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Thomas Muller all set to join ManU, Philipp Lahm downplays his importance

July 21, 2015 by

This transfer window has been unique for one reason, it saw a maximum number of German players seeking switch to English sides especially Manchester United thanks to Van Gaal and his longest association with European clubs that is helping him entice players to join the Reds Devils. Bastian Schweinsteiger recently switched to England from Bayern Munich and now another Allianz Arena player could soon follow his footsteps if preliminary reports are to be believed. Although, there is no official statement from either club in this regard but close sources have revealed that league giant has offered some 100 million euros to the Bayern attacker which is an eye opening amount since probably no English side has until spent that much money on a single player. Anyways, even captain Philipp Lahm is not sure if they will carry 25-year-old into the field next season or they will have to look for an alternate for the in-form striker. Lahm shared his doubts over Müller availability in a press conference in Shanghai on Tuesday where he said, “In football you can imagine everything. It’s not my decision. In football, it goes so, so quickly. It’s not always only up to the player. There are clubs who get players, players go.

“In football everything goes very, very quickly. I think you can never give a guarantee that it will work like this or like that. As a result, I certainly can’t give any guarantee for Thomas Muller or talk about whether I can imagine. You can always imagine anything happening.”

His words were speaking launder than him and there was a kind of appeal in his language as if he was asking the player to rethink over his decision. Anyhow, this is football and money can do anything over here so there should be no gut feeling if anyone choses better perks at this stage of his career. Adding if they can recoup his loss, or if they can hold their best European club status, he replied, “We’re still a top club that every year, or in the last few years, has made at least the Champions League semifinal. We have a top team that’s very well-equipped this year as well and that can challenge on all fronts. So you don’t have to be worried about anything. And I’m definitely not worried about Thomas — I don’t think we’re going to let him go.”

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

Martinez criticizes Mourinho’s means to lure John Stones

July 19, 2015 by

Big sides are known for using evet trick of the book to bring a player they want and if we are talking about English sides, it becomes even truer since mentors over there are hard strategic and core focused over any player they see capable to help them sustain a good ranking in premier league. Yes, you guessed it right we are talking about Chelsea and its second term serving manager Jose Mourinho who is the master of playing mind games, we have seen his ability in the last season when he kept lambasting everyone and gained the sympathy that eventually helped them win the league trophy. According to reports, Portuguese is after Everton’s 21-year-old defender John Stones and has already offered a £20 million bid for the youngster which was rejected instantly by the Goodison Park side. Like all the previous examples, Blues boss is reportedly trying to convince the centre-back that he is having a better future if he decides to move to North London. Although. there is nothing wrong in this practice but this is something that is not being liked by the Everton boss Roberto Martínez who lambasted former Real Madrid boss for using unethical means to lure his player.

He was talking after his side’s defeat in Barclays Asia Trophy final to Arsenal in Singapore and made it clear they will not sell Stones no matter what the price tag North Londoners put over him. Actually, he is afraid of losing his eye candy since Chelsea can lure any player and if Mourinho could entice him, Blues can easily trigger his transfer clause and this is something that is itching the 42-year-old, he added, “At Everton, we take pride in developing young players and giving them our own way of football education. Therefore, when a youngster is linked to a big club it is a matter of pride. However, Stones will very much be an Everton player. We are not a selling club. At Everton, we would not have chosen methods adopted by Chelsea. I am not happy at them having spoken to the media in such a manner.”

While if we look at the vibes in Blues army about the 21-year-old, captain John Terry has himself praised the player last month when said, “My aim right now is try and nail down a regular spot in the Everton team and hopefully that will take care of playing for England. I have to keep learning from the likes of Phil Jagielka and keep progressing at the club,” so it looks likely they will succeed in bringing him at Stamford Bridge.

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

Fabian Delph takes U-turn, signs a five-year deal with Manchester City

July 18, 2015 by

Manchester City seem to be hungriest for fresh talent that is why they are becoming the most active English side this summer and look unstoppable even after bringing players like 18-year-old Turkish striker Enes Unal and then Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling to their den. They just sealed another deal with Aston Villa for 25-year-old midfielder Fabian Delph yesterday making it sure they will not repeat the mistake they did in the last season when their center line failed to do its job. According to preliminary reports coming out from Manchester, 25-year-old has signed a five-year deal at some £8m with English giant which is being taken as the lucrative deal by the City think-tank. It has just been one week when Delph openly said he wants to remain with Villa Park and stated on the club website, “I’m not leaving. I’m staying at the football club and I can’t wait for the start of the season and captaining this great football club,” then no one knows what happened suddenly and he had to change his mind making a switch to Manuel Pellegrini side – may be played its role!

Anyways, City has now spent some 59 million to hire three players making it most outrageous league side and fans doesn’t mind it too until they are playing within FFP laid guidelines. If we look at Pellegrini, he is happy to have one of the best midfielders in his side and raised his voice in his support when said, “Fabian Delph is an excellent player, and I am looking forward to working with him.

“He has made a huge impact in recent seasons at Aston Villa, and is now one of the brightest young midfielders in the Premier League. Fabian has tremendous skill and energy, and the fact that he has become a regular member of the England squad is further evidence of his progress over the past few seasons. At just 25 years old, he still has his best years ahead of him.”

Clarifying his decision about future, Delph added in club statement, “My decision to stay initially was purely based on the emotion and feelings that I hold for the club and the people there that I would be walking away from — rather than looking at the football opportunity that had been placed in front of me.” Now, Villa fans, including former striker Stan Collymore, are after him for varying attitude after he himself had confirmed his stay at Villa Park, Collymore said, “He said twice now that he wants to stay at the club — nobody put a gun to his head. He said twice that he believes Villa is a great club that he wants to stay at… if he signs for Manchester City or any other club in the next few days then he’s an absolute disgrace.”

Filed Under: England, Soccer News Tagged With: ,

Rafa Benitez calls Ronaldo the key to success, talks about his plans for next season

July 17, 2015 by

Every side has a player who is termed as the backbone of it and if we look at any big side in contemporary soccer there is at least one starlet who is the identity of it and Real Madrid is not an exception who is identified with Cristiano Ronaldo, in fact, fans often take both Rolando and Real Madrid as synonym to each other. Newly appointed manager Rafa Benitez is the first top official of the side who accepts the strong bonding with the Portuguese when he said Ronaldo is the fundamental of Santiago Bernabéu side. This is not the first incident when we are hearing a flattering statement for the captain by a new manager as this is usually a part of well-planned strategy whereby new entrant boss tries to win the confidence of the key player first and then of the whole side and 55-year-old Spanish seems to be doing just that. Accordingly, he did not hint any change in the field spread in upcoming season, as expected by club sources, however, he says Bale can be put on central attacking line. This is not a news that Benitez could never had a reputation of an attacking coach and that is why when he joined the Spanish giant his critics started lambasting club think tank for bringing a defensive mentor to lead the side like Real Madrid.

Anyways, he is now in-charge of one of the biggies in the business and doing his best to shred off his limitations hence is committed to revamp the field place to suite his style of coaching. Talking about any key change in the side, 55-year-old said, “I want Real Madrid to be Real Madrid. I want us to be a team that go out to win every game, that take the initiative, are assertive, that attack as well as in recent years and that defend a little bit better, to achieve that balance that will enable us to win more games and have a greater chance of winning trophies.”

Adding about Real playmaker who scored 61 goals in all competitions last year, he said, “He’s a fundamental player for us. By meeting him and starting to exchange our thoughts with each other, we will be able to progress in terms of the dynamic of the group and get to know him better, so as to get the best out of him and so that the team can make the most of everything he has to offer.”

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

Van Gaal lashes out over Victor Valdes, calls he has no future at Old Trafford

July 16, 2015 by

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has a kind of reputation where no one expects him to say anything not pleasing to anyone, in fact, he is often seeing expressing even his anger with a lighter tone, but this time he seems to be over reactive against 33-year-old goalkeeper Víctor Valdés who, according to Dutchman, is unprofessional and doesn’t have much time playing for the Red Devils. Actually, Gaal’s relations with the Spanish went unpleasant last season when Valdés refused to play in the reserves something that had later been severely criticized by the Dutchman. The 63-year-old revealed it after he omitted 33-year-old from preseason trip to the United States and included David De Gea, Anders Lindegaard, and Sam Johnstone instead. Explaining his hard step and why he had to take this, former Barcelona and Real Madrid manager said in a news conference in Seattle, “He is not selected because he does not follow my philosophy. Then there is not one place for one player. The philosophy is how you play football and how you maintain your match rhythm.

“For example, he refused last year to play in the second team. That is one aspect of our philosophy but there are a lot of others for how you have to play a goalkeeper for Manchester United. When you are not willing to follow the principles of the philosophy, there is only one way and that is out.”

Further criticizing the unprofessionalism Red Devils had to face from 33-year-old; Gaal said he felt like led down by the goalie when he refused to play in the second line, he added, “For us it is a big disappointment. We thought he would follow our philosophy but it is a pity because we have given an opportunity to rehabilitate and then we gave a contract. Then when he is fit to play and when you are not playing in the first selection you have to play in the second selection. He refused that. I want to help him and that he can show his qualities for another club. I am always a very social human being.”

If we look at the dramatic arithmetic inside the ManU squad, De Gea is the next one who could soon face an ousted from United if Real Madrid shows its serious interest in the Spanish goalie. Gaal added, “It is dependent on David De Gea. Shall he stay? He is training here and doing his utmost best.”

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