[Yasir]

United have no chance of title: Riise
19 April 2002

By Sports.com's ALAM KHAN

John Arne Riise has written off Manchester United's title hopes while pledging his future to Liverpool.

As the Premiership race hots up, the Norwegian - who has been linked with a big-money move to Barcelona and Real Madrid - believes his Reds or leaders Arsenal will win the coveted trophy.

And Riise has added fuel to the fire by claiming rivals United, currently in third, have been "unstable".

"United have been unstable this year, something that hasn't been characteristic of them during the last few seasons," he said.

"I don't think they've got any chance of winning the championship. For that to happen, both ourselves and Arsenal will have to mess up.

"Arsenal have everything in their own hands and will take the title if they win their last five games.

"Unlike the other contenders, they haven't had any bad spells this season. Perhaps if they lose when they play United next month, that could rock their boat.

"But put it this way, I'd rather be in their position than ours right now."

Second-placed Liverpool will look to keep their hopes alive with victory over Derby on Saturday and Riise admits he is delighted with the continued progress they've made.

"We've been improving during the season," added the flying left wing-back, who also knows a weekend win will relegate the Rams to Division One. "We're very solid, and concede few goals.

"Right now we just have to do our job and win our remaining games, then we'll just have to hope that's enough to win the title."

And Riise's agent Einar Baardsen has also denied reports linking him with a move away from Anfield as he said: "There was a report in Spain that Real Madrid are interested in John Arne.

"That was picked up in England, and then a representative from Barcelona called me up to check if there was any truth in it. He also said they would consider buying Riise.

"I told Barcelona that John Arne loved Liverpool and that he had been having the time of his life at the club. He wants to stay there and Liverpool know that."
--------------------------------------------

Personally, I think Riise writing off Man U is a very stupid thing to say!! Simple rule.. NEVER right off an opponent.. if anything.. it gets them motivated to prove you wrong!!.. reminds me of Alex Ferguson who's written of Arsenal chances and has claimed he believes Arsenal will lose the FA Cup to Chelsea...

IMO, I believe you don't have to talk.. just play.. and win to prove a point.. but going out like that is something that we really do not need..

 

[B*O*S*H*]

On the contrary...this is from shanklygates:


Riise - I never wrote United off

By James Carroll
Date: 19/4/2002

Liverpool star John Arne Riise has reacted to an interview published on ShanklyGates.co.uk on Tuesday from a Norwegian newspaper claiming that he had written off Manchester United's title hopes.


The interview, published in Sunnmørsposten, was translated for this site by a regular visitor and has today been pick,ed up and used in the national media.

However, the media claim that Riise said United we're unstable in defence, when he actually said that they had had an unstable season, which is exactly what was published on this site and exactly what Riise himself has admitted to saying via his official website.

But, our translation did claim that Riise had said that United didn't have a 'chance' of winning the Championship, a quote which Riise says that he didn't say.

Talking to Icons.com, he says: "I cannot stop newspapers from writing things, but I can use my web page to clarify certain matters which have not been accurately reported."

"Firstly I have been quoted as saying Manchester United are "unstable" at the back and that they have no chance of winning the championship. This is not true. I did say that I felt United had been unstable this year, but I never mentioned their defence."

"By unstable I meant inconsistent, because by their high standards they normally have the league wrapped up by now. As for saying they can't win the championship, do people think I am stupid? "

"I have a lot of respect for United. After all, they are only one point behind us and I would be a fool to write them off. Anyway, if I was to dismiss United's chances I would also be dismissing our own - and I'm certainly not doing that."

"The point I was trying to make is that Arsenal are in the best position. Just look at the table. If they win all their five games they will be champions."

"All I was trying to say is that it will be hard for United, as it will be for us, because if they are to win the title they will need two teams to slip up."

 

[Arthro Enas]

I thought he said he never write Man u off.... ???


Anyway, a win against Chelsea means title race still on for Man U.

 

[Digger Man]

Whether it was intentional or not, I think Riise's comments could be a good thing.

The only way Liverpool will win the Championship is if Arsenal drop points. And which team do Arsenal play in a couple of weeks time? That's right, ManYoo.

'You can't win the Championship, Mr Ferguson. You're crap. Your defence is slow and you have no chance. Admit it, Arsenal are the better team...'

Maybe, just maybe Jon Arne was being a bit clever and is playing some mind games with A. Ferguson?

Then again, he could just have been misquoted...

 

[RazorUK]

Still that is a very good thought there Digger man

Since as long as we win our remaining games united can't catch us, and if it motivates them against the Arsenal then I'll be a happy man.
Just imagine it could be the blue noses and united that do us a favour at the end of the day

I'd also like to give you a warm welcome to xtratime

Cheers

Razor

 

[Beechy]

i think riise could be right, it hink united have left it too late and quite frankly i dont think we deserve to win.

Arsenal for me have been the best team and would much rather have them win it than you!!

 

[paw]

Since as long as we win our remaining games united can't catch us, and if it motivates them against the Arsenal then I'll be a happy man.

But as long as Arsenal wins its remaining games, save for the Man U one, we can't catch them either. And I reckon the BlueNoses will be no match for them. Imagine that we need our greatest rivals Man U and Everton's help at the end of the season for us to be in with a shout. This is a topsy-turvy season.

Darn, I was looking through our records, and noticed that we have won quite a number of League games in a row. That should get us to top spot. But I glanced at Arsenal's record too and they do have a similar record to us. They are effectively 4 points clear on us and we are 1 point clear on Man U. How long have we had that? At least a month and a half, I believe. Unbelievable. Everyone is matching everyone's pace. At least in terms of getting the points.

This will not end so soon.

paw

 

[Fred Elliot]

.

'You can't win the Championship, Mr Ferguson. You're crap. Your defence is slow and you have no chance. Admit it, Arsenal are the better team...'

Maybe, just maybe Jon Arne was being a bit clever and is playing some mind games with A. Ferguson?

Then again, he could just have been misquoted...

thats one hell of a misquote....

 

[Yasir]

Hi everyone..

Well paw, I was discussing this with my older brother (He's a die hard Arsenal fan).. and looking over the games we both have left.. I really couldn't find a game (other than the Man U game) that Arsenal realistically would drop points in...

They take on West Ham & Everton at home (6 points if not a buck load of goals) and Man U & Bolton away.. and an away match to Bolton isn't as hard as what we faced at the start of the season when they were playing THAT well.. although Bobic, Djorkaeff and co have made the club a bit improved..

In our case.. It's mainly the game at White Hart Lane that matters the most.. we lost there last year with 2 defensive errors.. and they are the main threat to our title hunt..

:sigh: now we can really go back and rue those lame results against Southampton & Fulham !!

 

[Final Word]

Yasir: I've heard a rumour that Spurs will be fielding a reserve side against us, just to try and make sure that their neighbours don't win the league. Apparently Glenda's playing in goal and Rebrov & Iversen are playing in a 2 man defence..... it's only a rumour though, so may NOT be true...

I've been impressed so far with the way we've quietly and efficiently gone about our business of getting our 3 points against teams that are scrapping for their lives, such as Derby & Sunderland, I only hope we don't slip up ourselves and hand the title to our rivals on a plate.

In theory the title could be over before Arsenal go to OT, so let's just hope that a Joe Cole inspired West Ham can do us a favour tonight....

Digger Man: Another recruit from ITV I see ? Good to see you mate!

 

[utopia]

Digger Man: Another recruit from ITV I see ? Good to see you mate!

Hey, keep the new posters coming......

 

[B*O*S*H*]

Hey, keep the new posters coming......

Ya! Welcome all newbies!!!!

You'll Never Post Alone

 

[RazorUK]

:sigh: now we can really go back and rue those lame results against Southampton & Fulham !!

The results against Arsenal are the ones that we should rue

 

[Digger Man]

Thanks for the warm welcome RazorUK. It's good to be here...

Final Word: It's good to see so many familiar faces here...I think I might actually enjoy it here! I was going to stick it out in the ITV boards, but then I thought to myself, what's the point? Let the likes of PTN, larkyjunior et al squabble between themselves...

Fred Elliot: It would have been very funny it that was what Riise had actually said. I'm actually a liittle disappointed that he's denied what he's reportedly said to that journo as it was pretty mild anyway...

Now that Mark Bosnich knows how to speak his mind. Talking about Manchester United and Alex Ferguson: "When you have a great horse the jockey is negligable", or something like that, if he wasn't misquoted...

 

[lskydiver]

...Apparently Glenda's playing in goal and Rebrov & Iversen are playing in a 2 man defence.....

Who needs Rebrov in defence when they could just play him up front. Then theres no way Spurs will score.