Harry Robinson takes a closer look at Manchester United’s defeat to rivals Manchester City at the weekend and believes that Louis van Gaal’s side have not lost their identity. As the nerves shot throughout my body with just minutes to go until Michael Oliver began the 168th Manchester derby, a small grin, a little smirk crept its way through the tension as Luke Shaw and Adnan Januzaj stood near the back of the eleven players hoping for a huge win away at Manchester City. Shaw, 19 years and 114 days old. Januzaj, 19 years and 271 days. Two players, who…
Author: Staff Writer
Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw in Maribor after Jasmin Handanovic denied Eden Hazard a late penalty to earn the home side a point. Nemanja Matic cancelled out a stunning strike from Agim Ibraimi but Handanovic’s heroics mean that Chelsea have it all to do in the final two group games to secure their passage to the next round. Chelsea dominated the early goings as they tested Handanovic through Didier Drogba and Nemanja Matic, however, the home side shocked most when they took the lead through Ibraimi, who hit a delightful effort from around 20 yards out. Jose Mourinho’s…
Manchester City are on the verge of Champions League elimination after their nine men lost 2-1 at home to CSKA Moscow. Seydou Doumbia was the man who caused City all sorts of problems as he scored either side of a Yaya Toure free-kick to earn the Russian side a deserved win and one that has disastrous circumstances for the English champions. Both Fernandinho and Toure were both sent off for City as Manuel Pellegrini’s side began to become frustrated at failing to break down their opponents. City will now be knocked out of the tournament if they lose to Bayern…
Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany has said that he would never consider moving to the Gunners, even for £60 million and two Ferraris. The Belgian international responded to a tweet from Arsenal’s celebrity fan Piers Morgan, who had mentioned the possibility of the Man City defender joining the Gunners in the future. The enquiry came as Arsenal were being hauled back by Anderlecht on Tuesday night, letting a three-goal lead slip. Piers Morgan’s tweet: “@VincentKompany If I pay you £50m will you come and play for us?” Great club but no. Kompany’s tweet: “@piersmorgan: £60m & 2 Ferraris?” Those days have gone…
Midfielder Yaya Toure believes that his side can pull together and overcome their poor Champions League form this week as they prepare to face CSKA Moscow. City find themselves in desperate form and on the verge of being eliminated from the competition, however, Toure, who win the Champions League with Barcelona in 2009; believes that he and his team-mates can overcome their recent problems and pull through. Talking exclusively to Goal, Toure said: “It’s the most beautiful competition in Europe. All the big clubs go until the semi-final of the Champions League, and if we want to compete at that…
Manchester United striker Robin van Persie has played down reports that he and Schalke striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar are still at war after an altercation whilst on international duty. Both players were involved in an altercation as Netherlands came from behind to beat Kazakhstan in their last Euro 2016 outing, but Van Persie has played down reports that the argument is still lingering. “Klaas and I spoke widely about it. We’re both winners and have a lot of respect for each other as football players. “I do understand that a moment like that drives the whole discussion. It is showed widely…
Manchester United striker Robin van Persie has revealed that Netherlands boss Guus Hiddink held ‘crisis’ talks with him over the national side’s recent form. The 31-year-old Dutch captain has led the team in their first three Euro 2016 qualifiers with two of those ending in defeat to Iceland and Czech Republic. And, the former Arsenal man has revealed recent talks with boss Hiddink about the state of the national side. He told Algemeen Dagblad: “It was a good, open and honest conversation. It was a critical talk, but it had to be. I understood that Hiddink will talk with other…
Liverpool-bound striker Divock Origi could become “a truly great player”, claims Lille defender Simon Kjaer. The 19-year-old has scored five goals in 14 games for Lille this season, having returned to the club on loan from Liverpool, who completed a permanent deal for the striker this summer. And, his Lille team-mate Kjaer has spoken of his qualities, saying he will go on to become a ‘great’ at Liverpool when he returns next June. “He could be a truly great player for Liverpool,” the Dane told the Daily Mirror. “He has got great potential and could become one of the best…
Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker wants his side to take the 3-3 draw against Anderlecht on Tuesday night as a ‘warning’. The Gunners were 3-0 up after an hour at home in Tuesday’s Champions League clash but saw their three goal lead slip as the Belgian champions drew 3-3. Mertesacker admits that he and his team-mates are to blame for the result and said that they need to do more to ensure a win. He told the press: “That was a good warning that everyone should raise their game and give maybe 10 per cent more when it is needed. “When…
Arsenal legend Paul Merson branded Arsene Wenger’s men “tactically clueless” after they let slip a 3-0 lead against Anderlecht on Tuesday evening. The Gunners were in a superb position to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League after goals from Mikel Arteta, Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave them a 3-0 lead over Anderlecht. However, three late goals from the Belgian champions saw the game end 3-3 and give Arsenal a nervous remaining few group games. “If I’m being honest, I think they’re tactically clueless,” he told Sky Sports. “That’s an honest opinion. How you can be 3-0…