Friday, 11 December 2015

INJURY UPDATE BEFORE BOURNEMOUTH TEST

Louis van Gaal has told MUTV that no fewer than nine players are unavailable for selection ahead of Manchester United’s Barclays Premier League match at Bournemouth on Saturday.

Bastian Schweinsteiger is suspended for three games now the FA has charged him with violent conduct after the German was involved in an incident with Winston Reid during last weekend’s West Ham game.

Matteo Darmian suffered a hamstring injury during the first half of Tuesday’s Champions League defeat at Wolfsburg and the Italian defender was substituted before half-time. Chris Smalling also picked up a groin injury in Germany but the defender gallantly played on until the final whistle.

Marcos Rojo and Antonio Valencia remain sidelined after undergoing recent surgeries on shoulder and foot injuries. Phil Jones, Ander Herrera, Wayne Rooney and Luke Shaw are also unavailable – although the positive news is that Morgan Schneiderlin is returning to fitness following his hip problem.

During his MUTV interview at the Aon Training Complex, van Gaal provided a full update on United's injuries: "It is not so good. We have eight injured players because Darmian and also Smalling we can add to this list, and Schweinsteiger is also suspended, so it's nine players who are not able to play.

"Schneiderlin is coming back, that’s not a problem, but we have a list of eight players injured and Rojo has been operated on this week and it takes a long time. These injuries are very heavy – Shaw and Valencia have also been operated on and that’s our problem."

On the busy festive schedule, the manager continued: "It is not beneficial for us because we have a heavy programme but I believe that Smalling, Herrera and Darmian are coming back before Christmas."

Following the 3-2 defeat at Wolfsburg and United's subsequent exit from the Champions League, van Gaal admitted his job this week has been to lift the players' spirits. "I try to but, of course, the players have to do that also by themselves, they are also the professionals," he told MUTV.

"They need to use their tools to lift them up and we have a lot to fight for, I think. So we are very close in the Premier League to the top. We can fight for the FA Cup and fight also for the Europa League, so I think we have enough to fight for."

Louis van Gaal: Manchester United boss has 'no doubts' over position

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says he has "no doubts" about his position and that his side must now try to win the Europa League.

'Just the Europa League?'

United's 3-2 defeat by Wolfsburg on Tuesday saw them drop out of the Champions League.

They are fourth in the Premier League, three points behind leaders Leicester, but have been criticised for their lack of flair and goals this season.

"I am working very hard to do what we can do," said the 64-year-old.

When asked by if he felt any uncertainty about his role, he responded: "No doubts. I don't have any. You can lose and win in sport, you have to accept it.

"The problem is that we have to meet with the expectation. At a club like Manchester United they are very high."

United's defeat in Germany meant Wolfsburg finished top of Group B, while PSV Eindhoven, who beat CSKA Moscow, reached the last 16 as runners-up.

Rio Ferdinand described the club's drop into the Europa League as "embarrassing", while other former United players Michael Owen and Paul Scholes were also critical of Van Gaal.

Speaking before Saturday's Premier League game with Bournemouth, the Dutchman was asked if he would be happy if he just won the Europa League this season.

He replied: "Just? You think it's just? I'm not thinking like that.

"I have already won the Europa League with Ajax in my first season, and I was very proud of that. For me, it is a big competition."

Thursday, 10 December 2015

Benzema banned from France squad

Benzema, 27, is being investigated over a blackmail plot involving team-mate Mathieu Valbuena but denies wrongdoing.

The former Lyon striker, who has scored 27 international goals, faces charges of conspiracy to blackmail relating to an extortion scam over a sex tape.

France are hosting this summer's European Championship, which gets under way in June.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is banned from playing for the France national team because of his alleged involvement in a sex-tape blackmail plot, report AFP.

Chelsea Recovery and Resurgence or a just Luck

Wednesday night was Chelsea’s ninth win of their season, but it felt like their first. It was not a narrow scrape, as most of them were. The 2-0 score-line understated their dominance.

Willan Celebrates after scoring

It was not against modest opposition, either, Porto clearly being in a different league from Norwich City, Maccabi Tel Aviv or Aston Villa. Nor was it a gift, as when Arsenal self-destructed at Stamford Bridge in September.This was an emphatic, unambiguous, important win that meant far more than merely deciding which European competition Chelsea will play in for the rest of the season.

This was the best performance of Chelsea’s season in what was predicted to be JoseMourinho’s last game. This was not just stabilisation but improvement and progress for the first time all year. This was the first sign all season that Mourinho can get these players back to their best and, therefore, that he is worth keeping in the job. What could be more important than that?

The story of this season, of the most dramatic collapse by any big side in modern English football history, has been the story of the players’ reactions to Mourinho’s methods. For all Mourinho’s obsession with external enemies, the main issue has always been internal.

When the season began, Mourinho tried to spark an improvement out of his players, hoping that they would not rest on their laurels. As he told them very bluntly, he was a “serial champion”. Were they?

Can they continue with this form and stop high flying league leaders Leicester City on Monday Night??? we wait and see

Next Match: Leicester City Vs Chelsea Fc