..::Football IV::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Mourinho: Man United cannot just sign rivals' best players like Bayern

Jose Mourinho has stressed that Manchester United are no longer in a position to just sign their rivals' best players every season due to the increased competition in the Premier League, taking a swipe at Bayern Munich and the Bundesliga in the process.

The Old Trafford side regularly raided their competitors during Alex Ferguson's time in charge of the club, but Mourinho has warned such transfers have become nearly impossible these days, whereas Bayern still employ that exact strategy in Germany.

"That is the new football. When previously you were speaking about Sir Alex Ferguson's time, this is not Germany," Mourinho was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

"In Germany, Bayern Munich start winning the league in the summer. They go to Borussia Dortmund every year and buy their best player. One day they go there and get Robert Lewandowski. The next year, they go there, Mario Gotze. The next year they go there, Mats Hummels. So they win the league in the summer.

"Do you think I can go to Tottenham and bring two Tottenham players to kill Tottenham? I cannot. I cannot go to Arsenal and bring the two best Arsenal players. I cannot go to Chelsea and bring two of the players that I love very very much. That time is over.

"That time is over so the situation of starting being champion by attacking your direct opponents in this country is over. It is over and if you get a player from these clubs, you get a player that club does not want to keep. You cannot hurt any more your direct opponents.

"Obviously Real Madrid sell who they want to sell, Barcelona sell who they want to sell, Bayern Munich sell who they want to sell, Paris Saint-Germain sell who they want to sell. So then it is more difficult to have a very good market."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Torres renewal depends on results - Simeone

Diego Simeone has acknowledged that Fernando Torres' hopes of an Atletico Madrid contract renewal "depend on results" after scoring twice in Saturday's 2-0 defeat of Leganes.

Torres made only his fifth La Liga start of the season for the visit of Atletico's relegation-threatened neighbours, entering Simeone's XI ahead of Kevin Gameiro.And the striker repaid that faith with a solid display, scoring the opening goal with a clever finish on the rebound after Iago Herrerin had kept out Antoine Griezmann's penalty – which Torres won.

He then wrapped things up just after the break with another good goal created by Angel Correa's throughball and Simeone was full of praise afterwards, though he gave no assurances that the 32-year-old's contract will be extended beyond its current expiry date at the end of June.

"That always depends on the club, the coach, and all of that depends on the results," Simeone told reporters."He's had four fantastic days and that could be well seen, especially because of the strength with which he has been fighting.

"Despite not playing he has trained well and that has always been his greatest virtue. Hopefully he can continue like this."One player whose performance was not up to scratch was Saul Niguez, with the midfielder withdrawn at half-time and Simeone publicly singled him out.


"I thought he was not having a good game," Simeone said. "That 1-0 wasn't enough and I thought that with Correa between lines we could do more damage. It [the change] came off perfectly, which I welcome."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2017.02.05

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2017.02.05

Manchester City Vs Swansea

Leciester City Vs Manchester United

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Good Luck Manchester United!​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

LA Liga Fixtures 2017.02.05

LA Liga Fixtures 2017.02.05

Sevilla Vs Villareal

Sporting Gijon Vs Alaves

Real Sociedad Vs Osasuna​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Serie A Fixtures 2017.02.05

Serie A Fixtures 2017.02.05

AC Milan Vs Sampdoria

Atalanta Vs Cagliari

Chievo Vs Udinese

Empoli Vs Torino

Genoa Vs Sassuolo

Pescara Vs Lazio

Palermo Vs Crotone

Juventus Vs Inter​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Bundesliga Fixtures 2017.02.05

Bundesliga Fixtures 2017.02.05

Augsburg Vs Werder Bremen

Frankfurt Vs Darmstadt​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Full Time

Leciester City 0 Vs 3 Manchester United

Manchester United Goal(s)

H.Mkhitaryan 42'
Z.Ibrahimovic 44'
J.Mata 49'


​

 

[akilar25]

Full Time

Leciester City 0 Vs 3 Manchester United

Manchester United Goal(s)

H.Mkhitaryan 42'
Z.Ibrahimovic 44'
J.Mata 49'


​

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester United!

Well played everyone!

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'I have to win titles for the club' - Mourinho determined to become a Man Utd legend

Jose Mourinho says he is “a legend in my clubs” and hopes winning titles at Manchester United will earn him similar status at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese has enjoyed success throughout a distinguished coaching career, with an enviable haul of silverware collected at some of the world’s biggest clubs.
Early success at Porto – including a Champions League triumph - earned him a move to Chelsea, where he delivered Premier League and domestic cup triumphs.

Mourinho then won a Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League treble with Inter, before breaking Barcelona’s dominance in Spain and guiding Real Madrid to the La Liga crown.A second spell at Chelsea delivered another English top-flight title, with the intention to now emulate those achievements with United.

Mourinho is convinced that he will deliver, having already claimed the Community Shield and secured a spot in the EFL Cup final, and hopes his efforts at the Theatre of Dreams will etch his name into Red Devils folklore.

Pressed on what he has to do in order to become a club legend, Mourinho told reporters: “I have to win titles for the club, like I did in every club where I was.
“I am a legend in my clubs. I am a legend in Porto, in Inter, in Chelsea. I belong to their history really, really high.

“In Real Madrid I belong to their history. Manchester United I belong to the history because I have a picture in one room where all the managers are. But I won a Community Shield and nothing else.

“I think I am working really hard, harder than ever. But the reality is that the history is made by the numbers. It is made by the number of trophies.“My history as a manager is made by 23 trophies. It is not made by second, fifth, lost a cup, lost the final. The history is made by victories.

“In another three competitions we can win – we are there.“We have a 50 per cent chance of winning the League Cup. We are in the last 16 of the FA Cup and last 32 of the Europa League.”While he is a proven winner, Mourinho concedes that he needs to establish a similar mentality in those around him.

He added: “That is why we win things step by step. Competing, learning how to feel the pressure if you have a final to play, a final to win.“You have semi-finals. You are in the league. Your opponent loses 24 hours later. You need to win to recover these points. To feel this pressure. To cope in how to live with this.

“It is something that of course we don’t have enough of.“And the ones with a history of success where that belongs to their natural habitat are Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick.“Who else? Zlatan Ibrahimovic but not in our club. Antonio Valencia and not much else.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Milan 0-1 Sampdoria: Muriel leaves Montella's top-three hopes in tatters

AC Milan's top-three ambitions are in tatters after they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sampdoria at San Siro on Sunday.

A second-half penalty from Luis Muriel was enough to inflict upon Milan a third Serie A loss in as many games and extend their winless run to five in all competitions.

Vincenzo Montella's side controlled the majority of the play but looked like a team bereft of confidence, as a consistent lack of composure in attack saw opportunities go begging.

Gerard Deulofeu hit the post with their best opening but Emiliano Viviano's goal was largely untroubled after a busy first half in which he made good saves to deny Andrea Bertolacci.

Milan were punished as they continued to push forward, with Muriel converting from the spot after Fabio Quagliarella had been fouled following a counterattack, and Gianluca Lapadula missed a glorious late chance to equalise as Samp followed up an impressive win over Roma with another valuable victory.

Milan - who lost Jose Sosa to a late red card - stay 10 points behind Luciano Spalletti's side in the final Champions League spot, leaving them with a huge task in their bid to return to Europe's top competition.

Deulofeu was handed his first start for the club, while Juraj Kucka and Alessio Romagnoli lined up as full-backs in a makeshift defence as Milan's injury problems continued.

It was down the Milan right that Sampdoria carved out the best chance of the first half after 24 minutes, with Gianluigi Donnarumma reacting well to claw away Karol Linetty's strike from just inside the area after Kucka failed to track his run.

Bertolacci stung the palms of Viviano with two good efforts from 20 yards and Deulofeu was inches from turning Suso's cross into an empty net, as Milan stepped up the urgency in their play in the closing stages of the half.

Deulofeu spurned a glorious chance to open his account two minutes after the restart, the winger placing the ball onto the base of Viviano's left-hand post after being given time and space to steady himself when Suso's cross was parried into his path.

Mario Pasalic steered a shot inches wide from the lively Deulofeu's pass as Samp continued to invite pressure, but frustrations were growing around San Siro as persistent poor play in the final third halted Milan's attacks.

And the home fans were positively irate when Muriel broke the deadlock against the run of play with 20 minutes to go. Cristian Zapata lost the ball near the halfway line and, after Gabriel Paletta bundled Quagliarella to ground inside the area from the resulting break, Muriel confidently swept home the penalty.

Milan turned up the pressure again but Viviano's low stop from Deulofeu's mishit cross summed up their lack of quality in attack, while substitute Filip Djuricic dragged a shot wide of Donnarumma's right-hand psot when he should have made it 2-0.

Lapadula shot straight at Viviano when played clean through on goal by Suso in the dying minutes, and Deulofeu's follow-up effort was blocked by his team-mate's ankle, with Sosa's second yellow card moments later compounding another disappointing day.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester City 2-1 Swansea City: Jesus the saviour for Guardiola's side

Gabriel Jesus scored a stoppage-time winner as Manchester City grabbed a thrilling 2-1 home victory over Swansea City to move up to third in the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola's men leapfrogged Arsenal and Liverpool in the table after winning a third consecutive match in all competitions thanks to Jesus' dramatic double.The 19-year-old - selected over Sergio Aguero - has now scored in his first two top-flight starts, only the fifth City player to do so.

City dominated the first half and should have reached the break with more than the one-goal advantage given to them by Jesus' early strike.

Swansea improved after the break and Gylfi Sigurdsson had a free-kick pushed onto the post by Willy Caballero, who was again preferred over Claudio Bravo in goal.

And the Iceland international then struck his eighth league goal of the season to seemingly claim a point, before Jesus intervened by scoring in the second minute of added time.

City's last-gasp victory ensures Swansea have now lost on all six of their trips to the Etihad Stadium.Paul Clement's men had won three of their last four league games, but stay 17th and just one point above the relegation zone after the defeat.

City made a bright start, with Leroy Sane's cross sliced wide by Jesus before the Brazil international had a penalty claim turned down after being challenged by Alfie Mawson.

Eleven minutes in, the hosts moved in front. David Silva easily beat the challenge of Federico Fernandez and, after Martin Olsson tried to intercept his pass to Raheem Sterling, man of the moment Jesus pounced to stab in from inside the six-yard box.

City, who brought Fernandinho and Gael Clichy into their starting XI, threatened again when Lukasz Fabianski made a super one-handed save from Yaya Toure's 25-yard free-kick.

Toure badly miscued a volley as he tried to connect with Silva's corner, before the midfielder tested Fabianski with a better effort from 18 yards. Sterling was booked for diving just before half-time in an incident which led to Silva's goal-bound effort being hacked clear by Olsson as unchanged Swansea failed to trouble Caballero.

But Caballero was called into action shortly after the break, pushing Sigurdsson's excellent free-kick onto the post after Fernandinho had fouled Olsson.

Sane's cross then hit Fabianksi's near post at the other end, but Swansea continued to improve as Mawson headed a good opportunity wide from Sigurdsson's corner.

City looked content to hold on to their one-goal lead when Kevin De Bruyne was replaced by Pablo Zabaleta, but Swansea soon grabbed an equaliser.Sigurdsson collected substitute Luciano Narsingh's pass and directed a low finish into the bottom corner from 20 yards to score in his third straight league game.

And just as it looked like City would be held, Silva delivered a cross from the right which found the unmarked Jesus, who had his header saved by Fabianski before tapping in the rebound to maintain a stunning start to his career at the club.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ibrahimovic sets new Premier League record

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has set a new Premier League record, becoming the oldest player to reach 15 goals in a single season.The former Sweden international joined Manchester United from PSG in the summer, and has made an instant impact at Old Trafford, netting 15 goals in 24 appearances for Jose Mourinho's side.On Sunday, he scored United's second against Leicester City, taking him to 15 goals at 35 years and 125 days old.

Ibrahimovic swept home from inside the area after good work from Antonio Valencia found him in the area, putting the ball through the legs of Wes Morgan and into the Foxes net.
Ibrahimovic swept home from inside the area after good work from Antonio Valencia found him in the area, putting the ball through the legs of Wes Morgan and into the Foxes net.

The former Barcelona man also made Premier League history earlier in the season, netting the competition's 25,000th goal with his strike against Swansea.Ibrahimovic now as at least 15 league goals in his last six seasons, stretching back to his time at AC Milan.

Since 2006 he has only failed to reach that landmark once, and at 35 years old he shows no sign of stopping.

Counting all competitions, the forward has also now scored 20 goals in 10 consecutive seasons. Way back in 2006-07 when he was with Inter Milan, he fell short of that target, but still scored 15 times.

In addition to those, Ibrahimovic has reached 15 Premier League goals for United in the third fastest number of games (23), following Ruud van Nistelrooy (19) and Dwight Yorke (20).

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratzzzzzzzz Ibra!

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Leicester City 0-3 Manchester United: Mkhitaryan and Ibrahimovic put champions to the sword

Manchester United gave their top-four aspirations a major boost as they cruised to a 3-0 win at Premier League champions Leicester City on Sunday.

Goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Juan Mata brought an end to a run of three consecutive league draws for Jose Mourinho's side, who are now two points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.

Leicester had lost their last three games in the top flight and only beaten United once in 17 previous meetings, but Claudio Ranieri's side produced the kind of combative display that underpinned their stunning success last term for much of the first half.

That was until United seized control of the match with two goals in the space of two minutes, Mkhitaryan breaking the deadlock with a powerful run and finish before Ibrahimovic became the oldest player to reach 15 goals in a Premier League season at the age of 35 years and 125 days.

Leicester fans had called for Mata to be sent off for a first-half challenge on Jamie Vardy and their frustrations were compounded when the Spain international made it 3-0 after half-time, having combined brilliantly with Mkhitaryan.

The match became a procession for United in the second half as they responded to weekend defeats for Arsenal and Liverpool to give themselves real hope of clawing their way back into the Champions League places.

For Leicester, a defeat in their 2,000th game in England's top flight leaves them firmly in a relegation fight, with the gap to the bottom three still only one point.

United interestingly opted to match Leicester's 4-4-2 from the start, with Marcus Rashford pushed up alongside Ibrahimovic, and both sides cancelled each other out in a scrappy and uneventful opening 20 minutes.It was Rashford who missed United's first presentable chance, side-footing over the crossbar after a brilliant run from Mkhitaryan and some good interplay with Mata.

United's frustrations were beginning to show against an initially impressive Leicester rearguard, with Mata a little fortunate to escape with only a yellow card for his late lunge on Vardy, although Kasper Schmeichel made an excellent save low to his right from another close-range Rashford strike.

But just as the teams looked set to go into the break level, United struck in ruthless fashion.Mkhitaryan netted first, prodding the ball past Robert Huth, racing into the penalty area and firing right-footed beyond Schmeichel despite the goalkeeper getting a touch.

Eighty-eight seconds later, Ibrahimovic doubled the lead, steering Antonio Valencia's low cross from the right back across Schmeichel and into the net after finding clear space 12 yards from goal.

Ranieri brought on Andy King and Demarai Gray at the interval in a bid to inject some life into Leicester's fight, but United needed only another four minutes to quell that resistance.Mata fed Mkhitaryan on the edge of the area and ran through to meet the Armenia captain's sublime reverse pass, before slotting beneath Schmeichel from six yards.

Riyad Mahrez whipped a free-kick narrowly wide but Mata should have made it 4-0 when he contrived to lift the ball into Schmeichel's grateful grasp after springing the rusty Leicester offside trap.

United knocked the ball around with ease in the closing stages, though Mkhitaryan skied a half-chance to make it 4-0, while Leicester now turn their attentions to a potentially crucial week in which they face an FA Cup replay against rivals Derby County and a league showdown with fellow relegation candidates Swansea City.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

I still haven't reached my target, says 20-goal Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he still has some way to go to reach his goals target for the season despite netting his 20th of the campaign in Manchester United’s 3-0 win at champions Leicester City on Sunday.

The 35-year-old became the first United player to hit the 20-goal mark since Robin van Persie scored 30 in the 2013-14 season, while he simultaneously became the oldest player in history to score 15 in the Premier League.

But the Swede insisted afterwards that he has a figure in mind for his debut campaign in the Premier League, and 20 is not enough for him even if he doesn’t expect to come close to the 50 he scored in his final season at Paris Saint-Germain.

“I have a target in my head but I will not say it. We are not there yet!” he told reporters. “This is something I have been doing every year, and this is nothing new for me… I keep producing.“I have 20 and seven assists, so the statistics so far are the same region as other years except for last year because that was a crazy year.

“I still produce and do my best and I get a lot of help from my team-mates. I know there were many people saying I would not even score 20, but that is not what I focus on.“For me the main objective is to help my team win, do the best and afterwards we will see what happens. As for the 20, we have some games left so hopefully it will become more.”

With his goal at the King Power Stadium, Ibrahimovic has now netted at least 20 goals in 10 consecutive seasons, and he also helped United to close the gap between themselves and fourth-placed Arsenal to just two points.And the striker believes United have the quality to secure a top-four finish, as exemplified in their stroll against the champions.

“It was a good performance but if we’d won the last couple of games the situation would be totally different. But we’re working hard and we want to reach the top four because to be champions would be hard, but this is the aim.

“It was a big gap a couple of months ago but the gap is smaller now and I think we are our own men because if we had won our games, and got the points we should have got, the situation would be totally different. But okay, now we look at the other teams and hopefully they’ll lose points.”


United face Watford on Saturday in their next fixture of a busy season, and they know that a victory could take them into the top five spots for the first time since September.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'To be good in counter attack is suddenly art' - Mourinho in sly dig at Conte plaudits

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has seemingly aimed a dig at Chelsea counterpart Antonio Conte, suggesting that the Italian is earning praise for an approach he used to be criticised for.

The Red Devils boss forged a reputation for being “ruthless” in his approach, with his sides at Stamford Bridge, Inter Milan and Real Madrid famed for their defensive strength. He was happy for his teams to operate on the counter-attack and accumulate positive results and trophies by any means necessary.

His methods were not always well received, however, and the Portuguese has altered his ways since arriving at Old Trafford, having been made aware of the expectation at United to play attractive football.

While doing so, Mourinho has seen his permanent successor at Chelsea earn plenty of plaudits for tightening up the Blues at the back and making them a threat on the break.

Clearly frustrated, Mourinho said of the change of mentality in English football: “My team is playing very well but for many, many years in my career, especially in this country, when my teams were ruthless and phenomenal defensively, and very good in the counter attack, I listen week after week that it was not enough in spite of winning the title three times.

“It looks like this season to be phenomenal defensively and good in counter attack is art, so it was a big change in England.“But my Manchester United, I don’t want to change the profile of our play, this is the way the fans want us to play, this is the way the club wants us to play.

“But I also don’t want to be a manager of a team who plays very well, creates a lot of chances and doesn’t win matches. We need to score goals.”Mourinho was speaking after seeing his United side sweep past reigning Premier League champions Leicester City 3-0 at the King Power Stadium.

The Red Devils are now 15 games unbeaten in the English top-flight, a run which stretches back to a 4-0 reversal at Chelsea in October 2016.

They continue to occupy sixth spot in the standings, but are now just two points adrift of the Champions League places.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Madrid still lead La Liga, but fixture pile-up could hit their title hopes

It was just what Real Madrid did not need. With one Primera Division match more than their rivals still to be played, due to the club's participation in the Club World Cup in December, Los Blancos now have another game to fit in later this season.

That is because Sunday's Liga match away to Celta Vigo was postponed after severe storms in Galicia caused damage to the Balaidos stadium, which was deemed unsafe to host the fixture.

Good news for Celta, with extra rest for the squad ahead of the team's Copa del Rey semi-final second leg away to Alaves on Wednesday night. But bad news for Real Madrid.

Zinedine Zidane's side were knocked out of the Copa del Rey in the last eight by Celta after a 2-1 home defeat and a 2-2 draw at Balaidos. However, Sunday's visit in La Liga looked likely to be less difficult with the Galicians focused on the cup competition and expected to rest a number of players.

But not now. While Alaves (who beat Sporting Gijon 4-2 on Sunday) have complained to La Liga that Celta will now have an unfair advantage on Wednesday after their weekend fixture was called off, Madrid will also feel somewhat aggrieved and face a more difficult test when the game is finally played.

Some supporters of Los Blancos have boasted that their team still leads La Liga, despite having played two games fewer than their rivals. And while that is indeed true, Madrid would surely rather have the points on the board.

As things stand, Real sit on top of the table with 46 points from their 19 matches, with Barcelona one back (having played 21 games) and Sevilla (also 21) three behind Los Blancos.

Victories against Valencia and Celta away in the two outstanding fixtures would bring six more points, but of course there is no guarantee they will win those games.

The match at Mestalla will now take place on February 22nd, in a midweek fixture when there is Champions League football but not involving Real (who play Napoli a on the 15th). And that rescheduled encounter comes between Liga games at home to Espanyol (February 18th) and away to Villarreal (on the 26th).

Valencia are currently in a sorry state and lost 4-0 at home to Eibar in La Liga on Saturday. Nevertheless, a trip to Mestalla is rarely easy for Real and that fixture brought the Rafa Benitez era to an end last term as the Spanish coach was axed following a 2-2 draw in Valencia.

Home games against Espanyol seldom trouble Madrid, but facing both Valencia and Villarreal away in the space of five days is not ideal for Zidane's side and the trip to Vigo could also prove problematic - and likely tougher too than it would have been against a side distracted by the Copa, which would have been the case on Sunday.

There is no fixed date for the rescheduled fixture yet and it will depend on the sides' respective progress in Europe. If Real reach the Champions League final and Celta advance to the Europa League showpiece, the only available date will be between May 15th and 21st, when La Liga ends.That would be bad timing if Madrid need the points to claim the Primera Division title, while an earlier date could also be an unwanted distraction amid the final stages of both La Liga and the Champions League.

So even though Zidane's side remain in a strong position on top of the table at this stage, these two games in hand could yet prove to be more of a curse than a blessing for Los Blancos in the race for the title.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Hazard: I'm a better player than in 2015

Chelsea star Eden Hazard believes he is a better player now than when he inspired his side to the Premier League title in 2014-15.

The Belgium international has recaptured some of his most spectacular form this season after struggling badly to make an impact in the Blues's miserable title defence last term.

Hazard scored a stunning solo goal in Saturday's 3-1 win over Arsenal - a result that saw Antonio Conte's side hold a nine-point gap at the top of the table with 14 matches left to play.

The 26-year-old was named the league's best player by the Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers' Association when the Blues won the title two years ago, but he feels he is eclipsing those standards.

Asked if he is now a more rounded player, he said: "Yes, maybe. With experience you get more. I think I'm a better player. But I think we are in better form as a team. It's not just me.

"A couple of years ago I was on fire. Maybe I can score more goals this season. We have a lot of games to play, we will see."I try to be this kind of player that when I get the ball I do something. From the moment I get the ball, I try to do something."Sometimes in the past, I don't touch the ball for 20-30 minutes. But now I try to touch the ball all the time and play my football for my team-mates.

"The manager asks a lot of me. A lot. When we don't have the ball, he wants me to defend, to close inside and be ready to chase the diagonal [pass], and when we do have it I have to counterattack and be free, always trying to do some 'magic' like I did here.

"We all enjoyed this game. It's always good to score this kind of beautiful goal in a big game, and this was a big game."