Louis van Gaal accepts that Christmas with the family is something he will have to sacrifice as manager of Manchester United.
The Dutchman is sad that he will not get to see his loved ones much during the festive season because of the English game’s traditional heavy schedule at that time of year.
The 63-year-old said: “I am not happy because I don’t think it is good for the players that they play within two days of a (previous) match – two matches in two days. In December it shall be like that.
“I have a wife and kids, and grandchildren, and I cannot see them this Christmas.
“But I want to work in the Premier League, so I have to adapt.”
Koeman rues Schneiderlin loss
Ronald Koeman accepts South-ampton face a “difficult” challenge to cope without injured “key player” Morgan Schneiderlin at Arsenal tomorrow night.
France midfielder Schneiderlin hobbled out of Saints’ 3-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City at half-time on Sunday.
“For sure he isn’t available for this Wednesday, but he’ll have scans to find out exactly what happened,” Koeman said.
“It’s too soon to know whether it’s serious but how long he will be out I don’t know.”
Hard work paying off says Gasperini
Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini believes his players are reaping the rewards of their hard work.
The Grifoni won 3-0 at Cesena on Sunday to clinch their sixth win of the campaign.
“We are going above expectations,”Gasperini said. “But we are not getting carried away.
“We are enjoying this moment without losing contact with reality.
“Our current position in the standings is the result of the hard work done by the team. We have grown in terms of play and we have increased our technical level.”
Cellino banned by Football League
Massimo Cellino, the owner of Leeds United, has been disqualified from running the Championship club by the Football League, although he can appeal against the ruling and will be entitled to return to the club in March.
Leeds are seeking legal advice over the ruling, which is the second from the League disqualifying Cellino.
The first, issued in March this year, was over-ruled by an independent committee the following month.
The League said that Cellino was being disqualified because he had failed their “fit and proper persons test” for owning a club.
The development is the latest in the complex saga which revolves around an Italian court case when Cellino was found guilty of an offence under Italian tax legislation relating to the non-payment of import duties on a boat.
Henry confirms New York exit
Thierry Henry is leaving Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls, the former France and Arsenal striker said yesterday.
Henry’s contract finished at the end of the current season and the Red Bulls missed out on the title-deciding MLS Cup after losing the Eastern Conference final to the New England Revolution.
“I am taking this opportunity to announce that unfortunately Saturday was my last game for the New York Red Bulls,” he said.
“The decision has always been that I would leave after the duration of my contract and although that was never going to change, I didn’t want it to distract from the progress of the team.
“I have immensely enjoyed my four-and-half-years here and would like to thank everyone involved with this club who has made my time here so enjoyable,” he added.
Galatasaray appoint Hamzaoglu as coach
Galatasaray appointed their former midfielder and Turkey assistant coach Hamza Hamzaoglu as manager yesterday after firing Italian Cesare Prandelli last week.
The Istanbul club have one point from five games in the Champions League after losing 2-0 to Anderlecht, guaranteeing they will finish last in their group and miss out on a Europa League place.
“I always had the dream of coaching Galatasaray one day, I will do my best here today,” Hamzaoglu said.
The 44-year-old was assistant national coach under Fatih Terim, who himself has had three coaching spells at Galatasaray.
Valencia vow to banish Messi attacker
Valencia will banish a fan who hit Barcelona forward Lionel Messi on the head with a plastic bottle on Sunday for life once he has been identified, the club said.
Messi was celebrating Barca’s 94th-minute winner when someone threw the bottle from the stands and it struck him on the head. The Argentina captain was examined by a member of Barca’s medical staff and did not appear to be hurt
“Valencia CF condemn the isolated incident in the game against Barcelona, in which a small, uncapped bottle of water was thrown from the stands at Lionel Messi,” the club said.
“The club will endeavour to locate the person who threw the bottle and will be banned for life.”