Manuel almunia (official post)

The best of Almunia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RHaClNh5-A

Almunia - Now we must react in the League

Manuel Almunia has pledged to keep the pressure up in the title race after falling short in Europe for another year.

Arsenal's Champions League hopes flickered briefly in the Nou Camp on Tuesday night whenNicklas Bendtner fired them ahead but Lionel Messi's awesome foursome saw Barcelona through 6-3 on aggregate.

All is not lost though. Arsenal are three points behind leaders Chelsea with five games of the Premier League season remaining. And Almunia is determined to fight to the finish - starting with next week's North London derby at Tottenham.

"We are disappointed but we have to react for the League," said the goalkeeper.

"That's what we are fighting for. When we play the last few games we want at least to fight for something, then it will be a very interesting finish to the season. 

"We will continue putting pressure on Manchester United and Chelsea."

Subscribers can now watch the full interview with Manuel. He discusses:

• Barcelona's reaction to falling behind
• trying to score a second goal
• a tough task in the Nou Camp
• the balance of power over the two legs
• fighting for the Premier League title

almunia Information

Manuel Rivero Almunia, better known as Almunia (Pamplona, Navarra, Spain, May 19, 1977) is a Spanish footballer. Plays goalkeeper, currently for Arsenal Football Club in the FA Premier League.

Path

Formed in the CD Oberena, equipment linked to Club Atlético Osasuna. The 97/98 season was a subsidiary of Osasuna goalkeeper, playing a total of 31 games. The number dropped a year later, lining up in only 13 games. The 1999/00 season, he joined the first team squad Navarre, but ended on loan to FC Cartagena, where he only played three games. The following season, 2000/01, he was again transferred to the Centre d'Esports Sabadell, where he did an outstanding campaign. Although alternate start Jordi goal, finished playing a total of 25 games (due to a poor relationship with his coach Jordi Mora as Manuel Almunia came on loan from Osasuna with a clause in which he was to play 25 games minimum, not the contract would have to pay the CESabadell), fewest goals being the gatekeeper of the Second Division B this season. His team came to play, without success, the ascent phase II A.

Following this great season, taking advantage of because of its transfer was not professional contract, Manuel Almunia left in 2001 to leave Osasuna Celta Vigo, without having to pay for leaving the club, a circumstance that is not much loved by the fans club of origin. However Almunia was given to the SD Eibar, in the second division, where for the second consecutive year was the fewest goals porter category, winning the Zamora Trophy.

First Division

These two great seasons of Navarre goal Almunia makes able to enjoy their first matches in the gold category, but not all blue, but was again transferred, this time at Recreativo Huelva. With the Andalusians, Almunia progression stagnated, if not enjoyed many minutes (only two league matches and some of Copa del Rey).

In the 2003/04 season Almunia calls at Albacete Balompié, where as in the Sabadell and Recreation, began as a substitute, in this case Carlos Roa. A mid-year, the Argentine goalkeeper was injured and Almunia took the opportunity in an excellent manner, finishing the year as undisputed starter, with a total of 24 games in the Spanish first division.

Arsenal FC

So much so that the London side Arsenal FC noticed him, which made landfall in the 2004/05 season, beginning on October 27, 2004 in a match of the League Cup. In his first season with the Londoners, Arsène Wenger will only parties aligned in the League Cup and FA Cup in this competition had an outstanding performance in the second round, stopping two penalty shots in the playoff round against Sheffield United. His team got through the qualifying, proclaiming, in the end, winners of the tournament, but Wenger opted for goalkeeper Jens Lehmann in the final.

The following season was again deputy German international goalkeeper. However, the expulsion of this during the final of the Champions League that season, against FC Barcelona, Almunia play allowed much of the final, fitting the two goals that gave victory to the Spanish side.

The 2006/07 season was a substitute in the Premier League (played a single match), but it was the goalkeeper in the domestic cup competitions. He defended the framework of the Gunners in the final of the League Cup that season against Chelsea FC, who eventually took the title.

During the 2007/08 season unseated Lehmann and become fixed in the starting line. His good performances have opened a debate on whether that was convened by the England football team, having obtained a British passport, on July 14, 2009, when the fifth anniversary of stay in England, United Kingdom.

Clubes

Club País Año:

CA Osasuna B España 1997-1999

CA Osasuna España 1999 FC

Cartagena España 1999-2000

CE Sabadell España 2000-2001

Celta de Vigo España 2001

SD Eibar España 2001-2002

Recreativo de Huelva España 2002-2003

Albacete Balompié España 2003-2004

Arsenal FC Inglaterra 2004-

Almunia - We can bounce back at Tottenham

Manuel Almunia is at a low ebb right now. But he expects to be smiling against next Wednesday.

That's the night Arsenal resume their Premier League title challenge with a tasty trip to Tottenham for an eagerly-awaited North London derby. 

Three points there will keep Arsène Wenger's side on the right track in the Premier League while banishing any remaining Champions League blues.

Almunia expects a tough assignment at White Hart Lane as Tottenham chase the top-four finish that would book their place alongside Arsenal in Europe's premier club competition. But the Spanish goalkeeper won't give up the title chase without a fight.

"Tottenham are playing for a Champions League place as well so it will be a very tough game," said Almunia. 

"It will be difficult no matter what we are fighting for, because derbies are always special whatever the position in the table. Certainly, it will be a great game. 

"We should not be surprised by the atmosphere, we know it will be hostile. Tottenham are doing well, they play good football and they score a lot of goals. They are a great team and it will be difficult to beat them.

"But at least we are in the League, fighting for the top. That's what we want, to fight in the last few games, otherwise we will be very disappointed."

Almunia - Injuries no excuse for Euro exit

Manuel Almunia refuses to blame Arsenal's lengthy injury list for their Champions League exit.

A 6-3 aggregate defeat to Barcelona sent Arsène Wenger's side out of the competition at the Quarter-Final stage thanks largely to the genius of Lionel Messi, who scored four times in Tuesday's second leg.

While Barcelona could call on their star turn, Arsenal had to do without a number of big-name players with Cesc Fabregas, Andrey Arshavin, William Gallas, Alex Song and Robin Van Persie among their absentees. But Almunia does not believe that was decisive.

"Maybe [we missed players], but it's not an excuse," he said. 

"I think Barcelona didn't go against us with everything like they did at Emirates and I think we missed some players but we cannot use that as an excuse."

Almunia must be sick of the sight of Messi after he scored a 21-minute hat-trick in the first half and then nutmegged the goalkeeper with the final whistle approaching. The Spaniard admitted that the Argentinean was too hot for Arsenal to handle.

"You can afford two or three chances but he got five or six and he will score," said Almunia.

"You try to guess, you try to anticipate what he's doing but his skills are great and you can't do anything about that. You have to be very lucky to stop him.

"That's why now we can be disappointed but we have to accept that Barcelona played great football, attacking football, they have great players and they have been superior to Arsenal over both legs."

recoba15 wrote:

+1