..::Football III::..

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'He does not understand English football' - Kanchelskis SLAMS Van Gaal

Andrei Kanchelskis has slammed Louis van Gaal amid growing discontent over the Manchester United manager's playing style.

Kanchelskis, who won two Premier League titles at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson, criticised the Dutchman in November for turning the United squad into "robots" and has now suggested that Van Gaal does not understand the club's heritage.

United are on their worst run of form in 17 years after going six games without a win and speculation persists over the 64-year-old's future, with Jose Mourinho reportedly in line to take over should Van Gaal be sacked.

"I am disappointed with the way United are playing," Kanchelskis told Reuters.

"Under Alex Ferguson, we played in a more attacking style of football and played in a 4-4-2. Van Gaal sees things differently. This is not a head coach for Manchester United.

"I just don't think that Van Gaal understands English football.

"A team needs to have leaders, like Bryan Robson, Roy Keane, Peter Schmeichel, who can give the right things at the necessary moment and can show their leadership qualities.

"The coach does not want this and this is the reason for such disastrous results."

United face Stoke City on Boxing Day, with many reports suggesting that a defeat will see Van Gaal sacked.

 

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Rooney defiant on Van Gaal: We are all fighting for him!

Wayne Rooney insists the Manchester United players are "fighting" for under-fire manager Louis van Gaal.

Van Gaal's position at United is the source of mounting speculation following a run of six matches without a win in all competitions that leaves them fifth in the Premier League and out of the Champions League.

The Dutchman walked out of his news conference on Wednesday following intense media speculation surrounding his position but Rooney is adamant the squad is firmly behind the former Barcelona boss.

He told Sky Sports News: "You have a lot of people talking about things that they believe are happening. But, in reality, the people who are writing that stuff don't really know anything.

"We are working hard and fighting for the manager to try to get results and turn the season around."

Rooney conceded, however, that United's recent performances have been below par with the captain himself scoring just twice this season at a career-worst average of one every 570 minutes in the Premier League.

"The last few weeks the results haven't been great for us and it's frustrating and as a player it's hard to deal with. We have to be strong and get through it and get the results we need," he added.

"It's normal that confidence is a bit lower and we need to try to lift it as we've got some tough games coming up and we need to be at our best.

"As a group of players we know can do better and we regularly have meetings with the players, myself and the other senior players in the squad, and the manager as well. We are all working together to find the best solution to try to win football matches."

Rooney also moved to reassure United fans that all thoughts of next year's European Championship with England have been put aside until the club's fortunes improve.He said: "Who knows what the future holds, we are working hard to be successful this season and we have the Euros at the end of it but we have to concentrate on now.

"It'd be unfair to say we are thinking about playing for England when we are in a fight to turn our season around at Manchester United."

 

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Rooney genuth team 1kata deyak wenne naha meh season 1ka purawatama​

 

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Messi: Ronaldinho told me to take his No.10 shirt

Lionel Messi has revealed that Ronaldinho told him to take his No.10 shirt months before the Brazilian left Barcelona in 2008.

Ronaldinho joined Barcelona in 2003 and inherited the iconic number from Argentine midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme - who was sent on loan to Villarreal for two seasons.

The Brazilian star left after six years with the club, scoring almost 100 goals in just over 200 appearances.

And Messi has revealed in an interview with Barca TV that Ronaldinho promised him the No.10 shirt months before he announced he was leaving.

"Before leaving the club [Ronaldinho] was coming off a few months where he was thinking about things," Messi said.

"He had it in his mind that he was leaving and he told me to have his number. I took it without looking at what he had done with the shirt. If I did, I would not have taken it."

Messi has won 21 trophies with the No.10 on the back of his Barca jersey, and a total of 26 with the Spanish giants, and the four-time Ballon d'Or winner has now praised his former team-mate for his welcoming nature when he broke into the first-team squad.

"Everyone welcomed me into the dressing room, and [Ronaldinho] welcomed me in a spectacular way," he said.

"To go into that dressing room was not easy but he made it all so much easier. I was very comfortable by not only Ronnie's welcoming but everyone.

"Those who came up from the [Barca] B sat on the other side [to the main group]. The locker room did a 'U' and we sat in-front, and there came a moment that [Ronaldinho] told me to go to his side and that I no longer needed to be where I was anymore.

"There was a spot free and there was Deco and [Thiago] Motta right there, and he sat me right beside them. I must admit at the start it was hard.

"But he said no, that I was good where I was until I basically obliged to sit there."

Ronaldinho was just as complimentary of his former team-mate.

"He's a simple person, very chilled, and he sat by my side in the dressing room," he said. "We had the chance to start a good and honest friendship. He's a great man."

 

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Klopp open to further Liverpool additions in January

Jurgen Klopp has admitted he is not "the biggest friend of the January transfer window" but insists Liverpool will be prepared to do business in the market if required.

Marko Grujic will be the club’s first signing under the German, with the Reds expected to announce the five-year deal next month with the Serbian starlet staying on loan at Red Star Belgrade until the summer.

The 19-year-old is one for the future, but Klopp revealed he could look to add new faces to the first team if developments such as injuries or departures materialise.

He explained: ”It's how I've said all the time, we try to be prepared but this window in January is not the easiest one. There are big prices on the market and things like this.

"I'm not the biggest friend of the January transfer window but, like I always said, if we have to react we will react.

"I'm not long enough here... maybe a player will leave, I don't know. If he comes to me and says, 'it's not a situation I want', then maybe we have to react.

"Or another injury. We have a lot of games in the transfer window so that's what I always try to say.

"We are not planning only to get more players and more players and more players. That's not how I think we should work. But if we have to react, we will react."

 

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Memphis: I want to become the best in the world

Memphis Depay is aiming to become the best player in the world and hopes Manchester United will see the best of him in the second half of the Premier League season.The Netherlands international made a blistering start to his United career after switching from PSV, scoring two goals in his first three games in all competitions.

However, he has only netted another three since – a run of 20 games – as United have struggled to impress under Louis van Gaal, with the players booed off after their 2-1 home defeat to Norwich City last weekend.Depay says it has taken him longer than he anticipated to settle into his new club, especially with the leap in quality compared to the Eredivisie.

"I want to become a star. Failure is not an option. I want to aim as high as possible. I want to become the best player in the world," he told Algemeen Dagblad.

"That's my goal and I can cope with the pressure. I am much further in my development than three or four months ago. I now have to show it on the pitch with goals and assists. "The difference with the Eredivisie is huge. Defenders are physically incredibly strong, in great shape and never afraid. That was all new to me and I had to get used to it.

"In the Premier League, you always have to be at your best. You get forced to get the best out of yourself. Good is not good enough at United. "It's frustrating that I have not been able to show what I can do. Because I know I can do a lot better than this. I had to get used to the Premier League and my new life in England.

"A lot of things have changed for me. Of course, you want to succeed right away, but that is not always realistic."

 

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Neymar will become the best in the world - Eto'o

Samuel Eto'o is in no doubt that Neymar will be the best player in the world once Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo are past their peak.

The trio make up the shortlist for the 2015 Fifa Ballon d'Or, an accolade which the Argentine and the Portuguese have dominated for the past seven years.Former Barcelona and Madrid forward Eto'o is confident if Neymar applies himself appropriately, he will be the sport's leading performer in the future.

"Neymar has a lot of potential. After the era of Messi and Cristiano, surely he will be number one," Eto'o, who played for Barca between 2004 and 2009, told ESPN Brasil.

"But he has to remember that it depends on him a lot. He must remember that he hast the talent and needs to train, train and train, because others do not have his talent.

"Neymar is only 24-years-old, I am 10 years older than him, but he is a leader in Brazil."I think, with all he has experienced, the pressure, he may be able to give advice to a 35-year-old who plays with him."

The Cameroonian was named head coach at Turkish side Antalyaspor earlier this month and believes he is already having a positive impact."Before, I slept some four hours a night. Now that I am a coach, I sleep for a maximum of three!" he added.

"But I'm a football lover, so I do everything with passion. I always give by best, and I think we managed to make our team play well."But it's not enough just to play well, we have to play well and win."

 

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Merry Christmas!

Ape Football thread 1ke hamotamath Suba Natthalak Wewa!

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Merry Christmas!

Ape Football thread 1ke hamotamath Suba Natthalak Wewa!

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SL Vs India SAFF SUZUKI CUP... Fingers crosses

 

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SL Vs India SAFF SUZUKI CUP... Fingers crosses

Kohomahari SL win karaganna puluwan unoth nam pattama thamai bro
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India won 2-0

 

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India won 2-0

 

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No loan return for Gerrard - Klopp

Jurgen Klopp has again ruled out the possibility of Steven Gerrard rejoining Liverpool on loan this season, but acknowledges the club are still coming to terms with the departure of their inspirational former captain.Gerrard brought an end to his lengthy stint at Anfield earlier this year, moving to LA Galaxy after 17 years in Liverpool's first-team squad.

The ex-England skipper has since trained with Liverpool during the MLS off-season, sparking rumours of a possible temporary return.

Yet Klopp, who has previously suggested Gerrard would be welcomed back with open arms after his playing career is over, told Sky Sports News: "I'm a very optimistic guy, but Stevie has another year's contract in Los Angeles.""No [he will definitely not be coming back on loan], but if we can help him with whatever, we will do it, of course."

Pressed on the challenge of replacing Gerrard, the German added: "It's the first year after Stevie - the dominant player of the last 20 years and then he went out of the dressing room."How could the players immediately fill this gap, how could they do it? They start and they all try, but these are young lads.

"It's not an excuse, it's only to describe the situation. That's all the things that we're working on."Klopp also sought to dampen expectations regarding potential January transfer activity at Anfield.

He said: "We have problems with injuries, unbelievable. [But] because everyone is asking me for transfers, it's not a reason to do them."We are prepared for all situations, we know the whole market, we know the prices, all of these things.

"If we have more injuries - and we have enough injuries - we have to think about it. If not, we have to work with the players we have."

 

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Wenger reflects on positive 2015 for Arsenal

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal are in better shape than recent years to challenge for the Premier League, but has warned against getting carried away before the season has reached its midway point.

Wenger's men moved two points behind surprise leaders Leicester City on Monday with an impressive 2-1 win over Manchester City, bolstering the view that Arsenal can compete for a first league title since 2004.

Questions have been asked of Arsenal's mental strength in recent seasons, with Wenger's sides often failing to sustain their push for the title, but the Frenchman says his squad have improved resilience.

"We lost the first game to West Ham, so we were not absolutely sure we would be two points off the leaders at Christmas," he told reporters."We have been top [at points in recent years] and I think football is pragmatic and nobody can predict what will happen in the next 21 games, so you want to go with the same attitude and spirit and earn the right to win games.

"In 2015, if you look back and try to analyse, we have been consistent and overall we had quite a positive year. We have stabilised defensively and improved our record against the strong teams in the Premier League."So it looks like we are on the right trend, the right way."

Leicester were bottom of the table at Christmas last year but have been the league's surprise package under Claudio Ranieri this term and lead traditional title challengers such as Arsenal and City at the top of the table.

With the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea faltering, Wenger urged his side to embrace the "positive pressure" of a title challenge in such an unpredictable season.

"Like everyone else, the real pressure is not to go down. The rest is positive pressure," he added. "Who will win? No-one knows. I work for a long time in football and no-one can tell you who will win."It's down to being pragmatic and putting effort in, worrying about your performance. That gives you a better chance but it's too early to say who will win.

"We've played 17 games, we're not even halfway. We are certainly more resilient and more solid at the back than we were when we had younger teams but confidence is linked with history.

"We had two or three good results but confidence is built up slowly and goes very quickly. Let's just take care of the next performance."Arsenal visit Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday.

 

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Pellegrini warns Arsenal: The title isn't won in December

Manuel Pellegrini has identified the need to pick up six points during the Christmas fixtures, but remains calm over Manchester City's Premier League title prospects.

City's 2-1 defeat at Arsenal on Monday left them four points behind Arsene Wenger's side and six shy of surprise leaders Leicester City.The 2011-12 and 2013-14 champions travel to Leicester on Tuesday, but must first tackle struggling Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium on Boxing Day.

In each of their previous title triumphs, City have overhauled points deficits late in the season to lift the trophy and Pellegrini was keen to assert that no prizes are given out at the turn of the year."We are in this moment in third, four points against [behind] Arsenal and six points against Leicester," he said.

"We must play against Leicester on the 29th so it's very important to win these two games to finish the first round [of fixtures this season].

"The important thing is to be involved at the end of January, then try and win the title in the remainder of the season."We have to try to focus game by game – the next is Sunderland, we try to beat them at home which is never an easy game.

"Then we think about Leicester. We lost important points against Arsenal – a game of six points – but it was not a decisive game as I said before the match.
"You never win the title in December."Pellegrini is set to welcome back captain Vincent Kompany for the Sunderland game following a calf injury.

City are unbeaten in the eight Premier League outings featuring the Belgium centre-back this season, winning six and conceding only once. The Arsenal loss was their fifth defeat in nine matches without Kompany.

 

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Barclays Premier League Boxing Day Fixtures 2015.12.26

Barclays Premier League Boxing Day Fixtures 2015.12.26

Stoke City Vs Manchester United

Aston Villa Vs West Ham

Bournemouth Vs Crystal Palace

Chelsea Vs Watford

Liverpool Vs Leicester City

Manchester City Vs Sunderland

Swansea Vs WBA

Tottenham Vs Norwich City

Newcastle Vs Everton

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Good Luck Manchester United! & ada Stoke match 1ka LVG ta godak wadagath match 1kak weiDue or Die situation 1kak thiyenne​

 

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Half Time

Stoke City 2 Vs 0 Manchester United

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Adath hari wageteam 1kama wikarayak wela thiyenneplay karana widiya anthimai
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