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Tag: Manchester United

  • Ryan Giggs backs Mourinho, says nothing will change if he’s sacked

    Ryan Giggs backs Mourinho, says nothing will change if he’s sacked

    Ryan Giggs has backed Jose Mourinho to turn Manchester United’s season around and says sacking him will not change anything.

    Mourinho’s challenge to his players to be in the top four by 2019 may already be over after drawing at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday, according to Giggs.

    The former United captain believes the club “needed to win every game” to achieve that, but has urged the club’s hierarchy to keep Mourinho in charge in order to bring back stability.

    “I don’t see why changing the manager at this stage will change anything,” Giggs told Sky Sports News.

    “Everyone knows what a successful manager he’s been over the years. I believe that bit of stability we’ve not had over the years – we need to stick with him.

    “But results also need to change. I think we’ve got the manager, the players to do that.”

    Giggs described Manchester United’s season so far as “inconsistent and frustrating”.

    He says the form of United’s rivals means “each game you don’t win, the task of reaching the top four is getting tougher”.

    Mourinho questioned his players’ heart after the goalless draw with Palace, while Giggs believes the team are suffering from a crisis of confidence.

    He the club to take a “baby steps” approach to turning their form around.

    “Manchester City and Liverpool, the teams up there, they are consistent,” he added. “When you’re not the gap is obviously going to be big.

    “When your nearest rivals are that far ahead of you it’s hard to take. It’s still 13 games into the season, time to claw it back.

    “But the only way of doing that is going on a run of seven or eight games unbeaten – small steps to build that confidence back up.”

     

     

  • Man Utd held by Crystal Palace in a goalless draw

    Manchester United suffered more frustration as they were held to a goalless draw by a spirited Crystal Palace – the sixth time United have failed to win in nine Old Trafford games this season.

    Romelu Lukaku had an attempt ruled out for offside, while Wayne Hennessey produced smart saves to keep out Jesse Lingard and, in the closing stages, Lukaku.

    But Palace, without a win in their previous seven league games and just above the relegation zone, created several chances to secure a first league win at the venue since 1989.

    Patrick van Aanholt twice went close, Andros Townsend blazed wide while a header by Cheikhou Kouyate was also disallowed for offside.

    This is United’s worst start to a season in 28 years.

  • United can be in top four by end of year – Mourinho

    Manchester United can break into the Premier League’s top four by the end of December, says manager Jose Mourinho.

    United are currently eighth, seven points off the Champions League qualification spots.

    “I know it’s a big gap,” said Mourinho, ahead of Saturday’s clash against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.

    “But I also know until the end of December we have eight Premier League matches to play, and with eight matches we are speaking about 24 points.”

    The 55-year-old, who has a near full-strength squad to choose from against Palace, added: “I believe we are going to be there.”

    United fell to a 3-1 defeat against Manchester City in their last match before the international break and Mourinho has confirmed Anthony Martial – his side’s top scorer so far this season – is fit after he picked up an injury in that match.

    “Anthony stayed with us, he didn’t go to the national team, the national team was aware of his problems and with permission he stayed, he worked really hard on that,” Mourinho said, referring to the French forward’s muscle problems.

    “He was in a pre-injury situation, he worked really hard, he’s ready for tomorrow, he plays for tomorrow. Is he ready to play three in a row in the same week? I don’t know, but the most important match is the next.”

    Midfielder Marouane Fellaini is also fit after missing international duty with Belgium, while Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba are also available to face Palace after shaking off minor injuries.

    United then host Arsenal in the league on 5 December before a trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool on 16 December.

  • City blast one past United as Manchester derby gets underway

    Manchester City have put one goal past Manchester United as both teams lock horn in the Manchester derby.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports David Silva blasted the goal past David de Gea at minute 12 to put City ahead of the contest.

    The pressure tells on the United defence and David Silva fires the home side into the lead.

    Sterling was the architect of the goal as he whipped a dangerous ball across the face of goal from the left flank.

    Bernardo Silva collected and squared his pass into the six-yard box.

    Aguero looked to have been fouled before David Silva was able to gather the loose ball and place his effort past De Gea.

    With the goal, David Silva has now scored in three consecutive home games in all competitions for Manchester City for the first time.

     

  • Man Utd must grow up or face more defeats – Mourinho

    Man Utd must grow up or face more defeats – Mourinho

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said his team will lose more matches if they do not ‘grow up’ and ‘start well’.

    United rallied from 1-0 down to beat Juventus 2-1 on Wednesday – the fourth time they have come from behind to avoid defeat this season.

    Mourinho’s seventh-placed side face Premier League leaders Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

    “If we keep conceding goals before the opponent, there will arrive the day where we cannot come back,” he said.

    United were 2-0 down to Newcastle in their Premier League match on 6 October but won 3-2. Two weeks later they conceded the first goal against Chelsea but fought back to draw 2-2.

    Against Bournemouth last weekend, Marcus Rashford’s 92nd-minute goal gave them a 2-1 win after conceding in the 11th minute.

    In Turin on Wednesday, Cristiano Ronaldo put Juventus ahead but an 85th-minute free-kick from Juan Mata and an Alex Sandro own goal four minutes later saw United complete a famous Champions League comeback.

    “We are not a team that gives up,” said Mourinho. “We are a team that always finds a way to fight back.

    “We have to make sure that we grow up, not just in our approach, because I think it is clear that the team is growing up, but we also have to grow up in our compactness and to start matches well.”

    United could be bolstered by the return of Romelu Lukaku for Sunday’s derby, with the Belgium striker missing the Bournemouth and Juventus games because of injury.

    “Lukaku is training with the team this morning,” said Mourinho. “If the answer is positive and we have, of course, one more session tomorrow, but if the answer is positive then he is ready.”

    United finished second in the league last season – 19 points behind City. This season They are seventh, nine adrift of Pep Guardiola’s side.

    The last meeting between the sides in April saw United come from 2-0 down at half-time to win 3-2 and delay City clinching the title.

    Mourinho was cautious when asked if his side will go toe-to-toe against City’s attack-minded team.

    “We are going to try. I cannot say that we are going to be successful in our motivations and desires,” said the Portuguese.

    “But we played two difficult matches away against two very good teams, Chelsea and Juventus, and we managed to get good results.

    “Even if the good results were not in our pockets, the performances were there. The positive attitude was there, so we are going to try.

    “I don’t think it [the Manchester derby] is special because of what happened last season. It’s special because it is a Manchester derby and it means what it means.”

  • Champions League: Man Utd fight back to beat Juventus

    Champions League: Man Utd fight back to beat Juventus

    Manchester United stunned Juventus with two goals in the final five minutes to beat the Italian champions in Turin and give themselves a good chance of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages.

    Juan Mata curled in a free-kick with five minutes to go, before Ashley Young’s set-piece was bundled into his own net by Juventus defender Alex Sandro.

    Cristiano Ronaldo had put the hosts ahead with an outstanding volley against his former club.

    Ronaldo watched Leonardo Bonucci’s long pass over his shoulder before lashing it past United goalkeeper David De Gea for his first goal in the competition since signing for the Serie A leaders.

    Juventus had hit the frame of the goal either side of half-time, with Sami Khedira striking a post and Paulo Dybala curling an effort on to the bar.

    Jose Mourinho’s side offered little attacking threat at the other end, until substitute Mata beat goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny with a well-placed free-kick from the edge of the box in the 86th minute.

    Three minutes later and another United free-kick proved Juventus’ undoing, as Young’s in-swinging delivery was inadvertently turned in under pressure by Sandro from close range.

    The visitors’ late double keeps them second in Group H and two points above Valencia, who beat Young Boys 3-1 in the early kick-off, with two games still to play.

    BBC

  • Man Utd must deliver complete performance at Juve – Giggs

    Man Utd must deliver complete performance at Juve – Giggs

    Manchester United have been plagued by inconsistency this season, and must put together a complete 90-minute performance to get anything from their Champions League game at Juventus later on Wednesday, Ryan Giggs has said.

    United were comprehensively outplayed in a 1-0 defeat to the Italian champions at Old Trafford last month.

    While they have beaten Everton and Bournemouth in their two matches since, Giggs said they are still blowing hot and cold.

    “I’ve been really impressed with United in the last four or five games, especially second half,” Giggs, who won two Champions League titles at United, told British media.

    “But I don’t know what it is. As a United fan you are scratching your head. They have proven they can give anyone a game, but if you don’t turn up for 45 minutes you will not win.

    “You have to turn up for 90 minutes and United have the players,” added Wales coach Giggs. “They were second best the other week, but I think it will be closer on Wednesday.”

    Reuters/NAN

  • Sterling is no longer scared – Guardiola

    Pep Guardiola says Raheem Sterling is a more mature and less “scared” player than the one he inherited when he first took over as Manchester City boss.

    Sterling scored two goals and made two more in Sunday’s 6-1 win over Southampton – a result that returns City to the top of the Premier League.

    He has scored six times in nine games in 2018-19, having scored 10 in his first season under Guardiola (2016-17).

    When asked what had changed in the forward, Guardiola replied: “His head.”

    The Spaniard continued: “The first season, he was scared, he was looking, who is the guy I am going to pass the ball to?

    “We spoke about that and said ‘try to score goals’. Now you have the feeling, where is the goal and go over there.

    “I have the feeling he is now enjoying scoring goals and making assists. He is becoming a winning player. He is stable and is focused on what he has to do to become a better player.

    “He is more mature now than he was when we first met at the club. He believes more in himself. Hopefully he can be more ambitious and think he can improve. He is 23 and he can be a better player.”

    Guardiola was asked if Sterling can now be considered amongst the world’s best players, but replied that the England international still has work to do to be ranked as such.

    “He is a top player but still is so young to be considered the world’s best,” said the City boss.

    “He is in incredible form, he is sharp, fast, clever, fighting, decisive, he can play both sides and can play in the middle and receive the ball between the lines and commit the centre-backs with a lot of aggressiveness.

    “It was an incredible performance but still with the young guys like him and Leroy [Sane] I would feel he can improve.

    “Still he loses simple balls, like the Tottenham game, when he made an amazing assist in the first few minutes but then lost a lot of balls.”

  • Mourinho wants Martial to stay at Man Utd

    Mourinho wants Martial to stay at Man Utd

    Jose Mourinho hopes Anthony Martial will stay at Manchester United and has challenged the forward to go from a “top talent” to a “top player”.

    Martial, whose deal expires at the end of the season, has rejected an extension offer, but that talks will continue. The club have an option to extend by a further year, Sky Sports reports,

    It is understood Mourinho was willing to let the Frenchman go in the summer, however, it appears Martial’s recent performances – scoring four in his last three league games – have changed his manager’s mind.

    Asked how confident he is of Martial staying, Mourinho said: “I don’t belong to the discussions of contracts.

    “I don’t even know their contracts in the sense of numbers and I’m really happy with that – to not have to participate in these types of discussions.

    “Obviously I hope we will agree. He is a talented player – everybody has known that since he was at Monaco. Another thing is a talented player with consistency and understanding what a football match is in the globality.

    “When you reach that level or are almost reaching that level is when you become a top player. One thing is a top talent, another thing is a top player.

    “When he is now much closer to becoming a top player, obviously I would like him to stay. I know the club very much wants him to stay so hopefully he is going to stay.”

     

  • Mourinho escapes FA charge over abusive language use

    Mourinho escapes FA charge over abusive language use

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has escaped punishment after a Football Association charge of using foul language following his side’s win over Newcastle United was found to have not been proven.
    The Portuguese coach was reported to have directed an insult in his native language towards a camera.
    The equipment was live tracking him down the touchline after his side’s 3-2 comeback win in the English Premier League at Old Trafford earlier this month.
    “A charge against Jose Mourinho for allegedly using language which was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper has been found not proven.
    “This followed an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today,” the FA said in a statement on Wednesday.
    “Written reasons for the decision of the Independent Regulatory Commission will be published in due course. This decision is subject to appeal.”
    Since their victory over Newcastle United, Manchester United have picked up four points from two games to move up to eighth in the league standings.
    Reuters/NAN