How bad is Manchester United’s attacking under Louis van Gaal? Fewer chances, shrinking shots and less goals – the numbers don’t look good for the Old Trafford boss November 11, 2015 Commands of “Attack! Attack! Attack!” have become noticeable in their regularity and forcefulness in recent Manchester United games. Manager Louis van Gaal has been criticised for appearing to force functionality into United’s cavalier DNA, as attacking moves become more synonymous with sideways passing than ferocious forays into the final third. But is the suggestion United [...]
Tottenham named Premier League’s best team for club-trained players amid new low in the division November 10, 2015 Premier League clubs are giving fewer chances to their young players than ever before, a new study has found. This season just 11.7 per cent of players in the league play for the club that trained them – down from 13.8 per cent last year. Tottenham are currently the most effective club at blooding academy [...]
Under-fire Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho needs to show more humility, says ex-Stamford Bridge boss Ruud Gullit November 8, 2015 Former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit insists a show of humility would be the first step in under-fire Blues boss Jose Mourinho arresting the tidal of wave of despair engulfing the Stamford Bridge club this season. Mourinho put speculation over his job security to one side yesterday as he watched Chelsea’s under-21 side defeat their Liverpool [...]
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger defends training regime as injury-hit Gunners fail to hit Premier League summit after drawn north London derby November 8, 2015 Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger defended the club’s regime after his injury-ravaged side missed the chance to hit the Premier League summit by drawing with rivals Tottenham in yesterday’s north London derby. Substitute Kieran Gibbs rescued a point for the Gunners in the final quarter of an hour after Harry Kane’s first-half strike had put Tottenham [...]
Alan Pardew urges Crystal Palace to use Liverpool win as springboard after Scott Dann’s late header ends Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield honeymoon November 8, 2015 Liverpool 1, Crystal Palace 2 Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew urged his team to draw belief from their latest notable scalp after the Eagles brought an abrupt end to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool honeymoon. Defender Scott Dann’s 81st-minute header lifted Palace to seventh in the Premier League, two points off the top four, after Reds midfielder [...]
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino revels in his side’s imperious fitness ahead of Sunday’s north London derby after moving within touching distance of Europa League knockout stages November 6, 2015 Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino revelled in his side’s imperious fitness ahead of Sunday’s north London derby against Arsenal after Spurs moved within touching distance of the Europa League knockout stages with victory over Anderlecht last night. Substitute Mousa Dembele was Tottenham’s match-winner with a spectacular half-volley with only three minutes remaining after fellow replacement Imoh [...]
Adidas share price soars as sportswear giant toasts Manchester United and Kanye West after smashing earnings expectations November 5, 2015 Adidas' share price rose over eight per cent in morning trading after smashing analysts' expectations for its earnings in the third quarter. The figures Sales at the German sportswear giant accelerated by 17.7 per cent from €4bn (£2.9bn) to €4.8bn, beating analysts' expectations of €4.5bn, while profit jumped 20.1 per cent to €2.3bn. Net earnings grew 20 [...]
Arsenal on the verge of Champions League exit – but England’s Uefa coefficient lead over Italy has actually improved November 5, 2015 Concerns England could lose a Champions League place have been cooled with England's coefficient position now stronger than it was before the competition began. England, along with Spain and Germany, are allocated four Champions League places thanks to their Uefa coefficient ranking. However, Italy – currently with three places in the competition – gained ground [...]
Arsenal Champions League hopes in tatters, admits Arsene Wenger, after Bayern Munich enjoy five-goal revenge November 4, 2015 Bayern Munich 5, Arsenal 1 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits their Champions League hopes are dangling by a thread after they suffered a record-equalling thrashing at Bayern Munich. Two goals from Thomas Muller and further strikes by Robert Lewandowski, David Alaba and Arjen Robben were just reward for Bayern’s superiority and matched the Gunners’ heaviest [...]
Crucial Champions League victory proves Chelsea have rediscovered their resilience, insists under-pressure Jose Mourinho November 4, 2015 Chelsea 2, Dynamo Kiev 1 Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believes his side rediscovered their resilience amid a second-half Dynamo Kiev fightback to record a crucial Champions League victory and relieve the pressure on the under-fire Portuguese. Visiting defender Aleksandar Dragovic atoned for his first-half own goal by levelling as the final 10 minutes approached, only for [...]