Koeman wants to get over shock
– Former Everton manager Ronald Koeman is yet to get over the disappointment of being sacked by the Premier League club and has rejected multiple offers since his dismissal.
Koeman was fired in October, after 16 months in charge of the Merseyside club, as significant transfer spending failed to inspire Everton, who dropped into the relegation zone after winning just two of their opening nine league games.
“I had started something at Everton and I really want- ed to finish it in a good way. This is why my disappointment is bigger than ever before. I have to be realistic and I am not moaning about it,” the Dutchman told the Sunday Mirror.
The 54-year-old was touted to take over at several vacant managerial roles at Premier League and European clubs, including West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United, but turned down the offers.
“I need to put those feelings of disappointment away first,” Koeman added.
Pep Guardiola says he wishes Manchester City could face Paul Pogba when the Premier League leaders bid to re-write the history books in their huge derby with Manchester United on Sunday.
Guardiola watched his side equal a Premier League record by winning their 13th straight match on Sunday when David Silva’s late volley snatched a 2-1 win for City over West Ham.
They can break that record – set by Arsenal in 2001/02 and equalled by Chelsea last season – and deal their local rivals a huge title blow when they visit Old Trafford next weekend.
Pogba fanned the derby flames “This is the reason why I’ve not taken any of the offers – the offers were there immediately after leaving Everton.
“I had a few offers from the Premier League and a few more elsewhere in Europe.”
Everton have climbed to 10th in the standings under the guidance of interim boss David Unsworth and newly-appointed permanent manager Sam Allardyce and travel to fourth-placed Liverpool for the Merseyside derby on Sunday. – in a weekend interview in which he quipped that he hoped City suffer injuries this season only to then rule himself out of Sunday’s game by being sent off for a stamp on Hector Bellerin in United’s 3-1 win at Arsenal on Saturday.
City have now earned nine league points this season by scoring in the last eight minutes of games, a sign not only of their persistence but also of how defensively teams are playing against them.
“I would prefer to win (games) earlier but it is the Premier League,” Guardiola said.
“Today I learned to attack a little bit differently, that is good news for me for the future.
“We don’t normally play with two strikers and two wingers but we did, so it is a lesson.”
City’s last four games have all ended in dramatic, late victories, drawing comparisons with successful Manchester United teams of old and their habit of scoring in so-called “Fergie time” – named after then-boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
“I heard about the Fergie time,” said Guardiola. “I was not here in that period but of course you have to have that.”
West Ham actually took the lead on the stroke of half-time through defender Angelo Ogbonna, before Nicolas Otamendi equalised early in the second half and Silva sealed a 20th straight win for City in all competitions.
“I really want to be attacking but we are playing against a team we can hardly get the ball from so what do you do?” said West Ham manager David Moyes, who is still waiting for his first win. – AFP