Euro exit will test Ferguson’s powers of recovery December 8, 2011 THE BIGGER they come the harder they fall, and after Wednesday’s double Champions League knockout blow, the destiny of the Premier League title could well be determined by which Manchester heavyweight is able to rise from the canvas first. While United, the seasoned, battle-scarred campaigners are famed for their powers of recovery, City represent the [...]
Tuesday option for Manchester’s Europa clashes December 8, 2011 MANCHESTER rivals City and United face a fresh dent to their pride with the grim prospect of having their home Europa League fixtures shunted to a Tuesday afternoon a distinct possibility. Uefa regulations prevent teams from the same city playing on the same day and with both teams guaranteed a home second leg by virtue [...]
City to take big step towards title December 8, 2011 IT has been a rollercoaster couple of weeks for Andre Villas-Boas, but he will be delighted with consecutive 3-0 victories against Newcastle and Valencia. Consistency has been a major issue for Chelsea, though, and they face a stern test at home on Monday night against Manchester City. The West London side have lost a disappointing [...]
Mancini admits his new kids on the block must improve to compete with Champions League elite December 7, 2011 MANCHESTER CITY 2 vs BAYERN MUNICH 0 MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini admitted his team must learn from their mistakes if they are to avoid a repeat of their embarrassing Champions League group stage exit next season. The Premier League leaders comfortably overcame an under-strength Bayern Munich last night thanks to goals either side of [...]
Win leaves AVB tactical quandary December 7, 2011 CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas may have delighted in muting his critics by reaching the last 16 of the Champions League, but Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Valencia raised just as many questions as it answered. Villas-Boas ditched his previously stubborn adherence to playing a high line, instead telling his back four to sit deeper. He also [...]
Blues manager has Roman’s trust December 6, 2011 HE’S FAR from out of the woods yet, but emerging from such a high-stakes match is a monumental boost to Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas. Elimination at the group stage would have represented the club’s worst ever Champions League performance, and would only have amplified calls for the Portuguese rookie to go sooner rather than later. [...]
Mancini riled by Rummenigge City tirade December 6, 2011 MANCHESTER CITY vs BAYERN MUNICH MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini has hit back at the criticism of his club from Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge ahead of tonight’s must-win Champions League showdown against the German giants. City have to beat Bayern and hope that Villarreal can earn their first point of the competition at home [...]
Ferguson: Uefa hearing won’t affect Rooney December 6, 2011 BASEL vs MANCHESTER UTD MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists striker Wayne Rooney won’t be sidetracked by tomorrow’s Uefa disciplinary hearing into his three-match international suspension and is fully focused on tonight’s Champions League assignment against Basel. Rooney is set to learn whether his appeal against the three-game ban handed down for his dismissal [...]
Defeat won’t spell end for Blues boss December 6, 2011 TONIGHT’S Champions League showdown against Valencia represents the biggest match of Andre Villas-Boas’s fledgling Chelsea career, but even were it to end in disaster I think Roman Abramovich would resist the temptation to sack him. Recent performances, particularly at home, hardly suggest Chelsea possess the wherewithal to contend with a hugely talented Valencia side, but [...]
Manchester rivals thrown together by FA Cup draw December 4, 2011 A SIMMERING rivalry that has already delivered fireworks this season is poised to be reignited after Manchester City were drawn against neighbours Manchester United in the FA Cup third round. Holders City, who thrashed United 6-1 at Old Trafford in October, could now inflict more misery on them by dumping them out of the FA [...]