Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said that the club are still struggling through games, despite winning four in a row in all competitions, culminating in Wednesday night’s 1-0 win against Watford at Old Trafford. The league victory against the Hertfordshire club moved Van Gaal’s men level on points with fourth-placed Manchester City, although Manuel Pellegrini’s men have a game in hand. It was the first time that United have won back-to-back league matches since November, while City have lost three in a row. Van Gaal, though, still thinks that these are tough times for United and refused to get…
Author: David F.
Arsene Wenger blamed bad luck for Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to Swansea on Wednesday, but admitted that his players may be struggling with confidence after a third straight defeat. Arsenal led 1-0 and seemed in total control at the Emirates Stadium before a defensive lapse handed Swansea an equaliser before the break and Ashley Williams then turned in a set piece for the winner against the run of play. Arsenal created a slew of chances but hit the woodwork three times and were off target on many other occasions, while the team also appealed for a foul on Mesut Ozil shortly…
Jurgen Klopp praised his Liverpool players for channelling their anger at losing the Capital One Cup final to produce a “brilliant” performance as they beat Manchester City 3-0. The German’s side had been beaten by City on penalties at Wembley on Sunday, but got their revenge as Adam Lallana, James Milner and Roberto Firmino struck in a comprehensive win. And Klopp felt everyone played well as he praised a series of players for their display and the team for their response to disappointment as he urged them to keep the same attitude for the rest of the campaign. “We spoke…
Louis van Gaal hailed Manchester United’s youthful spirit after they ground out a 1-0 Premier League victory over Watford. United were second best for much of the game in atrocious weather at Old Trafford on Wednesday, but still secured a fourth successive victory thanks to Juan Mata’s 83rd-minute free-kick. It was tough on Watford, and on their head coach Quique Flores, who coached Mata in Real Madrid’s youth set-up and at Valencia. United boss Van Gaal, though, felt it was just reward for the way his players battled against physical opponents. “I don’t think it was an ugly win because…
Marcus Rashford’s astonishing start in senior football has given Manchester United a significant lift at a key stage of a trying season, ahead of Watford’s visit on Wednesday. The 18-year-old striker has impressed in United’s junior sides this season, scoring three times at Under-19 level and also finding the net regularly for the Under-21 team. His breakthrough into the senior side, though, has surprised even the most optimistic of United supporters, with four goals in his first two games. Having struck twice in a Europa League win over FC Midtjylland last Thursday, Rashford followed that up with two more in…
Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has urged doctors at the Football Association (FA) and Premier League clubs to stand up against English football’s gruelling fixture list. Chelsea have to play four games in 12 days across three competitions after the club’s sixth round FA Cup tie with Everton was scheduled for March 12. The Premier League champions visit Norwich City on Tuesday and host Stoke City on Saturday, before their Champions League last 16 second-leg tie at home to Paris Saint Germain the following Wednesday and the FA Cup tie three days later. “Hopefully the PSG game doesn’t go into extra…
Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic hopes a late season flourish can make amends for the champions’ dreadful start to the current campaign and put them in contention to break into the Premier League’s top four for Champions League spots. Chelsea lost nine of their opening 16 league games, which cost manager Jose Mourinho his job in December. However, since Mourinho’s departure, Chelsea have gone on a 12-game unbeaten run in the league under interim manager Guus Hiddink. It has given them an outside chance of chasing down fourth-placed Manchester City, who are eight points ahead with a game in hand. “We’re…
Arsenal will be without goalkeeper Petr Cech and centre-back Laurent Koscielny for Saturday’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur, manager Arsene Wenger revealed after Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Swansea City. “Cech got a muscular problem at the end of the game,” Wenger said. “He will not play on Saturday. I have full faith in (David) Ospina.” On Koscielny, he added: “He has a calf problem as well. He will not play on Saturday.” The double injury blow will have blackened Wenger’s mood yet further after a result that left Arsenal six points below Premier League leaders Leicester City in third place. It…
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2015 governorship election in Lagos state, Jimi Agbaje, today, March 1, said the poll plunged him into debt. While addressing party members at the PDP’s secretariat in Lagos ahead of the party’s forthcoming congresses and national convention, he insisted that he won the election. “Some members were annoyed because those monies meant for the elections were not given to them to prosecute the last polls. I am angry too because the PDP won the last election in the state but was denied victory. I finish election, na gbese, I carry for…
Doyin Okupe, the former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has listed the roads constructed during GEJ’s administration. This is coming on the heels of a comment reportedly made by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, saying the Federal Government never constructed any road in the last 10 years. Okupe, on his social media page, said “His Excellency, Prof Yemi Osinbajo said the Federal government did not construct a single new road in the last 10 years. The VP probably said this in view of the fact that based on reports made available to him almost 98% of…