Nani Speaks About Carragher Tackle & Why he Cried

Nani has spoken. The Manchester United winger was the victim of a horrendous challenge from Jamie Carragher at Anfield when United met Liverpool. The incident was well publicised and overshadowed the Liverpool win in which United were outplayed. Rivals fans to United questioned the seriousness of the injury and suggested that United fans were using the tackle to cover up a poor performance.

Whatever the case, there is no denying that the tackle warranted a red card, and as Nani says here, his tears immediately after the tackle came as a result of him believing his season was over. The deep gash on his shin was clear for all to see, but Nani was still criticized for shedding tears. The recently returned Portuguese said:

“When I saw my leg for the first time, I thought my season was finished. That is why I was crying.

"Afterwards, the doctor saw my leg and said I had been lucky because it just needed stitches and I would be out for two or three weeks. He is surprised that I could recover even quicker.”

Nani was slightly hesitant in taking on the left back on his return to action after the injury against Marseille, but he recognises that the physical side is to be expected in the English Premier League:

"English football is like that. It is about making tackles.

“The fans enjoy it. I always finish the game sore because I have had three or four tackles on the same part of my ankle.”

However, despite accepting the physical side of the game, he agrees with most logical football fans when he says the Carragher tackle should not be accepted. Nani said:

"I don’t know what Carragher was thinking but I do know what he did was not football.”

 “He came to apologise after the game. But I was not happy. It is the second time he injured me. Before, he put me out of the game for two months. He always tackles like that. I don’t want protection. I just want the referees to be fair. If it is a red card, they have to give it. If they give the card, the next time the player doesn’t make the tackle.”

Rumours have arisen recently stating that Nani has asked his agent to look for clubs in Italy for a possible transfer. This was however dismissed by the 24 year-old who said on his official Twitter account that he had "seen some false reports on the press. I want you to know that you will hear the truth from me. Love MU".

So we will be seeing a lot more of Nani in the future then. Perhaps no the immediate future though, with him admitting to being a doubt for the Old Trafford clash with Bolton this Saturday:

"I played against Marseille but maybe I couldn't play tomorrow because I have so many injuries. My leg is OK [but] it is not 100% and the confidence is not the same.

"I know players always like to tackle me, so I have to be careful. That is why my football was not the best. But it is great to be back. Now I am just thinking about the next game when I think I will be much better."

Nani Injury: Not How big the Cut is, its Where it was

Luis Nani's leg has been the most debated subject in football this weekend. Why wasn't it a red card? Is his injury that bad? Why did he get up and complain? Are the pictures photo shopped? Should Nani have been booked for diving?

Well, I'm sure someone has said the last one, but the fact is, a lot of people are missing the point. I have seen so many comments saying how Nani was pathetic to cry while others would have got up and carried on playing. This is a comment on one website showing the image of Nani's leg:

"I’ve fractured my leg before


I’ve dislocated my shoulder before


I’ve dislocated my elbow and broke my arm before


I’ve not cried in all of them"

I mean - come on. Who cares? This isn't about crying or not crying, this is about the scandalous decision not to send Jamie Carragher off for a blatant assault on Nani. It was a disgrace of a tackle, so sickening, so dangerous that no matter which way you look at it, tears or no tears, a red should have been shown. The fact that Carragher received only a yellow for the tackle, while Edwin van der sar received the same punishment for simply expressing his understandable exasperation at the decision is a joke.

I cannot understand how people can attempt to excuse it, or even play down the injury which some claim to be photo shopped. Again, it does not matter how deep the wound is, it is the height of the tackle which is the despairing part of it. There is no argument for Carragher to stay on the pitch.

Forget about photo shop, forget the excuses, look at the tackle, not the result of it.

Meanwhile, Nani thanked his fans on Twitter for their support:

Picture: Nani Injury After Disgusting Carragher Tackle

Not for the faint hearted.

This is what had Luis Nani in tears and stretchered off during the Liverpool game.

Jamie Carragher recieved a yellow card for this.

Watch Match Highlights

Match Report Here

Nani's Response to Incident on Twitter

Read what Nani had to say on Twitter after incident

Reina: Torres was Right To Leave

When you hand a transfer request in to your club who have supported you, stayed loyal to you, sang your name and made excuses for your inconsistencies and bad form, you might expect a bad reaction. So when Fernando Torres did just that, Liverpool fans were not the happiest - with the overriding feeling of utter disappointment and in some cases, the burning of his number 9 red shirt.

He will be facing his former team mates on Sunday, and, playing in blue, the Spanish star will be trying his utmost to do something that he has struggled to do all season; score a goal - or even, just to play well. He will therefore, be aiming to get the ball past Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal. It may be surprising then, that Reina is actually in support of Torres' move away from Liverpool.
The goalkeeper said:

"He decided to leave because he thought it was an opportunity to keep growing as a player and we have to respect that. Some of the people are saying he's being disrespectful with Liverpool, but all that Fernando gave to Liverpool was huge."

"He grew up as a Liverpool player and Liverpool has also grown as he's been a player on the team. At the end of the day, it's daily business, players come and go. It's the club and supporters who are the most important thing for the club."

"Fernando was great for us for three-and-a-half seasons, and we wish him all the best. I think he did everything for this club."

"He maybe didn't leave at the right time, but it was an opportunity for him and he left $50m in the bank which was double the price that he was."

Someone who knows all about loyalty is Jamie Carragher, and even he had to admit that Torres was a fantastic player in his time at Liverpool and it was the right time for him to go:

"I think it was probably better that Fernando moved on if he didn't 100 percent want to be here or it was going to happen in the summer.

"It's probably better for everyone all round. I think it's been in the offing since the summer. We always felt that at some stage this season, or maybe the end of the season, this may happen."

"Whether people agree with how he's gone, supporters can't deny he was an absolutely fantastic player for Liverpool."

I think they are fair comments, and understandable from guys who played with Torres when he was banging in goals for fun in his first season at Liverpool, but what was disappointing was the way he went, and his comments afterwards that have angered some Liverpool fans. Comments like this:

"The target for every player is to play for one of the tops clubs in the world and I can do it now, so I'm very happy."

Liverpool will have the chance to exact revenge on the man they formerly adored at Anfield tomorrow with their new idol, Luiz Suarez leading the front. It will be tough for Liverpool, but if they can pull off the win against Chelsea and complete the double over them this season, they could be well on their way to a good run of wins and perhaps even scrape fourth?....or fifth.

Liverpool 3 - 0 Aston Villa - Video Goals

Liverpool moved up to 8th in the League with a 3 - 0 win over Aston Villa and their former Liverpool manager, Gerard Houllier. Liverpool didn't play brilliantly, but Aston Villa were very poor; offering nothing in the attack, and switching off at the back for the three goals.

Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres were all missing for Liverpool, something that fans may have worried about, as they haven't been in the best form when those key players were in the team. The losses however did not have a bad effect on the team at Anfield, and the two strikers, David Ngog and Ryan Babel stepped up to score the opening two goals and setting up the win for Liverpool.

Watch the goals below:
David Ngog Goal


Ryan Babel Goal


Maxi Rodriguez Goal

Liverpool 2 - 0 Chelsea - Terrific Torres too Much for Chelsea

Liverpool defeated the Champions in their best performance of the season which saw Fernando Torres score two brilliant goals to turn the corner for Liverpool to put smiles on every Liverpool fans' faces.

Liverpool started brightly, and with a nice dink over the Chelsea defenders by Dirk Kuyt to Torres, fit or not fit, there would be only one end to this Liverpool attack. He may have miss hit the ball into the ground, but this Spanish striker knows where the goal is, and it past Petr Cech in goal to set Liverpool off.

The second goal came at a great time. Just before half time, Meireles fed in Torres on the left hand side, and after cutting inside onto his right foot, curled a beauty into the top corner of the Chelsea net - nothing Cech could do.
His touch was much improved, and he worked much harder than previous performances this season. The early goal obviously helped his confidence, and he went on to put in a man of the match performance. He was able to lead from the front and set a standard for the rest of the team.

Gerrard was once again exceptional, and Carragher at the back was, as always a fearless defender who put his body on the line to keep Chelsea out. One chance, after a powerful Anelka shot that Reina bearly saved, the ball bounced off of the top of the crossbar, and was about to be met with a tap-in from Didier Drogba. Jamie Carragher however, was in his way, and shepharded the ball back into Reina's hands. Drogba knew the chance was a brilliant one, but he acknowledged too that the defending was brilliant.

The second half was defend, defend, defend from Liverpool who desperatley needed to hold onto their lead. Chelsea wouldn't give up, and created enough chances to score at least one goal. But the resiliant togetherness from Liverpool kept the two goal lead, and the valuable three points.

Liverpool are now up to ninth in the League, and Chelsea only two points ahead of Manchester United. Out of the bottom half, and having just beaten the English Champions, it may be too soon to say that Liverpool are "back", but slowly, and steadily, they are getting there.