..::Football IV::..

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    Half Time

    i
    Manchester United
    1 Vs 1 Tottenham
    i
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    :love:Manchester United 2 Tottenham 1: Sanchez and Herrera seal comeback to book FA Cup final spot

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    Manchester United came from behind to beat Tottenham 2-1 at Wembley on Saturday and secure their place in the FA Cup final.

    Ander Herrera struck the winner midway through the second half, after Alexis Sanchez had cancelled out an opening goal from Dele Alli.United lost on their league visit to Spurs this season after falling behind to an early goal and it looked like Mauricio Pochettino's side could repeat the feat when Alli turned home Christian Eriksen's cross.




    This time, however, Jose Mourinho's men responded, with former Arsenal star Sanchez scoring for the eighth time in eight appearances at England's national stadium to draw his side level.With the match finely balanced, Herrera blasted home following a quick United break forward to hand his side victory in their record-equalling 29th semi-final and secure a showdown with either Chelsea or Southampton.

    The defeat ends Spurs' hopes of silverware for another season and means they have now lost eight times in a row at this stage of the competition.


    Spurs led after 11 seconds of their Premier League win over United at Wembley in January, and they needed only 11 minutes to go 1-0 up on this occasion.Eriksen raced onto a long ball down the United left, with Ashley Young caught well out of position, and he crossed for Alli to tap home on the stretch at the far post.

    Mourinho looked a frustrated figure on the touchline, but his team got the response they needed 24 minutes in, when Paul Pogba, having robbed Mousa Dembele near the Spurs box, curled in a fine cross from the left that Sanchez headed past the static Michel Vorm.

    The hectic early pace began to drop towards the end of a very balanced first half, although Pogba had a dipping effort tipped wide by Vorm and Eric Dier's low drive smacked the base of the left-hand post after taking a deflection.

    It was United who made the most of the next good chance, though, 17 minutes into the second half. Sanchez gathered the ball down the left and squared it to Romelu Lukaku, Jesse Lingard let his pass run and Herrera drilled beneath Vorm from the edge of the area.

    Mourinho's side threatened to move two goals clear, with Vorm saving well from Pogba and Lukaku, before dropping deep to keep Spurs frustrated in the closing minutes and send the travelling fans into raptures at the final whistle.
     

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    Borussia Dortmund 4 Bayer Leverkusen 0: Reus and Sancho star as Stoger's side go third

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    Marco Reus scored twice as Borussia Dortmund leapfrogged Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga table with a convincing 4-0 win over their top-four rivals.

    Jadon Sancho scored his first goal for the club to break the deadlock and also provided two assists as Peter Stoger's side bounced back from their 2-0 defeat against Schalke in style.

    Reus bagged a second-half brace, sandwiching a goal for Maximilian Philipp, as Dortmund moved up to third place in the battle to secure Champions League football for next season, five points clear of fifth-placed Hoffenheim with three matches remaining.Leverkusen had lost just once in their last six outings on their arrival at Signal Iduna Park, yet were fortunate not to concede more as a top-of-the-table clash turned into a one-sided rout.


    Reus saw a goal chalked off by VAR during an eventful first half that also saw the Germany international fail to convert a penalty, visiting goalkeeper Ramazan Ozcan marking his Leverkusen league debut with the save.

    Still, the impressive performance was the perfect riposte from Dortmund, particularly after their fans had aired their frustrations at losing to Schalke with banners prior to kick-off.Stoger reacted to the disappointing Ruhr derby result by shaking up his team, including handing Sancho his first league start since January.

    The England youth international rewarded his manager by breaking the deadlock, though not before he had fluffed a one-on-one opportunity by sending a weak effort too close to Ozcan.

    Still, Sancho showed he is a quick learner. Benjamin Henrichs' untimely slip allowed Christian Pulisic's pass to reach his fellow teenager on the left, the forward opening up his body to place the ball into the opposite side of the net, giving Ozcan – starting in place of the injured Bernd Leno - no chance.

    Dortmund thought they had doubled their lead when Reus' rocket flew into the roof of the net, only for VAR to correctly rule out the strike after replays showed Philipp was a fraction offside in the build-up.

    Reus then squandered a glorious chance to make it 2-0 from the spot, Ozcan keeping out his firmly struck attempt. Leverkusen felt justice was served too, having complained Pulisic had made the most of what little contact there was with Panagiotis Retsos inside the area.However, it did not take Dortmund long after the break to get the second goal their complete dominance merited.

    Having clipped the top of the bar with an audacious attempt from wide on the left, Reus finally scored 10 minutes into the second half, capitalising on Mario Gotze's clever touch to round Ozcan and slot home his fourth league goal of the campaign.
    Dortmund's fans had a glimpse into the future with their side's third, defender Manuel Akanji's long pass picking out the run of Sancho, who controlled the ball superbly with the outside of his right foot before teeing up Philipp to slam home.

    Sancho also laid on Reus' second, sending over a delightful cross from the left that was headed home at the back post to round out a miserable outing for Leverkusen, who are just two points clear of Hoffenheim and looking nervously over their shoulder.
     

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    Hannover 0 Bayern Munich 3: Lewandowski breaks Bundesliga record

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    Robert Lewandowski came off the bench to break a Bundesliga record as he found the net in Bayern Munich's 3-0 win at Hannover.The champions left Joshua Kimmich, Mats Hummels, Franck Ribery, Javi Martinez, Thomas Muller and Lewandowski on the bench ahead of Wednesday's visit of Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.

    And while Jupp Heynckes' men took until the 57th minute to break the deadlock, goalkeepers Sven Ulreich and Philipp Tschauner excelling before the break, Bayern recorded their 11th consecutive league win in this fixture with a second-half burst.Muller's introduction as a half-time substitute proved a key moment in the game, his deflected left-foot volley from a Juan Bernat cross breaking Hannover's resistance.

    Lewandowski then headed in within five minutes of his own introduction to become the most prolific non-German for a single club in Bundesliga history with his 105th top-flight goal for Bayern.

    That moved him past the 104 goals that were scored by Claudio Pizarro, who counted Bayern among his clubs, for Werder Bremen.Sebastian Rudy adding a late third to complete the scoring and Bayern will now prepare to welcome Madrid as Heynckes' side march on towards a potential treble ahead of the arrival of new coach Niko Kovac - whose Eintracht Frankfurt face his future employers in the DFB-Pokal final - at the end of the season.


    After a low-tempo start, Thiago Alcantara should have put Bayern in front in the 12th minute but he headed over Rafinha's superb right-wing cross.

    Hannover captain Tschauner was then called into action, parrying a Wagner header and reacting well to keep out a drive from Niklas Sule.Although Manuel Neuer is back in training, Ulreich continues to impress and he made a brilliant one-handed stop down low to his right to keep out Timo Hubers' improvised flick.

    Both goalkeepers were shining, Tschauner blocking Wagner's point-blank header and producing another fine save from a Thiago strike to ensure the first half ended goalless.Heynckes introduced Muller for Arjen Robben at the break and the Germany international rifled wide from a good position shortly after the restart.And it was Muller who came up with the opener as Bayern's pressure eventually told.

    James Rodriguez found Bernat on the overlap, the full-back - who may have been marginally offside - sending in a first-time cross that Muller volleyed past Tschauner with the aid of a deflection off Salif Sane.

    Heynckes sent on another star man in the form of Lewandowski despite Bayern leading and the striker wasted no time in overtaking Pizarro's record in the 73rd minute.Rudy's right-wing corner was perfectly floated for Lewandowski to get above his marker and flick in a glancing header that gave Tschauner no chance.

    Muller set up Rudy for a scuffed third on the volley in the 89th minute, the former Hoffenheim man opening his account for Bayern, to wrap up a comfortable victory.
    While Muller and record-breaker Lewandowski will grab the headlines for Bayern, there was further good news as teenager and youth team captain Lars Lukas Mai excelled on his Bundesliga debut at the back.
     

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    West Brom 2 Liverpool 2: Careless Reds drop points to offer Baggies slim survival hope

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    West Brom staged an unexpected late comeback to snatch a 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool that offers Darren Moore's side slim hope of escaping relegation.Danny Ings struck for the first time in 930 days and Mohamed Salah equalled the record for goals scored in a 38-match Premier League season as Liverpool appeared on course to warm up for their Champions League semi-final against Roma with a routine if laboured victory.

    The beleaguered Baggies had other ideas, though, Jake Livermore getting one back in the 79th minute and Salomon Rondon heading home the equaliser from a free-kick with two remaining in normal time.




    The result may not prove enough to save West Brom, as they are still eight points adrift of the safety of 17th-placed Swansea, who visit newly crowned champions Manchester City on Sunday.For Liverpool, the careless loss of points will delay their march to securing Champions League qualification.

    And manager Jurgen Klopp may regret the five changes he made to his starting XI, as the Reds are left to refocus on the eagerly anticipated visit of the Giallorossi to Anfield on Tuesday.


    Liverpool started brightly and duly took the lead in the fourth minute.Sadio Mane created the chance, beating Jay Rodriguez from a short corner and firing a cutback into the crowded penalty area.

    Georginio Wijnaldum reacted quickly to stand the ball up for Ings, who fired it low and hard from close range, leaving Ben Foster no chance.Ings had a penalty appeal ignored after being bundled over by Craig Dawson a minute into the second half, which saw Klopp introduce Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Roberto Firmino in the 66th minute as he sought to kill the game off.

    And the change prompted the desired effect, Oxlade-Chamberlain's ball over the top releasing Salah in on goal, the deadly forward lifting a clever finish over Foster in the 72nd minute to match the record of 31 league goals scored in a 38-game Premier League season jointly held by Alan Shearer, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez.

    From there, Liverpool appeared on course to pick up all three points, until Livermore pounced on Rodriguez's cutback from a corner to the back post to slam a good finish past Loris Karius.



    And a lazy mistake from Joe Gomez led to a West Brom free-kick in the 88th minute, Rondon meeting Chris Brunt's delivery to beat Karius and snatch a point, although West Brom's valiant efforts remain likely to prove in vain over the closing weeks of the campaign.
     

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    Wenger was sacked by Arsenal, Wright claims


    Former Arsenal star Ian Wright has suggested Arsene Wenger was forced to announce his decision to leave the club.The Gunners released a statement on Friday in which Wenger stated his intention to step down at the end of the season, despite having a year remaining on his contract.

    The Frenchman has resisted repeated calls for him to resign from disgruntled sections of the club's fanbase in recent years, Wenger ignoring their dissatisfaction to sign a two-year extension in May 2017.

    And Wright, who won the Premier League title under Wenger in 1997-98, suspects the 68-year-old's hand has been forced amid concerns about the team's form behind the scenes at Emirates Stadium.

    "Arsene Wenger is a man of principle, honesty and integrity – that is why I am convinced he has been sacked and not resigned," he wrote in a column for The Sun."For all the vitriol and abuse thrown at him, Arsene has never been a man to walk out before the end of a contract.

    "It is a sad situation that it's come to this and I don't suppose we will ever find out who is responsible, because they will hide behind each other.

    "One day he is doing a press conference with no hint of this, the next he's gone. It doesn't add up."But Arsene can go with his head high. That's why, whatever the results, it is imperative he gets the send-off a true Arsenal and football legend deserves. We all owe him so much."Contrary to Wright's beliefs, Goal understands, however, that Wenger departed on his own accord.
     

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    'Everybody wants to play under him' – Ozil pays tribute to Arsenal boss Wenger


    Arsenal star Mesut Ozil paid tribute to Arsene Wenger, saying he was proud to have played under the outgoing manager.

    Wenger announced Friday he would leave Arsenal at the end of the season after 22 years in charge of the Premier League giants.Ozil, who arrived at the club from Real Madrid in 2013, was full of praise for Wenger and the Frenchman's approach.

    "He's the main reason I came here, he convinced me and I am proud to have played under him," he told Sky Sports ."Everyone has a lot of respect for him. He has won many titles, developed some good players and has always played excellent football, so you know as a player if you come here you are going to be able to develop and play in that style.

    "He is an honest guy, a very respectful guy, has a good personality, and everybody wants to play under him." Ozil's future at the Emirates Stadium was uncertain before the Germany international signed a three-year deal in February.

    The 29-year-old, who has scored four goals and assisted eight in the Premier League this season, said he always wanted to remain at Arsenal.

    "He is the boss who brought me here and wanted me to stay so I said I am comfortable here, I never wanted to leave and that's why I stayed," Ozil said.
    "Now we want to reach our further goals."
     

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    Wenger could manage PSG, says Emery


    Unai Emery believes Arsene Wenger could become head coach of Paris Saint-Germain in the future.Wenger caused a shock on Friday when it was announced he will leave Arsenal at the end of the season, bringing his near-22-year reign to an end.

    As revealed by Goal, Wenger has no plans to retire from football and is targeting an immediate return to the game , potentially taking an international job or role as a director of football.

    Emery is among the names to have been linked with Arsenal, with PSG expected to replace him at the end of the season following their failure to reach the latter stages of the Champions League.

    Wenger himself, meanwhile, has been linked with taking Emery's job at PSG, although French media continues to report that Thomas Tuchel is the man that has been chosen to take over the Ligue 1 champions in the summer.And the former Sevilla boss thinks Wenger has the ability to take charge at Parc des Princes before he calls time on his career.

    "He is a reference for the world of football and us coaches. He has given inspiration to this sport," he told a news conference."Every year, a dozen coaches meet in Nyon and Wenger is a reference for all of us. He has always spoken well of me.

    "I have great admiration for him as a person and as a coach. He has the quality and the experience to coach the best teams in the world, like PSG."
     

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    Injured Diego Costa to miss first leg of Arsenal Europa League test


    Diego Costa will miss the first leg of Atletico Madrid's Europa League semi-final against Arsenal but should be back for the return on Spanish soil, according to Diego Simeone.

    The Spain international has not featured for his club since picking up a hamstring injury in the 1-0 second-leg loss to Sporting CP in the quarter-finals of the competition.Having already sat out LaLiga fixtures against Levante and Real Sociedad, Costa is expected to be unavailable for next Thursday's clash with Arsene Wenger's side at the Emirates Stadium.

    However, Simeone is confident the former Chelsea striker will be fit by the time the two teams resume battle in Europe on May 3.

    "The doctors will inform us but I think it won't be possible for him to be ready for Thursday game," Simeone said ahead of Sunday's home league fixture against Real Betis."He will be for sure in the return leg, but I think he has no chances to be in the first leg."

    While the away game with Arsenal looms on the horizon, Simeone is determined to make sure his squad do not look beyond their next opponents in LaLiga.The Atleti head coach is wary of an in-form Betis side who sit fifth in the table, singling out defender Marc Bartra - who returned to Spanish football in January after a spell with Borussia Dortmund - for special praise.

    "It's always important to do things well. We have to keep on fighting to improve ourselves and try to maintain our position in LaLiga," Simeone told the media.

    "We're going to face a team that's playing very well. They've won six straight matches and they've been playing good football. They've improved a lot defensively since Bartra arrived.

    "Since then, they've encountered a balance between their offence and defence. This is why they're having one of their best seasons in LaLiga."
     

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    AC Milan 0 Benevento 1: Rossoneri suffer again as bottom side stave off relegation...for now

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    Ten-man Benevento inflicted misery on AC Milan for the second time this season as a 1-0 win at San Siro on Saturday momentarily prolonged their fight against relegation.

    Needing three points to remain a remote mathematical chance of avoiding the drop, the visitors grabbed exactly that as Pietro Iemmello's first-half strike secured a memorable fifth victory of the campaign and the club's first away from home in Serie A.

    The result was threatened by a late second yellow for substitute Cheick Diabate, but the bottom side held on to secure a result that bore resemblance in its significance to the teams' dramatic 2-2 draw in December, Benevento on that occasion claiming their first Serie A point in what was Gennaro Gattuso's maiden match.




    And the underdogs had equal reason to celebrate this time around, taking full advantage of a charitable Milan performance that almost began with them falling behind to what would have been a comical own goal.The Rossoneri, now winless in six league matches, did not avoid embarrassment for long, Iemmello netting in the 29th minute.

    Franck Kessie did hit the crossbar after the interval, but, despite their numerical advantage in the closing stages, Milan slipped up once more and are now at risk of being leapfrogged by seventh-placed Atalanta, potentially leaving next month's Coppa Italia final against Juventus as their best route to Europa League qualification.

    Gattuso recalled Andre Silva for his first start in five matches and the striker should have done better with an early opportunity, completely missing his finish after Fabio Borini's low cross in from the right broke promisingly.

    It was a rare moment of life in a sleepy start from the Rossoneri that almost left them red-faced in the 15th minute, Gianluigi Donnarumma forced into a scurrying clearance off his line from Ricardo Rodriguez's wayward back-pass.

    Instead, Benevento took it upon themselves to stir hope of an upset just shy of the half-hour mark. Nicolas Viola poked a clever pass through a static defence and Iemmello, ever so marginally onside, rolled a calm finish inside the near post.
    Milan sought an immediate response to the setback as Patrick Cutrone volleyed over a difficult chance before Giacomo Bonaventura twice tested Christian Puggioni from outside the box.

    Suso was called off the bench fewer than four minutes after the interval in a sign of Milan's intent, although it was at the other end that Danilo Cataldi curled a threatening effort marginally around the far post.



    Franck Kessie soon went closer with a thunderous strike that crashed back off the crossbar, while the persistent Bonaventura unfurled another two attempts that were capably dealt with by Puggioni.And the veteran goalkeeper continued to bail out his side under increasing pressure, impressively blocking a goal-bound Cutrone header.

    Benevento's nerves were heightened by Diabate's dismissal with 10 minutes to play, the striker picking up two yellows in six minutes – the second for a stray arm on Leonardo Bonucci – but Roberto De Zerbi's men impressively negotiated the remaining moments to come away with another historic result.
     

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    Tottenham loss to Man Utd will hurt for a while, says Kane


    Harry Kane believes the frustration from Tottenham's 2-1 FA Cup semi-final loss against Manchester United at Wembley will linger for the remainder of the season.United endured wave after wave of Tottenham attacks during the opening stages and Dele Alli slid him from close range to give the Londoners the lead from Christian Eriksen's 11th-minute cross.

    Paul Pogba struggled early on, but muscled Mousa Dembele to the turf to send in a sumptuous ball after 24 minutes for Alexis Sanchez to head an eighth goal in as many Wembley appearances.

    Kane and Alli came close before the equaliser and Eric Dier's deflected drive struck the post in first-half stoppage time, making Ander Herrera's 62nd-minute winner and Spurs' subsequent lack of a late rally tough to take."I'm as disappointed as the whole team are, the whole club are. It wasn't our day so it's frustrating," the England striker said.

    "Picking ourselves up for the Premier League is all we can do. There are four games left and that's the only thing to play for, to finish in that top four and it's important that we do."This one hurts and it will do for the rest of the season but we've still got a job to do."

    Aside from almost getting on the end of Son Heung-min's searching ball to the back post at 1-0, Kane endured a similarly barren outing in front of goal to the one he experienced seven days ago in the 3-1 loss against Manchester City."We've had tough games. Man City was a tough one, frustrating," said the 24-year-old, who returned ahead of schedule from an ankle injury earlier this month.

    "I feel good, I feel sharp. Sometimes as a striker you go through spells. I've still scored two goals in four games. It's not terrible form."But it's frustrating because in these big games, as a striker, you want to score goals and help the team but it wasn't to be."

    Following last season's loss at this stage of the competition to Chelsea and the Champions League last-16 defeat to Juventus, Mauricio Pochettino's side again had nothing to show for their efforts in a high-profile knockout tie where they had significant periods in the ascendancy.

    "It's hard say why," Kane added. "We started well, we went in front and then conceded a sloppy goal."At 1-1 no one created clear-cut chances. They took a half-chance and went 2-1 up and we struggled to break them down after that.

    "It was very similar to Juventus. We were on top for periods of the game. Today was a bit more even than Juventus."We just couldn't get the second goal. They did and they went on to win."
     

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    :love::yes:Comeback kings! Sanchez & Pogba prove worth in leading Man Utd to FA Cup final

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    After a period of three months in which both had been questioned extensively about their under-par contributions to the Manchester United cause, Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba combined to take down Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday to send Jose Mourinho’s men to the FA Cup final.

    Just as they had risen to the occasion after an iffy start against Manchester City two weeks ago, sparking a 3-2 comeback win for the ages at the Etihad Stadium, Sanchez and Pogba dragged United back into proceedings after Spurs had grabbed an early lead and taken the ascendancy in a dramatic semi-final at Wembley.

    But to believe that the game was over was to count against the quality and character of United, and particularly their pair of big-money purchases. Every time they fall short, there is an inquest as to why an £89.5 million midfielder and a forward paid £350,000 per week cannot make the grade. But days like these are the reason United shelled out big for them.

    The game could easily have got away from United in the first half. Spurs took the lead when Dele Alli turned home an excellent cross from Christian Eriksen after Ashley Young had gone walkabout and left the slowly-retreating Pogba to cover.And, for a period afterwards, a second goal for the north Londoners felt like an inevitability.

    Spurs were being allowed far too much time and space on the ball, whereas United for a time looked laboured and disinterested. But Sanchez’s equaliser altered the course of the game.Mousa Dembele decided to attempt a nutmeg on Pogba just 20 yards from his own goal and was easily dispossessed by the Frenchman, who delivered a wonderfully-placed cross into the path of Sanchez.

    While the Chilean still had plenty to do to beat Michel Vorm, his header was steered fantastically across the goalkeeper despite him having to stretch to get the desired contact.It should have come as no surprise that Sanchez would deliver when it mattered.

    This was his eighth Wembley goal for club and country and his fourth in three FA Cup semi-final appearances. And coming just a fortnight after having a hand in the three goals which stunned City, this was just another example of the quality United have finally started to see shining through.

    After a breathless first half, the second began at a much more sedate pace but it always felt as though that was just what United were looking for. As Spurs found trouble producing a killer pass or compelling piece of play, the Reds were waiting for their moment to pounce on the counter.

    It happened in the 62nd minute, with Sanchez making a run down the Spurs right.His square pass was just about within Romelu Lukaku’s reach, and the Belgian touched the ball toward the far post where Jesse Lingard cleverly left it for Ander Herrera to drill home the winner.In truth, United hadn’t looked back after grabbing the equaliser. After Alli put Spurs ahead David de Gea had no other save to make until a tame Eriksen effort from distance seven minutes before full-time.

    The defeat is an eighth straight failure at the last-four stage for Spurs, who have not won a semi-final in this competition since a Paul Gascoigne-inspired local derby win over Arsenal in 1991.

    But if Tottenham had ‘Spursed it up again’, United had showed their innate ability to deliver on the big occasion once more. Manchester United are a club built on their knack for filling the Old Trafford cabinet with silverware, and they will get another chance to do so here under the arch on May 19.

    Whoever they face, be it Chelsea or Southampton, they have to be the favourites. Because with the quality of Pogba and Sanchez and the character of players like Lukaku, Lingard and Herrera, they have everything needed to deliver on the big stage.Saturday was just a taster. The next step is making afternoons like this one the norm.
     

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    Alexis Sanchez: Adapting to life at 'big club' Man United has been tough


    Alexis Sanchez says it’s been tough going adapting to life at a "big club" since his January move from Arsenal to Manchester United, but he is looking forward to a third FA Cup final after scoring a goal in the 2-1 semi-final win over Tottenham on Saturday.Sanchez headed home his eighth goal in eight Wembley appearances, and his fourth in three FA Cup semi-finals, as United came from behind to see off Mauricio Pochettino’s side at Wembley.

    And while he has won the trophy twice with Arsenal, he says it hasn’t been an easy transition since arriving at the more demanding surroundings of Old Trafford in the winter transfer market.

    “In truth it’s been very hard for me, coming to a big club, it changed everything. So today I’m really happy, for the team, the goal and for the attitude we showed throughout the game,” the Chilean told reporters after the game.“It was a great pass from Paul Pogba, and when the ball was in the air I wanted to hit it to the near post but then I saw the goalkeeper go the other way so I changed to the far post to catch him off balance.”

    Sanchez also paid tribute to United manager Jose Mourinho’s drive for success, adding that he hopes to be a part of a title push next season under the Portuguese.“He is a coach that demands a lot, and when we lose he gets very angry. We need those kind of demands to get the best out of us. He asks me to play a free role, to enjoy myself, to attack, defend, to do everything!

    “What can we take from this season? It’s been difficult, I think next year we have to go for it. It was a tough change for me. The coach told me to speak with him as he’s not used to bringing in players in January. It has been demanding but we hope to win the final.

    “United are special because of their history, they have so much history on a world level. You guys can see that when you come to the stadium. The fans too, I have come here and I want to win everything next year with this team and with the coach.”

    The 29-year-old added that he has reached out to his former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger following the announcement of Friday that the Frenchman will step down from his role at the Emirates Stadium at the end of this season after 22 years.

    “I have already written to him, not on social media but I wrote to him personally. I sent him my congratulations and he thanked me,” he explained. “It’s sad because he is a football legend, a gentleman who shows respect and professionalism and I only have words of gratitude for him.”