Jose warns Chelsea against complacency

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has warned his players not to let their standards drop as they prepare to begin their League Cup defence.

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has warned his players not to let their standards drop as they prepare to begin their League Cup defence away to third-tier Walsall this week.

Chelsea belatedly kickstarted their defence of the Premier League title with a 2-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday, with Manchester City's 2-1 defeat at home to West Ham United allowing Mourinho's side to close to within eight points of the summit.

It came after a breezy 4-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Champions League, but Mourinho knows that his side cannot afford to take risks against Walsall, who are flying high in League One.

“I want to go match after match,” said the Portuguese, whose side beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in last season's final.

“Walsall is a cup game, a cup that we won and a cup that we don't want to throw away. We want to try to win. Wednesday is one more difficult match.”

Mourinho will shuffle his pack for Wednesday's trip to the Bescot Stadium, with captain John Terry expected to return at centre-back after being left on the bench in the stormy win over Arsenal.

Walsall have already eliminated Championship sides Nottingham Forest and Brighton and Hove Albion and are currently second in League One, a point behind Burton Albion, following a 1-1 draw at Peterborough United.

Arsenal have now lost twice in a row, having previously crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, and face an awkward third-round assignment away to local rivals Tottenham.

“It's not good enough for a club like Arsenal to lose two games in a row,” midfielder Aaron Ramsey told the Arsenal website.

“Hopefully now we can put things right on Wednesday. It will be a feisty game with hopefully some goals in our favour.”

Another team looking for a League Cup fillip are City, whose perfect start to the Premier League season was abruptly ended by Saturday's loss to West Ham.

Manuel Pellegrini's side travel to Sunderland, the top flight's bottom club, on Tuesday and record signing Kevin De Bruyne believes City will prevail if they attack the game in the same manner, provided they show a sharper cutting edge.

“We just have to play like we did in the second half, but the only thing we have to do is score goals and then obviously we can win that game,” the Belgian winger told CityTV after scoring his first City goal.

Sunderland's 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth left them at the foot of the table and they face a trip to Manchester United at the weekend, but midfielder Jack Rodwell says they cannot afford to feel sorry for themselves.

“We have got to pick ourselves up now. We have got two big games coming this week,” said the former City midfielder.

“We have no time to dwell, but that is a good thing, really, and we can bounce back as much as we can. Hopefully we will do something good.”

Manchester United, second in the Premier League after winning 3-2 at Southampton on Sunday, enter the competition on Wednesday with a home game against second-tier Ipswich Town, while Liverpool host League Two Carlisle United, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition.

Aston Villa tackle Midlands derby rivals Birmingham City on Tuesday, with in-form pair Leicester City and West Ham facing off at the King Power Stadium and West Bromwich Albion visiting Norwich City in two remaining all-Premier League ties.

Fixtures :

Tuesday:

Aston Villa v Birmingham, Fulham v Stoke, Hull v Swansea, Leicester v West Ham, Middlesbrough v Wolves, Notts County v Crawley, Preston v Bournemouth, Reading v Everton, Sunderland v Man City

Wednesday:

Crystal Palace v Charlton, Liverpool v Carlisle, Man Utd v Ipswich, MK Dons v Southampton, Newcastle v Sheff Wed, Norwich v West Brom, Tottenham v Arsenal, Walsall v Chelsea – AFP



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Rodgers’ challenge to Liverpool players

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers challenged his players to turn Anfield into a fortress after another disappointing home display.

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers challenged his players to turn Anfield into a fortress after another disappointing home display saw his side draw 1-1 with promoted Norwich City.

A second-half goal by Danny Ings put Rodgers' team on course for their first victory in five games on Sunday, only for poor defending to gift Norwich an equaliser and equally bad finishing to leave Liverpool with just four goals from their opening six Premier League matches.

Following a narrow win over Bournemouth and an embarrassing 3-0 loss to West Ham United, Liverpool have patently been under-performing on their own territory this season.

But Rodgers is confident that there are signs of a recovery ahead of a sequence that sees his team play at Anfield against Carlisle United in the League Cup, Aston Villa in the league and FC Sion in the Europa League over the next 10 days.

“On the back of the last home performance (against West Ham), there was a bit of anxiety in the first half,” said Rodgers.

“But I always say the biggest thing about playing for Liverpool is the beauty of playing at Anfield.

“You have to have courage and bravery to play here. You have to embrace it, make sure you take the risks, embrace the risks and play positive football.

“It was the same when I first came in here and there was a bit of anxiety about the place. We built a real fortress for ourselves, but unfortunately we have to build that again and focus on being positive at home.

“We showed that in the second half. Hopefully the confidence will grow with results.

“It's normal for players, the expectation around Liverpool, everything that comes with that. If you're winning games and playing well, then of course confidence is going to be far higher than it might be now.

“We have to build that confidence, through our training, through the games. It's just step by step.”

Rodgers was at least able to welcome back striker Daniel Sturridge after nearly six months out of his line-up following hip surgery, although he only lasted just over an hour before being taken off as a precaution.

“I felt it was important to get him on the field,” said Rodgers.

“I thought he did well for the hour he played, but he is still way off full fitness. It's just about games and building fitness for him. There is no pressure on him to do that.”

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet endured a difficult afternoon, with poor kicking and a hand in Norwich's goal, but Rodgers defended the Belgian when asked whether deputy Adam Bogdan was putting him under pressure for his place.

“There were other factors in the goal we conceded,” said Rodgers.

“But every keeper you bring in, he is there to challenge the (first-choice) keeper. I did it before – if I feel I need to make a change, whether a goalkeeper or outfield player, I will do that.”

The equalising goal, from Norwich captain and defender Russell Martin, marked a particularly memorable day for the player, who had left his team-mates on Merseyside on the eve of the game to attend the birth of his son.

“He got the call late last night, about 11pm (2200 GMT), that his wife was having contractions and that he needed to make his way down there,” explained manager Alex Neil.

“He made his way down there and the baby was delivered at 10am. He was on the first flight back up with the directors, then put in a real captain's performance for us. That shows his dedication to the team.”

Neil added: “The biggest thing I'm trying to change is the mentality of the team – the fact that when we go to a big club like this, we've got to believe we can win the game – and I think we're getting there.” – AFP



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Martial goals put United 2nd on log

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French teen Anthony Martial added two more goals to earn his team a 3-2 win at Southampton.

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London - French teenager Anthony Martial, having scored as a substitute on his Premier League debut in Manchester United's last game, added two more goals to earn his team a 3-2 win at Southampton on Sunday.

The victory took Louis van Gaal's side into second place, two points behind neighbours Manchester City.

Graziano Pelle put Southampton ahead in the 13th minute but Martial, who cost 36.3 million pounds from AS Monaco on the last day of the transfer window, equalised 10 minutes before halftime.

His second goal followed a dreadful backpass by Southampton's Japanese defender Maya Yoshida.

Juan Mata added United's third midway through the second half before Pelle gave his team late hope by heading in Sadio Mane's cross.

Reuters



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Wenger must tighten up on discipline

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Arsene Wenger needs to instil greater discipline into his players, a former Gunners boss says.

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London – Arsene Wenger needs to instil greater discipline into his players after three of them were sent off within a week, former Arsenal manager George Graham said on Sunday.

French striker Olivier Giroud was dismissed in the Champions League defeat by Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday and Gabriel and Santi Cazorla both received red cards during a feisty London derby at Chelsea on Saturday, which the home side won 2-0.

Wenger was furious that Chelsea’s Diego Costa escaped with only a yellow card after becoming involving in several incidents and apparently provoking Gabriel.

In the Wenger’s 19 years at the club, they have had more than 100 sendings-off and Graham, who managed Arsenal from 1986-95, said the Frenchman had to take some of the responsibility.

“He is not the most strict manager and he really needs to get hold of his own players because there’s no way (Gabriel) should have been sent off,” Graham told the BBC’s Sportsweek programme.

“It’s (Gabriel’s) own stupidity that got him sent off and they’ve got to handle that.”

Graham agreed that Costa should also have been dismissed and predicted that referees would be stricter with him after Saturday’s incidents.

“He is going to be targeted now by the officials and probably rightly so,” he added.

“Although you’ve got to keep that physical intensity, once you step over the mark he’s got to be dealt with by officials, it’s as simple as that. And I think he will be.” – Reuters



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Liverpool’s Henderson breaks foot

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Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson is facing up to two months on the sidelines after breaking a bone in his foot.

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London - Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson is facing up to two months on the sidelines after breaking a bone in his foot during a training session, British media reported on Saturday.

Henderson, 25, who has played 22 times for England, only resumed training on Friday, after returning from the United States, where he had undergone treatment on a heel problem.

Henderson broke the bone in his right foot and is expected to face surgery on Monday.

The player tweeted on Saturday: “Very disappointed and frustrated with the injury setback but will work hard to be back as quickly as possible. Will be supporting the team in every way I can while I am unable to play.”

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had said Henderson was in contention to return for Sunday's Premier League game at home to Norwich City but he was injured shortly after the manager spoke to reporters at his pre-match briefing.

Reuters



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Nine-man Arsenal crash at Chelsea

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Arsenal had two players sent off when they lost to Chelsea as the champions pulled out of their slump.

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London - Arsenal had two players sent off when they lost an ill-tempered derby 2-0 to Chelsea on Saturday as the champions pulled out of their early-season slump with their first Premier League win for almost a month.

Chelsea's 20-year-old French defender Kurt Zouma headed the first after 53 minutes of a fractious game before an Eden Hazard shot deflected off Calum Chambers in stoppage time to make it 2-0.

Arsenal defender Gabriel was red carded for kicking out at Diego Costa just before halftime and Santi Cazorla was dismissed with a second booking for sliding in on former Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas after 79 minutes.

The result lifted Chelsea from 17th into mid-table while Arsenal stayed fourth, at least until Saturday's later matches.

Reuters



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Moreno visits Shaw in Dutch hospital

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Luke Shaw has received a visit from Hector Moreno, whose challenge broke the Man United fullback's leg in two places.

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Amsterdam - Luke Shaw has received a visit from PSV Eindhoven defender Hector Moreno, whose challenge in Tuesday's Champions League tie broke the Manchester United fullback's leg in two places.

Moreno was accompanied on Friday by PSV coach Phillip Cocu at the hospital in Geldorp, where Shaw underwent surgery directly after being admitted.

“We first asked whether Shaw would meet us, which he wanted to,” Cocu told Dutch media on Saturday. “We offered him the help of PSV should he need anything in relation to his recovery.”

Cocu said the incident had weighed heavily on Mexican international Moreno, who suffered a broken leg of his own at last year's World Cup in Brazil.

“It has affected him, it has affected the others and it has affected me,” Cocu told reporters. “Hector is really distressed his opponent was so badly hurt.”

Cocu also defended his player, saying he had no intention of injuring the Manchester United man. Moreno issued an apology the day after the game.

Shaw, 20, was injured under a challenge from Moreno as he stormed into the penalty area in the 15th minute of PSV's 2-1 win in their Group B opener.

The game was stopped for eight minutes while medical staff attended to the England international, who was then carried off on a stretcher with an oxygen mask strapped to his face.

On Friday, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said he took heart from Shaw's positive attitude.

“Amazing for me. Big surprise,” said Van Gaal. “It is not easy but his family is there. We have sent people to him. There is still a long way to go.”

Reuters



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Ajax have the right mix to foil Amakhosi

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As much as the Ajax youth brigade has hogged the spotlight, there’s no doubt the older players are just as motivated.

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Cape Town - As much as the Ajax Cape Town youth brigade has hogged the spotlight in the build-up to Saturday’s MTN8 final at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth (kickoff 3pm), there’s no doubt the older, more experienced players are just as motivated.

Ajax coach Roger de Sa has founded the current squad on a successful blend of youth and experience. While the emerging talent is often touted as the reason for the team’s recent elevation, spare a thought for the role played by the wiser heads, who have trod this path for many years.

Two such footballers are Ajax’s Franklin Cale and the recently-returned Erwin Isaacs - both are highly respected by the youngsters in the squad and they carry an enormous influence in the dressingroom.

Cale, particularly, is really looking forward to playing a role in Saturday’s cup decider - and he explained why he would love to this time end up on the winning side.

“I’ve been to the MTN8 final on three previous occasions,” the 32-year-old said. “I’ve been in the final while playing for Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United, and, with Saturday’s game, it’s twice with Ajax. On the previous three, I’ve lost… this time, I’m hoping for better luck.”

In fact, Cale has very bad memories of the last time he was in the MTN8 final with Ajax. It was in 2009 and the Urban Warriors got hammered 6-0 by Golden Arrows at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto. He would definitely love to put that nightmare to bed.

“Look, I’ve been there and done that in PSL,” he said. “There’s not much I haven’t seen in the league. I’m just happy to be fully fit again after my injury problems and eager to contribute in whatever way I can to the team’s success.

“I love helping the youngsters making their way in the game now, giving them advice based on my experience over the years and, hopefully, they can learn something from it.”

Cale admits Chiefs are the favourites going into the final, but warns that Ajax are determined to make a go of it.

“Chiefs are not champions for nothing,” he said. “They have been a great team for many years, so I’m sure it’s going to be a really special final. Chiefs have some great players, especially going forward, but the youngsters in our squad are developing into better players as each day passes.

“I think if we play our normal game and handle the pressure of the big stage and take our chances when they come, then there’s no reason why we can’t win this final.”

For Isaacs, things have happened rather quickly. Last month, he didn’t know where his career was headed; Saturday, he lines up in the Ajax squad for yet another cup final.

The 28-year-old from Lavender Hill was influential during a loan spell at the Cape side last season. On his return to his employers Wits this season, the Urban Warriors were keen to sign the player.

Negotiations, however, broke down because of the Students’ asking price. As such, Isaacs, already out in the cold at Wits, wasn’t too sure what the next step was.

He takes up the story that led to him being snapped up by Ajax two weeks ago: “I had one year left on my contract at Wits, but I was desperate to leave. I wasn’t in their plans. I sat down with them and they gave me two options - either they would pay me for my time there this season and release me from contract at a later stage, or I could get my release now and they wouldn’t pay me.

“I opted to take my release immediately. It’s not always about money. I wanted to be with a club where I enjoyed being, and I wanted to have an opportunity to play football.”

With Isaacs a free agent, Ajax jumped at the opportunity to add the player to their squad, with De Sa having highlighted how valuable the former Santos hitman was to the squad.

Needless to say, Isaacs is just happy to be in the mix - and so soon after re-joining, he’s back in a cup final. He also played for Ajax in the Nedbank Cup showpiece in May this year.

“Can you believe it… I’m back and in a final again,” he said. “This time, though, I’m hoping that we can be the winners.

“I can assure you losing last season was not a good feeling. And because of that, I’m sure that whoever plays will be better, will give of their best, in order to try to ensure that we win this time.

“Obviously, it won’t be that easy. Chiefs are big fish… and we will be the underdogs. They are always difficult to break down, but if we play to our potential and the guys rise to the occasion, then I believe we can pull off this victory.”

Weekend Argus



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Wenger plots Jose’s pain

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Jose Mourinho will offer a handshake to Arsene Wenger when his arch-enemy arrives at Stamford Bridge, but...

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London - Jose Mourinho will offer a handshake to Arsene Wenger when his arch-enemy arrives at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Whether Wenger accepts is another matter. Whether it is received as a genuine peace offering is highly unlikely.

The Arsenal manager makes no secret of his feelings towards Mourinho, despite refusing to verbalise them on Friday. He has long since tired of responding to the verbal grenades lobbed his way from across the capital.

Mourinho is clearly amused by Wenger’s longevity at the Emirates Stadium despite not winning the Barclays Premier League title for more than a decade, and loves to taunt.

There were skirmishes during his first spell in England and he coined the ‘specialist in failure’ insult upon his return two years ago.

Mourinho, nevertheless, remains a stickler for the protocol that a home manager should welcome his opposite number before the game. So he will go in search of a handshake, as he did at Wembley last month after Arsenal had won the FA Community Shield.

On that occasion, Wenger was in elusive mood having beaten his nemesis for the first time. Since losing his touchline cool in spectacular fashion during this fixture last season, he seems to have found it more palatable to disengage completely.

Earlier this year, when asked in a press conference about a Mourinho remark, Wenger said he had no interest in the views of others. ‘Not even Mourinho?’ the inquisitor implored, surprisingly surprised. Wenger stared back.

‘Especially not Mourinho?’ someone else ventured. ‘Exactly,’ hissed Wenger.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s winner in the FA Community Shield was Arsenal’s first goal against a Mourinho Chelsea team since a Gilberto Silva penalty in May 2007.

It all became too much when Chelsea won again, last October, less than seven months after humiliating Wenger with a 6-0 thrashing on the occasion of his 1,000th game in charge of Arsenal.

He gave in to the temptation to use his height and reach advantage, and Mourinho rarely misses the chance to wonder aloud what bans and fines might have been imposed had he been guilty of such unruliness. On Saturday, Wenger will be aware the pressure is firmly on Chelsea. The champions have only four points from five games, 11 adrift of leaders Manchester City, although they found form on Wednesday, beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-0 as Arsenal lost at Dinamo Zagreb.

‘We improved the speed of the game, increasing the speed of the ball, it was much, much faster,’ said Mourinho, who dropped four senior players, and has seen the mood lift in the camp. When you lose matches you are affected. You can say you’re not but you are. In life, you need confidence to be better.

‘You lose confidence, you don’t want the ball, you’re afraid of the ball, you fear the worst when the ball goes to your box and in front of the opponents’ goalkeeper you’re afraid to shoot.

‘For us the victory was important. I’m not saying it’s what we needed to win 15 in a row. I’m saying it’s important for people to be a bit more relaxed and a bit more confident.’

John Terry, Nemanja Matic, Diego Costa and Branislav Ivanovic were ‘not rested’, according to Mourinho, and on Saturday Ivanovic’s place at right back must be under most serious threat.

His form has been poor and Arsenal are strong on their left, where Alexis Sanchez links up effectively with Mesut Ozil. Another decision revolves around teenage midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who impressed on Wednesday, but there were no promises for anyone, including Terry, the captain, who played every Premier League game last season.

‘I play who I want,’ said Mourinho. ‘I don’t think about the consequences. I play the player I think is the best for that moment. John has known that since 2004. During his time with me, he has seen many examples of big players left out.’

Petr Cech will return to Stamford Bridge for the first time since his £10million transfer to Arsenal and supporters in the Shed are planning a banner to say: ‘Thank you Petr. Chelsea legend.’

The goalkeeper won everything in 11 years at the club and his popularity and loyalty persuaded owner Roman Abramovich to let him join local rivals when Mourinho advised against it.

With Thibaut Courtois out with a serious knee injury, the irony will be lost on no one when Cech runs out in Arsenal colours. When it comes to handshakes, at least those with Cech will have warmth and feeling.

Daily Mail



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Sturridge set for Kop return

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Daniel Sturridge is on the brink of a long-awaited Liverpool comeback and could feature in their home clash with Norwich.

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London - Daniel Sturridge is on the brink of a long-awaited Liverpool comeback and could feature in Saturday’s home clash with Norwich.

Manager Brendan Rodgers says the England striker has trained well all week and, assuming he gets through Saturday’s final session, he will be involved on Sunday - possibly as a substitute.

Sturridge had hip surgery in May so Liverpool will take no risks, but Rodgers is excited by the prospect of pairing him with Christian Benteke.

‘Daniel has looked really powerful,’ Rodgers said. ‘His quality is there for all to see.’

Daily Mail



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Medics predict rapid recovery for Shaw

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Specialists treating Luke Shaw in Holland believe he has an excellent chance making of a full and quick recovery.

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London - Specialists treating Luke Shaw in Holland believe the Manchester United defender has an excellent chance making of a full and relatively quick recovery from the broken leg he suffered this week.

United manager Louis van Gaal revealed yesterday that England international Shaw is expected to fly home today for a second operation in Manchester that will fully close the wound around the right tibia and fibula snapped so brutally in a challenge by PSV player Hector Moreno on Tuesday.

Van Gaal has spoken with Shaw on the telephone and professed himself amazed by the left back’s positive and determined attitude.

Furthermore, it is understood that doctors who treated Shaw in Eindhoven have suggested that the double break was so clean that the 20-year-old’s prospects are as good as can possibly be expected after such a serious injury.

The chances of Shaw playing again before the season’s end are still slim, something that would at least enable United to monitor the player over next summer instead of losing him to the European Championships with England.

Van Gaal said last night: ‘There can be circumstances that he can come back (this season) but it means that everything has to be good for six months.

‘I called him last night. He sounds very strong, which was amazing for me - a big surprise. It is a good signal but he knows he has long way to go and it is not easy.

‘His family is there - we have sent people with him and he will come back when he is prepared. Maybe tomorrow.

‘For us it is a big loss, as a team. I have said this will be the season of Luke Shaw, but now it is finished nearly.

‘The next operation is a closing of the stitches or something. It’s minor. He can fly back. I have heard that in the last information I got. It will be today or tomorrow then he will go to a private clinic in Manchester.

‘When it’s all right, depending on the development of the injury, then he goes home, maybe Tuesday or Wednesday.”

United go to Southampton in the Barclays Premier League tomorrow and have been boosted by the return from a hamstring injury of captain Wayne Rooney. Phil Jones is also back in training after a blood clot problem but not yet available. Rooney scored a hat-trick in the Champions League qualifier against Bruges recently but has not scored a Premier League game in 10 games.

Van Gaal said: ‘He is back. It was a minor injury and we didn’t want to take risks, but he has had training and treatment and I think he can start.

‘He scored against Bruges. He scored. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Premier League or the Champions League.

‘I was very happy when we scored more goals. It does not matter to me who is scoring. But we have to score more.

‘When you are so dominant as we are, in all the matches, we have to win these games.”

‘You can count all the goals he’s made. In my memory, Rooney has scored a lot.

‘He’s nearly the record holder in the Premier League so I hope he will beat that record but I have to wait and see, like you do.’

Daily Mail



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Mourinho facing five-game ban

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho could face a five-match ban after a member of the public complained he had used sexist and abusive language against former team doctor Eva Carneiro.

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho could face a five-match ban after a member of the public complained he had used sexist and abusive language against former team doctor Eva Carneiro, Britain's press reported Friday.

The Football Association said in a statement that it had “received an enquiry relating to an alleged incident during the Premier League fixture between Swansea v Chelsea on 8 August” but that it would make no further comment.

Mourinho criticised Carneiro when she ran on the pitch to treat Belgian star Eden Hazard at the request of referee Michael Oliver during the final stages of the drawn match.

Footage of the incident broadcast by Sky Sports showed Mourinho shouting angrily while watching Carneiro from the touchline, before exchanging words as she came down the touchline to return to the dug-out.

Mourinho demoted the Gibraltar-born medic straight after the game, and she has yet to return to the club's training ground.

Under FA rules, players and coaches can be punished for using “offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures”.

An aggravated breach, for instance a reference to gender, carries a minimum touchline ban of five-matches.

The FA is compelled to investigate the claim, which was made in the past few days, according to reports. – AFP



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Shaw to undergo second operation

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Luke Shaw will have another operation on his shattered right leg in Holland.

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Luke Shaw will have another operation on his shattered right leg in Holland today.

The 20-year-old Manchester United defender was taken to the St Anna Ziekenhuis hospital on the outskirts of Eindhovenon Tuesday nightafter breaking his lower leg in two places during United’s 2-1 loss to PSV in the Champions League.

Two orthopaedic surgeons and a trauma specialist operated on Shaw and the left back was told to expect a short stay in Holland before being allowed home.

However, it is understood Shaw will have a second operation at the Dutch hospital today, though his condition is deemed satisfactory given the severity of the injury.

The England defender, who is expected to miss the rest of the season, willremain in Eindhoven until United’s medical staff are happy for him to come home. When he does return, it may have to be by road as air travel — and the associated changes in air pressure — is not recommended after major surgery.

Meanwhile, United chief executive Ed Woodward has claimed that UEFA remain as determined as ever to clamp down on clubs looking to get round their Financial Fair Play rules.

United released their quarterly accounts yesterday, revealing a £38million drop in turnover caused by last season’s absence from the Champions League.

However, Woodward believes United’s new kit deal with adidas will take the club close to Real Madrid’s world record turnover of £513.7m next season and hinted that Louis van Gaal will continue to invest in the squad.

Asked on an investors’ conference call if there was any update on his view on Financial Fair Play in the wake of big spending by other British clubs this summer, Woodward said: ‘I think I know who you’re talking about.

‘I would expect that they spent within the rules. Everybody understands them and as we know there are some big revenue increases coming down the path. But the core question is:Is FFP still important? It is absolutely. There is still great belief in it from UEFA.’

Manchester City have been fined once for falling foul of FFP rules and spent heavily once again this summer.

There is no suggestion, however, that their spending has put them at risk of breaching FFP again.

United had revenues of £395.2m and made a loss of £1.2m. The cost of missing out on the Champions League for a year was around £35m. – Daily Mail



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Chiefs well-prepared for Ajax

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Kaizer Chiefs take on Ajax in the MTN8 final at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth as defending champions.

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As Steve Komphela held fort with the media corps at Kaizer Chiefs’ Taung Village in Naturena on Wednesday, it was hard to imagine Ajax Cape Town springing an upset tomorrow.

Amakhosi take on the Urban Warriors in the MTN8 final at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth (3pm) as defending champions, having won the competition under Stuart Baxter last season.

And listening to Komphela look ahead to the match, you would have sworn Chiefs’ new coach had an insider at Ajax.

Speaking of what he expects from his adversaries, the man who is going into only his second club football cup final gave the impression of someone who has the opposition all figured out.

It was pretty impressive really as Komphela not only rattled off the names of the Ajax players but discussed the way he anticipates Roger de Sa might approach the match.

“At the back they have a clear centre-back pairing – (Abbubaker) Mobara and Rivaldo Coetzee. And (Mosa) Lebusa helps them out there. On the right they have (Aidan) Jenniker, (Anssi) Jakkolla is also there as a goalkeeper. All in all when you look at that team, you see that it is not by accident that they are on top (of the league table).

“Ajax are a youthful side, they have a high level of technical ability and from a tactical point of view, they have a smart coach.”

With a opposition he rates so highly standing on his way to lifting his maiden trophy at club level, Komphela is sure to have a master-plan to ensure Amakhosi faithful are a happy lot come 5pm.

That Chiefs reached the final had a lot to do with the former Bafana coach’s ability to not only inspire his team but to put in place a new game plan when his initial one fails to work.

Amakhosi’s progress from the first round was particularly a good case in point – Chiefs beating Maritzburg United 5-3 after looking dead and buried when they trailed 2-0 at half-time.

That Komphela magic was again evident just last weekend when he masterminded a comeback against a SuperSport United team that had them in all sorts of trouble in the initial stanza to lead 1-0 and should actually have scored more.

Ever the planner, Komphela clearly has an idea what Ajax will bring along to the match.

“It’s a cup final. You don’t know what he (De Sa) says to his players. Does he say ‘listen I don’t care how you play – what I want to see happen is us lifting the trophy’. You’ve got to deal with that. Or he says ‘listen, go out there enjoy the moment it comes but once’. You don’t know that.”

Yet the fact that he has an idea of what De Sa might instruct his players to do speaks volumes of a coach who is meticulous in his planning.

And tomorrow’s final is likely to highlight the fact that Komphela is one of the foremost tactical geniuses in the country. - The Star



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Chelsea worry for Arsenal’s Arteta

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Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal’s shock defeat at Dinamo Zagreb could have damaged their chances of victory at Chelsea tomorrow.

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Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal’s shock defeat at Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday could have damaged their chances of victory at Chelsea tomorrow.

Arsenal beat Chelsea in the Community Shield but Arsene Wenger has yet to beat Jose Mourinho in a competitive fixture and hoped to take advantage of a poor start by the Barclays Premier League champions.

‘It doesn’t help before a big game,’ said Arteta. ‘We haven’t managed to win three games in a row, which is very important. We had two in the pocket and wanted a good result in Zagreb.

‘We have to react quickly. We’re quite good at that. We’ve done it in the past. Saturday will be a very different game.’

The Gunners did not get back home until 4am yesterday and Arteta added: ‘We have to recover the best we can and start to prepare for the game because we only have 48 hours.’

Meanwhile, Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Paulo Machado said Arsenal had underestimated them. He said: ‘Sometimes it is so in football, a great team does not respect enough a small one. Well, now they will maybe respect us a little more next time.’

David Ospina, who was one of several changes by Wenger in Zagreb, loses his place to Petr Cech tomorrow as the Arsenal manager switches between his goalkeepers. – Daily Mail



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