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David Luiz has warned Manchester United that Chelsea are determined to beat them to what would be a sensational Premier League and Champions League double this season.

Luiz produced another virtuoso display on Sunday to help the champions edge past Manchester City 2-0 and maintain their late charge in defence of the title.

Chelsea went into the international break nine points behind faltering leaders United with a game in hand, having also drawn them in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Luiz, who is cup-tied for the latter clashes at the beginning of next month, has backed his team-mates to end United’s European dream, while vowing to help the Blues complete what would be one of the most incredible title comebacks in Premier League history.

“We want to do everything this season,” Luiz said. “We want to catch United in the Premier League and beat them in the Champions League. We have to believe – we can win the title.

“There are still many games and a lot of points to play for. I can’t play in the Champions League because I am cup-tied but I am very close to the team. The happiness of my team-mates will be my happiness if they do well.”

The £25 million signing of Luiz has co-incided with Chelsea’s Premier League revival, with the champions having trailed United by 15 points at one stage.

The former Benfica centre back has been a revelation, demonstrating the full range of his defensive and attacking skills and making himself an instant hero with his new side’s supporters.

Indeed, the 23-year-old Brazil star has now scored crucial goals against United and City in his two starts at Stamford Bridge.

He said, modestly: “I am really delighted that the fans have taken to me so soon but the best thing is that the team are in good shape. I always work hard and like to help the team. Of course, when the team are doing well it is much easier. It has become easy for me to settle in because the players and the manager have helped me.”

New arrivals at Chelsea go through an initiation, which involves them singing a song to their team-mates. Luiz refused to reveal what he sang, saying: “It is our secret. But I have sung the song and it was okay.”

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Real Madrid are “confident” that defender Pepe will sign a new contract at the club following positive talks with the Portugal international.

Though injuries and disciplinary issues have restricted his impact at times since a €30 million transfer from Porto in 2007, Pepe is one of La Liga’s most accomplished defenders and Real are determined to retain his services.

The 28-year-old’s current contract expires at the end of the 2011-12 season but director general Jorge Valdano believes a new agreement is not far away.

“The negotiations with Pepe are going well,” Valdano said. “He is an excellent person and one of the best central defenders in the world.

“It is true that we have been talking for some time, but I am confident that he will choose to stay on at Real Madrid. ”

In the face of dominance from great rivals Barcelona, Pepe and Real have not won any silverware since 2008 but they remain in the chase for La Liga, as well as being in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the final of the Copa del Rey, where they will face the Catalans.

A derby victory over Atletico Madrid leaves Real five points behind Barca with nine games remaining, and Pepe is ready for a demanding finish to the season.

“The next two months will be intense,” he said. “We will try to live up to the challenge and make our fans happy. Whilst there’s a chance, we will fight to the very end. That’s what the coach and our supporters ask us to do.”

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Glen Johnson has insisted England will not be losing any sleep over the threat posed by Gareth Bale when they take on Wales in Euro 2012 qualifying at the weekend and says the squad are united under reinstalled skipper John Terry.

England are sat in second in their qualifying group behind Montenegro and travel to Wales on Saturday. Gary Speed’s side are without a point to their name, but have one of Europe’s finest players in their ranks in the guise of Bale. The Tottenham man was in sizzling form prior to picking up a back injury, but is back to fitness now and will carry a threat at the Millennium Stadium.

Liverpool defender Johnson will not take Bale lightly, but insists England are focused on their own game rather than that of the opposition.

“He has been playing really well this season and tearing teams apart,” Johnson told Sky Sports News. “Hopefully he won’t be doing that. He is obviously a good player, but we will be preparing right and concentrating on ourselves.”

John Terry will lead out the team after being handed the captaincy by Fabio Capello. The move to replace the injured Rio Ferdinand with Terry, who was stripped of the captaincy last season, has been a controversial one but Johnson feels it will not divide the squad.

“What has gone on has nothing to do with anybody,” Johnson said. “John Terry has been a fantastic captain for Chelsea and with England so I am sure he will do a fantastic job.

“Obviously Rio will be upset to lose the armband. But he is a big man and will pick himself up. The squad is professional and everyone goes about their job the right way and I am sure everything will be fine.”

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Harry Redknapp says the poor form of Chelsea and Arsenal means they are “handing the title” to a Manchester United team he rates as one of the worst in recent times.

United extended their lead at the top of the table to five points on Saturday as Arsenal had to battle back from 2-0 down to draw with West Brom, and although Chelsea have improved, they are still nine points behind Sir Alex Ferguson’s side with a game in hand.

The current leaders have not impressed with regularity this season, winning only four of 15 away games, and Tottenham boss Redknapp believes they could win their 19th league title virtually by default.

“Really we are handing the title to Manchester United this year,” Redknapp said. “This is as poor as Manchester United have played in years, but they keep stumbling along and nicking results when they should have got done.

“Chelsea have blown up, Arsenal too – it is there for somebody this year to win the championship.”

Though Tottenham’s recent poor form means they have fallen to fifth place and are now struggling to ensure their qualification for the Champions League, Redknapp believes two high-profile signings could ensure the North Londoners are in title contention for next season.

“I don’t think the other big clubs have got anything that Spurs don’t have,” he said. “People might think I’m mad to be aiming to win the league but I think it is possible.

“But if I do win one it will be a bit of a miracle, won’t it? I think if I did then I’d probably retire. But I do think it is possible. If we can go and get a couple of Luka Modrics, people like that. We’ve got to believe we can achieve anything here.”

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Lionel Messi and Jose Mourinho are the richest men in football according to France Football magazine survey.

Barcelona forward Messi, the two-time World Player of the Year, brought home €31 million from his salary and publicity deals in 2011, just ahead of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo (€27.5 million) and Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney (€20.7 million).

Real Madrid manager Mourinho topped the manager’s rich list with an income of €13.5 million, ahead of Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola (€10.5 million) and former Inter Milan coach Rafael Benitez (€10.2 million). England manager Fabio Capello came fourth with the Italian receiving a salary of €8.5 million.

The English Premier League appears the most lucrative league of all with seven representatives in the top 20 list of highest paid players.

Two former Premier League stars, David Beckham and Thierry Henry, now playing in the MLS in the United States, are ranked fifth and 11 with salaries of €19 million and €13.6 million respectively.

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