Juan Mata reacts to David de Gea’s contribution to Chelsea equalizer against Manchester United

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has defended David De Gea over criticism of fluffing his lines in the Premier League match against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Chelsea equalised just before half-time, with Marcos Alonso pouncing when goalkeeper De Gea spilled Antonio Rudiger’s long-range effort.

But Juan Mata would not want to listen to the critics of the Spain international, pointing, rather, to his past heroics for the Red Devils in the past.

“David is unquestionable for me,” Mata, the Reds’ goalscorer against Chelsea, told Sky Sports after the game.

“His levels have been fantastic for this club. He has been the best player over the last years. The amount of points that he has saved us is incredible.

“We all have good and bad moments throughout our careers, but, for me, the important thing is how we react and he’s determined to react positively, to do what he does best, which is being the best.

“I have 100 per cent confidence in him – we all have. Today he is not happy, we are not happy, but tomorrow morning he will come back to training with the best attitude as always.

“I honestly believe he is one of the best in the world.

“I make mistakes, everyone makes mistakes, but you are a goalkeeper and when you make a mistake it is probably a goal and that’s very difficult for them.

“But he has a strong mentality and he will save many goals in the next games and, again, he has been the best for us. He has my full confidence, and the team’s and the manager’s, and the confidence of everyone who loves Manchester United.

On the Top-four race? “It’s very difficult. “We are depending on other teams. We have to try and win the last two games and let’s see what happens.

“Obviously, today we needed three points because it is Chelsea. They play very good football and are fighting with us for the top four. It was a bit disappointing, the result. We need to move on and try and finish the season the best we can.

“We wanted to win and we needed to win, so we are disappointed. I thought we had a good first half: we scored, we created chances.

“We’ve done incredibly well over the last months to get there. We will try until the end, but today we needed a win because Chelsea are fighting with us.“

Photo Credit: premierleague.com

Eden Hazard makes pledge to Chelsea fans as Real Madrid step up summer move

Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard has vowed to lead Chelsea into the Champions League for next season – despite the uncertainty over his future.

Hazard, who has one year left on his contract, is wanted by Real Madrid and expected to leave Stamford Bridge for the Bernabeu this summer.

But the forward said he will do all he can to ensure Chelsea secure a top-four finish – even though he is unlikely to be playing for them next season, reports the Mirror.

“Chelsea has to play in the Champions League every year,” said Hazard.

“It’s one of biggest clubs in the world, and for myself also I want to play in the Champions League – and we will.”

A point at Old Trafford kept Chelsea fourth, two points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal and three clear of United, currently sixth.

The Blues know victories over Watford and Leicester in their final two Premier League games will be enough to clinch fourth and a place in the Champions League.

“It was a good day but it could be better,” said Hazard. “We came here thinking about winning the game.

“A draw is not a bad result. We now have two games and we will try and be in the top four.”

Barcelona goalkeeper wants summer exit, says “I want to be playing football again”

Barcelona goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen has indicated his desire to leave Nou Camp this summer.

The Dutch international has not featured in a La Liga game for Ernesto Valvede’s side this season, and now appears to have had a change of heart after stating earlier this season that he would stay for 2019-20.

“At the end of the season I will go on holiday and then hopefully I will have a new club where I can play, he told Dutch TV channel Ziggo Sport

“I want to be playing football again.”

Where the 30-year old chooses to go next is not yet clear, with a return to his native country a strong possibility.

The former Ajax was also asked about current stars at the Champions League semi finalists, and he gave his full backing for Barcelona to make a double switch for Frenkie De Jong and Matthijs De Ligt, reports Footbal Espana.

“The deal for De Jong is already done, but I am not ssure about the ssituation with De Ligt.

“But if he has the chance to go to Barcelona, I would take it.”

Photo Credit: fcbarcelona.com

Premier League clubs on red alert as Ancelotti vows not to block Koulibaly, Insigne from leaving Napoli

Premier League clubs have been put on red alert after Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti revealed he won’t prevent Kalidou Koulibaly and Lorenzo Insigne from leaving this summer.

Koulibaly has been linked with big-money moves to Manchester United and Real Madrid while Chelsea and Liverpool have reportedly shown an interest in forward Insigne.

While Ancelotti confirmed that he won’t stand in their way if they wanted to leave, the Italian insisted that the club don’t need to sell their top stars this summer.

The former Chelsea and AC Milan boss said: “We don’t need to sell our best players. We can sign new players following our ideas.

“However, I am not going to block who wants to leave, I’ve never done it in my career.”

Barcelona prime target “yet to make decision” over move despite strong links with Nou Camp

Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt who has strong links with Barcelona has revealed he is yet to make a decision over his future.

The 19-year-old is considered one of the most exciting defenders in the world and has caught the attention of some of Europe’s top clubs with his composed performances in the Champions League.

“I haven’t made a decision yet so I don’t know [if I will stay],” De Ligt said during an AMA session on Instagram.

“I am only focused on the last games of the season for now. We still have a lot to play for so let’s finish this season in a good way.”

Half-Time Report: Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea… Mata, Alonso on the score-sheet

Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso’s late equaliser was all the Stamford Bridge club needed to give themselves reprieve in the first half after Juan Mata put the hosts in front.

Manchester United were rewarded for their early endeavour through Mata’s goal. Luke Shaw got behind the Chelsea defence and they they’re vulnerable. Shaw was clever because he knew Kepa was going to smother if he had a shot, so he laid it on a plate for Mata.

Birthday boy Mata arrived at just the right time to finish off Shaw’s cross.

It was a first half in which the hosts looked quite comfortable early, having more shots on target as well as a larger share of possession.

Chelsea came into the game as the half progressed and eventually found a goal out of nowhere when Rudiger’s blast from distance exposed De Gea’s difficulties in saving long shots – which allowed Alonso to storm in and finish with a follow-up effort.

Chelsea’s attack has generally been slow and ponderous – much the opposite of United’s pace – but there is nothing to separate the two sides after 45 minutes.

Despite the goal, Chelsea’s laborious attack leaves little to be positive about, as every forward thrust was seemingly dictated by the capabilities of Hazard.

There has been precious little link-up play between Higuain and the two playing just off of him – with perhaps the introduction of Giroud the solution.

For Manchester United, they have probably done enough to end the half ahead, but they could have been more than 1-0 up before Chelsea’s reply, had they been more clinical.

The result hangs in the balance with the second half upcoming, though a draw doesn’t really help either club.

Photo Credit: premierleague.com

Half-Time Report: Burnley 0-0 Manchester City

The match between Burnley and Manchester City is goalless at the break after a first half with very few clear-cut chances.

What that first half lacked in quality it made up for in nerves. City have been held at bay by a typically robust Burnley defence, and go in at half-time looking like they’re feeling a spot of tension.

They can’t afford not to win here. Burnley will be content with this so far.

City are sure to push forward in the second half as they need to chase the three points, but they must be careful.

Burnley have scored at least once in their last 12 home Premier League games. If Burnley grab the first goal City will be under a whole heap of pressure.

Photo Credit: premierleague.com

Arsenal dealt top-four blow as Vardy nets brace in Foxes’ win at King Power Stadium (Match Report)

Jamie Vardy scored twice as Leicester City dented Arsenal’s top-four hopes in the Premier League with a convincing 3-0 win.

Arsenal conceded three goals with 10 men for the second season in a row at Leicester City.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles was shown a second yellow card in the 36th minute and Arsenal’s resistance was broken just before the hour-mark when Youri Tielemans headed home from James Maddison’s cross.

Jamie Vardy doubled the lead with four minutes to go, heading in after his lob rebounded back off the crossbar, before tapping home from Ricardo Pereira’s low cross in stoppage time for his 18th goal of the season.

Leicester have now won consecutive home league matches against Arsenal for the first time since November 1983.

The Gunners remain fifth after their third straight league defeat, one point outside the top four, ahead of the 16:30 BST contest between Manchester United and fourth-placed Chelsea.

Leicester have moved up to eighth, three points behind Wolverhampton Wanderers in the battle for seventh place.

Half-Time Report: Leicester 0-0 Arsenal … Maitland-Niles sees red

Leicester dominated the first half of the match with Arsenal losing one of his players as the two teams are level before the break.

Leicester made a very bright start to the game and could easily have been ahead at the break.

Evans had an early chance with a header from a corner, while Maddison and Vardy also had chances saved by the keeper.

Ndidi came closest for the home side though when he saw his header saved brilliantly in the top corner by Leno.

Arsenal have created a couple of opportunities but have to play the rest of the game a man down after Maitland-Niles received two bookings for bad fouls which saw him sent off 10 minutes before half-time.

Leicester wouldn’t have wanted the half-time whistle to come, they’re pushing for the opening goal and go close as Jamie Vardy’s run forces Leno to come off his line.

Photo Credit: premierleague.com

Former Chelsea manager wants Antonio Conte to handle AS Roma as club legend offers support for move

Former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has expressed his desire to see his club AS Roma employ the services of Antonio Conte to handle the Giallorossi.

The Serie A club have performed below the high standard they were known for, and consequently fired Eusebio Di Francesco.

Ranieri was employed to steer the ship of the club as manager till the end of the season.

The former Leicester boss was asked, as a Roma supporter, if he would be alright seeing Antonio Conte at the club next season.

“As a fan of Roma, I’d love to see Conte on the bench. It’d make me very happy. Don’t ask me whether he will come, because I am the last to know!” he laughed.

Meanwhile, AS Roma director Francesco Totti would not confirm or deny negotiations with Conte.

Totti was asked if he felt confident that negotiations with Conte would pay off this summer, but was very evasive in his answer.

“Let’s say the last few weeks have seen a lot of talk about Antonio Conte, but we have Ranieri on the bench and must respect him right to the end. He is our current Coach, then at the end of the season we’ll evaluate if it’ll be him, Conte or someone else,” Totti told Sky Sport Italia.

“We have a very important objective, which is to reach the Champions League. It doesn’t seem fair to discuss any other Coaches right now.

“The choice of management does not depend on Champions League qualification. I can assure you of that.”

Would Totti and Roma be eager to approach Conte for a place on their bench?

“Conte is one of the most successful Coaches in Europe, a winner who succeeded everywhere he went, so it seems natural that every club would go wild to get him. There has been talk of Inter, of Bayern Munich, of Roma, so there are many clubs interested.

“Obviously, if you were to get a Coach like that, you’d have to ensure the project was suited to a tactician with his standards. Roma have one of the top four squads in Italy, but when the club sits down with the Coach for pre-season, there will be discussions on who to keep, who can leave and who comes in.”