Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says he will not resign after his side drew 0-0 with Chelsea on Monday. United have now failed to win in eight games in all competitions – the first time that has happened since 1990 – and are five points behind fourth place. But Juan Mata and Anthony Martial both hit the woodwork in an improved United display against Chelsea. And Van Gaal said: “When the players give such a performance with a lot of pressure, there’s no reason to resign.” It has been a testing week for Van Gaal, who before Christmas walked out of a news conference after criticising the media for speculating about his position. The Red Devils then lost 2-0 at Stoke, while United scarves with the name of recently sacked Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho on them were sold outside Old Trafford before Monday’s game.

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It is the stuff of dreams for any player to join Barcelona. Yet within hours of signing for the club’s reserve team, forward Sergi Guardiola was sacked after officials were alerted to “offensive tweets” he had posted two years ago about Barca and Catalonia. Guardiola, 24, joined Barcelona B on Monday but, according to Marca  , the Spanish national daily sport newspaper, his contract was terminated “some hours later” when they became aware of pro-Real Madrid tweets,  including offensive language about Catalans. Guardiola started this season at Madrid-based club Alcorcon in Spain’s second tier. Talk of rivalry.

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Louis van Gaal has bowed to player pressure in an attempt to keep his job at Manchester United. The beleaguered United boss has agreed to relax the strict regime that has proved so unpopular among his squad following a meeting with senior players Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Chris Smalling and Juan Mata at the start of the week. Van Gaal still has the support of the players but recognised an urgent need for change after seeing United lose three games in a row. The run has plunged his future at Old Trafford into doubt as he prepares for their Boxing Day trip to Stoke City.

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Saturday 26 December, 2015:

Stoke vs Man Utd 1:45pm

Aston Villa vs West Ham 4pm

Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace 4pm

Chelsea vs Watford 4pm

Liverpool vs Leicester 4pm

Man City vs Sunderland 4pm

Swansea vs West Brom 4pm

Tottenham vs Norwich 4pm

Newcastle vs Everton 6:30pm

Southampton vs Arsenal 8:45pm

Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi posted a picture of himself and his lovely twins waiting for Christmas dinner while watching cartoon.

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The League Management Company will stage the annual Super Four tournament to usher in the new football season from January 11 to 15, 2016. However, a venue for the invitational tourney has yet to be decided. Nigeria champions Enyimba, runners-up Warri Wolves, third-placed Nasarawa United and Akwa United, who won the Confederation Cup, will feature in the competition which is aimed at preparing the clubs for their continental engagements next year.

It’s that season we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Joy and Peace of our Lord reign in your life and that of your loved ones this Christmas and always. Seasons Greetings from us to YOU. We’ll play a bit Santa throughout the day for our Naija readers! You can see our guy here is tying Naija flag on the neck…lol.

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The father of Liverpool target Marko Grujic says he is resisting a move to Anfield, despite the clubs agreeing a £5million transfer. Goran Grujic believes his son has been forced out of Red Star Belgrade as the Serbian club need the money and is refusing to allow the transfer to go through. Red Star have accepted Liverpool’s offer, which included loaning the player back until the end of the season for a return fee of £730,000.

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Everton are in discussions with a United States-led consortium about a potential £200m takeover. The group, led by former owner of the San Diego Padres baseball team John Jay Moores and fellow entrepreneur Charles Noell, have been in talks with Toffees owner Bill Kenwright in recent months. Moores and Noell have previously been interested in investing in Swansea. The consortium is expected to perform due diligence on Everton’s accounts over the next few weeks. The Toffees have declined to comment on the latest interest – but there have been several parties pondering a deal to buy the Premier League club this year.

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Under-pressure Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal answered only three questions before walking out of a news conference on Wednesday. The 64-year-old Dutchman was unhappy at being asked about his future following speculation that he could be sacked. The media briefing, ahead of Saturday’s game at Stoke, lasted only five minutes before Van Gaal’s departure. The former Netherlands boss said he had only turned up to speak to journalists because of Premier League rules. As he left, he told the reporters: “I wish you a merry Christmas and maybe also a happy new year when I see you. Enjoy the wine and a mince pie. Goodbye.” United are without a win in six games, having lost their last three matches to Wolfsburg, Bournemouth and Norwich.

Former Wigan and Cote d’Ivoire defender Steve Gohouri is still missing, 11 days after he was last seen. A spokesman for fourth-tier TSV Steinbach said that they have not heard from the 34-year-old since he attended his German club’s Christmas party on 11 December after which he was due to head to see his family in Paris. The club said the Ivory Coast embassy in Germany has been in touch as well to ask for updates. Steinbach are currently on their winter break and so Gohouri has not missed any training or matches with the squad due back on 6 January.

West Brom forwards James McClean and Salomon Rondon have been suspended for three matches by the Football Association. The pair were sent off during Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Bournemouth in the Premier League, Irish international McClean for serious foul play and Venezuelan Rondon for violent conduct.  McClean and Rondon will miss Saturday’s match at Swansea City, the home game with Newcastle United on Monday and a visit from Stoke City on 2 January.

Basil Giwa, a Nigerian referee collapsed and died during South West fitness test in Ibadan, Oyo state. May his soul rest in peace.

Embattled FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been stripped of the honorary degree he received from Leicester’s De Montfort University. The Swiss received the honour 10 years ago, but the British higher education establishment revealed that it took the step of removing his title two months ago. A spokesperson for De Montfort University said: “The university has long been concerned by the nature of the allegations, had been closely monitoring events at FIFA, and in October formally withdrew the honorary doctorate in Arts and Humanities awarded to Mr Blatter in 2005.”

Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois says new manager Guus Hiddink can get the Blues back up the table. Chelsea lie 15th and sacked manager Jose Mourinho last week. But Courtois told the club’s website: “Hiddink was here before, he did very well and I think he’s a very good manager. “Hopefully together we can climb back up the table and we’re looking forward to starting working with him. “We know we have to react, we’ve started well and have to move forward. Whatever has happened stays in the past and now we want to work hard with the new manager to get a good result against Watford.”

Former boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. posted this on Instagram, a shot of him lying on a blanket of cash. Is this really role model like?

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque plans to retire after next summer’s Euro 2016 finals in France. Former Real Madrid manager Del Bosque, 64, guided Spain to victory at both the 2010 World Cup and the Euro 2012 finals. “My retirement is close. If everything goes according to plan it [Euro 2016] will be the end,” he said. “I am a man of the Federation and I have to speak to them before taking a final decision.” Spain are two-time defending champions having also won Euro 2008 under the late Luis Aragones, Del Bosque’s predecessor. They could become the most successful side in European Championship history if they can win the title for a third consecutive time, and fourth overall, in France next year.