Cazorla ready for important derby
Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla is under no illusions about the magnitude of Sunday's North London derby against Tottenham.
Arsene Wenger's under-pressure side visit White Hart Lane needing a win to boost their hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
A Gareth Bale-inspired Tottenham are among Arsenal's rivals for the top four while Andre Villas-Boas' side also have eyes on second place in the Premier League.
Cazorla, who scored and starred in his North London derby debut when Arsenal won 5-2 for the second successive season at the Emirates in November, is aware of the importance of the game.
The Spaniard said in the Daily Star: "We know how important it is and I hope we can rise to the challenge.
...
Read more »
Category: News
Views: 900
Added: Better
Date: 01.03.2013 - 15:53
Plan A could be the one for Barcelona
Champions Matchday editor Paul Simpson ponders FC Barcelona's predicament and says they can draw inspiration from Otto Rehhagel's UEFA EURO 2004-winning Greece.
It is all too easy to blame Tito Vilanova and Jordi Roura for FC Barcelona's 2-0 round of 16 defeat by AC Milan last week. Many observers have done just that, criticising Barça's coach and his assistant for not developing a plan B. One pundit who has not joined this chorus, however, is Otto Rehhagel.
The German oversaw one of the most unexpected triumphs in international football when he steered Greece to glory at UEFA EURO 2004. He did so without a plan B. He had a plan A – a 4-5-1 formation with a sweeper that relied on man-to-man marking and dominating games by controlling space, rather than the bal
...
Read more »
Category: News
Views: 859
Added: Better
Date: 01.03.2013 - 15:51
United eager to spike Madrid's guns
Manchester United FC aim to stop Real Madrid CF winning Europe's top club competititon for a tenth time while things look bleak for Celtic FC as the first round of 16 ties conclude.
That tie is poised at 1-1 as Cristiano Ronaldo prepares to return to Old Trafford, and there is little to choose between Borussia Dortmund and FC Shakhtar Donetsk in Tuesday's other game. However, things are looking desperate for the away sides in Wednesday's fixtures: Valencia CF and Celtic FC needing to make up for first-leg home defeats if they are to forge on to the last eight. UEFA.com gets the lowdown.
Manchester United FC v Real Madrid CF (1-1)
• These teams have met in four previous European Cup ties, with the winners going on t
...
Read more »
Category: News
Views: 882
Added: Better
Date: 01.03.2013 - 15:48
Once bitten by Sir Alex, twice shy
In the Real Madrid CF side beaten by Sir Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen FC in 1983, Francisco Bonet is concerned for his old club ahead of their trip to Manchester United FC.
On Tuesday night there will be a special guest at the Peňa Madridista – or Real Madrid CF supporters' club – in the small town of Cox in the Alicante region of Spain. His name is Francisco Bonet, and his presence in the club on the evening Madrid take on Manchester United FC in the deciding leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 contest at Old Trafford should provide the perfect antidote to any over-optimism among the Madridistas in his midst.
True, José Mourinho's men will travel to Manchester buoyed by an impressive 3-1 Copa del Rey victory at FC Barce
...
Read more »
Category: News
Views: 780
Added: Better
Date: 01.03.2013 - 15:45
Classy Giggs leaves Laudrup purring
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup has described Ryan Giggs as "pure class" as the Manchester United midfielder prepares for his 1,000th senior competitive game.
The Welshman made his first appearance for United on March 2, 1991, as a substitute against Everton, and has gone on to enjoy a career of exceptional consistency and longevity.
Giggs, 39, has achieved the remarkable feat of scoring in each of the 23 seasons of his career, and found the net in the Red Devils' 2-0 win over QPR last weekend.
The landmark appearance could come against Norwich on Saturday.
Laudrup, who enjoyed an illustrious playing career with clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus, has been amazed at how Giggs has been able to adapt his ga
...
Read more »
Category: News
Views: 806
Added: Better
Date: 01.03.2013 - 15:41
Aguero not giving up on title just yet
Sergio Aguero has not yet given up on hopes of Manchester City retaining the Premier League title.
The Argentinian striker clinched the Blues' first title triumph since 1968 with a dramatic injury-time winner in the final game of last season, but City trail local rivals Man United by 12 points with 11 games remaining.
"Can we still win the title? I'd like to believe so," declared the 24-year-old former Atletico Madrid star.
"We can't give up, even though it looks tough."
City have progressed to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, where they face a home date with Barnsley, and Aguero hopes that their form in knock-out games can inspire a late bid for the title.
Category: News
Views: 829
Added: Better
Date: 01.03.2013 - 15:39
Fergie: It won't be mission impossible
ALEX FERGUSON believes it is nonsense to say his successor is facing an impossible job.
The perceived wisdom is that the next man in at Old Trafford will have a nightmare trying to follow on from the all-conquering boss and that his stay could be shortlived.
However, Ferguson insists it will be a dream for his successor, with everything at the club set up for success.
He said: "With the structure we have here, it can’t be an impossible job. What more could you want?”
Having said that, Ferguson believes the biggest mistake his successor could make is changing himself to fit Manchester United.
Despite the manager’s own incredible success in bringing 37 trophies through the doors, he beli
...
Read more »
Category: News
Views: 1011
Added: Better
Date: 01.03.2013 - 15:37