Author: Staff Writer

http://gty.im/463193698 Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has played down the importance of Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren’s return to St. Mary’s Stadium this weekend as Liverpool travel south. The duo were included in a trio of former Southampton players to depart for Liverpool this summer, which also see striker Rickie Lambert arrive on Merseyside. Much talks has burdened Liverpool’s clash with Southampton this coming weekend, but Saints boss Koeman has played down the their return. “You are the agent of Lovren and Lallana?,” he told reporters. “Maybe the team with Lovren was still stronger, but we did a great job to…

http://gty.im/463754004 Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has spoken of his disgust at the racism incident that occurred on Tuesday night as his side faced Paris Saint Germain. After Chelsea had recorded a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain, an amateur video emerged of a number of Chelsea supporters pushing a black man and stopping him from getting on a train, before signing songs which were said to be racial. The Premier League leaders have since suspended three fans connected with the incident, and boss Jose Mourinho has further condemned those involved. The 52-year-old told reporters: “I felt ashamed when I found out…

http://gty.im/463694810 Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has admitted that the performances of his team have never left him feeling content and he eyes further improvement. Despite sitting third in the table which is a drastic improvement on last season for the Old Trafford side, United have come under heavy criticism for a change in style, but Van Gaal has spoken about his desire to improve performances this season. The Dutchman told reporters: “I am never happy. You never can play the perfect match, but I think we can play better than we show now. “The main thing is to…

http://gty.im/158897077 West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce has revealed that new signing Nene is unfit and will need two weeks before he is available for selection. The former Paris Saint-Germain striker signed for the Hammers earlier this week after being released from Qatari side Al-Gharafa last month. However, despite his arrival, Hammers boss Allardyce has said the Brazilian needs time to build up his fitness. “Nene isn’t ready physically yet,” he told reporters. “He’s just started training with us, it’ll be about 10 days maybe two weeks before he’s ready. “It’s great to have a player like Nene, with his…

http://gty.im/463882182 Jamie Carragher believes that Mario Balotelli was the correct man to take Liverpool’s penalty against Besiktas in the Europa League on Thursday evening. Balotelli started an on-field debate when he snatched the ball from on the night captain Jordan Henderson, leading to a debate, despite scoring from the spot and winning the game for Liverpool. Club captain Steven Gerrard described the act a ‘disrespectful’ one by the Italian striker, but Carragher believes he was the right man to take the spot kick. Carragher tweeted: “Just heard it was Henderson supposed to be on them not Sturridge, more reason for…

http://gty.im/463200986 Manchester United striker Robin van Persie has been declared by boss Louis van Gaal for the tie against Swansea City on Saturday afternoon. The 31-year-old Dutch striker has scored 10 times this season but missed United’s 3-1 win over Preston North End in the FA Cup on Monday night through an injury problem. Van Persie has had an indifferent season but Van Gaal is keen to have a fully fit squad available for the season run in, which he hopes will see United qualify for Champions League football. The former Arsenal striker has now been added as part of…

http://gty.im/463757544 Dani Alves’s agent, Dinorah Santa Ana, has hit out at Barcelona for not offering the defender a new deal. The 31-year-old’s existing deal runs out at the end of the season and he has been linked with a number of European sides, including Paris Saint Germain and Manchester United. Some reports in Catalan press claim that officials from Barca have offered a one year extension to the Brazilian international, but his agent has denied such reports. “It is not true that Barcelona have offered Dani Alves a new one-year deal,” Dinorah told COPE. “Disappointed is not the right word, but…

http://gty.im/461686128 Miralem Pjanic has dismissed contact with Liverpool after reports linking him with a £37m move to Anfield. Brendan Rodgers flew to the Italian capital last week following the 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League to begin negotiations with Roma over Pjanic. Liverpool are keen to replace Steven Gerrard, who is leaving the club for MLS side LA Galaxy this summer and they see the Bosnian midfielder as the perfect signing. However, when asked if he was aware of interest from Liverpool, Pjanic said that he was concentrating on his season with Roma. “It’s not time to…

http://gty.im/463415738 Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has described Tuesday’s racism incident involving a group of Chelsea fans as ‘pathetic and dreadful’. Chelsea are working hard behind the scenes to act on the incident which saw a number of Chelsea fans push a black man and stop him from boarding a train on the Paris underground, before directing racist chants in his direction. Video footage of the incident has occurred and three supporters have already been suspended by the Premier League leaders. When asked about the incident in this morning’s press conference, Wenger said: “It looked pathetic and dreadful. Unfortunately we have…

http://gty.im/463502480 Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has played down reports linking Santi Cazorla with a move to Atletico Madrid. The 29-year-old had become unsettled in London following the World Cup in Brazil, after which he was used more as a substitute than a regular starter, although his improved form has now seen him become one of Arsene Wenger’s most reliable players. Spanish champions Atletico have maintained their interest, having made a January move, which was rejected by the Gunners. Cazorla, who joined Arsenal in 2012 from Malaga has less than 18 months remaining on his current deal at the Emirates stadium…