FA Cup: Wenger pleased with Sanchez

Chilean scored winner in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Burnley.

LONDON: Alexis Sanchez returned to Arsenal’s starting line-up and the scoresheet in Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup fourth round defeat of Burnley with manager Arsene Wenger saying his injury-enforced ‘winter break’ could be a blessing in disguise.

The Chile forward had not started a game since late November because of a hamstring injury but pounced in the 53rd minute to keep the Gunners on course for a third consecutive FA Cup triumph.

Calum Chambers opened the scoring for the Gunners but Sanchez finished off a lightning Arsenal break after Burnley’s Sam Vokes had equalised for the visitors and Wenger was pleased with the Chilean’s form.

“With Sanchez, I was not too much worried on the fitness front because I kept him out two weeks ago and he was already there physically,” said Wenger. “We had some worries about his muscle but today he came through well and you could see that physically, he is ready. He had a long rest now.”



Forget quadruple, Pellegrini
tells Man City

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini urged his team to take their minds off a potential quadruple and back on the Premier League following a breezy 4-0 win over Aston Villa, just three days after making it to the League Cup final.

They are also into the knockout stages of the Champions League, but Pellegrini knows that his side must be focused for Tuesday’s visit to Sunderland and cannot afford to slip up in the Premier League.

“We’ve had good results in both cups, but that is finished now and we must focus our minds on some very important games in the Premier League,” said the Chilean. “Our mind is not on what we can win, it is on the games we need to win.”



Kindergarten Klopp backs Liverpool’s kids

Jurgen Klopp praised his young Liverpool players after a 0-0 FA Cup fourth-round draw against West Ham that added to his club’s growing fixture list.

Klopp named inexperienced youngsters Cameron Brannagan, Brad Smith, Kevin Stewart and Joao Teixeira in his line-up as he made 10 changes to the side that overcame Stoke on penalties last Tuesday to reach the League Cup final.

“We will have a team for the replay at West Ham, and maybe it won’t be too far away from this team today,” said Klopp. “I’m pleased with this. These boys would have deserved to win tonight, but it is what it is.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st,  2016.

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