..::Football III::..

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Bale: Wales can beat England in Euro 2016

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale says he has no fears about coming up against England at Euro 2016, insisting Wales can beat the Three Lions.

Bale and Wales are off to the championships next year after qualifying for a major tournament for the first time since 1958.

The draw for the Euros takes place on Saturday and, if Wales get drawn against England, Bale says he is confident of victory.

"If we came out of the draw with England, we’d be happy," he told reporters. "Why not?

"We think we can beat England – and all the pressure would be on them. But we will try to do our best whoever we play.

"There will be no pressure on us. We are going to go there to enjoy the occasion and to try to do our country proud.

"That’s all we can do – and that’s all our supporters can ask for.”

While Wales are far from favourites, Bale hopes they can cause an upset against the bigger nations.

"We haven't thought about how far we can go, to be honest," he said. "Of course we can dream, like Greece and Denmark once did.

"We’re not just going to go there just to play. We will go there with the mentality that we had during qualifying – to try to win every game. We’ll see where that takes us."

 

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Messi returns to Barcelona training

Lionel Messi has handed Barcelona a boost ahead of Saturday's match against Deportivo La Coruna by returning to training amid concerns over a fresh hamstring injury.

Messi, who recently returned from a two-month lay-off with a knee injury, finished Wednesday's Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen clutching the back of his thigh.

Barcelona subsequently released a statement on Thursday confirming that the Argentina international missed that day's training session due to "personal reasons", with permisson from Luis Enrique.

Yet Messi is expected to feature on Saturday having come through Friday's practice unscathed.

Luis Enrique's side are two points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid in La Liga ahead of Saturday's clash and will welcome the return of the 28-year-old Argentina forward with Neymar remaining a doubt.

The Brazil international, who has excelled in Messi's absence with 16 goals from 18 matches in all competitions, picked up a groin injury prior to Wednesday's Champions League draw.

 

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Ribery and Benatia out until new year

Frank Ribery and Medhi Benatia have been ruled out of action for the remainder of 2015, Bayern Munich confirmed on Friday.The loss of Ribery will be particularly frustrating for Bayern boss Pep Guardiola, who has finally been able to use the Frenchman in recent weeks after a nine-month lay-off due to an ankle injury.

Ribery came on as a substitute and scored in last weekend's surprise 3-1 defeat at Borussia Monchengladbach and subsequently started Wednesday's Champions League victory at Dinamo Zagreb.

He was replaced at half-time, however, and tests have shown an unspecified muscle injury that will see him sit out Bayern's three remaining games prior to Christmas.

Benatia also started in Zagreb before being replaced at the break. The Morocco international had struggled with a hamstring injury earlier this term, but featured in their last six games in all competitions before the game against Dinamo.

He has unconvincing since joining Bayern from Roma in August 2014 for an initial fee of €26 million.

 

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Benzema innocent until proven guilty - Lloris

France captain Hugo Lloris believes the decision to suspend Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema from international duty is in the best interests of both the player and the squad.

The French Football Federation (FFF) announced Benzema's national team suspension on Thursday, which will last until the sex-tape scandal involving Mathieu Valbuena is resolved.

Benzema has been charged with complicity in an attempt to blackmail and participating in a criminal conspiracy as part of an investigation into a sex-tape plot involving Valbuena - charges which the 27-year-old denies.

France goalkeeper Lloris feels the decision to exclude Benzema is wise, despite his omission meaning the attacker could miss Euro 2016 - with the competition being held on French soil.

"I learned after the match [Tottenham's Europa League win over Monaco on Thursday]," he said in quotes reported by RMC.

"I think it is above all to protect the player and also the national team, pending the decision of justice.

"It is not until that decision before we can say anything."

Benzema has missed the last three France fixtures, last appearing for Les Bleus in a 4-0 win over Armenia in October.

 

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Bayern favourites against anyone in Champions League - Lahm

After cruising through the Champions League group stages, Philipp Lahm believes Bayern Munich will be favourites against anyone in the knockout phase.Pep Guardiola's men qualified as comfortable winners of Group F, winning five out of their six games to finish six points clear of Arsenal in second place.

Bayern, winners of the competition in 2013, could face the likes of Paris Saint-Germain or Juventus in the last 16, but captain Lahm has no concerns over any of their potential opposition.

"We will be favourites against each opponent," he told TZ.

"Then we want to advance to the next round."Striker Robert Lewandowski added: "You can only theoretically be favourites, and anyway, what does that mean? You're in the next round?"

 

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Van Gaal: Man Utd WILL win trophies

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says he has "no doubts" that he will win trophies at the club.

The Dutchman arrived at Old Trafford ahead of last season and, following the disastrous tenure of David Moyes, earned plaudits for the way he returned United to Champions League football.

However, Tuesday's 3-2 defeat at Wolfsburg saw them exit at the group stage of the competition, with a place in the Europa League in the New Year little consolation.

Van Gaal and United have attracted criticism for much of the season for their style of play, but the Dutchman remains confident he will deliver success during his tenure.

When asked if he had any doubts about his ability to win silverware at United, Van Gaal responded in a press conference: "No, I don't have any doubts.

"You can lose and you can win in sport - you have to accept that. As a manager, you have to work very hard and I am working very hard as are my players. We will do everything we can.

"So the problem is that we have to meet with the expectations and the expectations at a club like United are very high."

Van Gaal also questioned the FA's decision to ban Bastian Schweinsteiger for three matches, following the German's altercation with West Ham's Winston Reid in the 0-0 draw last weekend.

"It's also a little bit strange again afterwards," he said. "But the referee was whistling and talking with the two players. It's strange again but we don't have any luck, I think."

 

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Van Gaal: Man Utd WILL win trophies

Yes of course but not with you LVG​

 

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Ronaldo: I miss the big cute bear Ancelotti

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted to missing "big bear" Carlo Ancelotti and hopes to be reunited with him at some stage in the future.

Ancelotti was sacked by Madrid at the end of last season after two years in charge, securing a 10th European title for the club before failing to prevent Barcelona from winning a domestic and European treble the following season.

The Italian has remained out of work since, despite being linked with a return to the Santiago Bernabeu as well as Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
Ronaldo says he enjoyed his time under Ancelotti and hopes their paths cross again at some point.

"Mr. Ancelotti was an unbelievable surprise. In the beginning I thought he was more a tough person, kind of arrogant, and it was the opposite," Ronaldo told ESPN."He's like a big bear. He's a cute guy, such a sensitive person. He spoke with us every day. Not just with me but with all the players. He had fun with us.

"He's an unbelievable person. I just wish every player could have an opportunity to work with him because he's a fantastic guy, a fantastic coach and I miss him a lot because we won many trophies together. And I wish to work with him one day again."But now I'm good. I have a new coach and I'm happy too, but it's great I have good memories."

Ronaldo has faced criticism this season for his performances, despite netting 21 times in 20 games in all competitions, while there have been suggestions Rafael Benitez's tactics are not to his liking, but he maintains he is "comfortable" under the former Liverpool and Inter boss.

He added: "It's always different. Whether it's Jose Mourinho, Alex Ferguson, or Manuel Pellegrini... Everyone has his own style, own system, and we still adapt.
"[Now we are adapting] to Benitez's style. But I feel comfortable because most of the time I play my position, so for me it is not going to be a big deal.

"I feel comfortable anytime I'm on the pitch. I always play freely and I feel good.
"I think everyone has different styles and different opinions. They are different people. So I just pick the best things of them. I am the player that I am today because the coaches helped me a lot."

Benitez is the fifth coach Ronaldo has played under at the Bernabeu in seven and a half years and he believes chopping and changing can be detrimental to results.

"Sometimes it is not easy. If you keep changing all the time, it's hard," he said. "I don't like it when they change, or they sell or buy players every year, or they change coach every year. I think sometimes you need time to know each other, to know the coaches.

"It's the only way that you can improve yourself individually or collectively and for the team to be consistent. To change all the time is difficult because you have to adapt to other players who have to adapt to you. So it's hard.

"I'm not a huge fan of when they change all the time but it's part of the business.The market is like that. They sell, they buy players. Real Madrid is a club that buys a player every year, so we have to adapt to that."

 

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Januzaj bemoans lack of Dortmund playing time

Adnan Januzaj has blamed a lack of opportunities at Borussia Dortmund for his inability to find form while on loan in the Bundesliga from Manchester United.

Belgium attacker Januzaj is yet to make a league start for Dortmund and completed 90 minutes for just the second time this season in a 1-0 defeat to PAOK in the Europa League on Thursday.

The 20-year-old believes he possesses the quality to make an impact at Signal Iduna Park, but bemoaned head coach Thomas Tuchel's apparent resistance to give him a run of games to prove himself."I do not have the form to play better on the field. I just need more games," Januzaj told reporters.

"I train very hard, but I do not have many games in my legs, which makes it difficult for me mentally. I need more games to be a better player.

"I have qualities that I demonstrated in Manchester. But it is difficult at the moment."United manager Louis van Gaal said last week that Januzaj may come to regret his Dortmund move as it looks to have stalled a once-promising career.

While clearly frustrated at Dortmund, Januzaj was also hesitant to suggest a return to Old Trafford would help him recapture his best form.

He added: "I wasn't surprised to get loaned after scoring against Aston villa. I wanted to go somewhere I can play more often. I am happy in Dortmund, but I need more matches."I don't know if I will play for Manchester United next season."

 

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Klopp: Liverpool don't need to spend in January

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he is willing to give his squad a chance to impress rather than splash the cash in January.

The Reds splashed big money on Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez in the winter window back in 2011 and have been linked with several big names this time around.

But with captainJordan Henderson set to return after several weeks out andJon Flanagan and Mamadou Sakho also on the recovery trail, Klopp is content with his options.

"It's much more important to work with people and if you trust them they have to feel it – and not just for two days but for a longer time," Klopp said.

"That's not how the world should run. If we have problems it's not with quality, it's maybe with concentration or other things. But we don't know if players we get will do it better. I'd give the advice to stay cool and see what happens.

"If we need something we will do it, not talk about it before. In this moment I don't think about it. No one should be in doubt that we are prepared for any situation. We have 24 hours always at work.

"We always watch players on video but if we take them in winter, in summer or never I don't know at this moment.
"Jon Flanagan will come back in next week, then we will have two left-backs and two right-backs. I don't feel we have to look at other people just because they cost £20 million."

Klopp added: "We have four centre-backs when Mama [Sakho] is back - Kolo [Toure] is the fourth because of his age but now he's always available.

"In midfield we have Hendo [Jordan Henderson] back so that's like a new option for us. We have other offensive players and we have more strikers than others, so where is the space? In January we have don't know how many games we have, maybe every three days, so we have to be prepared.

"We know all the players in world football. Some fit us, some don't. The challenge for us over the next month and years is to rotate but not to lose quality. You need 20-22 high quality players who are ready for it."

A bonus for Klopp has been Australian international Brad Smith, who made his senior debut for the club against Sion in the Europa League on Thursday.

The 21-year-old was not even signed with the club two months ago after a contract dispute that lasted several months.

"You know it was a difficult story with him and when I first came he wasn’t here," Klopp said.

"I said 'who's this? I saw a few videos and in training and he's a good boy. He is very fast and has a perfect cross. He can get better in everything but he's a good boy and I like working with him."

 

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Luis Enrique: Messi is in perfect shape

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique insists there is "nothing wrong" with Lionel Messi despite fears the Argentina captain was carrying an injury.

Messi was seen clutching the back of his leg during Barca's 1-1 Champions League draw at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday and skipped training on Thursday due to "personal reasons".

That sparked concerns over Messi's fitness but Luis Enrique has confirmed the forward is fine and he now appears set to start the weekend clash with Deportivo La Coruna.

"Here we go with the same routine of questions as always. No, Leo is fine, there's nothing wrong with him at all. He is in perfect shape," he said at Friday's media conference.

The Barca boss also revealed Sergi Roberto and Jeremy Mathieu are fit for what he expects to be a difficult game.

"Sergi Roberto is fine. He'll get the medical green light. It's great news that Sergi and Jeremy Mathieu are back. Sergi adds a lot to the team and he can play in several positions."Sergi Roberto is a quality player. In midfield we've had trouble this season. It's always been a dificult area.

"He is a very versatile player and he's a player who can support the attack, he drops into defence and he reads the game well - he knows how to create pressure.
"He's an essential player to have and that's just the start of his virtues."We face the match against Deportivo with caution. They are in sixth place and only lost one away match. They are working well at all levels."

Following the Depor clash at Camp Nou, the European champions fly out to Japan for the Club World Cup with Barca scheduled to play either Club America or Guangzhou Evergrande in Thursday's semi-final.

 

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Darmian and Smalling out for Manchester United but Schneiderlin to return

Louis van Gaal has confirmed defensive duo Chris Smalling and Matteo Darmian will miss Saturday's visit to Bournemouth in the Premier League through injury.

Darmian limped out of Tuesday's 3-2 Champions League defeat to Wolfsburg with a hamstring injury, while Smalling sustained a groin problem in the same game.
Van Gaal confirmed on Friday that both would miss the trip to the Vitality Stadium, although midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is set to return to action.

“It is not so good because we have eight injured players because [Matteo] Darmian and also [Chris] Smalling we can add to this list, and [Bastian] Schweinsteiger is also suspended, so nine players are not able to play," he told MUTV.

"[Morgan] Schneiderlin is coming back, that’s not a problem, but we have a list of eight players injured and [Marcos] Rojo has been operated on this week and it takes a long time.“These injuries are very heavy – [Luke] Shaw and [Antonio] Valencia have also been operated on and that’s our problem.

"It is not beneficial for us because we have a heavy programme but I believe that Smalling, [Ander] Herrera and Darmian are coming back before Christmas."

The Red Devils go into the game on the back of their elimination from the Champions League and Van Gaal admitted he has been trying to raise spirits in the camp.

"I try to but, of course, the players have to do that also by themselves, they are also the professionals," he added.

"They need to use their tools to lift them up and we have a lot to fight for, I think. So we are very close in the Premier League to the top.“We can fight for the FA Cup and fight also for the Europa League, so I think we have enough to fight for."

 

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Smalling naha kiyanne defence 1katath wade hari ahenam​

 

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Mourinho refuses to rule out Madrid reunion

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho refused to rule out a potential return to Real Madrid, but will only think about other clubs after the end of his Stamford Bridge contract.

Reports in the British media have indicated Madrid are planning a bid to lure Mourinho - who coached the Spanish side from 2010 to 2013 - back to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid boss Rafael Benitez has come under pressure following their 4-0 Clasico defeat to Barcelona and expulsion from the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player.

Yet Mourinho was coy on rumours he could return.

Asked if he imagined himself coaching Madrid again, he replied: "I imagine myself finishing my contract with Chelsea, I have three-and-a-half years left on my contract. [Afterwards] I imagine myself managing every club."

Mourinho himself has been the subject of intense scrutiny, with Chelsea languishing a lowly 14th in the Premier League table, just two points above the relegation zone.

The Portuguese coach sees his contract at Stamford Bridge run until June 2019.

 

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Wenger rules out Benzema move

Arsene Wenger has ruled out an Arsenal move for Karim Benzema, insisting the Gunners do not need the Real Madrid striker as they have Olivier Giroud.

The Gunners have been consistently linked with a move for Benzema yet Giroud's recent form has seen Wenger describe him as "one of the best in Europe".

Giroud's hat-trick against Olympiakos on Wednesday means he has now scored 13 goals in 23 appearances this season and his manager is happy to have him at the Emirates.

"I just said that Olivier Giroud is a great striker, so behind that we cannot buy Karim Benzema!" he told reporters.Wenger also admitted he backed the French Football Federation's decision to suspend the Real Madrid star from international duty.

Noel Le Graet announced on Thursday that the Real Madrid star will not be considered for selection for France while a police investigation is ongoing - meaning he could miss next year's European Championship on home soil.

Benzema has been charged with complicity in an attempt to blackmail and participating in a criminal conspiracy as part of a probe into a sex-tape plot involving international team-mate Valbuena. Benzema denies the charges.

The 27-year-old took to Twitter on Friday to say he respects the FFF's decision, and Arsenal boss Wenger agrees with the governing body's stance.

"I think it's a legal case, and as long as it has not been judged, you have to wait for the judgement," he added.

"At the moment he cannot play because he is under investigation and as long as he is not cleared, he should not play."

 

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Michael Owen was my hero as a child, says Aguero

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has revealed he used to follow Liverpool as a child and Michael Owen was his favourite player.

The 27-year-old, who is expected to return from a heel injury to face Arsenal on December 21, has excelled in the Premier League since his arrival from Atletico Madrid in July 2011, hitting 85 goals in 129 games.

And Aguero admits he had always kept an eye on England's top-flight as a youngster, taking a particular interest in rivals Liverpool as he saw himself as a similar player to Owen.

"I always liked the Premier League, as a kid," he told Match of the Day magazine.
"I used to like Liverpool because I liked Michael Owen. He was pretty small so I used to identify with him when I was seven or eight.

"Now I'm here I reckon, right now, the Premier League is better than not just the Spanish League but probably any other league in the world!"

Owen famously gave England a 2-1 lead against Argentina after scoring a stunning solo goal at the World Cup in 1998, with the Three Lions going on to lose 4-3 on penalties.

 

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Pellegrini wants more goals from Sterling

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has challenged winger Raheem Sterling to improve in front of goal, despite scoring a double in the Champions League in midweek.

Sterling, who joined from Liverpool in July following a long-running transfer saga, took his tally for the season to eight in all competitions with two goals in a 4-2 win over Borussia Monchengladbach.

Despite that performance, Pellegrini - speaking in his pre-match media conference ahead of Saturday's game with Swansea City - feels the 21-year-old needs to improve his goal tally.

"Raheem always works very well from the first day until now," he told reporters.
"Maybe he plays one game better, then the other not so good - like every player. But playing with Kun [Aguero], Yaya [Toure] and David [Silva] every day is important for a young player.

"Raheem is doing what we expect but he must keep improving – he can't be a player who just scores 11 goals as he did another season. I hope going forward he will score more, he will take the best solution more often."He's not just a striker but one of his targets must be to improve the amount of goals he scores every season.

"One of the most important things is he's a very good player but his age – he's just 21, so he has a lot of years to improve. In the way he's doing, we'll see he'll improve year by year."

City will be facing a managerless Swansea side following the sacking of Garry Monk, who was relieved of his duties on Wednesday after a run of one win in 11 games.

Pellegrini added: "I don't think the problem with Swansea was the manager – Monk made a very good season with Swansea last season."They're in a bad moment but it’s not down to one person - in football, you're never surprised about anything but I'm sure he's the same good manager he was last year.

"Normally in England some years ago there was more patience with managers.Garry Monk had a great season last season, now he's sacked because they lost two or three in a row. For every team, in my opinion, they would play better if they stick with the same manager.

"I don't think that's the way to manage a club."

 

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Uefa consider goal-line technology for Champions League

Goal-line technology could be introduced for both the Champions League and Europa League next season.

The Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 have already implemented their own individual systems to determine whether disputed goals should stand and the technology is expected to be in use for the Euro 2016 finals.

Uefa will make a decision in January on whether or not to bring in such technology for European club competitions after the Executive Committee confirmed a "positive attitude" towards its introduction.

President Michel Platini had been opposed to goal-line technology in the past and introduced the fifth officials behind the goals as a means to counter its use, but Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino says the Frenchman - who is currently serving a suspension - is now on board.

"With the technology, this has been on the table for some time, even Platini's brought it to the discussion," he said on Friday.

"We decided that the decision on goal-line technology at the next meeting in January and there are positive attitudes towards that.

"One system is used in France, one in England, one in Italy, one in Germany so there are practical aspects. It will be for the Euros next year and the club competitions next season.

"It would mean changes for 80 venues across Europe, today in four countries there are maybe 30 teams more or less [who have the technology].

"There was a positive feeling from the Executive Committee."

 

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'Real Madrid can still win La Liga and UCL'

Real Madrid are still capable of winning La Liga and the Champions League, according to the club legend Fernando Hierro.

While Madrid are in third place and only four points off Barcelona, Benitez's tenure has already experienced difficulties including reported dressing room tensions, a Clasico thrashing at the hands of Barcelona and a Copa del Rey expulsion.

The latter came about due to Denis Cheryshev's selection against Cadiz - the club's hierarchy claiming not to have been notified that he had yet to serve a suspension in the competition before eventually accepting their exclusion - but the 4-0 defeat to Barca at Camp Nou brought the most stinging criticism of Benitez.

But Hierro - who served under Benitez's predecessor Carlo Ancelotti having won five La Liga titles and three Champions League medals as a player - backed his former club to remain in the hunt for silverware.

The former Spain defender told www.sc.qa: "Losing [El Clasico] by such a big margin at home hurts and people are not comfortable with that.
"If there is a team in the world you can never write off it is Real Madrid. We have extraordinary players. There is still a long way to go in the league.

"Madrid can be a very dangerous team in the Champions League and they will fight until the end in the Spanish league as well."

 

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Van Gaal: Things have changed, you can't expect United to win every week anymore

Louis van Gaal has issued a warning that Manchester United should no longer be expected to win consistently.

United exited the Champions League this week following a 3-2 defeat to Wolfsburg, while a 0-0 draw with West Ham last weekend left them three points behind Premier League leaders Leicester City ahead of this weekend's games.

Van Gaal has drawn criticism for his side's languid style of play and lack of attacking vigour this season, with many citing the combination of success and exciting football delivered by Alex Ferguson as proof the Dutchman is not the right man to continue at Old Trafford.

While the former Bayern Munich boss accepts there are certain games this season where he has failed to mastermind the results expected, he has pointed to the strengthening of the Premier League as proof that demanding constant victories is simply unrealistic.

"When you say that I am hired to make the difference, you are right. I don't think it is [completely] like that – I can make the difference, in tactics and everything, but I cannot score goals," he said.

"They say a club like Manchester United has to win. That's the past. You have to analyse the club now. Now we have much more clubs who have money… also the structure and are able to win something.

"Next year, all the clubs in the Premier League have a bigger budget than most in Europe. That makes a big difference. Every club can also buy a player. You think Manchester United has a lot of money – that is true, but other clubs are asking for much more from us than from Bournemouth.

"The difference is not so big any more. The confirmation is every week. The bottom clubs can beat the top teams. There is no other league where that happens as often as it does in the Premier League.

"It is very difficult for a Premier League club to match with the other leagues in the Champions League. It was not so easy for all the clubs to qualify themselves."You shall always say a club like Manchester United shall go further than the group stage. Okay. I think the same but the reality is that is not happening."

Van Gaal is adamant, however, that he is the right man for the job as he looks to sustain a serious title challenge this term."I don't have any doubts. You can lose and you can win in sport, and you have to accept that, as a player and as a manager," he added.

"I have read already in the media that I am 64 and I am too old. I read the same things 20 years ago. I cannot change what is in your mind. I can only say the facts."