Between his presence in the box, his goal scoring record and the titles he amassed last season, I agree that Robert Lewandowski would have been a worthy candidate for best player of the year. He had a cinematic year, which makes me want to call him The Big Lewandowski (with apologies to the Coen brothers and Jeff Bridges). The Dude abides.
Here are the finalists for Best FIFA Coaches of 2020. We will soon find out whether winning the Championship is considered a greater achievement than the Champions League.
FIFA.com(@FIFAcom)
🥁 Introducing the finalists for The Best FIFA Men's Coach 2020 🏆
José Mourinho spoke about Kane, Son and his manager of the month award ahead of Tottenham’s tricky away game at Crystal Palace.
José Mourinho, 2020:
“It is not about me, it is about the team and if it was about me it would have to be the coaching staff of the month because without the other guys it would not be possible. This kind of thing I never feel it as an individual award, I always feel that it belongs to the team and the results we did.”
José Mourinho, 2018:
Mourinho held three fingers up. “Just to finish, do you know what was the result?” he said, indicating his digits. “3-0, 3-0. Do you know what this is? 3-0. But it also means three Premierships and I won more Premierships alone than the other 19 managers together. Three for me and two for them two [Pep Guardiola and Manuel Pellegrini]. So respect man, respect, respect, respect.”
Here is David Hytner on Ole Gunnar Solskjær and his wildly inconsistent Manchester United side.
“Solskjær’s high-wire act has been heavy on extremes, with the best victories elevated by drama and improbability; the never-say-die spirit reflects the club’s traditions and delights the fan-base. But the lows have been almost comically so and the defensive disasters, particularly this season – most recently against RB Leipzig in United’s Champions League exit on Tuesday – have led to legitimate questions about Solskjær’s tactical acumen. When the same bad things keep happening – the slow starts, the disorganisation – the credit in the bank runs dry.”
A solid argument.
Squawka Football(@Squawka)
Robert Lewandowski in 2020:
🏆 Bundesliga
🏆 DFB-Pokal
🏆 Champions League
🏆 UEFA Super Cup
🏆 DFL-Supercup
🏆 UEFA Men's Forward of the Year
🏆 UEFA Men's Player of the Year
Thank you, Dave. I return to the news that Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski have been named the three finalists for FIFA’s Best Men’s Player Award.
FIFA.com(@FIFAcom)
🥁 Introducing the finalists for The Best FIFA Men's Player 2020 🏆
Time to hand back to Tumaini Carayol, who’ll take you through to full-time.
Saturday’s 8pm game is Everton v Chelsea - the Carlo Ancelotti derby. A preview here as the Toffees boss takes on his former club.
Off to the West Midlands now for a preview of another derby. This is Saturday’s 12.30pm kick-off.
Man Utd were 2-0 up at the Etihad after just 29 minutes last season while a 30th-minute strike from Anthony Martial gave them an early(ish) advantage in the return league match at home. That’s somewhat of a contrast to the current campaign. United have been behind in their last four matches while Crystal Palace, Tottenham and PSG all netted inside seven minutes at Old Trafford. Former Man City star Angelino took just two minutes to unlock their defence in the 3-2 midweek loss to Leipzig.
Manchester United(@ManUtd)
🗣 "Starting quick is one thing, but we need to start well," says Ole.
A match preview - with predicted starting XIs - of the 183rd Manchester derby.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær claims he is pleased with Manchester United’s direction as he approaches two years in charge. Agree? Read more in Jamie Jackson’s pre-derby piece here:
Fulham boss Scott Parker says having fans back (2,000 of them) is a huge boost ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Liverpool at Craven Cottage.
It will have a massive impact to be fair, it has been such a long time since stadiums have been empty. For large parts of our careers players and managers play with fans. That is what our game is about really, the passion our fans bring. We are fortunate to have fans in our stadium this weekend and we are looking forward to it. Hopefully it gives us that little more as well. There’s no denying we’re playing one of the best teams in Europe over the last 18 months. But like last week [2-0 loss to Man City], we’ll go into the game trying to cause them problems.
He probably hasn’t got time during Chelsea’s busy festive period but Ben Chilwell has the look of someone who could one day release a Christmas album of jazz/pop standards. An interesting article here with our very own Jacob Steinberg.
Injury updates from the Liverpool camp are always plentiful at the moment. So here’s Jurgen Klopp ahead of Sunday’s trip to Fulham. Alisson Becker and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could return while Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas are maybes. On the definitely not list are Thiago Alcantara, James Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri, according to the Reds boss.
Ali will train today, that’s what I’ve heard. I came in and came directly to the press [conference] so all the meetings are after that and yes, Ali will train and if he trains and all fine, then he can play. We had a game two days ago and after the game we obviously had some niggles I would say, but [they] can be more, we have to see. The diagnoses are not finally done. Kostas we have to see, Diogo we have to see - he got a knock as well. That’s it from the game, I think. Apart from that, Oxlade is in normal training. He has been doing parts of training now for a week or so, he is now in full training and we will see. So the situation probably demands to involve him as soon as possible, but I don’t know if the weekend is that already. Nobody else is coming back, I’m afraid.
I’m standing here, corrected. Alert reader Andrew Champney notes: “She Bangs The Drums is on Liam Gallagher’s playlist (see 13:26).” It’s true. Clearly taste has trumped allegiance, so yes to the Stone Roses but still no to Simply Red thankfully.
A few months before Rossi won the Golden Boot and fired Italy to World Cup success, two blokes called Kevin netted in a 1-1 Manchester derby draw. That’s one for The Knowledge maybe - Goalscoring Kevins on opposite sides in derby matches.
Manchester derby, Old Trafford, February 1982
And, if you missed it, here’s Nicky Bandini’s feature on Paolo Rossi.
A slight change of pace now and a moment to remember Italy striker Paolo Rossi, who died earlier this week. Rossi features in Michael Donald’s 2017 book ‘Goal!’ – intimate portraits and interviews with every living World Cup final scorer.
Paolo Rossi on his vineyard in Tuscany (31/08/09) Photograph: Michael Donald
Michael took this wonderful picture and recalled his meeting with the Italian striker, who netted the opener in the Azzurri’s 1982 World Cup final win over West Germany.
He was a gentleman. He put us up in his vineyard and couldn’t have been more accommodating. He was incredibly self-deprecating, allotting his success to [manager] Enzo Bearzot and his teammates. When we asked him what his favourite World Cup final goal of all time was, he answered without hesitation, ‘Marco Tardelli’s’, his teammate who scored the second goal in the same final.
The inevitable question to Pep about his opposite number...
Football Daily(@footballdaily)
🗣"I don't have to give him (Ole) support because he is strong enough"
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on if he feels sorry for other managers when they have a mixed run pic.twitter.com/5RIHpX2K2w
More Man City. Aguero could come off the bench again which brings us to the thorny issue of substitutes. Pep makes his feelings about being restricted to just three pretty clear here:
People are for this ridiculous rule meaning we cannot have more on the bench, so it’s more difficult to maintain a good level. That’s why they have to be ready every week because they have to be ready to play.
Some Manchester City team news. Ilkay Gundogan is set to be fit but the visitors will be without Eric Garcia. The big news, though, is that Sergio Aguero still isn’t ready to start. The striker scored on his return from injury during a cameo against Marseille but won’t be risked so soon again.
Some Opta stats for the Manchester derby. Raheem’s due a goal then...
Man City’s Raheem Sterling has never scored in 16 Premier League appearances against Manchester United, at least 10 games more than he’s faced any other side in the competition without a goal. Sterling has had 29 attempts in these matches (13 on target), while the last English player to score in a Manchester derby for City in the league was James Milner in April 2013.
Manchester City have won seven Premier League away games at Old Trafford, more than any other visiting side, with six of their seven such victories away to Manchester United coming in the previous nine seasons.
Man Utd’s Anthony Martial has scored in three of his last four Premier League appearances against Man City, including netting home and away against the Citizens last term. The last Man Utd player to score in three consecutive Manchester derby appearances in the league was Eric Cantona, who did so in five straight games between March 1993-April 1996.
Since his Premier League debut in February, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes has been involved in more goals in the competition than any other player, racking up 15 goals and 11 assists in just 24 games.
Staying on a Manchester musical theme, here’s Clint Boon and friends with The Manchester Music Cup draw from a couple of years ago. Looking forward to that possible New Order v Joy Division last-eight clash. Some glaring omissions though.
Doves v Buzzcocks
The Smiths v James
Elbow v Stone Roses
Inspiral Carpets v Courteeners
Oasis v Happy Mondays
New Order v Blossoms
The Slow Readers Club v Joy Division
The Verve v The Charlatans
Here’s Liam Gallagher’s special derby playlist. Nothing from the Stone Roses or Simply Red funnily enough.
Here’s young City fan Philip Foden showing off his collection of stickers and figurines whilst getting in derby mood...
Manchester City(@ManCity)
"It looks easy, but let me tell you, it's not!" 🤩
We sat down with @philfoden to discuss magic Derby moments of the past to see what his favourites were! 🙌
Marcus Rashford scored twice against Manchester City last season - one in a 2-1 Premier League win at the Etihad and another in a 3-1 home loss in the EFL Cup. He’s ready to do battle again...
Thanks Tumaini. Now, (checks watch) it’s just under seven hours until Elland Road takes centre stage for the first Premier League match of the weekend. West Yorkshire is still in Tier 3 so there won’t be any home fans tonight to give ex-Manchester United boss David Moyes a cheery wave.
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