BATTLE CRY
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba still believes that United can finish in the top four. Speaking to MUTV, Pogba said: “Of course, we have to believe. Obviously, we want to do it and we can. Of course, we’re strong enough, we are Manchester United and we can do this.
“To be in the top four, our mind has to go there, and we also want to win the Europa League. We have to keep our heads on the challenge and the big objective; we want to achieve the big goals, not the small ones. We’re confident of that. We’re young and fresh.”
LINGARD’S CLAIMS
Jesse Lingard believes that Manchester United teammate and best pal Marcus Rashford can handle the pressure at Manchester United. Lingard said: “‘He can handle the pressure,’ said Lingard. ‘He’s been about long enough now to handle it. He’s scored major goals for United and again he’s got the important goal. He practices the free-kicks. Practice makes perfect and he’s worked on that. Obviously, he’s seen the keeper move to the left and he’s created that space for himself to find the corner.’
BELOTTI PUSH
Juventus boss Max Allegri has claimed that he will not make a summer move for Torino forward Andrea Belotti. Compatibility with Higuain is the reason for this. Before Allegri’s statement, Juventus were among the contenders for Belotti’s signature. Allegri said: “Belotti’s a great champion and Italy’s future. But Belotti and Higuain? You can’t play these two together, not even with glue. Dybala and Belotti are two of best talents in Europe.
‘The Italian League is criticized so much, but everyone who comes here improves, especially from a tactical perspective, so much so that all the foreign players are coming here, to Italy.” Chelsea and Manchester United are now primed for a summer war for the Italian youngster.
COLE UPDATE
Andy Cole has said that he is ‘feeling stronger’ after undergoing kidney transplant surgery in March. Cole needed the transplant as part of his treatment for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. In a post on Twitter, Cole said: “It’s now been over 4 weeks post op.. just want to thank every1 for their continued support! Slow progress as expected but feeling stronger.”
ACADEMY TRANSFER TARGET
Manchester United and Manchester City are both keeping a close watch on 15-year-old Ajax prodigy Brian Brobbery. He has risen through the ranks at Ajax and is tipped to be one of Europe’s elite strikers in the future. United and City, however, are not the only ones monitoring the wonder kid with other European heavyweights also interested. If Brobbery moves to United, he will follow in the footsteps of Tahith Chong and Daishawn Redan.