MOURINHO COMPLAINS OF TIGHT FIXTURES

Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho has complained of tight fixtures again.


He has criticised the schedule of the club in recent weeks as they juggle between the various competitions they are involved in.

The Red Devils are set to play Ajax in next week’s Europa League final. Mourinho says he is frustrated that the team did not get more time to prepare. The Portuguese preferred that the last games of the season – which are played at the same time – should have been moved to Saturday instead of the Sunday afternoon it is scheduled.

The game presents Mourinho with an opportunity to get Champions League football next season if they win the title. It would be another opportunity to get a major trophy aside their EFL Cup. Continue reading MOURINHO COMPLAINS OF TIGHT FIXTURES

MAMMOTH TASK

Crystal Palace were one of the teams promoted into the top flight last season. However, they were immediately faced with the huge task of strengthening the team after having come through the play-offs. This is usually very tough for club because they have limited time to close the deals. Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway has been reflecting on a very poor week for him because the club has not been able to bring in any new faces. Holloway has already experienced relegation from the Premier league only recently from his time at Blackpool.

Immediately after promotion, he has said that he will not be making the same mistakes again. However, Holloway has found it extremely hard to attract players to the club. Even when he manages to get players consider coming to Selhurst Park, there have been several close misses along the way. The club was recently defeated 3-0 by lower league Crawley Town, which has put a lot of doubts in the minds of the fans. After this match, Holloway has urged the board to act quickly and bring in quality players.

The loss of Zaha will also be huge for the club. The winger was sold to Manchester United for around £ 15 million, but they are yet to replace him.

“Myself and the chairman are going to sit down and have a look at the targets we have shot at, and go from a scattergun approach to the rifle. We have got to knock some targets over. Now we have found out what it might cost us, where we are going, I’m sure if he was here today he wouldn’t have been too happy with that either. We have got to hone down some targets,” said Holloway.

The opening match of the season will see Crystal Palace play against Tottenham at home.

STOP THE MISTAKES

The Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman has said that the club will be able to make the climb up of the table once they begin weeding out the mistakes they have been making individually. Crystal Palace have made a number of individual errors in the two matches of the season they have played in the Championship. The club was expected to finish comfortable in the mid-table, but it looks as if they will be set for a relegation fight. However, the manager has expressed his confidence that the club will be able to rediscover the winning mentality in the forthcoming matches.

Crystal Palace started the new Championship season with a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Watford. It has continued in the form of the 4-1 defeat suffered at the hands of Bristol city during the weekend. These two defeats have put Crystal Palace bottom of the table after just two matches. Due to the fact that they will be facing clubs like Middlesbrough and Charlton in the next few matches, it is certainly going to be a tough few weeks for the club. However, the manager Freedman has expressed his confidence that he will be able to turn things around once his players get some form.

“We’re in a moment right now where we’re making individual and uncharacteristic errors. It happens. We’ve got to get over that and dig in deep. What we did last year was stick together as a team and cover for one other. The good thing about the Championship is you dust yourself down and go again. Middlesbrough is an opportunity to put right what was wrong. It’s just a couple of results and the more games we play [the quicker] we’ll get it out of our system,” said Dougie Freedman ahead of the match with Middlesbrough during the weekend.