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Posts Tagged ‘Manchester City’

Dirk Kuyt believes Liverpool will hold no fear when they travel to Manchester City on Monday evening as they attempt to deliver an early-season blow to the aspirations of one of their top-of-the-table rivals.
City’s ranks have been swelled by the acquisition of several big-money signings this summer, with many tipping Roberto Mancini’s men to establish themselves as one of the Barclays Premier League’s strongest outfits over the coming months.

However, Kuyt insists confidence is high amongst the Reds contingent following their encouraging start to life under Roy Hodgson’s tenure, meaning they’ll make the short journey to Manchester optimistic of obtaining a positive outcome.

“I think we can look positively towards the game,” he told Liverpoolfc.tv. “After the way we performed against Arsenal, we just have to be positive and go into the game trying to win it.

“Of course, Mancini’s team have bought a lot of new players and it’s a very strong team – but so are we.

“You never have to fear any opponent. Manchester City have bought really good players over the past couple of years and have started to play better and better.

“But the Premier League is one of the toughest leagues in the world and every game, week in, week out, is difficult and you have to make sure you’re ready. Read the rest of this entry »

GALLAS is set to sign for Spurs – and instantly become a hate figure for Arsenal fans.

The free-agent former Gunners captain will have a medical and is due to sign a one-year deal over the weekend.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said: “The chairman’s agreed a one-year contract with him and the wages are more than reasonable.

“He’s a no-brainer on a free transfer.”

Gallas met Redknapp last night and asked for a two-year contract but only a year was on offer.

Redknapp was desperate to boost his defence due to the long-standing injury problems of Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate.

Gallas, 33, will not be registered in time to face Stoke tomorrow or play in the crucial second leg of the Champions League qualifier against Young Boys with Spurs 3-2 down.

He was let go by Arsenal after refusing to accept a one-year deal that included a pay cut.

The ex-Chelsea centre-half suffered abuse from fans every time he went back to Stamford Bridge.

But that will be nothing compared to the reception he will get at the Emirates on November 21.

Chelsea  and Manchester City are being offered the chance to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a deal that would create a new British transfer record.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is keen to offload the Sweden striker and has reportedly recruited agent and close friend Pini Zahavi to find a buyer willing to pay in excess of £40million.
Chelsea and City have been targeted as the likeliest takers in England and are about to be sounded out, following a clear signal both clubs are looking to strengthen up front.

Chelsea are still concentrating their efforts on trying to prise £70m-rated Fernando Torres away from Liverpool and will wait to discover their prospects of landing the World Cup-bound Spain striker before considering the merits of Ibrahimovic.

City have the funds to meet Barcelona’s asking price but will carefully weigh up whether the 28-year old’s occasionally sullen demeanour and fitful flair meets their requirements.

The £32.5m City paid Real Madrid for Robinho remains the record fee by a British club, but Barcelona will hold out for significantly more than that for a player they signed from Inter Milan for £40m plus Samuel Eto’o.

New Juventus president Andrea Agnelli wants to take Ibrahimovic back to Turin but is reluctant to pay more than £35m, prompting Laporta to try and guage interest levels elsewhere in Europe. Read the rest of this entry »

Wayne Bridge and Stephen Ireland are set to give manager Roberto Mancini a boost by returning for Manchester City in the derby with Manchester United.

Bridge has been missing for a month after suffering a hernia problem, while Ireland has been absent for three matches with an ankle injury.

Veteran full-back Sylvinho is less likely to be involved as he struggles for fitness after a calf strain, but Pablo Zabaleta returns from suspension.

Wayne Rooney is set to return for United after missing the draw the draw at Blackburn with an ankle injury but has been training and is rated as more likely than Rio Ferdinand (groin) and Ryan Giggs (hamstring) to be involved.

John O’Shea is also fit, whilst Owen Hargreaves is in Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad for the first time since September 2008.

Teams:

Manchester City (from): Given, Nielsen, Onuoha, Kay, Boyata, Kompany, Toure, Bridge, Garrido, Sylvinho, Adam Johnson, Cunningham, Zabaleta, De Jong, Barry, Bellamy, Wright-Phillips, Tevez, Santa Cruz, Adebayor, Ibrahim, Nimely.

Manchester United (from):Team (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster, Neville, O’Shea, Rafael, De Laet, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Hargreaves, Scholes, Fletcher, Park, Gibson, Obertan, Valencia, Giggs, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney, Macheda, Diouf.

COPS will warn Carlos Tevez and Gary Neville to behave during the Manchester derby.

The pair clashed at Eastlands in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final, with Tevez goading Neville after scoring from the spot and United’s club captain responding with an obscene gesture.

Now police want to ensure nothing happens on the same pitch tomorrow to cause trouble off it.

So they will go into both dressing rooms before the match to remind the players about their behaviour.

Police and stewards are already running a tight security operation to ensure a peaceful game.

There is plenty resting on the showdown, with City bidding for a Champions League place and United’s title bid faltering.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, in charge of the policing operation, said: “Our main aim is to ensure it is an enjoyable experience for all fans.

“When a minority of people misbehave, it spoils it for everyone.”

The humiliation of John Terry could scarcely have been more complete. Just after Manchester City had swept upfield, making light of a Chelsea team by then reduced to nine men, and Craig Bellamy had tapped in their fourth goal, Terry could be seen stalking back to the centre circle, a defeated man.

He exchanged angry words with Didier Drogba, though it surely owed more to emotional instinct than rational analysis of what had taken place.

For Chelsea have not experienced a home defeat like this for years and by this stage there was little to argue over:
As they turned to return to their half, Tevez then pointed to Bridge, deflecting the glory to him and indicating the motivation behind a remarkable second-half performance.

It was an afternoon that could scarcely have gone worse for Chelsea or Terry. ‘It was very disappointing,’ said their manager Carlo Ancelotti. ‘We made a mistake and usually in football if you do that, you lose the game. We are still top of the league, if only by a point, but it is a point and that is not bad. That is the only good thing from today. Today is not a good day for us.’ Read the rest of this entry »

Footballer Wayne Bridge refused to shake hands with John Terry today when he came face to face with him for the first time since it emerged his former teammate had an affair with his ex-girlfriend.

There was huge interest in how the pair would behave towards one another ahead of the game between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, west London,

As the off-pitch tension built up in the wake of allegations about Terry and lingerie model Vanessa Perroncel, the mother of Bridge’s three-year-old son, City player Bridge made his feelings clear by snubbing the Fair Play handshake courtesy to Terry.

As Terry, 29, stood in line with his Chelsea teammates, he held out his hand as Bridge filed past with his fellow Manchester City players.
But while Bridge, also 29, shook hands with the rest of his opponents, he walked past Terry without making any contact.

The ritual was introduced by the Premier League two seasons ago as part of the Get On With The Game campaign to encourage acceptable behaviour.

Such was the interest in the interaction between Terry and Bridge that Sky Sports viewers were able to see the crucial moments before kick-off.

Usually, the broadcaster would screen adverts during the routine and return to the pitch for the main action.

But timings were altered to make sure nothing was missed. Read the rest of this entry »

Although Bridge pulled out of the World Cup, City boss Roberto Mancini feels he is in the right frame to play at Stamford Bridge – and face John Terry.

‘I think Wayne is okay,’ said Mancini. ‘I don’t know what has happened in the last two weeks but I am sorry for him.

But mentally he is fine. He is an important player for us and we want him to play.’
Only a fortnight ago Mancini expressed confidence that Bridge would go to South Africa, despite the obvious issues with Terry over his affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the mother of Bridge’s young son.

So it came as a shock to both Mancini and England coach Fabio Capello when Bridge released his statement yesterday saying that his position within the Three Lions fold was now ‘untenable’.

‘I thought Wayne would stay with the national team,’ said Mancini. ‘It must have been a very difficult decision because I know how important the national team is for any player.
‘He didn’t speak to me before he made the decision. I don’t know what has changed, but he has changed his decision because I thought that he would play for the national team. But I respect what he has done. Read the rest of this entry »

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini admitted he does not know when Carlos Tevez will return from compassionate leave having spoken to the striker three days ago.

The Argentina international has been in his homeland for over a week after his wife gave birth prematurely.

With Tevez’s wife Vanesa now out of hospital, although the baby is still in intensive care, Mancini wants the 26-year-old back in England.

However, there is no indication yet as to when the 19-goal striker is due to return – which is a concern for Mancini with an FA Cup replay against Stoke and a trip to Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea in the coming days.

“I don’t know where Tevez is – I think in Argentina,” said Mancini after the goalless draw at home to Liverpool. Read the rest of this entry »