Louis van Gaal failed to find any instant fix for Manchester United’s problems as his first Premier League game in charge ended in a 2-1 defeat by Swansea City at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini reacts during their English Premier League soccer match against Swansea City at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England August 16, 2014.

Gylfi Sigurdsson’s 72nd minute winner for the visitors condemned United to their first opening day home top-flight loss for 42 years and laid bare the problems Dutchman Van Gaal has to restore the fortunes of the 20-times champions.

Skipper Wayne Rooney drew United level after 53 minutes with an overhead flick and he curled a free kick against the post soon after but Swansea were largely untroubled.

United had plenty of first half possession but lacked invention and pace and Swansea took the lead with their first real attack when Ki Sung-yueng slotted home after 28 minutes.

There was more thrust about United immediately after the interval and they equalised when Phil Jones flicked on a corner and Rooney, with his back turned away from goal, cleverly hooked the ball past Swans keeper Lukasz Fabianski.

Van Gaal’s expression barely changed in the dugout, but the mood in the stadium did lift as United threatened and Rooney sent a curling free kick around the wall and off the woodwork.

However, United lacked fluency and always looked vulnerable to the counter-attack.

Swansea manager Gary Monk sent on substitute Jefferson Montero for his debut and the Ecuadorian made an instant impact, sending in a cross to the far post which caught United left back Ashley Young out of position.

Wayne Routledge scuffed a shot across goal and Sigurdsson, back at Swansea after moving from Tottenham Hotspur, made no mistake from the just outside the six-yard area.

“I think the shape and the way we defended was key. The manager set us up perfectly. We showed character, dug in at the end and I think in the end we deserved it. We knew it would be difficult with a new manager to come in here,” match-winner Sigurdsson told BT Sport.

United’s fans began drifting away well before the end as the hosts huffed and puffed to grab an equaliser, but apart from the occasional flurry, never looked like salvaging a point.

Van Gaal left the pitch shaking hands with fans but the former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Ajax coach knows he has a major task on his hands to get United challenging the top four after slumping to seventh last season.

According to Reuters

German striker Miroslav Klose, the all-time World Cup top scorer, announced his retirement from international football on Monday (Aug 11).

A photo taken on June 21, 2014 shows Germany’s forward Miroslav Klose celebrating after scoring a goal during a Group G football match between Germany and Ghana at the FIFA World Cup tournament. (AFP/Javier Soriano)

BERLIN: German striker Miroslav Klose, the all-time World Cup top scorer, announced his retirement from international football on Monday (Aug 11). The 36-year-old leaves the German national team as a World Cup winner after helping Joachim Loew’s side to their first global crown since 1990 when they defeated Argentina 1-0 last month in the Rio-hosted final.

The Lazio frontman picked up his 16th goal, in what was his fourth World Cup, to surpass Brazilian Ronaldo as the tournament’s leading scorer. Klose, who won two German titles with Bayern Munich following spells with Kaiserslautern and Werder Bremen, said he had “fulfilled a childhood dream with the title in Brazil” and lived “unforgettable moments with the national team”, according to a statement released by the German football federation.

“The success of the team stood and always stands for me in the highest place,” Klose said. “With the national team I achieved our greatest goal, a goal which we had together within the squad. In addition, I achieved personal goals and those who know me know that I am very ambitious, but I am a striker and the task of a striker is to score goals. Therefore the records never concerned me, but it was always about giving my best for the team.”

The Polish-born marksman scored five goals at the 2002 World Cup, where Germany were beaten 2-0 by Ronaldo’s Brazil in the final, five in 2006 on home soil, four in 2010 at South Africa and two in 2014. He broke the World Cup record for goals in July when he found the target for his 16th strike during the 7-1 semi-final rout of Brazil.

He is one of just three players, alongside Pele and Uwe Seeler, to score in four World Cups, and finishes his Germany career as the country’s all-time leading scorer with 71 goals in 137 appearances.

Loew was quick to heap praise on Klose, saying: “For Miro it was always an honour to be called up into the national team. He’s given everything for Germany. I have the biggest respect for his decision and for his incredible career in the national team, which will be a tough one to better.”

Federation president Wolfgang Niersbach said Klose was “not only an exceptional player but also an absolutely exemplary man”. “With his 71 goals for the national team and his 16 goals in the World Cup, he has established two phenomenal records that will ensure him a place of honour in the history books.”

Klose kicked off his international career against Albania on March 24, 2001, going on to enjoy a 13-year career with the Mannschaft, only Lothar Matthaus having won more caps (150).

Source AFP

Gareth Bale admits he is feeling a lot better about life at Real Madrid as he enters his second season in Spain.

Bale returned to his native Cardiff on Tuesday night as star-studded Real started the new campaign as they finished the last one – with a trophy.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s double secured a 2-0 Super Cup victory for the Champions League winners over La Liga rivals Sevilla as the Wales international again exhibited his trademark pace and power.

Bale set up Ronaldo’s first goal with a sublime cross and the world’s most expensive player, following his £86million move from Tottenham a year ago, expects Real to be a major force again this season.

“When I came to Madrid I wanted to settle down off the pitch as soon as possible because I knew if I could concentrate on my football I knew what I was capable of,” Bale said after Real’s triumph at the Cardiff City Stadium.

“I know everybody in the squad now. I feel comfortable and the second season you’re obviously feeling a lot better.

“You miss some things about home, but I’m thoroughly enjoying it in Madrid and looking forward to the season.

“In sport anything can happen but hopefully we’ll be strong again. We feel confident and will be trying our hardest to win every trophy.”

Summer signings James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos both made their debuts in Wales and Bale believes the extra quality will serve Real well as they seek to become the first club to make a successful defence of the Champions League.

“It’s always good to have options,” Bale said. “It keeps competition more fierce and hopefully performances can go up.

“The new lads have settled in very well. Toni speaks English, so he’s with me!

“It’s great to have him and James here and they both did very well.

“We’re in a strong position and it’s exciting.

“We know how good we can be and how good we are but we need to keep working hard on the training pitch and the pitch, so hopefully we can keep performances up.

“We go into every competition looking to win it and we’ll be trying our best.”

Bale admitted coming back home to win the Super Cup in Cardiff was special to him.

“For me personally it was a great night to be home in my home town,” he said.

“To win the trophy was the most important thing, but to win it in Cardiff made it a perfect evening.

“All my family and friends were here so I had a lot of requests for tickets.

“But the most important thing for me, the whole team and Real Madrid was that we won the Super Cup and got the trophy.”

According to Foxsports