..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Rodgers: Man Utd - Liverpool the biggest Premier League derby

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says his side's clash with Manchester United is the biggest derby game in the Premier League.

Both teams go into Saturday's clash at Old Trafford on the back of defeats with Rodgers's side losing to West Ham and United to Swansea City last time out.

And the Reds' boss believes victory over their rivals will give the Anfield outfit a psychological boost for the rest of the season.

"United is a huge club and will always be under scrutiny," he told reporters. "The intensity of this fixture is still there. The players will feel it.

"This is the biggest derby game in the history of this league. Winning a game like this can give you psychological boost."

Rodgers admitted that a lack of preparation following the international break is a concern but is confident his team can bounce back from their shock 3-0 home defeat to West Ham.

"We've had two tough games away from home [against Arsenal and Stoke City] and performed well in terms of our organisation. We also want to be really creative.

"It's a good opportunity for us on the back of a disappointment. It's a chance to put that behind us. The players are focused and we will be ready for it."

Rodgers confirmed Daniel Sturridge is not yet ready to return to match action, with captain Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana facing late fitness tests.

And the former Swansea boss also refused to single out defender Dejan Lovren after the centre-back made a crucial against the Irons.

"Sturridge returned to training but we've got no timeline on when he will play in games. We'll see about Henderson and Lallana over the next 24 hours.

"Our tally of goals will increase as the team improves over course of the season. Daniel coming back into the fold will help that.

"We can never say [if he has overcome his injury problems]. We'll take it day by day.

"Dejan knows we performed below our level in that game. He knows he made a mistake but it was about the collective," he added.

"In his first three games this season, Dejan showed he has the quality and the consistency to perform well."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

De Bruyne a better player than at Chelsea, says Pellegrini


Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes that Premier League audiences are set to see a far better Kevin De Bruyne than the man who failed to break through at Chelsea.

After completing a big-money move from Wolfsburg late in the transfer window, De Bruyne's debut was put off by the international break but could come on Saturday as they travel to Crystal Palace.

Pellegrini confirmed that the Belgian midfielder will be in the matchday squad, though did not say that he will definitely start, but is hugely optimistic about how his new signing will develop at the Etihad Stadium.

"Kevin is an important player - like Raheem Sterling, he has characteristics we need," the City boss told reporters.

"His position is easy to settle in our team. He will be a very important player for us. He's in the squad list; we'll see on Saturday whether he starts.

"He's a young player and he's improved a lot since he was last in the Premier League. I always say that, when good players arrive into a good team with good players, I think that they will continue to improve and that's why he's here.

"It's not the best way to arrive to go into international duty but these things happen; he must play for the Belgium team.

"In his position, it's easier to settle in – it's more difficult when you're a defender. It's different work.

"I spoke with him during the week, we worked for a couple of days and he's seen what the team is doing.

"I think that he can play in all three positions, on the wings or as a striker, with no problems."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Allegri: I want Pogba to play with freedom

Massimiliano Allegri has encouraged Paul Pogba to play with freedom and not burden himself with trying to carry Juventus to success this season.

The responsibility on Pogba has increased following the exits of Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez during the transfer window, and the Juve boss is concerned it is starting to affect the France international.

Pogba cut a subdued figure as Juve lost their opening two Serie A matches of the new season and Allegri is ordering a change of approach, starting in Saturday's clash with Chievo.

He said at Friday's news conference: "In the end Pogba is a 22-year-old guy. A 22-year-old cannot act and play like a 30-year-old. So he must play as he knows how to play and exploit his skills, of which he has many.

"He must put his ideas in place and be calm once again and live and play like a 22-year-old individual because it is right and normal to do so. Too much responsibility has been placed on his shoulders, so much that a normal 22-year-old would struggle to cope."

Allegri is hoping the former Manchester United midfielder can return to the early-season form he displayed in helping lead Juve to a 2-0 Supercoppa win over Lazio in China on August 8.

"He must play again as he knows, just like he did in Shanghai, no more no less," he added.

"Nobody is asking Pogba to score three goals per game or to win games single-handedly. We just ask Paul to play as he knows how to, a bit more carefree, and make the mistakes a normal 22-year-old makes. That's it. It is easy to understand."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Tevez is most fouled player in Argentina - Boca coach

Boca Juniors coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena has said that club idol Carlos Tevez could prove decisive in Sunday's Superclasico against River Plate, although he pointed out that the forward has been a target for defenders since his return to Argentina.

The 31-year-old has excited supporters of the club since his decision to return to the Bombonera from Juventus.

On Sunday the former Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus striker will take on River for the first time since 2004.

"Tevez is a player with character and personality, he is very important to us," Arruabarrena told reporters in a press conference on Friday.

"It is crucial for us to have a player of such quality."

The coach declined to name his full team for the derby, but Tevez is almost certain to make the cut after playing for Argentina in their mini-US tour against Bolivia and Mexico.

The coach recognised that Carlitos has received some rough treatment from opposition defenders since coming back in July.

"He is one of the most-fouled players," Arruabarrena pointed out.

"We are hoping to see some football being played, with no nasty fouls, and that it is a show to be enjoyed."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Van Gaal reveals showdown talks with Rooney & Carrick

Louis van Gaal has confirmed that Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick have voiced their concerns about the lack of morale in the Manchester United dressing room.

Reports surfaced earlier in the week that the pair were unhappy with the former Barcelona boss' coaching methods and had approached him regarding the issue.

And though Van Gaal played down the rumours the squad was unhappy with his own training plans but admitted he had held talks with his captain and vice-captain.

“I think that I have a superb relationship with my players,” said Van Gaal.

“Maybe you have to consider how many players are coming to the manager to say something.

“In my career as a manger, I didn’t have so many players to come to the manager to say something about the atmosphere in the dressing room, or the way we train or something like that.

“So it’s very positive that players are coming to you, then you know they trust you.

“Rooney and Carrick, the captains, came to me and said ‘the dressing room is flat, we want to say that to you because we want to help you’.

“And then I’m a communicate and then I communicate not only with my captains, who tried to warn me, I go to the dressing room and talk to my players. I discussed a lot of aspects, what [they are] I cannot tell here [to you].

“But these aspects are not what you [the press] have written. I don’t know exactly who has written that because it was a ‘source’ like my friend [a journalist in the room] is saying ‘the fans are saying that’.

“Now the fans are shouting every week ‘Louis van Gaal’s army! Louis van Gaal’s army!’ so also the fans are very satisfied with Louis van Gaal. And my players are satisfied with me.”

Van Gaal also defended the fee paid by the Red Devils for teenager Anthony Martial after the teenager arrived on transfer deadline day.

The Old Trafford outfit could pay as much as €80 million for the France international, but the Van Gaal feels it is better to pay the fee now rather than see his value rise in 12 months time.

"The crazy world of football is that there is a market and a market price. We cannot have any influence on that price.

"I have said to Ed [Woodward], he is the best of his age, and we need a striker in the future.

"So we can wait a year and then he is £10m more expensive, but now we can build him up and at the right time he can enter the game."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Official: De Gea signs new deal with Manchester United

David de Gea has signed a new four-year contract with Manchester United, with the option to extend for a further year.

The 24-year-old Spain international, who arrived from Atletico Madrid in 2011 was expected to seal a return move to La Liga to join rival Real Madrid this summer.

However, following the move collapsing on transfer deadline day due to documents arriving late, De Gea has opted to sign fresh terms at the Premier League club.

"I am delighted to be starting this new chapter in my United career," said De Gea.

"I have always enjoyed playing with these great players in front of our fantastic fans. Manchester United is a special club and Old Trafford is an ideal place for me to continue to develop my career.

"I'm looking forward to putting a difficult summer behind me and concentrating on working hard to improve and help my teammates to be successful."

United manager Louis van Gaal, who has opted to play Argentina's Sergio Romero ahead of De Gea in all four of his side's league games this year, expects last season's first-choice stopper to enjoy a lengthy career with the club.

"I am absolutely delighted David has signed a new contract," the Dutchman enthused. "He is one of the best goalkeepers in world football. I am very pleased that he will be part of the team for many years to come.

"David made a very important contribution to our performance last season and he has been the club's Player of the Year for the last two seasons.

"He is a popular player who is keen to learn and enhance his game. At such a young age for a goalkeeper, he has many years ahead of him."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations De Gea!

Our hero

Signing of the summer

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Van Gaal hints De Gea could start against Liverpool

Louis van Gaal has hinted that David de Gea could make his first start of the season on Saturday for Manchester United against Liverpool.

The Spain international ended months of uncertainty surrounding his future by signing a new four-year contract, with an option to extend for a further 12 months, on Friday.

De Gea's dream move to Real Madrid fell through on the final day of the Spanish transfer window due to an administrative error leaving the 24-year-old in limbo.

Summer signing Sergio Romero has been preferred in goal for United's first six games of the new season but the Argentina international has failed to convince, paving the way for De Gea to reclaim his place ahead of the crunch fixture at Old Trafford.

"You shall see - you never know. We have to judge him in training,” the United boss told MUTV.

De Gea could well be joined in the starting line-up by Michael Carrick who has recovered from the calf strain that saw him forced to pull out of Roy Hodgson's England squad last week.

Phil Jones, who has not played this season due to a mild thrombosis, is making progress but is still not ready to yet be considered for selection."Jones still injured but he's going well," added Van Gaal. "We need to speak to the specialist."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

De Gea signing can kick-start Man United's season

In a summer during which Manchester United spent around £120 million on new players, their best move has come 10 days after the transfer window slammed shut.

The announcement of David de Gea’s new four-year contract on Friday brings to an end one of the most exhaustive, dramatic and downright chaotic transfer sagas in recent memory. And in the end it has led to the Spaniard staying exactly where he was.

His proposed move to Real Madrid looked nailed on as far back as the spring, with Iker Casillas’s fading form coinciding with the 24-year-old refusing the opportunity to negotiate a new deal at Old Trafford.

But the back-and-forth over the summer ended with De Gea’s now infamous exclusion from the first team by Louis van Gaal and then the comical farce on deadline day which saw Madrid miss out by 28 minutes on capturing their number one target.

While United were made to look amateurish in the immediate aftermath as the two clubs opted to vent their ire in public, they have subsequently fallen on their feet.

De Gea’s desire to represent Spain at next summer’s Euro 2016 finals has doubtless played some part in his decision to make peace with Van Gaal and United, with a need to play regular football overcoming any feeling of betrayal he might have harboured over the club’s part in the collapse of his dream move.

What’s more, United suddenly have great strength in a position they were looking comparatively weak in just a couple of weeks ago. With De Gea back in contention they have the wonderful shot-stopper and organiser who has helped them to save face on countless occasions over the past two seasons, leading him to successive club Player of the Year awards.

You only have to look at what is transpiring at Chelsea to see how wrong things could have gone for United. After deciding not to stand in the way of Petr Cech’s transfer to Arsenal, the Blues have now lost Thibaut Courtois for a period of months to a knee injury and are suddenly looking extremely vulnerable in a position in which they could boast unrivalled strength in dept last season.

There are still question marks over De Gea’s understudies, with Sergio Romero having failed to convince so far this season and Victor Valdes playing the role of persona non grata under Van Gaal, but the good news is that they should rarely come into the equation now that United’s most crucial summer deal has belatedly been completed.

He may well still head for Madrid at some point. Perhaps even as early as next summer. But United have bought themselves time as well as a position of power in tying De Gea down for four more years.

“I think Manchester United have to always be a challenger or champion," Van Gaal told MUTV ahead of the season opener against Tottenham.

“Of course we have problems still with the goalkeeper, so we need maybe two more players.”

Anthony Martial was signed from Monaco on deadline day to address the lack of numbers in attack to plug one hole but the best has been saved until last.

De Gea might just be the Premier League signing of the summer.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Bordeaux: Trapp howler sees hosts slip against 10-man visitors

Two horrible errors from goalkeeper Kevin Trapp helped put paid to Paris Saint-Germain's 100 per cent start to the Ligue 1 season as 10-man Bordeaux salvaged a 2-2 draw at the Parc des Princes on Friday.

Close-season signing Angel Di Maria was set to taste victory on his full PSG debut, thanks to Edinson Cavani's brace, but two big Trapp errors saw Laurent Blanc's men come unstuck against his former side.

Di Maria was lively on his first start for the champions but Cedric Carrasso's goalkeeping howler allowed Cavani to register the opener 27 minutes in.

Trapp was then unable to deal with Henri Saivet's tame headed effort from a corner as PSG conceded their first league goal of the season, only for an expertly struck Cavani free-kick to restore the hosts' lead before the break.

A superb save from the former Eintracht Frankfurt man helped keep the score in his side's favour after the interval before Saivet saw red for a second yellow card 13 minutes from time.

That appeared to have ended Bordeaux's hopes of claiming a point but Trapp hesitated on a simple backpass from Thiago Silva, allowing Wahbi Khazri to nip in and level matters late on.

While PSG will remain top of the table prior to Tuesday's Champions League clash with Malmo, Blanc will likely face questions over whether to stick with Trapp over Salvatore Sirigu.

Di Maria showed his intentions early on when he went close with a header only to be ruled offside, before seeing a deflected shot from distance well gathered by Carrasco.

The visitors created their first chance of the match 10 minutes in when Khazri failed to connect with Enzo Crivelli's delivery after a slick passing exchange.

PSG continued to await their breakthrough - Di Maria again seeing a long-range strike blocked by Nicolas Pallois – but Carrasso's horrendous error allowed Cavani in.The Frenchman failed to hold onto a simple lofted cross, with Cavani able to turn and fire into the roof of the net.

However, an equally poor piece of goalkeeping at the other end helped spare Carrasso's blushes as Trapp fumbled into his own net after Saivet got the slightest of flicks on Khazri's corner at the near post.

The goals continued to flow in the capital, with Cavani scoring his fourth league goal of the season with a wonderful free-kick from the edge of the area after a foul on Lucas Moura.

Carrasso redeemed himself somewhat by denying Di Maria one-on-one before the break, as the Argentina international continued to threaten in the second half, but Pablo was again on hand to block a shot before he expertly played in Blaise Matuidi, with Bordeaux able to snuff out the danger.

It was then Trapp's turn to make amends for his first error with a fine save to keep out Crivelli's header from a free-kick, with Pablo approaching at the far post.Blanc introduced Layvin Kurzawa for his debut prior to the late drama unfolding as Saivet was shown a second yellow card for a wild tackle on Marco Verratti, before Khazri punished Trapp for his second error.

On a frustrating evening for PSG, tempers spilled over after the whistle with Cavani and Nicolas Maurice-Belay at the centre of things, after the Uruguayan saw a penalty appeal turned down late in the game.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Man City and PSG FFP sanctions lifted

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have had their restrictions on transfer spending and Champions League squad sizes lifted, Uefa confirmed.

Both City and PSG competed in last season's Champions League with just 21 players instead of the usual 25 and also had their spending capped at £49 million for breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

In addition, the clubs agreed that their wage bill for the 2014-15 Champions League squad would not exceed that of the 2013-14 campaign, while fines of £16.3m a year were levied on both.

Uefa relaxed the regulations in July pending a final decision based on the clubs' compliance with FFP regulations - something both have successfully done.

"The Uefa Club Financial Control Body Investigatory Chamber (CFCB IC) has today confirmed, after reviewing the full circumstances of the case, the lifting of a number of restrictions imposed on Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain," a statement read.

"In particular, both clubs have been released, as from this season, from the restriction on registering new players in Uefa competitions, from the limit on the number of players on their A list, and from the restriction on the total amount of employee benefit expenses.

"Both clubs demonstrated to the satisfaction of the CFCB IC that they had met all financial targets regarding employee benefit expenses and break-even compliance, as required under their settlement agreements for the financial years ending 2014 and 2015.

"In the case of Paris Saint-Germain, compliance with the targets was reached one year earlier than originally foreseen.

"Release of the sporting restrictions was made provisional at the beginning of July, subject to additional controls and the submission of audited financial accounts by both clubs.

"After further review of the relevant documentation, the CFCB IC confirmed that all relevant targets had been met."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Guardiola backs Vidal after Chile withdrawal

Bayern Munich coach Josep Guardiola says he supports Arturo Vidal's decision to drop out of the Chile squad last week.

Vidal courted criticism for La Roja in the summer when he was caught drink-driving as he crashed his car during the Copa America, after which he was handed a two-year driving ban.

The midfielder was again centre of attention as he pulled out of Jorge Sampaoli's squad to meet Paraguay, insisting family issues were the reason, which Pep has insisted was a valid reason.

"I believe Arturo. This happens here, in Spain, Germany, Italy, not just Chile," the trainer told Radio Cooperativa.

"I have spoken with him, he told me what happened. He asked the coach of the Chilean team permission for a problem with his son and he wanted to be close by.

"Why wouldn't I trust him? I spoke to him, I do not listen to speculation."

The former Barcelona man went on to talk about Bayern's current form at the start of the Bundesliga season.

"We want to be the best, but right now there is a club above us - Borussia Dortmund," he added.

"We are second on goal difference and we will try to become the best. That is why we're here."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mancini accepts Mihajlovic's Milan derby wager

Inter coach Roberto Mancini has accepted the challenge laid down by AC Milan counterpart Sinisa Mihajlovic that the winner of Sunday's derby must make a donation to aid the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe.

Mihajlovic suggested the bet in a touching open letter in the Gazzetta dello Sport on Friday, with the Serb explaining that he felt compelled to do something charitible because of his own experiences of the Yugoslav Wars.

"Mine is only a personal challenge from the heart that I extend to someone that, like me, has received a lot from Milan, my friend and adversary on two occasions this season, Roberto Mancini.

"This is the idea: ahead of every derby, we will choose an association in need or group in difficulty that needs help and make a donation, and whoever wins the derby will pay.

"After a victory, the level of generosity will be even greater than usual. And should we draw, we won't split it, but we will double the amount.

"There is a tragedy that has existed for several years and that has become even more pressing: that of the migrants. Men, women, children, multitudes of desperate people that are fleeing from war, from genocide, from hunger and from poverty.

"It is a problem that is particularly close to my heart because I saw it with my own eyes and experienced it in my country when the civil war turned the former Yugoslavia upside down.

"Even my parents and a lot of my family members were migrants escaping from the war. They were lucky during the tragedy to have had a child or relative that was able to help them, welcome them and help them move.

"I helped, as much as I could, a lot of people that I had never seen before, I don't remember their names anymore, but I still remember the look and the suffering hidden behind their eyes.

"Eyes that said more than a thousand words could. Almost all those that flee and look for refuge do so out of desperation and I know how difficult it can be for entire families to uproot, for men and women to try to rebuild their lives at 50 or 60-years-old.

"I don't want to enter into a debate about European politics, or analyse the reasons why states are not able to welcome everyone. I don't want to start a debate, I am only a football coach.

"But I know that there are associations in Milan that help people who are living through this tragedy and seeking help. We will choose one. It is a chance for the public to give an extra hand and go beyond what each and every one of us already do privately.

"Whoever wins the derby will pay. Mancio, are you up for it?"

Mancini, who played alongside Mihajlovic at Sampdoria and then hired the legendary set-piece specialist as his assistant during his first stint in charge of Inter, gave his answer during an interview with Gazzetta TV on Friday afternoon.

"I accept," the former Italy international declared. "And it will be me who pays!"

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Simeone: Griezmann can become one of the world's best

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone believes that Antoine Griezmann has the ability to become one of the world's best players.

The 24-year-old France international scored the winner in Atletico's opening day victory over La Liga new boys Las Palmas, and was instrumental in their 3-0 win at Sevilla last time out.

Griezmann, who joined Simeone's side from Real Sociedad in 2014, scored 25 goals in all competitions last term, and his coach is confident he can become one of world football's elite forwards.

"He always challenges himself, which is very important in the life of any person, whenever someone sets themselves those goals they have to work to get the desired result," he said ahead of Atletico's clash with Barcelona on Saturday.

"Antoine has grown tremendously. He's a young guy with great enthusiasm, eager to make progress and has all the athletic ability needed to reach the very top levels.

"Hopefully the result of work and regularity of the game gives you the chance to be in such an important place as he looks. He has the natural ability to get to the top, of that I have no doubt."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Gerrard: I felt like I was heading for suicide watch after Chelsea slip

Steven Gerrard has admitted that he felt like he was "heading for suicide watch" after the infamous slip that effectively cost Liverpool the 2013-14 Premier League title.

The former Reds skipper looked poised to realise his life-long dream of leading his hometown club to a first championship success since 1990, with Brendan Rodgers' men three points clear of Manchester City at the summit of the standings with just three games to play.

However, Liverpool, who were on an 11-game winning streak, were dramatically beaten by Chelsea at Anfield, with Demba Ba opening the scoring just before half-time. Fernando Torres then sealed the hosts' fate by sealing a 2-0 win for the visitors in the closing stages.

The pivotal moment of the game - and indeed the title race - had been Ba's opener, which had come after Gerrard had dramatically slipped while attempting to take possession of the ball some 40 yards from his own goal.

Writing in his autobiography, the Merseyside native has now admitted just how deeply affected he was by the part he played in Liverpool throwing away the title.

"I sat in the back of the car [after the game] and felt the tears rolling down my face," he reveals in an extract published by the Daily Mail.

"I hadn't cried for years but, on the way home, I couldn't stop. The tears kept coming. I can't even tell you if the streets were thick with traffic or as empty as I was on the inside. It was killing me.

"I felt numb, like I had lost someone in my family. It was as if my whole quarter of a century at this football club poured out of me. I did not even try to stem the silent tears as the events of the afternoon played over and over again in my head...

"I had wanted to win it with Liverpool for so long that, now it had gone again, I could not hold my emotion in check.

"I beat myself up. My head was all over the place. I had lived through many great moments in my career and achieved success beyond my most fevered boyhood dreams....

"I had also given absolutely everything of myself to Liverpool: in training, in almost 700 games, off the pitch, around the squad and as part of the club, the community and the city.

"I could not have done any more. I had squeezed out every last ounce of ambition and desire and hope inside me.

"Instead of hitting a long cross-field pass to set up a goal, making a decisive tackle or curling the ball into the back of the Chelsea goal to seal our victory, I had fallen over.

"The Kop, and the whole of Anfield, had sung 'You'll Never Walk Alone' again, of course, but, in the car, I felt isolated. I felt very alone...

"I did not feel like I had much hope left. It seemed like I was heading for suicide watch instead."

Gerrard spent one more season at Anfield but Liverpool endured a dismal 2014-15 campaign, which ended in an embarrassing 6-1 loss at Stoke City.

That was the former England skipper's last game for the club as he moved to MLS outfit LA Galaxy during the summer.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Icardi fit to face Milan, confirms Mancini

Inter head coach Roberto Mancini has confirmed that Mauro Icardi will be fit to face Milan in Sunday's derby, and maintained that his team have what it takes to fight for this season's Serie A title.

Concerns were raised this week that Icardi would not be available for the clash with Sinisa Mihajlovic's men due to a thigh problem sustained against Atalanta on August 25.

However, Mancini has declared his star striker fully fit, while he refused to rule centre-back Miranda out of contention - despite the Brazilian suffering a knee injury.

"Icardi is fine and he'll play, but Miranda will be evaluated," he told Gazzetta TV on Friday. "We'll see tomorrow, or even Sunday morning."

Mancini acknowledges that Milan have become a frightening prospect due to the summer signgins of lethal striking duo Carlos Bacca and Luiz Adriano - but the former Manchester City boss remain adamant that the Nerazzurri, who have kicked off their campaign with two successive wins, are Scudetto challengers.

"Milan are a team to fear. Bacca and Luiz Adriano are important players," he added.

"All teams can think big - Inter can do the same. To achieve it, though, we have to work hard."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mourinho: I'm unhappy - but Chelsea won't sack me

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confessed that he is frustrated with the situation he finds his side after four matches of the Premier League season - but dismissed the possibility of him being sacked.

The defending champions have started slowly, picking only four points from a possible 12, having failed to make any major signings during the summer transfer window.

“I’m not happy — and I’m happy that I’m not happy. The moment I’m happy losing matches, then I’ve changed a lot,” he told a media conference on Friday.

“And I don’t want to change. I’m not happy but I work harder than ever. I’m optimistic, I trust the players. The players trust me, I know. We are going to leave this situation behind.”

When the Blues started similarly slowly in 2007, Mourinho was ushered out of the club, but he insisted that there is no chance of history repeating itself.

“I don’t want to leave the club, in any circumstances. And the club doesn’t want me to leave. I’m not going to walk away. The club is not going to sack me,” he assured fans.

“If somebody, anyone thinks that I walk, or I leave the job it’s somebody that doesn’t know.

“We have one problem. We are not getting the results we always expect to get. That is the problem.”

Mourinho wants the turnaround to start on Saturday against Everton, whom Chelsea angered with their pursuit of John Stones during the summer.

Despite a war of words in the press over Roberto Martinez's allegation that the Blues were putting pressure on the centre-half, Mourinho played down the possibility of a feisty encounter at Goodison Park.

“It’s one more match for us, no more than that," he added.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Martinez hints at Chelsea move for Stones

Everton boss Roberto Martinez has hinted that John Stones could yet be granted his wish to join Chelsea, arguing that this summer was "not the right moment" for the centre-half to move to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea submitted a number of bids for the England centre-half before the close of the transfer window and the 21-year-old even submitted a transfer request in the hope of making the deal happen.

However, Everton refused to sell, meaning Stones will now line up against Jose Mourinho’s men in Saturday’s Premier League clash at Goodison Park.

Martinez, though, has explained on the eve of the game that his principal objection to the proposed transfer was the fact that he would not have had sufficient time to find a replacement.

"You make a decision based on, 'What do we need now? Can you replace a player now? Can we get a stronger squad by losing a player now?'," he told reporters on Friday.

"The decision, clearly, now is John is in a perfect position to be important for how we want to play. We have very young players ready to kick on, like Ross Barkley, Romelu Lukaku and John Stones and it was about keeping that core.

"There are right times and wrong times to lose players and at this moment John Stones is paramount in everything we do.

"All I am interested in is what Everton needs in this campaign. From that point on, we will need to make another decision on what we need to be better going into next season. It goes project to project.

"We will decide next summer what's best. You go from window to window and you say, 'Okay, will we finish as a stronger squad?' You assess. Players have moments of form, you look at ages.

"If we’d lost Stones at that stage it would have been impossible for us to bring in a player of the same level.

"I’ve said before that every football club is bigger than any player, but there is always a right moment and a wrong moment.”

Martinez added that he was delighted that the club fully supported his stance on Stones, whom he believes is capable of becoming an all-time great.

"I’m going to be biased but I see John Stones as potentially the best centre-back that England has ever produced,” the Spaniard stated.

"I haven’t seen another English player who’s got that ability to start play in that manner – he can be left one against one, he’s very good in the air, he reads the game fantastically well."

When asked if Barcelona could thus end up rivalling Chelsea for Stones’ signature next season, Martinez quipped: "It’s Everton in the Champions League. That's his next step."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Van Gaal: De Gea saga made dressing room flat

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has said the dressing room was “flat” because of the transfer sagas surrounding goalkeepers David de Gea and Victor Valdes - and not his methods.

It emerged on Wednesday that senior members of the playing staff, including Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick, had gone to Van Gaal to express their concerns about certain issues that had been affecting the morale of the squad.

It was reported that the players were unhappy with the Dutchman's rigorous training methods but the 64-year-old coach claimed on Friday that his troops had been negatively affected by the transfer disputes involving Valdes and De Gea.

"We had problems with Valdes, then we had problems with the transfer of De Gea, who has a great influence in the dressing room, which is why it was flat," Van Gaal told reporters on Friday.

"But I am pleased that they come to me and say that to me, then I can communicate about that and then we can change or not change.

"It’s a positive thing that the players are coming to me and not only Carrick or Rooney, other players. But it was Carrick and Rooney and that was alarming for me because they are the captains.

"But all the players are communicating with me. They are coming to my office. Believe me, it is like that. I am not a dictator, I am a communicator."

The former Barcelona and Netherlands coach admitted that while he took the feelings of his players on board, there was no need for any dramatic changes to his methods or match tactics.

"I have changed the way that I [draw up] the game plan to them," he explained to a media conference.

"Now I ask in advance and they can say what they want. Most of the strategy is always the same because they like the way we have done it."

The Red Devils face Liverpool on Saturday and Van Gaal has admitted that De Gea could be set to return in goal, with the Spain international having signed a new contract with United, after being on the verge of joining Real Madrid on deadline.