Wednesday, 19 February 2014

Man Utd still confident of beating Chelsea to Southampton starlet Luke Shaw

MANCHESTER UNITED are still interested in bringing Chelsea target Luke Shaw to Old Trafford and remain confident a deal can be struck with Southampton.

United boss David Moyes is desperate to add to his defensive options in the summer, with current left-back Patrice Evra likely to follow Nemanja Vidic out of the club.

The Scot had hoped to bring Everton's Leighton Baines to United, but failed to agree a deal with the Toffees for the England international both in the summer and the January transfer window.

With Baines having committed his future to Everton by signing a new four-year contract at Gooidson Park late last month, Moyes will now put all of his energy into striking a deal to secure Shaw.

Saints owner Katharina Liebherr assured manager Mauricio Pochettino and the club's supporters that star players Adam Lallana, Jay Rodriguez, Rickie Lambert, Morgan Schneiderlin, James Ward-Prowse and Shaw would not be sold.

But according to ESPN, a January offer, in the region of £22.5m made by United for Shaw, 18, is still on the table with Moyes eager to secure the services of the England under-21 international in front of Chelsea.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho is weighing up a number of potential options as a long-term replacement for veteran left-back Ashley Cole.

Cole, 33, is out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to be offered a new deal having lost his place at left-back to right-back Cesar Azpilicueta.
Despite having young left-backs Ryan Bertrand and Patrick van Aanholt at his disposal, Mourinho remains keen on adding to his ranks and is a huge admirer of Shaw.

Shaw has enjoyed a sensational time at St Marys' since making his full Premier League debut against Swansea City in 2012.

This season, Shaw has made 26 appearances in all competitions and has been a huge factor in the Saints' superb second campaign back in the top flight.

Ex-Chelsea assistant Ray Wilkins denies drinking problem rumour by revealing he has bowel disease

Ulcerative colitis is that same condition as that which has seen Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher miss much of the last two years

Former Fulham coach Ray Wilkins has announced he is struggling with ulcerative colitis - the same condition afflicting Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher.

Wilkins, 57, has revealed that he is combating the condition in order to dispel rumours of a drinking problem.

Wilkins' departure from Craven Cottage was made official on Tuesday night, with he, head coach Rene Meulensteen and technical director Alan Curbishley three of the names who have left the club to make way for new manager Felix Magath and his backroom staff.

Wilkins, last year banned from driving for three years after being convicted of drink-driving, remained in the dressing room after half-time in last week's home defeat to Liverpool, which has led to speculation.

And while the former England international has admitted that he can sometimes look "worse for wear" in the dugout, he insists the chronic bowel condition is to blame.

"I need to control the ulcerative colitis with strict medication, which I had not done before the Liverpool game," he told the Daily Mail.

"That is the reason I didn't return to the dug-out after half-time, as I needed to be close to a toilet. Unfortunately I can look the worse for wear but it is nothing to do with drink.

"I most certainly had not been drinking on the train before the match."

Chelsea star Eden Hazard hints at future transfer to Real Madrid

Chelsea star Eden Hazard has hinted that he would like to make a move to La Liga giants Real Madrid in the future.

The Belgian international, who joined the Blues from Lille in the summer of 2012, has been one of the revelations in the Premier League this term having netted 12 goals in 26 games for the West London outfit. The 23-year-old's form has attracted interest from many top European clubs in recent weeks and the former Lille star revealed of his admiration for Los Blancos. "Who wouldn't be interested in Real Madrid?" He said. Hazard has been capped 42 times by the Belgian national side.

Monday, 17 February 2014

MOURINHO: NOW LOOK AHEAD

Posted on: Mon 17 Feb 2014
Jose Mourinho has given further analysis of the weekend FA Cup defeat but also stressed the importance of the team putting the game behind them and focusing on the next challenge ahead.
Having won 1-0 in the league encounter with Manchester City so soon before Saturday's 2-0 defeat, comparisons between the two games are naturally made, and the Chelsea manager highlighted areas in the latest display that contrasted with what was rightly called one of the performances of the season.
'We didn't defend the same way,' Mourinho explained.
'We didn't defend with the same concentration and the same balance. Our defensive line was too far back, too deep, and we want to press as it is what we do very well, pressing the opponent in the opponent's half.
'We never did that on Saturday and defensive freshness was also clear. You could feel the Man City players without playing midweek were stronger and faster than some of my players. During the game the team was feeling that it was difficult to do it, and when you feel that, also from the mental point of view you are going a little bit down.'
With Man City preventing Chelsea from registering any shots on target during the game, Mourinho compared it to the away Champions League match in Basel when the same statistic was recorded, although he pointed out the Swiss side's overall strength cannot be compared favourably with the side currently third in the Barclays Premier League table.
'On Saturday, Man City were stronger than us so it is not a big story,' he added.
'My team didn't play so well and we couldn't get Eden Hazard into positions where he could be a threat. The kid tried everything by dropping back and trying to bring the game to them, because in the league game, in Willian, Matic and Ramires we had people able to bring the game, people to go into the midfield so Hazard was in positions to attack the space and to attack Zabaleta.
'But on Saturday the ball was not arriving, so Hazard was dropping back into the midfield to try and it was more difficult to beat one, two then three guys. He tried everything.
'It is always difficult to play two matches close together against the same team. For the first winner it is very difficult to go back when they reached the top and the loser has time to assimilate the defeat and create a certain spirit. I don't say revenge but a spirit of this time we have to do it. It is easier for the other team to react. They had that reaction and we couldn't be at our maximum level.'
Training resumes tomorrow (Tuesday) to prepare for the visit from Everton on Saturday, and the message from the manager to the squad will be clear.
'I don't like to lose but when I lose, instead of big crying I want the next match to come, I want to play, I want to try to have again the taste of the victory. I am never down with a defeat and I want to start working towards the next match, and hopefully I can pass to them this kind of spirit, this kind of message.'

Friday, 6 December 2013

MOURINHO: BIG EFFORT REQUIRED

MOURINHO: 'Stoke is difficult, they're a very physical team.......'

Jose Mourinho addressed the media at Cobham ahead of tomorrow's trip to Stoke City, with the Chelsea manager reporting he is yet to make a decision on whether Oscar, who picked up an ankle injury against Southampton last Sunday, will play any part.

Eden Hazard praised by Frank Lampard after Chelsea win at Sunderland

"The only player who is probably putting in those sort of performances is Sergio Aguero''

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has paid tribute to Eden Hazard following the Belgian's superb performance in the 4-3 win at Sunderland on Wednesday.

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