Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has revealed he played Angel di Maria in midweek to help his state of mind after he was the target of an attempted break-in at his home. . Reports emerged this week that Di Maria and his family were at home in Cheshire last Saturday night when their property became the target of an attempted break-in. . The perpetrators apparently fled empty-handed after failing to smash through a patio door but Di Maria’s family are thought to have relocated to a hotel following the terrifying incident. . Van Gaal felt he had a duty…
Author: David F.
Manchester United are ready to launch a summer bid for PSV Eindhoven forward Memphis Depay, according to The Sun. . United boss Louis van Gaal is said to be keen to make the 20- year-old – a member of his Netherlands World Cup squad in Brazil last summer – his first signing of the summer 2015 transfer window. . The report suggests that left winger Depay would cost the Red Devils around £10m. . While not a regular under Van Gaal at the World Cup, he did score the winner against Australia and impressed in other cameo appearances, including another…
Louis van Gaal has admitted his concerns over Ángel di María’s frame of mind after the player and his family were the victims of an attempted robbery at their Cheshire home following Manchester United’s victory against Leicester City in the Premier League last Saturday. . Di María, a £59.7 million British record signing from Real Madrid last August, is living in a hotel with his wife and child and being provided with round-the- clock security by United as a result of the incident. . Although the attempted robbery was aborted after a burglar alarm was triggered at Di María’s home, the…
The Arsenal youngster was written off by the former United manager but has bounced back in style and will start Saturday’s derby against Tottenham Turn to page 304 of Sir Alex Ferguson’s autobiography and you will find one solitary mention of Francis Coquelin. It comes in reference to Manchester United’s 8-2 demolition of Arsenal in 2011 and his observations are brutal. “Arsenal played a young boy in midfield; Francis Coquelin,” wrote Ferguson. “He was completely out of his depth. . I had hardly heard of him and he barely played again.” . For most of the three years that followed,…
“He’s a great guy, he’s a very great professional also, so that’s not the problem. . “His problem is that he has to compete with high- level players and Rooney is also the captain, so he has a privilege. . “I have explained that, so then the other places are for positions in this system that we are playing now – the No.10 – and that’s Mata, that’s [Angel] Di Maria. . “That’s difficult to compete with, but that he already knew the moment that he signed for Manchester United – do you understand? . “When you sign for a…
THE agent of Paul Pogba claims that there are six teams interested in signing the Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City target, and that his client’s transfer will shatter Cristiano Ronaldo’s £80million move to Real Madrid in 2013. . Pogba is currently tied down to a lucrative contract at Juventus, a reward for his incredible development after joining the Italians from United on a free transfer in 2012. . However, his former club, Chelsea and City have been linked with moves for the France international in recent times, with the trio willing to splash the cash this summer in order…
Tottenham fans in the Football Transfer Tavern are encouraged by Mauricio Pochettino’s comments as talkSPORT reveal that Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is happy at Spurs despite interest from Real Madrid. . There has been continued speculation that Lloris is Real Madrid’s transfer plan B should Los Blancos fail to sign Manchester United’s David De Gea. . The France captain has the leadership qualities as well as the experience to become a Real Madrid first team player but Pochettino insists that the former Lyon goalkeeper is happy at White Hart Lane. . The particular rumour that has been flying around the…
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has told the club’s official website that he believes Paddy McNair could become the club’s first-choice right back for the next decade. . McNair, 19, made his first-team debut at centre-back in September’s 2-1 Premier League win over West Ham United after a spate of injures hit the team’s backline, and has since gone on to make 11 further appearances. . Having come up through the club’s ranks as a central midfielder, the Northern Irishman added a further string to his bow in mid-week with a performance at right-back in the 3-0 FA Cup…
Louis van Gaal insists he has handed many chances to young talents at Manchester United, with Paddy McNair the cream of the crop. . The Dutchman fielded youth products Jesse Lingaard and Tyler Blackett for the Red Devils’ first Premier League clash of the season, while by November’s defeat of Arsenal, McNair had forced his way into the side. . Van Gaal, who has also played young striker James Wilson despite fierce competition from Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao, is impressed with the talents at Old Trafford, with McNair especially catching the Dutchman’s eye. . He told MUTV: “It…
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has responded to accusations that his side’s recent style of play is not in keeping with the club’s traditions. . Van Gaal has taken a more direct approach in recent weeks, especially in Manchester United’s FA Cup replay against Cambridge United, utilising Marouane Fellaini’s aerial threat. . He has also tinkered with the formation he has employed at Old Trafford and on the road, shifting from four defenders to three and back again. . But for the Dutchman, on the specific question of whether or not the football is attractive, he believes it is.…
February the 6th is always a heartfelt day for Manchester United fans across the world, as they mourn their fallen heroes that tragically lost their lives back in the horrific Munich Air disaster 57 years ago. As always, fans flocked to Old Trafford to pay their respects, as did the current United manager. . It was a nice touch from Van Gaal to show up and pay homage to those young boys who never made it home, and its good to see that he is keen to learn about the club’s history and tradition. . Rest in Peace, Matt Busby’s…
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard does not expect to get a fond farewell from Everton’s supporters when he plays in his final league Merseyside derby. . Gerrard, 34, has been a target for Everton fans for many years and thinks there will be little change at Goodison Park on Saturday (17:30 GMT). . He said: “I doubt it very much. I love the banter with Everton fans. It’s what it’s all about. It’s about rivalries. . “I don’t mind it at all. Bring it on, as far as I’m Concerned”. . Gerrard will end his Liverpool career at the end of…
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has told reporters that his players have to win the Premier League clash against West Ham United at the weekend. . The Red Devils will return to league action on Sunday when they take on West Ham away from home in London. . United will head into the game at the Boleyn Ground on the back of a 3-0 home win against Cambridge United in an FA Cup fourth-round replay on Tuesday. . “I said that at the beginning of the week before the game against Leicester City, that this is an important week…
Manchester United defender Paddy McNair has suggested that he enjoyed the right-back role that he played in his side’s FA Cup clash with Cambridge United. . The young defender has often featured at centre-back this season, but coach Louis van Gaal deployed the 19-year-old in a full-back position during United’s recent 3-0 victory at Old Trafford. . “I enjoyed getting down the right flank. I actually enjoy getting forward. It was a bit different,” McNair told MUTV. . “I played there for the Under-21s and I played there for the first time [in the senior team] against Yeovil in the…
Manchester United’s Adnan Januzaj believes he is learning a lot from Louis van Gaal and that the club will finish in the top four of the Premier League this season. . Januzaj has struggled to get into the Man United team so far this season and has had to play in an unusual wing back role when he has been called upon by Van Gaal. . Despite this, the 20-year-old has remained positive and produced a fine performance in last weekend’s win over Leicester City. . Speaking about his role in the team, Januzaj said: “The different formation means a…
Former Heartland FC captain, Ike Thankgod says he has no regrets joining Omani club, Fanja Sports Club. . The defender joined from Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club, Warri Wolves and has hit the ground running at his new surroundings. . He has exclusively told supersport.com that he has no regrets joining the Oman Professional League outfit. . “Some persons have called me to express their reservations about the move but I don’t listen to that kind of talk. . “The standard of football is good here and the money is even better,” he said with a smile. . Thankgod…
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admits that Atletico Madrid’s aerial strength against his side’s inexperienced defence is cause for concern ahead of Saturday’s La Liga derby. . Real’s regular centre-backs Sergio Ramos and Pepe are injured while left-back Marcelo is also suspended for the game, when victory for leaders Real would give them a 10-point cushion over third-placed Atletico. . Frenchman Raphael Varane has been playing alongside Ramos recently, and has been involved in some important games for the club, but the homegrown Nacho Fernandez has been given little playing time since he made his debut under Jose Mourinho in…
Athletic Bilbao’s Spanish international defensive midfielder Ander Iturraspe could be out for up to six weeks with a knee injury picked up in the La Liga match against Levante last weekend. . The defensive lynchpin, 25, who has played twice for Spain and has been at Bilbao since 2008, is now set to miss Barcelona’s visit in top flight action on Sunday. . “The estimated period of absence will be between four and six weeks,” read a club statement. . Bilbao are currently 11th in La Liga and a distant 31 points behind leaders Real Madrid as they also get…
Tunisia football chief Wadie Jary was banned from all Confederation of African Football (CAF) activities on Friday following claims his side were unfairly treated during their controversial Africa Cup of Nations defeat against Equatorial Guinea. . CAF ordered Jary and the Tunisian federation to apologise or provide evidence to back up their complaints before midnight on Thursday. . However when no apology was forthcoming, CAF suspended Jary until an apology materialised. . “The Afcon Organising Committee decided to suspend the President of the Tunisian Football Federation, Mr Wadie Jary, from all activities related to CAF until he submitted a letter…
Chelsea should be more than five points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, according to a morose Jose Mourinho who reluctantly returned to speak to the media on Friday after refusing to talk last week. . Mourinho, asked why he looked so glum, told reporters: “You know why I am here, so you cannot expect me to be super-happy to be here. I am here because I have to be here.” . Asked whether he refused to talk to the media last week because the FA sanctioned striker Diego Costa for stamping on Emre Can…