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I am the right man, says Moyes

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Manchester United boss David Moyes has come out fighting in his press conference and has reassured fans that he is confident he’ll bring success to the club and that he is the right man to replace Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Scot, who left Everton in order to take over at United, has had a poor campaign so far in Manchester as his side sits 7th in the Premier League and a whopping nine points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.

Despite the poor season, Moyes is adamant that over time, he will prove to the fans that he is the right man for the job and that he will bring success back to Old Trafford.

“It was always going to take time. There is rebuilding going on year after year here, and we will continue to try to do that.

“I just keep doing the job because I know that we’re doing the right job. We’ll do the same things, we’ll make sure things are right – prepare the players well and things will change I have no doubt.

“The supporters have been fantastic. That’s why the right clubs, pick the right managers and the right managers pick the right clubs. You pick clubs where you know is the right place for you.

“That’s why I always hoped and dreamed that Manchester United would come for me – and they did in the end.”

United are currently 21-points worse off from where they were this time last season, but Moyes believes that is down to other teams improving, rather than United slipping.

“The improvement in the teams in the Premier League has been big,” said the Scot. “There have been a lot of improvements from sides in the Premier League and obviously we’ve not done as well as we did last year.

“I think there are certain different reasons for it, I don’t think there’s any particular one. I think there’s a combination of different things – the change of manager being one of them. But lots of other things as well.

“We’re trying to see how our results have not been as good as they have been. They should be, and we will continue to look at that. There’s no one person or one thing [to blame]. There are several different things that we’ll look to change or alter, but there’s no one thing.

“I think the players are doing great. I think I’ve got a great group of players. I’m very fortunate I took over the champions and I think the players have been terrific.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Injury boost for the Reds as dynamic trio close on return

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With Glen Johnson and Dan Agger set to return, Brendan Rodgers could soon have a near fully-fit Reds squad to choose from.

Lucas was not expected to return before March after injuring his knee against Aston Villa in January – but his progress is ‘weeks’ ahead of schedule.

Reds head of performance Glen Driscoll revealed: “Lucas Leiva was due to be in a brace for six weeks, according to specialists’ opinion, but yesterday he was outside running just over three weeks in, which is fantastic and shows just how ahead of schedule he is.”

And the news was equally as positive for Sakho and Enrique.

“Mamadou Sakho actually had a tear in his tendon and not the muscle of the hamstring as initially reported. For a whole host of reasons tendons take longer to heal, but he is working hard and progressing,” Driscoll said.

“Jose Enrique also had a complex knee issue and following surgery is in the process of achieving his final strength gains before he can return to training.

“Without providing specific dates, I would hope that by the end of the month we should start to get the likes of Jose, Lucas and Sakho back.”

Agger and Johnson are both in contention to play at Fulham on Wednesday evening.

“Glen and Daniel have come back into training, which is brilliant for us,” Brendan Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.

“They certainly look very strong in training.

“Whether the midweek game is going to be too soon for them, we will see. But it’s great to have them back and see their qualities.”

Written by Steve Milne @stevenmilnelive

Mesut Ozil has been told to bulk-up for Premier League roughness

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been told by his training staff to put record-signing Mesut Ozil on a weight-training regime in order for him to bulk up and get stronger in order to deal with the roughness of the Premier League.

The £42.3million signing has come under a lot of scrutiny lately about his poor form, and after putting in a shocking performance againt Liverpool at the weekend, more and more pressure has been put on the German to bounce back.

In his press conference ahead of the Manchester United clash, Wenger defended his record signing and admitted that he needs time to adapt to the physical side of the English game.

‘He thinks it’s more physical here (in England) for sure and he is working on his body strength to deal with it,’ said Wenger. 

‘He works on strengthening his body in the gym. Mesut feels the pressure, of course. He knows a lot is expected when you are a big transfer. 

‘But he should not worry about that — just play, enjoy it and give his best — that’s the best way to deal with it. But on the other hand, you must say he doesn’t come from a small club.

‘He comes from Real Madrid where the pressure is always huge — so he’s used to it. He needs understanding because he always wants to do well. He cares. He’s not a guy who doesn’t care.

‘His style can sometimes look like that he doesn’t care but he’s really the opposite character.’

Although Wenger is keen for his starman to bulk up, he also is eager for him to not lose his attacking threat in the final-third.

Wenger added: ‘What else does he need to improve? His goalscoring. You want the guy who plays behind the striker to score some goals and sometimes he is too obsessed with making the perfect pass when he could take a shot at goal.

‘He needs to practise on it and we need to convince him by showing him situations where he can shoot more. The problem at the moment is that we are not practising much.

‘The problem today is that you cannot practise any more. During the season, we are playing every three days, and afterwards they go to the World Cup.

‘When they come back they have just one week before they are playing again. You can never improve on the training pitch.’

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

I was never going to leave Arsenal, admits Podolski

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Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski has admitted that he was never close to leaving the club this season, despite continously being linked with a move away.

The German international has struggled to get starts under Arsene Wenger since his arrival last Summer from the Bundesliga, but despite the lack of action, Podolski is a real favourite of the fans and appears to be very happy in North London.

The future of the striker was then questioned again when it was suggested that he could move to Schalke in order to bring in Julian Draxler, but the 28-year-old has confirmed that those reports were just rumours.

‘That was a myth. There was absolutely no truth to it,’ the 28-year-old said. ‘The coach told me as such, and I knew there was no truth in it.’

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Eden Hazard ‘flattered’ by interest from Paris Saint-Germain

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Eden Hazard has committed his long-term future to Chelsea and is adamant he has no interest in leaving Stamford Bridge.

Hazard is already a target for Paris Saint Germain and Real Madrid, less than two years after he joined from Lille for £32m.

The Belgium international has starred for Chelsea in recent months, playing a major part in helping them climb to the top of the League.

Manager Jose Mourinho told the Evening Standard last month that the Premier League is the best place for the 23-year-old to become the best player in the world.

Hazard appears to agree and said: “There was never a question of leaving Chelsea. I feel good at this club, and I still have a lot of things to do here.

“I’m flattered to read that PSG are interested in me. But that doesn’t worry me. I am certain of what I have in mind, where I’m going. No-one will change my mind. The objective is to be the best with Chelsea.

“A youngster like me learns on a daily basis by being in contact with seasoned pros like [Frank] Lampard, [John] Terry, [Petr] Cech, [Samuel] Eto’o. They have won so many things. “I try to inspire myself from what they do on a daily basis. It makes me grow. That’s why I think my best years are ahead of me.”

However, while Hazard insisted yesterday that the club are targeting a minimum of one trophy this term, he doesn’t expect the Champions League to be one of them.

Written by Steve Milne

We lacked personality, says Mourinho

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes his side lacked personality during their disappointing 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion last night.

The Blues were 1-0 up inside the first-half thanks to a goal from defender Branislav Ivanovic, and it looked like that solo goal was enough to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points, but with just three minutes remaining, Victor Anichebe headed home an equaliser for the hosts.

The Baggies started playing well in the last twenty minutes and they were finally rewarded for their patience, and after the game, Mourinho admitted that his side just couldn’t cope with the opposition.

“West Brom had a reaction and we couldn’t cope,” said Mourinho.

“I thought even if I sent on some attacking players, it wouldn’t help because we were under pressure. It was impossible for my defenders to get out of the first third of the pitch.
 
“They started putting long balls into the box, with some free kicks, corners and rebounds, and fighting for those.”
 
“A little bit of a lack of personality.
 
“We must have the personality to get out, to not accept the pressure.
 
“The game could perfectly have ended 1-0, but we have to give some truth to their reaction.”
 
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Liverpool Defender Martin Skrtel loved Liverpool too much to leave

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Defender Skrtel certainly seemed on his way after losing his place to Jamie Carragher as the retiring veteran enjoyed a swansong in the second half of last season.

He was made one of the scapegoats for the FA Cup fourth-round exit at League One Oldham at the end of January and made just five more appearances, with only two of those starts.

With the arrival of £16 million centre-back Mamadou Sakho, the experienced Kolo Toure and youngster Tiago Ilori in the summer transfer window, Skrtel’s chances looked even more remote.

However, injury to Toure in September gave Skrtel, 29, a way back into the team and subsequent injuries to Daniel Agger and Sakho have led to him playing every match since then apart from, coincidentally, last month’s FA Cup win over Oldham.

“It wasn’t easy for me after last season because I was on the bench in the second part of the season and that was something new for me,” said Skrtel, whose two goals in Saturday’s 5-1 demolition of Arsenal enhanced their chances of securing a top-four spot.

“I would be lying if I didn’t say I was thinking [about leaving] but it is not easy to leave a club like Liverpool because they are still one of the best in the world.

“After the six years I spent here it was not easy to say ‘Okay, I’m leaving’ but after games like Saturday’s I am glad I stayed.

“Liverpool are a massive club and I just wanted to prove to people I am able to play for this club and I am happy I stayed and we will see how we go on.”

Last season the feeling was Skrtel was not the sort of player that manager Brendan Rodgers wanted to implement his build-from-the-back policy of ball playing.

There were also questions over his ability to dominate in defence but Skrtel’s form this season suggests he has risen to the challenge.

“For this season I just said to myself ‘I will fight and work very hard to try to show I am able to play and start the games’, and it is working at the moment,” he added.

“I will try to carry on this way until the end of the season.

“I knew the last season wasn’t the best for me and I made a few mistakes and cost us some points but this season I think it is much better and I try to work very hard on staying in the team.”

Written by Steve Milne @stevenmilnelive

United target Vidal signs on his future to Juventus until 2018

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Arturo Vidal, United’s top midfield target at the moment, has pledged his future to Juventus until 2018.

Vidal and team-mate Paul Pogba topped the list of potential reinforcements given to Old Trafford bosses by David Moyes.

The 26-year-old Chilean, whose dynamic box-to-box style has made him one of Europe’s most complete midfielders, will earn close to £200,000 a week with the Serie A leaders.

Vidal had signed a contract extension in early December to keep him in Turin until 2017, but it seems the Serie A champions are desperate to hold onto one of their best players by offering a bigger deal.

He was signed from Bayer Leverkusen in 2011, and has played 52 times for Chile, scoring eight times, including five in 11 appearances as his country qualified for the World Cup.

Written by Steve Milne @stevenmilnelive

Moyes safe for now

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Manchester United boss David Moyes has been assured that his job is safe, and will remain at the club until at least next Christmas, unless there is a ‘horrifying’ dip in United’s form between now and the end of the season. If Moyes is happy about this security, it doesn’t show. 

He says what sound like the right things in front of the press, but his manner, mood and body language deliver different messages.

“I was given a 6 year contract because it was a long term deal,” said Moyes ahead of United’s trip to Arsenal on Wednesday night, “it was always going to take time. There is rebuilding going on year after year here and I’m trying to continue that.”

“The right clubs pick the right managers and the right managers pick the right clubs. You pick clubs where you know it’s right for you.”

United held a press conference ahead of the meeting with Arsenal on Tuesday, but it was a terse affair. The broadcast section lasted 3 minutes and 15 seconds. Moyes spent a little longer afterwards with journalists but his mood was no brighter. Moyes currently looks like a different man to the one able to take critisism after United’s humiliating 4-1 derby defeat away at Manchester City in September, when he was ready to “take the punches” for the loss.

Moyes’ frustrations are understandable, United dominated bottom side Fulham on Sunday, and on another day will have won easily, instead of the game finishing in a 2-2 draw. It’s arguable that United didn’t deserve to lost their previous game at Stoke either. United have big games on the horizon, including the trip to Arsenal this week, a home match against Liverpool in March and a crucial Champions League tie against Olympiakos.

 

By Ben Kelly

For more updates and links to more news, follow me on Twitter: @benkelly_10 

Arsene Wenger gives his backing to David Moyes

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has given his support to Manchester United boss David Moyes, and believes if given time, he will bring success to Old Trafford.

Moyes took over from Sir Alex Ferguson in the Summer after leaving Everton, and despite having the same team as what Fergie did, the former-Everton boss is struggling to get the best out of the side.

United currently sit seventh in the Premier League table and are a staggering nine points off fourth placed Liverpool, but despite their poor campaign so far, Wenger believes Moyes is the right man to replace Sir Alex, and he does believe that he will succeed at the club in the near future.

“When a person has been at a club for such a long time, it’s always a void created when he goes,” said Wenger.

“But I believe Moyes, if given time, will do that perfectly.”

“You need time and patience,” said Wenger. “You need to be in a strong club. [Moyes] is in a strong club and I think he will be given time to do it.”

Moyes takes his United side to the Emirates Stadium tomorrow night to face Wenger’s men, and the Scot will be hoping his team can perform like they did the last time the two sides met earlier on in the season where a Robin Van Persie header earnt United a 1-0 victory.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Yaya Sanogo returns to Arsenal squad

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Arsenal will have striker Yaya Sanogo available for the first time in five months for tomorrow night’s visit of Manchester United.

The 21-year-old – who was at the centre of an alleged training ground incident last week – has been out with a serious back injury for the past five months.

Midfielder Mathieu Flamini will serve the last of his three-match ban, while Kim Kallstrom and Aaron Ramsey are not fit for the Gunners after back and thigh problems.

Thomas Vermalen is still out with a calf injury, joining long-term absentees Abou Diaby and Theo Walcott in the treatment room.

Written by Steve Milne

Hazard ” I’m as good as Ronaldo and Messi were at my age”

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Chelsea’s maverick winger Eden Hazard has claimed that he is in line to emulate the achievments of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and he has stated that he is as good, if not better than the two at his age. 

The young Belgium international scored a superb hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Newcastle United at the weekend. 

But speaking to French Newspaper L’Equipe, Hazard claims that he is as good as both Messi and Ronaldo were at his age.

‘I’m much younger than them. They have won things that I haven’t,’ he said. ‘But I’m as good as they were at my age. If I want to be like them I need to win trophies’ 

He added: ‘I don’t care what other people think about me, frankly. Ronaldo and Messi, the two best players in the world, are loved and hated. That’s the way it is.’

Hazard lifted the Europa League trophy last season and could be set to add the Premier League crown to his medal haul this season.

And, so long as that trend continues, Hazard insists he is happy with life at Stamford Bridge. 

Asked if he was happy with his decision to join Chelsea in the summer of 2012, Hazard replied:

‘We’ll see in three or four years, if I’ve lifted trophies. 

‘I came (to Chelsea) because I knew I would be playing a lot of games. I was successful last season. 

‘I have made plenty of friends and people have come to appreciate me straight away.’

The former Lille playmaker is having a superb personal season at the Bridge, and has been a key performer in Chelsea’s ever growing title charge. 

The hat-trick on Saturday was certainly a bold statement from the Belgian, as he looks to close in on a World Cup spot in the summer. 

By Ben Reardon 

@BenReardon1

 

Dan Burn admits defending against United was easy

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After clearing 22 of United’s astonishing 81 crosses on Sunday, the 6ft 7ins centre back admitted that he was glad to have Manchester United bombard him with crosses.

 

The youngster, who learned his trade in non-league football with Darlington, said: “I’ve never headed that many balls since the Conference.

“We knew that was going to happen and I was happy for them to play like that. I’m six foot seven. It helps when dealing with those sort of balls.

“When we started dropping further back we wanted to get more compact and make them play around us because we had the strength in numbers.

“Manchester United still have amazing players – on another day they could have scored more often but we defended really well.”

 

After this result, questions are being raised as to whether David Moyes is woeful with his tactics, or whether luck simply has avoided Manchester United this season. The game against Arsenal in mid-week will be a good chance for Moyes to show that he does infact have the knowledge to lead this Manchester United team in the right direction.

That said, it has to be sais that Fulham had their tactics spot on when facing the Red Devils. They forced United out wide and relied on their height in the centre to bail them out time and time again. Kudos to them.

– Sam Rowbotham

Brendan Rodgers confirms he has not begun talks over a contract extension

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Rodgers has confirmed that talks are yet to begin over a contract extension, although reiterated his happiness at Anfield and stressed that he would continue to fight until the end should he not be offered a new deal.

Asked whether talks had begun, Rodgers answered: “Nothing whatsoever. I have, after this year, one more year to go. I have always said I am very happy here and we’re just over halfway through that contract and it is not something that comes into my thinking.

“If I was to never get offered one, I would give my life to the last day of that contract. In the meantime, until anyone says otherwise or wants to reward the staff or myself for our work, then we keep working as normal and see where it takes us.

“The option is for the club for the fourth year, but in all fairness there is a point next year where the club has to let me know whether they want to keep me on or not.

“I have regular contact with the owners and it is never mentioned. I talk more about players. My ambition is more for the club so I want the players tied up so we can keep the best players and get players in.

“The club knows my feelings in that I love it here and hopefully – if I can progress and be good and everyone is happy – stay here. If it’s not to be for the owners and they want a different direction at the end of it, I will have done my best.”

Written by Steve Milne @stevenmilnelive

Scholes believes that Mata is best in the League.

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Paul Scholes believes that in Juan Mata, Manchester United have the best player in the Premier League. 

The former Old Trafford great has been impressed with the Spaniard, who signed from Chelsea last month. 

He also believes that the signing of Mata will prove to be just the start of things at Old Trafford, and David Moyes’ men will be challenging for honours over the next few years. 

Speaking to MUTV, Manchester United’s official television channel, the United legend stated… 

‘For the last couple of years Mata has probably been the best player in the league. 

We had to pay a lot of money for him and we were very lucky that he wasn’t in Chelsea’s plans, and only we can benefit from him now.

‘Hopefully he can have a strong end to the season and he can help us climb the table.’

The Midfielder retired for a second time at the end of last season, and believes that the blip will be overcome in time, with Manchester United dropping points at home to Fulham on Sunday. 

A Darren Bent header salvaged a point for Meulensteen, leaving United way off the pace. 

Scholes, who won 11 Premier League titles and two European Cups at United, played down suggestions that Mata had a similar style to him.

He said: ‘I don’t think he’s similar to me. He’s obviously a quality player but he’s not a central midfielder, he’s a player who likes to play in the No 10 role.

‘It’s going to be difficult for the manager now as we’ve got five players vying for two positions.

‘That can only be a healthy thing for competition though as the two forwards always need to impress because they know the talent waiting to take their place.’

United travel to Arsenal on Wednesday Evening for a crucial Premier League clash, televised live on BT Sport. 

By Ben Reardon 

@BenReardon1