WHAT IS REALLY WRONG WITH BARCELONA?!

According to manager Luis Enrique, his team's downturn is a simple case of bad luck.
That, at least, was his explanation for their latest setback, Sunday's 2-1 home defeat by Valencia, when he claimed he was happy with the performance and that "we only lacked the necessary fortune to win the game".
The local media agreed, with newspaper Mundo Deportivo's front page on Monday featuring a headline which lamented: "1-2. How unfair!"
It is true that Barca created plenty of chances to claim three points: Suarez headed over from close range, Gerard Pique dragged a golden chance wide and visiting keeper Diego Alves made excellent saves from Messi (twice), Ivan Rakitic and Neymar. In addition, Valencia's opener was a freak own goal as Rakitic deflected a cross into the net.

Similarly, Barca's other recent defeats have contained moments of ill fortune.
In the home defeat by Real Madrid that started the rot, for example, Barca flew out of the blocks and should have taken the lead when Suarez inexplicably mis-kicked in front of an open goal. Bad finishing rather than bad luck, true, but the outcome may have been very different if he had scored.
And in stoppage time at the end of their decisive Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid, Barca were denied a penalty when home captain Gabi blocked Andres Iniesta's goalbound shot with his arm clearly inside the area, only for referee Nicola Rizzoli to judge wrongly that the offence had taken place outside the box.

So things have gone against them - but they have benefited from the rub of the green too. Gareth Bale had a goal disallowed harshly in the Clasico defeat, while Iniesta was lucky to avoid a red card for a deliberate handball at Atletico.
Bad luck, then, is not the only answer to Barca's malaise. So what is?

AGBONLAHOR SUSPENDED BY ASTON VILLA

Aston Villa have suspended striker Gabriel Agbonlahor and begun an investigation after he was allegedly pictured with laughing gas canisters.

According to reports, the 29-year-old was pictured partying in London on the same night Villa were relegated.

Agbonlahor was already on the sidelines after being told he was not fit enough.
He was suspended by Villa earlier this month after he was pictured appearing to hold a shisha pipe while in Dubai, but the club took no further action.
Villa were relegated from the Premier League after losing 1-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

They are bottom of the table after collecting only 16 points from 34 games.
The West Midlands outfit are also without a manager following the sacking of Frenchman Remi Garde and have been hit by two key resignations.
Former Football Association chairman David Bernstein and Lord King, a former Governor of the Bank of England, both quit the board on Monday.

EVERTON CLOSER TO 200M TAKEOVER

Kenwright has conducted a search for investment for more than a decade.
But the latest moves are felt by those close to the club as representing the most positive and hopeful development since the theatre impresario indicated his willingness to sell.
Kenwright, who bought the club from Peter Johnson for £20m on 26 December 1999, said as far back as November 2007: "If the right person stands in front of me and wants to take this club forward, then I will sell."
Former Everton midfielder Peter Reid told BBC Radio 5 Live that the club needed new investment and a new ground.
"We've got a great squad of players and a good manager, but we need to get a new stadium to keep pace with the other clubs in this Premier League," he said. "You need the revenue that generates.
"If Bill Kenwright says it's OK, let's get it done."
After years of inactivity regarding a sale, it is understood there has been a growing iintent to do a deal in recent months, fuelled by growing, serious interest from a number of groups.
If the deal is completed, it would mean both Merseyside Premier League clubs would be under American stewardship.
Moores, who bought baseball team San Diego Padres from Liverpool chairman Tom Werner for $80m (£53.7m) in 1994, is believed to be worth about £500m.
Moores and Noell have a background in technology.
Moores founded BMC software and also JMI Equity, a venture capitalism arm of his empire, which Noell helped to co-found.

ANALYSIS ON ZOUMA'S INJURY

Kurt Zouma's serious knee injury is a bitter blow to an outstanding young player, ruling him out of the rest of this season and France's Euro 2016 bid.
It may, however, open the door to fresh possibilities for his two experienced central defensive team-mates at Chelsea, John Terry and Gary Cahill.
Terry reiterated on Sunday that he has had no dialogue with Chelsea since he left the club's hierarchy bemused by announcing he was not getting a new contract and would leave at the end of the season.
Will Chelsea now be tempted to revisit negotiations to buy time and see how Zouma recovers - or is owner Roman Abramovich's mind made up and it is the end of the road for the 35-year-old iconic club captain?
Cahill, meanwhile, was reported as being unsettled in January after falling behind Zouma and seeing his own Euro 2016 prospects being hit by a lack of first-team football.
He will now be right back in the frame, ready to secure his Chelsea future and cement his place in England's plans for France this summer.

ZOUMA OUT FOR SIX MONTHS AND NEEDS SURGERY

Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma faces six months out because he needs surgery on the knee injury he suffered on Sunday.

The 21-year-old landed awkwardly after contesting a high ball and was taken off on a stretcher in the 1-1 Premier League draw with Manchester United.
"Scan today has shown I injured my anterior cruciate ligament. I will have surgery this week and will come back stronger," Zouma tweeted.
Chelsea said he would be out for "approximately six months".
The France centre-back has made 32 appearances for the Blues this term.
The most recent of his two France caps was in an international friendly with Denmark in October.
France host this year's European Championship, which begins in June.
Zouma and John Terry have become preferred starters in central defence as Chelsea have gone nine matches without defeat under interim manager Guus Hiddink.

BARCELONA ONE MATCH AWAY FROM SETTING A NEW RECORD

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique says "there is still a long way to go" this season after the treble chasers equalled a club record of 28 unbeaten games.

Sunday's win over Levante was their 10th in a row and if they do not lose to Valencia on Wednesday, they will break the record set in 2010-11.
It was Enrique's 100th game in charge.
"More than statistics, I am interested in the collective objectives that we have and we can only reach them at the end of the season," said Enrique.
"We are very well-positioned in all competitions, but there is a long way to go."
Barcelona, who won the treble in Enrique's first season in charge, are top of La Liga by three points from Atletico Madrid with a game in hand.
They face Arsenal in the Champions League last 16, and Valencia in the Copa del Rey semi-final, having won the first leg 7-0.
"We're getting things right," said Barca left-back Jordi Alba. "It's quite some achievement to go 28 games without losing. We have to stay top.
"At the Mestalla, we'll go out to win the match as we always have done. The first leg result was very favourable, but we still have to look to win the second leg, so it's an important match."

"MOURINHO LINK TO UNITED IS INVENTED" - LOUIS van GAAL

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has responded angrily to speculation about his job after it emerged Jose Mourinho is in talks with the club.

The BBC has learned that former Chelsea boss Mourinho could be set to take over at United this summer.
Asked about his future, Van Gaal, 64, accused media of "inventing" the story and said there was no need for United to issue any kind of denial.
Van Gaal's contract runs until the end of next season.
Speaking after Sunday's 1-1 draw at Chelsea, he was involved in a frosty exchange with a reporter in the post-match news conference.
Van Gaal questioned whether the reporter had spoken to either Ed Woodward, the club's chief executive, or the Glazers, the owners, to find out what was going on behind the scenes.
Instead of writing stories about his future, Van Gaal said the media should be praising his team for their recent performances, including the one that gave them a point against Chelsea.
"It was not a 'boring' match," insisted the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager.
"For the third game in succession, our football was sparkling. So I hope to get the support of the media this week. But you write what you like."
He also referenced Sir Alex Ferguson's three years without a trophy at the start of his United reign, clearly insinuating that things would get better under him.
"Maybe you remember the difficult first years of Fergie," said Van Gaal. "You have to study... study statistics."
He has clashed with the media before.
Last month, the former Netherlands coach claimed journalists had "sacked" him three times already this season.
United had the better of the first 70 minutes at Stamford Bridge and led through Jesse Lingard's goal, only for Diego Costa to equalise in added time.
United lie fifth in the Premier League table, six points short of the top four.

"I WANT SOLUTION TO TICKET ROW" says LIVERPOOL BOSS KLOPP

Several thousand supporters walked out on Saturday before Liverpool threw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Sunderland.
A supporters' group had urged fans to leave their seats in the 77th minute in protest at the £77 top-priced ticket in the new main stand next term.

"It's not what we want," said Klopp, who missed the game with appendicitis.
"What I know is everyone in the club has a big interest in finding a solution for this.





"LFC thanks fans for submitting questions for tonight's Q&A however due to ongoing ticketing discussions, this will no longer take place," said a statement on the club's Twitter account

I AM STAYING AT REAL MADRID - RONALDO

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo says he will not leave the club before his contract expires in 2018.

The 31-year-old Portugal captain has been continually linked with former club Manchester United, who sold him to Real in 2008, and Paris St-Germain.
"I want to stay here two more years. The two years I'm talking about take me to the end of my contract," he is quoted as saying by AS.
"And the future, we'll see."
Ronaldo was speaking at an event to collect his Pichichi trophy, which he won for being last season's La Liga top scorer with 48.
"This is the best league in the world, although I also played in the Premier League," he said.
"It's fantastic, competitive, and with great players. It is a privilege to leave my mark on it."