Month: October 2019

Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho thinks it would be “unfair” to call Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk the best defender in world football.

Van Dijk is the current favourite to win the Ballon d’Or with bookmakers, ahead of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool teammate Alisson Becker.

The Reds had the best defence in the Premier League last term as they were pipped to the title by just a point by Manchester City before going on to win the Champions League.

Van Dijk has been widely credited for transforming Liverpool‘s rearguard under Jurgen Klopp following his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018.

Despite highlighting his qualities, Mourinho was loath to label him as the best defender in the world before Liverpool drew 1-1 at Manchester United on Sunday.

“That would be unfair to some fantastic central defenders, but in English football for sure, he has everything,” Mourinho said on Sky Sports before Liverpool’s draw at Old Trafford.

“It’s almost impossible to find a weakness in his game.”

 

Fellow Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness added: “He is the best for me. He’s faultless – when I watch him, he’s always in control, never extended.

“I’d like to see him get on the ball, get into midfield and make the simpler passes, but he borders on near faultless.

“Apart from the wonderful athleticism, he’s got the brain to sense danger.

“I just see him as an all-round centre-half. He’ll beat you in a race, he’ll beat you in the air. I think he’s just the best out there.”

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Roy Keane was “disgusted” at the pre-match “hugging and kissing” between Manchester United and Liverpool players on Sunday.

Adam Lallana’s late goal meant the points were shared at Old Trafford in a 1-1 draw following Marcus Rashford’s controversial opener had given United the lead.

Back in 2005, Keane was involved in an infamous tunnel bust-up with Patrick Vieira at Highbury ahead of a match between Arsenal and United.

However the scenes were very different on Sunday, as some of the United and Liverpool players were seen embracing in the tunnel, much to the despair of former United midfielder Keane.

“I’m disgusted with the players. You’re going to war!” Keane said on Sky Sports.

“They’re hugging and kissing – don’t even look at the opposition, you’re going into battle with them.

“The players have changed. You’re going to war with these players and they’re hugging each other.

“Chat to them after the game… well don’t even chat to them after the game.”

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is the latest critic of the VAR system after claiming referees are changing the way they approach the game because of it.

The German believes officials are letting play go on even when they think there may have been an infringement as they are expecting to be corrected by the technology.

Klopp was venting his frustration after the 1-1 draw at Manchester United which ended their 17-match winning run in the Premier League after Marcus Rashford’s opening goal was allowed to stand despite him claiming Divock Origi was fouled 70 yards up the pitch in the build-up.

“I’m sure Mr (Martin) Atkinson, if there was not VAR involved, would have whistled (for a foul) but he let it go because someone else could make the decision – but someone else is not making the decision,” said the Liverpool boss, who had no issue with Sadio Mane’s first-half goal being ruled out by VAR for handball before substitute Adam Lallana snatched a late equaliser.

“Like the penalty Man City didn’t get (against Crystal Palace on Saturday)… Come on, it was 100 per cent a penalty, nothing else, But VAR was not clear enough to say ‘Overrule it’.

“We need to discuss it in general, because how the process works is important. I think it is good, VAR. The only way it really works is handball and offside.

“But the process where the ref makes a decision because they have VAR but then VAR says ‘No, that’s fine’, that doesn’t work.

“On the pitch the referee decides to let it run because we have VAR, but it is not overruled because it is not ‘obvious’… that makes no sense.”

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Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists his team deserved all three points against league leaders Liverpool at Old Trafford.

It looked for a long time like United would win the game after Marcus Rashford’s first half opener, but Liverpool substitute Adam Lallana rescued a point for the visitors at Old Trafford, as it ended 1-1.

Solskjaer to BBC Sport: “I wouldn’t say frustration because then you look more to the execution of the plan and the efforts of the players. Today is disappointment on the players’ behalf. They were excellent.

“You can see the fitness, we’re getting fitter and fitter. The players are disappointed in the dressing room which is a good sign. They’re not excited at a point against Liverpool. It should have been three.

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“Liverpool are a good team and pushed us back but didn’t feel they created too many big opportunities. It looked like we could have got a second goal on the counter. The cross should have been blocked or cleared. These things against good teams cost you – and it cost us two points today.

“It’s a good performance to move forward with.

“The aggression, attitude and desire has been fantastic. The pressing, we’re getting better at pressing teams back. The fans were unbelievable.”

Solskjaer was also asked whether Rashford’s goal should have been disallowed.

“It’s never a foul. I don’t think Keano [Roy Keane] would say that’s a foul.” Solskjaer added.

“You can’t improve every game because we started well against Chelsea. But we’re on the right path. We need to improve our away form.”

 

Unai Emery is well aware of the “big motivation” driving Sheffield United this season ahead of Arsenal’s battle with the newly-promoted side at Bramall Lane on Monday.

The Blades are back in the Premier League for the first time since they went down on the final day of the 2006-07 campaign.

Goal difference was the deciding factor, although Sheffield United were left aggrieved by Carlos Tevez’s key performances at West Ham and were eventually paid compensation by the east London club as the signing of the Argentinian breached rules governing third-party ownership.

It was a small consolation compared to the price of losing Premier League status and a return to the top flight looked a long way off until Chris Wilder was appointed manager in 2016.

 

 

Under the ex-Sheffield United defender, they have secured two promotions and have already pushed Liverpool this season so Arsenal know this fixture under the lights at Bramall Lane will be a pivotal test of their top four credentials.

Emery said of Monday’s opponents: “They were in Premier League and they lost that in 2007, but they came back with big motivation.

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“The coach (Wilder), really his career with that team is amazing and how they are playing is the same as they played in the Championship, with big confidence, good players and their style is to be offensive.

“Also they are defensively very strong and we are analysing the best possible game plan, but really it is going to be difficult.

“For us we need to respect first and then we need to prepare, we need to use our game plan, quality and skills. Really we know it will be very difficult and we need to be very competitive in the 90 minutes.”

 

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino insisted that his side are on the right track, despite making it three games without victory against Watford.

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Pochettino’s side went into Saturday’s clash needing to respond following defeats to Bayern Munich and Brighton and were spared from making it three losses in a row with Dele Alli’s equaliser three minutes from time.

The result nevertheless continued Spurs‘ run without victory in all competitions but speaking to reporters at his post-match press conference, Pochettino was adamant that his side are on the right track.

“”For me [the goal] is the first step to build our confidence,” the manager said. “The other day a friend said to me that in five years it’s the first time we’ve recieved a knock like that 7-2 and it’s a new thing for us and the players.

 

 

“I have to say that in the last 20 minutes our fans were amazing and pushed us on.”

Pochettino added that while his side’s performance was short of what was required to earn a victory, his players did well to respond following Abdoulaye Doucoure’s sixth-minute opener.

“The performance wasn’t great, but when you concede an early goal it is always tough, it is a difficult situation,” the Argentine continued.

“The atmosphere wasn’t in the way you love to play, it wasn’t the best. It is not easy, when I was a professional footballer in this type of situation it was always difficult.”

Spurs return to action when they host Red Star Belgrade in North London in the Champions League on Tuesday.

 

Manchester United will extend Nemanja Matic’s contract by a further year to ward off Inter Milan’s interest, according to a report.

Matic, who moved to Old Trafford from Chelsea for around £40m in 2017, was a key part of the side under Jose Mourinho but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has only used the Croatian five times so far this term.

Recent reports indicated that Inter boss Antonio Conte had placed Matic on a four-man shortlist of targets and, as such, Corrierre dello Sport now says that United are trying to fend off that interest.

Conte is reportedly keen on Matic having worked with the 31-year-old when the pair were at Stamford Bridge, but the Italian publication reports that a reunification could be denied as the Red Devils could extend his current contract by a further year.

 

 

The report adds that due to Matic being in the final year of his deal, clubs can begin pre-contract negotiations with him in January and United are said to be unwilling to lose the player for nothing next summer.

An inter move for the midfielder would be the third such raid the club have conducted on the Red Devils in a matter of months, followng the signings of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez in the summer.

Meanwhile, Jermaine Jenas has claimed that the club should have kept hold of Lukaku and sold winger Anthony Martial instead.

 

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REDS AND BLUES COOK-ING UP A STORM
Liverpool like fishing on the south coast and it seems they are ready to go dangling the bait out again – this time for Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook.

The England cap appears to be one of the Premier League’s most wanted since the Daily Mail claims both Liverpool and Chelsea are sniffing around the 22-year-old.

Not even a serious knee injury has deterred Cook’s suitors with the Reds and Blues ready to make a move once they are convinced of his fitness.

What do they like about Cook? According to this report, his ‘high-energy style in the middle of the park’ is what is thought to have attracted most attention, but the fact he is English and young makes you wonder why Manchester United aren’t sniffing.

 

UNITED CARRYING THE CAN TORCH
So what are United up to? According to Sky Sports, they are chasing Emre Can.

The former Liverpool midfielder is having a nightmare at Juventus, having being denied a Champions League squad place after the Old Lady signed Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot on free transfers to play in his position.

The story goes that United are willing to offer Can a return to the north west in January, 18 months after he walked away from Liverpool.

Still Juve are expected to ask for £35million for a midfielder they don’t really want.

 

UNITED SWERVE MANDZUKIC DEMANDS
ESPN also carry the Can story, but the Germany star ‘is not high on their list of targets’.

Nor is Mario Mandzukic. ESPN have been told by their sources that the Croatia star has put United off with his wage demands and his reluctance to sign a short-term deal.

James Maddison and Moussa Dembele, however, remain on United’s list of targets. Lucky them…

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AND THE REST
Man City are hoping to give Raheem Sterling a new contract… Lionel Messi says some people at Barcelona do not want Neymar back at the club… Edinson Cavani has rejected an offer to join Inter Miami… Jurgen Klinsmann is set to manage Ecuador… Man Utd made a bid for Juventus defender Merih Demiral… Kelechi Iheanacho is a target for Besiktas… Everton defender Lewis Gibson wants to rejoin Newcastle.

Everton boss Marco Silva is convinced Saturday’s home clash with West Ham will be a turning point in the Toffees’ season.

The Merseysiders head into the fixture having lost each of their last four Premier League games and lying in the relegation zone.

After the 1-0 defeat at Burnley on October 5, Silva said the meeting with West Ham was a “must-win game for us.” When he was asked about that on Friday and if the message to the players was it had to be a turning point in their campaign, the Portuguese said: “We believe it will be.

“When I used those words, it was first because for us as a club all the matches must be must-win matches. That is the mentality we are trying to create.

“And I use that because it has to be a turning point for us, because we have all the conditions to do that, full confidence in our players to be able to play in our stadium as well, and I think it is a good start to the match, thinking of it like a must-win.

“At the moment we are not in the best moment with confidence really high, but we have to go for this match thinking it will be a must-win game.”

 

 

Silva emphasised he had been in frequent contact with the club’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, as is “normal”, and insisted “pressure is really good” as he urged his players to react to their current predicament.

He said: “Pressure for us as a professional has to be a privilege, a pleasure, because it means we are doing what we really love, that we are working in a football club which is demanding for ourselves.

“We have to put this pressure behind us every day. For me it is never a problem and it is something I try to pass to my players every single day. Pressure is really good. It means you are at a club that wants to win, a club with big ambition, and it is the reality of our position.

“The table is not good. Our last results are not good enough. We have to react and the pressure has to be good for us. Embracing the moment is the reality in this moment. We can perform better, we can win the game.”

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A Chinese court in Beijing has issued an arrest warrant and produced wanted posters for Aston Villa’s former owner Dr Tony Xia.

Xia took charge at Villa Park in 2016 after buying out Randy Lerner for £76million, pledging to return the then Championship club to the Premier League.

The owner was criticised for gambling the relegated club’s parachute payments on bankrolling a promotion push which failed, leaving the club facing potential adminstration last summer before they were saved by Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris.

The new owners stepped in to pay up Xia’s debts with a cash injection through their company NSWE, in exchange for the 42 year-old’s shares.

Xia claimed to be a billionaire when he took over the club but was actually a frontman for other investors’ cash, who are now angry after the promise of lucrative returns in the Premier League have failed to materialise.

The Beijing court has put out wanted posters for Xia with a reward of around £30,000 out for information on Xia’s whereabouts and a warrant for his arrest, reports The Mirror.

Villa are back in Premier League action this weekend when they host Brighton at Villa Park.

Dean Smith’s men currently sit 15th in the Premier League, with eight points from their opening eight matches.