LONDON • Arsenal manager Unai Emery has praised the work of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in his short time at Manchester United, admitting the Red Devils are now a "very dangerous" opponent for any team.
Since taking over from Jose Mourinho, Solskjaer has overseen seven successive wins in all competitions, and his attacking approach has won over a dressing room that grew tired of his sacked predecessor's spiky personality and dour tactics.
The Gunners will host United in the fourth round of the FA Cup today and Emery is expecting "a very big test" after being impressed by their turnaround.
He told reporters: "It's a different team. It's the same players but they're playing with a big performance now. I watched their last matches and each player has a lot of confidence."
His preparations included a team-building paintball trip earlier in the week, but it has been a difficult few days for the club, both on and off the pitch.
It was announced on Monday that head of recruitment Sven Mislintat will leave next month, having been in the job for only a year.
A day later, defender Hector Bellerin learnt he could miss up to nine months after suffering ruptured knee ligaments in the 2-0 win over Chelsea last Saturday.
Emery revealed the team were sad that a third Gunner had been ruled out for the season before claiming that non-playing appointments were "not my issue".
He added: "This year is very difficult for big injuries like Hector, Rob Holding and (Danny) Welbeck. But football is like that.
BIG TRANSFORMATION
It's a different team. It's the same players but they're playing with a big performance now. I watched their last matches and each player has a lot of confidence.
UNAI EMERY, Arsenal manager, on how Manchester United have changed under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
BIG CLASH
That's the one fierce rivalry of my years. They won the double, we won the treble. The games were just fantastic.
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, Manchester United interim manager, reminiscing about the tough Arsenal games he experienced as a player.
"We need to treat these injuries like a normality in football, but we are very sad."
Asked if it was important to find a swift replacement for Mislintat, he said: "Maybe if you do this recruitment very quickly, you can make a mistake. It's better to do without that, being calm and also finding the best possible person to do this job like we want."
However, he gave a glowing endorsement of Monchi, the Roma director of football who has been linked to the vacant post.
The pair worked together at Spanish club Sevilla and Emery hinted he was eager to renew the "good relationship" with his fellow Spaniard who was "a good person and a good professional".
But he knows better than to let these matters distract him against a man eager to get one over United's "closest rivals" in his playing days.
Solskjaer, reminiscing about the period when Arsenal were United's main competitors from 1997-2005, said: "That's the one fierce rivalry of my years. They won the double, we won the treble. The games were just fantastic."
Although United will rotate their side for the Cup game, the players that are standing in still "have the quality to play". He added: "We have a very good and talented squad. There will be one or two changes definitely."
One player who is eager to play is Alexis Sanchez, who is returning to London for the first time since his bitter exit last January. The Chile forward is expected to get a frosty reception but Solskjaer is unperturbed by the likely boos.
Said the Norwegian: "I think he'll love it if the crowd turn against him. As a player, pride kicks in and you think, 'I'll show all of you.'
"He's been fantastic in training, his attitude has been spot on so, hopefully, he'll enjoy the game."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
Jong Ajax won Eerste Divisie (the league below the Eredivisie) last year, while Heitinga's under-19s topped their pool in the UEFA Youth League and the under-17s took the Future Cup last April. All the while, the club tries to stay true to its foundation: giving youth a chance and playing beautiful football while keeping Cruyff at the forefront.
The Ajax stars who've stunned the world with Champions League
Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho embarrassingly slipped after presenting a symbolic face-off to a match in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on Monday. Videos of the 56-year
WATCH: Mourinho humiliated by fall at Russian hockey league
The two clubs, which have won 38 English titles between them (United 20, Liverpool 18), met outside England for the first time in 2014, when they contested the final of the ICC in Miami, with
Cristiano Ronaldo Handles Crazy Fan With Class - YouTube
"Yes, this is a must-win, but we must play our normal game according to the plan that the coach will give us to master and apply on the day. That we have beaten them before will not count on the
Celtic can stun Zenit if we execute game plan to perfection
The Qatar national team has officially named Felix Sanchez as their head coach, replacing Uruguayan Jorge Fossati.. The Spaniard becomes the team's third coach in less than a year. The Qatar
New Contract for Asian Cup Winning Coach Sanchez Soon, Says
Messi notches 400 Laliga goals - straitstimes.com
Football: Barcelona on verge of La Liga title after beating Alaves BARCELONA (REUTERS) - Barcelona have one hand firmly on the La Liga title after winning 2-0 at Alaves on Tuesday (April 23), leaving them 12 points clear at the top of the table with four games to play.
Barcelona on verge of Liga title after beating Alaves - CNA
MANCHESTER: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrated his first game as permanent Manchester United manager with a 2-1 Premier League win over Watford at Old Trafford on Saturday. It was a far from impressive performance from United but goals from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial earned the victory which moved them up to fourth in the table, level on
Man Utd 2-1 Watford | Rashford & Martial Goals Give Ole Win
March 30 (Reuters) - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrated his first game as permanent Manchester United manager with a 2-1 Premier League win over Watford at Old Trafford on Saturday. It was a far from
Rashford and Martial give United win over Watford
adtest.supersport.com/football/premier-league/news/190330/Rashford_and_Martial_give_United_win_over_Watford
It was the ninth goal during Solskjaer's reign for Rashford, who has blossomed in the last three months, and has replaced Romelu Lukaku as United's main man up front. Foster, once of United, has been Watford's best player this season, and he underlined why with a brilliant instinctive save to deny Martial from close range as United threatened
Man Utd - Watford 2-1 Rashford & Martial goals give Ole win
Maurizio Sarri has challenged Gonzalo Higuain to hit the ground running if he wants to earn a permanent contract at Stamford Bridge. Higuain joined the Blues on Thursday night, completing a loan move until the end of the season. As part of the agreement with Juventus, Chelsea have the option to extend that loan deal by a further 12 months.
Olivier Giroud vs Gonzalo Higuain - Chelsea must start serial
Football: Di Maria and Mbappe among the goals as PSG win big again, Neymar to get treatment in Brazil "He's going to become one of the best players in the history of football and I'm trying to
Di Maria brace seals 3-1 win for PSG over Marseille
Aug 12, 2014 · Outrage Over Teenager's Death Erupts on Social Media a St. Louis suburb, is drawing outrage on social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook. F.B.I. Steps In Amid Unrest After Police
Abramovich's Girlfriend Apologizes for Posing on 'Black Woman
Spurs shine to hit Everton for six; But with Liverpool facing Arsenal and Manchester City in a top-of-the-table clash in their next three games over the festive period, Tottenham have the
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar