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Guardiola reveals toughest decision at Man City & leaves Toure out of training
Photo by Lennart Preiss/Bongarts/Getty Images
Sam Lee
Sep 23, 2016 22:30:40
The Blues boss says he does not enjoy making controversial decisions but that he has to do so for the good of the club, rather than to prove he is in charge
Pep Guardiola insists he does not ostracise players simply to prove he is boss and says moving on Joe Hart has been the toughest decision of his time at Manchester City so far.
Guardiola sent England No.1 Hart out on loan after deciding he did not feature in his best XI and earlier this week revealed that Yaya Toure will not play for the club again until he apologises for comments made by his agent.
It can also now be revealed that Toure did not travel with the rest of the City squad to Wales for their four-day training camp either side of their two matches with Swansea City.
Toure trained on Monday and Tuesday after missing several days with a migraine but has not been with the group since Guardiola told the press he has no chance of playing due to Dimitri Seluk’s public outbursts.
Seluk hit back at Guardiola on Tuesday afternoon, insisting, among other things, that the Catalan kicks out players with big personalities so he can stamp his authority on the dressing room.
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But the City manager says he would rather not have to make tough decisions at all.
“Believe me, I don’t take the decisions to show my authority,” Guardiola told reporters. “With these kinds of decisions, forget about it. I don’t like to take those decisions.
“The toughest decision I made was over Joe. I know what Joe Hart means to this club. His behaviour, from the beginning when we spoke to each other, Joe with me... it was tough.”
But Guardiola does acknowledge that his players must accept the choices he makes, because he is the “chief”.
He added: “I don’t know whether they agree or not but what happens in my team, in the squad, I am the chief. I’m the manager and I’m going to decide. Not for me, I don’t like to do that. But it’s the best for the club.”
When Guardiola sold Samuel Eto’o a month after the striker played a vital role in Barcelona’s 2009 treble win, he insisted that the decision, based on “a question of smell”, was “for the best of the team and the club” and that “if I’m wrong, the responsibility will be mine alone”.
He echoed those sentiments earlier this week, saying he will ultimately be held responsible for any failings at City and even suggesting his decisions over Hart and Toure could be thrown back in his face when the club’s winning run comes to an end.
“I learned that in Barcelona,” he reflected. “When I take a decision it is always because I am thinking what is the best for Manchester City. The best.
“Making mistakes... I know what’s going to happen when we are going to lose. All the reasons why we are losing must be because of the coach, the manager.
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“I have to be honest with myself. I have to be honest with the club. So the club - I take the decision always for the benefit of the club. Knowing maybe I am going to make a mistake but I have to do that. I have to do that.”
The 45-year-old believes he has got better at making these difficult decisions over time, although it appears keeping Toure out of his matchday squads will have been one of his easiest calls given his views on players’ agents or family members creating problems for the club.
“I did it when I was 37 years old with the first team in Barcelona so now I am older,” he continued. “So I have to do that. I have to do that. The club cannot accept that an agent talks to the media about the decision of the club. No, the club is not going to accept it. And the players know that.
“The agents, the wives, the fathers, the sons - talking about something which is not a good benefit for the club, they will not be part of the team. They will not be part of the team. The most important thing is the club.”
Mourinho: Rooney could be benched - he has no priviliges
Matthew Scott
Sep 23, 2016 23:37:17
The captain run in the Manchester United side could be coming to an end after the manager insisted he could be dropped and enjoys no special privileges
Jose Mourinho insists Wayne Rooney's status as Manchester United captain will not save him from being benched after a below-par start to the campaign.
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Rooney's struggles have been well documented, with the United and England skipper enduring a sluggish season to date and struggling to justify his selection in Mourinho's attack.
Having scoffed at Louis van Gaal's decision to play Rooney deep in midfield last term, Mourinho utilised the same tactic in last weekend's defeat to Watford, before the 30-year-old led the line against Northampton Town in Wednesday's EFL Cup win.
Rooney has scored just once in eight games for club and country in 2016-17, with Paul Pogba's stuttering start to life back at Old Trafford having attributed to Rooney's deployment in the No.10 role.
Asked if the captain's armband gave Rooney more leverage in selection matters, Mourinho said: "No, not at all.
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"Wayne is the captain of the club. He's trusted by the players, he's trusted by myself and he represents the club in a fantastic way as a player and person.
"But in football, everyone is the same and if he has to go on the bench, he goes on the bench.
"If he has to stay at home, he stays at home, but that doesn't mean you don't trust him or you have a problem. Not at all. We have no problems.
"He's our captain, but of course, no privileges. He's like anyone else."
United welcome Premier League champions Leicester City to Old Trafford on Saturday, with all eyes on Mourinho's team selection after snapping a three-game losing streak at Sixfields in midweek.
Conte tells Arsenal fans: It's a mistake to not value Wenger
Nizaar Kinsella
Sep 23, 2016 22:30:00
The Chelsea boss believes the Frenchman is doing a "good job" at the Emirates Stadium and insists that regularly securing a top-four finish is not an easy task
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has warned Arsenal fans that it's a "big mistake" to not appreciate the work of their manager Arsene Wenger.
The Frenchman and the job he is doing at the Emirates Stadium has often divided Gunners fans, with many having actively protested against the 66-year-old and his running of the club.
But Wenger has an ally in Conte, whose Chelsea side face Arsenal in Saturday's London derby, believing that he should be praised for what he's done in his 20 years there.
The former Juventus and Italy national team boss told reporters: "I think Wenger is doing a good job. But it is normal that when you fight for the title every year, the fans want you to win it [at least once].
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"But I would say that every year to stay up there [in the top four] it is not easy. I think Wenger is doing a good job with young players and when you see Arsenal, you can see good football.
"You must look to your manager who works every day, I think you must value him for his job, for his work. If you judge a manager only on whether he wins or loses, you make a big mistake.
"He has a great reputation and I played against him, but I was a footballer [not a manager] and it was fantastic. I remember the game in Turin against Arsenal - we won 1-0 and got to the next stage of the Champions League."
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Conte also discussed Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and believes that his transition to the Premier League was made easier by the fact he has a number of Spanish players in his squad.
He added: "I think that Manchester City are playing similar football to what they played in the past. You have to see what type of tactical situation you find [yourself facing when you arrive in the job].
"That [quickly adapting to the Premier League] is because the directors of football [Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano] are Spanish and they bought a lot of players who are used to this idea of football and these tactics. I think it is a bit easier for his players to get his ideas."
The Italian has admitted that it is a "dream" to manage the Blues and that he wants to remain with the London club for many years to emulate his rival at the Emirates Stadium
Antonio Conte has praised Arsene Wenger's 20 years in charge of Arsenal and insisted that he would like to emulate his longevity at Chelsea.
The Italian comes up against Wenger in Saturday's Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners currently level on points with their London rivals.
And when asked whether he could see himself at Chelsea for as long as his Arsenal counterpart, Conte said: "Yes, I would like this because I think when you do this then you can organise your work.
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"Then there is a great satisfaction from both sides [the club and the manager]. I think there are all the possibilities [if you stay longer at one club] to achieve good work.
"And no, [I haven't thought about managing another club], my dream is to continue at Chelsea, to do my job, to continue to get to know all the players, the fans and this atmosphere because it is fantastic. I am happy. I think this is my real dream."
Chelsea have appointed 12 different managers during the Roman Abramovich era but Conte insists he is not fearing the sack despite the trigger-happy nature of the club's Russian owner.
He added: "When you trust your work, you are never afraid [of being sacked]. I am doing my work and I will continue to do my work in the same way that I did in the past.
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"I am sure that if I don’t win tomorrow, and if I don’t win the next game after that, in the future I will win. If I was a director and I didn't see good work [being done behind the scenes] but that the team was still winning, I'm not sure that's good for the future.
"I think the club in general must view the work in this way and then I think they will see good work [from me].
"I discussed my job with the club before I arrived and I think at every club, before you sign or they hire a new manager, it is important to speak about what work the manager did in the past."
Xhaka in the middle and Sanchez to continue upfront? How Arsenal will line up against Chelsea
Alex Morton/Getty Images
Chris Wheatley
Sep 24, 2016 00:15:21
Arsene Wenger has a decision to make over Granit Xhaka while Olivier Giroud faces a late fitness test ahead of Saturday's huge Premier League match
Arsene Wenger has a selection dilemma on his hands ahead of Saturday’s mammoth Premier League clash against London rivals Chelsea.
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The Frenchman faces a decision to make over who will start in central midfield, with summer signing Granit Xhaka pushing for a place in the XI after scoring in his last two games.
Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla’s midfield partnership has worked successfully so far but Wenger could be tempted to throw Xhaka into the mix due to his physical attributes and defensive capabilities.
While midfield remains an area where Arsenal are spoilt for options, Gunners striker Olivier Giroud requires a late fitness test to determine whether he will be involved on Saturday.
Alex Iwobi looks set to continue in the starting line-up after getting his third assist of the season against Hull last Saturday and it's likely to mean a return for Theo Walcott on the right hand side following his absence from the EFL Cup game at Nottingham Forest.
There is still no return in sight for Aaron Ramsey who is struggling with an ongoing hamstring injury and Wenger confirmed in his pre-match press conference that he’s unlikely to be available for Arsenal’s next two games against Basel and Burnley.
"He is not completely free in his mind yet to push completely, so we stop him every time when he has a little pain. He is in the last days of his rehab and as long as he is not completely comfortable, we do not push him.
"We had a few disappointments because he was close to joining again and every time he is not completely ready. Not far, but we have to be cautious with him."
Mourinho wanted to ´break Wenger´s face´, new book alleges
23 September 2016
Jose Mourinho wanted to "break" Arsene Wenger's face following the Arsenal manager's criticism of Chelsea selling Juan Mata to Manchester United in 2014, according to a new book written about the former Stamford Bridge boss.
Wenger questioned the workings of the transfer window and spoke out about Mata's move from to Old Trafford, where he now plays under Mourinho once more, as Chelsea had already played United twice that season, but the Spaniard would be able to potentially hurt title rivals Arsenal.
The two then exchanged barbs over their respective title hopes – Manchester City eventually pipped Liverpool to the Premier League crown that season – culminating in Mourinho's infamous "specialist in failure" jibe sent in Wenger's direction.
However, journalist Robert Beasley alleged Mourinho's anger over his counterpart's behaviour remained.
Among the revelations documented in Beasley's book 'Jose Mourinho: Up Close and Personal', he claims the Portuguese said: "When Mr Wenger criticises CFC and Man United over the deal with Mata...I will find him one day outside a football pitch and I will break his face."
Beasley reported such violent intentions towards Wenger persisted when the two became involved in a shoving match during Chelsea's 2-0 win over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in October 2014.
Asking what was said in the exchange, Mourinho replied: "I told him, 'Here you do that, you know I can't react, but I will meet you one day in the street'."
Mourinho's antipathy towards Wenger, according to Beasley, also extended to accusing the Arsenal players of being behind the tactical plans that nullified Manchester City in a January 2015 win at the Etihad Stadium that helped Chelsea towards that season's top-flight crown, along with a belief that Arsenal players Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott were "s*** with [Wenger]" and would be better off under his management.
After fears the England international could be out of action for a lengthy period, scans have shown the Tottenham striker should be back soon
Mauricio Pochettino has revealed Tottenham star Harry Kane should return from injury within the next three weeks.
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The England forward was injured in Spurs' win over Sunderland on September 18 and there were fears he could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
However, Tottenham received results of a scan prior to their Champions League away match against CSKA Moscow, with Pochettino able to report good news.
"We received the information about the scan," he said at his pre-match media conference.
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"It's much, much, much better than we expected. It's very positive.
"Still we cannot give a time of recover. We're happy. I am not a doctor, it's hard to say one, two or three weeks."
Bournemouth chief denies Arsenal approach for Howe
Tom Maston
Sep 26, 2016 14:14:41
The Cherries boss has been heavily linked with replacing Arsene Wenger when the Frenchman's contract in north London ends this summer
Bournemouth chairman Jeff Mostyn has denied Arsenal have made any approach for manager Eddie Howe.
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Cherries boss Howe has been heavily linked with replacing Arsene Wenger at the Emirates Stadium as early as next season, with the Frenchman out of contract in the summer of 2017.
But Mostyn believes Howe still has a lot to do at Vitality Stadium as the club looks to establish itself in the Premier League.
“For us it’s flattering to have our manager linked with jobs, although nobody has actually contacted us in a professional manner about them, with Arsenal, Everton and England,” he told the Daily Mail.
“It’s immensely flattering when people are interested in our manager or players but at the same time we could probably do without that. It does have an effect on people.
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“Eddie is committed to the work he started with us and in his words there is still unfinished business. I know he wants to stabilise the club so that we’re a regular member of the Premier League elite and that is what our achievements have shown so far.”
Mostyn is also confident the south coast outfit can build on their impressive start to life back in the English top flight after they secured a 16th-placed finish in 2015-16.
“Few people expected us to have such a good season as we had last year, especially after the injuries - losing four for the season,” Mostyn added.
“This year - the cliched second season syndrome - has not really happened yet. He [Howe] has a great steel and determination, and learns from his peers.
“He’s developing all the time and when you have an insatiable appetite for development you’re always going to have a winning model.”
'Liverpool are good enough to win the Premier League' - Houllier
Tom Maston
Sep 26, 2016 17:14:17
The ex-Reds boss has hailed the entertaining football currently being played by the Anfield outfit and feels they are in a good position to challenge for a first title since 1990
Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier believes the Reds can only get better under Jurgen Klopp and feels they have what it takes to win the Premier League title this season.
Houllier, who managed the Anfield outfit to six trophies in as many years in charge on Merseyside, has hailed the entertaining football that Klopp’s side have showcased this term.
Guardiola has done an amazing job at Man City - Alonso
And he believes the current squad are at a level where they could yet challenge for their first league title since 1990
“They are entertaining and also extremely efficient,” he told reporters at Soccerex. “You just have to see the number of goals they score.
“They have a new philosophy and I like the coach. The best is yet to come
Klopp names David Silva as favourite Premier League player
Alex Young
Sep 27, 2016 00:13:12
The manager most admires the Manchester City star following a perfect start to the top-flight season for Pep Guardiola's title favourites
Jurgen Klopp has named Manchester City star David Silva as his favourite player in the Premier League.
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The manager, speaking while on Sky Sports' 'Monday Night Football', has masterminded a fine start to the season for Liverpool, with four wins and a draw from their opening six games including impressive wins over Arsenal and Chelsea.
With the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and summer signing Sadio Mane all drawing plaudits, it is a midfield rival which Klopp most admires after a year managing in the Premier League.
"I like David Silva - he is a wonderful player, he's everywhere, he's so skilled and he has a wonderful attitude," he said.
"Even though I haven't heard his name too often during Manchester City's wonderful start to the season, I'm pretty sure he has a role and I like his style of play."
He added: "I am not too interested in the players of other teams. They are all dangerous if you allow them to be."
The former Netherlands international has come under the spotlight following a newspaper investigation into manager payments, but he insists he is innocent
QPR manager Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink has denied any wrongdoing amid allegations he negotiated a £55,000 fee to serve as a sports ambassador for a company that wanted to sell players to his club.
Hasselbaink was filmed allegedly negotiating a fee with investors in a firm from the Far East that was keen to be involved in the transfer activity at QPR.
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The claims come after England parted company with manager Sam Allardyce following apparent remarks, made in a video recorded by undercover reporters, in which he offered advice on how to circumvent rules on transfers involving player under third-party ownership.
In a statement released by QPR, Hasselbaink said: "I have today, through my lawyers, responded in full to the accusations levelled against me by The Telegraph.
"I was approached by Mr McGarvey and Ms Newell of The Telegraph purporting to be players' agents. They offered me a fee to make a speech in Singapore. I do not see anything unusual in being offered to be paid to make a speech.
"I did not make any promises in return. I did not ask QPR to purchase any of the players who were said to be managed by Mr McGarvey and Ms Newell and did not and would not recommend the purchase of a player for my personal gain. I deny any accusations of wrongdoing on my part."
QPR confirmed they will be conducting their own investigation but stressed they have confidence in Hasselbaink and the "robust" systems and processes in place at the club.
The Telegraph also alleged that Barnsley assistant Tommy Wright took a £5,000 payment to help bring players into the club.
A Barnsley statement read: "Barnsley FC is aware of allegations made by the Telegraph against Tommy Wright. The club has today suspended Tommy pending an internal investigation into these allegations."
Premier League, FA and EFL to investigate transfer allegations
Omnisport
Sep 28, 2016 20:41:41
England manager Sam Allardyce was forced to step down following an undercover operation by the Daily Telegraph, and more bosses could be implicated in the scandal
The Premier League, the Football Association and the English Football League have promised to investigate allegations of improper transfer conduct.
British newspaper The Daily Telegraph has published claims made by three agents that eight current or recent Premier League managers have received illegal payments in relation to transfers.
The report has prompted a joint response from English football's controlling bodies, who have insisted legal action will be sought from the authorities if evidence of wrongdoing is uncovered.
"English football takes the governance of the game extremely seriously with integrity being of paramount importance," the organisations said in a statement.
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"Any substantive allegations will be investigated with the full force of the rules at our disposal, which are wide-ranging and well-developed.
"In addition, should we find any evidence of criminality, we would inform and seek the support of the appropriate statutory authorities."
In response to the newspaper report, the Association of Football Agents earlier on Wednesday urged FIFA and UEFA, the world and European governing bodies respectively, to implement stronger regulations relating to player representatives.
A statement read: "The AFA recognises that while recent media reports involving possible misconduct in relation to player transfers remain unproven, they do raise important questions and serve to highlight the need for greater transparency and a new regulatory framework in this area of the football industry.
"We are totally committed to helping any investigation into the various allegations and to continue to work with the relevant football authorities, led by the FA [Football Association], to further explore what steps can be taken in English football to put in place an effective system of licensing and codes of conduct for agents.
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"The global move to deregulation has not worked and it has allowed the system to be more open to manipulation and abuse.
"The time has come for the key stakeholders in this country to genuinely come together to establish a new framework for the future and we would be happy to progress those discussions with immediate effect.
"Ultimately, changes to the current set-up should also be enforceable globally and this must involve UEFA and FIFA to help spread best practice around the world and reintroduce a system of licensing and regulation which works and is meaningful.
"We can make a positive start here to promote a better approach across the game."
The Croat has admitted that his star is "not happy", while he hopes that one of his summer signings can be the club's answer to Arsenal great Dennis Bergkamp
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has revealed that attacker Dimitri Payet is frustrated with his side’s recent results – and he is pleased the France international is showing his passion.
Payet has yet to find the net in the Premier League this term after starring with Les Bleus at Euro 2016, while the Hammers find themselves 18th with five defeats from six matches.
And it is a situation that has left the player furious according to his trainer, who is pleased that the 29-year-old's desire to win has manifested itself in that way.
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“I am not happy at the moment. I am not also happy with our points. Why should I be happy?” the Croatian said. “It is the same with him. He wants his team to be like last year.
"It is good he is not happy with our performance. Because this time last year, he made three assists and scored three goals. It is positive.”
Meanwhile, he hopes that Simone Zaza, who has struggled in front of goal, can follow a similar path as Dennis Bergkamp once did at Arsenal.
“He is definitely a good player who came from a big club to a new country. New players need time,” Bilic argued.
“If we go back and think about Bergkamp, who needed - I don’t know, a year? - the problem now is, and it is quite common with even the best players from abroad, they need time.”
Mourinho asks for more time to get the best out of Man Utd
Kris Voakes
Sep 30, 2016 22:30:07
The Red Devils boss insists he cannot be expected to get the 20-time champions flying once more without being given more time to assess his squad
Jose Mourinho says he needs more time to get the best out of his Manchester United side as they gear up for a demanding October fixture list.
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The Red Devils face Stoke City at Old Trafford on Sunday before returning from the international break to take on Liverpool, Fenerbahce, Chelsea and Manchester City in the space of nine days later in the month.
And, just 10 games into his United regime, Mourinho claims he cannot be expected to know everything about his players until he has seen far more of them.
“I need time. I need the players to play, I need to see them in different circumstances, I need to understand more about them,” he told a pre-match press conference.
“There are so many, and so much to learn about the players that only when you have worked with them a long, long time will you know them well. There is always a surprise behind the door when you have worked with the team for three or four or five months.”
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Mourinho added that Thursday’s narrow victory over Zorya Luhansk in the Europa League at Old Trafford at least gave him another chance to learn even if the competition is something of a hindrance.
“Every game I know more about my players, especially the ones that are on the pitch. Obviously I would like to have other players playing more so I can see more and I can learn more about them.
“But we need the squad, that’s for sure. The Europa League is the competition which most disturbs the domestic competitions because we play Thursdays and it’s really difficult.”
However, the Portuguese refused to pick out October as an exceptionally tough month despite their forthcoming fixtures, pointing to the league setbacks against Manchester City and Watford in September as examples that the Premier League season is never straight forward.
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“Every game is massive. Watford was massive and we lost three points, a lot different from the loss against Man City. So every game for me is important, you are right we have some big opponents in October but that’s also refreshing.”
United head into Sunday’s 12:00 kick-off on the back of three successive wins in all competitions, while Stoke are still on the lookout for their first league victory of 2016-17.
Conte sure Chelsea more talented than his first Juventus squad
Nizaar Kinsella
Sep 30, 2016 22:30:00
The ex-Bianconeri boss weighed in favour of his new club during a comparison but still feels that technical gifts alone are insufficient to guarantee success
Antonio Conte thinks that the Chelsea squad he has inherited from Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink is better than the one he had when he arrived at Juventus.
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The 47-year-old took over in Turin a summer after they finished a disappointing seventh but managed to lead them to the Serie A title unbeaten in his first season.
And, despite Chelsea’s recent run of three Premier League games winless, Conte believes that his Chelsea squad are more gifted than his first Bianconeri cohort.
However, he added that there is still plenty of work needed from a mental standpoint as he works to find solutions to their early blip this season.
“I arrived [five] years ago [in my first season at Juventus],” he told a press conference at the club's Cobham Training Centre.
“I think that the value of the players is not the same, or the talent, as there is now in our team at Chelsea. I am sure there is more [talent] than I had at Juventus in my first season, but we must understand that with only the talent you don’t win.
"We must add running, intensity, sacrifice, the want to win the ball when you lose the ball, all of this.”
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“All of this and we are working very hard to improve this aspect because it is important to understand very quickly and find the right way. I am confident about this because the group have great commitment and they work hard.
"I am very confident about this.”
Defensive issues have plagued Chelsea in their last four games and Conte admitted that he is considering a switch to three at the back as an option to solve his side’s current issues.
“I have an idea of football, but I have ideas and principles of the game that when you play four at the back or three at the back they don’t change," he added.
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“I am ready for the opportunity to change something because when you start a season, you start a path. You must understand if you idea is good and then, if not, change to play three.
“It is important to work and It is important to work and understand, step-by-step, game by game to understand what best suits.
“I started my career to play with 4-2-4 and to play with full backs. I won two championships and got promotion with Siena and Bari.
“This type of system and I started to play this type of system with Juventus and then I changed it because it is important for a coach to understand the options in your squad and find the best solution for the team.”
Redknapp accused of being aware his players were gambling on games
Sep 30, 2016 22:33:10
In a week that has shaken English football, the veteran manager stands accused of having breached FA rules relating to gambling
Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was aware that his players were betting on matches they were involved in and thereby contravening FA rules, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph.
Over the course of the last week, the paper has revealed corruption in the English game, with eight top-flight managers accused of taking bungs, resulting in Sam Alladyce leaving his post as England national team manager by mutual consent.
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Redknapp is the latest name to be disclosed, with the ex-Premier League manager alleged to have been caught on film admitting he was aware players were putting money on their side to win.
Indeed, one of his players is said to have told an agent to “remortgage your house” such were the odds.
Moreover, the same agent has claimed that the opposition players were gambling on the same fixture.
While there are no suggestions of criminality on Redknapp’s part, it is not thought that he raised the matter with the FA, as he would have been expected to do in such circumstances given the association’s strict rules on the subject.
When contacted by the Telegraph, Redknapp said: “Unbeknownst to me. No, not a spread bet. It wasn’t a spread bet. I think they had a bet on the game, but it wasn’t, that was nothing to do with me… after the game I’d heard the rumour the lads had had a bet that day… I’m not in control of whether they go and have a bet or not.”
Meanwhile, the paper’s undercover reporters also discussed the issue of third-party ownership (TPO) with the 69-year-old, who is reported to have said: “Listen I put my money where my mouth is and all you know, if you, if you’re gonna buy players, now, if I’m involved in picking the players then I don’t mind having an investment and having a little bit of a, you know, not a thing obviously but you know, I’d put a few quid in and take a chance with you. I need something to do with my money as well, don’t I? Can’t be fairer than that can you?”
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Redknapp did, however, advise that buying a lower league club would be a better option.
When asked by the Telegraph about his opinion on TPO, he said: “It’s not something that I’ve ever been involved in, and it’s not something that I’d want to get involved in. As far as buying players go and me investing, you’ve got to be dreaming. I would not invest, why would I invest in buying footballers?”
Guardiola, Klopp & Wenger all nominated for Premier League Manager of the Month
Stephen Darwin
Oct 4, 2016 13:00:35
The Man City boss suffered his first defeat of the season against Tottenham on Sunday but has guided the Blues to the top of the table, while Alan Pardew is also up for the award
Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Arsene Wenger have all been nominated for September's Premier League Manager of the Month award.
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Manchester City boss Guardiola has enjoyed a terrific start to life in England's top-flight, although suffered his first loss of the season on Sunday at the hands of Tottenham.
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino is also nominated for the award, having won all three league matches in September, while Wenger's Arsenal also won their three games.
The other nominations include Jurgen Klopp, whose Liverpool scored an impressive 13 goals in the league as they recored three consecutive wins last month, and Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew.
Mike Phelan, meanwhile, claimed the August award after guiding Hull City to two Premier League victories out of three.
Carragher celebrates anniversary of THAT Henry moment
Alex Young
Oct 4, 2016 13:35:10
The two pundits shared an intimate moment upon hearing of Brendan Rodgers's sacking 12 months ago, which quickly escalated into a meme
Jamie Carragher has celebrated the one-year anniversary of Brendan Rodgers's sacking at Liverpool.
The now-Celtic manager's dismissal on October 4, 2015, was broken to the former Liverpool player live on air while working as a pundit on Sky Sports and what followed became TV gold.
Fellow pundit Thierry Henry's instinctively grabbed Carragher's knee and looked over, while Carragher stared down the camera lens and Twitter exploded.
The Leicester City star's rise to prominence is being brought to the silver screen and he wants 'The Late, Late Show' host James Corden in the lead role
Jamie Vardy has given an update on the Hollywood movie being made about his rise to prominence.
Oscar-nominated script writers Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson, who penned 'The Fighter' have joined 'Goal: The Dream Begins' scribe Adrian Butchart in bringing 5,000-to-1 fairytale story to the silver screen.
The story will centre around Vardy and his journey from "factory worker" to Premier League record-breaker and champion in four years and, with a director and cast still to be hired, the striker has now tipped James Corden for the role.
"It's been more than talk for quite a while," he told BBC Breakfast. "From what I've heard, the script is nearly finished so now they have to get a director in and hire all the actors.
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"I'm not sure but, watching him the other night, I think James Corden could do a good job. He's a funny guy as well, so could make it very enjoyable."
Talking of Corden's own rise to prominence since taking over as host of 'The Late, Late Show' on CBS and the popularity of regular segment 'Carpool Karoake', Vardy revealed on his preference of sing-a-long.
Pep's banned the internet! Zabaleta reveals Guardiola's anti-social media regime
Dom Farrell
Oct 4, 2016 14:38:16
The squad must eat breakfast and lunch together without browsing the internet under the Catalan's stewardship, according to the Argentine defender
Pep Guardiola's efforts to build team spirit at Manchester City have extended to disconnecting the WiFi at the Premier League club's training ground, according to Pablo Zabaleta.
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City have impressed under the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss, going 11 games unbeaten in all competitions before Sunday's 2-0 loss at Tottenham.
Guardiola places a high value on a positive relationship between the members of his squad and, along with ensuring the team take breakfast and lunch together at the Etihad Campus, he is keen to keep the players in conversation and off their smart phones.
"He forces us to have breakfast and lunch together at the club," Zabaleta told TyC Sports.
"The internet is cut off, we are held incommunicado. We don't even use 3G."
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Neverthless, the 31-year-old right back seems to have had no problem in establishing a connection with Guardiola.
"You always want and dream to be trained by the best coaches, and today I have the opportunity to work with one of the best," Zabaleta added.
"Actually, you learn a lot, especially the way how you should live. Beyond the knowledge of his idea, you see the passion with which he lives for football."
