Chelsea fans received some good news before the 2015-16 season has even begun, as the club announced on Friday that manager Jose Mourinho has signed a new four-year contract that should keep him at the club until 2019.

The Blues announced the news via their official website, with Mourinho expressing his delight at signing a new deal:

If the club is happy, I am happy. I think this is a normal thing for me to sign a new contract. It is important we have this continuity and I hope we can enjoy more success in the future – for the fans, the players and the club.

I said when I returned here two years ago that I have a special feeling for this club and nothing changed. It is the club closest to my heart and I am very happy to know I will be staying here for a long time.

Mourinho has been the face of the new Chelsea under the ownership of Roman Abramovich, guiding the Blues to three Premier League titles in two spells with the club. During his first reign, from 2004 until 2007, he firmly established the club as one of the heavyweights in England.

He moved to Inter Milan, where he won the treble in 2009-10, and had an inconsistent spell with Real Madrid before returning to Stamford Bridge in 2013. A year later, the Blues won both the Premier League title and the Capital One Cup.

Mourinho is widely considered to be among the finest tacticians in the world, although fans of rival clubs often mock the Special One for his defensive mindset. It’s becoming impossible to count the amount of bus-related puns we’ve seen over the years, and Full Time Devils just can’t get enough of them:

It’s hard to argue with his incredible success rate, however, and a contract extension always seemed likely. TalkSPORT’s Sam Matterface is convinced Mourinho will stay in the Premier League for the foreseeable future, unlike one of his colleagues:

Mourinho is a showman and an entertainer, and the Premier League is a better league with the Portuguese manager around. His feud with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, per the Daily Mail‘s Neil Ashton, is one of many reasons why neutral fans either love or hate Mourinho, and we can expect to see plenty of headlines involving the Special One throughout the upcoming season.

His next challenge will be to find success in Europe with the Blues. While he’s won the UEFA Champions League with FC Porto and Inter Milan, he’s yet to raise any trophy in Europe with Chelsea, and given the club’s ambition, a strong run in Europe should be the top priority in 2015-16 and beyond.

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“Koke, Godin and that’s about it.”

Those were Diego Simeone’s words to Marca in June, when the Atletico Madrid manager was asked which members of his squad were untouchable—not for sale. The extensive list, featuring all of two names, was first revealing and then logical, giving insight into how the Argentinian likes to build his teams and how he perceives his side’s identity.

In Koke, Simeone has the man he wants to lead his midfield, a precocious, humble and fiercely loyal star, a Colchonero through and through. In Diego Godin, he has the pillar of his defence, perhaps the finest centre-back in Europe. Marca calls him one of Simeone’s “lieutenants.”

Koke had been wanted by Barcelona and Chelsea but told AS, “I’ll play here.” One box ticked.

Godin was then chased by Manchester City, with big money on the table. But Atletico are winning that battle, too, with Godin closing in on a new deal—the second and final box almost ticked as well. 

If the Uruguayan’s new contract is made official in the coming days, as Marca suggests, it will cap off an almost flawless summer at the Vicente Calderon.

In addition to fending off interest for Koke and Godin, Simeone and Co. have held on to star forward Antoine Griezmann, emerging defender Jose Gimenez and promising gloveman Jan Oblak. In doing so, Atleti have protected their spine—the very thing they were robbed of in the corresponding period last year.  

Atleti’s summer that has gone from strength to strength has also featured more than just the retention of key faces; the club’s transfer business, both in buying and selling, has been nothing short of exceptional.

Naturally, the incoming stars have been much discussed, the likes of Jackson Martinez, Luciano Vietto and Yannick Carrasco giving Simeone genuine fire power, while the acquisitions of Stefan Savic and Filipe Luis have addressed the only other areas of need in the squad. But just as notable has been Atleti’s success in negotiating deals for outgoing players. 

Consider Guilherme Siqueira. The Brazilian is on his way to Juventus in a loan move that will become a €10 million (£7 million) permanent transfer at the end of next season, per Goal.com. For a player who endured a rather torrid season in 2014-15 it’s a notable sum, Atleti recouping every cent they outlaid on the left-back last summer. And Siqueira isn’t the only one. 

Atleti received a similar figure from Fiorentina for Mario Suarez, per Transfermarkt, the deal helping to facilitate Savic’s move the other way. Mario Mandzukic has also switched to Serie A, Los Colchoneros receiving £13.3 million—essentially the cost of Vietto—for the Croatian who became an awkward fit in Simeone’s system. 

Elsewhere, the club managed to sell Miranda to Inter Milan for a fee that will eventually become £8.4 million, cashing in on a 30-year-old defender who has a patchy recent injury history and who Atletico signed on a free transfer in 2011. They also avoided a potential mess with Southampton over the sale of Toby Alderweireld to Tottenham Hotspur for £11.2 million. And though waving goodbye to Arda Turan was difficult, almost £24 million from Barcelona will have softened the blow. 

What it all means is that even after signing Martinez (£24.5 million), Vietto (£14 million), Carrasco (£14 million), Savic (£17.5 million) and Luis (£11.2 million), Atletico’s net spend this summer has been just over £20 million, per Transfermarkt, once Siqueira’s deal is considered. And the club has retained Koke, Griezmann, Gimenez, Oblak and most likely Godin as well. 

As such, the noises currently emanating from the Vicente Calderon are in stark contrast to those of this time last year. “It’s going to be hard to be repeat what we achieved last season,” was Gabi’s message last July, “because Barcelona and Real Madrid have bigger budgets, are spending more on players and have great squads.”

There was a resignation in the captain after watching the 2013-14 squad dismantled, his sentiment mirrored by Miguel Angel Moya, who said third or fourth was “our place.”

Now, though, it’s very different. “I believe that this season we can compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona,” Koke told i3 Sports earlier this month, per Goal. He might be right; they potentially can. 

After an almost flawless summer, Atletico Madrid have arguably the most talented squad they’ve had in decades.

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Internazionale have been in the wilderness for too long. A storied, historic club that won the UEFA Champions League as recently as 2010, it’s difficult to see them floundering in Serie A midtable—unless you’re an AC Milan fan, of course.

The Nerazzurri are on their seventh manager since the departure of Jose Mourinho—the man who won that famous European title five years ago—with no appointment spanning longer than 12 months. Gian Piero Gasperini and Andrea Stramaccioni were especially harmful choices by former club president Massimo Moratti and Co.

The club’s Serie A finishing positions post-2011 have been sixth, ninth, fifth and most recently eighth, in 2014-15. While Juventus have taken the division by storm and returned to Europe’s elite, Roma have established themselves as the second-best side in the division and Napoli have risen to the fore, Inter have dropped into the depths of mediocrity.

But the hope is that’s about to change, and there are two chief reasons for this.

First, Roberto Mancini has taken the reins at San Siro again. The Italian enjoyed a particularly successful spell with the club between 2004 and 2008, winning three Scudettos, two Coppa Italias, and two Supercoppas, and since then he has produced silverware-attaining seasons with Manchester City and Galatasaray. He may still seem unable to negotiate European nights under the lights, but he’s damn effective in the league.

And second, an injection of cash from club president Erick Thohir has allowed them to spend big in the market and introduce true quality to the squad for the first time in years; gone are the expensive, old hangovers from the Mourinho era, and in come younger, brighter talents.

As we sit on the cusp of the 2015-16 campaign, B/R runs the rule over Inter and dissects what appears to be a re-emerging force on the peninsula. It’d be good for the game and great for Serie A if Inter were to return to the heights the fans demand.

1. The Changes

Inter have been busy in the market and settled a number of key deals swiftly, signalling their intent to drastically improve this season.

The marquee signing is £25 million man Geoffrey Kondogbia from Monaco, a powerful French midfielder who, while hardly Paul Pogba, has outrageous upside and stands a day-one starter and upgrade. The club acquired Jeison Murillo and Miranda to revamp central defence, Martin Montoya has been loaned in to play right-back and Stevan Jovetic will join Mauro Icardi in attack this season.

A lot of players have exited as a result; Zdravko Kuzmanovic, Marco Benassi, Hugo Campagnaro, Jonathan, Joel Obi and Ruben Botta have all sought pastures new.

Every listed incoming player is a top (or soon-to-be top) performer, while every listed departure is a sigh of relief from both a quality and wage-bill standpoint. Inter have bought big and bought well, but they’ve pruned efficiently, too.

It leaves the depth at an ideal level—not so crammed that Mancini has more men than oars, but that the Italian tactician has the opportunity to bring youth into the equation without having to rely on it when push comes to shove.

2. Dance with a Diamond?

Although Inter fans are likely less assured at this stage, keep in mind that pre-season results mean nothing. It’s a fitness programme with matches open to the public involved, and because the money’s so good they play them anywhere from Los Angeles to Shanghai, rather than behind closed doors.

Mancini’s men lost every pre-season game of note, turning in some iffy showings in the International Champions Cup. A 1-0 loss to Milan was only decided by a Philippe Mexes golazo, but the Nerazzurri were outclassed by Real Madrid.

Again, results-wise, this doesn’t really matter, but what you can glean from the summer schedule are tactical nuances and intentions. It’s a time to experiment, but many managers also show their hand—Mancini trialled a 3-5-2 in pre-season with City once, then used it to good effect over the course of half a Premier League campaign.

Inter have danced with a 4-4-2 diamond this summer, and while the results weren’t great, the film shows promise. Bar perhaps one position, they look well set, and the personnel Mancini has collected suits the system.

A diamond, inherently narrow due to a lack of wingers, must find width from its full-backs, and Montoya is perfectly capable of holding the width on the right, keeping possession and progressing forward.

Things are far less certain on the opposite flank—”We need a left-back,” admitted Mancini last week following defeat to Galatasaray, per Football Italia—but Davide Santon is an option until they can find a player.

Mateo Kovacic appears to be yet another manager’s favourite as the regista, and his performances show real growth. Not only does he dictate play and keep the ball with consummate ease now, but he also shuttles forward, takes markers on and opens up the pitch.

The energy of Kondogbia and Marcelo Brozovic in the box-to-box roles, in addition to the freshness of impressive youngster Assane Gnoukouri, have given this formation a good tempo in pre-season. Mauro Icardi presses from the front, Hernanes (in the hole) follows suit and the midfield three span out to cover the gaps:

The acquisition of Jovetic is a good one, and should he rekindle his own form and find fitness, he’d be the perfect partner for Icardi in the diamond. The former is a deep-lying forward, happy to drop in and create, while the latter is a pure No. 9 interested in running the channels and stretching the pitch. It’d be very Carlos Tevez-Alvaro Morata—balanced and lethal.

3. Or Revert to 4-3-3?

Inter dabbled with the diamond last season, too, but Mancini’s chopping and changing was so ferocious no system really became a consistent option. While a back three is forever on the cards given the man in charge, some Italian aficionados expect the club to settle into a 4-3-3 look following the culmination of a topsy-turvy summer.

That would change very little in the defensive and midfield lines; Kovacic, two box-to-box companions and a flat back four would still be in play. Montoya and his plus-one wouldn’t be quite so heavily relied upon to create width in attack so high up, but the roles would largely remain the same.

Up top, though, it would see Icardi line up as a lone striker and Jovetic pushed wide. Xherdan Shaqiri, whom Inter seem to be trying to get rid of, could come back in for a key role on the opposite flank. The club also picked up winger Jonathan Biabiany on a free transfer this summer, while Rodrigo Palacio could shift wide at a push.

But given the remarkable number of central players Inter employ—we’ve spoken about five, yet we’re still to discuss any possible roles for Gary Medel and Fredy Guarin—surely it would be better to adopt the 4-4-2 and settle in one shape?

It’s rare to see a collection of central midfielders so inclined to play the diamond. Kovacic is the regista, but they have cover, and the energy is there to bring the ball out from the back without high width. Hernanes can be a firecracker from the No. 10 role when on form. Shaqiri could even rotate with him; he’s shown for Switzerland he can be devastating when made the “main main” of the team.

Projection

Inter have spent a fair chunk of money this summer (more than €60 million), but the overhaul has long been overdue. In order to make up the considerable ground between themselves and the Champions League pack in Serie A, they’ll need a tactical oddity or nuance to make them tough to play.

A fresh look with fresh players in a diamond could be just the ticket, though some final adjustments would need to be made.

Juan Jesus cannot be considered an answer at left-back—particularly in a diamond, where he would at times be the sole width on the left—and links to Domenico Criscito, as reported by Sky Sport Italia (via Football Italia), are encouraging. There may also be a need for depth on the right if all of Inter’s full-backs are sold.

But the groundwork is there, and the quality is there. Samir Handanovic, Miranda, Kovacic, Kondogbia, Jovetic, Icardi? That’s a spine many managers would consider chopping off limbs for.

For the first time in four years, Inter have a legitimate shot of breaching back into Italy’s elite—the first step on a long road to recovering their global standing in the game.

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Atletico Madrid star Diego Godin could be on the verge of a big-money move to Manchester City.

Per Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, City “could trigger [the] Atletico Madrid defender’s £28 million release clause,” while “his agent, Paco Casal, has held discussions with City’s hierarchy and is willing to push for the move.”

According to Squawka, Godin was Atletico’s second-best performer in La Liga last season. As Jones notes, Los Rojiblancos “would not wish to sell such a key component of their team, particularly after selling Joao Miranda to Inter Milan earlier in the summer, yet are powerless if the buy-out clause is met and the player wishes to go.”

Ahead of last season’s January transfer window, the Uruguayan stated his desire to remain in the Spanish capital for “many years” but admitted “it is difficult to know where I will be playing in as many years.”

The experienced 29-year-old is a key figure at the back for Atletico and would have much to add to City’s squad.

As OptaJose and WhoScored.com demonstrate, the defender’s goal contribution and dominance in the air are two of his biggest strengths:

Indeed, Bleacher Report’s own Jason Pettigrove described Godin as a “fearless and uncompromising warrior,” which indicates that he would be well-suited to English football.

With Eliaquim Mangala routinely exposed last season as he struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League and Martin Dimichelis entering the twilight of his career at 34, City need to strengthen defensively ahead of a title challenge.

The Sky Blues conceded more goals than fellow top-four finishers Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United last season, which demonstrates their need to improve.

Though Godin appears content to stay at the Vicente Calderon, the chance for a new challenge and more winners medals could tempt the centre-back should City meet the £28 million clause.

If they can acquire his signature, City would undoubtedly enjoy an air of invulnerability they so often lacked last year while also easing the pressure on the aging Dimichelis and allowing Mangala more time to find his feet in England. 

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Sunderland have announced the signing of Yann M’Vila on a season-long loan from Rubin Kazan.

News that the deal had been finalised came via the club’s official Twitter feed, with an accompanying picture of the midfielder with a Sunderland jersey:

In a piece on the club’s official website, the 25-year-old admitted he is looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Premier League:

I’m very happy to be a Sunderland player. I had a very good feeling training with the team; every player welcomed me and the feeling was very good with them so I’m excited for the start of the season.

I’ve also wanted to play in the Barclays Premier League for a long time so I’m very happy to be here.

When M’Vila burst onto the scene at Rennes, he seemed set for stardom. Strong, dynamic and tenacious in the tackle, he was set to man the France midfield for many years to come in the eyes of many. But despite picking up 22 caps for his country, the player’s career hasn’t quite gone according to plan.

As we can see here courtesy of Rhys Turrell of the Daily Star, M’Vila has previously been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal.

As noted by Sky Sports, M’Vila has not made an appearance for the national team since November 2012, when he indulged in an unauthorised night out during his time with the under-21 team. With that in mind, questions linger about the player’s temperament. He’s been unable to settle in Kazan since leaving Rennes and struggled during a loan spell with Inter Milan last season.

Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe isn’t wholly convinced by the France international:

But Sunderland could be an ideal club for M’Vila to get his career back on track. The Black Cats do need some reinforcements in the heart of their midfield, and the Frenchman could potentially form a tenacious holding duo alongside Lee Cattermole.

The spotlight won’t be forensically trained on the 25-year-old, either. Sunderland aren’t the most high-profile side in the division and consequently the minutiae of M’Vila’s every move won’t be analysed. Nonetheless, it’s imperative the ex-Rennes sensation knuckles down, keeps his attitude in check and shows those at the Stadium of Light what all the hype was once about.

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Galatasaray midfielder Wesley Sneijder has clearly been stepping up his preparations for the new season. He scored two goals in five seconds during a training drill, the second a brilliant acrobatic kick.

The Netherlands midfielder has become a fan favourite at the Turkish club since joining from Inter Milan in 2013, helping them to consecutive league and cup doubles.

This video would suggest he’s more than ready for the new campaign, much to the excitement of Gala fans.

[h/t Mirror]

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Up there with the fierce rivalries between Real Madrid and Barcelona, Manchester United and Liverpool and AC Milan and Inter Milan is the annual battle for supremacy between Pro Evolution Soccer and FIFA. 

This year is no different, with both titles releasing exciting new trailers for the upcoming releases of EA Sports and Konami’s latest efforts.

PES 2016‘s promo features Brazilian superstar Neymar and Juventus forward Alvaro Morata exhibiting some of the tantalising skills you can master in the game while showing off the latest improvements in gameplay and graphics.

The game looks closer to the real thing than ever before, but if FIFA‘s more your cup of tea, you can check out EA Sports’ trailer for FIFA 16 here.

[officialpes]

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The next stop in Pablo Dani Osvaldo’s tumultuous career sees him land at Portuguese giants Porto, following on from his disappointing spell with Premier League club Southampton. 

Porto confirmed the striker’s unveiling on Wednesday:

Osvaldo was a free agent following the termination of his contract with Saints, where he failed to settle. He spent last season on loan, first at Inter Milan and then at Boca Juniors.

According to Transfermarkt.com, the 29-year-old scored 13 goals and laid on seven assists in all competitions.

As WhoScored.com demonstrates, Osvaldo enjoyed a strong start to life at Inter before his absences from training led to his loan being cut short:

Having featured in Serie A and La Liga for much of his career, Osvaldo is an experienced campaigner in European football. His strong finishing and ability in the air will help Porto replace the firepower they lost in Jackson Martinez.

However, as Bleacher Report’s own Andy Brassell notes, the move could be considered something of a gamble:

Osvaldo has featured for 11 clubs in the last 10 years, indicating that he struggles to settle in the long term.

Though the risk is mitigated by the striker being a free transfer, it would be unwise for Porto to pin all their hopes on Osvaldo replacing Martinez.

If they can help him to settle, then the Argentina-born forward can certainly add to their attacking quality, but Porto will likely continue to pursue other strikers before the summer window closes.

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Chelsea’s summer has been an understated one. Just two new signings have arrived at Stamford Bridge ahead of the new Premier League season, with Jose Mourinho’s side still to record a pre-season win after losing to Arsenal in Sunday’s Community Shield clash too. And yet, Mourinho has very little to be concerned about.

The Portuguese coach has appeared somewhat irked over the past few weeks—wearing a rather indifferent expression during his side’s tour of the United States, attacking both Arsene Wenger and Rafael Benitez through the media—but one doubts whether he is losing any sleep at night before Saturday’s Premier League opener against Swansea City.

While many of Chelsea’s rivals have used the summer transfer market to make big-money additions—not least Manchester United and Manchester City—Mourinho has spent the off-season instead plugging gaps in his squad. After all, there wasn’t much wrong with his team last term—so why fix something that isn’t broken but is instead thriving?

Asmir Begovic was signed for £8 million from Stoke City to ensure that Thibaut Courtois has an able deputy—following the exit of Petr Cech to Arsenal—with Radamel Falcao also joining on a season-long loan from Monaco. Mourinho is gambling on his own powers of recovery in helping the Colombian rediscover the form that once made him Europe’s most potent striker.

Mourinho is meticulous in his forward planning, and so is intent on having two top-tier players for every position in his team. It’s why he is so keen to sign both John Stones from Everton and left-back Baba Rahman from Augsburg—so if worse comes to worst, Chelsea will be covered for every possible eventuality. 

Such strength naturally prompts comparison with some of Mourinho’s greatest teams, not least his title-winning side of 2005/06. His treble-winning Inter Milan team goes down as one of his best too, with the Real Madrid outfit that beat Barcelona to the Liga title in 2012 being also rather handy. So how does the Chelsea side of 2015 measure up?

Against Tiago, Claude Makelele and Michael Essien, the current Chelsea midfield would likely hold their own, with Nemanja Matic one of the best central anchors in Europe right now, and Cesc Fabregas almost irrepressible when at his best. Mourinho’s side as it is are more dynamic and fluid than the one he led to the title just under 10 years ago—and it may be up to personal interpretation as to whether that is a good or bad thing.

Of course, Frank Lampard was at his very best for Chelsea during the title-winning season of 2005/06. His departure has harmed the Blues, with Oscar yet to find the same kind of consistency as the driving force behind the central striker. But that could still come, as the Brazilian continues to progress year-on-year.

Didier Drogba might have been a Chelsea player at the time of their Premier League success nine years ago, but the Ivorian was still adapting to his new surroundings and wasn’t quite the force that he became known as in a blue shirt. In that sense, Diego Costa—despite his injury struggles—represents something of an upgrade.

There is little to choose between Thibaut Courtois of 2015 and Petr Cech of 10 years ago, but it’s at the back where the current-day Blues fall most significantly short of their 2005/06 counterparts, with the partnership of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho among the best the Premier League has ever seen. 

However, whilst the 2005-06 team might edge it over the club’s current crop, Chelsea are still on the ascendancy and have yet to find the ceiling of their capacity. At their current rate of development, this team has the makings of Mourinho’s greatest ever.

What’s more, Mourinho could be given the time to build something of a dynasty at Stamford Bridge—if his recent comments are anything to go by. The Portuguese has spoken about settling personally at Chelsea for the time being, adding that his relationship with the club’s owner Roman Abramovich has never been better.

“In this moment we don’t have this problem,” Mourinho explained as per Reuters via the Guardian. “When I left Real Madrid to come here, Mr Abramovich asked me to fight for titles. In my first season we were almost there, in my second season we did it and in my third season if you are close, you can always do it.”

Whereas before Mourinho has been a quick fix for those looking for instant success, he could now be given time to plant roots at Chelsea—the club where he has always looked most comfortable. If his relationship with Abramovic is indeed a healthy one—following previous fall-outs between the two men—then there’s no reason why Mourinho couldn’t remain there for many years to come. And that is an ominous prospect for the rest of the Premier League.

Of course, the immediate task at hand is to become the first team to successfully defend their Premier League title since Manchester United’s success of 2009. That would at least be a start on the building of Mourinho’s dynasty—and that’s before their Champions League success is factored in too.

Last time around, Mourinho was thwarted by Sir Alex Ferguson—and his own boss, Abramovich—leaving Chelsea before his side could fully reach its potential. But who out of the Premier League’s current coaching crop has the nous and presence to challenge the Portuguese? Perhaps it will take Pep Guardiola finally making the move to England for Mourinho to be pitted against an equal—and someone who can beat him.

But for now, Mourinho is the Premier League’s predominant figure, with his current Chelsea side fitting of such standing. Pressing questions were asked of the Special One not so long ago—pondering whether Mourinho had lost some of his shimmer. Now he—or rather his team—might he as special as ever.

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Inter have suffered a substantial setback after it was announced centre-back Nemanja Vidic could be out for up to six months following surgery on a hernia.  

Continues for updates.

Vidic Risks Six Months Out

Tuesday, August 4 

According to Sky and Corriere dello Sport (via Football Italia), Vidic will undergo a hernia operation on Wednesday after which he may need up to six months to recover, ruling him out of the remaining 2015 calendar.

However, the player’s agent, Silvano Martina, told Italian website Tuttomercatoweb.com (via Football Italia) that his client has a “strong physique” and will be hoping for a swifter return:

We’ll see, as we are not doctors. Vidic has a strong physique and will recover quickly. I haven’t heard from anyone and quite frankly I wouldn’t know what to say. He has another two years on his contract, so first he’ll get fit again and then we’ll see.

Inter have certainly always had the utmost respect for the player. When the time comes, we’ll discuss the future. The important thing now is to heal. I think he’s a great football player and still has many years ahead of him.

Football Italia alleges Inter were looking to sell the Serbian, but any move now looks off the table as he prepares to endure a long road back to full fitness.

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