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ManU beat Liverpool at Anfield; Van Gaal calls it a morale booster for whole side

January 18, 2016 by

When Manchester United is being criticized for not dominating its opponents in last few weeks, its latest triumph over in-form Liverpool is like a fresh air in Red Devils dressing room. However, they win only by a single goal but the way they restricted the home side is impressive looking at their show in recent time. Wayne Rooney was the only scorer, his 176th in premier league, that too happened at 78th-minute that proves how nail biting that game was. Anyways, this win brings a kind of respite for under pressure Van Gaal whose job has been under threat after not winning a single one out of last nine played games. On the other side, it was like a shocker for Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp who looked confident for their win at home especially in front of own fans. Calling it one of their best this season, Dutchman said after the game, “When you beat Liverpool, it is good for the fans and for the table as our competitors also lose points, it is a big step in a good direction and I am very happy.

“In the first-half we didn’t keep the ball and we have survived the first-half. In the second-half we played much better and kept the ball better and created chances and Wayne Rooney makes the fantastic goal again. We have played against Newcastle and given away two leads and now we have done the things we have trained and discussed so that is most precious aspect of the game today. We won and we have won a lot of games in 2016 now and have not lost yet.”

Without being overconfident with just one show, former Real Madrid boss added, “We have a lot of matches still to go. We started 2016 very good with a lot of wins and I think this game will give a big boost to the players and the fans, and everyone in the environment of Manchester United. We have to continue, which is not so easy. We have seen that today but we can do it because we show every week we can do it.”

“No, I don’t think so,” he said if it was their best show. “You have to see it always in perspective. It is a fantastic win for the fans, for me and the players and it will give us a boost, and maybe in that perspective you are right. There are matches we have played much better than today, and in that perspective I can’t say it is a good day because Liverpool were the better team in the first half and normally we are dominating games.”

Filed Under: England, Soccer News Tagged With: ,

ManU missed a sure shot win against Newcastle: Van Gaal

January 13, 2016 by

Manchester United shoddy play continues and they drew another game with Newcastle, in fact, we should say they somehow managed to equalize the game. The match throughout has been struggling for the Van Gaal army and they never looked completely in control of the ball and St James’ Park side made no mistake in offering Reds Devils a tough fight until the end. The 64-year-old Dutchman had expected a three-point haul from the game before game starts and even on paper he was having a better team composition but his bad luck followed by highly demoralized side did not let them take control of the game. The game initially has been in control of the visitors when they were leading the scorecard by 2-0, perhaps, score was 3-2 in United favor with just eleven minutes remaining and then Paul Dummett scored the equalizer for the Magpies to send the visitors back disappointed. With this game ManU is now having just one win out of last eight games and this draught is getting worst with each passing game and even their standing on the board is getting deteriorated day by day; they are now at number six and it seems their qualification to the Champions League is highly vulnerable looking at the form of other sides eager to secure a space among top four.

Anyways, what Van Gaal said after game, is, “I am very disappointed, but we have to blame ourselves because we could have finished this match much earlier. There were big chances for Lingard and Fellaini and we didn’t do that. I have said that also to my players. The referee makes a decision on a penalty that maybe has a big question mark over it, but we could have finished the game by ourselves much earlier.

“There was the deflected shot from Dummett to equalise, but okay, that is happening and that is luck for Newcastle United. But you have to force the luck and finish the chances when you get them when they are so big.”

Adding about the penalties offered in the game and if those decisions of referee Mike Dean were correct, he said, “In my opinion, there is no discussion about the penalties. I have seen the video and you see Mbemba is putting his hand to the ball and that was why Fellaini could not head the ball. He did it with purpose and consciously, so that is a penalty.”

Filed Under: England, Soccer News Tagged With: ,

David De Gea refuses any discomfort in Manchester United dressing room

December 17, 2015 by

When you are out of form and not winning in the field, everyone starts digging to find out anything wrong in the dressing room even if there is nothing actually. Manchester United is one such side who seems to have lost it initial touch on the game that is why they are now finding it too hard to win games in both domestic as well European fronts. Their last win came on November 21 and they have since been on the radar of media and fans who are blaming deteriorating relations between players and team manager for the setback in the mid-season although none of them has said anything openly about it. This is true that United’s forward line is not as firing as they have been at the beginning and Van Gaal has also said several times he is unhappy with the way his strikers are playing these days, but all those criticisms were sporty without any personal ego fight whatsoever then why media is so interested in finding something wrong is not understandable to many. Club goalkeeper David De Gea assures nothing is wrong in the dressing room and refuses to accept whatever is being flashed across sports media.

Reportedly, players are inflamed with the style of leading being adopted by the Dutchman and apparently they are as well unhappy with Van Gaal’s recent announcement that Red Devils would impart in winter transfer window aggressively, which means, most of the current players would have to be fitted on the benches then. Talking about all these burning issues and if there is anything itchy in the dressing room, De Gea said, “There’s a great atmosphere. The dressing room is very together and united, they are a great set of lads and we’re all very happy with the group of players that we have and I think that’s really important in a team if it wants to achieve big things.

“I think that the Premier League is very competitive and there are a lot of strong teams, fighting hard to climb the table and fighting to win the league. It’s a real battle, this league is very tough to win and there will be a number of teams who will be in the shake-up for the title, like every year, and let’s just hope that we are right up there and in the hunt for that title at the end of the season as that would be very important.”

Filed Under: England, Soccer News

Klopp thanks home fans’ support during hardest draw of the season

December 14, 2015 by

Liverpool_FC

Every side has an advantage whenever it is up against any opponent on home turf coz home crowd is supposed to boost the morale of home team even if they are trailing decisively. Last Liverpool game against West Bromwich Albion at Anfield was one such game where hosts were once straggling by two goals and then it was almost sure they will have to face a surprising defeat but fans helped their side rejuvenate in the middle and gradually shred off the lead ending the game in a 2-2 draw. With that results, Reds’ board ranking improved by one position, i.e., they are now at number nine with goal difference of just one and manager Jurgen Klopp capitalized the opportunity and thanked his fans for not letting them down when they were under tremendous pressure. Visitors took advantage of the corners and Craig Dawson and Jonas Olsson exploited the opportunities by netting two goals. To answer their edge, 20-year-old Belgium Divock Origi scored the equalizer to earn some points out of a sure shot defeat.

Considering the game as the hardest for the new German boss, Klopp said in the post-match news conference, “We spoke about a special atmosphere, and it was a special atmosphere. It was such a hard game; we played on Thursday on ice and today against the wall. We played good, we created chances, but we got two set plays.

“I don’t know how many percent of our goals we concede are set plays — 98 percent or something like this — so we defended well, everything was good. Creating chances is not easy against a team like this, especially when you played on Thursday. You play against an opponent and they play long balls all the time, they only want set plays, free-kicks, whatever, so it was really, really hard.”

Adding about the response from crowd and if was grossly supportive, 48-year-old added, “Maybe the crowd was disappointed but they didn’t let us feel, and that’s the thing: we all were in the game, concentrated, we all wanted to get this one point at the end and it felt like three. In this moment, it was an explosion. It was the best atmosphere since I have been here. I really enjoyed it and at the end — I don’t know if it’s normal in England — I wanted to say thank-you, that’s all. Together with the team it was great, it was absolutely great.”

Filed Under: Soccer News Tagged With: , ,

Van Gaal promises a firing show against Wolfsburg in the Champions League

December 8, 2015 by

Manchester United seems to have been losing its touch over the form that is why they are slowly going down in the leaderboard and reason for this is obviously lack of their striking power where they are not able to fire goals to win games. Facing the heat from every corner manager Louis Van Gaal accepts to have completely failed in terms of leading the side in crucial moments, yet he believes they can comeback in the premier league in no time. If we look at last nine games played by the Red Devils, they could only net six goals in them which poses a serious threat for their champions league survival. Nulling the rumors about his sacking from the top club post, Dutchman promises their show in the upcoming Championship league showdown with Wolfsburg Tuesday night will be a completely different affair. Briefing a news conference ahead of their faceoff with Bundesliga side, 64-year-old said, “You never know for sure, but I have the experience as a manager that the goals shall come, because when you are creating chances at the end you will score and finish those chances. That is why we have that belief and it’s a matter of time and I hope we can prove it tomorrow already.

Adding about their odds in the UEFA league after having a starving domestic show, Dutchman looks far more determined this time especially considering their survival in the next Championship league stage, he said, “We have to fight also against Manchester City in the league, or against Liverpool and for the fans these are very important, but in this moment I believe this is the most important match, but that is this moment.

“It is also very important for the club to continue in the Champions League, also for the players because they want to show the qualities on the highest podium, and that is also why it’s very important. As a manager I have played three finals so that is a lot I think. We have won one and lost two, and my big friend was there. When you lose you are so close, so it is so disappointing, but now, we are in a qualification group — that is in my opinion different.

“You have to prove as a club, as a team, as players — you have to prove yourself that you continue, that’s why it is very important to beat the opponent tomorrow because we have to be undependable of the result of PSV Eindhoven.”

Filed Under: Soccer News, UEFA Tagged With: , , ,
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