Tranquillo Barnetta scored the only goal as Schalke beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 1-0 on Friday to move into the top three in the Bundesliga for the first time this season. . Schalke shrugged off the absence of suspended Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to add to their 1-0 win over Hanover and 1-1 draw with champions Bayern Munich since the resumption following the winter break. . They have 34 points and are four points behind second-placed Wolfsburg although Roberto di Matteo’s Schalke have played a game more. . Schalke opened the scoring in the 11th minute when a perfectly-timed cross from Kevin-Prince Boateng found…
Author: David F.
Two bad defensive errors by Eibar gifted a 2-0 win to Deportivo La Coruna in the Spanish league on Friday. . Lucas Perez scored his third goal of the season after Eibar goalkeeper Xabi Irureta raced forward to the edge of the penalty area and parried Oriol Riera’s shot straight to him in the 52nd minute. . Ivan “Cavaleiro” Neves reacted quickly and sprinted forward to follow Borja Ekiza’s lazy backpass and skilfully stole the ball off Irureta for his third league goal in the 80th. . “My goal wasn’t as important as the win – because we now face…
Former Nigeria international striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni was in fine form on Friday as he spoke to the media for the first time since his move to English Championship side Reading. . The striker is confident of extending his scoring record in England even farther following his move to the Royals. . “I hope they feed me, then I can score,” the Yak told assembled media at Reading’s pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s confrontation with Wolverhampton Wanderers. . The 32-year-old added that, as a striker, his primary responsibility remains scoring goals which he says he hopes to do at Reading.…
Increased security measures have been ordered for Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final between Ivory Coast and Ghana in Bata. . “We have asked for extra police and security to be put in place,” the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) media director Junior Binyam said on Friday. . “We want to have a bigger police presence and more guarantees about the safety of spectators.” . The request was made after violent semifinal scenes in Malabo on Thursday saw at least 36 people injured, one seriously. . The game between the hosts and Ghana, who won 3-0, was halted for more…
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal will fight his Football Association charge for comments he made about the referee after an FA Cup match last month. . Van Gaal made the comments about referee Chris Foy after United were held to a 0-0 draw by fourth-tier side Cambridge United. . “Every aspect of a match is against us,” he said at the time. . “Then you have seen the referee. It’s always the same. Everywhere I have coached these games and I have coached them also with other clubs, it’s always the same.” . The Premier League giants won the…
The West Ham boss was disappointed when he wasn’t offered the chance of a glass and a chat with his Manchester United counterpart when the pair faced each other in September. . Allardyce said: “My office door is always open but the sad thing is that lots of managers don’t even bother any more – and it’s not just the foreign managers. . “It’s another tradition gone out of the window. I can understand it because there’s so much media we have to do after a game. . “But it’s a chance to talk, isn’t it? It’s not very long…
In seven days the club would have to sell 75,715 pies to cover Radamel Falcao’s hefty £260,000 weekly wage, and therefore it comes as little surprise that those less patient Manchester United fans are calling for the Colombian’s head. . Signed on a season-long loan deal from AS Moncao, the Red Devils have the option to sign Falcao for £43.5 million at the end of the season. But the striker, who missed the World Cup due to knee ligament damage, has had limited impact during his £6 million loan deal so far, due partly to injury. . Having scored just…
The West Brom midfielder asked his former boss at Old Trafford for guidance as he weighed up moves to the Baggies and West Ham. . A switch to the Hammers fell through and he completed a free transfer to The Hawthorns on Monday after 340 games at United since making his debut in 2003. . Fletcher is in line for his Baggies bow at Burnley on Sunday and admitted legendary United boss Ferguson’s help was invaluable. . “Yes, I spoke to him, why wouldn’t you? When I was making my decision, I bounced a few things off him,” said the…
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…
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…