I have gone from 'king of Manchester' to 'devil' - Van Gaal

© Reuters

 Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has poured scorn on critics who he says have made a "devil" of him after one defeat in his new job.

United's 2-1 home defeat by Swansea City was the shock result on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season. They face a tricky game at Sunderland on Sunday and Van Gaal is appealing for patience.

"Two weeks ago I was the king of Manchester and now I am the devil of Manchester," he told a news conference on Friday.

"It's the football world and it is especially the media in this football world.

"I think the fans of Manchester are intelligent. I've already said that it shall be difficult in the first three months, for the players and also for the fans."

Former United hero Paul Scholes said in a newspaper column this week that he was "scared" for United's immediate future, to which Van Gaal responded: "I can imagine the fans are scared. They have to believe. Paul Scholes has to believe.

"The club have hired me because of my philosophy, not because I am nice. Although I am. I am not hired to be fired. I am hired to build up a team. That process needs time."

Supporters had been expecting a better start, however, after a hugely disappointing season in which United finished seventh in the table.

It was their lowest final position since 1990 and the Swansea defeat was their first loss in an opening home game for 42 years.

They have won their last three league games at Sunderland but were beaten 2-1 in last season's League Cup semi-finals.

Striker Robin van Persie, who was captain of the Netherlands World Cup team under Van Gaal, is fit to return after missing the Swansea game but new signing Ander Herrera is out injured, leaving United short of midfield players

Balotelli seems to be heading back to Premier League

DPA ©

Italian international striker Mario Balotelli is close to signing a deal with Liverpool to rejoin the English Premier League after one and a half season at AC Milan. "A negotiation is ongoing for Balotelli," the Serie A club said Thursday, adding that "about 50 Rossoneri fans stood outside the Milanello camp to meet him." The 24-year-old was quoted as saying that (Thursday) was his last day with the Rossoneri. Milan and Liverpool are said to be discussing a transfer fee of 20 million euros (26.5 million dollars), while the striker could be offered a deal worth 6 million euros per season over four years. Balotelli played in England with Manchester City for two and a half seasons, from 2010 to January 2013. Liverpool began looking for a striker after selling Uruguayan ace Luis Suarez to Barcelona in July for a reported fee of 94 million euros.

Scholes writes off United's title hopes

© Reuters

 Manchester United will struggle to return to the Premier League's summit this season because too many top players have left and not enough signings made, according to former midfielder Paul Scholes.

The 20-times English champions slumped to seventh last season during the short reign of David Moyes, but even with seasoned title winner Louis van Gaal in the Old Trafford hot seat, Scholes is not expecting a title challenge.

"I think the title is between City and Chelsea, they've both made decent signings," Scholes said in Friday's Daily Mirror on the eve of the new Premier League season.

"The next two places are between United, Liverpool and Arsenal. United will be looking for a better season than the last and that shouldn't be too difficult.

"I'm sure Van Gaal would have liked to have signed more players. Midfield is where I thought they might have brought in a couple."

United, who start with a home match against Swansea City on Saturday, have signed midfielder Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao and full back Luke Shaw from Southampton but have lost the likes of Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra.

While Van Gaal still has time to strengthen the squad, Scholes is surprised United have not been more active.

"(Toni) Kroos goes for 20 million and (Cesc) Fabregas to Chelsea. I thought they would have been in for those type of players but it doesn't look like they were.

"Remember the players they have lost - Rio, Vidic, Evra, Giggs. Massive playrs who have won 30 titles between them.

"It's only Shaw and Herrera who have come in and (Juan) Mata and (Marouane) Fellaini who haven't won the league. I just worry that City and Chelsea have a bit too much for them."

Scholes remains optimistic though that Van Gaal, who he describes as a "mad genius" will begin the process of returning United back towards the summit.

"From what I've seen in pre-season he looks a bit mad - a bit like a mad genius," Scholes said of the former Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Netherlands coach.

"I think he's brought a bit of fear into the players, which is no bad thing. I played for 20 years under Alex Ferguson and he could be a scary man. Sometimes fear can bring performances out of you. There's no doubt these players need to perform.

"If not I don't think they will be there very long." (Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Sudipto Gangul

Tottenham sign American defender Yedlin

Tottenham Hotspur have signed American defender DeAndre Yedlin from Seattle Sounders, the Premier League club said on Twitter on Wednesday. Yedlin, 21, has signed a four-year contract with Spurs but will remain with the Sounders before moving to London for the start of the 2015-16 season. "We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Seattle Sounders for the transfer of DeAndre Yedlin," Spurs said. Yedlin has played seven times for the United States and was a member of the squad which reached the last 16 at this year's World Cup in Brazil under coach Juergen Klinsmann, a former Tottenham striker. "I'm very excited to come to the Premier League & challenge myself against some of the best players in the world," Yedlin said. "I've talked to @J_Klinsmann a lot about this move and he supports it, which was one of the big reasons behind the decision."

© Reuters