GIVE GUARDIOLA THIS MAN UTD'S SQUAD AND HE WILL WIN THE LEAGUE; SAYS CARRAGHER.

Jamie Carragher believes Pep Guardiola would win the Premier League if he had the Manchester United squad at his disposal.

Manchester City are currently running away with the title, while Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United sit second, 15 points off the pace.

The Red Devils boss recently hit out at the Citizens perceived over-spending, saying: “One thing is a big club and another thing is a big football team.

“They are two different things. We are in the second year of trying to rebuild a football team that is not one of the best teams in the world.

Man City have spent £198.7million ahead of this season, while Man United spent £146million, the Citizens recouped £56.65million on player sales to the Red Devils’ £7.7million.

And it is precisely this reason that Carragher has taken aim at the Manchester United boss, accusing him of sounding like a “broken record”.

Writing in his column for The Telegraph, the Liverpool legend said: “In the past he might have earned sympathy. Not now.

“Not at one of the world’s richest clubs when you have outspent most of Europe and the only way to keep up with your greatest rival is to match him on the training pitch and with shrewder management.”

Carragher goes on to discuss the major differences in Mourinho and Guardiola’s approach, with the former looking to sign ready-made superstars, and the latter willing to turn young players into superstars.

The former Reds centre-back refers to Man United signings like Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba, compared to Man City signings Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane, as key examples.

Carragher also goes on to discuss the major difference between managers like Mourinho and Man United’s legendary boss Sir Alex Fergsuon.

“That is what separated Sir Alex Ferguson from the rest,” he said.
“For all his success at United when he could bully rivals in the transfer market, it was Ferguson’s latter years when Chelsea and City were capable of outspending him that impressed me most.

“He not only kept United competitive, but ensured they were title winners because of their brand of football.
“Since Ferguson retired in 2013, United have spent in greater excess than when he was there.

They have paid over £600million on new recruits under David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal and Mourinho.”

Source: www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football

MOURINHO HAS EXPLAINED REASONS WHY LUKAKU AND ZLATAN CAN NOT PLAY TOGETHER YET.

Manchester United boss, Jose Mourinho delivered his media briefing at the Jimmy Murphy Centre ahead of Saturday’s clash against the Saints.
The Old Trafford boss talked about his team's current form, Lukaku's incredible personality and lots more.

Here are some talking points from Mourinho's media briefing..

PREPARATIONS FOR SOUTHAMPTON
“We just try to recover. With so many injured players that we have the group is so small at this time, so it’s just about rest.
Even going a little bit to the indoor [pitch] hoping that no more flu or any more problems apart from the injuries. So it’s just about trying to protect players.”

TEAM NEWS
The boss admitted he’s unable to give top scorer Romelu Lukaku a rest but told MUTV he doesn’t expect any of his injured players to return against Southampton. Marcos Rojo is available despite initial fears he would be suspended after picking up a fifth booking of the season against Burnley.

CAN ZLATAN AND LUKAKU PLAY TOGETHER?
"It can happen but for it to happen, they both need to be in their best moment and they are not. One is not because the situation in this team didn't allow him to have any rest and Zlatan is a man with an incredible injury. We did that against Burnley and we will do that in some more matches if we need to do it, but I think we really need them to be at their best level."

JOSE GRATEFUL TO 'FANTASTIC' LUKAKU
“I think for any player to play 90 minutes in 20 Premier League matches is absolutely incredible. I have to be very grateful for his personality and for his character.
He was in the picture, I'm not saying he was a direct influence, in some of the last goals we conceded. It's a consequence of a player who really needs a little rest. But he's fantastic for me and the team."

PLEASED WITH DISPLAYS IN LAST TWO GAMES
Despite successive 2-2 draws against Leicester and Burnley, the boss was happy with the team’s performances but feels there’s room for improvement. He said: “I think we played very well in both matches, probably the frustration is big because we played so well but we made mistakes that cost us the points in both matches. We played very offensive, in a very creative way and gave freedom to the players. We didn't score enough goals in relation to what we created."

THOUGHTS ON THE TRANSFER WINDOW
The boss feels clubs must be prepared to spend a lot of money to land players because of the modern market, as Liverpool agree a £75million fee with Southampton for Virgil van Dijk. He said: “The reality is if they think the player is right for them and they really want the player, they pay this amount or they don't have the player because that's the way the market is at this time."

MORE ON THE MARKET
“Now you are going to say, Virgil van Dijk [is] the most expensive defender in the history of football. Was he better than [Paolo] Maldini or was he better than [Giuseppe] Bergomi or was he better than [Rio] Ferdinand? You cannot say that. It's just the way the market is and you pay or you don't pay.
If you pay, obviously you pay a crazy amount of money. But if you don't pay, you don't have the player and it's as simple as that, so no critics at all. It's just the way it is."

Source: www.manutd.com

EDEN HAZARD'S FATHER REVEALS WHY HIS SON WANTS TO JOIN REAL MADRID.

Eden Hazard's father has revealed the Chelsea star has turned down a new deal at the club because he wants to join Real Madrid.

Media reports have repeatedly linked the Belgian with the Spanish champions and the 26-year-old did not rule out a future move to Real Madrid.

"Everyone knows the respect I have for Zidane as a player, but also as a manager. He was my idol," Hazard told Belgian TV channel RTL earlier in the season. "I do not know what will happen in the future. However, for sure, to play under Zidane would be a dream.

"I am enjoying life at Chelsea. I still have a lot of things to achieve with them. I am focused on playing for Chelsea."

Last month Hazard told French television channel Canal +: "Everyone knows the admiration I have for Real, but for now I'm a Blues."

While coaching Real Madrid team B in 2015, present Los Blancos coach Zidane admitted that only Messi and Ronaldo are better than Eden Hazard.

"After Messi and Ronaldo, Hazard is my favourite player. It is spectacular to see him play."
And he added: "Do I see him going to Real Madrid? I love the player, that's all I will say."

However, Eden Hazard's father has now increased speculations by claiming his son has turned down a contract extension which would keep him at Stamford Bridge beyond 2020 when his current contract expires.

" What I can say about Eden is that he refused an extension of contract to be able, if necessary, to follow the interest of the Real, where he would see himself well"; Father Thierry told Belgian paper Le Soir.

"But, as I speak to you, there is no contact. Eden is only one of the parties to the contract ."

BARCA DO NOT TREAT BRAZILIANS WELL! RONALDO WARNS COUTINHO.

Ronaldo has warned compatriot and Liverpool forward, Phillipe Coutinho who could join Barcelona as early as next summer.
Coutinho is contracted to the English Club till 2022 but could force a big money move to Barca.


The Reds No.10 has been in sensational form this term despite being denied his dream move last summer.

But legendary Brazil No.9 who scored 34 goals in 37 appearances during his one year in Barcelona claims that he was made to feel at home from his first day in Spain's capital than his time in Catalonia.

During a recent interview with Esporte Interativo, Ronaldo said;
"I felt much more happy and more connected to Real Madrid, despite having lived a great year in Barcelona,"

"In the end, my history with Barça was very bad, similar to the one Neymar had.
"Barcelona has always had issues with Brazilian players: Neymar, Romario, Ronaldinho and me.

"We were all treated badly by the club in the end, despite all our contributions and dedication."