Chicharito on The "Monster" Rooney & Tevez Comparison

Javier Hernandez is living the dream. Playing regularly for Manchester United, scoring vital goals, getting on with your business and playing with some great players. Yet from all of his quotes and interviews, he seems so down to earth and grounded. The 22 year-old Mexican has been in sensational form in his first season in England, scoring a brilliant total of 16 goals so far and starting a very promising partnership with Wayne Rooney - pushing the Leagues top scorer, Dimitar Berbatov on the bench in the process.

'Chicharito', as he is known, spoke of Wayne Rooney, comparisons to the former United striker and current City player Carlos Tevez, and what his secret to success on the field is:

"Playing with Wayne is a dream. He's a monster to be alongside and I never believed I would get so many games and goals during my first season at United."

“'The Little Tevez'? I'm really proud that people are comparing me to him but I am Chicharito and am living my dreams at the moment.” 

 “I am very happy because I know there is much more to come. My secret is to study opposition defenders and work out their weak points."

 "I try to outwit them with my speed and anticipation in the area. So my goals are not down to luck."

Hernandez was bought by Sir Alex Ferguson for £6 million this summer and is probably the buy of the season. When you consider Chelsea's splurge of money on Torres and Manchester City's £30 buy of Edin Dzeko, Chicharito looks such a great buy for the club.

His impressive performances in last years World Cup saw him score a few vital goals including one against France and one against Argentina, and the former Guadalajara player believes that the physical aspect of the game in better in England:

“Perhaps the better physical preparation here in England is the key to my performances. This aspect of the game is better than in South America and I have profited.” 

Now Hernandez will be hoping United can push on after the international break and go on to cement their place at the top of the Premier League, and progress against City and Chelsea in the FA Cup and Champions League respectively.

Rooney: I'm Staying At United Into My Thirties

Wayne Rooney has dismissed any talk of a big money transfer this summer. Rumours have been circulating - as they so often do - that the contract troubles last summer are still very much present in the United camp and that the signing of a new 5 year contract was simply a way of making more money out of a sale in the summer. These rumours suggest that the bridges that Rooney burned with Sir Alex Ferguson over his contract saga are beyond repair and that the manager will look to sell in the summer. But Rooney says these rumours are simply not true. Firstly, he banished any idea that him and Sir Alex have fallen out:

“My relationship with Sir Alex [Ferguson] has no problems whatsoever."

Perhaps all of those doubters were looking too far into the situation, and not taking the contract he signed for face value. You can't really be blamed for that considering Rooney's poor form at the start of the season with his personal problems causing havoc on his on field performances. The England striker said:

“I’m enjoying my football here and, if I was going to leave in the summer, I wouldn’t have signed a new contract when I did. I’ve signed it and I intend to see it through to the end.”

Those questioning his commitment anger him too:

"Yes, you get angry. On Sunday I didn’t even know it was in a newspaper until I was on the way home from training. I stopped off at the garage to get petrol and a few people asked me if I was leaving in the summer. I’ll be here until I’m in my thirties though, that’s for sure.”

Rooney's form has certainly picked up in the last few games. He played very well against Marseille on Tuesday with his touch much improved and his cross field passing ability delightfully brilliant as well as clever, quick thinking passes to set up goal scoring opportunities.

"The last two or three weeks is the best I’ve felt all season. I feel sharp and, if the manager needs me to get up and down the pitch, then fine.

"I haven’t played as many games so I feel good, but the more you play, the more consistent you are and better you feel.

“Since I had my injuries, people have taken their chance when they’ve come into the side and done brilliantly, so I’m delighted that we are still in three major competitions and it’s going well.”

He isn't getting carried away however with the possibility of a Manchester United treble. United remain in contention for the Premier League, FA Cup and the Champions League, but Rooney insists United must take one game at a time:

“We have to just take each game as it comes. We can’t look at that [The Treble].

“If you talk about that then it just puts pressure on ourselves, so we need to just concentrate on each game and see what happens.

"We didn’t win the league last year or the Champions League or the FA Cup, so we need to prove to ourselves that we are capable of doing it.”

Yet More Injury Woe For Arsenal

Saturday's semi-final between Manchester United and Arsenal saw the return of both Antonio Valencia and Aaron Ramsey from their horrific injuries. But after one injury recovery, another injury was inflicted to an Arsenal player. Johan Djourou, who has been great in defence for Arsenal this season, had his arm ripped out of his socket in an awkward collision with Bacary Sagna late on in the match.

The Switzerland international will now miss the rest of the season with a dislocated shoulder, Wenger confirmed:

"We have lost Djourou now for the rest of the season and it will be difficult for us. It is a dislocated shoulder"

Wenger also wasn't happy with the way in which his team have gone out of three competitions in just a fortnight. The only silverware that Arsenal can now win is the Premier League, which Manchester United currently hold pole position for. Wenger believes it can still be won:

"I believe that we can do it but it’s a good test for us now to show that we can regroup.


"I am very disappointed that we lost three big challenges in a very strange way. One was in the last minute to a goal that came from nowhere [Carling Cup], one was under strange circumstances in Barcelona and now this. We weren’t outplayed but we were punished by a team that was more clinical than us."

Wenger is in an extremely unfortunate position. He has an incredibly tough job to pick up his players and force them to push for the Premier League title. A few weeks ago, Arsenal fans were tentatively talking about a quadruple, but now, they have just one aim; to win the league. Losing in the late stages of three major competitions in the space of two weeks is crushing for players and teams, and when they come one after the other, it must seem like one blow after the other. Add to that the injury list that has been relentlessly added to over the season, and moral must be pretty low.

The late stages of the season are when teams need all the positivity possible, but positivity is not an element radiating from the Emirates right at this moment.

Watch The Match Goals Here

Read Match Report Here

Nani Interview: Don't compare me to Ronaldo

Manchester United's winger Nani has been an integral part of the team this season, providing tantalising crosses, and constantly threatening defenders on the wing, leaving them for dead when he turns inside and unleashes a belter into the top corner. 

His nine goals have all been pretty special, while his delivery and creativity has made 11 goals for his teammates. In short, Nani is a devastatingly explosive winger, with the fantastic ability to produce moments of magic at any given time.

The player himself recognises that this season has been a special one, but despite similarities in their playing style, as well as obvious similarities such as nationality, he refuses to be compared with Cristiano Ronaldo:

"It is my best season at United. I don’t compare myself to Ronaldo or anyone else, I just think about myself and the club and what I can do for them. I hope to improve much more.

“It is good to have that many goals and assists but the most important thing is to win the trophies with the team. When I have won the trophies I will look back at how I have contributed.

“It is good for your confidence to know people are looking at you to win matches for the team. When you are on the pitch, it means you want the ball all the time because everything is going so well.

Nani is always looking to improve however, just like all good footballers do, while keeping himself in top physical condition so he is always ready for competitive football. Despite Ronaldo's move to Madrid, him and Nani are still very much in touch:

“I know, though, that I can do better. That is why I’m training hard every day and staying fit for every game.”

“We are good friends. He spoke to me before the Marseille game and wished me good luck. He always tells me how well I am doing.

“I know people liken me to Cristiano but I just want to be Nani, a good player who people enjoy watching.”

Nani wasn't always a first team regular however, mainly because of Ronaldo's massive presence in the team, and he spoke of his increased frustration at being left on the bench:

“I have ambition and it is not easy to give up on Manchester United. But at the same time, you come to this club to play.”

His manager Sir Alex Ferguson was not going to let him go in any case - he saw his exciting potential, and is delighted that the potential has been realised this season:

“Nani wasn’t close to leaving because he’d have had to get by me! Of course we sat down and talked. You do that with all your players.

“I don’t need to trumpet his improvement, he’s been consistent all season. He’s a match winner – he creates goals and he scores goals. Every time he gets near the ball, you think something special is going to happen. That’s the sign of a great player.”

Listen: Richard Keys Explains, Apologizes - And Resigns

Richard Keys apologised today for his part in the sexist comments he made to fellow Sky Sports pundit, Andy Gray. Further videos have been published on YouTube of Keys and Gray talking in a derogatory way about women and Keys used the 15 minute radio slot on Talk Sport to apologise as people are call for his sacking. Keys has since resigned from his anchor role as Sky Sports presenter.

I couldn't wait any longer for this blog to upload the recording of Keys apologising, after all, I left it for over four hours to actually upload. My patience ran out, so listen to his apology here.

Andy Gray, the former Scottish player and now ex-pundit, issued a statement rather than spoken apology which read:

'I am very sorry that certain comments made by me have caused offence. Such comments were made off-air to work colleagues, and were of course never intended to be broadcast.

'I was very upset when the comments were brought to my attention, and it was my intention to apologise on Monday night when I was back on air for the Bolton v Chelsea game.

'Sadly I was unable to do so as I was suspended from the show by Sky Sports and have now been sacked.

'Football is my life and I am devastated by losing the job that I love.

'I am equally upset that third parties have been dragged into this issue. I ask that the media respect their privacy so that they can continue in their roles.

'I have worked for Sky Sports loyally for over 20 years and I do not wish to comment further at this time.'

Macheda: Rooney is a "Coatto"

The problem with language is, it is so easily miss-interpreted. Today, Manchester United's young striker, Kiko Macheda was quoted as saying:

"Rooney is a really great person, he always gives me advice, but he's a bit of a coatto"

Well, you ask, what on earth does that strange word "coatto" mean? Well I am no Italian, so a little bit of research was required. Newspapers seem to think that it means "vulgar" and similar to a "chav". I'm sure Rooney has been called much worse in his life, and it is probably true, but thats also probably not what Macheda meant. He certainly didn't mean it in a offensive way, as he had literally just praised him as a "great person" who always gives him advice.

In the same interview, Macheda assured United fans that he wants to stay in Manchester and fight for a first team spot. He said he wants to improve at Man United and when he is more mature, decide on his future.

The conclusion I come to is that Macheda meant the remark in jest. Some reports of the same interview suggest he actually finished the sentence "a coatto like me". In fact, Macheda is said to be furious that he had been misquoted in the Italian interview. So there you have it. Macheda didn't call Rooney a vulgar chav. Even if it is true.