Basic HTML Version
18
SportGlobe
December 5-11, 2012
Email: sportglobe2005@yahoo.com
English Premier League
Source: sportinglife.com
T
he Barclays Premier League
title race is yet to become
one run only by Manchester
City and Manchester United,
according to Old Trafford manag-
er Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 70-year-old refuted claims before
the weekend that the title was destined
to stay in Manchester following City’s
dramatic clinching of the crown last
season.
But following a thrilling 4-3 win at
Reading on Saturday night, after bitter
rivals City had dropped points at home
to Everton and out-of-form Chelsea lost
at West Ham, there were renewed
claims that only United and the reign-
ing champions were in contention this
time around.
MATCH-WINNING STRIKE
Ferguson, who lambasted the defend-
ing from his side in a first half at the
Madejski Stadium that saw Reading
take the lead twice but ultimately suc-
cumb to a Robin van Persie match-win-
ning strike after just 34 minutes, reck-
ons the title race is still wide open.
Asked whether Saturday’s results
really did make it a two-horse race for
top spot the United boss said: “At this
time you can’t really say that.
“You can’t say that but I think the
important thing for us is to take les-
sons from the mistakes we are making
and find a solution, because we are
going to need it.”
The hard-fought win over a Reading
side who few thought could cause the
league leaders quite as many problems
as they did means United sit three
points clear of City ahead of the
Manchester derby, with Chelsea now 10
points adrift of top spot.
Ferguson saw his side come from
behind to win for the seventh time in
the league this season, with Anderson
and a Wayne Rooney brace adding to
van Persie’s strike.
M
anager Arsene Wenger feels Arsenal
must learn to play with freedom again
at the Emirates Stadium if they are to
kickstart their Barclays Premier League cam-
paign following Saturday’s lacklustre 2-0 home
defeat by Swansea.
The Gunners’ worst start to a top-flight sea-
son under the Frenchman continued as a late
brace from Spanish striker Michu took the
points back to Wales.
Wenger had looked to freshen his side up,
deploying Gervinho down the middle and
with Theo Walcott out wide, but there was
little flair as the Swans turned in a slick
passing game.
The tension flowed down from the terraces,
with the ‘Black Scarf Movement’ having
demonstrated around the ground before kick-
off, complaining at the perceived commerciali-
sation of the club following their move to the
Emirates Stadium.
Wenger feels his team must rise above those
concerns to get back to their former selves.
“At home, we look like we play a little bit
with the handbrake. It is not fluent, there
might be a psychological component in there
as well,” Wenger said.
“There was no movement or speed in our
passing and we looked laboured, not sharp.
“We had a lot of possession, but they created
more chances than we did.
“We have to find a solution to this because
we turn teams around without hurting them.”
RELEASE HANDBRAKE, SAYS WENGER
Arsenal’s manager, Arsene Wenger.
No two-horse race
– Fergie
AP
Manchester United’s manager Sir Alex Ferguson, left, shakes hands
with West Ham’s manager Sam Allardyce.
R
ay Wilkins believes it is
“out of the question”
that Chel sea would
sack under-fire new manager
Rafael Benitez before the end
of the season.
Benitez has overseen two
draws and a 3-1 defeat to West
Ham since he was recruited on
an interim basis to replace
Roberto Di Matteo
The Spaniard admit-
ted he was “not 100 per
cent” certain of his future
but Wilkins, the former
Chelsea assistant boss,
cannot see Roman
Abramovich making another
managerial change.
“I would think that is totally
out of the question,” Wilkins told
Sportsweek on Radio Five Live.
“They have asked him to
come in and do a job and no
doubt he is trying to work very
hard to do it.
“Unfortunately, the results are
going against him at the
moment. It has been a very diffi-
cult period for Chelsea Football
Club and at the moment they are
struggling.”
Benitez is in charge until the
end of the season but Wilkins
suggested Chelsea are running
out of options for the permanent
managerial post.
“If Pep Guardiola was to come
in and was sacked then where do
you go?” Wilkins said.
“He is supposedly the best on
the planet. He is a young man of
41. You have Mourinho out there
but would Jose come back? I
have no idea.
“Gus Poyet would be a good
choice. He is cutting
his teeth at Brighton,
he has been at Leeds
and Swindon so he
knows the trade and
he is a Chelsea leg-
end, as Roberto Di
Matteo was.
“The options are now being
closed down rather rapidly.”
Wilkins put Chelsea’s recent
woes down to the absence of
John Terry at the back and
Frank Lampard’s goal-scoring
contribution from midfield.
“When you lose those goals
from the middle of the field, you
have a massive problem,”
Wilkins said.
“Whether it is the club who
spends money or Rafa who
spends money, it has to be done
because the season is coming to a
rather rapid halt and we are not
even at Christmas yet.”
Benitez safe for now
AP
Chelsea’s manager Rafael Benitez prior to the start of his team’s English Premier
League match against West Ham United at Upton Park, London, Saturday,
December 1.