniel Brands. After five outings, Federer returned to his 90-inch frame at Flushing Meadows, where he lost in the fourth round to Tommy Robredo. A shoelace After stoking the flames by declining to walk on day three of the first Test at Trent Bridge despite nicking the ball, Stuart Broad riled the Australians once again with delaying tactics on day five. With Brad Haddin flaying the ball to all parts of the boundary rope and the victory target lessening, Broad dragged out his over to ensure it was the final one before lunch. With just one ball remaining he untied his shoelaces, took off his boot and removed the insole. England went on to win by 14 runs. A bird's feather Who would have thought something so small could upset the concentration of one of the world's best tennis players. During the Australian Open final at the start of the year, Andy Murray had the upper hand against Novak Djokovic when a white feather fluttered in front of him during the second-set tie-break. Murray stopped to pick it up, promptly served a double fault and lost the set, going on to lose the final in four. Of course the Scotsman would get revenge later in the year at SW19. A camera A once-in-a-liftetime moment for photographer Olivier Morin, who took the picture of Usain Bolt moments after his triumph in the 100m final at the World Championships in Moscow, against a backdrop of purple lightning. The photo travelled across the world seconds after Bolt romped his way to a 9.77sec time. Morin claimed in retrospect that he could only take credit for "one percent" of the picture: "The only things I was able to control were the framing of the shot and when to hit the remote-controlled trigger." A set of moulded studs Kurtley Beale's left foot slipped as he went to take the last-minute penalty that would have won the first Test for Australia against the British and Irish Lions … and missed. Lions coach Warren Gatland claimed Beale's moulded studs cost the Wallabies victory although the player rejected the suggestion. "I have been playing in mouldeds all my life. There's no superstition about it. It was just unfortunate the grass was a bit loose under the feet," Beale said. A high altitude tent Mo Farah's 5,000m and 10,000m double at the world championships in Moscow, following a similar feat at London 2012, had been made possible by thousands and thousands of miles, ice baths, and the athlete sleeping 12 hours in every 24 under an altitude tent in his hotel bedroom to mimic conditions that he would have during training. Newspaper advert When Roberto Mancini was removed from his position at Manchester City, an advert appeared in the Manchester Evening News from the Italian, dedicated to the City fans. More than 700 fans consequently clubbed together for reciprocal advert to appear in La Gazzetta dello Sport, to the cost of £7,000, with the sentiment: "We didn't want to lose you but apparently you had to go". A drug-testing kit With an appointment at Buckingham Palace awaiting, new Wimbledon champion Andy Murray was stalled on the way to picking up his OBE by an inopportune drug test. Murray tweeted at 8.28am on 17 October: "In the middle of a drug test hahaha I'm goin [sic] to be late!!!" The random drug testers had turned up on his doorstep at 8.20, with his taxi already booked for half past eight. Though Murray made it on time to meet Prince William, he said afterwards: "It's part of the job but when you have a day like today … it's the last thing you need." A coke can During Lance Armstong's mea culpa interview with Oprah Winfrey in January, the cyclist admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs during each of his seven Tour de France wins. He went on to reveal some of the measures that he and his fellow cyclists went to to cheat and escape the authorities. The Radioactive Coke Can received significant coverage, the empty soda can where they would drop used syringes. A video camera On 2 December Tom Daley tweeted a link to a self-made video that was to change his life. It read: "Got something I need to say … not been an easy decision to make, hope you can support me! :)" In the video, the Olympic bronze medallist diver revealed that he was in a relationship with a man: "Come Spring this year, my life changed, massively, when I met someone and they make me feel so happy, so safe and everything just feels great." A hairdyer It may only have been metaphorical but Sir Alex Ferguson's use of the "hairdryer" to galvanise under-performing players received such reference over the years that deserves mention in its own right. When Ferguson, the most decorated manager in the history of British football, retired in May, he also hung up the hairdryer after 26 years, 38 trophies and 13 Premier League titles. Maybe David Moyes should consider getting it back out of its box? A lip-shaped sweet Sugarpova; the "premium candy line that reflects the fun, fashionable, sweet side of international tennis sensation Maria Sharapova". The candy line, created by the world No3, consists of 12 different flavours ranging from Flirty, to Smitten Sour, to Splashy. According to her agent, the Russian seriously considered changing her last name to Sugarpova for the US Open, leaving officials forced to acknowledge her as such on court, but ultimately decided against it. Cricket Australia cricket team New Zealand rugby union team Sachin Tendulkar Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid Gareth Bale Golf Super Bowl Winter Olympics 2014 Zlatan Ibrahimovic Chris Froome Cycling Tour de France Rory McIlroy Tony McCoy Horse racing Mitchell Johnson Danny Cipriani Rugby union Tennis Ashes 2013 The Ashes Ashes 2013-14 Andy Murray Usain Bolt Athletics Mo Farah Roberto Mancini Lance Armstrong Tom Daley Diving Maria Sharapova theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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