Manchester City captain attacks potential Uefa charge after 2-1 win over Norwich
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini and his captain Vincent Kompany. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.
After this ultra-professional win overNorwich City,Vincent Kompanybranded the Uefa sanction thatManchester Citymay face for their fans booing of the Champions League’s anthem a “joke”.
This is a description most right-minded folk would agree with. The jeering came before last month’s 2-1 victory over Sevilla. Tomorrow evening the Sky Blues are at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium for the return Group D match.
Asked about the governing body’s deliberations over whether to charge the club, Kompany said: “It’s a joke. We have played many games in Europe where there has been racial abuse and we have had to put up with it. And there have been times when we have been sanctioned in the same way as the team that was actually perpetrating those chants.”
Banned
Last October, City fans were banned from attending a group match at CSKA Moscow due to the Russian club’s stadium ban for offences which included racist behaviour. Kompany said: “In Moscow we weren’t allowed to have any support inside the stadium – I don’t see what our fans did wrong. I have experienced it as well when I was a kid playing at Anderlecht, certain games in Europe where you had a lot of racial abuse. So in that sense this is not justifiable – there is nothing holy about the Champions League anthem. If something is happening and fans are not happy about it, they are allowed to show their discontent.”
There was only happiness and pride from within City ranks at the patience shown to finally defeat Alex Neil’s stubborn Canaries who came to frustrate and nearly achieved the mission.
The Scot set up his side in a 3-4-3 formation for the first time during his tenure and until halfway into the second half City failed to break them down.
City missed the injured David Silva’s creative genius but on 67 minutes Nicolás Otamendi decided to intervene.
The Argentinian had been a powerhouse in defence all afternoon. A display of tackling, anticipation, and muscular intent was an illustration of why City took him from Valencia for £32 million. Goals from central defenders also help pay the bills. And when Kevin De Bruyne floated in a corner from the right Otamendi’s towering leap and header past John Ruddy was the act of a thoroughbred.
The home fans hoped a City goal glut would ensue. Instead Joe Hart produced a howler reminiscent of his struggles two seasons ago, dropping a regulation Robbie Brady cross for Cameron Jerome to equalise with seven minutes left.
Kompany said: “You get those days. Joe hasn’t set a foot wrong for us in a long, long time – it’s good for him that it will be forgotten because the result was good. In the end it was not a bad day to make a mistake.”
City had scored late winners against Crystal Palace, Borussia Monchengladbach and Sevilla and they repeated the trick here. Raheem Sterling entered as an early second-half replacement and his goal-bound shot was blocked by Russell Martin’s arm. The visiting captain was sent off and Yaya Touré slammed in the winner from the penalty spot.
Unhappy
Moments later Sterling claimed another penalty by drawing a trip from Brady. Touré had been replaced – a decision he seemed unhappy with – and Aleksandar Kolarov missed the spot-kick.
It did not matter. The three points keeps City top above Arsenal on goal difference.
Pellegrini said: “If you want to win the Premier League, you must try to play every game as a final. You know that every time you have to play against any team, especially away, both sides can win. That’s why it’s the best league in the world.” Guardian Service
Memphis Depay has spoken about his struggles since joining Manchester United.
Manchester United winger Memphis Depay has recently joined up with the Dutch national side as they make one last push in their attempt to qualify for the Euros next summer.
The Dutch are currently fourth in their group and essentially, they must win both of their last two qualifying matches against Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic if they are to have any chance of qualifying.
In the build up however, Dutch paper Telegraaf had the opportunity to interview new Manchester United man Memphis Depay to discuss, not only the upcoming qualifiers, but also his introduction to the Premier League.
Despite looking promising at stages, Depay has largely struggled to find form since making the move to England and, in a reasonably frank interview, the Dutch wonder kid had the following to say about his difficulties.
In Manchester I play a lot of games. There are very few days that I can rest.
On training days, you are mainly concerned with conditioning. It’s heavy, two games a week, always at a high level. Because of that, my body still has to get used to it all.
I’m trying in my career to take many steps. I think this was the right step, and I am happy in Manchester.
Essentially, it seems that the physicality of the English game is taking its toll on Depay and that the youngster is finding it difficult to cope.
The Dutch forward isn’t the first to struggle with the step up to the Premier League. However, Manchester United fans will be hoping that he can adapt sooner rather than later.
The Chelsea manager admitted to a charge of misconduct, the FA announced on Monday
Chelsea’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho gestures during his team’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. Photograph: Getty Images
José Mourinho has been given a one-match stadium ban with immediate effect and fined €55,000 after admitting aFootball Associationcharge of misconduct, the governing body has announced.
The Chelsea manager’s punishment relates to his conduct at half-time of the defeat at West Ham last month and means he will not be able to attend the Premier League match at Stoke City on Saturday which could be critical to his future.
An Independent Regulatory Commission confirmed Mourinho’s punishment which will take immediate effect.
An FA statement read: “Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today, José Mourinho has been given a one-match stadium suspension with immediate effect and fined €55,000.
“The Chelsea manager admitted an FA charge of misconduct regarding his language and/or behaviour towards the match officials in or around the dressing room area during half-time of the game against West Ham United on 24th October 2015.”
The FA confirmed it has withdrawn a misconduct charge against Chelsea coach Silvino Louro arising from the same game, having “considered further representation”.
Chelsea are 15th in the Premier League and out of the Capital One Cup – having lost at Stoke – and Mourinho is understood to have been told by the club that results need to improve quickly if he is to keep his job. Chelsea’s next match is at home to Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Mourinho was sent to the stands at West Ham after an altercation with the referee, Jonathan Moss. The charge relates to his language and behaviour during the interval and is understood to centre on his alleged refusal to leave the referee’s room. There have also been suggestions he made reference to Arsène Wenger and swore at Moss. Mourinho is able to appeal against the punishment.
He is separately appealing against a €70,000 fine and suspended one-match stadium ban for suggesting officials were “afraid” to award his side decisions following the defeat to Southampton on October 3rd.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal believes Memphis Depay is the ‘greatest talent of his age.’
The Dutch manager has backed the 21-year-old despite poor performances resulting in him being dropped from the squad and subsequently the Netherlands international team due to a lack of regular game time with Man United.
Memphis has failed to find form at Old Trafford since his £25m transfer from PSV Eindhoven in May and struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League thus far.
The Dutch footballer, named as “Best Young Player” in the world in 2015 by France Football magazine, has all the talent and van Gaal clearly feels it is just a matter of time before he is.
“I have said he is the greatest talent of his age but he is only 21 and you cannot expect consistency,” van Gaal told the press on Monday afternoon.
“He is at a stage of his career where he must adapt to many things. I’m convinced he’s coming back, maybe stronger than before but we have to give him time – like we will with [Anthony] Martial when he is a little bit lower in his shape.”
Some players – like Martial – take to the Premier League like a duck to water. Others – like Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic – take time to adapt to the rigours of English football. Unfortunately for Memphis, he’s found himself in the latter category but he’ll be afforded plenty of patience by fans and the club.
We’ve seen plenty of youngsters over the years take their time to settle but excel once they have. Time will tell if Memphis has the mental approach to succeed but he’s already shown the ability is there, it’s just a case of finding his confidence.
The English Premier League has become a world of instant gratification. With ever increasing, and more lucrative TV deals, the wealth of soccer’s richest league continues to spiral to levels that once would have been beyond club’s wildest dreams, and that has multiple knock on effects on the play that we see on the pitch.
From the top clubs to those at the bottom fighting off relegation, funds are more greatly available than ever before. This allows Premier League clubs the pick of many of the world’s best young players, the only problem is their prices tend to end up inflated. Take Memphis Depay, Manchester United’s young winger who signed for £25 million this summer, as an example.
Depay has spent the last couple of seasons touted as one of the most exciting prospects in world football, a label verified by his play in Brazil during the 2014 World Cup. Representing the Dutch national team under the stewardship of Louis Van Gaal, the man who is now his coach at club level, the 21-year-old was one of the stars of the competition.
As the Dutch made a strong, yet somewhat surprising run deep into that competition, Depay’s explosive pace, trickery and eye for goal were there for all to see. Memphis would finish the World Cup as part of a three man shortlist for Best Young Player.
It was natural that transfer rumors would instantly start swirling, but Depay would stay in Holland to continue developing his game for one more season.
What a season that was too. Memphis scored 22 goals to help guide PSV Eindhoven to an Eredivisie title, while finishing as the league’s top scorer in the process.
With his domestic league conquered, Depay moved on to perform at a bigger stage at Manchester United. After an impressive start to his career at Manchester United things have turned sour for Depay startlingly quickly though.
With the winger struggling for form, questions over his application and his lifestyle have become major storylines around the league.
There are a number of factors not helping Depay in terms of living up to the seemingly colossal expectations that are being placed on his shoulders though, and both of them come in the form of comparisons.
From fans, coaches and media alike, there’s an expectation as to how the youngster should be performing based on the benchmarks that have been established by others at Manchester United and other top clubs in the EPL. This is the results business after all, and an instant impact is a must.
This is what Depay’s expensive young teammate Frenchman Anthony Martial has provided. As opposed to his Dutch teammate who came in burdened by already having major performances at club and international football to his name, Martial was a much rawer talent.
So much so, that before he’d even kicked a ball in the red of Manchester United some were declaring him an enormous waste of money, based on his transfer fee which could potentially rise as high as £58 million based on future incentives.
If Martial hadn’t lit the world alight at his previous club AS Monaco, he hit the ground running at Manchester United anyway. The 19-year-old scored an incredible individual effort on his debut against bitter rivals Liverpool, and his return of five goals in 10 games has been impressive ever since.
In many ways, this has created an approach of “if he can do it, why can’t you” towards Depay. Perhaps that’s not the only unfair expectation being pushed on to the Dutchman either, as his shirt number has it’s own burdens to carry.
Throughout the pre-season games, Memphis wore the no.9 shirt for the Red Devils, but when the season itself rolled around and the numbers became official, he ended up with another more illustrious and iconic number instead.
Depay followed in the footsteps of George Best, Bryan Robson and David Beckham becoming the Old Trafford club’s new no.7. What could a shirt number mean you might ask? Well, at Manchester United that particular squad number is generally reserved for one of the best players at the club, and has a special resonance with the fans due to its role in the club’s history.
Most of all, it’s the shadow left by one of United’s most recent no.7s that looms large over Depay. I’m of course talking about Real Madrid superstar and current holder of the Ballon d’Or, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo brought the club back to the pinnacle of the game with that shirt on his back, but it seems to often get forgotten just how much he struggled to adjust to the English game early on.
People remember his impressive cameo debut over Bolton Wanderers when his full arsenal of trickery was on display, but they don’t reflect on how Ronaldo wasn’t always the sensation that he became.
While Depay gets criticized for only having scored one goal in the league so far since his move, it took Ronaldo until November 1 to get his first for the club, and in fact his first season only saw him score six total goals, with four of them coming in 29 league appearances.
The following season Ronaldo only upped that to five in the league, and nine overall, as adjusting to the pace and physicality of the Premier League proved to be a challenge for him.
If Depay is going to be compared to Ronaldo due his style of play and the number he wears on his back, should he not be held up against the same measures that the Portuguese star was during his early days at Old Trafford?
It’s not even November yet and Memphis already has four goals to his name having scored three times in the Champions League, including an impressive double against Club Brugge.
Legendary United winger, and current assistant manager Ryan Giggs has reportedly spoken to Depay about his attitude and work rate needing to improve, and that’s a conversation the youngster most definitely needed to have.
Arriving at a big club in a new league is a learning experience. Van Gaal chose to drop Depay from his starting lineup for three straight games following Manchester United’s disappointing 3-0 defeat to Arsenal, and that in itself should prove to be a lesson, and further fuel his hunger to succeed.
Dutch football legend and current Southampton manager Ronald Koeman rates the youngster very highly, and all he feels that it will take to get the best out of Memphis is patience.
I think Depay, now at the moment, has a difficult time but that’s normal because he’s 21 and of course maybe the step to Manchester United in all respects is a difficult one and he needs more time.
It’s no longer common place for fans, media or indeed coaches to afford young talent time to grow in the Premier League. It’s become a cut-throat world where everything must happen immediately.
If Manchester United don’t allow Depay the opportunity to learn, improve and flourish though; they could end up regretting it if he moves on to thrive elsewhere.
Of course, it’s unfair to hold Memphis Depay up to Cristiano Ronaldo’s standards right now, but if they hold him up to Ronaldo’s past, the potential for and path to development is clear for all to see.
