Man City Have Nothing To Fear At Real Madrid - Pellegrini

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini says his side have nothing to fear in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, despite David Silva missing the game.

City, who are hoping to reach the final for the first time, drew Tuesday’s first leg 0-0 at Etihad Stadium.

Playmaker Silva will miss the second leg on 4 May with a hamstring problem.

“I don’t think Real are favourites,” Pellegrini said. “We are not afraid to go away to the Bernabeu.”

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Real are yet to concede a goal at home in the Champions League this season.

City did not manage a shot on target until stoppage time of the first leg, and their task against the 10-time European champions will be made harder by the absence of the Spaniard Silva, who limped off before half-time on Tuesday.

“David will not be fit next week,” said Pellegrini.

The Chilean is already set to be without midfielder Yaya Toure, who missed the first leg with a thigh problem, while another key attacking player, Samir Nasri, is not in their Champions League squad.

City, who play at Southampton in the Premier League at on Sunday, also have less recovery time than Real, who face Real Sociedad in La Liga at on Saturday.

“Unfortunately for us we have one day less rest than Real,” added Pellegrini. “We tried to change our game and it was impossible.

“But we trust in what we are going to do in Spain. The players believe in what we are doing and I am sure we will give everything we can in that game.

“Of course Real have the advantage of playing the second leg at home.

“But, when we are away, we play very similar to the way we do at home and this season we have already had very good results playing away at Sevilla, Dynamo Kiev and Paris St-German.”

Pellegrini insisted that City have not missed their chance, despite failing to open up an advantage over a Real side that were without their superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo in Manchester because of injury.

“They did not have Cristiano; we did not have Yaya. Karim Benzema played 45 minutes for them – the same as Silva, who is very important for us.

“It was a very close game where we tried from the beginning to win. We pressed high and recovered the ball very well but we were not creative and we did not create a clear chance to score.”

City keeper Joe Hart, who made two crucial saves at the end of Tuesday’s game, is also confident that England’s last remaining representatives in the Champions League can continue their progress in Spain.

“Bring it on. We are ready,” said the England international. “We have a brilliant squad who are coming to fruition. It is a big game next week, simple as.”

BBC

Man City Have Nothing To Fear At Real Madrid - Pellegrini

I Have No Contact With Kotoko – Coach Keni

Coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi of Accra Hearts of Oak has denied rumours gaining currency that he is flirting with bitter rivals Asante Kotoko and could be opened to a move to the Porcupines.

The Japanese-American is owned two months’ salary (February and March) plus other bonuses, and, his refusal to accept his pay when management of the club tried to pay him, fueled speculations about those rumours.

However, Coach Keni insists he is happy with the Phobians and only want the best with the technical staff and playing body he works with.

“I refuse to accept my pay because my assistants and players are owned salaries and bonuses and this is not acceptable to me as a coach,” he wrote on his facebook wall.

He insisted that he has had no contact whatsoever with the people at Asante Kotoko and pledged his loyalty to the capital club, saying that the $2,000 he receives a month, is not an issue in this situation.

“All I want is to see my players and assistants paid and after, I will take my salary, he wrote, adding that he wants to work with a happy family were trust and confidence exists.

Last week, the Management of the club made an attempt to pay the coach monies owned him, but he rejected those advances and made it clear that he will only take his salary and bonuses after his assistants and players have been paid first.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Have No Contact With Kotoko – Coach Keni

Van Gaal: Spurs Have Several Threats

Louis van Gaal knows Manchester United will have to deal with the whole Tottenham Hotspur team in order to win Sunday’s clash, not just the Barclays Premier League’s top scorer Harry Kane.

Kane’s 22 goals have helped Spurs mount a serious title challenge this season; they are second in the table and still harbour hopes of clawing back leaders Leicester City in the final seven games.

United are aiming to keep up the pressure on fourth-placed Manchester City with victory at White Hart Lane and, as van Gaal insisted in Friday’s pre-match press conference, that will require a collective effort.

“Harry Kane is, of course, a very good striker, but he hasn’t scored against us,” van Gaal pointed out. “When I say that then I am challenging him also, so it is not so smart.

“Yes, Kane is important. But we defend also against the attack of Tottenham Hotspur because we have analysed them and [Christian] Eriksen and Dele Alli are also important.

“Maybe I can start with [goalkeeper Hugo] Lloris, who does very quick set-plays, or [Toby] Alderweireld, who has a very good pass. It is the whole team that you have to solve, not just Harry Kane.”

Asked for his thoughts on opposite number Mauricio Pochettino’s work at Tottenham, van Gaal replied: “They have a very good squad and he has made a team of this squad, a team that presses high with a good positional game and they score a lot of goals.

“They also have a lot of clean sheets, though, which shows they are a well-organised and structured team. I think you can give credit to him.”

Leicester, who are in action earlier on Sunday away at Sunderland, could be 10 points clear by the time United’s game kicks off in north London, which would increase the pressure on Spurs.

“It is not easy for them – very difficult, in fact,” van Gaal stated. “The pressure is now on Tottenham Hotspur because they have to close the gap on Leicester City. I think that Leicester are in a very good position.”

Credit: Manutd

Van Gaal: Spurs Have Several Threats