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Paul Lambert insists his Aston Villa squad can retain their Premier League status despite dropping into the relegation zone.

Villa were unable to capitalise on last week's victory over West Ham, their first win in eight games, as Santi Cazorla's late effort consigned them to a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal on Saturday.

Lambert says his players believe they will avoid the drop and has called on his side to repeat their recent performances.

"The way they are playing, honestly, I can't ask for any more," the Scot told reporters.

"Sometimes you walk off a pitch and think 'we didn’t deserve anything' but against Arsenal, I couldn’t be too disappointed with it.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho says Barcelona should focus on football rather than talking about refereeing decisions.

Barca interim coach Jordi Roura has voiced reservations over the appointment of referee Alberto Undiano Mallecano for Tuesday's Copa del Rey second leg between the sides, but Mourinho feels the Catalans need to divert there attention.

"I prefer to stay with the lessons we have received in the past from Barcelona. Lessons in sportsmanship, how to be in football. Not talking about the referees, not surrounding them, trying to get opponents booked," Mourinho told reporters.

Real Madrid defender Pepe says they must play as a team to beat Barcelona in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Tuesday.

The Spanish giants are tied at 1-1 after the first leg at the Bernabeu in which 19-year old Raphael Varane cancelled out Cesc Fabregas's opener for Barcelona. 

Pepe believes French centre back Varane can become one of the best defenders in the world. 

"He (Varane) is a really down to earth guy with tremendous quality," the Portugal international said.

"At beginning of the season I said that within two years he is going to be one of the best central defenders in the world. He has helped us a lot in games and can get even better. 

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has declared he has no intention of leaving the Serie A champions in the near future.

The French midfielder joined the Bianconeri from Manchester United on a free transfer last year and has since impressed with a number of fine performances.

The 19-year-old's form has caught the attention of a number of top European clubs, but Pogba is keen to stay put.

"Attention from other clubs? It doesn't interest me. I really like it here and I want to play in this shirt for a long time," Pogba was quoted as saying on the club's official website.

"Personally, I'm happy because in my first year at Juventus, I've already scored five goals."

Cesc Fabregas says Barcelona will have to be on top of their game when they face Real Madrid in the second leg of their Copa del Rey clash.

The Catalans recorded a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg, and Fabregas is aware that Real will pose a stern test in Tuesday's return fixture, particularly given his side's laboured form in recent weeks.

"It’s vital to score. We cannot go into the match and wait to see what happens," Fabregas told Barca TV.

"In last year’s Copa del Rey Clasico we had a good result from the away leg yet we were nearly eliminated from the competition. 

"Real Madrid are very dangerous and in order to go through we’ll have to play the best football we’re capable of.

Swansea forward Michu says he has asked manager Michael Laudrup to stay at the club following the club's historic League Cup victory.

Laudrup this week won 72 percent of the vote in a poll held by Spanish paper AS asking fans who they would like to see manage Real Madrid. 

The former Denmark international won the Spanish title with the club in 1995 after arriving from Barcelona with whom he had won four consecutive titles as well as the 1992 European Cup. 

"I have gone up to Michael and said 'stay with us now we are in Europe'," Michu revealed after Swansea's 5-0 defeat of Bradford in the final.

Hatem Ben Arfa has described Newcastle as a 'beautiful club' and claims everything is in place for them to win silverware.

The Frenchman has become a key member of Alan Pardew's squad since signing from Marseille for five million pounds in 2010.

Ben Arfa has not played since December due to a hamstring injury but is set to make an imminent return to action and has declared himself excited for the future at St James' Park.

"I'd love to win titles, silverware," he told The Times. "To give everything I can so that at the end of my career I can look back and have no regrets.