Wenger Refuses To
Apologise
Arsene Wenger has brushed off his shoving match with Chelsea
manager Jose Mourinho during Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The Gunners boss clashed with the Blues manager on the touchline following
Gary Cahill’s first-half challenge on Alexis Sanchez, which earned the Chelsea
defender only a yellow card. After exchanging words with his counterpart,
Wenger was captured pushing Mourinho away as the Frenchman attempted to check
on the Chilean star nearby, before referee Martin Atkinson intervened. Wenger,
however, admitted that he didn’t have any regrets about the incident. “What is
to regret after that? I wanted to go from A to B and somebody confronted me
without any sign of welcome,” Wenger said following his side’s loss. “B was get
to Sanchez to see if he was injured. Was it a push? A little one. You can see
when I really try to push.” Mourinho, meanwhile, tried to play the shove down –
saying that sometimes emotions ran high during important matches. “It becomes
heated because this is a big game, big clubs, big rivals, and important match
for both teams. These conditions make a game of emotions,” he said. “I do so
many wrong things in football. But not this time because this time I was just
in my technical area and it was not my problem. Game over. Story over.”
Raheem Sterling is
set to open talks with Liverpool about a new deal within the next two weeks.
The Reds winger will begin negotiations with the Merseyside outfit in the
coming fortnight – with a clause in his current contract forcing the two
parties to hold fresh discussions once the 19-year-old made his 90th appearance
for Liverpool. Sterling’s performance in his team’s 2-1 victory over West Brom
on Saturday – a game in which the winger created Jordan Henderson’s winner –
was the teenager’s 87th appearance for Liverpool. Liverpool chief executive Ian
Ayre, however, is believed to have approached Sterling’s agents two weeks ago
to kick-start talks about extending the England international’s stay at the
Anfield based outfit. Sterling has attracted the interest of Spanish giants
Real Madrid in recent weeks after impressive performances for Liverpool in
recent seasons. But, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers recently admitted that Sterling
– whose current deal at the club runs out in 2017 – is keen to stay at Anfield.
Arturo Vidal has
spoken out over speculating linking him with a big-money summer move to
Manchester United – and hints he would have turned down Louis van Gaal had a
concrete offer materialised. The Chilean midfielder was the subject of a
long-running transfer saga throughout the summer window, but remained with
Juventus despite reports. And now Vidal says he was never made aware of any
serious interest from the Old Trafford side. “The truth is I was relaxed and
calm this summer, focusing only on my knee. I never once asked my agent or
Juventus if something was happening,” he told Tuttosport. “I have a pact with
my agent: if there is something concrete, then he alerts me. He did not alert
me. I don’t know exactly what happened during the summer, but I doubt it was
anything truly important, otherwise he would’ve warned me.” And Vidal also
hinted he would have turned down the opportunity to move to Manchester United
had an offer been on the table. “I really don’t know… I can only say that I am
happy in Turin. I am happy, my wife loves Turin, Alonsito and the little one
are happy here,” he added. “My family’s
happiness is more important than money or anything else. At Juventus I am
happy, it is my home. It’s always tough to leave your home, isn’t it?”
Chelsea midfielder
Cesc Fabregas said he bears no ill-feeling towards the Arsenal fans that booed
him in his club’s 2-0 win over their London rivals on Sunday. The Blues
moved five points clear at the Premier League summit thanks to goals from Eden
Hazard and Diego Costa at Stamford Bridge, with Arsenal now nine points off the
pace. Fabregas, who teed up Costa’s strike, said he understands why he was
targeted by some of his former side’s supporters. He told Sky Sports: “I have
huge respect for Arsenal. They gave me everything when I was little without
them I wouldn’t be here. The fans – I
take it in a positive way. I know they love me it’s all because we were
together once. Circumstances means things like this can happen. I’ve always
said it. I am not scared. They will always be in my heart forever. But now I am
in this fantastic football club playing with a great coach, great players and
great fans. I want to win everything I am hungry I want to do well for this
club and I hope I can make it in the future.”
David de Gea was
written off by some people before he had even made a save for Manchester
United, after signing for the club from Atletico Madrid when he was just 20. Whilst
his height was suitable for a goalkeeper in the Premier League, his build was
not, so his ability to deal with aerial pressure was questioned. It didn’t
matter that his shot-stopping and distribution were fantastic, the fact that he
punched crosses instead of catching them and was bullied at corners meant the
media and opposition fans dismissed his potential. United fans stuck by him
though, confident that he would grow in to a fantastic goalkeeper once he had become
accustomed to the physicality of the Premier League, and their patience has
been rewarded. In his second season he was named the PFA Goalkeeper of the Year
and last season he was voted as the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year. However,
this season, he has been the target of some criticism. After the defeat against
Leicester, where United conceded five goals, people were beginning to ask
questions of the young Spaniard. In reality, there wasn’t much De Gea could
have done about any of the goals, but that didn’t stop people doubting him. The
problem for De Gea, as would be a problem for anyone, is that the victory over
Everton was the first time the goalkeeper had the same back four in front of
him. Injuries and suspension has meant that the players starting in defence, as
well as the formation, has changed on a weekly basis. Then when you consider
that the defenders being used have played hardly any Premier League games
between them, it’s no wonder he has been more exposed. However, on Sunday he
answered all his critics, with one of his best ever performances in a United
shirt.
Roma boss Rudi Garcia
was sent to the stands during his side’s 3-2 loss to Juventus on Sunday – for
playing an air violin. In what has to be one of the most bizarre reasons
for sending a manager to the stands ever, referee Gianluca Rocchi decided that
Garcia’s gesture during the top-of-the-table clash was a sign of dissent. The
Roma boss pretended to play the world’s smallest violin after Juve were awarded
a controversial penalty – the first of three spot-kicks during the first half
alone – for Maicon’s handball inside the area, which appeared to be outside the
box. The referee deemed this to be a show of disrespect and swiftly sent the
50-year-old away from the touchlines, with Carlos Tevez successfully converting
the resulting penalty. Rocchi then stole more of the headlines when he not only
awarded Juve another penalty after Paul Pogba had gone down just outside the
area, but also dished out two red cards in the closing stages of the match.
1990 Fifa World Cup winner Andreas Brehme is now having to
clean bathrooms to make a living after being declared bankrupt. Brehme,
53, scored the winning penalty against Diego Maradona’s Argentina that sealed
West Germany’s third World Cup trophy in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico 24 years ago. Today,
the former Bayern Munich and Inter Milan left-back has crippling debts and has
been offered a job by a player he once managed at SpVgg Unterhaching – Olivier
Straube – who has given him a chance to work for his bathroom cleaning
business. “We are ready to take Andreas on in our bathroom cleaning
business. He will learn that what really counts is proper work and real life.
It would help him improve his image. To me, that’s help,” said Straube. Brehme’s
manager from that 1990 World Cup-winning team Franz Beckenbauer has called for
the football fraternity to assist his former player, saying: “We have the
responsibility to try and get him out of this situation.” South Africa has
many stories of former pros falling on hard times after their playing careers
are over, but this story further highlights the importance of players educating
themselves about wise money management while their income is strong.
Billy McKinlay has
been sacked as Watford manager after just two games in charge. McKinlay
lasted just eight days at Vicarage Road after succeeding Oscar Garcia, making
his reign the sixth shortest in English football history. Garcia’s own spell in
charge lasted only three weeks before health reasons led to his departure, and
Watford are now looking for their fourth manager in six weeks. McKinlay quit
his job as Northern Ireland No 2 last month to take over in Hertfordshire,
securing four points from a possible six in his two games. Watford are
currently third in the Championship and their next game is a trip to Sheffield
Wednesday after the international break on October 18.
Gareth Bale has
become the first player to be voted Welsh footballer of the year for a fourth
time. The Real Madrid forward retained the trophy – which he has now won
four times in the last five years – at the FAW awards dinner at Cardiff’s St
David’s Hotel to cap a year which saw him win the Champions League, the UEFA
Super Cup and the Copa del Rey for Real, while his performances for Wales also
caught the eye. The former Tottenham man scored both goals in Wales’ opening
Euro 2016 qualifier last month, a 2-1 win in Andorra, and he has 10 goals in
his last 11 internationals. Bale also picked up the Vauxhall fans’ player of
the year trophy for the fourth year in succession. Tottenham defender Ben
Davies was named young player of the year while Swansea skipper Ashley Williams
was again rewarded for his form at the the Liberty Stadium by winning the club
player of the year award for the fourth straight year.
Arsene Wenger’s decision not to re-sign Cesc Fabregas is
looking more foolish by the day, as stats show that the Spaniard is more
creative than the entire Arsenal team put together.The Chelsea
midfielder grabbed his seventh Premier League assist in as many games to
consign his old team to a 2-0 defeat at the weekend, and embarrassingly, it’s
the same amount that the Gunners have managed between them. Mesut Ozil, Santi
Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Nacho Monreal, Alexis Sanchez and Danny
Welbeck have all made only one league assist each, whilst Fabregas’
performances have helped steer Chelsea to the top of the table, nine points
clear of the Gunners. The ex-Barcelona player didn’t make a return to Arsenal
because they already had Mesut Ozil, but he is currently dwarfing the £42.5
million German and his Gunners team-mates when it comes to attacking
contributions.
Chelsea goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois has been given the all-clear following tests on the head
injury he suffered against Arsenal. Courtois collided with Alexis Sanchez
early in Sunday’s game at Stamford Bridge and was later substituted and taken
to hospital – apparently with bleeding from the ear. He confirmed this on
twitter: “Thanks for all the messages! I’m already feeling better. Now I’m
resting to be recovered and back on the pitch soon. Great victory yesterday”. Chelsea
have now confirmed that blood came from a cut and say Courtois should be fit to
join up with the Belgium squad later this week. A club statement read:
“Chelsea can confirm Thibaut Courtois went to hospital during our Premier
League game against Arsenal for precautionary tests on a head injury. Those
tests came back all clear. Thibaut was treated for a minor cut to his ear and
was released from hospital last night.” The Premier League, meanwhile,
says it is satisfied Chelsea complied with new rules governing the treatment of
suspected concussion. Under the guidelines, which were brought in before this
season, club doctors have the final say on whether players are substituted. One
of the most senior medical officials in world football believes the rules were
needed to help protect players.
Former Manchester
United captain Roy Keane has taken another swipe at Sir Alex Ferguson, calling
him a f**king pr*** in his latest book. The Northern Irishman has made no
secret of his acrimonious falling out with Ferguson in 2005, which led to Keane
leaving the club for Scottish side Celtic. Now, in his new book The Second
Half, he explains his final days at Old Trafford. “I said to Ferguson, ‘Can I
play for somebody else?’ And he said, ‘Yeah you can, cos we’re tearing up your
contract’,” he writes. “So I thought, ‘All right – I’ll get fixed
up.’ I knew there’d be clubs in for me when the news got out. I said, ‘Yeah – I
think we have come to the end.’ “I just thought, ‘F****** p****’ – and I
stood up and went ‘Yeah. I’m off.” Keane exposes a number of other issues,
including a drunken fight with Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
Diego Costa insists
he has the biggest say when it comes to deciding his fitness, and says Chelsea
boss Jose Mourinho did not urge him to snub his Spain call-up. Costa has
struggled with a hamstring problem since arriving at Stamford Bridge from
Atletico Madrid in July, but has nevertheless plundered nine goals in seven
Premier League appearances. Mourinho recently stated he believes Costa should
be rested for the international break to give him a chance to recover. However,
La Roja coach Vicente Del Bosque has picked the 25-year-old for their upcoming
Euro 2016 qualifiers with Slovakia and Luxembourg. “I don’t want to be in
the middle [of Spain and Chelsea],” he told Marca. “Mourinho has not
told me anything. One has to take into account that many times I am the one
that makes the decision depending on how I feel. Here I have the confidence of
the coach, the technical team, and if there is a problem I tell them. If I’m
here and I’m injured then I don’t play because it would be worse.” He
added: “I’m here ready to play. I’ve had some problems but it’s getting better.
I’ve already played three games in a week and the coach [Del Bosque] knows that
I carry some problems, but I will treat them during the week.”
David Luiz claims to
have turned down a new contract offer from Chelsea in favour of a move to Paris
Saint-Germain. The 27-year-old Brazilian became the world’s most expensive
defender when he left Stamford Bridge in a deal worth €51-million in the summer
– a decision he is delighted he made. “Chelsea offered me a new contract to
stay, but it was my choice to come here,” he tells Globo Esporte. “I
was happy with the plan PSG offered to me and I think it was exactly the right
moment to move. I was so happy at Chelsea; I won two European titles and the FA
Cup … it was great for me. I’m a lucky guy. I was playing for a big club like
Chelsea and now I’ve got another opportunity to play for another big club. I’m
enjoying it here.” Luiz netted in PSG’s recent 3-2 UEFA Champions League
win against Barcelona.