Tough Defence Ave Faced

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has revealed ahead of Saturday’s Clasico that the Real Madrid defence is the toughest he has faced in his career.

The Uruguay international made his debut for the Catalans against los Blancos at the Santiago Bernabeu last October and, despite providing the assist for Neymar’s early opener, was slightly off the pace after four months out through suspension.

Barca lost that game 3-1 but got revenge in the return fixture, with Suarez netting the winner in a crucial 2-1 victory at Camp Nou, which also saw Jeremy Mathieu find the back of the net.

However, with the two rivals set to face one another again in La Liga, Suarez has admitted space and chances are hard to come by against Madrid.

The former Liverpool ace told AS: “It’s the toughest [defence] I’ve faced. It is very strong, very experienced and very competitive. So I give a lot of value to the goal that I scored against Madrid.

“I tried to use the space between [Sergio] Ramos and Pepe and be as fast as possible so as not to give them time. Luckily, it went well

Moyes Again.

David Moyes has revealed he turned down job offers prior to his sacking as Real Sociedad head coach earlier this month.

The former Manchester United and Everton boss was dismissed following a 2-0 defeat to Las Palmas that left Sociedad just two points off the bottom of the Liga table after 11 matches.

Moyes has since expressed his frustration that he was not granted longer at the Basque side after he successfully avoided relegation last season and claims he spurned offers from other clubs in order to continue his work in San Sebastian.

In a statement released via the League Managers Association on Tuesday, the Scot said: “I am disappointed to have left Real Sociedad.

“When I accepted the job as manager of La Real last November, my remit was to avoid relegation and retain the club’s La Liga status. We succeeded in attaining that target and finished 12th in the table.

“I feel that we made significant progress last season; beating Barcelona in front of our home fans was a memorable highlight.

“I made a firm promise to Real Sociedad to honour my contract and it is disappointing not to be able to fulfil this commitment, especially when I have turned down a number of job opportunities in recent months.

“After spending 12 years in the Premier League as manager of Everton and Manchester United, I was keen to take the opportunity to work abroad and have learnt a great deal from the experience.

“I would like to thank the club and the president for giving me the opportunity to manage in Spain, at a club with such a rich history of employing British managers. I would also like to thank the players, staff and my assistant, Billy McKinlay, for their support and the wonderful people of San Sebastian.

“It has been a pleasure to work in their beautiful city and immerse myself in their culture. Their warmth and generosity has made me feel very at home over the last year”

I Thought Otherwise For Brazil

Brazil defender Jemerson says he was so surprised upon receiving his first call-up this week that he wondered if was the victim of a practical joke.

The Atletico Mineiro stopper has enjoyed another fine season for this club side, who look set to finish second behind Corinthians in the Brazilian first division.

The 23-year-old has been drafted in as a replacement for the suspended David Luiz, who was sent off in Friday’s 1-1 draw with Argentina, and has revealed his reaction after picking up the phone to the Brazilian football federation’s (CBF) technical coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi at the weekend.

“I was with a friend in my car and spoke briefly with Gilmar,” Jemerson told a press conference on Sunday.

“Right after the phone call I thought that it was a practical joke. Then I called my agent and he didn’t answer his phone.

“It was only later that the penny dropped. This has always been my dream. Now I have to prepare myself. I have never seen so many photographers in the same place.”

Jemerson has made over 100 appearances for the Galo since his debut in 2012 and played in the first leg of his side’s 2014 Recopa Sudamericana triumph.

He is set to feature on the bench on Tuesday against Peru with Corinthians defender Gil expected to replace David Luiz at the heart of the back four.

 

Got Your Back Mata Assures wayne

The Red Devils and England captain Wayne Rooney has been backed to remain a key player for club and country by team-mate Juan Mata.

Despite becoming England’s leading goalscorer this season and moving joint second in United’s scoring charts, some of Rooney’s club displays have led to criticism and calls for him to be dropped by Roy Hodgson.

As England prepare to face Spain in a friendly match on Friday, whereby rooney wont take part, Mata called for the 30-year-old to be given more respect for his achievements.

“When we speak about Wayne we’re speaking about the captain of England and my team Manchester United,” the Spain international told a press conference.

“He’s a very important player. He’s scored more goals than anyone in the English national team and at United.

“I know he can play in different positions. At the end it’s Roy Hodgson or Louis van Gaal who decides, but obviously if he’s close to the box he will score more.

“I feel very proud to play alongside him in my team and it will be very difficult to face him.”

Rooney’s displays have led to suggestions his place could be under threat ahead of Euro 2016, the England skipper acknowledging this week he faces a “huge challenge” to keep his place.

With Hodgson set to field an experimental side in Alicante on Friday, Mata feels England have the quality to be a success in France next year.

“This team of England has a great squad and above all confidence,” he added.

“I speak with Wayne day to day in Manchester and I see him very happy with the youth, ambition and I think they have the capacity to win a trophy.

“It’s a great test for us because I consider them a big rival to win the Euros.”

Ronaldo’s Happy Goals

Nacho says Cristiano Ronaldo cannot be happy after a game if he doesnt score, but maintains he has “complete faith” in him heading into their next game against Barcelona.

Ronaldo has scored eight goals in 11 league games this period, but has only found the net in four matches and has been criticised for his form as the Clasico clash with the European and Spanish

Champions approaches on November 21.

But Nacho has refused to criticise his Portuguese team-mate and expects an imminent return to form.

“We’re talking about the leading goal scorer in the history of Madrid,” Nacho said.

“I wouldn’t just back him, I have complete faith in him. He’ll score more goals for Madrid. When he doesn’t score he isn’t happy but his ambition is huge. He can’t be happy if he hasn’t scored.”

Rafael Benitez has been criticised after some wanting performances, with his side losing 3-2 to Sevilla in their latest game. Reports have emerged of problems and unrest in the dressing room, but Nacho maintains that the players support the coach.

“We’ve just lost a match and all the bad stuff is brought out,” he said.

“We’ve lost one game and we’re doing things well. The players are united with the coach. We’ll go into the Clasico fine. Things get taken out of perspective by we’re confident we’ll have a good outcome

How it’s all going haywire For Manchester United youngster at Borussia Dortmund

Two Manchester United youngsters had differing fortunes at the weekend.

On Saturday, Jesse Lingard, making his first Premier League start of the season, scored his first United goal.

A day later, Adnan Januzaj was an unused substitute during Borussia Dortmund’s 3-2 win over Schalke.

The two games took place 24 hours and more than 600 miles apart but the two incidents are linked. While Lingard is enjoying the transformation from youth team graduate to first-team regular, Januzaj’s stock is falling.

Adnan Januzaj has started twice for Borussia Dortmund this season.

A loan move that was billed as a way of aiding Januzaj’s development is having the opposite effect. In three months in Germany the 20-year-old has started two games, both in the Europa League, completing 90 minutes once.

If Lingard’s breakthrough moment was his goal against West Brom on Saturday, then Januzaj’s came at the Stadium of Light in October 2013.

A second-half substitute against Wigan, Crystal Palace, Liverpool and West Brom, he started for the first time against Sunderland, scoring twice in a 2-1 win.

His form during the 2013/14 season was the one highlight of a disastrous campaign and kept David Moyes in a job until April when he might have been sacked months earlier.

Januzaj scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Sunderland in 2013.

Januzaj made 35 appearances in his debut season.

It was down to 18 under Louis van Gaal the following year. And despite starting four of United’s first five games this season, and scoring the winner against Aston Villa, he was loaned to Borussia Dortmund on deadline day.

“Our first impression of Adnan is good,” said Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel soon afterwards.

“He’s a very exciting, creative player but it will still take time for him to get used to us, to the defensive work and the training intensity too.”

Kevin De Bruyne’s resurgence started in the Bundesliga.

But judging by how little Januzaj has played since it seems Tuchel is still waiting.

He’s lost his place in the Belgium squad for friendlies against Italy and Spain.

And if his situation doesn’t improve it’s likely he’ll miss out on a place in the squad for the European Championship next summer.

It seems a long time since Belgium coach Marc Wilmotts suggested Januzaj’s move to the Bundesliga could be as significant as Kevin de Bruyne’s move from Chelsea to Wolfsburg.

JESSE FOR SOUTHGATE

Jesse Lingard will do all that  it takes to keep his place in the Manchester United team, according to England Under-21 manager Gareth Southgate.

The 22-year-old scored his first goal for Louis van Gaal’s side in Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League win over West Brom and has kept big-money signing Memphis Depay out of the starting XI for the last two games.

Southgate has regularly worked with Lingard in England’s youth set up and gave his view on the winger’s rapid rise at club level.

He said: “I am amazed they were not inundated with more bids to pries him away in the summer, especially having played as well as he did in the Under 21 Euros.

“He has got the shirt at the moment and knowing him he will do whatever it takes to hold onto it. He is at a club where you know you have to perform every week but over the years that is how the youngsters there have been raised.

“They know they are going to have to perform in front of 70,000 people and that brings expectations.

“We are not surprised [by his form] because we have liked him from the off. Physically he has been a late developer and we think there is still some physical growth to come.

“But he is an intelligent footballer and he will carry out the role he is asked to do, which I think the manager there will quite like.”

Van Gaal said after the West Brom victory he felt it was still “far too early” for Lingard to be considered for Roy

Hodgson’s full England squad

NOT QUITE WELL FOR GIBBS

NOT QUITE WELL FOR GIBBS

NOT QUITE WELL FOR GIBBS

 The man of all times Kieran Gibbs was left on doubt when Arsenal missed an opportunity to go top of the Premier League on Sunday.

With Manchester City held to a 0-0 draw in Remi Garde’s first match as Aston Villa coach, Arsene Wenger’s side could have moved to the summit with a win at home to Tottenham.

Gibbs, who scored Arsenal’s equaliser after Harry Kane’s opener, hopes the international break can rejuvenate his team-mates.

“We are disappointed obviously, with Manchester City dropping points we had a good opportunity,” Gibbs told Arsenal’s official website.

“It was important not to lose this game but now the international break, we can recover for a few players and they can come back fit and we can push on after.”

Gibbs equalized for Arsenal just three minutes after coming on as a 74th-minute substitute for Joel Campbell and he enjoyed getting on the scoresheet.

“It has been difficult for the boss with options so in the last few games I have been coming on and I knew, looking across the bench that, probably, even though I’m a defender I’m one of the more offensive players on the bench,” he added.

“I was happy to come on in a big game like that and get a goal.

“It was a chance for me to bring on some fresh legs and do everything I can to try and help the boys