Midfielder Ander Herrera believes Manchester United’s defensive solidity more than makes up for a lack of creativity but is unlikely to have pleased fans by comparing his team to last season’s title winners Chelsea. . United, who are fourth in the Premier League, have scored 15 times in 11 games, 11 goals fewer than leaders Manchester City. . While United kept their fifth clean sheet in six games in Tuesday’s 1-0 Champions League win over CSKA Moscow, Wayne Rooney’s winner was the first goal they had scored in 404 minutes of football. . Manager Louis van Gaal’s side have the…
Author: David F.
The film, from the makers of the acclaimed Senna documentary about the life of the late Formula One legend Ayrton Senna, follows a year in the life of Ronaldo. . Charting his obsession with the Ballon d’Or and fierce rivalry with Lionel Messi, the film also gives a unique insight into Ronaldo’s friends and family, focusing heavily on his relationship with his five- year-old son, Cristiano Jr. . Ronaldo opens up about the loss of his father, Dinis — an alcoholic who died at the age of 53 in 2005, when his son was playing for Manchester United. . “He…
Michael Carrick has defended Manchester United’s style of play under manager Louis van Gaal. . Wayne Rooney ended United’s run of more than six- and-a-half hours without scoring with the winner in the 1-0 Champions League win over CSKA Moscow. . Former midfielder Paul Scholes said United had a “lack of creativity”. . However, Carrick said the squad were not worried by the criticism and denied United had become “more conservative” since Van Gaal took over in 2014. . “There are so many opinions out there,” said Carrick, who started the win over CSKA at Old Trafford – a result…
A stunning free kick from Willian seven minutes from time gave Chelsea a nervy and hard-fought 2-1 Champions League Group G win over Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday to lift some of the gloom surrounding Stamford Bridge. . The English champions bossed the game throughout a largely one-sided first half and led at the break after Dynamo centre-back Aleksandar Dragovic headed into his own net after 33 minutes. . The same player then scored at the right end when he thundered in Dynamo’s equaliser after 77 minutes as the visitors battled their way back into the match. . Willian, however, stepped…
The Gunners came to Germany full of confidence and with history on their side having never lost at theAllianz Arena, but they were second-best throughout as Bayern showed that defeat at the Emirates Stadium a fortnight ago was the merest blip in their superb start to the season. . Robert Lewandowski put the hosts ahead early on as he sprung the rustiest of offside traps before a Thomas Muller brace as well as goals from David Alaba and substitute Arjen Robben did further damage — with Olivier Giroud scoring a scant consolation as Bayern ran out 5-1 winners. . Arsenal…
A Neymar double and a clinical finish from Luis Suárez gave Barcelona a comfortable victory over Bate Borisov that put them on the verge of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League for the 12th consecutive season. . The Brazilian beat Sergey Chernik from the penalty spot following a foul on the substitute Munir El Haddadi by Filip Mladenovic. . Neymar was the provider for Suárez who slotted into the corner after 60 minutes. . Suárez then crossed for Neymar to slide the ball home after 83 minutes. . The pair have been the driving force behind Barcelona…
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has helped instil a never-say-die mentality among his players to believe a game can always be won regardless of the situation, winger Jordon Ibe has said. . The charismatic 48-year-old German took over from Brendan Rodgers, who was sacked after just eight Premier League games this season, last month and has set about adjusting his squad’s approach to adversity. . Klopp won his first league game as Liverpool manager on Saturday against champions Chelsea, the Reds fighting back for a 3-1 victory after conceding within the first four minutes. . Ibe, who has made 12 appearances…
Bayern Munich dismantled Arsenal 5-1 in Champions League Group F on Wednesday after a sensational first-half performance to close on the knockout stages with two matches left. . The Bavarians struck three times in the first half through Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Mueller and David Alaba to avenge their 2-0 loss in London last month — their only defeat this season — and underline their title aspirations. . Arjen Robben, making his first appearance in the competition this season after a long injury break, added a fourth soon after coming on in the 55th minute and Mueller grabbed a late fifth.…
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp insisted on Wednesday that former skipper Steven Gerrard will not be returning to the club although he will be happy to have the legendary Anfield stalwart train with his squad. . Gerrard left for the United States last summer to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer. . But the North American season has ended, prompting speculation that the 35-year-old Gerrard could be loaned back to the Premier League giants. . “He is a legend. If he’s in Liverpool and wants to train ahead of next season in LA that’s absolutely no problem.…
Manchester United and France midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has insisted the club are well and truly in the title race this season. . Speaking to the club’s official website, the former Southampton man voiced his confidence that the side will recover from their current dip in form. . “Of course we are in the title race. It’s still early as we head into November so there are a lot of games to be played but we are there,” the 26-year-old said. . Schneiderlin joined the club from Southampton in the summer and has featured in 10 of the club’s 11 Premier…
Manchester United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin was forced to pull out of tonight’s Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow though illness, manager Louis van Gaal revealed before kick-off. . The France international, aged 25, was widely expected to start alongside Michael Carrick in midfield against the Russian side. Instead Carrick, aged 34, is joined by Bastian Schweinsteiger, aged 31, in a veteran midfield pairing. . Schneiderlin’s withdrawal also resulted in Memphis Depay being added to the matchday squad. . The Netherlands international, aged 21, was a surprise inclusion among the substitutes for this evening’s game, with Van Gaal having told his…
Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez blamed injuries to important players for their lack of attacking sparkle as they stuttered to victory over Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League. . Benitez’s side clinched a place in the Last 16 and boast a mean defence that has only conceded four goals in 14 games in all competitions, but the pressure is starting to grow on the coach at the Bernabeu where there is a demand for thrilling football. . “Our objective is always to go out and attack and it isn’t to not concede but you also have to consider the…
Many Manchester United fans claimed they have the best defender in the world after Chris Smalling’s clearance in their 1-0 victory over CSKA Moscow in the Champions League. . Smalling’s incredible block to deny Seydou Doumbia’s shot after an initial save from David de Gea came just moments before Wayne Rooney scored the only goal of the night at the other end of the pitch. . The England centre-back is fast becoming a favourite among the Old Trafford faithful and Louis van Gaal has even hinted he will be United’s captain in the not- too-distant future. . Rooney’s statement that…
Manchester United’s Anthony Martial, Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo are the three players in contention to win the club’s Player of the Month award for October, as per the club’s official website. . The Red Devils have won just one of their six games in October, drawing four and losing to Middlesbrough on penalties in the Capital One Cup. They have failed to score in their last three outings in all competitions. . Smalling and Martial were both up for the September award, but the pair lost out to Juan Mata. Smalling was also up for the accolade in August.…
Thierry Henry believes Chris Smalling is becoming more and more like a “leader” at Manchester United. . Smalling has put in some superb displays at Man United this term and he is widely regarded to be the Premier League’s best centre-back right now. . There have even been calls for Smalling to become the next captain of the club once Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick leave Old Trafford. . Henry insisted the Englishman has all the qualities needed to “command” United. . “I didn’t know what sort of player he was going to become, but right now I see that…
Chris Smalling may be one of the few at Manchester United to have caught the eye so far this season, but that has not made it any easier for Louis van Gaal to remember his name. . Having already mistakenly looked his centre-half in the eye and called him ‘Mike’ during a pre-season press conference, the Old Trafford boss got his name wrong for a second time after Tuesday night’s victory over CSKA Moscow. . Referring to Seydou Doumbia’s gilt-edged chance towards the end of the game, Van Gaal said: “That was the only attack of CSKA Moscow that, and…
Ryan Shawcross has tipped Manchester United centre-back Chris Smalling to “play for England for 10 more years”. . Last season there were suggestions that the 25-year- old’s future at Old Trafford was in doubt, but so far this term he is widely regarded to have been one of United’s best players. . Speaking about the defender’s progress, Stoke City’s Shawcross has tipped Smalling to also become a key member of the England squad. . “Chris Smalling over the last six months has come on leaps and bounds. He looks like a top centre-half. I think he will go on to…
Florentino Perez asked Cristiano Ronaldo about comments made over a Real Madrid exit prior to the Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain. . Ronaldo was quoted by Kicker as suggesting he would be open to leaving Santiago Bernabeu one day and Perez stopped Ronaldo to enquire about what he said as the Madrid players arrived for Tuesday night’s match, AS reports. . Perez reportedly began: “We need to talk. What did you say? We have to talk.” . Ronaldo was surprised by Perez’s approach, AS adds, and replied: “What did I say?” . The exchange was, AS suggests, light-hearted but…
Ruud van Nistelrooy was sold by Sir Alex Ferguson after he kicked Cristiano Ronaldo out of frustration in Manchester United training, Guillem Balague has revealed. . Van Nistelrooy left Old Trafford on uncertain terms after weeks of speculation that he had fallen out with then manager Ferguson, claims that the Dutch striker frequently denied. . Balague reveals in his new book that Van Nistelrooy had a training ground bust-up with a young Ronaldo before being eventually sold to Real Madrid in 2006. . ‘I can’t play with this guy. He doesn’t even cross the ball,’ Van Nistelrooy would often shout…
Barcelona star Neymar can topple Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best in the world, says Real Madrid great Roberto Carlos. . Roberto Carlos has tipped Barcelona and Brazil superstar Neymar to be the world’s best player in the next two to three years. . Neymar’s Barca team-mate Lionel Messi and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo are widely considered to have been the two best talents on the planet, with no other playing winning the Ballon d’Or award during the last seven years. . But former Brazil star Carlos, who represented Barca’s rivals Madrid for 11 years between 1996…