Cardiff make Chambers captain, with Colwill deputy
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The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber rates the club's Premier League title chances
Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber is convinced the Gunners already have all the tools they need to construct a Premier League title-winning season. It has been a productive summer for sporting director Andrea Berta and boss Mikel Arteta, who have so far made six new permanent additions in the open transfer window. On Thursday, speaking ahead of Arsenal's top flight curtain-raiser with Manchester United at Old Trafford, Arteta said of their trophy pursuit: 'You keep digging, digging, digging, because one day the gold is going to be there.' Timber agreed with his manager's mining metaphor, adding: 'You can tell we are close, it is just that last step. There is nothing more you can do (except) just go for it and fight for it all the way. 'I think we have the manager for it, we have the team for it, we have the club for it. That is the reason why everyone is so excited to start again. Give it all because we know we have the chance.' Timber disagreed that any misfortune played a significant part in Arsenal – last season's runners-up – ultimately finding themselves 10 points adrift of that campaign's champions. 'You always need a bit of luck but in the end last season we just weren't good enough,' he said. 'Liverpool were better. So we are trying to make that difference this season.' Arsenal follow their trip to Old Trafford with meetings against Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Newcastle. Timber added: 'It is a tough beginning, isn't it? I think last season we had a tough start. It can go both ways. If you start well, it can be amazing. 'That is the challenge. We have to see game-by-game, so for us it is Manchester on Sunday and then Leeds. I think we also have to have that approach of it being another game we need to win. That is the best way to approach (it). 'Personally when the programme comes out for the first time you think 'oh, that is a tough start'. And then from now on, the whole week you are just talking about Manchester United, not the game against City. It is so far away. The whole week has been about Manchester United. Not even Leeds or Liverpool.' Timber revealed he underwent surgery for an ankle issue at the end of last season to 'take something out that was bothering me for a long time', adding 'I feel good now.' He does not believe Arsenal are under any extra pressure this season, despite their silverware drought. He added: 'I think Arsenal has showed the last couple of years already that we will always be fighting for the title. 'Also every year they are trying to strengthen the squad, this summer as well. I think we have an amazing group and a group to do amazing things, this is what we will strive for of course and we will try to give everything, like every season. This season is not going to be any different.'
The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
Ruben Amorim urges Man Utd to turn Old Trafford into a fortress
Ruben Amorim stressed the importance of turning Old Trafford back into 'an enjoyable place' for Manchester United fans as he seeks to chip away at nervousness and create a fortress. Last season was the club's worst top-flight campaign since relegation in 1974 and saw the misfiring Red Devils suffer nine home defeats in the Premier League. It represented United's joint-most home losses in a single league campaign, yet three months on there is a sense of renewed hope, thanks in no small part to some eye-catching signings, as they return to Old Trafford. Amorim's refreshed side open their campaign against title challengers Arsenal on Sunday, when he wants to start to changing the feeling within the stadium. Asked if it is important that United makes Old Trafford a difficult place for opposition teams, he said: 'And an enjoyable place for our fans. That is really important. 'But we don't have to think about… it's just one game against Arsenal, against one team that everyone in this room thinks Arsenal is going to win. 'I know that, so we'll be there on Sunday to change things.' Pushed on whether it became a mental issue for his players, Amorim continued: 'It's not a mental thing. It's not just for the players, it's also for the fans. 'Even the (pre-season) game against Fiorentina you can feel it. The fans are a little bit nervous. 'This feeling is not [clicks finger] just one day, one game, so it's a feeling that we have to fight everyone together – the players, the coaches and the fans – and we are going to change things.' There is certainly a different feeling heading into the campaign than this time last year, when Erik ten Hag admitted ahead of the opener that his team were not ready for the season. 'We are ready for the season,' successor Amorim said. 'We prepare well during the pre-season. Pre-season is pre-season. 'We are going to start, we are going to struggle, but what we are going to see on Sunday then we are going to work to improve, and we are going to improve during the season. 'But we are prepared to win against Arsenal. That is the only thing that matters.' Amorim, who took charge in November, expects an upturn in fortunes after a first season in which the United boss admitted he went into games knowing that they would struggle. On his feelings heading into the Arsenal clash, he said: 'Confident. I know that in some moments we are going to struggle. It's a game against Arsenal so we are going to struggle in some moments. 'We are more prepared, and I feel that we have more players that can help us in one moment to change the momentum of the game and that can give you confidence. 'And we have more options. If things are not working well, we can change things, so that gives me more confidence for every game.' United's bolstered frontline plays a key role in that, with striker Benjamin Sesko last weekend following Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to Old Trafford. 'It's that feeling that we could struggle here or there in the way we play but we can score,' Amorim explained. 'I think Cunha, and you saw it last two seasons, can catch the ball and create something. Bryan can make one run and he's there to score a goal. 'These kind of things I think can help us a lot, especially in moments that we are struggling. One guy that can change the momentum of the game in the stadium.' The attacking trio will be pushing for debuts against Arsenal, when goalkeeper Andre Onana is hoping to start after overcoming a hamstring injury sustained during a summer of speculation about his future. Asked if he will be United's number one this season, Amorim said: 'It's like the other players. Everyone has to win the place, so I'm not going to say if one player is number one. 'He's ready to go to the game. Let's wait. You will know Sunday.'
The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
Marcus Rashford makes Barcelona debut and Harry Kane lifts silverware in Germany
Marcus Rashford made his competitive debut for Barcelona off the bench as they launched their LaLiga campaign with a 3-0 win at nine-man Mallorca. Rashford, bidding to reignite his career after joining Barca on loan in July, was a second-half replacement for Ferran Torres in the 69th minute. Raphinha's early header and Torres' effort midway through the first half put Hansi Flick's side in control before Mallorca midfielder Manu Morlanes was sent off for his second yellow card. Mallorca were reduced to nine men before half-time when VAR upgraded Vedat Muriqi's yellow card to a red following his foul on Joan Garcia. Raphinha and Dani Olmo both hit the woodwork and Lamine Yamal added a third goal in stoppage time. Elsewhere in Spain, Nahuel Tenaglia's stoppage-time winner clinched Alaves a 2-1 win at Levante and Valencia were held 1-1 at home in their opening match by Real Sociedad. Harry Kane lifted silverware in Germany after he and former Liverpool winger Luis Diaz scored in Bayern Munich's 2-1 Franz Beckenbauer Supercup win over Stuttgart. Kane struck in the 18th minute, marking his first Supercup appearance with a goal and his seventh in five games against Stuttgart. Debutant Diaz, having been quiet for much of the night, then made sure when he ran on to Serge Gnabry's cross to head home from close range in the 77th minute, with Jamie Leweling's stoppage-time header merely consolation for Stuttgart. In Ligue 1, former Tottenham defender Eric Dier scored on his debut for Monaco as they made a winning start by beating Le Havre 3-1 at home. Dier, who joined Monaco as a free agent this summer after his contract at Bayern Munich had expired, headed home in the 61st minute after Gautier Lloris' own goal had given the visitors a half-time lead. Rassoul Ndiaye pulled one back for Le Havre before Maghnes Akliouche sealed the points for the visitors by adding their third. Nice exited the Champions League this week after a 4-0 aggregate defeat to Benfica and they slipped up in their Ligue 1 opener, losing 1-0 at home to Toulouse thanks to Djibril Sidibe's late winner. Lyon forward Georges Mikautadze struck the only goal in their opening game at Lens to secure his side a 1-0 win.
