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Agence France-Presse

Arsene Wenger, Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino head into the new Premier League season with the burden of expectation weighing heavily on their shoulders.
In contrast to the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea, the trio are familiar with their surroundings, no one more so than Wenger at Arsenal, whilst Pocchetino starts his third campaign with Tottenham Hotspur and Klopp his first full season with Liverpool.
Wenger and Klopp have struck already in terms of arousing the ire of Manchester United’s fiery coach Jose Mourinho in criticising the huge fee paid for Paul Pogba.
Many Arsenal fans may have expressed the unease they feel over their cash rich board failing to act once more in the transfer market.

Despite signing Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka for around £35 million (HK$353), there have been few other forays into the high end except a failed bid for French striker Alexandre Lacazette.
This also adds to the sense that the phrase ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ is coming true at Arsenal, where unless Wenger produces a genuine title challenge in his 21st campaign the small bands of supporters who dared to flash banners asking him to go last season could evolve into mass protests.
Manchester United should be proud of record Paul Pogba transfer in crazy market, says Jose Mourinho
Wenger’s hesitancy to launch into the transfer market has already had an impact as he scrambled around this week for a centre back with both Per Mertesacker and Gabriel out injured.

“Everybody is ambitious – never has the Premier League been gifted with so many ambitious people or clubs at the start of the season,” said the 66-year-old Frenchman.
“But sometimes the media give too much importance to the managers and I believe that what is important is the quality of the players on the pitch.


“All teams compete highly to have a top squad.”
Arsenal fans might take those remarks with a pinch of salt as their regular complaint has been that their squad is not strong enough, and with the Frenchman’s contract up at the end of the upcoming campaign, he will hope the longest-running love affair in football’s elite doesn’t end in a messy divorce.

Klopp for his part will be seeking to build on the progress he made at Liverpool when he came in after Brendan Rodgers departed last season.
The charismatic German has brought in some interesting recruits such as the Dutch attacking midfielder Giorginio Wijnaldum, who was one of the rare players to produce top-class performances for relegated Newcastle United last season.
Klopp may find his side’s weakness is in central defence, and says his intention was never for wholesale personnel changes. Instead he prefers to draw on the unlikely successes of Euro 2016 as an example to follow.

“If you want to have proof of the different ways that football can work you only have to look at the European Championship,” said the 49-year-old, whose side finished eighth last season.
“There were wonderful examples of what football really is - about building a team, creating a bond between the team, supporters and whole countries.”
Building a dynasty: Leicester City sign title-winning Italian manager Claudio Ranieri until 2020
Tottenham manager Pochettino is relishing the start of the season hailing it as a “new era” for the north London club.
The Argentine steered Spurs to a third place finish at the end of last season earning them qualification for the Champions League and is now eager to prove his team’s worth amongst Europe’s elite.
“We have to put that third place finish to one side and focus on all the things we achieved - and move on,” he said.
“What we can now go on to achieve in the Champions League is very important.”


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English Premier League

Ready to rumble: Arsene Wenger, Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino out to upset Manchester club scene in English Premier League

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho eyes the Premier League trophy before the Community Shield against Leicester City. Photo: Reuters

Liverpool's head coach Juergen Klopp, right and Liverpool's Ragnar Klavan gesture, after the team won the International Champions Cup soccer match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016 . (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Arsenal's French head coach Arsene Wenger enters the pitch prior to the friendly football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Ullevi stadium in Gothenburg on August 7, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND

Football Soccer - Atletico Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur - International Champions Cup - Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia - 29/7/16 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino Reuters / Jason Reed Livepic

(FILES) This file photo taken on July 10, 2016 shows France's midfielder Paul Pogba gesturing during the Euro 2016 final football match between Portugal and France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. French superstar Paul Pogba on August 9, 2016 completed a sensational return to Manchester United from Juventus for a reported world record fee. United said Pogba had signed a five-year contract but did not give the cost which British media have put at 89 million pounds ($116.4 million, 105 million euros), not including agent's fee. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE DESMAZES

Words speak louder than actions: Wayne Rooney praises Jose Mourinho after testimonial

Wayne Rooney and Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford. Photo: AFP

Manchester United's Scottish former manager Alex Ferguson (CR) sits with England manager Sam Allardyce (C) and Sunderland and former Manchester United manager David Moyes (CL) watching the friendly Wayne Rooney testimonial football match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford in Manchester, northwest England, on August 3, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFF

Manchester United's English striker Wayne Rooney (2L) stands with his sons Kit, Kai (R) and Klay (2R) before the start of the friendly Wayne Rooney testimonial football match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford in Manchester, northwest England, on August 3, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFF

Football Soccer Britain - Manchester United v Everton - Wayne Rooney Testimonial - Old Trafford - 3/8/16 Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic shoots at goal Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Worst kept secret: Manchester City sign England defender John Stones from Premier League rivals Everton

John Stones. Photo: Reuters

That’s Zlat: Ibrahimovic fires Manchester United to Community Shield win over Leicester on his debut

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney celebrates with the Community Shield after the 2-1 win over Leicester City. Photo: Reuters

epa05462138 Man Utd's Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring against Leicester during the FA Community Shield between Manchester United and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium in London, Britain, 07 August 2016. EPA/ANDY RAIN

Leicester City's Italian manager Claudio Ranieri gestures from the touchline during the FA Community Shield football match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium in London on August 7, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Ian Kington / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

epa05461928 Leicester City's Jamie Vardy celebrates after scoring during the English FA Community Shield soccer match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Wembley stadium in London, Britain, 07 August 2016. EPA/HANNAH MCKAY

Football Soccer Britain - Leicester City v Manchester United - FA Community Shield - Wembley Stadium - 7/8/16Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring their second goal as Leicester City's Kasper Schmeichel looks dejectedReuters / Eddie KeoghLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Sport

Football

The top-flight gets underway this weekend after Manchester United beat champions Leicester City in the season-opening Community Shield on Sunday
