Saturday, August 5, 2017

   

Liverpool transfer rumours and gossip: Philippe Coutinho latest


We round up the latest Liverpool transfers rumours from around the British and European press on Saturday, August 5.
Phil Thompson thinks it is "vital" that Liverpool keep hold of Philippe Coutinho this summer.
The founder of Catalan paper Sport has claimed on Twitter that Coutinho will be a Barcelona player soon.

   

Riyad Mahrez keen to finalise move from Leicester this month

Riyad Mahrez has told Sky Sports News he is still looking to finalise a move from Leicester this month.
The Algerian winger handed in a transfer request at the end of last season and interest has been high with a number of clubs showing interest both from England and abroad.
So far, only Roma have made an offer, with Leicester believed to have rejected two bids from them this summer.

Friday, August 4, 2017

Thursday, August 3, 2017

   

MATA THRIVES OFF UNITED'S ATTACKING SPEED

Juan Mata says the pace in Manchester United's front line is something he thrives off.

The Spain playmaker has the talent and know-how to be able to pick many a defence-splitting pass and with the signing of Romelu Lukaku adding further pace up front, Mata is excited about the prospect of United's goalscoring threat.

Mata was the Reds' match-winner on Wednesday night in Dublin as the Reds ran out 2-1 victors in the final game of Tour 2017, presented by Aon, and he says everyone is feeling positive after an excellent preparation period.

"It was a great pre-season," he told MUTV. "We had a few amazing weeks in the States playing some very good rivals and against Sampdoria it was difficult to beat this tough Italian team."

On the subject of attacking pace, Mata assessed: "That’s ideal for players like me as we try to look for passes for the quickest players.

"We all know how good Anthony [Martial] is when one-on-one with a defender, so I just tried to put myself in a good situation to finish. It was an important goal because we won."

Attentions now turn to next Tuesday's UEFA Super Cup match against Real Madrid and Mata is hoping for a change in fortunes after losing both of his appearances in the showpiece fixture so far.

"I’ve been lucky to have played in two [Super Cups] and unlucky to have lost two, so maybe it’ll be third time lucky," he added.

"Last season was a good season, now we have an opportunity this season to lift more [trophies]. Next week we have the chance to lift another one which is going to be difficult against a team like Real Madrid. Our minds are now focused on that."

   

PSG’s attempt to buy out Neymar’s Barcelona contract is rejected by La Liga

Paris St-Germain’s push to conclude the signing of Neymar hit an obstacle on Thursday when La Liga refused an attempt to hand over the money to buy out the forward’s contract at Barcelona.
The lawyers Juan de Dios Crespo and Marcos Motta went to the league’s headquarters to deposit €222m (£198m) and clear the way for Neymar to join the French club.

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

   

UNITED SIGN NEMANJA MATIC

Manchester United is delighted to announce the signing of Nemanja Matic from Chelsea on a three-year contract, with an option to extend for a further year.
The 28-year-old Serbian international midfielder has won a number of club and individual honours including league titles in both England and Portugal.
 
Jose Mourinho said: "Nemanja is a Manchester United player and a Jose Mourinho player. He represents everything we want in a footballer; loyalty, consistency, ambition, team player.
"I would like to thank him for his desire to join us because without that, it would be impossible to have him here. I am sure our players and supporters will love him. A big welcome to our new number 31."

Nemanja Matic said: "I am delighted to have joined Manchester United. To work with Jose Mourinho once again was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.
"I have enjoyed my time at Chelsea and would like to thank the club and the fans for their support. I cannot wait to meet my new team-mates and to start training with them.
"This is a very exciting time for the club and I am looking forward to playing my part in creating more history for this great club."
Watch the exclusive first interview with Nemanja Matic on MUTV from 17:30 BST today (Monday), including on demand via the MUTV App and MUTV.com.

Monday, July 31, 2017

   

VALERENGA 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 3

Tour 2017, presented by Aon | Ullevaal Stadion | Att: TBC | Scorers: Fellaini 44, Lukaku 47, McTominay 70.

Manchester United eased to a serene 3-0 victory over Valerenga as the European leg of Tour 2017, presented in Aon, began in Norway.
Marouane Fellaini opened the scoring on the cusp of half-time with a deflected header and his compatriot Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead within minutes of the restart.

Scott McTominay capped a rewarding afternoon’s work for the Reds by clipping home a third in the 70th minute.

Jose Mourinho made six changes to the side that lost narrowly to Barcelona in Washington DC and the Reds, clad in grey, started brightly under gloomy, overcast Oslo skies.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan led the first assault on the Valerenga goal but could only find the keeper when sent clear by a probing Juan Mata pass in the third minute.

United dominated possession throughout a comfortable first half, with Paul Pogba as the chief inspiration. The effervescent Frenchman peppered the opposition goal with an array of shots, and his lifted, curling left-foot effort, which struck the Norwegians’ post, was the pick of United’s attempts prior to Fellaini’s opener.

The half appeared to be drifting towards a sedate close when the Belgian stooped to meet Mkhitaryan’s cross and head it home via a deflection to give United the lead.

Mourinho ordered nine changes at the break, as his team shifted from the 4-1-4-1 shape of the first period to 3-5-2.

A thunderous Lukaku header from a swirling Andreas Pereira corner made it 2-0 just after the restart and gave United’s imposing new striker his third pre-season goal.

Academy graduate Scott McTominay added a third after replacing the imperious Pogba, who delighted the rapt crowd throughout with his full repertoire of deft, creative touches. Valerenga barely threatened the United goal all evening, as the visitors made it five wins from six thus far during the pre-season period.

THE LINE-UPS
Valerenga: Kwaresey, Lundstrom (Gleditsch 64), Tollas, Jaager, Juklerod, Lekven, Agyiri, Zahid (Borchgrevink 80), Fredheim Holm, Ejuke, Finne.

Booked: Lundstrom, Ibrahim.

United first half: Romero, Darmian, Bailly, Jones, Blind, Carrick (c), Fellaini, Pogba, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford.

United second half: Romero (J. Pereira 61), Fosu-Mensah, Lindelof, Smalling, Tuanzebe, Mitchell, Pogba (c) (McTominay 61), Herrera, A. Pereira, Martial, Lukaku.

Booked: A. Pereira.
TALKING POINT: POGBA IN MESMERISING FORM

After United were defeated by Barcelona in the final match of the tour's US leg, Jose Mourinho boldly remarked that Paul Pogba had showed he belonged at the ‘level’ of Messi, Neymar, Suarez et al. And few among an awed crowd at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo would disagree with that assertion on this evening’s evidence. Pogba’s 61 minutes on the pitch lent a certain air of electricity to what was otherwise a somewhat placid workout for the Reds. United’s world-record signing displayed a dizzying catalogue of swivels, feints and ingenious touches and looks to be benefiting from the kind of full pre-season that he missed out on in 2016. Familiarly, Pogba found the woodwork with his best effort on goal, but the midfielder appears to be in fine fettle as the Reds build up to the UEFA Super Cup final and the start of the Premier League campaign.