Showing posts with label premiership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label premiership. Show all posts

Sunday, 5 June 2016

Carvalho: Mourinho can emulate Ferguson

Ricardo Carvalho has backed Jose Mourinho to follow in the footsteps of Alex Ferguson and win trophies at Manchester United.
Mourinho has been tasked with returning United to the Premier League summit after replacing former manager Louis van Gaal on a three-year deal.
With a point to prove at Old Trafford following his split from Chelsea during the London club's horrendous title defence, Carvalho - who played under Mourinho at Stamford Bridge and Real Madrid - is confident his countryman will lead United to their first Premier League trophy since 2012-13.
"I know that Jose will be a success at Manchester United," said Monaco's Carvalho, who is preparing for Euro 2016 with Portugal.
"I have no doubt that he can bring trophies back to United again and that he will make them champions.
"I don't know if it will be in the first year, the second year or the third, but he will win the title again. My prediction is that it will be in the second year.
"United have struggled since Alex Ferguson retired, but Jose can be the one to replace him.
"He will not worry what went before. He will want to make his own success.
"Jose deserves to be at the biggest clubs because he is one of the top coaches.
"He has the quality to make Manchester United win again."
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Wenger 'revolutionised' Arsenal, says Campbell

Sol Campbell has defended Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and credited the under-fire Frenchman with transforming the club.
Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title for a 12th season running as sections of the Emirates Stadium faithful turned on the club's long-serving boss.
Campbell was part of the last Gunners side to be crowned champions when they went the whole of the 2003-04 top-flight campaign unbeaten.
And he called for Wenger to be given more time, which looks inevitable after the 66-year-old got the backing of chief executive Ivan Gazidis this week.
"Everyone's got to realise how much he's done for Arsenal," Campbell, who played for the London club from 2001 to 2006 and then again briefly in 2010, told The Guardian. "He revolutionised the club.
"Yes, everyone wants to win the Premier League and Champions League. It takes time.
"He's done incredibly well for the amount of money he's spent - look at Man United, who have spent £250 million in two years and have only gone sideways.
"It's not easy at all. Arsenal and Arsene will know when it's time to move on. It'll happen naturally and that's how it should be because he has given so much to the club."
Gazidis told The Telegraph: "The reason we have Arsene as our manager is because our board believes he can deliver success."
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Saturday, 4 June 2016

Nainggolan confirms Chelsea approach

Radja Nainggolan has confirmed Chelsea have approached Roma to discuss a potential transfer, but is adamant the move is by no means done just yet.

New Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is reportedly keen to lure the Belgium international to Stamford Bridge ahead of next season, having previously attempted to sign him while at Juventus.

The Premier League side have already opened talks with Roma, but Nainggolan is not getting carried away as both clubs have yet to agree on a transfer fee.

"There has been contact between Roma and Chelsea," the midfielder told HLN Nina.

"But I will not get involved so long as there is no agreement between the clubs.

"Chelsea are keen to strengthen their squad and Conte is a manager who wanted to sign me before. Chelsea are a big club.

"But the transfer is not a done deal so long as there is no signed contract on the table. And it would not be easy to leave Italy after 11 years."

Nainggolan, 28, has a contract with Roma until June 2020.
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Ibrahimovic agrees Personal terms with Manchester

Sweden will allow Zlatan Ibrahimovic to leave their Euro 2016 training camp to sign for Manchester United.

Reports on Saturday suggested the striker has agreed personal terms at Old Trafford, though Sportsmail understands his agent Mino Raiola is in Monte Carlo on other business and, despite Jose Mourinho's interest in his former charge, the deal is not yet complete.

However, United still expect the maverick forward to make the switch to the Premier League and Sweden boss Erik Hamren indicated he would be happy to allow Ibrahimovic out to complete a move on one of his days off.
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Nani backs Mourinho for United success


Former Manchester United winger Nani has backed new manager and compatriot Jose Mourinho to bring the good times back to Old Trafford.

Nani was one of Alex Ferguson's players to be moved on by Louis van Gaal when he replaced David Moyes, but the Dutchman's revolution failed to bring consistent results.

Van Gaal paid the ultimate price for that after United failed to qualify for next season's Champions League with a fifth-place finish in the Premier League in 2015-16, though he did lead them to an FA Cup triumph.

But Nani says United have finally found the right manager to bring the glory days back to the club in Mourinho, who will be tasked with re-establishing United as the dominant force they were in England under Ferguson.

"He is a fantastic manager - the best in the world in the last years," he said.

"He has done well in England in the past. We know he can always produce something at every team he goes to and we hope he will help Manchester United to win titles again."

Nani, who took on some of his old United team-mates in Chris Smalling and Wayne Rooney in Portugal's 1-0 loss to England on Friday, also offered his thoughts on the latter's future for club and country.

The debate rages on where Rooney's best position for England is ahead of Euro 2016, with the form of Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy and the England captain's strong form for United in midfield leaving manager Roy Hodgson with a variety of options.

But Nani said Rooney will be a key contributor no matter where he plays, having seen him fill a range of roles in their time together at United.
"I played with him for many years so I know what Wayne can do on the pitch," Nani said.

"I saw him ply on the left wing, the right wing, striker. I saw him a little bit more down in midfield. I am not surprised to see him more in midfield.

"He has a lot of qualities. It is different to midfield than to play striker but of course he is a great player and any time he can do something great for England."
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Schneiderlin looking forward to working with Mourinho

Manchester United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin might have been a late call-up to France's squad for the upcoming Euro 2016, but he is already looking forward to heading back to Manchester and linking up with new manager Jose Mourinho.

United confirmed Mourinho's appointment following the sacking of Louis van Gaal, just days after the Dutchman led the club to FA Cup glory.

Schneiderlin has never worked under Mourinho but said the former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager's reputation preceded him, insisting he has only heard good things about the Portuguese.

"As everybody knows Jose is one of the best coaches in the world," Schneiderlin said.

"I don't know him personally but I spoke to Lassana [Diarra] at France's training camp and he only said good things about him.

"I'm really looking forward to working with him, finding out his methods and winning back the title at Manchester United."

First, Schneiderlin will have to ensure he survives a potential fire sale at the club.

Mourinho is set to oversee a complete overhaul of the United squad which has underperformed since the departure of Alex Ferguson in 2013.

Schneiderlin arrived at United as a highly-rated midfielder following two stellar Premier League seasons at Southampton but underwhelmed in his first season at United as Van Gaal heavily rotated the midfield.

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Signing Yaya Toure not a priority, says Inter director


Piero Ausilio insisted Inter are interested in Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, but the Serie A side are in no rush to push through a deal as they sort a change in ownership.

Chinese investors Suning Commerce Group are set to purchase a majority 70 per cent stake from Inter president Erick Thohir.

And as the two parties complete the new ownership structure, Inter director Ausilio said the club's pursuit of 33-year-old Toure is not a priority at the moment.

After six seasons at the Etihad Stadium and with former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola to take charge in 2016-17, Toure is tipped to leave with a year remaining on his contract.
"Yaya Toure is a player that we really like," Ausilio told reporters. "But first we have to sort out [the] ownership change.

"There are still things to be sorted out between Thohir, [Massimo] Moratti and the Chinese group. That is why we have not pursued Toure yet, but we are interested.

"As a club we are aware of the challenges we face, but we will strive to get better. We are Inter and our goal can't be to finish fourth.

"There are obviously other teams who have similar ambitions but we are determined to be in the Champions League."

Toure scored six goals in 32 Premier League matches as City finished fourth last season.
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Roberto di Matteo appointed Aston Villa Coach

Former Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo has been appointed the new manager of Aston Villa.

The Italian succeeds Remi Garde, who was sacked in March before the club's relegation from the Premier League.Di Matteo, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012, will be assisted by former Blues team-mate Steve Clarke.

Villa were also linked with ex-Manchester United boss David Moyes and new Derby County manager Nigel Pearson, but Di Matteo was always first choice.

Dr Tony Xia, the Chinese businessman whose takeover of Villa is awaiting Football League and Premier League approval, is convinced Di Matteo will raise the West Midlands club's profile in the Championship.

The former West Brom and Schalke boss and Clarke, 52, have been out of management since last year.
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Friday, 3 June 2016

Arsenal activate Jamie Vardy release clause

Arsenal are on the verge of making their second signing of the summer after activating the release clause in Jamie Vardy's contract.

The Gunners have set their sights on bringing in a top-class striker after learning that Danny Welbeck will miss nine months due to injury.

Vardy scored 24 goals in the Premier League last season to lead Leicester City to their first Premier League title.

According to Goal, a buy-out fee of around £20 million has been triggered.

Arsene Wenger is determined to get all of his business done before the start of the European Championship, having failed to sign a single outfield player last summer.
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Sunday, 29 May 2016

Chelsea StarBoy Lewis Baker wins Toulon Tournament’s Golden Boot

The midfielder finished the competition with four goals after finding the net in Sunday's final victory over France,while fellow scorer Loftus-Cheek took second place Chelsea midfielder Lewis Baker won the Toulon Tournament’s Golden Boot as England beat France in Sunday’s final.

Baker opened the scoring after just nine minutes before his Chelsea team-mate Ruben Loftus-Cheek added a second shortly before half-time.

Abdou Diallo netted a late goal for France but Gareth Southgate’s men were able to hold out for the victory.

Baker finished the tournament with four goals, one clear of Loftus-Cheek and two ahead of France striker Sehrou Guirassy.

@lew_baker collects the #Toulon2016top scorer award.pic.twitter.com/WZGkfFOeIe
— England (@England)29 May 2016

Baker is the first Englishman to finish as the Toulon Tournament’s top goalscorer since Emile Heskey in 1998.

Also among the tournament’s previous Golden Boot winners are Thierry Henry, Nuno Gomes, Alan Shearer, Rui Costa, Djibril Cisse and Kevin Gameiro.

Baker returns to Chelsea this summer having just spent the season on loan in the Eredivisie with Vitesse.
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Deschamps will not consider Sakho recall For Euro

France coach Didier Deschamps insists he has not looked into the possibility of recalling Mamadou Sakho following the expiry of his 30-day suspension over an anti-doping violation.
Sakho was handed the ban by UEFA on April 28 after it emerged he had failed a drugs test following his club's Europa League clash with Manchester United in March.
The suspension, which was subsequently extended by FIFA to include matches around the world, cost Sakho a place in France's Euro 2016 squad, as well as the chance to play in Liverpool's final eight games of the season, which included the Europa League semi-finals and final.
Despite reports on Saturday that Sakho's initial ban would not be extended, Omnisport understands that UEFA's case against the 26-year-old has not yet been dropped, with a final decision expected to be made in the coming days.
Deschamps has faced a defensive selection headache in the build-up to Euro 2016, with Raphael Varane and Jeremy Mathieu both missing out through injury.
Adil Rami and Samuel Umtiti have been called in to fill the gaps in France's 23-man squad but, when asked whether a potential Sakho return was on his radar, Deschamps said: "Seriously? No. Or I would have no respect for the players I have already selected.
"When I made my selection there was no evidence that the outcome would be positive [for Sakho], even if it requires confirmation."
France begin their Euros campaign against Romania in Paris on June 10.

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Barnsley 3 Millwall 1: Hammill scorcher helps seal Championship return

Barnsley secured a return to the Championship with a 3-1 win over Millwall in Sunday's League One play-off final.
The Yorkshire side, bottom of the league table in December, capped a remarkable turnaround in 2016 with a deserved win at Wembley that seals their place back in the second tier of English football.
Barnsley, who only reached the play-offs by virtue of a better goal difference than Scunthorpe United, made an ideal start as they took the lead with just two minutes played thanks to on-loan Manchester United striker Ashley Fletcher's fine finish.
Caretaker boss Paul Heckingbottom, who steered his side to victory in the Football League Trophy final at Wembley last month, led the celebrations when Barnsley doubled their lead through Adam Hammill's sumptuous strike from 25 yards out.
Millwall snatched a lifeline before half-time when Mark Beevers showed great strength to hold off a challenge before turning to sweep the ball high into the net, but they failed to create any sustained pressure in the second half.
And Barnsley made sure of their victory 16 minutes from time, when Lloyd Isgrove leaped highest to power home a header from Hammill's corner, allowing their travelling fans to celebrate the most unlikely of promotion stories.
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Xhaka proud to complete 'dream' Arsenal move


Switzerland star Granit Xhaka is delighted to have completed a "dream" transfer to Arsenal from Borussia Monchengladbach.
The 23-year-old secured a move to Emirates Stadium this week for a reported fee of close to EUR40million after an impressive four-year spell in the Bundesliga.
The midfielder, compared to Andrea Pirlo by former Arsenal defender Johan Djourou, is relieved to have sealed the move prior to Euro 2016 and is relishing the prospect of his first appearance under Arsene Wenger. 
"I feel good, now I'm happy to be a Gunner," Xhaka told Sky Sports News after Switzerland's 2-1 friendly defeat to Belgium on Saturday.
"It's been a big week for me, but now it's official and I'm very happy. Arsenal is a big club. I've seen the pitch, it's unbelievable. It was a dream for me and I'm happy now."
Xhaka, captain for much of the season under Andre Schubert, made 36 appearances for Gladbach in all competitions this season.
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Saturday, 28 May 2016

I have not scored enough for Man City, concedes Sterling


Raheem Sterling concedes he did not score or create enough goals in his first season at Manchester City.
The England international made 47 appearances for the club following his £49 million move from Liverpool last July, scoring 11 times.
But Sterling acknowledges his end product needs to be better under Pep Guardiola next season, even if he feels he has made important mental strides forward following his move.
"I have learned quite a bit going into City for my first year and I think I'm improving," he said after England's win over Australia.
"I probably haven't scored as many goals or assisted as many goals as I wanted to, but I'm definitely improving mentally. 
"That's the most important thing for me, the mentality to not listen to outsiders, just concentrate on being myself and expressing myself."
Sterling was deployed in a central attacking role in Friday's 2-1 win against Australia and he enjoyed that opportunity after playing a part in both goals from Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney.
He added: "It's a position where I can get in behind and I'm close to the goal. 
"That's my main problem as well, sometimes I can get drawn into staying too wide, but on Friday I could be close to the box creating stuff."
Sterling only started 23 Premier League games for City in 2015-16, 11 fewer than he did in the previous campaign at Liverpool.

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Diame strike secures Premier League slot for Hull City

Mohamed Diame scored a stunning second-half goal to send Hull City back to the top flight at the expense of Sheffield Wednesday.
Hull City sealed an instant return to the Premier League as Mohamed Diame's superb strike secured a 1-0 Championship play-off final victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
Steve Bruce's men wrapped up a money-spinning spot back in the top flight a year on from the pain of relegation after a dominant display at Wembley.
Having been denied time and again by inspired Owls goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, it took a 20-yard curler from Diame to settle matters 18 minutes from time in an entertaining Yorkshire derby.
While Hull will take a seat at the top table – and pocket an estimated £170million in the process – Wednesday will spend a 17th consecutive season outside the Premier League, with trips the likes of Burton Albion and local rivals Rotherham United on the agenda.
After the Tigers put in two such contrasting performances in their semi-final triumph over Derby County – winning 3-0 away before succumbing 2-0 at home – much of the talk in the build-up centred on which side would turn up at the national stadium.
It transpired to be the one that finished nine points ahead of Wednesday in the table and City looked superior for most of what was an absorbing encounter.
Wednesday's bright start gave way to a spell of Hull pressure that saw Bruce's side force the impressive Westwood into a stunning save and Diame strike the upright.
Carlos Carvalhal's men continued to come under fire after the break, with Michael Dawson and Andrew Robertson missing gilt-edged opportunities before Diame assumed the role of Hull's hero.
And yet it had started well enough for Wednesday, who won a free-kick in a promising position after Dawson was cautioned for hacking down Fernando Forestieri, whose set-piece was palmed over by Eldin Jakupovic in unorthodox fashion.
It was from another dead-ball situation that Ross Wallace again called an unconvincing Jakupovic into action.
Hull almost broke the deadlock when Tom Huddlestone's powerful 29th-minute header from Robert Snodgrass' corner was cleared off the line by Kieran Lee and Dawson failed to steer in the rebound.
Westwood was next to come to the Owls' rescue when he brilliantly diverted Abel Hernandez's shot over the crossbar after Tom Lees failed to deal with Diame's throughball. 
Diame then rattled the post after dancing his way into the area as the Tigers ramped up the pressure, with Moses Odubajo then testing a busy Westwood.
Forestieri looked to redress the balance early in the second half as he chased Westwood's long kick, but Curtis Davies recovered brilliantly to thwart him.
Carvalhal's men were soon on the back foot again, though, and Dawson brought yet another fine stop from Westwood when he flashed at Snodgrass' searching delivery to the back post.
Odubajo then played in Robertson for what looked to be a simple finish 12 yards out, but the Scot skied his shot well over the target.
Finally Diame made the breakthrough, curling home expertly from outside the box, with Westwood barely getting his right glove to it.
For the first time, Wednesday's huge following contingent – in stark contrast to the many empty seats in the Hull end – fell silent and there was to be no last-gasp tonic for the Owls.
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Mourinho will bring trophies to Man Utd, says McNair

Paddy McNair is confident Jose Mourinho will bring trophies to Manchester United following his appointment as manager.
The former Chelsea boss was officially announced as Louis van Gaal's replacement at Old Trafford on Friday, signing a three-year deal with the option of an additional season.
McNair, 21, is impressed by Mourinho's track record and feels United are now in a strong position to add to the 2016 FA Cup, which is the only major trophy they have won since Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013.
"He is a world class manager, he has won trophies in a lot of countries," McNair said to Sky Sports.
"He has worked with the best players and with the best teams in the world. I feel like he can bring trophies to Manchester United."
McNair is in the Northern Ireland squad for Euro 2016, giving him the ideal opportunity to impress Mourinho on the big stage after only starting three Premier League games in his second season with the United first-team in 2015-16.
"I have not heard anything from him yet," he said.
"Every time I go on the pitch there is someone new watching you for the first time probably so I'm just trying to impress everyone."
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Payet confirms West Ham stay

Dimitri Payet says it is "very likely" he will still stay at West Ham for next season.
Playmaker Payet took the Premier League by storm in his first campaign in English football, with the former Marseille man's performances earning him a spot on the shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year prize.
The 29-year-old was also rewarded with a recall to the France squad and has been linked with a big-money move away from the Hammers, despite the fact he signed a new five-and-a-half-year deal with the club in February.
But Payet, who is currently away on international duty in the build-up to Euro 2016, poured cold water on such speculation when asked about his future at a media conference on Saturday.
"Journalists have placed me everywhere!" he said.
"But I currently have no contact [with other clubs] and I signed a very long contract with West Ham. It is very likely that I'll still be here next season."
Payet also insisted that he can improve further after a sensational debut campaign in the Premier League.
"It's true that the last two years have been the best [of my career], but I still hope to progress," he added.
"You can always learn and I work hard to be able to raise my level."
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FA warns Brentford's Judge after doping breaches

Brentford midfielder Alan Judge has been reprimanded by the Football Association (FA) after being found guilty of breaching anti-doping regulations.
Judge denied an FA charge after a prohibited amount of Salbutamol - a medicine that aids the respiratory system - was found in the 27-year-old's body and "not considered to be an intended therapeutic use of the substance".
But an FA statement on Saturday revealed that the charge had been proven following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on May 25.
Judge has therefore been "warned as to his future conduct, issued with a reprimand and will be target tested for the next two years", the statement added.
The Republic of Ireland international, who made his debut for his country in March but missed out on Martin O'Neill's initial squad for Euro 2016, took the substance via an asthma inhaler.
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Rashford displays no longer a surprise - Smalling


England defender Chris Smalling was unsurprised by Marcus Rashford's goalscoring exploits on his international debut.
Rashford struck inside three minutes on his England debut, sending his team on their way to a 2-1 win over Australia in a friendly on Friday.
The 18-year-old Manchester United star is suddenly in contention to make the 23-man squad for Euro 2016.
Smalling, his club team-mate, said the teenager's incredible debut came as no surprise.
"We're so happy for him," he told FATV.
"No-one is surprised at him anymore. He's hit the ground running obviously with United, and tonight.
"A lot of the lads have been very impressed with him in training because he's been that threat and his finishing has been quality.
"I don't think anyone is surprised and it's great to see him keep kicking on from each stage that he's been doing this season."
Wayne Rooney added a second for England in the second half before an Eric Dier own goal at the Stadium of Light.
Defender John Stones also praised Rashford and said he was impressed by just how calm the teen forward was staying.
"I was so happy for him. I just said to the other guys there, such a young lad, to score on his debut, he took it so well," he said.
"He's just been so calm and cool about it in the change room, which for such a young lad, it's hard to get your head around. We're all over the moon for him."

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Rashford displays no longer a surprise - Smalling


England defender Chris Smalling was unsurprised by Marcus Rashford's goalscoring exploits on his international debut.
Rashford struck inside three minutes on his England debut, sending his team on their way to a 2-1 win over Australia in a friendly on Friday.
The 18-year-old Manchester United star is suddenly in contention to make the 23-man squad for Euro 2016.
Smalling, his club team-mate, said the teenager's incredible debut came as no surprise.
"We're so happy for him," he told FATV.
"No-one is surprised at him anymore. He's hit the ground running obviously with United, and tonight.
"A lot of the lads have been very impressed with him in training because he's been that threat and his finishing has been quality.
"I don't think anyone is surprised and it's great to see him keep kicking on from each stage that he's been doing this season."
Wayne Rooney added a second for England in the second half before an Eric Dier own goal at the Stadium of Light.
Defender John Stones also praised Rashford and said he was impressed by just how calm the teen forward was staying.
"I was so happy for him. I just said to the other guys there, such a young lad, to score on his debut, he took it so well," he said.
"He's just been so calm and cool about it in the change room, which for such a young lad, it's hard to get your head around. We're all over the moon for him."

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