Louis van Gaal grateful for Sir Alex Ferguson 'belief'

MAN WITH A MISSION

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says the "confidence and belief" former boss Sir Alex Ferguson has shown in him has made his job easier.

In his first season at Old Trafford, Dutchman Van Gaal has led United to third in the Premier League despite injuries to a host of players.

Ferguson this week described Van Gaal as "a great coach" who "will do well".

"He has belief and I'm happy with that," said Van Gaal, 63. "Then you can work in an easier way."

United have suffered more than 40 injuries in the five months since Van Gaal took charge.

They are set to be without Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera for the Boxing Day match against Newcastle United at Old Trafford.

Ferguson is now a United director after stepping down in 2013, having won 38 trophies during his 26-year reign.

"You hope that he shall support you," said Van Gaal. "He showed a lot of confidence and belief in me and that I need as a coach.

"As manager of Manchester United, you need belief and support of managers such as Sir Alex.

"But it is also a pressure because he believes in you and it gives you that pressure that you have to get results."

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew says Van Gaal's treatment contrasts with that of predecessor David Moyes, who was sacked in April after 10 months in charge.

"There's just a little bit more stability," Pardew said. "There was a lot of unstable reporting and messages coming out of there last year.

"This particular manager has had more patience and more time and certainly more reassurance from above."

Van Gaal revealed he has given his players Christmas Day off.

It is normal practice for United to train the day before a game and stay overnight in a hotel.

"I have given them free time," Van Gaal told MUTV. "We shall come together the next day here at our training complex."

Sir Alex Ferguson praises Jose Mourinho

FRIENDS FOREVER

Sir Alex Ferguson has heaped praise on Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho despite overlooking him as his successor at Manchester United.

Ferguson anointed David Moyes as United's next manager last year ahead of Mourinho, despite the Portuguese's supposed desperation to manage the Reds.

Despite boasting some influential supporters within the Old Trafford hierarchy, one United board member reportedly threatened to resign if Mourinho was appointed manager.

The former Real Madrid and Inter Milan coach instead returned to Chelsea and although he experienced a trophyless season back at Stamford Bridge, the formidable Blues are top of the Premier League table.

"It is unfair really. He’s good looking, he’s got that sort of George Clooney bit in his hair now," Ferguson said in an interview with BT Sport. "But I think he is a great example, he can speak five languages or whatever he can.

"Then he goes and manages a small team in Portugal, then goes to Porto and wins the league, wins the Uefa Cup, wins the European Cup, goes to Chelsea and wins the league. Goes to Inter Milan.

"That is an example to anyone who wants to do well, you shouldn’t let the barriers get in your way if you want to get there.'

"He (Mourinho) has got a determination, he wants to be a coach," Ferguson added. "He never played the game, by the way - you tell me how many presidents would give a manager a job who has never played the game? None. But he has done it.

"He goes and becomes an interpreter for Bobby Robson, follows him to Barcelona, works under Louis Van Gaal; he is learning all the time."

Mourinho was allegedly so distraught at Ferguson's snub last year he "sobbed loudly", according to Spanish journalist Diego Torres.

ANCELOTTI ASKS THEM TO SWITCH OFF

NO PLAY ONLY FUN

"No thinking about football" was the Christmas message from Ancelotti to his players. And there were no restrictions to avoid becoming unfit and no dietary advice to avoid putting weight on.

The manager wants them to switch off, enjoy themselves and rest. To feel free to recharge their batteries any way they want, and do what they like. There'll be time enough when they come back to reconnect with the club dynamic.

Ancelotti knows well that his side have reached the Christmas break stretched to the limit, that the players have been putting in a terrific effort ever since August. On 12th August they won their first title of the season and on 20th December they finished another competition with a win.

Over the last few weeks, injuries have meant that Ancelotti has had to squeeze every ounce out of his players. There have been lots of games and not many chances to spread out the effort needed. In this holiday week, then, before training recommences on 27th December, Ancelotti wants his players to switch off as much as possible.

After they start up again, January will be non-stop and Ancelotti is not going to do what he has told his players to do. He will not switch off completely. League games will be interspersed with cup games and good planning is going to be vital.

"There are people who see holidays as a time for resting. Others never stop eating and drinking. They'll probably come back here slightly different", was Mourinho's comment after the Christmas break. That won't be happening now, but Carlo trusts them and wants them to enjoy themselves.

More than half of Real Madrid fans would sanction Gareth Bale’s €150m move to Man United

TIME TO SAY GOOD-BYE

On the back of rumours that Manchester United could offer Real Madrid a ginormous €150 million to sign Gareth Bale, Spanish daily AS have commissioned a poll to find out the reactions of Los Blancos fans to the news.

In something of a surprise, of the fans polled by AS, 53.74% of supporters backed Bale’s potential sale to Man United on the current rumoured terms.

AS claimed to have asked more than 30,000 Real fans for their votes in the poll.

Gareth Bale, 25, joined Real from Tottenham in 2013, and after overcoming an initial injury, the Welshman has played a total of 66 games, scoring 33 goals (one every two games) and contributing an additional 24 assists.

In 2014 Bale scored in the Copa Del Rey, Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup finals.

A new Real Madrid cycle has begun - Carlo Ancelotti

A NEW ERA

The Italian coach believes 2014 represented a very important year for the club and says their ambitions remain as lofty as ever heading into 2015

Carlo Ancelotti believes 2014 saw the beginning of a new cycle of success for Real Madrid and says the players are desperate for more glory in the new year.

The Blancos finally clinched their 10th European crown by beating Atletico Madrid in the Champions League showpiece.

They also won the Copa del Rey and Club World Cup in a memorable 12 months that saw them set a new record for consecutive victories, which stands at 22 and counting.

"It has been a fantastic year. With a great amount of effort and hard work, we achieved something very important," Ancelotti told the club's official website.

"That brings us huge desire ahead of 2015. In 2014, a cycle began that could be important for the future of Real Madrid.

"I was happy after winning the Decima, because we did it with hard work from everyone and it was an extraordinary source of motivation for the Madridista world. We won the most important competition, which everyone had been dreaming of. 

"I would give the team a very high mark out of 10 because we achieved the ultimate in the Decima. I would say to the Madridistas that they have to get behind us with all the love and support that this team deserves."

NEYMAR'S AGENT MOOTS CONTRACT EXTENSION TILL 2020

LONG STAY

Neymar's agent, Wagner Ribeiro, has claimed that the Catalan club is keen to tie the star down until June 2020. "Of course Barcelona want to extend his contract. Until 2020, that's right," Ribeiro said at a press conference given at the opening of the Neymar Jr. Institute, a social centre in the city of Praia Grande.

Without making direct reference to a possible new deal himself, Neymar did say he is "happy" at Barcelona and hopes to keep on playing for the club for a long time. Neymar originally signed a five-year contract with Barcelona and should the player agree to extend it till June 2020 that would add another two years to the existing deal.

XAVI BELITTLES CRISTIANO'S BALLON D'OR BID

NOT INTERESTED

Xavi Hernández spoke on several subjects during an interview with Sport newspaper, including his future at Barça and Cristiano Ronaldo's Ballon d'Or credentials.

The midfielder didn't mince his words with regard to his aborted summer move to the New York Red Bulls, stating that "Leaving Barça would have been a big screw-up". He went on to insist that he wants to stay at the Camp Nou "whatever happens with the Court of Arbitration for Sport" (in reference to the club's appeal against their transfer ban).

Xavi admitted that he even went as far as texting several friends to tell them he had agreed a move Stateside. "I'd ended the season a bit disappointed by having been left on the bench against Atlético de Madrid [in the title decider]. A new coach was coming in to build a new team and I thought my time here was up", the 'Azulgranas' captain revealed.

However, after the World Cup, club president Josep Maria Bartomeu and new manager Luis Enrique reached out over the phone and a meeting was set up with Enrique and director of football Andoni Zubizarreta. "He told me I was going to be a very useful member of the squad, that if I showed I was up for it, I'd play, that I could still be competitive. He said to have a good think about it because Barça were going to have a good year. I took a day to make my decision".

Xavi also spoke about some of his fellow pros, saying that Leo Messi "never asserts his authority and always wins" and also that he looks "happier than ever". About Luis Suárez, the midfielder claimed that the Uruguayan reminds him of Samuel Eto'o because of his "bad temper, character and persistence". As for the Ballon d'Or credentials of Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi felt that "he didn't do much in the World Cup, and in a World Cup year, the season is defined by that".

FABREGAS WOULD LOVE MESSI TO JOIN CHELSEA

Mourinho:"Mourinho adapts to the players he has. What makes him so great as a coach is that he adapts to any situation and his teams can play in many different ways. It's a very intelligent way of managing".

Mou at Barça?:I'd say that Barça have a style that he has already experienced and understands perfectly. We play a very similar game: we want to be the protagonists, have possession and look to score. We may have a different system, but the philosophy is similar".

And if Mourinho went out to sign Messi?:"I wish! Why not? I'd love that to happen. I'd be all for it. As a Barça man, I believe that Messi deserves to retire at Barça for all that he has given the club. He is a legend that has changed Barça history. But, as his teammate and friend, without doubt I'd love to have Leo by my side. This season Barça are Messi and ten others. Messi has saved his team on many occasions".

Real, Champions League favourites:"Real have started well, but football is all about dynamics. They started by losing the Supercopa and hemorrhaging points in the league. Everyone said that after the exits of Xabi Alonso and Di María, it'd be a tough season for them, and then look what happened.

FLORENTINO HEAPS PRAISE ON CRISTIANO RONALDO

HIS BEST SIGNING

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has again said that Cristiano Ronaldo is the best and most complete player in the world.

"Of course he's the most complete, and not only for what he's achieved [...] without a doubt he's the best", Pérez said of Cristiano during a visit to Panama City, where he was named a Guest of Honour and given a ceremonial key to the city.

Pérez is in Panama to extend an agreement between Real Madrid and the office of the country's first lady, Lorena Castillo de Varela, which will see the continuance of a social and sporting academy which the La Liga club established in 2006.

Florentino also noted that 2014 has been "a good year" for the club, in which they not only won four titles, but were also able to win the hearts of the masses, transmitting values such as honesty, solidarity, sacrifice and respect for the opposition.

"This effort is not only to win games, add another title to our trophy cabinet and to continue to grow the legend of Real Madrid - who greatly help the world from a sporting point of view -, but it also allows us to pass on our values, especially to children", he added.

To conclude, he said that Latin American football has improved and that proof of that is the fact that Real Madrid have three of the region's players in their ranks: Colombia's James Rodríguez, Mexico's Chicharito Hernández and Costa Rica's Keylor Navas.

HIS CONTRACT EXPIRES ON 30TH JUNE BUT KHEDIRA KEEN TO STAY

NEW CONTRACT ON THE WAY

Sami Khedira made it clear in an interview with a German newspaper that if it were up to him, he would stay at Real Madrid beyond the duration of his current contract, which expires at the end of the season. "I'd be happy if we found a solution", the midfielder told Stuttgarter Nachrichten.

Having put his latest injury behind him, Khedira is up for the fight for a place in Carlo Ancelotti's side: "I'm in good shape again and so I'm very confident that I'm going to get my chances to play very soon", the former Stuttgart man noted, adding, "I'm a fan of fierce competition".

Khedira also lavished praise on Toni Kroos, his compatriot, who is shining in the middle of the park for Real Madrid: "He's doing really well. He's only been here for half a year and he's already a key cog in our system".

MORE PLAYERS ON THE SIDELINES THAN USUAL FOR REAL MADRID

TOO MANY GAMES ???

Nobody is more surprised by the number of injuries that have ravaged the Real Madrid squad so far this season than the players themselves, especially considering the club boasts a vast medical team.

'Los Blancos' have been outsourcing medical services for over five years with Sanitas overseeing the players' well-being. The man in charge of this operation is Carlos Díez, although he has spent less and less time with the first team recently.

A new medical branch has been in existence since last year, however, which involves more direct contact with the players. Jesús Olmo, who appears in photos of the team celebrating in Marrakech, is the head having joined the club through Jerónimo Farré, who is a cardiologist at the Jiménez Díaz Foundation and a Real Madrid board member.

Within the realms of causes of injury, there are several factors to analyse. Rest time, diet and training methods can have an influence. With regard to player diets, for example, a new team has been in place since Ancelotti's appointment.

Mino Fulco, the Italian coach's son-in-law, is entrusted with that role. Physical training, which is key to preventing injury, is down to Giovanni Mauri, who works alongside his son and Ancelotti's too.

Training methods are Paul Clement's forte, which is of little surprise given the Englishman was Ancelotti's assistant during his time at Chelsea and has not relinquished the role ever since. Jack Nayler is also part of the team as a player data analyst.