Spurs’ new delay
United make Eric suffer
CITY STALWARTS: Guardiola and Express man Tanner TOTTENHAM chairman Daniel Levy last night announced the club’s new stadium will not be opened until 2019.
Further delays in the 62,000-seater project means Spurs will play at least the next eight home matches at Wembley.
The earliest they could now return home is the FA Cup third-round weekend – but there are also no guarantees of that date being met either.
“I wish I was able to confirm an exact opening date and fixture,” said Levy, above.
“However, in light of factors completely outside of our control, contractors missing deadlines and possible future unforeseen issues, we are naturally being cautious in respect of our timetable for our test events and official opening game. “Taking into account the restricted availability of manpower over the festive period, we have taken the decision to confirm today that all home games will be played at Wembley Stadium up to and including the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 29.” The new White Hart Lane was initially supposed to have been ready to host its first match on September 15. ERIC CANTONA became the latest ex-player to criticise United when he said he “suffers” watching them and doubted that Jose Mourinho was the correct choice for manager.
“It’s not the right man for the right woman,” said Cantona of Mourinho’s relationship with United.
“You can lose games but you take risks. You lose against Juventus and they have 70 per cent possession of the ball at Old Trafford. Could you imagine that with Ferguson on the bench? I suffer and I suffer even more when I see Manchester City play so wonderfully. I think kids need to have an example. They need great players, great movements, creative football to identify themselves to a player or a team. And I think they are now losing a generation of young players.
“These young players identify themselves to the way City play. Can we accept that? No.” P W Man City 9 7 Liverpool 9 7 Chelsea 9 6 Arsenal 9 7 Spurs 9 7 Bournemouth 9 5 Watford 9 5 Everton 9 4 Wolves 9 4 Man Utd 9 4 Leicester 9 4 Brighton 9 3 Burnley 9 2 West Ham 9 2 Crystal Palace 9 2 Southampton 9 1 Cardiff 9 1 Fulham 9 1 Huddersfield 9 0 Newcastle 9 0 REPORTS GARY NEVILLE has revealed he suffered such a lengthy crisis of confidence as a player that he had counselling with a psychologist.
He had been one of Manchester United’s Treble winners only months before but two high-profile mistakes against Vasco Da Gama in the inaugural Club World Cup in Brazil the following season sent him spiralling into a worrying tailspin of form that continued until England’s ill-fated Euro 2000 campaign.
So he can fully understand what Romelu Lukaku is going through and believes the Belgium striker just has to play himself through his eight-game scoring drought for his club, listen to the people that matter but turn a deaf ear to everyone else – including TV pundits like himself.
Neville, 43, is such a confident and articulate personality and had such a successful and distinguished playing career that it comes as something as he shock when he recalls that it “wasn’t always a bed of roses”.
He said: “I lost my confidence for six months after that Vasco Da Gama game when I made the two mistakes that led to their first two goals. I’d then ended the season at Euro 2000 where I didn’t play well and Phil [his brother] – who was playing left-back – made that tackle that gave away the penalty for Romania’s winner.
“The song “If the Nevilles can play for England so can I” came out, Phil had the effigies outside his house and I got brought into it as well because I wasn’t playing well and there was criticism from the media.
“These days it would be all over social media as well.
“But do you know something, don’t read it. There isn’t a pundit, a journalist or a fan who has ever won or lost a football match. They can only win or lose a football match if they impact the mentality of a player.
“So don’t let them impact the mentality of you as a player. I have
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