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Is Bale Wales’ best-ever player?

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It’s fair to say that without Gareth Bale’s contribution, Wales would not be on the brink of qualification for the European Championships.

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London - With pundits and supporters taking a first appearance for Wales at the European Championship finals for granted, debate has moved on to whether Gareth Bale is the greatest player ever to represent them.

The Real Madrid forward's superb header won Thursday's Group B game in Cyprus and meant he has scored or assisted in eight of the nine goals that have taken his country to within three points of reaching France next summer with three games to play.

They have a home game against the minnows of Andorra to come next month but can ensure qualification on Sunday by winning at home to Israel, whom they beat 3-0 away last season.

Although the whole team has improved significantly in shooting up to a record ninth in the FIFA rankings, Bale has produced inspirational performances from a position just behind the main striker.

Even when kept quiet for longish periods, as Cyprus managed in Nicosia, he has still come up with a defining moment or two.

“I think Gareth Bale is the greatest player ever to play for Wales,” said BBC pundit Robbie Savage, who won 39 caps and was involved in one of their many near-misses - a play-off defeat by Russia that cost a place at Euro 2004.

“His performances have been ridiculously good,” Savage added.

Welsh fans expressed the same sentiments last November, voting Bale the best of all-time in a poll at Wales Online (http://ift.tt/XXRVI5).

It is a big claim for those old enough to remember John Charles, “the gentle giant”, star of the only Welsh team to have qualified for a World Cup.

Charles, regarded as world class at both centre-half and centre-forward, was the key player in 1958 but missed the quarter-final against eventual winners Brazil, who won it 1-0.

By that time he was already established in Italian football with Juventus, having finished as top Serie A scorer in his first season.

More recent Welsh heroes have included Ryan Giggs and Mark Hughes of Manchester United and Liverpool's Ian Rush, none of whom ever had the chance to appear at a major tournament.

Giggs even had his commitment to international football questioned, because of the number of friendly games he missed, restricting him to 64 caps in a 16-year period.

Rush remains the leading scorer for Wales with 28 goals in his 73 games.

Few would bet against the 26-year-old Bale, who has 18, eventually overhauling him and thereby gathering more votes as the best Welshman of all time.

Should he help secure qualification in Cardiff on Sunday, Welsh football would have come full circle at last: it was Israel they beat all those years ago in a play-off to qualify for the 1958 World Cup. – Reuters

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Bafana can’t take Mauritania for granted

The uninformed South African football fan would have found the refrain coming from the Bafana camp this week a tad surprising.

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Johannesburg: The uninformed South African football fan would have found the refrain coming from the Bafana Bafana camp this week a tad surprising.

Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba has repeatedly spoken of the importance of not underestimating Mauritania. “We cannot afford to take them lightly,” he said at every given opportunity.

Even his players have added to the chorus, with Mandla Masango talking of how hard an encounter their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the north-west African country would be.

“It’s going to be a tough encounter because Mauritania are an unknown nation to us, we haven’t played them before,” he said. “We are well aware of how they played against Cameroon in their opening qualifier, so we cannot afford to take things for granted, we should go there and give it our all.”

Mashaba also based his assertion that tomorrow’s opposition should be taken seriously on the fact they held their own against Cameroon. But Mauritania’s rise from the continent’s whipping boys to a side that now enjoys the respect of former African champions didn’t come about overnight.

The change has its roots in what is usually frowned upon by world football’s governing body FIFA: Political interference. Some six years ago, the country’s president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz moved to turn his country’s footballing fortunes for the better by insisting the federation appoint men capable of leading Mauritania from the bottom rung of the ladder.

Enter Frenchman Patrice Neveu, and soon the desert country was mixing it up with Africa’s best at the African Nations’ Championships in South Africa last year.

Granted they lost all three of their matches, but for Mauritania the fact they had qualified for their maiden CAF tournament was a sign they were on the right track. And they beat Mauritius and Equatorial Guinea in their bid to qualify for the 2015 AFCON before they came unstuck against Uganda.

They are building on those experiences and showed in their opening match of the 2017 qualifiers that they will not be easy to beat, when the Indomitable Lions needed a late goal to overcome them.

At home in Nouakchott tomorrow afternoon against a South African side that had a stuttering start to their campaign, Mauritania will definitely believe they can shock their highly-regarded visitors.

Coach Corentin Martins and his men won’t be intimidated by the fact they are a massive 16 spots behind their opponents in the world rankings and will look to take the game to Bafana, who failed to score against Gambia.

But Mashaba’s men are aware anything less than victory will put them under serious pressure for their remaining qualifiers. With qualification limited to the group winners and the top two runners-up, Bafana know that they need to get off the mark if they are to make it.

Masango, who made a scoring debut for his Danish side Randers last weekend, believes they are up to the challenge.

“We have a good group of players, full of confidence and a lot of experience, but we have to put that to good use and ensure we return victorious, and we are positive we will get the results we want because a negative result will set us back big time in the qualifiers,” he said.

Mauritania, on the other hand, will be keen to continue on their upward rise. - Cape Times

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EPL harming young English talent

English clubs spent more than £800m during the summer and there is increasing concern that young, home-grown players are not getting chances in the Premier League.

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Germany’s World Cup-winning coach Joachim Low claims the wealth of the Barclays Premier League is ruining the chance for young English players to succeed with the national team.

Low believes English clubs are failing to invest in development and has warned that England face years in the international wilderness if their leading clubs continue to spend big on overseas imports.

Kevin De Bruyne left the Bundesliga for Manchester City this week in a deal worth £52million and Bastian Schweinsteiger was sold by Bayern Munich to Manchester United for £14m.

Low, who guided Germany to World Cup glory in Brazil last summer, said: ‘Premier League clubs are now paying three times what they used to. The good thing is that money is now being ploughed back into the Bundesliga. That helps make the German national team stronger because in the last few years £100m has been put back into youth development. If used sensibly and done the right way, then that will work wonders for German football.

‘That money has been used to make the standard of young players better. It makes sense to raise your own young players and give them an opportunity.

‘The English will have to face up to the fact that their young players don’t get the minutes for their clubs. That is why the English national team haven’t set the world alight in major championships, have they?’

English clubs spent more than £800m during the summer and there is increasing concern that young, home-grown players are not getting chances in the Premier League.

The England head coach Roy Hodgson has a dwindling talent pool because of a preference in the Premier League to sign overseas players, but the FA are trying to change the culture of English football.

FA chairman Greg Dyke wants to increase the number of home-grown players from eight to 12, but this has been rejected by Premier League clubs.

One talent who flourished in the Premier League last season is Harry Kane, and the Tottenham forward is convinced that he will soon return to goal-scoring form.

The England striker, who is preparing for the Euro 2016 qualifier against San Marino tomorrow, has not scored since the final day of the Premier League campaign.

Kane, who scored 21 times in the league last season, insists he can handle the increased scrutiny after seven games — four for Tottenham and three at the Under 21 European Championship in the summer — without a goal. He said: ‘I came on the scene so unexpectedly last year people were always going to wonder, “Can he do it again?”

‘But it isn’t, “Can he score 10 goals in his first four games of the season?” We will see at the end of the season how it is.

‘Even if I don’t score as many goals as last year I am playing week in, week out and hopefully I can keep doing that and do my best for the team. That is all I am focused on, what I need to do to help the team out, and we will see what happens.

‘I am confident. The chance against Everton last weekend was the first real chance I’ve had all season when I would say I probably should have scored. I know that. I should have scored that.

‘But as a striker you are going to get chances that you miss but it is about how you cope with that.

‘Some strikers go down a bad path and lose their confidence, but I am fairly self-confident and I have a lot of self-belief.

‘If I get chances in games I know I am going to score, so I am not too worried about that.’

*£164m – The amount spent on Bundesliga players by Premier League clubs this summer. In the last two transfer windows combined it was just £10.8m. – Daily Mail

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Valdes named in United’s squad

Manchester United have named Victor Valdes as one of four goalkeepers in their Premier League squad.

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Manchester United have named goalkeeper Victor Valdes as one of four goalkeepers in their Premier League squad.

Valdes has been ostracised by Louis van Gaal after the coach alleged that he refused to play for the club’s Under 21s. He was left out of their pre-season tour to the United States and has been training and dining on his own.

The 33-year-old was due to sign for Besiktas last weekend but, while staying in a Manchester airport hotel waiting to fly out and complete the move, he discovered the terms of his deal had been changed and the transfer collapsed.

Now United seem to have offered Valdes a way back, naming him in their list of 25 players alongside stoppers David de Gea, Sergio Romero and Sam Johnstone.

Valdes tweeted yesterday: ‘No matter what happens. The only way I know is to work hard every day. Thank you all for your support!’

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque considered selecting the former Barcelona star for the national team despite his lack of game time, saying: ‘I wish I had because he’s having a tough time and needs support.’

Valdes’ new United team-mate Anthony Martial is expected to make his France debut in a friendly against Portugal in Lisbon tonight. The 19-year-old forward received his first call-up to Didier Deschamps’ senior side before his £36million move from Monaco.

Emmanuel Adebayor, meanwhile, has been left out of Tottenham’s 25-man Premier League squad. The 31-year-old former Arsenal forward had been expected to leave this summer but could not secure a move. – Daily Mail

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City deny sweetening deal for Chiefs

The City of Cape Town has challenged reports around Kaizer Chiefs playing at the Cape Town Stadium.

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The City of Cape Town has challenged reports around Kaizer Chiefs playing at the Cape Town Stadium, saying that they did not woo the PSL champions to play three “home” games at the venue. And the City has stated that the proposal for Chiefs to play at the stadium has not yet been approved.

Chiefs themselves tweeted on Tuesday that they were “coming to Cape Town”, and the details of their three games at the stadium between December and February have already been listed on the official PSL website.

City mayoral committee member for tourism, events, and economic development, Garreth Bloor, yesterday said that the rights owner to Kaizer Chiefs, Stadium Management South Africa, identified the Cape Town Stadium as a venue for three of their home games due to the unavailability of FNB Stadium for certain dates.

Bloor denied the City had sweetened the deal to attract the Soweto club. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said.

“They will be paying a rental and the Cape Town Stadium’s direct costs. They have gone as far as guaranteeing the projected income from the sale of food and beverages, hospitality and advertising.

“After each match, there will be a cost recovery by both parties as well as 50/50 share in revenue. Kaizer Chiefs is known to draw crowds in excess of 35 000 per weekend match.”

Bloor said in a statement that the City had a responsibility to ratepayers is to ensure the financial viability of the stadium, and that any opportunity to reduce costs related to it should be welcomed.

“Ajax CT does indeed have a multi-year contract, as do a number of other event/conference promoters, but no contract has an exclusivity clause. Neither are we required to seek permission from each entity to host similar events at the stadium,” he added. – Cape Times

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Arsenal fans lash out at Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been accused of lying to fans after not revealing Danny Welbeck’s knee surgery.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been accused of lying to fans after not revealing Danny Welbeck’s knee surgery before the transfer deadline.

The club last week decided to operate on the England striker’s left knee and it is expected he will be out until at least Christmas.

Fans are angry that Wenger — who said he expected Welbeck to be fit after the international break — did not make public the player’s setback and suspect it was to avoid being pressurised into signing a forward.

The Gunners were the only Premier League club not to sign an outfield player during the summer window and Gary Neville said Wenger was ‘naive or arrogant’ for believing his side were good enough to compete for the title. Peter Wood, author of the influential Le Grove blog, told Sportsmail: ‘It’s lying to the fans and to keep it from us leaves a sour taste. It’s embarrassing. Wenger knows it would have put huge pressure on him to go out and sign a striker.

‘For some reason, he seems to be going out of his way not to sign the players we need.

‘It’s left us in a bad position and another season looks certain to pass without winning the Premier League or challenging for the Champions League.’

Welbeck has not played since April and the loss of the 24-year-old leaves Wenger with just Olivier Giroud as an out-and-out striker.

Arsenal, who have failed to score on home soil this season, were linked with Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema and PSG’s Edinson Cavani but made no firm offers. – Daily Mail

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Kane dismisses ‘one season wonder’ tag

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane has shrugged of suggestions that he is a one-season wonder after failing to find the net in his four games this campaign.

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Tottenham Hotspur and England striker Harry Kane has shrugged of suggestions that he is a one-season wonder after failing to find the net in his four games this campaign, British media reported.

The 22-year-old scored 31 goals in his breakthrough campaign for Spurs last season, including 21 in the Premier League, and is in the England squad for their European Championship qualifiers against San Marino and Switzerland.

“As a striker, you are going to get chances where you miss and, after that, it is about how you cope. Some strikers go down a bad path and lose their confidence but not me,” Kane, who also scored on his England debut in March, was quoted as saying.

“My start to the season has been okay. It could have been better. I would like to have scored by now but football doesn't always work like that,” he added.

The centre-forward revealed that he had sought the advice of England captain Wayne Rooney and ex-skipper Alan Shearer on how to end his drought.

Rooney is one short of Bobby Charlton's record of 49 goals for England, while Shearer scored 30 times for the national team.

“Wayne has done it year in, year out,” Kane said.

“I like talking to players like that and seeing how he has dealt with it.

“Shearer is a top man. It was good to talk to him. He's been in the same sort of situation as I am now and he gave me some good tips.” – Reuters

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Wales on brink of Euro qualification

Wales are one win away from qualifying for a major soccer tournament for the first time in over 50 years after beating Cyprus.

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Nicosia - Wales were not at their best in the 1-0 win away to Cyprus in their Euro 2016 qualifier on Thursday but their determination saw them through in the Group B match, coach Chris Coleman said.

“Playing in Cyprus is notoriously difficult... our players again showed the team spirit and work ethic and how much it means for them to play for their country,” Coleman said.

He hailed the character of his players who secured the three points thanks to Gareth Bale's late header which leaves Wales needing three more points to qualify for the finals in France which they could get at home to Israel on Sunday.

The Wales coach reserved special praise for Bale, who struck after 82 minutes, saying “you will not see a better header.

“He is one of the best offensive players in the world and when you have him in your team you always have half a chance of winning a match”.

But Coleman also stressed the need to deal with raised expectations and said his players and staff could not afford to get carried away despite knowing what is at stake.

Cyprus coach Pambos Christodoulou felt his team, fourth on nine points after seven matches, deserved at least a point.

“It was a game that we controlled in large parts except for the first ten minutes. We had more possession and created chances to score against an experienced opponent,” he said.

Christodoulou was pleased with his players' performance and effort and also vowed to go on the offensive in their next qualifier at home to Belgium on Sunday.

“We have never sat back and our philosophy is never to park the bus. Tactically in football all the players must press and attack,” he said. – Reuters

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Serero boost for Bafana

Thulani Serero has been declared fit to train and travel with the team to face Mauritania in an Afcon qualifier.

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Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana midfielder Thulani Serero has been declared fit to train and travel with the team to face Mauritania in an African Cup of Nations match qualifier in Nouakchott on Saturday.

Serero was called up for national team duty and his club had said he was recovering from an injury - the Bafana Bafana medical team assessed him this morning and found him ready to be part of the squad.

He trained with his compatriots, completed the session and showed no signs of pain. The session was moved to Sturrock grounds at Wits after the UJ grounds were found to be waterlogged.

“Serero is fine, pain-free and was able to complete the training session so we are happy with the results. He is ready to travel with the team. He had an ankle injury which he was recovering from hence the team sent us the scan and the report that had an injury, but he is good to go after we checked him,” said Bafana Bafana medico Dr Thulani Hlatshwayo.

Serero arrived in camp on Tuesday night alongside Germany-based Daylon Claasen, bringing the number of players in camp to 24.

Only Kaizer Chiefs left back Tsepo Masilela hasn't reported for national team duty after his club informed Bafana Bafana that he was injured.

“We had requested that he also come in for medical assessment, just like Serero, but the status quo with Masilela remains the same from yesterday - he has not yet arrived in camp and the issue has been reported to the Association so they can deal with it administratively because it is now out of our hands. And that's where we are at the moment,” added Dr Ngwenya.

Mzikayise Mashaba did not finish the session after he was injured at training on his ankle, but he should be fit for the match.

Eric Mathoho, who sat out training on Tuesday as a precaution after he complained of pains on his foot, was back at training and showed no signs of discomfort.

Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana called off the Wednesday afternoon training session to give the players a bit of rest ahead of the trip to Mauritania.

The squad leaves on Thursday.

They will have their last training session on Friday at the match venue in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

Bafana Bafana are expected back in the country on Sunday and then start preparations for the 2015 Nelson Mandela Challenge clash against Senegal which takes place on Tuesday at Orlando Stadium. Kick-off is at 7pm.

Bafana Bafana squad:

Goalkeepers: Jackson Mabokgwane (Mpumalanga Aces FC), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs FC), Ronwen Williams (Supersport United FC)

Defenders: Erick Mathoho (Kaizer Chiefs FC), Rivaldo Coetzee (Ajax FC), Thulani Hlatshwayo (Wits FC), Siyabonga Nhlapho (Wits FC), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk FC), Mzikayise Mashaba (Mamelodi Sundowns FC), Siyabonga Zulu (Platinum Stars), Tsepo Masilela (Kaizer Chiefs FC)

Midfielders: Dean Furman (Supersport United FC), Andile Jali (KV Oostende FC- Belgium), Bongani Zungu (Sundowns FC), Mandla Masango (Randers FC (Denmark), Phumlani Ntshangase (Wits FC), Jabulani Shongwe (Wits FC), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns FC), Mpho Makola (Orlando Pirates), Ayanda Patosi (Lokeren FC (Belgium), Daylon Claasen (1860 Munich (Germany) Strikers: Thulani Serero (Ajax Amsterdam FC (Holland), Thamsanqa Gabuza Orlando Pirates FC, Sibusiso Vilakazi (Wits FC), Tokelo Rantie (Bournermouth FC (England).

ANA

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Are United losing their identity?

Louis van Gaal has been in charge for over a year and United’s net spend is around £170m. That is a huge investment.

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London - How much money is it going to take for Manchester United to become Barclays Premier League champions again?

For all the drama of the transfer window, that is what it comes down to.

Louis van Gaal has been in charge for over a year and United’s net spend is around £170million. That is a huge investment but the next step has to be pushing for the title.

Van Gaal took United from seventh back into the Champions League and there are some very good players in his squad. If they don’t finish in the top three they are underachieving, so the pressure is firmly on Van Gaal.

But it still felt like United were rolling the dice on deadline day. It is hard to imagine that kind of soap opera happening under Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill. It was embarrassing.

The signing of Anthony Martial is a huge gamble. He has been compared to Thierry Henry and if he is half as good then he will be a decent player. Van Gaal likes a pacey ball-carrier - he had Arjen Robben at Bayern Munich and tried and failed to make Angel di Maria that man at United - and Martial fits the bill.

He might even be the answer to their striker dilemma but it is still a big risk to take on an uncapped youngster.

Van Gaal also thought nothing of selling Di Maria and losing £16m just a year after signing him and the way Di Maria and Radamel Falcao both flopped discredits the Dutchman.

The biggest issue for Van Gaal, though, is his man management. The David de Gea saga was farcical but if no offers had been made by Real Madrid until deadline day then he should have been playing.

Banishing him to the reserves will have done nothing to encourage him to stay.

The international break now means things can start to settle down but De Gea, who stayed professional throughout the saga, must surely play on his return.

You also wonder whether Van Gaal’s treatment of De Gea and fellow Spanish keeper Victor Valdes had any influence on why one-time target Pedro ended up at Chelsea.We do not see what happens in the dressing room but it is a concern when former players queue up to criticise Van Gaal’s ruthless treatment.

Once a relationship is broken, there seems to be no going back.

Players will have much more respect for a manager who is consistent and takes time to explain decisions.

I was shocked when Van Gaal publicly criticised Luke Shaw for being unfit last year, he obviously has issues with Marcus Rojo and what must Adnan Januzaj be thinking?

At the start of the season it looked like he was going to get a chance. A few weeks later he is packed off on loan.

What will hurt the fans is the loss of academy graduates who have United blood in their veins.

There are only eight left from United’s 2013 title-winning squad and with the likes of Danny Welbeck, Darren Fletcher, Tom Cleverley and Jonny Evans gone, there is a feeling that United are losing part of their identity.

Big names come and go but Van Gaal is in danger of ripping out the core of the club.

The same goes with their playing style. Everything looks controlled and safe but they do not attack like the old United.

It is ironic that United are trying to keep up with their neighbours. City have two quality players in every position and a distinct style but it feels like Van Gaal is still experimenting.

He has used 44 players at United, 14 more than City, and in 42 Premier League games has named an unchanged team only three times. But there have been positive changes.

The midfield is vastly improved with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin adding great depth.

United have also been solid since ditching a back three for a back four, keeping three clean sheets in four games.

Chris Smalling is improving and Daley Blind a calming influence.United’s first match after the international break is Liverpool at Old Trafford so it will be fascinating to see which team Van Gaal picks.

United are still two or three key players short but after what went on in the transfer window the spotlight is now firmly on Van Gaal.

Daily Mail

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Van Gaal the tough task master

Louis Van Gaal is not the arm-around-the-shoulder kind of guy and, at 64, the man they call the Iron Tulip is not for bending.

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By all accounts, Louis van Gaal toasted the close of the transfer window with a large glass of red wine at his holiday home in the Algarve. ‘My paradise in Portugal,’ as he likes to call it.

The Dutchman and his employers at Manchester United clearly feel it has been a good summer for the club.

Six new signings will be the exception rather than the norm from now on, and the world-record deal for teenager Anthony Martial pushed United’s spending well north of the £100million mark for the second year in a row.

Then there was the news that David de Gea will be staying at Old Trafford, albeit reluctantly, for the next nine months.

All in all, Van Gaal had every reason to be pleased with himself as he enjoyed his view over the Atlantic.

There was little chance, we are told, of him leaving the comfort of his villa and catching a short flight to Spain for a private chat with De Gea, who was mourning the collapse of his move to Real Madrid.

That is not Van Gaal’s style. He is not the arm-around-the-shoulder kind of guy and, at 64, the man they call the Iron Tulip is not for bending. ‘Louis does what Louis does,’ said one well-placed source.

It was one of the reasons United turned to the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach last year; a big name with an experience of big clubs who would have little regard for reputations or egos.

But his hardline — some call it authoritarian — stance has brought its own problems during his first year at Old Trafford.

Falling out at a football club is commonplace, especially for Van Gaal, and particularly with players on the periphery. Worryingly for United, many of them have occurred with new signings he has brought in himself.

Getting players through the door is one thing. But getting along with them is another matter altogether, it seems. And once you cross him, it’s a long way back.

Van Gaal paid a British record £59.7m for Angel di Maria but the Argentinian lasted less than a year before departing for Paris Saint-Germain.

Earlier this week he admitted that ‘a couple of clashes’ had accelerated the deterioration of his relationship with the manager.

Radamel Falcao was signed on loan with wages of £280,000 a week but, by March, friends of the Colombian striker revealed how he had been reduced to tears by his treatment at the hands of Van Gaal.

Victor Valdes was brought in as a high-calibre back-up for De Gea but then banished to the reserves after Van Gaal claimed that he refused to play in an Under 21 game.

The Spanish contingent at United are said to be unhappy with the disrespect shown to a three-time Champions League winner with Barcelona. Having seen a move to Besiktas fall through before the transfer window closed, Valdes was left out of United’s Champions League squad last night and is now in limbo.

Marcos Rojo has also been frozen out just a year after his £16m transfer from Sporting Lisbon following a serious disagreement with the Dutchman.

The Argentina centre back has not played this season since he was fined £140 000 for failing to appear on United’s pre-season tour of America due to passport issues. It is understood that Rojo was offered to Monaco as part of the deal to sign Martial.

Then there were the players Van Gaal inherited from the Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Robin van Persie, supposed to be a close ally, claimed that he was ‘betrayed’ by his former Holland coach.

Javier Hernandez joined Bayer Leverkusen earlier this week, saying that he wants ‘to go back to feeling important and happy’. Almost his last act as a United player was to miss a penalty against Bruges last week, prompting Van Gaal to give his assistant Ryan Giggs a withering look on the bench.

Mexican legend Hugo Sanchez defended his countryman yesterday, saying: ‘Van Gaal is a scoundrel. Hopefully those in England realise he is a bad person and treats his players poorly.’

Right back Rafael da Silva also raised concerns over his treatment after leaving for Lyon, claiming that Van Gaal simply didn’t like him.

Adnan Januzaj departed on loan for Borussia Dortmund this week, having been criticised for giving the ball away too much in United’s victory at Aston Villa last month despite scoring the winning goal.

On the same night, Van Gaal shocked his squad by addressing captain Wayne Rooney on the team coach over his abject display at Villa Park.

But not all the great managers were popular with their players, and Van Gaal knows that.

As he makes the most of his time off in Portugal, the United boss will not be afraid of a little trouble in paradise. – Daily Mail

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De Gea doesn’t need olive branch - United

Manchester United insist it is not necessary for Louis van Gaal to make a trip to Madrid to repair his relationship with David De Gea.

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Manchester United insist it is not necessary for manager Louis van Gaal to make a trip to Madrid to repair his relationship with David De Gea, after the collapse of the goalkeeper's proposed transfer shattered the 24-year-old's hopes of a move back to his home city.

As Ander Herrera insisted his compatriot was too good a professional not to reintegrate rapidly at Old Trafford, sources at the top of United rejected the suggestion that a trip was required similar to the one Sir Alex Ferguson made to Lisbon in 2008 when he persuaded Cristiano Ronaldo to delay a move to Real Madrid for one more year.

De Gea, who was last night included in United's Champions League squad, was deeply unhappy to be dropped from the side amid uncertainty about a Real Madrid move and indignant about Van Gaal's claims that he was not in a fit mental state to have played for the club in the first four games of the season. But the view within the club is the manager will find a way of mending fences with De Gea.

United feel the Dutchman's belief in players showing total commitment in training is too ingrained for a climbdown and that his sometimes confrontational style is something they bought into when hiring him.

They are adamant that they will not repeat the turmoil of buying six players in a transfer window and consider the overhaul of Ferguson's squad to be near completion. Sources at the top of the club insist that Van Gaal was more than happy with three months which delivered the retention of De Gea, along with nearly £150m of investment.

Though Chelsea appeared to have gazumped them by securing the Barcelona forward Pedro, United insist he was not high enough on their list of targets, with a specific aspect of his game - a lack of pace - contributing to Van Gaal's uncertainty, in a summer when the club were looking for that component. The club kept their options open but insist ultimately they did not sufficiently want him.

The absence of a defensive back-up option when Sergio Ramos could not be prised from Real Madrid also looked like a failing, though it is understood that Van Gaal simply did not have another defender he considered worth moving for.

Privately, Van Gaal has said since failing to sign Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund that alternatives must be of the highest class to fit the bill for United. The club maintain that no one other than Ramos was considered of an adequate calibre this summer.

It is understood that United did make a formal bid for Southampton's Sadio Mané, though the South Coast club's rejection of the offer bears out what the Old Trafford hierarchy consider a new phenomenon in the market: medium-bracket clubs with big TV revenues refusing to sell. “You can't just go to these clubs with a bag of cash and expect them to sell any more,” said one source.

United insist their interest in Barcelona's Neymar did not translate into an expression of interest in buying him.

The Spain national team coach, Vicente del Bosque, has urged De Gea to “be professional” and “prove what a good goalkeeper he is” after the collapse of his Bernabeu move. “The important thing is that David reacts,” Del Bosque said. “He has to know what has happened, look to the future and be a good professional.”

Ramos added: “Nobody has died for this. He must maintain his level. He is one of the best keepers.”

Speaking at the presentation of HCL as United's official digital transformation partner, Herrera said of De Gea's return to Old Trafford: “Of course, David is my friend and I want the best for him. He has had a very, very good four years for United and he will do it again.

“He is a very good professional, you can see that every day, he never missed one training session, he never missed one game. So I think he is going to do [it] again. For me, he is the best goalkeeper in the world.” – The Independent

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Fresh twist to ‘Chiefs and City’ row

The Kaizer Chiefs coming to Cape Town situation has the potential of developing into a major problem for the City of Cape Town.

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The Kaizer Chiefs coming to Cape Town situation has the potential of quickly developing into a major problem for the City of Cape Town.

On Tuesday, the popular Soweto club announced it will play three of its home games at the Cape Town Stadium – Wits on December 19, Platinum Stars on January 24 and SuperSport United on February 20. The change in venue was also reflected on the official fixtures programme on the Premier Soccer League’s website.

Yesterday, it came to light that Chiefs have appeared to jump the gun as far as approval is concerned. Councillor Garreth Bloor, Mayoral Committee Member for Tourism, Events and Economic Development, said in a statement: “Kaizer Chiefs has identified the Cape Town Stadium as a venue for three of their home games. A proposal has been received which is being tabled at the Special Events Committee (it met yesterday). Recommendations will be made to the Executive Mayor for onward submission to the next full sitting of Council in October 2015. At a political level, the proposal has not been approved yet.”

That may be so – but Chiefs’ early announcement already has Cape Town football up in arms. A meeting has now been scheduled with the City, scheduled to take place tomorrow. A number of disgruntled Cape clubs will be present, including Safa-CT president Norman Arendse, who represents the Cape’s amateur football teams, Ajax, Santos and Milano United. Santos chairman Goolam Allie is also still contacting the chairmen of other clubs to join the meeting.

One thing is evident: If Chiefs get approval, Cape football clubs are not just going to accept the decision meekly.

“While Chiefs are within their rights if they want to play in the Cape, this is about the integrity of football, and the PSL,” Ajax chief executive Ari Efstathiou said. “How do we, as a Cape club, build a brand in the city? Imagine if every club in the PSL simply jumped from stadium to stadium? The league would be in chaos...”

Arendse is just as unhappy with the City courting Chiefs to play in the Cape.

“What makes this whole situation worse is that Chiefs have gone and made an announcement when no official approval has been given,” he said.

“It’s an outrage… and this has got nothing to do with people’s favourite teams. Yes, as a Chiefs fan, I would love to see them playing as often as possible. But the point is that the City has not consulted with the people who are most affected by the decision to bring Chiefs to play at the Cape Town Stadium.

“The question is: Has the City not learnt from the Cape Town Cup fiasco. Because now we again have a situation where a decision is taken which affects all footballers in the Cape, but they have not been consulted on the matter. According to the constitution, they are entitled to a hearing.

“Also, why is the City paying another club to come and use Cape Town Stadium? According to PSL rules, if a club plays its home games away from its base, then it is responsible for footing the bill for their travel and accommodation. In this case, it will probably also have to pay for the travel and accommodation of the opponents as well, because they are taking them further away. Do you think Chiefs will be paying for this?

“Add to that the fact that Chiefs turned down R2million to play in the Cape Town Cup, but they are quite happy to come down to the Cape now for their home games. They must feel that it’s worth their while… The whole situation is outrageous.”

Arendse adds that the City needed to be more inclusive when dealing with football.

“The problem is that never has the City thought about getting football into a room to discuss the Cape Town Stadium or any other issues,” he said. “I’m sure that if we all get together, and there is commitment from all clubs in the city, solutions can be found. How do you build a culture of football when, every week, clubs are playing all over the place? For example, Milano play in Grassy Park and then Blue Downs, Santos at Athlone, Vasco (da Gama) in Parow and so on… Why can’t we regularly get teams together, under one roof, and build from there.”

For Allie, there was an even deeper, more historical context.

“This is about under-development,” the Santos chairman said. “They say, those who don’t remember the past are doomed to repeat it… And that’s what this situation stinks of. The City wants to spend money on an outside club, but can’t provide proper facilities for the teams who play here.

“And so, like in the past, we are perpetuating under-development. Cape clubs can’t progress because the City is empowering rich clubs from outside.

“I believe that it’s important that we rally behind Ajax… If Chiefs get approval, then it’s an indictment on all footballers in the Cape.” - Cape Times

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Bafana must step up to the plate

Shakes Mashaba believes Bafana will get their maiden maximum points of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier this weekend.

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Johannesburg - Although he has scant knowledge of Mauritania, Shakes Mashaba believes Bafana Bafana will get their maiden maximum points of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier this weekend.

Bafana fly out to the North- West African country today for their second match in Group L of the qualification rounds for the biennial, continental showpiece scheduled for Gabon in a little under two years’ time.

Having been held goalless by Gambia in their opening qualification match, the South Africans are under pressure to get off the mark at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

Mashaba is fully aware of the importance of success this weekend and speaks confidently about his team’s chances of inflicting on Mauritania their second loss of the campaign.

“This is a must-win match for us,” Mashaba said. “You hear people saying this puts pressure on the team, what pressure?

“You have pressure in your house when you’re eating dinner. You ask yourself, ‘if I don’t finish, the madam will ask where did I eat?’ So you work hard to finish the plate. There’s always pressure in football.”

The pressure to beat a Mauritania team that lost their first match 1-0 in Cameroon will be amplified by the fact they are somewhat of an unknown entity for Bafana.

“We’ve done our homework. We’ve searched, but what we have is their previous records, how they played.

“What has made us aware that they are not a team to take lightly is the result they came with from Cameroon, they went there and lost just 1-0.”

That the Indomitable Lions only got their goal late in the match tells Mashaba that Mauritania are a decent side that could be even more difficult to beat in their own backyard – results prior to that one notwithstanding.

“If you go far back you will find that there are games they’ve lost 7-0 and 3-0. But we don’t want to take that into our minds because it’s sort of going to make us to be complacent.

“We know they are not going to be an easy side to play. We’ve got to take them and give them the respect that they deserve.”

The respect for the opposition aside, Mashaba is still confident of returning home with the three points. And his confidence is not without basis, the Bafana coach believing that his side are more comfortable on the road than they are at home.

This much they showed when they qualified for this year’s tournament after going unbeaten in their away matches – including a draw that could easily have been a win in Nigeria.

“I’ve indicated sometime before that we prefer playing away now,” Mashaba said. “There are no pressures playing away. You know you have to go fight against the odds where the crowd are for the home team. You are all by yourself there, with your kit managers and everybody.”

As it is, he believes that the previous notion that homeground provides advantage no longer exists. “Modern trends of football show that teams are doing well away from home. If you look at most of the teams, their best results are best when they are away,” Mashaba said.

But the national coach will have to lead Bafana to victory over the “closed book” that is Mauritania to confirm what he is saying is the truth.

Meanwhile, Thulani Serero arrived in camp yesterday and was assessed by the Bafana medical team and declared fit to play.

This after the player’s club, Ajax Amsterdam, had written a letter to SAFA saying Serero was injured; they had even sent through a scan.

But the attacking midfielder trained with the national squad yesterday and will travel to Mauritania.

However, Kaizer Chiefs left back Tsepo Masilela has not reported for camp and is apparently in the US. - Cape Times

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Real’s Modric in graft probe

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has been questioned in Zagreb by anti-graft police.

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Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has been questioned in Zagreb by anti-graft police in connection with a probe into Dinamo Zagreb officials suspected of bribery and tax evasion, local papers reported Thursday.

Modric, whose testimony is considered key for the case, was questioned on the financial details of his 2009 transfer to Tottenham Hotspur, the Jutarnji list daily reported.

The anti-graft prosecutors suspect that Dinamo Zagreb chief Zdravko Mamic illegally earned more than 52 million kunas ($6.9 million euros, $7.7 million), through the transfer. Modric was questioned on Sunday, the paper reported.

Another Croatian international, Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren, was also to be questioned within the probe, it said.

Zdravko Mamic, his younger brother Zoran, the Croatian champions' coach, along with a top football federation official and a tax inspector are suspected by the national anti-corruption USKOK bureau of giving and receiving bribes, tax evasion and other offences.

The suspected criminal offences had been taking place since 2008.

The alleged offences cost Dinamo Zagreb and the state almost 15.5 million euros and two million euros respectively. The four suspects were all detained in July, and later released on bail.

Zdravko Mamic, considered the most influential man in Croatian football, has rejected the allegations against him.

The 56-year-old Dinamo executive president said they were politically motivated and accused Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic of being behind them.

Mamic is a controversial figure well known for his outspoken behaviour and threatening of journalists.

Last year he was convicted of slander and ordered to pay 17 000 euros to a lawyer representing Brazil-born Croatian striker Eduardo da Silva.

In 2014, he was acquitted of inciting hatred with a slur against an ethnic Serb minister. – AFP

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