Say What?

Jamie Vardy cites Claudio Ranieri’s impact as key to his recent form. Arsene Wenger explains why he was reluctant to bench Alexis Sanchez last weekend, whilst Jose Mourinho cites a lack of work-rate for Eden Hazard’s fall from grace. Manuel Pellegrini is looking for more goals from Raheem Sterling, whilst Louis van Gaal has plenty to say on his attacking midfielders:

Vardy relishes free role under Ranieri

Having notched just five goals for Leicester City during Nigel Pearson’s last season at the helm, Jamie Vardy has flourished under Claudio Ranieri and is just one strike shy of doubling his tally from last term. The former Fleetwood Town marksman – who is nine points clear of any forward in the FPL game – reckons his fine form over the first nine Gameweeks is down to the free role he’s been afforded by the Italian boss, allowing him to exploit space across the field on the counter:

“He’s been really good. He’s literally given me the licence to roam free up there and do what I’m good at, which is quick pressing and quick counters. The team are brilliant as well, they are backing me all the way and getting up there with me. That is good for the club and it shows with the start we’ve had. He’s not changed the way we play, he’s kept that all the same and is so tactically aware of the opposition. He’s constantly watching the next opponents and, even when we’ve played them, we might do a few tactics on the Monday about the game we’ve just had. So he’s brilliant tactics-wise and it is working for us.”

Wenger on why he refrained from resting Sanchez

Alexis Sanchez started and finished both of Chile’s World Cup qualifiers during the international break and arrived back late ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Watford last weekend. With last night’s crucial Champions League tie against Bayern Munich also taking place just three days after the Vicarage Road clash, Arsene Wenger admitted he had contemplated resting Sanchez last weekend but decided against it, due to the stunning recent form that had seen the Chilean net nine times in five outings for club and country prior to the Watford win:

“I did (consider resting him). Yesterday in the training session he looked quite sharp and the medical people told me he has no problem at all, then I thought I would test if he is ready and if he was not ready I would take him out. But sometimes it is easier to start the game and take the players off than when you go into the game a little bit tired, because you go with the game. So I decided to go for that…I believe every player hates not playing but as well you have periods as a player. When a player is on a scoring moment then sometimes the flow can be disturbed. That is why I leave him in.”

Bellerin on attacking instincts

Hector Bellerin notched three assists in his previous five starts for Arsenal in all competitions, shining a spotlight on his attacking potential. Throughout the course of the campaign, only four defenders have amassed more key passes (10) than the jet-heeled Spaniard, who’s well on course to surpass his output from last term (two goals and one assist). Having spent the majority of his youth career with Barcelona operating as a winger, Bellerin is relishing the opportunity to provide width in Arsenal’s relatively narrow 4-2-3-1 set-up:

“It is important when the ball does not go in that you carry on playing your game. I think that Watford we were very, very physical for the whole game and they were running out towards the end and we took profit from that. I was a right winger before so it is always nice when I have the space up front to go forward and hopefully I can help the team like that.”

Mourinho explains Hazard omission

To the bemusement of his 25% ownership, Eden Hazard – who’d bagged one goal and two assists in the previous three league matches– was dropped for Chelsea’s home tie against Aston Villa, raising doubts over his security of starts after a season where he featured in the Blues’ first XI in all 38 Gameweeks. Jose Mourinho addressed the matter following the Blues’ 2-0 victory, asserting that he favoured the tactical discipline of Willian and Pedro over the creative flair of Hazard. The Portuguese boss went on to drill home the message that his superstar winger would only be welcomed back into the starting XI if he can replicate the work ethic of Chelsea’s other wide men:

“I left Hazard out because we are conceding lots of goals. We need to defend better. We need our midfield players to be just worried about the central area of the pitch, not to be worried about compensating for the left side or the right side. Playing with Pedro and Willian, the midfield players don’t have to look to the left or the right. Willian and Pedro did amazing defensive work on very good offensive players, Hutton and Richardson, and later Amavi. They allowed the midfield players to be very comfortable, and to have performances like Ramires and Fabregas had, totally controlling the centre of the pitch. It was just a tactical decision leaving super quality on the bench but bringing tactical discipline and hoping that the team could be solid. I continue in that way or he comes in our direction and tries to replicate the same work Willian or Pedro did.”

Pedro adjusting slowly to life at the Bridge

Pedro make a quick start to his Chelsea career – tallying one goal and two assists in his first two starts – but has since failed to deliver any attacking returns and was dropped from the starting line-up against Southampton before ousting Eden Hazard against Villa. Although the former Barcelona winger admits that he’s still got a lot to learn about playing in England’s top tier, he’s confident in his ability to adapt to the physicality and the greater depth of competition that the Premier League boasts:

“It’s hard. It’s very different to what I’m used to [at Barcelona]. But, little by little, I’m integrating more, adapting with my team-mates and the team and that’s the most important thing. Everything is different, very different to the football I’m used to. I think there are a lot of differences, very physical football, very strong. A lot of players attack and it’s always complicated. All the games are competitive and very balanced.”

Pellegrini backs Sterling to grab more goals

With David Silva still nursing an ankle injury, Manuel Pellegrini opted to roll out a 4-4-2 and shift Raheem Sterling up front for Manchester City’s home encounter against Bournemouth – a move that saw the former Liverpool winger claim a first-half hat-trick. Although Sterling was replaced at the 78-minute mark, no midfielder mustered more attempts (six) last Gameweek, underlining his increased attacking threat from a central role. Pellegrini is delighted with how Sterling recovered from a poor performance in Gameweek 8 against Newcastle United (he was subbed at the break) and exploited the space that strike partner Wilfried Bony engineered:

“I think it was important for Raheem to score three goals. He must improve his finishing – he did that today, he’s young and will continue to get better. I don’t think he’s a striker like Kun or Bony but this year, and I said it when he arrived, I am sure he will score more goals than he did in another season at Liverpool. He didn’t lose confidence (being taken off early against Newcastle) because I spoke with him immediately after he came off. He didn’t play well but all of the players can have a bad day. It was important for him and the team to change his position today. I thought that near Bony he could have a lot of space. Kevin did very well as he did against Newcastle and I think the system allowed Raheem to score more goals.”

Bony talks up partnership with Sterling

Wilfried Bony took advantage of his third start of the campaign last Gameweek by chalking up a brace and an assist in a 5-1 demolition of Bournemouth. Having staked his claim as a short-term option for Fantasy managers, the Ivory Coast international has been drafted in by over 26,000 managers this week, though his 16-point display was somewhat overshadowed by Raheem Sterling’s out of position potential in Sergio Aguero’s absence. Speaking to the club’s official website, Bony revealed the pair have been working on their on-pitch understanding in recent training matches:

“The most important thing for me is to work hard for the team. I was maybe eight games without a goal but I just needed to work hard and I did that today, scored twice so I’m happy about that. We have been talking a lot in training and he is so quick. I told him when I go up for a header to just start running, or when I have the ball to make a run and it worked out for us today.

Van Gaal on Herrera’s form and rotation

Handed his first start since Gameweek 5, Ander Herrera staked a claim for a regular role with a goal, assist and maximum bonus points in United’s 3-0 win over Everton. The 6.6-priced Herrera excelled in an advanced central role behind lone striker Wayne Rooney, yet, despite scoring in each of his last two league outings, his minutes remain far from certain. When pressed as to whether the Spaniard can now expect to receive regular pitch time, Louis van Gaal conceded that Herrera’s minutes are not guaranteed:

“That is dependable on the game-plan on how we play and how the opponent is playing. That is why I have selected this line up today. That is dependable on the qualities of the opponent. When Herrera is playing like that it is difficult to not select him, but I can do it. I have seen a lot of individual players today who are playing very good, but that is also because the result is very good. When I have to mention one name, I have to mention Ander Herrera. He played very well and had a great contribution with the goals.”

Van Gaal bemoans Depay’s lack of application

Having registered a solitary goal and assist through the opening eight Gameweeks and been subbed at half time in two of those match-ups, Memphis Depay lost his starting berth when the Red Devils travelled to Goodison Park, with the versatile Anthony Martial deployed out left instead. Louis van Gaal shed some light on his decision to bench the Netherlands international, maintaining that Depay has yet to buy into his team ethos since arriving from PSV:

“Ryan (Giggs) has already given advice to him but the player is responsible for his own deeds. You have to give respect to your team philosophy. We have seen that some players cannot adapt to the team philosophy. You cannot know in advance before you buy them. You have to wait and see. That happened with Angel Di Maria and Falcao… The problem with young players is they are not consistent. That you have to learn. We have to give him time.”

Van Gaal Praises Versatile Martial

Anthony Martial failed to score for the third successive league outing as United swept aside Everton last weekend. Sitting in 29% of FPL sides, the Frenchman’s form is clearly a cause for concern, and his prospects were dented further by a move to the left flank in a reprisal of his role at former club Monaco. Praising the adaptable Frenchman, Louis van Gaal revealed that his decision to play Martial out wide was partly to nullify the threat posed down the Everton right:

“He [Martial] can play, in my opinion, four positions. He can play at seven – as a right-winger, 11 – the left-winger, the striker’s position and also at 10, I believe. But he has played in Monaco always in the left-winger position. That is why I put him there against Everton and also because of [Seamus] Coleman. I think he’s a very good right full-back so we could take benefit of the qualities of Martial also.”

Bilic hails Lanzini’s instant impact

Manuel Lanzini has been a surprise gem for West Ham United since his switch from Al-Jazira in the summer transfer window. Although Dimitri Payet has garnered most of the Fantasy attention, the 5.3-priced Lanzini has started to find his form and bagged two goals and as many assists, in addition to five bonus points, in six starts. Slaven Bilic conceded he’s been a long-term admirer of the Argentine, who racked up a 13-point haul away to Palace last weekend:

“He is a player, to be fair. I told you we wanted him last year at Besiktas and it just didn’t work out. I didn’t expect him to be that good straight away. With South America and then Emirates, he needed time to settle in, but he surprised me because he clicked straight away. His ability was there all the time and it shows you that good players are simply good players. They pull the shirt on and if they are surrounded by good players and good men in the team, they deliver.”