The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Cardiff shock may send Man City back to the shops Posted: 26 Aug 2013 07:14 AM PDT Manchester City could once again be tempted to throw money at a problem after a shock 3-2 defeat by Cardiff City highlighted the need for top quality cover for first-choice centre backs Vincent Kompany and Matija Nastasic. Having splashed around £90 million pounds (US$140.34 million) on bolstering their attack with Jesus Navas, Fernandinho, Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic, it was their lack of spending at the other end of the pitch that was exposed in Wales yesterday. They lost Kompany to a groin strain during last week's Premier League opener against Newcastle United and were already without Nastasic who is recovering from an ankle problem, forcing them to field a makeshift partnership in Cardiff. Manager Manuel Pellegrini chose not to blame Joleon Lescott, the England defender who lost his place to Nastasic last season, or Javi Garcia, the midfielder who was drafted in to play alongside him, saying there was a collective responsibility. "I haven't seen the goal yet but defending set pieces is the job of the whole team. It doesn't matter who is guilty but to concede two goals from corners is too many," the Chilean said on the club website (www.mcfc.co.uk). City had gone ahead in the game with Edin Dzeko's 52nd minute goal before Aron Gunnarsson levelled in the 60th and last season's league runners-up were then undone by two Fraizer Campbell headers from corners in the space of eight minutes. Negredo pulled one back for City in stoppage time after coming on as a substitute for a second successive game and again showing just the kind of sharpness the club had been looking for when they signed him last month, but it was too late. "We lost because we didn't concentrate. We will work on this during the week," said Pellegrini, whose side had stormed to a 4-0 win in their match at home to Newcastle with a delightfully attack-minded display. MEANEST DEFENCE He had said before the game Kompany's absence was not a reason to bring in a centre back before the transfer window closes on Sept. 2 but after last term's meanest defence leaked goals against Premier League newcomers, he may change his mind. Kompany has been ruled out for around a month, making him a doubt for the first Manchester derby of the season when City host champions United on Sept. 22, while Nastasic has only just returned to training. With Micah Richards out with a hamstring problem and having seen Kolo Toure depart on a free transfer to Liverpool, City find themselves depleted at the back with the season only just underway. They have the financial means and the time to do something about it, should they wish to, and having been given a target of five trophies in five seasons Pellegrini could still take their close-season spending over the £100 million mark. City, who won the Premier League in 2012 and the FA Cup in 2011, have been linked with Real Madrid's Pepe and Atletico Madrid's Martin Demichelis in this transfer window. Under manager Roberto Mancini last term, City let in 34 goals in 38 games and in the previous season they had an even better record, conceding just 29 on their way to the title. Doubts over their back line had surfaced during the pre-season when they let in eight goals in their last three warm-up matches and it is certainly not a rate they will want to maintain. – Reuters, August 26, 2013. |
| Mourinho says Moyes to blame for Rooney woes Posted: 26 Aug 2013 06:57 AM PDT Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says his Manchester United counterpart David Moyes should shoulder the blame for Wayne Rooney's desire to leave Old Trafford after suggesting he was a second-choice striker. The clubs meet in the Premier League today, with Chelsea's pursuit of the unsettled forward adding spice to the early season clash between the two title contenders. Chelsea have made two bids for the England international and have not ruled out making a third, with Rooney reportedly upset by comments Moyes made in pre-season that he would have to play second-fiddle to Dutch striker Robin van Persie. "They are against me?" Mourinho was reported as saying by The Guardian newspaper today, when asked whether he would get an angry reaction from the United crowd. "But I didn't say (to Rooney) you will be a second-choice for me. And they are against me? "We are trying to get a player that a manager told 'You will be a second option' for him. We are not going for Van Persie. "They don't have to be against me. If I say Ramires is a second option for me and he plays when (Frank) Lampard is tired or injured, if someone comes here to get Ramires, nobody is upset." He was then asked if Moyes should take the blame, to which he replied: "Of course." Mourinho later softened his stance, saying that every team had good players that were second-choice. "The point is if the players are happy to accept that situation," he added. Mourinho has spoken openly about his desire to bring Rooney to Stamford Bridge and add him to a strike-force that includes Fernando Torres, Romelu Lukaku and Demba Ba. – Reuters, August 26, 2013. |
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