Red News - 26/6: Hernandez en vinnare återigen
I Red News får ni senaste United-nytt.
Mexiko tog hem Gold Cup efter 4-2 mot USA
Javier Hernandez stod för en fantastisk turnering och blev utnämnd till den bäste spelaren, samt vann guldskon med sina 7 mål. Den lilla ärtan klev fram som Mexikos frälsare vid flera tillfällen och såg till att de tog sig hela vägen till final med sina viktiga mål i match efter match. I finalen blev han dock mållös, men Mexiko tog en imponerande 4-2 seger mot USA, efter att ha hämtat upp ett 2-0 underläge.
"Things were difficult but the coach told us to fight every single play. Our attitude is in our hands." – Sa Hernandez efter matchen.
Även De Gea lyfte en titel
Spaniens U-21 målvakt, David De Gea, fick igår (lördag) kväll lyfta U-21 EM-pokalen, när Spanien slog Schweiz med 2-0. Just David De Gea hade väldigt lite att göra, men stod för en fin reflexräddning i den första halvleken. De Gea kommer med stor sannolikhet vakta Uniteds bur nästa säsong.
Spelarna om USA-turnén
Manchester United kommer under juli spela möta ett antal lag i USA, med matcher bokade i Boston, Seattle, Chicago, New Jersey & Washington. Chris Smalling tror att resultaten och insatserna i USA kan komma att påverka hur säsongen 2011/12 slutar.
“We’re away for quite a while so it’s important we make strides in terms of our fitness levels while we’re there. The season only begins a few weeks after we return from America so we want to be approaching full fitness by the end of it. A good pre-season is essential if you want to do well.
Playing games really helps, too – there’s a difference between fitness and match fitness, so it’s important we play quality opposition on pre-season. We expect that again this year. Last year was the first time I really met up with the squad so it was a big tour for me. It gave me a chance to get to know everybody for three weeks and the US was a great destination. I really enjoyed the games out there. They were good experiences and we filled massive NFL stadiums, which tells you just how popular Manchester United is.
It’s [the Barcelona-game] going to be a great climax to the tour and a great occasion for all the fans. I’m definitely looking forward to it – I’ve had the chance to play against some top teams during my time at United already and I’ve loved every minute of it. This tour game against Barcelona might only be a friendly but you always relish playing against the best players and this will be no different.”
Javier Hernandez ser också han fram emot turnén: “Pre-season is very important and you need to work hard in order to start the season well. The facilities in America are wonderful and the coaching staff worked really hard to help us improve. I have so many great memories of last year’s pre-season tour. It was the first chance I got to meet up with the team, I had my first training session and played my first match.
I remember everything about the experience very well, especially my first game. There was a great atmosphere in the stadium. We won the game 5-2 and I managed to score. The support United have throughout the world is incredible and it was great to see that in America last summer. For me personally everyone was very nice – there are a lot of Mexican people in the States who gave me wonderful support."
Nu blir det mycket USA, men ja…även Anders Lindegaard har lite att säga om turnén som drar igång i juli:
“I’m really looking forward to it. New York City is the coolest city I’ve visited in my life and I can’t wait to get back there. I spent a week there and I could have spent a lifetime. They have something like 20,000 restaurants… that fact alone blows my mind!
In the USA it’s going to be especially important for the goalkeepers to play well because Edwin’s retired and the rest of us are fighting for that jersey. I know it’s going to be a lot of hard work but I’m looking forward to it very much. I’ve been to Florida twice for training camps with other sides but we didn’t play many games in America – certainly not big ones in sell-out stadiums. That’s going to be a great experience.
Also, I know we’ll do a lot of promotional work in America as well and we’ll get to meet the fans. That’s only natural because we’re the biggest club in the world and America is a huge market. That side of the game – the marketing and the business – is interesting too, and I’m looking forward to seeing how that all works.
When you come from a small side in Norway you can’t prepare yourself for how big Manchester United is. But on the other hand it has the same mechanisms as any other club – people talk about the same things, they interact in the same way. There’s nothing different in that respect – it’s just that this club is a million times bigger.
I’m enjoying my time in Manchester very much – more and more with each day that passes, actually. I’m a happy human being at the moment and that’s what life is all about.”
Chicago är redo för de röda djävlarna
Den 23:e juli möts Manchester United och Chicago Fire i den tredje försäsongsmatchen. Chicago Fires tränare, Frank Klopas, menar att hans lag är redo för de regerande engelska ligamästarna.
You’re part-way through the Major League Soccer season: how would you sum up the campaign so far?
We’ve been doing okay, but it’s a long season and our goal is to be in the play-offs. We need to start getting some points together because things can change so quickly in the league here. One or two results can shift you right up the group.
How much are you enjoying your current role as head coach?
It’s great. It’s different to what I’ve done before but I’m enjoying it and I’m very thankful to have the opportunity. I know the players well, having brought a lot of them here myself [in the role as Technical Director], and it seemed like the right way to move forward for myself and the club.
Are you hoping it will become permanent?
We’ll just have to see. You never know what will happen. I’m really enjoying it, but I’m also still the Technical Director. I really do believe in this group of players and right now my main focus is on helping the team be successful.
How big is the game against Manchester United on 20 July for the club, and also the city of Chicago?
It’s really exciting for everyone. To be playing against one of the top clubs in the world who have such a tremendous history is a treat for both the players and the fans. This might just be a one-off game now but hopefully it’s the start of a great relationship with United and one we can continue to build on in the future.
Can a good result against United turn your season around?
Yes, definitely. Of course, you have to put things in perspective – we’re up against a team who will just be starting their pre-season preparations and the main exercise for them will be to hone their fitness. It’s a game for our players to enjoy, but of course we want to do our best and a positive result can definitely help from a confidence standpoint.
How will playing United compare to what you’re used to coming up against in the MLS?
Obviously the size of their squad and the quality of the players is very different to what we're used to. United are a team that likes to play good football and pass the ball around, but as I said before this game will also be about improving their fitness. It’ll be a good test for us and one we’re looking forward to.
For those fans that haven’t seen a lot of Chicago Fire, how would you describe the team’s style of play?
Obviously it depends on the opposition, but we like to pass the ball around and we have good pace on the wings. In some games you need to be a bit more direct and we have the players to do that as well. United have some pretty big centre-backs so I don’t think we’ll have much success against them in the air. We’ll be looking to get in behind them and use our pace instead. It should be exciting.
Do you follow English football and United closely?
Yes I watch a lot of both as most games are shown on TV over here. I have teams I follow in different countries and United have always been my team in England. It’s difficult to pick out a favourite memory because there have been so many. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s goal in the Champions League final in 1999 will always stand out and Wayne Rooney’s overhead kick against Manchester City last season was amazing. The thing I love about United is their determination, they just never give up. It’s amazing how they’ve come back from the dead in so many games.
Which United player do you most admire and why?
There are so many. I’ve always been a big fan of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. They have produced the goods consistently at the highest level for years – they’ve been tremendous servants for the club. Rooney is another I enjoy watching – he’s a world class striker.
Finally, how special will it be for you to take on a side managed by Sir Alex?
It’ll be an honour. What he has achieved for so many years at the top level is quite amazing. It’s not easy to manage a club of that size and consistently win trophies, but he’s done it and he’s been able to keep producing top teams. I have tremendous respect for him and he is a great person to learn from.
Övrigt
Manchester United har just nu en “Trophy Tour” i Asien, och igår (lördag) kunde fansen i den kinesiska huvudstaden Beijing njuta av den vackra trofé som Liverpool inte lyft på väldigt, väldigt länge. Nej, nu är jag elak, de lyfte den 1990.
