Manchester United vs Liverpool: Match Reaction

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Mar 16, 2014

Liverpool made their title ambitions clear on Sunday with a dominant 3-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. Two Steven Gerrard penalties and another from Luis Suarez saw Liverpool take all 3 points on one of United’s darkest days of the season, and Liverpool will feel they could have had many more.

The first of the goals arrived when United right back Rafael handled the ball in the box to give away a penalty following a clever touch from Suarez, just minutes after being booked, and captain Steven Gerrard keeping his nerve to send De Gea the wrong way. Gerrard converted another penalty won by Joe Allen just a minute after the half time break. Suarez added a third goal six minutes from time, but that was after Gerrard had hit the post with another penalty with ten minutes to go. Rafael stayed on the field for the game, but Nemanja Vidic was given his marching orders after fouling Daniel Sturridge for thr third penalty.

Brendan Rodgers spoke to the media after the game,

“Our dominance in the match was clear. We had confidence and belief coming here that we could get a result. We could arguably have scored five or six and that is testament to the quality of the players.”

”We won’t get carried away. It’s a wonderful result be we need to move on and focus on winning our next game. If we continue to play with that intensity, we will continue to win games”.

Manchester United manager David Moyes was the less happy of the two,

“I thought there was not a great deal in it at half time. We had just started to play a bit better towards the end of the first half.

“It was important we came out in the second half and got a goal back but instead we gave one away and that made it very difficult for us.

I don’t think I had even got seated in the dugout when we gave it [the second penalty] away. We were going for it but it always left us open to a counter.”

United’s top 4 hopes are surely over now, while Liverpool’s title challenge looks as strong as ever.

By Ben Kelly

Follow me on Twitter for more articles! @benkelly_10 https://twitter.com/benkelly_10

A boost for Arsenal as Wolfsburg decline transfer move for Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic

By

SteveMilne

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Mar 16, 2014

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The 27-year-old does not fit into Bayern boss Pep Guardiola’s future plans at the Allianz Arena and looks destined to leave Munich this summer, despite scoring 21 goals for club and country this campaign.

With Robert Lewandowski on his way to the Bundesliga giants from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year contract, Mandzukic looks increasingly likely to be looking for new employers during the close season.

And the Gunners could be in the frame to land Mandzukic, according to reports, if they look to add more firepower to a team which currently has only top scorer Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski available up front.

Nicklas Bendtner’s latest problems mean he is likely to leave the Emirates Stadium at the end of the season while 21-year-old Frenchman Yaya Sanogo is still learning the English game.

They will be further boosted by the news Wolfsburg manager Klaus Allofs distanced the club from a move for Mandzukic, who is believed to be valued at around £20million by Bayern.

Written by Steve Milne

Match Reaction: Aston Villa v Chelsea

By

Phil Wellbrook

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Mar 16, 2014

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All that separated these two sides in a heated match at Villa Park was a late Fabian Delph goal, which shocked the league leaders as they had had clear cut opportunites to score throughout the match.

Chelsea had the ball in the net through Nemanja Matic but it was ruled out for handball in the first half and in the second, Chelsea saw 2 players and their manager sent off. The first was Willian for picking up a second yellow card, from which they never really recovered their tempo and then later on in the match Ramires was sent off for a lunge on Karim El Ahmadi, and complaints from manager Jose Mourinho lead to him being sent to the stands.

Villa made their man advantage count as Fabian Delph cleverly flciked home a Marc Albrighton cross in the 82nd minute to cap off a disastrous evening for the Blues.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho’s reaction: “If I speak I’m in big trouble, and I don’t want to be in big trouble, and if I speak I’m accused of bringing the game into disrepute.

The referees do what they do, they do and they go home, they do and they don’t go to the press, they refuse even to exchange a couple of words when one person, like me who has been in football for so long, asks politely, ‘Can you speak with me for five seconds?’ and it’s ‘No, I don’t speak with you for five seconds’.

We have to put it behind us, there is no other solution.”

Aston Villa manager paul Lambert’s reaction: “I’ve been here nearly two seasons and we’ve had some big moments in big games, but that’s the best one we’ve had.

It was a fantastic all-round team performance, let alone anything else. I thought we were well worth it, I really did.

We were up against a team that not long ago won the Champions League, is vying to win the Premier League this year and is vying to win the Champions League again.

It was an extraordinary effort. I didn’t think we were inferior and I thought we were well worthy of winning it.”

By Phil Wellbrook

United to offer Shinji Kagawa plus cash deal to land Marco Reus

By

SteveMilne

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Mar 16, 2014

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United boss David Moyes is determined to make the club a force in the Premier League again next term after a hugely-disappointing debut season at Old Trafford.

And he has targeted Dortmund playmaker Reus, 24, as the man to help turn around the Red Devils’ flagging fortunes, according to reports this morning.

He will try to lure Borussia into a deal by offering former Dortmund favourite Kagawa back to the club in a player-plus-cash bid.

Reus has been a target for Moyes and United for some time and the reigning Premier League champions failed to sign the Germany star in January.

Kagawa, meanwhile, was a big hit in Germany during his spell with Borussia between 2010 and 2012 and would be welcomed back warmly by the club after a generally disappointing time in England.

Written by Steve Milne

Giroud holds secret talks with top agent Ozcan

By

SteveMilne

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Mar 16, 2014

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The striker held a 45-minute meeting with UK-based adviser Muzzi Ozcan at Aubaine restaurant in Hampstead at around 5.30pm on Thursday evening.

Ozcan helped broker Galatasaray’s recruitment of manager Roberto Mancini and led the Turkish club’s attempts to sign Chelsea’s John Terry last year.

As well as Turkey, he is known to have strong contacts in France, particularly with Paris St-Germain’s Qatari owners. Ozcan is not Giroud’s contracted agent.

Giroud’s agent Mickael Manuello, who was not present, insisted the meeting was meant purely for commercial purposes.

Manuello also denied Giroud was plotting an exit strategy out of Arsenal, saying he is fully focused on winning the Barclays Premier League and the FA Cup with the Gunners.

Giroud faced allegations of an extramarital affair last month and sources close to the player suggest he is under pressure from his family to quit London.

Written by Steve Milne

Mourinho demands that Thibaut Courtois signs a new contract

By

SteveMilne

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Mar 16, 2014

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Courtois is in his third season with Atletico Madrid, but is due to return to Chelsea this summer.

However, with his contract at Stamford Bridge expiring in 2016, the Blues are keen to see the 21-year-old put pen-to-paper on fresh terms.

Courtois has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, but insisted he is not considering quitting Chelsea.

However, the Belgian international is interested in another season on loan at Atletico, if Petr Cech continues as Jose Mourinho’s first-choice keeper.

Reports in Spain claim Mourinho will only allow such an agreement should Courtois extend his contract with the west London club.

Atletico owner Miguel Angel Gil Marin has flown to London several times to try and secure Courtois’ services, who has said he will make a decision at the end of the season.

Written by Steve Milne

Adebayor says that pressure gets to Arsenal.

By

Ben Reardon

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Mar 16, 2014

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Tottenham striker Emmanual Adebayorhas added fuel to the fire before the big North London derby, by stating that pressure gets to Arsenal.

The striker, who played for the Gunners for three years, before leaving for Manchester City, has experienced a revival under Tim Sherwood.

Adebayor stated to the Daily Mirror, ahead of Sunday’s showdown.

“Arsenal are a good team when they have the ball. When they don’t, they are not that good. When you put them under pressure, they can’t handle it.

“They don’t have a lot of physical presence. Apart from Flamini, I don’t see anyone who puts themselves into a proper battle.

“Rosicky is not that type of player, Cazorla is not the type of player who defends. Arteta is trying to do it, but that’s not his job.

“They don’t have anybody who can say, ‘if I have to kick, I will kick. If we have to fight, I will put myself at the front of it’. That’s how we have to play. Push them and force them to make errors.”

The Togolease striker admits his side have struggled over recent weeks, with Tim Sherwood drilling into his players following last Saturday’s 4-0 defeat at Chelsea.

He said: “In some games, some players, including me – I have to include myself – we have lacked that personality. We have lacked that desire and things have gone wrong.

“That’s why we have to look into the mirror and say, ‘OK, I judge myself, I didn’t play well today, but in the next game I will be better’.

“On Sunday I don’t even think we will need a team meeting.

“There are some games where you have to give a little bit of motivation to the players. But we know how good we are at home when it comes to Arsenal and we won’t have to motivate anybody for this game.”

Adebayor added: “The is the game that everybody will be talking about in London from this point,” said the striker, “Tottenham v Arsenal: The north London derby.

“So I cannot see anybody telling me, ‘Manu, you have to run. You have to give 100 per cent’.

“No one will need to tell me that. I know. And people like Aaron Lennon, who has been here for ages, you won’t have to tell players like him anything either. He knows how big it is for the club and the fans. To be honest with you, we are all looking forward to it.”

Tottenham v Arsenal is televised live on Sky.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Manchester United’s plan to transfer Paul Pogba back has been rejected

By

SteveMilne

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Mar 16, 2014

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David Moyes has made several personal checks on Juventus’s 20-year-old French international and United were ready to offer more than £35million for a player who left the Old Trafford giants after refusing to sign a new contract in 2012.

But Pogba has set his heart on joining Real Madrid.

Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane, who is now the club’s sporting director, has launched a huge charm offensive to take Pogba to the Bernabeu.

And his efforts have been rewarded with news that the midfielder would prefer a move to La Liga ahead of another crack at the Premier League.

He left Old Trafford after accusing Sir Alex Ferguson of failing to give him enough first-team action – he made just three substitute appearances in the League Cup and Europa League.

Written by Steve Milne

Kompany to miss crucial games

By

SteveMilne

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Mar 16, 2014

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Kompany was sent off early on for Man City at the KC Stadium after bringing down Hull striker Nikica Jelavic when he was the last man, preventing an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

The Belgian was annoyed at the decision, seen kicking his way down the tunnel, and it means that Manuel Pellegrini will be without his skipper for crucial games in the Premier League title race.

City host Fulham next week at the Etihad Stadium, but then face a tricky double-header when they travel to neighbours Manchester United on March 25 and then to title rivals Arsenal the following Saturday (March 29).

Kompany’s absence will likely mean that Joleon Lescott will deputise alongside Martin Demichelis in central defence for Man City as they aim to claw back points on league leaders Chelsea.

Written by Steve Milne

Flamengo goalkeeper who Murdered and fed his girlfriend to dogs allowed work release

By

SteveMilne

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Mar 15, 2014

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A Brazilian footballer who “meticulously calculated” the kidnap and execution of his girlfriend has been granted work release – so he can play football.

Bruno Fernandes de Souza, formerly goalkeeper with one of Brazil’s biggest clubs, Flamengo, is currently in prison serving a 22-year sentence for the murder of his girlfriend, Eliza Samudio.

De Souza, 29, admitted during his trial to “accepting” her murder, before her body was chopped up and fed to his pet rottweilers.

Prosecutors during his court case told the court that de Souza ordered Ms Samudio’s murder after she said she’d take legal action to force him to pay child support.

Ms Samudio’s four-month-old baby was later found in a slum, alleged to have been abandoned there by Dayane De Souza – the goalkeeper’s wife.

Despite his confession and prison sentence, the former Flamengo stopper signed a five-year deal with Montes Claros.

A provision in Brazilian law allows prisoners who have shown good behaviour to be granted freedom to work – and having been in prison since 2010, de Souza is eligible – and could be allowed out to resume his career.

Ville Mocellin, the chairman of the club who signed him, explained why they are signing the player.

“We want to give an opportunity to the man Bruno,” he told O Tempo.

“For him, it is a chance to return to play. To the club, he is an athlete who can strengthen the team and a way to invest in the social side.”

De Souza will have to be accompanied by a police escort to all of his matches.

Written by Steve Milne

Arsene Wenger rules out Barcelona

By

SteveMilne

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Mar 15, 2014

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The lack of developments on the Frenchman’s contract at the Emirates has sparked interest from from Barcelona should they decide to part ways with Gerardo Martino at the end of the season.

The Argentine is under increasing pressure after seeing Barcelona slip four points behind arch rivals Real Madrid, following successive away defeats to Real Sociedad and Valladolid.

However, when Wenger was asked if a move to the Nou Camp would interest him, the 64-year-old said: ‘No, my commitment is always fully here and nowhere else.’

The manager’s 1,000th game at the club – against Chelsea on March 22 – will be marked with the offer of a new deal to extend Wenger’s tenure in north London.

He said: ‘No, not at all, I never would envisage that. We are in a job like you go for the next game, and try to do well in that next game. Then step by step, sometimes you get to 1,000.’

Despite winning three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, Arsenal have not claimed any silverware since 2005 when they beat Manchester United on penalties in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Arsenal are still involved in the Premier League title chase and are favourites to lift the FA Cup after setting up a semi-final date with Wigan.

Written by Steve Milne

Emmanuel Adebayor says Arsenal can’t handle the pressure

By

SteveMilne

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Mar 15, 2014

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The north London neighbours meet at White Hart Lane tomorrow, with the Gunners looking to catch runaway leaders Chelsea, while Spurs attempt to narrow the gap on the top four.

But with Arsenal having been Premier League pacesetters up until just a few weeks ago, Adebayor believes the pressure has got to Arsene Wenger’s men and says none of their payers are willing to fight for the cause.

‘Arsenal are a good team when they have the ball. When they don’t, they are not that good. When you put them under pressure, they can’t handle it,’ said the striker.

‘They don’t have a lot of physical presence. Apart from Flamini, I don’t see anyone who puts themselves into a proper battle.

‘Rosicky is not that type of player, Cazorla is not the type of player who defends. Arteta is trying to do it, but that’s not his job.

‘They don’t have anybody who can say, ‘if I have to kick, I will kick. If we have to fight, I will put myself at the front of it’. That’s how we have to play. Push them and force them to make errors.’

Written by Steve Milne

Suarez is as good as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

By

SteveMilne

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Mar 15, 2014

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The Reds travel to Old Trafford tomorrow, where they will look to open up a 14-point gap over David Moyes’ men.

And Liverpool’s resurgence this season has been largely down to the 24 league goals accumulated by Suarez, who Rooney believes is among the leading players in world football at the moment.

‘Suarez, for me, is up there with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the best players in the world,’ he told MUTV.

‘He has been that good and the two of them together [Suarez and Daniel Sturridge] have been in great form this season. We will have to do everything we can to stop them on Sunday.

‘I think they are both fantastic players and obviously it is good to see Sturridge doing well because he has never really had a chance at his previous clubs.

‘Brendan Rodgers has given him a chance and he has taken it with both hands. That is good for England as well.’

Mark Hughes denies Real Madrid have been in contact over Asmir Begovic

By

SteveMilne

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Mar 15, 2014

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The Bosnian is highly rated around Europe and reports in recent weeks have linked him with a high-profile move to the Bernabeu.

But Hughes has dismissed the speculation, although admits he may find it tough to keep hold of his no.1 amid growing interest from Champions League sides.

‘I’m not sure where the story originates from, but certainly there has been no contact between the clubs,’ he said.

‘But it wouldn’t surprise me if there was a modicum of truth in it — that top teams are looking at Asmir — because he is an outstanding goalkeeper.

‘We are certainly not encouraging it. Asmir is a huge part of what we are trying to do here.

‘We are very fortunate that he is here and contracted to us. In that regard we have a position of strength.

‘But he is an ambitious player and I’m sure he wants at some point to test himself at the highest level possible, in the Champions League.’

Written by Steve Milne

Manchester City beat Liverpool to land Rodney Kongolo after Feyenoord Reveal Transfer Deal

By

SteveMilne

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Mar 15, 2014

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The Sky Blues’ club director, Martin van Geel, confirmed that the 16-year-old will join Manuel Pellegrini’s side,

The Dutch under-16 international operates primarily as a defensive midfielder in Feyenoord’s youth set-up and has made five appearances for his country throughout friendly competition,

The exciting 16-year-old, who’s older brother plays for the first team, is widely considered to be the next big thing to come out of Holland.

Kongolo was being tracked by a host of big clubs around Europe including Chelsea and Paris Saint Germain.

The Blues also had to fight off late competition from Liverpool to land the strong-running teenager dubbed the ‘next Patrick Vieira.’

The news will come as a bitter blow to the Dutch side who had tried desperately to keep him at the club.

But Kongolo will leave the club in the summer after finally agreeing terms with Manchester City.

Written by Steve Milne

SillySeason.com

Manchester United vs Liverpool: Match Reaction

A boost for Arsenal as Wolfsburg decline transfer move for Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic

Match Reaction: Aston Villa v Chelsea

United to offer Shinji Kagawa plus cash deal to land Marco Reus

Giroud holds secret talks with top agent Ozcan

Mourinho demands that Thibaut Courtois signs a new contract

Adebayor says that pressure gets to Arsenal.

Manchester United’s plan to transfer Paul Pogba back has been rejected

Kompany to miss crucial games

Flamengo goalkeeper who Murdered and fed his girlfriend to dogs allowed work release

A Brazilian footballer who “meticulously calculated” the kidnap and execution of his girlfriend has been granted work release – so he can play football.

Arsene Wenger rules out Barcelona

Emmanuel Adebayor says Arsenal can’t handle the pressure

Suarez is as good as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Mark Hughes denies Real Madrid have been in contact over Asmir Begovic

Manchester City beat Liverpool to land Rodney Kongolo after Feyenoord Reveal Transfer Deal

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