Van der Sar close to pen improved contract

February 8, 2010

Van der Sar close to pen improved contract
Edwin van der Sar is set to sign a new deal at Manchester United. The Dutch goalkeeper will pen a new, £90,000-a-week contract this week, according to the Daily Express.

Van der Sar’s current contract is due to expire this summer. The 39-year-old shot stopper had delayed agreeing to the fresh deal while he monitored the health of his wife Annemarie, who suffered a brain haemorrhage two days before Christmas.

But Annemarie is well on the way to a full recovery back in Holland and Van der Sar can now turn to his own future at Manchester United.

Last month, Sir Alex Ferguson said he hoped that Van der Sar would extend his stay at Old Trafford.

“Edwin makes a big difference, it is not just his saves, it is his composure and use of the ball.

“I know there are a few young keepers out there doing very well but Edwin is the best in the league just now.”

The Daily Express reports that Van der Sar is close to committing himself to United for another 12 months by signing a new £4.7million contract.

Van der Sar joined the Red Devils in 2005 from Fulham.

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Van der Sar, Ferdinand give Fergie fitness boost

January 15, 2010


Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been given a twin defensive boost with the imminent returns of Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and England centre-back Rio Ferdinand.

Ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match against Burnley at Old Trafford, Ferguson has revealed that two of his defensive pillars are on the verge of getting back into his plans after recent absences.

Ferdinand has not played for United since the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on October 25 after suffering a recurrence of a back complaint that has caused shooting pains in his calf muscles, while van der Sar has been on compassionate leave following his recovery from a knee injury.

The Dutchman’s wife, Annemarie, had a brain haemorrhage before Christmas that required drastic and serious hospital treatment which prompted Ferguson to grant him indefinite compassionate leave but the 39-year-old is now ready to return.

And in further good news for Ferguson, Owen Hargreaves is also edging his way towards a first United start in 16 months as his recovery from severe tendonitis appears to be progressing nicely.

Ferguson took his squad to Qatar last week to escape the Arctic conditions in England and is confident that the warm weather training has aided his side?s preparation for this weekend.

“We have some light at the end of the tunnel during the week with Edwin van der Sar coming back to training,” Ferguson said on Friday.

“He’s done very well, he’s obviously been out for a few weeks with a personal situation but it’s great to see him back and that experience when he finally does come in will be important to us.

“We took Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves with us (on the training camp to Qatar) and both took part in some of the work we were doing and there was good light in the end of the tunnel there, particularly with Rio – he is making good progress now.”

Ferguson’s injury concerns are not completely over though as he revealed that United are still having to closely monitor the progress of striker Dimitar Berbatov.

The Bulgarian has been struggling with a knee injury for the last month which is restricting his flexibility and movement on the field, but he has told Ferguson he does not want to miss any of United?’s season and will put off a thorough examination until the end of the year.

“He wants to play through it, he doesn’t want an operation,” Ferguson added.

“The advice was to have an exploratory operation but sometimes he feels it and sometimes he doesn’t.

“He didn’t feel it in the warmer climate so he trained every day so it is something you want to keep your eye on – it’ a difficult one.”

Burnley appointed Brian Laws on Wednesday to replace the Bolton-bound Owen Coyle as their new manager.

Laws is set for a daunting first game in charge against the Premier League champions away from home. But, although Ferguson believes Burnley are in for a tough second half of the season, he thinks Laws can help the Clarets climb the table.

“Brian has experience, he has been at and Sheffield Wednesday and experience is what they need at the moment,” Ferguson said.

“I think they have to react quickly because they are at the stage of the season.

“When you are in that bottom half of the league, the second half of the season is never easy and they will be battling to avoid relegation obviously and that is not easy for them.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

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Van der Sar, Ferdinand set for Man U return

January 15, 2010


Edwin van der Sar might be a starter for Manchester United on Saturday, when United faces Burnley. Rio Ferdinand is also on his way back after a knee injury but won’t start on Saturday.

Van der Sar has returned from a spell in Holland where he was recovering from injury and spending time with his wife who fell ill over Christmas.

The 39-year-old goalkeeper hasn’t played a match for the Red Devils since the end of November when they beat Everton (3-0). Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is yet to decide if he will play Van der Sar against Burnley.

“We’ll see him today and see how he feels about himself (whether he can play), but he has trained every day and he is doing well,” Ferguson said on the club’s official website.

There was also good news for Rio Ferdinand. The English international made the trip to Qatar with the rest of the squad and is on the brink of a return for the Mancunians.

“Rio is making good progress now,” said Ferguson. “He won’t start on Saturday, but he isn’t far away, which is good news for us.

“That is the important issue for us – getting solid defenders back into the team. We need to get our consistency back.”

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Calf injury for Van der Vaart

January 11, 2010


Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart may have to miss several matches after suffering a calf injury in Sunday’s league game with Real Mallorca.

Only 18 minutes had been played at Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium, when Van der Vaart needed to be stretchered off.

Tests pointed out that the player suffered a calf injury, although it is still uncertain how serious it is.

Madrid went on to beat Mallorca 2-0, with goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Esteban Granero.

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Van der Vaart tips Spain, Brazil as WC favourites

January 7, 2010


Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart has named the countries he expects to be in contention for this year’s World Cup honours. The Real Madrid midfielder didn’t mention his homeland the Netherlands among the favourites.

“Spain is one of the favourites along with Argentina and Brazil,” said Van der Vaart at a press conference.

“Spain is a very good team but the World Cup is different. At Euro 2008 they were lucky because the Netherlands had a bad day against Russia.”

The 26-year-old midfielder returned to Real’s starting lineup recently, partly because of the injured Kaka’s absence. The Brazilian midfielder is on the verge of a return for Los Merengues but Van der Vaart doesn’t fear his comeback.

“I can also play with Kaka, not a problem, that is a decision of the coach.

“I have the skill and quality to play for Real Madrid.”

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Van der Vaart pledges his loyalty to Real

December 21, 2009


Rafael van der Vaart has been a regular starter at Real Madrid for the last few matches and that has changed his situation at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Dutch midfielder will only leave Real if the club tells him to go.

His recent performances for Los Merengues have strengthened Van der Vaart’s confidence. The attacking midfielder has rejected any possible move in January.

“My intention is to finish the season here and see out the contract that I have with Real Madrid,” Van der Vaart told Dutch paper De Telegraaf. “I am very happy and believe I am playing very well at the moment.

“I’ve been a starter for the last four matches, we played well and we won them all.

“Only if I’m forced to leave, I will go,” added the former Hamburger SV midfielder. “But the club have insisted that they don’t want to sell me.”

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Evra relishing Beckham´s European return

December 19, 2009


Patrice Evra is looking forward to playing against former Old Trafford hero David Beckham after Manchester United were drawn against AC Milan in the Champions League.

England midfielder Beckham, who made his name with United, is set to begin his second loan spell with Italian giants Milan from US Major League Soccer side the Los Angeles Galaxy in January.

Beckham won the Champions League with United in 1999 before moving to Real Madrid four years later.

“I am happy for David Beckham because he did a lot for United and I know he wanted to play again at Old Trafford,” France international defender Evra told the club’s official website following Friday’s draw for the last 16.

“I will say ‘welcome home’ to him but I will make sure he doesn’t have an easy game! I like him because I have met him and he is a good person, a real gentleman.

“He’s a professional and that is why Milan wanted him. I’m sure all his old team-mates who are still here are looking forward to welcoming him back,” Evra added.

“But I’m looking forward more to playing against Milan rather than just Beckham, because Milan are much more than one man,” insisted Evra, a member of the United side that lost last season’s Champions League final 2-0 to Barcelona in Rome in May.

As well as wanting to go up against Beckham, Evra was equally keen to banish the memory of United’s 2007 semi-final loss to Milan when the Italians won 5-3 on aggregate.

“I remember it was a very frustrating tie. We won 3-2 at home but we didn’t play very well. In the second game I was suspended and watched it on TV.

“It was very difficult to see my team lose 3-0 in that way, but after that game we had more experience and we won the Champions League (beating English rivals Chelsea on penalties in the Moscow final) the next year.”

Meanwhile veteran United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted to be pitting his wits against Milan once again.

“We’ve come up against AC Milan many times in the quarter and semi-finals so it’ll be a fantastic setting for two great clubs,” he said.

Ferguson added the memory of last season’s tame loss to Barcelona will inspire United this term.

“What’s important is that we lost the last final. It was the first time I’d ever lost a European final.

“We know where we went wrong in that, it’s quite simple, and I think they’ll all want to get back to the final.

“It does that for you. Winning was great in Moscow, but in some ways losing in the final was even better for us in terms of you realise what a big occasion it is because you’re not part of the celebrations.”

United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and the club’s first choice back four have all been sidelines by injuries so far this season.

Van der Sar has been sent back to his native Holland for treatment on a knee injury and is set to be out of action for a further two weeks, missing the busy Christmas period.

Ferguson, who hopes to have him back in time for the first leg away to Milan on February 16, said the keeper’s experience was an invaluable asset.

“Van der Sar is unbelievable. His composure, organisational abilities, the control of the people in front of him…he’s a hell of a presence.

“Tomasz Kuszczak is 27 now but he hasn’t had a great deal of first-team football in the Premier League. The same with Ben Foster. You miss the composure that Edwin van der Sar brings.

“But on the positive side, Kuszczak has been fantastic.

“At Portsmouth he made three fantastic saves at a time when we needed the saves, so he’s playing his part.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

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Torres reveals injury influence in goal against United

October 28, 2009


Fernando Torres revealed, his goal against rivals United was influenced by the pain levels of his groin injury.

Torres was sidelined from Liverpool’s line-up ever since he sustained a groin injury at the defeat match in Chelsea early this month. Coach Rafael Benítez however was not confident about introducing the striker as his fitness was at stake and confirmed his appearance against Manchester United only minutes before the match at Anfield.

Torres admits that his ball that went past Van Der Sar, instead of making an easy escape from the troubled Ferdinand, bringing in a vital change for Liverpool was infact the result of pain and stress in his adductor muscle.

Torres said; “I feel a bit of pain when I shoot across goal, so I could only shoot towards the near post. It was the only thing I could do!”

“I wasn’t really at my best. We knew before the game I couldn’t play to 100 per cent because I had some pain in some actions, but in games like this, the pain doesn’t matter.

We knew it was going to be a risk and I felt some pain in some of the movements that I made beforehand but, during the game, it was OK.”

“I just wanted to play so much. When the team is losing and not playing well, it is so hard to watch and you just want to help. I was not 100 per cent fit but I wanted to play and it was worth it.”

However, Benitez has released Torres for the Carling Cup tie at Arsenal on Wednesday and confirmed his return against Fulham on Saturday.

Commenting about his team’s next Premier League fixture, he said, “When you win against United it is always a nice day. We knew it was a massive game, as we needed to win to keep our chances in the title race.

We had to win and we did it. We are in the race again now. Now we have a bit of confidence, but we have to keep it going.

We have to be focused for Fulham on Saturday, but we feel like a strong team again because we are all working together like in the past.

When we play as a unit, we can beat anyone, so we need to be strong and focus on our possibilities.

And it doesn’t matter who the players are. We could beat everyone without me, Stevie [Gerrard], Dirk [Kuyt] or Yossi [Benayoun].

Liverpool has a fantastic team and we have to show everyone that.”

Anurada Bhat

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Real Madrid offer Van Der Vaart to Chelsea

October 26, 2009


Real Madrid has offered Dutch midfielder Rafael Van Der Vaart to Chelsea.

The 26-year-old is out of favors at Real Madrid and eager to change clubs as he seeks playing time before the World Cup.

The Spanish giants are looking to recover a portion of their vast expenditure over the summer months, and have already allowed Arjen Robben to move to Bayern Munich, while Wesley Sneijder vacated the Santiago Bernabeu to switch to Italian giants, Inter Milan.

Van der Vaart has been on the periphery of the first-team this season and coach Manuel Pellegrini has previously stated that he would be willing to let the player leave the club incase a suitable offer arises.

The 26-year old is reportedly unhappy with his current role with Los Blancos and since he has not appeared in the Champions League, Van is eligible for European football after Christmas, if he manages to move clubs in January.

However, his move to Chelsea looks doubtful since the Blues have been smacked with a transfer ban by FIFA and barring a successful appeal, the Merengues may have to take their business elsewhere.

Anurada Bhat

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Van der Vaart to stay at Real – player

September 1, 2009


Real Madrid have decided to keep midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, the player himself has announced, despite reports he was set to join the Dutch exodus at the club.

Real Madrid “assured me that they believe in my qualities, and they want me to stay in the club,” van der Vaart said on his official website late Monday, the last day of the official summer transfer window.

The 26-year-old has reportedly been among a number of players on the transfer list as new club president Florentino Perez sought to recoup some of the more than 250 million euros he has splashed out on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso.

Three Dutch players — Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar — have already left Real in the close season.

Spanish news reports said last week that van der Vaart rejected a lucrative offer from Turkish champions Besiktas and was insisting that, if he had to move, it should be to the English Premiership.

The reports said Real also had a plan to offer him to Bayern Munich as part of a deal in which the German club’s French midfielder Franck Ribery would move the other way.

The sports newspaper Marca said Tuesday that Real’s failure to sign Ribery had worked in van der Vaart’s favour.

“Real Madrid told me it was never a question about my qualifications as a player, but only a matter of the many new players,” the Dutchman said on his website.

“They like my attitude towards wanting to play, and told me very clearly in a meeting Monday 31th of August, that they need me, and they see me as a important part of the team.”

He said he will be keeping the number 23 jersey previously worn by David Beckham.

He added that his wife, Sylvie, a well-known model and television personality, is particularly relieved that the family is staying in the Spanish capital, where she is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Real signed van der Vaart from Bundesliga side Hamburg last year in a deal reportedly worth 13 million euros.

He is now one of three Dutch survivors of the summer overhaul at Real, the others being midfielder Royston Drenthe and striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

MADRID (AFP)

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