Essien plays down Milan link

Michael Essien's agent has played down reports linking the Chelsea midfielder with a move to Milan.



Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri is believed to have identified Essien as his prime summer.



However, Essien's representative, Fabien Piveteau, says he has not heard anything from the Italian club and insists his client is more than happy to remain at Stamford Bridge.



"I have had no contact with Milan," Piveteau said. "Michael intends to stay at Chelsea for the next three years. Everyone knows that Chelsea are happy with the player and Michael is happy at Chelsea."



Meanwhile, Essien has compared Chelsea's season to a sandwich.



"It has been a sweet and sour season," Essien wrote in his blog. "To use a sandwich analogy: sweet bread at the top, sour filling and more sweet bread at the bottom.



"We started the season extremely well, had a sour middle part and are now ending strongly. We have hit a good run of form lately and have managed to haul ourselves back into the title race.



"We have to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford this weekend to ensure we are in the driving seat and I can assure you we are up for it. The team is playing well and I have no doubt we will give it everything we have to beat Man United."




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President Barack Obama Plays Soccer With Kids – Video

President Barack Obama joined a group of children as they kicked around soccer balls during a visit to a Rio de Janeiro.

He was clearly eager to show off his soccer skills and even tried juggling the ball at one point.

Definitely a goodwill gesture by the President who took the trouble to spend time with the kids from the slum.

Check it out.

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Mourinho plays down Lyon jinx

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Real Madrid will be looking to end their jinx against Lyon in European competition on Wednesday and reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2004.



Madrid drew 1-1 in the away leg in France with the return on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.



Twelve months ago the French club knocked out the nine-time champions at the same stage. Juventus, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Roma, Liverpool and Lyon have all sent Madrid out since it's last victory in the knockout stages against Bayern seven years ago.



“Yes, this run of bad results works against Real Madrid. But the game will be open and Madrid have a small advantage,” Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said.



“But if we don't get through this year it's not a big problem. Serious problems are what is happening in Japan right now.”



Cristiano Ronaldo has included in the Real squad as Madrid look for its first victory over Lyon in seven Champions League matches. The Portugal forward, who leads the team with 37 goals in all competitions, has missed two league games with a leg injury.



“It's the first time that Lyon plays their second match here without an advantage. At this point we're qualified and they have to play a big game,” Mourinho said.



“We will play very defensively. We'll stack the back and hope (goalkeeper Iker) Casillas makes a lot of stops so if it ends 0-0 we're through.”



Mourinho's future at Madrid could depend on the result as the Portuguese coach was hired to end Madrid's drought in the competition.



“Madrid is the champion of champions but obviously they need to win it again," he said.



"Mourinho is one of three coaches to have won Champions League twice with different clubs so if I don't win another I'll still go down in the competition's history. But I still want to win another. (But) everybody wants to play, nobody is afraid. There's no special pressure for it.”



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Neville plays down Mourinho rumours

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Gary Neville admits Jose Mourinho could one day manage Manchester United but he insisted Sir Alex Ferguson is in no hurry to retire.



Mourinho has made no secret of his desire to return to manage in the Premier League, where he enjoyed great success with Chelsea before leaving in 2007.



But former United defender Neville cannot envisage Ferguson, now 69, standing down from his position at Old Trafford in the near future.



He told The Sun: "There are many great managers and there's always speculation about who's going to take over from Sir Alex. I'm sure when the time does come, Mourinho is one of the candidates who will be mentioned because of the success he's had elsewhere.



"He's a character. You have to respect people for what they do and he's very good at what he does. He's been successful wherever he's been. But it doesn't come into my head at this moment in time as Sir Alex is still going stronger than ever. It's a waste of time to start speculating who will take over from him.''



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