Chris Maduewesi
Member
It is a weekend of derbies in the English Premier League and one that could determine the teams who would qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League competition.
While Everton will be hosting Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Saturday, there will be another derby clash in North London between Tottenham and Arsenal.
All the four teams involved in the derbies, have their sights fixated on being in the top four at the end of the season, and it is such games that determines if they will be there by May.
Arsenal might have been having the upper hand against Spurs, but they will be facing a rejuvenated team under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino.
They seemed to have overcome their early season blip of dropping points at White Hart, and have gone on to secure impressive results, most notably their 5-3 humiliation of Chelsea on New Year's Day.
So Arsenal travel there knowing that they will be meeting an in-form Spurs side, and this fixture will be contested as keenly as ever.
And in the Merseyside derby, Everton might not be in the running for a Champions League place but pride is at stake in this game.
Roberto Martinez's team scored a stoppage time goal when they last clashed at Anfield, which shows that they will not be cowed into submission by the neighbours.
Other games to keep an eye on will be the ones between Aston Villa vs Chelsea and West Ham United. They look like potential banana peels for either Chelsea and West Ham, and certainly they will not be taking it with kid gloves.
For one, Jose Mourinho has always found it difficult winning at Villa right from his first stint at Chelsea, so he understands what he is up against.
So, it is a weekend that is guaranteed to exude excitement and put up cliffhangers for all the spectators.
As is customary, we have assembled all the quotes from the top coaches with regards to this weekend's games.
*Arsene Wenger
Speaking about the North London derby, Wenger noted that it is inconsequential who wins or not.
"In the derbies the home ground is not too significant. We just focus on the quality of our game and performance," he said.
Furthermore, Wenger said that he is happy with the business that they did in the January transfer window, which saw them sign Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal, and also tying some of their players to longer deals.
"I'm very happy with the business we did. We met our targets and extended Chuba Akpom's and Francis Coquelin's contracts."
On the new signing he said: "Gabriel is physically ready to play but is not used to our back four and hasn't mastered the language yet," he added.
Wenger also revealed that the club's key player Alexis Sanchez might not play the game at White Hart Lane.
"It's not easy to tell him he's not playing. He wants to play - he's so keen," says Wenger.
"But we have enough offensive power. We don't need to worry about being short on that front."
*Manuel Pellegrini:
The Manchester City coach is delighted that all his players are back from different injuries, and now he will have a large pool to draw from.
"We have no injuries, we have a full squad for tomorrow. Mangala and Nasri are fine and will be in the squad.
"Samir is important for the team but we cannot just think that because he can play we will win."
City last week drew 1-1 to Chelsea, leaving them five points behind, but Pellegrini is adamant that teams will still drop points.
"Other teams will drop points. The last two times this team has won the title, they've come from behind.
"It was not a good January for us but I believe that the game against Chelsea can be the switch for our performances."
*Jose Mourinho:
After boycotting his press conference last weekend, Jose Mourinho this week fielded questions from Journalists and answered questions on their new acquisition, Juan Cuadrado and also on the sale of Andre Schurrle to Wolfsburg.
"He is a player(Schurrle) we like very much but the business was very good and we're happy with it," said Mourinho.
"We're happy with what he has given us and the investment we made in him one-and-a-half-years ago. Hopefully we made him a better player and hopefully he can have success in the future because we like him very much."
On Cuadrado, Mourinho said: "I don't think it is the best thing for him that I speak of expectations," the Portuguese said, adding that: "He needs his time as anyone does and he will have his time. He's not a panic buy, it's a reaction to Schurrle leaving and he is a player we have known of for a long time."
On Diego Costa's three-game suspension: "I do not reflect, because maybe I'm punished if I reflect."
"I enjoy working with my players. When I like the players in my squad I'm much more motivated to work. "You know why I'm here. You can't expect me to be super happy to be here."
*Louis Van Gaal:
On Friday, Manchester United commemorated the 1958 Munich disaster that killed eight of their first team players in an air crash, and coach Louis Van Gaal was one of the people who laid flowers at Old Trafford.
"I represent the club nowadays as a manager and I represent my group of players. There was also a group of players who gave a lot of joy to the people at that time. I think they played a big part in the history of this club.
"I think we have to remember that always. We have made the right decision to be there, out of respect to the players and [Sir] Matt Busby."
The Dutch also spoke about the FA charge over the comments he made after his side's 0-0 draw with Cambridge United in the FA Cup last month.
"I cannot imagine the FA has charged me. But, okay, it's like that. Of course I will contest it.
"I never said anything wrong. You can confirm, as the media, that I never say anything about the referee, in all the matches I have played."
With United facing West Ham on Sunday, Van Gaal is hoping that they can make it three wins in three.
"I said at the beginning of the week, before the game against Leicester, that this shall be an important week, that we had to win all three matches.
"We beat Leicester to go third, after that we beat Cambridge, so we are in the next round of the FA Cup. Now we have to continue."
Fixtures Saturday February 7, 2015
Tottenham vs Arsenal 1:45
Aston Villa vs Chelsea 4:00
Leicester City vs Crystal Palace 4:00
Man City vs Hull 4:00
QPR vs Southampton 4:00
Swansea vs Sunderland 4:00
Everton vs Liverpool 6:30
Sunday February 8,2015
Burnley vs West Brom 1:00
Newcastle vs Stoke 3:05
West Ham vs Man Utd 5:15
While Everton will be hosting Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Saturday, there will be another derby clash in North London between Tottenham and Arsenal.
All the four teams involved in the derbies, have their sights fixated on being in the top four at the end of the season, and it is such games that determines if they will be there by May.
Arsenal might have been having the upper hand against Spurs, but they will be facing a rejuvenated team under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino.
They seemed to have overcome their early season blip of dropping points at White Hart, and have gone on to secure impressive results, most notably their 5-3 humiliation of Chelsea on New Year's Day.
So Arsenal travel there knowing that they will be meeting an in-form Spurs side, and this fixture will be contested as keenly as ever.
And in the Merseyside derby, Everton might not be in the running for a Champions League place but pride is at stake in this game.
Roberto Martinez's team scored a stoppage time goal when they last clashed at Anfield, which shows that they will not be cowed into submission by the neighbours.
Other games to keep an eye on will be the ones between Aston Villa vs Chelsea and West Ham United. They look like potential banana peels for either Chelsea and West Ham, and certainly they will not be taking it with kid gloves.
For one, Jose Mourinho has always found it difficult winning at Villa right from his first stint at Chelsea, so he understands what he is up against.
So, it is a weekend that is guaranteed to exude excitement and put up cliffhangers for all the spectators.
As is customary, we have assembled all the quotes from the top coaches with regards to this weekend's games.
*Arsene Wenger
Speaking about the North London derby, Wenger noted that it is inconsequential who wins or not.
"In the derbies the home ground is not too significant. We just focus on the quality of our game and performance," he said.
Furthermore, Wenger said that he is happy with the business that they did in the January transfer window, which saw them sign Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal, and also tying some of their players to longer deals.
"I'm very happy with the business we did. We met our targets and extended Chuba Akpom's and Francis Coquelin's contracts."
On the new signing he said: "Gabriel is physically ready to play but is not used to our back four and hasn't mastered the language yet," he added.
Wenger also revealed that the club's key player Alexis Sanchez might not play the game at White Hart Lane.
"It's not easy to tell him he's not playing. He wants to play - he's so keen," says Wenger.
"But we have enough offensive power. We don't need to worry about being short on that front."
*Manuel Pellegrini:
The Manchester City coach is delighted that all his players are back from different injuries, and now he will have a large pool to draw from.
"We have no injuries, we have a full squad for tomorrow. Mangala and Nasri are fine and will be in the squad.
"Samir is important for the team but we cannot just think that because he can play we will win."
City last week drew 1-1 to Chelsea, leaving them five points behind, but Pellegrini is adamant that teams will still drop points.
"Other teams will drop points. The last two times this team has won the title, they've come from behind.
"It was not a good January for us but I believe that the game against Chelsea can be the switch for our performances."
*Jose Mourinho:
After boycotting his press conference last weekend, Jose Mourinho this week fielded questions from Journalists and answered questions on their new acquisition, Juan Cuadrado and also on the sale of Andre Schurrle to Wolfsburg.
"He is a player(Schurrle) we like very much but the business was very good and we're happy with it," said Mourinho.
"We're happy with what he has given us and the investment we made in him one-and-a-half-years ago. Hopefully we made him a better player and hopefully he can have success in the future because we like him very much."
On Cuadrado, Mourinho said: "I don't think it is the best thing for him that I speak of expectations," the Portuguese said, adding that: "He needs his time as anyone does and he will have his time. He's not a panic buy, it's a reaction to Schurrle leaving and he is a player we have known of for a long time."
On Diego Costa's three-game suspension: "I do not reflect, because maybe I'm punished if I reflect."
"I enjoy working with my players. When I like the players in my squad I'm much more motivated to work. "You know why I'm here. You can't expect me to be super happy to be here."
*Louis Van Gaal:
On Friday, Manchester United commemorated the 1958 Munich disaster that killed eight of their first team players in an air crash, and coach Louis Van Gaal was one of the people who laid flowers at Old Trafford.
"I represent the club nowadays as a manager and I represent my group of players. There was also a group of players who gave a lot of joy to the people at that time. I think they played a big part in the history of this club.
"I think we have to remember that always. We have made the right decision to be there, out of respect to the players and [Sir] Matt Busby."
The Dutch also spoke about the FA charge over the comments he made after his side's 0-0 draw with Cambridge United in the FA Cup last month.
"I cannot imagine the FA has charged me. But, okay, it's like that. Of course I will contest it.
"I never said anything wrong. You can confirm, as the media, that I never say anything about the referee, in all the matches I have played."
With United facing West Ham on Sunday, Van Gaal is hoping that they can make it three wins in three.
"I said at the beginning of the week, before the game against Leicester, that this shall be an important week, that we had to win all three matches.
"We beat Leicester to go third, after that we beat Cambridge, so we are in the next round of the FA Cup. Now we have to continue."
Fixtures Saturday February 7, 2015
Tottenham vs Arsenal 1:45
Aston Villa vs Chelsea 4:00
Leicester City vs Crystal Palace 4:00
Man City vs Hull 4:00
QPR vs Southampton 4:00
Swansea vs Sunderland 4:00
Everton vs Liverpool 6:30
Sunday February 8,2015
Burnley vs West Brom 1:00
Newcastle vs Stoke 3:05
West Ham vs Man Utd 5:15
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