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Bayer Leverkusen star Stefan Kiessling has denied knowledge of Borussia Dortmund's reported interested in him.

The striker has been in fine form this season, netting 15 times in 22 matches in the Bundesliga to be equal top scorer with Mario Mandzukic, which has helped the club reach third on the table.

The Germany international, who is contracted with the club until 2015, said he was surprised such transfer rumours were circulating ahead of his team's flight to Portugal to face Benfica in the second leg of their Europa League tie.

"I don't know anything about it and I'm surprised myself," he told reporters ahead of his team's flight to Portugal. "It's a non-issue for me.

Barcelona star Xavi has refuted suggestions his team's season would be a failure if they were unable to reach the Champions League last eight.

Goals from Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari ensured Barca suffered a 2-0 loss to AC Milan in the Champions League round-of-16 first-leg at the San Siro on Wednesday.

Xavi praised AC Milan's terrific defending throughout the clash, but is rueing momentary lapses in defence which cost his side.

He told AS on Thursday: "It was a long journey back for the players and coaching staff. The first goal was a calamity, we just weren't paying attention. We made two errors in defence and because of that we have to try and overturn the result.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes that outgoing CEO David Gill will have a major impact on UEFA's executive committee.

The 55-year-old announced this week that he will end his 16-year stay at Old Trafford in order to stand for election to the governing body of European football in May.

And although he lamented the FA vice-chairman's departure, Ferguson is adamant that Gill will be a fine addition to the executive committee.

"He spoke to me about it some weeks ago," he said. "I was surprised because he is still a young man.

"But I can understand exactly where he is coming from. Sixteen years at United in that particular position is not easy.

Argentina icon Diego Maradona says he always knew Barcelona star Lionel Messi would captain his country.

The Barcelona forward was handed the armband in 2011 by coach Alejandro Sabella.

The team has flourished under the 25-year-old's leadership, having lost just one 90-minute match during the past 12 months.

Maradona, a former skipper of the national side himself, said he foresaw the leadership qualities Messi possessed during his time as coach of the team in 2010.

Speaking in an interview with DeporTV, he said: "I saw him in that position, as a leader, not just because a charlatan cannot be captain. I was right.

Marseille attacking midfielder Mathieu Valbuena has signed a new long-term contract at the club, which will keep him at the Stade Vélodrome until the summer of 2017,

Valbuena, 28, had been linked with the likes of Atletico Madrid, Arsenal and Fenerbahce, with reports suggesting that the Turkish giants came closest to winning the race for the Frenchman.

The France international has effectively extinguished any exit rumours by putting pen to paper on a new long-term deal with Marseille.

"I am delighted to sign a contract with Marseille,” said Valbuena.

Last night Arsenal suffered a 3-1 defeat to German giants Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

The Gunners were simply outclassed by the incisive visitors.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has come in for heavy criticism at times this season, but the players have to take the bulk of the blame for this defeat.

Poor

Quite simply the performance wasn’t good enough and the Gunners were outplayed by better players.

The current crop of Arsenal players are not good enough to play at the top level of European football.