Manchester United Closing in on Benfica Defender Ezequiel Garay - Report

Manchester United are closing in on Ezequiel Garay as David Moyes looks to spruce up his side's defence, according to the Mirror.
The Red Devils have been long-term admirers of the Argentina defender and are looking to finally complete the transfer following the departure of Nemanja Vidic to Inter Milan.
United are looking to close a deal with the defender before the World Cup and the Portuguese club are expected to sell Garay, with only one year left in his current contract.
The player has a release clause in the range of £17m but United are looking to get him for much less owing to his contract situation.
United are in need of a defensive reshuffle with Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra are also seen moving out of the club.
Garay has been a rock in the defence for Benfica, helping his side go top of the league and overcome the likes of Tottenham Hotspur to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Europa League. His agent Rafael Bray refused to comment on his situation but insisted there would be development in the summer.
"In the summer he will be entering the final year of his contract with Benfica, so logically there will be news. But at this moment, I insist, Garay is only thinking about Benfica," Rafael said.
Meanwhile, Moyes is under immense pressure after United's 3-0 loss to arch rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford but the supporters are riled after the Scotsman said the home side should be trying to replicate City in the way they play.
"I think we've played a very good side and it's the sort of standard and level we need to try and aspire to get ourselves to at this moment in time. I think we need to play better. We're needing to come up a couple of levels at the moment and we're not quite there," Moyes said.

Bale puts his £86m foot in it! Real star is changing his boots as Sevilla score... and then he's given a rollicking for taking free kick instead of Ronaldo

Frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo let rip at Gareth Bale as Real Madrid slumped to their second defeat in four days and slipped behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the La Liga title race
With Real trailing 2-1 in the closing moments at Sevilla, Ronaldo could not hide his frustration after £86million record signing Bale decided to take a free kick, instead of leaving it for the Portuguese forward, and lashed his effort over the bar.
Ronaldo was caught by TV cameras aiming a verbal volley at Bale. 

It capped a dismal night for the Welshman, who was off the pitch changing his boots, leaving Real temporarily down to 10 men, as Carlos Bacca scored the winner in the 73rd minute.
Madrid's loss at the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium came four days after they squandered a chance to effectively end Barcelona's title defence, with Lionel Messi out-dueling Ronaldo by scoring a hat trick for a thrilling 4-3 win in the Spanish capital.

MATCH REPORTS

Atletico Madrid 1 Granada 0
Barcelona 3 Celta Vigo 0
Sevilla 2 Real Madrid 1 

These consecutive losses came after Carlo Ancelotti's side had gone undefeated for 31 straight matches.
'We have to keep working, fighting and ask our fans for forgiveness,' said Madrid full back Marcelo.
'It's tough to do what we did, to keep winning for so many games. We have lost two games. They aren't more important, but they are critical. Now everything is much more difficult.' 
Bacca was collecting tickets on local buses in his home town in his early twenties before he finally got his career on the right road.
The Colombian striker arrived at Sevilla for just £6m in the summer and has now scored 18 goals in all competitions this season.
He was the second-half hero scoring after a superb piece of skill from Ivan Rakitic. The Croatian midfielder flicked the ball over Pepe’s head and sent Bacca through. Pepe recovered to pursue the Sevilla forward but he was quicker to the loose ball and sent his shot through the legs of Diego Lopez to put his side 2-1 in front.
With Atletico Madrid beating Granada and Barcelona winning against Celta the result left Diego Simeone’s side top and Real Madrid third.
It was a particularly frustrating night for Bale who picked up his fourth booking of the season and squandered several chances either side of half-time with wayward shooting.
Atletico lead the way at the top of the league on 73 points after Diego Costa's 63rd minute header was enough to give them all three points at home against Granada.
Barcelona are second on 72 points, with Madrid third on 70, but Barca's victory was marred by a serious injury to goalkeeper Victor Valdes which has likely ended his career with the club and ruled him out of the World Cup.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper, who has long planned to leave the Nou Camp at the end of his contract in June, fell awkwardly while saving a free-kick from Fabian Orellana in the 22nd minute of the match, and could be seen crying as he left the pitch on a cart.
Barca confirmed an anterior cruciate ligament tear after the match.
'Victor Valdes suffered an ACL tear on 22 minutes after saving a free-kick,' the club said on their website. 'The club's medical services confirm that he will need surgery.'
In Seville, Cristiano Ronaldo put Madrid in front with a 15th minute deflected free-kick after he had been fouled by Andujar Coke, but Sevilla replied almost immediately through Carlos Bacca, and in the 72nd minute some superb skill from Ivan Rakitic set up Bacca for the second.
It was a record sixth straight win for Sevilla, lifting them up to fifth, six points behind Athletic Bilbao in fourth.

Arsenal plan for life without Wenger with French boss yet to sign new contract

Arsenal still expect Arsene Wenger to sign a new contract but they have started planning for life without their manager.
Wenger, whose deal expires at the end of the season, has given the Gunners his word that he will stay on.
Talks initially centred around a three-year deal worth £8million a season but it is understood a two-year extension is now more likely. 
 
Plenty to ponder: Arsene Wenger on the training ground at Arsenal's London Colney base on Monday
Wenger still enjoys the unequivocal backing of Arsenal’s majority shareholder Stan Kroenke, who is in no doubt Wenger will sign a contract that has been on the table for months.
But Saturday’s humiliating 6-0 defeat at title rivals Chelsea has nonetheless sparked uncertainty about the Frenchman’s future.
And Arsenal have started looking at contingency strategies should Wenger make a last-minute U-turn and quit the Emirates. A long-term plan for life after Wenger is also in the club’s thoughts, with a new-look management structure likely.
Roberto Martinez’s work in his first season at Everton has impressed the Gunners, as has Jurgen Klopp’s reign at last season’s Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund. 
Implementing a two-tier structure, which would see a head coach working under a director of football, is under consideration and would represent a huge shift in ethos. Wenger currently has the final say on all football decisions.
Victory over Swansea would help draw a line under Saturday’s embarrassing loss but the Gunners go into the game without key defender Laurent Koscielny, who sustained a calf injury at Stamford Bridge.
It is feared the France centre back could miss around two weeks, ruling him out of the crunch match against Manchester City on Saturday.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs will be available, however, after the FA upheld Arsenal’s appeal over the latter’s controversial sending-off against Chelsea. Gibbs was shown the red card in a case of mistaken identity by referee Andre Marriner. Oxlade-Chamberlain, not his team-mate, had committed handball in the six-yard box.
Arsenal’s claim that Oxlade-Chamberlain had not prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity, because Eden Hazard’s shot was going wide, was also upheld by the FA.
Referee Marriner stays on the Premier League match list this weekend and will take charge of Newcastle’s visit to Southampton.
Marriner was expected to be dropped for the next round of fixtures following his high-profile blunder but referees chiefs decided to stand by their man.


 

No punishment for Chamberlain or Gibbs after Arsenal's appeal to FA is successful

Arsenal will have both defender Kieran Gibbs and midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain available against Swansea on Tuesday night after appeals to the Football Association.
Full-back Gibbs was shown a red card in a case of mistaken identity during the first half of Saturday's 6-0 thrashing at Chelsea by referee Andre Marriner, instead of Oxlade-Chamberlain - who had committed the handball in the six-yard box and indeed admitted his guilt at the time, but was waved away.
The FA confirmed on Monday evening the sanction against Gibbs had been removed, and instead transferred onto Oxlade-Chamberlain. However, Arsenal then subsequently moved to have that offence downgraded on appeal, claiming the England midfielder had not in fact technically prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity as the shot from Chelsea's Eden Hazard looked to be going just wide
 
Mistaken identity: Kieran Gibbs (left) was shown a red card despite Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's handball
That claim was also upheld, meaning both Gibbs and Oxlade-Chamberlain will be able to face Swansea.
A statement from the FA read: 'An Independent Regulatory Commission today heard two claims from Arsenal, one of mistaken identity and the other of wrongful dismissal, both in relation to Saturday's game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
'The commission ruled that the dismissal of Kieran Gibbs was a case of mistaken identity and transferred this to his team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
'Subsequent to deciding this matter, the commission then considered Arsenal's claim for wrongful dismissal in relation to Oxlade-Chamberlain. This claim was upheld, meaning Oxlade-Chamberlain will not serve any suspension with the standard punishment withdrawn with immediate effect.'
The heavy defeat on Saturday lunchtime ruined manager Arsene Wenger's 1,000th match in charge and severely dented any Barclays Premier League title ambitions, with the Gunners now down in fourth place, albeit still with a match in hand on the leaders.
Wenger - who cancelled Monday morning's scheduled pre-match press conference - has been left puzzled by his side once again failing to turn up in a big game; Arsenal found themselves 3-0 down by 17 minutes, and played out the rest of the match with 10 men after Gibbs' sending off.
Midfielder Mikel Arteta has issued a public apology on behalf of the Arsenal players for the 'unacceptable' and 'embarrassing' humiliation - and vowed they will get things right against Swansea.
Arsenal will be without defender Laurent Koscielny because of a calf problem.
Captain Thomas Vermaelen is likely to play at centre-half alongside Per Mertesacker, while 19-year-old Spaniard Hector Bellerin, who was on loan at Watford, has been drafted into the squad as cover.

 

United are only ever one defeat away from a fresh disaster... but Moyes's side can land killer blow on neighbour's title chances

After last September’s derby defeat, Manchester United manager David Moyes resorted to boxing metaphors.
‘I can take the punches and I am sure there will be more,’ said Moyes in the wake of a 4-1 loss  at the Etihad Stadium that gave the first indication of how difficult his debut season at United was going to be.
What nobody expected back then was just how punch-drunk Moyes and United would look at times over the ensuing weeks and months.

If he hasn’t quite been on the canvas this season then he has certainly leant heavily on the ropes. On Tuesday night at Old Trafford one senses he must drag a match-winning performance from his team if United and their supporters are to take anything from a wretched season.
‘The punches have definitely hurt,’ said Moyes on Monday when invited to return to the theme.
 
Three points: Ashley Young, Juan Mata, Shinji Kagawa and Rooney celebrate the win over West Ham
 
Rivals: United could scupper Manchester City's title charge, which would no doubt delight the fans
‘They’ve hurt more because I joined Manchester United with big expectations, that I’m coming to the winning football club.

‘I’ve got a winning mentality and that’s what I wanted to do.
'So I’m disappointed with myself and I’m disappointed that we’ve been unable to win more. It’s not for the want of trying, that’s for sure.’
Given that Manchester City are deep into a Barclays Premier League title race, Tuesday night’s meeting is more important to them than it is to a team whose domestic aspirations now amount to little more than a salvation of pride.
Such is United’s profile, though, such has been the unending drama of their season, the focus once again seems centred on the defending champions.
Victories over Olympiacos and West Ham — the second more impressive than the first — have leant United a slightly more settled air, given the trauma of the preceding home defeat by Liverpool.
The trouble with the current United, however, is that they only ever look one defeat away from fresh disaster and it’s hard to escape the feeling that if City arrive with the throttle open they may just burn the house down.
Victors on enemy territory in each of the last two seasons, Manuel Pellegrini’s team also have memories of September’s mauling to buoy them.
Asked if he was surprised how poor United were, City midfielder Fernandinho said: ‘Yes, of course I was. It was the first time I’d played them after joining City.
‘It’s a club with a lot of history, with very good players, they were the champions — so yes, I was surprised at how badly they played that day and how easily we won.
‘The situation is different now because we are fighting for the title and they are not, they are maybe just fighting for honour now. It’s been a bad time for them but I saw their game against Olympiacos and they played very well.’
Pellegrini neatly sidestepped a question about how many United players would get into his team.
Nevertheless, it was a moot point. There does seem to be a widening gap between the teams and United’s cause is not helped by a defensive crisis that will only be partially eased by the return of Rio Ferdinand and by a clear imbalance between the two midfields.
More than 20 goals have sprung from the centre of City’s midfield this season, for example, while United can boast only one each for Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley.
Pellegrini would only say that ‘maybe United are more stronger and we are more technical’ in that area, while Moyes did his best to counter suggestions that his team had essentially been blown away in midfield by teams like Liverpool, City and Chelsea this season.
Whatever the case, United will have to find a way to stop the marauding Yaya Toure before they can even think about imposing themselves.
 
Big loss: Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring in the return fixture earlier this season

Asked yesterday if he had questioned himself this season, Moyes was candid.
‘I don’t actually blame myself,’ he said. ‘It wouldn’t be right to say there are things you wouldn’t maybe look at in a different way. But I’ve looked back at many things and most of the things we’ve carried out we would continue to do.’
Moyes’s self-belief will either encourage or baffle United fans, depending on their point of view. Certainly Tuesday night he needs to give them something to cling to.
To return to the boxing theme, United’s domestic title belt is already surrendered. To land one final punch this evening, though, would at least indicate some champion spirit remains
 

Tottenham 3-2 Southampton: Sherwood's switch is the spark for Spurs last gasp Sigurdsson strike clinches victory

To his detractors he has become known as ‘Tactics Tim’. After this performance, even the cynics will pay grudging respect.
At White Hart Lane, when Tim Sherwood’s team were threatening yet another implosion, he made the changes that altered the course in Tottenham’s favour.
It was bold and brassy, in keeping with his character, as he shuttled between a seat high up in the directors’ box and a place alongside his assistants on the bench. At times it was hard to keep track of him.
Let no one be in any doubt that Tottenham were heading for another scandalous home defeat after Southampton had raced into a two-goal lead after 28 minutes. In the opening half-hour Spurs evoked memories of chastening losses against Liverpool (5-0) and Manchester City (5-1).
 
Last gasp: Gylfi Sigurdsson hits a late winner to give Tottenham all three points against Southampton
 
Level: Christian Eriksen (left) and Roberto Soldado celebrate after the midfielder scores his second goal
 
Nice one! Rodriguez (9) is congratulated Lallana after his strike in the first half
‘It needed a tweak,’ admitted Sherwood afterwards and it was a subtle change in midfield that turned this game.
At the break he replaced Mousa Dembele, stifled in the first half by Jack Cork and the excellent James Ward-Prowse, with the attacking thrust of Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Within 44 seconds Tottenham were level, when a rejuvenated Roberto Soldado bundled Dejan Lovren off the ball to set up Christian Eriksen.
The Dane equalised and Sigurdsson went on to score Tottenham’s dramatic winner deep into injury time. White Hart Lane erupted.
Spurs were over-run in midfield in the first half and picked apart by Adam Lallana.
Southampton were already ahead after Kyle Naughton’s elementary mistake had allowed Jay Rodriguez to arc his finish beyond the outstretched left arm of Hugo Lloris.
Then it was the turn of Lallana, racing on to Rickie Lambert’s delicate lay-off to score Southampton’s second after another error by Naughton. It felt as though Mauricio Pochettino’s team could score at will.
England manager Roy Hodgson, watching in the stands, would have been impressed ahead of his squad announcement on May 13 for the World Cup. Back to domestic matters, though.
Error-strewn Tottenham allowed Southampton an extraordinary head start which, at this level, for a team with their ambitions, is unforgivable.
They are choking too often at the start of games, as they did last week against Arsenal when Tomas Rosicky’s rocket ended up in the back of Lloris’s net inside two  minutes. A few days earlier it had been Benfica.
As Lallana celebrated with his team-mates, Sherwood flew down several flights of stairs and was in the technical area in time for Eriksen’s first goal. It was the start of a memorable comeback.
Eriksen was enterprising and energetic, his performance laced with the touches that come off the boots of those schooled at Ajax, who boast one of the world’s best academies. He was magnificent. In time he will flourish at White Hart Lane, reverting to the player he was in Holland when his performance in the Champions League last season shredded Manchester City.
There are big plans for him if Sherwood keeps this job and his goals — one in each half — lifted the atmosphere at White Hart Lane. After four games without a win, the place needed something.
To their credit, the supporters got behind the team, willing them on to a win after Andros Townsend had come off the bench to replace the fading Aaron Lennon.
When Sigurdsson scored Tottenham’s third, they made you want to believe that the good times are about to roll. That’s what this place can do to you.
It was rocking at the end, inspired by Sherwood’s celebratory run down the touchline to pump his fists in front of the fans celebrating in the West Stand.
Instead of more disenchantment, the 36,000 who fill this stadium at every home game walked down Tottenham High Road towards Seven Sisters with Arsenal in  their sights.
Fourth place will surely be beyond this Tottenham team, but the vibrant and enterprising second-half display stirred the emotions.
When they want it as badly as Tactics Tim, they are capable of retrieving even the most desperate situation.
 
Pace: Luke Shaw (right) and Kyle Naughton race down the wing as the assistant referee watches on

This had been Pochettino’s audition for the Tottenham job, the Southampton manager one of the four men on the radar of Daniel Levy and owner Joe Lewis as they contemplate next season.
Instead, this victory, coupled with the Keystone Cops win at St Mary’s in Sherwood’s first league game in charge of Tottenham, has surely put Pochettino away.
He is a fine young manager in the making, but Levy will not turn to a man who has been beaten twice by Sherwood in the space of four months.
There will be those who argue that this win was streaky, but the same could be said of Liverpool after they twice went behind at Cardiff.
Anfield is Tottenham’s next destination and it will not be easy to stop Luis Suarez and Co. The memories of their last meeting, when Liverpool scored five at  White Hart Lane in December, still burn away.
Next time Sherwood’s tactics must be spot-on from the start.
 
On the ball: Lallana (left) Bentaleb (right) battle for the ball during the Premier League clash

 

Manchester derby doesn't matter! Carrick insists beating City 'cannot repair damage' done at United this season

At the end of a week that saw Manchester United secure a Champions League quarter-final against holders Bayern Munich and Wayne Rooney score a goal that will be remembered long after this most difficult of seasons draws to a close, you could forgive David Moyes and his players for thinking that victory in Tuesday's Old Trafford derby could be the next step on the road to redemption.

No-one around Old Trafford is getting carried away, however. There have been too many ups and downs this season, too many false dawns for that.

No sooner had Moyes declared after a promising victory at Upton Park that ‘I’m not going to shout about it and say we’re starting to pick up’ than Michael Carrick stood beneath darkening East End skies and delivered an even more sombre verdict: victory over Manchester City won’t begin to make up for the failures of this season
 
Upton spark: United returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over West Ham
 
From downtown: Wayne Rooney lines up an audacious lob from just within West Ham's half of the pitch
‘I don’t think it matters,’ said the England midfielder who was forced to fill in as an emergency centre-back. ‘It’s just another game for us. A big game but it’s not going to repair any of the damage that’s been done in recent months by us losing games.
‘Beating City would help us in terms of keeping our run going. We understand the fans and the result they want, and for us as players it’s exactly the same, but we’re still not getting carried away because of the season we’ve had.’ 
Usually it’s United gearing up for a title run-in at this stage of the season. Instead, the best they can hope for is to dent City’s Premier League challenge tomorrow night.

Coming so soon after a humiliating Old Trafford defeat by their other great rivals Liverpool, it’s understandable that no-one at United is making any bold statements.

‘Losing against Liverpool at home hurts badly and it’s not a nice thing to go through,’ added Carrick. ‘It’s horrible after a game like that. You don’t watch the telly or leave the house for a couple of days if you can help it.
 
Demolition derby: United host City on Tuesday hoping to avenge defeat earlier in the season
 When you’re at this club and things aren’t going well it’s not always a nice place but mentally you have to deal with it. I think we’ve all had a tough time this season.

‘Again, Tuesday is a big game but we can’t go into that game thinking about previous weeks. We have to think we can get a good result, like we did against Olympiacos and West Ham.’

Rooney will quite rightly steal the limelight for his spectacular strike and United’s captain was also on target with the second goal.

But Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini, new signings who have not enjoyed the best of starts at Old Trafford, both delivered their best performances yet for United.
 
Special Juan: New signing Mata gave one of his best performances against West Ham after moving from Chelsea
 
Hair raising: Marouane Fellaini was another criticised player to put in an improved display in east London 
Fellaini was instrumental in helping Carrick and Phil Jones deal with West Ham’s aerial threat on a night when the champions arrived without four centre-backs, while Mata prospered in a central role behind Rooney. With Shinji Kagawa also to the fore, you wonder if Robin van Persie’s knee injury lay-off might actually benefit some of his teammates.

However, Fellaini angered Hammers boss Sam Allardyce who thought that the Belgian should have been sent off for his second-half challenge on James Tomkins. Referee Lee Mason took not action at the time and it remains to be seen if the FA have a closer look today.

‘I thought Fellaini was lucky not to get sent off,’ said Allardyce. ‘But you’ve got to be absolutely certain if you’re the referee that you’ve seen what’s happened. Hopefully, James will be okay for Hull for Wednesday.’