'Sanchez the right fit for United'

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Ryan Giggs says Alexis Sanchez is a ready-made "superstar" who can give Manchester United a lift as they bid to chase down Premier League rivals Manchester City.
Sanchez on Monday sealed a move to United from Arsenal in a swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, saying he was "thrilled to be joining the biggest club in the world".
The 29-year-old Chile striker, who came close to joining Manchester City last summer, has signed what is believed to be a four-and-a-half-year contract that will make him the highest-paid player in the Premier League.
It has been widely reported that Sanchez will earn a pre-tax salary of £500 000 ($697 000, 569 000 euros) a week at Old Trafford.
"Manchester United signing Alexis Sanchez is similar to Robin van Persie in the sense that they're getting a ready-made superstar and you're seeing the contribution already with Anthony Martial upping his performances," new Wales manager Giggs said on skysports.com.
"That can happen when top players come in, those around them lift their levels, and there will be some difficult selection decisions for Jose Mourinho.
"However, Sanchez can also play on the right, as he did at Barcelona, so if Martial is flying then he may have to play in a different position, but those sort of decisions are positive for a manager to have to make."
ATTACKING RICHES
United boss Mourinho said Sanchez would "complete our very young and talented group of attacking players" alongside the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford, in-form Jesse Lingard and Martial, who has scored three goals in his past three Premier League games.
Giggs, United's most-decorated player, said it was an extra bonus that the former Arsenal man would be able to play in the Champions League – United play Sevilla in the first leg of their last-16 tie on February 21.
"To have somebody like that, who won't be fazed by playing in the big games, makes the squad look really strong," he wrote.
United, who have not won the Premier League title since 2013, are second in the table but trail Manchester City by 12 points – a gap that looks impossible to breach even with four months of the season to run.
Sanchez took a parting shot in an Instagram post at ex-Arsenal players who have criticised his attitude.
"There are people (former club players) who have spoken with no knowledge of what happens inside the club and cause damage," Sanchez wrote.
"I must say I always gave 100%, until the last day, when I asked to the Mister (Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger) to be in the team, because I wanted to be a contribution."
Armenia international winger Mkhitaryan, also 29, fell out of favour with United manager Mourinho after just 18 months at Old Trafford.
The Sanchez-Mkhitaryan deal is the latest move of a busy January transfer window during which Liverpool sold Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for 160 million euros and signed central defender Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton for £75 million.
Reports in Germany say striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be on his way to Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund.

Sanchez denies Henry told him to quit

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  Alexis Sanchez has denied that Arsenal great Thierry Henry advised him to leave the club before his move this week to Premier League rivals Manchester United.
The Chile international clarified remarks he made referring to the Gunners' record goalscorer after completing his much-anticipated switch to Old Trafford on Monday.
After the signing was announced by United, Sanchez wrote on Instagram: "I remember today, a conversation I had with Henry, a historic Arsenal player, who changed club for the same reason and today is my turn."
Those comments have been construed to mean that Henry, who left Arsenal for Barcelona in 2007, advised Sanchez that it was time to move on.
Henry tweeted himself on Tuesday that this was not the case.
The Frenchman wrote: "I know I don't need to explain this to the majority of Arsenal fans but contrary to speculation at no time did I tell Alexis Sanchez to leave Arsenal. I had no idea he was going to sign for Man Utd until I saw it on the news like the rest of you."
Sanchez, 29, tweeted on Wednesday: "I want to clarify that Henry never told me to leave the club, it was a personal decision ... he LOVES the club and someday it would be nice to see him as the arsenal coach because he loves the club."
Sanchez, who scored 80 goals in 166 appearances for Arsenal, was in the final year of his contract at the Emirates Stadium after turning down a new deal.

Illarramendi to come into Real midfield

 Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will deploy Asier Illarramendi in midfield in place of the suspended Isco and the injured Sami Khedira for Saturday's La Liga game at home to Celta Vigo, the Italian said on Friday.
Isco was sent off in last weekend's 2-1 win at his former club Malaga, while Khedira suffered a concussion in Tuesday's King's Cup game against Cornella.
Fellow midfielder Luka Modric, Ancelotti's first choice alongside Toni Kroos in the middle, is also out injured and not due back until the New Year.
Illarramendi has not lived up to expectations since joining from Real Sociedad in July last year but has a chance to impress as Real seek to extend their club-record winning streak to 18 matches in all competitions, stretching back to a 2-1 reverse to champions Atletico Madrid in September.
Ancelotti told a news conference he was expecting a tough challenge from eighth-placed Celta, who surprised Barcelona 1-0 at the Nou Camp last month and secured a 2-2 draw at Atletico's Calderon stadium in September.
"They are a very aggressive side with players who work hard on the pitch," Ancelotti said.
"They will play a very intense match and it won't be an easy game," he added.
"Isco is on very good form but his absence will not affect us tomorrow because I have a lot of confidence in Illarra."
Real are two points clear of second-placed Barcelona, who host city rivals Espanyol on Sunday, after 13 matches, with Atletico in third, a further two points adrift, ahead of their game on Saturday at Elche.
"Things are going well at the moment and I have a very good relationship with the players," said Ancelotti, whose side are through to the last 16 of both the Champions League and the King's Cup.
"We fight together and we have the same goals. I want to keep it going for a long time.
"We don't need to set a limit and we have to take each match at a time. I am convinced that with this squad we will quickly get over any adversity."

Yohan Cabaye and Edinson Cavani © Action Images

Cavani double hands PSG Cup triumph

Paris St Germain collected their first trophy of the season when Edinson Cavani's double secured a 2-1 victory against Olympique Lyon in the French League Cup final on Saturday.
Uruguay striker Cavani netted twice in the first half, including a controversial penalty, to hand PSG their fourth League Cup title on a chilly night at the Stade de France.
Alexandre Lacazette reduced the arrears in the second half but Remi Garde's team could not find an equaliser.
Laurent Blanc's PSG team will now turn their attention towards claiming a second Ligue 1 title in succession as they hold a 10-point lead over AS Monaco with five games remaining. Blanc claimed his side had put their Champions League quarterfinal elimination by Chelsea behind them and the former France coach appeared to be right for a while.
Six days after losing 1-0 at Lyon in Ligue 1, PSG started the final by imposing their possession football on the game while their opponents sat back and waited to counter attack.
However, Lyon were forced to change their plans after four minutes when PSG scored their first goal in three games since striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was ruled out with a thigh injury.
CAVANI STRIKES
Cavani latched on to Maxwell's cross after the fullback was fed by Ezequiel Lavezzi's backheel on the edge of the box after a quick one-two between the Argentine and Brazilian on the left.
Cavani had another great chance in the 14th but his half volley from just outside the area was parried by Anthony Lopes.
Goalkeeper Lopes then fouled Lucas and referee Stephane Lannoy awarded PSG a penalty although TV replays showed the foul was committed outside the box.
Cavani converted the spot kick to double the tally in the 33rd minute and should have made it 3-0 minutes later from Lucas's perfect pass but he skied his attempt over the bar.
PSG played too casually after the break and were punished in the 56th minute when Lacazette beat Nicolas Douchez with low cross-shot from 18 metres after being let loose by Thiago Silva.
The goal put PSG on the back foot and Blanc made his first substitutions in the 74th minute when Yohan Cabaye and Javier Pastore came on for Marco Verratti and Lavezzi respectively.
The changes made little difference, however, with PSG seemingly happy to hold on to their slender advantage while Lyon lacked the creative inspiration to fashion an equaliser.

Mata: Sign off with a win

In his weekly blog, Juan Mata says the Reds are determined to repay the fans for their support with a win in the final home of the 2013/14 season...

This is another Monday that I have to talk about being unhappy with our result at the weekend. Last Saturday we didn't win, but also we didn't play the way we want to and have to. I was feeling good on the pitch, but Sunderland took their first chance to score and we weren't able to comeback in the second half.
The good thing is that on Tuesday we play again at Old Trafford against Hull City. It's our last game at home this season and we want to have a decent farewell in front of our fans, with a good game and a victory. They have given us a remarkable support throughout the last year and that shows the greatness of the club and the loyalty of our fans in the good and, in particular, the bad moments.
We will then have to play one more game to finish the Premier League, next weekend at Southampton. Then it will be time to analyse what has been a complicated season for the club, although I'm sure the future will bring again titles and happiness to our fans because that is what they deserve.
To be honest, as I said in the last entry in this blog, from a personal point of view I feel this season will be too short for me. I'm feeling good and I want to keep scoring and assisting as I was able to do in April. There are just two games remaining and I will try to make the most of them.

Ibra back as PSG look to clinch title

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will make his comeback from injury in Wednesday's Ligue 1 home game against Stade Rennes that is expected to see Paris St Germain clinch their second consecutive French title.
"Zlatan is in good form, physically and mentally. We'll see him tomorrow against Rennes although we do not know whether he will start," coach Laurent Blanc told a news conference on Tuesday.
Sweden forward Ibrahimovic, who has scored 25 goals from 30 league appearances, has been out of action since he picked up a thigh injury in PSG's 3-1 home win against Chelsea in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg on April 2.
Without him, PSG have lost two of their six matches in all competitions.
PSG will win the Ligue 1 title if they beat Rennes at the Parc des Princes, or if second-placed Monaco fail to beat En Avant Guingamp.

Source: Supersport.com

D Moyes Not Good Enough

 It is believed that the said Manager of the #RedDevils #ManchesterUnited is not good enough for this great team. A lot of people believes that if it were Sir Alex Fergie that is still the manager #Manchesterunited would have been topping the #BPL table by now. But lets still pray for hope in the team.