"I want to play every game!": Man United superstar looks ahead to busy December

Paul Pogba has made it clear that he wants to play every minute of Manchester United’s hectic schedule over the Christmas period.

The Frenchman missed 12 games with a hamstring injury and returned to action with a superb display against Newcastle United earlier this month.

He has started every game since returning and played a full 90 minutes against both Brighton and Hove Albion and Watford.

And Pogba, speaking ahead of Saturday’s clash with Arsenal, expressed his desire to play in every game over a crucial December month.

“Obviously it is tiring to play all of the those games, but that’s what you want,” he said.

“That’s what you play football for. You sacrifice, but you enjoy it, so you go through it and you just want to recover to play those games.”

Man United’s trip to the Emirates will be the first of ten games played over a 31 day period – an average of a game every three days.

And while Pogba’s enthusiasm to play in every one ought to be admired, no sane manager would want to expose his star player to such a gargantuan workload, especially so soon after coming back from two months on the sidelines.

Every player has physical idiosyncrasies and Pogba’s hamstring appears to be one. He was forced off against FC Rostov last season after playing too many games and it reared its ugly head against FC Basel in September as well.

And the Frenchman is simply too important to Mourinho’s plans to suffer another injury set-back as the business end of the campaign approaches.

Steve Bruce could sign this talented 21yo Man United forward on loan: report

James Wilson could be set for a loan move to Aston Villa during the January transfer window, according to reports.

The youngster claimed a brace on his senior debut back in May 2014 and made 19 appearances under Louis van Gaal, but hasn’t featured for the first team since October 2015.

He joined Derby County on loan last term but a severe injury meant he returned to Carrington having only played four matches.

And according to the Express‘ Alex Harris, the absence of main striker Jonathan Kodija and over-reliance on youngster Keinan Davis, along with the Financial Fair Play restrictions making any permanent deals unlikely, could convince Steve Bruce to make a move for the 21-year-old.

Like many before him, Wilson was something of a shooting star at Old Trafford. His entry to the first team under caretaker boss Ryan Giggs prompted excitement and Van Gaal kept him around the squad without ever really giving him the run of games Marcus Rashford immediately after breaching the first team.

Eventually, the appearances started to diminish, and the youngster naturally went on loan, only to suffer from a glut of beleaguering injuries.

Supporters will just hope to see Wilson, following two frustrating years, finally receive the regular game time he needs.

Man United receive worrying injury news ahead of Arsenal clash: report

Nemanja Matic is facing an uphill struggle to recover from an injury sustained against Watford in time for Manchester United’s trip to Arsenal on Sunday, according to reports.

The Serbian, who has started 19 of Man United’s 22 games so far this season, came off during the 4-2 win at Vicarage Road on Tuesday after 53 minutes with a muscle problem.

Mourinho is also potentially without Marouane Fellaini, whose knee problem has resurfaced, while Michael Carrick continues to work back to full fitness after undergoing a cardiac ablation.

And according to the Daily Star‘s Jeremy Cross, the 29-year-old will undergo thorough treatment at Carrington before the squad travels to London, but Mourinho isn’t confident of seeing his £40m signing recover in time to feature.

Matic endured a difficult opening ten minutes against Watford and, amid the attacking frenzy from both sides, he took a back seat as others seemingly started to dominate the affair, but United’s second half scare which saw them concede twice revealed just how much control and balance he brings to the entire side.

And with Arsenal, like Watford, set to place emphasis on moving the ball quickly through the lines on Saturday, you sense that Matic’s presence could be pivotal.

 

Rudiger understands Conte's defensive roatation

Arsene Wenger confirms his stance on Mesut Ozil

Arsene Wenger has made it clear that Mesut Ozil is fully committed to the cause at Arsenal amid speculation surrounding a potential move to Manchester United.

Talks over a new contract at the Emirates appear to be going nowhere and Jose Mourinho is thought to be keen on signing the playmaker on a free next summer.

Wenger has recently ruled out a January move for Ozil but didn’t rule out the prospect of him leaving over the summer.

But the Frenchman, speaking ahead of Saturday’s clash with Man United, noted that the German’s head would not be elsewhere against Mourinho’s men.

“That’s all speculation, you cannot interfere with that,” he said.

“I think Mesut Ozil, through his attitude, there’s only one way to show how much you’re committed, that’s your attitude on the pitch and when you see him play one thing you cannot question is the way he wants to play for the team.

“They [Ozil and Alexis Sanchez] are [committed]. Let’s first go to Saturday and then after January we see what happens there but I spoke about that in our last press conference.”

We remain very much in the dark when it comes to Ozil’s future, or where he really wants to be, but Wenger’s tone over the last few weeks seems to suggest that he won’t be at the club beyond this season.

But we will have to put that prospect on hold for now. On Saturday, the German will be on the opposite side and, worryingly, bang in the middle of a dangerously good patch of form.

Mourinho continues to lack a reliable, truly world class No.10 and supporters will just hope that the side he fields at the Emirates don’t let Ozil remind them of what they are sorely missing at this moment in time.

Arsenal vs Manchester United: Potential XI with Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera

The spotlight will fall primarily on Mesut Ozil when Manchester United travel to Arsenal on Saturday.

And that will not just be because his name continues to be linked with a move to Old Trafford; a more pressing concern will be the fact that he has entered a spell of superb form that could prove decisive against Jose Mourinho’s men.

Performances against Tottenham Hotspur and Huddersfield in recent times have shown emphatically that when Ozil is on song, it percolates through to the rest of Wenger’s side, and Mourinho, who knows the playmaker well, ought to make efforts to minimise his influence going forward on Saturday.

And with that in mind, here is a potential XI for the clash at the Emirates with Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera in midfield.

Both Nemanja Matic and Marouane Fellaini are injury doubts for the meeting with Arsenal as it is, which means Mourinho will most likely have to count on Herrera – whose role has been somewhat ambiguous so far this season – to bully the mercurial Ozil out of the game.

Alexandre Lacazette’s absence is a boost. The Frenchman’s capacity to stretch back fours and exploit space in behind renders Ozil a far more dangerous prospect than when Olivier Giroud starts up front, and Herrera will need to keep the midfield battle contained – scrappy, even – to give Pogba the chance to assert himself on proceedings from the start.

Man United dealt massive blow in their pursuit of Antoine Griezmann: report

Manchester United target Antoine Griezmann has asked Barcelona to trigger his £87m release clause at Atletico Madrid in January, according to reports from Spain.

Jose Mourinho came close to securing the Frenchman’s services back in June but he decided to remain loyal to Diego Simeone after Atletico’s transfer ban was upheld by a Spanish court.

Griezmann’s agent recently confirmed that his time at the Wanda Metropilano is coming to an end, with Man United, Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain all reportedly interested in landing him next year.

And according to Spanish media outlet Don Balon, the 26-year-old has pinpointed Barcelona as his preferred destination and has asked the club to show a willingness to activate his release clause in order to guarantee their genuine interest.

Ernesto Valverde is thought to have cooled his interest in the Frenchman, however, following a poor couple of months in front of goal at Atletico.

Griezmann will entertain other options – including United – if it emerges that Barcelona aren’t prepared to go all out to sign him.

The bottom line here is that the forward, above anything, wants to feel needed at a football club – ideally as the centrepiece of their attack.

This was not a problem last season, but in recent weeks he has looked incongruous to Simeone’s set-up at times, and Mourinho, in turn, ought to place emphasis on guaranteeing him a central role in his starting line-up at Old Trafford in the summer

Manchester United receive big injury boost ahead of Arsenal clash

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed that record signing Alexandre Lacazette will miss Saturday’s clash with Manchester United after picking up a groin injury against Huddersfield Town.

The Frenchman, who spent eight seasons at Lyon, joined the Gunners for a club record £52.7m over the summer.

He has claimed seven goals in 15 games, including one during Wednesday’s 5-0 win over Huddersfield, but was forced off at half time with a groin problem.

And Wenger, speaking after the game, confirmed that the striker would not recover in time to face Arsenal at the Emirates.

“Lacazette has a groin problem and will be out certainly for Saturday’s game,” he said.

He also added that Alexis Sanchez sustained a minor hamstring problem but made it clear that the knock wasn’t serious.

“Sanchez had a little hamstring problem – that’s why I took him off but I think he will be alright.”

Olivier Giroud will take his fellow countryman’s place in the starting XI and that should serve as both a relief and reason to be cautious for Man United’s back four.

Lacazette is something of an unpredictable, instinctive forward, capable of drifting out of games completely before suddenly popping out of nowhere to take a chance. He is what you would call your typical striker, and preparing how to nullify him can be tricky for that reason alone.

Giroud, on the other hand, is no stranger to United or Mourinho. He scored a late equaliser at Old Trafford back in November 2016 and also netted a late strike in 2014. In other words, this is a man whose attacking strategy is nothing new to United, but they will need to show greater levels of discipline and strength to keep him quiet this time around.

Fàbregas admits Manchester City are "doing well", but "it's still early"

Cesc Fàbregas has admitted that Antonio Conte’s rotation system will prove to be crucial going into the busy festive period, and he says his teammates must all buy into the situation.

Antonio Rüdiger’s header shortly before the hour mark gave the Blues’ a narrow victory against struggling Swansea on Wednesday night, with Conte having made four changes to his starting line-up.

Cesar Azpilicueta’s run of 74 consecutive Premier League starts was brought to an end by Conte, who also switched out Eden Hazard, Tiémoué Bakayoko and Danny Drinkwater from the line-up at Anfield last Saturday.

Fàbregas started and played the entirety of the game against the Swans, having only been used as a substitute against the Reds’ at the weekend, and he explained that there are positives to using a rotation system, and that his teammates must accept it.

Talking to the London Evening Standard, Fàbregas said;

We have to cope with the situation. No one can play every three days even if we want to. If you keep playing, you will keep carrying knocks so it is good to have a break sometimes and come back fresher.

To know that the team is performing and winning without Eden really being involved is very good. We started the season without him and he didn’t start against Swansea because he is the best player [and needed a rest].

Beating Swansea has kept the momentum going. In this period of the year it is just important to keep getting the three points. I think it is important for everyone in the team, especially the manager, to know that he can make a few alterations to the line-up and the team can still perform and get the win.

It is crucial for him and the team to see that we can trust anyone. In this case it’s a double victory because everyone is hungry to win, to play and to make it difficult for the manager.

Chelsea’s victory extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to six matches, however they are still some 11 points adrift of league frontrunners Manchester City, who are still yet to lose a game in the league.

Chelsea will host Newcastle at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and Fàbregas admits that while it looks like it could be Manchester City’s year, it is still early in the season. He said;

Obviously when you’re in the kind of form City are in, that whatever you do, you score one, two, three, four late winners, sometimes this shows you it could be your year.

It happened to us when I first came to the club a few years ago [when Chelsea won the title in 2014-15] and we were winning games at the end. That shows that it’s your year and everything is happening for you. But at the same time this is not happening in March, it is late November so it’s still early.

Let’s see what happens. They are doing well but we have to keep an eye on the top and get closer and closer. We wish that they will drop points and you keep them in mind. Obviously they are at the top and we want to be at the top. We have to keep doing what we are doing, winning and winning.

The post Fàbregas admits Conte’s rotation system will be crucial appeared first on Read Chelsea.

27yo superstar fear his Man United career is over: report

Daley Blind fears that he’ll be moved on by Manchester United next summer after failing to make an impact on Jose Mourinho’s Premier League plans this season, according to reports.

The Dutchman, who featured regularly under Louis van Gaal, has not started any of Man United’s last 11 Premier League games.

His recent display during the 1-0 defeat to FC Basel, where he admitted his responsibility for their late goal, led to further calls for Jose Mourinho to place emphasis on signing a genuine left-back in January.

And according to the Times’ Paul Hirst, Blind now fears as if his Old Trafford career is coming to an end having only made nine starts in all competitions so far this term.

United are expected to activate a clause on the 27-year-old’s contract that keeps him at the club for another year, but this is only to ensure that any potential suitors have to pay a fee for his services.

The case of Blind is a difficult one because he has hardly looked out of place at this level since arriving in 2014, demonstrating an impressive measure of control and positional intelligence on the ball, yet we have to ask ourselves this question: could you imagine a player of Blind’s type – reliable, dedicated, limited in some aspects but a good squad player – making Manchester City’s, or even Chelsea’s, starting XI?

Blind has not done too much wrong since arriving, granted, but perhaps United ought to show more ambition, and this could mean he has to move along.

 

Ibrahimovic will help Lukaku, not threaten him, claims Manchester United legend

Despite recent goalscoring worries, Romelu Lukaku has done what he was brought in to do at Manchester United, according to Gary Neville.

The return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic will also aid Lukaku, not harm his form, claims the former-Man United captain.

Lukaku started the season with an astonishing 11 goals in 10 games after his £75m summer move Everton. But a seven-game goal drought followed, and he’s only scored once since the November international break.

“I don’t think Jose Mourinho will be worried bout Romelu Lukaku’s lack of goals, but I think ultimately he’s got two big games coming up,” Neville said, writing for Sky Sports.

“He was brought in to score goals in the games which United were drawing last season. However, it is in the big matches where they now need him most. If there is a way to get at Arsenal and Manchester City then it is by really going at their defences.”

Some have claimed Lukaku is a flat-track bully, scoring goals against smaller teams and not in big games. But Neville is right, that’s what United needed. Too many times last season they drew 0-0 and 1-1 with bottom-half-of-the-table or mid-table sides when they dominated the game. Lukaku’s goals this season have prevented that.

“Lukaku gets more chances created for him [than at Everton] but he’s also under more pressure [at Man United], so misses get scrutinised, and rightly so, but these are the games where he can silence his critics.”

Neville insisted that Ibrahimovic, United’s 28-goal striker and top goalscorer last season, returning from a seven-month absence with injury should help Lukaku.

“I don’t see Zlatan Ibrahimovic as a threat to Lukaku at all but as a supplement,” he said. “The only way Ibrahimovic can become number one is if the aura of Zlatan gets to Lukaku.

“Zlatan is confident but Lukaku is number one, the fans and the manager believe in him and if he does have any demons then he needs to clear them from his mind.”

Blues boss Conte charged by the FA

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has been charged with misconduct, the FA have confirmed.

Twitter: Antonio Conte has been charged with misconduct following his dismissal against Swansea City on Wednesday 29 Novembe… https://t.co/hIUpnTYoFa (@FAspokesperson)

The Blues boss was dismissed in his side’s 1-0 win over Swansea City on Tuesday night, as Antonio Rudiger handed Chelsea an all-important victory.

Conte was given his marching orders just before the interval having been judged to have excessively expressed his disapproval with refereeing decisions made during the game.

The Italian boss was pictured shouting at the fourth official throughout the first-half, along with referee Neil Swarbrick.

Conte does have the opportunity to appeal this charge, as long as he responds to the FA’s decision by 5 December at 6PM in the evening.

However, the Blues boss has since apologised for his conduct on the sidelines on Tuesday night, meaning it is unlikely that he will appeal against the charge.

The post Conte charged with misconduct appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic set to extend Manchester United stay in desperation to win Premier League

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will look to start talks with Manchester United over a new one-year contract extension in the New Year.

He returned from a seven-month absence with injury two weeks ago in Man United’s 4-1 dismantling against Newcastle United, and has made an appearance from the substitutes bench in each of United’s games since.

He, technically, briefly left the club in the summer following serious knee ligament damage coinciding with the end of his one-year contract that he signed after arriving on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2016.

However, he quickly was offered a new deal and signed it shortly after the season began, in August.

Now, having missed seven months of football, he’s looking to extend his Old Trafford stay to three years, longer than most initially predicted the Swede would be at the club for.

The Sun report that Ibrahimovic had been set to see out this current season at the club before finishing his career in the United States in Major League Soccer.

But a burning desire to win the Premier League will keep him at United, with the Reds clear second favourites to Manchester City at this stage in the season.

Mourinho and Ibrahimovic have both promised to be transparent about their ideas of the player’s future at the club. The pair have a brilliant relationship, and Ibrahimovic knows he was well-supported during his injury.

Chelsea target Sergi Roberto stalls Barcelona contract talks

Chelsea are on full alert as Spanish La Liga side Barcelona struggle to agree a contract extension with Spaniard Sergi Roberto, who was linked with the Blues last summer, according to a report on Bleacher Report.

The club are keen for Roberto to extend his contract with the club but the player is reportedly hesitating due to his wage demands.

The full-back believes that he should be paid more by the club and is, therefore, stalling contract negotiations, which has given Chelsea hope of signing him.

The 25-year-old has a £35m release clause in his current deal and Barcelona are desperate to increase it to €400m in the new deal but if he doesn’t agree then Chelsea could easily trigger the clause.

Fellow Premier League side Manchester United are also interested in Roberto and could challenge Chelsea to secure his signature.

Roberto came through the highly-rated Barcelona academy La Masia and has recently been frustrated by a lack of first-team football.

Roberto was linked heavily with a move away from the Nou Camp in the summer but a move didn’t materialise. However, the player is keen to gain first team action and it would be a huge disappointment for Barcelona if he left.

Roberto’s versatility means that Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is interested in him.

The post Chelsea target Sergi Roberto stalls Barcelona contract talks appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Good or bad news? David de Gea's future at Manchester United will have to be decided next summer

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has reportedly set a deadline of next summer for his club’s perennial chase of Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.

The 26-year-old has been coveted by the European champions for the last few summers and was incredibly close to moving back to his home city of Madrid in 2015.

Had it not been for a paperwork error, De Gea would have joined Los Blancos with Costa Rican ‘keeper Keylor Navas coming the other way to sign for Man United.

Having failed in their pursuit of De Gea for the last two summers, Perez has insisted that next summer si the deadline to complete a move, according to Spanish outlet Diario Gol.

That puts pressure on De Gea to make a firm decision about his future, which is only fair to both clubs. He is happy in Manchester at the moment, more so than before, enjoying playing for the club as well as living in the city.

Diario Gol claim Perez will make a move for Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois is he cannot pull off the signing of De Gea.

Hopefully, De Gea will make it clear early on that he no longer wants to join Real Madrid. There are suggestions that the Spanish side’s dithering in 2015 made De Gea feel he wasn’t really wanted as much as it first seemed and left a bitter feeling towards the club.

Wenger Reveals The Extent Of Lacazette's Injury

Arsene Wenger has revealed the extent of the injury sustained by Alexandre Lacazette after the forward was subbed off at half-time on Wednesday night (via Arsenal.com).

There weren’t many negatives about Arsenal on Wednesday night.

The key players showed up, Ozil and Giroud got back amongst the goals and the Gunners secured three points and a comfortable win.

However, one of the few worries Arsenal fans can have about the match was with Alexandre Lacazette.

The forward put in a good performance, grabbing the opening goal of the night but was replaced at half-time by Arsene Wenger with fears of an injury. Now, the Frenchman has revealed what is happening with the striker.

“Lacazette has a groin problem and will certainly be out for Saturday’s game,” Wenger said after the match.

Losing Alexandre Lacazette ahead of the Manchester United match is a major blow. The forward has been in fine form, particularly at the Emirates Stadium. However, Arsenal have options in their squad and the fact that Olivier Giroud grabbed two goals on Wednesday night won’t hurt his confidence.

Aaron Ramsey Reveals The Real Reason Behind Ozil's Performance Against Huddersfield

Aaron Ramsey has revealed the real reason behind Mesut Ozil’s wonderful performance against Huddersfield Town on Wednesday evening (via Arsenal.com).

Every Arsenal fan will have been delighted with the performance of Mesut Ozil on Wednesday evening.

The German was wonderful against Huddersfield Town, especially so considering few expected him to even be involved.

Ozil missed Saturday’s trip to Burnley and now, midfielder Aaron Ramsey has claimed that that could be one of the reasons behind Ozil’s man of the match performance at the Emirates.

“He put in a fantastic performance tonight,” Ramey said of the German.

“He was out of the Burnley game, so his batteries were recharged.”

Ramsey also put in a good performance against Huddersfield Town to continue his good run of form, grabbing two assists to take his season’s tally to seven. Now, the Welshman has eyes on Manchester United on Saturday.

“We wanted to take advantage of being at home and we did that again,” he went on.

“It was another three points and hopefully we can go into the game at the weekend full of confidence, and hopefully, it will be a very good week for us.”

A victory over Manchester United on Saturday would mark the end of a very good seven days for Arsenal. The Gunners followed up a last-minute victory against Burnley on Saturday with a demolition of Huddersfield at the Emirates. Now, their toughest test awaits as Arsene Wenger looks to continue his side’s 100% home record this season.

Wenger Reveals Why Mesut Ozil Is In Such Good Form

Arsene Wenger has claimed that the upturn in the form of Mesut Ozil is down to the German proving he can fight (via Arsenal.com).

When on top form, few players in the world are as entertaining to watch as Mesut Ozil and he showcased that last night.

The German dismantled Huddersfield Town, grabbing a goal and two assists in a ten-minute salvo which secured the win for the Gunners.

Now, Arsene Wenger has spoken about the playmaker and identified the reasons behind this upturn in form.

“The fact that he is fit, the fact I believe that you come often to games nobody has to convince you that Ozil is a great player,” Wenger said after the match.

“He added something that people wanted to see from him as well, against Spurs and tonight, that he can fight and come back and win the ball back.

“Once people see that they are behind you, everybody knows in the stadium that he is a good football player and at the moment he shows that he can fight.

“Our job is to encourage people to fight of course, but I think that he always covered the distances in the game, but he is at an age where he is mature and he understands what is important, what is less important.”

It’s clear that Mesut Ozil is in a fine run of form, what’s a little less known is how his contract situation will be resolved. Arsene Wenger has ruled out the idea of selling Ozil in January but with just eight months left on his contract, there are so many unknowns. Arsenal fans should just sit back and enjoy watching the German when he is in form like this.

Player Ratings - Chelsea 1-0 Swansea: Rudiger and Kante impress as Blues pick up all three points

Chelsea staggered towards a 1-0 win against a lowly Swansea side at Stamford Bridge.

In the first half, Chelsea were extremely dominant in possession, but their lethargic approach yielded very few clear-cut opportunities, with only Morata testing Fabianski with a hooked volley from inside the area. Willian and Pedro, both picked on the basis of their recent performances were the brightest sparks for Chelsea, and they too came close to opening the scoring but neither of them provided the clinical edge that was missing throughout the half.

The second half again started off with Chelsea in the ascendancy, and yet it wasn’t until the 55th minute of the game when Antonio Rudiger pounced on a deflected Kante cross to power home a header and hand Chelsea a much-deserved opener. Swansea and in particular Leroy Fer attempted to push for an equaliser, but they failed to even place a shot on target, as their troubles in front of goal continued.

The post Chelsea player ratings: Swansea (H) appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Mourinho suggests Man United youngster suffers from fitness issues

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has suggested that his young star Anthony Martial may struggle being consistent within matches themselves due to his fitness.

Martial starred during the club’s clash with Watford in the Premier League, managing to score in a match where he partnered Romelu Lukaku in the striker position.

The Frenchman seemed a more natural fit with his teammate than perhaps Marcus Rashford has as the Englishman has had a few opportunities alongside the Belgian but failed to click.

In fact, the academy product was dropped to the bench in favour of the former AS Monaco man, although Mourinho may have done so just to rest the young striker ahead of the match against Arsenal.

Young players tend to struggle with fitness in the beginning of their careers until they mature and become used to the high demands of professional football and it seems as though Anthony is the same.

Speaking to Manchester United‘s official website, Jose said: “I think he suffers a little bit with accumulation of matches. I could feel that in the second half he was going down and down and down.

“He’s still a young guy and his body, his biological situation has space to improve but in the first half, during the time, he had strength and explosion in his legs. He was dangerous and [scored] an important goal.”

Fatigue has been a small issue with both the youngsters, Martial and Rashford, who both at times had to be rested last season.

The good news is that the pair have been in fine form this time around and are profiting from a fruitful, friendly rivalry.

Competing for the same spot has left neither player bitter towards the manager and both players are actually improving from each other’s game.

Having added goals and assists to their game, the two footballers are becoming more and more like the finished product and Mourinho will have to continue juggling both well in order to get the best out of the pair continuously this season.

Man United face new competition in their pursuit of Mesut Ozil: report

Chelsea have emerged as candidates to sign Manchester United target Mesut Ozil next summer, according to reports from Germany.

Arsene Wenger recently confirmed that the German would not leave the club in January but doubts over his long term future at the Emirates continue surface, with talks over a new contract failing to progress since the summer.

Jose Mourinho has reportedly expressed interest in bringing Ozil to Old Trafford on a free next summer after developing a strong working relationship with the playmaker at Real Madrid, although such talk has quietened in recent times.

But according to German media outlet SportBild (via Bleacher Report), Antonio Conte, who has urged the club’s hierarchy to invest in the squad, will enter the race for Ozil in the summer.

Wenger’s recent comments surrounding Ozil, whilst dismissing the prospect of a January move, contain a clear element of resignation.

“In my head, they stay until the end of the season. Unless something unbelievable happens I don’t see that changing.”

This is a far cry from the Frenchman’s assertion that talks over a new contract were going well. Just like Antoine Griezmann, a summer departure for Ozil looks more like a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’, and supporters will desperately hope Mourinho’s good relationship with the 29-year-old proves to be the decisive factor behind his next move.

 

Jose Mourinho: This is what I said to Zlatan Ibrahimovic during Watford win

Jose Mourinho has revealed that he told Zlatan Ibrahimovic to mark Heurelho Gomes at corners before introducing him during Manchester United’s 4-2 win over Watford in the Premier League.

The Portuguese told Zlatan to prepare himself immediately after Abdoulaye Doucore’s late goal set up what promised to be a nerve-wracking finish for the visitors, with Watford, having been comprehensively outplayed and outscored, suddenly in the driving seat with minutes left.

But the Swede wasn’t even able to come on before Jesse Lingard ran through the entire Watford defence to put the game to bed with 86 minutes gone.

And Mourinho, speaking after the game, noted that he had a specific role for Zlatan ahead of introducing him into what could have been a truly sticky last few minutes.

“Zlatan holds the ball well, he can be an extra man to help us in set pieces,” he said.

“I told Zlatan maybe if Gomes goes to the last corner of the match and you maybe mark Gomes at set pieces, who knows how the game could end.”

This is a smarter idea than you might think at first glance. Of course, throwing on a player of Zlatan’s stature and verve for a short period of aggressive aerial bombardment during the final moments of a game is good thinking, but to put him on the goalkeeper serves as a shrewd – albeit obscure – piece of attacking foresight.

This is because, for whatever reason, most last-ditch corners seem to veer in the goalkeeper’s general direction. Honestly, next time it happens, just watch how the man in gloves ends up being involved in some sense. Perhaps they have a more refined understanding of where corners will ultimately land, or maybe there is some kind of spiritual vortex that surrounds them that only activates after, say, 92 minutes.

And the plan, I guess, would have been for the 36-year-old to dominate Gomes in the air before nodding the ball out of the box to set one of United’s attacking players free on an open goal. There is no better way to score than that; I can imagine Lingard taking it right to the line before getting on his knees and ironically heading it over, just like you did as a kid.

Thankfully, however, it didn’t come to that, with the Englishman demonstrating pure class to finally put a competitive Watford side to bed.

Jose Mourinho aims hilarious dig at Liverpool following Watford victory

Jose Mourinho has fired a dig at Liverpool after Manchester United weathered a late scare to beat Watford 4-2 on Tuesday night.

Jurgen Klopp’s side raced into a 3-0 lead at Sevilla last week and looked set to progress to the knockout phases, only to capitulate in the second half and concede three goals of their own.

Man United looked to be in danger of mimicking their rivals at Vicarage Road when late goals from Troy Deeney and Abdoulaye Doucore set up a potentially agonising finish, but Jesse Lingard‘s superb solo effort put the game to bed in emphatic fashion.

Speaking soon after the game, Mourinho couldn’t help reminding the watching world of the way Liverpool crumbled after going three goals up.

“Watford gave us a couple of minutes where they felt anything could happen,” he said. “This is football. Last week, Borussia Dortmund-Schalke, 4-0, 4-4.”

“A couple of weeks ago, Liverpool (at Sevilla), 3-0, 3-3. That’s football.”

Surrendering a three goal lead is a more scathing outcome than most forms of defeat, I’d say. To have that much control and dominance over an opponent before throwing the game away so carelessly is a worse indictment of a team’s mental fortitude than being pipped to a 2-1 defeat.

And while United can take confidence from scoring four goals in a game once again this season, they ought to be wary of the fact that, for a few moments, they looked Jurgen Klopp-esque: unstable, tentative on the ball, lacking direction, seemingly waiting for the worst to happen.

Their sheer quality prevailed in the end, but Mourinho would have wanted to see his side match what Manchester City did at Vicarage Road earlier this season rather than start to mirror their leaky rivals. They certainly had enough chances to do exactly that.

Benfica chief executive claims Manchester United target Alex Grimaldo is for sale

Benfica chief executive Domingos Oliveira has told Manchester United that the club would listen to offers from Alex Grimaldo.

The Spaniard, who came through Barcelona’s esteemed La Masia system, arrived at Benfica in 2015 and established himself as a regular starter last season.

Reports have claimed that Jose Mourinho sent scouts to Portugal in order to monitor the left-back’s progress ahead of a potential bid.

And Oliveira, speaking in an interview with IBTimes, has made it clear that the club would be open to selling Grimaldo at the right price.

“For a player who is 22, 23, 24, there is a huge market,” he said.

“I am not talking specifically about Grimaldo, but all players with those conditions, they have a market. We do not want to close the door to anyone. We don’t want to force them to stay here.

“We want them to stay as long as they can. And while they are here they are happy but once both parties agree on a transfer, usually the player leaves, but with a good relationship with the club.”

Benfica are well known for being something of an international selling club – a kind of conveyor belt, if you will, capable of producing reliable talent with Champions League experience at a young age.

Victor Lindelof serves as a classic example, of course, and Mourinho clearly isn’t done with his business over at Benfica as he continues to search for a proper left-back to fill the void created by the shortcomings of Luke Shaw, Daley Blind and Matteo Darmian in recent times.

And he fits the profile of what Mourinho would want from a left-back: superb on the ball, bustling with energy, devastatingly quick, disciplined without the ball, and still with plenty of time to develop at the age of just 22.

 

[Match Highlights] Arsenal 5-0 Huddersfield - All The Goals And Best Bits

Arsenal secured a thumping 5-0 victory over Huddersfield Town to continue their 100% record at the Emirates this season.

—–
Matchday: Team News – Player Ratings – Match Highlights
Match: Arsenal v Huddersfield
Stadium: Emirates Stadium
Kick-Off (GMT): Wed 29 Nov 19:45
—–

Well, that was the perfect way to prepare for the visit of Manchester United on the weekend as Arsenal stormed to a 5-0 win over Huddersfield Town.

Alexandre Lacazette got the Gunners off to a flying start with a goal inside three minutes and it just looked a question of how many they’d get.

Some negligence and overconfidence grew from the home team before the break but they recovered in the second-half.

A ten-minute salvo from Mesut Ozil saw the German grab a goal and two assist to put the result beyond doubt. Olivier Giroud grabbed another late on to cap a memorable night and victory for Arsene Wenger’s men.

Click HERE for all the goals and best bits (video will pop up in a Streamable window).

[Player Ratings] Arsenal 5-0 Huddersfield - Magic Ozil Guides Arsenal To Victory

Arsenal secured a thumping 5-0 win over Huddersfield thanks largely to a second-half masterclass from Mesut Ozil.

—–
Matchday: Team News – Player Ratings – Match Highlights
Match: Arsenal v Huddersfield
Stadium: Emirates Stadium
Kick-Off (GMT): Wed 29 Nov 19:45
—–

Many were expecting some squad rotation from Arsene Wenger in this match with Manchester United on Saturday. There was just the one change to the starting lineup and the Gunners’ star men wasted little time in making an impression.

Granit Xhaka picked up the ball in midfield and slotted it into Aaron Ramsey in space. The Welshman flicked it first time into the path of Alexandre Lacazette clean in on goal who calmly found the back of the net.

The Gunners came close to doubling their lead midway through the first-half. A wonderful flowing move ended with Lacazette attempting a Kanu-against-Chelsea-style lob over the  onrushing goalkeeper. His chip was cleared off the line and Sead Kolasinac failed to convert the rebound.

Arsenal seemed to ease off as the half progressed. Their play was slow and sloppy and the visitors came back into it. Real opportunities were sparse but the danger was clear for any Gunners fan to see.

The Gunners started the second-half as they finished the first with some sloppy buildup play but eventually found their form. Mesut Ozil was incredible on the night and finished Huddersfield off with two quickfire assists.

The first came after a one-two with Alexis Sanchez. The German reached the byline and cut it back for Olivier Giroud to sweep in as he so often does.

Fewer than two minutes later and it was Ramsey’s turn to play Ozil in. The German cut it back for Alexis Sanchez to get in on the act, converting a difficult pass incredibly well on the half-volley. Mesut Ozil wasn’t finished. He completed his demolition of Huddersfield with a goal of his own, delicately chipping the ball over the goalkeeper.

The Gunners added a fifth late on courtesy of substitute Olivier Giroud to cap a fine evening for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal.

Here’s how we rate the Arsenal players:

GK) Petr Cech – 7

Petr Cech did okay. The former Chelsea man didn’t have a great deal to do for most of the match but made a couple of big stops when the game was hanging in the balance.

 

RCB) Laurent Koscielny – 6

He was okay. Laurent Koscielny kept the opposition quiet enough but wasn’t really tested.

CB) Shkodran Mustafi – 6

Shkodran Mustafi made a couple of mistakes early on but improved as the game progressed.

 

LCB) Nacho Monreal – 6

Nacho Monreal was the best of the defensive three but again, was hardly tested.

 

RWB) Hector Bellerin – 6

He was okay. Hector Bellerin was kept pretty quiet with much of Arsenal’s buildup play either coming through the middle or the left flank.

CM) Granit Xhaka – 4.5

He was poor. Granit Xhaka just couldn’t get going in the middle of the park and became more and more careless as the game went on. His passing was poor and his shooting was erratic.

 

CM) Aaron Ramsey – 7.5

Aaron Ramsey played well. He was one of the biggest threats in the Arsenal team moving forward, particularly in the first-half. The Welshman’s flick for the opening goal was wonderful and he played a heavy role in a couple of the others. Good stuff.

Sub: Jack Wilshere (75′) – N/A

Some nice touches but Jack Wilshere didn’t have enough time to make an impression.

 

LWB) Sead Kolasinac – 7

A big improvement. Sead Kolasinac was frustrating on the weekend but put in an impressive performance this evening. The full-back was heavily involved in the Gunners’ buildup and even improved his final product as the game progressed.

RAM) Mesut Ozil – 9.5

A wonderful performance from Mesut Ozil. Few expected him to start but he showed all of his qualities this evening. The German was playing well before that ridiculous ten-minute spell in the second-half where he grabbed two assists and a goal but that is how we will remember this match. Mesut Ozil is mesmerising to watch when he’s on form and he certainly was tonight.

 

LAM) Alexis Sanchez – 4.5

He grabbed a goal but Alexis Sanchez was woeful for large spells of this match. Nothing was working for the Chilean but just like at the weekend, he grabbed a goal despite a poor performance.

Sub: Danny Welbeck (75′) – N/A

Quiet cameo but Danny Welbeck just needs his fitness back.

ST) Alexandre Lacazette – 6.5

He did well. It was surprising to see Alexandre Lacazette subbed off at half-time considering the Frenchman’s performance. Let’s hope it was a tactical decision and nothing injury-related.

Sub: Olivier Giroud (46′) – 7.5

A good cameo from Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman had 45 minutes to make an impression and he certainly used them to his advantage. Two goals and the gauntlet has well and truly been thrown down by Olivier Giroud.

Rio Ferdinand reacts to Jesse Lingard's performance against Watford

Rio Ferdinand has hailed Jesse Lingard‘s performance during Manchester United’s 4-2 win over Watford, hailing the 24-year-old as a “very intelligent footballer”.

Lingard started at No.10 at Vicarage Road and caused the hosts all sorts of problems with his mazy movement, picking up an assist for Anthony Martial after 32 minutes.

And with Man United in a spot of bother after seeing their three goal lead reduced to just one with minutes remaining, the Englishman produced one of the goals of the season with a superb run through the entire Watford back four to kill the game.

Speaking on BT Sport after the game, Ferdinand remarked how Lingard has the capacity to thrive as an attacking threat under Jose Mourinho.

“Me and Scholesy were talking about it, we’ve seen him grow up at the club,” he said.

“He’s got this in his locker, he’s got goals, he’s a very intelligent footballer. He picks up great positions on the pitch, I think the more minutes he gets the more confidence he will get within the squad.

“I think he always nicks you goals and I think he’s a fantastic player he’s got in the squad.
More use of him I would like to see.”

For all the criticism spewed his way by keyboard warriors, Lingard’s quality on the ball is unquestionable.

He was a live wire at No.10, popping up all over the pitch and producing clever touches to keep the visitors ticking. The way he seemed to evade the glare of defenders was a testament to his ingenuity on the pitch. This is a player who never stands still.

And with Watford’s defence worn out from chasing the Englishman and Martial all evening, he forced them – and indeed the wider watching world – to stand still and watch as he glided towards goal in truly unstoppable fashion.

Supporters will hope to see this Lingard appear on a more regular basis as the hectic Christmas period approaches.

3-4-1-2: How Man United could line-up against Arsenal with this superstar missing out

Manchester United once again flexed their attacking muscle during the 4-2 defeat to Watford but there was one man who missed out on the part.

Romelu Lukaku provided some important touches in the first half, linking up well with Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial as Man United ripped through the hosts, but his shooting boots were once again nowhere to be seen.

He was presented with a golden chance in the second period – basically an open goal – but his lack of awareness and scuffed effort revealed why he only has one goal in 11 games in a red shirt.

With that in mind, here is a potential XI for the clash with Arsenal excluding Lukaku, who would clearly benefit from some time on the sidelines to reboot.

Mourinho’s decision to match Watford’s back three paid off and he will likely do the same against Arsene Wenger’s side.

He will, once again, allow Arsenal to have the ball, commit men forward, before using Juan Mata‘s crafty positioning and superb vision to unleash Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial further up the pitch.

United were, above anything, extremely clinical at Vicarage Road, and supporters will want to see Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial – who have 15 goals and 11 assists between them so far this season – test Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi with their raw pace on the break once again on Saturday.

Jose Mourinho singles out this Man United player for praise following Watford win

Jose Mourinho has singled out Victor Lindelof for praise following his superb defensive display during Manchester United’s 4-2 win over Watford.

The Swede was handed a chance to feature in consecutive Premier League games at Vicarage Road after impressing against Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend.

And he once again confounded his critics with a wonderfully composed performance in a back three, making a series of important interceptions and tackles as Watford applied pressure late on.

Speaking after the game, Mourinho hailed Lindelof for the way he dealt with the lively Richarlison on Tuesday night.

“I think Richarlison is a very good player and a difficult player to play against,” he said.

“But Victor is very fast and he’s adapted to play centrally but also to go to the sides because he’s got the agility that many of the central defenders don’t have.

“I think it was another very positive performance by Victor.”

Mourinho wouldn’t spend £31m on a centre back he didn’t consider, with all his experience in this league, capable of thriving in the fastest league in the world, but for some time there was cause for concern.

Lindelof often looked unsure of his positioning and tentative on the ball during the early stages of the campaign – something you wouldn’t expect from a player who has feature as a full-back and even in central midfield in the past.

But the performance against Marco Silvas’s side was the clearest signal yet of Mourinho’s first signing of the summer growing into his role at the club. He looked to genuinely relish the challenge on Tuesday, and his quick rise to form coupled with Marcos Rojo‘s return gives his boss the option to use three at the back on a more regular basis.

Jose Mourinho opens up about Ashley Young's role at Man United

Jose Mourinho has hailed Ashley Young‘s progress at left back this season following the Englishman’s superb display during Manchester United’s 4-2 win over Watford on Tuesday night.

Young only made 12 Premier League appearances last season but has been an indispensable figure for Mourinho ever since recovering from injury in September, starting all ten of Man United’s last league games.

And he produced a dazzling display against Watford, rifling home a near post drive to put United ahead before curling a perfect free-kick past Heurelho Gomes minutes later.

Speaking after the game, Mourinho was quick to heap praise on the way Young has developed into a solid left-back.

“He’s playing well,” he said.

“I know what he can do for us, all the positions where he can be useful for us but this left-back position I think has adapted to him and probably in this stage of his career where he has the maturity and the tactical experience.

“It’s good, so he’s playing really well.”

English players capable of mastering the technical and physical requirements of playing as a wing-back are in short supply to say the least, but the 32-year-old has done what the best professionals do throughout their careers: evolve.

Young certainly didn’t start out as a wing-back, that’s for sure. He now configures in a line-up almost completely different from the one he starred in five years ago, and his shrewd switch to a role requiring greater discipline and energy has kept his career alive.

And supporters will just hope that, while a proper left-back is still needed, they can see Young performing at the same level for the next couple of years.

[Confirmed Lineups] Arsenal v Huddersfield - Ozil Returns For Gunners

Arsene Wenger has confirmed his lineup for the crucial Premier League clash with Huddersfield at the Emirates.

—–
Matchday: Team News – Player Ratings – Match Highlights
Match: Arsenal v Huddersfield
Stadium: Emirates Stadium
Kick-Off (GMT): Wed 29 Nov 19:45
—–

It’s a crucial match for both teams at the Emirates Stadium. Many Arsenal fans may have one eye on Saturday’s fixture with Manchester United but first, Huddersfield are in town.

The newly-promoted side are impressing in the Premier League and currently sit in a comfortable 13th position.

Three points is obviously the most important thing for Arsene Wenger and the Gunners but with Jose Mourinho in town on the weekend, some changes are in order.

Here’s how the two teams line up:

Arsenal

GK) Petr Cech

RCB) Laurent Koscielny

CB) Shkodran Mustafi

LCB) Nacho Monreal

RWB) Hector Bellerin

CM) Granit Xhaka

CM) Aaron Ramsey

LWB) Sead Kolasinac

RAM) Mesut Ozil

LAM) Alexis Sanchez

ST) Alexandre Lacazette

Subs: Ospina, Mertesacker, Coquelin, Iwobi, Wilshere, Welbeck, Giroud

Huddersfield Town

Jonas Lössl

Jonathan Hogg (c)

Elias Kachunga

Aaron Mooy

Martin Cranie

Chris Löwe

Collin Quaner

Steve Mounié

Mathias Zanka

Christopher Schindler

Florent Hadergjonaj

Subs: Green, Smith, Malone, Whitehead, D. Williams, Depoitre, Ince

 

Paul Scholes explains what Man United need to do this season

Paul Scholes has insisted that Manchester United will need to demonstrate their worth against the bigger sides in the Premier League if they are to be judged as serious title contenders.

Jose Mourinho’s men slumped to sixth spot last season after failing to win away against any of the top five, scoring just once on their travels.

And despite their free-scoring form against lesser sides, performances at both Anfield and Stamford Bridge have revealed that their malaise against the top dogs is by no means a thing of the past.

Speaking on BT Sport following Man United’s 4-2 win over Watford, Scholes noted that they would need to produce a similar performance at the Emirates this weekend to compete with Manchester City.

“I think where they are going to be judged now is in the big games,” he said. “They have to start winning these games, because they haven’t really.”

“The Liverpool game away [a goalless draw], they were poor. The Chelsea game [a 1-0 defeat], they were poor again. Saturday against Arsenal is a big game and they have to turn up.

“It’s very difficult to criticise when you’re winning games, especially when you’re scoring four goals. But they’ve really got to turn up in these big games and win some of them.”

United have scored four goals on eight occasions this season and have ten more than the ‘exciting’ Tottenham Hotspur, but you sense that whether or they can reproduce such goalscoring prowess on the road against the bigger sides will strongly dictate the nature of their challenge to Manchester City.

Mourinho’s attitude in big games has been perhaps overly pragmatic, with the Portuguese looking to outwit and grind down his opponent rather than smash through them.

But with Pep Guardiola doing exactly that across the road, a benchmark has been set, and United simply need to start dominating these big games before we can meaningfully discuss a title challenge.

€100m Manchester United target admits move to Old Trafford is a "possibility"

Antoine Griezmann has admitted that a move to Manchester United is certainly a possibility in the coming year.

The Atletico Madrid forward appeared to be on the verge of signing for the Reds last summer, but after FIFA upheld Atleti’s transfer ban, Griezmann signed a new contract out of loyalty to the club.

He insisted that the €100m release clause that Man United had been willing to trigger was kept in his new deal, though, showing his commitment to the club had the potential to only be short-term.

The transfer ban ends in January, and Griezmann is still linked to the Reds, either for a winter move or to join up with France teammates Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial in the summer.

“Manchester United is a possibility,” Griezmann stated, via Di Marzio.

“I already have a good relationship with Paul Pogba but he will not influence my decision. I don’t know whether one day I might wear Manchester United’s shirt.”

Jose Mourinho, United and Griezmann flirted for the whole of the summer, and some parts of last season. While the player himself claimed he was “6/10“ likely to join United on French television, Mourinho had numerous phone calls with him and United continually pushed the story in the media.

Are they still interested now? If United are, then they’ll now be competing against FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, two immensely attractive oppositions. PSG would mean a return to Griezmann’s home country, and the chance to play alongside compatriot Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. Barcelona means Lionel Messi and one of the best teams in the world.

United, though, has Griezmann’s close friend Pogba, a blossoming project, the chance to be the main man and great players all-round. It also means the chance to follow Griezmann’s idol David Beckham into the number 7 shirt at Old Trafford.<!—Article End–>

Chelsea and Arsenal must pay £32.75 to land Serie A star in January

According to talkSPORT, Chelsea receive a boost in their pursuit of Roma’s Kostas Manolas after news on his release clause, but will face competition from London rivals Arsenal for the Greek defender.

Manolas has been linked with a move to the Premier League a lot since breaking onto the scene at Roma.

He has been mainly linked with Manchester United but now Chelsea and Arsenal are keen on his services.

The Blues brought in Manolas’ ex-Roma teammate, Antonio Rudiger, in the summer but with Antonio Conte falling out with David Luiz and Gary Cahill not performing to standards, Chelsea are after a new centre-back.

Manolas signed a new contract at Roma very recently, which includes a £32.75m release clause and with the riches that both Chelsea and Arsenal have, that seems a bargain for someone of Manolas’ stature.

Juventus and Zenit St Petersburg are both interested in Manolas as well as the Premier League clubs, but with the opportunity to play both Premier League and Champions League, it maybe hard to resist for Manolas.

The post Chelsea given boost in hunt for Manolas but face competition appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho reveals truth about Nemanja Matic's injury against Watford

Manchester United completely lost stability in the absence of Nemanja Matic after the Serb left the pitch injured in the Reds’ 4-2 win against Watford, according to Jose Mourinho.

Matic, signed from Premier League champions Chelsea for just under £40m in the summer, has been one of the most influential players in Man United’s seasons. Coping with long-term injuries to Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini may have proved impossible without Matic in central midfield.

But he had to be subbed off on Tuesday night with a muscle injury, Mourinho revealed. United were 3-0 up at the time after a stunning pair of strikes from Ashley Young and a cool finish from Anthony Martial in the first half.

Jesse Lingard produced an astonishingly good solo goal to seal the win for United, but only after Watford had scored twice in quick succession and looked like they were going to score a third, equalising goal.

“We lost stability when Nemanja Matic had to come out but the important thing is the three points,” Mourinho said.

“I saw happiness from the team and played with a free mind. For Matic to tell me he wants to be replaced, he does not do that if it is nothing important. It is muscular.”

Any kind of muscular injury is a deep worry for United and Matic. The 29-year-old didn’t look in serious pain when he came off, walking off the pitch and casually settling down on the substitutes bench. But that doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to be fit for the two vital clashes coming up in the next fortnight.

United travel to Arsenal on Saturday evening and host Manchester City eight days later. They’ll need Matic.

Chelsea and Man Utd transfer blow as PSG make first approach to sign €40m-rated attacker in January

According to Calciomercato, Chelsea, along with other clubs, have been put on red alert as PSG approach Pietro Pellegri of Genoa.

At the age of just 16, Pellegri has been somewhat of a revelation for Genoa in the Italian top flight, scoring two goals in just five games in the Serie A, and he is being regarded as one of Europe’s top talents.

As well as Chelsea, Manchester United and Juventus are also interested in the Italian, but it looks likely that if he was to leave that he’d go to PSG, and add to their already talented squad of players.

Both English clubs mentioned have made contact with his club over a move for Pellegri, but PSG have already contacted his agent, who will fly out to Paris soon to negotiate with the French giants.

Genoa obviously do not want to sell their prize talent, but they are willing to listen to any offers above a massive €40m.

The post PSG make contact with Chelsea target Pietro Pellegri appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea to revive interest in Premier League striker in January as Conte looks to bolster his squad

Antonio Conte was desperate to add a striker to his Chelsea squad during the summer transfer window and he was visibly frustrated when the Blues failed to land Fernando Llorente who joined Tottenham on Deadline Day.

Chelsea have been left with just Alvaro Morata and Michy Batshuayi as senior striking options this season with Diego Costa joining Atletico Madrid in January and Conte will again look to add another striker in the winter transfer window.

Christian Benteke was rumoured to be on his radar in the summer and the Daily Mail note that the Belgian is once again on Conte’s shortlist as he prepares to make several additions to his squad in the New Year.

There is believed to be great interest from China in Benteke but a Premier League stay with Chelsea if he were to leave bottom-placed Palace would surely be his preference.

Palace themselves are short of striker options and Benteke has only just returned from a two-month absence due to a knee injury and it’s unlikely that Roy Hodgson will want to part ways with the club’s record signing given their situation.

The post Benteke back on Chelsea’s radar in January appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Wilshere Starts First Premier League Match For Arsenal In 18 Months - Arsenal v Huddersfield [Predicted Lineups]

Arsenal welcome Huddersfield to the Emirates this evening for another Premier League fixture and we think Jack Wilshere is in line for a start.

—–
Matchday: Team News – Player Ratings – Match Highlights
Match: Arsenal v Huddersfield
Stadium: Emirates Stadium
Kick-Off (GMT): Wed 29 Nov 19:45
—–

He may not have admitted it in his pre-match press conference but Arsene Wenger will undoubtedly have one eye on the Premier League match with Manchester United.

The Gunners welcome Jose Mourinho’s side to the Emirates on Saturday evening but before that, Huddersfield will come to North London for a Premier League tie.

Here’s how we think the Gunners will line up:

GK) Petr Cech

Petr Cech will start.

RCB) Laurent Koscielny

While we think the Arsene Wenger will implement some squad rotation, the back three should stay the same with Laurent Koscielny at its core.

CB) Shkodran Mustafi

Shkodran Mustafi should start. Although, it’s not inconceivable for Per Mertesacker to fill in and give his German compatriot some rest.

LCB) Nacho Monreal

Nacho Monreal will start.

RWB) Hector Bellerin

Arsenal aren’t blessed with options in the full-back positions meaning that Hector Bellerin will probably start.

CM) Francis Coquelin

The first change is in midfield with Francis Coquelin getting a start for the Gunners.

CM) Mohamed Elneny

Mohamed Elneny could come into the centre of midfield.

LWB) Sead Kolasinac

Sead Kolasinac should start.

RAM) Jack Wilshere

Jack Wilshere has impressed in the Europa League and will be looking to start this Premier League match. Fortunately, he may have to considering the injury problems Arsenal are suffering in the attacking positions.

LAM) Danny Welbeck

Danny Welbeck should start and be given some much-needed time on the pitch as he comes back from injury.

ST) Olivier Giroud

Olivier Giroud could come in for Alexandre Lacazette.

Chelsea battling Manchester City and Arsenal for 20-year-old midfield maestro

According to talkSPORT, Chelsea have joined fellow Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester City in the hunt for Ajax wonder kid Frenkie De Jong’s signature.

De Jong, 20, has broken into the first-team fold this season and has impressed in his 11 appearances so far, with the Dutchman finding the back of the net on one occasion.

De Jong, who has represented his country up to Under 21 level, applies his trade as a central midfielder and has caught the eye of many teams across Europe, including Antonio Conte.

It looks likely that De Jong is set for a move to one of Europe’s big sides, however, it is unknown whether Aja will let the player go in January, with the English trio of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City all monitoring the player’s situation closely.

The player isn’t a product of Ajax’s famous academy and was brought in from fellow Eredivisie side Willem II back in 2016.

The post Chelsea join race for Ajax starlet De Jong appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Antonio Conte reveals what Chelsea's aim is this season, and it's not catching Manchester City

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has revealed his side have set a target to catch Manchester United before even thinking about cutting down Manchester City’s big lead in the Premier League, the Evening Standard report.

The reigning champions are currently 11 points behind Pep Guardiola’s unbeaten City side, and six behind Jose Mourinho’s United, with Conte’s side having a game in hand over the red side of Manchester.

The Blues have nine league games left in the calendar year, with which five are at Stamford Bridge, Conte’s side will feel they can try and close the gap on Pep Guardiola’s men, who have to play rivals Manchester United and Tottenham in December.

However, Conte has ruled out looking at Manchester City’s form, stating his side’s target is to overtake Manchester United before his side can think of regaining their Premier League crown.

Now our target must be to see the team that is before us, in this case, Manchester United. Our first target is to catch them up and if we are able to do this and then we can see the team who is staying before us. This must be our mentality and in every game, we have to try to win and do our best. This must be the right mentality, winning mentality.

With home games against Swansea and Newcastle upcoming, before travelling to West Ham and Huddersfield, Conte will be hoping his side can take 12 points from 12, which will potentially move the Blues up into second place.

The post Conte targeting United before City appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Clement delighted with Morata’s start at Chelsea

Swansea boss Paul Clement is delighted that Chelsea’s record signing Alvaro Morata has proved his early-season critics wrong, the Daily Mail report.

The pair know each other well from their time at Real Madrid together, where Clement was Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant, and Morata was trying to shift Karim Benzema out of the side and make the centre-forward’s role his.

With the pair set to meet on Wednesday when Clement brings his struggling Swansea side to Stamford Bridge, Clement was full of praise for the Spanish international.

He’s strong, quick, good in the air and knows what it’s like to play for a big club. The critics were on him immediately, it was only two or three games into the season and they were onto him saying he was not good enough. Now he’s scoring and performing, and when he’s not in the team people are saying ‘We need Morata back’.’

Morata, who joined in the summer as a direct replacement to Diego Costa who is set to join Atletico Madrid in January, has found the back of the net nine times in his first 18 appearances for the Blues, and will be hoping to add to that when he takes on his former assistant at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

The post Clement delighted with Morata’s start at Chelsea appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea set to revive interest in £60m-rated Brazilian when January transfer window opens

With Chelsea several games adrift of Manchester City in the Premier League title race, the primary focus has perhaps shifted to securing a spot in the Champions League next season.

Antonio Conte voiced his concerns regarding Chelsea’s summer recruitment and he hopes to rectify that in January with a major spending spree.

Left-back depth was something Conte looked to address in the summer and Juventus star Alex Sandro was his preferred target and the Blues had several bids turned down for the Brazilian.

When the January transfer window opens, Conte has drawn up a transfer wishlist and Sandro is again on his radar as he looks to bolster his squad for the second half of the season.

Valued in excess of £60m, Sandro hasn’t been in the best of form for Juventus this season but the Serie A champions still have no interest in parting ways with him.

Talks over a new contract have stalled with Juventus and he could force a move away to Chelsea who would be able to offer him a significant pay rise.

The post Chelsea to revive interest in Alex Sandro appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Ashley Young: I'm not concentrating on contract situation at Manchester United

Ashley Young has dismissed talk about his contract situation at Manchester United after a spell of brilliant form.

Young has been one of Man United’s best players in every game of the last month or so, performing consistently well at left-back. His best performance of the season came on Tuesday night as he scored two of the best goals of the season.

The first was the cleanest of drives, connecting with the ball perfectly on the half-volley and beating Heurelho Gomes with great precision at his near post.

The second topped that, a sumptuous free-kick that curled into the top left corner, impossible to reach for Gomes who was standing close by.

Questioned after the game about his contract situation, with his current deal expiring in the summer, Young revealed little, other than that he hasn’t signed a new deal yet.

“No I’m just concentrating on things on the pitch,” Young told BT Sport as he earned the Man of the Match award on Tuesday.

“You know that’s all I can do, go out there and play well and we’ll see what happens.”

There are suggestions that Young is pushing for a contract extension of longer than one year. United have had a recent policy of offering only one-year deals to players older than 30.

Young is 32, but looking in brilliant fitness and playing, as Jose Mourinho said post-match, in some of the best form of his life.

The question is whether Young will be wanted for longer than one more year if United are signing a long-term, permanent new left-back. Danny Rose has been linked to the Reds recently. That would reduce Young’s appearances per season, and Mourinho has to offload some players before he can bring in new faces.

Chelsea in contention to sign Arsenal midfielder

Chelsea are believed to be a “hot candidate” to sign Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, with the German’s contract running out in the summer.

There were rumours of him heading to Catalan giants Barcelona, the main rivals of his former club, Real Madrid. However, they are still looking to bring Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho to the Camp Nou.

Manchester United have also been linked, and would reunite Ozil with his former manager at the Santiago Bernabeu, José Mourinho. This rumour appears to have died down of late.

Chelsea are now the latest to be set to sign Ozil, with Antonio Conte unsure whether to go for the 29-year-old in January or at the end of this current season, but it will most likely be the latter, according to SportBild.

 

Arsenal and Ozil’s captain, Per Mertesacker, who is in his final season as an Arsenal player, has spoken about the situation (via Sport Witness):

Every year there is so much speculation.

So every season feels like a change, we players have got used to it so it’s not an issue for us.

Chelsea did look earlier like they may sign Ozil’s fellow Arsenal teammate whose contract also runs out in the summer, Alexis Sanchez. However, they may favour Ozil to the Chilean either in January or at the end of the season.

The post Chelsea a strong competitior for Ozil signature appeared first on Read Chelsea.

2 interceptions, 3 aerial duels won, 4 tackles: 23yo continues excellent resurgence at Man United

Victor Lindelof continued to confound his critics with another superb defensive display during Manchester United’s 4-2 win over Watford in the Premier League.

The Swede produced a ‘Man of the Match’ performance against Brighton and Hove Albion over the weekend and was handed another chance to impress in a back three at Vicarage Road.

And he was once again the pick of the bunch, timing his challenges perfectly and exuding an air of authority on the ball.

His stats from the game tell you all you need to know about what was another faultless defensive display from the 23-year-old.

Lindelöf's game by numbers vs. Watford:

1 block
2 interceptions
3 aerial duels won
4 tackles
6 clearances
100% dribbles completed

Best display in a United shirt. #MUFC http://pic.twitter.com/cA69PiIAq6

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 28, 2017

How much difference a month can make. Many saw Lindelof’s horror show at Huddersfield Town in late October as a potential catalyst for a complete slump into anonymity, Luke Shaw style, just as Marcos Rojo was primed to return to action and push him further down the pecking order.

But the Swede’s reaction has taken everyone by surprise. He now looks to genuinely relish being on the ball and the positional shortcomings that hallmarked the early stages of this season is nowhere to be seen.

He looks to be in tune with the throes of Premier League life as opposed to grappling on for dear life, tearing across the turf to make last ditch headers, blocking shots, hustling opponents. Mourinho would have expected this all along, but to see his £31m acclimatising to life at Old Trafford so well serves as an immense relief for United supporters.

Jose Mourinho: Manchester United should have been smoking cigars against Watford, but didn't

Jose Mourinho admitted Manchester United made it far too difficult for themselves in their 4-2 win against Watford.

The Reds started on the backfoot at Vicarage Road but after two absolute stunners from Ashey Young in quick succession, Man United took complete charge of the first half, with Anthony Martial grabbing a third for Mourinho’s side before the break.

They dropped off a bit in the second half, but could have doubled their lead with three or four more excellent chances. Instead, they took their foot off the gas and had a genuine scare of an astonishing Watford comeback as Marco Silva’s side scored twice in the final 20 minutes.

“The second half should have been five or 6-0, it was easier to score than the first. We missed chances,” Mourinho said.

“Out of nothing, they got a penalty for 3-1, then it was a different game. It was an easy match to win comfortably. At 3-2 the game is in the balance then Jesse Lingard had the initiative to kill the game.

“Both him and Ashley Young scored great goals. We missed 4-0 with some actions and Romelu Lukaku had an open goal, Paul Pogba had a free header too.

“They were full of confidence after, they had nothing to lose could play the way they do and got back into the game. We should be smoking cigars but then were in trouble.”

Jesse Lingard put the game to bed with a sublime solo goal, running from his own half to seal the game. But Mourinho rightly conceded United shouldn’t have needed a goal to wrap things up at that stage.

Romelu Lukaku’s finishing was poor on the night, and had it been better, the Reds would have had a comfortable 5-0 victory rather than struggling to a 4-2 win.

Man United fans react to Lindelof's performance vs Watford

Manchester United fans were delighted with the consistency Victor Lindelof showed after performing well once more vs Watford as the club continued their chase of their fierce rivals Manchester City.

The Red Devils cruised into a 3-0 lead during the first 45 minutes but things got sticky after they conceded twice in the second half.

Thankfully, Jesse Lingard scored a beautifully worked solo goal to make things a little more comfortable for United.

Lindelof though has started to string together a few good displays that will surely satisfy his manager Jose Mourinho.

Although the team conceded twice, neither goal was the Swede’s fault and he can walk away from the match knowing he was one of the players who stood out in a rollercoaster of a match.

Lindelof so far defending like a new man , playing the ball out like prime Beckanbaeur

— O O (@otoiks) November 28, 2017

Lindelof, Young and Lingard proving once again that Jose Mourinho knows more about football than the twitter window lickers.

— JB (@bealymufc) November 28, 2017

Lindelof is starting to show glimpses of the player we hoped Jose had signed. Thankfully Mou has a bit more patience than some Reds online #MUFC

— Jonathan Shrager (@JonathanShrager) November 28, 2017

Shoutout to my man Lindelof. Got slated the past couple weeks for his performances, but he's been nothing short of class the past two weeks. Absolutely brilliant.

— Öliver. (@UtdOliver) November 28, 2017

Lindelof is growing up before our eyes.

— Oluwacloutinho (@Nigerianscamsss) November 28, 2017

Lindelof looks a completely different player

— Marvz (@certimarvz) November 28, 2017

Supporters were clearly happy to see their summer buy continue to grow in confidence and, more importantly, in performance.

With the busy winter period coming into full effect in the upcoming weeks, Manchester United fans are absolutely loving having a fit and in form centre-back.

Marcos Rojo has also recently returned from his horrible injury and seems to be showing signs that it won’t affect his game.

United’s defenders are known for their injury proneness but if Lindelof can keep himself away from any harm then he should find himself starting regularly for Mourinho’s side.

After all, the Portuguese manager showed some faith in him by buying him in the summer and clearly sees him as, potentially, becoming one of the better centre-backs of the club’s history.

Conte delivers update on David Luiz and Victor Moses' fitness

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has delivered an update on the condition of key duo Victor Moses and David Luiz ahead of his side’s clash against Swansea on Wednesday night.

Both players have been nursing minor injuries of late and were hopeful of returning for the game against the struggling Swans.

Conte, as quoted by West London Sport, was happy to confirm that Moses is now back in contention for the Blues following a prolonged spell on the sidelines.

Victor Moses is ready. He is in contention for tomorrow’s game, but at the same time I must make the best decision for the team, for every player. For sure, Victor is back from a bad injury and he needs a bit of time to find the best physical condition. Victor is an important player for us.

Davide Zappacosta has been deputising on the right flank in Moses’ absence, and it looks as though the Nigerian international will return to the line-up as he completes his recovery.

However, Conte had less positive news regarding Luiz. The Brazilian defender is set to miss the game against Swansea with a knock.

I can tell you the players not available for tomorrow are David Luiz, with a knee problem, and Musonda. Batshuayi and Kennedy are trying to find their best form to come back 100%.

Luiz has seen his future at Chelsea come under increased scrutiny in recent times, with Conte seemingly growing unconvinced by the defender’s qualities.

It will be for the doctor to assess the situation and then to take the best decision for the player.

The former PSG man has been heavily linked with Real Madrid in recent times, too, further contributing to the added uncertainty regarding his long-term future at Stamford Bridge.

The post Conte delivers injury updates on Moses and Luiz appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Manchester United have to give this rare, perfect pro a new contract right away, urges Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand has hailed Ashley Young after the Englishman scored an incredible double against Watford in Manchester United’s 4-2 win.

The Reds started on the backfoot but two ridiculously good strikes from Young within five minutes changed the game and Young was a key part of a ruthless and entertaining Man United side in the first half.

The 32-year-old’s contract runs out at the end of the season and after a couple of average seasons as a squad player, though a very useful one at that, he has shone this year. He’s made the left-back spot his own and Ferdinand urged Jose Mourinho to hand Young a new deal.

“I’d definitely keep him, I think he’s a fantastic professional first and foremost,” Ferdinand said on BT Sport.

“He’s a great influence on the younger players in the dressing room. And he’s a very, very good pro.

“He works hard, he trains hard and you see that. Players that are on the edge of the first team when they’re called upon to come and play in the first team you can see how good professionals they are. If they come in and look fit and hit the ground running, that means they’re good pros. And he’s done that on numerous occasions this season.”

Ferdinand also emphasised the importance of having players like Young in a squad looking to win trophies, even if United buy a permanent left-back to replace Young, seen as a temporary option.

“He can play numerous positions as well, that’s the beauty of having him in your squad,” Ferdinand explained. “Those players don’t come around often and they’re vitally important to squads if you’re looking to win trophies.”

Young has been one of United’s best players in every game for the past month or so. He deserves a new deal. Some suggest he’s asking for a contract longer than the one-year extensions usually given to players over 30 at United and that is the current issue.

A two-year deal doesn’t seem to have many issues, but United may look to hold firm to ensure no other players demand longer than one-year in future, no matter how good or important they are.

1 goal, 4 dribbles: 21yo Man United star rips Watford to shreds

Anthony Martial produced a scintillating attacking display up front during Manchester United’s 4-2 win over Watford on Tuesday in the Premier League.

The Frenchman, deployed alongside Romelu Lukaku as Jose Mourinho used a back three, tormented Watford’s back four in the first half with some superb moments on the ball.

And his crowning moment came in the 32nd minute after he received Lukaku’s flick-on perfectly and sent a laser-guided drive past Heurelho Gomes.

Martial’s numbers from the game tell the story of what was another penetrative display going forward.

Martial's game by numbers vs. Watford:

1 goal
2 shots
4 dribbles
50% chance converson
50% dribbles completed

At home in the 3-4-1-2. #MUFC http://pic.twitter.com/rJAVV0GihD

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 28, 2017

The contrast from last season couldn’t be more pronounced. Martial has already matched the number of goals he mustered in Jose Mourinho’s opening campaign but you only have to glance at his demeanour on the pitch to see the difference.

He looks settled, above anything: always lurking in an ominous position, waiting for his moment patiently, before springing into life with a decisive blow, this time taking just two touches – both outside the box – to leave Watford’s defence on the floor.

When Martial is focused – unlike last year – and enters that special groove on the ball, you wouldn’t bank on any defender stopping him. Mourinho should know by now that the 21-year-old is simply too good to leave out of the starting XI.

Manchester United forward is 'electric, clinical and composed,' hails Rio Ferdinand after 4-2 win vs Watford

Anthony Martial can be ‘anything he wants to be’ at Manchester United with his talent, claims club great Rio Ferdinand.

The Frenchman scored his sixth league goal of the season on Tuesday night as Man United finished 4-2 winners against Watford in a nervy ending to the game.

But Martial led the Reds in the first half, tearing apart Watford’s defence repeatedly.

He’s electric, once he gets the ball at his feet he’s almost unplayable,” Ferdinand explained. “His technique, his dribbling [is fantastic] and he keeps saying he wants to play up front, we’re hearing those murmurs.

“He looks cool and composed. Clinical… that’s what we said in the first half and especially with him.

“You speak to players around the ground they say this kid could be anything he wants to be.”

Player Ratings: Young outstanding in MOTM performance but Lingard stunner steals win

David de Gea 6 – Had virtually nothing to do until being sent the wrong way by Troy Deeney’s penalty. Couldn’t do much about Abdoulaye Doucore close range finish.

Antonio Valencia 7 – Kept tabs on the lively Will Hughes early on and prevented Watford from making any inroads down his side. Disciplined, strong, rapid across the ground. A captain’s display.

Victor Lindelof 7.5 – The Swede’s rise to prominence continues. Looked to genuinely relish – rather than shirk – being on the ball and produced a number of perfectly timed blocks and tackles. His best performance in a Manchester United shirt by some distance.

Chris Smalling 6 – Took some time to adapt to the pace of the game but enjoyed a relatively trouble free evening at the base of Man United’s back three after the visitors took control.

Marcos Rojo 6.5 – A strong return to Premier League action for the Argentine. Kept Andre Grey at bay all evening and made two decisive interventions late on, but lost his composure to give away a needless penalty.

Ashley Young 8 – Faultless on the ball, effervescent going forward, and simply stunning in front of goal, firing a superb strike from outside the box past Heurelho Gomes’s near post before launching an even better kick into the top corner minutes later.

Nemanja Matic 6 – Looked all at sea for the first ten minutes but recovered to grab control of midfield proceedings, only to come off with a knock soon after half time.

Paul Pogba 7 – Breezily dictated midfield proceedings, winning the ball off opponents and spreading the ball all across the pitch.

Jesse Lingard 7.5 – Took up some excellent positions at No.10, popping up unexpectedly to steal possession and set players away. Provided a smart assist for Young’s first goal and then shocked everyone with a sublime individual effort to kill the game after 86 minutes.

Anthony Martial 7 – Another slick, deadly display from the Frenchman. None of Watford’s back three could cope with him and his finish to put United three up was superb.

Romelu Lukaku 6 – Linked up with Martial and Lingard nicely in the first half, but make no mistake: the Belgian is going through a dry patch in front of goal. Missed a golden opportunity in the second half.

Substitutes 

Ander Herrera 

Marcus Rashford