Say What – Gameweek 35

Jurgen Klopp praises Daniel Sturridge’s new improved fitness levels. Wayne Rooney is warming to his central midfield role, Guus Hiddink backs Eden Hazard to finish the season strongly, whilst Big Sam calls upon Fabio Borini to help fire Sunderland to safety.

Klopp hails Sturridge fitness

Restoring confidence in his ability to earn consistent minutes, Daniel Sturridge has started five of Liverpool’s last six league matches and lasted the distance in three of his last four. With five goals and two assists to his name over that period, the 10.1-priced frontman has been drafted in by over 20,000 FPL managers ahead of the Reds’ trip to Swansea – despite having a Europa League clash with Villarreal this evening.. Speaking on Sturridge’s recent performances, Jurgen Klopp insisted that he’s back to peak fitness:

“He is in the best shape for a few months – I don’t know for how long, but 90 minutes is no real problem and that’s good. You cannot see a difference between the first 60 and the last 30. For us, it’s very, very important. It was a wonderful goal very early in the game. It was not a real chance to be honest, but he made the best of it. It was good.”

Van Gaal on Martial role

Anthony Martial has recorded a solitary goal across his previous seven league appearances but notched three goals and two assists in his last four cup outings, underlining his attacking potential ahead of Manchester United’s double Gameweek 37. The Frenchman has been deployed up top sporadically throughout the campaign, but Louis van Gaal is adamant that he’s better suited to a wing role:

“I don’t think he is a striker, he is more a wing player. Maybe in the future but I don’t think so. He is another type of striker than Van Nistelrooy or the other examples of Manchester United strikers. I think he can do much better because I see still a lot of things he can improve. He shall improve because only by training and playing you can improve. When you are playing on a higher level you can improve. When you are older, you have experience and you can decide much better.”

Wenger admits Giroud is low on morale

A blank against Sunderland last weekend means that Olivier Giroud has now failed to score in his last 14 league outings. In light of the former Montpellier marksman’s barren streak and Danny Welbeck’s demotion to the bench, Fantasy managers might be tempted to double up on Arsenal’s midfield before their two mouth-watering home ties (NOR, AVL). Wenger believes that Giroud – who has started the last two – will play himself back into form:

“At the moment Olivier Giroud cannot score so you feel that he does not completely have the same confidence. You go through spells like that and I believe we have to support him and give him the needed confidence. His performances are more about his confidence but I think he will come back. He has gone through spells like this before.”

Hiddink backs Hazard to maintain form

Eden Hazard turned out an impactful performance at Bournemouth last Gameweek, netting a brace in his first start since Gameweek 29. Although the Belgium international has flattered to deceive throughout the campaign – registering just one goal prior to the Cherries’ clash – the prospect of a return to form is sure to attract interest ahead of double Gameweek 37. Gus Hiddink is certainly confident that Hazard – having resolved his physical and mental issues – can finish the campaign strongly:

“Eden’s had a very difficult season, falling into injuries, coming back, nearly back, playing half a game. Then we said, ‘Let’s train well, treat him well and take a little bit more time so that once you’re back, you have to be back well.’ He showed that against Bournemouth. When he is fully fit, physically and mentally, he’s one of the best. [This performance] gives him a boost for the last games. I saw him moving more freshly. He enjoyed it, he was free of any doubt in his mind. That was a good sign for me.”

Rooney settling into deeper role

Since recovering from a knee injury, Wayne Rooney has been operating in a central midfield berth, allowing Marcus Rashford to retain his lone-striker berth, with Anthony Martial remaining on the flank. Discussing his deeper-lying role, Rooney said that he’s relishing the opportunity to fashion chances for Man United’s pacey forwards:

“I’ve known for a few years (how to play in midfield), I have played there a few times throughout my career and I can play that position. I have played and watched Paul Scholes play that role for years and I always knew that one day that is where I would play, so I have tried to learn and watch what he did. It is still early days but hopefully if I keep playing there I can develop and get better. I think I can free other players up. Obviously it is down to the manager, it is his decision and for the team, more importantly, it is the right thing to do at this moment in time. We have got a lot of pace in the team now and I think I can read the game quite well and whether to go forward or stay deeper and leave the space for the other lads. You’re always learning and especially in the last few games learning about a new position and playing deeper than I’ve played. I’ve been enjoying it. It frees me up a bit and allows me to get on the ball and try to have a big influence on the game.”

Howe praises King evolution

Joshua King (4.3) tallied four goals in his last seven starts, illustrating his value as an out-of-position budget midfielder. Further highlighting his influence in the final third, the Norway international ranked top among all midfielders for shots inside the box (14) across his last four matches. Eddie Howe lauded King’s work ethic and rapid development during the Cherries’ maiden top-flight term:

“He is playing on merit. He has been outstanding, not just in the last section of games but for the majority of the season. He has improved so much and we have been delighted with him. We hope there is a lot more to come and he will turn out to be a really good signing for the club for the long term. He is a player we like very much and enjoy working with. He wants to improve every day and has benefited from working hard at his game. We have been delighted with Josh. It has been a really interesting journey to see him develop this season and I think he is getting better and better. We have a really young group of strikers and that is the beauty of our strike-force. Hopefully, they will be here for a long time to score a lot of goals for us.”

Bolasie thanks Pardew for rest

Taunting managers that invested faith in him for Crystal Palace’s pair of double Gameweeks, Yannick Bolasie found the net in his last two starts across all competitions. The DR Congo international sat out the Eagles’ previous league tie against Manchester United – the second match of their double Gameweek 34 – and went on to find the net as Palace clinched a place in the FA Cup final with a 2-1 win over Watford last weekend. Post-match, Bolasie feels reinvigorated and sharper following the Old Trafford breather:

“The gaffer gave me a rest this week because he wanted me fresh for this game. He had me practising finishing for ages. I have been injured for a time and when I came back I felt like I was flying. Then there was a standstill. I have played a lot of games and maybe I needed a rest. The rest during the week has helped because I was that little bit more fresh and anticipating everything.”

Tadic on finishing

Dusan Tadic registered a brace at Aston Villa last Gameweek, boosting his goal tally to eight for the season. Despite charting top of Saints’ midfield contingent for goals (eight), the Serbia international – who placed joint-fourth among all midfielders for attempts (12) in his last four starts – is determined to accelerate his shot frequency (one every 39.3 minutes) next term:

“I need to improve on that because I think I have a good shot, but sometimes I don’t use it so much. Sometimes I search for another solution, but if you don’t shoot you can’t score a goal. All [of your] career you can improve some things. I need to be more selfish, to finish action. Not because I’m not that (selfish) kind of player, I like to give assists but, sometimes, in some moments, I need to finish action for myself. I feel good, this is most important. My team-mates play me lots of ball, they use me and I like that and then I can show my best. In some moments I search for players, but I think it was the right decision to finish [against Villa].”

Big Sam wants goals from Borini

A goalless draw against Arsenal helped Sunderland to a third clean sheet in four and as they finally climbed out of the drop zone last weekend. Bearing in mind that Sunday’s result meant that the Black Cats have failed to score in three of those fixtures, Sam Allardyce has called on Fabio Borini to step up his output over the final four fixtures. Although the Italian has scored just four times this term, compared to Jermain Defoe’s 13, the underlying stats – 13 attempts on goal to Defoe’s 15 – during that period affords Big Sam an air of optimism:

“He doesn’t convert as many opportunities as I’d like him to. But the pleasing thing is how many chances he gets for himself. I thought at Norwich he crossed some really good balls – not just the one Jermain scored off. There were a few in the first half that he whipped in which caused Norwich a lot of problems. We cannot rely on Jermain Defoe all the time. Someone else must take responsibility. If we can do that, I’m sure we can get enough points to stay safe.”