Jose Mourinho has dismissed Steven
Gerrard’s suggestion of “friction” between
the Chelsea manager and captain John
Terry, claiming the pair get on fine.
Terry watched the 4-0 Champions League
win over Maccabi Tel Aviv on Wednesday
from the bench, while the experienced
defender was hauled off at half-time as
Chelsea were beaten 3-0 at Manchester City
in the Premier League last month.
Gerrard, a former England team-mate of
Terry’s, expressed his disbelief in the pre-
match build-up that the 34-year-old skipper
had been dropped for the Maccabi Tel Aviv
clash.
“There’s certainly a bit of friction behind
the scenes because for me, you play John
Terry week in, week out. He’s your captain,”
Gerrard said on BT Sport.
But Mourinho has played down talk of a rift,
saying: “Steven is wrong.
“I have a very good relationship with him.
He’s wrong, because we have no problems.”
Mourinho made a number of changes to his
starting XI following poor form in the
Premier League, which sees champions
Chelsea trailing leaders Manchester City by
11 points after five games.
Eden Hazard once again disappointed with
an early penalty miss on Wednesday, but
goals from Willian, Oscar, Diego Costa and
Cesc Fabregas secured a comfortable win
for the Blues.
Monthly Archives: September 2015
FABREGAS EXPECTS UPTURN IN CHELSEA FORM AFTER MACCABI VICTORY
Cesc Fabregas is confident that Chelsea’s 4-0
win over Maccabi Tel Aviv will herald the
start of an improved run of form.
Jose Mourinho’s men headed into their
first Group G Champions League fixture on
the back of picking up just four points in
the opening five Premier League games,
compounded by a shock 3-1 defeat to
Everton on Saturday.
But there were no signs of struggle on
Wednesday night, though, as goals
from Willian, Oscar, Diego Costa and
Fabregas secured a straightforward victory
at Stamford Bridge.
“When you’re Chelsea and you don’t
win, people start getting nervous and the
players feel it,” Fabregas told BT Sport.
“We’re a big club and like all big clubs we
need good results and performances.
Hopefully it’s the start of a big run.”
Centre-back Gary Cahill echoed his team-
mate’s sentiments, claiming the result was
just what Chelsea needed ahead of
Saturday’s clash with London rivals Arsenal.
“It’s a big confidence boost,” he said. “We
knew we needed a win and it was the
perfect game for us.
“It was a convincing win and a clean sheet.
That was everything we were looking for.”
MORATA: MAN CITY WIN PROVES JUVENTUS REMAIN ONE OF EUROPE’S BEST Chris Myson
Juventus’ Champions League victory over
Manchester City shows the club remain one
of Europe’s strongest sides, according to
Alvaro Morata.
The former Real Madrid striker scored a
dramatic curling winner with nine minutes
remaining as the Serie A champions came
from behind to defeat the Premier League
side 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
The win provides welcome relief for
Massimiliano Allegri and his players after a
disastrous start to the new Serie A season,
which has seen them fail to pick up a win
from their opening three games.
Morata, 22, insisted the slow start to the
campaign was natural after there was such a
high turnover of players in the close-season
but is confident the club remain one of the
teams to beat in the tournament.
“We just need to get used to playing
together – that is perfectly normal after so
many changes at the club,” he said to
Mediaset after the match.
“That is the reason why we have made a
slow start but we can build on this result
now. This is a great starting point for Juve.
“The most important thing is we won and
reminded people that when we play
together as we know we can, we are among
the best in Europe.
“It is a very important victory for us. I
worked hard to help out the defence
throughout the game and was fortunate
enough to score a goal too.”
Juventus will look for their first win of the
league season when they travel to face
Genoa on Sunday.
PSV DO NOT FEAR MANCHESTER UNITED, WARNS COCU
PSV head coach Phillip Cocu insists that his
side do not fear Manchester United ahead
of Tuesday’s Champions League clash.
Louis van Gaal’s side are heavy favourites to
finish top of a group consisting of the Dutch
champions, Wolfsburg and CSKA Moscow,
with their 3-1 win over Liverpool on
Saturday providing a welcome morale
boost.
However, Cocu’s side thumped Cambuur
6-0 over the weekend and the former
Netherlands midfielder has warned that
they are determined to prove their quality
on Tuesday.
“I think we should respect each opponent,
but we are not afraid of Manchester
United,” he told reporters. “We have no
intention of throwing in the towel before
we even get started. On the contrary, we
want to make the most of this opportunity.
“These are the kinds of games everybody is
really looking forward to. It was the same
for me back in the days. We might have to
slow down some of the players rather than
motivate them. I think it is very important
that everybody keeps a cool head. You have
to remain focused. Details will be decisive.
“We are not going into the game thinking
that we are likely to lose. That’s a negative
approach. Our goal is to bag the full three
points here, but we cannot afford to be
naive.”
Cocu – who confirmed that Adam Maher will
not be fit for the clash – has also paid
tribute to Van Gaal, who coached him
during his spell at Barcelona.
“We worked together in the national team
and at Barcelona as my coach. He made me
a better coach, with the tactical skills, the
way he worked with the team,” he added.
“Since I became a coach we sometimes
met but we didn’t speak about how we play
the game.”
NO-ONE WILL REMEMBER MANCHESTER CITY’S FEE FOR DE BRUYNE – PELLEGRINI
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini
believes Kevin De Bruyne’s huge price tag
will be forgotten by the end of the season.
The Belgium international joined City in a
£54million move from Wolfsburg in August
after an impressive season in the
Bundesliga, scoring ten league goals to help
his side to a second-placed finish.
Pellegrini believes no-one will remember
De Bruyne’s price once the 24-year-old
transfers his form to the Etihad and starts
impressing for City, who face Crystal Palace
on Saturday.
“Maybe at the beginning everyone will talk
about the price,” Pellegrini told reporters.
“At the end it’s part of the game, of the
player, the team to demonstrate why we
brought him here. There can be very cheap
players that play very well and maybe
expensive players, they don’t do so well.
“When I started with Raheem Sterling [who
cost £49m], within two or three games, he
demonstrated why we brought him here.
“I am sure with Kevin De Bruyne, at the end
of the season no-one will remember how
much we paid for him.”
Pellegrini will be without Fabian Delph for
Saturday’s fixture, with the summer arrival
from Aston Villa set to be sidelined for six
weeks after suffering another hamstring
injury while on international duty.
“Of course it’s not the best way to start, but
I think Fabian must be strong in his mind,
he must understand these things can
happen,” he said.
“He is a very good professional, he can be
back as soon as he can. I am sure that was a
bad moment.”
I’M UNHAPPY – BUT CHELSEA WON’T SACK ME-MOURINHO
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has
confessed that he is frustrated with the
situation he finds his side after four
matches of the Premier League season – but
dismissed the possibility of him being
sacked.
The defending champions have started
slowly, picking only four points from a
possible 12, having failed to make any
major signings during the summer transfer
window.
“I’m not happy — and I’m happy that I’m not
happy. The moment I’m happy losing
matches, then I’ve changed a lot,” he told a
media conference on Friday.
“And I don’t want to change. I’m not happy
but I work harder than ever. I’m optimistic,
I trust the players. The players trust me, I
know. We are going to leave this situation
behind.”
When the Blues started similarly slowly in
2007, Mourinho was ushered out of the
club, but he insisted that there is no chance
of history repeating itself.
“I don’t want to leave the club, in any
circumstances. And the club doesn’t want
me to leave. I’m not going to walk away. The
club is not going to sack me,” he assured
fans.
“If somebody, anyone thinks that I walk, or I
leave the job it’s somebody that doesn’t
know.
“We have one problem. We are not getting
the results we always expect to get. That is
the problem.”
Mourinho wants the turnaround to start on
Saturday against Everton, whom Chelsea
angered with their pursuit of John Stones
during the summer.
Despite a war of words in the press over
Roberto Martinez’s allegation that the Blues
were putting pressure on the centre-half,
Mourinho played down the possibility of a
feisty encounter at Goodison Park.
“It’s one more match for us, no more than
that,” he added.
MOURINHO: DJILOBODJI WAS NOT MY CHOICE
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has
admitted he was not responsible for the
signing of Papy Djilobodji but insists the
defender was the choice of “someone I
trust completely”.
The Senegal centre-back was bought on
deadline day for a reported fee of £4
million after the Blues had failed to prise
Everton starlet John Stones to Stamford
Bridge in a significantly more expensive
deal.
The perception of Djilobodji as a last resort
was only increased the following day when
Mourinho did not include him in his 25-man
squad for the Champions League group
stage.
“[Djilobodji] was not my choice,” Mourinho
admitted. “He was the choice of someone I
trust completely. That’s the same thing.
“The person that told me Djilobodji could
be a fantastic squad player for us is same
who said [Kurt] Zouma could be fantastic.”
He added: “He’s not in the Champions
League squad because if he is, Kenedy and
[Bertrand] Traore are not on the list. If they
are not, you would ask why. The Champions
League is good for their development.
“We will be very unlucky if in six matches
[in the group stage] we need Djilobodji in
the team. One thing is the short
competitions, another the domestic
season.”
Following the failure to sign Stones, the sale
of Petr Cech – who was reportedly allowed
to leave for rivals Arsenal against
Mourinho’s will – and Chelsea’s poor start to
the season, speculation regarding the state
of the relationship between the Portuguese
coach and owner Roman Abramovich has
intensified.
Abramovich made a rare appearance at
Chelsea training on Friday morning and,
when questioned as to the purpose of the
Russian’s visit, Mourinho grew irritated.
“Do you think I have to speak with you
about the owner coming to this club? That’s
my problem,” he said. “I don’t have to tell
you.”
DE GEA SIGNS NEW DEAL WITH MANCHESTER UNITED
David de Gea has signed a new four-year
contract with Manchester United, with the
option to extend for a further year.
The 24-year-old Spain international, who
arrived from Atletico Madrid in 2011 was
expected to seal a return move to La Liga to
join rival Real Madrid this summer.
However, following the move collapsing on
transfer deadline day due to documents
arriving late, De Gea has opted to sign fresh
terms at the Premier League club.
David De Gea has signed a new four-
year contract at #mufc with an option
to extend for a further year.
pic.twitter.com/Z3JuQOaNEi
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
September 11, 2015
“I am delighted to be starting this new
chapter in my United career,” said De Gea.
“I have always enjoyed playing with these
great players in front of our fantastic fans.
Manchester United is a special club and Old
Trafford is an ideal place for me to continue
to develop my career.
“I’m looking forward to putting a difficult
summer behind me and concentrating on
working hard to improve and help my
teammates to be successful.”
I feel proud to announce that I’ll
continue with you and @manutd.
Thanks for your unconditional
support! pic.twitter.com/I6J7XGHKe2
— David De Gea (@D_DeGea)
September 11, 2015
United manager Louis van Gaal, who has
opted to play Argentina’s Sergio Romero
ahead of De Gea in all four of his side’s
league games this year, expects last
season’s first-choice stopper to enjoy a
lengthy career with the club.
“I am absolutely delighted David has signed
a new contract,” the Dutchman enthused.
“He is one of the best goalkeepers in world
football. I am very pleased that he will be
part of the team for many years to come.
“David made a very important contribution
to our performance last season and he has
been the club’s Player of the Year for the
last two seasons.
“He is a popular player who is keen to learn
and enhance his game. At such a young age
for a goalkeeper, he has many years ahead
of him.”
Man Utd have opened contract talks with David De Gea
Manchester United have opened contract
talks with goalkeeper David De Gea.
The Spaniard’s present deal expires in 2016
and United had previously indicated they had
abandoned hope of the 24-year-old signing an
extension.
But following the collapse of a proposed
move to Real Madrid on transfer deadline day,
negotiations have begun, with De Gea’s agent
Jorge Mendes attending the club’s training
complex on Thursday.
BENITEZ A BETTER COACH FOR REAL MADRID THAN MOURINHO – PEREZ
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has
no plans to bring Jose Mourinho back to the
Santiago Bernabeu, labelling Rafael Benitez
“the best coach I’ve ever had”.
Mourinho’s Chelsea have started the
Premier League in dreadful fashion with
just four points from as many games,
prompting rumours owner Roman
Abramovich may lose patience with the
Portuguese.
But if Mourinho does lose his current job, it
looks unlikely he could turn to Madrid for
rescue.
Under Benitez, Madrid have four points
from two La Liga fixtures, while there is the
not-so-small matter of Mourinho’s final
season at the Santiago Bernabeu, where he
fell out with Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas, the
media and fans.
Speaking to Cadena COPE , Perez said: “I
have no intention of re-signing him
[Mourinho], although he did give us an
important step up in terms of quality.
“Before him, we struggled to make it past
the last 16 in Europe and that wasn’t good
enough.”
Perez added: “[Benitez is] the best coach
I’ve ever had.”
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