Sevilla coach Gregorio Manzano has made defence the number one priority ahead of the Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Madrid.
Cup holders Sevilla host La Liga title contenders Real at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Wednesday, with a place in the final up for grabs.
But the match is only the first instalment of two legs to decide the outcome and Manzano knows it is vital that his team are still in contention when they travel to Real’s Santiago Bernabeu on February 2
“The tie isn’t going to be decided here,” Manzano said on Tuesday.
“If only it were to be decided here. It will be decided in the Bernabeu. That is why the most important thing is to not let them score. We need to keep a cool head. We aren’t going to go crazy and look to kill off the tie in the first 20 minutes at home.”
“It is a game where we need to be focused right from the first minute of the game right up to minute 180. That is why tomorrow we will look to have a good game to set up the return leg.”
Manzano revealed that his team selection will largely be dictated by Sevilla’s 4-1 win over Levante in their last La Liga match, on Saturday.
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“In today’s training session today we tried to set out a plan, but the game against Levante set the tone for the starting eleven,” he said.
“As I said before the game against Villarreal, which was a return leg, there will be variables that we will have to adapt to. We have this new game, with specific circumstances. I have the script in my head, but my players need to provide the performance.”
Even by their recent standards, January was a particularly eventful month for Liverpool FC. The month began with Roy Hodgson’s ignominious early ousting from the Anfield hotseat, with the Reds’ new American owners appointing club legend Kenny Dalglish in the former Fulham manager’s place. The King’s return to the throne culminated in a return to winning ways, before a staggering transfer deadline day saw the club effectively trade Fernando Torres for Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.
Dalglish’s return to the managerial post he vacated nearly 20 years ago has undoubtedly brought back some much-needed stability and leadership to a side decimated by in-fighting and turmoil over the last 18 months. Sunday’s 1-0 win away at Chelsea saw Liverpool record their fourth successive victory, fuelling optimistic suggestions that the side can make a late push for Champions League qualification.
Although plaudits have been heaped upon the 59-year-old caretaker manager by fans and pundits alike, credit must be given to the man brought in by Dalglish to oversee coaching of the first-team. Former Chelsea man Steve Clarke has been an integral part of the Reds’ recent revival, a sentiment alluded to by Daniel Agger and Jay Spearing.
Speaking to LFC Weekly, Spearing said: “Under him [Clarke] the pace of training has changed.
“He wants us to do things quicker. That’s helped us to play at a better tempo in games.”
Clarke is a respected figure within the game, and is widely credited as being a key figure behind Chelsea’s back-to-back title wins of 2004/05 and 2005/06.
Charlton Athletic assistant manager Alex Dyer, a man who worked with Clarke during the Scotsman’s spell as assistant manager at West Ham United, said that Dalglish’s number two excels at getting “footballers playing to their maximum potential.” This assertion has been vindicated in the performances of some of Liverpool’s players; shaky Slovak Martin Skrtel has begun to show some semblance of the defender he was when he first arrived at Anfield in 2008, and the free-scoring Raul Meireles is finally starting to prove his true worth to the team.
The fact that Liverpool’s rearguard has been breached with greater infrequency during the last month is no coincidence. The side have conceded five goals in their last seven games, and have managed to keep clean sheets in each of their last four outings. Liverpool’s successful tactical reversion to a 3-5-2 system not seen since the late 1990s is thought to be to attributable to Clarke.
Liverpool’s displays of late have also drawn comparisons to the ‘pass and move’ ethic synonymous with the club during their 1970s and 1980s halcyon days (for example, Fernando Torres’ second goal against Wolves at Molineux was preceded by 31 passes). Dyer again attributes to this to the work of Clarke, stating: “Most of the players I know loved his sessions. He likes to play the ball on the ground with quick passing and play at a high tempo.”
Dealing with Fernando Torres’ late January transfer request would surely have provided Kenny Dalglish with his biggest headache this January. Dalglish admirably dealt with the mess created by the former Rojiblanco, but whether or not Carroll and Suarez manage to fill the Spaniard’s illustrious shoes remains to be seen. Regardless of their eventual impact, the signing of Steve Clarke may prove to be the most important signing made by Kenny Dalglish in the January window.
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So a slight change with regards to my usual topics of discourse i.e. what happened in the game but a slightly more proactive offering this time, attempting to offer a solution to the quite often mundane football we’ve been subjected quite recently (though some would argue there has been a deeper malaise full stop in terms of attractive football. To those I’d point out our wins v Blackburn / Birmingham and whenever Michael Carrick had Anderson alongside him in an orthodox 4-4-2).
Anyway, the following areas I percieve as problems in the side whenever we adopt 4-3-3 and issues that were much evident against Marseille and other sides away from home, whereby despite the fact we generally look solid defensively. Up front we are more functional and generally devoid of any real ideas and furthermore lacked the ability or cohesion to create a sustained period of pressure.
1. Midfield Malaise (No Anderson…)
Hopefully Anderson’s initial diagnosis is not as bad as we all were made to think and he will slot into the side near the business end of the season, ready to play a pivotal ball-carrying role in the centre of the park. If however he suffers a further set back and generally struggles fitness wise to get sharp (all hypothetical) its clear that the midfield duo of Carrick & Fletcher lacks the required silk to dominate possessionand create chances against top opposition especially considering the form they’re in. So what are we to do? One suggestion would be to play Berbatov in a deeper role, almost as a third midfielder (this task can be interchangeable with Rooney or even Nani drifting off the flanks) and making sure these two always have a more technically gifted playmaker to lay the ball off to under pressure.
Where do Scholes and Giggs come into this? Well games away from home generally require young legs especially in the first half and I think it suits them best to come on in the second half whether it be in midfield or in a wide position as in the case of Giggs.
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2. Lack of Penetration
Its clear to most people that United’s 4-3-3 inevitably drifts into 4-6-0 whenever Berbatov plays up front alone. We simply don’t possess a genuine goal threat when he is up there as he doesn’t have the pace or movement to be a menace behind the backline and wreak havoc on the counter. Similarly when Rooney is made to play up front alone whilst in his current form, he is left isolated and he gets frustrated, his touch goes slightly awry, hold up play suffers and the team has sporadic moments of quality possession and we tend to win games with a moment of magic rather than dominate teams with our conception of a 4-3-3. The solution could be instead to go 4-2-3-1 and introduce the hitherto unused big match weapon Javier ‘Chico’ Hernandez; providing a constant focus point for the team up front, a genuine goal threat and someone who can take the goalscoring burden off messrs Rooney and Berbatov. Furthermore it could also give the breathing space that Fletcher and Carrick are crying out for under pressure, can you imagine Carrick under pressure spotting Hernandez off the shoulder off the last man and dinking it perfectly in the path of the goal-hungry Mexican, I can and his presence could solve two problems with one perfectly aimed little Pea.
Conclusion:
A few unmentioned issues I’ll briefly cover in the conclusion, Rafael in for O’Shea. I think we need the Brazillians presence especially with that midfield. If there is any way we can include talented ball carriers who can aid our industrious but not particularly creative/silky midfield we must take it and his presence is much appreciated and effective. A final issue is that of Ferdinand, it could possibly be Smalling ousts him from the first team set up.. unlikely but with this lads rate of development anything could happen.. in this situation though I’d stick to tried and tested and Ferdinand is top class.
Finally I just want to put across how much I want to see that swashbuckling spirit United used to possess regardless of the situation (home or away, UCL or FA Cup) whilst at the same time maintaining the new found defensive discipline we’ve developed over the years. Its a balance that has tipped too much in favour of result over performance recently and the aforementioned formation / line-up is one example of a proposed selection designed to win games but in an exciting manner – what’s yours?
Written By
Raees Mahmood (Follow me @ www.twitter.com/redrae7 or check out www.thebusbyway.com)
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Someone who could make the starting XI in the near future is Paul Pogba and he should be there for many years to come. Watch the video below to see why…
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will miss Saturday’s blockbuster FA Cup quarter-final with Manchester United after reinjuring his hamstring.Manager Arsene Wenger said the 23-year-old midfielder – whose careless backheel gifted Barcelona their first goal in Tuesday’s 3-1 Champions League loss at the Nou Camp – would miss around two weeks with the injury, which has plagued him for some time.”He is very disappointed because it is becoming a bit of a problem for him but it is very superficial,” Wenger said. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will also sit out the clash at Old Trafford after injuring his finger in the Barcelona game, and with Lukasz Fabianski still missing with a shoulder complaint Manuel Almunia looks set to start between the posts.Arsenal are already missing winger Theo Walcott and midfielder Alex Song, as they look to rebound from the disappointment of losing the Carling Cup final to Birmingham on February 27 and their Champions League exit at the hands of Barca.
News that Rio Ferdinand could be out for the season hasn’t been met with the level of disappointment by many United fans that you’d expect.
While the loss of arguably the world’s best centre back is a massive blow there’s a feeling among many Reds that it needn’t be a devastating one.
The reason for the underlying optimism is a certain Christopher Lloyd Smalling who exceeded everyone’s wildest expectations with a series of assured performances at the heart of United’s defence.
Watching Smalling playing for Fulham last season, I was a little sceptical as to why we’d signed him to be perfectly honest as in the few games I saw him in, he looked a little shaky to say the least. What I, in my infinite stupidity failed to do was watch him over any extended period of time, just simply the occasional game here and the odd highlight there before making a negative assumption.
Smalling has fitted into the defence when called upon with consummate ease, displaying the confidence and ability to move the ball forward you’d associate with Rio Ferdinand. Smalling’s pace and physical presence make him a daunting prospect for any forward to face and he’s shown he’s more than adept at tackling and winning aerial battles.
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Smalling has composure on the ball which belies his inexperience, yet unlike other defenders most notably Ferdinand, who have that same style, his play never seems perfunctory. That’s not to say that Smalling is at the same level as Ferdinand, it would be daft to suggest such a thing, but there can be little or no doubt that he’s certainly living up to the moniker of Ferdinand’s heir apparent.
Smalling’s rise to the summit of club football has been nothing short of awe-inspiring as a man who a mere two years ago was plying his trade in the Ryman league is now first choice for a team chasing the treble.
The concern I have is that while Smalling has gone from non-league to England class in barely two years, he’s still a relative novice in the top flight, who ideally was expected to be United’s third, fourth of even fifth choice centre back this season.
Don’t get me wrong as Chicharito has so ably shown top flight experience isn’t the be all and end all when you’ve got such an abundance of talent, but that shouldn’t detract from the fact a lot’s being asked of a player who’s barely reached 20 Premier League appearances.
Unlike a striker who can miss three chances but score one and still be a hero, if a defender makes just one error in a game, it can prove costly.
With the current United defensive injury problems reaching crisis levels, Ferguson has little choice but to turn to Smalling. With both John O’Shea and Rafael out for at least a few weeks, then surely Wes Brown will be required to fill the right back role.
Continue to the NEXT PAGE…
Jonny Evans is thought to have a strong chance of being fit for the Bolton game this weekend, but here is where one of the main problems lie when it comes to playing Smalling. In an ideal world Smalling would be used sparingly, perhaps even just as cover for Evans and Vidic who played together more than admirably during United’s 11 game clean sheet record breaking run in 2008/09.
Yet since then Evans has been on downward trajectory and other than a few minor glimpses of the defender once considered the most exciting at the club, some even rated him higher than Gerard Pique when they were both fringe players, he’s become something of a worry to say the least.
It’s now got to the point where if Evans and Smalling are both fit, then it surely has to be the former Fulham man who’s preferred such is the level of unreliability you’d associate with the Irishman.
Nemanja Vidic is expected to return after Saturday’s game and take his place in the defence for the following week’s trip to Upton Park.
With a fit Vidic, and no Rafael or O’Shea you’d expect Brown to occupy the right back and either Smalling or Evans be asked to partner the United skipper.
The thought of Jonny Evans being in defence at Upton Park again is almost not worth thinking about as watching him make Carlton Cole look like Eric Cantona in the freezing cold a few months ago was arguably the nadir of any away trip I’ve ever been on.
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It now seems inevitable that Smalling is going to be called upon for a series of games which could make or break United’s entire season. Yet is that really the best thing for both player and club?
Against both Liverpool and Marseille Smalling has shown signs that he’s not as infallible as everyone once thought. I’m not criticising him, merely pointing out an observation that I’m sure many other Reds have noticed.
In the game at Anfield, Smalling was one of United’s better defenders- or at least less bad ones- I know that’s the same thing, but if you think about it there’s a different meaning.
In the game against Arsenal Smalling was immense while the in the Champion’s league after a somewhat nervy start he gradually looked a little more composed.
The point is that Smalling is currently serving his apprenticeship at Old Trafford, he’s shone brightly and impressed everyone but are we asking too much of him to be a first choice centre back for possibly the rest of the season?
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Evans and Brown may have looked shaky at times, but unlike Smalling they’ve been involved in both title run-ins and big Champion’s league games a number of times. The general consensus among United fans is to stick with Smalling until Rio returns- or if that’s not forthcoming, until the end of the season.
Smalling has undoubtedly shown he is the real deal, and alongside Vidic his extra pace and composure is the perfect compliment.
However if he should show signs of the pressure getting to him then would giving Brown or even the much-maligned Evans another chance be such a bad idea?
Everyone was shocked when Ferguson chose Evans ahead of Smalling against Liverpool in the FA Cup, yet the defender proved his detractors wrong with a solid point.
As always I’m keen to hear your thoughts. Please comment below and let me know if I’ve gone off the deep end yet again or actually have a valid point?
Read more of Justin’s articles at the excellent Red Flag Flying High
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Check out Man United’s representative in the Top TEN solo goals of all time…
With all eyes on Aston Villa over the last few weeks as the threat of relegation now looks serious, not helped with the bust-up between players and staff during what was supposed to be a team bonding session. Plus the Villa fans voicing their opinions on manager Gerard Houllier during their last home game, a trip to in-form Everton is not what the manager wanted.
Everton are 2nd in the league form table having won 3 out of their last 4 games and are now 8th in the table and will be eyeing to finish as high up the league as possible with the remaining 8 fixtures. Goodison Park has also been a fortress for the Toffees where they’ve not lost in their last seven games.
Villa on the other hand is a contrast in the form guide, with the 2nd worst defensive record in the league and 17th in the form guide. They welcome back key defenders Richard Dunne and James Collins who both picked up slight knocks on international duty. However, in form full-back Kyle Walker is doubtful.
Despite Everton missing a few creative players, their home form should see them come out victors over what seems like a depleted Villa team. However, the form guide is often thrown out the window for these seemingly mis-match games but considering the attention on Villa lately, there will be added pressure on the squad to perform.
Prediction: Everton 2-0 Aston Villa
Watch Jason Cundy & Scott Minto on Scoreboard and see their pre-match predictions
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Sir Alex Ferguson has scoffed at Chelsea’s claims for a late penalty in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.United defender Patrice Evra appeared to drag Ramires to the turf inside the box in second-half injury time, but referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco waved away the Chelsea’s penalty pleas in front of their home fans at Stamford Bridge.
Ferguson’s men held on for a 1-0 lead, with Wayne Rooney’s 24th-minute strike all that separated the two sides at the final whistle on Wednesday.
Ferguson said he believed Brazil midfielder Ramires, who arrived from Benfica last August, was guilty of an opportunistic tumble.
“It looked as if the boy made the most it,” Ferguson said. “I haven’t seen the replay yet but it’s a break, the first we have had here for seven years.”
The Scot emphasised the importance of the result, which sees the Red Devils head into the return leg at Old Trafford next Tuesday with a handy away-goal advantage.
“I thought our players were great. Keeping a clean sheet was important.”
“Wayne Rooney was in tremendous form and has given us a really great opportunity to get to the semi-final. He was excellent. He got a lot of abuse tonight, late tackles, but got up and played.”
“We have got an advantage but the biggest advantage we have got is Old Trafford. I am banking on that.”
Blackburn Rovers captain Chris Samba is looking for goals – and lots of them.Samba believes scoring goals at Ewood Park against Bolton on Saturday is vital if they are to avoid relegation.
Samba was frustrated as Rovers failed to turn an improved performance into goals in Monday’s 1-0 home loss to Manchester City, leaving them just one point outside the relegation zone with four games to play.
Steve Kean’s side have now scored only once in their last four fixtures and host Bolton this weekend needing a result to boost their survival chances ahead of tricky trips to relegation rivals West Ham and Wolves, either side of a home game against champions-elect Manchester United.
And Samba knows that performances matter little now, just as long as they can score the goals they need to pick up the all-important points.
“We have things in our own hands and we need to prepare this week to be very, very hard on Bolton, to put them under pressure and that is what we are going to do,” Samba told the Lancashire Evening News.
“We are going to be focused, we will work very hard on the pressing and we can make sure we get those three points. There is no alternative now.”
“We played well against Manchester City but we were beaten. We had a few chances compared to their one chance that wasn’t really a chance.”
“When you lose after a performance at Everton you can be very down but we have to be positive. I don’t like using this word because at the end of the day we would prefer to play bad and win.
“But the reality is we played good again and lost. So we need to learn how to put the ball into the back of the net.”
“We won’t win games if we don’t score goals.”
Bolton will be looking to improve on their dismal record away from home when they tackle Rovers.
Wanderers have taken just one point from a possible 30 on their travels, including the 3-0 loss at Fulham on Wednesday.
Two goals from Clint Dempsey and a third from Brede Hangeland midway through the second half virtually killed off any remote hopes Bolton may have had of qualifying for Europe.
Ricardo Gardner came off the bench to make his 400th appearance for Bolton at Craven Cottage, but failed to make an impression.
Manager Owen Coyle still believes Bolton can finish the season strongly despite the midweek setback at Fulham.
Full-back Gretar Steinsson injured his knee again against Fulham and is in doubt for Saturday’s clash. “We currently sit in eighth in the Barclays Premier League and we now face a tough Lancashire derby, so we have to rest up and make sure we are at our best on Saturday,” Coyle said.
“We’ve still got four matches to play and we want to get as many wins and as many points as we possibly can to finish what has, undoubtedly, been a good season for us.”
Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri’s future at the club was no clearer after president Aurelio De Laurentiis spoke to the media on Tuesday.De Laurentiis reinforced the fact that Mazzarri has years left on his contract at the Stadio San Paolo, but also called on the 49-year-old to come forth with any plans to leave the club amidst speculation Juventus are trying to poach him.
Juve have denied making contact with Mazzarri, but De Laurentiis called on his coach to confirm his allegiance to the club.
“Mazzarri has a contract for another two years,” De Laurentiis said.
“These are our plans and for the moment we will carry on like this. He knew Napoli’s plans, so must tell us if he’s changed his mind.”
“He knew full well from the moment he arrived that our plan was for five-year growth. We have a Plan A, and a Plan B, the latter being Champions League qualification.”
“Anyone who works with me must accept setting out plans for the future and ambitious projects.”
De Laurentiis also responded to criticism suggesting he does not pay his players enough, stating emphatically that he would spend big for their European campaign, and he would reward players for results accordingly.
“We also have to stick to the financial fair play strategy, but it’s important to be back in Europe and absolute rubbish to suggest I don’t want to pay big wages,” he said.
“I am also fed up of suggestions I won’t give the players bonuses for reaching the Champions League. They have the bonuses written into their contracts and those who did not receive a promise from me, my generosity went beyond their contracts.”
Napoli still need one more point from their final two games to secure a spot in the Champions League.
It’s been a great season for Birmingham City, having lifted the Carling Cup at Wembley earlier in the campaign, but Alex McLeish’s men are still threatened with relegation from the Premier League and need a result against Tottenham at the weekend. Here are McLeish’s thoughts on this and next season…
Does your Carling Cup success count for your greatest achievement in your managerial career?
I think when you get to your next trophy, it looks the best and feels the best. All those emotions that I have ever felt when lifting the trophy have all been the same and you just want to experience that all the time. Beating Arsenal in the carling cup is up there. People gave us virtually no chance against a top side that are in the Champions League every single year for the last 12 years. They have quite a frightening record. For us to do that was a huge achievement. Was it the best feeling for me? I don’t know. They all feel the same when you get a trophy in your hand the feeling is the same as all the rest of them.
So have you got the playing resources to compete on all fronts in the Europa League and cope with the extra games?
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We don’t have them at the moment. Whether it means we have to spend millions of pounds to compete on all fronts is another matter. It could be the strength and depth in the squad but it doesn’t mean you have to spend the earth and have a strong squad. We have to be prudent and make a few shrewd signings. We will look at the Bosman market and look at loans. Everything we can do that won’t stretch our resources. We are not Manchester United, but we will try to plan. The main thing is if you plan ahead it can save you a lot of wasted time and heartache.
Which areas of the squad are you looking to improve for the summer?
I think for the centre back position we are ok. The goalkeeping side of things is fine. There are one or two areas, like possibly the midfield where we could improve. As some players get older, you look to recruit younger players and players with potential. Most managers will give you the same answer as me and that is we are looking for the strikers, people who can score goals.
A lot of fans will be keen to know whether you have a budget to further strengthen the squad?
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We haven’t even discussed budgets at the moment to be quite honest. We have really been concentrating on the Premier League. We have not taken our focus off that. Of course there are a lot of names that our chief scout and staff and the contacts we have in the game have given us which we will certainly be thinking about. Right now we are focusing on getting up this league and then we can really look to see what we are going to do and see how much we are going to spend.
Visit the Dugout www.yahoo.co.uk/dugout for new interviews every week with England’s top football managers