ENGLISH FOOTBALL - NEWS

Manchester United 3 Club Brugge 1: Depay off the mark with double

Manchester United moved a step closer to a UEFA Champions League group stage return with a Memphis Depay-inspired 3-1 win over Club Brugge.

Memphis Depay turned on the style and Marouane Fellaini struck in stoppage time as Manchester United beat Club Brugge.3-1 on their return to the UEFA Champions League.

Depay, signed from PSV in June, opened his account for United in impressive fashion on Tuesday with a first-half double as Louis van Gaal's side moved a step closer to claiming a place in the group stage.

The 21-year-old forward's heroics came after Brugge had taken a surprise early lead against the Premier League side when Michael Carrick deflected a Victor Vazquez free-kick into his own net.

United were ahead by the break, though, as Depay quickly endeared himself to the Old Trafford faithful with two clinical finishes.

Another two chances fell the way of the Netherlands international but a Champions League hat-trick eluded him, while Obbi Oulare nearly embarrassed Sergio Romero at the other end.

Substitute Fellaini gave the home side a two-goal cushion with a header in time added on after Brandon Mechele's late red card for a second bookable offence, to make United favourites to progress heading into the second leg of the play-off tie next Wednesday.

United, unchanged following their win at Aston Villa on Friday, made a positive start with the backing of an expectant Old Trafford crowd and Wayne Rooney was inches away from converting Adnan Januzaj's low cross after only 46 seconds.

The home side continued to threaten but found themselves behind after eight minutes as Carrick diverted Vazquez's free-kick into his own net – the first goal conceded by Van Gaal's side this season.

Brugge could not hold on to their advantage, though, as Carrick – who was replaced by Schweinsteiger at half-time – made amends with a superb assist for Depay's equaliser after 13 minutes.

His whipped pass was superbly brought down by Depay on the edge of the penalty area and, after beating three defenders, the Netherlands international rifled his shot past Sebastien Bruzzese.

Chances continued to come for the hosts and two minutes before the break Depay doubled his tally, cutting in from the left and curling a precise effort beyond Bruzzese.

Not satisfied with two goals, Depay quickly went in search of his hat-trick after the restart and was denied a third by a fine Bruzzese save after a marauding run.

With an hour played Romero – barely tested in the United goal – nearly gifted Brugge an equaliser as he hesitated to clear Matteo Darmian's back pass, substitute Oulare nearly robbing the Argentine.

It was a rare opportunity for the visitors, and United quickly broke down the other end and Depay inexplicably missed a glorious chance from 12 yards after a sumptuous backheel from Rooney.

A late Depay free-kick flew inches wide before Mechele was shown a second yellow card late on and Chris Smalling headed straight at Bruzzese.in stoppage time.

Finally United got their third goal, though, as Fellaini rose at the back post to head home a deep cross from the left, giving Van Gaal's side breathing space heading into the second leg.

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John Terry: Chelsea captain 'must accept not having major role'

Chelsea captain John Terry must get used to no longer being a key figure on the pitch under manager Jose Mourinho, says BBC football pundit John Hartson.

Terry, 34, was substituted by Mourinho at half-time in Chelsea's 3-0 defeat at Manchester City last Sunday.

"It is likely that Jose feels John's age is starting to catch up with him and he won't play the same major role in the future," Hartson told BBC Sport.

"He can't give Chelsea what he gave them two or three years ago."

Mourinho's decision to take Terry off - the first time he has substituted him in 176 games - has been interpreted as a statement to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich about the need to strengthen their squad.

But former Wales striker Hartson claims Terry's substitution is "not a smokescreen for anything else" and merely a reflection of the stage the former England captain is at in his career.

"Surely if Mourinho wanted more players he could just sit down privately and talk to the chairman about it," Hartson added.

"I think John still has a lot to offer Chelsea but I don't agree with the pundits who said Jose was trying to make a statement about his squad needing strengthening by taking him off."

'Otamendi would give Man City depth'

Hartson believes that Valencia and Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi, 27, would be a good signing for Manchester City if the deal is completed.

"Manchester City have two players for every position. They look at it and seem pretty determined to win the title back," 40-year-old Hartson said.

"Otamendi is a good player. City already have Vincent Kompany, Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala, so they are just making sure they have the depth."

'Pedro can have a big impact at Old Trafford'

Barcelona forward Pedro has been linked with a move to Manchester United and Hartson claims the 28-year-old would prove to be a hit.

"United boss Louis van Gaal has been banging on about needing pace, and Pedro has that," said the former Celtic striker.

"I still think they have a few problems defensively but he can have a big impact offensively.

"Van Gaal has said he has three years to win trophies and that is what he is focussed on, no matter how much money it takes."

Why do football transfers drag on?

Hartson, who began his career at Luton Town and also had spells at Arsenal, West Ham, Wimbledon, Coventry, West Brom and Norwich says transfers are "a complicated business" which is why they can become drawn out.

"You can have an issue over the structure of a sell-on clause, or the agent's fees. They are the unseen bits of a transfer but can take a lot of time to sort out," he said.

"Everything has to be right for both clubs and the player and if something isn't, the haggling can go on forever, and often none of it is to do with the actual price.

"Then you may have a position where a club does not want to sell - and has no intention of doing so - but as the talk drags on the player's head gets turned and it reaches a position where he is no longer the same player."
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How Jose Mourinho's teams have responded to big defeats

The Blues' dismal afternoon at the Etihad sent Tom Hutchence and Josh Puttock trotting to the archives to see how Jose's teams bounced back from particularly disheartening losses...

Benfica 2-1 Porto (May 16, 2004)

Porto were crowned Primeira Liga winners in 2004 but also suffered a painful extra-time defeat to Benfica – who they'd bettered by eight points in the title race – in the final of the Taca de Portugal. Mourinho’s response to such a loss was typically low-key, as he guided his team to a momentous Champions League final win 10 days later – a 3-0 trouncing of Monaco in Gelsenkirchen. 

Middlesbrough 3-0 Chelsea (Feb 11, 2006)

Chelsea slumped to what was then their heaviest, but only third, league defeat under Mourinho, away to lowly Boro. It was the Blues' first defeat in three months – before this they led the league by 15 points – and all the more surprising considering they'd shipped just 13 goals in the 25 matches that preceded it. Petr Cech let Fabio Rochemback's effort underneath him after just 78 seconds, before goals from Stewart Downing and Yakubu sealed Chelsea's fate.

Perhaps their heads were elsewhere: up next was a Champions League first-leg last 16 tussle against Barcelona, after all. Asier del Horno came in for Geremi and was sent off on 36 minutes for a clumsy tackle on Lionel Messi. Chelsea took the lead anyway, but a John Terry own goal and a Samuel Eto’o winner 10 minutes from time teed up a tough trip to the Camp Nou in which they could only manage a 1-1 draw. They came up trumps in the league, however, only slipping up to Fulham before clinching the title in style by beating Manchester United 3-0 with two games to spare.  

Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea (Sep 2, 2007)

Villa Park has been something of a nervy away trip for Mourinho in both of his spells in England. After an 18-game unbeaten league spell carrying over from the previous campaign, Jose's Premier League runners-up failed again at the fourth attempt in Birmingham, succumbing to goals from debutant Zat Knight and Gabriel Agbonlahor. It was a game that spelled the beginning of the end for Mourinho at Chelsea, amid rumours of a rift with owner Roman Abramovich. Days after the following game, a poor 0-0 at home to Blackburn two weeks later, Mourinho was gone and replaced by Avram Grant.

The Blues lost 2-0 to Manchester United in Grant's first game, drew 0-0 at home to Fulham in his second but rallied in their last 30 matches to lose just once (against Arsenal) and finish just two points behind United. John Terry's slip in the Champions League final gifted Fergie's lot Old Big Ears too, and Grant was gone.