Saturday, 16 August 2014

Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com

Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com

Arsène Wenger may go shopping again to increase Arsenals options

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 03:00 PM PDT

Defensive-minded player may be next into the Emirates
Calmest pre-season comes to end with arrival of Palace

Arsène Wenger believes Arsenal are a bit short in their preparations owing to his players exploits at the World Cup, suggesting that he may make another move in the transfer market before the window closes despite a calm and productive pre-season.

Arsenal begin their season at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday evening, one year after an opening-day defeat by Aston Villa ensured a difficult few weeks for Wenger amid much talk of crisis. However, the Frenchman described this summer as the calmest pre-season weve had following their FA Cup win in May, and as they also prepare for a Champions League qualifier at Besiktas on Tuesday.

Continue reading...

Malky Mackay heads list in Crystal Palaces hunt for safe pair of hands

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 03:00 PM PDT

Keith Millen takes temporary control for second time
Palace yet to make statement other than to thank Tony Pulis

The morning after the night before began pretty much the same way as every day for Crystal Palaces players, albeit with one major difference. Instead of finalising preparations for Saturdays opening match of the season at Arsenal with the Premier Leagues manager of the season, it was left to Tony Puliss long-term assistant, Dave Kemp, to deliver confirmation of what everyone already knew.

Yet the sense of disbelief at the former Stoke City managers decision to leave his post less than 48 hours before their trip to the Emirates extended far beyond the clubs training base in Beckenham. Club officials, including the co-chairman Steve Parish, refused to make any comment other than in the statement that was posted on the official website at 10am, which offered no explanation for the dramatic turn of events other than to thank Pulis for his efforts.

Continue reading...

Brendan Rodgers will not be making panic buy to replace Luis Suárez

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 02:30 PM PDT

Id be happy to go into this season with the players weve got
Rodgers believes Liverpool better prepared than last year

Brendan Rodgers is prepared to wait until the final days of the transfer window to sign a replacement for Luis Suárez but believes Liverpool are better equipped for this season regardless of if another striker arrives.

Liverpool have made inquiries for Radamel Falcao, Edinson Cavani and Samuel Etoo, among others, since the collapse of Loïc Rémys proposed move from Queens Park Rangers but will start the Premier League campaign with only Daniel Sturridge and Rickie Lambert as their front-line strikers. Fabio Borini is surplus to requirements.

Continue reading...

Yaya Touré will not be offered new deal by Manchester City

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 02:30 PM PDT

Manuel Pellegrini in no rush to prolong midfielders stay
Sergio Agüero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva sign terms

Yaya Touré will not be offered a new deal despite the midfielders disquiet at the close of last season, when his agent complained Manchester City had not given him a birthday cake.

While Tourés unhappiness may have been viewed as a way of improving his £220,000-a-week salary, the club are holding firm. Although Edin Dzeko is expected to agree fresh terms next week and Joe Hart at some point in the future to join Sergio Agüero, David Silva and Vincent Kompany, who all did so in the past few days, Touré will not be among them.

Continue reading...

Louis van Gaal admits Uniteds squad is below top quality

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 02:30 PM PDT

Only two players signed since Dutchman took charge
United manager wants players to prove themselves first

Louis van Gaal has expressed his first concerns about the state of Manchester Uniteds squad as he prepares for his opening Premier League match with a worsening injury pile-up and growing anxiety among the clubs support about their lack of transfer activity this summer.

Van Gaal revealed he had already warned the clubs owners, the Glazer family, and the chief executive, Ed Woodward, that the change of manager and implementation of a new 3-4-1-2 system might make it a difficult start to the season but, at that time, he had not factored in the possibility he might have only two fully fit senior defenders for his first game.

Continue reading...

Dejan Lovren: I never expected that I would be somebody

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 02:30 PM PDT

The refugee childhood of Liverpools new Croatia centre-back has inspired him to work hard and be strong

When he was three years old Dejan Lovrens family had to flee Yugoslavia or somebody would have been killed.

The central defender billed by Brendan Rodgers as Liverpools new Jamie Carragher endured a childhood that can hardly be imagined. Yet Lovren maintains this was crucial in forming an inner strength that has helped his rise to be the marquee summer signing for the five-times European champions. No wonder Rodgers views Lovren, who cost £20m from Southampton, as a natural leader despite being only 25. The man whose goal secured Southampton a fine win at Anfield last season is intelligent and open, willing to engage in debate and offer a range of opinions formed by his own experiences that include a challenge to those on these shores who believe immigrants can never be a force for good.

Continue reading...

José Mourinho on the offensive with jibe at Chelseas Premier League rivals

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 02:30 PM PDT

José Mourinho implies other managers are under less pressure
Some have 10 years to win something, I have only two

José Mourinho has reopened old wounds on the eve of the new Premier League campaign by suggesting that rival managers such as Arsène Wenger and Manuel Pellegrini are not held to the same high standards as him.

Chelseas trophyless season came on the back of a barren final campaign for Mourinho at Real Madrid before his return to Stamford Bridge but the Portuguese scoffed at the notion that such a streak means he is under more pressure than any of his counterparts to deliver the title this season. Why? he asked before adding: Some they have 10 years to win something, I have only two.

Continue reading...

Cheikhou Kouyaté warms to his new life at West Ham United

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 02:30 PM PDT

Senegalese midfielder arrived at Upton Park for £7m in the summer after seven seasons, and four titles, with Anderlecht

Cheikhou Kouyaté has never been afraid to suffer for his art. West Ham Uniteds new midfielder is used to it and he has been making sacrifices for a long time, ever since he left his family home in Senegal as a teenager and moved to Europe on his own. He has learned to be tough and hard work feels like the most natural thing in the world for a player whose soft voice belies a steely determination not to waste a single drop of his ability.

Kouyaté cannot stress precisely how much it means to him to be playing in England, so much so that there is a strong chance that he will ask someone to pinch him when he walks out against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon, just to make sure it really is happening. To play in England was a dream since I was a kid, he says. It became an obsession. I knew I had to come, no matter what.

Continue reading...

Champions League remains the target for Everton and Roberto Martínez

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 02:29 PM PDT

Aim remains the same for Goodison Park club despite the additional demands of a Europa League campaign Continue reading...

Stephen Ward completes move to Premier League newcomers Burnley

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 02:25 PM PDT

Left-back joins from Wolves on three-year deal
Ward becomes Clarets seventh pre-season signing Continue reading...

Ander Herrera: I would never have left Bilbao but for Manchester United

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 02:00 PM PDT

The Spaniard has many footballing heroes - from Sir Bobby Charlton to Luciano Galletti and the great enthusiast of the game wants to become a winner at Old Trafford

On the first day Ander Herrera walked into Carrington he was met by Sir Bobby Charlton. Just when he thought it could not get any better. The photograph is one of his prized possessions, his profile picture on Twitter, and Herrera looks almost offended when he is asked if he really knew anything about the man who won the European Cup and played 758 times for Manchester United, the club Herrera had just joined. Of course, he shoots back. Those of us who like football know about him and I love football.

It does not take long to realise that it is no exaggeration; as he talks, the enthusiasm is clear.

Continue reading...

Gus Poyet wants no more suffering for Sunderland in Premier League

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 01:59 PM PDT

Manager said he couldnt move after last seasons escape
Poyet says £14m Fabio Borini transfer still set to go ahead Continue reading...

Evertons Ross Barkley could miss two months with knee injury

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 12:05 PM PDT

Midfielder left clubs training ground with protective knee brace
Could miss seven Everton and four England games

Everton have been dealt a serious setback on the eve of the new Premier League season after Ross Barkley suffered a training ground injury that could sideline the England international for up to two months.

The 20-year-old damaged his knee on Friday during preparations for the campaigns opener against Leicester City and left the clubs Finch Farm training ground wearing a protective brace. The full extent of the injury will not be known until Barkley undergoes a scan on the problem on Saturday, although the initial concern at Everton is that their influential midfielder will be absent for between six and eight weeks.

Continue reading...

Per Mertesacker retires from international duty with Germany

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 11:34 AM PDT

World Cup-winning Arsenal defender ends international career
Earned 104 caps in 10-year spell in the German national team

Per Mertesacker has ended his international career at the age of 29. The Arsenal centre-back, who won the World Cup in his final game with Germany in Brazil, won 104 caps and scored four goals.

Mertesacker made his international debut in October 2004, against Iran aged just 20, after making an impressive start to the season Hannovers defence. The 6ft 6in defender follows Germanys captain in Brazil, Philipp Lahm, and the World Cups all-time record goalscorer, Miroslav Klose, into retirement since the victory against Argentina.

Continue reading...

West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland: match preview

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 10:37 AM PDT

Arsenal v Crystal Palace: match preview

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 10:30 AM PDT

Manchester United v Swansea City: match preview

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 10:15 AM PDT

Arsenal positive and confident ahead of Crystal Palace, says Arsène Wenger video

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 09:58 AM PDT

The Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, says his team are confident and preparing well for the match against Crystal Palace on Saturday. Wenger also comments on the departure of Tony Pulis from Crystal Palace, saying that Pulis did an excellent job at Selhurst Park. Continue reading...

Liverpool v Southampton: match preview

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 09:44 AM PDT

Burnley v Chelsea: match preview

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 09:32 AM PDT

Leicester City v Everton: match preview

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 09:04 AM PDT

Stoke City v Aston Villa: match preview

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 08:58 AM PDT

Newcastle United v Manchester City: match preview

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 08:47 AM PDT

Chelsea are title contenders, says José Mourinho video

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 08:37 AM PDT

Chelsea manager José Mourinho says he has a 'fantastic feeling' about the upcoming Premier League, adding that the rest of the team feel the same way. Mourinho also says he feels that Chelsea are title contenders. This season sees Cesc Fábregas and Diego Costa join the team for the upcoming Premiership. Chelsea play Burnley on 18 August at Turf Moor Continue reading...

Crystal Palace players and staff shocked by departure of Tony Pulis

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 08:32 AM PDT

Caretaker manager Keith Millen admits he had no inkling
Palace open their Premier League season at Arsenal Continue reading...
at

No comments:

Post a Comment