Oscar happy to play anywhere for Chelsea

Oscar ready to play where Di Matteo tells him: Chelsea new boy excited about move

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UPDATED:

22:46 GMT, 27 July 2012

Fantasy football 2012

New Chelsea signing Oscar will be happy to play wherever manager Roberto Di Matteo wants him to at Stamford Bridge.

The 20-year-old's long-awaited move from Internacional to the Blues, for a reported fee of around 25million, was completed earlier this week.

The capture of the Brazilian, currently in the UK with Mano Menezes' Olympic squad, adds to a glittering array of midfield talent following the acquisitions of Eden Hazard and Marko Marin.

Ready to go: Oscar says he is happy to play where he is told at Chelsea

Ready to go: Oscar says he is happy to play where he is told at Chelsea

Competition for places looks set to be fierce among the squad of the Champions League winners, with Oscar laying down a marker of his talent by creating two goals in Brazil's 3-2 victory over Egypt in Cardiff on Thursday night.

But the former Sao Paulo playmaker says he will not insist on playing in his preferred attacking midfield role, and is sure he can make an impact regardless of where he is asked to play.

He said: 'The offer was very good for me and I didn't have to think twice about signing.
'After the Olympics I am going to talk to the manager and I am ready to do whatever the manager wants me to do.

Decision time: Roberto Di Matteo must decide where to play Oscar

Decision time: Roberto Di Matteo must decide where to play Oscar

'For Internacional I played in several different positions, so I have no problem adapting.'

The move represents a huge personal shift for Oscar, who has played all his club football to date in Brazil.

But he is confident that the friendships he already has with some of the Portuguese-speaking members of the Blues' squad will help him to settle in London.

'I am good friends with David Luiz,' he said.

'There are also Ramires and Lucas Piazon playing for Chelsea, so they will help me adapt.'

Challenge: Oscar is excited about his move to the Premier League

Challenge: Oscar is excited about his move to the Premier League

While Oscar has insisted that for now his only focus is on ensuring Brazil secure their first Olympic gold medal in the men's football tournament, he admits he has been keeping an eye on some of the other newcomers that will join him at Stamford Bridge next term.

And he has set his sights on helping the club add to their collection of silverware.

'This is a dream for me,' he said. 'I'm joining Chelsea hopefully to win more titles.

'The project is very exciting, especially with the young players that they are signing.'

Manchester derby rivalry put to the side for basketball stunt

Net gains for Manchester pair as rivalry's put to the side by Johnson and Jones

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UPDATED:

14:22 GMT, 27 April 2012

Come Monday night, we'll have an almost definite idea of the destination of this year's Premier League title after the Manchester derby.

Fans of the two clubs will be in the lockdown over the weekend, preparing themselves for what is being touted as the biggest clash between City and United in a generation. Friendships will be tested, families will be divided and work places will be a battleground for debate.

In a spin: Phil Jones and Adam Johnson club together to promote basketball

In a spin: Phil Jones and Adam Johnson club together to promote basketball

In a spin: Phil Jones and Adam Johnson club together to promote basketball

But it seems two of the players didn't get the memo, and are carrying on like it's just another round of fixtures.

In the blue corner, Adam Johnson, and in the red is his England international team-mate Phil Jones, the pair laughing and joking as they undertook a series of little competitions involving a different kind of ball, a basketball.

Let battle commence: The Manchester derby is likely to decide the title destination

Let battle commence: The Manchester derby is likely to decide the title destination

The stunt was part of the promotion for the upcoming basketball tournament at the Manchester Evening News Arena, the showpiece of which is a meeting between the USA and Great Britain's Olympic teams.

As well as the titanic clash between nations, the USA will also play Dominican Republic, Spain, Argentina and Brazil as part of their preparations for London 2012.

To celebrate what is a huge event for basketball fans in Britain, Jones and Johnson undertook a selection of stunts, with the United man excelling in the finger spinning. Is it an omen