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…
Author: David F.
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…
Thomas Vermaelen feels Neymar has been making the difference for Barcelona ever since Lionel Messi sustained a knee injury. . Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen has taken the time to praise Neymar and feels the Brazil international has made the difference for the Catalans in Lionel Messi’s absence. . The 23-year-old attacker has already netted nine goals in 12 appearances in all competitions this term, six of which came after Messi sustained a serious knee injury against Las Palmas back in September. . Vermaelen has stressed Barcelona are obviously missing Messi, but is delighted with the way Neymar has stepped up…
The Uruguayan talked up his strike partner’s capabilities following Barcelona’s win over Getafe that sees them remain level on points at the top of La Liga Luis Suarez praised Neymar’s impact in Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Getafe on Saturday, saying it is his counterpart’s job to “dribble four rivals”. . The victory kept Barca level on points with Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, with Suarez opening the scoring prior to the Brazilian’s well-taken volley after the break. . Neymar was key in the build-up to the opener as well as he continued to help Barca cope with…
The Barcelona strikers Neymar and Luis Suárez have been the driving force behind recent victories but despite crunch matches ahead their coach Luis Enrique has no plans to rest them for the Champions League encounter with Bate Borisov at the Camp Nou on Wednesday. . The duo have compensated for the loss of Lionel Messi by leading from the front to keep Barça on course in La Liga and the Champions League. . The Catalan side have won their last three league games since the international break and beat Bate away in Champions League Group E to top with seven…
Despite a strong effort from Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday night, the French side went down 1-0 to Real Madrid. . A fortuitous goal from Nacho proved decisive for 10- time champions Real to win 1-0 despite being outplayed for the majority of the first half of their Group A game at the Santiago Bernabeu. . “We managed to struggle through in the first half and in the second we had some good counter chances,” said Real coach Rafael Benitez. . “The return of (injured) players will help us in the next phase.” . PSG were on top throughout the…
Rafa Benitez has hailed his side’s performance after Real Madrid beat PSG 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu to ensure qualification for the last-16 of the Champions League with two groups games to spare. . The narrow win came courtesy of a Nacho goal in the 35th minute – the defender’s first goal in European competition coming just three minutes after he replaced the injured Marcelo. . Los Blancos have won three of their four games in their group with the other being a goal less draw in Paris two weeks ago. The La Liga leaders are yet to concede in…
He did things pragmatically; he did things without bells and whistles. Stereotypically, as a German, he did things efficiently. Despite Madrid’s shortcomings as a collective last season, Toni Kroos shone in his first season in the Spanish capital. So far this season, however, the former Bayern Munich man has failed to produce the same kind of impact. . Kroos has not been poor in the opening few months of the campaign. Indeed, only Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo have played more matches than the German so far this season – featuring in all ten league matches – and Madrid are sitting…
Celta Vigo sent shortwaves through European football with a thumping win over the Champions League holders but Madrid’s Croatia midfielder insists he is taking little notice . Luka Modric insists Real Madrid are paying no attention to Barcelona’s troubles but admits to being “surprised” by their rivals’ defeat against Celta Vigo. . A Karim Benzema brace proved the difference for Real as Rafa Benitez’s side edged past Athletic Bilbao 2-1 on Wednesday night to go top of the La Liga table after Barca were comfortably beaten 4-1 in Vigo. . Modric, though, says the thrashing handed to Luis Enrique’s team…
Real Madrid’s latest injury setback has hit one of the team’s most impressive performers so far this season. . Brazilian Marcelo was forced off in the 33rd minute of the Champions League clash against Paris Saint- Germain, although his absence was not immediately felt on the pitch as his replacement Nacho opened the scoring for the home side within two minutes of entering the fray. . The extent of Marcelo’s injury is still to be determined, although he is expected to miss this weekend’s La Liga visit to Sevilla and is already considered doubtful for Brazil’s upcoming 2018 World Cup…
The Italian coach has hailed the Spanish club and says Laurent Blanc’s men must do more with the ball at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday if they are to emerge victorious. . Carlo Ancelotti believes the “secret” to Paris Saint- Germain defeating Real Madrid on Tuesday is to turn their impressive possession into goalscoring chances. . PSG had 60 per cent of the ball against Rafa Benitez’s men a fortnight ago but drew 0-0 at Parc des Princes, and they are set for the return visit to the Santiago Bernabeu on Champions League matchday four. . Ancelotti coached PSG prior…
Cristiano Ronaldo has proclaimed that he is a better player than his long-term rival Lionel Messi. . The debate has rumbled on for years as to who is the best player in the world, with the Real Madrid ace Ronaldo and Barcelona talisman Messi swapping Ballon d’Or trophies. . In an interview for AS, Ronaldo said of the comparison with Messi: “It doesn’t bother me. If you look back over my past eight years, I’ve always been at the peak; and that is difficult. Name me someone else who has done it? . “After that, being No.1 or No.2 is…