Showing posts with label SOCCER. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SOCCER. Show all posts
Thursday, 9 April 2015
Jose Mourinho admits he is trying to be more like Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Chelsea boss has revealed his admiration for the retired Manchester United manager.
Mourinho says that dates back to when his Porto side knocked United out of the Champions League in 2004.
Costinha’s last minute goal prompted his now infamous knee-slide at Old Trafford.
But Mourinho says Ferguson’s grace in defeat has stayed with him ever since.
“That was when I felt the two faces of such a big man,” he
said in an interview with the Telegraph. “The first face was the
competitor, the man that tried everything to win.
“And after that
I found the man with principles, with the respect for the opponent,
with the fair play – I found these two faces in that period, and that
was very important for me.
“In my culture, the Portuguese and the Latin culture, we don’t have that culture of the second face.
“We are in football to win and when we don’t there is not a second face most of the time.
“But when we beat United in the Champions League I got that beautiful face of a manager which I try to have myself. I try.”
Mourinho was considered by many United fans to be the ideal successor to Ferguson when the Scot retired in 2013.
But United’s board - under the recommendation of Ferguson - opted to appoint David Moyes and hand him a six-year contract.
He
lasted just nine months and was replaced by Louis van Gaal last summer,
while Mourinho now looks set to lead Chelsea to the title for the first
time since 2010
Di Maria made a positive impact against Aston Villa
Does Di Maria return?
Ashley Young's combination with Daley Blind has been influential for
United recently, and the winger's return to the side sparked The Reds'
five-game Premier League winning run.
Young's crossing on Saturday, though, was erratic and however
maddening Angel di Maria has performed he is a reliable assister, as he
proved with the cross for Wayne Rooney's half-volley.
Di Maria not only created United's winner but injected dynamism into
their attack and galvanised Rooney, poor until his spectacular strike.
The derby could be a turning point for the Argentine.
Will United continue their fast starts?
Bizarrely, of the last three Old Trafford derby defeats United's best
performance came in the 6-1. A result skewed by Jonny Evans' slip, his
red card and defensive indiscipline in the last 10 minutes, United
actually began the game brightly, with Young causing Micah Richards
plenty of concern.
In recent weeks, United have become more watchable thanks to their
front-foot starts. They scored in the opening 10 minutes against
Tottenham, the first 15 at Anfield and should have struck earlier than
they did against Aston Villa.
Who starts at centre-back?
Chris Smalling's rotten luck with injuries continued as he was
deprived of a start against Aston Villa to allow Marcos Rojo back into
the side.
United's improved defensive record coincided with Phil Jones' return
to the first-team, yet Smalling has shone at centre-back and must be
desperate to atone for his derby red card in November.
Finally, Louis van Gaal has a positive defensive headache.
Can United end their Kompany hex?
The last time City lost to United with Vincent Kompany on the pitch
came way back when Rooney executed that scarcely believable bicycle kick
up at the Scoreboard End in 2011.
City boast plenty of derby bogeymen. Yaya Toure has scored four
against United, Edin Dzeko five and Sergio Aguero six, however Kompany
has proved to be a defensive pest who relishes his duels with Rooney,
despite the No.10'slscoring prowess against City.
This could be The Blues' greatest side's last hurrah and it is perhaps about time United belatedly dominated them.
De Gea to stop mini rot?
Indisputably United's player of the season, David de Gea has,
however, been culpable for the last two goals they have conceded that
have suddenly offered helpless opponents hope.
The Spaniard was at fault for Preston's opener in the February FA Cup
tie, too, however De Gea has overwhelmed all and sundry with his
magnificence this campaign that his errors have attracted little
attention, unlike three seasons ago.
His mistakes have not cost United points yet, either, yet for the first time this term he is experiencing a slight wobble.
Alves joined Barcelona in 2008
Manchester United continue to be linked with Barcelona right-back Dani Alves despite their interest in Southampton's Nathaniel Clyne.
Alves, 31, is out of contract in the summer whereas Clyne is 24 and has two-and-a-half years worth of Premier League experience.
Brazil
full-back Alves, while an asset in attack, has often been suspect in
defence and he was dropped during the World Cup in favour of City reject
Maicon.
Clyne
is also being monitored by Chelsea, although the relentless Branislav
Ivanovic is only 31 and has shown no signs of letting up this season.
Chelsea could also hijack United's bid for Mats Hummels, although they might be late after it was claimed The Reds had agreed a deal with Borussia Dortmund earlier this year.
Thursday, 2 April 2015
Chelsea's Eden Hazard and Arsenal's Mesut Ozil are the joint best
performing attacking midfielders in Europe, this year so far, according to
statistics from CIES Football Observatory performance ranking.
The data judges every player on six
'key performance indicators': rigour, recovery, distribution, take on, chance
creation and shooting.
Manchester City’s Jesus Navas comes
third while Chelsea reject, Kevin de Bruyne now at Wolfsburg came fourth.
Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa
completes the top five.
Premier League giants Arsenal, are favorites to secure the signature of
highly rated Palermo striker, Paulo Dybala.
The 21-year old has been in
scintillating form this season for the Serie A outfit and his exploits have
attracted the attention of top clubs across Europe.
However, Palermo president Maurizio
Zamparini, has revealed that the Gunners are favorites to sign the youngster
although they face competition from Italian champions, Juventus.
Zamparini told Radio Marte:
"Juventus and Arsenal have already made offers.
"[Pierpaolo] Triulzi, the lad’s
agent will be in Italy on Friday. I’m asking for more than €40m [£29m].
"Dybala would prefer to stay in
Italy, but the British team Arsenal are the first choice of the lad because of
the way Wenger’s team plays."
Dybala, who has scored 14 Serie A
goals this season so far, has also been hitherto linked with a move to Chelsea and
Manchester City.
Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez says he won’t rest on his laurels after
starting his Premier League career with a bang.
The Chilean prodigy joined the
Gunners last summer from FC Barcelona and has taken to the Premier League like
a duck to water.
Sanchez told reporters: "I can
adapt well to anything as long as I play football. Football is my passion and I
am happy as long as I chase a ball.
"I'm well adapted to the country
and the league. I must keep on learning, though.
"I want to expand my knowledge
of English football in general and Arsenal and my teammates in particular, but
overall I love this league.
"At the end of the day,
football was invented in this country, right?
"I live where football was
invented. That makes me really happy."
The 26-year old has scored 18 goals
in all competitions for the Gunners this season.
Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao has welcomed speculation linking
him with a move to Premier League giants, Manchester United.
The Portuguese international is a
long term target for the Red Devils and reports in Spain indicate that Louis
van Gaal is keen to bring him to Old Trafford in the summer.
Coentrao has sent a come pick me note
to the Dutch tactician claiming it would be ‘an honour’ to play for Manchester
United.
Speaking to O Jogo, the
27-year old said: "I already showed that interest in playing [for
Manchester United].
"It's one of the best clubs in
the world, a club that I admire a lot. It would be an honour to play
there."
The Red Devils tried to sign the
defender in 2013, but the deal could not be concluded before the summer deadline
but are upbeat of securing his signature in the summer.
Chelsea ace Cesc Fabregas has maintained he is enjoying his football
despite coming under intense scrutiny for his dismal displays recently.
The Spanish international started his
Chelsea career with a bang following his move from Barcelona in the summer
where he registered 15 assists in his first six months, but has set up one
in his last five Premier League games.
The 27-year old is however not
bothered by the criticism leveled against him.
He said: "I am going
through a great moment, both personally and athletic. I have no reason not to
be happy. I enjoy everything that happens to me.
"I am practically playing every
minute for my team and that’s what makes me happy. To be important is
fundamental. Now we have to fight hard for the Premier League to end a great
year.
"I do not think I’ve lost my
place in the team because I’ve never been undisputed, the important thing is
the team and if the coach does not put you, it is because they are
better."
Fabregas and Chelsea are next in
action against Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has refuted reports that paint
him as a ‘dictator’ insisting he is "very flexible".
The Dutch tactician has gained
reputation of being strict with his players during his illustrious career.
He has managed European giants
Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and the Netherlands national team.
However, the United boss has
maintained that he is open-minded when it comes to management techniques and
philosophies.
The 63-year old told MUTV:
"I am a very flexible man.
"[People] are always
thinking I am a boss, maybe a dictator. I am not like that. I am a very
flexible man. My wife does know that.
"There are lot of aspects in my
philosophy I shall stick to but a lot I shall change and it can only change
because of the members of my staff or my players. They can change my thoughts.
We have to wait and see how many aspects I have changed after one year."
Manchester United are currently in
fourth in the Premier League with eight games to play.
Manchester United attacker Angel di Maria has sold more shirts than any
other player in the Premier League this season, according to numbers released
by sports retail company Sports Direct.
The Red Devils broke the bank to sign
the Argentine international from Real Madrid last summer and it seems they have
recouped some money as the shirt sales attest.
Arsenal talisman Alexis Sanchez and
Chelsea striker Diego Costa came second and third respectively.
A spokesperson for Sports Direct,
said: "These statistics do suggest just how important sponsorship and
image rights are for a club when financing a marquee signing. Based on shirt
sales alone clubs would struggle to recoup the money they splash on the world’s
best talent.
"There’s no doubt that these
figures will have an impact on the European heavyweights of football as it
appears that spending what could be dubbed as a ridiculous amount of money on a
player could turn out to be a tactical decision."
Top 10 Player Shirts Sales 2014/2015
1. Angel di Maria (Man
Utd) - 9.59%
2. Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) -
3.80%
3. Diego Costa (Chelsea)
- 2.27%
4. David de Gea (Man Utd) -
2.16%
5. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) - 2.10%
6. Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) -
2.09%
7. Radamel Falcao (Man Utd) -
1.99%
8. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) -
1.76%
9. Sergio Aguero (Man City) -
1.46%
10. Robin van Persie (Man Utd) -
1.20%
Some of the big names that failed to
make the top 10 include Harry Kane (Tottenham), Cesc Fabregas and Oscar
(Chelsea) and Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
Spanish giants FC Barcelona have told suitors of out of favor striker
Pedro Rodriguez, to pay £15m for his signature.
The 27-year old has fallen down the
pecking order at Camp Nou with Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi ahead of
him and is keen to jump ship in search of regular football elsewhere.
The Spain international has been
heavily linked with a move to the Premier League with Arsenal and Liverpool
thought to be keen on his signature.
The Gunners have an upper hand though
due to their good relationship with the Blaugrana.
The North London club have done
business with the Catalan giants in the past with the transfers of Cesc
Fabregas, Alexis Sanchez and Thomas Vermaelen.
The attacker has made 26
appearances for the La Liga leaders this season, although the majority have
come from the bench, and he has scored five goals.
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has admitted that the Premier
League has helped him grow as a footballer.
The Spanish shot stopper struggled
during his early days in England following his move from Atletico Madrid in
2011 but has emerged as one of the best custodians in the world as his
impressive display for the Red Devils this season attest.
The 24-year old told the club’s
official website: "Truth be told, English football has changed me a great
deal. I've developed a lot physically, greatly improved my concentration and
generally improved all aspects of my game.
"I was very young when I came
here, but four years on, things are very good overall. This league really suits
me, as you learn a lot here.
"I'm a composed, calm type,
which helps me in my profession. As a keeper, you need to convey a sense of
calm to the rest of the team."
His exploits with United have seen
him being linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid.
The Los Blancos are in the market for
a long term replacement for veteran Iker Casillas and De Gea has been mentioned
prominently.
England captain Wayne Rooney has hailed midfielder Michael Carrick’s
display in their 1-1 friendly draw with Italy on Tuesday night.
Rooney says Carrick was the best
player on the pitch by a country mile after he came on for Chris Smalling just
before the interval.
Rooney told ITV Sport:
"The best player on the pitch by a mile when he came on was Carrick.
"He dictated the game for us.
You saw how much control we had.
"He was the big difference
between the teams in the second half.
"It is a friendly, we are
missing players, but a good chance for the players who came to give the manager
something to think about."
Southampton striker Graziano Pelle
gave Italy the lead in the 29th minute but Andros Townsend
salvaged a draw for the Three Lions with a stunning long range effort in the
79th minute at the Juventus stadium in Turin.
Arsenal are reportedly keeping close tabs on Southampton midfield
general Victor Wanyama.
The combative Kenyan international
has established himself in the Premier League following his move from Celtic in
2013 in a £12.5 m deal.
His exploits at the heart of the
Saints midfield have attracted the attention of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
According to reports, the French
tactician will test Southampton’s resolve to keep the 23-year old with a bid in
the region of £15m in the summer.
The Gunners were hitherto linked with
Wanyama’s midfield partner Morgan Schneiderlin, but it seems they have turned
their sights on the Kenyan Captain.
Wanyama, who has played a key role in
Ronald Koeman’s side so far, is however focused on the remaining eight games of
the season as the Saints seek to secure European qualification.
He told reporters: “We have had a
good season so far and we just want to finish strong. We have eight games to go
and we need to win as many as we can. We are excited for the challenge ahead of
us.
“It’s important everyone just takes
all the focus to the next game. That makes us concentrate more and we just give
everything to that game.
The sixth placed Saints play Everton on
Saturday at Goodison Park.
Arsenal ace Santi Cazorla has refuted reports linking him with a move
to Spanish champions Atletico Madrid, in the summer.
Renowned Spanish journalist Guillem
Balague recently fueled speculation by claiming that Atletico have made contact
with the 30-year old over a potential summer move.
However, the diminutive attacker has
insisted that he has no intentions of leaving the Emirates Stadium.
Cazorla told El Mundo:
"Right now I haven't heard from anybody, it's just rumours.
"And, to tell the truth, it
doesn't concern me too much. What I'm concerned about is Arsenal, where I'm
doing well.
"In the future, we'll see. I'm
saying that I like it very much and, as long as the club value me as they have
done until now, then I'll continue.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
is not losing sleep over the rumors and expects Cazorla to honour his contract
at the North London club.
The French tactician told reporters:
"He extended his contract last year.
"I don't think there's
anything to worry about, we've not been approached."
Cazorla joined the Premier League
giants in 2012 from Malaga and has scored seven times this season so far.
Borussia Dortmund captain Mats Hummels has denied claims that he
promised to join Premier League giants Manchester United.
This comes after reports emerged on
Tuesday claiming that the 26-year old promised then United boss Sir Alex
Ferguson back in 2011 that he will move to Old Trafford.
The World Cup winner took to
twitter to set the record straight.
"To clarify it: this
supposed "promise" is simply fictitious and that's the friendly
formation." He tweeted.
However, Hummels, who has been a long
term target for the Red Devils, left the door open for a move abroad.
He told Kicker:"Basically,
I think moving abroad will be good for my professional and personal well being.
"Eventually, I'd like to leave
the Bundesliga.
"I'm being open about this
because I'm not a fan of those who claim they are staying but, behind the
scenes, have actually secretly agreed a transfer away from their current
club."
Hummels joined Dortmund from Bayern
Munich in 2009 and has been a mainstay since.
In-form Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has vowed to outscore his
teammate Alexis Sanchez this season.
Both players are tied on 13 league
goals but Sanchez has scored just once in his last seven games while Giroud has
notched nine goals in as many matches in all competitions.
Giroud has now set his sights on
finishing the season as the club’s top scorer with eight matches left to play.
The 28-year old told RMC: "I'm
not going to say something silly because it'll be reported, but why not finish
ahead of Alexis?"
"We push each other, we're on 13
goals, and I would like to score some more to help the team achieve its
objectives."
The Gunners are currently third in
the Premier League table seven points behind leaders Chelsea.
Arsenal fans hope Giroud will
continue his hot streak in front of goal when they play Liverpool on
Saturday at the Emirates Stadium.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)