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The Asturian coach will take over at the Catalan club this summer and already has plenty of pressing tasks to address ahead of his imminent return to Camp Nou

It's time for change. Barcelona lost La Liga to Atletico Madrid on Saturday evening and coach Gerardo Martino revealed after the match that he would be stepping down with immediate effect.

The Argentine has now been replaced by Luis Enrique, who announced on Friday that he would no longer be in charge at Celta Vigo after a sole season at the helm of the Galician club and was confirmed by Barca to take over for the next two years after a board meeting in the Catalan capital on Monday.

President Josep Maria Bartomeu had promised significant alterations on Saturday. "Now comes a time for deep changes," he said after the game. "Sunday will be a day of reflection and on Monday we'll meet and make decisions."

And he was good to his word as Barca confirmed Luis Enrique's appointment later on Monday. So ahead of the Asturian's arrival, here's a look at what he'll need to address when he takes over at Camp Nou this summer.

BRING IN A FEW DEFENDERS

"Our new signing is Puyol!" said sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta last summer. Having splashed significant sums on the signing of Neymar, Barca didn't have much left in the kitty and decided to place their faith in their captain courageous instead - even though he had been plagued by injuries in the previous two seasons and has been past his best since 2011.

Martino was told to work with what he had and that was far from ideal. With Puyol struggling in the big games, Gerard Pique off form for much of the season, Marc Bartra physically fragile and Javier Mascherano more error-prone than usual, Barca's back line has looked poor this term.

That's nothing new, of course. The club have long needed a new centre-beck, but strangely signed Alex Song as cover for the position in 2012 and then opted to stick with what they had last summer. Poor planning.

Puyol will leave the club this summer, while Mascherano may also depart and Dani Alves looks likely to move on as well, so Luis Enrique's top priority has to be at the back, with two or even three new defenders needed for next season.

MOBILITY IN MIDFIELD

Luis Enrique is an admirer of Barcelona's passing philosophy and knows all about playing in midfield for the Catalan club after spending eight seasons at Camp Nou in his playing days.

"One of Barca's strengths is their style," the 44-year-old said while at Barca B. "The idea for years has been the same and that's having the ball. When you don't have it and you're chasing others, you tire."

But the former Spain star also likes his teams to be fit and mobile - and that presents a dilemma.

Xavi is close to the end of his career and was left on the bench by Martino on Saturday. Luis Enrique must decide whether the 34-year-old can cut it for another season in midfield and also faces a complicated call with Cesc Fabregas, in form for the first half of the season but desperately poor in recent times, while Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets both dipped in 2013-14 and Thiago left last summer to join Bayern Munich.

Thiago's brother, Rafinha, returns following a loan spell under Luis Enrique at Celta and was confirmed in the club's short statement on Monday, but Barca have also scouted more mobile midfielders such as Ilkay Gundogan, Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal. For the first time in years, then, the Catalan club may have to look outside La Masia for their midfield magic.

MOTIVATING MESSI

Freeze-frame replays showed that Lionel Messi's strike against Atletico on Saturday was in fact incorrectly ruled out because the ball came off a rival defender (Juanfran) and not Cesc Fabregas, so was therefore not offside.

But although that decision may have changed the result and the outcome of La Liga, it also shouldn't hide the fact that both Barca and Messi have been poor over the last few weeks and didn't really deserve to win it anyway.

Since his superb hat-trick against Real Madrid at the end of March, Messi has been powerless to prevent the club's decline in all three major competitions.

Now, after agreeing a new contract on Friday, he will be the cornerstone of Luis Enrique's Barca project for next season. "Messi is generous and allows others to benefit from his success," the coach said of the Argentine forward during his time at Barca B. "He has won over his team-mates and he has so much talent. The only thing left for him to do is to climb up to the stands, dribble past 10 and then score a goal."

Praise indeed, but the new man must motivate Messi (who signed a new improved deal before flying to Argentina on Monday) after a complicated campaign, make him believe in his ideas (which are likely to include much more running for the 26-year-old) and get him firing fully for a fresh era at Camp Nou. That could be the key to his success.

THE GOALKEEPER SITUATION

Barca had their fair share of problems in 2013-14 and the injury to Victor Valdes was a big blow for the Catalan club.

Valdes ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in late March, leaving Jose Pinto to feature in the big games at the business end of the season. Although an able deputy, the 38-year-old isn't the man most fans will want to see in the most important matches and was arguably at fault for both goals in Barca's 2-1 Copa del Rey final loss to Real Madrid in April.

Pinto starts in the cup for Barca anyway, but with Valdes in the team, Martino's men may well have won La Liga and fared better in the Champions League in what was his best-ever season at the Catalan club.

Valdes' contract is now up and he is leaving Barca in search of a new experience, while the club confirmed on Monday that Pinto is also on his way out this summer.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been signed from Borussia Monchengladbach, but Pinto's departure means Luis Enrique will want a more experienced goalkeeper to challenge the German for the starting spot next term. On this season's evidence, it would be a good idea.

UNITE THE CLUB

Barca's troubles in 2013-14 began at boardroom level and Sandro Rosell's resignation rocked the Catalan club in January.

The court case brought against the Barca president over alleged misappropriation of funds in the signing of Neymar originated from a complaint by a fan and socio, Jordi Cases, while former chief Joan Laporta and ex-player and coach Johan Cruyff have been quick to criticise the current regime.

Meanwhile, members of the Barca board and even some players were unconvinced by the appointment of Luis Enrique due to the Asturian's strong character and sometimes prickly persona, so the new coach faces a big challenge in getting everyone at the club swimming in the same direction.

In order to achieve success on the field in 2014-15, Barca need a much more harmonious season off the pitch in the coming campaign. Atletico are an example of how unity can reap rewards and Luis Enrique must now strive for something similar at Camp Nou.

Following Louis Van Gaal's appointment as Manchester United's manager, Goal's Brendon Netto discusses why the Dutchman's decisiveness is the perfect anecdote for the club.

The last two managerial appointments at Old Trafford, to an extent, were guided by conscious attempts to accommodate a sense of euphoria and familiarity. But in trying so desperately to cling on to their identity, Manchester United essentially saw it dissipate faster than anyone anticipated.
David Moyes was seen by many as a man cut from the same cloth as Sir Alex Ferguson. The similarities were endlessly listed and rather than his managerial credentials, his likeness to his predecessor and the relationship between the two seemed to contribute more to the appeal of his appointment.
When the Scot was eventually shown the door, turning to the club’s most decorated player in Ryan Giggs certainly lifted spirits. The ‘Class of 92’ joined him in the dugout but once the novelty wore off, it became evident that despite a change in attitude, the team needed far more drastic surgery and an experienced head to embark on such a process.

There’s a strong sentiment that comes with the story of four local lads who graduated through the youth academy, won everything with the club and then took charge of it. But now is no time to get caught up in the nostalgia of it all, it’s time for serious business.

"It (Class of 92’s involvement) is good to have that, but I don't think it is a must-have - particularly if you think you have to have three or four of them because they came through the youth team together."

- Roy Keane

What United need now is not to go back to their roots or grasp blindly at the devices Ferguson used. They need to take a different direction, a new one but most importantly, a distinct one. That’s where Louis Van Gaal’s appointment makes perfect sense.
The Red Devils have been anything but decisive this season. In the 55 games they played, not once did they field the same line-up. It stands to reason that they need someone to steer this ship that has so far appeared rudderless. They need clarity and precise planning in the way they progress from here. They need Van Gaal.

The Dutch tactician is not merely a disciplinarian but a manager who has a specific style that’s proven to produce results across different leagues. He gets his sides playing attractive football and while he has had a history of falling-outs in the past, his fiery passion on the touchline and in press rooms alike will bode well for United.
Above all, his single-mindedness will finally see United move in a definite direction and the fans will start to see a distinct style of play developing. His policy of nurturing young talent is also something the club would have been drawn to.
David Moyes was far too accommodating and respectful of the previous manager. He was in Ferguson’s debt and was grateful for the opportunity to lead United. He tried to stay true to the principles set by his predecessor while also trying to make his own mark. Sadly though, he did neither and United were therefore left in limbo.
Van Gaal is interested in creating his own legacy and certainly isn’t going to be ringing Sir Alex up for advice very often. When he does contact or bump into the Scot, the conversation is more likely to represent that between equals or peers, not resembling one between master and pupil.

He demands complete control, his personality is big enough for a club like United and the way he refers to himself in the third person suggests his ego certainly is as well. Right now, the club need a ruthless leader willing to make tough but necessary choices and his lack of prior attachment to it, makes him the right man for the job. He has already exercised his authority by naming his own coaching staff but has retained Giggs as his assistant manager.
When Ferguson first took over, that’s just what he did and perhaps that’s one of the things that will tie this new regime to the one in the past. He got rid of star players who wouldn’t fall in line and transformed their youth policy. Van Gaal will have to take some drastic action as well.
However, his methods are his own and those who still ask, ‘what would Fergie do?’ aren’t helping United’s cause. Ferguson’s work was legendary but his process retired with him and there’s no sense in expecting someone else to come in and mimic his technique.

Every manager has his own style, as it should be and although Ferguson’s achievements and how he went about things must be appreciated, United can’t afford to dwell in that era. There’s no point sugarcoating it, the club is in disarray and Van Gaal’s utter disregard for reputations and politics could have a cleansing affect.
United shouldn’t look at this new era as trading in their identity for a new one or compromising their principles. Instead, they should embrace the different methods that could see them succeed rather than force those of the previous regime onto the new one.
It’s time to fully dedicate themselves to change and trust that when they do, the unique spirit of the club will naturally resurface. Letting go of the past and moving on doesn’t necessarily mean forgetting your history but allows you to make more, just like Van Gaal intends.

The Argentina international admitted that he has endured a "tough year" but does not think that he is solely to blame for the Catalans' troubles

Lionel Messi has lamented Barcelona's trophy-less season, admitting that they "accomplished nothing" during the 2013-14 campaign.

The Argentina international, who has just signed a new contract that will see him become the world’s best-paid footballer, has struggled with injuries and relatively poor form over the past 12 months.

However, even as Barca's star player, the four-time Ballon d'Or winner does not feel that he should shoulder the blame for the Catalans' failure to win anything other than the Supercopa de Espana.

"It was a tough year and it has not been the best for me,” Messi admitted to Mundo Deportivo. "A big team [like Barcelona] is obliged to win titles and this year we accomplished nothing.

"It was kind of the whole group, though, not just individuals. But it was a let-down for the whole team."

Messi also argued that Gerardo Martino, who stepped down as coach last weekend, should not be made the scapegoat for Barca's failings, in light of all of the off-the-field, transfer-related controversies the club were forced to deal with.

"It was not easy for Tata [Martino],” he added. “There were things going on in and out of the court.

“We would have liked to have become champions for ourselves and for the manager - he deserved it."

After seeing his side miss out on the Liga title by being held at home by Atletico Madrid in Saturday's title decider, Messi admitted that he is hoping to put Barca's season behind him as quickly as possible so he can focus on helping Argentina win this summer's World Cup.

"I hope that now I can change my head before Brazil," the 26-year-old confessed. "Losing the title on the final day was a heavy blow.

"I will spend a few days with my family and then I’ll think about the Argentina team."

Hammers hit Sunderland hard

Geordie Andy Carroll helped to nudge Sunderland closer to the relegation trapdoor as West Ham all but secured their own Barclays Premier League status with a 2-1 win at the Stadium of Light.
The England striker powered the visitors into an early lead and midfielder Mohamed Diame extended it five minutes into the second-half on a night when there were no boos for Hammers boss Sam Allardyce.
Substitute Adam Johnson gave Sunderland, who had earlier seen strong penalty appeals go unanswered, hope when he pulled one back with 25 minutes remaining, and keeper Adrian had to pull off a double save to deny Ki Sung-yueng and Connor Wickham.
But ultimately, the Black Cats' depressing home run was extended to just one win in nine league games to leave the bulk of a crowd of 37,396 fearing the worst.
Former Newcastle frontman Carroll needed just nine minutes to plummet even further in the estimation of the home fans when he headed the visitors into the lead in trademark style.
Mark Noble's corner was tailor-made for him to climb high above John O'Shea and Wes Brown to score just his second goal of the season despite keeper Vito Mannone's best efforts on the line.
However, Sunderland, who have not won a Monday night game in 12 years, were aggrieved not to be handed a chance to level as half-time approached.
Skipper O'Shea bundled the ball into the penalty area as the home side staged an attack and opposite number Kevin Nolan appeared to block it with his arm, although referee Howard Webb was unmoved.
But their mood darkened further five minutes into the second half when Diame latched on to Carroll's knock-down and steered a deflected shot past the stranded Mannone to make it 2-0.
Johnson's strike - his 10th of the season - sparked a spirited fightback, but it was all too little, too late for Gus Poyet's men.
Poyet has had cause to rue the fine margins which exist between success and failure during his time on Wearside to date, and he headed for the dressing room at half-time once again reflecting on the fickle finger of fate.
Having once again decided to employ O'Shea, Wes Brown and Santiago Vergini in a three-man defence, he charged wing-backs Phil Bardsley and Marcos Alonso with the task of getting forward to support the men ahead of them, and Bardsley in particular obliged.
The problem was that neither they nor midfielders Liam Bridcutt, Lee Cattermole and Ki could make the most of the Black Cats' more or less even share of possession.
In addition, Sunderland were hampered with their inability to handle the physical and aerial presence of Carroll, who won virtually everything which came his way before the break to give the Hammers an ever-present threat.
There was an inevitability about the opening goal, which came as he rose to power Noble's left-wing corner past Mannone, although the Italian was equal to the test eight minutes before the break after the striker met George McCartney's cross.
In the meantime, Matt Taylor had screwed a long-range effort just wide at full-stretch with Stewart Downing and Diame enjoying the space left behind by Alonso and Bardsley.
The Black Cats had chances of their own with Bardsley thumping a swerving second-minute drive just wide of the far post and Cattermole failing to make the most of good work by Fabio Borini and Ki when he shot tamely at keeper Adrian.
However, they were desperately unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty seven minutes before the break when Nolan appeared to block the ball with his arm inside the box as it reared up off O'Shea.
Sunderland's uphill task increased markedly in gradient by the time 50 minutes had passed when, after Brown had been penalised for a foul on Carroll, the striker laid off James Tomkins' free-kick for Diame to fire home with the help of a deflection off Vergini.
Poyet replaced Cattermole with Johnson and Craig Gardner soon followed as O'Shea departed, and amidst the re-organisation, Downing should really have killed the game off when he got in behind Alonso, but fired inches wide of the far post.
Johnson gave the home side home when he collected Gardner's pass and curled home a 65th-minute shot, and suddenly, the Black Cats were transformed.
Adrian could not hold Ki's 68th-minute drive, but recovered to block Wickham's follow-up as the home fans sensed a change in the tide, but salvation proved to be beyond them as substitute Ignacio Scocco headed over at the death from Vergini's cross.

Football: Midfielder Matic returns to Chelsea

Chelsea has re-signed Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic on a five-and-a-half-year contract from Portuguese giants Benfica on Wednesday, the two clubs have announced.
In a statement to the Lisbon stock exchange, Benfica said that they will receive 25 million euros ($A38 million) for the sale of Matic, who is now set for his second spell at Stamford Bridge.
After arriving from MSK Kosice in 2009, he made three substitute appearances in the 2009/10 season and left in January 2011 as part of the deal which brought David Luiz from Benfica to west London.
News of the transfer came the day after Matic had stated his intention to move on in an interview with Portuguese sports daily A Bola.
"Now is the right time to leave. I want to improve myself, I want to play in a better league and I want to go to Chelsea," he was quoted as saying.

Football: English FA Cup result

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LONDON: English FA Cup third-round replay result on Wednesday:

Manchester City 5 (Negredo 45+1, 47, Dzeko 67, 79, Aguero 73) Blackburn Rovers 0

Played Tuesday (aet denotes after extra time): 3rd rd Birmingham City 3 (Robinson 35, Burke 85, 87) Bristol Rovers 0 Bournemouth 4 (Pitman 5, 88-pen, Elphick 45, Fraser 86) Burton Albion 1 (Phillips 35) Charlton Athletic 2 (Morrison 54, Kermorgant 82) Oxford United 2 (Mullins 13, Davies 24) 3rd-rd replays Fulham 3 (Bent 16, Dejagah 41, Sidwell 68) Norwich City 0 Milton Keynes Dons 1 (Chadwick 10) Wigan Athletic 3 (Powell 79, 92, Fortune 105) aet Peterborough United 2 (Rowe 26, Assombalonga 74-pen) Kidderminster Harriers 3 (Gash 48, Byrne 52, Lolley 76) Plymouth Argyle 2 (Gurrieri 2, Hourihane 36) Port Vale 3 (Hugill 30, Williamson 63, Myrie-Williams 75) Preston North End 3 (Garner 68, 49, 88) Ipswich Town 2 (Nouble 58, McGoldrick 76) Sheffield Wednesday 4 (Maguire 3, Maghoma 78, Johnson 85, Llera 90+1) Macclesfield Town 1 (Boden 65-pen) Watford 2 (Faraoni 29, McGugan 64) Bristol City 0 -

Football: Hull sign Everton's Jelavic

LONDON: Croatian international striker Nikica Jelavic joined Hull City from Premier League rivals Everton on Wednesday after signing a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Tigers.

The 28-year-old, who has joined Hull for a reported club record £6.5 million (US$10.6 million, 7.8 million euros) rising to £7.5 million if they stay in the Premier League, is set to go into Tigers manager Steve Bruce’s side to play Norwich City on Saturday.

“As soon as the manager called me I realised straight away that he was really interested in signing me and that it is a great opportunity for me to come here,” Jelavic told Hull’s website on Wednesday.

“It is a good club, and we have a good squad. We talked a little bit, but it didn’t take long to realise that it was right for me.

“It’s a newly-promoted club, but I can see straight away that there is a lot of ambition here within the club and I hope that we can build on the great start to the season and become a really strong Premier League team over the coming years.” That Jelavic was on the verge of leaving Merseyside became clear last week when Hull and Everton announced they’d agreed a fee for the forward.

Hull are currently in 10th place compared to Everton’s fifth in English football’s top flight.

Jelavic joined Everton from fallen Scottish giants Rangers for £5 million in January 2012 and then scored 11 goals before the end of the campaign to finish as the Merseyside club’s top scorer.

But his form fell away in the latter half of last season and he has since struggled to impress new manager Roberto Martinez, who came in at the start of the current campaign following David Moyes’s move to Manchester United.

Meanwhile Romelu Lukaku’s arrival on loan from Chelsea did little for Jelavic’s prospects at Everton.

Jelavic’s move to Hull came against a background of ongoing controversy at the Yorkshire club over owner Assem Allam’s proposed change of its name to Hull Tigers.

Allam has threatened to quit the club within 24 hours if his proposal does not receive FA approval.

Egypt-born businessman Allam, who has said he has lent the club £66 million, believes a name change will help boost Hull’s brand overseas.

“I’m here to save the club and manage the club for the benefit of the community. It will never, never be the other way round — that the community manage it for me,” Allam said.

“But if the community say go away, I promise to go away within 24 hours.” -- AFP

Ronaldo Named World's Best Soccer Player,Ending Messi's Streak

Cristiano Ronaldo ended Lionel Messi’s unprecedented four-year run as the world’s best soccer player by claiming the Ballon d’Or.

Real Madrid forward Ronaldo, who also won the accolade as a Manchester United player in 2008, finished ahead of Barcelona’s Messi and Franck Ribery of European champion Bayern Munich, in voting for the event organized by governing body FIFA.

“It’s a tremendously emotional moment,” Ronaldo said after collecting the award accompanied by his son. “It’s very difficult to win this award.”

Ronaldo has averaged a goal a game for Real the past two seasons. The 28-year-old Portuguese scored three times in a playoff match in November as his country beat Sweden 3-2 to reach this year’s World Cup.

“I have to say a great thanks to all my teammates at my club and at my national team,” Ronaldo said as he tried to hold back tears. “I have to thank everybody who’s been involved with me at a personal level as well -- my son, my friends.”

Last year, Argentina international Messi became the first player to win the award four times. Zinedine Zidane and former Brazil striker Ronaldo won it three times.

Messi, 26, missed three of the past five months because of injuries. He has 16 goals in as many games this season and came off the substitutes’ bench in his latest return last week to score twice in a 4-0 win against Getafe.